Table of Contents
Growing cities
A fresh look at urban governance is necessary as migration from rural areas picks up pace
Cities are economically vibrant spaces around the world and draw a large number of
rural migrants looking for better prospects
This is a sustained trend, particularly in developing countries now, as production, jobs and
markets get concentrated.
More evidence of this comes from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which
has released its 2018 Revision of the World Urbanization Prospects.
Forecasting for the year 2050, the UN agency estimates that the percentage of urban residents in India would be 52.8, compared to 34 today.
While Delhi would edge past Tokyo as the world’s most populous city by 2028.
India, China and Nigeria are expected to lead other countries and account for 35% of the S
projected growth in urban population by mid-century.
Urbanisation in the country is a complex process, since it is defined not by a constant
migration of rural residents but by the flow of workers, mostly men.
Continue
Among governments there is a strong policy emphasis on improving facilities in rural
areas, indicating a political preference for reduced migration to urban centres
The imperative before the Centre and State governments is to come up with policies that
provide adequate services in the villages,
While investing in cities to ensure that their high levels of productivity and efficiency
are not compromised.
• 1)- Housing deficits have led to the proliferation of slums,
• 2)- Lack of enforcement of building norms
• 3)- Poor investment in public transport
Released by the World Health Organisation show, 14 Indian cities are among the top 20
worldwide with the worst air quality profiles for fine particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres
Most cities are also unable to collect and dispose of municipal waste scientifically
Such a dismal scenario can only get worse with higher population concentrations,
Unless city governments come into their own.
Continue
While the Center’s goal of homes for all by 2022 is laudable.
It is unlikely to be realized without a push from the States and the launch of schemes driven
by innovation and low-cost approaches.
Augmenting rental housing should be a priority within the plan.
Integrating green spaces, open commons and wetlands will make cities cleaner
and aesthetically richer.
The East Asian reset
It appears to be the season for diplomatic resets in Asia.
After years of mistrust, China reaches out to Japan with high-level visits
China is at the centre of this regional spring thaw.
India is not the only rival with which Beijing has recently been trading pleasantries rather
than threats.
Usually fraught China Japan ties are in the midst of an upswing as well
Last week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was in Japan on a three-day state visit, his first trip
to Tokyo since taking office five years ago.
It was also the first top-level bilateral visit after relations between the two countries
plummeted in 2012 over a chain of disputed islands claimed by both sides.
One signal came last September when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe became the first Japanese
leader in 15 years to attend Chinese Embassy’s annual National Day celebrations in Tokyo.
Since then, Mr. Abe and Mr. Xi have met on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation summit in Vietnam.
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In early May, Mr. Abe spoke to Mr. Xi on the phone to discuss the unfolding events
on the Korean peninsula, the first phone call ever between the two leaders.
Tension- Second World War.
Territorial dispute over the Diaoyu/Senkaku islands in the East China Sea.
Japan was an important player in China’s economic rise, which saw the country’s
transformation from an agrarian backwater to a global manufacturing powerhouse
According to the Japan External Trade Organisation, China-Japan trade stands at
about $350 billion (by comparison, India-China trade is $84.44 billion).
China has overtaken Japan as the world’s second largest economy
What has changed?
U.S. President Donald Trump’s America First policy and the tariffs he has slapped on some
$60 billion worth of Chinese products have also impacted Japan
Unpredictable U.S., North Korea and business interests.
China is keen on getting Japan to play ball with its signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),
something that Mr. Li stressed more than once during his visit last week.
Continue
Although initially reluctant to participate in the BRI, Tokyo has signalled that it is open
to the initiative as long as proposed infrastructure projects meet the criteria of being “
open, transparent, fair and economically feasible.”
Japan-backed Asian Development Bank is exploring co-financing projects with the
Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment bank
And as with the India-China reset, although it is temporarily beneficial to both sides
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1- Amid protests, Yeddyurappa takes oath as CM
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-1- States petition Kovind on 15th finance panel
Stepping up pressure, the Finance Ministers of six States met President Ram
Nath Kovind on Thursday and submitted a memorandum demanding 13 amendments
to the terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission.
“The terms of reference violate the federal principle as enshrined in the Constitution,
erode the autonomy of all States and bring significant financial hardship to all States,”
according to the
Among 13 amendments recommended by the Ministers is the use of population data of 2011
by the Finance Commission.
The Ministers have vociferously protested against this.
memorandum submitted by the Ministers of Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal, Punjab,
A.P. and Puducherry.
Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Page-10- We are battling terrorists: Pakistan Army
There is no terror sanctuary in country, military official tells visiting journalists
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Prelims Focus Facts-News Analysis
Won’t hold talks with South Korea: North
North Korea’s chief negotiator called the South Korean government “ignorant and
incompetent” on Thursday, denounced U.S.-South Korean air combat drills and
threatened to halt all talks with the South unless its demands are met
Domestic air traffic grows 26% in April
Domestic air traffic grew at a robust rate of 26% in April
with various airlines together ferrying 11.5 million passengers, up from 9.1 million
in the same month last year, as per government data
Oil hits $80, highest since- Nov. 2014, on Iran concerns
Map Practice
Last Day- Q’s- Answers…
2017 SCO summit- Astana, Kazakhstan
India and Pakistan joined SCO as full members on 9 June 2017 at
a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
2018- Qingdao, China in June
Bus service b/w Janakpur (Nepal) & Ayodhya (India)