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  • 13th July 2022| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1         Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present – significant events, personalities, issues.

    GS-2       Panchayats and urban local bodies

    GS-3        Indian Economy

    GS-4        Human Values- Lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1 Colonialism in India gained foothold in distinct stages with debilitating impact on the Indian economy. Discuss. (10 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2 The health of municipal finances is a critical element of municipal governance. In context of this, examine the challenges in strengthening the municipal finances and suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3 A well-crafted trade agreement could help India enhance its share in global trade. Therefore, India needs to take care of a few key concerns before entering into trade agreements. What are such concerns India need to address? (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4 “All persons ought to endeavour to follow what is right, and not what is established.” ― Aristotle. What does this quote mean to you? (10 Marks)

     

    HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

    1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

    2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

    3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

    4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

    5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

    6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 11th  February is uploaded on 11th February then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

    7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 11th February is uploaded on 13th February , then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

    8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Staff so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. 

    1. For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 
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  • Q.3 A well-crafted trade agreement could help India enhance its share in global trade. Therefore, India needs to take care of a few key concerns before entering into trade agreements. What are such concerns India need to address? (10 Marks)

    Mentor’s comment-
    • https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/concerns-of-indian-players-should-be-taken-care-of-while-crafting-ftas-8025545/
    • In the intro, mention India’s recent signing of FTA’s with Australia and UAE.
    • In the body mention how well FTA could help India in increasing its share in international trade. In the next part, mention the concerns that need to be addressed such as ensuring that domestic industry is not forced to compete on unequal terms due to preferential tariff coming close to MFN tariff, implementation of rules of origin, including offset clause, sunset clause and negotiation for parity between merchandise and services.
    • Conclude by stating that India needs to take into account the concerns of Indian players while entering into FTAs.

  • Q.2 The health of municipal finances is a critical element of municipal governance. In context of this, examine the challenges in strengthening the municipal finances and suggest the way forward. (10 Marks)

    Mentor’s comment-
    • https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-scale-of-municipal-finances-is-inadequate/article65631481.ece
    • In the intro, mention that pandemic and implementation of GST have affected the fiscal health of the municipalities.
    • In the body mention that after 74th Constitutional amendment, provisions were made for ULB’s fiscal empowerment. In the next part mention the challenges such as constraints in tax base expansion, weakening of institutional mechanisms, impact of GST on revenue etc. In the suggestions mention need for tapping into property tax, other land based resources and user charges, stable support from state and central government etc.
    • Conclude by mentioning that sound municipal health will a crucial factor in determining whether India realises her economic and developmental goals.

  • Q.4 “All persons ought to endeavour to follow what is right, and not what is established.” ― Aristotle. What does this quote mean to you? (10 Marks)

    Mentor’s Comments-

    • Briefly write the context of the given quotation.
    • Discuss the need to follow what is right, and not what is established along with examples.
    • Conclude accordingly.

  • Q.1 Colonialism in India gained foothold in distinct stages with debilitating impact on the Indian economy. Discuss. (10 Marks)

    Mentor’s Comments-

    • Briefly write about the origin of colonialism in India.
    • Explain the four stages in which colonialism established itself and the economic impact each stage had on India.
    • Conclude by highlighting the overall economic impact on India.

  • Top 7, Most Important History Books for UPSC | All India Rankers Suggested

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    History is one of the major subjects in the UPSC syllabus. There is a lot of information that needs to be covered from HIstory. History consists of 3 chunks; Ancient, Medieval, and Indian war of independence. So, you have to read a little more about History. 

    “What are the best history books?” “How many more books?” Some thoughts resonate with almost all candidates especially when it comes to IAS history book lists. But wait, you have to shortlist and get your hands on the right ones. So, when you finally sit down to read those books, many times the thought like “too many books, too little time” makes you feel annoyed! Please note that you have to read all of these books selectively and not completely.

    History Books for UPSC

    For a basic preparation for the prelims and mains, students can start with the NCERT history book to begin their history preparation. Apart from these, some other advanced reference books are also recommended. These books have proven to be extremely useful for students coming from business or science backgrounds.

    If you want to read more details for betterment, you can go for..

    • ALL in ONE- An Advanced History of India (R. C Majumdar, H. C Raychaudhuri, Kalikinkar Datta.
    • From Plassey to Partition and After (Sekhar Bandyopadhya)

    Remember: Read the book and never forget to take notes.

    World History:

    Questions from the world history don’t come in the Prelims. You have to prepare World history for UPSC Mains. Read this book.

    • World History-NCERTs Class XI
    • History of the modern world – Jain and Mathu

    So, to make you a little more concerned and to study a little more, we have compiled a complete bibliography for UPSC that is recommended by the toppers. All you have to do is follow a specific UPSC book list so you don’t get too distracted from the main course.

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  • Bonn meet

    Context

    From June 6-16, representatives from more than 100 countries descended on Bonn to hold preliminary discussions on what could be the final communiqué at the conclusion of COP27, to be held at Sharm-el-Sheikh later this year.

