💥Join UPSC 2027,2028 Mentorship (August Batch) + XFactor Notes & Microthemes PDF
Talk to Mentor

Civilsdaily

Login

Search results for: “”

  • Diligence is an imperative value for a civil servant as it stems from the belief that work is an end in itself and not a means to an end. Explain. 10 marks

    Mentor Comment-

    •  The question is about the concept of ethical due diligence, so in introduction we have to define what is diligence.
    • In the body we have to discuss the concept of diligence. Then highlight its importance in civil services – why is it essential to profess due diligence? To what extent is it required by civil servants etc. Also  discuss how to inculcate  it
    • We have to conclude with significance of diligence in civil services.

  • Skill universities, which would go a long way in increasing the employability in India are need of the hour.In light of this, examine the issues that the skill education faces and suggest the changes our education system needs to impart the proper skill education.10 marks

    Mentor’s comment-
    • https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/covid-crisis-employment-education-skill-universities-6458972/
    • Employment has been a recurring theme of the UPSC papers. Consider 2014 question ” “While we flaunt  India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping employability” What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India desperately needs come from? Explain.
    • So, in this question, in your intro, you should cite figures about the low employability of Indian youth from any employability report.
    • In the body, focus on the issues that skill education in India faces-such as regulatory issues, financing issues, placement issues etc.
    • In suggestions, regulatory changes, proper financing and use of technology can be included.
    • Conclude by stressing how focusing on skill education through skill universities could contribute to increasing the skills and employability of Indian youth.

  • “COVID pandemic has put the States in the dire fiscal position. What we need is more of the fiscal decentralisation now.” In light of this, along with other factors, elaborate on the role 15th Finance Commission could play in this regard.10 marks

    Mentor’s comment-
    • https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coronavirus-finance-commission-india-fiscal-deficit-economic-package-covid-19-relief-measures-6458967/
    • In the intro, you can briefly state what do you mean by fiscal decentralisation.
    • In the body, focus on the factors like  FRBM limits on state, reducing the debt/GDP ratio, conditions on the state by the central government while increasing the borrowing limits, issue of GST   and compensation for revenue loss, and the issue of tax devolution to the states and role Finance Commission could play by emphasising on such issues in its report.
    • Conclude by stressing the need for addressing the issue faced by the states and how the Finance Commission could suggest the measures in its report to address such issues.

  • Ninth Schedule of Indian Constitution

     

    read:

    [Burning Issue] SC judgement on Reservation not being a Fundamental Right

  • Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

    India is looking to post Navy Liaison Officers at the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) of IOC in Madagascar and also at the European maritime surveillance initiative in the Strait of Hormuz.

    Note the members of the IOC form map. One may get confused considering India as a permanent member.

    About Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

    • The IOC is an intergovernmental organization that was created in 1982 at Port Louis, Mauritius and institutionalized in 1984 by the Victoria Agreement in Seychelles.
    • The IOC is composed of five African Indian Ocean nations: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion (an overseas region of France), and Seychelles.
    • These five islands share geographic proximity, historical and demographic relationships, natural resources and common development issues.

    Aims and Objectives of IOC

    • IOC’s principal mission is to strengthen the ties of friendship between the countries and to be a platform of solidarity for the entire population of the African Indian Ocean region.
    • IOC’s mission also includes development, through projects related to sustainability for the region, aimed at protecting the region, improving the living conditions of the populations and preserving the various natural resources that the countries depend on.
    • Being an organisation regrouping only island states, the IOC has usually championed the cause of small island states in regional and international fora.

    India and IOC

    • India was accepted as an observer getting a seat at the table of the organization that handles maritime governance in the western Indian Ocean.
    • India’s entry is a consequence of its deepening strategic partnership with France as well as its expanding ties with the Vanilla Islands.
    • The IOC has four observers — China, EU, Malta and International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

    Significance of IOC

    • For India, the importance of joining this organization lies in several things.
    • First, India will get an official foothold in a premier regional institution in the western Indian Ocean, boosting engagement with islands in this part of the Indian Ocean.
    • These island nations are increasingly important for India’s strategic outreach as part of its Indo-Pacific policy.
    • This move would enhance ties with France which is the strong global power in the western Indian Ocean.
    • It lends depth to India’s SAGAR (security and growth for all in the region) policy unveiled by PM Modi in 2015.
    • The move, India hopes, would lead to greater security cooperation with countries in East Africa.

  • GST on processed food items

    A recent GST ruling sparked off the debate with the Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR, Karnataka Bench) suggesting parottas would be subject to a higher GST rate of 18 per cent as compared to roti.

    Try this question from CSP 2018:

    Q. Consider the following items:

    1. Cereal grains hulled
    2. Chicken eggs cooked
    3. Fish processed and canned
    4. Newspapers containing advertising material

    Which of the above items is/are exempt under GST (Goods and Services Tax)?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1, 2 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    What is the Case?

    • Bengaluru-based food products company involved in preparation and supply of ready-to-cook items had approached the AAR regarding whether preparation of whole wheat parotta and Malabar parotta attracting 5 per cent GST.
    • The products khakhra, plain chapatti and roti are completely cooked preparations, do not require any processing for human consumption and hence are ready to eat food preparations.
    • The impugned product (whole wheat Parottas and Malabar Parottas) are not only different from the said khakhras, plain chapatti or roti but also are not like products in common parlance as well as in the respect of essential nature of the product.

