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  • ASTROSAT Satellite

    ASTROSAT, India’s first multi-wavelength satellite observatory, has detected an extreme ultraviolet (UV) light from a galaxy which is 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth.

    Try out:

     

    Consider the following statements regarding the AstroSat:

    1)AstroSat is India’s multi-wavelength space telescope.
    2)ASTROSAT mission is that enables the simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of various astronomical objects with a single satellite.
    3)ASTROSAT observes the universe in the optical and high energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

    Which of the following above statements is true?

    a.1 and 2
    b.2 and 3
    c.1 and 3
    d.1, 2 and 3

    AUDFs01

    • AstroSat has detected extreme-UV light from a galaxy, called AUDFs01, 9.3 billion light-years away from Earth.
    • The galaxy is located in the Hubble Extreme Deep field, through AstroSat.
    • This is a very important clue to how the dark ages of the universe ended and there was light in the universe.

    About ASTROSAT

    • AstroSat is India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space telescope. It was launched on a PSLV-XL on 28 September 2015.

    It is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously.

    ————–//—————-

    Find some time to scroll through recent ISRO missions and discoveries.

    ISRO Missions and Discoveries

  • 26th August 2020| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 27th August-

    GS-1 Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues. 

    GS-4 Case studies

    Question 1)

    “The answers to the questions of present are hidden in the experiences of the past”, in this context discuss the impacts of coronavirus pandemic in comparison to the great depression of 1929. 10 marks

     

    Question 2)

    Covid pandemic has underscored the need for universal health coverage in India. What are the obstacles India faces in implementing universal health coverage? Suggest the measures to achieve it. 10 marks

     

     

    Question 3)

    What are the constraints manufacturing sector faces in India? Suggest the ways to deal with these constraints? What role states can play in increasing manufacturing in India? 10 marks

     

    Question 4)  

    Police stations are more a demo of power center than service center. After getting into civil services, suppose you become Police head of a district. Analyze the steps which you will take to improve the image of the police service. 10 Marks

     

     

     

    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.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

    For the philosophy of AWE and payment, check  here: Click2Join

  • Reversing health sector neglect with a reform agenda

    The article analyses the issues India could face in implementing the universal health coverage.

    Context

    • Both India and the U.S. leads the Covid cases in the world and also lack effective universal health coverage (UHC).

    What explains the lack of UHC in both the countries

    • The lack of UHC is due to multiple long-standing factors and historical reasons that have put a damper on the UHC agenda.
    • This long legacy has two important and inter-related implications when it comes to health-care reform.
    • 1) Certain foundational aspects of these health systems that have been adopted over decades tend to dictate the terms of further evolution and lead to a number of compromises.
    • 2) The long legacy itself comprises a path-dependent trajectory that precludes far-reaching health-care reform.
    • This applies both to AB-PM-JAY and NDHM.

    India’s attempt at UHC: Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

    • The government has looked poised to employ Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) health insurance as the tool for achieving UHC.
    • Taking the health insurance route to UHC driven by private players, rather than strengthening the public provisioning of health care, is reflective of the non-negotiability of private health care in India.
    • Covering the remaining population under the AB-PM-JAY presents massive fiscal and design challenges.
    • Turning it into a contributory scheme based on premium collections would be a costly and daunting undertaking, given the huge informal sector and possible adverse selection problems.
    • Distributing benefits among various beneficiary groups, and a formalisation and consolidation of practices in a likely situation of covering outpatient care, are formidable additional challenges.
    • One possible advantage for India over the U.S. could be a relative ease of integrating fragmented schemes into a unified system. The AB-PM-JAY has this ability.

    Issues with AB-PM-JAY

    1) Universal insurance will not be universal access

    • In India, almost two-third corporate hospital are located in cities.
    • So, such maldistribution of health-care facilities and low budgetary appropriations for insurance could mean that universal insurance does not translate to universal access to services.
    • So far, insurance-based incentives to drive private players into the rural countryside have been largely unsuccessful.

    2) Lack of regulatory robustness

    • AB-PM-JAY is without enough regulatory robustness to handle everything from malpractices to monopolistic tendencies.
    • This could have major cost, equity, and quality implications.

