GBD 2016 has shown that, non communicable diseases constitute seven of the top ten causes of death in India. The leading cause of mortality was ischemic heart disease.
The Law Commission of India in its 230th report has also offered a long list of measures to deal with the pendency of cases
These include
(1) providing strict guidelines for the grant of adjournments
(2) curtailing vacation time in the higher judiciary
(3) reducing the time for oral arguments unless the case involves a complicated question of law
(4) and framing clear and decisive judgements to avoid further litigation
These include
(1) providing strict guidelines for the grant of adjournments
(2) curtailing vacation time in the higher judiciary
(3) reducing the time for oral arguments unless the case involves a complicated question of law
(4) and framing clear and decisive judgements to avoid further litigation
Why does the olympic flag only contain black, green, Red, Blue and yellow Rings on a field of white?
The Olympic flag's colors are always red, black, blue, green, and yellow rings on a field of white. This is because at least one of those colors appears on the flag of every nation on the planet.
The Olympic flag's colors are always red, black, blue, green, and yellow rings on a field of white. This is because at least one of those colors appears on the flag of every nation on the planet.
Why NASA crashed the $4 billion Cassini spacecraft into Saturn?
On Friday, September 15, around 7:55 am EDT, NASA watched its 20-year-old, $4 billion-plus spacecraft to crash into Saturn.
The space agency really has no other choice. Cassini is nearly out of fuel, and has already been stretched years beyond its intended mission duration. What’s more, keeping it going risks potentially contaminating one of Saturn’s moons — like Enceladus, an ice world that has some ingredients for life, or Titan, a dynamic moon where it rains methane — with microbes from Earth.
And so the spacecraft will end its existence by literally going where no human-made object has gone before: into Saturn’s atmosphere.
https://t.me/UPSC_2018
On Friday, September 15, around 7:55 am EDT, NASA watched its 20-year-old, $4 billion-plus spacecraft to crash into Saturn.
The space agency really has no other choice. Cassini is nearly out of fuel, and has already been stretched years beyond its intended mission duration. What’s more, keeping it going risks potentially contaminating one of Saturn’s moons — like Enceladus, an ice world that has some ingredients for life, or Titan, a dynamic moon where it rains methane — with microbes from Earth.
And so the spacecraft will end its existence by literally going where no human-made object has gone before: into Saturn’s atmosphere.
https://t.me/UPSC_2018
Telegram
Dr. Ashok Sharma
What is BioPhoton therapy?
BioPhoton Therapy is a new technique which is effective in the treatment of soft tissue injuries, reduction of pain, promotion of wound healing, and provides therapy for arthritic conditions.
Benefits of Biophoton Therapy. A new protocol that combines ozone therapy and light therapy is now available to people who seek relief from lingering viruses, painful infections and autoimmune disease. This new service is called Biophoton therapy, and is also often referred to as UVBI Therapy or UVB Light Therapy.
BioPhoton Therapy is a new technique which is effective in the treatment of soft tissue injuries, reduction of pain, promotion of wound healing, and provides therapy for arthritic conditions.
Benefits of Biophoton Therapy. A new protocol that combines ozone therapy and light therapy is now available to people who seek relief from lingering viruses, painful infections and autoimmune disease. This new service is called Biophoton therapy, and is also often referred to as UVBI Therapy or UVB Light Therapy.
What is the difference between brown and white sugar?
The main difference between raw (brown) sugar and white sugar is thatbrown hasn't completely been refined. Raw sugar is 96% pure, the rest is molasses (still containing minerals), while white sugar is pure calories (4 calories per gram). The crystals are spun in a centrifuge, which removes molasses.
The main difference between raw (brown) sugar and white sugar is thatbrown hasn't completely been refined. Raw sugar is 96% pure, the rest is molasses (still containing minerals), while white sugar is pure calories (4 calories per gram). The crystals are spun in a centrifuge, which removes molasses.
@UPSC_2018: Governance Welfare Scheme
Electrification of all Villages is one of the most important objectives of this government.
Electrification Scheme
Government has launched a Rs 16,320-crore scheme to supply electricity to all households by December 2018,
This scheme will provide free connections to the poor and at very low cost to others
Scheme: The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, named ‘Saubhagya‘
Rural Electrification Corp will be the nodal agency for the scheme
While public institutions and panchayats will be authorised to collect applications forms, distribute bills and collect payments
Particulars of the Scheme
It aims to improve the environment, public health, education and connectivity with the help of last-mile power connections across India
It will help reduce the use of kerosene lamps in non-electrified households
States that complete the scheme by December next year would be given an additional 15% grant by the Centre as incentive
The scheme is being funded to the extent of 60% by central grants, 30% by bank loans and 10% by states
Under the scheme, electricity connections will be given free to people identified by the Socio Economic and Caste Census of 2011
The scheme promises on-the-spot registration of applications.
