Category: Strategy Sessions

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- Global funding watchdog hands 10-point plan to Pakistan

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

1. FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the Ministers of its Member jurisdiction
2. The FATF is a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas
3. The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system
4. The FATF has developed a series of Recommendations that are recognised as the international standard for combating of money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
5. The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures, and promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally
6. The FATF’s decision-making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year

B2B #2: From news- RBI steps in as rupee hits record low

Capital & Current account convertibility

Capital and Current Account Convertibility in India

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Basadis

Dynasty/era : Ancient India

Meaning : Basadi is a Jain shrine or temple. The word is generally used in South India, as well as in Maharashtra. Its historical use in North India is preserved in the names of the Vimala Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples of Mount Abu.

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- [pib] Development without Felling/Cutting of Trees

National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited (NBCC)

1. It is a Navratna organization under category I, is a Central Public Sector undertaking which trades publicly in the market and is largely owned by Government of India.
2. It engages in the Real Estate Development & Construction business and also provides Project Management Consultancy.
3. NBCC has also undertaken overseas projects in countries like Iraq, Libya, Nepal, Mauritius, Turkey, Botswana, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Yemen et al.
4. NBCC is also designated as the implementing agency for executing projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), Solid Waste Management (SWM) and developmental work in North Eastern Region.

B2B #2: From news- Centre proposes new body to replace UGC

UGC (University Grants Commission)

1. The University Grants Commission of India (UGC India) is a statutory body set up by the Indian Union government in accordance to the UGC Act 1956 under Ministry of Human Resource Development.
2. The UGC has two primary responsibilities:

• providing funds to educational institutions; and
• coordinating, determining and maintaining standards in institutions of higher education.

Its main functions are:

• promoting and coordinating education in universities,
• determining and maintaining standards for teaching, examination and research in universities,
• framing regulations on minimum standards for education,
• disbursing grants to universities and colleges,
• liaising between the CG, State governments and higher educational institutions, and
• advising the CG and State governments on possible policy measures to improve higher education in India.

B2B #3: From news- [pib] Additional 6.5MMT Strategic Petroleum Reserves at Chandikhol in Odisha and at Padur, Karnataka

Strategic Petroleum Reserve Programme

1. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve (ISPR) is an emergency fuel store.
2. Strategic crude oil storages are at 3 underground locations in Mangalore, Visakhapatnam and Padur (near Udupi).
3. All these are located on the east and west coasts of India which are readily accessible to the refineries.
4. These strategic storages are in addition to the existing storages of crude oil and petroleum products with the oil companies and serve in response to external supply disruptions.
5. FM Arun Jaitley in his 2017-18 budget speech has announced that two more such caverns will be set up Chandikhole in Jajpur district of Odisha and Bikaner in Rajasthan as part of the second phase.

B2B #4: From news- [op-ed snap] Ujjwala Revolution

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

1. PMUY is a welfare scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to provide LPG connections to families below the poverty line, guided by the strong commitment to bring about changes in the life of poor women and also protect their health
2. Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) is used to identify the beneficiaries (adult woman of a BPL family) and is given a deposit free LPG connection with a financial assistance of Rs.1600 per connection by the centre
3. This scheme will help prevent pollution and facilitate the healthy atmosphere in the families of poor people.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Beijing declaration

Brief Intro : The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) is an international declaration of women’s rights set up at the UN’s landmark Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995. The BPfA covers 12 key critical matters of concern and areas for action including women and poverty, violence against women and access to power and decision- making. It was supported by 189 countries, including the UK, at the 1995 World Conference.

Objective : Gender equality and the empowerment of all women, everywhere.

Type : Declaration

Category : Social

Year : 1995

Importance (wr. Prelims) : Medium

Place : Beijing

Key Terms/ Institutions spinoffs : It was the outcome of The Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace convened by UN

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news- India votes against draft decision on chemical weapons use at OPCW meet

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

1. OPCW is an intergovernmental organization and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, which entered into force on 29 April 1997
2. The OPCW, with its 193 member states, has its seat in The Hague, Netherlands, and oversees the global endeavor for the permanent and verifiable elimination of chemical weapons
3. The organization promotes and verifies the adherence to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons and requires their destruction
4. Verification consists both of evaluation of declarations by member states and onsite inspections
5. The OPCW has the power to say whether chemical weapons were used in an attack it has investigated
6. The organization was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”

B2B #2: From news- [pib] Inauguration of NIMHANS Digital Academy, proposed Health and Wellness Centres

National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bangalore

1. Established in 1925, NIMHANS, the apex center for mental health and neuroscience education in the country
2. It operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3. The institute was inaugurated on 27 December 1974, establishing it as an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act.
4. NIMHANS is a multidisciplinary institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the frontier area of mental health and neurosciences.

