Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: About the Project, Indus Water Treaty
Mains level: Indus Water Treaty
The Union government has approved a nearly ₹6,000-crore multi-purpose project for the Ujh multi-purpose project.
Ujh Multi-purpose Project
- The project will store around 781 million cubic meters of water of river Ujh, a tributary of river Ravi.
- It aims to provide uninterrupted water for irrigation to farmers in J&K’s Kathua district and to produce power.
- After completion of the project, utilization of waters of eastern rivers allotted to India as per the Indus Water Treaty would be enhanced by utilising the flow that presently goes across the border to Pakistan.
Back2Basics
Indus Waters Treaty, 1960
- The IWT is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank signed in Karachi in 1960.
- According to this agreement, control over the water flowing in three “eastern” rivers of India — the Beas, the Ravi and the Sutlej was given to India
- The control over the water flowing in three “western” rivers of India — the Indus, the Chenab and the Jhelum was given to Pakistan
- The treaty allowed India to use western rivers water for limited irrigation use and unrestricted use for power generation, domestic, industrial and non-consumptive uses such as navigation, floating of property, fish culture, etc. while laying down precise regulations for India to build projects
- India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river (RoR) projects on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted.
Present Status of Development
- To utilize the waters of the Eastern rivers which have been allocated to India for exclusive use, India has constructed Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Thein (Ranjitsagar) on Ravi.
- These storage works, together with other works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project etc has helped India utilize nearly entire share (95 %) of waters of Eastern rivers.
- However, about 2 MAF of water annually from Ravi is reported to be still flowing unutilized to Pakistan below Madhopur.
- The three projects will help India to utilize its entire share of waters given under the Indus Waters Treaty 1960:
I. Resumption of Construction of Shahpurkandi project
- It is a dam project under construction on Ravi River.
II. Construction of Ujh multipurpose project
- It is a dam project under construction on Ujh, a tributary of Ravi River.
III. 2nd Ravi Beas link below Ujh
- This project is being planned to tap excess water flowing down to Pakistan through river Ravi, even after construction of Thein Dam.
- It aims constructing a barrage across river Ravi for diverting water through a tunnel link to Beas basin.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Velutheeyam
Mains level: Not Much
A tri-metal sculpture of Jesus Christ( Healing Christ) in Thiruvalla, Kerala has entered the Universal Records Forum’s (URF) book of world records.
Velutheeyam
- The statue was sculpted with an alloy of zinc, copper, and velutheeyam (an alloy of tin and aluminium).
- A URF team adjudged that the 368-cm tall statue, weighing 2,400 kg, is the largest one of its kind in the world.
- It took 18 months for sculpting the statue.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 3- Government budget- allocations to various sectors-how it could help revive the economy.
Context
The disconnect between Budget and Economic Survey is much greater this year.
Background of the economy as the budget is introduced
- The 2020 Budget was presented against the background of-
- Slowing economy.
- Poor investment climate.
- Declining consumption demand and
- Stagnant exports.
- The steady deceleration in growth, which registered at 4.5 per cent in the second quarter of the current fiscal — the lowest in the last 26 quarters — presented a challenge as well as an opportunity.
Infrastructure investment
- The hope of substantial increase in allocation for infra: The hope was that there will be a substantial increase in infrastructure investment, which in turn will trigger investment demand, but the actual allocations are not promising.
- This was particularly surprising in the wake of the recent announcement that there will be an investment of Rs 103 trillion in the next five years to leapfrog India to a $5-trillion economy.
- Private sector expected to contribute: Much of the investment for this will have to be made by the private sector and it is hoped that the allocation of Rs 20,000 crore in equity in specified infrastructure finance companies will help them to leverage more than Rs 1 lakh crore of investment support.
Budgetary allocation for capital expenditure
- 1.7% of GDP to 1.8 %: The budgetary allocation for capital expenditure for the current year, which is estimated at 1.7 per cent of GDP this year, is budgeted at 1.8 per cent in 2020-21.
- Agriculture, irrigation and rural development: The Budget also contained 16 action points on agriculture, irrigation and rural development and the Rs 2.83 lakh crore allocation is higher than the budget estimate for the previous year by just 2.5 per cent and revised estimate by 13.2 per cent.
- But the allocation looks impressive only because there was a massive cut (Rs 26,000 crore) in the budget estimate over the revised estimate.
- Transport infrastructure: The allocation to transport infrastructure in the Budget- at Rs 1.7 lakh crore-is just 7.6 per cent higher than the revised estimate for 2019-20.
- MGNREGA and PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi: The allocations to schemes like the MGNREGA has been cut from Rs 71,002 crore (RE) in the current year to Rs 61,500 crore in 2020-21.
- PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: For schemes like PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, it is just as much as was budgeted for 2019-20.
- As a consequence, not much is expected in terms of propping up the consumption demand.
Slippage in fiscal deficit
- Increase in fiscal deficit expected: The slippage in fiscal deficit from the target set in the budget estimate in 2019-20 was expected for the following reasons-
- Below expected nominal GDP growth: Nominal GDP growth was 7.5 per cent as against the estimated 12 per cent in the budget.
- Overestimation in the growth of tax revenue at 18.3 per cent over the pre-actuals of the previous year.
- Missed disinvestment target: The slippage in achieving the disinvestment target of Rs 1.03 lakh crore.
- Thus, it is not surprising that the fiscal deficit for the current year stands estimated at 3.8 per cent of GDP and for the next year at 3.5 per cent.
- Off-budget financing: The major concern is that the reported off-budget financing is almost 0.85 per cent. This does not capture the bills and refunds payable by the government.
Would the budgeted and revised estimates realise?
- On disinvestment front: The disinvestment revenue is estimated at Rs 65,000 crore though the realisation so far has been just Rs 18,000 crore, which implies another Rs 47,000 crore will have to be mobilised in the next two months.
- On tax revenue front: The RE of tax revenue for the current year is over 14 per cent higher than the actual for 2018-19.
- This is perhaps predicated on the hope that the scheme, “Vivad se Vishwas”, which allows the settlement of disputed tax to be paid without interest and penalty.
