IASbaba's Current Affairs Magazine OCTOBER 2015

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PREFACE
With the present shift in examination pattern of UPSC Civil Services Examination, General
Studies II and General Studies III can safely be replaced with Current Affairs. Moreover,
following the recent trend of UPSC, almost all the questions are issue-based rather than newsbased. Therefore, the right approach to preparation is to prepare issues, rather than just
reading news.
Taking this into account, our website www.iasbaba.com will cover current affairs focusing more
on issues on a daily basis. This will help you pick up relevant news items of the day from
various national dailies such as The Hindu, Indian Express, Business Standard, LiveMint,
Business Line and other important Online sources. Over time, some of these news items will
become important issues.
UPSC has the knack of picking such issues and asking general opinion based questions.
Answering such questions will require general awareness and an overall understanding of the
issue. Therefore, we intend to create the right understanding among aspirants How to cover
these issues?
This is the Fifth edition of IASbabas Monthly Magazine. This edition covers all important issues
that were in news in the month of October 2015. In this edition, we have added another new
category- Must Read, which will give you important links to be read from exam perspective.
This will make sure that, you dont miss out on any important news/editorials from various
newspapers on daily basis.
Another important thing to note here is, IASbaba had come up with a innovative, alternate
thinking process with Connecting the dots in its previous editions. Connecting the dots has
got very good reviews and this has compelled us to incorporate in this edition too. Under each
news article, connecting the dots facilitates your thinking to connect and ponder over various
aspects of an issue. Basically, it helps you in understanding an issue from multi-dimensional
view-point. You will understand its importance while giving Mains or Interview.
The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra
All the Best
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INDEX
IMPORTANT ARTICLES
Horizon 2020 project

Precision Farming
System of Rice Intensification
Water and Energy
NATIONAL
(Pages: 5-17)
(Pages: 18-95)
Empower, not weaken the CAG

What the world has done to the Victim?
Towards Universal Immunization
Intelligent operations- Around the Globe
Mental Health
Gas pricing and some issues
Revolutionary Treatments
Mistaken Quest for a Purified Democracy
Limited finance limits democracy
A State of mind
Uniform civil code : Need of the hour
Sedition : An unconstitutional tool
Unfinished Business of Partition: Article 370
Growing intolerance towards difference of opinion in India
The perils of e-fixation: Students, Computers and Learning
Growing religious fundamentalism in India
Ombudsman in the time of social media: Networked Society or Networked Individualism?
Crisis of Credibility: CBI caught on the wrong foot
NJAC verdict : An analysis [PART I]
NJAC verdict : An analysis [PART 2]
Kerosene Subsidy: No longer needed
Health is Expensive: When Hospitals Infect
Bleeding Fault-lines: Bahishkrut Bharat
A military-industrial complex of our own
The problem of debt concentration
India: Epicentre of Global Malnutrition
We need to talk about the Brahmaputra
Conditional Cash transfer
Increased child rape: Failure of criminal justice system in India
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Draft National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2015

Surrogacy: Wombs for Rent
INTERNATIONAL
South Asia important for India geo-politically, but not economically: CEA
India and Comprehensive Nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT)
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) & India
India- Nepal: The thin roaring line: Economics, Politics and Superiority
Diverse Yet United: Together Towards Tomorrow- India-Africa Forum Summit
Latest Wave of Violence in the Hub of Cemeteries: Israel & Palestine
India- Afghanistan: Time to refresh Afghan relationship
India Myanmar Relations: An analysis
UN missions: Bedrock of Indias military engagement and assistance to Africa
Reforms need to reach the needy: The Welfare Approach
ECONOMICS
(Pages: 128-140)
Indias shaky sovereign wealth fund

Legally Knotted Innovations
Racing pulse price in India
How to revive the PPP model in India?
Punjab : A case study in agricultural and economic mismanagement in India
ENVIRONMENT
(Pages: 96-127)
(Pages: 141-154)
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announces India's INDCs

India unveils climate target to cut carbon intensity
Climate goals on target:
The Balancing Act: Paris Agreement
A Green New Deal
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(Pages: 155-157)
Fundamental Existence: Neutrino
TIT-BITS
MUST READ
(Page: 158)
(Pages: 159-180)
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IMPORTANT ARTICLES
HORIZON 2020 PROJECT

Growing relations with EU in trade, research and other partnerships have significant aspects for
India from EUs Horizon 2020 Project. Recently India has ties with Ireland and Belgium under
this. This project is one of the biggest of EU till now. So, significant in many aspect for India and
EU
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly
80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) in addition to the private
investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries
and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.
Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe
2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness.
Seen as a means to drive economic growth and create jobs, Horizon 2020 has the
political backing of Europes leaders and the Members of the European Parliament. They
agreed that research is an investment in our future and so put it at the heart of the EUs
blueprint for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and jobs.
By coupling research and innovation, Horizon 2020 is helping to achieve this with its
emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The
goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation
and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering
innovation.
Horizon 2020 is open to everyone, with a simple structure that reduces red tape and
time so participants can focus on what is really important. This approach makes sure
new projects get off the ground quickly and achieve results faster.
The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will be complemented by

further measures to complete and further develop the European Research Area. These
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measures will aim at breaking down barriers to create a genuine single market for
knowledge, research and innovation.
India can be benefited by EUs 2020 project in ways
India too pushing hard for innovation and research development.
India needs state of art technology that can be fetched through partnering with EU
In infrastructure development, recently Belgium had a pact with India.
By increasing investment from EU countries
FDI and FII from India to EU vice versa.
The European Research Council has travelled to India in an attempt to attract new applications
from South Asia. The ERC funds leading researchers from anywhere in the world, and their
innovative ideas across all scientific disciplines. Researchers can receive up to 3.5m per grant.
Also as part of EU project India can invest in upcoming European markets. Recently India has ties
with Ireland under this. The Investment and Development Agency (IDA), Ireland, responsible for
inward investments, is targeting a five-fold jump in foreign direct investment (FDI) from India by
2020. In 2013, Indian companies accounted for 2.4 per cent of all FDI projects into Ireland and
IDA Ireland plans to double FDI from India by 2016 and five-fold by 2020.
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PRECISION FARMING
New agricultural technologies are need of time and to address the crisis of agriculture. PF is one
of them that incorporate various modern ways to address the issue.
What is PF?
Precision farming (PA) or satellite farming or site specific crop management (SSCM) is a
farming management concept based on observing, measuring and responding to inter
and intra-field variability in crops. Crop variability typically has both a spatial and
temporal component which makes statistical/computational treatments quite involved.
The holy grail of precision agriculture research will be the ability to define a Decision
Support System (DSS) for whole farm management with the goal of optimizing returns
on inputs while preserving resources.
Precision farming aims to optimize field-level management with regard to:
Crop science: by matching farming practices more closely to crop needs (e.g. fertilizer
inputs);
Environmental protection: by reducing environmental risks and footprint of farming

(e.g. limiting leaching of nitrogen);
Economics: by boosting competitiveness through more efficient practices (e.g. improved

management of fertilizer usage and other inputs).
Precision farming also provides farmers with a wealth of information to:
Build up a record of their farm;
Improve decision-making;
Foster greater traceability
Enhance marketing of farm products
Improve lease arrangements and relationship with landlords
Enhance the inherent quality of farm products (e.g. protein level in bread-flour wheat)
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West Scenario
Originating in US and European countries where farms are generally big (over 100
hectares), it sees extensive use of Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) for precise mapping
of farms and - with appropriate software - informs the farmer about status of his crop
and which part of the farm requires inputs like water, fertilizer and pesticide etc.
PA in western countries is also characterized by increased mechanization with the use of

heavy farm machinery (average power 100-200 kW) for all the farm and field operations
such as sowing, harvesting, weeding, baling etc. The machinery runs on fossil fuels and
uses about 63 percent of the total energy used in farming - a significant amount.
Similarly drones are being used quite regularly in Japan and US for insecticide
application to the crops. Use of drones for agriculture is proverbial "turning swords into
ploughs. Most of these robotic machines and drones are small in size and hence are very
suitable and excellent match for small farm applications. Thus small farms size of India is
a blessing in disguise and ripe for large scale application of precision agriculture.
PA in US and other countries has shown tremendous increase in productivity, lowering

of inputs and hence increased remuneration to the farmers. Besides it has helped
improve the quality of land with no-till farming and less water usage. Similar things are
possible in India with its use.
Indian scenario
Wealth and security of the country comes from its land and hence what is needed is
sustainable, high-tech and high productivity agriculture which will be remunerative and
help provide both food and energy security. Precision agriculture, which can provide
precise inputs like water, fertilizer, insecticides at the right time to crops, can help bring
in the next green revolution.
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In the existing agricultural scenario, India is characterized by small farms with around 80
percent of total holdings less than 2 hectares (5 acres) and land mostly rain-fed with
only 30 percent irrigated.
Around 55 percent of the Indian population depends on farming, as against less than 4
percent in US and other advanced economies, because of heavy mechanization of
agriculture. Because of poor availability of funds, farm inputs, poor support price
structure for the produce and almost no farm insurance, farming in India is nonremunerative and 50 percent of farmers are in debt - the main reason for a large
number of suicides.
India, though one of the biggest producers of agricultural products, has very low farm
productivity, with the average only 33 percent of the best farms world over. This needs
to be increased so that farmers can get more remuneration from the same piece of land
with less labour. Precision agriculture (PA) may provide a way to do it.
For small farms, precision agriculture may include sub-surface drip irrigation for precise
water and fertilizer application to the crops and robots for no-till sowing, weed removal,
harvesting and other farming operations. Some of these robots are already being used
on small farms in US and Europe and with vigorous R&D taking place, it is expected that
they may be deployed in large scale in near future.
Constraints and solutions
The biggest criticism of mechanized agriculture is that farm machinery is very costly and
no farmer, including big ones, can afford it. Since precision agriculture is going to be
very dependent on mechanization, this criticism is presently justified.
However the mechanization and PA may give rise in a big way to farm machinery leasing
agencies in rural areas. These companies will lease the mechanized equipment,
including drip irrigation systems, to the farmers and also provide trained manpower to
run these machines.
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Such a thing already exists on limited scale in India where few agencies do the wheat harvesting
using combines and spraying of crops. They charge the farmers on per hour basis and with the
unavailability of farm labour, farmers find this concept economical and attractive.
In western Maharashtra, more and more farmers are depending on mechanization

offered by such agencies. With increasing demand these leasing enterprises will
increase and as PA develops and increases, they will get more structured, so that just
like private taxi companies, they will be available on demand.
It is also envisaged that these leasing companies may form the backbone of Indian
agriculture by providing the necessary advice and manpower to the farmers on precision
agriculture.
Critics of mechanization also contend that by timely sowing of crops and applying
proper and recommended water and fertilizer to it, a farmer can easily improve the
productivity of crops and his income. However application of inputs at proper time
requires timely availability of labour, water and fertilizer - all of which are becoming
scarcer and scarcer.
Besides majority of farms are rain-fed and with the change of weather patterns,
availability of rain water is very unpredictable. Hence the non-availability of inputs and
labour on time is the biggest stumbling block to increase productivity of farms and
remuneration. PA can help in this matter.
The ultimate role of a farmer should be to identify better crops, use that seed to
propagate it further and hence in effect become a breeder of sorts. Progressive farmers
already do that and with more time available to them because of PA they may be able to
help Indian agriculture to produce better and higher yielding varieties.
Also the mechanization will make the farming glamorous and may attract more people
to take up farming in a big way. The most important component in taking PA forward
will be in creating a huge resource of engineers, scientists and agriculturists to develop
various components of the technology.
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Without excellent manpower and consequently good R&D, PA will not succeed. One of
the misfortunes of Indian education system is that all the good students want to get into
engineering and medical streams and only the leftover students go into agriculture.
There is a need for excellent engineers from institutions like IITs, NITs, etc. to design
machinery like robots and drones for PA. This can be facilitated by establishing a new
branch of engineering called agricultural mechanotrics or robotics where faculty and
students from almost all branches of engineering will interact and collaborate to
develop smart systems for PA.
Another way forward is when scientists from ICAR institutes, engineers from academic
world, industry and farmers work together in developing PA.
PA may provide a platform for industrial corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity.
After all helping the rural poor improve their livelihood through high tech farming
should qualify as a CSR activity. The Indian government can facilitate in this process by
giving soft loans and sops to the industry so that they get more engaged in agriculture
and PA activities.
High tech PA therefore can help in bringing next green revolution to India and can
produce tremendous rural wealth in a sustainable and environmentally sound way.
Farmers and farms are the backbone of any country since they can produce food, fuel
(agricultural residues) and wealth from the land. They should be helped by all members
of society and developing PA is a step in the right direction.
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SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION

Indian agriculture is monsoon dependent. Rice is a water intensive crop but due to less
availability of water, El-Nino effect and monsoon withdrawal or untimely depart-rice cropping
faces several challenges. SRI presents a solution to these issues and considering the food
security management and needs of India, it can be an asset for agriculture and farmers as a
whole.
What is SRI?
The system of rice intensification, known as SRI is an agro-ecological methodology for

increasing the productivity of irrigated rice by changing the management of plants, soil,
water and nutrients.
SRI originated in Madagascar in the 1980s and is based on the cropping principles of
significantly reducing plant population, improving soil conditions and irrigation methods
for root and plant development, and improving plant establishment methods.
Significance
SRI offers ability to save water while enhancing the yields in cost effective manner.
Rice is a major crop and needs immense water. Hence the pressure on water usage put
constraints on other water needs of agriculture apart from growing rice. SRI solves this
problem.
Untimely Monsoon and effects of El-Nino aggravates the situation for agriculture and
farmers. SRI can still be useful in such conditions.
For small and marginal farmers, SRI can be a game changer because of reduced input
requirement. The SRI method involves only reorganizing the way in which available
resources are managed.
In India, it was first tried out in Tamil Nadu in 2000-01, following which several States
have demonstrated higher rice production using less water.
SRI has shown an ability to raise rice yields to about eight tonnes per hectare (the
current national average is 2.1 tons) without requiring new varieties, and with
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significantly reduced fertilizers and agrochemicals, while using only about half the water in
business-as-usual irrigated rice. With the use of best practices, SRI yields of about 15-20 tonnes
per hectare have been achieved.
Climate friendly
As pressures mount to ensure that every drop of water counts, SRI is seen today as climatesmart agriculture. Benefits of SRI include lower costs, improvement in soil health, and the
capacity to withstand biotic (pest and disease) and abiotic (climatic) pressures.
It is estimated that there are now over five million farmers using SRI worldwide. In the 50 plus
countries in which the benefits of SRI have already been demonstrated, there has been a 30-50
per cent decrease in water use compared to growing the same varieties on similar soil under
flooded conditions.
The spirit of SRI more from less is best expressed by the pithy slogan on a billboard in
Tripura: Beej kam, saar kam, jal kam, aushadh kam, kharcha kam, phalan bishi, aay bishi (lesser
inputs in seed, fertilizer, water, pesticides, costs, with increased output and incomes).
SRI, referred to as the new green grassroots revolution, is not dependent on purchased
inputs, but on certain ideas and changes in practice that can be explained and justified in
scientific terms.
It is an assemblage of good agronomic practices which might vary across different agroecological and cropping system conditions, but earmarked to benefit farmers through higher
yields and lower cultivation costs.
Under SRI, farmers transplant young, single seedlings, spacing them widely in a grid pattern,
while keeping soil moist and fertile, but not flooded.
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Challenges
SRI is Labor intensive and that is why associated with MNREGA
SRI methods have also been used in crops like wheat, sugarcane, millets, potato and
rapeseed-mustard, with similar benefits as for rice. These are referred to as the System
of Crop Intensification (SCI). Wider adoption of SRI/SCI techniques will have implications
for institutional arrangements such as canal and tube well irrigation system
management, markets for inputs and agricultural commodities.
Despite its success in several States, there is no Central official site where the all-India
impact of SRI may be found. If SRI is such a winning technique, it would appear that the
national agriculture research and education and extension establishments would
eagerly embrace it and begin to quantify and document its benefits. Adequate resources
would be set aside for it. Its dissemination would be a priority with the Central and State
governments. But that has not happened.
Although SRI is no longer a voice in the wilderness, the pristine science and research
establishments still continue to hold out. Meanwhile, a dedicated band of innovative
farmers, grassroots non-governmental organisations, development professionals,
committed academics and researchers valiantly labour on waiting for the walls of
Jericho to finally collapse at the nagging of their persistent trumpet.
Conclusion
The rice-growing season is here. The disposition of the rain gods is speculative. InterState water wars are getting fiercer. An SRI movement is stirring and beginning to win
some battles. Public policy and research must lead from the front in this area and not
merely react. The time is ripe to champion the SRI cause.
WATER AND ENERGY

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UN World Water Report 2014 presents a nexus between Water and Energy and mentions about
the stress both will face with increasing demand of energy from various sectors. It is also linked
to food security and poverty.
Introduction and link between Water and Energy
Energy and water are intricately connected. All sources of energy (including electricity)
require water in their production processes: the extraction of raw materials, cooling in
thermal processes, in cleaning processes, cultivation of crops for biofuels, and
powering turbines. Energy is itself required to make water resources available for
human use and consumption (including irrigation) through pumping, transportation,
treatment, and desalination.
Societys acumen on the conjoined management of water and energy resources has
developed over time. The relationship, as defined today, stands as simple as the energy
intensity in the water sector to water intensity in the energy sector. It is the amount of
water needed directly or indirectly for exploration, extraction, generation and
transmission of energy, and the amount of energy needed for extraction,
transportation, distribution, collection, treatment and end use of water.
The energy and water nexus was coined as a focused area of study under the entire
nexus to develop an understanding of the interdependencies and complications of
water and energy alone. The water for energy and energy for water dependencies
revolve around many elemental issues ranging from water management systems and
water infrastructure to sustainable energy and efficient systems.
An integrated development of the energy and water policies is of paramount

importance and not in isolation from each other. With high risks that the energy sector
is now exposed to, the importance of including water in its strategic plan is more
essential than ever before.
It said ever more freshwater will be needed for farming, construction, drinking, cooking,
washing and sewerage, but also for energy production, 90% of which uses waterintensive techniques today.
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Global water demand is likely to increase by 55% by 2050. By then, more than 40% of
the world's population will be living in areas of "severe" water stress, many of them in
the broad swath of land from North Africa and the Middle East to western South Asia.
Asia will be the biggest hotspot for bust-ups over water extraction, where water sources
straddle national borders.
Areas of conflict include the Aral Sea and the Ganges-Brahmaputra River, Indus River
and Mekong River basins.
Global energy demand is expected to grow by more than a third by 2035, with China,
India and Middle Eastern countries accounting for 60% of the increase.
Water for Energy
Energy availability is the pillar for social and economic progress in a society. Water holds
the key to development of energy infrastructures and remains fundamental throughout
the lifecycle of energy infrastructure and resource development, from extraction of raw
materials, purification, washing and treatment of raw materials to coolants in nuclear or
thermal power plants to being a fuel for hydropower plants.
Energy for Water
Energy is of primary importance for water management and developments. The water
infrastructures solely rely on energy throughout its value chain, groundwater extraction,
transportation, purification, distillation, distribution, collection and wastewater
management and treatment.
International Efforts
Decade of Sustainable Energy for all (2014-2024)
Through Resolution 67/215, the United Nations General Assembly declared the decade
2014-2024 as the Decade of Sustainable Energy for All.
The Decade underscores the importance of energy issues for sustainable development
and for the elaboration of the post-2015 development agenda.
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It highlights the importance of improving energy efficiency, increasing the share of

renewable energy and cleaner and energy-efficient technologies. Enhancing the
efficiency of the energy models would reduce the stress on water.
UN-Energy
Established in 2004, UN-Energy was initiated as a mechanism to promote coherence and
inter-agency collaboration in the field of energy and to develop increased collective
engagement between the United Nations and other key external stakeholders. UNEnergy's work is organized around three thematic clusters: (1) Energy access; (2)
Renewable energy; and (3) Energy efficiency.
United-Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
UNIDO's primary objective is the promotion and acceleration of industrial development

in developing countries and countries with economies in transition using sustainable
practices primarily focused on water and energy security, and the promotion of
international industrial cooperation towards sustainable development.
World Bank-Thirsty Program
World Water Day: 22 March
UNEP
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NATIONAL
Empower, not weaken the CAG

Why CAG in news?
A recent proposal to curtail the powers of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India
runs contrary to national and international conventions. Rather, it is the duty of both
the executive and the legislature to strengthen this constitutional office.
It has been advocated recently that the time has come to make our national auditor, the
Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), accountable to Parliament through a
constitutional amendment.
This is a strange demand and such a demand had never been articulated in the past.
On the other hand, there have been demands for strengthening the Audit Act to further
empower the CAG.
In past:
The CAGs office initiated an amendment to the Audit Act during the tenure of the first
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
To enable a comprehensive audit of public funds and bodies rendering public service,
For a structured and time-bound response to the audit reports.
But, CAG did not receive a positive response from the government.
Delayed tabling of CAG reports:
There is a view that the CAG needed to restrict audit primarily to the compliance of
rules and regulations
The CAGs reports on quite a few occasions were not being presented to the legislatures
concerned on time.
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Thus, there was a clear undermining of the constitutional system, impeding the
accountability of the executive to the legislature by not allowing the CAG to perform his
or her constitutionally mandated role and serve Parliament adequately.
The accountability of the executive to the legislature, and the legislatures ability to
adequately work on the audits outcome was impeded.
Such a feedback and accountability mechanism is an essential component of the CAGs

accountability to Parliament.
Present Status:
The present constitutional structure ensures independence of the CAG to go into the
entire gamut of audit functions where public interest is involved.
In the present milieu of competing displays of political opportunism, any amendment

that has the scope to constrict CAGs functional role should not be encouraged in the
national interest.
Way Forward:
It is the duty of both the executive and the legislature to uphold the CAGs ambit, and in
no way fetter it by a constitutional amendment.
The CAG has only to be provided adequate institutional support in order for him or her
to discharge this vital, constitutionally enshrined role.
If at all a constitutional amendment is necessary, it could be to amend Article 149 of the

Constitution and to explicitly indicate, but in the broadest possible manner, the scope of
the CAGs responsibility. The Audit Act, suitably amplified, could supplement the
proposed amended constitutional provision.
About CAG:
CAG audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state
governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the
government.
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The CAG is also the external auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts
supplementary audit of government companies, i.e., any non-banking/ non-insurance
company in which the state and Union governments have an equity share of at least 51
per cent or subsidiary companies of existing government companies.
The reports of the CAG are taken into consideration by the Public Accounts
Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs), which are special
committees in the Parliament of India and the state legislatures.
The CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, the affairs of
which are managed by officers of Indian Audit and Accounts Service.
Term of CAG:
Appointed for 6 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
Connecting the dots:
In the light of recent controversy over curtailing the power of CAG. In your opinion
should CAG be empowered or weaken in present context? What steps should be taken
to ensure increased accountability of CAG?
What the world has done to the Victim?

8th September, 2015: Completed 15 years of the adoption of Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs)
2015 2030: Adoption of Sustainable Development Goals
Health & MDGs-The Indian Perspective:
Reduction of mortality among children under the age of 5:
Goal: To reach the under-five mortality rate of 38

National Rural Health Mission directly enhanced the rate of child survival & helped in
increasing the government allocation to the health sector
Recognition of Empowered Action Group (EAG) States to nine states for special focus
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Reduction of Maternal Mortality
Death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy

India: Very high number of maternal deaths
65% drop since 1990; but lagging behind the goal of 75% decline (MDGs)
Issues:
Low level of literacy: No awareness + Lack of accurate information
Young marriage and child-bearing practices
Postpartum Hemorrhage + Malaria + Dengue
Janani Suraksha Yojana To encourage hospital-care & monetary benefits
Why it failed?
Despite government subsidies, rural woman faces difficulty in reaching hospital for
institutional delivery due to no transportation facilities and non-inclusive public
healthcare services
Both NRHM + ICDS failed to create a dent on the ever-increasing undernourishment and
anaemia levels among pregnant women
Lack of on-the-doorstep health facilities: Evidence exists of a skilled birth attendance
inside the home which is less socially intimidating and less expensive but no special
attention has been provided to this aspect.
Halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS:
India on-track
Halt and reverse the spread of malaria and other diseases
Moderately on-track
Structural defects of MDGs:
Goals and targets need to be given a dynamic interpretation, country-wise

Possibility of some answers lying outside the health sector shouldnt be avoided and
social determinants should be taken into account accurately
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IASbabas Views:
Health issues stand as a strong barrier to poverty reduction and economic prosperity
and there is a need to look beyond the concept of these goals as time-bound targets
and more on the lines of, answers to the question of our survival.
Strong political commitment, extensive consultative process and effective mobilization
of resources from all nations to support innovation for better health equity is the need
of the hour.
Thus, an integrative vision of sustainable progress can only ensure the survival of the
weakest and the sickest too.
Connecting the Dots:
Does India possess enough fiscal room to finance Universal health Coverage? Discuss
Designing and implementing a strategy of universal coverage presents significant
challenges to the policy makers and implementing agencies. Describe these challenges
and suggest a way ahead.
Towards Universal Immunization

India and MDG Achievement:
India has made remarkable progress in achieving the MDG health-related targets. The country
has been able to substantially reduce its under-five mortality rate to 53 deaths per 1,000 live
births in 2013.
Important to note:
Of the nearly six million children under the age of five who die from preventable causes
every year around the world, 21 per cent are from India.
Many of these children die because of malnutrition and infectious diseases.
This could be prevented by adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to child health,
One that focuses on nutrition,

Safe water,
Improved sanitation,
Micronutrient supplements and
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Vaccination against preventable pneumonia and diarrhoea.
What needs to be done?

