1. All the darkness within can be divinised READ MORE
2. Work-life balance — What really makes us happy might surprise you READ MORE

1. Cyclone Gulab: Landfall process starts READ MORE
2. ‘Death Sentence’: Low-Lying Nations Implore Faster Action on Climate READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Fact Sheet: Quad Leaders’ Summit READ MORE
2. “Ambition to Impact: Opportunities for Global Collaboration in India’s Clean Energy Economy” READ MORE
3. China’s central bank declares all cryptocurrency transactions illegal READ MORE
4. Delhi Metro earned 19.5 crore Rupees from the sale of carbon credits READ MORE
5. Cyclone Gulab crosses coast near Kalingapatnam READ MORE
6. Iceland Elects Europe’s First Women-Majority Parliament READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. These investigations are a face without a heart: There is no longer any respect for the citizen’s rights but only a single-minded assertion of unaccountable authority READ MORE  
2. There is more to democracy than elections READ MORE
3. Two sides of the cooperation argument READ MORE
4. Retd IAS officers aren’t bound by any code of conduct. There should be no room for them in CMO READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Needless row: On amendment to Rajasthan marriage law READ MORE
2. The right to sit must be the beginning READ MORE
3. How States Can Lead the Fight Against Discrimination READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Back in the game: Quad and India-U.S. ties READ MORE   
2. Four plus two minuses: Quad summit shows India matters in the emerging world order. But the Af-Pak challenge remains READ MORE
3. The emergence of a binary world order READ MORE
4. Does AUKUS cast a shadow over Quad? READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. MSP is not the way to increase farmers’ income READ MORE
2. Health, infra and fiscal stimulus will act as our economic panacea READ MORE
3. Global inequalities don’t have easy solutions. But altering trade policy can be a start READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Cyclone Gulab: Landfall process starts READ MORE
2. ‘Death Sentence’: Low-Lying Nations Implore Faster Action on Climate READ MORE

TECHNOLOGY

1. Explained: What is dark energy? Have scientists detected it finally? READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. All the darkness within can be divinised READ MORE
2. Work-life balance — What really makes us happy might surprise you READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘AUKUS framework will have significant and positive implications on India’s strategic calculus regarding the Indo-Pacific region’. Analyse the statement.
2. Discuss how trout farming would minimise the climate change threat to food security in India and around the world?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• I would rather be a devil in alliance with the truth than an angel in alliance with falsehood. — Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach
• Rajasthan’s law does not validate child marriages but helps the rights of underage brides.
• There is no longer any respect for the citizen’s rights but only a single-minded assertion of unaccountable authority.
• India must cooperate with U.S. on vaccines, trade, and leverage Quad for regional stability.
• Issues of global concern, including the ongoing pandemic, climate change, technology cooperation, supply chains and security, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific were themes that came up at the Quad gathering.
• Augmenting farmers’ income will require investment in animal husbandry, fisheries and fruit and vegetable cultivation. The private sector needs to be incentivised to create value chains.
• Health, infrastructure and fiscal stimulus are at the core of the government’s economic revival strategy as they hold significant potential to propel growth.
• The lack of access to seating works as a strong impediment to women’s participation in India’s workforce.
• India, the ASEAN countries and the broader Asia-Pacific region all gain from the new alliances in the Indo-Pacific. These must be nurtured, intelligently.
• As a parliamentary, federal, democracy, India should have got used to elections. But politicians yearning for power and unthinkable control over the lives of citizens make every election into a spectacle.
• Elections are an overdramatized moment in democracy. Real democracy is when citizens stand up and struggle for liberation from the very government some of them voted for.
• With a vision of deterring China and ensuring free international waters, there should not be any doubt that AUKUS will cast a shadow over Quad.
• A new vision for the global trading system must encompass equitable access to the benefits of trade for all of society.

Essay topic

• Elections are an overdramatised moment in democracy. Real democracy is when citizens stand up and struggle for liberation from the very government some of them voted for.

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.

ART AND CULTURE

US HANDS OVER 157 ANTIQUES TO INDIA

THE CONTEXT: As many as 157 artefacts and antiquities were handed over by the United States during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country.

ANALYSIS:

• The list has a diverse set of items — a 1.5-metre bas-relief panel of Revanta in sandstone made in the 10th century, an 8.5 cm tall bronze Nataraj figure from the 12th century, 56 terracotta pieces, several bronze figurines and copper objects, among others.
• The items, which were stolen or smuggled out of India over a period of time, mostly belong to the period between the 11th and 14th centuries. The returned antiquities include an 18th-century sword in its sheath, with the inscription mentioning Guru Hargobind Singh in Persian.
• There are several historic antiquities as well, including a copper anthropomorphic object from 2000 BC and a terracotta vase from the 2nd century.
• While 71 artefacts are cultural, the others comprise figurines relating to Hinduism (60), Buddhism (16) and Jainism (9).
• Their make spreads across metal, stone and terracotta.
• One of the works is a paper painting depicting Rasikapriya by an anonymous painter, possibly influenced by the famed works of Rasikapriya composed by 16th-century poet Keshava Das. T
• During the meeting between Modi and US President Joe Biden, the two leaders also committed to strengthening efforts to combat theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects.

SOURCE: IE

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

 SAUBHAGYA COMPLETES FOUR YEARS

THE CONTEXT: Saubhagya completes four years of successful implementation 2.82 crore households have been electrified since the launch of Saubhagya.

ABOUT SAUBHAGYA

• SAUBHAGYA is one of the largest household electrification drives in the world. SAUBHAGYA was announced by the Prime Minister on 25th September 2017.
• The objective of the scheme was to achieve Universal Household Electrification in the country, through last-mile connectivity and providing access to electricity to all un-electrified households in rural areas and poor households in urban areas.
• The journey started with Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) which envisaged the creation of basic electricity infrastructure in villages. The focus of the scheme was on strengthening & augmentation the existing infrastructure and metering of existing feeders/distribution transformers to improve the quality and reliability of power supply in rural areas.
• While the set objectives of the scheme have been achieved, team SAUBHAGYA has continued its work of providing 24×7 quality power supply to all. All states have been requested to launch special campaigns in their respective states to identify any left out un-electrified households and subsequently provide electricity connections to them. A dedicated toll-free helpline has also been launched for that purpose.

SOURCE: PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

CYCLONE GULAB

THE CONTEXT: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that Cyclone Gulab has weakened into a deep depression and moved westwards with a speed of 6 kmph during last the last few hours. Odisha evacuated about 40,000 people in six southern districts ahead of the storm.

NAMING OF TROPICAL CYCLONES IN NORTH INDIAN OCEAN

• Cyclone Gulab was named by Pakistan.
• In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), which comprised Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, decided to start naming cyclones in the region.
• After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the list.
• The WMO/ESCAP expanded to include five more countries in 2018 – Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
• The list of 169 cyclone names released by IMD, in April 2020, were provided by these countries – 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries

SOURCE:IE

DELHI METRO EARNED 19.5 CRORE RUPEES FROM THE SALE OF CARBON CREDITS

THE CONTEXT: The Delhi Metro said it has earned Rs19.5 crores from sale of 3.55 million carbon credits collected over a period of six years from 2012 to 2018, in its bid towards gaining greater energy efficiency.

