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  • 15 Questions from Prelims titbits

    We have been doing Prelims Titbits for >15 days now. This is a mini test to evaluate whether you are doing it correctly or not. Many of the Questions have been taken from past 5 years prelims papers.

    1. With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, “Home Charges” formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted “Home Charges”?(2011)

    • 1. Funds used to support the India Office in London.
    • 2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India.
    • 3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    • (a.) 1 only
    • (b.) 1 and 2 only
    • (c.) 2 and 3 only
    • (d.) 1, 2 and 3

    2. The salaries of which of the following are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India?

    • 1. Speaker of the Lok Sabha
    • 2. Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha
    • 3. Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
    • 4. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
    • 5. Judges of the Supreme Court
    • 6. Judges of the High Courts
    • 7. Chief Election Commissioner
    • 8. Chairman of the UPSC
    • 9. CAG
    • a. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 9
    • b. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 ,8 and 9
    • c. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6,7 and 9
    • d. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9

    3. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2007 Prelims)

    • 1. The mode of removal of a Judge of a High Court in India is same as that removal of a Judge of the Supreme Court.
    • 2. After retirement from the office, a permanent Judge of a High Court cannot plead or act in any court or before any authority in India.

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    • (a) 1 only
    • (b) 2 only
    • (c) Both 1 and 2
    • (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    4. Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora? (2011)

    • (a.) Biosphere Reserve
    • (b.) Botanical Garden
    • (c.) National Park
    • (d.) Wildlife Sanctuary

    5. Three of the following criteria have contributed to the recognition of Western Ghats-Sri Lanka and Indo-Burma regions as hotspots of biodiversity: (2011)

    • 1. Species richness
    • 2. Vegetation density
    • 3. Endemism
    • 4. Ethno-botanical importance
    • 5. Threat perception
    • 6. Adaptation of flora and fauna to warm and humid conditions

    Which three of the above are correct criteria in this context?

    • (a.) 1, 2 and 6
    • (b.) 2, 4 and 6
    • (c.) 1, 3 and 5
    • (d.) 3, 4 and 6

    6. A presides over the joint sitting of both the Houses. If however A is absent, B  presides. If B  is also absent, C presides. A,B and C respectively are?

    • a.President, Vice President and Deputy Speaker
    • b. Speaker, Vice President and Deputy Chairman
    • c. Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Deputy Speaker
    • d. Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman

    7. Lichens, which are capable of initiating ecological succession even on a bare rock, are actually a symbiotic association of (Pre 2013)

    • a. algae and bacteria
    • b. algae and fungi
    • c. bacteria and fungi
    • d. fungi and mosses

    8. Nai Manzil is a government of India scheme related to development of which of the following

    • a) Skill development
    • b) Eucation
    • c) Health
    • d) Traditional heritage of minorities

    9. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for:  (2013)

    • (a) the reduction of the share of the landlords from one-half of the crop to one-third
    • (b) the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were the actual cultivators of the land
    • (c) the uprooting of Zamindari system and the end of serfdom
    • (d) writing off all peasant debts

    10. With reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru report?(2011)

    1. Complete Independence for India.
    2. Joint electorates for reservation of seats for minorities.
    3. Provision of fundamental rights for the people of India in the Constitution.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    • (a.) 1 only
    • (b.) 2 and 3 only
    • (c.) 1 and 3 only
    • (d.) 1, 2 and 3

    11. Consider the following definitions:

    • 1. Bioaccumulation is the increasing concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain
    • 2. Biomagnification occurs within a trophic level, and is the increase in concentration of a substance in certain tissues of organisms’ bodies due to absorption from food and the environment
    • 3. Bioconcentration is defined as occurring when uptake from the water is greater than excretion

    Which of the above definitions is/are INCORRECT?

    • a) 1 and 2 Only
    • b) 2 and 3 Only
    • c) 1 and 3 Only
    • d) All

    12. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because(2012)

    • 1. the Congress passed a resolution demanding complete independence
    • 2. the rift between the extremists and moderates was resolved in that Session
    • 3. a resolution was passed rejecting the two-nation theory in that Session

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    • (a) I only
    • (b) 2 and 3
    • (c) 1 and 3
    • (d) None of the above

    13. In which of the following movements did Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death for the first time to get his demands fulfilled?

    • a) Champaran Satyagraha
    • b) Kheda Satyagraha
    • c) Ahmadabad mill strike
    • d) Non-cooperation movement

    14. What is the difference between “vote-on-account” and “interim budget”?(2011)

    • 1. The provision of a “vote-on-account” is used by a regular Government, while an “interim budget” is a provision used by a caretaker Government.
    • 2. A “vote-on-account” only deals with the expenditure in Government’s budget, while an “interim budget” includes both expenditure and receipts.

    Which of the statements; given above is/are correct?

    • (a.) 1 only
    • (b.) 2 only
    • (c.) Both 1 and 2
    • (d.) Neither 1 nor 2

    15. A deadlock between the LokSabha and the RajyaSabha calls for a joint sitting of the Parliament during the passage of(2012)

    • 1. Ordinary Legislation
    • 2. Money Bill
    • 3. Constitution Amendment Bill

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

    • (a) 1 only
    • (b) 2 and 3 only
    • (c) 1 and 3 only
    • (d) 1, 2 and 3

    SOLUTIONS

    1. b

    Home charges means money spent by Britain in Britain on behalf of India. They included

    1. dividends on East India Stock
    2. interest in Home debt
    3. the salaries of the officer
    4. establishments of the and building connected with the Home Department of Indian Government
    5. furlough and retired pay to members of the Indian Military and Civil Services when at Home
    6. Charges of all descriptions paid in this country connected with the British troops serving in India and
    7. portion of the cost of transporting the British troops to and from India

    I am not so sure about statement 3. Funds used for waging war outside India as when British fought in wars nor do I find direct mention of it in home charges. EIC donated money to them. IMO statemnt 3 is wrong

    2. No option is correct. Answer is 1,2,3,4,5,8 and 9. If any option has to be marked, it would be option a

    6- salary of high court judge charged on consolidated fund of states not centre, pension is charged on CFI

    7- EC expenditure and salary not charged

    3. a

    Can practice in supreme court or other high courts

    4. b

    Botanical garden – ex situ

    5. c , 1,3 and 5

    Threat perception has to be one of the criteria, only in one option

    6, d, speaker, deputy speaker, deputy chairperson

    7. b, algae and fundgi

    8. a, skill development of minorities

    9. a

    10. b, 2 and 3

    It demanded dominion status, that’s why J.L.Nehru and Subhash Bose opposed and criticized the report

    11. a, 1 and 2 incorrect

    Definition of bioaccumulation and biomagnification has been interchanged.Bioaccumulation occurs within same trophic level.

