1. For Success & Greatness READ MORE
2. Can we perform karma in a yogic way? READ MORE
3. Living a ‘good’ life READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM lays the foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh State University in Aligarh READ MORE
2. SVAMITVA will play a vital role in making rural India Aatmanirbhar, Says Shri Giriraj Singh READ MORE
3. Explained: How was the Quad formed, and what are its objectives? READ MORE
4. Gauhati HC says citizenship is an important right, sets aside order declaring man as foreigner READ MORE
5. Unusual frogs and red pandas: Genetic science is identifying more species in the Himalayas READ MORE
6. India, Singapore announce project to link UPI and PayNow READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Behind the great Indian Internet shutdown: The tag of the world’s Internet shutdown capital stems from a lack of compliance with Supreme Court guidelines READ MORE
2. Instead of denying slide in democratic values, India must work to fix it READ MORE
3. More questions on Pegasus: India needs more transparent checks and balances READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Tackling mental health: Do the huge numbers warrant OTC anti-depressants? READ MORE
2. Humane touch: The SC correctly favours suicide by COVID-19 patients to be treated as medical deaths READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Partners in the Indo-Pacific: The ‘2+2’ dialogue between India and Australia will provide substance to an already meaningful partnership READ MORE
2. Quad unity: Biden’s ‘shift of focus to China’ must show at the Quad Summit if he means business at all READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The big lesson from the small nation: Import substitution cannot deliver “Make in India for the World” READ MORE
2. All pain, no gain for farmers: NSO report indicates that average Indian farmer fares worse than a labourer READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Positive climate: On India engaging the U.S.: Engagement with the U.S. should help India expand mitigation, adaptation action READ MORE
2. Why India Needs Coal-Ash Pond Design Standards ASAP READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. For Success & Greatness READ MORE
2. Can we perform karma in a yogic way? READ MORE
3. Living a ‘good’ life READ MORE

Questions for the Main Exam

1. ‘The ‘2+2’ dialogue between India and Australia will provide substance to an already meaningful partnership’. Comment on the statement.
2. ‘Citizens will remain vulnerable until there is legislative action on privacy, and transparent checks and balances need to be created to prevent unnecessary and unjustified surveillance’. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• No race can prosper till it learns there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.
• The tag of the world’s Internet shutdown capital stems from a lack of compliance with Supreme Court guidelines.
• The ‘2+2’ dialogue between India and Australia will provide substance to an already meaningful partnership.
• India-Australia relations have deepened in the last few decades owing to the alignment of strategic interests driven by a common value system.
• The geo-political and geo-economic churning in international affairs makes it imperative for India and Australia to forge a partnership guided by principles with a humane approach.
• India, meanwhile, needs to get all States to mitigate emissions and help them adapt to climate-linked extreme weather and atmospheric pollution caused by fossil fuels.
• The high-profile case of suicide by Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020 did serve to highlight and spread awareness about mental health issues being as important to address as physical diseases.
• The increasing pace of urbanisation will lead to faster economic growth, keeping agriculture impoverished and forcing farmers to abandon farming and move out.
• The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) was formed with an aim to contain China’s growing influence in Asia and ensure territorial integrity in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Citizens will remain vulnerable until there is legislative action on this front, and transparent checks and balances are created to prevent unnecessary and unjustified surveillance.
• The humanitarian aspect of the law needs to be popularised to blunt indifference to circumstances that lead to suicides and encourage rehabilitation of survivors or families of victims.

50-WORD TALK

• Protests in Karnataka against ‘Hindi Diwas’, Tamil Nadu politicians going to court over central government communication in Hindi are reminders of the lingering north-south linguistic divide. The BJP government needs to keep these sensitivities in mind while pushing its cultural agenda. India is all about its wonderful diversities. Celebrate it.
• US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was asked tough questions at the House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting. For India, three points stood out — Blinken’s statement that Washington’s engagement with Delhi on terror was so deep he’d rather not discuss publicly; his realistic assessment of Pakistan, and the friendly view on India.

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, CULTURE AND HISTORY

RAJA MAHENDRA PRATAP SINGH

THE CONTEXT: Two years after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh had not received the recognition due to him for having donated land for Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and promised to construct a university in the same city in his name, Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the university.

ABOUT RAJA MAHENDRA PRATAP SINGH

• Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh was a freedom fighter, revolutionary, writer, social reformer, and internationalist who entered Lok Sabha as an Independent candidate from Mathura in 1957, in an election in which Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh came fourth.
• Mahendra Pratap established a “Provisional Government of India” in Kabul in the middle of World War I in 1915 and, as the British government targeted him for his activities, based himself in Japan. In 1932, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
• The Raja finally returned to India a year before Independence, and immediately began work with Mahatma Gandhi. In free India, he diligently pursued his ideal of Panchayati raj.
• Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh was born into the ruling Jat family of Mursan estate in Hathras in 1886. In 1907, the young Raja proceeded on a world tour with his wife, who was Sikh.
• On his return, the Raja gave up his own residence in Mathura to be converted into a technical school named Prem Mahavidyalaya in 1909. It is said to have been the country’s first polytechnic.
• After studying at the Government School in Aligarh, Raja Mahendra Pratap went to the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in Aligarh, which later came to be called Aligarh Muslim University.
• Although he was unable to complete his graduation from the institution, Raja Mahendra Pratap’s name is counted among the prominent alumni of the university.
• As prominent notables of the area, Mahendra Pratap’s father and grandfather were close to the educationist and reformer Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University.