Analysis:

• In 2007, Delhi Metro became the first Metro or Railway project in the world to be registered by the United Nations under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which enabled it to claim carbon credits for its Regenerative Braking Project

About Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

• The CDM is a project-based Green House Gas (GHG) offset mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol allowing the public and private sector in high-income nations the opportunity to purchase carbon credits from greenhouse gas emissions-reducing projects in low or middle-income nations as part of their efforts to meet international emissions targets under the Kyoto protocol.
• CDM projects generate emissions credits called Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which are then bought and traded.
• One CER is equal to one ton of CO2(eq) emission reduced.

Source: PIB

INDIAN ECONOMY

COIR INDUSTRY IN INDIA

THE CONTEXT: Coir industry was concentrated in the State of Kerala, which has now been proliferated to other parts of the country also, with the efforts taken by the Board.

ABOUT COIR BOARD

• Coir Board was set up under the Coir Industry Act, 1953 by the Government of India for the overall sustainable development of coir industry in the Country.
• The functions of the Board as laid down under the Act include undertaking, assisting and encouraging scientific, technological and economic research, modernization, quality improvement, human resource development, market promotion and welfare of all those who are engaged in this industry.
• The Head Quarters of the Board is located at Coir House, M.G. Road, Kochi, Kerala and is running 48 establishments including 29 marketing outlets across the country.
• The functions mandated under the Coir Industry Act are carried out by Coir Board under the various Schemes/Programmes, including research and development activities, training programmes, extending financial support for setting up of coir units, domestic as well as export market development, welfare measures to the workers etc.

COIR INDUSTRY IN INDIA

1. The coir industry sustains more than 7 lakhs of coir workers, predominantly women, in different states of the country.
2. It is estimated that around 80% of the workforce in the industry are women and it plays a vital role in rural women empowerment of many coastal districts of the country.
3. There are 1570 registered coir exporters in the country.
4. The export of Coir and Coir products from India during the year 2020-21 registered an all-time high record of Rs.3778.98 crores with an increase of over Rs.1021 crores from the previous year.
5. Under PMEGP(Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme), Coir Units have been started in different states of the country
6. Coir Products are eco-friendly in nature and gained “Eco Mark” certification by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. Of India.
7. Coir products save the environment and help to reverse Global Warming.

• • “Coir pith” used to save water
  • “Coir Geotextiles” used to save soil
  • “Coir Wood” used to save trees and forest

8. The Board’s Research Institutes are undertaking new R&D projects in coir with various CSIR units and Universities, in the field of spinning and product diversification.

SOURCE:PIB

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

PM MODI’S ADDRESS AT UNGA

THE CONTEXT: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25 with a powerful speech. During his address, PM Modi highlighted India’s progress and innovation in science, technology, healthcare, as well as the situation in Afghanistan, at the global stage.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS FROM MODI’S SPEECH AT UNGA

• COVID-19: PM Modi began his speech by giving tribute to those who lost their lives due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). PM Modi mentioned that India has developed the world’s first DNA vaccine for Covid which can be administered to everyone above the age of 12. He also asked the Covid vaccine makers to come and invest in India and stated that India understands the responsibility of exporting vaccines. Modi also said that Indian scientists are also developing a nasal vaccine for Covid-19.
• Terrorism: PM Modi said that the dangers of “regressive” thinking and extremism are increasing in the world. In a veiled warning to Pakistan, he said the current delicate situation of Afghanistan, saying that the world has to ensure that Afghanistan isn’t used to “spread terrorism or launch terror attacks”.
• Democracy: PM Modi hailed the strength of India’s diverse and vibrant democracy during his address. India is a great example of a vibrant democracy. Our democracy is recognised for its diversity. Democracy has been India’s great tradition for thousands of years.
• Science and Tech: PM Modi hailed India’s scalable and “cost-effective” tech solutions. The science and technology-based innovations taking place in India can make a big contribution to the world. The scalability of our tech solutions and their cost-effectiveness are both unparalleled. Over 3.5 billion transactions are taking place every month in India through the unified payment interface (UPI.
• Climate: PM Modi said that India is ensuring a balance between economy and ecology, and the world can take pride in India’s efforts to combat climate change.
• Clean water: PM Modi reiterated that India has embarked on a journey to provide clean and potable water. In India, we are carrying out a very big campaign to ensure that piped, clean water reaches over 170 million homes.
• Healthcare: By giving over 500 million people the facility of free treatment in hospitals, India has given them access to quality health services. By building 30 million proper homes, India has made homeless families homeowners.
• Maritime security: PM Modi said that the world must protect the oceans from the race for “expansion and exclusion” as he urged the international community to speak in one voice to strengthen the rules-based world order.
• Banking: During the last seven years, India has brought over 430 million people who were previously unbanked into the banking system. Today, over 360 million people, who earlier could not even imagine this was possible, have insurance coverage as security.
• Indians in the world: Modi said that every sixth person in the world is Indian and when Indians make progress, it also gives an impetus to the development of the world. When India grows, the world grows. When India reforms, the world transforms.

SOURCE: WIONEWS

QUAD LEADERS’ SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT: On September 24, President Biden hosted Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan at the White House for the first-ever in-person Leaders’ Summit of the Quad.

ANALYSIS:

• The leaders have put forth ambitious initiatives that deepen our ties and advance practical cooperation on 21st-century challenges: ending the COVID-19 pandemic, including by increasing production and access to safe and effective vaccines; promoting high-standards infrastructure; combatting the climate crisis; partnering on emerging technologies, space, and cybersecurity; and cultivating next-generation talent in all of our countries.
• The Quad will help Vaccinate the World: As Quad countries, we have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion vaccine doses globally, in addition to the doses we have financed through COVAX
• The Quad will launch the Quad Infrastructure Coordination Group: Building on existing leadership from Quad partners on high-standards infrastructure, a senior Quad infrastructure coordination group will meet regularly to share assessments of regional infrastructure needs and coordinate respective approaches to deliver transparent, high-standards infrastructure.
• The Quad will Form a Green-Shipping Network: Quad countries represent major maritime shipping hubs with some of the largest ports in the world. As a result, Quad countries are uniquely situated to deploy green-port infrastructure and clean-bunkering fuels at scale.
• Establish a Clean-Hydrogen Partnership: The Quad will announce a clean-hydrogen partnership to strengthen and reduce costs across all elements of the clean-hydrogen value chain, leveraging existing bilateral and multilateral hydrogen initiatives in other fora.
• The Quad countries will convene a Climate & Information Services Task Force and build a new technical facility through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure that will provide technical assistance in small island developing states.
• The Quad will launch the Quad Fellowship: The Fellowship will sponsor 100 students per year—25 from each Quad country—to pursue masters and doctoral degrees at leading STEM graduate universities in the United States.
• The Quad will publish a Quad Statement of Principles: After months of collaboration, the Quad will launch a statement of principles on technology design, development, governance, and use that we hope will guide not only the region but the world towards responsible, open, high-standards innovation.
• Establish Technical Standards Contact Groups: The Quad will establish contact groups on Advanced Communications and Artificial Intelligence focusing on standards-development activities as well as foundational pre-standardization research.
• Launch a Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative: Quad partners will launch a joint initiative to map capacity, identify vulnerabilities, and bolster supply-chain security for semiconductors and their vital components. This initiative will help ensure Quad partners support a diverse and competitive market that produces the secure critical technologies essential for digital economies globally.
• Support 5G Deployment and Diversification: To support the critical role of Quad governments in fostering and promoting a diverse, resilient, and secure telecommunications ecosystem, the Quad has launched a Track 1.5 industry dialogue on Open RAN deployment and adoption, coordinated by the Open RAN Policy Coalition. Quad partners will jointly facilitate enabling environments for 5G diversification, including efforts related to testing and test facilities.
• Monitor Biotechnology Scanning: The Quad will monitor trends in critical and emerging technologies, starting with advanced biotechnologies, including synthetic biology, genome sequencing, and biomanufacturing. In the process, we will identify related opportunities for cooperation.
• The Quad will launch a Quad Senior Cyber Group: Leader-level experts will meet regularly to advance work between government and industry on driving continuous improvements in areas including adoption and implementation of shared cyber standards; development of secure software; building workforce and talent; and promoting the scalability and cybersecurity of secure and trustworthy digital infrastructure.
• The Quad will share Satellite Data to Protect the Earth and its Waters: Our four countries will start discussions to exchange Earth observation satellite data and analysis on climate-change risks and the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources.