    Key takeaways from the discussion

    • Centred on climate finance: Discussions were centred around climate finance and there was hardly any convergence of issues.
    • No convergence: The developed and developing countries or for that matter, big polluters and small polluters, were speaking from the ends of the spectrum with no meeting ground.
    • Focus on adaptation and mitigation: Much of the discussion was around “loss and damage”, which was being experienced by many of the smaller countries, especially with big coastlines, due to rising river levels, loss of agricultural productivity, loss of livelihoods, etc.
    • The idea to provide assistance for “loss and damage” was opposed by the US and the EU.
    • Need for alternative funding: The Green Climate Fund is considered too cumbersome and the process too lengthy.
    • Hence, the need for an alternate funding route was imperative.
    • It was argued that one needs to look into this issue right now and provide financial assistance to cope with it.
    • This brings into focus the debate between adaptation and mitigation.
    • The demand of the developing countries for a provision of climate finance at a scale much higher than $100 billion a year fell on deaf ears.
    • Incidentally, the figure of $100 billion was arrived at arbitrarily and that too way back in 2009.

    Mitigation Vs Adaptation debate

    • More funding directed toward mitigation: It is generally felt that whatever funding has come for climate change issues has mostly been directed towards mitigation.
    • This is primarily because mitigation projects have a cost-benefit analysis and, therefore, it is easy to lend money because you can get it back through interest payments.
    • Cost-benefit analysis: This is primarily because mitigation projects have a cost-benefit analysis and, therefore, it is easy to lend money because you can get it back through interest payments.
    • Mitigation would mean, for example, setting up solar generation units to avoid carbon footprint.
    • Cost-benefit analysis is difficult for adaptation projects, which would be in the form of grants.

    Actions needed to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius

    • 2.4°C by NDC: The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as on date, are good enough to limit temperature rise to 2.4 degrees centigrade, provided all the targets are met.
    • 1.8°C with net-zero commitment: In addition, if countries also meet their net-zero commitments by 2050, the temperature rise will still be around 1.8 degrees centigrade.
    • 1.5°C:  To limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees centigrade, emissions will have to be cut down by half by 2030.
    • The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) expressed the view that to be more meaningful, the aim should be to reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2025 itself.
    • The logic is that the next round of NDCs is due only in 2025 and by that time, it would be too late to formulate a plan that is achievable by 2030.

    Issue of using remaining carbon space

    • The use of the remaining carbon space available to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees centigrade, a highly contentious issue, was also discussed in Bonn.
    • The US resisted being labelled as a “big emitter” and was not willing to take responsibility for its historical emissions.
    • There is no single estimate of how much carbon space is really available as on date, but broad indications are that at the given emissions rate, it would be roughly 10 years.
    • The raging debate is how to distribute this available space equitably amongst countries, which would mean that someone has to take the burden of stiffer targets.
    • What the US wanted other big emitters like China and India take on greater responsibilities for cutting down emissions.
    • However, the like-minded group of developing countries (LMDCs) — which included China, India, Saudi Arabia and the Arab countries — were opposed to this.

    Conclusion

    If there was any hope that discussions at Bonn would provide an acceptable draft, which could be taken forward during COP27, it was misplaced.

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    Back2Basics: The Paris Agreement

    • The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.
    • Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
    • To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.
    • It is a landmark process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.
    • Implementation of the Paris Agreement requires economic and social transformation, based on the best available science.
    • The Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries.
    • By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

    NDCs

    • In their NDCs, countries communicate actions they will take to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement.
    • Countries also communicate in the NDCs actions they will take to build resilience to adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures.

  • After failing 4 times, how did Rohan Kadam clear UPSC 2021 with flying colours? | Role of tireless mentorship of Sajal Sir | Register to talk to Rohan’s Mentor

    Rohan Kadam Civilsdaily Samsh Mains (Sajal Sir’s) Mentorship Student
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    Rohan Kadam was one of the mentorship students under Sajal sir, Sukanya ma’am, and other CD mentors under the *Smash Mains program. After failing in the first 4 attempts, he realized that If you have to clear UPSC, only studying is not enough. It needs a Guru. He became an active member of Civilsdaily’s ‘Smash Mains’ & ‘Smash Ethics’ Programs. 

    In his interview, Rohan elaborated on 5 ways how he got massive help from CD Mentorship programs.

    • The collective effort of Sajal Sir & Sukanya Ma’am made him pick loopholes in his preparation.
    • Sajal Sir’s tireless mentorship helped him a lot. He even connected for 2 hrs over the phone. And this evaluation brought many micro-level success-oriented suggestions.
    • Those Model Answers shared in Smash Programs, are extremely needful to understand UPSC’s demand.
    • Other Toppers’ copies are shared so that anyone can enhance writing acumen.
    •  Resource consolidation on Mains’ Preparation.

    Rohan hails from Maharashtra and has been exceptional in his studies all through school and college. He is an economics graduate by education.

    Rohan has made us proud by securing AIR 295 in UPSC 2021 exam. It is yet another validation of CivilsDaily’s vision and approach to personalized mentorship.

    click:- book your slot with your personalized mentors | free registration

    In a candid conversation with Siddhart sir, Rohan shared his journey, motivations, up and downs, lessons learned, and his secret of what kept him going. Listen to his story.

    Rohan has given us inspiration and we wish him all the best. He’s going to be an administrator of great integrity!

    Register for Rohan’s mains answer copies and notes.

    Schedule your FREE mentorship session with Rohan’s mentors.
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    Anay was one of 200 rankers from CivilsDaily’s mentorship programs.

