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  • Prithvi-II Missile successfully test-fired

    Successfully test-fire of indigenously developed, nuclear-capable Prithvi-II Missile was recently held.

    Prithvi-II Missile

    • The Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile has a strike range of 350 km.
    • It is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilogram of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.
    • It was inducted into the armory of Indian defence forces in 2003.
    • It is a nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled missile.
    • The state-of-the-art missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvering trajectory to hit its target.
    • It is the first missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

    Other variants of Prithvi

    • The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
    • The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner:
    1. Prithvi I (SS-150) – Army version, 150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg
    2. Prithvi II (SS-250) – Air Force version, 350 km range with a payload of 500 kg
    3. Prithvi III (SS-350) – Naval version, 350 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg

    Significance of the test-fire

    • Developed as a battlefield missile, it can carry a nuclear warhead in its role as a tactical nuclear weapon.
    • This is the second such test fire of nuclear capable highly manoeuvrable missile in weeks.

     

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  • [Yojana Archive] Empowering Divyangjan

    May 2022

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    Who are the Divyangjans?

    • In India, people with disabilities are known as Divyangjan.
    • Divyang is a Hindi word that means “divine body part.”
    • The Hon’ble PM gave the term ‘Divyangjan’ to the Persons with Disabilities and launched the Accessible India Campaign in 2015.

    Various government initiatives

    • Department of Divyangjan:  The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment’s Department of Persons with Disabilities is renamed the Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Vibhag.
    • Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016: Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 promotes and protects the rights and dignity of people with disabilities in educational, social, legal, economic, cultural and political spheres.
    • Accessible India Campaign: The government launched the “Accessible India Campaign” (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) which seeks to make government buildings “fully accessible” for the disabled.
    • TV Viewing: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formulated the standards for accessible TV viewing for persons with hearing impairment which provides for closed captioning, subtitling and designing of special devices.
    • Sugamya Bharat App: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Department of Disability Empowerment has launched the ‘Sugamya Bharat App’ to address accessibility issues faced by differently-abled people in buildings and transportation systems.
    • Accessibility in Education Sector: Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, provision has been made for in-service training of teachers, and training for special educators. The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to provide barrier-free access to education for all children with disabilities.
    • Divya Kala Shakti: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment hosted the first-ever colourful cultural event in the western region, “Divya Kala Shakti: Witnessing the Abilities in Disabilities”.
    • Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP): The ADIP Scheme has been in operation since 1981 with the main objective to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation.
    • Deen Dayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme: Under DDDRS, the Central Government has been providing grant-in-aid to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for projects relating to the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.
    • National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR):  This is a Central Autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment’s Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan). It is a federally funded institute that focuses on mental health rehabilitation.

    Policy measures for Divyangjan

    • Inclusion of Divyangjan: Disability inclusion refers to including people with disabilities in everyday activities and encouraging them to take on roles similar to their peers who do not have disabilities.
    • Disability Certificate: A disability certificate is provided to a person with a disability of more than 40% in order to be eligible for any of the available schemes’ facilities, benefits, or concessions.
    • Unique Disability Identity Project: Unique ID for Persons with Disabilities project is being implemented with a view to creating a National Database of PwDs.
    • Accessibility in Cross-Disability Early Intervention Centres: In order to provide rehabilitative services for children with various types of disabilities, Early Intervention Centres (EICs) with a cross-disability focus were established across India in 2021. Accessible features include accessible parking, routes, ramps, accessible reception counters, accessible toilets and drinking water points, staircases, and appropriate instructional and directional signage.
    • Accessible Means of Communication: Indian Sign Language (ISL): The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), in collaboration with NCERT, is converting NCERT textbooks and other educational materials into ISL digital format to assist people with hearing impairment.
    • Psychological disability (mental illness):  As per the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights, and Full Participation) Act, 1995, mental illness is recognised as one of the disabilities. The Act defines “mental illness” as any mental disorder other than mental retardation. In 2001, a Committee was formed to establish guidelines for the evaluation and assessment of mental illness, as well as the certification procedure.

  • Child Marriage in India

    Context

    There has been an ongoing debate on whether increasing the age of marriages can solve the problem of child marriage in India.

    Background

    • It is defined as a marriage of a girl or boy before the age of 18 and refers to both formal marriages and informal unions in which children under the age of 18 live with a partner as if married.
    • The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, fixes 21 years as the marriageable age for women.

