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  • 4th February 2020| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    Important Announcement: In the month of February, we will be covering UPSC Mains GS questions of 2019. This will give you real time experience of attempting GS questions of UPSC Mains.

     

    Question 1)

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/mains/the-1857-uprising-was-the-culmination-of-the-recurrent-big-and-small-local-rebellions-that-had-occurred-in-the-preceding-hundred-years-of-british-rule-elucidate-15-marks/

    Question 2)

    “The Central Administration Tribunal which was established for redressal of grievances and complaints by or against central government employees nowadays is exercising its powers as an independent judicial authority.” Explain. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Do you agree with the view that steady GDP growth and low inflation have left the Indian economy in good shape? Give reasons in support of your arguments. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)

    What do you understand by the term ‘public servant’? Reflect on the expected role of the public servant.  (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

  • [Burning Issue] Comprehensive Bodo Settlement Agreement

     

    • The MHA, the Assam government and the Bodo groups have signed an agreement to redraw and rename the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) in Assam, currently spread over four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri.
    • Several Bodo groups led have been demanding a separate land for the ethnic community since 1972, a movement that has claimed nearly 4,000 lives.

    Who are the Bodos?

    • Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam, making up over 5-6 per cent of the state’s population. They have controlled large parts of Assam in the past.
    • The four districts in Assam — Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang — that constitute the Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD), are home to several ethnic groups.

    What was the dispute?

    • The Bodos have had a long history of separatist demands, marked by armed struggle.
    • In 1966-67, the demand for a separate state called Bodoland was raised under the banner of the Plains Tribals Council of Assam (PTCA), a political outfit.
    • In 1987, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed the demand. “Divide Assam fifty-fifty”, was a call given by the ABSU’s then leader, Upendra Nath Brahma.
    • The unrest was a fallout of the Assam Movement (1979-85), whose culmination — the Assam Accord — addressed the demands of protection and safeguards for the “Assamese people”, leading the Bodos to launch a movement to protect their own identity.
    • In December 2014, separatists killed more than 30 people in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur. In the 2012 Bodo-Muslim riots, hundreds were killed and almost 5 lakh were displaced.

    Reasons behind separatist tendencies

    • For centuries, Bodos survived Sanskritisation without giving up their original ethnic identity.
    • However, in the 20th century, they had to tackle a series of issues such as illegal immigration, the encroachment of their lands, forced assimilation, loss of language and culture.
    • The 20th century also witnessed the emergence of Bodos as a leading tribe in Assam which pioneered the movements for safeguarding the rights of the tribal communities in the area.
    • From then on, they have been consistently deprived of the political and socio-economic rights by successive state and central governments.
    • The Bodos have not only become an ethnic minority in their own ancestral land but have also been struggling for their existence and status as an ethnic community.

    Background of the accord

    • The first Bodo accord was signed with the ABSU in 1993, leading to the creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with limited political powers.
    • The recent Bodo Accord was signed in 2003 which resulted in the establishment of an autonomous administrative unit- Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
    • The BTC has been divided into four districts viz. Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska, and Udalguri.
    • The BTAD and other areas mentioned under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution have been exempted from the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

    Highlights of the 2020 Agreement

    The Bodoland Territorial Council, All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), various factions of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) — Gobindo Basumatary faction, Dhirendra Bodo faction, RanjanDaymari faction and Saoraigwra faction and the United Bodo Peoples Organization (UBPO) are party to the agreement with the Centre and the Assam government.

    • As per the agreement, villages dominated by Bodos that were present outside the BTAD would be included and those with non-Bodo population would be excluded.
    • Bodos living in the hills would be conferred a Scheduled Hill Tribe status.
    • The BTAD is to be renamed as the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).

    I. Rehabilitation and relief

    • The criminal cases registered against members of the NDFB factions for “non-heinous” crimes shall be withdrawn by the Assam government and in cases of heinous crimes it will be reviewed.
    • A Special Development Package of Rs. 1500 Crore would be given by the Centre to undertake specific projects for the development of Bodo areas.

