UPSC Key | Modi-Biden meet, Indus Civilisation, Streamlining GST and more

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Front Page

Biden, Modi conscionable up of Quad; China, Ukraine, Israel connected table

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of nationalist and planetary importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Effect of policies and authorities of developed and processing countries connected India’s interests, Bilateral, determination and planetary groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- US President Joe Biden welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday astatine his location successful Wilmington, Delaware, connected the margins and up of the 6th Quad summit.

Prerequisites:

— What is Quadrilateral Security Dialogue oregon the Quad?

— How was the Quad formed, and what are its objectives?

— What is the past of bilateral relations betwixt India and the US?

— Map work: Locate Quad subordinate countries. (Refer Atlas)

Key takeaways: 

— The leaders are expected to sermon China’s assertive behaviour successful the Indo-Pacific, the Russia-Ukraine war; and the rising hostility successful West Asia successful the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

— After the gathering with Modi that lasted astir an hour, Biden said: “The US concern with India is stronger, closer, and much dynamic than immoderate clip successful history.”

— Biden offered to big the Quad leaders’ acme — swapping with India which volition present big successful 2025 — and this is being seen arsenic his “farewell summit.”

— The Modi-Biden bilateral volition beryllium watched by galore arsenic the 2 leaders instrumentality banal of the authorities of the narration that has faced challenges successful the past twelvemonth implicit the assassination crippled of a pro-Khalistan separatist fig successful the US.

— However, convergences acold outweigh the differences: the strategical alignment has deepened, determination is simply a increasing and shared interest astir an assertive Beijing, entree to exertion and capital, and the US is emerging arsenic the astir favoured destination for Indian younker for education, jobs and innovation.

— As portion of the summit, the leaders are besides apt to denote caller initiatives to bolster maritime information successful the portion — with enhanced seashore defender collaboration done the Pacific and Indian oceans — and to amended practice connected humanitarian effect missions.

For Your Information:

— Quad is the informal strategical dialog betwixt India, USA, Japan and Australia. The 4 nations stock a communal nonsubjective to guarantee and enactment a “free, unfastened and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region.

— Quad is not structured similar a emblematic multilateral organisation, and lacks a secretariat and immoderate imperishable decision-making assemblage (like the EU oregon UN). Instead, it has focused connected expanding existing agreements betwixt subordinate countries and highlighting their shared values. Additionally, dissimilar NATO, the Quad does not see provisions for corporate defence, alternatively choosing to behaviour associated subject exercises arsenic a amusement of unity and diplomatic cohesion.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the areas of practice betwixt India and the US?

— What are the challenges faced by India-US bilateral ties?

— What is the value of Quad?

— What are the challenges faced by the Quad?

(Thought Process: Challenges presented by the  Russia-Ukraine war, the continuing China threat, and different non-security issues) 

Post Read Question:

(1) Which of the pursuing countries are the members of the Quad grouping?

1. India

2. United States

3. United Kingdom

4. Australia

5. Japan

Select the close reply utilizing the codes fixed below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1, 2, 4, and 5

(c) 1, 2, 3 and 5

(d) 1, 3, 4 and 5

Other Important Articles Covering the aforesaid topic:

UPSC Essentials: One connection a day- Quad

Economy

Streamlining GST structure: The complications and the mode ahead

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Preliminary Examination: Current events of nationalist value and economical development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions,  IndianEconomyandissues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth.

What’s the ongoing story- As the Goods and Services Tax (GST) authorities acceptable retired to illustration the aboriginal roadmap of the indirect taxation regime, 7 years aft its implementation successful July 2017, the biggest question successful the minds of stakeholders is — tin it beryllium simplified further? 

Prerequisites:

— What is Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

— What are the antithetic types of Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

— Know successful item astir the GST Council and Article 279A of the Constitution of India. 

Key takeaways: 

— A less-complex GST operation fundamentally would connote a simplification successful the fig of taxation slabs, minimal carve outs and exemptions, easier compliance mechanics and rates astatine a level astatine which some states and the Centre are capable to safeguard their gross streams.

— It’s not the archetypal clip that the multiplicity of rates nether GST has been flagged arsenic an issue. Multiple rates, particularly for antithetic parts of the aforesaid item, often effect successful classification disputes. At aggregate times implicit the people of the past six years, the GST Council has worked towards clarifying discrepancies successful the complaint structure. 

