Author: Explains

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – Archaeologists find pre-Columbian mass child sacrifice site in Peru

Pre-Columbian Chimu culture

1. The Chimú culture was centred on Chimor with the capital city of Chan Chan, a large adobe city in the Moche Valley of present-day Trujillo, Peru.
2. The culture arose about 900 AD, succeeding the Moche culture
3. The Chimú people are best known for their distinctive monochromatic pottery and fine metal working of copper, gold, silver, bronze, and tumbaga (copper and gold)
4. The pottery is often in the shape of a creature or has a human figure sitting or standing on a cuboid bottle

B2B #2: From news  : [pib] Declaration by the Government of Republic of India relating to Article II and III of the Appendix to the Paris Act (1971)

Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works

1. The Berne Convention deals with the protection of works and the rights of their authors
2. It is based on three basic principles and contains a series of provisions determining the minimum protection to be granted, as well as special provisions available to developing countries that want to make use of them
3. The three basic principles are the following:(a) Works originating in one of the Contracting States (that is, works the author of which is a national of such a State or works first published in such a State) must be given the same protection in each of the other Contracting States as the latter grants to the works of its own nationals (principle of “national treatment”)(b) Protection must not be conditional upon compliance with any formality (principle of “automatic” protection)

   (c) Protection is independent of the existence of protection in the country of origin of the work (principle of “independence” of protection). If, however, a Contracting State provides for a longer term of protection than the minimum prescribed by the Convention and the work ceases to be protected in the country of origin, protection may be denied once protection in the country of origin ceases

4. India has been the Member of Berne Convention since 28^th April 1928

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : London Declaration

Brief Intro : The London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases is a collaborative disease eradication programme launched on 30 January 2012 in London.

Objective : It was inspired by the World Health Organization 2020 roadmap to eradicate or negate transmission for neglected tropical diseases.

Type : Declaration

Category : Health

Year : 2012

Importance (wr. Prelims) : Medium

Place : London

Key Terms/ Institutions spinoffs : Officials from WHO, the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world’s 13 leading pharmaceutical companies, and government representatives from US, UK, United Arab Emirate, Bangladesh, Brazil, Mozambique and Tanzania participated in a joint meeting at the Royal College of Physicians to launch this project.

Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read the full news

High relevance news

DAC approves procurement of radars, air cushion vehicles

Contains details about radars and vehicles being procured. Should be given a read as UPSC is now also asking technical specifications in Science & tech questions in Prelims

[op-ed snap] Averting Ponzi schemes

Gives complete details of Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018. A question can be expected in Mains based on this

[op-ed snap] Sustaining earth for the future

Mentions 2 very important terms: Anthropocene era & Half Earth project. Has a high chance of appearing in UPSC Prelims just like ‘Sixth Mass Extinction’ question of 2018

India not yet ready to sign the Hague treaty

The government has declined the Hague treaty on the inter-country abduction of children by parents fleeing a bad marriage

The government has long held the view that the decision could lead to harassment of women escaping marital discord or domestic violence

Low relevance news

60% work on landslide mapping over: GSI Director-General

Geological Survey of India [GSI] has completed 60% of its flagship landslide mapping programme. By 2020, the GSI plans to map out the landslide-prone hilly terrains of 18 States

No important points from exam point of view

Pakistan team not allowed for conference in India

The External Affairs Ministry has said that the ‘state of relationship’ with a country determines visit of its citizens to India

It objected to Pakistan’s participation in an academic conference

News shows diplomatic stance from India’s side but nothing important from exam point of view

Canada Senate votes in favour of legalising recreational marijuana

Canada’s Senate has voted to legalise recreational marijuana, clearing a major hurdle that puts the country on track to become the first Group of Seven nation to permit the national use of the drug

There are also demands to legalise marijuana in India but this news is not important from UPSC perspective

We have decided to continue this series until Prelims 2019 as it has become the demand of the exam to continuously revise these factual details. Now students cannot rely on the last-minute effort.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Upanayana

Dynasty/era : Ancient India

Meaning : 1.Upanayana is one of the traditional saṃskāras (rites of passage) that marked the acceptance of a student by a guru (teacher) and an individual’s entrance to a school in Hinduism. 2.The sacred thread (yajnopavita) is received by the boy during this ceremony, that he continues wearing across his chest thereafter. The upanayana was restricted in many medieval Indian texts to the upper three of the four varnas (castes) of society — brahmins, kshatriyas and vaishyas.