    12. a, 1 only

    13. c, ahmedabad mill strike

    14. b

    15. a, 1only

    RS can only hold back money bill for 14 days. CAB has to be passed separately by both the houses

     

    P.S.- Almost every question can be solved by reading tit-bit. 10 questions were from previous years UPSC papers. If you got <24/ 30 after negative, you are not doing titbits and your study properly.

  • Nuclear Diplomacy and Disarmament

    Here’s what we are going the explain in this writeup:

    • The Backstory
    • What is the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)?
    • What does India need to do to get in?
    • Does joining the MTCR make getting missile technology easier?
    • Does the MTCR actually stop the spread of missile technology?
    • Are there any sanctions for breaking MTCR rules?
    • Does the MTCR actually stop the spread of missile technology?
    • Why does India want to be in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)?
    • Why does the US want India in the NSG?
    • Why doesn’t Pakistan want India in?
    • And what is China’s problem?
    • Why then did China go along with the NSG waiver in 2008?
    • Why does India want to join Proliferation control regimes?
    • Why is India’s Bid for NSG being criticized?

    source

    The Backstory

    • Since 2008, India has been pushing forward to become an NSG member, where decisions are consensus based and not based on majority votes
    • It has also been looking for membership of other groups such as MTCR
    • India recently became the Member of MTCR, however its bid for getting membership of NSG was not successful because of opposition from China and 12 other NSG members

    #1. All about MTCR

    What is the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)?

    Established in April 1987, it is a voluntary association of 35 countries and 4 “unilateral adherents” that follow its rules: Israel, Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia.

    The group aims to slow the spread of missiles and other unmanned delivery technology that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks.

    The regime urges members, which include most of the world’s major missile manufacturers, to restrict exports of missiles and related technologies capable of carrying a 500 kg payload at least 300 km, or delivering any type of weapon of mass destruction.

    How does one become a member of MTCR?

    • Prospective members must win consensus approval from existing members. United States policy had been that members that are not recognised nuclear-weapon states — including India — must eliminate or forgo ballistic missiles able to deliver a 500 kg payload at least 300 km
    • The US, however, made an exception in 1998 for Ukraine, permitting it to retain Scud missiles and, in October 2012, South Korea was allowed to keep ballistic missiles with an 800-km range and 500-kg payload that could target all of North Korea
    • For India, the US have waived these terms, allowing it retain its missile arsenal

    Does joining the MTCR make getting missile technology easier?

    • There are no special concessions for MTCR members. But India hopes its MTCR membership will be one more reason for the US to consider exporting Category 1 UAVs, Reaper and Global Hawk, which have been key to counter-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen
    • These drones have so far been sold to only one country, the UK, though unarmed versions have also been made available to Italy and South Korea
    • The US has been rethinking rules on exports, aware that competitors in Israel, Russia and China are working on similar products — and India wants to be at the head of the queue when the Reaper and the Global Hawk go on the market

    Are there any sanctions for breaking MTCR rules?

    • Rule breakers can’t be punished.
    • However, US law mandates sanctions for companies and governments that export MTCR-controlled items. The sanctioned entity can’t sign contracts, buy arms and receive aid for two years or more.

    Does the MTCR actually stop the spread of missile technology?

    • Yes and no. North Korea, Iran and Pakistan acquired ballistic missile technology from China. But then, China began to feel the pinch of US technology sanctions — and announced, in November 2000, that it would stop exporting ballistic missile technology.
    • Four years later, it applied for MTCR membership — but has been denied entry because of suspicion that some companies in the country are secretly supplying technology to North Korea.
    • Many others dropped missile programmes because of MTCR pressure: Argentina abandoned its Condor II ballistic missile programme (on which it was working with Egypt and Iraq) to join the regime. Brazil, South Africa, South Korea and Taiwan shelved or eliminated missile or space launch vehicle programmes. Poland and the Czech Republic destroyed their ballistic missiles.

    It is possible China may now seek some kind of bargain, whereby it is given entry to the MTCR in return for letting India get into the NSG, where it wields a veto.

    What after MTCR?

    • Admission to the MTCR would open the way for India to buy high-end missile technology
    • It will also make India’s aspiration to buy state-of-the-art surveillance drones such as the U.S. Predator, made by General Atomics.

    #2. All about NSG

    Why does India want to be in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)?

    Following India’s 1974 nuclear tests, the US pushed for setting up a club of nuclear equipment and fissile material suppliers.

    The 48-nation group frames and implements agreed rules for exporting nuclear equipment, with a view to controlling the spread of nuclear weapons; members are admitted only by consensus.

    India has been trying, since 2008, to join the group, which would give it a place at the high table where the rules of nuclear commerce are decided — and, eventually, the ability to sell equipment.

    Many countries that initially opposed its entry, like Australia, have changed stance; Mexico and Switzerland are the latest to voice support. India’s effort has been to chip away at the resistance, leaving only one holdout — China. But until China accepts India’s entry, there is no hope of membership.

    Why does the US want India in the NSG?

    The answer lies in the US effort to strengthen the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, whose centrepiece is the 1968 Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, or NPT.

    The NPT defines “nuclear weapons states” as those that tested devices before January 1, 1967 — which means India cannot ever be one.

    India — like Israel and Pakistan — thus refused to sign the treaty. From 2005, though, President George W Bush’s administration sought ways to deepen strategic cooperation with India.

    Nuclear energy was a key means to strengthen cooperation, but since India wasn’t a member of the NPT, technology couldn’t be shared. Then, a way forward was found — the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement.

    India agreed to separate its civilian and military nuclear programmes, and put the civilian part under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

    India also changed its export laws to line up with the NSG, MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, and Australia Group — the 4 key nuclear control regimes.

    The US agreed to shepherd India’s entry into these regimes, which meant India would for all practical purposes be treated like an NPT member, even though it wasn’t one.

    Why doesn’t Pakistan want India in?

    The Pakistani argument is that giving India easy access to fissile material and technology for its civilian nuclear programme means it would have that much more material for its military nuclear programme.

    Thus, Pakistan says, the move to give India NSG membership is fuelling a nuclear arms race.

    But this argument falls apart because Pakistan is resolutely opposed to a key international agreement called the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT), which would cap the military nuclear stockpiles of all countries. The FMCT ought to put an end to Pakistan’s fears, but Islamabad has refused to sign.

    Why has China opposed India’s Bid for NSG?

    Chinese diplomats say Beijing wants NSG entry to be norm-based , in other words, whatever rules govern Indian entry should apply to others too.

    Norm-based entry would, presumably, help Pakistan gain entry, something many in the NSG are certain to resist because of the country’s record as a proliferator of nuclear-weapons technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.

    Why then did China go along with the NSG waiver in 2008?

    Geopolitics!

    The 2008 one-time waiver allowed nuclear commerce between NSG members and India — the agreement that now allows Westinghouse, and its competitors in France or South Korea, to bid to set up civilian reactors in India.

