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  • UPI123Pay: Payment solution for feature phone users

    The Reserve Bank of India has launched a new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments solution for feature phone users dubbed ‘UPI123Pay’.

    What is UPI?

    • UPI is an instant real-time payment system developed by NPCI facilitating inter-bank transactions.
    • The interface is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and works by instantly transferring funds between two bank accounts on a mobile platform.

    What is UPI123Pay?

    • UPI ‘123PAY’ is a three-step method to initiate and execute services for users which will work on simple phones.
    • It will allow customers to use feature phones for almost all transactions except scan and pay.
    • It doesn’t need an internet connection for transactions. Customers have to link their bank account with feature phones to use this facility.
    • Feature phone users will now be able to undertake a host of transactions based on four technology alternatives.
    • They include calling an IVR (interactive voice response) number, app functionality in feature phones, missed call-based approach and also proximity sound-based payments, the RBI said.
    • Such users can initiate payments to friends and family, pay utility bills, recharge the FAST Tags of their vehicles, pay mobile bills and also allow users to check account balances.
    • Customers will also be able to link bank accounts, set or change UPI PINs.

    Others: ‘Digisaathi’

    • A 24×7 helpline for digital payments has also been set up by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
    • The helpline christened ‘Digisaathi’ will assist the callers/users with all their queries on digital payments via website and chatbot.
    • Users can visit www.digisaathi.info or call on 14431 and 1800 891 3333 from their phones for their queries on digital payments and grievances.

    Why UPI123Pay was created?

    • UPI, which was introduced in 2016, has become one of the most used digital payments platforms in the country.
    • The volume of UPI transactions has already reached ₹76 lakh crore in the current year, compared to ₹41 lakh crore in FY21.
    • However, at present, efficient access to UPI is available largely via smartphones.

    How will users make payments without internet?

    The new UPI payments system offers users four options to make payments without internet connectivity:

    1. Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Users would be required to initiate a secured call from their feature phones to a predetermined IVR number and complete UPI on-boarding formalities to be able to start making financial transactions like money transfer, mobile recharge, EMI repayment, balance check, among others.
    2. App-based functionality: One could also install an app on feature phone through which several UPI functions, available on smartphones, will be available on their feature phone, except scan and pay feature which is currently not available.
    3. Missed call facility: The missed call facility will allow users to access their bank account and perform routine transactions such as receiving, transferring funds, regular purchases, bill payments, etc., by giving a missed call on the number displayed at the merchant outlet. The customer will receive an incoming call to authenticate the transaction by entering UPI PIN.
    4. Proximity sound-based payments: One could utilise the proximity sound-based payments option, which uses sound waves to enable contactless, offline, and proximity data communication on any device.

    How do UPI payments through sound work?

    • UPI payments using sound isn’t new. When Google Pay was first launched in 2017 as Tez, the app had a sound-based system of payments built in.
    • Google called this ‘Cash Mode’ in which phones would emit ultrasonic sounds that could be used by other Tez users to accept and receive money.
    • It’s somewhat like Bluetooth but instead of using radio waves, it uses sound waves to transfer data from one device to the next.
    • A company called ToneTag also produces audio-based point-of-sale machines.

    Is payment through sound secure?

    • Sound wave-based payments are meant to be contactless, but occur within a certain proximity only.
    • Ultrasonic waves are outside the usual human hearing range, but such payment systems can also use audible sounds, something that US-based startup Chirp showcased back in 2011.
    • Devices using such systems are encrypted, and only the devices involved can recognize the emitted waves.
    • The sound waves being emitted are encrypted, meaning the receiving device will need to have decryption codes to complete the transaction.

     

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  • [pib] National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC)

    The Union Cabinet has approved the setting up of a new government-owned firm National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) for pooling and monetizing sovereign and public sector land assets.

    What is NLMC?

    • The National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC) is being formed with an initial authorised share capital of ₹5,000 crore and paid-up capital of ₹150 crore.
    • The government will appoint a chairman to head the NLMC through a “merit-based selection process” and hire private sector professionals with expertise.
    • The NLMC will undertake monetization of surplus land and building assets of Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) as well as government agencies.

