Category: Ranker Webinars

Topics for Today’s question:

GS-3         Inclusive growth and issues arising from it.

Question

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WARS (DAW)?

1. Daily 1 question either from General Studies 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be provided via live You Tube video session.
2. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
3. The answer needs to be submitted by joining the telegram group given in the link below.

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Topics for Today’s question:

GS-2          Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Question

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WARS (DAW)?

1. Daily 1 question either from General Studies 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be provided via live You Tube video session.
2. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
3. The answer needs to be submitted by joining the telegram group given in the link below.

   https://t.me/cdwarzone

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of Daily Answer Wars and payment: 

Context

• With over 80% of the Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) running parallel to passenger lines, a parliamentary panel has raised concerns over the lack of safety rules for the goods-only network.

News: Leniency over regulations of DFCs

• The Standing Committee on Transport in its report, pointed out that while rules and regulations are defined for passenger trains, no such regulation exists for the Dedicated Freight Corridors.
• There are many instances where rules were amended by the Ministry of Railways without consulting the commission, even when provisions to such consultations exist.

What are Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs)?

• The DFC project was first proposed in April 2005 to address the needs of the rapidly developing Indian economy.
• They were proposed to ensure a more reliable, economical, and faster transportation of goods.
• These corridors seek to bring a paradigm shift in Railway Freight Operations in the country, thus providing relief to the heavily congested Golden Quadrilateral.

Its conceptualization

• The inception of DFCs can be understood clearly as one delves into Indian Railways’ freight operations scenario in the past.
• It was majorly the Golden Quadrilateral, linking the four metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Howrah and its two diagonals.
• This comprised 16% of the route, which carried over 52% of passenger traffic and 58% of freight traffic.

Principal components: Eastern and Western DFCs

1. Eastern DFC: It passes through Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
2. Western DFC: From JNPT to Dadri via Vadodara-Ahmedabad- Palanpur-Phulera- Rewari, Western DFC will pass through Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

Need for DFCs

• Logistics boost: To resolve the increasing need for road decongestion, accident reduction and ensuring energy security, the DFCs were launched to aid the growth of rail transportation in India.
• Industrial competitiveness: This will also lead to the construction of industrial corridors and logistic parks along these routes, thereby making the industrial ecosystem more competitive.
• Optimizing logistics cost: The new corridors will permit the trains to carry higher loads, in a more reliable manner, thereby reducing logistic costs.
• Speedy movement: These lines are also being built to maximize speeds to 100 km/hour, up from the current average freight speed of 20 km/hour. This will also reduce transit time from freight source to destination.
• Global successes: China’s new DFCs have been designed with the objective to link hinterland areas with ports, along with the aim to transfer commodities, raw materials, and other critical resources.

Issues with Railways Freight

• Highways are more feasible: The share of roads in freight transport is more than half in India; while in China, it is only 30%. As more highways are built rapidly, the share of roads in freight transport is increasing.
• Costly transport: The working of Indian Railways is caught up between making it a self-sufficient organization and serving it as a transport system for the poor.  The passenger fares usually remain static for years.
• Decline in coal freight: Decreasing dependency on coal with increasing thrust on renewable energy has crippled railway revenue from freights.
• Lack of finances:  About 94 percent of the system’s revenues are spent on operating costs and social obligations, leaving little to modernize its infrastructure.
• Delayed movement: Most passenger and freight lines are shared, and, when there is a delay, passenger trains are always prioritized. This makes it impossible to ensure deliveries within a set time.
• Stuck into monopoly: The Indian railways have lacked investment. There’s been an inability to raise passenger fares because it’s a political ideology that public transport in India needs to be accessible for everyone.
• Populist developments: Railways sometimes seem to be diverting from core issues of safety and operation and to populist needs aimed at wooing corporate travelers.
• Regulation issue: The Commission of Railway Safety falls under the administrative control of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and deals with matters pertaining to safety of rail travel and train operations.