Electrification of all Villages is one of the most important objectives of this government.
Electrification Scheme
Government has launched a Rs 16,320-crore scheme to supply electricity to all households by December 2018,
This scheme will provide free connections to the poor and at very low cost to others
Scheme: The Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna, named ‘Saubhagya‘
Rural Electrification Corp will be the nodal agency for the scheme
While public institutions and panchayats will be authorised to collect applications forms, distribute bills and collect payments
Particulars of the Scheme
It aims to improve the environment, public health, education and connectivity with the help of last-mile power connections across India
It will help reduce the use of kerosene lamps in non-electrified households
States that complete the scheme by December next year would be given an additional 15% grant by the Centre as incentive
The scheme is being funded to the extent of 60% by central grants, 30% by bank loans and 10% by states
Under the scheme, electricity connections will be given free to people identified by the Socio Economic and Caste Census of 2011
The scheme promises on-the-spot registration of applications.
INDIAN ECONOMY
Growth process has slowed down in recent month. Government is weighing the pros and cons of using fiscal stimulus as a policy to counter the slowdown in growth process.
Even as there is talk that the government is planning a fiscal push to support growth, strong dissenting voices are suggesting that all hell will break loose. Comparisons are being made with the 2008 stimulus and dire warnings are being issued
Why Counter Fiscal policy push to the economy cannot be misconstrued as similar to the fiscal policy of 2008?
In 2008 India provided fiscal stimulus of 1.8% of GDP which was far less than provided by its Asian counterparts and several other countries — Korea, US, China, South Africa.
The runaway inflation that followed was not entirely because of fiscal stimulus. Other factors to contributed like debt waiver, pay commissions recommendations, increase in MSP.
There are common elements like Pay Commission recommendations and loan waivers in the current economic scenario and that of 2008.
But, the Pay Commission’s recommendations as a percentage of the incremental PFCE (private final capital expenditure) are down to 9 per cent in FY17 from 22 per cent in FY09. Thus, a less boom in consumption.
Unlike earlier years no arrears have to be paid.
The loan waivers are unlikely to fuel inflation, as inflation has structurally corrected from double digits to low single digits in the last three years, and rural demand is now at multi-year lows.
Procurement price increases in the last three years have been moderate and do not threaten inflation.
Fiscal expansion got a bad name because in India it has been largely pro-cyclical. But, counter-cyclical policy is more effective. This means that deficits should decline when the economy is expanding and increase during economic downturns.
Way Forward
Policy should now focus on structural bottlenecks and not on putting money in the hands of consumers.
Recapitalise public sector banks through widely-discussed recapitalization bonds
The government need not raise immediate tax revenues and the government should avoid crowding out private borrowings .
The fiscal package could also include sector-specific measures, such as on sectors like exports, telecom, construction and power.
Last years textile package of support for wage costs and interest subvention could be expanded. Some successful state-level initiatives, as in the garment sector in Odisha, can be expanded nationally.
Affordable housingoffers multiplier effect. It helps the construction sector and has the maximum employment elasticity.
Resolution of stressed assets must be focused, the National Company Law Tribunal infrastructure needs further ramping up.
Structural and deep reforms like GST, RERA, monetary policy framework and move to less-cash and digital economy, will all pay back over the longer term. But, create uncertainity in shorter term so it needs deft policy and perception management.
India needs to correct imbalances in regional growth, and the urban-rural divide, and addressing the woes of the farm sector.
Conclusion:
There is much work to do, but for this year, we need a definite fiscal push.
###################
Procyclical Fiscal Policy
This fiscal policy goes in line with the current mood of the business cycle; amplifying them.
Boom: total government spending as a percentage of GDP goes up and tax rates go down, increasing government deficit..
Recession: total government spending as a percentage of GDP goes down and tax rates go up, decreasing government deficit.
Such a policy is dangerous and undesirable as it brings instability in the economy.
The Economic Survey 2017 also acknowledge some procyclicality during boom periods in India.
Countercyclical Fiscal Policy
It refers to strategy by the government to counter boom or recession through fiscal measures.
It works against the ongoing boom or recession trend; thus, trying to stabilize the economy.
Boom– Increasing taxes and reducing public expenditure. This will help to slow down the demand and thus keeping inflation under control.
Re
Growth process has slowed down in recent month. Government is weighing the pros and cons of using fiscal stimulus as a policy to counter the slowdown in growth process.