    How will it function?

    • NLMC will own, hold, manage and monetise surplus land and building assets of CPSEs under closure and surplus non-core land assets of Government-owned CPSEs under strategic disinvestment.
    • This will speed up the closure process of CPSEs and smoothen the strategic disinvestment process of Government-owned CPSEs, the statement said.
    • NLMC will undertake surplus land asset monetisation as an agency function, and assist and provide technical advice to the Centre in this regard.
    • The NLMC board will comprise senior Government officers and eminent experts, while its chairman and non-Government directors will be appointed through a merit-based selection process, the statement said.
    • The Corporation will have minimal full-time staff, hired directly from the market on a contract basis.

    Stipulated tasks

    • CPSEs have referred around 3,400 acres of land and other non-core assets to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) for monetisation.
    • Monetisation of non-core assets of MTNL, BSNL, BPCL, BEML, HMT, is currently at various stages of the transaction, as per latest data in the Economic Survey 2021-22.

    Significance of NLMC

    • The government would be able to generate substantial revenues by monetizing unused and under-used assets.
    • The new corporation will also help carry out monetization of assets belonging to public sector firms that have closed or are lined up for a strategic sale.

     

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  • [Yojana Archives] National Education Policy 2020

    February 2022

    Context

    • The New Education Policy 2020 aims to mark a revolution in the entire process of teaching and learning.
    • Incorporation of quality in education is a requirement of essence not just in terms of estimation of efficiency but certainly a valuable dimension to reform the system creating new opportunities.
    National Education Policy 2020: Highlights


    The fundamental principles guiding both the education system, as well as the individual institutions within it are:
    ·         Recognizing, identifying and fostering the unique capabilities of each student, in both academic and non-academic spheres.
    ·         Achieving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy by Grade 3.
    ·         Flexibility to choose learning trajectories and own paths of life, as per talents and interests.
    ·         Elimination of hierarchies and silos by ending the separation between curricular and extra-curricular activities, vocational and academic streams etc.
    ·         Multidisciplinary and holistic education across sciences, social sciences, arts, humanities and sports.
    ·         Conceptual understanding instead of rote learning.
    ·         Promoting creativity and critical thinking to encourage logical decision making and innovation.
    ·         Instilling ethics, and human and Constitutional values like empathy, cleanliness, spirit of democracy, equality and justice. Promoting multilingualism.
    ·         Life skills like communication, cooperation and teamwork.
    ·         Regular assessments instead of summative assessment, to end the ‘coaching culture’. Use of technology for increasing access, removing language barriers etc.
    ·         Respect for diversity and local context.
    ·         Equity and inclusion.
    ·         Synergy in curriculum from preschool to higher education.
    ·         Capacity Building and providing a positive working environment to teachers and faculty.
    ·         ‘Light but tight’ regulatory framework through good governance and empowerment.
    ·         Focus on research. Continuous review of progress.
    ·         Pride in Indian culture and knowledge systems.
    ·         Education as a public service and right of every child.
    ·         Investment in education.

    Backgrounder: Education Policies in India

    1. National Education Policy 1968: This was the first policy laying the pathway for further spread of education in the country. It called for increasing the expenditure on education to 6%. It also called for free and compulsory education to everyone, along with development of regional languages and equalization of opportunity for all.
    2. New Education Policy 1986: It was released by the Rajiv Gandhi government. The main features of the policy included inclusion of early childhood care in the ambit of education, emphasis on the education of vulnerable sections like SC, ST, women etc., and providing avenues for inclusive education like distance education and open universities.
    3. National Education Policy 2020: The current policy has been designed keeping in mind the requirements of 21st century and the rapid growth of technology in the world.

    Inspiration for NEP 2020

    The policy derives its inspiration from the below goals:

    • SDG-4: NEP 2020 has been formulated keeping in mind India’s commitments to Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 4, i.e. ‘to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’.
    • Right to Education: It was enacted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act in the year 2009 and was enforced in 2010. It introduced a new Article 21A into the Constitution. The act provides for free and compulsory education for children in the age group of 6-14 years.

