Daily Practice Sheet 15 December 2021

  • December 15, 2021
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPS
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Daily Practice Sheet

15 December 2021

Daily Prelims Topic

  • PCA framework for NBFCs
  • Norms for CPSE Divestment
  • Tropical Savannah Ecosystems
  • WPI Inflation
  • Black Clam
  • India’s Sugar Export Subsidies
  • Logistics Performance Index
  • Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) Report (Index) 2021
  • Lake Chad
  • Korean War
  • Char Dham Highway Project
  • S-gene Target Failure (SGTF) Test

Daily Mapping

  • Chad

Daily Facts

Logistics

  • Logistics Performance Index 2018 issued by the World Bank, India ranked at 44 with a score of a mere 2.91 in infrastructure (Germany ranked one with a score of 4.37).
  • Infrastructure gap that manifests itself in high logistics- related costs in India (13 per cent of GDP vs 7 per cent for developed nations)
  • The country faces a skewed logistic modal mix with nearly 71 per cent of all freight transport being done by roads. Highways only account for 2.2 percent of the entire road network but carry 40 per cent of all freight traffic.
  • It takes nearly 22 hours to travel by road from New Delhi to Mumbai but a similar distance between Beijing and Shanghai can be covered in 12.5 hours.
  • The Railways’ share in freight transport has dropped from 89 per cent in 1950-51 to only 18 per cent in 2020. The average speed of a freight train in India is only 25 km/hour with a permitted axle load (freight capacity of wagons) of 20.1 tonnes. The US, which has a vast rail network like India’s, runs its freight trains at an average speed of 38 mph (60 kmph) and permits an axle load of nearly 30 tonnes.
  • According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation’s Annual report 2019-20, India has 23 domestic Mcargo terminals and 20 international cargo terminals which handled a total of 3.56 million tonne (mt) of cargo in 2018-19. In contrast, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China alone handled 3.63 mt of cargo in 2019.
  • It is estimated that India would require $1.4 trillion for investing in infrastructure in 2020-25M in order to become a $5 trillion economy

MAINS OPTIMA 2021

CSE 2021

Day 38

  1. With responsibility comes accountability. Thus, differentiate between two with examples and how higher accountability standards improve public services.
  2. Explore the ethical dimension of climate negotiations

CSE 2022

Day 39

Topic: DPSP AND FD

  1. What are DPSPs. discuss its nature and why it was made non-enforceable. How far DPSP helps in governance.

Hint: The basic question about the DPSP and addressing each part here in a presentable fashion should be focus.

Introduction (I): Introduce with DPSP under part 4 of the COI.

Body (B): 1) Discuss its nature (non-enforceable, instructions to the government, embodies social and economic rights, fundamental in governance etc.) and mention reasons why it is non-enforceable.

2) Discuss how far DPSPs are helpful in governance. Mention various acts and amendment in support for its role (mention the Court’s opinion in how it is important for governance and judicial interpretation, how it helps maintain socialist character of state etc.)

Conclusion (C): DPSPs paly a complimentary role to FRs in providing rights to the citizen of India and are central to the governance.

  1. Essentially all that is contained in part IV- A of the Constitution is just a codification of tasks integral to Indian way of life. Critically examine the Statement. [Reference: Indian Express]

Hint: The question is about importance of the fundamental duties and examines the statement critically (i.e., It is Indian way of life, but it may be much more).

Introduction (I): Talk about fundamental duties and Part 4A.

Body (B): 1) In a box you can mention major duties.

2) First talk how it is codification of Indian way of life and relate it with duties (tolerance, brotherhood, Care of environment, Rights complemented by duties etc).

3) Talk about FDs are much more than mere codification of Indian way of life. It is a moral code, set of responsibilities which a person has as a result of being citizenship, global citizenship in current context through protection of wildlife and forests etc.

Conclusion (C): FDs though non-enforceable like DPSPs are significant as even SC held that the Parliament can make laws to implement it. It combines rights with the duties.

Daily Mains Mantra

GS 1: History

  1. Assam movement was about immigration land and identity. How did Assam accord address these issues? Why has Assam Accord been in news again? [Reference: Indian Express]
  2. Discuss the legacy of Sardar Patel. [Reference: Indian Express]

GS 2: Polity

  1. What do you understand by Special State Status? Why few states are demanding special state status? [Reference: Indian Express]

GS 2: IR

  1. Discuss India- Germany relations.

GS 3: Economy

  1. What is strategic disinvestment? How effective it is in realizing the goal of goal of fiscal consolidation? [Reference: Indian Express]
  2. Logistics is one of the biggest constraints of Indian economy. Discuss. [Reference: Business Line]
  3. How far economic reforms have led to deepening of inequality in India? [Reference: Business Line]

GS 3: Science and Technology

  1. Discuss the role of agro biotechnology in India. [Reference: Indian Express]
  2. How are crypto currencies different from fiat currency? Make a case for their regulation. [Reference: Business Line]

GS 3: Security

  1. Establish the relation between climate change and security.
Daily Practice Sheet