    II. A separate Commission

    • It proposes to set up a commission under Section 14 of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution which will recommend the inclusion or exclusion of tribal population residing in villages adjoining BTAD areas.
    • In this commission, besides State government, there will be representatives from ABSU and BTC. It will submit its recommendation within six months.

    III. Changes in Legislature

    • The total number of Assembly seats will go up to 60, from the existing 40.
    • The present settlement has a proposal to give more legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers to BTC.

    IV. Bodo as an official language

    • The Assam government will also notify Bodo language as an associate official language in the state and will set up a separate directorate for Bodo medium schools.
    • Bodo with Devnagri script would be the associate official language for the entire Assam.

    Significance of the agreement

     

    I. Satisfying identity aspiration

    • The signing of the agreement would end the 50-year-old crisis and violent struggle.
    • The renaming is designed to satisfy the identity and aspirations of the Bodo people.

    II. Not ceding territory solved tricky matter

    • Renaming also solved the politically tricky matter of ceding territory for the government of Assam.
    • Ceding territory would also have fuelled similar demands from the other parts of the state like- Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Cachar, which also have homelands of non-Ahom ethnicities.

    III. Avoiding similar demand from other states

    • Indeed, it could have affected the ongoing Naga peace process, leading Naga rebels to demand territorial and administrative autonomy in Naga homelands in Manipur.

    IV. End of militancy

    • Around 1500 cadres of BODO militant factions will be rehabilitated by Centre and Assam Government.

    Way Forward

    • The Government of Assam needs to ensure that the pact signed changes the situation on the ground and leads to a development on the ground.
    • The state also needs to allay the fears in the Bengali-speaking minority.
    • Moreover, true autonomy, true peace, and true development are always worth more than the paper on which they are promised.

    Conclusion

    • The accord aims to bring together the leading stakeholders under one framework i.e. those who were previously associated with armed resistance groups.
    • The accord will end violence pertaining to Bodoland and help those associated with armed struggle enter the mainstream.
    • The Accord will further protect and popularize the unique culture of the Bodo people. They will get access to a wide range of development-oriented initiatives.

     

    References

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/comprehensive-bodo-settlement-agreement/

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/explained-the-bodoland-dispute/

    https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-optimal-delivery-or-mere-optics-in-bodo-peace-deal/

  • [op-ed of the day] A workmanlike account

    Context

    The Budget was a workmanlike exercise, more a statement of account, around which was woven many strands of intent and vision, which, read in its entirety and by connecting interlocking dots, framed a strategy of moving towards a $5 trillion economy over the next five years.

    Fiscal arithmetic of the Budget

    • A clearer picture of off-balance-sheet borrowings: To a large extent, the Budget has done this, giving a much clearer picture of the off-balance-sheet borrowings, which add to the government’s debt and its obligations to pay.
      • Increasing the credibility of government: This move will enhance credibility among the investor community while taking decisions on committing capital for India’s future.
    • Possibility of nominal 10 % growth: The nominal growth projected for 2020-21 at 10 per cent is feasible, with a stretch, given the expected rise in inflation, which will add around 4 per cent to a projected 6 per cent real growth.
      • Aggressive revenue projection: The revenue projections are more aggressive, assuming a buoyancy which can be attributed in large measure to checking evasion using data analytics.
    • Disinvestment and privatisation revenue: The major boost to revenues is expected from disinvestment and privatisation of central public sector enterprises, together with asset monetisation.
      • The target is up sharply to Rs 2.25 lakh crore.
      • This initiative has been one of the core focus areas of the government, has to be lauded for-
      • The effects of increasing efficiency in operations and-
      • Restricting the losses to the public balance sheet.
      • Disinvestment revenues are likely to be augmented with higher dividend receipts, including, from higher profits of the Reserve Bank of India.
    • Optical allocation by the Govt.: Spending, which depends on revenue collection, has also been optimally allocated, with capital expenditure budgeted to increase faster than revenue.
      • High revenue expenditure: Capital expenditure is still a much smaller fraction of total expenditure compared to the committed revenue spending on interest payments, salaries and pensions and subsidies.

