INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

PROJECT FULWARI

THE CONTEXT: Project Fulwari under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to Strengthen Northern Coalfields’ Limited (NCL)fight against Malnutrition in kids.

ANALYSIS: 

• Considering the facts found during the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) regarding malnutrition in Singrauli district, NCL has signed an MoU with the District Administration, to start Project Fulwari.
• The mission aims to address the problem of malnutrition and associated physical and mental development issues of infants.
• At Fulwari Centers, the identified malnourished children are getting special attention to ensure that their weight, physical and mental progress meets the normal standards.
• This initiative will give impetus to the Centre’s fight against malnutrition and its commitment towards Sustainable Social Development.

 SOURCE:  PIB

MOU SIGNED BETWEEN TRIFED AND BIG BASKET

THE CONTEXT: TRIBES INDIA VAN DHAN to expand Online marketing in a big way by tying up with Big Basket, MoU Signed between TRIFED and Big Basket.

ANALYSIS:

• The MoU between TRIFED and Big Basket was signed for promotion and sale of Organics, natural Van Dhan products and TRIFOOD products.
• MoU between TRIFED and Purty Agrotech was signed in order to promote the art of growing pearls among other tribal entrepreneurs.
• TRIFED is continuing to forge partnerships with different organisations to create synergies together, as a part of its ongoing efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of the tribals and tribal empowerment.

SOURCE:   PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

WESTERN GHATS OFFER MAJOR ADDITIONS TO NEW FLORA

THE CONTEXT: The Botanical Survey of India, in its new publication Plant Discoveries 2020 has added 267 new taxa/species to the country’s flora.

ANALYSIS:

• In 2020, 202 new plant species were discovered across the country and 65 new records were added.
• Among the new discoveries this year, nine new species of balsam (Impatiens) and one species of wild banana (Musa pradhanii) were discovered from Darjeeling and one species each of wild Jamun (Syzygium anamalaianum) from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
• An assessment of the geographical distribution of these newly discovered plants reveals that 22% of the discoveries were made from the Western Ghats followed by the Western Himalayas (15%), the Eastern Himalayas (14%) and the Northeast ranges (12%).

SOURCE:  TH

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

GLOBAL INNOVATION INDEX 2021

THE CONTEXT: India scores 46th rank in the Global Innovation Index 2021.

ANALYSIS: 

• India has climbed 2 spots and has been ranked 46th by the World Intellectual Property Organization in the Global Innovation Index 2021 rankings.
• India has been on a rising trajectory, over the past several years in the Global Innovation Index (GII), from a rank of 81 in 2015 to46in 2021.
• The NITI Aayog has been working tirelessly to ensure the optimization of the national efforts for bringing policy led innovation in different areas such as electric vehicles, biotechnology, nanotechnology, space, alternative energy sources, etc.
• The GII is the fulcrum for the governments – across the world – to assess the social and economic changes in their respective countries.
• Over the years, the GII has established itself as a policy tool for various governments and helped them to reflect upon the existing status quo.
• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also been leading from the front as a torchbearer of India’s journey towards an innovation-driven economy.
• This year, the NITI Aayog, in partnership with the CII and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), is hosting, virtually, the India Launch of the GII and the Global Innovation Conclave during September 21-22,2021.

SOURCE: PIB

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

INDIA TO RESUME COVID-19 VACCINE EXPORTS NEXT MONTH

THE CONTEXT: India will resume the export of COVID-19 vaccines under its ‘Vaccine Maitri’programme to fulfil the commitment towards COVAX (COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access).

ABOUT COVAX:

• COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access, abbreviated as COVAX, is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, or GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
• It is one of the three pillars of ’Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator’, an initiative begun in April 2020 by the WHO, the European Commission, and government of France as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SOURCE: TH

SAMUDRA SHAKTI

THE CONTEXT: Indian navy and Indonesian navy participate in exercise ‘Samudra shakti’.

ANALYSIS:

• Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kadmatt arrived at Jakarta, Indonesia on 18 Sep 21 to participate in the 3rd edition of Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ with the Indonesian Navy scheduled off the approaches to Sunda Strait from 20 Sep to 22 Sep 21.
• The exercise aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship, enhance mutual understanding and interoperability in maritime operations between the two navies.
• The exercise will also provide an appropriate platform to share best practices and develop a common understanding of Maritime Security Operations.
• In pursuance of India’s Act East Policy, Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ was conceived in 2018 as a bilateral IN-IDN exercise.

SOURCE: PIB

SURYA KIRAN

THE CONTEXT: The 15th India-Nepal combined battalion-level military training exercise ‘SURYA KIRAN’ commenced at Pithoragarh (UK).

ANALYSIS:

• During the exercise, an Infantry Battalion each from the Indian Army and the Nepali Army will be training together to develop interoperability and share their experience of counter-terrorism operations and disaster relief operations.

SOURCE: PIB

PEACEFUL MISSION – 2021

THE CONTEXT: 6th edition of SCO exercise “peaceful mission – 2021” commences at Orenburg, Russia.

ANALYSIS:

• The aim of the exercise is to foster close relations between the SCO Member States and to enhance the abilities of the military leaders to command multinational military contingents.
• An Indian military contingent comprising of an all arms combined force of 200 personnel from the Indian Army and Indian Air force is participating in the exercise.
• The Exercise Peaceful Mission: 2021 is based on joint counter-terrorism operations at operational and tactical levels in an urban environment in which Armies and Air Forces of all SCO member states are participating.
• Over the next few days, troops will train, share and rehearse tactical drills which will culminate in a final validation exercise, where-in troops from all Armies and Air Forces will jointly undertake operations in a controlled and simulated environment.

SOURCE: PIB

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

 COVAX initiative is started for equitable access of COVID-19 vaccines to all countries. This initiative is led by which of the following?

1. GAVI
2. World Bank
3. CEPI
4. WHO

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 4 only

b) 1, 2 and 4 only

c) 1, 3 and 4 only

d) All of them

ANSWER FOR SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS (REFER TO RELEVANT ARTICLE)

Answer: A)

Explanation:

A variant of HELINA (Helicopter based NAG) Weapon System called DHRUVASTRA is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

1. Low Ethical Standards Are Common in Medical Education in India READ MORE
2. Peace forAll Beings READ MORE
3. Practise kshama to lead a stress-free life READ MORE

1. ‘Climate change is a key driver of financial risk’: RBI READ MORE  
2. On-air pollution, Indian cities must do more READ MORE

1. Why Schools Should Not be Allowed to Open Prematurely READ MORE
2. Modi govt’s e-Shram takes digital literacy for granted. Won’t help unorganised sector workers READ MORE

1. A new water policy for India: It marks a shift from the command-and-control approach to nature READ MORE
2. The obsession with ranking: Can the NIRF scale measure and rank the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom? READ MORE
3. Justice in high-profile corporate cases READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. NCW Launches Country-Wide Capacity Building & Personality Development Program For Women Students READ MORE
2. EPFO adds 14.65 lakh net subscribers in July READ MORE
3. Most internal displacement in East Africa’s Burundi due to rise of Lake Tanganyika READ MORE
4. The Sundarbans: India must protect the world’s largest delta from a dystopian future, and now READ MORE
5. How effective is CPCB in its management of e-waste? READ MORE
6. Western Ghats offer major additions to new flora READ MORE
7. Unique temple for the Hindu Trinity READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. A new water policy for India: It marks a shift from the command-and-control approach to nature READ MORE
2. The obsession with ranking: Can the NIRF scale measure and rank the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom? READ MORE
3. Justice in high-profile corporate cases READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Why Schools Should Not be Allowed to Open Prematurely READ MORE
2. Modi govt’s e-Shram takes digital literacy for granted. Won’t help unorganised sector workers READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. With AUKUS dividing the Western bloc, is there a role for India? READ MORE
2. The Aukus effect: Alliance could bolster the Quad’s impact READ MORE
3. Post-Afghanistan geopolitical potpourri READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. All you wanted to know about bad bank READ MORE
2. The endgame: On the new ‘bad bank’ READ MORE
3. The end of the doing business rankings READ MORE
4. Making the banking sector more vibrant READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. ‘Climate change is a key driver of financial risk’: RBI READ MORE  
2. On-air pollution, Indian cities must do more READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Low Ethical Standards Are Common in Medical Education in India READ MORE
2. Peace forAll Beings READ MORE
3. Practise kshama to lead a stress-free life READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Critically analyse the proposal to establish a bad bank to resolve the NPAs with banks.
2. The new security agreement between security Australia, United Kingdom and the United States offers both opportunities and challenges for Quad Nations. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The idea is to go from numbers to information to understanding.
• Guarantees for the ‘bad bank’ may help, but not sufficient to fix lenders’ woes.
• Just reopening schools won’t make an unequal education system more equal without public funding. It may speed up SARS-CoV-2 mutations and risk another brutal Covid-19 wave.
• Properly managed renewable generation can co-exist with other land uses, and, unlike coal-based power, it does not fundamentally change land during use or following its ultimate de-commissioning.
• The eco-system of self-registration as envisaged in the e-Shram portal does not involve employers’ participation in the process. This does not augur well for labour rights in our country.
• The absence of data on the unorganised workers is not by accident but by design. In formalisation of the labour force is perpetuated to reduce labour cost by making labour casual and subsequently anonymous.
• The Aukus is demonstrably a more robust alliance than the Quad, which remains a somewhat ambiguous network of bilateral agreements among members on issues of common interest — including responses to Covid-19, vaccine diplomacy, and so on.
• The Quad, a loose geo-political grouping involving the US, Japan, Australia, and India, was a mechanism designed to offer a counter to China’s expansive strategy in defining its naval borders.
• Simply the apex court considered emotional issues rather than looking into the facts found by the appellate tribunal, which is not a good symptom for corporate governance in professional ways.
• India’s interests lie in deeper strategic cooperation with France and Europe as well as the Quad and the Anglosphere.
• India’s diverse relationships in the West must be deployed in full measure to prevent a split in the Indo-Pacific coalition.
• The diplomatic fallout from the new security agreement between Australia, United Kingdom and the United States [AUKUS] is just about to begin.

50-WORD TALK

• Nagaland becoming Opposition-mukt is bad for democracy. All parties have united to find ‘a permanent political solution for the state.’ Underlying this is a troublesome message, that nobody wants to challenge the militant groups politically or administratively. This is like the state’s democracy going into suspended animation till a settlement.
• Whether it is nuclear-powered submarines, McDonald’s or Coca-Cola, the anti-American sentiment in France is a deep cultural war. The French fury this time, the first big public squabble inside NATO, has led to the recalling of envoys and the cancellation of events. As always, French exceptionalism has to dominate any global debate.

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 map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price 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 occur 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 to your writing.