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11th July 2022 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions
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(Live Now) Imp Webinar #UPSCskill: LIVE Answer Writing for UPSC Mains PYQs | Tackling GS Paper 4 – Ethics Case studies and Theories | Register-Get Free Resources
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87196341775?pwd=Qlh1WC9BMk9iMkxydmZJbWwyaGZJdz09
Meeting ID: 871 9634 1775 Passcode: 924329
Register and submit your query and get Telegram group + access to FREE resources. Dinesh sir will also share a special compilation of PDF with you post-webinar.
Ethics paper in UPSC mains is designed to evaluate the ‘Ethical Competence’ and not the bookish knowledge about ‘Ethics’. There are certain skills you need to master Answer Writing for Paper-4.
- How to Complete the paper on time even if all questions are not known? Completion of the entire question paper is needful. UPSC doesn’t look for the best answers. It wants the appropriate usage. So, how to illustrate values in the simplest and in the least possible words in time is going to be elaborated in this live session.
- How to write ethics-oriented answers even though questions could have been asked in other GS papers. Ethics norms instruct about right or wrong. So, how to charge your answers with ‘Transparency’, ‘Accountability’, and ‘Right Attitude’ is surely focused in the webinar
- Writing course of action of case studies in most ethical ways along with practical approach. Even an ideal solution wouldn’t fetch marks, if it seems unworkable. Focusing this, How to frame your answers based on peripheral problems in a case study will be discussed.
- How to use examples and can make our own examples. The best possible ways of creating the most relevant experiences/examples from current, social issues, professional life, your area of interest, etc. will surely be talked over here.
- How to have a grip on recent trends in Ethics paper!
- Do and don’t of ethics paper. The most common mistakes will also be discussed. Mistake-prone: If there are no real-life cases, never let it go without them. Be prepared to make your point from the lives of social reformers, leaders, civil servants, etc., and other respected people.
It is easier said than done. It takes a certain level of knowledge, experience, and practice. But, like any other skill, it could be learned and mastered under a teacher/mentor.
Webinar on 11th July, 7 pm – Sunday
Dinesh Sharma sir will be taking a LIVE webinar on coming Monday. This is a must for those who want to learn and master Answer Writing skill to score 110+. We will be taking up and solving LIVE previous year’s UPSC Mains question and case studies for Ethics questions.
Register for the webinar. Submit your query and get Telegram group + access to FREE resources. Dinesh sir will also share a special compilation of PDFs with you post-webinar.
About Dinesh Sharma sir
Dinesh sir is a senior IAS mentor at CivilsDaily and he has been mentoring UPSC aspirants and rankers for more than 4 years now. Dinesh sir has an experience of 2 UPSC interviews and 3 UPSC Mains. He is a passionate mentor and has students’ interests in mind always. He is a public policy enthusiast and is always ready to counsel or mentor UPSC aspirants.
Top Newspaper is saying about Civilsdaily Mentorship
The Hindu has acknowledged the success rate of CD’s Smash mains Mentorship Our ‘Hall Of fame’ have to say about our UPSC programs
Mantri Mourya Bharadwaj AIR 28, UPSC-CSE 2021 
Quora Digests:
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The road to productivity
Context
The commute time for the labour force to the workplace plays a very important role in determining their productivity in cities.
Issue of long travel time to work
- Labour market: Cities are labour markets where the labour force exchanges their labour and creates knowledge spillovers.
- Relation between commute time and productivity: The commute time for the labour force to the workplace plays a very important role in determining their productivity in cities.
- The longer the commute time in a city, the smaller is its effective labour market and vice-versa.
- Difference between nominal and effective labour market: While the nominal labour market of the city refers to all jobs created in the metropolitan area, the effective labour market refers to the jobs accessible within a certain commute.
- Importance of effective labour market: The larger a city’s effective labour market, the greater its agglomeration economies and knowledge spillovers will be.