Tax reforms in the budget
- DDT abolition: On tax reforms, the abolition of dividend distribution tax (DDT) was expected.
- Complicating Income tax: The reforms in individual income tax complicates the tax by creating six brackets.
- The best practice approach to tax reform is to broaden the base, reduce the rates and reduce the number of brackets to make it a simple tax.
- What could have been done? The government could have simply-
- Phased out the tax concessions.
- Indexed the brackets for inflation and
- Reduced the rates of tax with an appropriate adjustment in the brackets.
Conclusion
The impact of fiscal developments on the states’ finances is clearly adverse. The shortfall in tax devolution in 2019-20 from the budgeted amount works out to Rs 1.53 lakh crore and the total shortfall in transfers amounted to Rs 1.41 lakh crore. Besides starving funds for various projects, this has serious repercussions on budget management at the state level.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 2- India's preparedness for the public health response to outbreak of epidemic.
Context
In some ways, China is setting the standard for a public health response that may become a way of life in the 21st century.
Origin of the outbreak and deadly it could turn out?
- Outbreak of unknown virus: In December 2019, an outbreak of viral pneumonia of unknown etiology emerged in Wuhan, a city in the central Chinese province of Hubei.
- Discovery of novel coronavirus: A few weeks later, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese health authorities announced the discovery of a novel coronavirus, known now as 2019-nCoV, as being responsible for the pneumonia.
- Important questions: The two most important questions asked in a fast-evolving pandemic of this nature are:
- 1) How deadly is the disease, and;
- 2) Can it be contained?
- The latest available figures suggest that the death toll in China is 304 and 14,411 have been infected. The current fatality rate estimate of 2% is unstable and is likely to fall as more cases are detected.
Containment attempts by China and spread to the other countries
- Unprecedented attempt by China: The attempt at containment started late, but has never been attempted in the fashion that China has gone about it.
- Wuhan lockdown: Belatedly, on 23 January, China locked down Wuhan and 12 other cities, quarantining 52 million people in one sweeping action.
- This is the first known case in modern history of any country locking down an entire large city.
- Reports of confirmed cases from other countries: Confirmed cases have since been reported from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Australia and the US.
- India reported its first case from Kerala of a medical student from Wuhan University, followed by two more.
- Singapore and the US have now banned foreign nationals who have recently been in China from entering the country.
- Russia, Canada, the UK and India have begun evacuating citizens from Hubei province.
Research on coronavirus so far
- Coronaviruses (CoVs) are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome and a unique replication strategy.
- CoVs cause a variety of diseases in mammals and birds, ranging from enteritis in hoofed animals to potentially lethal human respiratory infections.
- Genome sequence: The 2019-nCov genome was sequenced in China in early January and reported in The Lancet last week.
- It suggests that the original host of this coronavirus was a bat reservoir, though it is unclear whether there was an intermediate host.
- A recent entry to the human host: The uniformity of the sequenced genome suggests that the virus has entered human hosts very recently.
- Recent emergence from the animal reservoir: Several other countries, including the US and France, have sequenced the RNA of the 2019-nCoV as well. These sequences and their similarity to the initial samples from China suggest a single, recent emergence from an animal reservoir.
Tests and vaccine development
- How is the virus tested? Testing for 2019-nCoV requires a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) which converts RNA into DNA, making study and comparison easier.
- No vaccine yet: There are no vaccines yet for this virus, but promising paths have been identified, borrowed from the SARS related vaccines.
- Development of an effective vaccine may only come after the 2019-nCoV is contained, but it may still be useful if there were to be a subsequent outbreak.
- The frequency of future outbreaks is only likely to increase because of climate change, global travel and fast mutating viruses.
What lessons can India learn?
- Develop framework and capacity: For India, this global health emergency should serve as an eye-opener.
- If lockdown turns out to be a useful tool to prevent the spread of a deadly virus, India will need to develop the framework and capacity to implement such a drastic measure.
- Under-equipped municipalities: Our municipalities are hopelessly under-equipped to implement strict isolation and containment strategies.
- We will need to develop the capacity to build large facilities for housing patients in isolation wards.
- Use of pre-cast: This will require India to accelerate the use of construction methods like pre-cast technology.
- Protocol and instructions: The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been proactive in updating its protocol related to the 2019-nCov and has clear instructions for reporting and assay preparation.
- Develop capacity in geographically diverse regions: Samples in India need to be sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune.
- While the public health and epidemic escalation framework appears capable of handling a small number of cases well, it is not clear how it will stand up to a large number of cases in a specific geographic region.
Conclusion
“Nothing happens quite by chance. It is a question of accretion of information and experience,” said Jonas Salk, the virologist who developed the polio vaccine, in some ways, China is setting the standard for a public health response that may become a necessary way of life in the 21st century. India must use this as a guidepost to greater preparedness.
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Context
On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union, the EU project will be taken forward by the 27 member states.
A structured exit
- Minimum disruption: This is largely thanks to the Withdrawal Agreement that was negotiated with the U.K., which enabled “an orderly Brexit”.
- One that, at least for now, minimises disruption for our citizens, businesses, public administrations, as well as for our international partners.
- An arrangement of the transition period: Under this agreement, the EU and the U.K. agreed on a transition period, until the end of 2020 at least.
- During which the U.K. will continue to participate in the EU’s Customs Union and in the Single Market, and to apply EU law, even if it is no longer a Member State.
- During this period, the U.K. will also continue to abide by the international agreements of the EU, as we made clear in a note verbale to our international partners.
Building a new partnership between the EU and the UK
- Degree of continuity: With the transition period in place, there is a degree of continuity. This was not easy given the magnitude of the task.
- By leaving the Union, the U.K. automatically, mechanically, legally, leaves hundreds of international agreements concluded by or on behalf of the Union.
- Building new partnership: That work will start in a few weeks as soon as the EU 27 Member States have approved the negotiating mandate proposed by the European Commission, setting out our terms and ambitions for achieving the closest possible partnership with a country which will remain EU’s ally, partner and friend.
