United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Economic and Social Council UN Economic and Social Council held its high level dialogue virtually, in the context of COVID-19. The dialogue attended by world leaders was on the subject ‘Multilateralism after COVID-19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th Anniversary?’ . PM stressed that only reformed multilateralism with a reformed United Nations at its centre can meet the aspirations of humanity. Ina speech focusing on fight against corona virus, he pointed out the path to sustainable peace and prosperity is through multilateralism. About EcoSoc UN charter of 1945 established Economic and Social Council as one of six principal organ of UN, headquartered in New York, U.S.A. The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. High-Level Political Forum , a component of ECOSOC provides political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development, and reviews progress in implementing sustainable development commitments It has 54 members elected by General Assembly for an overlapping period of 3 years. India is member of EcoSoc since its formation and the first president of EcoSoc was an Indian. Read Also Do we need a fiscal council ? Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Kaziranga National Park
About Kaziranga National park The second wave of floods in Assam has left a trail of destruction. Close to 95% of Kaziranga National Park, located in the banks of Brahmaputra, is submerged. Kaziranga is an unmodified natural area located at the heart of Assam. The park was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. The entire ecosystem – Brahmaputra Valley flood plain – is a dynamic product of river fluctuations by the Brahmaputra . The park is home to Bengal tigers, elephants, Indian hog deer, wild buffalo and one-horned rhino. The Kaziranga has a core area of 430 sq.km. It is also a tiger reserve covering 1,055 sq.km. and has an estimated 121 tigers. One-horned rhino is classified as ‘ high risk to extinction in wild’ by World Wildlife Fund. Kaziranga is home to more than 55% of the one-horned rhinos on earth. Read Dibru Saikhowa National Park While the flood which is an annual phenomenon is shaping the unique geography and ecosystem of Kaziranga NP, it is also responsible for death of wild animals. Animals use nine major and several minor corridors between the Kaziranga National park and the hills of Karbi Anglong to escape floods during the monsoon and return when the waters subside. The destruction of hills and slopes due to indiscriminate mining destroys their safety of hills. Lose of direction to animals due to barriers in corridors also lead to drowning and death of the animal. Forest authorities and conservationists should facilitate safe passage of animals to the relative safety of hills in the region.https://youtu.be/mZYbaDig8ZQ Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
PM SVANidhi Yojana
PM SVANidhi Yojana Street vendors, an important part of supply chain, are constituent of the informal economy. They play significant role in ensuring the availability of goods and service by door to door delivery to the consumers. The COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdowns have adversely impacted the livelihoods of street vendors. They usually work with a small capital base and might have consumed the same during the lockdown. The Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi Yojana was designed recognising the urgent need to provide credit for working capital to street vendors to resume their business. Objective of PM SVANidhi Yojana The micro-credit scheme is a Central Sector Scheme i.e. fully funded by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs with the following objectives: To facilitate working capital loan up to 10,000. To incentivize regular repayment. To reward digital transactions. Features Scheme is aimed at benefiting over 50 lakh vendors who had their businesses operational on or before March 24, 2020 and scheme is valid till March 2022. The loans are meant to help kick-start activity for vendors who have been left without any income since the lockdown was implemented on March 25. Urban street vendors will be eligible to avail a Working Capital (WC) loan of up to 10,000 repayable in monthly instalments with in a year. The vendors, availing loan under the scheme, are eligible to get an interest subsidy @ 7%. No collateral will be taken by the lending institutions for the loan. The Scheme has a provision of Graded Guarantee Cover for the loans sanctioned. The scheme will incentivize digital transactions by vendors through cash back facility. Help integration of the street vendors to the formal economy. Open up new opportunities to climb up the economic ladder. Read Also Child Labour during pandemic period Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Bilateral netting
