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  • NEET hasn’t created the equality of opportunity

    Context

    The Tamil Nadu government has passed an Act seeking an exemption from treating NEET as the sole and mandatory requirement for medical admission in the state. The Act, which is yet to get approval from the President.

    NEET issue in Tamil Nadu

    • The Justice A K Rajan committee was appointed by the state government of Tamil Nadu to examine whether NEET is an equitable method of selection.
    • Its report lends credence to the belief that NEET tends to give an advantage to students from privileged backgrounds.
    • It also observed that NEET, in terms of orientation, is biased towards the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
    • In the section titled ‘Size of coaching market’, the report brings out two poignant facts.
    • One, by inadvertently creating a “market for coaching”, NEET has helped to create an “extractive industry of coaching” as an essential condition for clearing it.
    • Two, the coaching fees are not only high, but are beyond the reach of many, especially the poor and marginalised.
    • Acting upon the committee’s recommendation, the Tamil Nadu government has passed an Act seeking an exemption from treating NEET.
    • The Act, which is yet to get approval from the President.
    •  An educational intervention which was introduced as a solution to foster equality of opportunity has turned out to be the primary cause of deepening inequality of participation and opportunity.

    Important questions

    • There are at least two important questions.
    • Equality of opportunity: First, does NEET help foster equality of opportunity for everyone without unduly advantaging or disadvantaging anyone?
    • Second, is NEET’s bias towards CBSE justifiable in an immensely diverse country like ours, where varied school curricula coexist with a highly unequal access to financial and educational resources and opportunities?
    • The question here is: How can NEET promote parity of participation when aspiring first-generation students from marginalised and poor households participate from a highly unequal position in the first place?
    • NEET disregards the fact that the terms and conditions of participation are highly unequal and biased.

    Way forward

    • The National Education Policy (NEP 2020) envisions a curriculum and pedagogy which will promote holistic learning, social responsibility and multilingualism, among other things.
    • It is important, therefore, to significantly restructure the focus of NEET keeping in mind the spirit of NEP and varied school curricula in regional languages.

    Conclusion

    A restructured NEET, which does not require intensive and repeated coaching as a prerequisite and is not biased towards any board, can go a long way in promoting the parity of participation and nourishing the capacity to aspire, especially of the poor and marginalised.

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  • We don’t advertise vacancies. But when we do, we are looking for the crème de la crème. Work with us!

    We don’t advertise vacancies. But when we do, we are looking for the crème de la crème. Work with us!

    Civilsdaily is looking to hire across multiple roles.

    Click here and apply

    Dear All,

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  • Link Inside || Register & JOIN NOW || Live Webinar || Make a strong bounce back after the 2021 prelims failure? || Free webinar by Sajal sir

    Link Inside || Register & JOIN NOW || Live Webinar || Make a strong bounce back after the 2021 prelims failure? || Free webinar by Sajal sir

    Zoom Meeting Details to log in and join:-
    https://zoom.us/j/92383760275?pwd=ZjJ5dGdTcndNMm9OUDlxL1NuanNkdz09

    Meeting ID: 923 8376 0275
    Passcode: 500758

    Failing to qualify Prelims does not mean that you give up! There have been top rankers in the history of UPSC who failed to qualify Prelims multiple times but learned from each mistake and kept improving themselves. Pranav Vijayvargiya (AIR Rank 65) 2020 is the biggest example of this. He failed consecutively in 2 prelims but he kept himself motivated and finally got (AIR Rank 65) under the guidance of Sajal sir.

    Fear of failure keeps you from learning and this is not the time to lose hope! It may be a tough situation but there’s still a lot you can learn from it.

    Sajal Sir has helped over 400 aspirants secure ranks in the last 6 years. He has helped 30 students secure ranks in the top 100 in UPSC 2020. He knows about success but he also knows how success is built from lessons of failure. He knows how bad the situation may become if you don’t qualify for Prelims but he also knows how to use that learning to crack the exam. And that’s the secret he will share with you in an absolutely free webinar.

    Register here for sajal sir’s free webinar

    What will you learn in the webinar?

    1. How to keep yourself motivated in this exam process whose gestation period is very high.

    2. How to cope up with failures in this exam cycle

    3. How to maintain consistency during preparation

    3. How to re-start preparation again for the 2022 exam

    4. Which mistakes to avoid in your next attempt

    5. Blueprint of your preparation plan. When to start preparation for prelims again.

    6. How to utilize these next 4 months before you start preparing for prelims again.

    7. What to study, From where to study, and how to study.

    8. Smart study-related practical strategies which work on the ground.

    9. 4-2-4 Model of Preparation

    10. Open 1-1 Q&A session with Sajal sir

    Join Sajal sir for the free webinar and take the first step towards cracking the exam in the upcoming attempt!

