08 mar 2020: upsc exam comprehensive news analysis · 2020. 3. 8. · 08 mar 2020: upsc exam...
TRANSCRIPT
08 Mar 2020 UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis TABLE OF CONTENTS
A GS 1 Related
SOCIAL ISSUES
1 Workplace safety still an issue survey
B GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1 ECI unveils road map for revamp
C GS 3 Related
SCIENCE amp TECHNOLOGY
1 The Sun brings out a fresh batch of sunspots
AGRICULTURE
1 Assess crop damage due to hailstorm UP Minister tells officers
D GS 4 Related
E Editorials
HEALTH
1 How is India containing COVID-19
ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
F Prelims Facts
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A GS 1 Related
Category SOCIAL ISSUES
1 Workplace safety still an issue survey
Context
The survey by the Network of Women in Media India (NWMI) and Gender at Work
Details
The online survey was conducted to assess whether and how effectively media houses in India responded
to the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace
The survey had 456 participants including journalists journalism educators trainers and researchers Most respondents were based in metropolitan centres such as Bengaluru Chennai Delhi Kolkata
Hyderabad and Pune
The survey findings were compiled in the report titled lsquocreating safe workplaces prevention and
redressal of sexual harassment in media houses in Indiarsquo
Concerns
The report notes that around 36 of the respondents have experienced sexual harassment at the
workplace Of the respondents who experienced such harassment at work 53 did not report it for
lack of awareness of the existing mechanism or fear of reprisal
Worryingly over 70 of respondents who had approached the Internal Complaint Committee
(ICC) to report sexual harassment at the workplace were not completely satisfied with the outcome
A higher level of sexual harassment was reported from organizations which did not have a mechanism to
deal with sexual harassment 47 was the reported number This points towards the fact that ICC though has its flaws has a deterring effect
The report also found that a large percentage of respondents had never attended a training workshop
on sexual harassment as required by The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention
Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
Conclusion
The results of the survey underscore the need to undertake steps to increase awareness among the
employees and address the lacunaersquos in the existing framework to bring about a change in the work
culture in workplaces
B GS 2 Related
Category POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1 ECI unveils road map for revamp
Context
Recommendations proposed by the working groups set up by the Election Commission of India (ECI)
Background
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had set up working groups in June 2019 to come up with
recommendations for revamping of the electoral process which could add value to the process
The nine working groups comprising ECI officials and State Chief Electoral Officers had presented
their draft recommendations recently
The ECI has published 25 of the main recommendations and has invited comments or suggestions from
the public
Details
Some of the major recommendations being considered by the ECI includes the following
E-voter cards
One of the major proposals is the issuance of electronic versions of the voter ID card for the
convenience of voters
A Voter ID Card also known as the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a photo identity card
that is issued by the Election Commission of India to all individuals who are eligible to vote
Ease of voter service
Since multiple numbers of forms create confusion and affect the efficiency in the process There is the
recommendation to replace all the forms for various voter services including registration of new voter and change of address with a unified and simplified form for all services to voters
Registration of new voter
Another recommendation is to start online registration facilities at the school or college-level for all prospective voters at 17 years of age so they can be enrolled in the electoral roll as soon as they become
eligible at 18
The ECI also recommended four cut-off dates in a year to enrol as a voter Currently January 1 is the
qualifying date so those who turn 18 after that date are not eligible to vote the whole year The ECI has
proposed January 1 April 1 July 1 and October 1 as the qualifying dates
These measures would help enhance young citizenrsquos participation in the electoral process
New voting methods
Given the fact that approximately 30 of electors are not able to participate in elections for various
reasons the ECI is exploring the possibility and feasibility of different voting methods which remains
secure and safe to ease and improve the electoral participation
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering new voting methods
One of the recommendations includes an Aadhaar-linked remote voting system on which IIT-Madras
was working on
The ECI has already implemented one-way online transfer of postal ballots for service personnel and
has implemented the same for the whole country in 2019
Silence period
Given the difficulties involved in regulating social media the working group was asked to come up with
recommendations to regulate social media platforms to ensure strict adherence to the provision of silence
period before polling
The working group have come up with recommendations as part of the Model Code of Conduct
(MCC) to impose a silence period of 48 hours before polling on social media and print media
Other recommendations
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is also considering capping the campaign expenditure of
political parties
C GS 3 Related
Category SCIENCE amp TECHNOLOGY
1 The Sun brings out a fresh batch of sunspots
Context
Research findings reported from a team of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
(IISER) Kolkata
Background
Solar dynamo
Given the high temperatures in the Sun matter exists there in the form of plasma where the electrons
are stripped away from the nuclei
The Sun is made of hot ionized plasma whose motions generate magnetic fields in the solar
interior by harnessing the energy of the plasma flows This mechanism is known as the solar dynamo
mechanism (or magneto-hydrodynamic dynamo mechanism) This generates the magnetized sunspots giving rise to the solar cycle
Given the nature of the solar dynamo the part of its magnetic field that gives rise to sunspots reverses
direction when it moves from one solar cycle to another
Sunspots
Sunspots are relatively cooler spots on the Sunrsquos surface
The number of sunspots is not constant Their number increases and decreases in cycles that last 11 years approximately This cycle is called the solar cycle The sun is currently at the minimum of one such
cycle
So far astronomers have documented 24 such solar cycles with the last one ending in 2019
Sunspots occur in pairs with a leader and a follower They originate deep within the Sun and become
visible when they pop out from the surface
Sunspots are the point of origin for huge solar flares and coronal mass ejections that spew
material from the sunrsquos surface into outer space
Significance of sunspots
Influence on the climate of the earth
Sunspot activity may be correlated with climate on earth
In the period between 1645 and 1715 sunspot activity had come to a halt on the Sun commonly referred
to as the Maunder minimum This coincided with extremely cold weather globally This observation seems to indicate that sunspots may have an impact on the climate of the earth
Influence on space weather
The solar activity affects space weather which can have an impact on space-based satellites GPS
and power grids
Given the increasing reliance on satellites and electricity a complete understanding of solar activity is
important
Details
The weakening trend in solar activity
Following a weakening trend in solar activity over the past three sunspot cycles there were predictions that the Sun would go silent into a grand minimum lasting many decades and
the disappearance of solar cycles
Some groups had claimed that this would give rise to a mini ice age and cooling of the global climate
25th solar cycle
A team from IISER Kolkata based on its work has shown that the next sunspot cycle which marks the
25th sun cycle being documented has begun
They used the data from the instrument Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager aboard NASArsquos space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory for their calculations
Category AGRICULTURE
1 Assess crop damage due to hailstorm UP Minister tells officers
Background
Untimely hailstorm and rains have damaged 70 of the crops in Uttar Pradesh
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)was launched in 2016
PMFBY aims to provide a comprehensive insurance cover against the failure of the crop thus helping
in stabilizing the income of the farmers
The scheme is implemented by empanelled general insurance companies The scheme is
being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture
The Scheme covers all Food amp Oilseeds crops and Annual CommercialHorticultural Crops for
which past yield data is available and for which requisite number of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)
are being conducted under General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES)
Following stages of the crop risks leading to crop loss are covered under the Scheme
Prevented SowingPlantingGermination Risk
Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting) Losses due to non-preventable risks viz Drought Dry spell Flood Inundation widespread Pests and Disease attack Landslides Fire due to natural causes Lightning
Storm Hailstorm and Cyclone