India will have to focus on its most vulnerable children
Children who are poor,

Live in rural areas or
Face discrimination because of ethnicity, caste, gender or disability.
Barriers in the way:
Barriers include problems such as:
Gender disparities,
Procurement and delivery challenges,
Too few frontline health workers and
Lack of information or misinformation on the benefits of immunization.
India reflects commitment to immunization efforts, multilateral institutions such as GAVI, a

global vaccine alliance, the World Health Organization and UNICEF can complement the
governments efforts by providing vaccine supplies in underserved areas, and strengthening
health systems, planning, monitoring, research and logistics.
Recent moves:
Mission Indradhanush aims to increase national immunization coverage rates and

expand the reach of the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which is already the
worlds largest immunization initiative.
By 2020, Mission Indradhanush aims to immunize at least 90 per cent of the children
and women.
It focuses on 201 high-priority districts and marginalized population groups
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Way Forward:
India has made significant progress in child survival in the last decade.
Smart initiatives, such as the Call to Action, Indias Newborn Action Plan and the
Integrated Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea, have paid tremendous health
dividends. But there is still a long way to go.
By focusing on those who are traditionally left out of the public health system, such as
children from tribal communities, child laborers, street children and children living in
informal settlements, the Mission Indradhanush programme offers a model of how
investment and interventions can serve the children who most need the help.
How can India achieve target of universal immunization? What needs to be done in
order to overcome the barriers in the way?
Mission Indradhanush programme offers a model of how investment and interventions

can serve the children who most need the help. In light of the statement, explain how
can Mission Indradhanush help India in achieving the universal immunization target?
Intelligent operations- Around the Globe

MI5 United Kingdoms domestic intelligence outfit
Described the ongoing terror scenario + Possible outcomes + Steps being taken +
Various Obstacles
Served as the moment of truth departing from the secret and thus, dangerous
strategies implementation to a more pro-active and citizen-centric approach
Education of the common man and the reminder to do his bit by being vigil and lending
out a helping hand to the forces to save his/her country from such dangers
Openness for National Interest Compromise on the Secrecy Need of the hour
Increased Vigil
Awareness
Higher rate of Participation
Success Rate higher
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Check on the fearful religious fanaticism + Anti-Nationalist tendency
To fight terror: More teeth to the Intelligence Agencies
Greater latitude: Surveillance + Legal Formalities + Exercise of Discretion + Operational

Freedom
Increased sensitivity towards threat-issues
Awareness of the limits
Proper delegation of powers
Trust on the Functionaries
Greater cooperation with the technology companies:
Sharing of suspicious information
Easy and timely encryption
Proactive role
Set of obligatory rules
IASbabas views:
The present global scenario requires more operational freedom for the intelligence agencies
to swiftly and accurately warrant safety, even if at the cost of stepped-up intrusion into the
lives of law-abiding citizens. More so, to secure our lives, we as citizens, should comply and
be a part of the operation.
This will also help citizen-centric legislations to take place with an increased participation of
the citizens due to sensitisation leading to a greater understanding of the security threats
amongst the governed.
On the other hand, our policy makers and law makers should also make sure that with this
empowerment, a greater responsibility lies on the shoulders of the intelligence officials.
There is thus, a need to strengthen the oversight by a body especially designed to
guarantee objectivity, moderation and elimination of any scenario leading to trust-deficit.
Intelligence agencies should make the public understand the national security threats
better. Discuss.
Examine the need for empowerment of the Intelligence agencies.
Mental Health
Denotes
Having healthy relationships

Making good life choices
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Maintaining physical health and well-being

Handling the natural ups and downs of life
WHO: 20% of Indias population will suffer from some form of mental illness by the year 2020
Reality Check:
0.06% of spending from its health budget on mental health in India

Depression, one of the biggest triggers of suicide in India, which accounts for more than
258,000 of the 804,000 suicide deaths worldwide in 2012
National Crime Records Bureau report 2013: Maharashtra has one of the highest
suicide rates
3 per cent of Indias population, an estimated 40 million people, suffers from Severe
Mental Disorders
Indias Efforts: National Mental Health Policy

Infrastructure:
More allocation of Funds for modernization and allocation of space in hospitals

Setting up of Small Mental Health-care facilities in various communities
Opening up of hospitals to safeguard women, children and the elderly
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Funds:
Facilitation of Medical Insurance to ensure medical help

Pro-poor approach
Caretakers will be supported financially
Treatment& Manpower:
Distinction between mental illness caused Chemically or Attitudinally

New Cadre: Mental Healthcare Providers
Auxiliary Midwives Training to take care of mentally ill patients
Introduction of new courses (MOOCs can be helpful)
Inclusion in Mental Illnesses in Universal Health Assurance Mission (UHAM)
Lack of recognition/awards in this field
Social Support:
Rehabilitation + Recovery + Reintegration

Spread awareness about the importance of Mental Health + Highlight Symptoms +
Remedies/Treatment available
Suicide isnt a criminal act, but a patient seeking help Decriminalization of it
Invoking a sense of responsibility in the people to embrace differences and display social
responsibility
IASbabas Views:
The convergence site of social welfare and heath proves to be a fertile ground to initiate
effective delivery and formulations of various policy initiatives that will mark a
departure from ineffective delivery of promises.
States need to take initiative to establish Center of Excellence on the lines of National
Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore and take up
campaigns to counter the expanding culture of alcoholism and drug consumption.
Institutionalization has to be effectively complemented with humane conditions of
survival, good health and security for the Action Plan 365 (Important roles to be played
by the Centre + States + Local bodies + Civil Society/Organisations) to be a success.
List down the salient features of the National Mental Health Policy 2014.
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Examine the detrimental effects of alcohol and drugs on healthy thinking. Can Indias
decadal shadow of policy paralysis break its image and emerge as a winner in the form
of its new Health Policy?
Gas pricing and some issues

Natural gas demand in the country runs far ahead of supply. India imports nearly a quarter of
its needs but fails to meet demand. This is due to insufficient domestic gas production and full
utilization of existing import capacity.
Why Gas Pricing in news?
The government last week announced the new price of natural gas produced in the country, as
part of a periodic revision mandated by the new gas pricing formula that it adopted in October
2014.
The formula mandates a price revision once every six months on the basis of the
prevailing prices in gas-surplus countries such as the United States, Mexico, Russia and
Canada.
So the new price of $3.8 per unit in effect from October 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016
is 18 per cent lower than the previous price.
This is likely to hurt producers such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Oil India, but
will be welcomed by CNG and PNG consumers,
Also, fertilizer subsidy will be less onerous and uphill task for the government.
About Gas Pricing:
The price of natural gas in India is not market-determined.

The domestic gas price is the weighted average price of four global benchmarks.
The domestic price is based on the benchmark prices in the prior year and kicks in with a
quarters lag.
It applies for six months.
Gas prices in Asia are typically higher than other global benchmarks due to the demandsupply dynamics in the geography.
Several issues that come along New Gas Pricing Formula:

1. The price in India is pegged on the benchmark prices of the previous year, and takes
effect after a time-lag of a quarter.
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For example, the price applicable in the period April 1-September 30, 2015 was based
on the average benchmark prices over January-December 2014. This means Indias gas
prices follow the global cues with a time-lag.
2. The government in its wisdom decided to peg the price of Indian gas in respect of the
prevailing prices in gas-surplus countries such as the United States, Mexico, Russia and
Canada.
Why these four hubs mainly? This remains the concern and chief argument which
proves the formula ambiguous is the fact that prices are higher in Asia.
3. The Rangarajan Committee took this fact into account and recommended $8.4 per
mmBtu, but it was ignored.
Controversy in past:
Then there is the question that why gas prices must be linked to the market if the cost
of supplying it in India namely, out of Reliance Industries KG-D6 basin is a
fraction of the market rate.
Conclusion:
One of the most important issues to do with the price of domestic gas being pegged to
global benchmarks is that any gains could be offset by losses on account of the rupees
movement.
Several research agencies say the almost 6 per cent depreciation of the rupee over
April-September 2015 will mean the net impact of the fall in the price of gas will
actually be significantly lower.
Gas pricing is a politically sensitive issue, it being a key input in important sectors such
as fertilizer and power.
Market-linked price is important to encourage domestic gas production.

In the coming years, if domestic output does not increase and the dependence on imported gas
rises, the country may end up paying more.
Much as in the case of oil, the government has been lucky that prices of natural gas are falling
globally. But this could well be temporary: if the global price increases, then the price in India
will also eventually increase.
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How is gas pricing determined in India? Is it the right approach to determine gas pricing
based on global benchmarks?
What are the issues that come along with the new gas pricing formula? How can these
issues be addressed?
Revolutionary Treatments
Drug Ivermectin
A derivative of Avermectin
Developed by
William Campbell (Drew University in Madison, New Jersey)
Satoshi mura (Kitasato University in Tokyo)
Eradication of River Blindness Onchocerciasis

Parasitic infection
Spread: Bites of infected black flies that breed in rapidly flowing rivers, thus,
increasing the chances of people residing nearby, to get affected
Causes
Intense itching
Skin discoloration
Rashes
Eye disease often leading to Permanent Blindness
Reduction of the incidence of Lymphatic Filariasis Common Name: Elephantiasis Painful + Disfiguring disease
Caused by three species of thread-like nematode worms:
Filariae Wuchereria bancrofti,
Brugia malayi and
Brugia timori
Male + Female worms: Together form nests in the human lymphatic system
Major Social + Economic impact on the country
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Discovery of Artemisinin
By Tu Youyou (China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing)

Treatment of Malaria
Formulated through the synergy established between traditional knowledge and modern
means
Extract from Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood): Redesigned + Purified + Made safe
Artemisinin:
Ability to reduce the number of Plasmodium parasites in the blood of patients with
malaria at a fast pace
Recommended by WHO: First-line treatment for P. falciparum malaria
Artemisinin Resistance:
Recovery happens with the help of effective partner drug
Increase in Resistance instances:
Poor treatment practices
Inadequate patient adherence to prescribed antimalarial regimens
Widespread availability of oral artemisinin-based monotherapies
Substandard forms of the drug
Reality Check:
2013:
198 million cases of malaria

Estimated 584,000 deaths worldwide
Over 90 per cent of them in Africa
Artemisinin Resistance Confirmed: Five countries of the Greater Mekong sub-region

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cambodia
The Lao Peoples Democratic Republic,
Myanmar (close to the Indian border)
Thailand and
Vietnam
India:
Over 40,000 people in India die each year

World Malaria Report 2011: Over 70 per cent of Indias population is at risk of malaria
infection
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IASbabas Views:
Indias Mekong-Ganga MoU with Cambodia and Indo-US Vaccination Program for
Malaria, needs to be supplemented with timely development and increased
coordination in the research, development and understanding of their cycles and
epidemiology.
The deep understanding of the environment with a greater synergy between the
traditional knowledge and modern medicines is the key towards controlling them, if not
their complete eradication.
There is also a need to ban the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics that are employed for
the production of food producing animals as they can invade human body and be a
facilitator of another global epidemic.
The world can benefit from the strengths of both conventional science and indigenous
knowledge systems. Discuss
Examine Indias tryst with Vector borne diseases
Mistaken Quest for a Purified Democracy

Right to Vote
In India, Right to Vote is a Statutory Right.

Undertrial prisoners, those in police custody and the ones serving the sentence are
not allowed to vote even if their name is listed in the electoral roll.
Where are the participants?
This is a grave miscarriage of the notion of equality as more than 65% of the population,
holding the power to vote, languishes behind the bars without being proven guilty.
The consistency of Section 62(5) of the Representation of the People Act with the
worlds largest democracy fails as it excludes 4,00,000 of its prospective voters who
holds the onus to bring about wide-ranging changes.
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SC's Judgement
Arguments against SC
Merely preventing them to Vote will
Curb Criminalisation + Maintain 'purity' not solve the issue

by excluding 'pollution' elements of
+ Requires 'strong'
democracy
measures
punishment for the guilty
&
'Civil Liberties' cannot be evaluated on

the basis of these justifications
Resource Crunch + Impracticability +
+ Democratically inhumane
Wastage of Time
+ Side-stepping on the obligatory
nature of the issue at hand
Drawbacks
Negation of Civic Liberty & Capacity takes place leading to further deterioration of ones
Social Status
Breeds further alienation from the normal course of community-life pushing him/her
towards finding an identity with the convicted.
Background
Representation of the People Act, 1951:
Article 324 to 329 of Part XV of the Constitution deals with the electoral system in our
country
Constitution allows Parliament to make provisions in all matters relating to elections to
the Parliament and State Legislatures.
In exercise of this power, the Parliament has enacted laws like Representation of the
People Act 1950 (RPA Act 1950), Representation of the People Act 1951 (RPA Act 1951)
and Delimitation Commission Act of 1952.
Representation of Peoples Act 1950 (RPA Act 1950):
Qualification of voters
Preparation of electoral rolls
Delimitation of constituencies
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Allocation of seats in the Parliament and state legislatures
Convicted or not, rule applies to those in jail and police custody; not applicable to those out
on bail.
IASbabas Views:
Along with the electoral reforms, there needs to be a mechanism at place to deal with
laws that mark a radical shift of the Judiciary from a justice-providing seat to a seat of
defeating the principle of innocent until proven guilty.
A proper framework should be worked upon in terms of the severity of the crime
committed, duration of prison term, judgement on case-by-case basis, as well as the
elimination of economic inequality that exists between persons who are out on bail
while awaiting trial and the undertrials.
Re-examination of aims behind disenfranchising undertrials needs to be incorporated
and the perusal of age-old method of chain of exclusions need to be countered with
well-framed questioning of the legitimate justification for their deprivation.
There is an urgent need for the Supreme Court of India to revisit the electoral reforms
to stand justified against the purity tainted litmus test of time. Comment
Right to Vote, even if not fundamental, contains in itself a privilege that can be robbed
off an individual. Examine the perils of the statement and comment on the entrenched
social prejudices that come into play as a consequence.
TOPIC - GS2
Salient features of the Representation of Peoples Act.

Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of
various Constitutional Bodies.
Limited finance limits democracy
That candidates in Indian elections grossly overshoot spending limits imposed by the
Election Commission (EC), sometimes even by a factor of 20-30, is no secret.
If there is one thing that major Indian political parties agree upon it is that spending
limits in Indian elections, and the countrys campaign finance rules in general, are
unreasonable.
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In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission (EC) raised the spending limit
by candidates from Rs.30 lakh to Rs.70 lakh. However the increase did not reduce the
number of spending violations.
Election spending limit: Backing by the statute
Representation of People Act, Chapter VIII, which states, the total of the said
expenditure shall not exceed such amount as may be prescribed, gives the authority
to EC to fix the election spending limits.
Why limit election spending?
The primary objective behind the ECs visibly restrictive campaign finance rules is to
level the playing field.
Critical issues associated with limiting election spending limit:
1. Firstly the Representation of People Act, does not say what the limit should be and why
it should be so low.
2. The Indian state has chosen to interpret the Act as giving it the right to set unrealistically
low limits to create a level playing field.
3. However this has failed, due to the official limits, candidates rely almost completely
on unaccounted cash from undisclosed donors, which essentially renders all the other
transparency initiatives of the EC redundant.
4. Once in office, the candidates must find ways to repay their debts to these donors, and
often do so by favouring them through policy changes or resource allocation. Thus the
restrictive campaign finance rules infuse corruption into day-to-day politics.
5. The desire to limit campaign finance also reflects a rather narrow view of
representation. A possible implicit assumption is that wealthy candidates may not be
able to adequately represent their constituencies, or at least not as well as their less
wealthy counterparts. Ordinarily one would think that the candidate who wins is the
one who best represents the constituencys interests, regardless of wealth status. But
the EC assumes that a wealthier candidate is not only more likely than a poor
candidate to win the election, but also less likely to accurately represent his or her
constituencys interests.
A comparison of election spending limit across different countries:
1. The no-limits nations: Australia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey.
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In these places, there are no limits on contributions, and no limits on what candidates
can spend.
2. The all-limit nations: Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel,
Japan, South Korea, Poland, Slovenia.
In these countries, there are limits on both contributions and on spending.
3. The nations with limits on spending but not on donations: Austria, Hungary, Italy, New
Zealand, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and India.
4. The nations with contribution limits but no spending limits: Finland, the United States.
Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections:
The Indrajit Gupta Committee on State Funding of Elections, 1998, backed the idea of state
funding of elections on principle, stating that
The Committee see full justification constitutional, legal as well as on ground of public
interest, for grant of State subvention to political parties, so as to establish such conditions
where even the parties with modest financial resources may be able to compete with
those who have superior financial resources.
It added two limitations, namely
Such funds could not be doled out to independent candidates, and only to national and
state parties having granted a symbol and proven their popularity among the electorate,
and
In the short-term, State funding may be given only in kind, in the form of certain
facilities to the recognised political parties and their candidates.
However, despite strongly backing full State funding of elections principle, it stated that only
partial State funding would be possible in the short-term given the prevailing economic
condition of the country.
Way Forward:
Electoral corruption in India is a product of the institutions and systems that we have
put in place.
The limits on election spending, along with the other restrictive campaign finance rules
of the EC, perpetuates a tightly-guarded socialist mindset among many Indian
policymakers, which often makes them wary of individual affluence.
By relaxing these rules, the Election Commission will be able to not only increase
compliance, transparency and representation in Indian elections, but also help align
Indias politics with its new economics.
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Even though the election spending limit has been increased, the inherent flaws within
the election system still exist today. Critically analyse.
Critically evaluate the need for shift to state funding of elections in order to tackle
electoral malpractices in India.
TOPIC - GS2
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or Services relating

to Health, Education, Human Resources.
A State of mind
Why Mental Health policy in news?
World Mental Health week was observed at the WHO in Geneva this week. The Disease Control
Priorities project released its recommendations to governments to address the burden of
mental disorders.
Findings of Disease Control Priorities project:
The Disease Control Priorities project has documented several findings relevant to India.
The burden of mental disorders is large and growing, and has been greatly
underestimated.
A wide variety of effective interventions, including medicines, psychological treatments
and social interventions can prevent and treat many disorders.
Some interventions can be delivered through legislative and regulatory measures
for example laws that restrict access to means of suicide (notably pesticides) and that
reduce the demand for alcohol.
Some effective interventions are delivered through a variety of community-based
sectors, such as parenting programmes from infancy through adolescence, and life-skills
training in schools to build social and emotional competencies in children and
adolescents.
Support to interventions by community health workers with appropriate training and
supervision, in partnership with primary care doctors and mental health professionals.
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Where does problem lies?
The vast majority of our population has no access to the benefits of this knowledge.
Those who are affected by mental disorders must rely entirely on their own resources to
recover.
Many incur heavy costs as they seek cures from a variety of sources, including religious,
traditional and private medical practitioners.
Stigma and discrimination lead many to endure the worst forms of human rights
abuses, including torture, in their homes, communities and even in the hospitals set up
to care for them.
What needs to be done?
There is the need for specialist care, such as in district hospital-based inpatient units,
and continuing care, for instance through supported housing, for a relatively small
proportion of people affected by severe disorders like psychosis, intellectual disability
and dementia.
India a Step Ahead:
While India has the distinction of being one of the first countries in the developing world
to establish a national mental health programme,
But, decades of mismanagement have led to small gains.
Way Forward:
The government would need to look no further than to implement, in letter and spirit,
its own National Mental Health Policy and District Mental Health Programme.
To do so, it would need to address the abject lack of technical capacity in most states
and districts to implement the public health approach to mental health.
It will need to free mental health programmes from the narrow confines of medical
school departments of psychiatry, embracing other public health institutions, sectors of
government (such as education) and a broad range of civil society groups.
It will need to create a new cadre, or empower existing ones, of community health
workers who address mental disorders alongside other chronic diseases, working
through primary healthcare.
It will need to adopt the draft Mental Health Care Bill, which has been languishing in
Parliament.
It will need to aggressively reform the countrys 40-odd mental hospitals to transform
them into institutions that are seamlessly linked to the community.
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It will need to actively empower networks and groups of persons affected by mental
disorders and their families to enable their voices to be heard and hold services
accountable.
Without these steps, both the mental health policy and programme will meet the same fate
as two decades of government programmes to address mental health in India.
What are the challenges that lie ahead of Indias Mental Health policy? What can be
done to overcome these challenges?
India has the distinction of being one of the first countries in the developing world to
establish a national mental health programme, decades of mismanagement has led to
pitifully small gains. Comment.
NOTE: A comprehensive article on CAPITAL PUNISHMENT/DEATH PENALTY is covered in

IASbabas Monthly Magazine (September), 2015
TOPIC: General Studies 2
Constitution, Polity Directive Principles of State Policy(DPSP)

Governance and Social Justice
Uniform civil code : Need of the hour
A bench of Supreme Court

Justices Vikramjit Sen and
Shiva
Kirti
Singh
questioned
the
government about its
mandate on framing the
Uniform Civil Code so that
all religions are regulated
by the same yardsticks in
matters of law.
The question of uniform
civil code came in the light
of the bench hearing a
petition, challenging the legal provision that compels Christian couples to wait for at
least two years for divorce, whereas this period of separation is one year for other
religions.
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Why uniform civil code is in news now?
Christians file for divorce under Section 10A (1) of the Divorce Act, which states that a
petition for dissolution of marriage by mutual consent can be presented before a court
only after a judicial separation of two years.
However, the period of separation is one year in other statutes such as the Special
Marriage Act, the Hindu Marriage Act and the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act.
The court observed this Section 10A (1) lacked rationale and it is violates Articles 14
(right to equality) and 21 (right to life and liberty).
What is uniform civil code?
Article 44 of the Constitution of India declares that The State shall endeavour to
secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India.
A uniform civil code administers the same set of secular civil laws to govern all people
irrespective of their religion, caste and tribe.
This supersedes the right of citizens to be governed under different personal laws based
on their religion or caste or tribe. Such codes are in place in most modern nations.
Need for uniform civil code:
India is a land of diversities with several religions. The oldest part of Indian legal system
is the personal laws governing the Hindus and the Muslims.
Many personal Laws like, The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, The Parsi Marriage and
Divorce Act, 1936, Sharia law pose a contradiction.
One important thing is Article 15 would seem to make personal law unconstitutional.
Article 15 requires non-discrimination based on sex, whereas Muslim Personal Law
favours the man in many cases, especially in the issue of divorce and in the issue of
polygamy.
And also the personal laws violate Article 14 and 21 , which gurantees right to equality
and individual liberty respectively.
Personal laws are inconsistent with morality and human rights as well.
The GOAN model:
Goa is the only state in India which has enforced Uniform Civil Code for all citizens.
The Portuguese Civil Code that remains in force even today which was introduced in the
19th century in Goa and wasnt replaced after liberation.
The Uniform civil code in Goa is a progressive law that allows equal division of income
and property regardless of gender between husband and wife and also between
children.
Every birth, death and marriage has to be compulsorily registered.
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Muslims that have their marriages registered in Goa cannot take more than one wife
or divorce by pronouncing talak thrice.
Way Forward:
In order to promote the spirit of uniformity of laws and accomplish the objectives enshrined in
Art.44 of the Constitution, the following suggestions need immediate consideration
A progressive and broadminded outlook is needed among the people to understand the
spirit of such code. For this, education, awareness and sensitisation programmes must
be taken up.
The Uniform Civil Code should act in the best interest of all the religions.
A committee of eminent jurists should be considered to maintain uniformity and care
must be taken not to hurt the sentiments of any particular community.
Critically examine the increasing need for uniform civil code in India.
Uniform civil code is the need of the hour in order to ensure unity and integrity of the
nation as enshrined in preamble of our constitution. Substantiate.
Critically examine the various factors inhibiting the implementation of uniform civil code
in India.
Constitution, Polity Fundamental Rights (FR)

Governance
Sedition : An unconstitutional tool
Recently, the Gujarat government booked a Patel leader under sedition for sending
messages containing offensive language against the Prime Minister, the State Chief
Minister and BJP National President.
These cases are indicative of a high level of intolerance being displayed by governments
towards the basic freedom enjoyed by citizens.
Democracy has no meaning without these freedoms and sedition as interpreted and
applied by the police is a negation of it.
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Sedition : Statutory framework

Section 124A of the IPC defines sedition and says:
1.
2.
Whoever by words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representation

or otherwise brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, the government
established by law; or
Whoever by the above means excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the
government established by law, has committed the offence of sedition.
What the section tries to achieve?
There should be no attempt by any individual or sections, to excite hatred or contempt

or disaffection.
In other words, even if the impugned speech or article or cartoon seeks to obtain the
alteration of the wrong governmental decisions, if they excite hatred, contempt or
disaffection towards the government, the author of the speech and others are liable to
be charged with sedition and punished.
What is Supreme Courts view on sedition?
The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court explained the amplitude of sedition in
1962 in the case of Kedarnath Vs. State of Bihar ( 1962 ).
The court adopted the view that, a person can be charged with sedition only if there is
incitement to violence in his speech or writing or an intention to create disorder.
Infringement of rights under Article 19 :
Article 19(1)(a) guarantees freedom of speech and expression to all the citizens.
However, Article 19(2) talks about reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and
expression, in interests of public order.
Article 19(2) has been used by the governments to suppress constructive criticisms by
the public, on faulty and wrong governmental decisions.
Way Forward:
Sedition defined under Section 124A of the IPC is a colonial law meant to suppress the
voice of Indian people.
However the irony is the law enforcement agencies have always used it against artists,
public men, intellectuals for criticising the governments.
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The Supreme Court, being the protector of the fundamental rights of the citizens may
step in now and declare Section 124A unconstitutional.
India of the 21st century does not require a law used by the colonial government to
suppress Indias voice.
Colonial mentality is hindering Indias development. Critically examine.

Discuss section 124A of the IPC, with reference to its alleged violation of article 19 of the
Indian constitution.
Critically evaluate the statement Freedom of speech and expression is not absolute in
India.

Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States, issues and challenges
pertaining to the federal structure,
Governance
Unfinished Business of Partition: Article 370
The relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India rests on the weightbearing capacity of Article 370.
Article 370 was formulated keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issue but has gained
the image of being the biggest impediment to the integration of J&K State with the rest
of India. (Part XXI- "Temporary, Transitional and Special provisions" of Indian
Constitution)
Article 1 of the Constitution of J&K though states that the state is and will be a part of
India, the essence of this article hasnt been realized yet. The plan had always been to
abrogate it in a gradual manner but it has stood the test of time, and rather too bluntly.
More power has been assigned, that which has got absolutely no backing to attack the
sovereignty of the State.
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Historical Misgivings:
When we go back to the history of its birth, we realize that the reasons given by Sheikh
Abdullah for providing special status to J&K were:
Occupation of 1/3rd of the state by Pakistan,

Reference to the UN by Lord Mountbatten
Provision of Plebiscite
Unfolding Provisions of Sheikh Abdullah:
Any changes could be brought about only by the concurrence of J&K assembly
Sheikh Abdullah abolished hereditary monarchy and re-designated himself as the Sadare-Riyasat, the office of which could be elected by the Assembly.
Red Line Drawn:
Allowed to have its own Constitution

Central government can make laws only with the concurrence of the State government
except for Defence, Foreign Affairs, Communications and ancillary matters (A power like
that of a Veto exists)
National and Financial emergency if declared in India, cannot be applied in J&K
Presidents Rule cannot be enforced without the consent of the Governor
A Constitutional Amendment becomes applicable to J&K only after the President issues
an order for the same (Reason for Controversy)
Dual Citizenship for the citizens of J&K
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Non-applicable nature of Anti-Defection Law

No outsider can own property in J&K
The State can refuse building of any cantonment as well as allocation of land for defence
purposes
Troubled Valley:
The saying, Enemy of an enemy is a friend has been sustained in the minds of the
people who consider Indian Government as an entity, injecting troubles for them in the
valley. India needs to consciously tread on its path towards peace and open its
communication links with the local people. Politically motivated confusion should be
dealt with to save a crisis in the making.
Cultural heritage needs to be showered with protection and should be embraced with
humility. The tourism potential should be complemented with better infrastructure
along with peace and stability in the region.
There is a pressing need to formalize the Status Quo, accept the LoC as the de facto and
de jure border between India and Pakistan and mutual withdrawal of troops (minimum
required to stay) should take place.
IASbabas Views:
Article 370 stands greatly abused and remain a major bottleneck for the complete
realisation of sovereignty for the nation. This moral wrong has to be addressed without
the element of victimization, on the part of the citizens of J&K, to take place.
The green aspect of more devolution of capital for the development of the State
should be applauded (positive benefit of Art. 370) and be adopted for the safe end to
Article 370 as well as for transforming India into a true federation.
For a smooth transition of a special state to a normal and an integrated one, a proper
dispute resolution (peaceful & sustained dialogue process) with Pakistan is a must.
Urgent steps have to be taken to stop the escalation of tensions and loss of civilian lives
over the ongoing tussle.
To fight to the last ditch for (Kashmir) is the slogan of all Pakistanis; not to give way on
it is rapidly becoming the fixed idea of India. Trace the historical shade behind the given
statement and write briefly about the current situation in the valley.
Does there exist a possible solution for the Kashmir trouble? Substantiate
Comment on the alienating element existing pre-dominantly in Article 370 against
India.
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Governance
Growing intolerance towards difference of opinion in India
The recent incident of murder of Kannada scholar M M Kalburgi has sparked row over
the growing intolerance in India towards difference of opinion.
Over the last 2 years, this has been the third case, the first two being Govind Pansare
and Narendra Dabholkar.
What is the issue?
M. M. Kalburgi, veteran Kannada writer and former Vice-Chancellor of Kannada

University, Hampi, who was known for his strong stand against superstitious practices
and right-wing groups, was shot dead at his house Dharwad, Karnataka on August
30,2015.
Following this the government of Karnataka handed over the case to CID, to probe the
investigation.
Even after 45 days the incident has taken place, the government is yet to identify the
people involved and getting them punished by law.
Following the delay, various Sahitya Academy scholars have started to return their
awards, fellowships and various positions within the academy.
Constitutional rights involved:

The following are the constitutional rights available for a person in support of difference of
opinion
1. Article 19(1)(a) - Freedom of speech and expression.
2. Article 25- Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of
religion.
However the above fundamental rights are not absolute, the following provisions restrict the
above fundamental rights.
Article 19(2) reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub
clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State,
friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to
contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence.
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Article 25(1)- Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this
Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess,
practise and propagate religion.
Non support from Sahitya Academy:
The Sahitya Academy, an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the

languages of India, has been quiet over the issue.
Off late the effectiveness of the organisation has been under scanner from various civil
society groups.
Criticisms against Sahitya Academy:
The academy is not independent and is been largely politicised.

