Before taking any step for buying textbooks/ notes and any other study material, first and the most important thing is to read UPSC – IAS exam syllabus thoroughly, at least thrice. The exam syllabus is your bible. You need to stick to the IAS exam syllabus during your preparation.

The next step is to prepare an 8 hours time-table which suits you, as this is your exam, you have to write it. Your time table must follow an integrated approach, which at the beginning covers the Preliminary exam syllabus and later on your mains and optional syllabus. Your time table must cover every topic of the syllabus.

Next, you have to make a good selection of textbooks or study material. Do not copy others; some standards textbooks are good.  Now, you have a proper time table and study material in your hand. Next step is to identify your strength and weaknesses, identify the requirements of the UPSC civil services examination and work accordingly.

For preliminary preparation, you need to start from scratch. Start your preparation from very basic NCERTs and later on from standard textbook sources. We provide you a booklist of NCERTs and Standard books, which is a combination of old and new NCERTs, NIOS and other relevant standard textbooks. You need to practice for CSAT (civil services aptitude test) as well, to clear your preliminary level examination.

For mains preparation, answer writing practice is a must. One must start writing an answer with your preliminary level preparation. It will improve your understanding and answer writing skills. With this technique, you will start understanding the keywords and how to attempt an answer in a given time-frame. Submit your answer copies for evaluations; follow the suggestions which are provided to you in your answer copies. Keep on revising your notes holistically.

Note: Do not go for multiple sources. Do not read a topic from 10 books, instead read a topic from a single book 10 times.

Now, it’s time to join the Diligent IAS test series. Make sure you must have gone through at least 40-45 tests (including previous IAS exam papers and test series) before going for the real quest of the preliminary examination. This will help you with the self-assessment and it will also help you to get familiar with the exam format.

The UPSC IAS exam is structured so that a candidate’s efforts, devotion, strategizing, planning and time management, logic, analytical powers, and overall quick thinking are rewarded. In that sense, your life experience also plays an important role in preparation.

Important Info

• Year-Long Self Study Plan and Time Table
• NCERT Booklists
• Standard Booklists

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For: Mains

Topics covered: All about Article 371, 371 A to 371 J, Part XXI

News Flash

Home Minister told Lok Sabha that the government had no intention of removing Article 371 of the Constitution, which includes “special provisions” for 11 states, including six states of the Northeast.

His assurance came after Congress leaders expressed apprehension that having rendered Article 370 irrelevant, the government might unilaterally move to abrogate or modify Article 371.

About

• Articles 369 through 392 (including some that have been removed) appear in Part XXI of the Constitution, titled ‘Temporary, Transitional and Special Provisions’.
• Article 370 deals with ‘Temporary Provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir’.
• Articles 371, 371A, 371B, 371C, 371D, 371E, 371F, 371G, 371H, and 371J define special provisions with regard to another state (or states).
• Article 371I deals with Goa, but it does not include any provision that can be deemed ‘special’.
• Articles 370 and 371 were part of the Constitution at the time of its commencement on January 26, 1950; Articles 371A through 371J were incorporated subsequently.

Important Info

• Article 371, Maharashtra and Gujarat:

Governor has “special responsibility” to establish “separate development boards” for “Vidarbha, Marathwada, and the rest of Maharashtra”, and Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat.

• Article 371A (13th Amendment Act, 1962), Nagaland:

This provision was inserted after a 16-point agreement between the Centre and the Naga People’s Convention in 1960, which led to the creation of Nagaland in 1963.

Parliament cannot legislate in matters of Naga religion or social practices, Naga customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, and ownership and transfer of land without concurrence of the state Assembly.

• Article 371B (22nd Amendment Act, 1969), Assam:

The President may provide for the constitution and functions of a committee of the Assembly consisting of members elected from the state’s tribal areas.

• Article 371C (27th Amendment Act, 1971), Manipur:

The President may provide for the constitution of a committee of elected members from the Hill areas in the Assembly, and entrust “special responsibility” to the Governor to ensure its proper functioning.

• Article 371D (32nd Amendment Act, 1973;

Substituted by The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014), Andhra Pradesh and Telangana:

President must ensure “equitable opportunities and facilities” in “public employment and education to people from different parts of the state”.

