Advertisement

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

Editorials are covered separately. HINDU NOTES are available free date wise| CLICK HERE

WTO: diverse views fuel bleak prospect for outcomes

News:

  • The World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Buenos Aires meeting commenced amid concerns on support for anti-globalization, protectionism and bilateralism.

Beyond News:

  • A vast majority of the 164 WTO member nations — led by India, China and South Africa — are, therefore, learnt to be demanding that the final declaration of the WTO’s highest decision-making body reaffirms commitment to multilateralism and rules-based trading system as well as negotiations with development agenda at the centre.

However, due to the divergent views of the WTO members on several issues, including the outstanding ones in the ongoing Doha Round negotiations, there is little expectation that the outcome of the December 10-13 Ministerial Conference would be substantial.

  • The Doha Round had begun in Doha in 2001 with the ‘development agenda’ — to improve trading prospects of developing nations — at the heart of the talks.
  • Countries, mostly from the developed world, want what they call the ‘21st century trade issues’ — such as e-commerce, investment facilitation, matters relating to small firms and gender equality — to be discussed for rule-making to enhance the relevance of the WTO.

India, and several countries mainly from the developing world, are against introduction of such ‘new issues’ into the Doha Round, saying it is important to first resolve outstanding issues such as the ones relating to food security and protection of poor farmers before taking up new topics.

New tanks in fourth phase of Mission Kakatiya

News:

The State Government has decided to take up formation of new minor irrigation tanks across the local rainwater flows – streams – and extend the benefits of small water bodies to people as part of the fourth-phase of Mission Kakatiya programme scheduled to be launched next month.

Mission Kakatiya programme

  • Mission Kakatiya tagline or Mana Ooru Mana Cheruvu is a program of restoring all the tanks and lakes in Telangana State, India. The Program was inaugurated on 12 March 2015 by chief minister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao.The name ‘Mission Kakatiya’ is given in the remembrance and tribute to the Kakatiya rulers who developed a large number of the irrigation tanks.

Beyond News:

Formation of new tanks would be in addition to taking up restoration of the identified existing minor irrigation tanks as part of the programme. Only repairs and de-silting of small water bodies including restoration of feeder channels, strengthening of bunds, repairs to surplus weirs and sluices were taken up in the first three phases of the programme which also aimed at revival of the chain-link-tank system.

24 years on, OBC workforce in Centre still short of Mandal mark

News:

  • President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed a five-member commission to examine sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) “to achieve greater social justice,” a reality check shows that representation of OBCs in the workforce in Central Government offices falls far short of achieving the 27% quota recommended by the Mandal Commission.

Beyond News:

  • Data furnished under the Right to Information (RTI) Act by 24 of the 35 Union Ministries, 25 of the 37 Central departments and various constitutional bodies reveal that 24 years since the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations, across various groups of employees, the OBCs have not optimally benefited from it.
  • Only 17% of the Group A officers in the 24 Ministries belong to the OBCs. The representation among the Group B officers is even lower at 14%.
  • Likewise, only 11% of the Group C employees are from the OBCs and in Group D, the figure is 10%. (See Graphic)

In the Cabinet Secretariat, which has 64 Group A officers, not one is from the OBCs, whereas 60 belong to the Open Competition (OC) category and four are from the Scheduled Castes.

 ‘Older persons hardly aware of their rights ’

News:

Older persons in India are hardly aware of their human rights, which is a major cause of violation of their human rights, mostly within the four walls of their homes: noted a study on human rights of older persons in India by NGO Agewell Foundation.

 Findings of the Survey

  • 9% of older persons had never heard of human rights of older persons.
  • The foundation interacted and surveyed over 5,000 persons aged 60 years and above across the country.
  • Over 23.3% older persons were found living in inhuman conditions and that every eighth elderly or 12.9% revealed that they did not get proper food in old age.
  • Only 68% older persons claimed to have access to necessary medicines, healthcare and medical facilities.
  • The survey also revealed that 48.6% of elderly persons were not respected by their family, relatives and society.
  • Nearly 47% of them were discriminated against because of their age and were humiliated occasionally or treated disrespectfully.

 The survey found that 65% older persons in urban areas compared to 57% elderly persons in rural areas reported living in abject situations due to violation of their basic human rights.

  • Due to lack of awareness about human rights of older persons, particularly among the elderly, old people face increased incidences of age discrimination, ageism, elder abuse and mistreatment.

India, Russia and China slam terrorism

Indo china russia join dealNews:

In a joint communique issued after the 15th meeting of foreign ministers of Russia, India and China in New Delhi, the countries made it clear that their cooperation was not directed against any nation.

Beyond News:

  • Russia, China and India on condemned terrorism in all forms and reaffirmed their determination to prevent and counter it.
  • They said that, those committing, organising, inciting or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice.

The statement urged all countries to take adequate measures to prevent terrorist activities from their territory.

CLICK HERE TO SEE DATE WISE CURRENT AFFAIRS

WHY IASTODAY IS BEST IN ONLINE COACHING?
FEATURESIASTODAY.inOTHERS
DAILY ANSWER REVIEWYES (in 60 minutes for core batch -before 10 PM for all lower courses)NO ( Not even weekly)
EXPERT SUPPORT24 hours x 7 days (In MASTER PLUS and above)NO/ During office hours only
GUARANTEE For Service & fee paid.Guaranteed till you clear (In LIFETIME membership)No guarantee at any cost.
Dedicated exclusive static testsYES(in MASTER PLUS and above)NO
TEST TYPEFull length similar to UPSC (In all dedicated courses)DEPENDS
FULL STATIC SYLLABUS COVERAGEYES (In all dedicated courses)DEPENDS
Full Day to Day current affairs coverageYES with review (All mains courses)NO
TEST REVIEW & MARKSYES throughout the course duration (In MASTER PLUS and above)YES during initial days.
NO after few tests
Effective cost for 30 MAINS static tests with reviewRs.10,000 (Master plus - Writing skill development 1 year)More than Rs.26,000
Flexible scheduleUnlimited. Reschedule based on demands.No flexibility.
Max delay in Mains Test review24 hours for core and In 4 working days for lower courses.Over 15 days
INDIVIDUAL MARKSYES (In all dedicated courses)NO
UPDATED NOTESYES(in all dedicated courses)NOT UPDATED

IASTODY DEDICATED COURSES IN A GLANCE

For 2023 & 24 Aspirants:
  1. Prelims TEST SERIES -PRO 2024- More than just a prelims test series for 2024 aspirants. 2024 PRELIMS in an integrated manner with mains and interview together with daily writing and review. {CLICK HERE for details}
  2. WRITING SKILL DEVELOPMENT(Daily review) (2 months- 6 months) Next is writing skill development- Available for 2 months and 6 months fixed. This can be used for 2024 or even 2025. Your answer will be reviewed as beginner in first day. Next day feedback will be based on first day performance and so on. You will develop a writing skill development better than aspirants outside IASTODAY by the end of this course- CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE 
  3. DAILY REVIEW (Beginner) 2024 - Till mains 2024 We have Daily review (beginner) course available till Mains 2024. This course have 3 phases ie, Novice and then beginner phase till prelims examination and aggressive mode post prelims exam- You will write 1 answer a day as novice, then 2 till prelims and there after 4 daily.- CLICK HERE TO KNOW MORE
  4. ESSAY TEST SERIES 2023 & 24-Dedicated Essay test series for scoring high is now available for  2024. Real time exam environment, 24 hours accessibility and more @ a nominal fees-{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}
  5. Affordable Integrated Marathon (AIM 2024)-Dedicated All in one low cost series covering prelims test series, mains test series, daily answer review, interview, essay, optional and more in single version at lowest ever possible affordable version. Real time exam environment, 24 hours accessibility and more @ a nominal fees in comparison to features-{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}
  6. MASTER PLUS 2024-Dedicated mains 2024 @ Rs.50/day effective. Flagship MAINS 2024 program with all features including 29 mains tests, Daily answer review in 3-4 hours & value added notes and much more -{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}.
  7. PREMIUM 2024 - Full coverage @ Rs.55/day effective. Our Flagship prelims to interview with all premium features including daily answer review in 60 minutes, Prelims ,interview and much more -{CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS}.