    Components of NEP 2020

    • The National Education Policy 2020 is divided into four parts:
    1. Part I: School Education
    2. Part II: Higher Education
    3. Part III: Other Key Areas of Focus
    4. Part IV: Making it Happen

    Objectives of the NEP 2020

    • Roadmap for becoming global knowledge superpower: The Policy aims to transform India into a global knowledge superpower.
    • Making of a responsible citizen: The policy seeks to build an informed citizenry, which is aware of its rights and upholds national integrity and sovereignty in high esteem.
    • Legacy pride: The focus is on making people aware of their rich heritage and culture, and take pride in being a national of a country having a great historical legacy, spanning over multiple millennia.
    • Sustainable development: NEP 2020 has an inherent focus on making the children of today, responsible citizens of tomorrow, who understand the importance of sustainable consumption of natural resources.
    • Time-bound development: The policy has a deadline of the year 2040 to implement the provisions mentioned in the policy.

    Various policy initiatives

    • Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: The central and the state governments have taken active steps through exemplary schemes like the SSA, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education to promote quality education and access in the disadvantaged and weaker sections of the society.
    • The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009: Under this Act, good quality elementary education is mandated to adhere to the standards and provisions of the Act.  
    • NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement): It is a unique programme under Samagra Shiksha by which the government is trying to revamp the teacher training process with the help of important academic bodies.
    • PM E-Vidya: It is noteworthy to mention and it aims to provide access to a variety of e-resources in 33 languages that involve Indian Sign Language, DIKSHA (one digital platform), Swayam Prabha and Podcast – Shiksha Vani.
    • PM POSHAN Shakti Nirman: It is a centrally sponsored scheme under the National Food Security Act that comprises children of Balvatika to class VIII in government and government-aided schools to be supplied nutritious food to the school-going children.
    • SAFAL Assessment: A competency-based assessment will be introduced through Structured Assessment for Analyzing Learning Level (SAFAL) for grades 3, 5 and 8 in accordance with the NEP.
    • Accreditation initiatives: The School Quality Assessment and Accreditation has been considered as the Standards Setting Authority for Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Private Independent Schools and Government schools affiliated to the Board.
    • Performance Grading Index: It is an index released by the Ministry of Education for measuring performance of states in school education.

    Challenges

    • Gaps in Learning Outcomes: The education system in India suffers from promotion of rote-learning and emphasis on bookish knowledge. This promotes a lack of understanding among the pupils.  
    • Lack of Parental Literacy: Due to the low literacy levels in the previous generation, there is a clear lack of understanding among parents and teachers about pedagogy.  
    • Lack of Motivation: At the same time, students complain of learning being a mechanical process, with teachers scrambling for course completion within the assigned time.
    • Workload on teachers: On the other hand, teachers complain about the overload of work due to additional responsibilities like census duty, preparing mid-day meals, awareness generation programmes and election duties, which are given to them by the government.
    • Ineffective School Leadership: Teachers complain about a lack of effective guidance and leadership from the higher management of the schools.    
    • Lack of Focus on Soft skills: The focus of school education is on rote learning. This diverts attention from the overall development of the child as the children are unable to learn basic life skills like communication and socialization.  

    Way forward

    • Curriculum Revamp: The general perception regarding updates in curriculum is conservative in India. This needs to change as many subjects like IT show a rapid evolution in a short period of time and outdated learning in such subjects may lead to more harm than good.
    • Linkages across School Levels: Again, there is a need to incorporate incremental learning across different levels of schools to make children grasp the concepts in an efficient manner.  
    • Synergy with the World: Care needs to be taken in designing the course material in such a way that the subjects are informative and aligned with the real world.
    • Holistic planning: It is imperative to engage the subject experts who have an idea of latest updates in the field. Therefore, a committee comprising subject experts, teachers, as well as parents, should be formed to look into better designing of the materials.
    • Innovation in Pedagogy: It is well-established that all children have their own speed of learning and understanding a subject. Therefore, the teachers need to be encouraged to improvise teaching methods and engage all students in an inclusive manner.  
    • Proper assessment mechanism: It should be done in a manner which does not create fear of exams in the children. Therefore, there is a need for comprehensive evaluation of children, to be ensured continuously throughout the year.
    • Capacity Building: There is a need to make the teachers stakeholders in the education system, so that they understand their responsibility towards future development of the nation.  