There have been widespread allegations of corruption and controversial appointments
to some prominent positions within the academy.
It has also been alleged time and again that the procedure of nomination of litterateurs
for the coveted Sahitya Academy Awards is not transparent.
Iasbabas view:
India is a plural country with various cultural practices and customs.

Tolerance towards difference of opinions is very important in order to maintain the
secular fabric of the country and lead it towards development.
The government should take necessary steps in this regard to wipe out elements, who
are intolerant towards such differences.
In the wake of growing intolerance towards difference of opinion in India, what are the
various constitutional safeguards provided for such individuals with difference of
opinion.
Critically evaluate the effectiveness of Sahitya Academy as an organisation in promotion
of literature in various languages of India.
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The perils of e-fixation: Students, Computers and Learning

India, has had a long tradition of well-established educational system that spans across from
the era of Upanishad or earlier. But the present predominant thrust of the modern educational
system is projected as one of technocratic-meritocratic learning.
OECDs Observations:
Countries which have invested heavily in information and communication technologies

(ICT) for education have seen no noticeable improvement in their performances in PISA
results for reading, mathematics or science.
Ensuring that every child reaches a baseline level of proficiency in reading and
mathematics will do more to create equal opportunities in a digital world than solely
expanding or subsidising access to high-tech devices and services
Students who use computers moderately at school tend to have somewhat better
learning outcomes than students who use computers rarely. But students who use
computers very frequently at school do much worse, even after accounting for social
background and student demographics.
Technology is the only way to dramatically expand access to knowledge. To deliver on
the promises technology holds, countries need to invest more effectively and ensure
that teachers are at the forefront of designing and implementing this change
Striking similarities with ASER Survey, 2014:

The survey exhibits the failure of the students performance to go up despite improvement in
facilities provided by the rural schools of India. For example, in 2009, 60.2% of children in Class
VIII could read simple sentences in English but in 2014, this figure was 46.8%.
Need for Technological Revolution:
To widen access at all levels

To raise the quality of the outcomes
To keep costs low, maximizing the value of their investment of public funds
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The Learning Conundrum:

Paper & Pencils
There exists an intimate connection between the physical hand on the paper and the words on
the page but computers help them in easily editing the work, exhibiting improvements in their
writing making it highly qualitative.
Information Highway
Expectation of easy access to information and instantaneous answers has become the modern
day concept of research and is considered acceptable, at large. This leads to a tendency
towards skimming and not in-depth understanding and analysis. With an off shoot of
concentration problem and disorganized memory, this multi-tasking generation hurts itself by
deteriorating intellect.
Designing Technology for a Democratized Learning
I.A big NO to replication of Traditional learning & digitizing traditional Methods:
Technology should be used to create new learning avenues and new methods of learning. The
simple digitization encompasses within itself its own set of failures and thus, can never enable
a better learning environment for the learners.
Bridging the Linguistic Divide:

Drawing up an ICT plan for Indian Languages, to include platforms and databases for
dissemination of resources for higher education and digitising the languages
E-basta in India:
Selection of books can be made and kept at one place (eBasta) with full access to
various materials by school (Interactive + Dynamic Content) which can be downloaded
and kept at one place for usage. Therefore, accessibility, portability, availability and no
burden on the shoulder gets ensured.
Magic of Failure:
Getting the wrong answer isnt a failure; just a step ahead to go deeper into the required
understanding
The present generation is exposed to a whole new level of innovation and discoveries,
every single minute. A sense of touch exists, employing newer levels of creativity with
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the things they see, they feel and they want to feel. This type of learning is known as
Learning how to learn through trial and error and persistence.
No one is All: Gravest mistake committed

If children may not learn the way we teach, we must teach them the way they learn
Every child comes from a different background, their gene strains are the perfect proof
to that. They grow up in a different background with different circumstances and
different interests altogether. Therefore, treating all learners the same, hosting the
same schedule of studies for all, not allowing learning to vary per student and then
going ahead and building upon on what they didnt/couldnt learn at all is pushing the
learning spree of a child in grave danger.
Blended Learning- Learning Positioning System

Learning the learner as the learner learns
This initiative provides students to architect their own learning process and master
them. Every child has unique learning needs and when a technology-based application is
connected with the learning process, this engine collects behavioural information and
the different (individual) process of learning. Thus, engagement according to their own
learning needs is ensured without stigmatizing the student.
How should we be using technology in schools?

It is not the technology itself that is important, it is how effectively and efficiently it is used that
creates a marked difference
Exchange: swapping traditional ways of doing things with ICT

Enrich: engaging learners with a richer mix of media
Enhance: encouraging deeper learning through the use of ICT
Extend: encouraging students to take their learning further
Empower: giving students control over their own learning
II. Perfect combination of 2 Ts: Teacher & Technology

Capitalize:
There is a need to capitalize on the enthusiasm shared between the teachers and students
about technology. More flexibility in the way one learns can be infused and personalization
would take place. Proper guidance as per needs can then take place. After all, learning is not
about content, it is about creation.
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Training:
Policy makers should formulate policies for a better relationship that should be established
between teachers and technology. Specialized and regular trainings about the ICT methods and
efficient usage can boost up their confidence and can enable the educator to bring in a surge of
changes in the education level of her students, also with respect to making the most of the
opportunities presented by technology. This will help them go from being a sage on the stage
to a guide on the side.
IASbabas Views:
Fine-tuning and reflecting upon the lost opportunities should be the first step taken
towards shaping the road ahead for education. It would make more sense to adopt a
balanced viewpoint and identifying the key issue here, rather than letting the argument
oscillate between technologys potential and its drawbacks.
Purchase and supply of technology should be complemented with proper handling and
guidance which can only be achieved by empowering the teachers and training them to
become in-sync with the methods and development.
Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & SECULARISM
Growing religious fundamentalism in India
Recent incidents of Dadri lynching, black paint on Sudhindra Kulkarni by Shiv Sena
activists, have yet again reminded us of growing religious fundamentalism in India.
The Indian subcontinent has had a chequered history of communal conflicts and interreligious disagreement have characterised its socio-political landscape.
In pre-partition era, the British policy of 'divide and rule' was in large measure
considered to be responsible for interfaith divide.
After independence, the government took various measures in order to curb religious
fundamentalism, however the orthodox Hindu politicians have often advanced their
Hindutva agenda in order to gain electoral victory.
Understanding the concept of Hindutva:
V D Savarkar, an Indian independence activist coined the term Hindutva in 1923.

Hindutva is the predominant form of Hindu nationalism in India.
The three essentials of Hindutva as defined by V D Savarkar are, common nation
(rashtra), common race (jati) and common culture/civilisation (sanskriti).
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Hindutva misinterpretated:
Hindutva is only Manavata, i.e., the characterisation of quality of Hindu in being a

perfect human being.
A man cannot exist without the quality of humanity. Similarly, an Hindu cannot exist
without Hindutva.
However this meaning has been misinterpreted as, creating an Hindu nation by
eliminating different religious practices other than Hinduism.
This flawed interpretation has been misused by some right wing extremists for narrow
parochial political gain, destroying the secular fabric of the country.
Threats from Islamic fundamentalism
India is also facing threats of Islamic fundamentalism which include threats from ISIS,
Indian Mujahideen etc.
The Islamic fundamentalism has almost halted the progress of Jammu Kashmir and is
impeding the development process of country by destroying peace and harmony.
What we lack?
What we lack in India is constructive talks on religion.

People in India resist any talks when it comes to religious interpretations and sayings.
Religion in India is considered to be sacred. People are ready to face the bad
consequences of faulty religious interpretations but are not ready to have a discussion
to come out with the right interpretation.
Iasbabas view:
Growing religious fundamentalism is a serious threat which can destroy the progress
which India has achieved till date.
Government should take proactive steps through strengthening of national
integration council, creating economic and emotional bondage among the citizens in
order to ensure that unity in diversity is maintained.
Religion should not be the basis for division of state, Critically examine the above
statement wrt growing religious fundamentalism in India.
Critically examine the adequacy of various measures taken by the government in order
to tackle religious fundamentalism in India.
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TOPIC:
General Studies 3: Role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges
General Studies 2: Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability.
Ombudsman in the time of social media: Networked Society or Networked Individualism?
Social structure and relationships are changing and technology has been on the
forefront as a driver of this change. The networked individualisms focus is more on the
self than the society as a whole, having lost its monolithic character.
Far from being embedded in groups, this system is a type of special isolation from the
societys longstanding social arrangements and hierarchies. This system for multiple
users also incorporate multi-threaded multi-tasking leading to gaining new skills to
operate, survive and gain the best out of it.
And with this ideology, technology has also brought into the forefront, two different
components of media, the historical legacy media and the offshoot of networked
individualism- Social Media (Constant updates, rants, bickering and the touch effect)
Paradox of E: Errors and Efforts
With a constant touch networking, news spread very easily and that too, at a very fast
pace. If one may believe easily on just the hashtags or an easy access to condemn a
wrong without providing a room for corrections, itd be a major blow to the notion and
idea of a responsible media.
An earnest effort to accept mistakes and seek corrections to the same and also, mutual
understanding between the two components of media is the need of the hour to initiate
dialogue and establish the essence of accuracy.
Ombudsman:
To err is human, fits well with a lens that one should adopt to objectively view the
current situation and recognize the importance of collective responsibility. Contrary to
that, a constant nit-picking and constant nagging, leads to a situation of hostility and
vengeance.
An Ombudsman is a part of the institutional mechanism to address the lapses and errors
that creep in while taking care of the various reasons, even that of a momentary lapse
of concentration. This will pave way for a culture of acceptance and thus rectification,
and not punishment.
This rectification puts in place a sense of morality as well as a support and trust with the
reporters, the readers, and a sense of a personal sense of responsibility to own up
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his/her own mistakes, if committed later. With confidence instilled, a healthy and a
profitable rapport is, thus built with the reader.
Verification of facts should take place from impeccable sources as well as, they should
be ready to answer even discomforting queries, without being defensive of the
pointed-out errors as questions are being asked to not only protect them but also give
necessary traction for their journalism
IASbabas Views:
Literature of Media needs to showcase a fair interpretation of what exactly is editorial

freedom and how is it constituted. The principle of objective reporting cannot be
deviated from and an Ombudsman can help establish this sense of faith, for the readers
to form their own opinion based on the reports.
Social Media has gained much importance today but the constant twitter squabbles
and opinionated-arguments need to be taken care of as it spreads a sense of negativity
over the internet, the second home of many. Also, it needs to adopt a toned-down
approach and not bring the house down with digitally inclined allegations and should
lend a hand to support the ones who falter.
Lobbying and unfair practice of a putting the nexus of reporters and politicians into play
while writing the newspaper report should be curbed as it has the power to sway the
publics opinion and thus, their sense of responsibility gets nullified and commercialized.

1. Write short notes on:
Media: Problem-generating machine
Partisan Media
2. We have to, as responsible citizens, seek out those facts that might make us angry.
Discuss
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Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.
Crisis of Credibility: CBI caught on the wrong foot

History:
Saddled with issues of corruption

in the department of war as well
as eventually, the spread of the
same
to
various
other
departments,
the
British
government
passed
Delhi
Special Police Establishment
Act, which was again amended
in 1946 to keep a check on the
corruption issues involving all the
employees of the Central
Government.
The powers involved; registering
an FIR under the relevant
sections of the IPC and later,
Prevention of Corruption Act (1988) wherein it was registered only after Preliminary
Enquiry established that prima facie an offence of corruption had been committed.
In 1963, on the recommendations of Santhanam Committee and through a resolution
passed by the Government of India, the agency acquired the name Central Bureau of
Investigation and came into formal existence.
CBIs charter involved investigating cases of bribery (against central government
employees), fiscal crimes (Hawala Transactions), Trans-border & interstate offences,
anti-terrorism cases, collection of criminal intelligence, maintenance of crime statistics
and coordinating implementation of criminal laws.
Justice Verma and VineetNarain Case, 1997 (Jain Havala Transaction):

The directions passed by Justice Verma are following:
1. The CVC be given a statutory status and be entrusted with responsibility to supervise
the work of the CBI ensuring its efficiency and impartiality;
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2. Its head be selected by a team of the prime minister, home minister and leader of
the opposition in Parliament from a panel of eminent people and the CBI director be
appointed for a minimum tenure of two years by a committee headed by the CVC
including the union home secretary and the secretary, personnel;
3. A report on the activities of the CBI be submitted in three months;
4. A nodal agency be set up for dealing with the emerging political-criminalbureaucratic nexus;
5. A directorate of prosecution be set up
Bureaucratic-political manipulations witnessed:
The CVCs powers of superintendence over the CBI, called for by the apex court, was
diluted to maintain dual control by government and the CVC
No steps were taken to follow the apex courts directions to ensure efficiency and
impartiality on the part of the CBI;
The Supreme Court recommendation that a document on the CBIs functioning be
submitted in three months was ignored;
Its direction to set up a nodal agency to deal with politico-bureaucratic-criminal
nexus was ignored and its direction to set up an independent directorate of
prosecution was ignored.
Plaguing Issues:
The CBI has become the states parrot. Only screaming, repeating the masters voice ~Justice
R.M. Lodha
Political cross-fire:
There exists no political insularity and this leads to succumbing to political pressures, from time
to time. Even the control over CBI keeps shifting from one Ministry to another, leading to a void
filled with instability. Much politicization and interference leads to suffocation, lending an able
personnel working with full integrity and fearlessly, toothless.
Autonomy:
Freedom to investigate crime and yet being answerable to a bipartisan committee of the
Parliament will call for a full functional autonomy balanced with accountability.
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In addition to this arrangement, a neutral mechanism to look after the overall

functioning and operational issues is necessary, till an independent Lokpal is put to
function.
Cooperation of other agencies is required for successful and high-profile trans-national
investigations.
Funds are sanctioned by the Personnel ministry and thus, the Ministry exercises a direct
control over CBIs Financial Autonomy, which needs to be curbed and put to certain
rules and restrictions on the part of governments interference.
Poor Leadership& Personnel:
Poor Leadership leads to a major roadblock for lack of professionalism. The Director
should carefully tread the path of political manipulations and his responsibilities, stand
up to the pressure and makes sure to keep himself and his team insulated by always
being prepared with the written instructions passed and proof of the actions initiated
from his end.
There needs to be put in place a proper file system tracking every detail, orders and
periodical progress reports. This will help in shielding the agency from unwanted
allegations and maintain high transparency, at the same time.
Justice Vermas recommendations ought to be put in place and a judicious mix
consisting of a permanent CBI cadre, expertise from outside, oppositions and judiciary
suggestion needs to be considered for men with integrity to get recruited. Also, a
collegium comprising the prime minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of the
Opposition can be constituted for the same.
There is a need to put up a cadre of supervisory officers quashing the uncertain system
of inductions through deputation from the State Police Forces and Central Police
Organisations.
IASbabas Views:
Reviews of the historical experiences with respect to the efforts employed in fighting
political and administrative corruption through CBI and CVC points out towards a
lackadaisical process. The thin line between superintendence and interference in its
investigation work is not vague but very much prevalent and calls for urgent reforms in
the present scenario.
One needs to consider the views of the Select Committees directives like:
CBI officers investigating cases referred by the Lokpal will be transferred with the
approval of the Lokpal; and
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For cases referred by the Lokpal, the CBI may appoint a panel of advocates (other
than government advocates) with the consent of the Lokpal.
Also, a new CBI Act must substitute the archaic Delhi Special Police Establishment Act
and the role, jurisdiction and legal powers of the agency need to be clearly laid down for
the effective functioning of its delegated powers.
Relevance of RTI should be established over the functioning of CBI to maintain public
trust in its workings. Sensitive matters and selective cases can be kept inaccessible and
confidentiality of involvement of whistle-blower and their statements need to be kept
under close guarding.
Enumerate the structural problems of CBI and suggest the institutional reforms needed
to facilitate CBI into becoming an empowered and a responsible agency.
Accountability and autonomy go hand in hand. Discuss
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and

institutions.
Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
NJAC verdict : An analysis [PART I]
The Supreme Court rejected the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act
and the 99th Constitutional Amendment which sought to give politicians and civil
society a final say in the appointment of judges to the highest courts.
Background:
Article 124(2) : Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by
warrant under his hand and seal after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme
Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary for the purpose
and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty five years: Provided that in the case of
appointment of a Judge other than the chief Justice, the chief Justice of India shall always be
consulted:
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Evolution of Collegium system:
The collegium system has its genesis in a series of three judgments that is now clubbed
together as the Three Judges Cases.
The S P Gupta case (1981) is called the First Judges Case. It declared that the
primacy of the CJIs recommendation to the President can be refused for cogent
reasons. This brought a paradigm shift in favour of the executive having primacy over
the judiciary in judicial appointments for the next 12 years.
In 1993, came a nine-judge bench decision in the Supreme Court Advocates-on Record
Association vs Union of India case the Second Judges Case. This was what ushered
in the collegium system. The majority verdict written by Justice J S Verma said
justiciability and primacy required that the CJI be given the primal role in such
appointments.
It overturned the S P Gupta judgment, saying the role of the CJI is primal in nature
because this being a topic within the judicial family, the executive cannot have an
equal say in the matter.
Again in 1998, in the Third judges Case 1993 judgement was reiterated giving way
for the collegium system.
Collegium system :
The collegium system of appointment of judges is popularly referred to as judgesselecting-judges.

It is a body of senior apex court judges headed by the Chief Justice of India to select
persons and recommended their names for appointment as judges.
It also recommends names for appointment and transfer of judges of high courts and
the Supreme Court.
Need for NJAC :

To prove why the NJAC was necessary and why the collegium system should be disposed with,
here are a few examples:
In a country where there is a backlog of 3.2 crore cases in the judiciary, one judge of the
Supreme Court wrote only seven judgements in four years. Out of that two were
concurring where he wrote only a few paragraphs.
A High Court judge was elevated to the Supreme Court allegedly only because he was
the business partner of the son of a former Chief Justice of India.
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The sister of a former CJI was appointed to Calcutta High Court when allegedly many
fine judges were denied the appointment.
Many judges were appointed to the Supreme Court by the Collegium despite the
Intelligence Bureau (IB) giving an adverse report on them.
A brief outlook into NJAC :

A new article, Article 124A, (which provides for the composition of the NJAC) had been inserted
into the Constitution.
Composition
As per the amended provisions of the constitution, the Commission would have consisted of
the following six persons:
Chief Justice of India (Chairperson, ex officio).

Two other senior judges of the Supreme Court next to the Chief Justice of India - ex
officio.
The Union Minister of Law and Justice, ex-officio.
Two eminent persons.
The two eminent persons would have been nominated by a committee consisting of the
Chief Justice of India,

Prime Minister of India, and
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha or where there is no such Leader of Opposition,
then, the Leader of single largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha), provided that of the
two eminent persons, one person would be from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled
Tribes or OBC or minority communities or a woman.
Functions of the Commission:
Recommending persons for appointment as Chief Justice of India, Judges of the

Supreme Court, Chief Justices of High Courts and other Judges of High Courts.
Recommending transfer of Chief Justices and other Judges of High Courts from one High
Court to any other High Court.
Ensuring that the persons recommended are of ability, merit and other criteria
mentioned in the regulations related to the act.
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Critically examine the need for judicial reforms in India.

Compare and contrast collegiums system with NJAC provisions.
Separation of powers between various organs dispute redressal mechanisms and

institutions.
Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary
NJAC verdict : An analysis [PART 2]

Why did the Supreme Court call NJAC unconstitutional?
Article 124A(1) : There shall be a Commission to be known as the National Judicial
Appointments Commission consisting of the following, namely
the Union Minister in charge of Law and JusticeMember, ex officio;
Because of the inclusion of the Union Minister in charge of Law and Justice as an ex officio
Member of the NJAC, independence of the judiciary, as well as, separation of powers ,
which forms the basic structure of the constitution will be affected.
two eminent persons to be nominated by the committee consisting of the Prime

Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition in the House of the
People or where there is no such Leader of Opposition, then, the Leader of single
largest Opposition Party in the House of the People.
In Paragraph 182, of the judgement, NJAC was struck down as unconstitutional, as the inclusion
of two eminent persons on the NJAC for having not laid down qualifications of eligibility and
having left the same vague and undefined.
A setback to parliament sovereignty:
The NJAC was completely supported by Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.
It had 100 per cent support of the people.
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It is a flawed judgment ignoring the unanimous will of the Parliament, half the State
Legislatures and the will of the people for transparency in judicial appointments.
Does appointment of judges by judges forms the basic structure of independence of
judiciary?
The independence of the judiciary shall be guaranteed by the State or the law of the country in
the following matters
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Freedom of expression and association.

Qualifications, selection and training
Conditions of service and tenure.
Professional secrecy and immunity.
Discipline, suspension and removal.
Persons selected for judicial office shall be individuals of integrity and ability with appropriate
training or qualifications in law. Any method of judicial selection shall safeguard against
judicial appointments for improper motives. In the selection of judges, there shall be no
discrimination against a person on the grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or status, except that a requirement, that a
candidate for judicial office must be a national of the country concerned, shall not be
considered discriminatory.
The above is the United Nations Human Rights recommendations on Basic Principles on the
Independence of the Judiciary.
What next for the government on NJAC ?
1. It can re-enact a fresh amendment to the Constitution and Bill, taking into account the
concerns of the Supreme Court, but this is a long and cumbersome process as two-thirds
majority is required in both Houses, and the ratification of 50 per cent of the State
Assemblies.
2. It can seek review of the verdict, but it will come up before the same Bench.
3. It can once again plead that the entire case be heard before a larger Bench, but this plea
has already been rejected.
4. It can participate in the further hearing before the court, on strengthening the present
collegium system and insist on the executive also having an equal say in judicial
appointments.
There is also another option available to the government.
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The Court has held that independence of the judiciary and the primacy of the judiciary in the
appointments process but not the collegium system form part of the basic structure.
Thus the possibility of establishing another Commission is still on the table, so long as it
complies with the principles set out in the judgment.
In fact, there are nuggets of information in the Courts judgment describing what a
constitutionally valid Commission would look like.
For instance, the leading majority opinion explains that civil society can be legitimately
included in the appointments process through a non-binding consultation procedure.
Critically examine the reasons behind declaring NJAC unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court.
What do you understand by independence of judiciary is a basic structure? Substantiate.
Critically examine the loop holes in current collegium system of appointing judges to
higher judiciary in India. What changes would you recommend in order to plug the loop
holes?
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues
arising out of their design and implementation.
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population
Governance Issues
Kerosene Subsidy: No longer needed
In India, the subsidy was established during World War II, as a distribution scheme
during fuel shortages. Post war, the subsidy continued with the intention of stabilizing
prices and providing poor households with sufficient fuel for cooking and lighting,
leading to its present abuse.
2011 Census states clearly that Kerosene no longer remains a fuel for cooking rather its
widely used for lighting. More than 40% of Kerosene is being diverted into the black
market for transportation fuel.
Need of the Hour:
Corruption in the sector of kerosene heavily deprives needy families off the commodity,
exerting a major burden on these families to resort to less-clean cooking fuels such as
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firewood, charcoal, and sawdust. This scarcity may result into civil unrest, if proper care
is not taken.
Kerosene dealership is highly sought after due to the potential of collecting huge rents
through fuel diversion. This leads to misappropriation of funds affecting larger
population and in the longer run; it is bound to hurt the ability of pricing signals to
balance the supply and demand for the energy sources.
This will lead to an occurrence of the scenario of less incentive for the reduction of
energy consumption or for renewable energy sources to compete with the nonrenewable sources.
Even when used as a transportation fuel, it causes engine damage as well as giving rise
to air pollution because of inefficient combustion of the same.
Past Moves:
In 2005, Global positioning systems were fitted to kerosene distributor trucks to prevent
diversion of fuel but this program was closed in 2008
In 2006, two steps were taken:
Marking of subsidized kerosene was done with a dye to prevent diversion of fuel and
was at the same time closed in 2008
Rangarajan report recommended liberalization of petroleum product prices but
was not implemented
In 2007, Smart cards were considered to control access to the subsidizedkerosene but
the program was not adopted
In 2008, Chaturvedi Committee recommended changes in fuel tariff and taxation
regimes and in 2010, Parikh Committeerecommended market-oriented pricing, but no
steps were taken for their implementation.
Strategies to attempt Reforms:

Global positioning systems
Involvement of local government helped achieve success rate higher than the cost of
the program. Here, dedicated tankers were fitted with Global Positioning Systems that
supplied kerosene to wholesalers to keep track of their movements. This initiative was
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named Jan Kerosene Pariyojana (PKJ), which was discontinued but can be given a
serious thought today.
Coupon System:
At the beginning of the month, each beneficiary would be given coupons to buy an
allocated quantity of kerosene and the dealer should sell kerosene to only those with
coupons. The next month, the dealer would be supplied kerosene based on the coupons
he had collected from the beneficiaries. Thus, this will lead to accountability on the part
of dealer and responsibility on the part of the government. It can be used to allow the
distribution of PDS kerosene by non-government retailers. Thus, better targeting and
maximization of purchase amount would take place.
Smart Cards
In the report Integrated Energy Policy by GOI in 2005, it was recommended that a smart
card should be put in place as a high-tech alternative to the low-tech coupon system.
Such a system would assist in better monitoring of the distribution of PDS kerosene and
was expected to be fool proof and tamper-proof.
Increasing Electrification
Rural households use kerosene primarily for lighting; only one per cent uses it for
cooking. With increases in electrification, the rural use of kerosene for lighting has fallen
and if a provision of one solar lantern per household is made, the cost would reduce
dramatically in the long run.
Biometric Identification & JAM Trinity:
In rural areas, subsidised rationing of food and kerosene would be better targeted with
biometric authentication of beneficiaries. JAM Trinity also holds a wider scope of
dissemination of knowledge, faster payment, less leakages but its success will largely be
subjected to the successful authentication of the beneficiaries. Faster digitization of
online allocation and supply chain systems should be taken up on urgent basis as this
would enable the deposit of subsidy directly into the bank account
IASbabas Views:
The subsidy when offered, should do well only when the subsidy is in the form of
monetary benefits rather than through a reduction in the price of a good. This leads to
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further widening fiscal deficit which ultimately puts tremendous pressure on the
government finances, derailing the domestic economy from the path of sustainability.
International obligations can also be cited to bring about an atmosphere of urgency, for
quick mindful reforms to be executed. A strict monitoring system to identify the black
market and a strict law against accumulation of black money should also be put in place
to effectively cub the menace.
Lessons from Indias experience are salient to future attempts to reform the kerosene
subsidy. Critically examine the statement and identify the lessons talked about here.
The scrapping of the supply of subsidized kerosene via Public Distribution system is long
overdue. Do you support the statement? Substantiate.
Health is Expensive: When Hospitals Infect

