Archives


(PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS)


Karnataka’s ASER report

Part of: Prelims and GS – II – Education 

Context The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), which was drawn up in March 2021 in only Karnataka this year, found a huge drop in learning levels in both reading and numeracy, especially for primary classes. 

Major findings of the report

What is ASER? 


Indian PM to attend BRICS, SCO, Quad meets in September

Part of: Prelims and GS – II – International Relations 

Context  Indian Prime Minister shall be attending important meetings of BRICS, SCO and Quad this September. 

BRICS SCO QUAD
Full form Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation  Quadrilateral Security Dialogue 
Countries Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa  China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan Uzbekistan  USA, Japan, Australia and India 
Location/Headquarter  Shanghai, China Chaoyang District, Beijing 
Mandate/Aims/Objectives  It seeks to deepen, broaden and intensify cooperation within the grouping and among the individual countries for more sustainable, equitable and mutually beneficial development. It was established as a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation The main aim is to enable a regional security architecture for the maintenance of a rules- based order. It seeks to contain a ‘rising China’ and work against its predatory trade and economic policies

Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyan organised under POSHAN Maah

Part of: Prelims and GS – II – Health; Policies and interventions 

Context Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyaan (nutrition awareness campaign) programmes were recently organised by the Union Ministry for Women and Child Development and Union Ministry for Minority Affairs for women from minority communities. 

About POSHAN Abhiyaan

About POSHAN Maah 2021

Initiatives to ensure good health and well-being of girls and women:


GST Appellate Tribunal

Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III –  Economy 

Context The Supreme Court has warned that the government has no option but to constitute the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Appellate Tribunal.

What is GST Appellate Tribunal?

Constitution of the GST Appellate Tribunal

What is the Goods and Services Tax (GST)? 


IUCN updates the Red list of species

Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III –  Environment 

Context International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has updated the Red list of species at the World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France held on September 4, 2021.

Key updates:

About IUCN Red List of Threatened Species


e-ILP platform launched in Manipur

Part of: GS Prelims and GS- III –  Security 

Context Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh recently launched electronic Inner Line Permit (ILP) counters 

Key takeaways 

What is Inner Line Permit system?


(News from PIB)


President of India Presents Colour to Indian Naval Aviation

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Defence

In News: The President of India presented Colour to Indian Naval Aviation, a recognition of its exceptional service rendered to the Nation, in peace and war.

About Presidents colour:

About Indian Naval Aviation:

Recent strides by Indian Naval Aviation

News Source: PIB


AUSINDEX

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III- Security

In News: Indian Navy Task Group is participating in the 4th edition of AUSINDEX by Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

About AUSINDEX

News Source: PIB


Unlocking Huge Potential of Mineral Exploration

Part of: GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy

In News: The Geological Survey of India has delineated 100 geologically potential mineral blocks for auction. 

The MMDR Amendment Act, 2021

News Source: PIB


(Mains Focus)


INTERNATIONAL/ SECURITY

Foreign Policy Doctrine of Biden

Context: The Afghanistan war has formally ended. Its end has led to a new foreign policy doctrine for the US. In his recent speech US President Biden laid out the principal components of the doctrine.

What are the criticisms of Biden Afghan Policy?

What are the key Components of the new Doctrine?

How is the doctrine different from that of previous President Donal Trump?

Connecting the dots:


ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE

Analysis of Q1 Growth Data

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released the GDP (gross domestic product) and GVA (gross value added) data for the first quarter of the Financial Year 2021-22.

Engines of Demand 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) 17,83,905 18,89,008 20,24,421 14,94,524 17,83,611
Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) 3,63,763 3,93,709 3,92,585 4,42,618 4,21,471
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) 9,89,620 10,82,670 12,33,178 6,58,465 10,22,335
Net Exports —1,44,175 — 1,22,238 — 1,70,515 34,071 — 62084

 

Total GDP* (an L-shaped recovery) 31,62,537 33,59,162 35,66,708 26,95,421 32,38,020
GDP for a V-shaped recovery 31,62,537 33,59,162 35,66,708 26,95,421 40,07,553

Table 1: GDP (at 2011-12 Prices) in Q1 (April-June) of 2021-22 falls back to levels last seen in 2018 (In Rs Crore) 

Analysis of the government Claim

The story is equally worrisome when one looks at the GVA data.