• Article 371E:

Allows for the establishment of a university in Andhra Pradesh by a law of Parliament. But this is not a “special provision” in the sense of the others in this part.

• Article 371F (36th Amendment Act, 1975), Sikkim:

The members of the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim shall elect the representative of Sikkim in the House of the People.

To protect the rights and interests of various sections of the population of Sikkim, Parliament may provide for the number of seats in the Assembly, which may be filled only by candidates from those sections.

• Article 371G (53rd Amendment Act, 1986), Mizoram:

Parliament cannot make laws on “religious or social practices of the Mizos, Mizo customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law, ownership and transfer of land.

• Article 371H (55th Amendment Act, 1986), Arunachal Pradesh:

The Governor has a special responsibility with regard to law and order, and he shall exercise his individual judgment as to the action to be taken.

• Article 371I deals with Goa, but it does not include any provision that can be deemed ‘special’.

• Article 371J (98th Amendment Act, 2012), Karnataka:

There is a provision for a separate development board for the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

Source: Indian Express

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For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: Wildlife Institute of India report on Great Indian Bustard, Threat, Suggestions, Way forward

News Flash

The Great Indian Bustard is nearing extinction due to collision with high voltage power lines that criss-cross their flying path.

Key Findings

• The report is prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India, a statutory body.
• Wildlife Institute of India said only 150 GIBs are left, with the maximum number in Jaisalmer.
• They are dying at a rate of 15% annually due to collision with high voltage power lines.
• The GIB population has been reduced by 75% in the last 30 years.
• The mortality of adult GIBs is high due to collision with power lines.
• All bustards are prone to collision due to their poor frontal vision and inability to see the power lines from a distance.
• The study recorded that 15% of the GIB population may be dying because of this threat.
• The natural death rate of large bustards is 4-8%.
• The current additive mortality rate due to transmission lines is significantly higher and if not controlled, can result in the species extinction.
• Many other birds also die because of collision/electrocution with these transmission lines at the rate of 10 birds per km per month.

Need of the hour

• Lakhs of birds die every year due to power lines. There is an urgent need to put bird diverters and underground the power lines to bring the mortality rate down.
• Protection and conservation of GIB is the need of the hour.

Great Indian Bustard

• The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is a critically endangered bird with less than 150 individuals left in India.
• The maximum number of GIBs were found in Jaisalmer and the Indian Army controlled field firing range near Pokhran, Rajasthan.
• Other areas where they are found are

1. Kutch (Gujarat)
2. Nagpur, Amravati, and Solapur (Maharashtra)
3. Bellary and Koppal (Karnataka)
4. Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh).

• The GIB is one of the heaviest flying birds endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
• They are primarily terrestrial birds.
• The GIB lays one egg every 1-2 years and the success rate of these eggs is 60-70 percent.

Threats to the GIB

• Irrigation and farming technology, mining, wind turbines, and associated infrastructure growth have caused severe habitat degradation to birds, including GIB.
• Recent developments in irrigation and farming technologies have intensified agriculture and changed cropping practices from seasonal to year-round intensive crops.
• Because of frequent ploughing and cropping or use of pesticides, there is a lack of food and vegetation cover to meet the ecological requirements of the species.

Proposed Suggestions

• There is a need to regulate intensive agricultural land-uses to achieve long term GIB persistence.
• Ill-informed forestry practices by state forest departments such as plantation of exotic shrub/tree species in deserts and grasslands in the name of afforestation have also degraded the habitat of GIB and other open habitat species that prefer visibility and openness.
• Mitigate power transmission lines passing through priority bustard habitats identified by the WII by undergrounding cables or installing bird diverters to make them prominent to birds.

Way Forward

• The government has released funds for the conservation of the GIB through a project.
• The project is titled as ‘Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard-An Integrated Approach’.
• The project is for five years from the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for conservation.
• The breeding of the GIB with technical support will be provided from the WII.

Source: The Hindu

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For: Mains

Topics covered: National Medical Commission Bill 2019, Why Medical Council of India being replaced?

