tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77380585120838698782024-03-05T19:39:48.250-08:00Civil Services JunctionSingle point of contact for your all queries.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-22257769789291510502016-02-16T00:45:00.000-08:002016-02-16T00:45:00.334-08:00February 16<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Discuss the significance of reforms in financial management of municipalities. How to ensure financial self-sufficiency and financial accountability in municipalities for better urban governance?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India has 4,041 cities with over 400 million population but the revenue of their municipalities are not adequate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have seen many time infrastructural gap in municipalities because of lack in financial reforms. This financial reforms is necessary as now we are moving ahead with some key projects like 'Smart City' and 'AMRUT'. To make these projects effective, we need to strengthen the third tier of governance. The functional items within the purview of municipalities are planning of cities, regulation of land use, construction of roads and bridges, water supplly, public health, sanitation and solid waste management. These functional items is base for development of cities and it requires adequate fund also. With inadequate fund for the bottom level, irrespective of the outlay from center, the top-down approach will shatter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For overcoming the above mentioned facts, we need following measures to ensure better urban governance:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Municipalities as the important machinery of decentralised administration requires adequate share in devolution of funds from the state for their proper functioning.The total grants for local bodies recommended by the 14th Finance Commission are Rs 2,87,436 crore for a five-year period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020. Of this, Rs 2,00,292.20 crore will be given to panchayats and Rs 87,143.80 crore to municipalities. The transfers for financial year 2015-16 will be Rs 29,988 crore. A total of 2.88 lakh crore grant to local bodies. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each state will spend money according their laws for governing the local bodies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. State need to implement Fiscal Responsibilities and Budget Management(FRBM) Act for the municipalities to ensure sustainable availability of fund for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Account of municipalities should be audited on the regular basis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. There should be effective policy on transparency, accountability and citizen participation. The public disclosure law under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission was a good beginning in this regard.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. It required more skilled staff in the finance and revenue departments of municipalities. Shortage of this is a key reason for poor tax collections and weak financial management.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Energy security is a key ingredient of India’s interest in West Asia and it is said that India’s increasingly multidimensional relations with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states buttress these energy security efforts. Discuss the efforts being made by India and the advantages it possesses in this regard.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In recent days, the Second Judges case law of 1993 has been in news for various reasons. Discuss the significance of this case for Indian judiciary.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do you think the existence of Section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 is justifiable in a true democracy? Critically comment.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In recent months T-cell therapy is hailed as revolutionary in treating cancer. Examine why. Also examine how different this therapy is from chemotherapy and radiation therapy</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> The problem of non-performing assets (NPAs) in the Indian banking system is said to be big and might affect economic growth of the country. What are the approaches that RBI and government are adopting to clean the banking system of NPAs? Examine.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>An important part of education, particularly higher education, is to learn to ask questions and to develop the capacity for disobedience and reasoned arguments.” Do you agree with this view? Critically comment.</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-2739484811749336672016-02-15T21:16:00.002-08:002016-02-15T23:04:10.371-08:00Word Meaning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Decadent -</b> characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline (Syn - dissolute, dissipated, degenerate, corrupt).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ex - Most of the earlier intruders who came to India had settled within her frontiers, were absorbed by her superior culture and had become part of the land and its people. However, the British conquest was different. It came at a time when India, in contrast to an enlightened Europe of the eighteenth century affected in every aspect by science and scientific outlook, presented the picture of a stagnant civilisation and <b>decadent</b> society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Obscurantism - </b>the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or full details of something from becoming known.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ex - Indian society in the nineteenth century was caught in vicious web created by religious superstitions and social <b>obscurantism</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Clemency -</b> mercy, lenience.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ex - R&AW top officer B. Raman favouring <b>clemency</b> to Memon for co-operating with investigating agencies to unravel the blasts probe</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>animism - </b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the attribution of a living soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ex - Hinduism had become a compound of magic, animism and superstition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>deceptive - </b>giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading.(Syn - misleading, illusory, illusive, delusive)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ex - The priests exercised an overwhelming, and indeed, unhealthy influences on the minds of the people. Idoltary and polytheism helped to reinforce their position, and their monopoly of scriptural knowledge imparted a <b>deceptive </b>character to all religious systems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>debilitate - </b></span><span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">make (someone) very weak and infirm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ex - Another <b>debilitating </b>factor was caste.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-1974116851050354442016-02-09T20:37:00.002-08:002016-02-09T20:37:43.721-08:00February 10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">India's GDP projected to grow at 7.6% in FY16</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India's growth is projected to pick up pace in the current fiscal and consolidate the country's position as the world's fastest-expanding major economy despite a slight moderation in the third quarter, helping the Modi regime deflect criticism that it's not doing enough to accelerate recovery. <b>FY16 GDP is projected to grow 7.6% compared with 7.2% last year, according to data released by the statistics office on February 8. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The faster growth is largely because of an upward revision in first-quarter growth that showed the economy lost steam in the third quarter to 7.3%. First-quarter growth was revised to 7.6% from 7% while that for the second quarter was restated to 7.7% compared with 7.4% estimated earlier. </b>The government had earlier said such revisions would be possible because the initial quarterly estimates had not factored in buoyant indirect tax collections. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The direction of the numbers is very positive. The policy and reform measures the government has undertaken in the past one-and-a-half years are beginning to show results," said Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>China's economy grew 6.8% in the December quarter, putting India well ahead at 7.3%.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The surprisingly robust pickup in manufacturing growth in Q3FY16 relative to Q2FY16 belies the trends available from various high-frequency, volume-based indicators, including the IIP (index of industrial production) prints for October-November 2015," said Aditi Nayar, senior economist, ICRA Ltd. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Industry called for more measures to consolidate the recovery. </b>"Going ahead, we hope to see a continued momentum on the reform front. We look forward to the Union Budget giving a positive direction to the economy," Ficci said in a statement. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will unveil the Budget on February 29.<b> Growth was driven by robust manufacturing, which is expected to post a 9.5% growth in GVA in the current fiscal, up from 5.5% last year. Agriculture will be a drag again, reporting only a 1.1% rise even on a 0.2% contraction last year.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The services sector is expected to perform in line with last year. On the expenditure side, the key driver was private spending with a projected expansion of 7.6% compared with 6.2% last year.<b> Investments, as measured by gross fixed capital formation, are set to grow 5.3%, only marginally higher than 4.9% last year, capturing the problem government has faced in reviving private investment. The share of investment in GDP is down to 29.7% in FY16 from 31% in FY15. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"This is the fifth year of fall in the investment to GDP ratio</b>. Reviving investment is a challenge because there is excess capacity in the system. This is a challenge that the government needs to address," said DK Joshi, chief economist at Crisil. Global headwinds will also make India's task of climbing to higher growth difficult. <b>The International Monetary Fund estimates world growth at 3.4% in 2016, down from an October forecast of 3.6% while the World Bank cut its prediction to 2.9% from 3.3% it expected last June.</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-27927424543016571262016-02-08T20:47:00.001-08:002016-02-09T01:43:10.009-08:00February 9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Writing Off Bad Bank Loans</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>In response to an RTI query by The Indian Express, the Reserve Bank of India disclosed that 29 public sector banks wrote off a combined Rs 1.14 lakh crore of bad debt between 2013 and 2015.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Causes of increase in NPAs:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BAD AND doubtful debts of banks, called non-performing assets or NPAs in banking jargon, have been attracting wide attention for varied reasons. Some of the reasons for the burgeoning NPAs are: Bank officers do not know how to lend and are also corrupt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The rise was due to some infrastructure projects, slowdown in global economic recovery, and continuing uncertainty in global markets leading to lower growth of credit. It was stated that public sector banks continued to be under stress on account of their past lending.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The absence of proper bankruptcy laws and the dilatory legal procedures in enforcing security rights are the root cause of bad debts in banks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A major portion of bad debts arose out of lending to the priority sector, at the dictates of politicians and bureaucrats. If only banks had monitored their loans effectively, the bad debt problem could have been contained, if not eliminated.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The top managements of the banks were forced by politicians and bureaucrats to throw good money after bad in the case of unscrupulous borrowers. Many big borrowers defaulted only due to the recession in the economy. The absence of proper bankruptcy laws and the dilatory legal procedures in enforcing security rights are the root cause of bad debts in banks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Why do banks write off bad debt?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Banks prefer to never have to write off bad debt since their loan portfolios are their primary assets and source of future revenue. However, toxic loans, or loans that cannot be collected or are unreasonably difficult to collect, reflect very poorly on a bank's financial statements and can divert resources from more productive activity. Banks use write-offs, which are sometimes called "charge-offs," to remove loans from their balance sheets and reduce their overall tax liability.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The net non-performing assets (NPAs) of state-owned banks — gross NPAs less provisions — at Rs 1.74 lakh crore at the end of September 2015 is equal to almost a third of their total net worth. In other words, if banks have to fully provide for all their bad debts, it would wipe out 33 per cent of their paid-up capital plus reserves and surplus.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In response to an RTI query by The Indian Express, the Reserve Bank of India disclosed that <b>29 public sector banks wrote off a combined Rs 1.14 lakh crore of bad debt between 2013 and 2015.</b> <b>This is more than one-third of the total gross non-performing assets of Rs 3.06 crore for public sector banks.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking at gross NPAs in isolation doesn’t give the full picture. Banks set aside money in the event of default or non-payment — these are called provisions. The net NPA numbers hide some unpleasant details.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One, for some banks such as Indian Overseas Bank, they make up as much as 83.3 per cent at the end of the September quarter, according to Capitaline database. For 16 out of 25 public sector banks for whom data is available, this ratio is more than 33 per cent. The average for private sector banks is 4.9 per cent. <b>Under the fractional banking system, banks need a certain amount of capital to lend. If a large portion of its equity capital and reserves are wiped out, then a bank will not be able to lend freely, or it will have to wait for capital infusion from the government, which might not be forthcoming in times of a fiscal squeeze. Two, banks have been able to reduce their NPA numbers by not only writing off assets, but also by restructuring or refinancing them. While this might save them temporarily from being classified as bad loans, they might turn irrecoverable if investment demand doesn’t revive.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“For banks, this is just the tip of the iceberg.<b> It is going to get much worse. Especially when some of the big companies in the power and infrastructure sector face more problems</b>,” Hemendra Hazari, an independent analyst, said. After an asset quality review undertaken by the RBI in December, bad debts of some private sector banks rose sharply. For instance, ICICI Bank’s gross NPA jumped Rs 5,291 crore during the December quarter, the highest in nearly five years and that of Axis Bank increased by Rs 1,273 crore. Most large PSU banks are yet to report their December quarter numbers and it is only to be expected that their bad debt numbers will go up, experts said. According to rating agencies, loan write-offs are likely to rise in the coming quarters. Rajat Bahl, Director, CRISIL Ratings, said, “Loan write-offs by banks in India have shown a rising trend in the last few years. They reached a level of Rs 50,000 crore for the public sector banks in 2014-15. Another Rs 25,000 crore were written off in the first half of the current financial year, 2015-16. While the pressure on banks to write-off will continue, the extent of write-offs is unlikely to rise significantly due to two reasons — first, PSBs usually write-off to the extent of cash recoveries that they have made during a year, and the recoveries are unlikely to be buoyant due to continued stress in the corporate sector. Second, their ability to take large write-offs will also be constrained by their weak profitability.” “The quantum of provisions for loans that banks need to make, however, will continue to be high, reflecting the ongoing asset quality challenges,” Bahl said. Vibha Batra, Group Head – Financial Sector Ratings, ICRA, said, <b>higher write-offs are on account of around 3.5 times increase in the pool of gross NPAs to over Rs 3 lakh crore, even though write-offs as per cent of opening gross NPAs have remained in the range of 20-23 per cent.</b> Considering <b>further likely increase in gross NPAs and large stressed accounts, write-offs in absolute amount may continue to increase over next 12-18 months. “With bad loans increasing over time, banks have been working towards lowering the same. While better credit practices and economic stability helps in controlling incremental NPAs, banks have also been writing off bad assets to strengthen their books. This in turn puts pressure on the profit and loss account, but can be considered to be necessary as a prudent practice.</b> This will, to my mind, continue to increase until books are put in order,” said D R Dogra, Managing Director & CEO of rating agency CARE. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steps taken from RBI side to curb NPAs:</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>RBI firm on banks cleaning up balance sheet by March 2017</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">The RBI is not contemplating any extension of the March 2017 deadline for banks to reduce their non-performing assets (NPAs) and clean up their balance sheets, SS Mundra, Deputy Governor, RBI, said on 29 January, 2016.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Banks have already started the process in the quarter ended December 2015. “It will be painful in the short term but will benefit them in the long run,” he added.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">When asked about the delay in selling assets of corporate defaulters seized under the <b>Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (Sarfaesi ) Act, 2002</b> by banks, he said the present legal system allows big defaulters to delay the process while, at the same time, is harsh on petty defaulters. The new bankruptcy law, now on the anvil, will correct this anomaly, he added.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">He said corporate sector leverage has currently become an issue of great concern for the economy in general and the banking system in particular.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>“As we notice now, several indiscriminate corporate houses continued market borrowing with a view to increase their market share and to expand capacity without any regard to domestic and global demand situation,” he said</b>. In fact, the rate of sales growth of the corporate sector, particularly of listed manufacturing companies, declined from an average of 28.8 per cent in Q1 of 2010-11 to 11.4 per cent in Q2 of 2012-13 at a time when inflation averaged around 10 per cent. <b>Some of these borrowers necessarily fall into the category of <i>Ponzi borrowers</i>,</b> the Deputy Governor pointed out.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>Ponzi scheme: </b> A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent investment operation where the operator, an individual or organization, pays returns to its investors from new capital paid to the operators by new investors, rather than from profit earned by the operator. Operators of Ponzi schemes usually entice new investors by offering higher returns than other investments, in the form of short-term returns that are either abnormally high or unusually consistent.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Ponzi schemes occasionally begin as legitimate businesses, until the business fails to achieve the returns expected. The business becomes a Ponzi scheme if it then continues under fraudulent terms. Whatever the initial situation, the perpetuation of the high returns requires an ever-increasing flow of money from new investors to sustain the scheme.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Stating that <b>the return on assets in public sector banks was “weak”</b>, he said <b>new areas of untapped potential, such as financial inclusion, should be identified, and banks should innovate in technology and products.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Banks should focus on bread and butter issues in business and more research should be taken up. He identified agricultural credit, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) advances and risk mitigation, among others, as important areas for research.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<b style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Steps taken from Government to curb NPAs:</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code: A legislation to promote investments, develop credit markets</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">The government on Decemnber 21, 2015 introduced in Parliament the ‘Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2015’ that provides for resolution of insolvency in a speedier and time-bound manner.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>The bill aims at promoting investments, freeing up banks’ resources for other productive uses, boosting credit markets and improving ease of doing business in India.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>An effective legal framework for timely resolution of insolvency and bankruptcy would support development of credit markets and encourage entrepreneurship</b>, according to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill tabled in Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The bill also provides for <b>setting up of an ‘Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India’ to regulate professionals, agencies and information utilities engaged in resolution of insolvencies of companies, partnership firms and individuals.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">“The <b>Code also proposes to establish a fund to be called the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Fund of India</b>…,” as per the document tabled.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">It further says that <b>a new legislation is needed to deal with insolvency and bankruptcy as the existing framework is “inadequate, ineffective and results in undue delays in resolution”.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>As per the proposed legislation, the corporate insolvency would have to be resolved within a period 180 days, extendable by 90 days. It also provides for fast-track resolution of corporate insolvency within 90 days.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">“The government’s move to table the Bankruptcy Law is a welcome step, given the relatively long duration of insolvency proceedings in India vis-à-vis other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries,” said K.V. Karthik, partner, Financial Advisory Services, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>Currently, there is no single law dealing with insolvency and bankruptcy in India. Liquidation of companies is handled by the high courts, individual cases are dealt with under the Presidency Towns Insolvency Act, 1909 and Provincial Insolvency Act, 1920.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>Other laws which deal with the issue include SICA (Sick Industrial Companies Act), 1985; Recovery of Debt Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1993, Sarfaesi (Securitisation and Reconsutriction of Financial Asseets and Enforcement of Security Interest) Act, 2002 and Companies Act, 2013.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>As a result, four different agencies, the high courts, the Company Law Board, the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR), and the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs), have overlapping jurisdiction, giving rise to the potential of systemic delays and complexities in the process. A strong bankruptcy law can help overcome these challenges.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The Code also seeks to balance the interest of all the stakeholders including alteration in the priority of payment of government dues.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">N K Premchandran of RSP opposed the bill, saying it was a defective piece of legislation, but later the lower House through voice allowed its introduction.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The Code seeks to provide for designating <b>National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT)</b> as the adjudicating authorities for corporate persons and firms and individuals, respectively, for resolution of insolvency, liquidation and bankruptcy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Till the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India is set up, the central government will exercise the powers of the Board or designate any financial sector regulator the powers and functions.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>The bill also provides for priority with regard to distribution of proceeds following liquidation of the company. In the order of priority, the first charge will be insolvency resolution process cost and liquidiation costs to be paid in full.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>Liquidation proceeds will then be used to clear debts owed to secured creditors, and then to pay workmen’s dues for 12 months, unpaid dues to employees other than workmen, and financial dues owed to unsecured creditors, in that order. Government taxes for two years, other debts, preference shareholders and equity shareholders will receive last priority for payment.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">It also provides for monetary penalty and jail term of up to five years for concealment of property, defrauding creditors and furnishing false information.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The Code also provides for fast track corporate insolvency resolution process to be completed in 90 days.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">“Having a robust insolvency resolution mechanism can help creditors recover a larger part of their investment faster, allowing them to re-invest in other businesses, thereby facilitating the efficient flow of capital across the economy,” Karthik said.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Comparison with the US Chapter 11</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">In the US, there are two main bankruptcy procedures for corporations, Chapter 7 and Chapter 11.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Chapter 7 is the liquidation code and provides for the appointment of a trustee by the court to oversee the liquidation of the company. Under Chapter 7, the business is closed down before sale and the assets auctioned.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Chapter 11 allows a firm to remain in operation while a plan of reorganisation is worked out with creditors.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The Indian Code provides for quick identification of financial distress and a 180-day plan, extendable by 90 days, to revive a company, following which the company becomes insolvent.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">With regard to management control, under the US Chapter 11, the company retains the management control while working to achieve pre-agreed goals within a certain timeframe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">The Indian code provides for management control to pass over to resolution professionals with significant powers, once an insolvency resolution is underway.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">Public sector lenders write off </span><span style="line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">more </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">bad loans than recovery</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 16px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">S</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">mart Villages - Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban </span></u></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 16px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mission(SPMRM)</span></u></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><b>Union Cabinet approves Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission to drive economic, social and infrastructure development in rural areas on 16 September, 2015.</b></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shyama Prasad Mukherji - </span></b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shyama Prasad Mukherji (6 July 1901 – 23 June 1953) was an Indian politician, barrister and academician, who served as Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet. After falling out with Nehru, Mukherjee quit the Indian National Congress and founded the right wing nationalist Bharatiya Jana Sangh (which would later evolve into BJP) in 1951.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In an ambitious bid to transform rural areas to economically, socially and physically sustainable spaces, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 16 September, 2015 approved the<b> Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission (SPMRM) with an outlay of Rs. 5142.08 crores.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Mission aims at development of rural growth clusters which have latent potential for growth, in all States and UTs, which would trigger overall development in the region</b>. These clusters would be developed by provisioning of economic activities, developing skills & local entrepreneurship and providing infrastructure amenities. The Rurban Mission will thus develop a cluster of Smart Villages.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These clusters would be well delineated areas with planned layouts prepared following the planning norms (as laid down in the State Town and Country Planning Acts/similar Central or State statutes as may be applicable), which would be duly notified by the State/UTs. These plans would be finally integrated with the District Plans/Master Plans as the case may be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The State Governments would identify the clusters in accordance with the Framework for Implementation prepared by the Ministry of Rural Development.</b> The clusters will be geographically contiguous Gram Panchayats with a population of about 25000 to 50000 in plain and coastal areas and a population of 5000 to 15000 in desert, hilly or tribal areas. There would be a separate approach for selection of clusters in Tribal and Non-Tribal Districts. As far as practicable, clusters of village would follow administrative convergence units of Gram Panchayats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>For the selection of clusters, the Ministry of Rural Development is adopting a scientific process of cluster selection which involves an objective analysis at the District, Sub District and Village level, of the demography, economy, tourism and pilgrimage significance and transportation corridor impact.</b> While the Ministry, following this analysis, would provide a suggestive list of sub districts to the State, the State Governments would then select the clusters following a set of indicated principles included in the Framework for Implementation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The mission aims to create 300 such Rurban growth clusters over the next 3 years, across the country.</b> The funding for Rurban Clusters will be through various schemes of the Government converged into the cluster. The SPMRM will provide an additional funding support of upto 30 percent of the project cost per cluster as Critical Gap Funding (CGF) as Central Share to enable development of such Rurban clusters.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To ensure an optimum level of development, <b>fourteen components</b> have been suggested as desirable for the cluster, which would include; <b>Skill development training linked to economic activities, Agro Processing/Agri Services/Storage and Warehousing, Digital Literacy, Sanitation, Provision of piped water supply, Solid and liquid waste management, Village streets and drains, Street lights, Fully equipped mobile health unit, Upgrading school /higher education facilities, Inter-village road connectivity, Citizen Service Centres- for electronic delivery of citizen centric services/e-gram connectivity, Public transport., LPG gas connections.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The States would prepare Integrated Cluster Action Plans for Rurban Clusters, which would be comprehensive plan documents detailing out the strategy for the cluster, desired outcomes for the cluster under the mission, along with the resources to be converged under various Central Sector, Centrally Sponsored and State Sector schemes, and the Critical Gap Funding (CGF) required for the cluster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to the Critical Gap Funding, proactive steps have been taken to ensure the success of the mission with adequate budget provisions for supporting the State Government towards project development, capacity building and other institutional arrangements at the state level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Mission envisages institutional arrangements both at the State and Center to ensure smooth implementation of the Mission. The Mission also has an Innovation budget towards facilitating research, development and capacity building.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The scheme through development of rurban growth clusters aimed at catalyzing overall regional growth, would thus simultaneously benefit the rural as well as urban areas of the country, by achieving twin objectives of strengthening rural areas and de burdening the urban areas hence leading to balanced regional development and growth of the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A step towards substitution of SPMRM scheme for PURA and Bharat Nirman Programmes : </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2004, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government launched a scheme named<b> Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA)</b> to modernise villages by providing urban infrastructure and services in rural hubs to create economic opportunities outside of cities. PURA envisaged physical connectivity by providing roads, electronic connectivity by providing communication network and knowledge connectivity by establishing professional and technical institutions. The UPA government took it forward under the broader <b>Bharat Nirman programme</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh said the clusters would be developed by stimulating economic activities, developing skills and infrastructure amenities, as well as supporting local entrepreneurship.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He said earlier programmes such as Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) failed because of lack of government involvement. Claiming that SPMRM will be different, he said programmes like PURA were run by private agencies and NGOs. “A need was felt to initiate the scheme in a new format,” he added.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Neeranchal National watershed Project</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>World Bank Assisted Project "Neeranchal" for the Watershed Component (Erstwhile Integrated Watershed Management Programme) of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on October 7,2015 has given its approval to:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (i) implement the World Bank assisted National Watershed Management Project "Neeranchal" with a total outlay of $357 million (Rs 2142.30 crore at Rs. 60 = $1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(ii) implement the project at the National level as well as in the nine States of Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The total cost of the project is Rs. 2142.30 crore of which the Government's share is Rs. 1071.15 crore (50 percent) and rest is the loan component from the World Bank.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For achieving the major objectives of the <b>Watershed Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY)</b> and for <b>ensuring access to irrigation to every farm (Har Khet Ko Pani)</b> and<b> efficient use of water (Per Drop More Crop)</b>, Neeranchal is primarily designed to address the following concerns:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">i.</span> bring about institutional changes in watershed and rainfed agricultural management practices in India,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">ii.</span> build systems that ensure watershed programmes and rainfed irrigation management practices are better focused, and more coordinated, and have quantifiable results,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">iii.</span> devise strategies for the sustainability of improved watershed management practices in programme areas, even after the withdrawal of project support,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">iv.</span> through the watershed plus approach, support improved equity, livelihoods, and incomes through forward linkages, on a platform of inclusiveness and local participation.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Neeranchal will translate into better implementation outcomes of PMKSY. The programme will lead to reducing surface runoff of rainwater, increasing recharge of ground water and better availability of water in rainfed areas resulting in incremental rainfed agriculture productivity, enhanced milk yield and increased cropping intensity through better convergence related programmes in project areas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Neeranchal is designed to further strengthen and provide technical assistance to the Watershed Component of PMKSY, in particular and all components of PMKSY, in general, to enhance its delivery capacity. Neeranchal will support the Watershed component of PMKSY (erstwhile IWMP) which was implemented by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) in 28 States.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Watershed development projects are area development programme and all people living in the project area will be benefitted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Background:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) was implemented since 2009-10 by the DoLR, for supporting watershed development in 28 States.</b> From 2015-16 onwards, the IWMP will be implemented as the Watershed Component of PMKSY.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The potential of the watershed approach followed by the erstwhile IWMP to support both conservation and production outcomes including the availability of water in rainfed areas, catering to the needs of small and marginal farmers as well as the asset-less, including women, has been successfully demonstrated at scale across various States of India. However, despite these successes, a number of challenges remain for watershed development to achieve better outcomes, including enhanced participation of communities, building stronger capacities and systems to plan, implement, monitor and post-project sustainability of local institutions and assets. These challenges, if not resolved, can result in implementation delays, slow disbursements and benefits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Krishi Sinchayee Yojana with an outlay of Rs.50,000 crores for a period of 5 years (2015-16 to 2019-20) to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) has been formulated amalgamating ongoing schemes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation; Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources; and On Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation. <b>PMKSY is to be implemented in an area development approach, adopting decentralized state level planning and projectised execution, allowing the states to draw their irrigation development plans based on district/blocks plans with a horizon of 5 to 7 years. States can take up projects based on the District/State Irrigation Plan. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All the States and Union Territories including North Eastern States are covered under the programme. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The National Steering Committee (NSC) of PMKSY under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister, will provide policy direction to programme framework and a National Executive Committee (NEC) under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog will oversee the programme implementation at national level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Provision has been made under PMKSY during 2015-16 for carrying out extension activities in the field with special focus on water harvesting, water management and crop alignment for farmers and grass root level field functionaries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This information was given by the Minister of State for Agriculture Sh. Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria in Lok Sabha on 4 August, 2015. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-10228090826336761842016-02-08T00:33:00.002-08:002016-02-08T00:43:31.285-08:00February 8<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2015</span></h1>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ordinance aimed at speedy disposal of cases.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When cheque were issued as a negotiable instrument, there was always a possibility that the same being issued without a proper balance in the account of drawer(or payer). In a view to protect the drawee(or payee) of the cheque, a need was felt that dishonouring the cheque should be made a punishable offence.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pending cases to be tried in the first court.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Court cases to remain at the same court.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dishonour Cheques - 2 Years punishment.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The amendment, which enables filing of cheque bounce cases in the place where the cheque was presented for clearance or payment and not the place of issue, seeks to overturn a Supreme Court ruling which said the cases have to be initiated where the issuing branch was located.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An estimated 18 lakh cheque bounce cases are there across the country, of which about 38,000 are pending in High Courts. The amendment provides that cases of bouncing of cheques can be filed only in a court in whose jurisdiction the bank branch of the payee (person who receives the cheque) lies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If a complaint against a person issuing a cheque has been filed in the court with the appropriate jurisdiction, then all subsequent complaints against that person will be filed in the same court, irrespective of the relevant jurisdiction area.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Negotiable Instruments (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2015 was promulgated on September 22, 2015. The Ordinance amends the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The Act defines promissory notes, cheques and specifies penalties for bouncing of cheques, and other violations. It does not however specify the jurisdiction of courts where cheque bouncing cases may be filed. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Ordinance will be deemed to have been in force from June 15, 2015. It modifies the definition of a cheque in electronic form, and clarifies the appropriate area of jurisdiction of courts, where cases of cheque bouncing can be filed. Key features of the Ordinance include:</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the case of a cheque being dishonoured:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the cheque is delivered for collection to the account of the payee (person who receives the cheque), the jurisdiction of courts lies over the area of the bank branch where the payee maintains an account, or</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the payee presents a cheque to a bank in any other way, the jurisdiction lies in the area of the bank branch where the drawer (person who writes the cheque) maintains an account. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All cases of cheque bouncing which were pending in any court, before the Ordinance came into force, will be transferred to a court with the appropriate jurisdiction.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the payee has filed a complaint against the drawer in a court with the appropriate jurisdiction, all subsequent complaints against that person regarding cheque bouncing will be filed in the same court. This will be irrespective of the mode of presentation of cheque.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>If more than one case is filed by the same payee against the same drawer before different courts, the case will be transferred to the court with the appropriate jurisdiction before which the first case was filed.</b></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Ordinance also amends the definition of <b>‘cheque in the electronic form’</b>. Under the Act, this was defined as<b> a cheque containing the exact mirror image of a paper cheque and generated in a secure system using a digital signature</b>. The definition has been amended to mean a cheque drawn in electronic medium using any computer resource, which is signed in a secure system with a digital signature and asymmetric crypto system (pair of a public key and private key to create a digital signature), or electronic system. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The definitions of ‘computer resource’, ‘digital signature’, ‘electronic system’ and ‘asymmetric crypto system’ are amended to be the same as those assigned to them in the Information Technology Act, 2000.</span></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-57254101559533710882016-02-01T22:24:00.001-08:002016-02-02T04:23:47.350-08:00February 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Focussed Implementation of Well Knitted Interlinked Initiatives Will Ensure ‘Sabka Saath;Sabka Vikas’-Dr.Najma Heptulla</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Nai Manzil’ to Enabe Minority Youth to Seek Better Employment-Dr.Najma Heptulla </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr Najma Heptulla, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs said that the government is committed and focused on <b>"Sabka Saath ; Sabka Vikas" </b>through implementation of well knitted interlinked initiatives. Dr. Najma said going by the Nation priority, her ministry has taken many new initiatives to strengthen the efforts towards economic empowerment of minority through Skill Development and education.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elaborating on new initiatives undertaken during last 20 months, Dr. Najma Heptullah informed that her Ministry formulated and launched a new scheme <b>'Nai Manzil'</b> on 8th August, 2015. The scheme will benefit the minority youths who do not have formal school leaving certificate, i.e., those in the category of school-dropouts or educated in the community education institutions like <i>Madarsas</i>, with a view to enabling them to seek better employment in the organised sector and thus to equip them for better lives. Scheme has been approved with the cost of Rs. 650 crore for the five years. The world Bank has approved the funding of US$ 50 million and recommended the scheme to countries in Africa faced with similar development challenges.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Ministry explained that skills and crafts practiced by minority communities no more remain lucrative and became unattractive rendering these craftsmen to look for some other means of livelihood. She said to make these skills and crafts more profitable and another new ambitious initiative of the Government, <b>"USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development)" </b>was formally launched on 14th May, 2015 at Varanasi (U.P.). The scheme aims at capacity building and updating the traditional skills of master craftsmen and artisans. The scheme will also set standards for traditional skills. The trained master craftsmen/artisans will train the minority youth in various specific traditional arts/crafts.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To further support the initiative, artisans and craftsmen, Ministry has signed a MoU with an E-commerce portal <i>shopclues.com </i>for facilitating the market linkages of crafts, she added.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ministry of Minority Affairs was created on 29th January 2006 for formulation of policies for welfare and socio-economic development of <b>6 (six) notified minority communities namely, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains, which constitute more than 19% of India’s population.</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other initiatives of the Ministry of Minority Affairs ,she briefed and replied included establishment of <b>Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS)</b>, a special purpose vehicle, to address all skill development needs of minority communities, award of about 86 lakh Scholarships During 2014-15, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>“Padho Pardesh”</b>, for providing interest subsidy on educational loans taken from Banks by minority students for higher studies abroad, unique initiative of <b>“Hamari Dharohar”</b> aimed at preservation of rich heritage and culture of minorities, by supporting curation of iconic exhibitions, calligraphy, preservation of old documents, research and development, restructured Multi-sectoral Development Programme or Jan Vikaas Karyakram, for area development programme , <b>“Nai Roshni”</b> for Leadership Development of Minority Women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and intermediaries at all levels, concessional loans by <b>National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation(NMDFC) </b>for self-employment,activities and initiatives of the <b>National Waqf Development Corporation (NAWADCO)</b>.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What is National Waqf Development Corporation ?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Waqf means a permanent dedication of a person professing Islam of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognized by Muslim law as - auspicious, religious or charitable</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wakif is a person donating property. Once the property is donated the donor loses all the rights over the property and such property cannot be transferred, mortgaged, or alienated without permission of the Waqf board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2007 there were reports from Kerala indicating many irregularities in transferring of Waqf land or properties to private parties. This resulted into huge loss to Indian exchequer amounting to 2 lakh crore rupees. To look into the issue government of India formed Sachar Committee.</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sachar Committee Recommendations:</span></b><br />
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #252525; line-height: 22.4px; list-style-image: url("data:image/svg+xml,%3C%3Fxml%20version%3D%221.0%22%20encoding%3D%22UTF-8%22%3F%3E%0A%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20version%3D%221.1%22%20width%3D%225%22%20height%3D%2213%22%3E%0A%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%222.5%22%20cy%3D%229.5%22%20r%3D%222.5%22%20fill%3D%22%2300528c%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">India has largest number of Waqf properties around 4.9 lakhs with approximate income from these properties to 163 crore rupees.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If these properties are managed and developed properly could fetch around an income of 12000 crore rupees per annum.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A national level institution should be developed to take care of Waqf properties for community welfare particularly of Muslim community.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">National Waqf Development Corporation Limited is an Indian government agency under Ministry of Minority Affairs . This will undertake development of Waqf properties for the community welfare particularly for Muslims in India. The prime minister Man Mohan Singh unveiled it on 28 January 2014. It has been established as a follow up of the recommendations of Sachar committee report.It work in a joint venture with the States and UT's waqf boards and the Mutawallis. It will have the status of Central Public Sector Enterprises.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What is National Minorirties Development and Finance Corporation?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) was incorporated in September 1994 as a non profit company under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India to provide concessional finance for self-employment activities to eligible beneficiaries belonging to the minority communities, having a family income below double the poverty line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the establishment of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the administrative control of NMDFC directed into this ministry</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-38886901323289518382016-01-31T22:04:00.002-08:002016-01-31T22:06:00.505-08:00Takeaways from the visit of French President François Hollande to India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Francois Hollande was the chief guest on 67th Republic Day celebration. This was the fifth time that a French leader has been a Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations - the maximum number from any country so far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Importantly, France was the first country with which India established a Strategic Partnership in 1998 after New Delhi did nuclear tests. The two countries have close cooperation in defence, space, civil-nuclear and security issues along with strong trade and investment and cultural ties. France is also the first country with which India entered into civil nuclear energy cooperation in 2008 after obtaining the NSG waiver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">France, being a permanent member of UNSC can help India to get a permanent seat in UNSC.</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, also known as the Permanent Five, Big Five, or P5, include the following five governments: China(1971), France(1958), Russia(1992), the United Kingdom(1945), and the United States(1945).</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">India and France on 25 January, 2016 signed a Memorandum of Understanding over the purchase of 36 Rafale jets(manufactured by France Aircraft Company - Dassault). The deal, announced in April,2015 by Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi, has been in limbo after negotiations hit a roadblock over price issues. The purchase of the 36 Rafale jets from France would cost India around Rs 60,000 crore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>France and India Solar Pact</b></u></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">French Development Agency will contribute 300 million euros for the development of solar energy over the next five years in order to finance the initial projects to be undertaken by the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the real challenge was to attract investments worth a trillion dollars to promote the renewable source.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, French President Francois Hollande said on 25 January, 2016.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speaking at an event in Gurgaon to lay the foundation stone for ISA headquarters and secretariat, Hollande said the India-led initiative will require an investment of about 1,200 billion euros to achieve the target of installing 100 GW solar energy by 2022, and it has the full support of France.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He said,"Your country is the precursor, your country is the promoter, your country is the investor as you have decided to generate 40% of your electricity from renewable energy by 2030".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The International Solar Alliance, envisaged to bring together 122 countries that lie wholly or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, is an initiative announced by Mr. Modi at the COP 21 Summit in Paris in November. The member countries are to be those that enjoy 300 or more days in a year of bright sunlight.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u><b>India and France deal during Modi visit of France in April, 2015</b></u></span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Areva and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) had taken the first concrete steps in April, 2015 towards making the Jaitapur nuclear power plants a reality with both companies signing an early works agreement. This will be the first formal pact between the two sides for Areva to begin work on the planned six EPR (evolutionary power reactor) power plants.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Infrastructure being close to Modi's heart, discussions through his first day in France focused on "Clean Ganga", railways, waste management and smart cities. France has been designated a partner country for development of smart cities.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-31870588420785179002015-12-01T01:58:00.002-08:002015-12-01T01:58:36.870-08:00December 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Recently India launched an International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the CoP21 Climate Conference in Paris. Examine the significance and objectives this Alliance. (200 Words)</b></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">International Solar Alliance was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at CoP21 in Paris. The new body has invited all countries located partly or fully between the tropics of Cancer and tropics of Capricon to join. ISA is to function from the National Institute of Solar Energy in India, Gurgaon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Significance of ISA</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India set the target for Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 33-35 percent by 2030 below its 2005 level. To achieve this, the government has launched Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission for the generation of 20 GW solar power by 2022. India is the third highest greenhouse gas emitter after China(29 percent of global GHG emission) and US(15 percent of global GHG emission). ISA will help India to meet its commitment of 40 percent of non-fossil fuel energy to be adopted by 2030.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Objectives of ISA</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The objective of ISA is to reduce the cost of finance and technology that is needed to deploy solar power widely. However, generation and storage technology would be adapted to the individual countries' need. The task that alliance will pursue are, cooperation in training, building institutions, regulatory issues, common standards, and investment including joint ventures. India can also get upper hand over the WTO dispute with US solar panel industries, because with ISA India will have cheaper technology available with her.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-90918027324304879972015-11-25T00:03:00.001-08:002015-11-25T01:00:12.465-08:00UPSC CAPF Interview<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BSF to enter its 50th year in 1 December, 2014</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Border Security Force (BSF) will enter its 50th year of distinguished service to the nation and commence its ‘Golden Jubilee Celebrations’ on December 1, 2014. A unique force with both ‘peace time’ and ‘war time’ roles, the BSF has over the last five decades grown to be one of the most complex and well managed border forces in the world, with multiple accolades and achievements to its name.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kicking off the BSF’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Director General, D K Pathak, said, “I would like to congratulate and acknowledge all BSF personnel, both past and present, for their contribution in making the force what it is today. Over the years the BSF, has grown in to a sizeable organization that is always moving ahead and constantly reinventing itself to be better prepared.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The BSF over the last year has had to face some of its toughest challenges with the heaviest cross border firing. In Odisha & Chhattisgarh there are presently 15 battalions deployed to curb the growing threat of Left Wing Extremism. In the East, the Coordinated Border Management Plan signed between India & Bangladesh, is helping to resolve minor differences and improve relationships.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Effective border management entails the optimum use of manpower, resources, equipment and armament. Key to this is the all important aspect of befriending the border population and therefore there is a lot of emphasis on implementation of local civic action programmes, including organizing health and cultural related events”, added BSF, Director General, D K Pathak.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the government having approved a five year Modernization Plan – II (2012 – 2017), providing a financial outlay of INR 4,570 crore, the force is committed to complete modernization of its capabilities. Specific emphasis is being made to provide the most technologically advanced gear that goes a long way in protecting the life of a Jawan and driving operational efficiencies. Investment into training of personnel is also paramount with basic fundamental & in-service professional training across the many BSF institutions and special training schools.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In order to protect the border where fencing is yet to come up or the terrain is challenging, the BSF is considering Motion Sensor Alarms and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance and early warning. The air units will see the introduction of 8 Mi-17 V5 helicopters to assistborder management including anti-naxal operations. While the water wing will see the induction of 3 new floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) and 4 fast attack crafts that will assist in maritime capabilities in the Creek and Sunderban areas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The BSF over the years has always displayed the highest standards of professionalism, valour and loyalty to the Nation while defending borders, countering internal unrest, assisting in natural disasters as well as any other duty assigned to it by the Govt. of India.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqo4hH5y8VZGkUgZ9carays2QuzpDqYRTK5x_QddFhYnJaboJTNMgHCqBPN3odXP_TK0WJ6b7TBfvAZgqotwUz-2qtEe-iDOUeVjmOX3oChIfFaHhU67jJ3rKqKnTMH4xpt_SIHoH5WM/s1600/BSF-GOLDEN-JUBILEE-LOGO-300x296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqo4hH5y8VZGkUgZ9carays2QuzpDqYRTK5x_QddFhYnJaboJTNMgHCqBPN3odXP_TK0WJ6b7TBfvAZgqotwUz-2qtEe-iDOUeVjmOX3oChIfFaHhU67jJ3rKqKnTMH4xpt_SIHoH5WM/s1600/BSF-GOLDEN-JUBILEE-LOGO-300x296.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Border guarding forces</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://defencesecurityindia.com/border-guarding-forces/">http://defencesecurityindia.com/border-guarding-forces/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Cyber strategy</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://defencesecurityindia.com/cyber-strategy/">http://defencesecurityindia.com/cyber-strategy/</a> (China's advanced cyber warfare capabilities; GhostNet; Operation Shady RAT(Remote Access Tool); </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">China’s Tianhe-2 is the world’s fastest super computer with a theoretical speed of 54.9 petaflops. Such High Performance Computers have provided China with the capabilities for design, development, manufacturing, simulation, performance monitoring and testing of weapons and weapons platforms; cryptography and crypt analysis, weather forecast; production and testing of cyber weapons, networks and electromagnetic spectrum management and so on.;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">National Cyber Security Policy in July 2013 - Unfortunately, not only its implementation has been rather tardy, it does not cover cyber warfare capability building. While it has made significant investments in creating organisations and their supporting structures such as national & regional Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), Defence Intelligence and Research Agency (DIARA), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and so on, the nation has yet to appreciate the gravity, threat, importance and urgent necessity of ensuring cyber security both in terms of National Security and Human security. There is a general lack of awareness and concern amongst the national leadership and the people of threats in the cyber domain and the absolute necessity of securing our networks,</span><span style="font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-67577196041028390132015-10-27T01:44:00.002-07:002015-10-27T03:41:58.219-07:00UPSC CAPF Interview<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">NDRF gets 2 more battalions, from SSB(a total of 12 now)</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The government on April 29, 2015 decided to sanction two more battalions for the National Disaster Response Force, which was possibly the first foreign rescue team to reach Nepal following last weekend’s earthquake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To speed up matters, two battalions of the Sashastra Seema Bal, the border guarding force set up in 1963, would be converted into NDRF units. One of these battalions would be based at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and the other in Arunachal Pradesh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The decision was cleared at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The NDRF, which has been deployed in Nepal and some Indian states bordering it that were affected by the earthquake, currently has 10 battalions adding up to around 10,000 men.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">”The objective of the conversion of these two additional battalions of SSB into NDRF battalions is to provide response to the area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh during any natural and man-made disaster and to enhance the capability of the existing NDRF battalions,” according to an official release.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">”<b>The placement of two NDRF Battalions at Varanasi and Arunachal Pradesh will fill up the vast gap of deployment of the NDRF</b>,” an official release said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The NDRF, a force raised by bringing on deputation personnel from various paramilitary forces, is the first responder in case of any natural or man-made disasters and its units are deployed in various parts of the country for such emergencies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Each NDRF battalion has 1,149 personnel and is equipped to rescue people affected by disasters.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>At present, the NDRF battalions are based in Guwahati (Assam), Calcutta (West Bengal), Cuttack (Odisha), Vellore (Tamil Nadu), Pune (Maharashtra), Gandhinagar (Gujarat), Bathinda (Punjab), Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh), Patna (Bihar) and Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh).</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Earlier, the Central Reserve Police Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Patrol, Border Security Force and Central Industrial Security Force had earmarked two battalions each for the NDRF. The SSB now joins their ranks. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Fighting without equipment</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/fighting-without-equipment/article7307353.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/fighting-without-equipment/article7307353.ece</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>The MoD is also believed to be considering the alternative proposal of abandoning the import of both the carbine and assault rifle and manufacturing them locally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ enterprise.</b> But this will also entail time-consuming procedures, necessitating a private or public sector-led joint venture with an overseas original equipment manufacturer, again selected after extensive trials. Such an enterprise would, doubtless, necessitate the import of a certain number of weapon systems before their licensed production by the JV begins much later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Army officers have warned that such delays severely compromise the operational efficiency of infantry units, especially those deployed in counter-insurgency operations, as they are forced to employ INSAS rifles against the superior weaponry of militants in Kashmir and the Northeast. Meanwhile, even the sniper rifles used in the paramilitary forces are more contemporary and advanced than the Army’s Soviet-era Dragunov SVD gas-operated, semi-automatic models acquired in the 80s.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Compare and contrast the structure, mandate, role and abilities of India’s armed forces with that of paramilitary forces</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The basic aim of having well equipped armed forces is protection of the sovereignty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of the country from external (foreign) and internal aggression. Indian armed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">forces include Indian Army, IAF and Indian Navy. The armed forces are supported by paramilitary forces which include Assam rifles, Special Frontier Force and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Indian Coast guards.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Indian armed forces come under Ministry of Defence while the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">paramilitary forces come under Ministry of Home Affairs(except Indian Coastal Guards). The military forces play active lead roles while country fights external wars.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As per International Mandate Indian Armed forces being the federal cannot be deputed on the recognized international borders so other forces such as BSF ITBP etc protects the international borders(IBs), while Indian Army can be deputed on disputed borders (as these are not recognized IBs) such as LOC and LAC.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apart from importing the various state of art weapons, vehicles and artilleries,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Department of Defence Production of the Ministry of Defence is responsible for</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>the indigenous production of equipment used by the Indian Armed Forces</b>. It</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">comprises Indian Ordnance Factories and some Public Sector Undertakings like</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BEL, HAL etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Paramilitary forces under Home Ministry mostly buy their equipment from the domestic and international markets.</b> The organizational differences are reflected in procedures of procurement of weapons, and paramilitary forces are said to have more modern weapons than Indian Army.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is need for bringing in organizational transparency in the procurement of the weapons systems so that the operational efficiency of the armed forces are not compromised.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Paramilitary Force and CAPF definition</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In 2011, Government of India made the formal definition: Paramilitary force =headed by Military officer (and not an IPS officer).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CRPF, BSF, ITPB etc are all headed by “Director Generals” but these director generals are actually IPS officers (and not military officers.) Hence going by that definition, we are left with only three “real” paramilitary forces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Assam Rifles</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Special Frontier Force</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coast Guard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ok then</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">what are CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB? =these are “Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then what are RAW and IB = they are intelligence gathering agencies (internal and external)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then what are CBI and NIA= they are law enforcement agencies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Organizations</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>Critically comment on the existing disaster response mechanism in India and critically examine the role, objectives, structure and performance of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The existing disaster response mechanism in India are as follows:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.The new mechanism through National Disaster Management Act, 2005 has led to establishment of disaster management institutions at the national, state and district levels as <b>National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) headed by the Prime Minister, State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by Chief Ministers, and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) headed by district collectors/magistrates </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.<b>A specialist response force called NDRF to tackle all types of disaster, including nuclear, biological and chemical disasters.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. <b>National Crisis Management Committee that includes cabinet secretary and secretaries of other departments that are in charge of dealing with crises and giving directions to the Crisis Management Group.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However,there are certain issues related to disaster response that have come out recently :</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. There are no provisions to make guidelines issued by the NDMA binding on state .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. The National Disaster Mitigation Fund has not yet been established. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Communication systems for DM are not developed. Critical equipments have not been procured and the satellite based communication network has not been developed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">NDRF : It is a disaster response agency under National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) created by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 2009</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Structure : It works at state and central-level under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) based in Delhi.At present, National Disaster Response Force consists of twelve battalions, three each from the BSF, CRPF and two each from CISF, ITBP and SSB(recently inducted). Each battalion will provide 18 self-contained specialist search and rescue teams of 45 personnel each including engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads and medical/paramedics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Role and objectives:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. to combat all natural disasters including radiological, nuclear, biological and chemical disasters.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. to conduct search and rescue operations in the event of any natural catastrophe .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Critical issue : </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The effectiveness of the National Disaster Response Force has been hampered because of shortage of trained manpower and absence of appropriate training facilities, infrastructure and equipment. The Standard Operating Procedures for deployment of the NDRF have not been finalised .</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-42186474072068083882015-09-30T12:05:00.001-07:002015-09-30T12:05:03.909-07:00Water Management<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Syllabus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3.1 Ground Water and Watershed management</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3.2 Water usage and efficient irrigation systems</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3.3 Drinking Water: supply, factors of impurity of water and quality management</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Ground Water and Watershed management</b></u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Water is a cyclic resources with abundant supplies on the globe. Approximately, 71% of the Earth's surface is covered with it, but the fresh water constitutes only about 3% of the total water. In fact, a very small proportion of fresh water is effectively available for human use. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">India accounts for about 2.45% of world's surface area, 4% of world's water resources and about 16% of world's population. The total water available from precipitation in the country in a year about 4000 cubic km. The availability from surface water and replenishable(replenish meaning - to refill; to renew) groundwater is 1869 cubic km. Out of this only 60% can be put to beneficial uses. Thus, the total utilisable water resources in the country is only 1122 cubic km.</span></span><br />
<br />
<u><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ground Water Resources</span></span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The total replenishable groundwater in the country is are about 432 cubic km that the Ganga and Brahamputra basins, have about 46% of the total replenishable groundwater resources. The level of groundwater utilisation is very high in the river basins lying in North-Western region and parts of South India. The groundwater utilisation is very high in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. </span>However, there are states like Chhatisgarh, Odisha, Kerala etc which utilise only a small proportion of their groundwater potentials.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>Deterioration of Water Quality</b></u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Water Quality refers to purity of water or water without unwanted foreign substances. Water gets polluted by foreign matters such as micro organisms, chemical, industrial and other wastes. Such matters deteriorate the quality of water and render it unfit for human use.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Monitoring of ground water quality is an effort to obtain information on chemical quality through representative sampling in different hydrogeological units. The chemical quality is being monitored by Central Ground Water Board once in a year through a network of about 15000 observation wells located all over the country, in regular monitoring programme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The natural chemical content of ground water is influenced by depth of the soils and sub-surface geological formations through which ground water remains in contact. In general, greater part of the country, ground water is of good quality and suitable for drinking, agricultural or industrial purposes. Ground water in shallow aquifers is generally suitable for use for different purposes and is mainly of Calcium Bicarbonate and Mixed type. However, other types of water are also available including Sodium-Chloride water. The quality in deeper aquifers also varies from place to place and is generally found suitable for common uses. There is salinity problem in the coastal tracts and high incidence of Fluoride, Arsenic, Iron & heavy metals etc in isolated pockets have also been reported. The distributions of various constituents present in ground water in different parts of the country have been discussed in following paragraphs.<br /><br />The main ground water quality problems in India are as follows.<br /><br />Salinity:- Salinity in ground water can be of broadly categorised into two types, i.e. Inland Salinity and Coastal salinity</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Inland Salinity</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inland salinity in ground water is prevalent mainly in the arid and semi arid regions of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. There are several places in Rajasthan and southern Haryana where EC values of ground water is greater than 10000 mS /cm at 25o C making water non-potable. In some areas of Rajasthan and Gujarat, ground water salinity is so high that the well water is directly used for salt manufacturing by solar evaporation.<br /><br />Inland salinity is also caused due to practice of surface water irrigation without consideration of ground water status. The gradual rise of ground water levels with time has resulted in water logging and heavy evaporation in semi arid regions lead to salinity problem in command areas. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Coastal Salinity</b></span></span><br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Indian subcontinent has a dynamic coastline of
about 7500 km length. It stretches from Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to
Konkan and Malabar coast to Kanyakumari in the south to northwards
along the Coromandal coast to Sunderbans in West Bengal .The western
coast is characterized by wide continental shelf and is marked by
backwaters and mud flats while the eastern coast has a narrow
continental shelf and is characterized by deltaic and estuarine land
forms. Ground water in coastal areas occurs under unconfined to
confined conditions in a wide range of unconsolidated and consolidated
formations.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Normally, saline water bodies owe their origin
to entrapped sea water (connate water), sea water ingress, leachates
from navigation canals constructed along the coast, leachates from salt
pans etc. In general, the following situations are encountered in
coastal areas</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><ul class="lists">
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Saline water overlying fresh water aquifer </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Fresh water overlying saline water </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alternating sequence of fresh water and saline water aquifers</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In India, salinity problems have been observed
in a number of places in most of the coastal states of the country.
