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  • 12th March 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 15th March-

    GS-1  Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. 

    GS-4 Ethics and Human Interface.

    Question 1)

    Explain the nature of non-cooperation movement which was observed across India. Why the non-cooperation was called off and what were its impact? 10 marks

    Question 2)

    India has many colleges and institutions offering higher education but few could get the spot in the list of top global institutes. Examine the factors responsible for this. Suggest the measures to deal with this issue. 10 marks

    Question 3)

    Growing food subsidy bill highlights the need for revamping the Public Distribution System. What are the factors contributing to the increasing bill? Suggest measures to improve the system. 10 marks

    Question 4)  

    Human values are not very difficult to maintain in normal times. It is in situations of mental stress and physical distress like the current pandemic that the colours of character go in for a real test on the touchstone of life. Examine. 10 marks

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    Reviews will be provided in a week. (In the order of submission- First come first serve basis). In case the answer is submitted late the review period may get extended to two weeks.

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  • 13th March 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 569]

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  • 12th March 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

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  • The legacy and return of the Bamiyan Buddhas

    Two decades later after its destruction, the Bamiyan Buddhas have been brought back to life in the form of 3D projections in an event called “A Night with Buddha”.

    Bamiyan Buddhas

    • In their Roman draperies and with two different mudras, the Bamiyan Buddhas were great examples of a confluence of Gupta, Sassanian and Hellenistic artistic styles.
    • They are said to date back to the 5th century AD and were once the tallest standing Buddhas in the world.
    • Salsal and Shamama, as they were called by the locals, rose to heights of 55 and 38 metres respectively, and were said to be male and female.
    • Salsal means “the light shines through the universe”; Shamama is “Queen Mother”.
    • The statues were set in niches on either end of a cliffside and hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2014:

    Q.Lord Buddha’s image is sometimes shown with a hand gesture called ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’. It symbolizes-

    a) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to watch over Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing his meditation

    b) Buddha’s calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara

    c) Buddha’s reminder to his followers that they all arise from the Earth and finally dissolve into the Earth and thus this life is transitory

    d) Both the statements ‘a’ and ‘b’ are correct in this context

    The significance of Bamiyan

    • Bamiyan is situated in the high mountains of the Hindu Kush in the central highlands of Afghanistan.
    • The valley, which is set along the line of the Bamiyan River, was once integral to the early days of the Silk Roads, providing passage for not just merchants, but also culture, religion and language.
    • When the Buddhist Kushan Empire spread, acting as a crucible of sorts, Bamiyan became a major trade, cultural and religious centre.
    • As China, India and Rome sought passage through Bamiyan, the Kushans were able to develop a syncretic (mix) culture.
    • In the rapid spread of Buddhism between the 1st to 5th centuries AD, Bamiyan’s landscape reflected the faith, especially its monastic qualities.

    Taliban’s destruction of the Buddhas

    • The hardline Taliban movement, which emerged in the early 1990s, was in control of almost 90 per cent of Afghanistan by the end of the decade.
    • The destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was part of this extremist culture.
    • In February 2001, the Taliban declared its intention to destroy the statues, despite condemnation and protest from governments and cultural ambassadors’ world over.

    The aftermath of the destruction

    • The Taliban’s destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas met with global criticism, many of whom saw it as a cultural crime not just against Afghanistan but also against the idea of global syncretism.
    • Following the fall, UNESCO included the remains in its list of world heritage sites in 2003, with subsequent efforts made to restore and reconstruct.

  • Genome Mapping of the Indian Ocean

    A team of scientists and researchers from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) onboard its research vessel Sindhu Sadhana will work on a research project to reveal the internal working of the body of the ocean at a cellular level.

    Genome Mapping of the Indian Ocean

    • The first-of-its-kind research project in the country is aimed at understanding the biochemistry and the response of the ocean to climate change, nutrient stress and increasing pollution.
    • The researchers will collect samples from various stretches of the ocean at an average depth of about 5 km.
    • Just like gene mapping is carried out on blood samples collected from humans, the scientists will map these in the bacteria, microbes found in the ocean.
    • The mapping of the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA) will show the nutrients present in them, and also those lacking in different parts of the ocean.

    Objectives of the mission

    • This project will help scientists understand the internal working of the ecosystem of the Indian Ocean.
    • The research will enable scientists to identify the factors controlling the changes in RNA, DNA in the oceans, and various stressors impacting them.
    • The ocean has several micronutrients like nitrates, sulphates and silicates, minerals like iron ore and zinc, and trace metals like cadmium or copper.
    • The genome mapping will show the presence of which these microbes have adapted to, in addition to their reaction to atmospheric carbon dioxide.
    • This will help in identifying which part of the ocean has a greater concentration of which mineral or element.
    • Scientists will then use these as tracers to tackle the causative factors for excess or lack of a certain mineral or element and suggest possible solutions for their mitigation.
    • In addition, the large pool of RNA, DNA library of the oceans will be utilized for using the Indian Ocean for human benefit in the future.

