(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. ISRO successfully carries out static test of Gaganyaan rocket’s booster READ MORE
2. China, Russia, Pakistan to attend SCO anti-terror meet in Delhi READ MORE
3. Faux populi: Public opinion cannot influence jurisprudence READ MORE
4. India bans immediate export of wheat to control rising domestic prices READ MORE
5. World Migratory Birds Day: How are India’s winged guests doing READ MORE
6. New powering system developed for IoT applications READ MORE
7. RBI opens banks credit for NBFCs to on-lend continuously to priority sector READ MORE
8. Govt releases breed-wise report of livestock, poultry READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1.  A look at the origin of Mughal paintings READ MORE
2.  Face the facts on communal violence in India READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Actions that corrode the steel frame of India READ MORE
2. How to make a Uniform Civil Code READ MORE
3. Ingenious cybercrimes: Law enforcement agencies ill-equipped to deal with menace READ MORE
4. Sedition law may not witness a sea change READ MORE
5. Comprehending Digital Democracy READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Here’s what India’s higher education ecosystem needs today READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Reforming WHO: More needs to be done to enhance WHO’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Full circle: Cutting fuel taxes is a must to ensure overall macroeconomic stability READ MORE  
2. NPA Resolution and Bad Bank READ MORE
3. Financial Inclusion and the Pandemic READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Sustainability – road to a better future READ MORE
2. Extreme weather: What is it and how is it connected to climate change? READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Weapons in Space~II READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. duty to our soul READ MORE  
2. Need & importance of civil service values READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The idea of a national language finds its expression in multiple areas, including the debate over link language. While it is desirable to have a language spoken and understood by all, it is not necessary for a nation’s integrity and progress. Critically Analyse.
2. In the changing geo-politics, initiatives such as New Arctic Policy can be vital to address the emerging energy challenges experienced by India in the recent past. Explain.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• There are only three ways to meet the unpaid bills of a nation: taxation, repudiation and inflation.
• That a civil servant’s pliant stance ends service neutrality hardly seems to bother the political or bureaucratic leadership.
• Constitutional morality is not a natural sentiment, it has to be cultivated. We must realise that our people have yet to learn it. Democracy in India is only a top dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic.
• Cutting fuel taxes is a must to ensure overall macroeconomic stability.
• Uniform Civil Code must be nationwide and involve the abolition of all regressive laws.
• Under the Constitution, family and succession laws are in the concurrent jurisdiction of the Centre and states, but a law to be equally applicable in the entire country can be enacted by Parliament alone.
• Life is a wonderful gift given to us by God. And God too is wonderful to have given us this beautiful life.
• The government has been appropriating old ideas, and one of the ways of doing it is to make new laws based on old principles. It would not be right to blame the powers that be for believing in a mailed-fist State because it is part of their anti-libertarian and anti-individualist political ideology.
• Sustainability emphasizes the need for society to conserve resources, protect natural ecosystems, minimize pollution and promote social equity.
• A healthy planet will thrive and nurture happy and safe survival for present and future generations.
• Mughal painting, which contributed immensely to the annals of Indian art history, had become full-fledged under the patronage of King Akbar.
• People around the globe are experiencing dramatic heatwaves, deadly floods and wildfires as a result of climate change.

50-WORD TALK

• Vladimir Putin’s hammer-blows might level Ukraine, but Finland’s imminent application for NATO membership shows they’re failing to bend Europe to his will. Instead of scaring Russia’s neighbours into submission, Russia’s president has driven them to shelter under the United States’ security shield. Threats obviously don’t turn difficult neighbours into friends.

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.

THE CONTEXT: On April 7, 2022, in the 37th meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee, the Union home minister said that Hindi, not a local language, should be acknowledged as an alternative to English. He added that people of different states should connect with each other in Hindi, not English. This has generated a debate that the Union government is trying to impose Hindi on the speakers of other languages. This article examines this issue in detail.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE HOME MINISTER’S SPEECH

Union Home Minister remarked that people from different states should start talking to each other in Hindi while presiding over a meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee. In various parts of the country, Hindi should be learned as a second language after a mother tongue. He declared Hindi to be the “language of India” and claimed it should be considered a viable alternative to English. Now the time has come to make the Official Language an important part of the Unity of the country. He also stated that Hindi would have become a compulsory language in the North-East.

WHAT ARE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING OFFICIAL LANGUAGES?

PART 17 OF THE CONSTITUTION:

• Part 17 of the Indian Constitution (Articles 343 to 351) has detailed provisions concerning the official language of the Republic of India.
• Articles 343 and 344 of the Indian Constitution include the key provisions governing the Union’s official language.
• The Constitution does not provide for a national language.

ENGLISH AND HINDI AS THE CO-OFFICIAL LANGUAGES:

• The Official Language of the Union is Hindi, written in Devanagari script.
• The original Constitution stipulated that English would be used for all official purposes of the Union for a period of 15 years from the date of the Constitution’s adoption.
• The Constitution stated that the President might, by order, permit the use of Hindi in addition to English and the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals for any of the Union’s official purposes for the specified term.

ROLE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT:

• The Constitution also states that the Parliament may, by law, provide for the continued use of English for any specific purpose beyond 15 years.
• The Constitution has given the central government complete control over the formulation and implementation of language policy.
• It is also the role of the center to promote and develop the Union’s official language (Hindi) (Art. 351).

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE STATES:

• Though Hindi is the official language of India, the states may by law adopt any one or more of the languages in use in the state or Hindi as the language or languages to be used for all or any of the official purposes of that state.

LANGUAGE OF COMMUNICATION:

• According to Article 346, the official language ​​of communication between one state and another, or between states and the Union, is English.
• If two or more states agree that Hindi can be the official language of communication between those states, that language can be used for such communication.

COMMISSION CONSTITUTED UNDER ART 344:

• The President at the expiration of five years from the commencement of the Constitution and thereafter at the expiration of ten years by order constitute a Commission.
• It will consist of a Chairman and other members representing the different languages specified in the Eighth Schedule.
• It shall be the duty of the Commission to make recommendations to the President as to:
• the progressive use of the Hindi language for the official purposes of the Union.
• restrictions on the use of the English language for all or any of the official purposes of the Union etc,.

THE FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE COMMITTEE OF THE PARLIAMENT

As per Article 344, a Committee consisting of thirty members, of whom twenty shall be members of the House of the People and ten shall be members of the Council of States, will be constituted. The members will be elected respectively by the members of the House of the People and the members of the Council of States in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. It shall be the duty of the Committee to examine the recommendations of the Commission constituted under Art 344 and to report to the President their opinion thereon.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE ISSUE OF LANGUAGE SINCE INDEPENDENCE

PRE-INDEPENDENCE: 

• Before India became independent, the sole language in use for all official and administrative purposes was English.
• In 1947, when India gained Independence, the issue of language was one of the most hotly contested in the Constituent Assembly debates.
• While many of our founding fathers had called for Sanskrit and Hindi to be used as our republic’s lingua franca, there was major dissent from the people who did not speak Hindi as a native tongue.

STATE RE-ORGANISATION:

• The 1948 Linguistic Provinces Commission, also known as the Dhar Commission, observed that the formation of provinces exclusively on or even mainly on linguistic considerations is not in the larger interests of the Indian nation.
• The Fazal Ali Commission, 1953 recommended restructuring the states based on language but not before giving a sound rationale for the same.
  

LANGUAGE CONFLICT:

• Vehement opposition from the legislators and agitation from the student intelligentsia, especially in Tamil Nadu, forced the then PM Lal Bahadur Shastri to make a national radio broadcast assuring the Tamils that English would be continued to be used in interstate and Centre-state communications and in Civil Services Examinations.
• In 1967, the Indira Gandhi government amended the 1963 Official Languages Act and allowed for the continuation of English as the lingua franca of the Indian Union.

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY:

• The NEP draft earlier made studying Hindi mandatory till Class 8 in non-Hindi-speaking states, and due to opposition, it was dropped.

PRESENT ISSUE:

• Hindi as the link language and the opposition to it.

ENGLISH AS THE PREFERED MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

The 2011 language census uncovered that only 12 out of India’s then 35 states chose Hindi as their first language. Even though Hindi is spoken by about 43% of India’s population, only 26% or just over 1/4th of Indians speak the language as their mother tongue. The 2020 NEP, which the Union Cabinet approved, called for the medium of instruction to be the mother tongue of a student ‘whenever possible’ till the VIIIth standard. According to a Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) report of 2019-20, despite Hindi remaining the biggest medium of instruction in India, accounting for around 42% of the share, the preference for the English medium is on the rise. Studies indicate J&K has nearly 100% enrolment in English, trailed by Telangana, which has a nearly 75% enrolment. Another 2020 NSO study found that over 50% of pre-primary schoolchildren who spoke one of 13 regional languages at home, including Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Punjabi, were enrolled in English medium schools.

WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS FOR HINDI AS A LINK LANGUAGE?

