While discussing about the current debacle in Nepal with a Nepalese friend we mused over the following thought. (For those who are not aware of the issue, the plain southern districts of Nepal are striking for last many months. This means roads are blocked and system has almost stopped working. The reason? Well, they need more rights and resources from the valley based government and one of the major demands is to have some of the mines in the Tarai state in the new state formation procedure.)
If we observe closely, we will mark that almost universally mines have created more problems than solutions in developing and under-developed regions. Look at majority of the African countries. The more mineral rich a nation is the more militants and the more severe civil wars they enjoy! Look at India. All the states with lot of mineral wealth (be it Odisha or Jharkhand) are pretty poor when we look at HDI. Politically unaware general population, extremely self-motivated politicians and scrupulous contractors seem to be the norm in all developing regions with mineral wealth which ultimately gives rise to unsustainable exploitation of nature and highly unfavourable distribution of the wealth coming from the mines. This in turn keeps the land perennially under-developed and aids in increasing the Gini-index every passing year.
This is a vicious circle of curse coming from mines (which politicians tend to portray as boons). This can only be broken if the young intelligentia can observe this and start taking collective action in training the manpower. However, coming back to Nepal, the best option for Tarai region will be to “demand” no-mines in the new state of Tarai!
India and the African countries are in news lately, however the ties between the two regions date back to the ancient civilizations. Along with geographical proximity, there are factors such as the cultural connect, colonial past and development hurdles that are more or less common to both and thus bring each other much closer.
In this context it can be rightly said that through cooperation if the opportunities of these two regions is utilized, then there cannot be anything bigger in the geopolitical world scenario today than this cooperation.
Although triggered by the unfortunate racist attacks, however in this article we would try to learn and focus on the historical ties, how this relationship moved ahead and where do we stand today. This article intends to make the learners aware about the two regions in the most comprehensive manner and build a base for future understanding and correlation with the topic.
Backgrounder:
Once known as the ‘dark continent’ by the colonial exploiters due to inaccessibility into the interiors of the continent
The geographical proximity between the two was an important factor for building up relations during the ancient and the colonial period
Ancient Period
During the ancient period, the Indian merchants were in the constant look out beyond the Arabian Sea towards the west for lucrative markets. Slowly, the increasing people-to-people contacts made them a part of ‘Indian Ocean circuit of trade’
They sailed regularly to the Zenj coast (Zanzibar) for palm oil, gold, copper, spices, ivory, rhino horn etc.
They sold cloth, metal implements, foodstuff like wheat, rice and jaggery, besides porcelain and glassware
Trade developed through the knowledge of favourable sea winds and the development of a suitable marine technology
Periplus of Erythrean Sea, a first century AD merchants’ sailor guide throws light on the thriving trade between India and the Western Indian Ocean region
It also stated that India’s trading contacts were spread from Egypt to coastal to northern Somalia, ancient land of Punt, kingdom of Kush (Sudan) and Axum
Islamic Era
Indian presence in Africa is also seen during the Islamic age. The Venetian traveller Marco Polo mentioned explicitly about the Gujarati and Saurashtrian merchants on Africa’s east coast
The use of Indian system of weights and measures and Cowries as currency, pointed to the fact that Indians were playing a key role in this area
Not only economic benefits, the trade also contributed to the development of internal links in the African continent even before the advent of Europeans
By seventeenth century, the nature of Indian Ocean trade underwent a radical change due to demand for captives who could be sold as slaves.
During the medieval time the Africans came to India and were part of the muslim rule in India
A good example could be of ‘Malik Amber’ and the ‘Siddis’ who are still a part of the Indian population and are settled in parts of Gujarat, Karnataka and Hyderabad
Advent of Colonialism
With the advent of European colonial powers in India and Africa, the trade pattern underwent a significant change as Indo–African relations entered a new era of ‘colonialism’
During the colonialism period, trade continued and also started the slave trade
The Indians who went to Africa as slaves and post abolition of slavery, as the indentured labourers, and the merchant class of Gujarat slowly settled down there
India’s link with the African continent dates back to the anti-apartheid struggle of Mahatma Gandhi with the colonial rulers in South Africa
India has been aggressively putting forward the issue of apartheid on multilateral forums such as UN, NAM And Commonwealth
Post-Colonial Period
The foundations were laid by Mahatma Gandhi. According to him, there will be a “commerce of ideas and services and not of raw materials and goods like imperialist powers”. The present government continues to take this approach as the foundation of India’s Africa Policy. According to Vice President Hamid Ansari, “ India shares Africa’s dreams and India Africa cooperation is genuine 2 way street partnership”
Relations uptill 1960:
Nehru talked about Afro Asian solidarity. African countries provided strength to Nehru’s NAM. The policy in this phase is described as “ideational” and “pragmatic”
2nd phase (1970s – 1990s):
There was neglect of Africa because of India’s attention on South Asia and India’s attention on inward looking foreign policy. Though India in this phase continued to support Africa against Apartheid.