- From the viewpoint of enlarging a city’s effective labour market and economic output, it is therefore very important to keep the commute time short and commuting cost cheap within a city as it keeps growing in population.
Way forward
- One way in which urban local bodies (ULBs) directly impact the city’s economic output is through their infrastructure.
- Increase in tax base: Road length has a positive effect on the city’s tax base.
- Motivation to pay texes: This is because roads lead to easy access to jobs and increased economic activity; that also gives the public more confidence and motivation to pay taxes.
- Cities should not view investment in road networks as expenditure; rather, roads add to the city’s revenue base which the city can use to improve infrastructure and public services.
Conclusion
Investing in roads not only reduces travel time and enlarges effective labour markets of cities and their economic output, but also improves access to schooling for children as well as healthcare, thereby upgrading human development. This is indeed the road to the $5 trillion economy along with improvement in human well-being.
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11th 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 Parliament and State Legislatures
GS-3 Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
GS-4 Ethics & Human Interface
Question 1)
Q.1 Among the major legacies of the Indian freedom movement, civil liberties formed an important one. Analyze. (10 Marks)
Question 2)
Q. 2 Examine the significance of political parties in India. What are the legal provisions to deal with a split in political parties. (10 Marks)
Question 3)
Q.3 What is forest landscape restoration? How it is different from traditional approach to afforestation? (10 Marks)
Question 4)
Q.4 Family values influence the decisions individuals make both within the family structure and outside of it. Do you agree with the statement? Justify with relevant examples. (10 Marks)
HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?
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Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.
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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.
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You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.
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Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.
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Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.
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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
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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.
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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*.
- For the philosophy of AWE and payment:
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Q.4 Family values influence the decisions individuals make both within the family structure and outside of it. Do you agree with the statement? Justify with relevant examples. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Briefly write about the concept of family values.
- Mention its impact on decision-making of the individuals within the family and other institutions.
- Conclude appropriately by mentioning some other factors which influence decision making.
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Q.3 What is forest landscape restoration? How it is different from traditional approach to afforestation? (10 Marks)
Mentor’s comment-- https://www.thehindu.com/
opinion/op-ed/a-plan-that-is- much-more-than-just-planting- trees/article65617158.ece - In the intro mention that according to IUCN, deforestation and forest degradation contribute to around 12% global greenhouse gas emission.
- In the body explain the approach and its elements.
- Conclude by mentioning that forest landscape restoration must be implemented proactively, bolstering landscapes and forest ecosystems to be durable and adjustable in the face of future challenges and societal needs.
- https://www.thehindu.com/
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Q. 2 Examine the significance of political parties in India. What are the legal provisions to deal with a split in political parties. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s comment-- https://www.thehindu.com/
opinion/op-ed/making-parties- constitutional/ article36764952.ece - https://indianexpress.com/
article/opinion/columns/which- is-real-shiv-sena-answer-lies- with-the-constitution-and- supreme-court-8017803/ - In the intro, mention split in Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
- In the body, mention the importance role played by political parties in India. In the next part mention article 324 and Conduct of Election Rule 1961 and Supreme Court case on the same issue.
- Conclude by mentioning that free and fair regulation of political parties is a essential for our political success as a nation.
- https://www.thehindu.com/
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Q.1 Among the major legacies of the Indian freedom movement, civil liberties formed an important one. Analyze. (10 Marks)
Mentor’s Comments-
- Introduce the answer with the rich legacy of the national movement and its various manifestations.
- Substantiate with examples how civil liberties formed an important legacy.
- Conclude accordingly.
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Proposed Amendments to the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), put out a note, proposing amendments in the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986
- EP Act was passed under Article 253 of the Constitution, which empowers the Centre to enact laws to give effect to international agreements signed by the country.
- The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the UN Conference on the Human Environment.
- They relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.
- It was enacted in 1986 on the backdrop of Bhopal Gas Tragedy.
- The Act was last amended in 1991.
Why this Act?
- The Act is an “umbrella” legislation that has provided a framework for the environmental regulation regime in India.
