THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIAN POWER PROJECTS REPLACE CHINESE VENTURES IN SRI LANKA

THE CONTEXT: New Delhi and Colombo signed hybrid power projects on three islands off Jaffna along with cooperation on developing fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka. The agreements effectively replace the Chinese projects that were okayed by Colombo in 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The MoU for the project was among those signed during a meeting between visit of External Affairs Minister (EAM) and his Sri Lankan counterpart.
• It is the third Indian energy project coming up in Sri Lanka’s north and east, after the recent agreements for National Thermal Power Corporation’s solar venture in the eastern Sampur town, and the Adani Group’s renewable energy projects in Mannar and Pooneryn in the north.
• In January 2021, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet decided to award renewable energy projects in Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu and Analaitivu islands to Chinese company Sinosoar-Etechwin, following an Asia Development Bank-backed competitive bid.
• India was quick to express concern to the Sri Lankan side over the Chinese project coming up in the Palk Bay, barely 50 km off Tamil Nadu. New Delhi offered to execute the same project with a grant rather than a loan. Unable to pick a side for over a year, Colombo kept the project in suspension, apparently putting off China.

India and Sri Lanka have also signed the agreement to set up a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) with the involvement of the defence sector PSU Bharat Electronics Limited. The cooperation in the defence sector may be viewed against the backdrop of increasing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

2. RHINO POPULATION UP BY 200 IN KAZIRANGA

THE CONTEXT: The population of Assam’s iconic one-horned rhino at Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has increased by 200 in the last four years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the census of the animal at the park, it has estimated number at 2613.
• In the last headcount in 2018, the rhino population in the population in the park, which is spread over 859.98sq km, was 2413. The census in 2015 had counted 2401 rhinos in the

ABOUT ONE-HORNED RHINOS:

• Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
• Also known as the Indian Rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is identified by a single black horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
• Conservation status:

• CITES Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

Types of Rhinos:

The Greater One-Horned Rhino is one among the five different species of Rhino. The other four are:

1. Black Rhino: Smaller of the two African species. (IUCN: Critically Endangered)

1. White Rhino: Recently, researchers have created an embryo of the northern white Rhino by using In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. (ICUN: Near Threatened)
2. Javan Rhino: Critically endangered in IUCN Red List.
3. Sumatran Rhino: Recently gone extinct in Malaysia, but Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List.

Kaziranga National Park:

• It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
• It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985
• It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International.
• The National Highway 37 passes through the parking area.
• The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it. Also it is home to elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.

Value Addition:

 3. MASSIVE FIRE IN SARISKA TIGER RESERVE

THE CONTEXT: According to Rajasthan Forest officials a massive fire has broken out in the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Air Force helicopters equipped with water sprays are battling to bring it under control.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the forest officials Sariska has a total of 27 tigers. Around nine tigers including four adult tigers and tigress and five cubs/sub-adults are known to move around in the area in Akbarpur where the fire has broken out. Some of the tigers that move around in the area include tigers ST-14, ST-17 and ST-23”.

ABOUT SARISKA TIGER RESERVE

• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Alwar District of Rajasthan in the lap of Aravali hills. Sariska Tiger Reserve or Sariska National Park was a hunting reserve area for Alwar state. It got the status of a wildlife reserve in the year 1955 and in the year 1978, it became Sariska Tiger Reserve.
• It covers an area of 866 sq km. The Wildlife 0f Sariska Park includes Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Caracal, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Chital, Sambhar, Blue Bull, Chinkara, Four Horned antelope.
• Flora of Sariska is found as Dhok tree, Salar, Kadaya, Dhak, Gol, Ber, Khair, Bargad, Arjun, Gugal and Bamboo etc.
• The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses.
• The park is home to numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Civets Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. EXPLAINED: ARTICULATED ALLTERRAIN VEHICLE

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the supply of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles to be deployed in Ladakh and Kutch.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles?

• Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle is a twin cabin, tracked, amphibious carrier for off road mobility. The special design of this equipment exerts low ground pressure on the soil and a pull-push mode of locomotion between two cabins facilitates mobility over varied terrains like snow, desert and slush. A ballistic protection in the cabin body ensures protection to troops travelling in it from small arms fire.
• These vehicles are very useful to move troops or supplies in snow-bound terrains and in marshy/sandy environments. They can reach where wheeled vehicles cannot due to deep snow, slush or marshy terrain and can be very effective for patrolling and rapid deployment in operational situations.

What are the requirements of the Army from the vehicles?

• As per the specifications in the RFI, the vehicle should be able to perform at heights of 18,000 feet in glaciated and snow bound conditions and in salty/dry marshes.
• The vehicles should be able to seat 10 soldiers with full combat load (excluding the crew) and should have inbuilt ballistic protection. It should have an operating range of not less than 150 kms in cross country terrain in plains and at an altitude of 15,000 to 18,000 feet in the mountains. The vehicles should have a service life of at least 15 years.

Who manufactures such vehicles?

• There are several Western manufacturers of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles including Canada and Finland. The NASU vehicle of Finland is used by the Finnish, French, Belgian and US Armies among others.
• The Bandvagn 206 is used by the Swedish Army and was developed by a Swedish Company which is now part of BAE Systems, Platforms and Services. The British and US militaries also use the Bandvagn 206. The Russian Army uses the DT-30 Vityaz vehicle and GAZ 3344 manufactured in the country.

5. ASSAM, MEGHALAYA INK PACT TO END BORDER ROW

THE CONTEXT: Assam and Meghalaya signed an agreement to resolve their five-decade-old border dispute in six of the 12 locations.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister and the chief Minsters of the two states. The pact will resolve the protracted dispute in six of the 12 places along the 884.9 km border between the two states.

History Behind Border Demarcation

• During the British rule, Assam consisted of the present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, besides Mizoram, which later became separate states.
• However, the long-standing dispute between Assam and Meghalaya began in 1972 when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam under the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, a law that it challenged.

Major Point of Contention

• Since 1993, twelve (12) areas of differences have evolved between the two states. The said areas are: Upper Tarabari, Gazang reserve forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah, Matamur, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoreah Block I and Block II, Khanduli and Retacherra.
• In August 2021, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya had formed a committee to resolve the border rows in a phased manner in six (6) of the 12 disputed sites (Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, Ratacherra).
• The proposed recommendations for the 36.79 square km of land said that Assam would keep 18.51 square km, while Meghalaya would get the remaining 18.28 square km.

What is the Next Step?

• The Survey of India (SoI) will delineate and demarcate the boundary in the presence of representatives of both governments. It will then go to Parliament for approval and will likely take a few months.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS: BUDGET SESSION 2022

6. RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION

THE CONTEXT: According to the information given by the Ministry of fisheries, Animal husbandry and dairying.

As per the revised and realigned scheme, under Rashtriya Gokul Mission 2021-2026, the following tentative targets have been set for the next 5 years:-

• 165 million animals to be covered under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination.
• 40,000 Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians for Rural India (MAITRIs) to be established to provide doorstep AI service.
• 4700 High Genetic Merit Bulls (HGM) to be produced under the Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection.
• 44 existing semen stations to be strengthened to meet demand of semen doses and to improve quality of semen doses.
• 1,15,000 assured pregnancies to be established through IVF technology.
• 51 lakh assured pregnancies to be established through use of sex sorted semen doses.
• 125 number of Breed Multiplication farms preferably of indigenous breeds to be established.
• A sum of Rs. 2316.15 crore has been released to all the States/UTs under Rashtriya Gokul Mission during the last 5 years and current financial year including a sum of Rs. 39.75 crore released to the State of Karnataka.
• Benefit of the scheme has been accruing to all 8 crore farmers engaged in dairying in terms of enhancement in milk production and productivity of bovines. Under the component of Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP) 1.92 crore farmers have been benefited and their data has been uploaded on Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) data base.

 THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 30^TH MARCH  2022

Q1. Nainativu, Neduntheevu and Analaitivu, recently seen in news are-

a) Islands of India off the coast of Tamil Nadu

b) Islands of India off the coast of Kerala

c) Islands of Sri Lanka near Jaffna Peninsula

d) Islands of India in Lakshadweep Archipelago

ANSWER FOR 29^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• Zozila pass located in Zaskar range and connects Srinagar to Leh.

1. Society’s pushback could blunt bigotry READ MORE  
2. Centralising tests: A common test as the sole determinant of merit for admission is problematic READ MORE

1. Let there be peace in the ultimate reality too READ MORE
2. Self-knowing & meditation READ MORE
3. What philosopher Immanuel Kant’s ‘Toward Perpetual Peace’ has to do with the war in Ukraine READ MORE
4. Gandhi’s Moral Agents READ MORE
5. Responsible Management: The new paradigm READ MORE

1. Irreversible damage: Erosion of glaciers must be slowed READ MORE
2. Irreversible damage: Erosion of glaciers must be slowed READ MORE

1. Responsible Management: The new paradigm READ MORE
2. Educated Muslim Women Term Hijab Verdict ‘Judicial Overreach’ READ MORE
3. Decoding the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 READ MORE
4. This scheme mapping ‘abadi’ village areas is a win-win situation for Gram Panchayats READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission READ MORE
2. S. Senate approves $52 billion chips bill in bid to reach compromise READ MORE
3. Assam-Meghalaya Sign Agreement to Resolve Border Dispute in 6 Locations READ MORE
4. As told to Parliament: 75% cropland treated with chemical fertilisers READ MORE
5. Warm Arctic waves, La Niña to blame for early heat waves, depressions: Experts READ MORE
6. New Director-General of the International Labour Organization elected READ MORE
7. Nehru Memorial in Delhi to become ‘PM Museum’ READ MORE
8. Assam: Rhino population rises by 200 in Kaziranga National Park READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Society’s pushback could blunt bigotry READ MORE  
2. Irreversible damage: Erosion of glaciers must be slowed READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Responsible Management: The new paradigm READ MORE
2. Educated Muslim Women Term Hijab Verdict ‘Judicial Overreach’ READ MORE
3. Decoding the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 READ MORE
4. This scheme mapping ‘abadi’ village areas is a win-win situation for Gram Panchayats READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Centralising tests: A common test as the sole determinant of merit for admission is problematic READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Bridging the bay in quest of a stronger BIMSTEC: The grouping has potential as a natural platform for development cooperation in a rapidly changing Indo-Pacific region READ MORE
2. A missed chance for India-China relations READ MORE
3. Quad as ineffectual bloc: Quadrilaterals have been about common goals but lack the strategic depth READ MORE
4. China’s outreach to South Asia READ MORE
5. What good is the UN in its present shape READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India’s space economy boom is here READ MORE
2. Subsidise petrol, check fuel prices READ MORE
3. Is Entrepreneurship A Viable Alternative To Jobs? READ MORE
4. The Future of Fiscal Consolidation in India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. The principles of wildlife management READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Why India Needs a National Biosecurity Policy READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Let there be peace in the ultimate reality too READ MORE
2. Self-knowing & meditation READ MORE
3. What philosopher Immanuel Kant’s ‘Toward Perpetual Peace’ has to do with the war in Ukraine READ MORE
4. Gandhi’s Moral Agents READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The economic and strategic significance of the Bay of Bengal is growing rapidly with a re-emergence of the idea of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ region’. In the light of the given statement, discuss how India with the help of BIMSTEC can secure its interest in this region?
2. ‘BIMSTEC has huge potential as a natural platform for development cooperation in a rapidly changing geopolitical calculus and can leverage its unique position as a pivot in the Indo-Pacific region’. Analyse the statement in the light changing dynamics in Indo-pacific region.
3. ‘Despite, having many failures, the importance of UN can’t be neglected in world peace and without it, the influence of large countries themselves would be the more disastrous for world’. Justify the statement with the help of appropriate examples.

 QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Politics and religion are obsolete. The time has come for science and spirituality.
• When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.
• In the emerging post-Covid-19 global economic scenario, India has to attempt uplifting its growth rate closer to its potential while restoring fiscal consolidation so that sustained growth and stability in government finances can be achieved.
• A comprehensive employment strategy must extend far beyond entrepreneurship if we want to realise the productive potential and aspirations of our youth.
• The economic and strategic significance of the Bay of Bengal is growing rapidly with a re-emergence of the idea of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ region.
• BIMSTEC has huge potential as a natural platform for development cooperation in a rapidly changing geopolitical calculus and can leverage its unique position as a pivot in the Indo-Pacific region.
• If we can control the mind, then we can regulate peace in ourselves. If we are peaceful, then we can influence the state of peacefulness around us. If we are powerful or influential, the range of our control is widespread.
• Knowledge and self-control can lead us to a peaceful mind. When we have an abundance of peace in ourselves, it automatically diffuses to the surroundings.
• Event-specific evaluation of regulators can be harmful. Objective and periodic assessment of their performance is the need of the hour.
• Responsible management is all about growing and becoming successful without compromising on ethics, community development and safety of the earth.
• This integrative model for responsible management can be seen as the highest level in the evolution of responsible business thinking, since it incorporates the three background domains of sustainability, responsibility and ethics as distinct and equally important bases.

50-WORD TALK

• Fears about the misuse of a proposed new law allowing collection of biometric data from individuals accused of crimes are not unfounded. True, the US and UK have similar laws. But police powers are abused in India and concerns that innocents will be framed are real. Effective safeguards are needed.

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 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.

[WpProQuiz 189]