3rd phase (1990s onwards):
This is the phase of reengagement with Africa. However the lead was taken by private sector, rather than government. Private sector of India should be given credit to push attention of GoI towards the region of strategic and economic importance.
Present status of relations:
Since 2008, India and Africa relations have been institutionalized. India has started engagement with African Union (Pan African Platform). So far 3 summits have been organized under the aegis of India Africa Forum Summit. It is to be noted that the approach of GoI is also influenced by China. China has also initiated the Forum for Africa and China cooperation in the year 2000.
Importance of Africa:
Geostrategic
Africa is critical to India’s security, especially the Horn of Africa region, because of its proximity with India. The threat of radicalism, piracy, organized crime emerge from this region
Economic
Africa can help us in diversifying our energy sources, which is one of the stated objective of our Integrated Energy Policy
Africa also contains rich reservoir of valuable minerals, metals including gold and diamond
Africa provides a space for Indian investment
Africa has ample agricultural land which cab address India’s food security. India is looking at leasing land in Africa to overcome the land deficit that we face in terms of arable land
Geopolitical
Support of African countries is important for India’s aim of gaining a permanent seat in UNSC
Africa provides a space for displaying both India’s soft and hard power
India has been actively involved in peace and stability of African countries through UN Peace keeping operations. India is involved in capacity building of African countries. Africa is also the largest beneficiary of India’s ITEC programme
History of India Africa Relations:
Strategies adopted by Indian government:
Pan African level engagement
Partnership with regional organization
Development partnership through IBSA and BRICS
Bilateral engagement with countries
Involving Indian communities and Indian Diaspora
Whether India’s relationship with Africa should be seen through Chinese prism?
While China has been in Africa’s infrastructure, mining, oil and natural gas sectors for many years, India, despite moving late, has worked through training, education and capacity-building programmes — which have been very well-received by the countries.
China is developing series of important ports in Africa on the western and eastern coast right uptill Mediterranean and building rail linkages to connect to those ports
Over the last 15 years, India-Africa trade has gone up 20 times, and reached, according to the government, $ 70 billion.
Indian investment in Africa is between $ 30 billion and $ 35 billion.
India has given concessional credit to the tune of $ 7.4 billion, of which $ 5 billon has been disbursed. The credit lines have helped create 137 projects in 41 countries.
A Pan-African e-Network for education and health is functional in 48 countries.
Since 2008, India has extended 40,000 scholarships to African countries under ITEC programme
Thus it would be wrong to conclude that India’s African outreach is with a view to counter China’s expanding influencing in the region.
Moreover Chinese strategy of exporting Chinese labour as part of its push to create excess capacity abroad to counter unemployment in China is rattling the African population. There have been protests against the discriminatory employment practices of China in matters of employment in Nigeria, Kenya etc.
Challenges India faces from the presence of countries like U.S in Africa
S trade with Africa initially was high because of its strategy to reduce dependence of middle East oil and hence they went for greater purchase from Africa. With shale revolution in USA, trade volume has declined.
USA still involved in infrastructural development, export of commodities (food stuff, refined products), export of equipments, projects for Mineral exploration. All these fields are also what India is interested in. Same is the case with china
USA along with China has also been offering soft loans which are being lapped up by capital starved African nations
Shortcomings of U.S (and other developed countries) involvement
S products are too costly for African customers compared to Indian and Chinese products
Export of raw materials to USA unlikely to grow a lot because of relative stagnation of GDP growth rate of U.S economy compared to India and china
USA’s involvement in building transport infra etc can lead to increased sale of Indian cars etc which are cheaper
Development of African primary industries by these countries can lead to increased exports to India
Shortcomings of India’s involvement in Africa
In terms of cheque book diplomacy, India can not compete with China or U.S. Some of the African countries, even the richer ones like Nigeria, expect India to bear gifts for them under IAFS. However India asserts for joint endeavour for better development
India abrogates its responsibility in terms of mid stream and down stream delivery processes, instead relying on multilateral agencies like African Union. This leads to India losing credit for a project despite the financial, technological backing it gives
India contributed a lot more than other countries in terms of ebola relief but did not highlight it. Indian assistance was largely through multilateral forums and in a piecemeal manner
Impact of IAFS process so far:
India has committed unprecedented level of resources to Africa (in soft loans and grants). $5bn in soft loans, half a billion dollars in grants, institution building and training fellowship to Africa
Earlier in IAFS 1 India had offered DFQF (Duty Free Quota Free) access to LDCs of Africa
Increased people to people contact as observed in the increasing flow of medical tourists, students, trainees and Indian entrepreneurs and experts.