    Studying the interactions of trace metals

    • Trace metals are the metals subset of trace elements; that is, metals normally present in small but measurable amounts in animal and plant cells.
    • Trace metals like cadmium or copper are supplied to oceans via continental run-offs, atmospheric deposition, hydrothermal activities and continental shelf interaction.
    • They are essential for ocean productivity for having a holistic understanding of nutrient cycling and productivity of the oceans.
    • Isotopic forms of trace metals can be utilized to track the movement of water masses responsible for ocean circulation and as tools to study the biological, geochemical and ecosystem processes and food web analyses.

    Also read

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/explained-indias-deep-ocean-mission/

  • Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) Mission

    India and Japan are working together on a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission that aims to send a lander and rover to the Moon’s the South Pole around 2024.

    Try this PYQ from CSP 2020:

    Q.The experiment will employ a trio of spacecraft flying in formation in the shape of an equilateral triangle that has sides one million km long, with lasers shining between the craft.” the experiment in the question refers to?

    (a) Voyager-2

    (b) New horizons

    (c) LISA pathfinder

    (d) Evolved LISA

    LUPEX Mission

    • The LUPEX is a robotic lunar mission concept by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
    • It would send a lunar rover and lander to explore the South Pole region of the Moon in 2024.
    • JAXA is likely to provide the under-development H3 launch vehicle and the rover, while ISRO would be responsible for the lander.
    • The mission concept has not yet been formally proposed for funding and planning.
    • The Lunar Polar Exploration mission would demonstrate new surface exploration technologies related to vehicular transport and lunar night survival for sustainable lunar exploration in Polar Regions.

  • [pib] 17 States implement One Nation One Ration Card System

    Seventeen (17) States have successfully operationalised the “One Nation One Ration Card system” with Uttarakhand being the latest State to complete the reform.

    Practice question for mains:

    The ‘One nation one ration card ‘scheme would bring perceptible changes to the lives of India’s internal migrant workers. Comment.

    One Nation One Ration Card

    • This scheme aims to ensure all beneficiaries, especially migrants get ration (wheat, rice and other food grains) across the nation from any Public Distribution System (PDS) shop of their own choice.
    • Under the existing system, a ration cardholder can buy food grains only from the fair price shop (FPS) in the locality where he or she lives.
    • It was also launched with the purpose that no poor person should be deprived of getting subsidised food grains under the food security scheme when they shift from one place to another.
    • It aims to reduce instances of corruption by middlemen and fraudulence in ration cards to avail benefits from different states.

    Who is eligible under this scheme?

    • Any citizen, who is declared under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, will be eligible to get the benefit of this scheme across the country.
    • The beneficiaries will be identified on the basis of their Aadhar based identification through the electronic point of sale (PoS) device.
    • All the PDS shops will have the facility of electronic PoS devices.

    Impact on states

    • The reform enables the States to better targeting of beneficiaries, elimination bogus/ duplicate/ineligible cardholders resulting in enhanced welfare and reduced leakage.
    • An additional borrowing limit of 0.25 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is allowed to the States only on completion of both of the following actions:
    1. Aadhar Seeding of all the ration cards and beneficiaries in the State
    2. Automation of all the FPSs in the State.

    Back2Basics: Public distribution system (PDS)

    • The public distribution system (PDS) is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
    • PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through the distribution of food grains at affordable prices.
    • PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments.
    • The Central Government, through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.
    • The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of FPSs etc., rest with the State Governments.
    • Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution.
    •  Some states/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.
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  • A case for a revamped, need-based PDS

    The article highlights the factors governing the food subsidy bill and suggests ways to reduce it.

    Growing food subsidy bill

    • The Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament in January, rightly flagged the issue of a growing food subsidy bill.
    • During 2016-17 to 2019-20, the subsidy amount, clubbed with loans taken by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) towards food subsidy, was in the range of ₹1.65-lakh crore to ₹2.2-lakh crore.
    • In future, the annual subsidy bill of the Centre is expected to be about ₹2.5-lakh crore.
    • During the three years, the quantity of food grains drawn by States (annually) hovered around 60 million tonnes to 66 million tonnes.
    • The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, covered two-thirds of the country’s population, this naturally pushed up the States’ drawal.
    • Based on an improved version of the targeted Public Distribution System (PDS), the law requires the authorities to provide to each beneficiary 5 kg of rice or wheat per month.

