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To all the veterans and hardworkers on this portal.

After observing and analysing the answers written by some of the illustrious people here ,I have a few questions to ask. Thanks for bearing with me.
1. Are you guys able to retain information in this much capacity? And, the presentation too?
If not, how much time does it take for you to formulate and present a succint answer?

2. I don’t cease to think that I MAYNOT be able to present such answers. Either, the information retention is poor OR my approach towards news articles is incorrect.

3. Can I get some tips regarding maintaining notes on topics? I know this might be subjective, but suggestions are welcome.

I request all the participants to share their experience and answer my questions 🙂

Thanks to all! Looking forward to be a regular contributor to CD!

Pranav Sir, Nitin Sir , Simran Bains mam , Vandana Mam etc.

Ive been reading a lot of answers and often theres someone reviewing an answer, and s/he writes ” This doesnt seem like a GS II answer ”

What is that supposed to mean? Am i missing out on something? What characterises a GS answer specifically?

Sir Please mention NCERT for test 1 as its having India and
Contemporary
World – II also

Namasthe Karnatakadawarige!
Let us make this happen.
News from our State which are nationally important should make a mark here.
From prehistorical times to current affairs, we got to touch every aspect. 🙂

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Comments from @root

• – This is the official thread for Karnataka’s Current Affairs
• – The thread is moderated by the owner and his/ her peers from the same state. What to expect here?
• – State Specific Schemes and Initiatives (helps in GS answers and essays)
• – Culture related stuff in news (helps you learn the static history part when the festival is celebrated + some additional info)
• – Unique practices (GI Tags news etc OR some innovative techniques)
• – Governance initiatives (some case study/ news of in-service officers)
• – Anything which escapes the national conscience in general due to bias media coverage

Why do we need separate threads for each state?

• – Read the major announcement here – The Importance of Local News for IAS Prelims & Mains
• – Find the list of state specific news threads here – State’s News Daily

plz dont use to color whole page in magzine,it is too tough to print at home.

The Hindu – Editorials

A green rap on the knuckles

Bio diversity act – 2002

Institutional structure – The act provides for both centralised as well as decentralised institutional mechanisms for conservation and sustainable use of  biodiversity.  It  has the National Biodiversity Authority at  the apex level and Bio diversity Management Committees at  the local level, with an intermediate State  Biodiversity Board at the state level.

In this many of the functions are held in the hands of biodiversity management committees. These include preparation of people biodiversity registers and conservation, promotion of sustainable use of bio diversity. Among this, people bio diversity registers are the comprehensive records of the bio diversity.

Challenge – Bio diversity act though enacted there is no serious implementation.

 

EIA – Environmental Impact assessment –

1. The act mandates impact assessment studies for activities which are likely to have an adverse impact on biodiversity, irrespective  of  the nature and scale of the proposed project. Today,  most projects in ecologically sensitive  areas are able to  circumvent the EIA process as they are below the threshold limits or are not in the listed category. (For example, the law says that only hydro electric power projects of the size greater than 25MW should undergo EIA studies. So, most of the mini hydro power projects in India are of 24.99MW capacity. So, cumulative impact of these projects in Himalayas is very disastrous.)
2. Many of the large projects are exempted from the EIA as they are proposed before 2006, the year EIA act was enacted.

Forest conservation act , 1980 – It allows for the legal diversion of the forest land and India is loosing forests at a rate of 333 acres per day.

In this scenario, PBR – people bio diversity registers can be effective tools to counter the false and misleading statements given in forest diversion proposals and EIA reports.

Read more here – 

https://www.civilsdaily.com/story/forest-policy-india/

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Note – environmental movements

1. Monpa community in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district had to struggle for three years to  prove  before the NGT that the riverine area proposed for the construction of  a dam is the one of  the two wintering sites of  the black-necked crane, a  protected species held sacred by
2. tribals in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh, are struggling to protect the last remaining  chilgoza (pine nut) trees from being lost to  a series of  hydropower projects. Forest Department records do not mention the significant role the tree species plays in providing livelihood security to

Do we need a minimum wage law?

The tripartite committee on fair wages in India appointed in 1948 defines three levels of wages: a living wage, a fair wage and a minimum wage.