  • Bail Law and Supreme Court call for Reform

    The Supreme Court underlined the pressing need for reform in the law related to bail and called on the government to consider framing a special legislation on the lines of the law in the United Kingdom.

    What is Bail?

    • Bail is the conditional release of a defendant with the promise to appear in court when required.
    • The term also means the security that is deposited in order to secure the release of the accused.

    Types of Bail in India

    • Depending upon the sage of the criminal matter, there are commonly three types of bail in India:
    1. Regular bail: A regular bail is generally granted to a person who has been arrested or is in police custody. A bail application can be filed for the regular bail under section 437 and 439 of CrPC.
    2. Interim bail: This type of bail is granted for a short period of time and it is granted before the hearing for the grant of regular bail or anticipatory bail.
    3. Anticipatory bail: Anticipatory bail is granted under section 438 of CrPC either by session court or High Court. An application for the grant of anticipatory bail can be filed by the person who discerns that he may be arrested by the police for a non-bailable offense.

    Conditions for Grant of Bail in Bailable Offences

    • Section 436 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, lays down that a person accused of a bailable offense under IPC can be granted bail if:
    1. There are sufficient reasons to believe that the accused has not committed the offence.
    2. There is sufficient reason to conduct a further inquiry in the matter.
    3. The person is not accused of any offence punishable with death, life imprisonment or imprisonment up to 10 years.

    Conditions for Grant of Bail in Non-Bailable Offences

    • Section 437 of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 lays down that the accused does not have the right to apply for bail in non-bailable offences.
    • It is discretion of the court to grant bail in case of non-bailable offences if:
    1. The accused is a woman or a child, bail can be granted in a non-bailable offence.
    2. There is a lack of evidence then bail in non-Bailable offenses can be granted.
    3. There is a delay in lodging FIR by the complainant, bail may be granted.
    4. The accused is gravely sick.

    What is the recent ruling about?

    • The Supreme Court underlined that arrest is a draconian measure that needs to be used sparingly.
    • The ruling is essentially a reiteration of several crucial principles of criminal procedure.

    Why bail needs reform?

    • Huge pendency of undertrials: Referring to the state of jails in the country, where over two-thirds lodged are undertrials,
    • Indiscriminate arrests: Of this category of prisoners, majority may not even be required to be arrested despite registration of a cognizable offense, being charged with offenses punishable for seven years or less.
    • Disadvantageous for some sections: They are not only poor and illiterate but also would include women. Thus, there is a culture of offense being inherited by many of them.
    • Colonial legacy: Theoretically, the court also linked the idea of indiscriminate arrests to magistrates ignoring the rule of “bail, not jail” to a colonial mindset.

    What is the law on bail?

    • The CrPC does not define the word bail but only categories offences under the Indian Penal Code as ‘bailable’ and ‘non-bailable’.
    • The CrPC empowers magistrates to grant bail for bailable offences as a matter of right.
    • This would involve release on furnishing a bail bond, without or without security.

    And what is the UK law?

    • The Bail Act of the United Kingdom, 1976, prescribes the procedure for granting bail.
    • A key feature is that one of the aims of the legislation is “reducing the size of the inmate population”.
    • The law also has provisions for ensuring legal aid for defendants.
    • The Act recognises a “general right” to be granted bail.

    What has the Supreme Court held on reforms?

    The court’s ruling is in the form of guidelines, and it also draws the line on certain procedural issues for the police and judiciary:

    • Separate law on Bail: The court underlined that the CrPC, despite amendments since Independence, largely retains its original structure as drafted by a colonial power over its subjects.
    • Uniform exercise of discretionary powers: It also highlighted that magistrates do not necessarily
    • Avoid indiscriminate arrests: The SC also directed all state governments and Union Territories to facilitate standing orders to comply with the orders and avoid indiscriminate arrests.

     

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  • 13th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    13th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 1059]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 1059]

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  • Child labour in India

    The Centre does not have any data on child labour in the country and a reason for this is the drying up of budgetary provisions meant for the National Child Labour Project (NCLP).

    What is Child Labour?

    • The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.
    • It refers to work that:
    1. is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; and/or
    2. interferes with their schooling by: depriving them of the opportunity to attend school; obliging them to leave school prematurely; or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

    National Child Labour Project (NCLP)

    • The NCLP Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Labour.
    • Under this Scheme the District Project Societies (DPS) are set up at the district level under the Chairmanship of the Collector/District Magistrate to oversee the implementation of the project.
    • Under this Scheme, the children in the age group of 9-14 years are withdrawn from work and put into NCLP Special Training Centres.
    • They are provided with bridge education, vocational training, mid-day meal, stipend, health care etc. before being mainstreamed into formal education system.
    • The children in the age group of 5-8 years are directly linked to the formal education system through a close coordination with the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
    • A dedicated online portal named PENCiL (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) is developed for better monitoring and implementation.

    Why in news now?

    • No ministry had any data regarding the status of child labour in our country.
    • The NCLP’s schools for child labourers work for three to four years and they have also more or less stopped functioning due to scarcity of funds.
    • Education Ministry also does not have a mechanism to find out the number of children engaged in child labour.

    Grave concerns of the issue

    • This is a serious situation.
    • It is for the first time that a parliamentary panel is engaged in a detailed examination of the national policy on child labour.
    • Though we have legislation, the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, since 1986 the menace of child labour is continue unchecked.

