1. Pineapple agroforestry can help tackle climate change, biodiversity loss: Study READ MORE  
2. India Ratifies Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol, to Phase Out HFCs READ MORE
3. COP15: After Delays, UN Biodiversity Agreement Expected Next Year READ MORE

1. Caste census can change social equations READ MORE
2. Domestic Violence as the Shadow Pandemic: INDIRA JAISING takes a look at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on domestic violence. READ MORE
3. Choice matters: The Bombay HC has allowed a case of abortion, according to priority to the mother’s mental health READ MORE

1. The police we need: India requires a police force that is responsive and respected and not one that is feared, as is the case today READ MORE  
2. How can we guarantee the Speaker’s impartiality? READ MORE
3. Supreme Court: Bridge the gender gap READ MORE
4. Odisha health plan a step in the right direction READ MORE
5. Choice matters: The Bombay HC has allowed a case of abortion, according to priority to the mother’s mental health READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Cabinet approves implementation of National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm READ MORE
2. Explained: Nuclear fusion and the recent breakthrough READ MORE
3. New Study Suggests Indus Valley People Spoke Ancestral Dravidian Language READ MORE
4. HDFC can now issue new credit cards as RBI eases ban after 8 months READ MORE
5. Supreme Court allows women candidates to appear for UPSC NDA exam READ MORE
6. China unveils new rules targeting anticompetitive practices by internet companies READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Bairagis: The tradition of saint-warriors in India READ MORE
2. Caste census can change social equations READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The police we need: India requires a police force that is responsive and respected and not one that is feared, as is the case today READ MORE  
2. How can we guarantee the Speaker’s impartiality? READ MORE
3. Supreme Court: Bridge the gender gap READ MORE
4. Odisha health plan a step in the right direction READ MORE
5. Choice matters: The Bombay HC has allowed a case of abortion, according to priority to the mother’s mental health READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Domestic Violence as the Shadow Pandemic: INDIRA JAISING takes a look at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on domestic violence. READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India at the UNSC READ MORE  
2. Did India rely too much on the US? Taliban siege of Kabul is affecting our regional power status READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. A delayed intervention: With global demand booming, the Centre must act faster to rev up export growth engine READ MORE
2. So where has all the money gone? READ MORE
3. Beyond bank accounts: Protect investor confidence to increase financial inclusion READ MORE
4. Flaws in farm insurance: Response to PMFBY remains underwhelming READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Pineapple agroforestry can help tackle climate change, biodiversity loss: Study READ MORE  
2. India Ratifies Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol, to Phase Out HFCs READ MORE
3. COP15: After Delays, UN Biodiversity Agreement Expected Next Year READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Why we watch sport: When our support turns into tribalism, we relinquish the most cherished principles that inhere in sport READ MORE
2. Who decides what is bad and what is good? READ MORE
3. Scientific thinking & all that goes with it READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. Discuss the ethical issues in the sports sector in India. According to you, what is the true value of sport?
2. How far do you agree with the view that it should be made mandatory that the Speaker ought to resign from his party and his sole allegiance must be to the Constitution and to maintaining the dignity of the House? Justify your statement in light of the recently concluded Monsoon session.
3. ‘Sage-warriors in Mughal and British India gave a new dimension to ‘Ahimsa’ by training to use weapons to protect temples and monasteries’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• India requires a police force that is responsive and respected and not one that is feared, as is the case today.
• Either allow Parliament and state legislatures to descend into terminal decline or make the Speaker truly independent and let every legislature perform its constitutional function.
• Once a person is elected Speaker, he is expected to be above parties, above politics. In other words, he belongs to all the members or belongs to none. He holds the scales of justice evenly, irrespective of party or person.
• It should be made mandatory that the Speaker ought to resign from his party and his sole allegiance must be to the Constitution and to maintaining the dignity of the House.
• The separation of powers is part of the basic structure of our Constitution. If Parliament ceases to be relevant, the foundation of our democracy will progressively get weaker.
• In the Lok Sabha, as in the United Kingdom, the Speaker is the supreme authority; he has vast powers and it is his primary duty to ensure the orderly conduct of the business of the House.
• India has settled its maritime disputes with virtually all its neighbors, with only its maritime boundary with Pakistan yet to be demarcated.
• While India need not publicly allude to such exchanges with ASEAN, it should, as a member of Quad, be prepared to have these issues taken up by Quad members at meetings with their ASEAN dialogue partners.
• Sage-warriors in Mughal and British India gave a new dimension to ‘Ahimsa’ by training to use weapons to protect temples and monasteries

50-WORD TALK

• The Supreme Court allowing women to take the NDA entrance exam is another good nudge to the armed forces to get proactive and include more women. However, there are logistical and operational issues that cannot be ignored. The government should work with the court on timelines and ensure smooth implementation.
• The Taliban’s press conference, allowing women to work, not insisting on burkha, and amusement park ride videos aren’t enough to amuse us. It has come to power illegitimately. It is too soon to give this Islamist terror outfit a soft landing. Wait a few months to judge its real colors.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

[WpProQuiz 26]

INDIAN ECONOMY

1. GOVT ANNOUNCES RATES FOR RODTEP SCHEME FOR EXPORTERS; TO COVER 8,555 ITEMS

THE CONTEXT: To boost exports, the government on Aug 17 announced rates of tax refunds under the export promotion scheme RoDTEP for 8,555 products, such as marine goods, yarn, dairy items.

