THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE ELECTION TO THE OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF INDIA, 2022

THE CONTEXT: The Election Commission of India announced that the election to the office of the vice-president of India would be held on August 6, 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Article 324 of the Constitution read with the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974, vests the superintendence, direction and control of the conduct of election to the office of the Vice-President of India in the Election Commission of India.
• The Election Commission is mandated to ensure that the election to the office of the Vice-President of India must be a free and fair election and the Commission is taking all necessary steps for discharging its constitutional responsibility. The Election Commission of India is privileged and honoured to announce today the schedule of election for the 16th Vice-Presidential Election.
• As per Article 68 of the Constitution, the election to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of the outgoing vice-president is required to be completed before the expiration of the term.
• Section 4(3) of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952 provides that the notification for election shall be issued on or after the sixtieth day before the expiration of term of office of the outgoing Vice-President.
• As per Article 66 of the Constitution of India, the Vice-President is elected by the members of the Electoral College consisting of the members of both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. For 2022, 16th Vice-Presidential Election, the Electoral College consists of:
  • 233 elected members of Rajya Sabha,
  • 12 nominated members of Rajya Sabha, and
  • 543 elected members of Lok Sabha.

Electoral College comprises of a total of 788 members of both Houses of Parliament. Since all the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of the vote of each Member of Parliament would be the same i.e.1 (one).

• For marking the vote, the Commission will supply particular pens. The pen will be given to the electors in the polling station by the designated official when the ballot paper is handed over. Electors have to mark the ballot only with this particular pen and not with any other pen. Voting by using any other pen shall lead to invalidation of the vote at the time of counting.
• The Election Commission, in consultation with the Central Government, appoints the Secretary-General of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, by rotation, as the Returning Officer. Accordingly, the Secretary-General, Lok Sabha will be appointed as the Returning Officer for the present election to the Office of the Vice-President of India. The Commission has also decided to appoint Assistant Returning Officers in Parliament House (Lok Sabha) to assist Returning Officers.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

NEW RESEARCH: BETTER ROAD SAFETY MEASURES COULD SAVE HALF A MILLION LIVES ANNUALLY WORLDWIDE

THE CONTEXT: According to a study published in the Lancet, the benefits of more motorcyclists wearing helmets would be the biggest in China, where 13,703 lives could be saved every year, followed by Brazil (5,802 lives), and India (5,683 lives).

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORTS:

• New global and country-level estimates suggest that routinely wearing helmets and seat belts, obeying speed limits, and avoiding driving drunk could save between 347,000 and 540,000 lives worldwide every year.
• Analysis of data from 74 studies in 185 countries estimates that targeting four key risk factors for road injuries and deaths (speeding, drink driving, and non-use of crash helmets and seat belts) could prevent between 25% and 40% of all fatal road injuries worldwide every year.
• According to the study, the Interventions to reduce speeding such as infrastructure changes and electronic speed control could save an estimated 347,258 lives globally each year, while measures to tackle drunk driving such as enhanced drink driving enforcement could save a further 16,304 lives.
• An estimated 121,083 and 51,698 lives could be saved by passing and enforcing rules on wearing seat belts and motorcycle helmets respectively.
• Improving seat belt use would have a particularly large effect on reducing road deaths in the United States (saving an estimated 14,121 lives every year) and China (13,228). Tackling speeding would be the single most effective measure to reduce road fatalities in most countries, preventing an estimated 88,374 deaths in China, 1,027 in Spain, and 815 in the United Kingdom.
• The Lancet Series on road safety, published ahead of the first ever UN High-Level Meeting on Road Safety, calls for increased political and financial commitments, and for road safety to be included in mainstream development policies. It argues that this is essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the target to halve road traffic crash fatalities and injuries by 2030.
• Deaths on roads are a major problem in India. Each year road accidents kill about 150,000 people and injure another 450,000 in the country. The World Bank noted in a report this month that with only 1 per cent of the world’s vehicles, India accounts for almost 10 per cent of all crash related deaths.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

• Brasilia Declaration: Related to Road Safety.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

GREEN HYDROGEN IS CRITICAL TO INDIA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NET-ZERO AMBITIONS: REPORT

THE CONTEXT: A new report released today by NITI Aayog highlights that green hydrogen can substantially spur industrial decarbonisation and economic growth for India in the coming decades.

THE EXPLANATION:

• THE REPORT: Harnessing Green Hydrogen: Opportunities for Deep Decarbonisation in India provides a pathway to accelerate the emergence of a green hydrogen economy, which is critical for India to achieve its net-zero ambitions by 2070.
  

  

• The report,co-authored by NITI Aayog and RMI, underscores that green hydrogen—produced by renewable energy through electrolysis of water—will be crucial for achieving decarbonisation of harder-to-abate sectors such as, fertilisers, refining, methanol, maritime shipping, iron & steel and transport.
• It further states that with emerging global momentum on hydrogen, India can situate this decarbonisation opportunity not just within the context of a low-carbon economy but also as an enabler of energy security and economic development for the nation.
• While hydrogen can be produced from multiple sources, India’s distinct advantage in low-cost renewable electricity means that green hydrogen will emerge as the most cost-effective form. The report concludes that hydrogen demand in India could grow more than fourfold by 2050, representing almost 10% of global demand. Given that the majority of this demand could be met with green hydrogen in the longterm, the cumulative value of the green hydrogen market in India could reach US $8 billion by 2030.

The report describes pathways that can capture the benefits of green hydrogen:

• Near-term policy measures can bring down the current costs of green hydrogen to make it competitive with the existing grey hydrogen (hydrogen produced by natural gas) prices. Medium-term price targets should be set to guide the industry towards making green hydrogen the most competitive form of hydrogen.
• Government can encourage near term market development by identifying industrial clusters and enacting associated viability gap funding, mandates and targets.
• Opportunities around research and development and manufacturing of components like electrolysers need to be identified and appropriately encouraged with adequate financial mechanisms such as production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes to enable 25 GW of manufacturing capacity of electrolysers by 2028.
• A globally competitive green hydrogen industry can lead to exports in green hydrogen and hydrogen-embedded low-carbon products like green ammonia and green steel that can unlock 95 GW of electrolysis capacity in the nation by 2030.
• NITI Aayog’s partner for this report, RMI, works for the transformation of global energy systems through market-driven solutions to align with a 1.5°C future and secure a clean, prosperous, zero-carbon future for all. It works in the world’s most critical geographies and engages businesses, policymakers, communities, and NGOs to identify and scale up energy system interventions that will cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030.