    How politics influenced the issue price

    • Economic Survey has hinted at an increase in the Central Issue Price (CIP).
    • Central Issue Price has remained at ₹2 per kg for wheat and ₹3 per kg for rice for years, though the NFSA, even in 2013, envisaged a price revision after three years.
    • What makes the subject more complex is the variation in the retail issue prices of rice and wheat, from nil in States such as Karnataka and West Bengal for Priority Households (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card holders.
    • In Tamil Nadu, rice is given free of cost for all categories; this includes non-PHH.
    • A mere increase in the CIPs of rice and wheat without a corresponding rise in the issue prices by the State governments would only increase the burden of States.
    • Political compulsions are perceived to be coming in the way of the Centre and the States increasing the prices.

    Relook at food subsidy system

    • An official committee in January 2015 called for decreasing the quantum of coverage under the law, from the present 67% to around 40%.
    • For all ration cardholders drawing food grains, a “give-up” option, as done in the case of cooking gas cylinders, can be made available.
    •  Even though States have been allowed to frame criteria for the identification of PHH cardholders, the Centre can nudge states into pruning the number of such beneficiaries.
    • As for the prices, the existing arrangement of flat rates should be replaced with a slab system.
    • Barring the needy, other beneficiaries can be made to pay a little more for a higher quantum of food grains.

    Consider the question “There is a pressing need for revamping the food subsidy system. In light of this, suggest the measures to improve the system.”

    Conclusion

    These measures, if properly implemented, can have a salutary effect on retail prices in the open market. A revamped, need-based PDS is required not just for cutting down the subsidy bill but also for reducing the scope for leakages. Political will should not be found wanting.

  • The IT Rules 2021 seek regulatory parity, but threaten to curb creative freedom

    The article argues that IT Rules 2021 far exceeds the rulemaking power granted under Section 69A of the IT Act.

    Censoring online video streaming

    • Online video streaming platforms have marked a new dawn for the Indian entertainment industry.
    • The spectre of government regulation and criminalisation haunts this fledgling industry.
    • There have been various efforts to censor online video streaming platforms by petitioning the courts for a long time.
    • At least 23 petitions were being heard by different high courts on the issue of regulation of online video streaming platforms.
    • The grievances range from wounded religious sentiments to moral outrage against depictions of sexuality but the common thread that unites them is a desire to control what other citizens may watch in the privacy of their homes.
    • In addition to petitions seeking heavy-handed regulation, criminal proceedings have been initiated against employees of companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
    • While such FIRs may be in the context of specific films or shows, they cause substantial harassment and threaten the personal liberty of content creators and company executives.

    IT Rules 2021 exceeds the rulemaking power under Section 69A of IT Act

    • The imposition of any kind of criminal liability under the IT Rules 2021 would far exceed the central government’s rule-making power under Section 69A of the IT Act.
    • The existing three-tier regulatory mechanism and content classification system prescribed under the rules are also unconstitutional for the same reason.
    • The following three issues need to be considered while considering the IT Rules 2021.
    • First, the powers under Section 69A can be exercised only in the interest of the sovereignty, defence, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement etc.
    • The implication is that the powers under Section 69A cannot be used to regulate online content which may be obscene or sexually explicit.
    • Second, Section 69A states that the central government may direct “any agency of the Government or intermediary” to block access to online content but online video streaming platforms do not fall into either of these two categories.
    • Companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime commission or license the films and shows available on their platforms, and they are not an “intermediary” under the IT Act.
    • Third, Section 69A only grants the central government the power to “block for access by the public or cause to be blocked for access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource.”
    • However, the range of powers granted under the IT Rules 2021 is much broader and includes requiring an apology or disclaimer, re-classification of content and deletion or modification of content.
    • As a result, the IT Rules 2021 significantly expand the scope of powers available under Section 69A.

    Issues with the three-tier regulatory framework

    • The three-tier regulatory framework created under the rules suffers from the substantive problem of lack of independence.
    • The third tier, which is the Inter-Departmental Committee, comprises entirely of bureaucrats and there is no guaranteed representation from the judiciary or civil society.
    • The Review Committee constituted under Rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951 also solely consists of officials belonging to the executive branch.

    Way forward

    • The solution is to start afresh with publication of a white paper which clearly outlines the harms that are sought to be addressed through regulation of online video streaming platforms and meaningful public consultation which is not limited to industry representatives.
    • If regulation is still deemed to be necessary, then it must be implemented through legislation that is debated in Parliament instead of relying upon Section 69A of the IT Act.

    Consider the question “The IT Rules 2021 have been criticised for exceeding the rulemaking power under Section 69A of the IT Act. Examine the scope of the criticism.”

    Conclusion

    Many of the changes that the central government seeks to implement through the IT Rules 2021 may be well-intentioned and desirable. However, constitutional due process cannot be sacrificed at the altar of expediency

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