Living wage is what a human being needs to get the basic essentials of  food, shelter, clothing, protection against ill-health, security for old age,  etc. A fair wage  is lower than the living wage and takes into account efficiency, from the employer’s perspective. Minimum wage  is similar to the fair wage  except in two respects: it is even lower, and has a statutory dimension. (Minimum wages are legally guaranteed)

Indian Labour conference in 1957 mandates taking in to account five factors for calculating the minimum wage. They are

1. Wage must support three consumption units (individuals);
2. Food requirement of 2,700 calories a day;
3. Clothing requirement of  72  yards per worker’s family;
4. Rent for housing area similar to that provided under thesubsidised housing scheme.
5. Fuel, lighting and miscellaneous items of expenditure to  constitute 20  per cent of  the minimum wage.

In 1991, the Supreme Court called for adding another 25  per cent to  the wage yielded by  the above  calculation in order to  take  into account children’s  education, medical requirements, etc.

Based on the above criteria the minimum wage estimate shall be around 26000rs/month.

In this context, following observations are worth noting.

1. India still today did not notify the United Nations convention no 131 on minimum wages fixing.
2. Minimum wages are as low as 4800/month
3. Contractual workers are paid much Lower than the permanent workers.

So, most of the Government either ignore or undermine the law.

 

Surrogacy law –India’s surrogacy regulation bill 2016 allows for the child less couple married for 5 years to seek a child through surrogacy route from a close family relative.not necessarily related by blood. In this, no money shall be paid to the surrogate form the commissioning parents other than the medical expenses. It prohibits the commercial surrogacy. It disallows homo sexual song, singles, live in relationships, foreigners  to have a child through surrogacy. There are many moral dilemmas are involved in this.

1. Right to procreate – Every Individual has a right to procreate and he/she can choose the whatever method they like to achieve this objective.
2. Right of women on her body – the women have a fundamental right to personal liberty and it permits her to use their bodies as they please.
3. Against to the constitution – as per the Indian constitutional structure, if a law seeks to differentiate equal persons, it shall explainthe reasons for the same. Surrogacy law do not explain the differences between married and unmarried people eligibility for surrogacy.
4. Wrong premise – Surrogacy law is based on the wrong premise that payment of money for the surrogacy is wrong and is an exploitation. But, failure to have a legal recognition to surrogacy can worsen the situation further.

Read more, here – 

Surrogacy in India

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Turkeys dangerous move on Syria

Turkeys made an incursions into Syria and declared that it has claimed the town Jarabulas from Islamic state. But the interiors of turkey are Explicit.

1. It aims to counter the Syrian Kurds who are supported by USA and who are fighting effectively against the Islamic state. Turkey that has largely ignored the ISIS activity on the side of Syrian border..But today, It believes strengthening of Syrian Kurds is dangerous to its sovereignty as they have close links with Kurdistan workers party of Turkey. It may consolidate the demand for Kurdistan.
2. Advancement of Kurds makes turkey to loose cross border access to Syria and Turkey backed rebels will be in a weaker position in the Syrian civil war.

So, Turkeys plan can worsen the situation further in Syria.

 

Outwards to Africa

India and Africa have common concerns in health and have many things to give and take. For instance

1. In both countries communicable diseases are the largest killers and incidence of non communicable diseases is increasing.
2. Both of them spends less than 1% of GDP on Health care.
3. They have young demographic profile
4. Both countries have a rich heritage of traditional medicine.

In this context, India is the capital for Generic medicines in the world and cheap drugs supplied by India are effective in fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa. India is also pioneering research in health care through open drug research. So, an effective coordination is possible between them. India’s look Africa policy can be a game changer if it focuses on knowledge generation and Innovation.

Read more – 

Foreign Policy Watch: India-Africa

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India-Africa Forum Summit: Old Friends – Old Family

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Advance the budget

The plan to advance the Indian budget can have significant benefits to Indian economy. Normally, Last quarter has a huge expenditure and with no capital expenditure during Monsoon session.

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Prepared with inputs from CivilsPrep.