SOURCE: IE

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

DATA ON FARMERS SELLING THEIR PRODUCE IN APMC MANDIS, OPEN MARKET, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

THE CONTEXT:  Between 2013 and 2019, the share of agricultural households (HHs) that sold their produce in APMC mandis reduced sharply, while those that sold their produce to private traders increased significantly. Data show that a majority of the farmers were unaware of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) programme and procurement agencies.

SOURCE:  TH

INDIAN ECONOMY

FUEL PRICES QUICKEN WPI INFLATION TO 11.39% IN AUGUST

THE CONTEXT:   Inflation in wholesale prices resurged to 11.39% in August, staying in the double digits for the fifth month in a row.

ANALYSIS:

• Inflation in manufactured products escalated for the fourth month in a row to 11.4%, as second-order effects of high fuel prices kicked in.
• Fuel and power inflation firmed up to 26.1% in August after a dip in July, even though food price inflation moderated to 3.43% from 4.46%.
• High fuel inflation tends to transmit across sectors as they push up transport, input and wage costs.
• Core WPI inflation, which leaves out fuel and food, hit an all-time high of 11.1%.

ABOUT WHOLESALE PRICE INDEX (WPI)

• Measures inflation at the first stage of transaction i.e. wholesale prices.
• Compiled by: The Office of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
• The Wholesale Price Index measures inflation on a year-on-year basis.
• It consists of 3 major groups as below:

SOURCE: TH

GST COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER BRINGING PETROL, DIESEL UNDER GST

THE CONTEXT: The GST Council might consider taxing petrol, diesel and other petroleum products under the single national GST regime, a move that may require huge compromises by both central and state governments on taxing these products.

ANALYSIS:

• GST is being thought to be a solution for the problem of near-record high petrol and diesel rates in the country, as it would end the cascading effect of tax on tax (state VAT being levied not just on the cost of production but also on the excise duty charged by the Centre on such output).
• In June, the Kerala High Court, based on a writ petition, had asked the GST Council to decide on bringing petrol and diesel within the goods and services tax (GST) ambit.
• The sources said bringing petrol and diesel within GST would be placed before the Council for discussion in the light of the court asking the Council to do so.
• When a national GST subsumed central taxes such as excise duty and state levies like VAT on July 1, 2017, five petroleum goods – petrol, diesel, ATF, natural gas and crude oil – were kept out of its purview for the time being.
• This is because both central and state government finances relied heavily on taxes on these products.
• Since GST is a consumption-based tax, bringing petro products under the regime would have mean states where these products are sold get the revenue and not ones that currently derive the most benefit out of them because of they being the production centre.
• Simply put, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with their huge population and a resultant high consumption would get more revenues at the cost of states like Gujarat.

SOURCE:  TH

GLITCHES REMAIN ON THE I-T PORTAL

THE CONTEXT: The Income Tax portal remains a festering worry for taxpayers scrambling to file their returns, ahead of the September 15 deadline set by the Union Finance Minister for the portal’s tech developer, Infosys, to resolve glitches.

ANALYSIS:

• Tax practitioners said a slew of problems still abounds in the return filing modules of the portal. Even routine tasks like seeking an adjournment in ongoing assessments, complying with the ‘Vivad Se Vishwas’ scheme and uploading a digital signature, are proving to be a challenge.
• Although the government has extended the deadline for individual taxpayers to file an income tax returns (ITR) till December 31, it is levying a 1% interest for each month of delay beyond the original July 31 deadline, prompting questions about the exchequer penalising them for administrative failures.
• Some glitches still remain to be sorted out even as there has been some ‘gradual improvement’ in the portal’s interface.
• On August 23, after summoning Infosys CEO Salil Parekh, FM had conveyed the government’s ‘deep disappointment with the firm’s handling of the IT portal that has been ineffective and ridden with problems ever since its launch on June 7.
• FM had ‘demanded’ that the issues pertaining to the ‘current functionalities of the portal be resolved by September 15 so that taxpayers and professionals can work seamlessly on the portal.

SOURCE: TH

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

PROPOSED FTA BETWEEN INDIA & UK

THE CONTEXT: India and UK are aiming to launch the negotiations on FTA by November 2021. Two sides looking for an Interim Agreement as a priority and later a Comprehensive Agreement.

ANALYSIS:

• The proposed FTA between India & UK is expected to unlock extraordinary business opportunities and generate jobs. Both sides have renewed their commitment to boosting trade in a manner that benefits all.
• India is committed to the early conclusion of an ambitious, comprehensive and mutually beneficial India UK FTA with an early harvest agreement within an expedited timeframe.
• Interim Agreement to allow both the countries to harvest early gains in some select commodities and services

SOURCE:  PIB

Prelim Practice Question

Q1.  Consider the following statements about the Wholesale Price Index (WPI):

1. It is compiled by National Statistical Office (NSO).
2. It calculates the changes in prices of goods and services at the producer level.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only                                          b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2                              d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER TO RELEVANT ARTICLES)

Answer: d)

Explanation:

Types of CPI:

• CPI for Industrial Workers (IW): Compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL): Compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• CPI for Rural Labourer (RL): Compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
• CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined): Compiled by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

1. Returning to school 17 months later: The post-COVID-19 situation is complex and the ‘where we left it’ approach will not do for any stage of school education READ MORE
2. To save democracies and warn autocrats, the political will of citizens is key READ MORE
3. Pegasus vs Privacy: What the government can expect from the Supreme Court READ MORE
4. Losing Our Agency, One Bill at a Time READ MORE