Post-Harvest Losses Coverage is available only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
Localized Calamities Lossdamage to notified insured crops resulting from the occurrence of identified
localized risks of Hailstorm Landslide Inundation Cloud burst and Natural fire due to lightening
affecting isolated farms in the notified area
Add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Details
Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister has directed officials to undertake a survey to ascertain the extent of
losses in crops due to the recent hailstorm and rain in the State
Instructions have also been given to insurance companies to ascertain the extent of loss and pay for the
damages caused to farmers
D GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today
E Editorials
Category HEALTH
1 How is India containing COVID-19
How does it spread
It primarily spreads through the respiratory droplets of infected people
If a person touches a surface or object that has been infected by the virus and then touches his own mouth
nose or eyes he may get infected
Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever cough a runny
nose and difficulty in breathing
When should a person get tested
People who are symptomatic (that is if they have fever sore throat running nose dyspnea etc)
especially individuals who have returned from affected countries (China Hong Kong Japan South
Korea Singapore Iran Italy etc) or have had close contact with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 should be tested
Where is screening being done
The ministry of Health has taken some preventive measures It has recommended universal screening of
all international flights cancellation of biometric attendance for all ministries till March 31 advised
against mass gatherings
The Ministry has also suggested augmenting isolation facilities in hospitals across India besides
ensuring adequate supply of protective gear medicines and other essential services
The Indian Army is now establishing additional quarantine facilities for 1500 personnel (total) which
will be activated at locations as part of the overall effort
What is the process
Universal screening for coronavirus is being done at 30 airports having international operations
Airlines have been instructed to make in-flight announcements about COVID-19 and all international
passengers are being asked to fill the lsquoSelf Reporting Formrsquo in duplicate
The government has adopted these measures such as universal screening of passengers filling up self-
declaration forms surveillance of those who have come in contact with infected persons to contain
the spread
What happens if a person tested has fever
Points of entry such as airports sea ports borders have set up a protocol of thermal screening which means anyone with fever will be picked out All passengers coming into India are being screened
In case a passenger has a temperature he is referred for further tests at designated hospitals where COVID-19 symptoms are matched the country he comes from is looked into exposure is checked and
samples are collected for testing
Isolation (homehospital) is advised for a period of 14 to 21 days when the case samples of the suspected
person are sent for testing If he tests positive he is sent for treatment and all his contacts are then traced
The test results for COVID-19 are obtained in four to five hours The virus has an incubation period of
about 14 days
According to health officials India is following WHO-prescribed guidelines to detect treat and contain
the virus
Are testing labs being strengthened
As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country to test for COVID-19
An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with viral transport media and swabs for sample
collection
Is India ready with lab requirements medicines
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) release said testing laboratories have been supplied with
the primers probes PCR reagents positive and negative controls and standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune
Further NIV is also undertaking quality control activities It maintains an inventory of reagents for itself and testing labs
Currently NIV has sufficient reagents for facilitating testing
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister said India has sufficient stocks of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
mdash the raw materials needed to make medicines
Challenges
The quality of our public health system is vastly uneven Existing hospitals can be easily overwhelmed by
a sudden spike in admissions It is not clear whether there are ample supplies of masks gloves gowns drugs and ventilators
Containment Action Plan is provided to all the States Senior officers of the Health Ministry have been deputed to States and UTs [Union Territories] to review their preparedness and provide required guidance
in the containment efforts
A National Level Training Workshop has been conducted for all the States and hospitals
But Indiarsquos additional challenge would be to contain clusters due to local transmission
What are health officials advising
Health officials said hands must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol-based hand rub
or soap and water
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
Category SOCIAL ISSUES
1 Workplace safety still an issue survey
Context
The survey by the Network of Women in Media India (NWMI) and Gender at Work
Details
The online survey was conducted to assess whether and how effectively media houses in India responded
to the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace
The survey had 456 participants including journalists journalism educators trainers and researchers Most respondents were based in metropolitan centres such as Bengaluru Chennai Delhi Kolkata
Hyderabad and Pune
The survey findings were compiled in the report titled lsquocreating safe workplaces prevention and
redressal of sexual harassment in media houses in Indiarsquo
Concerns
The report notes that around 36 of the respondents have experienced sexual harassment at the
workplace Of the respondents who experienced such harassment at work 53 did not report it for
lack of awareness of the existing mechanism or fear of reprisal
Worryingly over 70 of respondents who had approached the Internal Complaint Committee
(ICC) to report sexual harassment at the workplace were not completely satisfied with the outcome
A higher level of sexual harassment was reported from organizations which did not have a mechanism to
deal with sexual harassment 47 was the reported number This points towards the fact that ICC though has its flaws has a deterring effect
The report also found that a large percentage of respondents had never attended a training workshop
on sexual harassment as required by The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention
Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
Conclusion
The results of the survey underscore the need to undertake steps to increase awareness among the
employees and address the lacunaersquos in the existing framework to bring about a change in the work
culture in workplaces
B GS 2 Related
Category POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1 ECI unveils road map for revamp
Context
Recommendations proposed by the working groups set up by the Election Commission of India (ECI)
Background
The Election Commission of India (ECI) had set up working groups in June 2019 to come up with
recommendations for revamping of the electoral process which could add value to the process
The nine working groups comprising ECI officials and State Chief Electoral Officers had presented
their draft recommendations recently
The ECI has published 25 of the main recommendations and has invited comments or suggestions from
the public
Details
Some of the major recommendations being considered by the ECI includes the following
E-voter cards
One of the major proposals is the issuance of electronic versions of the voter ID card for the
convenience of voters
A Voter ID Card also known as the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a photo identity card
that is issued by the Election Commission of India to all individuals who are eligible to vote
Ease of voter service
Since multiple numbers of forms create confusion and affect the efficiency in the process There is the
recommendation to replace all the forms for various voter services including registration of new voter and change of address with a unified and simplified form for all services to voters
Registration of new voter
Another recommendation is to start online registration facilities at the school or college-level for all prospective voters at 17 years of age so they can be enrolled in the electoral roll as soon as they become
eligible at 18
The ECI also recommended four cut-off dates in a year to enrol as a voter Currently January 1 is the
qualifying date so those who turn 18 after that date are not eligible to vote the whole year The ECI has
proposed January 1 April 1 July 1 and October 1 as the qualifying dates
These measures would help enhance young citizenrsquos participation in the electoral process
New voting methods
Given the fact that approximately 30 of electors are not able to participate in elections for various
reasons the ECI is exploring the possibility and feasibility of different voting methods which remains
secure and safe to ease and improve the electoral participation
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering new voting methods
One of the recommendations includes an Aadhaar-linked remote voting system on which IIT-Madras
was working on
The ECI has already implemented one-way online transfer of postal ballots for service personnel and
has implemented the same for the whole country in 2019
Silence period
Given the difficulties involved in regulating social media the working group was asked to come up with