GS I (Important Geophysical phenomena) (Hattrick)

In terms of natural disasters, the maximum losses happen because of floods. Maximum deaths in the country are because of floods. Many people go missing and get washed away in flood waters. What are the reasons for increasing these geophysical phenomena ? Do you feel that this can be avoided ?

Demand-

Losses due to flood and reasons for increasing the incidents shall be discussed. Provide the solution to minimise the losses

Approach-

– Losses in the various areas including deaths shall be discussed briefly (3 marks)

– Various reasons of floods shall be explained (4 marks)

– Suitable measures shall be suggested to reduce/avoid human damage (3 marks)

GS II (Governance) (Hattrick)

One of the landmark legislations of the country which transformed the nature of governance in the country is Right to Information Act passed in 2005. Judiciary is not an exception under RTI whose details like appointments, transfers or complaints against judges are not covered under any exemptions in RTI. Do you feel disclosure of information on appointments, transfers etc. would interfere in judicial independence?

Demand-

Pros and cons shall be discussed of both possible situation shall be discussed here. Balanced conclusion required at the end

 Approach-

-Explain that Judiciary is awkwardly positioned in terms of defending its judges as compared to executive and legislature. It cannot defend itself unlike other institutions.  (3 marks)

– Brief points like there is a need to determine the scope of disclosure of information i.e. how much information should be disclosed, at what stage they should be disclosed etc. (3 marks)

– There is no scope of RTI being misused as it is only for seeking information that already exists. Its making system more accountable, secrecy in appointments will be exposed if judiciary comes under RTI, it will also increase awareness etc and with balanced conclusion point (4 marks)

GS III (Security challenges and their management in border areas) (Duplex)

For many decades now, there has hardly been any defence procurement in India that has not faced controversy. The defence contractors including foreign companies have come under suspicion or allegations of shady dealings leading to their blacklisting affecting the defence preparedness of Indian military. Discuss.

Demand-

Recent Defence blacklisting policy shall be discussed here. The ways to curb this issues should be suggested. Avoid direct criticism

Approach-

– Brief on past deals which were rearly constraversial ( 3 marks)

– Explain the current scams and threats to Indian military and Country ( 4 marks)

– Suggest the ways along with challenges in future (3 marks)

GS IV (Ethics & moral values) (Hattrick)

There is demand of the reservations to various castes & communities in India.. Countrywide agitation has been seen recently. Is it moral and socially ethical to ask or give a reservation based on the caste system?

Demand-

Sensitive topic, Pros and cons are required. It needs very constructive criticism with well balance positive conclusion.

Approach-

 – Explain the advantages of reservation justifying its ethical & moral need in the society like India

–  Brief on the misuse of this provision of reservation without criticizing any specific community/caste. 

–  Take your stand in the answer and provide suitable backing to your stand

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• All questions on this series are available for revision at – Target Mains
• The DNA (Demand and Approach) Framework for each question is updated at the end of day

The Hindu – Editorials

LEMOA – Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement

India – USA signed logistic exchange memorandum of agreement. It is one of the four foundational agreements for Defence cooperation between India USA. Highlights are

1. It allows the militaries of the country to share each other’s bases for various operations. These include port visits, joint exercises, joint training, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief efforts.
2. All the matters will be approved by each side on a case to case basis.
3. It helps India to undertake rescue operations for Indians stranded in conflict zones.
4. The pact will also enhance the military capabilities.
5. India and USA can explore plans for maritime cooperation in the Asia pacific as vision statement of India and USA goes.
6. It makes the Defence cooperation related transactions smooth and seamless.

On the other side

1. India may be dragged in to the wars of the USA.

Note – It has nothing to  do with setting up U.S. bases in India, and there is no “obligation” on either side to  carry out any joint activity.

Read the full backstory here on our relationships with USA

Surrogacy – Ignoring Best practices

The bill approved by the government of India takes a myopic view of surrogacy.

