Table of Contents:
A. GS1 Related:
1. Women in an unorthodox democracy
B. GS2 Related:
1. Foreign funds surge under NDA rule
2. India not in race with China in Africa outreach: Ansari
C. GS3 Related:
1. The growing importance of trade for India
D. GS4 Related:
E. Important Editorials : A Quick Glance
2. Upsetting a very fine balance
1. Telecom Exports from India to be the focus of ASEAN-India Digital Partnership
2. PM greets the people of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, on their Statehood Day
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂
I. Archives
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Useful News Articles for UPSC Current Affairs
A. GS1 Related
Category: Social empowerment
Topic: Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues
Background:
- Voting percentage for women have increased in ongoing assembly polls but their participation as candidates and the possibilities of their victory are shamefully low.
- Statistics from the 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand reveal that the voting percentage for women might have increased but their participation as candidates and the possibilities of their victory are shamefully low.
- Women are a major force behind people’s participation in life of society today. Not only do they comprise the majority in terms of population, but they also play a crucial role in society as procreators of posterity as well as producers of goods and services. Although, women have made great strides forward in obtaining a vote and right to be elected to political offices in many countries, they comprise less than 15 per cent of the Members of Parliament, and less than 5 per cent of heads of state worldwide.
Way Forward:
- Growing recognition that stable peace and national prosperity can only be achieved when institutions are democratic and representative of all groups of society.
- Women should be empowered by giving them due status, rights, and responsibilities to enable them participate actively in decision making at the political level.
B. GS2 Related
Category: Polity and Governance
Topic: Development processes and the development industry- the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders
Key Points:
- As per figures available with the Home Ministry, which regulates the flow of foreign funds to NGOs and associations in India, the 2015-16 fiscal saw a flow of 17,208 crore from foreign donors, the highest in five years.
- There are 33,000 NGOs registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) that are required to file their annual returns with the Home Ministry, but only 19,000 received funds last year.
Clean-up exercise
- The Home Ministry has cancelled the registration of over 10,000 NGOs in 2015 for not complying with the norms.
- Under the annual returns category, the NGOs were asked to give an undertaking that the foreign funds were utilised in such a way that it did not affect the “security, strategic, scientific or economic interest, public interest, freedom or fairness of election to any legislature or harmony between religious, social, racial, linguistic group, caste or communities.”
Category: International Relations
Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Key Points:
- India’s partnership with Africa “natural”, their destinies “inter-linked” and had admitted a gap between New Delhi’s words and actions with the continent, a concession many African leaders felt was refreshingly honest.
- India’s trade with Africa stands at $70bn, less than a third of China’s trade with the continent, which in 2014-15 amounted to $222bn. More than 95 per cent of India’s investments in Africa are in Mauritius, aimed more at rerouting money using that country’s taxation laws rather than in manufacturing or services industries.
- Figures have improved over the past decade amid a growing race between India and China for Africa’s vast resources and its markets. The continent boasts more than half of the world’s fastest growing economies and is viewed by many economists as a future economic engine for the globe.
- India has also increasingly tried to invest in oil and gas in Africa, in a bid to diversify its sources of hydrocarbons – currently dominated by West Asia.
- “We are not in competition with China or anybody else as far as our development cooperation with foreign countries especially Africa is concerned. They have their own style of work, they have their own capacities, which are different from us. We have left it to our development partners in Africa, and they decide where they want to use Indian knowledge and expertise. Once they do that, then we transform it into concrete projects of assistance. Of course, we have financial constraints that go without saying, but, the experience so far has been satisfactory,” he said.
C. GS3 Related
Category: Economic development
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment
Key Points:
- Economic Survey 2016-17 has estimated that for India’s GDP to grow at 8-10%, exports should grow at 15-20%.
- Economic Survey show that interstate trade flows, which include the movement of goods between firms and within firms, are around 54% of gross domestic product (GDP).
- Trade enriches countries because it extends the scope for efficient division of labour. It thus raises productivity. And trade barriers are an invitation to poverty. So the new evidence that India actually has a robust trading culture should be welcomed.
- India is now a middle-income country that has seen the benefits of trade over the past 25 years. Internal economic integration as well as fewer barriers to international trade should be key policy concerns in the years ahead.
- India needs to reclaim its place as one of the great trading cultures of the world. A lot has already been done since 1991. The task now needs to be completed.
