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  • 15th July 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1         Post-independent India

    GS-2        Bilateral relations

    GS-3        Indian Economy

    GS-4        Case Studies

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 Explaining the term Non-alignment, discuss the rationale behind its adoption in the postcolonial era. (15 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 South Korea’s new willingness to become a global pivotal state and play an active role in regional affairs is bound to create multiple opportunities for a multi-dimensional India- Korea partnership. Comment. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 What were the improvements made in the GST to ensure stricter compliance? Suggest the improvements needed in the GST structure. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 You are the principal of a college which has a long history of student politics. However, due to your personal belief, you are not in favour of conducting student elections and thus have kept the process of yearly student elections pending without any official announcement. While you are mulling over the decision of not conducting elections, you get representation from some professors as well as students who criticize the activities of student unions as obstructive to the academic environment of the college. Some time later, student leaders also come to talk to you regarding conduct of elections, and you tell them about the representation received by you against allowing student elections. You further tell them that you are contemplating suspending all activities related to student politics in the campus. On hearing this, student leaders become aggressive and start sloganeering and destroying college property. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) What are the issues involved in the case above? (b) How can you separate your personal ethics from professional ethics? (c) How would you deal with this situation? (20 Marks)

     

    HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

    1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

    2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

    3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

    4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

    5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

    6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

    7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

    8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

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

    1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 
    CLICK HERE To join Daily AWE

  • 16th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    16th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 1062]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1062]

    UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • IAS full form

    IAS= Indian Administrative Service

    ‘I’ stands for ‘Indian‘, ‘A’ stands for ‘Administrative‘, ‘S’ stands for ‘Service‘

    click:- attend (free) online workshop on ias preparation strategy | register and become an ias

    Table of Content

    What is IAS?

    Many of us hear about the term ‘IAS officers’. But we seldom know the full form of the IAS officer. So let’s first learn the full form of IAS. IAS stands for Indian Administrative Service. It is one of the most prestigious government jobs in India.

    Read here ‘What is IPS?’

    Role and responsibilities of an IAS officer

    • To formulate important policies and advise the ministers on important issues
    • maintain law and order among the citizens
    • implement important policies
    • collect revenue 
    • the caretaker of various expenditures 
    • takes important decisions were necessary 
    • oversees the proper implementation of them by formulating policies accordingly. 
    • Policy maker

    Eligibility Criteria – Age limit

    The minimum age criterion for the UPSC CSE exam is age at least 21 years. The maximum age limit where a candidate can be an IAS officer for the general section is 32 years, the maximum limit for the OBC section is 35 years, and 37 years for SC / ST section.

    Educational qualification

    To be an IAS officer and to pass the UPSC CSE exam, a candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from any recognized university. 

    Even a candidate in the final year of graduation can take part in this exam. 

    Candidates who have taken correspondence education are also eligible for this examination. 

    Digits with a technical degree are also eligible. 

    Even professionals can apply for this special test. 

    A medical student is also eligible to apply for this test. But only if he completes the degree and goes through an internship program. 

    A candidate who has passed CA, ICWA, and ICSI is also eligible to apply for this position.

    Number of attempts

    For the general category, the candidate is limited to 6 attempts. And for OBC closure, the candidate has 9 effort limits. There is no age limit of 37 years for an SC / ST candidate.

    How to Become An IAS officer!

     To become an IAS officer, Indian youths have to fulfill only 3 conditions:

    • Get a graduate degree
    • Clear the UPSC-CSE exam
    • Complete training successfully

    Passing the UPSC exam is not simple, many obstacles may be suffered during the process of the assessment. Even a serious aspirant without a hand-holding strategy, uncompromising attitude, and proper guidance may fail. Read More….

    Online Workshop

    Have you set career goals for yourself and are ready to do anything to achieve your goals? Then, yes you are in the right place. Here, we, the Civilsdaily team conduct a weekly live workshop to tell you how to become an IAS officer after the 12th in easy steps. 

    click:- attend (free) online workshop on ias preparation strategy | register and become an ias

  • Persistent | After facing multiple failures in a row, A taste of success, | Amit Anand, AIR 411, UPSC 2021 | Civilsdaily Mentorship Student | Get in touch with his mentor

    “A good mentor is always a big +”-Amit Anand mentioned in an interview with CD. 

    Amit Anand, AIR 411, UPSC 2021. a Student under under Smash Mains (Sajal Sir)
    click:- book your slot with air 411, amit’s mentors and get his notes | register for free

    Amit Anand was one of the mentorship students under Sajal sir, and other CD mentors under the Smash Mains program. 

