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Thursday, September 05, 2019
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
Vision IAS Mains 365 International Relations 2019 PDF
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Vision IAS Mains 365 Science and Technology 2019 PDF
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Daily Current Affairs, 04th September 2019
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17:25
1) Joint India-New Development Bank Workshop held in New Delhi
•The NDB is the first Multilateral Development Bank established by developing countries and emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
2) Indian Army Team summit MT Leo Pargyil (6773m)
•Leo Pargyil is the third highest peak of Himachal Pradesh and is considered to be among the most challenging and technically difficult peak to scale. It lies in the Zanskar range.
3) ESIC Signs an Agreement with SBI
•As per an agreement signed between the two, SBI will provide e-payment services directly to bank accounts of all ESIC beneficiaries and payees without any manual intervention as an integrated and automated process through its cash management product e-payment technology platform.
4) India, US to carry out joint Military Exercise “Yudh Abhyas 2019”
•Exercise Yudh Abhyas is one of the largest joint running military training and defence corporation endeavours between India and USA. This will be the 15th edition of the joint exercise hosted alternately between the two countries. The exercise is also an ideal platform to learn from each other’s expertise and experiences of planning and execution of operations.
5) CEC Sunil Arora assumes charge as Chairman of AWEB
•AWEB is a multilateral platform for election management bodies with 115 EMBs from 109 countries as its members, and 20 international organisations as Associate Members across the world to share best electoral practices.
6) Mithali Raj retires from T20 International Cricket
The HINDU Notes – 04th September 2019
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13:43
📰 Putting the skids under border trade
The India-Pakistan face-off is having more repercussions than intended, with border economies the worst hit
•In February 2019, in the wake of the Pulwama attack, India decided to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan; subsequently, it imposed 200% customs duty on all Pakistani goods coming into India. After the Balakot airstrikes, again in February, India and Pakistan closed their airspace,with Pakistan keeping the ban in place for nearly five months. In April, India suspended trade across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir citing misuse of the trade route by Pakistan-based elements. And more recently, post the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, Pakistan cut off diplomatic and economic ties with India — expelling the Indian envoy, partially shutting airspace and suspending bilateral trade.
Plunging trade
•Escalating tensions between the two neighbours naturally led to the announcement of retaliatory unilateral decisions, one after the other. Like in the past, the impact has trickled down to trade relations between both the countries; this time it is much more severe.
•In 2018-19, bilateral trade between India and Pakistan was valued at $2.5 billion — India’s exports to Pakistan accounted for $2.06 billion and India’s imports from Pakistan were at $495 million. India’s decision vis-à-vis withdrawal of MFN status and imposition of 200% duty has hurt Pakistan’s exports to India, falling from an average of $45 million per month in 2018 to $2.5 million per month in the last four months.
Western border trade
•The quantum of loss that has been incurred by traders in both India and Pakistan has varied according to the nature of trade and the trade route. For example, through the Wagah-Attari land route, bilateral trade was heavily in favour of Pakistan; in the last two years, India’s imports from Pakistan accounted for 82% of the total trade through the land route. After February, most of this business has been badly affected with only a handful of items including rock salt, continuing to be imported.
•Unlike national economies, border economies owe their existence to cross-border economic opportunities. These economies generally experience a sudden boom-bust cycle on account of political changes, trade bans, price and exchange rate and tax fluctuations. As seen elsewhere in South Asia such as via the inception of India-Bangladesh border haats, the costs and benefits are mutual to the border economies on both sides; much more in cases such as Amritsar where major economic activity is largely dependent on border trade with Pakistan.
•Amritsar is land-locked, is not a metropolis and traditionally has no significant industry. Hence, any decision on India-Pakistan trade has a direct impact on the local economy and the people of Amritsar. Since February, according to estimates on ground, 5,000 families have been directly affected in Amritsar because of breadwinner dependence on bilateral trade. Traders and their staff members, customs house agents (CHAs), freight forwarders, labour force, truck operators, dhaba owners, fuel stations, and other service providers are closing shop and going out of business. Of the nearly ₹25-30 crore that was being added to the local economy of Amritsar every month, the estimate now is that three-quarters has been lost in the last six months.
•Many a time, upsetting the trade apple cart can have more repercussions than intended. For example, gypsum, imported from Pakistan, was being used in India as well as in Nepal for the cement plants there. To avoid empty backhauling on the return journey, trucks carrying these consignments brought back specific products such as yarn from mills in Uttar Pradesh to Punjab. In the absence of gypsum trade, the freight rate of trucks from Uttar Pradesh to Punjab, as per the ground reports, has increased from ₹3 to ₹7 per kg, with a single trip absorbing the cost of the entire journey. Earlier, prices of tradeable goods which were kept under check owing to the balancing out mechanisms of international trade, are experiencing fluctuations now because of the trade disruptions.
