GPSC GUIDANCE

https://chunavsetu.gujarat.gov.in/docs/epledge/epledge.aspx

Take pledge to make the festival of election more vibrant and inclusive.

ગુજરાતના લાખો યુવાનો સરકારી સેવામાં જોડાવા માટે ખંતથી તૈયારી કરતા હોય છે. આપ યુવાનો દેશનુ ભવિષ્ય છો અને દેશનિર્માણના પાયાના પથ્થરો છો.
આપ આવનારા ભવિષ્યમાં સરકાર સાથે જોડાઈને સરકારી અને જાહેર ફરજોનું ખંતપૂર્વક નિર્વહન કરશો. આપણા ભારત દેશની સુદ્ર્ઢ સંરચના લોકશાહીના બંધારણીય મૂલ્યોથી પ્રેરિત છે અને લોકતાંત્રિક ઢબથી રાષ્ટ્રનિર્માણ માટે દેશ અને દેશવાસીઓ કટિબધ્ધ છે. જેમાં દેશના પાયાના સ્તંભ એવા આપ યુવાનો કેવી રીતે પાછળ રહી શકો ?
જેમ સરકારી અધિકારી / કર્મચારી તરીકે સરકારી અને જાહેર ફરજોનુ પાલન કરવુ આવશ્યક છે, તેવી જ રીતે ભારત દેશના એક જવાબદાર નાગરીક તરીકે પોતાના મતાધિકારનો ઉપયોગ કરીને લોકતાંત્રિક ઢબથી રાષ્ટ્રનિર્માણ કરવુ એ પણ એક નાગરિક તરીકે આપ સૌ યુવાનોની નૈતિક ફરજ છે. હાલમાં મતદારયાદી સતત સુધારણા કાર્યક્ર્મ તા.૧૧/૯/૨૦૨૨ સુધી ચાલુ છે . જેમાં ઓનલાઈન Voter helpline App થી પણ રજિસ્ટ્રેશન કરાવી શકાય છે. તો આપનુ તથા આપના પરિવારના સભ્યોના નામોની નોંધણી કરાવી લોકશાહીના આ અવસરમાં યોગદાન આપવા અને આગામી વિધાનસભા ચૂંટણીમાં મતાધિકારનો ૧૦૦% ઉપયોગ કરી / કરાવીને લોકશાહીના મહાપર્વને સફળ બનાવવા નમ્ર અપીલ છે.

DEMOCRATIC BACKSLIDING
US supreme court overturned 'abortion' as a constitutional right given in Joe vs Wade verdict and left it on state legislature to decide on the right
Challenges in this verdict
1) Rights are expanding and not retreating entity so even if original constitution did not have abortion as a right, it evolved
2) Maternity is a choice, so is bodily autonomy hence it shouldn't be decide by men
3) Pregnancy is closely realated to Right to equality as women are working as lawyer, doctor, executive and may want to delay pregnancy to advance in their career

India shows way through MTP act,21 / moratorium on commercial surrogacy / equal age of marriage

BALANCING ON BRICS
: The recent summit tried the balancing act instead of delivering on its promise of alternative economic bloc for developing countries
:NDB, is yet to catch speed as a multilateral lender of standing, China's push to dominate the group and Russia being in economic limbo the group has limitations on what it can achieve

LESSON FROM MAHARASHTRA
: Political crisis shows that anti defection law is in effective, even counterproductive as
1) Speaker can delay on verdict hence defeating the purpose
2) Money & Muscle power is used to engineer 2/3 defection
3) Voters also don't penalise the defected candidates as the same gets re-elected
Let's say even if amendment like time bound verdict & disqualification from next election is introduced then disqualified member can have family member in his seat so power politics will continue
The country has only 4000 MLAs and mostly from dynasty & repeated hence
1) Young blood driven by ideology should come to politics
2) Intra party democracy where aspirations of dissident MLAs are addressed

WEST STEPS BACK, INDIA SHOWS THE WAY
:MTPact,21 PCMA,bill tries to stop vicious cycle of early marriage, poor maternal & child health outcomes
: Emergence of India as 'Biomarket' for 'renting a womb' reflects global inequality & lead to commercialisation of motherhood, commodification of women which was against our culture that revered mothers hence banned & only Indian citizen can do it.
Medical interventions have brought down MMR from 170 to 103
Political will has increased sex ratio at 1020

SHOCK ABSORBER:
Ecologically sensitive zone is the buffer area created around National park, WLS, BR to act as shock absorber by restricting economic activity ( created under EPA )
Recent direction by Supreme court of mandatory demarcation of 1km boundary area has evoked criticism from farmers as threat to their livelihood, especially in Kerala.