    The slowdown in the economy and squeeze in the credit flow

    • Three aspects of the current slowdown that makes it different
    • First– Multiple engines of growth have synchronously decelerated-
      • Consumption, investment, exports and sporadically, government spending — compared to earlier ones when one or some of these drivers were still functioning
    • Second- Demand led slowdown:
      • This is more a demand-led slowdown, versus the earlier ones, which tended to originate with a supply shock, whether from oil or foreign capital.
    • Third– the trigger for this episode was a financial shock-
      • NBFC lending — which tipped the weaknesses building in the system into deep deceleration.
    • Squeeze in the credit flow of the banks
      • Drastic reduction in credit flows: A telling statistic released by the RBI shows that compared to Rs 8 lakh crore of loans provided to borrowers during April-September 2018, credit flow fell to Rs 90,000 crore in the six months of 2019.
      • MSMEs worst affected by the credit squeeze: Bank credit has continued to remain very weak. In the context of the broader slowdown, credit to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has been one of the worst affected.

    Whether the slowdown is more cyclical or structural-conundrum for policymakers

    • If it is more cyclical, aggressive use of monetary and fiscal counter-cyclical policy could yield the desired result.
      • If not, then the wait is likely to be longer and will involve more sector-specific de-bottlenecking initiatives.
    • Signs of structural constraints: While there is certainly a cyclical component in the manufacturing segment- the proximate source of the slowdown- there are signs of deeper structural constraints.
    • Quintuple problem– This problem has now expanded into almost quintuple problems, encompassing the government, households, NBFCs along with the banks.
      • Overlaid on these structural impediments is a sharp weakening of consumer, investor and corporate confidence.

    Conclusion

    Implementation, as always, will be key to achieving the $5-trillion goal. The arena for the next set of reforms and actions for sustained growth is at the state level: Agriculture, land, electricity, and even labour. The Budget acknowledges this. A federal approach to tackling the slowdown, in a coordinated fashion, will probably be the most effective.

     

     

  • [op-ed snap] Falling short of aspirations

    Context

    The Budget can be judged in terms of its effect on rural demand, investment and private sentiments– all critical elements for recovery. While the Budget offers hope on the last count, it leaves much to be desired on several other parameters.

    Skill development allocation- 3000 Crore

    • Unmet Demand: There is a huge, unmet demand for teachers, paramedical staff and caregivers, and skilled workers.
      • Need for quality education and skills: Well-paying jobs are created in the organised services and industry but require candidates with quality education and skills.
      • Both elude India’s youth due to the poor quality of education and lack of opportunities to acquire practical skills.
      • Skilling will require massive investment and concerted efforts.
      • What could have been done? The Budget could have given tax incentives to companies to provide internships and on-site vocational training to unemployed youth.
      • The country cannot afford to let the world’s largest workforce waste this way.

    On flagship welfare schemes

    • The MGNREGA is allocated ₹61,500 crore, which is less than ₹71,000 crore for the current fiscal year.
    • PM-KISAN: Going by the last year, disbursement under the PM-KISAN will also be less than budgeted, unless the beneficiary base is expanded.
    • Good schemes for increasing demand: These two schemes are good instruments for income transfers to small and marginal farmers, landless labour who spend most of their income and generate demand for a wide range of goods and services.
      • Higher disbursement under these schemes would have benefited most sectors of the economy. Budgetary allocations for health and education are also well below what is needed.
    • Micro-irrigation schemes for 100 water-stressed: Focus of schemes such as micro-irrigation schemes for 100 water-stressed districts is welcome and so is a modest increase in allocations for agriculture and rural development schemes.
    • Rural roads, cold storage, and logistical chains are crucial for the growth of income and employment in rural India, as the multiplier effects of rural infrastructure investment on growth and employment are large and extensive.
    • ₹1.7 lakh crore for transportation infrastructure: The allocation of ₹1.7 lakh crore for transportation infrastructure is also a welcome step. If the public investment infrastructure actually materialises, it will lend credence to the government’s stated commitment to revive the investment cycle –to spur job-creating growth.
    • To pull in private investment, public funding should be front-loaded in under-implementation projects.
    • Small irrigation and rural road projects are also relatively easy to complete and deliver immense benefits to several sectors.

