Useful News Articles

A. GS1 Related

1. Netaji Papers: When Delhi bowed to singapore

2. Japan Promised to hand over Andamans

Topic: Freedom Struggle

Category: Modern India

Location: The Hindu, Page 9

Note: Government has recently released some of the secret files related to Subhas Chandra Bose and with

this lot of info related to developments in India’s freedom struggle is making news. Aspirants need not

spend much time on this at this point but in light of the above they should focus and read/revise on below

issues)

1. Role played by SC Bose in Freedom struggle.

2. Provisional government of Free India

3. INA and Netaji in Singapore

4. Great East Asiatic Conference- 1943 and WW-II

B. GS2 Related

1. Uttarakhand HC orders floor test, allows disqualified MLAs to take part

Topic: Polity

Category: Indian Constitution: Significant Provisions and Basic Structure

Location: The Hindu, Page 1 and 12

(Note: The issue of President rule in Uttarakhand is gaining lot of controversy!! And now Judiciary has

stepped in. On a lighter note its making the things more complicated and relevant for UPSC

aspirants.Students should closely follow the ongoing developments)

This article has been specially prepared by for Amazon

Key points:

On 29th March 2016, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Harish Rawat moved the High Court in

Nainital against the imposition of President’s Rule.

Uttarakhand High Court on 30th March 2016 granted a a chance to Mr. Rawat prove his majority in the

Assembly.

Court ruled that fresh voting must take place on March 31 when “the vote of confidence will be put

to floor test.

However the court said that all 70 MLAs, including the nine rebels who were earlier suspended by the

Speaker, must vote, and the floor test shall decide whether Mr. Rawat would be reinstated.( But, the

rebels would vote separately under the supervision of an observer appointed by the court)

What is the Controversy?

o Union Government says “It is the prerogative of the President, which is a constitutional authority.

The courts cannot interfere with his decision.

o The issue may end up in debating about the basic structure of the constitution and the powers/role

of Judiciary.

For further info students can refer to our DNA and infographic sections on Presidents rule at

http://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/presidents-rule-infographic

http://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/day-confidence-vote-presidents-rule-imposed-uttarakhand )

2. Haryana Passes Jat Quota Bill

Topic: Reservations

Category: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors

Location: The Hindu, Page and 12.

Key points:

The Haryana Assembly passed the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in Services and Admission

in Educational Institutions) Bill, 2016

It will provide reservation for Jats and four other communities (that includes Jat Sikhs, Rors, Bishnois

and Tyagis) in government jobs and education.

It also requested the Central government to include this Act in 9th Schedule read with Article 31B of

the Constitution of India.

Bill also provides for increase in percentage of reservation in Schedule I, II and III for Class I and II

posts for BC ‘A’, BC ‘B’ and BC ‘C’ from 10 per cent, five per cent and five per cent to 11 per cent,

six per cent and six per cent respectively.

(Note: Reservation in Haryana has already touched the 50 per cent threshold as prescribed by the Supreme

Court of India, in Indra Sawhney’s case. As per that judgement, reservation should not “exceed 50 per

cent of the appointments in a grade, cadre or service in any particular year. It is only for extraordinary

reasons that this percentage may be exceeded)

C. GS3 Related

1. Centre gives nod for 100% FDI in e-commerce retail

Topic: Foreign Direct Investment

Category: Effects of liberalization on the economy

Location: The Hindu, page 1 and 12

(Note: The issue of E-commerce is making lot of news these days and now FDI in E- Commerce is

allowed, its an important development and there are chances of asking question from this area in this year

UPSC Main Examination. Students should mark this. It is MUST READ Article, we will soon come up

with a DNA)

Key Points:

The government has allowed 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) through the automatic route

in the marketplace model of e-commerce retailing.

This has brought clarity on FDI policy for the sector as well as definition of marketplace format.

The marketplace model has been defined as providing an “information technology platform by an e-

commerce entity on a digital and electronic network to act as a facilitator between buyer and seller.”