1. Role of communities’ integral to health reforms READ MORE
2. Returning to school 17 months later: The post-COVID-19 situation is complex and the ‘where we left it’ approach will not do for any stage of school education READ MORE

1. Climate change could trigger migration of 216 million people, World Bank warns READ MORE
2. Bhubaneswar records highest September rainfall in last 63 years READ MORE
3. To Enlist Renewables’, Help with Net-Zero, India Needs Land Half the Size of TN READ MORE

1. Schooling Versus Training READ MORE
2. Where should the good people go? READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. The minimum support price for agriculture crops READ MORE
2. Pegasus: Centre Tells SC It Doesn’t Want to File Affidavit Over ‘National Security Concerns’ READ MORE
3. Not just groundwater, fluoride has poisoned agricultural soil, crops in Bengal READ MORE
4. Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Bill To Exempt Medical Admissions From NEET READ MORE
5. Govt to start PM Adarsh Gram Yojna covering 36 thousand villages across country READ MORE
6. Iran and watchdog reach deal over nuclear site monitoring READ MORE

Main Exam 

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Returning to school 17 months later: The post-COVID-19 situation is complex and the ‘where we left it’ approach will not do for any stage of school education READ MORE
2. To save democracies and warn autocrats, the political will of citizens is key READ MORE
3. Pegasus vs Privacy: What the government can expect from the Supreme Court READ MORE
4. Losing Our Agency, One Bill at a Time READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Role of communities’ integral to health reforms READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Can the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation be the regional body that stabilises Afghanistan? READ MORE
2. Brics: 2021 vs 2013 – The group is better equipped to handle financial turbulence. The focus must be on growth READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How to boost financial inclusion READ MORE
2. The structural shift in Indian agriculture is worrying READ MORE
3. A boost for textile sector READ MORE
4. Trans-Asian rail connectivity: South Asian perspective: The new corridor could provide transport connections to ensure the development of landlocked countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal READ MORE
5. Urban safety net: Govt needs new ideas to address distress in cities READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate change could trigger migration of 216 million people, World Bank warns READ MORE
2. Bhubaneswar records highest September rainfall in last 63 years READ MORE
3. To Enlist Renewables’, Help with Net-Zero, India Needs Land Half the Size of TN READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Cybersecurity can be made agile with zero-shot AI READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Schooling Versus Training READ MORE
2. Where should the good people go? READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘While the SCO is not an impressive regional institution, it remains an important diplomatic forum’. Examine the statement.
2. ‘A safety net is an immediate need for urban India, but for permanent solutions, skilling and lifelong learning need to be put in place to end precarity once and for all’. Discuss the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world.
• Till a decade back, our prime concerns as citizens of a developing country used to be limited to procuring a good education and thereafter securing a decent job. Suddenly, the concerns of the general public have apparently taken a complete shift in terms of priority, which is akin to taking a drop in Maslow’s pyramid of needs.
• The post-COVID-19 situation is complex and the ‘where we left it’ approach will not do for any stage of school education.
• If State governments and private schools can devote resources and time to this otherwise marginalised area, they will make the resumption of routine life at school more nourishing.
• Greater flexibility in financial products will lead to greater inclusion of nano enterprises, a burgeoning segment that is critical to the growth of our rural economy.
• While the above are supply-side issues, the demand side has its own set of challenges. Financial literacy and technology readiness are two critical issues.
• While the SCO is not an impressive regional institution, it remains an important diplomatic forum. Delhi has sought to make full use of the SCO’s diplomatic possibilities without any illusions about its effectiveness.
• The essential values of democracy such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law are increasingly coming under stress in the democratic world.
• The increase in wages as a component of the income basket shows that farmers are not moving into a higher-paying, stable, productive economy but are becoming more reliant on informal labour to sustain their incomes.
• Transforming Healthcare in the interest of communities entails that communities stand in the vanguard of health reform.
• Political stability in the countries of the region and government patronage of rail projects are important for such routes to be fully operational.

50-WORD TALK

• The research underscores that communities are capable of dealing with most of their healthcare needs by themselves, via health personnel selected by and from within their respective communities. Also, such community-based care demands less in the way of higher-order technical expertise in medicine and more in the way of community participation, health communication and primary healthcare.
• In the past two years, the government has initiated a lot of structural reforms to bring new energy to the textile sector. PLI is one such reform and it’s time for the industry to step up and announce new projects under this scheme and move towards making India the fashion capital of the world.

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

SVAMITVA SCHEME

THE CONTEXT:Union Minister of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh will inaugurate the National Meet on SVAMITVA Scheme: A Stepping-Stone Towards Upliftment of Rural Economy on 14th September, 2021

ABOUT SVAMITVA SCHEME

• SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) Scheme   was launched   by the Prime Minister on   National   Panchayati   Raj Day, 24^thApril 2020 with a resolve to enable economic progress of Rural India by providing “Record of Rights” to every rural household owner.
• Aiming to demarcate inhabited (Abadi) land in rural areas through the latest surveying drone-technology, SVAMITVA Scheme is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Revenue Departments, State Panchayati Raj Departments and Survey of India.
• The scheme covers multifarious aspects viz. facilitating monetisation of properties and enabling bank loan; reducing property related disputes; comprehensive village level planning, would be the stepping-stone towards achieving Gram Swaraj in true sense and making rural India Atmanirbhar (self-reliant).
• Phase I– Pilot Scheme (April 2020 – March 2021) covers States of Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and establishment of Continuous Operating Reference Systems (CORS) in the States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan.
• Phase II(April 2021 – March 2025) – Complete survey of remaining villages and CORS network coverage across the Country by 2022.