SPOKEN BY A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE: A large number of people speak Hindi either as their mother tongue or otherwise, and hence promoting Hindi will be more feasible than other languages.

IDENTITY OF THE NATION: The entire country must have one language that becomes the identity of the nation in the world. If there is any language that can tie the whole country in one thread, it is the most spoken language of, Hindi.

ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS: Having a language that is spoken and understood by all the people of a country is beneficial from the economic standpoint as it will provide for effective communication, open up new markets and improve trust between the seller and buyer.

SOCIAL MILIEU: Lack of understanding of each other’s language is held to create distance between individuals and communities, which impacts social cohesion and prevent generating social capital.

CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE: A holistic reading of Part 17 of the Constitution, the Official Language Act 1963, various policies and schemes of the government make it clear that there is a strong mandate for promoting Hindi. The idea of a link language is one approach in this direction.

GANDHIAN VIEW: Mahatma Gandhi, during the freedom struggle, had described Hindi as the national language and called for its adoption and many members of the Constituent Assembly echoed such sentiments.

WHAT ARE THE CRITICISMS OF SUCH A PROPOSAL?

CENSUS DATA EVIDENCE:

• Residents of only 12 of the 35 States and Union Territories (UTs) reported Hindi as their first choice of language for communication (Census 2011).
• But there is a caveat. “Hindi” is an umbrella term encompassing 56 languages (mother tongues), including Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Hindi, and Chhattisgarhi.
• While 43% of Indians speak “Hindi”, only 26% speak Hindi specifically as their mother tongue.

UTILITARIAN ARGUMENT:

• The claim that Hindi is a better language than English because the majority speaks it cannot be sustained since it is a majoritarian argument.
• Instead, we must address a pragmatic question: which language, Hindi, or English, would be more advantageous to citizens as they pursue better lives?
• To put it another way, would learning English assist native Hindi speakers, or should Hindi be pushed on the non-Hindi speaking populace for their “benefit”?

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX COMPARISON:

• A comparison of the Human Development Index (HDI) of States and UTs reveals that regions with a higher share of English speakers have higher HDI scores (Chart 1), while states with a higher share of Hindi speakers have lower HDI scores (Chart 2).
• This indicates that greater quality of life correlates with a higher proportion of English speakers.

MIGRATION AND LANGUAGE:

• More people from the Hindi-speaking States have been migrating to the non-Hindi-speaking regions in search of better livelihoods.
• An analysis of the 2011 Census data also shows that net in-migration for the Hindi States, where Hindi is spoken by at least 50% of the population, is negative.
• This indicates that the migrant outflow was higher than the inflow in these States. In non-Hindi States, the net in-migration was positive. This pattern was observed for all types of migrations, including those done for work and education.

DEPRIVATION OF OPPORTUNITIES:

• Native Hindi speakers will have a clear advantage over others when it comes to employment opportunities.
• Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar will beat Telugus and Kannadigas, and Malayalees with ease in the job market, where language abilities are a primary factor.

POLITICAL AND CIVIL SOCIETY OPPOSITION:

• The north-eastern states, the southern states, especially Tamil Nadu, are regions where Hindi is very negligibly used.
• Different political parties and civil society organisations have raised concerns against the proposal to make Hindi the communication language.
• Making one language, a communication language is considered a step towards centralisation and degrading other dialects.

ENGLISH IN A HINDI STATE: THE UTTAR PRADESH EXAMPLE

In what looks like a revolution, the UP Government recently made 15,000 primary and upper primary schools switch to English as the medium of instruction. Reports said that the objective of the policy switch was to develop the English-speaking skills of children studying in government schools so that they could compete effectively with students coming from convent-run schools.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Although the promotion of Hindi needs to be undertaken through multiple media, the perception of its imposition needs to be avoided.
• The Unity of our country is built and strengthened on the edifice of diversity and not on homogeneity and sameness. Hence, while there can be efforts to develop a language that will aid in effective communication and trust-building among communities, other languages should also be given their due status.
• As English has significant utilitarian value, especially in a globalised economy and given India’s inherent strength of the service sector, English language teaching and learning also should be given impetus.
• Higher political functionaries of the government need to focus on building consensus on sensitive issues.
• Making Hindi flexible by accepting words from other local languages would help promote both Hindi and local Indian languages.

THE CONCLUSION: The idea of a national language finds its expression in multiple areas, including the debate over “link language”. While it is desirable to have a language spoken and understood by all, it is not necessary for a nation’s integrity and progress, as seen in Canada, the USA, etc. In fact, politics need to focus on the “bread and butter issues” in India and not rake up issues that have no immediate relevance. Nevertheless, the debate over the link language needs to be seen in the larger context of centralisation tendencies the polity is experiencing which is not a healthy proposition for good governance.

QUESTIONS:

1. By explaining the Constitutional provisions related to Official Languages, comment upon the debate over Hindi as the link language.
2. The idea of a national language finds its expression in multiple areas, including the debate over link language. While it is desirable to have a language spoken and understood by all, it is not necessary for a nation’s integrity and progress. Critically Analyse.

THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. SECOND GLOBAL COVID VIRTUAL SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated in the Second Global COVID Virtual Summit on the invitation of the President of U.S.A. Prime Minister delivered his remarks in the Opening Session of the Summit on the theme ‘Preventing Pandemic Fatigue and Prioritizing Preparedness’.

EXPLANATION:

HIGHLIGHTS OF PM SPEECH

• India adopted a people centric strategy to combat the pandemic and has made the highest ever allocation for its health budget this year.
• India was running the largest vaccination campaign in the world and had vaccinated close to ninety percent of its adult population and more than fifty million children.
• As a responsible member of the global community, India would continue to play an active role by sharing its low cost indigenous COVID mitigation technologies, vaccines and therapeutics with other countries. India is working to extend its genomic surveillance consortium.
• India has used traditional medicine extensively and has laid the foundation for a WHO Center for Traditional Medicine in India to make this knowledge available to the world.
• Prime Minister also called for strengthening and reforming the WHO to create a stronger and more resilient global health security architecture.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. WHO CAN NOTIFY MINORITIES?

THE CONTEXT: A public interest litigation (PIL) under the consideration of the Supreme Court of India challenges the power of the Centre to notify minority communities at a national level.

THE EXPLANATION:

Who is a minority and who decides that?

• The PIL specifically questions the validity of Section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions or NCMEI Act 2004, terming it arbitrary and contrary to Articles 14, 15, 21, 29 and 30 of the Constitution.
• Section 2(f) says “minority ,”for the purpose of this Act, means a community notified as such by the Central Government.” Section 2(c) of the of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Act, 1992 also gives the Centre similar powers.
• In 2005, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre notified five communities — Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis — as minorities at the national level. In 2014, the Manmohan Singh government notified followers of Jainism as a minority community, making them the sixth on the national list.

How has the Centre responded?

• The Centre said it had the power to notify minority communities. In the first, the Centre categorically defended the concept of minorities at the national level.
• The Centre has not taken a position, one way or the other, about continuing the national list of minorities while it reiterated its power to notify communities as minorities under Central Acts.
• The Centre had pointed out that it had concurrent powers with States to take measures for the welfare of minorities. States could have minorities notified as such within their jurisdiction
• The Centre said the pleas made by the petitioner must be rejected

What next?

• The Centre has said it would come back to the apex court “after consideration of several sociological and other aspects.” It said “any stand without detailed deliberations with stakeholders may result in an unintended complication for the country.”

3. RAJIV KUMAR APPOINTED AS NEXT CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER

THE CONTEXT: The Union Ministry of Law and Justice announced Rajiv Kumar, the current Election Commissioner, will take over as the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) from May 15. Kumar will take charge from CEC Sushil Chandra, who is due to retire.

EXPLANATION:

• In pursuance of clause (2) of Article 324 of the Constitution, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Rajiv Kumar as the Chief Election Commissioner with effect from the 15th May, 2022. My best wishes to Shri Rajiv Kumar.
• Kumar took charge as the Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 1, 2020.
• Prior to assuming charge in the Election Commission, Kumar had been the chairman of the Public Enterprises Selection Board. He joined as the PESB chairman in April 2020.
• Kumar, an officer of the 1984 batch of the Indian Administrative Service of the Bihar/Jharkhand cadre, superannuated from the IAS in February 2020.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a self-governing constitutional body which oversees the election process in India as per the Constitution of India.
• The ECI was set up on January 25 1950, with the aim of defining and controlling the multi-tiered election process in our country.
• The Election Commission of India administers the election process from the President of India to the State Legislative Assembly.
• As per Article 324 of the Indian Constitution, ECI has the supervisory and directional control of the complete process election to Parliament and Legislature of every State and to the office of the President and the Vice-President of India.

 Structure

• The ECI consists of a Chief Election Commissioner and 2 other Election Commissioners. The multi-member ECI works on the power of the majority vote.