Even as there is talk that the government is planning a fiscal push to support growth, strong dissenting voices are suggesting that all hell will break loose. Comparisons are being made with the 2008 stimulus and dire warnings are being issued
Why Counter Fiscal policy push to the economy cannot be misconstrued as similar to the fiscal policy of 2008?
In 2008 India provided fiscal stimulus of 1.8% of GDP which was far less than provided by its Asian counterparts and several other countries — Korea, US, China, South Africa.
The runaway inflation that followed was not entirely because of fiscal stimulus. Other factors to contributed like debt waiver, pay commissions recommendations, increase in MSP.
There are common elements like Pay Commission recommendations and loan waivers in the current economic scenario and that of 2008.
But, the Pay Commission’s recommendations as a percentage of the incremental PFCE (private final capital expenditure) are down to 9 per cent in FY17 from 22 per cent in FY09. Thus, a less boom in consumption.
Unlike earlier years no arrears have to be paid.
The loan waivers are unlikely to fuel inflation, as inflation has structurally corrected from double digits to low single digits in the last three years, and rural demand is now at multi-year lows.
Procurement price increases in the last three years have been moderate and do not threaten inflation.
Fiscal expansion got a bad name because in India it has been largely pro-cyclical. But, counter-cyclical policy is more effective. This means that deficits should decline when the economy is expanding and increase during economic downturns.
Way Forward
Policy should now focus on structural bottlenecks and not on putting money in the hands of consumers.
Recapitalise public sector banks through widely-discussed recapitalization bonds
The government need not raise immediate tax revenues and the government should avoid crowding out private borrowings .
The fiscal package could also include sector-specific measures, such as on sectors like exports, telecom, construction and power.
Last years textile package of support for wage costs and interest subvention could be expanded. Some successful state-level initiatives, as in the garment sector in Odisha, can be expanded nationally.
Affordable housingoffers multiplier effect. It helps the construction sector and has the maximum employment elasticity.
Resolution of stressed assets must be focused, the National Company Law Tribunal infrastructure needs further ramping up.
Structural and deep reforms like GST, RERA, monetary policy framework and move to less-cash and digital economy, will all pay back over the longer term. But, create uncertainity in shorter term so it needs deft policy and perception management.
India needs to correct imbalances in regional growth, and the urban-rural divide, and addressing the woes of the farm sector.
Conclusion:
There is much work to do, but for this year, we need a definite fiscal push.
###################
Procyclical Fiscal Policy
This fiscal policy goes in line with the current mood of the business cycle; amplifying them.
Boom: total government spending as a percentage of GDP goes up and tax rates go down, increasing government deficit..
Recession: total government spending as a percentage of GDP goes down and tax rates go up, decreasing government deficit.
Such a policy is dangerous and undesirable as it brings instability in the economy.
The Economic Survey 2017 also acknowledge some procyclicality during boom periods in India.
Countercyclical Fiscal Policy
It refers to strategy by the government to counter boom or recession through fiscal measures.
It works against the ongoing boom or recession trend; thus, trying to stabilize the economy.
Boom– Increasing taxes and reducing public expenditure. This will help to slow down the demand and thus keeping inflation under control.
Re
cession- Reducing taxes and increasing expenditure will help to create demand and producing upswing in the economy.
What is meant by cloud burst?
@UPSC_18
A cloud burst is a sudden violent rainstorm falling for a short period of time limited to a small geographical area. The rain is of the shower type with a fall rate equal to or greater than 100 mm per hour. Cloud bursts are usually associated with thunderstorms.
@UPSC_18
A cloud burst is a sudden violent rainstorm falling for a short period of time limited to a small geographical area. The rain is of the shower type with a fall rate equal to or greater than 100 mm per hour. Cloud bursts are usually associated with thunderstorms.
Notice To Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
Https://karpathuias.blogspot.in
GST Intelligence unit has slapped a notice on the EPFO for defaulting on payment of service tax
Also, the unit has sought to examine the PF department’s records till 2016-17
It had sought for overall records of all its regional and zonal offices and issued separate notices to EPFO’s different offices.
EPFO’s argument over the notice
The EPFO has told Revenue authorities that the PF office was exempted from paying service tax from April 2016
And hence, its services were exempt from any levy under the new indirect tax system
The EPFO cited an order dated April 13 from the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal
The order said that it was not liable to pay service tax on the statutory activities performed under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952.
Https://karpathuias.blogspot.in
GST Intelligence unit has slapped a notice on the EPFO for defaulting on payment of service tax
Also, the unit has sought to examine the PF department’s records till 2016-17
It had sought for overall records of all its regional and zonal offices and issued separate notices to EPFO’s different offices.
