This group mainly focuses on topics that can be asked in Group Discussion, Personal Interview. Also expected questions for Subjective Exams will be of core importance.
TOPIC: Universal connectivity & Net
Neutrality can go parallel hand in hand. Comment?
This statement was produced/said by the founder of "THE_FACEBOOK" Mr. Mark Zuckerberg. If you try to analyze or predict the main motive behind the statement, surely the interpretation may vary from person to person. If someone interprets it has some social welfare scheme or a vision to allow the access of Internet at the grassroot level i.e. to the poorest of poor, via the AIRTEL_ZERO, INTERNET.ORG, etc buddy you may be wrong here and neglected many real life facts.
First thing first: Free Internet is not any welfare scheme but an act of confining the customers to a bunch of websites. Obviously nothing is for free in this market, so these website techies/giants will be paying for the data that we will use while accessing their websites, applications to our ISP (Internet Service Providers).
A-little amused, that why they are paying for our usage, later we will focus on the benefits the big players will make from this free internet propaganda.
Reasons to validate above assumption.
(Market, People and Smartphone)
1) Mobile penetration has increased in Indian Market, so have the Internet users.
2) If Zuckerberg thinks that users in India (Poorest, Poor, Middle_Class, Richer, Richest) or any XYZ category needs free Internet (some specific websites) because they can't afford it. Then somebody tell him if that would had been case people would not have opted for multimedia sets.
In simple words if xyz person has funds to purchase some smart phone, surely he can cater with his Internet needs or any other.
3) And the BPL families who hardly can arrange their two time food are not interested in investing in Smartphone or having access to your free internet.org.
Then why all this buzzing going around....mainly two things are driving it ..."FEAR" + "BEING OPPORTUNIST"
------>>> (The Fear of Existence)
1) Mr. Zuckerberg or any famous businessmen do possess a fear about their existence. This fear helps them for keep evolving and keep innovating. So does, Mr. Zuckerberg fears that what his "FACEBOOK" did to "ORKUT" in past could possibly be repeated in the future too. Here the victim can possibly be "FACEBOOK" and probably can lost his existence.
2) Thus not forever but for certain period he will be able to cut off innovation and any new player challenging the facebook. But it's a fact that life founds a way, survival of the fittest so yes someday some new thing going to replace facebook, it's not here forever.
------>>> (Catching the opportunity and accumulating some extra funds)
1) Facebook doesn't charge any registration fees from us than how does he makes money or stays at the top. It's quite obvious advertisement is the keyword here.
2) More people accessing the internet means, more startups and other organizations looking towards facebook to expand their business. Therefore facebook income gets an awesome boost.
So until UNIVERSAL CONNECTIVITY is about giving free access of some limited websites it's breaking the basic principle of NET NEUTRALITY. Hence proved they are perpendicular to each other.
20 questions asked from TRAI over Net Neutrality.
Question 1: Is it too early to establish a regulatory framework for OTT services, since internet penetration is still evolving, access speeds are generally low and there is limited coverage of high speed broadband in the country? Or, should some beginning be made now with a regulatory framework that could be adapted to changes in the future? Please comment with justifications.
Question 2: Should the OTT players offering communication services (voice, messaging and video call services) through applications (resident either in the country or outside) be brought under the licensing regime? Please comment with justifications.
Question 3: Is the growth of OTT impacting the traditional revenue stream of TSPs? If so, is the increase in data revenues of the TSPs sufficient to compensate for this impact? Please comment with reasons.
Question 4: Should the OTT players pay for use of the TSPs network over and above data charges paid by consumers? If yes, what pricing options can be adopted? Could such options include prices based on bandwidth consumption? Can prices be used as a means product/service differentiation? Please comment with justifications.
Question 5: Do you agree that imbalances exist in the regulatory environment in the operation of OTT players? If so, what should be the framework to address these issues? How can the prevailing laws and regulations be applied to OTT players (who operate in the virtual world) and compliance enforced? What could be the impact on the economy? Please comment with justifications.
Question 6: How should the security concerns be addressed with regard to OTT players providing communication services? What security conditions such as maintaining data records, logs etc. need to be mandated for such OTT players? And, how can compliance with these conditions be ensured if the applications of such OTT players reside outside the country? Please comment with justifications.
Question 7: How should the OTT players offering app services ensure security, safety and privacy of the consumer? How should they ensure protection of consumer interest? Please comment with justifications.
Question 8: In what manner can the proposals for a regulatory framework for OTTs in India draw from those of ETNO, referred to in para 4.23 or the best practices summarised in para 4.29? And, what practices should be proscribed by regulatory fiat? Please comment with justifications.
Question 9: What are your views on net neutrality in the Indian context? How should the various principles discussed in para 5.47 be dealt with? Please comment with justifications.
Question 10: What forms of discrimination or traffic management practices are reasonable and consistent with a pragmatic approach? What should or can be permitted? Please comment with justifications.
Question 11: Should the TSPs be mandated to publish various traffic management techniques used for different OTT applications? Is this a sufficient condition to ensure transparency and a fair regulatory regime?
Question 12: How should a conducive and balanced environment be created such that TSPs are able to invest in network infrastructure and CAPs are able to innovate and grow? Who should bear the network upgradation costs? Please comment with justifications
Question 13: Should TSPs be allowed to implement non price based discrimination of services? If so, under what circumstances are such practices acceptable? What restrictions, if any, need to be placed so that such measures are not abused? What measures should be adopted to ensure transparency to consumers? Please comment with justifications.
Question 14: Is there a justification for allowing differential pricing for data access and OTT communication services? If so, what changes need to be brought about in the present tariff and regulatory framework for telecommunication services in the country? Please comment with justifications.
Question 15: Should OTT communication service players be treated as Bulk User of Telecom Services (BuTS)? How should the framework be structured to prevent any discrimination and protect stakeholder interest? Please comment with justification.
Question 16: What framework should be adopted to encourage India Specific OTT apps? Please comment with justifications.
Question 17: If the OTT communication service players are to be licensed, should they be categorised as ASP or CSP? If so, what should be the framework? Please comment with justifications.
Question 18: Is there a need to regulate subscription charges for OTT communication services? Please comment with justifications.
Question 19: What steps should be taken by the Government for regulation of non communication OTT players? Please comment with justifications.
Question 20: Are there any other issues that have a bearing on the subject discussed?
Topic of Discussion__________ Point formation will be appreciated.
(a) Explain the provisions under MGNREGA.
(b) Examine the challenges of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) with respect to MGNREG Scheme
Topic of Discussion:
Role of Banking Officers in the development of Rural India
List out the points please..!!!
Can anybody explain me the "bitcoins" thing in layman language?
Jai Hind to All: Topic of Discussion
RuPay has tied up with Punjab Diaries, a step towards cashless economy. Does Cashless economy could adversly effect India in Future?
P.S> POINTS FORMATION PLEASE
Topic of Discussion:
Is there any scope of improvement in baking services. Elaborate.
Subjective Question:
Critically evaluate the J P Nayak committee's recommendations to dismantle the
government's stakes in nationalized banks.
P.S. Point formation only(long points allowed), love all, serve all
Happy Reading: Factors affecting food security in the 21st century
According to the final report of the World Food Summit of 1996, Food Security exists when all people, at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy lifestyle.
Food security is one of the most pressing issues of the 21st century on the international agenda owing to the various factors as underlined below:
Global Water Crisis: One of the prime reasons for scarcity of water is constant irrigation which has lead to a rapid drop in the water table and certain countries in Sub Saharan Africa are water stressed in nature which could lead to food insecurity.
Land degradation: The exhaustion of soil fertility and decline of agricultural yields could be attributed to intensive farming practices which has led to the degradation of 40% of agricultural land in the world.
Climate change: Climate change would have an impact on food security in three cases: a) Specialised agro-ecosystems b) Households with very few livelihood options other than farming c) Absence of adequate safety nets to protect people by formal institutions.
Agricultural diseases: Diseases affecting crops or livestock can have drastic effects on food availability and the problem would intensify in the absence of contingency plans.
Dictatorship and Kleptocracy: Food security could also be a political issue as far as food distribution is concerned. The government plays an important role in the trading of food products and there could be instances where food will be used as a political weapon where interests are not met.
Food sovereignty: Food sovereignty refers to the right of communities to define their own means of production and emphasises on the importance of recognizing the right to food as a basic human right. This could be denied by multinational corporations which want to buy agricultural resources of impoverished nation-states.