    The waiver came only after President Bush rang President Hu Jintao and called in a favour. Back then, US-China relations were riding high — on the back of surging trade, and a common vision of how the international order should be structured.

    Today, President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping are at odds over Chinese muscle-flexing in the South China Sea. The odds of a phone call changing the state of play are next to zero.

    Why does India want to join Proliferation control regimes?

    • India’s membership of the NSG and other proliferation control regimes notably the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Australia Group, and the Wassenaar Arrangement is important in order to shatter the myth of it being an “outlier” to the non-proliferation regime as also to facilitate its trade, both imports and exports, of nuclear, missile and other related sensitive technologies.
    • Membership of these regimes will enhance India’s status in this critical area from merely an adherent to a rule maker.
    • It will also enable India to ensure that these regimes perform their mandated role of promoting non-proliferation effectively and not hurt its commercial interests.

    Why India’s recent NSG bid is being criticized?

    • Many experts believe that after the clean waiver of 2008 and the 2011 amendment of the NSG rules (that non-NPT countries would not be entitled to the transfer of the reprocessing and enrichment technology), there is not much merit in seeking a membership of the NSG.
    • The worst outcome of this aggressive bidding was that at NSG forum India’s nuclear regime got hyphenated with Pakistan. It has taken a great deal of effort on the part of successive governments in India to kill the idea of that hyphenation.
    • It suits China ideally to put India in the same bracket as Pakistan. However for India it is diminishing to get itself compared with rogue state like Pakistan who have a dismal track record with respect to Nuclear Proliferation.

    References:

  • UPSC comes out with notifications for Civil Service Exam 2017

    If covert operations are anything to go by, UPSC is trumping them all! Here are your dates for the 2017 Civil Service Calendar:

    1. Prelims Examination to be conducted on- 18th June 2017
    2. Main Examination to be conducted from- 28th October 2017
    3. Notification to be released- 22nd February 2017

    Download the notification from here. Click to download the UPSC pdf.

    Zorr ka jhatka?

     

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- Environment and Ecology part 3

    1. Imp. International Conventions  

    1. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
    2. Minamata Convention on Mercury
    3. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
    4. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
    5. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer under which Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
    6. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change under which Kyoto Protocol On Green House Gases and Paris Accord
    7. Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
    8. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands <where is Ramsar?>
    9. Bonn convention on  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals <Capital of East and West Germany?>
    10. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Washington Convention
    11. Convention on Biological diversity under which Kartagena protocol on biosafety and Nagoya protocol on access and benefit sharing

    Discuss – Other imp. conventions I missed

    2. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)

    1. HQ in Gland, Switzerland
    2. observer and consultative status at the United Nations
    3. Publishes Red Data Book
    4. involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy
    5. IUCN does not itself aim to mobilize the public in support of nature conservation but tries to influence the actions of governments, business and other stakeholders

    Discuss-Other important environmental organizations, Birdlife International, wetland International

    3. Bioamplification, Biomaginification, Bioaccumulation and Bioconcentration

    1. Bioamplification or biomagnification are one and the same
    2. refers to an increase in the concentration of a substance as you move up the food chain
    3. In contrast bioaccumulation occurs within an organism, where a concentration of a substance builds up in the tissues
    4. Bioaccumulation often occurs in two ways, simultaneously: by eating contaminated food, and by absorption directly from water
    5. This second case is specifically referred to as bioconcentration

    Simple – Bioconcentration and bioaccumulation happen within an organism, but biomagnification occurs across levels of the food chain.

    Discuss- Why does BioMagnification occur? Characteristics of substances which tend to bioaccumulate.

    4. In situ and Ex situ Conservation

    1. In situ -conservation in natural habitat, National parks Wildlife sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves
    2. Ex situ –  preservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats, botanical gardens, zoos, conservation strands and gene, pollen seed, seedling, tissue culture and DNA banks.
    3. Note that difference b/w Wild life sanctuary and national park is that national park allows no human activities inside the buffer or core zone
    4. Biosphere reserves cover a larger area of land which may cover multiple National Parks, Sanctuaries and reserves as well. It has core, buffer and transition zone. Demonstrate sustainable living of man and wild life in nature.
    • Discuss – Latest Indian Biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s MAB programme? Which state is it in? Tribe in that reserve?
    • Discuss- Biosphere reserves, national parks, tiger reserve which are also world heritage site

    5. Green house gases, Ozone depleting substances and Air Pollutants 

    1. 6 GHGs under Kyoto -carbon-dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
    2. Montreal Protocol – Ozone depleting substances- include chlorine and bromine in them <only fluorine containing substances do not deplete ozone> Chlorofluorocarbon Carbons (CFC), Carbon Tetra Chloride, HydroChlorofluorocarbons (HCFC)
    3. Note- All these substances are also GHGs but not covered under Kyoto
    4. Note 2– HFCs do not deplete ozone but are covered under Kyoto
    5. 8 pollutants under National Air Quality Index (AQI) –PM10, PM 2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3 and Pb <note that CO2 and Mercury is not included>
    • Discuss – USA wants HFCs to be included under Montreal Protocol, why?
    • Discuss – B/w PM10 and PM2.5 which substance is more harmful and why?
    • Discuss – Which gas is largest contributor to world’s green house effect?
    • Discuss – Largest per capita emission of GHG?

  • e-Waste Management

  • Economic Survey For IAS | Volume 2 | Chapter 9 |Part 3 | Social Infrastructure, Employment and Human Development

     

     

    Country A has per capita GDP of 20k$ but only 10% of it’s population is graduate, 50% of it’s women are anemic, children are malnourished. Country B has per capita GDP of only 8k$ but 100% of it’s population is literate, 50% gradate, prevalence of anemia and malnutrition is closed to zero. Which country would you considered more developed?

    As per capita GDP was always considered as very narrow measure of human development as it did not include important aspects of development such as health, education etc., there was a search for a broad measure of human development.

