Important Military Exercises for UPSC 2018-19 (Updated)







  1. Cope India 2019:  Joint exercise of Air forces of the US and India 
  2. KONKAN-18: India-UK Naval exercise
  3. IND-INDO CORPAT: India–Indonesia Coordinated Patrol 
  4. Samudra Shakti: Inaugural India-Indonesia Bilateral Naval Exercise held at the port of Surabaya, Indonesia
  5. Surya Kiran-XIII: India-Nepal joint military
  6. Indra 2018: Tri-service joint India-Russia military (proposed to be conducted in India)
  7. Maitree 2018: India-Thailand joint military exercise
  8. Vostok-2018: Russia's largest military exercise in Siberia (China and Mongolia participated)
  9. Rapid Trident: Ukraine's military exercise with NATO members
  10. Nomadic Elephant 2018: India-Mongolia joint exercise in Ulaanbaatar
  11. MILEX-18: 1st military exercise of BIMSTEC countries held in Pune (Nepal and Thailand did not participate)
  12. Aviaindra 18: India-Russia Air Force exercise in Russia
  13. Sahyog HOP TAC-2018: 1st India-Vietnam Coast Guards exercise in Bay of Bengal
  14. Dharma Guardian - 2018: The first ever joint military exercise between India and Japan to be conducted in Vairengte (Mizoram)
  15. Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JIMEX) : Conducted at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
  16. IBSAMAR-VI: A joint Multi – National Maritime Exercise between the Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies, is being held at Simons Town, South Africa
  17. Gagan Shakti 2018: To show air dominance over the entire extended region of Indian Ocean Region (IOR). IAF mobilied almost all of its assets to show the strength. It was conducted on western border, eastern border and, in south (maritime time targets in conjunction with Indian Navy).
  18. Vajra Prahar: India and USA
  19. Shakti IV: India and French
  20. KAKADU 2018: Multilateral regional maritime exercise conducted by Australia, Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri participated in the exercise
  21. Varun 2018: Bilateral Naval exercise between India and France
  22. Khanjar V: India and Kyrgyzstan 
  23. EKUVERIN 2017: India-Maldives bilateral military exercise
  24. Harimau Shakti: India and Malaysia
  25. KAZIND 2018 and PRABAL DOSTYK: India and Kazakhstan
  26. Lamitye 2018: India and Seychelles
  27. Sagarmatha Friendship-2018/Mt Everest Friendship Exercise-2018: Joint military exercise between Nepal and China (Sagarmatha is the Nepali name for Mt Everest)
  28. Pitch Black 2018: A biennial multi-national large force employment warfare exercise was hosted by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Indian Air Force had earlier participated in the exercise as observers and this was for the first time that IAF participated with air assets in the Exercise Pitch Black (PB-18). 
  29. Hand-in-Hand 2018: Annual bilateral exercise between India and China
  30. SLINEX 2018: Bilateral Naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka

What are Hypergolic fuels or propellants ? [Explainer]

A hypergolic propellant combination used in a rocket engine is one whose components spontaneously ignite when they come into contact with each other.

The two propellant components usually consist of a fuel and an oxidizer. The main advantages of hypergolic propellants are that they can be stored as liquids at room temperature and that engines which are powered by them are easy to ignite reliably and repeatedly. Although commonly used, hypergolic propellants are difficult to handle due to their extreme toxicity and/or corrosiveness.

In contemporary usage, the terms "hypergol" or "hypergolic propellant" usually mean the most common such propellant combination, dinitrogen tetroxide plus hydrazine and/or its relatives monomethylhydrazine and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine. 

Source: Wikipedia

What is NASA's New Frontiers program ? [Explainer]


Image Source: The Planetary Society

The New Frontiers program is a series of space exploration missions being conducted by NASA with the purpose of researching several of the Solar System bodies, including the dwarf planet Pluto.

NASA is encouraging both domestic and international scientists to submit mission proposals for the program.New Frontiers was built on the innovative approach used by the Discovery and Explorer Programs of principal investigator-led missions. It is designed for medium-class missions that cannot be accomplished within the cost and time constraints of Discovery, but are not as large as Large Strategic Science Missions (Flagship misions). There are currently three New Frontiers missions in progress: New Horizons, which was launched in 2006 and reached Pluto in 2015, Juno, which was launched in 2011 and entered Jupiter orbit in 2016, and OSIRIS-REx, launched in September 2016 towards asteroid Bennu for detailed studies from 2018 to 2021 and a sample return to Earth in 2023.  

