Current affairs July (1st -6th)2019
1st July, 2019
TOPIC- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Ans:
Context
In last decades, India has developed its closeness with USA, and started to partake in Indo-Pacific Affairs actively. For example – Malabar Exercises, ASEAN outreach etc. Recently USA’s National Security Strategy has highlighted the importance of India as being key ally and partner of USA in its endeavour in Indo-Pacific. In this backdrop it is being argued that India’s primary concern is Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and not Indo-Pacific.
Significance of Indian Ocean Region for India
Why should India focus upon Indian Ocean Region?
Way forward
Reference: Indian Express
https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/indian-ocean-region-a-pivot-for-indias-growth/
Ans:
Introduction
Policy reforms in the farm sector have not yielded the anticipated outcomes. Agriculture being a state subject, the central government formulates policy guidelines, advises, and allocates funds. However, the onus of proper implementation of farm and market reforms lies with state governments. In this context, some experts have argued that cooperation between the Centre and the states is a sine qua non for the expeditious implementation of reforms in the agriculture sector.
Is cooperation between the centre and the states necessary for agricultural reforms?
Conclusion
In view of above points, it is proper to say that cooperation between the Centre and the states is a sine qua non for the expeditious implementation of reforms in the agriculture sector. It is time we worked towards creating a truly cooperative and federal entity like America’s NASDA for the quick implementation of reforms in India’s agriculture sector.
Reference: mint
2nd July, 2019
TOPIC- Union and State Legislatures (structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges; issues therein). Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act
Ans:
Introduction
The idea of holding elections simultaneously is once again in news after it got a push from Prime Minister recently. While a group of constitutional experts have supported the idea, some others have opposed it saying it exposes the subversion of democracy.
Does the idea of ONOP expose the subversion of democracy?
Conclusion
In view of above points, it only seems that such a measure would only expose the subversion of democracy. A focused group of constitutional experts, think tanks, government officials and representatives of political parties should be formed to work out appropriate implementation related details.
Reference: The Hindu
TOPIC: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
Ans:
What is digital non-alignment?
Global digital offerings would increasingly organise, and split, around the two global digital poles of US and China. They are also becoming more integrated right from computing chips, network equipment and user devices to software, applications and AI. Every other country will have to choose between the two digital superpowers as its primary digital supplier, and get increasingly locked into it.
In this context, digital non-alignment implies deliberate economic and political investments to avoid getting too closely hooked to either of the digital superpower’s digital products and services. Its technical, policy-legal and business model complement is to establish open digital value chains.
What should India do to aim for digital non-alignment?
Conclusion
But it will require a clear and strong-willed nationwide vision and effort. Not just a data protection law here and an e-commerce policy there, and multiple varied perspectives arising from finance, commerce, industry, IT, and security establishments. A single anchor in the government, and a document, with a strategic digital vision, has to be created first. We must also remain prepared to face much resistance, and even setbacks.
Reference: Hindustan Times
3rd July, 2019
TOPIC: Economic Geography.
Ans:
Introduction
India has a lot of potential for discovery of minerals as the continental landmass and its offshore consists of several crustal elements going back ages. India is blessed with ample resources of a number of minerals and has the geological environment for many others, but currently mining accounts only for around 2% of GDP.
Issues
The Way Forward
Reference: Financial Express
TOPIC: Important aspects of governance, changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
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Introduction
The MSME sector contributes 30% to GDP; India is aiming to increase this share to 50% of GDP. MSMEs are vital in generating employment, output and exports, as this sector contributes one-third to India’s manufacturing output and 45% to exports. According to a recent CII survey, MSMEs are the second-largest employment generator after agriculture.
How can we strengthen this sector?
Conclusion
Although MSMEs are the backbone of the economy, they suffer from access to finance, apart from low scale, technology, branding, competition, etc. We must strictly adhere to the recent recommendations of the RBI that were released recently to improve the functioning of this sector. A lot more needs to be done to improve accountability, transparency and efficiency in lending as the sector seems to suffer a lot due to lack of adequate funds.
Reference: Financial Express
4th July, 2019
TOPIC: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;
Ans:
PM-Kisan is a necessary state response to assuage agrarian unrest. The scheme’s original objective, to “supplement financial needs” of the country’s Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) and to “augment” farm incomes, has now been broadened to include all categories of agricultural landowners. This expansion would benefit an additional 10% of rural landed households.