D. GS4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance
Category: Environment
Topic: : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Key Points:
- Weak official response to the pollution of Bengaluru’s wetlands threatens public health.
Potential Concerns
- The rampant encroachment of lake beds and catchment areas for commercial exploitation, and the pollution caused by sewage, industrial effluents and garbage.
Action required
- The priority, clearly, is to end pollution outfalls into the water bodies, which will help revive them to an acceptable state of health. Identifying all surviving wetlands and demarcating them using digital and physical mapping will help communities monitor encroachments, while removal of land-grabbers and restoration of interconnecting channels is crucial to avoid future flooding events.
- Every city needs a single lake protection authority. India’s worsening air quality is now well documented, and most of its wetlands are severely polluted. Citizens must assert themselves to stop this perilous course.
Category: Indian Polity
Topic: : Separation of powers
Key Points:
- Judicial review is one of the checks and balances in the separation of powers. The power of the judiciary to supervise the legislative and executive branches when the latter exceed their authority.
- But three recent instances,(case of censorship of Jolly LLB2 by Bombay high court, compelling all cinema halls to play the national anthem and Supreme courts recommendation on blocking all search related keywords for sex determination) invite disturbing questions about the transformation of the Supreme Court.
Two layers of safeguards
- The framers were careful about the language they used: restrictions upon a fundamental right could be imposed only by law. Only an elected legislature, after careful deliberation, could decide to restrict some speech in the interests of an overwhelmingly important public goal. This could then be challenged before independent courts. Thus, the Constitution protected citizens’ rights through two layers of safeguards: the legislature had to make a law, and then the courts could be called upon to test its constitutionality.
Category: International Relations
Topic: : Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Key Points:
- Indian Government has expressed keen interest to partner with ASEAN countries in enabling Digital Connectivity between India and ASEAN region and also for enabling broadband within ASEAN countries. These digital connectivity projects are of strategic importance and can have a trans formative impact on the economy and cooperation between ASEAN and India.
- India has committed to provide financial as well as technological support for projects that could include-high-speed fiber optic networks, digital villages, rural broadband, national knowledge network, secured communication networks and telecom training and skill development.
Category: Post Independence history
Topic: : Reorganization within the country
Key Points:
Arunachal Pradesh
- The North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) was created in 1954. In 1972, it became the Union Territory of Arunachal Pradesh. Its administrative headquarters was Shillong (until 1974, when it was transferred to Itanagar). Arunachal received statehood in 1987.
Mizoram
- Mizo National Front, a political organisation which was born in 1961, had one goal — sovereign independence of Greater Mizoram.
- The Mizo National Front was outlawed in 1967 and the demand for statehood increased. The Mizo District Council delegation met the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in May 1971 and demanded full-fledged statehood for Mizoram.
- The Indian government offered to convert the Mizo Hills into a Union Territory in July 1971. On 21 January, 1972, the official declaration of the Union Territory was made with the name Mizoram.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
- ASEAN
- Separation of Power
- India – Africa relations
- NGT
G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
| BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGANISATIONS IN NEWS | Links to Refer |
| Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) | http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/FCRI%20Bill%20Summary.pdf |
H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂
Question 1: Consider the following statements related to Power of Parliament to
admit into union or new states:
1] There is a need of legislation by parliament to establish new states.
2] Parliament can form a new state by separating territory from any state, by merging two or more states or parts of states.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only b) 2 Only c) Both 1 and 2 d) None
Question 2: Which of the following member is not the member of Association of
Southeast Asian Nations?
- Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) Myanmar b) Taiwan c) Malaysia d) Cambodia
Question 3: Consider the following statements related to Central Board of Film
Certification:
1] Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a Statutory body under Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
2] Films can be publicly exhibited in India only after they have been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only b) 2 Only c) Both 1 and 2 d) None
Question 4: Consider the following statements:
1] The NGT is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
2] The NGT has the power to hear all civil cases relating to environmental issues and questions that are linked to the implementation of laws listed in Schedule I of the NGT Act.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only b) 2 Only c) Both 1, and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Question 5: Which of the following is/ are the recommendation of Justice Lodha
committee for reforms in BCCI?
1) BCCI office-bearer’s tenure should not exceed more than two consecutive terms
2) Each state will represent only one unit and would have one vote.
3) Betting shall be legalized except for players, BCCI members, administrators or those covered by the BCCI and IPL regulations.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- a) 1 Only b) 1, 2 Only c) 2, 3 Only d) All the above
Check Your Answers
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I. Archives:
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