B2B #3: From news- ICSSR’s new vision: make research relevant to policy

Indian Council of Social Science

1. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) was established in the year of 1969 by the Government of India to promote research in social sciences in the country.
2. Its one of the important function is to advise the Government of India on all matters pertaining to social science research as may be referred to it from time to time, and take such measures generally as may be necessary from time to time to promote social science research and its utilization.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Dawn Mission Extended at Ceres

Details : NASA has authorized a second extension of the Dawn mission at Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. NASA’s Dawn mission will study the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, celestial bodies believed to have accreted early in the history of the solar system. The mission will characterize the early solar system and the processes that dominated its formation.

Agency : NASA

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

Toxic air is causing malnutrition in trees

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/toxic-air-is-causing-malnutrition-in-trees/

Note about Mycorrhizal fungi. Also, study symbiotic relationship from Environment book/notes. Can be asked in Prelims in indirect way

[pib] Outcomes of 13th Executive Committee meeting of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/pib-outcomes-of-13th-executive-committee-meeting-of-national-mission-for-clean-ganga-nmcg/

Read and remember details about Ganga Mitra. UPSC has been asking questions digged from such news items

[op-ed snap] Plastic-free India is a nudge away

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-plastic-free-india-is-a-nudge-away/

Editorial discusses about the nudge theory which won Nobel prize this year & how it can be used to bring about a behavioral change amongst masses

Nice points that can be quoted in Mains answers as well as Essay

Low Relevance News

Social security cover extended to 50 crore people: Narendra Modi

The government is promoting schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana

The government is also promoting Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana for citizens aged 60 years and above

All these schemes have been discussed in detail previously. Nothing else in news from exam point of view

MP panel flags stalled lending by PSU banks

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Finance raised concerns about “stagnation in lending operations” of State-owned banks during a meeting with representatives of 11 public sector banks

The 11 banks are under the RBI’s watchlist for mounting bad loans

Nothing important from UPSC perspective.

Govt. Poster for easy recall

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Phalcon AWACS

Defence Forces : Air Force

Module Type : Tech Misc.

Brief Intro : Phalcon AWACS(Airborne Warning AND Control Systems) is the India First AWACS which is capable of detecting any aerial threats more effectively than ground-based radars.It is also capable to defend the IAF against cruise missiles and hostile aircraft more efficiently.

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – ISA plans global solar bank to finance $150 billion of power projects

International Solar Alliance

1. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
2. The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels
3. The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization
4. The alliance is also called International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA)
5. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to be headquartered in India
6. The initiative was launched by PM Narendra Modi at the India Africa Summit and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)

Objective : To encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world

Members : 186 of the UN member states as well as the Cook Islands, Holy See and Niue are members of WIPO

Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland

Year Founded : 1967

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – GSP: win-win for Indo-U.S. trade

Generalised System of Preferences

1. The GSP is one of the oldest trade preference programmes in the world, and was designed to provide zero duties or preferential access for developing countries t o advanced markets.
2. The U.S. GSP programme was established by the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, and promotes economic development by eliminating duties on thousands of products when imported from one of the 129 designated beneficiary countries and territories.
3. In April 2018, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it would review the GSP eligibility of India, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.
4. The proposed review for India was initiated in response to market access petitions filed by the U.S. dairy and medical device industries due to recent policy decisions in India, which were perceived as trade barriers.

B2B #2: From news – [op-ed snap] Countering India’s labour market imbalances

NITI Aayog Action Agenda

1. The draft “Three Year Action Agenda” of the NITI Aayog been released in 2017  for 2017-18 to 2019-20.
2. It focuses on seven key areas that include revenue and expenditure, economic transformation in major sectors, regional development, growth enablers, and reforms in governance, social sectors and sustainability.
3. Itis said to be a phasing out of FYP as a concept.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name of the scheme : Jeevan Pramaan

Salient Features : It is an Aadhaar based Biometric Authentication System for Pensioners. The system provides authenticity to Digital Life Certificate without the necessity of the pensioner being present in person before his/ her Pension Dispensing Authority (PDA).