    Before getting in touch with Sajal Sir in 2021, He had been facing failure consistently. His UPSC journey started in 2016. Although he reached interviews 2 times, he couldn’t get on the final merit list. He said that he couldn’t figure out the necessary things which are highly required to work on.

    He came to know about Sajal Sir and his Smash Mains Program from one of his friends. As soon as he heard, he connect with Sajal Sir and join his Mains Program.

    In 2021, he got in touch with Sajal Sir, and received the remedial advice, he was looking for. He attributed his success to the remedial advice of Sajal Sir under Smash Mains.

    • Sajal Sir’s tireless mentorship helped him to find those core areas in GS papers on which he had to improve tremendously. 
    • Sajal Sir’s guidance got him 10 times likely to prepare in a very short time. 
    • Next level evaluation of answers helped him a lot to fetch more scores in GS papers.
    •  Resource consolidation on Mains’ Preparation.
    click:- book your slot with air 411, amit’s mentors and get his notes | register for free

    He improved his marks drastically in this 2021 Mains. In a candid conversation with Siddhart sir, Amit shared his journey, motivations, up and downs, lessons learned, and his secret of what kept him going. Listen to his story.

    Amit’s optional was Geography. He hails from Deoghar and has been exceptional in his studies all through school and college. He is an engineering graduate by education. 

    Amit has made us proud by securing AIR 411 in UPSC 2021 exam. It is yet another validation of CivilsDaily’s vision and approach to personalized mentorship.

    Amit has inspired us and we wish him all the best. He’s going to be an administrator of great integrity!

    Register for Amit’s mains answers copies and notes.

    Schedule your FREE mentorship session with Amit’s mentors.
    click:- book your slot with air 411, amit’s mentors and get his notes | register for free

    Amit is one of 200 rankers from CivilsDaily’s mentorship programs.

  • 15th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    15th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 1061]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1061]

    UPSC 2023 countdown has begun! Get your personal guidance plan now! (Click here)

  • Fundamental Duties

    The Supreme Court has allowed the Centre’s request for two months’ time to file a reply to a petition seeking the enforcement of fundamental duties of citizens, including patriotism and unity of nation, through “comprehensive, and well-defined laws”.

    Why in news?

    • The need to enforce fundamental duties arises due to new illegal trend of protest by protesters in the garb of freedom of speech and expression.
    • Vandalism, blocking of road and rail routes in order to compel the government to meet their demands is a sheer violation of the FDs which are generally not enforceable.

    What are Fundamental Duties?

    • The fundamental duties of citizens were added to the constitution by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, upon the recommendations of the Swaran Singh Committee.
    • It basically imply the moral obligations of all citizens of a country and today, there are 11 fundamental duties in India, which are written in Part IV-A of the Constitution, to promote patriotism and strengthen the unity of India.
    • The FDs obligate all citizens to respect the national symbols of India, including the constitution, to cherish its heritage, preserve its composite culture and assist in its defence.
    • They also obligate all Indians to promote the spirit of common brotherhood, protect the environment and public property, develop scientific temper, abjure violence, and strive towards excellence in all spheres of life.

    Judicial interpretation of FDs

    • The Supreme Court has held that FDs are not enforceable in any Court of Law.
    • It ruled that these fundamental duties can also help the court to decide the constitutionality of a law passed by the legislature.
    • There is a reference to such duties in international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 51A brings the Indian constitution into conformity with these treaties.

    Total FDs

    • Originally ten in number, the fundamental duties were increased to eleven by the 86th Amendment in 2002.

    The 10 fundamental duties are as follows:

    1. To oblige with the Indian Constitution and respect the National Anthem and Flag
    2. To cherish and follow the noble ideas that inspired the national struggle for freedom
    3. To protect the integrity, sovereignty, and unity of India
    4. To defend the country and perform national services if and when the country requires
    5. To promote the spirit of harmony and brotherhood amongst all the people of India and renounce any practices that are derogatory to women
    6. To cherish and preserve the rich national heritage of our composite culture
    7. To protect and improve the natural environment including lakes, wildlife, rivers, forests, etc.
    8. To develop scientific temper, humanism, and spirit of inquiry
    9. To safeguard all public property
    10. To strive towards excellence in all genres of individual and collective activities

    The 11th fundamental duty which was added to this list is:

    1. To provide opportunities for education to children between 6-14 years of age, and duty as parents to ensure that such opportunities are being awarded to their child. (86th Amendment, 2002)

     

    Try this PYQ:

    Which of the following is/are among the Fundamental Duties of citizens laid down in the Indian Constitution?

