Category: Ranker Webinars

Central idea

• PM flagged off India’s 15th Vande Bharat express train running between Ajmer and Delhi Cantonment.
• The first Vande Bharat Express train was flagged off on February 15, 2019 on the New Delhi Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route.

Why discuss this?

• The discussion on the growth and transformation of Indian Railways highlights progress made in this sector over time and ongoing efforts for a modern, efficient, and sustainable railway system.
• The National Rail Plan and Vision 2024 provide a roadmap for achieving this goal.
• The focus is on increasing the modal share of railways in freight transportation, electrification of railways, and multi-tracking of congested routes.
• The significant allocation of funds in the recent budget shows the government’s commitment to railway development

About Vande Bharat Express Vande Bharat Express, also known as Train 18, is a semi-high-speed, fully air-conditioned train in India that runs on electric traction. It is named after the country’s national slogan “Vande Mataram” and was designed and manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, India. The train is equipped with modern amenities such as Wi-Fi, an infotainment system, and a GPS-based passenger information system, among others. It has a maximum speed of 180 km/h and is considered to be one of the fastest trains in India. It is designed to be an energy-efficient and eco-friendly train, and is expected to provide a comfortable and safe travel experience to passengers.

Why Vande Bharati Express is a success?

The Vande Bharat is considered a success for several reasons:

• Fastest train in India: The Vande Bharat Express is currently the fastest train in India, with a top speed of 180 kmph. This results in reduced travel time between the cities connected by the train, making it an attractive option for travellers.
• State-of-the-art features: The train comes with features such as Wi-Fi, information and infotainment screens, and the KAVACH (Train Collision Avoidance System), which is a state-of-the-art safety feature. These features provide passengers with a comfortable and safe travel experience.
• Modern ergonomic design: The train’s modern and angular design, with a dual colour scheme of white and blue, and a protruded nose of the engine, is eye-catching and unique compared to other trains in India. The train reaches 0-100 kmph in just 52 seconds, making it one of the fastest-accelerating trains in the world.
• Covers important routes: The train covers important routes in India, including Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Shirdi, and Chennai-Mysuru, making it a convenient and efficient mode of transportation for passengers.
• Environment-friendly: The Vande Bharat Express is an energy-efficient and eco-friendly train, with ACs that are 1 percent more energy efficient compared to the previous version. This makes it a more sustainable option for rail travel.

Issues with the train

• Technical glitches: There have been instances of technical glitches and breakdowns on some of the Vande Bharat Express trains, leading to delays and inconvenience to passengers.
• High fares: The fares for the Vande Bharat Express are generally higher than those of other trains on the same routes, making it less accessible to some passengers.
• Limited routes: While the Vande Bharat Express covers important routes in India, it is currently limited to only a few routes, and there are plans to expand its network.
• Safety concerns: There have been concerns about the safety of the Vande Bharat Express, particularly with regards to the Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which has not been fully implemented on all trains.
• Maintenance issues: Due to the train’s modern design and advanced features, maintenance and repair of the Vande Bharat Express can be more complex and expensive than that of other trains.

Indian Railways: Quick stats

Statistics	Figures
India’s railway network ranking	Fourth largest
Number of operating trains in India	Over 22,593
Daily passenger count in India’s railway network	24 million passengers
Total freight transported in India’s railway network	203.88 million tonnes
Indian Railways’ revenue in the 2022-23 financial year	Rs 2.40 lakh crore
Increase in Indian Railways’ revenue from previous year	Nearly Rs 49,000 crore
Indian Railways’ passenger revenue growth in 2022-23	All-time high growth of 61% to reach Rs 63,300 crore
India’s projected global share of rail activity by 2050	40%

Issues with Indian Railways

(1) Services

• Safety: India has witnessed a series of rail accidents over the years.
• Quality: Poor quality in services delivered, especially in meals served on board and management of linen used in the trains.