SOURCE:PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

CLIMATE CHANGE COULD CAUSE 216 MN TO MIGRATE: WORLD BANK

THE CONTEXT: A World Bank report has found that Climate change could push more than 200 million people to leave their homes in the next three decades and create migration hot spots unless urgent action is taken to reduce global emissions and bridge the development gap.

ANALYSIS:

• The World Bank’s updated Groundswell report was released September 13, 2021.
• It examined how the impacts of slow-onset climate change, such as water scarcity, decreasing crop productivity and rising sea levels, could lead to millions of what it describes as “climate migrants” by 2050 under three different scenarios with varying degrees of climate action and development.
• Under the most pessimistic scenario, with a high level of emissions and unequal development, the report forecasts up to 216 million people moving within their own countries across the six regions analysed. Those regions are Latin America; North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Eastern Europe and Central Asia; South Asia; and East Asia and the Pacific.
• In the worst-case scenario, Sub-Saharan Africa — the most vulnerable region due to desertification, fragile coastlines and the population’s dependence on agriculture — would see the most migrants, with up to 86 million people moving within national borders.
• In South Asia, Bangladesh is particularly affected by flooding and crop failures, accounting for almost half of the predicted climate migrants, with 19.9 million people, including an increasing number of women, moving by 2050 under the pessimistic scenario.

SOURCE:DTE

CLIMATE ACTION AND FINANCE MOBILIZATION DIALOGUE (CAFMD)

THE CONTEXT: India and US launch the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD).

ANALYSIS:

• The CAFMD is one of the two tracks of the India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership launched at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate in April 2021, by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and US President Mr. Joseph Biden.
• CAFMD would be based on three pillars: 1. A “climate action pillar” which would have joint proposals looking at ways in emissions could be reduced in the next decade. 2. Setting out a roadmap to achieving the 450GW in transportation, buildings and industry. 3. ”Finance Pillar” would involve collaborating on attracting finance to deploy 450 GW of renewable energy and demonstrate at scale clean energy technologies.

SOURCE:  PIB

INDIAN ECONOMY

INFLATION DIPS MARGINALLY TO 5.3% IN AUGUST

THE CONTEXT:India’s retail inflation cooled to 5.3% in August from 5.6% in July, thanks to food price inflation falling to 3.11% from nearly 4% in July, and the effect of a high base last August.

ANALYSIS:

• RBI is expected to continue with its accommodative monetary policy stance, with the headline inflation number edging lower. However, economists warned that inflationary risks persist.
• Inflation in health (7.8%), transport and communication (10.2%), fuel & light (almost 13%), remains high.

ABOUT CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI)

• CPI is the measure of changes in the price level of a basket of consumer goods and services bought by households.
• Base Year for CPI is 2012.
• Types of CPI: 1. CPI for Industrial Workers (IW): Compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 2. CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL): Compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 3. CPI for Rural Labourer (RL): Compiled by the Labour Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 4. CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined): Compiled by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) in the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• Note: Changes in prices at the producer level are tracked by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).

SOURCE : TH

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

INDIA–AFRICA DEFENCE DIALOGUE TO BE HELD ALONGSIDE EVERY DEFEXPO

THE CONTEXT:India proposes to institutionalize the India Africa Defense Dialogue during successive DefExpos to be held once every two years.

ANALYSIS:

• Institutionalization of the India Africa Defence Dialogue will help building on the existing partnerships between African countries & India and to explore new areas of convergence for mutual engagements including areas like capacity building, training, cyber security, maritime security and counter terrorism.
• It has been decided that Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses shall be the knowledge partner of India Africa Defence Dialogue and will assist in providing necessary support for enhanced defence cooperation between India and Africa.
• It has also been decided that Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will host the Defence Ministers of African Nations in the next India – Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of the DefExpo that is scheduled to be held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in March 2022.
• The broad theme of this India Africa Defence Dialgue will be ‘India – Africa: Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’.

SOURCE:  PIB

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

Q1. Which of the following is compiled by Central Statistics Office (CSO)?

a) CPI for Industrial Workers (IW)

b) CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL)

c) CPI for Rural Labourer (RL)

d) CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined)

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER TO RELEVANT ARTICLE)

Answer: B)

Explanation:

• Subramania Bharati died exactly 100 years ago, on September 11, 1921. Popularly known as “Mahakavi Bharathi”, he was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil literary figures of all time.
• His numerous works included fiery songs kindling patriotism during the Indian Independence movement.
• He wrote stories, commentaries, and was also the pioneer of column writing in Tamil.
• Aspects of this dream form part of his fantasy story, Gnanaratham (The Chariot of Wisdom), written when he was still in his late 20s.

[WpProQuiz 45]

[WpProQuiz 44]

ART, CULTURE AND HISTORY

SUBRAMANIA BHARATI: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF REVOLUTION

THE CONTEXT: C. Subramania Bharati died exactly 100 years ago, on September 11, 1921.

