Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

For inclusive growth and employment, spending on social services as a share of GDP and investment in social infrastructure are of prime importance. The social sector pursues economic and social goals and is involved in providing social services to disadvantaged groups and communities, whether in urban or rural areas. Recent Economic Research focuses on social services including education, sport, arts and culture; public health and medical, family welfare; water supply and drainage and environmental sanitation; hotel; Urban Development; SC, ST and OBC welfare, labor and labor benefits; social security and welfare, nutrition, disaster relief, etc.

As education and health are two major areas of concern in the context of social sector development and human development achievements, this article explores their situation in India.

ISSUES REGARDING DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL SECTORS

In this regard, issues related to the development and management of social sectors/services are as follows:

1) Fundamental changes in the design of policies/programs needed to approach all segments of society.

2) Expand outreach equitably through people participation, outreach, use of technology, and direct transfer of benefits.

3) Access to education at all levels in rural and urban areas with necessary reforms of the education system to encourage career development.

4) Intensify efforts to impart skills needed to face the 4th industrial revolution, which is a fusion of the physical, digital and biological worlds.

5) An increase in total formal employment in the economy.

6) Challenges of providing both access to health care and access to quality health care nationally.

7) Construction rate of pucca structure housing in rural and urban areas.

EDUCATION

The liberalization of India’s economy has had a major impact on the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, with its economic growth accelerating f. The literacy rate has increased from 77.7% in 2020, while primary education universalization has largely been achieved and the dropout rate has decreased. However, despite significant progress, strong exclusions and disparities exist. Combining accessible affordability and quality assurance with good governance and adequate funding is always a concern.

HEALTH

Significant progress has also been made on the medical side, some diseases have been eradicated or are on the verge of eradication. There have been significant declines in the Index of Fertility (ISF) and the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), and life expectancy has fallen from 36.7 years in 1951 to 69.66 In 2019. These achievements are impressive, but at the same time, our failures are more prominent. As such, this volume brings together the contributions of leading Indian scholars on a wide range of social issues, including the link between growth, poverty, and the social sector; efficiency of social sector spending in India; disparities in health status; Protecting IPRs in Health Innovations; pollution and health; universal primary education; problems encountered at higher education levels; and child labor issues.

ROLE OF CONSTITUTION IN ENSURING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

The right to health is not directly included as a fundamental right in the Constitution of India. The maker of the Constitution placed this obligation on the State to ensure economic and social justice. The fourth part of the Indian constitution is the Directive Principles of State Policy which has imposed obligations on the states. If we just look at these terms, we see that some of them are directly or indirectly related to public health. The Indian constitution does not stipulate the right to health care as a fundamental right. The Constitution orders the State to take measures to improve the health care conditions of the people. Thus, the preamble of the Constitution of India, among other things, aims to ensure social and economic justice for all its citizens. It provides a framework for achieving the goals set out in the introduction. The preamble is amplified and developed in the Guiding Principles of State Policy.

Article 38 of the Indian Constitution places on the state the responsibility that states must ensure social order to promote the welfare of the people, but without public health we cannot achieve this. this. This means that without public health, everyone’s happiness is impossible. Article 39(e) concerned workers to protect their health. Article 41 imposes on the State the obligation to provide public assistance mainly to the sick and disabled. Article 42 provides for the protection of the health of children and mothers through the maternity regime. In India, the guiding principle of state policy under Article 47 states that the primary duty of the state is to improve public health, ensure justice, the human condition at work, and prolong time sickness, old age, disability and maternity benefits are also being considered. In addition, state duties include the prohibition of intoxication and drugs harmful to health. Section 48A ensures that the state strives to protect and enforce a pollution-free environment for good health.

COMPARISION OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL SCHEME WITH THAT OF OTHER COUNTRIES

The Constitution is a national rulebook that codifies the rule of law. It establishes the various institutions of government, namely the administrative, legislative and judicial frameworks and their main functions. It also establishes relationships between the government and those known as citizenship. The architects of the Indian Constitution passed all the major constitutions of the world that existed at the time before making their own drafts. The Indian Constitution is often referred to as a “bag of borrowings” because it is voluntarily drawn from another country. The Constitution is a national rulebook that codifies the rule of law.

INDIAN CONSTITUTION AS A BAG OF BORROWINGS

The Constitution of India provides for a parliamentary government, which has a federal structure with certain unified characteristics. The composition is written in part, by convention, and by judicial interpretation. Derived from various sources. Mainly from the Government of India Act 1935.

From Ireland: Directive Principles of state Policy, Representative of ability in Rajya sabha, Electoral System of the President of India, How to Nominate Members of Rajya sabha.

From the United States: Fundamental Rights;

From England: Parliamentary form of government.

From Germany: Emergency provision;

From South Africa: Amendment procedures for a majority of two-thirds in parliament, and elections for Rajya Sabha members.

Therefore, the Constitution of India is one of the longest known constitutions in the world due to the above characteristics.

COMARISIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

INDIA AND FRANCE

SIMILARITY

Written Constitutions: India and France, however, have a written constitution; France has changed its constitution quite often due to instability. Currently, it is the 5th constitution in the history of France.

Government Type: Both countries elect leaders for their respective terms.

Amendment Process: The French Constitution can be amended with a 60% majority similar to the Indian amendment process. Republic: Both countries are Republics with elected Heads of State.

Ideas: India borrowed the ideas of freedom, equality and brotherhood from the Preamble of the French Constitution. Emergency provisions: Both countries have the right to emergency provisions.

DIFFERENCES

Political model: France adopts a semi-presidential system with the president having more power than the prime minister while India adopts a parliamentary form of government with more powers vested in the prime minister. Term of Head of Government: Prime Minister of India has a term of 5 years while the President of France has a term of 7 years. Philosophical Aspects: There are no provisions relating to due process or fair trial in the French Constitution. France has adopted complete separation of state and religion, while India has more distance in principle but not total separation. France operates under a unitary model, not federalism like in India. Judicial structure: The judiciary plays no role in conducting elections in India while in France the judiciary plays an important role. The French courts are divided into two divisions namely judicial courts and administrative courts, but in India there is no such structure.

INDIA AND CANADA

SIMILARITIES

Unitary / Federal: Both have a federal structure. Like India, Canada has residual powers at the center.

Appointment of Governors: The central government appoints governors for the states and provinces. Composition of the Executive Board: Members are elected the first past the post system. Both have governments that are jointly accountable to the lower house.

Judicial structure: The appointment and advisory jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is the same as in India.

Legislative structure: Laws promulgated by Parliament apply to the whole country.

DIFFERENCES

Written/Unwritten Constitution: Canada is guided by both written and unwritten laws, while India is guided by its written Constitution. Political Setup: Canada has a monarchy while India has a president as head of state. Executive Configuration: The Governor-General is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister, while in India the president is indirectly elected. Nationality: There is a dual citizenship provision in Canada while India does not grant dual citizenship. Judicial structure: The country has several legal systems while India does not.

INDIA AND GERMANY

SIMILARITIES

Republic: Both countries are Republics with elected Heads of State. Political Structure: Both have a parliamentary form of government in which the prime minister/prime minister is the head of government and the president has mainly ceremonial and supervisory functions. India borrowed on emergency provisions from Germany. Both have federal systems. Both are characterized by fundamental rights.

DIFFERENCES

Germany has a rigid Constitution while India has a flexible and rigid Constitution. Nationality: Dual citizenship is allowed under certain circumstances

INDIA AND JAPAN

SIMILARITIES

Both have written constitutions. Legislative structure: Both have Parliament as the supreme legislative body. Both have two houses in Parliament, with the lower house having more power than the upper house. As in India, the no-confidence movement led to the dissolution of the Lok Sabha.

Philosophical Aspects: Constitutional supremacy and judicial review. Both countries have a statutory procedure. Executive Configuration: Similar to India, the Prime Minister in Japan can belong to either House. The Council of Ministers is accountable to the House of Commons, as in India. Judicial configuration: The appointment, dismissal and fixed retirement age of judges in Japan is similar to that in India.

DIFFERENCES

Japan has a rigid Constitution while India has a flexible and rigid Constitution. The Japanese constitution provides for a unified state. Executive structure: ministers are appointed by the prime minister, but in the case of India, it is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. In Japan, their parliament elects the Prime Minister from the majority party, while in India this is not the case. Political Structure: Japan is a constitutional monarchy while India is a republic. In Japan, all international treaties must be ratified by the Diet, which is not the case in India. Judicial structure: judges are appointed by the Diet, but in India Parliament has no role.

INDIA AND AUSTRALIA

SIMILARITIES

Both have written Constitution. India and Australia have federal parliamentary states with states and territories. Legislative Configuration: There is a provision to read a second time and forward it to a committee that can propose similar recommendations for India. India borrowed the concurrent list from Australia. The two countries have scheduled a joint session to resolve the deadlock between the two houses. Judicial structure: The Supreme Court is the court of last resort in Australia for all cases, as well as in India. Both countries have independent judiciary and emphasize separation of powers. The procedure for appointing and removing judges in Australia is the same as in India.

DIFFERENCES

Unlike India, emergency laws are different in each Australian state. There is a dual citizenship provision in Australia, which was added on 4 April 2002. Political structure: In Australia, the head of government in the Queen’s Commonwealth is represented. by a Governor-General. Legislative structure: The Australian Constitution can only be amended with voter approval through a national referendum in which all adult electors must vote. The Senate is elected by list system while in India it is elected by a single transferable vote. House legislators are elected for 3 years in Australia while in India they are elected for 5 years.

INDIA AND THE USA

SIMILARITIES

The two countries have a written Constitution. Both countries have the concept of fundamental rights. Both countries have a preamble as an introduction. Both countries have vice president offices. Legislative setting: Both countries have state representation in the legislature. Both countries have planned for the removal of the president, that is, the impeachment process. Philosophical Aspects: The concept of judicial review in India is borrowed from the United States. The procedural concept established by law in India was borrowed from the United States. There is a separation of powers between the different organs of government. There is a federal system in the United States similar to India. The United States has constitutional supremacy similar to that of India.

DIFFERENCES

USA has a rigid constitution while India has a rigid and flexible constitution. Political Setup: USA has a presidential form of government while India has a parliamentary form of government. Composition of the executive: In the United States the president is elected directly by the people while in India the president is elected indirectly. Amendment : The US Constitution has only been amended 27 times in 200 years. The remaining power belongs to the States while in India it belongs to the Union. Judicial structure: In India, judges reach retirement age while in the US judges can hold office until they are in good health. Each state has its own Constitution and its own Supreme Court, India’s case absent. USA offers dual citizenship which is not available in case of India.

INDIA AND UK

SIMILARITIES

Type of Government: Both have a parliamentary form of government. India adopted the rule of law from Britain. Executive Configuration: Both countries have a Cabinet System presence. Both countries have two heads of government present. Both countries have multi-party representation in Parliament. Possibility of Amendment: British law can be passed, amended and repealed by a simple majority as in India. Judicial configuration: The Removal of judges is the same as in India.

DIFFERENCES

The United Kingdom has an unwritten constitution, only a fraction of which is mentioned in a written document while India has a written constitution. The UK has a flexible constitution and it is a unified state. Political Structure: The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy while India is a republic. Offers dual citizenship in the UK. In the UK, the prime minister must be elected to the lower house, while in India he can be in either house of parliament. Legislative setup : In the UK there is a convention that once a president is always president, so a former president has no political party whereas in India the president is always a member of the party . Parliament has supremacy in the UK while the Indian Constitution has supremacy.

INDIA AND RUSSIA

SIMILARITIES

Executive structure: In both countries, the Prime Minister is appointed by the President. Legislative configuration: The lower house is more powerful, like in India. Both have provisions for fundamental rights.

DIFFERENCES

Political model: Russia has a semi-presidential system of government while India has a parliamentary form of government. Executive Configuration: Russia The Prime Minister performs the duties of the President in the event of resignation or resignation, while the same responsibility rests with the Vice President in the case of India. In Russia, the president cannot serve more than two consecutive terms, but in India there is no such limit. President is more powerful in Russia while prime minister enjoys more power in case of India. The term of the President of Russia is 6 years while the President of India is 5 years. Legislative setup: members of the House of Representatives in Russia are selected according to the proportional representation system while in India they are selected according to a back-and-forth system. Judicial structure: There is no single integrated justice system in Russia as in India.

CONCLUSION

Although many of India’s constitutional features have been adopted by other countries, it is an attempt to ensure that the government is efficient, fair, and accountable. It makes sure that the government follows the law. It establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure that when laws are enacted or amended, the government follows the appropriate legislative process.

REGIONALISM

Regionalism can be explained as an ‘insider-outsider’ thought process where the loyalties are tied to the region of origin. Regional movements fall under the category of “identity movements,” and they often call for special rights or self-government. People get united in their desire to establish their regional identity strongly and see it as the answer to the state’s unfavourable policies against them in the face of prolonged hardship or neglect (actual or imagined).

AIM OF REGIONALISM

Those who believe in regionalism and its ideology are interested in increasing the political power and influence of the inhabitants of a particular region. Their demands include, but are not limited to, sovereignty, separatism, separatism, and independence. Regionalists favour a coalition of deficit nations rather than a unified nation-state with a strong central government. At that time, they tended to embrace an alternative form of federalism.

For those who believe in regionalism, strengthening the governing body and political power in the region benefits the local people as it improves the regional economy through better resource allocation, regional development, and better implementation of regional policies, Claims to bring. Of course, this comes at the expense of weakening the central government and reducing its role in governance.

REGIONALISM IN INDIA

Although there is an essential sense of pan-Indian identity, various foreign sociologists / scholars focus on caste, tribes, languages, and adherence to the community. The counterargument is that India’s regionalism has led to the deepening of multi-party politics and federalism. Regionalism is not necessarily “anti-state” or even “anti-people”, but it has both functional and dysfunctional aspects to consider. It can be traced back to the colonial divide and rule policy sowed in India. Over the last 100 years, there have been many regional movements in India, and demand falls into the following broad categories:

Demand for Withdrawal-Extreme Form-Extremist / Fundamentalist Group-A New Country Separate from India Separatist Demand-We need to form a new state that can better serve the linguistic / ethnic minorities of the region.

Full State System – Over the years, some Union Territories of India have been granted full state system. Autonomy – Demands more power over political interference from the central government.

CAUSES OF REGIONALISM IN INDIA

  • Language.
  • Religion.
  • Regional Culture.
  • Economic Backwardness.
  • Rise of Political Parties with a regionalist agenda

It is difficult to contain regionalism in a large and diverse country like India. However, to mitigate some of the worst effects, we can do the following:

1. Elimination of regional imbalances

2. Economic development in underdeveloped regions

3. Rebuilding society to promote unity

4. Cultural awareness

We have seen how regionalism is good or bad for a country or a group of countries. Article 19 of the Constitution of India gives all citizens the fundamental right to move freely and settle in peace anywhere in the country. And as an Indian citizen, everyone should respect this basic human right and avoid conflicts . The need for hours is to develop all parts of India by delegating power to local governments and allowing people to participate in decision making. State-level governments need to explore alternative energy sources, sources of local employment, governance, planning, and the use of technology in agricultural development. The 12th Five-Year Goal for “Faster, Sustainable and Comprehensive Growth”, the Key to Balanced Regional Growth. In the future, by further integrating the different regions of each country, we will be able to respect and emphasise their needs. 

ORGANIZATION LEADS TO HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Image credit : Ebuyer. Com https://images.app.goo.gl/BeK2ghi9m82o18kA9

Life organisation frequently resembles a delicate balancing act. As soon as you switch to grab one goal line, such as money, family obligations, or having fun with family and friends, the next one is rushing at you rapidly. Sadly, some pieces are destined to fall: weeks where rest was not prioritised, eating fast food rather than preparing meals, and slacking with limited chores rather than concentrating on substantial work.

Instead of tossing life’s responsibilities in the hopes that you’ll survive to grasp em all, stick to a plan to keep everything in its position.


1. Discipline – Organise your day and make a to do list of tasks and punctually do everything on its set time. You’ll feel content at the end of the day and not guilty when you’re chilling watching your favorite movie and having that slice of pizza because you know you’ve worked for it.
2. Awareness – Presence of mind increases with managing your time because it ultimately helps you manage your life and when that happens your mind is free of stress which allows you to focus more on the details that one otherwise is ignorant about.

3.Clear Vision – For ones particularly ,confused about their purpose or goal, managing a note of things that you enjoy from the one’s that you enjoy less will allow you to decide with more clarity on the areas that you should focus.

4.Unwavering Focus – When you lead a life of discipline your skill to concentrate enhances hugely and allows you to work with stability. You start to work more minutely on things and your end product is always the best

5.productivity – Enhances the quality of your work and you start to enjoy the work you do, all this because you’ve got time to do thing through your organisational skills.

6.Maintaining a list – keeping track of your daily activities ,writing down things and analysing your thoughts helps to understand your life better. Writing down things for each day and accomplishing them will give you clear headstart to your goals and life in general.


7.Prioritise – Allowing some things to fall into place consciously can help make navigating all of life’s obligations efficient. Get used to saying “no” so that you can spend more time for the things that are essential to you. A crucial technique in your suite for organising your life is prioritisation. The only way to get anything done is to prioritise what is most important. You can direct your intense focus on what matters by eliminating what doesn’t advance your best expectations.

8. value your time –
Time is not something you can control. Time is more valuable than money regardless of the lack of tangible value. Like money, time may be wasted or saved. Time is something you can’t earn back,like money. Choose accordingly to expend it and don’t use it all in one space. If you value time you don’t waste it. Instead use it to your advantage.

Source credit : How to organize your life by Fadeke Adegbuyi https://blog.doist.com/organize-your-life/

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EMPATHY, TOLERANCE AND COMPASSION TOWARDS WEAKER SECTION

Compassion is understanding or empathy for the suffering of others. Tolerance is respect, acceptance, and appreciation for those whose opinions, practices, race religion, nationality, etc. are different from one’s own. These qualities are very important for an individual living in a society.

India is a multicultural society with high numbers of vulnerable, Disadvantaged, and weaker sections. So efficient delivery of services and addressing their concerns are very important. India with its diverse cultures which traditionally evolved with the modern 21st century makes it unique in its existence. Tolerance and compassion have always played a major role throughout the transition of time for the unity of the nation in diversity. 

Weaker sections like SCs/STs and rural/urban poor are unaware of public policies, subsidies, and public utilities. Weaker sections are marginalized, deprived of justice, and illiterate. They have very low bargaining power and ability to assert their demands so helping them, being compassionate towards them, and supporting them can help them a lot.

The quality of being a compassionate persons is:

  • To understand the needs and the expectations of people.
  • Understanding the needs of marginalized and vulnerable sections of people living in a society.
  • To Undertake a faster approach and measures to address the issues of society.
  • To have an Unbiased approach to the distribution of government facilities.
  • To Make oneself accessible to all citizens and seeking for their feedback to improve better.
  • Respecting affirmative action toward the disadvantaged and implementing them with a positive attitude.

The quality of being a tolerant person is:

  • Freedom from Bigotry, respecting each other choices.
  • It helps in developing qualities like respect towards others, knowledge, openness, and communication between diverse sections of society.
  • Upholding natural rights which are Human rights, Democracy, Multiculturalism, Pluralism etc.
  • Protecting the constitutional principles of Fundamental Rights which forms the basic structure of the constitution.
  • Preventing tendency of intimidation, coercion, oppression, etc.

Poor and marginalized sections of the society that have faced negligence and left empty-handed for such a long duration of time have become afflicted that there is no one to listen to them and solve their issues. They have been dealt with harshness many times, and this behavior has inculcated in them a sense of inferiority and less importance they have stated attributing to themselves.

In a nation empowered and educated section perform better job and pay taxes to run a nation’s economy. This revenue are spent to alleviate poverty by enabling weaker section to become part of mainstream economy. This needs compassion to spend revenue on them and tolerance to provide them all chances for becoming self-sustaining. Hence, we must have tolerance and compassion toward them, as they are not exposed to newer technology, awareness of their own rights, nation’s outlook, programmes for themselves and nation’s expectation from them.

In egalitarian society, tolerance and compassion are two important qualities to be practiced by
every individual and Hence tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections are
one of the basic qualities any individual should poses.

Equitable distribution of resources and welfare-oriented development should be among the primary goals of democratic government. To develop a country, not just the government but every individual in a society should have qualities like compassion, tolerance, and empathy towards the weaker section of the society.

Communalism

Communalism can be defined as an ideology stating the division of states on the Basis of ethnicity, religion, believes, values etc. The difference of two or more religious, Ethnic and social communities can sometimes produce clashes in the Society.

Communalism is a theory of government in which autonomous play song communities from Confederations. Communalism as a historical method follows the development of communities. It is a political trade in religion and an ideology On which communal politics is based. Communal Violence is conjectural consequence of communal ideology. Communalism has a major effect on the public it tends 2 separate people based on religion, language, territory, and ethnic origins. It leads to communal riots, Curfew situations, and can even cause terrorist activities. A communal Thought always tends to Establish political dominance Over a particular religious community. The country weakens when Political parties are formed and political activities are conducted on communal lines. The most negative impact of Communalism is riots, violence, and homicides. Communalism is a significant social issue in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

When it comes to India, communal conflicts between religious communities in the country have Occurred since the period of British colonial rule, occasionally leading to serious inter communal Violence. Communalism is not just unique to South Asia as it can also be found in countries like Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Australia.

The rising movement of communalism and the coexistence with violence have created a insecurity feeling between religious minorities among them Muslims, Sikhs and Christians in particular has feared of discrimination and confrontation in the coming days.

To prevent damages of the peace and integrity of the nation. It has many ways needed to analyse and debate the problem of communalism and communal violence. It’s became an absolute importance to be define communalism between people and also made equally pertinent to discovery of ‘commu-nal’.

The major factors towards the emergence and growth of communalism in modern India involves:

  • Indian Britishers create a new policy during the Indian colonial is ‘Divide and Rule’ this made division between two countries.
  • The disappointments and frustration among younger generations and aspiring middle class of youths, caused by static agriculture, absence of modern industrial development and inadequate employment opportunities, which is exploited by political opportunists.
  • Hindu and Muslim revivalist movements.
  • A communal and distorted view of Indian history, taught in school and colleges played a major role in rise and growth of communal feelings among the masses.
  • The separatism and isolation between religious communities.
  • The rise of communal and fundamentalist parties.

Factors that responsible for Communal Violence:

  • Politics division – Communalism is often defined as a political perspective that makes use of religious and cultural differences in achieving a political gains.
  • Economy problems – Uneven development, class divisions, poverty and unemployment aggravates insecurity in the common men which make them vulnerable to political manipulation.
  • History of Communal Riots – Probability of recurrence of communal riots in a town where communal riots have already taken place once or twice is stronger than in a town when such riots have never occurred.
  • Politics of Appeasement – Prompted by political considerations, and guided by their vested interests, political parties take decisions which promote communal violence.
  • Isolation and Economic Backwardness of minority religion Community – The failure to adopt the scientific and technological education and thus, insufficient representation in the public service, industry and trade etc has led to the feeling of relative deprivation among minorities.
  • The resurgence of religious economic competition, especially among the lower and middle class strata has fuelled the communal ideology.
  • The lack of Administrative – A weak law and order is one of the causes of communal violence.
  • Psychology problem between communities – The lack of inter-personal trust and mutual understanding between two communities often result in perception of threat, harassment, fear and danger in one community against the members of the other community , which in turn leads to fight, hatred and anger phobia.
  • Role of Media – It is often accused of sensationalism and disseminates rumours as “news” which sometimes resulted into further tension and riots between two rival religious groups.
  • Social media has also emerged as a powerful medium to spread messages relating to communal tension or riot in any part of the country.

Measures to Deal with Communalism

There is need to reform in present criminal justice system, speedy trials and adequate compensation to the victims, may act as deterrent.

Increase in representation of minority community and weaker sections in all wings of law-enforcement, training of forces in human rights, especially in the use of firearms in accordance with UN code of conduct.

Codified guidelines for the administration, specialised training for the police force to handle communal riots and setting up special investigating and prosecuting agencies can help in damping major communal disgruntlement.

Emphasis on value-oriented education with focus on the values of peace, non-violence, compassion, secularism and humanism as well as developing scientific temper (enshrined as a fundamental duty) and rationalism as core values in children both in schools and colleges/universities, can prove vital in preventing communal feelings.

Government can adopt models followed by countries like Malaysia that has developed early-warning indicators to prevent racial clashes.

The Malaysian Ethnic Relations Monitoring System (known by its acronym Mesra) that makes use of a quality of life index (included criteria such as housing, health, income and education) and a perception index to gauge people’s needs and feelings about race relations in their area.

Also the Hong Kong model of combating communalism by setting up a “Race Relation Unit” to promote racial harmony and facilitate integration of ethnic minorities, can be emulated by India.