    Date: 16/10/21

    Time: 7 p.m.

    Register here for Sajal Sir’s free webinar

    This is what Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) had to say about his experience of studying under the guidance of Sajal Sir:

    https://youtu.be/DSwO38weHAA
  • Registrations to Close in 2 Hrs || Make a strong bounce back after the 2021 prelims failure? || Free webinar by Sajal sir

    Registrations to Close in 2 Hrs || Make a strong bounce back after the 2021 prelims failure? || Free webinar by Sajal sir

    Failing to qualify Prelims does not mean that you give up! There have been top rankers in the history of UPSC who failed to qualify Prelims multiple times but learned from each mistake and kept improving themselves. Pranav Vijayvargiya (AIR Rank 65) 2020 is the biggest example of this. He failed consecutively in 2 prelims but he kept himself motivated and finally got (AIR Rank 65) under the guidance of Sajal sir.

    Fear of failure keeps you from learning and this is not the time to lose hope! It may be a tough situation but there’s still a lot you can learn from it.

    Sajal Sir has helped over 400 aspirants secure ranks in the last 6 years. He has helped 30 students secure ranks in the top 100 in UPSC 2020. He knows about success but he also knows how success is built from lessons of failure. He knows how bad the situation may become if you don’t qualify for Prelims but he also knows how to use that learning to crack the exam. And that’s the secret he will share with you in an absolutely free webinar.

    Register here for sajal sir’s free webinar

    What will you learn in the webinar?

    1. How to keep yourself motivated in this exam process whose gestation period is very high.

    2. How to cope up with failures in this exam cycle

    3. How to maintain consistency during preparation

    3. How to re-start preparation again for the 2022 exam

    4. Which mistakes to avoid in your next attempt

    5. Blueprint of your preparation plan. When to start preparation for prelims again.

    6. How to utilize these next 4 months before you start preparing for prelims again.

    7. What to study, From where to study, and how to study.

    8. Smart study-related practical strategies which work on the ground.

    9. 4-2-4 Model of Preparation

    10. Open 1-1 Q&A session with Sajal sir

    Join Sajal sir for the free webinar and take the first step towards cracking the exam in the upcoming attempt!

    Date: 16/10/21

    Time: 7 p.m.

    Register here for Sajal Sir’s free webinar

    This is what Pranav Vijayvergiya (AIR 65) had to say about his experience of studying under the guidance of Sajal Sir:

    https://youtu.be/DSwO38weHAA
  • How Civilsdaily Mentorship helped AIR 142 Shahansha K S || Unherd Shorts || Civilsdaily Mentorship Program: Toppers Testimonials (Link Inside)

    How Civilsdaily Mentorship helped AIR 142 Shahansha K S || Unherd Shorts || Civilsdaily Mentorship Program: Toppers Testimonials (Link Inside)

    For One-on-One Mentorship from Civilsdaily IAS, fill this form:- https://bit.ly/talk_to_toppers_mentor


    Enroll into our new Samachar Manthan Program with this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/samachar-manthan-yearly-2022-batch-2/

    Check out Shahansha’s excerpt on how he cleared UPSC 2020:-

    Here we have a fighter who used to love uniforms over all other forms of services and hence his only preference for services was IPS this time. He was already serving the nation as an IRPS but his desire to get into an all India Services found expression when he found his name up in the list.

    He used to follow Civilsdaily IAS for a long time and he liked the guidance with respect to preparing for services. Like many other toppers, he found the free and mentored content top-notch. Even during his everyday transits to the office and back, he used to rely on CDs Application for furthering his preparation.

    A go-getter attitude coupled with an optimistic personality is what Shahansha is very much about. Rest lets listen in to him to understand him better.

    Heartiest congratulations to Shahansha K S
    AIR 142
    UPSC Civil Services 2020

  • 16th October 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

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    [WpProQuiz 811]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 811]

  • India-Central Asia relations

    In his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meet last month, PM Modi stressed on commitment for increasing its connectivity with land-locked Central Asia.

    What is the Central Asia Region?

    • Central Asia is a region in Asia which stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north.
    • It includes the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

    India-Central Asia Ties

    • India has decades-old wish to connect with the resource and fuel-rich Central Asian nations.
    • Since the emergence of the Central Asian Republics as independent countries in the early 1990s, New Delhi has been trying to establish ties with them.