    Various provisions against Child Labour

    • Article 23 of the Indian Constitution states that any type of forced labour is prohibited.
    • Article 24 states that a child under 14 years cannot be employed to perform any hazardous work.
    • Article 39 states that “the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused”.
    • The Child Labour Act (Prohibition and Regulation) 1986 prohibits children under the age of 14 years to be working in hazardous industries and processes.

     

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  • In news: National Emblem of India

    A day after the National Emblem cast on top of the under-construction Parliament unveiled, controversy has erupted over its aggressive posture.

    National Emblem of India

    • On 26 January 1950, a representation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka placed above the motto, Satyameva Jayate, was adopted as the State Emblem of India.
    • The emblem is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka, an ancient sculpture dating back to 280 BCE during the reign of the Maurya Empire.
    • It was originally made of Chunar sandstone.
    • The statue is a three-dimensional emblem showing four lions.

    Features of the emblem

    • The actual Sarnath capital features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, symbolizing power, courage, confidence, and pride, mounted on a circular base.
    • At the bottom is a horse and a bull, and at its center is a Dharma chakra.
    • The abacus is girded with a frieze of sculptures in high relief of The Lion of the North,
    • The Horse of the West, The Bull of the South, and The Elephant of the East, separated by intervening wheels, over a lotus in full bloom, exemplify the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration.
    • Carved from a single block of sandstone, the polished capital is crowned by the Wheel of the Law.

    Historical significance

    • One of the Buddha’s names is ‘Shakya Simha’, meaning ‘Lion of the Shakyas’.
    • The Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath was known as the ‘Simhanada’ (Lion roar) of the Buddha.

     

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  • James Webb Space Telescope

    NASA has unveiled images from the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest and most powerful orbital observatory ever launched.

    What is the image about?

    • NASA released a deep field photo of a distant galaxy cluster, SMACS 0723, revealing the most detailed glimpse of the early universe recorded to date.
    • The collection also included fresh images of another galaxy cluster known as Stephan’s Quintet, first discovered in 1877.

    James Webb Space Telescope

    • JWST is a joint NASA–ESA–CSA space telescope that is planned to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope as NASA’s flagship astrophysics mission
    • It is the most powerful space telescope ever built.
    • It will enable a broad range of investigations across the fields of astronomy and cosmology, including observing some of the most distant events and objects in the universe,
    • It would help understand events such as the formation of the first galaxies, and detailed atmospheric characterization of potentially habitable exoplanets.

    Its significance

    • Some have called JSWT the “telescope that ate astronomy.”
    • It is said to look back in time to the Dark Ages of the universe.

    What does the ‘Dark Ages’ of the universe mean?

    • Evidence shows that the universe started with an event called the Big Bang 13.8 billion years ago, which left it in an ultra-hot, ultra-dense state.
    • The universe immediately began expanding and cooling after the Big Bang.
    • One second after the Big Bang, the universe was a hundred trillion miles across with an average temperature of an incredible 18 billion F (10 billion C).
    • Around 400,000 years after the Big Bang, the universe was 10 million light-years across and the temperature had cooled to 5,500 F (3,000 C).
    • Throughout this time, space was filled with a smooth soup of high-energy particles, radiation, hydrogen and helium.
    • There was no structure. As the expanding universe became bigger and colder, the soup thinned out and everything faded to black.

    This was the start of what astronomers call the Dark Ages of the universe.

    How will JWST study this?

    Ans. Looking for the first light

    • The Dark Ages ended when gravity formed the first stars and galaxies that eventually began to emit the first light.
    • Astronomers aim to study this fascinating and important era of the universe, but detecting first light is incredibly challenging.
    • Compared to massive, bright galaxies of today, the first objects were very small and due to the constant expansion of the universe, they’re now tens of billions of light years away from Earth.
    • Also, the earliest stars were surrounded by gas left over from their formation and this gas acted like fog that absorbed most of the light.
    • It took several hundred million years for radiation to blast away the fog. This early light is very faint by the time it gets to Earth.

     

     

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  • Species in news: Kannimara Teak

    The legendary Kannimara teak of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is still growing in height and girth.

    What is the news?

    • Over the last five years, the centuries-old teak has grown by 1.85 metres in height and 9 cm in girth.
    • This might be one of the largest and oldest teak tree in the world.

    Kannimara teak

    • Worshipped by the tribes of Parambikulam, the Kannimara teak remains a flagship of the tiger reserve offering a spectacular view to visitors.
    • For the tribespeople of Parambikulam, it is still a ‘virgin tree’.
    • That was why they named it Kannimara (meaning virgin tree).
    • The tribal legend has it that the tree had bled when people tried to cut it.
    • So they protected it and started worshipping the tree by offering annual pujas.
    • The Kannimara tree had won the Union government’s Mahavriksha Puraskar in its first year of introduction in 1994.

     

     

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  • [Sansad TV] Perspective: Online Gaming- Landscape & Regulation

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    Context

    • Last month, the government announced setting up of a committee to regulate online gaming and to identify a ministry to oversee it.
    • In this article, we will discuss about the growing landscape of the online gaming industry in India and the need for regulation.

    Why in news?

    • During the Budget session of Parliament, The Online Gaming (Regulation) Bill, 2022 was introduced in Lok Sabha a member from Kerala as a Private Member’s Bill.
    • The Bill sought to maintain integrity in online gaming and introduce a regulatory regime for online gaming.

    Online gaming sector in India

    • In the past few years, India’s nascent online gaming industry witnessed an unprecedented rise, catapulting it to the top five mobile gaming markets in the world.
    • Registering a growth rate of 38%, online gaming is the next sunrise industry.
    • Currently, there are more than 400 gaming companies in India, and it is home to 420 million online gamers, second only to China, according to an analysis by KPMG.

    Types of gaming

    • The types of online gaming include:
    1. E-sports (well-organized electronic sports which include professional players) ex. Chess
    2. Fantasy sports (choosing real-life sports players and winning points based on players’ performance) ex. MPL cricket
    3. Skill-based (mental skill) ex. Archery
    4. Gamble (based on random activity) ex. Playing Cards, Rummy

    Why is the gaming industry booming in India?

    1. Digital India boom in the gaming industry
    2. Narrowing of the digital divide
    3. IT boom

    Other factors promoting the boom

    1. Growing younger population
    2. Higher disposable income
    3. Inexpensive internet data
    4. Introduction of new gaming genres, and
    5. Increasing number of smartphone and tablet users

    Prospects of online gaming

    • State List Subject:  The state legislators are, vide Entry No. 34 of List II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule, given exclusive power to make laws relating to betting and gambling.
    • Distinction in laws: Most Indian states regulate gaming on the basis of a distinction in law between ‘games of skill’ and ‘games of chance’.
    • Classification on dominant element: As such, a ‘dominant element’ test is utilized to determine whether chance or skill is the dominating element in determining the result of the game.
    • Linked economic activity: Staking money or property on the outcome of a ‘game of chance’ is prohibited and subjects the guilty parties to criminal sanctions.
    • ‘Game of Skill’ debate: Placing any stakes on the outcome of a ‘game of skill’ is not illegal per se and may be permissible. It is important to note that the Supreme Court recognized that no game is purely a ‘game of skill’ and almost all games have an element of chance.

    Need for regulation

    • No comprehensive regulation:  India currently has no comprehensive legislation with regards to the legality of online gaming or boundaries that specify applicable tax rates within the betting and gambling industry.
    • Ambiguity of the sector: The gaming sector is nascent and is still evolving, and many states are bringing about legislation seeking to bring about some order in the online gaming sector.
    • State list subject: Online gaming in India is allowed in most parts of the country. However, different states have their own legislation with regards to whether online gaming is permitted.
    • Economic advantage: Well-regulated online gaming has its own advantages, such as economic growth and employment benefits.

    Issues with online gaming

    • Gaming addiction: Numerous people are developing an addiction to online gaming. This is destroying lives and devastating families.  
    • Compulsive gaming: Gaming by children is affecting their performance in schools and impacting their social lives & relationships with family members. Ex. PUBG
    • Impact on psychological health: Online games like PUBG and the Blue Whale Challenge were banned after incidents of violence and suicide.  
    • Threat to Data privacy: Inadvertent sharing of personal information can lead to cases of cheating, privacy violations, abuse, and bullying.
    • Betting and gambling: Online games based on the traditional ludo, arguably the most popular online game in India, have run into controversy, and allegations of betting and gambling.

    Why hasn’t a comprehensive law yet materialized?

    • Earlier, states like Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka also passed laws banning online games.
    • However, they were quashed by state High Courts on grounds that an outright ban was unfair to games of skill:
    1. Violation of fundamental rights of trade and commerce, liberty and privacy, speech and expression;
    2. Law being manifestly arbitrary and irrational insofar as it did not distinguish between two different categories of games, i.e. games of skill and chance;
    3. Lack of legislative Competence of State legislatures to enact laws on online skill-based games.

    Way forward

    • Censoring: Minors should be allowed to proceed only with the consent of their parents — OTP verification on Aadhaar could resolve this.
    • Awareness: Gaming companies should proactively educate users about potential risks and how to identify likely situations of cheating and abuse.
    • Regulating mechanism: A Gaming Authority in the central government should be created.
    • Accountability of the gaming company: It could be made responsible for the online gaming industry, monitoring its operations, preventing societal issues, suitably classifying games of skill or chance, overseeing consumer protection, and combatting illegality and crime.
    • All-encompassing legislation: the Centre should formulate an overarching regulatory framework for online games of skill. India must move beyond skill-versus-chance debates to keep up with the global gaming industry.

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  • NCERT Books for UPSC

    ‘If You Love UPSC, Love NCERTS’- Civilsdaily.

    click: fill the registration form (free) and a senior ias mentor will guide you to study selectively

    Table of Content:

    Hello Students,

    Are you preparing for UPSC Civil Service Exam? Then you must start your preparation as soon as possible because only a graduate degree is enough to become an IAS officer. Let’s explore why NCERTs are the part and parcel of the UPSC journey!

    UPSC-CSE exam is fair and just for all the aspirants of the country. So, the Commission follows the Universal and best sources which are easily accessible to every single student. And that’s why NCERTs books are highly recommendable to start with before Advanced Books. But, at the same time, we shouldn’t cover all the NCERT books from cover to cover. Very selective studies are needful. 

    click: fill the samanvay form (free) and a senior ias mentor will guide you to study selectively

    NCERTs Books for Prelims & Mains:

    History: 

    For a basic preparation for the prelims and mains, students can start with the NCERT history book to begin their history preparation. These books have proven to be extremely useful for students coming from business or science backgrounds.