    National Digital Health Mission (NDHM)

    • Integration and improved management of patient and health facility information are sought through NDHM.
    • But in the absence of robust ground-level documentation practices and its prerequisites, it would do little more than helping some private players and adding to administrative complexity and costs.

    Consider the question “What are the challenges India faces in the implementation of universal health coverage? Suggest the measures to achieve it.”

    Conclusion

    Upheavals offer a window for reforms. We cannot afford to be complacent and think that the pandemic will automatically change the Indian health-care landscape. It will require mobilising concerted action from all quarters.

  • Seeking equilibrium with China

    The article analyses the India’s efforts to establish strategic equilibrium with assertive China and how that idea clashes with China’s desire to form an Asian order with itself at the top.

    Strategic equilibrium

    •  External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar articulated that India is seeking strategic equilibrium with an increasingly aggressive China.
    • It is hoped that with China’s growing differences with the U.S. China would pay attention to India’s sensitivities.
    • In achieving equilibrium with China, India has bravely been confronting a face-off in the Himalayas for the past several months.
    • India has been building issue-based alliances with the US and Asian majors like Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia, and Australia.
    • It has taken initiatives in the direction of economic de-coupling with China in the name of “atmanirbharata”.

    Hierarchical Asian order with China at top

    • China is not interested in equilibrium with any of its Asian neighbours, least of all with India.
    • China’s efforts are clearly to build a hierarchical Asian order, with itself at the top.
    • It is acutely conscious of India’s economic strength, military modernisation and overall capabilities.
    • It knows that India is also far behind on these counts.
    • China is ruthlessly resisting India’s access to global governance bodies, such as the UNSC and NSG.
    • To keep India tied at that level, China is objecting to India’s growing strategic proximity to the US. I
    • It is encircling India strategically and economically through its strategic and economic corridors — BCIM (Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar), CPEC and the Trans-Himalayan Connectivity Network.
    • It is raising issues like Kashmir at the UN and establishing footprints in the Indian Ocean.

    What should India do

    1. Adjust with China, at least tactically.

    • Such an adjustment could be based on mutual give and take.
    • For India, our first priority could be the resolution of the border dispute.
    • Secondly, since China has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan, it should be asked to prevail over Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue.
    • In return for these “takes” India could offer access to Chinese commercial cargos to sea, through the Nathula pass.
    • India could also join China’s BRI on mutually acceptable terms.
    • India may also show its willingness, at least tactically, to join CPEC as both Pakistan and China have asked for, provided, India is allowed to undertake projects in PoK and Balochistan.

    2.India should revisit its Tibet policy, which is a core irritant for China.

    Consider the question “China seeking to establish an Asian order with itself at the top comes in the way of India establishing strategic equilibrium with China. Comment.”

    Conclusion

    It is possible that this “give” and “take” may not be acceptable to China. Even if it does not work out as planned, India would have made a bold diplomatic initiative and a huge tactical move towards thinking through out-of-the-box solutions and displaying that it can undertake risks to pursue its long-term national interests.

  • India’s strategic autonomy and its evolution

    The article analyses the evolution of India’s approach to strategic autonomy from the unipolar world dominated by the U.S. to now when the Chinese threat has been looming large.

    Context

    • Addressing a Southeast Asian forum last week, external affairs minister outlined India’s new quest for “strategic autonomy” in its global economic engagement.

    Connection with Atmanirbhar Bharat

    • This new quest for “strategic autonomy” is the natural external complement to new economic strategy, described as “Atmanirbharata” or “self-reliance”.
    • The concept carries so much ideological baggage, its revival by Government inevitably raised many questions
    • Senior ministers and officials of the NDA government sought to reassure India’s partners that Delhi was not marching backwards.
    • When applied to the foreign policy framework, “self-reliance” becomes “strategic autonomy”.

    Evolution of the idea of strategic autonomy

    • America towered over the world after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
    • India’s past emphasis on strategic autonomy was in the context of the “unipolar moment” [dominated by the U.S.] that emerged after the Cold War.
    • On the one hand, India needed Western capital as well as technology and better access to its markets.
    • On the other hand, Delhi had to protect some of its core national interests from the threats of US intervention.