LET THERE BE DATA:
Government should do survey regularly as it forms basis of agile policy
The last consumer survey was in 2011-12 hence w/o latest data we don't know consumption pattern ( protein intake, micro-nutrient ) and unable to plan cropping, dietary diversification policy like poshan

NO SILVER BULLTE
Bipartisan support for strict gun control is a historic moment in US ( more checks like mental health, background ) but issue is still divisive as conservatives sees this as violation of '2nd amendment '
THE NEW WORKPLACE
West Bengal government has introduced happy works, a co working space in Kolkata metropolitan for very affordable rates ( less than ₹100)

NEW RULES FOR NEW GAME
:Games of skills ( poker, rummy ) falls under article 19(1)(g) while games of chance doesn't ( teen patti, roulette )

Since gambling is in state list, some states have instituted blanket ban on online gambling like Tamil Nadu which is unconstitutional as said by Madras High court while struck down the law.

While the government has constituted a committee to study the arena, more comprehensive step would be a new law like many countries ieUS, UK which will allow responsible, transparent, safe gaming.

Also coordination & cooperation with the companies can ensure self regulations like KYC, SSL encryption, risk flagging, daily& monthly restrictions, self exclusion etc

POLICY NOT DIKTAT
:RBI has faced criticism for non consultative policy like crypto ban, willful defaulter policy which has led to judicial interventions
The recent Regulatory review authority 2.0 has highlighted it and suggested that consultation, objects&reason statement, and periodic review should be there

THE FERTILISER PINCH
:While India has highest arable land in the world India imports fertiliser worth of $25 Bn ( where urea is 50%+, then DAP and the MOP), we also have to import the feedstock like (LNG from Qatar, sulphur, potash) as we are deficient in these resources and lastly we have to give subsidy to farmers hence dual burden ( High import & subsidised sell )
The only possible solution is rationalization of fertiliser and shifting towards organic fertilizer
i.e using DAP in wheat & paddy only as other crops don't require high P content
Eg. promote SSP
Eg. Nano urea
Eg. introducing urease & nitrification inhibition compund that will slow the hydrolysis ( ammonia release in atmosphere) and nitrification (subsurface leaching of nitrogen) of urea

QUOTE:
Power is the glue that can bind ideologically opposed alliances ( shiv Sena )

REGULATING GLOBAL COMMONS
WTO agreement on fisheries (AFS) amid 12th ministerial conference is less than perfect but it's a milestone in trade governance.

Addresses SDG 14.6 "sustainable fisheries" as AFS prohibits 3 kinds of subsidies 1) illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing 2)fishing of already overexploited stocks 3) Fishing on unregulated high seas, it has also given 2 year transition period for countries like India
But
•No consensus on fisheries in other members waters that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing (OCOF)
•Moreover India demanded 25 years transition period as we are yet to exploit 7500 km coastline under our blue economy initiative while developed countries have already exploited their share
•Moreover livelihood of 4 million marine farmers can be threatened who are small scale hence doesn't threaten sustainability


REFORM AMID CRISIS
:The Srilankan government wants to introduce 21st amendment which seeks to reduce power of president and give such powers to PM so PM can be responsible to parliament but amid economic turmoil political consensus will be difficult to build

This reform is similar to the 19th amendment in 2015 that ensured independent appointment to election commission, public service, police, finance, human rights, this was brought after decade of authoritarian rule of Rajapakshas but as it happened Rajapakshas again came in power and undo all things through 20th amendment.

