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Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

_____________________________________________

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Consider the following statements with respective to Chambal River 

1. It is the biggest tributary of Yamuna and largest of the rivers flowing through Rajasthan. 

2. It is the natural habitat for Gangetic Dolphin and Freshwater Gharials. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q2) Consider the following statements with respective to Heat Dome 

1. It is essentially a mountain of warm air built into a very wavy jet stream, with extreme undulations. 

2. It develops when there is a large poleward shift in the jet stream. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q3) Consider the following statements with respective to Trojan Asteroids 

1. It is a type of Asteroid that shares an orbit with a larger planet. 

2. NASA has reported the presence of Jupiter, Neptune and Mars Trojans and an Earth Trojan as well.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Which of the following are the main factors governing inter-annual variations of South West Monsoon? 

1. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) 

2. North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) 

3. Pacific Decadal Oscillations (PDO) 

4. El Nino Southern oscillation (ENSO) 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

a. 4 only 

b. 1 and 4 only 

c. 1, 2 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

_____________________________________________

Daily Study Plan with Answer Writing Challenge || STREAK FREE INITIATIVE FOR UPSC IAS – by Ravi Ranjan

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Consider the following statements with respective to Arabian Sea Cyclones

1. The cyclones originating in the Arabian Sea are weaker than those originating from the Bay of Bengal.
2. The formation of weak cyclones in the Arabian Sea reasons back to the presence of cold water in the sea.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q2) Consider the following statements with respective to Black Carbon

1. It is a short-lived pollutant that is the second-largest contributor to warming the planet behind carbon dioxide (CO2).
2. It is quickly washed out and can be eliminated from the atmosphere if emissions stop.
3. Black carbon (BC) deposits produced by human activity accelerate the pace of glacier and snow melt in the Himalayan region.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1 and 3 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Q3) Which of the following statements is incorrect with respect to Favourable conditions for Heat Waves?

a. Absence of moisture in the upper atmosphere
b. Practically cloudless sky for maximum insulation
c. Large amplitude anticyclonic flow over the area
d. Closer Proximity to Coastal area

Q4) Consider the following statements with respective to Great Barrier Reef

1. It is the world‟s most extensive and spectacular coral reef ecosystem composed of over 900 islands.
2. UNESCO has removed the Great Barrier Reef from the list of “endangered” World Heritage Sites.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

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The Indian Air Force is a few months back has participated for the first time in Exercise Desert Flag-VI in UAE along with air forces of the United Arab Emirates, United States of America, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Bahrain.

In this article, we will discuss and analyze various aspects of the strategic significance of the Persian Gulf Region for India.

Context

India’s relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have witnessed a significant upswing since 2015, across the areas of trade, investments, counter-terrorism, and security cooperation.

Regional and international developments, including the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), China’s growing regional footprint, as well as heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, also contributed to amplifying the importance of the GCC states in India’s foreign policy calculus.

Persian Gulf: A backgrounder

• Persian Gulf also called Arabian Gulf is a shallow marginal sea of the Indian Ocean that lies between the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Iran.
• It is bordered on the north, northeast, and east by Iran; on the southeast and south by part of Oman and by the United Arab Emirates; on the southwest and west by Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia; and on the northwest by Kuwait and Iraq.
• The Shatt al-Arab river delta forms the northwest shoreline.

Global fossil fuel depot

• The Persian Gulf and its coastal areas are the world’s largest single source of petroleum, and related industries dominate the region. ‘
• Safaniya Oil Field in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest offshore oilfield, is located in the Persian Gulf.

Conflicts in the Gulf

• The Persian Gulf is a relatively constricted geographic area of great existing or potential volatility.
• The smaller states of the gulf are particularly vulnerable, having limited indigenous populations and, in most cases, armed forces with little more than symbolic value to defend their countries against aggression.
• All of them lack strategic depth, and their economies and oil industries depend on access to the sea.