Problem of salinity ingress has been conspicuously noticed in Minjur
area of Tamil Nadu and Mangrol – Chorwad- Porbander belt along the
Saurashtra coast. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Fluoride</b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">85 % of rural population of the country uses ground water for drinking
and domestic purposes. High concentration of fluoride in ground water
beyond the permissible limit of 1.5 mg/l poses the health problem.<b> </b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">19 districts of Madhya Pradesh are effected by fluoride contamiation, they are:</span></div>
<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top" width="73">Madhya Pradesh</td>
<td valign="top" width="72">19</td>
<td valign="top" width="420"><div align="justify">
Bhind,
Chhatarpur, Chhindwara, Datia, Dewas, Dhar, Guna, Gwalior, Harda,
Jabalpur, Jhabua, Khargone, Mandsaur, Rajgarh, Satna, Seoni,
Shajapur, Sheopur, Sidhi.</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Arsenic</b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Arsenic as a contaminant is significant in terms of its toxic nature with exceedingly diverse manifestations of poisoning. Drinking water is the major pathway for ingestion of arsenic in human system. As per BIS 2012 (IS 10500:2012), the acceptable limit of Arsenic is 0.01 mg/l and the permissible limit in absence of alternate source is 0.05 mg/l.Elevated concentrations of arsenic in ground water are reported from various parts of India but particularly affecting the large parts of the Ganga- Brahmaputra Plains.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Iron</b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">High concentration of Iron (>1.0 mg/l) in ground water has been observed in more than 1.1 lakh habitations in the country. Ground water contaminated by iron has been reported from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, J&K, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal & UT of Andaman & Nicobar. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Nitrate</b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Nitrate is a very common constituent in the ground water, especially in shallow aquifers. The source is mainly from anthropogenic activities. High concentration of Nitrate in water beyond the permissible limit of 45 mg/l causes health problems. High Nitrate concentration in ground water in India has been found in almost all hydrogeological formations.<b> </b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>Water Conservation and Management </b></u></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since there is a declining availability of fresh water and increasing demand, the need has arisen to conserve and efficiently manage this precious life giving resources for sustainable development. Given that water availability from sea/ocean, due to high cost of desalinisation, is considered negligible, India has to take quick steps and make effective policies and laws and adopt effective measures for its conservation. Besides developing water saving technologies and methods, attempts are also to be made to prevent the pollution. There is need to encourage the watershed development, rainwater harvesting, water recycling and reuse and conjunctive use of water for sustaining water in the long-run.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>Watershed Management</b></u></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Watershed management basically refers to efficient management and conservation of surface and groundwater resources. It involves prevention of runoff and storage and recharge of groundwater through various methods like percolation tanks, recharge wells, etc. However, in broad sense watershed management includes conservation, regeneration and judicious use of all resources - nature( like land, water, plants and animals) and human within watershed. Watershed management aims at bringing about balance between natural resources on the one hand and society on the other. The success of watershed development largely depends uupon community participation.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Center and State Government have initiated many watershed development and management programmes in the country. Some of these are being development by non-governmental organisations also. <b><i>Haryali</i></b> is a watershed development project sponsored by the Central Government which aims at enabling the rural population to conserve water for drinking, irrigation, fisheries and afforestation. The main objectives are: Objectives Harvesting every drop of rainwater for purposes of irrigation, plantations including horticulture and floriculture, pasture development, fisheries etc. to create sustainable sources of income for the village community as well as for drinking water supplies. The project is executed by Gram Panchayats with people's participation. Neeru-Meeru (Water and you) programme in Andhra Pradesh and Arary Pani Sansad(in Alwar, Rajasthan) have taken up constructions of various water harvesting structures such as percolation tanks, dug out ponds(johad), check dams, etc through people's participation. Tamil Nadu has made water harvesting structures in the house compulsory. No building can be constructed without making structure for water harvesting. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>Integrated Watershed Management Programme(2009-10) </b></u></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) is a modified programme of erstwhile Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP), Desert Development Programme (DDP) and Integrated Wastelands Development Programme (IWDP) of the Department of Land Resources. This consolidation is for optimum use of resources, sustainable outcomes and integrated planning. The scheme was launched during 2009-10. The programme is being implemented as per Common Guidelines for Watershed Development Projects 2008. The main objectives of the IWMP are to restore the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water. The outcomes are prevention of soil erosion, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table. This enables multi-cropping and the introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
<u><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Water harvesting structures for dry hilly areas</span></b></u></div>
<br />
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Water harvesting is a prominent and technically feasible technology in arid hilly areas. It helps in runoff harvesting and ground water recharging. Water harvesting structures such as community tanks, inter-terrace runoff harvesting, hill spring outflow harvesting and rooftop harvesting structures. Runoff utilisation is increasingly becoming a common practice in dryland conservation agriculture.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are other approaches which can be adopted for conservations of dryland ecosystems are: Sustainable farming practices, Integrated watershed approach and role of agroforestry in soil and water conservation in dryland ecosystems.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>MP Special</b></u></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Hariyali Mahotsav</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/madhya-pradesh-to-start-hariyali-mahotsav-to-augment-forest-cover-114073001184_1.html">http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/madhya-pradesh-to-start-hariyali-mahotsav-to-augment-forest-cover-114073001184_1.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Jal Abhishek Campaign</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.watermissionmp.org/Jal_Abhishek.htm">http://www.watermissionmp.org/Jal_Abhishek.htm</a><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Rajiv Gandhi Mission for Watershed Management</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.watermissionmp.org/Org.htm">http://www.watermissionmp.org/Org.htm</a><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Bhagirath Krishak Abhiyan</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20120416/1966342.html">http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20120416/1966342.html</a><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Water usage and efficient irrigation systems</span></b></u></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Water usage</b> </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/97fuaF2aQkO9IjPiPAjMyL/Six-charts-that-explain-Indias-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/97fuaF2aQkO9IjPiPAjMyL/Six-charts-that-explain-Indias-water-crisis.html</a></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://ih-igcse-geography.wikispaces.com/1.7.+Water+Use">https://ih-igcse-geography.wikispaces.com/1.7.+Water+Use</a> </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Efficient irrigation systems</b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Kurukshetra Magazine(July, 2014; New Irrigation Technologies)<b> </b></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Efficient use of water resource is basic to survival of the ever increasing population of a country, this is especially very crucial for India, where we are having less than 5% of the world's water resources and more than 18% world's population. <b> </b> </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-55606778307304261832015-09-29T04:54:00.001-07:002015-10-01T02:39:01.665-07:00Social & Some Important Legislation:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Social & Some Important Legislation:</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Syllabus:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
3.1 Indian society, Social Legislation as an instrument of Social Change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.2 The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.3 Protection to Women Women & Criminal Law [Under Indian</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Constitution Law & criminal Procedure code]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.4 Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act-2005</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.5 The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.6 The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.7 Right to Information Act, 2005,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.8 Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.9 The Consumer Protection Act, 1986,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.10 Information Technology Act, 2000,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.11 The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.12 The Madhya Pradesh Lok Sewaon ke Pradan ki Guarantee Adhiniyam- 2010</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993</span></u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
The UN General Assembly proclaimed 10 December as Human Rights Day in 1950, to bring to the attention ‘of the peoples of the world’ the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">National Human Rights Commission constituted on 12 October, 1993.</span><br />
<a href="http://nhrc.nic.in/documents/Publications/TheProtectionofHumanRightsAct1993_Eng.pdf"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://nhrc.nic.in/documents/Publications/TheProtectionofHumanRightsAct1993_Eng.pdf</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Complains can be register online to Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
Cases investigated by MPHRC:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Children working in Brick kiln factory.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Protection to Women Women & Criminal Law [Under Indian Constitution Law & criminal Procedure code]</span></u></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Constitutional Laws:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">1. </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-center;">THE COMMISSION OF SATI (PREVENTION) ACT, 1987</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-center;">Any attempt to commit sati or abetment of sati is punishable offence under the act. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">whoever attempts to commit sati and does any act towards such commission shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">if any person commits </span><i style="text-align: justify;">sati</i><span style="text-align: justify;">, whoever abets(abets meaning - encourage) the commission of such sati, either directly or indirectly, shall be punishable with death or imprisonment for life and shall also be liable to fine.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: justify;"><b>2. THE CRIMINAL LAW (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2013</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/new-tough-antirape-law-comes-into-force/article4576706.ece">http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/new-tough-antirape-law-comes-into-force/article4576706.ece</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Against the backdrop of the nation-wide outrage over the tragic Delhi gang-rape,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nirbhaya (Fearless) incident of December 16,2012, propelled the Government of India (GOI)to drive the issue of violence against women (VAW) to the centre-stage of political discourse.Consequently, on December 22, 2012, GOIappointed a three-member judicial committeeheaded by the former Chief Justice of India,Justice J.S. Verma, who passed away on April22, 2013, Justice Leila Seth and GopalSubramanium requesting them to submit areport within 30 days. The key objective of the Commission was to review for possible amendments to the criminal law and suggest measures for faster trials and harsher penalties for vicious offences related to VAW. Takingfurther cognizance of the strident storm of public protests in general and a tribute to Nirbhaya (Fearless) in particular, on January 23,2013, the commission submitted its recommendations by identifying ‘lack of good governance’ as the central cause of VAW. Thecommission goes on to criticise thegovernment, the abysmal and old-fashionedpolice system alongside public apathy intackling VAW, and thereby, recommendsdramatic transformation in legislations.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Punishment for offences under the act:</span></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Disobedience of law by a public servant (definition - Failure to record information in sexual offences cases;knowingly disobeying laws on investigation) - </span>Punishable with rigorous imprisonment for six months to 2 years and fine.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rape resulting in death or vegetative state(meaning of vegetative state - A coma-like state characterized by open eyes and the appearance of wakefulness is defined as vegetative) - Specific offence.Punishment 20 years to life imprisonment(rigorous imprisonment) or death.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Punishment for gang rape - 20 years to life imprisonment (rigorous imprisonment) and fine payable to the victim,that is reasonable to meet medical expenses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rape by armed personnel - Specific offence. Shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Responsibility of Hospital - Punishable with 1 year and/or fine.;all hospitals(public and private) shall immediately provide first aid and/or medical treatment free of cost to the victims of acid attack or rape and immediately inform the police, and failure to do so will attract punishment; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Acid Attacks - Specific offence.Punishable with 10 years or life imprisonment and reasonable fine amount to meet medical expenses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Punishment for repeat offenders - Specific offence. Life imprisonment (rigorous imprisonment) or death.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The law, for the first time, defines stalking and voyeurism as non-bailable offences if repeated for a second time. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Stalking definition - Following a woman,attempting to foster personal interaction despite indication of victim’s disinterest,spying, monitoring electronic communications.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Voyeurism definition - Watching a woman when she is engaging in a private act including sexual acts,use of lavatory, or when private parts are exposed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Age of consent - 18 years</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Marital rape - Is not an offence if the wife is over 16 years of age.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Recording of information by woman officer - In case of acid attack,sexual harassment,disrobing, voyeurism,outraging a woman’s modesty, rape (of all kinds) information would be recorded by woman officer.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forcibly showing pornography - Punishable with rigorous imprisonment for up to 3 years imprisonment and/or fine.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Identification of accused - Judicial magistrate to undertake special procedures to assist differently abled persons in identification of the accused. Identification process to be video graphed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Judicial Magistrate to record statement - Judicial Magistrate to record statement of the victim immediately after the police is informed in case of acid attack, rape, sexual harassment, disrobing,voyeurism etc. In case the victim is differently abled, the assistance of interpreters has to betaken and has to be video graphed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Requirement to fast track - Trial to be held on day-to-day basis. In case of rape cases, trial to be completed in 2 months of filing of charge sheet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Compensation - Compensation awarded by the State is in addition to what is payable by the accused.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN FROM SEXUAL OFFENCES (POCSO) ACT, 2012</span></b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Analyzing-the-POSCO-Act-2012/articleshow/19718160.cms"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Analyzing-the-POSCO-Act-2012/articleshow/19718160.cms</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
<b>4. THE DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, 1961</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In this Act, “dowry” means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage.</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Penalty for giving and taking dowry - If any person, after the commencement of this Act, gives or takes or abets the giving or taking of dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, and with fine which shall not be less than fifteen thousand rupees or the amount of the value of such dowry, whichever is more.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Penalty for demanding dowry - If any person demands, directly or indirectly, from the parents or other relatives or guardian of a bride or bridegroom, as the case may be, any dowry, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ban on advertisement - If any person offers through any advertisement in any newspaper, periodical, journal or through any other media, any share in his property or of any money or both as a share in any business or other interest as consideration fore the marriage of his son or daughter or any other relatives, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months, but which may extend to five years, or with fine which may extend to fifteen thousand rupees.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dowry to be for the benefit of the wife or her heirs - Where any dowry is received by any person other than the woman in connection with whose marriage it is given, that person shall transfer it to the woman- if the dowry was received before marriage, within [three months] after the date of marriage.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Offence to be cognizable for certain purpose and to be non bailable under the act.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<b>5. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Punishment under the act:</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Punishment for keeping a brothel or allowing premises to be used as a brothel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Punishment for living on the earnings of prostitution.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Procuring, including or taking person for the sake of prostitution.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Detaining a person in premises where prostitution is carried on.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Both a person who carries on prostitution and a person with whom prostitution is carried on, in any premises within the notified areas or in the vicinity of public places, shall be punishable with imprisonment upto 3 months.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seducing or soliciting for purpose of prostitution. - Whoever, in any public place or within sight of, and in such manner as to be seen or heard from, any public place, whether from within any building or house or not.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Search without warrant.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/immoral-traffic-act-comes-under-critical-scrutiny/article6579277.ece"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/immoral-traffic-act-comes-under-critical-scrutiny/article6579277.ece</span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. The National Commission for Women Act, 1990</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://wcd.nic.in/ncwact.pdf">http://wcd.nic.in/ncwact.pdf</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>7. </b><b>THE </b><b>PROHIBITION OF </b><b>SEXUAL </b><b>HARASSMENT </b><b>OF WOMEN AT </b><b>WORKPLACE</b></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">BILL, 2010</span></b></div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://ncw.nic.in/PDFFiles/sexualharassmentatworkplacebill2005_Revised.pdf"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">http://ncw.nic.in/PDFFiles/sexualharassmentatworkplacebill2005_Revised.pdf</span></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At any workplace, no woman, shall be subjected to sexual harassment including unwelcome sexually </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">determined behavior, physical contact, advances, sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography, sexual demand, request for sexual favours or any other unwelcome conduct of sexual nature whether </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">verbal, textual, physical, graphic or electronic or by any other actions, which may include, but is not </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">limited to -</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> (i) implied or overt promise of preferential treatment in employment; or</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(ii) implied or overt threat of detrimental treatment in employment; or </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(iii) implied or overt threat about the present or future employment status;</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(iv) conduct which interferes with work or creates an intimidating or offensive or hostile work </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">environment; or</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(iv) Humiliating conduct constituting health and safety problems.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Constitution of Internal Complaints Committee - For the purpose of this Act, every employer of a work place shall constitute, by an Office Order in writing, an Internal Complaints Committee. Provided that where the offices or administrative units of the workplace are located at different places, the Committee shall as far as practicable be constituted at all administrative units or offices.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Committee shall consist of the following members namely:- (a) a Chairperson, from amongst employees, who shall be a senior level woman, committed to the cause of women. In case a senior level woman employee is not available, the Chairperson shall be appointed from a sister organization or a non-governmental organization; (b) not less than two members from amongst employees committed to the cause of women or who have had experience in social work; and (c) one member from amongst such non governmental organisations or associations or other interests committed to the cause of women, as may be specified: Provided that atleast fifty per cent of the members so nominated shall be women.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The appropriate Government may appoint a District Magistrate or Additional District Magistrate or the Collector or Additional Collector as a District Officer for every District to carry out the functions under this Act. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Constitution of Local Complaint Committee - Where at a workplace, constitution of the Committee is not possible or practicable, or where the Committee has not been constituted by the employer of any work place, or where the complaint is against the employer himself, the District Officer may, constitute one or more than one Local Complaints Committee as may be required.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>8. </b><b>MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://pblabour.gov.in/pdf/acts_rules/maternity_benefit_act_1961.pdf">http://pblabour.gov.in/pdf/acts_rules/maternity_benefit_act_1961.pdf</a></span></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No employer shall knowingly employ a woman in any establishment during the six weeks immediately following the day of her delivery or her miscarriage.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No woman shall work in any establishment during the six weeks immediately following the day of her delivery of her miscarriage. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily wage for the period of her actual absence immediately preceding and including the day of her delivery and for the six weeks immediately following that day. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit shall be twelve weeks, that is to say, six weeks up to and including the day of her delivery and six weeks immediately following that day.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 1973</span></u></b></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">124A - Sedition - Imprisonment for life and fine, or imprisonment for 3 years and</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">fine, or fine.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">147 - Rioting - Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">148 - Rioting armed with a deadly weapon - Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">302 - Murder - Death, or imprisonment for life, and fine.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">304 B - Dowry death - Imprisonment of not less
than seven years but
which may extend to impri-
sonment for life.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">313 Causing miscarriage without woman's consent - Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">363 - Kidnapping - Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">366 - Kidnapping or abducting a woman to compel her marriage or to cause her defilement, etc. - Imprisonment for 10 years and fine.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<div>
366A - Procuration of minor girl - Imprisonment for 10 years and fine.</div>
</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
366B - Importation of girl from foreign country - Imprisonment for 10 years and fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
370 - Buying or disposing of any person as a slave - Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
372 - Selling or letting to hire a minor for purposes of prostitution etc. - Imprisonment for 10 years , and fine.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
376 - Rape - Imprisonment for life or imprisonment for ten years and fine.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
376A - Intercourse by a man with his wife during separation - Imprisonment for two years and fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
376B - Intercourse by public servant with woman in his custody - Imprisonment for five years and fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
376C - Intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc. - Imprisonment for five years and fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
376D - Intercourse by manager, etc., of a hospital with any woman in that hospital - Imprisonment for five years and fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
377 - Unnatural offences - Imprisonment for five years and fine.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
416 - Postponement of capital sentence pregnant woman - If a woman sentenced to death is found to be pregnant, the High Court shall order the execution of the sentence to be postponed, and may, if it thinks fit, commute the sentence to imprisonment for life.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
494 - Marrying again during the lifetime of a husband or wife. - Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
497 - Adultery (voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not his or her spouse) - Imprisonment for 5 years, or fine, or both.</div>
<div>
<br />
498A - a woman being subjected to cruelty by her husband or his relatives<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
509 - Uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman, etc. - Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Protection of Women From Domestic Violence Act-2005</span></u></b></div>
</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<b>Definition of Domestic violence - </b> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.6px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(a) harms or injures or endangers the health, safety, life, limb or well‑being, whether mental or physical, of the aggrieved person or tends to do so and includes causing physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse and economic abuse.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15.6px;">(b) </span><span style="font-size: 15.6px;">harasses, harms, injures or endangers the aggrieved person with a view to coerce her or any other person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any dowry or other property or valuable security.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15.6px;"><b>Duties of shelter homes— </b>If an aggrieved person or on her behalf a Protection Officer or a service provider requests the person in charge of a shelter home to provide shelter to her, such person in charge of the shelter home shall provide shelter to the aggrieved person in the shelter home.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.6px;"><b>Duties of medical facilities — </b>If an aggrieved person or, on her behalf a Protection Officer or a service provider requests the person in charge of a medical facility to provide any medical aid to her, such person in charge of the medical facility shall provide medical aid to the aggrieved person in the medical facility.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.6px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15.6px;"><b>Appointment of Protection Officers —</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.6px;">(1) The State Government shall, by notification, appoint such number of Protection Officers in each district as it may consider necessary and shall also notify the area or areas within which a Protection Officer shall exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred on him by or under this Act.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.6px;">(2) The Protection Officers shall as far as possible be women and shall possess such qualifications and experience as may be prescribed.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Duties and functions of Protection Officers —</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(1) It shall be the duty of the Protection Officer—</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(a) to assist the Magistrate in the discharge of his functions under this Act;</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(b) to make a domestic incident report to the Magistrate</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(c) to ensure that the aggrieved person is provided legal aid </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(d) to maintain a list of all service providers providing legal aid or counselling, shelter homes and medical facilities in a local area within the jurisdiction of the Magistrate</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Right to reside in a shared household —</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">
<div>
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, every woman in a domestic relationship shall have the right to reside in the shared household, whether or not she has any right, title or beneficial interest in the same.</div>
<div>
(2) The aggrieved person shall not be evicted or excluded from the shared household or any part of it by the respondent(meaning of respondent - a defendant in a lawsuit, especially one in an appeals or divorce case) save in accordance with the procedure established by law.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Monetary reliefs —</b></div>
<div>
While disposing of an application under sub-section (1) of section 12, the Magistrate may direct the respondent to pay monetary relief to meet the expenses incurred and losses suffered by the aggrieved person and any child of the aggrieved person as a result of the domestic violence and such relief may include but is not limited to—</div>
<div>
(a) the loss of earnings;</div>
<div>
(b) the medical expenses;</div>
<div>
(c) the loss caused due to the destruction, damage or removal of any property from the control of the aggrieved person; and</div>
<div>
(d) the maintenance for the aggrieved person as well as her children, if any, including an order under or in addition to an order of maintenance under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
The monetary relief granted under this section shall be adequate, fair and reasonable and consistent with the standard of living to which the aggrieved person is accustomed.</div>
<div>
The Magistrate shall have the power to order an appropriate lump sum payment or monthly payments of maintenance, as the nature and circumstances of the case may require.</div>
</div>
<div>
The respondent shall pay the monetary relief granted to the aggrieved person within the period specified in the order under sub‑section.</div>
<div>
Upon the failure on the part of the respondent to make payment in terms of the order under sub‑section (1), the Magistrate may direct the employer or a debtor of the respondent, to directly pay to the aggrieved person or to deposit with the court a portion of the wages or salaries or debt due to or accrued to the credit of the respondent, which amount may be adjusted towards the monetary relief payable by the respondent</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Compensation orders — </b>In addition to other reliefs as may be granted under this Act, the Magistrate may on an application being made by the aggrieved person, pass an order directing the respondent to pay compensation and damages for the injuries, including mental torture and emotional distress, caused by the acts of domestic violence committed by that respondent.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Penalty for breach of protection order by respondent —</b></div>
<div>
(1) A breach of protection order, or of an interim protection order, by the respondent shall be an offence under this Act and shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both.</div>
</div>
<div>
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), the offence under sub-section (1) of section 31 shall be cognizable and non-bailable.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Penalty for not discharging duty by Protection Officer — </b>If any Protection Officer fails or refuses to discharges his duties as directed by the Magistrate in the protection order without any sufficient cause, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955</span></u></b></div>
<div>
<div>
An Act to prescribe punishment for the ¹[preaching and practice of - “Untouchability” for the enforcement of any disability arising therefrom for matters connected therewith.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Punishment for enforcing religious disabilities</b>. Whoever on the ground of" untouchability" prevents any person-</div>
<div>
(a) from entering any place of public worship which is open to other persons professing the same religion or any section thereof, as such person; or</div>
<div>
(b) from worshipping or offering prayers or performing any religious service in any place of public worship, or bathing in, or using the waters of, any sacred tank, well, spring or</div>
<div>
water- course, river or lake or bathing at any ghat of such tank, water- course, river or lake] in the same manner and to the same extent as is permissible to other persons professing or any section thereof, as such the same religion, or any section there of, as such person; shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be rot less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Punishment for enforcing social disabilities</b>. Whoever on the ground of" untouchability" enforces against any person any disability with regard to-</div>
<div>
(i) access to any shop, public restaurant, hotel or place of public entertainment; or</div>
<div>
(ii) the use of any utensils, and other articles kept in any public restaurant, hotel, dharmshala, sarai or musafirkhana for the use of the general public or of 4 any section thereof]; or</div>
<div>
(iii) the practice of any profession or the carrying on of any occupation, trade or business or employment in any job]; or</div>
<div>
(iv) the use of, or access to, any river, stream, spring, well, tank, cistern, water- tap or other watering place, or any bathing ghat, burial or cremation ground, any sanitary convenience, any road, or passage, or any other place of public resort which other members of the public, or, have a right to use or have access to; or</div>
<div>
(v) the use of, or access to, any place used for a charitable or a public purpose maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public; or</div>
<div>
(vi) the enjoyment of any benefit under a charitable trust created for the benefit of the general public; or</div>
<div>
(vii) the use of, or access to, any public conveyance; or</div>
<div>
(viii) the construction, acquisition, or occupation of any residential premises in any locality, whatsoever; or</div>
<div>
(ix) the use of any dharmshala, sarai or musafirkhana which is open to the general public, or to 1 any section thereof]; or</div>
<div>
(x) the observance of any social or religious custom, usage or ceremony or 2 [ taking part in, or taking out, any religious social or cultural procession]; or</div>
<div>
(xi) the use of jewellery and finery; </div>
<div>
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Punishment for refusing to admit persons to hospitals etc.</b> Whoever on the round of" untouchability" shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Punishment for refusing to sell goods to render services.</b> Whoever on the ground of" untouchability" refuses to sell any goods or refuses to render any- service to any person at. the same time and place and on the same terms and conditions at or on which such goods are sold or services are rendered to other persons in the ordinary course of business shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whoever commits any offence against the person or property of any individual as a repraisal or revenge for his having exercised any right accruing to him by reason of the abolition of" untouchability" under article 17 of the Constitution, shall, where the offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term exceeding two years, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years and also with fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
Unlawful compulsory labour when to be deemed to be a practice of untouchability.</div>
<div>
(1) Whoever compels any person, on the ground of" untouchability", to do any scavenging or sweeping or to remove any carcass or to flay any animal or to remove the umbilical cord or to do any other job of a similar nature, shall be deemed to have enforced a disability arising out of" untouchability".</div>
<div>
(2) Whoever is deemed under sub- section to have enforced a disability arising out of" untouchability" shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months and not more than six months and also with fine which shall not be less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Cancellation or suspension of licences in certain cases.</b> When a person who is convicted of an offence under section 6 holds any licence under any law for the time being in force in respect of any profession, trade, calling or employment in relation to which the offence is committed, the court trying the offence may, without prejudice to any other penalty to which such person may be liable under that section, direct that the licence shall stand cancelled or be suspended for such period as the court may deem fit, and every order of the court so cancelling or suspending a licence shall have effect as if it had been passed by the authority competent to cancel or suspend the licence under any such law.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Enhanced penalty on subsequent conviction.</b> Whoever having already been convicted of an offence under this Act or of an abetment of such offence is again convicted of any such offence or abetment, 1 shall, on convection, be punishable-</div>
<div>
(a) for the second offence, with imprisonment for a term of not less than six months and not more than one year, and also</div>
</div>
<div>
(b) for the third offence or any offence subsequent to the third offence, with imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years, and also with fine which shall be not less than five hundred rupees and not more than one thousand rupees.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Offences by companies.</b></div>
<div>
(1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Protection of action taken in good faith.</b></div>
<div>
(1) No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Central Government or a State Government for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989</span></u></b></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Punishments for offences of atrocities. —</b></div>
<div>
(1) Whoever, not being a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe,—</div>
<div>
(i) forces a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to drink or eat any inedible or obnoxious substance;</div>
<div>
(ii) acts with intent to cause injury, insult or annoyance to any member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe by dumping excreta, waste matter, carcasses or any other obnoxious substance in his premises or neighbourhood;</div>
<div>
(iii) forcibly removes clothes from the person of a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or parades him naked or with painted face or body or commits any similar act which is derogatory to human dignity;</div>
<div>
(iv) wrongfully occupies or cultivates any land owned by, or allotted to, or notified by any competent authority to be allotted to, a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe or gets the land allotted to him transferred;</div>
<div>
(v) wrongfully dispossesses a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe from his land or premises or interferes with the enjoyment of his rights over any land, premises or water;</div>
<div>
(vi) compels or entices a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to do ‘begar’ or other similar forms of forced or bonded labour other than any compulsory service for public purposes imposed by Government;</div>
<div>
(vii) forces or intimidates a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe not to vote or to vote to a particular candidate or to vote in a manner other than that provided by law;</div>
<div>
(viii) institutes false, malicious or vexatious suit or criminal or other legal proceedings against a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe;</div>
<div>
(ix) gives, any false or frivolous information to any public servant and thereby causes such public servant to use his lawful power to the injury or annoyance of a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe;</div>
<div>
(x) intentionally insults or intimidates with intent to humiliate a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe in any place within public view;</div>
<div>
(xi) assaults or uses force to any woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe with intent to dishonour or outrage her modesty;</div>
<div>
(xii) being in a position to dominate the will of a woman belonging to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe and uses that position to exploit her sexually to which she would not have otherwise agreed;</div>
<div>
(xiii) corrupts or fouls the water of any spring, reservoir or any other source ordinarily used by members of the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes so as to render it less fit for the purpose for which it is ordinarily used;</div>
<div>
(xiv) denies a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe any customary right of passage to a place of public resort or obstructs such member so as to prevent him from using or having access to a place of public resort to which other members of public or any section thereof have a right to use or access to;</div>
<div>
(xv) forces or causes a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe to leave his house, village or other place of residence, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to five years and with fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Punishment for neglect of duties. — </b>Whoever, being a public servant but not being a member of a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe, wilfully neglects his duties required to be performed by him under this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to one year.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Enhanced punishment for subsequent conviction. — </b>Whoever, having already been convicted of an offence under this Chapter is convicted for the second offence or any offence subsequent to the second offence, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to the punishment provided for that offence.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Forfeiture of property of certain persons. —</b></div>
<div>
(1) Where a person has been convicted of any offence punishable under this Chapter, the Special Court may, in addition to awarding any punishment, by order in writing, declare that any property, movable or immovable or both, belonging to the person, which has been used for the commission of that offence, shall stand forfeited to Government.</div>
<div>
(2) Where any person is accused of any offence under this Chapter, it shall be open to the Special Court trying him to pass an order that all or any of the properties, movable or immovable or both, belonging to him, shall, during the period of such trial, be attached, and where such trial ends in conviction, the property so attached shall be liable to forfeiture to the extent it is required for the purpose of realisation of any fine imposed under this Chapter.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>section 10 - Removal of person likely to commit offence. —</b></div>
<div>
(1) Where the Special Court is satisfied, upon a complaint or a police report that a person is likely to commit an offence under Chapter II of this Act in any area included in ‘Scheduled Areas’ or ‘Tribal Areas’ as referred to in article 244 of the Constitution, it may, by order in writing, direct such person to remove himself beyond the limits of such area, by such route and within such time as may be specified in the order, and not to return to that area from which he was directed to remove himself for such period, not exceeding two years, as may be specified in the order.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Taking measurements and photographs, etc., of persons against whom order under section 10 is made.—</b></div>
<div>
(1) Every person against whom an order has been made under section 10 shall, if so required by the Special Court, allow his measurements and photographs to be taken by a police officer.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Penalty for non-compliance of order under section 10.— </b>Any person contravening an order of the Special Court made under section 10 shall be publishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and with fine.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Special Court.— </b>For the purpose of providing for speedy trial, the State Government shall, with the concurrence of the Chief Justice of the High Court, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify for each district a Court of Session to be a Special Court to try the offences under this Act.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Special Public Prosecutor.— </b>For every Special Court, the State Government shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify a Public Prosecutor or appoint an advocate who has been in practice as an advocate for not less than seven years, as a Special Public Prosecutor for the purpose of conducting cases in that court.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Power of State Government to impose collective fine. — </b>The provisions of section 10A of the Protection of Civil Right Act, 1955 (22 of 1955) shall, so far as may be, apply for the purposes of imposition and realisation of collective fine and for all other matters connected therewith under this Act.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>Preventive action to be taken by the law and order machinery </b>—</div>