Now srilankan public wants to end the Rajapakshas domination and wants clean government, we'll have to wait and see.

BRICS AFTER UKRAINE
Brics has 40% world population, 25% world GDP, 2 fastest emerging economy
It was created with agenda of rebalancing global power equation. It has proved its mettle by establishing NDB, CRA but it doesn't have its own payment mechanism, messaging systems that can pose challenge to western financial institutions
So cooperation between India-china is the key to success the brics, also the expansion of its membership will infuse vigour in its original agenda

MAKKI
:China blocking India's bid to designate Makki, chief of Lashkar e toiba under UNSC 1267 committee reflects China's double standards on terrorism

Editorials:
TWIN DEFICIT:
Persistent high crude oil prices will widen the CAD which in turn will make ruppee weaker and make future imports more costly ( ruppee is also getting weakened due to FPI outflow due to fed tapering )

To counter the inflation caused by high crude prices, government has cut down on excise hence resulting in less revenue hence FISCAl DEFICIT which can lead to crowding out for private sector.
( Solution is rationalization of non capex expenditure )

INFLATION DILEMMA
-Hiked interest rate by RBI has little impact on food and fuel inflation but it can lead to suppressed credit growth and may cause recession

- But rate hikes are necessary for 'inflation expectations' ( people's expectations of what inflation will be in future ) so in essence people will believe that goods will become cheaper in future hence 'reduce the demand in present ' which will moderate the inflation and the rate hike also gives time for the supply to catch the demand.

ISRAEL:
:5the election in 3 years
The election to knesset is based on proportional representation hence people vote for party & not candidates. So ability to form coalition makes him/her the leader.
(It's very normal for Israel's ruling coalition to have 6-8 parties. )

SWEEPING & OPAQUE
The rationalization exercise of ncert is aimed at reducing the curriculum load and help students for speedy recovery after COVID
But experts argue that proposed changes like deletion of Emergency, Gujarat riots, Protests turned social movements, parts of Mughal & sultanate are Motivated & goes against NEP,2020's mandate of encouraging critical thinking by presenting complexities of diverse social & political process of past

NOTE TO STATES:
:Centre has directed states to bring its off budget borrowing on to books.
As many states have high debt that translates into higher interest payment reducing fiscal space for progressive policies.

But recent trend of Populist subsidies ( electricity), rolling back old pension scheme ( rajasthan ) while their revenue stream is depleting ( compensation cess) may cause problem in future hence states must shore up their revenue, reduce non merit subsidies, and bring down debt to manageable levels.

WHAT MPC SAYS, WHAT RBI DOES
After MPC's statement, RBI governor introduces slew of measures like GSAP, Viable repo auction, RBI's intervention in FOREX market which have Inflationary consequences yet not discussed with MPC hence need of hour is clear communication that ensures that credibility of inflation targeting framework is maintained.

OUR ENTWINED VALUES &INTEREST
-India economic strategy,2035
-Consulate general in BLR in 2023 to tap in India's startup ecosystem
-Joint centre of excellence for critical and emerging technology

India & Australia has shown that when we work in partnership results are unprecedented ie Post earthquake evacuation and rehabilitation in TONGA

UN commemorates International day against Hate Speech
We have been home to all religions of the world be it zorastrian, Tibetan Buddhist or Sikhs this shows our belief in pluralism and tolerance.

While we belive religiophobia should be countered we can't ignore the rising instances of hatred toward Non-Abrahamic religions as seen in recent attack on gurudwara in Afghanistan, attack on Hindu temples in pakistan hence the selective outrage of OIC & West on India's fringe elements holds little substance so India requests everyone should condemn all forms of religiophobia everywhere.