Various threats

• Over the last decade, the Gulf has been in ferment — the fall of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt in the wake of the Arab Spring in 2011 deprived Saudi Arabia of its security partner and created in the kingdom a deep sense of strategic vulnerability.
• It saw in Iran a hegemonic player in regional affairs and opted to challenge the expansion of Iran’s presence on a sectarian basis in the region that it considered its zone of exclusive influence.
• This set up proxy conflicts between the two Islamic neighbours in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

What is the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)?

• The GCC is a regional, intergovernmental political and economic union that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• The Charter of the GCC was signed on 25 May 1981, formally establishing the institution.

India-GCC engagement

• The significant presence of the Indian community in the Gulf countries over the last 40 years and the role of Indian enterprises in the development of the region have taken place in the framework of important changes in bilateral political and economic relations.
• The GCC countries also became India’s principal trade and investment partners.
• The Gulf is an integral part of India’s ‘extended neighbourhood’, both by way of geographical proximity and as an area of expanded interests and growing Indian influence.

Diplomatic Relations

• The governments of the GCC members are India-friendly and Indian-friendly.
• Many GCC members have outrightly ignored Pakistan’s foul cries regarding Kashmir in the OIC.
• The Prime Minister of India has received the ‘Order of Zayed’, the highest civilian order of the UAE and the ‘King Hamad Order of the Renaissance’, the third-highest civilian order of Bahrain.

Economic Relations

• The GCC states are among India’s key suppliers of energy, and annual remittances from Indians in these countries are worth an estimated USD 4.8 billion.
• The UAE and Saudi Arabia are India’s third and fourth-largest trading partners respectively and the total bilateral trade of the GCC countries with India for the year 2018-19 stood at USD 121.34 billion.
• UAE also features in the top 10 sources of FDI inflows into India.

Security Relations

• Both India and the GCC are members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• Apart from the participation of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and others in India’s mega multilateral Milan Exercise, India also has bilateral exercises with most of them.

Cultural relations

• India’s relations with the peoples of the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula go back several millennia when Indian sailors, merchants, intellectuals and men of faith traversed the waters of the Indian Ocean, exchanging navigation skills, goods, ideas and belief systems.
• They thus enriched each other materially and spiritually and created a shared ethos that endures to this day.

India and Iran

• India has always shared a friendly relationship with Iran.
• But the India-Iran relation faces one of the most complex phases at all times due to the USA’s pressure which has politico-economic impacts.
• In May 2018, the USA abandoned the nuclear deal and reinstated economic sanctions against Iran.

Qatar Crisis and India

• Qatar’s has connections with various terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at destabilising the region including the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and groups supported by Iran.
• Such developments are likely to have significant implications for India, given that its citizens make up the largest expatriate group in the region.

India’s importance to the Gulf

• India has acquired a large and rewarding regional footprint, particularly as the preferred source of manpower, food products, pharmaceuticals, gem and jewellery, light engineering items, etc.
• Indians are also the biggest stakeholders in Dubai’s real estate, tourism and Free Economic Zones.
• Indian interests do not entail power projection but necessitate peace and regional stability. India has always avoided involvement in local or regional disputes in the region.

India’s interests in the Gulf

• There are around seven million people of Indian origin working in the Middle East. Security and stability in the region is hence of paramount importance for India.
• Further, the Indian diaspora in the region remits around USD 40 billion a year.
• These funds are immensely valuable as they help India manage its current account deficit. Energy is another critical area of engagement.
• A fifth of India’s oil, and about 65 per cent of gas imports, comes from countries of the Middle East including Iran, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and others.

Future of Cooperation

• Economic recovery after the pandemic and the building of ties on fresh bases will need to take into account that the pandemic has accelerated many of the trends in the world economy that were at nascent stage earlier.
• These are a shift in favour of clean energy, digitisation and the attendant need for skilled manpower, and the paramount importance of connectivity, both physical, to explore new trade links, and digital, to shape new regional value chains.
• Water conservation can be a new area for cooperation between India and the GCC countries to sustain a better quality of life over the long-term, given that both regions are facing water stress.
• Food security is also a priority concern for all GCC nations, with the countries being particularly anxious about supply disruptions due to market or political volatilities.
• Given India’s huge fruit and vegetable produce and vast quantities that are wasted due to poor storage, the food processing sector has the greatest potential for GCC-India cooperation, especially investments.

Conclusion

• Given the five millennia-old narrative of engagement that has defined India’s links with the Gulf, the pandemic has opened opportunities to reinvent our connections on new bases, as we have been doing over several centuries.
• There will be a clear synergy in India and the GCC countries consolidating their traditional areas of cooperation — energy, trade and investment.
• This will need adopting of an integrated and cohesive approach, backed by institutional support, to develop ties in the diverse areas set out above — renewables, water conservation, food security, digital technology and skills development.

Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

_____________________________________________

Daily Study Plan with Answer Writing Challenge || STREAK FREE INITIATIVE FOR UPSC IAS – by Ravi Ranjan

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) Which of the following African countries fall within the Sahel Region?
Senegal
Mauritania
Cameroon
Egypt
Ethiopia
Kenya

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a. 1, 2,3 4 only
b. 2,4,5,6 only
c. 1,2,3,5 only
d. All of the above

Q2) Which of the following is not located in the state of Sikkim?
Nathu La
Gurudongmar Lake
Mt. Khangchendzonga
Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a. 4 only
b. 2 and 4 only
c. 2, 3 and 4 only
d. None of the above

Q3) Consider the following statements with respect Polar Wandering
It means migration of the magnetic poles over Earth’s surface through geologic time.
True polar wandering represents the shift in the geographical poles relative to Earth’s surface, after accounting for the motion of the tectonic plates.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Identify the pseudo volcanic feature/s from the following.
Salt plug
Meteorite craters
Mud-volcanoes

Select the correct option:
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. All the above

23th Sept 2021

 

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NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN INDIA

