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  • [pib] ASPIRE Portal

    The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) is developing a technology platform for the automotive industry called ASPIRE – Automotive Solutions Portal for Industry, Research and Education.

    Try this MCQ:

    Q.The recently launched ASPIRE Portal deals with:

    a) Aspirational Districts

    b) Primary Education

    c) Industrial Clusters

    d) Automotive Technology

    ASPIRE Portal

    • The key objective of this portal is to facilitate the Indian Automotive Industry to become self-reliant by assisting in innovation and adoption of global technological advancements.
    • It aims to bring together the stakeholders from various associated avenues.
    • This includes bringing together the automotive OEMs, Tier 1 Tier 2 & Tier 3 companies, R&D institutions and academia (colleges & universities) on matters involving technology advancements.
    • The activities would include R&D, Product Technology Development, Technological Innovations, Technical and Quality Problem Resolution for the industry, Manufacturing and Process Technology Development etc.
    • Apart from acting as a solution and resource platform, the portal will also host grand challenges in line with the need of the industry as will be identified from time to time, for development of key automotive technologies.

    About ICAT

    • International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) is located at Manesar in Gurugram district of Haryana.
    • It is a govt entity owned by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
    • It has facilities for vehicle homologation and also testing laboratories for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and passive safety.
    • It also includes a powertrain laboratory, engine dynamometers, emission laboratory with Euro-V capability, a fatigue laboratory, passive safety laboratory, and vehicle test tracks.
  • Eye-Opener Coming Up! Catch the First Basic History Prelims Test (18th July) to Re-imagine How You Look At UPSC Prelims

    Click here to enroll for the Prime Prelims TS 2021

    What was it that initially made Great Britain bleed but subsequently helped it to secure a smashing victory in the second world war? Enigma it was. Alan Turing built the “Turing Machine” that helped decrypt the seemingly unbreakable German Code. Then something very astonishing followed. Great Britain exploited the loopholes of the Enigma itself and the Germans lost without having the slightest hint of Enigma being compromised.

    For a UPSC Aspirant, isn’t the “unpredictable” paper setting pattern of UPSC a modern-day Enigma? But what if there was a “Turing Machine” that could break into this “Unbreakable” code of UPSC? For your amusement, there is one.

    Talking about UPSC Civil Services Prelims, mock test series has become a Categorical Imperative. But which one truly breaks the “UPSC Enigma”? How about one made by Frontline Warriors themselves (Veteran Aspirants) who have successfully cleared prelims five or six times consecutively? Isn’t the collective wisdom of these “Alan Turings” the closest version of a “UPSC Turing Machine”?

    Now, let us speak about the test in question. It’s the third test of the newly launched Prelims Test Series for 2021 by CivilsDaily. It’s a Basic History Test. Let’s see how it is the first step towards breaking the “UPSC Enigma”:

    1. CD Special Questions:

    These questions are special due to their;

    • Mind-Twisting Nature (Deceptive questions that fool you exactly as UPSC does in the real exam)
    • Exclusiveness (These Perspectives / Themes are only available in CD tests). 

    Have a look –

    Q.1) Which among the following acts gave the power to the Governor-General to override his Council?

    • Pitts India Act 1784
    • Amending Act of 1786
    • Charter Act of 1793
    • Charter Act of 1813

    Try guessing the right answer to this seemingly simple yet tricky question.

    2. Tikdams:

    These are Logical Solving Techniques that help you attempt questions despite having little or no idea about the question. It’s almost like getting a master key to the prelims paper. Have a look –

    Q.2) With reference to Subsidiary Alliance consider the following statements:

    1. Subsidiary Alliance System was a Treaty between the company and the Indian native rulers

    2. The subsidiary alliance system was originally the idea of Lord Wellesley.

    3. Under this system, the Indian ruler would accept British Forces in his territory and also pay their cost of maintenance.

    Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?

    a. 2 Only

    b. 2 and 3 Only

    c. 1 and 3 Only

    d. All of them

    The test explains this basic question by using a Technique we call “Master Shifu” (assuming you don’t know the correct answer).

    3. Evidence-Based Question Framing:

    To keep close to the real demand of the exam. Have a look –

    Q.3) Consider the following statements about Charter acts:

    1. Charter Act of 1853 was the last charter act passed for the East India Company.

    2. The Charter act of 1833 provided that Haileybury College of London should make quota to admit the future civil servants

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    a. 1 only

    b. 2 only

    c. Both of them

    d. Neither of them

    Now, UPSC has asked multiple questions on the nature of various Charters issued by the British Government. You can’t afford to err on a probable question that may be asked on similar lines.

    4. Is the test really BASIC?

    Framing random questions irrespective of the difficulty level of the tests is like serving the same wine in different bottles. Have a look –

    Q.4) Which among the following is the best description of the term “Dikus”?

    a. Tax collectors in zamindari areas

    b. Law Enforcement officers appointed by the British in Sindh.

    c. A term used to refer to outsiders by Tribal people such as the British people and Moneylenders etc.

    d. A dance form emerged in Awadh area in the late 18th century.

    The motive to incorporate such questions in the basic test is to garner a general idea of the topics before you as an aspirant are mentally ready to face the advanced tests.

    5. Conceptual vs Factual Categorisation:

    It lets you realize your comparative strength in different types of questions. Have a look –

    Q.5) Consider the following statements about the Indian Trade Union Movement:

    1. Sasipada Banerjee founded the first labour organization ‘Working Men’s Club’ in 1870

    2. N.M. Lokhanday could be regarded as the first leader of the Indian workers

    3. Under the Indian Trade Union Act, 1926, Legal status was given to trade unions and rights of the registered union were recognized.

    Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?

    a. 2 Only

    b. 2 and 3 Only

    c. 1 and 3 Only

    d. All of them

    this is a basic Conceptual question. If you get this wrong, you need to rework the concepts of Working Class Movement which is an important aspect of History Syllabus.

    Now, look at this question –

    Q.6) Consider the following statements about Prarthana samaj:

    1. It was founded by M.G Ranade.

    2. It focussed only on social reforms. 

    Which of the statements mentioned above is/are correct?

    a. 1 only

    b. 2 only

    c. Both 1 and 2

    d. Neither 1 nor 2

    Now, this is a plain factual question. If you get this wrong, you need to memorize Social Reform Movements and its leaders even more meticulously.

    So come be a part of our “UPSC Enigma” Breaking Endeavour. Like Great Britain, we shall emerge VICTORIOUS.

    Click here to enrol for the Prime Prelims TS 2021

  • How to treat data as public good

    This is the age of Big data. Even after anonymising it, we gain useful information using analytical tools. So, given its potential, there is a call for treating the public data as a public good. This article analyses the suggestion of Kris Gopalakrishnan panel in this regard.

    Why data matter

    • By one brave count, the world generates over 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day.
    • A significant chunk of it is highly valuable.
    • With the increasing sophistication of tools designed to analyse it, the value of the data is increasing further.
    • This analysis of data can yield market patterns, traffic predictions, epidemic risks and much more.[Remember why Google shows you only particular ads.]
    • Data need not be either big or personal for it to be highly sought after.

    Non-personal data: A public good

    • Would it not be better if at least some data were treated as a public good?
    • Treating it as a public good will allow its open use by startups, do-gooders and government bodies.
    • Dealing with such questions, a centre-appointed panel, headed by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, submitted its draft report on the regulation of non-personal data in India.
    • “Non-personal data” is defined as that which is either devoid of people’s details or anonymized to prevent individual identification.

    Proposals of Kris Gopalan panel

    • The panel has proposed a new data authority to regulate non-personal data.
    • It has also outlined the need of a framework that would require companies to share its databanks with others.
    • Sharing of databank will help the country catalyse business innovation, bolster India’s startup ecosystem, and help governments and local authorities frame data-enriched public policies. 