- It covers all major industrial and infrastructure activities and prohibits and regulates specific activities in coastal areas and eco-sensitive areas.
- The Act also provides for coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under other environment-related laws, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
What are the proposed amendments?
- The Environment Ministry has proposed amendments in four key legislations:
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and
- Public Liability Insurance (PLI) Act, 1991
- These are the cornerstone environmental laws that led to the setting up of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
- These laws empowered the CPCB to take criminal action against individuals and corporate bodies who pollute air, water and land.
Powers given to CPCB by these Laws
- The clutch of laws currently empowers the CPCB to either:
- Shut down a polluting industrial body or
- Imprison executives of an organization found to be environmental violators
- The EPA currently says that violators face imprisonment up to five years or a fine up to ₹1 lakh or both.
- There’s also a provision for the jail term to extend to seven years.
Purpose of the Amendments
- The Environment Ministry had received suggestions to decriminalise existing provisions of the EPA to weed out “fear of imprisonment for simple violations.”
- These, however, don’t apply to violations that cause grave injury or loss of life.
How will violators be punished?
- The changes proposed include the appointment of an ‘adjudication officer’.
- He/She will decide on the penalty in cases of environmental violations such as reports not being submitted or information not provided when demanded.
- Funds collected as penalties would be accrued in an “Environmental Protection Fund.”
- In case of contraventions of the Act, the penalties could extend to anywhere from 5 lakh to 5 crore, the proposal notes.
Need for such amendments
- Limited success of existing laws: The history of environmental action and its success in India shows that the current laws have had limited effectiveness.
- Backlog of cases: An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment found that Indian courts took between 9-33 years to clear a backlog of cases for environmental violations.
- Capitalist power: Myriad challenges dogged the process of bringing violators to book.
- Red tapism: Flag pollution from an industrial unit would mean filing a complaint with the court of the concerned DM, or furnishing evidence to the CPCB which would again have to approach the same institution.
- Burden of proof: In most cases, it was practically impossible to hold a specific individual in an organization responsible for a specific crime given the burden of proof required.
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Centre releases guidelines for Mission Vatsalya
In order to access Central funds and benefits under Mission Vatsalya (an umbrella scheme for child protection services in the country), the centre has issued certain guidelines.
What is Mission Vatsalya?
- Mission Vatsalya promotes family-based non-institutional care of children in difficult circumstances based on the principle of institutionalization of children as a measure of last resort.
- It is one of the new triad of schemes along with Mission Shakti, and Poshan 2.0, that aims at securing a healthy and happy childhood for every child.
Components under the mission include:
- Improve the functioning of statutory bodies;
- Strengthen service delivery structures;
- Upscale institutional care/services;
- Encourage non-institutional community-based care;
- Emergency outreach services;
- Training and capacity building.
Implementation
- It will be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in partnership with state governments and UT administrations, with a fund-sharing pattern in a 60:40 ratio.
- However, for the eight states in the Northeast — as well as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the UT of J&K — the Centre and state/UT’s share will be 90:10.
- The Centre will cover the whole cost in UTs without a legislature.
What are the new guidelines?
(1) Official changes
- States will have to retain the official name, as given by the Centre. Only a correct translation to local language is permissible.
- The centre detailed the process by which funds will be disbursed to states under various heads by defining institutionalised arrangements.
- Funds to states will be approved through the Mission Vatsalya Project Approval Board (PAB), which will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of WCD.
- The Secretary will scrutinise and approve annual plans and financial proposals received from states and UTs for release of grants.
(2) Special arrangements
- States/UTs have also been directed to focus on special needs children with physical or mental disabilities.
- Institutions now have to provide special educators, therapists and nurses to impart occupational therapy, speech therapy, verbal therapy and other remedial classes.
- The staff in these special units will have to know sign language, Braille, etc, according to the new guidelines.
(3) Newly shouldered tasks
- The guidelines state that Mission Vatsalya will support State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARA), which will support the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).
