Rau's Focus April 2019 (Upscpdf - Com)

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editorial
note
PATH TO SUCCESS EVOLVES WITHIN
With the declaration of final results of the UPSC Civil Services Examination, 2018, a new crop of successful
administrators emerged who will now be in the service of the nation shaping & guiding its destiny, and
this a huge responsibility on these young shoulders.
For playing a role in shaping the destination of the nation, one has shape one’s own destiny first and for
this the most important aspect is SELF REALISATION.
First of all: Unclutter your mind!
Only those people achieve something significant in life who think big and devote all their energy and time to fulfil their
dreams. They do not allow themselves to be carried away by negative thoughts as they may prove detrimental to their
march on the path of success. They believe in changing the great thoughts into reality. They act and never rest because they
know the worth of time and action. Therefore, lift yourself high by thinking big and always aim to reach the top in whatever
area you choose for yourself. If you are sincere and hard-working, nothing can stop you from reaching the top. Your success
will be an inspiration for others as well. Your strength acts as the moral strength for others and they emulate you.
Secondly: Have a positive approach!
Good thoughts breed confidence, whereas negative thoughts hold you back. In fact, the great English poet, William
Shakespeare believed in the immense capability of man. He once wrote – “We know what we are, but know not what we may
be.” Your success depends on your capability to use your strength to the full. If you think positively and lay out a detailed
plan for accomplishing your task, you can certainly become successful. The progress you make en-route to your success is
the result of your will & self-confidence and success is the fruit of your sincere and continuous efforts. Without self-
confidence, you cannot dream of success.

Thirdly: Move towards Self-realisation!
It is the Self-realisation that encourages you to act single-mindedly banking on your own strengths and never allows any
negative thought to creep in your mind. It is the state of mind which encourages one to act with determination and freely
expand one's intellectual horizon. It makes the mind free and you can be in complete control of your thoughts. No man is
free who is not a master of himself. If you have got the power of exercising control over your thought, you are bound to
succeed. You will at once be able to choose between not only the good and the bad, but also between the good and the best.
Finally: Well begun is half done!
Nothing big can be thought of without making a right choice. For example: if you want to crack a competitive examination
you should prepare properly mastering the syllabus by diligent study. There is no short cut to success. All the great
scientists, business leaders, scholars, leaders were like us in the beginning. They made the right choice, started making
efforts in the right direction, knew pros and cons of their trade and eventually succeeded. “He who chooses the beginning of
a road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.” You can think of marching in the right direction
if you have a well-laid-out plan. You are advised to make right choices, know the pros and cons of your assignment

focus
CRITICAL NOTES FOR THE PREPARATION OF GENERAL STUDIES PAPERS
Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) : Dear Students,

Mr. V.P. Gupta
Chief Executive Officer : Abhishek Gupta
FOCUS is the Study Circle's monthly publication of contemporary issues
Executive Editor : Ritesh Kumar Singh
and current affairs analysis. It is in fact a collective effort, by experienced
Editorial Team : Ritesh Kumar Singh, Gajanan Dwivedi,
Naweed Akhter, Sanjeev Kumar Pandey, Ankur Sharma,
educators in varied themes, of identifying current affairs in light of the
Jasmine Sokhi, M Burhanuddin, Vrinda Gupta, Mangal UPSC syllabus, supplementing them with background information,
Singh, Nagendra Pratap, Pradip Singh, Mehaq Rao,
explaining their related dimensions, lending them a generalist viewpoint
Basava Uppin, Shubhangi Sharma, Lokesh Kadyan, Stuti
Anand, Jaikrit Vatsal and thus producing critical notes for the preparation of General Studies'
Design and Production : Rohit Rajput, Deepti Gupta, syllabus.
Khurshid Alam
The publication, as the name suggests, focuses solely on issues which are
The purpose of Focus is to expound the applied nature of
General Studies to Civil Services aspirants thereby making relevant to the factual as well as applied aspects of the General Studies'
them aware of the real demand of UPSC exam. syllabus. That is how Focus covers all anticipated issues and themes for the
The sources relied for selection and analysis of issues are:
upcoming Civil Services Examination (CSE).
1. The Hindu, The Hindu (Sunday)
2. The Indian Express Features
3. The Times of India
4. Asian Age Part One | Current Affairs Analysis
5. The Tribune
6. The Economic Times n This month edition covers analysis of news from the
7. Hindu Business Line immediately preceding month.
8. Frontline
9. Economic and Political Weekly n All news/issues are categorized and clubbed syllabus-wise
10. IDSA (International Relations, Polity & Governance, Science & Technology,
11. BBC
12. Yojana
Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude and so on) for efficient study.
13. Kurukshetra n Background information has been added to provide context.
n Related and Additional information-dimensions have been
explained to add depth to your understanding.
n Maps and figures have been provided for associative and retentive
learning.
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IAS STUDY CIRCLE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part ONE CONCERN OF E.C. ON ELECTORAL BONDS

#Election 20
Current Affairs Analysis TYPES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM

#Election 22
02 DELIMITATION
#Election #Act 23
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SC ON NOTA
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper II (Main)
#Election 24
RIC TRILATERAL MEET
INDELIBLE INK
# International Organisation 02
#Election 25
ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION
RTI: POLITICAL PARTIES YET TO COMPLY
#International Grouping 05
#Election #Law 26
INDIA – MALDIVES RELATIONSHIP
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, 1923
#India and its Neighbourhood 06
#Governance #Act #Ethics 26
TIR CONVENTION
JAMMU & KASHMIR: ORDINANCE & AN ORDER
#International Agreement 07
#Constitution #Federalism #Ordinance 28
UNSC 1267 SANCTIONS COMMITTEE
AADHAAR PAYMENT BRIDGE SYSTEM (APBS)
#Terrorism 08
#Governance 30
COALITION FOR DISASTER RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
PM-STIAC 32
#Indian Initiative #Disaster Management 09
PRC 33
WHAT IS ‘BRICS PLUS’ & ITS IMPACT ON INDIA? 11
DCC 33
WHAT DOES ‘POST-WEST WORLD ORDER’ MEAN? WHAT
DGCA 34
WILL BE INDIA’S ROLE IN IT? 12
UIDAI NEW REGULATION 34
ITALY JOINS BRI 12
APPOINTMENT OF DGP 35
OPERATION SAHAYATA 2019 13
SEOUL PEACE PRIZE 13
GOLAN HEIGHTS 14 36
BAGHOUZ AND DEIR EZZOR 15
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
16 ALTERNATIVE MECHANISM
CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE # Disinvestment 36
HYDROPOWER GENERATION
# Energy 37
DECLARATION OF GENERAL ELECTION 2019
FOREIGN EXCHANGE BUY/SELL SWAP
#Election #Constitution #Act 16
# RBI 38

SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL PROVISIONS FOR TUBERCULOSIS FREE WORLD: LANCET REPORT
#WTO 39 # Health 62
SANDBOX POLICY WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT 2019

#Government policies 41 # Health 63
DOMESTIC SYSTEMICALLY IMPORTANT BANKS (D-SIBs) ICDS LEAVES BEHIND POOR AND WOMEN: IFPRI
# Govt. Policies 42 # Health # Nutrition 63
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs) SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2019

# Capital Market 43 # Health # Sanitation 65
RBI’S GUIDELINES ON TOKENISATION URBAN PEOPLE LACK VITAMINS

# RBI 44 # Health #Nutrition 66
RESTRUCTURING OF LOANS FOR MSMEs

# RBI 46
67
GAS TRADING HUB
# Govt. Policies 47 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
URIDASHI MASALA BONDS 48 # GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
EASE REFORM INDEX 49 MISSION SHAKTI
NATIONAL COMMON MOBILITY CARD (NCMC) 49 #Space Technology 67
IPrism 50 PSLV- C45 68
FAME India PHASE II 50 BELLE-II 69
WORLD TRADE OUTLOOK INDICATOR 51 KHANDERI 70
SCHEME FOR THE REBATE OF STATE LEVIES (ROSL) 52 IVERMECTIN 71
NIIF 52 CHANDRAYAAN 2 72
WIPO TREATIES 53 NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY 73
GI Tag 54 PINAKA 73
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND GENDER INDEX (SIGI) REPORT WEST NILE FEVER 73
54
INVERTED YIELD CURVE 55
PAYROLL DATA 56
75
FINE 2019 57 GEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY &
WORLD GOLD COUNCIL REPORT 57 DISASTER MANAGEMENT
# GS Paper (Prelims) and GS Paper I & III(Main)
59 EL-NINO
#Geography #Climate 75
SOCIETY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE RHINOS WITHOUT BORDERS
# GS Paper I & GS Paper II (Main) #Fauna #Conservation 78
INDIA CAN ELIMINATE CERVICAL CANCER FOREST FIRE: IMPACTING BANDIPUR, WAYANAD FORESTS
# Health 59 # Fauna #Flora #Conservation 80
WHO’s GLOBAL INFLUENZA STRATEGY
# Health 60

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK REPORT

102
# Report #Conservation 82
SUNDERBAN WETLANDS SECURITY

#Conservation #Convention 83 # GS Paper III (Main)
DEFINITION OF FOREST COVER SMART FENCING 102
#Conservation 84 INDO-PACIFIC REGIONAL DIALOGUE 103
GHOST NETS & PLASTICS 86 MARITIME SECURITY 103
SEA SQUIRT THAT SUCKS PLASTIC PARTICLES 86 BALAKOT 104
THOTTAPPALLY PROTEST 87 AFINDEX-19 104
RED SANDERS 87 Sampriti 2019 105
CLOUD SEEDING 88 Al Nagah 2019 105
ELEPHANT CONSERVATION 89 Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019 105
PURPLE FROG 89
WOOD SNAKE 90
UN ENVIRONMENT MEET 90
106
CLIMATE VULNERABILITY INDEX 91 MISCELLANEOUS
STARRY DWARF FROG 92 GENERAL ELECTION 2019
VANQUITA PORPOISE 92 #Go and vote 106
GLOBAL LIVEABILITY INDEX 93 THE VERDICT
# Books and Authors 107
BELT AND ROAD

94 # Books and Authors 107
HISTORY, HERITAGE & CULTURE
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
108
RANI KI VAV
# Medieval India # Art and Architecture 94 ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE
VEERABHADRASWAMY TEMPLE, MOTUPALLI # GS Paper IV (Main)
#Early Medieval India #Art and Culture 95 VICTORY OVER SELF 108
THEYYAM DANCE
# Art and Culture 96
BHAGAT SINGH’S DEATH ANNIVERSARY

112
# Modern India # Personality 98 GLOSSARY
ANGKOR # Terms
#Medieval History #Art and Architecture 99
PINK TAX
THAKURANI JATRA FESTIVAL 100 # Economy 112
DOUL UTSAV 100 BLUE CHIP COMPANY
EARLY HARRAPPAN PHASE GRAVES: KUTCH 101 # Economy 112

CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP (CDS) JUST AND COST EFFECTIVE JUSTICE

# Economy 92 #Polity and Governance
EMPLOYMENT-TO-POPULATION RATIO NAWEED AKHTER, EDITORIAL TEAM & EDUCATOR DAILY
# Economy 112 NEWS SIMPLIFIED 125
INSIDER TRADING
#Economy 113
129
DOLLARISATION
# Economy 113 LEAD ESSAYS
YALE MODEL WHITHER INDIAN DEMOCRACY
# Economy 113 SUMIT NARANG, EX-STUDENT (RAU’S IAS STUDY CIRCLE)
FREE FLOAT 129
# Economy 113
WARSAW CONVENTION
# Law
ABSOLUTISM
113
Part Three
# Politics 114
practiCe ZONE
Part TWO 134

CONTRIBUTORS ZONE MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQS)
for Prelims GS Paper – I
116
LEAD ARTICLES 142
AGRICULTURE MARKETING: THE KEY TO ALLEVIATE ESSAY TYPE QUESTIONS
AGRARIAN DISTRESS
for Mains GS Papers – I, II & III
#Economy
BASAVA UPPIN
EDITORIAL TEAM & EDUCATOR DAILY NEWS SIMPLIFIED 164
116
INDIAN UNSC SEAT: NEHRUVIAN TO CURRENT CASE STUDIES

SCENARIO for Mains GS Paper IV: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
#India and the World
ANKUR SHARMA, EDITORIAL TEAM & EDUCATOR DAILY
NEWS SIMPLIFIED 123

Part ONE
Current
affairs
analysis
logical . simple . targeted
analysis & explanation
of all relevant news of the month

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The 16th meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, Russia and China was held in
China recently.
RIC As countries with significant international and regional influence, the three
TRILATERAL countries stand intend to expand mutual consultations and cooperation on
MEET international and regional issues of mutual interest in the spirit of mutual
respect, respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, unity,
# International mutual understanding and trust.
Organisation The common development and close cooperation of the three countries is
conducive for world peace and stability and promoting global growth.
THINGS TO UNDERSTAND
• The trilateral forum RIC was established in 2002, as means to balance the United States led global
order in international economics and commerce such as in International Monetary Fund and World
Bank. Moreover, Russia and China intended to geo-politically balance the US-led western bloc in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Background • India does not intend for geo-political & geo-economic balancing against the United States, but
rather improve the standing of Global South in global economic institutions.
• The RIC trilateral partly led to the formation of BRICS which incorporated Brazil and South Africa.
RIC trilateral eventually became overshadowed by the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation
Organisation in terms of relevance.
Focused The RIC trilateral focuses on four broad clusters of areas: Economic and Developmental issues, Fight
Mandate against terrorism, Global / Multilateral issues and, Regional issues.
• The 1st trilateral Russia-India-China consultation on Asia Pacific affairs was held in Beijing in
2016. They intend to develop a converging perspective on the emerging scenario in Asia Pacific
Asia-Pacific
region. The 2nd trilateral consultation will be held in New Delhi in 2018.
Region
• India is following a policy of multilateralism and requires to achieve a balance between the
diverging perspective between RIC and Quad grouping in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Russia-China-India trilateral engagement started off as an attempt to balance the US unipolarity in

World affairs, but with the resurgence of China, balancing China became essential for India.
India- Policy of • The RIC trilateral occurred after a month of the India-Japan-Australia Quadrilateral meeting and
Multilateralism reflects the balancing act of India to ensure ‘multi-alignment’ in its foreign policy. The policy of
multilateralism provides India with the ability to align with countries based upon specific issues and
ensure its national interest.
FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 2

International Relations
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
• The three nations asserted for comprehensive reform of the UN and UNSC with a view to
increase the representation of the developing countries
United Nations • China and Russia reiterate their support for India’s aspiration to play a greater role in the
United Nations. Although, there was no specific mention for support to India for a permanent
seat in UNSC with a veto.
India, China, and Russia asserted to strengthen the BRICS platform and the Shanghai
BRICS and SCO Cooperation Organization (SCO) for promoting multilateral political, security economic and
people-to-people interaction in the among the members.
They would further intend to promote dialogue on regional security architecture within the East
EAS and APEC Asia Summit framework. Moreover, Russia and China reiterated that they support India’s
participation in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
• India, Russia and China intend for the International Monetary Fund to complete the 15th General
Review of Quotas and agree upon a new quota formula as a basis for a realignment of quota
IMF shares.
• They asserted for the IMF quota system to reflect an increased shares of emerging economies
as per their position in the world economy.
International The three countries intend to deepen cooperation on addressing base erosion and profit shifting
Taxation System in world economic system, and of promoting exchange of tax information among countries.
ON TERRORISM
• India, China and Russia intend for cooperation:

 to prevent and counter terrorism and radicalization;
 combat the spread of terrorist ideology and propaganda;
Cooperation  stop sources of terrorist financing;

against Terrorism  prevent travelling of and the supply of arms to terrorists;
 dismantle terrorist infrastructure;
 disrupt recruitment and the flow of Foreign Terrorist Fighters;
 prevent misuse of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for terrorist purposes.
• They also asserted that the committing, organizing, inciting or supporting terrorist acts must be
held accountable and brought to justice under international law, including the principle of
Combating "extradite or prosecute” as well as the applicable domestic legislations.
terrorism • The three nations would intensify cooperation in multilateral forums including FATF and FATF-
style regional bodies (FSRBs) so as to cut the flows of funds, and other financial assets and
economic resources to individuals and entities involved in terrorism.
The three countries support the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on
CCIT
International Terrorism in the United Nations to establish a comprehensive international legal

framework to address the growing problem of terrorism.
INTERNATIONAL CRISIS
• The three countries reiterated their support for settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the
basis of the relevant UN Resolutions, the Arab peace initiative and the principle of "land for
Israel-
peace”.
Palestine
• They supported the creation of an independent and territorially continuous Palestinian State
side by side with Israel within mutually agreed and internationally recognized borders
Ukraine The three countries asserted the diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine through the full
Crisis implementation of the Minsk Agreements
• The three countries asserted for a solution to the crisis in Syria through a "Syrian-led, Syrian-
owned” inclusive political process which safeguards the sovereignty, independence and territorial
Syrian War integrity of Syria.
• Moreover, the three countries support the Geneva Peace Talks and the Astana process for end to
Syrian conflict.
• RIC reiterated support for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process and
stressed the importance of multilateral interactions on the Afghanistan issue, including the SCO, the
Afghanistan Moscow Format, the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, the Kabul Process and the Regional
War Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan
• They reaffirmed their support to the efforts of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in
fighting terrorist organizations.
• RIC called on all parties to the Yemen conflict to abide by the Stockholm Agreement.
Yemen & • RIC reaffirmed support for the UN-led political settlement process for Libya and the political
Libya transition plan proposed by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for
Libya Ghassan Salamé.
• RIC have asserted that prevention of arms race in outer space is a key factor for maintaining
international peace and security and expressed their serious concern about the possibility of an arms
race in outer space and of outer space turning into an arena for military confrontation. This should
be seen in context of recent decision of United States to form a Space Force as the 6th branch of its
military.
• The three countries emphasised the paramount importance of strict compliance with the existing
Outer Space legal regime providing for the peaceful use of outer space and also reaffirmed that there is a need to
Conflict consolidate and reinforce this regime.
• The three countries would discuss possible elements for a legally binding instrument on the
prevention of an arms race in outer space including prevention of the placement of weapons in outer
space.
• They reiterated that the Conference on Disarmament, as the single multilateral disarmament
negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of a multilateral agreement on the
prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects.

Inter national Relations

R
India was invited as

s Guest of Honour
H at th
he 46th sesssion of
ORGA ANISAT TION OF F Council of
o Foreign Ministers off the Organ
nization of Islamic
ISL
LAMIC COOPER
C RATION N Cooperattion (OIC).
#Innternationaal Groupingg Let us un
nderstand about the OIC.
THIN
NGS TO UND
DERSTAND
• Origin: Itt was establi shed in a sum

mmit which took
t place in Rabat, Moro
occo in 19699 and in 1970
0 it was
decided to
establish
ha
permanent
secretarriat in
Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia.
• Memberrs: The
Background Organisa
ation of
of OIC Islamic
Cooperation (OIC)
is the second
largest inter-
governm
mental organiization after the United Nations
N with a membersh
hip of 57 stattes spread ovver four
nts. It has its main memb
continen bership from Muslim-majority countries, however several non-Muslim
majority countries arre also provid
ded membership to OIC fo
or various ge
eo-political reeasons.
• e: It endeavo
Purpose ours to safeg
guard and protect the in
nterests of th world in the spirit of
he Muslim w
promotin
ng internatio
onal peace an
nd harmony among
a variou
us people of the world.
• OIC prov
vides a comm
mon platform
m for a sustain
ned and long
g-term politiical engagem
ment for Ind
dia, with
differentt Islamic coun
ntries.
• OIC prov
vides India a
another oppo
ortunity to sh
howcase its improved en
ngagement w
with the Arab
b world,
Advantages whereby
y UAE and Sa udi Arabia to
ook the lead in
i ending Ind
dia's exclusion from OIC.
of OIC for • OIC has become a m
major platform
m for Pakista
an and is the only major institution th
hat critiques IIndia on
Ind
dia Kashmir. Our contin ement with OIC therefore can ensu
nued engage ure that Pakkistan usage
e of the
platform
m to bring up the Kashmir issue is dilutted.
• Future observer
o stattus of OIC fo
or India may
y not provide
e India with strategic ad
dvantage butt it may
howeverr provide Ind ia with an im
mproved interrnational reco
ognition.
• India's fo
oundational philosophy w
was based on
n secularism and therefo
ore it was inaappropriate ffor India
Concerns to try to join
j an organ
nisation who
ose defining criterion
c was shared religiious identity..
witth India’s • The Abu
u Dhabi decclaration of OIC did nott contain an acknowledg
gement of th
he address g
given by
eng
gagement India's Ex nd thereby overlooked India and India
xternal Affairrs Minister an on terrorism to OIC.
a’s message o
witth OIC • Similarly
y, the Abu Dh
habi declarattion welcome
ed the initiatiive undertak
ken by Pakisttan to hand o
over the
Indian piilot as a gest ure of goodw
will, so as to de-escalate
d te
ensions in th
he region. Ho
owever, there
e was no
FOOCUS | A pril 201 9 | RAU’ S IAS 5

reference in Abu Dhabi declaration that asserted for Pakistan to end its support to cross border
terrorism.
• OIC still continues to meddle in Kashmir issue whereby during the summit was that a resolution on
Kashmir accompanied the Abu Dhabi declaration and this resolution included the phrase “Indian
terrorism in Kashmir." This shows that OIC is unwilling to take into understanding India's stand with
regards to Kashmir and only supports Pak. stand on Kashmir.
• India has strong bilateral relations with almost each member of OIC such as Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Indonesia, Central Asian countries among others. Therefore OIC as an international organisation
provides India with no major advantage of economic and strategic relations with OIC members.
• OIC continues to behave like earlier when it rejected India's presence at first OIC meet over Pakistan's
objection. It is still being seen that OIC continues to prioritise Pakistani viewpoint above India.
External Affairs Minister (EAM) of India paid an official visit to the Maldives
INDIA – in March 2019.
MALDIVES Both countries signed various agreements in-particular with regards Indian
RELATIONSHIP Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community

Development Projects through Local Bodies & Collaboration in the Field of
#India and its Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Neighbourhood Let us understand the recent contours in India – Maldives relationship.
CONTOURS OF THE VISIT
• The new government of Maldives under President Solih reiterated Maldives "India-First Policy” and
would work closely with India on all issues and would remain sensitive towards India’s security and
Principles of
strategic concerns.
Relationship
• Both countries reaffirmed that their relationship is marked by trust, transparency, mutual
understanding, and sensitivity.
• India for the provision of financial assistance in the form of budgetary support, currency swap, and
concessional lines of credit.
Economic • EAM announced the decision of the Government of India to renew the quota for essential
Assistance commodities
• India has decided to support towards the renovation of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Maldives
and provide assistance for the construction of a cricket stadium.
• India and Maldives agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean
Region and to strengthen coordination in enhancing regional maritime security.
Security • Both countries reaffirmed its steadfast support against terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations
and support efforts to combat terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism, and crimes such as
piracy, organized crime, narcotic drugs and human trafficking.
• India and Maldives reiterated the importance of an effective multilateral system as a key factor in
UN Reform
tackling global challenges and agreed on the need to pursue reform of the main UN bodies, including

the General Assembly, and the UN Security Council.

• Maldives expressed its support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of an expanded
and reformed UN Security Council and reiterated support for India’s candidature for non-
permanent seat for the year 2020-21.
• Maldives is among the island nation countries that face being submerged underwater by 2050 due to
rising sea levels.
Climate • India and Maldives reaffirmed the importance of combating the impacts of climate change which is
Change especially detrimental to Small Island Developing States. Both countries agreed on the need to
strengthen the global response to climate change, through multilateral forums including the UNFCCC
and the Paris Agreement.
CONCERNS IN INDIA – MALDIVES RELATIONSHIP
• Maldives signed its first country-specific FTA with China in 2017 and thereby becoming China’s 2nd
FTA in South Asia after Pakistan. It raised concerns that it will deepen the debt trap to China, wherein
more than 70% of Maldives’ foreign debt is owed to China.
Enhanced • There has growing trend of Chinese companies and individuals acquiring land in Maldives. The land
Chinese grab is seen in excess of what East India Company had acquired during the colonial period in
Presence Maldives. This land grab has raised concern of Maldives being increasingly falling into an economic
neo-colonial influence of China.
• The new government of President Solih has affirmed that Maldives will scrap the FTA with China and
investigate the Chinese land grab in Maldives.
• President Yameen had earlier declared an emergency in Maldives and halted the functioning of
President Maldives Parliament (Majlis) and arrested several opposition leaders. This was opposed by India and
Yameen several other countries.
Hangover • Apart from this, President Yameen augmented relations with China without taking India into
confidence. This led to India-Maldives relations to decline.
• There is a growing presence of ISIS/Daesh in Maldives and has been seen with growing influence of
Growing Saudi philosophy of Wahhabis. Maldives has one of the highest per-capita Daesh fighters.
radicalisation • Moreover, due to the continuous defeat of Daesh, these fighters have been returning to Maldives and
pose a threat to security of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
The first shipment under the United Nations ‘Transports

TIR CONVENTION Internationaux Routiers’ (TIR) convention arrived in India from
Afghanistan through Iran’s Chabahar Port.
#International Agreement
Let us understand about the TIR Convention.
• 'TIR' stands for Transports Internationaux Routiers (International Road Transport) and the TIR
Background Convention facilitates the international carriage of goods from one or more customs offices of
departure to one or more customs offices of destination.

• The Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets, 1975 (TIR
Convention), is an international transit system under the auspices of the United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE) to facilitate the seamless movement of goods within and amongst
the Parties to the Convention.
• The International Road Transport Union (IRU) administers the TIR international guarantee chain
under UN mandate.
Reciprocal recognition of customs controls is at the heart of the Convention. This enables a facilitative
Significance
and non-intrusive environment for multi-modal transport of goods through several countries.
• India's acceded to the Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR
Carnets (TIR Convention) in 2017.
• FICCI is the National Issuing & Guaranteeing Association (NIGA) for TIR Carnets in India. It is
TIR and India jointly responsible with customs for the operation and administration of the TIR system at national
level.
• National Customs Authorities implement TIR at national level, including border controls, approvals of
national TIR operators and vehicles. They can also contribute to amendments to the TIR Convention.
• The Convention will help Indian traders to have access to fast, easy, reliable and hassle free
international system for movement of goods by road or multi- modal means across the territories of
other contracting parties.
• By joining the convention, the need for inspection of goods at intermediate borders as well as
physical escorts en-route shall be obviated due to reciprocal recognition of Customs controls.
• Customs clearance can take place at internal Customs locations thereby avoiding clearances at
Advantages Border Crossing Points and ports. This leads to decrease in cost and time.
for India • Compliance with the Convention shall ensure enhanced security in the supply chain as only
approved transporters and vehicles are allowed to operate in terms of the Convention.
• The TIR Convention can be an instrument for movement of goods along the International “North-
South” Transport (INSTC) Corridor and in particular using ports in Iran like the Chabahar port.
• It is an effective tool to implement the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement,
the revised Kyoto Convention and is Compliant with the World Customs Organization SAFE
Framework.
NEWS in transition
The ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee (1267 Sanctions Committee)
was not able to come to a decision on the proposal for listing Mohammed
UNSC 1267 Masood Azhar Alvi leader of JeM under the UN Sanctions regime, on account of
SANCTIONS China placing the proposal on hold.
COMMITTEE India has asserted that it will continue to pursue all available avenues to ensure
that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are
#Terrorism brought to justice, and so now, future action by India is to be awaited to counter
lack of decision by the Sanctions Committee.

THINGS TO KNOW
• The Security Council can take action to maintain or restore international peace and security, and for
which the SC may establish subsidiary bodies as needed for the performance of its functions.
UNSC
• The UNSC Sanctions Committee is thus such subsidiary body which is mandated to oversee sanction
Sanctions
regimes imposed by UNSC.
Committee
• Each regime is administered by a sanctions committee chaired by a non-permanent member of the
Security Council.
• The sanctions measures provided to Sanctions Committee are:

 Assets Freeze whereby all states are required to freeze the funds & financial assets
 Travel ban whereby all states are required to prevent the entry into or transit through their
Measures by territories by designated individuals
Sanctions  Arms Embargo whereby all states are required to prevent the supply, sale & transfer from their
Committee territories or by their nationals of arms & of assistance related to military activities.
• These sanction regimes encompass enforcement options that do not involve the use of armed force
& mainly focus on supporting political settlement of conflicts, nuclear non-proliferation & counter-
terrorism.
• UNSC resolution 1267 (1999) led to the formation of a Sanctions Committee that overlooked the
sanctions imposed upon the Taliban.
• However, 1989 (2011) resolution was adopted whereby the purview of the Committee formed under
ISIL & Al- resolution 1267 was changed to oversee sanctions imposed upon Al-Qaeda & a separate Committee
Qaeda was formed for the Taliban under resolution 1988.
Sanctions • The Security Council further adopted resolution 2253 (2015) which decided to expand the listing
Committee criteria under Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee to include the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant
(ISIL).
• Thereafter, it is known as the ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee pursuant to resolutions
1267 (1999) 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015).
The Second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient
COALITION FOR Infrastructure - 2019 was hosted in India and one of the main
objectives of the conference is to pursue the creation of a global
DISASTER RESILIENT coalition for resilient infrastructure.
INFRASTRUCTURE It set the stage for taking the dialogue on the proposed Coalition
#Indian Initiative #Disaster for DRI forward at the global level and therefore formation of GCRI
is still in transition.
Management
Let us further understand about this.
THINGS TO KNOW
Background • The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 identifies investing in Disaster Risk

Reduction for resilience and to build better in reconstruction as priorities for action towards reducing
disaster risk. It is a 15-year voluntary, non-binding agreement for disaster risk reduction and
succeeded the Hyogo Framework for Action that was in force from 2005 to 2015.
• Similarly, Goal 9 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognizes disaster resilient
infrastructure as a crucial driver of economic growth and development.
• The 2016 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) highlighted the need for
stronger collaboration and co-operation among countries towards building resilient infrastructure. It
also saw the adoption of the ‘Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework’.
• Following AMCDRR 2016, India announced that it would work with partner countries and key
stakeholders in launching a global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which is
envisaged as a knowledge exchange and capacity development partnership.
• The first International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was held in 2018 and is the first
CDRI Origin milestone towards the establishment of the CDRI.
• The Second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was organised by the
National Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (UNISDR), and in partnership with the Global Commission on Adaptation, United Nations
Development Programme and the World Bank.
• The UN General Assembly adopted the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in 1999 and
established UNISDR whose mandate was expanded in 2001 to serve as the focal point in the UN
system for disaster risk reduction.
UNISDR
• UNISDR supports the implementation, follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which was adopted by the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk
Reduction in 2015 in Sendai, Japan.
• The objective of the 2nd workshop were:

 Pursue the creation of a global coalition for resilient infrastructure. The coalition will ensure that
new risks are not created, as enshrined in the Sendai Framework which is the global plan for reducing
disaster losses.
About the
 It intends to take stock of impact of disasters on different infrastructure sectors and identify gaps
Conference
and the good practices in making infrastructure disaster resilient.
 To develop risk assessment methodologies & international standards for disaster resilient infra.
 Financing for disaster resilient infrastructure including risk transfer mechanisms and post disaster
reconstruction.
• The growing rate of urbanisation and the subsequent increase in population density is bringing
massive new investments in infrastructure such as bridges, roads, dams, power stations, etc. It is
required to ensure that all new infrastructures are made resilient to withstand future shocks,
Why is the
including those brought by a changing climate.
coalition
• Disasters in heavily populated urban areas can lead to high numbers of human casualties and lead to
required?
huge economic losses and this becomes difficult for developing countries to manage without aid from
international community such as recently seen in Beira, Mozambique. CDRI will therefore ensure the
support for disaster management.

• CDRI is intended to be formed on the same lines as the International Solar Alliance, which was also
formed under India’s leadership.
• India has been engaging with partner countries, multilateral development banks, United Nations
Indian
agencies, the private sector, the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Understanding Risk
Involvement
Forum and academia to build the case for investing in resilient infrastructure.
• India was one of the first to create a National Disaster Management Plan based on the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
NEWS FROM IDSA

#IDSA 4 CSE
WHAT IS ‘BRICS PLUS’ & ITS IMPACT ON INDIA?
• ‘BRICS Plus’ was first mooted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in March 2017 with the objective
of widening the “circle of friends” of BRICS that can bring unity among developing countries and
Background enhance South-South cooperation.
• The initiative is aimed at upping the outreach activities of the BRICS countries with the Global South
and building wider partnership with emerging markets and developing countries (EMDCs).
• ‘BRICS Plus’ is in line with the tradition of inviting friends and partners of the host country to the
BRICS Summit. Russia invited the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Eurasian Economic Union
Past ‘BRICS countries for the 2015 Ufa Summit. India invited BIMSTEC countries for the 2016 Goa Summit.
Plus’
• China invited Egypt, Guinea, Tajikistan, Mexico and Thailand as guests in the 2017 Xiamen Summit.
• South Africa hosted the BRICS-Africa Outreach during the 2018 Johannesburg Summit.
• China had initially shown interest in creating a permanent BRICS Plus arrangement but there is no
consensus within the grouping on getting a permanent set of developing countries as BRICS Plus
category.
• India and the other members remain wary of China’s predominance in BRICS and its increasing
China Plus or influence in the Global South. Through BRICS Plus, China probably seeks to forge regional and
BRICS Plus? bilateral alliances across the continents, which could also be instrumental in pushing its Belt and
Road Initiative.
• China however has clarified that the idea is not to expand the BRICS member countries but to
integrate different regions. However, India shown no interest in expanding BRICS membership or
Chinese led regional integration.

WHAT DOES ‘POST-WEST WORLD ORDER’ MEAN? WHAT WILL

BE INDIA’S ROLE IN IT?
The coinage of ‘Post-West World Order’ may be new, but not the concept. It refers to the gradual shift in
the economic and political balance of power from Western countries (European states and the United
Meaning
States) to the so-called developing world and the consequent change it brings to the management of
global affairs.
• For more than a century, the Western world virtually determined the global economic and security
order, despite representing only a small minority of the human population, with non-Western actors
playing a marginal role in shaping the international system.
• However, the frequent setbacks to Western military missions in recent years and the steady deflation
of their debt-ridden economies, in stark contrast to unprecedented economic growth witnessed in
non-Western countries, is assumed to lead to decline of West dominated World Order.
Why Post-
• The West is now seen more culpable of undermining the international system, is in the habit of
West?
ignoring international institutions like the United Nations and has turned its back on free trade and
globalisation.
• Nevertheless, many scholars in international relations believe that the decline of the West would lead
to confusion, if not chaos, in the global order and threaten the cherished values of liberalism and
rule of law. They contend that the emerging powers are still not as politically evolved or committed
to an open, stable and rule-based international system.
• The emerging economies have already started establishing the building blocks for a parallel order,
such as the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
• India, alongside China and Russia, is set to be one of the key players in effecting the geopolitical shift.
India’s Role With the advantage of being a stable and democratic country, its economic and political ascendance
is likely to outlast the meteoric rise of totalitarian polities.
• However, it is generally believed that post-West world order will come about gradually and will be
multi-polar in nature, a principle part of India’s foreign policy.
NEWS Snippets
Recent Context: Italy became the first of the G7 group of industrialised nations to endorse
China’s Belt and Road Initiative by signing a MoU with China.
 What is meant by BRI membership?
ITALY JOINS
• BRI is considered as an international club without formal members. The BRI is not a
BRI multilateral organisation and has no protocol for admitting members. It is also not a trade
pact that imposes clear rules on participants in return for trade benefits.
• By signing an MOU, a country does not become a 'member' of the BRI, nor does it necessarily


R
become enttitled to the cconstruction of China-fun

nded infrastru
ucture projeccts. Howeverr, it may
lead to Chin
na funded pro
ojects that a recipient cou
untry intendss for and Ch ina agrees to
o. These
projects if co
onnected to the larger BR
RI infrastructure through Eurasia, then
n that projecct would
then be con sidered as pa
art of BRI.
 Benefits fo
or Italy
• It portrays Ittaly as an invvestment des
stination for Chinese
C investors and to other investors who
may see Chi nese investm
ment into Italy as good be
enchmark of Italian econo
omy.
• It showcasess Italy as an a
alternative to
o the EU’s larg
ger economie
es.
 Benefits to
o China
• China's inve
estment has largely been
n concentrate
ed in Eastern
n and Centraal Europe. Italy now
allows China
a to move intto Southern Europe.
E
• Italy's accep
ptance of BR
RI dilutes the stand of G7 and EU against the debt infrasttructure
practices tha
at China follo
ows under BR
RI.
• It is now forr the first tim
me that a non
n-Western co
ountry may emerge as a m
major investtor in an
earlier colon
nial European
n country.
• Cyclone
C IDA I made land
dfall in
Eastern
E coasst of Africa
a and
caused
c widesspread destrruction
& loss of human livves in
Mozambique
M especially in the
port
p city off Beira and
d also
effecting
e Zimbabwe and
Malawi.
M
• In
n response tto a requestt from
OPERATIO
ON Mozambique,
M , India
SA
AHAYATA
A im
mmediately undertook HADR
(H
Humanitaria n Assistance
20
019 Disaster
D Relie
ef) in coordination
with
w local a
authorities which
in
ncluded rrescue mission,
medical
m asssistance, faccilitate
aerial
a survey,, dropping o
of food
& water packkets in cyclon
ne affected areas,
a providing fresh wa
ater in relief camps, unde
ertaking
community
c se
ervice including clearing of
o debris and
d repairing da
amaged road
ds etc.
• Thus,
T India N avy was the ffirst respond
der in the hum
manitarian crises in the aaftermath of Cyclone
ID
DAI that hit M
Mozambique and is also providing
p asssistance to Zim
mbabwe and
d Malawi.
SE
EOUL PEA
ACE Current Event : The 2018 S
Seoul Peace Prize
P has bee
en awarded to PM Modi for contribu
utions to
the
e:
PR
RIZE


R
 Growth of th
he Indian and
d global econ
nomies;
 Crediting 'M odinomics' ffor reducing social
s & econ
nomic disparity;
 Anti-corrupttion measure
es through de
emonetizatio
on;
 Regional & g
global peace under the Modi Doctrine & the Act Ea
ast Policy.
Bac
ckground: T
The Seoul Pea
ace Prize was
s established in 1990 to commemoratte the successs of the
24tth Olympic G
Games held in
n Seoul, Kore
ea. The Seoul Peace Prize has been aw
warded bienn
nially for
con
ntributions to
o the harmon
ny of mankind, reconciliattion between
n nations and
d to world pe
eace.
Intternational Importance
e: Past laurea
ates include Kofi Annan, Angela Merkkel Doctors Without
Borders, Oxfam
m, with PM Modi being the
e fourteenth recipient of this
t award.
WORLDD GEOGRRAPHY IN
CONTEEXT # Poolitical GGeographhy
 G
GOLAN HEIGHTS
H S
US President Dona ld Trump ha
as asserted for the US to fully recogn
nize Israel’s ssovereignty o
over the
Recent Contex
xt
Golan Heights,
H how
wever Syria wh
hich claims Golan
G Heightss has oppose
ed this move..
The Golan
Heightss is a
fertile plateau
p
which overlooks
o
both Israel and
nd lies to
Syria an
Geographical the norrth and
Loc
cation east of the Sea
of Galilee. It also
borderss with the
Jordan River and
Yarmuk
k River.
• Israel seized Go
olan Heights from Syria during
d the Six-Day War of
o 1967, and
d has occupiied ever
sincce. Syrian forrces attempte
ed to take it back during the Yom Kip
ppur War off 1973 but Syyria lost
His
story and the 1974 ce asefire agre
eement led to
t Golan Heights under Israeli contrrol.
• NSC resolutio
A UN on has declared the impo
osition of Isra
ael’s law in th
he occupied SSyrian Golan Heights
n and void and without internationa
as null al legal effect.
Dru
uze Ethnic • Inha
abitants of G olan Heightss are divided almost equally between Israeli
I Jewish
h settlers and
d Arabic-
gro
oup aking Druze people of Syrian origin.
spea


R
• The Druze follow

w a monoth
heistic Abrahamic religion
n related to Ismaili Shia Islam. They remain
loya
al to the regim
mes of curren
nt Syrian dicttator Bashar al-Assad and
d have refuseed Israeli citizzenship.
 BAGH
HOUZ and
d DEIR EZ
ZZOR
• The Is
slamic State has now been
b reduce d to half a square
kilome
etre area in Eastern Syrria, borderin
ng Iraq and Kurdish
contro
olled Syrian region.
r
• The Sy
yrian Democratic Forces, Kurdish led rrebel group assisted
by Un
nited States have effectiv
vely laid sei ge to Bagho
ouz, the
Easterrn Syrian villa
age where ab
bout 500 ISISS fighters alo
ong with
around 4000 women and children are caugght.
• This fo
ollows the re
emoval of ISIS controlled areas of Raq
qqa and
Deir Ezzor and fina
ally confined only to Bagh
houz.

CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

Election Special
The five-year term of the 16th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 03rd June, 2019.
Credible elections, conducted at regular prescribed intervals, are the very
soul of any democratic system. Article 324 of the Constitution of India
bestows the relevant powers, duties and functions upon the Election
DECLARATION Commission of India and Section 14 of the Representation of the People Act,
OF GENERAL 1951 provides for the conduct of the elections to constitute a new Lok Sabha
before the expiry of its current term. Taking into account these
ELECTION Constitutional and legal provisions, the Election Commission of India has
2019 made comprehensive preparations for the conduct of elections to the 17th
Lok Sabha in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
#Election
In this analysis, let us go through the important highlights of Press
#Constitution #Act
Conference of Chief Election Commissioner where he announced that the
upcoming general election of 2019 has been scheduled to be held in 7 phases
along with assembly election in 4 states namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.
TENURE OF LOK SABHA
• The Article 83(2) mentions that the House of the People, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for 5 years
from the date appointed for its first meeting and no longer and the expiration of the said period of 5 years shall
operate as dissolution of the House. So, Lok Sabha automatically dissolves after 5 years.
• The said period of 5 years may be extended by Parliament by law while a Proclamation of Emergency is in
operation for -
 a period not exceeding one year at a time, and
 not extending in any case beyond a period of six months after the Proclamation has ceased to operate.
IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE BY EC
• On the basis of the announcement of the Schedule for the General Election through the Press Note,
On the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates has come into
Model Code operation with immediate effect in the entire country.
of Conduct • The government of the poll-bound States has also been directed to ensure that no misuse of official
machinery/position is done during the period of MCC.

Constituti0n, Polity and

Governance
• The Commission has also issued instructions for swift, effective and stringent action for enforcement
of Model Code of Conduct: -
 during the first 72 hours of announcement of election schedule; and
 also for maintaining extra vigilance and strict enforcement action in the last 72 hours prior to the
close of polls.
• The General Election to the House of People, 2019 to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha shall be held on
the basis of the extent of Parliamentary Constituencies as contained in the “Delimitation of
Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008”.
• Therefore, there is no change in the extent and status of any Parliamentary Constituency after
On General election to Lok Sabha, 2009.
Delimitation • Besides, the total number of Parliamentary Constituencies allotted to various States/UTs including
SC/ST seats are also continued to be the same.
• Similarly, general elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim
shall be held on the basis of the extent of Assembly Constituencies as contained in the said
Delimitation Order, 2008.
Citizens All citizens who turned 18 years on 1st January, 2019 and registered as electors will get opportunity to
eligible to cast their vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and in the respective State Assembly elections of
vote those States where it will be held.
• All the candidates are required to file an affidavit (in Form 26) along with their nomination papers.
• This affidavit will include information on the criminal antecedents of the candidate, if any, assets
(including the movable, immovable properties and investments even in foreign countries, of the
candidate, his/ her spouse and dependents), liabilities of the candidate, his/ her spouse and
dependents and his/ her educational qualifications.
• The format of Form 26 has been amended vide Ministry of Law & Justice Notification dated 26th
February, 2019.
• With the amendment, it has been expressly provided that declaration on assets shall include full
information about offshore assets. The candidates are also required to declare the total income
Affidavit by shown in the Income Tax return filed for the last five years for the candidates, spouse, HUF (if
Candidates candidate is Karta or Coparcener in HUF), and for dependents.
 Earlier position
• Earlier, a candidate had to only declare the last IT return for one self, spouse and dependents in Form
26. However, details of foreign assets were not submitted.
• Although, in the old Form 26, candidates were expected to provide their Permanent Account Number
(PAN) along with that of their spouse and dependents, it was noticed that many had skipped this
column.
• The amended affidavit clearly states that it is mandatory to mention PAN and “in case of no PAN, it
should be clearly stated ‘No PAN allotted.’
 Changes made after meeting with CBDT
• Since 2013, the Income-Tax Department has been verifying the asset declaration made by candidates


Governance
in their affidavits. However, the verification reports were not being made public.
• In the meeting with Central Board of Direct Taxes, the Election Commission had urged CBDT to make
public the income verification report of the candidates.
• After the ITR papers become part of the affidavit, the information will be in the public domain.
 Impact of the notification
• This move of the Election Commission will enhance public awareness and transparency about the
financial details about their candidates contesting Lok Sabha polls.
• Further, this will also help the voters aware of the wealth accumulated by an incumbent MP and his
entire family in the last five years including Income Tax Returns and details on any off-shore account.
The candidates will be accountable to their people for accumulation of wealth, if any in the last five
years.
• This notification can be said to add one more step in the electoral reforms.
• Candidates with criminal antecedents are required to publish information in this regard in
Candidates
newspapers and through Television channels on three occasions during the campaign period.
with Criminal
Background • A political party that sets up candidates with criminal antecedents is also required to publish
information about criminal background of its candidates, both in its website and also in newspapers
and Television channel on three occasions.
Photo Voter Slip shall be used for guidance but not as identity proof in polling station. Electors will be
required to carry EPIC or any of the eleven Identity Documents as notified by the Commission.
 Identification Proof Allowed for voting
Passport Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry
of Labour
Identification
Cards for Driving License Pension document with photograph
voters
Passbook with photograph Official Identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs
issued by Bank/ Post Office
PAN Card Aadhar Card
Smart Card issued under the MNREGA Job Card

scheme of Ministry of Labour
The Commission has decided to use Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) along with Electronic
Use of VVPAT Voting Machine (EVM) at every polling station of all the States and Union Territories to enhance the
transparency and credibility of the election process as VVPAT allows the voter to verify his/her vote.
• All Political Parties sponsoring candidates for the Lok Sabha/Legislative Assembly elections are
required to maintain day-to-day accounts of all election campaign expenses and submit the final
Accounts of
accounts to the Commission/CEO within 90 days/75 days of the completion of Lok
Election
Sabha/Legislative Assembly elections. Such accounts will be uploaded on the website of the
Expense
Commission for public viewing.
• The political parties have to file a part statement in addition to the final statement of election


Governance
expenditure in respect of lump-sum payments made by the party to the candidate within 30 days
after declaration of results of election to Lok Sabha/Legislative Assemblies in prescribed format.
USE OF ICT & MOBILE APPLICATION FOR ELECTION
FOR CITIZENS, CANDIDATE AND POLITICAL FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS

PARTIES
• CVIGIL – an app to report electoral • Observer App: Observer mobile app aids Observers in the real-time to
malpractices. get all information about the Parliamentary / Assembly Constituency
• Voter Helpline Mobile app provides and send observation reports to ECI instantly and securely. All cVIGIL
convenience to all Citizens of finding cases reported in their jurisdiction are available to General Observers,
names in the electoral roll, submitting Expenditure and Police Observers and they can supervise and give their
online forms, checking the status of the inputs too from the place of citing of cVIGIL incidence.
application, filing complaints and • Suvidha: The application provides a robust single interface for
receiving the reply on their mobile app. candidates and political parties to apply and get permission for all
• PwD App: Eligible citizens/ citizens in the campaign related activities in time bound manner and for ROs, DEOs,
category of Persons with Disabilities and CEOs for effective management and monitoring of Candidate
(PwDs) can request for new registration, Nomination, Candidate Affidavit filing, candidate/ political parties’
change in address, change in particulars permissions management, Counting, and results display.
and mark themselves as PwD through the • Sugam: The Election Commission of India has been using this
use of the mobile application. application for Vehicle Management with the facility of Issuance of
• Suvidha Candidate App is available for requisition letters for vehicles, capturing of vehicle details with address,
tracking the status of nomination, status mobile number and bank details of Owner & Driver, Transfer of
of their permission requests. vehicles from one district to another district etc.
• Samadhan: Election Commission of India • EVM Management System (EMS): To ensure a fair and transparent
has designed a single integrated web process in EVM management, it is the administrative protocol of
portal for registering and resolving citizen randomization of the machines before they are deployed in the Polling
Information, Suggestion, Feedback and stations.
Complaints (IFSC). • Election Monitoring Dashboard: The online system for reporting the
• Voter Helpline Contact Centre: Now a poll turnout at polling booth.
citizen can call universal toll-free helpline • One-way Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot for Service
number of Election Commission of India Voters: All registered Service Voters will be delivered e-postal ballot of
i.e. 1950 to connect directly to District their respective constituency through electronically transmitted postal
Contact Centre. ballot (ETPBS), which will be printed and after casting the vote will be
sent back to Returning Officer by post.
GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL MEDIA
• Candidates are required to furnish details of his/her social media account (if any) at the time of filing of nominations.
• All political advertisement on Social Media will also require precertification from Media Certification & Monitoring
Committees (MCMC).
• Candidates and political parties shall include all expenditure on campaigning, including expenditure on advertisement
on social media in their election expenditure account. This among other things shall include payments made to


Governance
internet companies and websites for carrying advertisements and also campaign related operational expenditure on
making creative development of content, salaries and wages paid to the team of workers employed to maintain their
social media account.
• All the provisions of Model Code of Conduct shall also apply to the content being posted on social media by candidates
and political parties.
• All the election management related news would be monitored vigorously on all the major national and regional news
channels during elections.
NO ASSEMBLY ELECTION FOR KASHMIR
• After imposition of President’s Rule in the state under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution from 20th
December, 2019, there have been demand to conduct assembly elections along with General Election 2019 by
various political parties.
• The proclamation under Article 356 once approved shall be in force for a period of 6 months. The life of
proclamation can be extended for further 6 months if both Houses approves its continuance by passing it.
Maximum time for which such a proclamation remains in force is for 3 years. As per Constitution 44th
Amendment, the following conditions must be fulfilled for the proclamation to be carried beyond 1 year
 Proclamation for emergency under Article 352 must be in operation in the whole of India, or the concerned State
or in part of the State.
 Election Commission certifies that continuation in force of proclamation under Article 356 is necessary on
account of holding elections to the concerned Legislative Assembly.
• For conducting fresh election in J&K, EC has been continuously assessing the prevailing situation in the state
including requirement of central forces, logistics required for elections, security of voters and candidates and
preparedness of the state to conduct polls. EC had conducted several rounds of review meetings with Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA) and State Administration of Jammu and Kashmir. Finally, EC decided not to hold
simultaneous elections in Jammu & Kashmir
The Election Commission in a submission to the Supreme Court has

CONCERN OF E.C. expressed reservation on the transparency of electoral bonds. Let us
ON ELECTORAL go through the submissions of Election Commission and also the
legislative changes which were made in order to implement the
BONDS #Election electoral bond scheme.
ELECTORAL BONDS
• The concept of electoral bond was introduced in the Budget of 2017-18 for a check on political funding. The Ministry of
Finance recently notified the Scheme of Electoral Bonds.
• Electoral Bonds are bearer instrument in the nature of a Promissory Note and are an interest free banking
instrument.
• Electoral Bond shall be issued for any value, in multiples of - Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000 , Rs.1,00,000 , Rs.10,00,000 and
Rs.1,00,00,000 from the Specified Branches of the State Bank of India (SBI).