Industry 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing 4,04,433 4,27,177 4,49,390 4,65,280 4,86,292
Mining & Quarrying 95,928 88,634 82,914 68,680 81,444
Manufacturing 5,03,682 5,61,875 5,67,516 3,63,448 5,43,821
Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services 67,876 74,998 79,654 71,800 82,042
Construction 2,42,588 2,49,913 2,60,099 1,31,439 2,21,256
Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services related to Broadcasting 5,63,038 6,09,330 6,64,311 3,45,099 4,63,525
Financial, Real Estate & Professional Services 7,28,068 7,57,850 8,02,241 7,61,791 7,89,929
Public Administration, Defence & Other Services* 3,57,203 3,87,589 3,99,148 3,58,373 3,79,205
Total GVA

(L-shaped Recovery)

29,62,815 31,57,366 33,05,273 25,65,909 30,47,516
GVA for a V-shaped recovery 29,62,815 31,57,366 33,05,273 25,65,909 36,44,063

Table 2: GVA (at 2011-12 Prices) in Q1 of 2021-22 (in Rs Crore) 

What is the point of this analysis?

Connecting the dots:


(AIR Spotlight)


Spotlight Sep 6: Discussion on Initiatives for Doubling the Farmer’s Income.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBE2ia0YifY

AGRICULTURE/ GOVERNANCE

Initiatives for Doubling the Farmer’s Income

Context: Huge distress has hit the Agricultural sector due to environmental impacts, policy paralysis, debt trap etc. has led to large amount of farmer suicides across the country particularly in the Deccan plateau. 

Brief Background

Issues

Doubling Farmer’s Income by 2022

The vision of doubling agricultural income can’t be achieved only through farm activities. It requires an integrated approach that clubs livestock rearing, other non-farm activities and the cooperative model into the income package of farmers.

Doubling farmers’ incomes include three themes:

A. Enabling digital financing and insurance payouts by facilitating consolidated information, credit scoring models, and yield forecasting models using satellite and weather data. Example: Digital applications are making crop insurance system faster and more accurate.

B. Introducing precision agriculture using data analytics, with an integrated agricultural data platform across all existing and new data sources (such as the 158.7 million Soil Health Cards dispatched). Based on pilots, this initiative could raise farm productivity by 15 to 20 percent. Example: Real-time agricultural data can help to increase yields and decrease costs.

C. Implementing online agricultural marketplaceslinked to a unified, nationwide market with a set of institutional market facilitators and common assaying and grading standards. Such e-marketplaces could cover 40 to 60 percent of agricultural produce sold in India, leading to 15 percent farmers’ price gains, as demonstrated by pilots. 

Together, these changes could add $50 billion to $70 billion of economic value in 2025. 

Example: Technology is bringing transparency to India’s agricultural markets

The Way Forward

Must Read: 

Can you answer these questions now?

  1. How feasible is the target to achieve the motive of doubling farmer’s income by 2022? Discuss.
  2. What are the steps that the government has taken in the last few years towards this objective?

(TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE)


Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section)

Note:

Q.1 The world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon is endemic to Which of the following countries? 

  1. India 
  2. Bhutan 
  3. Indonesia 
  4. Australia 

Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Inner Line Permit:

  1. Any person is entitled to renew his permit every one year if he is not a native in these states despite the fact that he/she is a long-term resident.
  2. It also regulates the movement to certain areas located near the international borders of India.
  3. It is issued by Ministry of Home Affairs 

Select the correct statements:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 and 3 only 
  4. 1, 2 and 3  

Q.3 Consider the following statements on President’s Color

  1. The President’s Colour is the highest honour bestowed on a military unit in recognition of its exceptional service to the nation. 
  2. The Indian Air Force was the first amongst the Indian Armed Forces to be awarded the President’s Colour on 27 May 1951 by Dr Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India. 

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

  1. 1 Only 
  2. 2 Only
  3. Both 1 and 2 
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWERS FOR 6th Sept 2021 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK)

1 D
2 A
3 B

Must Read

On Federalism and Consultations:

The Hindu

On Taliban and China:

The Hindu

On India’s Digital Infrastructure:

Livemint

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