VALUE ADDITION:

• ‘Green’ hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. In contrast, the conventional process of making hydrogen uses fossil fuels.
• Hydrogen is a key input in fertilizers and refineries, so green hydrogen would help these industries cut aggregate emissions. It could also be used in steel manufacturing to reduce emissions by replacing the use of coal as an energy source and as a reducing agent.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

WHAT IS CAPSTONE, NASA’S NEW SATELLITE?

THE CONTEXT: Recently, NASA launched CAPSTONE, a microwave oven-sized CubeSat weighing just 55 pounds (25 kg). CAPSTONE, short for Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, is designed to test a unique, elliptical lunar orbit.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The satellite, launched on Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, is heading toward an orbit intended in the future for Gateway, a Moon-orbiting outpost that is part of NASA’s Artemis program.
• As a pathfinder for Gateway, CAPSTONE aims to help reduce risk for future spacecraft by validating innovative navigation technologies, and by verifying the dynamics of the halo-shaped orbit.
• The orbit is known as a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO). It is significantly elongated, and is located at a precise balance point in the gravities of Earth and the Moon. This offers stability for long-term missions like Gateway, NASA said on its website.
• At the Moon, CAPSTONE will enter NRHO, where it will fly within 1,600 km of the Moon’s North Pole on its near pass and 70,000 km from the South Pole at its farthest. The spacecraft will repeat the cycle every six-and-a-half days and maintain this orbit for at least six months to study dynamics.
• According to NASA, CAPSTONE will gain experience with small dedicated launches of CubeSats beyond low-Earth orbit, to the Moon, and beyond.
• The spacecraft is currently in low-Earth orbit. It is attached to Rocket Lab’s Lunar Photon.

EXPLAINED: HOW INDIA’S FIRST MRNA VACCINE FOR COVID-19 WAS CREATED

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the country’s first home-grown mRNA Covid-19 vaccine — GEMCOVAC-19 — developed at Pune’s Gennova Biopharmaceuticals has got a ‘restricted emergency use’ nod for the 18-and-above age group.

THE EXPLANATION:

• As mRNA vaccines are required to be kept at sub-zero temperatures, it was a mammoth task for Gennova scientists to develop a thermostable mRNA Covid-19 vaccine. Scientists had to innovate to suit local needs to make it affordable and deployable. The new vaccine can now be stored at the temperature of a standard medical refrigerator.

The mRNA platform

• As the Covid-19 pandemic spread, an mRNA vaccine candidate was the first to enter human trials globally. The first two vaccines that were made available for use in the US were based on mRNA technology.
• Unlike vaccines that put a weakened or inactivated virus in your body to activate an immune response, these two Covid-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) used messenger RNA or mRNA to deliver a message to your immune system.
• Basically, the technology uses genetically engineered mRNA to instruct cells to make the S-protein found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus. According to reports from US-based Mayo Clinic, after vaccination, the muscle cells begin making S-protein pieces and displaying them on cell surfaces. This causes the body to create antibodies.

But these vaccines have to be stored at sub-zero temperatures as mRNA is fragile and breaks down easily.

Thermostable vaccine

• “Unlike in the West, where the vaccine has to be stored at sub-zero temperatures, the challenge in India was to be able to store the vaccine between 2-8 degree Celsius. We had to innovate to suit our local needs as to what is affordable and deployable. GEMCOVAC-19 can now be stored at the temperature of a standard medical refrigerator,” says Dr Sanjay Singh, CEO of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals.
• The conversion from liquid to powder form of the vaccine takes place via Lyophilisation — this is freeze-drying, a process where the water is removed from the product after it is frozen and placed under a vacuum allowing the ice to change directly from solid to vapour without passing through a liquid phase.
• However, just removing water by Lyophilisation of the mRNA vaccine does not work. So, the surrounding pressure has to be tweaked and then kept stable to ensure the characteristics of the vaccine are the same as before Lyophilisation. For this to be achieved, the key was to add an external agent which at a certain critical concentration keeps it stable under lyophilized conditions. The Lyophilisation technology is not new, but a lyophilized mRNA vaccine is unique.

Trials and safety

• Freeze-drying the large and unstable mRNA molecule with the nanoparticle was a daunting challenge. However, Gennova invested countless man-hours in the hope of lyophilizing the mRNA vaccine in a single vial within a year. This thermostable vaccine was thoroughly tested in various animal models to ensure its safety and immunogenicity before entering human clinical trials.
• Phase 1 and 2 trial data across 480 participants had been submitted earlier, and data from Phase 3 trial across 4,000 participants was then presented to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). During the Phase 3 trials, 3,000 participants were administered the mRNA Covid-19 vaccine and 1,000 were given Covishield.
• According to officials at Gennova, the trial data showed that the vaccine was safe and well-tolerated. Immunogenicity measured at 2 weeks post-dose showed that GEMCOVAC-19 is non-inferior to Covishield.
• The two-dose vaccine will have to be administered intramuscularly, 28 days apart.

HIGH-SPEED EXPENDABLE AERIAL TARGET – ABHYAS – SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT-TESTED

THE CONTEXT: Recently, ABHYAS – High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) was successfully flight-tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

 THE EXPLANATION:

• The performance of the aircraft at low altitudes including sustained level and high manoeuvrability was demonstrated during the test flight. The target aircraft was flown from a ground-based controller in a pre-designated low-altitude flight path, which was monitored by various tracking sensors deployed by ITR, including radar and an electro-optical targeting system.