<div>
(1) A District Magistrate or a Sub-divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate or any police officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police may, on receiving information and after such inquiry as he may thinks necessary, has reason to believe that a person or a group of persons not belonging to the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, residing in or frequenting any place within the local limits of his jurisdiction is likely to commit an offence or has threatened to commit any offence under this Act and is of the opinion that there is sufficient ground for proceeding, declare such an area to be an area prone to atrocities and take necessary action for keeping the peace and good behaviour and maintenance of public order and tranquillity and may take preventive action.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Protection of action taken in good faith. — </b>No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Central Government or against the State Government or any officer or authority of Government or any other person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-89233165059047017362015-09-06T22:27:00.001-07:002015-09-06T22:27:05.419-07:00Human Resource Development<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Human Resource Development</u></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/pmkvy.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/pmkvy.html</a> (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY))<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/nationalskilldevelopmentcorporation.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/nationalskilldevelopmentcorporation.html</a> (National Skill Development Corporation)<br /><div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/nationalskilldevelopmentagency.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/nationalskilldevelopmentagency.html</a> (National Skill Development Agency (NSDA))</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/nationalskilldevelopmentfund.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/nationalskilldevelopmentfund.html</a> (National Skill Development Fund)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/assets/images/NationalSkillDevelopmentPolicyMar09.pdf">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/assets/images/NationalSkillDevelopmentPolicyMar09.pdf</a> (National Skill Development Policy)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/udaan.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/udaan.html</a> (UDAAN)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/star.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/star.html</a> (Standard Training Assessment and Reward (STAR) Scheme)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/school-education.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/school-education.html</a> (School Education)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/higher-education.html">http://www.skilldevelopment.gov.in/higher-education.html</a> (Higher Education)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.dget.nic.in/content/innerpage/apprenticeship-training-scheme-ats.php">http://www.dget.nic.in/content/innerpage/apprenticeship-training-scheme-ats.php</a> (ATS - Apprentice Training Scheme, CTS - Craftsmen Training Scheme)</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-89536595897979626172015-09-06T10:29:00.000-07:002015-09-08T21:00:39.329-07:00Technology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Applications of Science and Technology in Social and Economic development, Indigenous technology, Transfer of technology and developing new Technologies</span></u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><u>India : From Technology deprived nation to the world leader in Science</u></b><br />
The years immediate after independence from 1950 to 1960s saw many scientific changes in the country from agriculture to industrialisation. When the independence came, one of the first and foremost measure taken were the establishment of new R&D organisation and revamping of existing institutes to meet country's need.<br />
One of the primary concern that arose in early 1950s were the defence of our border from the hostile neighbouring countries. In order to address this Defence Research Development Organisation(DRDO) was established in 1958. The organisation played a major role in strengthening India's defence technologies and today India is missile super-power with the most modern nuclear powered ballistic missile and submarine INS Arihant on board nuclear reactor.<br />
Another major challenge was to ensure food security in the country with frequent famine and low agriculture productivity. 'Food for everyone' was a distant dream and starvation was common. With high demand and low supply, India's foreign reserve largely went into importing food to feed the people. The situation changed with the advancement in the field of Bio-Technology which led to the Green Revolution in India. To be precise Green Revolution refers to the period starting from 1953 ad lasting through late 60s. During which agriculture yield increase in India, due to which improved agro-economic technology in India and help the country to become self-reliable in terms of food. Development of superior yielding, disease resistant crop varieties particularly Wheat. Introduction of chemical fertilizers and indigenous innovations in farming practices and irrigation made it possible.<br />
The technological changes resulted in quadrupling of food grains production in the country. Today India is hub of Bio-Tech parks dedicated to research and development in agriculture and food production.<br />
Organisations like Indian Council of Agricultural Research who led the research leading to Green Revolution in India have played a major role in this. In the year immediately post-independence, India practically had to import almost everything related to the basic need of the people. This was when India's premium research and development organisation - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research stepped in. The organisation having national laboratory across the country started with research in attaining self sufficiency in basic needs such as vegetables, oils, fertilisers, drugs, plastics, scientific instruments, graphite-carbon, molassses, glass, fuel & etc; and today provide support to some of the important industries in the world realising that basic and fundamental research was necessary to develope indigenouslies. The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research was established in 1945 which along with Indian Institute of Sciences contributed to the fundamental research for the betterment of the nation. Then within trees industries and noble method in farming and irrigation and of-course with the increase in population, India also realised the need for a Clean & Renewable energy, so 60s was the time when the country started establishing itself as a nuclear power nation. The early seed was sown by the great visionaries like Homi Bhabha with the establishment of Atomic Energy Commission in 1948. During the 1960s India started the first stage of its nuclear energy programme based on Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor and using natural uranium as fuel. The first nuclear power plant in the country was set-up at Tarapore, Maharashtra in October, 1969. It is interesting to note that in 1969, India was the first country in Asia and among the few countries in the world that had operating nuclear power reactor. India quickly set-up reactors like Apsara, Purnima, and Zerlina and today have 21 functioning nuclear reactor in 7 power plants producing a total of 13,292.91 GW per hour of electricity. During 60s the nuclear programme faced many criticism. Many thought that India should focus on developing basic amenities but there is no doubt that <br />
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<br />
<br />
In our last episode we saw how during our 50s to 70s, Science & technology stepped in lavatate<br />
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><u><br /></u></b>
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Global satellite to be named after Abdul Kalam</u></b><br />
A <b>global satellite for earth observation and disaster risk reduction -- GlobalSat for DRR</b> -- proposed under the UN framework will be dedicated to APJ Abdul Kalam as a tribute to the vision of the celebrated rocket scientist and former Indian President who died July 27.<br />
This has been stated by Milind Pimprikar, chairman of CANEUS (CANada-EUrope-US-ASia) Organization on Space Technologies for Societal Applications headquartered in Montreal, Canada.<br />
<br />
Founded in 1999, CANEUS serves to develop a common platform for space technology solutions for natural and man-made disaster management. The "GlobalSat for DRR" is a UN-driven global initiative on sharing space technology for disaster risk reduction, Pimprikar said.<br />
<br />
Launch of this satellite was mooted at the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held at Sendai in Japan this March.<br />
<br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Comet probe Philae wakes up</span></u></b><br />
Europe’s tiny robot lab Philae, hurtling through space on the back of a comet, has sent home its first message in nearly seven months. Scientists have said that Philae may soon resume science work, opening up a new chapter in its exhilarating voyage.<br />
<br />
Europe recently announced that its comet-chasing mission Rosetta would be extended until September 2016 and may end with the dying mothership touching down on the comet.<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b><u>Rosetta:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
Rosetta was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and reached the comet on 6 August 2014, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a comet. Rosetta took off from Earth 10 years ago carrying Philae and traveled 6.4 billion miles before arriving at the comet.<br />
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<b><u>Philae:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
Philae ’s mission was to land successfully on the surface of a comet, attach itself, and transmit data from the surface about the comet’s composition. <b>It is a robotic European Space Agency lander.</b><br />
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It landed on <b>comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko</b>, more than ten years after departing Earth.<br />
<b>The mission seeks to unlock the long-held secrets of comets — primordial clusters of ice and dust that scientists believe may reveal how the Solar System was formed.</b><br />
The scientific goals of the mission focus on “elemental, isotopic, molecular and mineralogical composition of the cometary material, the characterization of physical properties of the surface and subsurface material, the large-scale structure and the magnetic and plasma environment of the nucleus.”<br />
Sensors on the lander will measure the density and thermal properties of the surface, gas analyzers will help detect and identify any complex organic chemicals that might be present, while other tests will measure the magnetic field and interaction between the comet and solar wind.<br />
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Philae is equipped with an array of experiments to photograph and test the surface of Comet 67P as well as to find out what happens when the roasting effect of the sun drives off gas and dust.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-52412794618590229222015-07-10T21:53:00.000-07:002015-07-10T21:54:35.182-07:00Daily News Mail - News of 10/07/2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">India – Pakistan Talks</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indian Prime Minister met his Pakistani counterpart in Ufa, Russia today after more than a year. This was followed by a joint statement made by Foreign Secretaries of two countries which included following –</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A meeting in New Delhi between the two NSAs to discuss all issues connected to terrorism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Early meetings of DG BSF and DG Pakistan Rangers followed by that of DGMOs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decision for release of fishermen in each other’s custody, along with their boats, within a period of 15 days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mechanism for facilitating religious tourism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both sides agreed to discuss ways and means to expedite the Mumbai case trial, including additional information like providing voice samples.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relations with Pakistan saw several ups and downs in short span of new Indian government. A fresh start was made by PM Modi by inviting Nawaz Sharif to his oath taking ceremony but this followed cancelling of talks between Foreign Secretaries on issue of Pakistan High Commissioner’s meeting with Kashmir separatist Hurriyat Leaders. This was followed by fierce ceasefire violations from Pakistan, which was handled well by BSF. New low came when Indian operation ‘Hot Pursuit’ on India-Myanmar border irked Pakistani leadership, prompting them to give irresponsible statements. Given all this, latest engagements appear as a blatant about turn, which lacks a cohesive Foreign Policy. But experts disagree and feel that the only permanent foreign policy possible with Pakistan is of ‘constant maneuver’ and adjusting to the changes in larger system. Constituents of this ‘larger system’ are almost all countries strategically important for India – U.S., China, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we are dealing with Pakistan we are also dealing with wide array of diplomatic combination and permutations. Pakistan due to its strategic location punches much above its weight. U.S. used Pakistan to destabilize Soviet Union with help of Mujahedeen. Further, Pak helped US handling its interests in Middle East. On other hand China engaged with Pakistan to keep check on aspirational India. Pakistan was perhaps behind establishment of diplomatic relations between U.S. and China in 1970’s. While geopolitics has changed significantly in 21st century, yet Pakistan retains its strategic significance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pakistan remains strategic ally of US and China. US aid is still pouring in and China just has agreed to construct a $ 46 billion ‘Economic Corridor’ in Pakistan. China reaffirmed its commitment to Pakistan by vetoing in its favor, the resolution against Pakistan’s release of Lakhvi. Further, China made Indian membership to SCO contingent upon Pakistan’s membership, thus trying to equate two countries. Now, both countries are set to become members of SCO next year which opens a new chapter in Indian diplomacy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India has to take care that SCO does not become a forum for treating bilateral issues between both countries as multilateral ones. In recent meet Pakistan gave agreed that issues should be solved without external interferences. It should be noted that, not only India, but almost all allies of Pakistan are also its victims. US had bitter experience of 9/11 which had some links with Pakistan. On the top of this, Osama Bin Laden was found hidden in Pakistan. Same is the case with Uighur insurgency in China. Citizens of both nations have been selectively killed by terror emanating from Pakistan. Russia has fresh bitter experience with Pakistan, for latter’s role in disintegration of USSR. Off late Pakistan itself is feeling victimized by terror. Even then Russia, forced by harsh western sanctions, has started to engage with Pakistan. This is typical era of interest based diplomacy in which nations are friends and foes at the same time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indian Prime Minister has agreed to visit Islamabad to participate in SAARC submit in 2016. It has been said time and again that just talks between political establishments is not enough. So, talks at DG levels of both Border Security Force and Pakistan Ranger will be held, which will be followed by DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) level talks. Along with this, commitment to release fishermen and promote religious tourism is cause of optimism. However, commitment of Pakistan regarding Mumbai tragedy is likely to be mere lip service for obvious reasons. Regarding talks on terrorism Pakistan NSA will meet Indian counterpart in Delhi.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having said this India Pakistan relation will most likely remain as it was in past. Pakistan wants parity with India. Being well aware that it can’t match the grandeur of India, it wants to bring India down. This is unwavering ideology of Pakistan. It was same logic behind the argument for partition by Muslim League. Three powers which shape this ideology in Pakistan are: elected government, It’s armed forces and clergy. They still have hangover of Mughal Rule which they think of as rule by Muslims over Hindus. Given such ideological base nothing constructive is going to come out of it. Notwithstanding all this, India has no option but to engage with Pakistan, while giving strong messages when needed. Engagement becomes even more compelling given change in attitude of Afghan government.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>India, US ink pact on sharing account info</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To curb overseas tax evasion and black money, India and the U.S. recently signed an inter-governmental agreement to implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This agreement makes it obligatory on the part of the two nations to exchange information on offshore accounts of each other’s citizens in their respective territories.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>About the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)</u>:</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The U.S. government enacted FATCA in 2010 to obtain information on accounts held by US taxpayers in other countries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under FATCA, foreign financial institutions in the U.S. will have to provide information about Indian account holders to the U.S. government’s Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which will forward the information to the Indian government.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Indian government will provide similar information to the IRS.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As of now, the U.S. has such agreements with more than 110 jurisdictions and is engaged in related discussions with many other jurisdictions.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Financial institutions such as banks, brokerages or mutual funds that do not comply with this agreement will face a 30% withholding tax on all payments from the U.S.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This automatic exchange of information is scheduled to begin on September 30.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Indians in The Royal Society</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The names of two researchers based in Bengaluru are all set to be entered in a historic charter book containing the who’s who of the scientific world.</span></div>
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<b><u>The two Researchers are</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Professor of Biology <b>Kamaljit Bawa</b>, who founded the independent research organisation Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).</li>
<li>Indian Institute of Science (IISc) physicist <b>Ajay Sood</b>.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Some facts</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>These researchers will join a select group of scientists from the country to be inducted as a fellow by London’s The Royal Society.</li>
<li>Sood is the only scientist whose work has been based entirely in laboratories in India.</li>
<li>Among the Indian and Indian-origin scientists inducted as fellows and foreign members, two have been intimately involved with research in Bengaluru-based National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS).</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>About Royal Society, London</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society still in existence.</li>
<li>It was founded in November 1660 and was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as “The Royal Society”.</li>
<li>The Society today acts as a scientific advisor to the British government, receiving a parliamentary grant-in-aid.</li>
<li>The Society acts as the UK’s Academy of Sciences, and funds research fellowships and scientific start-up companies.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">NDDB launches mobile app for dairy farmers</span></u></b></div>
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The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has launched a mobile application that will recommend a balanced diet for cows and buffaloes to help boost dairy farmers’ income by raising milk yield and cutting feed cost.</div>
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<b><u>About the app</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The mobile application is named <b>‘Pashu Poshan‘</b>.</li>
<li>The application, which will be available on both web and android platforms, can be accessed by registering on the INAPH portal (inaph.nddb.coop).</li>
<li>This application will benefit dairy farmers across the country. They will get information about balanced ration for their cows and buffaloes through this application. The use of this application is expected to boost milk output and income of dairy farmers.</li>
<li>To use this application, the farmer needs to provide complete animal profile, including breed, age, milk production, fat content in milk apart from food items being currently fed to the animal along with the cost in order to formulate the balanced ration formula.</li>
<li><b>India is the largest milk producer in the world, but the biggest challenge for the domestic dairy sector is low productivity of its bovine population as compared to developed countries.</b></li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA) Launched by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam</span></u></b></div>
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Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam, former President of India recently launched the<b> Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan (RAA).</b></div>
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<b><u>About the Abhiyaan</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan is a unique concept developed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development that aims to inculcate a spirit of inquiry, creativity and love for Science and Mathematics in school children.</li>
<li>It aims to encourage students to learn sciences beyond the classrooms. It is an effort to take forward the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India, ‘Make in India’ and ‘Teach in India’.</li>
<li>Under Rashtriya Avishkar Abhiyan, government schools will be mentored by Institutes like IITs/ IIMs/ IISERs and other Central Universities and reputed organisations through innovative programmes, student exchanges, demonstrations, student visits, etc to develop a natural sense of passion towards learning of Science and Maths.</li>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Digital India: MPEDA launches mobile-based apps</span></u></b></div>
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The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), nodal agency for promotion of marine exports from India, has launched two mobile based applications, which would help farmers get prices on shrimp and capture data on aquaculture through mobile.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>These initiatives were launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India programme.</li>
<li>Under these initiatives , MPEDA will provide price related market information of Vannamei and Black Tiger shrimp to farmers. The farmers have to give a missed call to a predetermined number and they will get the prices of various grades of these two shrimp varieties in major markets such as Japan, the U.S. and EU through an SMS.</li>
<li>The service will be provided free of cost to farmers all over India and would enable them to make an informed decision on harvest of their produce and get better price realisation.</li>
<li>The mobile app called mKrishi will enable farmers get expert guidance on all operations, besides helping with book keeping and weather information. mKrishi is under pilot in Gujarat and will be extended all over India in the next three months.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>About the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>MPEDA is a statutory body under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</li>
<li>The role envisaged for the MPEDA under the statute is comprehensive – covering fisheries of all kinds, increasing exports, specifying standards, processing, marketing, extension and training in various aspects of the industry.</li>
<li>It acts as a coordinating agency with different Central and State Government establishments engaged in fishery production and allied activities.</li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">In your opinion, why is left wing extremism in India is still thriving despite efforts made to curb its activities? Critically examine.</span></b></div>
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Left Wing Extremism started with the philosophy of replacing the existing social and political order by socialist or communist pattern of society. The means for transformation adopted by them is violence and non-cooperation with the State. This has resulted into the lives of thousands of the innocent peoples and the security personnels in the last 50 years. Communist Party of India(Maoist) Party is the major left wing extremist outfit operating in the country. The nine maoist affected states are: Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, M.P. and U.P.</div>
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The Government of India(GoI) has taken several measures to curb the menance of left wing extremist through deploying security forces as well as promoting development in the maoist affected areas, but all are in vain because of some of the reasons:</div>
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1. Ideological change : The earlier issues like 'encroachment of tribals','corporate exploitaton','human rights violation' are no more their demand. Now they want to control the state in their hand through violence activities. The issues like destructing school buildings, roads, hospitals proved that they are against development .Panchayatraj Extended to Schedule area Act (PESA) was enacted to provide political autonomy in tribal areas, but their activities against the act and killing of panchayat memebers proved that they do not want political autonomy too. This is quiet unconstitutional and intervention of the State is much required. Integrated Action Plan launched in 88 districts seems not much fruitful.</div>
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2. Policies failure: As major minerals resources are distributed in tribal areas. Excavation of mineral resources has displaced them without providing proper rehabilitation. This has developed their sentiments against the State. Recent Land Acquisition ordinance has also failed to solve the issue.</div>
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3. International hands: There is no doubt that insurgents are funded by the foreigner belligerent countries. This is for harming the country politically, socially and economically.</div>
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4. Violence activities: To control the violent insurgents, government has also adopted violent methods. From both side major of the population that are being killed are innocents. Peoples Liberation Gureilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of CPI(Maoist) has been created to act violently. Government has also deployed Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA) against them. But these violence activities has only aggravated the situation.</div>
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The GoI is ready to talk with them. But, maoists are against any talk. Their demands could only be met when they will adopt constitutional means. Government must focus to educate them and distribute fruits of development in priority basis in the left wing extremist affected areas.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you think the political parties should be brought</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">under the ambit of the Right to Information Act? Justify.</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div>
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RTI Act 2005 has proved to be a very effective tool to hold public servants and public authorities accountable.However there is a strong need to bring political parties(PP) within its ambit.</div>
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1-PP work in public interest and in the process they avail many tax benefits and facilities like office etc. and the burden falls on the taxpayer .Hence they are accountable to the citizens.</div>
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2-Citizens have right to make informed choice in elections so they must be aware of internal practices prevelent in PPs.</div>
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3-Disclosure of information would help in curbing flow of black money in election process, making it more fair and transparent.</div>
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4-Disclosure would increase they credibility of PPs and increase voters confidence in them, thus bringing about healthy competition among PPs and reforming our electoral process and polity.</div>
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5-PPs would be forced to adopt democratic way of doing internal work and making decisions.</div>
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Thus holding PP accountable under RTI would strengthen the roots of democratic polity and boost economy.<br />
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-size: x-large;">“We are not facing a shortage of energy. We are facing a technical challenge in capturing it and delivering it to consumers.” With reference to India’s power problems, critically comment on the statement</b><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
India has the third largest reserves of coal, significant thorium reserves, capacity for solar power, numerous rivers with hydropower feasibility, tidal energy, geo thermal, wind and newly found abundant coal bed methane and shale reserves. Still large proportion of population without electricity access. The reason for this paradox are mostly technical such as :<br />
<br />
1) Coal - Poor coal quality of indian reserves and inadequate coal washing, coal gasification technology.<br />
2) Solar - Lack of storage batteries technology, insufficient micro grid and low capacity of our national grid does not allow extensive usage of solar power.<br />
3) Nuclear - Thrid stage nuclear generation uses thorium reserves. We still haven't reached there. Moreover, no progress on Fourth generation nuclear reactors.<br />
4) CBM and shale require state of the art fracking technology which is unavailable.<br />
5) Other renewable energy require technology upgradation to make them affordable and comparable to other resources.<br />
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These technological challenges have not allowed us to adequately capture our resources. Moreover, coupled with AT&C loses, inability to stop thefts and inadequate distribution network has made electricity expensive. Nevertheless, the government through the Deendayal gram jyoti yojana, Integrated Power Development Scheme(IPDS), National solar mission and recent coal auction seeks to resolve these issues.<br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Discuss the importance of microgrids for the Indian economy. (200 Words)</b><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Write a note on the science and effectiveness of earthquake early warning system.</b></div>
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-Uttarakhand recently got its second Earthquake Early Warning System. This system would enable an early warning of earthquake of magnitude 5 or more in the area.</div>
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Science:</div>
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-The earthquakes are generated by the sheer pressure generated at the fault lines. The first of these waves to generate are P-waves which are followed by S-wave. The devastations are caused by S-waves and not by P-waves. The early warning system helps detect P-waves and alarm before the S-waves hit the surface. The warning can be before 1-40 seconds depending upon the distance from the epicentre.</div>
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Effectiveness:</div>
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-These systems are very affecting in preventing many injuries and saving lives. These has been installed and successfully tested in many countries such as Mexico, California and Japan. This would be more helpful in areas which are at a distant from epicentre as they would get more time.</div>
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-Even in places which are not so far from the epicentre, the warning giving 4-5 seconds can be of much help. This would let people hiding in safe places.</div>
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-These system would be of much help in train and metro as early warning would prevent them from derailing and saving many lives.</div>
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-With the current earthquake devastation in Nepal, India has to take a learning. India has to install these equipment in the earthquake prone zones. India envisages of “Smart City project”. These cities should be at least as smart as giving early warning for earthquake in India.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-11323422612290710192015-07-10T07:50:00.000-07:002015-07-10T07:52:09.505-07:00Daily News Mail - News of 09/07/2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Afghanistan government – Taliban Peace Talks</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace talk between Afghanistan and Taliban was held at Islamabad in which both leaders agreed to engage in future for Afghanistan’s peace. Meeting was also attended by American and Chinese diplomats as observers. Unity Government in Afghanistan led by Ashraf Ghani has been encouraged by US and China to engage with Taliban in face of calibrated withdrawal of US forces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just few days back Afghan’s parliament was attacked by Taliban in which intelligence alleged involvement of Pakistan’s ISI. Strangely, soon after this Intelligence units of both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding that calls for intelligence sharing and coordinated counterterrorism operations. It is widely known that Pakistan has been providing sanctuary to Taliban Fighters, including their leader Mullah Omar. Further, Deadly terror group Haqqani Network is from long time carrying terror activities, drugs and arms trade in Afghanistan. It is hardly a secret that both Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network are close to highest echelons of power in Pakistan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Further, Pakistan and Afghanistan almost never in past had a cozy relationship. Afghanistan doesn’t recognize the border i.e. Durand Line right from 1893 when it was demarcated by British. Federally Administered Tribal Area or FATA, which Afghanistan claims, lies on Pakistan side of Durand line and is inhabited principally by Pashtun Tribals. This is the area in which most of the anti- Afghanistan or Pro-Taliban or even Anti Pakistan terror groups operate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pakistan’s establishment has done hardly anything to win the confidence and trust of Afghans. Afghans are much aware that Pakistan doesn’t want them to be a democracy or even pursue an independent foreign policy. India enjoys immense goodwill among Afghans. Some surveys indicate that Indians (or India) are trusted by Afghans more than any other nationality. In this scenario, a democratic government will obviously be Pro- India as was the case with Hamid Karzai. This doesn’t fit well with their policy of ‘Strategic Depth’ under which Pakistan must have Afghanistan on its side in case of aggression from India. Otherwise Pakistan can face war on two fronts when its resources don’t permit war even at single front.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, present establishment is Afghanistan under Ashraf Ghani seem to be bowing before Pakistan and Taliban. Ashraf Ghani believes that peace in Afghanistan is only possible with cooperation with these both parties, which is true to much extent. Other case might be the political insecurity of Ashraf Ghani. Last elections in Afghanistan were anything but fair. That the compromise was arrived between him and Abdullah Abdullah is another thing, but he must know well that he doesn’t have pure legal democratic mandate to rule Afghanistan. So he might be counting on these powers for his political survival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is believed that Taliban is no more a homogeneous group, at least ideologically. One faction is willing to enter into peace process, while other led by Mullah Omar wants to stick to Jihad and some of its commanders are looking upto Islamic State to further their personal ambitions. Few of them have already defected to IS and some others may follow. With all this it is highly likely that IS with gain footprint in Afghanistan. On other hand, peace process with a mere faction of Taliban will not take negotiators anywhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">US have burnt its fingers badly in Afghanistan and is now seeking a face saving exit, while preserving its long term interests. Other regional countries mainly China and Pakistan are trying best to turn tide in their favor. China believes that its Uyghur insurgency in Xinjiang can only be curtailed through cooperation of Taliban and Pakistan. This attitude is deplorable as this provides incentives for ambitious powers to use terrorism as tool for diplomacy. Further, economic interest of China is also there as they have invested in Iron ore and oil sector.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India and Afghanistan entered into a ‘Strategic Partnership Agreement’ future of which is doubtful in current scenario. India has so far invested about $ 2 billion in Afghanistan, much of which went in social sector. India is perhaps only country to invest so much in social sector without any quid pro quo. India should actively pursue its strategic interest and continue to expand its foothold in the country. Political relationships are temporary and India has bigger relation with people of Afghanistan which doesn’t change with change of rule.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Centre wants to break forex reserves</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The central government is examining if India’s foreign exchange reserves held by the Reserve Bank can be deployed for funding infrastructure projects or recapitalising public sector banks.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to rough estimates of the Finance Ministry, bad loans-ridden banks would require capital infusion of about Rs. 40,000 crore over two years.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India’s forex reserves is doing pretty well. <b>Recently, it touched a record $355.46 billion.</b></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, as of now, the proposal does not enjoy unanimous support within the government. The government doesn’t own the country’s foreign exchange reserves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>But, can the government deploy these reserves</u>?</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to a former RBI Governor, the government could deploy the reserves held by the central bank for recapitalisation of banks. The government could also draw from the RBI’s balance sheet for this objective.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the procedure might not be easy for the government to do so as the Board of the Reserve Bank had to approve it. Even the RBI would be unwilling to deploy reserves for scuh risky purposes by compromising BoP.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Forex reserves – Quick look</u>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foreign exchange reserves are an important component of the balance of payments and an essential element in the analysis of an economy’s external position.</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The components of India’s foreign exchange reserves are foreign currency assets (FCA), gold, SDRs and reserve tranche position (RTP) in the IMF.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) is the biggest component of the forex reserves.</b></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>India to contribute $18 billion to BRICS’ $100-billion foreign exchange reserves pool</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India is all set to contribute $18 billion to the $100 billion foreign-exchange reserves pool that is being set up by five nations of the BRICS grouping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Why</u>?</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To help each other “in case of any problems with dollar liquidity”.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Agreement</u>:</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Agreement on setting BRICS Pool of Conventional Currency Reserves was signed on July 15, 2014 at the summit in Fortaleza (Brazil). The agreement was signed in Moscow after a meeting of the Finance Ministers and heads of the central banks of the BRICS countries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The operational agreement regarding this was signed by the central banks of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa on July 7, 2015 in Moscow. The Operational Agreement details the working procedures of the Pool to be observed by BRICS central banks, and defines their rights and obligations.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Agreement outlines the terms of mutual support for member states in the framework of the Agreement on BRICS Pool of Conventional Currency Reserves.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>About the Pool</u>:</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pool is being set up according to an agreement signed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will be a $100 billion pool, with maximum $41 billion coming from China.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India’s contribution of $18 billion to the Pool will be same as that of Brazil and Russia. South Africa would chip in $5 billion.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fund will be an “insurance instrument” that members nations could draw on if they experience problems with their balance of payments.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pool will go into force on July 30.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pool is tasked to ensure mutual provision of US dollars by the central banks of BRICS members in case of any problems with dollar liquidity.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Pool would help BRICS members to maintain financial stability in case of volatility in dollar exchange rate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The BRICS nations account for nearly $16 trillion in GDP and 40 per cent of the world’s population.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Racist slur can land you in jail for 5 years</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently told the Delhi High Court that it has decided to amend the Indian Penal Code to make <b>“racial discrimination” a non-bailable criminal offence.</b></span></div>
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<li>Accordingly, any derogatory reference meant to <b>discriminate against the race of a person from the Northeast or any other part of the country will become a non-bailable offence with punishment of up to five years in jail.</b></li>
<li>The Ministry of Home Affairs is in the process of finalising a comprehensive Bill for insertion of new Sections 153C and 509A in the Indian Penal Code, which will be introduced in Parliament after inter-Ministerial consultation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>What the Law says</u>?</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Under the amended law, any word, sign or gesture insulting the race of a person will be punishable with a three-year prison term.</li>
<li>Any word, gesture, written statement or activity aimed at discriminating against the race of a person or promoting violence against a particular race will invite a prison term of five years.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Background</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Concerned over the spate of attacks on people from the Northeast in Delhi, the High Court had earlier asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to change the existing SC/ST Act or make other stronger prosecuting laws to protect the victims.</li>
<li>The Central government had set up the<b> M.K. Bezbaruah committee </b>which recommended a series of punitive actions to prevent such attacks. The ministry has accepted most of the recommendations made by the committee.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Modi, Putin discuss India’s accession to Shanghai block</span></u></b></div>
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin recently resolved to take strategic bilateral ties forward and discussed India’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Modi is in Russia primarily for BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summits.</li>
<li><b>India is currently an observer in the multilateral grouping.</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>About the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)</u>:</b></div>
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It is a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries, except for Uzbekistan, had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>The SCO is seen as a counter to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).</b></li>
<li>Its six full members account for 60% of the land mass of Eurasia and its population is a quarter of the world’s. With observer states included, its affiliates account for about half of the world’s population.</li>
<li>The SCO has established relations with the United Nations, where it is an observer in the General Assembly, the European Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.</li>
<li>It also has Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers, and Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey as dialogue partners.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Entire Nagaland declared as ‘disturbed area’</span></u></b></div>
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The Centre has declared entire Nagaland as a “disturbed area”.</div>
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<b><u>Why</u>?</b></div>
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The centre says that it finds that a “dangerous condition” prevails in Nagaland and armed forces should assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order.</div>
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<b><u>Details</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The centre declared Nagaland as a disturbed area in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 for a period of one year with effect from June 30, 2015.</li>
<li>The decision came almost a month after NSCN-K, the dominant Naga rebel group, attacked an army convoy in Manipur’s Chandel district and killed 18 soldiers.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act</u>:</b></div>
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It is an Act empowering armed forces to deal effectively in ‘Disturbed Areas’. Any area which is declared ‘Disturbed’ under the disturbed areas act enables armed forces to resort to the provisions of AFSPA.</div>
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<b><u>Who declares an area as disturbed</u>?</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The choice of declaring any area as ‘disturbed’ vests both with state and central government.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Special powers provided to armed forces</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>After an area comes under the ambit of AFSPA, any commissioned officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or another person of equivalent rank can use force for a variety of reasons while still being immune to the prosecution.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Ambit</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The act was passed on 11 September 1958 by the parliament of India to provide special legal security to the armed forces carrying out operations in the troubled areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura (seven sisters).</li>
<li>In 1990 the act was extended to the state of Jammu and Kashmir to confront the rising insurgency in the area.</li>
<li>In Manipur, despite opposition from the Central government, state government withdrew the Act in some parts in Aug, 2004.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>The government can declare AFSPA in the following conditions</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>When the local administration fails to deal with local issues and the police proves inefficient to cope with them.</li>