NATIONAL PARKS	STATES
Papikonda National Park	Andhra Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi National Park	Andhra Pradesh
Lanjamadugu Wildlife Sanctuary	Andhra Pradesh
Namdapha National Park	Arunachal Pradesh
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary	Arunachal Pradesh
Manas National Park (UNESCO)	Assam
Nameri National Park	Assam
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park	Assam
Kaziranga National Park (UNESCO)	Assam
Dibru Sai Khowa National Park	Assam
Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary	Bihar
Valmild National Park	Bihar
Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary	Bihar
Indravati National Park	Chhattisgarh
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary	Chhattisgarh
Kanger Valley National Park	Chhattisgarh
Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary	Chhattisgarh
Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park	Chhattisgarh
Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary	Chhattisgarh
Bhagwan Mahavir National Park	Goa
Vansda National Park	Gujarat
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary	Gujarat
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary	Gujarat
Marine National Park (First Marine National Park)	Gujarat
Black Buck National Park	Gujarat
Gir Forest National Park	Gujarat
Kalesar National Park	Haryana
Sultanpur National Park	Haryana
Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh
Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh
Inderkilla National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Pin Valley National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Khirganga National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Simbalbara National Park	Himachal Pradesh
Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary	Himachal Pradesh
Salim All National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
Kishtwar National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
Hemis National Park (Largest in Area)	Jammu & Kashmir
Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Dachigam National Park	Jammu & Kashmir
Kara Koram Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary	Jammu & Kashmir
Betla National Park	Jharkhand
Hazaribagh National Park	Jharkhand
Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary	Jharkhand
Nagarhole National Park	Karnataka
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Kudremukh National Park	Karnataka
Bannerghatta National Park	Karnataka
Bandipur National Park	Karnataka
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary	Karnataka
Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary	Kerala
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala
Periyar National Park	Kerala
Silent Valley National Park	Kerala
Eravikulam National Park	Kerala
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala
Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary	Kerala
Anamudi Shola National Park	Kerala
Pampadum Shola National Park	Kerala
Pench National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park (Highest Numbers of Tigers)	Madhya Pradesh
Kanha National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Madhav National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Panna National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Satpura National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Van Vihar National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
National Chambal Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Pachmari Wildlife Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
Phen Wildlife Sanctuary	Madhya Pradesh
Ratapani Tiger Reserve	Madhya Pradesh
Sanjay National Park	Madhya Pradesh
Chandoli National Park	Maharashtra
Gugamal National Park	Maharashtra
Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park	Maharashtra
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Navegaon National Park	Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park	Maharashtra
Dhakna Kolkaz Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Wain Ganga Wildlife Sanctuary	Maharashtra
Keibul Lamjao National Park	Manipur
Yagoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary	Manipur
Nokrek National Park	Meghalaya
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary	Meghalaya
Balphakram National Park	Meghalaya
Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary	Mizoram
Murlen National Park	Mizoram
Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary	Mizoram
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park	Mizoram
Pulebarze Wildlife Sanctuary	Nagaland
Intanki National Park	Nagaland
Simplipal National Park	Orissa
Chilka Wild Life Sanctuary	Orissa
Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary	Orissa
Bhitarkanika National Park	Orissa
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary	Orissa
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary	Orissa
Ranthambore National Park	Rajasthan
Sariska National Park	Rajasthan
First National Park in the world, which was successfully adapted by Royal Bengal Tiger]
Darrah National Park	Rajasthan
Desert National Park	Rajasthan
Keoladeo National Park (UNESCO)	Rajasthan
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Jawaharsagar Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary	Rajasthan
Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary	Sikkim
Khangchendzonga National Park	Sikkim
Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary	Sikkim
Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary	Sikkim
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary	Sikkim
Mukurthi National Park	Tamilnadu
Shenbagathoppu Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary	Tamilnadu
Satyamanglam wild Life Sanctuary	Tamilnadu
Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park	Tamilnadu
Guindy National Park	Tamilnadu
Mudumalai National Park	Tamilnadu
Vettangundi Wildlife Sanctuary	Tamilnadu
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park	Tamilnadu
Mrugavani National Park	Telangana
Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary	Tripura
Bisan (Rajbari) National Park	Tripura
Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary	Tripura
Clouded Leopard National Park	Tripura
Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Dudhwa National Park	Uttar Pradesh
Ranipur Sanctuary	Uttar Pradesh
Rajaji National Park	Uttarakhand
Gangotri National Park	Uttarakhand
Nanda Devi National Park (UNESCO)	Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park (Oldest Park)	Uttarakhand
Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO)	Uttarakhand
Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary	Uttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar	Uttarakhand
Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary	Uttarakhand
Sundarbans National Park	West Bengal
Gorumara National Park	West Bengal
Buxa National Park	West Bengal
Jaldapara National Park	West Bengal
Neora Valley National Park	West Bengal
Singalila National Park	West Bengal
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Saddle Peak National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Middle Button Island National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
South Button Island National Park	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
Mount Harriet National Park	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
North Button Island National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Campbell Bay National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Galathea National Park	Andaman & Nicobar Islands

---

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Context

• Civil Service is vital for the government to function.
• It’s regarded as the ‘steel frame’ of administration in India from colonial days.
• The colonial legacy of civil service continues amidst the fast-changing era of globalization.
• It is therefore, indispensible that civil service reforms are carried out as a part of good governance.
• A reboot and re-orientation of it is needed to ensure effective service delivery.

Civil Services in India: A backgrounder

• Civil Services refer to the career civil servants who are the permanent executive branch of the Republic of India. It is the backbone of the administrative machinery of the country.
• As India is a parliamentary democracy, the ultimate responsibility for running the administration rests with the people’s elected representatives.
• The elected executive decides the policy and it is civil servants, who serve at the pleasure of the President of India, implement it.
• However, Article 311 of the constitution protects Civil Servants from politically motivated vindictive action.

Evolution of Civil Services

Ancient India: Kautilya’s Arthasastra gives seven basic elements of the administrative apparatus- Swamin (the ruler), Amatya (the bureaucracy), Janapada (territory), Durga (the fortified capital), Kosa (the treasury), Danda (the army), and Mitra (the ally). The higher bureaucracy consisted of the mantrins and the amatyas. While the mantrins were the highest advisors to the King, the Amatyas were the civil servants.