• ABHYAS is designed & developed by the Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The air vehicle was launched using twin under-slung boosters which provide the initial acceleration to the vehicle.
• It is powered by a small gas turbine engine to sustain a long endurance flight at high subsonic speed. The target aircraft is equipped with Micro-Electromechanical Systems-based Inertial Navigation System for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer for guidance and control along with Indigenous Radio Altimeter for very low altitude flight and Data Link for encrypted communication between the Ground Control Station and Target Aircraft. The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight.

THE GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND INTERVENTION

EXPLAINED: WHY A PROPOSED MEGA TEXTILE PARK IN LUDHIANA UNDER THE PM MITRA SCHEME IS FACING OPPOSITION

THE CONTEXT: A proposal to set up a mega textile park in Punjab’s industrial hub, Ludhiana, has been red-flagged by locals, environmentalists and even some political leaders.

THE EXPLANATION:

The project

• A Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Park, under the PM-MITRA scheme, has been proposed to be set up in Ludhiana.
• The land required for the project, being undertaken jointly by the Centre and the state government, falls near the Mattewara forest and on the river Sutlej floodplains.
• The notification issued by the Union Ministry of Textiles says that under the PM-MITRA, a total of seven such parks will come up across the country with a total outlay of Rs 4,445 crore. The notification also specifies the ‘objective of the project’ as ‘sustainable industrialisation’ that does not harm the environment to ‘meet the United Nations sustainable development goal 9.’

The opposition

• The proposed project site is located near the Mattewara forest and on floodplains of river Sutlej.
• It touches Mattewara forest from two sides, and also borders river Sutlej on one side.
• There are fears that the project would not only disturb the biodiversity of the protected forest but might also lead to chemical discharge from factories into the river.
• Spread over 2,300 acres, the Mattewara forest is often called the lungs of Ludhiana district and is home to several animal and avian species including peacocks, sambhar, antelopes (nilgai), monkeys, deers etc.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABOUT PM MITRA SCHEME:

• Ministry of Textiles has issued a notification to set up 7 Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks with a total outlay of Rs. 4,445 crore.
• These are aimed at helping India to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9: “Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”.
• It is hoped that the PM MITRA Parks will have world-class industrial infrastructure which would attract cutting age technology and boost FDI and local investment in the textiles sector.

KEY FEATURES

The PM MITRA scheme is Inspired by the 5F vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister – Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. It aspires to fulfil the vision of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and to position India strongly on the Global textiles map.

• PM MITRA Parks will offer an opportunity to create an integrated textiles value chain right from spinning, weaving, processing/dyeing and printing to garment manufacturing at 1 location
• Integrated Textile Value chain at 1 location will reduce logistics cost of Industry
• Intended to generate ~1 lakh direct and 2 lakh indirect employment per park
• Sites for PM MITRA Parks will be selected by a Challenge Method based on objective criteria
• Proposals of State Governments having ready availability of contiguous and encumbrance-free land parcel of 1,000+ acres along with other textiles related facilities & ecosystem are welcome

Several states such as Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana have expressed interest.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q. Haumea, Makemake, and Eris are –

a) Comets

b) Satellites of Jupiter

c) Plutoids

d) Stars

ANSWER FOR 29 JUNE 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

1. Gennova Biopharmaceuticals – mRNA vaccine
2. Oxford-AstraZeneca – Vector based vaccine
3. Zydus Cadila – DNA based vaccine
4. Novavax – Protein Subunit Vaccine

1. MP para teachers scheme showed India struggled with contract service. Apply that to Agnipath READ MORE
2. Higher education has to become meaningful READ MORE
3. Mid-Day Meal: Restoration Work in Progress Post-COVID, Stunting a Major Concern READ MORE

1. Who likes to change? READ MORE
2. LET’S BE THE CHANGE THAT WE WANT TO SEE READ MORE

1. How black carbon emissions are affecting rainfall in the North East READ MORE
2. A direct approach to conservation: The mobilisation of private and public finance for Payments for Ecosystem Services lacks lustre READ MORE

1. Efforts to estimate poverty from 2011-21 are commendable, given absence of data READ MORE
2. It’s time drug regulation system is reviewed READ MORE
3. What India could do to expand space for Parliament to discuss topics that really matter to citizens READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Government hikes GST for household items READ MORE
2. ISRO gears for the PSLV-C53 launch mission with three satellite passengers from Singapore READ MORE
3. Explained: What is CAPSTONE, NASA’s new satellite? READ MORE
4. Explained: Why a proposed mega textile park in Ludhiana under PM MITRA scheme is facing opposition READ MORE
5. Nairobi: Global Deal to Halt Biodiversity Loss Dissolves Into Disagreements READ MORE
6. Oil prices fall as concerns over recession overshadow tightening supply READ MORE
7. UN ocean conference: ‘Blue Deal’ to enable sustainable use of ocean resources for economic development READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. MP para teachers scheme showed India struggled with contract service. Apply that to Agnipath READ MORE
2. How black carbon emissions are affecting rainfall in the North East READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Efforts to estimate poverty from 2011-21 are commendable, given absence of data READ MORE
2. It’s time drug regulation system is reviewed READ MORE
3. What India could do to expand space for Parliament to discuss topics that really matter to citizens READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Higher education has to become meaningful READ MORE
2. Mid-Day Meal: Restoration Work in Progress Post-COVID, Stunting a Major Concern READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The G7 is one part of India’s pursuit of a multipolar world READ MORE
2. Europe first: Russia-Ukraine war will preoccupy the G7 for a long time READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Innovations can plug the growth capital gap of MSMEs READ MORE
2. Next stage for GST: Rate rationalisation will be critical READ MORE
3. RBI intervenes with multi-pronged strategy in the battle against rupee fall READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. A direct approach to conservation: The mobilisation of private and public finance for Payments for Ecosystem Services lacks lustre READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. 5G technology will soon be here. India must prepare READ MORE