<li>When the scale of unrest or instability in the state is too large for the police to handle.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>In an area declared, “disturbed” an army officer is legally free to carry out following operations</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Fire upon or otherwise use force, even to the causing of death, against any person who is acting in contravention of any law” against “assembly of five or more persons” or possession of deadly weapons.</li>
<li>Destroy any shelter (private or govt.) from which armed attacks are made or likely to be made or attempted to be made.</li>
<li>Arrest any person without warrant who has committed a cognizable offence or against whom a reasonable suspicion exists that he has committed or is about to commit a cognizable offence.</li>
<li>Enter and search, without warrant, any premises for purpose of arrest or to recover any person, arms, explosives.</li>
<li>Search and seize any vehicle suspected to be carrying an offender or any person against whom any reasonable suspicion exists that he has or is about to commit an offence.</li>
<li>Provide legal immunity to the army personnel found involved in any violation or ethical breach i.e., they cannot be sued or prosecuted.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
The decision of the government to declare a particular area ‘disturbed’ cannot be challenged in a court of law. In 2005 the<b> Jeevan Reddy Commission</b> said that<b> AFSPA should be repealed and the clauses that are required should be included in other Acts.</b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">NGT order may affect 80 projects in Tamil Nadu</span></u></b></div>
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The National Green Tribunal has set aside an office memorandum by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) that allows post-facto clearance for projects. With this nearly 80 construction projects in Tamil Nadu are likely to come to a standstill.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The projects require prior environmental clearance as per the Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006. Most of the projects had commenced construction and then sought environmental clearance, while a few had applied for clearance, but started construction before sanction was given.</li>
<li>The Tribunal has come down on seven of the project proponents who impleaded in the case.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>About the National Green Tribunal (NGT)</u></b></div>
<div>
The National Green Tribunal has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The tribunal also deals with matters relating to the enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property.</li>
<li>The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.</li>
<li>The Tribunal’s dedicated jurisdiction in environmental matters shall provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts.</li>
<li>The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Members</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The sanctioned strength of the tribunal is currently 10 expert members and 10 judicial members although the act allows for up to 20 of each.</li>
<li>The Chairman of the tribunal who is the administrative head of the tribunal also serves as a judicial member.</li>
<li>Every bench of the tribunal must consist of at least one expert member and one judicial member. The Chairman of the tribunal is required to be a serving or retired Chief Justice of a High Court or a judge of the Supreme Court of India.</li>
<li>Members are chosen by a selection committee (headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court of India) that reviews their applications and conducts interviews.</li>
<li>The Judicial members are chosen from applicants who are serving or retired judges of High Courts. Expert members are chosen from applicants who are either serving or retired bureaucrats not below the rank of an Additional Secretary to the Government of India (not below the rank of Principal Secretary if serving under a state government) with a minimum administrative experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters. Or, the expert members must have a doctorate in a related field.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">NJAC: SC seeks details of States’ ratification</span></u></b></div>
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The Supreme Court has sought details from the Centre about the ratification process of the 99th Constitution Amendment incorporating the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) law by State Assemblies.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The Centre had earlier told the court that as many as 20 states have approved the Constitutional amendment to replace the Collegium system with the NJAC.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>NJAC</u>:</b></div>
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NJAC is a body responsible for the appointment and transfer of judges to the higher judiciary in India. It seeks to replace the collegium system of appointing the judges of Supreme Court and 24 High Courts with judicial appointments commission wherein the executive will have a say in appointing the judges.</div>
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<b><u>Details</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A new article, Article 124A, (which provides for the composition of the NJAC) will be inserted into the Constitution.</li>
<li>The NJAC Act also seeks changes in articles 124,217,222 and 231.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>The commission will consist of the following members</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Chief Justice of India (Chairperson, ex officio)</li>
<li>Two other senior judges of the Supreme Court next to the Chief Justice of India – ex officio</li>
<li>The Union Minister of Law and Justice, ex-officio</li>
<li>Two eminent persons (to be nominated by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister of India and the Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha or where there is no such Leader of Opposition, then, the Leader of single largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha), provided that of the two eminent persons, one person would be from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes or OBC or minority communities or a woman. The eminent persons shall be nominated for a period of three years and shall not be eligible for re-nomination.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Functions of the Commission</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Recommending persons for appointment as Chief Justice of India, Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices of High Courts and other Judges of High Courts.</li>
<li>Recommending transfer of Chief Justices and other Judges of High Courts from one High Court to any other High Court.</li>
<li>Ensuring that the persons recommended are of ability and integrity.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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Under the present Collegium system, the Chief Justice of India would consult the four senior most judges of the Supreme Court for Supreme Court appointments and two senior-most judges for high court appointments.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Australian Gets Fatal ‘One-In-A-Million’ Brain Disease</span></u></b></div>
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An Australian has been diagnosed with the rare, degenerative brain condition sporadic <b>Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)</b>.</div>
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<b><u>About Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>CJD is a rare, degenerative disease of the brain that is not linked to the consumption of meat and occurs in one in a million people per year in Australia.</li>
<li>CJD is caused by an agent called a prion. Prions are misfolded proteins that replicate by converting their properly folded counterparts, in their host, to the same misfolded structure they possess.</li>
<li>It has no treatment or cure and the disease is fatal within weeks or months after the onset of symptoms.</li>
<li>CJD has been likened to mad cow disease.</li>
<li>Most cases of CJD occur because of mutations with a person’s brain and are not spread from other people.</li>
<li>The first symptom of CJD is rapidly progressive dementia, leading to memory loss, personality changes, and hallucinations. Other frequently occurring features include anxiety, depression, paranoia, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and psychosis. This is accompanied by physical problems such as speech impairment, jerky movements (myoclonus), balance and coordination dysfunction (ataxia), changes in gait, rigid posture, and seizures.</li>
<li>As of now, no generally accepted treatment for CJD exists.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Invasive species of snail spotted on Goa varsity campus</span></u></b></div>
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The Giant African Land Snail (GALS) was spotted on the campus of Goa University at Taleigao, near Panaji, recently.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It is listed as one of the world’s 100 most invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.</li>
<li>This species is one of the most damaging land snails in the world.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Why is it a cause for concern</u>?</b></div>
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If these snails multiply, there will be a threat to agro-horticulture and public health since they act as a vector of human diseases like Eosinophilic meningitis, which is caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis, a parasite that nematode commonly resides in the pulmonary arteries of rats. The parasite is passed on to humans through eating raw or improperly cooked snails or freshwater prawns.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">“India has mastered atomic, space and missile development, but continues to import basic defence equipment.” Critically comment.</span></b></div>
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India, that have sent mission into Mars, the only country in the world to launch successful mission into Mars in their first attempt and that too with a meager cost of only 450 crore. Agni-IV, a nuclear capable ballistic with a range of 4,000 km is ready for induction in Army is completely built by DRDO, India. Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor(PFBR) is ready to achieve criticality in Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Plant and then we will reach into the second stage of India's three-stage nuclear power programme. With achieving these, don't know why we are still lagging in defence technology and equipments manufacturing. When it comes to defence equipments and technology, we are not able to manufacture assault rifles, bullet proof jackets and snow boots. We relies on Russia, Israel, France, U.K. and U.S.A for meeting our defence demands.</div>
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'Make in India' vs 'Made in India'</div>
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At Aero India, 2015 Prime Minister Narendr Modi has said that defence manufacturing was at the heart of 'Make in India'. But there is major difference between 'Make in India' and 'Made in India'. How much of strategic partnership we will develop with the foreign companies, they will not part with their core technologies. We have developed indigenously HAL Tejas, but more than 35% of its core parts like engine, avionics, display and etc. are imported. We are not self-reliant. We need to develop these core technologies with the effort of our brains, which are getting drained. More capital infusion in Research & development needed.</div>
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However some of efforts are taken like recently INS Vikrant ready to be inducted into Navy, built by Cochin Shipyards limited. Naval Design Bureau stride impressively in ship building design. We are the second highest importer of arms, next to Saudi Arabia. We need to focus on defence research and substitute imports with exports. This will not only enhance our capabilities but Balance of Payments also.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Write a note on the challenges being faced by the food processing industry in India. Also examine importance of FDI in this sector and measures taken by the government to boost the same.</span></b></div>
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Food processing industry is a nascent yet booming sector in India. It has experienced 8% growth in the last five years and is among the largest employment creator (6% in 2012). Despite its huge potential, this sector has stiff challenges like:</div>
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a)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It requires huge initial capital, which Indian entrepreneurs lack or cannot get easily.</div>
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b)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is intimately linked with agriculture and for food producing to grow, certain fundamental reforms like APMC reforms, linking of mandis, extension services, crop insurance etc need to be urgently made in our agriculture and food procurement system.</div>
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c)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Technological backwardness, lack of cold storages etc, non compliance or lack of knowledge of International food safety norms are impediments in the growth of the industry.</div>
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Foreign direct investment (FDI) is essential in driving this sector as huge initial capital is required to build infrastructure facilities like warehouses, food grain handling systems, cold storages etc. Positive influx of FDI to the tune of 20 % investment is noticed in the last couple of years. The government has taken several initiatives to make the sector even more lucrative for foreign companies. It has announced tax benefits for setting up ware houses, abbatoirs, bee houses; removed excise duty on milk products etc.</div>
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The government has put concerted effort in this industry and made it a prime focus of Make in India and announced a centrally sponsored <b>National Mission on Food Producing to be implemented through the states which targets 25 % growth in the sector by 2025 by providing incentives for creating infrastructure and doing research.</b> Recent impetus on contract farming will also invite FDIs in this sector.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Name any three most dangerous invasive species and explain how these species affect native ecosystem. Also suggest measures needed to address their threats. (200 Words)</span></b></div>
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Invasive species are plants or animals that do not belong to a particular place but has been brought by humans accidentally or intentionally.With the increase in global trade and communication these invasive species have expanded their horizons.</div>
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Some of the examples of most dangerous invasive species are the Giant African Land Snail,zebra mussels and Asian carp.These species affect the native ecosystem in the following ways:</div>
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1.The can cause irreversible extinction to the native species.eg mongoose have caused demise of many vertebrates in the tropical cane growing islands.</div>
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2.Causes livestock damages ,with disease risk.</div>
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3.They hurt the local food supply ,eg the quagga mussels sucked up most important nutrients of the Lake Michigan.</div>
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4.They may cuse public health problems.eg allergies.</div>
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5.It may cost harm to the economy as these species clog the canals ,boat engines,hurt the skiiers ,fishing industry etc.</div>
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Important measures to curb it includes:</div>
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1.There is a need for research and development on the conditions that result in the spread of these species so as to curb them.</div>
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2. The infrastuructural changes in terms of insulating the boats and canals from being clogged.</div>
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3.More Information needs to disseminated among the local people to be careful about these species and inform concerned authorities.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you think India should use its huge foreign exchange reserves to finance infrastructure projects or to recapitalise fund-starved banks? Critically discuss.</span></b></div>
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Foreign exchange is the precious component of country's fiscal health.with india attaining its all time high exchange reserve of $350 billion,there are suggestions to put it to use by investing in capitalisation of banks,and funding of infrastruture projects to ensure growth.</div>
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RBI rightly rejected the idea of using it at present for various reasons.There are many reasons to not risk foreign reserves.Among them are-</div>
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1) reining volatile conditions in global market and economies do not rovide suitable conditions.</div>
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2) india being import oriented economy with imports dominating exports by large margin.</div>
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3) fall of oil prices along with reduced prices of indian imports has led to increase in foreign reserves.</div>
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4) India not completely in sustainable growth path with slowdown of manufatcuring and services </div>
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5) uncertainty in Infra projects and banks with High NPAs restrict space for risking forex reserves in them.</div>
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6) RBI could not use forex to shield the mismanagement of govt finances by political authorities.</div>
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India rather than investing and risking precious forex reserves should shore up its reserves to sustainable levels by aiming to doubling the current amount within specific period.</div>
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once india diversifies its exports along with that attains sutainable levels of forex reserves with improved levels of exports and reduction in imports or atleast zero imports,it would be prudent to use forex for developmental purposes as the present levels are not sustainable considering volatile situation of west asia and diminishing exports to western nations.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Critically comment on the recent black money law and examine the merits and demerits of the same.</span></b></div>
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Black money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 is the first major measures directed at tackling the menace of black money in India.</div>
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Its merits can be outlined as:</div>
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1. It is the first law directed at black money stashed abroad.</div>
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2. It provides for stringent punishment for defaulters.</div>
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3. It will generate much needed revenue for the country.</div>
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4. It includes a compliance window that will attract less penalty and as such, it encourages self-compliance..</div>
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Its demerits can be outlined as:</div>
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1. It does not talk of measures to bring back black money from abroad, unlike the US Foreign Account tax Compliance Act (FATCA).</div>
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2. It is nothing new in that the provisions were already there in the Income Tax Act. Only the punishment has been made more stringent.</div>
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3. It does not differentiate between assets stashed abroad and social security contributions of Indians in other countries, which they mandatorily paid while working there.</div>
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Nevertheless, the Act is welcome measure directed at cleaning the mess of black money in India, but it needs to be followed by other measures to bring back the black money home, by cooperation and collaboration with other countries.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How will India benefit from the membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation? Do you think SCO’s objectives are in consonance with India’s foreign policy aspirations? Examine.</span></b></div>
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SCO was formed in the year 2001 by group of 'STAN' countries along with Russia and china for the regional co-operation in military ,economy and culture to bring about overall socio-economic development int the central asia.The recent indications of India getting a full time membership is a very welcome sign for india and it reflects the need of India's role in bringing about the socio-economic development across central asia by other central Asian countries. .</div>
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SCO consist of nations which are highly rich in hydrocarbons and India being energy starved nation will highly benefit from the membership.The energy co-cooperation will increase and take to a new higher level apart from the co-operation arising out transitional bi lateral engagements.</div>
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India's foregin policy dealing with counter terrorism and insurgeny will get a fillip , as the SCO countries are also facing similar situation in the region.This will enhance strategic ties and intelligence exchanges thus promoting regional security.</div>
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India's bid for UNSC seat will get a boost since the vote of SCO countires will be important.With economic situation in the world in doldrums,SCO will provide india a new platform that will promote and enhance the regional trade thus giving boost to the economy.Participation in Trans- continent railway system will be benficial.</div>
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SCO will also prove another platform to settle the long standing boundary dispute with china and pakistan, and reducing the trust deficit and increase in overall activity of trade and people-to-people relationship.</div>
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Thue we can see that the SCO objectives are in overall concurrence with the India foreign policy in respect to military,economic and culture.And with India's entry it will only put India in right direction of socio-economic prosperity of India as well as in central asia and help in realising our PMs dream of achieving 'vasudeva kutumbakam'.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-8004727506160782072015-07-08T06:56:00.002-07:002015-07-08T07:04:03.747-07:00Daily News Mail - News of 08/07/2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Critically evaluate India’s progress in achieving the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eight aspirational goals set out in the Millenium Development Goals to be achieved in 15 years which was started in 2000. The goals are set to eradicate extreme poverty & hunger, achieve universal primary education, reduce maternal mortality and infant mortality, reduce gender disparity, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria or other diseases, environment sustainability and global partnership for development.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost all countries have shown remarkable effort in meeting the target. The number of people now living under extreme poverty has declined from 1.9 billion in 1990 to 830 million in 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India progress on achieving MDGs:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. India has halved the number of people under extreme poverty. However, still India is carrying the highest number of hungry people in the world. China has shown remarkable achievement in this field that has now only 4 percent people under extreme poverty, it was 61 percent in 1990.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Maternal mortality ratio(MMR) was 190 in 2013 but the target is to achieve 109 MMR; similarly there is also slow progress in decline of Infant mortality ratio(IMR) from 88 in 1990 to 44 in 2012. Inspite of the schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram, the result is not overwhelming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. The country is still struggling with diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria or others. Although there is decline in HIV cases, but the country has third highest number of people infected with HIV.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Universalisation of primary education under the aegis of Sarva shiksa Abhiyaan is still not fully implemented. India has more number of school drop-outs. Many poor children is working as labourer in hotels and shops. Mid Day Mill scheme is launched to reduce drop-outs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. On the matter of environment, India is one of the few countries that has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions in relation to its GDP from 0.65 kg of carbon dioxide per $1 of GDP in 1990, which fell to 0.53 kg in 2010.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have achieved 11 out of 22 MDGs target. We could have done more than that but with only 4.1% of GDP investment in public healthcare and 3.1% in education, this scenario is not going to change in the near future.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In your opinion, what should be the primary objectives of the New Development Bank being established by BRICS countries and how these objectives should be achieved? Discuss. (200 Words)</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Analyse the importance of Central Asian countries in India’s fight against terrorism.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BRICS countries is launching New Development Bank with initial capital of $100 billion. The objectives of the bank is to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in their own countries as well as others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This bank should not follow the principle of World Bank or IMF. The groupings have major population struggling with poverty, unemployment and basic infrastructure facilities. Hence the primary objectives of the bank should be The primary objectives of the NDB should be to achieve three zeros by 2050: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. This could be achieved only with the investment in social business projects. The social business is not a profit-driven but mission driven business.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Financing of capitalist projects will only be profitable to money-makers. The goal of NDB must be to unleash the potential of youths and with the use of innovative technologies, we can build social business to solve complex social, economic and environment problems. Currently, India is holding the largest population of youth generation and need of the hour to mobilise them in building social business so that inequality and disparity can be minimised.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the sustainable development of the environment, financing of eco-friendly social businesses will be more profitable to the countries instead of serving the money-making businesses. The countries should be committed to eliminate non-renewable energy and zero-tolerance against greenhouse gas emission by 2050.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By following these strategies, NDB can set example for other funding organisation. Sustainable development, good governance and eliminating social problems should center theme for the newly created NDB.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Analyse the importance of Central Asian countries in India’s fight against terrorism. (200 Words)</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terrorism has acquired a new shape with the ISIS-Taliban cobweb spreading across the world. This has rung an alarm bell for India,which has one of the largest muslim population,but has so far been effective in insulating its population form the radicalism.but with the ISIS attaining a global presence by using internet to recruit its members world across,India needs to do more to counter the terrorism.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pakistan and Afghanistan would have otherwise acted as a buffer to India against the spread of terrorism in the West Asia,but these two countries are themselves plagued with the terrorism.in such a case,Central asian countries play a major role.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Geopolitically,these countries provide a route to the Middle East.The middle east is already on the boil with a plethora of terrorist attacks taking place there.Sharing a border with the middle east,the terrorism might easily influence central asian countries.Hence if India indulges in information-sharing of such activities in these areas and take up counter-terrorist activities here,the spread of terrorists to India can be stopped,with the Central asian countries acting as a buffer for India.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diplomatically,India has had good relations with Central asian countries since a long time,hence futher maintaining this relation will build a confidence in the muslim population in India,which might curb spread of radicalism in our country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Economically,these countries have huge resources,especially oil.Development of ties on the economic front with this area will develop these countries,and economic development of the masses here will further curb the spread of terrorism here,helping India indirectly. One such step is the operation of the TAPI pipeline,which will economically affect the area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hence,the key to prevent spreading of terrorism in India is by harnessing the good relations with the Central Asian nations.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">“The National Judicial Appointments Commission gives government primacy over judiciary”. </b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NJAC act was notified by government after this was passed by parliament and half of the states.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NJAC act is enacted for replacing the collegium system of appointing the judges. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per NJAC composition it will have</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) CJI as ex-officio chairperson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Law minister</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Two other supreme court judges</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) Two eminent personalities which will be selected by a committee of Prime Minister, CJI, leader of opposition.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In India democracy is based on separation of judicial powers frome executive and legislature.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which is seen as the basic structure of Constitution and this cannot be altered .Now if two eminent personalities are chosen by PM and leader of opposition and also there is no qualification defined for these two persoanlities which gives a chance to government to interfere in the work of NJAC. Also, there are chances the person appointed by government will be easily influenced by government. Law minister inclusion in NJAC is also seen as the same interference.So it means government has three people in NJAC , two eminent personalities and one law minister which can influence all the appointments because any two person can veto any appointment but if we see same is the case with Judges, there will be three judges as well in NJAC , CJI and two supreme court judges. So it is not a primacy for government but a sure hindrance in case they dont agree. Which is seen as interferening Judicial work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a diverse country like India and also as per constitution Judicial Independence is must so it will be better if Judicial independence is maintained and for that we can clearly define the eligibility for two eminent personalities and also more judges can be included in that committee so that we can be sure that there was no government primacy.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Critically comment.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Critically comment on the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act and its impact on Indian women.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 is one of the four hindu code bills enacted during Nehru regime in1956. This act defines guardianship relation between adults and minors as well as between people of all ages and their property .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">according to the law-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 .Father is the primary guardian for legitimate son and unmarried daughter and</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mother is the secondary guardian</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Mother is primary guardian only for children of age less than five.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. For adaptive son adaptive father is the primary guardian and mother is the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">secondary guardian</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This kind of law only strengthen the patriarchal system of society where legally too women are considered as secondary . Indian constitution talks about equality of men and women but still in some laws like this legal discrimination is common.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In many public and private institutions like schools, banks,for employments etc. name of the father is essential which again buttress the patriarchal system </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of society and makes the women’s position secondary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the recent SC judgment allowing unwed mothers to take legal guardianship of child without fathers's consent,earlier Sc's recognition of both father and mother as legal guardian ,are steps in a positive direction.and significant for children born out of sex workers and one step for safeguarding women's right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now the age old Law should be amended to give equal guardianship for both mother and father so that both can be equally treated keeping in view the interest of childrenand as another step towards women empowerment.</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Write a note on the working principle of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) and its importance for India’s nuclear energy program. (200 Words)</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The primary energy resource for electricity generation in India is coal which is adequate to meet the energy </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">demand for about 50-70 years (500 GWe). The potential of other resources like gas, oil, wind, sol ar and biomass </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is very limited with their attendant problems The only other viable energy resource is nuclear.<b> India </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>has а moderate uranium reserve (50,000 t) i.e. 1-4% of world reserve and а large thorium reserve (5,00,000 t) i.e. 25% of world reserve.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nuclear energy program </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in India is being implemented in three stages . Natural uranium fuelled Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(PHWR) are in operation / under construction in the first stage . The plutonium generated from PHWR will </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">be amplified through breeding in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBR) in the second stage. This will facilitate </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">launching of large scale Тh- U233 fuel cycle in the third stage. FBR also utilize natural uranium fuel very </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">effectively (~75 % ) through breeding and thus provide а rapid energy growth potential (300 GWe for </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">about 30 у) . They also constitute а clean source of power unlike fossil fuel power stations. Several operating </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FBR worldwide are witness to their environment friendly performance. The use of Thorium in FBR in the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">third stage makes it а much larger resource (1500 billion tonnes of coal equivalent) than the combined coal, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">oil and gas resources. Thus FBR provides long term energy security utilizing the indigenous uranium and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thorium reserves .</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam i s responsible for establishment of fast breeder </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">technology in the country. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, designed and developed the technology for the PFBR. They are called breeder reactors because they breed more fuel than they consume.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam, an important part of the country’s three-stage nuclear power programme. In the first stage of the programme, natural uranium fuelled pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR) produce electricity while generating plutonium-239 as by-product. the second stage, fast breeder reactors (FBRs) would use a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel made from plutonium-239, recovered by reprocessing spent fuel from the first stage, and natural uranium. A Stage III reactor or an Advanced nuclear power system involves a self-sustaining series of thorium-232-uranium-233 fuelled reactors. This would be a thermal breeder reactor, which in principle can be refueled – after its initial fuel charge – using only naturally occurring thorium.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) in Kalpakkam(40 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu), an important milestone in the country’s three-stage nuclear power programme. The surplus plutonium (or uranium-233 for thorium reactors) from each fast reactor can be used to set up more such reactors and grow the nuclear capacity in tune with India's needs for power.<b>Unlike conventional reactors that use water to transfer heat, a PFBR uses liquid sodium as coolant.</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The PFBR is part of the three-stage nuclear power program. The ultimate focus of the programme is on enabling the thorium reserves of India to be utilised in meeting the country's energy requirements. This is of special significance to the Indian nuclear power generation strategy as India has one of the world's largest reserves of thorium, which could provide power for more than 60,000 years</span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">In recent years massive corruption in the competitive exams for professional courses and government conducted at both state and national level is coming into light thanks to vigilant media and courageous whistleblowers. In your opinion, what are the causes and consequences of this type of corruption? Critically discuss. (200 Words)</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The recent Vyapam Scam in Madhya Pradesh has brougt to light the very real and omnipresent system of corruption in competitive exams for professional and government courses , rampant but seldom brought to light in many of the states</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The spate of scams in recruitment exams conducted for government jobs (Vyapam, UP-PSC) and professional courses (All India PMT) brings to light the clear nexus between recruitment agency officials, middlemen and aspirants seeking to take the easy way out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Driven sometimes by economic pressures or simply by preference for the quickest road to success to get a 'secure government job' or a seat at an institution, aspirants fall in the trap of corrupt officials. Who in turn see this pool of short-cut seekers as a captive market..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The various causes which can be attributed to it are:-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Holding in high esteem , the professional courses as compared to simple degree courses which makes them a coveted entity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Expectation of high dividends and returns on completion of these courses and hence a bee-line to get into them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Unjustifiable desire of parents to channel their children in such courses which presumably offer better job perspectives in a highly unemployed economy and hence no hesitation in spending/investing huge amounts of money in them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The consequences of such scams are:-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 . Admission of incapable students in professional streams which makes the particular chosen field hollow at its base and so leads to its deterioration at gradual levels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Exclusion of capable students who fail to gain positions in such courses illegitimately and hence ttheir moral and professional discouragement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Rampant growth and encouragement of corrupt officials who carry on with their malpractices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Ministers make a plea on Sec. 8</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The A. P. Government has urged President Pranab Mukherjee to ensure the enforcement of provisions under Section 8 of the AP Reorganisation Act.</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A delegation of Ministers of the A. P. State Cabinet recently called on the President and submitted a representation on the problems faced by the Government ‘owing to the confrontationist attitude adopted by the Telangana Government’.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The delegation apprised Mr. Mukherjee of the alleged tapping of telephones of 120 important functionaries of the AP Government and the TDP by the Telangana Government.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>What is Section 8 all about</u>?</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Section 8 of AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 empowers the governor to have control over administration of law and order in Hyderabad.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It gives the Governor in the common capital area (Hyderabad) the special responsibility for the security, life, liberty and property of all those who reside in the area.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Section grants special powers to the governor to ensure security in Hyderabad, the shared capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, for 10 years.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The provisions were incorporated by the UPA government to address the concerns of people hailing from Andhra and Rayalaseema but residing in the common capital.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Section 8 says the governor can, after consulting the council of ministers of Telangana, use his personal judgment and take action in matters relating to law and order, including police transfers in the shared capital.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The police commissioners of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and the SP of the neighbouring district of Ranga Reddy are also required to furnish reports on law and order frequently to the governor.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Act says the governor’s decision is final and the validity of anything he or she does cannot be called into question.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Why it is in news</u>?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The issue has come to the fore again following the allegations of the AP government that the phones of its leaders have been illegally tapped by the Telangana police.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Kalpakkam breeder reactor to go on stream</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 500-MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam is getting ready to be commissioned in September.</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>When the reactor goes critical, it will signal India’s triumphant entry into the second stage of its three-stage nuclear power programme.</b></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>About the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)</u>:</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a 500MWe fast breeder nuclear reactor presently being constructed at the Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, India.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will <b>use plutonium-uranium oxide as fuel </b>and 1,750 tonnes of liquid sodium as coolant.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is responsible for the design of this reactor.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total costs, originally estimated at 3500 crore are now estimated at 5,677 crore.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The PFBR is part of the three-stage nuclear power program.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A breeder reactor is one that breeds more material for a nuclear fission reaction than it consumes.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>What is India’s 3-Phase Nuclear Power Programme</u>?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Indian nuclear power programme, launched in 1954, envisaged a three-stage development of nuclear power generation from the country’s uranium and thorium resources.</span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first stage programme consists of setting up of pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs). PHWRs are natural uranium-fuelled, heavy water moderated and cooled. The uranium reserves in the country are adequate to support the first stage nuclear power programme of 10,000 MWe through PHWRs. In addition to generating power, PHWRs progressively make available plutonium as a by-product. The technologies for the reprocessing of plutonium from spent PHWR fuel and for fabrication of plutonium bearing fuels have been systematically established in India through research and development over the past several years.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second stage of the nuclear power programme consists of effective utilisation of plutonium in Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) which will provide the key to full utilisation of the country’s uranium resources and prepare the way for the long-term utilisation of the more abundant thorium reserves. FBRs enable generation of more fresh fissile material than is consumed for power production. With the deployment of FBRs, the depleted uranium and plutonium generated in the first stage will permit an additional power potential to the extent of 3,50,000 MWe.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the later part of the second stage programme, it is proposed to use thorium as blanket material in FBRs to generate U-233, another fissile material for use in the third stage programme based on U-233 fuelled reactor systems.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>The 3-stages of Nuclear Power Programme are</u>:</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stage-I: envisages, construction of Natural Uranium, Heavy Water Moderated and Cooled Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs). Spent fuel from these reactors is reprocessed to obtain Plutonium.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stage-II: evisages, construction of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs) fuelled by Plutonium produced in stage-I. These reactors would also breed U-233 from Thorium.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stage-III: would comprise power reactors using U-233 / Thorium as fuel.</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">India on track in cutting poverty: MDG report</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recently released Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Report 2015 shows that India has halved its incidence of extreme poverty, from 49.4% in 1994 to 24.7% in 2011 ahead of the deadline of 2015 set by the United Nations.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Details of the report</u>:</b></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The report has set the limit for extreme poverty as those living on $1.25 or less a day.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India’s reduction in poverty is still less than that achieved by several of India’s poorer neighbors. Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh have each outstripped India in poverty reduction over comparable time periods.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India still remains home to one quarter of the world’s undernourished population, over a third of the world’s underweight children, and nearly a third of the world’s food-insecure people</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The report says that India has already achieved 11 out of 22 parameters in the report—spanning issues like education, poverty, health, and education— and is on track to achieve one more by the end of 2015.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the environment front, India is one of the few countries that has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions in relation to its GDP. India emitted 0.65 kg of carbon dioxide per $1 of GDP in 1990, which fell to 0.53 kg in 2010.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>MDGs: What are they</u>?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are eight international development goals that were established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. They were set to be achieved by 2015.</span></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>These are time-bound and quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty in its many dimensions-income poverty, hunger, disease, lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion-while promoting gender equality, education, and environmental sustainability.</li>