(2) Administration

• Monopoly: The government is the sole player in the rail transportation system in India, resulting in poor quality service delivery and inefficient management of the system.
• Highly centralised: Railway Board has the powers of policy making, operations, and regulation, while zones have very limited powers.
• Non-core functions: Railways is engaged in several un-remunerative peripheral activities, imposing a huge financial burden.
• Political involvement: Indian Railways has often been used as a tool for political patronage.
• Dilemma of identity: Indian Railways suffers from a dilemma of identity as a commercial entity or a government department.

(3) Finances

• Cross-subsidy: Driving away freight business by subsidizing passenger fares has affected the internal revenue generation of the Railways.
• Operating inefficiency: Large number of delayed and stranded projects adds to the stress of operating the railways.
• High revenue expenditure: Railway meets salary and pension obligations out of its own earnings, bound to strain finances further.
• Heavy reliance on budgetary support: Dependence on budgetary support for capital expenditure has been on the rise.
• Self-sufficiency vs. social obligation: Caught up between making it a self-sufficient organization and serving its social obligation as a poor man’s mode of transport.

Various modernization projects

• High Speed Rail Corridors: Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project is a work in progress.
• Induction of semi-high speed trains: Intention to introduce 400 Vande Bharat trains during the next five years.
• Tejas Rajdhani trains: Ultra-modern Tejas trains introduced on LHB platform with sleeper coaches.
• LHB coaches: Large scale proliferation of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches which are technologically superior.
• ‘KAVACH’ System: Automatic train protection system to avoid train collisions.
• Automatic Signalling (ABS): To increase line capacity to run more trains on existing High Density Routes.
• Theme-Based ‘Bharat Gaurav’ Tourist Circuit Trains: To showcase India’s rich cultural heritage and magnificent historical places.
• Station Redevelopment: Station development as the main focus area to enhance customer satisfaction.

Way forward

• Split the three roles: The policy-making function should remain within government control, while an independent body can handle regulation to ensure a level playing field for all entities.  
• Encourage private entry: The Railways can encourage private entities to run both freight and passenger trains, introducing competition that can improve the quality of services.
• Establish Railway Regulatory Authority of India (RRAI): An independent regulator can ensure fair and open access, establish tariffs, and adjudicate disputes.
• Focus on core activities: The Railways should focus on its core activities and distance itself from non-core activities that impose a financial burden on the sector.
• Investment Advisory Committee: The Railways can set up an Investment Advisory Committee consisting of experts, investment bankers, and representatives of institutions to recommend raising new resources.
• Refinement in accounting and HR processes: Indian Railways can improve the way it prepares and maintains accounts, costs, activities, and services, recruitment, and HR processes.
• Decentralization of Railways: The Railways can decentralize its operations and give more autonomy to zones, enabling them to contribute more effectively to the sector’s revenue.

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Setting new goals is easy. Beginning with a fresh dose of motivation is also easy. What’s not easy? Staying consistent with your daily routines and daily targets. That’s the part where we wish we had some practical, life-saving hacks.

Hasn’t it happened to all of us?

We binge-watch IAS toppers on Youtube on how they kept up for 25 hours, 9 days a week, or create multiple copies of their timetable only to find ourselves lost again. Worse still, we look up to our peers on their best days of preparation and compare our worst, most unproductive days, and genuinely feel a sense of loss.

This has happened to all of us. To 100% of the IAS Toppers as well. Trust us, we have mentored 10,000+ students on their IAS journey since 2016 and know their most honest, sincere struggle moments.

We sit back with our IAS toppers, request them to reflect back on their moments of uncertainties and probe them for practical hacks and tips for future aspirants.

Here are the top 3 helpful pointers to help you when the going gets tough:

1. Utilize the power of accountability (works 95% of the time)

Oftentimes, our mind makes the dumbest of excuses to get ourselves out of a task that we should, but don’t want to. And that is why you should OUTSOURCE accountability to other people.

It could be someone you think highly of, and they won’t let you divert from your goals. You need to be accountable to not yourself, but to that person for the completion of a specific task.

Confessing your inaction to someone else brings much more psychological pain, and hence you’ll be compelled to complete that task.

CivilsDaily’s personal mentors are the perfect guide for such cases. They have been mentoring these 10,000+ aspirants and rankers and are very well aware of the power of consistency.