Nodal Ministry : The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Dear Students,

We have moved our discussion forums for optional subjects to the following telegram groups. It was evident that telegram had many smooth features which were beneficial for optional discussions.

From time to time, we will try to get Rankers and Mentors to communicate with you and solve your queries. It should be noted that these are self-moderated groups where you can collaborate and communicate with your fellow peers. Students interested to become Moderators so they can streamline the conversations are more than welcome to write to us.

• Geography
• Public Administration
• Political Science & International Relations
• Sociology
• Anthropology
• Indian History
• Law
• Agriculture Management
• Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Medical Science
• Philosophy
• Civil Engineering Physics
• Commerce & Accountancy
• Economics
• Psychology
• Electrical Engineering
• Geology
• Statistics

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

Aadhaar biometric data cannot be used for crime investigations, UIDAI clarifies

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/aadhaar-biometric-data-cannot-be-used-for-crime-investigations-uidai-clarifies/

Prelims 2018 had 2 direct questions on Aadhar. An SC hearing is going on related to data privacy concerns and threats posed by Aadhar.

Note the provisions that help secure Aadhar data as these can be quoted in Mains to balance your viewpoint.

Nasa unveils program to defend Earth from asteroid attack

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/nasa-unveils-program-to-defend-earth-from-asteroid-attack/

Read about IAWN & DART. Important for Prelims.

Also, note details about the mission as it can be asked in Mains too.

India to teach satellite tech to students from abroad

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/india-to-teach-satellite-tech-to-students-from-abroad/

Good material to be used in Mains answer as well as Essays under India’s achievements in SciTech especially space technology.

For Prelims, note UNISPACE+50 & UNSSP

Anti-profiteering under GST: A leap of faith for consumers and industry

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/anti-profiteering-under-gst-a-leap-of-faith-for-consumers-and-industry/

The article explains various lacunae in Anti-Profiteering system of GST. Can be used in GST related questions in Mains.

Low Relevance News

Chabahar port may open by 2019, says Gadkari

India hopes to make Iran’s Chabahar port operational by 2019, despite the threat of United States’ sanctions against Tehran looming large

Chahbahar has been discussed extensively in previous newscards and news contains no important detail.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations to visit India

The visit is to thank the troop-contributing countries for their service and update them on the ongoing reforms in the peace and security area

The only important detail in news is: India is among the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions

Read more about UN peacekeeping here: Click2Read

Govt. Poster for easy recall

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – [pib] Third AIIB Annual Meeting 2018, Mumbai

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

1. The AIIB is a multilateral development bank that aims to support the building of infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.
2. It was proposed as an initiative by the government of China in 2013 and came into existence in 2014.
3. The capital of the bank is $100 billion, equivalent to 2⁄3 of the capital of the Asian Development Bank and about half that of the World Bank.
4. Recently AIIB extended USD 1.2 bn loan for infra projects in India.
5. The fund will invest in six projects, including $500 million in the Mumbai Metro and $455 million in rural roads in Andhra Pradesh.
6. This also includes $200 million to the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.

B2B #2: From news – Mongolia launches construction of first oil refinery with India aid

India-Mongolia Bilateral relations

1. Mongolia, a large landlocked country wedged between giants China and Russia, has a population of just 3 million. Almost half its people live as nomadic stock herders.
2. Mongolia considers India a “third neighbor” as well as a “spiritual neighbor” (the late venerable Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk who is revered in Mongolia, was the Indian ambassador to Ulaanbaatar for 10 years).
3. India shares historical relations with Mongolia in terms of culture from over 2700 years.
4. Nomadic Elephant was the Counter-Terrorism joint military exercise conducted by India and Mongolia in 2016

B2B #3: From news – Nasa unveils program to defend Earth from asteroid attack

International Asteroid Warning Network

1. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) was established in 2014 to address the recommendations for an international response to the near-Earth Object impact threat
2. It was endorsed by the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
   Outer Space and the General Assembly resolution 68/75
3. It forms an international association of institutions involved in detecting, tracking, and characterizing NEOs (Near Earth Objects) to provide the best information available on the NEO hazard and any impact threat
4. The IAWN is also tasked to use well-defined communication
   plans and protocols to assist Governments in the analysis of asteroid impact
   consequences and to support the planning of mitigation responses
5. IAWN serves the global community as the authoritative source of accurate and up-to-date information on near-Earth objects and NEO impact risks. Information is freely available to all interested parties

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Marrakesh treaty

Brief Intro : 1.The treaty requires signatories to introduce national law provisions that facilitates the availability of published works in formats like Braille that are accessible to the blind and allow their exchange across borders by organizations working for the visually impaired. 2.The pact will help import of accessible format copies from the member countries by the Indian authorized entities such as educational institutions, libraries and other institutions working for the welfare of the visually impaired. 3.The treaty will also ease translation of imported accessible format copies and export of accessible format copies in Indian languages.