recommendations to regulate social media platforms to ensure strict adherence to the provision of silence
period before polling
The working group have come up with recommendations as part of the Model Code of Conduct
(MCC) to impose a silence period of 48 hours before polling on social media and print media
Other recommendations
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is also considering capping the campaign expenditure of
political parties
C GS 3 Related
Category SCIENCE amp TECHNOLOGY
1 The Sun brings out a fresh batch of sunspots
Context
Research findings reported from a team of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
(IISER) Kolkata
Background
Solar dynamo
Given the high temperatures in the Sun matter exists there in the form of plasma where the electrons
are stripped away from the nuclei
The Sun is made of hot ionized plasma whose motions generate magnetic fields in the solar
interior by harnessing the energy of the plasma flows This mechanism is known as the solar dynamo
mechanism (or magneto-hydrodynamic dynamo mechanism) This generates the magnetized sunspots giving rise to the solar cycle
Given the nature of the solar dynamo the part of its magnetic field that gives rise to sunspots reverses
direction when it moves from one solar cycle to another
Sunspots
Sunspots are relatively cooler spots on the Sunrsquos surface
The number of sunspots is not constant Their number increases and decreases in cycles that last 11 years approximately This cycle is called the solar cycle The sun is currently at the minimum of one such
cycle
So far astronomers have documented 24 such solar cycles with the last one ending in 2019
Sunspots occur in pairs with a leader and a follower They originate deep within the Sun and become
visible when they pop out from the surface
Sunspots are the point of origin for huge solar flares and coronal mass ejections that spew
material from the sunrsquos surface into outer space
Significance of sunspots
Influence on the climate of the earth
Sunspot activity may be correlated with climate on earth
In the period between 1645 and 1715 sunspot activity had come to a halt on the Sun commonly referred
to as the Maunder minimum This coincided with extremely cold weather globally This observation seems to indicate that sunspots may have an impact on the climate of the earth
Influence on space weather
The solar activity affects space weather which can have an impact on space-based satellites GPS
and power grids
Given the increasing reliance on satellites and electricity a complete understanding of solar activity is
important
Details
The weakening trend in solar activity
Following a weakening trend in solar activity over the past three sunspot cycles there were predictions that the Sun would go silent into a grand minimum lasting many decades and
the disappearance of solar cycles
Some groups had claimed that this would give rise to a mini ice age and cooling of the global climate
25th solar cycle
A team from IISER Kolkata based on its work has shown that the next sunspot cycle which marks the
25th sun cycle being documented has begun
They used the data from the instrument Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager aboard NASArsquos space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory for their calculations
Category AGRICULTURE
1 Assess crop damage due to hailstorm UP Minister tells officers
Background
Untimely hailstorm and rains have damaged 70 of the crops in Uttar Pradesh
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)was launched in 2016
PMFBY aims to provide a comprehensive insurance cover against the failure of the crop thus helping
in stabilizing the income of the farmers
The scheme is implemented by empanelled general insurance companies The scheme is
being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture
The Scheme covers all Food amp Oilseeds crops and Annual CommercialHorticultural Crops for
which past yield data is available and for which requisite number of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)
are being conducted under General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES)
Following stages of the crop risks leading to crop loss are covered under the Scheme
Prevented SowingPlantingGermination Risk
Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting) Losses due to non-preventable risks viz Drought Dry spell Flood Inundation widespread Pests and Disease attack Landslides Fire due to natural causes Lightning
Storm Hailstorm and Cyclone
Post-Harvest Losses Coverage is available only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
Localized Calamities Lossdamage to notified insured crops resulting from the occurrence of identified
localized risks of Hailstorm Landslide Inundation Cloud burst and Natural fire due to lightening
affecting isolated farms in the notified area
Add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Details
Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister has directed officials to undertake a survey to ascertain the extent of
losses in crops due to the recent hailstorm and rain in the State
Instructions have also been given to insurance companies to ascertain the extent of loss and pay for the
damages caused to farmers
D GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today
E Editorials
Category HEALTH
1 How is India containing COVID-19
How does it spread
It primarily spreads through the respiratory droplets of infected people
If a person touches a surface or object that has been infected by the virus and then touches his own mouth
nose or eyes he may get infected
Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever cough a runny
nose and difficulty in breathing
When should a person get tested
People who are symptomatic (that is if they have fever sore throat running nose dyspnea etc)
especially individuals who have returned from affected countries (China Hong Kong Japan South
Korea Singapore Iran Italy etc) or have had close contact with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 should be tested
Where is screening being done
The ministry of Health has taken some preventive measures It has recommended universal screening of
all international flights cancellation of biometric attendance for all ministries till March 31 advised
against mass gatherings
The Ministry has also suggested augmenting isolation facilities in hospitals across India besides
ensuring adequate supply of protective gear medicines and other essential services
The Indian Army is now establishing additional quarantine facilities for 1500 personnel (total) which
will be activated at locations as part of the overall effort
What is the process
Universal screening for coronavirus is being done at 30 airports having international operations
Airlines have been instructed to make in-flight announcements about COVID-19 and all international
passengers are being asked to fill the lsquoSelf Reporting Formrsquo in duplicate
The government has adopted these measures such as universal screening of passengers filling up self-
declaration forms surveillance of those who have come in contact with infected persons to contain
the spread
What happens if a person tested has fever
Points of entry such as airports sea ports borders have set up a protocol of thermal screening which means anyone with fever will be picked out All passengers coming into India are being screened
In case a passenger has a temperature he is referred for further tests at designated hospitals where COVID-19 symptoms are matched the country he comes from is looked into exposure is checked and
samples are collected for testing
Isolation (homehospital) is advised for a period of 14 to 21 days when the case samples of the suspected
person are sent for testing If he tests positive he is sent for treatment and all his contacts are then traced
The test results for COVID-19 are obtained in four to five hours The virus has an incubation period of
about 14 days
According to health officials India is following WHO-prescribed guidelines to detect treat and contain
the virus
Are testing labs being strengthened
As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country to test for COVID-19
An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with viral transport media and swabs for sample
collection
Is India ready with lab requirements medicines
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) release said testing laboratories have been supplied with
the primers probes PCR reagents positive and negative controls and standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune
Further NIV is also undertaking quality control activities It maintains an inventory of reagents for itself and testing labs
Currently NIV has sufficient reagents for facilitating testing
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister said India has sufficient stocks of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
mdash the raw materials needed to make medicines
Challenges
The quality of our public health system is vastly uneven Existing hospitals can be easily overwhelmed by
a sudden spike in admissions It is not clear whether there are ample supplies of masks gloves gowns drugs and ventilators
Containment Action Plan is provided to all the States Senior officers of the Health Ministry have been deputed to States and UTs [Union Territories] to review their preparedness and provide required guidance
in the containment efforts
A National Level Training Workshop has been conducted for all the States and hospitals
But Indiarsquos additional challenge would be to contain clusters due to local transmission
What are health officials advising
Health officials said hands must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol-based hand rub
or soap and water
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