 Appointment & Tenure of Commissioners

• The Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioner are appointed by the President of India.
• Each of them holds their offices for a period of 6 years or up to the age of 65 years, whichever comes first.
• They receive the same perks and pay as Supreme Court Judges.
• The only way a Chief Election Commissioner can be removed from office is upon an order of the President supported by the Parliament.
• The Election Commissioner or Regional Commissioner can only be removed from office by the Chief Election Commissioner.

 Functions of the Election Commission of India

• ECI is responsible for a free and reasonable election
• It ensures that political parties and candidates adhere to the Model Code of Conduct
• Regulates parties and registers them as per eligibility to contest in elections
• Proposes the limit of campaign expenditure per candidate to all parties and monitors the same.
• It is mandatory for all political parties to submit annual reports to the ECI in order to be able to claim the tax benefit on the contributions.
• Guarantees that all political parties regularly submit audited financial reports.

The main duties of the Election Commission are:

• Supervise, control and conduct all elections to Parliament and State Legislatures
• Set general rules for election.
• Prepare electoral rolls
• Determine the territorial distribution of constituencies
• Give credit to political parties.
• Allot election symbols to political parties or candidates
• Appoint tribunals for the decision of doubts and disputes arising out of an election to Parliament and State Legislatures.

CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER

• The Chief Election Commissioner of India heads the Election Commission of India.
• The Chief Election Commissioner is the first among the equal of the tree member of election commission.
• The President of India appoints the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India who has a tenure of 6 years or up to 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• It is very difficult to remove the Chief Election Commissioner once appointed by the President of India, as two-thirds of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha members need to vote against CEC for disorderly conduct or improper actions.
• From the formation of the Election commission in 1950 till 1989, the Election Commission was a single-member body. Two additional commissioners were appointed by the President of India on 16 October 1989 but they had a very short tenure ending 1 January 1990.
• The Election Commissioner Amendment Act, 1989 made the Commission a multi-member body. The concept of a 3-member Commission has been in operation since then, with the decisions being made by a majority vote.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

4. RETAIL INFLATION QUICKENS TO AN ALMOST EIGHT-YEAR HIGH AT 7.8%

THE CONTEXT: The retail inflation rate galloped to a 95-month high in April at 7.8 per cent, paving the way for more policy rate hikes by the central bank even as factory output growth remained lacklustre at 1.9 per cent in March, signalling weak domestic demand.

EXPLANATION:

1. What is Retail Inflation?

• An inflation rate is indicative of the rise in prices of commodities in an economy. Retail inflation, specifically, is measured in consumer price index (CPI), which is a weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services. Therefore, retail inflation is also termed CPI-based inflation.
• The CPI is the change in retail prices of goods and services which households purchase for their daily consumption, such as food articles, fuel, and services such as transportation and health care, among others.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is responsible for compiling this data, which is measured by the rate of change in CPI over a period of time.
• The Reserve Bank of India monitors this figure in view of sustaining a balance in commodity prices in the economy.

2. Trends in Retail Inflation

• According to the Monetary Policy Report for April 2021, the inflation rate should be sustained between 2 to 6 percent, with the ideal inflation rate being 4 percent till March 2026.
• Since January 2022, this percentage has witnessed a steady rise and remained above 6 percent.
• In April, the MoSPI calculated the retail inflation of March to be 6.95 percent, which was a 17-month high. The food inflation in February was 6.07 per cent and in January, when it first breached the RBI limit, the retail inflation was 6.01 per cent.
• A year ago in April 2021, the CPI-based inflation was well within the benchmarks set by the RBI – standing at 4.29 percent. This was an ease from the inflation rate during the same time in the previous year, 2020.

3. What’s the reason behind the rise?

• Inflation happened because of global factors like commodities (such as agricultural produce) price rise, energy price rise and interest rate hikes by the United States Federal Reserve, as well as supply side factors caused by COVID-induced lockdowns.
• The war in Ukraine has contributed significantly to the surging inflation.
• Ukraine is one of the major sunflower oil producers in the world and India imports a major portion of the commodity from the war-ravaged country.Besides, Ukraine is a key supplier of fertiliser to India.
• The Ukraine-Russia war has also caused disruptions in the supply chain.
• The Russia-Ukraine war and the lockdown in China have resulted in shortages of coal for power, shortages of semiconductor chips for industry (especially cars) and international shortages (food, oil, edible oil, construction materials).

4. Effects of inflation

• The very immediate effect of inflation is the reduction in people’s purchasing power. It is well understood that if items keep becoming more expensive, people won’t buy or choose to ration those purchases. This, in turn, will reduce overall demand.
• The common man is the worst sufferer of inflation, as he has to struggle with managing a household with limited purchasing abilities.
• High inflation rates will also worsen the exchange rate. High inflation means the rupee is losing its power and, if the RBI doesn’t raise interest rates fast enough, investors will increasingly stay away because of reduced returns.

5. FOREX RESERVES FALL BY $28.05 BILLION IN SEPTEMBER 2021-MARCH 2022 PERIOD: RBI REPORT

 THE CONTEXT: The country’s foreign exchange reserves declined by $28.05 billion to $607.31 billion at the end of March this year from $635.36 billion at the end of September 2021, according to an RBI report.

EXPLANATION:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) publishes half-yearly reports on management of foreign exchange reserves as part of its efforts towards enhanced transparency and levels of disclosure.
• These reports are prepared every six months with reference to the position as on March and September-end each year. The present report, which is 38th in the series, is with reference to the position as on end-March 2022.
• Although both US dollar and Euro are intervention currencies and the Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) are maintained in major currencies, the foreign exchange reserves are denominated and expressed in US dollar terms.
• Movements in the FCA occur mainly on account of purchase and sale of foreign exchange by RBI, income arising out of the deployment of the foreign exchange reserves, external aid receipts of the central government and changes on account of revaluation of the assets.
• The net forward asset (receivable) of RBI in the domestic foreign exchange market stood at $65.79 billion at the end of March 2022.
• At the end of December 2021, foreign exchange reserves cover of imports (on balance of payments basis) declined to 13.1 months from 14.6 months at end-September 2021.
• In value terms ($), the share of gold in the total foreign exchange reserves increased from about 5.88 per cent as at end-September 2021 to about 7.01 per cent as at end-March 2022.
• As of end-March 2022, out of the total FCA of $540.72 billion, $363.03 billion was invested in securities, $140.54 billion was deposited with other central banks and BIS, and the balance $37.16 billion comprised deposits with commercial banks overseas.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

6. SCIENTISTS RELEASE THE FIRST IMAGE OF THE MILKY WAY’S SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLE

THE CONTEXT: Over 300 scientists from across the globe have captured the image of Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), the supermassive black hole sitting in the heart of the Milky Way galaxy about 27,000 light-years away from the Earth.

EXPLANATION:

• Sgr A*, which is about four million times the mass of our sun, is starving, scientists said. Supermassive black holes typically feed on dust and gas from their surroundings.
• It is like the black hole is eating one grain of rice every million years, Sara Issaoun, NASA Einstein Fellow at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Boston, United States, said in a press briefing. She was a part of the international Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) group that imaged the black hole.
• The image produced is a strong proof of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, which had predicted that a massive yet compact object occupying the centre of the galaxy, Preeti Kharb from the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
• The image is thanks to eight radio telescopes located in remote corners of the world, which combined to form a single ‘Earth-sized’ virtual telescope called EHT.
• A thick cloud of gas and dust envelopes Sgr A*, preventing ordinary telescopes from viewing it. Radio telescopes, on the other hand, allow astronomers to observe the naturally occurring radio waves emitted from stars, planets, galaxies, clouds of dust and molecules of gas.
• The EHT observed our supermassive galaxy on multiple nights in 2017, collecting data for many hours in a row. The researchers collected 6,000 terabytes of data from this exercise.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION FOR 13th MAY 2022

Q. Which of the following country does not have a border with Baltic Sea?

1. Sweden
2. Finland
3. Denmark
4. Norway

 ANSWER FOR THE 12TH OF MAY

Answer: D

Explanation:

Under Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, opinion Needed for Termination of Pregnancy:

• Opinion of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.
• Opinion of two RMPs for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.
• Opinion of the State-level medical board is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities.