    For History, you have to follow old NCERTs

    • Ancient India (Class XII) by RS Sharma: This covers the ancient Indian history syllabus completely.
    • Medieval India (Class XI) by Satish Chandra
    • Modern India (Class XII) by Bipin Chandra: Best book for UPSC Medieval History.

    And the questions from Art & Culture are asked from ancient and medieval history so, you have to read overlapping with History

    Art & Culture Books: 

    • Class-11: an introduction to Indian Art.
    • Class-11: living Craft Traditions of India  (Chapters 9 and 10)
    • Class-12: Crafts Traditions of India

    Geography:

    Knowing Indian and world geography is very important. The maps and information provided about the different climatic zones in the NCERT Geography book help to give many answers about geography.

    If you’re a science background student, you should start from very basic.

    • Class 6: The Earth: Our Habitat
    • Class 7: Our Environment
    • Class 8: Resources and Development
    • Class 9: Contemporary India-I
    • Class 10: Contemporary India-II

    If you’re an arts background student, just read the above NCERTs 1 or 2 times.

    The Geography NCERTs all of you read, revise and take notes:

    • Class 11: Fundamentals of Physical Geography
    • Class 11: India- Physical Environment
    • Class 12: Fundamentals of Human Geography
    • Class 12: People and Economy

    Polity: 

    Political science covers the legal and fundamental aspects of the country, which makes it a very important subject. 

    • Class 9: Demographic Politics I
    • Class 10: Demographic politics II
    • Class 11: Indian Constitution at work
    • Class 11: Political Theories
    • Class 12: Contemporary World Politics
    • Class 12: Politics in India since Independence

    Economics: 

    The subject of the Indian economy covers the present and past economic aspects of India, which makes it an important subject. It is very important to know the basics of the UPSC exam. 

    • Class 9: Economics
    • Class 10: Understanding Economic Development
    • Class 11: Indian Economic Development
    • Class 12: Introductory Microeconomics
    • Class 12: Introductory macroeconomics

    Indian Society: 

    Understanding the science behind the activities of society is very important especially when you are aspiring to be a government employee. Download the NCERT Sociology book from here.

    • Indian Society: NCERT Class VI- Social Science; Social & Political Life I
    • Indian Society: NCERT Class VII- Social Science; Social & Political Life II
    • Indian Society: NCERT Class VIII- Social Science; Social & Political Life III
    • Indian Society: NCERT Class XI- Sociology: Understanding Society
    • Indian Society: NCERT Class XII- Indian Society
    • Indian Society: NCERT Class XII- Social Changes and Development in India

    Science and Technology:

    It is important to have adequate knowledge of general science in UPSC. To be able to answer science and technology-related questions you must look at NCERT science books because they cover a lot of information.

    If you’re a non-science background student, start from Class VI NCERTs.

    Final Lines: There is no doubt that NCERT books are a bundle of information, although created for school students, they also cover relevant topics that are a vital part of the UPSC curriculum. Helps UPSC candidates to learn significant subjects, they are among the most renowned books that must be read for UPSC preparation. From biodiversity to geography and thousands of years of history to current politics, NCERT authors have compiled everything important in their books.

    But, whenever selective studies are concerned, you will need a hand-holding support of a personalized mentor.

    click: fill the samanvay form (free) and your personalized mentor will guide you

  • Reasons for splits and switches in political parties

    Context

    In Maharashtra, recently, and in Madhya Pradesh, a while ago, splits in the ruling party and a subsequent realignment of legislators inaugurated new governments.

    Challenges to the effectiveness of anti-defection law

    • Splits and switches are commonplace in legislatures across the globe, and India has witnessed at least three distinct waves.
    • The first wave occurred towards the latter half of the 1960s when challengers to the Congress attempted to displace it in the States.
    • An attempt to end defections: The next phase was inaugurated with an attempt to end the free movement and regulate the behaviour of legislators through the anti-defection law.
    • Law incentivise collective defection: While the law discouraged individual movement, it incentivised a collective movement of legislators since it laid down specific numbers to legitimise and validate party switches.
    • Defeating the purpose: When legislators switch in groups, the costs are shared, and the move also appears less opportunistic, which in many ways defeats the purpose of the legislation.
    • The third phase was inaugurated in 2014 when already-dominant parties began to use splits and switches to weaken and destroy their competitors.
    • Therefore, the current phase is bizarre when compared to the past because dominant parties appear to be actively cheering splits and shifts and having no respect for the basic rules of the game.
    • The anti-defection law and control of institutions are now weaponised by dominant parties to intervene in the internal working of Opposition parties, and sometimes make and break them.
    • Furthermore, legislators are switching support even if it does not count to the making or maintenance of governments.

    Argument against the split

    • Violation of trust: Switchers violate the trust relationship with their constituents as voters get something other than what they bargained for.
    • Difficulty in ensuring accountability: Assuming voters vote for parties and not candidates, the argument is that uncohesive parties make it difficult for voters to draw definitive lines of responsibility.
    • Consequently, it is difficult for voters to hold party governments accountable for their actions during elections.

    Why do legislators split and switch parties?