Source: Wikipedia  

What is NASA's OSIRIS-REx Mission ? [Explainer Videos]

The OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer) is a NASA asteroid study and sample-return mission. Launched on 8 September 2016, its mission is to study asteroid 101955 Bennu, a carbonaceous asteroid, and return a sample to Earth on 24 September 2023 for detailed analysis. The material returned is expected to enable scientists to learn more about the formation and evolution of the Solar System, its initial stages of planet formation, and the source of organic compounds that led to the formation of life on Earth. If successful, OSIRIS-REx will be the first U.S. spacecraft to return samples from an asteroid. 
 
Source: Wikipedia
 

What is Chang'e 4 ? [Explainer]

Chang'e 4 (Chinese: 嫦娥四号; pinyin: Cháng'é sìhào) is a planned Chinese lunar exploration mission, to be launched in December 2018, that will incorporate an orbiter, a robotic lander and rover. Chang'e 4 will be China's second lunar lander and rover. It was built as a backup to Chang'e 3, as Chang'e 2 was to Chang'e 1. Following the successful landing of the Chang'e 3 mission, the configuration of Chang'e 4 will be adjusted to meet new scientific objectives. Like its predecessors, the spacecraft is named after Chang'e, the Chinese Moon goddess. 

Source: Wikipedia

What is NASA's Mars InSight Mission ? [Explainer Video]

 
InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport)
Source: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Explainer: What is National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ?

The Central Government has constituted National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) w.e.f. 01st June 2016.

In the first phase the Ministry of Corporate Affairs have set up eleven Benches, one Principal Bench at New Delhi and one each Regional Benches at New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati,Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is a quasi-judicial body in India that adjudicates issues relating to Indian companies.The NCLT was established based on the recommendation of the justice Eradi committee on law relating to insolvency and winding up of companies.

All proceedings under the Companies Act, including proceedings relating to Arbitration, Compromise, arrangements and reconstruction and winding up of companies shall be disposed off by the National Company Law Tribunal.

The National Company Law Tribunal is the Adjudicating Authority for Insolvency resolution process of Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.

Source: 
https://nclt.gov.in/content/national-company-law-tribunal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Company_Law_Tribunal

Brilliant Q&A on Climate Change and related issues by New York Times


As the clamor by Climate Change denialist  rises on internet, here is a short and excellent primer on the issue by NYT.



Climate Change Is Complex. We’ve Got Answers to Your Questions.


https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/climate/what-is-climate-change.html

Informative quiz on IMF and World Bank (UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS )

See How Much You Know About the IMF and World Bank | Council on Foreign Relations
https://www.cfr.org/quiz/see-how-much-you-know-about-imf-and-world-bank

Current Affairs 10th October 2018 (UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS )

India and Russia: Salvaging a strategic partnership
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/salvaging-a-strategic-partnership/article25172539.ece

Arrest the exodus in Gujarat
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/arrest-the-exodus-in-gujarat/article25172536.ece

Target 1.5: tackling global warming
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/target-15-tackling-global-warming/article25172535.ece

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen challenges election defeat
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/maldives-president-abdulla-yameen-challenges-election-defeat/article25180945.ece

WhatsApp bug let hackers hijack accounts with a video call: reports
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/internet/whatsapp-bug-let-hackers-hijack-accounts-with-a-video-call-reports/article25182342.ece

Nikki Haley resigns as US ambassador to the UN
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nikki-haley-resigns-as-un-ambassador-trump-accepts/article25170859.ece

China to sell 48 high-end military drones to Pakistan  https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-to-sell-48-high-end-military-drones-to-pakistan/article25163900.ece

Post Bhilai Steel Plant blast that claimed 11 lives, CEO removed, two senior officials suspended
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bhilai-steel-plant-blast-ceo-removed-two-other-officials-suspended/article25177435.ece

Nobel Peace Prize winners 2018: the fight against sexual violence
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nobel-peace-prize-winners-2018-the-fight-against-sexual-harassment/article25135965.ece

U.S. seeks Pak. help on Afghanistan
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/us-seeks-pak-help-on-afghanistan/article25173712.ece

China fires another salvo at U.S. as Pompeo exits Asia
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/china-fires-another-salvo-at-us-as-pompeo-exits-asia/article25173714.ece

#MeeToo | CINTAA supports Vinta Nanda on Alok Nath allegation, still deliberating course of action
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/meetoo-cintaa-supports-vinta-nanda-on-alok-nath-allegation-still-deliberating-course-of-action/article25173723.ece

BrahMos Aerospace engineer held for leaking info to Pakistan
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo-staffer-held-for-espionage-links/article25157737.ece




The 2018 Nobel prize for economics goes to Paul Romer and William Nordhaus



 
William Nordhaus (left) and  Paul Romer (right)

 
This year's Nobel for Economic Sciences goes to two economist who have made an effort to understand the two most complex topics in economics, how they influence economy, and model them - innovation and climate change. Innovation is important for economic growth and is a product of  human endeavor, but how to understand and incorporate it as component in an economic model, so that remedies can be prescribed to aid it and hence economic growth - this was done by Paul Romer and doing so he elucidated on the importance of government intervention (public policy) in fostering it. Climate Change (as a model) and how the economic growth interact in complex manner was modeled by William Nordhaus, he too emphasized on the importance of government intervention (public policy) in tackling rise in climate change, he proposed the famous market solution carbon tax for tackling green house gases.

