Challenge day 6 - 15/11/2018

Days remaining 199


Today's Target
- The hindu Coverage
- The Insights CA Coverage
- The Insights Quiz Coverage
- Revise Test 19 solutions and make notes(Not able to do it yesterday)
- Food Processing industries and Inclusive growth and Mains Questions (2013-2018)
- Completing Insights Test 3 course which I have left



Hindu Short notes

Headline Inflation and core inflation 

- Read at mrunal

Cabinet committee on parliamentary affairs

- recommended convening of the winter session from dec. 11

- Mains bills to be taken up - triple talk bill. Indian medical council amendment ordinance and company amendment ordinance

10th anniversary of deadly Mumbai terror attack coming

Protecting the tiger’s habitat

- Recent killing of tiger Avni by Maharastra state forest department because she has eaten 6 people, NTCA commissioned an independent team of wildlife experts investigate the killing.

- Tiger human conflict - India has 50 tiger reserves but with forest areas continuously spilling into hamlets there have several instances of tiger preying onto cattle, livestock and sometimes people. In Up recently after Avni;’s death villagers crushed tiger to death.

- How are the conservation efforts

   — decreasing tiger habitat but some reserves are pampered on the cost of others

  —In recent WWF study, 8 tiger sanctuaries in india can easily support four times of its current population

  —futile efforts to conserve single individual instead of species as a whole

  — efforts to decrease human-animal conflict

Setting a proper diet plan to tackle Malnutrition, stunted growth and anaemia

- Context - Recently released Global hunger index 2018, india ranked 103 out of 119 countries + 3 girls died of malnutrition in July in NCT + High child undernourishment - NHFS survey -2016 - Stunted children under 5 around 33% more than 22% global average, undereight children 35% higher than 13.5 global avg., 55 million stunted, 49 million underweight and 29 million wasted(low weight for height)

- challenges - impacts early childhood health and increase disease burden as well as affects education wages and productivity + Problems faced by Low income and empowered action group states to curb malnutrition + state govt of rich states with good growth and investment neglecting the basic minimum nutrition and poor states like Odisha has better network of Intergrated child development scheme, public health facility and women participation in workforce and education. + tribal and rural population with low awareness level also bad for nutrition of child

- Solution  - link agricultureure and nutrition but malnutrition is high in Agriculture surplus regions  + Food Intake index shows us that diversity in food intake  malnutrition status declines 

- way forward - Ned of inclusive and holistic approach + controlling and regulating food prices + strengthghthening PDS + Income support policies + make universal availability of ICDS for nutrition intervention and broadening it for food diversity intake + NNM to reduce maternal and child malnutrition is a welcome step to achieve the target of reducing stunted children from 38% to 25% and underweight children from 35% to 20% by 2022

Bhumisparsha mudra - lord Buddha(Ancient History)

 Laddakh Autonomous hill Development council (Amendment) Act, 2018

Challenge Day 5 - 14/11/2018

Days remaining 200


Today's Target
- The hindu Coverage
- The Insights CA Coverage
- The Insights Quiz Coverage
- Revise Test 19 solutions and make notes(Not able to do it yesterday)
- Food Processing industries and Inclusive growth and Mains Questions (2013-2018)
- Completing Insights Test 2 course which I have left



Hindu Short notes

A reality check on cooperative federalism

- 1974 - SC commented that constitution envisages cooperative federalism structure

- In relation to the article 356 - president’s rule, federalism is far more mature

- In 1994 - Sr Bombai vs UOI, SC placed limitations on Article 356 but centre continues to yield superior legislative powers including residuary and legislative precedence

- What is ideal cooperative federalism

    — Recent ruling of govt of NCT Vs UOI(Lieutinent governor) - tilted the balance of executive power in favour of Govt of NCT

    — Taxation power - In GST states forgone some taxation powers but have power to levy taxes through panchayats and municipalities so in an anamolous situation of a transition being taxed under GST and  local local law is yet to be tested in court

   — centre-state relationship - sharing of taxes : southern states vocal about false positives and negatives from tax sharing and this subject is largely to the recommendations of FC and action by parliament But under article 269A(1) GST council has the power to make recommendations in relation to sharing of taxes from inter-state trade. But article 270(1A) and 270(2)provides that taxes levied under get will be shared in a manner prescribed under article 270(2) which takes us to FC.