<li>They are also basic human rights-the rights of each person on the planet to health, education, shelter, and security.</li>
<li>Since the adoption, there has been significant progress in many of the goals. But the progress has not been uniform. The progress differs from country to country and even within the country.</li>
</span></ul>
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<b><u>The eight millennium development goals are</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty</li>
<li>Achieve Universal Primary Education</li>
<li>Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women</li>
<li>Reduce Child Mortality</li>
<li>Improve Maternal Health</li>
<li>Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases</li>
<li>Ensure Environmental Sustainability</li>
<li>Develop a Global Partnership for Development</li>
<li>Each goal has specific targets, and dates for achieving those targets.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Why can’t we bring you under RTI, asks SC</span></u></b></div>
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In a step towards making political parties publicly accountable for their financial assets, the Supreme Court recently asked six national parties, including the BJP and the Congress, to come clean and explain their hesitation in disclosing complete details of their income, expenditure, donations and funding, including donor details, to the public under the Right to Information Act.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The court has given the political parties six weeks to file their responses on why they should not be declared as “public authorities” under the Right to Information Act 2005, making them liable to disclose their financial assets to the public.</li>
<li>The CIC had declared all national and regional political parties to be public authorities under the RTI in its 2013 order. In March this year, it had reiterated the order as “final and binding.”</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Background</u>:</b></div>
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The order came based on a petition. The petition was filed by noted RTI activist Subhash Chandra Agarwal, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, and NGO Association for Democratic Rights (ADR).</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The petition argues that political parties should come under the RTI as they play a core role in governance, and, in fact, enjoy a “stronghold” over their elected MPs and MLAs under Schedule 10 of the Constitution. The Schedule makes it compulsory for MPs and MLAs to abide by the directions of their parent parties.</li>
<li>It contends that it would be within the average voter’s fundamental right to information to know the financial details of political parties.</li>
<li>the petition says that under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 all political parties must affirm their allegiance to the Constitution of India and such allegiance is made compulsory for the purpose of registration under sub-section (7) of Section 29A. <b>Therefore, political parties so registered must furnish information to the public under the right of information under Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India, since right of information has been held to be a part of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).</b></li>
<li>It also contends that the Law Commission of India in its 170th Report on ‘Reform of the Electoral Laws’ in May 1999 had recommended transparency in the functioning of political parties.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Five States seek time to roll out Food Security Act</span></u></b></div>
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The government will soon take a call on extending the September 30 deadline for implementation of the National Food Security Act as most States are not yet ready to roll out the programme.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Kerala have sought over a year to implement the Act while UP has asked for six months.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>What the states say</u>?</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Tamil Nadu says that the State has a universal public distribution system and limiting priority beneficiaries under the NFSA will “open a Pandora’s box.”</li>
<li>Bihar protested the number of beneficiaries fixed for the State under the Food Security Act and said over one crore poor had been left out making it difficult to identify beneficiaries.</li>
<li>J&K sought at least a year as it was still reeling under the impact of the floods that wreaked havoc in the State last year.</li>
<li>Gujarat says that the State government was planning to connect PDS beneficiary data, NREGA card holders and Socio-Economic Caste Census statistics for which it required at least a year.</li>
<li>Kerala has also sought a year as it was having problems with computerisation.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>About the National Food Security Act, 2013</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Also called as the Right to Food act, this act aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.</li>
<li>It extends to the whole of India.</li>
<li>Under the provisions of this act, beneficiaries are able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible person per month of cereals at the following prices:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Rice at 3 Rupees per kg</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Wheat at 2 Rupees per kg </li>
</ul>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Coarse grains (millet) at 1 rupee per kg.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Salient features</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>75% rural and 50% of the urban population are entitled for three years from enactment to five kg food grains per month at 3 Rupees , 2 Rupees, 1 Rupee per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains (millet), respectively.</li>
<li>The states are responsible for determining eligibility.</li>
<li>Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious “take home ration” of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months.</li>
<li>Children 6 to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals or “take home rations”.</li>
<li>The central government will provide funds to states in case of short supplies of food grains.</li>
<li>The state government will provide a food security allowance to the beneficiaries in case of non-supply of food grains.</li>
<li>The Public Distribution System is to be reformed.</li>
<li>The eldest woman in the household, 18 years or above, is the head of the household for the issuance of the ration card.</li>
<li>There will be state- and district-level redress mechanisms and State Food Commissions will be formed for implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Act.</li>
<li>The poorest who are covered under the Antodaya yojana will remain entitled to the 35 kg of grains allotted to them under the mentioned scheme.</li>
<li>The cost of the implementation is estimated to be $22 billion(1.25 lac crore), approximately 1.5% of GDP.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">No mining, polluting units in eco-sensitive zones, says Javadekar</span></u></b></div>
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Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar recently held a review meeting with State Environment and Forests Ministers to review the progress of demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats region.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>He also discussed the further course of action in keeping with the recommendations of the 2013 Kasturirangan Committee report. As per the report, commercial mining and polluting industries would be strictly banned in areas identified as eco sensitive zones.</b></li>
<li><b>The environment Ministers of six States viz. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat attended the meeting.</b></li>
</ul>
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<b><u>Kasturirangan Report</u>:</b></div>
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The Kasturirangan panel was set up to study the Gadgil committee report on the Western Ghats. <b>The Gadgil panel report had faced unanimous opposition from state governments for recommending that almost three-fourth of the hills, including plantations, cultivated lands and large habitations, be turned into a restricted development zone with an over-arching authority to regulate the region superseding the elected authorities’ role.</b></div>
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<b><u>Recommendations made</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Around 60,000 sq km of Western Ghats, spread across six states, should be turned into a no-go area for commercial activities like mining, thermal power plants, polluting industries and large housing plans.</li>
<li>It has suggested that 90% of the natural forests left in the Western Ghats complex – adding upto 60,000 sq km and constituting 37% of the entire hilly belt — be conserved under the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) provisions of the green law. The forest area falling within the ESA would also cover 4,156 villages across the six states.</li>
<li>The panel has said, “The villages falling under ESA will be involved in decision making on the future projects. All projects will require prior-informed consent and no-objection from the gram sabha (village council) of the village.”</li>
<li>The panel has recommended that there should be a complete ban on mining activity in this zone and current mining activities should be phased out within five years, or at the time of expiry of the mining lease. It has banned development of any township or construction over the size of 20,000 sq m in the ESA zone.</li>
<li>It has not recommended a ban on hydroelectric projects in the zone, but put a regime of stricter clearances for dams and other projects.</li>
<li>The report suggests doing away with the complete moratorium on industrial and mining activity in the two Maharashtra districts of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri. It has suggested persisting with the ban only on the area of the two districts falling within the ESA and a strict regulation in the rest.</li>
<li>The report has steered clear from demanding a strict ecological control over the Western Ghat complex requiring changes and regulations on agricultural practices the way Gadgil committee report had suggested.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div>
<b><u>Fergusson College wins heritage status</u></b></div>
<div>
Pune’s Fergusson College has been accorded the special heritage status by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It was founded in 1885.</div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>With this status comes financial assistance for its upkeep.</li>
<li>The college, with buildings of gothic architecture on its leafy, 65-acre campus, has long been regarded as a landmark educational institution in Maharashtra.</li>
<li>The college, named after James Fergusson, the then Governor of Bombay Presidency, had been moulded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, R.G. Bhandarkar and M.G. Ranade.</li>
<li>The alumni include two Prime Ministers, theatre and film artists and writers.</li>
<li>The college is among the 19 institutions in the country to get the heritage status.</li>
<li>The idea of granting the heritage tags was mooted by the Centre in 2013 to enable the universities to receive financial grants worth Rs 8-10 crore per annum from the government for the improvement and upgradation of their respective campuses and other academic disciplines.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-2415375635758176002015-07-08T06:09:00.000-07:002015-07-08T06:11:00.215-07:00Economics - Inflation and Business Cycle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1.</b> Consider the following statements.</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An extremely low aggregate demand.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comparatively lower inflation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Production houses go for forced labour cut in order to reduce production cost.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which of the following stage of Business cycle best represents the above characteristics?</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recession</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recovery</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Depression</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boom</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ans:</b> (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The major traits of depression could be as given below:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(a) An extremely low aggregate demand in the economy causes activities to decelerate;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(b) The inflation being comparatively lower;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(c) The employment avenues start shrinking forcing unemployment rate to grow fast;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(d) To keep the business going, production houses go for forced labour-cuts or retrenchment </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(to cut down the production cost and be competitive in the market) etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Recession Vs Depression</u>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recession is somewhat similar to the phase of ‘depression’ – we may call it a mild form of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">depression – fatal for economies as this may lead to depression if not handled with care and in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When a downturn in the GDP lasts for at least six months of time, it is termed as recession.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the GDP drops by more than 10 percent, it results in depression.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2.</b> Which of the following government actions can be used as remedy for the “recession”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">phase of the business cycle?</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cut in the direct and indirect taxes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Slashing interest rate and liberalizing the lending procedures.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upward revision of salaries and wages.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code from below.</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 and 2 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 and 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 and 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 and 3</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ans: </b>(4)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What may a government do to rescue the economy from the phase of recession? The usual</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">remedies are given below:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(i) Direct and indirect taxes should be cut down, so that the consumers have higher disposable </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">incomes (income after paying direct tax i.e. income tax) on the one hand and the goods should </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">become cheaper on the other hand thus there is hope that the demand might pick up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(ii) The burden of direct tax, specially the income tax, divdend tax, interest tax are slashed to</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">enhance the disposable income (i.e income after direct tax payment)—</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(iii) Salaries and wages should be revised by the government to encourage general spending </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by the consumers (as the Government of India implemented the recommendations of the fifth </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pay commission without much deliberation in 1996–97).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(iv) Indirect taxes such as custom duty, excise duty (cenvat), sales tax, etc. should be cut down </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so that produced goods reach the market at cheaper prices.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(v) The government usually goes on to follow a cheap money supply policy by slashing down the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">interest rates across the board and the lending procedure is also liberalised.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(vi) Tax breaks are announced for new investments in the productive areas. etc.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3.</b> Consider the following statements with regards to inflation indexed bonds (IIBs).</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IIBs will provide inflation protection to principal only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Existing tax provisions will be applicable on interest payment and capital gains on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IIBs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) are not allowed to invest in IIBs.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which of the above statements are NOT correct?</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 and 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 and 2 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 and 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the above</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ans:</b> (3)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inflation Indexed Bonds (IIBs) were issued in the name of Capital Indexed Bonds (CIBs) during </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1997. The CIBs issued in 1997 provided inflation protection only to principal and not to interest </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">payment. <b>IIBs will provide inflation protection to both principal and interest payments.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tax provisions will be applicable on interest payment and capital gains on IIBs. There will be no </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">special tax treatment for these bonds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IIBs would be Government securities (G-Sec) and the different classes of investors eligible to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">invest in G-Secs would also be eligible to invest in IIBs. FIIs would be eligible to invest in the IIBs </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but subject to the overall cap for their investment in G-Secs (currently USD 25 billion).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>For more details</u>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://rbi.org.in/scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=91">https://rbi.org.in/scripts/FAQView.aspx?Id=91</a></span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4.</b> Which of the following step/s may result in inflation?</span></div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Increase in the repo rate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Increase in the indirect taxation rate.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proper maintenance of buffer stock of major agricultural products.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decrease in the crude oil production.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code from below.</span></div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3 and 4 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 and 4 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 and 3 only.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ans:</b> (3)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inflation is a sustained rise in overall price levels.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to commercial banks. In the event of</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inflation, central banks increase repo rate as this acts as a disincentive for banks to borrow from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the central bank. This ultimately reduces the money supply in the economy and thus helps in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">arresting inflation.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduction of increased taxes is one of the fiscal policies to control inflation. But sometimes</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this may result in cost-push inflation, as increased indirect tax rate increases cost of</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">production.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maintenance of buffer stock of major agricultural products could be used in supply</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">management which maintains price stability.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decrease in crude oil production increases crude oil price, which in turn increases cost of</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">production.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5.</b> Consider the following statements regarding Producer Price Index (PPI).</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>PPI gives an idea of consumer prices in the future.</li>
<li>In PPI only basic prices and taxes are used while trade margins and transport cost are excluded.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 only</li>
<li>2 only</li>
<li>Both 1 and 2</li>
<li>Neither 1 nor 2</li>
</ol>
<b>Ans:</b> (1)</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
The PPI measures price changes from the perspective of the producer while the cosumer price index (CPI) measures it from the consumers’ perspective. As the producers sell at higher prices to their wholesellers, so retailers and the price increase is translated into the higher consumer prices—thus the PPI is useful in having an idea of the consumer prices in the future.</div>
<div>
In PPI, only basic prices are used while taxes, trade margins and transport costs are excluded.</div>
<div>
This index is considered a better measure of inflation as price changes at primary and</div>
<div>
intermediate stages can be tracked before it gets built into the finished goods stage.</div>
<div>
The proposal of switching over to the PPI (from the WPI) came up from the Government by</div>
<div>
mid-2003. A working Group was set up in mid-2003–04 under the chairmanship of Prof. Abhijit Sen, Member, Planning Commission to fulfill the twin tasks of:</div>
<div>
I. Revising the current series of the WPI (i.e. base 1993–94) and</div>
<div>
II. Recommending a producer price index (PPI) for India which could replace the WPI.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>6.</b> Inflation has multidimensional effects on the economy. Which of the following is/are</div>
<div>
correct regarding the effects of inflation?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Lenders suffers and borrowers benefit out of inflation.</li>
<li>In the short run, investment in the economy is boosted.</li>
<li>Burden of tax payer is increased as they are forced to pay increased taxes.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code from below.</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 only</li>
<li>1 and 3 only</li>
<li>2 and 3 only</li>
<li>All the above</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Ans:</b> (4)</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
There are multi-dimensional effects of inflation on an economy both at the micro and macro</div>
<div>
levels. It redistributes income; distorts relative prices; destabilises employment, tax, saving and investment policies and finally it may bring in recession and depression in an economy.</div>
<div>
<b>I. On Creditors and Debtors</b></div>
<div>
Inflation redistributes wealth from creditors to debtors i.e. lenders suffer and borrowers benefit out of inflation. The opposite effect takes place when inflation falls (i.e. deflation).</div>
<div>
<b>II. on Investment</b></div>
<div>
Investment in the economy is boosted by the inflation (in the short-run) because of two</div>
<div>
reasons:</div>
<div>
a. Higher inflation indicates higher demand and suggests enterpreneurs to expand their</div>
<div>
production level, and</div>
<div>
b. Higher the inflation, lower the cost of loan</div>
<div>
<b>III. on Tax</b></div>
<div>
Tax-payers suffer while paying their direct and indirect taxes. As indirect taxes are imposed ad valorem (on value), increased prices of goods make tax-payers to pay increased indirect taxes. Similarly, due to inflation, direct tax (income tax, interest tax, etc.) burden of the tax-payers also increases as tax-payer’s gross income moves to the upward slabs of official tax brackets (but the real value of money does not increase due to inflation; in fact, it falls).</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>7.</b> Consider the following statements regarding “core inflation”.</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Core inflation is an indicator of long-term trend in the inflation.</li>
<li>While calculating core inflation transitory price changes are excluded.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 only</li>
<li>2 only</li>
<li>Both 1 and 2</li>
<li> Neither 1 nor 2</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Ans: </b>(3)</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
Core inflation is the non food manufacturing inflation. Core inflation shows price rise in all</div>
<div>
goods and services excluding energy and food articles.</div>
<div>
In India, it was first time used in the financial year 2000–01. This was criticized by experts on account of excluding food articles and energy out of the inflation and feeling satisfied on the inflation front. Basically, in the western economies, food and energy are not the problems for the masses, while in India these two segments play the most vital role for them.</div>
<div>
For more details:</div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_inflation">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_inflation</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>8. </b>WPI and CPI are two important indices for measuring inflation. But there are substantial</div>
<div>
differences between the two. Which of the following statements is/are true bout the</div>
<div>
difference between CPI and WPI?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>WPI measures inflation at wholesale market, while CPI measure at retail level.</li>
<li>WPI is more or less same throughout the country but CPI vary across the region.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code from below.</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 only</li>
<li>2 only</li>
<li>Both 1 and 2</li>
<li>Neither 1 nor 2</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div>
<b>Ans:</b> (3)</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
WPI measures inflation at wholesale market, while CPI measure at retail level. Besides, the way two indices are calculated differs, both in terms of weightage assigned to products as well as the kind of items included in the baskets of products.</div>
<div>
Wholesale prices are more or less same throughout the country but Consumer prices vary</div>
<div>
across the regions(rural and urban) and also across the cities according to the consumer</div>
<div>
preference for certain products, supplies and purchasing power.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>9.</b> “Inflationary gap” refers to</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Difference between CPI and WPI inflation.</li>
<li>The excess of total government spending above the national income.</li>
<li>The shortfall in total spending of the government.</li>
<li>None of the above.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Ans:</b> (2)</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
The excess of total government spending above the national income (i.e. fiscal deficit) is</div>
<div>
known as the inflationary gap. This is intended to increase the production level which</div>
<div>
ultimately pushes the prices up due to extra-creation of money during the process.</div>
<div>
The shortfall in total spending of the government (i.e. fiscal surplus) over the national income creates deflationary gap in the economy. This is a situation of producing more than the demand and the economy usually heads for a general slowdown in the level of demand. This is also known as the output gap.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>10</b>. New CPI series with base year 2010 are available for five major groups. For which of those five groups CPI-Rural index is not calculated?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Food, beverages and tobacco</li>
<li>Fuel and light</li>
<li>Housing</li>
<li>Clothing, bedding and footwear</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Ans:</b> (3)</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
New CPI indices are available for five major groups namely Food, beverages and tobacco; Fuel and light; Housing; Clothing, bedding and footwear, and Miscellaneous.</div>
<div>
<b>House rent index is compiled only for CPI (Urban). This index is not compiled for rural sector </b><b>because of two reasons: first there is negligible number of rented dwellings in the rural areas; </b><b>and the Consumer Expenditure Survey also does not provide estimate of imputed rent for </b><b>owner occupied houses for this sector.</b></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<b>For more details:</b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/CPI_Changes_7apr15.pdf">http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/CPI_Changes_7apr15.pdf</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>India Year Book and Current Affairs</u></b></div>
<div>
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>11. </b>Consider the following regarding ‘Telegraphy’</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>The first telegraph came in the form of Optical telegraph.</li>
<li>In India, it became available for public use in 1854.</li>
<li>Continuous wave is used in wireless telegraphy</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 and 3</li>
<li>2 and 3</li>
<li>1 and 2</li>
<li>1, 2 and 3</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 4</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
Wireless telegraphy is still used widely today by amateur radio hobbyists where it is commonly referred to as radio telegraphy, continuous wave, or just CW.</div>
<div>
Telegraph services in India date back to 1850, when the first experimental telegraph line was established between Calcutta and Diamond Harbour. The British East India Company started using the telegraph a year later, and by 1854—when the system opened to the public— telegraph lines had been laid across the country. The telegraph continued to thrive, in India and around the world, even after Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876. For more than half a century, telegrams were sent over cable lines, but in 1902 (capitalizing on the work of Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi) the Indian system went wireless.</div>
<div>
The first telegraphs came in the form of optical telegraph, including the use of smoke</div>
<div>
signals, beacons or reflected light, which have existed since ancient times.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>12</b>. ‘Project Arrow’ is associated with</div>
<div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Department of Post</li>
<li>Maritime exercise between France and India</li>
<li>DRDO project</li>
<li>A scientific research project under CSIR</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 1</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
‘Project Arrow, an initiative to transform Department of Posts into a vibrant and responsive</div>
<div>
organization and to make a visible and positive difference to quality and efficiency of service to the customers, was conceived in April 2008.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>13.</b> Consider the following statements regarding Post Office Saving Banks in India</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>The Department of Posts operates Small Savings on behalf of Ministry of Rural Development</li>
<li>Post office saving banks do not offer ATM services</li>
<li>The Post Office Savings Bank operates Savings Account, Recurring Deposit (RD) and Time Deposit (TD) apart from other services.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Only 1</li>
<li>Only 2</li>
<li>Only 3</li>
<li>1, 2 and 3</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 3</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation: </b>Comes under Ministry of Finance and offers ATM services as well</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/indias-first-post-office-savings-bankatm-inaugurated-in-chennai/article5732624.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/indias-first-post-office-savings-bankatm-inaugurated-in-chennai/article5732624.ece</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>14.</b> Consider the following</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>The territorial sea is regarded as the sovereign territory of the state, although foreign ships (both military and civilian) are allowed innocent passage.</li>
<li>The difference between the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone is that the first confers full sovereignty over the waters, whereas the second is merely a "sovereign right" which refers to the coastal state's rights below the surface of the sea.</li>
<li>The EEZ is 188 nautical miles from Territorial waters and includes contiguous zone.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 and 2</li>
<li>2 and 3</li>
<li>Only 1</li>
<li>1, 2 and 3</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 4</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
From Base line</div>
<div>
Territorial waters- 12 Nautical Miles</div>
<div>
Contiguous zone- 24 Nautical Miles</div>
<div>
EEZ- 200 Nautical Miles</div>
<div>
From Territorial Waters- EEZ will be 188 Nautical Miles an includes Contiguous Zones </div>
<div>
Territorial waters are also called Territorial sea.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zone#Definition">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zone#Definition</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>15</b>. Consider the following</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Preservation and protection of Maritime Environment</li>
<li>Collection of Scientific Data</li>
<li>Protection and assistance to fishermen at sea</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Which of the above includes the functions of Indian Coast Guard?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 and 3</li>
<li>1 and 2</li>
<li>1, 2 and 3</li>
<li>Only 3</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 3</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
Functions of Coast Guard as per Coast Guard Act 1978</div>
<div>
(1) Safety and protection of artificial islands and offshore terminals installations and devices in Maritime Zones.</div>
<div>
(2) Protection and assistance to fishermen at sea while in distress.</div>
<div>
(3) Preservation and protection of marine environment.</div>
<div>
(4) Prevention and control of marine pollution.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
(5) Assistance to customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.</div>
<div>
(6) Enforcing of enactments being in force in the maritime zones.</div>
<div>
(7) Other matters, including measures for the safety of life and property at sea and collection of scientific data.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>16.</b> India successfully launched its first subsonic cruise missile named ‘Nirbhay’. Consider the following w.r.t it</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Sub-sonic cruise missiles are able to fly at very low altitudes, close to the earth, without being detected</li>
<li>Nirbhay blasts off like a rocket, but then unlike a missile, it turns into an aircraft.</li>
<li>Like other ballistic missiles Nirbhay also has wings and pronounced tail fins.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct codes</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 and 3</li>
<li>2 and 3</li>
<li>1 and 2</li>
<li>1, 2 and 3</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 3</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
Nirbhaya has wings and pronounced tail fins unlike other ballistic missiles. So third statement is wrong.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>17.</b> Consider the following about ‘Guru Poornima’</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>It is an Indian festival celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists</li>
<li>The first full moon after Summer Solstice is known as Guru Poornima.</li>
<li>Lord Shiva, the first yoga practitioner (Adi Yogi) is said to have begun imparting the knowledge of yoga to the rest of mankind on this day and became the first guru (Adi Guru).</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div>
Select the correct codes</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 and 2</li>
<li>2 and 3</li>
<li>1 and 3</li>
<li>1, 2 and 3</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 4</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Yoga_Day">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Yoga_Day</a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Purnima">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guru_Purnima</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>18.</b> The terms ‘Pushkaram’ and ‘Amrapali’ are related with</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Bharatnatyam</li>
<li>Kuchipuddi</li>
<li>Kathakali</li>
<li>Odissi</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution-</b> 2</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/tales-throughballets/article7379291.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/tales-throughballets/article7379291.ece</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-80073041701200415632015-07-07T11:16:00.001-07:002015-07-07T11:20:52.445-07:00Geography<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Geography - Mineral & Climate</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. </b>Heat waves was in news recently which killed more than 2,500 people in the year 2015 till June.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Consider the following statements regarding heat waves</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat wave’s adverse impact occurred mainly in Northern and Eastern region of India.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Severe heat waves come under National Calamity just like cold waves.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">IMD recommended to declare a region as severeheat waves affected region if temperature </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reached beyond 45 degree Celsius.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is a natural calamity found in tropical regions and not in temperate regions.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose the correct statement/s from the code</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3, 4 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the above</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:</b> 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation: </b>Heatwaves impacted mainly in northern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Eastern states like Odisha, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Central government has declared cold waves, tsunamis etc as National Calamity but not heat waves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus recently after the heat waves took toll of many lives country wide, there was a demand from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">experts as well as many states for heat waves to be declared as National Calamity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heat waves are the phenomenon found not only in tropical regions but also in temperate regions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Example: UK experienced the severe heat waves in 2013.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2.</b> During monsoon season the ITCZ (inter tropical convergence zone) shifts almost upto 25 degree </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">North latitude over the Indian subcontinent while it rarely crosses 15 degree North latitude in other r</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">egions. This is because</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vast landmass of Eurasia located to the North of the Equator.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Intense low pressure over the Northwestern region of Indian subcontinent and over the vast, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">high altitude Tibetan plateau pulls ITCZ Northwards.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shifting of Westerly jet streams to the North of Tibetan plateau at the end of the month of May.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose the correct code from the following</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 3 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the above.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:</b> 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b>Inter tropical convergence zone is termed as a thermal equator and is the zone where the Northeast and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southeast trade winds meet. This ITCZ shifts Northwards upto 25 degree North latitude during the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">months of June-July. This is facilitated by all the above points mentioned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Westerly jet streams:</b> These shifts southward during winters because of the southern shift of entire </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pressure belts by some 10 degree latitudes which is in turn because of Southern shift of Sun towards </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropic of Capricorn during winters. These jet streams because of vast Tibetan plateau,get bifurcated into </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 parts, with one part traversing south of Himalyan mountains and the other to the north of Tibetan </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">plateau. With the advent of summers and gradual shift of Sun towards Tropic of Cancer, the part of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">jet streams to the South of Himalayas gets weakened. At the end of the month of May the Westerly jet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">streams completely shifts to the North of Himalayas and thus becomes stronger over the Central China </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and also Japan. This Northern shift facilitates the Northward shift of ITCZ.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3.</b> The frequency of the cyclones is lower in Arabian sea when compared to Bay of Bengal. This is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">because</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arabian sea surface temperature is higher compared to that of Bay of Bengal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bay of Bengal receives the remnants of the typhoons originated in Northwestern Pacific ocean.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arabian sea receives the remnants of cyclones from Bay of Bengal.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose the correct code from the following</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 3 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the above.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:</b> 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b>Bay of Bengal being a closed and a smaller water body, it has higher surface temperature compared to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arabian sea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">North Western region of Pacific ocean has the highest proportion of global tropical cyclones. These </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cyclones which originate in the Pacific ocean start moving towards south western direction and finally </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reach Bay of Bengal. But by the time they reach, they almost lose their energy and only remnants of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cyclones reach Bay of Bengal. Similarly the cyclones originated in Bay of Bengal reach Arabian sea but </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">only remnants of cyclones after shedding their energy while traversing over the peninsular landmass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4.</b> Consider the following statements regarding tropical cyclones which is one of the important </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">determining factor for the success of Indian monsoons.</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are termed as the heat engines, which derive their energy from the condensation of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">water vapor into water droplets/drops.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than 50% of the energy derived is utilized to sustain the wind movement around the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">central eye.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A mature cyclone releases energy equivalent to that of 100 hydrogen bombs.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which of the following statements are NOT true</span></div>
<div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>1, 2only.</li>
<li>1, 3only.</li>
<li>2 only.</li>
<li>None of the above.</li>
</span></ol>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:</b> 3</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
The energy is derived from the condensation of water vapor into water droplets and of this only meager 3% is utilized for sustaining the wind movemnents.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>5.</b> Snow line is a line above which no vegetation grows on high altitude mountains because of permanent snow cover. This snow line is higher for Eastern Himalayas compared to that of Western Himalayas. What are the reasons?</div>
<div>
Consider the following statements</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Eastern Himalayas are near to the Equator.</li>
<li>Western Himalayas are more continental in their location thus has lesser maritime influence.</li>
<li>Southwest monsoon winds have the moderating effect on the Western Himalayas.</li>
</ol>
Choose the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1, 2 only.</li>
<li>1, 3 only.</li>
<li>2, 3 only.</li>
<li>All the above.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Answer: </b>1</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation: </b>Snowline is a function of altitude and latitude. Higher is the latitude and altitude lower is the snowline. </div>
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eastern Himalaya’s altitude as well as latitudinal location is lower compared to Western Himalayas. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to higher altitude as well as latitude the temperature is much less in the Western Himalaya and as a consequence the snowline in the Western Himalaya is at a lower altitude than in the Eastern Himalaya.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southwest monsoon winds bring more rainfall to Eastern Himalayas than compared to Western Himalayas. Thus monsoon winds can have moderating effect on Eastern Himalayas and in turn increasing the altitude of snowline. Thus 3rd statement is wrong.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. </b>Coal bed methane is released during coal mining and is generally recommended to extract it rather than letting it evaporate into the atmosphere when untapped because</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>CBM if is not extracted can cause fire hazards while mining deep areas.</li>
<li>CBM if allowed to escape into atmosphere, will get converted into carbon monoxide which is a potent green house gas.</li>
</span></ol>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div>
Which of the statements is/are the correct reason/s?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 only.</li>
<li>2 only.</li>
<li>Neither 1 nor 2.</li>
<li>Both 1 and 2.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Answer:</b> 2</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