Significance of DFCs

• Decongestion of road: Around 70% of the freight trains currently running on the Indian Railway network are slated to shift to the freight corridors, leaving the paths open for more passenger trains.  
• Increased NTKM Capacity: NTKM stands for transportation of 1 tonne of goods over 1 km. Goods trains shall be able to run freely on DFC without any restrictions imposed by the movement of passenger trains.
• Improvised logistics and connectivity: Tracks on DFC are designed to carry heavier loads than most of the Indian Railways. It will connect the existing ports and industrial areas for faster movement of goods.
• Speed and Punctuality: To begin with, freight trains will run according to a timetable and as fast as express trains.  
• Employment generation: Thousands of people will get employed in the construction of the corridor and other facilities along the corridor, including logistics parks to handle cargo and townships these corridors.

Way forward

• DFCs present a significant opportunity for freight logistics in India. What is important is to see how increasingly optimistic traffic projections will be realized.  
• That depends upon the industrial and trade growth in India and the development of industrial corridors and the feeder network.
• It would also play a lead role in transforming the railways from a loss-making operation to an efficient and profitable venture.
• Also, it would be interesting to see the potential all these corridors hold for the regions they pass through.

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Topics for Today’s question:

GS-3          Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Question)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WARS (DAW)?

1. Daily 1 question either from General Studies 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be provided via live You Tube video session.
2. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
3. The answer needs to be submitted by joining the telegram group given in the link below.

   https://t.me/cdwarzone

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of Daily Answer Wars and payment: 

Context

• Nepal’s next government is beginning to take shape.  The elections have provided a complex, fragmented mandate. Political stability could be elusive.
• In this article, we will focus on the outcome of the recent Nepalese elections and their implications of newly elected govt on ties with India.

Nepal politics and India

• Sher Bahadur Deuba-led coalition is likely to form the next government in Nepal. This government is likely to enable smooth ties with India.
• The Rakhi Diplomacy initiated by Deuba’s wife, was one of the landmark development for India.
• The former prime minister KP Sharma Oli was “pro-China”.
• Even before Oli began his first term in October 2015, India and Nepal had a bitter falling out over Nepal’s new constitution.

India-Nepal Ties: A quick backgrounder

• Ancient ties: The relationship between India and Nepal goes back to the times of the rule of the Sakya clan and Gautama Buddha.
• Cultural relations: From 750 to 1750 AD period saw a shift from Buddhism to Hinduism in Nepal and witnessed widespread cultural diffusion.
• Diplomatic ties: The India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 forms the bedrock of the special relations that exist between India and Nepal.

Various facets of India-Nepal ties

(1) Cultural ties

• While enjoying their own peculiarities, both India and Nepal share a common culture and ways of life.
• Religion is perhaps the most important factor and plays a predominant role in shaping the cultural relations between these two countries, marked by a cross country pilgrimage on Char Dham Yatra, Pashupatinath Temple and some Buddhist sites.

 (2) Strategic ties

• Nepal is a buffer state between India and China.
• Several Nepali Citizens are also deployed in Indian defence forces as well. Ex. Gorkha Regiment.

(3) Political ties

• Constitutional turmoil is not new in Nepal. India has played a vital role in the democratic transition in Nepal against the monarch King Gyanendra.
• Nepali Congress (NC) is one of the country’s oldest parties which supports relations with India, but the communist parties show a tilt towards China.

(4) Economic ties

• Nepal is an important export market for India. India is Nepal’s largest trading partner.
• Himalayan rivers flowing through Nepal can be used for hydroelectric power projects which will benefit Border States of UP, Bihar and other adjacent areas.
• Also, Nepal is the largest borrower of Indian Currency in South Asia. Nepal has escalating trade deficit with India.  

(5) Connectivity

• The 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship was sought by the Nepali authorities in 1949 to provide for an open border and for Nepali nationals to have the right to work in India.
• The BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) in which Nepal is a partner will permit the member states to ply their vehicles in each other’s territory for the transportation of cargo and passengers.

(6) Multilateral and Regional Fora

• Both Nepal and India work in tandem in the United Nations, Non-aligned Movement and other international fora on most of the important international issues.
• Both countries have been deeply engaged in the regional and sub-regional frameworks of SAARC, BIMSTEC and BBIN for enhancing cooperation for greater economic integration.