IAFS process has also given a boost to cultural and information contact and mutual awareness
Growth in India’s trade and investment activities has partially slowed down due to the effects of recession.
SWOT analysis
Strength
Indian diaspora in Africa to be leveraged for involvement in building social infra
Similar socio economic challenges and historical linkages
Indian developmental model more in line with Africa’s needs
Private sector involvement in Africa. India’s private sector is involved in 2x more Greenfield projects as compared to Chinese counterparts. Another advantage that India has, in any projects it employs local people thereby generating employment, earning goodwill. China exports Chinese labour.
Weakness
Multiple competing interests present. China and USA are the top 2 trading partners
Chequebook diplomacy can not be done by India
Lack of emphasis on bilateral relationships instead engaging mostly through forums like IAFS
Opportunities
Shift from line of credit approach to private sector involvement which would help in providing loans at cheaper interest rate, risk mitigation
Better organized, more coherent and faster responding mechanism accompanied by an appropriate media campaign required for highlighting India’s contribution
Threats
Bureaucratic hurdle in trade expansion as we interact largely with African Union. We have focus on nations individually to take projects forward
No efforts by India to curb racial discrimination. Several reports in the past have highlighted that the propensity if Indians to discriminate on grounds of race is quiet high. China has undertaken educational projects to bury the African stereotype
A Brief Analysis of the Third India-Africa Forum Summit
‘New Hopes, New Horizons’
The Third India-Africa Forum Summit held recently unveiled a “dynamic and transformative agenda”. This agenda is of mutual empowerment and mutual resurgence between India and the African nations to strengthen the bond even more in the future.
This was the third summit, which was started in 2008, since when two summits had taken place.
However, this is the first time that 54 heads of the states out of a total of 54 in the African continent came to India together for one cause.
There were commemorative coins that were released to mark the event. They were as shown below:
Source: MEA
Development Partnership
The ‘Delhi Declaration’ of 2015 envisages the India-Africa partnership in development. On the same lines, India would be providing a credit of $10 billion to Africa for development projects along with a grant assistance of $600 million.
This grant includes development fund, health fund and scholarship for students in India. The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation(ITEC) programme has already laid base for knowledge sharing and has acted as a bridge to connect students from both the sides.
The Delhi Declaration is in sync with the ‘Africa’s Vision 2063’ which also focusses on growth, stability and prosperity.
Arc of Prosperity
India-Africa Business Forum was also held as an important segment of the summit. It is noteworthy that the India-Africa trade has exceeded $70 billion!
Along with economic development through public private partnerships, institution building, infrastructure development and development of small and medium enterprises, the focus will also be on poverty alleviation, healthcare, education and sustainable development.
Blue Economy
An agenda was brought out in the summit or the development of blue economy or ocean economy which is aimed at development of marine resources sustainably for the growth and development of countries like India, on the African coast and other littoral states with coastlines.
Commemorative stamps were also issued during the summit:
Source: MEA
Strategic Partnership
India called for partnership with Africa in raising voice for the reform of international institutions such as the United Nations and its security council.
It also stressed for collective action for climate change with the mantra of ‘clean and green’. It includes the invitation given by India to all the African countries to be a part of the Indian initiative and join the ‘Solar Club’ for a partnership in areas of clean energy, sustainable habitats, public transport and climate resilient agriculture.
Partners in Peace
India is a major partner in the UN Peacekeeping missions in the African continent. The major peacekeeping missions in Africa in which India is involved are:
Democratic Republic of Congo
South Sudan
Ivory Coast
Liberia
Till date, India has deployed about 4,500 soldiers on the ground. This includes the only fully formed Indian female police unit in Liberia.
Cultural Bonding
Opportunities for India
Apart from the immense opportunities as can be comprehended from the above analysis of the third India-Africa Forum Summit, some of the rest can be listed as below:
India has the opportunity to benefit from Africa’s rich resources such as coal, oil, and natural gas reserves whereas Africa would gain from India’s world-class downstream capabilities
Indian banks to expand their footprint on the continent for developing Africa’s financial market
The huge market can serve as an alternative to ours
The hydrocarbon from Africa is a source of clean, energy efficient fuel which is of immense importance given India’s ambitious goals for energy production and security
The importance of the ties between India and Africa was realized by our forefathers too for the development of both the land and the people.
The great leader of the world in General and Africa in particular ‘Nelson Mandela’ once remarked:
Taking ahead the culture of civilization tying it with our ancient past, it can be very rightly concluded by Mahatma Gandhi’s views:
Prime Minister’s African nation visit includes Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. The visit of Prime Minister comes close on the heels of the high level visit earlier by President Pranab Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari.
kenya-tanzania
Earlier visit of Vice president to Morocco and Tunisia covered North Africa. Later President’s visit to Ghana, Namibia and Ivory Coast covered West Africa. Now the Prime Minister’s visit covers South and East Africa. Through this our three topmost leaders have covered the whole of Africa .