Medieval India: During the Mughal era, the bureaucracy was based on the mansabdari system. The mansabdari system was essentially a pool of civil servants available for civil or military deployment.

Colonial India: The big changes in the civil services in British-India came with the implementation of Macaulay’s Report 1835. The report recommended that only the best and brightest would do for the Indian Civil Service to serve the interest of the British Empire.

Post-Independence: Indian civil services system retained the elements of the British structure like a unified administrative system such as an open-entry system based on academic achievements, permanency of tenure.

Post partition: When India was partitioned following the departure of the British in 1941, the Indian Civil Service was divided between the new dominions of India and Pakistan. The Indian remnant of the ICS was named the Indian Administrative Service, while the Pakistani remnant was named the Pakistan Administrative Service.

Classification of Services

• The modern Indian Administrative Service was created under Article 312(2) in part XIV of the Constitution of India, and the All-India Services Act, 1951.
• Constitution has not elaborated the types and categories of services. As per the Constitution, the services are categorized into the followings categories:

1. All India Services (AlS)
2. State Services
3. Local and Municipal Services.
4. There are four groups of central, services Central Services Group A(Indian Foreign Service, Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Indian Statistical Service etc.), B (Central Secretariat Service, Geographical Survey of India, Zoological Survey of India etc.), C & D.
5. The highest personnel strength among the entire civil services system in India is with Central Secretariat Service and Indian Revenue Service (IT and C&CE).

Latest Developments

• The Govt. of India approved the formation of the Indian Skill Development Service in 2015, Indian Enterprise Development Service in 2016.
• Further, the Cabinet of India approved merging all civil services under Indian Railways into a single Indian Railways Management Service as part of structural reform in the sector in 2019.
• Also the lateral entry of professionals in Civil Services has begun.

Our discussion: Civil Service Reform

• Civil Service Reform is a deliberate change effort by the government to improve its capacity to effectively and efficiently execute policies.
• The purpose of ‘reform’ is to reorient the Civil Services into a dynamic, efficient, and accountable apparatus for public service delivery built on the ethos and values of integrity, impartiality, and neutrality.
• The reform is to raise the quality of public services delivered to the citizens and enhance the capacity to carry out core government functions, thereby, leading to sustainable development.

Why need CS reforms?

• Accelerated change globally
• Globalization
• Technological advances
• greater decentralization
• social activism
• Economic Reforms

What are the various bottlenecks of Indian Civil Services?

• Poor capacity building
• Inefficient incentive systems that do not appreciate upright and outstanding civil servants but reward the corrupt and the incompetent
• Outdated rules and procedures that restrict the civil servant from performing effectively
• Systemic inconsistencies empanelment in promotion
• Lack of adequate transparency and accountability procedures
• no safety for whistleblowers
• Arbitrary and whimsical transfers: insecurity in tenures impedes institutionalization
• Political interference and administrative acquiescence
• Dominance of few elite services in promotions, work allocations, and assignments

Structural Issues

Generalist Vs Specialist: Civil Services was designed to deliver certain core functions: Law and Order; Government programs and realizing Governments’ orders. However, changes/Causes/Reasons mentioned above led to change in the role of the state. 

New Challenges: Cyber security, complex business, trade, legal aspects are some of the major emerging threats.

Recent Reforms

(1) Mission Karmayogi

• It is aimed at better services delivery to the public.- “governance, performance, and accountability”. lt promises a shift from rules to roles, silos to coordination, interdisciplinary movements, and a continuous capacity building exercise.
• The focus of the reform is the creation of a ‘citizen-centric civil service’ capable of creating and delivering services conducive to economic growth and public welfare.
• Accordingly, Mission Karmayogi shifts the focus from “Rule-based training to Role-based training”. Greater thrust has been laid on behavioral change.