China’s role in Nepal – A matter of concern

• Once considered a buffer state between India and China, Nepal is now showing an inclination towards Beijing.
• China is trying to stimulate and tempt Nepal with multiple aids, economic growth and acquisition.
• China has overtaken India as the largest source of foreign direct investment with the annual development assistance being worth $120 million.

Indo-Nepal Border Disputes

India and Nepal share about an 1800 Km long border. There are 2 major border or territorial disputes:

(1) Kalapani

• The Kali River in the Kalapani region demarcates the border between India and Nepal.
• The Treaty of Sugauli signed by the Kingdom of Nepal and British India (after the Anglo-Nepalese War) in 1816 located the Kali River as Nepal’s western boundary with India.
• The discrepancy in locating the source of the Kali River led to boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps supporting their own claims.

(2) Susta Region

• It is about 140 sq. km of land in Uttar Pradesh at the Nepal border in the Terai area. India has control of the territory. Nepal claims this territory.
• The change of course by the Gandak River is the main reason for disputes in the Susta area.

Issue of Simultaneous floods in Bihar and Nepal

• Some of Nepal’s biggest river systems originate in the Himalayan glaciers which then flow into India through Bihar.
• During the monsoons, these river systems flood causing many problems for Bihar.
• It is a necessity that there is process-driven coordination between the Centre and the Government of Bihar to handle the flooding in Nepal’s Terai and North Bihar (largely the Mithilanchal region).

Why Nepal is Important to India?

• Buffer to China: It acts as a strategic buffer against the aggression of China.
• Pakistan factor: peddling of FICN, drugs and terrorism through the Indo-Nepal border. It makes the cooperation of Nepal important.
• Common culture: There are huge Nepali communities in Darjeeling and Sikkim. Many marital relations across the border exist.
• National Security: There is a lot of interdependence. Gurkha Regiment in Indian Army is known for its valiance.
• Energy Security: Nepal has the potential of 80 GW of hydroelectricity. But only 600 MW potential is realized so far.

Major irritants in bilateral ties

• Nepali nationalism and Anti-India sentiments: Anti-India Sentiment in Nepal is largely politically motivated as it is wrongly perceived as India’s backing to Monarchy.
• China factor: Nepal’s assent for the ‘One Belt One Region’ (OBOR) initiative of China is viewed by India with suspicion. It has been slowly fallen prey to China’s inroad debt trap policy.
• India’s perception of Nepal: The reality is that India has ignored the changing political narrative in Nepal for far too long.
• Open borders: The issue of open borders has also been a point of debate in Nepal in recent years- Nepalese people argue that India is benefiting more from it than Nepal.
• Madhesis Issue: Madhesis share extensive cross-border ethnic and linguistic links with India. India upset that the final draft of the Constitution did not include the marginalization concerns of the Madhesi and the Tharu.

Way Forward

• Dialogues: In the best spirit of friendship, Nepal and India should restart the water dialogue and come up with policies to safeguard the interests of all those who have been affected on both sides of the border.
• Investments: TheBilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) signed between India and Nepal needs more attention from Nepal’s side.
• Sensitization: The onus is on India to rethink on a long-term basis how to recalibrate its relationship with Nepal provided Nepal should not ignore its relations with India.
• Strengthening Economic Ties: The power trade agreement needs to be such that India can build trust in Nepal.

Click and get your FREE Copy of CURRENT AFFAIRS Micro Notes

(Click) FREE 1-to-1 on-call Mentorship by IAS-IPS officers | Discuss doubts, strategy, sources, and more

Topics for Today’s question:

GS-3          Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Question)

HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WARS (DAW)?

1. Daily 1 question either from General Studies 1, 2, 3 or 4 will be provided via live You Tube video session.
2. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
3. The answer needs to be submitted by joining the telegram group given in the link below.

   https://t.me/cdwarzone

*In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

1. For the philosophy of Daily Answer Wars and payment: