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  • 23rd September 2020| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement

    Important Announcement:  Topics to be covered on 24th September-

    GS-1 The Freedom Struggle – its various stages and important contributors /contributions from different parts of the country.

    GS-4 Case studies

    Question 1)

    Discuss the contributions of Ashfaqullah Khan in the Indian freedom struggle with special focus on his contributions to Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. 10 marks

    Question 2)

    Despite facing difficulties in following converging policies due to changing global order, India-Russia relations continues to have relevance. Discuss. 10 marks

    Question 3)

    India will have to swim against the tide to capture the shrinking pie of the global trade. This requires fast tracking reforms to improve the investment climate and attract investment. Comment. 10 marks

    Question 4)  

    You reside in a village notorious for instances of honor killing. You have known some of you schoolmates being the victims. In this scenario, one of your friends comes to you seeking help. This time the case is reverse. The father of the boy had threatened to commit suicide if he marries a girl from a supposedly lower caste. His mother too is bedridden after knowing this. Their disagreement to for the marriage is solely based on the girl being from a Lower caste. The parents are also under tremendous pressure from society. The boy is now under tremendous pressure from the other people from the society, as he will be considered the reason of his parents’ death if he chooses to stick with his decision of marrying that girl. He also has two school-going younger siblings. You personally have always believed that the caste discrimination must go and have always fought against it. You otherwise share a cordial relationship with the boy and also with his parents. Analyse the situation with ethical angles involved in it. 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

  • What is Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs)?

    The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has come up with its Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) issue.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Which of the following is issued by registered foreign portfolio investors to overseas investors who want to be part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly?

    (a) Certificate of Deposit

    (b) Commercial Paper

    (c) Promissory Note

    (d) Participatory Note

    Significance of the issue

    • The issue will enable NHAI to monetize its completed National Highways that have a toll collection track record of at least one year.
    • The NHAI reserves the right to levy a toll on identified highways and it will help the company raise funds for more road development across the country.

    What are InvITs?

    • Infrastructure investment trusts are institutions similar to mutual funds, which pool investment from various categories of investors and invest them into completed and revenue-generating infrastructure projects, thereby creating returns for the investor.
    • Structured like mutual funds, they have a trustee, sponsor(s), investment manager and project manager.
    • While the trustee (certified by Sebi) has the responsibility of inspecting the performance of an InvIT, sponsor(s) are promoters of the company that set up the InvIT.
    • In the case of Public-private partnership (PPP) projects, it refers to the infrastructure developer or a special purpose vehicle holding the concession.
    • While the investment manager is entrusted with the task of supervising the assets and investments of the InvIT, the project manager is responsible for the execution of the project.

    How will it work for NHAI?

    • NHAI’s InvIT will be a Trust established by NHAI under the Indian Trust Act, 1882 and SEBI regulations.
    • The InvIT Trust will be formed the objective of investing primarily in infrastructure projects.
    • The fund raised can be invested in the project SPVs by way of an issue of debt.
    • The trust can utilise it to repay their loans or even for prepayment of certain unsecured loans and advances.

    Why does NHAI need fund?

    • At a time when private sector investment in the economy has declined, fund-raising by NHAI and spending on infrastructure will not only provide a fillip to the economy but will also crowd-in private sector investment.
    • So NHAI’s InvIT offer is a way for the government to tap alternative sources of financing to boost public spending in the roads and infrastructure sector.
    • It is important to note that in October 2017, the Centre had launched Bharatmala Pariyojana, its flagship highway development programme, for development of 24,800 km of roads.
    • In order to complete the projects, NHAI needs adequate funds and one of the options is to monetize the completed and operational NH assets.

    How does it benefit the investor?

    • Retail or even large financial investors may not be typically able to invest in infrastructure projects such as roads, power, energy etc.
    • InvITs enable these investors to buy a small portion of the units being sold by the fund depending upon their risk appetite.
    • Given that such trusts comprise largely of completed and operational projects with positive cash flow, the risks are somewhat contained.
    • The investors can benefit from the cash flow that gets distributed as well as in capital appreciation of the units.
    • Unitholders also benefit from favourable tax norms, including exemption on dividend income and no capital gains tax if units are held for more than three years.

  • [pib] ABHYAS Air Vehicle

    Successful flight test of ABHYAS – High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) was today conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha.

    Try this PYQ:

    What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news?

    (a) An Israeli radar system

    (b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme

    (c) An American anti-missile system

    (d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea

    ABHYAS Air Vehicle

    • ABHYAS is designed & developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO.
    • The air vehicle is launched using twin underslung booster.
    • It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has a MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.
    • The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight. The check out of air vehicle is done using laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS).
    • During the test campaign, the user requirement of 5 km flying altitude, vehicle speed of 0.5 mach, the endurance of 30 minutes and 2g turn capability of the test vehicle were successfully achieved.

    Its uses

    • Abhyas’s radar cross-section (RCS), as well as its visual and infrared signatures, can be augmented to simulate a variety of aircraft for air-defence weapon practices.
    • It can also function as a jammer platform and decoy.
    • The HEAT system is utilized to do away with the post-launch recovery mode, which is time-consuming and difficult in a scenario as the sea.

  • [pib] Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) Scheme

    The Ministry of Minority Affairs has provided information about the progress of MANF Scheme in the Parliament.

    Note: As the name suggests, the scheme particularly aims to target the Minority community. Here, six major groups are considered a minority. Statement based questions often create bluffs on such conditions.

    MANF Scheme

    • The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements MANF Scheme for educational empowerment of students belonging to six notified minority communities i.e. Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Zoroastrian (Parsi).
    • The Scheme is implemented through the University Grants Commission (UGC) and no waiting list is prepared under the Scheme by UGC.
    • Candidates belonging to the Six centrally notified minority are considered for award of fellowship under the MANF Scheme.
    • The selection of candidates is done through JRF-NET (Junior Research Fellow- National Eligibility Test) examination conducted by the National Testing Agency.
    • Prior to 2019-20, the merit list was prepared on the basis of marks obtained by the candidates in their Post Graduate examination.
    • However, in 2018-19, only the candidates who had qualified CBSE-UGC-NET/JRF or CSIR-NET/JRF were eligible to apply.

  • [pib] YuWaah Platform

    Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) are set to establish YuWaah, Generation Unlimited (GenU), a global multi-stakeholder platform in India.

     YuWaah Platform

    As per the Statement of Intent, the objectives of this project are:

    • Support young people by providing entrepreneurship classes (online and offline) with successful entrepreneurs and experts, towards establishing an entrepreneurial mindset among young people.
    • Upskilling of young people on 21st-century skills, life skills, digital skills through online and offline channels and support them through self-learning, for their productive lives and the future of work.
    • Create linkages with aspirational economic opportunities to connect young people with employment opportunities, including building pathways to connect them with jobs or self-employment.
    • Providing career guidance support to young people through career portal as well as through job-readiness and self-exploration sessions to make young people career-ready.

  • Difficulties faced by India and Russia in following convergent policies

    The article analyses the challenges in the India-Russia relations against the background of changing global order.

    Context

    • India decided to pull out of Russia’s Kavkaz 2020 military exercises, where it was scheduled to participate alongside other Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.

    Russia’s role in India-China dispute

    • The ongoing conflict between two prominent members, and both close partners of Russia, has given rise to concerns about its impact on India-Russia ties.
    • Moscow has been playing a quiet diplomatic role during the recent border clashes without actively taking sides.
    • Recent visits by India’s Defence Minister to Russia saw detailed discussions around furthering the India-Russia defence relationship alongside the promise to accelerate certain supplies based on New Delhi’s requirements.
    • The September visit coincided with the biannual Indo-Russian naval exercises, INDRA.

    India-Russia relations

    • India and Russia have spent the past few years strengthening their partnership, particularly since the 2018 Sochi informal summit.
    • From substantive defence engagement to regional questions in Central Asia, Afghanistan and West Asia, a conversation with Moscow remains an important element of Indian foreign policy.
    • India and Russia are pragmatic players looking at maximising their strategic manoeuvrability,
    • Both recognise the value of having a diversified portfolio of ties. .
    • India on its part has sought to include Russia in its vision of the Indo-Pacific that does not see the region as ‘a strategy or as a club of limited members’.
    • Reports indicate that a proposal for a India-Russia-Japan trilateral is being explored.

    Multilateral forums and Challenges in India-Russia relation

    • The multilateral forums are important as they foster continued India-Russia cooperation at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
    •  Increasingly divergent foreign policies of its members pose challenges of agenda-setting and overall scope.
    • At this moment of flux, countries such as India and Russia are keeping all their options open.
    • We live in a ‘curious world’ where one cannot view engagement with different parties as a ‘zero-sum game’.
    • Worsening India-China ties or a burgeoning China-Russia relationship does not automatically mean a breakdown of the India-Russia strategic partnership.
    •  It is the combination of a changing regional order, closer Russia-China ties and India’s alignment with the United States and other like-minded countries to manage Beijing’s rise that has the potential to create hurdles for India-Russia cooperation in the Asia.

    Consider the question “Despite difficulties in pursuing convergent policies, India-China relations retains its relevance. Comment.”

    Conclusion

    Although the evolving global order makes it difficult for India and Russia to pursue fully convergent policies, it does not preclude the bilateral relationship from retaining its relevance.

  • 22nd Sep 2020 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 526]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 525]

  • Parliament is not just about technicalities, deference to process builds trust

    The article deals with the issue of importance of parliamentary procedures and how it has been neglected in the passage of several Bills recently.

    2 contexts that explain the crisis Parliament faces

    1) Neglecting the procedure

    • Three simple procedural matters are the cornerstone of parliamentary practice.
    • The first is Question Hour, which was suspended.
    • Even in taking that decision, the Speaker did not accede to the demand for a division.
    • The second is referring bills to committees.
    • It is increasingly the case with important pieces of legislation that they are not being either referred to committees, nor are they being fully debated in Parliament.
    • The third and most important is “division.”
    • If a member of a House asks for a division of votes, the Speaker needs to grant it.
    • The Speaker can refuse under some circumstances, but even then he has to take something like an informal headcount vote before refusing division.

    2) Substantive context

    • There are three bills relating to agriculture that have occasioned serious protests.
    • There are three far-reaching pieces of legislation pertaining to labour reform.
    • Each of these bills can be improved and crafted in ways that make them more the object of consensus.
    • The bills pertaining to agriculture were debated, ffter the debate,  deputy chairperson refusesed a division.
    • By allowing a division we would at least record where each member of Parliament stood on a question of monumental importance.

    Concerns

    • We seem to not want to give flexibility to states when it comes to farmers.
    • Flexibility is given to states, in the most unrestrained manner possible, when it comes to the interest of capital against labour.
    • It seems that the hurried interests of corporate India take precedence over farmers and labour, rather than a well negotiated social contract between all three.

    Why the farmers are concerned

    • A lot of the farmers’ legitimate fear is that in a fiscal crunch, MSP will be rolled back or procurement curtailed.
    • There is genuine uncertainty over what private procurement will mean.

    Way forward

    • It is also possible that in the case of the APMC, a more creative solution could have been found for concerns of the states, like an opt-out clause for them.
    • In case of amendments to labour laws, there is need to examine whether it fulfils the twin objectives of both protecting workers and being compliance-friendly at the same time.

    Conclusion

    Some deference to process can build trust because it is a sign of a government that listens. At least on the APMC this was a possibility. Let us hope on labour bills there is more reasoned deliberation. Parliamentary practice will not be able to knit an enduring social contract between labour, capital and farmers if it does not inspire confidence.

  • Ethics group on Civilsdaily’s Habitat | Link and instructions inside

    Enroll here for Ethics Masterclass 2021

    Join our Habitat now for Ethics discussion by Sukanya Ma’am at 7:30 pm. Know the best answer writing structure and technique for both section-A and case studies, develop examples/understanding from current, professional/social life, your areas of interest etc.

    If you are already on Habitat, you don’t need to register again. Discussion by Sukanya Ma’am will take place in Ethics group at 7:30 pm. Others follow these steps:

    INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. Click on the link provided above.
    2. Choose Web Application. (Mandatory)
    3. Enter your details. Click on ‘Register a new account’.
    4. Choose a username.
    5. That is it. Welcome to Habitat.

    For access through Mobile app:

    1. Install the Mobile application (click here) from your App store.
    2. Click on Join a Workspace.
    3. Enter this in the Workspace URL – habitat.civilsdaily.com
    4. Use the same email id and password as you used above.

    Should you encounter any issue in this process or you have a query, reach out to us at +91 89299 87787 or hello@civilsdaily.com

  • Last Minute Expected questions – UPSC CSE Prelims 2020 by Zeeshan sir at 8 pm| Join Habitat session. (Links inside)

    Register here for Nikaalo Prelims 2020 – FLTs

    Gear up yourselves for the penultimate session(today and tomorrow) on Expected questions for the UPSC CSE Prelims 2020 exam by Zeeshan Sir. You don’t want to miss out on these most important questions.

    Instructions for joining Habitat at the bottom.

    Join Civilsdaily’s Habitat (Click here)

    If you are already on Habitat, you don’t need to register again. Discussion by Zeeshan sir will take place in General group at 8.00 pm. Others follow these steps:

    1. Click on the link provided above.
    2. Choose Web Application. (Mandatory)
    3. Enter your details. Click on ‘Register a new account’.
    4. Choose a username.
    5. That is it. Welcome to Habitat.

    For access through Mobile app:

    1. Install the Mobile application (click here) from your Appstore.
    2. Click on Join a Workspace.
    3. Enter this in the Workspace URL – habitat.civilsdaily.com
    4. Use the same email id and password as you used above.

    Should you encounter any issue in this process or you have a query, reach out to us at +91 89299 87787 or hello@civilsdaily.com

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