- Links and shared values: The EU and the U.K. are bound by history, by geography, culture, shared values and principles and a strong belief in rules-based multilateralism. Our future partnership will reflect these links and shared beliefs.
- Working on topics beyond trade: Both sides want to go well beyond trade and keep working together on security and defence, areas where the U.K. has experiences and assets that are best used as part of a common effort.
- Cooperation on the wide topics: In a world of big challenges and change, of turmoil and transition, we must consult each other and cooperate, bilaterally and in key regional and global fora, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the G20.
- Collective responses to handle global challenges: Today’s global challenges- from climate change to cybercrime, terrorism or inequality — require collective responses.
- The more the U.K. is able to work in lockstep with the EU and together with partners around the world, the greater would be chances of addressing these challenges effectively.
Way forward
- Continuing project forward as 27: At the very core of the EU project is the idea that it is stronger together; that pooling resources and initiatives is the best way of achieving common goals. Brexit does not change this, and efforts must be taken to continue this project forward as 27.
- Note for the partners: EU’s partners can be sure that EU will stay true to an ambitious, outward-looking agenda-be it on trade and investment, on climate action and digital, on connectivity, on security and counter-terrorism, on human rights and democracy, or on defence and foreign policy.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Gram Nyayalayas
Mains level: Gram Nyayalayas and its jurisdiction
The Supreme Court has directed the states, which are yet come out with notifications for establishing Gram Nyayalayas, to do so within four weeks.
What are Gram Nyayalayas?
- Gram Nyayalayas were established for speedy and easy access to the justice system in the rural areas across the country.
- The Gram Nyayalayas Act came into force on October 2, 2009.
- In terms of Section 3(1) of the Act, it is for the State Governments to establish Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts.
- The Act authorizes the Gram Nyayalaya to hold mobile court outside its headquarters.
- However, the Act has not been enforced properly, with only 208 functional Gram Nyayalayas in the country ( Sept. 2019) against a target of 5000 such courts.
- The major reasons behind the non-enforcement include financial constraints, reluctance of lawyers, police and other government officials.
Features of the Gram Nyayalayas
- Gram Nyayalaya are established generally at headquarter of every Panchayat at intermediate level or a group of contiguous panchayat in a district where there is no panchayat at intermediate level.
- The Gram Nyayalayas are presided over by a Nyayadhikari, who will have the same power, enjoy same salary and benefits of a Judicial Magistrate of First Class.
- Such Nyayadhikari are to be appointed by the State Government in consultation with the respective High Court.
Jurisdiction
- A Gram Nyayalaya have jurisdiction over an area specified by a notification by the State Government in consultation with the respective High Court.
- The Court can function as a mobile court at any place within the jurisdiction of such Gram Nyayalaya, after giving wide publicity to that regards.
- The Gram Nyayalayas have both civil and criminal jurisdiction over the offences and nature of suits specified in the First, Second and Third schedule of the Act.
- The pecuniary jurisdiction of the Nyayalayas are fixed by the respective High Courts.
- Appeals in criminal matter can be made to the Sessions Court in the respective jurisdiction and in civil matters to the District Court within a period of one month from the date of judgment.
Trials
- Gram Nyayalayas can follow special procedures in civil matters, in a manner it deem just and reasonable in the interest of justice.
- Civil suits are proceeded on a day-to-day basis, with limited adjournments and are to be disposed of within a period of six months from the date of institution of the suit.
- In execution of a decree, the Court can allow special procedures following rules of natural justice.
- Gram Nyayalayas allow for conciliation of the dispute and settlement of the same in the first instance.
- Gram Nyayalayas has been given power to accept certain evidences which would otherwise not be acceptable under Indian Evidence Act.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Think Tank Index
Mains level: Not Much
Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) was placed No. 16 among 2019’s ‘top environment policy think tanks’ of the world in Global Go To Think Tank Index.
Think-Tank Index
- The Index is released by University of Pennsylvania each year since 2008.
- It evaluates public-policy research analysis and engagement organisations that generate policy-oriented research, analysis, and advice on domestic and international issues.
- It claims to enable policy makers and the public to make informed decisions on public policy.
- The 2020 report raised some critical threats and opportunities that think tanks across the globe face.
- It called upon such organisations to develop national, regional, and global partnerships and create new, innovative platforms to deliver for an ever-expanding audience of citizens, policy makers and businesses.
India’s performance
- CSE climbed up two notches in the 14th version of the report.
- The organisation also moved up three places among ‘best independent think tanks’ to be at No.123 in the world and sixth among Indian think tanks.
- Globally, it was ranked 41 of 60 organisations committed to energy and resource policy. It remained at No.58 among organisations working on science and technology policy in the world — fifth in India.
CSE as forerunner
- CSE was named the ‘national climate leader’ from India for 2019 in the first National Climate Leader Awards published in the Global Spotlight Report #22 by Climate Scorecard.
- CSE also received the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2018 in 2019 for ‘pioneering work on environment and sustainable development’.
- CSE also featured in four other rankings in the report: ‘top water security think tanks’; ‘top energy and resource policy think tanks’; ‘top science and technology policy think tanks’ and ‘best independent think tanks’.
- It also ranked 18 among 78 global think tanks for its work on ‘water security’ — second in India after Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SATHI Scheme
Mains level: Read the attached story
The Department of Science & Technology has launched a unique scheme called “Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes(SATHI)”.
SATHI
- SATHI aims to address the need for building shared, professionally managed and strong S&T infrastructure in the country which is readily accessible to academia, start-ups, manufacturing, industry and R&D labs etc.
- These Centres are expected to house major analytical instruments to provide common services of high-end analytical testing, thus avoiding duplication and reduced dependency on foreign sources.
- These would be operated with a transparent, open access policy.
- DST has already set up three such centres in the country, one each at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi and BHU.
Objectives of the Scheme
- SATHI will address the problems of accessibility, maintenance, redundancy and duplication of expensive equipment in the institutions.
- This will also foster a strong culture of collaboration between institutions and across disciplines to take advantage of developments, innovations and expertise in diverse areas.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: About the Vaccine
Mains level: Animal husbandary sector of India
Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) released the Classical Swine Fever Vaccine (IVRI-CSF-BS) Technology developed by ICAR -Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI).