It is projected that by 2020 the collective GDP of all African nations will be $2.6 trillion.
Strategic significance of Prime Minister’s visit
The Prime Minister’s focus of the African tour is on deepening cooperation in areas of hydrocarbons, maritime security, trade and investment, agriculture and food. Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya are very important and all are littoral states. They had very close connection with India.
India-Kenya ties have stood the test of time. Both our nations have had very strong people-to-people ties and both nations have successfully fought colonialism in the previous century.
Mozambique was a Portuguese colony earlier. Till 1750 the country was managed from Goa. There are large numbers of Goans in Mozambique.
Prime Minister addressed the Indian Diaspora at Nairobi. Terrorism and Global Warming are the two major global challenges faced by all the nations. No country is immune to the state of terrorism. Concerted action is required by the global community through UN frame work.
India and Tanzania have agreed to deepen overall defense and security partnership, especially in the maritime domain.
India’s strengths
India had age old cultural, historic and civilization ties with Africa and around 16th century India’s indentured labor had come here and now they have all prospered and helped in the progress of these countries.
India and Africa are neighbors which are connected by Indian Ocean. Maritime security, counter terrorism operation, utilization of the Blue Economy is the important element between India and Africa.
There are opportunities for Indian private companies and Public sector entities to invest in Africa. India is interested in securing energy needs, renewable and non conventional sources of energy where Africa is rich in all these resources.
Energy security is a significant element of our partnership with Africa. 25% of India’s total investment in Africa is in Mozambique that is $8 billion. Around 10% of total investment is in Tanzania that is $3 billion. These investments are in the field of Energy.
India will grow and India will need Energy. Large numbers of countries of Africa are members of International Solar Alliance. Prime Minister also met ‘Solar Mamas’, a group of rural women solar engineers from Africa who have been trained under Government of India-supported programme to fabricate, install, use, repair and maintain solar lanterns and household solar lighting systems in their villages
Difference in India and China approach in Africa
India is different from other large investors in Africa. China is considered to be exploitative in terms of exploitation of Natural resources and there is not much benefit to the local people of Africa.
China has acquired land for agriculture which has got its own work force and this has not benefited Africa.
India wants African nation to get equal benefits from India’s economic development in Africa. India wants a win-win situation for both the countries.
There are concerns that India has been very slow on delivery. It makes promises and commitments, but it doesn’t have the wherewithal. There was a tangential comparison with china where china was able to deliver. India in the last 2 years has demonstrated through certain projects that now India will deliver on its promises.
India is interested in improving the living standards of the common people. Whether it is energy, renewable energy, agriculture, food processing etc. The strength India has in terms of Human Resource Development, capacity building, education, health care and large numbers of African students are in India.
$92 million line of credit that has been agreed to is for water distribution and purification systems. India has long term agreement with Mozambique for the purchase of pulses.
We continue our series on guiding the candidates from being “An aspirant to an IAS officer” in the most objective fashion without taking sides and coloring their opinions and judgments.
As a newcomer IAS aspirant, there are several questions that cloud your mind including whether to join a coaching institute or to rely on self studies for IAS? Which institute to join? What books to refer to? Whether to join a test series or not? When to start preparing exclusively for Prelims? et al.
We shall take them up one by one. At this point, with all the objectivity we can bring to the board, let us try to find out whether an IAS aspirant should necessarily seek classroom coaching or rely on self-study?
#1. Self-Study Vs Classroom Coaching – Comparison before Internet became common
If you could afford and move to a Metro and attend a coaching centre, you could interact with like-minded people, understand their perspectives, take tips from their learning styles, improve your knowledge and be abreast with latest updates.
The competitive environment would keep up your motivation levels. Inputs from faculty would help grasp more knowledge within limited period of time. Taking tests that they conduct regularly would help you improve your speed and ability to handle different types of questions.
On the other hand, several aspirants could crack the examination in a single attempt without taking any coaching because of their confidence, determination and persistence.
So, if you had a track record of achieving your goals without much external support, you took the Civil Services Examination without any coaching.
If you were preparing on your own, you would have the privilege to study at a time and place+pace convenient to you. You could schedule your preparation according to your priorities.
You could avoid losing time and energy in travelling from one coaching institute to another and then further to home/college.
#2. Self-Study Vs Traditional Coaching – Contemporary Comparison
The advent and reach of Internet has changed the whole debate about Self-Study and Classroom Coaching. It had the most profound and visible impact on self-study. Some of the benefits that it offered are as under:
Pooling of information from various sources at one place.
Stories/issues explained in the most lucid and palatable fashion.
Opinions of multitude of fellow aspirants/administrators/coaches available to firm up your views and add different dimensions to it.
Facility to read anywhere and anytime. At home or on the move. Day or night.