Anti-microbial Resistance:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing serious worldwide public health problem

which has a series of negative impacts such as prolonged morbidity, hospital stay and
increased risk of mortality.
The ability of this deadly strain of bacterium to outwit antibiotics is expected to further
claim two million lives in India by 2050. Patients infected with drug resistant bacteria
demand more expensive therapy, thereby, increasing health care costs and financial
burden on the families.
Development of AMR is accelerated by excessive antimicrobial prescription, as more
than 50% of antibiotics purchased are without proper prescriptions or medical guidance
and there exists inadequate regulation of antibiotics.
Containment of antimicrobial resistance will not be easy and it requires change in the
antimicrobial prescribing behaviour of health workers as well as strict measures to be
taken to stop hospitals from becoming purveyors of diseases.
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Frequent Hand washing & Sanitizer usage:
Frequent hand washing is extremely necessary as the hands of the staff are the most
common vehicle for the micro-organisms to be transmitted. Sanitizer also, helps in
minimum time commitment and allows easy and complete compliance to clean hands.
During a surgical intervention, a high proportion of gloves become perforated and thus
hands should be disinfected with a long-acting disinfectant before gloves are put on.
There is a need for continued monitoring and educational efforts to improve handwashing habits in the hospitals.
Disinfection:
Cleaning needs to be carried out in a standardized manner or by automated means that

will guarantee an adequate level of cleanliness. Ensuring that the hospital has adequate
procedures for the routine care, cleaning, and disinfection of environmental surfaces
can help us go a long way towards safe health practices.
Regular cleaning of gloves, gowns, masks, white coats as well as sanitizing the
stethoscopes and other machinery, prevents microorganisms from being transmitted
between patients.
There is a pressing need to ensure that the reusable equipment is not used for the care
of another patient until it has been cleaned and reprocessed appropriately. Even the
white gown should be replaced by a plastic apron as the coat harbours potential
pathogens, thereby becoming a source of cross infection.
All objects that come in contact with patients should be considered as potentially
contaminated and if an object is disposable, it should be discarded as waste. But if it is
reusable, it should be cleaned, disinfected or sterilized on immediate basis.
An infection-control department and a microbiology lab can carry out the survey and
respond adequately to outbreaks as well as put in place proper regulations to be
complied with.
Support & Compliance:
There exits lack of standardisation that leads to high variability in the response
mechanisms in different hospitals.
Accreditation programs hosts standards for infection-control that which, if made
mandatory, can help hospitals take some progressive steps.
Specialised air-circulation systems in OTs, proper number of beds available, regular
audits, and education amongst health care professionals about the high economic costs
of infections as well as mandatory training on basic HAI will go a long way in seeking
better outcomes via infection control.
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IASbabas Views:
The achievements of modern medicine are put at risk by antimicrobial resistance and
therefore, without effective measures to prevent and treat these infections, the set of
new inventions and new treatments would collapse.
The inappropriate usage of antibiotics in animal husbandry should be put an end to and
coordinated action should be focussed upon vigorously to minimize emergence and
spread of the resistant strains of bacteria.
Policymakers should work upon the monitoring mechanism, promotion of appropriate
use of medicines, wide dissemination of knowledge and recognizing and awarding
breakthrough innovations in this field.
Examine the current issues plaguing Public Health. Suggest various steps to be taken to
mitigate these roadblocks.
Is there a need for an integrated health care information mechanism to exist in India?
What will be the importance of such a move, if taken, by the Government?
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States
and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies
constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Governance Issues
Bleeding Fault-lines: Bahishkrut Bharat
Equality has become a far-fetched term in the bedrock of deep-rooted caste system
that exhibits not only crimes like rapes, murders, and physical assault but also social and
emotional boycott that is not visible on the ground.
The recent lynching at Dadri has set off echoes regarding the endemic status that antiDalit violence holds; the caste fault-lines divided and bleeding, for the 16% of Indias
population.
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The acceptance of social hierarchy and the unwillingness of the powerful upper castes
to share power and resources with Dalits mark the disturbing pattern of gruesome
violence existing in the landscape of India.
The situation can be understood from two angles:
Stigma of pollution attached: Anti-social, anti-progress character of an unjust social
order
Practices employed to protect from the polluting element and the vital connection
established through networks of force and ideology with the existing political power
Laws:
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, Scheduled Castes

Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
Article 15(2) states that no citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place
of birth be discriminated with regard to
(a) Access to shop, public restaurants, hotel and public entertainment; or
(b) The use of wells, tank, bathing Ghats, roads, and places of public resorts.
Under Article 15(4), the State is permitted to make anyspecial provision for advancement of
any socially and educationally backward classes ofcitizens or for the Scheduled Castes and
the Scheduled Tribes.
According to the Article 16(1), of the Constitution there shall be equality of opportunity in
matters of public employment, affirmative action to be taken for scheduled castes and
tribes.
Reservations in elections to Panchayati Raj Institutions + Abolition of Untouchability (Art.
17) + Prohibition on forced labour
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Recent initiatives:
Venture Capital fund for Scheduled Castes:

Social Sector Initiative to promote entrepreneurship amongst the SCs by providing them
with concessional finance
Green Business Scheme:

Loan for unit cost up to INR 1 lakh (concessional finance) for climate friendly technology
usage: E-rickshaws, solar pumps, etc
Efforts of Past:
Mahatma Jyotiba Phule formed the SaytaShodak Mandal in 1873 with the aim of liberating
non-brahmins from the clutches of Brahminism, MaharshiVitthal Ramji Shinde's (l873-1944)
'Depressed Class Mission' and Babasaheb Ambedkar's (1891-19S6) 'anti-untouchability' in
Maharashtra
In the pre-independence period, the Dalit movements comprised of a strong non-Brahman

movement against Brahmanism in Maharashtra.
Religious reformers of the 19thcentury were influenced by the work of Christian missionaries
in India. The BrahmoSamaj(1828), the Prarthana Samaj (1867), the Ramkrishna Mission, and
the Arya Samaj (1875) are the examples of such institutions
Ayyankali:
Belonged to Pulaya agricultural labor community of Kerala and fought for dalit rights in
Tranvacore
Formed Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham and Kayal Sammelan
Kayal Sammelan- Meetings of Dalits on boats as no Dalit meetings were allowed on land
T.Chennaiah
Dalit freedom fighter from Kolar region, Karnataka
C.Iyodhee Pandithar
Dalits were originally Buddhists, but Brahmins stigmatised them as untouchables
Thought of them as AdiDravidars (original Dravidians) and began Dravid Buddha
Sangam
Two factors had made deep impact on caste system which also brought social upheaval and an
awakening among Dalits:
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First, the western impact with its ideas and values of liberality of thought, individual
freedom and equality started making inroads into the traditional matrix of the Hindu
social system, the caste and other institutions.
Second, the British administration with equality before law and introduction of modem
technology created the necessary intellectual and psychological climate for the
emergence of social reforms movements.
Ensuring Dignity & Justice in Present Times
Sensitise police:
To be more compassionate when dealing with cases that involves Right to life
Fair policing
Quick identification and arrest of culprits,
Speedy trial and award of stringent punishment
Effective communication of the idea of egalitarian society and deepening of egalitarian
consciousness making democratisation process faster
Stringent implementation of law for no unequal battle to be fought
Make Dalits a part of political leadership to target the diversity deficit existing in the parties
Devising evidence-based social policy which will help take steps for providing visibility and
representation to communities and groups that have been invisible in the political-socialeconomic arena
IASbabas Views:
There is a need for the public policy and popular practice to together act in tandem with
each other as the progress with respect to abolishing untouchability and in assuring equal
rights, remain unattained and uneven.
Though the changes have been majorly influenced by state policy, reform movements and
westernisation; the growing consciousness and the liberal attitude can contribute the most
in diminishing the disabilities and discriminations that emanates from the social landscape
of the country.

1. Examine the factors responsible for emerging Dalit consciousness in the society.
2. Short Note:
Caste and Indian Polity
Consequences of Dalit Consciousness
Pressure Group of Dalits
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Indigenization of technology and developing new technology
A military-industrial complex of our own
Even after five decades of chasing the goal of indigenous production of defence
equipment, more than 70 per cent of the defence equipment our forces use are
produced abroad.
This has not prevented successive governments and the strategic establishment from
continuing to pursue this objective.
They have done this by declaring their intention more vigorously and with greater
sincerity, while making few structural changes in the manner in which defence
equipment is designed, produced and inducted into service.
What are the new measures taken by the present government?

1. Rising the FDI cap in defence sector from 26 percent to 49 percent.
2. The government has liberalised the licensing of private domestic firms to produce
defence equipment.
A note on the present Defence Procurement Procedure(DPP):
Ever since the Bofor scandal, procurements by the Defense Ministry have continued to
be mired in controversies.
CAG and CVC reports bundled with CBI investigations have now regrettably become
routine with the defense purchases.
Consequently, much at the expense of national security, defense procurements are now
more aboutnot procuring.
That not enough funds are allocated in the defense budget for addressing deficiencies in the
inventory, upgradation and modernization is another matter.
But the little that is available is being allowed to lapse or washed away to the non performing,
inefficient defence public sector undertakings.
It is indeed inexcusable particularly when our security vulnerabilities are so high and evident.
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Changes in the defence procurement procedure :
The government of India had appointed, Dhirendra Singh Committee to look into the
required changes in the procurement procedure.
The committee had proposed a strategic partnership model where a private player is
chosen to develop a platform in one of six identified segments.
Perhaps to create a larger number of domestic players, the draft recommendations
suggest that the same firm cannot be selected for more than one sector.
The defence ministry has also set up a task force under V K Aatre, a former DRDO
head, to select the private companies under this scheme. The task force's report is
awaited, following which the new DPP will be announced.
Need of the hour:
First, there must be contestability in each partnership or procurement contract.

In other words, more than one firm (or consortium) should be engaged in the same
activity.
In many industries, it has been found the contestability, more than ownership,
determines outcomes, efficiency and competitiveness.
Second, even as the armed forces must be integrated into the design, development
and field trials, domestic producers must not be shielded from foreign competition
beyond a point.
To achieve this, the defence ministry should separate the development arm from the
procurement arm, with the latter having the independence to choose the best kit
available at the time of procurement.
Third, it is important that no government entity or PSU that is an industry player is

also assigned the role of a referee or a regulator.
It is possible to reorganise the family of organisations and PSUs under DRDO into
producers and oversight bodies depending on their function.
Fourth, the government must not be shy of closing down indigenisation projects
initiated decades ago in a different world when a cash-poor India faced a regime of
technology denial.
Way Forward:
Government should not only look at complete indigenisation but also on other ways to
ensure effective national defence.
Mastering global supply chains and building strategic partnerships based on broad, deep
trade might be equally effective alternatives.
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However, it makes sense to give the indigenisation project another try but the approach
has to be very different from that of the past.
Write a note on indigenisation of defence hardware in India with special reference to

new naval indigenisation plan 2015.
Critically examine the various problems associated with defence sector in India.
Make in India scheme would help India to overcome the existing problems of defence
industry. Discuss.
TOPIC:
General Studies 3: Issues relating to mobilization of resources, growth, development

General Studies 2: Governance Issues
The problem of debt concentration

Indian corporate vulnerabilities have increased manifold in recent years both in terms of nonperforming assets (NPAs) as well as restructured loans in the banking system.
Indian banks have confirmed a worrying trend for the same, taking the amount of bad
debt in the economy to Rs. 14 lakh crore.
RaghuramRajan said, The total write-offs of loans made by the commercial banks in the last
five years is Rs.1, 61,018 crore, which is 1.27 per cent of the GDP. 1.27 per cent of GDP would
have allowed 1.5 million people to send their children to get a full university degree from the top
private universities in the country, with all expenses paid. That's the size of the write-offs that
we are talking about."
Bit by bit, the mountain grows:
Fast & furious: Faster than required Growth (around 10 percentage points faster than
nominal gross domestic product)
Pursuits of InfraGrowth: Push for higher private investment in infrastructure, citing the
needs for development led banks to take excess debt and lend these companies at a
very low interest rate; as well as concessions were given in terms of higher exposure
limits
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Tangled Policy Maze: Policy confusions, no enabling environment, delays in government

decision-making, increase in cost, and environmental clearances added up to the poison
injected by the debt.
Government & the deal: Close nexus existing between industrialists and politicians
working two ways; one for money and the other for power
Mechanisms: (Not exhaustively covered- Update as you study)

RBI:
Common platform where all the banks need to report on any exposure over Rs. Five
crore, has led to the plugging off the information gap and reduction in the play by
various banks for the same.
5/25 norms: Permitted banks to structure loans for 25 years while giving them the
flexibility to revise rates or sell the asset to another bank every five years in
infrastructure.
JLF (joint lenders' forum): To build incentives and disincentives
Borrowers and lenders have to reach a conclusion about the prompt corrective
action plan.
Agree under JLF: Banks are incentivised
Don't agree: There are disincentives in place for the same
After the conversion, all lenders under the JLF must collectively hold 51% or
more of the equity shares issued by the company
Strategic Debt Conversion:
Provide lenders 51% equity control in a company that fails to repay even after its
debts are rejigged to give the management a second chance
Will come into force if the corporate debt restructuring (CDR) mechanism fails
CDR: It is an arrangement where the lenders and the management of a defaulting
company strike a deal to revive the borrower subject to complying by certain
commitments.
The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security

Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI):
Only for NPAs

Methods of Recovery:
Securitisation Asset
Reconstruction
Enforcement of Security without the intervention of the Court.
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Debt recovery Tribunals:
Debt Recovery Tribunal Act, passed in 1993

Objective: Facilitating the banks and financial institutions for speedy recovery of dues (Loan
amount is Rs. 10 lakhs and above)
(Not exhaustively covered- Update as you study)

Why the need for Urgent Actions:
Financial fragility:
A major part of the costs of financial restructuring must be borne by the promoters. It
can be done by bringing in personal funds to deleverage the companies controlled by
them.
Also, there should be put in place, a proper comprehensive inquiry to establish the
extent of funds being siphoned off.
Picking up the pieces:
The story of Indian economic recovery can be written well only when the private-sector
investment in the country picks up majorly and the corporate financials improve, on a
larger scale.
Companies should also, work it out with their banks and should reduce their leverages
(debt-to-asset ratio) via asset sales and equity issues and not touch the taxpayers
money to bail out the business groups.
Incurring leverage can be beneficial as it facilitates investment leading to faster growth
but it also entails risks, that which, an average taxpayer might have to bear.
Repetition of Mistakes:
This repetition can most possibly take place due to the urgency in reviving the projects
and thus, the relaxed and less stringent scrutiny can take place, in lieu of the projects in
the pipeline.
Many banks have gone ahead in lending out money without the clearance proof, which
in itself is a wrong move and therefore, greater caution and restraint needs to be
exercised and factoring of losses should be initiated at the earliest.
The trouble in riding on the success of some economic reforms would also remain left
out with the capacity under-utilisation, thereby sacrificing on new economic activity.
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IMFs suggestion:
Macro-prudential policies that are especially designed to keep the financial system safe by
limiting excessive bank lending mechanism and associated increases in the corporate sector
leverage should be the way ahead for emerging economies.
Tools:
Macro level:
Higher capital requirements for foreign exchange exposures,

Caps on the share of such exposures on banks balance sheets
Micro level:
Conduct bank stress tests related to foreign currency risks

Ever-ready alternate mechanism in place to counter corporate stress and sporadic
failures
IASbabas Views:
This debt, which was not employed ever in the production of productive assets have
gone ahead and created a major pressure on the banking system. Banks need to invest
more time in doing a prognosis and in dealing with existing regulatory eclipses in
system.
The increase in credit flow should be increased but preferably via special purpose longterm contractual savings. Since India doesnt have a well-developed bond market, a proactive regulatory oversight might work well to take care of the difficulties.
Government needs to play a central role in mitigating the economic and social damage
caused by financial crises by putting in place a crisis resolution approach, ensuring that
new management practices are employed to avoid repetition of same mistakes.
Policy issues need to be sorted out for bringing forth an enabling economy with an Ease
of Business environment otherwise itll turn out to be difficult to attract global investors
to transform the vision set by Make in India, a reality. The fiscal consolidation plan of
the government is a step in right direction which will aid the deepening of the corporate
debt market.
The debt burden is today not only putting enormous pressure on the banking system, it
is also threatening the nascent economic recovery. Discuss
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Emerging markets should be prepared for corporate distress and sporadic failures in the
wake of rising interest rates in advanced economies. Comment
TOPIC:
General Studies 1: Poverty and developmental issues
General Studies 2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector or

Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources; Issues relating to poverty
and hunger.
India: Epicentre of Global Malnutrition
With the National Family Health Survey, 2005-06 pointing out towards 38.4 per cent of
children being stunted and 46 per cent being underweight, India has become home to a
burgeoning malnourished population when, ironically, it also boasts of a rich
demographic dividend, all at the same time.
According to UNICEF, one in three malnourished children in the world is Indian and it is
estimated that reducing malnutrition could add some 3% to Indias GDP. This also points
out towards the fact that there exist no major connectors in place between malnutrition
and post-reform period economic growth.
Zero Hunger Matters

Disease-Nutrition Interaction:
Present challenges stem from the fact that malnutrition at such an early stage reduces
intelligence (never to be regained), affects the formation of cognitive and non-cognitive
skills that affect long-term wellbeing; not limited to the physical growth or disease
resilience but education and economic productivity as well.
Therefore, much prevalence of hidden hunger in the country with increased likelihood
of infection, disease, and death.
Eliminating malnutrition would remove one-third of the global burden of disease and
increase child survival.
Productivity Concerns:
The cost of malnutrition is high, both for individuals and nations, implying high
budgetary expenditures over health services and diminished productive potential of the
workforce.
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With the increasing variability in the climate, special challenges due to rain-shock, crop
failure or lack of fund can pose serious challenges for nutrition requirements.
Causes of Malnutrition
Malnutrition in Uterus:
Low status of women, low level of education, being underweight during pregnancy and
anaemia affects her reproductive health which can lead to higher rates of morbidity, mortality
or pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight, birth defects and haemorrhage of the newborn.
Micronutrient Deficiencies: Deficiencies in key vitamins and mineralsiron, vitamin A, zinc,
and iodine; are associated with disease prevalence and severity.
Breastfeeding Practices:
Raises the risk of decreased immune function + Increased morbidity + Mortality +

Blindness
WHO has identified poor infant feeding as a risk factor for the survival of the child,
contributing to neonatal deaths. Experts are of the opinion that exclusive breastfeeding
for the first six months of life should be followed by continued breastfeeding until two
years of age
Lack of improvement in infant and young child feeding practice:
Aggressive promotion of baby foods by companies
Lack of support to women in the family and at work places,
Inadequate healthcare support,
Non-review of the maternity benefit laws,
Neglecting infant feeding in its disaster management programmes
Weak overall policy and programmes
Poor Sanitation:
About half of Indians defecate outside without using toilets and from here, children pick up
parasites and chronic infections that impair the ability of the intestines to absorb nutrients
UNICEF reports death of almost 117,000 Indian children per year from Diarrhoea
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Tribal Issues:
Report of deaths due to starvation, diseases like hypertension and diabetes rising and
incidences of Malaria, TB, Diarrhoea
Open defecation + Lack of clean drinking water + Illiteracy + Lack of Health Education,
Infrastructure and health professionals (naxal belt, if any or hilly terrain)
Capturing the Menace

Effective social protection mechanism
Interventions such as Insurances (Weather + Social + Life + Medical)

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Cost benefit Ratios: Returns to early investment is always high than the follow-up
remediation of inadequate early investment
Expansion, Improvement & Digitisation of schemes:
ICDS + NRHM + MGNREGA + Reforms in PDS + Usage of ICT for timely monitoring
Convergence: RBSK + WIFS + SSA + MDM + RMSA
Identify these schemes and make a note of them
Tribal & Rural Areas:
Infrastructure (road, rail, school) + Provision of safe drinking water & toilets at all houses
Traditional healers and youth can be trained to administer drugs (low-risk/emergency) and
to help ASHA Workers
Policy Design:
Redesigning nutrition &health policies and programs by drawing on science and technology:
Nutritional improvement + Implementation + Increasing their coverage (reaches the poor)
Increasing investments and actions in nutrition services for communities (highest
concentration of poor)
Focusing programs on girls and womens Education + Health + Nutrition-Training
Anganwadi workers
IASbabas Views:
There is a pressing need to monitor the nutritional indicators of children.

Eg: Nutritional biomarker data, GAIN & Amway (Malnutrition Mapping ProjectTool to
map the impacts of malnutrition and to raise awareness for the timely development and
implementation of policy solutions)
Bio-fortification is the new answer for maintaining access to micronutrients by making
plant food more nutritious as even therapeutic food cannot be a remedy for malnutrition
and its dreadful impacts
Indian Impact Model needs the support of corporate leaders and philanthropists like Ratan
Tata and G.M. Rao provides the fight great visibility and brings together businesses, citizens
and NGOs to resolve basic issues and devise pragmatic solutions.
Investing in disadvantaged young children will contribute in the promotion of equity and
productivity. Do you agree? Substantiate
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India suffers from a double burden of pervasive under nutrition and deficiencies in key
vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) along with growing rates of obesity and NonCommunicable Diseases. Discuss.
India and its neighborhood- relations.

Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on Indias
interests
We need to talk about the Brahmaputra
The operational commissioning of the Zam Hydropower Station earlier this month on
the Yarlung Zangbo river, also known as the Zangmu Hydropower Project, located in
Gyaca county of the Shannan prefecture in China, and considered to be Tibets largest
such facility, has raised fresh concerns in downstream India, especially in Arunachal
Pradesh and Assam.
New Delhi had information about Beijings plans of developing hydropower on the
Yarlung Zangbo for over five years now, with other projects such as Dagu, Jiacha and
Jiexu in different stages of planning/construction.
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A mistrust between India and China :
The reading of the Sino-Indian diplomatic engagement over the trans-boundary

Yarlung Zangbo (Tsangpo)-Brahmaputra river system has largely been through the lens
of suspicion and lack of information/data sharing on the shared river system.
Any bilateral government-to-government interactions on the Brahmaputra are
shrouded in bureaucratic secrecy, overshadowed by the baggage of the 1962 SinoIndian conflict and the ensuing territorial contestations over Arunachal Pradesh.
This strategic straight jacketing accorded to the Brahmaputra has led to basin-wide coriparian mistrust.
Need for engagement between New Delhi and Beijing :
India and China, therefore, need to move towards a framework of engagement and
dialogue on the Brahmaputra, as a precursor to any negotiation.
The dialogue needs to be inclusive, providing a platform to various stakeholders and
identify new approaches to address the common problem.
The Track 3 and Track 2 level dialogue process has the potential to enable greater
people-to-people interactions, reducing trust deficit, changing the way Indians and
Chinese talk, think and approach solutions.
What is expected out of the dialogue between India and China ?
While we may not see a formal treaty of understanding in the immediate future, we
need to explore options on how New Delhi and Beijing can engage in alternate
processes moving towards future treaties on the Brahmaputra.
The dialogue processes need to lay the ground towards recognising the convergences
and divergences, and go beyond the existing fear and notions of steal the river and
upstream hegemons.
The dialogue must address the concerns of various stakeholders and sub-national units
within the respective riparian countries.
The success of the internal dialogue processes will depend on how much of a voice
sub-national units such as Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have in influencing New
Delhis engagement and dialogue with Beijing on the river.
Role of BCIM in promoting regional cooperation :
Sub-regional cooperation groupings such as the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar

(BCIM) Cooperation Framework can create an enabling environment for mutually
inclusive sub-regional participation and water resources sharing.
The BCIM process can support and lead research on country specific infrastructure
projects, their impact on the local eco-systems, the riverine communities and other local
stakeholders.
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Way Forward:
It is time for both India and China to go beyond the specifics of project sanctioning and
commissioning announcements, and look at the larger issues facing the Brahmaputra
basin as a whole, investing in multilateral intent and spirit.
We need to understand how the existing asymmetry/ inequality in riparian relations of
power can be addressed politically and economically, especially in the Brahmaputra
case, where both countries are regional competitors, while the co-riparian countries of
Bangladesh and Bhutan stagnate in the list of Least Developed Countries.
Critically examine the importance of Brahmaputra in regional development of North

East India.
What do you understand by run off the river projects? Critically examine the objectives
of such projects.
Bureaucratic secrecy, overshadow by the baggage of the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict and
the territorial contestations over Arunachal Pradesh has kept India China relations at an
all time low .Critically analyse.
Critically examine the importance of china in realising the potential of Act East policy of
India.
TOPIC:
General Studies 2: Government policies and interventions for development in various

sectors and issues ; Governance Issues;
General Studies 3: Inclusive growth and issues arising from it; Public
Distribution System; Food Security.
Conditional Cash transfer
Perverse political hegemony over economic sense, hand in glove nature of corrupt
bureaucrats, ineffective poverty identification, social exclusion due to caste, gender,
sexual orientation, religion, and huge inadequacies in a centralized distribution systemall have contributed to the sorry state of affairs of Public Distribution System.
When a subsidy is transferred directly into a bank account there is very little scope for
leakage between the transferring authority and the bank account.
Humans can take rational decisions and this process can be transformative as well as
informative, providing a kind of security to those whove been time and again, left out
from the developmental process.
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Leakages:
Linking PM Jan-Dhan Yojana with mobile network and database of biometric

information will help make the bottommost members visible in the Public Distribution
System and will help plug in the leakages by eliminating the ghost beneficiaries. (JAM
Trinity)
Intervention of technology will also help in faster, less corrupt practices and efficient
targeting of benefits of the subsidies as well as the benefits of social welfare
programmes to the needy. It will ensure that redesigning of PDS Shops/State delivery
mechanisms take place bringing in more efficiency in the process.
With the help of MNREGA, both backward and forward linkages have been taken care
of. Even the Formation of SHGs and various Farmers cooperatives can compete with
better terms in an interlocked market.
However, to realize this, government must enhance state capacity (PRIs; Rajiv Gandhi
Panchayat Sashaktikaran Abhiyan) and reform the subsidy delivery system by
strengthening quality of service provision. Poverty should be tackled simultaneously
with strengthening of health and education system.
Penetration of Banking Services:
Appointment of Business Correspondents, to help identify the poor and ensure benefits
to the illiterate will help serve the goal of maximum financial inclusion and better
targeting of beneficiaries.
Though, the middlemen syndrome and existence of Non-Performing Assets of the
banks, can be a source of controversy during the process of benefits of cash transfer, it
will still be an opportunity worth gambling upon
Cash:
Empowers the beneficiaries with choices and will not necessarily lead one to the lap of
liquor and drugs
Cultivation of an entrepreneurship spirit with the saved money
Inflation:
When the cash has been provided, the individual does not only invest it in food but also
invest in commodities that can bring income to someone else or puts in the business
and provide income to someone else.
This increases liquidity in the market and in short, an inflationary pressure gets
established which calls for a better monetary policy of the government. A slow growth
period will lag behind in absorbing the extra cash in the economy.
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States Role:
There is a need for the government to reach the vulnerable left out areas to tackle
poverty syndrome. BCAs can help fill the gap here.
The uncertainty of the market mechanism coupled with the vagaries of the climate
might force farmers to shift their course and invest in crops that are more reliable,
increasing our dependence upon imports. Government needs to come up with
innovative policies and attractive schemes to let the farmer be in the same line. After
all, good governance is the need of the hour; not just by the way of stating but way of its
implementation.
Schemes: Need to reform their functioning and improve their quality, learning creative
inputs from the best practices set in other countries
IASbabas Views:
While the usage of biometric information can help in efficient identification and less
wastages, proper legislations need to be put in place to avoid the abuse of the data and
pro-active redressal mechanisms should be established
Food Voucher Model: Here the PDS dealer can engage in no such practice as in addition
to records filled up on a form, the dealer also has to provide coupons that he gets from
the consumers to support his documented credentials.
Cash Voucher in Education: According to WB, Cash Voucher program in education will
promote competition amongst the schools and can increase the social inclusion of the
underprivileged students as well as decrease the number of out of school children
There needs to be a link between the expectations of the people and the expenditure
made by the Government of India. Here, social audit and wide publicity can generate
awareness and hold the authorities accountable to their deeds.
Private sector participation with proper responsibilities and grievance redressal
mechanism can help free the resources of government and lead to a systematic
implementation of the benefits of Cash Transfer Scheme. Investment in R&D would
double the scope of the spread of the benefits by taking care of other related issues that
a country might face in future.
Are Conditional Cash Transfers an effective delivery alternative to the traditional PDS
System? Discuss
Analyse the reasons behind the failure of the PDS. Suggest reforms for the overall
mechanism of benefits transfer for the poor, to absorb them in the mainstream
developmental process.
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TOPIC:
General Studies 1 : Social Issues

General Studies 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the
Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws,
institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these
vulnerable sections.
Increased child rape: Failure of criminal justice system in India
The responses from different parts of the country to recent incidents of child sexual
abuse have been identical in their demand for higher and more stringent punishment.
While the Delhi chief minister wants to consider legal reforms to enhance the
punishment for the rape of minors and treat juveniles over 15 involved in rape and
murder as adults, the Madras High Court recommended castration of offenders found
guilty of child sexual abuse.
These hasty responses, however, completely overlook and distract public attention from
the utter failure of the executive and judicial machinery to ensure justice for child
victims.
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Provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (Pocso Act):
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (Pocso Act) was passed in an effort to
address growing rates of child sexual abuse and poor rates of conviction.
The act provides for
Establishment of a special court.