(2) National Programme for Civil Service Capacity Building:  

• It aims for learning resources from the best institutions and practices from across the world while retaining Indian sensibilities and culture.
• The mid-career training will now be available to all government staff instead of the top officers alone, and their profile and assessment will be continuous.
• If there is a need for some special appointment, then authorities can do so by looking at the profile of the officers with the help of technology instead of depending on perceptions.

Key features of the new Reforms

• ‘Rules based’ to ‘Roles based’ HR Management
•  Aligning work allocation of civil servants by matching their competencies to the requirements of the post.
• To emphasize on ‘on-site learning’ to complement the ‘off-site’ learning.
• To create an ecosystem of shared training infrastructure including that of learning materials, institutions and personnel.
• To calibrate all Civil Service positions to a Framework of Roles, Activities and Competencies (FRACs) approach and to create and deliver learning content relevant to the identified FRACs in every Government entity.
• To make available to all civil servants, an opportunity to continuously build and strengthen their Behavioural, Functional, and Domain Competencies in their self-driven and mandated learning paths.
• To enable all the Central Ministries and Departments and their Organizations to directly invest their resources towards co-creation and sharing the collaborative and common ecosystem of learning through an annual financial subscription for every employee.
• To encourage and partner with the best-in-class learning content creators including public training institutions, universities, start-ups, and individual experts.

Way forward

• Civil Service Reforms should realign the outdated structure and culture of the services and forgo its colonial hangover aiming to raise the quality and sensitivity of services to the citizens that are essential for sustainable economic and social development.
• Rationalization and harmonization of service is the need of the hour.

Conclusion

• Capacity augmentation of Civil Servants plays a vital role in rendering a wide variety of services, implementing welfare programs, and performing core governance functions.
• A transformational change in Civil Service Capacity is proposed to be affected by organically linking the transformation of work culture, strengthening public institutions, and adopting modern technology to build civil service capacity with the overall aim of ensuring efficient delivery of services to citizens.
• The future of the country cannot be progressive without a reformed bureaucracy.

Maintaining consistency is one of the biggest issues faced by IAS Aspirants. Streak’s initiative is to help Aspirants in their day-to-day preparation. You can follow the monthly, weekly, and daily timetables and continue this streak until you find yourself on the final list.

Please register for Streak Initiative (free) through this link:- https://www.civilsdaily.com/course/streak-daily-initiative/

You will get following study material:-

1. Questions (PDF).
2. RSTV/Yojana monthly notes (PDF).
3. Burning issue (PDF).
4. Subject specific (PDF).
5. Mentor’s phone call for support & encouragement.

_____________________________________________

Daily Study Plan with Answer Writing Challenge || STREAK FREE INITIATIVE FOR UPSC IAS – by Ravi Ranjan

UPSC PRELIMS-2021 || Current Affairs Based Most Probable Questions on Geography – by Sukanya Rana

Q1) With respect to India’s Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, consider the following statements:

1. Exclusive Economic Zone is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial waters, and the limit of such zone is two hundred nautical miles from the baseline.
2. Under the law, all foreign ships including warships shall enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial waters of India.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q2) Strait of Kerch connects black sea with which of the following sea?
a. Mediterranean Sea
b. Sea of Azov
c. Aegean Sea
d. Sea of Crete

Q3) Consider the following statements 

1. India is the second-largest producer of wheat in the world. 

2. Some of the important winter crops are wheat, barley, mustard and peas. 

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? 

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Q4) Which of the following statement(s) is/ are correct with respect to Unicorn Blackhole?

1. It is roughly three times the mass of Sun found in milky way galaxy.
2. It is type of stellar mass black hole, which is formed by the gravitational collapse of a single star.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

08th Sept 2021

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1. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 an Act of the Parliament of India to control and prevent air pollution in India
• It was amended in 1987
• The Government passed this Act in 1981 to clean up our air by controlling pollution.
• It states that sources of air pollution such as industry, vehicles, power plants, etc., are not permitted to release particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other toxic substances beyond a prescribed level

Key Features

The Act specifically empowers State Government to designate air pollution areas and to prescribe the type of fuel to be used in these designated areas.

