Future Officers

Daily Mains question – June 6/2020

This is practice questions for mains, make utilize of this platform. Any queries or comments are welcome. One can point out in comment section or else can mail us futureofficers2020@gmail.com.

1. Discuss the importance and features of G-7 Nations and its relevance to India.

In News:

US President Donald Trump is keen on expanding G7 to include India, Russia, South Korea and Australia and he had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 meeting this year.

G7 Nations:

G7 or Group of Seven is Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA and UK.
It is an intergovernmental organization that was formed in 1975 by the top economies of the time as an informal forum to discuss pressing world issues.
Initially formed as an effort by the US and its allies to discuss economic issues, the G7 forum has deliberated about several challenges over the decades such as oil crashes of the 1970s, the economic changeover of ex-Soviet Union bloc nations and many pressing issues such as financial crisis, terrorism, arms control and drug trafficking.
The G7 does not have a formal constitution or fixed headquarters and the decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding.
The rise of India, China and Brazil over the past few decades has reduced the G7’s relevance whose share in global GDP has now fallen to around 40%.

Relevance to India:

India is both a military and economic giant but isn’t a part of G7 yet.
China has emerged the new nemesis of US and to check on the rising influence of China as a global power, India’s membership to G7 has been recommended. By becoming a part of the group, India can have more voice and power in burning issues around the world and also to have smoother diplomatic relations with other members.
Being the most influential grouping, with India’s inclusion, it will certainly be useful for India as well as the group as its present configuration no longer reflects global realities.
There is an urgent need of democracies and other rules based regime to believe in fair trade and respect for intellectual property rights to come together.

2. Cryptocurrency is gaining the popularity. In light of it, explain the concept of crypto-jacking.

In News:

Cryptocurrency is a digital asset stored on computerized databases. These digital coins are recorded in digital ledgers using strong cryptography to keep them secure.
The practice of crypto-jacking is currently on the rise as the price of the asset is falling.

Crypto-jacking:

The ownership of digital assets is cryptographically coded and the blockchain system enables transfer of ownership. To ensure it is used by only one entity, the distributed ledger accepts transaction performed by the first user, rejecting all other blocks.
This way the same cryptocurrency can’t be used by two different entities, making a fool-proof financial system.
Crypto-jacking is what some coin miners do to illegally gain access to many computers by stealthily dropping malware in the user’s pc.

How it works?

Once installed, crypto mining code runs surreptitiously and turns devices into crypto-currency mining botnets.
The mined digital assets are then stored in digital ledgers with unique code.
It does not use victim’s data, but they drain the CPU’s resource which slow down the system, increases electricity usage and causes irreparable damage to the hardware.
Hackers tend to prefer anonymous cryptocurrencies like Monero and Zcash over the more popular Bitcoin as it is harder to track illegal activity back to them on these platforms. The practice is more common in the recent days as the asset price is falling and to reduce the costs associated with mining, hackers resort to crypto-jacking.

World Environment day – June 5/2020

Context:

World Environment Day offers a global platform for inspiring positive change. It recognizes that global change requires a global community.
It pushes for individuals to think about the way they consume; for businesses to develop greener models; for farmers and manufacturers to produce more sustainably; for governments to safeguard wild spaces; for educators to inspire students to live in harmony with the Earth; and for youth to become fierce gatekeepers of a green future. It requires all of us.

Background:

World Environment Day is the most renowned day for environmental action.
Since 1974, it has been celebrated every year on 5 June; engaging governments, businesses, celebrities and citizens to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue.

Theme:

This year a theme is concern that is both urgent and existential.
Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States and Australia to locust infestations across East Africa–and now, a global disease pandemic–demonstrate the interdependence of humans and the webs of life in which they exist.
Nature is sending us a message.

In 2020, the theme is biodiversity.

In 2019, the theme is Air pollution.

Daily Mains question – June 4/2020

GS – 2

Governance

1. Instead of tweaking labour laws, states must inspire confidence in workers. Critically analyse the statement.

In News

Over two months into the national lockdown, India’s workforce is in complete disarray.
While swathes of informal sector workers are moving away from their adopted base and remaining 10% of the workforce that is formally employed with social security benefits are beset by pink lips, furloughs or salary cuts.

