(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Where does India stand on methane emissions? READ MORE
2. Sun lights up high-latitude countries in ‘a Solar Deepavali’ READ MORE
3. Explained: What caused Earth’s first mass extinction READ MORE
4. Explained: Why Chennai received ‘heaviest rainfall’ since 2015 READ MORE
5. China successfully launches 3 new remote sensing satellites READ MORE
6. Coronavirus | AY.4.2 variant not of concern: INSACOG READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Peper- 1

1. In Meghalaya, the food system of the Khasi community offers lessons in climate resilience READ MORE
2. Gender Stereotypes in Indian Society READ MORE

GS Peper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Pegasus, SC and the idea of ‘national security’ READ MORE
2. Troubled notion of privacy in modern age READ MORE
3. Reservation politics READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. AUKUS could rock China’s boat in the Indo-Pacific: While there is nothing surprising about AUKUS, a Pacific-centric orientation has advantages in the context of China READ MORE
2. We need greater global cooperation READ MORE
3. India struggling to stay relevant in Afghanistan READ MORE
4. West Asia Quad Counterproductive for India READ MORE

GS Peper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explained | How has RBI tweaked Prompt Corrective Action norms for banks? READ MORE
2. Fuel price optics: Levies must be cut further to offset the effect of the continuing surge in global oil prices READ MORE
3. India’s Broken Credit System Is Stalling GDP growth READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Stumbling on stubble burning: Blame game won’t help, work out viable solutions READ MORE
2. Why the red alert on climate change? 6 charts show READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Chennai flooding: Don’t just blame the rains READ MORE

GS Peper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. You have the power to be happy, practise it READ MORE
2. Truth, the Final Thing READ MORE
3. Troubled notion of privacy in modern age READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The Quad and AUKUS are distinct, yet complementary. Neither diminishes the other. Elaborate.
2. Discuss the possible impact of tax cuts on fuel by the government on the Indian economy and its various stakeholders.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• In the new era of great power rivalry, countries are choosing to preserve national supremacy over global problem-solving. This will have consequences.
• In strife who inquires whether stratagem or courage was used?
• While there is nothing surprising about AUKUS, a Pacific-centric orientation has advantages in the context of China.
• Educating Indian children and parents about the importance of gender equality is the first step in that direction. Gender-neutral upbringing needs to be encouraged to tackle the ill gender stereotypes that rob people of their human rights.
• Compared to other large economies around the globe, India does not have the credit institutions in place to support the real economy on the scale its growth needs demand.
• The foundation of Gandhi’s civil disobedience movement was the ability of human beings to make moral judgments on whether laws were legitimate. Today, whatever the government decides is ‘moral’.
• In the political slugfest on the issue and in the eyes of urban dwellers, the farmer is the culprit. The perception is that he simply does not care, even though the farmer and his family are the first victims of air pollution.
• The real choice for the world is not just navigating between China and the United States. It is fundamentally between an orientation that is committed to global problem-solving rather than just preserving national supremacy.

50- WORD TALK

• With India now seen to be firmly in the American camp, it finds itself forlornly outside the Kabul tent. Tehran, under the new government, seems to be distancing itself from New Delhi, and Moscow will not play doubles with India. So, the combined challenge from China and Pakistan, aided by the Taliban, is on India’s radar. The proposed NSA meet will do little to salvage India’s credentials as a pivotal player in Afghanistan as it will not change the geography.
• We have the basic right to withhold information that might compromise us in the public eye. This is an essential part of our right to dignity. But it is precisely dignity that is violated by unwarranted searches, eavesdropping and phone-tapping. Where is the boundary that protects the private? An unguarded message to our friends on our mobile can land us in jail. Resourceful state agents can invent messages we never sent out.

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 main 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.

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. ACCIDENTAL DEATHS AND SUICIDES IN INDIA REPORT

THE CONTEXT: The latest Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India report, published by the NCRB, notes that 11,716 businesspersons died of suicide in 2020, a 29 per cent jump from 2019 when 9,052 businesspersons had died of the same cause.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Farmer suicides stood at 10,677 for 2020, which is around 1,039 cases fewer than that of businesspeople. This is among the first instances of this happening. Between 2014 and 2019, farmer suicides outnumbered those by businesspersons by.
• A detailed break-up of businessmen reveals that most of those dying of suicides were men (93 per cent) and were mostly vendors (36 per cent) and tradesmen (37 per cent), and belonged to highly developed states.
• Suicides in India rose 10% from 2019 to an all-time high of 1, 53,052 in the pandemic year of 2020.
• Deaths caused by accidents came down from 2019 and the number is the lowest since 2010.
• The share of students in the total suicides has been rising steadily over the years and has now reached the highest level since 1995.
• The worst among States continues to be Maharashtra, with 4,006 suicides in the farm sector, including a 15% increase in farm worker suicides. The other States with a poor record include Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

ABOUT NATIONAL CRIME RECORDS BUREAU

• NCRB was set up in 1986 under the Ministry of Home Affairs to function as a repository of information on crime and criminals so as to assist the investigators in linking crime to the perpetrators.
• It was set up based on the recommendations of the National Police Commission (1977-1981) and the MHA’s Task Force (1985).
• NCRB brings out the annual comprehensive statistics of crime across the country (‘Crime in India’ report).
• Having been published in 1953, the report serves as a crucial tool in understanding the law and order situation across the country.
• The report divides suicides into nine categories — apart from daily wagers, housewives and people working in the farm sector, the deaths are listed under ‘professionals/salaried persons’, ‘students’, ‘self-employed persons’, ‘retired persons’, and ‘others’.
• NCRB started categorizing daily wagers in its ‘Accidental Deaths & Suicides’ data only in 2014.

SOURCE: THEPRINT

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

2. CHENNAI FLOOD

THE CONTEXT: PM speaks to Tamil Nadu CM about heavy rainfall in parts of the state

THE EXPLANATION:

• The overnight rain was part of a formation of low pressure over the Bay of Bengal.
• In one of the heaviest episodes of rain witnessed in 2015 Chennai recorded 24.6 cm rainfall in 24 hours, which was breaking the previous record of 14.2 cm from November 2005.
• But the maximum rainfall recorded in 24 hours’ time may be from November 1976, when Chennai had received 45.2cm of rainfall.

NORTH-EAST MONSOON BRING RAINS TO CHENNAI

• Chennai’s monsoon is largely about the Northeast Monsoon, rains during October to December, with easterly winds starting from mid-October, precisely the usual onset that begins between October 10 to 20.
• It is the Northeast Monsoon, also known as the ‘primary monsoon of Tamil Nadu,’ that brings sufficient rains to the state when all other states depend on the South-West monsoon for rains that sets in from May, June and July.
• The South-West monsoon, after a prolonged summer, helps Tamil Nadu to maintain the groundwater tables, it is the North-East monsoon that elevates the table.
• Tamil Nadu’s coastal districts get 60% of the annual rainfall and the interior districts get about 40-50% of the annual rainfall from the North-East monsoon.

SOURCE:  IE

3. INDIA STAND ON METHANE EMISSIONS

THE CONTEXT: At least 90 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge, with India and China abstaining so far. Separately, 133 countries have signed a Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use. China is a signatory to this but India has stayed out.

THE EXPLANATION:

• At the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (the 26th Conference of Parties-COP26) in Glasgow, the United States and the European Union have jointly pledged to cut emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by 2030. They plan to cut down emissions by 30% compared with the 2020 levels.
• India is the third-largest emitter of methane, primarily because of the size of its rural economy and by virtue of having the largest cattle population. India has stated earlier that it plans to deploy technology and capture methane that can be used as a source of energy.
• In a communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, India said approximately 20% of its anthropogenic methane emissions come from agriculture (manure management), coal mines, municipal solid waste, and natural gas and oil systems.
• To tap into this “potential,” the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) claims to have invested heavily in a national strategy to increase biogas production and reduce methane emissions.

THE GLASGOW DECLARATION ON FOREST AND LAND USE

• The Glasgow Declaration was signed by 133 countries, which represent 90% of the globe’s forested land. The declaration is also backed by a $19-billion commitment, though whether this translates into legally binding flows remains to be seen.
• The Glasgow Declaration is a successor to a failed 2014 New York Declaration for Forests — that for a while saw significant global traction — and promised to reduce emissions from deforestation by 15%-20% by 2020 and end it by 2030.
• There is again no official reason accorded but reports suggest that Indian officials are unhappy with the wording that suggests meeting the obligations under the pledge could also mean restrictions in international trade.
• That is unacceptable, they say, as trade falls under the ambit of the World Trade Organization, of which India is a member.
• India is also mulling changes to its forest conservation laws that seek to encourage commercial tree plantation as well as infrastructure development in forestland.
• India’s long-term target is to have a third of its area under forest and tree cover, but it is so far 22%. It also proposes to create a carbon sink, via forests and plantations, to absorb 2.5-3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.

 SOURCE: TH

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. EARTH’S FIRST MASS EXTINCTION

THE CONTEXT: A paper published in the journal, Nature Geoscience, has come up with a new reason behind the first mass extinction, also known as the Late Ordovician mass extinction.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The article notes that the cooling climate likely changed the ocean circulation pattern. This caused a disruption in the flow of oxygen-rich water from the shallow seas to deeper oceans, leading to a mass extinction of marine creatures.
• The Ordovician mass extinction that occurred about 445 million years ago killed about 85% of all species. The other big extinction events were:
• The Devonian mass extinction (about 375 million years ago) wiped out about 75% of the world’s species.
• The Permian mass extinction (about 250 million years ago) also known as the Great Dying caused the extinction of over 95% of all species.
• The Triassic mass extinction (200 million years ago) eliminated about 80% of Earth’s species, including some dinosaurs.

SOURCE: IE

5. AY.4.2 VARIANT NOT OF CONCERN

THE CONTEXT:  The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) said, the frequency of the new AY.4.2 variant of COVID-19 is less than 0.1 % of all VOI/VOC and is too low to be of concern at this time.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The INSACOG noted that Delta (B.1.617.2 and AY.x) continues to be the main variant of concern (VOC) in India and no new variant of interest (VOI) or VOC are noted in India.
• Delta, which was first found in India in October last year, led to the devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in the country, which was at its peak in April and May.
• INSACOG, a consortium of 28 national laboratories, was set up in December 2020 to monitor the genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 causing virus.
• The pan-India network functions under the Union health ministry.

SOURCE: TH

6. SUNLIGHTS UP HIGH-LATITUDE COUNTRIES

THE CONTEXT:  A solar flare that occurred on the Sun triggered a magnetic storm that scientists from the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI) had predicted.

ABOUT SUNSPOTS AND SOLAR STORMS

• The solar magnetic cycle that works in the deep interior of the Sun creates regions that rise to the surface and appear like dark spots. These are the sunspots.
• Solar flares are highly energetic phenomena that happen inside the sunspots. In a solar flare, the energy stored in the sun’s magnetic structures is converted into light and heat energy.
• This causes the emission of high energy x-ray radiation and highly accelerated charged particles to leave the sun’s surface.
• Sometimes solar flares also cause hot plasma to be ejected from the Sun, causing a solar storm, and this is called Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). Coronal Mass Ejections can harbour energies exceeding that of a billion atomic bombs.
• The energy and radiation and high energy particles emitted by flares can affect Earth bound objects and life on Earth – it can affect the electronics within satellites and affect astronauts.
• Very powerful Earth-directed coronal mass ejections can cause the failure of power grids and affect oil pipelines and deep-sea cables. They can also cause spectacular aurorae in the high-latitude and polar countries.

SOURCE: TH

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

7. FISHERMAN KILLED IN PAKISTAN

THE CONTEXT: A fisherman from Maharashtra was killed in firing by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) on an Indian fishing boat off the Gujarat coast on 6th November 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Six other fishermen on the boat have been reportedly abducted.
• The boat which came under fire was from Okha in Gujarat.

SOURCE:  TH

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) comes under which Ministry

1. Ministry of Home Affairs
2. Prime Minister’s Office
3. Niti Aayog
4. Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation

Q2. Consider the following statements

1. Regions that rise to the surface and appear as dark spots are created by the solar magnetic cycle, which operates deep within the Sun.
2. The energy contained in the sun’s magnetic structures is turned into light and heat energy during a solar flare.
3. Coronal Mass Ejections have energy that is equivalent to a billion atomic bombs.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR NOVEMBER 6^th, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Answer: A

Explanation:

• A Zero-Click attack helps spyware like Pegasus gain control over a device without human interaction or human error.
• The “zero-click” is able to silently corrupt the targeted device and was identified by researchers at Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity watchdog organisation in Canada.

1. Symbols as an expression of universal welfare READ MORE
2. Positive actions READ MORE
3. Tortured as a Child Labourer, He Is Now Helping Draft India’s Anti-trafficking Bill READ MORE

1. The right time for India to have its own climate law: The country’s existing laws are inadequate in dealing with climate change; India’s situation is also unique READ MORE
2. Impact of greenhouse gases and deforestation READ MORE

1. Individual independence is a myth, we need a social support system READ MORE
2. Blow to children’s nutrition READ MORE

1. What we need to fix our judicial system READ MORE
2. The politics of illegal drugs and legal highs READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Edible Oil prices show a declining trend across the country READ MORE
2. World food prices hit a 10-year-high; wheat harvests a factor: U.N. READ MORE
3. Explained: What is Molnupiravir? READ MORE
4. Climate Change: Global Carbon Emissions Going to Rebound to Pre-Pandemic level READ MORE
5. Global warming led to frequent, extreme melting of ice in Greenland over the past 40 years READ MORE
6. India, Senegal sign MoU on health, medicine in Dakar, review bilateral ties READ MORE
7. Air quality deteriorates in many parts in North and Central India READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. What we need to fix our judicial system READ MORE
2. The politics of illegal drugs and legal highs READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Individual independence is a myth, we need a social support system READ MORE
2. Blow to children’s nutrition READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Charting a trade route after the MC12: An upbeat global trade scenario provides an ideal setting for Trade Ministers to correct iniquitous rules and provisions READ MORE  
2. ASEAN nations and the china factor READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How the Pacific Protects its Fisheries READ MORE
2. Good judgement needed to push privatization READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. The right time for India to have its own climate law: The country’s existing laws are inadequate in dealing with climate change; India’s situation is also unique READ MORE
2. Impact of greenhouse gases and deforestation READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. India’s 5G leap is about powering tomorrow: The revolution that 4G technology ushered in can be enhanced but the nation cannot gloss over the digital divide READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Symbols as an expression of universal welfare READ MORE
2. Positive actions READ MORE
3. Tortured as a Child Labourer, He Is Now Helping Draft India’s Anti-trafficking Bill READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. India’s existing laws are inadequate in dealing with climate change. In this backdrop, discuss the need for separate climate law in India.
2. ‘When New Delhi speaks of the need for climate justice, global funding and climate adaptation technology transfer, India’s voice would only be strengthened multiple times if it speaks for South Asia as a whole.’ Analyse the need and challenges involved in regional cooperation on the issue of climate change in South Asia.
3. Enumerating the applications of 5G technology, examine the challenges involved in its implementation in India.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Hate has caused a lot of problems in this world but has not solved one yet.
• An upbeat global trade scenario provides an ideal setting for Trade Ministers to correct iniquitous rules and provisions.
• The country’s existing laws are inadequate in dealing with climate change; India’s situation is also unique.
• The answer to fixing our judicial system does not lie in throwing more money at it or building shiny new digital platforms or creating a new behemoth like the National Judicial Infrastructure Corporation as demanded by the incumbent Chief Justice of India.
• Western countries are raising only issues of security and sustainability. Of course, growth should be sustainable, and the species has to be made secure from the impact of climate change.
• While natural gas plants are running, they need to purchase fuel and the price of fossil fuels does not reflect the cost of climate change in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
• The pandemic has deprived parents of employment and their children access to education and school meals.

50- WORD TALK

• Modi government’s decision to cut taxes on petrol and diesel, followed by many states, was long overdue. Hopefully, it’s driven by stagflation concerns and not by political exigencies after bypolls and ahead of assembly elections. Packaging it as a ‘Diwali gift’ is just smart politics. The economy needs more cuts.
• The drastic deterioration in Delhi-NCR’s air quality due to Diwali firecrackers and farm fires is a damning indictment of the failure of authorities and policies and the insensitivity of the violators. Especially when the pandemic’s health emergency trauma is so fresh. AAP-BJP politics over this only makes it tragic.

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 main 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.

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. COVAXIN GETS WHO’S EMERGENCY USE NOD

THE CONTEXT: India’s first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, was granted Emergency Use Listing (EUL) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

THE EXPLANATION:

• Covaxin is a whole virion-inactivated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, developed in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology, Pune.
• It has been granted EUL for use in persons 18 years and above, over two doses spaced four weeks apart.
• No recommendation has been made for use in children, and available data for use on pregnant women is insufficient to assess safety or efficacy.
• The EUL is a prerequisite for the COVAX initiative in vaccine supply and allows countries to expedite their own regulatory approval to import and administer COVID-19 vaccines.
• The move is expected to ease international travel for Indians who have opted for the vaccine.

SOURCE: TH

2. DRAFT MEDIATION BILL

THE CONTEXT: Draft Mediation Bill issued for Public Consultation.

THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE BILL

• The draft Bill proposes for pre-litigation mediation and at the same time safeguards the interest of the litigants to approach the competent adjudicatory forums/courts in case an urgent relief is sought.
• The successful outcome of mediation in the form of a Mediation Settlement Agreement (MSA) has been made enforceable by law. Since the Mediation Settlement Agreement is out of the consensual agreement between the parties, the challenge to the same has been permitted on limited grounds.
• The mediation process protects the confidentiality of the mediation undertaken and provides for immunity in certain cases against its disclosure.
• The registration of the Mediation Settlement Agreement has also been provided with State/District/Taluk Legal Authorities within 90 days to ensure maintenance of authenticated records of the settlement so arrived.
• Provides for the establishment of the Mediation Council of India.
• Provides for community mediation.

SOURCE: PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

3. DELHI’S AIR QUALITY ENTERED THE SEVERE CATEGORY

THE CONTEXT: As per Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB), the air quality of the city deteriorated to the “severe” category on November 5, a day after Deepavali.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Capital registered its worst post-Deepavali air quality in five years.
• The current air pollution levels affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases.
• Government-run monitoring agency SAFAR said that local winds have picked up since morning and now the fast dispersion is expected.

SAFAR

• The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) is a national initiative introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to measure the air quality of a metropolitan city.
• The system is indigenously developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and is operationalized by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Pollutants monitored are PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, and Mercury.

AIR QUALITY INDEX

• It is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand.
• It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature and colour.
• There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
• Each of these categories is decided based on ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints).
• AQ sub-index and health breakpoints are evolved for eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hours) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.

SOURCE: TH

4. WORLD FOOD PRICES HIT A 10-YEAR-HIGH

THE CONTEXT: According to the United Nations’ food agency, world food prices are the highest since July 2011, reflecting in part reduced wheat harvests by major exporters and higher palm oil prices.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said international prices of its basket of food commodities rose by 3% in October, for a third straight month of increases.
• Reduced harvests by big exporters like Canada, Russia and the United States helped drive up wheat prices by 5%, while the Vegetable Oil Price Index soared by 9.6% in October, hitting an all-time high. Migrant worker shortages in Malaysia were a factor in that increase.
• Italy, a major exporter as well as consumer of pasta, fears that product’s prices could soar in time for year-end holidays. Italy imports about 40% of its durum wheat, with Canada its principle supplier, to help produce its pasta.
• Experts have said the price of a package of pasta could jump by some 20 euro cents (almost 24 U.S. cents), which, for many popular brands, could translate into a 15-to-20% increase in a product many Italians consume daily.
• The FAO said global cereal inventories are seen heading for a contraction in 2021/22, according to the agency’s forecast. That forecast reflects cuts to the estimates of wheat production in Iran and Turkey as well as the U.S.
• Higher costs of energy and supply chain prices have also been cited for the rising food prices consumers are facing.

 SOURCE: TH

5. GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS GOING REBOUND PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL

THE CONTEXT:  The recent report produced by the Global Carbon Project (GCP) suggests that the decreased levels of emissions during the pandemic would be soon reversed.

THE EXPLANATION:

• A report suggests that carbon dioxide emission this year is likely to rise by 4.9%, thereby reversing what was achieved during the peak of the pandemic period.
• In 2020, carbon dioxide emissions fell drastically, by a record 1.9 billion tons, amounting to a decrease of about 5.4%.
• The report said that China and India would have higher emissions in 2021 than in 2019, while Europe and the United States are expected to have slightly lower emissions.
• China was reported to have increased its coal usage, which is among the most dangerous contributors to global warming, while emissions in some other countries were found to be decreased.
• The GCP report projected that global emissions would surpass 36.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide this year.

SOURCE: NewsClick

INDIAN ECONOMY

6. EDIBLE OIL PRICES SHOW A DECLINING TREND

THE CONTEXT: Edible Oil prices show a declining trend across the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Government has cut the basic duty on Crude Palm Oil, Crude Soybean Oil and Crude Sunflower Oil from 2.5% to nil in a bid to reign in a continuous rise in the cooking oil prices since the past year.
• The Agri-cess on these Oils has been brought down from 20% to 7.5% for Crude Palm Oil and 5% for Crude Soyabean Oil and Crude Sunflower Oil.
• Consequent to the above reduction, the total duty is 7.5% for Crude Palm Oil and 5% for Crude Soyabean Oil and Crude Sunflower Oil.
• The basic duty on RBD Palmolein Oil, Refined Soyabean and Refined Sunflower Oil has been slashed to 17.5% from the current 32.5%.
• To control prices of edible oils the government has rationalised import duties on palm oil, sunflower oil and soyabean oil, futures trading in mustard oil on NCDEX has been suspended and stock limits have been imposed.
• Despite international commodity prices being high, interventions have been taken by Central Government along with State Governments’ proactive involvement have led to a reduction in prices of edible oils.
• Edible prices are higher than the year-ago period but from October onwards there was a declining trend.
• The government is taking steps to improve the production of secondary edible oils, especially rice bran oil to reduce the import dependence.

 SOURCE: PIB

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

7. MOLNUPIRAVIR

THE CONTEXT: Researchers have engineered enzymes to enable faster manufacture of molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral being developed for the treatment of Covid-19. The study appears in ACS Central Science.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Molnupiravir works by causing viruses to make errors when copying their own RNA, introducing mutations that inhibit replication.
• Manufactured by Merck, the drug was originally developed to treat influenza. It has been submitted to the US FDA for review as a Covid-19 treatment.
• In India, the Optimus Group recently announced the results of phase 3 clinical trials, which found 91.5% of patients given the drug tested RT-PCR negative compared to 43% in the placebo group.
• In the new study, researchers developed a three-step synthesis route, which was 70% shorter and had a seven-fold higher overall yield than the original route, the American Chemical Society said in a press release.

SOURCE: IE

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

8. INDIA -SENEGAL SIGN MOU ON HEALTH

THE CONTEXT: India and Senegal signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Health and Medicine in Dakar and both sides celebrated the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The two sides reviewed bilateral ties and explored possibilities of increasing engagement.
• The MoU entails collaboration including in Disease Surveillance, Medical Research, Drugs and Pharma, medical equipment & Traditional Medicine.
• To mark the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties a commemorative postal stamp was released.

SOURCE:  ANI

9. CHINA, RUSSIA URGE UNSC TO END SANCTIONS ON NORTH KOREA

THE CONTEXT: China and Russia are urging the U.N. Security Council to end a host of sanctions against North Korea including a ban on exports of seafood and textiles, a cap on imports of refined petroleum products, and a prohibition on its citizens working overseas and sending home their earning.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Security Council initially imposed sanctions on North Korea after its first nuclear test in 2006 and made them tougher in response to further nuclear tests and an increasingly sophisticated ballistic missile program.
• A draft resolution circulated to council members stresses the economic difficulties in North Korea and says sanctions should be lifted with the intent of enhancing the livelihood of the civilian population.
• The China-Russia draft resolution makes no mention of the missile tests. Instead, it notes that North Korea has refrained from conducting nuclear tests since September 2017.
• The China-Russia draft calls on all U.N. member nations to intensify their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, including but not limited to food, fertilizer and medical supplies and to provide goods, materials, technology and financial services needed by North Korea to combat COVID-19, improve livelihoods, and develop the economy.
• The draft resolution would lift a ban on North Korea from importing some industrial machinery and transport vehicles used to build infrastructure that can’t be diverted to the country’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs

SOURCE: THE DIPLOMAT

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q.1  “Zero click”, the term sometimes seen in the news, is related to

a) Cyberattacks

b) Climate change

c) E-waste management

d) Eco-friendly farming

ANSWER FOR NOVEMBER 2^nd, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Answer: A

Explanation:

• ‘The Adaptation Gap Report 2021: The Gathering Storm’ was released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during the ongoing COP26 at Glasgow.
• The report found that the costs of adaptation are likely in the higher end of an estimated $140-300 billion per year by 2030 and $280-500 billion per year by 2050 for developing countries only.
• Even if the world limits warming to 1.5°C, many climate risks remain and will be irreversible, while warning that the gap between costs of adaptation and the current financial flow is widening.

1. What is real prosperity? READ MORE
2. Code Of Ethics Under The Information Technology Rules, 2021 – Stay Orders By The High Courts Of Bombay And Madras READ MORE

1. Explained: Climate change in 11 charts READ MORE
2. Shadow of poverty on India’s climate goals READ MORE
3. Are India’s Parliamentarians Starting to Understand Our Rivers? READ MORE

1. Social Justice Matters | Is the electoral system in India unjust to Dalits? READ MORE
2. Gender and social disparities: What India’s achivement of 1 billion vaccine doses doesn’t reveal READ MORE

1. On dealing with false criminal cases: Investigating officers should ensure that no innocent individuals have to suffer the rigours of the law READ MORE
2. A court order for the ages: Pegasus verdict provides an answer to question of privacy READ MORE
3. What we need to fix our judicial system READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Centre cuts excise duty on petrol by ₹5, diesel by ₹10 READ MORE
2. Climate risks remain even if world limits warming to 1.5°C: UNEP report READ MORE
3. Endangered lesser florican rescued in Maharashtra’s Solapur READ MORE
4. New study proposes expansion of the universe directly impacts black hole growth READ MORE
5. US Puts Pegasus Spyware Maker NSO Group on Trade Blacklist for ‘Malicious Cyber Activities’ READ MORE
6. India, Indonesia and Philippines Join Coal Transition Programme READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. On dealing with false criminal cases: Investigating officers should ensure that no innocent individuals have to suffer the rigours of the law READ MORE
2. A court order for the ages: Pegasus verdict provides an answer to question of privacy READ MORE
3. What we need to fix our judicial system READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Social Justice Matters | Is the electoral system in India unjust to Dalits? READ MORE
2. Gender and social disparities: What India’s achivement of 1 billion vaccine doses doesn’t reveal READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Batting for ‘One South Asia’ makes more sense: When it comes to climate change, India’s ideas would pack more punch if they have a clear road map for the region READ MORE
2. How China’s new border law can affect India READ MORE
3. Unleashing the Indo-ASEAN growth potential READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The recovery toolkit: On tax policy and economic recovery READ MORE
2. Making ARCs bankable: RBI panel highlights banks’ role in ARC failure, need for correction READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Explained: Climate change in 11 charts READ MORE
2. Shadow of poverty on India’s climate goals READ MORE
3. Are India’s Parliamentarians Starting to Understand Our Rivers? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. India’s 5G leap is about powering tomorrow: The revolution that 4G technology ushered in can be enhanced but the nation cannot gloss over the digital divide READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. What is real prosperity? READ MORE
2. Code Of Ethics Under The Information Technology Rules, 2021 – Stay Orders By The High Courts Of Bombay And Madras READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘In the current geopolitical landscape, India and ASEAN can position themselves as front-runners in terms of relocation of value and production chains’. Comment.
2. ‘In India, economic policies have created greater income inequality and poverty, whereas environmental policies have failed to conserve and enhance the resource base of the country’. Examine the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• We are each other’s harvest; we are each other’s business; we are each other’s magnitude and bond.
• When it comes to climate change, India’s ideas would pack more punch if they have a clear road map for the South Asia region.
• India must reorient its strategy towards an ecologically sustainable pathway. There is no space in the world for another China.
• In the current geopolitical landscape, India and ASEAN have the opportunity to position themselves as front-runners in terms of relocation of value and production chains.
• There is a lot for us to worry about on the border front if Xi Jinping follows Mao’s ‘Contradiction’ theory with regard to India.
• Economic policies have created greater income inequality and poverty, whereas environmental policies have failed to conserve and enhance the resource base of the country. Their convergence or integration benefits each other in realising both economic development and environmental conservation.
• If the weaponisation of religion continues apace, the subcontinent may plunge into prolonged social strife.
• Indian elections are a remarkable feat for a new democracy. Yet, the country’s marginalised castes continue to get a raw deal when it comes to their representation, and the system of reserved constituencies is flawed at best.
• The revolution that 4G technology ushered in can be enhanced through 5G but the nation cannot gloss over the digital divide.
• Economic policies have created greater income inequality and poverty, whereas environmental policies have failed to conserve and enhance the resource base of the country.

50- WORD TALK

• WHO granting emergency approval to Covaxin is big relief. The long wait, data requests and speculation didn’t help the cause of a much-needed vaccine that was, unfortunately, rushed through initially. While that’s a lesson, Bharat Biotech-ICMR should be proud of Covaxin and scale up production to help India vaccinate everyone.

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.

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

1. THE ADAPTATION GAP REPORT 2021

THE CONTEXT: ‘The Adaptation Gap Report 2021: The Gathering Storm’ released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) during the ongoing COP26 at Glasgow.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The report found that the costs of adaptation are likely in the higher end of an estimated $140-300 billion per year by 2030 and $280-500 billion per year by 2050 for developing countries only.
• Even if the world limits warming to 1.5°C, many climate risks remain and will be irreversible, while warning that the gap between costs of adaptation and the current financial flow is widening.
• It found that the opportunity to use the fiscal recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic to prioritise green economic growth that also helps nations adapt to climate impacts such as droughts, storms and wildfire is largely being missed.
• Around 79% of countries have adopted at least one national-level adaptation planning instrument, such as a plan, strategy, policy or law. This is an increase of seven per cent since 2020.
• Nine per cent of countries that do not have such an instrument in place are in the process of developing one. At least 65% of the countries have one or more sectoral plans in place, and at least 26% have one or more sub-national planning instruments.
• Despite this progress, the report finds that further ambition is needed in financing and implementation.

SOURCE: TH

2. COMPARISON OF INDIA’S NET-ZERO GOAL TO OTHER COUNTRIES

THE CONTEXT: India was the only one among the major greenhouse gas emitters that hadn’t specified a so-called net-zero year.

THE EXPLANATION:

• PM in setting an outer limit of 2070 by which India’s emissions would effectively be zero means that it is asking Western developed countries to do more, or undertake sharper cuts.
• China, Russia and Saudi Arabia have committed to net-zero by 2060.
• The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union have committed to a 2050 target.
• But only 12 countries have enshrined this commitment in law. These are Germany, Sweden, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Canada, South Korea, Spain, Denmark, New Zealand, Hungary, and Luxembourg.
• The European Union has a collective target of 2050 and Germany and Sweden have a 2045 target.
• An analysis by the World Resources Institute notes “steady progress” in the number of countries reaching peak emissions over time.
• By 1990, 19 countries had peaked (representing 21 per cent of global emissions) and by 2030 this number is likely to grow to 57 countries (representing 60 per cent of global emissions).
• By 2020, 53 countries representing 40 per cent of global emissions (based on 2010 emissions data rather than 2020 projections) peaked or have a commitment to peak by 2020.
• By 2020, almost all developed countries are expected to have peaked.

ABOUT NET ZERO

• ‘Net zero’ is a globally agreed-upon goal for mitigating global warming in the second half of the century, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that for temperature rise to be restricted to 1.5C it was necessary for global carbon dioxide emissions to halt by 2050.
• It would also be necessary to use other methods to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

SOURCE: TH

3. COAL TRANSITION PROGRAMME

THE CONTEXT:  India, Indonesia and the Philippines will join South Africa as the first recipients of a multibillion-dollar pilot programme aimed at accelerating their transition from coal power to clean energy, the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).

THE EXPLANATION:

• The four countries account for 15% of global emissions related to coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel.
• The new programme has been endorsed by the Group of Seven advanced economies and is supported by financial pledges from the United States, Britain, Germany, Canada and Denmark.
• It will invest in projects ranging from bolstering countries’ domestic capacity to manage energy transitions to repurposing or decommissioning coal assets and creating economic opportunities for coal-dependent communities.
• The project will work with six multilateral development banks to offer coal-transitioning countries a comprehensive financial toolkit that includes low-income loans and technical assistance.

SOURCE: THEWIRE

INDIAN ECONOMY

4. PLI SCHEME FOR WHITE GOODS

THE CONTEXT: The proposal of DPIIT for the PLI Scheme for White Goods for the manufacture of components and sub-assemblies of ACs and LED Lights was approved by the Union Cabinet.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Scheme is to be implemented over a seven-year period, from FY2021-22 to FY2028-29 and has an outlay of Rs. 6,238 crore.
• The investments in Air Conditioners will lead to manufacturing components across the complete value chain including components that are not manufactured in India with sufficient quantity.
• This is a huge step forward for Atmanirbhar Bharat in important sectors of the economy

ABOUT WHITE GOODS

• White goods are major consumer durables or household appliances that were previously exclusively accessible in white.
• Air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, and LED lights are all part of the white goods business.

SOURCE: PIB

5. CENTRE CUTS EXCISE DUTY ON PETROL AND DIESEL 

THE CONTEXT: The Government slashed excise duties on petrol and diesel by Rs. 5 and Rs. 10 per litre respectively, citing the need to help farmers with the rabi crop, ease inflation and give the economy a consumption boost.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Centre has urged the States to ‘commensurately reduce’ the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel to give relief to consumers.
• Even if the States don’t act, the actual amount of VAT levied by them on fuels is expected to reduce immediately because they levy varying tax rates on an ad-valorem basis after central excise duties are levied.

SOURCE: TH

6. 75 TONNES MORE GOLD IN FOREX

THE CONTEXT: India is adding more gold to its rising foreign exchange kitty of $640 billion. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has acquired 75.59 tonnes of gold in the last 12 months.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Data from the Reserve Bank shows that the central bank held 743.84 metric tonnes of gold as of September 2021, more than 11 per cent compared to 668.25 tonnes of the yellow metal held in September 2020.
• The RBI’s gold holding has gone up by 125.6 tonnes in the last two years, making India the world’s ninth-largest holder of gold reserves.
• While 451.54 metric tonnes of gold is held overseas in safe custody with the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), 292.30 tonnes of gold is held domestically
• Although gold no longer plays a direct role in the international monetary system, central banks and governments still hold extensive gold reserves to preserve national wealth and protect against economic instability.
• According to the 2021 Central Bank Gold Reserves (CBGR) survey, 21 per cent of central banks intend to increase their gold reserves over the next 12 months.
• Central banks are also increasingly valuing gold’s performance during periods of crisis as this attribute now tops their rationale for holding gold.
• The RBI says the major sources of market risk for central banks are currency risk, interest rate risk and movement in gold prices.

SOURCE: IE

MISCELLANEOUS

7.US PUTS NSO GROUP ON TRADE BLACKLIST

THE CONTEXT: Israeli spyware company NSO Group, the maker of phone-hacking tool Pegasus, has been added to a federal blacklist by the US Department of Commerce, thereby restricting it from accessing America-made technologies.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The US government has added Israel’s NSO Group and Candiru, alongside Russian cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies and Singapore-based Computer Security Initiative Consultancy Pte, to its Entity List.
• Being added to the Entity List means the companies will not be able to access American hardware and software
• Trade experts, though, have argued that this is an important flag planted by the US, given that most decisions earlier to put companies on the Entity List involved China. However, this time, the US has taken a stance on a company being operated out of Israel — a long time US ally.

SOURCE: IE

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1 The Adaptation Gap Report is released by?

a) UNEP

b) IUCN

c) WEF

d) World Bank

ANSWER FOR NOVEMBER 2^nd, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Answer: D

Explanation:

Sources of methane include:

1. Cow’s digestive system
2. Paddy farms
3. Oil & Natural gas production
4. Landfills waste

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. IREDA LAUNCHES ‘WHISTLE BLOWER’ PORTAL

THE CONTEXT: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA), a PSU under the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) launched a ‘Whistle-blower Portal’, as a part of ‘Vigilance Awareness Week 2021’.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Through this portal, IREDA employees can raise concerns related to fraud, corruption, abuse of power etc. The portal has been developed by the IT Team of the company.
• The whistle-blower portal is a part of an IREDA’s “zero tolerance” of corruption.

ABOUT IREDA

• The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) was founded in 1987 and is a Government of India Mini Ratna (Category – I) Enterprise under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• It is a Non-Banking Financial Institution that was created as a Public Limited Government Company with the motto “Energy for Ever.”

SOURCE:  PIB

2. E-CHHAWANI PORTAL

THE CONTEXT:  Incentives announced for Cashless Transaction on eChhawani Portal of Cantonment Board to promote digital economy. Cashless transaction to get up to 2% rebate.

ABOUT ECHHAWANI

• eChhawani is a citizen-centric project of Directorate General of Defence Estates, Ministry of Defence.
• Under this initiative, Cantonment Boards provide online citizen services to more than 20 lakh residents across 62 Cantonments in the country through the unified eChhawani Portal.
• The unified portal (https://echhawani.gov.in) provides centralised access to civic services to residents of all Cantonment along with all relevant information in a simple, easy to understand and effective manner.
• The services are being provided in the paperless, faceless and cashless environment on eChhawani Portal.

SOURCE:  PIB

3. NHRC: SET UP POLICE COMPLAINTS BODIES

THE CONTEXT:  Fifteen years after the Supreme Court issued directions for police reforms, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Union Home Ministry and the State Governments to set up police complaints authorities as per the judgment in the Prakash Singh vs Union of India, 2006, case.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The NHRC’s core advisory group on criminal justice system reforms has said there is an “immediate need to set up police complaints authorities at the State/UT and district level” as per the Supreme Court’s directives.
• It said the MHA and the Law Ministry should consider implementing the recommendations of the 113th report of the Law Commission to add Section 114 B to the Indian Evidence Act.
• This would ensure that if a person sustains injuries in custody, it is presumed that the injuries were inflicted by the police.

ABOUT NHRC

• It is a statutory body (Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993).
• Composition: A multi-member body consisting of a chairman and five members.
• Qualification: The chairman should be retired chief justice of India or judge of Supreme Court, and members should be serving or retired judges of the Supreme Court, a serving or retired chief justice of a high court and three persons (out of which at least one should be a woman) having knowledge or practical experience with respect to human rights.
• In addition, the commission also has seven ex-officio members.
• Appointment: Appointed by the president on recommendations of a six-member committee.
• Term: The chairman and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• Removal: The president can remove the chairman or any member from the office
• The salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the chairman or a member are determined by the Central government.
• It has all the powers of a civil court and its proceedings have a judicial character.
• The commission is not empowered to inquire into any matter after the expiry of one year from the date on which the act constituting a violation of human rights is alleged to have been committed.
• The commission is mainly recommendatory in nature. It has no power to punish the violators of human rights, nor to award any relief including monetary relief to the victim. But, it should be informed about the action taken on its recommendations within one month.
• The commission submits its annual or special reports to the Central government and to the state government concerned.

SOURCE:  TH

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

4. INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RESILIENT ISLAND STATE

THE CONTEXT: PM launched the Initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) for developing infrastructure of small island nations, saying that it gives new hope, new confidence and satisfaction of doing something for the most vulnerable countries.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The IRIS initiative is a part of the CDRI that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects, especially in small island developing states.
• The new initiative is the result of cooperation between India, the U.K. and Australia and included the participation of leaders of small island nations such as Fiji, Jamaica and Mauritius.

SOURCE: TH

5. GLOBAL SOLAR GRID INITIATIVE

THE CONTEXT: At COP26, an initiative by India and the United Kingdom to tap solar energy and have it travel seamlessly across borders was announced.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It includes a group of governments called the Green Grids Initiative — One Sun One World One Grid group.
• It is endorsed by more than 80 countries.
• Research support for the Green Grids Initiative is being provided by the Climate Compatible Growth consortium of universities, which includes Cambridge, Imperial College, Oxford and University College London.
• The Green Grids Initiative Working Groups made up of national and international agencies have already been established for Africa and for the Asia-Pacific region. Their membership includes most major multilateral development banks, such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.

SOURCE: TH

6. GLOBAL METHANE PLEDGE

THE CONTEXT: Leaders at the CoP26 global climate conference in Glasgow pledged to make a 30 per cent cut in global methane emissions by 2030, and another to arrest and reverse deforestation by the same year.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Nearly 90 countries have joined a U.S.-and EU-led effort to slash emissions of methane by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels.
• Among the signatories is Brazil — one of the five biggest emitters of methane
• Over 100 national leaders pledged to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by the end of the decade, underpinned by $19 billion in public and private funds to invest in protecting and restoring forests.
• It expands a commitment by 40 countries as part of the 2014 New York Declaration of Forests.
• India has not signed up to either of the two pledges.

SOURCE: TH

INDIAN ECONOMY

7. MoRD SIGNS MOU WITH FLIPKART

THE CONTEXT: Flipkart has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Rural Development of the Government of India (MoRD), for their ambitious Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) program, to help empower local businesses and self-help groups (SHGs) by bringing them into the e-commerce fold.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The partnership is aligned with the DAY-NRLM’s goal of strengthening the capabilities of rural communities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
• This MoU is a part of the Flipkart Samarth program and aims to provide skilled yet under-served communities of craftsmen, weavers and artisans with national market access through the Flipkart marketplace, as well as dedicated support for knowledge and training.

ABOUT FLIPKART SAMARTH

• Flipkart Samarth seeks to break entry barriers for local communities by providing time-bound incubation and support with onboarding, cataloguing, marketing, account management, business insights, and warehousing. This will create more avenues for increasing business and trade inclusion and help in creating and sustaining better livelihood opportunities.
• The Flipkart Samarth program was launched in 2019 as a sustainable and inclusive platform to empower underserved domestic communities and businesses with better opportunities and livelihoods. Flipkart Samarth is currently supporting the livelihoods of over 9,50,000 artisans, weavers and craftsmen across India, and is continuously working towards bringing even more sellers onto the platform.

ABOUT DAY-NRLM

• The MoRD’s DAY-NRLM programme with its outreach in 6768 blocks of 706 districts across all 28 States and 6 UTs has 7.84 crore women mobilized into more than 71 lakh SHGs is proving as the game-changing initiative to empower poor rural women.
• Under the mission, poor women from different cross-sections of class and caste form into SHGs and their federations, providing financial, economic and social development services to their members for enhancing their income and quality of life.
• As part of the efforts to promote livelihoods activities, continuous efforts have been made by NRLM at the state and national level for promoting rural products manufactured by these SHGs by providing platforms like Saras Fairs, Saras Gallery and retail outlets, state-owned online e-commerce platforms and other commercial e-commerce platforms.

SOURCE: PIB

INTERNAL SECURITY

8. DAC APPROVED PROPOSALS WORTH RS 7,965 CRORE

THE CONTEXT: The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisition proposals for modernisation and operational needs of the Armed Forces amounting to Rs 7,965 crore. All of these proposals (100%) are under ‘Make in India’ with a focus on design, development and manufacturing in India.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Approval for procurement of 12 Light Utility Helicopters from HAL.
• Lynx U2 Fire Control System from BEL to enhance detection tracking and engagement capabilities of Naval warships.
• Approval for Mid Life Upgradation of Dornier Aircraft from HAL to increase Naval capacity of coastal surveillance.
• Global procurement case of Naval guns foreclosed; Guns’ quantity added to upgraded Short Range Gun Mount being manufactured by BHEL.

SOURCE: PIB

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

9. AI PE CHARCHA

THE CONTEXT: The National eGovernance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) recently organised an AI Pe Charcha (AI Dialogue) wherein the panellists discussed the importance of data-driven and AI-enabled governance along with the global best practices.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The session had speakers from diverse backgrounds leading to an engaging session for Government officials, AI enthusiasts, AI practitioners, youth, and those who want to understand the implementation aspects of AI. The eminent panellists spoke about the importance of using the right data and how different governments around the world have employed AI to standalone departments and processes for devising prudent policies.
• The AI Pe Charcha series has been initiated as a part of Responsible AI for Social Empowerment (RAISE), India’s first global AI summit, which was organised by MeitY in 2020.
• Such initiatives by the Government of India have commenced a much-needed discourse on AI and would lead to certain positive, tangible meaningful changes in the overall economic and the social sphere.

SOURCE: PIB

10. POLARISATION OF LIGHT

THE CONTEXT: Indian Astronomers have found a new method to understand the atmosphere of extrasolar planets. They have shown that planets going around stars other than the Sun can be studied by observing the polarization of light and studying polarisation signatures.

THE EXPLANATION:

• These polarisation signatures or variations in scattering intensity of light can be observed with existing instruments and expanding the study of planets beyond the solar system using existing instruments.
• About a couple of decades ago, Sujan Sengupta, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bangalore, suggested that the thermal radiation of hot young planets and the reflected light of planets orbiting other stars, known as extra-solar planets or exoplanets would also be polarized and the measure of the polarization might unveil the chemical composition and other properties of the exoplanetary atmosphere.
• Subsequent confirmation of the prediction by the detection of polarization of many Brown Dwarfs motivated researchers all over the world to build highly sensitive polarimeters and use polarimetric methods to probe the exoplanetary environments.
• Polarimetric techniques in the near future will open up a new window for the study of the exoplanets and enable us to overcome many of the limitations of the traditional techniques.

SOURCE: PIB

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1 Which of the following are sources of methane gas released into the atmosphere?

1. Cow’s digestive system
2. Paddy farms
3. Natural gas production
4. Landfills

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

a) 1 and 3 only

b) 1, 2 and 3 only

c) 2, 3 and 4 only

d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

ANSWER FOR NOVEMBER 2^nd, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1. Answer: C

Explanation:

• India’s commitment made at COP26, Glasgow:
• India will achieve net-zero emissions latest by 2070.
• By 2030, India will ensure 50% of its energy will be sourced from renewable sources.
• India also committed to reducing its carbon emissions until 2030 by a billion tonnes.
• India will also reduce its emissions intensity per unit of GDP by less than 45%.
• India would also install systems to generate 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, a 50 GW increase from its existing target.

1. Finding a way out of India’s deepening water stress: In any new National Water Policy, the aim should also be to encourage conserving water resources and efficient usage READ MORE
2. Climate pledge: On CoP26 summit in Glasgow- Nations must realise they are not in a competitive race but trying to outrun the clock READ MORE
3. How India can realise its latest ambition to turn net-zero by 2070 READ MORE
4. India is among the top five countries most affected by extreme heat READ MORE

1. Public morality and the Aryan Khan case READ MORE
2. Nation-Building Through Education READ MORE

1. Mental health vs World Mental Health Day READ MORE
2. Not just Global Hunger Index, India’s own govt data shows how worried we should be READ MORE

1. Why counting caste matters: Caste data will help us understand the contours of inequality and craft reasoned and inclusive policies READ MORE
2. The Supreme Court is walking the talk on citizens’ rights READ MORE
3. Not just Global Hunger Index, India’s own govt data shows how worried we should be READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. English translation of Prime Minister’s address at the launch of ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ initiative at COP26 Summit in Glasgow READ MORE
2. PM Modi launches ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ for most vulnerable countries READ MORE
3. CoP26 summit | Leaders pledge to cut methane and save forests READ MORE
4. Set up Police Complaints Authorities, NHRC tells Union Home Ministry, States READ MORE
5. What La Nina is and why India should brace itself for a harsh winter READ MORE
6. Rare and endangered bird returns to Croatia after 200 years READ MORE
7. Wheat could expand to higher latitudes if warming trends continue: Study READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. Finding a way out of India’s deepening water stress: In any new National Water Policy, the aim should also be to encourage conserving water resources and efficient usage READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Why counting caste matters: Caste data will help us understand the contours of inequality and craft reasoned and inclusive policies READ MORE
2. The Supreme Court is walking the talk on citizens’ rights READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Mental health vs World Mental Health Day READ MORE
2. Not just Global Hunger Index, India’s own govt data shows how worried we should be READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Trade and climate, the pivot for India-U.S. ties READ MORE
2. Nepal’s foreign policy resets ties with India READ MORE
3. A Tale of Two Quads: Both Quad-1 and Quad-2 have China in their crosshairs. Both are conceived as ‘coalitions of the willing’. Both formats have sea power as the dominant paradigm. READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Telecom reforms not sweeping enough READ MORE  
2. Banking accountability: Robust system is needed for investigation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Climate pledge: On CoP26 summit in Glasgow- Nations must realise they are not in a competitive race but trying to outrun the clock READ MORE
2. How India can realise its latest ambition to turn net-zero by 2070 READ MORE
3. India is among the top five countries most affected by extreme heat READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Kashmir’s fragility has more complex reasons: To limit what is happening in J&K solely to the impetus created by a Talibanised Afghanistan could cost India dear READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Public morality and the Aryan Khan case READ MORE
2. Nation-Building Through Education READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Discuss the need and concerns associated with the caste census in India.
2. ‘Caste data will help us understand the contours of inequality and craft reasoned and inclusive policies’. Do you agree with the view? Justify your view.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
• Nations must realise they are not in a competitive race but trying to outrun the clock.
• In any new National Water Policy, the aim should also be to encourage conserving water resources and efficient usage.
• To limit what is happening in J&K solely to the impetus created by a Talibanised Afghanistan could cost India dear.
• Caste data will help us understand the contours of inequality and craft reasoned and inclusive policies.
• The Pegasus order upholding the individual’s right to a life of dignity and privacy is music to the ears of those who believe in constitutional values and rule of law.
• India has been right in advocating a global climate change regime that will advance, not diminish, its developmental prospects. But the time has come to define our developmental objectives aligned to our civilisational values of respect for nature.
• The government has questioned the methodology of the Global Hunger Index. But undernutrition is one of the leading factors of child mortality in India.

50- WORD TALK

• For too long, India relied on a single template response for climate change negotiations — let rich countries cut emissions first. But Covid has ushered in an era of new internationalism and what is achieved in a short time if there’s the unity of intent. COP26 must leverage this we-are-all-in-it-together mood.
• Aryan Khan is home but that shouldn’t lull us into forgetting that NCB’s functioning must remain under our increased scrutiny. If just one headline-hunting officer, abusing the draconian NDPS law and producing evergreen witnesses, can cause such harm, then the collective outcry against NCB, like in Aryan’s case, should sustain.

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 main 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.

[WpProQuiz 82]