  

QUAD - still face to define a common agenda

— India, Australia, Japan and US

— Recent meeting in Singapore, to define common agenda

— quad + 4 democracies + shared objective of free, open and prosperous Indo-pacific

— Expected to discuss infra projects that working on and building humanitarian disaster response mechanism + regional developmemts(like Maldives elections)

—  talk being held in sidelines of last Asia summit, RCEP and Asean-india informal summit

— Remains a mechanism without any defined strategic mission

Ishvaku dynasty - Ayodhya 

Ease of doing agri-business index

— will rank the states on the basis of marketing, land and governance reforms + investment in agriculture +increased productivity + reduction in input cost + risk mitigation measures

- states will get funding from agriculture ministry flagship schemes on the basis of that

- Agriculture marketing and farm friendly reform index - already brought in by NITI Ayog

Chief wildlife warden

Dudhwa tiger reserve

PM fasal bima yojana

-  84 lakhs farmers witherw from scheme

Central Civil services rules

- http://www.referencer.in/CS_Regulations/CCS(Conduct)Rules1964/Default.aspx

- rule 6

- recently a government employee association asked to participate in social services by RSS which was previously banned

Naga Peace accord

Nagaland peace accord is the accord signed in August 2015 by the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) to end the insurgency


PIB 
Poshan Abhiyan

- e-Ila(incremental learning approach technology to support the field functionaries to improve their knowledge and skills n an ongoing incremental manner)

BhoomiRashi Portal

- Land Acquisition process in road and highway sector

- Total digital and paper-less processing of land acquisition cases, and transparent, quick, corruption free and error free handling of cases + rap time tracking of activities and generation of report relating to land acquisition

Know India Programe

- Flagship programme for engamgement with Indian Origin Youth(18-30 years)

- Awareness about india + its cultural heritage + art + various aspects of contemporary india.

Mission Sambhav

- Pit digging Activities for ODF free country

Wholesale Price Index

Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme

- NCDC

- To attract youth to cooperative business ventures

- 1000 cr Fund I.e. cooperative startup and innovation fund created by NCDC

- Would have more incentives for Cooperatives of NE region, Aspirational districts and cooperatives with women or Sc/st or PWD

NCDC another initiative shahkar 22 to DFI.

GSLV MKIII D2 launches GSAT 29

- GSLV MKIII is a three stage heavy lift launch vehicle by ISRO

- 2 massive boosters with solid propellent is 1st stage + core with liquid propellent is 2nd stage + cryogenic engine is 3rd stage

-  GSAT 29 - Multiband, Multi Beam communication satellite. To fulfil Communication requirement of users from remote areas especially from J&K and NE Region.

- Q/V band communication - high throughput satellite  system technologies, Geo high resolution camera and optical communication payload high data transmission speed.

Army Joint Exercises

SIMBEX

- 25th edition, Bilateral naval Exercise b/w Singapore and India

- Port Blair

- Last year two countries signed a naval agreement for mutual logistical support and gives India access to change naval base

Samudra Shakti

- Naval Exercise between Indian and Indonesia 

- strengthen bilateral relations, enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability, exchange best practices

- strategic partnership enhanced to comprehensive strategic partnership

Indo Russian Joint military exercise

- INDRA 2018

- To combat insurgencies under the aegis of UN

Dharma Guardian
- Between India and Japan
- fostering military and diplomatic ties between two countries

Challenge day 4 - 13/11/2018

Days remaining 201


Today's Target
- The hindu Coverage
- The Insights CA Coverage
- The Insights Quiz Coverage
- Revise Test 19 solutions and make notes(Not able to do it yesterday)
- Food Processing industries and Inclusive growth and Mains Questions (2013-2018)
- Completing Insights Test 2 course which I have left



Hindu Short notes

Raibenshe - A folk Martial Art from Bengal

Chaau Dance, Puppetry from Nadia, Graphic Novels to create awareness about folk arts

RBI and NBFCs

- RBI unlikely to provide any special support but it will continue to provide funds to banking system as liquidity deficit in the system

- Liquidity crunch not for better rated NBFCs but mid and small sized and low rated NBFCs

- NBFCs refinancing can be from RBI, SIDBI and NHB, and can also sell loan to banks

- NHB can refinance only to eligible institutions, Housing Loan NBFCs

- Commercial Papers - Unsecured loans raised by firms in money market through instument issues in the form of promissory notes +  Matuiryt is b/w 7 days and 1 years +  Good only for better rated enterprises

Defence Acquisition council 

- to counter corruption and speed top decision making in military procurements

- how it will counter corruption - A mix of bureaucrats and army personnels

- functions - provide policy guidelines to acquisition, based on long term procurement plan + to Clear all aquisitions including import, indegenous or under foreign license 