    Conclusion

    • India still suffers from a lack of basic numeracy and foundational literacy as manifested in the ASER report released by the NGO Pratham.
    • In such a context, NEP 2020 has come at the right time and is expected to boost India’s literacy and skill levels across the levels of education.
    • The need is to implement the well-intentioned provisions in the policy in a time-bound manner.
    • This will create hope for a better future for many of the poverty-afflicted households of the country and enhance the standing of the country at the international level and will create livelihoods.

  • Sealed cover’ jurisprudence is appalling

    Context

    A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has dismissed the appeal filed by a television channel. The trouble emanating from the judgment is that the state need not even show that its security is threatened. It can conveniently choose the ‘sealed cover’ route.

    Background of the case

    • The Ministry had said that the licence could not be renewed for reasons related to national security.
    • The stand of the Government was endorsed by both the Single and Division Benches of the High Court.
    •  In the judgment of March 2, the Division Bench said: “It is true that the nature, impact, gravity and depth of the issue is not discernible from the files.
    • Still, the Bench chose to dismiss the appeals by bluntly saying that “there are clear and significant indications impacting the public order and security of the state”.
    • All that is necessary to ban a news broadcaster are these ‘indications’ — which are never revealed to the broadcaster.

    Issues with the judgement

    1] Violation of the fundamental rights

    • A whole set of rights are directly hit by the ban. The first is the  right to freedom of speech and expression of the television channel.
    • The rights to association, occupation and business are also impacted.
    • Moreover, the viewers also have a right to receive ideas and information.
    • All these rights are altogether suspended by the executive. The only contingency in which these rights under Article 19(1) can be interfered with are reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2).
    • The judgment creates a situation that endorses the breach of fundamental rights on the one hand, and blocks remedy for the victim through a court of law and a process known to law on the other hand.

    2] Takes away the power of judicial review

    • India’s Constitution does not give a free hand to the executive to pass arbitrary orders violating such rights.
    • Basic feature of the Constitution: The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly held that judicial review of executive action is the basic feature of the Constitution.
    • The decisions in Minerva Mills vs Union of India (1980) and L. Chandra Kumar vs Union of India (1997) reiterated this fundamental principle.
    • Test of reasonable restriction: If the executive wishes to limit rights — in this case, censor or restrict speech — it must show that the test of reasonable restrictions is satisfied.
    • The ‘sealed cover’ practice inverses this position.

    3] Lack of examination of national security ground

    • There was no examination of the national security plea based on the proportionality analysis, well established in our recent jurisprudence.
    • Also, when a three-judge Bench in the Pegasus case ( Manohar Lal Sharma vs Union of India, 2021) has categorically held that the state does not get a “free pass every time the spectre of ‘national security’ is raised”.

    Proportionality analysis

    • In Modern Dental College vs State of Madhya Pradesh (2016), the top court adopted the proportionality test “a limitation of a constitutional right will be constitutionally permissible if:
    • (i) it is designated for a proper purpose
    • (ii) the measures undertaken to effectuate such a limitation are rationally connected to the fulfillment of that purpose;
    • (iii) the measures undertaken are necessary in that there are no alternative measures that may similarly achieve that same purpose with a lesser degree of limitation; and finally
    • (iv) there needs to be a proper relation (‘proportionality stricto sensu’ or ‘balancing’) between the importance of achieving the proper purpose and the social importance of preventing the limitation on the constitutional right”.
    • This was reiterated in K.S. Puttaswamy vs Union of India (2017).

    Conclusion

    The MediaOne case might create a real problem area that needs resolution by the Supreme Court.