— At a clip erstwhile the mean monthly gross GST collections person stabilised astir Rs 1.8 lakh crore with a year-on-year maturation complaint of 10 per cent, astir stakeholders are reluctant to undertake immoderate large alteration successful the complaint structure. 

— The perfect solution could person been to person a level complaint with nary exemptions oregon carve outs arsenic is the lawsuit successful galore countries specified arsenic Singapore and New Zealand. This was raised during the archetypal discussions astatine the clip of the complaint mounting workout earlier the GST rollout successful India but it was viewed to beryllium analyzable for a state with a assortment of products similar India.

— There could beryllium different possibilities besides to bring successful uniformity successful the GST rates. Former Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) Chairman Najib Shah said that merging of rates would beryllium challenging but if determination is statement that it has to beryllium done, past options are galore — either it could beryllium merged section omniscient oregon the rates could beryllium converged.

— Experts are besides of the presumption that enactment of industry-specific committees of officers, arsenic was done during the archetypal rollout signifier of GST, whitethorn present assistance the GST authorities to recognize the finer details of the issues being faced by businesses crossed sectors. 

— Proposals to merge 12 and 18 per cent slabs oregon 5 and 12 per cent slabs person featured successful interior discussions of the GST authorities. However, concerns astir a imaginable nonaccomplishment of gross done immoderate large alteration successful taxation slabs looms large.

For Your Information:

— GST is simply a depletion taxation and is levied astatine the last depletion point. The rule utilized successful GST taxation is the Destination Principle. It is levied connected the worth summation and provides set-offs. As a result, it avoids the cascading effect oregon taxation connected taxation which increases the taxation load connected the extremity consumer. 

— It is collected connected goods and services astatine each constituent of merchantability successful the proviso line. The GST that a merchant pays to procure goods oregon services tin beryllium acceptable disconnected aboriginal against the taxation applicable connected proviso of goods and services.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the advantages of GST?

— What are the challenges associated with the GST?

— What are the projected reforms to streamline the GST structure? 

— How does streamlining the GST operation align with India’s economical maturation and fiscal federalism?

Post Read Question:

(2) What is/are the astir apt advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. It volition regenerate aggregate taxes collected by aggregate authorities and volition frankincense make a azygous marketplace successful India.

2. It volition drastically trim the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and volition alteration it to summation its overseas speech reserves.

3. It volition enormously summation the maturation and size of system of India and volition alteration it to overtake China successful the adjacent future.

Select the close reply utilizing the codification fixed below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Other Important Articles Covering the aforesaid topic:

Explained: What is the GST Council, and what does it do?

The deposit crunch faced by banks and wherefore that is crimping their quality to lend

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic development

Mains Examination: GS-III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation, of resources, growth.

What’s the ongoing story- The Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das had, successful July, raised concerns implicit slower deposit mobilisation compared to recognition maturation stating that arsenic it whitethorn make structural liquidity issues.

Prerequisites:

— What is the process of recognition instauration by the Commercial bank?

— What is the superior market? 

— Read astir the RBI.

Key takeaways: 

— In a perchance worrying trend, S&P Global connected Thursday forecasted that year-on-year recognition maturation is acceptable to diminution during the existent fiscal twelvemonth to 14 per cent, compared to 16 per cent successful the erstwhile fiscal year.

— A steadfast recognition maturation complaint is indispensable to support economical momentum, particularly successful an system specified arsenic India wherever slope recognition is simply a cardinal component. However, for banks to widen credit, deposits indispensable turn successful tandem. 

— But banks are presently experiencing a deposit crunch, which is limiting their quality to widen credit. This has led to a widening spread betwixt slope deposits and recognition growth, resulting successful the worst deposit crunch successful 2 decades.

— Current and savings accounts (CASA) – the banks’ superior low-cost backing sources, relationship for 41 per cent of full deposits, down from 43 per cent past year. Expressing interest implicit the declining CASA, erstwhile Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary Vivek Joshi had told the Indian Express successful July that CASA should not autumn beneath 40 per cent.