About the Vaccine
- CSF is one of the most important diseases of pigs causing high mortality with annual loss of approx. Rs.4.299 billion.
- A lapinized CSF vaccine (Weybridge strain, UK) is being used in India since 1964 for controlling the disease.
- The vaccine is produced by sacrificing large numbers of rabbits for each batch.
- In order to do away sacrificing of rabbits and increase the productivity, IVRI had earlier developed a cell culture CSF vaccine by adapting the lapinized vaccine virus in cell culture.
- The vaccine virus has very high titre and lakhs of doses can be produced very easily in cell culture and country’s requirement can be easily fulfilled using this new vaccine.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: CDS and its functions
Mains level: Terms of reference for the office of CDS
The Ministry of Defence has outlined various functions and duties for the post of CDS.
Duties and Functions of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)
- To head the Department of Military Affairs in Ministry of Defence and function as its Secretary.
- To act as the Principal Military Advisor to Raksha Mantri on all Tri-Service matters.
- To function as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
- To administer the Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.
- To be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri.
- To function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.
- To bring about jointness in operation, logistics, transport, training, support services, communications, repairs and maintenance, etc of the three Services.
- To ensure optimal utilization of infrastructure and rationalise it through jointness among the Services.
- To implement Five-Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan and Two-Year roll-on Annual Acquisition Plans, as a follow up of Integrated Capability Development Plan.
- To bring about reforms in the functioning of three Services with the aim to augment combat capabilities of the Armed Forces by reducing wasteful expenditure.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much
Mains level: Paper 3- Government budget, $5tn dollar economy
Context
The Budget was a workmanlike exercise, more a statement of account, around which was woven many strands of intent and vision, which, read in its entirety and by connecting interlocking dots, framed a strategy of moving towards a $5 trillion economy over the next five years.
Fiscal arithmetic of the Budget
- A clearer picture of off-balance-sheet borrowings: To a large extent, the Budget has done this, giving a much clearer picture of the off-balance-sheet borrowings, which add to the government’s debt and its obligations to pay.
- Increasing the credibility of government: This move will enhance credibility among the investor community while taking decisions on committing capital for India’s future.
- Possibility of nominal 10 % growth: The nominal growth projected for 2020-21 at 10 per cent is feasible, with a stretch, given the expected rise in inflation, which will add around 4 per cent to a projected 6 per cent real growth.
- Aggressive revenue projection: The revenue projections are more aggressive, assuming a buoyancy which can be attributed in large measure to checking evasion using data analytics.
- Disinvestment and privatisation revenue: The major boost to revenues is expected from disinvestment and privatisation of central public sector enterprises, together with asset monetisation.
- The target is up sharply to Rs 2.25 lakh crore.
- This initiative has been one of the core focus areas of the government, has to be lauded for-
- The effects of increasing efficiency in operations and-
- Restricting the losses to the public balance sheet.
- Disinvestment revenues are likely to be augmented with higher dividend receipts, including, from higher profits of the Reserve Bank of India.
- Optical allocation by the Govt.: Spending, which depends on revenue collection, has also been optimally allocated, with capital expenditure budgeted to increase faster than revenue.
- High revenue expenditure: Capital expenditure is still a much smaller fraction of total expenditure compared to the committed revenue spending on interest payments, salaries and pensions and subsidies.
The slowdown in the economy and squeeze in the credit flow
- Three aspects of the current slowdown that makes it different
- First– Multiple engines of growth have synchronously decelerated-
- Consumption, investment, exports and sporadically, government spending — compared to earlier ones when one or some of these drivers were still functioning
- Second- Demand led slowdown:
- This is more a demand-led slowdown, versus the earlier ones, which tended to originate with a supply shock, whether from oil or foreign capital.
- Third– the trigger for this episode was a financial shock-
- NBFC lending — which tipped the weaknesses building in the system into deep deceleration.
- Squeeze in the credit flow of the banks
- Drastic reduction in credit flows: A telling statistic released by the RBI shows that compared to Rs 8 lakh crore of loans provided to borrowers during April-September 2018, credit flow fell to Rs 90,000 crore in the six months of 2019.
- MSMEs worst affected by the credit squeeze: Bank credit has continued to remain very weak. In the context of the broader slowdown, credit to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has been one of the worst affected.
Whether the slowdown is more cyclical or structural-conundrum for policymakers
- If it is more cyclical, aggressive use of monetary and fiscal counter-cyclical policy could yield the desired result.
- If not, then the wait is likely to be longer and will involve more sector-specific de-bottlenecking initiatives.
- Signs of structural constraints: While there is certainly a cyclical component in the manufacturing segment- the proximate source of the slowdown- there are signs of deeper structural constraints.
- Quintuple problem– This problem has now expanded into almost quintuple problems, encompassing the government, households, NBFCs along with the banks.
- Overlaid on these structural impediments is a sharp weakening of consumer, investor and corporate confidence.
Conclusion
Implementation, as always, will be key to achieving the $5-trillion goal. The arena for the next set of reforms and actions for sustained growth is at the state level: Agriculture, land, electricity, and even labour. The Budget acknowledges this. A federal approach to tackling the slowdown, in a coordinated fashion, will probably be the most effective.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 3- Government budget and allocations for various sectors and schemes.
Context
The Budget can be judged in terms of its effect on rural demand, investment and private sentiments– all critical elements for recovery. While the Budget offers hope on the last count, it leaves much to be desired on several other parameters.
Skill development allocation- 3000 Crore
- Unmet Demand: There is a huge, unmet demand for teachers, paramedical staff and caregivers, and skilled workers.
- Need for quality education and skills: Well-paying jobs are created in the organised services and industry but require candidates with quality education and skills.
- Both elude India’s youth due to the poor quality of education and lack of opportunities to acquire practical skills.
- Skilling will require massive investment and concerted efforts.
- What could have been done? The Budget could have given tax incentives to companies to provide internships and on-site vocational training to unemployed youth.