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  • The Hunt For Our Eklavya Who Can Clear UPSC 2023 Has Begun!|| Mission Eklavya 2023 – India’s Best Scholarship program for UPSC Civil Services|| Register for Free & Stand a Chance to Get 60% off on our UPSC 2023 Smash Foundation Course|| Test on March 13th & 20th, 2022

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    Register Now for the free national scholarship test

    Ultimate Assessment Program and Foundation Program includes – 

    • Mentorship (1:1, throughout the preparation till Interview stage)
    • Masterclasses (complete GS syllabus covered, Only provided in Foundation course)
    • Samachar Manthan (Current affairs Programme)
    • Decimate Prelims (Prelims Crash course)
    • Mains Answer Writing Initiative (On a weekly basis)
    • Smash Mains (upon Qualifying prelims 2023)
    • Essay Guidance Program (To score above 120+ in Essay Mains Paper)
    • Interview Guidance Program (more than 1 mock interview will be conducted with a panel)
    • Civilsdaily IAS Community for Peer to Peer Interaction
    Get all the Civilsdaily courses under Smash Foundation Course for 60% off after you attend our scholarship test and score above the cut-off marks!

    Are you a beginner who has no idea about UPSC, but want to check if you have the aptitude for the same? Do you want to assess your performance and interest in UPSC before targetting 2023 preparation?

    Then, we have got the perfect opporunity for you. Presenting, Civilsdaily’s UPSC CS 2023, Free-To-Register National Scholarship on 13th & 20th March 2022 . 

    Last year’s scholarship test by Civilsdaily has seen a phenomenal response and pan India interest for the test. Many toppers have emerged out of the test to be subsequently mentored in the Civilsdaily Foundation Program. So aspirants, ensure you don’t miss out on the benefits of the test.

    Check Unherd, Topper’s Talk Series for Our Foundation Course Toppers

    https://youtu.be/DSwO38weHAA

    How is the Civilsdaily Flagship Foundational Course A One Stop Solution for UPSC Coaching?

    register for national scholarship test for free

    An average aspirant, pays for Prelims Course, Mains Program, Interview Guidance, Test Series & Study Materials all separately. The fees then comes up to 2-3 Lakhs for one attempt alone.

    Identifying this issue, Civilsdaily has designed the Flagship Foundation Course for 2023 aspirants. This course covers the entire 3-stage journey of a UPSC aspirant. From Prelims to Interview -1:1 Mentorship, Weekly Test Series, Classes & Study Materials will be provided.

    Another benefit of the program is that it’s an umbrella course wherein an aspirant can access other paid courses of Civilsdaily for FREE.

    The main objective of the program is to identify and nurture serious aspirants to become future UPSC toppers. And that’s why we have designed a scholarship test.

    Our foundation course will be intensive yet personalised. You will be getting individual coaching on how to conquer the basics, develop analytical skills, inculcate conceptual clarity and acquire the necessary knowledge to face the unpredictable and dynamic UPSC.

    Apart from conducting subject-wise classes that covers all the Prelims-Mains syllabus from scratch, aspirants will follow a customised timetable and will complete their revision on a daily basis to attempt our weekly prelims and mains tests. Once the test is over, they will get a strategy call from a mentor, who will clear their doubts and tell them how to improve their performance from next test onwards.

    Simply put, like Ekalavya you will be getting a unique coaching experience that eludes other UPSC aspirants. Even aspects like Essay, Ethics and CSAT which is ignored in other normal coaching programs, will be covered over here with tests, mentorship, classes and notes.

    If you take the upcoming free UPSC national scholarship test and come out with flying colours, you will get about 60% scholarship on the Civilsdaily Flagship Foundation Course.

    Details of the Civilsdaily Free National Scholarship Test

    Date – 13th March & 20th March, 2022.

    Please Click on Submit after finishing the Test.

    • Mode: Online
    • Registration Fee – Free
    • Language: English
    • Time: 2 Hrs
    • Syllabus: GS Paper 1 (Preliminary exam)
    • No. of Questions: 100
    • Date: 13th March & 20th March
    • Time: 10 AM
    • Result: 27/03/2022

    Why should you take the CD’s Scholarship Test? 