Indian Labour laws:

There are over 200 state laws and close to 50 central laws and yet there is not set definition of “labour laws” in the country.
The main objectives of the Factories Act are to ensure safety measures on factory premises and promote health and welfare of workers. The Minimum Wages Act covers more workers than any other labour legislation.
The Industries Disputes Act, 1947 relates to terms of services such as layoff, retrenchment, strikes, lockouts etc.
An Indian law are often criticized as ‘inflexible’ and with too many laws creates unnecessary complication and ineffective implementation.
If India had fewer and easier to follow labour laws, firms would be able to expand and contract depending on the market conditions and the resulting formalization would help workers as they would get better salaries and social security benefits.

Boosting confidence and employment

Theoretically, it is possible to generate more employment in a market with fewer labour regulations. There is too much unused capacity and states can have multiple shift duration to employ more people instead of longer shift hours.
Instead of creating exploitative conditions for the workers, the government should have partnered with the industries to share the wage burden and ensuring the health of the labourers.
Several states offered a temporary fix during this crisis time like stretching the permissible working hours from eight to 12, so that productivity can improve even with less than optimal staff strength.
Being a concurrent subject in the constitution, states however need the centre’s nod to effect these changes. In the present situation greater spending is needed on hygiene to inspire employee confidence.
It is equally critical to reorient India’s current approach to urban and industrial housing, workplace social security and minimum wage standards.

International

2. America is in great need of legislative reform that supports a pluralist ethos. Explain.

In News:

With the recent wake of protests following the death of African-American, George Floyd, there is no doubt that racism is still relevant trend in USA.

Pluralism in USA

Although the language of pluralism is often equated with democracy in the language of American political science and in accounts of contemporary trends towards democratization in other countries, pluralist theory began in 1960s and it is a concept that often appears in language of politics.
The tyranny of a majority, with the concomitant denial of the rights of the minorities was an expressed concern of the founding fathers.
Multiplicity of interest is an important key both to the character of religion and the freedom of religion in American history.
Minority interests are the characteristics of the very essence of pluralistic society. The transformation of America’s racial and ethnic profile is most visible in many states and communities and it has got important economic and social implications.
Although the transition is moving at a rapid pace, occasional tensions build and erupt into serious confrontations. Racial riots, hate crimes and blatant racism directed against minorities are common. If USA could avoid a violent clash of cultures, the country can benefit from its growing diversity.
A proper enforcement of stricter laws against hate crime is much needed instead of including candidates in the cabinet and elections.
Only by adopting stricter agendas in workplace, communities and states, the American dream of pluralistic ideals would come true.

Daily Mains question – June 3/2020

GS – 2

Health and welfare

The Indian Healthcare system needs a revival plan to come into terms of pandemic situation. Explain.

In News

Recent Covid-19 crisis has put the world upside down due to its impact and our approach in tackling the same.
The coronavirus cases has blatantly made transparent as of how even giant economies could succumb in no time.
India has not been spared from the same.

Healthcare System

With lot of working brains, we are trying to find a solution to address the crisis. With peaking cases in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and other areas we are finding it difficult to accommodate more number of affected populations day by day.
Private healthcare centres’ are trying to use this as an opportunity to take advantage of desperate people.
Indian healthcare being one of the finest around the world has not come into terms with the pandemic crisis yet. With increases active cases and deaths we could find it difficult to provide treatment to every individual.
Indian Constitution tasks each state to provide health care for its people. Although it should have been universally made available by the government, we have a lot of private institutions taking over the medical field.

Is healthcare a low Priority in India?

Public healthcare in the last decade has been a low priority in India with just 1.29% of GDP spent on it which is far lower than countries classified as “poorest” around the world.
Ironically we are the same country known for successful eradication of small-pox and polio through targeted intervention.
The growing number of people requiring medical intervention has stressed out the healthcare system and has shown the loopholes of absence of a foolproof plan during such crisis.

Way forward

Now understanding the immediate requirement, our way forward should be to increase the number of tests done on a daily basis, make alternate arrangements to accommodate more people who are in need of medical assistance, prioritize patients with high risk to be treated immediately and to provide proper assistance to the doctors and others involved in treating the people.
With this as an example, we should invest in research and training, enable foreign investment in medical education, earmark a disaster management budget and collaborate medical advancement techniques with other countries.