As per the guidelines issued by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) on FDI in e-

commerce, foreign direct investment has not been permitted in inventory-based model.

At present, 100 per cent FDI is permitted in B2B (business-to-business) transactions under the

automatic route.

DIPP guidelines says that the e-commerce marketplace may provide support services to sellers in

warehousing, and logistics., order fulfilment, call centre, payment collection etc.,(However, such

entities will not exercise ownership over the inventory)

2. Govt. draws flak for decision to allow U.S.- trained patent examiners

Topic: Governance of Patent Issues

Category: Intellectual Propert Rights

Location: The Hindu, Page 12

Key Points:

Recently the Indian government has allowed toget Indian patent officers trained by the United States

Patent & Trademark Office.

This move attracted criticism from many corners- why?

o Rights-based access campaigners fear that the USIBC( U.S. India Business Council), which

receives funding from multinational pharmaceutical companies, that is conducting training sessions

for Indian patent examiners, will orient them to the narrative of Big Pharma.

o Also they say that the Indian government gave private, verbal assurance to U.S. industry lobby

groups — the U.S. India Business Council (USIBC) and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — that it

would not use ‘compulsory licensing’ for commercial purposes.

o The above would mean that the Indian patent office won’t readily give out patents to domestic

pharma companies for low cost generic versions of patented drugs.

o This might impact the reach of low cost generic versions of new drugs, which has led to millions of

people living with HIV receiving treatment supplied by Indian manufacturers.

3. India, EU to discuss trade, ‘sensitive bilateral issues’ at Brussels Summit

Topic: India’s Neighbourhood

Category: India-Sri Lanka Relations

Location: The Hindu

Key Points:

Sri Lankan President is set to declare open a ‘reconciliation village’ in Vavuniya in the Northern

Province in Sri Lanka

the Sri Lankan Navy handed back 177 acres of land in Sampur village in the Eastern Province where

they had a training centre to its original owners

Such initiatives are indeed praiseworthy though much needs to be done

D. GS4 Related

Nothing here for today folks!

E. Important Editorials : A Quick Glance

The Hindu:

1 .Towards military self reliance

Topic: Indigenisation of Defence Technology

Category: Science and Technology

Key points:

The Union government has recently the Defence Procurement Policy DPP-2016

It replaces the earlier DPP policy of 2013, and has several recommendations for improving indigenous

procurement.

DPP 2016 is termed as a step in right direction that will now increase the participation of India’s

private sector in military manufacturing.

The new policy places the highest preference to a newly incorporated procurement class called ‘Buy

Indian-IDDM’.

IDDM denotes Indigenous Designed Developed and Manufactured.

(This category refers to procurement from an Indian vendor, products that are indigenously designed,

developed and manufactured with a minimum of 40 per cent local content, or products having 60 per cent

indigenous content if not designed and developed within the country)

The policy laid stress on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and on “Make in India”.

A 10 per cent weightage has been introduced for superior technology, instead of selecting the lowest

bidder only in financial terms.

However, the DPP is noticeable for the absence of Chapter on ‘Strategic Partners and Partnerships’,

which the Defence Minister said would be notified separately.

(Under Strategic Partnerships, select Indian private companies were to be given preferential status in major

defence projects)

Note: Students can refer to our DNA section for further reading at http://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/defence-

procurement-policy-overview

2 .India’s Case on its Solar Policy

Topic: India- USA relations &WTO

Category: International relations, Important International institutions

Key points:

The U.S. had taken to the WTO its case against India’s policy of favouring domestic inputs in solar

cells and solar modules, arguing that it amounted to a discriminatory trade practice and distorted the

game.

WTO has recently ruled in favour of USA

Indian government said it will contest the ruling in the World Trade Organisation against this as.