SOURCE: PIB

U.S.-INDIA JOINT LEADERS’ STATEMENT: A PARTNERSHIP FOR GLOBAL GOOD

THE CONTEXT: President Joseph R. Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House today for their first in-person Leaders’ engagement, renewing their close relationship and charting a new course to advance the partnership between the world’s largest democracies.

ANALYSIS:

• The Leaders affirmed a clear vision that will guide the U.S.-India relationship forward: building a strategic partnership and working together with regional groupings, including ASEAN and Quad members, to promote shared interests in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond; developing a trade and investment partnership that increases prosperity for working families in both countries; finishing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and other health challenges; galvanizing global efforts to scale up climate action; strengthening democratic values and institutions in support of our respective peoples; and enhancing people-to-people ties that have made both countries stronger.
• Prime Minister Modi welcomed President Biden’s initiative to convene the Global COVID-19 Summit on Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better to Prepare for the Next, given our shared commitment to combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Through the two main tracks of the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) and the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) under the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership, the United States and India will accelerate clean energy development and deployment of critical technologies to advance a clean energy transition. India welcomed the United States to join the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).
• President Biden reaffirmed the strength of the defence relationship between the United States and India and the unwavering commitment to India as a Major Defense Partner through close defence engagements in information sharing, sharing of logistics and military-to-military interactions, strengthening cooperation in advanced military technologies, and expanding engagements in a multilateral framework including with regional partners.
• The Leaders reaffirmed that the United States and India stand together in a shared fight against global terrorism, will take concerted action against all terrorist groups, including groups proscribed by the UNSCR 1267 Sanctions Committee, condemned cross-border terrorism, and called for the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to be brought to justice.
• They looked forward to reconvening the India-U.S. Trade Policy Forum before the end of 2021, to enhance the bilateral trade relationship by addressing trade concerns, identifying specific areas for increased engagement and developing an ambitious, shared vision for the future of the trade relationship. Forum.
• Reflecting shared values and principles, and growing strategic convergence, President Biden and Prime Minister Modi resolved to advance the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and look forward to what the United States and India will achieve together.

SOURCE: PIB

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Consider the following statements about Clean Development Mechanism (CDM):

1. It is a market mechanism developed under the Paris agreement.
2. It helps developed countries to compensate for excess emission of Greenhouse gases by acquiring carbon credits.
3. It is an example of carbon offsetting.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 25, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER TO RELEVANT ARTICLE)

Q1 Answer: c)

Explanation:

• • NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station located in Sikkim has been conferred with the prestigious Blue Planet Prize by International Hydropower Association (IHA), a London based non-profit membership association.
  • The award had been conferred to Teesta-V Power Station based on its sustainability assessment undertaken by a team of accredited lead assessors of IHA in 2019 using the Operation Stage tool of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) of IHA.
  • The IHA membership includes leading hydropower owners and operators, developers designers, suppliers and consultants.
  • The IHA Blue Planet Prize is awarded to hydropower projects that demonstrate excellence in sustainable development.
  • The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) is the leading international tool for measuring the sustainability of hydropower projects.

Q2Answer: c)

Explanation:

Characteristics of cryptocurrencies:

• • The absence of any centralised authority and is maintained through distributed networks.
  • Funds transfer between two parties happens without the need for a third party like banks.
  • Cryptocurrencies typically use decentralized control. It works through distributed ledger technology, typically a blockchain.

The term “cryptocurrency in itself is derived from the encryption techniques used to secure the network. Therefore, safe and secure transactions or payments.

[WpProQuiz 55]

1. A third of global cropland will be drought-hit by 2040 if emissions don’t stop: Report READ MORE
2. EU’s troubling proposal for carbon neutrality READ MORE
3. How the ‘Best Accidental Climate Treaty’ Stopped Runaway Climate Change READ MORE

1. Explained: Why Artificial Intelligence’s religious biases are worrying READ MORE
2. Drop dogmas to make full use of the intellect READ MORE
3. Focused and Resilient READ MORE
4. Why Religion has no Place in Educational Institutes READ MORE

1. Complex count: On caste census- A precise caste census is difficult, but the data will be useful to drive social policy READ MORE
2. Building more inclusive, welcoming schools for LGBTQ+ children READ MORE

1. 2021: Focus on the census, not caste READ MORE
2. Only public pressure can bring police reforms now. Supreme Court order is gathering dust READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Govt. releases drone map for users READ MORE
2. Medical device parks’ scheme notified READ MORE
3. China’s central bank declares all cryptocurrency transactions illegal READ MORE
4. Quixplained: What is China’s Evergrande crisis READ MORE
5. Bihar to start conservation programme for endangered blackbucks READ MORE
6. WHO recommends antibody treatment for ‘high-risk’ Covid patients READ MORE