News Flash

Tamil Nadu government opposed the provision in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill proposing a common final-year MBBS exam, to be known as National Exit Test (NEXT), for admission to post-graduate medical courses.

• State government favoured NEXT only for candidates who completed their undergraduate medical courses in foreign countries.
• The state government said the provisions in the Bill went against the federal principles and rights of States.

Background

• Last week, the cabinet approved these proposals as a part of the National Medical Commission Bill.
• If enacted, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 would be repealed.
• The current Medical Council of India would be replaced by a National Medical Commission.

What

In a bid to streamline medical education in the country, the government plans to convert the final year examination of the MBBS course into a licentiate examination, which will also be used for entrance into postgraduate medical courses, and act as a screening test for foreign medical graduates. It will be called the National Exit Test (NEXT).

National Medical Commission

The Commission will have four autonomous boards:

1. Undergraduate Medical Education Board
2. Post-Graduate Medical Education Board
3. Medical Assessment and Rating Board
4. Ethics and Medical Registration Board.

It will also be responsible for regulating fees and all other charges for half the seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities.

Way Ahead

The Bill proposes to unify all entrance procedures for medical courses.

National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill

• Once the NMC Bill is enacted, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, will stand repealed.
• The existing Act provides for the Medical Council of India (MCI), the medical education regulator in India.

Why is MCI being replaced?

• Medical Council of India (MCI), when tested on producing competent doctors, ensure adherence to quality standards, etc., has repeatedly been found short of fulfilling its mandated responsibilities.
• The quality of medical education is at its lowest ebb.
• The current model of medical education is not producing the right type of health professionals that meet the basic health needs of the country because medical education and curricula are not integrated with the needs of our health system
• Many of the products coming out of medical colleges are ill-prepared to serve in poor resource settings like Primary Health Centre and even at the district level
• Medical graduates lack competence in performing basic health care tasks like conducting normal deliveries
• Instances of unethical practice continue to grow due to which respect for the profession has dwindled.

How will the proposed National Medical Commission function?

• The NMC Bill provides for the constitution of a 25-member NMC selected by a search committee, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, to replace the MCI.
• The Bill provides for just one medical entrance test across the country, single exit exam.
• National Exit Test (NEXT) is the final MBBS exam, which will work as a licentiate examination, a screening test for foreign medical graduates, and an entrance test for admission in postgraduate programmes.
• The Bill proposes to regulate the fees and other charges of 50 percent of the total seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities.
• A medical advisory council will advise and make recommendations to the NMC.
• The council will include one member representing each state and Union Territory (vice-chancellors in both cases), chairman of the University Grants Commission, and the director of the National Accreditation and Assessment Council.
• Four boards — dealing with undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, medical assessment and rating board, and the ethics and medical registration board — will regulate the sector.
• The Bill marks a radical change in regulatory philosophy.

such as:

Under the NMC regime, medical colleges will need permission only once — for establishment and recognition. There will be no need for annual renewal, and colleges would be free to increase the number of seats on their own, subject to the present cap of 250.

They would also be able to start postgraduate courses on their own. Fines for violations, however, are steep — 1.5 times to 10 times the total annual fee charged.

Source: Indian Express

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For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: All about the bill- need, significance, What is DNA, DNA Banks and Laboratories, Sample collection, Punishment, DNA Regulatory Board

News Flash

The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, was tabled in the Lok Sabha.

• The bill seeks to control the use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of a person
• Currently, the use of DNA technology for identification of individuals is not regulated.

What is DNA?

• The DNA is a set of instructions found in a cell.
• DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule composed of two chains to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions.
• It carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.
• DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are nucleic acids.
• Nucleic acids are one of the four major types of macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life.

About DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019

Use of DNA Data

• The bill demands to allow DNA testing in respect of matters listed in the Schedule to the Bill.
• These include offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860,
• and for civil matters such as parentage disputes, emigration or immigration, and transplantation of human organs.
• The Schedule includes DNA testing for matters related to the establishment of individual identity.