    • Changes and transformation in parties: While we keep track of party system change, we ignore the point that the component parts, parties which make up the system, too change and transform.
    • Parties constantly adapt new modes to sustain and find success for themselves.
    • Our popular image of a party is that of the classical mass party, which rises from societal movements and is essentially internally democratic.
    • This is what even the Election Commission of India imagines a party should be since many of its guidelines lay stress on the ‘democratic spirit’ and the need for transparency and participation in internal decision-making.
    • Centralised structure: Today’s parties are centralised vote-getting machines which primarily work to ensure the return of political leaders to office.
    • Focus on getting votes: Mass inputs and ideas do not matter, and it is the central leadership that counts. All party activities begin and end with elections.
    • Since parties are mainly concerned with electoral success, anyone who enjoys the confidence of the top leadership and can help increase the seat share is likely to get a ticket.
    • Dominance of financial power: Moreover, we now know that parties prefer candidates who bring in their own money, fund other candidates and raise resources for the party. All this puts the party on the ground in the shade.
    • Closeness of parties to state: the most significant change is that parties are more closely aligned with the state rather than civil society.
    • Parties as a source of services: Parties exchange material and psychological rewards, and goods and services the state provides for electoral advantage.
    • Voters also see parties as a supplier of services.
    • This connection pushes legislators and parties to be in government or at least close to the government.
    • On the supply side, the party on the ground no longer calls the shots; parties are election vehicles and a supplier of services. The party bond exists only as long as it ensures success for the legislator
    •  On the demand side, the voter does not appear to have any problem, as long as “services” are available.

    Conclusion

    Splits and switches are not seen as objectionable by legislators and are not punished by voters as well. Legislators will, therefore, be willing to do anything if the benefits exceed the costs.

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  • Get access: PDF and Video Recording | Grand Webinar #UPSCskill: Writing awesome introductions and conclusions to UPSC Mains answers by Sumit sir, senior IAS mentor | Register for Telegram group link, FREE Prelims package, and mentorship call

    Get access: PDF and Video Recording | Grand Webinar #UPSCskill: Writing awesome introductions and conclusions to UPSC Mains answers by Sumit sir, senior IAS mentor | Register for Telegram group link, FREE Prelims package, and mentorship call

    14th July, 7 pm | Learn and master the skill of writing UPSC intros and conclusions. Submit your query, and get Telegram group + access to FREE resources.

    click and register for the Live session | get telegram link + Prelims package + Mentorship session | with sumit sir, Senior IAS Mentor

    Aspirants, we have started the #UPSCskill series for webinars by UPSC toppers and senior IAS mentors from CivilsDaily. As a part of this initiative, we will be taking up another super important skill that an aspirant must master.

    Feedback for the last #UPSCskill Webinar

    Webinar: Master Introductions and Conclusions for UPSC Mains Answers

    Webinar on 14th July, 7 pm – Thursday

    Sumit sir will be taking a LIVE webinar on coming Thursday. Through a LIVE answer writing session, he will be teaching and helping you master the skills required to formulate amazing introductions and conclusions.

    Register for the webinar. Submit your query and get Telegram group + access to FREE resources. Sumit sir will also share a special PDF with you post-webinar.

    CLICK AND REGISTER FOR THE LIVE SESSION | GET TELEGRAM LINK + PRELIMS PACKAGE + MENTORSHIP SESSION | WITH SUMIT SIR, SENIOR IAS MENTOR

    About Sumit Haritwal sir

    Sumit sir is a senior IAS mentor at CivilsDaily and he has been mentoring UPSC aspirants and now rankers for more than 4 years now. A public policy and international affairs enthusiast Sumit sir has an experience of 3 UPSC interviews and has cleared the PSC and CAPF exam earlier. He will be taking up your questions in the webinar and would also be connecting with you in the Telegram group.

    What The Hindu mentioned about Civilsdaily Mentorship

    The Hindu has acknowledged the success rate of CD’s Smash mains Mentorship

    Quora Digests:

    Register for the webinar. Submit your query and get Telegram group + access to FREE resources. Sumit sir will also share a special PDF with you post-webinar.

    CLICK AND REGISTER FOR THE LIVE SESSION | GET TELEGRAM LINK + PRELIMS PACKAGE + MENTORSHIP SESSION | WITH SUMIT SIR, SENIOR IAS MENTOR

  • Bank frauds

    Context

    The biggest banking scam in India has come to the forefront; in this case, DHFL has hoodwinked a consortium of banks driven by the Union Bank of India to the tune of ₹35,000 crore through financial misrepresentation.

    How scams affect economy

    • The banking system of any country is the backbone of its economy.
    • Excessive losses to banks affect every person in the country because the amounts deposited in banks belong to the citizens of the country.
    • The NPAs that banks incur are mainly due to bad loans and scams.
    • The data by the RBI also show that one of the fundamental problems in the way of the development of banking in India is on account of rising bank scams and the costs consequently forced on the framework.
    • Strangely, as in a Global Banking Fraud survey (KPMG), the issue is not just for India alone; it is a worldwide issue.

    Reasons for scams

    •  Frauds in the banking industry can be grouped under four classifications: ‘Management’, ‘Outsider’, ‘Insider’ and ‘Insider and Outsider’ (jointly).
    • Operational failures: All scams, whether interior or outside, are results of operational failures.
    • Limited asset monitoring: Research by Deloitte has shown that limited asset monitoring after disbursement (38%) was the foremost reason behind stressed assets and insufficient due diligence before disbursement (21%) was among the major factors for these NPAs.
    • Poor bank corporate governance: A study by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore has shown that poor bank corporate governance is the cause behind rising bank scams and NPAs.