Main Exam 

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. 2021: Focus on the census, not caste READ MORE
2. Only public pressure can bring police reforms now. Supreme Court order is gathering dust READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Complex count: On caste census- A precise caste census is difficult, but the data will be useful to drive social policy READ MORE
2. Building more inclusive, welcoming schools for LGBTQ+ children READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. AUKUS: How not to win friends READ MORE  
2. The Hokus Pokus About The Quad and AUKUS READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. When global firms disengage, employment suffers: While inward FDI in India does create jobs, the magnitude and quality of job generation need scrutiny READ MORE
2. The important issue of unemployment: India needs a national employment policy to meet the demand and supply of labour, maintain global labour standards and ensure basic rights to workers READ MORE
3. Why India must strengthen its public sector READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. A third of global cropland will be drought-hit by 2040 if emissions don’t stop: Report READ MORE
2. EU’s troubling proposal for carbon neutrality READ MORE
3. How the ‘Best Accidental Climate Treaty’ Stopped Runaway Climate Change READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Explained: Why Artificial Intelligence’s religious biases are worrying READ MORE
2. Drop dogmas to make full use of the intellect READ MORE
3. Focused and Resilient READ MORE
4. Why Religion has no Place in Educational Institutes READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. FDI as a tool to augment domestic capital formation may be useful for the economy but not for sustainable employment. Discuss with suitable examples.
2. How far do you agree with the view that Privatisation compromises India’s sovereignty and economic freedom, threatening its energy security and strategic posture? Analyse your view.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.
• While inward FDI in India does create jobs, the magnitude and quality of job generation need scrutiny.
• Growing scepticism towards more open trade policies and the rise of protectionism have increased the risk and unpredictability of policy environments, leading to deeper reflection on both existing and new investments by global firms.
• A caste census may not sit well with the goal of a casteless society, but it may serve, in the interim, as a useful, even if not entirely flawless, means of addressing inequities in society.
• If we want to herald the advent of the golden dawn, we will have to bring about all-around emancipation of the human intellect through a relentless struggle against dogmas, backed by unlimited, uninhibited courage.
• Administering justice is so essential that the courts could not remain closed for a substantial period of time.
• An announcement meant to create ripples in the Indo-Pacific has created waves across the Atlantic. But this gives France and India an opportunity.
• There is a need for our think on the significance to be attached to local and regional developmental processes. More than language or ethnicity need to be factored into the situation, requiring greater insight and analysis.
• India needs a national employment policy to meet the demand and supply of labour, maintain global labour standards and ensure basic rights to workers.
• Indian citizens have a crucial role in the actualization of police reforms. After all, in a democracy, the people’s voice holds the strongest power.
• In the absence of public pressure, the political class can easily afford to ignore the cause of police reform, which, in any case, suits their vested interest. Therefore, there is a dire need for the citizenry to rise up and build pressure on powers-that-be.
• Before teaching religious texts in schools or colleges, we must remember that religious and scientific consciousness cannot converge.
• Assuring ourselves cleaner air is a matter of top urgency. Once-smog-laden big cities like Beijing managed to clean up. Delhi, in particular, still has a very long way to go.
• Comprehensive sex education must support young lives in exploring sexualities rather than viewing homosexuality as a disease or disorder, with age appropriate-learning to reduce high-risk behaviours.

50-WORD TALK

• The Modi government’s reluctance to hold a caste census shows it’s politically inflammable. It can trigger socio-political churn, reopen political fault lines and even sharpen caste divides. However, it is a necessary evil. Credible and current empirical data is critical as long as caste is a factor in affirmative policy interventions.
• To put a price on a person’s life is odious. So, Rs 50,000 compensation for those who died of Covid-19 is too little and can even offend many. The pandemic couldn’t be avoided, but not ill-preparedness and mismanagement. The governments are wiser to invest the money in health infrastructure instead. Administering justice is so essential that the courts could not remain closed for a substantial period of time.

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.

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

INDIA’S AIRSPACE MAP FOR DRONE OPERATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Ministry of Civil Aviation releases India’s airspace map for drone operations. The map is available on DGCA’s digital sky platform at https://digitalsky.dgca.gov.in/home.

WHY ARE DRONES IMPORTANT?

• Drones offer tremendous benefits to almost all sectors of the economy.  These include – agriculture, mining, infrastructure, surveillance, emergency response, transportation, geo-spatial mapping, defence, and law enforcement to name a few.
• Drones can be significant creators of employment and economic growth due to their reach, versatility, and ease of use, especially in India’s remote and inaccessible areas.
• Given its traditional strengths in innovation, information technology, frugal engineering and its huge domestic demand, India has the potential of becoming a global drone hubby 2030.

WHAT’S THE LIKELY IMPACT OF THESE DRONE INITIATIVES?

• Thanks to the new rules, the drone PLI scheme and the freely accessible drone airspace maps, the drones and drone components manufacturing industry may see an investment of over INR 5,000 crore over the next three years.
• The annual sales turnover of the drone manufacturing industry may grow from INR 60 crore in 2020-21 fold to over INR 900 crore in FY 2023-24.  The drone manufacturing industry is expected to generate over 10,000 direct jobs over the next three years.
• The drone services industry (operations, mapping, surveillance, agri-spraying, logistics, data analytics, software development etc.) will grow to an even larger scale.  It is expected to grow to over INR 30,000 crore in the next three years.
• The drone services industry is expected to generate over five lakh jobs in three years.

TOP 10 FEATURES OF THE DRONE AIRSPACE MAPS

1. 1. The drone airspace map is an interactive map of India that demarcates the yellow and red zones across the country.
   2. Green zone is the airspace up to 400 feet that have not been designated as a red or yellow zone; and up to 200 feet above the area located between 8-12 km from the perimeter of an operational airport.
   3. In green zones, no permission whatsoever is required for operating drones with an all-up weight upto500 kg.
   4. The yellow zone is the airspace above 400 feet in a designated green zone; above 200 feet in the area located between 8-12 km from the perimeter of an operational airport and above ground in the area located between 5-8 km from the perimeter of an operational airport.
   5. Drone operations in the yellow zone require permission from the concerned air traffic control authority– AAI, IAF, Navy, HAL etc. as the case may be.
   6. The yellow zone has been reduced from 45 km earlier to 12 km from the airport perimeter.
   7. The red zone is the ‘no-drone zone’ within which drones can be operated only after permission from the Central Government.
   8. The airspace map may be modified by authorised entities from time to time.
   9. Anyone planning to operate a drone should mandatorily check the latest airspace map for any changes in zone boundaries.
   10. The drone airspace map is freely available on the digital sky platform to all without any login requirements.

TOP 15 FEATURES OF DRONE RULES, 2021 (NOTIFIED ON 25 AUG 2021)

1. 1. Based on a premise of trust, self-certification and non-intrusive monitoring.
   2. Several permissions and approvals were abolished.  The number of forms was reduced from 25 to 5.  Types of fees reduced from 72 to 4.
   3. Digital sky platform is being developed as a user-friendly online single-window system.
   4. Interactive drone airspace map with red and yellow zones to be released by 24 September 2021.
   5. No permission is required for operating drones in green zones.
   6. The yellow zone, where ATC permission is required, has been reduced from 45 km to 12 km from the airport perimeter.
   7. No remote pilot licence is required for micro drones (for non-commercial use) and drones.
   8. No security clearance is required before the issuance of any registration or licence.
   9. Coverage of drones under drone rules, 2021 increased from 300 kg to 500 kg.  This will cover drone taxis
   10. No restriction on foreign ownership in Indian drone companies.
   11. No requirement of import clearance from DGCA.
   12. Remote pilot licence to be issued by DGCA within 15 days of the pilot receiving the remote pilot certificate from an authorised drone school.
   13. The maximum penalty for violations is reduced to INR 1 lakh.  Was several lakhs earlier.
   14. Drone corridors will be developed for cargo deliveries.
   15. Drone promotion council to be set up by the government with participation from academia, startups and other stakeholders.