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1. Why the sedition law must go READ MORE
2. Indian State was set up to control, not govern. Data-driven policy-making can be antidote READ MORE
3. Uniform Civil Code can be the real unifying force in India. Critics must think again READ MORE
4. Progressive leap, courtesy SC: The pursuit of justice has no limits in a democracy READ MORE
5. Turf war between police forces: Frequent disagreements may lead to redefining of Centre-state relations READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM participates in the Second Global COVID Virtual Summit READ MORE
2. As FPI exits hit forex reserves, RBI stepped up gold purchases READ MORE
3. Supreme Court refuses to interfere with LIC IPO, declines interim relief READ MORE
4. On the question of notifying minorities READ MORE
5. Retail inflation quickens to an almost eight-year high at 7.8% READ MORE
6. Scientists Release the First Image of the Milky Way’s Supermassive Black Hole READ MORE
7. Mysuru, Kodagu on alert over ‘Tomato flu’ cases in Kerala READ MORE
8. Rajiv Kumar appointed as next Chief Election Commissioner READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Why the sedition law must go READ MORE
2. Indian State was set up to control, not govern. Data-driven policy-making can be antidote READ MORE
3. Uniform Civil Code can be the real unifying force in India. Critics must think again READ MORE
4. Progressive leap, courtesy SC: The pursuit of justice has no limits in a democracy READ MORE
5. Turf war between police forces: Frequent disagreements may lead to redefining of Centre-state relations READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Importance of consent: The institution of marriage cannot be allowed to sanction force and violence READ MORE
2. SC must protect women’s rights READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Regional bloc ties vital in the Indo-Pacific READ MORE
2. A case for dynamic permanency in UNSC READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explained: The cause and effect of rising inflation READ MORE  
2. Monetary policy alone won’t bring down inflation READ MORE
3. India’s biggest policy challenge: Lower labour force participation needs attention READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Don’t waste wastewater READ MORE
2. Dealing with impact of heat waves in India READ MORE
3. The Global treaty on plastics READ MORE
4. For a greener future: Jharkhand needs a planned transition from coal READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Avoiding the trap of logical thinking READ MORE
2. In detachment lies the answer to suffering READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. How far do you agree with this view that India’s membership in QUAD is affecting its regional grouping reach? Analyse your view with the help of relevant examples.
2. ‘As the water distribution in India’s cities is based on rainfall, effective treatment and reuse of wastewater are vital to prevent water depletion. Comment.
3. Discuss the reasons for heat waves in India in recent times. How does the rising surface temperature in the Indian Ocean affect the weather in India?
4. ‘In a post-pandemic world, the most important for India is that good quality data is imperative for the effective reaction to such pandemic’. Examine the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Whether the legislative route is more appropriate in making marital rape a criminal offence is a matter of detail. What is important is that sexual violence has no place in society, and the institution of marriage is no exception.
• Bringing down today’s inflation requires a resolution of geopolitical tensions in Europe, changes to China’s zero-Covid policy, much stronger fiscal support from the government, and reforms that help repair the disrupted domestic supply chain.
• Dissent, criticism and differences of opinion are vital for the functioning of any democracy.
• It is time citizens usher in an era of free speech and for that, the sedition law must go.
• Price stability and economic growth must not be posed as an either-or choice as the well-being of people demands a balance.
• The distribution of water in India’s cities is based on rainfall and treatment and reuse are vital to preventing depletion of water.
• It is important to clear the air on this issue because the right of women to bodily integrity and autonomy is both a cherished constitutional right and at the core of a progressive and just society.
• The economic relations between India and ASEAN remained much below the projected targets, primarily due to the complementarity of goods and services being traded between the two blocs.
• Rising surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean coupled with the EI-Nino effect are responsible for heat waves in India.
• Legal and political reforms to devolve powers are unlikely to occur anytime soon, but deploying data can help shape policies to be more effective and equitable while also combatting the State’s inherent controlling tendencies.
• As India moves into a post-pandemic world, it is imperative to prioritise good quality data at national, state and local levels to encourage policymakers to develop nuanced and effective policies in building state capacity and overcome the State’s inherent tendency to centralise.

50-WORD TALK

• Instead of rebuilding sustainable food systems and encouraging food self-sufficiency, the effort has been to enhance global market provisioning, which means letting the market forces operate at will. This has, instead, shifted the focus to building international agri-supply chains, thereby increasing dependence on a handful of companies, which raise prices whenever convenient. The Guardian reports that the world’s biggest food companies have already achieved record profits this year.

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.

THE CONTEXT: In the second week of April 2022, the USA hosted the fourth India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue. The dialogue was preceded by a virtual meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joseph Biden. Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh and Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar participated in the dialogue from India. In this article, we will analyse the outcome of the dialogue.

WHAT IS 2+2 DIALOGUE?

• 2+2 Ministerial is the highest-level institutional mechanism between the two countries.
• It is a format of dialogue where the defense/foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country.
• India has 2+2 dialogues with four key strategic partners: the US, Australia, Japan, and Russia.

KEY ISSUES DISCUSSED IN 2+2

• Ukraine-Russia war
• Global Partnership and Indo-Pacific Cooperation
• Mutual Prosperity, Innovation, and Resilient Supply Chains
• Climate, Environment, and Clean Energy
• Science, Technology, Cybersecurity, and Space
• Global Health
• Defense and Security
• Counterterrorism and Counter Narcotics
• Education and People-to-People Ties

OUTCOME OF THE DIALOGUE

ON UKRAINE:

• India’s refusal to criticize Russia or vote on UN resolutions criticizing Russia.
• India’s decision to increase its import of Russian oil.
• India’s refusal to join USA and EU sanctions and negotiate a payment mechanism to work around the sanctions through Rupee-Rouble payments.

INDO-PACIFIC, QUAD, AND CHINA:

• Like with Russia, the Joint Statement did not refer directly to China.
• As an associate partner, India would join the Bahrain-based multilateral partnership, Combined Maritime Force (CMF).
• The CMF is a multinational maritime partnership, which exists to uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability, and prosperity.

MILITARY COOPERATION:

• MoU on Space Situational Awareness Agreement, the two sides have launched a cyberspace dialogue this year.
• More bilateral and multilateral military exercises to enrich the defence partnership between the two countries.
• Cooperation on co-production, co-development, cooperative testing of advanced defence systems, investment promotion, and the development of Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities in India.
• This is important as India has often linked its defence dependency on Russia to the transfer of technology and co-production opportunities.
• Explore possibilities of utilizing Indian shipyards to support mid-voyage repair of US Naval ships- this would be a new step forward.

BILATERAL PEOPLE TO PEOPLE TIES:

• Values and bonds are strengthened by about 200,000 Indian students in the US.
• They set up a Working Group on Education and Skill Training, which will bring academic institutions in the United States and India together to develop new joint research programs.

HUMAN RIGHTS:

• This perhaps was an area the meeting went off-script, as US Secretary of State Blinken said at the joint press conference that there were concerns about India’s record.
• Later, in a State Department 2021 Human Rights report that included a chapter on India listing a number of allegations against the government and police forces.
• However, Mr. Jaishankar said that Human Rights had not been discussed at the 2+2 and that India too had concerns about Human Rights in the US, like the attacks on 2 Sikhs in New York.

ANALYSIS OF THE OUTCOME

INDIA FOLLOWS AN INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY: 

• Despite creating too much pressure from the USA side, India maintained its foreign policy and gave preference to its own interest.
• Before the dialogue, the USA argued to India not to import oil from Russia, but India refused it by saying that India just imports only 1-2% of Russia’s oil.

DEFENSE:

• More military exercise is a good step to counter the Chinese activities in the Indo-pacific area.
• Apart from it, cooperation in the field of defence testing systems is an important development, which has often linked its defence dependency on Russia to the transfer of technology and co-production opportunities.

ON CHINA:

• Both countries tried to maintain a distance from China’s aggression on India’s border; this shows that the USA and India don’t want to take any chance in the present circumstances.

HUMAN RIGHTS:

• The USA showed concerns about human rights violations in India. But later, foreign minister S. Jaishankar said that Human Rights had not been discussed at the 2+2 and that India too had concerns about Human Rights in the US, like the attacks on 2 Sikhs in New York.
• What was clear is that despite the talk of “shared values”, this is another area of dissonance between India and the US.

2+2 AND THE LOST OPPORTUNITIES

2+2 AND INDIA-USA RELATIONS: THE JOURNEY SO FAR

WHY SHOULD THE USA CONSIDER SOME OF INDIA’S CONCERNS REGARDING RUSSIA?

The relations between India-USA are deepening day by day, but India wants to maintain healthy relations with Russia also, and the USA should consider this. The USA should not pressure India to take a stand against Russia because of the following reasons:

THE WAY FORWARD

• PM Modi and President Biden discussed a new India Pacific Economic Framework Initiative- collaboration would include digital trade and supply chain resilience. This can open up more opportunities for enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
• India made it clear that it would retain its freedom of choice in maintaining a friendly relationship with Russia. These meetings helped better understand India’s position at the official level and reduced misperceptions and unrealistic expectations.
• It is hoped that the US would avoid unnecessary hectoring to India, particularly on sensitive issues, as the latter would be forced to respond likewise for its own reasons.
• Differences of views on certain issues cannot be resolved immediately, and both countries would need to nurture this relationship with patience, understanding, and positive approaches.

THE CONCLUSION: The recent 2+2 meeting between India and the USA was not big on announcements but sent a reassuring message on the strength of the India-US partnership and its ability to focus on bilateral ties, even amidst a major geopolitical challenge where the two countries are not on the same page.