RRU has established a hotline for complaints and inquiries on racial discrimination. Meanwhile, to create awareness about communal harmony, RRU talks to schools on culture of ethnic minorities and concept of racial discrimination.

Government can encourage and support civil society and NGOs to run projects that help create communal awareness, build stronger community relation and cultivating values of communal harmony in next generation.

There is a need for minority welfare schemes to be launched and implemented efficiently by administration to address the challenges and various forms of discrimination faced by them in jobs, housing and daily life.

A pro-active approach by National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), the body responsible for promoting communal harmony is needed.

NFCH provides assistance for the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the child victims of communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence, besides promoting communal harmony, fraternity and national integration.

A legislation is required to curb the communal violence. Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005 must be enacted soon.

The enormous scope and changes for transformation due to our new generation and their progressive of the countries. The new generation can give new hopes and changes towards the making of new India which would help to free from all kinds of communal and caste conflicts, prejudices, hatred and discrimination, this may not possible through law but it can help us to have positive efforts of the new generation.

Reasons of cricket being popular in India

When you talk about sports in India, the first sport that comes to mind is cricket. Cricket is beyond popular in India. It’s more of a fanaticism. More the reason why it’s not surprising that cricket draws in

Many Indians even go so far as to plan their weekend activities, travel plans and even jobs according to the Indian cricket team’s schedule.

But why is cricket such a popular sport in India, and why does it enjoy a much larger fanbase than the internationally popular football, or national sports like kabaddi or field hockey?

Here are some of the main reasons that explain the popularity of cricket in India –

1. Cricket is easy to play

Granted, cricket is not as easy to get started playing as, say, football, which only requires a ball and can be played alone. Cricket does have a few other equipment requirements and is best played with at least 1 friend.

However, despite these challenges, cricket is still a relatively easy game to get started playing, and the creativity of young people in India means that they always find a way to play.

This is why you often see kids playing street cricket using anything from rusty metal pipes to ragged old tennis balls. The simplicity of the sport makes it a visible sight even in the smallest roads and streets of India.

In fact, most of the popular cricket stars of today got into cricket by playing on the streets.

2. India has great cricket infrastructure

India boasts of several cricket training and coaching centres, where both kids and adults can practice and learn cricket.

You will find at least one cricket stadium in every town of India. Most stadiums provide good facilities and international standard coaching.

The high availability of cricket training and coaching centres is a huge reason behind the popularity of cricket in India.

3. Cricket is an incredibly lucrative business

Cricket enjoys massive media coverage in India. All cricket tournaments are extensively covered in both digital, televised, and print media.

Whenever there is a cricket match cricket becomes the central theme of most commercial advertisements.

As a result of this enormous coverage, cricketers and cricket clubs have attracted a wide range of sponsors and advertisements. Many cricket players have made huge fortunes for themselves by endorsing several products and by appearing in numerous commercials.

For this reason, and pro cricket players are able to enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle than other sportsmen in India, which is also a benefitting factor as to why cricket has become so popular in India.

Many young Indian boys experience the wealth and the luxurious lifestyle of cricket players on TV, and this motivates them to become cricket players themselves.

4. Online cricket betting

Online cricket betting has provided a massive boost to the popularity of cricket in India, but why?

Cricket betting is a way for the common man to engage with the sport and, in his hopes, make some money and benefit from the sport.

As such, cricket betting creates a way for people to be even more engaged in the game, and this has boosted the popularity of cricket in a great way.

The Future Of Cryptocurrency in 2019 and Beyond

Cryptocurrency

It’s widely regarded that cryptocurrency is a growing ecosystem that has slowly been making headways into the world’s traditional financial systems. According to statistics, the number of users of various cryptocurrencies has grown by 66 million between 2018 and the last quarter of 2020. Furthermore, both private and public sectors are warming up to the idea of adopting cryptocurrencies in their financial dealings such as making payments, value storage, and as an investment.

The history of cryptocurrency goes back decades ago when cryptography started making digital advances. This is the technology that has helped develop and evolve the variety of encryption techniques that make cryptocurrency networks secure and reliable to take on different transactions. Now with over 5,000 cryptocurrencies and growing, look at these four reasons as to why cryptocurrency is the future of finance.

The Dawning Of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

The need for transparent, secure, and accessible financial systems is said to be mounting and becoming more obvious. This is believed to be caused by the current centralized financial system’s continued failure to provide financial freedom and credibility to users. Many see decentralized finance or DeFi as a system that can offer more transparency and better transactional security and replace some conventional financial processes soon.   

DeFi is said to be quickly gaining traction in investing, trading, borrowing, and lending that catalyze a revolution in today’s financial services. The increase in demand and accessibility of cryptocurrency exchanges are increasingly raising the popularity of different DeFi systems worldwide. Along with it, cryptocurrency exchanges have become well-known with investors too. These top crypto exchanges in Australia are some of the platforms Australian investors are progressively trading cryptocurrency with. 

Therefore, cryptocurrency is believed to continue to push changes to financial systems as they’re known today. As a result, the DeFi created on a public blockchain is becoming a more viable alternative financial system that offers more access to financial services. Anyone anywhere can connect to it while it also offers transparency.

Varied Values Of Cryptocurrency

While cryptocurrency doesn’t have an intrinsic value, it holds value in the following ways:

  • Payments: It can be used to make transactions such as buy goods or services without requiring a trusted third party to complete possible.
  • Value Storage: Since the total supply of most cryptocurrencies is limited, the shortage influences their value.
  • Stable coins: Cryptocurrency can be attached to commodities such as gold or oil or currencies, such as the USD.
  • Privacy:  The technology that cryptocurrency is built on security that can allow users and owners to remain anonymous during transactions.
  • Digital Access and Ownership: Even people who have no access to traditional banks can enter the financial system with the help of cryptocurrency. 
  • Digital Gold: Cryptocurrencies and gold share attributes comparable to money. Both can be used as a medium of exchange, has a store of value, and possesses a unit of account.

More And More Actors Are Becoming Receptive

Cryptocurrency is believed to be increasingly becoming a more acceptable financial system. Both private and public sectors have shown great interest in it, and it’s now openly recognized across many sectors. So far, there are public and private actors that have openly recognized cryptocurrency as part of their financial systems. Institutional investors, technology-focused corporations, and even national central banks all over the world have started to incorporate cryptocurrency in their operations. 

Also, with its acceptability, new policies and regulations are being put in place to create regularized practices for the future. The policies are also being used to put all players in check as more players continue to break into space.

Transactional And Banking Benefits

As cryptocurrency use grows day by day, acceptability and accessibility continue to be put in the spotlight. The cryptographic technique and technology also keep evolving and advancing which leads to the creation of a better and stronger cryptocurrency financial system. Presently, these are the apparent benefits the system offers as a financial system.

  • Privacy

It allows for anonymity while transacting as the system is powered by the use of different cryptographic techniques. These methods ensure data protection to avoid information falling into the wrong hands. All data transmitted is literally hidden from unauthorized persons.

  • Security

Transactions carried out using cryptocurrency can’t be changed or forged, and it’s transmitted in extremely high-security networks. However, financial records can still be traced for proof.

  • Access and efficiency

In a world where there’s still a large population without access to formal financial services, cryptocurrency offers a viable and concrete solution. 

Conventional banking is restrictive due to a lack of personal identification documents, account opening and operating funds, or proximity to an institution. People with no bank accounts worldwide can now tap into this financial model that offers instant access from anywhere, lower transaction costs, and fast processing of transactions.

Conclusion

The history of cryptocurrency is very telling on what stake it holds in the future of finance. Blockchain technology can potentially disrupt the conventional financial systems that currently require a trusted third party to check, verify and authorize transactions. As the technology develops, more sectors acknowledge and accept cryptocurrency as a viable financial system. Cryptocurrency could become the new conventional financial system in the future.

ShibaINU vs Dogecoin

A picture of a Dogecoin and a Shiba Inu crypto logo

Dogecoin and Shiba Inu – you could be forgiven if you got these dog-themed cryptocurrencies confused. They both cost just a fraction of a dollar and heck, they even sport the same dog mascot, the Japanese breed Shiba Inu. But besides the price and the pooch, what else do two of the top digital currencies have in common?

Here are some of the biggest similarities and differences between Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.

What cryptocurrencies have in common

Cryptocurrencies are built using a digital database called blockchain. Blockchain technology is like a chronological database of every transfer of currency from one person to another. Typically, a huge network of computers produces, tracks and manages the digital currency. So, think of a blockchain like a running receipt that allows the computers to verify every transaction ever made on it.

This receipt is being constantly verified by the network of computers, helping to prevent fraud and ensure that the currency is properly moved and accounted for. More than 10,000 cryptocurrencies exist, and they typically use some form of this basic blockchain technology.

Two other popular cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are the two largest. The cryptocurrency Solana has also surged from the back of the pack to become a top dog, too.

Key differences among Dogecoin and Shiba Inu

Dogecoin and Shiba Inu were created for different purposes, and each comes with its own price and maximum number of coins. Here are some of those key differences.

DOGECOINSHIBA INU
SymbolDOGESHIB
Year developed20132020
Initial purposeCreated as a joke spoof of Bitcoin and the doge memeCreated as a medium of exchange and, along with other related tokens, a self-governing community
Approximate market capitalization*$17 billion$11 billion
Number of coins132.7 billion549 trillion
Maximum number of coinsUnlimited, but yearly issuance limited to 5 billion coins1 quadrillion, but over 40 percent have been irrevocably eliminated

* Estimated value as of early May 2022

Source for market cap and coins: CoinMarketCap.com

Purpose of the cryptocurrency

Incredibly, Dogecoin was created to spoof the silliness of Bitcoin in 2013, mocking the fact that people were paying real money to own digital money of little utility. Ironically, the joke currency came back to bite the founders, rising in price to become one of the largest cryptocurrencies.

Now, the founder of Shiba Inu has said that it sees the currency as a “Dogecoin killer.” Shiba Inu operates on the Ethereum blockchain, and this cryptocurrency has three variants that perform various functions:

  • SHIB – This variant is the basic one, acting as a medium of exchange.
  • LEASH – This token is more limited with just 107,647 available. It’s used to provide staking rewards for those validating the currency.
  • BONE – This variant has 250 million coins. It allows those using Shiba Inu to vote on various proposals regarding how the currency is managed, among other things.

Shiba Inu also runs other features of a community, including Shiba Swap, a decentralized platform for trading coins.

Market capitalization

The market capitalization of a coin is the total value of all the coins in existence today. As the number of coins grows, the market cap will grow, too, all else equal. To figure out the market cap of each crypto, multiply the number of coins by their trading price.

Dogecoin has about 132.7 billion coins outstanding, and it’s traded hands recently for a bit more than $0.13 per coin. That gives Dogecoin a market cap of around $17 billion.

Shiba Inu’s market cap is a bit smaller than Dogecoin, but has many more coins in existence. Approximately 549 trillion Shiba Inu coins exist, and they recently priced around $0.00002067 or so. That gives the coin a total value of about $11 billion.

While these are among the most popular cryptocurrencies, they’re still pipsqueaks compared to Bitcoin, whose market cap is over $700 billion.

Both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu trade on major crypto exchanges, including Coinbase, Kraken and Bitfinex.

Coin issuance

While Dogecoin has about 133 billion coins in existence now, it continues to issue more each day. Each year it will issue 5 billion more new dogecoins, with no cap on the total number. The unlimited production of the all-digital Dogecoin is part of the spoof, but that hasn’t seemed to keep the market from clamoring for more of them.

The founder of Shiba Inu authorized 1 quadrillion coins but gave about half of them to the founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin. Buterin “burned” – destroyed irrevocably – about 40 percent of the total in existence, while about half of the total are locked into the Uniswap exchange, to guarantee liquidity.

How porn is destroying masculinity in males of 21st century?

1. Porn encourages self-gratification.

Delayed gratification is an essential skill to learn if one is to maintain control and direction in their life. Repeatedly giving in to the urge to watch pornography leads to a lack of ability to delay gratification. Your brain becomes more and more focused on the things you find pleasurable and the discipline of delayed gratification falls to the wayside.

It is no coincidence that men who are hooked on porn are usually underachieving in other areas of their lives.

Solution: Developing delayed gratification is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. There is a certain sense of superiority and confidence that comes with the realization that you have more control over your primal desires than the average man. Mastery of any worthwhile skill or habit leads to increased confidence. The ability to delay gratification is no different.

2.  Porn destroys your values.

Video is powerful. We live in a world where we need to see something to believe it, and in our fast-paced, information-driven world, video is the preferred means of communication and information dissemination.

The thing is, video has the power to influence and even replace behaviors in your mind without you being consciously aware of what you are seeing.
As you watch video, your subconscious mind is rapidly dissecting, translating and making sense of what it is being fed. I have found that the subconscious mind translates and subsequently changes your behavior in one disturbing way:

Pornography programs you to lower your standards sexually. It encourages your to seek sex and in some cases, build intimate and unhealthy relationships with women who are willing to have sex without ANY boundaries. As exciting as that sounds, having sex with any woman who is available is a sign of man without without much discipline.

A man at some point in his life, must have control over his sexuality. You should not be a slave to your sexual desire—instead you should master and control it. In addition to that, hundreds of hours of porn creates certain expectations of what sex looks like.

I’ll keep it simple: putting your penis in a woman’s mouth right after it has exited her anus is not healthy in the real world. The average 16-year-old watching pornography is literally getting his sex education from the videos he watches.

3. Porn can cause a rise in erectile dysfunction.

Virility is important for almost every man I know. The rise in porn-induced erectile dysfunction is something to be alarmed about. Frequent porn use leads to frequent masturbation and erections, which can increasingly only be induced by hardcore pornography. Porn-viewing then becomes a sort of psychological conditioning which creates performance anxiety.

Solution: Need I say more? No man wants to kill their boner. If you love your penis and your erections, avoid frequent masturbation and watching porn. One of the simplest and most effective exercises for your penile strength and health are Kegels.

4. Pornography and masturbation demand isolation.

Anything which you do in secrecy usually leads to shame. One of the first effects of frequent porn use on men, especially young men, is social awkwardness in public, which ironically leads to more shame. Isolation and shame make it very difficult for you as a man to share true intimacy with others, whether it’s with other men as your brothers and friends, or women as partners.

Solution: Many men are already afflicted by shame, which is induced mainly by our society and religion. If you find that your pornography use has dulled your desire to be social, I know how difficult it can be to jump start your social life.

5. Porn destroys your ability to set, achieve, and enjoy your goals.

In my practice, I have never met a man who was hooked on porn that was good at goal-setting. As I stated earlier, most men who abuse pornography usually struggle in their finances, relationships and careers. It’s no coincidence.

The aforementioned “self gratification” is a habit which cannot coexist with achieving worthy goals. Men don’t “schedule” pornography viewing the way they schedule time to work on their business or complete projects. It usually “I’m going to watch porn from now until my body shuts down sexually.” Part of this is biological.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter (a chemical released by nerve cells to transmit signals to other nerve cells). It’s a key player in the part of our brain responsible for reward motivated behavior. Sex, eating tasty food, getting approval all trigger the release of dopamine.

The more often you watch porn and masturbate, the more often your brain is flooded with dopamine. You slowly become desensitized to its effects and need more stimulation to “feel the rush” or “get a fix.”

This means that your reward circuitry is broken. This reward circuitry is crucial in achievements that are truly worthy in a mans life such as contributing in a meaningful way to society, developing a highly sought after or marketable skill, building a family, building a business, competing in sports or in your career.

LGBTQ – All you need to know

LGBTQ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. These terms are used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity

LESBIAN

A woman whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction is to other women. Some lesbians may prefer to identify as gay or as gay women.

GAY

The adjective used to describe people whose enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same sex. Sometimes lesbian is the preferred term for women.

BISEXUAL

A person who has the capacity to form enduring physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions to those of the same gender or to those of another gender. People may experience this attraction in differing ways and degrees over their lifetime. Bisexual people need not have had specific sexual experiences to be bisexual; in fact, they need not have had any sexual experience at all to identify as bisexual.

TRANSGENDER

An umbrella term for people whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. People under the transgender umbrella may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms— including transgender. Many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well. But not all transgender people can or will take those steps, and a transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures.

QUEER

An adjective used by some people whose sexual orientation is not exclusively heterosexual. Typically, for those who identify as queer, the terms lesbian, gay, and bisexual are perceived to be too limiting and/or fraught with cultural connotations they feel don’t apply to them. Some people may use queer, or genderqueer, to describe their gender identity and/or gender expression. Once considered a pejorative term, queer has been reclaimed by some LGBTQ people to describe themselves; however, it is not a universally accepted term even within the LGBTQ community.

QUESTIONING

Sometimes, when the Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it can also mean questioning. This term describes someone who is questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.

What does it mean to be a man?

International Men's Day

Did you know that on average 12 men each day take their own lives, and 31% of men said they would be too embarrassed to seek help for a mental health problem? We know that being male is complex, and on International Men’s Day, it’s important to highlight the different issues and challenges which so many young men face.

From toxic masculinity, body image and the pressure to sleep around, to facing criminalisation, homelessness and more, men need our support. If you identify as male, remember that no problem or issue is insurmountable. You are valued and important. If you’re struggling and need to talk, here’s how The Mix can help.

We asked some of the brilliant young men in our community what being a man in 2018 means to them:

Men and emotional health

“Men are opening up about their emotions and mental health. It’s important that we continue to see men being more honest about their wellbeing.” Scott, 23

“Being a man is difficult. Being ‘male’ can be a matter of fact, but being a man feels more like a matter of opinion. A lot of what relates to being a man can be both suffocating and unattainable.” Anick, 23

“Being a man in 2018 means being comfortable with a much broader idea of masculinity. The ideas about what makes a man feel a lot less restrictive than they were in the past. It‘s much more acceptable for men to openly express their emotions, talk about how we’re feeling, be caring and not fit into traditional ideas of what makes a man. There’s still a long way to go, but this is a really positive development in the right direction.” Will, 24 

Men and societal expectations

“Is there a norm for men or women? Men’s role in the domestic sphere has changed most noticeably in the past year. As the terminology about ‘being a man’ changes, we’ll have to absorb the new reality.”Adam, 22

“As a gender we’re facing accountability we’ve never had to face before in the era of , but we’re also being given the opportunity to redefine ourselves and reap the benefits of being more in-tune with the emotions of us and others.” Mike, 22

Being a man, and being yourself

“For me, being a man is about self-discovery, building self-awareness, emotional intelligence and most importantly, my legacy.” 

“Being a man to me means being unapologetically you. It means not being afraid to show the world who you are, exactly as you are. Being a man is never Being afraid to show your emotions, to be the little spoon and to ask for help when you need it. Being a man in 2018 means rejecting toxic masculinity, embracing the differences of others and uplifting those around you.”

Ashwagandha – A blessing to men

1. May help reduce stress and anxiety

Ashwagandha is perhaps best known for its ability to reduce stress. It’s classified as an adaptogen, a substance that helps the body cope with stress.

Ashwagandha appears to help control mediators of stress, including heat shock proteins

2. May benefit athletic performance 

Research has shown that ashwagandha may have beneficial effects on athletic performance and may be a worthwhile supplement for athletes.

One analysis of research included 12 studies in men and women who took ashwagandha doses between 120 mg and 1,250 mg per day. The results suggest the herb may enhance physical performance, including strength and oxygen use during exercise

3. May reduce symptoms of some mental health conditions

Some evidence suggests that ashwagandha may help reduce symptoms of other mental health conditions, including depression, in certain populations.

4. May help boost testosterone and increase fertility in men

Ashwagandha supplements have been shown in some studies to benefit male fertility and increase testosterone levels.

In one study, 43 overweight men ages 40–70 who had mild fatigue took tablets containing ashwagandha extract or a placebo daily for 8 weeks.

The ashwagandha treatment was associated with an 18% greater increase in DHEA-S, a sex hormone involved in testosterone production. Participants who took the herb also had a 14.7% greater increase in testosterone than those who took the placebo.

Additionally, a review of four studies found that ashwagandha treatment significantly increased sperm concentration, semen volume, and sperm motility in men with low sperm count.

It also increased sperm concentration and motility in men with normal sperm count

5. May reduce blood sugar levels

Limited evidence suggests that ashwagandha may have some benefits for people with diabetes or high blood sugar levels.

A review of 24 studies, including 5 clinical studies in people with diabetes, found that treatment with ashwagandha significantly reduced blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, blood lipids, and oxidative stress markers.

It’s believed that certain compounds within ashwagandha, including one called withaferin A (WA), have powerful antidiabetic activity and may help stimulate your cells to take in glucose from your bloodstream

6. May reduce inflammation

Ashwagandha contains compounds, including WA, that may help reduce inflammation in the body.

Researchers have found that WA targets inflammatory pathways in the body, including signal molecules called nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).

Animal studies have shown that WA may also help reduce levels of inflammatory proteins such as interleukin-10.

7. May improve brain function, including memory

Taking ashwagandha may benefit cognitive function.

One review that included five clinical studies noted there was early evidence that ashwagandha could improve cognitive functioning in certain populations, including older adults with mild cognitive impairment and people with schizophrenia.

Cognitive functions it may benefit included

  • executive functioning
  • attention
  • reaction time
  • performance on cognitive tasks

A study in 50 adults showed that taking 600 mg of ashwagandha extract per day for 8 weeks led to significant improvements in the following measures compared with taking a placebo

  • immediate and general memory
  • attention
  • information-processing speed

8. May help improve sleep 

Many people take ashwagandha to promote restful sleep, and some evidence suggests it may help with sleep issues.

What is a balanced diet?

A diet that contains all the vital nutrients required by the human body is called a balanced diet.

Balanced diet

A balanced diet comprises vital nutrients like carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fibre. Sufficient and nutritious food that ensures good health is included in a balanced diet. A healthy and balanced diet helps to reduce the risk of diseases and improves overall health.

  • Aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day.
  • Drink plenty of water (six to eight glasses is recommended, though this will vary).
  • Try to include at least two portions of fish every week.
  • Get into the habit of eating breakfast daily; it can help reduce snacking later on.
  • Adults are advised to conduct 150 minutes of moderate exercise every week

Benefits of a balanced diet

  • Vitamins and minerals in the diet are vital to boost immunity and healthy development,
  • A healthy diet can protect the human body against certain types of diseases,
  • Healthy diets can also contribute to adequate body weight.
  • Better mood and energy levels.
  • Improved memory and brain health.

Why is golf expensive?

As we compare other sports, golfing can seem pretty expensive. This might be one of the reasons why we don’t choose golf over other sports.

Courses and Maintenance

Golf is usually played in high-end golf courses that are diligently spread in luscious green grass. These courses need massive amounts of maintenance and this is usually paid for from the players’ pockets. Also, one requires a huge area of land to play proper golf. These golf courses are usually only located on the outskirts of the city and most certainly come with hefty membership plans.

Since golf is played with other people, it is recommended to take a group membership with your friends that might not after-all end up denting your wallet.

Equipment

Another reason why we may think that golf is expensive is due to the equipment involved. You need to purchase clubs, drivers, balls, clothing, bags, and other equipment. If you have ever been to a golf shop, you must have been surprised to see how much golf club costs. It might also seem like the prices for golf equipment are rising every day.

Golf clubs are expensive because there is a lot of R&D (Research and Development) that takes place before manufacturing. It is done to ensure that you can play consistent golf shots and also to not cause harm to your shoulders during swinging. Durable, high-quality materials are also used in the making of these clubs and drivers that they are made to last for a very long time. If we were to compare price to age ratio, golf clubs might not seem that expensive, since you would most certainly need to replace your cricket bats and other equipment every year. On the other hand, golf equipment can easily last you for five years.

Perception

Perhaps the main reason why golf is expensive is due to the perception of golf that we keep. This might be due to the fact that many business people or high-level politicians are into the sport. It is important to keep in mind that although business people and politicians play golf to enhance their contacts, or meet potential clients, the game of golf is not only meant for these people. They prefer golf due to its leisurely method of playing and lush green gardens that can be a relaxing treat to your body.

Since golf is not popular in the country, we also think that this is a game of the foreigners and by default perceive it to be expensive. The rising popularity of the game in the country can help beat this perception.

Conclusion

We think that golf can not be necessarily expensive unless it needs to be. We think that it is only expensive to start playing golf. Once you start, the equipment can last you a very long time. You can also save up a lot of money on yearly memberships. The average cost of golfing, when done right, could be as much as your gym membership for a year.

Why Has Gold Always Been Valuable?

Some people argue that gold has no intrinsic value, that it is a barbaric relic which no longer holds the monetary qualities of the past. They contend that in a modern economic environment, paper currency is the money of choice; that gold’s only worth is as a material to make jewelry.

At the other end of the spectrum are those that assert that gold is an asset with various intrinsic qualities that make it unique and necessary for investors to hold in their portfolios. They believe that investors have as many reasons for investing in gold as they do vehicles to make those investments.