- This move aims at promoting in-country adoption and regulating inter-country adoption.
- Mission Vatsalya, in partnership with states and districts, will execute a 24×7 helpline service for children, as defined under JJ Act, 2015.
Name change saga: Child Protection Services Scheme
- Before 2009, three schemes were being implemented under the WCD Ministry for children in need of protection:
- Programme for juvenile justice for children in need of care and protection, and children in conflict with law;
- Integrated programme for street children and
- Scheme for assistance to homes for children
- These were clubbed in 2010 into a single scheme called the Integrated Child Protection Scheme.
- It was then renamed “Child Protection Services” Scheme in 2017, and again as Mission Vatsalya in 2021-22.
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Sannati and Kanaganahalli Buddhist Sites
Left almost unattended to for 20 years after excavation, the ancient Buddhist site on the bank of Bhima river near Kanaganahalli (forming part of Sannati site) in Kalaburagi district, has finally got some attention.
About Sannati
- Sannati is a small village on the banks of the River Bhima in Chittapur Taluka of Kalaburagi (Gulbarga).
- It came into prominence after the collapse of the roof of the Kali temple in Chandralamba temple complex in 1986.
- The collapse revealed the historically valuable Ashokan edicts written in Prakrit language and Brahmi script at the foundations of the temple, attracting historians from across India.
- While the Stupa is believed to be one of the largest of its time.
- The stone-portrait is considered to be the only surviving image of the Mauryan Emperor which had the inscription ‘Raya Asoko’ in Brahmi on it.
Significance of Sannati
- Further revelations led to the discovery of the magnificent Maha Stupa, which had been referred to as Adholoka Maha-Chaitya (The Great Stupa of the Netherworlds) in the inscriptions.
- More importantly, a sculpture-portrait of Ashoka seated on his throne with his queens was also discovered.
- Historians believe that the Sannati Ranamandal (war zone) was a fortified area spread over 210 acres, of which only a couple of acres have been excavated so far.
Try this PYQ:
In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashokan’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
(a) Kanganahalli
(b) Sanchi
(c) Shahbazgarhi
(d) Sohgaura
Post your answers here.
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[pib] National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI)
Two new Internet Exchange points (IXP) of NIXI were inaugurated at Durgapur and Bardhman.
What is NIXI?
- NIXI is a not for profit Organization under section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 and was registered on 19th June 2003.
- It’s an initiative under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) vision 1000 days.
- It aims for spreading the internet infrastructure to the citizens of India through the following activities:
- Internet Exchanges through which the internet data is exchanged amongst Internet Service Protocols (ISPs), Data Centers and CDNs.
- .IN Registry, managing and operation of .IN country-code domain and .भारत IDN domain for India.
- Indian Registry for Internet Names and Numbers (IRINN), managing and operating Internet protocol (IPv4/IPv6).
Why NIXI?
- NIXI was set up for peering of Internet Service Protocols (ISPs) among themselves for the purpose of routing the domestic traffic within the country, instead of taking it all the way to US/Abroad.
- It is thereby resulting in better quality of service (reduced latency) and reduced bandwidth charges for ISPs by saving on International Bandwidth.
- NIXI is managed and operated on a Neutral basis, in line with the best practices for such initiatives globally.
Utility of NIXI
- The launch of these new NIXI internet exchanges will contribute to the enhancement and improvement of Internet and Broadband services at local level and in neighbouring regions.
- The internet service providers connecting at these points will benefit as their broadband services to their end users will improve, bringing about a change in the lives of the people of the region.
- It will benefit every sector of the state ranging from health, education, agriculture, startup, and ecosystem to MSMEs & other business verticals.
- Accessibility and convenience will increase for citizens in terms of availing government benefits and improving quality of life.
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Places in news: Singalila National Park
The Singalila National Park, the highest protected area in West Bengal, will soon wild Red Panda.
Singalila National Park
- Singalila National Park is located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal.
- It is well known for the trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it.