SECURITY

1. CDS is not the only one. India’s national security management has two more missing links READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Who likes to change? READ MORE
2. LET’S BE THE CHANGE THAT WE WANT TO SEE READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The Parliament needs to function for a longer duration to accommodate a wide range of debates and discussions on people’s issues and national challenges’. In light of this statement, do you think that the working days of Parliament should be increased? Justify your view.
2. ‘In the recent years, there has been a growing concern across the world with regards to ruthless killings of whistleblowers’. In light of the statement, discuss the measures that need to be taken to protect such whistleblowers.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• More than anything, a person’s right to abortion is a person’s right to control one’s own body.
• A global initiative such as the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative to mobilise private sector finance to benefit people and the environment would help maintain the funds.
• UAE is India’s closest partner in the Arab world and fortunately, there is enough resilience in bilateral ties to withstand the recent convulsions. But it will take a sustained public diplomacy effort to undo the damage.
• Visuals from the Prime Minister’s visit and his very evident personal rapport with the leadership of UAE have sent out a positive message but it will take a sustained public diplomacy effort to undo the damage.
• Poverty has a special punch and force in policy discourse at the national and global levels because people associate it with suffering.
• At a time when the world order is intensely polarised, India remains one of the few nations which can engage with both the G-7 and BRICS in a matter of days with élan.
• Unless we are prepared to change, we cannot balance our behaviour and peace cannot be established.
• In the name of ‘ease of doing business’, it is unethical for the government to let the regulators sleep with the regulated, and in the process, compromise people’s health and food safety.
• Peace, spirituality and self-sustainability will be dominant in a culture nourished by non-violence.
• The simplicity of non-violence lies in the fact that it can be used by anyone and at all levels—personal, social and global.
• In the past couple of years, there has been a growing concern across the world with regards to ruthless killings of whistleblowers, most of whom were courageous citizens who fought to secure the truth at the risk of their lives.
• Discarded as a theoretical tool and reduced to a mere embellishment in books, non-violence is actually a magic wand that can protect against the wrong and wrongdoer.
• If the compensation of GST is not extended, which is a strong possibility, recommendations in the context of rate rationalisation would become more important.
• The absence of a National Security Strategy and revised Raksha Mantri’s Operational Directives means the Indian Armed Forces plan and operate in an ad hoc manner.
• The Parliament needs to function for a longer duration to accommodate a wide range of debates and discussions on people’s issues and national challenges.

50 WORD TALK

• The UAE today is India’s closest partner in the Arab world and fortunately, there is enough resilience in bilateral ties to withstand the recent convulsions. But India’s image has been dented in the hearts and minds of the average Emiratis and left many Indians living in the Gulf appalled at the wanton injury caused to their interests.

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 on maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby, including mountains, rivers, etc.) applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the main point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. Cooking with ‘dirty’ fuels affects women’s mental health READ MORE
2.  Towards better mental health infra READ MORE

1. UN Ocean Conference: Experts call for ending policy blindspot to avert ‘ocean emergency’ READ MORE
2. Is eastern Africa’s drought the worst in recent history? And are worse yet to come? READ MORE

1. Mysticism can link finite with infinite READ MORE
2. Expand yourself READ MORE

1. Bring the shine back on government jobs: Instead of expanding contractual employment, we should seek to bolster public services READ MORE
2. The essence of time: Judicial intervention should strengthen anti-defection law, not undermine it READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. SII’s Covovax gets DCGI’s nod for emergency use in children aged 7-11 yrs READ MORE
2. Explained: How a G-7 ban on Russian gold would work READ MORE
3. Explained: What is Hermit, the Pegasus-like spyware that targeted Android, iOS devices? READ MORE
4. Explained: What is the GST Council, and what does it do? READ MORE
5. Explained: As NATO meets in Madrid, Russia, and China challenges before the alliance READ MORE
6. Explained: Who was Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, whose statue is coming up at Bengaluru airport? READ MORE
7. Rajasthan enters uranium mining, issues LoI to Uranium Corporation READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. End of critical pedagogy READ MORE
2. Cooking with ‘dirty’ fuels affects women’s mental health READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Bring the shine back on government jobs: Instead of expanding contractual employment, we should seek to bolster public services READ MORE
2. The essence of time: Judicial intervention should strengthen anti-defection law, not undermine it READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1.  Towards better mental health infra READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The G7 plan to counter the Belt and Road initiative READ MORE
2. G7 is trying hard not to be yesterday’s club READ MORE
3. The rules of engagement: China wishes other nations to acknowledge that it is America’s equal READ MORE
4. BRICS leads globalisation mission READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Gig concerns: Platform workers’ needs should be addressed, even as their prospects improve over time READ MORE
2. Going green with sovereign bonds READ MORE
3. Twin deficits cloud growth prospects READ MORE
4. Economic warfare: At the meeting in Germany, the leaders are inching towards an agreement to begin the process of imposing price caps on Russian oil READ MORE
5. Wheat Crisis: Government procurement goals not met, food security risk increases READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. UN Ocean Conference: Experts call for ending policy blindspot to avert ‘ocean emergency’ READ MORE
2. Is eastern Africa’s drought the worst in recent history? And are worse yet to come? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. 5G technology will soon be here. India must prepare READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Transparency in the selection of CDS is a must READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Mysticism can link finite with infinite READ MORE
2. Expand yourself READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Analyse how India’s participation in the G7 meeting as an observer serves to advance its foreign and security policy objectives?
2. ‘Green bonds are a voluntary capital market initiative to channel resources towards meeting the looming threat of climate change’. Examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The same equations have the same solutions.
• Instead of expanding contractual employment, we should seek to bolster public services.
• ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ used to be a driving motto for the government of the day. Instead, treating them as dispensable seems to be the norm.
• Judicial intervention should strengthen anti-defection law, not undermine it.
• India’s participation in the meeting as an observer serves to advance its foreign and security policy objectives.
• The need of the hour is to unlock the full potential of India’s optical fibre industry and enable India to emerge as a major manufacturing and technology hub while achieving atmanirbharta in its 5G journey.
• Internet connectivity is critical for making the Digital India project inclusive, and widespread use of optical fibre in the remotest corners of the country is vital to ensure that no one is left behind in this endeavour.
• India needs to invest in R&D, offer production-linked incentive schemes to support indigenous high-tech manufacturing and develop intellectual property in critical aspects of digital connectivity.
• A regulatory and institutional framework to deal with the gig economy must be put in place that deals with specific issues in a holistic way.
• The Social Security Code may have been extended to the gig workers but the law needs to be precise for such definitions as ‘employee’, ‘employer’ and their relationship with each other for benefits such as PF to accrue to them.
• Green bonds are a voluntary capital market initiative to channel resources toward meeting the looming threat of climate change.
• Human-induced warming has raised the temperature of the western Pacific Ocean.
• There is an urgent need to decide on a new Western strategy in case of a prolonged economic confrontation with Russia, and educate the voters about the possible consequences.