    1. To preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture
    2. To protect the weaker sections from social injustice
    3. To develop the scientific temper and spirit of inquiry
    4. To strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) Only 2

    (c) 1, 3 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”rxuthe9v1b” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

     

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  • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

    Andhra Pradesh has decided to rejoin the crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) from the ongoing kharif season.

    Why in news?

    • Andhra Pradesh was one of six states that have stopped the implementation of the scheme over the last four years.
    • The other five, which remain out, are Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Telangana.

    What is PMFBY?

    • The PMFBY was launched in February 2016. It is being administered by Ministry of Agriculture.
    • It provides a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the farmers.
    • It is implemented by general insurance companies.

    Its functioning

    • PMFBY insures farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest.
    • Farmers have to pay a maximum of 2 per cent of the total premium of the insured amount for kharif crops, 1.5 per cent for rabi food crops and oilseeds as well as 5 per cent for commercial / horticultural crops.
    • The balance premium is shared by the Union and state governments on a 50:50 basis and on a 90:10 basis in the case of northeastern states.

    Farmers covered

    • All farmers growing notified crops in a notified area during the season who have insurable interest in the crop are eligible.
    • Earlier to Kharif 2020, the enrolment under the scheme was compulsory for following categories of farmers:
    1. Farmers in the notified area who possess a Crop Loan account/KCC account (called as Loanee Farmers) to whom credit limit is sanctioned/renewed for the notified crop during the crop season. and
    2. Such other farmers whom the Government may decide to include from time to time.

    Risks covered under the scheme

    • Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover yield losses due to non-preventable risks, such as Natural Fire and Lightning, Storm, Hailstorm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Tornado.
    • Risks due to Flood, Inundation and Landslide, Drought, Dry spells, Pests/ Diseases also will be covered.
    • Post-harvest losses coverage will be available up to a maximum period of 14 days from harvesting for those crops which are kept in “cut & spread” condition to dry in the field.
    • For certain localized problems such as loss/damage resulting from the occurrence of identified localized risks like hailstorm, landslide, and Inundation affecting isolated farms in the notified area would also be covered.

    Why many states has opted out?

    The opting-out states had mentioned several reasons:

    • The scheme should be voluntary.
    • States should be given options to choose the risks covered and the scheme should be universal.
    • State should be given option to use their own database of E-crop, an application used by the state government to collect information about crops.
    • Many state government wanted zero premium for farmers (meaning the entire premium should be paid by the government.
    • The non-payment of the State Share of premium subsidy within the prescribed timelines as defined in the seasonality discipline lea to the disqualification of the State Government.
    • The reason for West Bengal not implementing the PMFBY is purely “political” as it wants to implement the scheme without mentioning Pradhan Mantri in the name.

    How was the scheme structured, and what has changed since?

    • Initially, the scheme was compulsory for loanee farmers; in February 2020, the Centre revised it to make it optional for all farmers.
    • Now states and UTs are free to extend additional subsidy over and above the normal subsidy from their budgets.
    • In February 2020, the Centre decided to restrict its premium subsidy to 30% for unirrigated areas and 25% for irrigated areas (from the existing unlimited). Earlier, there was no upper limit.
    • Food crops (cereals, millets and pulses); oilseeds; and annual commercial / annual horticultural crops are broadly covered under the scheme.

     

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  • Increase in Current Account Deficit (CAD)

    The Finance Ministry has asserted that the current account deficit (CAD) could, however, deteriorate this year mainly due to rising trade deficits.

    What is Current Account Deficit (CAD)?

    • A current account is a key component of balance of payments, which is the account of transactions or exchanges made between entities in a country and the rest of the world.
    • This includes a nation’s net trade in products and services, its net earnings on cross border investments including interest and dividends, and its net transfer payments such as remittances and foreign aid.
    • A CAD arises when the value of goods and services imported exceeds the value of exports, while the trade balance refers to the net balance of export and import of goods or merchandise trade.

    Components of Current Account

    Current Account Deficit (CAD) = Trade Deficit + Net Income + Net Transfers

    (1) Trade Deficit

    • Trade Deficit = Imports – Exports
    • A Country is said to have a trade deficit when it imports more goods and services than it exports.
    • Trade deficit is an economic measure of a negative balance of trade in which a country’s imports exceeds its exports.
    • A trade deficit represents an outflow of domestic currency to foreign markets.

    (2) Net Income

    • Net Income = Income Earned by MNCs from their investments in India.
    • When foreign investment income exceeds the savings of the country’s residents, then the country has net income deficit.
    • This foreign investment can help a country’s economy grow. But if foreign investors worry they won’t get a return in a reasonable amount of time, they will cut off funding.
    • Net income is measured by the following things:
    1. Payments made to foreigners in the form of dividends of domestic stocks.
    2. Interest payments on bonds.
    3. Wages paid to foreigners working in the country.