Obviates any need of spending lakhs of Rupees as fees to the coaching institutes, in relocation and sustenance through a metro.
You can request the administrators to take up particular issues/stories.
Test series are available where you get reviews not from the administrators but from the fellow aspirants from across the country.
Most of the information available is free.
No exhaustion of travelling and no homesickness due to relocation.
No need to subscribe to multiple magazines/newspapers and prepare notes.
Follows wherever you go.
All the benefits that were traditionally associated with classroom coaching have become available at the click of a mouse.
It is a secret of Polichinelle (aka an open secret) that a sort of undeclared war is under-way between UPSC and the coaching factories with each side trying to outsmart the other. Coaching institutes wait till few days before Prelims/Mains to come out with their ‘digests’ hoping UPSC must have already framed the papers and can do little to change them and the institutes can claim victory by announcing that questions appeared from their ‘digests’.
UPSC on the other hand has adopted, in my opinion a rather pleasant, stance wherein they frame questions which are largely based on the current events and from hitherto neglected topics, obviating any need to attend any coaching if a candidate is regularly following the news stories and the issues facing the nation.
Now some of you might still prefer traditional coaching over self-study then here are few suggestions from our side:
Do not join a coaching because someone advised you to. Join it if you feel the need of it.
Before you join any coaching institute, get in touch with the aspirants who are reliable, been there and seek their feedback.
Do not join it because you would get a chance to spend time ‘friends’.
Do not join an institute based on the claims made by it in the ads. Verify them.
Ring them up and have a talk with the faculty.
Check on their post-batch support they provide to their past students.
Attend a few classes, if allowed, before you decide to join a particular institute.
That is all on coaching vs. self-study from our side. Whatever mode you wish to choose, just ensure you are doing it for all the rights reasons and what you are doing is your own decision. Happy learning!
START-UP India Launch by Prime Minister Modi on 16th January, 2016, aimed at celebrating the entrepreneurship spirit of country’s youth and has been attended by CEOs and founders of top startups (over 1500) from across the country. Let’s see this in brief!
<In Part I, we have taken a glance on Simplification and Handholding of Start up Plan, rest part will be covered in Part II of this series>
What is Start up India programme and its mandates?
Startup India is a flagship initiative, intended to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and Startups in the country that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.
In order to meet the objectives of the initiative, Government of India is announcing this Action Plan that addresses all aspects of the Startup ecosystem.
How can this Action Plan help accelerate the Startup movement?
It is spread across movement from digital/ technology sector to a wide array of sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, social sector, healthcare, education, etc.
From existing tier 1 cities to tier 2 and tier 3 cities including semi-urban and rural areas.
The Action Plan is divided across the following areas:
Simplification and Handholding
Funding Support and Incentives
Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation
What is the exact definition of a Startup ?
Startup means an entity, incorporated or registered in Indianot prior to 5 years, with annual turnover not exceeding INR 25 crore in any preceding financial year.
Provided that such entity is not formed by splitting up, or reconstruction, of a business already in existence.
What will be the Action plan for Simplification and Handholding task?
#Compliance Regime based on Self-Certification
To reduce the regulatory burden on Startups thereby allowing them to focus on their core business and keep compliance cost low.
Startups shall be allowed to self-certify compliance (through the Startup mobile app) with 9 labour and environment laws (refer below).
In case of the labour laws, no inspections will be conducted for a period of 3 years.
In case of environment laws, Startups which fall under the ‘white category’ (as defined by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)) would be able to self-certify compliance and only random checks would be carried out in such cases. [Can you think of question on white category in Prelims?]
#Startup India Hub
To create a single point of contact for the entire Startup ecosystem and enable knowledge exchange and access to funding.
How will “Startup India Hub” be a key stakeholder in this vibrant ecosystem?
Work in a hub and spoke model and collaborate with Central & State governments, Indian and foreign VCs, angel networks, banks, incubators, legal partners, consultants, universities and R&D institutions.
To all young Indians who have the courage to enter an environment of risk, the Startup India Hub will be their friend, mentor and guide to hold their hand and walk with them through this journey.
#Legal Support and Fast-tracking Patent Examination at Lower Costs
To promote awareness and adoption of IPRs by Startups and facilitate them in protecting and commercializing the IPRs.
By providing access to high quality Intellectual Property services and resources, including fast-track examinationof patent applications and rebate in fees.
The scheme for Startup Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) shall facilitate filing of Patents, Trademarks and Designs by innovative Startups.
Various measures being taken in this regard include:
#1. Fast-tracking of Startup patent applications:
Patent application of Startups shall be fast-tracked for examination and disposal, so that they can realize the value of their IPRs at the earliest possible.
#2. Panel of facilitators to assist in filing of IP applications:
Facilitators will be responsible for providing general advisory on different IPRs as also information on protecting and promoting IPRs in other countries.