TOP 15 FEATURES OF THE PLI SCHEME FOR DRONES (APPROVED ON 15 SEP 2021)

1. 1. The total amount allocated for the PLI scheme for drones and drone components is INR 120 crore spread over three financial years.  This amount is nearly double the combined turnover of all domestic drone manufacturers in FY 2020-21.
   2. The incentive for a manufacturer of drones and drone components shall be as high as 20% of the value addition made by her.
   3. The value addition shall be calculated as the annual sales revenue from drones and drone components (net of GST) minus the purchase cost (net of GST) of drone and drone components.
   4. The Government has agreed to keep the PLI rate constant at 20%for all three years, an exceptional treatment given only to the drone industry.  In PLI schemes for other sectors, the PLI rate reduces every year.
   5. The proposed tenure of the PLI scheme is three years starting in FY 2021-22.  The PLI scheme will be extended or redrafted after studying its impact in consultation with the industry.
   6. The Government has agreed to fix the minimum value addition norm at 40% of net sales for drones and drone components instead of 50%, another exceptional treatment given to the drone industry.  This will allow widening the number of beneficiaries.
   7. The PLI scheme covers a wide variety of drone components:
      • • Airframe, propulsion systems(engine and electric), power systems, batteries and associated components, launch and recovery systems;
        • Inertial Measurement Unit, Inertial Navigation System, flight control module, ground control station and associated components;
        • Communications systems (radiofrequency, transponders, satellite-based etc.)
        • Cameras, sensors, spraying systems and related payload etc.;
        • ‘Detect and Avoid’ system, emergency recovery system, trackers etc. and other components critical for safety and security.
   8. The list of eligible components may be expanded by the Government from time to time, as drone technology evolves.
   9. The Government has agreed to widen the coverage of the incentive scheme to include developers of drone-related IT products
   10. The Government has kept the eligibility norm for MSME and startups in terms of annual sales turnover at a nominal level – INR 2 cr (for drones) and INR 50 lakhs (for drone components).  This will allow widening the number of beneficiaries.
   11. The eligibility norm for non-MSME companies in terms of annual sales turnover has been kept at INR 4 crore (for drones) and INR 1 crore (for drone components).
   12. The incentive payable to a manufacturer of drones and drone components shall be simply one-fifth of her value addition.
   13. PLI for a manufacturer shall be capped at 25% of the total annual outlay. This will allow widening the number of beneficiaries.
   14. In case a manufacturer fails to meet the threshold for the eligible value addition for a particular financial year, she will be allowed to claim the lost incentive in the subsequent year if she makes up the shortfall in the subsequent year.

SOURCE: PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

TEESTA-V POWER STATION CONFERRED WITH BLUE PLANET PRIZE

THE CONTEXT: NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station located in Sikkim has been conferred with the prestigious Blue Planet Prize by International Hydropower Association (IHA), a London based non-profit membership association.

ANALYSIS:

• The award had been conferred to Teesta-V Power Station based on its sustainability assessment undertaken by a team of accredited lead assessors of IHA in 2019 using the Operation Stage tool of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) of IHA.
• The IHA membership includes leading hydropower owners and operators, developers, designers, suppliers and consultants.
• The IHA Blue Planet Prize is awarded to hydropower projects that demonstrate excellence in sustainable development.
• The Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) is the leading international tool for measuring the sustainability of hydropower projects.
• It offers a way to benchmark the performance of a hydropower project against a comprehensive range of environmental, social, technical and governance criteria.
• Assessments are based on objective evidence and the results are presented in a standardized report.
• Indigenous people, local communities, civil society and governments will be involved in the projects.

SOURCE:  PIB

INDIAN ECONOMY

PROMOTION OF MEDICAL DEVICE PARKS

THE CONTEXT: Recognizing the need for higher levels of investments for the creation of proper infrastructure in the sector, the Department of Pharmaceuticals has notified the Scheme for “Promotion of Medical Device Parks”.

OBJECTIVES OF SCHEME

• Easy access to standard testing and infrastructure facilities through the creation of world-class common infrastructure facilities for increased competitiveness will result in a significant reduction of the cost of production of medical devices leading to better availability and affordability of medical devices in the domestic market.
• Reaping the benefits arising due to optimization of resources and economies of scale.

ANALYSIS: 

• Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh has given “in-principle” approval to set up Medical Device Parks under the scheme
• The scheme reflects the spirit of cooperative federalism where the Central Government and State Governments will partner to develop the Medial Device parks for better performance of the sector.

SOURCE: PIB

BANKS CAN NOW SELL FRAUD LOANS TO ARCS

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed banks to sell fraud loan exposures to asset reconstruction companies (ARCs). Banks will now be able to transfer to ARCs loan exposures classified as a fraud as on the date of transfer, provided that the responsibilities of the bank with respect to continuous reporting, monitoring, filing of complaints with law enforcement agencies and proceedings related to such complaints shall also be transferred to the ARC.

ANALYSIS:

• The guidelines said lenders must put in place a comprehensive board-approved policy for transfer and acquisition of all loan exposures.
• The board-approved policies of every lender on transfer or acquisition of stressed loans shall cover the norms and procedure for transfer, the valuation methodology to be followed, a delegation of powers to various functionaries for taking decisions on the transfer of loans stated objectives for acquiring stressed assets and the risk premium to be applied.
• When negotiated on a bilateral basis, the negotiations must necessarily be followed by an auction through the Swiss challenge method if the aggregate exposure of lenders to the relevant borrower is `100 crore or more.
• In all other cases, the bilateral negotiations shall be subject to the price discovery and value maximisation approaches adopted by the transferor as part of the board-approved policy.

SOURCE: IE

CHINA’S EVERGRANDE CRISIS

THE CONTEXT: Chinese real estate conglomerate Evergrande Group has been in the news recently over its inability to pay interest on its huge debt obligations. The company recently defaulted on interest payment and is set to miss more deadlines. Many fear that the company is insolvent, and its share price has dropped over 80% in the last year and hit a 10-year low.

WHAT IS THE TROUBLE AT EVERGRANDE?

• The Evergrande Group is China’s second-largest real estate company in terms of total sales and employs over 200,000 employees.
• Its core business deals with buying large amounts of land, developing them into houses, restaurants and so on and selling them to interested buyers.
• The company uses large amounts of debt from banks and investors as well as short-term loans extended by suppliers and property buyers to fund its business.
• It has total liabilities worth over $300 billion and has to pay around $37 billion in interest and maturing debt over the next year.
• The company’s bonds have been downgraded by rating agencies such as Fitch and S&P and have traded well below 50 cents on the dollar, given the company’s precarious financial position.
• The company has also taken money in advance from over 1.5 million property buyers, promising to deliver developed properties to them in the future and is yet to pay many suppliers.
• The company’s wealth management team has collected over $6 billion from its own employees promising high returns.
• It has defaulted on these products and has offered to give away parking spaces and other real estates in lieu of these loans, leading to public outcry.

WHY IS THE COMPANY IN TROUBLE?

• The most immediate trigger of the current crisis, analysts believe, is the Chinese government’s new rules for property developers. In August 2020, the Chinese government came up with rules (also called the ‘three red lines’) stating how much a property developer can borrow given its financial position as measured by three debt metrics.
• The new rules practically cut off Evergrande from taking on any more debt on its balance sheet. This was a big hit to Evergrande’s business as it engaged in heavy borrowing to run its business.
• The company was thus forced to sell its land and other properties at steep discounts to meet its debt obligations. This fire sale of assets, it is said, eventually led to Evergrande’s insolvency.
• Some see the Chinese government’s new rules as a bid to puncture the country’s property bubble and bring about a ‘soft landing’ of the economy.
• Chinese authorities have traditionally encouraged businesses to take on huge amounts of debt through the heavily state-controlled financial sector to develop new properties. This led to the indiscriminate development of properties, so much so that almost a third of the Chinese GDP is made up of the property sector. Millions of properties with very little demand from buyers have been seen in Chinese ‘ghost cities.
• Other analysts, however, believe that the current crisis was a long time coming. They argue that the company’s business model has been unsustainable for a long time.