EPFO’s argument over the notice
The EPFO has told Revenue authorities that the PF office was exempted from paying service tax from April 2016
And hence, its services were exempt from any levy under the new indirect tax system
The EPFO cited an order dated April 13 from the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal
The order said that it was not liable to pay service tax on the statutory activities performed under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1952.
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Decline in infant mortality rate (IMR)
@UPSC_2018
@UPSC_18
India has attained an 8% decline in the IMR in 2016 from a year ago
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin, IMR has declined to 34 per 1,000 live births last year from 37 per 1,000 live births in 2015
The Bulletin is released by the Office of the Registrar General
It attributed the improvement to countrywide efforts to expand health services coverage, including reproductive, maternal and newborn health services
More takeaways from the bulletin
IMR declined in 29 states and Union territories, was stable in two states and increased in five states and Union territories
The highest decline of 7 points was reported by Chandigarh and the highest increase of 6 points was reported by Arunachal Pradesh
@UPSC_2018
@UPSC_18
India has attained an 8% decline in the IMR in 2016 from a year ago
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin, IMR has declined to 34 per 1,000 live births last year from 37 per 1,000 live births in 2015
The Bulletin is released by the Office of the Registrar General
It attributed the improvement to countrywide efforts to expand health services coverage, including reproductive, maternal and newborn health services
More takeaways from the bulletin
IMR declined in 29 states and Union territories, was stable in two states and increased in five states and Union territories
The highest decline of 7 points was reported by Chandigarh and the highest increase of 6 points was reported by Arunachal Pradesh
Discuss Transparency, Participation and accountability through Open Government?
@UPSC_18
@UPSC_2018
Openness through transparency becomes a means to greater civic participation in an enabled environment, where there is effective free flow of information both ways, to see through the working of the government; and to verify whether or not public servants are meeting their obligations to expectations of citizens.
All the four components of accountability i.e. answerability, sanction, redress, and system improvement need information to account for unacceptable conduct, decisions, and actions. The gaps in conventional supply side accountability have led to the emergence of demand side accountability. “Social Accountability is the institutionalization of durable societal control over policies and their implementation. Civil society is progressively showing tremendous potential to participate directly in institutions of horizontal accountability.
This can extend to all faces of development process, viz., planning (people’s planning), programming, budgeting (budget analysis, participatory budgeting), release of funds (publication of funds released, public expenditure review), award of contracts (procurement watch, integrity pact), and monitoring of contracts (independent quality inspection). Post planning, this may extend to implementation (hospital advisory, management committees, community forest management), progress of implementation (corruption watch) and evaluation (citizen report card, community scorecards) and audit (public hearing, participatory audit, citizen audit request, monitoring of audit compliance, general law on social audit)”. Open government can thus be said to have three components viz.
Right to information
Civic engagement in the processes of governance, and
Accountability for what the government or the public servant says and does
The early tidings of open government in India can be said to have begun with the landmark judgment of Justice P. N. Bhagawati of the Supreme Court of India in 1981, where, besides giving a general description of open government he stressed the need for increased disclosure in matters relating to public affairs. Noting that open government means ‘information available to the public with greater exposure of the functioning of government which would help assure the people a better and more efficient administration’ he went on to describe Open Government in India to be, “the new democratic culture of an open society towards which every liberal democracy is moving and our country (India) should be no exception.
@UPSC_18
@UPSC_2018
Openness through transparency becomes a means to greater civic participation in an enabled environment, where there is effective free flow of information both ways, to see through the working of the government; and to verify whether or not public servants are meeting their obligations to expectations of citizens.
All the four components of accountability i.e. answerability, sanction, redress, and system improvement need information to account for unacceptable conduct, decisions, and actions. The gaps in conventional supply side accountability have led to the emergence of demand side accountability. “Social Accountability is the institutionalization of durable societal control over policies and their implementation. Civil society is progressively showing tremendous potential to participate directly in institutions of horizontal accountability.
This can extend to all faces of development process, viz., planning (people’s planning), programming, budgeting (budget analysis, participatory budgeting), release of funds (publication of funds released, public expenditure review), award of contracts (procurement watch, integrity pact), and monitoring of contracts (independent quality inspection). Post planning, this may extend to implementation (hospital advisory, management committees, community forest management), progress of implementation (corruption watch) and evaluation (citizen report card, community scorecards) and audit (public hearing, participatory audit, citizen audit request, monitoring of audit compliance, general law on social audit)”. Open government can thus be said to have three components viz.