GS – 4

Ethics

2. Do you think universal basic programme is the need of the hour in India to eradicate poverty? Analyze.

In News:

The ongoing pandemic crisis is creating changes that could end up dividing society into pre and post covid-19 era. These changes are also likely to exacerbate the novel challenges accompanying the fourth industrial revolution.

Technology Advancement:

Today disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, robotic replacement are ushering in, which is steadily decreasing the human capital requirement making jobs a premium.
Many consider a Universal Basic Income to be a solution for this dwindling job opportunity.
It is also deliberated as an effective poverty reduction tool.

UBI:

Universal Basic Income is a government guarantee that each citizen receives a minimum income.
It is also called as citizen income or basic minimum income. In its true sense it would entail the provision of an unconditional fixed amount to every citizen in the country. Countries like Kenya, Brazil, Switzerland, and Finland have implemented this concept to supplement their population.
IMF has projected global growth in 2020 to be -3.0% , the worst since the great depression.
India is projected to grow at 1.9%. With almost 90% of India’s workforce in the informal sector without minimum wages or social security, micro level circumstances will be worse here than anywhere else.
The frequent sight of several migrant deaths and barefoot travel in inhumane conditions is a disgraceful blight on India.
One way to ensure their sustenance throughout these testing times is the introduction of unconditional regular pay checks at maximum universality at least till the economy normalizes.
If universal basic income ever had a time, it is now.

विश्व साइकिल दिवस – 3 जून

प्रसंग:

विश्व साइकिल दिवस की तीसरी वर्षगांठ, जिसे अप्रैल 2018 को संयुक्त राष्ट्र महासभा द्वारा घोषित किया गया था।
इसके पीछे का विचार साइकिल की लंबी उम्र, विशिष्टता और बहुमुखी प्रतिभा को पहचानना है, और यह परिवहन का एक किफायती, विश्वसनीय, सरल और स्वच्छ और पर्यावरण के अनुकूल स्थायी साधन है।

पृष्ठभूमि:

यह सब तब शुरू हुआ जब अमेरिका के प्रोफेसर लेस्ज़ेक सिबिल्स्की और उनके समाजशास्त्र वर्ग ने संयुक्त राष्ट्र के एक प्रस्ताव को बढ़ावा देने के लिए एक जमीनी स्तर पर अभियान का नेतृत्व किया, जो एक दिन को मनाने के लिए और दुनिया भर में साइकिल के उपयोग को बढ़ावा देने के लिए चलाया गया।
अभियान बढ़ता गया, और संकल्प तुर्कमेनिस्तान द्वारा प्रायोजित किया गया और 56 देशों द्वारा प्रायोजित किया गया।
जून 3 वर्ल्डबाइकसाइड लोगो को आइजैक फेल्ड और एक साथ एनीमेशन द्वारा डिजाइन किया गया था, जो कि दुनिया भर में विभिन्न प्रकार की सवारी के साइकिल चालकों को चित्रित करता है, प्रोफेसर जॉन ई। स्वानसन द्वारा बनाया गया था।
इसके पीछे मुख्य संदेश यह दिखाना था कि साइकिल सभी के लिए है और यह मानवता की सेवा करती है। वर्तमान नीले और सफेद लोगो और एनीमेशन के निर्माण के पीछे भी दो हैं।

विश्व साइकिल दिवस का महत्व:

दिन के लिए विचार लोगों को एक दूसरे के प्रति अधिक सहिष्णुता, समझ और सम्मान रखने के लिए प्रेरित और प्रेरित करना है।
दूसरी बात यह है कि साइकिल परिवहन के अधिक टिकाऊ साधनों को दर्शाता है जो न केवल लोगों के लिए बल्कि पर्यावरण और अर्थव्यवस्था के लिए भी अच्छा है।

विश्व साइकिल दिवस कैसे मनाया जाता है:

चल रहे सीओवीआईडी -19 महामारी के कारण कोई विशाल सार्वजनिक सभा नहीं होगी क्योंकि पिछले दो वर्षों में जहां लोग रैलियों के लिए एकत्र हुए हैं।
आमतौर पर लोग शहर के चारों ओर एक साइकिल की सवारी पर दूसरों को शामिल करते हैं और अन्य घटनाओं को पकड़ते हैं जिसमें साइकिल शामिल होती है।
चूंकि सामाजिक गड़बड़ी चल रही है, इसलिए लोग अपनी कार लेने के बजाय खुद ही सवारी के लिए जा सकते हैं।

World Bicycle Day – June 3

Context:

Third anniversary of World Bicycle Day, which was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on April 2018.
The idea behind it is to recognise the longevity, uniqueness and versatility of the bicycle, and that it is an affordable, reliable, simple, and clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transport.