Key words related to History : Kaivalya

Dynasty/era : Mahavira period

Meaning :  1.Kaivalya is a state of solitude, aloneness, isolation and detachment. The word is derived from the Sanskrit kevala, meaning “alone” or “isolated.” 2.It is a separation of purusha (Self or Soul) from prakriti (primal matter). The state of kaivalya is the main goal of Raja yoga. 3.It is a detachment and independence from relationships, egoism, attraction, aversion and the cycle of birth and death. One can achieve this state by performing austerities, yoga practice and discipline. One who achieves this state is called a Kevalin.

Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read the full news

High relevance news

1. Nagaraj Judgment: The law on SC/ST promotions

Supreme court recently allowed quota in promotions for SC/ST on a temporary basis until the Constitution bench decides on the validity of such promotions in accordance with provisions of the constitution

Note down Article 16, 335 and read more about them from textbook along with the associated case like Indra Sawhney

2 Chalukyan sculpture of Siva found in Andhra Pradesh

The red sandstone sculpture found at a Chalukyan temple in Satyavolu village of Andhra Pradesh portrays Lord Siva as the therapeutic physician (Rudra Bhaishajana) — as described in Rigveda

Note down the term and its meaning as it has high chances of appearing in Prelims

3 Maternal mortality ratio in the country drops from 167 to 130

India is on its way to achieving the target of low MMR and India has bettered the MDG target of 139 for 2014-2016

Note down the states having highest and lowest MMR and all India trends. This kind of data is now being used to make Prelims questions

Low relevance news

1. Central package for sugar mills

The government has decided to fix the minimum price of refined sugar at ₹29/kg, create a buffer stock, and facilitate a ₹4,440 crore loan scheme to help mills produce ethanol from surplus cane

Only important part of this news is: The government intends to control sugar prices by notifying an order under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and imposing stockholding limits on mills

2 Outsource non-core duties of Delhi police: Home Secretary

Private agencies could be engaged in performing the non-core functions of Delhi police

No important points from exam point of view but do read about Delhi legislature’s powers and exempted areas of legislation

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news –  Chalukyan sculpture of Siva found in Andhra Pradesh

Chalukyan Architecture (5th – 8th CE)

1. 1. The temples under the Chalukyas are a good example of the Vesara style of architecture.
   2. This is also called the Deccan style or Karnataka Dravida or Chalukyan style. It is a combination of Dravida and Nagara styles.
   3. The building material they used was reddish-golden Sandstone found locally.
   4. The temples had beautiful mural paintings also.
   5. The temples are located on the banks of River Tungabhadra and Malprabaha in Karnataka and Alampur in Andhra Pradesh.
   6. Aihole temples: Ladh Khan temple (Surya Temple), Durga temple, Huchimalligudi temple, Jain temple at Meguti by Ravikirti..

• Badami temples: Virupaksha temple and Sangameshwara Temple are in Dravida style. Papanatha temple is in Nagara style.

1. Pattadakkal: is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are ten temples here – 4 in Nagar style and 6 in Dravida style.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : CASSINI MISSION

Details : Cassini mission to Saturn is ending its journey. It will dive towards the Saturn and burn up in its atmosphere in October.

Reading News for UPSC is utmost important and rising number of questions year on year in UPSC Prelims is a testimony of this

We are starting a daily series where we will analyze news covered in The Hindu, Indian Express and other newspapers which are important from exam perspective and which are not

Important news would have been covered in our daily news coverage in form of newscards.