Just add to your knowledge
2+2 BETWEEN INDIA AND USA

• The US is India’s oldest and most important 2+2 talks partner.
• The first 2+2 dialogue between the two countries was held during the Trump Administration in 2018.
• India and the US have signed a troika of “foundational pacts” for deep military cooperation:
• Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016,
• Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) after the first 2+2 dialogue in 2018,
• Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) in 2020.
• The strengthening of the cooperation mechanisms between the two militaries is of significance in the context of an increasingly aggressive China.

COMBINED MARITIME FORCES (CMF)

• The CMF is a multinational maritime partnership, which exists to uphold the Rules-Based International Order (RBIO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability, and prosperity.
• CMF’s main focus areas are counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, engaging with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities in order to improve overall security and stability, and promoting a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors.
• CMF has 34 member nations: Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, and Yemen.

Questions:

1. ‘The relations between India and the USA are deepening continuously, but these should not be at the cost of India-Russia relations. Comment
2. How far do you agree with the view that India leaning too much towards the USA will cost its foreign policy independence? Substantiate your view.
3. In recent times, the 2+2 dialogue initiatives in foreign policy provide more scope to resolve the bilateral issues. Analyse the statement in the context of India’s 2+2 dialogues with the USA.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. WHAT IS THE SEDITION LAW?

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court ON 11^th May directed the Centre and states to keep in abeyance all pending trials, appeals, and proceedings with respect to the charge framed under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with the offence of sedition, till the central government completes the promised exercise to reconsider and re-examine the provision.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The central government had initially defended the colonial provision, but later told the apex court it was reviewing it.

What is the sedition law?

• Section 124A defines sedition as: “Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law shall be punished with im­prisonment for life, to which fine may be added…”
• The provision also contains three explanations: 1- The expression “disaffection” includes disloyalty and all feelings of enmity; 2- Comments expressing disapprobation of the meas­ures of the Government with a view to obtain their alteration by lawful means, without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section; 3- Comments expressing disapprobation of the admin­istrative or other action of the Government without exciting or attempting to excite hatred, contempt or disaffection, do not constitute an offence under this section.

What are the origins of the sedition law?

• Although Thomas Macaulay, who drafted the Indian Penal Code, had included the law on sedition, it was not added in the code enacted in 1860. Legal experts believe this omission was accidental. In 1890, sedition was included as an offence under section 124A IPC through the Special Act XVII.
• The punishment prescribed then, transportation “beyond the seas for the term of his or her natural life”, was amended to life imprisonment in 1955.
• The provision was extensively used to curb political dissent during the Independence movement. Several pre-independence cases involving Section 124A of the IPC are against celebrated freedom fighters, including Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant, Shaukat and Mohammad Ali, Maulana Azad and Mahatma Gandhi. It is during this time that the most notable trial on sedition — Queen Empress v. Bal Gangadhar Tilak — took place in 1898.
• The Constituent Assembly debated including sedition as an exception to the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, guaranteed in the Constitution, but several members vehemently disagreed and the word is not included in the document.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. SHALLOW AND DEEP ECOLOGISM

THE CONTEXT: Heat waves are known to have been a reality for hundreds of years. But the long-term effects of climate change have exacerbated them, making the waves more extreme, frequent and prolonged. As India continues to grapple with the unrelenting waves, it becomes pertinent to unpack two strands of environmental philosophy that reinvent the relationship between nature and humans — shallow and deep ecologism.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The concepts emerged in the 1970s, when Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess sought to look beyond the popular pollution and conservation movements of his milieu to address environmental degradation.
• In his study of ecological concerns, Naess is more preoccupied with the role of the individual in nature. He believes that owing to increased anthropocentrism, humans have cut themselves off from nature, viewing nature and themselves as competing entities and establishing a master-slave dynamic.
• By placing humans at the heart of the environmental crisis, Naess outlines the difference between the two styles of ecologism. He terms the powerful and fashionable fight against pollution and resource depletion as shallow ecologism or environmentalism.
• Exponents of this philosophy believe in continuing our present lifestyle, but with specific tweaks aimed at minimizing the damage to the environment. Also referred to as weak ecologism, it may include the use of vehicles that cause less pollution or air conditioners that do not release chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• This branch of ecologism primarily serves to maintain the lifestyle of those dwelling in developed countries.
• Deep ecologism believes that humans should radically change their relationship with nature. Its proponents reject shallow ecologism for prioritising humans above other forms of life, and subsequently preserving the environmentally destructive way of life in modern societies.
• Deep ecologism maintains that by sustaining this lifestyle, shallow ecologism further widens the inequalities between countries.
• A narrow focus on pollution and conservation movements is counterproductive. A holistic perspective to environmental crisis is one that acknowledges regional differences and the disparities between under and over-developed nations.

3. WMO REPORT: BELOW NORMAL MERCURY IN INDIA FROM 2022 TO ’26

THE CONTEXT: In the latest Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, the 2022 will be cooler (compared to the 1991 – 2020 average) over India, along with Alaska and Canada: WMO

THE EXPLANATION:

• In a rare trend, India could be among the few regions globally where below normal temperatures have been predicted for this year and the next four years, the decadal climate outlook report issued by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has stated.
• In the latest Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, the WMO said that 2022 will be cooler (compared to the 1991 – 2020 average) over India, along with Alaska and Canada.
• One of the primary reasons for lowering of temperatures over India from next year is the possible increase in rainfall activity in this decade.
• In April this year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said that the Indian monsoon will soon enter the positive epoch after remaining under a negative epoch since 1971.
• The future trend suggests that the decadal mean value will be close to near normal during 2021 to 2030. It will then turn positive, meaning that the decade 2031-2040 will be the beginning of a wet epoch.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

4. RUPEE FELL ON SPILLOVER EFFECTS OF STRONG DOLLAR

THE CONTEXT: The rupee’s fall to all-time lows and the decline in India’s forex reserves is not driven by capital outflows, but the spillover effects of a stronger U.S. dollar.

THE EXPLANATION: The RBI had been intervening in the forex markets since 9 May, the idea was not to hold or aim to keep the rupee at a certain level but to prevent ‘jerky’ moves, an official aware of the rationale for the interventions pointed out.

• There is no fixation about any particular value… it’s not as if there is an attempt to resist levels being breached, but they should not be jerky movements, adding that the interventions had helped the currency appreciate to 77.25 to a dollar on Wednesday, from Monday’s record low of 77.46.
• Dismissing speculation that the forex reserves had fallen below $600 billion due to such market interventions, the official said the scale of interventions were not that large and the dip was mainly attributable to valuation losses in forex holdings in non-dollar currencies as the dollar was appreciating against advanced economy currencies as well.
• There are adequate reserves to fund 18 months of imports, FDI levels are as high as last year and foreign institutional investors are making a beeline for Indian debt now.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY DAY

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister of India on 11 May paid tribute to India’s scientists and their efforts behind the successful nuclear tests in 1998 on the occasion of National Technology Day.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The day is observed to mark the successful nuclear tests in Pokhran.
• India conducted Pokhran-II tests, a series of five nuclear explosions, in May 1998 at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. National Technology Day is observed every year on May 11 as a reminder of the anniversary of the Pokhran-II tests.
• National Technology Day is celebrated with a new and different theme every year. This year’s theme is ‘Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future’.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

6. INDIA ELECTED AS CHAIR OF ASSOCIATION OF ASIAN ELECTION AUTHORITIES FOR 2022-24

THE CONTEXT: India has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-2024.

THE EXPLANATION:

• India was elected at the recently held meeting of the executive board and general assembly at Manila, the Philippines on May 7.
• Commission on Elections, Manila was the current chair of AAEA.
• The new members in the executive board now include Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Taiwan and the Philippines.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION FOR 12th MAY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about provisions under Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021:

1. Opinion of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 24 weeks of gestation.
2. Opinion of two RMPs for termination of pregnancy of 24-28 weeks of gestation.
3. Opinion of the State-level medical board is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 28 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR THE 11TH OF MAY

Answer: A

Explanation:

• African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages.
• It was first detected in Africa in the 1920s.
• ASF is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.
• It is not a food safety issue.
• ASF is found in countries around the world.
• The disease was first reported in November-December 2019 from the areas of China bordering Arunachal Pradesh.