50 WORD TALK

• If the government has over-borrowed to meet its expenditure and the fiscal deficit is high, the net upshot is low investment and high input costs which make the economy uncompetitive. This reduces the export potential of the economy and adds to the current account deficit. Thus, the twin villains are lax govt control on spending and high global commodity prices, causing inflation and loss of competitiveness.

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 on maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby, including mountains, rivers, etc.) 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 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

EXPLAINED: HOW A G-7 BAN ON RUSSIAN GOLD WOULD WORK

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Group of Seven nations will formally announce a ban on Russian gold imports in the latest round of sanctions over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The US says Russia has used gold to support its currency as a way to circumvent the impact of sanctions. One way to do that is by swapping gold for a more liquid foreign exchange that is not subject to current sanctions.
• Some experts say since only a few countries are implementing the gold ban, the move is largely symbolic, while others, including those in the administration, say a ban on imports of Russian gold will target its ability to interact with the global financial system.

How much gold does Russia have?

• According to data, Russia’s gold is the second most lucrative export after energy and nearly 90% of the revenue comes from G-7 countries, “cutting that off, denying access to about $19 billion of revenues a year, that’s significant.”
• “It can’t acquire what it needs to modernize its defence sector, to modernize its technology, to modernize its energy exploration,” Blinken said.
• Russia began increasing its gold purchases in 2014 after the US issued sanctions on Russia for Putin’s invasion of Crimea. The country holds $100 billion to $140 billion in gold reserves, roughly 20% of the holdings in the Russian Central Bank, according to US officials.

What other measures have been made on the gold trade?

• In March 2022, the US and its allies moved to block financial transactions with Russia’s Central Bank that involve gold, aiming to further restrict the country’s ability to use its international reserves. That came after calls from members of Congress to restrict Russia’s gold trade.
• The Treasury Department issued guidance that American individuals, including gold dealers, distributors, wholesalers, buyers, and financial institutions, are generally banned from buying, selling or facilitating gold-related transactions involving Russia and the various parties that have been sanctioned.
• Russia appears to have defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and the US and its allies are taking aim at the former Soviet Union’s second-largest export industry after energy — gold.

VALUE ADDITION:

What is G7?

• The G7, originally G8, was set up in 1975 as an informal forum bringing together the leaders of the world’s leading industrial nations.
• Composition: The summit gathers leaders from the European Union (EU) and the following countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• The major purpose of the G-7 is to discuss and deliberate on international economic issues. It sometimes acts in concert to help resolve other global problems, with a special focus on economic issues.

How did G7 become G8?

• Russia was formally inducted as a member in the group in 1998, which led G7 to become G8.
• However, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s condemnable act of moving Russian troops into eastern Ukraine and conquering Crimea in 2014 drew heavy criticism from the other G8 nations.
• The other nations of the group decided to suspend Russia from the G8 as a consequence of its actions and the group became G7 again in 2014.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

BAN ON IDENTIFIED SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS FROM 1ST JULY 2022

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Government of India notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, on 12 August 2021, India will ban the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential, all across the country from July 1, 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The adverse impacts of littered single-use plastic items plastic on both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including in marine environments are globally recognized. Addressing pollution due to single-use plastic items has become an important environmental challenge confronting all countries.
• In the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly held in 2019, India piloted a resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution, recognizing the urgent need for the global community to focus on this very important issue. The adoption of this resolution at UNEA 4 was a significant step. In the recently concluded 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly in March 2022, India engaged constructively with all member states to develop a consensus on the resolution for driving global action on plastic pollution.
• The Government of India has taken resolute steps for mitigation of pollution caused by littered Single-Use Plastics. The list of banned items includes –earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (Thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.
• The Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, also prohibit the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of plastic carry bags having a thickness less than seventy-five microns with effect from 30th September 2021, and having a thickness less than the thickness of one hundred and twenty microns with effect from the 31st December 2022.
• CPCB Grievance Redressal App has been launched to empower citizens to help curb the plastic menace. For wider public outreach, the PRAKRITI – mascot was also launched on 5th April 2022.

VALUE ADDITION:

Why do we need to ban single-use plastic?

• Pollution: One of the biggest threats to plastic bags is that they threaten the environment. Plastic bags pollute the land and water, since they are lightweight, plastic materials can travel long distances by wind and water.
• Non-renewable: Only 1-13% of the plastic items are recyclable, the rest ends up either buried in the land or water bodies, eventually reaching the oceans, leading to pollution of water bodies and killing of marine life. With climate and environment becoming a rising global concern, plastic pollution and plastic waste management have become the point of worry.
• Energy-intensive: The production of plastic material are very energy-intensive. They require a lot of water for their production. Thus using plastic bags is not advisable.
• Threat to aquatic life: Being non-recyclable, plastic bags end up in the oceans. While they reach, they break up into tiny little pieces and are consumed by wildlife. Thereby leading to health issues or even death. Many animals also get entangled or trapped in plastic bags.
• Harmful to human health: Toxic chemicals from plastic bags can damage the blood and tissues. Frequent exposures can lead to cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, hormone changes, endocrine disruption and other serious ailments.

Negative Impact of plastic ban:

• The Plastic industry in the country employs about 40 lakh people. A ban on plastics will affect the industry, leading to job loss and economic slowdown.
• A piece of plastic bag cost no more than 10-15 paise which is much cheaper than a paper bag costing 20-25 paise per piece. The plastic ban would Impact cost of the products and would lead to inflation.