Governance
• The purchaser would be allowed to buy Electoral Bonds only on due fulfillment of all the extant KYC norms and by
making payment from a bank account.
• Electoral Bonds would have a life of only 15 days during which it can be used for making donation only to political
parties:
 Which are registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951; and
 Which has secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the
People or to Legislative Assembly?
• It will not carry the name of payee. Likewise, no detail of political party depositing the bonds is noted on the electoral
bonds. Thus, any particular bond cannot be identified or associated with any particular buyer or political party
deposits it.
• Every political party in its returns will have to disclose the amount of donations it has received through electoral bonds
to the Election Commission.
• The Electoral Bonds have some built in security features to eliminate chances of forgery or presentation of fake bonds.
These include a random serial number invisible to the naked eye.
• For the introduction of electoral bonds amendments in the following Acts were made-
 Income tax Act, 1961
 Representation of People Act, 1951
Changes
 Companies Act, 2013
made to
 Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
introduce
bonds  Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010
• The Finance Act of 2017 amends various laws, including the Representation of the People (RP) Act of
1951, the Income Tax Act and the Companies Act.
• The Finance Act of 2016 made changes in the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act of 2010.
• As per Section 29C of Representation of People Act, 1951 – Every political party had to declare
donations in excess of Rs. 20,000 received from any person or companies.
• As per Section 13-A of Income Tax Act, 1961 political parties were supposed to maintain records of
contributions made in excess of Rs. 20,000 along with the names and address of all donors.
• However, an amendment made in the Finance Act, 2017 has kept electoral bonds out of the
Impact of purview of both these provisions.
Amendments
• Thus, the donor is not required to disclose the name of political party while purchasing electoral
made in
bonds and political parties are not required to maintain records of the donors. This affects the cause
Finance Act
of transparency in the funding of elections.
of 2016 &
• As per Section 182 of Companies Act, 2013, a company must be at least three years old to contribute
2017
to a party and its contribution could not have been more than 7.5% of its Average Net Profit in the
three preceding years.
• However, through amendment in Companies Act, 2013, the government has removed -
 Cap of 7.5% on political donations by companies;
 Need to disclose name of political party to which the company has contributed;


Governance
 Now any company can donate any amount of cash through electoral bonds and the identity of such
company shall not be disclosed.
• Thus, shell companies can be formed just for political funding and can be a source of corruption.
• Changes made in FCRA allows donations to be received from foreign companies having majority stake
in Indian companies, provided that they follow the FEMA guidelines pertaining to foreign investment
in the sector in which they operate. This is a change from the existing law barring donations from all
foreign sources as defined under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.
SUBMISSION MADE BY EC AGAINST ELECTORAL BOND
On the basis of above, the Election Commission of India (ECI) made the following submissions in the Supreme Court on
Electoral Bonds:
• Electoral bonds contrary to government claims affects transparency as donations received through electoral bonds
causes a “serious impact” on transparency in funding of political parties.
• By removing the cap on foreign funding through purchase of electoral bonds, they invite foreign corporate powers
to impact Indian politics.
• ECI also raised concerns on two consecutive amendments made in Finance Acts of 2016 and 2017.
• As per ECI, these amendments would pump in black money for political funding through shell companies and will also
allow unchecked foreign funding of political parties in India which could lead to Indian politics being influenced by
foreign companies.
• ECI in its submission also mentioned that it had warned the Ministry of Law and Justice about these amendments way
back in May 2017.
With respect to General Election 2019, it is important to
TYPES OF understand the electoral system in India which is the basis of

elections for both the Union and States.
ELECTORAL SYSTEM India follows First Past the Post (FPTP) System in Lok Sabha and
#Election Proportional Representation (PR) is used during Rajya Sabha and
President/Vice-President polls.
FIRST PAST THE POST (FPTP) SYSTEM PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION (PR)
The country is divided into small geographical units Large geographical areas are demarcated as constituencies. The
called constituencies or districts entire country can also be a constituency.
Every constituency elects on representative More than one representative may be elected from one
constituency.
Voters vote for candidates Voters vote for parties
A party may get more seats than votes in the Every party gets seats in the legislature in proportion to the
legislature percentage of votes that it gets


Governance
Candidates winning may not get majority of the Candidates who wins the election gets majority of the vote
votes i.e. [(50% + 1) of votes]
Examples; India, U.K. Example: Israel, Netherlands
MERITS OF FPTP MERITS OF PR
In FPTP, the whole country is divided into different geographical areas, i.e. In simple terms , it is the system where a party
constituencies, also called as territorial representation. is awarded the same percentage of seats in
 Merits parliament as it gets votes at the polls and is
comparatively complicated than FPTP.
• Easy for the voters to understand the system due to low literacy scale
in the country. For e.g.: In case of 40% of the total votes, a
perfectly proportional system would allow it to
• In parliamentary democracy, there is tendency of the system to
get 40% of the seats.
multiply political parties. FPTP, therefore is conducive to such system.
 Merits
• Incurs low cost as compared to other systems such as Proportional
Presentation • All sections of people do get representation
in proportion to their number.
• It provides close contacts between voters and their representatives.
• Fear of majoritarianism is eliminated.
• Decreases the significance of party system and increases that of voter.
• Conducive for New or Regional Parties.
• It gives scope for by-elections.
Delimitation is commonly used in the context of drawing boundaries for

Assembly and Lok Sabha Constituencies based on the recent census. Under
Article 82 of the Constitution, Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after
every Census. After the Act comes into force, the Centre constitutes a
Delimitation Commission, which demarcates the boundaries of the
DELIMITATION parliamentary seats.
#Election #Act The present delimitation is based on the 1971 Census. The Constitution was
specifically amended in 1976, not to have delimitation till the first census
after 2000. Thus, the constituencies carved out on the basis of the 1971
Census are still continuing. According to a 2002 Constitution Amendment,
there will be no further delimitation of constituencies till the first census
after 2026.
It says THAT “Upon the completion of each census, the allocation of seats in the House of the people to
Article 82 the States and the division of each State into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted by such
authority and in such manner as Parliament may by law determine”.
Delimitation • In India, the job of delimitation has been assigned to a high power body known as Delimitation
Commission Commission or Boundary Commission.


Governance
• For this, Delimitation Commission have been constituted four times since independence:
 In 1952 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1952
• Orders of Delimitation Commission cannot be called in question before any Court of law. The copies
of its orders are laid before the House of People and the State Legislative Assembly concerned, but no
modifications are permissible therein by them.
• Justice Kuldeep Singh was the Chairperson of Delimitation Commission, 2002. The delimitation has
been done on the basis of 2001 Census.
• Section 8 of Delimitation Act, 2002 provides for readjustment of number of seats.
• Section 9 of Delimitation Act 2002 provides for distribution of seats.
Important
Facts on • Sec 9 - Commission shall distribute the seats in the House of the People allocated to each State and the
Delimitation seats assigned to the Legislative Assembly of each State as readjusted on the basis of 1971 census to
single-member territorial constituencies and delimit them on the basis of the census figures as
ascertained, at the census held in the year 2001.
• Section 9(c) and 9(d) provides for delimitation of constituencies in which seats are reserved for
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively.
After Supreme Court’s judgment in PUCL v. Union of India in 2013, Election

SC ON NOTA Commission of India has allowed NOTA as an option in its election process.
However, NOTA does not provide for right to reject. Thus, the candidate with
#Election maximum number of votes wins the election.
REASONS FOR NOTA
• The option of NOTA on the EVM gives the voters the option not to vote for any of the candidates in the election. Hence,
it can be said to be a negative vote.
• Significant votes for NOTA signify voter’s preference not to elect any of the candidates fielded by various political
parties.
• It was with this perspective; the concept of NOTA was allowed in Indian elections from September 2013 by the
Supreme Court.
• As per the Court, it would give people the option to reject which would make political parties filed better candidates.
PROBLEMS WITH NOTA
• Scope of NOTA remains limited under the present law as NOTA does not amount to Right to Reject.
 CANDIDATES  NUMBER OF VOTES
A 8
B 13
C 16


Governance
D 10
E 6
NOTA 29
• The above examples show number of votes garnered in a constituency. Despite NOTA getting the maximum votes, C
will be declared as the winner.
• As per the present law, irrespective of the option of NOTA, some candidate is declared winner in their respective
constituency on the basis of First-Past-the-Post system.
• Thus, as of now, the effect of NOTA in reality does not seem to be having any electoral effect in the present
circumstances and it has become only a “Protest Vote” without having any electoral significance.
GIVING NOTA A CHANCE
• Votes casted for NOTA need to be recognised despite its electoral non-significance. But to do so, NOTA has to be
declared as a “person” under the eyes of law.
• This will atleast give NOTA some credence and voters a sense of pride for their votes casted. Some of these utopian
ideas have been implemented by State Election Commission of Haryana.
• State Election Commission of Haryana in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive in PUCL v Union of India, has
issued an order regarding application of NOTA option in the local body elections. As per the notification, NOTA shall be
treated as a ‘Fictional Electoral Candidate’ while declaring the election results in local body elections.
INDELIBLE INK Indelible Ink has been in news with respect to the upcoming Lok Sabha
Elections.
#Election
• Indelible Ink (also called voting ink) refers to the violet-coloured ink in India that is applied on a voter’s forefinger
after they exercises their vote.
• Voting Ink has also emerged as unique feature of Indian elections. In India it has been a great challenge for the
government and the ECI to hold and complete the process of general elections. In achieving this and to eliminate the
fake voting, the election commission has introduced a measure, i.e. using Indelible Ink which is put on the left hand
finger nail of the voter.
• Indelible ink used in elections is a solution of Silver Nitrate which stains the skin on exposure to ultraviolet. Silver
nitrate reacts with the salt present on our skin to form silver chloride which is not soluble in water and hence cannot
be easily washed or removed. It stays for a few months.
• In India, Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL) specializes in manufacture and supply of quality Indelible Ink.
This is done in association with the Election Commission of India, National Physical Laboratory and National Research
Development Corporation.
• MPVL is the sole authorized supplier of this type of foolproof Indelible Ink in India having exclusive license granted by
National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), New Delhi since 1962.
• Mysore Paints was founded in 1937 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. The company is the sole supplier of indelible
ink for civic body, Assembly and Parliamentary polls.


Governance
• Apart from supplying Indelible Ink to Indian elections, Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd has been exporting the ink to
different countries across the world since 1976.
In an order given by Election Commission in May 2018, it had held that

political parties are out of the preview of RTI Act, 2005. However,
RTI: POLITICAL Election Commission the very next day clarified that national political
parties are public authorities under RTI Act, 2005 as declared by Central
PARTIES YET TO Information Commission. Thus, the EC clarified that it goes by the CIC
order of June, 2013 which declared national parties as public authorities
COMPLY for the purpose of RTI Act. In pursuance of this, CIC had stated that all
#Election #Law information about contributions received by these parties as well as
their annual audited accounts as and when submitted to the
Commission shall be put in public domain.
• The issue goes back to October 2010, when Association for Democratic Reforms filed an RTI request
seeking information on donations and contributions received by political parties.
Political • Of the six parties then recognised by the Election Commission as national parties, only the CPI accepted
Backdrop that it was a public authority under the Act. CPI later changed its stance.
• The Congress, Nationalist Congress Party and the CPI (M) denied they had any obligations under the
Act. The BJP and the BSP did not even respond to the request.
• Despite CIC Judgment on political parties being within the spectrum of RTI, most political parties have
yet not complied with CIC ruling.
• Thus, a petition has been filed jointly by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and RTI activist
Petition
Subhash Chandra Agrawal in Supreme Court on non-compliance of rulings of CIC by political parties.
filed in SC
• The petitioners believe that national political parties are the main players in the electoral process and in
a democratic system of governance, it is essential that they are held accountable by informed citizens.
• The matter is currently sub-judice. So let us wait for the final hearing of honourable SC in this matter.
With respect to revelations on Rafael by The Hindu, the Official Secrets

Act, 1923 was in news where it was alleged by the government that
OFFICIAL SECRETS documents on the deal was stolen from the Ministry of Defence and
published. According to the government, it constitutes criminal
ACT, 1923 offence.
#Governance #Act #Ethics In this analysis, let us understand how Official Secrets Act, 1923
became a subject of arguments on Rafale Deal and also its
contradiction with Right to Information Act, 2005.


Governance
FREEDOM OF PRESS
• Freedom of Press in India is protected under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Indian Constitution under freedom of speech and
expression.
• Freedom of press is also supported by Right to Information Act, 2005 as it allows the press and media houses to
seek relevant information from government sources.
• UNESCO promotes freedom of expression and freedom of the press as a basic human right. Even the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations way back in
1966, specifically includes the right to freedom of expression, defined as “the freedom to seek, receive and impart the
information and ideas of all kinds”.
• However, there are certain information which cannot be revealed by the government if they are classified as “secret
information” and disclosure of such may hamper national security.
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, 1923
• The Official Secrets Act, 1923 has its roots in the British colonial era. Its predecessor law, The
Indian Official Secrets Act, 1904 was enacted during the time of Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India from
1899 to 1905.
• The Indian Official Secrets Act, 1904 was an amended and more stringent version of The Indian
Enactment Official Secrets Act (Act XIV) of 1889, which was brought in at a time when a large number of
of OSA by powerful newspapers had emerged in several languages across India who were publishing news
British against rising British imperialism.
• One of the main purposes of this Act was to muzzle the voice of nationalist publications.
• In April 1923, a newer version of the Official Secrets Act was notified. The Indian Official Secrets Act
(Act No XIX of 1923) replaced the earlier Act, and was extended to all matters of secrecy and
confidentiality in governance in the country.
• The OSA, 1923 broadly deals with two aspects —

 Penalty for Spying or espionage, which is dealt with in Section 3 of the Act.
 Disclosure of other secret information of the government, which is dealt with in Section 5.
• Under Section 5, both the person communicating the secret information, and the person receiving
Important
the information, can be punished by the prosecuting agency.
Provisions
of OSA • OSA targets officials and civilians who have documents/code/materials etc. which can be classified as
“secret information.”
• Secret Information - The secret information can be any official code, password, sketch, plan, model,
article, note, document or information. Since the classification of secret information is so broad, it is
argued that the colonial law is in direct conflict with the Right to Information Act.
SHOULD OSA BE REPEALED?
Remarks by Commission Reports
Second • When Janata Government came to power after emergency period, it constituted Second Press
Press Commission chaired by Justice Goswami of the Supreme Court of India.


Governance
Commission • The Commission its report in December, 1979 suggested the government to immediately repeal
the Official Secrets Act, 1923. But the report was never published.
• Later, Justice Goswami Commission was replaced by officially known Second Press Commission
presided over by Justice K.K. Mathew.
• The Official Second Press Commission chaired by Justice K.K. Mathew did not recommend the
repeal of the Official Secrets Act of 1923.
• The Second Administrative Reform Commission of June 2006, had recommended that the Official
Secrets Act (OSA), 1923 should be repealed, and substituted by a chapter in the National Security
Act, containing provisions relating to official secrets.
• The report of Second ARC is based on Law Commission’s Report of 1971 where it suggested
passing an Umbrella Act to bring together all Acts/Laws relating to national security under one
Second ARC
head.
& Law
• In 1980, the National Security Act (NSA) was enacted only to provide for preventive powers to deal
Commission
with likely threats to maintenance of public order and security of the country etc., besides
maintenance of essential services.
• In such a situation, the Government decided not to repeal the OSA as the other enactments
relating to national security such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Criminal Law
Amendment Act.
CURRENT OBSERVATIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT (RTI V OSA)
• The Bench reserved its orders on two preliminary issues (as the case is sub-judice)
1. The admissibility of “stolen” documents as evidence and
2. The claim of “privileged information” raised by the government.
• SC pointed out three provisions of RTI Act, 2005 which clearly overrides the OSA in certain situations:
 Section 22 of the RTI Act, declares that the RTI will have an “overriding effect” over OSA, 1923.
 Section 24 mandates even security and intelligence organisations to disclose information on corruption and human
rights violations.
 Section 8(2) compels the government to disclose information “if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to
protected interests.” Section 8(2) of RTI Act mentions - Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923 (19 of
1923) nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with sub-section (1), a public authority may allow access to
information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.
JAMMU & KASHMIR: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved
the proposal of Jammu &Kashmir Government to issue "The
ORDINANCE & AN Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019”
ORDER by the President of India. The Cabinet also approved the
Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Amendment
#Constitution #Federalism Order, 2019. Let us understand both these laws on Jammu and
#Ordinance Kashmir and its impact on the people of the state.


Governance
THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR RESERVATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE, 2019
• The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 provides for reservation in appointment, and
admission in Professional Institutions, for the members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and
What is the
other socially and educationally backward classes.
Ordinance
• The ordinance provides for amendments to be made in the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act,
about?
2004 to bring persons residing in the areas adjoining International Border within the ambit of
reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining Actual Line of Control (ALoC).
• The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004 and Rules provide for vertical reservation and
horizontal reservation.
• Vertical Reservation has been provided in direct recruitment, promotions and admission in
different professional courses to various categories viz. Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Socially
and Educationally Backward Classes (Residents of Backward Area (RBA), Residents of Areas adjoining
Actual Line of Control (ALoC) and Weak and Under Privileged Classes (Social Castes).
• Whereas horizontal reservation has been provided to the Ex-Serviceman and Physically Challenged
Persons.
Need for the
• However, the reservation benefits were not extended to the persons residing in the areas
Ordinance
adjoining International Border.
• Due to continuous cross border tensions, persons living alongside International Border suffer from
socio-economic and educational backwardness. Shelling from across the border often compels these
residents to move to safer places and is adversely impacting their education as Educational
Institutions remain closed for long periods.
• Hence, the government felt justifiable to extend the reservation benefits to persons residing in the
areas adjoining International Border on the similar lines of the persons living in areas adjoining
Actual Line of Control (ALoC).
• People living near the International Border have been brought at par with those living near the Line
of Control for reservation in State Government jobs.
Impact of
• Earlier, the provision of 3% reservation was available only for youth living within 6 kms. of LoC in J&K.
the
Now, this provision will be applicable for people living near the international border as well.
Ordinance
• Benefit of promotion to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which include Gujjars and Bakarwals
amongst others, has also been made applicable to the State of J&K.
 LOC V LAC
• Shimla Agreement was signed between Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi and President of Pakistan Zulfikar
Ali Bhutto in June 1972 in the backdrop of India-Pakistan war which also resulted in creation of Bangladesh.

Consttituti0n, P olity and

Governannce
• As per the agreement,
a In
ndia and Pakkistan agreed
d to convert Ceasefire
C Lin
ne establish
hed by Unite
ed Nation in
n 1948 in
Jammu and Kashmir into Line of Co
ontrol (LoC)
and agreed not to violatte it and esta
ablish peace
in the region. Both side
es also agree
ed to refrain
from the thrreat or the usse of force in
n violation off
this Line of Control.
C
• LAC standss for Line of
o Actual C
Control that
separates Indian Terrritory from
m Chinese
territory. Th
here is no commonly deliineated Line
of Actual Co
ontrol (LAC) between
b Indi a and China
as there are g the border where India
e areas along
and China have differing
g perceptionss of the LAC.
• Since there are no clea
ar demarcattions of the
border, both sides undertake
pto their respective perc eptions of th
patrolling up he LAC, but at times transgressions do occur wiithout knowledge or
intent.
• aintenance of
For the ma o peace an
nd tranquilitty along LAC
C, both Indiia and Chin
na signed th
he Border D
Defence
Cooperation Agreemen
nt on 23rd O
October, 2013. The Agree
ement streng
gthens maintenance of sttability on the
e border
and adds to existing instruments to e
ensure peace
e and stability
y on our bord
ders.
C
CONSTITUTI
ION (APPLIC
CATION TO JJAMMU AND KASHMIR
R) AMENDME
ENT ORDER
R, 2019
• The Union Cabinet, cha

aired by the
e Prime Minister has ap
pproved the proposal off Jammu &K
Kashmir Gove
ernment
regarding am
mendment to
t the Constiitution (Application to Jam
mmu & Kash
hmir) Order, 1954 by wayy of the Con
nstitution
(Application to Jammu & Kashmir) Am
mendment Order, 2019.
• Constitution
n (Application
n to Jammu and Kashmir) Amendme
ent Order, 20
019 has been
n issued by the Presiden
nt under
clause (1) off Article370.
• It will provid
de benefit of
o promotio
on in service
e to the Scheduled Caste
es, the Sched
dule Tribes aand also exttend the
reservation of up to 10%
% for "econ
nomically we
eaker section
ns" in educattional institutions and pu
ublic employyment in
addition to the
t existing reservation iin Jammu an
nd Kashmir. This would pave
p the way
y for reservin
ng State Gove
ernment
jobs to the youth
y of J&K who
w are from
m economica
ally weaker se
ections belon
nging to any religion
r or caaste.
AAADHAA AR The government has

h mandate ed the use of
o Aadhaar n number in o order to
transfeer any subbsidies, bennefits or services
s whhich are p part of
PA
AYMENT T BRIDG GE governnment subsidy directly to the account and fo for such insstances,
governnment has made
m seedin
ng of accounnt mandatoory. In this ccontext,
SYSTEM
M (APBS S) let us u
understand about Aadh haar Payme ent Bridge Sy
System and v various
#Governan
# ce issues associated with
w it.
• Aadhaar Payment
P Bri dge System (APBS) is im
mplemented by National Payments C
Corporation of India
Abo
out
PB System is used by the
(NPCI). AP e Governmen
nt Departmen ncies for the transfer of benefits
nts and Agen
APB
BS
and subsid
dies under D
Direct Benefitt Transfer (DB
BT) scheme la
aunched by Government
G of India.


Governance
• It uses Aadhaar number as a central key for electronically channelizing the Government benefits and
subsidies in the Aadhaar Enabled Bank Accounts (AEBA) of the intended beneficiaries.
• As per APBS, a person’s Aadhaar number becomes their financial address. So providing a single
document having all those details i.e. Aadhaar suffices.
• The APB System sub-serves the goal of financial inclusion and provides an opportunity to the
Government to attempt financial re-engineering of its subsidy management program.
• The implementation of APB System has also lead to electronification of a large number of retail
payment transactions which were predominantly either in cash or cheque.
• Induction of a bank account into APBS involves two distinct steps, both of which are meant to be based
on informed consent.
 First, the account must be “seeded” (linked) with the customer’s Aadhaar number.
 Second, it must be connected to the NPCI Mapper — a step known as “mapping”. In cases of multiple
accounts for the same person, the APBS automatically sends money to the latest-mapped account.
• NPCI mapper is a repository of Aadhaar numbers maintained by the APBS and used for the purpose of
routing the APBS transactions to the destination banks.
NPCI
• The NPCI Mapper contains Aadhaar number along with Issuer Identification Number (IIN) of the Bank
Mapper
to which the customer has seeded his/her Aadhaar number. Banks need to upload Aadhaar number in
NPCI Mapper in a specified file format through NACH portal.
• In case, a customer seeds his/her Aadhaar number in multiple bank accounts, the previous mapping if
Seeding any in the NPCI mapper, gets overwritten by the fresh seeding of the Aadhaar number.
with • The customer Aadhaar number will get mapped in NPCI mapper to the bank in which he/she has given
multiple the Aadhaar number at the last.
accounts • NPCI mapper uses the latest Issuer Identification Number of the bank in which the customer has seeded
his/her Aadhaar number to transfer benefits and subsidies in his/her bank account.
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH SEEDING & MAPPING OF AADHAAR DETAILS
• Under intense pressure from central government, millions of bank accounts were opened and linked
with Aadhaar in a haphazard manner especially under the Jan Dhan Yojana (JDY).
• In the garb of JDY, many multiple accounts were opened to fulfill the target. Further, Aadhaar numbers
Multiplicity were seeded into these accounts without proper verification and were still unused or remained
of accounts superfluous.
• This haphazard linking of accounts with Aadhaar continued after 2014 as the government wanted to
bring all direct benefit transfer (DBT) payments like pensions, scholarships, subsidies, MGNREGA wages
etc. under the Aadhaar payments umbrella.
• Government departments started sending bulk lists of bank accounts and Aadhaar numbers to the
Lack of banks for accelerated Aadhaar seeding. Meeting the seeding targets was the top priority and due
proper verification, once again was overlooked.
verification • Thus, under intense pressure from the government to link bank accounts with Aadhaar, proper
verification was not done. This problem was rectified by making e-KYC norms compulsory.


Governance
• APBS was forced on millions without consent. As per NCPI and UIDAI guidelines, mapping should be
based on an explicit request from the customer as it gives a measure of protection to educated middle-
Lack of class customers.
consent • It ensures, for instance, that they know which account their money is being directed to by the APBS. In
many places, bank accounts were mass-mapped onto the APBS without any consent from customers
and even without e-KYC norms being completed.
• Under e-KYC, account holders were required to go through biometric authentication to verify their
Aadhaar number and identity information.
• To enforce e-KYC, many banks used the “ultimatum method”, under which a deadline was set and
Problems
people’s accounts were blocked when they missed the deadline.
with e-KYC
• This led to further confusion especially among old people as they were not very sure what exactly was
required to be done. This also impacted their pensions because some of these accounts were frozen
due to non-compliance of e-KYC norms.
• A survey conducted revealed that Managers at Banks hardly make any distinction between seeding and
mapping as according to most of the senior officials, these two concepts are combined.
• The result of this premature and coercive imposition of the APBS is that diverted payments have
Confusion
become a serious problem. Because of this, people getting subsidy benefits have been impacted
between
including MGNREGA workers and this has resulted in delay in payments.
Seeding &
Mapping • A recent study of the Indian School of Business (ISB), based on an analysis of more than 10 million
payments in 2014-18, concludes that 38% of all the APBS payments of MGNREGA wages in Jharkhand
“redirect wages to a completely unrelated account”. This is one of a major concern as this multiplicity of
bank accounts has resulted in fictitious payments which does not reach the intended beneficiaries.
• Diverted payments are not the only problem associated with the APBS. There are other problems as
well such as rejected payments. When people have problems of diverted or rejected payments, they
have no recourse. In such cases, government must provide for a legal recourse at the ground level so
that people get their due payments in time.
What needs • There is a need for creating more awareness about the working of Aadhaar Payment Bridge System.
to be done The government must conduct financial awareness programmes in every gram Sabha about APBS to
make people aware about the benefits of seeding of Aadhaar number with people’s bank accounts.
• There is lack of clarity on guidelines for resolving payment problems. Thus, the government must come
up with a set of guidelines to resolve payments issues.
• The regulatory mechanism needs to be fixed as apart from RBI, NPCI and UIDAI also have strong hold.
NEWS Snippets
IN NEWS: Prime Minister has constituted PM - Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory
PM-STIAC Council (PM-STIAC) to advise it on policy matters related to science, technology and innovation.


Governance
 PM-STIAC
• It is a 21-member committee headed by Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government K.
Vijaya. Raghavan. Besides the Chairperson, the committee has 8 members and 12 special
invitees.
• It will facilitate the formulation and implementation of policies and decisions, provide
action-oriented and future preparedness advise and assist in directing S&T to solve the
socio economic problems in the country.
• It will also have a large focus on driving innovation in education, research, industry etc.
PM-STIAC has launched a Natural Language Translation project that endeavours to
translate science into regional languages to “make science more accessible to everyone”.
• The endeavour is the translation of scientific literature, textbooks, research articles in all
regional languages so it is accessible to everyone.
• The fact that close to 95% of students do not attend premier institutes and go to colleges of
state universities. Thus, it’s important that funding reaches these smaller universities on an
equitable scale.
IN NEWS: Two protesters were killed in firing by security forces and three others injured in
Itanagar as protests over granting permanent resident certificates (PRCs) to six
communities in Arunachal Pradesh. There is resentment among several community-based
groups and organisations in Arunachal Pradesh, who feel the rights and interests of indigenous
people will be compromised if the proposal is implemented.
• Permanent resident certificate is a legal document issued to Indian citizens that serves as
evidence of residence and is required to be submitted as residential proof for official
purpose.
• The state government of Arunachal Pradesh is considering issuing the certificate to the six
PRC non-APSTs communities living in Namsai and Changlang districts and to the Gorkhas living
in Vijaynagar. Amongst those communities are Deoris, Sonowal Kacharis, Morans, Adivasis
and Mishings.
• Most of these communities are recognised as Scheduled Tribes in neighbouring Assam. A
Joint High Power Committee (JHPC), after holding discussions with the stakeholders,
recommended granting PRC to the six communities, who are not natives of Arunachal
Pradesh but have been living in Namsai and Changlang districts for decades.
• There is resentment among several community-based groups and organisations in
Arunachal Pradesh, who feel the rights and interests of indigenous people will be
compromised if the proposal is implemented.
IN NEWS: The Telecom Commission was set up by the Government of India through
the Resolution dated 11th April, 1989 with administrative and financial powers of the
DCC
Government of India to deal with various aspects of Telecommunications. The Government,
vide Resolution dated 22nd October, 2018, has re-designated the 'Telecom Commission' as


Governance
the 'Digital Communications Commission'.
 COMPOSITION OF DCC
The Digital Communications Commission consists of
• A Chairman, the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of
Telecommunications is the ex-officio Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission.
• Four full time members, who are ex-officio Secretaries to the Government of India in the
Department of Telecommunications and these are Member (Finance), Member
(Production), Member (Services) and Member (Technology).
• Four-part time members who are the Secretaries to the Government of India in the
concerned Departments and these are Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, Secretary
(Department of Economic Affairs), Secretary (Ministry of Electronics & Information
Technology), Secretary (Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion).
 RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Formulating the policy of Department of Telecommunications for approval of the
Government;
2. Preparing the budget for the Department of Telecommunications for each financial year
and getting it approved by the Government; &
3. Implementation of Government's policy in all matters concerning telecommunication.
IN NEWS: DGCA has recently ordered the grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 8 after crash of
Ethiopian Airlines flight killing all 157 on board.
 ABOUT DGCA
Directorate General of Civil Aviation is the regulatory body, under the Ministry of Civil Aviation,
governing the safety aspects of civil aviation in India. Its major functions include:
• Registration of civil aircraft.
• Formulation of standards of airworthiness for civil aircraft registered in India and grant of
DGCA
certificates of airworthiness to such aircraft
• Granting of Air Operator’s Certificates to Indian carriers and regulation of air transport
services
• Carrying out amendments to the Aircraft Act, the Aircraft Rules and the Civil Aviation
Requirements
• Taking all necessary action arising out of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme
(USOAP) of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
IN NEWS: UIDAI issued Aadhaar regulations whereby it has mandated private organizations
UIDAI NEW using Aadhaar services to pay for customer verification and authentication of unique ID.
REGULATION THINGS TO KNOW
UIDAI: It is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted


Governance
Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 by the Government
of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Aadhaar number is a 12-digit random number issued by the UIDAI to the residents of India
after satisfying the verification process laid down by the Authority.
 AMENDED REGULATIONS
• The gazette notification has mandated private organisations using Aadhaar services to pay
Rs 20 for each customer verification and 50 paise for authentication of the unique ID.
• Recently, the government had approved the promulgation of an Ordinance to make
amendments to the Aadhaar Act 2016, Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2005 & Indian
Telegraph Act 1885.
• The ordinance has allowed voluntary use of the Aadhaar number to authenticate both
offline and online.
• It has also mandated that the entities should perform authentication only after they are
compliant with privacy standards and security specified by the UIDAI.
IN NEWS: Continuing the process of Police Reforms, the Supreme Court has clarified on the
eligibility of the appointment of DGP by the States. Earlier, former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash
Singh has contended in the Supreme Court that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
was only considering police officers with a minimum two years’ residual tenure for
appointment as DGP which had led to many competent officers being overlooked.
Dispelling Confusion, a bench led by Chief Justice has clarified that senior police officers with a
residual tenure of six months before normal retirement could also be considered for the post
of DGP.
 PRAKASH SINGH CASE ON POLICE REFORMS
APPOINTMENT The apex court, deciding the PIL filed by two former DGPs Prakash Singh and N K Singh in 2006,
had given a slew of directions on Police Reforms, to ensure that the government does not
OF DGP exercise unwarranted influence on the police. Some of it includes:
• Two year fixed tenure for DGPs and SPs to protect against arbitrary transfers and postings.
• Separate the investigating police from the law and order police to ensure speedier
investigation
• Setting up of:
 National Security Commission: shortlist candidates for appointment as Chiefs of CAPF
 State Security Commission: policy for police functioning
 Police Complaints Authority: To inquire allegations of misconduct
 Police Establishment Boards: For posting, transfers and promotions

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
# GS Paper (Prelims) & GS Paper III (Main)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved delegation of

the important decisions related to Strategic disinvestment of the PSUs to the
ALTERNATIVE Alternative Mechanism.
MECHANISM This has been done in order to facilitate quick decision-making and obviate the
need for multiple instances of approval by CCEA for the PSUs.
# Disinvestment
In this regard, let us understand about the Strategic Disinvestment and
Alternative Mechanism for such disinvestment.
THINGS TO KNOW
• Disinvestment refers to the mechanism in which the Government loses a part of its ownership of the
PSUs through the sale of shares.
What is
• The Disinvestment as a policy was adopted by the Government post 1991 LPG Reforms.
Disinvestment?
• The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management under the Ministry of Finance acts
as the nodal agency for the Disinvestment in India.
• According to the Department, strategic sale of a company has two elements:

 Transfer of a block of shares to a Strategic Partner; and
 Transfer of management control to the Strategic Partner.
• The strategic sale takes place when more than 51% of shares go to the private sector strategic
partner. At the same time, it is not necessary that more than 51% of the total equity goes to
the Strategic Partner for the transfer of management to take place. In other words, strategic
What is sale can take place even if the private sector partner gets less than 51% shares.
Strategic • According to the strategic sale guidelines issued by DIPAM, after the transaction, the Strategic
Disinvestment? Partner may hold less percentage of shares than the Government but the control of management
would be with partner.
• For instance, if in a PSU the shareholding of Government is 51% and the balance is dispersed in
public holdings, then Government may go in for a 25% strategic sale and pass on management
control, though the Government would post-transfer have a larger share holding (26%) than the
Strategic Partner (25%).
• But the necessary condition is that the control of the firms should be with the strategic partner.
What is the NITI Aayog : Identifies CPSEs for Strategic Disinvestment
procedure for
Strategic
Disinvestment? NITI Aayog advises on the mode of sale and percentage of shares to be sold

Economic Development
Core Group of Secretaries on Disinvestment (CGD) headed by Cabinet Secretary considers the
recommendations of NITI Aayog
Decision by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on strategic disinvestment.
• In a bid to speed up the disinvestment process, the government created the Alternative Mechanism
Alternative (AM) in 2017 comprising Finance Minister, Road Transport Minister, and the representative minister
Mechanism from the relevant ministry.
• The recent Cabinet decision has further empowered this AM with regard to disinvestment matters.
The CCEA has approved delegation of the following to Alternative Mechanism in all the cases of
Strategic Disinvestment of CPSEs where CCEA has given 'in principle’ approval for strategic
disinvestment:
Recent
 The quantum of shares to be transacted, mode of sale and final pricing of the transaction or lay
Decision of the
down the principles/ guidelines for such pricing; and the selection of strategic partner/ buyer; terms
Cabinet
and conditions of sale; and
 To decide on the proposals of CGD with regard the timing, price, the terms & conditions of sale, and
any other related issue to the transaction.
Prelims: Concept of Strategic Disinvestment; Procedure of Strategic Disinvestment; Alternative Mechanism
India is endowed with large hydropower potential of 1,45,320 MW. However,

only about 45,400 MW has been utilized so far.
Further, only about 10,000 MW of hydropower has been added in the last 10
HYDROPOWER years.
GENERATION Hence, in order to give a push to the generation of hydro power in India, the
# Energy Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has announced major
decisions.
Let us understand the decision of the CCEA and the rationale behind such a
decision.
DETAILS
Based upon the installed capacity, the hydro power projects are categorized into following:
Classification  Micro: up to 100 KW

of Hydro  Mini: 101KW to 2 MW
Projects  Small: 2 MW to 25 MW
 Mega: Hydro projects with installed capacity >= 500 MW

• So far, only smaller hydro power projects of less than 25 MW in capacity were categorized as
renewable energy.
• The Government has now decided that Large Hydropower Projects shall be declared as
Recent
Renewable Energy source.
Decision of
• With the removal of this distinction, large hydro projects will be included as a separate category under
the CCEA
the non-solar renewable purchase obligation policy.
• Under this policy, power purchasers will have to source a portion of electricity from large hydro
projects.
• Under the Electricity Act, State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) set targets for Discoms,
Renewable
captive power plants and open access consumers to purchase a percentage of their total power
purchase
requirement from renewable energy sources such as Solar and Wind.
obligation
• There are two types of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)- Solar RPO and Non-Solar RPO
policy
which includes wind, biomass, hydro power.
• Although India is abundantly gifted with variety of renewable energy (RE) sources, not all States are
Renewable endowed with same level of renewable energy sources. Hence, because of this mismatch, DISCOMs in
energy the poor Renewable energy states may find it difficult to meet the RPO obligations.
Certificate • Hence, in order to enable such discoms to meet their RPO obligations, the Government has
(REC) introduced Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Mechanism.
Mechanism • Under this mechanism, the DISCOMs can purchase the RECs from the renewable energy generators in
order to meet their RPO obligations.
• The DISCOMS have been reluctant to sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the Hydro Power
Rationale generating units due to higher tariff, particularly, in the initial years.
behind the
• This has in turn hindered investment in the hydro power sector
Cabinet
Decision • Against this backdrop, the decision has been taken to adopt measures to promote hydropower
sector.
Prelims: Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO); Renewable energy Certificate (REC) Mechanism
FOREIGN The Indian Economy is presently facing the liquidity crunch which has in turn hurt
EXCHANGE the credit creation by the Banks and NBFCs. In order to ease the liquidity crunch,
the RBI has so far been using the Open Market Operations (OMOs).
BUY/SELL The RBI has now decided to use Foreign exchange buy/sell swap for the first time
SWAP in order to inject rupee liquidity in the economy. In this regard, let us understand
basic details related to Foreign Exchange buy/sell Mechanism.
# RBI
DETAILS
• It is a tool used by the RBI in order to control the total amount of money supply in the
About Open Market
economy. This basically involves buying/selling of G-Secs by the RBI in order to either inject
Operations (OMOs)
or suck out money from the economy.

• In order to inject money, the RBI purchases G-Secs from the Banks and in order to suck out
money, the RBI sells the G-Secs.
• The swap will be in the nature of a simple buy/sell foreign exchange swap from the RBI side.
Under the swap, RBI would buy US dollars from the banks and simultaneously agree to sell
the same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap period. This particular mechanism
shall involve mainly 2 steps:
What is Foreign
 The RBI would be buying dollars from the financial institutions such as banks in order to
Exchange Buy/Sell
inject rupees into the economy.
Swap?
 At a later date, the RBI would be selling the same amount of dollars to the financial
institutions in order to suck out the rupee which was earlier injected.
• Hence, this mechanism essentially works as a swap mechanism wherein the dollars with the
banks would be swapped with Indian rupees for a specified duration.
What is RBI’s plan

• The RBI has decided to conduct a USD/INR Buy/Sell swap of USD 5 billion for tenor of 3 years.
with respect to
• The dollars mobilized through the swap would get reflected in the RBI’s foreign exchange
Foreign Exchange
reserves for the tenor of the swap (i.e. 3 years).
buy/sell swap?
• Increase in the Forex reserves held by the RBI.

• Increase in the rupee liquidity in the Economy.
• Decrease in the rate of interest and consequently higher credit creation.
What would be the
• Increase in the fund availability with the cash starved NBFCs.
likely impact?
• The decrease in the dollar supply and consequent increase in rupee supply may lead to
Rupee Appreciation.
Prelims: Open Market Operations (OMOs); Foreign Exchange buy/sell swap
Some of the developed countries have been arguing for the discontinuation of
Special and differential provisions provided to the developing countries in the
SPECIAL AND WTO Agreements. In this regard, India along with other countries such as
DIFFERENTIAL China and Brazil has argued for its continuation stating that discontinuation
PROVISIONS of this provision would adversely affect the interests of Least Developed
countries (LDCs) as well as developing Countries.
#WTO
Accordingly, let us understand about Special and Differential Provisions under
WTO.
DETAILS
What is • The WTO agreements contain special provisions which give developing countries special rights and
Special and allow other members to treat them more favorably. These are “special and differential treatment
Differential provisions”. The special provisions include:
Provisions?  longer time periods for implementing agreements and commitments;

 measures to increase trading opportunities for these countries provisions requiring all WTO
members to safeguard the trade interests of developing countries;
 support to help developing countries build the infrastructure to undertake WTO work, handle
disputes, and implement technical standard;
 provisions related to least-developed country (LDC) members.
• In the Doha Declaration, ministers agreed that all special and differential treatment provisions
should be reviewed, in order to strengthen them and make them more precise, effective and
operational.
1. The Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) which came into being in 1995 provides that developing
Examples of
countries have the flexibility to implement reduction commitment in customs duty over a period of
Special and
up to ten years (1995-2005) as against six years (1995-2001) for developed countries. The least-
Differential
developed countries do not have to make any reduction commitments. Further, under AoA, the
Provisions
reduction commitment on the customs duty is lower for the developing countries in comparison to
under various
developed countries.
WTO
2. Similarly, the TRIPS Agreement provides least-developed countries with a longer time-frame to
Agreements
implement all the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement and encourages technology transfer.
• The WTO is of the belief that subsidies given by the member countries to promote fisheries sector is
leading to overfishing and is adversely affecting the marine ecosystem. Further, such subsidies are
also contributing to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• In this regard, WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies were launched in 2001 at the Doha
Ministerial Conference in order to prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to
overcapacity and overfishing.
Why is it in • Further, WTO has made a multilateral commitment to fulfil Sustainable Development Goal 14,
news now? which calls for the prohibition and elimination of fisheries subsidies that contribute to IUU fishing and
to overcapacity and overfishing.
• As part of WTO negotiations on fisheries subsidies, some developed countries have been insisting
that larger developing countries like India and China should not continue to get special and
differential treatment.
• However, India has argued that special and differential treatment should be built into the fisheries
subsidies agreement.
• It is expected that integration of special and differential treatment into the agreement on
How Special fisheries would benefit the developing countries mainly in two ways.
and
• Firstly, the reduction commitment for the subsidies would be lower for developing countries as
Differential
compared to developed economies. The lower reduction commitment on subsidies would enable the
treatment
developing countries to take into account the interests of fishermen.
would benefit
developing • Secondly, special and differential treatment would enable the developing countries to have longer
countries? implementation period for the reduction in subsidies as compared to developed countries. The
longer implementation period would ensure a smooth transition for the fisheries sector.
Prelims: Special and Differential Mechanism

Mains: The Special and Differential provisions have become a bone of contention in the WTO negotiations on subsidies in
Fisheries Sector. In this regard, analyse India’s stand with respect to Special and Differential provisions.
Rapid growth in Innovation and technology has led to increase in the number of
Fintech companies in India. This has brought about a fundamental change in the
nature of traditional financial services. It has led to improvement in access and
SANDBOX
quality of financial services.
POLICY In order to provide further thrust to the development of Fintech companies in
#Government India, the RBI is likely to come out with Sandbox policy based on the
policies recommendations of Working group on Fintech and Digital Banking.
In this regard, let us analyse various aspects of Fintech companies and need for
Sandbox Policy for their development.
DETAILS
• The term “FinTech” is a combination of the words “finance” and “technology”. It refers to the
technological start-ups that are emerging to challenge traditional banking and financial players and
What are
covers an array of services such as crowd funding platforms, mobile payment solutions, online
Fintech
portfolio management, money transfers etc.
Companies?
• Some of the major FinTech products and services are Peer to Peer (P2P) lending platforms, crowd
funding, E-Aggregators, block chain technology, distributed ledgers technology, Big Data etc.
• Crowd funding is a way of raising debt or equity from multiple investors via an internet-based
platform. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has released a paper and defined crowd
funding as “solicitation of funds (small amount) from multiple investors through a web-based
Examples of platform or social networking site for a specific project, business venture or social cause.”
Innovative
• Similarly, Peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders connect lenders and borrowers, using advanced technologies
Products of the
to speed up loan acceptance. These technologies are designed to increase the efficiency and reduce
Fintech
the time involved in access to credit.
Companies
• E-Aggregators provide internet-based venues for retail customers to compare the prices and
features of a range of financial (and non-financial) products such as standardised insurance,
mortgages, and deposit account products.
• The Sandbox policy is designed to encourage innovation by the Fintech companies within a well-
defined space and duration where regulators would provide the requisite regulatory support. This
would lead to increased efficiency, better management of risks and new products for consumers.
• The Sandbox policy allows companies to test products in a closed environment i.e. within a
What is
particular geography or among a set of users, before they are allowed roll out commercially.As part
Sandbox Policy?
of this policy, the regulator provides the appropriate regulatory support by relaxing specific legal
and regulatory requirements for specified time duration.
• The idea behind the Sandbox policy is to enable them to test their new products without any
regulatory hassles.