India’s policy of local sourcing of components as part of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

is a key issue also inline with its Make in India Initiative and its commitment towards limiting Climate

change

(Note: Solar Dispute between India and USA is making news since two years, in light of the above article

and recent developments, it is important from UPSC Main Examination point of view to have full

understanding about the issue, students can refer to our DNA section at http://byjus.com/free-ias-

prep/focus-local-demand-win-wto-solar-dispute-says-timothy-meyer)

2 .The Economic Times: Two reasons for government to curb spectrum prices

Topic: Economy

Category: telecom sector

Key points:

government should shun setting high base price for the 700 MHz spectrum it plans to auction off to

telecom operators shortly

Two reasons to curb the prices

1.Reliance on a single, dedicated frequency band will become obsolete as technology advances to 5G

and IoTs takes off(Locking up lots of capital in acquiring a band of spectrum will mean a wasteful form

of capital allocation)

2.The higher the frequency of the bandwidth, the larger the number of towers, base stations and

repeaters, calling for higher levels of energy. And, conversely, lower frequency bands like 700 MHz

consume less energy.The government must incentivise use of lower frequencies

3 .Decline of pollinators threatens food supply

Topic: Food chain

Category: Ecology

(Note: This is a MUST READ article and has scope to be asked in this year UPSC Preliminary

examination)

Key points:

o Wild pollinators play a very important role in the production of crops such as some pulses,

sunflower seeds, cardamom, coffee, cashew nuts, oranges, mangoes and apples.

o More than 20,000 species of pollinators including birds, bats and insects service the above crops.

o However,staple food crops such as wheat, rice, sorghum, barley and maize do not require

animalsfor their pollination. (For most of our food crops,the most important pollinators are the

thousands of species of bees)

o A study by Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES) and its

report under UN reveals that the wild pollinators are declining, and their loss will imperil our food

supply.

o What is IPEBS?

IPEBS was created in 2012 by 100 + governments, and it seeks to provide scientific

information about biodiversity and ecosystem services to policymakers of the member

countries.

The IPBES was established as an intergovernmental body akin to the Intergovernmental Panel

on Climate Change (IPCC)

The IPBES, with its secretariat in Germany, is administered by the UN, including the United

Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP).

o IPBES also defined ecosystem services?

What are these “ Eco system services”?

1. They are the many benefits which society derives from nature.

2. For example they include fresh water; fertile soil; wild plant resources such as foods, fibres,

medicinal plants and the wild relatives of crops; wild pollinators and the natural enemies of

crop pests; carbon sequestration from the atmosphere; and the important spiritual, aesthetic

and recreational values of nature.

o Indian context

o In India, the important pollinators of food crops are various species of honeybee, Apis, such as A.

Dorsata, A. Cerana, A. Florae, A. Andreniformes and A. Laboriosa. The European honeybee, A.

Mellifera, also pollinates many crops and fruits such as apples.

(Imp Note: Students must remember these names)

Many of these pollinators in India are now declining.

In the Himalayas, apple yields in recent years have decreased. The decreases have been attributed to

reduction in the number of bees, but the exact causes of low yields are not known.

This is a potential crisis not only for biodiversity but also for our agricultural economy. The

economic stakes are huge.

The value of animal-pollinated crops in India is in the tens of billions of dollars. Poor management of

our pollinator species may be leading to lower crop yields and to losses of hundreds or thousands of

crores annually. Compared with this, our level of investment in research on pollinators has been

negligible.

What should be done?

o The IPBES report makes a number of recommendations to restore the integrity of pollinators:

1. Improvements in the science of pollination

2. Better land management

3. Strong regulations underlying pesticide use and

4. Restoration and protection of habitats for wild pollinators.Above all, there is an urgent need

for monitoring wild pollinators, and for strengthening the governance of natural assets

Government Intiative – can that help?

o Yes, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has recently launched a programme

to establish a network of Indian Long Term Ecological Observatories (I-LTEO) to monitor the

country’s ecosystems.

o The I-LTEO network offers tremendous opportunities to monitor wild pollinators.

Wild biodiversity, including pollinators, ,must become a significant component of future ‘smart

cities’.

What is the challenge?

o Pollinators span wild and managed habitats, agricultural and urban landscapes.

o It is not only the science that requires attention. Policies and governance for managing

landscapes — natural, agricultural, urban — are equally important

What is the take away/Conclusion?