Bilateral netting The Economic Survey 2020 advocated introducing Bilateral netting for financial sector in India and government is planning to introduce Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020. According to the Survey, “A bilateral netting agreement enables two counterparties in a financial contract to offset claims against each other to determine a single net payment obligation due from one counterparty to the other.” Context As of now, BN for financial contracts is not allowed in India. Instead, we practice ‘ gross netting ‘. Under gross netting method, banks measure credit exposure to the counterparty for Over the counter derivatives based on the gross market to market exposure. This increase credit risk for financial sector participants, especially in the case of insolvency, which then raises the systemic risk. The current system requires banks to divert greater capital towards collateral requirements. This has a negative impact on banks and other financial market participants. Benefits of Enabling BN for Financial Contracts in India. Reduce credit risk and regulatory capital burden for banks, freeing up capital for other productive uses. Reduce hedging costs and liquidity needs for banks, primary dealers and other market-makers, thereby encouraging participation in the Over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives market to hedge against risk. Increased market participation in the Credit default swap market would also provide an impetus for corporate bond market development. Establish an efficient recovery mechanism for financial contracts under instances of default by a counter party . Adhere to India’s G20 and FSB commitment to implement global regulatory reforms in the OTC derivatives market. Most of the advance economies settlements are carried out in bilateral netting, which generally give rise to strong derivatives market and it provides the most accurate picture of a company’s financial position, solvency and risk. Adoption of bilateral netting is in accordance with international practice and is needed reform. Read Also New domicile rule in J&K Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Ashgabat Agreement
Ashgabat Agreement Ashgabat agreement is a multimodal transport and transit agreement between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Oman and India.The agreement was originally signed by Iran,Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. India formally joined in 2018. Objectives of Ashgabat Agreement Facilitation of transit and transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. Enhance connectivity within the Eurasian region and synchronize it with other transport corridors within that region including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). Relevance to India India’s Accession to the Agreement would diversify India’s connectivity options with Central Asia and have a positive influence on India’s trade and commercial ties with the Central-Asian region majorly. The agreement is in line with India’s Look West Policy and Connect with Central Asia policy. Central Asia with its abundant natural resources, including petroleum, uranium and natural gas , is a large supplier of energy and can help to meet our energy needs. Scope for these countries to benefit from India’s expertise in information technology and IT-enabled services. Helps to optimise India’s trade routes to the EU, both in terms of costs and time. The regional connectivity agreement helps to counter Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. Improves India’s connectivity with land locked Afghanistan bypassing Pakistan. Diminish the leverage being exercised by Pakistan in curtailing India’s connectivity to Central Asian countries. Sustainable the momentum maintaining steady flow of funds and avoiding delays in project implementation is the key to success of the agreement. Read Also Paris Climate Agreement Read GS International Relations Notes Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Pobitora wildlife sanctuary
Pobitora wildlife sanctuary Pobitora Wild Life Sanctuary is located in the banks of Brahmaputra in Assam. It is declared as wild life sanctuary in 1987. It has grassland and wetland topography. The sanctuary host Indian one-horned rhinos, wild boars, water buffalo and golden jackals. Pobitora has exceeded its rhino-bearing capacity and is overpopulated. The animals have begun moving outside the sanctuary in search of food, and chances of serious man-animal conflict are quite rife. Under Rhino Vision 2020 rhinos are translocations to Manas National Park. Read Also Kanjli Wetland Rhino Vision 2020 Indian Rhino Vision 2020 is an ambitious effort to attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos spread over seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by the year 2020. The programme was launched in 2005. It is a joint programme of the Department of Environment & Forests, Govt of Assam, WWF India, the International Rhino Foundation and the US fish & wildlife service. The programme achieved its target and the animal shrugged off its ‘endangered’ tag once its population crossed the 2000 mark. Read also Nandur Madhameshwar Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Do we need a fiscal council ?
