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Daily Current Affairs IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam 8th January 2020
Daily Current Affairs IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam 8th January 2020
Date January 8,
2020
Archives
In News
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GDP decline in 2019-20 s attributed to slowdown in Manufacturing (2%) and
Construction sector (3.2%)
Gross Domestic product(GDP) is the total monetary or market value of all the
finished goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time
period.
Gross value Addition (GVA) is the sum of a country’s GDP and net of subsidies and
taxes in the economy (GVA=GDP+ Subsidies on Products−Taxes on Products)
GVA gives a picture of the state of economy from the producers’ side or supply
side, the GDP gives the picture from the consumers’ side or demand perspective
In News
Researchers have mapped the genome of cobra which will help in understanding
the chemical constituents of the snake venom and contribute to development of
new anti-venom therapies.
What is Gene?
In News
2/10
Infant Mortality Rate: Outrage over deaths of infants in
Gujarat & Rajasthan
Part of: GS Prelims – Health Statistics and GS-II- Health
In News
The Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000live births of
children under one year of age. Currently (2017) India’s IMR stands at 33 per 1,000
live births
India has an annual birth cohort of approximately 26 million
Every day, there is an estimated death of 2,350 babies aged less than one
year(annually 8.5 lakh deaths)
According to the National Family Health Survey-4, only 78.9% births in India
happen in a facility. This means 21.1% or about 54 lakh births in a year still
happen outside of a facility where hygiene levels are low and/or without the help of
a trained health worker.
Value Additions
India Newborn Action Plan (INAP) was launched in 2014 to make concerted
efforts towards attainment of the goals of “Single Digit Neonatal Mortality Rate”
and “Single Digit Still birth Rate,”
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK)
was started to promote institutional deliveries so as to reduce IMR
In News
Do You Know?
It was 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act that introduced provide 10 per cent
reservation in government jobs and education (except in minority educational
institutions) to economically backward section in the general category
The act inserted Articles 15(6) and 16(6) of the Constitution that provided for
these reservations.
Article 46 of the Constitution (DPSP) enjoins that the State shall promote with
special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the
people.
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National Pension System (NPS)
Part of: GS Prelims – Government Initiatives and GS-III- Economy
In News
7,000 corporates in the country are currently registered with PFRDA, but only 10
lakh employees from this corporate sector are covered under the NPS.
NPS currently has a total subscriber base of 3.25 crore, (with ₹4 lakh crore under
investment as on December 31)
About NPS
Any Indian citizen (Both Resident and Non-Resident) between 18 and 60 years can
join NPS. The only condition is that the person must comply with know your
customer (KYC) norms.
However, OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) and PIO (Person of Indian Origin) card
holders and Hindu Undivided Family (HUFs) are not eligible for opening of NPS
account.
In News
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(MAINS FOCUS)
NATIONAL
We are all familiar with the idea that democracy is a government of the people, by
the people, and for the people.
Today, the most common form of democracy is representative democracy, in
which citizens elect officials to make political decisions, formulate laws, and
administer programmes for the public good.
“Democracy is a government of the people, for the people, and by the people.”
– Abraham Lincoln
“Democracy really means nothing more or less than the rule of the whole people,
expressing their sovereign will by their votes.”
– Bryce
“Democracy is not a way of governing, whether by majority or otherwise, but primarily a
way of determining, who shall govern, and broadly to what ends.”
– Maclver
“Democracy must mean the art of science of mobilizing the entire physical,
economic and spiritual resources of all the various sections of people in the service
of the common good for all.”
“To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence,
self-respect and their oneness, and should insist upon choosing as their
representatives only such persons as are good and true.”
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Gandhian concept of Self Rule means Swaraj is real democracy, where people’s power
rests in the individuals and each one realizes that he or she is the real master of one’s
self.
Nehru on Democracy
Karachi resolution
The framers of the Indian Constitution were inspired by principles of social equality and
political justice to introduce adult suffrage immediately–a big step forward to protect our
Indian Democracy.
After independence, India decided to have democratic political system. This system is
characterised by three elements: one, there is a high degree of autonomy; two, economic
agents and religious organisations are free from political interference; and three,
competition between various orders does not endanger integration but helps it.
The first generation of Indian leaders wanted their country to be a liberal democracy, in
which a person’s faith—or language, or caste, or gender—didn’t earn her better or worse
treatment by the state.
the right to free expression of opinion and of opposition and criticism of the
Government of the day;
the right to change the Governments of which the people disapprove through
constitutional means;
protection from arbitrary interference on the part of the authorities, primary
safeguards against arbitrary arrest and prosecution;
fundamental rights of citizens, subject to their duties to the state;
the right of minorities to be protected with equal justice under law;
equal treatment and fair play for the poor as well as the rich, for private persons as
well as Government officials;
The right to hold unpopular or dissident beliefs.
Since independence, India has managed to stay on the democratic path in a way
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unprecedented among states freed from colonialism during the last century.
The makers of our Constitution designed the institutions of our democracy with great
care and attention to detail. They were designed to endure and it was expected that
these institutions will strengthen the democracy in India.
Recently, however, the dominance of the Hindu nationalists and the manner in which
they have ruled – has given rise to claims that India’s democracy and its minorities are in
grave danger.
Freedom of expression has been curtailed; institutions of democracy are weakened and
diminished; democratic deliberation has been bypassed; attacks on religious minorities
have been carried out.
The values and democratic principles embraced by them are relevant not yesterday or
today but forever!!
Examine the democratic principles that took a concrete shape post British India
rule.
Is the future of Indian democracy secure? Critically analyze.
Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section)
Note:
Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly
refer to it and update your answers.
Q.1) Bandar Abbas, the Iranian port city is located on the Strait of Hormuz. This
strait connects which two water bodies?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Q.4) Consider the following statements about Pension Fund Regulatory and
Development Authority (PFRDA)
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
1. Freedom of Speech
2. Martial Law
3. Uniform Civil Code
4. None of the above
Q.6) Shekatkar committee often seen in the news deals with which of the
following?
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1. Military Modernisation
2. Financial Inclusion
3. Doubling of Farmers Income
4. Improving relations with Pakistan
Q.7) Consider the following statements about GDP and Gross value Addition (GVA)
1. GVA is the sum of a country’s GDP and net of subsidies and taxes in the economy
2. GDP gives a picture of the state of economy from the producers’ side or supply
side, whereas GVA gives the picture from the consumers’ side or demand
perspective
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
1 A
2 C
3 C
4 C
MUST READ
There is a design flaw with this military post
The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu
9/10
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