UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

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Ease of Doing Business Report The report was introduced in 2003 to provide an assessment of objective measures of business regulations and their enforcement across 190 economies on ten parameters affecting a business through its life cycle. 10 different parameters namely, Starting a Business, Dealing with Construction permits, Electricity availability, Property registration, Credit availability, Protecting minority Investors, Paying Taxes, Trading across borders, Contracts enforcement, and Resolving Insolvency. It ranks countries on the basis of Distance to Frontier (DTF) score that highlights the gap of an economy with respect to the global best practice. For example, a score of 75 means an economy was 25 percentage points away from the frontier constructed from the best performances across all economies and across time. # India’s Performance Notably, in three reports, released in 2017, 2018 and 2019, India ranked among the top 10 economies showing “the most notable improvement”. Of the 79 positions in the Bank’s Doing Business rankings that India gained between 2014 and 2019, 67 rank improvements happened 2017 onwards, with the biggest 30-rank jump happening in the Doing Business 2018 report, released in October 2017. The latest report, published in October 2019, placed India at 63rd in Doing Business, compared with 77th in 2018 and 100 in 2017. India, along with other top improvers, had implemented 59 regulatory reforms in 2018-19, accounting for a fifth of all reforms recorded worldwide. During 2018-19, India had implemented reforms across parameters such as ‘starting a business’, ‘dealing with construction permits’, ‘trading across borders’, and ‘resolving insolvency’. The government’s goal was to be among the top 50 economies by 2020. The scores for India used to be based on coverage of just two cities, with Mumbai carrying a weight of 47% and Delhi a weight of 53%.

Environmental Impact Assessment UNEP defines Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers. Environment Impact Assessment in India is statutorily backed by the Environment Protection Act, 1986 which contains various provisions on EIA methodology and process. # The EIA Process EIA involves the steps mentioned below. However, the EIA process is cyclical with interaction between the various steps. Screening: The project plan is screened for scale of investment, location and type of development and if the project needs statutory clearance. Scoping: The project’s potential impacts, zone of impacts, mitigation possibilities and need for monitoring. Collection of baseline data: Baseline data is the environmental status of study area. Impact prediction: Positive and negative, reversible and irreversible and temporary and permanent impacts need to be predicted which presupposes a good understanding of the project by the assessment agency. Mitigation measures and EIA report: The EIA report should include the actions and steps for preventing, minimizing or by passing the impacts or else the level of compensation for probable environmental damage or loss. Public hearing: On completion of the EIA report, public and environmental groups living close to project site may be informed and consulted. Decision making: Impact Assessment Authority along with the experts consult the project-in-charge along with consultant to take the final decision, keeping in mind EIA and EMP (Environment Management Plan). Monitoring and implementation of environmental management plan: The various phases of implementation of the project are monitored. Assessment of Alternatives, Delineation of Mitigation Measures and Environmental Impact Assessment Report: For every project, possible alternatives should be identified, and environmental attributes compared. Alternatives should cover both project location and process technologies. Once alternatives have been reviewed, a mitigation plan should be drawn up for the selected option and is supplemented with an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to guide the proponent towards environmental improvements. Risk assessment: Inventory analysis and hazard probability and index also form part of EIA procedures.

Environment Ministry Star Rating System The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently launched “Star Rating System”. The system provides environmental clearance in short duration. The Environment Ministry is to rank and incentivize the states with this new system. The ministry will find out states that provide environmental clearances efficiently in short duration of time. It will then incentivize such states. For this, the star rating system provides marks to the states on a scale of seven. The states receive two marks for clearing a project in less than 80 days. One mark for clearing in 105 days. Zero for clearing more than this duration. If the state has less than 10% of projects for scrutiny, then one mark is provided and so on. # It introduces conditions for State Environment Impact Assessment Authorities (SEIAA). These conditions are based on the following: Proposals waiting for more than thirty days Terms of Reference proposals waiting for more than thirty days Percentage of disposal of fresh terms of reference Environmental Clearances waiting for more than 105 days Complaints reassessed * The average time taken to grant the clearance has been decreased to 75 days. Earlier it was 105 days. The 105 days is in accordance to the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. # Why the new system To increase ease of doing business in India. In 2021, the cabinet secretaries held a meeting on improving the ease of doing business in India. They then decided to ease the environmental clearance processes through star rating system. The clearances are to be provided based on timelines and efficiency.

Reservation in India The purpose of reservation in India The two main aims to provide reservation as per the Consitution of India are: Advancement of Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST) OR any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens (Eg: OBC) OR economically weaker sections (EWS) – Article 15 (4), Article 15 (5), and Article 15 (6), Adequate representation of any backward class of citizens OR economically weaker sections (EWS) in the services under the State. – Article 16 (4) and Article 16 (6). # SC/ST Reservation The objective of providing reservations to the Scheduled Castes(SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) in services is not only to give jobs to some persons belonging to these communities. It basically aims at empowering them and ensuring their participation in the decision-making process of the State. Besides, the state is also keen to end practices such as untouchability. Scheduled Castes (SC) are given 15% quota in jobs/higher educational institutions while Schedule Tribes (ST) are given 7.5% quota in jobs/higher educational institutions. Reservation is provided not only with respect to direct recruitment but also with respect to promotions for SC/ST category (Article 16(4A)). There is no concept of ‘creamy layer’ with respect to SC/ST reservation. This means that irrespective of the income status or the government posts held by the parents, children of SC/ST parents will get SC/ST Reservation. # OBC Reservation Reservation for Other Backwards Classes (OBC) was introduced based on the Mandal Commission Report (1991). The quota for OBCs is 27% in government jobs and higher educational institutions. However, there is a concept of ‘creamy layer’ with respect to the OBC reservation. Only those from OBC who comes under Non-Creamy Layer would get OBC reservation. The creamy layer concept brings income and social status as parameters to exclude some of the privileged members of OBC from the extent of reservation. This concept also keeps a check to ensure that the benefits of reservation do not get extended to subsequent generations. # EWS Reservation The Central Government of India had introduced EWS Reservation. 10% quota is provided for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) among General Category candidates in government jobs and educational institutions. This is done by adding clauses for the same in the Indian Constitution (103rd Constitution Amendment Act, 2019).