According to this Act, no person can operate certain types of industries including the asbestos, cement, fertilizer and petroleum industries without consent of the State Board.

The main objectives of the Act are as follows:

(a) To provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution

(b) To provide for the establishment of central and State Boards with a view to implement the Act(Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Board)

(c) To confer on the Boards the powers to implement the provisions of the Act and assign to the Boards functions relating to pollution

2.Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986

• Environment Protection Act, 1986 is an Act of the Parliament of India
• In the wake of the Bhopal Tragedy, the Government of India enacted the Environment Protection Act of 1986 under Article 253 of the Constitution
• Passed in March 1986, it came into force on 19 November 1986
• The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for Central Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state authorities established under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air Act.
• In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water, air and land and the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land and human beings and other

Objective of the Act

The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, in so far as they relate to the protection and improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.

3.The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 17 July 2000

The rules are framed under the jurisdiction of Environment (Protection) Act.

Objectives and Key Features

• These Rules set the deadlines for phasing out of various ODSs, besides regulating production, trade import and export of ODSs and the product containing ODS.
• These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs in manufacturing various products beyond 1st January 2003 except in metered dose inhaler and for other medical purposes.
• Similarly, use of halons is prohibited after 1st January 2001 except for essential use.
• Other ODSs such as carbon tetrachloride and methylchoroform and CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used upto 1st January 2010.
• Since HCFCs are used as interim substitute to replace CFC, these are allowed up to 1st January 2040.

4.The Energy Conservation Act of 2001

As a step towards improving energy efficiency, the Government of India has enacted the Energy Conservation Act in 2001.

Objective

The Energy Conservation Act, 2001 is the most important multi-sectoral legislation in India and is intended to promote efficient use of energy in India.

Key Features

The Act specifies energy consumption standards for equipment and appliances, prescribes energy consumption norms and standards for consumers, prescribes energy conservation building codes for commercial buildings and establishes a compliance mechanism for energy consumption norms and standards.

5.Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)

• In order to implement the various provisions of the EC Act, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was operationalised with effect from 1st March, 2002. The EC Act provides a legal framework for energy efficiency initiatives in the country. The Act has mandatory as well as promotional initiatives.
• The Bureau is spearheading the task of improving the energy efficiency in various sectors of the economy through the regulatory and promotional mechanism. The primary objective of BEE is to reduce energy intensity in the Indian economy.
• This is to be demonstrated by providing policy framework as well as through public-private partnership.

6.Forest Conservation Act of 1980

Background

First Forest Act was enacted in 1927.

Alarmed at India’s rapid deforestation and resulting environmental degradation, Centre Government enacted the Forest (Conservation) Act in1980.

Objective

It was enacted to consolidate the law related to forest, the transit of forest produce and the duty livable on timber and other forest produce.

Key Features

• Under the provisions of this Act, prior approval of the Central Government is required for diversion of forestlands for non-forest purposes.
• Forest officers and their staff administer the Forest Act.
• An Advisory Committee constituted under the Act advises the Centre on these approvals.
• The Act deals with the four categories of the forests, namely reserved forests, village forests, protected forests and private forests.

7.The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

Background

During the Rio de Janeiro summit of United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June 1992, India vowed the participating states to provide judicial and administrative remedies for the victims of the pollutants and other environmental damage.

Key Features

It was enacted under India’s constitutional provision of Article 21, which assures the citizens of India the right to a healthy environment.

The specialized architecture of the NGT will facilitate fast track resolution of environmental cases and provide a boost to the implementation of many sustainable development measures.

NGT is mandated to dispose the cases within six months of their respective appeals.

Enabling Provision

It is an Act of the Parliament of India which enable the creation of NGT to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues.

Members

The sanctioned strength of the tribunal is currently 10 expert members and 10 judicial members although the act allows for up to 20 of each.

The Chairman of the tribunal who is the administrative head of the tribunal also serves as a judicial member.

Every bench of the tribunal must consist of at least one expert member and one judicial member.