- The country cannot afford to let the world’s largest workforce waste this way.
On flagship welfare schemes
- The MGNREGA is allocated ₹61,500 crore, which is less than ₹71,000 crore for the current fiscal year.
- PM-KISAN: Going by the last year, disbursement under the PM-KISAN will also be less than budgeted, unless the beneficiary base is expanded.
- Good schemes for increasing demand: These two schemes are good instruments for income transfers to small and marginal farmers, landless labour who spend most of their income and generate demand for a wide range of goods and services.
- Higher disbursement under these schemes would have benefited most sectors of the economy. Budgetary allocations for health and education are also well below what is needed.
- Micro-irrigation schemes for 100 water-stressed: Focus of schemes such as micro-irrigation schemes for 100 water-stressed districts is welcome and so is a modest increase in allocations for agriculture and rural development schemes.
- Rural roads, cold storage, and logistical chains are crucial for the growth of income and employment in rural India, as the multiplier effects of rural infrastructure investment on growth and employment are large and extensive.
- ₹1.7 lakh crore for transportation infrastructure: The allocation of ₹1.7 lakh crore for transportation infrastructure is also a welcome step. If the public investment infrastructure actually materialises, it will lend credence to the government’s stated commitment to revive the investment cycle –to spur job-creating growth.
- To pull in private investment, public funding should be front-loaded in under-implementation projects.
- Small irrigation and rural road projects are also relatively easy to complete and deliver immense benefits to several sectors.
Bonds Market development and startups
- Need for the corporate bond market: The fundamental problem of infrastructure finance is the asset-liability mismatch which can be addressed only by developing a vibrant ‘corporate bond market.
- No focus on the corporate bond market: The focus of the Budget is the multiple schemes for government bonds mainly through additional room for foreign portfolio investors and exchange-traded funds in government bonds.
- Need for the well-developed market: Government’s moves are welcome but not enough. A well-developed bond market should draw upon-
- Domestic insurance funds.
- Pension funds and
- Mutual funds-which are capable of investing in corporate bonds across different schemes.
- Startups: The other leg of the “aspirational” Budget is the startups.
- Some relief on the tax they have to pay and on taxation of the Employee Stock Option Plans is welcome.
- Reluctance to abolish angel tax: But the reluctance to abolish the angel tax that results in harassment of start-ups and their investors is unfathomable.
Scheme for NBFC
- Allowing NBFCs into TReDS: Another welcome feature is the scheme to allow the non-banking financial companies into the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS).
- TReDS is an ecosystem that aims to facilitate the financing and settling of trade-related transactions of small entities with corporate and other buyers, including government departments and public sector undertakings.
Changes in provisions for SMEs and their problems
- Audit threshold increased to 5 crore: To reduce the compliance burden on small retailers, traders and shopkeepers who comprise the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) sector, the threshold for audit of the accounts has been increased from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crores for those entities that carry out less than 5% of their business transactions in cash.
- Restructuring window increased: A provision in the budget extended the window for the restructuring of loans for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises till March 31, 2021.
- Problems faced by the SMEs
- Input tax rate higher for input than for the final goods: For many products produced by these enterprises, the tax rates are higher for inputs than the final goods.
- High taxes on imports and exports: In addition, many SMEs suffer from high taxes on imports of raw material and exports of intermediary services by them.
Other provision made to revive the private sector
- Recognising the need to revive the dying spirit of the private sector, several provisions have been made in the budget to revive the spirit of the private sector like-
- Decriminalisation of several civil offences by firms under the Companies Act.
- The abolition of dividend distribution tax (DDT).
- The assurance that tax-related disputes will be considered with compassion.
- The scheme to reimburse to exporters assorted duties, such as excise duty on transport fuels and electricity.
Conclusion
Everything considered the future of the economy will turn on whether the government delivers on the promises of public investment and the promises made to different sections of society including the taxpayer and companies. When it comes to reviving private sentiments, actions will speak much louder than the budgetary promises.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not much.
Mains level: Paper 3- Cyber security in the wake of Huawei ban and concerns over cyber security in 5G age.
Context
India should grab cybersecurity opportunities instead of focusing on smaller issues like import tariffs during Trump’s visit.
Opportunity for India in the US-China trade war
- Technology will be an important front in the emerging trade war between the US and China.
- It will create significant opportunities for India as global supply chains re-adjust to geopolitical pushes and pull.
- In manufacturing: The immediate opportunity is in across-the-board manufacturing, especially if the Government puts in place a special task force to unclog the regulatory issues.
- In cybersecurity: Beyond manufacturing, the unfolding US-China technology war is creating opportunities for India in the cybersecurity space on a scale that could match Y2K.
Balance national security and industry economics
- The UK’s approach: It is a carefully constructed middle path.
- Not allowing high-risk vendors: The UK decided that “high-risk vendors” will not be permitted in its core networks.
- High regulatory and security oversight: High-risk vendors will also be subject to higher levels of regulatory and security oversight.
- Ability to switch: Operators are expected to have the ability to switch away from such vendors should the government so require.
- 35% restriction: The UK restricted to less than 35% of the equipment base of each telecom operator.
- The EU approach: The European Union is likely to adopt some variant of the British approach.
- This means Chinese-made equipment will be deployed across EU countries but under tighter surveillance, audit and assurance regime.
How is it going to create opportunities?
- 5G and more need for more security professionals
- More base stations: 5G networks will employ many more base stations than existing networks.
- The internet of things (IoT) is set to bring billions of connected sensors and devices online.
- The requirement of security professionals: Tightening security norms will require both telecom firms and their customers to employ a lot of cybersecurity professionals in a wide range of roles, of varying levels of sophistication and sensitivity.
- Shortage of cybersecurity professionals
- The problem is: the world is already short of cybersecurity professionals.
- Even before 5G networks are rolled out, estimates suggest that there are 2 to 3 million unfilled cybersecurity vacancies around the world.
- Scrutiny of the Chinese vendors and employment opportunities: The more stringent the security regimes around Chinese vendors, the greater the demand for cybersecurity professionals security regimes around Chinese vendors, the greater the demand for cybersecurity professionals.