ABOUT SUBRAMANIA BHARATI

• A passionate freedom fighter, social revolutionary, mystic, and visionary who was active during the late period of British rule, he spent much of his all too brief life exiled from British India, in neighbouring Pondicherry.
• When he died suddenly, in 1921, he was just 38 years old. He had had little opportunity to provide for his legacy, literary or otherwise.
• Popularly known as “Mahakavi Bharathi”, he was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil literary figures of all time.
• His numerous works included fiery songs kindling patriotism during the Indian Independence movement.
• As a working journalist, Bharati necessarily employed prose to communicate, and his writings in Swadesamitran and India made an important contribution to Tamil political vocabulary.
• He wrote stories, commentaries, and was also the pioneer of column writing in Tamil.
• Aspects of this dream form part of his fantasy story, Gnanaratham (The Chariot of Wisdom), written when he was still in his late 20s.
• He was also against caste system. He declared that there were only two castes-men and women and nothing more than that. Above all, he himself had removed his sacred thread.
• He condemned certain Shastras that denigrated women.
• He believed in the equality of humankind and criticised many preachers for mixing their personal prejudices while teaching the Gita and the Vedas.

SOURCE:  THEWIRE

BATTLE OF SARAGARHI

THE CONTEXT: September 12 marks the 124th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi that has inspired a host of armies, books and films, both at home and abroad.

ANALYSIS:

• In book ‘The 36th Sikhs in the Tirah Campaign 1897-98 – Saragarhi and the defence of the Samana forts’, Punjab Chief Minister and military historian Capt Amarinder Singh writes that at the very outset of the battle, these soldiers knew they were looking at certain death but they did not flinch.

ABOUT BATTLE OF SARAGARHI

• The Battle of Saragarhi is considered one of the finest last stands in the military history of the world. Twenty-one soldiers were pitted against over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribals but they managed to hold the fort for seven hours.
• Though heavily outnumbered the soldiers of 36th Sikhs (now 4 Sikhs), led by Havildar Ishar Singh, fought till their last breath, killing 200 tribals and injuring 600.
• Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.
• The two forts in the rugged North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), now in Pakistan. were built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh but renamed by the British.
• Though Saragarhi was usually manned by a platoon of 40 soldiers, on that fateful day, it was being held by only 21 soldiers from 36th Sikh (now 4 Sikh) and a non-combatant called Daad, a Pashtun who did odd jobs for the troops.
• Saragarhi helped to link up the two important forts which housed a large number of British troops in the rugged terrain of NWFP.

SOURCE:  IE

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

YOUTH SHOULD BE AWARE OF SOCIAL REALITIES AND CHALLENGES: CJI

THE CONTEXT: CJI was speaking at a virtual event on the 128th anniversary of the historic Chicago address of Swami Vivekananda.

ANALYSIS:

• Unity and sacrifice of young people across faiths, beliefs and communities, who took to streets to challenge authoritarian figures, gave the country democratic rights which were being taken for granted today.
• The youth did not tolerate injustice, either to themselves or against others.
• They did not compromise with their ideals. They were not only selfless but also adventurous. They were willing to sacrifice for the cause they believed in.
• It is these unadulterated minds and pure hearts which formed the backbone of our nation. He said it was necessary for youth to be aware of social realities and challenges.
• Any change in the nation’s trajectory always stems from its youth and its participation.
• Swami Vivekananda firmly believed that the true essence of religion was the common good, and tolerance.
• Religion should be above superstitions and rigidities.
• To fulfil the dream of making a resurgent India through the principles of common good and tolerance, we should instil the ideals of Swamiji in today’s youth.

SOURCE:  TH

INTERNAL SECURITY

LCA-MK2 TO ROLL OUT NEXT YEAR

THE CONTEXT:  The configuration for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – Mk2 has been frozen and steel cutting is expected to begin soon while configuration for the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) has been frozen and preliminary design completed.

ANALYSIS:

• Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – Mk2 features enhanced range and endurance including an onboard oxygen generation system, which is being integrated for the first time.
• Heavy weapons of the class of Scalp, Crystal Maze and Spice-2000 will also be integrated on the Mk2.
• LCA-Mk2 will be a heavier and much more capable aircraft than the current LCA variants. The Mk2 is 1,350 mm longer featuring canards and can carry a payload of 6,500 kg compared to the 3,500 kg the LCA can carry.
• Simultaneously, the project for the development of a twin-engine deck-based fighter jet meant to fly from the Navy’s aircraft carriers is also making progress.

SOURCE: TH

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE GRID TO FINALLY SEE LIGHT OF DAY

THE CONTEXT:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is soon expected to launch the National Intelligence Grid or NATGRID that aims to provide a cutting-edge technology to enhance India’s counter-terror capabilities.

ANALYSIS:

The final “synchronization and testing” of the ambitious electronic database, which was mooted after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, is being carried out so that it can go live.

ABOUT NATGRID

• NATGRID is an intelligence sharing network that collates data from the standalone databases of the various agencies and ministries of the Indian government. This combined data will be made available to 11 central agencies.
• The NATGRID has been envisaged as a robust mechanism to track suspects and prevent terrorist attacks with real-time data and access to classified information like immigration, banking, individual taxpayers, air and train travel.

SOURCE: TH

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

SALINE GARGLE RT-PCR TECHNIQUE

THE CONTEXT:  In a notable step forward in India’s fight against COVID-19, Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has transferred the know-how of indigenously developed Saline Gargle RT-PCR technique, used for testing COVID-19 samples.