Editorials:
1)WHAT WORKS BEST
-India is diversifying it's supply chain ie replacing Saudi with Russia as 2nd largest crude importer & buying bulk urea from US instead of middle East
This will have 2 impacts first is increased resilience for future supply shocks and second it will force other countries to reduce prices to be competitive

2)A JOLT IN PARIS
:After winning presidential election, french President's group called 'ensemble' lost majority in parliament
Hence given the fragility of Europe & France it's incumbent to build alliances both social and political for stability

3)LINES IN WATER
- FINA, the swimming governing body introduced 'open' category so that trans athletes are not excluded in competition

4) AGNIPATH BETWEEN THE LINES
-All major power undertake periodic review of their forces( ie biennial defence white paper of China ) but India doesn't do it hence issue of long term planning stays in limbo

India also doesn't have national security strategy doctrine hence seen fumbling response to emerging threats

5)THE RECKLESS BORROWER
-Majority of Pakistan debt belongs to China. Compared to other lenders Chinese loans are short term and with higher interest

6)ON JOBS, THE BIG PICTURE
-The lates PLFS survey shows reduction in Unemployment to '4.2'(20-21), the trend since 2018 is
5.8 to 4.8 to now 4.2 hence continuous decline in Unemployment means jobs are being created hence more demand in economy and more GDP.
Also government intent to add 1 million in 18 months will further boost employment
The high hopes of startup to propel India might not be realised as of now as the boom is only in stock market, and with past experience 80-85% startups fold up as unable to scale up their nonviable models creating job loss

8)YOGA, POST COVID
-Yoga helps in mental and physical development as it increases GABA chemical that fights anxiety, depression & improve QOL
-Ancient text like Bhagwat Gita mentions, Krishna asks Arjun to perform his duties as he was in yoga
-healthy mind forms nucleus of healthy society
-It also heals body ie arthritis etc
•Global centre for traditional medicine in Jamnagar ( Who& Goi) - research in TM & practices
•yoga certification board to bring uniformity in quality & skills of trainer
•National institute of yoga
Yoga aligned with SDG3 of 'healthy lives '

9) PLASTIC BAN
: While plastic under 75 micron is already banned, by year end all SUP under 120 micron will be banned.
-CPCB came out with list of banned items ie earbuds,spoon, cups as this are difficult to collect and occupies miniscule market of SUP (95% SUP market is of packaging)
-Plastic is made from fossil fuel, stays in environment and degrads into microplastic

CASE STUDY: DEVANSH YADAV ( Innovation, family & women led )
Under 'Nasha mukt bharat' campaign arunachal's changlang's opium crisis was addressed by forming women SHG and empowering them to draw out list of all addicts in their home and present the list to gram sabha and then with the approval of gram sabha they would be sent to de: addiction camp and on return will be provided job opportunities like mushroom farming..

Editorials
1) A SPUTTERING START
CC is increasing unpredictability of seasons! Not only in delay & breaks but fewer rainy days and excessive precipitation last year surplus rains in June then 2 months dry spell till August end and then heavy rains till December so kharif crop first suffered moisture stress and then inundation.
(Same happened with sudden temperature rise after mid March affecting wheat yield )

2)GRIM REMINDER
ISIL-K cowardly& dastardly attacked gurudwara. ISIL-K has many international members like Uzbek, uighur, but largely disgruntled Taliban. It's link with Haqqani group ( autonomous within Taliban) is well known and Haqqani group is close to Pakistan's ISI and now sirajuddin Haqqani who's Un designated global terrorist is interior minister therefore India's engagement with Taliban becomes much more complex

3)THE INFLATION TIGHTROPE
-Depreciating ruppe is bad as it makes import costly and for India crude is main import hence starting vicious cycle of inflation.

-Rising interest rate will slow down foreign portfolio investor which is not good as ruppee will appreciate which will hurt the exports, moreover RBI will start sterilisation in this situation where it buys excessive dollar to stabilise ₹ but then high liquidity may increase inflation hence sells gsec to absorb that hence the excess FOREX is not asset but liability

( So inflation targeting is always a tricky phenomena )

4)AN OIL PALM FOR HOME
: WTO ministerial meeting couldn't produce concrete results on TRIPS waiver, relaxing rules on public stocking for food security,removing fisheries subsidy, resolving contentious issues in e commerce & ultimately reforming WTO

Pandemic/war/disaster poses challenge as inward looking countries impose export ban ie Wheat & sunflower oil by Russia, Palm oil by Indonesia which leads to high prices and food insecurity, hence now leading to self reliance ambition by many countries including India

India's agri export is competitive as $50 bn export and $30bn+ import but 60% import is edible oil and out of that 50% is palm so need domestic production. Launched NEOM-OP ( 1mn ha area by 2025, reduce import by half by 2027) as self sufficiency through mustard, soya, groundnut will requires more additional land at the cost of cereal growing region so only palm oil is suitable as it has higher productivity.