• Sandboxes offer a number of benefits. Users of a sandbox can test the product’s viability without
the need for a larger and more expensive roll out.
Benefits of • If the product appears to have the potential to be successful, the product might then be authorized
Sandbox Policy and brought to the broader market more quickly.
• However, if concerns are unearthed while the product is in the sandbox, appropriate modifications
can be made before the product is launched more broadly.
Prelims: Concept of Sandbox Policy
Mains: The Fintech sector has the potential to improve the financial services and financial inclusion in India. In this regard,
discuss the need for an appropriate regulatory environment to promote innovation by Fintech companies.
DOMESTIC The RBI has stated that SBI, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank would
continue to be identified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks
SYSTEMICALLY (D-SIBs).
IMPORTANT BANKS In this regard, let us understand the concept of Domestic
(D-SIBs) # Govt. Policies Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).
THINGS TO KNOW
• It was observed during the 2008 global financial crisis that failure of large and highly interconnected
financial institutions would negatively impact the economy.
• In the event of failure of such financial institutions, the government would be required to bail-out
these institutions. Hence, such institutions may be considered as "Too big to Fail".
Background
• Even though, the BASEL III guidelines have been laid down in order to improve the resilience of
Banks. However, these policy measures are not adequate to deal with risks posed by SIBs.
Therefore, additional policy measures are necessary to counter the systemic risks posed by these
banks.
• SIBs are perceived as banks that are ‘Too Big To Fail (TBTF)’. This perception of TBTF creates an
expectation of government support for these banks at the time of distress. Due to this perception,
Risks these banks may resort to risk taking and there could be lack of market discipline on behalf of these
associated banks. Hence, there is a need for stronger regulatory environment for the SIBs.
with SIBs • In this regard, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) came out with a framework in
November, 2011 for identifying the Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs).
• Similarly, the RBI has been mandated to identify the Domestic systemically Important banks (D-
SIBs) and lay down suitable regulatory requirements to prevent their failure.
• In order to identify the D-SIBs, the RBI takes into account only those banks whose size is equal to
How are
or more than 2% of GDP.
Domestic-
Systemically • Further, these banks are categorised as D-SIBs only when they fulfil the below mentioned criteria:
Important  Size;
Banks (D-SIBs)  Interconnectedness;

identified?  Lack of readily available substitutes or financial institution infrastructure; and

 Complexity
• The systemic importance of a bank is computed as weighted average scores of all 4 indicators
highlighted above. Thus, the systemic importance score of a bank would represent its relative
importance with respect to the other banks. Banks that have scores above a threshold score are
classified as D-SIBs.
The D-SIBs are placed under different buckets (categories) depending upon their importance. According
to the bucket in which they are placed, the bank would be required to maintain higher Tier-I capital
under the BASEL Norms.
Additional Common
Additional Common Equity
Equity Tier 1
Tier 1 requirement as a
requirement
Higher Capital Bucket Banks percentage of Risk
applicable from April
Requirement Weighted Assets (RWAs)
1, 2019 (as per phase-
for D-SIBs for FY 2018-19
in arrangement)
5 - 0.75% 1%
4 - 0.60% 0.80%
3 State Bank of India 0.45% 0.60%
2 - 0.30% 0.40%
1 ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank 0.15% 0.20%
Prelims: Systemically Important Banks (SIBs); Criteria and Indicators adopted for the identification of SIBs
The real estate sector in India is currently the second largest employer after
REAL ESTATE agriculture. Considering the importance of real estate sector, there is a need to
INVESTMENT provide for additional financing options for the development of real estate
sector.
TRUSTS In this regard, SEBI had notified rules for setting up of Real Estate Investment
(REITs) Trusts in India in 2014. Accordingly, a real estate company, Embassy Group is
set to launch India's first REIT.
# Capital Market Let us understand various aspects related to REIT and its benefits.
IMPORTANT DECISIONS
• A mutual fund company pools in money from the retail investors and invests that money in the
financial market in the form of shares, bonds, debentures etc. The profit earned from such investments
is in turn distributed among the investors.
What is
• A Real Estate investment Trust is similar to Mutual fund. However, it invests the pooled money of the
REIT?
investors in the real estate projects such as commercial office spaces, residential apartments etc.
• The money earned from such investments is in turn distributed among the investors in the form of
dividend.
How do • The pooled money of the REITs is invested in the real estate projects which generate rent. The profit is
REITs earn also generated through appreciation in the value of real estate project.

profits? • Further, a certain portion of the money can be invested in the equity shares of real estate companies
and G-Secs, which can generate profits.
• All the REITs should be registered with the SEBI and they should be listed on the stock exchanges.
• The minimum value of the assets owned by REITs should be Rs 500 crores.
• The minimum offer size of the REIT should be Rs 250 crores.
• The minimum investment by an investor should be Rs 2 lakhs i.e. an investor cannot invest less than
SEBI’s
Rs 2 lakh.
Guidelines
for REITs • Minimum 80% of the pooled money of the REITs should be invested in rent generating and completed
properties while the balance 20% can be invested in under construction projects, equity shares of real
estate companies, G-Secs etc.
• 90% of the profits generated by REITs should be distributed among the investors in the form of
dividend.
 Retail Investors
• The Small retail investors would be able to invest in real estate properties and earn dividend without
any hassles.
• The investors are allowed to trade their investments on the stock exchanges facilitating easier entry
and exit
• Diversification of investment and commensurate reduction in the risk.
 Real Estate Sector
Benefits of • Boost to financing of real estate projects.

REITs • Funding of stalled projects
• Increase in the number of real estate projects that would cater to increased demand
 Economy
• Development of Primary and Secondary Market
• Improvement in the transparency and disclosure by real estate companies
• Decrease in the dependency of the real estate companies on the banks for their funding requirements
and consequent increase in bank loans for other critical sectors.
• Direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Increased penetration of smart phones and affordable internet plans

has boosted m-commerce in India. However, it is accompanied by
RBI’S GUIDELINES increased security threats.
In this regard, the RBI has recently issued guidelines on tokenisation
ON
for credit and Debit card transactions.
TOKENISATION Tokenization is set to provide a safe and reliable manner for carrying
# RBI out the payment transactions in India.
Let us understand various facets related to Tokenization of payment
transactions.

• Tokenization involves substituting sensitive data such as a person's account number with a one-
time number known as a token.
• A token would have no reference to a person’s account number. The customer’s primary account
What is
number (PAN) is replaced with a custom, randomly-generated alphanumeric ID.
tokenization?
• This token can then be used for making transactions by the person. Since, the tokens do not contain
any sensitive information, it would be of no use even if it is hacked and thus provides for additional
layer of security.
 Registration of Token
Step 1: The Customer enrolls his account with a digital payment service (such as an online retailer or
mobile wallet) by entering account number and other payment account information details.
Step 2: The digital payment service provider (online retailer or mobile wallet) requests a payment token
from the card network company (Visa, MasterCard etc) for the enrolled account.
Step 3: Payment card company shares the token request with the customer's bank.
Step 4: Payment card network company then replaces the consumer’s account details with the token.
Step 5: Payment card network shares the token with the token requestor for online and mobile payment
How does it use. A payment token can be limited to a specific mobile device, ecommerce merchant or number of
work? purchases (say, a limit of five) before expiring.
 How tokens are used?
Step 1: The Customer initiates payment on the digital service provider (e-wallet, ecommerce merchant
or app)
Step 2: The digital service provider sends the token to the payment card company.
Step 3: Payment card company sends the token along with the payment card details to the bank for
payment authorization.
Step 4: The Bank authorizes the transaction and sends its response to the payment card company.
Step 5: The transaction gets completed.
• Tokenization provides added layer of security and convenience for the customers. It eliminates
the need to enter the account number multiple times when shopping on a smartphone or tablet.
Why is it
• It is safer than magnetic strips because tokens don’t carry the consumer’s primary account number.
important?
• Further, there is less risk in storing tokens online. Even if it is hacked, it would not be possible for the
fraudsters to decrypt the account details.
The RBI has decided to permit authorized card payment networks to offer card tokenization services to
any token requestor (i.e., third party app provider).
Tokenization – de-tokenization service
RBI’S
• Adequate safeguards shall be put in place to ensure that Primary Account Number (PAN) cannot be
Guidelines
found out from the token and vice versa, by anyone except the card network.
• Actual card data, token and other relevant details shall be stored in a secure mode. Token requestors
shall not store PAN or any other card detail.

Registration by customer
• Registration of card on token requestor’s app shall be done only with explicit customer consent
through Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) (such as OTP) and not by way of a forced / default /
automatic selection of check box, radio button, etc.
• Customers shall have option to register / de-register their card.
• Customers shall be given option to set and modify per transaction and daily transaction limits for
tokenized card transactions.
Prelims: Concept of Tokenisation; RBI’s Guidelines on Tokenisation
The government has been pushing RBI to provide relief to the stressed
RESTRUCTURING MSME sector. The central bank’s board recently advised RBI to consider a
scheme to recast loans of MSMEs, which have been hurt by the disruption
OF LOANS FOR caused by demonetization and GST.
MSMEs In this regard, the RBI has allowed lenders to restructure loans of stressed
# RBI MSMEs, provided the total exposure to a borrower doesn’t exceed Rs 25
crores.
• Restructured assets or loans are those assets which get an extended repayment period,
reduction in the interest rate or the principal amount etc from the lenders.
Meaning of
• Hence, through the restructuring of loans, the lenders make it easier for the borrowers to fulfill their
Restructuring
debt obligations, if they are facing problems in repaying back the loans.
of Loans
• The restructuring of loans provides the necessary flexibility to the borrowers and help the banks to
ensure that such loans do not turn into NPAs.
• In March 2016, RBI had notified a mechanism for resolving stressed MSME loans of up to Rs 25
crore. The guidelines stated that banks should classify stress in such loans into three categories—
RBI’s existing special mention account (SMA) 0, SMA 1 and SMA 2, depending on the delay in repayment of loans.
framework for  SMA 0 ( Delay up to 30 Days)
resolving
 SMA 1 ( Delay up to 31-60 Days)
stressed
MSMEs  SMA 2 ( Delay up to 61-90 Days)
• The loans still remain standard even in these categories and turn bad only after a delay in payment
of more than 90 days.
• RBI has allowed a one-time restructuring of existing MSME loans that have defaulted, but are not
NPAs i.e. categorized as special mention account (SMA)
New Terms of • To be eligible for the debt restructuring scheme, the aggregate exposure of MSMEs to a borrower
Restructuring should not exceed Rs 25 crore.
of Loans • The restructuring has to be implemented by March 31, 2020.
• Each bank/NBFC should formulate a policy for this scheme which should provide for viability

assessment of the stressed accounts and regular monitoring of the restructured accounts.
• The MSMEs form an important component of the Indian economy and contribute significantly to the
country’s GDP, exports, industrial output, employment generation, etc.
Importance of • The amount of gross NPAs in the micro and small enterprises sector has been growing over the last
the Scheme few years and stood at around Rs 80,000 crores in 2017.
• Considering the importance of MSMEs in the Indian economy, it was considered necessary to take
certain measures for creating an enabling environment for the MSME sector.
Prelims: Concept of Restructuring; Special Mention Account (SMA); RBI’s Guidelines on Restructuring of loans
The Government of India has envisaged ushering a Gas Based economy by

increasing the share of natural gas in primary energy mix of the country from
GAS current level of about 6 % to 15% by 2030.
TRADING In this regard, the government is considering the establishment of a Gas Trading
HUB Hub / Exchange (GTHE), where natural gas can be traded, and supplied through a
market based mechanism instead of multiple formula driven prices.
# Govt. Policies
Let us understand about various facets of the Gas Trading Hub and its benefits for
India.
THINGS TO KNOW
• Natural gas hubs are at the heart of gas infrastructure networks such as pipelines and liquefied
natural gas (LNG) terminals.
What is a Gas • The hub is used as a central pricing point for the network’s natural gas i.e. the natural gas price is
Hub? completely market determined based on forces of demand and supply.
• Hence, creation of Gas hub would entail giving up the formula based pricing of natural gas and
allowing the market forces to dictate its prices.
• The world’s biggest natural gas hub is the Henry Hub in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The Henry Hub
benefits from vast domestic gas production as well as the world’s biggest and most freely accessible
Major Gas pipeline network, which stretches into Canada and Mexico.
Hubs of the
• In Europe, Britain’s National Balancing Point (NBP) and the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF)
World
have emerged as the main natural gas hubs.
• China has also planned to launch a natural gas trading hub in Chongqing.
How is the • Currently, the government fixes the prices of the domestically produced natural gas. The rate is
Natural Gas arrived at using price prevalent in gas-surplus nations of US, Canada, UK, and Russia.
Price fixed in • This shows that the domestic prices of the natural gas does not reflect the demand and supply of
India? the natural gas within India, rather it is based on international benchmarks.
Benefits of Gas • According to a recent survey, global natural gas demand is expected to continue to grow rapidly and
Trading Hub in outperform all other fossil fuels by 2030. This rise in demand is fuelled by the economic growth of
India developing countries such as China and India.

• Hence, there must be some provision to allow natural gas to compete in local energy markets on a
global scale through pricing system.
• This is possible through the Gas Hubs which would allow the domestically produced natural gas to
be priced based on market conditions.
• Further, such a mechanism would also incentivize greater amount of private investment in natural
gas exploration and setting up of infrastructure such as gas pipelines leading to the development of
National Gas Grid as envisaged by the government.
Prelims: Concept of Gas Trading Hub and its benefits
NEWS Snippets
IN NEWS: The Japanese retail investors have started to invest huge amount of money in the
Uridashi Masala Bonds.
 What are Masala Bonds?
• Masala bond is a financial instrument through which Indian entities can borrow money from
overseas markets in terms of rupee.
• One specific feature of the Masala Bonds is that these bonds are denominated in terms of
rupees.
• The rupee denominated bond is an attempt to shield issuers (Indian entities) from currency risk
and instead transfer the risk to investors buying these bonds. (To know more details related to
Masala Bonds, refer to October Edition of the Focus Magazine)
URIDASHI  What are Uridashi Masala Bonds?

• These are specific type of Masala Bonds which are issued in Japan. These Masala Bonds are
MASALA
bought by the Japanese retail investors.
BONDS • The Uridashi Masala Bonds were first launched by International Finance Corporation in the
year 2016. The proceeds from these bonds are used to provide financing to the private sector
companies in India.
 Why is there a higher demand for Uridashi Masala Bonds in Japan?
• It is to be remembered that post 2008 financial crisis, Japan had adopted Negative Interest rate
policy in order to promote economic growth. This has led to historically lower rate of interest
rates in Japan.
• However, the rate of interest offered by Uridashi Masala Bonds is quite higher and hence it has
been able to attract the Japanese retail investors.
• Further, rupee has largely remained stable and there are less chances of exchange rate
volatility affecting the foreign investors.

IN NEWS: The Union Finance Minister has recently released the first report on EASE Reforms
Index that independently measures progress on the Public Sector Banks (PSB) Reforms Agenda.
 What is Ease Reforms Index?
• The Enhance Access & Service Excellence (EASE) reforms index measures performance of
each PSB on 140 objective metrics across 6 themes.
• The publishing of this independent report was commissioned by Indian Banks’ Association.
 How this Index helps PSBs?
• The Index provides all PSBs a comparative evaluation showing where banks stand vis-à-vis
EASE REFORM benchmarks and peers on the Reforms Agenda.
INDEX • It enables the PSBs to identify precisely their strengths as well as areas for improvement.
Through periodic updates and by providing bank-specific scorecards and inter-bank
comparisons, all PSBs are enabled to keep track of their progress on key reform priorities
across time.
 What this index has highlighted?
• The report shows visible progress made on each of 4 elements of Government’s 4R’s strategy
including recognition, recovery, recapitalisation and reforms.
• It has also provided insights into how public sector banks are effectively addressing NPA
problem.
IN NEWS: India's First Indigenously developed Payment Platform, National Common Mobility
Card has been recently launched in Ahmedabad.
 Background
• The National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), 2006 envisages that various urban Public
Transport Systems are well integrated and offer a seamless system to the users.
• A user should be able to pay one fare and travel in all the required modes to reach the
destination.
NATIONAL • In this regard, National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has prepared the standards &
COMMON specifications of the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC).
MOBILITY  Details of NCMC

• These are bank issued Debit/Credit/Prepaid cards and the customer may use this single
CARD (NCMC) card for payments across all segments including metro, bus, suburban railways, toll, parking
etc.
• The stored value on card supports offline transaction across all travel needs with minimal
financial risk to involved stakeholders.
 What are the benefits of NCMC?
• Interoperability for passenger between bus, train, metro, parking etc. in the urban area.
• Single e-purse with access to multiple products.

IN NEWS: The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) under the Department for
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade has launched the second edition of ‘IPrism’.
 What is IPrism?
• It is basically an Intellectual Property (IP) competition for the students of schools, colleges and
universities. It aims to foster creativity among the students.
• It is the 2nd Edition of the competition this year. The First such competition was first organised
in 2018.
• This competition is organized by Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) which
works under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
 About Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM)
• The National IPR Policy was adopted in 2016 to create a vibrant IP ecosystem in the country.
One of the key objectives of this policy is to create IPR Awareness through outreach and
promotional activities.
• In pursuance of this objective, the CIPAM has been entrusted with the responsibility of carrying
out IPR awareness activities in India.
IPrism
Note: The laws governing different kinds of IPRs in India are Patents Act, 1970; Trade Marks Act,
1999; Designs Act, 2000; Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act,
1999; Copyright Act, 1957; Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001;
Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, 2000 and Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
IPRs Administrative Ministry
Patents, Copyrights, Designs, Trade Marks and Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Geographical Indicatons
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, Ministry of Agriculture

2001
Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout-Design Act, Ministry of Electronics and Information

2000 technology
Note: Copyrights were earlier administered by the Ministry of Human Resource Development. In
2016, it was transferred to Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under
Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
IN NEWS: The Union cabinet has approved the proposal for implementation of Phase II of 'Faster
Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles for the promotion of Electric Mobility in the
country.
FAME India  Objective of the Scheme
PHASE II The main objective of the scheme is to encourage Faster adoption of Electric and hybrid
vehicles by way of offering Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles and to establish necessary
charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.
 Details about the Scheme

• Under this scheme, the customers would get benefit of demand incentive for buying electric
vehicles. The demand incentive benefit will be passed on to the consumer upfront at the time
of purchase of the electric vehicles by way of paying reduced price.
• Incentives will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for
commercial purposes.
• Special Emphasis on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared transport.
• Through the scheme, it is planned to support 10 Lakhs electric two wheelers, 5 Lakhs electric
three wheelers, 55000 electric four wheelers and 7000 Buses.
• To encourage advance technologies, the benefits of incentives will be extended to only those
vehicles which are fitted with advance battery like Lithium Ion battery.
• The scheme proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2700
charging stations will be established across India.
• Establishment of Charging stations are also proposed on major highways connecting major city
clusters.
IN NEWS: The latest World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI) report published by WTO has
highlighted that the global trade may slow down in 2019. It points to lowest volume of world trade
in the last 9 years.
 What is World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTO)?
• The World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI) is designed to provide "real time" information on
the growth of world trade. This report was first released in 2016.
• By using various trade-related indices, the WTOI provides an early signal of the current
direction of world trade and where it is likely to go in the near future.
• Thus, the WTOI should signal turning points in world merchandise trade volume.
WORLD  What are the indices used in WTO?
TRADE  Merchandise trade volume

 Export orders
OUTLOOK
 International air freight (IATA)
INDICATOR
 Container port throughput
 Automobile production and sales
 Electronic components
 Agricultural raw materials
 How to interpret the reading of WTO?
• Readings of 100 indicate growth in line with medium-term trends; readings greater than 100
suggest above trend growth, while those below 100 indicate below trend growth.
• The latest value of 98.6 is lower than the previous value of 100.3 signalling that trade
growth in the coming months will be below-trend.

IN NEWS: The Union Cabinet has approved the Scheme for the Rebate of State levies (ROSL) to
Support the Textile Sector.
 What are embedded taxes?
• Apart from GST, the textile manufacturers pay multiple taxes such as stamp duty, petroleum
tax, electricity duty, mandi tax etc. for the processing and manufacturing of textiles in India.
• The manufacturers cannot claim input tax credit on such taxes and hence, the cost of these
indirect taxes gets embedded into the value of the exports.
SCHEME FOR • These embedded taxes make our exports uncompetitive in the foreign market.
 About RoSL
THE REBATE
• The RoSL scheme was introduced by the Government in 2016 in order to offset indirect taxes
OF STATE levied by states.
LEVIES (RoSL) • However, certain State as well as Central Taxes continued to be present in the cost of exports.
• The recent Cabinet decision provides for a scheme to rebate all embedded State and Central
Taxes/levies for the textile sector.
 Benefits
• The proposed measures are expected to make the textile sector competitive.
• Rebate of all Embedded State and Central taxes/levies would make exports zero-rated,
thereby boosting India’s competitiveness in export markets and ensure equitable and
inclusive growth of textile and apparel sector.
IN NEWS: The National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has decided to invest in Ayana,
a company involved in the generation of Solar and Wind power in India. In this regard, let us
understand basic details about NIIF.
 What is Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF)?
• A Sovereign Wealth Fund is an investment fund set up by some of the countries in order to
invest in global market in the form of shares, bonds, real estate projects etc.
• This fund is mainly funded through the foreign exchange reserves held by the countries.
Further, the money is invested globally so as to make optimum profits through the SWF.
• For example, Norway is operating the world's largest SWF (Government Pension Fund) with a
NIIF corpus of around $ 1 trillion dollars. Similarly, China has also set up Chinese Investment
Corporation (CIC) in the form of SWF.
• Further, oil exporting countries of west Asia such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar etc. have
also set up their own SWF.
 What is NIIF?
• It is a quasi-SWF established by the Indian government in 2015.
• Unlike the SWFs of other countries which are 100% owned by the Governments, the NIIF is 49%
owned by the Indian Government. The remaining 51% is to be owned by domestic and foreign
investors.

• In 2017, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority became the first international investor in NIIF.
 What is the role of NIIF?
• It provides equity support to those NBFCs and Financial Institutions (FIs) that are engaged
mainly in infrastructure financing. These institutions will be able to leverage this equity support
and provide debt to the selected infrastructure projects.
• It provides Equity as well as debt to commercially viable infrastructure projects, including
stalled projects.
IN NEWS: The Union Cabinet has recently approved the proposal for India’s Accession to the Nice,
Vienna and Locarno Agreements dealing with examination of trademarks and designs. All these
multi-lateral agreements are administered by WIPO.
 Nice Agreement
• The Nice Agreement came into being in 1957 and establishes a mechanism for the
classification of goods and services for the purposes of registering trademarks and service
marks.
• The trademark offices of the countries signatory to the Nice Agreement agree to employ the
internationally designated classification codes in their official documents and publications.
 Vienna Convention
• The Vienna Agreement establishes an International Classification of the Figurative
Elements and entered into force in 1985.
• Use of the Vienna Classification by national offices has the advantage of filing applications for
the registration of marks containing figurative elements codified according to a single
classification system.
WIPO
• Examples of figurative elements: Bottles and flasks, crowns etc.
Treaties  Locarno Agreements
• The Locarno Classification is an international classification system used to classify goods for
the purposes of the registration of industrial designs. This Agreement was adopted in 1968.
• Use of the Locarno Classification by national offices has the advantage of filing applications for
the registration of industrial designs with reference to a single classification system.
 Benefits of India's Accession to these agreements
• It would help the Intellectual Property Office in India to harmonise the classification systems
for examination of trademark and design applications, in line with the international
classification system.
• It would give an opportunity to include Indian designs, figurative elements and goods in the
international classification systems.
• The accession is expected to instil confidence in foreign investors in relation to protection of
IPs in India.
• The accession would also facilitate in exercising rights in decision making processes regarding
review and revision of the classifications under the agreement.

IN NEWS: The Geographical Indications Registry has recently granted the Geographical Indication
(GI) tag to some new products. In this regard, let us understand details related to the new GI
products. (To know details related to GI Tag, refer to January Edition of FOCUS Magazine).
Erode Turmeric: This unique form of turmeric is grown in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu. It is
golden yellow in colour and is resistant to pests.
 Sirsi Supari
• Sirsi Supari’ is grown in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.
• The arecanut grown in this district has unique features like a round and flattened coin shape,
particular texture, size, taste etc. which are not seen in arecanut grown in any other regions.
 Marayur Jaggery
• This dark brown jaggery is handmade at household units in Idukki district in Karnataka.
GI Tag
• It has high sweetness with less saltiness, high content of iron and less sodium. The produce is
free of impurities and the sugar cane fields are free of chemical pesticides and fertilisers.
 Coffee
• GI tags have been issued for Coorg Arabica Coffee, Wayanad Robusta Coffee, Chikmagalur
Arabica Coffee, Araku Valley Arabica Coffee and Bababudangiris Arabica Coffee.
• Coorg Arabica Coffee is grown specifically in Kodagu district in Karnataka Wayanad Robusta
Coffee is mainly grown in Wayanad district of Kerala
• Chikmagalur Arabica Coffee and Bababudangiris Arabica Coffee are both grown in
Chikmagalur district, Karnataka.
• Araku Valley Arabica Coffee is grown around Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh and
Koraput district in Odisha
IN NEWS: The OECD has recently released Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Global
Report for 2019. It provides policy recommendations to help governments deliver on their
commitments to promote gender equality.
 About the Report
SOCIAL • This report was first launched in 2009.It seeks to measure the gaps that discriminatory laws,
social norms and practices create between women and men in terms of rights and
INSTITUTIONS opportunities.
AND GENDER • The 2019 report highlights that inspite of increase in legal reforms promoting greater gender
equality, deeply entrenched gender norms continue to discriminate women and girls around
INDEX (SIGI)
the world.
Report • The progress on gender equality has remained slow due to various factors like legal
discrimination, weak implementation of laws, discriminatory customary laws and social norms.
 Recommendations given in the Report
• Translate international conventions into national legal frameworks. This would abolish
discriminatory laws, notably on women’s workplace rights and reproductive autonomy, and

mend legal loopholes that allow negative practices such as early marriage to continue.
• Implement laws more forcefully and increase the number of prosecutions and convictions,
while inviting community leaders and citizens to join in publicly recognising the discriminatory
nature of harmful norms and practices.
• Report publicly and regularly on progress towards gender equality, even when objectives are
not met.
IN NEWS: The yields (interest rates) on the 10-year treasury bonds in USA has slipped below the
yields on three-month Treasury bonds. This development known as “Inverted Yield Curve” in
bond market has happened for the first time since 2007 in USA. In this aspect, let us analyse as
the concept of Yield Curve and what it denotes.
What is a Yield curve?
• A yield curve is a graph that depicts yields (Interest rates) on bonds ranging from short-term
debt such as one month to longer-term debt such as 30 years.
• Usually, in order to track the yield curve, the yields of the Government bonds are taken into
consideration. The Yield curve may provide important clues related to present and future
economic conditions in a country.
Types of Yield Curve and their interpretation
 Normal Yield Curve

• The yields on the bonds depends upon the risk involved. Higher the risks, higher would be the
yields.
• Normally, the yields on short term maturity bonds is lower than that of long term maturity
INVERTED bonds. The higher yields on the long term maturity bonds can be attributed to increased risk in
YIELD CURVE the longer term (say 30 years). Hence, under normal conditions, the yield curve is upwards
sloping.
• A normal yield curve indicates yields on longer-term bonds may continue to rise, responding to
periods of economic expansion.
 Inverted Yield Curve
• When there are signs of slowdown in an economy, it would mean that the economy faces risk
in the short term. However, in the long term, the economy may come back to normalcy. Hence,
due to this, the yield on the short term bonds becomes higher than the yields of long term
bonds.
• This is because the risks associated with the short term bonds is higher than the risks
associated with long term bonds. Hence, an inverted yield curve points towards a probable
economic recession.
• The present development in the US bond market has raised concerns that the inverted yield
curve possibly points to global economic recession in future.
 Impact on the Indian Economy
• The inverted Yield curve has raised fears about slowdown in the global economy and a

possible recession in USA. It has triggered the sale of shares in the global stock market leading
to fall in the worldwide benchmark indices.
• Similarly, the Indian stock markets, BSE and NSE have also got affected as evident in the fall of
SENSEX and NIFTY.
IN NEWS: The CSO has recently released the employment related statistics in the formal sector
using information on the number of subscribers who have subscribed under three major
schemes- Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme
and the National Pension Scheme (NPS). In this regard, let us understand the details of these
schemes.
 Background
• The CSO has been bringing out the employment related statistics in the formal sector from
April 2018. The report gives different perspectives on the levels of employment in the formal
sector from September, 2017 to January, 2019.
• It has provided the employment related statistics based on the number of new members who
have started subscribing to these schemes, the number of members that have temporarily
ceased their subscription and the number of members who restarted contribution.
 Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF)
• It is a mandatory savings scheme under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous
Provisions Act, 1952. It is managed by Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). It
covers every establishment in which 20 or more persons are employed.
• It is applicable to all the employees whose monthly salary is below Rs 15,000. Persons drawing
PAYROLL
pay above Rs.15,000/- are exempted . The number of members subscribing to this scheme
DATA gives an idea of the level of employment in the formal sector.
• The EPFO data showed that around 76.48 lakh new subscribers were added to social security
schemes run by it from September 2017 to January 2019.
 Employees’ State Insurance (ESI)
• ESI Scheme for India is an integrated social security scheme tailored to provide socio-economic
protection to the workers in the organized sector and their dependents, in contingencies, such
as Sickness, Maternity and Death or Disablement due to an employment injury or occupational
hazard. The wage ceiling is Rs.21000/- per month.
• During September 2017 to January 2019, around 2.08 crore new subscribers joined the ESI
scheme
 National Pension Scheme (NPS)
• It is a pension cum investment scheme to provide old age security to Citizens of India. The
Scheme is regulated by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). It was
launched in January 2004 for government employees. In 2009, it was opened up for all citizens
of India between the age of 18 and 60.
• The scheme allows subscribers to contribute regularly in a pension account during their
working life. On retirement, subscribers can withdraw a part of the corpus in a lumpsum.

• The estimated number of new NPS (National Pension Scheme) subscribers during the period of
September 2017 to December 2018 is 9.6 lakhs.
IN NEWS: The President of India has recently inaugurated the Festival of Innovation and
Entrepreneurship (FINE) 2019 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. He also presented the 10th Biennial
National Grassroots Innovation Awards.
 About FINE 2019
• FINE 2019 festival is a celebration of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. It is
organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan and National Innovation Foundation.
• It aims to recognise, respect and reward grassroots innovations and foster a supportive
ecosystem. It is usually organised in the month of March.
 Importance of FINE 2019
• This Festival enables participation of several grassroots innovators who have been inspired to
find effective solutions to problems that they experienced in their communities. It would
provide a platform to such grassroots innovators for building the linkages with potential
FINE 2019 stakeholders.
• It would also be a great opportunity to create awareness about the importance of various
Ministries of Government of India attaches to their effort and participation in the FINE.
 About National Innovation Foundation
• The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) was set up in March 2000 with the assistance of
Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
• The INSPIRE Award - MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and
Knowledge) is being executed by Department of Science & Technology and National
Innovation Foundation.
• The scheme aims to help build a critical human resource pool by inviting students from all
government and private schools throughout the country and enabling them to send their
original & creative technological ideas/innovations.
IN NEWS: According to the latest report published by the World Gold Council (WGC), India has the
11th largest gold reserves. In this regard, let us look at important highlights of the report.
 Highlights of the Report
• It is to be noted that this report is based upon the amount of gold reserves held by the central
WORLD GOLD Banks of the countries. It does not take into the account the gold held by financial institutions
COUNCIL and public within an economy.
According to the report, India is placed at 11th rank in terms of gold reserves with the total
REPORT •
gold reserves maintained by the RBI at around 607 tonnes.
• USA has the highest gold reserves in the world followed by Germany. Among Asian countries,
China and Japan have more reserves of Gold as compared to India.
• In 2018, over 600 tonnes of gold were bought by central banks, led by those in emerging

Econnomic Deveelopment
markets. Th
his was highest in the pastt five decades.
W
Why are Cen
ntral Banks
s buying mo
ore Gold?
• The Forex R
Reserves of the Central bank consists of Gold, Forreign Curren cy assets and Special
Drawing Rig
ghts (SDRs). T
The Gold can
n act as a saffe haven assset for these central bank
ks during
the times off volatility.
• The US-Chi na Trade wa
ar, Volatility in the global stock markets, Slowd
down in the Chinese
Economy ettc. have fuellled speculations that the world econo
omy is probaably heading
g towards
global econ omic recession. Due to th
his, the invesstors seeking
g financial saffety have now
w turned
to gold.
• Many Cent ral banks have been trrying to hoa
ard gold to restore the confidence in their
currencies.
 Details about World Gold Cou
uncil
• The World Gold Counccil is an ass
sociation con
nsisting of the
t world’s leading gold
d mining
companies. It helps to su
upport its me
embers to mine in a respo
onsible way.
• There are g
growing con
ncerns that the
t newly mined
m gold could
c be useed to financce armed
conflicts in the countrie
es. Thus, the
ere is a need
d to ensure that the golld that is so
old in the
market doe
es not indirecctly finance such
s conflictss. In this reg
gard, the Wo
orld Gold Council has
developed tthe Conflictt-Free Gold Standard to
o help comp
panies to pro
ovide assura
ance that
their gold iss not contribu
uting to confllict.
• Thus, Confl ict-Free Gold Standard provides assurance that their
t gold haas been extra
acted in a
manner tha
at does not cause, supp
port or bene
efit unlawful armed confflict or contribute to
serious hum
man rights ab
buses or brea
aches of interrnational hum
manitarian laaw.

SOOCIETTY ANND SOOCIAL JUSTTICE

# GS Papper I & GS P aper III (Maain)
A global an
nalysis on thhe estimate of eliminatiion of cerviccal
INDIA CAN ELIMINATE cancer hass been published in the journal ‘Thee Lancet
CERVICAL CAANCER Oncology’. As per It, In
ndia can elim
minate cerviical cancer b
by 2079
o account inttroduction of
taking into o the HPV vvaccine and
# Health cervical cancer screening in India..
T
THINGS TO KNOW
K
• Cervical cancer is a ccancer arising from the cervix,

c which is due to th
he abnormal growth of ccells that
e ability to invvade or spre
have the ead to other parts
p of the body.
b
• Infection
n with some
e types of Human papillomavirus (HPV)
( is the greatest ris k factor for cervical
cancer, followed
f by ssmoking.
About • Human papillomavirrus (HPV) is a group of more

m than 150 viruses ressponsible forr majority of cervical
Cervical cancers..
Cancer • Worldwiide, cervical cancer is bo
oth the fourrth-most com
mmon cause of cancer aand the fourrth-most
common
n cause of de
eath from cancer in wome
en.
• Cervix iss the second most comm

mon site for cancer
c in Indian women, preceded on
nly by breast cancer.
• One fou
urth of the w
world’s cerviccal cancer bu
urden is in In
ndia and more Indian wo
omen die of cervical
cancer than in any otther countryy in the world.
Sta
atus in • Accordin
ng to Nationa
al Health Porrtal-India has a population
n of 436.76 million
m womeen aged 15 ye
ears and
Ind
dia older wh
ho are at riskk of developin
ng cervical ca
ancer.

Society and Social Justice
• Every year 1,22,844 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 67,477 die from the disease.
• In India cervical cancer is second most common cancer among women between 15 and 44 years.
• The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has approved the HPV vaccine
for inclusion in the universal immunisation programme of India by 2020.
• India has also just started screening for cervical cancer in health and wellness centres under the
Ayushman Bharat programme
• The HPV vaccines protect against high-risk strains of this family of viruses and may prevent up to 90%
HPV of cervical cancers.
Vaccines • Two HPV vaccines (Gardasil and Cervarix) reduce the risk of cancerous or precancerous changes of
the cervix and perineum by about 93% and 62%, respectively.
• The vaccines are effective between 92% and 100% against HPV 16 and 18 up to at least 8 years.
WHO’s GLOBAL The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently warned about a new
pandemic of flu, which can infect thousands of people in coming decades.
INFLUENZA Thus, in order to prepare for such a pandemic, the WHO has launched
STRATEGY Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030 to protect the world against the
threat of influenza.
# Health
INFLUENZA
• Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by influenza virus
(single-stranded RNA viruses)
• The virus can be transmitted by direct contact with infected individuals, via contaminated objects (also called
fomites) and by inhalation of virus-laden aerosols.
• Influenza is caused by three types of RNA viruses called influenza types A, B and C (considered different genera).
• The disease in humans is generally caused by the viruses A and B.
• Influenza type A viruses are known to infect people, birds, pigs, horses, whales, seals and other
Influenza type animals, but wild birds represent the natural hosts for these viruses.
A • Only a fraction influenza A subtypes (i.e. H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2) are currently in general
circulation among people.
Influenza type Influenza B viruses are responsible the same spectrum of disease as influenza A. And, influenza B
B viruses do not cause pandemics.
Influenza type Influenza C viruses are different in comparison to influenza A and B. They cause a mild respiratory
C illness and are not thought to cause epidemics.

Societty and Soc ial Justicee
INF
FLUENZA PA
ANDEMIC
• An influenzza pandemic
c is a global epidemic ca
aused by a new
n
influenza virus strain to
o which there
e is little or no pre-existting
immunity in the human population.
• mpossible to
They are im o predict; th
hey may be mild, or cause
severe disea
ase or death.
• Severe disea
ase may occu
ur in certain risk groups (in those at risk
of severe diisease due to
o seasonal in owever, healthy
nfluenza). Ho
persons are
e also likely to e more serious disease th
o experience han
that caused by seasonal influenza.
• ecent pandem
The most re mic occurred
d in 2009 and
d was caused
d by
an influenzza A (H1N1)) virus. It is estimated tto have caused
4 lakh deathss globally in t he first year alone.
between 1-4
WHO G
GLOBAL INF
FLUENZA STRATEGY FOR 2019-2030
0
The
e new strate
egy is the mo
ost comprehe
ensive and ffar-reaching that
t WHO ha
as ever deve
eloped for inffluenza. It ou
utlines a
patth to protect populations every year a
and helps pre
epare for a pandemic thro utine programmes.
ough strengthening of rou
1. Build
d stronger co
ountry capaccities for dise ance and ressponse, prevvention and control,
ease surveilla
Ov
verarching and preparednes
p ss.
goa
als 2. Deve
elop better ttools to pre
event, detectt, control an
nd treat influenza, such
h as more e
effective
vacciines, antivira ls and treatm
ments, with th
he goal of ma
aking these accessible
a forr all countries.
• To prrevent seaso
onal influenza
a.
Ob
bjectives • Conttrol the virus’’s spread from
m animals to
o humans.
• Prepare for the n
next pandemic.
RECO
OMMENDAT
TIONS BY WHO
W FOR CO
OUNTRIES
Ev
very country to strengthen routine health
h progrrammes and to develop tailored influenza
Strrengthen Ro
outine
prrogrammes as per the region requirement thatt strengthen disease surrveillance, re
esponse,
He
ealth Program
mmes
prrevention, co
ontrol, and prreparedness.
WHO
W recomm
mends Annual flu vaccines
s as the mosst effective way
w to preven
nt the spread
d of the
Annual flu vac
ccines
disease, especcially for healthcare worke
ers and peop
ple at higher risk
r of influen
nza complica
ations.
Efffective and WHO

W also cal led for the developmen
nt of more effective
e and
d more acceessible vaccin
nes and
Acc
cessible Vac
ccines an
ntiviral treatm
ments.
Reg
gular updation of
ue to its muttating strains, vaccine form
Du mulas must be
b regularly updated.
u
Vaccine formu
ulas

FOR TUBERCULOSIS Medical Journal Lancet had undertaken a study on Tuberculosis

(TB) in three high-burden countries, including India. It has
FREE WORLD: published a report ‘building a tuberculosis-free world’ based on
LANCET REPORT modelling for three high-burden countries (India, Indonesia, &
China).
# Health
FINDINGS
• According to World Health Organization (WHO) 10 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported globally in 2017,
out of which 2.74 million were from India. It shows a marginal reduction from 2.79 million in 2016.
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include ending the TB epidemic by 2030 under Goal 3.
• Despite TB incidence in India being 204 cases per 1,00,000 in 2017, the government has set a highly ambitious target
of “eliminating TB by 2025”, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target.
• But the report says compared with 2015 data, 57% reduction in incidence and 72% reduction in mortality will been
seen only by 2035 in three countries including India.
• Further, India needs to strengthen the care cascade only then can it reduce cumulative TB incidence by 38%.
• India has to adopt measures to prevent TB and needs to improve diagnosis and treatment for drug-sensitive and drug-
resistant TB.
• Modelling suggests that lives of eight million (28%) people with TB can be saved over the next 30 years if tests are
subsidised and patients are supported to complete the treatment.
• India should scale up access to TB services for all those seeking them, optimise engagement of private sector providers
and guarantee universal access to drug susceptibility testing and second line TB drugs.
CHALLENGES AND WAY FORWARD
• India has set an ambitious goal of eliminating TB by 2025, but integration of TB services with the primary health system
to reduce diagnostic delays is not happening.
• Patients are not diagnosed and treated at the primary level, which is the first point of contact. Only this will lead to
early diagnosis and help cut the transmission cycle.
• Though funding for the national TB control programme is encouraging, there is political will and the programme
mentions all the correct initiatives to bring the disease under control but only accountability will allow course
correction.
• Further the report says that instead of waiting for people with TB to reach diagnostic centres for testing, India has now
undertaken case-finding campaigns to cut the transmission cycle as 10% of individuals with TB die or self-cure
before presenting for care.
• In addition, a high out-of-pocket expenditure is incurred during TB treatment which keeps people in poverty for
seven years after completing treatment.
• India also has the highest number of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases in the world with majority of it being due
to direct transmission. Hence, early diagnosis and prompt initiation of effective treatment should be high priority to
curb MDR-TB transmission.

WORLD HAPPINESS The WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT 2019 was released recently and it
placed India at a dismal rank of 140.
REPORT 2019 # Health
THINGS TO KNOW
• The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness that ranks 156
countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be.
• It is released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations (SDSN),
annually.
• The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), launched in 2012, mobilizes global scientific
and technological expertise to promote practical problem solving for the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. It was established under the auspices of the United
About the Nations Secretary-General.
report • The report ranks countries on six key variables that support well-being:
1. Income,
2. Freedom to make life choices,
3. Trust,
4. Healthy life expectancy,
5. Social support and
6. Generosity.
• This was the seventh edition of the report and this year it focused on happiness and the
community: how happiness has evolved over the past dozen years, with a focus on the technologies,
social norms, conflicts and government policies that have driven those changes
• The overall world happiness has fallen over the past few years, which has mostly been fueled by a
sustained drop in India, which came in 140th place this year (2019) compared with 133rd in 2018.
Findings • There has been an increase in negative emotions, including worry, sadness and anger.
• India featured in the five countries that had the largest drop since 2008 in the index, along with
Yemen, Syria, Botswana and Venezuela.
• The list is topped by Finland for the second year in a row followed by Denmark, Norway, Iceland
and the Netherlands.
• People in war-torn South Sudan are the unhappiest with their lives, followed by Central African
Republic (155), Afghanistan (154), Tanzania (153) and Rwanda (152).
A recent study, conducted by researchers at the International Food Policy

ICDS LEAVES Research Institute (IFPRI), shows while coverage of Integrated Child
BEHIND POOR Development Services (ICDS) has gone up, gaps still remain, especially
when it comes to women and the poor.
AND WOMEN: IFPRI is an international agricultural research centre founded in the early
IFPRI 1970s to improve the understanding of national agricultural and food
policies to promote the adoption of innovations in agricultural technology.
# Health # Nutrition It is located in Washington D.C.

INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (ICDS)
• The ICDS Scheme was launched in 1975, as India's flagship program to tackle under nutrition, and key actions under
India’s new nutrition mission, the POSHAN Abhiyaan, are anchored in the programme.
• The beneficiaries under the Scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating
mothers.
• It is supported by World Bank and UINCEF.
• It is a Centrally sponsored Scheme implemented by States/UTs across the country.
1. To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years.
2. To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child.
3. To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout.
Objectives 4. To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to
promote child development.
5. To enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and nutritional needs of the
child through proper nutrition and health education.
1. Supplementary Nutrition
2. Pre-school non-formal education
3. Nutrition & health education
4. Immunization
Services
5. Health check-up and
6. Referral services
The last three services are related to health and are provided by Ministry/Department of Health and
Family Welfare through National Rural Health Mission & Health system.
FINDINGS OF THE REPORT
• The study analyses the findings of the National Family Health Survey 2005-2006 and 2015-2016 to compare the
coverage of ICDS over a 10-year period.
• Between 2006 and 2016, the participation expanded but not all groups have benefited equally.
• Increase in respondents benefiting from ICDS between 2006 to 2016:
 Supplementary food: 9.6% to 37.9%
 Health and nutrition education: 3.2% to 21%
 Health check-ups: 4.5% to 28%
 Child-specific services: 10.4% to 24.2%
• The overall utilization has improved and reached many marginalized groups such as historically disadvantaged castes
and tribes, but the poor are still left behind, with lower utilization and lower expansion throughout the continuum of
care.
• Both historically disadvantaged castes and pregnant women with low education levels were less likely to receive ICDS
services than other groups.Among States too, while overall utilisation has improved, high malnutrition States are
relatively lagging.