Collection of DNA

Authorities must obtain consent for collection in certain situations:

• For arrested persons, if the offence carries a punishment of up to seven years.
• If the offence carries more than seven years of imprisonment or death, consent is not required.
• If the person is a victim, or relative of a missing person, or a minor or disabled person, the authorities are required to obtain the written consent of such victim, or relative, or parent or guardian of the minor or disabled person.

In case, if the consent is not given in these cases, the authorities can approach a Magistrate who may order the taking of bodily substances of such persons.

DNA Data Bank

The Bill provides for the establishment of:

• National DNA Data Bank
• Regional DNA Data Bank
• DNA laboratories

DNA laboratories are required to prepare DNA data and share data with the National and Regional DNA Data Banks.

Data Bank is required to maintain data in the following categories:

• A crime scene index
• A suspects’ or undertrials’ index
• An offenders’ index
• A missing persons’ index
• An unknown deceased persons’ index.

Removal of DNA profiles

The Bill provides for the removal of the DNA profiles of the following persons:

• Of a suspect, if a police report is filed or court order was given
• Of an undertrial, if a court order is given
• On written request, for persons who are not a suspect, offender or undertrial, from the crime scene or missing persons’ index.

DNA Regulatory Board

• The Bill provides for the establishment of a DNA Regulatory Board.
• The Board will supervise the DNA Data Banks and DNA laboratories.
• The Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, will be the ex officio Chairperson of the Board.
• Other members of the board are includes:

1. Experts in the field of biological sciences
2. Director-General of the National Investigation Agency
3. Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Functions of the Board

• Advising governments on all issues related to establishing DNA laboratories or Data Banks
• Granting accreditation to DNA laboratories.
• Board ensures the DNA profile with data banks are safe and confidential.

Penalities

The Bill specifies penalties for offences, including:

• for disclosure of DNA information, or
• using DNA sample without authorization.

Disclosure of DNA information will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and fine of up to one lakh rupees.

Source: PRS India

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For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: GST – Types, Features and significances, GST council, Criticism, way ahead

News Flash

The centre is celebrating two years of the Goods and Services Tax. 1st July is celebrated as the “GST Day”.

• The tax came into effect from July 1, 2017, through the implementation of One Hundred and First Amendment of the Constitution of India by the Indian government.
• The tax replaced existing multiple flowing taxes levied by the central and state governments.

Highlights

• The GST Council will introduce the new return-filling system on a trial basis from 1 July and on mandatory basis from 1 October. It is expected to simplify the process.
• At the event, a book on ‘GST for MSME’ will also be released.
• Sahaj & Sugam returns for small taxpayers are proposed.
• With regards to single cash ledger, the govt will rationalise the ledger in such a manner that earlier 20 heads are merged into 5 major heads.
• There is only one cash ledger for tax, interest, penalty, fee and others.
• The ministry also said that a single refund-disbursing mechanism will come into play wherein the government which sanctions refund disburses all four major heads of refunds namely CGST, SGST, IGST and cess.
• Threshold limit of Rs 40 lakh is offered of suppliers of goods as per the choice of states.
• Introduction of composition scheme for small service providers up to an annual turnover of Rs 50 lakh with a tax rate of 6 per cent.
• The electronic invoicing system in a phase-wise manner for B2B transactions is proposed to be introduced.
• GST Appellate Tribunals are being established at various state headquarters and area benches also.

Goods and Services Tax

The goods and services tax (GST) is a destination-based, value-added tax on final consumption by both the Centre and the states on the same tax base.

GST is a consumption-based tax/destination-based tax, therefore, taxes are paid to the state where the goods or services are consumed not the state in which they were produced.

It has reduced the cascading effect of taxes.

It cut down compliance, logistics and transportation costs which gives India a common economic market, and provided a technology driven tax system.

Taxes subsumed

The single GST subsumed several taxes and levies which included:

1. Central excise duty
2. Services tax
3. Additional customs duty
4. Surcharges
5. State-level value added tax and Octroi.
6. Other levies which were applicable to interstate transportation of goods have also been done away with in GST regime.
7. GST is levied on all transactions such as sale, transfer, purchase, barter, lease, or import of goods and/or services.