#3. Rebate on filing of application:
Startups shall be provided an 80% rebate in filing of patents vis-a-vis other companies. This will help them pare costs in the crucial formative years.
#Relaxed Norms of Public Procurement for Startups
At present, effective April 1, 2015 Central Government, State Government and PSUs have to mandatorily procure at least 20% from the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME).
In order to promote Startups, Government shall exempt Startups (in the manufacturing sector) from the criteria of “prior experience/ turnover” without any relaxation in quality standards or technical parameters.
#Faster Exit for Startups
To make it easier for Startups to wind up operations.
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Bill 2015 (“IBB”), tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2015 has provisions for the fast track and / or voluntary closure of businesses.
In terms of the IBB, Startups with simple debt structures or those meeting such criteria as may be specified may be wound up within a period of 90 days from making of an application for winding up on a fast track basis.
Let us know what do you think on this question?
#Q. How will start ups create an ecosystem that can flourish with ‘Digital India’ initiative? Discuss with examples.
Ah, so finally the results are out! The UPSC’s Official pdf for “IAS Prelims 2015 results” is hosted at this post – click here
Thought of having a small word with all of you before I come back again in more detail.
What if you cleared it?
First of all congratulations! So UPSC has given you the ticket to enter the ring. Now you to capitalize on it. Abhi bas ticket mili hai dost, picture abhi baki hai. You have a little over 60 days with you. And that’s all you have. No point in lamenting what you could have covered by now. Cover whatever you can now. Remember I stand by my assertion that about 50 percent of those who have cleared the Prelims might actually be the one who have not prepared anything at all waiting for result to be out. So your competition is only with the remaining half. Plan each day ahead, and I really mean each day, meticulously.
If at all, only a small fraction of the syllabus might be left for you to cover at least once. Finish it off as soon as possible and in any case by this month end. Start revising what you have already covered and practice writing if you have not started already. Focus on the areas where you are most comfortable, revise them and strike it off from the syllabus list. It takes the burden off your head if you see the list of remaining topics go short. Do not leave any topic. If you cannot cover it in detail just have enough points to write at least 50 words on it. It might sound cliché but please start practicing writing.
One more thing, don’t wait for the last day to fill the DAF. Fill it very carefully. Read the instructions given to fill it. Fill the cadre and state preferences as you want them and not because some earlier topper suggested a particular order. You are the one who will get the service and state, not them. Be it your own choice as per your liking and preferences.
What if you did not clear it?
If you gave it for any reason other than for actually making it, then just party!
But if you really prepared for it and still could not make it, then don’t get disheartened (I understand it’s easier said than done). Whatever I might say here, tonight and a day or two ahead are going to be tough especially answering sadists that surround us. Be prepared to hear “Ye banenge IAS?” , “Ban gaye collector?”…It’s ok. It hurts. Really really hurts. But then it is for you to decide whether to want to get overwhelmed with such negative criticism or take it in your stride. You will get a chance to respond, you just need to reinvent your strategy.
Tonight just sleep over it. You might wish to cry. Do it. It unburdens your heart and clears your mind. Especially for guys, it is ok to cry.
Ok. So what next. See if you could not make it through then it means that there must be some inadequacy. And by this time you might already have known where you could have done better. Work over it. We shall come back to Prelims strategy pretty soon. Right now you can even take a break. Then keep preparing for Mains in the same momentum. Yes, I meant Mains only. That’s what we all prepare for. Prelims will be taken care of next time by you and us, together. We shall come with the strategy soon.
Did you make it through? A lot of you guys are mailing us with queries on the cutoffs! It seems a bit odd that even people speculating it the range of 105+ could not make it in the final list.
Update: Participate in the FREE Target Mains initiative going over at CD –Click Here
We cannot stress more upon the importance of the answer writing for IAS Mains, but let’s take you step by step on questions which an IAS aspirant face when he plans to go for it.
All of you must have read articles/books/notes on various topics. And all of you must be having some favourite writers over the other. Agreed, Civil Services is not about choosing the potential writers rather the administrators but truth be told, writing is the only way the examiner evaluates the level of your understanding of various topics, your ability to deal with unexpected questions and eventually your potential as a civil servant.
Believe me civil servants have to do a lot of writing, from file notings to blogs and they do it meticulously. Short, simple, pertinent.
Now look at the importance of writing from another angle. Suppose you are brilliant reader and have mugged up all the books available and are invincible in any debate on any topic. But unfortunately the UPSC has no place for group discussion in the selection process. You have to write.
Let us break down the entire thing into the following heads:
#1. When should be start practicing writing?
Many suggest that first one should wait till he/she has enough knowledge of all the topics and then start practicing writing. ‘Enough’ knowledge of all the topics? And when is that going to be? Two months before the Mains or one month before the Mains? And then you shall start writing for 4-5 hours daily. But then who will read the newspapers? Who will revise the notes/books? Who will take the tests?