1. Overcoming constraints to spiritual awakening READ MORE
2. Non-violence: the essence of the culture of peace READ MORE
3. TN: ‘Poor Police Accountability Leads to Human Rights Violation’ READ MORE

1. Climate crisis: Invest in a holistic approach READ MORE
2. India Eases Green Rules for Coal Mines to Tackle Fuel Crisis READ MORE

1. Psychiatrists warn of internet addiction in children READ MORE
2. Upwardly mobile: Digital empowerment of citizens a work in progress READ MORE
3. A Caste Census Is the Answer to the Impasse Over Political Reservations for OBCs READ MORE

1. Frozen sedition: The Government must heed the spirit of SC order and help prevent misuse of sedition law READ MORE
2. Don’t just reform – remove: Even a changed sedition law will be misused. SC’s review must end in scrapping Section 124A READ MORE
3. Power overreach strains Centre-state ties READ MORE
4. WHO estimate and the problem with data in India READ MORE
5. Regulators don’t need constitutional status READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Shallow and deep ecologism READ MORE
2. Explained: What is the sedition law, and why Supreme Court’s fresh directive is important READ MORE
3. WMO report: Below normal mercury in India from 2022 to ’26 READ MORE
4. 70% infections can be prevented if good hand hygiene is followed, says WHO READ MORE
5. What Is Omicron’s Future? And Will the Delta Variant Stage a Comeback? READ MORE
6. National Technology Day: Everything you need to know READ MORE
7. India elected as Chair of Association of Asian Election Authorities for 2022-24 READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Psychiatrists warn of internet addiction in children READ MORE
2. Upwardly mobile: Digital empowerment of citizens a work in progress READ MORE
3. A Caste Census Is the Answer to the Impasse Over Political Reservations for OBCs READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Frozen sedition: The Government must heed the spirit of SC order and help prevent misuse of sedition law READ MORE
2. Don’t just reform – remove: Even a changed sedition law will be misused. SC’s review must end in scrapping Section 124A READ MORE
3. Power overreach strains Centre-state ties READ MORE
4. WHO estimate and the problem with data in India READ MORE
5. Regulators don’t need constitutional status READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Still a long way for termination as an unconditional right READ MORE
2. Delhi HC delivers split verdict on marital rape READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The Ukraine war will impact Asian politics READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Heading for GST Exit READ MORE
2. Reviving rural consumption likely to be a long haul READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate crisis: Invest in a holistic approach READ MORE
2. India Eases Green Rules for Coal Mines to Tackle Fuel Crisis READ MORE

SECURITY

1. India’s critical need for cyber doctrine READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Overcoming constraints to spiritual awakening READ MORE
2. Non-violence: the essence of the culture of peace READ MORE
3. TN: ‘Poor Police Accountability Leads to Human Rights Violation’ READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Sustaining GST requires restoring trust in the Centre-state relationship’. In the light of the statement highlights the issue with this tax regime and how a fundamental reset of the Union-States relationship can fix them?
2. ‘In a democratic country, there must not be any space for sedition’. Critically Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Hostility and hatred are no match for justice; they offer no pathway to peace.
• The Government must heed the spirit of the SC order and help prevent misuse of sedition law.
• Despite amendments, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act does not foreground the woman’s right to decide.
• While access to abortion has been available under the legal regime in the country, there is a long road ahead before it is recognised as a right of a person having the capacity to become pregnant to decide, unconditionally, whether a pregnancy is to be continued or not.
• GST isn’t just about economic efficiency conceived by technocrats. Sustaining it requires restoring trust in the Centre-state relationship.
• Fixing GST requires a fundamental reset of the Union-states relationship and nurturing it back to a state of mutual trust and respect.
• The rising mercury put stress on the coal-fired energy systems, indicating how much climate action and energy transition needs are intertwined.
• With its humongous consumer base, the country needs to focus on the productive utilisation of mobile data to leverage its digital gains.
• The government needs to understand that better official statistics are required not just to counter estimates by global agencies. It is required for better policymaking.
• Keeping the WHO pandemic death estimates aside, the bigger issue that has cropped up time and again is the reliability of India’s official numbers in many areas.
• At present, storing specific data may prove effective to prevent cybercrimes or incidents.
• If we are to improve the democratic foundations of our country, there must not be any space for sedition.
• Dissent, criticism and differences of opinion are vital for the functioning of any democracy.
• Accountability and transparency are effective ways of ensuring that they remain truly independent.

50-WORD TALK

• The Supreme Court should be complimented for taking a clear and historic position to keep the sedition law in abeyance. It should follow this up with lower courts to speedily free those languishing in jails for sedition. Modi government should use this opening to bury this obnoxious law for good.

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.

THE CONTEXT: United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 07 April 2022 suspended Russia from the UN Human Rights Council over reports of gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights by invading Russian troops in Ukraine. This article analyses the issue in detail.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE DEVELOPMENT

REASONS BEHIND THE SUSPENSION:

• Russia was suspended from the UN Human Rights Council after the 193-member General Assembly voted to adopt a resolution moved by the United States over allegations that Russian troops killed civilians while pulling back from towns around the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
• In the 193-member UNGA, 93 nations voted in favour of the resolution, while 24 were against it. Fifty-eight countries, including India, abstained from the process.
• This met the two-thirds majority benchmark in which only the voting members, not abstentions, are counted from the 193-member General Assembly.

THE PROCEDURE AND HISTORY:

• As per the rules, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership.
• To suspend a member, one needs a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly.
• This is only the second time the UNGA has suspended a country from the 47-member UN Human Rights Council after its formation in 2006. In 2011, Libya was thrown out through a resolution adopted by UNGA through consensus.
• But for the first time, one of the permanent members has lost its membership rights in a UN body.

INDIA’S STAND:

• India chose to abstain from the vote, saying that any such decision must follow the “due process” of investigation first. However, India also sharpened its criticism of Russia by reiterating the need to respect the three red lines in international relations:
• “Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states”,
• “UN Charter” and
• “International law”

AN ANALYSIS OF THE VOTE:

• Less than half the members of the UNGA voted in favour of the resolution, but it was enough to pass the resolution. The Russian permanent mission to the UN voiced its opinion on the social media platform that the adoption of the resolution was an “illegal and politically motivated step” to punish a country that pursues an independent foreign policy and also announced that Russia was voluntarily “terminating” its membership in UNHRC with immediate effect.
• Some countries even voted against the resolution for the reasons being:
• Heavier pressure from Russia for outright opposition to the resolution, rather than abstentions especially the countries having close ties with Moscow.
• The precedent of removing a country from the UNHRC because of human rights violations – while it may seem like an obvious step – would be controversial for a number of countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan both have faced criticisms for violations of human rights at home (both are members of UNHRC currently).
• Though Russia was in its second year of a three-year term on the Geneva-based council, which cannot make legally binding decisions. However, the council’s decisions send important political messages and can authorise investigations.
• Furthermore, India abstained from the resolution albeit reiterating the condemnation of the civilian killings in Bucha and supported the call for an independent investigation.

THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

ABOUT: The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the world.

FORMATION:

• The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) serves as the Secretariat of the Human Rights Council.
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  

MEMBERS:

• It is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
• The Council’s Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. Seats are distributed as follows:
• African States: 13 seats
• Asia-Pacific States: 13 seats
• Latin American and the Caribbean States: 8 seats
• Western European and other States: 7 seats
• Eastern European States: 6 seats
• The UNGA takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.

MECHANISMS:

• Universal Periodic Review: UPR serves to assess the human rights situations in all United Nations Member States. Currently, no other universal mechanism of this kind exists.
• Advisory Committee: It serves as the Council’s “think tank” providing it with expertise and advice on thematic human rights issues.
• Complaint Procedure: The complaint procedure addresses communications submitted by individuals, groups, or non-governmental organizations that claim to be victims of human rights violations or that have direct, reliable knowledge of such violations.
• The Council also established various subsidiary expert mechanisms to provide the Council with thematic expertise and forums providing a platform for dialogue and cooperation. These bodies focus mainly on studies, research-based advice, or best practices.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE UNHRC

UNHRC has played the role of a political platform that aims to ensure that human rights remain a top priority within the UN.

GLOBAL REACH: UNHRC has a wide mandate which facilitates it to respond to human rights cases across the globe. In doing so, it also brings the members of civil society together for voicing concerns related to human rights in their respective local regions.

SPECIAL PROCEDURES:

• The Human Rights Council’s Special Procedures mandate-holders are made up of special rapporteurs, independent experts, or working groups composed of five members who are appointed by the Council and who serve in their personal capacity. Special procedures undertake country visits; act on individual cases and concerns of a broader, structural nature by sending communications to States and other actors bringing alleged violations or abuses to their attention
• These independent experts report at least once a year to the Council on their findings and recommendations, as well as to the UN General Assembly. At times they are the only mechanism alerting the international community to certain human rights issues.
• There are two types of Special Procedures mandates: the thematic mandates, such as water and sanitation, arbitrary detention, the rights of migrants, violence against women, torture, and human trafficking, and the country-specific mandates.

UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW:

• The Universal Periodic Review motivates nation-level dialogues on human rights and also mandates that every UN member state examines human rights on a regular basis. It ensures transparency and accountability in the functioning of UNHCR.
• i.e. the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all UN Member States. The UPR is a State-driven process, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council, which provides the opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations.

CONDEMNING THE VIOLATIONS: In the recent past, the resolutions adopted by the UNHRC have highlighted and condemned distinctive violations despite the efforts to the contrary by some members of the HRC. For example, in the midst of the Arab Spring, the Human Rights Council voted unanimously to suspend Libya’s membership. More recently, the Council did not permit Syria to bid for a seat on grounds of human rights violations and appointed an investigation there.