Right to information
Civic engagement in the processes of governance, and
Accountability for what the government or the public servant says and does
The early tidings of open government in India can be said to have begun with the landmark judgment of Justice P. N. Bhagawati of the Supreme Court of India in 1981, where, besides giving a general description of open government he stressed the need for increased disclosure in matters relating to public affairs. Noting that open government means ‘information available to the public with greater exposure of the functioning of government which would help assure the people a better and more efficient administration’ he went on to describe Open Government in India to be, “the new democratic culture of an open society towards which every liberal democracy is moving and our country (India) should be no exception.
What is tear Gas?
The most commonly used tear gas contains the chemical agent 2- chloro benzaldene malononitrile (CS). Despite its name, tear gas is not a gas, but an aerosol. CS is solid at room temperature and mixed with liquid orgas dispersal agents when used as a weapon designed to activate pain-sensing nerves.
What is Kepler Space craft?
Kepler is a space observatory launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, the spacecraft was launched on March 7, 2009, into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit. The number of known alien planets has just gone up by more than 60 percent. NASA's Kepler space telescope has discovered 1,284 new exoplanets, including nine rocky worlds that might be capable of supporting life as we know it, astronomers announced on 10 May,2016.
The most commonly used tear gas contains the chemical agent 2- chloro benzaldene malononitrile (CS). Despite its name, tear gas is not a gas, but an aerosol. CS is solid at room temperature and mixed with liquid orgas dispersal agents when used as a weapon designed to activate pain-sensing nerves.
What is Kepler Space craft?
Kepler is a space observatory launched by NASA to discover Earth-size planets orbiting other stars. Named after astronomer Johannes Kepler, the spacecraft was launched on March 7, 2009, into an Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit. The number of known alien planets has just gone up by more than 60 percent. NASA's Kepler space telescope has discovered 1,284 new exoplanets, including nine rocky worlds that might be capable of supporting life as we know it, astronomers announced on 10 May,2016.
Important Books & Authors List for 2017
1.1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History - Sanjaya Baru
2.A Horse Walks into a Bar - David Grossman
3.A Life in Diplomacy - Maharajakrishna Rasgotra
4.A Life in Science - CNR Rao
5.Ace against Odds - Imran Mirza, Sania Mirza, and Shivani Gupta
6.Advice and Dissent: My Life in Public Service - Y. V. Reddy
7.Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat - Saurabh Duggal
8.An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India - Shashi Tharoor
9.An Unsuitable Boy - Karan Johar
10.Choices: Inside the Making of India S Foreign Policy - Shivshankar Menon
11.Choked - Pallavi Aiyar
12.Collective Choice and Social Welfare- Amartya Sen
13.Conflicts of Interest: My Journey through India's Green Movement - Sunita Narain
14.Courage & Commitment: An Autobiography - Margaret Alva
15.Defeat Is an Orphan: How Pakistan Lost the Great South Asian War - Myra Macdonald
16.Democrats and Dissenters - Ramachandra Guha
17.Demonetisation And Black Money - C. Ram Manohar Reddy
18.Driven: The Virat Kohli Story - Vijay Lokapally
19.Family Life - Akhil Sharma
20.Feroze Gandhi: The Forgotten Gandhi - Bertil Falk
21.Half - Lion: How P.V Narasimha Rao Transformed India - Vinay Sitapati
22.Himalaya: Adventures, Meditations, Life - Ruskin Bond
23.I Do What I DO - Raghuram Rajan
24.India's Broken Tryst - Tavleen SinghIndira
25.Gandhi: A Life in Nature - Jairam Ramesh
26.Kohinoor: The Story of the World's Most Infamous Diamond - Anita Anand and William Dalrymple
27.Matoshree - Sumitra Mahajan
28.Michael Clarke: My Story - Michael Clarke
29.Mr and Mrs Jinnah: The Marriage that Shook India - Sheela Reddy
30.Old History, New Geography: Bifurcating Andhra Pradesh - Jairam Ramesh
31.On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power - Sharad
PawarSelection Day - Aravind Adiga
32.Speaking: The Modi Way - Virender Kapoor
33.Standing on an Apple Box: The Story of a Girl Among the Stars - Aishwarya R. Dhanush
34.The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable - Amitav Ghosh