    1. Test your preparation on UPSC-CSE grade questions, at national level.

    2. Chance to compete against the best. See where you stand.

    3. Identify your subjectwise strengths, weak points, and problem areas before you start preparation.

    4. Mentors will provide personalised counselling based on your performance in the scholarship test. 

    5. A detailed discussion will help you navigate through the challenges during the preparation.

    6. Achieve up to 60% scholarship in our exclusive umbrella foundation course.

    As the program is rigorous and involves individual attention, we can take only limited enrollments. Hence, we are conducting a Scholarship Exam to identify serious UPSC aspirants on 13th and 20th of March. Depending on your relative score, you can get up to a 60% scholarship.

    We are looking for

    1. Serious and hardworking aspirants.

    2. Ready to dedicate a minimum of 5-8 hours daily.

    3. Can complete assigned targets and tests without fail.

    4. Only 1 thought in mind and that is – to clear UPSC Civil Services 2023.

    5. Willing to take constructive feedback from mentors after each test.

    register for national scholarship test for free

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  • Tobacco and related issues in India

    Context

    Tobacco is a silent killer in our midst that kills an estimated 1.35 million Indians every year.

    The harm caused by tobacco

    • It is the use of tobacco as a result of which more than 3,500 Indians die every single day, as estimated by scientific studies.
    • It also comes at a heavy cost: an annual economic burden of ₹1,77,340 crore to the country or more than 1% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    How price and taxation of tobacco matters

    •  Research from many countries around the world including India shows that a price increase induces people to quit or reduce tobacco use as well as discourages non-users from getting into the habit of tobacco use.
    • There is overwhelming consensus within the research community that taxation is one of the most cost-effective measures to reduce demand for tobacco products.
    • There has been no significant tax increase on any tobacco product for four years in a row.
    • This is quite unlike the pre-GST years where the Union government and many State governments used to effect regular tax increases on tobacco products.
    • As peer-reviewed studies show, the lack of tax increase over these years has made all tobacco products increasingly more affordable.
    •  The absence of a tax increase on tobacco has the potential to reverse the reduction in tobacco use prevalence that India saw during the last decade and now push more people into harm’s way.
    •  It would also mean foregone tax revenues for the Government.

    Way forward

    • The Union Budget exercise is not the only opportunity to initiate a tax increase on tobacco products.
    • The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council could well raise either the GST rate or the compensation cess levied on tobacco products especially when the Government is looking to rationalise GST rates and increase them for certain items.
    • For example, there is absolutely no public health rationale why a very harmful product such as the bidi does not have a cess levied on it under the GST while all other tobacco products attract a cess.
    • GST Council meetings must strive to keep public health ahead of the interests of the tobacco industry and significantly increase either the GST rates or the GST compensation cess rates applied on all tobacco products.

    Conclusion

    The aim should be to arrest the increasing affordability of tobacco products in India and also rationalise tobacco taxation under the GST.

    UPSC 2022 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • The Hunt For Our Eklavya Who Can Clear UPSC 2023 Has Begun!|| Mission Eklavya 2023 – India’s Best Scholarship program for UPSC Civil Services|| Register for Free & Stand a Chance to Get 60% off on our UPSC 2023 Smash Foundation Course|| Test on March 13th & 20th, 2022

    The Hunt For Our Eklavya Who Can Clear UPSC 2023 Has Begun!|| Mission Eklavya 2023 – India’s Best Scholarship program for UPSC Civil Services|| Register for Free & Stand a Chance to Get 60% off on our UPSC 2023 Smash Foundation Course|| Test on March 13th & 20th, 2022

    Register Now for the free national scholarship test

    Ultimate Assessment Program and Foundation Program includes – 

    • Mentorship (1:1, throughout the preparation till Interview stage)
    • Masterclasses (complete GS syllabus covered, Only provided in Foundation course)
    • Samachar Manthan (Current affairs Programme)
    • Decimate Prelims (Prelims Crash course)
    • Mains Answer Writing Initiative (On a weekly basis)
    • Smash Mains (upon Qualifying prelims 2023)
    • Essay Guidance Program (To score above 120+ in Essay Mains Paper)
    • Interview Guidance Program (more than 1 mock interview will be conducted with a panel)
    • Civilsdaily IAS Community for Peer to Peer Interaction
    Get all the Civilsdaily courses under Smash Foundation Course for 60% off after you attend our scholarship test and score above the cut-off marks!