Gold’s Essential Dichotomy

Most would agree that gold has always had value for all of these reasons—a component of decorative jewelry, a sometime currency, and as an investment. But in addition to these concrete values, we would add another characteristic of gold, which, though harder to pinpoint, is as just as real: its mystery. Part of the very appeal of gold is the mystery of its appeal.

In the world of finance and investing, we often like to tiptoe around the word “mystery.” Yet, as is true with most disciplines, there is always a place for both science and art, and even mystery.

Gold can stimulate a subjective personal experience, but gold can also be objectified if it’s adopted as a system of exchange.

This duplicity is a conundrum that is unique to gold as a commodity. Gold can be something quantitative and tangible, like money, and at the same time, it can embody something ephemeral, like a feeling, even a host of feelings. So, part of the reason that gold has always had value lies in the psychology and nature of the human experience.

Gold can exist as something that is quantitative and tangible while embodying the qualitative and ephemeral.

Gold, The Feel-Good Metal

It’s a cold day in mid-December. You’re strolling along Fifth Avenue in New York—either alone, or with a familiar—to look at the holiday shop windows. It’s late afternoon and the thin winter light has begun to fade; even darker earlier because of the threat of snow or rain today. The bells of Salvation Army red-kettle ringers grow muffled and distant; the sky lowers, closing in around you, as the first flakes of winter fall.

You stop, drawn by a Tiffany window featuring a discrete few gold pieces. Exquisitely designed yellow, pink, and white gold shapes peek from an exotic display of corals and underwater fauna. Lights beat down like the sun, coaxing the metal’s incandescence. Suddenly, a brisk wind rises, making flakes to swirl faster around you. “Hmmm,” you think, “Hot chocolate? A Cognac?” You duck into a nearby hotel bar—the St. Regis, perhaps, snug with its familiar fireplace.

Well, maybe you haven’t had this exact experience. But you get the idea.

Something about the warmth of gold speaks to our human need for comfort and nurture.

In Search of a Metal to Worship

Our ancestors were faced with coming up with a method of exchange that was easier to implement than a barter system. A coin is one such medium of exchange. Of all the metals in the periodic table of elements, gold is the logical choice. We can rule out elements other than metals because a gaseous or liquid currency is not very practical from the standpoint of personal portability. This leaves metals like iron, copper, lead, silver, gold, palladium, platinum, and aluminum.

Iron, Lead, Copper, and Aluminum. These metals are prone to corrode over time so they would not be a good value in terms of storage, which is required of coins; and keeping the metals from corroding is labor-intensive. Aluminum feels very light and unsubstantial—not ideal for a coin-metal that could invoke feelings of security and value.

The “Noble Metals.” Platinum or palladium are reasonable choices because they are mostly non-reactive to other elements—that is, produce little corrosion—but they are too rare to generate enough coins to circulate. To assign value to a metal, it must be somewhat rare—so that not everyone is producing coins—but available enough so that a reasonable number of coins can be created for commerce.

Gold and Silver. Gold doesn’t corrode and can be melted over a flame, making it easy to work with and stamp as a coin. Silver and gold are beautiful metals that are easy to form into jewelry, and both of these precious metals have their own devotees in fine-jewelry circles.

Gold, The Mysterious Metal

Although silver can be polished and textured in multiple ways so as to catch the light and the eye, there remains no metal quite like gold. Unlike other elements, gold naturally possesses a subtle array of unique and beautiful colors. The atoms in gold are actually heavier than in silver and other metals. This attribute makes the electrons move faster, which in turn allows for some of the light to be absorbed into the gold—a process that Einstein’s theory of relativity helped to discern. 

Perhaps gold’s physical quality of absorbing light makes its special shine come literally from within itself.

Gold, Psychology, and Society

If the modern paper-money economy were to collapse, gold may not have immediate use—as panic sets in and people fight for their basic needs—but it will eventually.

Humans are Pack Animals. We prefer the company of other humans (to varying degrees) over complete independence. It is easier to work in groups than to attempt to live off the land on our own. This human trait forces us to find ways of working together, which in turn leads us to find ways of exchanging goods and services easily and efficiently.

Gold Provides the Comfort of Sustainability. Gold is the logical choice for this exchange. If disaster strikes, such that paper money and the system that supports it no longer exists, we will revert to gold. Arguably, gold is one of the only substances on earth with all of the qualities for the job, including sustainability. 

Benefits of investing in mutual funds

What are Mutual Funds?

Mutual fund is a financial instrument which pools the money of different people and invests them in different financial securities like stocks, bonds etc. Each investor in a mutual fund scheme owns units of the fund, which represents a portion of the holdings of the scheme. The securities are selected keeping in mind the investment objective of the scheme. Mutual funds are managed by asset management companies (AMCs). AMCs appoint fund managers to manage different mutual fund schemes and ensure that the scheme investment objectives are met. For fund management and other services provided by AMCs, a fee is charged to the investors. Let us now discuss the advantages of mutual funds.

Let us now discuss mutual fund tax benefits

Benefits of mutual funds in India

  • Risk Diversification: One of the biggest benefits of mutual funds is risk diversification. Every stock is subject to three types of risk – company risk, sector risk and market risk. Company risk and sector risk are unsystematic risk, while market risk is known as systematic risk. Mutual funds help investors diversify unsystematic risks by investing in a diversified portfolio of stocks across different sectors. While individual stocks have both unsystematic and systematic risks, mutual funds are only subject to systematic risk or market risk.
  • Smaller capital outlay: Another advantage of mutual funds is that you can start investing in mutual funds with relatively small amounts. Investors will require a large capital outlay to build a diversified portfolio of stocks. On the other hand, since mutual funds work on the basis of pooling of money, mutual fund investors can have the beneficial ownership of a diversified portfolio of stocks with a much smaller capital outlay. Investors can buy units of a diversified equity mutual fund with an investment as low as Rs 5,000/- only or even lower at Rs 500 for ELSS schemes.
  • Investment expertise: Investing in stocks and bonds requires considerable expertise and experience. You need to have knowledge of financial markets, industry sectors, individual companies and research expertise. A major advantage of mutual funds is that they are managed by professional fund managers who have the desired qualification, expertise and experience in picking the right stocks or other instruments to get the best risk adjusted returns. The fund managers are supported by the research team of the AMCs.
  • Economies of scale in transaction costs: : Lower transaction cost due to economies of scale is another advantage of mutual funds. Since mutual funds buy and sell securities in large volumes transaction costs on a per unit basis is much lower than what retail investors may incur if they buy or sell shares through stock brokers.
  • Variety of products: Mutual funds offer investors a variety of products to suit their risk profiles and investment objectives. Apart from equity funds, there are hybrid funds, debt funds, liquid funds and tax savings schemes etc. to suit different investment requirements. The benefits of investing in mutual funds is that you can invest in the appropriate product suitable for your specific needs and risk appetite.
  • Variety of modes of investments: Flexibility in terms of modes of investment and withdrawal is one of the advantages of mutual funds compared to other investment options. Investors can opt for investment modes like lump sum (or one time), systematic investment plans (SIP), systematic transfer plans (STP) and systematic withdrawal plans (SWP).
  • Disciplined investing: Mutual funds encourage investors to invest over a long period of time, which is essential to wealth creation. Furthermore, the advantages of mutual fund systematic investment plans or SIPs is that they encourage investors remain disciplined to meet their various financial goals. Many investors fail to build a substantial investment corpus because they are not able to invest in a disciplined way. Mutual fund SIPs help investors to maintain a disciplined approach to investment. SIPs also helps investor take emotions out of the investment process as very often investors get very enthusiastic in bull market conditions, but get nervous in bear markets. It is an established fact that investments made in bear markets help investors get high returns in the long term. By investing through SIPs in a mechanical way, investors can stay disciplined, which is one of the biggest benefits of investing in mutual funds.
  • Variety of investment objectives: One of the advantages of mutual fund investing is that you can meet various types of investment objectives like capital appreciation and income. Equity mutual funds can help you create wealth through capital appreciation, while debt mutual funds can generate income for you. Hybrid mutual funds can help you in both capital appreciation and wealth creation.
  • Liquidity: Open ended mutual funds are one of the most liquid investments after bank deposits and far more liquid than investments like, life insurance plans, infrastructure bonds, post office schemes etc. Investors can redeem their units in open ended funds usually on a T+3 (transaction + 3 days) basis. Liquid, overnight, low duration and ultra-short funds can usually be redeemed on T+1 day. Superior liquidity is one of the major advantages of mutual funds compared to some investment options like life insurance plans (which have policy surrender charges) and Government small savings schemes (which have fixed maturity periods).
  • Transparency: Transparency is another advantage of mutual funds for retail and HNI investors. Mutual fund schemes disclose their Net Asset Values (NAVs) at the end of each business day; so investors are aware of the market value of their mutual fund units on a daily basis. On a monthly basis, mutual funds publish Monthly Fund Factsheets where the portfolio holdings (securities in a scheme’s portfolio along with weights) are disclosed for each and every mutual fund scheme. Investors have the information where the fund managers have invested on a monthly basis. In addition to portfolio holdings, monthly fund factsheets have useful information like returns compared to the scheme benchmark, risk ratios etc.
  • Tax advantage: Tax advantages of mutual funds is one of biggest benefits of investing in mutual funds compared to many traditional fixed income investments. In equity funds, short term capital gains (held for less than 12 months) are taxed at 15% and long term capital gains (held for more than 12 months) are tax exempt up to Rs 1 lakh in a FY and taxed at 10% thereafter (excess of Rs 1 lakh of capital gains). In non-equity funds, short term capital gains (held for less than 36 months) are taxed at as per your income tax rate and long term capital gains (held for more than 36 months) are taxed at 20% after allowing indexation benefits. Interest income from most traditional fixed income investment is taxed as per the income tax rate of the investors. For investors in the higher tax brackets, tax advantages of mutual funds is significant compared to traditional fixed income investments.

Why a Diamond Engagement Ring is NOT a Good Investment

Why a Diamond Engagement Ring is NOT a Good Investment

Although man’s obsession with gold goes back hundreds or even thousands of years, diamonds are a relatively new one.  Like any other gem stone, diamonds are valuable because they are rare and in high demand.  Without the demand though, they would be worthless.  So why is it that most American males must enter the prime of their lives spending thousands of dollars on a tiny piece of carbon?

At a time in most men’s lives when they should be maxing out their retirement contributions or saving for a house, many feel forced to trade all that money for a diamond ring.  And it’s hard to go against societal pressures on this one since nearly every woman on the planet has come to expect a ring as part of the engagement process.  So what’s a man to do?

Don’t Call It an Investment

There’s a common myth floating around out there that a diamond ring is some type of investment.  In the late 1800’s diamonds used to be pretty rare but with the discovery of substantial diamond sources in the second half of the 20th century, diamonds became more and more abundant.  The only reason the price has remained so high is that DeBeers has steadily purchased all diamond mines across the globe in order to control prices.  That monopoly ended in 2001 but we’re still left with the aftermath.

Depreciating Asset

Why a Diamond Engagement Ring is NOT a Good Investment

Like a car, a diamond is a depreciating asset since it loses a large portion of its value the second you buy it.  Think about gold and silver.  The market for them is very liquid and fungible since you can store coins, sell them at any time or even trade them later on.  During that time frame they might even appreciate and provide a hedge against inflation.  That’s not the case with diamonds though since the resale market is nearly illiquid.

Have You Ever Tried to Sell a Diamond?

Since there’s generally a 100% – 200% markup on the retail price of a diamond, most stores won’t even buy back diamonds from consumers for two reasons.  The first is that since most retailers receive their diamonds from wholesalers they don’t need to pay for them until they’re sold.  So there’s no point in risking capital on customer’s diamonds that may never be re-sold.

The second reason is that retailers don’t want to have to make an insulting offer to diamond consumers since that would undermine the notion that a diamond is a good investment.  One industry expert estimates that that a half-carat diamond ring, which might cost $2,000 at a retail jewelry store, could be sold back to a wholesaler for only $600.

What’s the Solution?

Why a Diamond Engagement Ring is NOT a Good Investment

If you’re a young couple in love, the one thing you need to know about diamonds is that the price is so high because companies like De Beers set those high prices.  There’s no point in telling yourself that diamonds are an investment, but if you can find a wife that shares your disdain for diamonds, you’re in luck.  Sometimes, though, you just have to put aside the logical reasons why you shouldn’t buy a diamond ring and do it just to make your wife happy.

ETHEREUM OR SOLANA- WHICH IS BETTER?

Ethereum

Ethereum and Solana are providing smart contracts but with different transaction speeds

It is hard for us to help you pick only one of these two. Ethereum and Solana are among the top Cryptocurrencies in the market. However, they both have their differences. This content will give you a detailed comparison between them based on the points that should be kept in mind when deciding which one to invest in.

Cryptocurrencies have gained a lot of exposure in the past few years through Affiliate programs and their rising prices. Ethereum and Solana are considered each other’s biggest competitors as Altcoins and Solana face a high threat of new entrants in the market. They are also exposed to different volatility levels. Let’s help you decide which is better for you:

1. Mechanism 

Ethereum uses the same technology as Bitcoin. It is dependent on Proof of Work (POW), which is secured by hundreds of miners. Solana relies on Proof of History (POH), which involves a certain number of sequential computational steps that decide the time gap between two events and give the transactions a time stamp.

2. Transaction Speed

All Crypto investors are well aware of Solana’s speed to offer to its investors. While Ethereum can only process 30 transactions per second, Solana can process 65,000 transactions per second. The block time of Ethereum is 15 seconds, whereas that of Solana is just one second.

3. Transaction Costs

As many of us hate paying transaction costs, this is important. Solana is also known for the low transaction costs that it charges. Ethereum charges a lot more transaction costs as compared to Solana.

4. Transparency 

As Ethereum has a large community of developers, Solana fails to maintain proper transparency about its developers. Ethereum wins the game because they have been in the market since 2014, when Solana just entered the market in 2020, and they also prefer maintaining more transparency than Solana.

5. Market Capitalization 

Ethereum is known to have the second-largest market cap among all the Cryptocurrencies. Solana is far behind Ethereum in this case. This is fair because they are new to the market and could take some time to reach Ethereum’s level of market cap.

6. Network Size

Ethereum has the largest network consisting of smart contracts. Solana is unable to compete at this point as they have a small network. Ethereum has a first-mover advantage in this case, whereas Solana lacks support from Crypto experts and institutions.

The Bottom Line

We have helped you with a close comparison between the two. Now, it is your call as to which one would be the best buy for you. Since these two have their own advantages and disadvantages, you can closely think if you want to overlook the disadvantages. However, it is obvious that Ethereum wins the race for all the right reasons. But if you are looking to explore Solana, it is not bad for starters either.

Both, Ethereum and Solana are two of the best recommendations that you will get from everyone. If you are planning to include Cryptocurrencies in your portfolio, evaluate the above-mentioned points, choose one of the two and make one of them win the battle.

The information posted in the article is for educational purposes only. By using this, you agree that the information does not constitute any investment or financial advice. Do conduct your own research and reach out to financial advisors before making any investment decisions.

Space Opera Universe : are we oblivious to the fact that we might as well be living in one ?

Space opera universe,the actual reality or the fictional reality is where we all are stuck at. Space opera is a science based fictional story about space,warfares,another world of existence where we humans can see the rays of life’s possibilities.

Space opera has been one of the most talked about topics in the past recent years because it is always seen as the alternative to the earth and human civilisation is still not aware of the new world which can be existing somewhere in reality too.

Many scientists and scientific researchers agreed on many aspects such as human civilization on any other planet but the obligation to live there may take many many years.

Think about yourself as a being having limitless and unimaginable power. Think about the scenarios where our whole planet or galaxy or universe is in danger or there is some sort of alien invasion and we, humans, have powers of Ironman,shield of Captain America that can help us to save the world. Won’t it be fascinating ? It will be. But is it really possible? The answer is no. The power of the new world of new species to whom we can ever connect to or can we ever know about them is not realistic and is best known to the fictional stories only.

Sci-fi movies or star wars movies have been depicting this as a strong portrayal that it’s the reality and when the real practical world talks about it then that becomes quite difficult to believe in. 

But we, the humans, are the superior species among all the living forms on the Earth. We don’t know if there is any other solar system or milky way galaxy or any other planet like our Earth where there is the presence of other living organisms and a superior living form like us. But if there is any , for them we are the outer space or extraterrestrial species or should I say Alien. Our technologies like Artificial intelligence, Robotic process automation, Quantum computing, Virtual reality will amaze them and may make us unparalleled in their eyes. They may consider us living in a space opera universe,different from theirs. Thus, we can say we might be living in a space opera universe without us realizing it.

How to increase testosterone levels

Testosterone is the main male sex hormone, but females also have small amounts of it.

It is a steroid hormone, produced in men’s testicles and women’s ovaries.

The adrenal glands also produce small amounts.

During puberty in boys, testosterone is one of the main drivers of physical changes like increased muscle, deeper voice and hair growth.

However, having optimal levels is also important throughout adulthood and even during old age.

In adults, healthy levels are important for general health, disease risk, body composition, sexual function and just about everything else

Additionally, increasing your testosterone levels can cause rapid gains in muscle mass and vitality in only a matter.

The research is pretty conclusive: both genders should ensure they have healthy levels of testosterone, especially as they age.

Here are 8 evidence-based ways to increase testosterone levels naturally.

1. Exercise and Lift Weights

Exercise is one of the most effective ways to prevent many lifestyle-related diseases. Interestingly, it can also boost your testosterone.

A large review study found that people who exercised regularly had higher testosterone levels. In the elderly, exercise increases testosterone levels, fitness and reaction time.

2. Eat Protein, Fat and Carbs

What you eat has a major impact on testosterone as well as other hormone levels.

Therefore, you must pay attention to your long-term calorie intake and diet strategy.

Constant dieting or overeating may disrupt your testosterone levels.

3. Minimize Stress and Cortisol Levels

Research is always highlighting the dangers of long-term stress, which can elevate levels of the hormone cortisol.

Stress and high cortisol can also increase food intake, weight gain and the storage of harmful body fat around your organs. In turn, these changes may negatively impact your testosterone
levels

4. Get Some Sun or Take a Vitamin D Supplement

Vitamin D is quickly becoming one of the world’s most popular vitamins.

Research has shown that it has various health benefits, and may also work as a natural testosterone booster.

Despite its importance, nearly half of the US population is deficient in vitamin D, and an even higher percentage has sub-optimal levels.

A 12-month study found that supplementing with around 3,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day increased testosterone levels by around 25%

5. Take Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Although the benefits of multivitamins are hotly debated, specific vitamins and minerals may be beneficial.

In one study, zinc and vitamin B supplements increased sperm quality by 74%. Zinc also boosts testosterone in athletes and those who are deficient in zinc.

6. Get Plenty of Restful, High-Quality Sleep

Getting good sleep is just as important for your health as diet and exercise.

It may also have major effects on your testosterone levels.

The ideal amount of sleep varies from person to person, but one study found that sleeping only 5 hours per night was linked to a 15% reduction in testosterone levels

7. Take Some of These Natural Testosterone Boosters

Only a few natural testosterone boosters are supported by scientific studies.

The herb with the most research behind it is called ashwagandha.

One study tested the effects of this herb on infertile men and found a 17% increase in testosterone levels and a 167% increase in sperm count.

In healthy men, ashwagandha increased levels by 15%. Another study found it lowered cortisol by around 25%, which may also aid testosterone .

Ginger extract may also boost your levels. It is a delicious herb that also provides various other health benefits 

5 third-world struggles that people from developed countries take for granted

It’s not until you no longer have something, that you start to miss it, but that’s a luxury many of us in developed countries can say about unimportant things.

What about if you never had it in the first place such as food or water – the basic needs we all have, yet many of us seldom give a second thought to? What if you no longer had the convenience of going to the local supermarket or ordering online? Not everyone in a developed country has this sort of opportunity.

Here, we share 5 third-world struggles that people from developed countries take for granted:

  • Water– it may come as a surprise that women of all ages still carry most of the world’s water which, over time, can lead to chronic neck and back pain as well as musculoskeletal disorders. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see women and children walking some 2 miles a day to collect water, carrying as much as 10kg buckets on their head. We’re tackling this problem head-on, offering a unique invention called The Water Wheel which carries 5x more water per trip without the need for heavy lifting.
  • Hunger – studies estimate that 1 in 9 people are affected by hunger worldwide. Factors that affect this are poverty, war, economy and even climate change. In developed countries, we are spoiled with nutritional facts on the labels, but in third-world countries, there are missing out on nutrition full stop.
  • Healthcare – from simple GP visits to hospital stays, developed nations have the best medical facilities available. Compare that to others less fortunate that don’t have the medical supplies, let alone not having the required medical staff to administer them.
  • War – war-torn areas aren’t safe for anybody to inhabit. Imagine fearing for your life each and every day in places with social unrest and lack of protection. For those who suffer these hostile environments daily will be affected not only with their physical well-being but also their mental health.
  • Education – without the right education, the path to progression is difficult. Adequate educators are needed in order for communities to reach their full potential. There are countless stats out there that show the incredible powers of education, but one of the most staggering is that each additional year of education can increase a person’s future income by an average of 10%. More income means more access to water, food, healthcare, and so on – so path toward socio-economic development starts here.

More on our mission

Although wells in rural India are now more accessible than they were 20 years ago, it’s still common to see women of all ages carrying water in a metal pail balanced on their heads for several miles.

Aiming to prevent the health burdens and cycle of poverty that water collection can create, we’re on a mission to supply The Water Wheel to families in need across India – a large drum fitted with handles which can be rolled along the ground with ease.

These round containers enable users to roll water from the wells rather than carry it on their heads and can transport up to 5x more water per trip compared to a standard bucket. This life-changing innovation is also allowing young girls to stay in school and receive education as they no longer need to be involved in water collection.

How the U.S. Dollar Became the World’s Reserve Currency

The first U.S. dollar (USD) is one of the world’s strongest currencies. It is the official currency of the United States as well as several other countries. Although it has a deep-rooted history in the United States, the dollar as we know it today was first printed in 1914.

Printing began a year after the establishment of the Federal Reserve as the nation’s central bank with the passing of the Federal Reserve Act. That’s when the Fed started issuing Federal Reserve notes in $10 denominations featuring Andrew Jackson’s portrait. Three decades later, the dollar officially became the world’s reserve currency. However, its ascendancy to the throne actually began not long after the ink was dry on that first printing in 1914.Keep reading to learn about how the dollar became the world’s reserve currency.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The first U.S. dollar was printed in 1914 after the Federal Reserve Bank was created.
  • The Allies paid the U.S. for supplies in gold during World War I, propelling the U.S. to become the largest holder of gold.
  • Countries pegged their currencies to the dollar after the war, ending the gold standard.
  • The International Monetary Fund reported that 59% of all foreign bank reserves are denominated in U.S. dollars.
  • Despite its position in the global markets, the U.S. isn’t the strongest world currency, ranking 10th on the list.

The U.S. Dollar Becomes the World’s Reserve Currency

The U.S dollar was officially crowned the world’s reserve currency and was backed by the world’s largest gold reserves thanks to the Bretton Woods Agreement. Instead of gold reserves, other countries accumulated reserves of U.S. dollars Needing a place to store their dollars, countries began buying U.S. Treasury securities, which they considered to be a safe store of money.

The demand for Treasury securities, coupled with the deficit spending needed to finance the Vietnam War and the Great Society domestic programs, caused the United States to flood the market with paper money. With growing concerns over the stability of the dollar, the countries began to convert dollar reserves into gold.

The demand for gold was such that President Richard Nixon was forced to intervene and de-link the dollar from gold, which led to the floating exchange rates that exist today. Although there have been periods of stagflation, which is defined as high inflation and high unemployment, the U.S. dollar has remained the world’s reserve currency.

Benefits of working out

If you were to ask someone why they exercise, you may hear a series of reasons ranging from “I want to be healthier” to “I want to take up a new hobby.” No matter what your fitness goal actually is, most can agree exercise gives us all one thing we couldn’t do without: me-time.

Having time to yourself, even if it’s just an hour, can make the world of difference. So if you love to work out but don’t always want to spend it in a group class with someone instructing each move, we totally hear you. It’s that me-time and total control of your workout that makes the gym such a great option.

Gym newbie? No problem—while we get it can be intimidating to take your workout into your own hands (literally) for the first time, there’s a way to make a gym sesh work for everyone. Read up on the amazing benefits a little time at the gym can do for your fitness routine, and we promise you’ll be a regular soon enough.

Why go to the gym?

The best part about going to a gym is that you can do nearly every type of exercise. From getting in your cardio on the elliptical to building muscle with weightlifting, a gym offers the tools you need to create a workout that’s customized perfectly for your needs. Most gyms offer a range of machines for you to pick and choose from such as treadmills, ellipticals, bicycles, weights and mats for floor work, so you’ll never feel limited.

Is working out a hobby?

For many, working out is a hobby. For some, it is a professional venture, but the majority of us are working out because it’s fun and because of the health benefits.

Who does the gym work for?

Even the busiest person with the most packed, inflexible schedule can fit the gym into their fitness routine. But with a range of machines and equipment to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming. When you arrive for your first session, ask one of the staff to give you a tour. They’ll often go through where the machines are, what they are best used for and how to do them correctly. You won’t always get that one-on-one guidance that you would in a class, so utilize the staff and make sure you know how to use each machine correctly before trying it.

The benefits of working out

If you love to work out, you know variety is key. Without changing up your exercises, your body can become acclimated to the movements, slowly halting progress over time. One of the benefits of the gym is that, with so many types of exercises to choose from, your body will never get bored. Instead of taking an hour-long class focused solely on cardio, the gym lets you add flexibility to your workout. Maybe do some cardio on the treadmill, and then move on to strength building with weights. This variety keeps your body from becoming too used to a single workout, speeding up your metabolism and burning more fat. Whether you want to get stronger, increase your cardio or even spend time on the mat gaining flexibility, you can achieve your goals at the gym.

It’s easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle of our own lives, and we know it isn’t always easy to make time for yourself. Giving yourself the opportunity to hit the gym, plug in your headphones and escape in the improvement on your own body can do wonders for your mental health. The simple act of slowing down for just an hour of your day can help de-stress, decrease anxiety and reduce irritability. The gym allows you to listen to your body and cater to its needs, whether that’s taking a walk and working with light weights or running and going hard.

The flaw in the education system

Grad Cap Diploma and Books Stacked

Image Credit

Shopify Partners

The book stack represents the amount of work that a student put in to graduation

Education is the very key to success. While less developed countries are struggling to deliver education to all of their people, developed countries still have a problem – a flaw in the system itself.

What’s this flaw, you may ask?  Have you ever asked yourself “Why am I learning Hamlet when I want to become a scientist?” or “Why am I taking algebra and do all of these complicated math problems when I want to become an artist?”

Well, most would answer that it is to meet the requirement for graduation. This is the reason why the education system is flawed: students are forced to learn things that are not in any way helpful in their future career. The current education system is unable to bring out the fullest potential in the student. School is basically wasting student time and efforts with all these unnecessary classes, when that time could go to strengthening their strongest points. Schools aren’t made to waste people’s time, they were created to teach students what is essential to their lives and how to be successful.

So, my suggestion would be to rework the education system. To allow you to choose whatever classes you want and still pass for graduation; to customize your class selection. I know that there are students who have a hard time deciding what their future career is going to be. We can make a recommendation based on these students’ interests, their likes and dislikes. Each individual is different, so there must be something that they like. It will take some time for these students to find out what their future career is, but that’s ok. Finding your own purpose in life is no easy task, it can make a sudden turn or there’s a big obstacle that suddenly pop up. What matters is for them to keep on moving forward, so it’s also a good idea to help and encourage these students to do so.

As for the students who have already found their future careers, make it so that they can have access to more advanced education of the particular career early. Some may find that their supposed future career is not what they really want, maybe because they just want to try it or it’s because of the pressure of everyone expecting them to be in that career. For whatever reason, the education system should also make a smooth and easy transition for students who want to switch careers.

It will surely take time to makes these changes, but taking steps one by one will help our future generation to realize the potential that they have at an early age. It’s also very costly to implement these changes, but the benefit will surely outweigh the cost. Education will lead you to success and humanity to its best, but it has to be done right in order to do so, and we can’t stop improving it.

Effects of smoking and use of tobacco products

Within 10 seconds of your first puff, the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your brain, heart and other organs. Smoking harms almost every part of your body and increases your risk of many diseases. Smoking also affects how you look and feel, your finances and the people close to you.

What happens in your body

When you smoke, harmful chemicals enter your lungs and spread through your body. They can:

  • reach your brain, heart and other organs within 10 seconds of your first puff
  • go everywhere your blood flows, harming every part of your body.

Even if you don’t inhale tobacco smoke, you still absorb harmful chemicals through the lining of your mouth.

How you become addicted

The nicotine in tobacco is highly addictive. It makes your brain release a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a ‘feel good’ chemical that:

  • makes you feel happy
  • helps you to concentrate
  • gives you more energy.

But this effect doesn’t last long.

As the nicotine levels in your body fade, your brain craves more dopamine. The longer you have been smoking, the more dopamine you need to feel good. You become dependent on nicotine.

Once you are dependent on nicotine, without it you will have withdrawal symptoms. You may find it difficult to concentrate or feel nervous, restless, irritable or anxious.

These two things — nicotine dependence and nicotine withdrawal — make you want to smoke more. You become addicted to tobacco.

How tobacco damages your body

The chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage your body in many ways. For example:

  • Nicotine narrows your veins and arteries. This can
    • damage your heart by forcing it to work faster and harder
    • slow your blood and reduce oxygen to your feet and hands.
  • Carbon monoxide deprives your heart of the oxygen it needs to pump blood around your body. Over time, your airways swell up and let less air into your lungs.
  • Tar is a sticky substance that coats your lungs like soot in a chimney.
  • Phenols paralyse and kill the hair-like cells in your airways. These cells sweep clean the lining of your airways and protect them against infections.
  • Tiny particles in tobacco smoke irritate your throat and lungs and cause ‘smoker’s cough’. This makes you produce more mucus and damages lung tissue.
  • Ammonia and formaldehyde irritate your eyes, nose and throat.
  • Cancer-causing chemicals make your cells grow too fast or abnormally. This can result in cancer cells.

How tobacco affects the way you look

Smoking tobacco can:

  • cause yellow-brown stains on your fingers, tongue and teeth
  • increase your risk of tooth loss and bad breath
  • make your skin saggy and give you early wrinkles
  • make your hair lose its natural shine.

Health effects

If you smoke, you:

  • reduce your life expectancy and your quality of life
  • increase your risk of many conditions and diseases as well as of dying prematurely.

It can be a long time before smokers get a smoking-related condition or disease. Because of this, some people believe it won’t happen to them.

In fact, up to ⅔ of long term smokers will:

  • die of a smoking-related disease
  • have their life cut short by about 10 years on average, compared to non-smokers.

There is also growing evidence to suggest that smoking has a negative impact on mental health. For example, some studies show that smoking is associated with increased rates of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicide attempts and schizophrenia.

Some of the conditions and diseases that can be caused by smoking

Did you know?

Tobacco use is the one risk factor shared by 4 of the main categories of non-communicable disease. These include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes.

  • Cancer
  • Breathing problems and chronic respiratory conditions
  • Heart disease, stroke and blood circulation problems
  • Diabetes
  • Infections
  • Dental problems
  • Hearing loss
  • Vision loss
  • Fertility problems
  • Osteoporosis and menopause

Why Do People Get Addicted To Instagram?

There are basically four reasons why we get addicted to Instagram — and unsurprisingly, all of them are related to vanity.

1. We enjoy taking pictures.

s love for taking pictures can lead to an Instagram addiction
Works of art, filed under #photography.

The Instagram platform is designed specifically to appeal to our need to capture the beauty of life in photographs.

This is believed to be driven by the fact that, in a way, photographs allow us to preserve things and memories forever, exactly the way we saw or fell in love with them.

And with the rise of numerous devices with high-quality photography capabilities, taking pictures and sharing them with our friends has become easier than ever. 

2. We get a special kind of high from taking good photos.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that your output is excellent. The great thing about Instagram is that it doesn’t just serve as a platform to show off your photography skills. It also has built-in tools that can significantly improve the quality of your photographs with just a few clicks.

From frivolous filters to fantastic fixes, you can make sure that every picture you post is Instagram-worthy.

And the idea of an Instagram-worthy post leads us to the third reason for Instagram addiction which is…

3. Shareability (a.k.a. “Will my followers like my new post?”) feeds our Instagram addiction.

Like other social media platforms, Instagram comes with the built-in functionality to leave comments or drop likes on any post you can access.

There’s a certain level of gratification we achieve from seeing people like or leave comments on our posts. It’s kind of like the digital image equivalent of telling a joke in a full room and eagerly anticipating laughter from your audience. If you can get the room roaring, your ego will be soaring. 

4. Instagram addiction is a way to escape the dreariness of everyday life 

The average Instagram feed is usually full of posts from people who aim to project that they’re living the good life.

It’s this fantasy that not only prompts us to monitor the posts of our friends, but also encourages us to edit and post similar content on a regular basis.

We humans often crave escape from our day-to-day existence. Truth is, there’s nothing quite like visual stimulation to help us get distracted.

Why is bodybuilding not an Olympic sport?

Bodybuilding was close to being recognised as a medal sport in the Olympics in the 1970s, thanks to the tireless efforts of Ben Weider, but the idea never materialised due to various reasons.

Why is Bodybuilding not an Olympic sport? Bodybuilding has been in existence for a long, long time. It is nothing but the usage of weight training to develop one’s body muscles the way one wants them to be. Over the years, there has been a lot of debates surrounding the inclusion of Bodybuilding, but none has been successful in pushing for the inclusion of Bodybuilding in the prestigious event. Bodybuilding was close to being recognised as a medal sport in the Olympics in the 1970s, thanks to the tireless efforts of Ben Weider, but the idea never materialised due to various reasons. So, what are the reasons behind Bodybuilding not being an Olympic sport? Well, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Planning Committee (OPC) give the following three different reasons why they do not recognise Bodybuilding as an Olympic sport. Bodybuilders take in a lot of steroids The very first reason why the IOC does not recognise Bodybuilding is the use of steroids by bodybuilders. The core essence of the Olympics is drug-free and fair competition between athletes from all across the globe. Besides, the IOC has strict rules regarding doping wherein athletes who are found to have been in the use of any banned drug are banned or stripped of their medals. It is impossible to conduct a fair bodybuilding competition where the bodybuilders have not used steroids and hence cannot be included in the Olympics according to the IOC. Bodybuilding is not a sport The second argument which the IOC maintains is that they do not consider Bodybuilding to be a sport. They maintain that there is no athleticism maintained in Bodybuilding – the exact same reason why even Chess has not been able to make it to the Olympics. The bodybuilders certainly undergo immense physical training, but in the end, on the day of the competition, there is no athleticism involved, and it’s rather just based on how your body looks, and thus the IOC refrains from recognising it as an Olympic sport. Bodybuilding is subjective to judge Another argument put forward by the IOC is that Bodybuilding is subjective to judge. For example, the winner of a sport like 100m sprint or long jump can be easily decided objectively based on who completed the sprint fastest or who jumped the longest distance. The IOC considers this objectivity missing in Bodybuilding, as the final decision has to be taken just by judging the physique of the bodybuilders, and the decision here can be a lot subjective, i.e. every single person might have a different opinion regarding whose physique is better.

Why studying abroad has become a trend in 2022?

Studying in India or abroad? This predicament quite often puts Indian students in a quandary. Going abroad for an overseas degree has become quite common nowadays. Indian students who have embraced foreign degrees with open arms have been obsessed with overseas colleges and universities from the early 70s.

Studying in India has gone out of fashion for most of them since we do not have the required infrastructure and Ivy League colleges to compete with our western counterparts. Despite this, some students prefer Indian degrees due to a variety of reasons The foremost reason is the unaffordability of an overseas degree. Due to the higher cost of living and exorbitant fee structure in foreign universities, students from middle-class backgrounds prefer to study in India, whereas the rich and the affluent students choose to fly abroad instead due to their financial So why there is a craze among Indian students to study abroad? The reason is obvious. A foreign degree from a reputed university or college is revered highly in India and abroad. A student graduating from an Ivy League institution gets a placement offer from a reputed company in the country of study and India as well. Due to high teaching standards, immaculate infrastructure facilities, and qualified teaching faculty, the Ivy League institutes in western countries enjoy a cult following and mad rush from Indian students. There are lakhs of Indian students in foreign countries studying a variety of courses. They have been inspired by their seniors who have had a stint abroad earlier. Looking at the success stories of Indian graduates who have made it big in foreign shores, more and more students from India prefer to go abroad and achieve their goal of becoming successful Going abroad has become a status symbol for families across India. Since a foreign degree is held in high esteem, there has been no letup in Indian students opting to study abroad. Most of the Indian students who travel abroad for higher studies do not return and those who return get absorbed in reputed companies in our country due to the degrees they hold which have a higher value compared to Indian ones. So studying abroad has become a norm for Indian students. Every household has a person or two in foreign shores. Rich and affluent families often prefer their children to get an overseas degree which adds to their status and credibility in the society. The craze which started in the 80s will never fade away. This craze is already at its peak and is going to intensify manifold as years pass by. With the introduction of a new visa system for overseas students, the outbound traffic from India has resulted in the proliferation of Indian students in foreign Lastly, I would say that Indian students are a talented lot and they deserve to study abroad. Getting a foreign degree is one of the prerequisites for an Indian student. The trend of going abroad and settling in foreign shores is not going to subside in the foreseeable future.

Land Reforms in India

A Necessity for an Emerging Economy
Many people are not aware that a reform of land tenure is one of the steps in the economic policy of many countries to facilitate industrialization and promote agricultural growth. The problem with this is that it can lead to increased conflict between production and ownership rights. Yet, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made reforming the country’s outdated laws by going back to medieval-era customs a top priority for his government.

In May, he set up a five-member panel to recommend changes to the Hindu Succession Act, which is based on customary law and governs inheritance in India’s Hindu majority. The panel was created following the Bombay High Court’s decision that women could inherit ancestral property under the act. India has also rolled out land reform bills to facilitate transparency in transactions of agricultural land.
Under the tradition of a joint family system, or joint Hindu family system, one may wonder how land ownership and succession in India is regulated. This system has prevailed for centuries without outside interference or control. Joint families consists of males typically brothers and their wives who have to share property.
The main purpose of this system was to safeguard women’s rights to the property, in a country where the widow has been traditionally stigmatized and often impoverished by the death of her man.Land Reforms usually refers to redistribution of Land from rich to poor. Land reforms include Regulation of Ownership, Operation, Leasing, sale and Inheritance of Land. In an agrarian economy like India with massive inequalities of wealth and income, great scarcity and an unequal distribution of land, coupled with a large mass of people living below the poverty line, there are strong economic and political arguments for land reforms.

Land reform is the major step of government to assist people living under adverse conditions. It is basically redistribution of land from those who have excess of land to those who do not possess with the objective of increasing the income and bargaining power of the rural poor. The purpose of land reform is to help weaker section of society and do justice in land distribution.
Land reform is the major step of government to assist people living under adverse conditions. It is basically redistribution of land from those who have excess of land to those who do not possess with the objective of increasing the income and bargaining power of the rural poor. The purpose of land reform is to help weaker section of society and do justice in land distribution.

The Indian Government was committed to land reforms and to ensure distributive justice as was promised during the freedom struggle. Consequently, laws were passed by all the State Governments during the Fifties with the avowed aim of abolishing landlordism, distributing land through imposition of ceilings, protection of tenants and consolidation of land- holdings.

Government land policies are implemented to make more rational use of the scarce land resources by affecting conditions of holdings, imposing ceilings and grounds on holdings so that cultivation can be done in the most economical manner.

Objectives of Land Reforms

From the beginning, land distribution has been a part of India’s state policy.
The abolition of the Zamindari system was perhaps the most revolutionary land policy of independent India (feudal landholding practices).

ZAMINDARI SYSTEM

Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in 1793. Under this system, a class of landlords called Zamindars was created whose responsibility it was to pay a fixed rent to the government for the lands they owned. They gave out parcels of land to farmers who became their tenants. Their title to the land was hereditary. What was intended as a system beneficial for all parties concerned soon turned out to be exploitative? The State was only concerned with maximising revenue with minimum effort. The Zamindar too wanted maximum rent from his tenants irrespective of the land’s true potential. He could increase his own wealth by extracting most out of his farmer tenants since his due to the State was fixed. In addition, several layers of intermediaries were created between the Zamindar and the tenants adding to the burden. The landless farmers and labourers suffered greatly in poverty. Also, this led to the creation of a group of rich Indians whose loyalty lay largely with the British. As you can see the Permanent Settlement gave rise to the Zamindari system of tenancy in Bengal and soon was adopted in other regions.

RYOTWARI SYSTEM

Under this system, the proprietor of land gave the rent and taxes directly to the government in the absence of any middlemen. This started in Madras and was later adopted in Bombay as well.

MAHALWARI SYSTEM

This system was introduced by William Bentinck’s government under which landlords were responsible for the payment of revenue to the State. These landlords or Zamindars had a whole village or a group of villages under their control. The Mahalwari system prevailed in UP, the North Western Province, Punjab and parts of Central India.


India’s land reform policy had two specific goals:
The first is to remove any impediments to increasing agricultural production that arise from the agrarian structure that has been passed down from generation to generation.
The second goal, which is closely related to the first, is to “eliminate all elements of exploitation and social injustice from the agrarian system.
To provide security to the soil tiller, and to ensure equality of status and opportunity to all sections of the rural population.

Objectives of land reforms:

  • Redistribution of land across society so that land is not held in the hands of a few people.
  • Land ceiling to disburse surplus land amongst small and marginal farmers.
  • Removal of rural poverty.
  • Abolition of intermediaries.
  • Tenancy reforms.
  • Increasing agricultural productivity.
  • Consolidation of land holdings and prevention of land fragmentation.
  • Developing cooperative farming.
  • To ensure social equality through economic parity.
  • Tribal protection by ensuring their traditional land is not taken over by outsiders.
  • Land reforms were also for non-agricultural purposes like development and manufacturing.

Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India

Indian society is very unique and diverse. We have a lot of cultures, communities, religions, languages, etc

India is a plural society, characterized by its unity and diversity. A grand combination different cultures, religions and languages of the people belonging to different castes and communities has upheld its unity. This combination of different culture and ethnicities is what that has made India unique from other countries. Different events such as the foreign invasions, immigration from other parts of the world, and the existence of diverse languages, cultures and religions have made India’s culture open- minded , on the one hand, and a unique continuing and living culture, with its specificity and historicity, on the other. Not only we have diversity in racial compositions, religious and linguistic distinction but also in patterns of living, life styles, land tenure systems, occupational pursuits, inheritance and succession law, and practices and rites related to birth, marriage death etc. 

Post-Independent India is a nation united against several odds and obstacles. India is a secular state. It has one Constitution providing guarantees for people belonging to diverse regions, religions, cultures and languages. It covers people belonging to all socioeconomic strata. The Article 15 of the Indian Constitution talks about Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. Our Indian Constitution itself safeguards and protects the rights of every individual irrespective of their religion, race, caste sex or place of birth. It gives everyone opportunity and treats everyone equally.

DIFFERENT FEATURES OF INDIAN SOCIETY

MULTI RELIGIOUS SOCIETY

India consists of people from many different religions. Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism are some major religion in India, However there are other different religions as well. Hinduism is the most dominant religion in India.

As per the census 2021, there are approx. 110 crore people follow Hinduism in India. The Hindus are most numerous in 29 States/UTs except in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Lakshadweep, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Jammu & Kashmir, and Punjab.

Approx.  20 crores of people are Muslims In India. The Muslims professing Islam are in majority in Lakshadweep and Jammu & Kashmir.

In 2021 approx. 3.20 Crores people are Christians in India. Christianity has emerged as the major religion in three North-eastern states, namely, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya. 

In 2021 approx. 2.4 Crores people follow Sikhism in India.

In 2021 approx. 10 million or 1 Crore people are followers of Buddhism in India and In 2022 approx. 5 million or 50 Lakh people follow Jainism in India.

MULTI RACIAL SOCIETY

Race is a group of people with a set of distinctive physical features such as skin colour, type of nose, form of hair, etc. India is a country of people with different racial groups. The latest racial classification of the Indian people based on researches in this field has been given by B.S. Guha (1952). He has identified six racial types (1) the Negrito, (2) the Proto Australoid, (3) the Mongoloid, (4) the Mediterranean, (5) the Western Brachycephals, and (6) the Nordic.

MULTI LINGUAL SOCIETY

According to the latest analysis of a census more than 19,500 languages or dialects are spoken as mother tongue in India.

There are 121 languages which are spoken by 10,000 or more people in India, which has a population of 121 crore. Only 22 languages are listed in Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution. The 96.71 per cent population in the country have one of the 22 scheduled languages as their mother tongue and the remaining 3.29 per cent is accounted for other languages. Not all these languages are, however, equally widespread. Many of them are tribal speeches and these are spoken by less than one percent of the total population so here we can clearly see see that in India there is a great deal of linguistic diversity as there are so many people of different languages and dialects.

MULTI CASTE SYSTEM

The term caste is generally used in two senses: sometimes in the sense of Varna and sometimes in the sense of Jati. In India, caste system is very much prevalent. The Varna system is basically a four fold system in the Hindu society based on their functional criteria, the four divisions are Brahmins, which is on the top of this system followed by kshatriya, Vaishyas and then shudra with their functions as learning or teaching, defense, trade and manual labour. We find castes among the Muslim, Christian, Sikh as well as other communities. One must have heard of the hierarchy of Shaikh, Saiyed, Mughal, Pathan among the Muslim. Similarly, caste consciousness among the Christian in India is not unknown. Since a vast majority of Christians in India are converted from Hindu fold, the converts have carried the caste system into Christianity. Among the Sikh again we have so many castes including Jat Sikh and Majahabi Sikh (lower castes).

In addition to the above described major forms of diversity, we have diversity of many other sorts like settlement patterns – tribal, rural, urban; marriage and kinship patterns along religious and regional lines; cultural patterns reflecting regional variations, and so on.

Some other of the salient features applicable to Indian Society are:

  1. Unity In Diversity
  2. Patriarchal Society
  3. Tribes
  4. Family
  5. Kinship System
  6. Balance between spiritualism and materialism
  7. Co-existence of traditionalism and modernity

India is a very diverse country and because of its unique feature it always attracts people from all parts of the world.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable Development has been the buzzword for a while now. People are constantly asking what it looks like and how to implement it. There have been many differing opinions on what sustainable development actually is, however some key principles remain:

  • The concept of sustainable development is about making sure that you live in a world where people are able to stay self-sufficient and thrive indefinitely.
  • Sustainable development does not need to take the form of major changes, but rather building upon what we already have.
  • A major component of any successful Sustainable Development project is social-justice based thinking.

The Principles of a Sustainable Development Project:

A sustainable development project is one that will allow you to reach the following principles:
-Managing resources efficiently.
-Responsible consumption.
-Treating others with respect and dignity.
These four principles are what make up an overall healthy and productive society. The management of resources, responsible consumption, and treating others with respect and dignity can be applied to almost anything we do; whether it is being environmentally conscious, being respectful of your parents, or being a good soccer player. The real issue here is that these principles go hand in hand. If we constantly abuse a resource and consume in a way that hurts the environment, we are not being respectful of the Earth. If we are being very selfish in our consumption, then we are not being respectful of our fellow human beings. Lastly, if we do not treat people with respect and dignity, then they will not be treated with respect and dignity by their neighbors.

These four principles allow us to have a healthy society. This can be seen clearly in the following quote by E. F. Schumacher: “The great first commandment is to love the Earth and that means loving it enough to take care of it for the sake of future generations”.

The way we approach development affects everyone. The decisions that we make also impacts the society, and has very real consequences for people’s lives. Poor planning of communities, for example, reduces the quality of life for the people who live in them.

Sustainable development provides an approach to making better decisions on the issues that affect all of our lives. By incorporating health plans into the planning of new communities, for instance, we can ensure that residents have easy access to healthcare and other facilities.

Sustainable development should provide a solution in terms of meeting basic human
needs, integrating environmental development and protection, achieving equality,
ensuring social self-determination and cultural diversity, and maintaining ecological
integrity. Although the concept of sustainable development has undergone certain
changes during the past, its fundamental principles and goals have contributed to a
more conscious behaviour adapted to the limitations of the environment. This is the
reason of adopting the concept in different areas of human activities. Numerous international organizations have been involved in implementation of the concept, while
it has found positive implementation locally, but it did not produce significant results
on a global scale. This fact proves environmental problems which, 30 years after the
introduction of the concept, are still ongoing. Contemporary understanding of the
concept of sustainable development is considered through the United Nations Millennium Development Goals focused on a complex global situation, such as population
growth, hunger and poverty, wars and political instability, and further degradation
of the environment. There is a huge gap between developed and underdeveloped country and many of the countries are not even close to sustainable development. Fundamental constraints of the implementation of the concept of sustainable development are the degree of socio-economic development that many countries have not yet achieved, associated with a lack of financial resources and technology, but also the diversity of political and economic goals on a global scale.

Source: https://www.unesco.org/en/education/sustainable-development

Effective Journaling

Image courtesy: positivepsychology.com

We hear the word journaling very often. Almost every other day this term falls on our ears but we simply pay no heed to it. The reason is we humans have a tendency to think that the most ordinary or simplest things cannot bring us extraordinary greatness. Which is not true ofcourse.

When it comes to journaling, we sometimes underestimate how important it is to include this beneficial habit into our daily routines. Our lives can thrive from journaling in many different ways. From increased productivity overall to self-improvement and improved mental wellness, this habit is proven to be effective.

Writing down your thoughts, feelings, or anything else you want to in order to try to understand them better is what journaling is fundamentally all about. Every time we write down our thoughts in a journal, our mind starts to get more organised, making it simpler for us to prioritise our goals and every aspect of our lives that we want to work on. As a result, journaling helps us stay productive by allowing us to acknowledge what needs to be done after letting us self-assess ourselves in a way.

The ability to learn new things quickly, as well as your capacity for analytical and innovative thought, are more important indicators of productivity in today ’s digital economy than how much work you can get done in an hour. Journaling is therefore valuable spending a few minutes on, just like any practise that enables you to learn more acutely and think more effectively.

Outlining your goals in a journal enables you to think thoroughly about all aspects of it.
Journaling helps you keep motivated during the arduous process of actually achieving your goals by providing a track of the work you’ve made in that direction.
We refer to it as effective journaling for this reason.

Anyone who really wishes to deal with their emotions, possibly to prevent it from driving themselves in the realms of depression or anxiety, might benefit much from this mindful practice.

You can thoroughly examine your feelings, let out chaos, and mentally assimilate your experiences through writing.

Furthermore, it can support you in attaining a significant purpose or work with you to reduce certain sources of stress.
Creating and reflecting on the story of your life, including all of the decisions you have committed and the moments that have shaped who you are today, is something you may do by keeping a diary.

In a word, journaling’s healing effects are “enlightening.

You can’t change it all in your life instantly, and attempting to create healthy habits and break negative ones in a single day is probably not going to work. Legitimate, lasting change occurs when you only take on something that you can manage; frequently, altering one significant habit can have knock-on impacts that enhance your life and move you forward to your commitments in other aspects.

One such discipline is writing; it may help you stay focused, determine your capabilities and limitations, provide an outlet for awareness of self , but also much more. Merely keeping track of your ideas, emotions, and doings can change your life in unanticipated ways.

Source: positivepsychology.Com Courtney E. Ackerman, MA https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-journaling/

A trip to cherish!

Image credit: http://www.alamy.com

When my Nani and I were drinking chai and chatting about random topics a few days ago at her home in Surat, she began talking about her early years spent in Ahmedabad. She told me about her family, the people there, the delectable food, the holidays she celebrated with them, and the spots where she used to hang out with her friends. Her descriptions piqued my enthusiasm for travelling to Ahmedabad and exploring the city.

          So, the following morning, I was prepared with my bag and a train ticket in hand and departed for the station after bidding my family farewell. I travelled with one of my cousins because she had visited Ahmedabad previously and was familiar with the area’s landmarks. We left Surat station at eight in the morning and arrived at Ahmedabad station around noon after a four-hour journey. Later on arriving at my cousin’s home, we relaxed there for a while before starting our city tour. I still can remember how I couldn’t contain my excitement to explore the places.

                    We started our trip at Jama Masjid. 

            We learned that the mosque was constructed by Ahmad Shah in 1424. The mosque’s architecture was such that it gleamed beautifully in the sunlight. 

                   The tombs of the male and female members of Ahmad Shah’s royal family, Badshah no Hajiro and Rani no Hajiro, respectively, were the next stop on our tour. Since women couldn’t enter Badshah no Hajiro, we snapped some photos of the monument from the outside.

                  On arriving at the female tomb, we discovered that the street leading there had changed to serve as a neighbourhood women’s market. I was surprised to find an antique jewellery piece at the market that I could afford to buy for my Nani as a souvenir, given that antiques are typically pricey.

                  After a few hours of exploring these monuments, we went to Manek chowk’s hustling and bustling market. It was late in the evening so it was pretty crowded with people. The aroma of the delicious street food hit us and we decided to dive in. We tried some of the popular food items of the chowk which includes Ghugra sandwich, Gotala Dosa, Fafda Jalebi, Dhokla and Methi Gota. I can still remember how delicious they tasted. We wound up exploring for the day.

                On the second day of the tour,  we started with having breakfast at a well-known neighbourhood eatery and later travelled to the Sabarmati Ashram. We learnt about its history and spoke with the women who worked there, who gave us information about the Ashram and the city’s rich culture. The ashram was exquisitely constructed.

                 The Sabarmati Riverfront was our next stop, followed by the lakeside flower garden. From the riverfront, there was a breathtaking vista.

                 The third and final day of my journey to Ahmedabad, I made the decision to wrap it up by going to the Utkantheshwar Temple in Sarkhej. It made me feel divine and grateful for my decision to travel to Ahmedabad. This city is truly, incredibly extraordinary.

HOW TO WIN AN ARGUMENT

Arguments, whether they are interpersonal or professional, are essential. Be it a constructive or non-beneficial disagreement, we engage in it more frequently than we plan to in our regular lifestyle.

Nobody can win an argument against you unless you give the opportunity to.

Even if this isn’t your strongest suit, there are a few straightforward strategies you may use to quickly and easily win. To assist you, here are a few of them:

Image credit : pixaby.com https://images.app.goo.gl/dv31TkrJaxJ7cZRm9

1. Do your research – In a professional setting when you know you’re likely to have to get into an argument, prepare yourself beforehand with all the information and facts so that you have an upper hand in the discussion

2. When it’s unlikely – Sometimes you could encounter yourself in a heated argument in an unusual situation, caught off guard and unsure of what to say. It’s typically best to try to reason with the other person so that you can depart the argument quickly.

3. Calm down – The most important thing to remember when in an argument is to keep your composure and maintain decorum, especially if your parents are on the other side. However, this is true for practically all contentious discussions.

4. Don’t raise your voice – Being ear-splittingly loud won’t help you win, instead strengthen your case. Maintaining your mental fortitude will help you make your point to the opposing side as effectively as you can.

5. Decapitate them delicately – Be gentle and kind! Talk calm and pleasant until your generosity and encouraging words cause the opposition’s rage to subside. In between disputes, you must remind the other person of the good in you in case they have forgotten. This works!

6. Be reasonable Avoid making assumptions just to justify your assertions. Provide evidence to back up your claims so the opposite side won’t have a chance to refute the information.

7. Choose your next word carefully- Remember in an argument the point is not just winning but also successfully winning at it. So communicating the issue that you’re debating about is also vital because that is the reason it happened in the first place. In doing so,  be careful how you choose your words.

8. Don’t rush— Time may not always be to your advantage, so consider whether it is the appropriate time to protest before you start the conversation. Better to steer clear of it for a while if not. Additionally, it will offer both parties a chance to think things through.

9. Listen!- If you aren’t willing to listen and consider the opposing viewpoint, how can you expect others to? It’s crucial to hear what the opposing side has to say because a one-sided discussion is not an argument.

10. Make believe – when you really want to win and your case isn’t solid enough, make the opposition believe that your perspective is stronger and their claim needs to be reevaluated. Even if you’re wrong, trick them into thinking otherwise.

You’ll master the art of argumentation in no time, just follow these simple methods and the win is yours.

Panchayati Raj

The term “Panchayati Raj” in India signifies the system of rural local self-government. It has been established in all the systems of India by the Acts of the state legislative to build democracy at the grass root level. It is ensured with rural development. It was constitutional through 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.

Ø A three-tier structure of Indian administration for rural development is called panchayati Raj. The aim of the panchayati Raj is to develop local self government in districts, zones and villages.

Ø Rural development is one of the main objectives of panchayati Raj and this has been established in all states of India except Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram. In all union territories except Delhi and certain other areas. These areas include:-

a) The scheduled areas and the tribal areas in the states.

b) The hill area of Manipur for which a district council exists and

c) Darjeeling district of West Bengal for which Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council exists.

Evolution of Panchayati Raj

Ø The panchayati system in India is not purely a post-independence phenomenon. In fact, the dominant political institution in rural India has been the village panchayat for centuries. In ancient India, panchayat were usually elected councils with executive and judicial powers.

Ø The evolution of the Panchayati Raj system, however, got a trip after the attainment of independence after the drafting of the constitution. The constitution of India in Article 40 enjoined, The state shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.

Ø There were member of committees appointed by the government of India to study the implementation of self-government at the rural level and also recommend steps in achieving this goal.

Ø The committee appointed are as follows:-

a) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

b) Ashok Mehta Committee

c) G V K Rao Committee

d) LM Singvi committee

A. Balwant Rai Mehta Committee and Panchayati Raj

The committee was appointed in 1957, to examine and suggest measures for better working of the community development programme and the national extensions services. The committee suggested the establishment of a democratic decentralised local government which came to be known as panchayati Raj.

Recommendations by the Committee

Ø Three tier panchayati raj system: Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad.

Ø Directly elected representatives to constitute the gram panchayat and indirectly elected representative to constitute the panchyat samiti and zila parishad.

Ø Planning and development are the primary objectives of the panchayati raj system.

Ø Panchayat Samiti should be the executive body and zila parishad will act as the advisory and supervisory body.

Ø District collector to be made the chairman of the Zila Parishad

Ø It also requested for provisioning resources so as to help them discharge their duties and responsibilities.

v The Balwant Rai Mehta committee further revitalised the development of panchayati in the country, the report recommended that the panchayati raj institutions can play a substantial role in community development programmes throughout the country.

v The objectives of the panchyat, thus was the democratic decentralisation through the effective participation of locals with the help of well-planned programme. Even then prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, defended the panchyat system by saying, “authority and power to the panchayats”.

B. Ashok Mehta committee and Panchayati Raj

Ø The committee was appointed in 1977 to suggest measures to revive and strengthen the declining panchayati raj system in India.

The key recommendations are:-

Ø The three-tier system should be replaced with two-tier system: Zila parishad (District-level) and the mandal panchayat (a group of villages).

Ø District level as the first level of supervision after the state level.

Ø Zila Parishad should be the executive body and responsible for planning at district level.

Ø The institutions (zila parishad and the mandal panchayat) to have compulsory taxation powers to mobilise their own financial resources.

C. G V K Rao committee and Panchayati Raj

Ø The committee was appointed by the planning commission in 1985. It recognised that development was not seen at the grass root level due to bureaucratisation resulting in panchayat raj institutions being addressed as “grass without roots”. Hence, it made some key recommendations which were as follows:-

Ø Zila Parishad to be the most important body in the scheme of democratic decentralisation. Zila Parishad to be the principal body to manage the development programmes at the district level.

Ø The district and the lower levels of the panchayati raj system to be assigned with specific planning, implementation and monitoring of the rural development programmes.

Ø Post of district development commissioner to be created. He will be chief executive officer of the zila parishad.

Ø Elections to the levels of panchayati raj system should be held regularly.

D. L M Singhvi committee and panchayat raj

The committee was appointed by the government of India in 1986 with the main objective to recommend steps to revitalise the panchayati raj system for democracy and development. The following recommendations were made by the committee:-

1. The committee recommended that the panchayat raj system should be constitutionally recognised. It also recommends constitutional provisions to recognise free and fair election for the panchayati Raj system.

2. The committee recommended reorganization of villages to make the gram panchayat more viable.

3. It recommended that village panchayats should have more finances for their activities

4. Judicial tribunals to be set up in each state to adjudicate matters relating to the elections to the Panchayat Raj institutions and other matters relating to their functioning.

Ø All these things further the argument that panchayat can be very effective in identifying and solving local problems, involve the people in the villages in the development activities, improve the communication between different levels at which politics operate, develop leadership skills and in short help the basic development in the states without making too many structural changes. Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh were the first to adopt panchayati raj in 1959, other states followed them later.

Ø  The act is a very significant step in creating democratic institutions at the grassroots level in the country. Art has transformed representative democracy into participating democracy.

Salient features of 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act , 1992

1. Gram sabha

2. Three-tier system

3. Election of members and chairperson

4. Reservation of seats :-

a) For SC and ST

b) For Women

c) The state legislatures are also given the provision to decide on the reservation of seats in any level of panchayat or office of chairperson in favour of backward classes.

5. Duration of panchayat

6. Disqualification

7. State election commission

8. Powers and functions

9. Finances

10. Finance commission

11. Audit of accounts

12. Application to union territories

13. Exempted state and areas

14. Continuance of existing law

15. Bar to interference by courts.

In India, the panchayati raj system is not a post-independence development. For decades, the village panchayat has been the most powerful political entity in rural India. Panchayats were elected councils in ancient India that had administrative and judicial authority. Panchayat Raj is a three-tiered administrative framework in India that focuses on rural development. The panchayati Raj is a system of local self-government that is used to build districts, zones and villages.

China’s Presence in the Horn of Africa

In January 2022 , first “China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference.” was held. During his 17th trip to Africa, China’s foreign minister and state councillor Wang Yi asserted China’s 3 main objectives in Africa : controlling the pandemic, implementing a Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) outcomes, and upholding common interests while fighting hegemonic politics. He focused on increasing infrastructural investment in Africa. This is the first time China aims ‘to play a role in the area of security ‘.

What is Horn of Africa?

•The Horn of Africa is a peninsula in Northeast Africa.

•It is located on the easternmost part of the African mainland, it is the fourth largest peninsula in the world.

•It lies along the southern boundary of the Red Sea and extends hundreds of kilometres into the Guardafui Channel, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean. The Horn of Africa is equidistant from the equator and the Tropic of Cancer.

•The Horn contains such diverse areas as the highlands of the Ethiopian Plateau, the Ogaden desert, and the Eritrean and Somalian coasts. The Horn of Africa denotes the region containing the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

•The area has experienced imperialism, neo-colonialism, Cold War, ethnic strife, intra-African conflict, poverty, disease, famine and much else.

China’s recent project :

In the 2021 forum, the entire region of the Horn participated, and four resolutions were adopted :

• The Dakar Action Plan : The two sides commend the development of relations between China and Africa, and believe that over the past 21 years since its inception, the Forum has strongly promoted the development of relations between China and Africa, and become an important benchmark for international cooperation with Africa.

• China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035 : It was formulated to determine the directions and objectives of mid- and long-term cooperation and promote a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa.

• Sino-African Declaration on Climate Change : It is aimed at enhancing coordination and cooperation in the multilateral process on climate, and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of China, Africa and other developing countries.

• Declaration of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC : Under the theme ”Deepen China-Africa Partnership and Promote Sustainable Development to Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the New Era” and committed to the development of FOCAC and to the deepening of the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, both adopted by consensus the Dakar Declaration of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC. The FOCAC promotes China’s role in the infrastructural and societal development of the Horn.

What are China’s Primary Interests in the Region?

1. Infrastructure :

• One of its landmark projects was fully funding the USD 200 million African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.

• China has also invested in the Mombasa-Nairobi rail link in Kenya, and has already delivered on railway projects in Sudan.

• It also has a viable military hardware market in Ethiopia and has built over 80 infrastructural projects in Somalia, including hospitals, roads, schools and stadiums.

• In Djibouti, 14 infrastructural projects are funded by China.

2. Financial Assistance :

• Ethiopia, is one of the top five African recipients of Chinese investments, and also has a debt of almost USD 14 billion.

• China accounts for 67% of Kenya’s bilateral debt.

• In 2022, China promised to provide USD 15.7 million assistance to Eritrea.

3. Natural Resources (Oil and Coal) :

• China is also interested in minerals such as gold, iron-ore, precious stones, chemicals, oil and natural gas in Ethiopia.

• South Sudan, a source for petroleum products, has had continued Beijing investment in the industry since the latter’s initial entry in 1995.

4. Maritime Interests :

• China’s first and only military base outside its mainland is in Djibouti.

• In 2022, China hinted its willingness to develop Eritrea’s coast which would connect to China’s investments in land-locked Ethiopia.

• The U.S. has speculated that China wishes to build another military base in Kenya and Tanzania, thereby increasing its military presence in the region.

China shifts from its Principle of Non-Intervention :

• For Africa, Chinese investments could lead to stable environments which could help the countries achieve their peace and development objectives. For China, conflict in the region comes at a heavy cost.

• In Ethiopia. when the conflict broke out, over600 Chinese nationals, working on different projects, were evacuated, putting several investments at risk.

• From a trading perspective, the region plays a significant role in achieving the objectives of the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035.

• China’s move towards peace in Africa indicates a shift in its principle of non-intervention.

• It is China’s message that its presence in the continent has a larger objective and is not likely to be limited to the Horn of Africa.

• This includes an aim to project itself as a global leader and boost its international status.

• Further, the recent developments imply that China is focusing on a multifaceted growth in the continent for the long run.

• For Africa, China’s presence is an alternative to the European powers, many of whom are facing criticism from African governments.

• Further, African governments, which do not conform to Western standards of democracy, interact better with powers like China and Russia.

Significance of Horn of Africa for India :-

1. Africa has been a Growing Interest : Africa has been of growing interest to India for political, economic and security reasons, especially the sub-region – the Horn of Africa.

2. Proximity to Oil Producing Region : The Horn of Africa is strategically important since it is close to the oil-producing region of the Middle East. Approximately 40% of the oil produced in the Middle East crosses through the shipping lanes of Red Sea.

3. Shipping Routes : Djibouti is the choke point on this shipping route. It is due to this reason that countries like the United States, France, and China have a military base in Djibouti. With the new reliance on the sea lines of communication for India’s economic growth, Delhi declared that its national interests were no longer limited to the Subcontinent but stretched from the “Aden to Malacca”.

India’s Concern over China’s presence :-

• Dominance in the Indian Ocean : Situated on the north-western edge of the Indian Ocean, Djibouti could become another of China’s “string of pearls” of military alliances and assets ringing India, including Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.China has stepped up activity in the Indian Ocean, which India considers within its sphere of influence, in recent days, citing anti-piracy patrols and freedom of navigation. It has forced the Indian Navy to tighten surveillance of the strategic waters.

• China seeks to control over Vital Shipping Routes : The Indian Ocean shipping lanes carry 80% of the world’s oil and a third of the global bulk cargo. China is looking to secure its energy and trade transportation links along the vital shipping route.

• Influencing Indian Ocean Countries : The Indian Ocean is also emerging as the playground for countries eyeing a bigger role in world affairs. China is looking to generate goodwill and influence in the Indian Ocean countries by investing in projects such ports, roads and railways. China is looking to expand its presence in the Indian Ocean, and is building ports and other infrastructure in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Way Forward :-

• What happens in the region has a direct bearing on India’s security and well-being and hence India should pay more attention to the prevailing conditions and power dynamics in the Horn of Africa.

• India would be well advised to become more active in examining and discussing the complex problem in-depth with the governments in Eastern Africa, the African Union and others concerned so as to be able to make a meaningful contribution to its resolution.

Sources : The Hindu and Dristi IAS.

MSME : Bulwark for Indian economy

Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSME’s) are privately owned entities involved in production, manufacturing and processing of goods and commodities. It forms the core of Indian economy and has always acted as the bulwark for the Indian economy, providing it strength and resilience to tolerate global economic shocks and adversities. It requires less than ₹50 crore in investment in plant and machinery and has turnover below ₹250 crore. Thus, serving as a backbone of the Indian economy. The government of India has identified MSME’s as a top priority for achieving Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

Importance of MSMEs for Indian Economy :

• Employment: It is the second largest employment generating sector after agriculture. It provides employment to around 11.1 crore people or 45% of all the workers in India. It accounts for 99% of all the businesses.

• Contribution to GDP: With around 36.1 million units throughout the geographical expanse of the country, MSMEs contribute around 6.11% of the manufacturing GDP and 24.63% of the GDP from service activities. MSME ministry has set a target to up its contribution to GDP to 50% by 2025 as India becomes a $5 trillion economy.

• Exports: It contributes around 45% of the overall exports from India.

• Inclusive growth: MSMEs promote inclusive growth by providing employment opportunities in rural areas especially to people belonging to weaker sections of the society. For example: Khadi and Village industries require low per capita investment and employs a large number of women in rural areas.

• Financial inclusion: Small industries and retail businesses in tier-II and tier-III cities create opportunities for people to use banking services and products.

• Promote innovation: It provides opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to build creative products boosting business competition and fuels growth.

Issues and Challenges :

1. Access to credit :

• 90% of the MSMEs are dependent on informal sources for funding

• Lack of sufficient collateral and high working capital needs

2. Access to Markets :

• Low outreach and non availability of new markets.

• Lack of skilled manpower and ineffective marketing strategy.

• Difficult for MSMEs to sell products to government agencies.

• Competition from MNCs and other big industries

3. Technology Access :

• Limited human resources and weak financial standing.

• MSMEs, particularly in the unorganised sector, show lower adaptability of new technology and innovation.

4. Quality and Export Issues :

• Low quality products impact export competitiveness.

• Inadequate access to quality raw materials.

• Use of traditional machines causes low productivity

5. Ease of Doing Business :

• Cumbersome government procedures and rules for establishing new units.

• Bureaucratic delays in getting clearances.

• Poor litigation system in the country.

Steps to be taken to improve the condition of MSMEs :

• Launch of the 59 minute loan portal to enable easy access to credit for MSMEs.

• 2 percent interest subvention for all GST registered MSMEs, on fresh or incremental loans.

• Trade Receivables e-Discounting System (TReDS) to enable access to credit from banks, based on their upcoming trade receivables from corporate and other buyers.

• Union government announced to launch an e-commerce platform on the lines of “Amazon and Alibaba” to sell products from MSMEs and the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.

• Public sector companies now compulsorily procure 25%, instead of 20% of their total purchases, from MSMEs.

• More than 40,000 MSMEs registered on Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. It provides transparency in procurement and facilitates MSMEs to directly reach out to the buyers.

• 20 hubs and 100 spokes in the form of tool rooms will be established across the country. This will facilitate product design and easy access to latest technology to MSMEs.

• Financial assistance is provided for implementation of lean manufacturing techniques to enhance the manufacturing competitiveness of MSMEs.

• Financial support to MSMEs in ZED(Zero Defect Zero Effect) certification to improve quality of products.

• Government provides subsidy towards the expenditure incurred by enterprises to obtain the product certification licenses from national and international bodies.The return under 8 labour laws and 10 Union regulations must now be filed only once a year.

• Computerised random allotment for inspector visits to the establishment.

• Environmental Clearance under air pollution and water pollution laws, have been merged into one. Also, the return will be accepted through self-certification.

• For minor violations under the Companies Act, the entrepreneur will no longer have to approach the courts, but can correct them through simple procedures. This signifies simplification of government procedures and instilling confidence among entrepreneurs.

Government schemes to promote MSMEs :

• Udyami Mitra Portal : launched by SIDBI to improve accessibility of credit and handholding services to MSMEs.

• MSME Sambandh To monitor the implementation of the public procurement from MSMEs by Central Public Sector Enterprises.

• MSME Samadhaan -MSME Delayed Payment Portal –– will empower Micro and Small entrepreneurs across the country to directly register their cases relating to delayed payments by Central Ministries/Departments/CPSEs/State Governments.

• Digital MSME Scheme : It involves usage of Cloud Computing where MSMEs use the internet to access common as well as tailor-made IT infrastructure

• Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme : It is a credit linked subsidy program under Ministry of MSME.

• Revamped Scheme of Fund for Regeneration Of Traditional Industries (SFURTI) : organizes traditional industries and artisans into clusters and make them competitive by enhancing their marketability & equipping them with improved skills.

• A Scheme for Promoting Innovation, Rural Industry & Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) : creates new jobs & reduce unemployment, promotes entrepreneurship culture, facilitates innovative business solution etc.

• National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme (NMCP) : to develop global competitiveness among Indian MSMEs by improving their processes, designs, technology and market access.

• Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) – adopts cluster development approach for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of MSEs.

• Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS) is operational for upgradation of technology for MSMEs.

Way Forward :

Today enterprises need to adopt best practises and follow international standards to go forward for offering innovative solutions. Focus should be on transfer of information and skill development to effectively use the transferred technology. There is an urgent need to upgrade infrastructure utilities (like water, power supply, road/rail) for any enterprise to run its operations successfully. Entrepreneurs need to develop quality conscious mindsets embedded in the organisational culture. Sensitisation and handholding of MSMEs at different and upgraded level of certification is the need of the hour. Policy makers and society at large need to recognize and support the central socio-economic role that MSMEs play in India.

Sources : The Hindu and Dristi IAS.

Anti-Defection Law

The anti-defection law punishes individual Members of Parliament (MPs)/MLAs for leaving one party for another. The anti-defection law was enacted to ensure that a party member does not violate the mandate of the party and in case he does so, he will lose his membership of the House. The law applies to both Parliament and state assemblies.It aims to prevent political defection brought about by the lure of the rewards or perks offered by the other parties. The Tenth Schedule or Anti-Defection law was added to the Constitution via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985.

How did Anti-Defection Law comes into effect ?

In Haryana, in 1967, an MLA named Gaya Lal changed his party thrice in a day, after which the phrase “Aaya Ram Gaya Ram” became popular in Indian politics.

• Due to frequent defections of elected and nominated party members, good governance became elusive and an insecure environment was created for the functioning of the state and central governments.

• It was realized that there was a need for an anti-defection law that would seek to prevent such political defections.

• Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India(1984-1989), proposed a bill to remove the evils of defection.

• The 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution popularly referred to as the ‘Anti-Defection Law’ was inserted by the 52nd Amendment of the Indian Constitution in 1985.

Grounds for disqualification:

A member can be disqualified if :

1. A member of a house belonging to a political party:
• Voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party, or
• Votes, or does not vote in the legislature, contrary to the directions of his political party (Whip). However, if the member has taken prior permission, or is condoned by the party within 15 days from such voting or abstention, the member shall not be disqualified.

2. An independent candidate joins a political party after the election.

3.A nominated member joins a party six months after he becomes a member of the legislature.

Power To Disqualify :

• The decision on disqualification questions on the ground of defection is referred to the Speaker or the Chairman of the House, whose decision is final, which can be subjected to Judicial review.

• If a complaint is received regarding the defection of the Chairman or the Speaker, a member of the House who must be elected within the House, shall take the decision.

• All proceedings in relation to disqualification under this Schedule are considered to be proceedings in Parliament or the Legislature of a state as is the case.

• The law does not provide a timeframe within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.

Advantages :

• It prevents the menace of political party members from shifting their allegiances.

• It ensures party loyalty among the elected members.

• It provides for a stable and secure Government at both national and state levels.

• It make members of parliaments more responsible and loyal to the parties with whom they were aligned at the time of their election.

• It strengthen democracy by bringing stability to politics.

• It strengthen democracy by bringing stability to politics, ensuring legislative programs of the Government are not jeopardized by a defecting parliamentarian.

Disadvantages :

• Undermining Representative & Parliamentary Democracy: After enactment of the Anti-defection law, the MP or MLA has to follow the party’s direction blindly and has no freedom to vote their judgment.

• Controversial Role of Speaker: In many instances, the Speaker (usually from the ruling party) has delayed deciding on the disqualification.

• No Recognition of Split: Due to the 91st amendment, the anti-defection law created an exception for anti-defection rulings.However, the amendment does not recognise a ‘split’ in a legislature party and instead recognises a ‘merger’.

• Subversion of Electoral Mandates: Defection is the subversion of electoral mandates by legislators who get elected on the ticket of one party but then find it convenient to shift to another, due to the lure of ministerial berths or financial gains.

• Affects the Normal Functioning of Government: The infamous “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” slogan was coined against the background of continuous defections by the legislators in the 1960s. The defection leads to instability in the government and affects the administration.

• Promote Horse-Trading: Defection also promotes horse-trading of legislators which clearly go against the mandate of a democratic setup.

Sources : The Hindu , Drishti IAS and Prepp

India-Vietnam Partnership

India and Vietnam are marking 50 years of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. Rajnath Singh held bilateral talks with Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang, in Hanoi on June 8, 2022. A ‘Joint Vision Statement’ was signed between India and Vietnam to enhance defence partnership between the two countries.

Earlier, India and Vietnam signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate in the field of digital media, paving the way for further strengthening the partnership between the two countries. It promoted sharing of information and experience, cooperation to implement projects in Human Resource Development and also promoted enhanced cooperation of postal designated operators and service providers of both the countries.

Key highlights of the visit :

• India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030: Both the Defence Ministers signed the ‘Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030’ to bolster bilateral defence cooperation.

• Defence Line of Credit: The two ministers agreed on the finalisation of the USD 500 million Defence Line of Credit extended to Vietnam with implementation of the projects under it adding substantially to Vietnam’s defence capabilities and furthering the government’s vision of ‘Make in India, Make for the World.’

• Mutual Logistics Support: Both inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Logistics Support.This is a major step towards simplifying procedures for mutually beneficial logistic support and is the first such major agreement which Vietnam has signed with any country.

• Simulators and a Monetary Grant: India will gift two simulators and a monetary grant towards setting up of Language and IT (Information Technology) Lab at the Air Force Officers Training School for capacity building of the Vietnamese Armed Forces.

India-Vietnam relations :

India had established the Consul General’s office in Hanoi as early as 1956.Vietnam established its diplomatic mission in 1972.
• India had stood by Vietnam in opposing US intervention in that country at the cost of embittering Indo-US relations.
• The relationship was further strengthened when India, in the early 1990s, initiated its Look East Policy with the specific objective of economic integration and political cooperation with Southeast Asia and East Asia.
• India and Vietnam agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership in line with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN’s Outlook on Indo-Pacific to achieve shared security, prosperity and growth for all in the region.
• India realises that Vietnam is a potential regional power in South East Asia with great political stability and substantial economic growth.
• India is investing in development and capacity assistance for Vietnam through quick impact projects (QIP), proposals in the area of water resource management in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta regionSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)anddigital connectivity.
Vietnam is interested in India’s Akash surface-to-air systemsand Dhruv advanced light helicopters and Brahmos missiles.
Indian Naval Ship INS Kiltan undertook a visit to Ho Chi Minh City in 2020 to deliver flood relief materials for the people of Central Vietnam (Mission Sagar III).It also participated in the PASSEX Exercise with the Vietnam People’s Navy.
• The China factor also weighs heavily in the respective strategic calculus of India and Vietnam.Both countries had fought wars with China and both have border problems with that country. China aggressively continues to encroach in the territories of the two countries.Hence, it is natural for both the countries to come closer with a view to restrain China from its aggressive actions.
• India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM).

In 2016, the first time in 15 years, an Indian Prime Minister visited Vietnam signaling India is no longer hesitant to expand its presence in China’s periphery. India’s foreign policy envisages India to play an anchor for peace, prosperity and stability in Asia and Africa, deepening ties with Vietnam will only strengthen this narrative. As India and Vietnam geographically lie at the heart of the emerging Indo-Pacific construct, both would play a major role in this strategic space which is becoming a core theatre for competition for power and influence amongst the major powers. Strengthening ties with Vietnam will eventually lead a step towards the realisation of SAGAR (Security and Growth all in the region) initiative as hailed by the Indian PM. India and Vietnam both can mutually benefit each other in the arena of Blue Economy and ocean security.

Sources : The Hindu, Drishti IAS and The Indian Express.

What is Disaster Management?

We have always seen disasters taking many shapes. Human-made disaster results from human mistakes and incorporates modern blasts or design disappointments. Catastrophic events result from actual peculiarities and include quakes and dry seasons. Calamities delegated complexes can contain pestilence or outfitted clashes.

In any structure, disaster disrupts communities and can negatively affect individuals, property, economies, and the climate. They frequently stretch a local area’s ability to adapt. Debacle the executives in the course of successfully for and answering to disaster. It includes decisively arranging assets to decrease the mischief that calamities cause. It likewise consists of an orderly way to deal with the obligations of the calamity: counteraction, readiness, reaction, and recovery.

Figuring Out Risks in Disaster Management

Frequently, issues, for example, an effectively kept up with levee framework or other carelessness, can demolish the result of a calamity. State-run administration and associations can endure disaster by tending to conceded framework upkeep and other casual elements. A few communities are more powerless than others. For instance, more unfortunate networks have fewer assets to set themselves up for a cyclone or return quickly from flood harm. Disaster management likewise includes breaking down openness to misfortune. For instance, homes worked underneath the ocean level might confront more apparent vulnerability to flooding if a storm hits them.

The Scope of Disaster Management

Disaster management has a vast degree. To comprehend disaster management, it is helpful to concentrate on counteraction, readiness, reaction, and recuperation.

Counteraction

Moderation and avoidance endeavours expect to lessen the possible harm and experiencing that calamity can cause. While calamity the executives can’t forrestal disaster, it can keep them from becoming compounded because of dismissing casual elements and sensible dangers. Moderation explicitly alludes to activities that can reduce the seriousness of a debacle’s effect. Putting resources into measures that breakpoint dangers can significantly lessen the weight of calamities.

Systems that Disaster management the executives’ experts carry out to safeguard weak networks and restrict risks incorporate the accompanying:

  1. Bringing issues to light about expected dangers and how to address them
  2. Teaching people in general about how to get ready for various kinds of calamity appropriately
  3. Introducing and fortifying forecast and cautioning frameworks

Overseeing perils and dangers implies wanting to limit a local area’s weakness to fiascos. This can include:

  1. Empowering people group individuals to purchase suitable protection to safeguard their properties and effects
  2. Teaching families and organisations the best way to make viable fiasco plans
  3. Advancing the utilisation of fire-retardant materials in the development
  4. Supporting capital works drives, like the development and upkeep of levees
  5. Building organisations among areas and offices at the government, state, and nearby levels to team up on relief projects

Disaster management executives’ experts working on relief endeavours likewise centre around the accompanying:

Land Use and Building Codes

Building schools, medical clinics, and neighbourhoods in flood-inclined regions expand their openness to fiascos. Disaster management highlights these dangers and presents thoughts to involve land in more secure ways.

For instance, instead of building homes in floodplains, local area organisers can assign those regions as spots for outside diversion, natural life attractions, or climbing trails. They can likewise encourage individuals to stay away from these areas during flood season. These actions make inhabitants and their homes less defenceless against hurt.

Moreover, alleviation endeavours can do the accompanying:

Address ways of designing scaffolds to support tremors
Authorise building regulations that protect structures during tropical storms

Basic Infrastructure

Safeguarding a basic foundation during a debacle can mean distinguishing between life and demise. Basic foundation, which contains the frameworks and resources indispensable to a local area’s economy, security, and general wellbeing, merits special consideration for catastrophe the board relief.

Drawing up defensive estimates that line harm to water and wastewater frameworks or atomic plants, for instance, can forestall serious repercussions.
For instance, Japan experienced wrecking physical and mental results after a 2011 seismic tremor set off a tidal wave. The immersion of water sliced off the power supply to the cooling framework for Fukushima Daiichi reactors, prompting an enormous atomic mishap.
Readiness
Very much organised reactions to fiascos expect earlier preparation. This guarantees quick, mighty reaction endeavours and cut-off points copied endeavours.

Disaster readiness plans:

  1. Distinguish hierarchical assets
  2. Assign jobs and obligations
  3. Make strategies and approaches
  4. Arrange exercises that further develop calamity preparation

Expecting the necessities of networks that catastrophes influence works on the nature of the reaction endeavours. Building the limits of workers, faculty, and calamity supervisory groups to answer fiascos also makes the reaction attempts more successful.

Plans might incorporate the accompanying:

  1. Crisis cover locales
  2. Departure courses
  3. Crisis energy and water sources

They may likewise address:

  1. Levels of leadership
  2. Preparing programs
  3. Correspondence strategies
  4. Crisis supply conveyance
  5. Reserve needs

Reconstructing
revamping their lives after injury. This includes longer-term endeavours to re-establish:

  1. Lodging
  2. Economies
  3. Foundation frameworks
  4. Individual and local area wellbeing

Government offices and supporting associations assist networks with critical thinking and finding assets as they redevelop and rejuvenate.

Recuperation help might incorporate the accompanying:

  1. Joblessness help
  2. Lodging help
  3. Legitimate administrations
  4. Emotional wellbeing directing
  5. Calamity case, the executives
    Assam witnesses an annual flood, and the 2022 flood has affected lakhs of people while 1.08 lakh hectares of crops have been destroyed. Though we cannot entirely avoid disasters, we can prepare for and address them.

Avoidance endeavours and facilitated responses to disasters save lives and decrease their effect on communities. Experts in disaster management play a critical part in forestalling enduring, safeguarding individuals’ jobs, and assisting networks with recuperating. Now the question arises about what is disaster management? To address the inquiry, you ought to inspect how these experts manage disaster previously, during, and after it strikes.

Safeguard Communities by Launching a Career in Disaster Management

What is Disaster Management? It is a far-reaching way to deal with forestalling, planning, answering, and supporting crisis recuperation endeavours. Whether leading crises or the executives for human-made or cataclysmic events, experts in the field assume priceless parts in saving lives and lessening languishing.

SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT

Process of developing a sense of autonomy and self-confidence among Individual ,that allows them to act individually and collectively to have a say in social relationships and the institutions and discourses that exclude them,

The principle of personal and social empowerment is described as a process in which individuals or social groups come to acquire the skills necessary for taking control of their own lives. It is important for supporting and reinforcing the personal empowerment of other members of their group or community as well.

Social empowerment is understood as the process of developing a sense of autonomy and self-confidence. It also involves acting individually and collectively to change social relationships and the institutions and discourses that exclude poor people and lead to an increase in poverty.

Individual empowerment is influenced by individual assets like land, house, and savings along with social factors like health and education. Also, concepts of choice, liberty, agency, capacity, contribution, self-sufficiency and increased resources are all crucial to societal empowerment.

Social empowerment has both individual and community aspects related to it. Individual factors like self-esteem. Self-confidence, imagination, and aspirations all influence social full-fillment. People’s collective assets and capabilities such as voice, organisation, representation and identity also sway the social responsibility.

It is important that socially and economically backward classes of people get involved in local associations and inter-community cooperation mechanisms can contribute to social empowerment by improving their skills, knowledge, and self-perception.

Social Empowerment means all the sections of society in India, have equal control over their lives, are able to take important decisions in their lives and have equal opportunities. Without empowering all sections of society equally, a nation can never have a good growth trajectory.The government has been trying to empower different sections of our society by adopting a multi pronged strategy.

Social Empowerment – Women Empowerment

In the words of the current Prime Minister “empowering women means empowering the entire family.” In a country like India, a girl child faces challenges right from the time of her birth or one

can say a girl child has to fight even for her birth. Hence the Government of India has given a big focus on empowering women through various government sponsored schemes. Some of the important schemes are mentioned below.

  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao –

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was launched on 22 January 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It aims to address the issue of the declining child sex ratio image (CSR) and is a

national initiative jointly run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Human Resource Development. It initially focused multi-sector action in 100 districts throughout the country where there was a low CSR.

Pradhan Mantri Vandana Yojana

It is a maternity benefit program run by the Government of India. It was introduced in 2017 and is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women of 19 years of age or above for the first live birth. It provides a partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare and to provide conditions for safe delivery and good nutrition and feeding practices.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

It is a Government of India backed saving scheme targeted at the parents of girl children. The scheme encourages parents to build a fund for the future education and marriage expenses for

their female child. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015 as a part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign. The scheme currently provides high interest rates and tax benefits. The account can be opened at any India Post office or branch of authorized commercial banks.

Social Empowerment – Poor and Marginalized Sections

Marginalised sections of society are people belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes  (OBC). For poor and marginalised sections, empowerment means access to basic education, livelihood, and equal opportunities for growth. Some of the Government measures to address this section of society are mentioned below.

  • Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

It is a financial inclusion program of the Government of India open to Indian citizens (minors of age 10 and older can also open an account with a guardian to manage it), that aims to expand affordable access to financial services such as bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance pensions. This financial inclusion campaign was launched on 28 August 2014. Under this scheme 15 million bank accounts were opened on inauguration day.

  • Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana

Any Indian Citizen who has a business plan for a non-farm sector income generating activity such as manufacturing, processing, trading or service sector and whose credit need is less than Rs 10 lakh can approach either a Bank, MFI, or NBFC for availing of Micro Units Development & Refinance Agency Ltd. (MUDRA) loans under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).

Skill India

Skill India campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 July 2015 to train over 40 crore people in India in different skills by 2022.It is managed by the National Skills Development Corporation of India. United Kingdom (U.K), Japan, Oracle have collaborated with India for the Skill India Programme. One of the prominent initiatives under it is Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The aim of the PMKVY scheme is to encourage aptitude towards employable skills and to increase working efficiency of probable and existing daily wage earners, by giving monetary awards and rewards and by providing quality training to them. The

The scheme has a target to train 1 crore Indian youth from 2016-20.

Scholarship Schemes for Education

To meet its goal of educational empowerment of the SC population, a large portion of the budget of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is directed to scholarships and there has been considerable success in its distribution within the target group. Post-Matric Scholarship (PMS – SC) for SC students has been in operation since 1944 and is the single largest intervention by the Government of India for the educational empowerment of scheduled caste students. It covers approximately 55 lakh students per year, studying at the post matriculation or post-secondary stage, right up to PhD. It has had positive outcomes on literacy level of the target groups, on dropout rates, participation in higher education, and finally in achievement of excellence and building human capital for the service of the nation. Other scholarship schemes for SC students are the Pre-Matric Scholarship, Top Class Education Scheme for studying in premier educational institutions and the National Fellowship Scheme run in conjunction with UGC.

It focuses on integrated development of SC majority villages. The programme is being taken up in villages which have more than 50% SC population.

Social Empowerment – Senior Citizens

Many senior citizens feel neglected and unwanted in the twilight years of their life. Government has taken measures to enable them to lead a respectable life with economic self-sufficiency. Some of the schemes for senior citizens are listed below.

Atal Pension Yojana

It is a government-backed pension scheme in India, primarily targeted at the unorganised sector. All subscribing workers below the age of 40 are eligible for pension of up to ₹5,000 per month on attainment of 60 years of age.

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

It is a scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category. This is a Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government. The expenditure for implementation of the scheme will be met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund”. The Scheme will be implemented through the sole implementing agency – Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and

Empowerment.

Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana

This is a pension scheme for senior citizens.This to enable old age income security and welfare of Senior Citizens.

Social Empowerment – Disabled Group

For the differently able, their disability often makes them feel that they are a burden on society. Their requirements for empowerment are very different thereby requiring programmes customised to suit their needs. Some of the schemes to help them lead quality life are

mentioned below.

1. Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation schemes

2. Accessible India campaign

Social Empowerment – Scheduled Tribes

National mainstream policies and compulsions result in the tribal communities feeling either isolated from the mainstream or losing their identity. Government has taken initiatives to handle the issues faced by the Scheduled Tribes which are listed below.

1. Forest Rights Act

2. Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce.

3. Schemes for Vocational Training

HUSTLE CULTURE A TREND OR TRENDING PROBLEM FOR THE YOUTH?

Image courtesy : thesolmag.com
http://thesolmag.com

The youth are more affected by this culture & it’s making their life miserable and the most important thing is they just don’t know how to stop worrying enough about it. 

The Orthodox or popular opinion of becoming successful and achieving it all very fast ; the ultimate respect status that comes with being the all achiever is Hustle culture, driven by the desire for more. 

We are compelled to believe that time is running out and that we must do more, achieve more in less time. The most essential goal in your life should be to prioritise achievement over anything else. It shouldn’t be a big deal to sacrifice your mental and physical health for your life satisfaction. As a consequence, the youth begins to believe. We are constantly seeking more from ourselves, others, and our life. Hustle culture arose from this constant desire for more. It’s also on the upswing.

Now wanting more isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when it becomes excessive, it’s time to act.

Signs that you are a hustler :

1. You never stop overthinking –
Overanalyzing your life and ambitions lead you to constantly put self-limiting beliefs on yourself. Resulting in dread of the judgement, and assumption of the consequences which makes it worse.


2. You want to accomplish everything in one day – Being impatient with your goals and believing that completing more tasks more quickly than others will give you greater recognition and popularity.

3.You want to attain long-term goals in the short term- You focus on making the big leap instead of comprehending that it takes time, patience, and efforts to accomplish anything. Trying to skip the intermediate phases but fail and are left feeling unmotivated.


4. Trying to do all and more at once – You multitask all the time and put your work and aspirations before your needs for rest, sleep, and self-care.


5. Validation is what matters most to you – when people appreciate your achievements and proficiencies, your desire is stoked, but when it doesn’t, you spiral into self-doubt.

6.You are a materialistic life seeker – Quality of life and ideas don’t interest you & latest trends do. You are leading a typical life because you don’t know how to live otherwise

7.You feel guilty for not being productive enough– Often you feel terrible for putting comfort before your goals. Exhausting yourself completely is part of the process towards success.

8. Being ignorant about you mental health– As you pursue a career-oriented lifestyle, believing that this is the only way to gain respect and prestige, you start comparing yourself to others who are ahead of you and the seeds of self-doubt begin to grown in you.

9.You don’t put your health first – Your health is your most valuable asset and should always be prioritised above all else. Unfortunately, people frequently disregard this and endanger it in pursuit of mediocre accomplishments.

If you think you’re hustler, it’s time to take a moment and reflect. Hope you found this helpful.

CHALLENGES OF CORRUPTION

Corruption is a global phenomenon and it’s everywhere. Corruption has increased progressively and is now spreading more and more in our society. Corruption around the world is believed to be endemic and is universal and is a important contributor to slow economic growth, to restrain investment, to inhibit the provision of public services and to increase inequality to such an extent that international organisations like the World Bank have identified corruption as ‘The single greatest obstacle to economic and social development’. Theorists believe that ”corruption is most prevalent during the most intense phase of modernization of a country and tends to decline with institutionalisation of advanced democracy”. Basically, Corruption is offence on the part of an authority or powerful party through means that are not legitimate, immoral, or not compatible with ethical standards.

In a broader sense, Corruption is not just the bad behaviour of government officials stealing off money for their own benefit. It also includes cases where the systems do not work efficiently , and ordinary people are left in a dilemma, needing to give a bribe to get a work done. The economy of the state also plays an important role in increasing corruption. Inequality of wealth distribution, exploitation by employers, and low wages and salaries provide ideal breeding ground for corruption. Corruption also violates human rights, challenges the rule of law, distorts the development process, and dis-empowers the Indian state. Corruption is a hindrance in the process of fulfilling civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

FORMS OF CORRUPTION

  • Embezzlement: The theft of resources by people itself who are put to administer it. It happens When unfaithful employees steal from their employers. This is a serious offence where a public officials is misappropriating public resources, when a state official steals from the public institution in which he or she is employed and from resources he is supposed to administer on behalf of the public.
  • Nepotism: Nepotism is typical favouritism, in which an officer prefers his proper kinfolk and family members. Many unrestricted presidents have tried to secure their power position by nominating family members to key political, economic and military/security positions in the state apparatus.
  • Favouritism: Favouritism is a tool of power abuse implying “privatisation” and a highly improper distribution of state resources, no matter how these resources have been accumulated in the first place. Favouritism is the natural human tendency to favour friends, family. Favouritism is closely related to corruption so far as it implies a corrupted distribution of resources. It can be said that this is the other side of the coin where corruption is the accumulation of resources.
  • Fraud: Fraud is a financial crime that involves some kind of deception or deceit. Fraud involves a manipulation or distortion of information, facts and expertise, by public officials positioned between politicians and inhabitants, who seek to draw a private profit. Fraud is when a public official, who is responsible for carrying out the orders or tasks assigned by his superiors , manipulates the flow of information to his private profit.
  • Bribery: This form of corruption is the payment that is given or taken in a corrupt relationship. A bribe is a fixed sum, a certain percentage of a contract, or any other favour in money of kind, usually paid to a state official who can make contracts on behalf of the state or otherwise distribute benefits to companies or individuals, businessmen and clients.

Characteristics of Corruption

  1. It is a gap between group and their individual interest.
  2. It is between two or more parties since one can hardly be corrupt with one’s own self.
  3. Consenting adults that have a common understanding.
  4. It is Beneficial in future.
  5. The Existence of power that could be grabbed, entrusted or otherwise available.
  6. The misuse of the power that often drives a wedge between intended and stated positions, for benefits that is unintended.

Corruption in India is a consequence of the nexus between bureaucracy, politics and criminals. It has been observed that in cities and villages throughout India, there is “mafia raj” consisting of municipal and government officials, elected politicians, judicial officers, real estate developers and law enforcement officials, who acquire, develop and sell land in illegal ways. Many state-funded construction activities in India, such as constructing roads, flyovers, are dominated by the construction mafia, which are groupings of corrupt public works officials, materials suppliers, politicians and construction contractors.

It is now well recognized that the State is mainly responsible for both formulating and enforcing policies relating to good governance and human rights. Good governance is a key factor. The good governance agenda includes protection and promotion of human rights and rule of law. Both these functions will not be fully accomplished if corruption is widespread in government. Major challenge is that Corruption is a strong violator of human rights, particularly the economic and social rights of individuals as well as those of the State. It not only weakens development and growth, it also hinders efforts aimed at poverty eradication, socio-economic transformation and creation of an egalitarian society in accordance with the Directive Principles of the State Policy.

CAPITALISM

Capitalism is a political and economic system where a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners and not by the state. It is basically a system where there is private ownership of property. Capitalistic ownership means owners control the factors of production and derive their income from their ownership. That gives them the ability to operate their companies efficiently. It works for profit maximisation rather than public benefit. Capitalism needs a free market to work efficiently and succeed.   In a capitalist society, the distribution of goods and services is according to the laws of demand and supply. According to the law of demand, when the demand for a particular product increases then it also leads to an increase in its price. In a capitalist society there are a number of competitors. When these competitors realise that they can make a higher profit since the demand is high then, they increase production . The greater supply reduces prices to a level where only the best competitors remain.

EMERGENCE OF CAPITALISM

Capitalism emerged during the 16th century and expanded during the Industrial Revolution, pushed forward by colonialism, the nascent factory system, and the Atlantic Slave Trade. This system generated wealth and prestige for owners, but also exploited people who had very little or no power like the workers in the factory and people indigenous to Africa and the Americas. The expansion of Capitalism in America in the 19th-century relied on economic growth and was generated through the labour of enslaved people on land that were forcefully taken from Native Americans.

The United States is one example of capitalism. The other examples of capitalist countries are: Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, Ireland , United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark etc.

HOW CAPITALISM WORKS

In a capitalist society the owner of supply competes against each other to earn the highest profit by selling the goods at the highest possible price while keeping their costs as low as possible. Competition keeps prices moderate and production efficient, although it can also lead to worker exploitation and poor labour conditions. As there are a number of options for the consumer in the market due to competition then the consumer has a lot of choices.

Another component of capitalism is the free operation of the capital markets. The laws of supply and demand set fair prices for stocks, bonds, derivatives, currency, and commodities. Capital markets also  allow the companies to raise funds to expand.

According to the  economic theory Laissez- faire it argues that the government should take a hands-off approach to capitalism and should only intervene to maintain a level playing field. The government’s role is to protect the free market. It should prevent the unfair advantages obtained by monopolies or oligarchies. It ought to prevent the manipulation of information, making sure it is distributed equitably.

ADVANTAGES OF CAPITALISM

  • It creates healthy competition in the market.
  • Due to the number of companies and products in the market consumers have more choices.
  • Since the consumer’s demands are high and they will pay more for what they want, Capitalism results in the best products for the best prices.
  • It results in efficient production. In a capitalist system, firms have incentives to be productively efficient by cutting costs to improve competitiveness and productivity. If firms don’t remain productive and efficient they will run out of business.
  • Capitalism encourages trade between different nations and different people which is a mechanism for overcoming discrimination and bringing people together.
  • It raises the standard of living.
  • As the capitalist economy is dependent on the push factor of individuals, there is no limit to the level of wealth an individual can accumulate through progression within the economy.
  • Through capitalism, firms and companies are inclined to produce with greater efficiency, by cutting cost and improving efficiency. This is done with an aim to prevent losses in an industry where competition is high, bettering the economy as a whole.

DISADVANTAGES OF CAPITALISM

  • Private ownership of capital enables firms to gain a monopoly power in product and labour markets. Firms with monopoly power can exploit their position to charge higher prices.
  • Social benefit is ignored, as the owner cares about profit maximisation, public good is ignored, the poor people who cannot afford expensive products have no option.
  • A capitalist society argues it is good if people can earn more leading to income and wealth inequality. However, this ignores the diminishing marginal utility of wealth.
  • In a capitalist system where the means of production and distribution of goods and services are owned by just a few members of the society, the wealth of an entire nation could be controlled by just a few wealthy individuals and families and hence there is unequal distribution of wealth.
  • Due to the market being profit and demand driven, negative externalities such as pollution are generally ignored until they become a serious issue within the economy.
  • Socialists and communists are people who do not support capitalism. They say it hurts workers, because businesses make more money by selling things than they pay the workers who make the things. Business owners become rich while workers remain poor and exploited. 

Source: https://www.thebalance.com/capitalism-characteristics-examples

The history of bitcoin : The first cryptocurrency

What is Bitcoin?

A photo to accompany a story about what is Bitcoin

 

What Is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin was created in 2009 on the heels of the economic recession. Bitcoin was created to be an electronic peer-to-peer cash system, but has also attracted crypto-curious investors as a store-of-value currency, comparable to gold. 

History of Bitcoin

The concept of Bitcoin was published in a white paper written by an anonymous figure under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008. No one knows the author’s true identity — or if it’s even a single person, rather than a group of people. The paper outlined how Bitcoin would work, and the currency officially launched on Jan. 3, 2009, according to Ollie Leech, learn editor at CoinDesk, a leading cryptocurrency news outlet.

How Bitcoin Works

Bitcoin’s maximum supply is 21 million — and that’s all there ever will be.  

When a cryptocurrency is released, the creator(s) can set its parameters (how much there is, rules for buying and selling, how new Bitcoins are added to the marketplace, etc.), which cannot be changed after the fact. Locked in from the start, these rules effectively make Bitcoin a truly scarce resource, with a ceiling on the total amount that will ever be available. 

“No one, not a government, not Satoshi themselves, can change that now that it’s been released,” says Leech. “You cannot duplicate Bitcoins, you cannot recreate them.”

That’s where the comparison to gold falls a little flat, because gold is constantly entering the market as new ores and pockets are discovered, making it only a relatively scarce resource. 

Bitcoin is also much more transferable and more easily stored compared to a resource like gold. If you want to move gold, it’ll cost a lot of money (armored transport, security, cost of storage in a secure facility, etc.). Bitcoin can essentially be stored on a USB stick — in something known as a cold or hard wallet.

Investment vs. Cash

Bitcoin was designed to be an electronic cash, as its white paper explains. But the currency’s volatility pretty much immediately scrapped this original intent, according to Leech. 

For example, no person “in their right mind” would want to buy coffee with Bitcoin, says Leech. That’s because you could buy a coffee worth $3 today with Bitcoin, and tomorrow that same Bitcoin is worth $30, and you’ve effectively spent $30 on a cup of coffee. 

Or take it from the merchant’s point of view — you use Bitcoin for your $3 coffee, and tomorrow that Bitcoin is worth 60 cents. Then the merchant lost out. “The price volatility kind of makes it completely useless as an electronic cash system,” says Leech. 

Similar to gold, people buy Bitcoin “not because they expect to be able to go to the store and spend it, but because they expect it to hold its value,” says Galen Moore, director of data and indexes at CoinDesk. “For the same reason people would have diamonds, or some $100 bills, or some gold coins in a safe,” they would keep a digital wallet with their Bitcoin on it. 

Why Is Bitcoin So Volatile?

Cryptocurrency volatility is mostly due to the “immature market,” says Leech. “Traders are very susceptible to emotion and fear and greed, and so you get these really extreme market reactions.”

There are also new regulations and policies that are constantly reshaping the market and causing drastic swings. And then there’s social media. 

“It’s this weird new thing where viral social trends, like Wall Street Bets or Elon Musk for example, have a huge influence over crypto,” says Leech. “If Elon Musk puts hashtag Bitcoin in his Twitter bio, it sends Bitcoin up 10%.” 

With so little historical context compared to more conventional investments, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies should still be considered riskier assets, Danial says. The potential reward comes with higher risk, so make sure any investment in Bitcoin is included in your broader portfolio’s riskier, more aggressive allocation.

Bitcoin Mining

With Bitcoin, there is a finite supply of 21 million coins — though not all them were released when Bitcoin launched in 2009. About 18 million of 21 million Bitcoin have been added to circulation since the “genesis block,” the first block of Bitcoin, was mined by Satoshi Nakamoto, says Leech. 

New gold enters the market from mining as well — though with gold it is impossible to know exactly how much there remains to be discovered and mined.

New Bitcoin is discovered and made available to buy and sell via a digital mining process, which involves discovering new blocks’ unique hash (a very long string of numbers and letters) using an algorithm. Blocks are just groupings of transactions occurring within a given time frame, and new blocks are constantly made available. 

Each block discovered via the mining process unlocks a set amount of Bitcoin. This reaps rewards for those who discover new blocks, and makes new Bitcoin available to buyers. There’s no rhyme or reason to each block’s hash, so miners set their computers to create many guesses per second to try and guess these random codes. 

Miners use powerful computers referred to as “nodes” to search for and discover new blocks. Anyone can be a Bitcoin miner using free software available on Bitcoin.org, but running a computer like this consumes lots of storage space and energy.

Whoever guesses the code first gets the right to create the next block — and pick up the transaction fees from it when its Bitcoin gets bought and sold. “Each new block has a treasure chest. And inside is a block reward which is free Bitcoin that enters the market,” says Leech. 

This mining process is another factor contributing to Bitcoin’s wild day-to-day swings. 

Today, about 900 Bitcoin enter circulation every day through mining, according to Leech. But there’s a cyclical trend called “halving” written into Bitcoin’s original code. Every four years, the amount of new Bitcoin entering circulation every day gets halved. 

The last halving was in 2020, so in April or May of 2024 the amount of Bitcoin entering circulation each day will be reduced again. The reduction will keep happening until the last Bitcoin is mined, which is predicted to happen in the year 2140, says Leech. 

This halving has happened three times since Bitcoin was introduced, with its adoption rising all the while. So the effects of halving on the price of Bitcoin are difficult to pinpoint. The first halving, in 2012, led to a rise in the value of Bitcoin, while the second halving in 2016 led to an initial drop before rising again. The third halving in May 2020 saw no drastic impacts to the price of Bitcoin, which has maintained record high prices since late 2020.

With each halving comes more market fluctuation to the price of Bitcoin. “It’s deflationary by design,” says Leech. 

All about Cryptocurrency you need to know

What is cryptocurrency?

Cryptocurrency is a digital payment system that doesn’t rely on banks to verify transactions. It’s a peer-to-peer system that can enable anyone anywhere to send and receive payments. Instead of being physical money carried around and exchanged in the real world, cryptocurrency payments exist purely as digital entries to an online database describing specific transactions. When you transfer cryptocurrency funds, the transactions are recorded in a public ledger. Cryptocurrency is stored in digital wallets.

The first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, which was founded in 2009 and remains the best known today. Much of the interest in cryptocurrencies is to trade for profit, with speculators at times driving prices skyward.

How does cryptocurrency work?

Cryptocurrencies run on a distributed public ledger called blockchain, a record of all transactions updated and held by currency holders.

Units of cryptocurrency are created through a process called mining, which involves using computer power to solve complicated mathematical problems that generate coins. Users can also buy the currencies from brokers, then store and spend them using cryptographic wallets.

If you own cryptocurrency, you don’t own anything tangible. What you own is a key that allows you to move a record or a unit of measure from one person to another without a trusted third party.

Although Bitcoin has been around since 2009, cryptocurrencies and applications of blockchain technology are still emerging in financial terms, and more uses are expected in the future. Transactions including bonds, stocks, and other financial assets could eventually be traded using the technology.

Cryptocurrency examples

There are thousands of cryptocurrencies. Some of the best known include:

Bitcoin:

Founded in 2009, Bitcoin was the first cryptocurrency and is still the most commonly traded. The currency was developed by Satoshi Nakamoto – widely believed to be a pseudonym for an individual or group of people whose precise identity remains unknown.

Ethereum:

Developed in 2015, Ethereum is a blockchain platform with its own cryptocurrency, called Ether (ETH) or Ethereum. It is the most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin.

Litecoin:

This currency is most similar to bitcoin but has moved more quickly to develop new innovations, including faster payments and processes to allow more transactions.

Ripple:

Ripple is a distributed ledger system that was founded in 2012. Ripple can be used to track different kinds of transactions, not just cryptocurrency. The company behind it has worked with various banks and financial institutions.

Non-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies are collectively known as “altcoins” to distinguish them from the original.

How to buy cryptocurrency

You may be wondering how to buy cryptocurrency safely. There are typically three steps involved. These are:

Step 1: Choosing a platform

The first step is deciding which platform to use. Generally, you can choose between a traditional broker or dedicated cryptocurrency exchange:

  • Traditional brokers. These are online brokers who offer ways to buy and sell cryptocurrency, as well as other financial assets like stocks, bonds, and ETFs. These platforms tend to offer lower trading costs but fewer crypto features.
  • Cryptocurrency exchanges. There are many cryptocurrency exchanges to choose from, each offering different cryptocurrencies, wallet storage, interest-bearing account options, and more. Many exchanges charge asset-based fees.

When comparing different platforms, consider which cryptocurrencies are on offer, what fees they charge, their security features, storage and withdrawal options, and any educational resources.

Step 2: Funding your account

Once you have chosen your platform, the next step is to fund your account so you can begin trading. Most crypto exchanges allow users to purchase crypto using fiat (i.e., government-issued) currencies such as the US Dollar, the British Pound, or the Euro using their debit or credit cards – although this varies by platform.

Crypto purchases with credit cards are considered risky, and some exchanges don’t support them. Some credit card companies don’t allow crypto transactions either. This is because cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and it is not advisable to risk going into debt — or potentially paying high credit card transaction fees — for certain assets.

Some platforms will also accept ACH transfers and wire transfers. The accepted payment methods and time taken for deposits or withdrawals differ per platform. Equally, the time taken for deposits to clear varies by payment method.

An important factor to consider is fees. These include potential deposit and withdrawal transaction fees plus trading fees. Fees will vary by payment method and platform, which is something to research at the outset.

Step 3: Placing an order

You can place an order via your broker’s or exchange’s web or mobile platform. If you are planning to buy cryptocurrencies, you can do so by selecting “buy,” choosing the order type, entering the amount of cryptocurrencies you want to purchase, and confirming the order. The same process applies to “sell” orders.

There are also other ways to invest in crypto. These include payment services like PayPal, Cash App, and Venmo, which allow users to buy, sell, or hold cryptocurrencies. In addition, there are the following investment vehicles:

  • Bitcoin trusts: You can buy shares of Bitcoin trusts with a regular brokerage account. These vehicles give retail investors exposure to crypto through the stock market. 
  • Bitcoin mutual funds: There are Bitcoin ETFs and Bitcoin mutual funds to choose from. 
  • Blockchain stocks or ETFs: You can also indirectly invest in crypto through blockchain companies that specialize in the technology behind crypto and crypto transactions. Alternatively, you can buy stocks or ETFs of companies that use blockchain technology.

The best option for you will depend on your investment goals and risk appetite.

Types of personalities

Personality is the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character

Basically there are 3 types of personalities :-

  1. Introvert
  2. Extrovert
  3. Ambivert
  1. Introvert

Introverts are those people who are not very confident about themselves, they are not shy but they avoid interactions with others and are very emotional.

Phrases you could use to say you are an introvert –

I’m kind of reserved – This means you are a very private person; you share things with limited people.

I like to spend time with close friends – You restrict yourself from making many friends and are very choosy about making friends.

I usually listen more than I speak – You generally like to listen carefully and won’t share your opinion or ideas openly and socially.

2) Extrovert

Extroverts are those people who gain energy by being around people. They are extremely friendly and who love discussing their ideas with others or simply love spending time socially.

Phrases you could use to say you are an extrovert –

I’m really outgoing – Someone who is socially confident

I’m a gregarious person – Gregarious means you are sociable and you love being around people. Someone who love discussing ideas openly.

I’m a social butterfly – This means you are friendly and love being socially active and are easily approachable.

I’m very friendly – You could be friends with anyone, anytime.

3) Ambivert

Ambiverts are generally who have a balance of extroverts and introverts in their personality.

Phrases you could use to say you are an ambivert

I alter my personality based on the situation – You are able to adjust with extroverts and introverts based on the situations.

When a topic of interest comes up, I’m more than happy to talk about it – If it’s your subject of conversation you would display the qualities of an extrovert and vice-versa.

Spending too much time with other people can be exhausting – You like spending time with people but can’t hold on to it for long, you are social but not a social butterfly.

We hope you have liked this lesson and you would use the English phrases you just learned in your daily English speaking. Thanks for watching, come back for new lessons.

What does your zodiac sign says about you?

The zodiac is a diagram used by astrologers to represent the positions of the planets and stars. It is divided into twelve sections, each of which has its own name and symbol. The zodiac is used to try to calculate the influence of the planets, especially on someone’s life.

There are 12 zodiac signs in total :-

  • Aries (March 21 – April 19)
  • Taurus (April 20 – May 20)
  • Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
  • Cancer (June 21 – July 22)
  • Leo (July 23 – August 22)
  • Virgo (August 23 – September 22)
  • Libra (September 23 – October 22)
  • Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)
  • Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)
  • Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)
  • Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)
  • Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
  1. ARIES

Aries loves to be number one, Bold and ambitious

2) TAURUS

 Enjoy relaxing in serene, bucolic environments surrounded by soft sounds, soothing aromas, and succulent flavors

3) GEMINI

 Playful, and adorably erratic, usually driven by its insatiable curiosity.

4) CANCER

 Ability to exist in both emotional and material realms.

5) LEO

Passionate, loyal, and infamously dramatic

6) VIRGO

logical, practical, and systematic in their approach to life

7) LIBRA

Balance, harmony, and justice define Libra energy.

8) SCORPIO

Elusive and mysterious

9) SAGITTARIUS

Chasing adventure, keen to know new things

10) CAPRICORN

Patient, preservance and dedicated

11) AQUARIUS

Innovative, progressive, and shamelessly revolutionary

12) PISCES

Intuitive, sensitive, and empathetic

ISSUES RELATING TO POVERTY AND HUNGER

India is a country which suffers a lot due to hunger and poverty. Hunger is very closely related to poverty as poverty is one of the main reasons for hunger. 

Indian economist and philosopher Amartya Sen said that lack of ability to pay for food is obviously caused by poverty.

POVERTY

Poverty is a condition caused due to lack of basic needs of life such as water, health care, food, unemployment etc. It is described as the low income level of people which leads them to poor standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment is so low that even the basic human needs are not fulfilled. The impact of poverty on children is substantial. Children who grow up in poverty typically suffer from severe and frequent health problems; infants born into poverty have an increased chance of low birth weight, which can lead to physical and mental disabilities. Poverty is a difficult cycle to break and often passes from one generation to the next. Typical consequences of poverty include alcohol and substance abuse, limited access to education, poor housing and living conditions, and increased levels of disease. 

Hunger and food insecurity are the most serious forms of extreme poverty. To eradicate these issues from society is the prime concern of international organizations.

HUNGER

Hunger is a global problem and a lot of countries are facing this problem. Hunger is a condition where both the adults as well as children do not have access to food and there is a constant decrease in food intake, nutrients, no proper diet is there and some days are even gone without food which eventually leads to their death.

Climate change is also one of the reasons for world hunger. The amount of rain determines the production of crops. Droughts also affects agricultural production and extreme rain also causes flooding that leads to destruction of crops . Use of outdated products, not using better quality seeds also leads to shortage of food and those who are capable and have money buys food even at higher prices, the ones who have to suffer are poor people. They do not have money to buy food and hence they remain hungry. Hunger has a lot of serious problems such as insufficient economic systems, climate changes, misinformation but the most serious problem of all is poverty. Many poor nations such as Kenya, Uganda etc. are in desperate need of food. The growing population is one of the major causes of rising hunger and poverty. In Indian scenario Hunger and malnutrition are closely related. The main outcome of poverty is hunger. India is a home to the largest undernourished population in the world, 14℅ of our population is undernourished, 20℅ of children under 5 are underweight, 34.7℅ of children are stunned, 51.4℅ of women in the in the reproductive age i.e. 15-49 are anemic.

DIFFERENT ISSUES RELATING TO HUNGER AND POVERTY

Overpopulation is a major issue of rising poverty. There are not enough resources to satisfy your need. Demand is more and resources are limited and this leads to no proper distribution of resources and a large amount of people are left with no food. India is a country with a large population, and hence everyone’s demand is not full and people remain hungry.

Poor health service– the health sector of India is not as efficient as compared to other developed Nations, which leads to less access to good health and sanitization and hence causes ill health and maintains poverty.

Malnutrition- It is a phenomena that occurs in a human body when it receives little or no nutrition as a result of it people easily get sick and it causes death. it is responsible for the death of people, especially young children.

Insufficient education and lack of training- due to Rising poverty children are not able to get basic education and again since they are not educated, they don’t get employed and this vicious cycle of poverty is continued. Lack of money is reason for them not attending proper School and they have to indulge in labour to provide for a minimal living also causes rise for child labour. Parents send their children to work at a very young age.

Inequality– different gender, ethnic, group and social classes face inequality due to poverty. Low rate of economic development, If a country is poor then its development is also very slow.

Rise in crime – Often due to poverty and hunger, people indulge in criminal activities. To fill their empty stomach many young children opt for wrong ways and indulge in theft and loot and its disturbance in the society.

Way Forward

To eradicate poverty and hunger from the society, there is a need for the government to implement schemes and methods. The government should spend more in health, nutrition, and education. The government should invest more in agriculture and provide the farmers with better quality seeds and advanced machineries and modern techniques for more agricultural production, Also it is necessary to decrease rural poverty. Subsidies address only short-term issues. There is a need to develop technologies, with the help of which farmers can practice all-weather agriculture. Government should focus on increasing employment opportunities creating jobs in modern sectors and promote labor-intensive industries. Reduction in corruption will lead to an overall development of the economy. A country with low poverty level will only develop in a better manner.

Sources: civilservicesindia.com

Gamma Ray Bursts

Gamma ray bursts are the most energetic and luminous electromagnetic events since the Big Bang. It can release more energy in 10 seconds than the Sun can emit in its entire 10 billion years of expected lifetime. They are the most powerful events in the universe, detectable across billions of light-years. They are high energy explosion that occurs in space atleast once everyday. They can last from milliseconds to a minute. It isn’t possible to predict the exact time and location of its occurrences.

What are Gamma Rays ?

Gamma rays are ionizing electromagnetic radiation, obtained by the decay of an atomic nucleus. Gamma rays are  penetrating form of electromagnetic radiations and can damage living cells to a great extent. They have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy of any wave in the EV spectrum. They are produced by the hottest and most energetic objects in the universe such as neutron stars and , supernova explosions and regions around black holes. On Earth , gamma rays are generated by nuclear explosions,lightning and the less dramatic activity of radioactive decay.

Gamma ray detectors :

Gamma rays can’t be captured and reflected by mirrors like optical light and x-rays. Its wavelength is too short to pass through the space.
Gamma ray detectors contain densely packed crystal blocks. As Gamma rays pass through,  they collide with electrons in the crystal.
This process is called Compton Scattering where a gamma ray strikes an electron and loses energy. These collisions create charged particles that can be detected by the sensor.

Type of Gamma Ray Bursts :

1. Long GRBs :
• They observe long bursts in association with the demise of massive stars.
• When a star much more massive than the Sun runs out of fuel, its core suddenly collapses and forms a black hole.
• Black hole refers to a point in space where matter is so compressed as to create a gravity field from which even light cannot escape.
• As matter swirls toward the black hole, some of it escapes in the form of two powerful jets that rush outward at almost the speed of light in opposite directions.
• Astronomers only detect a GRB when one of these jets happens to point almost directly toward Earth.
• Following the burst, the disrupted star then rapidly expands as a supernova.

2. Short GRBs :
• Short GRB forms when pairs of compact objects – such as neutron stars, which also form during stellar collapse – spiral inward over billions of years and collide.
• A Neutron star comprises one of the possible evolutionary end-points of high mass stars.

GRB 200826A :

• NASA’s Fermi spotted a very short, powerful Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) that lasted for about a second. It was named GRB 200826A after the date it occurred, which is 26th August 2020. It was a sharp blast of high-energy emission lasting just 0.65 seconds.
• After traveling for a very long period of time through the expanding universe, the signal had stretched out to about one-second-long when it was detected by Fermi’s Gamma-ray Burst Monitor.
• It had been racing toward Earth for nearly half the present age of the universe.
• It is considered to be the the shortest GRB till now and it is caused by the death of a massive star.
• It emitted 14 million times the energy released by entire milky way galaxy over the same amount of time , making it one of  the most energetic short duration GRBs ever seen.

Significance of GRB 200826A :
It has helped to resolve the long-standing issues related to gamma-ray bursts. Also, this study triggers to re-analyse all such known events to constrain number densities better.

Sources : PIB and Dristi IAS

ROLE OF FAMILY,SOCIETY AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN INCULCATIONG VALUES

Family, society, and educational institutions play a very major role in building one’s character or personality. These institutions impart value to an individual and help them become a better person in society. One learns what one listens. Young children very much learn what they see around them. If they see good they learn good and if they see bad they will learn that as well. The role of family is important because an individual lives there and learns from there, society influences an individual’s behaviour and educational institutions are where an individual learns. Now we’ll see how these factors help in inculcating values in an individual.

ROLE OF FAMILY

Family is a place where one grows, and learns the most. Just like the saying charity begins at home similarly an individual’s education starts from home. It is like a foundation where values are built. Values like respecting elders, honesty, justice, respect for both genders all taught at home. If within a family there are differences or if the home environment is not healthy then this also affects the individual. The values practised by the other members of the family also shapes the child’s attitude towards other people or towards the society. Values like love, care, protection all these start from family. If a child experiences love, care, comfort then he/she will have a positive attitude toward others and will behave the same with others and will inspire others as well. Family’s environment will help a child to socialise and progress in the society.