1. It do not provide for the identity Rights of the child and personal identity of the donor is to be kept confidential at all times, unless directed by the court. That is it overrides the identity rights of the child in favor of confidentiality rights of the donor.
2. Added to this, insurance and other protections available for the surrogate mother are not clearly stated.
3. Many of the laws of the country needs to be amended to ensure the rights of a child born through surrogacy to be fulfilled. As of now now, personal and property laws categorize children as legitimate, illegitimate and adopted. How surrogate children need to be placed is not classified by the law.
4. Role and regulation of ART( assisted reproductive technology) clinics is not specified.

Read the full story on Surrogacy in India 

UNSC reforms – interview with UNGA president elect – Peter Thomson – he clearly stated reform of UNSC and compressive convention on international terrorism are very much on the agenda of UN. The challenge is how to achieve the consensus.

In relation to UN achievements he said that alternative to UN is very bleak. UN success and failure need to be judged not just based on what it did, but also  what it stopped from happening.

Read all about latest happenings at UNSC

The ill health of the nation – The National Health accounts data 2013-14

1. India spends only 1.15% of GDP on Health and it is lower than sub Saharan Africa (2.9%).
2. The share of state governments that are largely responsible for health expenditure is .75% of GDP.
3. In India 64.2% of health expenditure is met by households out of pocket.

If India has to. Achieve the universal medical care two key areas need quick attention. They can quickly reduce the out of pocket expenditure.

1. To put in place a centralized system of procurement of essential drugs and distributing them through state governments. If .5% of GDP is spent on medicines all essential drugs can be made free of cost for all Indians.
2. Centre shall arrive  at  the cost of  all medical procedures for different classes of  hospitals, laying down standards and forming regulatory authorities at  the State  and district levels under law to  enforce  the rules. Regulatory controls would automatically leads to reduction in costs.

Thailand shall be an inspiration for India where 75% of the population was brought under Universal health coverage in just one year.

Al about India’s Health sector Policy Initiatives

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Prepared with inputs from CivilsPrep.

GS I (Simplex)

Do Vedas offer us direct evidence of social or political system in Vedic era, whether ordinary or elite? Critically examine.

Demand: Question’s demand is based on whether Vedas reveal about political/ social system during that period. You have to give the pros and cons to the answer.

 

Approach:

• –       Give references as to from where Vedas can provide evidence of these systems.
• –       You can divide your answer by giving references from Early Vedic Period and Later Vedic Period and evidences coming from each of them.
• –       Give the proper examination of points your are supporting in the same case.

GS II (Duplex)

The post Ottoman History of Turkey is marked by Coups and counter coups. Discuss why, Also highlight why India has never faced any coup till date.

Demand: Turkey has faced many coups and question is asking you to list the reasons for them. It also asks you to analyse why India hasn’t faced any. 

Approach:

• –       Background of coups in Turkey.
• –       Divide reasons between Primary and Secondary and explain each
• –       Give an Indian angle as to why India was immune to such coups.

GS III  ( Duplex)

What are the merits and demerits of direct benefits transfer (DBT) scheme in the Indian context? Enumerate.

Demand: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme to be explained in context of it’s merits and demerits. It has to be explained with relevant examples/ case studies.

 

Approach:

• –       What is DBT?
• –       Merits and Demerits of the scheme (with suitable examples wherever required)
• –       Case Studies of actual functioning of scheme (from newspapers)

GS IV (Analytical = Simplex)

As a district collector you are overseeing the post-flood relief operations in your district. While going through the progress made you realise that relief operations have been particularly sporadic and ineffectual in a particular village of the district. On further investigations you come to know that the district is mostly inhabited by people considered historically “lower class”.
(1) What immediate steps you shall undertake to sensitize your officers against class biases in relief operations.
(2) What long term plans, in your opinion, shall ensure that such incidents do not recur.

Demand: Question is focussing on your personal values and that too at a time of critical situation. The gravity of the situations does not allow you to think about the class you are protecting but getting any person suffering, out of it.

 

Approach:

• –       Discrimination is morally and socially wrong. Explain in brief.
• –       Divide the actions by officers on the following basis:
• –       Immediate Actions (Prepare a team which can look into the matter and do whatever should be done instantly)
• –       Long Term Actions (Relief operations require you to relocate people or provide people with their necessary habitat in terms of whatever they have lost in the floods)

Which ncert’s to follow for the first test on basic polity ? Old or new ?