     Bonds Market development  and startups

    • Need for the corporate bond market: The fundamental problem of infrastructure finance is the asset-liability mismatch which can be addressed only by developing a vibrant ‘corporate bond market.
    • No focus on the corporate bond market: The focus of the Budget is the multiple schemes for government bonds mainly through additional room for foreign portfolio investors and exchange-traded funds in government bonds.
      • Need for the well-developed market: Government’s moves are welcome but not enough. A well-developed bond market should draw upon-
      • Domestic insurance funds.
      • Pension funds and
      • Mutual funds-which are capable of investing in corporate bonds across different schemes.
    • Startups: The other leg of the “aspirational” Budget is the startups.
      • Some relief on the tax they have to pay and on taxation of the Employee Stock Option Plans is welcome.
      • Reluctance to abolish angel tax: But the reluctance to abolish the angel tax that results in harassment of start-ups and their investors is unfathomable.

    Scheme for NBFC

    • Allowing NBFCs into TReDS: Another welcome feature is the scheme to allow the non-banking financial companies into the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).
      • TReDS is an ecosystem that aims to facilitate the financing and settling of trade-related transactions of small entities with corporate and other buyers, including government departments and public sector undertakings.

    Changes in provisions for SMEs and their problems

    • Audit threshold increased to 5 crore: To reduce the compliance burden on small retailers, traders and shopkeepers who comprise the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) sector, the threshold for audit of the accounts has been increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crores for those entities that carry out less than 5% of their business transactions in cash.
    • Restructuring window increased: A provision in the budget extended the window for the restructuring of loans for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises till March 31, 2021.
    • Problems faced by the SMEs
      • Input tax rate higher for input than for the final goods: For many products produced by these enterprises, the tax rates are higher for inputs than the final goods.
      • High taxes on imports and exports: In addition, many SMEs suffer from high taxes on imports of raw material and exports of intermediary services by them.

    Other provision made to revive the private sector 

    • Recognising the need to revive the dying spirit of the private sector, several provisions have been made in the budget to revive the spirit of the private sector like-
      • Decriminalisation of several civil offences by firms under the Companies Act.
      • The abolition of dividend distribution tax (DDT).
      • The assurance that tax-related disputes will be considered with compassion.
      • The scheme to reimburse to exporters assorted duties, such as excise duty on transport fuels and electricity.

    Conclusion

    Everything considered the future of the economy will turn on whether the government delivers on the promises of public investment and the promises made to different sections of society including the taxpayer and companies. When it comes to reviving private sentiments, actions will speak much louder than the budgetary promises.

     

     

     

     

  • UPSC Interview – “Tips & Tricks” by Sh. V. P. Singh, IRPS (Transcend: Interview Guidance Program)

     

    In this Special Session, V.P. Singh Sir shared his deep insight on the Do’s and Dont’s, Interview etiquette, and handling uncomfortable situations during UPSC interviews.

    Aspirants also got a chance for one to one discussion, DAF analysis, and clarity on a number of issues related to UPSC interviews.

    Get your Mock Interview scheduled by registering on the following link.

    For a one on one discussion and guidance for UPSC interviews contact us at:

    Office Address:- Office No. 1 LGF Apsara Arcade, Near Karol Bagh Metro Station, New Delhi

    Phone No:- 8929987787

    Email: hello@civilsdaily.com

  • [op-ed snap] We should offer to safeguard the world’s telecom networks

     Context

    India should grab cybersecurity opportunities instead of focusing on smaller issues like import tariffs during Trump’s visit.

    Opportunity for India in the US-China trade war

    • Technology will be an important front in the emerging trade war between the US and China.
      • It will create significant opportunities for India as global supply chains re-adjust to geopolitical pushes and pull.
      • In manufacturing: The immediate opportunity is in across-the-board manufacturing, especially if the Government puts in place a special task force to unclog the regulatory issues.
      • In cybersecurity: Beyond manufacturing, the unfolding US-China technology war is creating opportunities for India in the cybersecurity space on a scale that could match Y2K.