Goods kept outside the GST

1. Alcohol for human consumption(i.e. Not for commercial use).
2. Petrol and petroleum products (GST will apply at a later date) viz. Petroleum crude, High speed diesel, Motor Spirit (petrol), Natural gas, Aviation turbine fuel.

Dual GST model

India adopted a dual GST model, meaning that taxation is administered by both the Union and State Governments.

Transactions made within a single state are levied with Central GST (CGST) by the Central Government and State GST (SGST) by the State governments.

For inter-state transactions and imported goods or services, an Integrated GST (IGST) is levied by the Central Government.

IGST complicates tax collection for State Governments by disabling them from collecting the tax owed to them directly from the Central Government.

Goods and Services Tax Council

• The tax rates, rules and regulations are governed by the GST Council which consists of the finance ministers of centre and all the states.
• GST Council is the governing body of GST having 33 members. It is chaired by the Union Finance Minister.
• The GST council is responsible for any revision or enactment of rule or any rate changes of the goods and services in India.

Way forward

• The Centre should not put too much burden of revenue on GST but focus on ensuring compliance becomes easy.
• GSTN, the technology network, has a key role to play. While technical glitches are bound to happen, they should be urgently corrected.
• Input tax credit, the basic premise of GST, has an inbuilt compliance incentive.
• The producer who has paid tax on his inputs is keen to collect taxes from his buyer so that he can get credit input tax paid against the tax he collects.
• The coverage of GST should increase. The inclusion of petroleum products as well as real estate, which remain a potent source of unaccounted money, and electricity, will cut down costs, expand the formal economy and make GST more complete.

Criticism

Technicalities of GST implementation in India have been criticized by global financial institutions, sections of Indian media and opposition political parties in India.

World Bank’s 2018 version of India Development Update described India’s version of GST as too complex, noticing various flaws compared to GST systems prevalent in other countries; most significantly, the second highest tax rate among a sample of 115 countries at 28%.

GST’s implementation in India has been further criticized by Indian businessmen for problems including tax refund delays and too much documentation and administrative effort needed.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the success of any tax policy depends on how it’s administered. Despite dual administration, GST has not been reduced to tax anarchy.

The Centre deserves credit for making the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) the single point for the issue of clarifications.

A perennial area of concern in any tax administration is dispute resolution — it has to be timebound, consistent with the law and with clear channels of appeal.

Source: Economic Times and other standard sources

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The policy comes in the wake of a deadly fire at a coaching centre in Surat snuffed out 22 young lives.

• The rate of suicides in Kota, where many students converge to prepare for entrance exams, remains high.
• Data from the National Sample Survey Office’s 71st round reveal that more than a quarter of Indian students (a stupendous 7.1 crore) take private coaching.
• Around 12% of a family’s expenses go towards private coaching, across rich and poor families alike.

What purpose do coaching institutions serve in society?

• They enhance human capital. They serve the same purpose as schools and colleges.
• But if they don’t, then they are imposing a huge emotional cost to society. They crush creativity.
• In most cases, they only help a student to swiftly secure marks in some entrance exams.
• Securing good marks is widely understood to be a sign of merit.
• So, coaching institutions exist to help people achieve only one idea of merit. This is a small benefit. They do not enhance human capital.
• Confining students in classrooms and making them study subjects they often hate destroys their natural talent. Hence, the social cost of these institutions outweighs their benefit by far.

Coaching’s unregulated spaces

• Economic theories suggest that when markets fail, governments need to be brought in.
• Market failure may occur because of the presence of externalities or asymmetry in information.
• Governments are also important because they act to coordinate moral norms.
• On all these counts, coaching institutions emerge as the proverbial villains.
• Hidden behind legislations meant for tiny shops (Shops and Establishment Act) as ‘other’ business, they run an empire of evening incarcerations that arrest creative freedom.
• The big ones draw an entire generation of young minds and systematically erode their imagination.
• They ignite psychological disorders in students, undermine mainstream education, impose huge opportunity costs to students, charge an exorbitant fee which is often untaxed, and yet remain unaccountable (several court cases on breach of promise of refund are underway).