2. Keep your focus on one thing at a time (works 80% of the time)

Staying consistent becomes all the way more cumbersome if you have too much on your plate. Your mind is already struggling with trying to muster up the courage to complete something, and then you burden it with additional tasks. This ends up delaying both tasks rather.

We know that this is easier said than done. It works for very self-driven students but with some external help, and mentor-driven accountability, about 80% of aspirants are able to pick it up.

Our mentors’ expertise will help you strive through this tough, but rewarding journey.

3. Avoid paralysis by analysis (works 55% of the time)

It’s the human tendency to expect results even before any solid efforts have been made. Your primary focus should be to do your job, and the results will follow! Follow the right strategy and be patient, because of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Though there will be days when you might doubt yourself or even the achievability of the task, it’s your duty to not buy those negative thoughts.

However, if in spite of prolonged efforts, results fail to show up, then you can always get on a quick call with one of our mentors and scrutinize your approach. This will help you channel your efforts in the right direction.

Not sure how to implement these three. Get FREE Samanvaya Mentorship.

How does Samanvaya Mentorship work? Introducing 3 layers of mentorship: Get IAS or UPSC ranker as your mentor

1. 1st step starts with this Samanvaya call: Once you fill in the form, we get on a 30-40 minute call with you to understand your prep level, working/ study constraints, and current strategies and create a step-by-step plan for the next week, next month and so on.

2. You are directed and given access to relevant resources and an invite-only Telegram group where you can ask your daily doubts, discuss your test-prep questions and have real-time, live sessions on news and op-eds, and find your optional groups.

3. The third and the most personalized tier is the 1 on 1 mentor allotment who stays with you through the course of your UPSC preparation – always-on chat and on scheduled calls to help you assess, evaluate, and chart the next milestone of your IAS 2023-23 journey.

We will also connect you to a UPSC ranker or IAS, who will mentor you in this journey.

Layer 1: You will be assigned a dedicated in-house mentor who will keep track of our progress from start till your final interview.

Layer 2: Sajal Singh sir and the team will be constantly with you through various programs like Samachar Manthan, Prelims, Essay, etc.

Layer 3: A UPSC IAS ranker (one who has cleared this exam) will be supervising your progress as your super mentor.

Who are you?

1. Working Junta? If you are preparing for IAS 2023-24 and working simultaneously, we can help you design a timetable that fits right in your hectic schedule.
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3. UPSC Veteran?

You just have to take 5 minutes out and fill this form: Samanvaya For IAS 2024

Once done, we will call you within 24 hours or so.

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Context

• The Prime Minister has called for people’s participation and collective efforts in combating climate change at a World Bank event.
• A Global call for Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was given by PM Modi, at CoP26, held at Glasgow in October-November, 2021.
• Subsequently, Mission LiFE was launched by PM Modi on 20 October 2022.

What is Mission LiFE?

• PM Modi introduced the concept of Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) at UNFCCC-COP26 in 2021.
• Mission LiFE is an international mass movement aimed at protecting and preserving the environment.
• It envisions a shift from a ‘use-and-dispose’ economy to a circular economy, which promotes mindful and deliberate utilization.

Approach of Mission LiFE

1. Emphasize Individual Behaviours: Make Life a Jan Andolan (mass movement) by targeting the attitudes and behaviours of individuals and communities.
2. Global Co-creation: Utilize the expertise of the world’s leading universities, think tanks, and international organizations to crowdsource empirical and scalable ideas.
3. Harness Local Cultures: Utilize climate-friendly social norms, beliefs, and daily household practices of different cultures worldwide to drive the campaign.

Key Strategy: Pro-Planet People

• LiFE aims to utilize the power of social networks to influence climate-related social norms.
• To achieve this, the Mission plans to establish and foster a global network of individuals called ‘Pro-Planet People’ (P3).
• The Mission aims to encourage people to undertake simple daily actions that can significantly contribute to addressing climate change.
• P3 members will have a shared commitment to adopting and promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles.
• Through the P3 community, the Mission intends to establish an ecosystem that enables and reinforces sustainable environmentally friendly behaviours.