Challenges remain like 4-6 years of gestation period for palm hence have to support the small farmers for that opportunity cost
Pricing formula for FFB ( fresh fruit bunch)
And ensuring atleast 20% recovery by processing industry.
But option of declaring palm as plantation crop where corporate players come doesn't seem viable as of now.

5)AN ACT OF ACCOMODATION
-We inherited FPTP system from British but this leads to 'lost votes' and 'rule of majority'
Hence delimitation commission in J&K tried to rectify it by ensuring that reorganized constituency will allow Hindus in Jammu, gujjar in poonch-rajouri, kishtawar & other community also gets say in J&K assembly, also reservation for ST for first time will widen it.

FPTP is ideal for UK but in multiparty, multi religious region system has to be tweaked, just as UK tweaked it for Ireland region's assembly ( single transferable vote based power sharing)
As democracy evolves!

6)POWER DIPLOMACY
: India-Nepal has great potential for it, but past distrust and India's image in delaying works for too long has hindered it ( mahakali & upper karnali is still in limbo)
But recent completion of Arun-3 by satluj Vidyut Nigam limited in 5 years has boosted our image. The proposed WEST SETI project can solidify this relation

Ethics: US passed law to celebrate emancipation day on June 19th to celebrate end of slavery.

COOPERATIVE FEDERALISM
Inter-state council
-263
-Empowers President to constitute -Sarkaria commission asked to establish permanent ISC so created in 1990
-PM chairman and all cm & LT.governors member
- So far 11 meets, and only 1 meet in last 6 years ( in 2016)

NEWS: TN CM suggested mandatory meeting for 3 times/year | discuss all imp bills before placing in Parliament, He also appreciated recent restructuring like 10 Union ministers as permanent invitee & reconstitution of standing committee with home minister as chairman.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is wanted in US for leaking/whistleblowing on classified US documents that exposed civilian killings by US army.
( So developed countries shouldn't preach as national security triumphs in our country also )

A BELATED CORRECTIVE:
- Wto finally eased IP restrictions on vaccines, though it's late as the waves have passed and vaccines have reached to almost all part
- But PATENT WAIVER has little meaning without TECH TRANSFER cause vaccines can't be reverse-engineered like drugs, so commitment has to be there.
( Global cooperation & knowledge sharing is necessary to fight COVID as seen in Oxford, AstraZeneca, serum )

SOCIETY:
The cheap internet has impacted society. The record price of IPL digital rights shows that in Urban areas more individual viewers are increasing & TV viewership is declining as we don't watch TV with neighbours/family/community

A MONTH OF PINKWASHING
: Corporations launches LGBTQ friendly products & campaign in pride month but the same corporation fund politicians who pass anti-LGBTQ bills, also these corporations have arbitrary firing policy ( Netflix fired majority LGBTQ ) hence the corporations are only PINKWASHING their products to maximise the profits and expand consumer base.
Sol: Sensitive corporate governance

VAV: violence, arson, vandalism has no place in modern democracy
#Agnipath

Editorials:
Prelude to 5G
Though reduction in reserved prices have happened but it's not significant. Buying spectrum will cost more than 1 lakh crore to already indebted telecoms but
Usage charges dropped, payment in installments allowed hence it'll boost to the sector

In the shadows of sanctions
Alternate route through Caspian sea ie Railway line between Caspian port of Rasht & Ashtara on Iran Azerbaijan border will connect Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia.
Also chahbar port and 13 nation INSTC will be able to counter Pakistan led trans Afghan railways ( boost since Taliban takeover)
Revival of nuclear deal will give filip to India's economic ties.