    Balance national security and industry economics

    • The UK’s approach: It is a carefully constructed middle path.
    • Not allowing high-risk vendors: The UK decided that “high-risk vendors” will not be permitted in its core networks.
      • High regulatory and security oversight: High-risk vendors will also be subject to higher levels of regulatory and security oversight.
      • Ability to switch: Operators are expected to have the ability to switch away from such vendors should the government so require.
    • 35% restriction: The UK restricted to less than 35% of the equipment base of each telecom operator.
    • The EU approach:  The European Union is likely to adopt some variant of the British approach.
      • This means Chinese-made equipment will be deployed across EU countries but under tighter surveillance, audit and assurance regime.

    How is it going to create opportunities?

    • 5G and more need for more security professionals
      • More base stations: 5G networks will employ many more base stations than existing networks.
      • The internet of things (IoT) is set to bring billions of connected sensors and devices online.
      • The requirement of security professionals: Tightening security norms will require both telecom firms and their customers to employ a lot of cybersecurity professionals in a wide range of roles, of varying levels of sophistication and sensitivity.
    • Shortage of cybersecurity professionals
      • The problem is: the world is already short of cybersecurity professionals.
      • Even before 5G networks are rolled out, estimates suggest that there are 2 to 3 million unfilled cybersecurity vacancies around the world.
      • Scrutiny of the Chinese vendors and employment opportunities: The more stringent the security regimes around Chinese vendors, the greater the demand for cybersecurity professionals security regimes around Chinese vendors, the greater the demand for cybersecurity professionals.
    • Where is the opportunity for India? The industry is responding to this shortage by employing more automation.
      • But demand for human will increase: The demand for trustworthy, reliable and competent human beings to keep an eye on cyber threats will only increase.
      • Where can hundreds of thousands of technology professionals who might be able to fill this gap come from? India and China.
      • Advantage India: Chinese firms and individuals are unlikely to be chosen to keep an eye on Chinese equipment makers and state-linked cyber attackers, it is advantage India.

    Can India grab this opportunity?

    • Inadequate professionals in India: India doesn’t have adequate numbers of cybersecurity professionals either.
      • Skill initiative by the government: The government has launched a skills initiative to plug the shortage, but we’re far away from addressing our own cybersecurity needs.
      • India has all the necessary conditions to become as big a player in the global cybersecurity market.
      • India has the numbers, the companies and the market-driven economic models that can produce the skills that the industry wants.
    • Private sector’s role: During the 1990s’ information technology boom, India produced hundreds of thousands of software engineers not because of any government skills development programme, but because private firms popped up and supplied the skills that people and their employers wanted.

    Way forward

    • Government to government arrangements: Unlike the Y2K days, the global demand for cybersecurity professionals has entry barriers that firms and individuals cannot easily cross on their own. Government-to-government arrangements can help Indian firms and individuals get clearances for cybersecurity roles.
    • Developing cybersecurity partnership: India will have to work on developing cybersecurity partnerships with the US, UK and the EU, focused on opening up their markets to Indian firms.
    • Win the trust: The latter, for their part, must work on gaining the trust of the West’s national security establishments.

     

     

  • 3rd February 2020 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 355]

  • 3rd February 2020| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    Important Announcement: In the month of February, we will be covering UPSC Mains GS questions of 2019. The timetable will be shared in the new post. This will give you real time experience of attempting GS questions of UPSC Mains.

     

    Question 1)

    Highlight the Central Asian and Greco-Bactrian elements in Gandhara art. (10 Marks)

    Question 2)

    Do you think that the constitution of India does not accept the principle of strict separation of powers rather it is based on the principle of ‘checks and balances’? Explain. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the goods and services tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)

    What are the basic principles of public life? Illustrate any three of these with suitable examples. (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

  • Finance Commission

    • The report of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, along with an Action Taken Report, was tabled in Parliament.
    • The Commission, headed by N K Singh, had submitted its Report to the President in December 2019.
    • The government had accepted the recommendations of the Commission “in substantial measure a/c to FM.

    The Finance Commission and its purpose

    • Article 280 of the Constitution requires that a Finance Commission be constituted to recommend the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Centre and states, and among the states.
    • Much has changed since the First Commission was set up in November 1951 under the Chairmanship of K C Neogy, a former member of the Constituent Assembly and diwan of a princely state.
    • The President has appointed 14 more Commissions since then.