ISSUE-BASED COALITIONS: There are an increasing number of countries from all parts of the world which have started working together to further human rights, irrespective of their shared history and regional politics. The regional bloc voting practices have become a matter of the past and considered discussion along with collective action is becoming possible.

DEBATE ON CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT AREAS: Controversial subject areas have also been addressed at the HRC, including LGBTIQ rights and religious discrimination. South Africa’s efforts to acknowledge the rights of LGBTIQ faced strong opposition from neighbouring countries but it was supported by far-away countries like Brazil, Colombia, the United States, and many others.

THE CRITICISM OF THE UNHRC

BIASED FOCUS ON THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT CESSPOOL OF POLITICAL BIAS: The UNHRC is accused of an anti-Israel bias as it passes resolutions that focus on alleged Israeli human rights violations while ignoring similar allegations against the Palestinian side. Most recently the 49^th session of UNHRC that ended on 01 April 2022 passed a total of 35 resolutions and 3 of them were concerned with the Israel-Palestine issue (All 3 of them were in favour of Palestine).

MEMBERS WITH QUESTIONABLE HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS: Just like the UN Commission on Humans Rights, the UN Human Rights Council also elects members like China, Pakistan, and Russia who have poor or questionable track records on Human rights. It raises questions on how effective or unbiased the organisation is.

IGNORANCE OF OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES: It was reported in 2008 that the UNHRC was being controlled by a few Middle-East and African nations with support from China and Russia, in order to shield each other from criticism.

LACK OF STANDARDS: The USA withdrew from the council during the Trump regime but again joined the present regime. The powerful member nations taking such steps also undermine the credibility of the global body.

GLOBAL REPRESENTATION: Although the geographical quota system addresses the disparities in global representation, it is also the Council’s most serious flaw. With a few honourable exceptions, the overwhelming majority of countries outside Western Europe and other groupings have flawed-to-abysmal human-rights records and policies. Many are not democracies. Few have representative governments. Fewer still have an incentive to pursue and commit to universal human rights.

INDIA AND THE UNHRC

• India was elected for the sixth time to the Council for a three-year term with an overwhelming majority that began on January 1, 2022.
• As part of the third stage of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, India’s National Human Rights Commission delivered its mid-term report to the Council in 2020.
• A number of UN Special Rapporteurs have also written to the Indian government, voicing their concerns about the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020. Though there are several concerns with the draft, a few of which are related to human rights are mentioned below:
• Opens the Floodgates of Violations: The environmental lawyers have argued that the Post-Facto Clearance of the Projects is likely to encourage industries to commence operations without bothering clearance and eventually get regularized by paying the penalty amount and thus opening the floodgates of violations.
• Strengthens the Government but Weakens the Public: The draft offers no remedy for the political and bureaucratic stronghold on the EIA process, and thereby on industries. Instead, it proposes to bolster the government’s discretionary power while limiting public engagement in safeguarding the environment. Also, the draft, by limiting public consultation, is not in consonance with protecting the rights of tribals, among others.
• Reduced Time means Reduced Awareness: The reduced notice period for a public hearing from 30 days to 20 days will only make it difficult to study the draft EIA report, more so when it is not widely available or provided in the regional language. Moreover, the reduction of time would particularly pose a problem in those areas where information is not easily accessible or areas in which people are not that well aware of the process itself.
• UNHRC Chief also voiced concerns and criticisms against India on various occasions such as:
• The impact of actions by the government of India on the human rights of the Kashmiri people, including restrictions on internet communications and peaceful assembly, and the detention of local political leaders and activists.
• Arbitrary use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act throughout India.
• The National Register of Citizens verification process in the northeast Indian state of Assam, caused great uncertainty and anxiety among the people.
• The unprecedented farmers’ agitation at the borders of the national capital over the three farm laws also drew the attention of the UN human rights chief.
• India was quick and firm to present counter statements in defence of India’s stand on such issues and stated that:
• The UNHRC needs to be uniform, consistent, and even-handed when it comes to human rights abuse or denial of civil rights to people across the world and should not resort to a selective approach to seeking accountability for civil rights from different member states.
• India is also of the view that human rights shall be implemented in a non-selective manner and with due respect to non-interference in internal affairs.

THE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

• India recently abstained from a vote at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The Council passed a resolution calling for the formation of an international commission to investigate Russia’s conduct in Ukraine.
• India abstained from voting on resolutions concerning the Russia – Ukraine crisis, on as many as six occasions including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution concerning the safety of four nuclear power plants and a number of nuclear waste sites, including Chernobyl, because the Russians had taken control of them.

 THE WAY FORWARD – IMPROVING THE WORKING OF UNHRC

• The impact of the crisis had been felt beyond the region, with increasing food and energy costs, especially for developing countries, and it is in everyone’s collective interest to work constructively, within the UN and outside, towards seeking an early resolution to the conflict.
• No solution can be arrived at, by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives and it is peremptory to choose the side of peace and collectively work towards an immediate end to violence.
• UNHRC does not have a separate Secretariat. Though UNHRC and OHCHR function in tandem, both the bodies should have separate specialized secretariat staffs which will further enhance their functioning.
• The decisions on resolutions of the UNHCR are taken, based on the voting of the member nations. Consensus building might prove to be a more feasible approach in a multilateral body.
• To strengthen the global trust in the organisation it is imperative not to have a nation with a bad human rights record as a member of UNHRC.

THE CONCLUSION: Over a decade ago, when the UNHRC recommended the suspension of Libya to the General Assembly, there had been no vote since the resolution was adopted by consensus. The resolution against Russia is passed with 93 votes in favour, 24 against, and 58 abstentions i.e with consensus. A hasty move at the General Assembly, which forces countries to choose sides, will aggravate the division among member states, intensify the confrontation between the parties concerned, and could be adding fuel to the fire. The move to expel Russia may not contribute to reaching a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine war and could further escalate the polarisation in the international community. The credibility and legitimacy of the multilateral platforms will be enhanced with concrete steps to end the conflict, merely ousting a member would not be sufficient. The response/retaliation from Russia is yet to be seen which will further define the course of history.

Mains Practice Questions:

1. “The human rights record of some of the member-states in the council has not been in line with the aims and mission of the UNHRC, which has led to critics questioning its relevance.” In the light of the given statement critically examine the relevance of UNHRC in contemporary times.
2. “Despite the continued participation of several western countries in the UNHRC, they continue to harbour misgivings on the understanding of Human rights.” Elaborate.

THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. MEGHALAYA HIT BY AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

THE CONTEXT: At least 259 pigs have died in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district this year due to African Swine Fever with 45 pigs dying on May 8 alone

THE EXPLANATION:

• African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages.
• It was first detected in Africa in the 1920s.
• ASF is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.
• It is not a food safety issue.
• ASF is found in countries around the world.
• The disease was first reported in November-December 2019 from the areas of China bordering Arunachal Pradesh.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL LAW REFORMS RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO SEDITION LAW

THE CONTEXT: A panel of experts constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to suggest reforms to the British-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) has recommended amendments to the sedition law.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws appointed by the MHA in 2020 submitted an exhaustive report in March, which among other IPC sections also examined Section 124-A IPC or sedition.
• There were two school of thoughts – either completely withdraw the law or amend the particular section.
• The panel was largely of the view that if sedition could be dropped and included as a sub-set in a wider range of crimes committed against the State. A person cannot be made to languish in jail for writing a newspaper article. It has to be seen if that article led to serious law and order problems, mere presumption is not sufficient.
• A questionnaire sent by the committee for public consultation in 2020 had under a category called the “Offences Against the State,” asked “Does the offence of sedition under Section 124-A require omission or any amendment in terms of its definition, scope and cognisability?”
• Other than IPC, the committee also examined and has recommended changes to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Evidence Act, 1872.
• Simply criticising the State should not be enough to invoke sedition, let there be a guilty mind – whether such act wanted to disturbance? The term sedition is colonial. When there is no king, how can a provision meant to protect the king be there?
• The committee largely concluded that sedition can be amended and included in the category of crimes committed against the State to protect its sovereignty, integrity and security.
• According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), as many as 356 cases of sedition were registered in the country between the years 2015 and 2020 in which 548 persons were arrested. Only 62 cases went to trial, there were acquittals in 55 cases and only 12 persons in seven cases were convicted during the period.
• In 2019, as many as 96 persons were arrested for sedition but only two were convicted and 29 persons were acquitted. Of the 93 cases of sedition registered in 2019, charge sheet was filed in only 40 cases.
• On May 9, MHA filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court informed the apex court of its decision to “re-examine” and “re-consider” the sedition law in the background of Prime Minister’s belief that the nation should work harder to shed “colonial baggage”, including outdated laws, while celebrating 75 years of Independence under the banner of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The maximum punishment for the crime is life imprisonment.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. THE GRIM FOREWARNINGS OF A GLOBAL STUDY ON BIRDS