Unimportant ones will be mentioned here and a short description regarding why it is not relevant for the exam

Click on news headlines to read full news

High relevance news

1. Centre not to file counter-affidavit on Article 35A

News discusses about Article 35A that allows the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to decide the “permanent residents” of the State, prohibits a non-State resident from buying property in the State and ensures reservation in employment for residents

A question on special provisions related to Kashmir can appear in both Pre as well as in Mains in light of continued militancy in state

2 India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-5

Agni missile is a part of India’s Integrated Missile Guidance Development Program.

It’s current range and technologies in use can be basis of framing a question in Prelims & complete details of IMGDP can be asked in Mains

3 [pib] World Bank approves Rs. 6,000 crore Atal Bhujal Yojana

The scheme aims to improve groundwater management in priority areas in the country through community participation

Scheme majorly covers the states of  Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (Not entire India)

 

Low relevance news

1. China for closer anti-graft links

A six-member delegation of senior Chinese officials will meet their counterparts in Indian agencies to deepen cooperation between the two countries on people wanted for corruption and asset recovery

Nothing important in news from exam point of view

2 Green, hygienic and cheaper sanitary pads

The Union government launched biodegradable sanitary napkins to mark World Environment Day

No name of scheme mentioned neither any details about stores that will distribute them apart from number of stores

3 Fly less and eat healthy to cut warming

According to a study, Global warming can be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius by improving the energy efficiency of our everyday activities such as travel, indoor heating and device use

No big info or keyword that can be used to frame a Prelims question

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- [Op-ed Snap] Has the Indian economy caught the Dutch disease?

Fragile Five

1. Fragile Five is a term coined in August of 2013 by a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley to represent emerging market economies that have become too dependent on unreliable foreign investment to finance their growth ambitions.
2. The acronym follows a long line of analyst acronyms that have caught on over the years, including Jim O’Neill’s BRICS and MINTS acronyms.
3. As capital flows out of emerging markets to developed markets, many of their currencies experienced significant weakness and made it difficult to finance current account deficits.
4. The lack of new investment also made it impossible to finance many growth projects, which contributed to a slowdown in their respective economies. This created a potential issue for certain vulnerable economies.
5. The five members of the Fragile Five include:
6. Turkey
7. Brazil
8. India
9. South Africa
10. Indonesia

B2B #2: From news- India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-5

Agni Series Missiles

1. At present, India has in its armoury the Agni series –

• Agni-1 with 700 km range,
• Agni-2 with 2,000 km range,
• Agni-3 with 2,500 km range,
• Agni-4 with more than 3,500 km range.
• Agni-5 with more than 5500km.

2. The first test of Agni-5 was conducted on April 19, 2012, the second on September 15, 2013, the third on January 31, 2015 and fourth on December 26, 2016. The last test was held on January 18, 2018.
3. All the five earlier trials were successful.
4. The third, fourth and fifth launches were from canister integrated with a mobile launcher, in its deliverable configuration that enables launch of the missile with a very short preparation time as compared to an open launch.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Advance Area Defence (AAD) interceptor missile

Defence Forces : Army

Module Type : Missiles

Brief Intro :  1. Advanced Air Defence (AAD) is an anti-ballistic missile designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in the endo-atmosphere at an altitude of 30 km (19 mi).

2. AAD is a single-stage, solid-fuelled missile.

3. Guidance is similar to that of Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): it has an inertial navigation system, midcourse updates from ground based radar and active radar homing in the terminal phase

 

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- Centre to start measuring ‘green GDP’ of States

Green GDP

Green GDP is a term used for expressing GDP after adjusting for environment degradations.

1. Green GDP is an attempt to measure the growth of an economy by subtracting the costs of environmental damages and ecological degradations from the GDP
2. The concept was first initiated through a System of National Accounts.
3. The System of National Accounts (SNA) is an accounting framework for measuring the economic activities of production, consumption and accumulation of wealth in an economy during a period of time.
4. When information on economy’s use of the natural environment is integrated into the system of national accounts, it becomes green national accounts or environmental accounting.
5. The process of environmental accounting involves three steps viz. Physical accounting; Monetary valuation; and integration with national Income/wealth Accounts:

• Physical accounting determines the state of the resources, types, and extent (qualitative and quantitative) in spatial and temporal terms.
• Monetary valuation is done to determine its tangible and intangible components.
• Thereafter, the net change in natural resources in monetary terms is integrated into the Gross Domestic Product in order to reach the value of Green GDP

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

Objective : Lead international efforts to defeat hunger

Members : FAO has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union

Headquarters : Rome, Italy

Year Founded : Established in 1945

 

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Madad-i-Massh

Dynasty/era : Mughal period

Meaning : Tax free grants of land

Key words related to History : Malfuzat

Dynasty/era : Medieval India

Meaning : Sayings of Sufi saint

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Pinaka Mark II

Defence Forces : Army

Module Type : Missiles

Brief Intro : 1.Pinaka II, also called Guided Pinaka, is being developed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune; Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad; and Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad. 2.The Mark II version is equipped with a navigation, guidance, control kit and has considerably enhanced the range and accuracy of the missile. The accuracy of the missile is estimated to be between 60m-80m at all ranges. Background: Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 65 km for Mark-II, and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising enemy positions on the mountain tops. It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers.

Name : Dhanush Gun

Defence Forces : Army

Module Type : Weapons

Brief Intro : The Dhanush is a 155 mm towed howitzer used by the Indian Army. The design is based on Bofors, now Haubits FH77 which India acquired in the 1980s. The gun as of June 2016 has entered into active production with confirmed order of 414 guns

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : SWATHI

Defence Forces : Army

Module Type : Tech Misc.

Brief Intro : 1.The Swathi Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) is a mobile artillery locating phased array radar developed by India.This counter-battery radar is designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for Counter-battery fire. 2.The WLR has been jointly developed by DRDO’s Bangalore based laboratory, LRDE and the Government owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The sub-systems have been fabricated by BEL based on the DRDO designs and delivered to LRDE for integration

Name : INS Tillanchang

Defence Forces : Navy

Module Type : Warships

Brief Intro : 1.INS Tillanchang, a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft (WJFAC) was recently commissioned into the Indian Navy. 2.INS Tillanchang is the third ship of four follow-on WJFAC built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata. The first two ships of the class, IN ships Tarmugli and Tihayu were commissioned in 2016 and are based at Visakhapatnam. 3.The ship has been indigenously designed and built and is an upgrade from the Chetlat class of Fast Attack Craft that the Indian Navy possesses.

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Forest Carbon Partnership Facility(FCPF)

Objective :  To assist countries in their REDD+ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance in building their capacity to benefit from possible future systems of positive incentives for REDD+. To pilot a performance-based payment system for REDD+ activities, with a view to ensuring equitable benefit sharing and promoting future large-scale positive incentives for REDD+. Within the approach to REDD+, to test ways to sustain or enhance livelihoods of local communities and to conserve biodiversity. To disseminate broadly the knowledge gained in the development of the Facility and the implementation of Readiness Preparation Proposals (RPPs) and Emission Reductions Programs (ERPs).

Name : United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Recently in News because : U.S., Israel quit UNESCO India Kumbh Mela Intangible Heritage

Objective : To contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through educational, scientific, and cultural reforms

Members : 195 member states and ten associate members

Headquarters : Paris, France

Year Founded : 1946

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name of the scheme : She-Box

Salient Features : Online complaint Management System for women working in both public and private organizations to ensure effective implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at workplace Act

Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Women & Child

Name of the scheme : Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women

Objectives : To achieve holistic empowerment of women through convergence of schemes/programmes of different Ministries/ Department of Government of India as well as State Governments

Salient Features : It aimed at improving the declining Child Sex Ratio; ensuring survival. & protection of the girl child; ensuring her education, and empowering her to fulfill her potential.s a social sector welfare schemes for care, protection and development of women. -It will provide an interface for rural women to approach the government for availing their entitlements and for empowering them through training and capacity building.

Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Women & Child

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : NPT

Brief Intro : The NPT is a landmark international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The Treaty represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States. Opened for signature in 1968, the Treaty entered into force in 1970.

Objective : To prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.

Type : Treaty

Category : E&B

Year : 1970

Importance (wr. Prelims) : High

Name : CTBT

Brief Intro : The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral treaty that bans all nuclear explosions, for both civilian and military purposes, in all environments. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 1996 but has not entered into force as eight specific states have not ratified the treaty.

Objective : Nuclear weopan free world

Type : Treaty

Category : E&B

Year : 1996

Importance (wr. Prelims) : High

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Khalisa

Dynasty/era : Mughal period

Meaning : Land revenue directly for imperial treasury

Key words related to History : Khums

Dynasty/era : Medieval India

Meaning : Tax on plunder

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)

Details : designed to search for exoplanets using the transit method

Agency : NASA

 

Name : Next generation of ICESat-2 and GRACE satellites to observe Earth’s ice sheets, sea level, and underground water reserves.

Details : Earth’s ice sheets, sea level, and underground water reserves

Agency : NASA

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : INLCU L51

Defence Forces : Navy

Module Type : Warships

Brief Intro : 1.INLCU L51 was commissioned into the Indian Navy. LCU 51 IS First of the Eight ships of the LCU Mk IV Class. 2.It has been built by M/s Garden Reach Ship Builders & Engineers Ltd, Kolkata, it is the first of the eight ships of the LCU MK IV Class. Conceived and designed indigenously, the commissioning of the ship adds a feather to the glorious chapter in the nation’s ‘Make in India’ initiatives & indigenisation efforts in the field of warship design and construction. With a displacement of 900 tons the magnificent ship spans 62.8 m in length and 11 m in breadth.

Name : USHUS-II submarine sonar

Defence Forces : Navy

Module Type : Tech Misc.

Brief Intro : 1.Sonars are the eyes and ears of a submarine under water. DRDO has developed the State-of-the-Art submarine sonar suite, USHUS-II, a highly evolved compendium of multiple sensors. 2.The constituent sonars in the suite include passive sonar, active sonar, intercept sonar, obstacle avoidance sonar and underwater telephony.

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Global Grouping name : International Court of Justice

Recently in News because : Justice Dalveer Bhandari was re-elected as a judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ),making him the third Indian to secure a prominent position in a United Nations (UN) body in recent months

Objective : Settle legal disputes submitted to it by states, duly authorized international branches, agencies, and the UN General Assembly

Members : The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council

Headquarters : The Hague, The Netherlands

Year Founded : Established in 1945

 

Global Grouping name : Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

Objective : Provide services of arbitral tribunal to resolve disputes between member states, international organizations, or private parties arising out of international agreements

Members : The PCA has 121 member states: 119 members of the United Nations, as well as Kosovo and Palestine

Headquarters : The Hague, The Netherlands

Year Founded : 1899

As a part of revision for Prelims 2018, Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Ashgabat Agreement

Brief Intro : 1.Ashgabat Agreement, is an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. 2.The transit agreement provides for a transit corridor across Central Asia and the Middle East through the continuous landmass between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Iran before reaching the Persian Gulf and into Oman.

Objective : The objective of this agreement is to enhance connectivity within Eurasian region and synchronize it with other transport corridors within that region including the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

Type : Declaration

Category : Connectivity

Year : 2011

Importance (wr. Prelims) : High

Place : Ashgabat

Name : G-20

Brief Intro : 1.It was started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Southeast Asian (Tiger economies) financial crisis. 2.The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for its members’ international economic cooperation and decision-making. It is deliberating forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies on economic issues and other important development challenges. 3.In 2008, the first G20 Leaders’ Summit was held in Washington DC, US. The group had played a key role in responding to the global financial crisis. It comprises total 19 countries plus the European Union (EU), representing 85% of global GDP, 80% of international trade, 65% of world’s population. Its members include Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, India, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, UK, US and EU. 4.The 2016 summit was held in Hangzhou China.

Objective : It was established for studying, reviewing, and promoting high-level discussion of policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability.

Type : Summit/ Conference

Category : Economy

Year : 2008

Importance (wr. Prelims) : High