    Are you a beginner who has no idea about UPSC, but want to check if you have the aptitude for the same? Do you want to assess your performance and interest in UPSC before targetting 2023 preparation?

    Then, we have got the perfect opporunity for you. Presenting, Civilsdaily’s UPSC CS 2023, Free-To-Register National Scholarship on 13th & 20th March 2022 . 

    Last year’s scholarship test by Civilsdaily has seen a phenomenal response and pan India interest for the test. Many toppers have emerged out of the test to be subsequently mentored in the Civilsdaily Foundation Program. So aspirants, ensure you don’t miss out on the benefits of the test.

    Check Unherd, Topper’s Talk Series for Our Foundation Course Toppers

    https://youtu.be/DSwO38weHAA

    How is the Civilsdaily Flagship Foundational Course A One Stop Solution for UPSC Coaching?

    register for national scholarship test for free

    An average aspirant, pays for Prelims Course, Mains Program, Interview Guidance, Test Series & Study Materials all separately. The fees then comes up to 2-3 Lakhs for one attempt alone.

    Identifying this issue, Civilsdaily has designed the Flagship Foundation Course for 2023 aspirants. This course covers the entire 3-stage journey of a UPSC aspirant. From Prelims to Interview -1:1 Mentorship, Weekly Test Series, Classes & Study Materials will be provided.

    Another benefit of the program is that it’s an umbrella course wherein an aspirant can access other paid courses of Civilsdaily for FREE.

    The main objective of the program is to identify and nurture serious aspirants to become future UPSC toppers. And that’s why we have designed a scholarship test.

    Our foundation course will be intensive yet personalised. You will be getting individual coaching on how to conquer the basics, develop analytical skills, inculcate conceptual clarity and acquire the necessary knowledge to face the unpredictable and dynamic UPSC.

    Apart from conducting subject-wise classes that covers all the Prelims-Mains syllabus from scratch, aspirants will follow a customised timetable and will complete their revision on a daily basis to attempt our weekly prelims and mains tests. Once the test is over, they will get a strategy call from a mentor, who will clear their doubts and tell them how to improve their performance from next test onwards.

    Simply put, like Ekalavya you will be getting a unique coaching experience that eludes other UPSC aspirants. Even aspects like Essay, Ethics and CSAT which is ignored in other normal coaching programs, will be covered over here with tests, mentorship, classes and notes.

    If you take the upcoming free UPSC national scholarship test and come out with flying colours, you will get about 60% scholarship on the Civilsdaily Flagship Foundation Course.

    Details of the Civilsdaily Free National Scholarship Test

    Date – 13th March & 20th March, 2022.

    Please Click on Submit after finishing the Test.

    • Mode: Online
    • Registration Fee – Free
    • Language: English
    • Time: 2 Hrs
    • Syllabus: GS Paper 1 (Preliminary exam)
    • No. of Questions: 100
    • Date: 13th March & 20th March
    • Time: 10 AM
    • Result: 27/03/2022

    Why should you take the CD’s Scholarship Test? 

    1. Test your preparation on UPSC-CSE grade questions, at national level.

    2. Chance to compete against the best. See where you stand.

    3. Identify your subjectwise strengths, weak points, and problem areas before you start preparation.

    4. Mentors will provide personalised counselling based on your performance in the scholarship test. 

    5. A detailed discussion will help you navigate through the challenges during the preparation.

    6. Achieve up to 60% scholarship in our exclusive umbrella foundation course.

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  • 9th March 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1        Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.