Significance of the LiFE Mission

• Efforts Refinement: It will aid in converging with measures such as the establishment of solar power plants, installation of solar panels on canals, and water conservation in drought-prone areas.
• Disaster Management: It will facilitate efforts to combat environmental disasters and set global trends for sustainable development.
• Global Initiative: It serves as India’s global initiative to combat climate change and promote sustainable living to achieve the UN sustainable development goals by 2030.
• Pro Planet People: It embodies the P3 model’s spirit, promoting a ‘Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet, and by the planet’.
• India-UN Partnership: Both entities have joined forces in this new initiative that is expected to be a global success.
• Nature Harmony: It encompasses every lifestyle adopted by our ancestors related to nature and environment conservation, which has become part of our present-day lifestyle.
• Climate Change Battle: Combating climate change goes beyond policy-making and requires wider support from individuals, families, and communities to protect the earth and humanity against climate-related disasters and extreme weather events.
• Circular Economy: The mission promotes the adoption of the ‘Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle’ concept, which helps strike a balance between development, economic growth, and sustainability.
• Net Zero Target: It aids India and many other countries in achieving their net zero carbon footprint goals.

Indian efforts to mitigate Climate Change

• International Solar Alliance: India, along with France, launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in 2015, aimed at promoting the use of solar energy worldwide.
• National Clean Energy Fund: The Government of India established the NCEF to promote research, development, and deployment of clean energy technologies.
• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change: The NAFCC was set up to support climate adaptation efforts in India, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, water, and forestry.
• National Action Plan on Climate Change: The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlines India’s strategy to combat climate change, with specific goals for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture.
• National Solar Mission: The National Solar Mission aims to achieve 100 GW of solar energy capacity by 2022, making India a global leader in solar energy. 
• Ujjwala Yojana: The scheme aims to provide free LPG connections to below-poverty-line households, reducing the use of traditional fuels like wood and charcoal, which contribute to indoor air pollution and carbon emissions.
• Smart Cities Mission: It aims to promote sustainable urban development and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of technology and innovation in cities.

Way Forward

• Collaboration: LiFE should work with civil society, government, private sector, academia, and international organizations for effective strategy implementation.
• Communication: Effective communication is crucial for making LiFE a mass movement. The campaign should leverage social media, community radio, and other tools to spread awareness.
• Behaviour Change: LiFE should promote behaviour change by providing information, incentives, and tools for sustainable lifestyles.
• Innovation: LiFE should support innovations like green technologies, circular economy models, and sustainable agriculture practices.
• Capacity Building: Capacity building is essential for creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of sustainable behaviours. LiFE should focus on building the capacity of individuals, communities, and organizations.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: LiFE should regularly monitor and evaluate the impact of its strategies. It should collect data on the adoption of sustainable practices, carbon emissions reduction, and improvement in the quality of life.
• Global Cooperation: LiFE should encourage global cooperation to address climate change. It should collaborate with other countries, international organizations, and initiatives to work towards global sustainable development goals.

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Context

• Prime Minister visited Assam and inaugurated AIIMS Guwahati the first AIIMS in the northeastern states.
• He also inaugurated three new medical colleges and laid the foundation stones for a bridge, the beautification of Rang Ghar, and the Assam Advanced Health Care Innovation Institute.
• He witnessed a Mega Bihu dance performance attempting to create a new Guinness World Record.

North East India: A Backgrounder

• The Northeast region of India comprises eight states- Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim.
• According to 2011 census this 3.78% of country’s population resides in this region.
• It also comprises approx. 7.98% of country’s area including 5,483 Km of India’s international borders.
• These eight states also constitute 3.37% of country’s total agriculture land holding and 34.5% of the total bamboo bearing area in the country.

Various associated issues

[A] Security

(i) Leftist insurgency

• The Maoist rebellion in Northeast India is at present in its ‘latent phase’. It basically involves arms dumps and identification of local militant elements.
• However, these days, militancy and extortion has become an organised activity in the region and is one of the major sources of funds for the militants.