Positive Impact of plastic ban:

• It will help in tackling air pollution and water pollution.
• It will save Many marine lives.
• It will reduce health issues in humans due to pollution.
• It will spread nationwide awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastic.
• The plastic ban forces the customer to buy recyclable plastic bags and reuse of disposable bags. This can also encourage reuse of the bags.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

EXPLAINED: WHAT IS THE GST COUNCIL, AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the 47th meeting of the Goods and Se

rvices Tax Council began in Chandigarh, almost marking five years of the tax system coming into effect on July 1, 2017.

THE EXPLANATION:

Over these five years, the GST setup has gone through numerous changes, and the ongoing two-day meeting is expected to look at matters such as the GST compensation to states, and the imposition of taxes on some currently-exempt goods and services.

What is the GST Council?

• The Goods and Services Tax regime came into force after the Constitutional (122nd Amendment) Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in 2016. More than 15 Indian states then ratified it in their state Assemblies, after which the President gave his assent.
• The GST Council – a joint forum of the Centre and the states — was set up by the President as per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution.
• The members of the Council include the Union Finance Minister (Chairperson), the Union Minister of State (Finance) from the Centre. Each state can nominate a minister in charge of finance or taxation or any other minister as a member.

Why was the Council set up?

• The Council, according to Article 279, is meant to “make recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST Laws”.
• It also decides on various rate slabs of GST.
• For instance, an interim report by a panel of ministers has suggested imposing 28 per cent GST on casinos, online gaming and horse racing.

What has changed this time?

• The ongoing meeting is the first since a decision of the Supreme Court in May this year, which stated recommendations of the GST Council are not binding.
• The court said Article 246A of the Constitution gives both Parliament and state legislatures “simultaneous” power to legislate on GST and recommendations of the Council “are the product of a collaborative dialogue involving the Union and States”. This was hailed by some states, such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who believe states can be more flexible in accepting the recommendations as suited to them.
• The council’s meeting is also likely to focus on the issue of extension of the GST compensation regime beyond June 2022. This was a special mechanism by which states were assured that their revenues would not be affected by the new GST system. Some states are already demanding that the compensation be continued.
• Earlier, the Council had agreed to extend the levy of compensation cess till 2026, but only for repayment of the borrowings made in the aftermath of the pandemic to provide compensation to states.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

UPSC ESSENTIALS: ONE WORD A DAY- PSYCHE

WHAT IS THE PSYCHE?

• Psyche is an asteroid. What makes it unique is that it appears to be the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet, one of the building blocks of our solar system.
• This asteroid is in between Mars and Jupiter and is orbiting the Sun.

What is NASA’s Psyche mission?

• NASA’s Psyche mission is a journey to a unique metal asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
• Psyche was selected in 2017 as part of NASA’s Discovery Program, which is a line of low-cost competition missions led by a single principal investigator.

What are the main objectives of the mission?

• To understand how planets and other bodies are separated into layers such as cores, mantles, and crusts.
• To examine an asteroid made of metal.
• To explore early eras of the solar system.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

WHAT IS HERMIT, THE PEGASUS-LIKE SPYWARE THAT TARGETED ANDROID, AND IOS DEVICES?

THE CONTEXT: ‘Hermit’ is the latest sophisticated spyware in the news, and it is believed to have targeted iPhones and Android devices in Italy and Kazakhstan. Hermit’s deployment – the spyware has been developed by an Italian vendor called RCS Lab – was first reported by cyber security researchers at the Lookout, a San-Francisco-based cybersecurity firm.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Hermit and what exactly does it do on a device?

• Hermit is a spyware on the lines Pegasus by NSO Group. of Once installed on a device, it can record audio on the device, carry out unauthorised calls, and carry out many unauthorised activities. According to Lookout, the spyware can steal stored account emails, contacts, browser bookmarks/searches, calendar events, etc.
• It can also take pictures on the device, steal device information such as details about applications, the kernel information, model, manufacturer, OS, security patch, phone number, etc. It can also download and install APK (the app software files on Android) on a compromised phone.
• The spyware can also upload files from the device, read notifications, and take pictures of the screen. Because it can gain access to the root or the ‘privilege’ access of an Android system, Lookout’s research showed, it can uninstall apps like Telegram and WhatsApp. According to the researchers, the spyware can silently uninstall/reinstall Telegram. Except the reinstalled version is likely a compromised one. It can also steal data from the old app. For WhatsApp, it can prompt the user to reinstall WhatsApp via Play Store.
• So, once Hermit has been deployed to a phone, it can control and track data from all key applications.

PADMA, THE CENTRALISED PAY SYSTEM FOR THE INDIAN COAST GUARD LAUNCHED

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Ministry of Defence launched a Pay Roll Automation for Disbursement of Monthly Allowances (PADMA), an automated Pay & Allowances module for the Indian Coast Guard.

THE EXPLANATION:

• PADMA is an automated platform leveraging the latest technology which will provide seamless and timely disbursal of Pay & Allowances to around 15,000 Indian Coast Guard personnel. This module has been developed under the aegis of the Defense Accounts Department and will be operated by Pay Accounts Office Coast Guard, Noida. The launch marked the beginning of the Centralized Pay System (CPS), the foundation of which is being laid down by the Defence Accounts Department Headquarters to provide one-stop pay accounting solutions for all organisations under the Ministry.
• The CGDA emphasized that the Government has campaigned for Digital India to ensure dedicated services and reduce manual intervention at every level & to promote E-Governance in a big way. The launch of PADMA will strengthen the Digital India concept. Also, it is an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative as the entire module has been designed and developed by Indian entrepreneurs assisted by domain experts.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

THE “STATISTICS DAY”: JUNE 29

THE CONTEXT: In recognition of the notable contributions made by Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning, the Government of India has de

signated 29th June every year, coinciding with his birth anniversary, as “Statistics Day” in the category of Special Days to be celebrated at the national level.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The objective of this Day is to create public awareness, especially in the younger generation for drawing inspiration from Professor (late) Mahalanobis about the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation.
• Every year, Statistics Day is celebrated with a theme of contemporary national importance. The theme of Statistics Day, 2022 is ‘Data for Sustainable Development.
• On this occasion, MoSPI also recognizes the outstanding contribution through high-quality research in the field of applied and theoretical statistics benefiting the official statistical system through awards instituted for this purpose. This year, the winners of P.C. Mahalanobis National Award in Official Statistics, 2022 and Prof. P.V. Sukhatme National Award for lifetime contribution in the field of statistics, 2022 will be announced during the event. The winners of the ‘On the Spot Essay Writing Competition, 2022’ for Post Graduate Students on the theme of Statistics day will also be felicitated.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

1. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?
2. Gennova Biopharmaceuticals – mRNA vaccine
3. Oxford-AstraZeneca – Vector based vaccine
4. Zydus Cadila – DNA based vaccine
5. Novavax – Protein Subunit Vaccine

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) Only 1 pair

b) Only 2 pair

c) Only 3 pair

d) All pairs

ANSWER FOR 28^TH JUNE 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• The Telugu Ganga project is a joint water supply scheme implemented in the 1980s by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to provide drinking water to Chennai city.
• Water is drawn from the Srisailam reservoir and diverted towards Chennai through a series of interlinked canals, over a distance of about 406 kilometres, before it reaches the destination at the Poondi reservoir near Chennai.
• The main checkpoints en-route include the Somasila reservoir in Penna River valley, the Kandaleru reservoir, the Zero Point near Uthukkottai where the water enters Tamil Nadu territory and finally, the Poondi reservoir, also known as Satyamurthy Sagar.
• From Poondi, water is distributed through a system of link canals to other storage reservoirs located at Red Hills, Sholavaram and Chembarambakkam.

      THE WORLD GEOGRAPHY: NATURAL RESOURCES

NIGERIA’S LATEST LITHIUM RESOURCE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, high-grade lithium has been discovered in Nigeria. In 2019 the total production volume of lithium, not high grade, in Nigeria reached 50 metric tonnes This is small compared to Zimbabwe which produced 1,200 metric tonnes the same year.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is lithium and why is it important?

• The Geological Agency described the lithium as a high grade because what’s been found has between 1-13 per cent oxide content. Normally exploration begins at levels as low as 0.4 per cent.
• Grade (in per cent) is a measure of the concentration of the lithium in the minerals and or rocks that contains it. Therefore, the higher the grade the more the economic viability. Higher grades are very rare for metals like lithium.
• Lithium is a metallic mineral in very high demand by manufacturing industries. Seven years ago the bulk of demand for lithium was split between ceramics and glasses (35 per cent) and greases, metallurgical powders, polymers, and other industrial uses (over 35 per cent). Less than 30 per cent was for batteries. But by 2030, batteries are expected to account for 95 per cent of demand.

APPLICATIONS OF LITHIUM:

Lithium-ion batteries are generally more expensive but have better performance and are becoming the preferred technology. The different types are:

• Lithium-cobalt oxide battery. It is used in consumer electronics and is finding application in electric vehicles. It is relatively cheap.
• Lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt is a newer, higher-performing range of battery chemistry. It is mainly developed for the electronic vehicle market but is finding a wider use because of its increasing cost-effectiveness.
• Lithium iron phosphate, is the safest technology with relatively high performance but is relatively expensive. It is very popular in China but is likely to become overtaken by Lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt over the longer term; and
• Lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminium oxide was developed to reduce cobalt consumption and is known as a solid performer and of reasonable cost. It is also becoming popular outside China.
• Lithium-ion batteries are used in mobile phones, computers, electronics, energy storage systems and electric vehicles. The forecast is that they will dominate the lithium market over the next decades. However, there are many different types of lithium-ion batteries for different applications.

Lithium Mines

• Lithium and most lithium minerals are mined along with other high-value metallic minerals such as tin, niobium-tantalum (columbite-tantalite) and uranium (in pyrochlore).
• Greenbushes mine in Western Australia is the largest hard-rock lithium mine in the world. Tantalum is also mined there. In 2019, the mine’s output capacity doubled to 1.34 million tonnes of lithium concentrates annually after a second processing plant was added.
• Global lithium mine production hit a record high of 100,000 tonnes in 2021, a 21 per cent increase over 2020 (82,500 tonnes).
• Due to the growing interest in clean energy, the demand for lithium has skyrocketed as most countries draw plans to phase out fossil fuel vehicles and switch to zero-emission electric vehicles.

Points to remember: Lithium Triangle

ABC: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

EXPLAINED: WHAT IS THE 2/3RDS RULE IN ANTI-DEFECTION LAW?

THE CONTEXT: The political crisis in Maharashtra has given rise to the question of whether the Maharashtra MLA’s rebels can avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.

THE EXPLANATION:

Law and exception

• Under the anti-defection law, a member of a legislature can be disqualified if he or she has voluntarily given up membership of their political party; and if he/she votes or abstains from voting in the House contrary to any direction issued by their party (or by any person or authority authorised by the party).
• There is a provision to protect such legislators from disqualification. If two-thirds of the members agree to a merger with another party, they will not be disqualified. Under the 91st Amendment to the Constitution in 2003, the exemption from disqualification if one-third of the members form a separate group (the rule prior to the amendment) was removed.

How courts have ruled

• In February 2022, the High Court of Bombay at Goa held that 10 UPA MLAs and two two MGP MLAs, who had defected to the NDA in 2019, are exempted from disqualification and held that a merger of this group of Congress MLAs is “deemed to be a merger” of the original political party with the NDA (Girish Chodankar v Speaker, Goa Legislative Assembly).
• In Rajendra Singh Rana v Swami Prasad Maurya (2007), a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court interpreted the term “voluntarily giving up membership of a political party”, and held that “a person may be said to have voluntarily given up membership of an original party even though he or she has not tendered resignation from membership of the party” and that an inference can be drawn from conduct of the member.

The two-thirds rule

According to experts believe that even if two-thirds of legislators have broken away, they will be protected from disqualification only if they merge with another party or become a separate group in the legislature.

VALUE ADDITION:

• The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law, was introduced in 1985 with a view to curb the tendency among legislators to switch loyalties from one party to another and facilitate the toppling of regimes and formation of new ones. It provides for the Presiding Officer of the legislature to disqualify any defector on a petition by another member.
• The law contemplates two kinds of defection:

1. by a member voluntarily giving up membership of the party on whose symbol he got elected
2. by a member violating a direction (whip) issued by his party to vote in a particular way or to abstain from voting.