    In this context Indian Economist Amartya Sen and Paki Economist Mahbub ul Haq came up with the concept of human development index. Since 1990 it’s published annually by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) <where is it’s Headquarters? hint HQ of most UN bodies is in one particular location except one.>

    Human Development Report 2015

    Theme – Work for human development <what was the theme of 2014 report?>

    1. Human Development Index

    Three dimension, four indicators (in bracket India’s data)

    1. Health – Life Expectancy at Birth (68 yrs)
    2. Education – Mean years of schooling (5.4) and Expected Years of Schooling (11.7)
    3. Standard of Living – per capita GNI at PPP (5497$) <difference b/w GNI and GDP?, PPP v/s market exchange rate?>

    UNDP uses geometric mean to arrive at HDI. Formula is not important <wiki for curious souls, it’s very simple>

    • India – rank 130/188, HDI value – 0.609 <in 2014 india was at 135 with HDI of .586>
    • Top Three Countries: Norway > Australia > Switzerland
    • Neighbors: Sri Lanka (73) >China (90) > India > Bhutan >Bangladesh >Nepal >Pakistan > Afghanistan
    • BRICS : Russia (50) >Brazil (75) >China (90) >South Africa (116) 
    • India has lowest schooling rates in BRICS
    • Even B’desh has higher Life expectancy than India

    2. Inequality adjusted HDI –

    • calculated by discounting each dimension’s <health, education, standard of living> average value according to its level of inequality
    • India’s inequality adjusted HDI is 0.435 i.e India loses >25% of it’s HDI value due to inequality with maximum inequality in education.
    • Top 3 – Norways, Netherlands, Switzerland

    3. Gender Development Index (GDI)

    • GDI = Female HDI/ Male HDI <.660/.525 = .795>
    • Except for Pakistan and Afghanistan, India’s GDI as well as female HDI values are lower than all other SAARC nations plus China
    • Mean Years of schooling for women (3.6 yrs) is half of mean years of schooling for men (7.2 years)
    • While male GNI per capita in India is double that of B’desh, female GNI per capita is in fact lower than that of B’desh
    • Needlessly to say it indicates extent of educational and skill deprivation of girl children in India’s cultural context

    4. Gender Inequality Index

     

    Three dimensions, 5 indicators

    1. Reproductive health – MMR and Adolescent Birth Rate
    2. Empowerment – % of women in parliament (12.2%), % of women with some secondary education (27% compared to 56% in men)
    3. Labour market – labour force participation (27% compared to 80% in men)
    • India’s GII of .563 is even higher than Pakistan <in SAARC only Afghanistan behind us>
    • Slovenia is number 1

    5. Multidimensional Poverty Index

     

    Three dimensions 10 indicators

    1. Health – child mortality and nutrition
    2. Education – Years of schooling, school attendance
    3. Standard of Living – cooking fuel, toilet, water, electricity, floor, assets

    Calculation is not important but each dimension has equal 1/ 3 weight and each parameter within dimension has equal weight

    MPI – H *A

    H: Percentage of people who are MPI poor (incidence of poverty)
    A: Average intensity of MPI poverty across the poor (%)

    • A person is considered poor if they are deprived in at least a third of the weighted indicators
    • The intensity of poverty denotes the proportion of indicators in which they are deprived

    For India survey data is of 2005-06, according to which >50% of population suffering from multidimensional poverty and >25% from severe i.e deprivation in >50% of indicators

    Note – Mention this index in any question of poverty where India poverty line is discussed

    While we are at it, let’s also look at some other similar indexes

    1. Global hunger Index

    • Developed by – International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Concern Worldwide an Irish NGO is copublisher
    • 2015 theme – Armed Conflict and Chronic Hunger

    Four Indicators

    1. undernourished population
    2. Wasting in Under 5 children <wasting is very low weight for height i.e very thin child>
    3. Stunting in under 5 children <stunting is very low height for age i.e. very short child>
    4. Under 5 mortality rate

    It’s a 100 point scale with zero meaning zero hunger, 100 meaning worst form of absolute hunger

    • India – 80/104 <only Afghanistan and Pakistan worse in SAARC>
    • improved its global hunger index score to 29 in 2015 from 38.5 in 2005
    • 15% of India’s population still don’t get enough calories each day <and it’s only 1800 kcal>
    • 39% children stunted compared to 48% in 2005
    • 15% wasted compared to 20% in 2005

    2. Corruption Perception Index

    • by – Berlin based Transparency International
    • India – 76/168
    • Denmark 1st

    3. Global Happiness Index

    by – Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a global initiative for the United Nations

    Six Parameters

    1. GDP per capita
    2. Healthy years of life expectancy
    3. Social support (as measured by having someone to count on in times of trouble)
    4. Trust (as measured by a perceived absence of corruption in government and business)
    5. Perceived freedom to make life decisions
    6. Generosity (as measured by recent donations)
    • Differences in social support, incomes and healthy life expectancy are the three most important factors
    • India – 118/156 <below even Pakistan, Somalia>
    • Denmark 1st

    Income Inequality

    As we saw India loses more than a quarter of it’s HDI due to inequality and income inequality plays a part in that. One of the most common method to measure income inequality is Gini Coeffiient

    Gini Coefficient

    It takes value from 0 to 1 with zero denoting perfect equality (everyone having equal income) and 1 denoting perfect inequality (1 person cornering all the income)

    It’s based on income distribution of a population (Lorenz Curve) which plots the proportion of the total income of the population (y axis) that is cumulatively earned by the bottom x% of the population

    source-wikipedia
    source-wikipedia

    India’s Gini Coefficient-

    • In India, National Sample Survey (NSSO) does not collect data on income but it is based on consumption expenditure <inequality in distribution of income will be more than inequality in distribution of consumption expenditure>
    • India’s gini coefficient is about .34 <gini coefficient >.4 is considered highly unequal. China, USA both >.4>

    Gender Issues

    Source-undp
    Source-undp

     

    We have already discussed a lot about gender inequality in various indexes as well as low female labour force participation rate in last chapter.

    A few more points before concluding the chapter-

    • Gender discrimination in India, which is embedded in the social fabric, continues in most spheres such as access to education, to social and economic opportunities.
    • The reliance on a legal system to offer gender equality and justice, has not built in a time dimension in the dispensation of justice <tareekh pe tareekh>
    • Gender discrimination starts from the womb with sex determination tests and abortion of the female foetuses, discrimination in terms of nutrition offered to the girl child, the length and type of schooling the girl child avails of vis-à-vis her male siblings, inadequate or lack of access to higher education, discrimination in opportunities of employment and wages paid and unequal share in inheritance.
    • We have relied on the legal route to address each of these discriminations, without matching changes in the social fabric or role model set by leaders in society from all spheres.
    • The legal route suffers from several shortcomings, especially in terms of time taken for dispensation of justice
    • There is a law for everything but compliance requires a lot more to be done

    Let’s look at the conviction rate for crimes against women

    • Out of 38,901 ‘Dowry death’ cases registered
    • only 13.6 per cent of cases have been tried
    • out of which only 4.4 per cent cases have resulted in convictions.

    Deterent effect of conviction under a law is nullified by the slow disposal of cases and low conviction rates in crimes against women

    What is the govt doing?