Background:

It all began when Professor Leszek Sibilski of the US and his Sociology class led a grassroots campaign to promote a UN Resolution to designate a day that would celebrate and promote the use of the bicycle around the world.
The campaign grew, and the resolution was sponsored by Turkmenistan and co-sponsored by 56 countries.
June3 WorldBicycleDay logo was designed by Isaac Feld and an accompanying animation, which depicts bicyclists of various types riding around the globe, was created by Professor John E. Swanson.
The main message behind it was to show that the bicycle is for all and that it serves all of humanity. The two are also behind the creation of the current blue and white logo and animation.

Significance of World Bicycle Day:

The idea for the day is to motivate and inspire people towards having more tolerance, understanding and respect for one another.
The other thing is that the bicycle signifies a more sustainable means of transport that is not only good for people but for the environment and the economy too.

How World Bicycle Day is celebrated:

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic there will not be any huge public gatherings as there have been in the past two years where people have gathered for rallies.
Usually people would join others on a bicycle ride around town and hold other events that would involve bicycles.
Since social distancing is going on, people can take go for rides on their own instead of taking their cars.

विश्व दुग्ध दिवस – 1 जून

प्रसंग:

विश्व दूध दिवस हर साल 1 जून को मनाया जाता है।
दूध के वैश्विक महत्व को उजागर करने के लिए संयुक्त राष्ट्र के खाद्य और कृषि संगठन द्वारा पहले दिन शुरू किया गया था।
पहल शुरू होने में 20 साल हो गए हैं और आज, पूरी दुनिया हमारे आहार में दूध के सेवन के महत्व को चिह्नित करने के लिए दिवस मनाती है।

दूध का महत्व:

भारत में, यह मानते हुए कि हम एक कृषि राष्ट्र हैं, दिन बहुत महत्व रखता है। जब से हम पैदा हुए हैं, दूध हमारे भोजन में मुख्य भोजन है।
पूरे देश में संस्कृतियों और क्षेत्रों में यह समान है।
खाना पकाने में दूध के उपयोग की भिन्नता है, लेकिन यह एक दिन में कम से कम एक भोजन का एक महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा है।

वर्ष का विषय:

हर साल, इस विषय का उद्देश्य नियमित रूप से आहार में दूध और डेयरी उत्पादों को शामिल करने के बारे में अधिक से अधिक जागरूकता फैलाना है।
विभिन्न गैर-सरकारी संगठन और अन्य संगठन, जो इस कारण में योगदान कर रहे हैं, वे भी वंचित बच्चों को मुफ्त दूध के पैकेट दान करते हैं और यह सुनिश्चित करने के लिए नई नीति जारी करते हैं कि कम से कम सभी उम्र के बच्चों और सभी क्षेत्रों में प्रतिदिन दूध मिले।

2019 विषय: दूध पिएं।

2020 विषय: विश्व दुग्ध दिवस की 20 वीं वर्षगांठ।

Telangana Formation Day

Context:

Telangana is the 29th and the youngest state in India. It has a glorious history of at least two thousand five hundred years or more.
Every year Telangana State celebrates the formation day on 2nd June with grandeur and conducts various events, cultural activities etc.
The struggle of Telangana to generate a new state began in the early 1950s.

Background:

On February 8, 2014, the Telangana Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha with support from the Congress and BJP.
The Telangana bill was passed by Rajya Sabha with the support of the BJP and other opposition parties.
The bill then received the assent of the President and was published in the gazette on March 1, 2014.
On March 4, 2014, the Government of India declared June 2, 2014 as the Telangana Formation Day.
Telangana Formation Day is observed by people of state to celebrate the birth of the state and remember the struggle that preceded the carving out of the new state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.