    Challenges

    • What data a private entity can be forced to disclose must follow a commonly accepted set of principles.
    • Data authority demanding companies to share data painstakingly acquired often with large sums invested to acquire it won’t work.
    • Also, if sharing data blunts companies’ strategic edge over competitors, they would probably appeal against it in court.
    • If enterprises fear that their confidential learnings could be threatened by intrusive data authority, then the cause of innovation would actually be set back.

    Way forward

    • A clear set of guidelines could be set down that specify what sort of data qualifies as a public good and must be kept open to all.
    • For other kinds of data, maybe a market mechanism could evolve that lets various parties bid for privately-held information.

    Consider the question “There is a growing demand for treating the non-personal data as a public good. What are the benefits and challenges of treating the non-personal data as public good?

    Conclusion

    Given its potential, big data does deserve regulation. But it needs to be done with clarity.

  • A demand problem contributing to lower imports

    India registered a trade surplus after almost two decades. But this is not the result of a sudden rise in India’s export. It is due to subdued import indicating the low demand.

    What latest data indicate

    • Data released by the commerce ministry indicate a contraction in exports observed over the past few months easing slowly.
    • But the continuing contraction in import which indicates low demand is worrying.
    • This is trend is leading to the growing gap between import and export.

    India registered a trade surplus: what it indicates

    • This growing gap led to India registering a trade surplus of nearly $800 million in June.
    • This is the first time in almost two decades that the country has registered a trade surplus.
    • But does this mean that India’s exports have grown drastically?
    • No. It is a sign of collapse in domestic demand.

    Merchandise exports growing trends

    • India’s merchandise exports continue to witness an upward swing.
    • The pace of contraction fell to 12.4 per cent in June, from 36.2 per cent in May and 60 per cent in April.
    • Exports of items such as iron ore, drugs and pharmaceuticals, chemicals and various agricultural commodities saw an expansion in June.

    What growing exports and falling import indicate

    • An upswing in exports could be indicative of a faster recovery of India’s export partners.
    • Restrictions on economic activities in some of these countries had eased earlier.
    • Other reason could be the rush by Indian exporters to ship out orders to meet their seasonal deadlines.
    • Imports continue to remain deep in negative territory.
    • The contraction in non-oil exports has actually worsened with decline observed in both consumer and investment/industrial goods imports.
    • Some movement is visible in imports of electronic goods.
    •  But the import of machinery and transport equipment has not moved significantly.
    • Of the 30 main import items, only four registered mildly positive growth in June — this indicates the pace of the domestic slowdown.

    Conclusion

    Economic activities across the world will take time to return to normalcy, India’s exports will take time to reach pre-COVID levels. It seems that the chasm between exports and imports could persist, given the plateauing of the post-lockdown spurt in demand/production.

  • Register for your last UPSC 2019 Mock Interview | TRANSCEND: Interview Guidance Program 2019-20 | Link inside

    Click here to register for the (Online) Mock Interview 

    Dear student, 

    UPSC CSE 2019 Interviews are set to start from 20th July 2020 and will continue till 30th July 2020.

    Before we bring down the curtains on our highly praised ‘Interview Guidance Program (IGP) – Transcend 2019-20’ register for your last mock interview with Civilsdaily. Over 100 interviews have already been conducted. 

    Click here to register for the (Online) Mock Interview 

    (Submit your DAF 1 and DAF 2 at hello@civilsdaily.com)

    Civilsdaily is always at the forefront when it comes to ensuring that your prep is rapid, focused, and effective.  

    Civilsdaily’s IGP TRANSCEND 2019-20 students can vouch for the most comprehensive and holistic interview preparation. Click here to know what our students have to say about Transcend 2019-20.

    We help make you understand how the panel at UPSC thinks, what they would expect from you (as per your DAF), and how to gear your preparation towards the 200+ marks target. 