    • Bank account for women
    • Gender Budgeting –  Magnitude of it increased from 2.79% to 4.46% of total budgets in the Gender Budget Statement during the period 2005-06 to 2015-16 <what is gender budget? what is zero based budgeting?>
    • UJJAWALA : A Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of trafficking and Resue, Rehabilitation and Re-integration of Victims of Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation <there is another Ujawal for LPG distribution, UJALA for LED bulbs>
    • One stop crisis centre and Sakhi

    Scheme for minorities

    • Nai Roshni – The Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women
    • Nai Manzil: A bridge course to bridge the academic and skill development gaps of the deeni Madrasa passouts with their mainstream counterparts
    • Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn) – Skill Development of Minorities
    • Padho Pardesh – Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loans for Overseas Studies for the Students Belonging to the Minority Communities.
    • Hamari Dharohar – A scheme to Preserve Rich Heritage of Minority Communities of India under the Overall Concept of Indian Culture
    • USTAAD:– The Scheme aims at upgrading Skills and Training in preservation of traditional   Ancestral Arts/Crafts of minorities
    • Minority Cyber Gram -MCG programme seeks to introduce digital literacy skills in identified minority clusters in India through designated Digital Fellows towards knowledge empowerment and entitlement gains of minority focused groups and beneficiaries

    For all Govt schemes and programmes, follow this collection

  • Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

    Mega regional trade deals are in vogue in an otherwise fragile global economy. In an environment of falling aggregate demand, these trade deals are seen as a means to insulate economies from market uncertainties.

    Three important mega regional’s are currently under negotiation: the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership of Asia and the Pacific (RCEP), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

    It is expected that these agreements, once concluded and implemented, will set the stage for a new generation of global trade and investment rules.

    In this article we will explain What is RCEP ,what will be its significance for India and what are the point of contention among countries in RCEP.

    • What is RCEP?
    • Key Features of RCEP
    • Comparison of RCEP with other regional Agreements
    • Significance of RCEP for India
    • Challenges in Final negotiation of RCEP
    • Challenges and concerns for India from Joining RCEP
    • Recent point of contention in RCEP negotiation

    source

    What is RCEP?

    • Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six states with which include India, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea and New zealand.
    • In total, the grouping of 16 nations includes more than 3 billion people, has a combined GDP of about $17 trillion, and accounts for about 40 percent of world trade.
    • If negotiated successfully, RCEP would create the world’s largest trading bloc and have major implications for Asian countries and the world economy.

    Key features of the RCEP

    The RCEP seeks to achieve a modern and comprehensive trade agreement among members. The core of the negotiating agenda would cover trade in goods and services, investment, economic and technical cooperation and dispute settlement. The partnership would be a powerful vehicle to support the spread of global production networks and reduce the inefficiencies of multiple Asian trade agreements that exist presently.

    At the launch of negotiations in 2012, the leaders of each relevant country endorsed the “Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.”

    The key points of this document are as follows:

    (A) Scope of negotiations

    • RCEP will cover trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical co-operation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement and other issues.
    • As expected, ASEAN will be in the “driver’s seat” of this multilateral trade arrangement (though the idea was initially given by Japan), and has been repeatedly endorsed by India.
    • The joint statement issued at the end of the first round of negotiations also reiterated “ASEAN Centrality” in the emerging regional economic architecture.

    (B) Commitment levels

    The RCEP will have broader and deeper engagement with significant improvements over the existing ASEAN+1 FTAs, while recognizing the individual and diverse circumstances of the participating countries.

    (C) Negotiations for trade in goods

    Negotiations should aim to achieve the high level of tariff liberalization, through building upon the existing liberalization levels between participating countries.

    (D) Negotiations for trade in services

    The RCEP will be comprehensive, of high-quality and consistent with WTO rules and all service sectors will be subject to negotiations.

    (E) Negotiations for investment

    Negotiations will cover the 4 pillars of promotion, protection, facilitation and liberalization.

    (F) Participating countries

    Participants will be ASEAN members and FTA Partners. After the completion of the negotiations, countries other than the 16 states may join.

    source

    Significance of RCEP for India

    • India is not a party to two important regional economic blocs: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. New Delhi fears the TPP, although years away from reality, could mean losing some textile and drugs exports to countries like Vietnam, which has embraced both the TPP and the RCEP.
      • TPP is set to change the landscape of global trade. For India, it is most likely to affect sectors like leather goods, plastics, chemicals, textiles and clothing.
      • The RCEP would enable India to strengthen its trade ties with Australia, China, Japan and South Korea, and should reduce the potential negative impacts of TPP and TTIP on the Indian economy.
    • The RCEP agreement would complement India’s existing free trade agreements with the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations and some of its member countries, as it would deals with Japan and South Korea.
    • It would be the world’s largest trading bloc covering a broad spectrum of issues such as trade in goods, services, investment, competition, intellectual property rights, and other areas of economic and technical cooperation.
    • From India’s point of view, the RCEP presents a decisive platform which could influence its strategic and economic status in the Asia-Pacific region and bring to fruition its act east policy.
    • RCEP will facilitate India’s integration into sophisticated “regional production networks” that make Asia the world’s factory. The RCEP is expected to harmonize trade-related rules, investment and competition regimes of India with those of other countries of the group. Through domestic policy reforms on these areas, this harmonization of rules and regulations would help Indian companies plug into regional and global value chains and would unlock the true potential of the Indian economy. There would be a boost to inward and outward foreign direct investment, particularly export-oriented FDI.
    • India enjoys a comparative advantage in areas such as information and communication technology, IT-enabled services, professional services, healthcare, and education services. In addition to facilitating foreign direct investment, the RCEP will create opportunities for Indian companies to access new markets. This is because the structure of manufacturing in many of these countries is becoming more and more sophisticated, resulting in a “servicification” of manufacturing.

    Challenges in Final negotiation of RCEP

    Finalizing the RCEP will not be a cakewalk for India and other countries involved in the negotiations as there are a range of issues that could act as spoilers.

    • Huge economic disparities among the negotiating countries are likely to pose a challenge
    • An inevitable source of trust deficit between China and the rest which has the potential to constrain regional economic cooperation is China’s aggressive postures on territorial disputes with Japan and India and with ASEAN member countries on the South China Sea disputes.This can pose as a hurdle in final negotiation of RCEP
    • The existing 5 ASEAN+1 and 23 ratified bilateral FTAs, varying greatly in their terms, pose a significant hurdle to RCEP negotiations.
    • The lack of commonality across FTAs and varying internal policies of countries would prove to be a difficult task to harmonize and consolidate under RCEP.

    Challenges and concerns for India from Joining RCEP

    For New Delhi, following challenges lie ahead.