Do we need a fiscal council? Fiscal councils are independent agencies with a mandate to assess fiscal policies, rules and performance of government. Functions improves democratic accountability by fostering transparency. discourages populism and opportunistic shift in fiscal policy ( e.g, pre-electoral spending spree ). provides direct inputs to budget process thereby closing budget slippage. enhance public awareness about the government’s revenue and expenditure by independent analysis and forecasts and raise the reputation as the electoral cost of unsound policies and broken commitments. The fiscal council promotes fiscal policies consistent with the objective of fiscal sustainability, predictability and macroeconomic stability. Recommendations for Fiscal council in India 13th and 14th Finance commission advocated the establishment of independent fiscal agencies to review the government’s adherence to fiscal rules and to provide independent assessments of budget proposals. In 2017, the N.K. Singh committee on the review of fiscal rules set up by the finance ministry suggested the creation of an independent fiscal council that would provide forecasts and advise the government on whether conditions exist for deviation from the mandated fiscal rules. In 2018, the D.K. Srivastava committee on fiscal statistics established by the National Statistical Commission (NSC) also suggested the establishment of a fiscal council that could co-ordinate with all levels of government to provide harmonized fiscal statistics across governmental levels and provide an annual assessment of overall public sector borrowing requirements. Read United Nations Economic and Social Council Why India needs a Fiscal Council ? In India, there is historically a case of budget mismanagement and consistently poor budget forecasting. Research suggests that countries with independent fiscal councils tend to produce relatively more accurate budget forecasts and stick better to fiscal rules. Issues of fiscal profligacy and populism widening fiscal deficits in India could be overseen. A fiscal council will act as watchdog & prevent the government from gaming the fiscal rules through creative accounting. Why India does not need a Fiscal Council ? Creation of a fiscal council leads to duplication of work. As of now, both the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and RBI give forecasts of growth and other macroeconomic variables, It would lead to undermining the authority of the Finance Ministry and diluting its accountability. Presently macroeconomic forecasts and budget estimates are made by the finance ministry. There are existing mechanisms for fiscal discipline under the FRBM Act, 2003. 2021 GS Paper 1 Question Paper Way forward indeed the creation adds value to the existing mechanism. But at first, a political will to keep fiscal displace and better budget management practice and full implementation of existing laws and mechanisms are important. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73GQ33Lr3Gc Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
UPSC Civil Services Exam Result 2019
UPSC Civil Services Exam Result 2019 Civils360 IAS bags outstanding result in Civil Service Examination 2019, With the exceptional turnout. we prove once again our credibility and quality of coaching. Soon we will arrange an interactive session with all our toppers and let the RESULT SPEAK FOR ITSELF. 👏 Thanks all for the support and believing in us in your arduous journey towards success. UPSC Civil Service Full Results 2019 PDF DOWNLOAD Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
Prelims 2020 General Studies question paper
Prelims 2020 General Studies question paper Download PDF UPSC Prelims 2020 GS1 Questions And Answer Key Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. JOIN NOW
Draft Environment Impact Assessment 2020
Definition: EIA Environment Impact Assessment or EIA can be defined as the study to predict the effect of a proposed developmental/infrastructure project on the environment. As a decision-making tool, EIA compares various alternatives for a project and seeks to identify the one which represents the best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits.EIA systematically examines both beneficial and adverse consequences of a project and ensures that these effects are taken in account in project design. It proposes mitigation measures and predicts whether there will be significant adverse environmental consequences even after the mitigation measures. Benefits of EIA Protection of the environment. Optimum utilisation of resources. Saving of time and cost of the project. Lessens conflicts by promoting community participation. Lay base for environmentally sound projects promoting sustainable development. Evolution in India Started in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology to examine the river-valley projects from an environmental angle but was a purely administrative decision. The Bhopal gas tragedy led to the enactment of Environment (Protection) Act 1986. In 1994, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF), under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for expansion or modernisation of any activity or for setting up new projects. In 2006, new notification for EIA legislation was made making Environment Clearance mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports) and industries Draft Environment Impact Assessment report 2020 was issued for public consultation. Process of EIA Screening: First stage of EIA, which determines whether the proposed project, requires an EIA and if it does, then the level of assessment required. Scoping: This stage identifies the key issues and impacts that should be further investigated. This stage also defines the boundary and time limit of the study. Impact analysis: This stage of EIA identifies and predicts the likely environmental and social impact of the proposed project and evaluates the significance. Mitigation: This step in EIA recommends the actions to reduce and avoid the potential adverse environmental consequences of development activities. Reporting: This stage presents the result of EIA in a form of a report to the decision-making body and other interested parties. Review of EIA: It examines the adequacy and effectiveness of the EIA report and provides the information necessary for decision-making. Decision-making: It decides whether the project is rejected, approved or needs further change. Post monitoring: This stage comes into play once the project is commissioned. It checks to ensure that the impacts of the project do not exceed the legal standards and implementation of the mitigation measures are in the manner as described in the EIA report. Read Also Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Draft Environment Impact Assessment notification 2020 Concerns While delay in project clearance due to requirements of EIA leads to red tape and rent-seeking, the proposal to bolster discretionary power of government with regards to project clearance is a regressive step. The EIA new draft 2020 allows post-facto clearance. This means that even if a project has come up without environment safeguards or without getting environment clearances, it could carry out operation under the provision of the new draft EIA 2020. Draft EIA reduces the space available for public participation, thereby abandoning public trust. Public reporting of violations may not be taken into cognisance, instead, rely on suo moto revelations by the violator. Expanded the list of projects under an exemption under various sections further dilute the law. The draft EIA notification needs wider consultations and progressive changes to lay the base for environmentally sound projects promoting sustainable development. Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