(ii) Drug smuggling

• Golden Triangle comprises of the regions of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar it has been one of the largest opium-producing areas of the world since the 1950s.
• Drugs produced there enters into India through Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland from Bhamo, Lashio, and Mandalay in Myanmar.
• Moreh (Manipur), Champai (Mizoram), Dimapur (Nagaland), and Guwahati (Assam) have become the nucleus of drug trafficking industry in India’s northeast.

[B] Developmental issue: Connectivity with mainland

• The NER is connected to mainland India only through a narrow stretch of land (about 22 km wide) in West Bengal called the ‘Siliguri Corridor’, sometimes known as the “Chicken’s Neck”.
• Except for this narrow Siliguri Corridor, the entire northeastern part of the country is bound by international borders.

[C] Sovereignty threats

• Neighbouring countries like China and Myanmar are accused of promoting insurgency in the region.
• China’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh and its water diversion plans on the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet are creating a public perception in the northeast that China is a threat to India.
• This has created positive influences on the minds of the insurgents.

[D] Sub-national aspirations

• The region is populated by a number of different communities, with diverse cultures, languages and customs.
• It is also marked by difficult terrain, backward areas, and limited connectivity. This area was known for the active presence of a number of militant groups.

Key issues:

1. Demands for autonomy: This demand arose in Tripura and Manipur which compromised the state of Assam. This majorly arose when the non-Assamese political leaders felt that the Assamese was forcibly imposed upon them.

2. Secessionist Movement: The Mizo hills area in Mizoram never felt that they were under the British therefore after independence they did not consider themselves as part of India. Several campaigns started to be independent states.

3. Movements against outsiders: This issue has taken place in several states of the Northeast. The Assam movement was such a movement against outsiders because they suspected that there were huge numbers of illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

Root causes of turmoil in NE

• Colonial past: The connection between the NER and the rest of India is relatively recent, dating back to 1826 with the signing the Treaty of Yandaboo.
• No historical ties: It was when Burma ceded Assam, Manipur, Jaintia hills, Tripura and Cachar to the British at the end of the First Anglo-Burmese War.
• Heavy militarization and AFSPA: Even under the British, the region was mostly seen as providing a ‘buffer zone’ from Burma and China. This perspective continued after independence leading to heavy militarization.
• Abrupt integration: The integration of NER into the rest of the country was ‘abrupt’, with no prior history. The states were integrated and demarcated into ad hoc units for administrative convenience.
• Political disconnect: The participation of the northeastern state governments in any development activity is nearly non-existent. Politics for them has merely left to Tribal Affairs.
• Local aspirations: The region’s own politics or the political aspirations of fragmented tribes were marginalised within the larger political discourse.
• Others: Inflation is another fuel to the turmoil. Distribution is mostly road-based and disruptions in movement, particularly during the six-month-long rainy season, causes sporadic fuel scarcity in the hill States.

Opportunities in the NER

[A] Tourism

• NE Region of India has immense resource potential to develop tourism.
• Assam is the leading state in terms of overall inflow of tourists’ in the region while Sikkim proves to be preferred destination of foreign tourists.
• The region offers enchanting visits for tourists interested in wild life, religious, cultural and ethnic tourism, river cruises, golf and a host of others.

[B] Emerging market

• The North East is a fast-growing market with untapped opportunities for investment, trade and tourism.
• It has the potential to become a nodal point of India’s growth story.
• It is abundantly endowed with natural resources, mineral and forest wealth, diverse flora and fauna and fertile land for cultivation of exotic fruits and vegetables.

[C] Agricultural Potential

• Traditionally, the North East is known for tea, but it could also offer plantation and export opportunities for a wide range of crops including oil palm.
• Similarly, the region has about 50 species of bamboo, 14 varieties of bananas and 17 varieties of citrus fruits.
• North-Eastern states also have a huge production of fruits such as pineapples and oranges.

[D] Rich mineral resources

• The Northeast region of India has an abundant mineral comprising chiefly of limestone, coal, natural oil and gas, uranium, feldspar, and others.
• The total hydrocarbon deposits (oil and gas) accounts for 20% of the total India.