    • First, tariff barriers, which have been a matter of discontent in bilateral FTAs, particularly in the case of the ASEAN-India FTA, will be central to the negotiations in the upcoming rounds of RCEP negotiations.
    • Non-trade issues such as environment and labor are likely to be prickly as well and need greater attention. Many Countries in RCEP want a stricter norms and standards on environment and labor issues while India’s interest lie in liberal environment and labor norms as this makes Indian industry competitive. India therefore should bat for liberal environment and labor norms while negotiating in RCEP.
    • India must take steps to strengthen its Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSME) sector, equipping it not only to survive the free flow of trade, but also to become a set of more competitive players. Higher investments in R&D and achieving international standards in terms of delivery are needed.
    • An internal commerce ministry estimate that signing the 16-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement will result in a revenue loss of as much as 1.6% of GDP
    • Finally, a major difficulty for India will be negotiating terms with China. India has to be firm and calculative in terms of taking tough policy decisions, while working tirelessly on capacity building of its domestic industries.

    Recent point of contention in RCEP negotiation

    • Recently in the 12thround of RCEP talks The members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have, in a sort of ultimatum, asked India to either to consent to eliminate tariffs on most products quickly or leave the talks on the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that is being negotiated by RCEP itself.
    • The members of RCEP are irked by what they think as India’s obstructionist, defensive and half-hearted approach” that is “delaying” the result of the talks
    • Some member countries, particularly 10- members ASEAN bloc, want India to take a long-term approach and consent to eliminate deities (except in agriculture and industrial goods) on a higher threshold within a decade to help India get the benefit of the opportunities arising out of Global Value Chain.

    References:

  • [Solved] IAS Prelims 2016 Mocks #1

    Update:

    The solutions for this mock are now available in a downloadable pdf. We have tried to make them as detailed as possible and included references and user comments wherever possible. Download link. 

     

    Here we go. This is the first of the many Prelims mocks coming for you. For detailed syllabus, click this link.

    Note: For readers armed with their Android phones, you shall not be able to comment on this quiz from the App ecosystem, so please return to your desktops and fill in the comments and discuss!

    Q1. Consider the following statements:

    1. River Manas cuts through the Khasi Hills to join Brahmaputra.

    2. Abor Hills are drained by Barak river.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Q2. Which of the following is/are correctly matched?

    Hill Station       :       Located in

    1. Mahabaleshwar  :     Satmala Hills

    2. Pachmarhi           :     Mahadeo Hills

    3. Matheron             :     Gawilgarh Hills

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 2 only

    (b) 1 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    Q3. Narmada River does not have many tributaries primarily because

    1. It flows through the region of scanty rainfall.

    2. The hard rock surface and non-alluvial nature of the peninsular plateau permits little scope for the development of tributaries.

    3. It flows through a narrow valley confined by precipitous hills.

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    Q4. ‘Great Channel’ separates which of the following pairs of islands?

    (a) Great Nicobar and Sumatra

    (b) South Andaman and Little Andaman

    (c) Car Nicobar and Little Nicobar

    (d) North Andaman and Little Andaman

    Q5. What is the correct order of the following tributaries of Ganges as they join her from east to west?

    1. Ramganga

    2. Gandak

    3. Son

    4. Saptakoshi

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1-3-2-4

    (b) 4-3-2-1

    (c) 4-2-3-1

    (d) 1-2-3-4

    Q6. The difference in the length of days and nights at various places is caused due to 

    (a) elliptical orbit of the earth around the sun

    (b) rotation of the earth around its own axis

    (c) revolution of the earth around the sun

    (d) Inclination of the earth’s axis to the plane of its orbit

    Q7. Which of the following regions is conspicuous for the absence of many active volcanoes in comparison to other regions?

    (a) Indonesian Archipelagos

    (b) Western Coast of North America

    (c) Brazilian Coast

    (d) Chilean Coast

    Q8. Which of the following features/landforms are you least likely to observe if you are visiting Himalayan region?

    (a) U-shaped Valleys

    (b) Moraines

    (c) Cirques

    (d) Yardangs

    Q9. “Trees are adapted to withstand the dry summer without shedding of leaves.  Plants have spiny, waxy or small leaves to reduce transpiration. Trees have deep roots to tap water from depths. Thick bark also prevent loss of moisture.”

     Which of the following types of forests have been described above?

    (a) Tropical Deciduous forests

    (b) Mediterranean forests

    (c) Tropical Evergreen forests

    (d) Mid-latitude Evergreen forests

    Q10. Which of the following regions receive heavy rainfall due to South-west monsoon?

    1. Coromandel Coast

    2. East Himalayan region

    3. Malabar Coast

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 and 3 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    Q11. Which of the following is/are the major kharif crops in India?

    1. Cotton

    2. Groundnut

    3. Wheat

    4. Pearl Millet (Bajra)

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1, 2 and 4 only

    (b) 1 and 2 only

    (c) 1, 2 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

    Q12. Consider the following statements about the geology of India:

    1. The southern plateau block is formed mainly of granites and gneisses.

    2. The Shillong plateau is an extension of the peninsular plateau.

    3. The Deccan lava plateau has a generally homogenous relief.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    Q13. Consider the following statements about the Census 2011:

    1. The density of population increased in all states and union territories except Arunachal Pradesh.

    2. Male-Female gap in literacy rate has been lowest in the last five decades.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2 only

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Q14. Which of the following regions are known for iron ore reserves?

    1. Ruhr region

    2. Kuznetsk basin

    3. Donetsk basin

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) None

    Q15. Consider the following statements about the Sub-Tropical High Pressure Belts?

    1. They are located around 30º latitudes in both the hemispheres and are also known as ‘horse latitudes’.

    2. They are characterised by subsiding dry air and are conspicuous by the presence of tropical deserts.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2  only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Q16. Earthquakes along the Himalayas and the foothills are best explained in terms of

    (a) plate tectonics

    (b) young age of the Himalayas

    (c) fragile and largely unconsolidated rocks

    (d) divergence of plates

    Q17. Consider the following statements:

    1. Winter rainfall over the plain areas of north-west India is caused by western disturbances.

    2. The rainfall caused by western disturbances increases from north and north-west to the east.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2  only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Q18. According to the Indian convention, which of the following is the first season of the year?

    (a) Hemanta

    (b) Sharada

    (c) Shishira

    (d) Vasanta

    Q19. The winter rainfall over the plain areas of the north western region of India is largely due to

    (a) South-west monsoon

    (b) North-east monsoon

    (c) Western disturbances

    (d) Convection currents

    Q20. Consider the following statements:

    1. They are generally clayey, deep and impermeable.

    2. On the uplands they have a comparatively lower fertility than on the low lands.

    3. They consist of lime, iron, magnesium and alumina but they lack in phosphorus, nitrogen and organic matter.

    4. They extend over parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

    Which of the following types of soil has been described in the above statements?

    (a) Alluvial soil

    (b) Black soil

    (c) Red soil

    (d) Laterite soil

    Q21. Which of the following pairs is/are not correctly matched?

    Native Tribe    :      State

    1. Konyak             :    Nagaland

    2. Tagins               :    Arunachal Pradesh

    3. Angami             :    Meghalaya

    4. Abor                  :    Mizoram

    Choose the correct alternative using the codes given below.