Shortcomings
Conclusion
For the scheme to be effective, PM-Kisan needs to be uniformly implemented across regions. However, one needs to be mindful that it is not a fix for larger structural issues. Cash transfers will cease to be effective if the state withdraws from its other long-term budgetary commitments in agricultural markets and areas of infrastructure such as irrigation.
Reference: The Hindu
Ans:
Introduction
The deaths of 154 children in Bihar due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) have laid bare the precarious capacity of the State’s healthcare apparatus to handle outbreaks. As promises of bolstering the health infrastructure are being made, we cannot ignore the dismal state of healthcare in villages of our country.
What ails the healthcare system in villages?
The Way Forward
Reference: The Tribune
5th July, 2019
TOPIC: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes
Ans:
Introduction
As per the 2018 World Economic Forum report, India’s ranking slipped in terms of gender gaps in economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.While many important ongoing initiatives like Ujjwala, Mudra loans, Swacchh Bharat Mission etc. that have benefited women in recent years, no prominent new steps emerge.
What remains unaddressed?
Conclusion
If India is to decidedly transform the gender equation, women’s issues will need to form a core part of the national policy agenda and an explicit, bold campaign should be formulated and launched at the scale of recent successful initiatives such as Swachh Bharat. In order to make this initiative a much needed success some bold and important steps need to be taken in this direction.
Reference: Hindustan Times
TOPIC: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Ans:
Introduction
The government recently cleared a Bill to prohibit commercial surrogacy in India, allowing only altruistic, ethical surrogacy to the needy infertile married Indian couples, including NRIs. The Bill lists conditions requiring couples seeking surrogacy service to have been married for five years and a medical certificate for infertility for either of the spouse at the end of that period in conformity with the stated age group. Surrogacy services will be banned for persons of Indian origin, overseas citizens of India, members of the LGBT community, single parents and live-in partners.
How is this going to protect women?
Conclusion
In a country like ours, where women still battle to hold a strong position in society we cannot exploit them simply at the cost of flourishing a business. Given the problems they face in living a healthy life, efforts should be made to think something different for them.
Reference: The Tribune
6th July, 2019
TOPIC- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Ans:
Introduction
A blockchain is an anonymous online ledger that uses data structure to simplify the way we transact. Blockchain allows users to manipulate the ledger in a secure way without the help of a third party. A blockchain is anonymous, protecting the identities of the users. This makes blockchain a more secure way to carry out transactions. The algorithm used in blockchain reduces the dependence on people to verify the transactions.
How does it eliminate the need for trust?
Why the distrust?
Conclusion
Amid all the frenzy over bitcoin’s rocketing values, it is easy to forget that it is just one version of one application (cryptocurrency) of a new technology (blockchain). If blockchain is getting traction, it is because it works with, rather than against, market logic. It so happens that right now any technology that drives decentralisation also carries some political promise by virtue of challenging the centralising tendency of power. But that is a byproduct, and not to be confused with its intent, which remains the same as with any other IT innovation of recent times: efficiency and profit.
Reference: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blockchain.asp
TOPIC- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life
Ans:
Introduction
The financial services industry has been undergoing a revolution. But the driving force is not overhyped blockchain applications such as bitcoin. It is a revolution built on Artificial Intelligence, big data, and the internet of things. Already, thousands of real businesses are using these technologies to disrupt every aspect of financial intermediation. Dozens of online-payment services—PayPal, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Venmo, and so forth—have hundreds of millions of daily users. And financial institutions are making precise lending decisions in seconds rather than weeks, using these technologies. Similarly, insurance underwriting, claims assessment and management, and fraud monitoring have all become faster and more precise. And actively managed portfolios are increasingly being replaced by passive robo-advisers, which can perform just as well or better than conflicted, high-fee financial advisers. But there are a lot of hurdles in the way of Blockchain technology.
Merits of blockchain technology
Demerits of cryptocurrencies
Obstacles in the way of blockchain technology
Conclusion
However, a blockchain can be customized to meet the needs and specifications of people. A blockchain can be made permissible. This means that people can access parts of the blockchain that are relevant to their tasks. Although creating such blockchains takes a sizable amount of planning and expertise, it lessens the apprehension that firms and governments have about the technology, thus making adoption more likely. What makes the blockchain truly revolutionary is its potential for applications beyond processing bitcoin transactions.