Appointment of special public prosecutors (SPPs) and compensation.
Specifies timelines for recording evidence and completing trial as well as child-friendly
procedures to be followed during investigation, evidence-recording and medical
examination.
It also provides for several care and protection measures for victims.
The act also enhances the punishment for such crimes, stringently imposes long
minimum sentences and affords no discretion to the special court to impose lesser
punishment in cases of serious crimes such as penetrative sexual assault, aggravated
penetrative sexual assault, sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault.
The law further clarifies that in cases where an act is a sexual offence under the Indian
Penal Code and the Pocso Act, the higher punishment must be imposed.
Despite such dramatic reforms, Crime in India 2014 reveals that the conviction rate under
the Pocso Act is a measly 24.6 per cent and the pendency rate is an alarming 95.1 per cent.
This barely inspires confidence in the criminal justice system that is projected as the panacea
for crimes against children.
Critical assessment of implementation of Posco Act:
According to The Centre for Child and the Law at the National Law School of India University
study on the implementation of Posco Act, the following are some problems which result in
poor implementation of the act and resulting in negative outcomes in the case.
1. The special courts for trying these cases are seldom special. Instead, they are regular
sessions courts that also try offences under anti-terror laws, narcotics laws, etc.
2. The judges assigned to these special courts in Delhi are expected to maintain a childfriendly atmosphere within the courtrooms while simultaneously dealing with alleged
hardened criminals charged under draconian laws. At a practical level, judges find it
difficult to switch from one mindset to another.
3. The act prohibits the prosecutor and defence lawyer from questioning children directly,
only the judge is allowed to ask the child questions, this is rarely followed. There is
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virtually no training on child psychology, appropriate methods of questioning children,

or maintaining a child-friendly atmosphere.
4. The Pocso Act also requires the courts to deploy translators, interpreters and special
educators wherever necessary and it is the duty of the executive to make this list
available to courts and ensure adequate funding. However, they are rarely found in the
courts.
How about stricter punishments like castration?
Proponents of stricter penalties should bear in mind that higher sentences have
invariably resulted in more acquittals.
The J.S. Verma Committee consciously rejected the death penalty for sexual offences as
well as the lowering of the age of the juvenile, given the credible research that showed
the poor deterrent effect and counterproductive outcomes of these measures.
While the legislature has done its bit, the executive and the judiciary have to join hands to
ensure the effective implementation of the Pocso Act.
Need for an effective criminal justice delivery in India:
Shortcomings in our criminal justice system:
Serious human resource crunch in police personnel :

According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ,the number of police
personnel per one lakh people in India is only 138, compared to 525 in Spain and 196 in
USA. Out of the 71 countries for which data is available for 2013, India ranks 67.
Low conviction and high under-trial rates:

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the conviction rate for Indian
Penal Code crime cases during 2013 was a mere 40.2%. On the other hand, NCRB prison
statistics for 2013 show that more than 67% of the prisoners were undertrials.
Overburdened and understaffed judiciary :

According to National Court Management System of the Supreme Court for 2011, more
than 26 lakh cases are pending in India, in which almost 25% of the cases are more than
five years old.
Politicization of the police force is another biggest reason for underperformance of
criminal justice system in India.
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Strengthening criminal justice system: (Iasbabas view)
The criminal investigation system needs higher standards of professionalism and it

should be provided with adequate logistic and technological support.
The number of Forensic Science Institutions with modern technologies such as DNA
fingerprinting technology should be enhanced.
Citizens confidence in the police administration should be enhanced so as to cooperate in criminal investigation.
The legal services authorities in the States should set up committees with the
participation of civil society for bringing the accused and the victims together to work
out compounding of offences.
Understaffing in police and judiciary should be done away with.
Politicization of police should be kept at minimal by implementing Supreme Court

decision in Prakash Singh case.
Critically analyse the shortcomings of criminal justice system in India, with special focus
on the state police forces.
Critically examine the drawbacks in implementation of Posco Act in India.
What is your opinion on imposing stricter penalties like castration etc for sex offenders
in India? Substantiate.
Judicial independence from Executive is the need of the hour, to overcome the
shortcomings of criminal justice system. Critically analyse.
TOPIC:
General Studies 2 : Government policies and interventions for development in various

sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
General Studies 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways, etc.
Draft National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2015
The government has come up with a new draft national civil aviation policy 2015 with
the mission of providing safe, secure, affordable and sustainable air travel with access to
various parts of India and the world.
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Vision statement:
To create an eco-system to enable 30 crore domestic ticketing by 2022 and 50 crore by 2027.
Similarly, international ticketing to increase to 20 crore by 2027.
Objectives:
1. Ensure safe, secure and sustainable aviation industry through use of technology and
effective monitoring.
2. Enhance regional connectivity through fiscal support and infrastructure development.
3. Enhance ease of doing business through deregulation, simplified procedures and egovernance.
4. Promote the entire aviation sector chain: cargo, MRO, general aviation, aerospace
manufacturing and skill development.
The policy:
NCAP 2015 covers issues ranging from safety, regional connectivity, 5/20 rule, airports
authority of India etc.
A look into the important contents of the policy:
1. Regional connectivity scheme(RCS):
It is aimed at improving access to remote areas, fiscal and other concessions aimed at
helping airlines and operators to lower their operational costs.
To finance RCS, a 2 per cent levy to ensure an all inclusive airfare not exceeding Rs 2,500
per passenger for one hour of flying on some regional routes and plans to revive at least
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300-odd airports in various parts of the country that are not in use by upgrading their
infrastructure to equip them as no-frills airports at an investment of Rs 50 crore each.
2. 5/20 rule :
The Union Cabinet had stipulated that for Indian carriers to fly abroad, they must fly on
domestic routes for 5 years and have a fleet of 20 aircraft. MoCAis proposing to
introduce the concept of Domestic Flying Credits (DFC).
A lot of opposition is seen to this move, however its left to the ministry to take a final
call on this after due consultation.
3. Open sky proposal :
The open sky proposal will allow India to enter reciprocal agreements with South Asian
neighbours and countries beyond 5,000 km. This will result in unlimited flights to and
from Europe and the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).
4. Aviation Safety :
The government places topmost priority on aviation safety.
Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will strive to create a single-window system
for all aviation related transactions, queries and complaints. The services rendered by
DGCA will be fully automated by 1 April 2016 by implementing eGCA project on
priority.
DGCA will ensure real-time safety tracking and prompt incident reporting.
The Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau (AAIIB) will be strengthened in
order to undertake speedy, professional and effective investigations.
5. Code Share Agreements (CSA):
A Code-Share Agreement between two airlines allows one airline (Marketing airline)
to sell seats on a flight run by another airline (Administrating airline), with the airline
code and flight number of the marketing airlines. This helps in seamless connectivity
for passenger.
6. Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO):
The MRO business of Indian carriers is alone around Rs 5000 crore, 90% of which is
currently spent outside India in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, UAE etc. Given our
technology base, the government is keen to develop India as an MRO hub in Asia,
attracting business from foreign airlines.
7. Air Navigation Services (ANS):
Airport Authority of India (AAI) is ranked among the top ANS providers in the world.
Upgradation and modernisation of ANS in India is line with global trends.
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With the launch of GAGAN, India becomes the fourth nation in the world to use
satellite-based navigation system.
8. Aeronautical Make in India:

Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Ministry of Defence(MoD) will work together to
ensure that commercial aero-manufacturing is covered under defence offsets
requirements.
Area where aero-manufacturing takes place will be notified as SEZ. The government
will provide fiscal and monetary incentives and fast-track clearances to global OEMs
and their ancillary suppliers.
9. Sustainable aviation:
MoCA will strive to develop a sustainable Indian aviation industry. It will work with
DGCA and industry stakeholders to develop an action plan for making all Indian
airports carbon neutral by 1 April 2030.
MoCA will strengthen policy guidelines on energy conservation, sustainable practices,
improvements in emission measurement and information dissemination; training and
awareness building.
Critically examine the need for a national aviation policy in India.

Critically examine the various factors hindering the development of aviation industry in
India.
Critically examine the need to replace DGCA with Civil Aviation authority in India with
special reference to civil aviation authority bill 2013.
Critically examine the issues associated with controversial 5/20 rule in aviation industry
of India.
Write a note on no frills airport in India.
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TOPIC:
General Studies 1: Social Issues

General Studies 2 : Government policies and interventions for development in various
sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Issues relating to
development and management of Social Sector or Services relating to
Health, Education, Human Resources.
Surrogacy: Wombs for Rent
The reproductive tourism may have

been in vogue for more than one
decade now, but only recently, fresh
perspectives have started emerging
from all sectors of the country. While
the issues at hand are worth more than
what it really deserves, a closed view
lens leads us to a myriad number of
loopholes that has been prevalent in
the country, largely impoverished.
With the recent PIL filed by Ms. Jayashree Wad (a lawyer) asking Supreme Court to put a
ban on the use of Indian surrogate mothers by foreigners, the government has also held
up its hand in support of the PIL and has declared its stance; confirming its No-support
for commercial surrogacy stand.
Simply not enough:
Women have been urging for increased compensation as the present figures with the
increasing living standard and costs do not emerge as a real deal for the pain, sweat, the
emotional trauma and the socio-economic vulnerabilities they counter.
Sometimes surrogates do not have a uniform payment structure and arent provided
with written contracts, and some are even subjected to forced impregnations and
abortions without their knowledge
Fair remuneration and pricing standards should be followed strictly and should not be
dependent upon the doctors varying demands.
Unifying Bond:
The relationship between the surrogates and the commissioning parents should
undergo a change as surrogacy isnt just a business deal and there exists a greater need
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to foster connections, at least during the time of negotiation and, the process of
embryo-transfer.
Contractual details should be between the surrogates and the commissioning parents to
increase transparency and provide attention to the social relations that are embedded
in the process of surrogacy.
Socio-Emotional-Eco strands:
Easy Money: It is the single-most factor involved sometimes and the need of money gets
overshadowed with this practice. The woman involved, thus has no say w.r.t. her own body,
soul and life.
Citizenship: 2014 brought with itself a case of a German Couple and their kid who was denied
nationality of Germany. The long drawn legal battles thus, put the childs life and upbringing at
stake.
Unfavourable Outcome: If, unfortunately, the outcome is unfavourable, the surrogate mothers
are denied money and are left out with no insurance or post-pregnancy medical or even
psychiatric treatment/psychological support. Death and cases of babies born with disabilities or
an unplanned twin being abandoned by the intended parents has started becoming a common
concern.
Away from Home: At times like these, they are shifted to homes especially catering to the
surrogate mothers and this leaves them without their own family support. It leads to mental
trauma, for most of the mothers, to leave their own children in the process of giving birth to
others child.
Policy crippled Industry:
Background: 2008 had brought with it The Manjis case wherein Supreme Court had allowed
commercial surrogacy. But due to the aforementioned issues, a draft Assistive Reproductive
Technologies (Regulation) Bill, 2013 was put across for regulation.
Issues with the draft Assistive Reproductive Technologies (Regulation) Bill, 2013
1.
2.
3.
4.
No stipulation on the number of attempts to practice surrogacy

While 21 is the minimum age, no maximum age limit has been specified
No attempt to understand the socio-economic family background
Sex-selective surrogacy is not allowed but compliance to the same is majorly in question
due to overarching patriarchal values deeply entrenched in the society
5. Conduct ad operations as well as the NGOs that are participating in the same should be
regulated and be taken care under the ambit of the Government run agency
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IASbabas Views:
Research has shown that increasingly poor women who rent their wombs for money-ignoring social stigma, health hazards, fear and mental stress, are more vulnerable to
exploitation. Policies need to be framed by doing an ample amount of groundwork and
sticking to the reality than on the basis of an abstract rules or principles assumed.
This situation calls for an evidence-based approach that would take into account the
interests of the actors involved and would try and connect with the social scientific
knowledge to policy programs and practices, leading to a more balanced and effective
policy that addresses the needs of surrogate mothers and egg donors.
Proper (& binding) regulation (protection to the vulnerable in surrogacy agreements)
than a complete ban as a knee-jerk reaction should be the way ahead. Heavy penalties
should be imposed on couples going back on their word and the rights of the surrogate
mother should be prioritised (maintenance of bargaining capacity); ensuring adequate
checks and balances and adoption process to be allowed via a strict and rigorous
mechanism provided by CARA.
Can the practice of surrogacy or its heavy demand be considered as a stifled cry of the
women overburdened with the ever-growing patriarchal mind-set? Discuss
The reproduction rush has facilitated a new element in the era of Globalisation. What
is Indias position and the laws guiding India towards the same?
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INTERNATIONAL
South Asia important for India geo-politically, but not economically: CEA
Economic integration with South Asia is not a top priority for India as its economy relies more
on other regions: Chief Economic Advisor, Arvind Subramanian.
Why South Asia important geo-politically?
South Asia has several important, growing markets, but looking at Indias current
pattern of trade, Indias biggest markets are international
Regional economic integration in South Asia is not a first priority for India.
Indias economic fortunes are tied to the rest of the world.
Geo-political considerations make South Asia important for India.
Drawing Lessons from ASEAN and NAFTA: The key differences

1. The levels of development in both regional groupings are very different.
Around 1990, US per capita GDP was 10 times that of Mexico. The difference in per
capita levels is not that much in South Asia
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2. NAFTA was created by Mexico looking to use the US as an anchor economy.

India is that anchor or if its South Asian neighbors want it to be that anchor depends on
the choice neighbors will make out of two Asian giants India and China.
3. In NAFTA, Mexico got a certainty of access to the US markets in return for it liberalizing
its economy considerably.
The situation is different here, because it will involve a situation where all the
economies will have to open up to each other.
The certainty of access angle does not apply.
4. There was no competition for the US to be the anchor in NAFTA. For South Asian
integration, Sri Lanka and our other neighbors have China as an alternative
Issues that hinder South Asian economic integration:
The problems of external politics impeding economic integration,

The problem of domestic political ramifications of opening up markets to Indias
South Asian neighbors
Way Forward:
To address the problems simultaneously
Boost economic trade between countries in the region

Use soft options to smoothen the political wrinkles surrounding the issue.
What steps should India take to strong hold the geo-political position in South Asia?
What challenges will India face in becoming South Asian anchor economically? What
steps should be taken to address these challenges?
India and Comprehensive Nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT)

What is Comprehensive Nuclear test ban treaty (CTBT)?
CTBT is a legally binding global ban on nuclear explosive testing. It is a key element in
the process of nuclear disarmament: a ban on the production of fissile material for
anything other than verified peaceful use. Such a ban would impose a quantitative limit
on the amount of nuclear material available for weapons use.
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CTBT was opened for signature in 1996.As of March 2015, 164 states have ratified the
treaty and 19 states have signed but not ratified it. China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and
the United States have signed but not ratified theTreaty.
In yellow- Annex 2 Signed

In Pink Annex2 Non-signatory
India, Pakistan and North Korea which are non-signatories and have tested nuclear
weapons after CTBT opened for signature. India (Pokhran-2) and Pakistan both carried
out two sets of tests in 1998 and N. Korea carried out three announced tests in 2006,
09, 13
CTBT has yet to become global law due to its demanding entry into force clause, which
requires the signature and ratification of all 44 countries listed as nuclear technology
capable. It awaits the signature and ratification from India, Pakistan, and North Korea
and in addition requires the United States, China, Israel, Iran and Egypt (which have
already signed) to formally ratify it.
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization(CTBTO)

CTBTO is the preparatory commission which establishes global verification regime to monitor
compliance with the CTBT. The verification regime includes a global network of 330 plus
monitoring facilities using seismic, hydroaucostic, infrasound and radionuclide technologies.
Over 300 stations in 89 countries have been built to monitor for signs of nuclear
explosions around the globe round the clock.
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The International Monitoring System (IMS) monitors the Earths crust, listens the
atmosphere and oceans and sniffs the air for traces of radioactivity.
The monitoring system produces data that have many applications, from disaster early
warning to scientific research on the Earths inner structures, climate change or
meteors, to name just a few of the potential uses.
It is also making contributions to the nuclear safety field. After the March 2011
Fukushima nuclear accident, CTBTO data provided timely information on the radioactive
emissions from the crippled plant and their global dispersion.
Why India has not signed CTBT?

Indias growing security concerns about Pakistans acquisition of nuclear weapons capability
and the assistance that China has provided in this regard is one major reason why India chose
to oppose CTBT in 1996.
India finds CTBT a threat to national security because of its,
Discriminatory in nature as US which has already conducted more than 2000 tests
suddenly realizes that there was no need to test nuclear devices any more.
No time-bound disarmament schedule for nuclear weapon states.
CTBT would not help towards nuclear disarmament since it only banned nuclear
explosive testing, but not other activities related to nuclear weapons, such as subcritical (non-nuclear explosive) experiments, or computer simulations.
India has not signed NPT and CTBT. Does this imply that India is against nuclear disarmament?
The answer is obvious No. the following section explain Indias solid support to global
disarmament.
India and Nuclear disarmament
India has supported the treatys basic principle of banning nuclear explosions by declaring a
unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing. Indias expressed support to the essential
requirement of the treaty makes it a de facto member of the CTBT.
After the 1974 peaceful nuclear test, India maintained a policy of self-restraint. It did
not conduct any follow up tests and the development of nuclear weapons was
temporarily halted.
In June 1978, Prime Minister Morarji Desai once again suggested a ban on nuclear
weapons testing at the Special Session of the UNGA.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi upheld this position in 1982 by calling for a test-ban treaty
and a freeze on the production of nuclear weapons.
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Rajiv Gandhi put forward an Action Plan in 1988 calling for a halt to the development of
new weapons systems and proposing nuclear disarmament in a time-bound framework
of 22 years.
In 1993, India supported the multilateral negotiations and jointly co-sponsored a
consensus resolution on the CTBT at the UN General Assembly.
Post May 1998 (Pokhran 2), India continued to adopt a flexible position on the CTBT and
indicated its willingness to discuss a de jure formalizationof its voluntary moratorium
on future nuclear testing.
By committing to the Indo-US nuclear agreement, India has further expressed its
principled support to the test-ban treaty.
The voluntary moratorium was intended to convey to the international community the
seriousness of Indias intent for meaningful engagement. The government maintained that
subsequent decisions will be taken after assuring ourselves of the security needs of the
country.
India thus consistently supported the view that a CTBT was an essential element of the
disarmament process and it opposed any conduct of nuclear tests by any state under the garb
of safety reasons.
Why India should accede to CTBT?
It provides a great opportunity to tap into a wealth of data generated by the CTBTOs
International Monitoring Stations.
To respond to global developments in nuclear disarmament and arms control as a

responsible stakeholder in the non-proliferation regime.
To negotiate Indias entry into the global nuclear order and third, to revive Indias longforgotten tradition of campaigning for global nuclear disarmament.
India has been seeking the membership of various strategic export control cartels such
as the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the Missile Technology Control Regime
(MTCR). But it will now be harder for it to convince the European non-proliferation
supporters to continue to treat India as an exception, without making a substantive
normative offer in return (signing CTBT).
Once India signs the CTBT, some of the other hold-out states are likely to follow, such as
Pakistan. Others like the U.S. (whose Senate is blocking the ratification though the U.S.
government has signed it) and China would also come under pressure to accede to it. Thus India
will be able to reverse the current non-proliferation pressure which makes sense not only from
a strategic point of view but also from a normative perspective. Signing the CTBT, then, is in
Indias enlightened self-interest.
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Way forward to India:

India should put forward two proposals.
First, propose and push, with like-minded countries, for the adoption of a global No first
use agreement on nuclear weapons.
Second, sign the CTBT, if not immediately ratify the same. This will clearly reinstate the
lost global enthusiasm for nuclear disarmament and clarify Indias benign nuclear
intentions to the international community.
Background:
Partial/Limited Test Ban Treaty (P/LTBT)
The concerns about radioactive fallout became more pronounced after US tested a hydrogen
bomb in 1952 and later USSR detonated a nuclear warhead in 1961.
PTBT was signed in 1963 which banned nuclear tests in the atmosphere, underwater
and in space, but not underground. All testing was to be driven underground, just so
long as the radioactivity did not go beyond the national border of the testing
country. But it did not provide for international verification.
India has signed and ratified the treaty in 1963.
Since it was signed, a total of 1372 underground nuclear explosions have been
conducted between 1964 and 2006; this number stands in contrast to the 461
atmospheric and including underwater nuclear tests that were conducted between 1945
and 1963.
Hence, the belief that PTBT would play a crucial role in reversing the intense arms-race
among the NWS was essentially flawed.
No first use policy (NFU)

NFU refers to a pledge or a policy by a nuclear power not to use nuclear weapons as a means
of warfare unless first attacked by an adversary using nuclear weapons. Earlier, the concept had
also been applied to chemical and biological warfare.
The United States has refused to adopt a no-first-use policy, saying that it "reserves the
right to use" nuclear weapons first in the case of conflict.
Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France, say they will use
nuclear weapons against either nuclear or non-nuclear states only in the case of
invasion or other attack against their territory or against one of their allies.
China became the first nation to propose and pledge NFU policy when it first gained
nuclear capabilities in 1964,
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India has a declared nuclear no-first-use policy in 1999.

Despite the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan in 20012002, India
remained committed to its nuclear no-first-use policy.
Connecting Dots:
Should India enter into NPT and CTBT? Substantiate.

How India can play a crucial role in Nuclear disarmament movement? What are the
roadblocks hindering India from acceding to NPT and CTBT? Evaluate.
By signing Indo-US nuclear agreement India has expressed its principled support to the
Nuclear test-ban treaty. Elucidate
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) & India
Trans-Pacific Partnership, which accounts for 40% of the global economy and a total of
800 million people, comprises of the major powerhouses and thus has become the
largest regional trade agreement to take place in the present time.
The 21st century issues sprawling across the boundaries, will be looked into and
addressed, setting high standards for resolving and eliminating existing barriers.
This coherence will have a direct impact on the issues of intellectual property rights,
foreign investment, environment and climate change negotiations, labour, e-commerce,
trade barriers, bottlenecks in healthcare technology and pharmaceuticals, regulatory
clearances and other issues.
Impetus to 'Made in America' exports will also be provided thereby, advancing trade
and investment interests in the Asia Pacific region while extending economic
commitments to its partners and allies.
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India should take note:

Exports& Competitiveness:
If India does not Join TPP
India might witness diversions in trade and foreign investments, as well as decline in the
outsourcing of services from India.
The Yarn Forward Rule rules out inclusion of any other countries outside that of the
trade agreement, for availing duty preference. This will make India uncompetitive and
thus, India should take onus to speed up the process of RCEP Negotiations to store some
advantages for itself in Asia.
This will hurt the market access benefit and have an adverse impact on other products
such as processed food, heavy manufacturing, crops, sugar, vegetables, fruits, etc.
Also, companies might be interested in reaping benefits of an open and inviting market
of TPP-member countries.
If India joins TPP or Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP):
There are chances of India experiencing export gains but in the longer run.
Also, countries with which India has signed FTAs may not suffer tariff disadvantage.
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It is estimated that if India doesnt join TPP- it will lose out on about 0.3% ($3-7 billion)
of exports by 2025.
Indias output may also increase lending the employment generating sector like textile,
leather, fish, dairy, etc., a higher impetus to grow and expand.
High Global Standards:
TPP works on the principles of simplification and elimination of barriers that serve as
bottlenecks in the growth and development of the economy but at the same time
follows a strict regime of quality and standard of the products.
India needs to spearhead in its method of revitalizing and inducing efficiency in its
manufacturing sector with the globally accepted standards, procedures, processes and
an adaptation of a balanced approach, necessary to instil confidence in both citizens and
investors.
IPR:
Joining TPP for India would be equal to accepting US standards for IPR. This would mean
ever-greening of patents which will directly delay the entry of Generic medicines,
defeating the socially inclusive pattern of governance followed by India.
Ever-greening would also lead to rise in prices of the drugs but for India losing out on a
few dollars would make much sense than turning away from its responsibilities.
Strict domain of USA:
Loss of flexibility and decision-taking ability related to important policy matters and key
issues
Bargaining power of India might get overshadowed by the big-brother attitude of US
Getting her Act Together:

India-EU Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement
The negotiations have been going on since 2007 and India needs to conclude these
agreements to gain market access and leverage her outsourcing capabilities to suit the
requirements of the member-countries. By safeguarding its core interests, India might
revive some part of the export losses that it may experience while staying away from
TPP.
Broad-Based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA)
India has taken a step ahead and has resumed its talks with the EU but India needs to
understand the wide implication of not complying with the standards set up by the TPP
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and should make a genuine attempt, to re-design its policies and help its companies
compete globally.
Competitiveness of Products:
India should focus on increasing the competitiveness of its export products while
employing standard processes and a robust supply-chain and operational procedures in
place.
IASbabas Views:
Restructuring of domestic policies of India is the need of the hour to acquire a certain
amount of preparedness and improvement, both in terms of capability and capacity.
The global trade rules should not be left with the provisions influencing TPP/RCEP
otherwise the roots of the ever-growing economic inequality as well as insecurity may
expand, terribly hurting the lesser developed countries.
Can there exist, an alternate template for global trade rules than that which is backed by
the developed countries. Justify your stand.
Is India ready for big-ticket agreements? Discuss.
TOPIC - GS2
India and its Neighbourhood- relations

interests
India- Nepal: The thin roaring line: Economics, Politics and Superiority
Boiling point
With the hues and cries of the Madhesis and the growing turbulence in the region on
the eve of Bihar elections, India took a stand to avoid the spill-over effect to counter the
long running instability in the region.
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Being a propagator and a guarantor of peace, India had sought a consensus-based

decision- encompassing all the section of people to be facilitated with sustainable
livelihood conditions and visible representation.
But the majoritarian viewpoint acted in haste, not allowing proper deliberations to take
place and negated Indias concern for the larger good.
Chaos and Confrontations:
Indias Nepal Policy, 2005 involved India helping out Nepal in framing a new Constitution
and this pursuit of stability has been back-tracked by the pursuit of denial of
considerations on the part of Nepal. Adoption of competitive diplomacy vis-a-vis Nepal
was a path-breaking move adopted by India to eliminate deep-seated resentment in the
hearts of Nepalese population.
But the present economic blockade has started repeating the same consequences of
that of the 1989-turmoil, giving rise to multiple crises, when the country is already
reeling under the 360-degree turn departure from its own Constitutions objective of
bringing peace and stability in the region.
The Himalayan country is heavily dependent upon India and its routes for important
commodities like food, fuel, consumer goods and imports from various countries. But
the emergence of India from a state of silence to resorting to pressure tactic has
crippled Nepals economy to a major extent.
Though, the move doesnt possess legal backing, it sure has tendencies to oscillate
between the political vendettas of the ignorance tactic adopted by the Nepalese
leaders and the need of India to claim its superiority of being a Big Brother to Nepal.
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Miscalculations
New Delhis Signals:
India has always had direct or indirect influence on Nepals political transitions but her
genuine concerns have been misread and been misinterpreted as a threat to their
sovereignty. This short-sightedness needs to be dealt with, as the over-ambitiousness of
the political leaders could put the million lives, still dealing with the aftermath of the
disaster, at stake.
But given the fact that Nepal has historically been subjected to dark political times,
India needs to relax its stance and adopt the soft-power diplomacy over dictation of its
own terms.
Fault-lines of Nepal:
Nepal would do well to acknowledge Madeshis as Nepals citizens and letting them lead
a dignified life by recognizing their natural stake at fundamental rights present.
There is also a need to recognize that the failure of Constitution isnt an imported
concept but is a real domestic issue which needs to be tackled to ensure survival of
democracy.
Though, the Constitution, as a whole looks progressive, it must live up to its nature of a
progressive path to be yielded for the society. Broad-based ownership is the key issue
which needs to be implemented and owned.
Nepal needs to move away from the times-of-need based foreign policy to a more
matured and a comprehensive one, as in the global world, policies and sentiments
should be tackled carefully and a firm stand needs to be adopted to earn credibility.
IASbabas Views:
Although Indias recommendations hold good intentions, it needs to remove the

invisible economic sanctions, if any, as incidents that happen in Nepal has its
ramifications in India. The economic blockade could also just be a media-hype that
leads to alienation and more upsurges and thus, a closed-door fast-track solution is
desired.
Nepal, as a nation has evolved and has given itself its living document Constitution. But
this puts a major onus upon them to accept mistakes and correct them and not play the
blame game. India has, time and again, proved its stand w.r.t Nepal and thus, has a
natural right to derive answers for difficult questions that can plague both the
countries.
The Constitution does have loopholes and with time, the configurations might and will
change to accommodate the differences that exist but both India and Nepal should
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together, work out a temporary solution keeping in hindsight a permanent one, at the
earliest.
Background
Why is India concerned?
Porous Boundary: India shares a 1,751km open border with Nepal through which people
pass freely but which has often concerned the countrys security agencies because of its use
by smugglers, human traffickers and terror suspects.
Geopolitical Tension: Nepals handling of the crisis has drawn strong criticism from
neighbouring India, which fears violence could spill onto its territory, where large numbers
of Nepalese work.
Instability in the Region: Indias concern has been with the violent reaction to the
constitution in the low-lying southern plains, adjoining India, the Terai.
Interests of Madhesis: Communities living in the Terai, especially the Madeshis and the
Tharu ethnic minorities, have expressed concern that the proposed boundaries of the new
provinces could lead to their political marginalization.
The two groups make up nearly 40% of Nepals population and the Madeshis share close
ethnic ties with people in India.
Political Reason: Any political turbulence and violence in Nepal will inevitably have a direct
adverse impact on poll-bound Bihar.
7 Amendments proposed:
The Interim Constitution provided electoral constituencies based on population, geography

and special characteristics, and in the case of Madhes on the basis of percentage of
population. Under this provision, Madhes, with more than 50 per cent of the population,
got 50 per cent of seats in Parliament. The latter phrase has been omitted in the new
Constitution. It needs to be re-inserted so that Madhes continues to have electoral
constituencies in proportion to its population,
The Interim Constitution, it was mentioned that various groups would have the right to
participate in state structures on the basis of principles of proportional inclusion. In the
new Constitution (Article 42), the word proportional has been dropped Delhi wants it
re-inserted.
Constitution states that only citizens by descent will be entitled to hold the posts of
President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament, Chairperson
of National Assembly, Head of Province, Chief Minister, Speaker of Provincial Assembly and
Chief of Security Bodies. This clause is seen as discriminatory for the large number of
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Madhesis who have acquired citizenship by birth or naturalisation. This should be amended
to include citizenship by birth or naturalisation.
The new Constitution states that National Assembly will comprise 8 members from each of
7 States and 3 nominated members. Madhesi parties want representation in National
Assembly to be based on population of the Provinces.
Five disputed districts of Kanchanpur, Kailali, Sunsari, Jhapa and Morang: Based on the
majority of the population, these districts or parts of them may be included in the
neighboring Madhes Provinces.
Interim Constitution provided for delineation of electoral constituencies every 10 years.
This has been increased to 20 years by the new Constitution. Echoing the Madhesi
parties, India wants this restored to 10 years.
Constitution states that a foreign woman married to a Nepali citizen may acquire
naturalized citizenship of Nepal as provided for in a federal law. Madhesi parties want
acquisition of naturalized citizenship to be automatic on application.
To what extent does the move by Nepal stands justified in the new world order?
What are the implications of Indias firm reaction on foreign relationships with other
countries? According to you, has India shown departure from its past stances in dealing
with foreign policy issues?
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or
affecting Indias interests

interests, Indian diaspora.
Diverse Yet United: Together Towards Tomorrow- India-Africa Forum Summit
India geologically was a part of the fused Super-Continent Gondwanaland and broke
away from the landmass due to continental drift, joining South-Asia.
Sharing this deep engagement and historical essence, this summit began in 2008and is
an acknowledgement of the shared values and beliefs of the both India and Africa, to
give a right direction and a thrust to the bilateral synergies anchored in the principles of
equality, and mutual respect towards each other.
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The Banjul Formula has been done away with, leveraging a tangible political and
economic engagement comprising of one-third of the world population, infusing a new
scope of partnership.
Connected Renaissance:
Economic:
Soft loans, Grants in Dollars, Institution building, Training fellowship and Extended Duty
Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) scheme to Least Developed Countries point towards
Indias efforts in the newly-designed development paradigm that exists.
The efforts complement Indias stand on sustainable development as well as the fact
that 36 countries of Africa are expected to grow by 4 percent, pointing towards an
ambitious partnership in the making.
Private investments by India include investments in Energy, ICT, Automobile
manufacturing and telecommunications, thus, upholding India as the fifth largest
investor in Africa.
The Focus Africa Programme also focuses on incentivising Africa to import Indian
Products, creating a profitable market for Indian goods.
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Infrastructure:
The Pan-African e-Network Project ranges from human resource development, health
infrastructure, capacity building, ICT utilisation and builds the foundation of knowledge
economy, setting India apart from the engagements established by other countries.
The provision of tele-medicine and linking the far-away natives with the super-speciality
hospitals will help provide a thrust to the development-driven partnership.
Energy security is an important area that can boost Indias economic output which can
be facilitated with gaining greater access to the oil and gas assets in Africa.
Cultural:
There has been a surge in people-to-people contact with a welcoming spirit for medical
tourists, entrepreneurs, students in both the countries.
Cultural connection has received a huge impetus with the growth in the trade and
investment activities, managing to stand stable even during the global economic
slowdown.
The Indian Diasporas contribution has been significant but the potential for harnessing
comfortable partnership has not been adequately established yet.
Acceleration of Engagement:
More robust and engaging policies and involvement should be ensured in the presence
of low commodity prices, rise in militancy, high population growth, urbanisation, health
and educational level. Indian private sector needs to be enabled with incentives and
ease of expansion to leverage the resources available in Africa
Much needed is the focus on joint partnership, injection of bilateralism and an element
of balance between the policies of the two countries till the end. More efficiency and
proper coordination can play a major role in harnessing a successful endeavour.
The Indian diaspora in Africa can help build up a more successful platform for cultural
exchanges. Much of the efforts made by India needs to be realised and be made known.
Also, the responding mechanism needs to be better organised and more coherent with
the activities undertaken in this direction.
Education provides India with a comparatively higher advantage over her competitors
in the region. 25,000 scholarships have already been rolled out and the studentexchange programme is all set to reap benefits of the shared demographic dividend, if
employed ambitiously.
Lack of governance and ineffective security arrangements have resulted in thriving of
unfavourable elements like terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking and calls for a proactive
collaboration between India and Africa. Sharing of intelligence and naval ship visits are
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some ways through which the security cooperation and marine security can be
deepened.
IASbabas Views:
The Summit (IAFS) should take a plunge into tapping the untapped assets and
strengthening close ties by enhancing the relevance of a mutual interface existing
between them. This new paradigm of cooperation can thus, play a major role in
harnessing the resurgence and intertwined dreams of both the countries.
With the involvement of China and its permanent mission in the African Union, India
would do well to take its African Policy seriously and comprehensively.
Write a short note on Banjul Formula? What has its relevance been in the growth-story
of Africa?
Indias strategy aims to strike a balance between Indias growing commercial and
strategic interests in Africa and its traditional policy of empowering Africa. Comment
interests.
Latest Wave of Violence in the Hub of Cemeteries: Israel & Palestine

Upsurge of Frustration:
In July 2013, peace talks had begun between Israel & Palestine with USA playing a
mediator but the talks failed within 9 months due to certain huge gaps.
There have been established checkpoints throughout the West Bank for hindering the
movement of Palestinians across towns. Demography with democracy was blamed for
this as Israel pursued its policy of preservation of its status as a Jewish democratic state
while Palestinian interests slipped into protecting its honour.
Even in Palestine alone, since 2005 there exists two potential Palestinian states; one in
the Gaza Strip under the control of the radical Islamist Hamas and the other in the West
Bank, under the control of the Palestinian Authority. Thus, three states peace process
need to be drawn out before going for a two-state solution.
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The war crimes do not distinguish between rights and wrongs. From killings to pursuing
the policy of hard-core violence, it has gone much ahead the acceptable norms of
states in conflict due to boundary issues.
Failed Peace Agreement between Hamas and Fatah (West bank), 2014:
Israel to be recognized as a country possessing borders demarcated during 1967

Violence to be renounced and acceptance towards the 2011 Israel-Palestine Agreement
and 2012 Hamas-Fatah Agreement
Elections to be held within every 6 months
Strategic Measures:
Recognition: Both sides should acknowledge each other as equals and recognize each other as
a sovereign state.
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Side-line: Both sides will have to effectively put away or moderate their maximalist positions on
settlements, refugees and demography.
End to Israels Expansionist Policy: Israel will have to put an end to its expansionist policy in the
Palestinian territory, should give the non-Jewish parts of Jerusalem back to Palestinians and lift
the siege of the Gaza strip and release the prisoners. Palestinians should recognize Israels right
to exit and realise the prophecy of Arafat and should believe in the following:
Every child of Arab and Jewish descent is born free and equal, in dignity and rights. They are
endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of
brotherhood.
~Menachem Begin's Nobel Prize speech
Securing domestic political support:
This will play a crucial role as any referendum of giving up of land would require
approval of the two-thirds of the Knesset members or by a public referendum.
A momentum would have to be built to shape public opinion and awareness drives be
carried out to make them aware of the pressing needs for a peaceful process to begin.
They need to be assured that it is possible to negotiate a solution that is fair, safe and
conducive to a better future and can be guaranteed only by a visionary approach, on
both ends.
Violence can never be the way out, if the opponent doesnt understand or responds.
Re-engagement: Aided by the International community, both the countries should indulge in
serious negotiations, supplementing the same with resolving the differences and making a
united bid for preserving peace and a smooth transition to a decided outcome, later on. It
might also mean restoring the pre-Colonization status and payment of compensation with
better movement facilitated to increase their livelihood opportunities.
Humanitarian corridor: WHO has called for the creation of a humanitarian corridor for the
evacuation of the injured, as well as for the supply of life-saving medicines. This will extend to
protect the safe passage of patients to access crossing points and exit outside the Gaza Strip for
timely medical care to be provided.
IASbabas Views:
A sustainable peace process is important to ward off the evils of war, collapsed talks and
the blame game, again and again. The international community needs to recognize the
importance of the delayed humanitarian crisis that has been in the picture since a long
time and a degraded effect it has on the global peace order.
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Strategic optimism has to be maintained which makes realistic assessment of the

situation, but actively seeks out all the possibilities for movement toward peace and
vigorously pursues them.
Ensuring the creation of an independent Palestinian State co-existing peacefully
alongside Israel, conforming to the international legitimacy will require a courageous
leadership and personal commitment to peace and negotiations. The changes should be
reflected positively, paving way for progressive alignment of the process as a whole.
Background:
West bank
The West Bank is a landlocked territory near the Mediterranean coast of Western Asia,
forming the bulk of the Palestinian territories.
The West Bank shares boundaries to the west, north, and south with the state of Israel,
and to the east, across the Jordan River, with Jordan.
The West Bank also contains a significant coastline along the western bank of the Dead
Sea.
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip is a pene-exclave region of Palestine on the eastern coast of the
Mediterranean Sea that borders Egypt and Israel.
Gaza makes up part of the Palestinian territories which includes the West Bank. In 2012
the United Nations General Assembly accorded Palestine non-Member Observer State
status in the United Nations.
Gaza-Israel Conflict
The GazaIsrael conflict is a part of the wider IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

Palestinian militant actions escalated in the Gaza Strip following the overwhelming
election to government of the Islamic political party Hamas in 2005 and 2006.
The conflict escalated with the split of the Palestinian Authority to Fatah government in
the West Bank and the Hamas Government in Gaza and the following violent ousting of
Fatah.
Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and the joint Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza have
exacerbated the conflict.
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Role of International Criminal Court (ICC) in settlement of War crimes

Comment on Indias stand on the issue.
Role of Public Opinion and Civil Society
Role of NATO
interests.
India- Afghanistan: Time to refresh Afghan relationship

The geopolitics of Afghanistan, Central and West Asia has witnessed several important changes
over the last six months, which makes the time right for a fresh Indian initiative that reaches
out to old friends in northern Afghanistan along with anti-Taliban elements in the southern
parts.
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What changes have given rise to the opportunity?

First, the changing equations of balance of power in Afghanistan.
1. The geopolitical situation on Afghanistans borders is rapidly evolving, following Talibans
takeover of Kunduz.
An immediate outcome is that Russia is into the scene which was not seen since 2001.
The Russian government is concerned that local Daesh (Islamic State) elements,
comprising mainly Central Asian jihadis , could, along with the Taliban, further fuel
instability.
There is also fear that the Daesh could retaliate against Russian targets in response to
the happenings in Syria.
Moreover, Russia loses 50,000 youth to narcotics, which makes its way through the
porous Central Asian border.
Consequently, Russia is actively considering the movement of its forces to man the
Afghanistan-Tajikistan border.
2. The U.S., on the other hand, in search of an honourable exit from Afghanistan, has been
shaken by the Kunduz incident.
The Taliban operation makes it clear that the optimism generated by Pakistan-led round
of talks was misplaced.
The halt in troop withdrawal until 2017 is meant to buy time until the U.S. finds a better
roadmap to peace in Afghanistan.
3. Irans concern over instable Afghanistan
Irans concerns are three fold:
One, it is worried that instability in Afghanistan could give a boost to the Daesh.
Second, an unstable Afghanistan will also lead to an increase in the illicit drug trade on
Irans eastern border.
Third, Iran is also worried that instability could lead to an influx of refugees.
All these issues have motivated Iran to provide sanctuary to a few important
segments of the Taliban.
Second, inability of the Taliban to regain control of major cities in its traditional stronghold of
southern Afghanistan.
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Taliban is losing control over Kandahar, its traditional base, due to a strong resistance
from the afghan police.
Taliban has been internally divided based on the leadership claims. There has been a
strong resistance against accepting Mullah Mohammed Omar, as he new chief of
Taliban, especially in southern Afghanistan.
The geopolitical changes around Afghanistan coupled with the ongoing organisational struggles
of the Taliban provide an opportunity for Russia, Iran and India to reassess their roles in
Afghanistan.
Way Forward:
India played a pivotal role in the resistance against the Taliban through the Northern
Alliance, two decades earlier.
Now, India needs to re-establish contact not just with the old friends in the region but
also factions within the Taliban and the anti-Taliban forces in the south, to help
Afghanistan gain strategic autonomy.
It is also imperative for India that Afghanistans south-eastern regions are prevented
from exporting terror and drugs into India.
Unlike the last time, India now has the financial muscle to do a lot more.
What it needs is renewed enthusiasm and a fresh initiative on Afghanistan.
Critically examine the implications of a stable Afghanistan on growth and internal

security of India.
Critically examine the importance of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in fighting war
against terrorism in India.
interests.
India Myanmar Relations: An analysis
India-Myanmar relations are rooted in shared historical, ethnic, cultural and religious
ties.
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A large population of Indian origin (according to some estimates about 2.5 million) lives
in Myanmar.
However, while attention is focused on the fragility of representative democracy in Nepal,

another neighbour, Myanmar, with which India shares a 1,640-km, sensitive, insurgencyprone border, appears to be heading for another political turmoil in Indian neighbourhood.
The struggle of National League for Democracy (NLD) :
Myanmar today is governed by a military government.

With the elections for Myanmar parliament due on November 8th 2015, NLDs leader,
Aung San Suu Kyis recent statement If the National League for Democracy (NLD)
wins the elections and we form the government, I am going to be the leader of that
government, whether or not I am president, has sparked row with military head and
the present president of Myanmar.
Can democracy step into Myanmar with the win of NLD ?

The chances of NLD winning are very bleak, due to the following
The army constitutionally nominates 25 per cent of the members in both houses of
parliament. That means elections are conducted for the rest 75 per cent of seats only.
If Suu Kyi is to fulfil her stated ambitions, her NLD will have to win 67 per cent of the
seats for which elections are being held and get her nominees to head both houses.
There appears little doubt that she would succeed in wining over two-thirds the seats in
both houses in Bamar (Burmese) dominated areas, that constitute 44 per cent of the
countrys electorate.
But the situation is different in insurgency-affected States, dominated by the ethnic
minorities.
The NLD did well even in these states in the 1990 and 2012 elections, primarily because
of Suu Kyis image. However, there are doubts about her current popularity and
standing amongst the ethnic minorities.
Why a stable Myanmar is important to India ?
Myanmar is not easy to govern, as it even now faces multiple insurgency-like situations,
with over 40 armed groups operating across vast tracts of the country.
A major challenge Myanmar continues to face is to engender a countrywide ceasefire
and bring the armed ethnic groups into the national mainstream.
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These problems have not been made any easier with China reverting to its earlier role of
providing arms, haven and training to major insurgent groups located along the SinoMyanmar border, in the Shan and Kachin states.
A stable Myanmar is needed to realize the potential of Act East policy of India and to
bring development into the North Eastern states.
If stability in Myanmar is not established, India would become an island of stability in an
ocean of instability.
Major Indian Projects in Myanmar:
Development cooperation is a key in the relationship and India has been providing both
technical and financial assistance for projects in Myanmar, both in infrastructural and in
the areas of Human resource development and institutional capacity building.
These include centres of excellence in Myanmar- the Myanmar Institute of Information
Technology (MIIT) being set up at Mandalay; an Advanced Centre for Agricultural
Research and Education (ACARE), a Rice Bio Park at Yezin Agriculture University and
many other training institutes.
Important connectivity projects include: Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project,
building/upgrading 71 bridges on the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo road; construction of
Kalewa-Yargyi section of the trilateral highway which envisages seamless connectivity
between India, Myanmar and Thailand by 2016.
Commercial and Economic Relations :
There has been steady expansion of bilateral trade from US$ 12.4 million in 1980-81 to
US$ 1.92 million in 2012-13.
India's imports from Myanmar are dominated by agricultural items (beans, pulses and
forest based products from 90% of our imports).
Indias main exports to Myanmar are primary & semi-finished steel and
pharmaceuticals.
Way Forward:
In the past, Myanmar has helped India more effectively in dealing with cross-border
terrorism and separatism, than most of our other neighbours.
In 1995, Indian and Myanmars forces mounted a 45-day joint preparation on Myanmar
soil, code named Operation Golden Bird, to intercept and eliminate a large group of
well-armed insurgents from Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.
India should carefully negotiate with Myanmar army and the NLD, to maintain peace
and stability along the borders of India Myanmar.
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Critically analyse the statement India is an ocean of stability in an island of instability.

A stable Myanmar is very crucial in order to realize the potential of act east policy of
India. Discuss.
Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

affecting Indias interests.
interests, Indian diaspora.
UN missions: Bedrock of Indias military engagement and assistance to Africa
Indias participation in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) is

probably without parallel; it has been one of the largest contributors of peacekeepers
and has suffered the most casualties in the process.
Eighty per cent of Indias peacekeepers are presently serving in Africa, and 70 per cent
of all casualties have been sustained there.
UN missions serve as the bedrock of Indias military engagement and assistance to Africa.
However, there is growing debate on the efficacy of these missions, and benefits for India from
its continued participation.
In more ways than one, India and Africa are at a crossroads on this issue.
Both need to move beyond and engage in a serious dialogue on Indias role in the future
security architecture in Africa.
An historic background of Indias role :
Historically, India has participated in nearly all UNPKO in Africa.

Most famously, India helped set the trend in peace enforcement missions by
deploying a sizeable contingent in Congo from 1960 to 1963.
The end of the Cold War led to a pronounced increase in UNPKO in Africa.
India has been an active contributor in almost all missions.
It is presently engaged in 12 of the 15 active peacekeeping missions.
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Why a need for dialogue on this has surfaced?
Recently, however, there has been debate about Indias continued role.
Many question the benefits accruing to India from its considerable investment of
manpower and military resources.
In addition, critics cite the bad publicity generated due to instances of sexual
misconduct and corruption allegedly committed by some Indian peacekeepers, and
allegations that India failed to adequately protect civilians.
These criticisms should not be brushed aside and instead provide an opportunity to debate the
future of UN peacekeeping and Indias role in Africa.
The crux of the issue lies here:
African Union (AU), a 54-country group comprising all African states except Morocco, has
deployed around 64,000 peacekeepers since 2004 in numerous missions on the continent.
However, these missions are funded almost entirely by donors like the UN, EU or the US, and
only 2.3 per cent of the AU peacekeeping budget comes from its member states.
On the one hand, therefore, are the wealthy Western countries that fund but do not
commit troops.
They are increasingly unhappy with the rising costs of UN peacekeeping its current
budget of $9 billion is the largest ever.
In addition, they have raised questions on the ability and commitment of peacekeepers
to saving civilian lives.
On the other hand, troop-contributing non-African countries, mainly from the
developing world, however, argue that they are not adequately consulted when the
missions are being formulated.
African countries, which constitute the bulk manpower, are caught in the middle
financially dependent upon developed countries while requiring additional
manpower, resources and support from developing countries to bolster their
capabilities.
What needs to be done in future?

There are three measures that can be taken to spur the debate and enhance India-Africa
security relations.
1. India and Africa need to embark on a serious discussion on the future of UNPKO in Africa.
Criticisms like the failure to protect civilians or allegations of misbehaviour and
corruption need to be tackled head on.
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Discussions should focus on steps to increase the overall effectiveness of peacekeeping

missions.
2. India should consider scaling up its security assistance to African countries.
In the previous Africa-India Forum Summit in Addis Ababa in 2011, then Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh announced a contribution of $2 million towards peace keeping
missions.
This should be increased by a considerable degree, especially since this mission is
involved in intense combat operations.
In addition, India should enhance its military training teams in Botswana, Zambia,
Lesotho and the Seychelles, and also work towards including other countries who
express an interest.
4. India and Africa should shed their perceived shyness to discuss security issues and
establish a high-level defence dialogue.
Way Forward:
In the long run, the historical model of peacekeeping in Africa funded by the West and
manned largely by Asian countries is unsustainable.
Indias efforts in peacekeeping have thus far been remarkable, but it is now perhaps
time to transition to an African owned-African led solution.
Gradually reducing its peacekeeping responsibilities may therefore be for the best and
might have the added advantage of eventually enhancing India-Africa relations.
Background:
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) : A peacekeeping operation is led by
the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) of the united nations , and work to create
the conditions for lasting peace in a country torn by conflict.
A peacekeeping operation consists of military, police and civilian personnel, who work
to deliver security, political and early peace building support.
There are currently 16 peacekeeping operations and one special political mission the
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) led by the Department
of Peacekeeping Operations.
India and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations:
As one of the founding members of the UN, Indias contribution to the maintenance of
international peace and security has been second to none.
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India started off its support in United Nations mission with the operations in Korea in
1950.
The current deployment of 7864 personnel as on 31 October 2013 reflects the
commitment of troops, military observers and staff officers and civilian police from
India in nine of the 16 current UN operations.
Indias spontaneous and unreserved participation in UN peacekeeping operations over
the years has been a clear demonstration of the countrys commitment to the objectives
set out in the UN Charter.
UN missions serve as the bedrock of Indias military engagement and assistance to

Africa. Critically examine the above statement in light of third India Africa summit.
Critically examine the measures taken by India as a part of South -South cooperation
with special focus on its initiatives in Africa.
Critically examine the importance of Africa in securing India a permanent seat in UNSC.
TOPIC:

Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector; Important aspects of
governance, transparency and accountability
General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues Inclusive growth and issues arising from
it.
Reforms need to reach the needy: The Welfare Approach
India met with an economic crisis (BoP Crisis) in 1991 and it was further compounded by
rising prices of essential goods, low level of growth and investment in social schemes
that failed to generate substantial returns.
Before 1991, development had largely been State-driven; greatly commanding the key
sectors of the economy, keeping a check on private players via licenses and controls,
controls on price fixation, quantitative restriction on imports, etc.
The 1991s wave of change marked a departure from excessive controls of the State to
the stable land of opportunities:
Abolished Industrial Licensing (except some-alcohol, aerospace, drugs, etc)
Market determination of Prices
Establishment of Private Sector Banks
Simplification of Taxes
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Devaluation of Rupee against foreign currencies

Dismantled quantitative restrictions on imports and many more
State-A Provider
This also marked the brand new role of the State- as a regulator and as a provider for public
goods and services. Post-1991 changes led India to an arena where there is an increased
competition and this fierce competition can be calmed down only by an improved efficiency
of the policies and a robust economic mechanism in place.
There exists a direct relationship between efficiency and growth; higher the level of
efficiency, higher the level of growth and development. This growth can then be leveraged
to a point where expenditures on social sector initiatives can be utilized to provide better
social security nets.
Poverty
The eradication of poverty has been a favourite slogan for many decades to garner votes but
when seen on the ground, there might be some changes in the figures but considering the
importance of the issue, not much concentrated efforts have been translated into reality. Thus,
behaviour of the poverty ratio becomes the most important determinant in the story of Indias
reforms and changes.
Economic growth, today, is not anymore the rate of growth but the composition of growth
which determines the pace of trickle down effect of growth. In short, if one has to receive
the benefits, he/she also has the capacity to respond to this growth stimuli.
Major poverty alleviation programmes like Rural Works, Self-employment and Food
Subsidy are in place but this has to be taken forward in a sustainable manner. The rhetoric
level at which the expenditure and policies are involved, have been ineffective due to
meagre government spending (not on paper but in reality), lack of employment
opportunities, ignorance towards the consequences of some economic decisions (health &
environmental issues) as well as administrative inefficiency.
Subsidies:
Total subsidies should be fixed and accounted for and that should be computed as a
proportion of GDP
Should be targeted and directed only towards the deserving vulnerable groups
The Delivery system should be taken care of (Conditional Cash Transfer-JAM Trinity)
Expenditures of the government should start adopting the strategy of investment more
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Agriculture
Public investment along with scientific research and development plays a crucial role in
improving the agricultural productivity.
Also, inputs (fertilizers & finance), food processing, marketing products and export oriented
policies needs to be re-visited
Process of consensus building (Land Acquisition)and proper institutional & legislative
arrangements need to be developed to exploit our maximum potential under the emerging
globalisation
Crafting Transitions
Macroeconomic Stability:
Low Inflation + Low Current Account Deficit + Modest Fiscal Deficit
Green-Inclusive-Technological Growth:
The reforms should evolve as a means of serving people and nature together and thus,
economic progress should become a moral progress more while ensuring proper handling
of the requirements of sustainable development paradigm (environment sensibilities and
vulnerabilities)
The impacts on environment should be internalised and be included in the costs of
production, to truly promote sustainable production systems and efficiency in the utilization
of natural resources be taken care of
Investment should take place in the development of technologies that are sustainable,
creates green jobs and satisfies the needs of the locals
Incentives should be provided in the reduction of critical and scarcer source such as soil,
water and fossil fuel use through technological innovation
Building Transparency + Accountability + Participation:
Transformation in governance structures is needed to enable and sustain the desired

transformative changes (maximising benefits) in social and economic systems
Speedy clearances and completion of projects+ A just and a transparent governance system
Awareness generation and grassroots advocacy through knowledge sharing consultations
and media consultation for building a dynamic knowledge system that both urban and rural
India can benefit from on a whole
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IASbabas Views:
The countrys choices must give way to the new triad: quality of life, human solidarity, and
ecological sensibility and the poorest and most marginalised must benefit from the gains of
economic growth with expansion in their access to social services
A sustainable human settlement makes life richer, promotes social capital building, and
regenerates natural capital while augmenting economic capital.
In these times of rapid change, reforms are not sufficient alone ad therefore, it is necessary
that dynamic and systemic planning guidelines should set the rules of the game.
Maybe then, the errors can be corrected and the country can move on to the high growth
path.
The disparate growth has been a key feature of Indian economy since independence.
Discuss
Summarise the importance of sustainable methods of production and sustainable
consumption patterns in being critical steps towards transition of the economy into a
developed economy.
Ultimately an economy has to be evaluated interms of what happens to the poorest
and the dispossessed. Everything else, such as nation's income growth rate is of
instrumental value". Do you agree?
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ECONOMICS
Indias shaky sovereign wealth fund