    (a) 1 and 2

    (b) 1, 2 and 3

    (c) 3 and 4

    (d) 1, 3 and 4

    Q22. Consider the following statements:

    1. Isotherms are more regular and widely spaced in Northern hemisphere compared to the Southern Hemisphere.

    2. Isotherms bend slightly while crossing from land masses to oceans.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2  only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Q23. The large difference in rainfall received at Mahabaleshwar and Pune, which are only a few kilometres away, is largely because

    (a) Pune has dry air conditions all the year round

    (b) Mahabaleshwar is situated at a higher altitude than Pune

    (c) Pune is situated in a rain shadow region

    (d) None of the options (a), (b) or (c) sufficiently explains the phenomenon

    Q24. Waves in the open seas are largely caused by

    (a) gravitational pull of the sun

    (b) gravitational pull of the moon

    (c) undulating surface of the oceans

    (d) wind blowing over the sea surface

    Q25. ‘Gaza Strip’, which is frequently in news, is surrounded by

    (a) Israel, Lebanon and Syria

    (b) Mediterranean sea, Israel and Egypt

    (c) Mediterranean sea, Israel and Lebanon

    (d) Mediterranean sea, Israel, Egypt and Lebanon

  • Economic Survey For IAS | Volume 2 | Chapter 9 |Part 2 | Social Infrastructure, Employment and Human Development

     

    Child Labour

    A multi-pronged strategy to tackle the problem of child labour

    • Statutory and legislative measures <amendment to child labour act>
    • Rehabilitation of children withdrawn from work through specific schemes and universal Social Infrastructure
    • Employment and Human Development
    • Elementary education #supplemented with economic rehabilitation of their families by way of convergence with existing programmes and schemes

    Amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986

    Source-indianexpress
    Source-indianexpress

     

    • Complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years
    • Two exceptions–
    • 1. work done in family enterprises and on farmlands provided it is done after school hours and during vacations
    • 2. working as artists in audio-visual entertainment industry, including advertisement, films, television serials  except the circus, provided that such work does not affect the school education.
    • linking the age of prohibition with the age under the RTE Act 2009, and stricter punishment for employers
    • barred employment of adolescents (14 to 18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes like chemicals and mines
    • no penalty for parents for the first offence, the employer will be liable for punishment even for first violation

    Criticism-

     

    • amendments partially legitimises child labour
    • how it would be ensured that the child is working in a non-hazardous family enterprise and that he/she would be doing so only after school hours

    National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme

    • Under this children rescued from work in the age group of 9-14 years are enrolled in NCLP special training centers
    • they are provided bridge education, vocational training, midday meal, stipend, health care, etc., before being mainstreamed into formal education system.
    • Children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through close coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA)

    Skills Gap and Employment

    Why skill india

     

    1. Nearly 90% of employable people did not receive any vocational training <80% of German workforce formally skilled>
    2. Imparting vocational education and training is an effective way of developing skills for improving the employability of the population

    Why vocational education not popular in India

    • perception that vocational education and skill development are meant for people who have failed to join mainstream education <attitudinal factors>
    • perception is strengthened by the significantly lower wages paid to employees with vocational training vis-à-vis those with formal education

    What has govt done so far?

    1. Setting up of the NSDC
    2. establishment of the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) <it will facilitate increased adoption of skill development programmes, with availability of pathways for progression between higher education and skill development
    3. funding initiatives such as the Standard Training and Assessment Reward (STAR) scheme <can you tell us more about STAR?> <What is Udaan scheme?>
    4. Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) -autonomous industry led bodies
    5. create National Occupational Standards (NOSs) and Qualification Packs (QP) for each job role in the sector
    6. develop competency frameworks, conduct training of trainers
    7. conduct skill gap studies and assess through independent agencies
    8. certify trainees on the curriculum aligned to NOSs developed by them

    Four big schemes

    1. National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
    2. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
    3. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY)
    4. National Action Plan (NAP) for skill training  target of skilling 5 lakh differently-abled persons in next three years

    For detail about these schemes read this story-  Mammoth task of skilling India  and this blog

    Towards A Healthy India

    Goal is to provide accessible, affordable and equitable quality health care, especially to the marginalized and vulnerable sections of the population

    Challenge – paucity of resources (both financial -1.2% of GDP on Health and human, 1 doctor per 1400 as compared to WHO norm of min 1 doctor per 1000), weak social and environmental determinants such as age at marriage, nutrition, pollution, access to potable water and hygienic sanitation facilities

    Health system in India –

    Mix of Public – Sub Centre, Primary Health Centre, Community Health Centre, District Hospital, Medical Colleges and private as well as informal quacks

    Outreach and community level services – provided through coordination b/w ASHA <Accredited Social Health Activist>, Anganwadi Workers (AWW) and the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM)

    • Note 1– AWW works under ICDS scheme run by WCD ministry.
    • Note 2 – ASHA is a woman resident of the village  married/ widowed/ divorced, preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years educated up to class 10.  Her Primary role is community mobilization. She works under National Health Mission of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

    Imp. Points from NSSO survey -Key Indicators of social consumption in India: Health, 2015

     

    1. Private sector continues to play a significant role in the provision of outpatient and hospitalized care
    2. there has been a nearly two-fold jump in the institutional deliveries since the last such survey.
    3.  >60 % of all institutional deliveries are in the public sector and the Out of Pocket expenditures for childbirth in the public sector is about 1/10 that in the private sector
    4. >70% (72 % <decreased from 78%> in the rural areas and 79 % in the urban areas) of non hospitalised treatment was sought in the private sector
    5. 58% hospitalized treatment in private hospital in rural while 68% in Urban
    6. > 85% population outside health insurance – coverage by government-funded insurance schemes only 13.1 % of rural India and 12 % of urban population
    7. treatment in a private hospital costs four times as much as it does in a public hospital on an average

    Health Indicators and MDG

    Under five mortality -declined from 126 in 1990 to 49 in 2013, much faster than global rate of decline during the same period <target was to reduce it to 1/3 by 2015 i.e 42>

    Maternal Mortality– declined from 437 to 167 <target was to reduce by 3/4 i.e. 109>

    Immunization – From 36 % fully immunized in NFHS- 1,improved to 44 % in NFHS- 3 <NFHS 4 data is available only for 12 states>

    Imp. – % of children who are fully immunized is lower in urban areas compared to rural areas in majority of the States. It indicates that the availability of preventive health care is through the public health system, which needs strengthening in urban areas and hence National Urban Health mission has been launched.

    Source-World Health Statistics 2015
    Source-World Health Statistics 2015

     

    What is govt doing?