ANALYSIS:

• The Saline Gargle RT-PCR technology is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly and comfortable; it also provides instant test results and is well-suited for rural and tribal areas, given minimal infrastructure requirements.
• CSIR-NEERI stated that the innovation developed by the institute has been ‘dedicated to the nation’ to serve society.
• The know-how has been transferred to the Union Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), on a non-exclusive basis.
• This would enable the innovation to be commercialized and licensed to all capable parties, including private, government and various rural development schemes and departments.

SOURCE: PIB

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2+2’ MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIA & AUSTRALIA

THE CONTEXT: Press Statement was released by Raksha Mantri after ‘2+2’ Ministerial Dialogue between India & Australia.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF DIALOGUE

• In-depth discussion on bilateral & regional issues
• Afghanistan, maritime security in Indo-Pacific, cooperation in multilateral formats & other related topics discussed
• Emphasis on ensuring free flow of trade, adherence to international rules & sustainable economic growth in the entire region.
• Invitation to Australia to engage in India’s growing defence industry

SOURCE:  PIB

SAUDI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO VISIT INDIA

THE CONTEXT: A week after hosting intelligence and security chiefs of the U.S. and Russia, New Delhi is preparing for visits by the Saudi and Iranian Foreign Ministers, officials confirmed, as part of a series of engagements aimed at “broad-basing” discussions on Afghanistan with partner countries.

ANALYSIS:

• Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud is expected in New Delhi this weekend, for his first visit to India as Foreign Minister.
• While both engagements are expected to focus on bi-lateral issues, the developments in Afghanistan will be a key component.
• Jaishankar also thanked Iran’s facilitation of India’s evacuation flights from Afghanistan that had needed to overfly Iran and bypass Pakistan.

SOURCE : TH

Prelim Practice Question

1.  The famous story, Gnanaratham (The Chariot of Wisdom) is written by:

a) Sarojini Naidu

b) Subramania Bharati

c) V O Chidambaram Pillai

d) Subramania Iyer

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER TO RELEVANT ARTICLE)

Answer: B)

Explanation:

• POSHAN Abhiyaan is the Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan is a Jan Andolan or “People’s Movement” by incorporating inclusive participation of public representatives of local bodies, government departments of the States/UTs, social organizations and the public and private sector at large.
• In order to ensure community mobilization and bolster people’s participation, every year, the month of September is celebrated as POSHAN Maah across the country.
• The wide gamut of activities during the POSHAN Maah this year broadly focus on Plantation Drive for POSHAN VATIKA by all the stakeholders in the space available at Anganwadis, School Premises, Gram Panchayats and other places.

1. Youth should be aware of social realities and challenges: CJI READ MORE
2. Keep your emotional go bag and stay bin ready READ MORE

1. The disappearing wetlands of India READ MORE
2. New Study Offers More Proof That Brazilian Amazon Is Now a Net CO2 Source READ MORE

1. Measuring caste inequality across Indian states READ MORE
2. Why Does Bonded Labour Still Persist in India? READ MORE
3. Poverty, debt, hunger: How India’s Covid-19 lockdown hurt its domestic workers READ MORE

1. Criminal-politician nexus ingrained in our polity READ MORE
2. NIRF 2021 and the Invisibilisation of Exclusion in Indian Higher Education READ MORE
3. Federalism is a big casualty in India’s fight against COVID-19 READ MORE
4. Law & Order and Appeals: What We Can Learn From Ayush Sinha, Supertech Cases READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. National Intelligence Grid to finally see the light of day READ MORE
2. Magistrates can’t extend probe under UAPA: Supreme Court READ MORE
3. Subramania Bharati: One Hundred Years of Revolution READ MORE
4. World’s largest plant capturing CO2 from air starts up in Iceland READ MORE
5. Battle of Saragarhi explained: When 21 men fought thousands READ MORE
6. New tech-based on CRISPR to control the growth of mosquitoes READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Criminal-politician nexus ingrained in our polity READ MORE
2. NIRF 2021 and the Invisibilisation of Exclusion in Indian Higher Education READ MORE
3. Federalism is a big casualty in India’s fight against COVID-19 READ MORE
4. Law & Order and Appeals: What We Can Learn From Ayush Sinha, Supertech Cases READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Measuring caste inequality across Indian states READ MORE
2. Why Does Bonded Labour Still Persist in India? READ MORE
3. Poverty, debt, hunger: How India’s Covid-19 lockdown hurt its domestic workers READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. At 15, BRICS has made incremental progress. But there is palpable disconnect too READ MORE
2. Perils surrounding ‘gunpoint diplomacy’ READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. What the Q1 GDP numbers say: With improved revenues, the government must increase expenditures to push consumption and investment READ MORE
2. How soon can GDP reach the pre-Covid level? READ MORE
3. Large-scale privatisation of banks will hurt READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The disappearing wetlands of India READ MORE
2. New Study Offers More Proof That Brazilian Amazon Is Now a Net CO2 Source READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Youth should be aware of social realities and challenges: CJI READ MORE
2. Keep your emotional go bag and stay bin ready READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. “Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve”. Critically analyse this statement in the context of India’s electoral politics.
2. Discuss the need for space privatisation in India. What are the challenges that Indian industries are facing?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Hatred can eat at you until there’s nothing left until you become the thing you hate.
• Although recent research on inequality shows that upper castes have the highest levels of material well-being, there is a wide variation in caste inequality across India.
• With improved revenues, government must increase expenditures to push consumption and investment.
• Remember, any change in the nation’s trajectory always stems from its youth and its participation. It is for you to build the ideal nation and society that you desire to witness.
• Banking is not like any other business entity. Banks operate with a small portion of shareholders’ funds with a disproportionately higher outlay of the common man’s deposit. Banks basically lend depositors’ money.
• Banks have become an excellent tool for the economic progress of the country.
• But state-owned banks, while trying to be profitable on the one hand, provide many services in public interest. Only government banks provide services to the common people at affordable costs.
• Privatising all Banks will be disastrous. The government must find ways and means to strengthen the banking system and ensure the safety of depositors’ money and forbid the looting of public money by private tycoons.
• The international community has witnessed a paradigm shift in global security and geopolitics during the last three weeks.
• There is a need for a special sectoral law that will “regulate employment, conditions of work and provide social protection simultaneously.
• The root cause of the mismanagement of the pandemic is practicing top-down and coercive, instead of bottom-up and cooperative, federalism.