Societty and Soc ial Justicee
Sw
wachh Survekshan Reccently, the results
r of the Swachh Su
urvekshan 22019 were
releeased which h ranked thee urban municipalities on major crriteria
201
19 # Heaalth # Sanittation of ssanitation.
T
THINGS TO KNOW
K
• The prim
mary goal off all Swachh Survekshans
s is to encou
urage large scale
s citizen
n participatiion and
create awareness
a a
amongst all ssections of so ociety about the importan
nce of workin
ng together ttowards
making towns and ciities a better place to live in.
About
nally, these s urveys also intend to fostter a spirit off healthy com
• Addition mpetition amoong towns an nd cities
Swachh
to impro
ove their servvice delivery to citizens, and thus steadily moving towards
t creaating cleaner cities.
Su
urvekshan
• The current Swachh h Survekshan n, has covered a total of 4237
4 ULBs and Cantonm ment Boards from all
states and UTs, barr ing the state of West Bengal who had opted not to
o participate..
he first Swacchh Survekshan was sta
• When th arted in 2016
6, it was dessigned to bee a monitoring tool.
Subsequ
uent Surveksshans have fo
ocused on ou
utput and the
en outcome level indicato
ors.
pared to last year, the tottal marks werre increased from 4,000 to 5,000.
• As comp
h ULB for ranking was segregated into 4 main comp
• The scorring for each ponents, as ffollows:
1. Collection of data ffrom online MIS portal of MoHUA as well as online submissiion of docum ments to
As
ssessment the dedicated Swach hh Survekshan 2019 porrtal assessme
ent of Servicce Level Proggress (1,250 Marks /
pa
arameters 25%)
2. Collection of data ffrom Direct O
Observation
n (1,250 Mark
ks / 25%)
3. Collectio
on of data fro
om Citizen Feedback (1,2
250 Marks / 25%)
2
4. Certifications for G
Garbage Free
e Cities and Open
O Defeca
ation Free Citties (1,250 M
Marks /25%) ( Newly
added)

• Star garbage Free cities: The concept of Star Rating of cities was to introduce a certification process
which involves assessment of various locations in each and every ward within a city, checking for
cleanliness of drains and water bodies, plastic waste management, managing of construction and
demolition waste, etc. through a process of direct observation and citizen feedback.
• Cleanest ULB: Indore - The award of ‘India’s Cleanest City’ in the Swachh Survekshan 2019 has been
Rankings/ given to Indore (Madhya Pradesh) for the third year in a row.
results • Cleanest Capital: Bhopal
• Cleanest States: Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra
A large number of healthy looking urban Indians are suffering from

URBAN PEOPLE micronutrient deficiency in general and vitamin deficiency in particular.
LACK VITAMINS Scientists from the Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)
conducted a study on apparently healthy adults between 30 and 70 years
# Health #Nutrition of age to check their vitamin levels.
THINGS TO KNOW
The study assessed blood levels of vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, folate and D) and homocysteine in urban
people.
 Vitamin deficiency found in blood samples
1. Vitamin B2 deficiency in 50% population
4. Folate deficiency in 32% population
Findings 5. Vitamin D deficiency in 29% population
 Vitamin deficiency found in dietary habits
• The nutrient deficiency was found in the diets of 72% of the study population.
• This nutrient deficiency in diets indicated 2 factors:
1. Bad diet deficient in vitamins A, D, B1, B2, B6, B12 and folate
2. Prevalence of high level of homocysteine in 52% of the study population. Homocysteine is a substance
present in blood that is related to non-communicable diseases.
• Further women had high dietary deficiency while men had high homocysteine levels.
1. Lack of awareness as the urban population doesn’t not get their vitamin levels screened regularly
and are generally also unaware about healthy food habits.
Reasons for 2. Even if people are aware they only give attention to folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. As a result
deficiency other vitamins are neglected in the diet.
3. The vitamin deficiency do not get adequate attention as the effects are not easily detectable unless
they become severe.

SCIEENCE & TECHNOOLOGYY

# GGS Paper (PPrelims) & GS Paper II I (Main)
India had carried outt a successful Anti-Sattellite Missile Test (ASA

AT) named Mission
d thus became only the
Shakti, and e fourth cou
untry to do so.
s It was a jjoint progra
amme of
MISSION the Defen ce Research
h and Deve
elopment Orrganisation (DRDO) an d the India
an Space
S
SHAKTI Research Organisatio
on (ISRO). The DRDO‘s Ballistic Miissile defen
nce intercep
ptor was
#Space used, whicch is part of the ongoing
g ballistic missile defence program
mme.
Technology The test w

was done in tthe lower attmosphere to
t ensure thhat there is n ebris.
no space de
Whatever debris that is generated will decay
y and fall bac
ck onto the earth within
weeks.
NGS TO UND
THIN DERSTAND
• It is the technolo
ogical
capabiliity to hit and
destroy satellitess in
space through
t misssiles
launched
d from the
ground.
• The tech
hnology is a imed
at destroying,
d if
necessarry, satelllites
owned by en
nemy
countrie
es.
ASA
AT?
• Satellitess are extreemely
critical infrastructurre of
any coun
ntry these da
ays.
• A large number
n of crrucial
applicatiions are now
satellite--based. T
These
include ation
naviga
systems,, communica
ation network
ks, broadcastting, banking
g systems, sto
ock markets,, weather forrecasting,
disaster managemen ocean mapping and monitoring tools, and militaryy applicationss.
nt, land and o
• Destroying a satellitee would rend
der these app
plications use
eless. It can cripple
c enem
my infrastructture, and
bring it down
d on kne
ees, without ccausing any threat to hum
man lives.
Ne
eed for • India hass a long stan
nding and rap
pidly growing
g space progrramme which
h includes M
Mangalyaan M
Mission to
Ind
dia to Mars. Th
hereafter, th e government has sancttioned the Gaganyaan
G Mission
M which
h will take In
ndians to
con
nduct outer sp
pace.

Science & Technology
such a test • Further, India has undertaken 102 spacecraft missions consisting of communication satellites, earth
observation satellites, experimental satellites, navigation satellites, apart from satellites meant for
scientific research and exploration, academic studies and other small satellites.
• Thus, India’s space programme is a critical backbone of India‘s security, economic and social
infrastructure.
• The test was done to verify that India has the capability to safeguard our space assets. It is the
Government of India‘s responsibility to defend the country’s interests in outer space.
• The principal international Treaty on space is the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
• India is a signatory to this treaty, and ratified it in 1982.
Is India • The Outer Space Treaty prohibits only weapons of mass destruction in outer space, not ordinary
violating weapons.
any • India expects to play a role in the future in the drafting of international law on prevention of an arms
internationa race in outer space including inter alia on the prevention of the placement of weapons in outer space in
l treaty? its capacity as a major space faring nation with proven space technology.
• India is not in violation of any international law or Treaty to which it is a Party or any national
obligation.
• Anything launched into the space remains in space, almost forever, unless it is specifically brought
down or slowly disintegrates over decades or centuries.
• Satellites that are past their life and are no longer required also remain in space, orbiting aimlessly in
some orbit.
• A satellite that is destroyed by a missile disintegrates into small pieces, and adds to the space debris.
• The threat from the space debris is that it could collide with the operational satellites and render them
Space debris dysfunctional.
:Mounting  What is Kessler syndrome?
concern
• The Kessler syndrome (also called the Kessler effect, collisional cascading or ablation cascade),
proposed by the NASA scientist Kessler in 1978.
• It is a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) is high enough that collisions
between objects could cause a cascade where each collision generates space debris that increases the
likelihood of further collisions.
• One implication is that the distribution of debris in orbit could render space activities and the use of
satellites in specific orbital ranges impractical for many generations.
NEWS Snippets
IN NEWS: India's PSLV-C45 successfully injected EMISAT and 28 international customer satellites
PSLV- C45 into their designated orbits. This flight marked the first mission of PSLV-QL, a new variant of PSLV
with four strap-on motors.

 About the Mission

• The chief payload — the 436 kg EMISAT —is injected into a 749 km orbit. The satellite is
intended for electromagnetic spectrum measurement.
• EMISAT would serve as the country’s roving device for detecting and gathering electronic
intelligence from enemy radars across the borders as it circles the globe roughly pole to pole
every 90 minutes or so.
• The 28 international customer satellites are from four countries, viz. Lithuania, Spain,
Switzerland and USA. All these satellites are being launched under commercial arrangements.
• After all the satellites are put into orbits, the fourth stage of the rocket will be propelled to a
different elevation and will be used as a platform for different experiments by Indian
institutions, including ISRO.
• ISRO used a multiple-burn technology where the engine shut down and restarted multiple
times within a short period of time allowing the rocket to course to the next orbit with the
payloads.
• The PS4 orbital platform is envisaged to provide a microgravity environment for research
organisations and academic institutes to perform experiments. The orbital platform will also
sport solar panels.
 Experiments on board
• An automatic identification system (AIS) developed by ISRO for maritime applications;
• An automatic packet repeating system (APRS) developed by AMSAT or Radio Amateur
Satellite Corporation, India, to assist amateur radio operators; and
• an Advanced Retarding Potential Analyser for Ionospheric Studies (ARIS) made by the
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) for atmospheric studies.
IN NEWS: The Belle II experiment is a Particle Physics experiment designed to study the
properties of B mesons (heavy particles containing a bottom quark).
Belle II is a particle accelerator experiment located in Tsukuba, Japan. In Belle-II, electrons and
positrons (anti-electrons) collide to produce B mesons in order to study the breakdown of
symmetry in these decays.
Belle II is the first super B-Factory experiment (as it analyses the characteristics of pairs of B-
and anti-B-meson) and is designed to find NP (New Physics) beyond the Standard Model of
BELLE-II particle physics.

THINGS TO KNOW
STANDARD MODEL OF PHYSICS: The standard model identifies elementary particles into
Quarks, Leptons and Bosons.
 ANTIMATTER
Every known matter has an antimatter which has the same mass and volume; only difference
being the inherent charge. Antimatter has an opposite charge when compared to its matter.
While the Anti-matter of a proton is called Anti-Proton, the Antimatter of an electron is called

Positron.
 QUARKS
• Quarks are elementary particles propounded in the standard model.
• They join to form hadrons, such as protons and neutrons, which are components of the
nuclei of atoms.
• The antiparticle of a quark is the antiquark.
• There are 6 principal quarks and hence 6 anti quarks.
• Quarks and antiquarks are the only two fundamental particles that interact through all four
fundamental forces of physics: gravitation, electromagnetism, and the strong
interaction and weak interactions.
• A quark exhibits confinement, which means that the quarks are not observed independently
but always in combination with other quarks.
• This makes determining the properties (mass, spin, and parity) impossible to measure
directly.
 LEPTONS
• Like quarks, Leptons too are of 6 kinds. However, they do not have any fractional charge. The
leptons are: ELECTRON,MUON,TAU and 3 Types OF NEUTRINOS
• Electron being a Lepton is a fundamental elementary particle.
 FERMION
• Fermions are particles which have half-integer spin and therefore are constrained by the
Pauli exclusion principle.
• Particles with integer spin are called bosons. Fermions include electrons, protons, neutrons.
• Fermions include all quarks and leptons.
• The fact that electrons are fermions is foundational to the buildup of the periodic table of the
elements since there can be only one electron for each state in an atom (only one electron for
each possible set of quantum numbers).
• The fermion nature of electrons also governs the behavior of electrons in a metal where at
low temperatures all the low energy states are filled up to a level called the Fermi energy.
 BOSON
Boson is a collective name given to particles that carry forces. It has been named after Indian
scientist Satyendra Nath Bose. Gravity as a force of nature is yet not accepted by the Standard
Model due to the failure to discover its Boson. Strong Nuclear Force is the strongest known force
while gravity is the weakest.
IN NEWS: The Indian Navy is set to induct the second Scorpene submarine Khanderi. Khanderi
has completed all trials and is in the final stages of acceptance. It is expected to be commissioned
KHANDERI into the Navy by end April or early May, 2019.
 About Scorpene Class Submarine
• The state-of- the-art technology utilised for construction of the Scorpene class submarines

has ensured superior stealth features such as advanced acoustic silencing techniques, low
radiated noise levels, hydro-dynamically optimized shape and the ability to launch a crippling
attack on the enemy using precision guided weapons.
• The attack can be launched with both torpedoes and tube launched anti-ship missiles, whilst
underwater or on surface.
• The stealth of this potent platform is enhanced by the special attention given to various
signatures. These stealth features give it invulnerability, unmatched by most submarines.
• Scorpene submarines can undertake multifarious types of missions i.e.
 Anti-Surface warfare,
 Anti-Submarine warfare,
 Intelligence gathering, mine laying, area surveillance etc.
• The submarine is designed to operate in all theatres, with means provided to ensure
interoperability with other components of a Naval Task Force.
• The Scorpene submarine is jointly developed by French state-owned shipbuilding firm DCNS
(formerly DCN) and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia and has been built at Mazagon Dock
Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.
• Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai, is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines under
technology transfer from Naval Group of France under a 2005 contract.
 About submarines
 First Submarine – Kalvari – joined service in December, 2017
 Second Submarine – Khanderi – about to be inducted in Indian Navy
 Third Submarine – Karanj – advanced stage of trials
 Fourth Submarine – Vela – ready to be launched into water trials
 Fifth Submarine – Vagir – advanced stages of manufacturing
 Sixth Submarine – Vagsheer - advanced stages of manufacturing
IN NEWS: Ivermectin is a mosquito-killing drug tested in Burkina Faso which reduced malaria
cases by a fifth among children and hence could be an important new tool in the global fight
against the disease.
 About Malaria
• Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites. The parasites are spread to people through the
bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
IVERMECTIN
• There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species P.
falciparum and P. vivax pose the greatest threat.
• The mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, which hatch into larvae, eventually emerging as
adult mosquitoes. The female mosquitoes seek human blood to nurture their eggs.
• Vulnerable: Population groups like  infants, children under 5 years of age, pregnant women
and patients with HIV/AIDS, as well as non-immune migrants, mobile populations and

travellers.
• Malaria elimination is defined as the interruption of local transmission of malaria in a

defined geographical area because of deliberate efforts.
• Malaria eradication is defined as the permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide

incidence of malaria infection caused by human malaria parasites because of deliberate
activities.
• The most common antimalarial drugs include: Chloroquine (Aralen), Quinine sulfate
(Qualaquin), Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), Mefloquine, Combination of atovaquone and
proguanil (Malarone).
• The government launched a national strategic plan for elimination of malaria and pledged
to eradicate the vector-borne disease completely by 2027. The strategic plan gives year-wise
elimination targets in various parts of the country depending upon the endemicity of malaria
in the next five years.
• The plan has four components based on WHO recommendations:
 Diagnosis and case management;
 Surveillance and epidemic response;
 Prevention using integrated vector management;
 Cross-cutting interventions, which include advocacy, communication, research and

development.
IN NEWS: India’s lunar mission Chandrayaan 2 which is scheduled to launch will carry NASA’s laser
instruments that allow scientists to make precise measurements of the distance to the Moon.
 About the mission
• India's second mission to the Moon is a totally indigenous mission comprising of an Orbiter,
Lander and Rover.
• After reaching the 100 km lunar orbit, the Lander housing the Rover will separate from the
Orbiter. After a controlled descent, the Lander will soft land on the lunar surface at a specified
site and deploy a Rover.
Chandrayaan
• The Chandrayaan-2 weighing around 3290 kg would orbit around the moon and perform the
2 objectives of remote sensing the moon.
 Other key objectives of the Mission
1. The mission will carry a six-wheeled Rover which will move around the landing site in semi-
autonomous mode as decided by the ground commands.
2. The instruments on the rover will observe the lunar surface and send back data, which will be
useful for analysis of the lunar soil.
3. The payloads will collect scientific information on lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental
abundance, lunar exosphere and signatures of hydroxyl and water-ice.

IN NEWS: The National Science Day is observed on February 28 every year as on this day scientist
C.V Raman discovered the Raman Effect in 1928. The theme for the National Science Day 2019
is: Science for the people, and People for the Science.
On the National Science Day this year Scheme for Translational and Advanced Research in
Science (STARS) was launched.
 Significance of National Science Day

• The sole message of National Science Day is to spread the message that Science and
Technology should be applied in everyday life.
• On this day, scientists and science enthusiasts come together as programmes are held to bring
the scientific community closer. Educational institutes also hold science fairs and science
NATIONAL researchers get a chance to share their latest work.
SCIENCE DAY  Raman Effect
• The Raman effect is the inelastic scrambling of a photon by molecules which are energised to
higher rotational energy or vibrational levels. This effect is also known as the Raman scattering.
• This phenomenon also forms the foundation of Raman spectroscopy which is utilised by
physicists and chemists to know more information about materials..
 STARS
• The scheme will be implemented at the cost of Rs 250 crores.
• Under the scheme 500 science projects will be funded whose selection will be made based on
competition.
• Coordinated by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.
IN NEWS: The indigenously developed Pinaka guided rocket system was successfully test fired in
Pokhran desert in Rajasthan.
 About Pinaka
• Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced and developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army.
PINAKA • The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 75 km for Mark-II, and can fire a
salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.
• The unique feature of the Pinaka versions tested is-
 Integrated avionics system; it consists of an on-board mission computer, miniaturized

navigation system and telemetry.
 Reliability and high precision capabilities.
IN NEWS: Recently, the Health Department has issued an alert in Malappuram after a six-year-old
West Nile boy from the district undergoing treatment for West Nile fever died.

Scieence & Tec hnology
Fe
ever  About
A West Nile Fever
• It is viral inffection and iss most often the result off mosquito biites.
• Mosquitoess of the genu
us Culex are generally considered the
e principal vecctors of WNV
V.
• It may also
o be transmittted through
h contact with
h other infeccted animalss, their blood
d, or other
tissues.
• Birds are tthe natural h
hosts of Wes
st Nile virus.
• Symptoms of the virus iinfection include cold, fev
ver, fatigue an
nd nausea.
• No vaccine is available ffor humans.
• West Nile vvirus can causse a fatal neu
urological dissease in humans.

GEOGGRAPHHY, EENVIRRONMENT, BIODDIVERRSITY &

DISAASTERR MANAGEEMENT
# GS PPaper (Pre lims) and GS
G Paper I & III (Main)
The Nation nal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ( of th

he United Sttates
EL
L NINO recently annnounced th he developm ment of a weeak El Niño in the equa atorial Pacifiic
Ocean tha t was expeccted to continue for a fe ew months at a least.
#Geography The statuss of El Niño aat this time of the year is usually th
he first indiccation of thee kind
#Climate of rainfall that is to be
e expected during
d the monsoon
m seaason later in n the year inn India.
On this noote, let us unnderstand all importantt circulationns impactingg rainfall.
THIN
NGS TO UND
DERSTAND
WA
ALKER CIRCU
ULATION
• It is a convecctive cell of air

a circulation
n which develops due the developmen
nt of pressurre gradient ffrom east to
o west in
the Pacific Ocean.

O
• Eastern part has low prressure, whille the weste

ern Pacific ha
as high pressure due to the presencce of cold P
Peruvian
current.
• est Variation of tropical w inds is called

This east we d as the Walker Circulation
n as shown in
n the figure.

Ge ography, EEnvironmeent, Biodiv ersity

& Dis aster Mannagement
SOUT
THERN OSCIILLATIONS
• After every 2-3 years this

t general circulation
gets reverse
ed and presssure gradien
nt becomes
from west to
o east.
• These reverrsals in pressure gradien
nts and air
circulations every 2-3 yea
ars has been
n termed as
Southern Oscillations.
O
• El Niño events repeat th
hemselves in
n a two- to
seven-year cycle, with
h a strong
g El Niño
expected ev
very 10-15 years.
• However, since 2000, fiv
ve El Niño evvents have
already happened
• scientific re
esearch is pointing to increased
frequency of
o extreme El
E Niños due to climate
change.
• El-Nino current d
develops in th
he Southern pacific ocea
an.
Oceanic
• It is a subsurface
e warm ocea
an current.
Cirrculation
• Flow
ws from 3 deg degree S at about 180 km from Peruvian coast.
gree S to 36 d
during EL-Nino
o
• enerated because of the southward
This current is ge s hifting of the counter Equ atorial current.
sh
Eve
ent
• This feeds the so uth Atlantic W
Westerlies drrift.
• Along the West coast of Sou

uth America, El Niño's warm
w waterss persist and
d deepen, an
nd cold,
elling, nutrie
upwe ent rich wate
ers fail to re
each surface
e waters; the
e resulting w
warm, nutrient poor
Consequencess
wate
ers devastate
e coastal fishe
eries.
of EL Nino
• Heav
vy rain falls a
along the Sou
uth American
n coast, and heavy
h rainfall also moves from the we
estern to
central Pacific, ca n Indonesia and nearby arreas includin
ausing drier tthan normal conditions in ng India.
 Positivve
• Tahitti pressure greater than
n
that of Darwin
• Pressure high over easst

paciffic and low
w over wesst
Ho
ow it impactss
paciffic.
Ind
dian
• Low rainfall overr east pacific
Mo
onsoon?
and prospects of good
d
ndian Ocean.
monsoon over In
 Negat ive
• Darw
win pressure exceeds tha
at
of Ta
ahiti


• High pressure ovver western p
pacific and low
w over eastern pacific
• Low rainfall in we soon in India.

est pacific and poor mons
INDIAN
N OCEAN DI-POLE (IOD))
• It is an atmo
osphere-ocea
an coupled p henomenon in the tropical Indian Oce
ean (like the El Nino is in tthe tropical P
Pacific)
• Similar to EL
L- Nino , it is also
a triggered
d by sea surfface tempera
ature differen
nce.
• A ‘positive IOD’ — or siimply ‘IOD’ — is associated with coo

oler than norrmal sea-surfface temperaatures in the
e eastern
equatorial In
ndian Ocean and warmerr than norma
al sea-surface
e temperaturres in the wesstern tropicaal Indian Ocea
an.
• The oppositte phenomen d by warmer than normaal SSTs in the

non is called a ‘negative IOD’, and is characterised
c e eastern
ndian Ocean and cooler t han normal S

equatorial In SSTs in the western
w tropiccal Indian Occean.
• A positive IO
OD year sees more than n
normal rainfa
all over centra
al India. This happened in
n 1994 and 1 997.
• The indicate
ed connectio
on is betwee
en below-normal SST in the eastern
n Indian Oce
ean and abo
ove-normal rain over
central India
a, and vice ve
ersa.
• Ocean warm
m pool shifts to the west a
and brings heavy rainfall over the easst Africa and severe drougghts/forest fiires over
the Indonesian region.
EL
L – NINO MO
ODOKI
• El Niño Mod
doki is a coup
pled ocean-attmosphere phenomenon in the tropiccal Pacific.
• It is different from anoth
her coupled p
phenomenon
n in the tropic
cal Pacific namely, El Niño
o.


• Conventiona
al El Niño iss characterizzed by strong
anomalous warming in
n the easte
ern equatorrial
Pacific.
• Whereas, El Niño Modok
ki is associat ed with strong
anomalous warming in the central ttropical Pacific
and cooling
g in the eastern and we
estern tropiccal
Pacific.
• The West Co
oast of Unite
ed States of A
America is w
wet
during El Nin
no but dry du
uring El Nino
o Modoki.
• The descen
nding part over Indian subcontine
ent
seems to be
b more do
ominant whe
en there is a
modoki eve
ent and hen
nce rainfall in India ge
ets
reduced mo
ore than it do
oes during sta
andard El Niñ
ño
event.
• That also afffects cyclone
e formation i n Pacific which
in turn affeccts cyclone fo
ormation in B
Bay of Bengall.
• More cyclon
nes are forme
ed in Arabian
n sea as comp
pared to Bay
y of Bengal.
Recenntly, the New

w Delhi Decllaration on Asian
A Rhino
os 2019 was signed
RH
HINOS WITHOU
W UT by rep
presentativees of the govvernments ofo India, Bhuutan, Indonesia,
BORDER
B RS Malayysia, and Nepal. The objjective is to increase thee population of
three Asian rhinoo species: Grreater one-hhorned rhino an
oceros, Java
#Fauna #Conservat
# tion rhino,, Sumatran rhino.

Geography, Environment, Biodiversity

& Disaster Management
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS
• To collaborate to strengthen protection regimes, strategic information gathering, and real time sharing of actionable
information on rhino crime.
• Initiate research on various habitat parameters including invasive species threatening the suitable habitats of Asian
rhinos.
• Explore possibilities of expanding rhino ranges within country or between rhino range countries.
• To strengthen transboundary collaboration among India, Nepal, and Bhutan for the greater one-horned rhino
conservation.
• To identify connectivity and corridors across international boundaries.
• Increase the engagement of the local communities.
• Proactive monitoring on potential adverse impacts of climate change on rhino health.
• Accelerate natural and conservation breeding of critically endangered Sumatran rhino.
GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINOCEROS
• It is the largest of the rhino species.

• IUCN Red List: ‘Vulnerable Status’.
• Indian Rhino is an amphibious species and an excellent swimmer.
About • It is an herbivorous animal feeding on grasses, leaves, branches, fruit, and aquatic plants.
• Habitat: it is an herbivorous species found in Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and
Shrub lands.
• Indian Rhino population is restricted to Indo-Nepal Terai region, northern West Bengal and Assam.
• Assam: Kaziranga National Park (70% of world’s population), Pobitara Wildlife sanctuary, Orang
Main National Park, Manas National Park Assam.
sanctuaries of • West Bengal: Jaldapara National Park, Garumara National Park, Uttar Pradesh, Dudhwa Tiger
Indian Rhino Reserve
• Nepal: Royal Chitwan National Park, Sukla-Phanta.
• Poaching due to demand in international trade for horn;
Major threats • Habitat destruction due to land-use change;

faced by • Concentration of rhino population in one protected area;
Indian Rhino • Political boundaries constricting natural boundary;
• Other threats including diseases and natural disaster.
SUMATRAN AND JAVAN RHINOS
• Sumatran and Javan Rhinos have been accorded the ‘Critically Endangered’ Status under IUCN Red List.
• Javan Rhino are only about 60 in number concentrated in Unjung Kulon National Park near Jakarta in Javan island of
Indonesia.
• Earlier, they were found in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam where it is extinct now.


• Sumatran Rhino are the smallest among Asian Rhinos.
• There are about 300 of these species left in Indonesia and Malaysia where it is extinct in the wild.
• They are the only Asian Rhino species with 2 horns.
FOREST FIRE:
A major fire broke out in the forest area of the Bandipur
IMPACTING BANDIPUR, Tiger Reserve in Karnataka destroying hundreds of acres of
foliage. The Tiger Reserve is in Chamarajanagar district of
WAYANAD FORESTS Karnataka and it connects Ooty with Mysore.
# Fauna #Flora #Conservation
BANDIPUR TIGER RESERVE
• This reserve was brought under Project Tiger in 1973.

• Biogeographically, Bandipur Tiger Reserve lies in one of the richest biodiversity areas of our country representing
“5 B Western Ghats Mountains Biogeography Zone” surrounded by Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the South,
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in the South West & on the North West Side the Kabini Reservoir separates the
Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.
• It forms a very important component of the first Biosphere Reserve in the country i.e. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• The Reserve is located in Wayanad plateau, characterized by the presence of several Swamps and Vayals of varying
size.
FOREST FIRES
NATURAL CAUSES MANMADE CAUSES
• Lightening • Naked flame from cigarette or bidi.

• High atmospheric temperatures and dryness • Electric spark or any source of ignition.
prepares the ground for the invitation of forest • Grazers and gatherers of various forest products starting small
fires. fires.
• Wind speed and direction aggravates the forest • Centuries old practice of shifting cultivation including slash and
fires. burn.
• Friction of bamboos swaying due to high wind • Use of fires by villagers to ward off wild animals.
velocity high wind speed leads friction of
• Fires lit intentionally by people living around forests for
bamboo trees.
recreation
• Rolling stones that result in sparks setting off
• According to Forest Survey of India’s State Forest Report, more
fires in highly inflammable leaf litter on the
than 95% of wildfires in India are man-made.
forest floor.
Fires are a major cause of forest degradation and have wide ranging adverse ecological,
Effects of Forest
economic and social impacts, including:
Fire
• Loss of valuable timber resources


• Degradation of catchment areas through the loss of trees. Trees help in the catchment areas
(storage loss of bio-diversity, wildlife habitat of more water).
• Loss of biodiversity and extinction of plants and animal’s loss of wildlife habitat and depletion of
wildlife
• Loss of natural regeneration and reduction in forest cover
• Global warming through the emission CO2 from incineration of trees and depletion of carbon
sink. Loss of carbon sink resource and increase in percentage of CO2 in atmosphere change in
the microclimate of the area with unhealthy living conditions
• Soil-erosion affecting productivity of soils and production of soil erosion aggravates due to forest
fires.
• Ozone layer depletion
• Health problems leading to diseases
• Loss of livelihood for tribal people and the rural poor, as approximately 300 million people are
directly dependent upon collection of non-timber forest products from forest areas for their
livelihood.
• Wildfires are sometimes a natural process, and help forests by promoting:

 flowering
Benefit of Forest  Seedling establishment.
Fires  The heating of the soil may result in helpful microbial activity and hasten decaying processes
that are useful for the vegetation.
 Forest fires destroy the toxic plants too.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, has prepared a National
Master Plan for Forest Fire Control. Programme includes the following components:
• Prevention of human-caused fires through education and environmental modification. It will
include:
 Silvicultural activities,
 engineering works,
 People participation through Joint Forest Fire Management for fire prevention.
Preventive
• Prompt detection of fires through a well-coordinated network of observation points.
Measures
• Efficient ground patrolling, and communication networks.
• Remote sensing technology is to be given due importance in fire detection.
• For successful fire management and administration, a National Fire Danger Rating System
(NFDRS) and Fire Forecasting System are to be developed in the country.
• Fast initial attack measures and vigorous follow up action.
• Introducing a forest fuel modification system at strategic points.
• Investment in Firefighting resources.


GLOBAL The Global Environm

ment Outloo
ok (GEO) iss often reeferred to as UN
nt’s flagship
Environmen p environm
mental assesssment. Thee first publication
ENVIRONM MENT was in 1997
7 and was originally req
quested by Member
M Sta
ates. It is a fflagship
OUTLOOK report beca
ause it fulfils the core functions
f off the organi zation, whicch date
back to the UN Gene
eral Assembly resolutiion that esstablished tthe UN
REEPORT
nt Programm
Environmen me in 1972.
# Report Recently, th
he 6th Globa
al Environment report has
h been relleased by UN
#Conseervation Environmen nt.
6
6TH GEO REPORT
• The sixth Global Environ

nment Outloo
ok, or GEO-6, is the world
d’s most com
mprehensive environment
e tal report, co
overing a
range of top nd potential solutions.
pics, issues an
• The GEO-6 regional
r asse
essments havve provided k
key findings and
a policy messages for each
e of the ssix UN Envirronment
regions:- Affrica , Asia and pacific , Eu rope ,Latina America and
d Caribbean ,North America, West Asiaa.
• A quarter of a ll prematurre deaths and

diseasses worldwid e to manmade
de are due
vironmental damage.
polluttion and env
• y emissions, chemicals polluting drinking
Deadly
accelerating destruction
water,, and the a n of
ecosysstems crucia l to the livelih
hoods of billiions
of peo
ople are driiving a worldwide epide
emic
that hampers the g
global econo
omy
• eenhouse ga s emissions continue to rise
As gre
ance of drou
amid a prepondera ughts, floods and
Glo
obal supersstorms mad by climbing sea
de worse b
Ass
sessment levels,, there is a growing political consen
nsus
that climate
c chan
nge poses a future risk
k to
billion
ns.
• The report advvises adoptting less-m
meat
intens
sive diets, a
and reducing
g food waste
e in
both developed and develo
oping countrries,
would
d reduce th
he need to increase food
f
produ
uction by 50%
% to feed the
e projected 9-10
9
billion
n people on th
he planet in 2050.
• At pre
esent, 33% o
of global ed
dible food is wasted, and
d 56% of waste happen
ns in industrrialised
countries.
• India could
c save att least $3 trilllion (₹210 trillion approx.) in healthcarre costs if it i mplemented
d policy
initiatiives consiste
ent with ensu
uring that the yond 1.5 deggrees Celsius by the
e globe didn’tt heat up bey
Ass
sessment
turn of
o the centuryy.
about India
• India’ss stated com mitment is to
o lower emis
ssions intensity of its GDP
P by 33-35% compared tto 2005
s by 2030; inccrease total ccumulative electricity gen
levels neration from
m fossil free energy sourrces to


40% by 2030, and create additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tons through additional forest
and tree cover
• India is on track to achieve two of these goals — of emissions intensity and electricity generation
• However, these efforts are good for achieving the target of keeping rise in temperature upto 2
degrees
• To achieve 1.5-degree pathway it would have to “abandon plans to build new coal-fired power
plants.
• Poor environmental conditions “cause approximately 25% of global disease and mortality” --
around 9 million deaths in 2015 alone.
• Lacking access to clean drinking supplies, 1.4 million people die each year from preventable
diseases such as diarrhoea and parasites linked to pathogen-riddled water and poor sanitation.
• Chemicals pumped into the seas cause “potentially multi-generational” adverse health effects,
Health and land degradation through mega-farming and deforestation occurs in areas of Earth home to
Emergencies 3.2 billion people.
• Air pollution causes 6-7 million early deaths annually.
• The report called for a root-and-branch detoxifying of human behaviour while insisting that the
situation is not unassailable.
• It also called for a rapid drawdown in greenhouse gas emissions and pesticide use to improve air
and water quality.
Recently, Indian Sundarbans has been accorded the status

SUNDERBAN WETLANDS of ‘Wetland of International Importance’ under the Ramsar
#Conservation #Convention Convention.
SUNDARBANS
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The Sundarbans mangrove forest, one of the largest such forests in the world (140,000 ha), lies on the delta of the
Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal
waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of ongoing
ecological processes. The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger and
other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python.
• Home to rare and globally threatened species, such as: Northern River Terrapin (Critically Endangered), Irrawaddy
Dolphin (Endangered), Fishing Cat (Vulnerable)
RAMSAR CONVENTION
• Famously known as Ramsar Convention, it is Convention on Wetlands of International Importance for conservation and
sustainable use of wetlands.
• It is the only global treaty to focus on a single ecosystem.
• The convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.


CRITERIA FOR STATUS OF WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE
Group A of the Criteria. Sites containing representative, rare or unique wetland types
Criterion 1: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique
example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region.
Group B of the Criteria. Sites of international importance for conserving biological diversity
►Criteria based on species and ecological communities

Criterion 2: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically
endangered species or threatened ecological communities.
Criterion 3: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal
species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region.
Criterion 4: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports plant and/or animal species at a
critical stage in their life cycles, or provides refuge during adverse conditions.
►Specific criteria based on waterbirds

Criterion 5: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.
Criterion 6: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a
population of one species or subspecies of waterbird.
►Specific criteria based on fish

Criterion 7: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports a significant proportion of indigenous
fish subspecies, species or families, life-history stages, species interactions and/or populations that are representative of
wetland benefits and/or values and thereby contributes to global biological diversity.
Criterion 8: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is an important source of food for fishes,
spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend.
►Specific criteria based on other taxa

Criterion 9: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it regularly supports 1% of the individuals in a
population of one species or subspecies of wetland-dependent non-avian animal species.
►Note: Indian Sudarbans met four of the nine criteria’s, i.e.,

1. presence of rare species and threatened ecological communities,
2. biological diversity,
3. significant and representative fish, and
4. fish spawning ground and migration path
A high-power committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment,

DEFINITION OF Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has recommended that forest
FOREST COVER surveys — the biennial exercise by the government to estimate forest
cover — explicitly demarcate trees grown in forests from those grown
#Conservation outside, that is, in plantations and private lands. The report is awaited.


DEFIN ITION AS PE
ER STATE OF
F FOREST RE
EPORT 2017
• It is a biennial rep
port.
• It is published b
by Forest
survey of India.
• India posted a marginal
% rise in forrest cover
0.21%
Hig
ghlights of betwe
een 2015 and
d 2017.
Forrest Report • India has about 7,08,273
201
17 m. of forest, which is
sq. km
21.53%
% of the ge
eographic
area of the country
(32,87
7,569 sq. km.))
• Indian
n aims at havving 33% of its area underr forest coverr. This has be
een the goal o
of governme
ent since
1988 forest
f policy.
• erm Forest C over as used

The te d in ISFR refe
ers to all land
ds more than
n one hectaree in area witth a tree
Forrest Cover canop
py of more th
han 10 %, irre
espective of la
and use, own
nership and legal status.
• It may
y include eve n orchards, b m etc. and is assessed thrrough remotte sensing.
bamboo, palm
• The te
erm ‘recorde
ed forest are
ea’ or ‘Forest area’ referss to all geogrraphic areas recorded ass Forest
areas in governme
ent records.
• ded forest a rea mainly consists of Re
Record eserved Fore
ests (RF} and
d Protected Forests (PF}, which
Recorded
have been
b notified provisions of Indian Forest Act, 1927 or its counteerpart State A
d under the p Acts.
Forrest Area
• Beside
es RFs and P
PFs, the reco
orded forest area may also include all
a such areaas, which havve been
record
ded as forestts in the reve
enue records en constituted so under aany state Act or local
s or have bee
laws.
It is an esstimated are
ea comprising
g of tree pattches, which are less than
n one hectarre and trees outside
Tre
ee Cover
the recorded forest.
• Record
ded forests m
may have blank areas with tree denssity less than
n 1O % such
h as degraded lands,
wetlan
nds, rivers, rriverbeds, crreeks in mangroves, sno
ow-covered areas,
a glacieers and othe
er snow
ed areas, alp ine pastures, cold deserts
covere s, grasslandss etc.
• As perr the definitio
on of forest ccover, such areas are excluded from th
he assessmeent of forest ccover.
Issue of
• On the other hand
d, there are areas outsid
de the record
ded forests with
w tree patcches of one hectare
Exc
clusion
and more
m with can
nopy density above 10%.
• For ex
xample, plan
ntations on th
he private/ community
c la
ands, road, rail
r and canaal sides, rubb
ber, tea,
and co
offee plantattions etc. Su so constitute forest coverr and are inccluded in the forest
uch areas als
cover assessment..


NEWS Snippetts
IN NEWS: Sciientists have come across
s many evide
ences that migratory bird
ds are also victims of
the plastic disscards includ
ding ghost ne h respect to Lesser Crestted Tern
ets. This wass noticed with
(T
Thalasseus b
bengalensis) and Lesser Black-backed
B Gull or Heug
glin’s Gull (La rus fuscus he
euglini).
 What
W are Gh
host nets?
• These are commerciial fishing nets
n that hav
ve been lostt, abandone
ed, or discarded at
sea.
• Every ye ar they are responsible
e for trappin
ng and killiing millions of marine animals
including
g sharks, rayss, bony fish, turtles, dolphins, whales, crustaceans,
c and birds.
• Ghost ne
ets cause ffurther dam
mage by enttangling live
e coral, smo
othering ree
efs and
introduci ng parasites and invasive
e species into
o reef environ
nments.
 Le
esser Creste
ed Tern (Tha
alasseus be
engalensis)
GH
HOST NE
ETS &
• Listed as Least Conce
ern as per IU
UCN.
PL
LASTICS • Habitat: These tern species are
e distributed in coastal regions
r of In
ndian subco
ontinent,
northwesst and east A
African coast, Madagascar, coasts arround Bay o
of Bengal, so
outheast
Asian coa
asts, northern
n Australian coast and Pa
apua New Guinea.
• The lesse
er crested terrn species are
e partially migratory
m birrds.
 Lesser Blac
ck-backed Gull
G or Heug
glin’s Gull (Larus fuscus heuglini)
• Listed as Least Conce
ern as per IU
UCN.
• Habitat: Terrestrial and Freshwater.
• Threats: Hunting & ttrapping terrrestrial anim
mals and Pollution (High levels of PCBs have
also been
n recorded w
with the poten
ntial to lead to
t mortality in
n chicks)
• It breeds in the tundrra of northerrn Russia and
d migrate so
outh to south
hwest Asia, in
ncluding
India durring winter.
IN NEWS: S cientist have

e found tha
at Sea Squirrt, a
rubbery
r sea creature ccould help measure pla
astic
pollution
p as iit can filter ttiny particles from the occean
and em in its soft tissue.
a store the
SE
EA SQUIR
RT
 Aboutt Sea Squirtt
TH
HAT SUC
CKS • These a re Ascidian
ns — roun
nd, palm-sized
animals w
which can thrive in dirty industrial areas
PL
LASTIC
and pristin
ne waters alike.
PA
ARTICLES
S • Sea squirrts are relate
ed in evoluttionary terms to
human be
eings.
• Squirts are
e primarily p
permanently
y fixed to a surface.
s
• They just ssit in one pla
ace all their liffe and filter the
t water, like a pump.


• Some of tthe species a
are source off diverse natural productts that are off special inte
erest for
biomedici ne and drug discovery.
• E.g.- a co
olonial sea squirt, prod
duces a sub
bstance known as trab ectedin, which has
anticancerr properties.
• Region: A
Are found from
m the intertid
dal zone to th
he greatest depths
d of thee sea.
IN NEWS: Op
pposition by p
people to the
e governmen
nt’s decision
n to allow thee removal of mineral
rich-sand
r from
m Thottapally pozhi (estu
uary) is growing. The decission to remo
ove sand mayy impact
ecology
e as th e Thottapallyy coast is one
e of the prime nesting site Ridley turtles.
es for Olive R
 Abo
out Olive Ridley turtle?
?
• These are
e Migratory turtle species that
come to IIndia for nestting during winter
w
season.
• Habitat: —Warm and
d tropical watters of
TH
HOTTAPP
PALLY primarily in the Pacificc, Indian Ocean and
Atlantic O
Ocean.
PR
ROTEST
• Prime n
nesting site
es of the specie:
s
Hope I sland of Coringa Wildlife
W
Sanctuaryy (Andhra Prradesh), Gahirmatha beacch (Odisha), Astaranga
A co
oast (Odisha), Beach
of Rushikkulya River (O
Odisha), Dev
vi River moutth (Odisha), Gulf
G of Mann
nar Marine N
National
Park in Ra
ameswaram..
• IUCN sta
atus: Vulnera
able.
• Wildlife ((Protection) Act 1972: Sc
chedule I
• CITES: Ap
ppendix I
IN NEWS: Offficials of th
he police an
nd forest departments of
o the threee southern States of
Andhra
A Prad
desh, Tamil N
Nadu and Karnataka ha
ave committed themselvves to prote
ecting the
red
r sanderss tree wealth and curtail their illicit felling
g and smugggling from
m out of
Seshachalam
S m forest.
 About Red
d Sanders
• Botanical name is Pte
erocarpus san
ntalinus, it iss a non-fragrant varietyy of sandalw
wood that
mostly gro
ows in rocky,, hilly regions
s.
RE
ED SAND
DERS
• Found in tthe thorny sscrub/dry de
eciduous fore
ests of the ce
entral Decca n.
• The Palak
konda and S
Seshachalam
m hill ranges of
o the state of
o Andhra Praadesh are itss principle
geograph ical range.
• The majo r markets fo
or the wood are China, Ja
apan, the Middle East, SSri Lanka, Bh
hutan and
Nepal.
• It is know n for its rich hue and therapeutic properties and for
f use in cossmetics and medicinal
products a
as well as forr making furn
niture, woodccraft and mu
usical instrum
ments.


• The specie
es is even used for immunity medicine
e in China.
• Listed in the Appen
ndix II of CITES
C (Conv
vention on
Internatio
onal Trade in Endangered
d Species of Wild
W Fauna
and Flora)).
• Listed as N
Near Threattened as perr IUCN.
• The popu
ulation is und
der pressure
e and in declline due to
illegal fellling and hu
uman press
sure on 'red
d sanders'
forests.
• Recently in news- All red sanders farmers, who
w weren’t
allowed tto export their produce, now can export.
e The
Directoratte General o
of Foreign Trrade (DGFT), an agency
of the Mi nistry of Commerce and
d Industry, in
n February
2019 revissed its export policy to permit
p its ex
xport if it is
obtained ffrom cultivatted land.
IN NEWS: Ass 176 Taluks are reeling under drought, the Karrnataka goveernment is h
hoping to
in
nfluence the upcoming m d capture as much waterr as possible from the rain clouds
monsoon and
through cloud
d seeding.
CL
LOUD
SE
EEDING
 What
W is clou
ud seeding?
• It is the p
process thatt uses planes to spray clouds
c with chemicals to
o condense smaller
particles into larger rrain droplets.
• In this pro
ocess, either ssilver iodide
e or dry ice iss dumped on
nto the cloud
ds by using an aircraft
or an artilllery gun whicch leads to a rain shower.
• Cloud seed
ding can hellp to replenish the country's diminishing waterr supplies.
 Who
o started cloud seeding?
• General E lectric (GE)'s Vincent Sch
haefer and Nobel prize winner
w Irving Langmuir co
onfirmed


the theory.
• The first attempt to change natural clouds in the field through "cloud seeding" began during
a New York flight in 1946.
 Application of cloud seeding
• At least 56 countries have used some sort of cloud seeding, according to the World
Meteorological Organization.
• China frequently uses weather modification system to create rainfall during droughts.
• Australia, France, Spain and the US have all tried and tested this methodology.
IN NEWS: A herd of six female elephants surviving under severe anthropogenic stress may be
helped by trans-boundary conservation. These are linked with greater part of the elephants’
habitat that lies in southern Assam’s Patharia Hills Reserve Forest, where a lot of illegal
settlements have come up in the recent decades. Thus, conservation action should be taken up
to conserve the Reserve Forest (RF).
In order to protect the wildlife and their habitats, the two countries —India and Bangladesh
have to join hands.
 About Patharia hills reserve forest
The Patharia hills reserve forest occupies an area of 76.47 square km and is situated on the
western side of Karimganj district of Assam and eastern side of Sylhet district of Bangladesh.
ELEPHANT
 Trans-boundary conservation
CONSERV- • Elephants, like tigers, are among the flagship species of conservation.
ATION • But unlike tigers, the bulk of whose territories falls within protected areas, only about 20 per
cent of the elephant’s range lies in national parks and sanctuaries.
• With forests thinning out, elephants in most parts of the country have dispersed into areas
with high density of human population.
• This migration has meant that humans and elephants compete for the same resources.
• The conflict intensifies when people try to chase away the animals with searchlights, crackers
or guns, making the pachyderms even more aggressive.
• The use of fences to stop elephant migration has also not worked.
• Way forward: Sustained action & collaboration is needed in order to protect the animal and
this includes Trans-boundary conservation.
IN NEWS: Human activities could pose a threat to its specialised breeding biology.
 Soil-dwelling purple frog (Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis)
• The tadpoles are rheophilic, which means they thrive in running water.
PURPLE FROG
• Apart from several other body adaptations, their specialised mouthparts, which are like
suckers, help them to anchor onto rocky areas in flowing water for nearly 100 days.
• Scientists have now found that the speed with which water flows down these streams is one


of the main factors that determine the presence and aggregation of these tadpoles.
IN NEWS: A species of wood snake that wasn’t seen for 140 years has resurfaced in a survey
conducted by scientists in the Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
 About the wood snake
• The species is endemic to the Meghamalai forests and the Periyar Tiger Reserve landscape.
• The local population of wood snakes was last spotted and recorded by British military officer
and naturalist Colonel Richard Henry Beddome in 1878.
• The documentation of the existence of this species will aid in the management and
conservation of biodiversity in this region.
 Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
• Meghamalai popularly called Highways Mountains, is a mountain range situated in

WOOD SNAKE the Western Ghats in Theni district, Tamil Nadu.
• Resident and migratory elephants are common.
• Other animals sighted are tiger, leopard, Nilgiri tahr, gaur, spotted deer, barking deer,
sambar deer, wild boar, porcupine, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur,
bonnet macaque, sloth bear, grey junglefowl, smooth-coated otter and flying squirrel.
 Periyar Tiger Reserve
• It is a protected area near Thekkady in the districts of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta
in Kerala, India.
• The Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Idukki had become the first tiger reserve in the state to use
e-patrolling technology called M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers-Intensive
Protection and Ecological Status), developed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority
(NTCA).
IN NEWS: It was held in Nairobi in Kenya. Participating countries looked forward to a global deal
to curb plastic waste, a source of long-term pollution and worsening contamination of the
ocean’s food chain.
• The UN wants individual countries to sign up to “significantly” to reduce plastic production,
including a phasing out of single-use plastics by 2030 - a goal inspired by the 2015 Paris
UN Agreement on voluntary reductions of carbon emissions.
ENVIRONMENT • In the field of plastic pollution deal like the Paris agreement are absent.
 About UN Environment
MEET
The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) is the leading global
environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent
implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United
Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.