[E] Gateway to the East

• The NE region is a vantage entry point to south-eastern Asian markets.
• Given its location, the Northeast assumes the role of bridging the space between mainland India and other Southeast Asian nations.
• Taking this idea forward, the government decided to focus more on improving its relation with ASEAN and the East Asian countries.
• It was also aimed at eliminating the insurgency problem in the NE once and for all by way of opening up the region to Southeast Asia.

Connectivity in the region

(A) Road

• Under Bharatmala Pariyojana (BMP) roads stretches aggregating to about 5301 km in NER have been approved for improvement.
• Out of this, 3246 km road length has been approved for development of Economic Corridors in the North East.
• Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, road length of 20,708 km has been already constructed.
• Other major development include construction of bridges of over the Brahmaputra to narrow down distances.

(B) Railway

• There are plans to provide a railway link for the NE states through 20 major railway projects, encompassing 13 new lines with a length of nearly 2,624 kms.
• The Murkongselek (Assam) and Pasighat rail project is already under implementation.
• The most important of them is 378-km Bhalukpong (West Kameng, Arunachal)-Tenga (Arunachal)-Tawang (Arunachal) rail connectivity that will reach a height of 10,000 ft to the Tibet border.

(C) Air connectivity

• The Pakyong Airport in Sikkim is the first greenfield airport in Northeast India. It is situated around 30 kilometers from Gangtok.
• The launch of the UDAN regional air connectivity scheme (2016) saw a number of new air links in the region.
• The most important of them is Pasighat (2018), the first-ever commercial air link to Arunachal.

(D) Digital connectivity

• Telecom Commission has approved a comprehensive strategy to implement BharatNet in North East Region (NER).
• Under this strategy, 4240 Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the North-East are to be connected by broadband and by satellite connectivity.

Way forward

(i) Infrastructure and connectivity

• These are two basic requirements essential for economic development of a region.
• The need for infrastructure becomes more acute for hilly and mountainous areas that are on one hand difficult to traverse and on the other hand tend to be sparsely populated.
• Thus, there is a need for heavy investments in infrastructure development.

(ii) Timely completion of projects

• Most North Eastern States are resource-starved and it is vital that funds are properly accounted for.  
• In addition, projects that are retained and put on priority lists raise the expectations of the people.
• This further contributes towards deficits in confidence of the people upon the Central Government.

(iii) Single nodal agency

• Another challenge is that there are multiple bodies and agencies like the NEC, DoNER and the recently created North East Forum.
• There is a need for clarity on the roles between these bodies and budgets need to be allocated to the States.
• Flexibility should be allowed for the State governments for utilization of these allocations.

(iv) Tourism

• Tourism is one of the alternatives that can play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the NER.
• The challenge lies in making the region accessible to the tourists from mainland India and other countries.
• Sense of integration can be imbibed through various projects such as Dekho Apna Desh etc. among the NE youth.

Conclusion

• It is evident fact that, for a long time, the North East was a neglected and forgotten part of the country.
• The region has great potential to develop not just as a self, sustaining economic unit of India but also contribute to the success story of the country.

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(Concluded Successfully) UPSC 2024: 5-hour prep strategy for College aspirants and working professionals | 1-1 LIVE Masterclass + Q&A session by IRPS Prabhat Sir.

🚨What you should expect in 1-1 LIVE with Prabhat Sir

Can college aspirants & working Professionals Clear UPSC with a serious time crunch?

This is the most familiar & much-debated question that candidates have. The answer is yes, and why not? If you simply sidestep irregular reading habits & comes under prominent mentos, you’re eligible to crack UPSC-CSE with a single-digit rank.

Our ‘Hall Of Fame working Professionals– Vaibhav Rawat (AIR 25), Ravi Kumar (AIR 84), and College going student-Tina Dabi (AIR-1) and Kamya Mishra (AIR-172) have already busted the myth that only full-time aspirants can become an IAS.