Knee-jerk Reaction

• The building in Surat had an illegally constructed terrace.
• It had a wooden staircase that got burnt, thus disabling any possibility of escape.
• It had no fire safety equipment, nor any compliance or inspection certificate.
• The response of the State government was to shut down all coaching institutions in Gujarat until fire inspections were completed.
• This was a typical knee-jerk reaction.

Why do people start coaching institutions?

• Barring a few exceptions, coaching institutions sell a valueless but costly idea.
• Only those enterprises which have no value themselves play with the law.
• To blame the systemic flaws in the implementation of safety laws and to blame corruption in the government is to normalise the lack of integrity in the entrepreneur who decided to violate the law.
• To harp on lapses by the government is to turn a blind eye towards what kind of ethics we are drawing out of our enterprises, particularly those which purport to provide ‘education’.
• Coaching institutions, of course, are not necessarily ethical entities. Most of them do not add to the value of education.

Why coaching institutes are growing?

The reason for the growth of coaching institutions is the entrance exam culture of India.

Way forward

• What is urgently required is a policy on regulating coaching institutes.
• Some States have already passed laws to regulate the coaching industry — centres have to register with the government and meet certain basic criteria — for instance, they cannot employ teachers of government-recognized schools.
• Existing State laws, do not evince a consistent rationale that could aid in framing national regulations.
• There is also the Private Coaching Centres Regulatory Board Bill, 2016 in the discussion.
• While the discourse being triggered is a welcome step, it is now important to ensure regulations that emerge are agile, forward-looking and empowering.

Source: The Hindu

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For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: Segregation System, Types, Process, Solid Waste Management Rules

Introduction

Isolation of our waste is essential as the amount of waste being produced today caused tremendous issue and immense problems.

There are certain items are not Bio-Degradable but can be reused or recycled in fact it is believed that a larger portion of the waste can be recycled, a part of can be converted to compost, and only a smaller portion of it is real waste that has no use and has to be discarded.

Waste segregation systems in India

Waste can be segregated as Bio-degradable waste and Non-bio degradable waste.

Biodegradable waste is a type of waste that may be degraded by other living organisms. such as vegetables/ fruits waste, paper waste, etc.

Non-Biodegradable wastes are those that cannot break down or degrade for many years.

Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016

Earlier, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notified the new Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), 2016. These will replace the existing Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000.

Major highlights:

• Segregation at source

The new rules have mandated the source segregation of waste in order to channelise the waste to wealth by recovery, reuse and recycle.

Waste generators would now have to now segregate waste into three streams- Biodegradables, Dry (Plastic, Paper, metal, Wood, etc.) and Domestic Hazardous waste (diapers, napkins, mosquito repellants, cleaning agents etc.) before handing it over to the collector.

• Sanitary waste: Disposal and collection

The manufacturers of sanitary napkins are responsible for awareness for proper disposal of such waste.

The manufacturers have to provide a pouch or wrapper for disposal of each napkin or diapers along with the packet of their sanitary products.

• Collect Back scheme

The producers or manufacturers of the products in packaging material which are non-biodegradable, should put in place a system to collect back the packaging waste generated due to their production.

• Waste treatment

It has been advised that the bio-degradable waste should be processed, treated and disposed.

It can be done through composting or bio-methanation within the premises as far as possible.

It is advisable that the residual waste shall be given to the waste collectors.

The developers of Special Economic Zone, industrial estate, industrial park to earmark at least 5 per cent of the total area of the plot sheds for recovery and recycling facility.

• Promoting the use of compost

The Department of Fertilisers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers should provide market development assistance on city compost and ensure the promotion of co‐marketing of compost with chemical fertilizers.

• Waste to Energy

Non-recyclable waste having a calorific value of 1500 K/cal/kg or more shall be utilized for generating energy.

• Waste Management in Hilly areas

The construction of landfills on hills shall be avoided.

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018

The amended Rules lay down that the phasing out of Multilayered Plastic (MLP) is now applicable to MLP, which are “non-recyclable, or non-energy recoverable, or with no alternative use.”

The amended Rules also prescribe a central registration system for the registration of the producer/importer/brand owner.