Analysis:

• The government has set aside Rs 12,454 crore for refunds under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme for the current fiscal
• Under the RoDTEP, various central and state duties, taxes, and levies imposed on input products, among others, would be refunded to exporters.
• Rs 19,400 crore would be available for 2021-22 for both the RoDTEP and the Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL).
• The RoSCTL scheme was announced for the export of garments and apparels.
• However, three sectors of steel, chemicals and pharmaceuticals would not get the benefit of RoDTEP as they have “done well without” incentives.
• The tax refund rates range from 0.5 per cent to 4.3 per cent for various sectors.
• The rebate under the scheme would not be available in respect of duties and taxes already exempted or remitted or credited
• RoDTEP support will be available to eligible exporters at a notified rate as a percentage of Freight On Board (FOB) value. Rebates on certain export products will also be subject to value cap per unit of the exported product.
• According to the guidelines, certain categories which would not avail the benefits include export goods which are subject to minimum export price, restricted and prohibited items, deemed exports, supplies of goods manufactured by domestic tariff area units to SEZs, and products manufactured or exported by units situated in special economic zones.
• Although, the Scheme’s nodal ministry is Min of Commerce and Industry, the Customs department will implement the scheme

Reference: Indian express

2. FINANCIAL INCLUSION INDEX (FI-INDEX) BY RBI

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced the financial inclusion index (FI-Index) to capture the extent of financial inclusion in the country.

Analysis:

• The annual FI-Index for the period ending March 2021 is 53.9 as against 43.4 for the period ending March 2017.
• The FI-Index has been conceptualized as a comprehensive index incorporating details of banking, investments, insurance, postal, and the pension sector in consultation with government and respective sectoral regulators
• The index captures information on various aspects of financial inclusion in a single value ranging between 0 and 100, where 0 represents complete financial exclusion and 100 indicates full financial inclusion.
• The FI-Index comprises three broad parameters, including access, usage and quality with each of these consisting of various dimensions computed on the basis of on several indicators.
• The index is responsive to ease of access, availability and usage of services, and quality of services, comprising 97 indicators in all.
• A unique feature is the quality parameter, which captures the quality aspect of financial inclusion as reflected by financial literacy, consumer protection, and inequalities and deficiencies in services.
• The FI-Index, which will be published in July every year, has been constructed without any ‘base year’ and as such it reflects cumulative efforts of all stakeholders over the years towards financial inclusion.

Reference: Live mint

3. OIL BONDS AND REDUCTION OF TAXES ON PETROL

THE CONTEXT: The Centre has argued that it cannot reduce taxes on petrol and diesel as it has to bear the burden of payments in lieu of oil bonds issued by the previous UPA government to subsidise fuel prices.

Analysis

• Before fuel prices were deregulated, petrol and diesel as well as cooking gas and kerosene were sold at subsidised rates during UPA rule.
• Instead of paying direct subsidy to oil marketing companies from the Budget, the UPA government issued oil bonds totalling Rs 1.34 lakh crore to the state-fuel retailers in a bid to contain the fiscal deficit.
• Citing the need to repay interest and principal components on these bonds, the Centre has now argued that it needs higher excise duty to help its finances.
• The NDA government too has used a similar strategy to inject capital into state-owned banks and other institutions by issuing recapitalisation bonds worth Rs 3.1 lakh crore, which will come up for redemption between 2028 and 2035.

WHY WERE OIL PRICES DEREGULATED, AND HOW HAS IT IMPACTED CONSUMERS?

• Fuel price decontrol has been a step-by-step exercise, with the government freeing up prices of aviation turbine fuel in 2002, petrol in 2010, and diesel in 2014.
• Prior to that, the government would intervene in fixing the price at which retailers were to sell diesel or petrol.
• This led to under-recoveries for oil marketing companies, which the government had to compensate for.
• The prices were deregulated to make them market-linked, unburden the government from subsidising prices, and allow consumers to benefit from lower rates when global crude oil prices tumble.
• While oil price deregulation was meant to be linked to global crude prices, Indian consumers have not benefited from a fall in global prices as the central as well as state governments impose fresh taxes and levies to raise extra revenues.
• This forces the consumer to either pay what she’s already paying, or even more
• Price decontrol essentially offers fuel retailers such as Indian Oil, HPCL or BPCL the freedom to fix prices based on calculations of their own cost and profits.
• However, the key beneficiary in this policy reform of price decontrol is the government.

HOW MUCH TAXES/DUTIES HAS THE GOVERNMENT COLLECTED?

• The Centre’s revenue from taxes on crude oil and petroleum products jumped 45.6% in 2020- 21 to Rs 4.18 lakh crore.
• Excise duty on petroleum products jumped over 74% year-on-year to Rs 3.45 lakh crore in 2020-21, according to government data.
• The Centre’s share in taxes on petroleum products has progressively increased from Rs 2.73 lakh crore in 2016-17 to Rs 2.87 lakh crore in 2019-20.
• On the other hand, the share of states in taxes on crude oil and petroleum products decreased 1.6% to Rs 2.17 lakh crore in 2020-21 from Rs 2.20 lakh crore in 2019-20.
• The Centre and a number of states have significantly increased duties on petrol and diesel as a way to boost revenues in view of the Covid-induced restrictions that curtailed economic activity.
• State and central levies account for about 55.4% of the retail price of petrol and 50% of the price of diesel in Delhi. Central levies alone account for about 32.3% of the retail price of petrol and 35.4% of the pump price of diesel in Delhi.
• The Centre hiked the excise duty on petrol to Rs 32.98 per litre in May 2020 from Rs 19.98 per litre, and on diesel to Rs 31.83 from Rs 15.83.
• Fuel prices have increased steadily over the last one year.
• The country has already seen a 21.7% increase in the prices of petrol and diesel since the beginning of the year.
• Petrol is currently retailing at Rs 101.8 per litre in Delhi and diesel at Rs 89.87 per litre.
• The price of petrol has been increased 39 times and decreased once in 2021-22, while that of diesel has been increased 36 times and decreased twice.
• In 2020-21, the price of petrol was hiked 76 times and decreased 10 times and that of diesel increased 73 times and decreased 24 times.

TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE THE OIL BONDS BEEN SERVICED BY THE GOVERNMENT?

• The interest on oil bonds paid in the last seven years totalled Rs 70,195.72 crore.
• Of the Rs 1.34 lakh crore worth of oil bonds, only Rs 3,500 crore principal has been paid and the remaining Rs 1.3 lakh crore is due for repayment between this fiscal and 2025-26.
• The government has to repay Rs 10,000 crore in the current fiscal year, another Rs 31,150 crore in 2023-24, Rs 52,860 crore in 2024-25, and Rs 36,913 crore in 2025-26.
• But this is less than a tenth of the excise duty on petroleum products at Rs 3.45 lakh crore, a majority of which accrues to the Centre.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT’S BOND STRATEGY FOR BANKS?

• In October 2017, then Finance Minister had announced that recapitalisation bonds would be issued as a one-time measure to inject equity into PSU banks that were stressed by bad loans.
• This instrument does not impact the fiscal deficit, with only interest payment being reflected in deficit calculations.
• Initially, the government had indicated that a total of Rs 1.35 lakh crore worth of recap bonds would be issued, but this later became routine and a convenient practice.
• The government so far has issued recapitalisation bonds to public sector banks and EXIM Bank, IDBI Bank and IIFCL worth Rs 3.1 lakh crore, as per Budget document

NOTE: STUDENTS NEED TO REMEMBER ONLY MACRO TRENDS, GRANULAR DATA GIVEN TO PROVIDE CONTEXT.

Reference: Indian express

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

4. IMPACT OF DELAY IN CENSUS 2021

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Home Affairs has informed the Lok Sabha that Census 2021 has been postponed indefinitely.

Analysis:

• The decennial exercise came to a halt due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Apart from being used to demarcate constituencies, the Census data is also vital to the administration, and planning of key welfare schemes could be affected by the delay.

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL TIMELINE OF THE CENSUS AND HOW IS IT BEING DELAYED?

• The Centre’s intent to conduct Census 2021 was notified in the Gazette of India on March 28, 2019.
• The exercise was to have been conducted in two phases, with the housing Census from April to September 2020 and population enumeration from February 9, 2021, but did not take place due to the spread of COVID-19.
• In March 2021, the Home Ministry gave a Parliamentary panel a tentative alternative timeline.
• The fieldwork for the first phase, which would provide data on housing conditions, household amenities and assets possessed by households, is expected during 2021-22.
• While the fieldwork to count the population and provide data on demography, religion, Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC/ST), language, literacy and education, economic activity, migration and fertility would be done in 2023-24.

HOW WILL THE DELAY AFFECT THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM?

• The National Food Security Act, 2013, says that 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population — adding up to 67% of the country’s total population — are entitled to receive subsidised food grains from the government under the targeted public distribution system (PDS).
• Under the 2011 Census, India’s population was about 121 crores, hence PDS covered approximately 80 crore people.
• However, economists have pointed out that population growth over the last decade means that if the 67% ratio is applied to 2020’s projected population of 137 crores, PDS coverage should have increased to around 92 crore people.
• The current delay in Census data would continue to deprive more than 10 crore people of subsidised food entitlements, with the biggest gaps in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with 2.8 crore and 1.8 crore projected exclusions respectively.
• In March, 2021 the centre had said that any revision could only be considered once Census data was available.
• Meanwhile, NITI Aayog has proposed a reduction in NFSA coverage to curb the food subsidy budget.

WHAT OTHER WELFARE SCHEMES COULD BE AFFECTED BY THE DELAY?

• Census data have been initially used to estimate the coverage of the National Social Assistance Programme,
• NSAP provides basic pension to 3.09 crore widows, disabled and elderly people below the poverty line.
• But the Centre had announced its intent to shift to the Socio-Economic Caste Census data of 2011 instead to determine beneficiaries of the scheme.
• According to SECC data, coverage should double to six crore people although the Centre has failed to allocate a sufficient budget for any such expansion.
• Most other Central schemes, from health insurance to housing entitlements, use SECC data to estimate their beneficiary coverage, although it is also outdated by almost a decade.
• Census data may not be used to calculate the beneficiaries of most schemes, but it is critical to policy planning, budgeting and administration.

HOW ABOUT CENSUS DATA ON MIGRATION?

• The migrant workers plight during Covid 19 raised questions about their numbers, causes and patterns of migration, which could not be answered using outdated 2011 Census data.
• The Census measures migration by counting those whose current residence is different from their place of birth, which would give the overall number of migrants.
• By asking for the last place of residence and the reasons for moving allows an understanding of movements and trends over the last decade when compared with previous Census data.
• Given that the data is available at the village and block level, and includes analysis of the age, education level and socio-economic status of migrants, it allows for a granular, high-resolution understanding.
• Apart from the One Nation, One Ration card scheme which now allows for portability of food subsidy entitlements, the migration data is actually not used too much in broader economic policy and planning
• One of the problems is the huge lag in migration data. For example, the data on migration from the 2011 Census were only released in 2019, so it’s outdated by the time it came out
• The new Census is likely to capture the extent of the observed movement in migration trends towards smaller two-tier towns apart from the large metropolitan centres.
• It could help answer questions of what kind of healthcare and social services are most needed for migrants and where Census data on the reasons for migration — whether economic or otherwise — could also help assess the impact of schemes such as MGNREGA on preventing distress migration

Reference: The Hindu

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

5. A THIRD OF INDIA’S COASTLINE UNDERWENT EROSION IN 28 YEARS, BENGAL WORST AFFECTED

THE CONTEXT: As much as 32 per cent of India’s coastline underwent sea erosion and 27 per cent of it expanded between 1990 and 2018, according to a recent technical report by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.