Pakistan takes a hit too
•There is gloom on the Pakistani side too. With Pakistan deciding to completely suspend bilateral trade, exports of cotton from India to Pakistan are expected to be affected the most, eventually hurting Pakistan’s textiles; the lawn industry which will now have to source pricier cotton from alternative markets in the United States, Australia, Egypt or Central Asia; or there is a high possibility that Indian cotton, along with other products, will be routed through third countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, thereby increasing the share of indirect trade which is estimated to be more than double the direct trade between India and Pakistan.
•Hence, while the overall economies of the two countries may very well manage to stay afloat despite the suspension of economic ties, it is the local economies that will suffer the most and are already perishing. In this connection, there has been a loss in business, rise in prices, lack of alternative sources of livelihood, as well as an expected increase in bank defaults. There are also individual cases, for example a CHA in Amritsar, who has no means to pay the equated monthly instalment for his home loan, highlighting the hardship of locals dependent on border economies.
•In the spirit of nationalism, the trade fraternity on both sides, by and large, has stood by their respective governments. But locals in border economies on both sides have mouths to feed, which calls for a solution. What are the alternative sources of livelihood that can be generated to keep border economies afloat? Is there a sword hanging over the future of other bilateral arrangements such as the transit of goods from Afghanistan through Pakistan into India?
•While it’s about damage containment for now, one can only hope that the appetite for trade engagement still remains.
•In February 2019, in the wake of the Pulwama attack, India decided to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to Pakistan; subsequently, it imposed 200% customs duty on all Pakistani goods coming into India. After the Balakot airstrikes, again in February, India and Pakistan closed their airspace,with Pakistan keeping the ban in place for nearly five months. In April, India suspended trade across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir citing misuse of the trade route by Pakistan-based elements. And more recently, post the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, Pakistan cut off diplomatic and economic ties with India — expelling the Indian envoy, partially shutting airspace and suspending bilateral trade.
Plunging trade
•Escalating tensions between the two neighbours naturally led to the announcement of retaliatory unilateral decisions, one after the other. Like in the past, the impact has trickled down to trade relations between both the countries; this time it is much more severe.
•In 2018-19, bilateral trade between India and Pakistan was valued at $2.5 billion — India’s exports to Pakistan accounted for $2.06 billion and India’s imports from Pakistan were at $495 million. India’s decision vis-à-vis withdrawal of MFN status and imposition of 200% duty has hurt Pakistan’s exports to India, falling from an average of $45 million per month in 2018 to $2.5 million per month in the last four months.
Western border trade
•The quantum of loss that has been incurred by traders in both India and Pakistan has varied according to the nature of trade and the trade route. For example, through the Wagah-Attari land route, bilateral trade was heavily in favour of Pakistan; in the last two years, India’s imports from Pakistan accounted for 82% of the total trade through the land route. After February, most of this business has been badly affected with only a handful of items including rock salt, continuing to be imported.
•Unlike national economies, border economies owe their existence to cross-border economic opportunities. These economies generally experience a sudden boom-bust cycle on account of political changes, trade bans, price and exchange rate and tax fluctuations. As seen elsewhere in South Asia such as via the inception of India-Bangladesh border haats, the costs and benefits are mutual to the border economies on both sides; much more in cases such as Amritsar where major economic activity is largely dependent on border trade with Pakistan.
•Amritsar is land-locked, is not a metropolis and traditionally has no significant industry. Hence, any decision on India-Pakistan trade has a direct impact on the local economy and the people of Amritsar. Since February, according to estimates on ground, 5,000 families have been directly affected in Amritsar because of breadwinner dependence on bilateral trade. Traders and their staff members, customs house agents (CHAs), freight forwarders, labour force, truck operators, dhaba owners, fuel stations, and other service providers are closing shop and going out of business. Of the nearly ₹25-30 crore that was being added to the local economy of Amritsar every month, the estimate now is that three-quarters has been lost in the last six months.
•Many a time, upsetting the trade apple cart can have more repercussions than intended. For example, gypsum, imported from Pakistan, was being used in India as well as in Nepal for the cement plants there. To avoid empty backhauling on the return journey, trucks carrying these consignments brought back specific products such as yarn from mills in Uttar Pradesh to Punjab. In the absence of gypsum trade, the freight rate of trucks from Uttar Pradesh to Punjab, as per the ground reports, has increased from ₹3 to ₹7 per kg, with a single trip absorbing the cost of the entire journey. Earlier, prices of tradeable goods which were kept under check owing to the balancing out mechanisms of international trade, are experiencing fluctuations now because of the trade disruptions.