 50-WORD TALK

• The reason for partial or non-implementation of SC orders is clear. The criminalisation of politics has been packaged in such a manner as to appear beneficial for not only the political parties and criminals but also for the constituencies that they seek to represent. The SC orders can at best have little effect on the ground. The poor constituent is more likely to know his MP, MLA, ward member or sarpanch than the judge who passed the order.

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

1. POSHAN MAAH

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has planned a series of activities throughout the POSHAN Maah-2021 in tandem with the States/UTs.

ABOUT POSHAN ABHIYAAN

• POSHAN Abhiyaan is Government of India’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• Launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, 2018 from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, the POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan directs the attention of the country towards the problem of malnutrition and address it in a mission-mode.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan is a Jan Andolan or “People’s Movement” by incorporating inclusive participation of public representatives of local bodies, government departments of the States/UTs, social organizations and the public and private sector at large.
• In order to ensure community mobilization and bolster people’s participation, every year, the month of September is celebrated as POSHAN Maah across the country.
• The wide gamut of activities during the POSHAN Maah this year broadly focus on Plantation Drive for POSHAN VATIKA by all the stakeholders in the space available at Anganwadis, School Premises, Gram Panchayats and other places.
• Plantation activity focuses on planting of saplings of nutritious fruit trees, local vegetables and medicinal plants and herbs. Sensitization/awareness drive for COVID vaccination and Observance of COVID Protocols are also being held, special drive for Height and Weight Measurement for Children (under 6 Years of Age), Slogan writing and Recipe competitions are being organized to highlight the locally available nutritious food for pregnant women.
• The activities during POSHAN Maah also include Awareness campaign on importance of regional / local food, Distribution of Nutrition Kits comprising of regional nutritious food, Anaemia Camps, Drive for block wise Identification of SAM Children, Supervised Supplementary Feeding Program for SAM children as an initiative to tackle prevalence of SAM in children up to the age of 5 years, Sensitisation for Community Management of Acute Malnutrition and Distribution of nutritious food for SAM children

SOURCE:  PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

2. CENTRE REVISES TMA SCHEME FOR SPECIFIED AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

THE CONTEXT: Centre has revised “Transport and Marketing Assistance” (TMA) scheme for Specified Agriculture Products’.

ANALYSIS:

• In February 2019, the Department of Commerce had introduced ‘Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) for Specified Agriculture Products Scheme’ to provide assistance for the international component of freight, to mitigate disadvantage of higher freight costs faced by the Indian exporters of agriculture products.
• The scheme was initially applicable for exports effected during the period from 01.03.2019 to 31.03.2020 and was later extended for exports effected up to 31.03.2021.
• Now the Department has notified ‘Revised Transport and Marketing Assistance (TMA) for Specified Agriculture Products Scheme’ for exports effected on or after 01.04.2021 up to 31.03.2022. The existing scheme will remain in operation for exports effected up to 31.03.2021.

SOURCE:  PIB

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

3. AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONICAL SHAPED FIREWORKS

THE CONTEXT:  The MSME Tool Room, Hyderabad, Central Institute of Tool Design (CITD) has obtained a patent for the invention entitled “AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONICAL SHAPED FIREWORKS” for 20 years from the 10th November,2015.

ANALYSIS:

• The aim of project is to automate the entire above process for relieving human fatigue and to save human from hazardous environment. The entire process is minimal human intervention. Hence, it is safe for humans to handle the machine in Fireworks Industry.
• This is the first of its kind with fully indigenous technology. CITD and SFPL had filed a joint patent application for this innovation.
• The uniqueness of machine is that it completely works on pneumatic system for entire process of manufacturing. There is no electrical or electronics system used in process. Therefore, this can avoid most of the fire accidents in field of fireworks industries.
• Trials were conducted by customer with original chemical in flowerpots and attaining the target production cones of 120 pieces per minute 

SOURCE: PIB

4. NOISE CONTROL SHEET ABSORBER

THE CONTEXT: An Indian researcher has fabricated paper honeycomb and stronger polymer honeycomb structure as sound-absorbing panels that dissipate acoustic energy to low-frequency ranges. The technology can be used in building acoustics and also as environmental noise control solution.