ANALYSIS:

• The West Bengal coastline has been particularly vulnerable: 60 per cent of the coastline underwent erosion during the period, followed by Puducherry (56 per cent); Kerala (41 per cent); and others
• Odisha coast expanded by 51 per cent
• This was followed by the coast of Andhra Pradesh, which expanded 48 per cent; Karnataka (26 per cent);
• The country’s coastline is 6,631.53 kilometres long: 2,135.65 kilometres was subject to varying degrees of erosion and 1,760.06 km expanded during this period.
• Nearly 2,700 km of the coastline is stable.
• As many as 98 coastal pockets of the country have been facing sea erosion. Tamil Nadu has 26 coastal areas vulnerable to sea erosion, followed by West Bengal (16); Kerala (12);and others
• Some stretches of India’s shoreline are subject to varying degrees of erosion due to natural causes or anthropogenic activities.
• The coastal erosion does impact coastal communities residing in the erosion prone areas, including fishermen communities.

ABOUT NCCR

• The NCCR is an attached office of the Ministry of Earth Sciences
• It monitors shoreline changes along the Indian coast.
• It has carried out a national shoreline change assessment mapping for Indian coast along nine coastal states and two Union territories (UT) to provide information for coastal management strategy

Reference: Down to earth

6.ODISHA PLANS ‘ODYSSEY’ TO WILD CATTLE ISLAND

THE CONTEXT: The Odisha Forest and Environment Department is set to begin ‘Island Odyssey’ and ‘Hirakud Cruise’ ecotourism packages for tourists to islands inside the reservoir when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Analysis:

• ‘Cattle island’, one of three islands in the Hirakud reservoir
• It has been selected as a sight-seeing destination.
• When large numbers of people were displaced from their villages when the Hirakud dam was constructed on the Mahanadi river in 1950s, villagers could not take their cattle with them.
• They left their cattle behind in deserted villages.
• As the area started to submerge following the dam’s construction, the cattle moved up to Bhujapahad, an elevated place in the Jharsuguda district.
• Subsequently named ‘Cattle island’, the piece of land is surrounded by a vast sheet of water.
• The cattle show wild characteristics. They are not ferocious, but shy. If a person comes near, the animals just run away.

Reference: The Hindu

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

7. INDIA ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY  E- VISA FOR AFGHANS

THE CONTEXT: India on August 17 announced that it will issue an emergency e-visa to Afghan nationals

Analysis:

• All Afghans, irrespective of their religion, can apply for the ‘e-Emergency X-Misc Visa’ online and the applications will be processed in New Delhi.
• The announcement came two days after the Taliban captured power in Afghanistan.
• Since Indian missions in Afghanistan are shut, the visa can be applied online and applications will be examined and processed in New Delhi.
• The visa will initially be valid for six months,
• Security issues will be looked into while processing the applications and granting the visa to Afghan nationals
• All Afghans, irrespective of their religion, can apply for the travel document

Reference: The Hindu

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

8.GLOBAL GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION COMMUNITY SENSITIZED ABOUT UNWGIC  TO BE ORGANIZED IN INDIA 

THE CONTEXT: The second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) will be organized by India in October next year.

Analysis:

ABOUT UNWGIC

• The United Nation Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) organizes the United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) every four years
• The objective is to enhance international collaboration among the Member States and relevant stakeholders in Geospatial information management and capacities.
• The first UNWGIC was organized by China in October 2018.
• The second United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress (UNWGIC) will be held in Hyderabad.
• The theme of the Congress will be “Geo-enabling the Global Village”

Reference: PIB

Q 1. Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) is launched recently. Consider the following statements about it:
1. It is launched by Ministry of finance.
2. The index will be released in the month of July every year.
3. Financial inclusion will be measured in a single value ranging between 0 and 100.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1, 2 and

Q.2 ‘Cattle Island” recently seen in the news is located near the vicinity of which of the following river?
a) Mahananda
b) Godavari
c) Mahanadi
d) d) None of the above.

ANSWER FOR AUGUST 17, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER RELEVANT ARTICLE)
Q.1 Answer D. Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan are part of Golden Crescent infamous for illegal drug production and trafficking. Iraq is not part of it.
Q.2 Answer D. The Project BOLD (Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought) is an initiative of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). The project aims to boost the income of the tribal people and solve environmental concerns such as land desertification and land degradation by creating bamboo-based green patches in drylands.

1. Between word and intent: On CJI remarks on legislative debates READ MORE
2. The Centre must shed its ambiguity on Pegasus READ MORE
3. Strengthening democracy and inclusive growth can protect India against Taliban READ MORE
4. Lack of debate is weakening Parliament READ MORE
5. Trial in absentia can help the cause of justice READ MORE

1. Doctor at the door: On doorstep health-care delivery READ MORE
2. MGNREGA Protects The Poor From Further Poverty During Natural Calamities READ MORE

1. A third of India’s coastline underwent erosion in 28 years, Bengal worst affected READ MORE
2. Heat waves rise in India as climate change intensifies READ MORE