    Prevalence of child marriage in India

    •  NFHS-5 data show that about 25% of women aged 18-29 years married before the legal marriageable age of 18.
    • Marginal decline: The proportion has declined only marginally from NFHS-4 (28%).
    • Higher in rural India: Expectedly, the prevalence is higher in rural than urban India (28% and 17%, respectively).
    • West Bengal has the highest prevalence (42%), followed by Bihar and Tripura (40% each).
    • Oddly, the decline in child marriage has been paltry at best in these high-prevalence States.
    • At the other end of the spectrum are Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala (6% to 7%).
    • 39% of child marriages in India take place among Adivasis and Dalits.
    • The share of advantaged social groups is 17% and the remaining share is of Other Backward Classes.

    Role of structural issues in adverse health and educational outcomes

    • Impact: Studies associate early marriage of women with early pregnancy, lower likelihood of accessing ante-natal care, higher risks of maternal morbidity and mortality, poor nutritional status of women and poor nutritional and educational outcomes of children.
    • These studies seem to provide a rather compelling case for increasing the age of marriage of women from 18 to 21 years, as a delayed marriage might offer significant public health dividends.
    • Structural factors at play: But a closer reading of the evidence shows that the association between child marriage and adverse health outcomes does not emerge in a vacuum. 
    • Rather, it is abetted by structural factors, including social norms, poverty, and women’s education.
    • Role of social norms: It is because of social norms in many regions and cultures that parents begin preparations for a girl’s marriage once she has reached menarche.
    • Role of poverty: A large proportion of child marriages take place primarily because of poverty and the burden of the huge costs of dowry associated with delayed marriages.
    • Role of education:  The NHFS-5 data confirm that a significant proportion of child marriages takes place among women with less than 12 years of schooling and households that are socially and economically disadvantaged.
    • The average age at marriage increases from 17 years among women who are illiterate and have had up to five years of schooling to 22 years among women who have had more than 12 years of schooling.
    • This indicates that an increase in years of schooling goes hand in hand with an increase in age at marriage.
    • While an increase in education is most likely to delay marriage, the increase in age at marriage may or may not increase women’s education.

    Why the age of marriage of women matters

    • Age of marriage has bearing on maternal mortality rates, fertility levels, nutrition of mother and child, sex ratios, and, on a different register, education and employment opportunities for women.
    • It is also argued that other factors — such as poverty and health services — were far more effective as levers for improving women’s and children’s health and nutritional status.
    • Child marriage curtail a girl’s opportunities to continue her education.
    • And in turn, the lack of educational opportunities plays an important role in facilitating child marriage.

    Way forward

    • The fact that about one-fourth of women (18-29 years) in India have married before 18 years despite the law tells us that legally increasing the age of marriage may not fully prevent child marriages. 
    • 1] Ensure education for at least up to 12 years: Much of the benefits can be reaped by ensuring that women complete education at least up to 12 years.
    • Bangladesh shows that improving women’s education and imparting modern skills to them that increase their employability reduces child marriage and improves health and nutrition.
    • 2] Educational attainment criteria in schemes: Schemes which ease the financial burden of marriage but the eligibility criteria of which should essentially link to educational attainment in addition to age demand attention.
    • The lessons from Janani Suraksha Yojana and the zeal demonstrated in ending open defecation might provide valid insights here.

    Conclusion

    A legalistic approach to increasing the age at marriage will produce positive results only if it leads to an improvement in women’s education and skill acquisition for employability. In the absence of an enhancement in women’s schooling or skills, a legalistic approach to ending child marriage might become counterproductive.

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  • What’s your excuse? Rural background, language barrier, anxiety attacks, repeated failures – Nothing could stop Soham Mandhare- CivilsDaily’s mentorship student & UPSC 2021 ranker| Download his answer copies, resources

    What’s your excuse? Rural background, language barrier, anxiety attacks, repeated failures – Nothing could stop Soham Mandhare- CivilsDaily’s mentorship student & UPSC 2021 ranker| Download his answer copies, resources

    Soham Mandhare’s story is of grit and determination. It is a story of fortitude. Despite all the hardships he secured an AIR 267 in UPSC 2021. She was a student of our Mentorship programs and was taking mentorship under Sajal sir and Sukanya ma’am.
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    Soham has made us proud by securing AIR 267 in UPSC 2021 exam. It is yet another validation of CivilsDaily’s vision and approach to personalized mentorship. His marks in Mains 2021 were comparable to top 50s rankers. This goes on to show how strong his fundamentals were.

    Soham was a CivilsDaily’s mentorship program student (Smash Mains) under Sajal Singh sir and Sukanya Rana ma’am. In answer writing and Mains, he was personally guided by his mentors.

    (CLICK) Download Soham’s mains answer copies and resources | we will email them to you

    In a candid conversation with us, Soham shared his journey, hardships, lessons learned, and his secret of what kept him going.

