Tuesday, September 01, 2020

THE HINDU NEWSPAPER IMPORTANT ARTICLES 01.09.2020

the hindu articles

VisionIAS 07:00

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FRONT PAGE

GDP falls 23.9% in first quarter

Ex-President Pranab Mukherjee passes away

NATIONAL

‘India, China must reach equilibrium’

‘1,000 sq km now under China’

Nation mourns ‘scholar par excellence and statesman’

OPINION

GST reform needs a new grand bargain

A party being pulled in different directions

The environment is a national issue

Congress and its discontents

Taking a leaf out of the Air Force

The right keys

Quantum not a solace

Fiji prepares for independence

Daily Current Affairs, 31st August 2020

vision ias current affairs

VisionIAS 16:47

1) International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances: 30 August

•United Nations observes International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances globally on 30th of August every year. The day is being observed to express deep concern about the rise in enforced or involuntary disappearances in different regions of the world including the incidents of arrest, detention and abduction. All of the above incidents results in increasing number of reports pertaining to harassment, ill-treatment and intimidation of witnesses of disappearances or relatives of persons who have disappeared.

•UN General Assembly declared 30th of August as International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances and the day was observed for the first time in year 2011.

2) UAE’s DMCC launches “Agriota E-Marketplace”

•Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has rolled out a technology-driven agri-commodity trading and sourcing platform “Agriota E-Marketplace”. The platform which uses blockchain will help in bridging the gap between millions of rural farmers in India and the UAE’s food industry.

•The Agriota platform will connect Indian farmers directly with the entire food industry in the UAE, including food processing companies, traders as well as wholesalers. The E-Marketplace will enable them to bypass intermediaries and optimise the supply chain. It will also ensure end-to-end traceability and transparency in order to create value for all stakeholders. This will result in empowerment of local communities and provide better quality farm-to-shelf products, simultaneously expanding the UAE’s long-term food security.

3) Ministry of Home Affairs issues Guidelines for “Unlock 4”

•The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued “Unlock 4” guidelines for the phased re-opening of activities in areas outside the Containment Zones. The “Unlock 4” guidelines will be effective from September 1, 2020. These guidelines have been framed on the basis of feedback obtained from States and Union Territories, and extensive consultations held with related Central Ministries and Departments.

4) India’s 1st International Women’s Trade Centre to be set up in Kerala

•Kerala will establish the first international women’s trade centre (IWTC) of India at Angamaly. The IWTC would be set by Kerala in consonance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The IWTC seeks to accelerate the women entrepreneurship and secure gender parity. It will also offer a safe place away from home to women to start new businesses, set up or expand, and get their products marketed globally.

•IWTC will also enable women entrepreneurs to participate in international trade, and enhance their competitiveness to tap market opportunities. Hence, it will enable women to enjoy greater economic benefits.

5) CISF develops in-house mobile app “Pensioners Corner”

•The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has made an in-house mobile app “Pensioners Corner”. The mobile app has been created by CISF to reach to the pensioners and to bring them on to the digital platform as a one stop solution.

•Through the mobile app “Pensioners Corner”, CISF will reach out to the Ex-Force personnel, who devoted their life for the country, in order to increase their self esteem. The mobile app comprises of inbuilt grievance redressal mechanism and will also contain information about all important circulars such as job opportunities and benefits pertaining to pensioners.

6) UP Government launches “Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana”

•“Major Dhyan Chand Vijaypath Yojana” has been launched by the Uttar Pradesh government. Under this scheme, 19 international players from the state of Uttar Pradesh will get road connectivity to their houses.

•The 19 international players who will be benefited from the scheme includes Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, former pacer Praveen Kumar, Piyush Chawla and Mohammad Kaif. The initial list of the beneficiaries includes 19 players, and more players will be added to the scheme in the coming future.

7) Gujarat to commence Seaplane service from 31 October 2020

•The first-ever “seaplane services in Gujarat” will be commenced from 31 October 2020. The seaplane service will offer seamless and affordable air connectivity from Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad to Statue of Unity in Kevadia in Gujarat. Spicejet Airline will operate the seaplane service to be commenced on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

•To start Seaplane services in the state, the Gujarat government has signed a tripartite agreement with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), and Airports Authority of India.