    Trade and collaboration

    • India’s trade with the five Central Asian Republics—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan—was below $ 2 billion in 2018.
    • The potential areas for collaboration include construction, sericulture and pharmaceuticals to IT and tourism.
    • Much of this trade was routed through Iran, Russia or the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    Efforts for connectivity

     

    1. Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline
    2. Development of Iran’s Chabahar Port
    3. Zaranj-Delaram Highway
    4. International North-South (Transit) Corridor (INSTC)

    About INSTC

    • In 2000, India, Iran and Russia agreed on a new route for trade that later came to be known as INSTC.
    • It was aimed at cutting the costs and time in moving cargo between Russia and India.
    • The pact was ratified in 2002 and the original multi-modal route linked Mumbai in India to Bandar Abbas and Bandar-e-Anzali in Iran, then across the Caspian Sea to Astrakhan, Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia.
    • Over the years, more countries joined the INSTC.
    • In 2003, India and Iran announced the development of the Chabahar port in the Sistan-Balochistan province.

    China’s opportunism: Based on proximity

    • China’s trade with Central Asia was $50 billion-$60 billion in the same period.
    • The obvious advantage in China’s favour is geographical proximity.

    Hurdles for India

    • Lack of mutual trust: Unfortunately, many connectivity options are not open to them today due to the lack of mutual trust.
    • Pakistan factor: Tensions with Pakistan mean there is no viable land route towards Central Asia.
    • Iran and the US sanctions: Efforts to look for a circuitous route via Iran (and Afghanistan) have stalled due to US sanctions on Iran.

    Issues in Iran-Afghanistan bypass route

    Recent events acquire broader geopolitical relevance for India in this route:

    • Taliban takeover of Afghanistan: The takeover of Afghanistan by the Pakistan-backed Taliban has severely set back India’s plans in Central Asia.
    • Iran’s bypassing of India: Iran’s overtures has been clearly visible after itself allocating Farzad-B Gas exploration contract to another company bypassing India.

    Central Asia’s importance for India

    • Fossil fuels: While Central Asia is seen as fuel-rich and, hence, important for an energy-starved India.
    • Mineral richness: Central Asian states are also mineral-rich, and Kazakhstan, for one, has been a source of uranium for India’s nuclear power plants.
    • Market for India: A country like India which is seen as a major economy has to have a presence in these markets. INSTC also offers a safe and cost-effective route to the EU (European Union) market.
    • Convergence against Terrorism: India can forge a common position on terrorism and radicalization, which is a matter of concern to the region as much as it is to India.

    India’s recent engagement

    • Defence collaboration: In recent years, New Delhi has engaged with Central Asian Republics in the defence sphere through military exercises (say Ex Kazind).
    • Engagement at UN: Political and economic engagement is also important, given the imperatives of working together at a body such as the United Nations (UN).
    • Technological ties: India has set up universities there—Sharda and Amity are examples.

    Scope for expansion

    • Dairy Sector: There is scope for collaboration in the dairy sector.
    • Pharma: Indian firms have been setting up pharmaceutical units in Russia that can serve these countries as well.
    • Info Technology: IT and IT-enabled services are two other areas.
    • Cultural connect: Bollywood movies are quite famous in these countries.

    Way forward

    • India needs to develop into stronger bonds of trade and commercial bonds which will be possible once the INSTC crystallizes.

    Conclusion

    • The road ahead in the short term is difficult as India doesn’t seem to have any real leverage to get the connectivity projects with Central Asia going.
    • India has been negotiating with individual bilateral partners though.

     

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    Also read:

    [Burning Issue] Ashgabat Agreement

  • PM GatiShakti — National Master Plan

    The PM has inaugurated the GatiShakti — National Master Plan for infrastructure development aimed at boosting multimodal connectivity and driving down logistics costs.

    GatiShakti — National Master Plan

    • PM GatiShakti is a digital platform that connects 16 ministries — including Roads and Highways, Railways, Shipping, Petroleum and Gas, Power, Telecom, Shipping, and Aviation.
    • It aims to ensure holistic planning and execution of infrastructure projects.
    • The objective is to ensure that every department now has visibility of each other’s activities providing critical data while planning and execution of projects.
    • Through this, different departments will be able to prioritize their projects through cross-sectoral interactions.

    Notable features

    • Geospatial data: The portal will offer 200 layers of geospatial data, including on existing infrastructure such as roads, highways, railways, and toll plazas.
    • Protected areas management: It would also geographic information about forests, rivers, and district boundaries to aid in planning and obtaining clearances.
    • Realtime monitoring: The portal will also allow various government departments to track, in real-time and at one centralized place, the progress of various projects.

    Monitoring mechanism

    • The National Master Plan has set targets for all infrastructure ministries.
    • A project monitoring group under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will monitor the progress of key projects in real-time.
    • It would report any inter-ministerial issues to an empowered group of ministers, who will then aim to resolve these.

    Need for such Project

    • Avoiding poor infrastructure planning: Examples of poor infrastructure planning included newly-built roads being dug up by the water department to lay pipes.
    • Creating a multi-modal network: The government expects the platform to enable various government departments to synchronize their efforts into a multi-modal network.
    • Timely completion of infra projects: It is also expected to help state governments give commitments to investors regarding timeframes for the creation of infrastructure.
    • Inefficient connectivity: Currently, a number of economic zones and industrial parks are not able to reach their full productive potential due to inefficient multi-modal connectivity.
    • Easy clearance: The portal allows stakeholders to apply for these clearances from the relevant authority directly.

    Logistics costs in India

    • Studies estimate that logistics costs in India are about 13-14% of GDP as against about 7-8% of GDP in developed economies.
    • High logistics costs impact cost structures within the economy by making it more expensive for exporters to ship merchandise to buyers.

    Benefits offered by PM-GatiShakti

    • Collaborative planning: It would incorporate infrastructure schemes under various ministries and state governments, including the Bharatmala and inland waterways schemes, and economic zones.
    • Logistics boost: It would boost last-mile connectivity and thus bring down logistics costs with integrated planning and reducing implementation overlaps.

     

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  • [pib] Maharatna status accorded to Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC)

    The Centre has accorded ‘Maharatna’ status to the state-owned Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), thus giving PFC greater operational and financial autonomy.

    About PFC Ltd.

    • Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) is an Indian financial institution under the ownership of Ministry of Power.
    • Established in 1986, it is the financial backbone of Indian Power Sector.
    • PFC is the 8th highest profit making Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) as per the Department of Public Enterprises Survey for FY 2017–18.
    • It is India’s largest NBFC and also India’s largest infrastructure finance company.

    Benefits of Maharatna Status

    • This new status will enable PFC to offer competitive financing for the power sector, which will go a long way in making available affordable & reliable ‘Power For All 24×7’.
    • This will also impart enhanced powers to the PFC Board while taking financial decisions.
    • It can make equity investments to undertake financial joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries and undertake mergers and acquisitions in India and abroad.
    • It can also structure and implement schemes relating to personnel and Human Resource Management and Training.
    • It can also enter into technology Joint Ventures or other strategic alliances among others.

    Back2Basics: Central Public Sector Enterprises

    • The CPSEs are run by the Government under the Department of Public Enterprises of Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
    • The government grants the status of Navratna, Miniratna and Maharatna to them based upon the profit made by these CPSEs.
    • The Maharatna category has been the most recent one since 2009, other two have been in function since 1997.

     

    Maharatna Navratna Miniratna Category-I Miniratna Category-II
    Eligibility Three years with an average annual net profit of over ₹2,500 crore

    OR

    Average annual Net worth of ₹10,000 crore for 3 years

    OR

    Average annual Turnover of ₹20,000 crore for 3 years

     

    		 A score of 60 (out of 100), based on six parameters which include net profit, net worth, total manpower cost, total cost of production, cost of services, PBDIT (Profit Before Depreciation, Interest and Taxes), capital employed, etc.,

    AND

    A company must first be a Miniratna and have 4 independent directors on its board before it can be made a Navratna

    		 Have made profits continuously for the last three years or earned a net profit of ₹30 crore or more in one of the three years Have made profits continuously for the last three years and should have a positive net worth.
    Benefits for investment ₹1,000 crore – ₹5,000 crore, or free to decide on investments up to 15% of their net worth in a project  

    Up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of their net worth on a single project or 30% of their net worth in the whole year

    		 Up to ₹500 crore or equal to their net worth, whichever is lower Up to ₹300 crore or up to 50% of their net worth, whichever is lower

     

     

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  • Places in news: Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    P

    PC: MapsOfIndia

    A tiger believed to have been responsible for the death of two herders in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve was finally captured.

    Read all the tiger reserves in India through this map. Put more focus on South Indian states and the NE region.

    Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

    • Mudumalai National Park is a national park in the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu.
    • It is located in the Nilgiri District and shares boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala.
    • It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and was declared a tiger reserve in 2007.
    • It harbours several endangered and vulnerable species including Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Indian elephant and gaur.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Recently there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites?

    (a) Corbett National Park

    (b) Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary

    (c) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

    (d) Sariska National Park

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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