35.The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad - Twinkle Khanna
36.The Ministry of Utmost Happiness - Arundhati Roy
37.The People's President: Dr A P J Abdul Kalam - S M Khan
38.The Sellout - Paul Beatty
39.The Serpent's Revenge - Sudha Murty
40.Things to Leave Behind - Namita Gokhale
41.What You Can Learn From Military Principles - Virender Kapoor
42.Who Moved My Interest Rate ? - Duvvuri Subbarao
1.1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History - Sanjaya Baru
2.A Horse Walks into a Bar - David Grossman
3.A Life in Diplomacy - Maharajakrishna Rasgotra
4.A Life in Science - CNR Rao
5.Ace against Odds - Imran Mirza, Sania Mirza, and Shivani Gupta
6.Advice and Dissent: My Life in Public Service - Y. V. Reddy
7.Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat - Saurabh Duggal
8.An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India - Shashi Tharoor
9.An Unsuitable Boy - Karan Johar
10.Choices: Inside the Making of India S Foreign Policy - Shivshankar Menon
11.Choked - Pallavi Aiyar
12.Collective Choice and Social Welfare- Amartya Sen
13.Conflicts of Interest: My Journey through India's Green Movement - Sunita Narain
14.Courage & Commitment: An Autobiography - Margaret Alva
15.Defeat Is an Orphan: How Pakistan Lost the Great South Asian War - Myra Macdonald
16.Democrats and Dissenters - Ramachandra Guha
17.Demonetisation And Black Money - C. Ram Manohar Reddy
18.Driven: The Virat Kohli Story - Vijay Lokapally
19.Family Life - Akhil Sharma
20.Feroze Gandhi: The Forgotten Gandhi - Bertil Falk
21.Half - Lion: How P.V Narasimha Rao Transformed India - Vinay Sitapati
22.Himalaya: Adventures, Meditations, Life - Ruskin Bond
23.I Do What I DO - Raghuram Rajan
24.India's Broken Tryst - Tavleen SinghIndira
25.Gandhi: A Life in Nature - Jairam Ramesh
26.Kohinoor: The Story of the World's Most Infamous Diamond - Anita Anand and William Dalrymple
27.Matoshree - Sumitra Mahajan
28.Michael Clarke: My Story - Michael Clarke
29.Mr and Mrs Jinnah: The Marriage that Shook India - Sheela Reddy
30.Old History, New Geography: Bifurcating Andhra Pradesh - Jairam Ramesh
31.On My Terms: From the Grassroots to the Corridors of Power - Sharad
PawarSelection Day - Aravind Adiga
32.Speaking: The Modi Way - Virender Kapoor
33.Standing on an Apple Box: The Story of a Girl Among the Stars - Aishwarya R. Dhanush
34.The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable - Amitav Ghosh
35.The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad - Twinkle Khanna
36.The Ministry of Utmost Happiness - Arundhati Roy
37.The People's President: Dr A P J Abdul Kalam - S M Khan
38.The Sellout - Paul Beatty
39.The Serpent's Revenge - Sudha Murty
40.Things to Leave Behind - Namita Gokhale
41.What You Can Learn From Military Principles - Virender Kapoor
42.Who Moved My Interest Rate ? - Duvvuri Subbarao
👍1
What is "What3Words" or Three word addressing system?
What3Words is a service that divides the globe into something like 3 trillion 3 meter by 3 meter squares, and gives each of those squares a natural-language, three-word moniker, e.g., "apple bicycle road".
Let's say, for example, that you wanted to find the three word address for the crooks who reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC USA. Here it is: strong.pitch.volunteered . The three word address is "strong.pitch.volunteered". If you're from, say, Tokyo, and you're not familiar with American addressing systems, those three words make more sense to you than does "1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC USA." This three word addressing system becomes even more useful if you're trying to identify a precise area of an "unaddressed" area such as in the middle of the Amazon, or Borneo, or interior Antarctica, etc.
What3Words is a service that divides the globe into something like 3 trillion 3 meter by 3 meter squares, and gives each of those squares a natural-language, three-word moniker, e.g., "apple bicycle road".
Let's say, for example, that you wanted to find the three word address for the crooks who reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC USA. Here it is: strong.pitch.volunteered . The three word address is "strong.pitch.volunteered". If you're from, say, Tokyo, and you're not familiar with American addressing systems, those three words make more sense to you than does "1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC USA." This three word addressing system becomes even more useful if you're trying to identify a precise area of an "unaddressed" area such as in the middle of the Amazon, or Borneo, or interior Antarctica, etc.