Preparing with a full-time job was the best decision…and CivilsDaily made it easy for me.

Mantri Mourya, AIR 28, UPSC 2021

Cracking UPSC is an art of excellence & can be achieved even by improving by 1% Per day. All it wants are willpower, effort, and systematic practice. And you can bring this 1% improvement if you’re ready to dedicate only 5 hrs every day to your IAS dream. 

Prabhat sir’s step-by-step 5-hour learning strategy enables you to manage to work hard in your respective jobs and studies and taste success aftermath.

UPSC 2024 Workshop on 17th April 2023, Monday

Strategies & Approaches, in This Free Live Workshop by Prabhat Sir!

• How to manage time for UPSC Preparation if you’re a working Professional or a college student? How to utilize the time, left in your hand, in the best possible way?
• UPSC preparation timetable and schedule with just 5 hrs of daily study time?
• How to identify those people or things that deplete your energy and waste your time?
• How to break down the syllabus into small chunks, and develop an effective & workable study strategy for UPSC preparation.
• How to complete the syllabus, in a short time! 
• How to prioritize conventional topics/subjects?
• How to divide your time and keep a balance between Prelims and mains preparation?
• Selective reading or studying: How to deal with the ocean of current affairs and a mountain of GS?
• How to tackle Optional subject preparation, Making Notes, and improving answer writing habits in a short time
• Many more untold tips and techniques that only a topper can elaborate

A lot more crucial points will be discussed to smoothen your IAS journey.

Details of UPSC Workshop Day-1: 2 Foolproof Frameworks for Mains answer writing by Sukanya Ma’am

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CivilsDaily’s FREE Webinar package

Post-webinar we will share important PDFs, timetable framework, and notes.

Other than this a strategy package will be emailed to you.

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What The Hindu opined about Civilsdaily Mentorship

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Central idea: Surging global debt

• Reiterating that addressing the growing sovereign debt distress globally was a priority for India’s G20 presidency.
• Globally, at least 21 countries are in default or seeking restructuring.

G20 discussion on Sovereign Debt

At the 2023 Spring Meetings of the IMF and the WB Group, the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) has agreed on urgently improving information sharing on macroeconomic projections, at an early stage of debt restructuring processes.

About GSDR

• A platform established in Feb 2023, co-chaired by IMF, World Bank, and India (G20 Presidency).
• Comprises official bilateral creditors, private creditors, and borrowing countries.
• Aims to build common understanding among stakeholders involved in debt restructuring and address shortcomings in the process.
• Focuses on process and standards, not meant to discuss country cases or replace existing restructuring mechanisms.

Global Debt Distress: Key Stats Last week, IMF said that 15% of low-income countries are already in debt distress; another 45% are vulnerable; and a quarter of emerging economies are at high-risk.A report by UN conference on trade and development says that high interest rates combined with soaring debt levels will add to the crushing effect on developing countries.This crisis is up to the tune of at least $800 billion.According to World Bank data, in 2022, the world’s poorest countries owed $35 billion as debt-service payments to official and private-sector creditors, with China alone accounting for over 40% of the total dues.The Russia-Ukraine war has only aggravated their debt sustainability problem by setting off an energy-and-food crisis.

General factors responsible for Debt Distress

• High Public Spending: When governments spend beyond their means, they must borrow to finance their spending. This can lead to the accumulation of debt over time, especially if the government’s spending is not matched by a corresponding increase in revenue.
• Decline in Exports: When a country’s exports decrease, it can lead to a decline in foreign currency earnings, making it more difficult for the country to service its foreign currency-denominated debts. This situation can be especially challenging for countries that rely heavily on exports for their economic growth.
• Weak Institutions: When institutions are weak, it can be difficult to implement effective policies and reforms that can address debt issues. This can make it challenging for countries to improve their debt situation, leading to a cycle of economic decline and further debt accumulation.
• Dependence on Commodities: Commodity prices can be volatile, and when they decline, it can lead to a decline in government revenue, making it more challenging to service debt obligations. This situation can be exacerbated when countries borrow heavily to invest in their commodity sectors, leading to a further accumulation of debt.
• Demographic Changes: Aging populations and declining birth rates, can also contribute to debt distress. These changes can lead to declining economic growth, increased public spending on pensions and healthcare, and declining tax revenues. This situation can be challenging for countries that have high levels of debt and limited resources to address these demographic challenges.

