Category: Ranker Webinars

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – ISA plans global solar bank to finance $150 billion of power projects

International Solar Alliance

1. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
2. The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels
3. The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization
4. The alliance is also called International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA)
5. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to be headquartered in India
6. The initiative was launched by PM Narendra Modi at the India Africa Summit and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

Objective : To encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world

Members : 186 of the UN member states as well as the Cook Islands, Holy See and Niue are members of WIPO

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

Year Founded : 1967

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – GSP: win-win for Indo-U.S. trade

Generalised System of Preferences

1. The GSP is one of the oldest trade preference programmes in the world, and was designed to provide zero duties or preferential access for developing countries t o advanced markets.
2. The U.S. GSP programme was established by the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, and promotes economic development by eliminating duties on thousands of products when imported from one of the 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
3. In April 2018, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would review the GSP eligibility of India, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.
4. The proposed review for India was initiated in response to market access petitions filed by the U.S. dairy and medical device industries due to recent policy decisions in India, which were perceived as trade barriers.

B2B #2: From news – [op-ed snap] Countering India’s labour market imbalances

NITI Aayog Action Agenda

1. The draft “Three Year Action Agenda” of the NITI Aayog been released in 2017  for 2017-18 to 2019-20.
2. It focuses on seven key areas that include revenue and expenditure, economic transformation in major sectors, regional development, growth enablers, and reforms in governance, social sectors and sustainability.
3. Itis said to be a phasing out of FYP as a concept.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name of the scheme : Jeevan Pramaan

Salient Features : It is an Aadhaar based Biometric Authentication System for Pensioners. The system provides authenticity to Digital Life Certificate without the necessity of the pensioner being present in person before his/ her Pension Dispensing Authority (PDA).

Nodal Ministry : The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Dear Students,

We have moved our discussion forums for optional subjects to the following telegram groups. It was evident that telegram had many smooth features which were beneficial for optional discussions.

From time to time, we will try to get Rankers and Mentors to communicate with you and solve your queries. It should be noted that these are self-moderated groups where you can collaborate and communicate with your fellow peers. Students interested to become Moderators so they can streamline the conversations are more than welcome to write to us.

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Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read the full news

High relevance news

Aadhaar biometric data cannot be used for crime investigations, UIDAI clarifies

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/aadhaar-biometric-data-cannot-be-used-for-crime-investigations-uidai-clarifies/

Prelims 2018 had 2 direct questions on Aadhar. An SC hearing is going on related to data privacy concerns and threats posed by Aadhar.

Note the provisions that help secure Aadhar data as these can be quoted in Mains to balance your viewpoint.

Nasa unveils program to defend Earth from asteroid attack

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/nasa-unveils-program-to-defend-earth-from-asteroid-attack/

Read about IAWN & DART. Important for Prelims.

Also, note details about the mission as it can be asked in Mains too.

India to teach satellite tech to students from abroad

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-to-teach-satellite-tech-to-students-from-abroad/

Good material to be used in Mains answer as well as Essays under India’s achievements in SciTech especially space technology.

For Prelims, note UNISPACE+50 & UNSSP

Anti-profiteering under GST: A leap of faith for consumers and industry

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/anti-profiteering-under-gst-a-leap-of-faith-for-consumers-and-industry/

The article explains various lacunae in Anti-Profiteering system of GST. Can be used in GST related questions in Mains.

Low Relevance News

Chabahar port may open by 2019, says Gadkari

India hopes to make Iran’s Chabahar port operational by 2019, despite the threat of United States’ sanctions against Tehran looming large

Chahbahar has been discussed extensively in previous newscards and news contains no important detail.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations to visit India

The visit is to thank the troop-contributing countries for their service and update them on the ongoing reforms in the peace and security area

The only important detail in news is: India is among the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions

Read more about UN peacekeeping here: Click2Read

Govt. Poster for easy recall

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – [pib] Third AIIB Annual Meeting 2018, Mumbai

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

1. The AIIB is a multilateral development bank that aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
2. It was proposed as an initiative by the government of China in 2013 and came into existence in 2014.
3. The capital of the bank is $100 billion, equivalent to 2⁄3 of the capital of the Asian Development Bank and about half that of the World Bank.
4. Recently AIIB extended USD 1.2 bn loan for infra projects in India.
5. The fund will invest in six projects, including $500 million in the Mumbai Metro and $455 million in rural roads in Andhra Pradesh.
6. This also includes $200 million to the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.