The system of joint family that is the presence of elder family members also has a great influence on an individual. It helps in developing social and moral values. They learn human values and respecting elders and this will help in eradicating negative mental tendencies when they are among elders. In a family an individual not only learns about values but also about their customs and culture and enhancing one’s culture proudly is also a very good value. The attitude of one family member towards another also affects individual behaviour. For example if child see his father not respecting his mother then he may feel that this is how it is supposed to be and he may also do the same thing with his wife but if he sees his father respecting her mother, giving her importance which she deserves the he will also treat his wife in respective manner so it is very important for a family to not just inculcate good values to the younger generation but they themselves should have good value so the future generation could learn from them.

The values that are taught in the family helps a child to learn, grow and progress in the society. Family values enhance a child’s personality and character and help them in becoming a better human being.

ROLE OF SOCIETY

When we grow older our social world also expands, now not only family but we become a part of society. Society also plays an important role in inculcating values. When a child grows it goes outside to make friends and share each other’s thoughts. Society also shapes an individual’s character. Societies follow certain traditions and customs and being a part of the society, we are also a part of these customs and traditions. These customs and traditions are being followed from generations and these are based on values such as loyalty, courage, love and brotherhood. We celebrate different festivals together which portray love and happiness and we not only celebrate festivals of one tradition or religion, but being part of such a diverse country we get to enjoy festivals and customs of different religions which shows mutual respect towards each other and toward different individuals in a society. Religion is a very important social institution in our Indian society and these religions are embedded with cultural values. Society creates social order, the diversity present in our society teaches mutual love, respect and inculcates a variety of values and holistic development of individuals. The social influence and the urge to become an inspiring personality in a society helps in developing good values in an individual. The great inspiring personalities, influencer leaders and celebrities also have a great influence in society. Young individuals learn and get inspired by them so it is also an important job for these powerful personalities to set a good example for the younger generation.

ROLE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Apart from home, a child spends most of his/her time at school. The first formal place of socialisation and the first and foremost important value that it teaches is discipline. The educational institutions have a proper disciplined environment. In an educational institution, the day starts with the prayer which teaches gratitude. Different school activities inculcate different values such as teamwork, sportsmanship spirit, competitiveness, etc. Different programs of Community work help in inculcating values like empathy, care, unity, etc. Peer groups also play an important role, students often get feedback about their behaviour from their fellow classmates or friends. Teachers also act as role models for the students, when a teacher asks students to behave in a certain manner then they tend to take it more seriously as compared to any family member or friend. The reward and punishment system also helps as children behave in a good manner for rewards and to protect their self esteem from getting punished. Every school or educational institution has their philosophy or motto and these help in inculcation of good values.

“Intelligence plus character, that is the true goal of education”. – Martin Luther King

Value is something that is not restricted to a certain age or gender or place. It is something which is lifelong, it can be learned at any age and be practiced throughout one’s life. Good values build one character and make an individual a better human being . A man with good values is respected everywhere in the society so it is very important to inculcate good values in life. There are different characters in an individual life that add to his/her character and personality. The influence of family, society and educational institutions have the strongest influence upon an individual and thus it affects in developing an individual personality whether positively or negatively.  

Sources: diyethics.forumias.com

AGNIPATH SCHEME

On 14 June 2022, the central government launched the Agnipath scheme which is a recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the three services of the armed forces. With this scheme, the central government hopes to fulfill the dream of an individual to join the armed forces and serve the nation. Various other reasons for the government to start this scheme were to reduce salaries and defence pension bill, to increase employment opportunities and higher skilled work force and to provide a youthful profile to the armed forces. One of the important reasons was also to have a large number of military trained and disciplined people in the society. The soldiers recruited through this scheme will be known as ‘AGNIVEERS’.

Under this scheme 45,000 to 50,000 youth aged between 17.5 to 21 years will be recruited annually for 4 years in the Navy, Air force & Armed forces. Enrollment will be based on an ‘All India All Class’ basis. The enrolment of the Agniveers to all the three services will be through a centralized online system, with special rallies and campus interviews at recognized technical institutes such as the National skills Qualifications framework, Industrial Training Institutes. In each batch, 25% of Engineers will be chosen for the permanent cadre in the armed services. The remaining 75% of Agniveers will receive an amount of Rs. 11.71 lakh as Seva Nidhi Package.

The salary per month of the Agniveers is Rs. 30,000 in 1st year, Rs. 33,00 in 2nd year, Rs. 36,500 in 3rd year and Rs. 40,000 in 4th year but the Agniveers contribution to Seva Nidhi will be 30% which means 30% will be deducted from the initial salary which means in hand they will receive 21,000 in first year, 23,100 in second year, 25,580 in third year and 28,000 in fourth year.

The Agniveers will also receive a non-contributory insurance cover of Rs. 48 lakh during the period.

Every demolished AGNIVEER will have a 10% reservation in CAPFs, Assam Rifle recruitment. They are also provided with the Upper age relaxation beyond the prescribed age limit for AGNIVEERS in CAPF & Assam Rifles. Other benefits include:

  • Priority in bank loan schemes in case they want to be entrepreneurs.
  • Many other states including Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have stated that agniveers will be given priority in the recruitment of state police officers.
  • Some major companies and sectors like IT, Engineering Security, etc. have also announced that they will prefer hiring skilled, trained, and disciplined Agniveers.
  • It also stated that all those wishing to study further class 12 equivalent certificate and Bridging Course of choice for further studies.

The Upper age limit for recruitment has also increased only for 2022 under the Agnipath scheme to 23 years from 21 years for the first year of the scheme for enrolment of soldiers into the Army, Navy and Air Force.

AIM OF THE SCHEME

  • One of the important aims of the scheme is to make the army a future-ready fighting force with the youth of the nation capable of meeting multiple challenges.
  • To strengthen the national security
  • To provide the youth of the nation to serve the country.
  • To cut down salary and pension bills.
  • To harness the youth potential and make them future ready soldiers.
  • They will be provided with certificates and bridge courses that will help in creating future entrepreneurs.

CRITICISM OF THE SCHEMES

After the announcement of this scheme, there were several protests held throughout the country in several states. Students from throughout the country held riots, burned trains, and caused severe damage to the public as well as private properties. This scheme is criticized on a number of basis such as:

  • The service period that is 4 years is very less and it will provide employment for just 4 years. T
  • he real skills cannot be acquired in such a short period and what about those who want to serve the nation for longer terms.
  • only 25% of the candidates will be taken permanently and the rest 75% will again be unemployed.
  • No pension will be given to these candidates that will be appointed during this scheme.
  • The candidates that will be selected will only be selected for non-commissioned ranks like Naik, Sepoy, and Lance Naik.
  • The recruitment is only for candidates of 17.5 – 23 years of age.
  • After 4 years is over, there will be no job security.
  • Unlike other governments’ jobs no extra basic benefits will be provided to the candidates.
  • The salary will also be deducted for the Seva Nidhi contribution.

With the provided advantages and disadvantages of this AGNIPATH scheme it is way forward for a reform in the Defence policy. This schemes aims to increase employment opportunities with skills and training, to give a better opportunity to the youth who choose to serve the nation and it hopes to have a positive impact on the human resouces management of armed forces and for the country’s development.

Sources: https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/agnipath-defence-policy-reforms/

GOVERNMENT BUDGET

Government is required to undertake various economic, social, and other activities in every country. It is like to pursue various policies to achieve certain objectives like economic development, reduction of inequalities of income and wealth. The government has to incur expenditure in performing these activities and in pursuing its policies. For instance, the government has to incur expenditure in maintaining law and order and in undertaking various developmental activities. As such, government has to raise necessary revenue to finance these expenditures.

Accordingly, the government has to draw a financial plan corresponding to various activities it wants to undertake during the coming year . Such a financial plan is known as the budget of the government. “Budget of the government is an annual financial statement describing in detail the estimated receipts and proposed expenditures and disbursements of the government under various heads for the financial or fiscal year. The budget is the indicator of government functioning. It also gives the actual financial accounts for the previous year and the revised estimates for the current ye . In other democratic countries ,the government budget is a constitutional obligation in India. Under Article 112 of the constitution, a statement of estimated receipts and proposed expenditures of the Central Government has to be prepared for every financial or fiscal year and has to be placed before the parliament. It is titled Budget of the central government.

Government budget is a subject of immense importance for a variety of reasons.

  • Planned approach to government’s activities: The importance of government budget arises because of the fact that the activities of the government have increased tremendously. This calls for mobilization of large resources to meet the expenditure required to undertake these activities. There has to be a definite planning with regard to the estimated revenue and proposed expenditure for the proper conduct of the government activities.
  • Integrated Approach to Fiscal Operations: All these decisions and policies are interconnected and they must form a part of the overall set of objectives which the government wants to pursue. Government’s fiscal policy as reflected in the budget is an essential part of its overall economic and social policy.
  • Public Accountability: Budget proposals are discussed in the parliament. A popular debate also takes place in the media about the budget proposals. Parliament also exercises control over the government expenditure through various committees – Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings. Thus, Budget serves as a powerful weapon of financial control in respect of both collection of revenues and their disbursement.

STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT BUDGET

Constitution of the country demands that the budget must distinguish expenditure on revenue account from the expenditure on capital account. Revenue account covers those items which are recurring nature, while capital account covers those items which are of the nature of creating or reducing the capital assets. Budget is necessarily presented in two parts:

  • REVENUE BUDGET
  • CAPITAL BUDGET

Revenue budget shows revenue receipts of the government and the expenditures met from these revenue receipts. It consists of revenue receipts and revenue expenditure. Revenue receipts of the government are all those receipts which are non-redeemable. They create no liabilities or involve no sale or reduction in the assets of the government. Revenue expenditures relate to expenditures incurred by the government on day to day normal functioning of the government and interest payment on government debts. These expenditures neither create any physical or financial assets nor reduce any liability of the government .

Capital Budget comprises capital receipts and capital expenditure of the government. It shows capital requirements of the government and financing of these expenditures. Capital receipts are the receipts of the government which create liabilities or reduce assets of the government. The main component is to borrowing of all kinds from the public, RBI and repayment of loans to the central government by state government and public sector enterprises. Capital expenditures are those expenditures of the government which lead to creation of physical and financial assets or reduction of financial liabilities.

BUDGET DEFICITS

An important issue which is raked up every year during the budget in India is the issue of budget deficit. In the past two to three decades, government spending has increased more than its receipts. As a result , budget deficits and the government borrowings have increased sharply. Although politicians regularly make fine speeches about the need to reduce deficit, cutting down spending or raising taxes so as to reduce deficit are not politically popular. In every budget , the government has been setting the target of reducing the budget deficit, but reaching the target of reducing budget deficit has been rather difficult.

Budget deficit is financed by increasing the money supply and by borrowing from public and from other countries. This involves burden both on present as well as the future generations. The present generation has to shoulder the burden of budget deficits in terms of inflationary rise in prices. Higher debt also means that interest payments eat away a large part of government expenditure, which could otherwise be used for providing various economic and social services to the public. This deficit is a liability for future generations as well. Taxes will have to be increased in future to pay interest on the debt and to repay the debt. This is the burden of the debt on future generations.

SOME FACTS ABOUT INDIAN BUDGET OVER THE YEARS

  • The budget system was introduced in India on 7 April,1860.
  • James Wilson, the first Indian Finance member, delivered the budget speech
  • The first budget after independence was presented on 26 November, 1947 by R.K.S. Chetty.
  • Yashwant Sinha, the then finance minister, moved the budget to 11a.m. in 1999, instead of 5 P.M. as was the practice till then.
  • Arun Jaitley, the present Finance minister, has advanced the presentation of the budget to 1st February from the 2017-18 Budget. He has presented 4 regular budgets till date.
  • 24 people have presented budget in independent India.
  • Morarji Desai holds the record for the most budget presented in independent India with 8 full budgets and 2 interim budgets.
  • P Chidambaram has matched Morarji Desai’s record of presenting 8 full budgets.
  • All the three Prime Ministers from the Nehru family- Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi have presented one budget each.

Sources: Frank ISC Economics Class XII

EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON INDIAN SOCIETY

Globalization has many meaning depending on the circumstance and on the individual who is talking about. There is one of the term of Globalization is a process of the “reconfiguration of geography, so that social space is not entirely mapped in terms of territorial distance, territorial places and territorial borders.” The simple term of globalization refers to the integration of economies of the world through uninhibited trade and financial flows, as also through mutual exchange of technology and knowledge. Ideally, it also contains free inter country movement of labor.

Indian society drastically changes after urbanization and globalization. The economic policies has direct influence in forming the basic framework of the Indian economy. The government shaped administrative policies which aim to promote business opportunities in every country, generate employment and attract global investment. In which the Indian economy witnessed an impact on its culture and introduction to other societies and their norms brought various changes to the culture of this country as well. The developed countries have been trying to pursue developing countries to liberalize the trade and allow more flexibility in business policies to provide equal opportunities to multinational firms in their domestic market. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank helped them in this endeavor. Liberalization began to hold its foot on barren lands of developing countries like India by means of reduction in excise duties on electronic goods in a fixed time Frame.

Globalization has several aspects and can be political, cultural, social, and economic, out of Financial integration is the most common aspect. India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and has been predicted to reach the top three in the next decade. India’s massive economic growth is largely due to globalization which was a transformation that didn’t occur until the 1990s. Since then, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown at an exponential rate.

Indian government did the same and liberalized the trade and investment due to the pressure from the World Trade Organization. Import duties were cut down phase-wise to allow MNC’s operate in India on an equal basis. As a result globalization has brought to India new technologies, new products and also the economic opportunities.

Despite bureaucracy, lack of infrastructure and an ambiguous policy framework that adversely impact MNCs operating in India, MNCs are looking at India in a big way, and are making huge investments to set up R&D centres in the country. India has made a lead over other growing economies for IT, business processing, and R&D investments. There have been both positive and negative impacts of globalisation on social and cultural values in India.

Economic Impact:

1. Greater Number of Jobs: The advent of foreign companies led to the growth in the economy which led to creating job opportunities. However, these jobs are concentrated in the various services sectors and led to rapid growth of the service sector creating problems for individuals with low levels of education. The last decade came to be known for its jobless growth as job creation was not proportionate to the level of economic growth.

2. More choice to consumers: Globalisation has led to having more choices in the consumer products market. There is a range of choices in selecting goods unlike the times where there were just a couple of manufacturers.

3. Higher Disposable Incomes: People in cities working in high paying jobs have greater income to spend on lifestyle goods. There’s been an increase in the demand for products like meat, egg, pulses, organic food as a result. It has also led to protein inflation.

Protein food inflation contributes a large part to the food inflation in India. It is evident from the rising prices of pulses and animal proteins in the form of eggs, milk and meat. With an improvement standard of living and rising income level, the food habits of people changed. People tend toward taking more protein intensive foods. This shift in dietary pattern, along with rising population results in an overwhelming demand for protein rich food, which the supply side could not meet. Thus resulting in a demand supply mismatch thereby, causing inflation.

In India, the Green Revolution and other technological advancements have primarily focused on enhancing cereals productivity and pulses and oilseeds have traditionally been neglected.

Shrinking Agricultural Sector: Agriculture now contributes only about 15% to GDP. The international norms imposed by WTO and other multilateral organizations have reduced government support for agriculture. Greater integration of global commodities markets leads to constant fluctuation in prices.

• This has increased the vulnerability of Indian farmers. Farmers are also increasingly dependent on seeds and fertilisers sold by the MNCs.

Globalization does not have any positive impact on agriculture. On the contrary, it has few detrimental effects as the government is always willing to import food grains, sugar etc. Whenever there is a price increase of these commodities.

• Government never thinks to pay more to farmers so that they produce more food grains but resorts to imports. On the other hand, subsidies are declining so the cost of production is increasing. Even farms producing fertilizers have to suffer due to imports. There are also threats like introduction of GM crops, herbicide resistant crops etc.

Increasing Health-Care costs: Greater interconnections of the world have also led to the increasing susceptibility to diseases. Whether it is the bird-flu virus or Ebola, the diseases have taken a global turn, spreading far and wide. This results in greater investment in the healthcare system to fight such diseases.

Child Labor: Despite prohibition of child labors by the Indian constitution, over 60 to a 115 million children in India work. While most rural child workers are agricultural laborer’s, urban children work in manufacturing, processing, servicing and repairs. Globalization most directly exploits an estimated 300,000 Indian children who work in India’s hand-knotted carpet industry, which exports over $300 million worth of goods a year. The many effects of globalization of Indian society and has immense multiple aspects on Indian trade, finance, and cultural system. Globalization is associated with rapid changes and significant human societies. The movement of people from rural to urban areas has accelerated, and the growth of cities in the developing world especially is linked to substandard living for many.

Sources: https://www.clearias.com/effects-globalization-indian-society/

Black box : The flight data recorder

Black box first came into widespread use on commercial aircraft after World War 2. It was invented by Australian scientist Dr David Warren in 1958. In 1960, Australia was the 1st country to make Black box mandatory for all commercial aircraft. A black box, technically known as an Electronic Flight Data Recorder, is an orange-coloured heavily protected recording device placed in a flight. Any commercial aircraft is required to be equipped with a Cockpit Voice Recorder(CVR) and a Flight Data Recorder(FDR). It is these two items which we commonly refer to as a Black box. While they do nothing to help the plane when it’s in the air ,it is vitally important if the plane crashes as it helps crash investigators to find out crucial events that led to the crash. They are usually kept at the tail of an aircraft which is likely to survive a crash. It usually takes at least 10-15 days to analyse the data recovered from the black boxes. Black boxes are also used in vehicles other than planes like railways, cars etc.

Parts of the black box :
1. Flight Data Recorder – It keeps the track of every instruction made by the pilots and records things like airspeed, altitude, vertical acceleration and fuel flow.
2.  Cockpit Voice Recorder – It records the conversations in the cockpit and general noises in their vicinity such as audible warnings.

The federal Aviation Audio (FAA) requires them to be able to record 2 hours of audio. The previous requirement was 30 minutes but investigators found that they sometimes needed details from longer period before the crash.

Technology:

• Older black boxes used magnetic tape, a technology that was first introduced in the 1960s. Magnetic tape works like any tape recorder but is no longer in making as it leaves a bit of data on the tape and as airlines begin a full transition to solid-state technology.
• These days, black boxes use solid-state memory boards, which came along in the 1990s. Solid state memory boards are much more reliable than memory tapes as they use stacked arrays of memory chips so they don’t have moving parts. With no moving parts, there are fewer maintenance issues and a decreased chance of something breaking during a crash., and are stronger.
• Data from both the CVR and FDR is stored on stacked memory boards inside Crash-Survivable Memory Units (CSMUs) which are engineered to withstand extreme heat, jarring crashes and tons of pressure.
• To make black boxes discoverable in situations where they are under water, they are equipped with locator Beacons. These broadcast their location by sending out ultrasound signals for upto 30 days even when submerged as deep as 6,000 meters (20,000 feet).

Airplanes are equipped with sensors that gather data. There are sensors that detect acceleration, airspeed, altitude, flap settings, outside temperature, cabin temperature and pressure, engine performance and more. Magnetic-tape recorders can track about 100 parameters, while solid-state recorders can track more than 700 parameters in larger aircraft. All of the data collected by the airplane’s sensors is sent to the flight-data acquisition unit (FDAU) at the front of the aircraft. This device often is found in the electronic equipment bay under the cockpit. The flight-data acquisition unit is the middle manager of the entire data-recording process. It takes the information from the sensors and sends it on to the black boxes.

Black boxes are painted in a bright shade of orange. This coloring makes them far easier to locate amid the potentially considerable devastation of an aircraft’s crash site. It has reflective surfaces to increase their visibility. But their are certain cases like the Malaysian Airlines MH370 flight where they are not found. And they still lack video recording capabilities.

It is being tried to stream all of their essential data directly to a ground-based station in realtime which would eliminate the desperate search for a box that may have been destroyed in a crash, and will be more dependable.

Sources : http://www.iasa.com.au and Dristi IAS.

Benefits of shifting to electric vehicles

Its been more than a century since humans are using petrol and diesel as a primary fuel. First petrol car was invented in January 29, 1886 by Carl Benz after the invention coming to 21st century such vehicles have constantly damaged the environment and since fossil fuels are not abundant and nature which have led to diminished quantity of them.

Tata nexon is the current best selling EV car of India

Electric vehicles are the next best alternate to standard vehicles as electric vehicles have numerous benefits that overlaps the use of such vehicles in the near future.

Some benefits include :-

  1. Cleaner environment
  2. No congestion charge
  3. Lower running costs
  4. Renewable electricity tariffs
  5. Better driving experience
  6. Government funding
  7. Free parking
  8. Reduced noise pollution
  9. Increased resale value

Automobile companies are constantly developing electric vehicles to make them way more cost efficient and effective as currently all the electric vehicles have almost 1/4 more price than normal vehicles and also the lack of charging stations and fuel pumps are the only drawbacks of the cars.

Now is the best time to make this shift happen otherwise all the fossil fuels will not be left for future generations as they are non renewable as well as not abundant in nature.

Importance of fitness in day to day life

Like the quote states “Take care of your body it’s the only place you have to live in”. Maintaining fitness have numerous benefits not only on internal but on external basis also. Fitness has become a term that people usually interchange it with having big biceps and muscles but fitness is a way broader term than this.

Fitness creates strong bones and muscles which further leads to greater strength helps in climbing stairs without causing any effect on joints and one can carry more weight. Furthermore, it prevents one from severe obesity as a result preventing one from problems like diabetes and heart related disease. Also working out increases the sleep quality of an indiividual thus making a person have quality sleep.

A fit body and fit mind creates numerous opportunity for an individual and one should engage at least 45 minutes in any heart beat elevating physical exercise.

Preamble : The introductory part of the Constitution

The term Preamble refers to the introduction or preface to the Constitution. It explains the constitution’s philosophy and objectives and the core values and principle of the nation. Preamble to Indian Constitution is based on the Objective Resolution drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru and adopted by the framers of the Constitution.

The preamble basically gives idea of the following things :

• Source of the authority of the constitution – It derives it authority from the people of India.
• Nature of Indian State – It declares India to be sovereign,socialistic, secular, democratic and republican state.
• Statement of its objectives – It specifies justice, liberty, equality to all citizens and fraternity to maintain unity and integrity of the nation as the objectives.
• Date of its adoption – It was adopted on November 26, 1949.

Key terms in Preamble :

1. We, the people of India – It indicates that the power to run the government of India lies in the hands of the people of India. Their views are represented by the members of legislature elected by them.
2. Sovereign – The term refers to India is not governed or controlled by any external power. It has its own independent authority.
3. Socialist –  It refers to mixed economy where both Public and Private sector co-exist side by side. Indian style of socialism is a democratic socialism where both public and private enterprises is encouraged.
4. Secular –  The term implies that there is not a single religion for every indian. They have freedom to follow any religion. All the religions in India get equal respect, protection and support from the state.
5. Democratic – The term implies that the Constitution of India has an established form of Constitution which gets its authority from the will of the people expressed in an election.
6. Republic – It explains that the head of the country, President, is (indirectly) elected by the people.

Objectives of Indian Constitution :

The Constitution is the supreme law and it helps to maintain integrity in the society and to promote unity among the citizens to build a great nation.The main objective of the Indian Constitution is to promote harmony throughout the nation.
The factors which help in achieving this objective are:
• Justice: It is necessary to maintain order in society that is promised through various provisions of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy provided by the Constitution of India. It comprises three elements, which is social, economic, and political.
1. Social Justice – Social justice means that the Constitution wants to create a society without discrimination on any grounds like caste, creed, gender, religion, etc.
2. Economic Justice – Economic Justice means no discrimination can be caused by people on the basis of their wealth, income, and economic status. Every person must be paid equally for an equal position and all people must get opportunities to earn for their living.
3. Political Justice – Political Justice means all the people have an equal, free and fair right without any discrimination to participate in political opportunities.
• Equality: This term refers to no section of society has any special privileges and all the people have given equal opportunities for everything without any discriminations. Everyone is equal before the law.
• Liberty: This term means freedom for the people to choose their way of life, have political views and behavior in society. Liberty does not mean freedom to do anything, a person can do anything but in the limit set by the law.
• Fraternity: It means a feeling of brotherhood and an emotional attachment with the country and all the people. Fraternity helps to promote dignity and unity in the nation.

The Preamble of the Constitution is considered as part of the Constitution. The Preamble is not the supreme power or source of any restriction or prohibition but it plays an important role in the interpretation of statutes and provisions of the Constitution. So, it can be concluded that preamble is part of the introductory part of the Constitution but is not directly enforceable in a court of justice in India.
Amendment of the Preamble :
The preamble is only amended once through the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. The term ‘Socialist’, ‘Secular’, and ‘Integrity’ were added to the preamble through 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.As a part of the Constitution, Preamble can be amended under Article 368 of the Constitution, but the basic structure of the preamble can not be amended.

Sources : The Hindu, Insights on India and Dristi IAS

Preamble is the soul of our constitution, which lays down the pattern of our political society. It contains a solemn resolve, which nothing but a revolution can alter’- Former Chief Justice of India, M Hidayatullah