- to monitor acquisition process - DAC will preside over 3 wings

   — Defence procurement board - deals with purchases

   — defence production board - procurement indegenous or foreign licence

   — defence reaserch and development board

Armistice day

- End of world war 1

National Green Tribunal

- estd.under national green tribunal act

- effective and expediteditious disposal of cases relating to environment protection and conservation of forest and other natural resources 

Jakkur lakes, Nandi Hills, Bannerghatta park, Lalbagh

- spotted billed duck, garganey duck, pintail duck, sandpipers, black winged stilts, heron and egrets



PIB

Indian Wind turbine certification scheme

-  consolidation relevant and International standards + technical regulation and requirements issued by central electricity authority + guidelines issue by MNRE

Hunar Haat

- encouragedge and promote rich traditional heritage of marginalised master artisans

- Providing national and international markets to traditional goods

- employment opportunities to master artisans

LEAP and ARPIT Programme for senior faculties of higher educational institutions

- Leap - 3week programme, to prepare second tier actdemic heads into potential leaders

- ARPIT is potential development of faculties through MOOCs like SWAYAM portal

Indo Russian Joint military exercise

- INDRA 2018

- To combat insurgencies under the aegis of UN

PM-STIAC

- PM science, technology and innovation advisory council

Vigilance awareness week in Indian army

- http://cvc.gov.in/sites/default/files/VAW2018_1.pdf

Insights Quiz Score - (2/5), difficulty - medium

Link - http://www.insightsonindia.com/2018/11/13/quiz-2017-insights-current-affairs-quiz-13-november-2018/


Important Article

InsightsOnIndia Secure Mains 2019 Questions - 12/11/2018

Questions To Do / Prospective Questions




Question 1
Discuss the objectives and achievements of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme in India.(250 words)

Question 2
In the current volatile global geostrategic framework, India and Japan seem to find a unique congruence of views. Examine.(250 words)

Question 3
Livestock sector in India has an important role to play in enhancing the level of inclusive growth in the country. Discuss.(250 words)

Question 4
The Food Processing Industry in India suffers from long and fragmented supply chain. Can contract farming provide plausible solution to this problem? Discuss.(250 words)

Question 5
“The distinction of a good person is to take pleasure in moral action. In other words, human flourishing occurs when a person is concurrently doing what he ought to do and doing what he wants to do.” Do you agree. Comment.(250 words)

How to Approach Mains Questions? Part-3

Question
Debate the issue of whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste.

What is Caste
What are the problems associated with castes
Contemporary movements and Dalit Identity
Annihilation of caste

Question
“Caste system is assuming new identities and associational forms. Hence, caste system cannot be eradicated in India.” Comment.

Answer
Caste System is a unique feature of Indian society in which people are hierarchically arranges in a social structure based on purity of it.

Caste system is the main source of oppression of downtrodden in our country even after many initiative by government of India. 

From past to the contemporary world, there are many changes associated with caste system including - 
- Inter-caste marriages
- Improvement in position of lower caste by government initiative
- challenges to orthodoxy

But with the increasing in awareness among the backward classes, specially youth, and benefits that representation of oppressed classes shown in panchayats, state and centre election brought up a new identity of dalit.

The new identity and its associational forms is resulting into the perpetuity of the caste system.

Why is that?
- Caste based and specially Dalit based politics is taking shape in country
- Reservation policy and demand of reservation by other backward classes
- Collective mobilisation of Dalits against other castes


Way forward
- In order for the annihilation of caste in India, caste based politics should be eliminated immediately. The Intercaste marriages should be promoted by the government and the reservation should be given on the basic of economic condition rather than caste. 

Challenge day 3 - 12/11/2018

Days remaining 202


Today's Target
- The hindu Coverage
- The Insights CA Coverage
- The Insights Quiz Coverage
- Revise Test 19 solutions and make notes(Not able to do it yesterday)
- Cover Salient Features Of Indian Society and Mains Questions on Topic (2013-2018)
- Completing Insights Test 2 course which I have left

Hindu Short notes

Global Wealth Report, 2018

- Credit Suisse, India is getting richer but high inequality

- GINI cofficient - 0 denote Total equality, 100 denotes Total Ineuqality

Ease of Doing Business - India’s Leap

- By World Bank

-  India is one of the greatest improvers, Rank 77th from 100th last year

- WB - India is better to do business than Other Brics  and west asian nations

 - Reasons for improvement - Mainly from two business Indicators + securing construction permits and Trading across borders + Small Improvement in starting a business and getting credit 

- Where Need for Improvement - Dismal on Registering Property + Paying Taxes + enforcing contracts

Central Board of Directors - RBI

- Consist of Official from RBI and GOI + Official nominated by GOI

- General superintendence and direction of the affair and business of RBI entrusted to central board, exercise all powers and does all acts exercised by RBI, Recommend design, form and material of bank notes to Govt.