 About UN Environment Assembly
• The United Nations Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body
on the environment.
• It addresses the critical environmental challenges facing the world today.
• Understanding these challenges and preserving and rehabilitating our environment is at the
heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The Environment Assembly meets biennially to set priorities for global environmental
policies and develop international environmental law.
 About Committee of permanent Representatives
• The Committee of Permanent Representatives prepares the meetings of the UN
Environment Assembly and regularly reviews the implementation of its decisions.
• The Committee of Permanent Representatives is composed of all accredited Permanent
Representatives to the United Nations Environment Programme and was formally
established as a subsidiary organ of the Governing Council (now the United Nations
Environment Assembly) in May 1985.
IN NEWS: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will be commissioning a study to
assess the climate risks faced by States in India.
This follows an assessment of the global warming risks faced by 12 Himalayan States — and
discussed in 2018 U.N. climate change conference held in Katowice in Poland — that found
States such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand vulnerable to climate change.
 Methodology
• In this background the IIT Mandi and IIT Guwahati and IISC Bengaluru prepared a
Vulnerability Index for these states based on district level data.
• Eight key parameters were decided on the basis of which a vulnerability score could be
generated. They included: Percentage of area in districts under forests, Yield variability of
CLIMATE food grain, Population density, Female literacy rate, Infant mortality rate, percentage of
population below poverty line (BPL), Average man-days under MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi
VULNERABILITY
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), and the area under slope > 30%.
INDEX • The scale will from 0-1, 1 will indicate the highest possible level of vulnerability. Example -
Assam had a score of 0.72 and Mizoram 0.71, whereas Sikkim, with an index score of 0.42
was relatively less vulnerable.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), through its project, Indian
Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme (IHCAP), has been working towards
strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities in the Himalayas and towards
enhancing the knowledge and capacities of research institutions, communities and decision-
makers.
IHCAP is a bilateral programme between the Government of Switzerland and Government of
India to support the implementation of the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan
Ecosystem (NMSHE).


Under
U IHCAP
P, SDC suppo
orted the dev
velopment of
o a common
n framework for vulnerab
bility and
risk
r assessme
ent for IHR.
IN
N NEWS: The
e newly disccovered starrry dwarf frrog
fu
ull name is Astrobatra
achus kurich
hiyana (gen
nus
Asstrobatrachu s) after its sttarry spots and
a kurichiya
ana
in honour of tthe Kurichiya munity who live
a tribal comm
in the area.
ST
TARRY It is an experrt hider. Plun
nging into le
eaf litter at the
t
sliightest distu
urbance, it has successfully evad
ded
DW
WARF FR
ROG millions of years—until no
atttention for m ow.
 About Kurichiya
• Kurichiya o
or Kurichiya
ar also know
wn as Hill Brahmins or Malai
M Brahm
mins are a m
matrilineal
tribe of Kerrala distributed mainly in Wayanad and Kannur disstricts of Keraala, India.
• Kurichiyanss are one of tthe Schedule
ed Tribes of Kerala
K practiccing agricultu
ure.
IN
N NEWS: Con
nservationistss have found
d a dead vaq
quita porpoisse, a criticallyy endangered
d marine
an
nimal in a fish
h net off the coast of Mex
xico.
 VAQUITA PORPOISE
• Range: The
e vaquita live
es only in the shallow wa
aters of the upper Gulf o
of California, Mexico,
where the C
Colorado Rivver empties in
nto the Gulf. Vaquita rare
ely venture beeyond this sm
mall area
and are con
nsidered to h
have the mos
st restricted range.
r
• Population
n: 18 (world’ss most endan
ngered marin
ne mammal)
• Conservat ion Status: IUCN Red List - Critically Endangered
E
• Mentioned in CITES App
pendix-I
 Threats to survival
VA
ANQUITA
A • Bycatch (a
accidental ca
atch) in nets intended forr fish and shrrimp (primariily illegal fishing).
PO
ORPOISE
E • The primarry threat to vvaquitas is en
ntanglement in fishing gear,
g includiing in nets se
et for the
totoaba, a ccritically endangered species found in
n the same arrea.
• Totoaba sw
wim bladderrs are illega
ally exported
d to Asia to make soup
p perceived to have
medicinal p
properties.
 Evolutiona
arily Distinct and Globa
ally Endange
ered (EDGE)) species
• The Vaquitta Marina ha
as been clas
ssified as on
ne of the to
op 100 evolu
utionary disttinct and
globally end
dangered (ED
DGE) mamma
als in the world.
• Evolutionarrily Distinct a
and Globally Endangered (EDGE) speciies are animaal species wh
hich have
a high EDG
GE score, a m
metric combining endang
gered conservation statuss with distincctiveness
of taxon.
• Distinctive species have
e few closely
y related spe
ecies, and ED
DGE speciess are often tthe only


surviving m
member of ttheir genus.
• The extincttion of such species wou
uld therefore represent a disproportiionate loss o
of unique
evolutionarry history, bio
odiversity and potential fo
or future evo
olution.
• The Zoolog
gical Society
y of London
n (ZSL) has launched a global
g conseervation initia
ative, the
EDGE of Exxistence Prog
gramme to raise
r awaren
ness and fun
nds for the cconservation of these
species.
In
n this year’s report, Austtria’s capital, Vienna, ha
as succeeded
d in displaciing Melbourne in
Au
ustralia from
m the stop.
• This index iis prepared b
by The Econo
omist’s intelligence unitt.
• The index a
assesses whicch global cities provide th
he best or the
e worst livingg conditions.
• Global Live
eability Index
x released by
y EIU compa
ares world ciities with ea ch other in terms of
security, a
affordability,, education, healthcare,, its urban liifestyle and infrastructu
ure.
GL
LOBAL
LIVEABILIT
TY
IN
NDEX

Hisstoryy, HEERITAAGE & Cultture

# GGS Paper (PPrelims) & GS Paper I (Main)
In caase of water scarcity noow becomin ng a huge isssue of conceern and alon ng with
RA
ANI KI VAVV the prediction o of the bleakk monsoon, thet artists, academician
a ns and residdents
# Medieval
M Inndia # of G
Gujarat have e come together to save e the deterio orating step
pwells in theeir
statte, particularly Rani Ki Vav.
V In this respect,
r let us
u understa and some ba asic
Artt and info
ormation pertaining to these
t historrically and ecologically ssignificant
Architeccture steppwells in Guujarat.
 RAN
NI KI VAV: KEY FEATURES
• Rani-ki-Vav, or the ‘queen’s ste

epwell’ is loca
ated in
Gujara
at’s Patan ciity.
• It is believed to
o have bee
en built by Rani
Udaya emory of her husband Bhimdev
amati, in me
I, the founder
f of th
he Solanki dy
ynasty of Pa
atan.
• The construction
c began in 1063 A.D. and
Loc
cation and continued for seve
eral years.
His
storical
• av was later fflooded by th
The Va he Saraswati River
Sig
gnificance
and sillted over unttil 1960s, whe
en it was excavated
by the Archaeologi cal Survey off India.
• It is esstimated thatt Vav had nearly 800 scullptures of which approximately 500 aare found in pristine
condition.
• It is an
n architectura
al marvel so ffamous that it made it to
o the new 100
1 currencyy note last y
year.
• This 11
1th century ssubterranean
n water storage system ha
appens to alsso be a Worl d Heritage S
Site.
• Rani-ki-Vav is a h ighly decora

ated monum
ment with ornamented panels
p of scu
ulptures and
d reliefs
repressenting the h eight of Marru-Gurjara sttyle of architecture.
• Most of
o the sculpttures are in devotion of Vishnu, in the
t forms off Dashavata r, with eye-ccatching
Asp
pects of Art images of Varaha, Narasimha
a, Rama and Kalki.
and • ularly beauttiful statue of
There is a particu o Mahishas
sur-Mardini -the
- er Goddess slaying
Mothe
Arc
chitecture demon Mahishasu nt styles of makeup
ur. Apsaras – the celestial beauties showcasing 16 differen
(Solah Singar) is an
nother highlig
ght.
• Near the
t water levvel, there is a carving off Sheshashay
yi Vishnu, in
n which the lord recliness on the
and-hooded serpent Shessha.
thousa
 REL
LATED INFO
ORMATION: STEPWELLS IN GUJARAT
T
His
storical • Gujarat once hoste
ed thousandss of stepwells
s, especially in
i the arid arreas where tthey were sources of
dev
velopment life-sav
ving potable w
water.

History, Heritage & Culture
of stepwells • Many of them were built on ancient trade routes. They were also used to irrigate crops.
• The earliest stepwells can be found in Saurashtra, and date back to the 4th or 5th century CE.
• But the form got its full artistic voice during the 10th and 15th centuries, when artisans of the Solanki
and post-Solanki era infused art forms of that time into subterranean shrines.
• Sevasi Vav on the outskirts of Vadodara is more than 500 years old but now in a very poor
condition.
• It is seven-storeyed and its intricate design is barely visible through the poorly maintained facade.
• The pillars on which the structure stands bear delicate designs, of deities, elephants, floral motifs.
• Other important stepwells include “Rudabai in Adalaj near Gandhinagar, which like Rani-ki-Vav,
also has much ornamentation.
• At Junagadh, we find Adi-Kadi Vav which is built from the rocks of the Girnar mountain.
• The Bai Harir stepwell in Ahmedabad is octagonal and reflects the medieval Sultanate architecture.
• The upkeep of the stepwells is the responsibility of the State archaeology department.
• Stepwells have a fascinating connection with women.

• Out of the several hundred stepwells excavated so far, 25% were built by women — queens,
royalty, wives of merchants, ordinary women, courtesans, servants — who hoped for religious
Social and recognition or to attain immortality through the gift of water.
Ecological • Stepwells were considered ‘women’s spaces’, where women came not just to fill their pots, but also
Significance lingered to talk uninhibitedly with other women, away from the public eye.
• Stepwells lost their role as sources of drinking water during the British Raj, and more so when
borewells came in.
• If cleaned, they can still serve as catchment areas.
VEERABHADRASWAMY Recently, the locals of Motupalli village have put forward a

TEMPLE, MOTUPALLI petition to revive a historic temple of Veerabhadraswamy
located in their village. In this respect, let us understand some
#Early Medieval India #Art and basic information pertaining to this ancient site and temple.
Culture
 MOTUPALLI: KEY INFORMATION
• Motupalli village is located in the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh in Chinnaganjam mandal of
Prakasam district.
• Motupalli has been an important port with flourishing trade with South Asian countries
Location and
especially during the medieval period.
Historical
• The village is also referred to as ‘Mohanagiripuram’.
Significance
• This port has been referred in the accounts of Italian merchant Marco Polo who visited the
Motupalli in the 13th century, when Rudramadevi, the Kakatiya Empress, was ruling
Andhradesa, according to archaeologists.

Historyy, Heritag e & Culturre
• He spoke
s abou
ut the finest
qualitty of muslin and diamon
nds
exporrted from th is area.
• This port
p had bee
en occupied by
majorr south Ind
dian dynastties
includ
ding Satav
vahanas a
and
Chola
as, however it gained ma
ajor
prominence unde
er the Kakatiiya
dynas
sty.
• The prominence of this port
contin
nued during the regimess of
Reddy
y kings and also Bahma
ani Sultans.
• Motupalli decline d gradually w
with the adve
ent of the Brritishers on the
t East coasst who focussed their
tradin
ng activities mostly from
m Machilipattnam (locate esent Krishnaa district of Andhra
ed in the pre
Prade
esh)
• Excav
vations taken
n up by the A
Archaeology Department
D had led to unearthing off Chinese wa
are and
Important
coppe
er coins of t he Ming dyn
nasty.
arc
chaeologicall
• Coins
s belonging to the Cho
ola era alon
ng with bron
nze articles
s and potte
ery have alsso been
exc
cavations
unearrthed.
 VEER
RABHADRAS
SWAMY TEM
MPLE: KEY IN
NFORMATION
• Veerabhadra
V swamy temp
ple was built during the re
eign of Chola
a dynasty.
• Ve
eerabhadraswamy is a fie
ery form of Lord
L Shiva.
• This temple conta
ains inscriptions in Telug
gu and Tamil.
• The templle also hosts Panchaloha
a idols of god
ds and godde
esses includin
ng that of Lo
ord Nataraja
a in dancing p
posture
and Bhad
drakali.
• This temple has remained clo
osed after Arrchaeology Dept. took it over for conse
ervation and preservation
n.
TH
HEYYAM M Theyyam m is a uniqu
ue pantheisttic art form of Kerala. In
n contempo orary times, it is
facing in
ncreased thhreats of gen
ntrification and
a Brahminisation, th hus paving th he way
DANCE for the d
destruction of the sacred groves where
w it was born. In thiis respect, le
et us
# Art annd understtand some k key information pertain ning to this art
a form and d the threatts
surrounnding it.
Culturre
KNOW A
ABOUT THEY
YYAM DANC
CE
• A Theyyam is a ritua
alistic dance
e performance belonging
g to the state of Kerala.
Key
y
• In this art
a form, pan
ntheistic deitties are summoned to th
he body of th
he performin
ng man, one
e who is
Infformation
almost always
a from a subaltern ccommunity.

• This pe
erforming m
man himselff is known as
Theyyya
am and itt is believved that while
w
perform
ming deities p
possess his bo
ody.
• These performances
p s are carried
d in the anc
cient
sacred groves of K erala called
d kaavu, whic
ch is
a small rainforest.
• The ritu
ualistic art form is anccient, preda
ating
organise
ed Hinduism back to a time of
m and going b
tribal animism.
• Spirit-wo p, tree-worship, animal worship,
orship, ance stor-worship w serpent-worship,, the worship
p of the
goddessses of diseas e and the wo
orship of the Graamadeva
ata or village god, all are p
part of the T
Theyyam
cult.
• This cultt has been a folk religion
n for millions and the num
mber of majo
or deities surrviving now is about
100, while the numb
ber of Theyya
ams is more than
t 400.
• ms are perfo
Theyyam ormed in saccred groves and other places
p usually once in a year and iss known
as Kaliy
yattam. That which is perfformed after many years is known as Perumkaliya
attam.
• There ha
as always be
een an unmisstakable umb
bilical link bettween Theyya
am and natu re.
Eco
ological
• A Theyy
yam as discu ssed perform
ms within the
e heart of th
he groves wh
hich in turn aare protected
d as the
Sig
gnificance
residencce of the deitties.
of this art
forrm • This dan
nce form thu
us has proved
d to be instru
umental in arrresting the destruction
d o
of the grovess even in
modern
n times.
• When th
he Theyyam w
was a sacred
d ritual, the fo
orest, the deity’s domain, was the perfformance spa
ace.
• Slowly, over
o the yearrs, as the The
eyyam has in
ncreasingly been markete
ed as a touriist attraction, it has
become
e less ritual an
nd more entertainment.
• This hass meant thatt the dance a
aspect of it ha
as taken precedence ove
er the space aand indeed o
over the
sacred ittself.
• This, in turn,
t has imp anctity of the forests or ka
pacted the sa aavu, and the
ey are cut do
own carelesssly.
Threats to
• Besides the ecologiccal consequence of such a developme
ent, a second
d threat of Brrahminisation looms
thiis art form
large ov
ver the panth
heistic originss and identity
y of Theyyam.
and Kaavus
• A gradu
ual Brahmin isation of th
his art form has
h shifted th
he primal deities from thee rock and th
he wood
of the sa
acred grovess they used to
o inhabit.
• They are
e now lodge d in brick-an
nd-mortar temple structtures outside
e the sacred ggrove along w
with the
Theyyam
ms.
• They are
e worshipped
d through rittuals unfamiliar to the ele
emental deities, and theirr favour is m
mediated
by the priestly
p classe
es which in tu
urn has changed the basicc meaning be
ehind this art
rt form.

B
BHAGAT T SINGH H’S Bhaggat Singh wa as an Indian socialist rev
volutionaryy whose twoo acts of
drammatic violenc ce against th
he British in
n India and eexecution att age of
DEAT TH 23 m
made him a folkf hero of the
t Indian independen ce moveme ent. In
ANNIVERSA ARY this rrespect, let us understaand, some off his importtant contributions
durinng the indep pendence movement.
m
# Modern Indiaa # Personaality
BHAGAT SINGH
• Bhagatt Singh was b

born in 1907 in Punjab.
• He stu
udied at the
e Dayanand Anglo Vedic High Schoo
ol started by
y the Arya
Samaj..
• In 1923
3, he joined tthe National college at Lahore.
Pro
ofile
• He alsso worked a s a writer a
and editor in
n Amritsar fo
or Punjabi- and
a Urdu-
langua
age newspap ers espousin
ng Marxist the
eories.
• He is credited
c with
h popularizin
ng the catchp
phrase “Inqu
uilab zindaba
ad” (“Long
live the
e revolution””).
Ass
sociations • 1926: Bhagat
B Singh
h founded the
e Indian socialist youth orrganisation Naujawan
N Bh
harat Sabha
a.
sta
arted and • 1924: Hindustan Republican Association
n was founde
ed which wa
as later renaamed to Hin
ndustan
joined by him Socialiist Republica
an Associatiion.
• 1928: HSRA
H was joi ned by Bhag
gat Singh.
• 1928, Lahore
L Consspiracy Case
e:
 SP Sco
ott had ord ered brutal lathicharge
e on Lala Lajpat
L Rai during
d proteests against Simon
comm
mission, which
h resulted in the death off the latter.
 As a result,
r HSRA decided to avenge Lala
a’s death an
nd Bhagat Singh,
S Sukhd
dev, Jai Gop
pal and
Rajgurru planned tto kill SP Sco
ott.
Rev
volutionary  Howev
ver, they kille
ed DSP J.P. Sa
aunders, conffusing him ass Scott.
Acttivities • 1929: Throwing
T bo
omb in the C
Central assembly, Delhi
 Bhaga
at Singh and
d Batukeshw ew a bomb in the Central Legislative assembly to protest
war Dutt thre
against Public safe
ety bill.
 This bill was introd
duced to sto
op Commun
nist moveme
ent in India by cutting iit off from B
British &
n communistt organization
foreign ns.
• After bombing,
b the
ey voluntarily surrendered
d.
• Singh was
w barely 17
7 when he pu
ublished his first article, in 1924, in Ma
atwala, a Hiindi magazin
ne from
ect of his article was ‘Universal Broth
Calcuttta. The subje herhood’,
Literary
• He wass also consci ous of the in
nternational revolutionary
r y struggles an
nd ideologiess, which is evvident in
Contributions,,
his thrree-part artiicle on anarc
chism (1928).
ide
eology and
• In 1931
1, Bhagat Sin
ngh wrote a p
pamphlet “W
Why am I an Atheist”
A whille in jail.
Inffluences
• From Bhagat
B Singh
h’s letters and
d writings, it is evident that he was inffluenced by K
Karl Marx, M
Mazzini,
Gariba y, Rousseau, Voltaire and
aldi, Tolstoy d Gorky.

• He stro
ongly critique
ed the practice of untouchability an
nd communa
alism and ad
dvocated the
e idea of
a plura
al and inclussive India.
• Bhagatt Singh expre
essed his dissenchantmen
nt with the po
olitics of Lala
a Lajpat Rai, whom he an
nd other
youth otherwise ve
enerated.
• He criitiqued Lala
aji’s growing
g proximity to
t the Hindu
u Mahasabh
ha and otheer communa
al forces
during
g the 1920s.
• Bhagatt Singh was h

hanged in 19
931 at a young age of 23
3.
• 1931, Gandhi-Irwin
G n Pact (Delh
hi Pact):
 Lord Irrwin rejected Gandhi’s demand of com
mmuting Bhagat Singh’s death
d penaltyy to life sente
ence.
Death  Bhaga
at Singh wass hanged alo
ong with Rajjguru & Suk awk, Lahore on 23rd
khdev, at Shadman Cha
March
h,1931, for th
he Lahore Conspiracy case
e.
• Now 23rd
2 March is observed as Martyrs
s' Day or Sh
haheed Diw
was in honou
ur of Bhagat Singh,
Sukhde
ev and Rajgu
uru.
ANNGKOR A recent sttudy publish

hed in the Proceedings of the Natio onal Academ my of
Sciences (P
PNAS), has shed
s light on
n the causess that mightt have led to
o the
#Meedieval Histtory #Art decline of A
Angkor. In this
t respect,, let us unde
erstand som
me basic asp pects
and Archhitecture pertaining
g to this meddieval site.
 ANG
GKOR: KEY IN
NFORMATION
• Angkor is one of the

e most impo
ortant archae
eological sites
h-East Asia.
in South
• It is loccated in Cam
mbodia’s northern proviince of Siem
m
Reap.
Loc
cation
• It was the capital o
of the Khme
er Kingdom which lasted
d
from 802 CE to 1431 CE.
• It was a Hindu-Budd
dhist empire
e.
• Angkor is a UNESCO
O World Heritage Site.
• Angkor Archaeologiccal Park conttains the ma

agnificent rem
mains of the
e different caapitals of the
e Khmer
Empire, from the 9th
h to the 15th century.
• nclude the fa
These in famous temp
ple of Angko
or Wat which is considered to be th
he largest re
eligious
complex in the worlld.
Maajor
• Angkor Wat was inittially dedicate
ed to Lord Vishnu;
V howe
ever, it later became a B uddhist pilg
grimage
Tem
mples
site.
• Anotherr important ttemple is the
e Bayon tem
mple with itss countless sculptural de corations loccated at
Angkor Thom.
• Angkor’ss temple con
nstruction be
egan under the
t reign of King Suryav
varmana II and was com
mpleted

under King Jayavarmana VII.

• In the 15th Century, the Khmer kings abandoned this city and moved to the coast. They built a new
city, Phnom Penh, the present-day capital of Cambodia.
• Different theories have been put forward by different scholars with respect to the decline or
Decline of desertification of the Angkor area.
Angkor: • In this respect, the recent study by National Academy of Sciences has suggested the city of Angkor
Recent underwent a gradual decline in occupation rather than an abrupt collapse.
observations • The study has pointed out that Angkor demise was not caused by the Ayutthayan (Siamese
kingdom located in present day-Thailand) invasion or by infrastructural failure, but a gradual
demographic shift by the urban elite.
NEWS Snippets
IN NEWS: The Thakurani jatra festival was recently celebrated in Berhampur.
• The Thakurani Jatra festival is celebrated biennially in Berhampur Ganjam district,
Odisha.
• The festival is celebrated in honour of Goddess Budhi Thakurani who is considered as the
istadevi of Silk city Berhampur.
• During the festival, Goddess Budhi Thakurani is taken from the main temple at Thakurani
Temple Street to her temporary abode at Desibehera Street, where she stays till the
THAKURANI
festival ends.
JATRA • Originally the goddess was worshipped by the Dera people, a weaver community of
FESTIVAL Rajmuhendry on their set up at Brahmapur in its early days.
• The hereditary head of the festival, who is also regarded as the head of the weaver Dera
community of the city, Desibehera, dressed in his traditional attire, visits the Budhi Maa
Thakurani temple.
• He then invites the goddess to her parental abode at his home.
• Berhampur is famous for its silk sarees and handloom cloth.
• The Berhampur patta sari and joda (dhoti) has been accorded with GI tag.
IN NEWS: Doul Utsav is synonymous with Holi. It incorporates some unique rituals that sets it
apart from the traditional features of Holi celebrated in India.
• Holi which is ‘played’ in most parts of India but this festival is ‘sung’ in a part of Assam, where
it goes by another name known as Doul Utsav.
DOUL UTSAV
• Doul Utsav is celebrated at Barpeta in western Assam particularly in Barpeta Satra.
• Barpeta Satra is a Vaishnav monastery which was established by Madhabdev in 1583.
• Madhabdev was the prime disciple of Srimanta Sankardeva, the saint-reformer who
inspired the Bhakti movement in Assam around the time Guru Nanak, Kabir and Chaitanya

Mahaprabhu.
• Madhabdev wrote a few Doul songs for ritualistic celebration of this festival.
• The traders of Barpeta (a major commercial centre for centuries) have made the common
man’s Doul songs popular.
• These traders introduced Holi songs which were borrowed heavily from Bengali folk music.
• More than a century ago, a group of nationalist poets, writers and musicians began writing
Assamese Holi songs that are divided into two categories of Holi songs — folk and
monastic — that people sing while playing with colours.
• However, the folk songs have no place in the Barpeta Satra where the monastic songs
accompany rituals.
• Doul generally lasts for three or five days, depending on the Hindu month — Chaitra or
Faagun — and planetary positions.
IN NEWS: Recently, archaeological excavations were undertaken by a group of researchers and

students of the University of Kerala in Kutch (Gujarat) that have shed light on the custom and
burial rituals that were prevalent during the early Harappan phase.
• The excavations have unearthed several skeletal remains from a cemetery-like burial
site where 26 graves out of the nearly 300-odd ones were excavated.
• The graves were rectangular with varying dimensions and were assembled using stones.
• They contained the skeletons that were placed in a specific manner.
EARLY • Skeletons were oriented east-west with the heads positioned on the eastern side.
• Next to the legs on the western side, the archaeologists found earthen pots and pottery
HARRAPPAN shards and other artefacts, including conch-shell bangles, beads made of stones and
PHASE terracotta, numerous lithic tools and grinding stones.
GRAVES: • The presence of animal skeletons along with those of humans were also recorded in a few
graves.
KUTCH • The researchers found the mode of burial to be non-uniform which is considered to be a
unique feature.
• The researchers have also claimed that the mud pots found in the graves bore similarities
with those that were unearthed from other Harappan sites in Kot Diji, Amri and Nal in
Pakistan, Nagwada, Santhali, Moti Pipli and Ranod in North Gujarat, and Surkotada
and Dhaneti in Kutch.
• This in turn sheds light on the trade network that could have existed during the early
phase of the Harappan civilisation from 3300 BCE to 2600 BCE.

SECURITY
# GS Paper III (Main)
IN NEWS: The problem of infiltration across Indian Borders has again come to the forefront with
the recent Pulwama Attack. Keeping this in mind, the Home Ministry has upgraded its effort to
secure Indian Borders. A step in this direction is its initiative of Smart Fencing under CIBMS,
namely, BOLD-QIT initiative.
 Why there is need for Smart fencing?
• Border Security Force (BSF) personnel has detected numerous cross-border tunnels which are
designed to facilitate the easy infiltration across Indian borders. Such infiltrations are
undertaken to carryout terrorist attack, prominent these being the Pathankot and Uri terrorist
attacks in 2016.
• These incidents have not only raised serious concerns about the efficacy of the existing border
security system in preventing such breaches but also raised the pressing demand for the
deployment of high-tech border surveillance systems.
 Response of the Home Ministry
• The use of high-tech solutions for border security was being considered by the Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA) since 2012 when it released an Expression of Interest (EoI) for a
Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS).
SMART • In 2014, the BSF also submitted a detailed report on CIBMS to the MHA.
The trigger for implementing the CIBMS was the Pathankot terrorist attack, which took place
FENCING •
on the intervening night of January, 2016.
 What is CIBMS?
• It is basically an integration of humans and technology with the Command and Control
centre at the heart of it. An important component of the CIBMS is the use of satellite
imagery, which helps security forces to find out details of the terrain and fortifications across
the border.
• Apart from that it also involves deployment of a range of state-of-the-art surveillance
technologies such as thermal imagers, infra-red and laser-based intruder alarms, sonar
systems to secure riverine borders, fibre-optic sensors etc.
Union Home Minister has launched the project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT
Interception Technique) under CIBMS.
 What is BOLD-QIT?
It is the project to install technical systems under the Comprehensive Integrated Border
Management System (CIBMS), which enables BSF to equip Indo-Bangla borders with different kind
of sensors in unfenced riverine area of Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

Security
 Significance of the project

• The implementation of this project will not only help BSF to curb all type of cross border crimes
but also provide respite to the troops from round the clock human surveillance.
• Further, it will help in integration of manpower, sensors, networks, intelligence and command
and control solutions to improve situational awareness at different levels of hierarchy to
facilitate prompt and informed decision making and quick reaction to emerging situations.
IN NEWS: India concluded India-Pacific Dialogue to strengthen its Strategic Stronghold across the
Indian Ocean.
Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue: It is a dialogue whereby global strategic community engages in
an annual review of India’s opportunities and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Conceptualization: The idea of an Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) was first conceptualized
and conducted in 2018, as the apex level conference of the Indian Navy, organized by the National
Maritime Foundation as the Navy’s Knowledge Partner.
Aim of the dialogue: The aim is to focus attention on the Indo-Pacific, as a maritime
geographical-entity, while deliberating aspects of great relevance to regional geopolitics.
 Themes of 2019 edition of this dialogue
INDO-PACIFIC
The second edition of Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) held recently in New Delhi. This
REGIONAL dialogue will examine five fresh themes:
DIALOGUE (i) Practical solutions for achieving cohesion in the region through maritime connectivity;
(ii) Measures to attain and maintain a free-and-open Indo-Pacific;
(iii) A regional approach to the region’s transition from a ‘Brown’ to a ‘Blue’ economy;
(iv) Opportunities and challenges arising from the maritime impact of ‘Industry 4.0’; and
(v) How the twin conceptualizations of ‘SAGAR’ and ‘SAGARMALA’ might best be made mutually-
reinforcing on a regional level.
Countries participating in the dialogue: This year’s dialogue has witnessed active participation
of globally-renowned domain experts and policy-makers from thirteen countries of the Indo-
Pacific — Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Seychelles, Singapore,
South Korea, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
IN NEWS: India-France sealed agreement on Maritime Security. For this, ISRO and CNES has
sealed an agreement to set up a joint maritime surveillance system in the country to strengthen
maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
MARITIME  Things to know
SECURITY • The two nations will explore putting up a constellation of low-Earth orbiting satellites that will
identify and track movement of ships globally – and in particular those moving in the Indian
Ocean region where France has its Reunion Islands.
• The two agencies have put up two climate and ocean weather monitoring satellites Megha-

Security
Tropiques (of 2011) and SARAL-AltiKa (2013) that are considered a model.
• This fleet will be augmented with the launch of Oceansat-3-Argos mission in 2020.
IN NEWS: With India undertaking operations against terrorist outfits in Pakistan. Recent shift in
India’s approach offers Strategic advantages for India.
 Strategic Advantages to India
• It showed the willingness of India to strike Pakistani heartland and thereby move beyond the
earlier policy of strategic restraint.
• It served its intention of demonstrating to Pakistan that India has “capacity and will” to target
terrorist camps in a controlled skirmish in Pakistan heartland without escalating to war.
• The idea that India has a right to non-military pre-emptive self-defence action against Pakistan
has been legitimised by the support of the major great powers.
• India's policy has shifted from passive defence to active defence. Indian security forces used
to wait to confront Pakistani proxies on Indian soil, however now by striking specifically those
targets in Pakistani soil, India has moved to active defence.
• It has increased the cost for Pakistan whereby earlier, Pakistan only paid for promoting the
BALAKOT proxy war in India, however now Pak. would also have to pay for India's retaliation against such
proxy war.
• Indian strikes increase the international visibility of Pakistani terrorism and thereby the role of
Pakistan's supporters such as China and Saudi Arabia to persuade Pakistan to reduce terrorism
would also be under more international scrutiny.
 Future Recommendation
• India should follow a dual perspective Pakistan policy:
o first to develop a sophisticated counterterrorism strategy against Pakistan, and
o secondly form a peaceful vision of coexistence with Pakistan.
• India must engage the civilian government and the Pakistani people so as to ensure a balanced
carrot and stick policy.
This would also ensure that Indian strikes degrade the role of Pakistani army in Pakistan politics
and increase strength of those in Pakistan that may work towards reducing terrorism.
Military Exercises
#security
• Africa-India Joint Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-19) between the Indian Army and 16
African nations will be conducted in Pune.
AFINDEX-19
• Contingents from Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Namibia,
Mozambique, Uganda, Niger & Zambia are part of the joint exercise together with officers from

Security
Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar as Observers.

• AFINDEX-19 aims to train the participating contingents in Humanitarian Mine Assistance
(HMA) and Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) under the United Nations Charter through
practical and comprehensive discussions and tactical exercises.
• The joint exercise will also focus on achieving interoperability, learning each other’s
methodologies and tactics through synchronised operational level planning and tactical level
training.
• As part of India Bangladesh defence cooperation, eighth edition of India-Bangladesh Joint

Military Exercise was conducted in Bangladesh in 2019.
• The military exercise Sampriti began in 2009 as a platoon-level exercise and graduated to a
Sampriti 2019 company-level exercise in 2015 onwards.
• The aim of the exercise is to increase mutual cooperation, bonhomie and camaraderie
between the two armies through interoperability and joint tactical exercises.
• Exercise Al Nagah, third in the series of bilateral joint exercise between India and Oman took
place at Jabel Al Akhdar Mountains in Oman.
• India-Oman bilateral security ties have continued to develop since the beginning of India-
Al Nagah Oman Joint Military Cooperation meetings in 2006.
2019 • Exercise Al Nagah III follows the first two joint exercises that were held in Oman in January
2015 and India in March 2017 respectively.
• Al Nagah 2019 will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for
each other’s military as also facilitate in tackling the worldwide phenomenon of terrorism.
• Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) concluded a three-day
Mainamati Maitree Exercise 2019 as a part of confidence-building measures between the two
border guards.
Mainamati • The exercise was named after Mainamati hill range situated 8 km west of Comilla Township
in Bangladesh, which is home to an ancient Buddhist archaeological site in the region.
Maitree
• The objective of Mainamati Maitree was to plan and conduct anti-smuggling and anti-criminal
Exercise 2019 activity related operations with an aim to achieve better joint operational efficiency and border
management in the area.
• The exercise involved joint patrolling, anti-smuggling drills, simulated raids on suspected
places in both the countries and checking of goods and identity at international check posts.

Miscellaneous
GENERAL ELECTION 2019
#GO AND VOTE
When is the Election? Lok Sabha elections are scheduled from 11 Apr – 23 May, 2019. Please visit electoralsearch.in to
check your exact date.
Phase 1 - 11th Apr
Phase 2 - 18th April
Phase 3 - 23rd April
Phase 4 - 29th April
Phase 5 - 6th May
Phase 6 - 12th May
Phase 7 - 19th May
How to vote? You can only vote if your name appears in the Voter List (also known as electoral roll). Verify your name on
the list by either:
 Logging on to electoralsearch.in
 Calling the Voter Helpline 1950 (please add your STD code before dialling)
 SMS <ECI> space <EPIC No> to 1950 (EPIC stands for Electors Photo Identity Card also commonly known as Voter ID
card). Example - If your EPIC is 12345678 then sms ECI 12345678 to 1950
 Download Voter Helpline App
 Voters can go to electoralsearch.in or use Voter Helpline App to find their polling booth.
 For voting process, please see the Voter Guide on http://ecisveep.nic.in/
ID needed: Voters can carry any of the recognised ID cards for polling, 'Voter ID' card is not compulsory:
 EPIC (Voter ID card)
 Passport
 Driving License
 Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/Public Limited Companies
 Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office
 PAN Card
 Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR
 MNREGA Job Card (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee)
 Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour
 Pension document with photograph
 Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs
 Aadhaar Card
Results: Election results will be announced on 23rd May. Please note Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Orissa and
Sikkim Vidhan Sabha elections will be held in parallel to Lok Sabha Elections. Please check eci.gov.in for more information.

M
Miscellan eous
THE VER RDICT

# BBOOKS AND AUTHORS
A
G
Genre: Polity
A
Author: Prannoy Roy, Dorrab R. Sopariwala
F
Flow of the b
book: Is an in
nteresting rea
ad...
• It has some interesting g trivia: for insstance, betw
ween 1952 an nd 1998, pape er ballots
in Indian eelections costt at least a million
m trees. How
H many trrees have been saved
after India moved to electronic votting machines? You could d use the numbers in
this book tto make a callculation.
• The book helps us und derstand the evolving nature of the IIndian electo orate and
its politics in both the long term and the more e immediate perspective e. A naive
optimism a and public trust in politiciians led to re
epeated re-ellection of inccumbents
in the earlly phase of the
t republic, followed by frustration aand anger le eading to
incumbentts being voted out furioussly.
• The pro-in ncumbency period tran nsitioned to anti-incumb bency in 19 977 and
continued until 2002.
• According to the book, now we are living in the Fifty-Fifty Erra, the authors tell us,
which is no ot pro- or anti-incumbenccy. The autho ors offer a qu
ualitative exp
planation
for this phhenomenon — governme ents which perform
p are re-elected and those
that don’t aare rejected.
BEL LT AND ROAD

# BBOOKS AND AUTHORS
A
Genre: Interrnational Geo
opolitics
Author: Bruno Macaes
Flow of thee book: Is an
n interesting read on a massive
m globbal project wwhich has
doubts, dilem
mmas aboutt Chinese heg gemony but also fuellingg aspirationss for long
term growthh and develop
pment.
• The westeern political and econom
mic model haas dominated d the world ssince the
early 180
00s. The dom main went th
hrough many y ups and ddowns, like thhe world
wars and the Holocaust and end of the colonial system, butt endured.
• The arriva
al of a new domain,
d knowwn as the ‘Belt and Road d Initiative’, is thus of
great histtoric significa
ance. First of
o all such a daring initiaative is posssible only
when the e core is con nfident of providing an epoch-shapin
e ng leadership p for the
process.
• It explainss how BRI is not just a name and a wa ay to assert C
China’s overw
whelming
economicc and politica al might but it argues, th hrough a luciid presentation of all
segmentss of the projeect, that it is in
n fact a futurre map of thee world.
• The best part of the book is its detailed preseentation of tthe ideas behind this
landmark k project. Though
T Chinna’s territorrial disputess with seve eral key
neighbours like India and the disp
pute in the South
S China SSea are bein
ng closely
observed, the author makes it ammply clear thaat the philosoophical found
dation of
aceful.
BRI is pea

ETHICS, INTEGRITY & APTITUDE

# GS Paper IV (Main)
VICTORY OVER SELF

#Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
With respect to above, this section has combined some daily practices, modes of inculcating self-discipline for
bringing ethical behavioural changes in one’s personality, approach and aptitude. Along with this, the purpose is
to show that the intent of UPSC is to check general personality traits of a person, where common daily habits
can help in answering many questions in the examination. For this, given below are some LIFE LESSONS
followed by some of the UPSC Topics asked in Essay papers.
READ, ENJOY, PONDER AND ADOPT !

------------------------------------------------------------------
 THE BEGINNING
• The greatest purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.

• For this, you need to discover your calling (Lakshya) because life should not be lived on a default
mode but in a properly planned manner.
Discover • Life has a habit of acting on you as it overpowers a person, and as a result, days become weeks,
yourself weeks become months, and months slip into years. This scenario leaves behind a regret over a life
half-lived.
• So after a life half-lived, a question naturally emerges….”What would you do if you could live your
life over again?” Naturally, you will not like to repeat similar mistakes.
• Is it difficult to maintain focus? Are you overpowered by your thoughts, inertia and problems?
• Try to question yourself now….”Are the problems you have experienced or the challenges you
Maintain your
might currently be facing really as serious as you have made them out to be?”
focus
• Our lives are just a blip in the realm of time so have your focus and develop wisdom to enjoy the
journey and savour the process.
• The golden thread of a highly successful and meaningful life is self-discipline.

• A good sportsperson is highly self-disciplined so as to improve on daily process.
Develop self- • For a student, self-discipline is to learn new things on daily basis, and the cumulative effect of daily
discipline sustained learning will naturally be seen in the examination.
• Self-discipline basically requires toughness with oneself so as to overcome deviations and desires.
• This tough love with yourself is actually the greatest gift to yourself because it is due to self-

Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude
discipline only that you can make your life meaningful and rewarding.
• A positive start to a day is half the work done.

• Silent contemplation is required for atleast 15 minutes on how the day is going to be unfolded for
Have a reaping positive dividends.
positive start • For next 15 minutes, read and focus on a positive story, or a piece of literature so that early morning
infuses and enlightens every remaining hour of the day.
• So start your day well and this is the beginning of right self-discipline.
 ART OF PERSONAL PROGRESS
• It develops by keeping small promises intact.

• We tend to promise a lot in a daily conversations whether with others or with ourselves.
• The most common promise that we break is ‘New Year Resolution’, and similarly we break many on
Develop an
daily basis for eg. promising somebody to meet or call but we fail to abide. All these reflect basic
honesty
dishonesty and it tends to increase regularly.
policy
• To become honest, start respecting and abiding with promises and this is the start of an ethical
honest life.
• Be a person of your word rather than being “all talk and no action”.
• The mantra is selecting a phrase that will train you to focus your mind. For e.g.
 For inner peace and calm…”I am so grateful that I am a serene and tranquil person”;
 For confidence…..”I am delighted that I am full of confidence and endless courage”;
Regularly talk
 For material prosperity…..”I am so grateful that money and opportunity is flowing into my life”.
to yourself
• Repeat your mantras softly like chants so as to calm your nerves.
• According to Hazarat Inayat Khan (Sufi saint)…”The words that enlighten the soul are more precious
than jewels.”
• When was the last time you made the time to be silent and still?
• When was the last time you carved out a chunk of time to enjoy the power of solitude to restore,
refocus and revitalise your mind and body?
Power of • Power of silence:
inner silence  Power of silence helps us in reconnecting better with who you really are as a person and to come to
know the glory that rests within you.
 The power of silence also helps us in becoming better listener. Better listening helps us in thinking
better, planning better and actualising better.
• According to a saying, “A problem well stated is a problem half solved”.

• To let go the mental blockade that your problems tends to generate, list all your worries on a piece of
List your
paper.
problems
• If you do so then this simple exercise will help you to put your problems into perspective and tackle
them in an orderly, well-planned sequence. They will no longer clutter and drain your energy.

• People are spending the best years of their lives stuck in a state of constant worry, whether about
jobs, payments, kids, environment etc.
• Constant worrying makes people clueless and helpless, and also affects overall productivity and raise
Conquer your
health concerns.
worries
• One of the simple habits to conquer worry is to schedule “worry breaks”. For e.g. Half an hour on
daily basis, you may sit alone, think, analyse and search for solutions rather than letting your worries
overtake you and intrude your daily hours.
• All too often, we spend our days waiting for the ideal path to appear in front of us. We forget the
paths are made by walking, not waiting.
Believe in • Similarly, knowledge is not power. It is actually only a potential power. It transforms into actual power
actions the moment you decisively act on it.
• According to Thomas Carlyle (philosopher), “ The end of a man is an action and not a thought,
though it were the noblest”. The smallest of actions is always better than the boldest of intentions.
 NECTOR OF SUCCESS
• Enjoy the path, Not just the reward.

• Thinking just about the reward and blind pursuit of goals, kill seamless/smooth transition to success
and converts the path into a punishment rather than being an enriching journey.
Enjoy the • You fail to recognise various growth charts that have already built up while relishing the journey
journey towards desired goals.
• Actually, this movement on the path has improved the person you are. You have built self-discipline,
discovered new things about your abilities and manifested more of your human potential.
• These are reward in and of themselves.
• Each one of us gets 24 hours in a day so time is life’s greatest leveller.

• What separates the people who create great lives from the also-rans is how they use these hours.
Master your • Most of us live as we have got infinite time at our disposal and this leads to us to procrastinate and
time put the achievements of our dreams on hold. This is certainly a beacon for a life of regret.
• Instead of this, commit yourself in managing your time more effectively. Develop a keen sense of
awareness about how important your time really is.
• In your daily activity add a thing…..i.e. carry a goal card in your wallet/purse or pocket so that you
can review it in quieter moments in a day .
Prepare and
• The card simply lists top life goals with clear deadlines for achieving them.
carry a goal
• It inculcates discipline of reconnecting to your highest priorities, whether personal or professional,
card
and this is a smart move.
• If one sticks to it then it is certain that your life’s journey will end in complete joy.

• A great life is nothing more than a series a great, well-lived days strung together like a beautiful
necklace. Every day counts and contributes to the quality of end result.
Taking one
• The past is gone, the future is but a figment, so this day is really all you can own. Invest it wisely.
day at a time
• Today vow to increase your passion for living and multiply your commitment you will bring to each of
the days that will follow this one.
 WAY FORWARD
• Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.

