Civilsdaily

Author: Dr V

  • Primer To Environmental Issues

    Subjects: , ,

     

    Since the advent of Industrial revolution humankind has been exploiting the nature like never before. Forests and trees are cut to make way for agriculture land, large factories, transport vehicles etc emit lots of CO2 and other gases and pollutants. But it was all forgotten as it came with immense prosperity.

    But since the 2nd half of 20th century, citizens world over started getting conscious of this unbridled exploitation of nature. There were also signs suggesting this exploitation was unsustainable and harming us. That even the climate was changing.

    Climate is the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period. Climate of any region is generally stable. Climate change is changes in that stable climate due to anthropocentric or natural factors.

    In 1966, the World Meteorological Organization  (WMO) proposed the term climatic change to encompass all forms of climatic variability on time-scales longer than 10 years, whether the cause was natural or anthropogenic. But soon it was realized that major factor was human intervention and since then we are concerned about anthropogenic climate change.

    International Conferences on Environment 

     

    UN conference on Human Environment (UNCHE):-

    • An international conference under the UN aegis in 1972- UN conference at Stockholm to discuss issues realted to environment and development
    • came out with a declaration containing 26 principles concerning environment and development
    • led to creation of UN Environment Programme (UNEP)- an agency of United Nations with HQ in Nairobi, Kenya, which coordinates its environmental activities and assist developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies

    World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)-

    • As things did not change much after UNCHE and its Declaration remained on paper, UN set up a commission in 1984 to give a report on environment and development, World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) – Brundtland Commission <after its chairperson Norwegian PM’s name>
    • Came out with the report Our Common Future in 1987 and enunciated the concept of sustainable development
    • Gave the most iconic definition of that concept to this date

    Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

    Note that the definition contains two key concepts-

    • the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and
    • the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs <so called carrying capacity>

    In 1988, UNEP <set up after UNCHE) and WMO set up an organization called IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change which analyses and synthesizes scientific literature available on climate change and produces assessment reports (1st in 1990, 2nd 1995, 3rd- 2001, 4th- 2207, 5th -2014)

    UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)-

    Brundtland commission report resulted in landmark 1992 summit, UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) at Rio De janeiro <What is Brazil’s capital?>, also k/a Earth Summit

    It resulted in 3 legally binding documents –

    1. UN framework convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) <entered into force in June 1994> <1st assessment report of IPCC had already come out in 1990>
    2. UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) <entered into force in DEC 1993>
    3. UN convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) <entered into force in Dec 1996>

    The summit also resulted in 3 non-binding documents

    1. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
    2. Agenda 21 <21 is agenda for 21st century, UNCCD was the result of direct recommendation of Agenda 21>
    3. Forest Principles

    World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD)-

    • 10 years after 1st earth summit, another Summit took place, this time in Johannesburg , known as World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
    • US boycotted the summit and I don’t need to tell you the fallout of that

    UN conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) –

    • Another earth summit was convened 10 years later, this time again in Rio, UN conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD). <Are you following that they are changing the name of summits and if you don’t pay close attention, you can mark an MCQ incorrect.>
    • Primary Outcome of the summit was the non binding document <documents of every summit were non binding> The Future We Want
    • Summit also Proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to replace Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. <MDG were agreed upon at the UN’s millennium summit in 2000>

    Meeting of parties to UNFCC

    Meanwhile after coming into force of UNFCC in 1994, various parties (nations) to the conference started meeting every year to come to a legally binding document to reduce GHG to  a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

    Kyoto Protocol –

    • In 3rd such meeting in 1997, called CoP 3 (3rd Conference of Parties) at Kyoto, Japan, Parties came to a conclusion and Kyoto Protocol was signed <entered into force in 2002> <there are frameworks/conventions and under them there are protocols which contain detailed legally binding provisions>
    • Basic objective was to reduce emission of anthropogenic GHG to limit global warming. It followed the principles of UNFCC such as Common But Differential Responsibility and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC)
    • USA never ratified the KP, Canada walked out in 2011. But anyway 1st commitment period followed from 2008-2012.
    • 2nd Commitment period is from 2012 to 2020 in which only 37 countries have binding targets. <Japan, NZ and Russia participated in 1st commitment period but not in 2nd>

    As KP clearly seemed to be failing, negotiation started for separate treaty under UNFCC for measures to be taken after 2020 resulting in Paris Agreement of Dec. 2015.

    Meeting of Parties to CBD

    Similarly Parties to CBD started meeting since 1994 <they meet every 2 years while UNFCC parties meet every year>. Convention has 3 main goals <UNFCCC only 1 – Climate change>

    1. conservation of biological diversity
    2. sustainable use of its components; and
    3. fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources

    Cartagena Protocol – At COP 5 in 2000, they adopted Cartagena protocol on Biosafety –  to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology..

    Nagoya Protocol– In 2010 they adopted -Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization

    UN declared the decade 2010-2020 as decade of biodiversity

    UN convention to Combat Desertification–

    • UNCCD is  the only internationally legally binding framework set up to address the problem of desertification
    • The Convention is based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization
    • in 1994 treaty signed to prevent and reverse land degradation
    • in 2009, agreed on 11 indicators to measure progress towards the goal of reducing land degradation
    • In 2013 Canada withdrew from this convention as well

    Montreal Protocol – A similar environmental  issue which came into prominence in 1980s was ozone hole or ozone depletion. To recover lost ozone, in 1987 Montreal Protocol(to Vienna convention) on substances that deplete ozone was signed and it was a remarkable success.

    Many other international organization sprang up in 80s and 90s to protect environment and biodiversity. Many other conventions were also signed. Some of them are –

    1. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
    2. Minamata Convention on Mercury
    3. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
    4. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
    5. Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
    6. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands <where is Ramsar?>
    7. Bonn convention on  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals<Capital of East and West Germany?>
    8. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Washington Convention

    Before we end this chapter, a brief summary

    • 1972 – UN conference on Human Environment at Stockholm, Formation of UNEP
    • 1987- World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)-Brundtland commission, report- Our Common Future, Defined Sustainable Development
    • 1987 – Montreal Protocol to Vienna Convention
    • 1988 – WMO and UNEP together formed IPCC
    • 1992 – UN conference on Environment and Development / earth summit at Rio, led to UNFCC, UNNCCD, CBD
    • 1997 – Kyoto Protocol
    • 2002 – World Summit on Sustainable Development /Rio + 10 at Johannesburg
    • 2012 – UN conference on sustainable development/ Rio + 20, report – future we want, SDGs

    Plz note that in the pic above, conference of 1972 and 1992 are interchanged. Learn what is written in text.

    In the subsequent articles we would now discuss these issues (climate change, ozone depletion, acid rain, air pollution. biodiversity etc) in detail.