    Our trailblazing questioning techniques (like rapid-fire round, word formation, sentence formation, extempore, etc.) reveal every minute, but significant, aspects of your personality. 

    Without plugging the gaps in these aspects, your selection can get compromised. The mock ends with very comprehensive and workable feedback with ample time given to the student to discuss all her doubts. This is disruptive innovation at its finest!

    You need to go beyond the regular to attain your full potential. You need to choose TRANSCEND to transcend yourself. 

    See you there.

    Click here to register for the (Online) Mock Interview 

     

    For any query email at hello@civilsdaily.com or call us at +91 89299 87787

  • Centralisation in decision making in education

    The article tracks the evolution of the India education system after Independence. While the decentralisation and active encouragement underscores the initial years, recent trends shows a growing emphasis on centralisation.

    How Government support contributed to rise of educational institutions

    • In the initial decades after Independence, the government was conscious of various social, economic and financial challenges.
    • So, the government strongly supported universities, encouraging them to further develop an academic .
    • The IITs and IIM along with institutions of academic excellence like the IISc, Indian Statistical Institute, and JNU emerged as model institutions.
    • The institutional and academic autonomy offered was central to their emerging as premier institutions.
    • Other universities revised curricula and set about the task of reforming the university as a space for healthy academic engagement.

    Rise of decentralisation in collective decision making

    • The above changes were marked by the growing importance of various large representative institutional bodies.
    • For example, institutional bodies like faculty committees, committees of courses, board of studies, university senates, academic councils and executive councils grew in importance.
    • These bodies oversaw the administrative and academic functioning of the university and ensured collective decision-making.
    • Debate over ideological positions, scholarly beliefs shaped the process of nation-building in independent India.

    Policy changes and its impact (2005-15)

    • The constitution of the National Knowledge Commission and privatisation of education undermined the deliberative and independent character of these institutions of higher education.
    • Administrative and academic decisions were imposed from above.
    • Discussions within various academic bodies were discouraged.
    • The imposition of the semester system and a four-year undergraduate programme in many public and private universities were hallmarks of this new era of bureaucratic centralisation.
    • The academic achievements of scholars from Indian universities were undermined.
    • Those in positions of authority within the universities were encouraged to undermine academic bodies and limit their role.

    New government intervention after 2015

    • Futher changes were introduced starting from 2015.
    • Choice Based Credit System was introduced and there were renewed attempts to privatise higher education linked to an emphasis on rankings.
    • The government started to look into minute details pertaining to academic curricula, the teaching-learning process and the parameters that governed academic research within the university.

    Centralisation in Covid-19 pandemic

    • The centralisation trend intensified with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • The Central government and the University Grants Commission have imposed themselves on the daily functioning of all higher educational institutions.
    • This represents a new government-oriented bureaucratic centralisation.
    • Decisions about the conclusion of academic term, the modalities for evaluation and the conduct of the teaching-learning process have become exclusive government prerogatives.
    • The various academic bodies that had original jurisdiction over these matters have been made redundant.
    • How and whether examinations are to be conducted has become an issue of contention between State and Central governments.

    Consider the question “Centralisation of the decision making instead of at institutional level in educational institutions and universities lies at many woes of the higher education in India. Comment.”

    Conclusion

    The time has come for institutions of higher education in India to recover their lost voice and restore the fertile academic space where ideas are discussed and debated rather than suppressed and dismissed.

    Original article:

    https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-lost-voice-of-the-indian-university/article32105945.ece

  • Trending in news: 5G Technology

    One of India’s business tycoon recently announced that his company’s telecom venture has designed and developed from scratch, a complete indigenous 5G solution ready for deployment.

    Try this question from CSP 2019:

    Q.With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference/differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?

    1. LTE ‘is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.
    2. LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    What is 5G?