• Hard and smart work is essential for a life of fulfilment, but being filled with a deep sense of
inspiration and commitment to making a difference in the world is an even more important attribute.
Discover your
• All of the great geniuses of the world were inspired and driven by their desire to enrich the lives of
genius
others.
• So with a healthy dose of inspiration, you can raise your life to a whole new plane of living and
unleash your inner genius for your sake and for the sake of others.
• We should not be fatalist as we are the drivers of our life. “ If it is going to be, it’s up to me” is a
wonderful mantra.
• If we don’t act on our life and take actions then it will act on its own and give us results which we
might not want.
Become your
• To become more active, begin to see yourself as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of your destiny and
own CEO
life.
• Seeing yourself as CEO of your life can create a fundamental shift in the way you perceive the
world.
• Thus try to become a captain of your ship instead of just sailing through your life as a passenger.
 NOW RELATE SOME UPSC ESSAYS GIVEN BELOW
• Quick but steady wins the race. (2015)

• Be the change you want to see in others. (2013)
Essay
• Discipline means success, anarchy means ruin. (2008)
• Attitude makes, habit makes character and character makes a man. (2007)

Glossary
# Terms
Enrich Your Concepts

• It is generally observed that the women-specific products are generally more expensive
than the products designed for men i.e. the women pay more amount of money
Pink Tax compared to men to buy certain goods and services.
• This additional money paid by the women is generally referred to as “Pink Tax”.
(# Economy)
• For e.g. women’s clothes are costlier than that of men. Similarly, the personal
care/hygiene products of the women are costlier.
• The Blue Chip Company is a company which is considered to be financially sound and risk
Blue Chip free. The shares of such companies are usually in high demand due to their profitability
Company and low volatility.
• Companies such as Coal India Limited, ONGC, SAIL etc. can be considered to be Blue chip
(# Economy) companies in India.
• The CDS is a form of insurance for the default of payment on the bonds by the company.
The CDS mainly involves 3 actors- Corporate Entity (Bond Issuer), Investor (Bond Buyer)
and Insurance Company.
Credit Default • Under CDS, the investor enters into contract with the Insurance Company wherein the
investor pays the premium amount to the Insurance Company for the risk associated with
Swap (CDS) the Bond. In case, the corporate entity (Bond Issuer) defaults on its bond payment, then
(# Economy) the insurance company would cover the risk and pay the amount to the investor.
• Hence, essentially, CDS is a kind of investment where the investor pays the insurance
company certain amount so that in case of bond default, he/she can get the entire
amount from the insurance company.
• The employment-to-population ratio (EPR) is defined as the proportion of a country’s

Employment- working age population that is employed.
to-Population • A high ratio means that a large proportion of a country’s working-age population is
employed, while a low ratio means that a large share of the working-age population is not
Ratio involved directly in employment.
(# Economy) • The EPR is little different from Labour Force Participation rate (LFPR). The LFPR is the
proportion of a country’s working age population that is part of Labour Force (either

Glossary
employed or looking out for work) whereas the EPR is the proportion of a country’s
working age population that is employed.
• Usually, the companies take important strategic decisions which could have bearing on
the share prices in future. Such strategic decisions may be known only to some high level
Insider Trading executives.
• The Insider Trading is form of malpractice wherein these high level executives use this
(#Economy)
strategic information to carry out trading in the shares to their advantage.
• SEBI has farmed rules and regulations in order to discourage Insider Trading in India.
• Refers to economic phenomenon wherein people turn to the U.S. dollar as an alternative
to their own local currency.
• It happens mainly because of the widespread belief that the value of the U.S. dollar is
Dollarisation more stable than other currencies.
• Sometimes, country’s government may choose to link the supply of its own currency to
(# Economy)
the dollar in-order to boost confidence among people in its long-term value. It is usually
countries that have suffered from hyperinflation, meant to regain economic confidence.
• For e.g. Ecuador, Cambodia, Uruguay, Zimbabwe etc.
• It is also known as ‘Endowment Model’ of the ‘Harvard Model’.

• It was proposed and popularized by David F. Swensen from Yale University.
Yale model • Refers to an investment strategy and emphasises the importance of diversifying an
investment portfolio equally among multiple asset classes to control risk, but with a
(# Economy) special focus on investing in alternative assets that can offer higher returns to its
investors.
• For e.g. Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs).
• It is also known as ‘Public Float’, and this refers to the portion of the total outstanding
shares of a company that is in the hands of the public and hence available to be freely
traded on the market.
Free float • The shares of companies with sufficient free float, owing to their availability to buyers,
usually exhibit lesser price volatility than companies whose shares are mostly held by a
(# Economy)
close group of promoters.
• For e.g. Public issue of shares for the public to buy and invest. More the shareholders,
more the faith and trust.
Refers to an international agreement that defines the rules and regulations that govern
Warsaw •
civil aviation.
Convention • It defines the potential liability that an international carrier faces with regards to the air

Glossaary
(# Law)
L transportt of people and luggage of
o various kinds.
• Provides framework ffor dispute re
esolution rela
ated with civiil aviation wo
orldwide.
• For e.g. o
organisation llike International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO
O).
• Refers to
o the practice
e of unlimited
d centralised
d power and absolute sovvereignty of rule by
a single in
ndividual or g
group.
Ab
bsolutism
m • For e.g. King in Sau
udi Arabia, Dictator
D King
g Jong-un in North Koreea, group off seven
oligarchss in China etc.
(# Politics)
P
• When an absolute ruler exercises, he/she is co
onsidered a despot.
d King Louis XIV of France
was an exxample, whe
en he stated that,
t “I am the state”.

Part TWO
CONTRIBUTORS
ZONE
articles .opinions .essays .notes
by rau’s professors & students

lEAD ARTICLES
AGRICULTURE MARKETING: The Key to

alleviate Agrarian Distress
#Economy
BASAVA UPPIN
EDITORIAL TEAM & EDUCATOR DAILY NEWS SIMPLIFIED
If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have a chance to market, lack of integrated domestic market, restrictions
go right in the country. — M. S. Swaminathan imposed on the storage, movement and sale of
agricultural commodities etc.
The agriculture is the one of the largest enterprise in the
country employing almost half of India’s workforce. The Hence, let us understand the importance of Agricultural
overall development of Indian agriculture is extremely Marketing in India, its weakness and what should be
vital for faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth. It done in order to address these challenges.
can be argued that the development of agriculture would
have local multiplier effect in terms of nutritional Agriculture as an
security, women empowerment, increase in income
levels and consequently holistic development of rural
areas. In this regard, the Government has come up with
enterprise
an objective of doubling the farmers’ income by the end Essentially, the Indian agriculture can be seen to be
of 2022. Can the Indian agriculture fulfil these consisting of two distinct components- Production and
objectives?? Post-Production activities. The Production activity
It is being said that poor marketing infrastructure in refers to the cultivation of the agricultural crops while
India is one of the biggest hurdles before farmers for the post-production refers to the marketing related
realising optimum prices on their agricultural produce. activities. With respect to agricultural production, the
The farmers have immensely contributed to the growth Indian agriculture has made rapid strides since
of economy as evident in the record production of Independence. India has not only become self-sufficient
agricultural commodities. They have been able to in terms of food production, but it has also emerged as a
provide us with food and nutritional security. However, net exporter of agricultural products. It is one of the top
the increase in the agricultural production has neither producers of cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk,
benefitted the farmers nor the end-consumers. While on meat and marine fish. But, have we made equal progress
one hand, farmers continue to get lower prices, on the with respect to post-production agricultural marketing?
other hand, the consumers continue to pay more The post-production activities of Indian agriculture have
money. This can be attributed to fragmented agricultural not kept pace with the production related activities. The

quantities of marketable surplus have multiplied by becomes quite important since the agricultural input
almost 10 times during the last 50 years. However, the costs have been increasing over a period of time.
agriculture marketing infrastructure continues to
Secondly, it provides signals to the farmers with respect
remain out-dated. Hence, inspite of record production
to planning for sowing of crops. By making use of
of agricultural commodities, the farmers are not able to
market signals, the farmers would be able to grow those
get remunerative prices on their agricultural produce.
crops which are in high demand and get remunerative
This problem has got manifested in the form of agrarian
prices. A well-connected and an efficient market would
distress and increase in the farmers’ suicides. The
also be able to address the food inflation since it would
increase in the instances of dumping of the agricultural
be able to match the supply with the demand.
produce such as tomatoes, potatoes, milk etc. on the
roads by the farmers highlight the urgency for carrying Thirdly, an integrated domestic marketing system would
out reforms in the agricultural marketing. considerably reduce the price variations in the
agricultural commodities across India. This would enable
The rapid growth of agricultural production in India calls
the farmers to sell their produce anywhere in India and
for a paradigm shift in the agricultural marketing system.
get best prices.
The earlier marketing system was set up in order to cater
to shortfall in the agricultural production and was Fourthly, a High level Expert Committee constituted by
accordingly more geared towards price controls. Ministry of Agriculture has estimated that 25 to 30 % of
However, since the production scenario has got changed, fruit and vegetables and 8 to 10 % of food grains are
the agricultural marketing policies should also be wasted annually due to lack of post-harvest technology
changed accordingly. and non-existence of integrated transport, storage and
marketing facilities, etc. Thus, an efficient marketing
Understanding the role of infrastructure would enable the farmers to reduce their
post-harvest losses and improve their incomes.
Agricultural Marketing Lastly, there is lot of scope for India to boost its export
of agricultural commodities. However, India has failed to
Agriculture marketing in India has a much broader make optimum use of this opportunity. In this regard,
connotation and basically includes all activities in the the agricultural marketing policies can act as an enabler
procurement of farm inputs by the farmers as well for boosting agri-exports.
as the movement of agricultural produce from farm
land to the end-consumers, industries and traders.
This covers broad range of activities which include
Evolution of Agricultural
storage, physical handling, transportation, primary
processing, grading and packaging, sale of agri-
Marketing in India
commodities etc. Thus, agricultural marketing involves Post-Independence, the government has largely focused
all the aspects related to agriculture, while excluding the on providing markets to provide farmers the platform to
core activity of cultivation. An efficient agricultural trade their agricultural produce and to keep the prices
marketing system is extremely critical for the growth of under control. Accordingly, most of the State
agriculture sector in a country on account of number of governments enacted the Agricultural Produce Market
reasons. Regulation Act (APMC Act) which authorizes the States to
Firstly, an efficient and well-connected agricultural set up and regulate marketing. Apart from that, there are
marketing enables the farmers to buy agricultural inputs more than 22,000 Rural Markets or Grameen Haats
such as fertilisers, seeds etc. at affordable prices. This under the control of local bodies, panchayats, APMCs,
etc.

Further, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Fragmented Agricultural Marketing: There are about
(CCEA) declares the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 2500 regulated APMCs and around 5000 sub-market
certain agricultural commodities based upon the yards regulated by the respective APMCs in India. Apart
recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural from that, there are thousands of Rural Markets or
Costs and Prices (CACP). The MSP is intended to act as Grameen Haats. Hence, due to this fragmented
demand signal to the farmers so that they can take up marketing infrastructure, the agricultural commodities
the cultivation of appropriate crops based upon the pass through multiple middlemen and traders who are
existing demand in the economy. Apart from that, the operating in the APMCs. This leads to escalation in the
MSP incentivises the farmers to invest in the agriculture cost of prices and prevents the farmers from getting
by assuring them of minimum returns. remunerative prices.
Problems with Agriculture Marketing Ideally, the farmers should be allowed to sell their
produce anywhere throughout India based on prices
The Agricultural Marketing continues to face multi-
which they get. This can significantly improve their
faceted challenges. When India adopted LPG reforms in
bargaining position and enable them to earn more
1991, it was expected that the agricultural marketing
incomes. Hence, the present fragmented marketing
would also be liberalised. However, the government
infrastructure goes against the interest of both farmers
failed to bring out reforms in the agricultural marketing
as well as consumers. In this regard, there is a need to
in tune with the changed environment.
develop integrated domestic market by removing all the
The agricultural marketing continues to be plagued by existing agricultural trade related barriers.
problems such as fragmented supply chain, poor
Lack of Access to APMCs: Adequate number of markets
marketing infrastructure, higher post-production losses,
should be set up closer to agricultural fields so that the
lack of accurate/ timely information system etc.
farmers have access to APMCs. This also leads to
Let us look into these problems afflicting the agricultural decrease in transportation costs for the farmers and cut
marketing. down post-harvest losses. Accordingly, the National
Commission for Farmers had recommended that
Regulation of markets: Under the present APMC Act,
each APMC should serve a market area of around
only the State Governments are permitted to set up
80sq.km and it should be available to farmers within a
markets. The Act requires that farm produce be sold only
radius of 5km.However, an average APMC in India
at regulated markets through registered
serves an area of around 450 sq.km, which denotes poor
intermediaries. Further, the Essential Commodities Act
access of the farmers to the APMCs. On account of this,
allows central and state governments to place
the farmers are forced to sell their produce at lower
restrictions on the storage and movement of
prices outside the APMCs.
commodities deemed essential by governments.
Against the Interests of Small and Marginal Farmers:
Such kind of regulations has stifled the private sector
Almost 85% of the farmers in India are small and
investment in the agricultural marketing infrastructure.
marginal. These farmers with lower marketable surplus
Such restrictions also create artificial barriers and
find it difficult to aggregate their produce and sell it in
unnecessarily hinder free flow of agricultural
the APMCs through auction. Hence, these farmers resort
commodities in India. Thus, the focus of the government
to sell their produce to local agents and traders at much
has so far been on regulating rather than facilitating
lower prices.
agricultural trade.
Poor Infrastructure of the APMCs: Even though the
Rather than facilitating options for the farmers to sell
APMCs earn regular revenue through the imposition of
their produce, it constraints their selling options.
Mandi tax, the infrastructure in the APMCs such as

Godowns, Cold chain infrastructure etc. continue to with the need for multiple licensing requirements for the
remain quite poor. This leads to improper storage and traders and has instead proposed licensing of market
consequently higher post-harvest losses. Further, most functionaries which would allow them to operate in
of the APMCs have not able to set up electronic auction multiple markets.
platforms which are quite important for offering
However, most of the states have not fully completed all
remunerative prices to the farmers.
the provisions of the Model APMC Act. There has been
Imposition of Multiple Fees in APMCs: The APMCs general reluctance on behalf of the states to amend their
charge market fee for the buyers as well as licensing fee APMC act in tune with the Model APMC Act.
from the traders. Apart from that, they also charge
Further, it is being said that the provisions of the Model
licensing fee from other agents such as warehousing
APMC Act would not lead to creation of a national or
agents and loading agents. These multiple fees are
state level common market for agricultural commodities.
estimated to be around 15% of the value of the
This is because the model APMC Act states that even
agricultural produce in some of the states. These charges
when buyers are buying the agricultural produce outside
imposed have a cascading effect on the prices of the
APMC area, they are still required to pay APMC charges.
commodities which adversely affect the end consumers.
This acts as a barrier for the creation of integrated
Higher Post-harvest Losses: According to the recent domestic market in India.
study, the total estimated loss in India is around Rs
However, some states such as Karnataka have been at
92,000 crores. The higher post-harvest losses could be
forefront of ushering in marketing reforms. The
attributed to fragmented market, lack of access to
Government of Karnataka has set up unified agricultural
proper storage, poor handling and transportation etc.
marketing platform in association with NCDEX Spot
Exchange. It provides an electronic trading portal that
Initiatives taken by the allows farmers to have access to a larger market and get
the best prices from traders located anywhere in the
Government so far country.
In order to address these problems associated with the National Agricultural Market (e-NAM)
agriculture marketing, the government has taken a In order to integrate agriculture markets throughout
number of initiatives. Let us understand about these India, the Government has set up National Agriculture
initiatives and whether these initiatives have been able Market (NAM) in 2016. It is a pan-India electronic trading
to address the present structural problems. (e-trading) portal which seeks to network the existing
Model APMC Act: The Ministry of Agriculture has APMCs through a virtual platform to create a unified
developed a model APMC Act, 2003 and has been national market for agricultural commodities. The e-NAM
pursuing the state governments to modify their platform promotes better marketing opportunities for
respective Acts along the lines of the Model APMC Act, the farmers to sell their produce through online,
2003. The Model APMC Act provides for the freedom to competitive and transparent price discovery system and
the farmers to sell their produce outside the APMCs to online payment facility.
the exporters, processors and end-consumers. It permits Initially, trade on e-NAM started inside the individual e-
private sector entities to establish new markets for NAM mandi, with farmers and traders of that mandi.
agricultural produce in any area. It seeks to do away with After persuasive efforts by the Central Government,
multiple levies and instead impose a single levy of inter-mandi trade on e-NAM platform started within the
market fee on the sale of notified agricultural State. Now, Inter State trade of agricultural produce is
commodities in any market area. Similarly, it does away gathering pace. Recently, the first Inter State transaction

in tomatoes has been carried out between the APMCs reduce barriers to agricultural trade and ensure
located in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Further, remunerative prices to the farmers. There are few
Rajasthan has become the first State to start inter-State notable successes on contract farming by Pepsi Co India
trade with more than one State, establishing trade link in respect of potato, tomato, groundnut etc. in different
with Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh through parts of country.
e-NAM. The Volume of inter-State trade is also picking up
However, even the contract farming faces multiple issues
as farmers and traders are gaining confidence in the
and challenges. Most of the state governments have
system.
failed to provide for contract farming in their APMC Act.
However, the e-NAM portal stills face multiple Due to this, most of the time, such an agreement is more
challenges. To implement the e-NAM, every state has to of informal agreement between farmers and MNCs. We
first amend its APMC Act to make a provision for have to recognise that the contract farming will not be
electronic auction as a mode of price discovery, allow a successful unless it is legally protected. Further, it has
single licence across the State and have market fees been observed that in order to cut their transaction
levied at a single point. However, most of the states have costs, the MNCs prefer farmers who own huge land
failed to carry out these amendments and thus the e- rather than small and marginal farmers. Hence, the
NAM portal has been unable to provide benefits to all contract farming has not benefitted the major chunk of
the farmers across India. farming community.
Further, recently a high-powered panel of experts on Farmer producer organisations (FPOs)

"Integration of Commodity Spot and Derivatives market"
Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) is an entity formed
has highlighted a number of problems with e-NAM. In
by primary producers such as farmers, milk producers
order to ensure the success of e-NAM, the APMCs have
etc. which provides for sharing of profits/benefits among
to set up necessary infrastructure such as labs and
the members. The small and marginal farmers do not
internet connectivity. The labs are necessary to
have the large marketable surplus and hence formation
ascertain the quality of agricultural produce to be put on
of FPOs by these farmers increases their bargaining
auction platform. However, the APMCs have failed to set
power and avoids the long chain of intermediaries to sell
up the labs for grading of the commodities .Similarly, the
their produce directly to end-consumers. In this regard,
panel has found out that online auction of commodities
the Union Budget 2018-19 announced a five-year tax
on eNAM platform is not taking place. Rather, the data of
holiday and small credit guarantee fund of Rs 100 crore
manual trading is being recorded into the system after
for promoting FPOs. Further, the central Government
the auction is done offline.
has been encouraging the states to directly support the
Accordingly, these issues related to e-NAM have to be FPOs through various schemes.
addressed by the concerned state governments at the
However, this sector still faces multiple challenges. The
earliest so as to make this online platform more
banks are usually reluctant to grant loans to the FPOs as
effective.
they do not have assets of their own to serve as
Contract Farming collaterals. Consequently, the FPOs rely on loans from
NBFCs to raise working capital at very high interest rates.
The contract farming agreement is an agreement
Further, the facility of cheap bank loans through interest
between the farmers and buyers such as MNCs where in
subvention offered to individual farmers is denied to the
the buyers provide for necessary inputs such as seeds to
FPOs. They also face resistance in operating at the
the farmers and the farmers agree to sell their produce
APMCs because of the resistance offered by the licensed
at a pre-determined price. In this regard, the Model
traders. These issues need to be addressed at the
APMC Act provides for contract farming agreement to

earliest to enable the FPOs to perform to their full facility to make direct sale to consumers and bulk
potential for the benefit of the farmers. purchasers.
PM-AASHA: The Government has launched a new Further, Agriculture is a state subject. Therefore, the
Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay success of the policies and programmes of the
SanraksHan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA).This scheme has been Government of India depends on how effectively they
launched by the Government to ensure that benefits of are adopted and implemented by the state
MSP reach the poor farmers. It involves different governments. Some of the states have been quite
components such as physical procurement of progressive in implementing various reforms. On the
commodities by the Government agencies (Price Support other hands, many states have lagged behind leading to
Scheme), payment of difference amount between MSP inter-state income disparities. Hence, in order to
and selling price (Price Deficiency Payment Scheme) and incentivise the states to undertake the agriculture
procurement of commodities by private sector agencies marketing reforms, the central Government has come
(Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme). It is expected out various indices to measure the progress on
that proper implementation of this scheme would marketing Reforms. For Instance, NITI Aayog has
prevent distress sale of commodities by the farmers and launched Agricultural Marketing and Farm Friendly
enable the government to fulfil its stated objective of Reforms. On similar lines, the Ministry of Agriculture has
doubling the farmers' income by the end of 2022. launched the Ease of Doing Agri-Business Index.
However, the success of this scheme depends on its

proper implementation and the ability of the Further Reforms Needed
government to put in a fail proof mechanism for the
The growth trajectory of the agriculture and non-
benefit the farmers. For instance, the Madhya Pradesh
agriculture sectors has been witnessing divergent paths
had implemented Price Deficiency Payment Scheme
in India. While non-agriculture sector continue to
(PDPS) under the Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana. Some of
experience acceleration in growth, the growth in the
the studies highlighted that the traders deliberately
agriculture sector has remained stagnant at around 3%.
depressed the prices at the mandi level for their benefit.
One of the main reasons for the lower productivity of the
They forced the farmers to sell their produce at lower
agriculture sector can be attributed to poor agricultural
prices and pocketed the compensation amount from the
marketing infrastructure in India. Hence, in this regard, it
government. Similarly, the private sector agencies have
can be argued that there is a need for further reforms to
concerns with respect to delayed payments from the
be undertaken and simultaneously address the present
government under the Private Procurement & Stockist
concerns with the new initiatives taken by the
Scheme (PPSS).
Government.
Gramin Rural Markets
The European Union, consisting of multiple countries,
The Budget 2018-19 proposed to set up Gramin has been able to set up Common Market for all products
Agricultural Markets (GrAMs) in order to enable the by eliminating all forms of trade barriers. In this regard,
farmers to sell their agricultural produce without any India would also be able to reap benefits by setting up a
restrictions which they presently encounter in the "Single Market". One of the major impacts of removing
APMCs. The government has declared its intent to the inter State barriers would be the realisation of better
develop and upgrade existing 22,000 rural haats (village prices by the Indian farmers as supply chain between the
markets) into Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs). producer and the consumer would be reasonably
These GrAMs, electronically linked to e-NAM and streamlined. This would also benefit the consumers.
exempted from regulations of Agricultural Produce
Marketing Committee (APMCs), will provide farmers

Agricultural marketing is a State subject. However, a ensure food and nutritional security. Hence, creation of
number of major policy decisions impacting the sector an efficient and integrated domestic agricultural market
are taken by the Central Government. This includes the is quite vital for the benefit of economy. The marketing
several Central Government schemes/ programmes and system needs to address the challenges of high post-
policies including laying down of Minimum Support Price harvest and storages losses, high marketing costs,
for selected agriculture products. Further, the Indian inadequate market/procurement centres and efficient
Constitution guarantees to every citizen freedom of storage and distribution of produce across the country.
trade, business or profession, but the State Legislatures The domestic agricultural market in India needs to be
are empowered to impose reasonable restriction in integrated with the foreign markets to ensure optimum
public interest. However, in practice this freedom benefits for the farmers. The agricultural production has
guaranteed by the Constitution has been somewhat to keep pace with the population growth, consumers’
restricted by several states. preference and demand in the domestic and
international markets by adoption of appropriate
Hence, in this regard, the National Commission on
policies of market-led production.
Farmers (NCF) headed by M.S. Swaminathan had
recommended creation of a single integrated market for In order to improve agriculture marketing infrastructure,
farmers. The Commission also recommended that there is a need for fundamental change in our
agricultural marketing be placed under the Concurrent perception towards Indian Agriculture. We need to view
List. Even the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income agriculture as an enterprise and farmer as an
(DFI) had argued for placing agricultural marketing under entrepreneur. This perception would mean that the
the Concurrent List. success of Indian agriculture would depend upon our
ability to link the entrepreneur (farmer) with the markets
Apart from that, both the Central and State
and ensure maximum productivity of the enterprise.
Governments must come together with the spirit of
cooperative federalism in order to address all the Since 1991 reforms, India has made rapid strides in the
structural challenges associated with the agricultural field of IT/ITES, Banking, Financial sector etc.
marketing infrastructure highlighted before. The states Unfortunately, these reforms have not been replicated in
must amend their APMC Acts so as to facilitate internal the agricultural marketing infrastructure. We have to
trade and provide the necessary ecosystem to ensure realise that the key to achieving rural prosperity is
fair and remunerative prices to the farmers. There is a through linking the farmers with the market. Unless we
need to promote new models of marketing such as do it, we would not able to bring about transformative
Contract Farming, Commodity Exchanges, private changes in the rural society!!
wholesale markets, farmer producer organisations,
agricultural cooperatives etc.
Way Forward
India needs to enhance production and productivity of
agricultural produce in a sustainable manner so as to

INDIAN UNSC SEAT: NEHRUVIAN TO CURRENT

SCENARIO
#India and the World
ANKUR SHARMA
There has been a recent controversy in context of India’s pacts with Asian countries such as Iran, Pakistan, etc. to
permanent membership to UN Security Council which contain Soviet expansion. J. Nehru was trying to carve a
arose due to Chinese blockage of sanctions against policy that ensured India’s security and strategic
Masood Azhar by UNSC. It has been alleged that the autonomy in international politics and therefore the
United States had suggested to India’s first Prime suggestion for a permanent seat was therefore a mean
Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru in 1950 the desire to remove to entice India to join such military alliances or pacts
China from permanent membership of the UNSC and and thereby making India act as a US pawn in Asia to
possibly replace it with Indian membership. It has been contain Soviet Union in a similar role that was played by
further asserted that J. Nehru refused to take the Pakistan.
suggestion seriously and thereby lost the opportunity to An important fact to understand is that the composition
make India a permanent member of UNSC. Therefore, of the Security Council is prescribed by the UN Charter,
India’s current inability in front of China’s blockage of according to which certain specified nations have
sanctions in UNSC is largely a consequence of ill-fated permanent seats. No change or addition can be made to
Nehruvian idealism. this without an amendment of the Charter. Any attempt
therefore to remove China and then add India in UNSC
International politics in would have required two separate amendments to UN
charter, one to remove and one to add. This which
1950s would not have been possible without the support of
Soviet Union and its allies and most likely would have
It is necessary to place the recent controversy in context been vetoed by Soviet Union which was a Chinese ally at
of the larger scenario of international politics that existed that time. Another fact that is overlooked is that in 1955, J.
in 1950. The Cold War was in its early stages with the two Nehru stated categorically in the Lok Sabha that there has
superpowers Soviet Union and United States engaged in been no offer, formal or informal, of providing China's
a confrontation in Korean War, whereby China and Soviet UNSC permanent seat. Recognizing Indian Power, J.
Union were allies in Korean War. The Korean war Nehru believed that both India and China are entitled to
therefore had the capability to engulf the complete South their own respective permanent seat in the Security
East Asia and spread also to India and therefore any Council and there was no reason for both major Asian
attempt by India to side with United States in removing powers to compete for such a seat whereby any
China from the UNSC would have ensured that India in competition would have led to complete withdrawal from
Cold War conflict with both China and the Soviet Union the policy of Asian unity against neo-imperialism. Indian
and the risk of spreading the Korean War to South Asia. view was that both European powers UK and France had
Apart from this, US was forming alliances and military seats in UNSC, both the superpowers US and USSR had

permanent seat and similarly, both Asian powers India Argentina and Mexico against Brazil) fought against
and China should get their own respective permanent reform. The smaller countries felt left out and did not
seats. take a position. The African countries were unable to
decide among themselves who the two permanent
Reform Process at turn of members would be whereby South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya,
Tanzania, Algeria and Egypt considered themselves as
suitable for a permanent seat. The Security Council
the CE reform process which reached its highest culmination
The World Summit, 2005 intended to celebrate the 60th during the 2005 World Summit, however did not reach a
anniversary of the United Nations provided the most conclusion by resolving the various contentions for UNSC
significant impetus to the debate on Security Council reform. These UNSC reform contentions that existed in
reform at the turn of the century. The summit saw a 2005 still persist.
report of high level panel constituted earlier which had
recommended the inclusion of more countries that India in Current Scenario
contribute the most to the UN – financially, militarily and
diplomatically. It suggested two possibilities: (i) creation of India has now made acquiring a permanent seat the
6 new permanent seats, without the veto and 3 new centrepiece of its stand on UN reform. An amendment to
non-permanent seats (ii) a new category of 8 seats with a the Charter to provide India permanent seat will require
4-year renewable term, to be divided equally among the 129 votes in the General Assembly. However, amending
four regions: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the the UN charter is a difficult task to say the least whereby
Americas. India, Brazil, Germany and Japan had earlier Article 23 of the Charter which gives the composition of
formed the G-4 in 2004 whereby each country supported the UNSC still continues to mention the old names,
the membership of each other for a permanent seat of Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist
UNSC. They had promoted the idea of 6 new permanent Republic as permanent members.
seats: 2 to Asia, 2 to Africa and 1 each to Europe and Latin India has acquired the support from Russia, UK and
America and the Caribbean. In addition, they proposed 4 France for a permanent seat of UNSC and similarly from
new non-permanent seats: one each to Asia, Africa, major powers such as Germany, Japan, South Africa and
Eastern Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. The others. Several members of Coffee club such as South
African Union proposed a similar model of 6 new Korea, Argentina, and Italy have supported for India for a
permanent seats but added one more non-permanent permanent seat even though they are opposed to their
seat for itself. A third proposal came from the Uniting for regional rivals getting a permanent seat. India has also
Consensus group or the Coffee Club, which was formed in been successful in using its diplomatic prowess to gain
reaction to the G4 by countries like Argentina, Italy, support of smaller UN member countries. Contrary to
Pakistan and others which had opposed the permanent this, the US under Barack Obama had shown inclination
membership of a rival country of G4. They rejected the of support to India for a permanent seat but this support
idea of new permanent seats and advocated 10 new non- is not reflected by current US President Donald Trump.
permanent members. Similarly, Chinese opposition has been the largest
The permanent five however during that time mainly roadblock in India gaining permanent membership to
stayed out of the fray and let the others to fight among UNSC.
themselves. As was to be expected, the proposals came Indian membership to UN Security Council during its
to nothing as the regional rivals of the G-4 (Italy and formation year was not considered because India was still
Spain against Germany, Pakistan and China against a colony and Britain under Winston Churchill that
India, South Korea and China against Japan and resented India, had no inclination of sharing the same

stage with a former colony. The times have changed and portion of humanity provide recognition and grounds for
India’s economic progress, contribution to UN India to rightfully gain a permanent seat in UN Security
Peacekeeping force, support to Humanitarian and Council.
Disaster response in Indian Ocean region and democratic
representation of multiple languages, religion and major
JUST AND COST EFFECTIVE JUSTICE

#Polity and Governance
NAWEED AKHTER
Article 39A of the Constitution of India provides for equal disabilities by following Article 39A of the Indian
justice and free legal aid to the poor and weaker sections Constitution in letter and spirit.
of the society and ensures justice for all. Within its ambit, The Act also authorises to organise Lok Adalats and
in the year 1987, the Legal Services Authorities Act was other Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
enacted by the Parliament, which came into force on 9th mechanisms to provide quick, inexpensive and effective
November, 1995 with an object to establish a nationwide resolution of disputes and promote justice on a basis of
uniform network for providing free and competent legal equal opportunity as per the principles of equality
services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis enshrined in Article 14. The Act ensures that
of equal opportunity. opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any
As a result of this act, the National Legal Services citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities. It helps
Authority (NALSA) has been constituted to monitor and in settling disputes at ground level which further
evaluate implementation of legal aid programmes and to minimises the load of adjudication on the overburdened
lay down policies and principles for making legal services judiciary.
available under the Act. Let us now understand, how The Act authorises formation of different authorities and
NALSA helps in providing access to justice and equality at Committees including National Legal Service Authority,
grass root levels across India through various authorities State Legal Service Authority, District Legal Services
and committees. Authority, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, High
Court Legal Services Committee and Taluk Legal Services
About Legal Services Committee.
Composition of National Legal Services

Authority Act, 1987 Authority (NALSA)
The Act constitutes Legal Services Authorities at national National Legal Services Authority shall consist of the
and respective state level to provide free and competent following:
legal services to the weaker sections of the society. It
ensures that opportunities for securing justice is not
denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other

a) The Chief Justice of India who shall be the Patron-in- working of legal services clinics in universities, law
Chief, colleges and other institutions.
b) A serving or retired Judge of the Supreme Court to be • Make special efforts to enlist the support of voluntary
nominated by the President, in consultation with the social welfare institutions working at the grass-root
Chief Justice of India, who shall be the Executive level, particularly among the Scheduled Castes and the
Chairman and, Scheduled Tribes, women and rural and urban labour
c) Such number of other members, possessing such • Co-ordinate and monitor the functioning of State
experience and qualifications, as may be prescribed by Authorities, District Authorities, Supreme Court Legal
the Central Government, to be nominated in Services Committee, High Court Legal Services
consultation with the Chief Justice of India. Committees, Taluk Legal Services Committees,
voluntary social service institutions and other legal
d) The Central Government shall, in consultation with the
services organisations.
Chief Justice of India, appoint a person to be the
Member-Secretary of the Central Authority to exercise Supreme Court Legal Services Committee
such powers and perform such duties under the
Executive Chairman of the Central Authority. The Central Authority shall constitute a committee to be
called the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee for
Functions of NALSA the purpose of exercising such powers and performing
such functions as may be determined by regulations
• The following can be described as functions of
made by the Central Authority. The members of the
National Legal Services Authority:
Committee shall be nominated by the Chief Justice of
• Frame the most effective and economical schemes for India. The Committee shall consist of
the purpose of making legal services available to the
a) a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court who shall be the
weaker sections of the society.
Chairman.
• Take necessary steps by way of social justice litigation
b) such number of other members possessing such
with regard to consumer protection, environmental
experience and qualifications as may be prescribed by
protection or any other matter of special concern to
the Central Government.
the weaker sections of the society and train the social
workers in legal skills for promotion of justice. Composition of State Legal Services
• Undertake and promote research in the field of legal Authority
services with special reference to the need for such
State Legal Services Authority also called State Authority
services among the poor.
shall consist of the following:
• To do all things necessary for the purpose of ensuring
a) The Chief Justice of the High Court who shall be the
commitment to the fundamental duties of citizens
Patron-in-Chief.
enshrined under Part IVA of the Indian Constitution.
b) A serving or retired Judge of the High Court, to be
• Monitor and evaluate implementation of the legal aid
nominated by the Governor, in consultation with the
programmes and schemes at periodic intervals and
Chief Justice of the High Court, who shall be the
also provide for their independent evaluation. It also
Executive Chairman; and
provides grants-in-aid for specific schemes to various
voluntary social service institutions and the State and c) Such number of other members to be nominated by
District Authorities. the respective State Government in consultation with
the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court.
• Develop, in consultation with the Bar Council of India,
programmes for clinical legal education and promote d) The State Government in consultation with the Chief
guidance and supervise the establishment and Justice of the High Court, appoint a person belonging

to the State Higher Judicial Service, not lower in rank c) The State Authority shall, in consultation with the
than that of a District Judge, as the Member-Secretary Chairman of the District Authority, appoint a person
of the State Authority, to exercise such powers and belonging to the State Judicial Service not lower in rank
perform such duties under the Executive Chairman of than that of a Subordinate Judge or Civil Judge posted
the State Authority. at the seat of the District Judiciary as Secretary of the
District Authority to exercise such powers and perform
Functions of State Legal Services Authority such duties under the Chairman of that Committee.
State Legal Services Authority shall implement the policy Functions of District Authority
and directions of the Central Authority, give legal service
to persons belonging to the weaker section of the society, It shall be the duty of every District Authority to perform
conduct Lok Adalats including Lok Adalats for High Court such of the functions of the State Authority in the District
cases and undertake preventive and strategic legal aid as may be delegated to it from time to
programmes. a) Co-ordinate the activities of the Taluk Legal Services
Committee and other legal services in the District and
High Court Legal Services Committee
b) Organise Lok Adalats within the District.
The State Authority shall constitute a Committee to be
called the High Court Legal Services Committee for every District Authority shall, wherever appropriate, act in
High Court, for the purpose of exercising such powers coordination with other governmental and non-
and performing such functions as prescribed. The governmental institutions, universities and others
members of the Committee shall be nominated by the engaged in the work of promoting the cause of legal
Chief Justice of respective High Courts. The Committee services to the poor and shall also be guided by such
shall consist of directions as the Central Authority or the State Authority
a) a sitting Judge of the High Court who shall be the Taluk Legal Services Committee
Chairperson.
The State Authority may constitute a Taluk Legal Services
b) such number of other members possessing such Committee, for each taluk or mandal or for group of
experience and qualifications as may be determined taluks or mandals. The Committee shall consist of
by regulations made by the State Authority.
a) The senior-most Judicial Officer operating within the
c) The Chief Justice of the High Court shall appoint a jurisdiction of the Committee who shall be the ex
Secretary to the Committee. officio Chairman, and
District Legal Services Authority b) such number of other members, as may be prescribed
by the State Government to be nominated by that
The State Government shall, in consultation with the Chief
Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of
Justice of the High Court, constitute a body to be called the
the High Court.
District Legal Services Authority for every District in the
State to exercise the powers and perform the functions The Taluk Legal Services Committee may perform all or
conferred on them. A District Authority shall consist of the any of the following functions, namely
following: a) co-ordinate the activities of legal services in the taluk.
a) The District Judge who shall be its Chairman. b) organise Lok Adalats within the taluk.
b) Such number of other members, possessing such c) perform other functions as assigned by the District
experience and qualifications, to be nominated by that Authority.
Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of
the High Court.

Lok Adalats where a compromise or settlement has been arrived at.

Every award made by a Lok Adalat shall be final and
Every State Authority or District Authority or Supreme binding on all the parties to the dispute, and no appeal
Court Legal Services Committee or every High Court Legal shall lie to any court against the award.
Services Committee or, Taluk Legal Services Committee
may organise Lok Adalats. Every Lok Adalat organised for The way forward
an area shall consist of such number of serving or retired
Every person who has to file or defend a case shall be
judicial officers and other members as may be prescribed
entitled to legal services under this Act if that person is a
by any of the respective Authorities. A Lok Adalat shall
member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, a
have jurisdiction to determine and to arrive at a
victim of trafficking in human beings or begar as referred
compromise or settlement between the parties to a
to in article 23 of the Constitution, a woman or a child, a
dispute in respect of any case pending before or any
person with disability, a person under circumstances of
matter which is falling within the jurisdiction of, and is not
underserved want such as being a victim of a mass
brought before, any Court for which the Lok Adalat is
disaster, ethnic, violence, caste atrocity, flood, drought,
organised.
earthquake or industrial disaster, an industrial workman
Lok Adalat shall have no jurisdiction in respect of any case or in custody, including custody in a protective home or in
or matter relating to an offence not compoundable under a juvenile home or in a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric
any law. Non-compoundable cases are serious criminal nursing home.
cases which cannot be quashed and compromise is not
Recently in NALSA vs. Union of India, Supreme Court
allowed between the parties. It is always registered in the
issued a landmark ruling recognising transsexuals as a
name of state. Eg. State of Karnataka vs XYZD. Under a
third gender, and upholding their rights to equality
Non-Compoundable offense, full trial is held which ends
(Article 14), non-discrimination (Article 15), expression
with the acquittal or conviction of the offender, based on
(Article 19(1)(a) and autonomy (Article 21) which
the evidence presented in a Court of Law.
ultimately led to the passage of Transgender Persons
Functions of Lok Adalat (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 in the Parliament. NALSA
provides a perfect opportunity to settle disputes amicably
Lok Adalat while hearing a case can summon and enforce
at the ground level before it takes a leviathan form
the attendance of any witness and examine him/her on
disturbing the moral, social and economic fabric of the
oath, can make discovery of documents, can receive
society.
evidence, can ask for requisitioning of any public record
or document or copy of such record or document from Thus, NALSA is an important institution in the Indian
any court or office. Lok Adalat can specify its own democratic framework which helps in establishing judicial
procedure for the determination of any dispute. All the governance in India.
proceedings before a Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be
judicial proceedings.
Awards of Lok Adalat
Every award of the Lok Adalat shall be deemed to be a

decree of a civil court or an order of any other court and

lEAD ESSAYS
WHITHER INDIAN DEMOCRACY

SUMIT NARANG
EX-STUDENT (RAU’S IAS STUDY CIRCLE)
India has been a democracy for over seven decades. In but the positive effects of this are yet to reach the majority
this time it has achieved some remarkable successes but of Indians, in particular the poorest citizens. Many of
also failed in significant ways. While economic growth has those in power have severely abused their position,
been rapid over recent decades, this has not translated transgressing trust and probity, as scandals of corruption,
into greater welfare for the majority of the Indian bribes and kickbacks are revealed daily. This has been
population. Despite being severely critical of its politicians, acutely felt, for instance, in the state’s policy on India’s
the electorate however remains enthusiastic in its political natural resources, which has consistently ignored the
participation, especially at elections. rights of indigenous populations whose lands contain
In 1947, when India gained her independence from these resources in deference to corporate interests who
colonial rule, the choice of parliamentary democracy and seek to exploit them commercially. This neglect, on the
a universal franchise for such a poor, vast and largely back of an abysmal human development record among
illiterate nation was considered as a right way forward. the same populations, has led to violent insurgency
Nevertheless the first general election was held with great movements in some districts, whose ideologues disavow
rigour, enthusiasm and success in 1952. In the meantime, the democratic state and its institutions.
a Constitution reflecting the political and ideological goals The state in turn has not held back in its violent
of the new nation had been adopted. Enshrined within it suppression of these movements. Elsewhere too, India’s
were the principles of the separation of powers, a civil society remains vigorous as ecological, feminist,
universal Indian citizen with constitutional rights, equality religious and justice-based social movements continually
before the law, the separation of civil and military powers, challenge the status quo. The national body politic has
and the necessity for political competition. The press developed a vast repertoire of protest and persuasion,
remains as free as any in the world and contributes to a drawn on the techniques developed during the anti-
lively and highly contested public sphere. So according to colonial struggles and those from the twenty-first century,
the democratic checklist of institutional arrangements, to bring pressure on governments to be responsive to
India’s democratic system is in a reasonable shape. popular demands. These movements at once utilize and
But what of India’s record on democratic ideas more challenge the freedoms and liberties afforded by
broadly: the participation of citizens, rule of law, and democracy.
the responsibility of the state in ensuring basic At the heart of India’s democratic system have been the
freedoms, material security and education? It is regular elections that now see the participation of over a
evident that India’s heterodox policy of a mixed economy hundred political parties and the largest electorate in the
of planned economic development and liberalization has world. Even more surprisingly, the most enthusiastic
put it at the high table of emergent powers in the world, voters in Indian elections are not the well-educated urban

middle classes but those who are the poorest, most avarice appear to have displaced any desire to serve the
discriminated against, and least educated, mainly living in public good.
villages and small towns. Turnout rates at elections in In the last couple of decades the political landscape has
these areas can be well over 80 percent. been shaken up by the emergence of lower caste parties
Further, more local the election, the higher the turnout that have made their challenge to the long standing social
and this again bucks global trends. Contrary to what many and political hegemony of the upper caste parties the
predicted in 1947, poverty and illiteracy have not cornerstone of their political activity. While not yet fully
hampered the functioning of Indian democracy. national parties, they now dominate important regions
Why do large parts of the country’s electorate cast their (each of which is the size of a European country). Often
votes enthusiastically (and support a democratic mode of commanding the loyalty of millions who place their faith in
government over any other), despite the sustained failure leaders who are ‘one of them’, the leaders of these parties
of the Indian state to improve the living standards of its have successfully challenged the patrician and insulated
poorest citizens? Is it because the poor are ignorant and worlds of traditional politicians.
don’t know what they are doing? Are they gullible and These redefined political styles play out in the Indian
vulnerable to vote buying and empty campaign promises? Parliament, which has emerged as an arena for loud,
Or to bullying and violence? gestural statements alongside debate and deliberation. In
One important factor in the faith that people have in recent years, it has become routine for Parliamentary
elections is the performance of the Election Commission proceedings to be frequently disrupted by members
of India (ECI). Set up in 1950 to manage and conduct aiming to capture the attention of a hungry media that
elections, unlike many of its counterparts in other relishes the transgression of parliamentary norms. In turn,
democracies, the ECI is a genuinely autonomous and the airtime gained by politicians has proved to be an
constitutional body, which through its sixty-year old life invaluable tool to reach out to their mass followings.
has evolved into a responsive and efficient public body. The role of the Member of Parliament has become less
Only the Supreme Court of India shares this level of that of legislator and more that of extractor of State
popular respect. The voting process, the successful resources for their constituencies, as a result of which
adoption of electronic voting machines, the maintenance personal corruption has seen unprecedented levels. But
of electoral registers, the security provided to voters and Parliament also remains a place where the great
political actors, and the standards of probity among the questions of unity and diversity, freedom and equality
two million election officials who conduct the elections discussed at independence continue to be vigorously
have all emerged as enviably efficient features in a contested and updated by interest groups, determined
country where much else goes wrong. So, the Indian variously by political ideology, religion and caste. As a
electorate trusts the Election Commission of India and the result, 103 amendments of the Constitution have been
elections it runs. But when questioned about the passed by the national parliament to accommodate the
politicians that those elections empower, the popular changing realities of the political landscape. New states
responses were a lot more critical. have been created (29 in total) and other changes made to
Indian politicians’ behaviour and public standing have improve the workings of democracy at the grass roots.
seen a long steady decline compared to the cohort of Perhaps the most significant of these amendments was
educated, idealistic and conscientious politicians who the 73rd, which made statutory provision for Panchayat
brokered national independence and authored the Raj as a third level of elected administration in villages,
constitution. Political parties are increasingly dominated below the national and state levels. As a result,
by kin and nepotistic networks and have blocked the rise representative democracy could now operate at the local
of new talent, and in too many cases the sins of greed and level and help empower new actors to take on the
responsibility of governance.

