29-03-2024

29-03-2024

Table of Contents
No. Article Newspaper Syllabus
Arunachal & assam to ready elephant corridor plans Indian
1 GS - 3
express

Govt. extends AFSPA in parts of Nagaland, Arunachal

2 The Hindu GS - 3
Pradesh.
Indian
3 The Deflator problem GS - 3
express
4 RBI’s MPC likely to hold rates on April 5 The Hindu GS - 3

5 Pre-poll splurge lifts fiscal deficit The Hindu GS - 2

Other articles:
6 a) Did the electoral bonds scheme enable extortion?
b) Governor’s assent to state laws

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Indian express
Pg: 9;

Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks)
 Current events of national and international
importance.

Elephant corridors:

• Strips of land allow elephants to move

between two or more habitats.

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate

Change (MoEF&C) & state forest departments
- identify elephant corridors.

• 2023 - 150 elephant corridors across 15

elephant range states, up from 88 in 2010.

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Elephant Reserve:

• 33 Elephant Reserves (ER) spread over 10

elephant landscapes in 14 states.

• State governments of elephant range

states can propose conservation areas to be
declared as Elephant Reserves.

• The Steering Committee, chaired by the

Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate
Change, approves the notification.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. According to the Elephant Corridors of India
2023 report, West Bengal has the largest
number of identified elephant corridors in the
country.
2. The elephant in India is a protected species
under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
3. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 does not
specifically mention elephant corridors.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 1, 2 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only

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The Hindu
Pg: 10 – C, B; D, H;

Armed Force Special Powers Act –

1958:

• Legislation created to maintain peace

in the disturbed areas.

• Objective - allow armed forces to aid

civilian administration.

• Separate law for Punjab and

Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir.

• Currently 30+ districts in 4 states are

under AFSPA.

• States currently under AFSPA – Assam,

Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and
Manipur.

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Important provisions of the act:

• Armed forces means the forces of the union government,

doesn’t include state police forces.

Historical evolution of the act: • section 2(b) – defines “disturbed area”.

• Enacted in line with a pre-  whole or part of a state.

independence era ordinance
• Section 3 - Governor of a state or Administrator in
 Armed forces Special Powers case of union territory or the union government can
Ordinance of 1942. declare “Disturbed areas”.

 It was the ordinance which • Section 4 - allows even an non-commissioned officer to

was used by the British to fire or use force, against persons.
suppress Quit India Movement.
• Act prohibits the assembly of 5 or more persons in the
disturbed areas.

• Section 6 - offers protection to the officers from

civilian ligitation

Significance of the act:

• To curb Naga insurgency in 1950’s.

• Armed forces can take an offensive stance

and maintain law and order.
Arguments against the law:

• EEVFAM vs Union of India

 Reported 1500+ fake encounters in

Manipur taken place between 1980-2010.

 Reported instances of sexual violations

against women by the armed forces.

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Practice Questions – Prelims

Q. Which of the following statements regarding AFSPA
(Armed Forces Special Powers Act) is/are correct.
1. AFSPA can be implemented in an area only after it
has been declared as disturbed.
2. According to the act, the Union government can
declare any area as Disturb Area without taking
consent of the concerned state.
3. Since 2018, no new areas are placed under the
“disturbed areas” list by the Union government.
Choose the correct code:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Indian express
Pg: 11 ;

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 29-03-2024

Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks) Practice Question – Mains
 Current events of national and international GS - III
importance.
Part B—Main Examination Q. Explain the difference between
PAPER-III computing methodology of India’s
General Studies‐III: Technology, Economic Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
Development, Bio diversity, Environment, before the year 2015 and after the
Security and Disaster Management. year 2015.
• Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, (150 words, 10
mobilization, of resources, growth, development
marks)
and employment.

Prior to 2015 Post 2015

Introduction: Base year - 2004-05 Base year - 2011-12

GDP at factor cost was GDP at market price and for

• Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -
calculated sector-wise estimation, Gross
measure of total value of all goods Value added (GVA) at basic
price has been adopted.
& services produced within a
country’s borders over a specific Performance of manufacturing The firms’ annual accounts filed
sector - evaluated using data with the Ministry of Corporate
period. from the IIP and the Annual Affairs (MCA 21) are used
Survey of Industries (ASI)
• 2015 - a new series was announced
No difference in the way Effective labour input
by upgrading the methodology with labour income for different
new data sources to meet UN kinds of labour
standards. Farm produce was considered Data on value addition in
as a proxy for agricultural agriculture is considered
income

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Conclusion:

• Make India’s GDP growth numbers comparable

with that of developed nations in future.

• New methodology is statistically more robust

as it incorporates a broader range of
indicators.

• Make the estimation process more accurate

and dynamic.