    1. Mission Indradhanush
    2. Four new Vaccines – IPV, MR, Rotavac, Adult JE vaccine
    3. National Iron Plus Initiative – to address anemia among children (6 months to 19 years) and women in reproductive age including pregnant and lactating women in both rural and urban areas
    4. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK)
    5. Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK)
    6. National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancers, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)- jointly by MoHFW and Ministry of AYUSH on pilot basis in six districts
    7. Jan Aushadhi Scheme < what’s the differenece b/w generics and branded drugs>
    8. Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, or National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS) – new name of RSBY – Cover of 1lakh plus additional cover of 30K for senior citizens
    9. National Dialysis Service Programme – to provide dialysis facilities of chronic Kidney Disease Patients under PPP mode

    Human Resource shortfall (Rural Health Statistics 2015)

    • At the all-India level, CHCs are short of surgeons by 83 per cent of the total requirement <more shortfall in more backward states>
    • Only 27 per cent of the sanctioned posts have been filled

    The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) index

    • developed by the World Bank to measure the progress made in health sector
    • 4 indicators – immunization, diarrhea treatment, impoverishment (financial protection), inpatient admission
    • India ranks 143 among 190 countries in terms of per capita expenditure on health ($146 PPP in 2011).
    • It has 157th position according to per capita government spending on health which is just about $44 PPP

    Housing Amenities, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health (Social Determinants of Health) (2011)

    • access to drinking water within premises – 46.6 %
    • access to tap water – 35.5 %
    • latrine facilities within the household premises – 46. 9 %
    • Great disparities among states

    What is the govt doing?

    Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)

    • achieve universal sanitation coverage and eliminate open defecation by 2 October 2019 <150 b’day of Gandhi>
    • aims to promote better hygiene amongst the population and improve cleanliness by initiating Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) projects

    It will show results only if the constructed toilets are maintained after construction and also utilized by the beneficiaries <need attitude, mindset and behaviour change>

    Poverty

    Absolute Poverty – Basic needs are not fulfilled i.e food, clothing, shelter <basic needs can be anything, in modern societies electricity even internet>

    Relative Poverty – it is in relation to something, say all those earning less than 2/3rd of median income to be considered poor or say bottom 1/3rd to be considered poor

    Poverty line – consumption or income level below which people are considered poor

    Calculating Poverty Line

    Disclaimer- It’s a very crude way just for understanding

    1. Basically idea is to compute minimum consumption level below which someone would be considered poor <consumption can include anything based on sensitivity so starvation line/ destitute line would include only calorie, some others would include health, education, recreation etc. as well>
    2. Then assign a poverty line basket i.e 10 chapatis a day, 100 gm dal, 1 bananana based on a survey <you get the point, right>
    3. Do a sample survey to find out how many people consume less than the poverty line consumption
    4. It would give you % of people living BPL i.e So called Head Count Ratio of country as a whole as well as different states
    5. Assign monetary value to the poverty line basket items based on prices in different states<price of roti, dal, health check up, education cost, rent charges etc.>
    6. It would give you monetary value of poverty line
    7. Poverty line would be different in different states as cost of living and inflation is different
    8. We know how many people are poor in each state but we still don’t know who the poor are <we have only done a sample survey yet>. So now comes the identification problem
    9. To identify the poor, we have to do census <so called BPL census>

    N.C Saxena Committee submitted the methodology for BPL census in rural areas, Hashim Committee in Urban areas <inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria and ranking points based on assets, income, social status, other vulnerabilities etc.> <For More Info Google with the name of committess, this is to give you concept of poverty>

    Recently Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) was done which can also be used to better identify poor

     

    We presently use poverty line submitted by Tendulakar Committee but before we come to Tendulkar let’s look at the history of poverty estimation briefly

    Pre independence poverty estimates: by Dadabhai Naoroji in his book, Poverty and the Un-British Rule in India

    The poverty line proposed by him was based on the cost of a subsistence diet consisting of rice or flour, dhal, mutton, vegetables, ghee, vegetable oil and salt

    National Planning Committee (1938) estimates were also based on mimium std of living perspective

    Post independence poverty estimates:

    1. Alagh Committee  (1979) – poverty line for rural and urban areas on the basis of nutritional requirements <Rural 2400 KCal, urban 2100 KCal>

    For subsequent years adjust poverty line basket items price levels for inflation to arrive at poverty line

    2. Lakdawala Committee (1993): consumption expenditure based on calorie consumption as earlier but suggested constructing state specific poverty lines

    Updating them using the Consumer Price Index of Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) in urban areas and Consumer Price Index of Agricultural Labour (CPI-AL) in rural areas <assumes that the basket of goods and services used to calculate CPI-IW and CPI-AL reflect the consumption patterns of the poor>

    Tendulkar Committee (2009) –  it was constituted due to 3 perceived shortcomings in the earlier methodologies

    (i) Consumption patterns were linked to the 1973-74 poverty line baskets (PLBs) whereas there were significant changes in the consumption patterns of the poor since that time

    (ii) issues with the adjustment of prices for inflation

    (iii) earlier poverty lines assumed that health and education would be provided by the State and formulated poverty lines accordingly i.e did not include expenditure on health and education

    It recommended following major changes

    1. a shift away from calorie consumption based poverty estimation
    2. a uniform poverty line basket (PLB) across rural and urban India <alag committee 2400 kcal for rural, 2100 for urban>
    3. incorporation of private expenditure on health and education while estimating poverty
    4. updating poverty lines based on changes in prices and patterns of consumption, using the consumption basket of people close to the poverty line
    5. Poverty line was in form of Rs per capita per month

    The Committee recommended using Mixed Reference Period (MRP) based estimates, as opposed to Uniform Reference Period (URP) based estimates that were used earlier <mixed meaning for some items you would ask how much did you consume in last 1 year say for footwear, clothing etc while for others in last 1 month. On the other hand, in uniform every consumption in just last 1 month>

    4. Rangarajan Committee: Poverty line should be based on

    1. Certain normative levels of ‘adequate nourishment’ plus clothing, house rent, conveyance, education < normative means desirable> < average requirements of calories, proteins and fats based on ICMR norms>
    2. A behaviorally determined level of other non-food expenses <behavioral is consumption as per general behavior>

       

    1. It reverted to old system of separate poverty line baskets for Rural and urban areas a<contrast with Tendulkar>
    2. Used Modified Mixed reference period <MMRP> < Aparat from 1 month and 1 year data, it included last week data for some items like egg, fish meat>
    3. It used Monthly expenditure of Household of five for the poverty line as living together decreases cost

    We use Tendular data and based on this incidence of poverty declined from 37.2% in 2004-05 to 21.9% in 2011-12 <rural poverty 25.7%, urban 13.7%>

    Discuss – Criticism of poverty line and Tendulkar methodology

    World Bank Poverty Line – US $1.90 a day on Purchasing Power Parity basis

     

    P.S. – Human Development Index will be discussed in the next part in detail

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