The nine working groups comprising ECI officials and State Chief Electoral Officers had presented
their draft recommendations recently
The ECI has published 25 of the main recommendations and has invited comments or suggestions from
the public
Details
Some of the major recommendations being considered by the ECI includes the following
E-voter cards
One of the major proposals is the issuance of electronic versions of the voter ID card for the
convenience of voters
A Voter ID Card also known as the Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) is a photo identity card
that is issued by the Election Commission of India to all individuals who are eligible to vote
Ease of voter service
Since multiple numbers of forms create confusion and affect the efficiency in the process There is the
recommendation to replace all the forms for various voter services including registration of new voter and change of address with a unified and simplified form for all services to voters
Registration of new voter
Another recommendation is to start online registration facilities at the school or college-level for all prospective voters at 17 years of age so they can be enrolled in the electoral roll as soon as they become
eligible at 18
The ECI also recommended four cut-off dates in a year to enrol as a voter Currently January 1 is the
qualifying date so those who turn 18 after that date are not eligible to vote the whole year The ECI has
proposed January 1 April 1 July 1 and October 1 as the qualifying dates
These measures would help enhance young citizenrsquos participation in the electoral process
New voting methods
Given the fact that approximately 30 of electors are not able to participate in elections for various
reasons the ECI is exploring the possibility and feasibility of different voting methods which remains
secure and safe to ease and improve the electoral participation
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering new voting methods
One of the recommendations includes an Aadhaar-linked remote voting system on which IIT-Madras
was working on
The ECI has already implemented one-way online transfer of postal ballots for service personnel and
has implemented the same for the whole country in 2019
Silence period
Given the difficulties involved in regulating social media the working group was asked to come up with
recommendations to regulate social media platforms to ensure strict adherence to the provision of silence
period before polling
The working group have come up with recommendations as part of the Model Code of Conduct
(MCC) to impose a silence period of 48 hours before polling on social media and print media
Other recommendations
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is also considering capping the campaign expenditure of
political parties
C GS 3 Related
Category SCIENCE amp TECHNOLOGY
1 The Sun brings out a fresh batch of sunspots
Context
Research findings reported from a team of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
(IISER) Kolkata
Background
Solar dynamo
Given the high temperatures in the Sun matter exists there in the form of plasma where the electrons
are stripped away from the nuclei
The Sun is made of hot ionized plasma whose motions generate magnetic fields in the solar
interior by harnessing the energy of the plasma flows This mechanism is known as the solar dynamo
mechanism (or magneto-hydrodynamic dynamo mechanism) This generates the magnetized sunspots giving rise to the solar cycle
Given the nature of the solar dynamo the part of its magnetic field that gives rise to sunspots reverses
direction when it moves from one solar cycle to another
Sunspots
Sunspots are relatively cooler spots on the Sunrsquos surface
The number of sunspots is not constant Their number increases and decreases in cycles that last 11 years approximately This cycle is called the solar cycle The sun is currently at the minimum of one such
cycle
So far astronomers have documented 24 such solar cycles with the last one ending in 2019
Sunspots occur in pairs with a leader and a follower They originate deep within the Sun and become
visible when they pop out from the surface
Sunspots are the point of origin for huge solar flares and coronal mass ejections that spew
material from the sunrsquos surface into outer space
Significance of sunspots
Influence on the climate of the earth
Sunspot activity may be correlated with climate on earth
In the period between 1645 and 1715 sunspot activity had come to a halt on the Sun commonly referred
to as the Maunder minimum This coincided with extremely cold weather globally This observation seems to indicate that sunspots may have an impact on the climate of the earth
Influence on space weather
The solar activity affects space weather which can have an impact on space-based satellites GPS
and power grids
Given the increasing reliance on satellites and electricity a complete understanding of solar activity is
important
Details
The weakening trend in solar activity
Following a weakening trend in solar activity over the past three sunspot cycles there were predictions that the Sun would go silent into a grand minimum lasting many decades and
the disappearance of solar cycles
Some groups had claimed that this would give rise to a mini ice age and cooling of the global climate
25th solar cycle
A team from IISER Kolkata based on its work has shown that the next sunspot cycle which marks the
25th sun cycle being documented has begun
They used the data from the instrument Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager aboard NASArsquos space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory for their calculations
Category AGRICULTURE
1 Assess crop damage due to hailstorm UP Minister tells officers
Background
Untimely hailstorm and rains have damaged 70 of the crops in Uttar Pradesh
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)was launched in 2016
PMFBY aims to provide a comprehensive insurance cover against the failure of the crop thus helping
in stabilizing the income of the farmers
The scheme is implemented by empanelled general insurance companies The scheme is
being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture
The Scheme covers all Food amp Oilseeds crops and Annual CommercialHorticultural Crops for
which past yield data is available and for which requisite number of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)
are being conducted under General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES)
Following stages of the crop risks leading to crop loss are covered under the Scheme
Prevented SowingPlantingGermination Risk
Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting) Losses due to non-preventable risks viz Drought Dry spell Flood Inundation widespread Pests and Disease attack Landslides Fire due to natural causes Lightning
Storm Hailstorm and Cyclone
Post-Harvest Losses Coverage is available only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
Localized Calamities Lossdamage to notified insured crops resulting from the occurrence of identified
localized risks of Hailstorm Landslide Inundation Cloud burst and Natural fire due to lightening
affecting isolated farms in the notified area
Add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Details
Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister has directed officials to undertake a survey to ascertain the extent of
losses in crops due to the recent hailstorm and rain in the State
Instructions have also been given to insurance companies to ascertain the extent of loss and pay for the
damages caused to farmers
D GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today
E Editorials
Category HEALTH
1 How is India containing COVID-19
How does it spread
It primarily spreads through the respiratory droplets of infected people
If a person touches a surface or object that has been infected by the virus and then touches his own mouth
nose or eyes he may get infected
Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever cough a runny
nose and difficulty in breathing
When should a person get tested
People who are symptomatic (that is if they have fever sore throat running nose dyspnea etc)
especially individuals who have returned from affected countries (China Hong Kong Japan South
Korea Singapore Iran Italy etc) or have had close contact with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 should be tested
Where is screening being done
The ministry of Health has taken some preventive measures It has recommended universal screening of
all international flights cancellation of biometric attendance for all ministries till March 31 advised
against mass gatherings
The Ministry has also suggested augmenting isolation facilities in hospitals across India besides
ensuring adequate supply of protective gear medicines and other essential services
The Indian Army is now establishing additional quarantine facilities for 1500 personnel (total) which
will be activated at locations as part of the overall effort
What is the process
Universal screening for coronavirus is being done at 30 airports having international operations
Airlines have been instructed to make in-flight announcements about COVID-19 and all international
passengers are being asked to fill the lsquoSelf Reporting Formrsquo in duplicate
The government has adopted these measures such as universal screening of passengers filling up self-
declaration forms surveillance of those who have come in contact with infected persons to contain
the spread
What happens if a person tested has fever
Points of entry such as airports sea ports borders have set up a protocol of thermal screening which means anyone with fever will be picked out All passengers coming into India are being screened
In case a passenger has a temperature he is referred for further tests at designated hospitals where COVID-19 symptoms are matched the country he comes from is looked into exposure is checked and