Conclusion:

Andhra Pradesh is the first linguistic state, On the basis of the gentlemen’s agreement of 1 November 1956, the States Reorganisation Act formed combined Andhra Pradesh by merging Andhra State with the Telugu-speaking areas of the already existing Hyderabad State.
Hyderabad was made the capital of the new state.

Important News articles – June 2/2020

GS – 2

Governance

The Hindu – https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/workforce-habits-on-tweaking-of-labour-laws/article31725754.ece?homepage=true

The Hindu – https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/jammu-the-pawn-on-the-kashmir-chessboard/article31725763.ece?homepage=true

Indian Express – https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/coronavirus-india-lockdown-domestic-international-flight-operations-6436337/

International

The Hindu – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/wont-interfere-in-border-issue-says-australian-envoy/article31725534.ece?homepage=true

The Hindu – https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/india-china-and-fortifying-the-africa-outreach/article31725783.ece?homepage=true

Indian Express – https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-china-border-lac-dispute-ram-madhav-6438077/

Indian Express – https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-nepal-border-dispute-kalapani-lipulek-china-c-raja-mohan-6437884/

GS – 3

Economy

The Hindu – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cabinet-approves-msp-for-14-kharif-crops/article31722966.ece?homepage=true

The Hindu – https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/ominous-signals-on-slowdown-of-indias-economy/article31725747.ece?homepage=true

GS – 4

Ethics

The Hindu – https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-new-architecture-in-quake-prone-areas/article31724972.ece?homepage=true

Daily current affairs – June 1/2020

GS – 2

Government polices and Schemes

13 lakh functional tap connection:

Why it is in News?

Assam State government presented the Annual Action Plan for consideration and approval of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Government of India (GoI) approved Rs.1,407 crore for 2020-21 under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Assam plans to provide tap connections to 13 lakh households out of a total of 63 lakhs in 2020-21.

About scheme:

The target of Jal Jeevan Mission in Assam is not difficult because of the abundant water resources in the State, which is both groundwater and surface water.
Assam is giving emphasis on capitalizing on ‘low-hanging fruits’ in the villages/ habitations where piped water supply schemes already exist in order to yield the desired results.
The state plans to immediately provide household tap connections to all remaining households belonging to weaker and marginalized sections on priority.
The state government has also defined roadmap for the effective implementation of the Village Action Plan (VAP) with the active participation of the rural community.
The aim is to strengthen the existing drinking water sources for the long-term sustainability of drinking water supply systems through the convergence of various programmes like MGNREGS, SBM (G), 15th Finance Commission Grants to PRIs, District Mineral Development Fund, CAMPA, Local Area Development Fund, etc. at village level is planned for judicious use of all available resources.
With the implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, people in rural areas now aspire to get tap connections in their household premises.

GS – 3

Science and Technology

Active Asteroids near Jupiter:

Why it is in news?

Astronomers have discovered a rare kind of space object.
It is described as something between an asteroid and a comet.
The object has been called an active asteroid.

About active asteroids:

The newly discovered asteroid is named 2019 LD2.
2019 LD2 has an orbit like an asteroid but the tail of a comet.
The specialty of 2019 LD2 special is that the active asteroid shares Jupiter’s orbit in an asteroid swarm known as the Jupiter Trojans.
This is the first Jupiter Trojan that the astronomers have come across.
These asteroids follow the same orbit like that of a planet. But it remains 60 degrees ahead of or behind along the orbit.
The Jupiter Trojan asteroids orbit the Sun in two huge swarms, one swarm orbiting ahead of the planet, where 2019 LD2 is present, and the other swarm orbiting behind it
It is suspected that the Trojan asteroids have been captured into these orbits by Jupiter’s strong gravity.
2019 LD2 is a first-of-its-kind active asteroid because most Jupiter Trojans were captured billions of years ago.
Other planets on the Solar system like Earth, Neptune, and Jupiter have more than one Trojan asteroid.

Rare fish in Gulf of Mannar:

Why it is in News?

The Researchers at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute have found a rare fish (Scorpaenospsis neglecta) from the Gulf of Mannar.
The specimen was deposited at the National Marine Biodiversity Museum of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).

About fish:

The fish is locally called Scorpion Fish for its venomous tail.
When the spines in the tail pierce an individual, the venom gets injected and causes severe pain.
This is the first time, the species has been found alive in the Indian waters.