Economic Times
@UPSC_18
@UPSC_2018
Business Standard
Ø GST mop up for August dips to Rs 90,669 crore
Ø IDFC and Shriram to redraw new merger formula
Ø 'Indian telecom undergoing tech disruption phase'
Ø NCLT to hear Ericsson-RCom insolvency plea on Oct 6
Ø Facebook to localise user data or be blocked: Russia
Ø NeSL to be the first IU under the new recovery law
Ø Reliance Infra to raise stake in Reliance Naval
Ø Sebi stiffens rule on unauthorised trades
Ø Govt considers fund to help exporters under GST regime
Ø TN to procure 1500 MW of solar power at Rs 3.47 per unit
Ø ICICI Lombard to make market debut today
Ø Sebi to allow mutual funds, PMS to participate in commodity futures market
Ø ArcelorMittal's focus on other assets may hit $1-bn JV with SAIL
Business Line
Mint
Ø SEBI allows guarseed options on NCDEX
Ø Parliamentarians, experts for early passage of Motor Bill
Ø UP sugar mills demand status quo on cane prices
Ø JM Baxi Group opens India’s first ICD-based cold store in Haryana
Ø Godrej Agrovet eyes raising ₹1,160 cr via IPO
Ø ‘RCom has backup plans in place for the delayed Sistema merger’
Ø GE warns India about risks to altering $2.5 billion diesel locomotives deal
Ø Dabur ties up with Amazon to boost global sales
Ø Shell companies: Disqualified directors under banks’ scrutiny
Ø Lloyds Bank to transfer 1,000 staff to TCS subsidiary
Ø Hong Kong, Malaysia looking better as India slows: ADB
Ø Technology billionaires lose $16 billion as sector stocks sink
Financial Express
Financial Chronicle
Ø Rupee closes at 65.45; weakest in 6 months
Ø India raises market access, barriers issue with Indonesia
Ø Airtel deploys 5G capable tech; promises faster data speeds
Ø Anil Ambani says telecom sector in ICCU, warns of monopoly
Ø Letters from a whistle-blower to SEBI on NSE rot
Ø Tech, infra upgradation vital for agri-business
Ø Rising oil prices to further hurt bleeding economy
Ø RJio foots chunk of bill for cut-price phone, bets on data
Ø ADB lowers India growth outlook
@UPSC_18
@UPSC_2018
Business Standard
Ø GST mop up for August dips to Rs 90,669 crore
Ø IDFC and Shriram to redraw new merger formula
Ø 'Indian telecom undergoing tech disruption phase'
Ø NCLT to hear Ericsson-RCom insolvency plea on Oct 6
Ø Facebook to localise user data or be blocked: Russia
Ø NeSL to be the first IU under the new recovery law
Ø Reliance Infra to raise stake in Reliance Naval
Ø Sebi stiffens rule on unauthorised trades
Ø Govt considers fund to help exporters under GST regime
Ø TN to procure 1500 MW of solar power at Rs 3.47 per unit
Ø ICICI Lombard to make market debut today
Ø Sebi to allow mutual funds, PMS to participate in commodity futures market
Ø ArcelorMittal's focus on other assets may hit $1-bn JV with SAIL
Business Line
Mint
Ø SEBI allows guarseed options on NCDEX
Ø Parliamentarians, experts for early passage of Motor Bill
Ø UP sugar mills demand status quo on cane prices
Ø JM Baxi Group opens India’s first ICD-based cold store in Haryana
Ø Godrej Agrovet eyes raising ₹1,160 cr via IPO
Ø ‘RCom has backup plans in place for the delayed Sistema merger’
Ø GE warns India about risks to altering $2.5 billion diesel locomotives deal
Ø Dabur ties up with Amazon to boost global sales
Ø Shell companies: Disqualified directors under banks’ scrutiny
Ø Lloyds Bank to transfer 1,000 staff to TCS subsidiary
Ø Hong Kong, Malaysia looking better as India slows: ADB
Ø Technology billionaires lose $16 billion as sector stocks sink
Financial Express
Financial Chronicle
Ø Rupee closes at 65.45; weakest in 6 months
Ø India raises market access, barriers issue with Indonesia
Ø Airtel deploys 5G capable tech; promises faster data speeds
Ø Anil Ambani says telecom sector in ICCU, warns of monopoly
Ø Letters from a whistle-blower to SEBI on NSE rot
Ø Tech, infra upgradation vital for agri-business
Ø Rising oil prices to further hurt bleeding economy
Ø RJio foots chunk of bill for cut-price phone, bets on data
Ø ADB lowers India growth outlook
#copy
Questions for prelims
@UPSC_18
Milk fever in cows occurs due to the lack of
(a) Phosphates
(b) Calcium
(c) Iron
(d) iodine
After hatching by the hen, the young chicks come out of eggs within
(a) One week
(b) Two weeks
(c) Three weeks
(d) Four weeks
Which one of the following is a fast growing tree ?