ANALYSIS:

• Many traditional materials have been found to be good at controlling higher frequencies. However, natural bee hives have been found to efficiently control high as well as low frequencies because of their geometry.
• It has been found from theoretical analysis and experimental investigations that this behaviour was owing to the conversion of acoustical energy into vibration energy. This vibration energy is dissipated in the form of heat due to wall damping property. Mimicking this property as an engineering solution could offer a cost-effective method for controlling noise pollution.
• The design methodology involves understanding the physics of bee hive sample acoustic energy dissipation and then mimicking its design.
• The team developed a mathematical model and calculated optimized parameters, and then fabricated the test samples using systematic, controlled parameters. Subsequently, fabrication of a large sample was done. They have used two different approaches and their respective prototype machines with two different kinds of materials.
• One prototype is for paper honeycomb based on indexed -Honeycomb Before Expansion (HOBE) process, and another prototype machine is for polymer honeycomb structure based on hot wire technique.
• The panels were made by slicing stacked extruded polypropene straws. The slicing process is done with the help of hot wire, which also bonds the straws together. The developed technology provides a mechanism of acoustic energy dissipation with lower thickness and higher specific strength of acoustic panels. A test facility to measure the absorption coefficient of large samples has also been established as part of this work.

SOURCE : PIB

5. ATL SPACE CHALLENGE 2021

THE CONTEXT: Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) successfully launched the ATL Space Challenge 2021 for all school students across the country.

ANALYSIS:

• The challenge has been designed for all the school students, mentors and teachers across the countries that not only are associated with schools having ATL labs but for all the non ATL schools as well.
• This is to ensure that students of classes 6 to 12 are given an open platform where they can innovate and enable themselves to solve digital age space technology problems.
• The ATL Space Challenge 2021 aligns with the World Space Week 2021 which is being observed from 4 to 10 October each year at the global level in order to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology.
• Students can create a solution that can be implemented and adopted leveraging technologies such as:

1. Explore Space
2. Reach Space
3. Inhabit Space
4. Leverage Space

• The application for the Space Challenge can be submitted on the AIM online portal. Each team based on their interest and understanding, must select one problem which falls under any one of the Space Challenge themes.
• Each unique solution must be submitted under one theme only. Submitting the same solution/ innovation under multiple themes will result in immediate disqualification.

SOURCE: PIB

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

6. INDIA, U.S. AGREE TO COLLABORATE ON EMERGING FUELS

THE CONTEXT: India and the U.S. have agreed to expand their energy partnership by adding emerging fuels to the list of areas of cooperation that previously included power and energy efficiency, oil and gas, renewable energy and sustainable growth.

ANALYSIS:

• This followed a Ministerial meeting of the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).
• The SCEP was launched in accordance with the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in April this year.
• The two sides also announced rechristening of Gas Task Force to India-U.S. Low Emissions Gas Task Force, which would continue to forge collaboration between the U.S. and Indian companies on innovative projects to support India’s vision of a gas-based economy.
• The two sides also agreed to continue to develop better understandings on methane abatement under this Task Force.
• Both sides have initiated institutionalization of India Energy Modeling Forum with the constitution of Six Task Forces for carrying out research and modelling in different areas.
• Joint Committees have been set up to deliberate on Energy Data Management, Low Carbon Technologies and Just Transition in the Coal Sector.
• Building on the success of the first phase, the two sides agreed to expand the scope of the work to include smart grid and grid storage as part of the second phase of the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE)-R initiative anchored on the Indian side by the Department of Science & Technology.

SOURCE: THE HINDU

7. BRICS SEEKS ‘INCLUSIVE’ INTRA-AFGHAN DIALOGUE

THE CONTEXT: The 13th BRICS summit held virtually called for an “inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue” for stability in Afghanistan.

ANALYSIS:

• The discussion on Afghanistan at the event attended by the leaders of India, Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa was held in the backdrop of the Taliban announcing an interim government in Kabul.
• The BRICS leaders called for “settling the situation by peaceful means” and condemned the terrorist attacks at the Hamid Karzai International Airport which killed at least 100 persons including several American military personnel.
• The document, titled the ‘New Delhi Declaration’, also called for addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and urged the need to uphold rights of women, children and minorities.
• The meeting gave an opportunity to the BRICS countries to discuss the situation in Afghanistan especially as two of the five members of the organisation — Russia and China — continue to have a diplomatic presence in Kabul where a Taliban interim government is expected to take formal charge in few days.
• BRICS countries are evidently divided on the issue of engagement with the Taliban with Russia and China adopting a proactive policy on the issue. A Russian media report informed that the Taliban has invited Turkey, Qatar, China and Iran to the upcoming swearing-in ceremony.
• The summit emphasised the importance of the principle of “non-interference” in international affairs and said disputes and conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means.

SOURCE : TH

Q1. In order to ensure community mobilization and bolster people’s participation, every year, which month of year is celebrated as ‘POSHAN Maah’ across the country?

1. March
2. September
3. August
4. November

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER RELEVANT ARTICLE)

Answer: C)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The scheme facilitates affordable working capital loan of up to ₹10,000 with an interest subsidy @7% on regular repayment.  The street vendors are not required to pay any collateral for the loan.
• Statement 2 is correct: SIDBI has been appointed as the implementation agency for scheme administration.

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2. In Himachal Pradesh, climate change and unplanned development are causing disasters READ MORE
3. Need for More Knowledge to Conserve Himalayan Ecosystem READ MORE

1. Why we need caste census: Benefits distribution needs finer social data. Upper caste angst no reason to stop the exercise READ MORE
2. Gender gap, inequity in healthcare access: Only four States show a fair sex ratio in COVID vaccination. On the health and survival front, India already is one of the five worst performers in South Asia READ MORE

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