CBM doesn’t cause any as such fire hazards if left unextracted.</div>
<div>
CBM once extracted and used as a source of energy it will be less harmful to environment because the burning of CBM releases majorly carbon dioxide. But if it is not extracted it will escape into atmosphere and get converted into carbon monoxide which is more potent green house gas than carbon dioxide.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>7.</b> Consider the following statements regarding the production and reserves of copper in India.</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Rajasthan has the largest reserves of copper and is also the highest producer of copper in India.</li>
<li>India is self sufficient in copper production and also at times it has also exported copper to countries like Japan, South Korea etc.</li>
<li>Production of copper is a tedious job especially in India as the copper ore found in India as it is of the lower grade compared to International grade of the ore.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Which are the correct statements?</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 only.</li>
<li>1, 3 only.</li>
<li>2, 3 only.</li>
<li>3 only.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Answer: </b>4</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rajasthan although has the highest reserves, it is not the highest producer. Madhya Pradesh is the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">highest producer currently.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The production of copper in India always falls short of demand and thus we import copper from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">countries like US, Japan, Canada etc.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Third statement is true because in India the metal content in the ore is quite low compared to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">international average. The metal content is less than 1% in India while the international average stands </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">at 2.5%.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>8.</b> Consider the following statements regarding biogas which is a very important source of energy in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rural areas.</span></div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Biogas has a higher thermal efficiency compared to charcoal, cow dung, kerosene.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only biogas serves as a source of energy in the form of fuel but also can be used as manure </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">for farm crops.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is slightly less environment friendly as it releases green house gases when burnt as a fuel.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose the incorrect code from the following</span></div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">None of the above.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:</b> 3</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Biogas typically refers to a mixture of different gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the absence of oxygen. Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste. High levels </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of methane are produced when such wastes is stored under anaerobic conditions. During storage and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when manure has been applied to the land, nitrous oxide is also produced as a byproduct of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">denitrification process. Nitrous oxide (N2O) is 320 times more aggressive than carbon dioxide and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">methane 21 times more than carbon dioxide. Thus biogas production negates all these harmful gases </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and thus it is a environment friendly gas.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>9.</b> Consider the following statements which describe the properties of a particular metal</span></div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It as a valuable metal of which the major ore is Wolfram.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is self hardening which it imparts to the steel when alloyed with the steel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steel when alloyed with this metal, is used in manufacturing of ammunitions, armour plates,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">heavy guns etc.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its alloys are heat resistant, corrosion resistant and hardfacing.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Choose the correct metal from the options</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Tungsten.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Chromium.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Copper.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Titanium.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:</b> 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tungsten is a dull silver-colored metal with the highest melting point of any pure metal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also known as wolfram, from which the element takes its symbol, W, tungsten is more resistant to fracturing than diamond and is much harder than steel. It is the refractory metal's unique properties - its strength and ability to withstand high temperatures - that make it ideal for many commercial and industrial applications.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10.</b> Consider the following statements regarding the atomic minerals.</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uranium occurs both in the earth’s crust as well as sea water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India has one of the richest reserves of thorium in the world.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">US has the highest reserves of uranium in the world.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Which of the above statements are correct ?</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3 only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the above.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer: </b>2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b>Australia has the highest reserves of uranium and not the US.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India Year Book(Land and the People/National Symbols</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) and Current Affairs</span></u></b><br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>11.</b> To bring prosperity and tranquility in north-eastern region of India what actions or plans you </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">think is/are good from given below</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Shift from voluminous crops to high value horticulture crops.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> More strict laws to counter insurgency.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Policy to give boost to bamboo based handicraft industries.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Laying down of rail tracks to increase connectivity among north-eastern cities.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the above</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">None</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SOLUTION:</b> 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">North-east region has rough terrain so possibility of laying down tracks wouldn’t be nice idea to execute.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been established by facts in history that peace was brought by negotiation rather strict laws. Strict </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">laws have yielded an atmosphere of animosity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12. </b>What are the important commercial crops produced in Malabar region from given below:</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Coffee and tea</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Tobacco</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Betelnut</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Rubber</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Cashewnut</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<li>1, 2, 3 only</li>
<li>1, 3. 5 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
<li>1, 3, 4, 5 only</li>
</span></ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer: </b>4</span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div>
<b>Explanation: </b>Tobacco is mainly produced in Guntur and Prakasham district of Andhra</div>
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pradesh and Kheda district of Gujrat.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Malabar region</u>: </b>Malabar region is an area of southern India lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It included the northern half of the state of Kerala and some coastal regions of present-day Karnataka.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>13.</b> According to world biogeographic classification. India represents which two major realms</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li> Palearctic and Indo-Malayan</li>
<li> Palearctic and Neo-arctic</li>
<li> Neo-arctic and Indo-Malayan</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Only 1</li>
<li>1 and 2</li>
<li>Only 3</li>
<li>None</li>
</ol>
<div>
<b>Answer: </b>1</div>
</div>
<div>
<b><u>Realm</u>: </b>An area on the earth's surface marked by certain properties.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>14.</b> Consider the statements below:</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Central tribal belt is dominated by Proto-Australoid racial strain.</li>
<li>Hills of southern India is inhabited by tribal of Negritoes racial strain.</li>
<li>Negritoes racial strain is confined to islands of Andaman and Nicobar only.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1, 2 only</li>
<li>1, 3 only</li>
<li>3 only</li>
<li>None</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>SOLUTION:</b> 1</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>15.</b> National symbols hold a revered position among Indians. It is/was maintained and protected by</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li> Non-statutory instructions</li>
<li> Statutes</li>
<li> Constitutional references</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1, 2 only</li>
<li>2, 3 only</li>
<li>3 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>SOLUTION:</b>4</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
Fundamental duties say about paying respect to national symbols. There are various legislation pieces like the<b> flag code of India 2002</b> which were legislated to seek compliance to standards from citizens.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>16.</b> “Give It Up” campaign will have positive impact on</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Health of rural India.</li>
<li>Environment.</li>
<li>Revenue of Local bodies.</li>
<li>Comforts of rural women.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 only</li>
<li>1, 3 only</li>
<li>1, 2, 4 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>SOLUTION:</b> 3</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>17.</b> Major initiatives envisaged to make ‘Digital India” campaign a success include</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Communication infrastructure and services</li>
<li>Products like digital lockers, e-sign and e-hospital/ORS etc.</li>
<li>Portals and apps</li>
<li>Opening of research institutions</li>
<li>Important Policies initiatives.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1, 2, 3 only</li>
<li>1, 2. 3. 5 only</li>
<li>3 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution:</b> 4</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>18.</b> Union cabinet proposed amendment to the Prevention of corruption act 1988. Proposed</div>
<div>
amendments include</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Punishment for both bribe giver and bribe taker.</li>
<li>Enhances punishment terms.</li>
<li>Non-monetary gratification is covered in the definition of gratification in the PCA 1988.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1, 2 only</li>
<li>1, 3 only</li>
<li>3 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>SOLUTION:</b>4</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>19. </b>Socio-demographic changes at source that are result of rural to urban migration in India.</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Low sex-ratio.</li>
<li>Population pyramid will shrink at its base in years to come.</li>
<li>Feminization of workforce.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1, 2 only</li>
<li>2, 3 only</li>
<li>3 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ol>
<div>
<div>
<b>SOLUTION:</b> 4</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation: </b>Rural to urban migration mainly constitutes of male so sex ratio goes down. Even migration brings down fertility rate so in future population pyramid will shrink. Because rural to urban migration majorly takes place among men and hence feminization of workforce (since rural workforce in agriculture will be more of women due to migration).</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>20. </b>Recently ISRO PSLV-C23 placed satellites of foreign countries, these countries include</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">France</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Germany</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Italy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Malaysia</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the above</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Solution:</b> 1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation: </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Countries include France, Germany, Singapore and Canada.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>21.</b> Recently launched Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI) platform </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will give boost to the concept of</span><br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cooperative federalism</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good Governance</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gender inclusiveness</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code</span><br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the above</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Solution: </b>1</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation: </b><a href="http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-modi-launches-pragati-platform-for-redressal-of-grievances-2071960">http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-pm-modi-launches-pragati-platform-for-redressal-of-grievances-2071960</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>22.</b> Consider the statements regarding mitochondrial Donation Technique:</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It involves addition of healthy mitochondria from donor women to an egg from other women </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with defective mitochondria.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This technique prevents new born babies from heart failure and blindness only.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are two different procedures used in mitochondrial donation technique –(a) Maternal </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spindle Transfer (b) Pronuclear Transfer technique</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 2 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1, 3 only</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of the above</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Solution:</b> 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Explanation: </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It prevents new born babies from brain damage, muscle wasting, heart failure and blindness due to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">defective mitochondria.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>23. </b>Recently a cyclonic storm named Ashobaa was in news. Consider the statements</span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was developed over east central Bay of Bengal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was named by Srilanka as there is a system of naming storms developed in Northern India Ocean </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On rotational basis..</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It caused flood in eastern Oman.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Select the correct code</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>2 only</li>
<li>1, 2 only</li>
<li>2, 3 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution:</b> 3</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation:</b></div>
<div>
It was developed over east central Arabian Sea</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>24.</b> Consider the statements</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Cryogenic engine provides more thrust with each kg of propellant it uses.</li>
<li>Cryogenic engine uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen at very low temperature</li>
<li>Engine need low mass flow rate of both oxidizer and fuel to avoid explosion in combustion chamber.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
Select the correct code</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>1, 2 only</li>
<li>1, 2 only</li>
<li>2, 3 only</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution:</b> 2</div>
<div>
Engine need high mass flow rate of both oxidizer and fuel to generate a sufficient thrust. Independent regulators are there to check thrust control.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<b>25. </b>Consider the following statements with reference to hot and cold water</div>
<div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Cold water freezes faster than hot water</li>
<li>This phenomenon or effect is know as Mpemba Effect.</li>
</ol>
Select the correct code<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Only 1</li>
<li>Only 2</li>
<li>Both</li>
<li>None</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div>
<b>Solution:</b> None</div>
</div>
<div>
<b>Explanation: </b></div>
<div>
Hot water seems to freeze faster than cold water, known as the <b>Mpemba effect</b>. The effect was named after the Tanzanian student who in 1963 noticed that hot ice cream mix freezes faster than a cold one. The effect was first observed by Aristotle in the 4th century BC, </div>
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-69466906667115341052015-07-07T06:19:00.001-07:002015-07-07T06:22:17.800-07:00Daily News Mail - News of 07/07/2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Prime Minister’s Visit to Central Asia</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prime Minister on 6th July left for Central Asian tour encompassing 6 countries i.e. Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) and Russia. During this tour India will touch upon wide array of issues such as culture, security, natural resources and connectivity. Along with bilateral visits are the multilateral summits of BRICS and SCO at Ufa in Russia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India considers Central Asia as its extended neighborhood, but geographical barriers makes them appear remote than any other country of the world. India as we know has been blocked by Pakistan and China. It depends solely on Iran for any connectivity. There have been sustained negotiations from last few decades’ connectivity and energy supplies, but so far India has not received even a meagre return on Investment. Region’s politics is extremely complex for India. It needs a pragmatic and dynamic personality in seat to break ice with Central Asian leader and that’s what Indian PM will be focusing on. In past, P.V. N. Rao, A.B. Vajpayee and M.M. Singh visited central Asian countries, but it made little difference. It was only J. Nehru who visited all 5 central countries in one visit in 1955 and he had exemplary understanding of culture of the region.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Till partition British India had regional (in turn cultural) contiguity with Central Asia, but after about 70 years of minimal contacts, that land appears alien. Central Asians on the other hand have strong nostalgic feeling about India which they still refer to as Hind or Hindustan. People to people contacts are minimal. These countries are having very strict visa regimes so tourism is almost nonexistent. India enjoys ample goodwill of Central Asians. But China with its deep pockets and accessibility has left little space for India. Economies of these countries almost wholly depend upon China and Russia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">China has developed unique understanding with these nations under which it extends loan meant for developing oil and gas sector of a particular Central Asian country and in repayment of that loan China is supplied Oil and Gas for decades. This is a win-win situation as it provides market for Oil and gas exploration companies of China, while it also takes care of its energy starved economy. On Indian side TAPI project is being negotiated, but its success depends upon Pakistan’s cooperation which is unlikely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Connectivity for trade is another big problem. Current Imports from Central Asia moves all the way to Xinjiang, then to Shanghai and finally arrives at Mumbai, opposite route for exports. Currently trade with Russia happens through St. Petersburg. It’s absurd that trade with our ‘extended neighborhood’ takes longer time and costs than that with any other region of the world. So, India is investing heavily in Chabahar port of Iran which will be extended to Afghanistan through Delaram- Zaranj highway. International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is also being developed. This will be multimodal (sea, road, rail) corridor Linking India (Mumbai), Iran, Central Asia, Russia and Europe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>It should be noted that India’s connectivity with Central Asia depends solely with Iran. Otherwise proactive current government has so far not given any significant impetus to India- Iran relations. It remains to be seen that what transpires after settlement of nuclear deal with Iran.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Security angle to this visit is of utmost importance. New global threat of ISIS has influenced Central Asia significantly as thousands are participating in conflict on IS’s side. Further, almost every threat to Indian establishment in history has emerged from Central Asia. Stability in Afghanistan is crucial for stability of world and depends much upon Central Asia. This is even truer when Americans are leaving and there is political immaturity and vacuum in Afghanistan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If history tell us anything, it is that cultural and people to people links are much decisive than financial links. India is poised to loose dollar to dollar contention with China, but culturally people are relatively close to India. It was seen in recent electoral outcomes in Sri Lanka that people resent excess economic dependence on or alignment with a powerful country like China. Public was suspicious about Rajapaksa government’s over reliance on China, so they removed him through ballot. In contrast, if cultural links are established, then government is bypassed and this is an indestructible link.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Chinese ex-FM to be AIIB chief</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">China has named its former Finance Minister, Jin Liqun, as its choice to head the Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is being seen as a rival to the U.S. and Europe-dominated banking institutions.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former Finance Minister <b>Jin Liqun</b> has been formally nominated by China as its preferred candidate to head the $100 billion AIIB. He is currently the secretary-general of the interim multilateral secretariat for establishing AIIB.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Why he was chosen</u>?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since, China has 26.06% share of the votes in AIIB it gives China veto power over the choice of the president, which requires a 75% majority.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>What about the vice-president</u>?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India by virtue of being the second largest shareholder may get the post of vice-president.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>India mulling proposal to join Eurasian Union</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India is considering the option of signing a pact with the EEU, which has Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia as members, and will see the inclusion of Tajikistan later this year.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Russia and five Central Asian nations could expedite the feasibility studies under way to assess whether India should sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For this purpose, a joint study group, headed by a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, has been constituted and has been mandated to study the benefits of joining the trade bloc.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An invitation to join the bloc was extended by Russia, and a joint statement for establishment of a joint study group between India and the EEU was signed when Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Russia recently.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>How India will be benefitted</u>?</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India has to protect investment and trade from becoming imbalanced. It also has to ensure that its goods are not discriminated against. Hence, it is best for India to gain access to all important trade blocs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>India is keen to enhance its ties with the Central Asian countries, which have huge oil and gas reserves and are an important link to Afghanistan.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It will be an opportunity for improving trade ties as well as foster relations to check the menace of growing radicalization in the region.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>About Eurasian Economic Union</u>:</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization for regional economic integration. It has international legal personality and is established by the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It provides for free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, pursues coordinated, harmonized and single policy in the sectors determined by the Treaty and international agreements within the Union.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Member-States of the Eurasian Economic Union are the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Union was created to comprehensively upgrade, raise the competitiveness of and cooperation between the national economies, and to promote stable development in order to raise the living standards of the nations of the Member-States.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Supreme Council is the Union’s supreme authority. The Heads of the Member-States form the Supreme Council.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Intergovernmental Council is a Union’s body consisting of the Heads of the Member-States Governments.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eurasian Economic Commission is a permanent supranational regulatory body of the Union, with its members appointed by the Council of the Commission and the Board of the Commission. The core tasks of the Commission are fostering the conditions to support the operation and development of the Union, and drafting proposals in the field of economic integration within the Union.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Court of the Eurasian Economic Union is the court of justice of the Eurasian Economic Union, which ensures the uniform application of the EAEU Treaty and other Union treaties by the Union Member-States and bodies.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Eurasian Economic Union has an integrated single market of 176 million people and a gross domestic product of over 4 trillion U.S. dollars (PPP).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Controversial Meiji sites get world heritage status</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The UN’s cultural body recently conferred world heritage status on a number of new sites including some seen as representative of Japan’s industrial revolution, as South Korea lifted its opposition to the listing.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<li>UNESCO’s World Heritage committee added 23 sites considered representative of Japan’s industrial revolution under Emperor Meiji (1868-1910) to its vaunted list.</li>
<li>The 23 Meiji period (1868-1912) sites include coalmines and shipyards that Japan says contributed to its transformation from feudalism into a successful modern economy.</li>
<li>Japan is celebrating the sites’ inclusion, which is expected to boost tourism and opens up sources of funding for preservation work.</li>
<li>Inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage list can bring economic benefits, because as well as being a powerful tourist draw, world heritage sites are eligible for financial assistance towards preservation.</li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South Korea had, in the past, opposed the application for world heritage status unless clear reference was made to the use of an estimated 60,000 labourers forced to work at seven of the sites, including the island coalmine Gunkanjima, during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The period from 1868 until 1912 in Japan is called the Meiji era – after the name chosen by the young prince Mutsuhito, when he followed his father to the throne. Meiji means in Japanese ‘the enlightened rule’. During the Meiji period Japan underwent a stunning development from a medieval society to a leading economic and military power in Asia.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The BRICS countries are planning to create a currency pool under the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and officially launch their New Development Bank (NDB) in the upcoming Ufa summit in Russia. Critically examine the intentions behind such a currency pool and its likely consequences. (200 Words)</span></b></div>
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The <b>Contingent Reserve Arrangement(CRA)</b> as a part of NDB and the proposed creation of currency pool under it ,<b> is being launched by BRICS nations with intentions to provide protection against global liquidity pressures and when a member nation's currency issues is adversely affected by global financial pressures .It would also provide assistance to other countries suffering from the economic volatility.</b>The initiative and it's different aspects are summarized as below:-</div>
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<b><u>Positive impacts</u>:-</b></div>
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1. the proposed currency pool would reduce the dependence of BRICS nations on dollars and euros for international trade and payments thus, serving as an alternative currency to the these traditionally dominant currencies of the Western nations in the international exchange and trade markets.</div>
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2.would reduce the risks of member nations from any volatility in the international market by shielding their currencies from any severe affects and allowing mutual trade to go unabated without mutual payments into dollars and euro .</div>
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3.<b>The CRA will serve as buffer to overcome short-term liquidity pressure and meet unexpected risks or balance of payment burdens.</b></div>
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4. will facilitate currency swap among member countries and insulation to local economy and banks in the event of impositions of sanctions and financial embargoes .</div>
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<b><u>Negative aspects or grey areas</u>:-</b></div>
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1. dollar and euro are still the two most tradeable currencies in the international exchange market for trade and payments .It will be hard to challenge their dominance and promote any other currency as alternative .</div>
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2. The benefit of the currency pool under CRA would be limited to the trade and payments within the BRICS members only.Most of the BRICS members have far more trades in terms of volume and amount with non-BRICS nations than among themselves . </div>
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However, the existing supremacy of the U.S. dollar, the new currency order likely to be set by CRA may not necessarily be a full alternative but it is sure a welcome beginning in that direction.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Critically analyse the way national education policy in India has evolved since independence, its changing objectives and various challenges it is facing since then. (200 Words)</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/for-a-rational-education-debate/article7393209.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/for-a-rational-education-debate/article7393209.ece</a></div>
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India’s education policy since Independence got initiated with the University Education Commission [1950], Secondary Education Commission [1952] and the Education Commission [1964]. </div>
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- The National Policy on Education [NPE, 1968] marked a turning point with focus on equal opportunity in education for national and economic integration.</div>
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- <b>The 42nd CA Act, 1972 shifted Education to Concurrent List setting the stage for further reforms.</b></div>
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- Thereafter, NPE, 1986 provided for a national curriculum, "child-centered approach" in primary education & inclusive opportunity for women, SCs & STs and higher education reforms</div>
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- <b>86th CA Act, 2002 made Education a Fundamental Right under Article 21-A, and imbibed it in Directive Principles and Fundamental Duties. </b></div>
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- In 2009 the Right to Education Act increased enrolment and propelled primary</div>
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Yet, despite huge efforts, the education policy faces following challenges, among others:</div>
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- Huge rate of drop outs in primary and elementary education</div>
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- Weak teaching faculty coupled with training facilities, outdated curriculum and poor infrastructure</div>
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- Exam oriented with focus on rote-learning system</div>
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- Poor employability of graduates </div>
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- Wide disparities across socio-religious groups, genders and regions</div>
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The New Education Policy should tackle these challenges head-on and focus extensively on ACCESS, EQUITY and QUALITY, instead of propagating the same technocratic orientation.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was recently reported that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is opposed to India’s labour reform measures. Write a critical note on these measures and examine why ILO is opposing to them.</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/Ls80VqqVkwZhMqP1yT43DO/ILO-is-antijobs-and-antiIndia.html">http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/Ls80VqqVkwZhMqP1yT43DO/ILO-is-antijobs-and-antiIndia.html</a></div>
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Recently, a slew of measures that have been proposed by the Indian government in order to reform labour laws in the country ,have come under the criticism of several trade unions including the International Labour Organisations(ILO) .Some of these measures along with the positive and negative aspects of these proposed amendments are summarized as below:-</div>
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<b>Positive aspects:-</b></div>
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1.a single online compliance portal providing for self-certification, would simplify procedures and complexity of filling compliance with the labor laws ,reducing the number of forms from 16 earlier to just 1,providing more business and investment friendly environment .</div>
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2. extending the liability for ensuring the safety of an instrument used in the factory to the designer of that instrument and mandating shelters and restrooms .</div>
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3.setting up universal account numbers (UAN) for Provident Fund holders UAN would mean portability of accounts of EPF subscriber,allowing them to transfer or register their accounts to any EPF available.</div>
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<b>Negative aspects :-</b></div>
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1. Among the many amendments proposed to the Factories Act of 1948, one proposes to exempt units that employ 20 workers (instead of the present 10) if there is electricity and 40 workers (instead of the present 20) if there is no electricity, from the purview of the factories law. These numbers were set long ago. Apparently, if these amendments were passed, some 50% of the factories would no longer come under the purview of the factories law. </div>
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2. a single online compliance window that ends surprise inspections by labor inspectors and in which a computerised lottery system will decide which factory is to be inspected might reduce compliance scrutiny and checks on industries. </div>
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3.might lead to rampant and abrupt firing of laborers by industries. </div>
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All these negative aspects are some of the concerns raised by the ILO and trade unions.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-25316317279257497232015-07-07T05:00:00.002-07:002015-07-07T05:03:26.214-07:00Daily News Mail - News of 06/07/2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Greek Crisis</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u> – The Referendum</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greece crisis has reached its boiling point with Greeks decisively rejecting conditions of austerity(<i>meaning of austerity - </i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>sternness or severity of manner or attitude; severity; strictness; seriousness; solemnity</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) offered by Troika (EU, EC & IMF) in return for extension of debt repayment timelines. More worrying is the fact that as high as 61% people voted for ‘no’, which indicates unwillingness of debtors to repay their debt as per terms. This has sent shockwaves across capital markets of the world as they witnessed a notable fall in indices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Greece adopted Euro (in place of Drachma) in 2001, that time it was agreed that it would observe canons of fiscal prudence as mandated by EU.</b> Notably, that time too there was significant disparity in economy of Greece and richer EU countries like Germany and France. Global financial crisis of 2008 upset the economy of vulnerable Greek from which it has so far been unable to emerge. Now it has Debt to GDP ratio as high as 177%, which was below 100% couple of decades back. This means Greece owes 1.77 time its annual GDP. In actual terms its debt is above $ 300 billion. This is result of Debt trap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greece from long has been unable to raise taxes or control public expenditure, so that it can service its debt. Value Added Tax in Greece is lowest among EU nations. On top of it, tax evasion is severe. This prompted government to borrow fresh loans to repay old ones (along with interest). Major part of its revenue and borrowings went in interest payments. Borrowed money, unless invested in productive assets which yield return (profit) in excess of interest payable, is dangerous for borrower.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Consequently, Greece defaulted(</b><i>meaning of defaulted - default/ past participle - defaulted -- fail to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan or to appear in a court of law</i></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) on repayment of Euro 1.6 billion to IMF on 30th June; another payment of Euro 4.5 billion is due on 13th July. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To let this happen it will have to agree with conditions of lenders (Troika), in which Germany is main party. On one hand, people of Greece will have to pay high taxes, while on the other Government will rollback public expenditure significantly. Conditions of austerity are very detailed – for e.g. govt. will have to increase retirement age from 60 to 65 or Greece will have to reduce spending of military by certain amount. Problem is that, even if this is agreed by Greeks, it will take decades for them to revive. Otherwise they will have to break away from EU, which ironically Greeks don’t want either.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If Greece gets out of the Union, it will have to revive its own currency. Recent crisis has resulted intense outflow of currency (or capital funds) from Greece. In such scenario its own currency will be constantly spiraling downwards which will make its imports much expensive, which in turn will lead to wide ‘current account deficit’ and ‘balance of payment’. In normal circumstances, net importing countries like India, makes well their ‘Current account deficit’ good by utilizing their ‘capital account’ inflows through FDI or FIIs. But, as Greece is a big financial defaulter, big investors will treat this country as untouchable and stay away from it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greek leadership is obviously aware of consequences, so they are exerting moral pressure on lenders to ease the conditions. But Troika and interested countries (mainly Germany) fear that there are other vulnerable (but better) economies (Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Spain) and any relaxation to Greece will lure these countries to follow the suit. On the other hand, big fall out of the exit could be breakdown of European Union as a section in UK seems to be interested in it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It should be noted that Germany is a very strong export led economy having huge current account surplus. In case it is not part of EU, value of its own currency will be much higher in comparison to euro, thus turning its exports uncompetitive and expensive in world markets. Having said that, at the first place strength of German economy owes much to peripheral European economies which were weaker. Same reasons which made Germany as strong export led economy turned Greece into an import dependent and uncompetitive economy. This fact justifies Greece’s expectation of some relaxation from European community.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greece face emergency in 4 aspects –</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sovereign Debt Crisis </b>– Money owed by Greece government to International/ European lenders.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Banking Crisis</b> – Huge capital outflows has left very little with banks. They have stopped many of their functions.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Capital Outflows</b> – More and more money exiting Greece everyday</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Negative Trade Balance</b> – Tourism industry is severely hit which was main source of Euros and Forex, now that too gone.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">India has not so much to fear from the crisis. Fallout will be much less than 2008 crisis, which India withstood. But there are some lessons to learn – Regional disparities are threat to security of any union. We should expedite the process of integration of national markets. Main steps toward this will be implementation of GST and Integrating national agriculture markets.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">In the light of recently released Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), examine how poverty has been defined in India by various committees and commissions. Also critically comment how poverty in India is linked to the caste factor.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/secc-not-irrelevant-just-yet/article7390060.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/secc-not-irrelevant-just-yet/article7390060.ece</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the light of recently released Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), examine how poverty has been defined in India by various committees and commissions. Also critically comment how poverty in India is linked to the caste factor. (200 Words)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far, Poverty definition has been done by various committees. name of various committees are - Lakdawala committee, Tendulkar Committee, Rangarajan committee, etc. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The different perception of poverty line by these committees lie in their methodology of calculating poverty. For example <b>Lakdawala committee defined poverty line based on calories consumption in rural and urban are. Tendulkar committee defined poverty line based on expenditure in rural and urban ares. While Rangarajan Committee considered expenditure of a family of five person (which benefits economies of scale) to calculate poverty line.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently released <b>SECC tried to calculate poverty based on 7 deprivations </b>- such as <b>households with only one room with no solid walls and roof, those with no adult member aged 15-59, female-headed households with no adult male aged 15-59, those with differently abled members and no able-bodied member, SC/ST households, those with no literate member above the age of 25, and landless households deriving a major portion of their income from manual casual labour.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poverty is directly linked to the occupation of the person. In India, caste has been in social scene and determines persons occupation. That is a person born is a particular caste is supposed to do a particular job only. that is why those involved in low paying occupation are always confined to that occupation considering their caste. at times, certain low caste people are denied skill educations, thus depriving them of any opportunity as well. In this way poverty is linked to the caste in India. however due to positive discrimination (i.e. reservation) and other liberal thoughts this cycle of caste is breaking and people from any caste are occupying high paying jobs based on their talent and merit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Write a note the objectives and the importance of newly launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana(PMKSY) for Indian agriculture. (200 Words)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The newly launched Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), with an allocation of Rs 50,000 crore spread over a period of five years, will amalgamate three major ongoing irrigation programmes of the Centre to achieve a holistic development of irrigation potential.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The programmes, which would be brought under one roof, are the accelerated irrigation benefit programme of the ministry of water resources, integrated watershed management programme of the ministry of rural development and land resources, and the farm water management component of the national mission on sustainable agriculture of the department of agriculture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The scheme also aims at bringing the ministries, departments, agencies, financial institutions - engaged in creation, use and recycling of water - under a common platform so that a comprehensive and holistic view of the entire 'water cycle' is taken into account and proper water budgeting is done for all sectors - households, agriculture and industries," Singh told Business Standard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Union Cabinet said it would be implemented in project mode, which means the district administration draws up its own irrigation plan with the help of district forest officers, a lead bank officer and other departments. The state irrigation plan will be an amalgamation of all district plans.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The final guidelines of the programme for effective implementation and monitoring is being formulated in consultation with the departments concerned and ministries, and will be issued soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The PMGSY was one of the big poll promises of the BJP. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley allocated Rs 5,300 crore towards this in the budget for 2015-16.