samples are collected for testing
Isolation (homehospital) is advised for a period of 14 to 21 days when the case samples of the suspected
person are sent for testing If he tests positive he is sent for treatment and all his contacts are then traced
The test results for COVID-19 are obtained in four to five hours The virus has an incubation period of
about 14 days
According to health officials India is following WHO-prescribed guidelines to detect treat and contain
the virus
Are testing labs being strengthened
As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country to test for COVID-19
An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with viral transport media and swabs for sample
collection
Is India ready with lab requirements medicines
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) release said testing laboratories have been supplied with
the primers probes PCR reagents positive and negative controls and standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune
Further NIV is also undertaking quality control activities It maintains an inventory of reagents for itself and testing labs
Currently NIV has sufficient reagents for facilitating testing
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister said India has sufficient stocks of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
mdash the raw materials needed to make medicines
Challenges
The quality of our public health system is vastly uneven Existing hospitals can be easily overwhelmed by
a sudden spike in admissions It is not clear whether there are ample supplies of masks gloves gowns drugs and ventilators
Containment Action Plan is provided to all the States Senior officers of the Health Ministry have been deputed to States and UTs [Union Territories] to review their preparedness and provide required guidance
in the containment efforts
A National Level Training Workshop has been conducted for all the States and hospitals
But Indiarsquos additional challenge would be to contain clusters due to local transmission
What are health officials advising
Health officials said hands must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol-based hand rub
or soap and water
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
Other recommendations
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is also considering capping the campaign expenditure of
political parties
C GS 3 Related
Category SCIENCE amp TECHNOLOGY
1 The Sun brings out a fresh batch of sunspots
Context
Research findings reported from a team of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
(IISER) Kolkata
Background
Solar dynamo
Given the high temperatures in the Sun matter exists there in the form of plasma where the electrons
are stripped away from the nuclei
The Sun is made of hot ionized plasma whose motions generate magnetic fields in the solar
interior by harnessing the energy of the plasma flows This mechanism is known as the solar dynamo
mechanism (or magneto-hydrodynamic dynamo mechanism) This generates the magnetized sunspots giving rise to the solar cycle
Given the nature of the solar dynamo the part of its magnetic field that gives rise to sunspots reverses
direction when it moves from one solar cycle to another
Sunspots
Sunspots are relatively cooler spots on the Sunrsquos surface
The number of sunspots is not constant Their number increases and decreases in cycles that last 11 years approximately This cycle is called the solar cycle The sun is currently at the minimum of one such
cycle
So far astronomers have documented 24 such solar cycles with the last one ending in 2019
Sunspots occur in pairs with a leader and a follower They originate deep within the Sun and become
visible when they pop out from the surface
Sunspots are the point of origin for huge solar flares and coronal mass ejections that spew
material from the sunrsquos surface into outer space
Significance of sunspots
Influence on the climate of the earth
Sunspot activity may be correlated with climate on earth
In the period between 1645 and 1715 sunspot activity had come to a halt on the Sun commonly referred
to as the Maunder minimum This coincided with extremely cold weather globally This observation seems to indicate that sunspots may have an impact on the climate of the earth
Influence on space weather
The solar activity affects space weather which can have an impact on space-based satellites GPS
and power grids
Given the increasing reliance on satellites and electricity a complete understanding of solar activity is
important
Details
The weakening trend in solar activity
Following a weakening trend in solar activity over the past three sunspot cycles there were predictions that the Sun would go silent into a grand minimum lasting many decades and
the disappearance of solar cycles
Some groups had claimed that this would give rise to a mini ice age and cooling of the global climate
25th solar cycle
A team from IISER Kolkata based on its work has shown that the next sunspot cycle which marks the
25th sun cycle being documented has begun
They used the data from the instrument Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager aboard NASArsquos space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory for their calculations
Category AGRICULTURE
1 Assess crop damage due to hailstorm UP Minister tells officers
Background
Untimely hailstorm and rains have damaged 70 of the crops in Uttar Pradesh
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)was launched in 2016
PMFBY aims to provide a comprehensive insurance cover against the failure of the crop thus helping
in stabilizing the income of the farmers
The scheme is implemented by empanelled general insurance companies The scheme is
being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture
The Scheme covers all Food amp Oilseeds crops and Annual CommercialHorticultural Crops for
which past yield data is available and for which requisite number of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)
are being conducted under General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES)
Following stages of the crop risks leading to crop loss are covered under the Scheme
Prevented SowingPlantingGermination Risk
Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting) Losses due to non-preventable risks viz Drought Dry spell Flood Inundation widespread Pests and Disease attack Landslides Fire due to natural causes Lightning
Storm Hailstorm and Cyclone
Post-Harvest Losses Coverage is available only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
Localized Calamities Lossdamage to notified insured crops resulting from the occurrence of identified
localized risks of Hailstorm Landslide Inundation Cloud burst and Natural fire due to lightening
affecting isolated farms in the notified area
Add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Details
Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister has directed officials to undertake a survey to ascertain the extent of
losses in crops due to the recent hailstorm and rain in the State
Instructions have also been given to insurance companies to ascertain the extent of loss and pay for the
damages caused to farmers
D GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today
E Editorials
Category HEALTH
1 How is India containing COVID-19
How does it spread
It primarily spreads through the respiratory droplets of infected people
If a person touches a surface or object that has been infected by the virus and then touches his own mouth
nose or eyes he may get infected
Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever cough a runny
nose and difficulty in breathing
When should a person get tested
People who are symptomatic (that is if they have fever sore throat running nose dyspnea etc)
especially individuals who have returned from affected countries (China Hong Kong Japan South
Korea Singapore Iran Italy etc) or have had close contact with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 should be tested
Where is screening being done
The ministry of Health has taken some preventive measures It has recommended universal screening of
all international flights cancellation of biometric attendance for all ministries till March 31 advised
against mass gatherings
The Ministry has also suggested augmenting isolation facilities in hospitals across India besides
ensuring adequate supply of protective gear medicines and other essential services
The Indian Army is now establishing additional quarantine facilities for 1500 personnel (total) which
will be activated at locations as part of the overall effort
What is the process
Universal screening for coronavirus is being done at 30 airports having international operations
Airlines have been instructed to make in-flight announcements about COVID-19 and all international
passengers are being asked to fill the lsquoSelf Reporting Formrsquo in duplicate
The government has adopted these measures such as universal screening of passengers filling up self-
declaration forms surveillance of those who have come in contact with infected persons to contain
the spread
What happens if a person tested has fever
Points of entry such as airports sea ports borders have set up a protocol of thermal screening which means anyone with fever will be picked out All passengers coming into India are being screened
In case a passenger has a temperature he is referred for further tests at designated hospitals where COVID-19 symptoms are matched the country he comes from is looked into exposure is checked and
samples are collected for testing
Isolation (homehospital) is advised for a period of 14 to 21 days when the case samples of the suspected
person are sent for testing If he tests positive he is sent for treatment and all his contacts are then traced