    India-U.S. Relations: Evolution after the Cold war

    • In the early 1990s, the Clinton Administration strong desire to resolve the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.
    • The Clinton Administration saw the nuclear and Kashmir disputes as one and the same thing.
    • Indian diplomacy for the next two decades tried to change the US policy on both Kashmir and nuclear issues.
    • Under President George W Bush, the US discarded the long-standing temptation to insert itself in the Kashmir dispute.
    • The US also went out of the way to resolve the nuclear dispute with India by changing its domestic laws and international norms on nuclear proliferation.
    • The Obama and Trump Administrations have stayed the course since then.

    China challenge for India

    • On the atomic front, as the US sought to lift the prolonged atomic blockade against India, China sought to block the process.
    • China turned an obstacle to India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
    • China takes up the Kashmir issue regularly in the United Nations Security Council.
    • Today, India’s strategic autonomy is about coping with China’s challenge to India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
    •  China today is viewed in Delhi as a major threat to India’s economic development.
    • The bilateral trade deficit reached nearly $55billion in 2019.
    • India pulled out of an Asia-wide free-trade arrangement called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership late last year, sensing the threat posed by China-led economic order.
    • Ladakh aggression forced India to go from a passive commercial withdrawal to an active economic decoupling from China.

    Way forward

    • The logic of strategic autonomy from China nudges India to look for strong security partnerships with the US, Europe, Japan and Australia.
    • On the economic front, India is exploring various forms of collaboration with a broad group of nations that have a shared interest in developing trustworthy global supply chains.

    Consider the question “Delineate the evolution of India’s approach towards the idea of strategic autonomy. How it differs from the past?”

    Conclusion

    Threats to either territorial integrity or economic prosperity are powerful enough on their own to compel drastic changes in any nation’s policies. Coming together, they promise to make strategic autonomy from an assertive China an enduring theme of India’s economic and foreign policies in the years ahead.

  • 25th August 2020| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 26th August-

    GS-1 History of the world will include events from 18th century such as industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of national boundaries, colonization, decolonization.

    GS-4 Case studies

    Question 1)

    Role of women was marginal to the Indian national movement as it miscarried to develop right articulation of their social discrimination. Critically examine. 10 marks

     

    Question 2)

     

     

     

    Question 3)

    Elaborate on how the introduction of GST has benefited the various stakeholders. Also, examine how the flexibility adopted in its applicability contributed in creating the signal market throughout the country. 10 marks

    Question 4)  

    You are a Public Information Officer (PIO) in a government department. You are aware that the RTI Act 2005 envisages transparency and accountability in administration. The act has functioned as a check on the supposedly arbitrarily administrative behaviour and actions. However, as a PIO you have observed that there are citizens who filed RTI applications not for themselves but on behalf of such stakeholders who purportedly want to have access to information to further their own interests. At the same time there are these RTI activists who routinely file RTI applications and attempt to extort money from the decision makers. This type of RTI activism has affected the functioning of the administration adversely and also possibly jeopardises the genuineness of the applications which are essentially aimed at getting justice. What measures would you suggest to separate genuine and non-genuine applications? Give merits and demerits of your suggestions. 10 marks

     

     

     

    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.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed in a week, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. If Parth Sir’s tag is available then tag him.

    For the philosophy of AWE and payment, check  here: Click2Join

  • Nikalo Prelims 2.0

    Hey Everyone!

    The clock is ticking, the hours are going by. Some good 30 days are left for the UPSC Prelims, all your hardwork is going to be tested in a short span of just 2 hours.. It is the time to make utmost use of these days very effectively, focus more on execution rather than thinking “exam hoga, nii hoga”, as it is said “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. We understand your concern in these uncertain times and that’s why to ease your preparation and to streamline it further, we’ve come up with another initiative i.e NIKALO PRELIMS 2.0 on our Habitat.

    Focus of the Initiative:

    Revision and intense interlinkage for extended understanding rather than mere expansion. Not taking something as obvious especially when it is important. Dealing with important issues on priority basis. Conceptual understanding so that even if closely framed sentences are given in a definition, selecting the appropriate becomes a habit. For instance, in PYQs one can find rephrased definition of judicial activism, liberty, etc which can not be marked correctly unless concepts are understood in revisions. Involving the area which can create confusion for most of the students. For example, status of pending bills with change in the government, devolution versus decentralisation, etc.