THE CONTEXT: The State of the World’s Birds, an annual review of environmental resources published on May 5 by nine natural sciences and avian specialists across the globe, has revealed that the population of 48% of the 10,994 surviving species of birds is declining.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The study found that 5,245 or about 48% of the existing bird species worldwide are known or suspected to be undergoing population declines.
• While 4,295 or 39% of the species have stable trends, about 7% or 778 species have increasing population trends.
• The trend of 37 species was unknown.
• Birds are a truly global taxon, with one or more species occupying all habitats across the earth’s terrestrial surface including urban environments with no natural analogues.
• Birds contribute toward many ecosystem services that either directly or indirectly benefit humanity. These include provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.
• The functional role of birds within ecosystems as pollinators, seed-dispersers, ecosystem engineers, scavengers and predators not only facilitate accrual and maintenance of biodiversity but also support human endeavours such as sustainable agriculture via pest control besides aiding other animals to multiply.
• The study lists eight factors, topped by land cover and land-use change. The continued growth of human populations and of per capita rates of consumption lead directly to conversion and degradation of primary natural habitats and consequent loss of biodiversity.
• Although global tree cover increased between 1982 and 2016, including by 95,000 sq. km in the tropical dry forest biome and by 84,000 sq. km in the tropical moist deciduous forest biome, this has been driven by afforestation with plantations (often of non-native species) plus land abandonment in parts of the global North, with net loss in the tropics.
• The other factors are habitat fragmentation and degradation, especially in the tropics.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

4. INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE(IBC) SHRINK TO 33%

 THE CONTEXT: Recoveries by financial creditors under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) have dropped significantly in the past two years owing to the pandemic, resulting in larger haircuts for them.

THE EXPLANATION:

• As of March 2022, financial creditors have recovered 33 per cent of the amount admitted as claims.
• It was 39.3 per cent as of March 2021, and as high as 46 per cent till March 2020, according to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) data. Further, on a quarterly basis, realisation by financial creditors as a percentage of their admitted claims in Q4FY22 dropped to as low as 10 per cent.
• In the preceding quarter (Q3FY22), it stood at 13 per cent. However, in the first two quarters of FY22 (Q1 and Q2), the rate was 25 per cent and 49 per cent, respectively.
• In Q4, the amount realised by financial creditors dropped below the liquidation value of assets. “The haircut for cases resolved in Q4FY22 was high at 90 per cent. The overall haircut scenario is not very encouraging.
• Some of the weaker assets where there are incomplete projects or sectors which are seeing very poor demand from buyers, the realization values have started to come down.
• The number of new cases admitted under the insolvency process has also gone down in FY22, with only 834 cases admitted as against 2,000 cases in FY20.
• Experts reckon the pandemic-induced slowdown in the economy and delays in the resolution process are the root cause behind the drop in realisation. Having said that, recovery under the IBC is still far higher than other measures.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. WHAT IS A ‘MARSQUAKE’, AND WHAT CAUSES IT?

 THE CONTEXT: On May 4, NASA’s InSight lander detected a quake on Mars, the largest ever observed on another planet.

THE EXPLANATION:

• NASA has reported that on May 4, its InSight Mars lander detected the largest quake ever observed on another planet.
• The rover first landed on Mars in November 2018, and has since heard 1,313 quakes.
• The largest previously recorded “marsquake” was detected in August 2021.

What are marsquakes, and why do they happen?

On Earth, quakes are caused by shifts in tectonic plates. Mars, however, does not have tectonic plates, and its crust is a giant plate. Therefore, NASA notes, ‘marsquakes’ are caused due to stresses that cause rock fractures or faults in its crust.

What is InSight doing on Mars?

• InSight is not looking for life on Mars, but is studying what Mars is made of, how its material is layered, and how much heat seeps out of it.
• This is important because Earth and Mars used to be similar — warm, wet and shrouded in thick atmospheres — before they took different paths 3-4 billion years ago. Mars stopped changing, while Earth continued to evolve.
• With InSight, scientists hope to compare Earth and Mars, and better understand how a planet’s starting materials make it more or less likely to support life.
• There are other missions to Mars that are looking for life on the planet, which makes Insight’s mandate unique. It mostly boils down to the possibility that the atmosphere of Mars was once warm enough to allow water to flow through its surface, which could mean life existed there too.
• In fact, what makes scientists curious about Mars is the “defining question” of the existence of life on the planet, because of the possible presence of liquid water on it, either in the past or preserved in its subsurface.
• This question makes the planet more intriguing for scientists since “almost everywhere we find water on Earth, we find life.
• If Mars harboured a warmer atmosphere enabling water to flow in its ancient past (3.5-3.8 billion years ago), and if microbial life existed on it, it is possible that it exists in “special regions” even today.
• But regardless of life having existed on Mars or not, there is the idea that humans themselves might be able to inhabit the planet one day.
• Some missions studying the possibility of life on Mars include UAE’s Hope, China’s Tianwen-1, and NASA’s Perseverance.

THE INTERNAL SECURITY

                   6. SURVIVING SOLDIERS OF ‘OPERATION DUDHI’ FETED

THE CONTEXT: Back in 1991, the Assam Rifles had eliminated 72 militants in a single counter-insurgency operation in Jammu & Kashmir and the force on Monday felicitated the surviving heroes.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Assam Rifles battalions are well-known for their valour and self-sacrifice but the story of Operation Dudhi is the most inspiring. It will remain etched in the annals of Assam Rifles’ history.
• The operation, undertaken by the battalion during its tenure in Jammu & Kashmir from 1990 to 1992, remains the most successful counter-insurgency operation conducted by any security force to date. Not only the battalion had eliminated 72 militants but it also apprehended 13 others in that operation.
• Conducted on May 3, 1991, Operation Dudhi was undertaken by a column comprising a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and 14 other ranks under the command of Naib Subedar Padam Bahadur Chhetri. The column had moved from Battalion Headquarters, Chowkibal, for a routine patrol to check the winter vacated post of Dudhi, with the staging camp established at Bari Baihk.
• Located about 13 km away from the battalion headquarters, the camp was covered with five to six feet of snow.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

7. A HISTORY OF THE PULITZER PRIZE

THE CONTEXT: A team of four Indian photographers from Reuters news agency — slain photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Amit Dave — have won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography for their coverage of the Covid-19 crisis in India.

THE EXPLANATION:

• A member of the Ghadar Party in America, Indian American journalist Gobind Behari Lal, was the first from India to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1937.
• He won the award for reporting with four others, for their coverage of science at the tercentenary of Harvard University. A postgraduate from University of California, Berkeley, he also received the Padma Bhushan in 1969.
• The latter also won in the the 2020 Pulitzer in the Breaking News Photography category as part of the team from Reuters that covered the 2019-20 Hong Kong protests.
• In 2020, Channi Anand, Mukhtar Khan and Dar Yasin of Associated Press won the Pulitzer in the Feature Photography category “for striking images captured during a communications blackout in Kashmir depicting life in the contested territory as India stripped it of its semi-autonomy,”

Who was Joseph Pulitzer, after whom the awards are named?

• Born to a wealthy family of Magyar-Jewish origin in Mako, Hungary, in 1847, Joseph Pulitzer had a stint in the military before he built a reputation of being a “tireless journalist”.
• In the late 1860s he joined the German-language daily newspaper Westliche Post, and by 25 he had become a publisher. In 1978, he became the owner of St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Under him, the paper published several “investigative articles and editorials assailing government corruption, wealthy tax-dodgers, and gamblers”.
• In 1883, he also negotiated the purchase of The New York World, which was in financial straits, and elevated its circulation.
• In 1884, he was elected to the US House of Representatives from New York’s ninth district as a Democrat and entered office on March 4, 1885. During his tenure, he led a movement to place the newly gifted Statue of Liberty in New York City.

When were the Pulitzer awards instituted?

• The awards were instituted according to Pulitzer’s will, framed in 1904, where he made a provision for the establishment of the Pulitzer Prizes as an incentive to excellence.
• Pulitzer specified solely four awards in journalism, four in letters and drama, one for education, and five travelling scholarships.
• In his will, Pulitzer bestowed an endowment on Columbia of $2,000,000 for the establishment of a School of Journalism, one-fourth of which was to be “applied to prizes or scholarships for the encouragement of public service, public morals, American literature, and the advancement of education.After his death in 1911, the first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded in June, 1917.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION FOR 11th MAY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about African swine fever (ASF):

1. It was first detected in Africa in the 1920s.
2. ASF is a threat to human health and can be transmitted from pigs to humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER FOR THE 10TH OF MAY

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Cyclone ’Asani’ originated in May 2022 in Bay of Bengal.
• Name of the cyclone was given by Sri Lanka. It means ‘wrath’ in Sinhalese language.
• It did not make landfall, rather it weakened in Bay of Bengal.

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