Startup An entity shall be considered as a Startup: Upto a period of ten years from the date of incorporation/ registration, if it is incorporated as a private limited company (as defined in the Companies Act, 2013) or registered as a partnership firm (registered under section 59 of the Partnership Act, 1932) or a limited liability partnership (under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008) In India. Turnover of the entity for any of the financial years since incorporation/ registration has not exceeded Rs 100 Crore. The entity is working towards innovation, development or improvement of products or processes or services, or if it’s a scalable business model with a high potential of employment generation or wealth creation. Provided that an entity formed by splitting up or reconstruction of an existing business shall not be considered A ‘Startup’. # Startup Ecosystem in India India has the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world; expected to witness YoY growth of consistent annual growth of 12-15% India has about 50,000 startups in India in 2018; around 8,900 – 9,300 of these are technology-led startups 1300 new tech startups were born in 2019 alone implying there are 2-3 tech startups born every day.

Parakram Diwas: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti The central government had decided to observe Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti as 'Parakram Diwas' to be celebrated on 23rd January. the Government of India has also instituted Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskaar to recognise the excellent work done by the individuals and institutions in the field of disaster management. # About Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23rd January 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province, to Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose. In 1919, he had cleared Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination. Bose, however, resigned later. He was highly influenced by Vivekananda's teachings and considered him as his spiritual Guru. His political mentor was Chittaranjan Das. # Association with Congress He stood for unqualified swaraj (independence), and opposed Motilal Nehru Report which spoke for dominion status for India. He actively participated in the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 and vehemently opposed the suspension of Civil Disobedience Movement and signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931. In the 1930s, he was closely associated with left politics in Congress along with Jawaharlal Nehru and M.N. Roy. Bose won the congress presidential elections at Haripura in 1938. Again in 1939 at Tripuri, he won the presidential elections against Gandhi's candidate Pattabhi Sitarammayya. Due to ideological differences with Gandhi, Bose resigned and left congress. Rajendra Prasad was appointed in his place. He found a new party, 'the Forward Bloc'. The purpose was to consolidate the political left and major support base in his home state Bengal. # Indian National Army He reached Japanese-controlled Singapore from Germany in July 1943, issued from there his famous call, ‘Delhi Chalo’, and announced the formation of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National Army on 21st October 1943. The INA was first formed under Mohan Singh and Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara and comprised Indian prisoners of war of the British-Indian Army captured by Japan in the Malayan (present-day Malaysia) campaign and at Singapore. The INA included both, the Indian prisoners of war from Singapore and Indian civilians in South-East Asia. It's strength grew to 50,000. The INA fought allied forces in 1944 inside the borders of India in Imphal and in Burma. In November 1945, a British move to put the INA men on trial immediately sparked massive demonstration all over the country.

Saraswati River The Saraswati is a major Rig Vedic river mentioned in the Rig Veda and other Vedic texts. It is part of the Sapta Sindhu rivers mentioned in the Rig Veda. The other rivers are Sindhu (Indus), Sutudri (Satluj), Vitasta (Jhelum), Vipasa (Beas), Askini (Chenab) and Parushni (Ravi). The texts describe the Saraswati as a mighty and powerful river. The Rig Veda says the Saraswati flows between the Satluj in the west and the Yamuna in the east, and as flowing into the samudra. Later Vedic texts and also the Mahabharata mention that the river dried up in a desert. Many modern scholars have identified the Saraswati of Rigvedic times with the Ghaggar-Hakra river system in northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. According to experts, the Saraswati originated from the Har-ki-Dun glacier in Garhwal in Uttarakhand. It is believed that the river was 1500 km long, 5 m deep and 3 – 15 km wide. The Saraswati flowed between 6000 and 4000 BCE after which it dried up due to tectonic shifts of the earth. # Ghaggar-Hakra River System The Ghaggar-Hakra river system is a seasonal river that flows through northwestern India and Pakistan. It is a rain-fed river and flows only during the monsoon season. But, satellite images from ISRO and ONGC have confirmed that the major course of a river ran through the present-day Ghaggar River. The Ghaggar river originates from the Siwalik Hills of Himachal Pradesh (about 6300 feet above sea level), and flows through Punjab, Haryana and then into Rajasthan. The river is known as Ghaggar before the Ottu barrage and as the Hakra downstream of the barrage.

Rule-6 (1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules-1954 Central deputation in the Indian Administrative Service is covered under Rule-6 (1) of the IAS (Cadre) Rules-1954, inserted in May 1969. It states: “A cadre officer may, with the concurrence of the State Governments concerned and the Central Government, be deputed for service under the Central Government or another State Government or under a company, association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, which is wholly or substantially owned or controlled by the Central Government or by another State Government. Provided that in case of any disagreement, the matter shall be decided by the Central Government and the State Government or State Governments concerned shall give effect to the decision of the Central Government.” As on January 1, 2021, out of around 5,200 IAS officers in the country, 458 were on central deputation.