WHAT LIES AHEAD?

• Some believe that, apart from the roughly $300 billion in debt on its balance sheet, the company may have additional debt in the form of various off-balance sheet obligations.
• Other analysts, however, argue that this is not a cause for worry since the Chinese financial system is state-owned and does not operate to maximise profits. The Chinese state, they believe, will always be ready to bail out entities if necessary. Any such bailout, however, analysts point out, will have costs as it will require the creation of a fresh supply of money, which in turn will debase the value of the Chinese currency.
• Markets are concerned about the effect the crisis in China’s property sector will have on other countries.
• Other critics of China, such as U.S. billionaire investor George Soros, have warned investors to refrain from investing in China, pointing to the absence of the rule of law.
• The Chinese government’s crackdown on the ed-tech sector and businessmen such as Alibaba founder Jack Ma has not gone well with foreign investors.

SOURCE: TH

CHINA’S CENTRAL BANK DECLARES ALL CRYPTOCURRENCY TRANSACTIONS ILLEGAL

THE CONTEXT: China’s central bank said all financial transactions involving cryptocurrencies are illegal, sounding the death knell for the digital trade in China after a crackdown on the volatile currencies.

ANALYSIS:

• The global values of cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin have massively fluctuated over the past year partly due to Chinese regulations, which have sought to prevent speculation and money laundering.
• The crypto crackdown also opens the gates for China to introduce its own digital currency, already in the pipeline, allowing the central government to monitor transactions.

Source: TH

INTERNAL SECURITY

ARJUN MARK-1A

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) placed an order worth over Rs 7,500 crore to Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), Chennai for the supply of 118 units of Main Battle Tank (MBT) Arjun’s Mark-1A variant for the Indian Army.

ANALYSIS:

• The Mark-1A has more indigenous content from the Mark-1 variant, thus reducing the dependence on foreign vendors for key components.
• The new variant is also said to have added some comfort features for the four-member crew, which operates in the toughest possible conditions when deployed and also has a better transmission system.
• Some of the features also prepare the tank better for network-centric warfare, which denotes effective use of information technology and computer networking of various force elements.
• The acquisition of 118 tanks — that would come at the cost of Rs 7523 crore — would equip three armoured regiments of the tank.
• This acquisition holds significance in the light of the latest acquisition by the Pakistan army of two tanks — VT-4 and Al-Khalid tanks. Both these tanks, which have Chinese origin, are comparable to the Russian origin T-90 tanks, which are in use by the Indian Army.
• MBT Arjun Mark-1A is ideally suited for the desert terrain and even more effective and lethal compared to the earlier variant due to the new additions.

SOURCE: IE

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

MODI-BIDEN BILATERAL TALKS

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Joe Biden for their first bilateral meeting at the Oval Office in the White House. Both leaders discussed a wide range of priority issues, including combating Covid-19, climate change, and economic cooperation.

ANALYSIS:

• US President Joe Biden said that the relationship between India and the US- the largest democracies in the world- is destined to be stronger, closer and tighter.
• PM Modi said there is much to be done in trade. Trade will be an important factor in India-USA ties in the coming decade.

SOURCE: IE

MEETING BETWEEN MODI AND KAMALA HARRIS

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Her Excellency Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States of America, in Washington DC on 23 September 2021, during his visit to the USA.

ANALYSIS:

• They expressed happiness at their first in-person meeting. They warmly recalled their telephone conversation earlier in June 2021.
• They exchanged views on recent global developments, including in Afghanistan and reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
• The two leaders discussed the COVID-19 situation in their respective countries, including ongoing efforts to contain the pandemic through expedited vaccination efforts, and ensuring supply of critical medicines, therapeutics and healthcare equipment.
• Both sides acknowledged the importance of collaborative action on climate change.
• Prime Minister spoke about India’s push for increasing renewable energy and the recently launched National Hydrogen Mission. He also emphasized the importance of lifestyle changes to promote environmental sustainability.
• They also discussed areas of future collaboration, including space cooperation, Information Technology, especially emerging and critical technologies, as well as the cooperation in the healthcare sector. Both leaders acknowledged the vibrant people-to-people linkages as the bedrock of the mutually beneficial education linkages and the flow of knowledge, innovation and talent between our two countries.
• Prime Minister Modi invited Vice-President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff to visit India soon.

SOURCE: PIB

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1.“Blue Planet Prize” is conferred by?

a) World Bank

b) International Seabed Authority

c) International Hydropower Association

d) UN-Water

2. Which of the following is not the characteristic of cryptocurrency?

a) Absence of any centralised authority.

b) No third party was involved in the transaction.

c) Centralised ledger systems generally using blockchain technology.

d) Safe and secure payments.

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER TO RELEVANT ARTICLE)

ANSWER: A

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Cham dance is a traditional monastic dance form of Lamas in the Ladakh region.
• Statement 2 is correct: The costumes and masks are an integral part of the dance.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Vajrayana form of Buddhism practised in Tibet has incorporated Cham dance.

1. Marching on: The SC insists that females be given the chance in Nov itself to take the NDA entrance exam READ MORE
2. Make departments smart, first: E-governance holds the promise of improving local governance, but only if we pay attention to the basics READ MORE

1. The battle against air pollution READ MORE
2. Breathing death: WHO’s revised air quality levels are in tune with the times. India must implement these quickly READ MORE

1. Make departments smart, first: E-governance holds the promise of improving local governance, but only if we pay attention to the basics READ MORE
2. Meditation is essential to remove the fear of death READ MORE
3. Human resources & regulatory autonomy: Statutory regulatory authorities need autonomy in staffing their organisations with specialists who have integrity and knowledge READ MORE

1. Make departments smart, first: E-governance holds the promise of improving local governance, but only if we pay attention to the basics READ MORE
2. The misuse of law — a challenge to Indian judiciary READ MORE
3. Making light of the law: The police have to be depoliticised if they have to fulfil constitutional mandate READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Ayushman Bharat PMJAY on completion of three years READ MORE
2. Modi to launch Pradhan Mantri Digital Health Mission on Sept. 27 READ MORE
3. PM CARES not govt fund, functions with transparency, Delhi High Court told READ MORE
4. An Expert Explains: How rare species of Sundarbans are threatened by human activities READ MORE
5. SC introduces Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records system READ MORE
6. Dance of the Lamas READ MORE

