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THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. THE CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX (CPI)

THE CONTEXT: India’s rank improved one place to 85 among 180 countries in a corruption perception index (CPI) of 2021, according to a new report by Transparency International which, however, raised concern over the country’s democratic status.

THE EXPLANATION:

The index, which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption according to experts and business people, uses a scale of 0 to 100 to rank Corruption Perception Index (CPI), where 0 is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. Transparency International gave India a CPI score of 40.

• According to the anti-corruption watchdog, among those with weak scores are some of the world’s most populous countries such as China (45) and India (40), and other large economies such as Indonesia (38),Pakistan (28) and Bangladesh (26).
• India’s rank improved by one place to 85 in 2021 from 86th in 2020. Except Bhutan, all of India’s neighbours are ranked below it. Pakistan dropped 16 spots in the index and was ranked at 140.

Concerns:

• The country’s score has remained stagnant over the past decade, some of the mechanisms that could help reign in corruption are weakening.
• The report highlighted concerns over the risk to journalists and activists who have been “victims of attacks by the police, political militants, criminal gangs and corrupt local officials.” “Civil society organisations that speak up against the government have been targeted with security, defamation, sedition, hate speech and contempt-of-court charges, and with regulations on foreign funding”.

Value Addition:

Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)

• The CPI is an index which ranks countries “by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys.”
• The CPI generally defines corruption as an “abuse of entrusted power for private gain”.
• The index is published annually by the non-governmental organisation Transparency International since

What kind of corruption does the CPI measure?

The data sources used to compile the CPI specifically cover the following manifestations of public sector corruption:

• Bribery.
• Diversion of public funds.
• Officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences.
• Ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector.
• Excessive red tape in the public sector which may increase opportunities for corruption.
• Nepotistic appointments in the civil service.
• Laws ensuring that public officials must disclose their finances and potential conflicts of interest.
• Legal protection for people who report cases of bribery and corruption.
• State capture by narrow vested interests.
• Access to information on public affairs/government activities.

The CPI does NOT cover:

• Citizens direct perceptions or experience of corruption.
• Tax fraud.
• Illicit financial flows.
• Enablers of corruption (lawyers, accountants, financial advisors etc).
• Money-laundering.
• Private sector corruption.
• Informal economies and markets.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. ‘75 VILLAGES OF EXCELLENCE’

THE CONTEXT: To commemorate the 75th year of India’s independence where India and Israel decided to convert 150 villages around the Centers of Excellence into Villages of Excellence.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Agricultural Ministry, it has expressed satisfaction at the functioning of 29 Centers of Excellence in 12 States which are producing more than 25 million vegetable plants, over 387 thousand quality fruit plants and can train more than 1.2 lakh farmers per year. Also the Ministry expressed happiness on the completion of 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel.
• The Ministry highlighted the various schemes that have been launched by the Government of India under the Prime Minister for the welfare of farmers, including PM-Kisan, Agri-Infrastructure Fund, formation of 10 thousand FPOs, Schemes for promotion of organic farming, natural farming and soil health cards etc.
• The Israeli Ambassador appreciated the working of ICAR institutes and showed interest in further collaboration with ICAR and making available the latest technologies available with Israel. He proposed the certification of COEs to further enhance the standards and quality of services being provided to the farmers.
• Historical ties
• Israel is one of the few countries in the world that chose not to condemn Pokhran nuclear tests of India.
• Israel supplied the M – 58 mortar ammunition to India during the latter’s war against Pakistan in 1965.

VALUE ADDITION:

INDIA AND ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP

Historical ties

• Israel is one of the few countries in the world that chose not to condemn Pokhran nuclear tests of India.
• Israel supplied the M – 58 mortar ammunition to India during the latter’s war against Pakistan in 1965.

Agriculture Cooperation: India and Israel started the Indo – Israeli Agricultural Cooperation Project. It focused on micro – irrigation, farming technologies and dairy. The programme created ten centres of excellence by 2014. The centres conducted training sessions to farmers.

Indo – Israel Villages of Excellence: This programme aimed to create model agricultural ecosystem. It also worked to transform the traditional farms to modern farms. It also focused on market linkages, capacity buildings and modern agriculture infrastructure.

Defence Cooperation: India has inducted several Israeli arms and weapons into its military. The top most are Phalcom AWACS, the air borne warning and control system; Heron, Harop and Searcher drones; Spyder anti – aircraft missile system.

THE HEALTH & COVID CORNOR

3. NEW VIRAL DISEASE: NEOCOV

THE CONTEXT: Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wuhan University noted that NeoCov is found in a population of bats in South Africa and to date spreads exclusively among these animals.

What is NeoCoV?

NeoCoV is a bat coronavirus that was first identified in 2011. It was identified in a species ofbats known asNeoromicia, which is where the name NeoCoV was derived from. Commonly known as aloe bats, this species is distributed in the Afro-Malagasy region. NeoCoV shares an 85% similarity to MERS-CoV in the genome sequence, making it the closest known relative of MERS-CoV.

Major concerns:

According to the researchers, In its current form, NeoCov does not infect humans but further mutations may make it potentially harmful.

• ACE2 is a receptor protein on cells that provides the entry point for the coronavirus to hook into and infect a wide range of cells.
• A receptor-binding domain (RBD) is a key part of a virus that allows it to dock to body receptors to gain entry into cells and lead to infection.+
• According to the researchers, Considering the extensive mutations in the RBD regions of the SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially the heavily mutated Omicron variant, these viruses may hold a latent potential to infect humans through further adaptation”.

Background:

• Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that are known to infect animals and humans. They are largely categorised into four genera — alpha, beta, gamma and delta. Broadly speaking, alpha and beta corona viruses commonly infect mammals such as bats and humans, while Gamma and Delta mainly infect birds.
• While animals, including bats, are generally considered as the reservoirs of corona viruses, rarely spillover events could occur. It is possible for viruses that infect animals to jump to humans, a process which is known as zoonotic spillover. Many major infectious diseases, including COVID-19, is widely thought to be a result of spillover.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

4. HONDURAS GETS ITS FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT

THE CONTEXT: Xiomara Castro has been sworn in as Honduras’ first female president, amid a political crisis that threatens her plans for the impoverished nation.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Ms Castro is the candidate for the left-wing Libre (Free) Party, and has a preliminary lead of almost 20 percentage points over her rival. The 12-year reign of the right-wing National Party was accused for scandals and corruptive practices.
• She has promised to tackle powerful drug trafficking gangs and liberalise strict abortion laws.
• Castro’s election last November brought an end to 12 years of right-wing National Party (PN) rule that followed the ousting of her president husband Manuel Zelaya in a 2009 coup.
• Honduras is one of just 14 countries to recognize Taiwan.
• China, which considers Taiwan a part of its territory, has spent decades successfully encouraging its allies to switch sides.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 29^TH JANUARY 2022

Q. With reference to electoral bonds scheme, consider the following statements:

1. The electoral bonds will not bear the name of the donor
2. The electoral bond will be valid only for fifteen days
3. A donor will get a tax deduction
4. The political parties are required to submit details of donations received through electoral bonds to the ECI.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2

b) 1, 2 and 3

c) 1, 3 and 4

d) All of them

 ANSWER FOR 28^TH JAN 2022

Answer: D)

Explanation:

• Tiwa – Kargbi Anglong district of Assam
• Bodo- Bodoland Territorial Council, Assam
• Rabha – Plains of Lower Assam
• Angami – Naga tribe of Nagaland and Manipur