GS SCORE Fact Files History Peasant, Tribal and Caste Movement PDF

GS Score

VisionIAS 15:35

GS SCORE Fact Files History Peasant, Tribal and Caste Movement PDF

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The HINDU Notes – 31st August 2020

the hindu notes

VisionIAS 15:25

📰 Despite the messaging, it is still advantage China

India needs to show foreign investors it has the benefits of China with fewer risks as a relocation destination

•Many U.S. companies as well as the analysts who advise them are cognisant of India’s goal of becoming an alternative supply source and investment destination to China. But based on conversations I have had with a number of different organisations and companies here in Washington, it is fair to say that expectations are tempered.

•First, despite media reports and strong messaging from Washington, fewer U.S. companies than predicted might quit the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Companies focused on the Chinese domestic market rather than as a base for exports will likely remain, at least for now. Those that do leave may not choose India as a relocation destination. Despite New Delhi’s noted success in attracting Apple suppliers to India, many U.S. companies with experience working with China are not convinced that India has the PRC’s established industrial base and expertise. They also see other Asian countries as more competitive. To change their minds, these sceptics must be convinced that India offers the benefits of China with fewer risks.

The good and bad points

•To be sure, India’s identity as a democratic “un-China” is one of its strongest selling points. There are no Indian government hackers stealing foreign companies’ industrial secrets. Although Indian officials may have spurned a meeting with Amazon’s chief executive officer Jeff Bezos due to negative India-related reporting in his The Washington Post newspaper, that is a far cry from the coercive tactics that Beijing employs against criticism by foreign companies both within and outside of its borders. India’s open and vibrant press, independent judiciary, and other advantages of democratic governance also provide a favourable contrast to China.

•Yet, India might appear more like China to potential foreign investors than New Delhi might think, particularly given policies that seemingly disadvantage foreign investors who pose the greatest competitive threat to India’s domestic counterparts.

•To be clear, India’s goal of creating national champions is not necessarily anti-competitive in itself. But when policies such as taxes on foreign e-commerce companies and education providers seem constructed to disadvantage foreign investors, investors will stay away.

•India’s large and increasingly well-off domestic market, while alluring, will likely not convince foreign companies to accept limits and conditions they might not accept elsewhere. Although early foreign investors in China endured years of losses caused by disadvantageous PRC policies, today’s shareholders demand more accountability and faster profit-making from companies in which they are invested. There are also now many more competitor investment destinations, both within and outside of Asia.

Why China scores

•Despite many documented negatives and the overall sour foreign relations picture right now, China continues to offer investors many advantages, such as a manufacturing infrastructure and skill level that allows innovations to move quickly from prototype to product. This took decades of strategic planning. India’s own planning has been impressively stepped up in recent months, with the government identifying key sectors; surveying major companies about perceived roadblocks to Indian investments; and increasing Invest India’s outreach.

•But more is needed. For example, China’s specialised industrial zones are massive, collocating companies, factories, logistics, and even research and universities. The Indian government Budget that pledged to create equivalent zones is too small and is allocated among too many locations to compete.

Focus on States

•The recent World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel ruling against India’s special economic zones policies, which the Indian government intends to appeal, might actually provide a chance to take a fresh look at the kinds of WTO-consistent industrial bases that are possible. New Delhi can start by focusing development in those Indian States that have already demonstrated the ability to produce and export in key sectors. Foreign capital could also greatly increase infrastructure funds beyond government spending alone. India might also usefully build up new industrial centres with an eye to geography, for example linking the southeast of the country to supply chains in Southeast Asia. In fact, by putting resources into States not led by the ruling national party, India will signal clearly that it is committed to economic openness, no matter who is in power, reassuring investors.

Work on the framework

•India has taken a great step to reduce the number of investments needing approval by the Centre, and to increase intra-Ministry coordination on foreign direct investment policies. The same coordination could usefully be extended to the appointment of a high-level official or body in the Prime Minister’s Office to ensure any and all proposed economic policy changes are consistent with the goal of attracting foreign investment.

•A policy framework that is transparent, predictable, and provides increased consultations with existing and potential foreign company stakeholders before introducing new Indian economic policies, will play a crucial role in determining India’s foreign investment outlook.