    • 5G or fifth generation is the latest upgrade in the long term evolution (LTE) mobile broadband networks.
    • The first generation of networks allowed only mobile voice calls to be made, while the second generation allowed mobile voice calls as well as sending of short text messages.
    • It was the third generation or 3G network which allowed web browsing on mobile devices, the speed and latency of which improved with fourth-generation or 4G networks.
    • The 5G networks will have even faster speeds with latency down to between 1-10 milliseconds.

    (Note: Latency is the time a device takes to communicate with the network, which stands at an average of up to 50 milliseconds for 4G networks across the world.)

    How does 5G work?

    All 5G networks chiefly operate on three spectrum bands.

    • The low-band spectrum has been proven to have great coverage and works fast even in underground conditions. However, the maximum speed limit on this band is 100 Mbps (Megabits per second).
    • In the mid-band spectrum, though the speeds are higher, telcos across the world have registered limitations when it comes to coverage area and penetration of telephone signals into buildings.
    • The high-band spectrum offers the highest speed but has extremely limited network coverage area and penetration capabilities.

    The telcos using this band rely on the existing LTE networks and will need to install a number of smaller towers to ensure adequate coverage and high-speed performance.

    What does it mean to be 5G ready?

    • Globally many companies have been deploying 5G networks across their service areas as early as 2018.
    • Not only the network, but the devices will also have to be 5G ready for customers to be able to enjoy the maximum benefits of the latest upgrade in mobile broadband.
    • One of the major improvements in 5G is the use of beam tracking to follow all devices on the network to ensure consistent connection in real-time for the device.
    • 5G networks are also designed to multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) efficient which improves signal throughput for all devices on the network.

    Where does India stand on the deployment of 5G?

    • Companies, both telecom service providers and their equipment vendors, have completed lab trials of 5G network components but are yet to commence field trials, which were initially scheduled to happen last year.
    • For the same, telecom companies are awaiting allocation of test spectrum from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
    • The service providers have already tied up with equipment makers like Nokia, Ericsson, etc for deploying their 5G networks.
  • Supreme Court to examine Kerala Act on animal, bird sacrifices

    The Supreme Court has agreed to examine the constitutional validity of the Kerala Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act of 1968 that prohibits sacrifice of animals and birds in temples to ‘please’ the deity.

    Try this question for mains:

    Q. The ritual slaughters of animals in India is a greater ethical issue than a legal one. Analyse.

    The dichotomy over ritual slaughter

    • The Supreme Court is set to analyse how the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 allows the killing of animals but prohibits cruelty to animals.
    • It highlighted the “dichotomy” in animal protection law that allows the killing of animals for food but does not permit “killing of animals for an offer to a deity and then consumption”.

    Why did SC interfere?

    • However, the 1968 Kerala law bans the killing of animals and birds for religious sacrifices but not for personal consumption.
    • This amounted to arbitrary classification.

    Legal protections to Animal sacrifice

    • The Kerala Act criminalizes the intent behind the animal sacrifice and not animal sacrifice per se.
    • If the sacrifice is not for propitiating any deity but for personal consumption even in the precincts of the temple, it is not forbidden.
    • Section 28 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960 does not make the killing of animals for religious purposes and offence.

    Appeal citing the necessity of the practice

    • The oral remarks came in an appeal filed by P.E. Gopalakrishnan and some others, who are Shakthi worshippers, and for whom, animal sacrifice is an integral part of the worship.
    • In their appeal, they said the animal sacrifice was an “essential religious practice” and the High Court had no power to interfere.

    Why animal sacrifice needs a rethink?

    • All religions call for compassion, no religion requires killing or eating animals and hacking animals to death with weapons.
    • The way executioners handle, transport and kill animals for sacrifices typically violates animal transport and slaughter laws, making it a punishable offence.
    • There exist ample ambiguities in religious texts over allowing the ritual slaughter of animals.
    • Moreover, the practice of animal sacrifice normalizes killing and desensitizes humans to violence against animals.
  • How the US’ Trinity Test led to the dawn of the atomic age?

    On this day, exactly 75 years ago, US scientists tested ‘Gadget’— the world’s first atomic bomb — in what was dubbed as the ‘Trinity Test’.

    Practice question for mains:

    Q.What is the Manhattan Project? Describe its consequences on the post-world war scenario.

    The Trinity Test

    • The super bomb, nicknamed ‘Gadget’, was built by a team of scientists at a top-secret site in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
    • It was developed as part of the US-led Manhattan Project, which sought to build nuclear weapons to give the allied forces an edge over Germany, Japan and Italy in World War 2.
    • Very soon after the Trinity test, an identical nuclear bomb called ‘Fat Man’ was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki, killing tens of thousands of people.
    • Before it detonated, the scientists had placed bets on what could happen. Some believed that the bomb would be a dud and would fail to explode.

    What was the Manhattan Project?

    • Germany initiated World War II by invading Poland.
    • A letter signed by Nobel prize-winning physicist Albert Einstein warned then-US President Franklin D Roosevelt of the potential threat posed by an atomic weapon being developed by Adolf Hitler.
    • Soon after, the US launched a secret atomic research undertaking, code-named the Manhattan Project, which sought to develop an atomic weapon to end the war.

    Execution of the project

    • The Project remained a relatively small-scale initiative for the next two years.
    • It was only after the bombing of Pearl Harbour the project was officially kicked into gear.
    • By December 1942 facilities were established in remote locations across the US, as well as in Canada.
    • However, the superbomb was finally designed and conceptualized by a team of scientists at a top-secret laboratory in Los Alamos.
    • The Los Alamos team developed two types of bombs — one was uranium-based, which was later code-named ‘the Little Boy’ before it was dropped on Hiroshima; the other had a plutonium core.

    Looping-in nuclear physicists

    • The project brought together some of the country’s leading atomic experts as well as exiled scientists and physicists from Germany and other Nazi-occupied nations.
    • The team at Los Alamos was headed by J Robert Oppenheimer, a physics professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
    • Oppenheimer later came to be known as the “father of the atomic bomb”.
    • His team included famous Danish scientist Niels Bohr and Italian scientists Enrico Fermi.

    What were the repercussions of the Trinity Test?

    • New Mexico residents were pointedly not warned before the test, to ensure that it was carried out secretly.
    • Data collected by the New Mexico health department, which showed the adverse impact of radiation caused by the detonation, was ignored for years after the test.
    • A sudden rise in infant mortality was reported in the months after the explosion. Several residents also complained that the number of cancer patients went up after the Trinity Test.
    • The dust outfall from the explosion was expected to have travelled nearly 100 miles from the test site, posing a serious threat to residents in the area.
    • Many families complained that their livestock suffered skin burns, bleeding and loss of hair.

    Impact of bombing on Japan

    • The Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings are known to have killed well over 200,000 people — many of whom succumbed to radiation poisoning in the weeks after the blasts.
    • The uranium bomb in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, destroyed around 70 per cent of all buildings and caused around 140,000 deaths by the end of 1945.
    • The plutonium bomb explosion over Nagasaki, which took place three days later, killed 74,000 people that year, according to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICANW) data.
    • After seeing the destruction caused to the two Japanese cities, Oppenheimer publicly admitted that he regretted building a bomb that could cause an apocalypse.

    Nuclearisation of the world thus began

    • Seventy-five years after the Trinity Test, as many as nine countries around the world are currently in possession of nuclear weapons.
    • These include the US, the UK, Russia, France, India, China, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea.
    • At least eight countries have detonated over 2,000 nuclear test explosions since 1945.
    • The most recent instance of nuclear bomb test explosions conducted by India, were the series of five explosions done as part of the Pokhran-II tests in May 1998.
    • The first test, code-named Smiling Buddha, took place in May 1974.