1. Remove the outer clay, access the gold within READ MORE
2. EQ vs. IQ: Which One Is More Beneficial? READ MORE
3. Evaluate Slowly, Dispassionately READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Global Geospatial Information Community sensitized about UNWGIC to be organized in India READ MORE
2. India announces emergency e-visa for Afghans READ MORE
3. African cheetahs in Kuno-Palpur: Have we assessed disease risks well READ MORE
4. Reserve Bank launches index to capture financial inclusion READ MORE
5. Vriksharopan Abhiyan – 2021”of Coal Ministry to be Launched on 19th August, 2021 as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Celebrations READ MORE
6. Odisha plans ‘odyssey’ to wild cattle island READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Between word and intent: On CJI remarks on legislative debates READ MORE
2. The Centre must shed its ambiguity on Pegasus READ MORE
3. Strengthening democracy and inclusive growth can protect India against Taliban READ MORE
4. Lack of debate is weakening Parliament READ MORE
5. Trial in absentia can help the cause of justice READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Doctor at the door: On doorstep health-care delivery READ MORE
2. MGNREGA Protects The Poor From Further Poverty During Natural Calamities READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The script of the new endgame in Afghanistan: This is a moment of tragedy for Asia as well, with the U.S. leaving the country in a worse situation than when it came in READ MORE
2. Afghanistan will shape international norms READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. MSMEs are hit by risk-averse banks READ MORE
2. $150-billion Bioeconomy by 2025: Policy prescriptions for building a vibrant biotech sector READ MORE
3. Global reserve currency is an urgent need for all READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. A third of India’s coastline underwent erosion in 28 years, Bengal worst affected READ MORE
2. Heat waves rise in India as climate change intensifies READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Remove the outer clay, access the gold within READ MORE
2. EQ vs. IQ: Which One Is More Beneficial? READ MORE
3. Evaluate Slowly, Dispassionately READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Strengthening democracy and inclusive growth can protect India against Taliban’. Comment.
2. ‘India experiences severe heatwave conditions owing to its unique geographical and climatic setup’. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
• Doorstep health-care delivery can mitigate the effects of disruption caused by pandemics.
• If the 21st century was expected to become the century of progress, the situation in Afghanistan represents a severe setback to all such hopes and expectations.
• A great deal of hard thinking is needed as to how to retrieve a situation that for the present seems heavily tilted against India.
• Most of the MSMEs are in rural and semi-urban areas where access to credit is extremely limited.
• If the US is not willing to step up to protect minority, women and human rights, and can leave Afghans at the mercy of a brutal regime which has a record of rights violations, it will be hard for Washington to justify its intervention elsewhere in the future on these principles.
• Parliament was always intended to function as a body that keeps the executive in check but it seems to be working the other way round now.
• Democratic accountability demands that the executive decisions be subjected to legislative scrutiny. While this session might represent a new low in this regard, the lack of scrutiny is not new.
• The freedom to be oneself has always been a top driver of happiness, as it is important for our wellbeing to align who we are with what we believe in and what we do.
• To capture the huge opportunity in biotech, India will have to act expeditiously, and the government will have to play an enabling role by creating a suitable physical, financial, legislative and regulatory infrastructure.
• Heat waves affect the socio-economic life of people and lead to crop failures and wildfires that affect food security

50-WORD TALK

• The Supreme Court notice to the government in the Pegasus scandal is a good beginning. The Modi government’s inability to file a detailed affidavit on whether it used the snooping software only strengthens suspicions. The court must keep this pressure and not allow the government to hide behind national security.
• US troops couldn’t have stayed in Afghanistan forever but President Biden’s argument that there was never a good time to withdraw, is flawed – made worse by the shambolic exit. Washington has created a disaster and as Biden believes the buck stops with him, he’ll be the face of this disaster.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

[WpProQuiz 25]

INDIAN ECONOMY

1. PROJECT BOLD OF KVIC GETS ARMY SUPPORT IN LEH

THE CONTEXT: The Project BOLD (Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought) of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has received Indian Army’s support in Leh

Analysis:

• On August 15, Army planted 20 bamboo saplings at its compound in Leh.
• This is the first ever attempt to grow bamboo trees in the high Himalayan terrains with the objective of preventing land degradation and developing green cover.
• In continuation with this effort, 1000 bamboo saplings will be planted at village Chuchot in Leh on 18th August.
• These bamboo plants will be ready for harvest in 3 years.
• While this will create sustainable income for the local tribal population; it will also contribute to environment and land protection.

ABOUT KVIC

KVIC is a statutory body set under KVIC Act 1956 with the following objectives:
• The social objective of providing employment.
• The economic objective of producing saleable articles.
• The wider objective of creating self-reliance amongst the poor and building up of a strong rural community spirit.

Major schemes under KVIC:

• Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is a credit-linked subsidy programme launched by Ministry of MSME in 2008-09 for creation of employment in both rural and urban area of the country.
• SFURTI is a Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries Ministry of MSME has launched this scheme in the year 2005 with the view to promote Cluster development. KVIC is the nodal Agency for promotion of Cluster development for Khadi as well as for village industries Products.

Reference: PIB

2.ESIC NOTIFIES RELIEF SCHEME FOR COVID-HIT

THE CONTEXT: The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has notified a relief scheme for the dependents of ESI insured persons in case of their death due to COVID-19 that would give a minimum of 1,800 a month.

Analysis:

• The scheme would cover the families of the insured who had been registered on the ESIC portal for at least three months before being diagnosed with COVID-19 and had been in employment on the date of diagnosis.
• In case of death due to COVID-19, the spouse, son up to 25 years of age, unmarried daughter and widowed mother of the insured would be eligible for the relief.
• The scheme, which would be effective for two years from March 24, 2020, would provide for 90% of the average daily wages of the insured to be paid to dependents.

ABOUT ESIC

• ESIC is a statutory body set up under the ESIC Act 1948
• It administers the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
• ESI is a multidimensional social security scheme for the workers of India.
• It provides medical care to self & family, cash benefit in certain contingencies and maternity benefit to female workers
• The ESI scheme is applicable to all factories and other establishments as defined in the Act with 10 or more persons employed in such establishment
• Beneficiaries, whose monthly wage does not exceed Rs 21,000 are covered under the scheme.

