{"id":8530,"date":"2017-09-21T13:16:26","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T07:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=8530"},"modified":"2017-09-15T13:18:27","modified_gmt":"2017-09-15T07:48:27","slug":"answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-september-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-september-20\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 September 20"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/mains-marathon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archives<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q1. Gauri Lankesh, a senior Kannada journalist known for her criticism of Hindu extremism, was recently shot dead.With reference to the above incident Discuss the challenges that Indian press is facing in present scenario. What all steps are needed for safeguarding the freedom of press guaranteed by Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/truth-without-fear-or-favour-gauri-lankesh-bengaluru-lankesh-patrike-gauri-lankesh-killed-hindutve-narendra-modi-journalist-4831978\/\"><b>Link<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>What happened?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gauri Lankesh, a senior Kannada journalist was<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> killed on September 5 by an unidentified gunman when she returned home from the office of Gauri Lankesh Patrike.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>What is Freedom of press?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In India, freedom of the press has been treated as part of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What are the challenges that Indian press is facing today?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Freedom of press: Instances like in the case of NDTV shutdown for reporting during Pathankot attack, weak whitsle \u2013blower protection act, defamation suits etc have restricted the freedom of press.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Paid News, a nexus between media persons and politicians seems to have taken firm roots in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Election Commission is reported to have identified more than 1,400 cases of paid news between 2009 and 2013.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate and political lobbying and ownership<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yellow journalism: Unnecessary sensationalization of issues to fetch TRP meddles with the real content of news.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weak regulation: only a self regulating body like PCI(Press Council of India) has little power or legislative backup to regulate the press.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What need to be done for securing freedom of press provided under article 19(1)?<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">freedom of the press has been integrated as part of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court is the \u201cUpholder and Protector of the Constitution. It is essential that proper reform is brought about by way of Legislation or Precedent by the SC to ensure the legitimcy of news and the \u201cFreedom of the Press\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A regulatory body comprising both of media persons and government bodies should be established to give media a fair play and check its arbitrariness at the same time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The legislative backup for PCI to give it more power for regulation is also required.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Q2. Japan and India have come together to partner for High-speed rail projects to boost the Indian Railways. <\/b><b>Do you think that this project would be a transformational leap in India\u2019s transportation history<\/b><b>? Discuss. (GS 3)<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/opinion\/columns\/why-india-needs-a-bullet-train-china-abe-modi-ahmedabad-mumbai-4839143\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian Express<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> | <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.oneindia.com\/india\/bullet-train-how-mumbai-ahmedabad-high-speed-rail-will-help-the-economy-grow-2540306.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Link<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This visionary Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project (popularly known as the bullet train<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> project) will herald a new era of safety, speed and service and help the Indian Railways craft a pathway to becoming a global leader in scale, technology and skill. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this project would be a transformational leap in India\u2019s transportation history and Indian railways. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Why is this project a transformational leap in India\u2019s transportation history<\/b><b>?<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following are the five reasons how this project would be a transformational leap in India\u2019s transportation history:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attractive low-cost long-term financing<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a part of the agreement between India and Japan, Japan will provide soft loan of about Rs. 90,000 crore at a interest rate of 0.1 per cent over 50 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is getting the loan for the MAHSR at close to almost zero cost.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This saves any strain on existing financial resources, as more than 80 per cent of the project cost is being funded by Japan in this way.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is for the first time that an infrastructure project of this size and magnitude is being funded on such favorable terms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stimulus for advanced components\u2019 manufacture and construction<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the stated objectives of the project is \u201cMake in India\u201d, which is being auctioned even before the commissioning of the project.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per the agreement between the two governments, the MAHSR Project has \u201clocalised manufacture\u201d and \u201ctransfer of technology\u201d as twin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The construction sector in India is also expected to get a big boost not only in terms of works contracts but also with respect to new technology and work culture.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Professional capacity-building<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A dedicated High Speed Rail Training Institute is being developed at Vadodara.