The test results for COVID-19 are obtained in four to five hours The virus has an incubation period of
about 14 days
According to health officials India is following WHO-prescribed guidelines to detect treat and contain
the virus
Are testing labs being strengthened
As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country to test for COVID-19
An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with viral transport media and swabs for sample
collection
Is India ready with lab requirements medicines
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) release said testing laboratories have been supplied with
the primers probes PCR reagents positive and negative controls and standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune
Further NIV is also undertaking quality control activities It maintains an inventory of reagents for itself and testing labs
Currently NIV has sufficient reagents for facilitating testing
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister said India has sufficient stocks of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
mdash the raw materials needed to make medicines
Challenges
The quality of our public health system is vastly uneven Existing hospitals can be easily overwhelmed by
a sudden spike in admissions It is not clear whether there are ample supplies of masks gloves gowns drugs and ventilators
Containment Action Plan is provided to all the States Senior officers of the Health Ministry have been deputed to States and UTs [Union Territories] to review their preparedness and provide required guidance
in the containment efforts
A National Level Training Workshop has been conducted for all the States and hospitals
But Indiarsquos additional challenge would be to contain clusters due to local transmission
What are health officials advising
Health officials said hands must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol-based hand rub
or soap and water
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
The solar activity affects space weather which can have an impact on space-based satellites GPS
and power grids
Given the increasing reliance on satellites and electricity a complete understanding of solar activity is
important
Details
The weakening trend in solar activity
Following a weakening trend in solar activity over the past three sunspot cycles there were predictions that the Sun would go silent into a grand minimum lasting many decades and
the disappearance of solar cycles
Some groups had claimed that this would give rise to a mini ice age and cooling of the global climate
25th solar cycle
A team from IISER Kolkata based on its work has shown that the next sunspot cycle which marks the
25th sun cycle being documented has begun
They used the data from the instrument Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager aboard NASArsquos space-based Solar Dynamics Observatory for their calculations
Category AGRICULTURE
1 Assess crop damage due to hailstorm UP Minister tells officers
Background
Untimely hailstorm and rains have damaged 70 of the crops in Uttar Pradesh
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)was launched in 2016
PMFBY aims to provide a comprehensive insurance cover against the failure of the crop thus helping
in stabilizing the income of the farmers
The scheme is implemented by empanelled general insurance companies The scheme is
being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture
The Scheme covers all Food amp Oilseeds crops and Annual CommercialHorticultural Crops for
which past yield data is available and for which requisite number of Crop Cutting Experiments (CCEs)
are being conducted under General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES)
Following stages of the crop risks leading to crop loss are covered under the Scheme
Prevented SowingPlantingGermination Risk
Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting) Losses due to non-preventable risks viz Drought Dry spell Flood Inundation widespread Pests and Disease attack Landslides Fire due to natural causes Lightning
Storm Hailstorm and Cyclone
Post-Harvest Losses Coverage is available only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
Localized Calamities Lossdamage to notified insured crops resulting from the occurrence of identified
localized risks of Hailstorm Landslide Inundation Cloud burst and Natural fire due to lightening
affecting isolated farms in the notified area
Add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Details
Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister has directed officials to undertake a survey to ascertain the extent of
losses in crops due to the recent hailstorm and rain in the State
Instructions have also been given to insurance companies to ascertain the extent of loss and pay for the
damages caused to farmers
D GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today
E Editorials
Category HEALTH
1 How is India containing COVID-19
How does it spread
It primarily spreads through the respiratory droplets of infected people
If a person touches a surface or object that has been infected by the virus and then touches his own mouth
nose or eyes he may get infected
Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever cough a runny
nose and difficulty in breathing
When should a person get tested
People who are symptomatic (that is if they have fever sore throat running nose dyspnea etc)
especially individuals who have returned from affected countries (China Hong Kong Japan South
Korea Singapore Iran Italy etc) or have had close contact with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 should be tested
Where is screening being done
The ministry of Health has taken some preventive measures It has recommended universal screening of
all international flights cancellation of biometric attendance for all ministries till March 31 advised
against mass gatherings
The Ministry has also suggested augmenting isolation facilities in hospitals across India besides
ensuring adequate supply of protective gear medicines and other essential services
The Indian Army is now establishing additional quarantine facilities for 1500 personnel (total) which
will be activated at locations as part of the overall effort
What is the process
Universal screening for coronavirus is being done at 30 airports having international operations
Airlines have been instructed to make in-flight announcements about COVID-19 and all international
passengers are being asked to fill the lsquoSelf Reporting Formrsquo in duplicate
The government has adopted these measures such as universal screening of passengers filling up self-
declaration forms surveillance of those who have come in contact with infected persons to contain
the spread
What happens if a person tested has fever
Points of entry such as airports sea ports borders have set up a protocol of thermal screening which means anyone with fever will be picked out All passengers coming into India are being screened
In case a passenger has a temperature he is referred for further tests at designated hospitals where COVID-19 symptoms are matched the country he comes from is looked into exposure is checked and
samples are collected for testing
Isolation (homehospital) is advised for a period of 14 to 21 days when the case samples of the suspected
person are sent for testing If he tests positive he is sent for treatment and all his contacts are then traced
The test results for COVID-19 are obtained in four to five hours The virus has an incubation period of
about 14 days
According to health officials India is following WHO-prescribed guidelines to detect treat and contain
the virus
Are testing labs being strengthened
As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country to test for COVID-19
An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with viral transport media and swabs for sample
collection
Is India ready with lab requirements medicines
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) release said testing laboratories have been supplied with
the primers probes PCR reagents positive and negative controls and standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune
Further NIV is also undertaking quality control activities It maintains an inventory of reagents for itself and testing labs
Currently NIV has sufficient reagents for facilitating testing
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister said India has sufficient stocks of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
mdash the raw materials needed to make medicines
Challenges
The quality of our public health system is vastly uneven Existing hospitals can be easily overwhelmed by
a sudden spike in admissions It is not clear whether there are ample supplies of masks gloves gowns drugs and ventilators
Containment Action Plan is provided to all the States Senior officers of the Health Ministry have been deputed to States and UTs [Union Territories] to review their preparedness and provide required guidance
in the containment efforts
A National Level Training Workshop has been conducted for all the States and hospitals
But Indiarsquos additional challenge would be to contain clusters due to local transmission
What are health officials advising
Health officials said hands must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol-based hand rub
or soap and water
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
Add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Details
Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister has directed officials to undertake a survey to ascertain the extent of
losses in crops due to the recent hailstorm and rain in the State
Instructions have also been given to insurance companies to ascertain the extent of loss and pay for the
damages caused to farmers
D GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today
E Editorials
Category HEALTH
1 How is India containing COVID-19