Objective : To create a set of mandatory limitations and exceptions for the benefit of the blind, visually impaired and otherwise print disabled (VIPs).

Type : Treaty

Category : Social

Importance (wr. Prelims) : High

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

[op-ed snap] The seeds of sustainability

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-the-seeds-of-sustainability/

Agriculture concepts have made inroads into Mains questions in recent years. Read all details related to ZBNF

Govt plans ‘Pariwartan’ scheme for power sector revival

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/govt-plans-pariwartan-scheme-for-power-sector-revival/

After UDAY another big scheme for bringing power sector on the track. Note all details.

Govt may scrap trials for some IVD devices

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/govt%e2%80%8amay-scrap%e2%80%8atrials-for-some-ivd-devices/

Note details about In-vitro diagnostics and also read about related therapies etc. Important primarily for Prelims but can appear in Mains too.

[op-ed snap] Tighter is better

https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/op-ed-snap-tighter-is-better/

The editorial discusses important trends related to CAD and factors that have been affecting capital inflows in emerging markets.

Good economic facts that can be quoted in Mains answers.

Low Relevance News

India, U.S. 2+2 Dialogue on July 6

Has been too much in news but nothing substantial has come out of it as of now. Will be relevant only after the meeting is concluded and various announcements made

Centre bans affiliates of al-Qaeda, Islamic State

The only important detail in this news is Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Used sporadically against terrorist organizations.

Govt. Poster for easy recall

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – Cross-border insolvency: Rules to help lenders access foreign assets

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law

1. UNCITRAL was established in 1966 with the recognition that international trade cooperation among States is an important factor.
2. When world trade began to expand dramatically in the 1960s, national governments began to realize the need for a global set of standards and rules to harmonize national and regional regulations, which until then governed international trade.
3. UNCITRAL Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency was a model law issued by the Secretariat of UNCITRAL in 1997 to assist states in relation to the regulation of corporate insolvency and financial distress involving companies which have assets or creditors in more than one state.
4. The Model Law is designed to provide a model framework to encourage cooperation and coordination between jurisdictions.

B2B #2: From news – World’s hungry population on the rise again, says UN report

Sustainable Development Goals

1. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations in 2015 and are to be achieved by 2030.
2. The SDGs cover social and economic development issues including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, urbanization, environment and social justice.
3. The formal name for the SDGs is: “Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” That has been shortened to “2030 Agenda”.
4. The resolution is a broad intergovernmental agreement that acts as the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
5. This was a non-binding agreement as a result of Rio+20 Conference held in 2012.
6. NITI Aayog is set up in line with attaining these SDGs.

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Key words related to History : Parigraha

Dynasty/era : Mahavira period

Meaning : 1.Parigraha-parimana is one the 12 vratas or vows of a layperson in Jainism. Specifically, it is a vow to limit attachment to worldly possessions. 2.Unlike monks or ascetics who observe such vows more strictly, the layperson may make a vow to limit his or her attachment to certain possessions or a certain number of possessions, or they may vow to limit attachment for a specified period of time.

Here are  Back2Basics collections from today’s news items

B2B #1: From news – U.S. pulls out of United Nations Human Rights Council

United Nations Human Rights Council

1. UNHRC is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world
2. The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis
3. The UNHRC was established by the UN General Assembly on March 15, 2006
4. The headquarters of UNHRC is in Geneva, Switzerland
5. The members of the General Assembly elect the members who occupy the UNHRC’s 47 seats. The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms
6. The General Assembly can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership
7. The UNHRC investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states, and addresses important thematic human rights issues such as freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women’s rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities

Here’s a Factoid to brush up your concepts

Name : Sentinel – 5P

Details : specifically for the operational needs of the Copernicus programme · Europe’s environment monitoring programme

Agency : ESA