The investment division of the finance ministry has finally approved setting up of the National
Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).
The Fund is likely to be operational from the end of this year.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his recent visit to Singapore and Hong Kong pitched to
the pension and wealth funds there to invest in the NIIF, touted to be Indias own
version of a sovereign wealth fund (SWF).
The Fund will receive an initial allocation of Rs.20,000 crore as seed money, which will
be used to lend equity/quasi-equity/debt support to commercially viable green-field
and brown-field infrastructure projects, including stalled ones.
The Fund is also mandated to provide equity/quasi-equity support to non-banking
finance companies and financial institutions involved in infrastructure financing, and to
nationally important projects in the core sector
The basic motivation of creating this new entity is to bridge the glaring infrastructure financing
deficit in India.
Funding:
Indias current infrastructure spending is around 4.5 per cent of GDP. This is relatively
lower than other emerging market economies.
Indian infra would need at least Rs. 26 lakh crore over the next five years considering
the governments ambitious plans such as Make in India, Smart Cities and Digital India.
It is projected that 70 per cent of this required amount is likely to be debt financed,
with banks being the largest source of finance, while 14 per cent will come from
external commercial borrowings (ECBs). The rest is likely to be financed by bonds.
The bulk of the financing needs in the infrastructure sector shall be catered to by commercial
banks.
It may be difficult for the banks to play the same supportive role, particularly
considering that stressed loans is are growing.
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As of March 2015, stressed loans account for 14 per cent of gross advances ($161
billion). Significantly, 30 percent of the growth in stressed loans are in the
infrastructure sector, particularly, power.
The sovereign fund
The NIIF will be established as one or more alternate investment funds (AIFs), regulated
by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds)
Regulations, 2012.
With such an insignificant budgetary allocation, and financing model hinging too
heavily on the Funds ability to attract external long-term finance, one wonders how
such a complex objective function can be sustainably achieved.
Related issue:
For each entity set up as an AIF, fixing the governments share at 49 per cent, while making it
non-obligatory for partners to infuse similar funds to maintain their equity holdings, seems
problematic.
Future need:
The NIIF is expected to bridge the existing financing gap, and ease the pressure on
banking.
Guarantee of sovereign participation in NIIF may, in the short-run, attract overseas
participation. The recently announced UAE-India Infrastructure Investment Fund with a
corpus of $75 billion
Foreign SWFs, mostly guided by strategic and commercial objectives, are unlikely to coinvest in the Fund unless Indias growth potential remains robust, and unless forwardlooking concomitant reforms are initiated, particularly the ones that can remove
impediments for infrastructure development in the country.
Unless the government corrects the basic underlying conditions that would ensure a
decent return on their investments, we are unlikely to see big-ticket investments in NIIF
from foreign SWFs.
Conclusion:
Around the world, SWFs are normally established out of trade surpluses, official foreign
currency operations, and fiscal surpluses. None of these conditions is favourable for India and,
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therefore, raises doubts about the long-run capability of NIIF to fulfill the objectives for which it
is being created.
The success of NIIF will hinge upon the extent to which it is able to rope in overseas strategic
institutional partners. But that, in turn, will depend on Indias growth story.
With what objectives is the National Investment and Infrastructure fund created? How
is fund mobilized for the NIIF?
How can NIIF help India in creation of infrastructure and attracting investment? What
can be done to attract fund from foreign investors?
Why India needs huge fund for infrastructure? Is the setting up of NIIF will alone the
huge demand?
You can find a comprehensive article on Net Neutrality in our Monthly (April) Magazine
http://iasbaba.com/babas-monthly-magazine/
Issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPR)
Legally Knotted Innovations
A
tremendous
growth has been
exhibited by the
Indian IT Industry;
right from the
inception of large
number of startups as well as
growth
and
advancement
of
the
existing
software
companies.
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Today, they are not just focussed on offering their services but have gone ahead to a
different paradigm, getting involved in the discovery and development of new innovative
software products for the market. This innovation thus, exhibits a streak of a protective
policy from the innovators end to safeguard their products and exercise monopoly over
the same.
These patents thus, block any development of the features by software developers for a
period of 20 years which, by many means can lead to disruption of seamless flow in the
work due to incompatibility experienced.
Countries like USA, Australia and Singapore favour patent protection for software
innovation but India and European nations have formulated laws related to the same, in a
much stringent manner.
In India ::
The Amended Patent Act in 2005 and the Patents Manual, 2011 effectively deny software
patents. Also, the software innovations that fall under Section 3(k) are non-patentable.
Section 3(k):
It states that a patent cannot be granted for a mathematical or business method or a
computer programme per se or algorithms.
The inclusion of per se was for a combination satisfying criterias like innovation,
industrial applicability, etc. and that which can be patented, provided it exists either in
the combination as a whole or outside of the software.
Patents (Amendment) Act of 2005:

A patent should not be denied if a claim directed primarily at
Software, establishing industrial applicability of the invention
Novel software, with known hardware that goes beyond the normal interaction with
that hardware and that affects a change in functionality of the hardware
Also, Parliament had rejected:
Amendments that could have an effect of further narrowing the exception created by
the section, thereby increasing the scope of patenting software
Proposals to permit software to be patented when industrial or technical application
was demonstrated or when in a combination with hardware
Innovative hurdles:
I.
Monopoly: Little choice + No incentive to work on the complaints as the market is

capture, damaging societys development
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II.
III.
IV.
Costly Affair impeding Innovation: Diversion of funds from productive R&D towards
litigation and discovery/licenses
Restriction on Technological Progress& Legal Risks: More number of false claims,
thereby diverting energy of innovators towards defending and not
producing/discovering which, in turn, affects their creativity.
Low Inclusion of Indians: World Intellectual Property Organisation statistics states that
only about 22 per cent of all patents granted by the Indian Patent Office were granted
to Indian residents thus, questioning the strategic as well as economic sense behind the
protection that excludes Indians from benefiting from it.
IASbabas Views:
Clearly, the risk towards innovation is visible in its darkest shade. With programs like
Make in India and Skilling India, where India is looking forward to creating an atmosphere
of multi-fold innovations, the innovative small business stands to lose out much more and
get severely hurt, if India does not change its stance.
This will undoubtedly strengthen the market position of the Multinationals and exclude
Indians from being able to access knowledge that is vital for their growth, stunting the
success of the schemes by the Government, away from the path of development.
Background:
Intellectual property (IP)
It is a term used to refer to creations of the intellect for which a monopoly is assigned to
designated owners by law.
Some common types of intellectual property rights (IPR) are copyright, patents, industrial
design rights and trademarks. It also covers music, literature, and other artistic works;
discoveries and inventions; and words, phrases, symbols, and designs. Intellectual property
rights are themselves a form of property, called intangible property.
The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is an
international agreement administered by the WTO that sets down minimum standards for
many forms of intellectual property regulation as applied to nationals of other WTO
Members.It was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1994.
The TRIPS agreement introduced intellectual property law into the international trading
system for the first time and remains the most comprehensive international agreement on
intellectual property to date.
Process + Product patents (allfields of technology)
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Term: 20 years
Limited compulsory licensing as well as scope for its usage by Government
Types
Legislations in India
Patents
Indian Patents Law, 1970

Amended Thrice: 1999 + 2002 + 2005
Designs
The Designs Act , 1911 now enacted as The Designs Act,
2000
Copyright
Amended: 1983 + 1984 + 1992 + 1994 + 1999;
Copyright Rules 1958
Trade Mark
The Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958; Enacted
again in 1999
Geographical Indications
The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and
Protection) Act 1999.
Layout Design of Integrated The Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Design Act 2000
Circuits
What is TRIPS plus agreement?

Do you think Indian Patent Law is regressive?
Write a short note on:
1. Ever-greening
2. India: Pharmacy of the Poor
3. Novartis case and Indias stand
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TOPIC:
General Studies 3: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country;
transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints.
General Studies 2: Governance Issues; Government policies and interventions for
development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and
implementation.
Racing pulse price in India
Retail prices of all major

pulses have crossed Rs
100/ kg.
In the case of tur/ arhar
(pigeon pea), they have
crossed the doublecentury mark of Rs 200/
kg
in several places.
The continuation of such
price-rise would sound
the death knell for any
political party in power.
Evidently, the present governments mission to bring down food inflation has faced a
severe blow.
How did government try to control the increasing prices of pulses ?
It constituted a committee to find out the reasons for the increasing trend and also to
come up with potential solutions that can reduce the prices.
Invoked the Essential Commodities Act against traders and stockists (hoarders).
Imposed stocking limits on dal mills, large retailers, warehouses, etc.
Imported 7,000 tonnes of tur dal, banned exports, reduced the import duty to zero, and
suspended futures and forwards trading.
The result:
Tur prices in markets like Rajkot, Bangalore, Puducherry and Chennai have touched Rs
200/ kg (and even higher) , an annual increase of 100, 163, 147 and 141 per cent,
respectively.
Who in the government is accountable for the present situation in pulses?
Alarm bells rang out in early September about pulse production falling by more than
two million tonnes (about 11 per cent) in 2014-15 over 2013-14.
The effect of the 2015 drought on the major pulse-growing states Maharashtra,
Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, meant that future supply pressures were near-certain.
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While traders had their ears to the ground, the complacency of government officials has
resulted in the present situation.
The time to act was then. Now, the economic damage to poor consumers and political
harm to the government in power have been done.
Interestingly, the bureaucracy, which should be accountable for tracking production
and prices, and ensuring smooth inter-/ intra-year supplies, goes scot-free.
But what went wrong?

1. First, who is a hoarder?
Let us remember that in any situation in which harvesting is concentrated in a one- to

three-month window, though consumption is spread through the year, there is a need
for someone to store the stock to smoothen supplies.
Is this not why the government is encouraging the creation of warehouses and cold
storages?
Now, when the government imposes stocking limits, legitimate stockists become
hoarders overnight.
Forcing them to offload stocks will certainly bring immediate relief to the markets, but
what will happen to supply in subsequent months is anyones guess.
Additionally, this strategy also discourages further investments in warehouses/ cold
storages by private stockists, inflicting deep damage to the system.
In the absence of stockists, market prices of, say, pulses in the months immediately after
harvest would collapse, discouraging farmers from growing them in the subsequent
season.
2.Second, by suspending futures and forwards markets, the government has simply shot the
messenger.
Forwards and futures markets are supposed to give signals about likely future prices,
and if harnessed well, they can actually help the government take early measures.
But by shooting them down, the government has, in fact, shot itself in the foot.
Now, the government is in a dark room, with no clue about existing stocks or the prices
likely in the coming months.
3. Third, the governments decision to import 7,000 tonnes of tur (5,000 tonnes earlier, and
2,000 tonnes now) to tame prices, shows the anxiety of officials.
In a country where the consumption of tur over between 3.3 to four million tonnes,
aiming to control rising prices by importing 7,000 tonnes exposes the governments
ignorance in pulse price management.
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What are the potential solutions now?
First, the government should create a buffer stock of around two to three million tonnes
from domestic production and/ or imports, and release it whenever pulse prices spike.
Given that domestic consumption of pulses is around 23 million tonnes, this level of
stocking is the minimum that is needed to stabilise prices.
Second, the government needs to create a crop-neutral incentive structure for farmers,
which is at present skewed in favour of rice, wheat and sugarcane.
Much of the subsidies on fertilisers, power, and irrigation go to these crops.
These subsidies amount to more than Rs 10,000/ hectare. If the same amount were given
to pulse growers, they would be incentivised to produce more.
Third, diversify and enhance the pulse basket.

While yellow pea and lupins can be imported from Canada and Australia, respectively, we
need to use soya flour, along with rice, wheat and other pulse flours, and re-constitute
these into pulses.
We are surplus in soya, and soya flour has a very high protein content more than 40 per
cent compared to 20-25 per cent for most other pulses.
Technology to do this exists and can be tailored to Indian tastes. Innovations like this and
incentives to produce more pulses are the way to go.
Critically examine the present cropping pattern in India, with special reference on pulses
producing areas.
Critically examine the various measures taken by the government in order to tame food
inflation in India.
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Investment models
How to revive the PPP model in India?
The moment the public-private partnership model is mentioned in India, the immediate
reaction is that it has failed.
There have been failures, such as in some power and metro rail projects, but that is not
the complete truth.
There have been significant successes too, in roads, ports and airports.
The PPP model is particularly important in infrastructure projects. In recent years, some of
Indias and the worlds best airports have been built through the PPP model.
But these are overlooked as the media focuses on some pain points that are inevitable in
projects involving land acquisition, construction, environmental clearances and other
contentious issues.
To revive Indias infrastructure sector, three steps will be required.
1. The first is to kickstart the construction cycle by boosting public spending, which is
already under way.
2. The second is to address the financial stress in the banking system, largely caused due
to infrastructure assets. This step is being discussed.
3. The third is to revisit the PPP model in order to attract investors back to the sector.
While some progress has been made here, particularly in national highways, it can
serve as a good opportunity to learn from past experiences.
Towards greater efficiency:
With PPPs being a tool to lock in efficiency commitments, its application becomes much
wider than for only new build or Greenfield investment.
A fairly large part of government spend, particularly at the State level, is in operations
and maintenance.
Here, the scope for improving efficiency is significant.
The use of long-term operations and/or maintenance contracts can bring in
performance commitments, and associated payments.
Further, in some sectors, if Direct Benefits Transfer separates subsidy delivery from
service delivery, it will become easier to design user-charge based projects.
Undoubtedly, while there are some lacunae in the PPP model, these can be resolved.
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The Centre has already tasked the Kelkar Committee to review the policy in order to revitalise
infrastructure development.
The committee will analyse the risks involved for PPPs in different sectors and the existing
framework for such risk-sharing, suggest an optimal risk-sharing mechanism between private
investors and the government, and also suggest steps to improve capacity building in
government to effectively implement projects.
Way Forward:
Its time to put these issues behind us and focus on reviving the infrastructure sector in
India.
This is imperative, given the ambitious infrastructure plans such as Housing for All, 100
Smart Cities and stiff goals in increasing the capacity of power projects in conventional
as well as renewable energy.
Critically examine the importance of PPP model in infrastructure development of India.

Critically evaluate various measures taken by the government in order to overcome the
lacunae that PPP model is facing in India.
Discuss the various investment models with special reference to PPP.
Compare and contrast PPP model with EPC model.
TOPIC:
General Studies 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of

resources, growth, development and employment; Agriculture
Punjab : A case study in agricultural and economic mismanagement in India
From the breadbasket of India, Punjab has become a basket-case economy.

Endowed with ample water and good soil, Punjabs happy, progressive people had a
dream that is now a distant memory.
The Centres policies aimed at increasing food production to ensure an adequate supply
of grain, coupled with export restrictions, have taken a toll.
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Trickledown effect did not occur in Punjab:
In the early years of development

government focussed on trickled
down
theory
based
on
experiences of USA and other
western countries.
However,
the
expected
progression of Punjab from
agricultural economy to industrial
powerhouse to service-sector
leader never took place.
Food processing, essential for
agricultural prosperity, never
bloomed for instance, Punjab
exports wheat but imports wheat flour.
Till such time as off-farm jobs arent created, discontent is going to rise.
Why Punjab is a failed state in sustainable agriculture?

Its not right to blame the Green Revolution for the whole mess theres more to it than that.
1. Lack of quality and progressive research:
Starved of state government funds, the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) has witnessed
decreasing faculty strength and new research has completely ceased in the last decade.
The state government imposes high taxes on the purchase of foodgrain by the Food
Corporation of India. If just 5 per cent of this were provided to the PAU, it would help its
revival.
But political expediency takes precedence over vision and foresight to dis-incentivise the
monoculture of wheat and rice.
2. Unprecedented modernisation:
Punjab is suffocating from its estimated 6,00,000-plus tractors.

Tractor-ownership is viable only if they are operated for over 900 hours per year. In
contrast, average farm-use in Punjab is possibly half this figure.
As a result, once a farmer buys a tractor, he works for the bank for life to repay the loan
and interest.
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3. Overexploitation of natural resources:
Over exploitation of groundwater because of the free power provided to farmers has
resulted in the water table falling to dangerously low levels.
The cost of drawing water from greater depths is causing more indebtedness among
farmers.
4. A fertilizer trap:
Urea is sold at one-fourth the price of table salt today.

But the excessive use of cheap urea destroys the soil and leads to more plant vegetative
growth.
An explosion of insect and pest populations is then inevitable.
Indiscriminate, unregulated sale of pesticides and spurious products is leading to an
ecological disaster.
Need for an Evergreen revolution:

Indian farmers have to mainstream the ecological principles in farming practices in order to
continue with the agricultural growth that India has achieved till date.
Ever-green revolution is the only pathway available to developing countries with small farms
and a large malnourished population.
Critically examine the socio economic and ecological impacts of green revolution in
India.
Critically analyse the need for a second green revolution in India.
Ever-green revolution is the only pathway available to developing countries with small
farms and a large malnourished population. Critically discuss the relevance of above
statement to India.
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ENVIRONMENT
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announces India's INDCs

Declaration of the INDCs on Mahatma Gandhis birthday, as the man signifies Indian values of
frugality and sustainable development.
The action plan is built around three elements:
Reduction in emissions intensity, or emissions per unit of GDP,

An increase in forest cover, and
A greater role for renewable energy in power generation.
What are Indias Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) on climate change
going to look like?
Indias INDCs will contain an emissions reduction target, as well as a target for reducing
energy intensity.
INDCs announced by India are comprehensive, progressive and ambitious
India has to put economic growth before committing itself to cut down emissions
Cutting down emission will slow down the economy, therefore needs is a
comprehensive strategy
There is a possibility of India emulating the Western model of development at home, which
encourages a market-driven consumer culture.
Indias cumulative emission is only 3 per cent,
As vehicular pollution is an important source of greenhouse gases.
The Ministries of Transport and Petroleum are ready to support the switch to Euro 6
emission standards for vehicles, but industry is not ready for it yet.
It is necessary to introduce this much-needed upgrade to emission standards
The SDGs emphasize the importance of responsible consumption and production

About SDG:
The Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, also called Global Goals, and Agenda 2030.
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An inter-governmentally agreed set of targets relating to international development

They will follow on from the Millennium Development Goals once those expire at the
end of 2015
17 SDG Goals:
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable
agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable
learningopportunities for all
quality
education
and
promote
lifelong
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and
foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
manage forests,combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt
biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access
to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for
sustainable development
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What are the main elements around which Indias Intended Nationally Determined
Contributions (INDCs) on climate change revolves?
How effectively Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) will address

newly framed SDG?
India unveils climate target to cut carbon intensity

India has promised in a climate-change policy statement:
To make its economy more energy efficient

To cut the carbon produced per unit of GDP growth by 33-35 per cent by 2030 from
2005 levels
India, the world's third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases
India would target 40 per cent cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel
sources by 2030
This will need U.N. financial support.
India has resisted setting specific targets to cut emissions.

* India pledges 33-35 pct cut in carbon intensity by 2030
* No "peak emissions" target or carbon market pledges
* Coal set to continue dominating power sector in future
Related Concerns:
No fixed timeline;
No specific commitment in its submission to establishing carbon trading.
Coal would continue to dominate power generation for its more than 1 billion people in
the future, though stressed its commitment to clean energy technologies.
Way Ahead:
India has planned to develop 25 Solar Parks, supply 100,0000 solar pumps to farmers
and convert all 55,000 petrol pumps across the country to solar.
It also pledged to "aggressively" develop hydro and nuclear energy.
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Plans are "fair and ambitious considering the fact that India is attempting to work towards low
carbon emission pathway while endeavoring to meet all the developmental challenges the
country faces today."
Funds Needed:
India would need to spend around $206 billion between 2015 and 2030 for
implementing adaptation actions in agriculture, forestry, fisheries infrastructure, water
resources and ecosystems.
A substantial scaling up of the climate action plans would require greater resources
A preliminary estimate suggests that at least $2.5 trillion will be required for meeting
India's climate change actions between now and 2030
How is India planning to cut down carbon emissions through new climate change policy?
What other steps can India take to cut down emission without sacrificing more on
economic development?
How can funds be mobilized for development of sustainable model towards growth as
per new climate change policy? What are the related concerns and suggest ways to
tackle the challenges?
Climate goals on target:

Paradox:
The criticism that Indias use of coal for generation of electricity is projected to double by
2030But, according to the International Energy Agency, India will use less coal for electricity
generation than the U.S. even in 2040.
India moves steadily towards target:
India has achieved an emissions intensity reduction of 18.6 per cent and will now aim
for 33 to 35 per cent reduction.
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Recent position:
Currently, renewable energy, nuclear energy and hydropower together contribute 30

per cent of the overall installed capacity.
Future prospects in non-conventional energy:
India will have 40 per cent of the total installed power capacity in 2030 based on nonfossil fuel-based sources.
With power production expected to triple, this will amount to 320 GW of non-fossil fuel
capacity.
Nuclear would increase more than ten times to 63GW and hydro power is expected to
double to 84 GW, with land availability being the key concern.
The government also plans to develop a 1,40,000-km tree-line along both sides of the
national highways. Since sequestration depends on forest management, this element
will require greater focus on implementation.
Fund Mobilization:
India is seeking investments of U.S. $100 billion over seven years to boost the domestic
solar energy capacity by 33 times to 1,00,000 megawatts by 2022.
Additional carbon sinks of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent will be
created by 2030.
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions:

INDC state that Indias objective in Paris in December 2015 is to establish an effective,
cooperative and equitable global architecture. Three key elements of this framework are
promoting
Sustainable production processes and sustainable lifestyles across the globe

Creation of a regime where facilitative technology transfer replaces an exploitative
market-driven mechanism and
A common understanding of universal progress.
Limitations:
The importance of peaking of emissions is misplaced, as it does not address

modification of longer term trends in natural resource use.
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The current emphasis on emission reductions really focuses on symptoms rather than
causes and solutions.
Securing future by increasing efficiency:

It has been estimated that currently three basic human needs housing, food, mobility
directly account for 80 per cent of resource use, 40 per cent of energy demand and 36 per cent
of carbon dioxide emissions; nearly two-fifth of the cumulative emission reductions required
by 2050 could come from efficiency improvements, making energy efficiency essentially a
fuel..
Smart ideas that India can take up:
India should have integrated its Smart Cities campaign into a plan for low carbon
development of cities.
A greater focus on sharing rather than owning cars would impact the fastest growing
emissions.
Changing lifestyles must begin in schools.
Better linkages are also needed for example, afforestation in catchments of hydro
projects to check silting.
Way Forward:
Faced with global ecological limits, focus has to shift from environmental risk management to
economic growth within ecological limits.
It is in responding to this mega-trend that Indias climate policy could have been more forward
looking. The focus everywhere is shifting from production patterns to consumption patterns.
About INDC:
The action plan is built around three elements:
Reduction in emissions intensity, or emissions per unit of GDP,

An increase in forest cover, and
A greater role for renewable energy in power generation.
What are Indias Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) on climate change
going to look like?
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Indias INDCs will contain an emissions reduction target, as well as a target for reducing
energy intensity.
Indias cumulative emission is only 3 per cent
INDCs announced by India are comprehensive, progressive and ambitious
India has to put economic growth before committing itself to cut down emissions
Cutting down emission will slow down the economy, therefore needs is a
comprehensive strategy
What does Indias recently framed INDC intends at? How can emission reduction be
achieved in context of climate policy?
It is clear that India will need huge investment to move from conventional energy
generation to non-conventional energy generation. How can India meet the need of
huge investment for infrastructure creation?
TOPIC:
General Studies 3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.
General Studies 2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India
and/or affecting Indias interests.
The Balancing Act: Paris Agreement
Climate change refers to a change in average weather conditions, or in the time

variation of weather around longer-term average conditions and is caused by factors
such as biotic processes, variations in solar radiation received by Earth, plate tectonics,
volcanic eruptions and a range of human activities.
Mitigation and adaptation can together, go a long way in limiting the adverse impacts
of the climate change but it requires a more globally-coordinated response as well as
series of steps that needs to be taken at a regional level.
The demand for the inclusion of the civil society groups to be allowed back in as green
movement partners, by the developing countries have been accepted and has also
received accolades at Bonn.
Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)
Under the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), countries across
the globe, committed to create a new international climate agreement by the
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conclusion of the Paris Climate Summit in December 2015, by publicly outlining the
actions they intend to take, to counter climate change from their end.
For India, it has been more about national sovereignty and wanted adaptation, loss and
damage to be taken care of but the final text didnt mention anything about finance or
technology transfer, leading to major disappointment.
Geopolitics of Climate Change

Developed Countries:
Biggest emitters of CO2

Come under the Common but Differentiated principle (CBDR)- Possesses a larger
responsibility for responsible action to allow developing countries to:
Improve energy access
Grow economically and sustainably
Developing Countries:
Possesses poor technologies Burning of fuel inefficiently

Blamed for climate impacts and pushed for tougher climate action
Eg: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report in 2002 highlighted about
"Asian brown cloud"
(Conspiracy to shift blames; later termed as Atmospheric Brown Cloud)
Pollutants and particles from biomass burning and industrial emissions had formed a
three-kilometre-thick brownish layer over many regions in Asia
Pollution build-up and disruption in rainfall and wind pattern
10 per cent reduction in solar energy causing a corresponding decrease in the
evaporation of moisture that controls summer rainfall
Issues
No new commitments:
To reduce emissions in the pre-2020 period

No transfer of Technology
Burden of tackling Climate Change: Shifted on developing countries
Emission Reduction Targets:
Not defined clearly

Will lead to abrupt patterns of rainfall and drought
Agriculture & livelihood of people will suffer
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More poverty traps & difficulty in eradication of the same Stand to lose
developmental gains
Limited Carbon Space

Will get exhausted if used at the present rate by countries like USA and China
Post 2030, if it continues, developing countries might not get enough time to
leverage their economic standing and might have to go for emergency cutting of
emissions
Widened the Trust-gap
CBDR Diluted:
Licence to evade from responsibilities leading to shift of the entire burden on developing
countries
No decision on:
Means of Implementation
Technology
Finance
Capacity Building Support
India:
Supports CBDR: Common but Differentiated Responsibility

Universality does not mean uniformity: No legally binding commitments + Flexibility to
choose their action-plan
Developed Countries: Keep away from aligning their business perspective with provision of
market access for their MNCs
Public Finance should be used as a primary source of fund to finance Climate Change
Mitigation initiatives
Responsible Steps taken:
1. Prepared National Action Plan on Climate Change + State-wise Plan:
Energy efficiency + Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem + Forests + Water & Air +
Strategic Knowledge build-up for Climate change
2. Target of generating 20,000 MW of solar power by2020 out of which achieved
almost about 1200 mw
3. Introduction of PAT: Perform, Achieve and Trade
4. Voluntary commitment of reducing emission intensity of GDP by 20-25% by 2020
5. Adaptive Mechanism: Agriculture (Organic Farming + Watershed management)
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The text should be strengthened and missing elements be brought back:
Enhance the implementation of the UN Framework Convention

Clear Greenhouse Gas Reduction Pathway to achieve the target
Purpose should be identified:
Increase Resilience + Capacity Building
Reduce Vulnerabilities
Include clear obligations on Mitigation:
Prepare + Communicate + Maintain + Implement + Fulfil nationally determined
commitments
5-yearly successive mitigation commitments
Process to access proposed targets & level of implementation (+ Leadership)
Adaptation: Planning + Guaranteed matching support + Proper International
mechanism to address loss and damage
Guaranteed support for technology development + Technology Executive
Committee to take care of it
Enhanced and Robust Transparency & Accountability System
Compliance Mechanism: To prevent non-compliance + Enforce & facilitate
commitments
IASbabas Views:
Countries linking their national circumstances vigorously, have just postponed any
ambitious action that can be taken to collectively fail the deteriorating climate. Aid
needs to be increased and a progressively increasing level of effort on part of all the
stakeholders needs to be incorporated.
Locking in to weak ambitions because of lack of ambitiousness in national pledges and
questions over cash are the biggest barriers to a new global climate deal. Climate
change for poorer countries, are a matter of life and death and G77 stand on the same
is practically justified.
There is a need for the parties now, to stick to the deadlines effectively, meaningfully
and engage in a constructive manner. Time is crucial.
Can technology transfer solve the crisis of the present climate change, being witnessed
on a large scale? Identify these prospective technological know-how's that can help us
lessen the adverse impacts.
Reflect on India's stand on Climate change and the steps India has taken to combat the
crisis in view.
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TOPIC:
General Studies 3 : Conservation of Energy