Source: Down to Earth

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For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: IEDs, Vehicle-borne IED, Types, Components, Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) Action Plan

News Flash

National Investigation Agency has recovered two IEDs from a stormwater drain near a railway track.

Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)

• An IED is a type of unconventional explosive weapon that can take any form and be activated in a variety of ways. They are among the world’s oldest types of weapons.
• An IED is a bomb fabricated in an improvised manner incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic, or incendiary chemicals and designed to destroy or incapacitate personnel or vehicles.
• IEDs are triggered by various methods, including remote control, infrared or magnetic triggers, pressure-sensitive bars or trip wires (victim-operated).
• In some cases, multiple IEDs are wired together in a daisy chain to attack a convoy of vehicles spread out along a roadway.

Vehicle-borne IED

A vehicle-borne IED, or VBIED, is a military term for a car bomb or truck bomb but can be any type of transportation such as a bicycle, motorcycle, donkey, etc.

They can also be detonated from a remote location. VBIEDs can create additional shrapnel through the destruction of the vehicle itself and use vehicle fuel as an incendiary weapon.

The act of a person’s being in this vehicle and detonating it is known as an SVBIED suicide.

Components of IED

An IED has five components: a switch (activator), an initiator (fuse), container (body), charge (explosive), and a power source (battery).

IEDs are extremely diverse in design and may contain many types of initiators, detonators, penetrators, and explosive loads.

Types

• Chemical

A device incorporating the toxic attributes of chemical materials designed to result in:

(i) Patho-physiological toxic effect (morbidity and mortality)

(ii) Psychological effect (causing fear and behavior modification) on a larger population.

• Biological

A device incorporating biological materials designed to result in the dispersal of vector borne biological material for the purpose of creating a primary patho-physiological toxic effect (morbidity and mortality), or secondary psychological effect (causing fear and behavior modification) on a larger population.

• Incendiary

A device making use of exothermic chemical reactions designed to result in the rapid spread of fire for the purpose of creating a primary patho-physiological effect (morbidity and mortality), or secondary psychological effect (causing fear and behavior modification) on a larger population.

• Radiological

A speculative device incorporating radioactive materials designed to result in the dispersal of radioactive material for the purpose of area denial and economic damage.

It is also known as Radiological Dispersion Device or dirty bomb.

• Nuclear

Improvised nuclear device of most likely gun-type or implosion-type.

Nanotechnology can theoretically be used to develop miniaturised laser-triggered pure fusion weapon that will be easier to produce than conventional nuclear weapons and could be used in terrorist attacks.

Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) Action Plan

• In 2010, NATO developed a C-IED Action Plan with three main focus areas: defeating the device (DtD) itself, attacking the network (AtN) and preparing the forces (PtF).
• Neutralisation of IED may be the most visible part of the C-IED effort.
• The C-IED Action Plan guides the Alliance’s efforts to reduce the effects of IEDs and acts as an umbrella for the coordination of the various actors involved in C-IED. It covers all levels of C-IED, from the strategic to the tactical.
• C-IED work is not just about detection and neutralisation, but also about addressing the networks behind the IEDs. In line with this, NATO utilises both military and civilian means in the fight against IEDs.

Source: Various standard sources

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For: Mains

Topic cover: One Health Concept, Why it is important, what do we need to protect, related facts, Current progress, Role of World Health Organization

News Flash

The World Organization of Animal Health, commonly known as OIE (an abbreviation of its French title), summarises the One Health concept as “human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they exist”.

For example (diseases): Bird Flu, Avian influenza, Severe acute respiratory syndrome.

According to the World Health Organization, One Health approach is particularly relevant include food safety, the control of zoonoses (diseases that can spread between animals and humans, such as flu, rabies and Rift Valley Fever), and combatting antibiotic resistance (when bacteria change after being exposed to antibiotics and become more difficult to treat).

Is One Health a new concept?

It is not a new concept, though it is of late that it has been formalised in health governance systems.

The hitherto philosophy of One Health, recognises inter-connectivity among human health, the health of animals, and the environment.

Circa 400 BC, Hippocrates in his treatise On Airs, Waters and Places had urged physicians that all aspects of patients’ lives need to be considered including their environment; disease was a result of an imbalance between man and environment.