Pakistan takes a hit too
•There is gloom on the Pakistani side too. With Pakistan deciding to completely suspend bilateral trade, exports of cotton from India to Pakistan are expected to be affected the most, eventually hurting Pakistan’s textiles; the lawn industry which will now have to source pricier cotton from alternative markets in the United States, Australia, Egypt or Central Asia; or there is a high possibility that Indian cotton, along with other products, will be routed through third countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Singapore, thereby increasing the share of indirect trade which is estimated to be more than double the direct trade between India and Pakistan.
•Hence, while the overall economies of the two countries may very well manage to stay afloat despite the suspension of economic ties, it is the local economies that will suffer the most and are already perishing. In this connection, there has been a loss in business, rise in prices, lack of alternative sources of livelihood, as well as an expected increase in bank defaults. There are also individual cases, for example a CHA in Amritsar, who has no means to pay the equated monthly instalment for his home loan, highlighting the hardship of locals dependent on border economies.
•In the spirit of nationalism, the trade fraternity on both sides, by and large, has stood by their respective governments. But locals in border economies on both sides have mouths to feed, which calls for a solution. What are the alternative sources of livelihood that can be generated to keep border economies afloat? Is there a sword hanging over the future of other bilateral arrangements such as the transit of goods from Afghanistan through Pakistan into India?
•While it’s about damage containment for now, one can only hope that the appetite for trade engagement still remains.
📰 A life in the balance: On Kulbhushan Jadhav
THE HINDU NEWSPAPER IMPORTANT ARTICLES 04.09.2019
VisionIAS
06:52
FRONT PAGE
NATIONAL
INTERNATIONAL
OPINION
Tuesday, September 03, 2019
International Organization And Their Headquarters
VisionIAS
17:01
1. United Nations Organization (UNO) - New York, United States.
Role - The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization tasked to promote international co-operation and to create and maintain international order.
2. World Health Organization (WHO) - Geneva, Switzerland.
Role - The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health.
3. United Nations Education Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) -Paris
Role - The mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.
4. International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Washington, D.C, United States.
Role - The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system
5. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) - New York, United States.
Role - It is formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities.
6. International Labour Organization (ILO) - Geneva, Switzerland.
Role - Deals with labour problems, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all.
7. World Trade Organization (WTO) - Geneva, Switzerland.
Role - The World Trade Organization is an intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade.
8. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - Geneva, Switzerland.
Role - It deals with trade, investment, and development issues.
9. United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) - New York, United States.
Role - Provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.
10. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) - New York, United States.
Role - It is the main deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the UN.
11. World Bank – Washington, D.C, United States
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to countries of the world for capital projects.
12. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) - Geneva, Switzerland.
It is the UN system's authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the Earth's atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources.
13. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - Paris, France.
It is an intergovernmental economic organization with 36 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
14. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - Vienna, Austria.
The Role is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in Member States.
15. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - Geneva, Switzerland.
WIPO was created in 1967 "to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world.
Daily Current Affairs, 03rd September 2019
VisionIAS
15:09
1) PM Modi inaugurates Garvi Gujarat Bhavan in New Delhi
2) Tourism Minister inaugurates first-ever architectural LED illumination at Qutub Minar
3) Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu to inaugurate ‘Aqua Aquaria India’
•The theme for this year’s event is ‘Taking Blue Revolution to India’s Hinterland’. This event organised for encouraging diversification and intensification of aquaculture in a sustainable manner. This is an initiative of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) under the Commerce Ministry.
4) PM Narendra Modi to be honoured with Global Goalkeeper Award
•The award is a “special recognition” that celebrates the commitment of a political leader towards the Global Goals, demonstrated through impactful work in their country and/or globally.
5) Haryana govt waives off interest & penalty of Rs 4,750 cr on crop loans
6) New Health Insurance Scheme AB-MGRSBY launched in Rajasthan
•The scheme is implemented after merging the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY) and the state’s Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojna (BSBY). With the merger of (AB-PMJAY) and (BSBY) the number of families getting benefits will be increased from 1 crore to 1.1 crores.
7) 14th Conference of Parties UNCCD begins
8) Prakash Javadekar Unveils New Logo, Certificate Design of CBFC
9) Raksha Mantri co-chairs Japan–India Defence Ministerial Meeting
•Raksha Mantri also paid homage to the martyrs of Japanese Self-Defence Forces at Ichigaya in Tokyo.
10) 72nd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia
•Dr Harsh Vardhan was unanimously elected as Chair of the 72nd Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia.
11) Reliance Power inks pact with JERA for power project in Bangladesh
12) A new book released on the history of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
•This book on the history of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, earlier known as the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). This book presents the chronicles of Congress leadership in 1947 surrendered India’s claim on the “tactically important” province despite the resistance of Mahatma Gandhi and some influential political leaders of the region.
13) KVIC launches ‘Terracotta Grinder’ to reuse wasted pottery
•On the occasion, KVIC also distributed 200 Electric Potter Wheels and other pottery machines among the villagers.
Short Notes Polity & Constitution Pdf Download
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06:42
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