The answer writing practice has to go hand-in-hand with your preparation. There shall never be one fine day when you shall stop reading and start writing thereupon. This exam is way above such stereotypical compartmentalization. Once you start preparing star writing. If not full-fledged time-bound answers then at least start scribbling. Ponder over a topic and see if you can generate some relevant points. Get into this habit so that in the examination hall you can generate some points for questions for which you have only a faint idea.
Moreover you shall have to write about 8,000-10,000 words in a single day during the Mains exam and if you have not cultivated a habit of writing over a period of time, writing itself might become insurmountable obstacle between you and a place in the final list.
#2. What should one write?
If you lament that you understand how important it is writing and you really, like really, want to write but do not know what to write, then you are not alone.
7 out of 10 candidates who set down to the task of writing face this problem. And interestingly, each one of you know the answer. Read a topic, frame a question on it yourself and write. If you cannot frame a question, use the heading of the article add a suitable word like ‘discuss’, ‘explain’, ‘comment’ and write the answer. And of course practice question from previous year papers as well.
#3. What should be the level of our writing?
Far from Shakespearean. Your writing should reflect the maturity of a civil servant. What does that mean? It means your writing should be free from grammatical errors, misspellings, sentences of disproportionate length, bombastic words, bluff, irrelevant facts and figures. Do break down the answer into paragraphs or points, as you may choose.
If you are using a quote, please don’t change or rearrange its words.
#4. Should we use flowcharts and/or diagrams?
If you can find time for it do it. But don’t do it just because you have a target of using two flowcharts/diagrams in each answer. Flowcharts/diagrams should facilitate the examiner go through your answer and not over shadow it.
#5. Paragraph or Point-wise writing
There is perhaps one question which has no authoritative answer. Number of toppers who shall vouch for paragraph writing and those siding with writing in points abound. The current topper favoured the point-wise writing. Let us see if we can infer something about this debate from what we are witnessing.
Firstly, from 2013, UPSC started this trend of asking 20-25 questions in each paper of GS requiring a candidate to write about 4000-5000 words in each paper and it is quite an uphill task even if you know the answer to all of them.
Probably one of the reason behind increasing the number of questions and limiting the space available to write an answer is to ensure that candidates do not get a chance to write frivolous things and just write the pertinent points if they have to attempt all questions!
Secondly, an important departure was that while introducing this pattern UPSC took it upon itself to tell the students that “Contents of the answer are more important than its length.”
Thirdly, the marks scored by the topper in last two years have hovered around 50-55 percent than the usual 60-65 percent of the previous years. What I see here is a pattern of ‘ruthless’ marking by the examiners wherein they are more interested in candidate writing more relevant points instead of writing few points subsumed under paragraphs. Somehow they seem to have taken the ‘content more important than length’ instruction too seriously and are not interested in the superficial answers. And we shall all agree that if we have more information to provide in the answer, point-wise writing is more relevant. We tend to use paragraphs where we have few points which we hide though the paragraphs and then underline them so that the examiner is inveigled into believing that we not only wrote points but also wrote using good enough number of words. But I guess UPSC this time conducted a country-wise exam to choose the examiners who can see through such tactics!
But again the question remains unanswered. Paragraph or points? To be honest, I have no yes or no answer to this. Choose the style that’s suits you. As they say this exam is an individual exam and one topper’s strategy might be suicidal for another.
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade agreement between several Pacific Rim countries concerning a variety of matters of economic policy.
The aims of the TPP include the lowering of barriers to trade in goods and services, reducing tariffs to zero by 2015. In addition, the TPP hopes to promote investment and job creation in member states.
How does it come into reality?
TPP initially called the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, the pact began as a 2005 trade agreement between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in an effort to integrate their economies, drive growth and create unified regulations.
In 2008, during the Bush administration, the U.S. joined talks to expand the agreement, along with Australia, Peru and Vietnam. The U.S. trade representative under Obama, Ron Kirk, declared the American interest in forging a broad-based regional pact.
Then, in 2010, under the new name the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Malaysia entered the discussions, followed by Canada and Mexico in 2012.
By 2013, Japan began participating in the talks. South Korea and Taiwan have subsequently announced their interest but not formal participation.
Though all of the negotiating parties belong to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), the TPP is a separate initiative but with similar goals as APEC’s proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.
Why the Trans-Pacific Partnership Matters?
The Pacific accord would phase out thousands of import tariffs as well as other barriers to international trade, like Japanese regulations that keep out some American-made autos and trucks.
It also would establish uniform rules on corporations’ intellectual property, and open the Internet even in communist Vietnam.