    GS-2       Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

    GS-3        Indian Economy

    GS-4        Attitude: Content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 There are multiple disabilities that a person experiences in the course of ageing. Elaborate. Also identify key government initiatives taken for addressing them. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 The increasing representation and the political participation of women in politics can strengthen the democracy in India. In the context of this, examine the trends of women’s participation and representation in politics in India and its implications for democracy. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 As the prospects of the government’s borrowing programme getting disrupted due to high crude oil prices due to the Ukraine crisis are weighing heavily on market players. This calls for the use of unconventional tools by the RBI to minimise pressures on interest rates. In the context of this suggest the ways in which RBI can manage the borrowing programme to minimise the disruption. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 Explaining the concept of moral attitude, discuss how social media is shaping moral attitudes of people. (10 Marks)

     

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  • Centre and RBI must rely on unconventional policies to manage finances better

    Context

    Amid Ukraine crisis and high oil prices, the larger concern is how the government and the RBI will navigate this period at a time of record government borrowings, and prevent domestic interest rates from hardening.

    The Triffin paradox in current context

    • It is ironic that even as emerging economies running current account deficits are getting punished by a depreciating currency and a hardening of interest rates, we are witnessing the US dollar appreciating and US treasuries strengthening.
    • The most common argument for such a macroeconomic paradox is named after the economist Robert Triffin (the Triffin Paradox).
    •  It postulates that the US current account deficit is purely a reflection of the US supplying large amounts of dollars to fulfil the world’s demand.
    • In other words, central banks across the world must build up claims on the US to back their domestic money growth.

    Dollar’s dominance

    • Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke even extended this argument in 2005 to the “saving glut” proposition by espousing that emerging economies were accumulating foreign exchange reserves in dollars, and diverting domestic savings to buy US treasuries.
    • There are several counter arguments to this view that effectively state that the dominance of the US dollar is inevitable in the global financial architecture, and it is purely a fault of emerging market economies.

    Need for the unconventional tools to avoid the disruption by government borrowing

    This can be done in the following ways

    1] Spread the borrowing over four quarters after taking real-time view of disruption

    • Every year, the government front-loads its large borrowing programme by completing 60 per cent of the borrowings in the first half of the year.
    • This time, the RBI and the government may take a real-time view of disruptions and spread the borrowings over four quarters, keeping the initial two quarters light.
    • The borrowing programme can also be announced as per a quarterly schedule and there could be even two auctions during the week.
    • These steps could smoothen out the non-disruptive elements in government borrowings.

    2] Reconfigure the borrowing program

    • For example, as rates move up, banks tend to prefer short-term investments while insurance companies, provident funds and others prefer longer-term investments.
    • Given this, the borrowing schedule can be reconfigured with a higher proportion of short-and medium-tenor securities being offered in the initial months, while pushing back the longer tenor securities to the second half of the year.

    3] Push Small Savings Schemes

    • Third, small savings collections have significantly exceeded budget estimates.
    • The government could think of giving a push to small savings schemes such as the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY).
    • The SSY has witnessed the registration of 2.82 crore girl children in the seven years since its inception in 2015, leaving enough room for further mop-up.
    • The newly opened accounts may even be given an enhanced savings limit in the first year to catch up for the years lost for these new additions.

    4] Listing of LIC

    • LIC currently holds around Rs 23.5 trillion worth of government bonds, higher than even than the RBI.
    • LIC’s G-sec holding is around 19 per cent, while in comparison the banking system’s ownership stands at around 38 per cent.
    • Thus LIC’s listing should augur well for the bond market as the insurance behemoth may have to deploy a greater share of inflows in safer avenues domestically.
    • This is a plausible option as banks may have to readjust their deposits into credit as the economic recovery gains momentum.

    Conclusion

    Rising oil prices have placed policymakers in an unenviable position. If higher oil prices are fully passed through, it will result in higher inflation and hence higher rates as a consequence.  In such a scenario it is best to follow the first option by using unconventional policy measures.

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  • 9th March 2022 | Nikaalo Prelims-Current Affairs Test 1: July 2021

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