Ordinary citizens on the other hand, who turnout in large it is meaningless to have this right’. Further, there is a
numbers at elections, see the role that politicians play in shared sense that it is important for each individual to
Parliament and elsewhere as only one aspect of India’s exercise this right, rather than defer the responsibility to
democracy. While they are clear eyed about the venality of others.
politicians, they point to the importance of their own role But popular understandings of democracy also recognize
in the success of the workings of the democratic system. that while elections are a necessary element of
They emphasize that it is their individual vote that adds to democracy, they are not a sufficient condition. To this end,
the final result and it is their choice of candidates that the act of voting is seen to be the necessary first step in
determines the nature of government. putting forward future demands and holding
‘The vote is our weapon’ is a statement that is often used democratically elected governments to account. But
to explain this sense of empowerment. A majority of the political participation in non-electoral spaces is
electorate believes in the efficacy of multiparty democracy considered equally important, if more difficult to
and regularly held elections, because it is through these achieve. This understanding lies at the heart of a popular
institutions that governments can be forced to respond to notion of participatory citizenship in the Indian electorate.
popular pressures and punished for a bad performance.
The examples of incumbent governments losing power ELECTIONS
after one term (a frequent occurrence in India) or of
Elections in India are a big festival and it is at this time that
governments being rewarded with re-election were proof
the two political domains of the demonic/demotic that
of this. ‘Without us, the system is nothing’ was how voters
remain largely separate for the most part are forced to
put it to emphasize the role of the ordinary voter.
collide and confront each other. It is during election
Indian democracy can thus be described as made up of
campaigns that the politicians have to account for their
two spheres of politics - the ‘demonic’ (politicians and
neglect of their constituencies and beg a second chance.
high politics) and the ‘demotic’ (the electorate), with the
During long and exhausting election campaigns in large
electorate seeing its own politics as the purer in intention
and diverse constituencies (the size of a parliamentary
and action. Demotic politics is based on hope of a better
constituency in India is almost twenty times that of one in
future, the need for participatory citizenship and a sense
the UK) the laundered clothes of rich politicians are sullied
of duty, and a celebration of universal franchise. And it is
by dusty road journeys, their arrogant heads have to be
for these reasons that Indians across the country
bent entering modest huts of the poor, and their hands
emphasize the importance of exercising this right
have to be folded in a plea for votes. It is no wonder that
assiduously, if only to remind those in power of their
elections in India have a carnival air as people delight in
ultimate dependence on their votes.
this levelling effect of campaigns, as the ordinary voter
suddenly becomes the object of attention of the powerful.
Further, the right to vote is also seen as a foundational But the voter also feels some pressure to play her own
right of each citizen that makes possible the demand for role in making the correct choice, which is always open to
other basic rights – to food, education and security. Thus the influence of a caste group, kin or community. At the
Indian voters see their electoral participation as most fundamental level, there is tremendous pressure to
fundamental to their other engagements with the state, not waste a vote. One of the ways in which this pressure is
and their presence on the voting list a rare official created is by a simple procedure carried out by the ECI. In
acknowledgement of their existence. People thus any Indian election, each voter has their left index finger
frequently use the word ‘duty’ while describing the marked by a short vertical line in indelible black ink just
importance of voting and engaging with the system. A before they approach the electronic voting machine. While
typical formulation states: ‘it is my right to vote and it is this procedure is carried out to ward off repeat voting, it
my duty to exercise this right. If I don’t discharge this duty, has also had the unintended consequence of making it

imp
possible to lie about whether on
ne had votted. It basic
b act of democracy that enshrin
nes political equality
the
erefore gene
erates treme
endous peerr pressure a
among and
a popular sovereignty.
s
peo
ople to go an
nd take the trouble to votte, for not to
o do so India’s record on mocracy
dem caan thus be fairly
cau
uses the d
discomfort of constantt questionss and summarized
s as reasonably consisteent. Her insstitutions
susspicions abou
ut one’s motiivations for a
abstaining. have
h been mostly rob
bust though
h they have also
The
e importancce of not lo
osing face in
n front of o
others, increasingly come
c under threat
t by perrsonal greed and the
hether they are kin orr party worrkers, is thus an
wh collusion
c of powerful
p acttors who seeek to underm
mine the
imp
portant mottivation for voting and
d results in
n high principles
p and
d robustnesss of these insstitutions. Ye
et, at the
otivation for vvoting is the actual
turrnout rates. A further mo same
s mocratic
time, in the wider society, ideaas about dem
visceral experie
ence of doin ulture of a p
ng so. The cu polling participation,
p the role of the eelectorate a
and the
sta
ation fosters an order, disciplined
d qu
ueues, respe
ect for importance of a shared
d duty of ccitizenship a
are also
the
e ordinary person of whatever so
ocial backgrround, vigorously
v articulated. In the end, it w
will be the ch
hallenges
efficiency of pro ust in the sysstem – all of which
ocess and tru posed
p by thiss latter demo
otic politics o
of hope, mob
bilization,
can
n be a rare in
n Indian pub
blic life. In ad
ddition, at a p
polling participation
p and justice that will ne ed to overco
ome the
sta nly relevant identity off a person is his
ation, the on demonic
d world of greed and
a power.
Ele
ectoral Photo
o Identity Ca
ard that reco
ords nothing
g apart India’s experiiments of democracy havve taught the
e world a
fro
om the most basic inform
mation. As peo
ople arrive to
o vote, number
n of le workings of coalition
essons: the successful w
the
ey have to qu
ueue in the order
o in whi ch they arrivve and governments
g dictability of voter behaviour, the
s, the unpred
no preferencess are made on the basis o
of wealth, sta
atus or importance of omous and responsive e
o an autono electoral
any
y other social marker. For those w
who are rou
utinely commission,
c and above all the po
ossibility of political
disscriminated against
a on th
he basis of ccaste, colourr, class sophistication
s n among the poorest peo
ople. It remaiins to be
and
d religion in everyday life ordinary glimpse of
e, this extrao seen
s whethe
er India can
n redistributte the fruitts of its
ega
alitarianism is valued. Furrther, people
e often pointe
ed out economic
e owth to the wider societty and thereby serve
gro
tha
at the knowle
edge that eacch vote is of equal to anyy other as
a a unique model
m among
g the rising p
powers of co
ombining
heiightens its importance even
e more. By turning up to economic
e dem
mocracy with
h a robust po
olitical one.
votte, by queuin
ng patiently at
a polling stattions, by pun
nishing
Disclaimer:
D The
T views and
d opinions exxpressed in th
his essay
arrrogance and complacency oice of leader, they
y in their cho
are
a those of th
he writer.
the
ereby consider themselve
es as particip
pating in the
e most

Part Three
practiCe
ZONE
mcqs . descriptive questions .
questions based on editorials

Here are given 50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

for self-practice. These questions have been framed
Multiple Choice Questions from this issue itself. So, a reader is expected to
attempt the questions, and also refer to the Answer
(MCQs) for prelims gs paper i Key given after the MCQs. These are helpful for General
Studies- Paper I (Preliminary Examination).
1. With reference to Renewable Energy Certificate 4. The “Ease Reforms Index” deals with which of
(REC) mechanism, consider the following the following?
statements: (a) Agriculture Marketing Reforms
1. This mechanism enables the state DISCOMs to meet (b) Ease of doing Business for the MSMEs
their Renewable Purchase Obligations (RPO). (c) Reforms in the Public Sector Banks (PSBs)
2. Under this mechanism, the state DISCOMs cannot (d) Reforms in the Environmental Clearances
purchase electricity from the large hydro-power
projects.
5. Consider the following statements related to
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
National Common Mobility Card (NCMC):
(a) 1 only
1. It is bank issued Debit/Credit/Prepaid card which
(b) 2 only may be used by the customer for payments such as
(c) Both 1 and 2 metro, bus, toll, parking etc.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. It is jointly developed by RBI and Indian Banks
Association.
2. Who among the following heads the Core Group Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
of Secretaries on Disinvestment (CGD)? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) Finance Secretary (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Finance Minister
(c) Cabinet Secretary 6. Consider the following statements related to
(d) Chief Economic Advisor Cell for IPR Promotion and Management
(CIPAM):
3. With reference to Foreign Exchange Buy /Sell 1. The CIPAM works under the Ministry of Finance.
Swap, consider the following statements: 2. The CIPAM organizes IPrism, an Intellectual Property
1. It is a new tool used by the RBI to manage the (IP) competition in India.
Rupee Liquidity in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. Under this mechanism, RBI would buy US dollars (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
from the banks and simultaneously agree to sell the (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap
period.
7. Which among the following agencies publishes
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? the World Trade Outlook Indicator (WTOI)?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) United Nations Conference on Trade and
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Development (UNCTAD)
(b) World Customs Organisation
FOCUS | APRIL 2019 | RAU’S IAS 134

(c) WTO
(d) International Trade Centre 12. Consider the following statements with regards
to TIR Convention:
8. Consider the following statements related to 1. It is administered by International Road Transport
Payroll Data: Union under the UN mandate.
1. It is an employment related statistics report 2. FICCI is the national Issuing & Guaranteeing
published by Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour and Association for TIR Carnets
Employment. Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?
2. It captures the employment creation in both formal (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
and informal sector. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 13. Which of the following have been recipients of
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Seoul Peace Price?
1. Kofi Annan
9. With reference to Inverted Yield Curve, consider 2. Angela Merkel
the following statements: 3. Narendra Modi
1. This curve shows that the yields on short term Select the correct answer form the codes given below:
maturity bonds is higher than the yields of long (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
term maturity Bonds.
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
2. The Inverted Yield Curve denotes a possible higher
economic growth in future.
14. What is the purview of UNSC 1267 Sanctions
Committee?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) High Seas piracy
(c) Russian intervention in Ukraine
10. The “Sandbox Policy”, which was in news
(d) North Korean nuclear program
recently, deals with which among the following?
(a) Mining Sector
15. Which of the following is/are correctly matched?
(b) Fintech Companies
City/Region Location
(c) Stock Exchanges
1. Baghouz Iraq
(d) Over the Top (OTT) Services
2. Golan Heights Palestine
11. Consider the following statements with regards Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
to OIC: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
1. It only consists of Muslim-majority countries. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. It is the world’s largest inter-governmental
organisation. 16. Consider the following statements with regards
Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct? to UNISDR:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. It serves as the focal point in the UN system for
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 disaster risk reduction.

2. It supports the implementation of the Sendai 21. Consider the following statements about
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Greater One-Horned rhinoceros:
Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct? 1. It has been accorded with ‘Vulnerable Status’ in the
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only IUCN Red List.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. The largest of the rhino species it is mainly found in
Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas and
Shrublands.
17. Which of the following countries constitute
BRICS Plus? Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. Mexico 2. Nigeria (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
3. South Korea (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 22. Which of the following statements is/are correct
about New Delhi Declaration?
(c) 2 and 3 (d) None of the Above
1. The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019
was signed by representatives of the governments
18. Operation Sahyata 2019 was recently in the
of India, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal.
news. It is associated with HADR operation in
2. It aims to strengthen trans-boundary collaboration
which of the following countries?
among India, Nepal, and Bhutan for the greater
(a) Mozambique (b) Maldives
one-horned rhino conservation.
(c) Yemen (d) Laos
3. The declaration aims to increase the population of
only the Sumatran Rhino that are the only Asian
19. Which of the following statements with regards Rhino species with two horns.
to Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Reduction 2016 is/are correct?
(a) 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
1. It led to the adoption of the ‘Asia Regional Plan for
(c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Implementation of the Sendai Framework’
2. It led to the formation of Coalition for Disaster
23. Consider the following statements about the
Resilient Infrastructure
Impact of forest fires:
Select the correct answer form the codes given below:
1. Wildfires are sometimes a natural process, and help
forests by promoting flowering and seedling
establishment.
2. In case of regulated forest fires, the heating of the
20. Druze Ethnic group is associated with which of soil may result in helpful microbial activity and
the following West Asian conflicts? hasten decaying processes that are useful for the
1. Golan Heights 2. Yemen War vegetation.
3. Syrian Civil War Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Select the correct answer from the codes given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 3 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
24. Consider the following statements about
Bandipur Tiger Reserve:

1. The Reserve is located in Wayanad plateau, (a) 1 only (b) 2 only

characterized by the presence of several Swamps (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
and Vayals of varying sizes.
2. The Kabini Reservoir separates the Bandipur and 28. Consider the following statements about cloud
Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. seeding:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1. It is the process that uses planes to spray clouds
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only with chemicals to condense smaller particles into
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 larger rain droplets.
2. In this process, either silver iodide or dry ice is
25. Consider the following statements about sea dumped onto the clouds by using an aircraft or an
squirts: artillery gun.
1. Squirts are also referred as Ascidians which are Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
round, palm-sized animals that can thrive in dirty (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
industrial areas and pristine waters alike. (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. Recently, scientist have found that these rubbery
sea creatures could help measure plastic pollution 29. Consider the following statements about Periyar
as it can filter tiny particles from the ocean and Tiger Reserve:
store them in its soft tissue.
1. It is a protected area near Thekkady in the districts
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta in Kerala,
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only India.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. It had become the first tiger reserve in the state to
use e-patrolling technology called M-STrIPES
26. Consider the following statements about Olive (Monitoring System for Tigers- Intensive Protection
Ridley turtle: and Ecological Status), developed by the
1. These are migratory turtle species that come to International Union for Conservation of Nature.
India for nesting during winter the season. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. Listed as “critically endangered” as per IUCN, these (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
species are found in Warm and tropical waters of (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
the Pacific, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 30. Consider the following statements about Lesser
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only Crested Tern:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. It is listed as Critically Endangered as per IUCN.
2. These tern species are distributed in coastal regions
27. Consider the following statements about Red of Indian subcontinent, north-west and east African
Sanders: coast, Madagascar and coasts around the Bay of
1. It is a fragrant variety of sandalwood that mostly Bengal.
grows in rocky, hilly regions in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
2. The Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of the (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
state of Andhra Pradesh are its principle (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
geographical range.

31. Consider the following statements about 2. DRDO-developed Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)
Khanderi Submarine: Interceptor Missile successfully engaged an Indian
1. It is the first Scorpene class submarine to be orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
inducted in Indian Navy. Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
2. The submarine has the ability to launch crippling (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
attack on the enemy using precision guided (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
weapons.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? 35. “Kessler Syndrome” can be associated with
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only which of the following:
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) Collision of space debris
(b) Advance remedial therapy for cancer
32. Which of the following statements is/are correct (d) Pharmaceutical industry
about West Nile Fever: (d) Artificial Intelligence
1. It is viral infection is most often the result of
mosquito bites.
2. It cannot be transmitted through contact with other National Science Day:
infected animals, their blood, or other tissues.
1. It is celebrated every year to commemorate the
3. It can cause fatal neurological disease in humans. discovery of Raman effect.
Select the correct answer using the code given below: 2. The theme for the National Science Day 2019 is –
(a) 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only “Science for the people, and People for the Science”
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
33. Consider the following statements about PSLV- (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
C45 Mission:
1. The chief payload — the 436 kg EMISAT will be used 37. Which of the following statements is/are correct
for electromagnetic spectrum measurement. about Belle II:
2. Under this mission, the PS4 orbital platform is 1. It is the first super B-Factory experiment and is
envisaged to provide a microgravity environment designed to find New Physics beyond the Standard
for research organisations and academic institutes Model of particle physics.
to perform experiments.
2. The experiment precisely analysed the
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? characteristics of pairs of B-and anti-B-mesons and
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only confirmed the effect of CP-violation.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 3. CP-violation is believed to be one of the origins for
the observed dominance of matter over anti-mater
34. Consider the following statements about in our present universe.
Mission Shakti: Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1. Defence Research and Development Organisation (a) 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(DRDO) has successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
(A-SAT) missile test named ‘Mission Shakti’ from the
Dr AP J Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.

38. Which of the following statements is/are correct 2. Freedom of Press in India is protected under
about Raman Effect: freedom of speech and expression.
1. It is the change in the wavelength of light that Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules. (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
2. This phenomenon forms the foundation of Raman (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
spectroscopy which is utilised by physicists and
chemists to know more information about
42. Which of the statements about Official Secrets
materials.
Act, 1923 is/are correct?
3. In this phenomenon elastic scattering of a photon
1. The Act targets officials and civilians who have
takes place by molecules which are energized to
documents/code/materials etc. which can be
higher rotational energy or vibrational levels.
classified as “secret information.”
2. As per Right to Information Act, 2005, any
(a) 2 only (b) 1 and 2 only information pertaining to Official Secrets Act, 1923
(c) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 cannot be disclosed to the press under any
circumstances.
39. Consider the following statements about STARS Select the correct answer using the code given below:
scheme: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only
1. Under the scheme 500 science projects will be (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
funded whose selection will be made based on
competition.
43. Consider the following statements about the
2. The scheme will be coordinated by the Indian recent notification of election schedule for the
Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. upcoming general election 2019 by the Election
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? Commission:
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only 1. Pursuant to the announcement of the Schedule for
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 the General Election through the Press Note, the
Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Guidance of
40. Consider the following statements about Sonic Political Parties and Candidates has come into
booms: operation with immediate effect.
1. It is shockwave produced by an aircraft or other 2. All citizens who turned 18 years on 1st January,
object flying at a speed equal to or exceeding the 2019 and registered as electors will be eligible to
speed of sound. cast their vote.
2. It can be a major nuisance, capable of not just 3. All the candidates contesting election are required
startling people on the ground but also causing to file an affidavit in Form 26 along with their
damage like shattered windows. nomination papers.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (a) 2 only (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
41. Consider the following statements: 44. Election Commission of India has issued social
media guidelines for candidates contesting
1. UNESCO promotes freedom of expression and
upcoming General Election, 2019. Which of the
freedom of the press as a basic human right.

statements about social media guidelines is/are (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
correct? (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 only
1. Candidates are required to furnish details of his/her
social media account at the time of filing of 47. Consider the following statements:
nominations.
1. The government has re-designated the existing
2. All political advertisement on Social Media will also Digital Communications Commission as the
require precertification from Media Certification & Telecom Commission.
Monitoring Committees (MCMC).
2. Digital Communications Commission shall
3. All the provisions of Model Code of Conduct shall implement government's policies in all matters
not apply to the content being posted on social concerning telecommunication.
media by candidates and political parties.
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

45. Consider the following statements about Indelible Ink:
Aadhaar Payment Bridge System (APBS):
1. The Indelible Ink is a composition of Silver Nitrate.
1. APBS is implemented by National Payments
2. Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited (MPVL)
Corporation of India.
specializes in manufacture and supply of Indelible
2. APB System is used by the Government Ink for elections.
Departments and Agencies for the transfer of
benefits and subsidies under Direct Benefit Transfer
scheme.
49. Consider the following statements about Low
Earth Orbit (LEO):
1. LEO refers to an earth centred orbit at an altitude of
2000 km or less.
Electoral Bonds:
2. Most of the satellites operate in LEO.
1. Electoral Bond shall be issued from the specified
branches of the State Bank of India.
2. The donor of electoral bonds are required to
disclose the name of political party while purchasing
electoral bonds and political parties are also
required to maintain records of their donors. 50. “Dhimsa Dance” can be associated with which of
3. The Electoral Bonds have some built in security the following states?
features which include a random serial number (a) Manipur (b) Kerala
invisible to the naked eye to eliminate chances of (c) Assam (d) Andhra Pradesh
forgery or presentation of fake bonds.

1. Answer (a) 13. Answer (d) 25. Answer (c) 37. Answer (d)
2. Answer (c) 14. Answer (a) 26. Answer (a) 38. Answer (b)
3. Answer (c) 15. Answer (d) 27. Answer (b) 39. Answer (c)
4. Answer (c) 16. Answer (c) 28. Answer (c) 40. Answer (c)
5. Answer (a) 17. Answer (d) 29. Answer (a) 41. Answer (c)
6. Answer (b) 18. Answer (a) 30. Answer (b) 42. Answer (a)
7. Answer (c) 19. Answer (a) 31. Answer (b) 43. Answer (d)
8. Answer (d) 20. Answer (a) 32. Answer (c) 44. Answer (a)
9. Answer (a) 21. Answer (c) 33. Answer (c) 45. Answer (c)
10. Answer (b) 22. Answer (c) 34. Answer (c) 46. Answer (c)
11. Answer (d) 23. Answer (c) 35. Answer (a) 47. Answer (b)
12. Answer (c) 24. Answer (c) 36. Answer (c) 48. Answer (c)
49. Answer (c)
50. Answer (d)
CORRIGENDUM
KINDLY NOTE: With respect to MARCH 2019, Multiple Choice Questions section, there was printing mistake in 3
answers. The correct answers are the following:
 Question 7: (a)
 Question 8: (d)
 Question 9: (a)

Here, we are sharing Essay Type Questions for self-

practice. These questions have been framed on
important issues covered in editorials drawn from
Essay Type Questions leading newspapers. A reader is expected to read the
editorals, understand & analyse them, and practice
for mains gs papers I, II & III the question given above each editorial in 200 words
to command on issues relevant for General Studies
Papers- I, II, III & Essay.
Q1. The Farmers’ producer organisations (FPOs) have the potential to alleviate the present rural distress,
however, they face multifaceted challenges. Discuss
Promoting FPOs Business Standard| Economy
Farmers’ producer organisations (FPOs), also known as farmers’ producer companies (FPCs), need to be promoted
earnestly to alleviate economic distress in rural areas, considering the role they can play in enhancing the earnings of their
member-farmers. The way their count has swelled from less than 200 in 2010 to over 4,000 today is an indication of the
success of this new model of agri-business. As professionally-managed enterprises conducting business on behalf of the
farmers, they enjoy better bargaining power to procure inputs and services and sell the farmers’ output. They are also
better equipped to facilitate value-addition of the farm produce to ensure higher returns in almost all fields of agriculture
and its allied activities like horticulture, plantations, dairy, poultry, fisheries and others. Even the landless, tribals and those
subsisting on collections from the wilds have gained by forming such organisations.
The FPOs are basically the hybrids of cooperatives and private companies which retain the merits but discard the demerits
of both of them. The Companies Act has especially been amended by incorporating Section-IX A in it to allow creation and
registration of this new category of farmers’ companies under this law. While the participation, organisation and
membership pattern of these companies are more or less similar to the cooperatives, their day-to-day functioning and
business models resemble those of the professionally-run private companies. Significantly, each shareholder of the FPO
has one vote, irrespective of the size of shareholding, and the shares are not traded on the stock markets to forestall any
risk of hostile takeover by way of equity acquisition. However, the task of promoting these organisations has been
entrusted to parastatals like the National Bank for agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) and the Small farmers
Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) which have their own limitations in ensuring effective hand-holding.
Of the few pro-FPO initiatives taken recently by the government, the most noteworthy are the announcement in the
2018-19 Budget of a five-year tax holiday and setting up of a small credit guarantee fund of Rs 100 crore. The FPOs
were taxed at 30 per cent earlier. However, many of the critical woes of this sector still remain unaddressed. These include
difficulties in securing institutional finance, inability to operate in the regular agricultural markets and the lack of legal
recognition under the contract farming regulations. The banks are usually wary of granting loans to the FPOs as they do
not have assets of their own to serve as collaterals. Consequently, the FPOs have to rely on loans from non-banking
financial companies or micro-finance companies to raise working capital at very high interest rates. Strangely enough, the
facility of cheap bank loans with liberal subvention of interest by the government that is available to individual farmers is
denied to the FPOs, though they are purely farmers’ organisations. Worse still, many other kinds of concessions, tax
exemptions, subsidies and benefits provided to cooperatives, startups or other grassroots farm bodies have not been
extended to the FPOs. They also usually face resistance in operating at the regulated mandis because of the resistance

offered by the licensed traders and their cartels who wield significant hold over these markets. These issues need to be
addressed expeditiously to enable the FPOs to perform to their full potential for the benefit of the farmers.
Key words: 1. Farmers’ producer Companies 2.FPO Initiatives 3. Small farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)
Q2:The Foreign Exchange Buy/sell swap to be used by the RBI for the liquidity management in India would fulfill
multiple objectives. Comment.
Dollar-rupee swap, a useful tool The Hindu| Economy
The Reserve Bank of India’s decision to resort to a dollar-rupee swap instead of the traditional open-market purchase of
bonds, to infuse liquidity into the economy marks a significant shift in the central bank’s liquidity management policy.
Under the three-year currency swap scheme, the RBI will purchase $5 billion from banks in exchange for rupees. The
central bank will infuse as much as ₹35,000 crore into the system in one shot at a time when liquidity generally tends to be
squeezed. For the banks, it is a way to earn some interest out of the forex reserves lying idle in their kitty. Apart from
injecting fresh liquidity into the economy, the move will have implications for the currency market even as it helps shore
up the RBI’s dollar reserves. Bond yields rose on the day following the announcement of the swap scheme, reflecting the
prevailing opinion among traders that the RBI may gradually reduce its dependence on the regular bond purchase scheme
to manage liquidity within the economy. While traditional open market operations distort the bond market, the new forex
swap scheme will introduce new distortions in the currency market. The rupee’s recent rally against the dollar has been
halted by the RBI’s decision to infuse rupees and suck out dollars through the swap scheme. Even so, it is worth noting
that the rupee has appreciated significantly in value terms against the dollar since the low reached in October as foreign
investors have begun to pour money into the Indian economy.
Overall, the dollar-rupee swap is a useful addition to the RBI’s policy toolkit as it offers the central bank a chance to directly
influence both the value of the rupee and the amount of liquidity in the economy at the same time using a single tool.
In the aftermath of the liquidity crisis in the non-banking financial sector, it can be an effective way to lower private
borrowing costs as well. The coming elections, which can lead to an increase in cash withdrawals from banks, may have
also played a role in the RBI’s larger decision to boost liquidity in the system. The way banks respond after receiving fresh
liquidity from the RBI, however, will determine the success of the new liquidity scheme to a large extent. Businesses could
benefit from the greater availability of liquidity, but only if banks aggressively pass on the benefit of lower rates to their
borrowers. If banks choose to deposit the fresh RBI money in safe government securities at low yields, as they have done
in the past, the de facto cap on the government’s borrowing costs will remain intact. But if banks manage to find
alternative ways to deploy their money, the RBI’s new liquidity scheme could end up raising borrowing costs for the
government, punishing it for fiscal indiscretion.
Key words: 1.Foreign Exchange buy/sell swap 2. Foreign Exchange Management
Q3. The demographic divergence between different regions within the country must be seen as an opportunity for
growth and hence appropriate policies must be formulated to take advantage of such an opportunity. Analyse.
North India’s latent ‘demographic dividend’ Businessline | Economy
There is a clear demographic divergence between north-central and south-western regions; one is a young hinterland
with vast labour force and the other ones are ageing with decreasing working age population. Most of the current and

future demographic potential is locked in the north-central States, and largely located in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
As per population projections by UNFPA, these five States will account for more than half of the growth in the labour force
in India. Those who are under 15 years of age today will become India’s working population in coming decades. Almost
every second person in this age group resides in these five States. The accompanying figure shows that there is a gap of
almost 20 years between the northern hinterland and southern States in terms of the peak of the working age ratios in
these regions.
When the total as well as percentage of working population will be declining in the advanced demographic transition
States, it will still be increasing in north-central States. Of the 628 million population growth during 2001-2061, 400 million
(two-third of the total addition) will be only in six north-central States. In the advanced demographic transition States, the
total workforce size is projected to increase from 200 million in 2011 to 227 million in 2031 and then it will start decreasing
to reach 183 million in 2061; 17 million less in 2061 than 2011.
During the same period, the working age population in the late demographic stage States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh etc. will increase from 297 million in 2011 to 446 million in 2031 to reach a maximum of 526
million in 2051 and 515 million in 2061; with a net increase of 218 million. In terms of proportion of the total national
working age population, their share will keep on increasing from today to 2061; from 40 per cent in 2011 to 53 per cent in
2061. The share of the advanced demographic stage States, on the other hand, will keep on decreasing; from 27 per cent
in 2011 to approximately 18 per cent in 2061.
There are several policy implications of this demographic divergence.
First, the north-central region is and will be the hub of labour force in the country. If India wants to become a developed
nation, the key lies in these very States. These States could become major contributors to the socio-economic
development in the country if the right policies and commensurate attention and resources are allotted to realise the full
potential of their large young population.
Second, the greying south-western region will require workers for keeping institutions running, taking care of the elderly
and maintaining the economic productivity while the north-central region will have high and possibly surplus young
working age population. This will lead to increased migration and urbanisation. Already, the migration trends are evident,
with established flows of young people from north-central States to other parts in the country. Demographic divergence
will render further impetus to migration. Migration could be a big game changer and a win-win situation for individuals,
families, States (both sending and receiving) and the nation if collaborative planning is done by migration origin and
destination States with the national government acting as a facilitator for such collaborations.
Infra and social support
There is a need to gain deeper understanding of migration flows, so that estimations and projections can be made
regarding changing needs for housing and infrastructure, healthcare and utilities, education and skills. States need to
work together to provide portability of identity proof and entitlements, as well as build support systems for families left
behind. India urgently needs to take cognizance of the divergent demographic transition trends. Timely strategic action
can develop human capacities to cater to future needs and build rights-based policies that work for migrants as well as
locals. Third, nearly one third of India’s population, 377 million, lives in urban areas. The level of urbanisation is higher in
the advanced demographic stage States in south-western region, accounting for 45 per cent population of the total
nation’s urban population. For the first time in Indian history, the population increase was more in urban areas compared

to rural areas during 2001-2011. The large young and working population in the years to come will migrate to urban areas
within their own and other States, leading to rapid and large-scale increase in urban population.
Hence, it is a no brainer that there has to be increased focus on urbanisation. How these migrating people can have
access to basic amenities, health and social services in urban areas need to be the focus of urban policy planning.
In brief, there is a demographic divergence between regions in India and this should be seen not as a problem but an
opportunity for overall socio-economic development in the country. And to make it happen, the policy focus has to be on
education, health, skills and gainful employment, especially women’s participation in workforce; safe, voluntary and
gainful migration; and inclusive urbanisation.
Key words: 1. Demographic Divergence 2.Policy implications of Demographic Divergence
Q4: Analyze the reasons for the increase in the share of contractual workers in the total employment in India.
Facts and myths on rise of contract labour Businessline| Economy
Late last year, around 200 workers of a Chinese smart phone manufacturing unit, Hipad Technology India, were “sacked”
without any prior notice. Reports suggest that the workers were employed on a contractual basis and due to the shortage
of raw materials their contractor was asked not to supply workers. Thereafter, the agitated workers resorted to violence.
This and several such incidents of massive unrest and protests in India over the last decade are reflective of the pent-up
anger of contract workers who find themselves in an increasingly precarious position.
Data from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), which covers establishments registered under the Factories Act, shows
a surge in contract worker usage in the organised manufacturing sector. Over half of the increase in total employment
from 7.7 million to 13.7 million between 2000-01 and 2015-16 was accounted for by contract workers.
The share of contract workers in total employment increased sharply from 15.5 per cent in 2000-01 to 27.9 per cent in
2015-16, while the share of directly hired workers fell from 61.2 per cent to 50.4 per cent over the same period. The rise in
the use of contract workers who are not employed directly by the employer, but by an intermediary or contractor on
short-term contracts, indicates significant Informalisation of the organised workforce.
Data from the Labour Bureau’s Employment-Unemployment Survey (2015-16) show that contract and casual workers
have higher shares of society’s vulnerable caste groups as compared to regular workers.The proliferation of such informal
alternative work arrangements not only deepen labour market segmentation but also have widespread ramifications for
economic stability and social cohesion.
Rigid labour laws?
Existing literature attributes the widespread use of contract labour to India’s rigid employment protection legislations, in
particular Chapter V-B of the Industrial Disputes Act (IDA,1947), which makes it necessary for firms employing more than
100 workers to obtain the permission of State governments to lay off workers.
But labour regulations in India have not become more rigid over the last 15 years. If it all, they have become more
employer-friendly. A case in point is the amendments made by several State governments since 2015 to raise the
threshold to which IDA applies to 300 workers.

Das, Choudhury and Singh (2015) have also identified a series of court judgements on the Contract Labour Act which have
made it easier to hire contract workers over time. Significant amongst these is the Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and
Others versus the National Union of Waterfront Workers and Others (2001) which snapped the direct relationship
between the principal employer and contract labour. The judgement stated that once the government has abolished
contract labour, there is no obligation on the employer to employ former contract labour in regular jobs.
If labour regulations were the only factor driving contractualisation, we should have seen increasing contract worker
intensity largely in labour intensive industries and in States which have traditionally been classified as having a relatively
rigid labour regulatory environment.
Yet, data over the last 15 years suggest that it is capital-intensive and not labour intensive industries, which have
witnessed a sharper increase in contract worker usage. Moreover, even States which have made amendments to their
labour laws to make them more amenable to employers have witnessed a sharp increase in contract worker usage.
Cost factor
So, what then explains the increase in contract worker intensity?
First, contract workers receive roughly half the wages of those workers employed directly by firms. Also, firms make
significant savings by hiring contract workers as they receive far fewer employee benefits compared to regular workers.
This enables firms to reduce costs and improve competitiveness.
Second, the presence of contract workers in the firms’ workforce acts as an alternative workforce to suppress the
bargaining power of their regular unionized workers.
In a recent study (Explaining the contractualisation of India’s workforce, ICRIER Working Paper 369), we find that firms’
management tend to use contract workers to their strategic advantage to not only curb the bargaining power of regular
workers but also keep their wage demand in check.
It is no surprise, then, that the real wages of directly employed workers (a proxy for regular workers in the data) have
remained almost stagnant over the last 15 years.
That firms are not hiring contract workers simply to circumvent labour regulations suggests that making labour
regulations more flexible and increasing the size threshold to which Factories Act and Chapter VB of IDA applies is unlikely
to arrest the trend of increasing contractualisation.
Given that it is largely profit motive that is driving firms’ decisions to hire contract workers, it is important to ensure that
wages of contract workers are at par with directly hired workers when performing the same work.
This is necessary not just from the lens of contract workers, but also for directly employed workers who have experienced
negligible growth in their real wages as the pool of contract workers continues to expand. In principle, the Contract Labour
Act prescribes that contract workers are entitled to “same wages” for the same or similar kind of work as regular
workmen.
Further, it prohibits the use of contract labour in “core” and “perennial” activities. However, in practice these rules are not
diligently followed. Given the increasing substitution of directly employed workers with contract workers and the change
in the nature of “core” and “perennial” activities such that even in its “core” activity an enterprise does not have the same
amount of work throughout the year, there is an urgent need to review the Contract Labour Act.

While the need for flexibility in the use of contract labour for activities that are not of a regular nature and vary from time
to time is understandable, the provision of decent conditions of work and social security for these workers must be strictly
adhered to.
The imperative of having robust labour regulations which protect workers, even as firms retain the flexibility to adapt to
new technologies, assumes even greater significance in a changing world of work where the balance of power has
increasingly shifted from labour to capital due to decline in unions and the globalization of the economy.
Key words: 1. Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2.Share of contract workers in total employment 3. Employment-Unemployment
Survey
Q5.The recommendations of 14th Finance Commission have strengthened fiscal federalism in India, however, still
there are certain concerns that remain to be addressed. Elucidate.
Another look at fiscal transfers The Hindu| Economy
Federalism is an old concept. Its origin is mainly political. It is well known that the efficiency of a government depends on,
among other factors, its structure. In large countries, it has been felt that only a federal structure can efficiently meet the
requirements of people from different regions. Underlying this proposition is the premise that preferences vary across
regions.
In our country during the independence struggle, provincial autonomy was regarded as an integral part of the freedom
movement. However, after Independence, several compulsions, which included defence and internal security, led to a
scheme of federalism in which the Centre assumed greater importance. Also in the immediate period following
Independence, when the Centre and all States were ruled by the same party and when many of the powerful provincial
leaders migrated to the Centre, the process of centralization gathered further momentum. Economic planning at a nation-
wide level helped this centralizing process.
Fiscal federalism
Fiscal federalism is the economic counterpart to political federalism. Fiscal federalism is concerned with the assignment
on the one hand of functions to different levels of government, and with appropriate fiscal instruments for carrying out
these functions on the other. It is generally believed that the Central government must provide national public goods that
render services to the entire population. A typical example cited is defence. Sub-national governments are expected to
provide goods and services whose consumption is limited to their own jurisdictions. An equally important question in
fiscal federalism is the determination of the specific fiscal instruments that would enable the different levels of
government to carry out their functions. This is the ‘tax-assignment problem’ which is much discussed in the literature on
the subject. In determining the taxes that are best suited for use at different levels of government, one basic consideration
is in relation to the mobility of economic agents, goods and resources. It is generally argued that the de-centralized levels
of government should avoid non-benefit taxes and taxes on mobile units.
Strengthening the federal link
This implies that the Central government should have the responsibility to levy non-benefit taxes and taxes on mobile
units or resources. Building these principles into an actual scheme of assignment of taxes to different levels of
government in a Constitution is indeed very difficult. Different Constitutions interpret differently what is mobile and what
is purely a benefit tax. For example, in the United States and Canada, both Federal and State governments have
concurrent powers to levy income tax. On the contrary, in India, income tax is levied only by the Central government

though shared with the States. Recognizing the possibility of imbalance between resources and responsibilities, many
countries have a system of inter-governmental transfers.
The Indian Constitution lays down the functions as well as taxing powers of the Centre and States. It is against this
background that the issues relating to the correction of vertical and horizontal imbalances have been addressed by every
Finance Commission, taking into account the prevailing set of circumstances. However, Central transfers to States are not
confined to the recommendations of the Finance Commissions. There are other channels such as those through the
Planning Commission until recently as well the discretionary grants of the Central government.
In 2010-11, in the combined revenue receipts of the Centre and States, the share of the Centre was 64.68%. After transfer,
the share came down to 40.20%. In the case of the States, their share before transfers was 35.32%. After the receipts of
transfers the share of States went up to 59.80%. Thus the shares got reversed. In 2016-17, the share of the Centre after
transfers was 33.37% and that of the States was 66.63%. In the case of total expenditures, the share of the Centre in 2014-
15 was 41.14% and that of the States was 58.86%. The ultimate position appears reasonable. The question may be on the
mode of transfers.
New developments
The Fourteenth Finance Commission has broken new ground in terms of allocation of resources. One of its major
recommendations has been to increase the share of tax devolution to 42% of the divisible pool. This is a substantial
increase by almost 10 percentage points. The commission has argued that this does not necessarily affect the overall
transfers but only enhances the share of unconditional transfers. It is true that Centrally sponsored schemes, which have
ballooned in recent years, may have ‘encroached’ on the territory of States. Over years, the performance of the Central
government is judged not only on the basis of actions taken which fall strictly in its jurisdiction but also on initiatives
undertaken in the areas which fall in the Concurrent and even State lists. Centralised planning has something to do with it.
Today, the Central government is held responsible for everything that happens, including, for example, agrarian distress.
In viewing the responsibilities of the Centre and States we must take a broader view than what is stipulated in the
Constitution.
On the allocation of unconditional transfers, two questions arise. The first is to determine the total transfers that need
to be made, while the second is whether all transfers must be done by the Finance Commission alone. Finance
Commissions prior to the Fourteenth recognised that some transfers were being made by the Planning Commission; this
was kept in mind while deciding on tax devolution. By the time the Fourteenth Finance Commission was required to
submit its report, a fundamental change in the institutional framework had occurred.
The Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog, which was simply a think-tank with no powers of resource
allocation. In this context perhaps what the Fourteenth Finance Commission did was justifiable. Of course, the Fourteenth
Finance Commission did what it did because the terms of reference had not made any distinction between Plan and non-
Plan revenue expenditures. The moot question is about what happens if any future government revives the Planning
Commission with financial powers. This will put the Central government in a fix.
Some suggestions
Perhaps the time has come for the Constitution to be amended and the proportion of shareable taxes that should go to
the States fixed at the desired level. The shareable tax pool must also include cesses and surcharges as these have sharply
increased in recent years. Fixing the ratio at 42% of shareable taxes, including cesses and surcharges, seems appropriate.
Another possible route is to follow the practice in the U.S. and Canada: of allowing the States to levy tax on personal
income, with some limitations. Since one of the concerns is that resources do not match functions, this may be a way out.

But, as in the U.S., the scheme should be simple and ride on federal income tax, that is, just a levy on the income assessed
by federal authorities. The freedom given to the States must be limited. It is important to note that the levy by the Centre
and States together should be reasonable.
Also once this power is given to the States, the transfers from the Centre need adjustment. As far as India is concerned,
this is an area which needs a fuller study. Adoption of any one of these alternatives will avoid friction between the Centre
and the States. Perhaps the first alternative of constitutionally fixing the ratio is the easiest.
There are issues relating to horizontal distribution. Equity considerations have dominated the allocations. This is as it
should be. However, the ability of bringing about equalisation across States in India has limitations. Even the relatively
richer States have their own problems and they feel ‘cheated’ because of the overuse of the equity criterion. An
appropriate balancing of criteria is needed particularly in the context of the rise in unconditional transfers. Of course,
appropriate balancing is what all Finance Commissions are concerned about.
Key words: 1.Fiscal Federalism 2.14th Finance Commission 3. Unconditional Transfers
Q6. Critically analyse on the outcomes for India with respect to recent participation in the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation.
The story of two OIC fiascos The Hindu | International Organisation
India’s most recent encounter with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) bears an uncanny resemblance to India’s
failed attempt to gain entry to the inaugural session of the same grouping held in Rabat, Morocco, in 1969 and for much
the same reasons. In the earlier episode New Delhi lobbied fiercely to wangle an invitation to the meeting. However, on
Pakistan’s insistence the invitation that had been extended was withdrawn and India was denied membership of the OIC
despite its insistence that as the country with the third largest Muslim population in the world it deserved a seat at the
“Islamic” table.
New Delhi’s bid for membership of the OIC was both morally wrong and politically futile. As a country whose foundational
philosophy was based on secularism, it was inappropriate for India to join an organisation whose defining criterion was
shared religious identity. In India’s case this applied to all organisations that used religious criteria to define themselves,
whether they be Muslim, Hindu, Christian or Buddhist.Further, since India’s membership of the OIC would be perceived as
a powerful refutation of the basis on which Pakistan was created, it was bound to object stridently to India’s induction into
the organisation. Pakistan had great leverage with the conservative Arab monarchies for ideological reasons and because
of the fact that its military was willing to provide the Arab monarchies with well-trained soldiers for hire that the latter
needed to protect their insecure regimes.
Pakistan at that time also had close relations with Iran and Turkey with whom it shared membership of CENTO (Central
Treaty Organisation, formerly the Baghdad Pact) and an anti-Soviet and pro-U.S. orientation. Consequently, Islamabad had
much greater clout within OIC circles than did New Delhi and was in a position to thwart Indian attempts to attain OIC
membership. As it turned out, my prediction came true. New Delhi’s attempt to gain OIC membership led to unnecessary
humiliation that could have been avoided had South Block acted with greater forethought.The situation today is both
different and similar to 1969, and this was clearly reflected in India’s latest experience with the OIC. In an apparent gesture
of goodwill, the organisers of the OIC Foreign Ministers meeting in Abu Dhabi, which in effect meant the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia invited External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj as the guest of honour and keynote
speaker (picture) despite Pakistan’s objections. This was both a reflection of India’s growing economic and political stature

internationally and the desire on the part of the Gulf monarchies to cultivate New Delhi in order to take advantage of the
opportunities provided by India’s expanding economy and its technologically skilled workforce.
However, this is where the difference between 1969 and 2019 ends and the similarities kick in. The impact of Ms. Swaraj’s
speech, especially her denunciation of terrorism that was clearly aimed at Pakistan, was more than neutralised by a
number of events that followed her address. First, the Abu Dhabi declaration issued at the end of the meeting did not
contain even a simple expression of thanks to the Indian External Affairs Minister for addressing the plenary session of the
assembly. Furthermore, it failed to mention the fact that Ms. Swaraj was the guest of honour at the meeting and delivered
the keynote speech. This omission was very glaring in view of the fact that the document mentioned all sorts of
unimportant issues, such as the UAE hosting the 2020 Expo in Dubai.Second, to add insult to injury, the document’s only
reference to the India-Pakistan stand-off stated that the OIC welcomes the “positive initiative undertaken by the Prime
Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan to hand over the Indian pilot as a gesture of goodwill to de-escalate tensions in the
region”. The Pakistani “initiative” was given a very positive twist by decontextualising it totally. There was not even an
implicit reference to the primary reason that led to the most recent India-Pakistan conflagration, namely, Pakistani
support for terrorism as witnessed most dramatically by the attack in Pulwama that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force
personnel.Third, what was even more galling from the Indian perspective was the resolution on Kashmir that
accompanied the Abu Dhabi declaration. This included the phrase “Indian terrorism in Kashmir” while condemning what it
called “atrocities and human rights violations” in the State. It is clear from this sequence of events and the wording of the
documents that emanated from the OIC meeting that despite the invitation to Ms. Swaraj, the leopard has not changed its
spots and that Pakistani influence within the organisation has diminished only marginally.
Once again, the Ministry of External Affairs, instead of prematurely celebrating the invitation to Ms. Swaraj to address the
Abu Dhabi conference, should have thought long and hard before advising the Minister to accept the invitation. It was
particularly incumbent upon the Ministry of External Affairs to do so in light of the resolutions passed by the OIC over the
years regarding Kashmir and India-Pakistan issues which had always favoured the Pakistani point of view. It appears from
hindsight that the External Affairs Minister’s participation in the OIC Foreign Ministers’ conclave, like the Indian attempt to
gain admission into the Rabat conference in 1969, was nothing short of an avoidable fiasco.
Keywords: Rabat conference
Q7. Analyse the geo-politics of North Korean de-nuclearisation process.
Recovering from the Hanoi setback The Hindu | International Geopolitics
The Hanoi summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended abruptly.
There was initial optimism when U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a surprise visit last May to Pyongyang,
returning successfully with three U.S. detainees. Days later, National Security Adviser John Bolton bunged a spanner in the
works by proposing the “Libyan model” for North Korea’s denuclearisation. North Korea reacted strongly with Vice
Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Kye-gwan indicating that it would be forced to reconsider the summit if the U.S. insisted on
driving it into a corner. Mr. Trump backtracked, released the letter he had sent to Mr. Kim, expressing regret about the
delay and adding that he was still hopeful. He also publicly distanced himself from Mr. Bolton’s remarks by pointing out
that what he wanted with North Korea was ‘a deal’. South Korean President Moon Jae-in stepped in, visiting Washington in
May and, on his return, meeting Mr. Kim at Panmunjom to restore calm. By the end of the month, the vice-chairman of the
central committee, Gen. Kim Yong-chol, was in the U.S. meeting Mr. Pompeo and carrying a personal letter from Mr. Kim
to Mr. Trump. And the June summit was restored! While the summit resulted in a joint statement holding out tantalising
prospects of establishing a new period of U.S.-North Korea relations, building a lasting and robust peace on the Korean

peninsula and Mr. Kim reaffirming his firm commitment to the de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, what was
striking was the growing trust and respect between the two leaders. An unexpected personal chemistry had been
established.
Fast forward to Hanoi, Act II. Expectations were set high. Stephen Biegun, appointed Special Representative for North
Korea last year, had hinted that forward movement on ending the ‘war’ was possible. The 1950-53 Korean War, which led
to the division of the peninsula and claimed nearly three million lives, was paused with the 1953 Armistice Agreement. For
North Korea, any move towards formalising peace is a step towards regime legitimacy. While a formal peace treaty would
require U.S. Senate ratification, political steps towards normalisation would not. North Korea expected some
acknowledgement of its continuing restraint with regard to testing and unilateral moves hinting at closing down some test
sites. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim were aware that differences about ‘de-nuclearisation’ persisted. For North Korea, it
means ‘de-nuclearisation of the Korean peninsula’, North Korea dismantling its facilities and giving up its arsenal to go
hand in hand with a permanent peace that removes the U.S. military threat and normalisation. For the U.S., ‘de-
nuclearisation’ is frontend loaded, implying complete, verifiable and irreversible disarmament that requires North Korea
to bring nuclear military activity to a halt, make a full declaration and subject itself to international verification, before
sanctions are lifted.
Mr. Trump had indicated that he was happy about the continued ban on nuclear and missile testing and not in a hurry.
However, the pitch was queered by intelligence reports surfacing that in addition to the principal nuclear facility
(Yongbyon), North Korea had built another uranium enrichment facility at Kangson. It put a question mark on Mr Kim’s
commitment to ‘denuclearisation’. Another report indicated that though the Punggye-ri test site was shut, continued
plutonium production and uranium enrichment during the last 12 months would have enabled North Korea to add up to
seven devices to its existing arsenal estimated at 30 devices.These disclosures diminished the value of North Korea’s offer
of closing Yongbyon, which houses reactors (one for plutonium production and the older one possibly for tritium) in
addition to an enrichment facility. Mr. Trump had accepted the idea of a road map but instead of working out the details,
he prefers to rely on his sense of political timing to conclude a successful deal. Further, there was a growing perception
that he was in too much of a hurry, which meant that any agreement would be modest and likely be labelled a bad deal by
the non-proliferation hardliners. He cleverly chose ‘no deal’ to a ‘bad deal’ — and the curtain came down on Act II.
It seems the U.S. demanded more than Yongbyon, which was more than North was willing to give. Mr. Trump said, “It was
all about sanctions. They wanted the sanctions lifted in its entirety and we couldn’t do that. Sometimes, you have to walk
and this was one of those times.” His regret was evident when he added, “When we walked away, it was a very friendly
walk.” North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho claimed they had “demanded only partial sanctions relief in exchange for
dismantling Yongbyon”. Whatever the reasons, reactions on both sides have been restrained. A return to the rhetoric of
‘fire and fury’ therefore seems unlikely.
Right now, the mantra in Washington is that no deal is better than a bad deal. Yet, realisation will soon dawn that the
current situation only permits North Korea’s stockpile to grow as there is zero likelihood for Chinese and Russian support
for further tightening of sanctions. There are no plans for a third summit though Mr. Trump said that he “remained
optimistic about a positive future outcome”, adding, “there is a warmth that we have and I hope that stays.” Mr. Pompeo
acknowledged “real progress” and said the “U.S. is ready to get back to the table to continue the talks”.It is likely that
during this Intermission, South Korea will step up its diplomacy with both Washington and Pyongyang. Mr. Moon has
played a low-key but critical role in nurturing the process. Domestically, he has staked a lot, having had three meetings
with Mr. Kim last year, including one in Pyongyang. Since last May, both sides have refrained from hostile activities and
propaganda, the demilitarised zone (DMZ), is peaceful, landmines have been removed and some maritime confidence-
building measures put in place. With economic troubles at home and hardliners in Seoul accusing him of being over-

optimistic and naive, he is vulnerable. The South Korean Constitution only provides one term for the President and Mr.
Moon is confident about the legacy he wants to leave behind.More has been achieved during the last year since the
collapse of the Agreed Framework in 2002 when U.S. President George W. Bush included North Korea in his “axis of evil”
speech. Between then and 2017, North Korea carried out six nuclear tests, including one believed to be a fusion device,
and over a 100 missile tests, demonstrating intercontinental ballistic missile capability. Mr. Moon’s goal is to register
sufficient progress on both ‘normalisation’ and the ‘denuclearisation’ tracks so that the process becomes irreversible. Such
a breakthrough needs a top-led process.And so an Act III is likely. The hardliners will eventually recognise virtue in a step-
by-step process as long as it is irreversible. A new stage will have to be found, Bangkok, even Hong Kong if China
cooperates. But the cast is willing. After all, it is the blossoming of a beautiful relationship.
Keywords: 1. Hanoi summit 2. Libyan model
Q8. Politics is a required dimension when discussing or debating upon issues of national security. Comment.
Bringing politics back in The Hindu | National Security
The calls for refraining from politicisingacts of terror also apply to most matters of national security. The strong belief,
often convincingly articulated by leading thought leaders, that national security must be divorced from politics is so
entrenched in popular narratives that any attempt at discussing national security through the lens of politics is
immediately discredited: “How can someone politicise something as important as national security?”What is puzzling
about such assertions is that most serious analysts and thoughtful politicians intuitively recognise that, at the end of the
day, political solutions are the best answer to conflicts. And yet depoliticisation comes handy for the government since
“do not politicise” also means “do not ask difficult questions”, a convenient way out of a tricky situation. For the general
public, this results in weariness over how the political class has managed national security problems. In that sense, then,
the aversion towards politics, especially in times of crisis, is essentially a function of the failure of the way in which politics
and political debates are practised, not a negation of politics per se. The solution is to offer better political reasoning, and
not replace political formulations with military ones, which is often seen as the easy way out.
Popular narratives about solutions to our contemporary security problems demand the adoption of militaristic or
securitised solutions as if the military has some superior capability for conflict resolution that politics doesn’t. The problem
with privileging military solutions over political ones while dealing with conflict resolution is that the former use a specific
set of tools, discourses and methods to resolve conflicts unlike the toolkit politics uses for conflict resolution. Consider an
example. Post-Pulwama, the Government of India began a security crackdown in the Kashmir Valley and airlifted around
100 companies of paramilitary forces to enforce it, a typical and time-tested military solution to the unrest in the State of
Jammu and Kashmir. A political solution would have been what the then United Progressive Alliance government adopted
to deal with the widespread anger in the Valley in late 2010, wherein it sent a team of interlocutors to talk to the protesting
Kashmiris. The interlocutors were able to bring about a sense of normalcy almost immediately, whereas the influx of more
armed men into the Valley is unlikely to achieve that.
Militarised methods and narratives also lead to de-politicisation, or the dismissal of normal politics from the public sphere,
ushering in what could be called ‘temporary emergencies’. Here’s an example. In the immediate aftermath of the Pulwama
attack, a leading Indian actress tweeted: “Anyone who lectures about non-violence and peace at this time should be
painted black, put on a donkey and slapped by everyone on the streets.” Put differently, she advocated that the practice of
normal politics (criticism of the establishment lies at the heart of normal politics) be suspended and be replaced by a
depoliticised and securitised discourse. And that those who violate such ‘emergency’ should be punished. When such
short spells of emergency are normalised, it opens the door for more permanent securitised spaces and narratives.