The Chairman of the tribunal is required to be a serving or retired Chief Justice of a High Court or a judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Jurisdiction

The Tribunal has Original Jurisdiction on matters of “substantial question relating to environment” (i.e. a community at large is affected, damage to public health at broader level) & “damage to environment due to specific activity” (such as pollution).

The term “substantial” is not clearly defined in the act.

8.The Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications

Background

The coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and back waters which are influenced by tidal action are declared “Coastal Regulation Zone” (CRZ) in 1991.

CRZ notifications

India has created institutional mechanisms such as National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) and State Coastal Zone Management Authority (SCZMA) for enforcement and monitoring of the CRZ Notification.

These authorities have been delegated powers under Section 5 of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 to take various measures for protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in coastal areas.

Key Features

Under this coastal areas have been classified as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3, CRZ-4. And the same they retained for CRZ in 2003 notifications as well.

CRZ-1: these are ecologically sensitive areas these are essential in maintaining the ecosystem of the coast. They lie between low and high tide line. Exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt are permitted

CRZ-2: these areas form up to the shoreline of the coast. Unauthorised structures are not allowed to construct in this zone.

CRZ-3: rural and urban localities which fall outside the 1 and 2. Only certain activities related to agriculture even some public facilities are allowed in this zone

CRZ-4: this lies in the aquatic area up to territorial limits. Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this zone. Solid waste should be let off in this zone.

9.Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Background

In 1972, Parliament enacted the Wild Life Act (Protection) Act.

Objective

The Wild Life Act provides for

1. state wildlife advisory boards,
2. regulations for hunting wild animals and birds,
3. establishment of sanctuaries and national parks, tiger reserves
4. regulations for trade in wild animals, animal products and trophies, and
5. judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act.

Key Features

• Harming endangered species listed in Schedule 1 of the Act is prohibited throughout India.
• Hunting species, like those requiring special protection (Schedule II), big game (Schedule III), and small game (Schedule IV), is regulated through licensing.
• A few species classified as vermin (Schedule V), may be hunted without restrictions.
• Wildlife wardens and their staff administer the act.
• An amendment to the Act in 1982, introduced a provision permitting the capture and transportation of wild animals for the scientific management of animal population.

10.Biological Diversity Act, 2002

Background

The Biological Diversity Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2000 and was passed in 2002.

Objective:

India’s richness in biological resources and indigenous knowledge relating to them is well recognized

The legislation aims at regulating access to biological resources so as to ensure equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use

Key Features

• The main intent of this legislation is to protect India’s rich biodiversity and associated knowledge against their use by foreign individuals and organizations without sharing the benefits arising out of such use, and to check biopiracy.
• This bill seeks to check biopiracy, protect biological diversity and local growers through a three-tier structure of central and state boards and local committees.
• The Act provides for setting up of a National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) in local bodies. The NBA will enjoy the power of a civil court.
• BMCs promote conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biodiversity.
• NBA and SBB are required to consult BMCs in decisions relating to use of biological resources.
• All foreign nationals or organizations require prior approval of NBA for obtaining biological resources and associated knowledge for any use.
• Indian individuals/entities require approval of NBA for transferring results of research with respect to any biological resources to foreign nationals/organizations.

11.Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999

Objective

A rule notified in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (viii) of Sub Section (2) of Section 3 read with Section 25 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) with the objective to regulate the manufacture and use of recycled plastics, carry bags and containers;

Key Features

1. Thickness of the carry bags made of virgin plastics or recycled plastics shall not be less than 20 microns.
2. Carry bags and containers made of virgin plastic shall be in natural shade or white.
3. Carry bags and containers made of recycled plastic and used for purposes other than storing and packaging food stuffs shall be manufactured using pigments and colorants as per IS:9833:1981 entitled “List of Pigments and Colorants” for use in Plastics in contact with food stuffs, pharmaceuticals and drinking water.
4. Recycling of plastics shall be under taken strictly in accordance with the Bureau of Indian Standards specifications IS:14534:1988 entitled “The Guidelines for Recycling of Plastics”.

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