(a) Teak
(b) Eucalyptus
(c) Banyan
(d) Coconut
Decrease in white blood cells results in
(a) Decrease in Antibodies
(b) Increase in Antigens
(c) Increase in Antibodies
(d) No change
In India people suffer from Anaemia due to lack of
(a) Iron
(b) Iodine
(c) Calcium
(d) Potassium
Reserprine derived from the plant ‘Serpentina’ is used to
(a) Alleviate pains
(b) Alleviate high blood pressure
(c) Alleviate low blood pressure
(d) Cure rickets
In India it is found recently that incidence of Malaria is increasing because
(a) The mosquitoes have become DDT resistant
(b) Of poverty in villages
(c) Of poor sanitary conditions
(d) On account of increase in population it has become impossible to maintain cleanliness everywhere
Less dew is formed on cloudy nights because
(a) Clouds absorb the falling dew
(b) Clouds scatter moisture
(c) In cloudy nights the radiation takes place very slowly
(d) In cloudy nights the radiation takes place very quickly
Feeding of milk cattle with cotton seeds
(a) Increases fat content temporarily
(b) Decreases fat content temporarily
(c) May decrease or increase fat content
(d) Causes no change in fat content
Mouth and foot diseases in cattle are caused due to
(a) Bacteria
(b) Virus
(c) Fungi
(d) Penicillium
A body partially floats in wafer when
(a) The volume of the displaced liquid is equal to the volume of the body
(b) The volume of the displaced liquid is greater than the volume of the body
(c) The weight of the displaced water is equal to the weight of the body
(d) The weight of the displaced water is greater than the weight of the body
Permanent hardness of water cannot be removed by
(a) Boiling
(b) Adding caustic soda
(c) Distillation
(d) Adding soda
In summer, man with excess perspiration feels weak, because of the
(a) Loss of more water through evaporation
(b) Loss of salts through evaporation
(c) Loss of carbohydrates through evaporation
(d) All factors mentioned above
The two branches of a plant give two different fruits : tomatoes and brinjals. This can be explained
(a) By hybridisation
(b) By grafting one with the other
(c) By nature’s freak
(d) By (a) or (c) mentioned above
Questions for prelims
@UPSC_18
Milk fever in cows occurs due to the lack of
(a) Phosphates
(b) Calcium
(c) Iron
(d) iodine
After hatching by the hen, the young chicks come out of eggs within
(a) One week
(b) Two weeks
(c) Three weeks
(d) Four weeks
Which one of the following is a fast growing tree ?
(a) Teak
(b) Eucalyptus
(c) Banyan
(d) Coconut
Decrease in white blood cells results in
(a) Decrease in Antibodies
(b) Increase in Antigens
(c) Increase in Antibodies
(d) No change
In India people suffer from Anaemia due to lack of
(a) Iron
(b) Iodine
(c) Calcium
(d) Potassium
Reserprine derived from the plant ‘Serpentina’ is used to
(a) Alleviate pains
(b) Alleviate high blood pressure
(c) Alleviate low blood pressure
(d) Cure rickets
In India it is found recently that incidence of Malaria is increasing because
(a) The mosquitoes have become DDT resistant
(b) Of poverty in villages
(c) Of poor sanitary conditions
(d) On account of increase in population it has become impossible to maintain cleanliness everywhere
Less dew is formed on cloudy nights because
(a) Clouds absorb the falling dew
(b) Clouds scatter moisture
(c) In cloudy nights the radiation takes place very slowly
(d) In cloudy nights the radiation takes place very quickly
Feeding of milk cattle with cotton seeds
(a) Increases fat content temporarily
(b) Decreases fat content temporarily
(c) May decrease or increase fat content
(d) Causes no change in fat content
Mouth and foot diseases in cattle are caused due to
(a) Bacteria
(b) Virus
(c) Fungi
(d) Penicillium
A body partially floats in wafer when
(a) The volume of the displaced liquid is equal to the volume of the body
(b) The volume of the displaced liquid is greater than the volume of the body
(c) The weight of the displaced water is equal to the weight of the body
(d) The weight of the displaced water is greater than the weight of the body
Permanent hardness of water cannot be removed by
(a) Boiling
(b) Adding caustic soda
(c) Distillation
(d) Adding soda
In summer, man with excess perspiration feels weak, because of the
(a) Loss of more water through evaporation
(b) Loss of salts through evaporation
(c) Loss of carbohydrates through evaporation
(d) All factors mentioned above
The two branches of a plant give two different fruits : tomatoes and brinjals. This can be explained
(a) By hybridisation
(b) By grafting one with the other
(c) By nature’s freak
(d) By (a) or (c) mentioned above