The Hindu
Pg: 13 – C, B; D, H;

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Functions of MPC
Monetary Policy Committee
• Maintaining price stability and achieving inflation
• Committee of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
targets (at 4%  2%) with a standard deviation
• Responsible for deciding the benchmark policy of 2% in the medium term.

interest rate Constitution of MPC

• Before MPC - RBI governor used to make • Chairperson - RBI governor

monetary policy decisions
• Members -
• Committee-based Approach - more transparent
 Deputy governor in charge of monetary policy
and accountable
 One official nominated by the RBI board
• In 2015 - the RBI and the Indian government
signed the Monetary Policy Framework  Three members represent the Indian
Agreement. government

• Three government nominees - Based

recommendation of a search cum selection
committee)

 Cabinet secretary, the RBI governor, the • The RBI also publishes a document explaining
secretary of the Department of Economic how it plans to implement the committee's
Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and three decisions.
experts in economics or banking nominated
• The MPC meetings are confidential
by the government.
• Quorum - minimum of four members, including
Decision Making at MPC
the governor or the deputy governor
• Follows majority vote
• RBI is obligated to provide necessary
• RBI governor has the casting vote information to the MPC for decision-making.
• Committee's decision is binding on the RBI

• Minutes of the MPC meetings are published by

the RBI after 14 days.

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Practice Questions – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Monetary Policy Committee consists of
members from both the government and the
RBI.
2. The decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee
are binding and have to be implemented by the
RBI.
3. The Monetary Policy Committee is responsible
for fixing the benchmark interest rate in India
How many of the statements given above is/are
correct?
a) One only
b) Two only
c) All three
d) None

The Hindu
Pg: 13 – C, B;
D, H;

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Fiscal deficit

• Government spends more money than it

Govt funds for Fiscal Deficit
earns.
• Borrowing from Bond Market.
• Taxes - ₹26.02 lakh crore expected in
2024-25.  Centre is expected to borrow a gross
amount of Rs 14.13 lakh crore from the
• Speeding - ₹47.66 lakh crore in 2024-25.
market.
Fiscal Deficit vs National Debt
• Revenue Generation.
• Fiscal deficit - gap between government's
• Cutting Expenses.
total expenditure and its total revenue
• Role of Reserve Bank of India.
• National debt - total amount of money that
a government owes to external creditors  Open Market Operations (OMO)

and domestic lenders.

• Fiscal deficit reached ₹15 lakh crore in the

Fiscal deficit
first eleven months of the fiscal year 2023-
• The fiscal deficit surged from 64% of the 24.
revised estimates in January to 86.5% by the
• Government's total spending exceeded its
end of February.
total revenue by ₹15 lakh crore.
• Capital expenditure experienced a notable
• Centre aims to reduce the fiscal deficit to
increase to ₹84,400 crore in February.
5.1% of GDP, relying on an 11.5% increase in
 Government is focusing on boosting tax collections.
infrastructure development and
• Plans - cutting expenditures on fertilizer,
investments.
food subsidies, raising taxes to meet targets.

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Previous Year Prelims Question 2020

Q. With reference to Fiscal Deficit, consider the following
statements:
1. Its is equal to total receipts minus expenditure.
2. It may lead to printing of money.
3. It results in high credit rating for the Country.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 only
d) 1 and 3 only

OTHER ARTICLES

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The Hindu
Pg: 9;

Indian express
Pg: 9;

13
 29-03-2024

PRACTICE QUESTIONS
DISCUSSION

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. According to the Elephant Corridors of India
2023 report, West Bengal has the largest
number of identified elephant corridors in the
country.
2. The elephant in India is a protected species
under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
3. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 does not
specifically mention elephant corridors.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 1, 2 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only

14
 29-03-2024

Practice Questions – Prelims

Q. Which of the following statements regarding AFSPA
(Armed Forces Special Powers Act) is/are correct.
1. AFSPA can be implemented in an area only after it
has been declared as disturbed.
2. According to the act, the Union government can
declare any area as Disturb Area without taking
consent of the concerned state.
3. Since 2018, no new areas are placed under the
“disturbed areas” list by the Union government.
Choose the correct code:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Practice Questions – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Monetary Policy Committee consists of
members from both the government and the
RBI.
2. The decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee
are binding and have to be implemented by the
RBI.
3. The Monetary Policy Committee is responsible
for fixing the benchmark interest rate in India
How many of the statements given above is/are
correct?
a) One only
b) Two only
c) All three
d) None

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Quiz Question of the Day

With reference to Fiscal Deficit, consider the following
statements:
1. Its is equal to total receipts minus expenditure.
2. It may lead to printing of money.
3. It results in high credit rating for the Country.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 only
d) 1 and 3 only

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