This UN report and IPBES assessment should serve as wake up call to government agencies and they

must rethink conventional sectoral approaches and narrow disciplinary perspectives. There are many

factors involved in the complex environmental challenges threatening human security today. Only well-

integrated approaches can successfully address them.

Others:

1 .The Indian Express: Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence forms JV with Israel’s Rafael; to take up projects

worth Rs 65K crore

Topic: Indigenisation of Defence Technology

Category: Science and Technology

Key points:

Eyeing defence programmes valued at about Rs 65,000 crore, Reliance Defence announced their tie-up

with Israeli Rafael Advanced Defence Systems to develop air-to-air missiles for the Indian Air Force

(IAF).

The JV will provide thrust into the field of indigenous production and development of High

Precision and state-of-the-art Weapon Systems in India.

The Strategic Partnership with technology powerhouse and one of the world leaders in defence

technologies, Rafael Advance Defence Systems of Israel will help boost our “Make in India

Initiative”

Additional reference: Image -The Hindu Page 16

2 .Live Mint – The clean energy deadline is close

Topic: Renewable energy , sustainable development

Category: Climate change

Key points:

o Mark Buchanan , a science writer says “Policymakers need to think a lot more about the

repercussions of the fossil fuel power plants currently being planned, as well as associated coal

mines and oil and gas fields. “

o The author refers to a new study by researchers from Oxford University’s Institute for New

Economic Thinking and says

“We have only a year or so to stop investing in new fossil-fuel power stations. After that, the expected

emissions from those plants over their economic lifetime will commit us—barring other exceptional

changes—to shoot past the 2 degree limit. This means we face crucial choices right now”.

What we do today will affect the options available to us for decades to come.

Once put into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide lasts for centuries, contributing to warming all the while

(Some thermal plants in the world are more than 50 years old !!)

It’s the total stock of carbon in the atmosphere, not what we happen to be emitting now, that matters

most.

Even if we reduce emissions quickly, the stock will decline much more slowly.

3 .The Asian Age : CIC sends notice to Intelligence Bureau over Chaturvedi report

Topic: Governance Issues

Category: Accountability and Transparency

Key points:

The Intelligence Bureau is one of the organisations specified in Second Schedule to the RTI Act

,exempting it from purview of RTI Act except when CIC considered that the information sought is

either related to corruption or violation of human rights by that organisation.

The CIC has now issued a notice to Intelligence Bureau, asking it to explain why its report on alleged

harassment of whistleblower IFoS officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi by officials be not made public.

Back Ground of the issue:

o Mr Chaturvedi, exposed alleged forestry scam in Haryana, and had sought the copy of IB report,

which was sent to Cabinet Secretary and the ministry of environment and forests in August, 2014,

o This is the report on the issue of allegedly “foisting false cases against him in retaliation of his

investigation and reports against major corruption in the state.

o He approached the CIC seeking permission for the same stating that the information sought is

relating to alleged violation of human rights.

4 .PTI news- Jaitley launches ‘Make in India’ conference in Sydney

Topic: Indigenisation of technology- Make in India

Category: Issues related to mobilisation of resources

Key points:

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today launched ‘Make in India’ conference in Sydney and asked

Australian businesses to be the part of India’s growth story.

India can become a very low cost service provider but failed to transform into a low cost manufacturing

and now there was an opportunity to do so.

Mr. Jaitley said despite global economic downturn, India had shown a great resilience and for two

consecutive years, we are the fastest growing economy in the world.

When we measure ourselves by our own standards, we believe that 7.5 per cent does not reflect our true

potential, and he expressed that “Indian government does feel that manufacturing sector does need

to grow”

F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:

1. Great East Asiatic Conference- 1943 and WW-II

2. Basic Doctrine

3. President’s Rule

4. SC-Indra Sawhneys Judgement

5. E- Commerce

6. DIPP

7. Buy Indian-IDDM’

8. DPP 2016

9. India USA Solar dispute

10. WTO

11. IPBES

12. I-LTEO

13. CIC