    Classification of food items for GST

    • Most food items, especially those of essential and unprocessed nature, are charged nil GST.
    • But processed foods attract higher rates of 5%, 12%, or 18% depending on the food product.
    • For instance, pappad, Bread (branded or otherwise), are charged zero GST, but pizza bread is charged 5% GST.
    • Heading 1905 under the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System classifies pizza bread, khakhra, plain chapati or roti, rusks, toasted bread in one category, for which a 5% GST rate is levied.
    • Similarly, in the ready for consumption category, unbranded namkeens, bhujia, mixture and similar edible preparation attract 5% GST, while such branded namkeen, bhujia, mixture attract 12% GST.

  • In news: Raja Parba Festival

    The Prime Minister has extended his greetings to the people of Odisha for the unique Raja Parba festival.

    Match the pair based question can be asked from festivals as such with pairs of name and celebrating state. Recently, the following festivals were also in the news: Ambubachi Mela, Thrisoor Puram, Meru Jatara, Nagoba Jatara etc.

    Also, note the similarities between the Raja Parba and Ambubachi Mela …

     About Raja Parba Festival

    • Raja Parba is Odisha’s three-day unique festival celebrating the onset of monsoon and the earth’s womanhood.
    • As a mark of respect towards the earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural works, like ploughing, sowing is suspended for the three days.
    • Raja Sankranti is the first day of the Ashara month.
    • It is celebrated on the day prior to the Sankranti, (Pahili Raja), the day of Sankranti, and the day after, known as Bhu Daha or ‘Basi Raja.
    • The festival is essentially the celebration of the earth’s womanhood.
    • It is believed that during this time the Mother Earth or Bhudevi undergoes menstruation.
    • The fourth day is the day of the ‘purification bath’.
    • As it is a celebration of womanhood, a lot of the focus is on young women, who wear new clothes, apply ‘Alata’ on their feet and enjoy folk songs while swinging on decorated rope swings.

     

  • AarogyaPath Platform for the Healthcare Supply Chain

    AarogyaPath Platform has been recently launched to provide real-time availability of critical healthcare supplies.

    Possible prelims question:

    Q. The AarogyaPath platform recently seen in news is related to:

    Options:  a) Tracking of COVID patients/ b) Emergency ambulances service/c)  Supply-chain solutions of healthcare facilities/ d)E-com portal for generic medicines …

    Aarogyapath platform

    • The information platform named AarogyaPath with a vision of providing a path which leads one on a journey towards Aarogya (healthy life) has been developed by the CSIR.
    • During the present national health emergency arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein there is a severe disruption in the supply chain, the ability to produce and deliver the critical items may be compromised due to a variety of reasons.
    • The platform would serve manufacturers, suppliers and customers.
    • CSIR expects AarogyaPath to become the national healthcare information platform of choice in the years to come.
    • It would fill a critical gap in last-mile delivery of patient care within India through improved availability and affordability of healthcare supplies.

    Its significance

    • This platform provides single-point availability of key healthcare goods that can be helpful to customers in tackling a number of routinely experienced issues.
    • These issues include dependence on limited suppliers, time-consuming processes to identify good quality products, limited access to suppliers who can supply standardized products at reasonable prices within desired timelines, lack of awareness about the latest product launches, etc.
    • It also helps manufacturers and suppliers to reach a wide network of customers efficiently, overcoming gaps in connectivity between them and potential demand centres like nearby pathological laboratories, medical stores, hospitals, etc.
    • It will also create opportunities for business expansion due to an expanded slate of buyers and visibility of new requirements for products.
    • Over time, analytics from this platform is expected to generate early signals to manufacturers on overcapacity as well as on looming shortages.
  • Talk to us, ok? It’s June already and IAS 2021 is not even a year away!

    Talk to us, ok? It’s June already and IAS 2021 is not even a year away!

    Click to fill the form: Samanvaya for IAS 2021

    We have all had those days when it’s been hard to motivate ourselves to hit the books and just study. It happens to the best of us sometimes and for some of us, it happens more frequently.

    And it is understandable, Civil Service preparation is a long and often lonely process. Every aspirant, from toppers to those who have quit have been overwhelmed by this process at some point in time.

    Working alone is monotonous and helps you keep motivated by ensuring you are actively and passively studying every day.

    This is where our 3 tier mentoring comes in: 

    #1. 1st step starts with this Samanvaya call: Once you fill in the form, we get on a 30-40 minute call with you to understand your prep level, working/ study constraints, current strategies and create a step by step plan for next week, next month and so on

    #2. You are given access to our invite-only chat platform, Habitat where you can ask your daily doubts, discuss your test-prep questions and have real-time, live sessions on news and op-eds and find your optional groups

    #3. The third and most personalized tier is the 1 on 1 mentor allotment who stays with you through the course of your preparation – always-on chat & on scheduled calls to help you assess, evaluate and chart the next milestone of your IAS 2021 journey

    Who are you?

    1. Working Junta? If you are preparing for IAS 2021 and working simultaneously, we can help you design a timetable that fits right in your hectic schedule.
    2. First-time prep? If you are in last year of college or thinking of dropping a year and preparing for IAS 2021 full time, we can help you pick the right books and craft a practical & personal strategy

    You just have to take 5 minutes out and fill this form: Samanvaya For IAS 2021

    Once done, we will call you within 24 hours or so.

    Here are some testimonials of our students about samanvaya and our propriety chat interventions:

  • 13th June 2020 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 460]

More posts