A Green New Deal
The need to ensure universal access to the modern energy services and attaining the
rate of improvement in the energy efficiency at double the rate of its share has
escalated both productivity and environmental concerns.
There exists an emerging consensus on transforming the world energy system but that
calls for a carefully designed policy (for sustainability and reducing the amount of
resources needed to achieve it), behavioural changes, and large investments to fuel
their growth towards a sustainable future.
The Carbon Bubble possesses the capacity to lead another financial crisis, resting on
the backdrop of overvaluation of present fossil assets. A green new deal is thus,
pertinent in addressing needs to mitigate climatic change, improving energy security
and working on the yardstick of competitiveness in the global energy order.
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Game Changers
Alternate sources of Energy
A global shift from a carbon credit to a green credit for clean production is one of
the immediate needs and this can be realised by using alternate sources of renewable
energy.
In India, the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in slated to achieve gridconnected solar power and is one of the components involved, to fulfil the commitment
of a 40% non-fossil fuel energy to be adopted by 2030.
Eg:The coal sector remains the most inefficient and least open to private investment,
despite coal being the countrys primary source of fuel and thus, monopoly should be
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destructed and private participation in coal-mining on a level playing field with state
entities should be allowed.
Technological Breakthrough
With a break from the high price of petroleum products to the possibility of storing the
energies (solar, wind, geothermal), technology is making it possible to increase the
widespread usage of the existing abundance in an innovative way.
An effective management of the demand and supply chain and technological innovation
is set to involve higher efficiency in bringing down the energy costs. Different
approaches and technologies need to be applied inconsideration to the varying
conditions of industry and companies and their objectives (synergy)
Legislations & Initiatives:
India is the worlds fourth largest energy consumer and exhibits the fastest growing
energy needs that are certain to dramatically impact the global economy and its energy
market. There is, thus, a need to majorly overhaul the business models to tackle the
global risks involved in the energy crisis.
A proper and a timely policy involving all the major stakeholders, and a creation of
synergy between cutting down on reliance over imports and effective policy
implementation is the need of the hour.
Access to energy is a major issue and logistical problems plague the system, making it
costly and difficult to manage. Energy players need to be commercially viable, with
access to adequate financial resources and the pricing mechanisms in the energy sector
must ensure commercial viability and send proper signals to the market.
Embracing the Renewable Energy Future:

Electricity
Poor infrastructure is at the core of the issue of poorly developed power infrastructure of India
and decentralised power resources (wind energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, etc) can
be leveraged to meet the energy requirements at a large scale.
Generating livelihoods:
Incomes can be increased and poverty reduced, thereby leading the rural economy towards
self-sufficiency. Better electricity coverage and better equipment like solar water pumps, mini
solar cold storages, solar lanterns etc. can boost the rural economy and help create jobs
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Tackling Carbon Emissions

Promotions of non-fossil fuels can help cut greenhouse gas emissions and thus improve air
quality. Also, dependence on kerosene (causing indoor air pollution) and spending on subsidies
can be greatly reduced.
IASbabas Views:
The Indian government as a whole plays an indispensable role in the energy sector
through state-owned enterprises, public policy and market regulation, personal
networks and collaboration with energy players and thus, to tame the exploding
demand and insufficient supply the country faces, it needs integrated and consistent
energy policy to guide and direct countrys energy needs.
Strong political will is a prerequisite to successfully cope with energy sector challenges
which can be tackled with the objective: energy access, energy security and mitigation
of climate change.
India must expand its energy supply to provide universal access to modern energy and
maintain economic growth and this should be complemented with alignments of Indias
energy institutions and policies with global practices.
Lastly, public perception should be shifted to accept that energy is not an entitlement,
but a commodity to be valued and taken care of.
We need to graduate from energy security to energy independence. Discuss

No power is as expensive as no power. Do you agree with the statement? Give
reasons.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
TOPIC: General Studies 3- Space Technology

Fundamental Existence: Neutrino
Background:
Neutrinos, proposed by Swiss scientist Wolfgang Pauli in 1930, are elements similar to
that of electron but carry no electric charge and are massless. They are tiny electrically
neutral elementary particles, second only to photon in terms of their abundance in
nature (1000 billion passing through us/second)
There are three flavours of Neutrinos- ve, v and v and are segregated on the basis of
different masses (ordering unknown). Neutrinos, electrons and quarks are the basic
building blocks yet to be divided further and thus, calls for an understanding and
researching on their properties.
These small particles have the ability to throw up a whirlpool of knowledge and
explanations regarding the basic laws of Physics, origin of the Universe, the energy
production in stars, dark energy and dark matter.
India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) detector:
The multi-institutional project will re-establish and forward Indias aspirations towards a
non-accelerator based high energy and reclaim its global leadership in initiating research
to understand the element.
India has made its leadership visible earlier when our physicists had used Kolar Gold
Field Lab to detect atmospheric neutrinos.
The observatory is set to be established under a rocky mountain in the region of Bodi
West Hills of the district of Theni in Tamil Nadu and will host the 50,000 tonnes
weighing Magnetized Iron Calorimeter (ICAL), the largest in the world. This depth will
play an instrumental role in enabling an environment that will be neutrino-less to carry
out further research in the field.
Concerns:
Violation of Federal Principles: No sanctions obtained from the State Government of Kerala
wherein the tunnel will exist
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Infrastructural Concerns:
Cracks need to be avoided and thus, digging wells, irrigation tunnels, mining, etc. should
be completely banned and strict regulations should be followed
Impact on Dams: Explosion induced seismicity and radioactive contamination of water
can cause damage to the infrastructure, crop damage as well as loss of livelihood.
Health:
Can be caused by Beam Misdirection-if emerges through schools and public places
The drilling during the cave making will generate dust (size: nanometre) which will
contaminate the farmlands, water sources, quality of air; paving way for major health
concerns.
Radioactive menace:
Storage of high level radioactive waste from nuclear sites/power plants

Fast speed of travelling of the radiation-contamination
War & Peace:

Neutrino, as a weapon, is yet to be discussed considering all aspects-societal as well as ethical
Clarification on Concerns:
Health:
Neutrinos are not at all harmful because of their non-reacting nature with solids and
interaction between neutrino and the human body is nil/once in a lifetime. Therefore,
the beams will have no side-effects.
Particle detectorscan be used to detect the photons in positron emission tomography
(PET) which is used to identify cancerous tumours.
War & Peace:

It can be a harbinger of peace by keeping a tab on stores of plutonium and to monitor nuclear
reactors to detect pilferage, if any, by the anti-social elements
Energy:
Will help us tap our mineral and oil deposits

As waves, Neutrinos tend to change their flavour as well leading us to more awareness
regarding geological defects and towards a breakthrough in early warning systems
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Geo-neutrinos are radioactive decay of uranium, thorium and potassium in the Earths
crust, which can be employed to detect early disturbances and vibrations produced by
earthquakes
Data Transmission:
Since Neutrinos possess the ability to travel right through the Earth, round the earth
model of communication systems for data transmission can be employed successfully
Also, this technology once developed will be free of transmission losses (no reaction
with atoms in their path) and will be the most trusted way to communicate with
possible extra-terrestrial life forms on different planets
Criticisms:
Leadership in Science cannot be achieved by establishing a neutrino observatory.

History of the impact of spin-offs have not always, been a positive story. Skewed
allocation of resources has increased the vulnerabilities manifold with major
investments in elite universities, ignoring the research work undertaken in other
universities.
Allocation of resources and capital towards development and maintenance of public
resources cannot be put at stake.
IASbabas Views:
Neutrinos encompasses access to a vast pool of knowledge which when exploited

positively, can help us answer the mystery that surround us as well as help in
formulating a kind of synergy between human and the natural world.
Also, a society has to take care of the essentials first and then move ahead to satiate the
intellectual quest but not at the cost of sacrificing the basic necessities of life, that is
central to many. Better research culture, symmetrical usage and allocation of funds as
well as effective utilization of funds; is the answer to the need for the balancing act
towards a better future.
What are Neutrinos and why do they matter to us?

What are the sources of Neutrinos and its application?
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TIT-BITS
Kundhavi Kadiresan has been appointed as the Assistant Director-General of the UNs
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Regional Representative for Asia and the
Pacific. She replaces Hiroyuki Konuma who retired from FAO earlier this year.
Jamaican writer Marlon James has been named the winner of the Man Booker Prize for
2015 for his novel A Brief History of Seven Killings . It is the first Booker Prize to be won
by a Jamaican, and the first for its independent publisher One world Publications. Set in
Jamaica, the 686-page book is a fictionalised history on the attempted murder of the
reggae singer Bob Marley in 1976.
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Stem Cell Therapy

Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/stemcell-therapy-for-foetuses-to-fightbrittlebone-disease/article7754840.ece
Alarming times for free expression Returning of Sahitya Akademi Awards &
Indias image and foreign policy at stake: diplomats
Reference 1
Reference 2
Reference 3
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/alarming-times-for-free-expression-saysrushdie/article7754897.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/indias-image-and-foreign-policy-at-stakediplomats/article7754913.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tamil-sahitya-akademi-winners-condemnakademi/article7755043.ece
British economist Angus Deaton wins Nobel for studies on income, poverty
Reference
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 161
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/british-economist-angus-deatonwins-nobel-for-studies-on-income-poverty/article7754868.ece
Curbs on free speech is attack on human nature: Rushdie
Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/curbs-on-free-speech-is-attack-on-human-naturerushdie/article7758698.ece
India, US Totalization agreement on the right track
Reference
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-us-totalization-agreement-on-theright-track-115101300626_1.html
India-Bangladesh: Citizenship for those who opt to stay in India
Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/citizenship-for-those-who-opt-to-stay-inindia/article7759053.ece
India bags third slot in global startup space
Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/india-bags-third-slot-in-global-startupspace/article7758715.ece
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/taking-its-measure/
Angus Deaton (this years Economics Nobel prize) has helped us understand poverty. His work has
lessons for Indias policymakers.
Reference
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/taking-its-measure/
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 162
Fresh challenges in the northeast

Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/fresh-challenges-in-thenortheast/article7763040.ece
As Britain, the U.S. and Russia debate the revamping of their nuclear deterrence
systems,India needs open and democratic discussion on its arsenal and capability
Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/lets-talk-about-nukesopenly/article7763043.ece
Mission Indradhanush is a successful intervention in scaling up immunisation for full coverage
Reference
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/lets-leave-no-child-behind/
Absolute privacy is a futile notion, says A-G

Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/absolute-privacy-is-a-futile-notion-saysag/article7763073.ece
44 labour laws to be amalgamated into 4 codes

Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/44-labour-laws-to-be-amalgamated-into4-codes/article7763081.ece
India now most attractive investment destination

Reference
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 163
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/india-now-most-attractive-investmentdestination-ey/article7763020.ece
An entire generation owes its respite from killer diseases to the physiological researchers
awarded the Nobel this year
Reference
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/devangshu-datta-the-discoveries-that-saved-lives115101501415_1.html
Mainstreaming a nuclear Pakistan

Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/mainstreaming-a-nuclearpakistan/article7767620.ece
Breaking the bonds of rural poverty

Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/breaking-the-bonds-of-ruralpoverty/article7767587.ece
In tale of drugs, guns: Reason why end of war might not mean peace for Myanmar
Reference
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-fact-in-tale-of-drugs-guns-reason-why-end-of-war-mightnot-mean-peace-for-myanmar/
The brain gain versus brain drain binary misses the far more important issue of Indias brain
trap where young minds are stifled by archaic educational and social systems
Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/where-the-mind-is-withoutfear/article7767586.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 164
Government trying to increase domestic opium production

Reference
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/government-trying-to-increase-domestic-opiumproduction/article7767602.ece
Its time to be a good neighbour

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/its-time-to-be-a-goodneighbour/article7771866.ece
You can refer IASbabas Monthly Magazine- August 2015 for more analysis on Nepal Crisis
Declassifying official documents

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/for-a-slice-of-history/article7771863.ece
A Nobel for the idea of well-being- Angus Deaton (in Economic Sciences)
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/a-nobel-for-the-idea-ofwellbeing/article7771864.ece
Absolute judicial autonomy developed for a reason, and it should remain in place
Indian Express 1
Indian Express 2
Business Standard
Hindu
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/a-lesser-evil/
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/the-line-is-drawn/
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 165
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/vexed-problem-many-proposals-but-noconsensus-115101601085_1.html
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/an-assertion-of-primacy/article7771862.ece
For detailed Analysis on Judicial Autonomy and National Judicial Appointments Commission Act
(NJAC) refer IASbabas Monthly Magazine- June-July 2015
Digital India complementary to RTI

Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/7OzBlnb50phoSjcuRgX8DM/Digital-India-complementary-to-RTI-saysPM-Modi.html
Sex ratio falls to 898 girls per 1,000 boys

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/sex-ratio-falls-to-898-girls-per-1000boys/article7771908.ece
Moral or Cultural policing

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/a-needless-encore/article7778466.ece
New chapter with Nepal

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/new-chapter-with-nepal/article7778467.ece
You can refer IASbabas Monthly Magazine- August 2015 for more analysis on Nepal Crisis
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 166
Africa-India Summit
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/engaging-with-an-aspirationalafrica/article7778465.ece
For detailed Analysis on India-Africa Summit refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-14th-october-2015/
Technology-challenged regulators: SEBI

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/debashis-basu-technology-challenged-regulators115101800680_1.html
Equality, freedom the key issues in continuing Uniform Civil Code debate
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/explained/in-fact-equality-freedom-the-key-issues-in-continuinguniform-civil-code-debate/
For detailed Analysis on Uniform Civil Code refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-13th-october-2015/
Mission for NITI Aayog

Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/1DVYF8VTimsqUri2gwsFSM/Mission-for-NITI-Aayog.html
The New Education Policy: Still stuck in the old school

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/still-stuck-in-the-old-school/article7781746.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 167
Developed world's climate change targets less than fair: Report
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/developed-world%E2%80%99s-climatechange-targets-less-than-fair-report-115101901135_1.html
G77+China grouping wins the day at Bonn

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/g77-china-grouping-wins-the-day-at-bonn115101900902_1.html
Why is India dragging its feet on civilian use of drones? Other countries have forged ahead to great
advantage
Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/lets-open-up-the-skies-fordrones/article7781667.ece
Migration helps, but not too much

Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/migration-helps-but-not-toomuch/article7781676.ece
Aadhaar and the right to privacy
For detailed Analysis on Aadhar & privacy Issue REFER IASbabas Monthly Magazine- August &
September 2015
More punishment is not less crime

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/more-punishment-is-not-lesscrime/article7785895.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 168
Beyond the blackening: Ink and Oil Attack
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/beyond-the-blackening/article7785891.ece
For detailed Analysis on Growing religious fundamentalism in India refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-17th-october-2015/
Projects stuck, Supreme Court transfers 300 cases to NGT, govt bodies
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/projects-stuck-supreme-court-transfers-300cases-to-ngt-govt-bodies/
Cultural homogenisation through centre staging Sanskrit will rob Indian culture of its plurality
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-use-and-abuse-of-sanskrit/
Replacing food with cash

Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/hnytasM4zVTEWmQnt1fc1N/Replacing-food-with-cash.html
World Bank poverty estimates are poor, says government

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/world-bank-poverty-estimates-are-poorsays-government-115102100056_1.html
For detailed Analysis on Poverty estimates Issue REFER IASbabas Monthly Magazine- June-July
2015
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 169
Cabinet decisions: Ease of doing business gets a push; government clears two ordinances- (Nod to
Arbitration & Conciliation Act, and commercial benches in high courts)
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/cabinet-decisions-ease-of-doing-businessgets-a-push-government-clears-two-ordinances-115102101469_1.html
Basel III - A progress report

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/a-v-rajwade-basel-iii-a-progress-report115102101375_1.html
Elusive jobs growth

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/elusive-jobs-growth-115102101318_1.html
Worrying prospects of institutional mistrust

Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/naKbZWqUC6Jbedvj4js1NP/Worrying-prospects-of-institutionalmistrust.html
Despite their nearly seven decades of rivalry, India and Pakistan have a bottom-line interest in
increasing commerce between them
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/ZHiOdvb9OBQXLMp24GwRUN/India-and-Pakistan-can-startopening-up-to-trade.html
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 170
When Europe hits the panic button
Trapped in a reactive mode to a crisis that is arguably the gravest since its inception, Europe is facing
policy failures hitting back
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/claude-smadja-when-europe-hits-the-panic-button115102101327_1.html
Annihilation for caste

Anti-Dalit violence is endemic to India. The Haryana murders confirm this shameful, unjust reality.
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/annihilation-for-caste/
American readiness to offer aid has bred dependence, and the U.S. has ended up as an enabler of
Pakistans dysfunction
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/let-down-by-both-carrot-andstick/article7793661.ece
Free speech and digital inclusion- The enormous challenge of digital inclusion is almost unrelated to the
actual possibilities of Internet.org
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/TCjZmbnsbyWijU4g1SBZ6L/Free-speech-and-digital-inclusion.html
India-Maldives ties at a peak: envoy

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/indiamaldives-ties-at-a-peakenvoy/article7793879.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 171
To build a city- The process of land acquisition employed by Andhra Pradesh for its new capital holds
lessons for all
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/to-build-a-city/
Proliferation of unregulated hybrids, not Bt, is to blame for the pest damage to cotton this year
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/whitefly-lessons/
For an equitable society, reservations must be extended to private sector

Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/building-a-just-society/
Separate, but not different- While India takes stock after Dadri, Pakistans minorities continue to
languish under the law.
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/separate-but-not-different/
Can modernity and atavism be simultaneously embraced? Which will give in first?
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/san-francisco-to-dadri/
Cornered on quotas
The BJP faces a dilemma: While inaction may exacerbate the discontent of the Hardik Patels of
tomorrow, any questioning of the reservation system may alienate low-caste voters.
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 172
INDIAN EXPRESS
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/cornered-on-quotas/
For detailed Analysis on Reservation : boon or bane? refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/09/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-3rd-september-2015/
Drowned in debt
India Incs financial stress shows no signs of easing, which makes investment revival all that more
difficult
INDIAN EXPRESS
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/drowned-in-debt/
The retail space will only benefit from the decision of brick-and-mortar players to go online
Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/fighting-fair/article7798117.ece
The worlds biggest polluters continue to reap billions in profits, while receiving huge energy subsidies
from governments
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/N5mG7DoRJ1LnbW7BiQlLkN/Big-polluters-pay-up.html
US decries India's economic policies ahead of Trade Policy Forum

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/us-decries-indias-economic-policies-aheadof-trade-policy-forum-115102300545_1.html
Sri Lanka : Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) - Needed, a more credible mechanism
Hindu
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 173
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/needed-a-more-crediblemechanism/article7803930.ece
Growing forests in the air

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/growing-forests-in-the-air/article7803934.ece
Critics of quantitative easing say it has inflated asset prices without stimulating any real economic
growth. Those who back it say a premature withdrawal has led to discouraging data over the last few
months
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/abheek-barua-bidisha-ganguly-the-easy-moneydebate-resurfaces-115102500684_1.html
'Sin tax' for alcohol, tobacco industries in GST regime

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/sin-tax-for-alcohol-tobacco-industries-ingst-regime-115102500261_1.html
Transfer pricing: Aligning Indian taxation with global standards

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/transfer-pricing-aligning-indian-taxation-withglobal-standards-115102500741_1.html
The Nobel Prize recognises the blood and sweat powering work that impacts humanity and proves
itself over time
Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/this-season-lets-celebratescience/article7803780.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 174
Atrocities against Dalits and Indian politicians
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/no9XKzb0nH0xRmwqYuDJqJ/Atrocities-against-Dalits-and-Indianpoliticians.html
For detailed Analysis on Atrocities against Dalits refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-23rd-october-2015/
Crises in the Maldives

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/crises-in-the-maldives/article7807369.ece
Barbaric indeed
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/barbaric-indeed/article7807370.ece
A barrier broken
The first batch of women officers will start piloting fighter jets by mid-2017. Even though women
officers have been flying transport aircraft and helicopters for many years, this goes a step further.
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/a-barrier-broken/
A vein of discontent
This has provoked a power struggle within the SGPC, as the longstanding hegemony of the
increasingly discredited Badal leadership is challenged.
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/guru-granth-sahib-desecration-a-vein-of-discontent/
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 175
Rebooting Ganga
Indian Express
This is a clear break from the approach of successive governments since 1986 under the earlier Ganga
Action Plans. The change is welcome.
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/rebooting-ganga/
For another International River Issue (Teesta river Indian-Bangladesh), refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/08/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-15th-17th-august-2015/
Careful with the realism- Unrealistic ambition and incremental reforms can be self-fulfilling
prophecies.
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/economic-policymaking-unrealistic-ambition-andincremental-reforms-can-be-self-fulfilling-prophecies/
Govt to address regulatory, financial issues in infra sector

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/govt-to-address-regulatory-financial-issuesin-infra-sector-115102700026_1.html
Fiscal discipline: now comes the hard part- Despite improvements in the recent period, deficits need
further trimming
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/VRib5BlL4S5LX2nvw4TZCM/Fiscal-discipline-now-comes-the-hardpart.html
The age of intolerance

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/the-age-of-intolerance/article7811480.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 176
Salesmanship as statesmanship
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/salesmanship-asstatesmanship/article7811453.ece
Towards a modern code

A uniform civil code must draw freely from different personal laws and give primacy to gender equity
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/uniform-civil-code-towards-a-modern-code/
For detailed Analysis on uniform civil code refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-13th-october-2015/
India-US: The absence of a bilateral social security agreement with the US unfairly taxes. Indian
knowledge workers
Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/friends-withoutbenefits/article7811383.ece
No short-term fixes for Indian exports - Rather than blame world demand and competitive
devaluations, a relook at our free trade pacts is called for
Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/no-shortterm-fixes-for-indianexports/article7811385.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 177
Adding to a history of blunders- Since its inclusion in Cold War alliances, Pakistan has always extracted
more than it deserves from the US
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/rmJUfS2288D9kvUYYad62N/Adding-to-a-history-of-blunders.html
The frozen ties between India and Pakistan can be thawed out not by government, but by
citizens and civil society organisations on both sides
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/civil-hands-must-soothe-unciviltempers/article7815726.ece
Carving out a path on Chinas road

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/carving-out-a-path-on-chinasroad/article7815725.ece
Nukes Are Not For War- India shouldnt abandon its nuclear doctrine because of Pakistans
tactical nukes
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-shouldnt-abandon-its-nucleardoctrine-because-of-pakistans-tactical-nukes/
Systematic and selective land titling, and charging owners extra, is an idea worth pushing
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/systematic-and-selective-land-titling-andcharging-owners-extra-is-an-idea-worth-pushing/
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 178
Courts contention that reservation trumps merit in higher education admissions masks a
deeper malaise
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/no-easy-fixes-2/
Up the ranks- Indias improved doing Business rank puts the spotlight on state and local
governments
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/ease-of-doing-business-in-india-up-theranks/
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/easing-business-blues/article7815721.ece
Lead the way- Instead of another revision in their emoluments, MPs should go for voluntary
salary cuts
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/mps-salary-commission-lead-the-way-3/
Why dominant castes want Other Backward Classes status- Ground surveys have found
Marathas, Jats and Patels, for instance, are in economic conditions quite similar to that of
peer communities with the advantage of quotas
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/why-dominant-castes-want-otherbackward-classes-status-115102801691_1.html
For detailed Analysis on Reservation: Boon or a Bane refer the below link-
http://iasbaba.com/2015/09/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-3rd-september-2015/
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 179
Animals caught in the headlights - Sophisticated mapping technology can ensure that roads
steer clear of wildlife areas, but the government has been reluctant to address the issue of
highways passing through forests
Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/animals-caught-in-theheadlights/article7820338.ece
Ideology over science

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/ideology-over-science/article7820335.ece
Another promising start- India needs to scale up engagement with Africa

Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/another-promising-start115102901489_1.html
For detailed Analysis on India-Africa Forum Summit refer the below linkhttp://iasbaba.com/2015/10/iasbabas-daily-current-affairs-14th-october-2015/
The toxic temptation of targets- Forget the 'Doing Business' rank; we will know India is a
better place to do business only when exports begin to boom
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/mihir-s-sharma-the-temptation-of-targets115102901491_1.html
Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/investorfriendlyindia/article7820236.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 180
From a peacekeeper to a global leader- Modis proactive approach reflects the growing
importance of military diplomacy for India
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/lRUaHjJqHMv4zUEEBFhfuM/From-a-peacekeeper-to-aglobal-leader.html
Overcoming the stasis in Nepal

Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/overcoming-the-stasis-in-nepal/article7824843.ece
A different social justice- Disprivilege and backwardness can be addressed without resort to fixed
quotas
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/hardik-patel-reservation-quota-a-different-socialjustice/
Myanmar: What makes the November 8 elections so significant- A transparent and peaceful election
will be an important step towards normalcy.
Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/myanmar-election-without-fear-towards-normalcy/
A consensual approach to labour reform - Creating an ambience where both workers and
managements understand their rights and duties is no tall order
Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/a-consensual-approach-to-labourreform/article7824735.ece
www.IASbaba.com
P a g e | 181
Europes politics of dystopia- Failure to act decisively now will lead to the eventual failure of the
peaceful EU and the rise of dystopian nationalist regimes
Live Mint
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/TcCgfawDNgJr9LSWoJhWjO/Europes-politics-of-dystopia.html
www.IASbaba.com

IASbaba&#39;s Current Affairs Magazine OCTOBER 2015

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IASbaba&#39;s Current Affairs Magazine OCTOBER 2015

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Page |1

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra

All the Best

Horizon 2020 project

Empower, not weaken the CAG

Draft National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2015

Indias shaky sovereign wealth fund

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announces India's INDCs

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Fundamental Existence: Neutrino

HORIZON 2020 PROJECT

The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will be complemented by

India too pushing hard for innovation and research development.

In infrastructure development, recently Belgium had a pact with India.

By increasing investment from EU countries

FDI and FII from India to EU vice versa.

Precision farming aims to optimize field-level management with regard to:

Environmental protection: by reducing environmental risks and footprint of farming

Economics: by boosting competitiveness through more efficient practices (e.g. improved

Precision farming also provides farmers with a wealth of information to:

Build up a record of their farm;

Foster greater traceability

Enhance marketing of farm products

Improve lease arrangements and relationship with landlords

PA in western countries is also characterized by increased mechanization with the use of

PA in US and other countries has shown tremendous increase in productivity, lowering

Constraints and solutions

In western Maharashtra, more and more farmers are depending on mechanization

SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION

The system of rice intensification, known as SRI is an agro-ecological methodology for

SRI is Labor intensive and that is why associated with MNREGA

WATER AND ENERGY

An integrated development of the energy and water policies is of paramount

Water for Energy

Energy for Water

Decade of Sustainable Energy for all (2014-2024)

It highlights the importance of improving energy efficiency, increasing the share of

United-Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

UNIDO's primary objective is the promotion and acceleration of industrial development

World Bank-Thirsty Program

World Water Day: 22 March

Empower, not weaken the CAG

For a structured and time-bound response to the audit reports.

Delayed tabling of CAG reports:

Such a feedback and accountability mechanism is an essential component of the CAGs

In the present milieu of competing displays of political opportunism, any amendment

If at all a constitutional amendment is necessary, it could be to amend Article 149 of the

Appointed for 6 years or 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.

Connecting the dots:

What the world has done to the Victim?

Goal: To reach the under-five mortality rate of 38

Reduction of Maternal Mortality

Death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy

Halt and reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS:

Halt and reverse the spread of malaria and other diseases

Structural defects of MDGs:

Goals and targets need to be given a dynamic interpretation, country-wise

Connecting the Dots:

Towards Universal Immunization

Many of these children die because of malnutrition and infectious diseases.

One that focuses on nutrition,

Vaccination against preventable pneumonia and diarrhoea.

What needs to be done?

Children who are poor,

IASbaba's Current Affairs Magazine OCTOBER 2015

IASbaba's Current Affairs Magazine OCTOBER 2015