How does it spread
It primarily spreads through the respiratory droplets of infected people
If a person touches a surface or object that has been infected by the virus and then touches his own mouth
nose or eyes he may get infected
Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever cough a runny
nose and difficulty in breathing
When should a person get tested
People who are symptomatic (that is if they have fever sore throat running nose dyspnea etc)
especially individuals who have returned from affected countries (China Hong Kong Japan South
Korea Singapore Iran Italy etc) or have had close contact with confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 should be tested
Where is screening being done
The ministry of Health has taken some preventive measures It has recommended universal screening of
all international flights cancellation of biometric attendance for all ministries till March 31 advised
against mass gatherings
The Ministry has also suggested augmenting isolation facilities in hospitals across India besides
ensuring adequate supply of protective gear medicines and other essential services
The Indian Army is now establishing additional quarantine facilities for 1500 personnel (total) which
will be activated at locations as part of the overall effort
What is the process
Universal screening for coronavirus is being done at 30 airports having international operations
Airlines have been instructed to make in-flight announcements about COVID-19 and all international
passengers are being asked to fill the lsquoSelf Reporting Formrsquo in duplicate
The government has adopted these measures such as universal screening of passengers filling up self-
declaration forms surveillance of those who have come in contact with infected persons to contain
the spread
What happens if a person tested has fever
Points of entry such as airports sea ports borders have set up a protocol of thermal screening which means anyone with fever will be picked out All passengers coming into India are being screened
In case a passenger has a temperature he is referred for further tests at designated hospitals where COVID-19 symptoms are matched the country he comes from is looked into exposure is checked and
samples are collected for testing
Isolation (homehospital) is advised for a period of 14 to 21 days when the case samples of the suspected
person are sent for testing If he tests positive he is sent for treatment and all his contacts are then traced
The test results for COVID-19 are obtained in four to five hours The virus has an incubation period of
about 14 days
According to health officials India is following WHO-prescribed guidelines to detect treat and contain
the virus
Are testing labs being strengthened
As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country to test for COVID-19
An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with viral transport media and swabs for sample
collection
Is India ready with lab requirements medicines
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) release said testing laboratories have been supplied with
the primers probes PCR reagents positive and negative controls and standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune
Further NIV is also undertaking quality control activities It maintains an inventory of reagents for itself and testing labs
Currently NIV has sufficient reagents for facilitating testing
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister said India has sufficient stocks of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
mdash the raw materials needed to make medicines
Challenges
The quality of our public health system is vastly uneven Existing hospitals can be easily overwhelmed by
a sudden spike in admissions It is not clear whether there are ample supplies of masks gloves gowns drugs and ventilators
Containment Action Plan is provided to all the States Senior officers of the Health Ministry have been deputed to States and UTs [Union Territories] to review their preparedness and provide required guidance
in the containment efforts
A National Level Training Workshop has been conducted for all the States and hospitals
But Indiarsquos additional challenge would be to contain clusters due to local transmission
What are health officials advising
Health officials said hands must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol-based hand rub
or soap and water
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
The government has adopted these measures such as universal screening of passengers filling up self-
declaration forms surveillance of those who have come in contact with infected persons to contain
the spread
What happens if a person tested has fever
Points of entry such as airports sea ports borders have set up a protocol of thermal screening which means anyone with fever will be picked out All passengers coming into India are being screened
In case a passenger has a temperature he is referred for further tests at designated hospitals where COVID-19 symptoms are matched the country he comes from is looked into exposure is checked and
samples are collected for testing
Isolation (homehospital) is advised for a period of 14 to 21 days when the case samples of the suspected
person are sent for testing If he tests positive he is sent for treatment and all his contacts are then traced
The test results for COVID-19 are obtained in four to five hours The virus has an incubation period of
about 14 days
According to health officials India is following WHO-prescribed guidelines to detect treat and contain
the virus
Are testing labs being strengthened
As many as 52 laboratories are now operational across the country to test for COVID-19
An additional 57 laboratories have been provided with viral transport media and swabs for sample
collection
Is India ready with lab requirements medicines
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) release said testing laboratories have been supplied with
the primers probes PCR reagents positive and negative controls and standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune
Further NIV is also undertaking quality control activities It maintains an inventory of reagents for itself and testing labs
Currently NIV has sufficient reagents for facilitating testing
Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister said India has sufficient stocks of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
mdash the raw materials needed to make medicines
Challenges
The quality of our public health system is vastly uneven Existing hospitals can be easily overwhelmed by
a sudden spike in admissions It is not clear whether there are ample supplies of masks gloves gowns drugs and ventilators
Containment Action Plan is provided to all the States Senior officers of the Health Ministry have been deputed to States and UTs [Union Territories] to review their preparedness and provide required guidance
in the containment efforts
A National Level Training Workshop has been conducted for all the States and hospitals
But Indiarsquos additional challenge would be to contain clusters due to local transmission
What are health officials advising
Health officials said hands must be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with an alcohol-based hand rub
or soap and water
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
A distance of at least 1 metre (3 feet) must be maintained from a person coughing or sneezing
If a person has fever cough and experiences difficulty breathing medical attention must be sought
Category ECONOMY
1 Why did Yes Bank have to be bailed out
Background
For more information on this please read 07 March 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis
What will be the likely impact on depositors
While deposit withdrawals have been capped at ₹50000 there are exceptions under which a higher
amount can be withdrawn with the permission of the RBI The RBI can allow a customer to withdraw
more than ₹50000 under the following conditions
in connection with the medical treatment of the depositor or any person actually dependent on the
depositor
towards the cost of higher education of the depositor or any person actually dependent on him for
education in India or outside India
to pay obligatory expenses in connection with marriage or other ceremonies of the depositor or
hisher children or of any other person actually dependent upon depositor
Or any other unavoidable emergency
The total withdrawal should however not exceed ₹5 lakh or the actual balance in the account
whichever is lower
Deposit Insurance
Deposits are insured under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC)
Account holders with Yes Bank are insured for up to Rs 5 lakh by the DICGC
Budget 2020 increased insurance coverage of deposits with scheduled banks from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh
What kind of deposits are covered
DICGC covers all deposits such as savings fixed current recurring and so on except for the following
deposits
Deposits of foreign governments
Deposits of CentralState Governments
Inter-bank deposits
Deposits of the State Land Development Banks with the State co-operative bank
Any amount due on account of and deposit received outside India
What is the way forward
The RBI has come up with a draft reconstruction plan for Yes Bank which proposes that depositorsrsquo funds would be protected
The employees would also have the same service conditions including remuneration at least for one
year
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
However in the case of key managerial personnel the new board would be empowered to take a call
Category INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1 Idlib (Testing the power of personal touch)
Whatrsquos so important about Idlib
It is a city in northwestern Syria
Idlib is strategically important to the government of Syria It borders Turkey to the north and connects highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus and west to the Mediterranean
city of Latakia
Who controls the province
The province ndash along with parts of Hama Latakia and Aleppo ndash is the last stronghold of the rebel and
jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011
The opposition once controlled large parts of the country but the Syrian army has retaken most
of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen
Now the army wants to ldquoliberaterdquo Idlib
Idlib has been controlled by a number of rival factions rather than a single group But the dominant force
is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Why did Syrian government forces target Idlib now
In 2017 Russia and Turkey agreed to de-escalation in Idlib and the province is out of the control of
the Syrian government
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
When Syrian government forces overtook three other de-escalation zones elsewhere in Syria Turkey
approached Russia in 2018 with a proposal to establish a demilitarized zone in Idlib in what came to be
known as the Sochi accord
Turkey also proposed that it would disarm the Sunni militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and remove it
from the area and agreed to reopen the crucial M4 and M5 highways
However the situation escalated when Turkey failed to deal with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham according to
the terms of the proposal with Russia
Turkey supports the Syrian rebels while Russia backs the Syrian governmentrsquos campaign to
retake the area
What is currently happening in Idlib
Fighting has intensified in Idlib in the last few weeks as a result of massive displacement running into over half a million people
The forces of Syrian president Bashar Al Assad backed by Russian air-power has ramped up airstrikes in
Idlib
Idlibrsquos importance can be corroborated by two factors
One that it essentially determines the faith and future of the Syrian Civil War
Second that it is currently the biggest contention point between Syria and its neighbor Turkey
Why is Idlib important for Turkey
Idlibrsquos proximity to the Turkish border makes it not only important for the Syrian government but also a
cause of concern for Turkey
Since the war started in Syria thousands of displaced Syrians have sought refuge in Turkey over the
years
According to the latest known figures Turkey presently hosts some 36 million refugees and is feeling the
socio-economic and political strain of their presence in the country
More conflict in Idlib would only serve to displace more people pushing them towards the Turkish
border Turkey has been witnessing a surge in hostility among its citizens towards refugees and a fresh
wave of refugees will only exacerbate the situation
What is the issue between Turkey and Russia
More than two dozen Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Syrian government forces
The deaths mark a serious escalation in the direct conflict between Turkish and Russia-backed Syrian
forces that has been waged since early February 2020
As crisis soared in Syriarsquos Idlib and the possibility of a direct confrontation between Russia and Turkey
was rising the leaders of both the countries Mr Putin and Mr Erdogan agreed to implement a ceasefire
in Syriarsquos rebel-held Idlib
Both sides also agreed to establish a secure corridor along the strategically important M4 highway
Conclusion
The unpredictability in the region may have been suspended temporarily but Syria remains on the brink
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
F Prelims Facts
Nothing here for today
G Tidbits
1 Women achievers to win accolades
The lsquoNari Shaktirsquo awards are given annually to individuals groups and institutions in
recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of womenrsquos empowerment especially for
the vulnerable and marginalized
The awards are given away by the President of India every year on 8 March International
Womenrsquos Day at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi
The award was instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
2 Victoria Memorial Hall to display a rare miniature of Rani Padmini
The Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) will display a unique Rajput miniature painting of Rani Padmini
(Padmavati) of Chittor to mark International Womenrsquos Day
The Bharat Mata painting is by the renowned artist Abanindranath Tagore
3 SC ST student enrolment in PhD programmes remains low in IITs
The recent data presented in the Rajya Sabha notes that enrolment of students from marginalised
communities mainly the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) being very low in PhD
programmes in the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) from 2015 to 2019
Of the 25007 PhD scholars admitted in the 23 IITs over the five years only 91 were from the
SC communities and 21 from the STs This is lower than the 15 seats reserved for the SC
and 75 for the ST
H UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
1 Which of the following statements are correct with respect to The Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013
1 The act provides for the legal requirement that any workplace with more than 10 employees
needs to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee
2 The Presiding Officer of the Internal Complaints Committee will always be a woman
3 The act applies to even the unorganized sectors employing less than 10 members
4 Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
Options
a) 1 2 and 4
b) 2 3 and 4
c) 1 2 3 and 4
d) 1 and 2
Answer c
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
Explanation
It is an Act to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the
prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment
Every employer of a workplace with 10 or more employees shall constitute a Committee to be known
as the ldquoInternal Complaints Committeerdquo
The members of the Internal Committees shall be nominated by the employer
The Presiding Officer shall be a woman employed at a senior level at workplace from amongst the
employees
The act applies to both the organized as well as the unorganized sectors
Any person aggrieved from the recommendations made or non-implementation of such
recommendations may file an appeal in the courts
2 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The Model code of conduct is the set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to political
parties and candidates
2 The Model code of conduct is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till
the date that results are announced
3 The Model code of conduct includes provisions on Party manifestos
Options
a) 1 and 3
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 2
d) 1 2 and 3
Answer d
Explanation
The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the Election Commission to regulate political parties and
candidates prior to elections to ensure free and fair elections This is in keeping with Article 324 of
the Constitution which gives the Election Commission the power to supervise elections to the
Parliament and state legislatures
The MCC is operational from the date that the election schedule is announced till the date that results
are announced
In 2013 the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to include guidelines regarding
election manifestos which it had included in the MCC for the 2014 general elections
The MCC is not enforceable by law However certain provisions of the MCC may be enforced
through invoking corresponding provisions in other statutes such as the Indian Penal Code 1860
Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 and Representation of the People Act 1951
3 Which of the following statements are correct
1 The sunspots appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas on the sunrsquos photosphere
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
2 The number of sunspots varies in cycles that last 12 years approximately often referred to as the solar
cycle
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer a
Explanation
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Suns photosphere that appear as spots darker than the
surrounding areas They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations
of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection
Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity Their number varies according to the
approximately 11-year solar cycle
4 Which of the following statements are incorrect
1 Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) Post-Harvest losses coverage is available
only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting
2 There are no provisions for coverage of crop losses due to attack by wild animals since these are
preventable risks
Options
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer b
Explanation
Post-Harvest Losses coverage is available only upto a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for
those crops which are requiredto be dried in cut and spread small bundled condition in the field after
harvesting against specific perils of Hailstorm Cyclone Cyclonic rains and Unseasonal rains
The States may consider providing add-on coverage for crop loss due to attack by wild animals wherever
the risk is perceived to be substantial and is identifiable
I UPSC Mains Practice Questions
1 Discuss the mechanism of solar dynamo and illustrate how it gives rise to sunspots Explain the influence
on sunspots on human lives (10 marks 150 words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)
2 In the light of the working groups set up by the ECI coming out with their recommendations discuss the
need for revamping of the electoral process in India and the necessary changes required (15 marks 250
words)