Reference: The Hindu

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

3. CENTRE MUST CONNECT ALL STATES TO FOOD SCHEME FOR ROBUST PDS: PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE

THE CONTEXT: Only 23 states have implemented the Decentralized Procurement Scheme (DCP) so far — 15 to procure rice and eight to procure wheat — despite the scheme being in place for 23 years according to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer affairs and Public Distribution

Analysis:

• Under the scheme, introduced in 1997-98, food grains are procured and distributed by state governments.
• The states procure, store and issue food grains under targeted public distribution system and other welfare schemes of the Government of India.
• The scheme can help strengthen the public distribution system (PDS) by allowing states to distribute their produce to locals. This allows people to buy food grains according to their preferences.

KEY OBSERVATIONS OF THE REPORT

• The scheme is not yet mandatory for states, but the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution should encourage them to implement it.
• The scheme will not only help reduce the cost of distribution, but also aid distribution of grains on minimum support price
• The Centre should help states implement the system by delivering basic services within a dedicated time frame.
• The scheme also reduces the PDS transportation costs. The food grains that remain unutilised with the state governments are procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for its central pool.
• The amount spent by state governments on the purchase, collection and distribution of food grains is reimbursed by the Indian government under this scheme. The value of the surplus stock that is given to FCI is adjusted in the states’ accounts.
• A majority of states exclusively buy wheat and paddy through the DCP system. Punjab is the only state that pays for the grains through arhtiyas (middlemen). The rest make payments electronically.
• The committee has requested that the central government speak with state governments to make them better understand the challenges associated with the scheme and try to resolve them.
• The committee wanted to know if the government was conducting a review of the DCP plan.
• The NITI Aayog has formed an evaluation advisory committee to assess the scheme’s operation.

Reference: Down to earth

4. ELECTRICITY AMENDMENT BILL 2021: WHY ARE STATES LIKE WEST BENGAL OPPOSING IT?

THE CONTEXT: The central government is facing opposition to the Electricity Amendment Bill 2021 even before it is introduced in Parliament.

Analysis:

KEY CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE BILL

• The Amendment is bringing in provisions to de-license power distribution allowing private sector players to enter the sector and compete with state-owned power distribution companies (discoms).
• The move would allow consumers to choose between power distribution companies.
• Finance Minister had announced in the union budget that the government would bring a framework to allow consumers to choose between power distribution companies.
• Power distribution in most of the country is currently controlled by state-owned distribution companies with some cities including Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad being exceptions where private players operate power distribution.
• Discoms are however struggling with high levels of losses and debt.
• The government has brought out a number of schemes to restructure the outstanding debts of discoms while incentivising them to reduce losses.
• However, such schemes have only brought short term financial space for discoms which have tended to continue to accumulate losses and debts post restructuring schemes such as the UDAY scheme launched by the government in 2015.

WHAT IS ARE THE OBJECTIONS TO DELICENSING OF POWER DISTRIBUTION?

• States have highlighted concerns that allowing the entry of private players could lead to “cherry-picking”, with private players providing power to only commercial and industrial consumers and not residential and agricultural consumers.
• Tariffs for power currently vary widely in India with commercial and industrial players cross subside the power consumption of rural residential consumers and agricultural consumers by paying far higher tariffs.
• The amendment would lead to “a concentration of private, profit-focussed utility players in the lucrative urban-industrial segments while poor and rural consumers would be left to be tended by public sector discoms.
• Experts say that there is the possibility that the move could lead to cherry picking by the private sector, especially till the time the tariff structure builds in cross subsidies.
• According to minutes of a meeting held between the Power Ministry and state governments, Union Power Minister R K Singh assured states that the minimum area to be covered by private sector competitors would be defined in a manner to include an urban rural mix, a universal service obligation, and elements of cross-subsidy in the ceiling tariff.

WHAT ARE OTHER KEY CONCERNS?

• Other key concerns that states have raised are higher penalties for failure to meet Renewable energy Purchase Obligations (RPOs)
• And the requirement that Regional Load Dispatch Centres and State Load Dispatch Centres follow instructions by the National Load Dispatch Centre.
• Mamata Banerjee said in her letter to the PM that the proposed amendment “strikes at the roots of federalism”.
• States have also thus far failed to meet earlier RPOs and had also requested a rationalisation of penalties for not meeting RPO requirements.
• National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) is constituted as per a 2005, Ministry of Power (MOP) and is the apex body to ensure integrated operation of the national power system.

Reference: Indian express

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

5. ONLY 9 POLLUTION CONTROL BODIES SHARE DETAILS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ONLINE: CSE TRANSPARENCY INDEX

THE CONTEXT: Pollution control bodies of most Indian states shared no or partial information on public hearings of development projects online, a new study found.

Analysis:

• There are 34 state pollution control boards (SPCB) and pollution control committees (PCC) in the country that make pollution information public on websites. Of them, those in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Andaman & Nicobar, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu and Uttar Pradesh did not share any detail of public hearings, according to the report.
• The study was conducted the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a Delhi-based non-profit that ranked all the state pollution control panels based on transparency in several parameters.
• Websites of sixteen SPCBs and PCCs provided incomplete information. Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand provided executive summaries and minutes of meetings, but not the draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports, the paper mentioned.
• Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim shared executive summaries and draft EIA reports, but not minutes of public hearings, according to the report.
• Himachal Pradesh shared minutes of meeting and draft EIA report but didn’t specify the date of the next public hearing.
• Haryana, Jharkhand and Tripura shared meeting minutes only of projects for which public hearings are over. Assam pollution control board has shared just the list of public hearings conducted and no other detail on their website, the researchers wrote in the report.
• Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli have a common pollution control body and the one in Lakshadweep does not have a website.
• Only Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Goa and Mizoram have put out all the necessary information on public hearings on their websites.
• Public hearing is a mandatory step in the process of getting an environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for projects under Category ‘A’ in the Schedule.
• Projects that fall under Category B are cleared by the state government or the state-level environment impact assessment authority.
• The interaction between locals and government officials as well as proponents of upcoming project brings transparency in the environmental clearance system

NOTE: STUDENTS NEED NOT REMEMBER THE GRANULAR DATA. THEY ARE GIVEN TO PROVIDE CONTEXT.

