Advertisement

Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

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

India dismisses Sikh group’s threat

Sikh Federation UK

News

  • India has dismissed a warning from a U.K. Sikh group, that it would encourage diaspora gurdwaras to ban Indian officials from visiting them.

Beyond News

  • Terming the statement a ‘knee jerk reaction’, officials said it reflected the group’s fears of the strengthening relation between Indian authorities and Sikh diaspora globally.
  • Deputy High Commissioner said to London Dinesh Patnaik after the group Sikh Federation (U.K.) accused Indian authorities of interfering in Sikh institutions and affairs and proposed a “worldwide ban” on Indian government officials from visiting gurdwaras in the diaspora.

Latest Problem

  • The latest tactic by the Indian authorities of targeting Sikhs from the diaspora when they visit the Sikh homeland as demonstrated by the case of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal has broken the camel’s back.
  • The group has been running a campaign over the arrest of Mr. Johal, who was detained in Jalandhar last year, and is accused of involvement in “targeted killings” in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Khanna.
  • The group has accused Indian authorities of torture and has been lobbying Members of Parliament to put pressure on the British government and Indian authorities.
  • Patnaik said the High Commission was confident that the organisation’s position did not reflect that of the vast majority of Sikhs in Britain who were positive about the strengthening links between the community and Indian authorities.

U.S. move against Pakistan ‘welcome first step’: India

News

  • New Delhi and Washington have been in close touch over the decision, and Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar met with U.S. Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster , hours after the U.S. administration announced that it would suspend all its security assistance to Pakistan unless it acts against terror groups targeting Afghanistan, as a part of its “South Asia strategy.

Beyond News

  • India had issued statements welcoming the U.S.’s South Asia strategy announced by President Donald Trump in August, and its new National Security Strategy issued in December, both of which called on Pakistan to take action against terror safe havens that target U.S. troops in Afghanistan, or face consequences.

The MEA’s decision not to issue any statement on Friday, however, was attributed to several reasons.

  • Firstly, the U.S. announcement did not come as a surprise, as it came three months after the Trump administration notified the U.S. Congress that it would not disburse the 2016 tranche of its Foreign Military Funding (FMF) of $255 million.
  • Secondly, while officials hailed the move, it doesn’t at present include any specific words for groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad that target India. As a result, it is understood India would rather not speak about what is essentially a bilateral action between U.S. and Pakistan, even as it strengthens its own counter-terrorism cooperation with the US. Last month’s India-U.S. counter terrorism designations dialogue was one such new effort.
  • Finally, experts say there is some scepticism about whether the U.S. action will effect the desired reaction from Pakistan, if it relates only to the military funding of about $255 million in (FMF) and possible $900 more in Coalition Support Funding (CSF), without further action.

Tamil Nadu leads the nation in higher education enrolment

Tamil nadu education standard

News

  • Tamil Nadu has emerged as the leader in the country in terms of Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education.

Beyond News

  • The All India Survey on Higher Education report (2106-2017), released by Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar , saw the State lead with a GER of 46.9%.
  • Among Union Territories, Chandigarh recorded 56.1%.
  • Tamil Nadu has also done very well in terms of male and female GER figures, as also the GER figures for the Scheduled Castes.
  • GER for higher education is calculated with reference to the age group 18-23.
  • It is the total enrolment in higher education, irrespective of age, expressed as a percentage to the eligible official population (18-23 years) in a given school year.

Bring SC, ST residential schools under CCTV surveillance: OHRC

News

  • Amid reports of recurring sexual assaults on minor girls in government-run residential schools for children belonging to tribal and weaker sections, the Odisha Human Rights Commission has directed the State government to bring all such school premises under the surveillance of closed-circuit television cameras.

Beyond News

  • The commission recommends that the premises of residential schools be fitted with CCTV cameras.
  • The school and hostel premises must be well lit and proper hygiene maintained.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Channels with Pakistan open to counter terrorism

News:

  • The Ministry of External Affairs told the Parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs that,the government is in regular contact with Pakistan, but any meaningful dialogue would depend on an end to terrorism and cross-border violence.

Beyond News:

  • The report added that,at the same time, it has been made clear to Pakistan that a meaningful structured Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue would be possible only in an environment free from terror and violence.

Challenges

  • The challenges to better ties between India and Pakistan, includes the rise in firing at the LoC and International Border, infiltration, and support to terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen.

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}.