- Where is the opportunity for India? The industry is responding to this shortage by employing more automation.
- But demand for human will increase: The demand for trustworthy, reliable and competent human beings to keep an eye on cyber threats will only increase.
- Where can hundreds of thousands of technology professionals who might be able to fill this gap come from? India and China.
- Advantage India: Chinese firms and individuals are unlikely to be chosen to keep an eye on Chinese equipment makers and state-linked cyber attackers, it is advantage India.
Can India grab this opportunity?
- Inadequate professionals in India: India doesn’t have adequate numbers of cybersecurity professionals either.
- Skill initiative by the government: The government has launched a skills initiative to plug the shortage, but we’re far away from addressing our own cybersecurity needs.
- India has all the necessary conditions to become as big a player in the global cybersecurity market.
- India has the numbers, the companies and the market-driven economic models that can produce the skills that the industry wants.
- Private sector’s role: During the 1990s’ information technology boom, India produced hundreds of thousands of software engineers not because of any government skills development programme, but because private firms popped up and supplied the skills that people and their employers wanted.
Way forward
- Government to government arrangements: Unlike the Y2K days, the global demand for cybersecurity professionals has entry barriers that firms and individuals cannot easily cross on their own. Government-to-government arrangements can help Indian firms and individuals get clearances for cybersecurity roles.
- Developing cybersecurity partnership: India will have to work on developing cybersecurity partnerships with the US, UK and the EU, focused on opening up their markets to Indian firms.
- Win the trust: The latter, for their part, must work on gaining the trust of the West’s national security establishments.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Finance Commission
Mains level: Finance Commission, Its evolving role in fiscal federalism
- The report of the Fifteenth Finance Commission, along with an Action Taken Report, was tabled in Parliament.
- The Commission, headed by N K Singh, had submitted its Report to the President in December 2019.
- The government had accepted the recommendations of the Commission “in substantial measure a/c to FM.
The Finance Commission and its purpose
- Article 280 of the Constitution requires that a Finance Commission be constituted to recommend the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Centre and states, and among the states.
- Much has changed since the First Commission was set up in November 1951 under the Chairmanship of K C Neogy, a former member of the Constituent Assembly and diwan of a princely state.
- The President has appointed 14 more Commissions since then.
Why need Finance Commission?
- The framers of the Constitution were seeking to address the vertical imbalance between the taxation powers and expenditure and responsibilities of the federal government and the states, and the horizontal imbalance, or inequality, between states that were at different stages of development.
- Ensuring inclusiveness is, therefore, a key mandate of the Finance Commission.
- That means assigning weights to things like population, the fiscal distance between the top ranked states and the others, etc.
- It is not that the best-performing state will be allocated the highest share — even if delivery execution and governance are better — rather, the effort will be to narrow the development gap between states.
Constitution of the Finance Commission
- The Finance Commission Rules, 1951, lay down the criteria for being members of the constitutional body.
- Members:
- those having special knowledge of finance and accounts of government with wide knowledge and experience in financial matters and in administration,
- or with special knowledge of economics, and
- those who have been qualified to be appointed as a judge of a High Court
Notable members
- In the years following the reforms of the 1990s, Commissions have been headed by reputed economists and administrators — from A M Khusro, who headed the Eleventh Finance Commission, to Chakravarthi Rangarajan, Vijay Kelkar, and Y V Reddy, who were Chairmen of subsequent Commissions.
- Senior politicians like K Brahmananda Reddy, Y B Chavan and N K P Salve had helmed earlier Commissions.
- Before N K Singh, an economist and career administrator who subsequently joined politics, the last politician in this role was K C Pant, who then went on to be Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
Changing role of the Finance Commission
- What has changed dramatically since the 1950s, when the First Commission presented its recommendations on the transfer of resources between the Centre and the states, is the scale of distribution of tax proceeds.
- From 10% of the total tax receipts of the Centre in 1950, it rose to a record 42% after the recommendations of the Fourteenth FC headed by Y V Reddy — a share that made previous awards look conservative, and sat well with the spirit of cooperative federalism.
- The Fifteenth FC has recommended that this allocation be reduced by a percentage point to 41% in order to meet the security and special needs of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
- The other significant change has been in the equation between the central and state governments as a result of the recommendations of the Twelfth FC which reshaped lending by the federal government to states.
- The Fourteenth Commission recommended the creation of a Fiscal Council; the Thirteenth had set out detailed measures on implementing GST with a grand bargain for states.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: NM-QTA
Mains level: Quantum technology
The Finance Minister in budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA).
What is Quantum Technology?
- Quantum Technology is based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the nature of energy and matter on the atomic and subatomic level.
- It concerns the control and manipulation of quantum systems, with the goal of achieving information processing beyond the limits of the classical world.
- Its principles will be used for engineering solutions to extremely complex problems in computing, communications, sensing, chemistry, cryptography, imaging and mechanics.
- This key ability makes quantum computers extremely powerful compared to conventional computers when solving certain kinds of problems like finding prime factors of large numbers and searching large databases.
What is Quantum Mechanics?
- It is a fundamental theory in physics which describes nature at the smallest – including atomic and subatomic – scales.
- At the scale of atoms and electrons, many of the equations of classical mechanics, which describe how things move at everyday sizes and speeds, cease to be useful.
- In classical mechanics, objects exist in a specific place at a specific time.
- However, in quantum mechanics, objects instead exist in a haze of probability; they have a certain chance of being at point A, another chance of being at point B and so on.
About NM-QTA
- The mission will function under the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
- It will be able address the ever increasing technological requirements of the society, and take into account the international technology trends.
- The mission will help prepare next generation skilled manpower, boost translational research and also encourage entrepreneurship and start-up ecosystem development.
Why such mission?
- Quantum technologies are rapidly developing globally with a huge disruptive potential.
- The range of quantum technologies is expected to be one of the major technology disruptions that will change entire paradigm of computation, communication and encryption.
- It is perceived that the countries who achieve an edge in this emerging field will have a greater advantage in garnering multifold economic growth and dominant leadership role.