Reference: Down to earth

6. WHY HAITI IS PRONE TO DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKES?

THE CONTEXT: Earthquakes have been wreaking havoc in Haiti since at least the 18th century and the powerful quake on 14 August has killed hundreds and injured thousands. Analysis

WHAT MAKES HAITI PRONE TO EARTHQUAKES?

• The Earth’s crust is made up of tectonic plates that move.
• And Haiti sits near the intersection of two of them — the North American plate and the Caribbean plate.
• Multiple fault lines between those plates cut through or near the island of Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic.
• Hispaniola sits in a place where plates transition from smashing together to sliding past one another
• The magnitude 7.2 earthquake likely occurred along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone, which cuts across Haiti’s southwestern Tiburon Peninsula.
• It’s the same fault zone along which the devastating 2010 earthquake occurred.
• And it’s likely the source of three other big earthquakes in Haiti between 1751 and 1860, two of which destroyed Port-au-Prince.

WHY CAN EARTHQUAKES IN HAITI BE SO DEVASTATING?

• It’s a combination of factors that include a seismically active area, a high population density of 11 million people and buildings that are often designed to withstand hurricanes — not earthquakes.
• Typical concrete and cinder block buildings can survive strong winds but are vulnerable to damage or collapse when the ground shakes. Poor building practices can also play a role.
• The 2010 quake hit closer to densely populated Port-au-Prince and caused widespread destruction.
• Haiti’s government put the death toll at more than 300,000, while a report commissioned by the US government placed it between 46,000 and 85,000.
• Before the quake, Haiti was still recovering from the 2010 earthquake as well as Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Its president was assassinated in July, sending the country into political chaos.

Reference: Indian express

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

7. AGENCIES PREPARE FOR SHARP RISE IN DRUG TRAFFICKING

THE CONTEXT: The anti-drug law enforcement agencies are suspecting a steep surge in cross- border
trafficking of heroin and crystal methamphetamine with the rapid Taliban takeover in
Afghanistan.

Analysis:

• Drugs have been a major source of revenue for the Taliban.
• With the collapse of Afghanistan’s economy, the Taliban will rely heavily on drug money to maintain control over their cadres.
• According to the latest World Drug Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Afghanistan reported a 37% increase in the extent of land used for illicit cultivation of opium poppy during 2020 compared with the previous year.
• Heroin is manufactured from opium. Country accounted for 85% of global opium production last year.
• Afghanistan is also turning out to be a major source for methamphetamine.
• In Iran, the proportion of Afghan-origin methamphetamine seizure increased from less than 10% in 2015 to over 90% in 2019.
• The drug is prepared using ephedrine extracted from Ephedra plants.

Reference: The Hindu

8. COVID COVID-19:  MORE THAN 28,000 CHILDREN DIED OF CANCER IN SUB SAHARAN AFRICA IN 2020

THE CONTEXT: More than 28,000 children died from cancer in sub-Saharan Africa amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Analysis:
• COVID-19 affected treatment of children with cancer as they need to travel a lot every month for up to two-three years
• Travel restrictions meant that many failed to reach hospital on time
• A significant backlog in screening and treatment for COVID-19 likely led to delayed diagnoses and treatment and a significant increase in the number of avoidable cancer deaths, according to Cancer Control 2020 Survey.
• There was limited infrastructure, scarce cancer care centres and only a few established satellite cancer treatment centres in Ethiopia.
• In Kenya, cancer facilities were open only for a few hours every day. It disrupted care for patients who needed to travel to urban areas for treatment.
• In Nigeria, the pandemic made a significant impact on cancer care: Access to care was disrupted, cost for treatment and care rose and cancer screening activities were suspended
• Cancer survival rate among children in Africa is around 20 per cent; it is over 80 per cent in high-income countries.
• A review of cancer clinical trials in Africa found that only 20 of 54 African countries surveyed hosted clinical trials for children with cancer.
• A majority of such trials were carried out only in four African countries: Egypt, South Africa, Algeria and Kenya.
• In 2018, the WHO announced Global Initiative for Childhood Cancers, which aims to achieve a survival rate of 60 per cent among children with cancer. It aims to reduce suffering from cancer for all children by 2030.

Reference: Down to earth

Q 1. Which of the following country is not part of ‘Golden Crescent’ group of countries associated with illegal drugs production trade?
a) Pakistan
b) Afghanistan
c) Iran
d) Iraq
Q.2 Project BOLD recently seen in the news is ?
a) A policing initiative for strengthening women security in the national capital
b) An environmental protection initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
c) An Indian Army initiative to train college students in self defence
a) d) None of the above.

ANSWER FOR AUGUST 15&16, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER RELEVANT ARTICLE)
Answer: C

Explanation: Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary is actually a Bird Sanctuary located near the Jhajjar district in Haryana. Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary and Wadhvana Wetland are located in Gujrat. Sultanpur National park is in Haryana.