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- Economy part 1 and 5 Questions

    1. GDP and GNP

    1. Gross Domestic product (GDP) is money value of final goods and services inside the Domestic economy whether produced by nationals or foreigners
    2. Gross National product (GNP) is money value of Final goods and services produced by Nationals whether they produce it within the nation or abroad
    3. GDP = GNP – Net Factor Income from abroad
    4. Nominal GDP (GDP at market price) is at current market prices while Real GDP (GDP at constant price) is adjusted for inflation w.r.t base year
    5. Measure of that inflation is not CPI or WPI but GDP Deflator
    6. GDP Deflator = Nominal GDP/Real GDP
    7. Net Domestic Product = GDP – Depreciation
    8. GDP at market price = GDP at factor cost + Indirect taxes – subsidies
    • Discuss – Recent changes to the method of calculating GDP
    • Discuss – what are these factors in factor cots

    2. Fiscal Deficit, Revenue Deficit, Primary Deficit

    1. Fiscal Deficit = Total expenditure – Total non debt creating  receipts ( total revenue receipt plus non debt creating capital receipt)
    2. In the above formula only debt creating capital receipt is excluded which is borrowing and that is exactly the fiscal deficit
    3. Revenue deficit = revenue receipt -revenue expenditure
    4. Effective revenue deficit = revenue deficit-grants for creation of capital assets
    5. Primary deficit = fiscal deficit -deficit due to interest paid

    Note – As grants are donation, creates no liability, are not to be repaid, they come under revenue budget not capital part similarly under international transaction grants come under current account not capital account

    • Discuss – FRBM act targets
    • Discuss – Deficit financing and monetizing deficits

    3. Current account and Capital account

    1. Current account deals with current, ongoing, short term transactions like trade in goods, services (invisible)
    2. It includes 1.trade in goods (BoT), 2.trade in services (invisible trade), 3.investment income,4.Unilateral transfers – GIFTS, GRANTS ,REMITTANCES
    3. Capital account deals with investments (FDI, FII, FPI), loans (ECB, External Commercial Borrowings), reserves (dollar, Special Drawing Right , gold etc). <bulk transactions which create liabilities>
    4. Balance of Payment is systematic record of all the transaction of a country with the world

    Note – Grants, remittances etc. are in current account not capital account

    Note 2- Investment income is under current account while Investments under capital account

    • Discuss – Balance of Trade v/s Balance of Payment
    • Discuss – Current account deficit

    4. Plan v/s non plan expenditure

    1. Plan expenditure simply means expenditure according to erstwhile 5 year plans (mostly for creation of capital assets)
    2. all other things included in non plan -interest payment , subsidies, pensions, military expenditure etc

    Discuss – Why is plan- non plan division being done away with

    5. Monetary Policy and Fiscal Policy

    1. Monetary Policy – what RBI does i.e interest rates (Repo, reverse repo, MSF, bank rate), Open Market Operations, CRR, SLR
    2. It affects money supply in the economy
    3. Fiscal Policy – what govt., finance ministry does, mainly taxes and expenditure (subsidies, wages etc)
    4. It mainly affects aggregated demand in the economy

    Discuss – Countercyclical monetary and Fiscal Policies

     

    5 Questions 

     

    #1. Net National product at factor cost is equal to
    (a) Gross Domestic product + Net factor income from abroad – depreciation
    (b) Gross National product at market prices -indirect taxes + subsidies – Depreciation
    (c) Gross domestic product – depreciation + Indirect taxes -subsidies
    (d) National product at market prices + Indirect taxes + subsidies + Depreciation

    2. The balance of payments of a country is a systematic record of (2012)

    • (a) all import and export transactions of a country during a given period normally a year
    • (b) goods exported from a country during a year
    • (c) economic transaction between the government of one country to another
    • (d) capital movements from one country to another

    £3. Which of the following constitute Capital Account? (2013)

    • 1. Foreign Loans
    • 2. Foreign Direct Investment
    • 3. Private Remittances
    • 4. Portfolio Investment

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

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

    £4. The national income of a country for a given period is equal to the: (2013)

    • (a) total value of goods and services produced by the nationals
    • (b) sum of total consumption and investment expenditure
    • (c) sum of personal income of all individuals
    • (d) money value of final goods and services produced

    5. With reference to Union Budget, which of the following is/are covered under Non-Plan Expenditure?

    • 1. Defense -expenditure
    • 2. Interest payments
    • 3. Salaries and pensions
    • 4. Subsidies

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    • a. 1 only
    • b. 2 and 3 only
    • c. 1, 2, 3 and 4
    • d. None

     

     

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- Polity part 8

    1. President and Vice President

    1. President is a part of parliament, VP is not
    2. VP is chairperson Of RS but not a member of it
    3. Qualification – President should be qualified for election as a member of LS, VP as a member of RS
    4. Min. age for both is 35 while for LS election it’s 25 and RS election, it’s 30
    5. President takes oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution, VP does not take oath to protect the constitution
    • Discuss – Which other constitutional functionaries take oath to protect, preserve and defend the constitution
    • Discuss – who administers oath to President and VP, speaker and deputy speaker?
    • Discuss – who is chairperson of upper house in states?

    2. Schedules of Constitution

    1. 1st schedule-names of states and UT, 2nd- emoluments, allowances, privileges, 3rd Oaths
    2. 4th Allocation of seats in RS
    3. 5th and 6th – schedule areas and tribal areas
    4. 7th – 3 lists
    5. 8th schedule – languages
    6. 9th schedule – added by 1st amendment to protect laws from judicial review
    7. 10th schedule – anti defection law
    8. 11th and 12th, Rural and Urban Local Bodies
    • Discuss – Which schedules can be amended by simple majority, which require special majority and which would require ratification from states
    • Discuss – when was the 10th schedule 1st added to the constitution
    • Discuss – present status of 9th schedule
    • Discuss – Difference b/w schedule 5 and schedule 6

    3. Parts of the constitution

    1. Part 1 – union and its territory
    2. Part 2 – citizenship
    3. Part 3- Fundamental Rights
    4. Part 4- DPSP
    5. PArt 4A- Fundamental duties
    • Note – Other parts not important, parts are sequential article wise
    • Discuss – Status of OCI & PIO cards

    4. Union Territories

    1. Administered by an administrator appointed by President
    2. Governor of a state can also be appointed administrator of a UT as well
    3. Delhi and Puducherry have a legislative assembly and elected council of minister
    4. Still, Parliament can make laws on all 3 lists even in case of Delhi and Puducherry
    5. Parliament can also establish a high court for UT <how many UTs have a high court of their own?>
    6. If LG does not agree with the advice of CoM, he refers the matter to president and in the meantime acts on his own discretion <what happens if governor does not agree with the advice of CoM?>
    7. In case of failure of constitutional machinery, President can impose his rule on Delhi and Puducherry <what happens in case of failure of constitutional machinery in states?>
    8. Delhi and Puducherry have representation in RS as well

    Discuss – Ordinance promulgating power of LG

    5. National Green Tribunal

    1. enacted under Art 21, which includes  right to a healthy environment
    2. mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same
    3. Principal bench – New Delhi, 4 circuit Benches – Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai
    4. Original Jurisdiction on matters of “substantial question relating to environment
    5. Very Imp.-  not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but guided by principles of natural justice
    • Discuss – Qualifications of chairperson and members
    • Discuss– Articles related to RTE act and RTI act

  • 15 Questions from Prelims titbits

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

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

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

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

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

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

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

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

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

    11. Consider the following definitions:

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

    Which of the above definitions is/are INCORRECT?

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

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

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

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

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

    SOLUTIONS

    1. b

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

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

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

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

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

    7- EC expenditure and salary not charged

    3. a

    Can practice in supreme court or other high courts

    4. b

    Botanical garden – ex situ

    5. c , 1,3 and 5

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

    6, d, speaker, deputy speaker, deputy chairperson

    7. b, algae and fundgi

    8. a, skill development of minorities

    9. a

    10. b, 2 and 3

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

    11. a, 1 and 2 incorrect

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

    12. a, 1 only

    13. c, ahmedabad mill strike

    14. b

    15. a, 1only

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

     

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

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

    1. Imp. International Conventions  

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

    Discuss – Other imp. conventions I missed

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

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

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

    3. Bioamplification, Biomaginification, Bioaccumulation and Bioconcentration

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

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

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

    4. In situ and Ex situ Conservation

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

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

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

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

    Subjects:

     

     

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

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

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

    Human Development Report 2015

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

    1. Human Development Index

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

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

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

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

    2. Inequality adjusted HDI –

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

    3. Gender Development Index (GDI)

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

    4. Gender Inequality Index

     

    Three dimensions, 5 indicators

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

    5. Multidimensional Poverty Index

     

    Three dimensions 10 indicators

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

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

    MPI – H *A

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

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

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

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

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

    1. Global hunger Index

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

    Four Indicators

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

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

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

    2. Corruption Perception Index

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

    3. Global Happiness Index

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

    Six Parameters

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

    Income Inequality

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

    Gini Coefficient

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

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

    source-wikipedia
    source-wikipedia

    India’s Gini Coefficient-

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

    Gender Issues

    Source-undp
    Source-undp

     

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

    A few more points before concluding the chapter-

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

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

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

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

    What is the govt doing?

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

    Scheme for minorities

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

    For all Govt schemes and programmes, follow this collection

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

    Subjects:

     

    Child Labour

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

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

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

    Source-indianexpress
    Source-indianexpress

     

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

    Criticism-

     

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

    National Child Labour Project (NCLP) Scheme

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

    Skills Gap and Employment

    Why skill india

     

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

    Why vocational education not popular in India

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

    What has govt done so far?

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

    Four big schemes

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

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

    Towards A Healthy India

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

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

    Health system in India –

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

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

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

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

     

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

    Health Indicators and MDG

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

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

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

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

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

     

    What is govt doing?

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

    Human Resource shortfall (Rural Health Statistics 2015)

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

    The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) index

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

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

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

    What is the govt doing?

    Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin)

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

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

    Poverty

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

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

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

    Calculating Poverty Line

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

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

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

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

     

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

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

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

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

    Post independence poverty estimates:

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

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

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

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

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

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

    (ii) issues with the adjustment of prices for inflation

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

    It recommended following major changes

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

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

    4. Rangarajan Committee: Poverty line should be based on

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

       

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

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

    Discuss – Criticism of poverty line and Tendulkar methodology

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

     

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

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- Current Affairs part 3

    1. Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan

    1. Accessible India Campaign
    2. focus on making public buildings accessible to Persons with Disabilities
    3. Enhancing the accessibility and usability of Public Transport, and information & communication
    4. It was launched on international day pf persons with disabilities (3rd dec) not on 2nd October
    5. Sugamya Bharat Mobile app

    Discuss – Nodal department and ministry

    2. International Solar Alliance

    1. Countries located b/w tropic of cancer and tropic of Capricorn <sunshine countries>
    2. Was launched in Paris at COP21
    3. HQ will be in India, interim secretariat at Nation Institute of Solar Energy, Gurgaon

    Discuss- States in India through which tropic of cancer passes

    3. Ujjwala and UJALA scheme 

    1. Ujjawala– To extend availability of cooking gas (LPG) to BPL women of 18+ age i.e free LPG connection
    2. Funds from people who opted to omit their LPG subsidy through GIVE UP scheme
    3. UJALA–  Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All
    4. Overall target of number of incandescent bulbs to be replaced – 200 million
    5. Every grid-connected consumer <NO BPL/APL> having a metered connection can get the LED bulbs at about 40% of the market price under the UJALA Scheme
    6. Consumers also have the option of paying for the LEDs in equated monthly instalment
    7. Electricity Distribution Company and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) is the implementing agency
    • Discuss – Domestic Efficient lighting programme (DELP) and Bachat Lamp Yojana
    • Discuss– Compare Incandescent bulb v/s CFL v/s LED

    4. New Horizon

    1. New Horizons is an interplanetary space probe that was launched as a part of NASA’s New Frontiers program
    2. launched in 2006 not last year with the primary mission to perform a flyby study of the Pluto system, and a secondary mission to fly by and study one or more other Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) <primary mission accomplished>
    3. Pluto is a dwarf planet not planet and has 5 moon <Charon, Hydra, Nix, Styx, Kerberos>
    • Discuss – What is Kuiper belt
    • Discuss – Asteroid, comet, meteor, meteorite

    5. SERVIR-Mekong Project

    1. Combined Project of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and 5 SEA Countries – Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam
    2. aims to tap into the latest technologies to help the Mekong River region protect its vital ecosystem
    3. In 2010, SERVIR-Himalaya, was established at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, Nepal
    • Discuss – NISAR mission
    • Discuss – members of Mekpng- Ganga Cooperation

     

     

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- History part 2

    1. Morley Minto Reform, 1909

    1. 1st name i.e Morley, Secretary of state, 2nd i.e Minto, Viceroy
    2. Prelude – Shimla Deputation led by Agha Khan demanded separate electorate in 1906
    3. Muslim League was founded in 1906 and it intended to preach loyalty to the empire <when was all India Hindu Mahasabha formed and it’s founders?>
    4. Reforms– separate electorate for muslims
    5. Elected members increased in legislative councils but elected non official still in minority
    6. Indirect election <elections for the 1st time>
    7. One Indian to the viceroy’s executive council
    • Discuss- 1st Indian to the viceroy’s executive council
    • Discuss – Progress of separate electorate in subsequent reforms  upto Poona Pact

    2. Montagu Chelmsford Reform

    1. Two lists, central and provincial , in provincial, reserved and transferred
    2. Dyarchy at Provinces i.e. reserve list by the governor, Transferred list by ministers
    3. Elected majority in provincial legislature <contrast this with reform of 1909>
    4. Bicameral legislature at Centre
    5. Secretary of state would now be paid out of British Exchequer <home charges reduced>
    • Discuss – Home charges and economic critique by nationalists
    • Discuss – Dual system/ government or Dyarchy of Clive and it’s end
    • Discuss– Transferred and reserve list

     

    3. Nehru Report <Motilal>

    Prelude – Challenge by Lord Birkenhead to Indians to produce an agreed constitution accepted by all in the wake of Anti Simon Agitation <No Indian In 7 member Simon commission>

    Recommendations

    1. Dominion Status <when did British 1st concede demand of dominion status>
    2. Joint electorate with reserved seat for minorities at centre and in provinces in which they were in minority
    3. Linguistic Provinces
    4. 19 Fundamental rights <congress resolution on fundamental rights, which session?>

    Jinnah Made 14 demands

    1. Provincial autonomy and residuary power to provinces
    2. Separate electorate
    3. ⅓ Muslim representation in central legislature and all cabinets

    Unhappy with Nehru Report J.L.Nehru Subhash Bose set up Independence for India League

    Discuss – 1st linguistic state in post independence India

    4. Three Round Table Conferences

    Proposed by Lord Irwin to discuss Simon Commission Report

    1st RTC <nov 1930 to jan 1931>

    1. Civil Disobedience Movement had already been started as Gandhi’s 11 demands not accepted by Viceroy
    2. Congress boycotted
    3. Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, Liberals, Princes participated <when was liberal party formed and why did it secede from Congress?>
    4. Failure as constitutional advance could not be discussed without congress participation

    2nd RTC <Dec 1931>

    1. After Gandhi Irwin pact (Delhi Pact) led to suspension of CDM
    2. Congress (Gandhi) participated
    3. Failure as session got deadlocked on the question of minorities < separate electorate for Muslims, depressed classes (SC), christians, anglo Indians>

    Result- Two Muslim majority provinces – Sindh and NWFP<No. Of provinces now?> , CDM resumed

    3rd RTC < Nov. 1932>

    1. Congress wasn’t even invited
    2. Labour Party <Britain> refused to attend it
    3. In this conference Chaudhary Rahmat Ali, a student, 1st proposed the name Pakistan

    Outcome – White Paper on the basis of this paper, the Government of India Act 1935 was to be passed.

    • Discuss – Significance of round table in RTC
    • Discuss – two demands of Gandhi which were rejected by Irwin in Gandhi- Irwin Pact
    • Discuss – What was agreed with regard to political prisoners, fines and land confiscated in Gandhi- Irwin Pact

    5. Govt of India Act, 1935

    1. All India Federation  and Bicameral legislature at center <what was there in 1919 act?>
    2. Odd that election to the council of states <upper house> was direct while indirect to the federal assembly
    3. Three lists, federal, provincial and concurrent <v/s 2 list in 1919> <who had residuary powers?>
    4. federal lists into reserved and transferred <in 1919 provincial list was into reserved and transferred>
    5. Provincial autonomy <dyarchy in 1919>
    6. All members of provincial legislature directly elected <contrast this with 1909 and 1919>
    7. Abolished the council of India created by the act of 1858

    Discuss – Following institutions were set up under which acts-

    RBI, central Public service commission, Federal Public Service Commission , office of secretary of state, office of high commissioner for India, Federal court, Supreme Court, Board of Control

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- Current Affairs part 2

    1. Nobel prize 2015

    1. Physics -Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass
    2. Chemistry– Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar for mechanistic studies of DNA repair
    3. Physiology or Medicine– William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura for a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites and to Tu Youyou for a novel therapy against Malaria
    4. Literature-Svetlana Alexievich for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time.
    5. Peace Prize– National Dialogue Quartet for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011
    6. Economics– Angus Deaton for his work on consumption, poverty and welfare that helped governments improve their policies through household surveys and tax changes.
    • Discuss – Properties of Neutrino which make them useful for humankind
    • Discuss– Indian Neutrino Observatory (INO)
    • Discuss – Particular drugs discovered by Medicine Nobel laureates

    2. Swadesh Darshan, PRASAD and HRIDAY

    1. Swadesh Darshan for Integrated Development of Tourist Circuits around Specific Themes
    2. PRASAD- National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) to beautify and improve the amenities and infrastructure at pilgrimage centres of all faiths
    3. Under PRASAD twelve cities have been identified – Ajmer, Amritsar, Amravati, Dwarka, Gaya, Kedarnath, Kamakhaya, Kanchipuram, Mathura, Puri, Varanasi and Velankanni <please try to recognize their names>
    4. HRIDAY– National Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) seeks to preserve and rejuvenate the rich cultural heritage of the country
    • Discuss – Circuits of Sawdesh Darshan
    • Discuss– Cities common to both HRIDAY and PRASAD
    • Discuss – Nodal Ministries for all three schemes

    3. Important Military Exercises 

    1. Naval – Malabar with USA, Varuna with France, Indra with Russia, Slinex with SL, Konkan with Britain, Naseem al Bahar with Oman
    2. Coast Guard – Sahyog-Kaijin with Japan
    3. Air force – Indra Dhanush with UK, Garuda with France
    4. Army – Hand in Hand with China, Mithra Shati with SL, Youdh Abhyas with USA, Shakti with Frnace
    • Discuss – Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
    • Discuss- Malabar Exercise and japan
    • Discuss– International Fleet Review 2016

    4. Random Govt. Initiatives

    1. e – Sahayog Launched by ministry of finance to facilitate taxpayers
    2. Mahila E Haat is an online platform for women for Showcasing products made/manufactured/sold by women entrepreneur
    3. Vikalp It aims to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers in alternate trains

    Discuss – Other such inititives

    5. Mission Indradahnush

    1. Against 7 vaccine preventable diseases
    2. For reform of Public Sector Banks
    3. Four new vaccines added to national immunization programme – Injectable Polio, Rubella, Rotavirus, Adult vaccine aganist Japanese Encephalitis
    • Discuss – Seven diseases which Indradhnush seek to protect against
    • Discuss– switch over day (polio)
    • Discuss – Difference b/w Oral polio and Injectable Polio Vaccine
    • Discuss – theme of world Health Day

  • IAS Prelims tit-bits- Current Affairs part 1

    1. Four Export Control Regimes

    • Wassenaar Arrangement – on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies
    • Australia Group (AG) for control of chemical and biological technology that could be weaponized
    • Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) for the control of rockets and other aerial vehicles capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction
    • Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), for the control of nuclear related technology

    Discuss – India’s membership to these regimes

    Discuss – Brahmos missile and MTCR relationship

    2. Nuclear Suppliers Group 

    • founded in response to the Indian Nuclear Test in May 1974 <what was the name of that operation? What was the name of 1998 test operation?>
    • 48 member body prevents civilian nuclear trade being used for military purposes
    • Though signing of NPT is not a strict requirement for joining NSG, it has opened it’s doors to only those who have signed NPT or CTBT <notably France joined without being a signatory to NPT>

    Discuss- Difference b/w NPT and CTBT

    Discuss- India’s stand on NPT and CTBT

    3. Scheme for women Scientists 

    • KIRAN – Department of science and technology (DST) has restructured all the women specific programmes under one umbrella known as KIRAN (Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing)
    • KIRAN is addressing issues related with women scientists (e.g. unemployment, relocation etc.) and provide opportunities in research, technology development/demonstration, and self-employment
    • CURIE – Under this name CURIE (Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities) KIRAN plans to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure in women universities in order to attract, train and retain promising girls students in S&T domain
    • Mobility Scheme – landmark programme under KIRAN will address relocation issue of women scientists working in regular position in Government Organizations

    Discuss – Similar initiatives for girl education like Digital Gender Atlas

    4. Tale of two Udaans

    • Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched the UDAAN scheme
    • aimed at promoting girl education and addressing the lowering of girl enrollment rates in engineering colleges in the nation.
    • It will assist the girls to prepare for IIT-JEE examinations to crack through to the best technological institutes in the country from 11th and 12th standard
    • Udaan, the Special Industry Initiative (SII) for J&K is funded by Ministry of Home Affairs and implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
    • special initiative to address the needs of the educated unemployed in J&K.
    • Udaan program is focused on youth of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) who are graduate, post graduate and three year diploma engineer

    Discuss – STAR scheme, scheme for youth in Maoist areas

    5. AMRIT and AMRUT

    • Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT)
    • Launched by Ministry of Health and family welfare
    • aims to provide drugs for cardiovascular and cancer diseases at highly affordable prices
    • 1st AMRIT outlet opened at AIIMS, New Delhi
    • AMRUT – Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

    Discuss -Compare and Contrast Smart City Mission and AMRUT

    Discuss – Jan Aushadhi Store scheme and this year’s budget

  • Prelims tit-bits- Environment and Ecology part 2

    1. Ecotone v/s Ecocline

    • Ecotone describes a variation in species prevalence and is often not strictly dependent on a major physical factor separating an ecosystem from another, with resulting habitat variability
    • Ecocline is a variation of the physicochemical environment dependent of one or two physico-chemical factors of life, and thus presence/absence of certain species

    2. Keystone species and Ecosystem engineer

    Keystone species is a species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance <think of keystone of an arch>

    Ecosystem engineer is any organism that creates, significantly modifies, maintains or destroys a habitat.

    Discuss– Flagship and Foundation species

    3. Indicator species 

    • An indicator species is any species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment.
    • are also known as sentinel organisms, i.e. organisms which are ideal for bio monitoring
    • Eg. Some species of lichens are very sensitive to air pollution. Their presence thus indicates low air pollution

    4. Ecological interaction

    • Mutualism is an interaction between species that is beneficial to both. <+ +> <eg. Flowering plants and pollinators>
    • Commensalism is an interaction in which one species benefits and the other species is unaffected <+ 0> <eh. Epiphytes and host plants>
    • Parasitism relationship is one in which one member of the association benefits while the other is harmed <+ ->
    • Amensalism is the type of relationship that exists where one species is inhibited or completely obliterated and one is unaffected by the other. <- 0> <competition and antibiosis>

    Discuss- What is symbiosis?

    Discuss- Difference b/w competition and antibiosis

    5. biodiversity hotspot 

    • A biogeographic region with significant levels of  that is under threat from humans
    • Norman Myers described the concept

    2 Criterias –

    • it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics <species richness and endemicity>
    • it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation <threat perception>

    Discuss- Hotspots of India

  • Prelims tit-bits- Environment and Ecology part 1

    1. Global Environment Facility

    It was established in October 1991 as a $1 billion pilot program in the World Bank to assist in the protection of the global environment and to promote sustainable development 

    It serves as financial mechanism for

    1. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
    2. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
    3. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
    4. UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
    5. Minamata Convention on Mercury
    6. although not linked formally to Montreal Protocol on Ozone depleting substances, supports implementation of the Protocol in countries with economies in transition

    Discuss– Green Climate Fund and Green Bnds

    2. Earth summit, 1992 (UNCED)

    United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) led to

    • UNFCC
    • CBD
    • UNCCD <combat desertification>

    Note – United Nation Conference on Human environment was held in 1972 at Stockholm

    Discuss-  what happened in Rio+20

    3. IPCC and UNEP

    • United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is an agency of United Nations and coordinates its environmental activities.
    • It was founded in 1972
    • It publishes Global Environment Outlook <GEO>
    • Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by two UN organization, UNEP and World meteorological Organization (WMO)
    • The IPCC does not carry out its own original research, nor does it do the work of monitoring climate or related phenomena itself. The IPCC bases it’s assessment on published literature.
    • So far 5 assessment reports have been published

    Discuss – who publishes global economic outlook

    Discuss- major findings of 5th assessment report

    Discuss- what is this Brundtland commission report? When was it published?

    4. Convention on Biological Diversity

    3 goals

    1. conservation of biological diversity <cartagena protocol on biosafety, 2003, to protect biodiversity from LMOs>
    2. sustainable use of its components
    3. fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources < Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, wef 2014>
    4. There are 20 Aichi <place in Japan> Targets for biodiversity under short term strategic plan for biodiversity 2011- 2020
    • COP 13, 2016 will take place in Cancum, Mexico
    • COP 12, 2014 was held in Pyeongchang, ROK and the theme was Biodiversity for Sustainable Development

    Discuss- Imp Aichi targets

    5. Biological Diversity Act, 2002

    enacted to meet the obligations under CBD

    3 tier structure

    • National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)-autonomous body, headquartered in Chennai
    • State Biodiversity Boards (SBB)
    • Biological management committees (for each local body)

    Imp.- foreigner, non-resident Indian or foreign company need to take permission from NBA before obtaining any biological resources or associated knowledge from India for research, survey, commercial utilisation while citizens orIndian companies need to take permission from the concerned State Biodiversity Board

    Result of research using biological resources from India cannot be transferred to a non-citizen or a foreign company without the permission of NBA

    Discuss- Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)

     

  • Prelims tit-bits- Polity part 7

    1. Charged Expenditure

    • Legislature can discuss it but can not vote on it
    • Supreme court, high court, President, VP, Deputy chairperson, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, CAG, UPSC etc have their expenditure charged on CFI or States
    • Election Commission expenditure is not charged on CFI
    • interest and other debt related charges of the Government and any sums required to satisfy any court judgment pertaining to the Government also comes under charged expenditure

    Note– Salary of high court judges is charged on states but pension on CFI

    Discuss – rationale behind charged expenditure

    2. Constitutional and statutory bodies

    Constitutional bodies – mentioned in the constitution, derive their power from constitution . Eg. Supreme court, High court, EC,  FC, CAG, UPSC, AG, NCSC, NCST, INTER STATE COUNCIL

    Statutory bodies – created by an act of parliament. Eg. NHRC, LOKPAL, CVC, CIC, NCPCR,  NCW,  NCM,  NCBC.

    NON STATUTORY OR EXECUTIVE BODIES -created by an executive resolution of Union cabinet . Eg. Erstwhile planning commission and NDC, present NITI Ayog

    Note-  CVC was created as executive body in 1964 after Santhanam committee report and converted into a statutory body in 2003 in pursuant of Supreme Court judgment in Vineet Narayan- Jain Hawala case.

    Discuss – Other imp constitutional bodies

    3. Removal of Imp. constitutional/ statutory functionaries 

    Supreme court, High court, CAG, CEC, SEC

    Ground – proved misbehaviour or incapacity

    Process – resolution to that effect passed by 2/3 present and voting plus absolute majority

    Note– Election  commissioners other than CEC can be removed only on the recommendation of CEC.

    UPSC, State PSC, NHRC,SHRC ,CVC, CIC, SIC

    Ground – misbehaviour

    For limited number of grounds mentioned in the constitution or statute, they can be directly removed without supreme court inquiry. Eg. Insolvent, infirmity of body or mind , paid employment outside etc.

    Process – after an inquiry by supreme court

    Discuss– Can you tell us the whole process of removal of a supreme court judge?

    4. Appointment by high powered committee

    CIC – PM, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, any cabinet minister nominated by PM

    CVC –  PM, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Home Minister

    Director CBI – PM, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,, Chief justice of India

    NHRC – 6 member committee

    PM, leader of opposition LS , speaker, leader of opposition Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairperson RS

    Lokpal: 5 member selection committee considers names recommended by 7 member search committee

    PM , Speaker,  Leader Of Opposition LS , chief justice, 1 jurist nominated by 1st 4

    Note– For most of the Constitutional and statutory bodies formed before 1991, appointment is by govt. Eg.- EC, CAG, FC, UPSC, SPSC ,NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SC

    Discuss- constitutional functionaries who can not be employed in govt service after retirement?

    Discuss – Reforms needed to make Election commission truly independent?

    5. Equivalence of posts

    • CIC = CEC, IC =EC, STATE CIC= EC, SIC = Chief Secretary, CVC= CHAIRPERSON UPSC, VC= MEMBER UPSC ,
    • NITI AYOG Vice Chairperson- rank of cabinet minister
    • Members NITI Ayog- rank of minister of state
    • NSA – rank minister of state
    • CAG SALARY EQUALS THAT OF SUPREME COURT JUDGE

    Discuss – Can you relate this equivalence with order of precedence?

    Discuss– Indian Order of Precedence.

  • Prelims tit-bits- Polity part 6

    Most Imp. Constitutional doctrines

    1. Basic structure doctrine- Keshvananda Bharati Case (1973)

    • Constitution has some basic structure which can not be amended even if all members of both the houses vote to amend that provision
    • Federalism, Judicial review, Separation of power, art 20, art 21 etc are part of basic structure

    2. Doctrine of Colorable Legislation –

    • Whatever legislature can’t do directly, it can’t do indirectly
    • It is most commonly applied wrt article 246 (3 lists)
    • when a Legislature does not possess the power to make law upon a particular subject but nonetheless indirectly makes one

    3. Doctrine of Pith and Substance- 

    • Pith means true nature” or “essence and substance means the essential nature underlying a phenomenon.
    • Thus, the doctrine of pith and substance relates to finding out the true nature of a statute.
    • This doctrine is widely used when deciding whether a state is within its rights to create a statute that involves a subject mentioned in Union List of the Constitution.
    • The basic idea behind this principle is that an act or a provision created by the State is valid if the true nature of the act or the provision is about a subject that falls in the State list <contrast it with doctrine of colorable legislation>

    4. Doctrine of Repugnancy- 

     

    • REpugnancy is an inconsistency or contradiction between two or more parts of a statute
    • So. if a state passes any law on concurrent list subject which is inconsistent with the central law on that subject, it would be repugnant and liable to be struck down to the extent of repugnancy.

    5. Doctrine of Harmonious Construction  

    • Constitutional provisions should not be construed in isolation from all other parts of the Constitution, but should be construed as to harmonize with those other parts.
    • As we discussed in judgement series when article 368 and 13 were found to be inconsistent, supreme court in Shankari Prasad case applied this principle to opine that parliament can amend fundamental rights and constitutional amendment would not be considered law for the purpose of article 13

    6. Doctrine of Separation of Power –

    Separation of power among executive, legislature and judiciary so that no one branch of govt wields excessive absolute power

    Discuss – Other important constitutional doctrines

    Discuss- Compare and contrast doctrine of separation of power with doctrine of checks  and balances

    Discuss- Compare Separation of Power in parliamentary democracies (India) v/s presidential democracies (USA)

    A few most imp. DPSPs

    • To secure for all citizens a uniform civil code (art 44)
    • To protect and improve the environment (art 48A)
    • To separate judiciary from executive (art 50)
    • To promote international peace and security (art 51)
    • To provide free legal aid to the poor (art43A)

    Discuss– DPSPs which trump fundamental rights under article 14 and 19

    Three types of cut motions

    • Policy cut: to be reduced to Rs. 1 <you disagree with govt policy>
    • Economy cut: reduce by a specific amount.<done in more thrifty manner, no disagreement with policy>
    • Token cut: reduce by Rs. 100 < to ventilate a specific grievance>
    • Note- If any cut motion is accepted, govt is defeated in LS and has to resign

    Discuss- Parliamentary oversight of executive in financial sphere

  • Prelims tit-bits- History part 1

    1. Important sessions of Congress

    • 1885- 1st, Bomaby, presided by W.C. Banerjee
    • 1887- Badruddin Tyabji became 1st muslim to preside over congress session
    • 1907- Surat, Ras Bihari Ghosh not Bose, split in Congress b/w moderates and extremists
    • 1916- Lucknow, Reunion on congress, Lucknow pact b/w congress and muslim league
    • 1920- Nagpur, A new constitution for congress, congress reorganized
    • 1929-Lahore, J.L. Nehru, Purna Swaraj Resolution
    • 1931-Karachi, Vallabh Bhai, Resolution on Fundamental rights and National Economic Programme
    • 1938- Haripura, S.C. Bose, National Planning Committee under J.L. Nehru

    Discuss- New things in new constitution of congress

    Discuss- 1st non Indian and 1st woman president of congress

    2. Gandhi’s styagrahas

    • Champaran (1917)- 1st civil disobedience movement, against tinkathia system of indigo planters <3/20th>, Followers- Rajendra Prasad, Mahadeo Desai, J.B.Kriplani
    • Ahmedabad Mill strike (1918)-1st hunger strike, over the discontinuation of plague bonuses, increase in wages
    • Kheda (1918)- 1st non cooperation movement, for compensation in the event of crop loss, Followers- Sardar Patel, Indulal yagnil
    • Rowlatt Satyagrah (1919)- 1st mass strike, roped in younger elements of Home Rule Leagues and Pan-Islamists

    Discuss- Gandhi’s Satyagrahas in South Africa

    3. Important Peasant movements

    • Mapiilla revolt (1920s)- malabar region, Muslim tenants, Hindu landlords (Jennies), anti govt, anti landlord movement acquired distinct communal overtones
    • Eka movement (1921)- against high rents, oppression of thikadars, in northern districts of UP, led by Madarai Pasi and low caste leader, symbolic religious rituals to unify <eka means ekta or unity>
    • Bardoli Satyagraha (1926-28)- against increase in land revenue, Kunbi-Patidars, led by VAllabh Bhai, women of bardoli gave him the name, Sardar <eventually revenue hike reduced from 30% to 6%>
    • Tebhaga movement (1946)- in Bengal to increase share of bargadars (share croppoers) to 2/3rd from ½ ,<tebhaga meaning three parts>
    • All India Kisan Congress/ Sabha in 1936- President swami sahjanand, secretary N.G. Ranga

    Discuss- Contribution of Kisan sabhas

     

    4. Important Working class movement

    • All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) founded in 1920 under Lala Lajpat, Dewan Chaman Ali 1st general secretary
    • Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929-33)- Sedition charges on labour leaders (Dange, Shaukat Usmani, Muzaffar Ahmed and 30 others)
    • Huge participation of workers in Civil disobedience movement /(1930)
    • Workers opposed the 2nd world war but supported British (allies) when Russia joined on their side in 1941 and communist did not support quit India movement

    Discuss– Socialist tendencies in national movement

     

                            

  • Prelims tit-bits- Polity part 5

    1. Sources of constitution

    • Fundamental rights from USA
    • DPSP from Ireland
    • Liberty, equality, fraternity, republic from France
    • Federation with strong centre and residuary powers with centre from Canada
    • Emergency provisions from Weimar constitution, Germany
    • Justice and Fundamental duties from USSR

    Discuss– Ideas borrowed from Australian and South African constitution

    2. Preamble of Constitution

    • It is based on objective resolution drafted and moved by Pt. Nehru
    • 3 words socialist, secular and integrity were added by 42nd amendment
    • Preamble is a part of constitution but not justiciable
    • Preamble can be amended subject to condition that no amendment is done to the basic features

    Discuss- Significance and importance of preamble

    3. Vidhan Parishads

    • Creation or abolition– Only parliament can do so by simple majority if concerned state legislature passes a resolution by special majority <2/3rd present and voting + majority of total>
    • Only instance where state legislature uses special majority
    • Minimum strength 40, maximum 1/3rd of assembly <maximum strength of assembly is 500>
    • It’s not coequal with assembly as-
    • If the bill originated in the council is rejected by assembly, it becomes dead
    • Bill originating in the assembly can be held back by the council for maximum 4 months <3 +1>
    • No provision for joint sitting

    Discuss- States with bicameral legislature

    Discuss- What happens if bill originating in assembly is rejected by the council

    4. Devices of Parliamentary Proceedings

    • 1st hour is question hour not zero hour
    • Zero hour is an indian innovation and not mentioned in the rule of procedure
    • Calling attention motion <call attention of minister> is also Indian innovation but mentioned in the rules of procedure
    • Adjournment motion is an extraordinary device to draw attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance.It involves an element of censure, thus can be moved only in LS
    • Motion of thanks is passed in both the houses after presidential address at the start of 1st session of every fiscal year <amendment to motion in RS is embarrassment to govt while in LS would amount to defeat of govt>

    Discuss – differences b/w no confidence motion and censure motion

    5. Executive

    • President is the head of state not the PM while PM is head of govt i.e all actions in the name of president not PM
    • In presidential system like US, president is both head of state and head of govt <no PM there >
    • President is bound by the advice of CoM though he can send back the advice for reconsideration once
    • President has vet power-
    • Absolute Veto – President refuses to give assent to the bill <private member’s bill, cabinet resigns>
    • Suspensive Veto – send the bill for reconsideration of house <can do it only once>
    • Pocket veto <Just sits on the bill, neither rejects nor ratifies

    Discuss – Veto power of Indian president v/s that of of Us president

    Discuss – Qualified Veto

  • Prelims tit-bits- Polity part 4

    1. Fundamental rights

    • Borrowed from American constitution
    • They promote political democracy while DPSPs promote social and economic democracy
    • Article 15,16,19,29 and 30 are available only to citizens not foreigners
    • Even during national emergency under article 352, article 20 and 21 cannot be suspended under article 359
    • Article 19 is automatically suspended during national emergency according to article 358

    Discuss– fundamental rights which can be enforced against private citizens

    2. Writs

    • Habeas Corpus–  can be issued against both public authorities and private individuals
    • Mandamus – can not be issued against private individuals
    • Prohibition– can be issued only against judicial, quasi-judicial bodies not administrative bodies
    • Certiorari– against judicial, quasi-judicial as well as administrative bodies but not legislative and private individuals
    • Quo Warranto-  only in case of substantive public office of permanent character not against ministerial or private office

    Discuss – meaning of these terms and logic behind these provisions

    3. Election of President and VP

    • Nominated members (be they that of RS, LS or state assemblies) don’t take part in Presidential election
    • All elected members of both the houses and state assembles take part in presidential election <MLCs don’t whether elected or nominated>
    • All members of both the houses take part in VP election <nominated plus elected but no role of states>
    • Proportional representation by single transferable vote
    • Votes of all elected members of parliament = votes of all elected members of all legislative assemblies

    Discuss- ground on which VP and president can be removed from the office and procedure of removal

    4. Evolution of legislature during British rule

    • By act of 1858, British crown directly took over the administration of India, Governor General renamed as Viceroy
    • GOI act of 1909, Morley-Minto reforms introduced the concept of separate electorate
    • GOI act of 1919, Montagu-Chelmsford reforms separated central and provincial subjects and introduced the concept of dyarchy in provinces
    • GOI act of 1935 created 3 lists, federal, provincial and concurrent and provided for provincial autonomy

    Discuss– Names of first governor general of Bengal, governor general of India and viceroy

    Discuss- With whom did residuary power rest in GOI act of 1935

    5. Governors and LGs

    • A governor can be given responsibility of more than one state and UT
    • Governor is appointed and removed by president, there’s no ground mentioned for removal
    • CMs of state are appointed by governor while CMs of UTs are appointed by president not LG

    Discuss– but Kejriwal was given oath of office by Mr. Jung. How is it possible then?

    Discuss– Pleasure doctrine for removal of governor v/s AG v/s Civil servants

     

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

    Subjects:

     

    Infrastructure refers to structures, services and facilities necessary for an economy to function. Roads, bridges, airports, sewers, telecom facilities etc are examples of infrastructure or what we often call capital.

    For instance as an economy grows and people become wealthier, there will be more trade and more cars on the road but if existing stock of infrastructure i.e road is not augmented, there will be congestion on the road and infrastructure will put breaks on economic growth. That’s why it is said that 1st class modern economies can not be built on 2nd class medieval infrastructure.

    But now it has been clearly recognized that health care systems, education systems, skill set of population etc are also of critical importance for an economy to function and these softer aspect of infrastructure is termed as social or soft infrastructure / human capital in contrast to hard physical infrastructure. As economy grows, there will be more and more jobs which will require highly educated, highly skilled workforce but if education system is not ready to provide such people, if work force is not healthy, there will be no one to take up such jobs and economy will stagnate.

    Investment in human capital thus improves productivity and welfare of population and such investment is critical for India to reap its demographic dividend <working age population 63.3% in 2013 from 57% in 1991>

    Let’s analyse some trends in social sector expenditure-

    As we saw in this chapter controlling for both the level of economic and political development (democracy), India seems to tax less and spend less and this is most significant with respect to social expenditure (on health and education)

    India spends about 3.3% of GDP on education and 1.3% on health i.e 4.6% total while comparable democracies at similar level of economic development spend 8% on health and education. And there has not been any significant increase in expenditure in last decade.

    Some facts to be written in mains

    1. Way back in 1966, Kothari commission recommended 6% of GDP to be spent on education, same was reiterated in education policy of 1968 and reaffirmed in new education policy of 1986 and its revision in 1992 <we spend < 4%>
    2. Proportion of population in the age group of 6 to 21, which needs to be educated, is 29% for India compared to 18% for OECD and 23% for Brazil and so we need proportionately much more funding than these countries <presently we spend way below their level>
    3. Draft national health policy and working group on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) recommended increasing spending on health progressively to about 2.5% of GDP <we spend about 1.3%>

    But it’s important to note that, increase in expenditure per-se may not always guarantee appropriate outcomes and achievements. The efficiency of expenditure incurred should be assessed, accountability should be fixed and regular corrective measures should be taken <for instance teacher absenteeism, doctor-nurses absenteeism, governance issues would not go away simply by increasing fund allocation>

    Let’s now discuss educational challenges

    As per Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2014 <conducted by an NGO Pratham>-

    1. Decline in enrollment in govt schools in rural areas from 73% in 2007 to 63% in 2014 <pvt schools are expensive> and this also reflects poor quality of teaching in govt schools and lack of faith in them
    2. Poor and declining learning outcomes in both govt and pvt schools – less than half the std 5th children can read std 5th books or can do division
    3. India ranked second last among the 73 countries that participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Later India withdrew from the test citing socio cultural disconnect in the questions asked

    The quality of education determines the quality of human capital and we need to make more efforts to improve quality of education.

    Teacher Training

    • Only 79% of teachers are professionally qualified and in higher secondary level, only 69% are qualified.
    • As only qualified, trained and motivated teachers can impart quality education, There is need to increase the percentage of qualified teachers and also the training of both qualified and under-qualified teachers

    Gender parity in Education-

    • Except for ST, we have achieved gender parity in all levels of education except higher education <0.89 gender parity>
    • We need to bridge the gender disparity in higher education among total and at all levels of education for ST students.

    Govt Initiatives

    Digital Gender Atlas for advancing girl’s education– was launched on women’s day in 2015 in partnership with UNICEF

    Three Components

    1. Composite Gender Ranking based on aceess, infrastructure, teachers, outcomes
    2. Trend Analysis of Gender Indicators across 3 years period
    3. Vulnerabilities based on (i) rural female literacy (ii) percentage girls/boys married below the legal age of marriage (iii) working children
    • It will help identify low-performing geographic pockets for girls, particularly from marginalized groups.
    • It provides comparative analysis of individual gender-related indicators

    National scholarship portal-  a single window system for various types of scholarship schemes administered by different Ministries/ Departments (like Pre-matric from Class I to X, Post-matric from XI to Ph.D. and Meritcum-Means for technical and professional courses), has been introduced under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

    Beti Bachao Beti Padhao – Read this story to know more 

    Issue of No detention Policy

     

    • Under this policy, the students up to class VIII are automatically promoted to the next class even if they do not get a passing grade.
    • The policy was implemented as part of the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) under the RTE Act in 2010 to ensure all-round development of students.
    • The concept of CCE imported from the West, which emphasises on evaluating a child through the year, and not just based on performance in one or two term exams.

    Why this policy

    • detention system led to increased dropouts among students, especially from economically and socially weaker sections.
    • It will allow children to learn in an environment free from fear, anxiety and stress <stress of one end of the year high stakes exam>
    • Learn at their own pace

    What’s the problem then?

    • students developing a lackadaisical attitude towards their studies.
    • Parents also didn’t bother as their children cannot be held back in the class.
    • Quality of learning going down <ASER survey mentioned above>

    Geeta Bhukkal Committee report 2012

    • No-detention policy has had a “very bad” impact on the children.
    • no-detention policy be implemented in a phased manner so that all stakeholders understand what it entails instead of interpreting it as zero assessment.
    • it should be applied only till Class V instead of Class VIII.
    • government should make it mandatory for students to register minimum attendance of 80 per cent in their classes so that they are benefited by the CCE under the RTE Act.

    Devnani Committee Report 2015

    1. A‘learning level’ must be fixed for each class to check whether a student is eligible for the class that he or she is in.
    2. The committee notes, Students must not be detained in Classes VI and VII. However, they must meet the required ‘learning levels’.
    3. A month’s time would be given to students to retake tests and attain the required learning levels, failing which the students would have to be detained.

    Why are educationists’ complaining then?

    • it places the blame on the student for not being able to perform while absolving the school of any blame.
    • It will prove to be most damaging for poor students as they will be the first to be pushed out of the system
    • Instead of failing the child, the government needs to asks what it has done to create an enabling, learning environment for children
    • Across the world, the no-detention policy has been successfully implemented with great results for students.
    • If it can be done everywhere, why not India

    Way Forward-

    1. Invest in education <Kothari commission 6%, achieve pupil-teacher ratio, train teachers>
    2. Train Teachers in the art of CCE
    3. Schools must offer bridge course for slow learners

    Let’s see what’s the process in UK

    • In the UK, a student is promoted to the next grade irrespective of his level of progress.
    • If students underperform, their assessment grades are compared with national data of progress levels and a ‘targeted intervention’ is made.
    • The teachers analyse the reason for poor performance and find solutions to help the child perform better in the future.

    Tell us in comments what should be done with No Detention Policy

    Employment Situation

    As per Fourth Annual Employment-Unemployment Survey 2013-14, Labour Bureau <quote this surveyor as different surveys give different numbers> unemployment rate is 4.9% with 4% for males and 7.7% for females. NSSO gives 2.7% total unemployment rate

     

    • Of particular concern is low female labor force participation rate (LFPR) of just 26% compared to >74% of males.
    • Female LFPR in India is amongst the lowest in the world and the second lowest in South Asia after Pakistan
    • In urban areas female LFPR is even lower – just 18.5%

    Some definitions 

    • LFPR- % of population in job or seeking job
    • WPR – it’s worker population ratio i.e % of population in jobs
    • Unemployment rate  LFPR-WPR/LFPR

    We read in this chapter, to reap demographic dividend we need to create many more good jobs i.e formal sector jobs that pay well and come with some social security but a peculiar feature has been the rise of informalization in formal or organized sector

    • share of informal employment in the organized sector increased from 48 % to 54.6 % in 2004-5 to 2011-12
    • Share of informal employment in total employment is above 90%

    To catalyze job creation, promote complaince and ensure ease of doing business govt while safeguarding safety, health and social security of all workers, govt has initiated many reforms in labor market–

    1. The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act 2015
    2. National Career Services Portal
    3. Shram Suvidha Portal
    4. Universal Account Number

    For more on labour reform, read this economic survey chapter , this story- labour reform in India, and Shramev jayate Karyakram

    To improve female LFPR-

    1. 33% of jobs in MGNREGA mandated for women <to date women take up about 57% of NREGA jobs>
    2. National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)– aims at organizing all rural poor households and nurturing and supporting them till they come out of abject poverty, by organizing one woman member from each household into affinity-based women SelfHelp Groups (SHG) and their federations at village and higher levels by 2024-25.
    3. Bihar govt’s quota of 35% for females

    Reasons of low LFPR-

    Demand side issues -non availability of suitable flexible jobs near home

    Supply side issues – economic, social and cultural issues and care work distributions in the home

    There’s also a U-shaped relationship between years of education and FLFP, not just in India but elsewhere. How and why?

    • FLFP is high among illiterate women (> 20%), the lowest among literate women with some schooling or just high school (10-15%) , and highest among university graduates (25%),which creates a U-shape.
    • At very low levels of education and income, women have no choice but to work to help support the family
    • But as men in the family start earning more income, women tend to cut back their work in the formal economy to concentrate more on household activities.
    • It is the women in the middle – those who are literate but have at most some schooling or have only completed high school – who are squeezed both by the pressure to stay at home and by a lack of plentiful jobs that match their intermediate level of skills and education.
    • Patriarchal attitudes <stigma attached to women working outside the home – especially if it involves work considered ‘menial> , social restriction on mobility, concerns about commuting time and about security at work and the difficulties of managing domestic responsibilities along with the paid jobs are the other impediments.

    To improve FLFP –

    1. Deal with concerns about women’s security, focus on education that reduces the number of female dropouts and improves quality
    2. Generate suitable, flexible work near homes
    3. Address the huge issue of unpaid work, by recognising it ,reducing it, and redistributing it..

    Issue of unpaid work and care work distribution at home

     

    • Conventional employment and unemployment surveys have not been able to capture the various types of unpaid work that women engage in both within and outside households in rural and urban areas in India <for instance Household maintenance, care of children>
    • Globally, men’s share in paid work is around 1.8 times that of women, while women have a share three times that of men in unpaid work
    • Paid work which is visible and accounted for by the System of National Accounts (SNA) is dominated by men, while unpaid work which is not accounted for is dominated by women and remains unrecognized and unaccounted for.

    A pilot time use survey in 1999 revealed that-

    • Out of 168 hours in a week, males on an average spent about 42 hours in SNA-captured activities as compared to only about 19 hours by females.
    • However, in the extended SNA activities, women spent 34.6 hours which included unpaid work home and outside, as opposed to only about 3.6 hours by men.

    Extended SNA activities <would have to pay somebody else to do same work if not done by wives and daughters>

    • Household maintenance, management and shopping for own household
    • Care for children, the sick, elderly and disabled for own household
    • Community service and help to other households

    Time Use Surveys are important to design gender-sensitive policies for employment and to make women’s and men’s work visible.

    In this regard  Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has conducted a pilot TUS in the states of Bihar and Gujarat in 2013 to test the NCATUS i.e National Classification of Activities for Time Use Studies

    P.S.- Rest of the issues, Health sector, Skills Gap, HDI etc will be covered in the next part

  • Prelims tit-bits- Polity part 3

    1. Amendment of the Constitution

    • Amendment bill can be introduced in either house of parliament but not in state legislature
    • Unlike money bill, does not require permission of president before introduction
    • Bill has to be passed by both the houses separately with special majority, hence no scope of joint sitting
    • President must give his assent to the bill<24th amendment>
    • For amending federal provisions ratification of half the state legislatures (29/2=15) by simple majority is required <apart from special majority in parliament eg. GST>
    • In states there is no role of Vidhan Parishads in ratification of amendment bills

    Discuss– Different types of majorities

    2. Amendment of constitution

    • Admission or establishment of new states (art 2) and formation of new states and alteration of areas, names etc is not considered amendment under article 368 i.e simple majority required to amend
    • Amendment of 2nd schedule (salary, allowances) and 5th, 6th schedule is also not considered amendment
    • But addition to the list of national languages and change of name of language under schedule 8 is amendment (special majority)
    • 7th schedule (3 lists) can be amended only by special majority plus ratification by half the states

    Discuss – Contrast amendment procedure in India with that in US

    3. Parliamentary legislation on state list

    • Art. 249 : When the RS declares that it is necessary in the National Interest that Parliament make laws on State Subjects. It remains in force for one year. After 1 year it automatically goes out of force. <what’s the mechanism for RS to authorise so?>
    • Art. 250 : During National Emergency under art. 352. It becomes non operative 6 months after the emergency has ceased to operate
    • Art. 252 : If 2 or more states pass a resolution requesting the Parliament to enact laws on a matter in the State List. Now State legislature can never repeal such acts. Only parliament can repeal such acts.
    • Art. 253 : To give effect to any international agreement or treaty <no state or RS authorisation required>
    • Art. 256 : During the President’s Rule ( Art. 356) . it remains operative even after the president’s rule but state legislature can at any time repeal or alter it <contrast it with art 250 under article 352>

    Discuss- what’s the mechanism to give effect to international agreements in USA? Does Indian procedure not violate standards of true federal constitution?

    4. Parliamentary committees

    • Members are nominated to most of the ad hoc <for specific purpose> and standing committees ,round the year>
    • Departmental related standing committees started from 1993 and at present there are 24 such committees < 31 members i.e 21 plus 10, all nominated >
    • 3 most imp committees, committee on estimates, Public account committee and Committee on PSUs have their members elected <read about them in detail>
    • Committee on estimates largest committee, 30 members, all from LS
    • PAC chairperson is conventionally from oppositions party, CAG reports, acts as friend, philosopher and guide

    Discuss– what’s this joint committee, select committee, JPC etc and where do they come into picture?

    5. Attorney General

    • Not debarred from private legal practice <remember Mukul Rohatgi represented Kerala bar owners against liquor prohibition>
    • Reference to AG can be made only by law ministry <not even by PMO>
    • AG has right to take part in proceedings of both the houses as well as its committees but no right to vote
    • Solicitor general (SG) and ASG are not constitutional posts

    Discuss– Qualifications, appointment and removal procedure of AG