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This institute will be functional by the end of 2020, and have facilities to train about 4,000 staff in the next three years, who will then be utilized for operation and maintenance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They will also serve as a backbone for the development of other high speed corridors in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Speed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two types of services proposed : \u201crapid train\u201d service with only two stops at Surat and Vadodara and a slower service that halts at 10 stations en route.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The \u201crapid train\u201d would complete the journey in 2 hours and 7 minutes, while the slower service would take 2 hours and 58 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is widely expected to enable the railway system to begin winning back the creamy layer of higher-fare paying passengers in inter-city routes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cutting edge operational technology<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India is getting cutting-edge operational technology in totality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Shinkansen technology is renowned for its reliability and safety.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, the project is set to provide reliable and comfortable service with high standards of safety.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The technology regarding disaster predictions and preventions will also be acquired as part of the project.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We should be careful not to confuse leapfrogging technology development with elitism, whether it is mobile phones, satellite launches, regional air-connectivity or high-speed rail. This bullet train<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> project will therefore help the Indian Railways to become a global leader in scale, technology and skill.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Q3. Securities and Exchange Board of India has released a consultation paper and sought feedback on a new set of rules to improve market efficiency and enhance the governance, accountability and functioning of credit rating agencies.What could be the possible impact of the new rules on credit rating services in India? Discuss. (GS 3)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/todays-paper\/tp-opinion\/search-for-quality\/article19657439.ece\"><b>The Hindu<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit rating agencies may be in a tough spot as Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) continues to tighten the screws on them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Important provisions<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New set of rules were drafted to improve \u201cmarket efficiency\u201d and enhance \u201cthe governance, accountability and functioning of credit rating agencies\u201d.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among them are provisions to restrict cross-shareholding between rating agencies without regulatory approval to 10%, and increase the minimum net worth requirement for existing and new agencies from Rs. 5 crore to Rs. 50 crore. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another mandates at least five years\u2019 experience for promoters of rating agencies. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEBI has proposed disclosure norms to improve investor awareness about the operations of rating agencies. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Rationale of the proposed rules<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The spin-off of non-core operations of rating agencies will allow SEBI to focus on regulating just their credit rating operations. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEBI has spelt out its rationale for proposing each of the rules. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEBI\u2019s predominant concern, apart from improving the information available to investors, seems to be to prevent rating agencies from resorting to collusion in reaching decisions. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Possible impact of the new rules on credit rating services in India<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new rules may not have any substantial impact on the quality of credit rating in India.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The intended effects of the rules sound convincing. What is unclear are their unintended effects on competition in the rating space.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, how the rules will address the problem of \u201crating shopping\u201d that plagues the business of credit rating in the country is unknown.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The present business model of rating agencies is seen to allow considerable room for issuers of securities to shop for a favourable rating or avoid negative ratings by severing their ties with these agencies. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prudential regulation is thus justified to tackle this problem. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This criticism, however, ignores the reputational damage these agencies suffer after each corporate default. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeated failures have not affected the business of rating agencies, primarily due to the lack of alternative service providers who can help out investors. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Individual creditors have thus had to trust the ratings of the existing rating agencies at their own peril, even after repeated crises. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As is well-known today, the Indian credit rating market is an oligopolistic one due to the high barriers to entry. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEBI\u2019s proposed move to impose further quality requirements on rating agencies is unlikely to change things for the better, or raise further barriers. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Way forward<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The way forward lies in making it easier for new players to enter the credit rating space and compete against incumbents. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This will go a long way towards making credit rating agencies actually serve creditors rather than borrowers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Archives\u00a0 Q1. Gauri Lankesh, a senior Kannada journalist known for her criticism of Hindu extremism, was recently shot dead.With reference to the above incident Discuss the challenges that Indian press is facing in present scenario. What all steps are needed for safeguarding the freedom of press guaranteed by Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-september-20\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 September 20<\/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-8530","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":1704567034},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8530","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=8530"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8530\/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=8530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}