- The Singalila area in Darjeeling was purchased by the British Government from Sikkim Durbar in 1882, and notified a Reserve Forest under the Indian Forest Act 1878.
- It was notified as a National Park in 1992 and was also officially opened up for tourism.
Why introduce Red Panda?
- The number of red pandas has been declining in the wild, even in the Singalila and Neora Valley National Parks, the two protected areas where the mammal is found in the wild in West Bengal.
- Recent studies estimate that there are 38 of them in Singalila and 32 in Neora.
- The zoological park who is at the centre of the Red Panda Augmentation Programme.
- Conservation breeding of red pandas is only one part of the programme.
About Red Panda
IUCN Red List: Endangered
- The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
- It was first formally described in 1825.
- The red panda inhabits coniferous forests as well as temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, favouring steep slopes with dense bamboo cover close to water sources.
- It is solitary and largely arboreal.
- It feeds mainly on bamboo shoots and leaves, but also on fruits and blossoms.
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Japan with India, for Indo-Pacific
Context
The article recounts the contribution of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in strengthening India-Japan ties.
Indo-Japan ties: Background
- Japan-India ties are 70 years old this year.
- For the first five post-war decades of the 20th century, bilateral ties were friendly.
- India was not among the signatories of the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty, which brokered post-war relations between the defeated Axis power and the Allies.
- Instead, Delhi established an independent peace treaty and bilateral relations with Japan.
- Nehru’s decision to accept Japanese Overseas Development Aid, the first country to do so, also generated a lot of goodwill in the bilateral relationship. Several collaborations took place.
- But it was only in the 21st century that bilateral ties climbed up to the next level.
India-Japan ties during Shinzo Abe’s premiership
- While Prime Ministers Yoshiro Mori had signed the Global Partnership for the 21st Century Agreement in 2000, to Abe goes much of the credit for the transformation of India-Japan ties in the last two decades.
- This period witnessed the Japanese funding for ambitious projects such as the Mumbai-Delhi Industrial Corridor and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train.
- The two countries upgraded the relationship to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
- After a waiver to India from the Nuclear Suppliers Group following the India-US civil nuclear deal, Abe — and his Liberal Democratic Party successors — had begun to consider a similar deal with India, and a round of negotiations was held in that period.
- The deal was eventually signed in 2016, and became operational a year later.
- It was during his tenure that the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (constitutionally, the Japanese military exists only for self-defence purposes) began naval exercises with friendly powers — India and Japan held their first naval exercise in December 2013 — and the country appointed its first National Security Advisor.
Conclusion
Abe believed that he was both destined and better equipped than many of his peers to play a transformational role in Japan’s politics and foreign affairs. He certainly achieved that with India. His passionate advocacy of closer ties with India will be missed.
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CivilsDaily IAS: Upcoming events
Click for details of the upcoming webinar
Participate in super-intensive, highly interactive, 1-1 UPSC IAS sessions twice a week (at least). These sessions will be focused on:
Learning UPSC skills
UPSC notes making, Mains Answer Writing, Reading The Hindu for UPSC, Making notes from newspapers, Attempting UPSC Prelims MCQs, Elimination techniques, Writing answers with limited content, etc.
UPSC Strategy and Planning
UPSC Toppers and senior IAS mentors will be coming LIVE and helping you strategize, make a UPSC timetable, analyze your current situation and help you make necessary changes in your UPSC preparation.
UPSC Motivational sessions and 1-1 with Toppers
Get an opportunity to talk 1-1 with UPSC toppers and in-service mentors. Know what motivates them, what made them keep going, disciplined and consistent. They will also share their strategy and things that worked for the toppers.
Webinar on 11th July 2022, 7 pm
Previous Webinars
The last webinar conducted was on 8th July 2022. Request recorded session here
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Consistency comes from Discipline | If discipline is your #1 struggle, let us help plan a strategy for you | Get CD special Prelims Package for FREE – Fill Samanvaya form for IAS 2023 (closing soon)
This world is full of unsuccessful talents, unrewarded geniuses, and educated derelicts. Nothing in this world can take the place of discipline and persistence.
There comes a time in our lives when we realize our calling, in your case, it is cracking the UPSC IAS exam. When to get where we have to go – even if there are no doors or windows, we will walk through a wall. If this is that time for you please continue reading.
In our discussion with over 1000 bright students last month, we realized that it wasn’t a lack of motivation that stood in the way of their success, it was something else…
Motivation will get you started but it is discipline alone that will keep you growing. Remember, even a drop of rain every day will make a hole in the most stubborn stone. Be that goddamn drop of rain!
It is persistence and discipline that is the bridge between your goals and accomplishments.
Two phases of discipline: 4 failures and then success
A common misconception about discipline is that it is about punishment and suffering. No, It is not! It is about accountability – daily, weekly, monthly.. for the entire journey of your IAS preparation.
Progress of CivilsDaily’s Mentorship student is closely monitored through regular interactions How to set and enforce that accountability to keep your journey disciplined and always on track?
This is where our 3 tier mentoring comes in:
1. 1st step starts with this Samanvaya call: Once you fill in the form, we get on a 30-40 minute call with you to understand your prep level, working/ study constraints, and current strategies and create a step-by-step plan for the next week, next month and so on
2. You are directed and given access to relevant resources and invite-only platform, Habitat where you can ask your daily doubts, discuss your test-prep questions and have real-time, live sessions on news and op-eds, and find your optional groups.
Daily target monitoring. 3. The third and the most personalized tier is the 1 on 1 mentor allotment who stays with you through the course of your UPSC preparation – always-on chat and on scheduled calls to help you assess, evaluate, and chart the next milestone of your IAS 2023-23 journey.
Click to fill the form: Samanvaya for IAS 2023
Who are you?
- Working Junta? If you are preparing for IAS 2023-24 and working simultaneously, we can help you design a timetable that fits right in your hectic schedule.
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- UPSC Veteran?
You just have to take 5 minutes out and fill this form: Samanvaya For IAS 2023
Once done, we will call you within 24 hours or so.
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[Sansad TV] Perspective: India’s Toy Story
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Context
- The Make-in-India initiative has yielded many positive results.
- The import of toys is down by 70% in the last three years.
- Exports have jumped by over 61% over the same period.
In this article, we shall discuss what’s behind the ‘Rebranding of the Indian Toy Story’.
Toy Industry in India
- Presently, the Indian toy industry is only 0.5% of the global industry size indicating a large potential growth opportunity.
- The domestic toy demand forecasted to grow at 10-15% against the global average of 5%.
- The report ‘State of play: India’s toy story- Unboxing fun and beyond’ said India could also target a 2% share of global exports by 2025.
- There is high growth potential for India in exports of plastic toys and board games in the US, EU, and the Middle East among other markets.
Significance of Toy Industries
- According to a report by the National Productivity Council, India’s toy industry employs 3 million workers, of which 70 percent are women.
Toy Industries & Women Empowerment
- Employment in the toy manufacturing sector offers its female-majority workforce avenues for socio-economic empowerment, financial security, and skill development.
- It also offers opportunities for women to act as agents of change by preserving local toy forms, intrinsic to their regions.
- Toy manufacturing also creates possibilities for men and women artisans to work together, thereby promoting equal task division and partnerships.
- For instance, in Tamil Nadu, the manufacturing processes of ‘Vilachary‘ clay toys are divided between men and women.
Challenges
- Unorganized and fragmented: It continues to be significantly fragmented, with 90 percent of the market being unorganized.
- Small scale: 75 percent of domestic manufacturing originates in micro-industries, while 22 percent comes from MSMEs. Less than 3 percent of the domestic toy manufacturing processes come from large units.
- Less competitive: The retail value of the Indian toy market is INR 16, 000 crores of which close to three-fourths are Chinese imports.
- Chinese incursion: Consumers are habituated for long to cheap Chinese toys.
Govt Initiatives
- Toycathon: In January 2021, it launched ‘Toycathon’, a hackathon to develop toys and games based on Indian culture and ethos.
- Atmanirbhar Bharat: To promote the indigenous toy manufacturing industry, this multi-Ministerial effort sought to create an ‘Aatmanirbhar’ eco-system for local manufacturers by exploring their untapped potential.
- Formal recognition in years: Toy manufacturing clusters across the country have come to be formally recognized and supported by the govt.
- Cluster-based production: State govt. are in the process of allocating spaces for toy parks. For instance, Koppal District in Karnataka has recently been recognized as the country’s first toy manufacturing cluster.
- Tax incentives: Basic Custom Duty (BCD) on Toys-HS Code-9503 has been increased from 20% to 60% in February 2020.
- GI tags: The Toys bearing GI tags such as Chennapatna, Varanasi, etc. are also being exported.
Way forward
- Toy industry has its own small-scale industry, artisans comprising rural population, dalits, poor people and tribal population.
- In order to take the benefits to these segments, we need to be vocal for local toys.
- There is a need for new ideas to be incubated, new start-ups promoted, taking new technology to traditional toy makers and creating new market demand.
- The 75th anniversary of India’s Independence is a huge opportunity for the innovators and creators of the toy industry.
- Many incidents, stories of our freedom fighters and their valour and leadership can be created into gaming concepts.
- There is a need to create interesting and interactive games that ‘engage, entertain and educate’.
Conclusion
- As India looks to build its ‘toyoconomy — women workers will continue to play a significant role in fulfilling domestic demand, reducing imports and raising India’s share of toy manufacturing in the global marketplace.
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India-Japan ties under Shinzo Abe
Shinzo Abe, the former Prime Minister of Japan, was shot dead.
Japan under Abe
- Abe, one of the most consequential leaders of Japan in its post-war history — was the country’s longest serving PM.
- During his time in office, Abe was a great friend of India, and a relationship that he invested personally in.
- He also had a special rapport with PM Modi, which came out on multiple occasions.
Transformation in India-Japan ties
(1) Personal visits
- During his first stint in 2006-07, Abe visited India and addressed Parliament.
- He visited India thrice: in January 2014, December 2015, and September 2017.
- No other Prime Minister of Japan has made so many visits to India.
- He was the first Japanese PM to be Chief Guest at the Republic Day parade in 2014.
(2) Bilateral talks
- The foundation for “Global Partnership between Japan and India” was laid in 2001, and annual bilateral summits were agreed in 2005, Abe accelerated the pace of ties since 2012.
- In August 2007, when Abe visited India for the first time as PM, he delivered the now-famous “Confluence of the Two Seas” speech — laying the foundation for his concept of Indo-Pacific.
- This concept has now become mainstream and one of the main pillars of India-Japan ties.
(3) Nuclear deal
- In September 2014, Modi and Abe agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to “Special Strategic and Global Partnership”.
- The relationship grew and encompassed issues from civilian nuclear energy to maritime security, bullet trains to quality infrastructure, Act East policy to Indo-Pacific strategy.
- When Modi went to Japan in 2014, the Indo-Japan nuclear deal was still uncertain, with Tokyo sensitive about a pact with a non-Nuclear-Proliferation-Treaty member country.
- Abe convinced the anti-nuclear hawks in Japan to sign the agreement in 2016.
(4) Defence cooperation
- While the security agreement was in place since 2008, under Abe the two sides decided to have Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting (2+2).
- They started negotiations on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement — a kind of military logistics support pact.
- In November 2019, the first 2+2 was held in New Delhi.
- A pact for transfer of defence equipment and technology was also signed in 2015, an uncommon agreement for post-War Japan.
(5) Indo-Pacific narrative
- During Abe’s tenure, India and Japan came closer in the Indo-Pacific architecture.
- Abe had spelt out his vision of the Confluence of the Two Seas in his 2007 speech when the Quad was formed.
- It collapsed soon, but in October 2017, as Chinese aggression grew in the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and India’s borders in Doklam, it was Abe’s Japan that really mooted the idea of reviving the Quad.
(6) Development cooperation
- During Abe’s visit in 2015, India decided to introduce the Shinkansen System (bullet train).
- Under Abe’s leadership, India and Japan also formed the Act East Forum and are engaged in projects in the Northeast, closely watched by China.
- The two countries also planned joint projects in Maldives and Sri Lanka among others to counter Beijing’s influence.
(7) Stand against China
- Since 2013, Indian and Chinese soldiers have had four publicly known border-stand-offs — April 2013, September 2014, June-August 2017, and the ongoing one since May 2020.
- Abe’s Japan has stood with India through each of them.
- During the Doklam crisis and the current stand-off, Japan has made statements against China for changing the status quo.
Conclusion: A leader India always missed
- Abe was a valuable G-7 leader for India, focused on strategic, economic and political deliverables, and not getting distracted by India’s domestic developments — much to New Delhi’s comfort.
- Having hosted Modi at his ancestral home in Yamanashi, the first such reception extended to a foreign leader, Abe was feted at a roadshow in Ahmedabad.
- Quite befittingly, the Indian government in January 2021 announced the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second-highest civilian honour, for Abe.
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CAATSA: the US law to sanction transactions with Russia
A US senator has said the US government must not impose sanctions on India under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for its purchase of S-400 missile weapons system from Russia.
What is the CAATSA?
- CAATSA is a law that came into effect in the US in 2017, meant to punish countries having deep engagements with Russia, North Korea, and Iran using economic sanctions.
- It said countries having a “significant transaction” with Russian intelligence and military agents will be subject to at least five kinds of sanctions.
- Ordinary transactions will not invite sanctions, and the decision of who has sanctions imposed on them comes down to the interpretation of “significant transaction”.
- This is one of the various waivers or exemptions mentioned, such as the transaction not affecting US strategic interests, not endangering the alliances it is a part of, etc.
Could it apply to India?
- India has purchased the S-400 Triumf missile systems, which have advanced capabilities to judge the distance from a target and launch a surface-to-air missile attack.
- Five such systems were bought by India in 2018 for US$ 5.5 billion and in November last year, their delivery began.
- They were deployed in Punjab.
- However, the application of CAATSA is not limited to the S-400, and may include other joint ventures for manufacturing or developing weapons in the future, or any other kinds of major deals with Russia.
Why did the US enact a law like CAATSA?
- The US flagged issues of Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 Presidential elections, and its role in the Syrian war as some of the reasons for punishing engagement with it.
- EU countries that had even more significant ties with Russia for oil and gas supply before the Ukraine-Russia conflict in 2022, had also criticised CAATSA.
Countries facing sanctions
- The US has placed sanctions on China and Turkey for purchase of the S-400.
- The sanctions included denial of export licences, ban on foreign exchange transactions, blocking of all property and interests in property within the US jurisdiction and a visa ban.
Likely impacts after India’s purchase
- The Biden administration has no firm indication on where it leans on India’s case.
- However, several senators (US parliamentarians) have called upon the Biden administration to consider a special waiver for India.
- This is on account of India’s importance as a defence partner, and as a strategic partner on US concerns over China and in the Quad.
- Other US leaders thinks that giving a waiver to India would be the wrong signal for others seeking to go ahead with similar deals.
Why is the S-400 deal so important to India?
- Security paradigm: S-400 is very important for India’s national security considerations due to the threats from China, Pakistan and now Afghanistan.
- Air defence capability: The system will also offset the air defence capability gaps due to the IAF’s dwindling fighter squadron strength.
- Russian legacy: Integrating the S-400 will be much easier as India has a large number of legacy Russian air defence systems.
- Strategic autonomy: For both political as well as operational reasons, the deal is at a point of no return.
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