Main Exam 

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Make departments smart, first: E-governance holds the promise of improving local governance, but only if we pay attention to the basics READ MORE
2. The misuse of law — a challenge to Indian judiciary READ MORE
3. Making light of the law: The police have to be depoliticised if they have to fulfil constitutional mandate READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Marching on: The SC insists that females be given the chance in Nov itself to take the NDA entrance exam READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Another grouping: AUKUS presents both challenges and opportunities for India as a Quad member READ MORE
2. On the climate crisis, a four-point agenda for Quad meeting READ MORE
3. Quad, AUKUS, SAARC… and a divided Asia READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Lack of clarity on NMP process, timing READ MORE
2. Role of cooperatives in Indian economy READ MORE
3. Managing risks of a green economy: A rapid transition to renewable energy, which is necessary, will disrupt a number of businesses READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The battle against air pollution READ MORE
2. Breathing death: WHO’s revised air quality levels are in tune with the times. India must implement these quickly READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Meditation is essential to remove the fear of death READ MORE
2. Human resources & regulatory autonomy: Statutory regulatory authorities need autonomy in staffing their organisations with specialists who have integrity and knowledge READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The formation of the new alliance ‘AUKUS’ significantly affects India’s interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Comment.
2. What is e-governance? How urban local bodies can utilize e-governance to build a smart city?
3. ‘AUKUS presents both challenges and opportunities for India as a Quad member’. Analyse.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The law is the public conscience.
• E-governance holds the promise of improving local governance, but only if we pay attention to the basics.
• AUKUS presents both challenges and opportunities for India as a Quad member.
• With the sudden announcement of AUKUS, a worry for New Delhi is that the U.S. is now promoting a security partnership with its “Anglo-Saxon” treaty allies that it is excluded from, possibly upsetting the balance of power in the region.
• The success of the National Monetisation Plan hinges on the availability of credit and internal resources of the private sector.
• Quad can capitalise on the essence of democracy to further the vision and action related to the climate agenda. It is high time that a comprehensive, inclusive and fair approach to regional cooperation is adopted in dealing with one of the most significant global dangers of this century.
• The World Health Organization’s new metric on pollution levels highlights the scale of India’s challenge. India must focus on cleaning up its power, industry, and transport sectors, set up interim targets, and plan a more nuanced regional approach to provide clean air to its citizens.
• Public Interest Litigations have ensured against derailment of the rule of law and benefited the socially vulnerable sections.
• Statutory regulatory authorities need autonomy in staffing their organisations with specialists who have integrity and knowledge.

50-WORD TALK

• WHO’s new air quality guidelines are bad news for India, which is struggling to meet 2005 benchmarks. They show we are breathing unacceptable levels of pollutants. The response so far of governments and people has been inconsistent or kneejerk. This is an urgent wake-up call if one was even needed.
• We Indians, instead of sorting out our disputes with China on our own on the basis of equality and fairness, have chosen to join the US-led quadrilateral. Essentially an anti-China alliance, the Quad could end up making Asia the theatre of a new cold war and an expensive arms race. Should we allow outsiders to put their guns on our shoulders to fire at China?

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.

ART AND CULTURE

CHAM DANCE

THE CONTEXT: The filmmaker and art historian recently gave a talk on the cham dance form at an online event organised by India Habitat Centre.

ABOUT CHAM DANCE

• The Yogachara school of Buddhism was founded in Kashmir in the fourth century by Asanga and Vasubandhu. This developed into the sophisticated Vajrayana form of Buddhism, which incorporated the Cham dance.
• From Ladakh to Mongolia, the Cham is the deepest form of meditation for the Lamas.
• The purpose of this meditation is for the Lama (priest) to be able to free himself entirely from his own ephemeral personality.
• The Lamas celebrate the victory of good over evil with two days of the monastic dance.
• The costumes and masks are an integral part of the dance.
• All sounds in Cham are sacred mantras. The drum is a reminder of the deep sound that resounded at the beginning of creation and at the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment.
• Once popularly practised in Ladakh, Lahaul, Spiti, Kinnaur, Tibet, Southern China and Mongolia, today Cham has been kept alive mainly at annual celebrations in parts of Ladakh and Spiti.

SOURCE: TH

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

JABS TO BE GIVEN AT HOME FOR DISABLED

THE CONTEXT: Persons with restricted mobility, disabilities and those with special needs can avail of COVID vaccination at-home facility while following all safety protocols.

ANALYSIS:

• India had already achieved the milestone of vaccinating 66% of its adult population with one dose of the vaccine.
• A detailed SOP had been issued for States and Union Territories for the upcoming festival season, with the direction that relaxations and restrictions be imposed based on weekly case positivity

SOURCE:  TH

SC INTRODUCESFASTER SYSTEM

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court has introduced the “Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records” (FASTER) system.

ANALYSIS:

• The system is meant to ensure that undertrials are not made to wait for days on end behind bars to be released because the certified hard copies of their bail orders were late to reach the prison.
• The system would also prevent unnecessary arrests and custody of people even after the court has already granted them its protection. It may even communicate a stay on an execution ordered by the final court on time.
• It is proposed that the e-authenticated copies of the record of proceedings/orders, digitally signed by the authorised officer may be transmitted through the FASTER [Fast and Secured Transmission of Electronic Records] system to the duty-holders of the justice system.

SOURCE:  TH

PM CARES NOT GOVERNMENT FUND

THE CONTEXT: The Central government has informed the Delhi High Court that the PM CARES Fund is not a fund of the Government of India and the amount does not go in the Consolidated Fund of India.

ANALYSIS:

• The affidavit filed by an Under Secretary at Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the PM CARES Fund is a charitable trust not created by or under the Constitution of India or by any law made by the Parliament or by any State legislature.
• Under Secretary said despite being an officer of the Central government, he was permitted to discharge his functions in PM CARES Trust on an honorary basis.
• Under Secretary said the PM CARES functions with transparency and its funds are audited by an auditor who is a Chartered Accountant drawn from the panel prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• It said irrespective of whether the trust is a ‘State’ or other authority within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution or whether it is a ‘public authority’ within the meaning of provisions of the Right to Information Act (RTI), it is not permissible to disclose third party information.
• The plea had argued that if the court concluded that the PM CARES Fund is not a ‘State’ under the Constitution, usage of the domain name ‘gov’, the Prime Minister’s photograph, State emblem, among others, has to stop. A Bench of Chief Justice D. N. Patel and Justice Amit Bansal will hear the case on September 27.

SOURCE: TH

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

PHILANTHROPISTS ANNOUNCE $5 BILLION FOR BIODIVERSITY RESTORATION

THE CONTEXT: An amount of $5 billion of funding was announced for the restoration of global biodiversity at a high-level event on the margins of the UN General Assembly on September 22, 2021.

ANALYSIS:

• The $5 billion pledged will be used over the next 10 years to ensure that 30 per cent of the planet is protected and preserved in the most important places for biodiversity by 2030, according to a statement by the World Wide Fund for Nature.
• The fund will be used to create, monitor, expand and manage protected and conserved areas on land, in freshwater and in the sea.
• Indigenous people, local communities, civil society and governments will be involved in the projects.
• Some 75 financial institutions from around the globe also committed to ending investments harmful to nature at the event. These institutions are worth 12 trillion euros in assets.
• Recent research from WWF has revealed that 39 million jobs could be created if governments reallocated the $500 billion governments spent on harmful subsidies every year to employment which is nature-positive.
• The Green Climate Fund is seeking to expand its investments to restore ecosystems while creating jobs across developing countries.

SOURCE:   DTE

INDIAN ECONOMY

GEM BAGS PRESTIGIOUS CIPS AWARD

THE CONTEXT: Government e-Marketplace (GeM) was announced as the winner in the “Best Use of Digital Technology” category at the CIPS Excellence in Procurement Awards 2021 (CIPS Awards).