    About Soham Mandhare

    Soham hails from a village in Maharashtra and belongs to a farmer background. A mechanical engineering graduate, Soham took multiple attempts to crack UPSC and secure an AIR 267 in UPSC 2021. His optional was

    While Soham loves watching movies and playing cricket, he also engages himself in native tree plantation drives and assisting his family in agricultural activities.

    Soham has really made us proud and we wish him all the very best. He is going to be a great administrator and an inspiration to millions.

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

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1         Salient features of Indian society, Diversity of India

    GS-2         Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India.

    GS-3         PDS, Buffer Stock and Food Security, Indian Economy

    GS-4       Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and non-partisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 Start-ups can act as an agent of change by solving issues faced by the Indian society. Discuss. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 As it seeks to expand, what are the challenges BRICS may encounter in its expansion? What should be India’s approach? (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 What are the factors responsible for the recent food prices spike at the global level? What are its implications for India and what should be India’s approach to deal with the food prices crisis? (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 Elaborate on the importance of impartiality as a core value of civil service. (10 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

  • UPSC rankers will help you improve your Mains answer writing for FREE | UPSC Mains Bootcamp (18-19th Jun): LIVE Zoom workshop on GS Answer Writing, Ethics, Essay + Exclusive Telegram group | Open to all

    UPSC rankers will help you improve your Mains answer writing for FREE | UPSC Mains Bootcamp (18-19th Jun): LIVE Zoom workshop on GS Answer Writing, Ethics, Essay + Exclusive Telegram group | Open to all

    With Mains season here let’s turn up the heat. Register for CivilsDaily’s Mega Bootcamp: 18-19th June 2022. Mains Answer Writing, Ethics, Essay, and more. Details below.
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    In this Bootcamp, we’ll be having total 4 sessions on

    1. From mediocre to UPSC worthy structure: Answer Writing with a clear mandate on improving the Structure of your answers. – Sukanya Rana and UPSC Rankers
    2. How to tackle Ethics case studies by solving handpicked case studies LIVE in the session. – Sukanya Rana and UPSC Rankers
    3. Selecting and writing Philosophical essays. – Zeeshan Hashmi
    4. LIVE writing and strategy by UPSC 2021 Rankers

    Register for the Bootcamp and we will email you the link for the Telegram group and other Mains resources.

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    UPSC Bootcamp Session 1: Developing Mains Answer's Structure like that of UPSC Toppers + Interaction with Topper Session 2: Interactive Answer Writing session Session 3: Master strategy for Ethics Case studies with Sukanya Rana and UPSC topper Session 4: Tackling Philosophical Essays for UPSC CSE

    We’ll be having at least 2 Topper’s sessions where they will discuss their strategies and share their resources with you.

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  • International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

    Iran started the first transfer of Russian goods to India via a new trade corridor which transits the West Asian nation, people on the Iranian side familiar with the developments told news outlets.

    The cargo will travel through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

    What is the news?

    • The cargo ship departed St. Petersburg for the Caspian Sea port city of Astrakhan.
    • It will reach the northern Iranian port of Anzali and then will be transferred by road to the southern port of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf.
    • From Bandar Abbas it will reach via ship to India at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).

    International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

    • The INSTC is a 7,200 km-long multimodal transportation network encompassing sea, road, and rail routes to offer the shortest route of connectivity.
    • It was established on 12th September 2000 in St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia and India for the purpose of promoting transportation cooperation among the Member States.
    • It links the Indian Ocean to the Caspian Sea via the Persian Gulf onwards into Russia and Northern Europe.
    • It will move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.

    Significance of INSTC

    • Trade facilitation: INSTC is aimed at reducing the carriage cost between India and Russia by about 30 per cent and bringing down the transit time by more than half.
    • New corridor in making: It has the potential to transform the economies of countries along the corridor into specialized manufacturing, logistics, and transit hubs by facilitating access to newer markets.
    • Multimodal transit: The recent Suez Canal blockade, which cost the global economy hefty damage amounting to US$9 billion, has amplified the optimistic outlook towards the INSTC as a cheaper and faster alternative multimodal transit corridor.

    Benefits offered to India

    • Export promotion: The INSTC connects India with Central Asia, and Russia, and has the potential to expand up to the Baltic, Nordic, and Arctic regions, increasing the scope of trade multifold.
    • Ease of trade: For India, it provides a shorter trade route with Iran, Russia, and beyond to Europe, creating scope for increased economic engagement.
    • Alternative Route to Central Asia: It opens up a permanent alternative route for India to trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, given the hurdles in the direct route through Pakistan.