- It has become imperative both for government and industries to be prepared to develop these emerging and disruptive changes.
- It will establish standards to be applied to all research and help stimulate a pipeline to support research and applications well into the future.
Also read: https://www.civilsdaily.com/news/quantum-supremacy/
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: National Logistics Policy
Mains level: Logistics sector of India
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry reviewed the draft National Logistics Policy and the proposed action plan for implementation of the policy prepared by the Department of Logistics, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The key feature of the draft policy
- The draft National Logistics Policy has been prepared in consultation with the Ministries of Railways, Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Civil Aviation.
- Forty-six Partnering Government Agencies (PGAs)
- Inputs were analysed in detail for consideration in the Policy.
- Vision and Objectives for Logistics in India: To drive economic growth and trade competitiveness of the country through a truly integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable and cost-effective logistics network, leveraging best in class technology, processes and skilled manpower.
- Key objectives of the national logistics policy: Given the pivotal role of the logistics sector in the development of the economy and the need to incorporate learnings from global best practices, the policy outlines an ambitious set of objectives.
The following are some of the key objectives for logistics in India, to be achieved in the next five years:
1. Creating a single point of reference for all logistics and trade facilitation matters in the country which will also function as a knowledge and information sharing platform
2. Driving logistics cost as a % of GDP down from estimated current levels of 13-14% to 10% in line with best-in-class global standards and incentivize the sector to become more efficient by promoting integrated development of logistics
Objectives of the Logistics Policy
- Creating a National Logistics e-marketplace as a one-stop marketplace. It will involve simplification of documentation for exports/imports and drive transparency through digitization of processes involving Customs, PGAs etc in regulatory, certification and compliance services
- Creating a data and analytics centre to drive transparency and continuous monitoring of key logistics metrics
- Encouraging industry, academia and government to come together to create a logistics Center of Excellence, and drive innovation in the logistics sector
- Creating and managing on an ongoing basis, an Integrated National Logistics Action Plan which will serve as a master plan for all logistics-related development.
- Providing an impetus to trade and hence economic growth by driving competitiveness in exports
- Doubling employment in the logistics sector by generating additional 10-15 million jobs and focus on enhancing skills in the sector and encouraging gender diversity
- Improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index to between 25 to 30
- Strengthening the warehousing sector in India by improving the quality of storage infrastructure including specialized warehouses across the country
- Reducing losses due to agri-wastage to less than 5% through effective agri-logistics
- Providing impetus to the MSME sector in the country through a cost-effective logistics network
- Promoting cross-regional trade on e-commerce platforms by enabling a seamless flow of goods
- Encouraging the adoption of green logistics in the country
Policy thrust areas
This policy defines the key thrust areas for logistics in India, which will be the focus of the relevant ministries as well as act as guidance to the state governments. The prioritized focus areas for logistics are detailed below:
- Focusing on critical projects to drive an optimal modal mix and to enable first mile and last-mile connectivity
- Driving the development of Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs)
- Driving interventions to reduce logistics cost and promote logistics efficiency for movement of key commodities
- Creating a single-window Logistics e-marketplace
- Setting up a Logistics Data and Analytics Center
- Creating a Center of Trade facilitation and Logistics excellence (CTFL) and leveraging the expertise of multilateral agencies
- Creating an Integrated National Logistics Action Plan and align with respective state development plans
- Support strengthening of the warehousing sector
- Enhancing transport and rolling stock infrastructure
- Streamlining EXIM processes to promote trade competitiveness
- Reducing dwell time for interstate cargo movement by road
- Promoting standardization in the logistics sector
- Ensuring seamless movement of goods at Land Customs Stations (LCS) and Integrated Check Points (ICP)
- Generating employment, enhancing skilling and encouraging gender diversity in the logistics sector
- Setting up a Startup acceleration fund
Funding for logistics initiatives
A non-lapsable Logistics fund will be created, to drive progress against the key thrust areas. The Logistics fund can be deployed for the following
- Providing viability gap funding for select MMLP projects, first and last-mile projects and projects for poorly-serviced remote areas.
- Incentivizing select logistics skilling programs and training institutes
- Setting up a start-up acceleration fund to incentivize the development of new technology in logistics particularly the farm to plate space
- Creating the Center for Trade Facilitation and Logistics Excellence (CTFL) Setting up a big data-enabled logistics data hub and analytics centre
- Creating a single-window logistics e-marketplace
Institutional Framework & Governance for Logistics
For this purpose, four committees/councils will be constituted:
- National Council for Logistics, chaired by the Prime Minister
- Apex inter-ministerial Committee, chaired by the Minister of Commerce and Industry
- India Logistics Forum chaired by the Commerce Secretary with representation from key industry/business stakeholders and academia.
- Empowered task force on logistics will be created, as a standing committee chaired by the head of the Logistics Wing.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Archimedes Principle
Mains level: NA
Recently, Archimedes Principle was used in Jharkhand to rescue baby elephant stuck in a well. The rescue team filled the well with water using motorized pipes, after which the struggling elephant floated to the top and was able to climb out through a ramp placed for it.
What is the ‘Archimedes Principle’?
- In physics, the Archimedes Principle refers to the law of buoyancy (the ability or tendency of something to float in water or other fluids).
- According to the principle, when an object is completely or partially submerged in a fluid, whether gas or liquid, it is acted upon by an upward force (buoyancy) equal to the weight of the fluid it has displaced.
- The force acting downward on the object is the weight of the object. The upward force is the one given by the Archimedes Principle.
- The difference between the two forces is the net force acting on the object.
- If the buoyant force is more than the weight, the object rises; if it is less, the object sinks.
- If the net force is zero, the object remains in place, and neither rises nor sinks.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Iconic sites mentioned in the newscard
Mains level: Ancient Indian architecture
The Union Govt. has proposed to set up an Indian Institute of Heritage and Conservation under the Ministry of Culture, and develop five archaeological sites as “iconic sites” with onsite museums in Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Hastinapur (Uttar Pradesh), Sivsagar (Assam), Dholavira (Gujarat) and Adichanallur (Tamil Nadu).