Why do we need a One Health approach?

• Many of the same microbes infect animals and humans, as they share the eco-systems they live in. Efforts by just one sector cannot prevent or eliminate the problem. For instance, rabies in humans is effectively prevented only by targeting the animal source of the virus (for example, by vaccinating dogs).
• Information on influenza viruses circulating in animals is crucial to the selection of viruses for human vaccines for potential influenza pandemics.
• Drug-resistant microbes can be transmitted between animals and humans through direct contact between animals and humans or through contaminated food, so to effectively contain it, a well-coordinated approach in humans and in animals is required.

Why it has gotten restored interests?

As human populations expand, it results in greater contact with domestic and wild animals, providing more opportunities for diseases to pass from one to the other. Climate change, deforestation and intensive farming further disrupt environment characteristics, while increased trade and travel result in closer and more frequent interaction, thus increasing the possibility of transmission of diseases.

Facts

• According to the OIE, 60% of existing human infectious diseases are zoonotic i.e. they are transmitted from animals to humans; 75% of emerging infectious human diseases have an animal origin.
• Of the five new human diseases appearing every year, three originate in animals.
• 80 percent of biological agents with potential bio-terrorist use are zoonotic pathogens.
• It is estimated that zoonotic diseases account for nearly two billion cases per year resulting in more than two million deaths — more than from HIV/AIDS and diarrhoea.
• One-fifth of premature deaths in poor countries are attributed to diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Measures

1. Strengthening veterinary institutions and services.
2. Control zoonotic pathogens at their animal source.
3. Collaboration at local, regional and global levels among veterinary, health and environmental governance.
4. Greater investment needed in animal health infrastructure.
5. Developing countries like India have a much greater stake in strong One Health systems on account of agricultural systems resulting in uncomfortably close proximity of animals and humans.
6. Strict health surveillance to incorporate domestic animals, livestock and poultry.
7. Humans require a regular diet of animal protein. Thus, loss of food animals on account of poor health or disease too becomes a public health issue even though there may be no disease transmission, and we lose 20% of our animals this way.
8. Only 65,000 veterinary institutions tend to the health needs of 125.5 crore animals in India, and this includes 28,000 mobile dispensaries and first aid centres with bare minimum facilities.
9. There could not be a stronger case for reinventing the entire animal husbandry sector to be able to reach every livestock farmer, not only for disease treatment but for prevention and surveillance to minimise the threat to human health.
10. A robust animal health system is the first and crucial step in human health.

Current Progress

We are moving towards a strong and effective One Health regime, which establish a collaborative mechanism for joint surveillance and monitoring, strengthening disease reporting and control programmes.

The institutional mechanism for One Health governance is set up. The idea would truly get the imagination if the basic significance of animal wellbeing in human prosperity was underscored constantly.

Disease observation needs to go beyond people and incorporate preventive wellbeing and cleanliness in domesticated animals and poultry, improved measures of animal husbandry for greater food safety, and compelling correspondence protocols among animal and public health systems.

Why it matters for India?

The World Health Organization (WHO) was set up in 1948 to promote cooperation to control human diseases, among other objectives.

The cooperation and collaboration among nations to control and contain animal diseases is a sine qua non for achieving the WHO objectives had been recognised as early as in 1924 when OIE was established to fight animal diseases at the global level.

Role of the World Health Organization

WHO works closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to promote multi-sectoral responses to food safety hazards, risks from zoonoses, and other public health threats at the human-animal-ecosystem interface and provide guidance on how to reduce these risks.

WORLD ORGANIZATION OF ANIMAL HEALTH (OIE)

• The need to fight animal diseases at the global level led to the creation of the Office International des Epizooties through the international Agreement signed on January 25th 1924.
• In May 2003 the Office became the World Organisation for Animal Health but kept its historical acronym OIE.
• The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide.
• It is recognised as a reference organisation by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in 2018 has a total of 182 Member Countries.
• The OIE maintains permanent relations with nearly 75 other international and regional organisations and has Regional and sub-regional Offices on every continent.

Source: Indian Express

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