ANALYSIS: 

• GeM emerged the winner in this category after competing with some of the biggest and best names in procurement across the public and private sector globally, including GEP, Jaguar Land Rover, Royal Dutch Shell, Vendigital and Shell.
• The CIPS Awards are one of the leading recognitions around procurement globally, which is conducted under the aegis of The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), London.
• CIPS is a global not-for-profit organisation and professional body dedicated to promoting good practices in procurement and supply management, with a community across 150 countries.
• GeM has brought its technology-driven innovations and strategic business processes in pursuit of three fundamental goals: driving transparency, efficiency and inclusiveness in public procurement.

ABOUT THE GEM PLATFORM

• Government e-Marketplace is a 100% Government owned Section 8 Company set up under the aegis of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry for procurement of goods and services by Central and State Government organizations.
• The design and development of the GeM platform- its digital features and functionalities, key business processes as well as ancillary offline activities like outreach and training of stakeholders-is guided by these three goals.
• The use of forward-looking technologies has helped GeM to broadly achieve these goals and more, over the past five years.
• GeM offers a cashless, contactless, and paperless experience for sellers and buyers, and serves as an end-to-end solution for procurement of common use goods and services by Government buyers. GeM has completely replaced a previously fragmented public procurement ecosystem by a unified and easy-to-use e-marketplace helping to leverage competitiveness, accessibility, and economies of scale of a diverse, open and transparent procurement system.

SOURCE: PIB

ADB CUTS INDIA’S GROWTH FORECAST TO 10%

THE CONTEXT: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has lowered India’s growth projections for the current financial year by a percentage point to 10 per cent, mainly due to disruptions in economic activity caused by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ANALYSIS:

• In April, ADB had projected a growth rate of 11% in 2021-22 for India.
• It also trimmed the growth forecast for Asia as a region from 7.3 per cent to 7.1 per cent for 2021, though it retained the growth projections for China at 8.1 per cent.
• Meanwhile, RBI also trimmed the country’s growth projection by a similar margin to 9.5% in June this year.

SOURCE:THEPRINT

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Consider the following statements about Cham Dance:

1. It is a traditional monastic dance form of Lamas in the Ladakh region.
2. The costumes and masks are an integral part of the dance.
3. The Theravada form of Buddhism practised in Tibet has incorporated Cham dance.

Which of the statements given is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER TO RELEVANT ARTICLE)

Q1 Answer: c)

Explanation:

• Three species of rhino—black, Javan, and Sumatran—are critically endangered.
• White rhino- Near threatened
• One-horned rhino- Vulnerable

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1. Sea level rise is certain: This has implications for the future even under the low emissions scenarios READ MORE
2. An Expert Explains: How rare species of Sundarbans are threatened by human activities READ MORE

1. How far will the global population rise? READ MORE
2. A village is sensitized: How an SC toddler’s ‘temple run’ catalysed equality READ MORE

1. This judicial selection needs more than a tweak: The collegium system and the mysteries underlining its decision-making dilute the importance of the High Courts READ MORE
2. Judiciary must re-examine how it has viewed citizenship question in Assam READ MORE
3. Citizen scorecards for better accountability: The CAG’s auditing standards highlight the importance of performance audits for promoting transparency and evaluating outcomes READ MORE
4. A village is sensitized: How an SC toddler’s ‘temple run’ catalysed equality READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. FDI Inflows grow 62% during the first four months of the current Financial Year over the corresponding period last year READ MORE
2. DICGC to pay depositors of PMC and other stressed banks READ MORE
3. On World Rhino Day, 2,500 horns turned to ashes in Assam READ MORE
4. WHO Announces Revised Air Quality Limits. Will the New Numbers Save the Day? READ MORE
5. These animals and plants of India could have become ‘possibly extinct’: IUCN READ MORE
6. India’s sewage treatment plants treat only a third of the sewage generated daily: CPCB READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. This judicial selection needs more than a tweak: The collegium system and the mysteries underlining its decision-making dilute the importance of the High Courts READ MORE
2. Judiciary must re-examine how it has viewed citizenship question in Assam READ MORE
3. Citizen scorecards for better accountability: The CAG’s auditing standards highlight the importance of performance audits for promoting transparency and evaluating outcomes READ MORE
4. A village is sensitized: How an SC toddler’s ‘temple run’ catalysed equality READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. How far will the global population rise? READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Explained: Why the SAARC meeting was cancelled READ MORE
2. The importance of Quad meeting amidst current geopolitical flux READ MORE
3. AUKUS and Afghanistan – Now is the time for the Modi govt to deploy every diplomatic instinct READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Need higher investment in healthcare, infrastructure for sustainable growth: Shaktikanta Das READ MORE
2. Is India’s market cap headed towards $5 trillion? READ MORE
3. Recovery by 2030 needs public sector revival READ MORE
4. Government departments pose a major hurdle in bankruptcy cases READ MORE
5. Regaining fiscal balance: GST rate restructuring will be critical for consolidation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Sea level rise is certain: This has implications for the future even under the low emissions scenarios READ MORE
2. An Expert Explains: How rare species of Sundarbans are threatened by human activities READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Why get away from the madding crowd? READ MORE
2. The Key of Contentment READ MORE
3. Peace Must Arise from Within READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Separation of powers is a bedrock principle of Indian constitutionalism. In this respect, examine the collegium system of judicial appointments.
2. What are the causes of sea-level rise? Assess the vulnerability of sea-level rise in India and suggest measures of adaptation for it.
3. ‘India’s diplomatic advance in the US could be pivotal with long-lasting effects in both South Asia as well as the future of the Indo-Pacific’. Examine the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.
• The durability of private consumption, the mainstay of aggregate demand, will be ‘crucial in the post-pandemic future.
• The collegium system and the mysteries underlining its decision-making dilute the importance of the High Courts.
• Separation of powers is a bedrock principle of Indian constitutionalism. Inherent in that idea is the guarantee of an autonomous judiciary.
• Adaptation to sea-level rise must include a range of measures, along with coastal regulation, which should be stricter, not laxer, as it has become with each update of the Coastal Regulation Zone.
• The grouping has to fulfil past commitments. The onus is on the US to prove that Afghan experience has strengthened its resolve to defend its interests in the Indo-Pacific.
• Citizenship is an important right; in fact, the most important right because it is the right to have other rights. But that’s not how the pillars of Indian democracy have treated citizenship.
• The Government must realise the importance of community radios and sustain them by providing financial support and professional facilities.
• Even high growth is insufficient to remove ‘the widened income and wealth inequalities and rising social unrest’ in the country.
• India’s diplomatic advance in the US could be pivotal with long-lasting effects in both South Asia as well as the future of the Indo-Pacific.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Contentment lays the foundation for happiness.

50-WORD TALK

• The Karnataka law to protect illegal religious structures is poorly thought through and has politics written all over it. It risks incentivising newer encroachments, sparking tensions and presenting a future government with a similar fait accompli. Religion is sensitive but Karnataka has set a bad example in these fraught times.
• US President Biden’s ‘America is back’ speech promising to replace the era of endless wars with endless diplomacy is good on paper. But US withdrawal from Afghanistan coincides with Washington’s refocus on a different foe and geography. A localised hot war is being replaced by a globalised new cold war.
• SAARC has been hostage to India-Pakistan tensions over Kashmir and terrorism, and a summit hasn’t been held for seven years. Islamabad has made it more complicated now by demanding the Taliban’s participation in a foreign ministers’ meeting. Deep divisions aside, it’s time to revisit or remake the very purpose of SAARC.

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.