Immediate triggers

• Slow recovery from COVID-19: Pandemic has had a severe impact on the global economy, leading to a significant decline in economic activity, and causing many countries to accumulate high levels of debt as they try to support their economies and people.
• High food and energy prices: Another factor contributing to debt distress is high food and energy prices. These prices have been rising in recent years, putting a strain on the budgets of many countries, particularly those that are heavily dependent on food and energy imports.
• Russia’s war in Ukraine: This has also contributed to debt distress in some countries. The geopolitical instability and economic sanctions that have resulted from the conflict have had a severe impact on the economies of many neighboring countries, leading to a build-up of debt.
• Escalating Climate impacts: The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts have led to significant economic and social costs for many countries. These costs have contributed to the accumulation of debt as countries try to rebuild and recover from these events.
• Depreciating domestic Currencies: As the US dollar strengthens, it becomes more expensive for EMDEs to service their dollar-denominated debts, leading to higher debt burdens. This makes it more expensive for them to import goods, leading to higher inflation and increasing debt burdens.

Implications of the looming Debt Crisis

• Developmental damage: With so many countries reeling under food scarcity, energy shortages, and high inflation, among other problems, a looming debt spiral presents a complex developmental challenge.
• Misery of masses: Debt distress has real socio-economic consequences. When countries accumulate high levels of debt, it can lead to heightened inequality, increased levels of poverty, and inadequate economic growth.
• Humanitarian damage: As the government tries to deal with the debt burden, it may have to cut back on essential social programs and infrastructure projects, leading to a decline in the standard of living for the population.
• Food insecurity: Due to the swelling import bills for wheat, rice, and maize, these countries (ex. Pakistan) may not have sufficient foreign currency to purchase enough food to feed their populations.

Possible solutions

• The G20 report calls for a reform of the Common Framework, which is a debt restructuring mechanism that was established by the G20 in 2020 to help countries address their debt burdens.
• The report proposes three pillars to address the issue:

1. Credible public creditors: The first pillar involves public creditors granting significant cuts in debts to bring a distressed country back to debt sustainability and help it achieve its development and climate goals. This means that public creditors, such as multilateral development banks, should provide debt relief to the most debt-distressed countries.
2. Private and commercial creditors: It implies that private creditors, such as bondholders and banks, should also provide debt relief to the most debt-distressed countries. For the remaining debt, the government should issue new bonds for private creditors, backed by a guaranteed fund.
3. International financial institutions: It can provide credit enhancement. This means that countries that are not at risk of debt distress can receive support from international financial institutions to improve their credit ratings and access financing at more favorable rates.

Roadmap for India

• Utilizing G20 residency: India has assumed the G20 presidency at a time when the global economy is facing uncertainty, making it a challenging task to address debt distress, initiate action, and devise a coordinated relief framework.
• Role as a global rescuer: As a major creditor of Sri Lanka and some heavily-indebted countries in Africa, India has provided $4 billion in assistance to Sri Lanka.
• Negotiate debt relief: Under the G20’s leadership, India should provide guidance and help negotiate commitments to debt relief before the crisis worsens global economic conditions.
• Promoting inclusive trade: To achieve this, India can facilitate debt suspension and debt relief and by granting unhindered market access to these countries for inclusive trade and shared prosperity.
• Emphasis on tradable sectors: To promote shared prosperity, an emphasis should be laid on the development of tradable sectors, with priority given to the informal sector, lower-income groups, and conflict-affected regions.

Conclusion

• Overall, India’s leadership in the G20 is crucial for addressing debt distress, negotiating commitments to debt relief, and promoting inclusive and sustainable development in heavily-indebted countries.
• By facilitating debt relief and promoting tradable sectors, India can help these countries achieve their development goals and reduce the impact of the debt crisis on their populations.

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