It eventually would end more than 18,000 tariffs that the participating countries have placed on American exports, including autos, machinery, information technology and consumer goods, chemicals and agricultural products as varied as avocados in California and wheat, pork and beef from the Plains states.
The trade ministers who negotiated it predicted the overall economic and political heft of the 12-nation group would turn the accord into a model for future trade agreements.
It would overhaul the system for settling disputes between nations and foreign companies, while barring tobacco companies from using that process to block countries’ antismoking initiatives.
It also would enforce higher standards for labor conditions and environmental protection, including wildlife-trafficking.
How will it benefits to USA ?
Expanding the orbit of U.S. free trade is a major foreign policy goal of the Obama administration, and as a part of its desired international “pivot” toward Asia, it hopes to increase its economic presence in the region.
Supporters of the partnership say by lowering barriers to trade and increasing avenues for economic globalization, the enlarged $2 trillion zone of diminished tariffs would stimulate employment in U.S. and provide an incentive to invest abroad.
Agreement hopes to show China that the U.S. will remain a committed economic partner for the nations of the Pacific Rim, without excessively provoking Beijing.
Who opposes the TPP?
Opposition to the proposed agreement and to the perceived influence of multinational corporations in the process has been led by public health advocates, labor groups and environmentalists and politicians.
Some U.S. legislators have voiced concerns that the TPP requirements would prevent access to medicine in developing countries, due to excessive patent protection. Doctors Without Borders argues against “dangerous provisions that would dismantle public health safeguards enshrined in international law.”
Many activists also focused criticisms on the intellectual property section of the proposed partnership, which, according to WikiLeaks, could have “wide-ranging effects on medicines, publishers, internet services, civil liberties and biological patents.”
As a trade agreement, the TPP would require House and Senate majorities and then the president’s signature. Domestic American opposition has concentrated their skepticism not just on how “free” the agreement would be but also on problems with the “fast track” congressional voting procedure.
Japanese producers in the anime and manga industry say the TPP could damage their business by allowing companies to halt imports of intellectual property, in order to protect local distributors of licensed merchandise.
Rice farmers, as well as beef, poultry and pork producers, have mounted firm resistance to the pact, which would dramatically decrease import tariffs.
Geopolitically, China is concerned that the partnership is designed to exclude its economic activities, while some American officials have expressed doubts whether the market-oriented pact would ever be compatible with Beijing’s command economy.
In Europe, analysts view the TPP as a trade regime that could set a precedent for the nascent Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Recently, FMC-SEBI merger made lot of news. Let’s try to understand the underlying issues and what benefits commodity markets will reap, after coming under SEBI.
Before, we proceed into the issue of merger, let’s explore FMC and SEBI.
What is Forward Markets Commission ?
Setup under forward contracts regulation Act.
Regulating commodities market since 1953.
Lack of powers to FMC has led to wild fluctuations & alleged irregularities.
What is Securities Exchange Board of India ?
Setup in 1988 as a non statutory body for regulating the securities market.
In 1992, it became an autonomous body with fully independent powers.
Securities Contract Regulation Act 1956, gives more power to SEBI.
Why there is a need for merger?
In 2013, NSEL scam underlined the need for better & stronger regulator to safeguard investor interest & restore confidence.
To streamline the regulations & wild speculations in commodities market.
Fragmented regulations architecture in India.
To facilitate further growth of market.
To further expand the scope of commodity trading.
SEBI is better equipped to monitor commodities trading.
Illegal activities like dabba trading are more frequent in this segment.
A merged regulator will enhance the integrity of financial markets, & also boost liquidity & improve price discovery process.
FSLRC stressed on the need to move away from sector-wise regulation.
How SEBI is better equipped to monitor commodities market than FMC?
FMC only regulated the exchange & had no direct control over the brokers.
SEBI has a superior surveillance, risk monitoring & enforcement mechanism.
Recent amendment has given SEBI, the power to access call records.
FMC was handicapped in terms of the regulatory & manpower resources required to police this segment.
How SEBI can expand the scope of commodities trading ?
Currently , FIIs are restricted from participating in commodities trading at exchanges.
SEBI may allow FII participation in commodities trading going forward.
This will provide more depth to the markets, leading to :
Increase liquidity
Investor participation
Better price discovery
SEBI will also oversee price determination of commodities, as it has been a major issue in commodities trading.
If SEBI addresses this concern , then it will give big boost to participants confidence.
What are the challenges for SEBI ?
Lacks knowledge about the commodities market.
State govt. have jurisdictional power over agricultural marketing.
Political sensitivities involved with farm commodities.
What should be the future approach of Govt. to strengthen the financial markets ?
Govt. should merge the insurance & pension regulator, making a future case of unified regulator for financial market as a whole, as suggested by FSLRC.
Before, we wind up, let’s have a look at some international examples in this regard
Most countries have a unified securities & commodities market regulator expect US & Japan.
