{"id":17457,"date":"2018-03-21T12:55:39","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T07:25:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=17457"},"modified":"2018-03-21T10:56:34","modified_gmt":"2018-03-21T05:26:34","slug":"answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-march-20-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-march-20-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 March 20, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/mains-marathon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archives<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.1) The government had in 2017, announced a farm loan waiver worth Rs 30,000 crore to alleviate agrarian distress and deter farmer suicides. Where do you think has the scheme possibly lacked for which Mumbai saw a protest march of 40,000 farmers? Highlight the other the manifold reasons of India\u2019s agrarian crisis in your answer. GS &#8211; 1<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>6<\/b><b>th<\/b><b> March, 2018:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> On 6<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> March, 2018, around 40,000 farmers in and around Maharashtra marched to Mumbai from Nasik.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>12<\/b><b>th<\/b><b> March, 2018:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The march ended at March 12<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Members of the <\/span><b>All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the farmers\u2019 wing of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), along with other farmers\u2019 unions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are the ones who have held the protest march.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Loopholes in the farm loan waiver, 2017:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The loopholes in the farm loan waiver, 2017 are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Rs 34,000 crore farm loan waiver declared last year came with several conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, only one member per family was allowed a debt-waiver and a ceiling of Rs 1.5 lakh was prescribed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because of the conditions, a majority of farmers were unable to benefit from it, and have continued to reel under debt.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides it did not benefit many of the small and marginal farmers who usually do not rely upon institutional credit.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Manifold reasons of India\u2019s agrarian crisis:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The manifold reasons of India\u2019s agrarian crisis are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Intense pressure of population on land:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fundamental root of the agrarian crisis, particularly in Maharashtra, is the <\/span><b>intense pressure of population on land.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per the state\u2019s own 2017-18 Economic Survey, over 80% of Maharashtra\u2019s 13 million farmers work on small and marginal farms, meaning they have landholdings of <\/span><b>less than one hectare.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Shortage of cash and credit:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>shortage of cash and credit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is another major issue in rural households.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landless or marginal farmers lack the resources to either buy or lease more land or invest in farm infrastructure such as irrigation, power and farm machinery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Note: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural households earn Rs3, 000 (US$46) a month by farming.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whereas, the Economic Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) estimates the minimum cost of living for the average Indian farm household at Rs6, 426 per month.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NSSO data also reveals that a farm household needs to have at least one hectare of land to make ends meet every month.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Weather:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A farmer is constantly exposed to multiple risks and the major risk is the weather.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Maharashtra, over 80% of farmers are dependent on the rains and a weak monsoon or even a delayed monsoon means a significant loss of output.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Pests and plant diseases:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among multiple risks, another risk is from pests and plant diseases.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most districts in Maharashtra have seen 30-70% devastation of cotton crops due to pink worm attacks this year, despite having using genetically modified BT cotton seeds for over 15 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Price:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The third risk is that of price.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over 94% farmers have no other option but to sell their produce locally for less than the MSP.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The farmers usually get as little as 25% of the price that consumers finally pay.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.2) Until 1947, India and Iran had long shared a common border as neighbors, with cultural and linguistic ties between the two ancient civilizations going back thousands of years. Despite having a strong historical relationship with Iran, India is seen hesitant to revive it at present due to various economic and geopolitical reasons. Explain. GS &#8211; 2 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Introduction:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Until 1947, India and Iran had long shared a common border as neighbours, with cultural and linguistic ties between the two ancient civilizations going back thousands of years. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Independent India and Iran established diplomatic relations on 15 March 1950. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the 1979 revolution, relations between Iran and India strengthened momentarily.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the 1990s,<\/span><b> India and Iran supported the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against the Taliban regime.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They <\/span><b>continue to collaborate in supporting the broad-based anti-Taliban government<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> led by Ashraf Ghani and backed by the United States.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Strong headwinds that the Indo-Iranian relationship is facing:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The major hurdles that the Indo-Iranian relations are facing are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>First:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> despite Trump\u2019s threats, Iran is placed much better in the region than ever before.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But <\/span><b>tensions between Washington and Tehran<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> constrain the strategic space for India in dealing with Iran.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Second:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> What should be worrying for India is the <\/span><b>slow pace of the Chabahar port project,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which has displeased the Iranians.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Uncertainty surrounding American posture towards Iran<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is complicating India\u2019s ability to deliver fast on Chabahar as Western manufacturers remain wary of supplying equipment for the Iranian port.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They have also indicated that despite India developing the project, <\/span><b>it won\u2019t be exclusive to the country <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but <\/span><b>Pakistan and China might also be invited<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to get involved. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bringing China and Pakistan in will be a <\/span><b>challenge to Indian interests.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Third:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Indo-Iranian cooperation on Afghanistan is also coming under stress with <\/span><b>Tehran joining Russia and China in managing Pakistan\u2019s role in the region.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Fourth:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Though the larger trade and energy ties between India and Iran are gradually growing, they are being <\/span><b>overshadowed by India\u2019s growing stakes in the Arab world and Israel.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Fifth:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Other challenges in bilateral relations relate to India&#8217;s <\/span><b>growing ties with USA, Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> all of which are intractable rivals of Iran.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.3) Write short notes on:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a) \u2018Weightless economy\u2019 in Economics GS &#8211; 3 <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Weightless economy\u2019 in Economics refers to those sectors of the economy which produce stuff that weigh lighter than other sectors that manufacture traditional goods and services. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Usage of \u2018Weightless economy\u2019:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term is used to emphasise the c<\/span><b>hanging nature of economies <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">as they increasingly concentrate on producing stuff that is intangible but also of much more valuable to consumers. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Economic growth in the previous centuries depended largely on <\/span><b>increasing the total quantity of physical inputs that went into production. <\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, producing things of higher value requires the use of <\/span><b>intellectual capital more than physical capital,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which explains the rapid increase in the size of the weightless economy.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">b) Bot in Science and Technology GS &#8211; 3 <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bot is a computer programme designed to work automatically. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Usage of bot: <\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bot is mainly used to <\/span><b>gather information on the Internet or perform repetitive jobs.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Dynamic interaction with websites <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is yet another way bots are used for positive purposes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Malicious bot: \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A malicious bot as self-propagating malware that<\/span><b> infects its host and connects back to a central server(s). <\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malicious bots can gather <\/span><b>passwords, log keystrokes, obtain financial information, relay spam, and exploit back doors opened by viruses and worms,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> among other things. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Efforts are being made to restrict these bots from spreading misinformation on the respective platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Archives Q.1) The government had in 2017, announced a farm loan waiver worth Rs 30,000 crore to alleviate agrarian distress and deter farmer suicides. Where do you think has the scheme possibly lacked for which Mumbai saw a protest march of 40,000 farmers? Highlight the other the manifold reasons of India\u2019s agrarian crisis in your&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-march-20-2018\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 March 20, 2018<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":2292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mains-marathon-answers","category-public","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/pen-paper-laptop.jpg?fit=1000%2C500&ssl=1","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1704792451},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17457\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}