- Composition - Official Directors(Governors + Upto 4 DG) + Non-official directors(Upto 10 from various fields) + Govt. officials(2) + One director from each of 4 local boards of RBI.

Term - Governors + DG - 5years, 10 Directors - 4 years + Govt Officials - uptill govt sees fit.

Qualifications - Director can not be salaried Govt Official + Lunatic or Unsound Mind + officer or employeeof any bank + be adjudicated as insolvent or have suspended payments to creditors

Meeting - at least 6 times a year and at least once each quarter + meeting can be called if min. Of 4 directors tell governor to call meeting + if governor absent, deputy governor assigned by him will vote and preside over meeting

Recent News - Section 7, in which govt. supersedes Board and issue directions in public interest

SIMBEX

- 25th edition, Bilateral naval Exercise b/w Singapore and India

- Port Blair

- Last year two countries signed a naval agreement for mutual logistical support and gives India access to change naval base

EC warns parties on criminal cases(Reforms in politics)

- SC has made it mandatory for the candidates and their parties to publish and broadcast details of the cases against them at least three times ahead of elections, also required to upload details on website

- If anyone failed to broadcast details or provided false details will be charged with contempt of court and section 171(g) of IPC

Laser interferometerr gravitional wave observatory (LIGO)

- These waves are ripples in fabric of space-time + arise from merger of black holes + long pursuit for physics

Cyclone “Gaja”

Konark temple - World Heritage Site

-  ASI protected, Bhuvneshwar

- 13th century, by king langula narsingha deva 

Mullayangiri Hill Range

-  Chikmanglur , Karnataka

Burial urn of Megalithic era unearthed in Kerela

GSAT-29

- 3500 kg communication sattelite, high quality internet services

- lifespan of 10 years

- will provide augment digital communication in remote village rescue centre

- GSLV MKIII - D2 - is the second flight of the heavy lift vehicle carrying satellite,  success will regularise the launch vehicle services and ease dependence on foreign service providers

HySIS - a new variant of earth observatory sateite 

Bannerghatta National Park, Kalkere range

National Green Tribunal

PIB

IIP and CPI

- Both by CSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

-  CPI Data Collection. - Urban - NSSO Official Survey and data entered into portal, Rural - NSSO Offical and Postal Data + Only 1200 Villages

- IIP Data Collection - DIPP, Indian Bureau of Mines, iron and steel joint committee, chemical and petrochemical department, textile commissioner, Vanaspati direcorate,Jute Commissioner, petroleum ministry Etc. Total Items - 682

- Components 

  -- CPI - Food, Beverges and tobacco > Misc. health, Edu and Recreation >Housing > Fuel,Light > Clothing, bedding, footwear

  -- IIP - Manufacturing > Mining > Electricity, IIP 8 core industries - coal, fertiliser, electricity, crude oil, natural gas, refinery product, steel, and cement

Source - https://mrunal.org/2014/08/explained-wpi-cpi-iip-index-component-core-inflation-headline-inflation-laspeyre.html

Two Day Global Cooling Innovation summit Inaugurated in New Delhi

- Internation competetion, development of residential cooling tech 5X less climate impact than standard room air-condition 

- Prize supported by mission innovation, DST, GOI

India-morroco signed agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters

- strengthen cooperation and enhance effectiveness,  and provide broad legal framework for prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes.

- Reduce terror financing

10th anniversary of Indian Ocean naval symposium

- theme - SAGAR(Security and growth for all in the region)

Samudra Shakti

- Naval Exercise between Indian and Indonesia 

- strengthen bilateral relations, enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability, exchange best practices

- strategic partnership enhanced to comprehensive strategic partnership

Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd Signed mou with Abu Dhabi national oil company

- to explore the possibility of storing ADNOC crude oil at ISPRL underground oil storage facility in Padur, Karnataka.

- ISPRL has already built 5.33 million tonnes of underground storage capacity at three locations - Visakhapatnam (1.33 million tonnes), Mangalore (1.5 million tonnes) and Padur (2.5 million tonnes), that can meet around 9.5 days of the country’s oil needs as per consumption data of last financial year. The government of India, in June 2018,announced the creation of two new reserves, a 4 million tonnes storage facility at Chandikhol in the eastern state of Odisha and an additional 2.5 million-tonne facility at Padur. 

Insights Daily Quiz Score (4/5) 

Toughness - Medium

Link - http://www.insightsonindia.com/2018/11/12/quiz-2017-insights-current-affairs-quiz-12-november-2018/