THE CONTEXT: India took over from France to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August.

Analysis:

• This is the first presidency for India during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC.
• India is organising three high-level meetings focusing on its priority areas–maritime security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism.
• India will work as a voice of moderation, an advocate of dialogue and a proponent of international law.

ABOUT UNSC

• Established in 1945, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations.
• It is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the United Nations and approving any changes to UN Charter.
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions;
• It is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member state
• A total of 15 members are there in the Council, out of which 5 are permanent and 10 are not permanent.
• The five permanent members include China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States
• The non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
• In June 2020, India was elected to the UNSC as a non-permanent member, winning 184 out of the 193 votes at the UNGA.
• This membership is for 2021-22. India was the only candidate from the Asia-Pacific category for the year 2021-22.
•  This is India’s eighth stint at the UNSC. Previously, India had been a member in the years 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and 2011-12

THE CONTEXT: The government will launch e-RUPI, a person and purpose specific digital payment solution on 2nd August 2021.

Analysis:

ABOUT e-RUPI

• e-RUPI is a cashless and contactless instrument for digital payment.
• It is a QR code or SMS string-based e-Voucher, which is delivered to the mobile of the beneficiaries.
• The users of this seamless one-time payment mechanism will be able to redeem the voucher without a card, digital payments app or internet banking access, at the service provider.
• It has been developed by National Payments Corporation of India on its UPI platform, in collaboration with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and National Health Authority.
• e-RUPI connects the sponsors of the services with the beneficiaries and service providers in a digital manner without any physical interface.
• It also ensures that the payment to the service provider is made only after the transaction is completed.

IMPACT OF e-RUPI

• It is expected to be a revolutionary initiative in the direction of ensuring a leak-proof delivery of welfare services.
• Being pre-paid in nature, it assures timely payment to the service provider without involvement of any intermediary.
• It can also be used for delivering services under schemes meant for providing drugs and nutritional support under Mother and Child welfare schemes, TB eradication programmes, drugs & diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, fertilizer subsidies etc.
• Even the private sector can leverage these digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and corporate social responsibility programmes.
• It will promote further the objective of digital economy and financial inclusion.

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Ayush has collaborated with the U.K.’s London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) to conduct a study on ‘Ashwagandha’ for promoting recovery from COVID-19.

 Analysis:

• All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, and the LSHTM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
• They will conduct clinical trials of ‘Ashwagandha’ on 2,000 participants in three U.K. cities — Leicester, Birmingham and London (Southall and Wembley).
• It is an easily accessible, over-the-counter nutritional supplement in the U.K. and has a proven safety profile.
• The successful completion of the trial could be a major breakthrough and give scientific validity to India’s traditional medicinal system.

ABOUT ASHWAGANDHA(AG)

• Ashwagandha’ (Withania somnifera), commonly known as ‘Indian winter cherry’, is a traditional Indian herb that boosts energy, reduces stress and makes the immune system stronger.
• The positive effects of ‘Ashwagandha’ have been observed in Long COVID, which is a multi-system disease with no evidence of its effective treatment or management.
• Recently, a number of randomised trials of AG in humans in India have demonstrated its efficacy in reducing anxiety and stress, improving muscle strength and reducing symptoms of fatigue in patients treated for chronic conditions.
• It has also been indicated for treating non-restorative sleep, a hallmark of chronic fatigue.

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Army said that a military hotline has been established with the Chinese side in north Sikkim.

Analysis:

• A hotline is a direct telephone line connection between two parties.
• It will boost the spirit of trust and cordial relations between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control in the region.
• The inauguration was attended by ground commanders of the respective Armies and a message of friendship and harmony was exchanged through the Hotline.
• The hotline is between the Indian Army in Kongra La, North Sikkim, and China’s People’s Liberation Army at Khamba Dzong in the Tibetan Autonomous Region,
• These hotlines in various sectors go a long way in enhancing the same and maintaining peace and tranquility at the borders.
• India and China already have two military hotlines in eastern Ladakh – at Chushul and Daulat Beg Oldi in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• In February, the foreign ministers of India and China had agreed to establish a new hotline to ensure a “timely communication” in the backdrop of the Ladakh stand-off.

BACKGROUND OF THE ISSUE

• India and China have been locked in a border standoff since their troops clashed in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh in June last year.
• Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the clash. China put the number of casualties on its side at four.
• The setting up of the hotline came amid a continued standoff between the two armies at various friction points in eastern Ladakh such as Hot Springs, Gogra Post, Demchok and Depsang Plains.
• India and China had held the 12th round of Corps Commander talks on July 31 in Moldo on the Chinese side,
• In the previous meeting on April 9, the two sides discussed the withdrawal of troops from other friction points, after the completion of the disengagement process in Pangong Tso
•  However, days after the talks, reports suggested that China has refused to withdraw its troops from Hot Springs and Gogra Post

1. Diversity and inclusion are sources of strength READ MORE
2. Let go of all that is causing negative emotions READ MORE

1. Election quotas: Reducing public policy on social inequalities to reservations is an exercise in political cynicism READ MORE
2. Parliament must discuss people’s concerns READ MORE
3. New ministry to spur cooperative reforms READ MORE
4. In authoritarian regimes, political institutions may look democratic even when they are not READ MORE
5. Justice Delayed is Still Justice Denied READ MORE
6. Constitutional Challenges to Sedition Law Amid Rising Cases READ MORE

1. India: The country of all seasons READ MORE
2. Nauru: Seabed Setback READ MORE
3. Rewilding: Mass restoration or wishful thinking? READ MORE

1. What India@75 needs: Education and skills, rather than freebies READ MORE
2. World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: The Tipping Point In Rehabilitation READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelims and Mains

1. PM to launch digital payment solution e-RUPI on 2nd August READ MORE
2. New Polyhouse Technology for Horticulture CROPS READ MORE
3. Pakistan finalises Bill to grant new status to Gilgit-Baltistan: report READ MORE
4. Indian Army, Chinese PLA set up hotline in North Sikkim region READ MORE
5. India Assumes Presidency Of UN Security Council For A Month READ MORE
6. Moving away from traditional practice, more paddy farmers in Punjab taking to DSR technique READ MORE

Main exam  

GS PAPER – 1

GEOGRAPHY

1. India: The country of all seasons READ MORE

GS PAPER – 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Election quotas: Reducing public policy on social inequalities to reservations is an exercise in political cynicism READ MORE
2. Parliament must discuss people’s concerns READ MORE
3. New ministry to spur cooperative reforms READ MORE
4. In authoritarian regimes, political institutions may look democratic even when they are not READ MORE
5. Justice Delayed is Still Justice Denied READ MORE
6. Constitutional Challenges to Sedition Law Amid Rising Cases READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. What India@75 needs: Education and skills, rather than freebies READ MORE
2. World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: The Tipping Point In Rehabilitation READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India is losing out in Afghanistan READ MORE
2. JCPOA: A Bridge too far? READ MORE

GS PAPER – 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. A cycle of low growth, higher inflation: Unless policy action ensures higher demand and growth, India will continue on the path of a K-shaped recovery READ MORE
2. ExplainSpeaking: How IMF cutting India’s growth forecast will impact RBI’s monetary policy READ MORE
3. Explained: How India’s aviation market is changing with new players READ MORE
4. Securing India’s fiscal health: Govt should prepare for medium-term challenges READ MORE
5. Cryptocurrencies need new rules and tools. We need to design more forward-thinking laws READ MORE
6. 30 Years of Economic Reforms – A Saga of Growing Inequalities READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Nauru: Seabed Setback READ MORE
2. Rewilding: Mass restoration or wishful thinking? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The draw of space and nuclear technologies: It remains to be seen whether the new ventures of Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates will strike a chord and benefit mankind READ MORE

GS PAPER – 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Diversity and inclusion are sources of strength READ MORE
2. Let go of all that is causing negative emotions READ MORE

Questions for MAIN exam

1. The Indian economy is in a vicious cycle of low growth and higher inflation unless policy action ensures higher demand and growth. Analyse.
2. What are the advantages of nuclear energy? Discuss the challenges associated with use of nuclear energy.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
• Unless policy action ensures higher demand and growth, India will continue on the path of a K-shaped recovery.
• Reducing public policy on social inequalities to reservations is an exercise in political cynicism.
• The impact of climate change on financial stability is debilitating. RBI’s steps, though a little late are welcome.
• Second-generation reforms require careful deliberation, effective implementation, and accommodative politics.
• India should seek a stable Afghanistan that is not hostile to it and let Afghans decide the nature of their polity.
• China’s relations with Central Asian states are becoming close, despite the influence of Russia. In this geographic sweep, China is bound to make a play for Afghanistan which is the missing piece as yet. That is where Indian eyes should be focused above all else.
• The growth of the cooperative movement in the country has not been free from turbulence. Apart from disagreements within, financial irregularities and undue control and interference of the governments are identified as inhibitive factors.
• India has a complicated legal system. Cases get transferred from inferior to superior courts, fresh arguments and evidence must get presented, and dates are assigned after long gaps, sometimes of a year.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Diversity and inclusion are sources of strength.

50-WORD TALK

• The growth of the cooperative movement in the country has not been free from turbulence. Apart from disagreements within, financial irregularities and undue control and interference of the governments are identified as inhibitive factors. Though largely funded and managed as private members’ enterprises, the cooperatives are required to obtain too many approvals from the government for their business.
• The new order by the Jammu and Kashmir CID to deny travel documents and government jobs to people with adverse police reports isn’t the way to win the hearts and minds of an already troubled population. Police reports don’t confirm guilt. Rule of law can’t be overlooked for national security.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do a map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers etc. same applies for the national places.)
• For economy related news (banking, agriculture etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related with various economic aspects, for examples if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing prices rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates etc.
• For main exam related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occurs frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment in your writing.

[WpProQuiz 11]