Rakhigarhi
- Rakhigarhi in Haryana’s Hissar district is one of the most prominent and largest sites of the Harappan civilization.
- It is one among the five known townships of the Harappan civilization in the Indian subcontinent.
- In one of the excavations, the skeletal remains of a couple were discovered.
- Interestingly, of the 62 graves discovered in Rakhigarhi, only this particular grave consisted of more than one skeletal remains and of individuals of the opposite sex together.
Hastinapur
- Excavations at Hastinapur, in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh, were led by Dr B B Lal, who was at the time Superintendent of the Excavations Branch of the ASI.
- Hastinapur finds mention in the Mahabharata and the Puranas.
- One of the most significant discoveries made at this site was of the “new ceramic industry”, which was named the Painted Grey Ware, which as per the report represented the relics of the early Indo-Aryans.
- The sites of Hastinapur, Mathura, Kurukshetra, Barnawa, etc., are identifiable with those of the same name mentioned in the Mahabharata.
- If that be so, the Painted Grey Ware would be associated with the early settlers on these sites, viz. The Pauravas, Panchalas, etc., who formed a part of the early Aryan stock in India.
- Such an association may also explain the synchronism between the appearance of the Painted Grey Ware in the Ghaggar-Sutlej valleys and the probable date of the arrival of the Aryans in that area.”
Sivasagar
- In Sivasagar, excavations at the Karenghar (Talatalghar) complex between 2000 and 2003 led to the discovery of buried structures in the north-western and north-eastern side of the complex.
- Among the structural remains found at the site were ceramic assemblages including vases, vessels, dishes, and bowls, etc. Terracotta smoking pipes were also found.
- Another excavation site in Sivasagar district is the Garhgaon Raja’s palace. Excavation at this site was conducted during 2007-2008.
- A burnt-brick wall running in north-south orientation was found, along with the remains of two huge circular wooden posts.
Dholavira
- Dholavira in Gujarat is located in the Khadir island of the Rann of Kutch, and like Rakhigarhi is one of the sites where the remains of the Harappan civilization have been found.
- Dholavira is unique because remains of a complete water system have been found here.
- The people who lived there for an estimated 1,200 years during the Harappan civilization are noted for their water conservation system using rainwater harvesting techniques in an otherwise parched landscape.
Adichnallur
- Adichnallur lies in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.
- The urn-burial site was first brought to light during a “haphazard excavation” by a German archaeologist in 1876. Following this, an Englishman Alexander Rae excavated the site between 1889 and 1905.
- Over the years, the site has gained attention because of three important findings: the discovery of an ancient Tamil-Brahmi script on the inside of an urn containing a full human skeleton, a fragment of a broken earthenware, and the remains of living quarters.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Read the attached story
Mains level: Not Much
Finance Minister has quoted four poets in her Budget speech: Pt. Dinanath Nadim, Avvaiyar, Thiruvalluvar and Kalidas, a sweep from Tamil Nadu to Kashmir, from ancient to contenporary India.
Dinanath Nadim
- The Kashmiri nationalist poet Dinanath Nadim was at the centre of Kashmir’s progressive movement, especially in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
- Nadim was born in 1916, and passed away in 1988. Nadim wrote in Kashmiri, Hindi and Urdu, and inspired a powerful tradition of Kashmiri poetry.
- Nadim received the Sahitya Akademi award in 1986 for his opera Shuhul Kull (The Shady Tree).
- Among his other well known works are Vitasta (Jhelum River), Safar Taa Shehjaar (The Journey And The Shade), Heemaal Taa Naaegrai (Heemaal and Naagraaj), and Bombur Taa Yamberzal (The Bumble Bee And The Narcissus Flower).
Avvaiyar
- Avvaiyar translates to “Respected Woman”, and the title was used by several woman poets who contributed to Tamil literature during different periods of time.
- In the Budget’s section on “Aspirational India”, Sitharaman said, “Our government shall encourage balanced use of all kinds of fertilizers including the traditional organic and other innovative fertilizers.
- This is a necessary step to change the prevailing incentive regime, which encourages excessive use of chemical fertilisers.”
- She quoted from Aaathichoodi’s verse 81 which translate to “first tend to till one’s land and then eat. One must eat only after work.”
Thiruvalluvar
- Thiruvalluvar is fondly referred to as Valluvar by Tamils. His ‘Tirukkural’, a collection of 1,330 couplets (‘kurals’ in Tamil), are an essential part of every Tamil household.
- It holds importance in the same way the Bhagavad Gita or the Ramayana are in traditional North Indian Hindu households.
- He is an essential anchor for Tamils in tracing their cultural roots; Tamils are taught to learn his couplets word-for-word, and to follow his teachings in their day-to-day living.
- FM quoted Thiruvalluvar: “Pini Inmai Selvam Vilaivu Inbam Emam Ani Enba”, which loosely translates to having the “five jewels” required for a country that is without illness, with wealth, with good crops, with happiness, as well as safety and security.
Kalidas
- Kalidas, the legendary Sanskrit scholar, is believed to have lived during the middle of the fourth and early fifth centuries AD, during the reigns of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya and Kumaragupta.
- Raghuvamsa, from which FM quoted, is one of two long epic poems written by Kalidas.
- She mentioned the 18th verse: “Surya, the Sun, collects vapour from little drops of water. So does the King. They give back copiously. They collect only for people’s wellbeing.”
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Flame-throated Bulbul
Mains level: NA
The flame-throated bulbul, also called the Rubigula, was chosen as the mascot of the 36th National Games to be held in Goa. It is the State bird of Goa.
Flame-throated Bulbul
IUCN status: Least Concern
- The Flame-throated Bulbul is endemic to southern peninsular India where it is locally distributed in southern Andhra Pradesh, eastern Karnataka, Goa, Orissa, eastern Kerala and northern Tamil Nadu.
- It prefer habitats like rocky, scrub-covered hills mostly in the Eastern Ghats and central peninsular India but also in some places in the Western Ghats.
- It is a Schedule – IV bird under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
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