Kashmir, more or less reeling under spells of temporary emergencies for close to three decades now, is a perfect
example.Privileging militarisation over politicisation for conflict resolution is indeed unwise and counter-productive, an
insight enshrined in the Clausewitzian dictum that war is the “continuation of politics by other means”. When divorced
from their underlying political intent, militarised approaches can lead to mindless violence — something democratic
societies should unconditionally resist. Military means to deal with conflicts do have their limited utility, but they must be
politically guided.
Another reflection of depoliticising security matters is the tendency to argue that the armed forces should be given
complete autonomy to deal with security problems. In the immediate aftermath of Pulwama, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, for instance, declared that the “armed forces have been given complete freedom to take action”, a statement that
was well received by the general public. However, giving complete freedom to the military is replete with several
complications, not the least of which is the indirect acknowledgement that the political class has failed to resolve the
problem. For one, telling the armed forces that they are free to deal with the problem as they wish is a dangerous
abdication of political responsibility which was entrusted to them through a democratic process.Second, ‘giving complete
freedom to the military’ is an open invitation to use military solutions to deal with what are essentially political problems.
Third, and even more important, ‘complete freedom’ flies in the face of political control that should be the hallmark of a
mature democracy. It is one thing for the general public to nurture romantic notions about military solutions, but it is
dangerous for the political class to actually enshrine that in policy guidance. Popular fetishes about military force are the
stuff for feel-good fiction, not policy making.One direct implication of de-politicised conflict resolution is that it typically
leads to more violence. Surprisingly, however, more violence doesn’t normally lead to an introspection about the utility of
militaristic tools of conflict resolution — on the contrary, it further strengthens the belief in its uses. When men in
uniform die, their loss becomes a rallying cry for more violence which then leads to even more casualties — the cycle goes
on until political solutions are brought in. Take any militarised conflict, and you will see this point. The fact is that every
death due to violence must be avoidable, and that can only happen if statesmen and women are willing to climb down
from the cycle of violence. But for that to happen, there must be a decidedly political approach to conflict resolution.
There is also an entrenched popular aversion to using ‘root cause theories’ to explain conflicts around us. Not only are
those attempting to explain conflicts by examining its root cases routinely shunned by impatient commentators, they are
routinely viewed as apologists of non-state violence. While this antipathy towards root cause theorists is a function of
depoliticised conflict narratives, it leads to further depoliticisation of conflicts. Depoliticised narratives aim to treat the
symptoms, ignoring what gives rise to those symptoms — the latter is difficult, requires introspection and mending ways,
while the former expects that military force can be used to end violence or resolve the problem at hand. Militarily framed
responses to conflicts also deny justice since they can only be used to reinstate the state’s ‘monopoly over power’, not to
provide justice to the aggrieved parties in a conflict.Let’s not forget that conflicts are a function of differing political values
and expectations, and the only way sustainable conflict resolution can be achieved is by bringing politics back to negotiate
those differences.
Keywords: 1. De-politicization 2. Pulwama 3. Root cause theories 4. Conflict resolution 5. Militarization
Q9. Analyse the shift in India’s counter-terrorism policy in context of the recent Balakot strike.
India’s grand strategy on Pakistan The Hindu | Security
The willingness to take the fight to the Pakistani heartland and cultivate a measure of uncertainty is a clear departure from
the policy of strategic restraint. Regardless of the specific tactical outcomes from India’s air strike — whether it was
intended as a warning shot to demonstrate “capacity and will” or whether it sought to degrade high-value targets — the

signal to Pakistan and its benefactors was unambiguous: India could respond to a major Pakistani-linked terror attack in
ways that would undermine the costless proxy war that Pakistan has waged since 1989. And, even if the main impetus for
this shift in strategy was domestic politics in India, the geostrategic consequences will outlast this phase.
What has India got from the air strikes? We can point to three gains. The idea that India has a right to pre-emptive self-
defence — a right that so far has been the exclusive privilege of the Western powers — has been legitimised by the
reaction and behaviour of the great powers during the crisis. The External Affairs Ministry’s statement spelled out the
Indian case as a “non-military pre-emptive action” to make it consistent with the norms that have been guiding other
major states in their counter-terrorism policies. The idea that the Pakistan army and its intelligence services could wage a
costless proxy war against Indian military targets in Kashmir has also been challenged. By signalling that India has the
ability to strike at specifically those targets that are intended to inflict casualties on Indian security forces instead of
waiting to confront these proxies on Indian soil, it has created a measure of uncertainty in the minds of Pakistani planners.
In strategic vocabulary, this would be described as active defence — passive defence being when you fight on terms set by
your adversary. While total deterrence is unrealistic, Delhi has made the other side conscious that its actions could
produce unpredictable consequences. Ambiguity about future Indian responses to state-sponsored terror, it is envisaged,
will persuade Pakistan to tread more carefully. Finally, by raising the stakes in a long-standing proxy war, Delhi has
brought Pakistan’s patrons to consider more responsible and active roles in persuading it to restrain its destabilising
behaviour. Changing perceptions of third parties is directly linked to India’s resolve to adapt its posture of strategic
restraint. The next challenge before Indian security planners is to incorporate this approach as part of a grand strategy.
What could be its principal elements? What goals should India seek? Should it focus solely on Pakistan’s external
behaviour, or more logically also keep an eye on its internal structure as part of a long-range effort to re-orient domestic
incentives inside Pakistan? How can other pieces of the geopolitical puzzle in terms of Pakistan’s international allies and
partners, specifically the U.S. and China, be rejigged closer to India’s aims and interests? Finally, what measures could
India take to formulate an enlightened approach towards J&K that can straddle the trifecta of security, economic
development, and governance?
The military counterpart of an Indian grand strategy would involve a more robust internal security framework, including
the introduction of more advanced counter-terror capabilities and doctrines that seek to substantially minimise Indian
military casualties in Kashmir (since 2008, 740 security forces personnel have lost their lives), patiently building covert
proxy capabilities that impose reciprocal costs on Pakistani security institutions, and a more sophisticated conventional
military posture that can offer the political leadership a variety of highly limited and targeted options to degrade the flow
of terrorist networks while also presenting the Pakistan army with a costly choice to escalate to a bigger conventional
clash. There is nothing unusual or provocative in this approach.There is a geopolitical counterpart to an Indian strategy
too. It must be recognised that although Pakistan cannot be isolated, its patrons and allies, many of whom seek to develop
deeper ties with India, can be persuaded in their own interests to influence Pakistani behaviour. We are already seeing
evidence of this. In remarkably similar ways, China, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia are nudging Pakistan to rein in its
destabilising behaviour. Unless India conceives a broader plan to alter Pakistan’s behaviour and its internal setting, it will
find it difficult to sustain international support and it would only embolden the Pakistan army to up the ante knowing the
Indian side is utterly unprepared for a serious game. India can engage in calculated risks, avoid publicising everything it
does, and yet remain receptive to engagement with the civilian government and, more importantly, the Pakistani people,
towards whom it must exude a vision of peaceful coexistence. To evoke George F. Kennan, “The greatest danger that can
befall us in coping with this problem… is that we shall allow ourselves to become like those with whom we are coping.”
Keywords: 1. Strategic restraint 2. Pre-emptive self-defence 3. Proxy war

Q10. What are the recent concerns in Indo-US trade relations?
Parallel tracks on trade ties The Hindu | Bilateral relationship
Could it be that the strained trade relations between India and the U.S. are an outcome not of the U.S.’s domestic politics
but of India’s? The timeline of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to rescind the benefits Indian exports enjoy under
the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme is revealing. It begins with the change in foreign direct
investment (FDI) rules in India. The tightened norms that came into effect on February 1 place several restrictions on e-
commerce companies, including Walmart-owned Flipkart and Amazon.The unexpected changes came after Walmart, the
world’s largest retailer, paid over $16 billion to acquire Flipkart last May. To raise the resources needed, Walmart put one
of its biggest international operations, Asda, on the block for $10 billion.The calculations behind the $500 billion retail
giant’s investment in India have gone awry after the change in the FDI rules. The Walmart family are close friends of Mr.
Trump. On February 20, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the company was disappointed that New Delhi had changed
the FDI rules without consultation and hoped for a more collaborative process going forward. Days later, on March 4, Mr.
Trump notified Congress of his intention to slap punitive action on India by ending preferential treatment for the country’s
exports. Walmart has a reputation for killing small retail businesses with ultra-low prices, a concern that influenced New
Delhi’s decision to tighten the FDI rules. While the FDI policy might be irreversible, economic diplomacy can still defuse the
situation and prevent the removal of the GSP benefits that will not take effect for until at least 60 days after the
notifications to Congress and the Indian government.
The simmering tensions go back to April 2018 when the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched a review of
New Delhi’s eligibility for the GSP programme. Tensions escalated in June, as New Delhi, in response to Washington’s 25%
tariff hikes on steel and 10% levies on aluminium, immediately accused it of unfair trade practices, and, seeking to signal a
muscular approach, threatened retaliatory tariffs on $235 million of U.S. imports.Bilateral talks since then have failed to
ease tensions and India now stares at losing the GSP benefits. Foreign Secretary V.K. Gokhale returned empty-handed
from Washington recently. India’s GSP status came under review after the U.S. medical and dairy industries complained
that New Delhi is not providing them “equitable and reasonable access to its market”. India’s data localisation policies
deepened the rift. New Delhi’s use of price control measures against imported drugs and medical devices has grown
noticeably. Cardiac stents were put under price controls in February 2016 and knee implants attracted similar action in
August 2017, after which trade margins for many medical devices are sought to be capped. U.S. manufacturers complain
that in doing so, New Delhi has meted out differential treatment to them vis-à-vis domestic players. For domestic
companies, the price to distributors is considered while in the case of global manufacturers the base proposed is the
landed costs of imports. The U.S. medical device industry wants price controls on cardiac stents and knee implants
withdrawn and would like products to be treated on parity with domestic medical devices through a trade margin
rationalisation regime.New Delhi has preferred to act against unreasonable price mark-ups through price controls when
exactly the same outcomes can be achieved through other types of policy alternatives. The USTR is right in pointing out
that price capping counts as a trade barrier. New Delhi can easily address the concerns by replacing price controls with
trade margin rationalisation measures, applying them equally to domestic and foreign manufacturers.
India is the largest beneficiary of the GSP, the largest and oldest U.S. trade preference programme. The GSP is aimed at
promoting economic development by allowing duty-free entry of products from designated beneficiary countries. Nearly
4,800 different goods from 129 designated countries enjoy duty-free access under the programme. The immediate loss for
India is preferential access at zero or minimal tariffs to the U.S. in case of about 1,900 products, or about half of all Indian
products. New Delhi has downplayed the impact of the proposed withdrawal of benefits, saying exports worth $190
million only are likely to be affected and that the tariff advantage was 4% or more on only 2,165 of a total of 18,770 tariff
lines. This is an underestimation. The loss to the economy would be much larger than what the Department of Commerce

is projecting. While it is true that the actual tariff advantage from the programme works out to a meager $190 million,
which is just 0.4% of the total Indian exports to the U.S., the actual loss will not be limited to the immediate tariff
advantage. Indian exporters are competing for market share in the U.S. with other low-income countries in industries
where margins are wafer thin. Even minor price hikes can drive significant drops in export volumes. In which case, losing
GSP access will be costlier than the projections. Among price-sensitive products eligible for higher GSP benefits that risk
losing out to competition from other countries are processed food, leather products, plastic products, building materials,
tiles, hand tools, engineering goods, cycles and made-ups such as pillow/cushion sleeves and woven women’s apparel.
Many of these are the very industries the new e-commerce the new e-commerce FDI rules seek to protect.
Keywords: 1. GSP 2. FDI Rules 3. Retaliatory tariffs 4. Data localization policies 5. Price control measures
Q11. Emulating the Copenhagen model to meet the Targets of Paris deal is the need of the hour. Discuss.
Like Copenhagen Indian Express| Climate Change
Last year, in the run-up to the UNFCCC’s summit at Katowice, 18 climate scientists released a report targeted at urban
policymakers. The 30-page document was a follow-up to the IPCC’s seminal report, which had stressed on the urgency
of keeping global warming to less than 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. Cities, noted the scientists, hold the key — nearly
75 per cent of the global carbon footprint is due to urban activities. Mayors of several cities promised to act on the
report’s recommendations. Copenhagen became the first city to present a plan to cancel out its carbon footprint by 2025.
The Danish capital has already reduced its GHG emissions by more than 40 per cent compared to 2005. Nearly 45 per
cent of people who live in and around Copenhagen use bicycles to commute. The city also has specially-designated roads
for cyclists and uses waste to generate electricity. For every unit of fossil fuel it consumes, Copenhagen plans to sell
commensurate amounts of renewable energy. By the end of this year, everyone living in the Danish capital will be half-a-
mile from a subway station. “Cities can change the way we behave, the way we are living, and go more green. Mayors,
more than national politicians, feel the pressure to take action. We are directly responsible for our cities and our citizens,
and they expect us to act,” Copenhagen’s mayor Frank Jensen has said.
Well-connected and pedestrian-friendly cities have a relatively low carbon footprint. The report of the climate scientists,
released before the Katowice summit, recommends the use of “information and communication technologies to optimise
public transportation efficiency, and enable vehicle sharing”. It also advocates the use of “energy-efficient buildings and
infrastructure that have low or near zero-emissions”. The scientists surmise that all this will require cooperation between
local, provincial and national governments. That remains the Achilles heel for cities in most parts of the world. Delhi’s
never-ending pollution crisis, for example, has produced unsavoury bouts of bickering between the Centre, the city’s
government, its municipality and other environmental agencies. And Copenhagen’s mayor has failed to persuade
Denmark’s government to impose restrictions on diesel-guzzling vehicles in the city. But it is also becoming increasingly
clear that mayors, town planners and other local authorities hold the key to the success of national commitments to
mitigate global warming. The Danish capital’s experience could hold lessons for civic authorities around the world.
Key words: 1. Katowice, 2. GHG emissions, 3. IPCC Special Report 4 Global Carbon Footprint
Q12. India should lead the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in order to meet the targets of Paris
deal. Comment.
A stop sign: on India's growing carbon emissions. The Hindu| Environment

It is no surprise that the International Energy Agency found that India’s carbon emissions grew by 4.8% during 2018, in
spite of the national focus on climate change in energy policy. There is wide recognition of the fact that Indians are not
historically responsible for the problem, and it is the rich nations led by the U.S. that have pumped in the stock of carbon
dioxide linked to extreme climate impacts being witnessed around the globe. As the IEA points out, India’s emissions have
grown, but per capita they remain less than 40% of the global average. Equity among nations is therefore at the centre of
the discussion on energy emissions, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is central to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Reassuring as this may be, the universal challenge of climate
change has grown to such proportions that urgent action to sharply cut carbon emissions is crucial, and all countries,
including India, must act quickly. Intensive measures in key sectors — scaling up renewables to raise their share in the
energy mix, greening transport, updating building codes and raising energy efficiency — will help meet the national pledge
under the Paris Agreement to cut energy intensity of GDP by 33-35% by 2030, over 2005 levels.
At the global level, renewable sources of energy grew by 7% during 2018, but that pace is grossly insufficient, considering
the rise in demand. Moreover, it was China and Europe that contributed the bulk of those savings, in large measure from
solar and wind power, indicating that India needs to ramp up its capacity in this area. In fact, as the founder of the
International Solar Alliance, India should lead the renewables effort. Yet, in spite of falling prices and rising efficiency, the
potential of rooftop solar photovoltaics remains poorly utilised. It is time State power utilities are made responsible for
defined rates of growth in the installation of rooftop systems. A second priority area is the cleaning up of coal power
plants, some of which are young and have decades of use ahead. This process should be aided by the UNFCCC, which can
help transfer the best technologies for carbon capture, use and storage, and provide financial linkage from the $100
billion annual climate fund proposed for 2020. India’s record in promoting green transport has been uninspiring, and
emissions from fossil fuels and the resulting pollution are rising rapidly. The Centre’s plan to expand electric mobility
through financial incentives for buses, taxis and two-wheelers needs to be pursued vigorously, especially in the large
cities. Inevitably, India will have to raise its ambition on emissions reduction, and participate in the global stocktaking of
country-level action in 2023. It has the rare opportunity to choose green growth, shunning fossil fuels for future energy
pathways and infrastructure.
Key words: 1.International Energy Agency, 2.UNCCC 3.Paris Agreement, 4 Renewable Energy, 5 Green Transport
Q13. Global Environment report highlights the need for global or regional actions to meet the transboundary
nature of many environmental problems. Discuss.
A Greener Way Indian Express |Environment
In 2014, 193 countries asked the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to analyse how environmental degradation affects
the social and economic well-being of people. In response, the UN’s environment body roped in 250 scientists and experts
from 70 countries to evaluate the state of the world’s air, freshwater, oceans, and biodiversity. Their endeavour has
produced a chastening report card, the Global Environmental Outlook. It was released last week at the UN
Environment Assembly in Nairobi.
The “grow now, clean up later approach” in most parts of the world “has not factored in climate change, pollution or
degradation of natural systems. This approach has also contributed to increasing inequality within and between
countries,” the report notes. It directs attention to the human costs of “poorly enforced environmental regulations”. Most
countries, for example, have laws to curb air pollution. However, poor air is responsible for more than six million
premature deaths and an estimated $5 trillion in welfare losses each year. The number of people succumbing to ailments
caused by exposure to dangerous levels of PM 2.5 has increased by more than 10 per cent since 2010 — India accounts

for nearly a fifth of such preventable deaths. Water pollution is responsible for nearly 1.5 million premature deaths, the
report points out. “Antimicrobial resistance could become a leading cause of early death from infectious diseases
worldwide by 2050 if countermeasures are not taken. In addition, the use of pesticides and the dumping of industrial
chemicals have introduced pollutants that can disrupt hormonal functions into freshwater systems on all continents,” it
says.
It would be a mistake, however, to read the Global Environmental Outlook as just another dire picture of the planet. It
encourages policy-makers to recognise that global or regional action is often essential due to the transboundary nature of
many environmental problems. This is a significant intervention because the ramifications of pollution are rarely seen
beyond their local contexts. As a result, there is scarcely any conversation between the agencies responsible for bringing
down the levels of particulate matter in air and those involved in curbing greenhouse gas emissions — even though the
mandate of both concerns is mitigating the effects of fossil fuel burning. But by emphasising on “synergies” between “the
efforts to meet climate change targets and policies to reduce air pollution”, the report offers a new pathway to policy-
makers. This is particularly significant for India, whose Paris Climate Treaty commitments rely heavily on a shift to
renewable energy (RE). But this transition could take at least 20 years and would also be subject to market vagaries.
Meanwhile, aligning the country’s pollution control imperatives with its climate change commitments could underscore
the salience of far less risky measures like bolstering public transport. The Global Environment Outlook should be seen as
a call for such creativity by breaking down the silos in environmental policy-making.
Key words: 1.Global Environment Outlook, 2.UN Environment 3.Climate Change , 4 Pollution
Q14. There is a need to re-look on Article 239AA with respect to power distribution mechanism between the
Centre and National Capital Territory of Delhi. Comment.
Delhi Dilemma: Centre v State The Hindu | Polity & Governance
The Supreme Court’s split decision on the question of whether the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi
(NCTD) has executive control over those in its service points to the inherent complexity of the relations between the
Delhi government and the Centre. The disadvantages of not having full statehood status has been felt by many elected
regimes in Delhi. But under Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party government, and with the Narendra Modi government at
the Centre, the extent of acrimony has been severe. Battles have been fought in the political and judicial spheres over
whether some subject or the other falls under the Delhi government or is the exclusive preserve of the Centre. A
Constitution Bench ruling last year provided a framework to resolve such issues. It held that the Lt. Governor has to act
either on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, or abide by the decision of the President on a reference made
by him. The power to refer “any matter” to the President did not mean “every matter” should go that way. Specific issues
were left to a Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, which has resolved most issues. It has upheld the Delhi
government’s power to appoint prosecutors, levy and revise stamp duty on property transactions and issue notifications
under the Delhi Electricity Reform Act.
Both judges agree that there is no ‘service’ in the Delhi government, as all its employees come under the ‘Central services’.
Its civil servants are drawn from the DANICS cadre, a service common to various Union Territories. Justice Sikri believes
that going by a Constitution Bench decision last year, the NCTD would indeed have the power to deploy officials within its
own departments. However, the absence of a public service in Delhi means Entry 41 in the State List (services; service
commissions) would imply that it is a matter inapplicable to ‘Union Territories’, and therefore, the LG need not act on the
Delhi government’s aid and advice. Therefore, he favours a solution under which transfers and postings of officers in the
rank of Joint Secretary and above could be directly submitted to the LG, and those of others be processed by the Council

of Ministers and sent to the LG. In case of any dispute, the LG’s view will prevail. Justice Bhushan, on the other hand, has
ruled that once it is accepted that there is no ‘service’ under the NCTD, there is no scope for its government to exercise
any executive power in this regard. A larger Bench will now decide on the question relating to control over the services.
The more significant challenge is to find a way out of the complexities and problems thrown up by the multiple forms of
federalism and power-sharing arrangements through which relations between the Centre and its constituent units are
regulated.
Key words: 1. Executive control 2. full statehood status 3. aid and advice of the Council of Ministers 4. ‘service’
Q15. What are the steps taken by Election Commission of India to restore credibility for transparent functioning
of EVMs for the purpose of voting in India?
Check & Balance: on EVMs The Hindu | Polity & Governance
In a significant and welcome change from their earlier demand for a return to paper ballots, representatives of a large
section of the mainstream Opposition parties met the Election Commission (ECI) to demand changes to the Voter
Verifiable Paper Audit Trail counting process during the general elections. Returning to paper ballots will be regressive.
The Electronic Voting Machine process, despite the plethora of grievances about its functioning from the Opposition
parties, is a major improvement over paper-based voting. There has been no evidence of EVM-tampering as claimed by
some parties, and administrative and technical safeguards instituted by the ECI and EVM manufacturers have held steady
since the introduction of the EVM. Despite this, the ECI had fast-tracked the implementation of the VVPAT, an adjunct to
the EVM that allows for a paper trail for voting and later verification of the electronically registered mandate in the
ballot unit of the EVM. VVPATs are now deployed in all Assembly and parliamentary elections with EVMs. This
implementation has not been without some misgivings. The Opposition’s demand for a count of 50% of the VVPAT slips, as
opposed to the current system of counting VVPAT slips in one randomly selected booth of each constituency, is aimed at
ensuring that EVMs have not been tampered with. ECI safeguards are robust enough to prevent this, but VVPAT recounts
could eliminate any remaining doubt about possible “insider fraud” by errant officials or manufacturers.
While the demand to count half of all the slips is an over-reaction, as a scientifically and randomly chosen sample of
booths is a reasonable enough verification for the process, there remains the question whether counting one booth per
constituency is a statistically significant sample to rule out errors. A more robust sampling technique that factors in the
average size of the electorate in any constituency for each State and voter turnout, involving the counting of more than a
single booth in some States, may be a better method. The ECI’s response that it is waiting for a report on this from the
Indian Statistical Institute should be encouraging. The other issue with the VVPAT is more significant: machine glitches.
During the parliamentary by-elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and Assembly elections in Karnataka in 2018, VVPAT
glitches resulted in machine replacement rates rising to 20% and 4%, respectively. Glitches in the VVPAT machines were
largely due to spooling issues in the print unit, which was sensitive to extreme weather. Some hardware-related changes
were introduced, which improved its functioning in the recent elections in five States. Machine replacement rates due to
VVPAT failures came down to 1.89% for Chhattisgarh. Deployment of improved machines should help curb glitches in the
Lok Sabha elections.
Key words: 1. Return to paper ballots 2. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail 3. no evidence of EVM-tampering 4. verification of the
electronically registered mandate

Q16. “The Integrity Pact is an anti-corruption tool to help government to fight corruption in the field of public
contracting and procurement”. In the light of this statement, do you think integrity pact should be compulsorily
made part of government contracts? Give reasons for your answer.
Clear the air: on Rafale deal The Hindu | Polity & Governance
That troubling questions about the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets will persist despite a clean chit of sorts from the
Supreme Court, was demonstrated compellingly last week following The Hindu’s detailed investigation into the deal. It
showed that in comparison to the bid under the UPA there was an overall escalation in the price of each jet in the 2016
deal struck by the Modi government, because the price of 13 India Specific Enhancements (ISEs), essentially upgrades
that were sought on the bare-bones aircraft, was spread over 36 jets as opposed to the original 126. Significantly, as The
Hindu’s investigation revealed, three Defence Ministry officials in the seven-member Indian Negotiating Team objected to
the €1.3 billion assigned to ISEs; it was eventually approved by a narrow 4-3 majority on the ground that ISEs are a non-
recurring cost. But this raises an obvious and perplexing question: since they are a non-recurring cost, why did the
government drop, or fail to secure, the follow-on provision, which would have given India the option to purchase more
Rafales, and reduce the per-aircraft price by spreading the design and development costs involved in the upgrades? After
all, the follow-on clause was a part of the deal under negotiation under the UPA government. The import of the question
assumes an altogether different dimension given that the Air Force, with an old and depleting fleet, has required — and
for some two decades now — far greater numbers of Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) like the Rafale. Last
year, the government issued a Request for Information for 110 fighters, of which about 15% will be acquired in a flyaway
condition and the remainder manufactured under the strategic partnership route. With the same manufacturers back in
the bidding fray, we are in a way back to where we were — in other words, to a place that casts doubts on the vigour of
India’s long-term planning when it comes to defence preparedness.
Owing to a mix of investigation, statements and government leaks, much of the information about the pricing, the
acquisition process and the ISEs are already in the public domain. It is nobody’s case that information that could impact
the aircraft’s operational capability or jeopardise national security should be shared, but the government has been less
than willing to come forward to address the issue of pricing. Instead it has been taking cover, unconvincingly, under the
secrecy clause in the general security agreement signed between India and France in 2008. Given the fog of doubt over a
number of issues, it is unclear why it doesn’t adopt a more accommodating posture by arranging private briefings for
Opposition leaders and permitting a JPC to examine the deal. Without this, the general presumption will be that it has
something to hide.
Key words: 1. India Specific Enhancements 2. Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA)3. government leaks 4. public domain
5.
Q17. What are the salient features of Official Secrets Act, 1923? Does it override Right to Information Act in every
circumstances?
Probing the press The Hindu | Polity & Governance
The essential distinction between public interest and the interest of the government of the day seems to have been lost on
the Attorney General. K.K. Venugopal’s claim that documents pertaining to the purchase of Rafale jets published by the
media, including this newspaper, have been “stolen” amounts to a definitive admission that they are genuine. The
documentary evidence published so far indicates that “parallel parleys” held at the behest of the Prime Minister’s Office
undermined the Indian Negotiating Team’s discussions with the French side; that internal questions had been raised

about the absence of bank guarantees to hedge against possible default by the vendor; and that this had an adverse
effect on the pricing of the 36 jets to be bought in fly-away condition. Few can doubt that these revelations advance the
public interest, and have no impact on national security. The publication of the documents and news reports based on
them constitute the legitimate exercise of the freedom of the press. The threat of a criminal investigation under the
Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA) is disappointing, if not downright perverse. The government is also on weak legal ground
when it claims the court should not rely on “stolen” documents while hearing petitions seeking a review of its judgment
declining a probe into the Rafale deal. As the Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, pointed out, the
manner in which a document has been procured is immaterial, if it is relevant to an adjudication. As one of the judges
asked, can the government seek shelter behind the notion of national security if a corrupt practice had indeed taken
place?
It is to the credit of successive governments that the OSA has rarely been used against the press. The law primarily targets
officials entrusted with secret documents, codes and other material, but Section 5 criminalises voluntarily receiving and
possessing such documents, if given to them in contravention of the Act. In a limited examination of this section, the Law
Commission observed in a 1971 report that its wording was quite wide. However, it left it to the government to decide
against prosecution, if the information leak did not materially affect the state’s interest. There is undoubtedly a case for
distinguishing between an act that helps the enemy or affects national security, and one that advances legitimate public
interest. In times when information freedom is seen as salutary for democracy, laws such as the OSA should yield to the
moral imperative behind the Right to Information Act. This reasoning is embedded in Section 8(2) of the RTI Act, which
says that notwithstanding the provisions of the OSA, “a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest
in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests.” The government should refrain from using its secrecy laws to
contend with embarrassing media revelations. It would do well instead to respond responsibly to questions thrown up by
the revelations.
Key words: 1. Official Secrets Act, 1923 (OSA) 2. “stolen” documents 3. national security 4. secret documents, codes and other
material 5. RTI Act
Q18. How will creation of Lokpal impact the functioning of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central
Vigilance Commission (CVC)? Does the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 provide for any mechanism to avoid
multiplicity of regulations by Lokpal, CVC and CBI?
Lokpal, at last The Hindu | Polity & Governance
The selection of Justice P.C. Ghose as the first Lokpal has come after an unjustified delay of five years. Nevertheless, it
ought to be welcomed as a milestone in the cause of fighting corruption in high places. The concept of an institutional
mechanism, or an anti-corruption ombudsman, has been around for over 50 years. It was finally enacted as a law in
2013, and came into effect on January 16, 2014. Some of the credit for driving this legislation must be given to Anna
Hazare’s movement against what many saw as unreasonable levels of corruption under the previous UPA regime.
However, since then, barring a report by the Standing Committee of Parliament and a couple of amendments passed in
2016 on the declaration of assets by public servants, there has been very little progress. At one point, the government’s
lack of political will to establish a Lokpal became obvious, leading to the Supreme Court repeatedly asking it to show
progress in its efforts. Ultimately, it was the court’s stern ultimatum to appoint a Lokpal within a timeframe that worked.
The appointment system is quite long, a two-stage process. A search committee has to be formed. It recommends a
panel of names to the high-power selection committee, which comprises the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok
Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition, the Chief Justice of India (or his nominee) and an eminent jurist. The selection panel

has to choose from a short-list consisting of names for the posts of Lokpal chairperson, and judicial and non-judicial
members.
The government had initially taken the position that it was awaiting the passage of amendments based on the
parliamentary committee report. One amendment pertained to including the leader of the largest party in the Opposition
in the selection committee, in the absence of a recognised Leader of the Opposition. In a verdict in April 2017, the
Supreme Court rejected the excuse and said there was no legal bar on the selection committee moving ahead even if
there was a vacancy. It is not clear why this simple amendment, carried out in respect of selection committees for the
posts of CBI Director and Chief Information Commissioner, was not made in the Lokpal Act. The Congress leader in the
Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, did not want to attend selection committee meetings as a ‘special invitee’ and wanted full
membership. Now that the Lokpal has been chosen, victims of corruption have a viable avenue of redress. The Lokpal will
take over the work of sanctioning prosecution, besides exercising its power to order preliminary inquiries and full-fledged
investigations by any agency, including the CBI. It may be unrealistic to expect any dramatic impact on the lives of the
common people, but the Lokpal and other members have a historic responsibility to live up to popular expectations.
Key words: 1. Justice P.C. Ghose as the first Lokpal 2. anti-corruption ombudsman 3. declaration of assets by public servants 4.
search committee
19. As innovation is the key determinant of economic well-being and social welfare so India must unfetter
innovation on the ground for real Shakti. Analyse.
For real Shakti Times of India | Science and Technology
India’s successful testing of an anti-satellite missile to destroy a satellite flying in low-earth orbit has catapulted it into an
elite club – comprising only US, Russia and China previously. The anti-satellite or A-Sat capability certainly adds to India’s
defence-strategic heft. However, if you break it down, what it amounts to is that in the unlikely event that China chooses to
intervene in an India-Pakistan conflict by knocking out Indian satellites and thus ‘blinding’ India, New Delhi now has a
deterrent: it can knock off some Chinese satellites too. Such a cosmic feat won’t resolve more earthbound, everyday
problems: such as how to seal the LoC against regular terrorist incursions from the Pakistani side.
The A-Sat mission, dubbed Mission Shakti, exemplifies the potential of India’s technological prowess. However, while
Indian science is flying high in space, technological innovations on the ground remain lacklustre. Notwithstanding India
joining the Star Wars club, its armed forces continue to be saddled with vintage military hardware. As demonstrated
during the recent air skirmishes with Pakistan, the Indian Air Force had to deploy ageing Mig-21 Bisons against Pakistani F-
16s. The requisition process for a medium-role modern fighter aircraft has spanned two decades and four
administrations. Even the end of the current Modi administration will not see a single Rafale jet being inducted into the air
force. Similarly, the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft has taken more than three decades to reach induction stage.
More fundamentally, India has failed to create a vibrant military-industrial complex that can produce cutting-edge
weapons platforms for modern operational requirements. We see this in the civilian sector as well. Despite the National
Manufacturing Policy being notified in 2011 to boost manufacturing’s share in India’s GDP to 25%, we are still well below
that mark. The Modi government’s ‘Make in India’ programme too has largely failed, as evidenced by jobs and industries
moving towards Vietnam, Bangladesh and other Asian countries as China moves higher up in the manufacturing value
chain, while India continues to be racked by severe jobs and agrarian crises.

We must realise that China’s rise as a military power has tracked its rise as an economic power. India may have achieved
A-Sat capability, but it will continue to be vulnerable to cross-border terrorism from Pakistan unless it focusses on the
basics, unfetters innovation, and boosts the economy. That would be real Shakti.
Key words: 1. A-Sat 2. Mission Shakti
20. Do you think that India’s enforcement agencies need to upgrade their skills for successful extraditions? Give
your opinions.
Nirav Modi lesson Times of India | Polity & Governance
Economic fugitive Nirav Modi may have spent Holi in a British prison, but India can take little comfort from that. Last July
government informed Parliament that it was pursuing 13 economic fugitives, including Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and
Vijay Mallya. These prominent fugitives still remain at large. It has not been easy to see through extradition requests and
there is an urgent need to improve state capacity in this regard. Successful prosecution of financial misdemeanors will act
as a deterrent and enhance trust in India’s justice system.
Three prominent economic fugitives, including Nirav Modi, fled during NDA’s watch. One reason is that different arms of
the state which deal with economic matters function in silos. Lack of adequate coordination and necessary expertise have
adversely influenced extradition attempts. The legal framework for extradition is in most cases governed by a bilateral
treaty. In the case of UK, the process has to work its way through the criminal justice system there. Does CBI, an anti-
corruption investigator, have the expertise to deal with extradition requirements in a foreign jurisdiction?
Once it came to light that Nirav Modi may have defrauded PNB and then fled, government got cracking on a legislation to
seize economic assets of fugitives. Necessary as it is, it’s unlikely to act as a deterrent. To illustrate, Nirav Modi was willing
to deposit half million UK pounds as security while seeking bail. Clearly, the only effective deterrent will be a successful
extradition and subsequent prosecution in India. India today is highly integrated with the world in terms of financial flows.
This calls for a strategy to strengthen and upgrade skills of agencies which can prevent abuse of the system. Else today’s
‘chowkidars’ can justly be accused of sleeping on their watch, despite election eve protestations to the contrary.
Key words: 1. Economic fugitives

Here, we are sharing case studies for self- practice. These

Case Studies case studies are drawn from various aspects of professional
and personal experiences, and are helpful for General
For mains Gs paper-IV Studies- Paper IV.
Do practice them!
Case 1: You are working as an Executive Engineer in the construction cell of a Municipal Corporation and are presently in-
charge of the construction of a flyover. There are two Junior Engineers under you who have the responsibility of day-to-
day inspection of the site and are reporting to you, while you are finally reporting to the Chief Engineer who heads the cell.
While the construction is heading towards completion, the Junior Engineers have been regularly reporting that all
construction is taking place as per design specifications. However, in one of your surprise inspections, you have noticed
some serious deviations and lacunae which, in your opinion, are likely to affect the safety of the flyover. Rectification of
these lacunae at this stage would require a substantial amount of demolition and rework which will cause a tangible loss
to the contractor and will also delay completion. There is a lot of public pressure on the Corporation to get this
construction completed because of heavy traffic congestion in the area. When you brought this matter to the notice of the
Chief Engineer, he advised you that in his opinion it is not a very serious lapse and may be ignored. He advised for further
expediting the project for completion in time. However, you are convinced that this was a serious matter which might
affect public safety and should not be left unaddressed.
What will you do in such a situation? Some of the options are given below. Evaluate the merits and demerits of each of
these options and finally suggest what course of action you would like to take, giving reasons.
1. Follow the advice of the Chief Engineer and go ahead.
2. Make an exhaustive report of the situation bringing out all facts and analysis along with your own viewpoints stated
clearly and seek for written orders from the chief Engineer.
3. Call for explanation from the Junior Engineers and issue orders to the contractor for necessary correction within
targeted time.
4. Highlight the issue so that it reaches superiors above the Chief Engineer.
5. Considering the rigid attitude of the Chief Engineer, seek transfer from the project or report sick.
Case 2: Rameshwar successfully cleared the prestigious civil services examination and was excited about the opportunity
that he would get through the civil services to serve the country. However, soon after joining the services, he realized that
things are not as rosy as he had imagined.
He found a number of malpractices prevailing in the department assigned to him. For example, funds under various
schemes and grants were being misappropriated. The official facilities were frequently being used for personal needs by
the officers and staff. After some time, he noticed that the process of recruiting the staff was also not up to the mark.
Prospective candidates were required to write an examination in which a lot of cheating was going on. Some candidates
were provided external help in the examination. Rameshwar brought these incidents to the notice of his seniors. However,
he was advised to keep his eyes, ears and mouth shut and ignore all these things which were taking place with the

con
nnivance of the higher-u
ups. Ramesh war felt high
hly disillusioned and unccomfortable. He comes tto you seeking your
adv
vice.
Ind
dicate variouss options tha
at you think are available
e in this situa
ation. How would
w you he
elp him to evvaluate these
e options
and
d choose the
e most appropriate path tto be adopted
d?
Case 3: A privatte company is

i known for its efficiencyy, transparency and employee welfare
e. The compaany though owned by
a private
p individ
dual has a co haracter where employees feel a sense of ownersh
ooperative ch hip. The com pany employys nearly
700
0 personnel and
a they hav
ve voluntarilyy decided nott to form unio
on.
On
ne day suddenly in the mo
orning, abou t 40 men bellonging to po
olitical party gate
g crashed
d into the fact
ctory demand
ding jobs
in the factory. They threattened the m
management and employ
yees, and also used fou
ul language. The employyees feel
moralized. Itt was clear that those pe
dem eople who gate crashed wanted to be
b on the pa
ayroll of the company ass well as
con e volunteers/members of the party.
ntinue as the
The
e company maintains
m gh standardss in integrity and does no
hig ot extend favours to civil administratio
on that also includes
law
w enforcemen
nt agency. Su
uch incident o
occurs in pub
blic sector als
so.
a) Assume you
y are the CEO of the ccompany. Wh
hat would yo
ou do to diffu
use the volattile situation
n on the date
e of gate
crashing with the viole
ent mob sitti ng inside the
e company premises?
b) What can
n be the long term solutio
on to the issue discussed in the case?
c) Every solution/action that you sug

ggest will ha
ave a negativ
ve and a possitive impact on you as (C
CEO), the em
mployees
and the performance
p of the emplo
oyees. Analysse the conseq
quences of each
e of your suggested
s acctions.
FOOCUS | A PRIL 201 9 | RAU’ S IAS 165



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PATH TO SUCCESS EVOLVES WITHIN

First of all: Unclutter your mind!

Secondly: Have a positive approach!

confidence, you cannot dream of success.

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Thirdly: Move towards Self-realisation!

Finally: Well begun is half done!

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Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) : Dear Students,

Part ONE CONCERN OF E.C. ON ELECTORAL BONDS

Current Affairs Analysis TYPES OF ELECTORAL SYSTEM

SEOUL PEACE PRIZE 13

CONSTITUTION, POLITY AND GOVERNANCE # Disinvestment 36

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SANDBOX POLICY WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT 2019

REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS (REITs) SWACHH SURVEKSHAN 2019

RBI’S GUIDELINES ON TOKENISATION URBAN PEOPLE LACK VITAMINS

RESTRUCTURING OF LOANS FOR MSMEs

IPrism 50 PSLV- C45 68

FAME India PHASE II 50 BELLE-II 69

WORLD TRADE OUTLOOK INDICATOR 51 KHANDERI 70

SCHEME FOR THE REBATE OF STATE LEVIES (ROSL) 52 IVERMECTIN 71

WIPO TREATIES 53 NATIONAL SCIENCE DAY 73

INVERTED YIELD CURVE 55

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GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT OUTLOOK REPORT

SUNDERBAN WETLANDS SECURITY

BELT AND ROAD

BHAGAT SINGH’S DEATH ANNIVERSARY

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CREDIT DEFAULT SWAP (CDS) JUST AND COST EFFECTIVE JUSTICE

EMPLOYMENT-TO-POPULATION RATIO NAWEED AKHTER, EDITORIAL TEAM & EDUCATOR DAILY

# Economy 112 NEWS SIMPLIFIED 125

Part TWO 134

INDIAN UNSC SEAT: NEHRUVIAN TO CURRENT CASE STUDIES

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• Russia-China-India trilateral engagement started off as an attempt to balance the US unipolarity in

FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 2

• India, China and Russia intend for cooperation:

Cooperation  stop sources of terrorist financing;

FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 3

framework to address the growing problem of terrorism.

FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 4

Inter national Relations

India was invited as

• Origin: Itt was establi shed in a sum

FOOCUS | A pril 201 9 | RAU’ S IAS 5

RELATIONSHIP Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community

CONTOURS OF THE VISIT

FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 6

the General Assembly, and the UN Security Council.

CONCERNS IN INDIA – MALDIVES RELATIONSHIP

The first shipment under the United Nations ‘Transports

FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 7

FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 8

• The sanctions measures provided to Sanctions Committee are:

The Second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient

FOCUS | April 2019 | RAU’S IAS 9

• The objective of the 2nd workshop were: