Montreal Protocol: Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion | UPSC – IAS

Montreal Protocol: Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: UPSC IAS

 

Montreal Protocol: Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion:  UPSC IAS

Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion | UPSC – IAS

The quadrennial (four-yearly) review of the Montreal Protocol reveals a healing ozone layer, global warming reduction potential, and options for more ambitious climate action.

Key findings of the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion | UPSC – IAS

  • Actions taken under the Montreal Protocol have led to decreases in the atmospheric abundance of controlled ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and the start of the recovery of stratospheric ozone.
  • The atmospheric abundances of both total tropospheric chlorine and total tropospheric bromine from long-lived ODSs controlled under the Montreal Protocol have continued to decline since the 2014 Assessment. Outside the Polar Regions, upper stratospheric ozone layer has recovered at a rate of 1-3% per decade since 2000.
  • The Antarctic ozone hole is recovering, while continuing to occur every year. As a result of the Montreal Protocol much more severe ozone depletion in the Polar Regions has been avoided.
  • At projected rates, Northern Hemisphere and mid-latitude ozone is scheduled to heal completely (i.e. equivalent to 1980 values) by the 2030s followed by
    the Southern Hemisphere in the 2050s and Polar Regions by 2060.
  • The Kigali Amendment is projected to reduce future global average warming in 2100 due to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) from a baseline of 0.3–0.5 degree Celsius to less than 0.1 degree Celsius.

Key findings of the Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion 2018 UPSC - IAS PCS UPPSC UPPCS

Ozone change and its influence on climate | UPSC – IAS

  • Ozone is important in the climate system and its changes can influence both the troposphere and the stratosphere.
  • Influence on stratospheric climate: Decreases in stratospheric ozone caused by ODS increases have been an important contributor to observed stratospheric cooling.
    • New studies find that ODSs thereby contributed approximately one third of the observed cooling in the upper stratosphere from 1979 to 2005, with two thirds caused by increases in other GHGs.
  • Influence on surface climate and oceans: Lower stratospheric cooling due to ozone depletion has very likely been the dominant cause of late 20th century changes in Southern Hemisphere climate in summer. These changes include the observed poleward shift in Southern Hemisphere tropospheric circulation, with associated impacts on surface temperature and precipitation.
  • Changes in tropospheric circulation driven by ozone depletion have contributed to recent trends in Southern Ocean temperature and circulation; the impact on Antarctic sea ice remains unclear.

Future Global Ozone changes | UPSC – IAS

The key drivers of future ozone levels continue to be declining ODS concentrations, upper stratospheric cooling because of increased GHGs, and the possible strengthening of the Brewer-Dobson circulation (a model which attempts to explain how tropical air has less ozone than polar air, even though the tropical stratosphere is where most atmospheric ozone is produced) from climate change.

  • CO2, CH4, and N2O will be the main drivers of 60°S–60°N stratospheric ozone changes in the second half of the 21st century. These gases impact both chemical cycles and the stratospheric overturning circulation, with a larger response in stratospheric ozone associated with stronger climate forcing.
  • Given that ODS levels are expected to decline slowly in coming years, a large enhancement of stratospheric sulphate aerosol in the next decades would result in additional chemical ozone losses. Possible sources of additional stratospheric sulphate aerosol include volcanic eruptions (like Mt. Pinatubo in 1991) and geoengineering.

Why Montreal Protocol Worked ? | UPSC – IAS

The Montreal Protocol is one of the most successful and effective environmental treaties ever negotiated and implemented. No single factor led to its success.

  • Approach of Cooperation: From the start, negotiation relied heavily on leadership and innovative approaches. Much negotiation was held in small, informal groups. This enabled a genuine exchange of views and the opportunity to take some issues on trust, such as the subsequent development of the Multilateral Fund. The people negotiating the treaty also included scientists, which lent credibility.
  • Principles based: The “precautionary principle”, and the concept of common, but differentiated, responsibility took root in the Montreal Protocol when developing countries were given longer time to phase-out ODS.
  • Flexibility to accommodate newer information: This flexibility meant the protocol could be amended to include stricter controls: more ozone-depleting substances added to the control list and total phase-out, rather than partial phase-out, called for. Starting out modestly also encouraged a greater confidence in the process.
  • Trade Provisions and restrictions: These limited the signatories to trade only with other signatories. This increasingly limited the supplies of CFCs and other ozone-depleting substances (ODS) to non-signatories countries which forced them to ratify the Protocol.
  • Clear List of Targeted Sectors: The chemicals and sectors (refrigeration, primarily) involved are clearly articulated. This let governments prioritise the main sectors early.
  • Incentive to Industry: The Montreal Protocol also provided a stable framework that allowed industry to plan long-term research and innovation. Transitioning to newer, reasonably priced formulations with lower- or no-ozone depleting potential benefited the environment and industry.
  • Institutional Support: Another feature of the protocol has been the expert, independent Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (and its predecessors). These have helped signatories reach solid and timely decisions on often-complex matters. They have given countries confidence to start their transition.
  • The Multilateral Fund has been another reason for the protocol’s success.
    • It provides incremental funding for developing countries to help them meet their compliance targets.
    • Significantly, it has also provided institutional support. This helps countries build capacity within their governments to implement phase-out activities and establish regional networks so they can share experiences and learn from each other.

Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action | UPSC – IAS

Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action UPSC - IAS

Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action  UPSC - IAS

Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action | UPSC – IAS

The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, established at the CoP22 (UNFCCC), aims to mobilize climate actions quickly and to reap the benefits in efficiency and effectiveness through partnerships and coordination between different actors.
It lists out some of the progressive steps taken and benefits of Climate action in the Yearbook of Global Climate Action 2018:

  • About 60 per cent of the initiatives are producing outputs that put them on a path to achieving their desired environmental or social outcomes.
  • The outputs from cooperative initiatives are increasingly being delivered in low- or middle-income countries. This reflects increased climate action in developing countries and increased international cooperation.
  • Climate action is re-shaping the financial sector to help transition to a net-zero carbon and resilient society. Businesses and investors are also reporting on and are managing climate risks and opportunities and implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
  • Increasingly mainstreaming of climate change into financial institutions’ operations and investment decisions. E.g. the green bond market. In 2018, the total value of climate-aligned bonds peaked at USD 1.45 trillion.

Nuclear Triad india – INS Arihant Submarine | UPSC – IAS

Nuclear Triad india - INS Arihant Submarine UPSC - IAS

Nuclear Triad india - INS Arihant Submarine UPSC - IAS

Nuclear Triad india – INS Arihant Submarine UPSC – IAS

The indigenous INS Arihant, India’s first nuclear-powered submarine successfully completed its first deterrence patrol, meaning that the submarine is fully ready for its role as a strategic deterrent.

Significance of Nuclear Triad | UPSC – IAS

  • With the completion of the patrol, India have finally achieved the longstanding ambition to have a nuclear triad, giving the country multiple options if it comes to a nuclear confrontation. Nuclear Triad
  • A nuclear triad refers to the three components of atomic weapons delivery: strategic bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
  • Of the three elements of the triad, the SLBMs are considered the most important because the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is the hardest to detect, track and destroy.
  • A nuclear triad gives a country the ability to launch nukes from land, air and sea. This is important, because if a country initiates a nuclear attack, it cannot destroy all three components of the triad at once, and thus, the component which is intact can launch a retaliatory strike.

Nuclear Triad india - INS Arihant Submarine UPSC IAS UPPSC UPPCS PCS

Uniqueness of each leg of Triad | UPSC – IAS

According to Undersea Warfare, the Official Magazine of the US submarine force, each leg of the triad contributes unique attributes that enhance deterrence and reduce risk.

  • ICBMs provide a prompt response, the potential to launch under attack, and a hardened, geographically-
    dispersed target base.
  • Strategic bombers provide great flexibility in force posturing, signalling intentions, route planning, and recall-ability.
  • Missile submarines provide survivable, assured response and the mobility to adapt missile over-flight to targets.

Why India needs a Nuclear Triad ? | UPSC – IAS

  • India’s ‘No first use’ nuclear policy (NFU) talks of minimum credible deterrence. Minimum credible deterrence capability would, however, require India to possess the critical capabilities to ensure the survivability of its nuclear weapons even after a first strike against it. NFU, therefore, casts a responsibility on the nation to achieve a second strike capability. A second strike capability can only be imparted by a Triad.
  • India has two nuclear-armed countries (China and Pakistan) on both its eastern and western fronts which makes it particularly imperative for the country to possess adequate deterrence.
  • The absence of INS Arihant came to attention during the Doka La standoff with China, when Beijing had flexed muscle in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Region, crucial for India’s strategic interests, has in general been witnessing an increasing presence of Chinese ships and submarines.
  • Chinese String of Pearls and Maritime Silk Road are attempting to create a Chinese monopoly in the Indian Ocean Region while encircling India from Myanmar to West Asia and Eastern Africa.
  • Pakistan last year tested its submarine-launched Babur missile, and in the process completed its nuclear triad, since it already possesses land-based ballistic missiles as well as tactical nuclear bombs that it can drop from its fighter aircraft.
  • India now joins the elite squad of countries like Russia, China, France, the US and the UK that possess nuclear-powered submarines. It is the first SSBN (Ship Submersible Ballistic Nuclear) to have been built by a country other than one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

A Way forward | UPSC – IAS

  • More requirement of SSBN: According to the US Navy Institute, a continuous patrol requires a minimum of four SSBNs. This assumes one submarine is on patrol for, say, two to three months; another is in port on standby; while the third and fourth may be undergoing repairs or refits. In this context India needs to speed up its Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project to ensure timely delivery of SSBNs.
  • Complementary fleet to SSBN: India will require a complementary fleet of ship submersible nuclear (SSN) submarines – these are fast, hunter killer subs that will be required to detect and track Chinese and Pakistani undersea activity and warships. The Indian Navy plans to acquire as many as six SSNs, and discussions are on with shipbuilders from France and the US for participating in the project.
  • Nuclear Submarine Base: The Indian Navy has commenced Project Varsha – the construction of a massive nuclear submarine base south of Visakhapatnam. The base will house India’s SSBN fleet. The first phase of the project will be completed by 2022. Its timely completion is crucial for India’s Oceanic leg of Nuclear Triad.
  • Enhance the range of Missiles: The Arihant is equipped to carry twelve K-15 ballistic nuclear missiles with an abysmally short range of 750 km. This means before launching its missiles, the sub will have to venture close to enemy waters, endangering its own security. A 3,500 km range missile named the K-4 is currently in development. Apart from this, DRDO is also developing 5,000-km range K-5 and 6,000-km range K-6 which would add more teeth to the arsenal.

Petroleum, chemicals and Petrochemicals investment regions | UPSC

Why in news ?
Recently Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers informed that Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs) in India has registered good progress in attracting Investments for Industrial Development and generating employment

petroleum chemicals and petrochemicals investment region UPSC IAS PCS UPPCS UPPSC

What is PCPIR ? (UPSC – IAS)

  • Petroleum, chemicals and Petrochemicals investment regions (PCPIR) is based on cluster-based development model for setting up manufacturing facilities for both domestic consumption and exports in Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals.
  • The cluster is combination of production units, logistics handling, environmental protection mechanism and
    social infrastructure.
  • It includes Special Economic Zones, Free Trade Zones Warehousing Zones etc.
  • Connectivity to the region is provided by state and central governments through Rail, Road, Ports, Airports and Telecom. The state government will also be responsible for providing facilities of water, road connectivity (state roads), Waste Treatments linkages etc
  • PCPIRs will ensure developing economy of scale in petrochemical sector due to the use of common infrastructure, support services and R&D facilities.
  • Chemical and Petrochemical industries generate concerns over environmental degradation. However, PCPIRs follow a robust Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mechanism.

Blue Economy its Significance and Challenges | UPSC – IAS

Blue Economy upsc

Blue Economy upsc

Blue Economy and its Components | UPSC – IAS

As per the World Bank, Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem. It covers several sectors linked directly or indirectly to the oceans such as –

  • Fishing, minerals, shipping and port infrastructure,
  • Marine biotechnology,
  • Marine renewable energy,
  • Marine tourism,
  • Ocean governance and education.

Blue Economy its Significance and Challenges | UPSC - IAS

Significance of Blue economy | UPSC – IAS

Economic Benefits:

  • Oceans provide 30 percent of oil and gas resources.
  • 90% of goods trade takes place through Oceans Sea of Line Communication.
  • Ocean contributes $2.5 trillion to world economy with around 60 million people are employed in fisheries and aquaculture.
  • Seabed Mining of polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides to extract nickel, cobalt, manganese and rare earth metals.

Environmental Benefits:

  • Mangroves and other vegetated ocean habitats sequester 25 percent of the extra CO2 from fossil fuels, i.e., Blue Carbon.
  • Protection of coastal communities from disasters like floods and storms.
  • A Sustainable Blue Economy can help to achieve commitments under UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030, Paris climate agreement 2015 and the UN Ocean Conference 2017.

Challenges to Blue Economy | UPSC – IAS

  • Unsustainable development near marine areas: Physical alterations and destruction of marine and coastal habitats & landscapes largely due to coastal development, deforestation, & mining.
  • FAO estimates that approximately 57 percent of fish stocks are fully exploited and another 30 percent are over-exploited, depleted, or recovering.
  • Marine pollution: It is in the form of excess nutrients from untreated sewerage, agricultural
    runoff, and marine debris such as plastics. Deep sea mining can cause long term irreversible ecological damage to marine ecosystem.
  • Impacts of climate change: Threats of both slow-onset events like sea-level rise and more intense and frequent weather events like cyclones. Long-term climate change impacts on ocean systems like changes in sea temperature, acidity, and major oceanic currents.
  • Geopolitical issues: Geopolitical tussle between in various regions like South China Sea, Indian Ocean Region etc. and undermining International Laws like UNCLOS limits the countries from achieving the full potential of Blue Economy.
  • Unfair trade practices: Many times fishing agreements allow access to an EEZ of country to foreign operators. These operators restrict transfer of specific fishing knowledge to national stakeholders leading to low appropriation of fisheries export revenues by national operators. So the potential for national exploitation of those resources is reduced in the long run.
  • Other non-conventional threats: Defense and security related threats like piracy and terrorism combined with natural disasters (Small Island Developing States are particularly vulnerable).

Blue economy and India  | UPSC – IAS

India is trying to achieve the potential of Blue Economy by promoting the spirit of ‘SAGAR-Security and Growth for All in the Region’ in Indian Ocean Region. Some initiatives by India are:  (important for UPSC)

Sagarmala Project: Sagarmala initiative focus on three pillars of development

  • Supporting and enabling Port-led Development through appropriate policy and institutional interventions.
    • Port Infrastructure Enhancement, including modernization and setting up of new ports.
    • Efficient Evacuation to and from hinterland by developing new lines/linkages for transport (including roads, rail, inland waterways and coastal routes).
  • Coastal Economic Zones: 14 CEZs are being developed under Sagarmala initiative covering all the Maritime States.
    • CEZs are spatial economic regions comprising of a group of coastal districts or districts with a strong linkage to the ports in that region.
    • CEZ will help to tap synergies of planned economic corridors.
  • Resource exploration: India in recent times has shifted its focus towards Indian Ocean resource exploration. E.g. India has explored 75000 sq km of Indian Ocean Seabed and is developing technologies (like remotely operated vehicles) for mining the resources
  • International relations and security: India is cooperating with Indian Ocean littoral countries and projecting itself as ‘net security provider’ to ensure a safe, secure and stable Indian Ocean Region (IOR). India is also cooperating with extra regional powers like US, Japan in IOR. E.g. Asia-Africa growth corridor, QUAD etc.

Sustainable Blue Economy Conference

  • It’s the first global conference on the sustainable blue economy.
  •  It was convened by Kenya and co-hosted Canada and Japan.

Credit Rating Agencies in India Problems & Solutions | UPSC IAS

Credit Rating Agencies in India Conflicts & Solutions UPSC IAS PCS UPPCS UPPSC

Credit rating agencies in India

  • The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Credit Rating Agencies) Regulations, 1999 empower SEBI to regulate CRAs operating in India.
  • All the credit agencies need to be registered with SEBI in order to operate in India.
  • There are seven Credit Rating Agencies registered with SEBI, viz. CRISIL, ICRA, CARE, India Ratings and Research, SMERA, Infomerics and Brickworks.

Significance of Credit rating agencies (UPSC IAS)

  • They provide retail and institutional investors with information that assists them in determining if debtor will be able to meet their obligations.
  • They help investors, customers etc. to get an overall idea of the strength and stability of an organization and enable them to make informed decisions.
  • These agencies also help build trust between the investors and the governments by quantifying the level of risk associated with investing in a particular country. For example-Sovereign credit ratings are given to the national governments which highlight a country’s economic and political environment.
  • CRAs help strengthening of secondary market by increasing borrower pool.
  • Credit ratings ensure a discipline amongst corporate borrowers due to because of this desire to have a good image.

Issues or Problems related with Credit Rating Agencies (UPSC IAS)

  • Conflict of interest: The CRA Regulations in India currently recognise only the issuer-pays model, under which, the rating agencies charge issuers of bond and debt instruments a fee for providing a ratings opinion. Thus, this model has an inbuilt conflict of interest.
  • Another example of conflict of interest is non-rating services such as risk consulting, funds research and advisory services given to issuers for which ratings have been provided.
  • Rating shopping: It is the practice of an issuer choosing the rating agency that will either assign the highest rating or that has the most lax criteria for achieving a desired rating. Hence, the system does not permit publishing a rating without the issuer’s consent.
  • Less competition: Credit-rating market in India is oligopolistic, with high barriers to entry. Lack of competition in the market enables CRAs to have longer, well- established relationships with the issuers which can hamper their independence.
  • Poor Rating Quality: Often ratings are provided on limited information. For e.g. If the issuer decides not to answer some determinant questions, the rating may be principally based on public information. Many rating agencies don’t have enough manpower which often leads to poor quality.
  • Independence of the ratings committee: Over the years, the membership of the ratings committee has shifted from external experts to employees of the ratings agency which has raised concerns about their independence.

Suggestions or Solutions for addressing these challenges  (UPSC IAS)

  • Removal of conflict of Interest: Moving back to the earlier “subscriber pays” model in which investors pay for the ratings can be a possible approach.
  • More Players: Rules should be made easier for new players to enter the credit rating space and compete against them.
  • Improve Quality of Ratings:
    • SEBI must also assess the predictive ability of the current rating models followed by the agencies. There is a need to invest in high-tech predictive modelling techniques.
    • Increased remuneration for manpower to attract the best talent must be ensured.
  • Cursory disclosure of all ratings: CRAs can be asked to provide briefly in their press release to the ratings given by other CRAs to the same borrower. This can help in discouraging “rating shopping”.
  • Legal protection for CRAs: There are instances of Indian CRAs being sued by the company it rates, in a bid to prevent the rating downgrade. The regulator should consider framing laws that allow CARs to express their rating opinion without fear of being sued.
  • Awareness among Investors: Investors should be made aware about the rating process and be asked to conduct a review by themselves too and stop relying solely on the ratings.
  • Rotation of rating agencies: SEBI can also explore the possibility of a mandatory rotation of rating agencies by the debt issuers (like corporations are required to change their auditors periodically under the Companies Act, 2013).

keywords: Problems & Solutions with credit rating agencies in india, UPSC IAS PCS.

Basel norms & Capital Adequacy Ratio | UPSC – IAS

Basel norms & Capital Adequacy Ratio | UPSC - IAS

Basel norms & Capital Adequacy Ratio | UPSC - IAS

Basel norms & Capital Adequacy Ratio | UPSC – IAS

Capital Adequacy Ratio is also known as Capital to Risk Assets Ratio, is the ratio of a bank’s capital to its risk. National regulators track a bank’s CAR to ensure that it can absorb a reasonable amount of loss and complies with statutory Capital requirements. It is a measure of a bank’s capital

Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)

Capital adequacy ratio is the ratio which determines the bank’s capacity to meet the time liabilities and other risks such as credit risk, operational risk etc. In the most simple formulation, a bank’s capital is the “cushion” for potential losses, and protects the bank’s depositors and other lenders.

  • CAR = (Tier I + Tier II Capital)/Risk Weighted Assets
  • Expressed as a percentage of a bank’s risk weighted credit exposures.
  • Measure of bank’s financial strength to ensure that banks have enough cushions to absorb losses before becoming insolvent and losing depositors’ funds.
  • CAR is required to be 9% by RBI (based on BASEL III norms), where 7% has to be met by Tier 1 capital while the remaining 2% by Tier 2 capital.

Provisioning requirement

  • Setting aside a portion of profits, in proportion of risk weighted loans given, to compensate a probable loss due to incomplete loan recovery is called provisioning.
  • Like CCB & CAR requirements, provisioning is one of the contingency measures to contain risk.
  • Different types of assets have different risk profiles e.g. Government debt has 0% risk weight
  • A high-risk weight discourages lending by increasing the capital requirement for lenders.

Criticism of BASEL norms

  • Reserve bank of India, already has sufficient “backup” mechanisms to prevent banking crisis in India- such as Cash reserve ratio (CRR), Statutory liquidity ratio (SLR), all banks are required to make fortnightly reporting to RBI about their finance and operations and so on.

Capital Conservation Buffer & Basel 3 | RBI | UPSC – IAS

Capital Conservation Buffer & Basel 3 RBI UPSC - IAS

Capital Conservation Buffer & Basel 3   RBI  UPSC - IAS

Capital Conservation Buffer & Basel 3 | RBI | UPSC – IAS

The capital conservation buffer (CCoB) is a capital buffer of 2.5% of a bank’s total exposures that needs to be met with an additional amount of Common Equity Tier 1 capital. The buffer sits on top of the 4.5% minimum requirement for Common Equity Tier 1 capital. Its objective is to conserve a bank’s capital. It is the mandatory capital that financial institutions are required to hold above minimum regulatory requirement.

  • According to Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) norms, banks will be required to hold a buffer of 2.5% Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs) in the form of Common Equity, over and above Capital Adequacy Ratio of 9%.
  • Capital Conservation Buffer currently stands at 1.875% and remaining 0.625% was to be met by March 2019.

Significance of Capital Conservation Buffer | UPSC – IAS

  • It is designed to ensure that banks build up capital buffers outside periods of stress which can be drawn down, as losses are incurred.
  • Regulations targeting the creation of adequate capital buffers are designed to reduce the procyclical nature of lending by promoting the creation of countercyclical buffers as suggested Basel 3 norms. During credit expansion, banks have to set aside additional capital, while during the credit contraction, capital requirements can be loosened. Systemically important banks are subject to higher capital requirements.
  • The capital buffers increase the resilience of banks to losses, reduce excessive or underestimated exposures and restrict the distribution of capital. These macroprudential instruments limit systemic risks in the financial system.

Why banks are unable to adhere to Capital Conservation Buffer norms? | UPSC – IAS

  • Mounting pile of stressed assets has resulted into low credit growth, deterioration in asset quality, low profitability of Indian banks & over-reliance on capital infusion from the Government. In order to protect their margins & first meet the basic capital ratios i.e. CRAR of 9%, banks have slowed down the adoption of Capital Conservation Buffer (CCB) Basel 3 norms

A Way Forward | UPSC – IAS

While relaxation of the buffer norms and capital infusion by the government are welcome steps in the time of exigency, it must be ensured that good money is not thrown after bad money. Improving credit discipline and risk management systems are the need of the hour for public sector banks. The governance issues of the banks and their over-enthusiastic lending in the past needs to be addressed.
The government should initiate long-pending reforms recommended by the P.J. Nayak Committee:-

  • Cede control of nationalized banks and cut its stake below 51%.
  • Form an independent Banking Investment Company (BIC) for corporatized governance of PSBs.
  • Performance related pay structure and incentives for upper management functionaries.

Types of Bank Capital

  • Tier I capital (Core Capital): It consists of money kept as Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), in physical cash form & as share capital and secured loans. At least 6% of CAR must come from Tier 1 capital. This capital can absorb losses without bank ceasing its trading operations.
  • Tier II capital (supplementary capital): It includes after tax income, retail earnings of the bank, capital in the form of bonds/hybrid instruments & unsecured loans (getting serviced).
  • Tier III capital: Includes Non-Performing Assets (NPAs), subordinated loans (not getting serviced) & undisclosed reserves from the balance sheet.

Keywords: RBI, UPSC, PCS, IAS, Capital Conservation Buffer rbi, basel 3 norms

Partial Credit Enhancement – NBFCs Bonds | UPSC – IAS

Partial Credit Enhancement – NBFCs Bonds | UPSC – IAS

The RBI recently allowed banks to provide partial credit enhancement (PCE) to bonds issued by systemically important non-deposit taking NBFCs registered with the RBI and Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) registered with the National Housing Bank.

  • Provide partial credit enhancement or Credit enhancement means improving the credit rating of a corporate bond. For example, if a bond is rated BBB, credit enhancement, which is basically an assurance of repayment by another entity, can improve the rating to AA. This is done to provide an additional source of assurance or guarantee to service the bond.

The move comes at a time when NBFCs and HFCs have requested the government and regulators to ensure that confidence returns to the market.

  • FACT: Provide partial credit enhancement (PCE), which was introduced in 2015, is expected to help NBFCs and HFCs raise money from insurance and provident or pension funds who invest only in highly-rated instruments.

Current problems with NBFCs | UPSC – IAS

  • Multiple regulatory bodies: RBI doesn’t regulate all the NBFC. Other institutions such as NHB (National Housing Bank), SEBI, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI), etc. are also involved depending on the type of NBFC.

Difficulties in access to credit

  • There is a reversal of interest rate cycle as interest rates are now going up both domestically and also in the
    international market. The RBI has steadily hiked interest rates in the recent months.
  • Another fundamental issue is the asset-liability mismatch in the operations of NBFCs as these firms borrow funds from the market — say for 3 or 5 years — and lend for longer tenures — 10 to 15 years. It has led to a situation where the NBFCs are facing a severe liquidity crunch in the short term.
  • The mutual fund is among the biggest fund provider to NBFCs via commercial papers and debentures. These investors are getting reluctant to lend post the IL&FS crisis.

Significance of NBFC DIGITALLY LEARN IAS UPSC PCS UPPCS UPPSC.

(UPSC IAS)

Riskier Lending Pattern:

  • Unlike banks, NBFCs are less cautious while lending. For example NBFCs have grown their portfolio of small and micro loans in a big way where there are risks of lack of credit history, scale and historically high NPAs.
  • The unsecured loan segment is also on the rise in the NBFC segment.
  • Cascading effect of Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) default: Default followed by downgrade of IL&FS recently has created a liquidity squeeze for the entire non-banking financial company (NBFC) sector.
  • Delayed Projects: Many infrastructure projects financed by NBFCs are stalled due to various reasons like delayed statutory approvals, problems of land acquisition, environmental clearance, etc. which has impacted their financial health.

Suggestions and Solutions | UPSC – IAS

  • RBI must encourage non-banking financial companies to securitise their assets that can be purchased by banks.
  • RBI must revisit lending restrictions placed on banks under Prompt Corrective Action and consider allowing them lending to NHB.
  • RBI may also open special window for mutual funds to get refinance against collateral.
  • A coordinated and consultative approach at this point of time to address the various problems of the sector is critical to national economic health and stability.

Keywords: Provide partial credit enhancement (PCE), NBFCs, RBI, UPSC IAS

First Human Capital Index – 2018 Released by World Bank | UPSC

First Human Capital Index - 2018 Released by World Bank | UPSC IAS UPPCS UPPSC SSC CGL RAILWAY
The Human Capital Index measures the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to attain by age 18. It conveys the productivity of the next generation of workers compared to a benchmark of complete education and full health.
  • HCI is part of the World Development Report (WDR).
  • As part of this report, the World Bank has launched a Human Capital Project (HCP).
Human Capital Project (HCP): A program of advocacy, measurement, and analytical work to raise awareness and increase demand for interventions to build human capital. The Human Capital Index has three components:
  • Cross-country metric—the Human Capital Index (HCI).
  • Program of measurement and research to inform policy action.
  • Program of support for country strategies to accelerate investment in human capital.

What are the Findings ?

  • Global Performance: Singapore topped the list while, India was placed at 115th position out of 157 countries, lower than neighboring Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
First Human Capital Index - 2018 Released by World Bank  UPSC IAS UPPCS UPPSC BPSC

State Of Human Capital In India (UPSC IAS)

  • Human Capital Index: A child born in India today will be 44 % as productive when she grows up as she could be if she enjoyed complete education and full health.
  • Probability of Survival to Age 5: 96 out of 100 children born in India survive to age 5.
  • Expected Years of School: In India, a child who starts school at age 4 can expect to complete 10.2 years of school by her 18th birthday.
  • Harmonized Test Scores: Students in India score 355 on a scale where 625 represents advanced attainment and 300 represents minimum attainment.
  • Learning-adjusted Years of School: Factoring in what children actually learn, expected years of school is only 5.8 years.
  • Adult Survival Rate: Across India, 83 % of 15-year olds will survive until age 60. This statistic is a proxy for the range of fatal and non-fatal health outcomes that a child born today would experience as an adult under current conditions.
  • Healthy Growth (Not Stunted Rate): 62 out of 100 children are not stunted. 38 out of 100 children are stunted, and so at risk of cognitive and physical limitations that can last a lifetime.

Relation between India and APEC | UPSC – IAS

Relation between India and APEC UPSC - IAS

Established in 1989 APEC is an inter-governmental forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies. APEC aims for regional economic integration by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable growth.

Fact: India was allowed in APEC summit in 2011 as an observer state.

Although India has been attempting to join APEC since 1993, but still has not got the membership as:

  • India’s geographical location isn’t conducive for India’s membership in APEC as India does not border the Pacific Ocean.
  • Some APEC members have expressed concerns that India’s inclusion could shift the focus of the grouping away from its Pacific Rim.
  • India’s economic policies are generally considered as protectionist and inward which is considered against the liberalized and free market principles of APEC.
  • India’s record in trade negotiations, bilaterally as well as in the World Trade Organization (WTO), has made some APEC economies concerned that including India would slow momentum for achieving the forum’s objectives
  • In 1997 a moratorium on membership was put in place for a ten-year period which was extended further till 2010. However currently there is no moratorium on membership.

Why India belongs to APEC?

Economic angle:

  • Size of Economy: India is 6th largest economy of World and 3rd largest economy of Asia. Also as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, India represents a significant long-term source of growth for the world economy. This mandates an economy based forum such as APEC to take cognizance of India.
  • Opportunities in India: India is projected to be the world’s third largest economy by 2030 and will need well over $1 trillion of investment in infrastructure over the next decade. Its burgeoning middle class, estimated to number 450 million in 2030, will offer huge opportunities for APEC countries which are experiencing sluggish growth.
  • Changed Conditions: At the time of inception of APEC (1989), India had not liberalized and was out of sync of APEC economic principles. However, India starting from 1991 has liberalized and India’s trade stands at 40% of GDP now. India even has extensive trade relations with all the APEC member economies.
  • Strengthening Economic Integration: Emerging trade regimes could create gaps between the standards and policies adopted by their members and those pursued by non-members. By including a key economy such as India, APEC can play a constructive role by helping bridge such gaps.
  • Alternative to China: For APEC members, greater integration with India could offer an alternative source for manufacturing goods. Also India’s large labor market (largest in the world by 2030), will help offset the impact of aging populations and shrinking work forces in APEC economies and offers advantages for sourcing services — in IT, financial services, etc.

Strategic angle:

  • Strategic Balance: Inclusion of India could bring a strategic balance and ease the tension within the grouping. India’s record of Non Alignment could bring confidence among the smaller members of APEC amid the impasse between USA and China. Especially, joint efforts of Japan, India and Australia could reduce tension between US and China.
  • Political counterweight to China: As a major power in the Indian Ocean, India could provide a balancing counterweight to China for smaller Asian countries that may be wary of the alternative hard stand provided by the US.
  • New Indo-Pacific policy of USA: USA under Trump regime has changed the view of Asia Pacific to Indo-Pacific. Inclusion of India in APEC is in coherence with the new approach of US in the region

Benefits to India (UPSC IAS)

  • Act East Policy: For further strengthening of economic ties of India East and Southeast Asia through higher trade volumes and greater physical connectivity, APEC membership streamlines the process by standardizing the trade related negotiations.
  • Creating Synergy: Through its processes and guidelines, APEC will facilitate India’s implementation of the economic reforms, boost competitiveness and the ease of doing business. APEC membership would also help India prepare for potential inclusion in emerging trade agreements such as TPP (now CPTPP), if India considers joining these in the future.
  • Economic Growth: India’s current economic program relies on greater access to foreign markets, investment sources, and value chains to bolster manufacturing and create jobs at home.
  • India-US Relations: Supporting India’s APEC bid would demonstrate an American commitment to help strategic partner India gain the greater role in institutions of global governance.

A Way forward (Important for UPSC IAS)

  • Diplomatic investment: To gain support of its candidacy of APEC, India needs to work diplomatically with key members like United States and Japan. Also, India could ask China, Korea, Australia, and Vietnam to provide vocal support and diplomatic resources to India’s cause.
  • Extensive Study before inclusion: APEC could commission studies assessing the benefits and costs of Indian accession which will help its members to develop consensus on the question of Indian membership.
  • Transitional membership: Before providing full membership of APEC a transitional membership could be provided. Transitional memberships could gradually integrate India in ways that satisfy current members and allow India to benefit from APEC’s processes and technical support.

India and United States of America – Trade International Relations UPSC

India and United States of America - Trade International Relations UPSC

India and United States of America - Trade International Relations UPSC

India and United States of America – Trade International Relations | UPSC –  IAS

What is Generalized System of Preferences ?

It is a non-reciprocal preferential tariff system which provides for exemption from the Most Favored Nation principle of World Trade Organization. It involves reduced MFN tariffs or duty free entry of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries (developed countries) to markets of donor countries (developing countries).

  • Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)  measure was adopted at UNCTAD Conference in 1968 and later enacted by General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (now WTO) in 1971.
  • The objective of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) was to give development support to poor countries by promoting capacity development and trade.
  • 11 Developed countries including the USA, EU, UK, Japan etc., extend GSPs to imports from developing countries.
  • U.S. has a particularly strong Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) regime, under Trade Act, 1974. India has been the largest beneficiary of the GSP. In 2017, India’s duty-free export to the US under the GSP was more than $5.6 billion.
  • Now, 50 products (out of a total of 94 products) from India have been removed from GSP particularly impacting handloom and agriculture sectors.

Impact of Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) withdrawal on India

  • Impact on Current Account Deficit (CAD) and rupee: GSP withdrawal will cost India $70 million in raised duties from GSP benefits. It will reduce the trade surplus that
    India has against trade with US leading to higher CAD which also runs the risk of further weakening rupee.
  • Impact on MSME and agriculture: Small and medium size business could be impacted. Especially export of handloom made home textiles products are expected to be affected

India -USA International Trade Relations  

  • U.S. goods and services trade with India totaled an estimated $126.2 billion in 2017. (exports-$76.7 billion & imports- $49.9 billion, Trade deficit- $27.5 billion)
  • USA foreign direct investment (FDI) in India was USD $44.5 billion in 2017.

Major Impediments in trade relations | UPSC – IAS

Tariff issues

US under Trump regime has taken different position as compared to previous stands in trade negotiations. US President called India “the tariff king” and raised issues with India like:

    • Indian motorcycles imported into the US tariff free while US motorcycles imported to India face high tariffs.
    • Intellectual property rights: India has been placed in Priority Watch List of the USTR Special 301.

Subsidies issues:

    • Subsidies given by some US states to local renewable energy producers.
    • USA is against the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime of India and accuse India of violating WTO subsidies norms and limitations.

 Visa related tensions:

  • India is the largest beneficiary of H1-B visa scheme of US. But US in recent times has increased visa fees for H1B visa applicants and cut their quotas. This has been detrimental for the interest of Indian IT companies. India has raised concerns on this issue.

India – USA have been also engaged WTO in dispute resolution

  • India dragged the USA to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of import duties on steel and aluminium. Also, India and US are at loggerheads on subsidies and Domestic Content Requirement (DCR) provisions to renewable energy sector in their respective countries.

A Way Forward | UPSC – IAS

Unlike USA-China there is no trade war between India and US but tension do exist in trade relations.

  • India is not in position to engage in tit-for-tat approach in raising tariffs like China. India needs cooperation of US in many other sectors like defense, technology transfers, regional security (strategic relationship).
  • USA has granted some relief to India in recent times. US has granted Strategic Trade Authorization (STA-1) status to India, giving India same access as NATO allies to latest technology. Also India is among the eight countries to get exemption from US in purchasing oil from Iran even though Trump administration has imposed its “toughest ever” sanctions against Iran This is an indication of US seeking deeper strategic ties with India.
  • India should stay the course in its current approach to trade negotiations while not reacting to rhetorical moves by US, preventing any escalations and also avoiding the spilling of friction in trade relations to other areas of relations.
  • India should continue negotiating for a trade package with the US, and demand a waiver on tariff hikes similar to the ones granted to Argentina, Brazil and South Korea.
  • India needs to boost exports and cut non-essential imports in the backdrop of its current account deficit (CAD) touching 2.4%.

India – Australia International Relations | UPSC – IAS

India - Australia International Relations UPSC - IAS

India - Australia International Relations  UPSC - IAS

India – Australia International Relations | UPSC – IAS

Australia Prime Minister has announced implementation of “An India Economic Strategy to 2035”, a vision document that will shape India- Australia bilateral ties.

  • A three-pillar strategy- The focus of this report is on building a sustainable long-term India economic strategy. The report identifies 10 sectors and 10 states in an evolving Indian market where Australia has competitive advantages, and where it should focus its efforts. These are divided into a flagship sector (education), three lead sectors (agribusiness, resources, and tourism) and six promising sectors (energy, health, financial services, infrastructure, sport, science and innovation).

First PillarEconomic Ties

India is already in the first tier of Australia’s diplomatic relations. It has been a high foreign policy priority for at least two decades. But the economic relationship is stuck in the second tier. This vision thus focuses on upgrading ties into full blown economic partnership.

  • Building on India’s Economic Rise- Over the past decade and a half, India’s economic growth, its appetite for resources, energy demand, skill development, technical know how and investments have made it an important trade partner and export destination for Australia.
  • Therefore, this strategic vision aims at capturing this rise of India economy. India’s growing economic weight makes it an unavoidable economic partner, despite the challenges in navigating its market. Australian exports to India are expected to grow from 14.9 billion dollars in 2017 to around 45 billion dollars in the next 20 year, and Australian investment to India rise from 10.3 billion dollars to over the 100-billion mark, reflecting a transformational expansion of the relationship. This investment will be spread over various sectors like resources, education, infrastructure etc.
  • The core of the trade ties are energy resources and now Australia is moving forward in providing assured Uranium supply under Civil Nuclear Cooperation agreement which is important for India’s energy security and economic growth.

Second Pillar-Geostrategic Engagement

  • Indo-Pacific – A global Strategic region- Recently there is a shift to Indo pacific which is becoming a centre of economic and strategic gravity. With a high volume of seaborne trade passing through the Strait of Malacca, the Straits of Singapore and the Gulf of Hormuz, the region has become a theatre of competing claims and power plays. India and Australia enjoy strategic position in Indo-pacific and therefore are natural allies in the region.
  • Preserving the status quo- Both Australia and India support a rules based international order which currently is under increasing threat. Its defenders are shrinking and its challengers growing.
  • Chinese revisionism- China is continuously revising its power in the region. Blatant disregard for international law, construction of artificial islands, an active defence strategy weaponizing capital and trade, and adoption of a military posture that seeks to keep other powers out from parts of the western Pacific is disturbing the balance of power in the. It provides India and Australia an opportunity to be net security providers thereby ensuring rebalancing.
  • Ambiguous American leadership- Though during the Indo-Pacific Business Forum US laid out a partnership based economic engagement in Indo pacific to reassure friends but still the countries have reservations about its America first policy.

Third pillar-Rethinking Culture-thrust on soft power diplomacy

  • In the last decade a large scale has been witnessed in the Indian Diaspora in Australia which now constitute 700,000 strong and the fastest growing large Diaspora in Australia. This Diaspora can play a big role to enhance the partnership by creating personal links, in business, arts, education, politics and civil society.

Concerns are as follows:-

  • Dichotomous Australian Foreign Policy- Historically, a key problem with Australia’s bilateral relationships has been the misalignment of Australia’s economic and political-security interests. While Australia is reliant on the US for its defence and security through the Australia-New Zealand-US treaty, its economy depends on China, which accounts for a huge share in bilateral trade and investment.
  • Challenges of Indian Economy- India is too complicated for its growth story to be linear. Canberra has skepticism about India’s economic progress which is constrained by the political compromises demanded by a diverse democratic federation, held back by thinly resourced institutions, burdened by a interfering bureaucracy, dented by corruption and shaped by a political tradition which puts much greater faith in government intervention than the efficiency of markets.
  • Trade implications for India- India and Australia are “too far apart” to conclude the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) in the near term.
  • Perception of Indo pacific– There is no coherent Indo pacific strategy as countries do not have one definitive vision for the region. It is largely seen as global construct to arrest China’s rise.

A Way forward

  • India-Australia needs to formulate a comprehensive shared Indo pacific vision which ensures inclusivity, transparency, openness and a rule based order.
  • India has to remove various governance bottlenecks and ensure speedy engagement. CECA need to be concluded immediately in order to realize the untapped trade potential.
  • Both sides should share the benefits of increased cooperation equally.

India & European union Political International Relations | UPSC – IAS

India & European union Political International Relations UPSC

India & European union Political International Relations  UPSC

India & European union Political International Relations | UPSC – IAS

The European Union has unveiled a ‘strategy paper’ outlining the broad roadmap for accelerating cooperation with India in a range of key sectors.

What does the strategy paper focus on?

Strategic Partnership

  • It focuses on developing military-to-military relations under which deploying an EU military advisor in the EU Delegation in New Delhi and vice-versa is being considered.
  • It will focus on negotiation of a broader contemporary Strategic Partnership Agreement supplanting 1994 EU-India Cooperation Agreement and intensify dialogue on Afghanistan and Central Asia.
  • Also supports strengthening technical cooperation on fighting terrorism, countering radicalization, violent extremism and terrorist financing.

Maritime cooperation-

  • Efforts will be made to identify common interests of both at policy and operational levels to enhance maritime security.
  • It will focus on working with India and other key regional players such as South Africa to help build the capacity of maritime nations in the Indian Ocean and East Africa

Renewed focus on trade

  • India and EU since 2007 are unable to strike a free trade agreement called Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) due to incoherent interest of both.
  • The European Union (EU) now is looking at reworking the proposed free trade pact with India called the Broad Based BTIA in a post-Brexit scenario.
  • Though the strategy paper did not mention BTIA, but it aims to negotiate a “balanced, ambitious and mutually beneficial” free trade agreement (FTA) with sufficient level of ambition to respond to each side’s key interests in trade and investment.

Political Partnership

This includes reinforcing cooperation on foreign policy, promoting effective multilateralism and building on common values and objectives.

Why this immediate thrust?

  • After the promising beginnings in 2000s, the EU-India partnership lost its momentum as it largely focused on trade and cultural rather than broad strategic and political issues.
  • Europe’s main focus earlier was on China as its key partner and market in Asia while India viewed Europe largely as a trade bloc.
  • But now the new strategic and power realities have pushed the two towards each other.

Chinese Challenge

    • China’s increasing presence in Eurasia and South Asia is creating similar security, political and economic concerns for Europe and India. Both are driven by the need to diversify its partnerships and balance.

BREXIT- a new opportunity

  • Both EU and India can seize an opportunity to work without Britain. Brexit is pushing India to look for new ‘gateways’ to Europe, as its traditional partner leaves the union. A renewed trade and political cooperation are the need of the hour.
  • Fall of the conventional Liberal Trade Order-
    • Trade war, crumbling WTO and break down of TPP etc has made EU understand the economic importance of India.
    • Also for India, EU is one of the largest trading partner (13.5% of India’s overall trade with the world in 2015-16), well ahead of China (10.8%), USA (9.3%), UAE (7.7%) and Saudi Arabia (4.3%).
    • India is the EU’s 9th trading partner in 2016 (2.2% of EU’s overall trade with the world), after South Korea (2.5%) and ahead of Canada (1.9%).
    • With the rise of protectionism by USA, both have opportunity to increase the trade.

Conclusion

  • The EU sees a larger role of India in the regional (Asian) and global security- economic architecture therefore is working on a new strategy with respect to India.
  • Indian multi-alignment approach has made room for reviving India-EU partnership while rebalancing power relations in Eurasia has pushed Europe to carve out its own Asia policy. Hitherto Europe-India partnership was all about trade but now it is finally shifting to a strategic one.

Dissolution of state assembly by Governor – Article | UPSC – IAS

Constitutional provisions of - Dissolution of state assembly article

Constitutional provisions of - Dissolution of state assembly article

Dissolution of state assembly by Governor – Article | UPSC – IAS

Constitutional provisions of – Dissolution of state assembly article

  • Article 172 says that every Legislative Assembly of every State, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years.
  • Article 174 (2) (b) of the Indian Constitution merely states that the Governor may, from time to time, dissolve the Legislative Assembly.
  • Article 356 (“President’s rule”): In case of failure of constitutional machinery in State the President, on receipt of report from the Governor of the State or otherwise,
    • May assume to himself the functions of the Government of the State
    • Declare that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament
  •  With Respect to J&K Constitution: The powers under Section 92 (failure of constitutional machinery) and Section 52 (provides for dissolution of assembly) were invoked for this move.

Issues related to Dissolution Powers | UPSC – IAS

  • Lack of Objective Criteria for untimely dissolution: While Article 174 gives powers to the governor to dissolve the assembly, but the Constitution is silent on as to when and under what circumstances can the House can be dissolved.
  • Political reasons being cited for Dissolution: Potential for political instability in the future being cited as a reason in J&K to prevent emerging alliances is undemocratic in nature.
  • Moreover, describing an alliance as opportunistic is fine as far as it is political opinion but it cannot be the basis for constitutional action.

Missing Political Neutrality in Governor’s Office | UPSC – IAS

  • The post has been reduced to becoming a retirement package for politicians for being politically faithful to the government of the day. Consequently, the office has been used by various governments at the centre as a political tool to destabilise elected state governments.
  • For e.g. Bihar State Assembly was dissolved by the governor in 2005 on apprehensions of “horse trading. Later the Supreme Court called the decision to be illegal and mala fide.

Suggestions on Dissolution of state assembly | UPSC – IAS

Sarkaria Commission

    • The state assembly should not be dissolved unless the proclamation is approved by the parliament.
    • Sparing use of article 356 of the constitution should be made.
    • All possibilities of formation of an alternative government must be explored before imposing president’s rule in the state.

M M Punchhi Commission

    • The governor should follow “constitutional conventions” in a case of a hung Assembly.
    • It suggested a provision of ‘Localized Emergency’ by which the centre government can tackle issue at town/district level without dissolving the state legislative assembly

Supreme Court Judgements related to dissolution | UPSC – IAS

Bommai case of 1994

    • The court accorded primacy to a floor test as a check of majority.
    • The court also said that the power under Article 356 is extraordinary and must be used wisely and not for political gain.

Rameshwar Prasad case (2006)

    • Bihar Governor’s recommendation for dissolving the Assembly the previous year was held to be illegal and mala fide
    • A Governor cannot shut out post-poll alliances altogether as one of the ways in which a popular government may be formed.
    • The court had also said unsubstantiated claims of horse-trading or corruption in efforts at government formation cannot be cited as reasons to dissolve the Assembly

Question: – The governor of the state can dissolve the legislature true or false or the governor can dissolve the legislative council of a state

Answer:- Yes, Governor can dissolve the Legislative Assembly if a motion of no confidence in the Premier and the other Ministers of State is passed.

None of the above (NOTA) Vote & its Significance? | UPSC

None of the above (NOTA) Vote & its Significance? | UPSC

None of the above (NOTA) Vote & its Significance? | UPSC

None of the above (NOTA) Vote & its Significance? | UPSC – IAS

It was introduced in India following the 2013 Supreme Court directive. It is an option the voting machine, designed to allow voters to disapprove all the candidates while delivering their vote. However,

  • NOTA in India does not provide for a ‘right to reject’. The candidate with the maximum votes wins the election irrespective of the number of NOTA votes polled.
  • The NOTA votes have not been accounted while calculating votes polled by candidates for making them eligible (1/6th of valid votes) for getting back their security deposits.
  • An Association of Democratic Reforms analysis says that since 2013 till March 2018, NOTA has secured a total of 1.33 crores votes from all assemblies and Lok Sabha polls combined.
  • Election Commission currently has no plenary power to call a fresh election even if NOTA secures highest votes.
  • To give greater sanctity to NOTA and even order a fresh election, Rule 64 of Conduct of Election Rules will have to be amended and can be done by the law ministry. It will not require Parliament sanction

Significance of re-elections in India

  • Freedom of expression: NOTA emanates from our fundamental right of ‘Right to liberty’ and ‘Freedom of Expression’ as it gives a way for the voter to register her consent or discontent for candidates chosen by the political parties.
  • Advantage for democracy: Participation of people is one of the crucial pillars of democracy thus in exercising the NOTA the voter is participating in the electoral process while not abstaining from voting altogether.
  • Improvement of democracy: There is an opaqueness in the selection process of the candidates chosen for representing a political party, with nepotism, favoritism and money power being the driving force. It gives voters an opportunity to express their dissent and may also force parties to field better candidates known for their integrity.

Challenges of conducting fresh election in India

  • Increase of Financial Pressure: Fresh elections lead to massive expenditures by Government as it has to conduct re-election which put extra pressure on the public exchequer.
  • Disruption of democracy: It leads to frequent elections which results in disruption of normal public life and impact the functioning of essential services.
  • Administrative pressure: Election Commission of India has to take help of a significant number of polling officials as well as armed forces to ensure smooth, peaceful and impartial polls.
  • Governance: Conducting fresh election impacts development programs and governance due to imposition of Model Code of Conduct by the Election Commission.

Breach of privilege Motion UPSC – Indian Polity

Breach of privilege Motion UPSC - Indian Polity IAS PCS

Recently in News Because: 

  • Claiming they had misled Parliament on the Rafale fighter jet deal issue, a breach of privilege motion was moved against Prime Minister and Defence Minister.
  • A claim of ‘breach of privilege’ was raised against chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on finance, for “lowering the dignity and ethics of the Finance Committee” by tweeting about the committee’s deliberations

Concept of privileges and types of privileges

The concept of privileges emerged from the British House of Commons when a nascent  British Parliament started to protect its sovereignty from excesses of the monarch.

The Constitution (under Art. 105 for Parliament, its members & committees /Art.  194 for State Legislature, its members & committees) confers certain  privileges on legislative institutions and their members to:

  • Protect freedom of speech and expression in the House and insulates them against  litigation over matters that occur in these houses
  • Protect against any libel through speeches, printing or publishing
  • Ensure their functioning without undue influence, pressure or coercion
  • Ensure sovereignty of Parliament
  • Currently, there is no law that codifies all the privileges of the  legislators in India. Privileges are based on five sources: i) Constitutional provisions ii)  Various laws of parliament (iii) Rules of both the houses iv) Parliamentary  conventions v) Judicial interpretations
  • Whenever any of these rights and immunities is
  • Exclude strangers from proceedings. Hold a secret sitting of the legislature
  • Freedom of press to publish true reports of Parliamentary proceedings. But, this  does not in case of secret sittings
  • Only Parliament can make rules to regulate its own proceedings
  • There is a bar on court from making inquiry into proceedings of the house (speeches,  votes etc.) Individual
  • No arrest during session and 40 days before and 40 days after the session. Protection available  only in civil cases and not in criminal cases
  • Not liable in court for any speech in parliament
  • Exempted from jury service when the house is in session.

Committee on Privileges

  • Standing committee constituted in each house of the Parliament/state legislature.
  • Consists of 15 members in Lok Sabha (LS) and 10 members in Rajya Sabha (RS) to be nominated by the Speaker in LS and Chairman in RS.
  • Its function is to investigate the cases of breach of privilege and recommend appropriate action
    to the Speaker/Chairperson. disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Parliament.  However, there are no objective guidelines on what constitutes breach of privilege and what  punishment it entails.

Following procedure is followed in privilege cases:

  • A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either house against those being  held guilty of breach of privilege.
  • The Speaker/ Rajya Sabha chairperson is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.  They can take a decision themselves or refer it to the privileges committee of  parliament. Privilege committee in Parliament as well as in state legislatures decides upon such  cases.
  • An inquiry is conducted by the committee and based on findings a recommendation  is made to the legislature.
  • A debate can be initiated on the report in the House and based on the discussion, the Speaker  can order the punishment as defined by the privileges committee.

Archipelagic & Territorial waters, and Contiguous zone | UPSC

INS kohassa - India’s fourth Air Station UPSC IAS Gk today

Different Areas under UNCLOS III :Internal waters

Covers all water and waterways on the landward side of the baseline. The coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resource. Foreign vessels have no right of passage within internal waters.

Territorial waters :

  • Out to 12 nautical miles from the baseline, the coastal state is free to set laws, regulate use, and use any resource.
  • Vessels were given the right of innocent passage through any territorial waters, with strategic straits allowing the passage of military craft as transit passage, in that naval vessels are allowed to maintain postures that would be illegal in territorial waters.
  • “Innocent passage” is defined by the convention as passing through waters in an expeditious and continuous manner, which is not “prejudicial to the peace, good order or the securityof the coastal state.
  • Fishing, polluting, weapons practice, and spying are not “innocent“, and submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag. Nations can also temporarily suspend innocent passage in specific areas of their territorial seas, if doing so is essential for the protection of its security.

Archipelagic waters :

  • The convention defines how the state can draw its territorial borders.
  • A baseline is drawn between the outermost points of the outermost islands, subject to these points being sufficiently close to one another.
  • All waters inside this baseline are designated Archipelagic Waters.
  • The state has full sovereignty over these waters (like internal waters), but foreign vessels have right of innocent passage through archipelagic waters (like territorial waters).

Contiguous zone :

Contiguous zone is 24 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline in which a state could continue to enforce laws in four specific areas: pollution, taxation, customs, and immigration.

What are the factors affecting the salinity of the sea water ? | UPSC – IAS

salinity describe the general distribution of salinity in the oceans UPSC IAS factors affecting salinity of ocean water

salinity describe the general distribution of salinity in the oceans UPSC IAS factors affecting salinity of ocean water

[ Image explanation – Lowest salinity (violet and blue areas) is found in areas of freshwater runoff, such as the mouths of rivers, and where rainfall is high (as in the ITCZ); highest salinity (red and yellow) is found where evaporation rates are highest.]

Factors affecting the salinity of the sea or ocean water | UPSC – IAS

The salinity of ocean water is a measure of the concentration of dissolved salts, which are mostly – sodium chloride but also include salts containing magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and potassium. The average salinity of seawater is about 35 parts per thousand, or 3.5 percent of total mass.

  • The geographic distribution of surface salinity varies. At any given location on the ocean surface, the salinity depends on how much evaporation is taking place and how much freshwater (primarily from rainfall and stream discharge) is being added.

What are the two factors that affect the salinity of ocean water ?

  • The salinity of Ocean water in the surface layer of oceans depend mainly on evaporation and precipitation.
  • Evaporation of ocean water and formation of sea ice both increase the salinity of the ocean.
  • However these “salinity raising” factors are continually counter-balanced by the processes that decrease salinity such as the continuous input of fresh water from, precipitation of – rain, rivers & snow.

Note – Where the evaporation rate is high, so is salinity; where the inflow of freshwater is high, salinity is low

  • Surface salinity is greatly influenced in coastal regions by the freshwater flow from rivers, and in polar regions by the processes of freezing and thawing of ice.
  • Wind, also influences salinity of an area by transferring water to other areas.
  • The ocean currents contribute to the salinity variations. Salinity, temperature and density of water are interrelated. Hence, any change in the temperature or density influences the salinity of an area.

Highest and Lowest Salinity of Ocean Water | UPSC – IAS

Typically the lowest salinities are found where rainfall is heavy and near the mouths of major rivers. Salinity is highest in partly landlocked seas in dry, hot regions because here the evaporation rate is high and stream discharge is minimal.

As a general pattern, salinity is low in equatorial regions because of heavy rainfall, cloudiness, and humidity, all of which inhibit evaporation, and also because of considerable river discharge. Salinity rises to a general maximum in the subtropics, where precipitation is low and evaporation extensive, and decreases to a general minimum in the polar regions, where evaporation is minimal and there is considerable inflow of freshwater from rivers and ice caps. Where the evaporation rate is high, so is salinity; where the inflow of freshwater is high, salinity is low

Note – Atlantic ocean is saltiest out of all oceans

  • Surface waters in the Atlantic have the highest salinity, higher than 37 parts per thousand in some areas. This is because, on average, there is more evaporation than combined rainfall and river runoff into the Atlantic Ocean, maintaining higher salinity than in the other basins.
  • Effects of ocean salinity – Although ocean salinity does vary from place to place, the variability of dissolved salt is very small: from about 32 parts per thousand to about 37 parts per thousand. Nonetheless, this small variation can have a massive influence on ocean circulation.

Salinity of Ocean water Affects Ocean Water Density | UPSC – IAS

  • Seawater density varies with temperature, degree of salinity, and depth. High temperature produces low density, and high salinity produces high density. Deep water has high density because of low temperature and because of the pressure of the overlying water.
  • Surface layers of seawater tend to contract and sink in cold regions, whereas in warmer areas deeper waters tend to rise to the surface.
  • Surface currents also affect this situation, particularly by producing an upwelling of colder, denser water in some localities. As we will see later in this chapter, differences in density are partially responsible for a vast, slow circulation of deep ocean water.

Salinity of freshwater | UPSC – IAS

  • Salinity of freshwater is nearly equal to zero. The salinity of water in the ocean averages about 35 parts per thousand (ppt). The mixture of seawater and fresh water in estuaries is called brackish water and its salinity can range from 0.5 to 35 ppt.

Vertical distribution of salinity in oceans | UPSC – IAS

  • Very cold and very salty water forms in polar regions every winter. This cold and salty water is denser, so it sinks toward the seafloor.

Pacific ocean salinity

Salinity also varies latitudinally, reaching a maximum of 37 parts per thousand in the southeastern area. The water near the equator, which can have a salinity as low as 34 parts per thousand, is less salty than that found in the mid-latitudes because of abundant equatorial precipitation throughout the year.

  • Indian ocean salinity – The surface salinity in Indian ocean ranges from 32 to 37 parts per 1000.

Enclosed Seas in the world (example)

  • Enclosed Sea — black sea ,dead sea
  • Partially enclosed Sea – Mediterranean sea, red sea

Ruin of Artisans and Craftsmen: Causes & impact | UPSC

Ruin of Artisans and Craftsmen Causes & impact UPSC IAS PCS Gk today

Ruin of Artisans and Craftsmen Causes & impact UPSC IAS PCS Gk today

Ruin of Artisans and Craftsmen | UPSC – IAS | NCERT

There was a sudden and quick collapse of the urban handicrafts which had for centuries made India’s name a byword in the markets of the entire civilised world.

Causes & impact | UPSC – IAS

  • This collapse was caused largely by competition with the cheaper imported machine-goods from Britain. (influx of foreign goods)
  • British imposed a policy of one-way free trade on India after 1813
  • Indian goods made with primitive techniques could not compete with goods produced on a mass scale by powerful steam-operated machines.
  • ruin of Indian industries, particularly rural artisan industries, proceeded even more rapidly once the railways were built. Therailways enabled British manufactures to reach and uproot the traditional industries in the remotest villages of the country
  • The cotton weaving and spinning industries were the worst hit.
  • forcing them to sell their goods below the market price and to hire their service below the prevailing wage, compelled a large number of them to abandon their ancestral professions
  • The high import duties and other restrictions imposed on the import of Indian goods into Britain and Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries, combined with the development of modern manufacturing industries in Britain, led to the virtual closing of the European markets to Indian manufacturers after 1820.
  • The British. policy of exporting raw materials also injured Indian handicrafts by raising the prices of raw materials like cotton and leather. This increased the cost of handicrafts and reduced their capacity to compete with foreign goods.
  • The tragedy was heightened by the fact that the decay of the traditional industries was not accompanied by the growth of modern machine industries as was the case in Britain and western Europe. Consequently, the ruined handicrafts-men and artisans failed to find alternative employment. The only choice open to them was to crowd into agriculture.

Conclusion | UPSC – IAS

  • Thus British conquest led to the de-industrialisation of the country and increased dependence of the people on agriculture
  • Between 1901 and 1941 alone the percentage of population dependent on agriculture increased from 63.7 per cent to 70 percent. This increasing pressure on agriculture was one of the major causes of the extreme poverty of India under British rule.
  • In fact India now became an agricultural colony of manufacturing Britain which needed it as a source of raw materials for its industries.
  • Moreover, the British rule also upset the balance of economic life in the villages,The gradual destruction of rural crafts broke up the union between agriculture and domestic industry in the countryside and thus contributed to the destruction of the self-sufficient village economy.
  • India had been for centuries the largest exporter of cotton goods in the world, it was now transformed into an importer of British cotton products & an exporter of raw cotton

**gradual disappearance of Indian rulers and their courts who were the main customers of town handicrafts also gave a big blow to these industries.

Ruin of Old Zamindars and Rise of New Landlord-ism | UPSC – IAS

Ruin of Old Zamindars and Rise of New Landlord-ism UPSC IAS PCS Gk today

Ruin of Old Zamindars and Rise of New Landlord-ism UPSC IAS PCS Gk today

Ruin of Old Zamindars and Rise of New Landlord-ism | UPSC – IAS

British economic policy favoured the rise of a new landlordism, as the high revenue demands forced traditional landowners to sell their land. Rich money-lenders and others bought this land and there was a spread of growth of intermediaries

  • By 1815, half the total land in Bengal had passed into hands of money-lenders, merchants, and rich peasants who usually got the land cultivated by tenants. The new zamindars, with increased powers but with little or no avenues for new investments, resorted to land-grabbing and sub-infeudation.Warren Hastings’ policy of auctioning the rights of revenue collection to the highest bidders, (Izaredari System)

The Permanent Settlement of 1793 | UPSC – IAS

  • A remarkable feature of’ the spread of landlord-ism was, the growth of sub-infeudation or intermediaries. Since the cultivating tenants were generally unprotected and the overcrowding of land led tenants to compete
  • With one another to acquire land, the rent of land went on increasing. The zamindars and the new landlords found it convenient to sublet their right to collect rent to other eager persons on profitable terms
  • Increase in number of intermediaries to be paid gave rise to absentee landlordism and increased the burden on the peasant.
  • Zamindar had no incentive to invest in the improvement of agriculture. The interests of the zamindars lay only in the perpetuation of British rule and in opposing the national movement
  • But the condition of the zamindars soon improved radically. In order to enable the zamindars to pay the land revenue in time, the authorities increased their power over the tenants by extinguishing the traditional rights of the tenants. Consequently, they rapidly grew in prosperity

Stagnation and Deterioration of Agriculture | UPSC – IAS

As a result of overcrowding of agriculture, excessive land revenue demand, growth of landlordism, increasing indebtedness, and the growing impoverishment of the cultivators, Indian agriculture began to stagnate and even deteriorate resulting in extremely low yields per acre.

  • At a time when agriculture all over the world was being modernised and revolutionised, Indian agriculture was technologically stagnating, hardly any modern machinery was used.

Impoverishment of the Peasantry | Analysis and Conclusion | UPSC

Impoverishment of the Peasantry Analysis and Conclusion UPSC IAS PCS Gk today the hindu

Impoverishment of the Peasantry Analysis and Conclusion UPSC IAS PCS Gk today the hindu

Impoverishment of the Peasantry | UPSC – IAS

The peasant was also progressively impoverished under British rule, his material condition deteriorated and he steadily sank into poverty. In the very beginning of British rule in Bengal, the policy of Clive and Warren Hasting of extracting the largest possible land revenue had led to such devastation

Temporary & permanent settlement | UPSC – IAS

  • In both temporary & permanent settlement zamindari areas a lot of peasants remained unenviable. They were left to the mercies of the zamindars who raised rents to unbearable limits, compelled them to pay illegal dues and to perform forced labour or beggar, and oppressed them in diverse other ways

Ryotwari and Mahalwari | UPSC – IAS

  • Condition of the cultivators in the Ryotwari and Mahalwari areas was no better.Here, Government took the place of the zamindar and levied excessive land revenue which was in the beginning fixed as high as one-third to one-half of the produce. Heavy assessment of land was one of the main causes of the growth of poverty and the deterioration of agriculture in the 19th century.
  • The evil of high revenue demand was made worse by the fact that the peasant got little economic return for it. The Government spent very little on improving agriculture.
  • It devoted almost its entire income to meeting the needs of British-Indian administration, making the payments of direct and indirect tribute to England, and serving the ·interest of British trade and industry. Even the maintenance of law order tended to benefit the merchant and the money-lender rather than the peasant.
  • In Pre-British times, the money-lender was subordinated to the village community. He could not behave in a manner totally disliked by the rest of the village. For instance, he could not charge usurious rates of interest. In fact, the rates of interest were fixed by usage and public opinion.
  • By introducing transfer-ability of land the British revenue system enabled the money-lender or the rich peasant to take possession of land. Even the benefits of peace and security established by the British through their legal system and police were primarily reaped by the money-lender in whose hands the law placed enormous power

Poverty and Taxation | UPSC – IAS

The pressure of taxation and growing poverty pushed the cultivators into debt which in turn increased their poverty. In fact, the cultivators often failed to understand that the money-lender was an inevitable cog in the mechanism of imperialist exploitation and turned their anger against him as he appeared to be the visible cause of their impoverishment. For instance, during the Revolt of 1857, wherever the peasantry rose in revolt, quite often its first target of attack was the moneylender and his account books.

The rigid manner of its collection land revenue had to be paid promptly on the fixed dates even if the harvest had been below normal or had failed completely,

Conclusion and Analysis  | UPSC – IAS

The loss of land and the overcrowding of land caused by de-industrialization and lack of modern industry compelled the landless peasants and ruined artisans and handicrafts-men to become either tenants of the money-lenders and zamindars by paying rack-rent or agricultural labourers at starvation wages. Thus the peasantry was crushed under the triple burden of the Government, the zamindar or landlord, and the money-lender

Why Grand Delhi Durbars were organized ? | UPSC – IAS

Why Delhi Durbars were organized & its highlights UPSC IAS PCS

Why Delhi Durbars were organized & its highlights UPSC IAS PCS

What was Grand Delhi Durbars & why they were organized ?

The meaning of Delhi Durbar is ,”Court of Delhi”, was a mass assembly at Coronation Park in Delhi, India, to mark the succession of an Emperor or Empress of India. Also known as the Imperial Durbar.

How many times Grand Delhi Darbars/Durbars Held ?

It was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911. let’s discuss all of them one by one-:

Highlights Of Grand Delhi Durbar 1877

  • A Grand Darbar was organized at Delhi on January 1, 1877, in which Queen Victoria was proclaimed empress of India. Queen Victoria was proclaimed with title “Kaisar-i-Hind” at this Durbar.
  • The Empress of India Medal to commemorate the Proclamation of the Queen as Empress of India was struck and distributed to the honored guests. Ramanath Tagore was made a Maharaja by Lord Lytton, viceroy of India
    **famine was darkening over southern India at this time of period

Highlights Of Grand Delhi Durbar 1903

  • The durbar was held to celebrate the succession of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra as Emperor and Empress of India. Lord Curzon was viceroy at that time Special medals known as Delhi Durbar Medals, were struck, firework displays, exhibitions and glamorous dances held.

Highlights Of Grand Delhi Durbar 1911

  • Durbar was held to commemorate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary as Emperor and Empress of India. The Congress passed a resolution condemning the pomp and show of this Durbar at the cost of the poor Indians.
  • In this Durbar, the King declared that Capital of India will be transferred from Calcutta to Delhi.
  • In the same Durbar it was also declared the Partition of Bengal is cancelled.

Secularism in India – Features, Impact and Problems | UPSC – IAS

Secularism in India - Features, Impact and Problems UPSC - IAS

Secularism in India - Features, Impact and Problems UPSC - IAS

Blue –  No official religion | Red – States with Religion


 Secularism in India – Features, Impact and Problems | UPSC – IAS

The concept of secularism as embodied in the Constitution of India cannot be viewed in the sense in which it is viewed in the West, but in the context of the following provisions of the Constitution:

The Constitution guarantees:-

  • Freedom of conscience,
  • Freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion and
  • also Freedom to establish religious institutions and manage or administer their affairs.
  • It prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion and
  • Guarantees legal and social equality to all by providing for equality before law and  Equal protection of laws, prohibiting discrimination with regard to places of public importance and
  • Providing for equal opportunity in matters of public employment.
  • The Constitution also guarantees religious minorities the right to conserve their script, language and culture.

The provisions would naturally indicate that the Constitution of India endeavors to build up in India the philosophy of secularism on freedom, equality and tolerance in the field of religion. And viewed in this context it is clear that the Constitution does not build a wall of separation between the state and religion.

Thus, the distinguishing features of a secular democracy as contemplated by the constitution are:

  • That the state will not identify itself with or be controlled by any religion;
  • While the state guarantees to everyone the right to profess whatever religion one chooses to follow (which includes also the right to be an agnostic or an atheist), it will not accord any preferential treatment to any of them;
  • That no discrimination will be shown by the state against any person on account of his religion and faith;
  • That the right of every citizen, subject to any general condition to enter any office under the state will be equal to that of his fellow citizens.

Although the term secularism was not in the original text of the Constitution, secularism was a subject of animated discussion when the Constituent Assembly look up for consideration the provisions dealing with the freedom of religion.

Indian Constitution the Supreme Court observed: “There is no mysticism in the secular character of the state. Secularism is neither anti-God nor pro-God; it treats alike the devout, the agnostic and the atheist. It eliminates God from the matter of the state and ensures no one shall be discriminated against on the ground of religion.

Basic outline of the secularism is enshrined in the following Articles of the Constitution:

  • Preamble: It is true that the word ‘secular’ did not first occur either in Article 25 or 26 or in any other Article or Preamble of the Constitution. But the Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, the Preamble was amended and for the words ‘Sovereign Democratic Republic‘ the words ‘Sovereign, socialist, secular, Democratic Republic’ were substituted.
  • No State Religion.

It follows from that:

  • No religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly run by state funds.
  • Even though religious instruction is imparted in educational institutions recognised by state or receiving aid from the state, no person at lending such institution shall be compelled to receive that religious instruction without the consent of himself or of his guardian. In short, while religious instruction is totally banned in state-owned educational institutions, in other denominational institutions it is not totally prohibited but it must not be imposed upon people of other religions without their consent (Article 28).
  • Freedom of Conscience: Every person is guaranteed the freedom of conscience and the freedom to profess, practice and propagate his own religion, subject only:
  • to restrictions imposed by the state on the interest of public order, morality and health.
  • to regulations or restrictions made by state relating, to any economic, financial, political or outer secular activity which may be associated with religious practice, but do not really related to the freedom of conscience;
  • to measures of social reform and for throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.

Freedom to Manage Religious Affairs:

  • To establish and maintain institutions (or religious and charitable purposes.
  • To manage its own affairs in matters of religion;
  • To own and acquire movable and immovable property; and
  • To administer such property in accordance with law (Article 26)

Conclusion| UPSC IAS

  • Secularism has to play a decisive role at present stage of Indian democracy.
  • It is so because today when the Indian democracy seems to face the challenge of narrow divisive trends and tendencies, a rational and scientific approach which is the basis of secularism has become a matter of utmost importance.
  • Communal disturbances which have distinguished the public life in the recent past, as well the birth and growth of narrow and divisive trends and obscurantist theories are mainly the result of ignorance can be fought not by legislation alone, nor by a negative fiat alone, but by education, and in the process of educating the traditional Indian mind, secularism and all that it stands for the political leaders have to play a major role.

Communalism in India Characteristics, Causes and Problems | UPSC IAS

Problems-of-Communalism-in-India-UPSC-IAS

Problems-of-Communalism-in-India-UPSC-IAS

Communalism in India Characteristics, Causes and Problems | UPSC – IAS

Indian society is pluralistic from religious point of view. Here, we have the followers of all the great religious systems. Hindus constitute the bulk of the population and they inhabit in all parts of the country. Muslims constitute the largest religious minority. But the adjustment between the Hindus and Muslims has been a failure several times, resulting in violent communal riots.

  • Communal riots during the period of independence. Communalism was responsible for the division of the country into India and Pakistan. The partition was expected to resolve the riddle, but it failed.

Meaning of Communalism | UPSC – IAS

  • Abdul Ahmed says, “Communalism is a social phenomenon characterized by the religion of two communities, often leading to acrimony, tension and even rioting between them”.
  • Prabha Dixit writes,Communalism is a political doctrine which makes use of religious and cultural differences to achieve political ends.
  • It may be perceived as a total commitment to a set of beliefs and is far from rationality.

Characteristics of Communalism | UPSC – IAS

  • Encompasses social, economic and political aspects for its manifestation.
  • It causes rivalry, violence and tension among masses.
  • It is used by the higher class people and elites as an instrument for division and exploitation of the communal identities of the poorer sections of their co-religionists.
  • Communalism is simply engineered by opportunistic political and economic interest.
  • It strikes at the roots of democracy, secularism and national integration.

Causes of Communalism in India | UPSC – IAS

  • Tendency of the Minorities: The Muslims fail to be intermingled in the national mainstream. Most of them do not participate in the secular nationalistic politics and insist on maintaining separate identity.
  • Orthodoxy and Obscurantism: There are strong elements of conservatism and fundamentalism among the Muslims. Such feeling has prevented them from accepting the concept of secularism and religious tolerance.
  • Design of the Leaders: Communalism has flourished in India because the communalist leaders of both Hindu and Muslim communities desire to flourish it in the interest of their communities. The demand for separate electorate and the organization of Muslim league were the practical manifestations of this line of thought. The British rule which produced the divide and rule policy, separate electorate on the basis of religion strengthened the basis of communalism in India. Ultimately the partition of the country provided further antagonistic feeling towards each other.
  • Weak Economic Status: Due to their educational backwardness, they have not been represented sufficiently in the public service, industry and trade etc. This causes the feeling of relative deprivation and such feelings contain the seeds of communalism.
  • Geographical Causes: The territorial settlement of different religious groups especially Hindus Muslims and Christians causes in them wide variation in the mode of life, social standards and belief system. Most of these patterns are contradictory and this may cause communal tension.
  • Social Causes: Social institutions, customs and practices of Hindus and Muslims are so divergent that they think themselves to be two distinct communities.
  • Psychological Causes: Psychological factors play an important role in the development of communalism. The Hindus think that the Muslims are fanatics and fundamentalists. They also believe that Muslims are unpatriotic. On the contrary, the Muslims feel that they are being treated as second rate citizens in India and their religious beliefs and practices are inferior. These feelings lead to communal ill-feeling.
  • Provocation of Enemy Countries: Some foreign countries try to destabilize our country by setting one community against the other through their agents. Pakistan has played a role in fostering communal feeling among the Muslims of our country. Pakistan has been encouraging and promoting communal riots by instigating the militant sections of Indian Muslim community. Kashmir youths are trained by Pakistan to destabilize India’s internal security by spreading communal venom.
  • Negative Impact of Mass Media: The messages relating to communal tension or riot in any part of the country spread through the mass media. This results in further tension and riots between two rival religious groups.
  • Ineffective Handling of Communal Riots

Suggestions for the Eradication of Communalism in India | UPSC – IAS

Abolition of Communal Parties:

  • All the political parties which thrive on religious loyalties should be banned or abolished by the government. Even non-political cultural organizations should always be kept under constant vigil so that they cannot preach communalism.

Transmission of the Past Heritage:

  • Feelings of nationalism should be inculcated in the minds of people by reminding them about the glorious moments of history in Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs were combined to safeguard the interest of the country.

Public Opinion:

  • Efforts should be made through mass media for changing the attitude of people towards other communities. People must be aware of the evils of the communalism.

Inter-religious Marriage:

  • Youth organizations and other types of associations should be formed in every locality to give opportunity to people of different communities to come closer and know each other. This may help them to practice inter-religious marriages which will lessen the social distance among the members of different religious groups.

Both the Government and people should make efforts for eradication of communal tension and conflict.

About The NAC Communal Violence Bill:

(Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence 2011)

The National Advisory Committee has recently come out with a Communal Violence Bill. The Bill is intended to prevent acts of violence, or incitement to violence directed at people by virtue of their membership to any “group”.

An existing Bill titled the “Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005” pending in the Rajya Sabha.  The main features of the NAC Bill are explained below:

  • The Bill makes illegal acts which result in injury to persons or property, if such acts are directed against persons on the basis of their affiliation to any group, and if such an act destroys the secular fabric of the nation.Such acts include sexual assault, hate propaganda, torture and organized communal violence.
  • It makes public servants punishable for failing to discharge their stated duties in an unbiased manner. In addition, public servants have duties such as the duty to provide protection to victims of communal violence and also have to take steps to prevent the outbreak of communal violence.
  • The Bill establishes a National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice, and Reparation NACHJR to prevent acts of communal violence, incitement to communal violence, containing the spread of communal violence, and monitoring investigations into acts of communal violence. The Authority can also inquire into and investigate acts of communal violence by itself. The Bill also provides for the setting up of State Authorities for Communal Harmony, Justice, and Reparation.
  • The central or state government has been given the authority to intercept any messages or transmissions if it feels that it might lead to communal violence. This power is subject to existing procedures which have to be complied with for intercepting messages and transmissions.
  • Importantly, if public officers are liable to be prosecuted for offences under the Bill, and prior sanction is required for such prosecution, the state government has to grant or refuse sanction within 30 days. If not, then sanction will be deemed to have been granted.
  • The Bill also allows the states to set up one or more Human Rights Defender of Justice and Reparations’ in every district. The Human Rights defender will ensure that those affected by communal and targeted violence are able to access their rights under existing laws.
  • Apart from these, the Bill also establishes state and district-level authorities for assessing compensation for victims of communal violence.
  • States have numerous obligations towards victims, such as establishment of relief camps, ensuring proper facilities, medical provisions and clothing for those within camps, etc.
  • The states government also has the obligation to create conditions which allow the return of victims of communal violence to the place of their ordinary residence.

India divided over communal violence bill | UPSC – IAS

India is on the brink of enacting legislation that will seek justice for minorities of all categories when they become victims of targeted, mass violence. Crafted by the National Advisory Council (NAC), the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011, will be introduced in parliament during the upcoming monsoon session.

  • The bill aims at creating a framework for preventing pogroms such as the attacks on Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, and the provision of relief for victims of such violence. It has kicked up a storm with some people criticizing it as “draconian” and “anti-Hindu” and others dismissing it as “toothless and meaningless”.
  • Communal violence has wracked India for decades. Partition of the subcontinent in 1947 was accompanied by horrific violence between Hindus and Sikhs on the one hand and Muslims on the other, leaving a million dead and over 10 times that number homeless.
  • Since independence, there have been countless instances of communal violence. In the 2005-09 period alone, 648 people were killed and 11,278 injured in 4,030 such incidents, according to the PRS Legislative Research website. Communal clashes during this period peaked in 2008 with 943 cases being reported that year.
  • Communal violence in India is rarely spontaneous. It is mostly engineered. Most clashes have been between Hindus and Muslims but Hindu-Christian violence too is not uncommon. While people of all religious communities suffer during these riots, it is the minorities – Muslims, Sikhs, and in recent years Christians who have borne the brunt.

“What we need, thus, is not so much a new law defining new crimes (although that would be useful too) but a law to ensure that the police and bureaucrats and their political masters follow the existing law of the land. In other words, we need a law that punishes them for discriminating against citizens who happen to be minorities,” he writes.And this is what the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence bill sets out to do.

Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill | UPSC – IAS

India’s constitution declares the country to be secular. However, institutional bias against religious and linguistic minorities is deeply entrenched, making them vulnerable to violence.The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill seeks to change this in several ways.

  • It describes “communal and targeted violence” as that acts that are “knowingly directed against any person by virtue of his or her membership of any group, which destroys the secular fabric of the nation” and then goes on to define “group” as “a religious or linguistic minority or Scheduled Castes [Dalits] and Scheduled Tribes.”

In other words, only violence against a minority community is considered communal violence.

  • The law also makes it obligatory that at least four of the seven member posts in the National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation belong to a minority community.
  • The bill has drawn fire from Hindu nationalists, who see it as evidence of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s appeasement of Muslims. They are asking why violence against the majority community should not be considered communal.
  • Social activist Ram Puniyani draws attention to “concrete realities” in Indian society to justify the bill’s focus on minorities. The minorities have after all suffered disproportionately during communal violence. Muslims comprise 90% of victims of violence, he says.
  • Besides, the bill speaks of “a religious and linguistic minority in any state” in India. Hindus are an overwhelming majority – 80.46% – nationwide but constitute a minority in seven states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland. They too are thus covered by the bill.

An earlier draft of the bill had irked secular sections as well. It had defined communal violence as that which has destroyed India’s secular fabric. This prompted criticism that the bill raised the bar for violence to be regarded as communal too high rendering it meaningless. After all it is arguable whether any incident of communal violence has actually destroyed India’s secular fabric.

Responding to criticism, the NAC has now made 49 amendments to its earlier draft. In its definition of communal and targeted violence it has dropped the reference to “destruction of the secular fabric”. It has also deleted a clause in the earlier draft that allowed the federal government to unilaterally intervene in communal situations in states as it had raised concern over its implications for the working of the country’s federal structure.

The NAC has, however, ignored the right-wing’s criticism and stuck to its focus on minorities in the bill. This could mean that the bill will come up against fierce opposition in parliament from parties like the BJP.

Why Dr BR Ambedkar is called ‘Modern manu’ ?

role of dr b.r. ambedkar in making indian constitution

Who is Dr br Ambedkar ?

  • Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar (1891-1956) is considered the father of the Indian Constitution and is also the best known leader of the Dalits. Because Dr Ambedkar fought for the rights of the Dalit community.
  • He was born into the Mahar caste, which was considered untouchable. The Mahars were poor, owned no land and children born to them also had to do the work their parents did.
  • Dr Ambedkar was the first person from his caste who completed his college education and went to England to become a lawyer.
  • Bhim Rao Ambedkar encouraged Dalits to send their children to school and college. He also urged Dalits to take on different kinds of government jobs in order to move out of the caste system.
  • Ambedkar led many efforts of Dalits to gain entry into temples.
  • Later in life he converted to Buddhism in his search for a religion that treated all members equally. Dr Ambedkar believed that Dalits must fight the caste system and work towards a society based on respect not just for a few but for all persons.

 Why Dr BR Ambedkar is called ‘Modern manu’ ?

Dr BR Ambedkar is called Modern Manu because of Hindu Code Bill which he drafted. Dr Ambedkar drafted a radical and most progressive Hindu Code Bill which would have regulated the socio-religious laws of Hindus. It was bundle of several laws that aimed to modify and reform Hindu Personal Law in India. He aimed for broader individual liberty and equality of men and women in Hindu Social system.

Some of the radical and bold measure adopted in Hindu Code Bill for women included are as follows:-

  • The property including both movable and immovable property should be acquired by a woman,
  • the acquisition of property should be made by a woman before and after marriage even during by the widowhood from her parents or husband.
  • Dowry system would be paid as a condition and consideration, the share of the property of each unmarried daughter shall be half that of each son and the share of each married daughter shall be one quarter of that of each son.

Nehru Report, Delhi Proposals and Jinnah’s Fourteen Demands | UPSC

Nehru Report of 1928 | UPSC - IAS

Delhi Proposals December 1927 | UPSC – IAS

Earlier, in December 1927, a large number of Muslim leaders had met at Delhi at the Muslim League session and evolved four proposals for Muslim demands to be incorporated in the draft constitution. These proposals, which were accepted by the Madras session of the Congress (December 1927), came to be known as the ‘Delhi Proposals’. These were

  • Joint electorates in place of separate electorates with reserved seats for Muslims;
  • One-third representation to Muslims in Central Legislative Assembly;
  • Representation to Muslims in Punjab and Bengal in proportion to their population;
  • Formation of three new Muslim majority provinces— Sindh, Baluchistan and North-West Frontier Province.

Nehru Report of 1928 | UPSC – IAS

The Nehru Report of 28–30 August, 1928 was a memorandum outlining a proposed new dominion status constitution for India. It was prepared by a committee of the All Parties Conference chaired by Motilal Nehru with his son Jawaharlal Nehru acting as secretary.

The Nehru Report confined itself to British India, as it envisaged the future link-up of British India with the princely states on a federal basis. Nehru report Recommendation are as follows:-

  • Dominion status
  • No separate electorates, but joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities.
  • Linguistic provinces.
  • Nineteen fundamental rights including equal rights for women, right to form unions, and universal adult suffrage.
  • Responsible government at center and in provinces
  • Full protection to cultural and religious interests of Muslims.
  • Complete dissociation of state from religion.

Nehru Report of 1928 significance – first major attempt to draft a constitutional framework for the country. 

  • As  an answer to Lord Birkenhead’s challenge, an All Parties Conference met in February 1928 and appointed a subcommittee under the chairmanship of Motilal Nehru to draft a constitution
  • Nehru Committee were unanimous except in one respect  – while the majority favoured the “dominion status” as the basis of the Constitution, a section of it wanted “complete independence” as the basis, with the majority section giving the latter section liberty of action. younger section regarded the idea of dominion status in the report as a step backward.
  • Main Personalities involved – Tej Bahadur Sapru, Subhash Bose, M.S. Aney, Mangal Singh, Ali Imam, Shuab Qureshi and G.R.

Amendments Proposed by Jinnah | UPSC – IAS

At the All Parties Conference held at Calcutta in December 1928 to consider the Nehru Report, Jinnah, on behalf of the Muslim League, proposed three amendments to the report:

  • One-third representation to Muslims in the Central Legislature
  • Reservation to Muslims in Bengal and Punjab legislatures proportionate to their population, till adult suffrage was established
  • Residual powers to provinces.

These demands not being accommodated, Jinnah went back to the Shafi faction of the Muslim League and in March 1929 gave fourteen points which were to become the basis of all future propaganda of the Muslim League.

Jinnah’s Fourteen Demands | UPSC – IAS

  • Federal Constitution with residual powers to provinces.
  • Provincial autonomy.
  • No constitutional amendment by the centre without the concurrence of the states constituting the Indian federation.
  • All legislatures and elected bodies to have adequate representation of Muslims in every province without reducing a majority of Muslims in a province to a minority or equality.
  • Adequate representation to Muslims in the services and in self governing bodies.
  • One-third Muslim representation in the Central Legislature.
  • In any cabinet at the centre or in the provinces, one third to be Muslims.
  • Separate electorates.
  • No bill or resolution in any legislature to be passed if three fourths of a minority community consider such a bill or resolution to be against their interests.
  • Any territorial redistribution not to affect the Muslim majority in Punjab, Bengal and NWFP.
  • Separation of Sindh from Bombay.
  • Constitutional reforms in the NWFP and Balochistan.
  • Full religious freedom to all communities.
  • Protection of Muslim rights in religion, culture, education and language.

Not only were the Muslim League, the Hindu Mahasabha and the Sikh communalists unhappy about the Nehru Report, but the younger section of the Congress led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Bose were also angered. The younger section regarded the idea of dominion status in the report as a step backward, and the developments at the All Parties Conference strengthened their criticism of the dominion status idea. Nehru and Subhash Bose rejected the Congress’ modified goal and jointly set up the Independence for India League.

Wavell Plan | Breakdown Plan 1945 & Shimla Conference | UPSC

Wavell-Plan-Shimla

Wavell Plan 1945 & Shimla Conference | UPSC – IAS

The Simla Conference 1945 was a meeting between the Viceroy and the major political leaders of British India at Simla, India. Convened to agree on and approve the Wavell Plan for Indian self-government, and there it reached a potential agreement for the self-rule of India that provided separate representation for Muslims and reduced majority powers for both communities in their majority regions.

  • The idea was to reconstruct the governor general’s executive council pending the preparation of a new constitution. For this purpose, a conference was convened by the viceroy, Lord Wavell, at Shimla in June 1945.

The Main Proposals of the Wavell Plan were as follows:-

  • The Viceroy’s Executive Council would be immediately reconstituted and the number of its members would be increased.
  • In the Council there would be equal representation of high-caste Hindus and Muslims.
  • All the members of the Council, except the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief, would be Indians.
  • An Indian would be appointed as the member for Foreign Affairs in the Council. However, a British commissioner would be responsible for trade matters.
  • The defence of India would remain in British hands until power was ultimately transferred to Indians.
  • The Viceroy would convene a meeting of Indian politicians including the leaders of Congress and the Muslim League at which they would nominate members of the new Council.
  • If this plan were to be approved for the central government, then similar councils of local political leaders would be formed in all the provinces.
  • None of the changes suggested would in any way prejudice or prejudge the essential form of the future permanent Constitution of India.
  • With the exception of the governor-general and the commander-in-chief, all members of the executive council were to be Indians.
  • Caste – Hindus and Muslims were to have equal representation
  • The reconstructed council was to function as an interim government within the framework of the 1935 Act (i.e. not responsible to the Central Assembly).

To discuss these proposals with Indian leaders, Wavell summoned them to a conference to take place in Shimla on 25 June 1945.

Wavell-Plan-Shimla

Why the Government was Keen on a Solution Now?

Because of the following reasons:-

  • The general election in England was scheduled for mid-1945. The Conservatives wanted to be seen as sincere on reaching a solution.
  • There was pressure from the Allies to seek further Indian cooperation in the war.
  • The Government wanted to divert Indian energies into channels more profitable for the British.

Failure of the Simla Conference | UPSC – IAS

Meanwhile, a general election had been held in the United Kingdom in July 1945 which had brought the Labour Party to power. The Labour party wanted to transfer power to the Indians as quickly as possible. The new government sent the Cabinet Mission to India and this proved to be the final nail in the coffin of the Wavell Plan.

Wavell’s Mistake and Criticism of Wavell Plan | UPSC – IAS

Wavell announced a breakdown of talks thus giving the League a virtual veto.  This strengthened the League’s position, as was evident from the elections in 1945-46, and boosted Jinnah’s position;

The Wavell Plan, in essence, proposed the complete Indianisation of the Executive Council, but instead of asking all the parties to nominate members to the Executive Council from all the communities, seats were reserved for members on the basis of religion and caste, with the caste Hindus and Muslims being represented on it on the basis of parity. Even Mahatma Gandhi resented the use of the words “caste Hindus”.

While the plan proposed immediate changes to the composition of the Executive Council it did not contain any guarantee of Indian independence, nor did it contain any mention of a future constituent assembly or any proposals for the division of power between the various parties of India.

Theory of Isostasy | Geography Optional | UPSC – IAS

Postulations of Airy theory of Isostasy

Theory of Isostasy | Geography Optional | UPSC – IAS

Introduction to Theory of Isostasy

The term “Isostasy” is derived from “Isostasios”, a word of Greek language meaning the state of being in balance or equal standing or in equipoise. The theory of isostasy explains, the tendency of the earth’s crust to attain equilibrium and the distribution of the material in the earth’s crust which conforms to the observed gravity values.

The Theory of Isostasy UPSC IAS

  • Theory of Isostasy, is a fundamental concept in geology, is based on the opposing influence of two main forces – Buoyancy and Gravity
  • It is the state of gravitational equilibrium between earth’s crust and mantle, Such that – The crust floats at an elevation that depends on its thickness and density.
  • It is the idea that the lighter crust must be floating on the denser underlying mantle.

History and Explanation (Theory of Isostasy)

  • Theory of Isostasy was developed from gravity surveys in the mountains of India, in 1850. The term was first proposed by Clarence Dutton, an American geologist in 1889.
  • This doctrine states that wherever equilibrium exists in the earth’s surface, equal mass must underlie equal surface areas; in other words a great continental mass must be formed of lighter material than that supposed to constitute the ocean-floor.
  • Thus, there exists a gravitational balance between crustal segments of different thickness. According to Dutton, the elevated masses are characterized by rocks of low density and the depressed basins by rocks of higher density.
  • In order to compensate for its greater height these lighter continental material must extend downward to some distance under the continent and below the ocean-floor level in order that unit areas beneath the oceans and continents may remain in stable equilibrium.
  • Accordingly, a level of uniform pressure is thought to exist where the pressure due to elevated masses and depressed areas would be equal. This is known as the ‘Isopiestic-Level‘.

Understanding the Concept of Theory of Isostasy

  • It is invoked to explain how different topographic heights can exists on the Earth’s surface. Isostatic equilibrium is an ideal state where the crust and mantle would settle into in absence of disturbing forces. These are the examples of processes that perturb isostasy :-
    • The waxing and waning of ice sheets,
    • Erosion, sedimentation, and
    • Extrusive volcanism
  • The physical properties of the lithosphere (the rocky shell that forms Earth’s exterior) are affected by the way the mantle and crust respond to these perturbations.
  • Therefore, understanding the dynamics of isostasy helps us figure out more complex phenomena such as:-
    • Mountain building,
    • Sedimentary basin formation,
    • The break-up of continents and
    • The formation of new ocean basins

Postulations of Airy (Theory of Isostasy – UPSC)

  • According to him the crust of relatively lighter material is floating in the substra­tum of denser material. In other words, ‘sial’ is floating in ‘sima’.
  • He considered the density of different columns (plains, plateaus, mountains, etc.) to be the same. Hence, he proposed the idea of ‘Uniform density with varying thickness’.

Postulations of Airy theory of Isostasy

Postulations of Pratt  (Theory of Isostasy – UPSC)

  • Pratt considered land blocks of various heights to be different in terms of their density.
  • The taller landmass has lesser density and smaller height features to be denser. If there is a higher column, density will be lesser and if there is a shorter column, density will be higher
  • He accepted that all blocks of different height get compensated at a certain depth into the substratum. Thus, he denounced the root concept of Airy and accepted the ‘concept of a level of compensation’.

Postulations of Pratt - Theory of Isostasy

 

Difference between pratt and airy Isostasy

      Views of Airy        Views of Pratt
•Uniform density of crustal  material. •Varying density of  crustal  material.
•Varying depth up to which root penetrates. crustal material reaches. •Uniform depth up to which crustal material reaches.
•Deeper root below the    mountain  and smaller   beneath plain. •No root formation, but a  level of Compensation.

Both theories predict a relative deficiency of mass under high mountains,

  • But –Airy’s theory is now known to be a better explanation of mountains within continental regions, whereas –

Pratt’s theory essentially explains the difference between continents and oceans, since the continent crust is largely of granitic composition which is less dense than the basaltic ocean basin.

UPSC – CSE  Previous Year’s Questions (Mains)

  • UPSC – CSE 2001 : Present a critical analysis of the theory of isostasy.
  • UPSC – CSE 2007 : Define the concept of isostasy and discuss the postulations of Airy and Pratt.
  • UPSC – CSE 2011 : Explain the concept of Isostasy as postulated by Airy and Pratt
  • Difference between pratt and airy isostasy or Examine the difference between airy and pratt in view of isostasy..

Advantages and disadvantages of internet for students

Impact of Internet Addiction on Mental Health:

Impact of Internet Addiction on Mental Health:

The Internet is a network that connects computers to each other at any time and from anywhere in the world. To send and receive information of any kind. Such as text, graphics, sound or image, or even electronic programs. And this is through Specialised servers and routers, using special protocols each have a specific function in the transmission and reception of the various digital data packets.

  • The Internet has evolved over the years and helped in the rapid growth of the personal computer hardware markets in the eighties and featured the World Wide Web in the early nineties making web browsing easier and make available to everyone from around the world .
  • People have become dependent on the Internet in many aspects of their life because of its multiple benefits it is a quick service in obtaining information and is characterized by the abundance of information available on the sites related to it and the Internet has enabled many people to escape their reality and their lives many Problems to the virtual world.
  • It is worth noting that the – impact of the Internet on people is no less than the impact of narcotic drugs. Which has created many social risks and physical harm.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet for students

Damages and risks of the Internet –  Scientists have found that the Internet has many disadvantages that may occur if used incorrectly or overuse.

The spread of cyber-crime:

  • With the increasing number of people using the Internet. It is easy for professionals and those who have the ability to penetrate to obtain personal information about certain people and their family members and use this information illegally. And criminals can become criminal through websites without fear of censorship.

Addiction and waste of time:

  • People become addicted to the Internet and in different ways. Some of them addicted to the games and designed to addicted to them, and these games can be devastating to one’s mind without feeling it one may start using the Internet to do something useful and to exploit his time.
  • But that with the many delusions available on the Internet ends up distracting his thinking and wasting his time.

Inability to Disconnect

  • Since Internet service has given the individual the ability to work from anywhere and at any time. And made it available at all times you may be sitting at home and receiving an email asking to perform a task related to work. And ends up To perform the work without receiving any additional funds.

Health problems 

  • The Internet can lead to obesity problems due to laziness and lack of movement. As it leads to unhealthy lifestyle and excessive use of the Internet can cause problems in the wrist or what is known as carpal tunnel due to excessive use of mouse or use Continuous keyboard.

The exploitation of the other and the display of pornography:

  • It is easy to hurt people and each other and someone to impersonate another person’s personality to exploit and harm. The opposite party whether of another sex or of the same sex in addition to the proliferation of sites containing materials for obscene materials. And materials Minors can reach it easily either deliberately or by mistake leading to very serious social and psychological problems.

Adverts and Slogans

  • Advertising has become easier to publish and a wider range of traditional means which has led to ads becoming a source of inconvenience to one receiving many of them on his email and see more on social networking sites.
  • A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a clan, political, commercial, religious, and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose, with the goal of persuading members of the public or a more defined target group.

Buying things without the need

  • Easy online e-shopping, where one can shop through different sites without the need to get out of the house which made one spend his money in things that do not need it, and it would develop into addiction to E-shopping Individuals may be debt-impaired as a result.

Depression and isolation

  • Many social networking sites cause individuals to be isolated from social life, and thus feel lonely and isolated from friends and family.
  • The negative impact on the Focus:- Web sites offer online information instantly to the user as it can move from one location to another and thus receive different information and move the focus from one position to another very quickly, which leads later to the dispersion and reduce human patience day after day focus

Disadvantages of Internet for | Students | Kids | Children

  • The Internet is a huge source of information. If a student fails to learn, he or she can obtain information through educational sites on the Internet where parents provide Internet for their children to study and gather information for research. But the disadvantage lies in the inability of students to resist temptations on the Internet.
  • To end the games and video clips and chat with each other, and thus deviate from the main purpose that they use the Internet. So parents should monitor their children and follow their studies on the Internet, and prevent them from inappropriate sites Will study the impact on their children and their future and their behaviour.

Internet damage to work and public life

  • The Internet reduces productivity at work because of its temptations and sources of self-entertainment. Companies today offer the opportunity to browse through the various websites of employees at any time, and if not available on the organisation’s computers. it is available on their mobile phones.
  • The limited use of the Internet was limited to the exchange of e-mail messages. Discussion of plans and work-related matters. The ability of employees to access various Internet sites wasting their time. Being unable to concentrate and thus less Productivity at work.

Internet addiction and its related types

Recent studies and research have shown that online addiction has become a reality. Psychiatrists have begun to study the subject of online addiction seriously. They have established specialised centres in this regard and have begun to educate people about the damage caused by the excessive use of the Internet. Online is a type of addiction, which is a disorder that leads to the emergence of a psychological need for coercion resulting from the lack of satisfaction of the individual use of the Internet, and the addiction to the Internet is a satisfactory condition resulting in behavioural disorders, and can be inferred through several  the most important increase in the number of hours spent by the individual in front of a computer over time.

Scientists have divided online addiction into five main types:

  • Knowledge addiction: It is the will of one to learn from the knowledge on the Internet and then to be dazzled by the huge amount of information. Which leads to the signing of many hours in the browsing and forget about the main things of life.
  • Chat addiction: where the individual begins to dispense with his life and his real relationships and entering the world of the Internet and the construction of electronic relationships.
  • Addiction to Games: It means that one plays electronic games excessively and neglect his basic duties in life as homework, and can also neglect his studies and work as well.
  • Financial Addiction: It is a person to spend his money through the Internet in things not needed. Such as participation in the financial markets, auctions, gambling and so on.
  • Sexual Addiction: It is a web browsing to access pornographic sites and chat rooms. This may be due to an individual’s lack of emotional satisfaction or suffering from certain psychological problems and addiction may increase these problems.

How do you stop or prevent digital addiction ?

People using digital media do exhibit symptoms of behavioural addiction. These include salience, conflict, and mood modification when they check their online profiles regularly.

It has been generally accepted among researchers, that Internet Addiction is only a subset of technology addiction in general. As other areas of media addiction can be seen:-

  • Television addiction,
  • Mobile addiction,
  • Games Addiction
  • Internet addiction and social media addiction
  • other types of media addiction.

The prevention of online/internet addiction is the responsibility of parents and teachers. And the total mental health personnel and owners of cafes that provide this service around the clock. There is the need to educate individuals on this subject and to protect themselves from the risk of addiction to the Internet. They should organise working hours or leisure hours to be only two hours a day. Parents should follow their children in terms of their period of use of the Internet. The nature of use and what programs they use, as well as guide them to useful and meaningful sites.

How can I stop using the Internet so much ?

  • By practice self-control: Block out distracting websites and Social Media for a set amount of time.
  • Time Out: Remind yourself to take regular breaks to keep your focus sharp.
  • FocusBooster: Focus on single tasks and limiting your activity related to internet use.
  • Think and Concentrate: Limit your attention to a single application at a time.
  • Become a Focus-writer: Create a distraction-free environment for writing.
  • Be an anti-Social Media: Instantly block all the social websites that are wasting your time.
  • Stay Focused: Curb the time you spend browsing time-wasting sites.
  • Outdoor: Choose outdoor activities over technology

Mountbatten or 3rd June Plan | Dickie Bird | Ismay | Balkan | UPSC – IAS

Mountbatten Plan or 3rd June Plan – Dickie Bird | Ismay | Plan Balkan

Mountbatten prepared a “Dickie Bird Plan” for India’s independence. This plan was prepared by a committee of General Sir Hastings Ismay, Sir George Abell and Lord Mountbatten himself. Plan Balkan was completed and presented on 15-16 April 1947 by Hastings Ismay to assembly of provincial governors in Delhi. Due to this, this plan was also called “Ismay Plan”.

  • Balkan plan was an alternative plan to Cabinet mission. Between March and May of 1947, Mountbatten decided that the Cabinet Mission Plan had become untenable and formulated an alternative plan. This plan envisaged the transfer of power to separate provinces (or to a confederation, if formed before the transfer), with Punjab and Bengal given the option to vote for partition of their provinces.
  • The various units thus formed along with the princely states (rendered independent by lapse of paramountcy) would have the option of joining India or Pakistan or remaining separate. The plan was quickly abandoned after Nehru reacted violently to it.

Mountbatten Plan or 3rd June Plan | UPSC – IAS

Mountbatten Plan was also known as the 3rd June Plan. The British government proposed a plan announced on 3rd June 1947 that included these principles:

  • Principle of the Partition of British India was accepted by the British Government
  • Successor governments would be given dominion status
  • autonomy and sovereignty to both countries
  • can make their own constitution after partition

The freedom with partition formula was coming to be widely accepted well before Mountbatten came. One major innovation (actually suggested by V.P. Menon) was the immediate transfer of power on the basis of grant of dominion status (with ”a right of secession), thus obviating the need to wait for an agreement in the Constituent Assembly on a new political structure.

Mountbatten Plan Main Points | UPSC – IAS

The important points of the plan were:-

  • Punjab and Bengal would meet in two, groups Hindus and Muslims, to vote for partition. If a simple majority of either group voted for partition, then these provinces would be partitioned.
  • In case of partition, two dominions and two constituent assemblies would be created.
  • Sindh would take its own decision.
  • Referendum: in NWFP and Sylhet district of Bengal would decide the fate of these areas.
  • Since the Congress had conceded a unified India, all their other points would be met
    • Independence for princely states ruled out, they would either join India or Pakistan.
    • Independence for Bengal ruled out.
    • Accession of Hyderabad to Pakistan ruled out (Mountbatten supported the Congress on this).
  • Freedom would come on August 15, 1947.
  • A boundary commission would be set up if partition was to be effected.

Thus, the League’s demand was conceded to the ‘extent that Pakistan would be created and the Congress’ position on unity was taken into account to make Pakistan as small as possible. Mountbatten’s formula was to divide India but retain maximum unity.

Why Congress Accepted Dominion Status? | UPSC – IAS

The Congress was willing to accept dominion status despite its being against the Lahore Congress (1929) spirit because

  • It would ensure a peaceful and very quick transfer of power;
  • It was more important for the Congress to assume authority to check the explosive situation; and
  • It would allow for some much needed continuity in bureaucracy and army.

*For Britain, the dominion status offered a chance to keep India in the Commonwealth, even if temporarily, considering the economic strength, defence potential and greater value of trade and investment in India.


Why Congress Accepted Partition? | UPSC – IAS

The Congress was only accepting the inevitable due to the long-term failure to draw Muslim masses into the national movement. The partition reflects the success-failure dichotomy of the Congress-led anti imperialist movement.

  • The Congress had a two fold task— structuring diverse classes, communities, groups and regions into a nation, and Securing independence for this nation.
  • While the Congress succeeded in building up sufficient national consciousness to exert pressure on the British to quit India, it failed in completing the task of welding the nation, especially in integrating the Muslims into the nation.
  • Only an immediate transfer of power could forestall the spread of ‘direct action‘ and communal violence. The virtual collapse of the Interim Government also made the notion of Pakistan appear unavoidable.

The partition plan ruled out independence for the princely states which could have been a greater danger to the Indian unity as it would have meant Balkanisation of the country.

Rationale for an Early Date (August 15, 1947) | UPSC – IAS

Britain wanted to secure Congress’ agreement to the dominion status. At the same time the British could escape the responsibility for the communal situation.

  • Two boundary commissions, one in respect of each province, were constituted to demarcate the boundaries of the new provinces. The referendum in NWFP decided in favour of Pakistan, the Provincial Congress refraining from the referendum. Balochistan and Sindh threw in their lot with Pakistan.

Why are the world’s major deserts located on 20 to 30 degrees of latitude?

As you follow the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, thirty degrees on either side of the equator, you will see, distributed with suspicious regularity an earthy colored band of drylands surrounding the planet, a sere belt averting greener climes: the deserts of the world. They lie in the so-called Horse Latitudes, where constant high-pressure systems drive away the rain clouds.

Why are deserts often located at 30 degrees from the equator ?

There are four major reasons responsible for why the major hot deserts of the world are located between 20° – 30° N on the west of the continents:-

Offshore trade winds

  • Offshore trade winds in the region and location in rain shadow zone – Trade winds that blow in the region, shed their moisture on the eastern  part and by the time they reach the western margin, they become dry.

Anticyclonic conditions

  •  Areas between 20–30 degree latitudes on western margins of continents are the regions of descending air. It means the air gets compressed and warm as it descends and thus the moisture holding capacity keeps decreasing.

Leeward sides of mountains/Parallel mountain ranges

  • In the case of few deserts, mountains are situated as a barrier which prevents orographic rainfall. For example:- presence of Rockies on the western coast of North -America does not let moisture bearing winds do rainfall in leeward sides. In the case of Thar desert in India, Aravallis are situated parallel to the region. Therefore the moisture holding winds pass away from the region because there is absence of mountain barriers.

Presence of cold ocean currents

  • Presence of cold ocean currents along the western coast of continents – tend to stabilise the air over the coast. This prevents cloud formation and rainfall

Wood’s Despatch of 1854 or Magna-Carta of English Education

wood's despatch of 1854 or magna carta of english education in india

wood's despatch of 1854 and its Significance.

Why Wood’s Despatch is called Magna Carta of Indian Education ?

Wood’s Despatch is called Magna-Carta of English Education in India because it professed the promotion of the western education in India. In accordance with Wood’s despatch, Education Departments were established in every province and universities were opened at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in 1857 on the model of the London University.

  • Later more universities were opened in Punjab in 1882 and at Allahabad 1887

Charles Wood was a British Liberal politician and Member of Parliament. He served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1846 to 1852. Later he became the President of the Board of Control of the East India Company. In 1854 he sent the “Wood’s despatch” to the Governor General Lord Dalhousie.

Main provisions of the Wood’s Despatch Act of 1854 are as Follows :-

  • An education department was to be set in every province.
  • Universities on the model of the London University be established in big cities such as Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.
  • At least one government school be opened in every district.
  • Affiliated private schools should be given grant in aid.
  • The Indian natives should be given training in their mother tongue also.

Demerits of the Wood’s Despatch of 1854 are as follows :- (UPSC | IAS | PCS)

  • The Wood’s Despatch could not manage the education system well.
  • Mass education did not become a reality.
  • The grant-in-aid system did not work well as there was paucity of funds and irregularity of the release of funds.
  • The Despatch was more interested in promoting Western knowledge and culture.
  • The Department of Public Instruction could not promote the interest of education and the education in the universities could not be related to Indian conditions.
  • The Despatch did not promote vocational education as was required. in fact, the idea was postponed indefinitely.
  • Women education continued to be neglected.
  • The Despatch produced a class of clerks and accountants but did not develop character and leadership qualities among students

74th Republic day of India 2023 | Do you know, why do we Celebrate ?

70th Republic day of India 2019 Why we Celebrate The Hindu History of republic day

74th Republic day of India on Thu, Jan 26, 2023 | Why do we Celebrate the republic day of India?

74th Republic day of India 2023 | When ? Why Do We Celebrate ?

India will be celebrating its Republic Day on Thu, Jan 26, 2023. Republic Day is celebrated to mark the day when the Indian Constitution came into force.  It is a day to remember when India’s constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, completing the country’s transition toward becoming an independent republic.

Who will hoist the flag on the 74 Republic Day of India in Thu, Jan 26, 2023?

  • President Droupadi Murmu started the ceremony by hoisting the Indian flag, following which the Republic Day Parade began from Rajpath. The parade, held annually on Thu, Jan 26, 2023, starts from Rajpath and ends at Red Fort in Delhi.

Droupadi Murmu is the President of the Republic of India.

About Republic Day of India?

  • Republic Day honors the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950, replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.
  • The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country’s transition towards becoming an independent republic.
  • The date 26 January was chosen as Republic day because it was on this day in 1930 when Declaration of Indian Independence (Purna Swaraj) was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress as opposed to the Dominion status offered by British Regime.
  • The main Republic Day Parade gets underway at 9.30 a.m., following the flag hoisting at 9 a.m., on January 26 each year.
  • During India’s first Republic Day celebrations the Indonesian President Sukarno was the chief guest.

1st President of Indonesia

History of Republic Day of India 

  • India achieved independence from British Raj on 15 August 1947 following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful non-violent resistance and civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi.
  • The independence came through the Indian Independence Act 1947, an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent Dominions of the British Commonwealth (later Commonwealth of Nations).
  • India obtained its independence on 15 August 1947 as a constitutional monarchy with George VI as head of state and the Earl Mountbatten as governor-general. The country, though, did not yet have a permanent constitution; instead its laws were based on the modified colonial Government of India Act 1935.
  • On 28 August 1947 the Drafting Committee was appointed to draft a permanent constitution, with Dr B R Ambedkar as chairman. While India’s Independence Day celebrates its freedom from British Rule, the Republic Day celebrates the coming into force of its constitution.
  • A draft constitution was prepared by the committee and submitted to the Constituent Assembly on 4 November 1947. The Assembly met, in sessions open to the public, for 166 days, spread over a period of two years, 11 months and 18 days before adopting the Constitution.
  • After many deliberations and some modifications, the 308 members of the Assembly signed two hand-written copies of the document (one each in Hindi and English) on 24 January 1950.
  • Two days later, which was on 26 January 1950, it came into effect throughout the whole nation. On that day began Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s first term of office as President of the Indian Union.
  • The Constituent Assembly became the Parliament of India under the transitional provisions of the new Constitution. This date is celebrated in India as Republic Day.