    Revision not a business-as-usual:

    Aspirant is expected to have concentrated enriched sessions of self-study to gain the benefits of this schedule. Rely on single source for each current and static portions.

    Interlinkage is the key to gain access in the zone of confidence. Infact, a true candidate is the one who is motivated to generate probable questions while revising the course content. This not only helps to grasp the topic better also create different possible dimensions in which question might be asked.

    Here, the involvement is active. Not merely passive that is to say only depending upon what’s being provided. Discussion is to include even the missing zones in individual’s preparation. Even, if you are at your very first reading of the syllabus, this is equally important for you to make this part of preparation for this Pre-2020. It will increase the pace of syllabus coverage since this is a time bound and practical initiative. Also, you will know how much importance is to be given to one topic or sub-topic.
    Once done with this cycle of discussion and interaction you will be comfortable with concepts and your strengths.

    The coverage of topics list and approach is comprehensive.
    For any incremental needs which we see during the process, why don’t we start our regular engagement at revision interactions to yield better!!

    Not just the start. Let’s make it a habit to improve consistently on daily basis even by 1% better efforts than that of the previous day’s and meaningful discussion. Consequently, one can improve huge margins towards the end of this initiative. This is the power of compounding.

    Schedule for the discussion and timings:

    7 to 8 pm for static syllabus and 8 to 9 pm for current affairs:

    Date Static Topic Current Affairs
    24th Aug. POLITY: Basic Concepts of Polity July 2020-May 2020
    25th Aug. POLITY: Part I (States and UTs) till Part IVA (Fundamental Duties) April 2020-Feb.2020
    26th Aug. POLITY: Legislature (Union as well as State) Jan. 2020-Nov. 2019
    27th Aug. POLITY: Constitutional Bodies Oct.2019-Sep. 2019
    28th Aug. POLITY: Judiciary Aug. 2019-July 2019
    29th Aug. ECONOMY: Basic Economics
    31st Aug. ECONOMY: Monetary Policy and Banking Sector July 2020-May 2020
    1st Sep. ECONOMY: Fiscal Policy, Taxation, and Budget April 2020-Feb.2020
    2nd Sep. ECONOMY: Agriculture and Schemes Jan.2020-Nov.2019.
    3rd Sep. ECONOMY: Regional Trade Groupings and Agreements Oct.2019-Sep.2019
    4th Sep. ECONOMY: Infrastructure Sector, related schemes, and programs Aug.2019-July 2019
    5th Sep. GEOGRAPHY: Important Strait, Lakes, Rivers, and Seas Places in News
    7th Sep. GEOGRAPHY: Physiographic Divisions of India
    8th Sep. GEOGRAPHY: Important Mountain Ranges and Mountains
    9th Sep. GEOGRAPHY: Economic Geography
    10th Sep. HISTORY: Important Personalities
    11th Sep. HISTORY: Important Organizations (in terms of freedom movement as well as social and cultural development)
    12th Sep. HISTORY: Important Movements and Constitutional and Political developments in the Freedom Movement
    14th Sep. HISTORY: Tribal, Peasant and Working-class movements
    15th Sep. HISTORY: The Economy of British India (will cover agriculture and land policies as well)
    16th Sep. E&B: Pollution, Environmental Degradation and Conservation Efforts July 2020-May 2020
    17th Sep. E&B: Flora and Fauna April 2020-Feb.2020
    18th Sep. E&B: International environment treaties and organization, funds and initiatives Jan.2020-Nov.2019
    19th Sep. E&B: Alternative sources of energy, their mechanism and India’s efforts in them Oct.2019-Sep. 2019
    21st Sep. E&B: The national park, sanctuary, biosphere reserve Aug.2019-July 2019
    22nd Sep. S&T: Biotechnology, ICT July 2020-May 2020
    22nd Sep. S&T: Satellites and Space Science April 2020-Feb.2020
    23rd Sep. S&T: Emerging technologies Jan.2020-Nov.2019
    24th Sep. S&T: Diseases and Medical Science Oct.2019-Sep.2019
    25th Sep. ART&CULTURE: Jainism and Buddhism S/T CA (Aug.2019-July 2019)
    26th Sep. ART&CULTURE: Dance and Festival July 2020-March 2020
    28th Sep. ART&CULTURE: Architecture Feb. 2020-Nov.2019
    29th Sep. ART&CULTURE: Social and Religious Movements Oct.2019-July 2019

  • Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme

    The outlay for the RoDTEP scheme is expected to be “much higher” than the NITI Aayog’s much-curtailed estimate of Rs 10,000 crore a year.