The commonality underpinning two economists who were awarded Noble in Economics Sciences 2018 lies in the fact that they both modeled the two complex ideas which were earlier treated as black box and both have prescribed government intervention (public policy) as a necessary tool.

For further reading:

2018 Nobel in Economics Is Awarded to William Nordhaus and Paul Romer (NYT)https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/08/business/economic-science-nobel-prize.html

The Nobel prize for economics is awarded for work on the climate and economic growth (The Economist)
https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2018/10/08/the-nobel-prize-for-economics-is-awarded-for-work-on-the-climate-and-economic-growth

Explainer: A Visual Guide to Inflation

Credits to the creator of this brilliant infographic.



Source: https://blog.mint.com/trends/a-visual-guide-to-inflation/

Explainer: A Visual Guide to Deflation

Credits to the creator of this brilliant infographic.
 

Source: https://blog.mint.com/trends/a-visual-guide-to-deflation/

Solar Energy Diplomacy by India: Calling for ‘One World One Sun One Grid’ (International Solar Alliance)

At the first assembly of International Solar Alliance in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for cooperation and collaboration on solar energy to connect the electric grid across borders meeting energy needs, and making the future of world economy more interconnected and green. He urged this in presence of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Further emphasizing on the importance of solar energy and 121 member International Solar Alliance, he said that ISA would act like OPEC(Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) for solar energy, meeting the energy needs of the world. 



“We have a dream One World, One Sun One Grid. We generate round the clock electricity from Sun as it sets in one part of the world but rises in another part. Sun never sets for entire earth” - P.M. Narendra Modi

International Solar Alliance

The International Solar Alliance is an alliance of more than 121 countries initiated by India, most of them being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
Founded at: Paris, France
Membership (As of 2017): 121 nations
Head: H.E. Upendra Tripathy
Budget: 4.7 crores USD
Region served: Countries between the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn
Headquarters: Gwal Pahari, Gurugram, Haryana, India

Source: Wikipedia\Google 

For Further reading:



Current Affairs 5th October 2018 | Important News | Good reads | UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS

India signs deal with Russia for S-400 Triumf Air Defense System
https://outsmartupsc.blogspot.com/2018/10/india-signs-deal-with-russia-for-s-400.html

Fitbit data used to charge suspect with murder - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/4/17936722/fitbit-data-murder-trial-stepdaughter

Netflix consumes 15% of the world’s global internet traffic
http://f-st.co/n3AHEr2

SC dismisses plea seeking full statehood for Delhi
https://trib.al/mf5E6PT

RBI keeps key rates unchanged
https://trib.al/hBd6s6e

Explained: The cancer therapy that got two immunologists a Nobel
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/explained-the-cancer-therapy-that-got-two-immunologists-a-nobel-61773

Heavy metals in household, industrial waste help spread drug resistance
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/heavy-metals-in-household-industrial-waste-help-spread-drug-resistance-61787

WAYU : New device developed to tackle pollution in high traffic zones
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/new-device-developed-to-tackle-pollution-in-high-traffic-zones-61726

Blanket of dust to cover North India in few days; air quality will be hit
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/air/blanket-of-dust-to-cover-north-india-in-few-days-air-quality-will-be-hit-61799

In the court of last resort (Lead Opinion)
https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/in-the-court-of-last-resort/article25105456.ece


New SC Roster Introduced: PILs To Be Heard By CJI & Justice Lokur (On CJI's Directions) | Live Law
https://www.livelaw.in/new-sc-roster-introduced-pils-to-be-heard-by-cji-justice-lokur-on-cjis-directions/

Backlog burden of Supreme Court, from Aadhaar to Ayodhya - Livemint
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/tzhLriWMkIxwe3XtG5U5yH/Supreme-Court-pending-cases-from-Aadhaar-to-Ayodhya.html

Current Affairs 5th October 2018 | Important News | Good reads | UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS 
 

India signs deal with Russia for S-400 Triumf Air Defense System (Explainer: What is S-400 missile system ?)

Image Source: https://www.rbth.com/multimedia/infographics/2017/06/05/s-400-triumph-russia-to-sell-missile-system-to-nato-member-turkey_776950
 
The S-400 Triumf, previously known as the S-300 PMU-3, is an anti-aircraft weapon system developed in the 1990s by Russia's Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family. It has been in service with the Russian Armed Forces since 2007.
 