    (3) Net Transfers

    • In Net Transfers, foreign residents send back money to their home countries. It also includes government grants to foreigners.
    • It Includes Remittances, Gifts, Donation etc

    How Current Account Transaction does takes place?

    • While understanding the Current Account Deficit in detail, it is important to understand what the current account transactions are.
    • Current account transactions are transactions that require foreign currency.
    • Following transactions with from which component these transactions belong to :
    1. Component 1 : Payments connection with Foreign trade – Import & Export
    2. Component 2 : Interest on loans to other countries and Net income from investments in other countries
    3. Component 3 : Remittances for living expenses of parents, spouse and children residing abroad, and Expenses in connection with Foreign travel, Education and Medical care of parents, spouse and children

    What has been the recent trend?

    • In Q4 FY 2021-22, CAD improved to 1.5% of GDP or $13.4 billion from 2.6% of GDP in Q3 FY 2021-22 ($22.2 billion).
    • The difference between the value of goods imported and exported fell to $54.48 million in Q4FY 2021-22 from $59.75 million in Q3 FY2021-22.
    • However, based on robust performance by computer and business services, net service receipts rose both sequentially and on a year-on-year basis.
    • Remittances by Indians abroad also rose.

    What are the reasons for the current account deficit?

    • Intensifying geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions leading to crude oil and commodity prices soaring globally have been exerting upward pressure on the import bill.
    • A rise in prices of coal, natural gas, fertilizers, and edible oils have added to the pressure on trade deficit.
    • However, with global demand picking up, merchandise exports have also been rising.

    How will a large CAD affect the economy?

    • A large CAD will result in demand for foreign currency rising, thus leading to depreciation of the home currency.
    • Nations balance CAD by attracting capital inflows and running a surplus in capital accounts through increased foreign direct investments (FDI).
    • However, worsening CAD will put pressure on inflow under the capital account.
    • Nevertheless, if an increase in the import bill is because of imports for technological upgradation it would help in long-term development.

     

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  • Govt. extends RoSCTL Scheme for Garment Exports

    The RoSCTL scheme will continue for export of garments/apparels, and made-ups till March 31, 2024, according to a press release from the Union Ministry of Textiles.

    What is RoSCTL Scheme?

    • RoSCTL stands for Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL).
    • It is an export incentive in the form of transferable and sellable duty credit scrips (certificate) offered on the basis of the value of the export.
    • It replaces the Rebate of State Levies (RoSL) scheme, a monetary incentive scheme under which Customs would deposit the rebate directly into the exporter’s bank account.
    • This scheme was seen as India’s reaction to the increasing international pressure on export incentives provided by the Indian government.

    Why was this scheme introduced?

    • The US, in particular, has been very vocal, urging the discontinuation of export incentive schemes like the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS).
    • It held that they flouted the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

    Why was this scheme extended to textile sector?

    • With a view to boost exports and job creation in the textile sector, the government has approved the continuation of the scheme.
    • The scheme aims to help them cut high logistics and other costs and enable them to compete globally.

     

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  • Kerala reports India’s first Monkeypox Case

    The first known lab-confirmed case of monkeypox in India has been reported in a 35-year-old man in Kerala.

    What is Monkeypox?

    • The monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus, which is a genus of viruses that also includes the variola virus, which causes smallpox, and vaccinia virus, which was used in the smallpox vaccine.
    • It causes symptoms similar to smallpox, although they are less severe.
    • While vaccination eradicated smallpox worldwide in 1980, monkeypox continues to occur in a swathe of countries in Central and West Africa, and has on occasion showed up elsewhere.
    • According to the WHO, two distinct clade are identified: the West African clade and the Congo Basin clade, also known as the Central African clade.

    Its origin

    • Monkeypox is a zoonosis, that is, a disease that is transmitted from infected animals to humans.
    • Monkeypox virus infection has been detected in squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, and some species of monkeys.
    • According to the WHO, cases occur close to tropical rainforests inhabited by animals that carry the virus.

    Symptoms and treatment

    • Monkeypox begins with a fever, headache, muscle aches, back ache, and exhaustion.
    • It also causes the lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy), which smallpox does not.
    • The WHO underlines that it is important to not confuse monkeypox with chickenpox, measles, bacterial skin infections, scabies, syphilis and medication-associated allergies.
    • The incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkeypox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days.
    • There is no safe, proven treatment for monkeypox yet.

     

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