B2B #2: From news – Mongolia launches construction of first oil refinery with India aid

India-Mongolia Bilateral relations

1. Mongolia, a large landlocked country wedged between giants China and Russia, has a population of just 3 million. Almost half its people live as nomadic stock herders.
2. Mongolia considers India a “third neighbor” as well as a “spiritual neighbor” (the late venerable Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk who is revered in Mongolia, was the Indian ambassador to Ulaanbaatar for 10 years).
3. India shares historical relations with Mongolia in terms of culture from over 2700 years.
4. Nomadic Elephant was the Counter-Terrorism joint military exercise conducted by India and Mongolia in 2016

B2B #3: From news – Nasa unveils program to defend Earth from asteroid attack

International Asteroid Warning Network

1. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) was established in 2014 to address the recommendations for an international response to the near-Earth Object impact threat
2. It was endorsed by the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
   Outer Space and the General Assembly resolution 68/75
3. It forms an international association of institutions involved in detecting, tracking, and characterizing NEOs (Near Earth Objects) to provide the best information available on the NEO hazard and any impact threat
4. The IAWN is also tasked to use well-defined communication
   plans and protocols to assist Governments in the analysis of asteroid impact
   consequences and to support the planning of mitigation responses
5. IAWN serves the global community as the authoritative source of accurate and up-to-date information on near-Earth objects and NEO impact risks. Information is freely available to all interested parties

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Marrakesh treaty

Brief Intro : 1.The treaty requires signatories to introduce national law provisions that facilitates the availability of published works in formats like Braille that are accessible to the blind and allow their exchange across borders by organizations working for the visually impaired. 2.The pact will help import of accessible format copies from the member countries by the Indian authorized entities such as educational institutions, libraries and other institutions working for the welfare of the visually impaired. 3.The treaty will also ease translation of imported accessible format copies and export of accessible format copies in Indian languages.

Objective : To create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled (VIPs).

Type : Treaty

Category : Social

Importance (wr. Prelims) : High

Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read the full news

High relevance news

[op-ed snap] The seeds of sustainability

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-the-seeds-of-sustainability/

Agriculture concepts have made inroads into Mains questions in recent years. Read all details related to ZBNF

Govt plans ‘Pariwartan’ scheme for power sector revival

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/govt-plans-pariwartan-scheme-for-power-sector-revival/

After UDAY another big scheme for bringing power sector on the track. Note all details.

Govt may scrap trials for some IVD devices

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/govt%e2%80%8amay-scrap%e2%80%8atrials-for-some-ivd-devices/

Note details about In-vitro diagnostics and also read about related therapies etc. Important primarily for Prelims but can appear in Mains too.

[op-ed snap] Tighter is better

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-tighter-is-better/

The editorial discusses important trends related to CAD and factors that have been affecting capital inflows in emerging markets.

Good economic facts that can be quoted in Mains answers.

Low Relevance News

India, U.S. 2+2 Dialogue on July 6

Has been too much in news but nothing substantial has come out of it as of now. Will be relevant only after the meeting is concluded and various announcements made

Centre bans affiliates of al-Qaeda, Islamic State

The only important detail in this news is Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Used sporadically against terrorist organizations.

Govt. Poster for easy recall

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – Cross-border insolvency: Rules to help lenders access foreign assets

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

1. UNCITRAL was established in 1966 with the recognition that international trade cooperation among States is an important factor.
2. When world trade began to expand dramatically in the 1960s, national governments began to realize the need for a global set of standards and rules to harmonize national and regional regulations, which until then governed international trade.
3. UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency was a model law issued by the Secretariat of UNCITRAL in 1997 to assist states in relation to the regulation of corporate insolvency and financial distress involving companies which have assets or creditors in more than one state.
4. The Model Law is designed to provide a model framework to encourage cooperation and coordination between jurisdictions.

B2B #2: From news – World’s hungry population on the rise again, says UN report

Sustainable Development Goals

1. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations in 2015 and are to be achieved by 2030.
2. The SDGs cover social and economic development issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, urbanization, environment and social justice.
3. The formal name for the SDGs is: “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” That has been shortened to “2030 Agenda”.
4. The resolution is a broad intergovernmental agreement that acts as the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
5. This was a non-binding agreement as a result of Rio+20 Conference held in 2012.
6. NITI Aayog is set up in line with attaining these SDGs.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Parigraha

Dynasty/era : Mahavira period

Meaning : 1.Parigraha-parimana is one the 12 vratas or vows of a layperson in Jainism. Specifically, it is a vow to limit attachment to worldly possessions. 2.Unlike monks or ascetics who observe such vows more strictly, the layperson may make a vow to limit his or her attachment to certain possessions or a certain number of possessions, or they may vow to limit attachment for a specified period of time.