1. Persevere, something good is waiting to happen READ MORE
2. Reputation, Not Honour, Will Pay Off READ MORE

1. Beating plastic pollution: Serious implementation of new plastic waste rules can address the problem of waste READ MORE
2. The message from the IPCC report: Equitable cumulative emission targets and not net zero is the key to achieving the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals READ MORE
3. Focused and responsible digitalisation can help us meet global climate goals by 2050 READ MORE

1. Why Indian States Need to Incorporate Gender Budgeting in Their Fiscal Planning READ MORE
2. 127th Amendment Bill, 2021: The path to inclusive development READ MORE
3. Reservation delayed, justice denied READ MORE

1. Regional identity and being part of the mainstream: The country should be moving toward cooperative federalism, and not coercive federalism READ MORE
2. Revisiting the First Amendment to the Indian Constitution READ MORE
3. Passing Bills Without Discussion Recipe for Bad Laws, Invites Judicial Intervention READ MORE
4. Villagers don’t have a say in their development. This IAS officer-led group is changing that READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. 75 “Hunar Haat” to be organized under “Amrit Mahotsav” of 75 years of India’s Independence: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi READ MORE
2. Explained: Why Haiti is prone to devastating earthquakes READ MORE
3. COVID-19: More than 28,000 children died of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 READ MORE
4. In Karur, a conservation dilemma regarding the slender loris READ MORE
5. HC asks Centre not to take coercive steps against NGO for non-filing of return under FCRA READ MORE

Main exam 

GS Paper- 1

1. Why Indian States Need to Incorporate Gender Budgeting in Their Fiscal Planning READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Regional identity and being part of the mainstream: The country should be moving toward cooperative federalism, and not coercive federalism READ MORE
2. Revisiting the First Amendment to the Indian Constitution READ MORE
3. Passing Bills Without Discussion Recipe for Bad Laws, Invites Judicial Intervention READ MORE
4. Villagers don’t have a say in their development. This IAS officer-led group is changing that READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. 127th Amendment Bill, 2021: The path to inclusive development READ MORE
2. Reservation delayed, justice denied READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Fall of Kabul: With Afghanistan under the total control of the Taliban, the future looks bleak READ MORE
2. Taliban has taken Kabul. Delhi must watch, not pronounce doom READ MORE
3. A makeover for the India-Africa economic partnership READ MORE
4. US-INDIA COOPERATION is now STRONGER READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How startup ecosystem can help India become powerhouse of global economy READ MORE
2. What central bank digital currency is and isn’t READ MORE
3. Real national interest: E-commerce spat reveals deeper faultlines READ MORE
4. Bad loans: Prevention is better than cure READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Beating plastic pollution: Serious implementation of new plastic waste rules can address the problem of waste READ MORE
2. The message from the IPCC report: Equitable cumulative emission targets and not net zero is the key to achieving the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals READ MORE
3. Focused and responsible digitalisation can help us meet global climate goals by 2050 READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Pegasus and How the Israeli State Militarises Cyber Technology READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Persevere, something good is waiting to happen READ MORE
2. Reputation, Not Honour, Will Pay Off READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. ‘Informed villagers will play an active role in contributing to the development and lead the change they have always wanted to see’. In the light of the statement, analyse how ‘Model Gaon’ can play a pivotal role in transforming rural India?
2. ‘Disruption of Parliament is a political action for which a political solution must be found. It cannot be used to undermine the constitutional process of law-making’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Great anger and violence can never build a nation.
• Equitable cumulative emission targets and not net zero is the key to achieving the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals.
• Eighty per cent of global trade today is via the sea and the Indian Ocean is among the most important shipping routes in the world.
• The restoration of Taliban rule in Afghanistan with Pakistan’s support undoubtedly presents some very serious potential challenges for Indian security.
• Tensions between India and Pakistan yielded to a productive dialogue that produced tantalising possibilities for normalisation of bilateral relations, including a resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
• A deeper Sino-Pak partnership in Afghanistan will inevitably produce countervailing trends. For a patient, open-minded and active India, there will be no dearth of balancing opportunities in Afghanistan.
• It must focus on developing solutions that allow businesses in key sectors to meet goals of national importance, viewing India’s economic and social challenges as opportunities for growth.
• Afghanistan’s neighbours, particularly Pakistan, would be called upon to answer for how long they plan to deny their role in aiding and abetting the Talibani attempts to take over Afghanistan.
• The relationship between the two countries is important because it is a relationship between two democracies.
• The India-Africa bilateral partnership would be greatly supported by deep cooperation to reinforce food and energy security of both regions.
• In the interest of strengthening democracy, the acutely negative perception of politicians and the legislature needs to be corrected.
• The circular economy digital backbone must provide a digital foundational for circular economy business models, thereby reducing cost, time, and risk in creating new digital circular economy business models.
• The constitution of India requires parliament to consider legislative proposals in sufficient detail so that the laws which it passes do not adversely affect citizens due to negligence or lack of oversight.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Great anger and violence can never build a nation.

50-WORD TALK

• Afghanistan’s collapse shows democracy, however virtuous, can’t be imposed on a people unless a leadership emerges to fight for it and make the sacrifices, build institutions and not merely rely on an outside power. That said, the American retreat is a historic betrayal of allies they promised so much to.
• Eighty per cent of global trade today is via the sea and the Indian Ocean is among the most important shipping routes in the world. Notwithstanding the primacy of sea lanes, there is no global consensus yet on what constitutes maritime security. If Security Council president TS Tirumurti’s initiation of last week’s debate moves the UN’s 193 member nations even a little bit beyond this starting point towards defining maritime security, the exercise would have achieved its objective.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

[WpProQuiz 24]

1. Has India fulfilled its moral responsibility? The answers to this question are troubling READ MORE
2. The ultimate freedom READ MORE

1. Explained | Where will climate change strike? READ MORE
2. An ambitious climate blueprint READ MORE
3. Deficient rainfall affects paddy, triggers drought fears in Odisha READ MORE

1. PDS, National Food Security Act, and Covid-19 READ MORE
2. Hunger Amidst Plenty—Tragedy Continues 75 Years After Independence READ MORE

1. Regional identity and being part of the mainstream: The country should be moving toward cooperative federalism, and not coercive federalism READ MORE
2. Revisiting the First Amendment to the Indian Constitution READ MORE