Operational range: 400 km (40N6 missile); 250 km (48N6 missile); 120 km (9M96E2 missile); 40 km (9M96E missile)
Used by: Russia
Ground clearance: 485 mm
Manufacturer: Fakel Machine-Building Design Bureau
Designer: Almaz-Antey
Engine: YAMZ-8424.10 Diesel V12; 400 HP/294kW
In service: 28 April 2007 – present
 
Source: Wikipedia\Google
 
For further reading (Deep Dive):
 
Infographic on  S-400 missile system
https://theaviationist.com/2015/11/13/s-400-triumf-infographic/
 

Explained: What S-400 air defence system deal with Russia means to India

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/s-400-air-defence-system-deal-russia-putin-5385320/
 
Current Affairs | UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS

Explainer: What is "Resource Curse" or "Paradox Of Plenty" ? (UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS )

In simple terms resource curse results from inefficient distribution of wealth which is generated from harvesting the aplenty resource in that country. As a consequence, wealth aggregation in resource rich pockets of economy takes place, the other sectors suffer and become inefficient, as bulk of economic activity (as calculated by GDP) takes place around that resource. The political consequence being that the state becomes irresponsive to the needs of people as state expenses are met by wealth from resource rather than tax collections, and in turn people also gradually start looking for doles from state rather than substantive reforms in economy. This all leads to poverty, corruption and an inefficient economy, hence the name resource curse.


For further reading:

Resource Curse (Investopedia)
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/resource-curse.asp

The paradox of plenty (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/node/5323394

Oil to Cash: Fighting the Resource Curse through Cash Transfers (Center for Global Development) [Video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8f7MSOLMRk


 Current Affairs | Economics | Banking | UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS

Explainer: What is difference between Banks & NBFCs (Non-Banking Financial Company) ? (UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS )

NBFCs (also called shadow banks) in comparison to Banks are not heavily regulated barring few prudential norms. They are regulated by different regulatory agencies depending upon their nature of work e.g. SEBI, IRDA, State Government etc. NBFCs over the years have become an important cog in the financial wheel of the economies around the world,  they fill in the gaps left by traditional banks as financial markets have evolved and become complex over the years.

 NBFCs lend and make investments and hence their activities are akin to that of banks; however there are a few differences as given below:

 i. NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;

 ii. NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself;

 iii. deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.

 Source: RBI

 Current Affairs | Economics | Banking | UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS


Explainer: Blockchain definition and developments in India (UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS )

What is a blockchain?
A blockchain, originally block chain, is a growing list of records, called blocks, which are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data. By design, a blockchain is resistant to modification of the data. (Source: Wikipedia)


Infographic on how blockchain works

 India’s first Blockchain District to be set up in Telangana

 IIITM-K and the Blockchain Education Network (BEN) will set up a Blockchain Academy in Kerala
 

Current Affairs | Good reads | International Affairs | Geopolitics (UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS)

Trump reportedly considered banning Chinese student visas to keep out spies

 5 things to know about USMCA, the new NAFTA

 Chinese and American warships nearly collide

 Downturn in Russia relations

 Iranian clerics in Kashmir under watch

 Explained: The destructive power of the Indonesia tsunami

 India-born Gita Gopinath will be IMF’s first woman chief economist

 How to Fix the U.N.—and Why We Should – Foreign Policy

 India to gift Mig-21 fighter jets to Russia

 U.S. blacklists Chinese agency for buying Russia military equipment

 Maldives election: The will of the people has spoken, says Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

 Current Affairs | Good reads | International Affairs | Geopolitics (UPSC | IAS | IPS | IFS | IRS | PCS)

What to read on Income inequality or Wealth inequality ? (Explainer Inequality)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/opinion/to-reduce-inequality-tax-wealth-not-income.html?pagewanted=2&_r=3&pagewanted=all


 http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/12/17/capital_inequality_it_s_bigger_and_a_bigger_deal_than_labor_inequality.html


 http://www.npr.org/2014/01/02/259222613/the-widening-wealth-gap-bringing-income-inequality-into-focus


 http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/inequality-is-most-extreme-in-wealth-not-income/?_r=0


 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/29/opinion/sutter-explainer-income-inequality/


 http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/11/income-inequality-vs-wealth-inequality.html


 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/29/opinion/sutter-solutions-income-inequality/index.html?iid=article_sidebar


 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/opinion/sutter-99-inequality-must-read/index.html?iid=article_sidebar


 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/books/review/the-price-of-inequality-by-joseph-e-stiglitz.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0


 http://rootsofhealthinequity.org/how-class-works.php 


 

What does money do ?

There are essentially three primary functions of money:
1. Store of value
2. Medium of exchange
3. Unit of account
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