    The problems of high NPA

    • In a Financial Stability Report released by the RBI in December 2021, there is a projection of the gross NPAs of banks rising from 6.9% in September 2021 to 8.1% of total assets by September 2022 (under a baseline scenario) and to 9.5% under a severe stress scenario.
    • A high NPA also reduces the net interest margin of banks besides increasing their operating cost; these banks meet this cost by increasing the convenience fee from their small customers on a day-to-day basis.

    Suggestions

    • Banks have to exercise due diligence and caution while offering funds.
    • Regulation and control of CAs: The regulation and the control of chartered accountants is a very important step to reduce non-performing assets of banks.
    • Banks should be cautious while lending to Indian companies that have taken huge loans abroad.
    • Tightening audit system: There is also an urgent need to tighten the internal and external audit systems of banks.
    • Fast rotation of employees: The fast rotation of employees of a bank’s loan department is very important.
    • Public sector banks should set up an internal rating agency for rigorous evaluation of large projects before sanctioning loans.
    • Effective MIS: Further, there is a need to implement an effective Management Information System (MIS) to monitor early warning signals about business projects.
    • CIBIL score of the borrower: The CIBIL score of the borrower (formerly the Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited) should be evaluated by the bank concerned and RBI officials.
    • Use of AI: Financial fraud can be reduced to a great extent by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor financial transactions.
    • Improve loan recovery process: Rather than having to continuously write off the bad loans of large corporates, India has to improve its loan recovery processes and establish an early warning system in the post-disbursement phase.
    • Risk assessment: Banks need to carry out fraud risk assessments every quarter.
    • Only establishment of National Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd. (NARCL) or the ‘bad bank’ is not a real solution.
    • These measures can help only after a loan is bad but not the process of a loan going bad.

    Conclusion

    While the Government of India and the RBI have taken several measures to try and resolve the issue of scams in the banking industry, the fact is that there is still a long way to go.

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  • India must prepare for 5G technology

    Context

    5G technology is going to make inroads into the country very soon.

    Making Digital India project successful

    • With over 117 crore telecom users and more than 82 crore internet subscribers, India is one of the fastest-growing markets for digital consumers.
    • A 2019 Mckinsey study rated India as the second-fastest digitising economy. 
    • Internet connectivity is critical for making the Digital India project inclusive, and widespread use of optical fibre in the remotest corners of the country is vital to ensure that no one is left behind in this endeavour.

    Digital infrastructure for 5G

    • Digital infrastructure, which seamlessly integrates with physical and traditional infrastructure, is critical to India’s growth story and the country’s thrust towards self-reliance.
    • Networking equipment that relies on optical fibre and other semiconductor-based device ecosystems are at the heart of building the infrastructure that will be needed when the country takes the next step in its digital journey.
    • The government has taken several measures to build the next generation of digital infrastructure.
    • A basic requirement of 5G will be data transmission networks.
    • Optical fibre is the backbone of the digital infrastructure required for this purpose — the data is transmitted by light pulses travelling through long strands of thin fibre.

    Optical fibre industry in India

    • In the last 10 years, domestic manufacturers invested more than Rs 5,000 crore in optical fibre industry, which has generated direct and indirect employment for around 4 lakh individuals.
    • Exports from India: India exported optical fibre worth $138 million to over 132 countries between April 2020 and November 2021.
    • India’s annual optic fibre manufacturing capacity is around 100 million fibre km (fkm) and the domestic consumption is around 46 million fkm. Indian optical fibre cable consumption is predicted to increase to 33 million fkm by 2026 from 17 million fkm in 2021.
    • A little more than 30 per cent of mobile towers have fibre connectivity; this needs to be scaled up to at least 80 per cent.

    Unfair competition from cheap imports

    • India’s optical fibre industry has also seen unfair competition from cheap imports from China, Indonesia and South Korea.
    • These countries have been dumping their products in India at rates lower than the market price.
    • What is dumping? The World Trade Organisation defines dumping as “an international price discrimination situation in which the price of a product offered in the importing country is less than the price of that product in the exporting country’s market”.
    • Way ahead: Imposing anti-dumping duties is one way of protecting the domestic industry.
    • The Directorate General of Trade Remedies has recently begun investigations against optical fibre imports.

    Suggestions

    • India needs to invest in R&D, offer production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes to support indigenous high-tech manufacturing and develop intellectual property in critical aspects of digital connectivity.

    Conclusion

    The need of the hour is to unlock the full potential of India’s optical fibre industry and enable India to emerge as a major manufacturing and technology hub while achieving atmanirbharta in its 5G journey.

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    Back2Basics: About optical fibre

    • Fiber optics, also spelled fibre optics, the science of transmitting data, voice, and images by the passage of light through thin, transparent fibers.
    • In telecommunications, fiber optic technology has virtually replaced copper wire in long-distance telephone lines, and it is used to link computers within local area networks.
    • Fibre optics is also the basis of the fiberscopes used in examining internal parts of the body (endoscopy) or inspecting the interiors of manufactured structural products.
    •  Through a process known as total internal reflection, light rays beamed into the fibre can propagate within the core for great distances with remarkably little attenuation or reduction in intensity.

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