    Overt allocation

    • The central government had envisaged an annual allocation of about Rs 50,000 crore under the RoDTEP scheme to make exports zero-rated.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q. Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years? (CSP 2019)

    (a) China

    (b) India

    (c) Myanmar

    (d) Vietnam

    RoDTEP Scheme

    • RoDTEP is a scheme for the Exporters to make Indian products cost-competitive and create a level playing field for them in the Global Market.
    • It has replaced the current Merchandise Exports from India Scheme, which is not in compliance with WTO norms and rules.
    • The new RoDTEP Scheme is fully WTO compliant scheme.
    • It will reimburse all the taxes/duties/levies being charged at the Central/State/Local level which are not currently refunded under any of the existing schemes but are incurred at the manufacturing and distribution process.

    Back2Basics: Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS)

    • MEIS was launched with an objective to enhance the export of notified goods manufactured in a country.
    • This scheme came into effect on 1 April 2015 through the Foreign Trade Policy and will be in existence till 2020.
    • MEIS intends to incentivise exports of goods manufactured in India or produced in India.
    • The incentives are for goods widely exported from India, industries producing or manufacturing such goods with a view to making Indian exports competitive.
    • The MEIS covers almost 5000 goods notified for the purpose of the scheme.

  • Tribes in news: Bondas

    The COVID-19 pandemic has reached the Bondas, a PVTGs community residing in the hill ranges of Malkangiri district in Odisha.

    Try this PYQ:

    Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:

    1. PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
    2. A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
    3. There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
    4. Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

    Which of the statements given above are correct?(CSP 2019)

    (a) 1, 2 and 3

    (b) 2, 3 and 4

    (c) 1, 2 and 4

    (d) 1, 3 and 4

    Who are the Bondas?

    • The Bondas are Munda ethnic group who live in the isolated hill regions of the Malkangiri district of southwestern Odisha near the junction of the three states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh.
    • They are a scheduled tribe of India and are also known as the Remo (meaning “people” in the Bonda language).
    • The tribe is one of the oldest and most primitive in mainland India; their culture has changed little for more than a thousand years.
    • Their isolation and known aggressiveness continue to preserve their culture despite the pressures of an expanding Indian population.

    Back2Basics: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

    • There are certain tribal communities who have declining or stagnant population, low level of literacy, pre-agricultural level of technology and are economically backward.
    • They generally inhabit remote localities having poor infrastructure and administrative support.
    • These groups are among the most vulnerable section of our society as they are few in numbers, have not attained any significant level of social and economic development.
    • 75 such groups have been identified and categorized as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

  • [pib] National Food Security Act, 2013

    The Department of Food &Public Distribution has issued directions to States/UTs to include all eligible disabled persons under the National Food Security (NFS) Act 2013.

    Try this question:

    Q.In the ongoing crisis, maintaining the level of food security has become one of the most essential needs. In light of the above statement, critically examine the priority areas for maintaining food security in the country. Suggest measures to make accessibility and availability of food easier for all.

    National Food Security (NFS) Act

    • The NFS Act, 2013 aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people.
    • It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013.
    • It converts into legal entitlements for existing food security programmes of the GoI.
    • It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
    • Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes maternity entitlements.
    • The Midday Meal Scheme and the ICDS are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas).
    • Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries of the PDS are entitled to 5 kilograms per person per month of cereals at the following prices:
    1. Rice at ₹3 per kg
    2. Wheat at ₹2 per kg
    3. Coarse grains (millet) at ₹1 per kg.
    • Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.

    Implementation

    • Section 38 of the Act mandates that the Central Government may from time to time give directions to the State Governments for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.

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