     

     

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  • ASI Act to be made more flexible

    Union Culture Minister said the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was working on an amendment to make the law that provides for the preservation of monuments and archaeological sites “more flexible and people-friendly”.

    What is the news?

    • The ASI is working to amend Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act 1958.
    • It particularly seeks to change the current 100-metre prohibited area around protected monuments to site-specific limits.

    What is the AMASR Act?

    • The AMASR Act provides for the preservation of ancient and historical monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
    • It also provides for the regulation of archaeological excavations and for the protection of sculptures, carvings and other like objects.
    • The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) functions under the provisions of this act.
    • The rules stipulate that area in the vicinity of the monument, within 100 metres is prohibited area.
    • The area within 200 meters of the monument is regulated category. Any repair or modifications of buildings in this area requires prior permission.

    About Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

    • The ASI is an attached office of the Ministry of Culture.
    • It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.
    • Under the provisions of the AMASR Act of 1958, the ASI administers more than 3650 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains of national importance.
    • These can include everything from temples, mosques, churches, tombs, and cemeteries to palaces, forts, step-wells, and rock-cut caves.
    • The Survey also maintains ancient mounds and other similar sites which represent the remains of ancient habitation.
    • The ASI is headed by a Director-General who is assisted by an Additional Director General, two Joint Directors General, and 17 Directors.

     

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  • What is Agnipath Scheme?

    Defence Minister announced the ‘Agnipath’ scheme for the recruitment of youth in the armed forces for four years.

    Agnipath Scheme

    • This will be the only form of recruitment of soldiers into the three defence services from now.
    • The scheme aims at strengthening national security and for providing an opportunity to the youth to serve in the armed forces.
    • Recruits under the scheme will be known as ‘Agniveers’.
    • After completing the four-year service, they can apply for regular employment in the armed forces.
    • They may be given priority over others for various jobs in other government departments.
    • The move is expected to decrease the average age profile of armed forces personnel from the current 32 to 24-26 years over a period of time.

    Working of the scheme

    • The process of recruitment will commence in 90 days with a planned intake of 46,000 young men and women this year.
    • Enrolment to all three services will be through a centralized online system, with special rallies and campus interviews at recognized technical institutes.
    • Recruitment will be carried out on an “All India All Class” basis with the eligibility age ranging from 17.5 to 21, with medical and physical fitness standards in accordance with existing norms.

    Payouts of the Agniveers

    • The ‘Agniveers’ will receive an annual package of ₹4.76 lakh in the first year to ₹6.92 lakh in the fourth year, apart from risk and hardship and other allowances as applicable.
    • Under the ‘Seva Nidhi’ package, they will receive about ₹11.71 lakh, including contribution and interest, on completion of service.
    • The recruits will have to contribute 30% of their monthly emoluments to Seva Nidhi, with a matching contribution made by the government.
    • There will be no entitlement to gratuity and pension benefits under the scheme.
    • However, the ‘Agniveers’ will be provided a non-contributory life insurance cover of ₹48 lakh during their service.

     

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  • [pib] BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF)

    The Union Cabinet chaired by the PM has approved a Memorandum of Association (MoA) by India for the establishment of the BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility (TTF).

    What is BIMSTEC?

    • The BIMSTEC formed in 1997 is an international organisation of seven South Asian and Southeast Asian nations, housing 1.73 billion people and having a combined gross domestic product of $3.8 trillion (2021).
    • The BIMSTEC member states – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand – are among the countries dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
    • Leadership is rotated in alphabetical order of country names. The permanent secretariat is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
    • A BIMSTEC free trade agreement is under negotiation (c. 2018), also referred to as the mini SAARC.

    What is BIMSTEC TTF?

    • The agreement was signed by the BIMSTEC member countries at the 5th BIMSTEC Summit held at Colombo, Sri Lanka on 30th March, 2022.
    • The main objectives of the BIMSTEC TTF are to coordinate, facilitate and strengthen cooperation in technology transfer among the BIMSTEC Member States.
    • It aims to promote the transfer of technologies, sharing of experiences and capacity building.
    • The TTF shall have a Governing Board and the overall control of activities of the TTF shall be vested in the Governing Board.
    • The Governing Board shall consist of one nominee from each Member State.

    Expected outcomes

    The expected outcomes of the BIMSTEC TTF are:

    • Databank of technologies available in BIMSTEC Countries,
    • Repository of information on good practices in the areas of technology transfer management, standards, accreditation, metrology, testing and calibration facilities,
    • Capacity building, sharing of experiences and good practices in development, and
    • Transfer and use of technologies among BIMSTEC countries.

     

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