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>According to official data, till 2011-12, around 46.34 per cent of India's net sown area of around 140.80 million hectares was under irrigation.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In 2000-01, around 40.5 per cent of net sown area was under irrigation, a rise of around 5.8 percentage point in a decade.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>THREE-IN-ONE</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Allocation</u>: <u>Rs 50,000 crore spread over a period of five years</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Subsumes three major ongoing irrigation programmes of the Centre - accelerated irrigation benefit, integrated watershed management and farm water management component of the national mission on sustainable agriculture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rs 1,500 crore would be spent to develop rain water structures, check dams and contour buildings under the watershed management programme.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rs 2,000 crore for ongoing projects under the accelerated irrigation benefit programme and also for construction of field canals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rs 1,800 crore will be spent on developing water harvesting structures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Examine the linkages between job growth and manufacturing sector, and discuss how should India reform the manufacturing sector to generate more jobs.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of the 3 sectors of an economy: agriculture, industry and services, it is industry that can play the best role so far as equity is concerned. Job creation in manufacturing sector becomes important for India that needs to shed its excessive dependency (over 50% of total employment) on primary sector. It increases productivity and income - an effective way to tackle rampant poverty. Development of even one industry creates forward and backward linkages, encouraging ancillary units and boosting logistics, trade and commerce.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The pattern of growth matters to citizens more than the amount of growth. India’s manufacturing sector has limped along at around 15% of its GDP since the 1990s in spite of economic reforms and substantial increase of GDP. The government’s Make in India programme aims to rectify this. However, the measure of its success must not be whether the manufacturing sector becomes 25% of the GDP, which is often stated as the objective of the manufacturing policy, because that goal could be achieved with large capital-intensive plants and refineries. Which would not create many jobs. Therefore, the measure of the national manufacturing strategy’s success must be the numbers of jobs created across the country, especially in small and medium enterprises that create more employment, to ensure inclusion of people everywhere in the country’s progress. In the next 10 years, the aim must be to create 100 million good jobs across the country in manufacturing.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Manufacturing sector reform has been charted out in recent years via National Manufacturing Policy (NMP), 2012 that aims to raise GDP contribution of industry to 25% from present 15%, creating 100 million jobs in the process by 2022.</b> Although ambitious, the road to these goals have to whether political and economic storms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Introduction of GST to rationalize indirect tax regime needs to be the priority</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Linkages between industrial units, factories with equal quality and performance standards for all must be improved. The industries like apparel that help India earn significant forex are fragmented and have weak linkages</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Labour laws have to be reformed at the earliest. Rajasthan has taken steps in this regard, that must be emulated by others as well</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Total factor productivity that hinges on human resource development and technology use in factories also needs to improved. For textiles, govt schemes like TUFS have been implemented but delayed payments and support discourage manufacturers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Creating of 100 million good jobs has be at the core of any manufacturing sector reform to avoid a phenomenon of "jobless growth" that India faced in 2000s.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-46963659097179532722015-07-07T02:55:00.000-07:002015-07-07T02:56:31.126-07:00Daily News Mail - News of 05/07/2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Govt. looking for common ground to break impasse over Land Bill</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following directions from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), “thinking heads” in the Modi government have begun to formulate a strategy for breaking the impasse in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) over the controversial Land Acquisition Bill.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Options are being discussed to find a meeting ground for the government and the Opposition parties on three contentious provisions of the Bill — the consent clause, the social impact analysis and issues related to food security.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The UPA’s Land Acquisition Act required that at least 80 per cent of landowners must give consent to land acquisition for private projects and 70 per cent for public-private partnership projects.</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Exemptions</u>:</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Modi government’s Bill proposes to <b>exempt from consent five kinds of projects</b> — <b>defence, rural infrastructure, affordable housing, industrial corridors and infrastructure — when the Centre owns the land.</b> One option was to peg the number of consenting landowners to somewhere between 51 per cent and 80 per cent, but to apply this clause only to acquisitions for purely private use.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A new category of “essential infrastructure” will be created and defined for both rural and urban areas that will be exempted even from this redefined consent clause.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, those acquisitions for PPP projects where land will continue to vest with the government will be exempted.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“This will cover most of the five categories of infrastructure to which the Ordinance provides exemption,” the source said. The discussions on options are still under way. If the PMO gives the go-ahead, senior BJP leaders or Ministers could take them up — formally or informally — with the Opposition.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The options will have to be such that both sides will be able to claim victory,” the source said.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>On social impact assessment, one of the options, said the source, was to break it up into two parts: decide whether or not to go ahead with acquisition; and, decide on compensation and rehabilitation and resettlement and apply as per requirements of the projects.</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Move to link digital locker with Aadhaar challenged</u></b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A public interest petition, challenging the government's move to link digital locker facility to Aadhaar cards of citizens, was filed in the Supreme Court.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dedicated personal storage service is part of an initiative launched under Digital India programme on July 1 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help citizens digitally store documents like PAN card, passport, mark sheets and degree certificates. It also does away with the inconvenience of physical documents.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">RTI activist and Gurgaon resident Sudhir Yadav in his petition urged the court to quash the order <b>making Aadhaar mandatory for availing digital locker facility, saying it violates the fundamental right to equality and discriminate against persons who have no Aadhaar card.</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><b>Corporation Bank launches first MUDRA card</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) card under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) scheme was launched by the Corporation Bank.</span></div>
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<li>The card facilitates the withdrawal and use of the working capital finance by micro entrepreneurs. </li>
<li>Corporation Bank was the first bank to launch the MUDRA Card based on the RuPay platform, said a release from the bank.</li>
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<b><u>Category of Loans offered</u>:</b></div>
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<li>Three loan schemes are offered to the entrepreneurs based on their capacity to repay. <b>“Shishu” </b>scheme provides<b> loan up to Rs.50,000</b>. while a <b>loan amount up to Rs. 5 lakh</b> will be lent under <b>“Kishore” </b>scheme. Under <b>“Tarun”</b> scheme <b>loan up to Rs. 10 lakh will be offered.</b></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-23741838550133815092015-07-07T02:05:00.000-07:002015-07-07T06:28:55.574-07:00Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Ethics Case Study</u>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Case</u>:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>You are serving as Superintendent of Police of a district. You were incharge of conducting violence-free general elections in your jurisdiction and also you were responsible to stop distribution of illegal money, liquor and other freebies during campaigning by the candidates. During one night two police personnel at checkpost seize rupees one crore unaccounted money from a car. The money was meant to be distributed among voters to lure them to vote to a particular party. One of the policemen pockets rupees ten lakhs as he badly needed that money to pay for the treatment of his wife who was battling a life and death situation due to cancer. The other policeman knowing this truth supports his friend, but he too pockets rupees ten lakhs. They let the driver escape from the scene warning him not to show up in the district. Later they send their money to their homes and the report at the station that they have seized rupees eighty lakhs from an unknown vehicle whose driver ran away abandoning the vehicle.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>After the elections, the driver turns up with an influential local politician who has just won the election and narrates the incidence to you and registers a complaint against the two policemen.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>a) What will you do in this situation? Justify. (150 Words)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>b) The police man who took money to pay for the treatment of his wife requests you to not to take any action against him. You know that what he is saying is true. Will you treat him leniently? Justify. (100 Words)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer: 1. </b>Analyzing the case step by step, the unaccounted money of a whopping Rs 1 Crore being carried by the driver in his car during the time of election ,so it is wise to assume that money might be meant to use it to get undue favour from voters by luring them with cash,liqours and other freebies which is a seriuos crime and violation of the model code of conduct set the Election Commission of the India. Now, the money was seized by the two policemen at the check post ,each one whom pocketed Rs 10 Lakhs for personnel uses ,thus committing a serious crime of indulging in on-duty corruption and then they let the driver go away,thus failing in performing their duty of arresting him at the scene.In such situation, if i am the serving SP of that district, i would take following actions:-</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. First, register a case against the drivers and his politician master on charges of violation of model code of conduct by using money to lure votes and possession of unaccounted money . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Sending the report of the incident to the District Magistrate who was the Returning Officer and top most election officer in the district at the time of election and recommend him to set up an inquiry into the matter and bring it to the notice of the Election Commission. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. registering case against the two officers for indulging in on-duty corruption , dereliction of duty and violations of the rules and terms of their service and then proceed for conducting inquiry into the matter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b) Either of the two policemen ,regardless of their reasons and compulsions for stealing the seized money ,must not be treated with any leniency for indulging in corruptions and breaching the rules of their service.There must be a clear cut separation between one's personal issue and one's occupation .If the wife of the policeman concerned was ill and he needed money for her treatment of cancer ,he could have explored other options like health insurance cover, loans ,health benefits offered by his service as per the government set up rules,his past savings.He could just have narrated his problem to his senior officers who could have done something for him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer:2. </b>The stakeholders involved in the case above are 2 policemen, wife in hospital, general public, subordinate staff of police, political party. The policeman 1 prioritised his personal interest over public interest by taking money for his wife. Policeman 2 blatantly took bribe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an SP, his responsibility is to maintain law and order in the city, fulfil his duties like conducting free and fair elections in this case.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) SP should conduct an unbiased inquiry against both the policemen and proceed according to the law.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a. As an SP, it is his duty to guard law and order of the city. He must punish anyone who violates law of the land, whatever be the circumstances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">b. If he does not punish the guilty today, it might encourage further unethical and illegal practices among the subordinates. It is already evident by the behaviour of 2nd policeman. This would lead to breach of trust that public places in the police force. Breach of trust can lead to chaos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) In this case, the policeman's wife might still be battling from cancer or may be healthy now. If she still is battling from the cancer, then punishing the policeman harshly might bring more troubles in his family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, impunity would mean derilection of SP's duty. It would further mean breach of trust of district in him. He is accountable to the people and circumstances do not convert wrongdoings into right. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Further, if he treats him leniently, he violates Right to Equality of others (equal treatment under law).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are lot of people who do not have resources for their basic necessities. It does not mean that they violate laws (like murder, kidnap, loot a bank or in this case let a criminal go) to gain access to resources. If this happens, the country will go into chaos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Therefore, he must treat him with complete disregard of the circumstances. Though he can offer the help to family by government scheme, or giving loan or through any other ethical means he deems fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do you think emotional intelligence (EI) is must for public servants, especially politicians? Substantiate and also based on your personal experiences critically comment if public servants in India have adequate levels of EI. (200 Words)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emotional intelligence refers to ability of an individual to perceive and understand emotions, of others' as well as his own, and utilize them constructively in the thought process by effectively managing them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Politicians being popularly elected usually carry huge mandate and public support to fulfill their promises. In view of tremendous expectations from them, emotional intelligence helps them manage the situation by assuring of benefits to all without any prejudices. Especially after disasters when citizens may usually complain of lack of empathy on administration's part, politicians have to coordinate better with administration to allay people's fears and redress their grievances at the earliest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generally, public servants in India have shown lack of sympathy due to intense pressure they work under and absence of any formal training. Apart from politician pressing them for his partisan interest, occasionally he faces ire of the public as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once I went to a police station for registering complaint for my lost phone. After registering the report, on my enquiring that when could I come for checking the progress in the case, the policeman angrily retorted and in a humiliating tone asked me to get a new phone instead. His assistants were all giggling, unmindful of an aggrieved client they are mandated to serve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, not all public servants can be painted with same brush. Benevolence and activism of some District Collectors in tribal states and honest politicians living a frugal lifestyle are well-documented. Suitable methods like sensitivity training should be made part of employee training in govt sector so that administration gains public faith and better serves its mandated goals.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-3035010148012321072015-07-07T01:31:00.000-07:002015-07-07T01:31:16.355-07:00Daily News Mail - News of 04/07/2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>57 MLAs want motion against Lokayukta</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pressure on Karnataka Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao to quit has increased further with 57 MLAs seeking permission from the Speaker to move a motion in the Assembly for initiating the process of his removal from the office.</span><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bhaskar Rao is caught in row over an alleged bribery scandal involving his son.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Opposition parties are also seeking the recourse under Section 6 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, relating to the process for removal of a Lokayukta or Upalokayukta for “proved misbehaviour or incompetency.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>How Lokayukta can be removed</u>?</b></span><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, the Lokayukta can be removed by an order of the Governor after an address by each House of the legislature, supported by not less than two thirds of the members of that house present and voting.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The investigation for proof of misbehaviour or incapacity of Lokayukta has to be done as provided in the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, by a three-member committee, comprising two judges and a jurist.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The procedure is similar to that for impeachment of a High Court or Supreme Court judge, except that the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, uses the word “removal”, instead of impeachment.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Who is Lokayukta</u>?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per the Lokayukta act, Lokayukta means the person appointed as the Lokayukta (Note: the institution and the head of the institution have the same name), who either held the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court of India or that of the Chief Justice of a High Court in any states of India.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Appointment: </b>The Lokayukta is appointed by the Governor of Karnataka on advice of Chief Minister of Karnataka in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, the Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council, the Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The institution of lokayukta was established first in Maharashtra in 1971. Although Orissa had passed this regard in 1970, it came into force only in 1983.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Powers:</b> The Lokayukta has the power to investigate Chief Minister, all other Ministers and Members of the State Legislature and all state government employees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>BLACK MONEY RULES NOTIFIED</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Union government has notified the rules under the<b> Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Details of the Notified Rules</u>:</b></span><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All deposits made in an undisclosed overseas bank account since opening will be clubbed while assets like immovable property, shares and jewellery will be valued at fair market price for levy of tax and penalty under the new black money law.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All overseas income and assets, including the ones voluntarily declared within the 90-day compliance window ending September 30, will be valued in rupee terms.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fair market value of assets like bullion, jewellery or precious stone, immovable property, drawings, paintings, archaeological collections, and sculptures or work of art, will be “its cost of acquisition” or the price that the asset “shall ordinarily fetch if sold in the open market on the valuation date”, whichever is higher.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per the rules, for shares and securities, the fair market value will be the higher of the cost of acquisition or average of the lowest and highest price on the date of valuation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rules also provide a formula for calculating the fair market value of an unquoted equity shares and provided a methodology for calculating the interest of a person in a partnership firm, association of persons or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rules also say that in case the person disclosing foreign income does not have a PAN, he or she would be required to apply for it.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>KERALA’S RESPONSE SOUGHT</u></b></span></div>
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The Supreme Court has sought Kerala’s response to Tamil Nadu’s petition that the security of the Mullaperiyar dam be handed over to the CISF.</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The Tamil Nadu government had on February 20 moved the apex court seeking deployment of CISF for protection of Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Mullaperiyar Dam- Quick facts</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River in Kerala.</li>
<li>It is located 881 m (2,890 ft) above mean sea level, on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkady, Idukki District of Kerala.</li>
<li>It was constructed between 1887 and 1895 by John Pennycuick to divert water eastwards to the Madras Presidency area (present-day Tamil Nadu).</li>
<li>The Periyar National Park in Thekkady is located around the dam’s reservoir.</li>
<li>The dam is located in Kerala on the river Periyar, but is operated and maintained by Tamil Nadu state.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Loss of polar bear habitat is imminent, warns study</span></u></b></div>
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A recent U.S. government report shows that about a third of the world’s polar bears could be in imminent danger from greenhouse gas emissions in as soon as a decade. A report by the U.S. Geological Survey said scientific models don’t bode well for polar bear populations across the world.</div>
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<b><u>Important observations made by the report</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Greenhouse gases are blamed for the climate warming that’s reducing polar bears’ summer sea ice habitat.</li>
<li>Polar bears use sea ice for feeding, mating and giving birth. When the ice retreats in the summer, polar bears are forced to the land. The report says that the land-based food would not help bears adapt to the loss of sea ice.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Polar Bear- Basic Facts</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>It is a carnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses.</li>
<li>Their scientific name means “maritime bear”.</li>
<li>Polar bears hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present.</li>
<li>The polar bear is <b>classified as a vulnerable species</b>, with eight of the nineteen polar bear subpopulations in decline.</li>
<li><b>The World Conservation Union (IUCN) estimates that there are between 20,000-25,000 polar bears in the world.</b></li>
</ul>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">BSNL launches ‘mobile wallet’</span></u></div>
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State-run operator BSNL recently launched a pre-paid card linked mobile wallet service which would allow its customers to transfer money, pay for services as well as withdraw cash of up to Rs. 1 lakh.</div>
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<b><u>Details</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The wallet service, <b>Speed Pay</b>, allows a customer to load money <b>even if he does not have a bank account.</b></li>
<li>The <b>money loaded in the mobile wallet can be transferred to a bank account and even withdrawn at bank branches or BSNL outlets.</b></li>
<li>Loading money into wallet from a bank account is an option. BSNL customers, who don’t have bank accounts, can also load money by visiting any BSNL retail outlet and asking the retailer to recharge their mobile wallet account and pay for various services.</li>
<li>The service has been launched in partnership with IT company Pyro.</li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Govt releases socio-economic and caste census for better policy-making</span></u></b></div>
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The union government recently released <b>socio-economic and caste census (SECC) 2011.</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>This is the first paperless census conducted on hand-held electronic devices by the government.</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Details of the Census</u>:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>According to the census, there are a total number of 24.39 crore households in the country, of which 17.91 crore live in villages. Of these, 10.69 crore households are considered as deprived.</b></li>
<li><b>The census says that 23.52% rural families have no literate adult above 25 years, suggesting a poor state of education among rural masses.</b></li>
<li><b>The census indicates that one out of three families living in villages is landless and depends on manual labour for livelihood. The deprivation data reveal that 5.37 crore (29.97%) households in rural areas are landless deriving a major part of their income from manual labour.</b></li>
<li>As many as 2.37 crore (13.25%) families in villages live in houses of one room with ‘kaccha’ walls and roof.</li>
<li>53%, or 3.86 crore, families living in villages belong to SC/ST categories.</li>
<li>6% of all rural households in the country pay income tax.</li>
<li>As for sources of income, 9.16 crore households (51.14%) depend on manual casual labour followed by cultivation (30.10%).</li>
<li>5 crore (14.01%) rural families are dependent on income from other sources which include government service, private sector and PSUs.</li>
<li>08 lakh households fall back on ragpicking while 6.68 lakh depend on begging and charity alms.</li>
<li>Transgenders comprise 0.1% of India’s rural population. Andaman & Nicobar islands, West Bengal, Gujarat, Odisha and Mizoram have the highest proportions of transgenders.</li>
<li>6% of rural Indians were unmarried, 40% are currently married and 3.5% are divorced.</li>
<li>Daman and Diu lead the country in the proportion of their rural population that has remained unmarried — at 55.9%, this is far higher than the national average. Chandigarh, on the other hand, has only 23.2% of its population that has never married.</li>
<li><b>The rural development ministry has taken a decision to use the SECC data in all its programmes.</b></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<b><u>Data on Literacy</u>:</b></div>
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>The Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC) has found that 36% of the 884 million people in rural India are illiterate. This is higher than the 32% recorded by the Census of India 2011.</b></li>
<li>Of the 64% literate rural Indians, a more than a fifth have not even completed primary school. The SECC also found that only 5.4% of rural India has completed high school with a mere 3.4% having graduated from college.</li>
<li>This poor state of rural education is reflected in the fact that 23.5% of rural households had no adults above the age of 25 who are literate – one of the categories of deprivation measured by the SECC.</li>
<li>The performance within States is hugely varied, with an alarming 47.6% of rural Rajasthanis remaining illiterate, compared to 9.3% in Lakshadweep and 11.4% in Kerala.</li>
<li>Delhi performs the best when it comes to percentage of its rural population that has completed graduate studies – at 9.6%, its performance is almost thrice as good as the national average.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGxXWaIewGJt7rBt9UVjTl1JqmFJM3G5GiouRNcQmOgytKSMAEdG5EhFqC526JmQWtjsOhQpOltD8iLlium1EicY7ohINTzr7Zs6kovSh9dMTyNoP-FMylWwY9JXklrHZjVqiIUwjCnc/s1600/Socio-economic-survey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGxXWaIewGJt7rBt9UVjTl1JqmFJM3G5GiouRNcQmOgytKSMAEdG5EhFqC526JmQWtjsOhQpOltD8iLlium1EicY7ohINTzr7Zs6kovSh9dMTyNoP-FMylWwY9JXklrHZjVqiIUwjCnc/s400/Socio-economic-survey.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Know Your College (KYC)</span></u></b></div>
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“Know Your College” is a portal developed by the Ministry of Human Resource Development which is aimed at helping the students make an informed decision on the choice of college and the courses.</div>
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<b><u>Details</u>:</b></div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>This portal covers almost 10,500 colleges which conduct about 14,000 programs in Technical Education and 35000 colleges conducting at least 20,000 programs in Non-Technical education.</li>
<li>It is a repository of information pertaining to colleges and information related to its faculty, labs, library, infrastructure, and availability of hostel facilities etc.</li>
<li>Students are also encouraged to send their complaints on discrepancies of information provided by colleges through this portal.</li>
<li>This portal is being maintained by AICTE. This portal also acts as a single stop destination for students for making an informed choice.</li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Critically analyse the important findings of the first socio-economic and caste census in India since 1934, the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC), with reference to education, health, land, water and electricity accessibility. (200 Words)</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/30-pc-of-rural-households-landless/article7384689.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/30-pc-of-rural-households-landless/article7384689.ece</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/health-costs-forcing-families-into-debt/article7384639.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/health-costs-forcing-families-into-debt/article7384639.ece</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/no-water-power-in-many-urban-households/article7384715.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/no-water-power-in-many-urban-households/article7384715.ece</a></div>
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Important findings of Socio Economic and Caste Census, 2011 will laid the policy makers to focus on the data for better implementation of the socio and economic programmes. One of the reason of recent failure of the government programmes is non-availability of the data related to the basic conditions of the people.</div>
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Some of the key findings in census that will help policymakers are:</div>
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1) 23.5 percent of 17.91 crore rural households have no literate adults above 25 years, this shows lack of education infrastructure in rural areas. Universalisation of education under the aegis of sarva shiksha abhiyan is not going to achieve soon. It needs to overhaul the system and synergy of public and private partnership requires.With 36 percent of rural population illiterate, development and digitisation of India is not possible.</div>
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2) More than 70 percent of the rural population are dependent on private hospital/doctor to avail health care facilities. With 85 percent of the people have no health expenditure support, either from a government scheme or through an employer or private insurance, hence two out of 3 households have to dip int their savings to pay for hospitalisation. These figures says people are still struggling for better public hospital facilities and need health care insurance. With such figures, there is also need to figure out why Rashtriya Swastha Bima Yojana is not reaching to below poverty line peoples ?</div>
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3) 1 in 3 rural households or 30 percent of rural households are landless and depend on manual labour for their livelihood. These landless people must be included under National skill Development Program. MUDRA bank is a better initiative by the government which can fund these landless people for setting up micro and small enterprises instead of depending on manual labour for their livelihood.</div>
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4) Data collated during the survey in urban areas, shows as many as 50 lakh households have drinking water away from the premises, while 20 lakh households have no electricity supply and no water sealed toilets. Drinking facilities are still not provided,it shows lack of basic infrastructure. Electric supply need to be distributed rationally so that it must shift from wastage to necessity.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Do you think India’s economic progress and its inclusive growth strategy has reduced poverty and inequality in the country? Critically analyse, especially with reference to the plight of tribal population. (200 Words)</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/tribal-alienation-in-an-unequal-india/article7384669.ece">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/tribal-alienation-in-an-unequal-india/article7384669.ece</a></div>
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On one hand, India has become 3rd largest economy, its growth rate is predicted to be among the best in the world by IMF and WB. On the other hand, out of the 20% poorest people in the world, 1/4th are in India. Marginalized sections like tribals are among the most disadvantaged in India. This has begged the question if the increasing growth rate has translated into inclusive growth for all the sections. Inequality in India operates on multiple axes — of gender, class, caste, region, religion and ethnicity. But perhaps the worst suffering is of India’s tribal people</div>
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Our inclusive growth strategy, since 1990s LPG reforms, has been free market economy for wealth creation and State interventions for socialistic goals. Further, our strategy works on the assumption of growth spurring further development in neighbouring regions through ancillary economic activities.</div>
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<b>Poverty Reduction:</b></div>
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1. This strategy has worked to some extent as seen in the decline in the poverty rate in the country. Last decade saw the fastest reduction in poverty in India.</div>
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2. However, still large gaps remain. Marginalized groups like tribals still do not have access to basic facilities like health, education, decent income source etc.</div>
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<b>Inequality Reduction:</b></div>
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1. Poverty might have reduced to some extent but inequality has only grown. <b>Today, top 1% of Indians hold 49% of the wealth. The share of India’s richest 10 per cent families has grown from 66 per cent in the year 2000 to 74 per cent today.</b></div>
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2. Further, the model of economic growth that we are following is further widening the gaps. Eg:- <b>Around 40 per cent of the 60 million people displaced following development projects in India are tribals, which is not a surprise given that 90 per cent of our coal and more than 50 per cent of most minerals and dam sites are mainly in tribal regions.</b></div>
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3. The policies also favour the richer. Eg:- rights of earning money from forest produce are denied to tribals in practice while forest resources are exploited by the industries.</div>
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4. Even in many developed districts, we find pockets of most backward subdistricts in India. These are mostly the regions where tribals reside.</div>
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<b>our focus should be not just on GDP growth itself, but on achieving a growth process that is as inclusive as possible. For example, faster growth for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises segment will generate a much broader spread of employment and income earning opportunities and is, therefore, more inclusive than growth largely driven by extractive industries or the service sector.</b></div>
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<b>Huge income-generation and biodiversity conservation possibilities also exist if we can imaginatively utilise the vast unutilised potential of the Non-Timber Forest Products market, which is estimated to run into several thousands of crores, of which only a minuscule fraction accrues to the tribal communities.</b></div>
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Therefore, our economic model needs a course-correction towards compassionate capitalism and respect for the rights of disadvantaged, especially tribals. Better implementation of Forest Rights Act, providing health, education, developing skills and creation of jobs through MSMEs will go a long way.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In recent years India has become a haven for commercial surrogacy, a controversial assisted reproductive technology. Critically examine why this is popular in India, the various concerns raised against this practice and the efficacy of legislation in regulating this practice. (200 Words)</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/2015_50/26-27/Women_at_Risk_in_the_Unregulated_Surrogacy_Industry.pdf">http://www.epw.in/system/files/pdf/2015_50/26-27/Women_at_Risk_in_the_Unregulated_Surrogacy_Industry.pdf</a></div>
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Surrogacy is popular in India not only among the couples in India but also among the NRIs and the foreign nations like Europe and Asia.</div>
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<b>Reasons for popularity of Surrogacy in India are as follows:</b></div>
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1. Surrogacy is considered as livelihood opportunity for women and their families, because of their poor economic and social conditions, women are coming forward to offer this service.</div>
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2. Loopholes in regulation in India is also making things easier for couples domestically and abroad to reach out to surrogacy clinics in India.</div>
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<b>Various concerns in this regard are:</b></div>
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1. Lack of safeguards for the women against deterioration of their health conditions during the surrogacy and post surrogacy.</div>
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2. Citizenship complexities arose, a case where baby belongs to the couple from abroad but is born in India which offers him an Indian citizenship.</div>
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3. Clinics are making facilities of surrogacy options even for a single parent which is undesirable.</div>
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4. Opaqueness in the operations of surrogacy clinics like the unethical practices, payment norms.</div>
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Till now there is no regulation in the form of a law, however certain guidelines were in force from IMA and MHA. </div>
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The first ICMR guidelines in India were released in 2002, and in October 2008, the Supreme Court unequivocally ruled that “commercial surrogacy is legal and an industry in India”, making it a legally protected and viable option for international couples.</div>
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<b>Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, 2013(ART Bill, 2013)</b> is pending for more than 4 years now.The ART Bill has undergone atleast two revisions, but there still seemed several loopholes the last time I read through it.</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>The following issues may be covered in the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill</b></div>
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<li>Age limits for the surrogate mothers.</li>
<li>Minimum compensation payable to the surrogate mothers in surrogacy arrangements</li>
<li>Eligibility criterion for International Couples to take up surrogacy arrangments in India</li>
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<li>A couple or an individual shall not have the service of more than one surrogate at any given time.</li>
<li>A couple shall not have simultaneous transfer of embryos in the woman and in a surrogate.</li>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Is it the liquor or excise policy that kills the people in India? In the light of recent illicit liquor consumption related deaths, critically comment on the statement. (200 Words)</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://www.epw.in/editorials/killer-mix.html">http://www.epw.in/editorials/killer-mix.html</a></div>
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The Subject of the Liquor is the Subject of social and Health factor driven by the Economics in India. Though Directive principal say the state to move in direction of prohibition of the Liquor Consumption , The State can’t implement it cause the Excise duty form the liquor is important source of the Revenue basket of the state.</div>
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In General , States tends to Keep the High Rate of duty on the liquor to increase the revenue ( and also encourage the people to leave the habit of Alcohol) but it proved the counter productive as it Effect on the health of the people in following manner :-</div>
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1.Due to high taxation on Factory made liquor ( Leal) , It’s become costly and due to that Poor people tends to Consume the locally available liquor which do not follow any drug or food regulation. So , It’s prone to health hazard.</div>
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2.Higher Cost of Legal liquor , Indirectly Increase the producer of the illegal liquor maker in Area and Illegal liquor came more easily available , It increase the consumption of liquor.<b>Even the “deshi” (country liquor sold in government-recognised outlets) is often three times more expensive—thanks to the excise policy—than the brew sold illegally in pouches which also promises the extra kick from added chemicals. Liquor, whether legal or illegal, has become a curse for lakhs of families—a drain on their resources, a cause of domestic violence and a contributor to ill health.</b></div>
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3.Liquor , Legal or illegal drain the wealth of family and also increase the case of the Domestic violence and other social evil in society. ( Anti arrack movement in AP)</div>
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So, More or less the Govt taxation policy related to the Liquor play huge role in the Death related to the consumption of illegal liquor.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7738058512083869878.post-25479125746604200962015-07-06T05:44:00.002-07:002015-07-06T05:44:35.663-07:00Ethics Integrity and Aptitude<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ETHICS CASE STUDY: </span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. </b>A rape victim was offered marriage proposal to marry the person who had raped her and also a promise of financial support was made to her. All this was made so that she would not go to court to seek justice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In your opinion, does such offerings do justice to the victim? Critically comment on this issue. (200 Words)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer: </b>Rape means sexual act without the consent of the women or men. It is a heinous crime which has no justification in any society. It is violative of a persons right over themselves. It is the highest form of assault on another person. It attacks their dignity. Hence, any reprieve or being liberal on the perpetuator is undoing of a moral society.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Offering marriage proposal and financial incentive is in itself a negation of the women's dignity and respect. The idea that marriage with the rapist would reduce the women's trauma and be justice to the women is a manifestation of the patriarchal mindset of seeing women as sex objects. How can a women who has suffered severe trauma due to a persons lust spend her whole life with him?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Justice for the victim and for the common good of the society means firstly, the rapist should be punished and secondly, marriage proposal by a rapist sets a very bad precedent to the society. It should be severely condemned. The victim should be rehabilitated and allowed freedom to live her life and seek justice from courts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2.</b>An IAS officer visits to see demolition of an illegal temple that was built on a public road. He had ordered that demolition in the public interest after receiving a complaint and thoroughly verifying facts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He is accompanied by handful of police personnel. While the demolition is going on, a mob tries to disrupt it. They try to burn IAS officer’s vehicle. When the police try to escort IAS officer to safety, the mob pelts stones at them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this moment someone suggests IAS officer to order police to fire shots at the stone-pelting mob. IAS officer’s safety is at risk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>If you were the IAS officer, how you would have conducted yourself? Substantiate. (150 Words)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Answer: </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI50hvwWzYWNEGJK9IH8mNrh3bk95MizzD9g-gyn5AzfbuCegQaJuNpuBkRS81jW1qAeGc71CTZAbh-y-oxnVXMg1f7LjEEwzIBub-furVcLMy6QfdZFAR_HYsE5cHaC3Lt0vYwNenjHg/s1600/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI50hvwWzYWNEGJK9IH8mNrh3bk95MizzD9g-gyn5AzfbuCegQaJuNpuBkRS81jW1qAeGc71CTZAbh-y-oxnVXMg1f7LjEEwzIBub-furVcLMy6QfdZFAR_HYsE5cHaC3Lt0vYwNenjHg/s640/original.jpg" width="486" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Demolition work should be completed as early as possible without inviting unwanted attention from the people, politicians & media and also ensuring that law and order doesn't go out of hands. As it is a religious issue, there is a higher scope for manipulating the whole event in an ugly manner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all, I will speak with SP and other officers present at that place and ask them what all options are available with us to deal with the issue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, we will analyse whether the demolition is possible with use of minimal police involvement for controlling the law and order.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thirdly, fire shots is out of question as these protesters also include innocent people who are blind folded by the people who guided them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fourthly, I will ask SP to deploy more police personnel and control the situation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fifthly, if the situation becomes even more worse, I will ask the authorities to stop the demolition work temporarily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sixth, I will conduct a meeting with the important people and look for alternatives like demolition early in morning or midnight or speaking to the stakeholders for relocation of the temple etc.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12299770329947536035noreply@blogger.com0