    Why need Finance Commission?

    • The framers of the Constitution were seeking to address the vertical imbalance between the taxation powers and expenditure and responsibilities of the federal government and the states, and the horizontal imbalance, or inequality, between states that were at different stages of development.
    • Ensuring inclusiveness is, therefore, a key mandate of the Finance Commission.
    • That means assigning weights to things like population, the fiscal distance between the top ranked states and the others, etc.
    • It is not that the best-performing state will be allocated the highest share — even if delivery execution and governance are better — rather, the effort will be to narrow the development gap between states.

    Constitution of the Finance Commission

    • The Finance Commission Rules, 1951, lay down the criteria for being members of the constitutional body.
    • Members:
    1. those having special knowledge of finance and accounts of government with wide knowledge and experience in financial matters and in administration,
    2. or with special knowledge of economics, and
    3. those who have been qualified to be appointed as a judge of a High Court

    Notable members

    • In the years following the reforms of the 1990s, Commissions have been headed by reputed economists and administrators — from A M Khusro, who headed the Eleventh Finance Commission, to Chakravarthi Rangarajan, Vijay Kelkar, and Y V Reddy, who were Chairmen of subsequent Commissions.
    • Senior politicians like K Brahmananda Reddy, Y B Chavan and N K P Salve had helmed earlier Commissions.
    • Before N K Singh, an economist and career administrator who subsequently joined politics, the last politician in this role was K C Pant, who then went on to be Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.

    Changing role of the Finance Commission

    • What has changed dramatically since the 1950s, when the First Commission presented its recommendations on the transfer of resources between the Centre and the states, is the scale of distribution of tax proceeds.
    • From 10% of the total tax receipts of the Centre in 1950, it rose to a record 42% after the recommendations of the Fourteenth FC headed by Y V Reddy — a share that made previous awards look conservative, and sat well with the spirit of cooperative federalism.
    • The Fifteenth FC has recommended that this allocation be reduced by a percentage point to 41% in order to meet the security and special needs of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
    • The other significant change has been in the equation between the central and state governments as a result of the recommendations of the Twelfth FC which reshaped lending by the federal government to states.
    • The Fourteenth Commission recommended the creation of a Fiscal Council; the Thirteenth had set out detailed measures on implementing GST with a grand bargain for states.

  • [pib] National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications

    The Finance Minister in budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA).

    What is Quantum Technology?

    • Quantum Technology is based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the nature of energy and matter on the atomic and subatomic level.
    • It concerns the control and manipulation of quantum systems, with the goal of achieving information processing beyond the limits of the classical world.
    • Its principles will be used for engineering solutions to extremely complex problems in computing, communications, sensing, chemistry, cryptography, imaging and mechanics.
    • This key ability makes quantum computers extremely powerful compared to conventional computers when solving certain kinds of problems like finding prime factors of large numbers and searching large databases.

    What is Quantum Mechanics?

    • It is a fundamental theory in physics which describes nature at the smallest – including atomic and subatomic – scales.
    • At the scale of atoms and electrons, many of the equations of classical mechanics, which describe how things move at everyday sizes and speeds, cease to be useful.
    • In classical mechanics, objects exist in a specific place at a specific time.
    • However, in quantum mechanics, objects instead exist in a haze of probability; they have a certain chance of being at point A, another chance of being at point B and so on.

    About NM-QTA

    • The mission will function under the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
    • It will be able address the ever increasing technological requirements of the society, and take into account the international technology trends.
    • The mission will help prepare next generation skilled manpower, boost translational research and also encourage entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem development.

    Why such mission?

    • Quantum technologies are rapidly developing globally with a huge disruptive potential.
    • The range of quantum technologies is expected to be one of the major technology disruptions that will change entire paradigm of computation, communication and encryption.
    • It is perceived that the countries who achieve an edge in this emerging field will have a greater advantage in garnering multifold economic growth and dominant leadership role.
    • It has become imperative both for government and industries to be prepared to develop these emerging and disruptive changes.
    • It will establish standards to be applied to all research and help stimulate a pipeline to support research and applications well into the future.

    Also read: https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/quantum-supremacy/

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