Justice more complete
Challenges in awarding death penalties where judge merely sees the nature of crime and ignores factors like socio-economic background, circumstances, mental health, age all of which were mandated by bachan Singh case in 1980

But the Manoj vs State of MP case recently have tried to rectify the ignorance of judiciary and built up on bachan Singh case by
1) It recognises reformation as integral part of CJS hence judge has to ensure that there's no scope of reformation before awarding Death penalty
2) Mandatory reports from prison, mental health experts
3)The right of accused to present all factors

Editorials

2 years of Galwan:
The Galwan valley clash resulted in death of soldiers on both sides.
While relations have improved with trade of $125bn, FDI, Chinese Foreign minister's visit, NSA's participation in SCO & BRICS security, Beijing lifted ban on visa of Indian students
But disengagement was prelude to de- escalation but still Indian soldiers can't patrol along Depsang plains, hot springs also the bridge on the pangong lake's middle part ( at khurnak fort ) on Chinese occupied territory.

This bridge is very critical as in 2020 India occupied kailash heights which gives strategically upper hand to India and china couldn't stop us as they couldn't deploy soldiers in time but this bridge will reduce the time for deployment of troops.
( Ethics : The agreement forbade the use of firearms but Chinese used clubs with nails embedded while Indians used baton keeping in spirit of agreement)

Inequality
: Developed economy has higher share of Direct taxes in total revenue as it's progressive tax hence inequality between rich and poor is reduced

India has 50% share of indirect tax in total tax revenue. We've seen reduction in direct tax ( corporate tax cuts in 2019,22 ) while high rates of Excise on petrol which disproportionately affects poor's purchasing capacity and ultimately increase inequality.
( HENCE INEQUALITY CAN BE ADDRESSED BY BETTER FISCAL POLICY )

Editorials
1) Inflation's uneven toll
:While inflation is good if it's demand driven as it helps in demand creation & job creation but current inflation is supply side ( War led supply chain disruption, suboptimal agriculture output due to climate change )
Hence RBI's monetary measures will be counterproductive as low liquidity will impact demand and investment
Need is of fiscal measures to reduce inflation and boost demand ( tax cut on fuel, subsidy on essential food items )

2) Good and Bad freebies
: Populism is the policy of appeasing masses by giving freebies often at the cost of fiscal prudence
: Freebies are good when given in essential & merit goods like health , education, food as it helps the overall community and has positive externality like productive workforce, Demographic dividend

But it's bad when given in power sector, transport where negative externalities like excessive consumption, misuse of freebies happen

3)The Job push:
Employment in manufacturing is needed to absorb 1.2 crore entering workforce every year.
As service sector absorbs skill intensive workforce
Gig economy absorbs semi skilled and limited workforce.

4)Drawing closer
:Better connectivity between Srilanka-India is very necessary
The proposed project to link Jaffna with Trichy by air and Jaffna to Karaikal by water will
-Reduce travel time and boost tourism
-Integrate region and boost trade

5) Playing with Agni ( mostly criticism is given by author )
Current crisis of limited fiscal space to defence is due to populist policy of OROP
-Agnipath is not reforming scheme but employment scheme
-Debate of technology vs troops is relevant only when less troops are very well trained ( not possible in 6 months )
-Post 4 years, prospects militarised youth?
- Too much politics in defence is not good ie CDS post is created but still vacant since 6 months.

Editorials:
1) Agnipath
-New recruitment policy for defence to induct agniveers of 17-21 age to ensure tech savvy, young profile of force while reducing fiscal burden on pensions, gratuity

2)RBI's misdiagnosis
-By law RBI's mandate is to tame the inflation but recently RBI is focusing on stabilization of ₹₹, dividend to gov, financing gov debt by buying large gsec hence not been able to focus fully on its core objective.

3)The expansion game of BRICS
-While expansion is inevitable but currently it's happening on Chinese terms as it wants to project brics as alternative to g20, India has to ensure we get say in current expansion by 1) Consensus 2) shared interest with Brics charter etc.

Identify the following locations
1) Mount cotopaxi
2) Lawrence river
3) Great dividing range
4) Appalachian mountain range