— The Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das had, successful July, raised concerns implicit slower deposit mobilisation compared to recognition maturation stating that arsenic it whitethorn make structural liquidity issues. The Governor said that households and consumers, who traditionally trust connected banks for parking oregon investing their savings, are progressively turning to the superior markets and different fiscal intermediaries.

— Meanwhile, S&P Global besides said that “regulatory actions to tame unsecured lending” are besides slowing recognition growth. The RBI precocious accrued hazard weights for unsecured loans which has moderated indebtedness maturation successful this conception successful caller months.

For Your Information:

— The slowdown successful deposit maturation comes amid an outflow of household savings from banks to superior markets. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian superior markets person seen a meteoric rise. However, economists accidental that the displacement successful households’ redeeming behaviour towards alternate redeeming instruments has not unsocial lowered slope deposits arsenic a determination to alternate redeeming instruments would inactive connote that the wealth finds its mode into slope deposits.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the value of slope deposits for the economy?

— What are the reasons for the diminution successful the deposit ratio?

— What are the implications of a deposit crunch connected recognition flow, investment, and growth?

— What measures tin beryllium taken by banks and regulators to code the situation of deposit crunch and guarantee sustainable lending?

Post Read Question:

(3) Consider the pursuing statements:

Statement 1: The banking assemblage has been struggling with slower maturation successful deposits compared to credit.

Statement 2: As the spread increases betwixt deposits and credit, it creates an asset-liability mismatch for lenders.

Which 1 of the pursuing is close successful respect of the supra statements?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are close and Statement 2 is the close mentation for Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are close and Statement 2 is not the close mentation for Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is close but Statement 2 is incorrect.

(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.

Other Important Articles Covering the aforesaid topic:

As banks look slowdown successful deposit growth, what they are doing to reverse trend

A Financing Challenge

Govt & Politics

Govt plans ‘non-skippable’ anti-tobacco ads connected OTT

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of nationalist importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: Government Policies and Interventions and Health 

What’s the ongoing story- The Union Health Ministry has projected a non-skippable wellness spot of not little than 30 seconds and an audio-visual disclaimer of not beneath 20 seconds connected ill-effects of baccy to beryllium displayed connected OTT platforms arsenic soon arsenic 1 starts streaming them.

Prerequisites:

— What are OTT platforms?

— How are the over-the-top (OTT) and different platforms regulated successful India?

— Read astir theCigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act. 

Key takeaways: 

— Any contented released connected the platforms connected oregon aft September 1, 2023, that shows baccy usage has to transportation a salient static connection astatine the screen’s bottommost for the duration baccy usage is shown.

— The draught notification of the Ministry besides states that each films released connected oregon aft September 1, 2023 — whether oregon not certified by the Central Board of Film Certification, whether Indian oregon overseas — volition person to show an anti-tobacco wellness spot of 30 seconds duration successful the opening and the mediate of the film, person an audio-visual disclaimer of 20 seconds earlier the movie and show a static connection for the duration baccy usage is shown.

— With the rules formulated nether the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, ineligible enactment tin beryllium taken against OTT platforms for not complying.

For Your Information:

— OTT, oregon over-the-top platforms, are audio and video hosting and streaming services which started retired arsenic contented hosting platforms, but soon branched retired into the accumulation and merchandise of abbreviated movies, diagnostic films, documentaries and web-series themselves.

— These platforms connection a scope of contented and usage artificial quality to suggest to users the contented they are apt to presumption based connected their past viewership connected the platform. 

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the cardinal provisions of India’s baccy power laws?

— How bash India’s baccy power laws use to advertizing connected integer platforms similar OTT?

— What are the challenges associated with mandatory anti-tobacco advertisements connected OTT platforms?

Post Read Question:

(4) With notation to the Over the apical (OTT) streaming platforms, see the pursuing statements:

1. They necessitate support oregon a licence from the Union government.

2. They autumn nether the jurisdiction of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Which of the statement(s) fixed supra is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the aforesaid topic:

OTT platforms bash not autumn nether TRAI jurisdiction

NGT orders classification of Nainital municipality into prohibited, regulated, improvement zones

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of nationalist value and Environment

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Statutory, regulatory and assorted quasi-judicial bodies; Conservation, biology contamination and degradation, biology interaction assessment.

What’s the ongoing story- Bearing successful caput its biology sensitivity, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered to classify Nainital municipality connected the lines of a prohibited, regulated and improvement zone.

Prerequisites:

— What is the National Green Tribunal (NGT)?

— What are the powers and functions of NGT?

— Read astir the Nainital Lake oregon Naini Lake

Key takeaways: 

— It has besides directed the Uttarakhand authorities to germinate a mechanics for monitoring these zones by forming multi-district committees of officials, experts and section representatives from antithetic fields.

— “…We are of presumption that based connected carrying capableness and biology sensitivity, Nainital municipality whitethorn beryllium classified successful antithetic zones…development oregon prohibited zone, regulated portion with rider based connected existing authorities of biology conditions,” the bid stated.

— The bid comes astatine a clip erstwhile Nainital Lake oregon Naini Lake has been nether menace of drying up owed to clime change-linked biology factors arsenic good arsenic unchecked improvement activities specified arsenic encroachments and histrion felling successful the lake’s catchment area.

— Based connected the tract sojourn and the findings, the amicus had submitted a acceptable of recommendations to the greenish court. Key among them was the proposal to find the carrying capableness of Nainital town.

— This carrying capableness was recommended to beryllium based connected factors specified arsenic hydrology, drainage and sanitation load bearing status, vegetation and existent tourism trends.

For Your Information:

– Carrying capableness refers to the maximum threshold of colonisation an country tin carnivore successful narration to the disposable resources.

— NGT was established successful 2010 arsenic a specialised assemblage with judicial and adept minds to adjudicate biology cases successful India. 

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the cardinal differences betwixt prohibited, regulated, and improvement zones?

— What are the emerging challenges to lakes and different h2o bodies?

— How bash tourism and urbanisation interaction the situation of hilly areas?

— What measures person been taken by the authorities to beforehand sustainable improvement and clime resilience?

Post Read Question:

(5) Consider the pursuing statements with respect to the National Green Tribunal:

1. The Tribunal’s orders are enforceable.

2. The Tribunal has powerfulness to reappraisal its ain decisions.

Which of the statements fixed supra is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Express Network

NIA to make database of gangsters, situation networks, associates

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination:  Current events of nationalist and planetary importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Security challenges and their management; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

What’s the ongoing story- To amended the accusation web connected a nationalist level against “organised criminals”, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) volition marque a database of gangsters, criminals moving their gangs from down jails, and their associates. 

Prerequisites:

— Read astir the NIA and its mandate.

— What are the Changes Made nether the NIA (Amendment) Act 2019?

Key takeaways: 

— The Central bureau volition enactment updated details of the criminals, their societal media accounts, their fiscal network, and astir importantly accusation astir their associates and cardinal operational areas, The Indian Express has learnt.

— Sharing immoderate of the cardinal features of the database arsenic per the discussion, a root said it would person the latest photographs of the criminals, biometric details, interrogation report, their logistics provider, limb suppliers, and harbourers.

— In the meeting, which lasted for astir six hours, a elder serviceman of the Haryana Police Special Task Force (STF) flagged the expanding usage of encrypted apps, VPNs, and “dabba calls” by the gangsters based overseas to transportation retired extortions.

— “In his presentation, helium besides flagged the contented of deficiency of effect from work providers and societal media platforms for providing information arsenic immoderate of these platforms are being utilized for extortion arsenic good arsenic recruitment of caller shooters,” the root said.

For Your Information:

— During a “dabba” call, which involves threats being made done a 2nd telephone oregon a dabba, a henchman of a gangster makes an extortion telephone utilizing the Internet. Next, the henchman makes a 2nd telephone utilizing different telephone to his brag sitting successful a antithetic country, keeps the 2 phones side-by-side, and turns connected the loudspeaker to fto the brag bash the talking.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the value of creating a communal database of organised criminals?

— What is the relation of the NIA successful combating organised transgression successful India? 

— How does organised transgression successful India impact nationalist information and instrumentality enforcement efforts? 

— What are the ineligible and ethical considerations successful creating and maintaining a database of criminals and their networks successful India?

Post Read Question:

Indian Government has precocious strengthened the anti-terrorism laws by amending the unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA act. Analyze the changes successful the discourse of prevailing information situation portion discussing the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by quality rights organizations. (UPSC CSE 2019)

Other Important Articles Covering the aforesaid topic:

Fingerprints to videos and photos, NIA builds its ain database of terrorists

The Sunday Express Magazine “eye”

Keepers of Lost Cities

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India

Mains Examination: GS-I: History

What’s the ongoing story- Nayanjot Lahiri writes— “After scholar-archaeologist John Marshall revealed the Indus Civilisation to the satellite successful 1924, a look astatine the subject down 1 of history’s biggest finds.”

Prerequisites:

— Read astir the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC)—the Early Harappan Phase, the Mature Harappan Phase, and the Late Harappan Phase.

— Who was John Marshall?

— Organisation to look for: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

— Map work: Major sites of Indus civilisation.

Key takeaways: 

— “ Marshall came to India arsenic director-general of the ASI successful 1902. His preparations for enactment successful India included an introspection of galore objects of Indian root successful England, including 3 British Museum seals from Harappa, inscribed successful an chartless script.”

— “Marshall felt the request to travel up connected his sixth sense. He deputed Hirananda Sastri successful 1903. Sastri was the ‘pundit successful charge’ of the ASI’s bureau successful Punjab. He was sent to survey 3 sites successful the Ganga–Yamuna Doab region, which had yielded copper objects successful the signifier of hoards (tools). Marshall saw the copper hoard objects arsenic belonging to an property of bronze which, helium believed, could beryllium correlated with what was past termed the Early Vedic Age.”

— “Today, specified copper hoards are considered astir modern with Harappan times; a period ago, their property was a mystery.”

— “ In this case, the dilatory gait was partially a effect of the constraints wrong which tract probe was done successful British India, wherever non-commercial departments worked connected precise tiny budgets. Marshall himself was keen to excavate Harappa arsenic aboriginal arsenic 1907 but the terms for acquiring the mounds was beyond the budget of the ASI.”

— “Individuals who made the find possible: Moving connected to the years erstwhile Harappa and Mohenjodaro archetypal came to beryllium excavated, my publication revealed that the clues, which yet led to the cognition that these represented India’s archetypal civilisation, were neither discovered by a azygous solitary student nor were recovered each astatine once….”

— “ Daya Ram Sahni, the archaeologist, who really recovered the grounds for an aboriginal civilization astatine Harappa successful a excavation helium conducted successful 1921. It besides needs to beryllium appreciated that a akin process unfolded successful Mohenjodaro…”

— “Mohenjodaro’s unearthing, dissimilar the Harappa excavations, had thing to bash with Marshall’s planning. For galore years, Rakhaldas Banerji, who headed the Western Circle of the ASI, had been keen to excavate it, believing it an important Buddhist site, erstwhile helium went disconnected to excavation it up successful the wintertime of 1922. Naturally, helium began concentrating connected the stupa tract and it was determination that his assistant, NS Chikte, made the momentous find of 2 inscribed seals.”

— “Banerji realised instantly that these were inscribed with characters akin to those connected the Harappa seals. Mohenjodaro, though, was respective 100 kilometres to the south-west of Harappa, which meant that this was an full distinctive civilization dispersed implicit a sizeable region. It was for this crushed that Banerji would ever beryllium considered an important protagonist successful the communicative of the Indus discovery.”

— “Lacuna successful ASI: Beyond individuals, determination was an important organization lacuna successful the ASI. The organisation had nary abstraction for discussing ongoing research…the assemblage ASI showed nary organization abstraction for brainstorming, nary “common room” for archaeologists to sermon their digs and stock accusation astir each other’s tract work…”

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the characteristics of IVC?

— What is the statement astir the reasons for the diminution of IVC?

Post Read Question:

(6) It was 1 of the southernmost sites of the Indus Valley civilisation. This larboard metropolis is believed to person been built successful 2,200 BC. It was a thriving commercialized centre successful past times, with its commercialized of beads, gems and ornaments reaching West Asia and Africa. Archaeologist SR Rao led the squad which discovered this place. 

The above-mentioned lines notation to which of the pursuing Harappan Sites?

(a) Surkotada

(b) Lothal

(c) Dholavira

(d) Banawali

Other Important Articles Covering the aforesaid topic:

Harappan nine is ‘Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation’ successful NCERT’s caller textbook