• While voting contrary to the party’s whip is quite a straightforward instance of defection, the other mode of defection has proved to be a source of dispute and litigation. A member ‘voluntarily giving up membership’ does not refer to a simple resignation letter and formally joining another party. It is often an inference drawn by the party that loses a member to another based on the legislator’s conduct. The Supreme Court has also ruled that ‘voluntarily giving up membership’ can be inferred from the conduct of a person.
• It is important to note that, the ruling of the Presiding officer is subject to Judicial Review.

REPORT ON PERFORMANCE GRADING INDEX FOR DISTRICTS FOR THE YEAR 2018-19 AND 2019-20

THE CONTEXT: The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE and L), Ministry of Education (MoE) has released the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) for 2018-19 and 2019-20. PGI-D assesses the performance of school education system at the district level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Rajasthan leads in performance in school education with all of the three districts with Utkarsh grade (scoring 81% to 90% in a scale of 100) coming from the state with Junjhunu scoring the maximum (236 out of 290) in learning outcomes.
• In fact, in the second grade (Ati-uttam) in the new Performance Grade Index-District (PGI-D) 2019-20 report Rajasthan is significantly ahead of the second and third top states having 24 of its districts in this category. The top three districts in terms of performance are Sikar (488), Jhunjhuni (486) and Jaipur (482) out of a score of 1,000 points.
• The other states whose districts have performed best in the latest index released by the Ministry of Education (MoE) are Punjab with 14 districts in Ati-uttam grade (scoring 71% to 80% in a scale of 100) followed by Gujarat and Kerala with each having 13 districts in this category. On the other hand there are 12 states/ UTs which don’t have any districts in the ati-uttam and uttam categories which include seven of the eight states from the North East region.
• This is the third PGI report and so far no districts have managed to secure the Daksh grade (districts scoring more than 90% of the total points). The PGI-D scores are the aggregate score of six categories of educational attainment of districts viz., learning outcomes, effective classroom interactions, infrastructure facilities and student’s entitlements, school safety and child protection, digital learning and governance process.

THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

EXPLAINED: WHY IS TURKEY OPPOSING THE ENTRY OF SWEDEN AND FINLAND INTO NATO?

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Turkey announced its opposition to fast-track NATO membership for Finland and Sweden.

THE EXPLANATION:

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, historically neutral Sweden and Finland first applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in May 2022. Turkey had opposed their entry, accusing the two Nordic countries of supporting Kurdish militant groups, which it deems to be terrorist organizations.

What is NATO?

• The United States, Canada and various western European countries formed the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 1949, in response to the perceived threat of the Soviet Union’s expansion in post-war Europe.
• There are currently 30 members in NATO, and according to article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, any European country that can “contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area” can join the alliance.
• However, accession requires the approval of each member state. In 2008, Greece vetoed North Macedonia’s bid to join NATO due to a long-term dispute over the country’s name, ‘Macedonia’. Only in 2018, when the country changed its name to North Macedonia, did Greece grant its approval, after which the country was officially admitted as a member in March 2020.
• NATO is essentially a collective security alliance, with its members committed to mutual defence if any one of them is attacked by an external force.

What are Turkey’s grievances?

• Turkey, which has been a member of NATO since 1952 and has the second-largest military force in the alliance, has repeatedly opposed Finland and Sweden’s entry.
• Erdogan claims that they are “home to many terrorist organisations”, like the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG). The PKK has engaged in armed struggle with Turkey for decades, first seeking an independent Kurdish state, but has since evolved to seek greater Kurdish autonomy and increased rights of Kurds within Turkey.
• The PKK has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US, the UK and the EU. Finland and Sweden have also banned it as a terrorist outfit.
• Ankara wants the Nordic countries to make written commitments to suppress the PKK and YPG forces in Syria. Affiliated with the PKK, the YPG is a militia that is active in the Rojava region of northeastern Syria. They supported western forces in the military campaigns against ISIS in Syria and played a pivotal role in their defeat. Turkey, according to a Bloomberg report, has accused the YPG of attacking its fighters near the country’s border.
• According to a Brookings Institution report, Turkey has been angered by Sweden and Finland’s refusal to extradite PKK members and followers of the Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of instigating a failed 2006 coup.
• Also, Turkey wants Sweden and Finland to lift their restrictions on the sale of arms to the country, which was imposed after Ankara’s military campaign in Syria in 2019.

EXPLAINED: WHAT ARE THE US-LED ‘PARTNERS IN THE BLUE PACIFIC’ INITIATIVE TO COUNTER CHINA?

THE CONTEXT: Amid China’s aggressive push to increase its Pacific sphere of influence, the US and its allies — Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom — have launched a new initiative called ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ for “effective and efficient cooperation” with the region’s small island nations.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The geostrategic competition in the region has intensified of late after China made the projected scope of its growing footprint clear by pushing for a sweeping, common cooperation agreement with 10 Pacific nations.

What are the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) initiative?

• The PBP is a five-nation “informal mechanism” to support Pacific islands and to boost diplomatic, economic ties in the region. Announced on June 24,2022 it speaks of enhancing “prosperity, resilience, and security” in the Pacific through closer cooperation. It simply means that through the PBP, these counties — together and individually — will direct more resources here to counter China’s aggressive outreach.
• The initiative members have also declared that they will “elevate Pacific regionalism”, and forge stronger ties with the Pacific Islands Forum.

How is China trying to transform its ties in the Pacific?

• As China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands in April 2022, the deal flagged serious concerns about the Chinese military getting a base in the southern Pacific, close to the US island territory of Guam, and right next to Australia and New Zealand.
• The deal, which boosted Beijing’s quest to dominate crucial shipping lanes criss-crossing the region, rattled the US and its allies. It also triggered urgent moves to counter China’s growing Pacific ambition amid a power vacuum fuelled by apparent lack of US attention.
• But Beijing followed up on that win with its Foreign Minister Wang Yi undertaking a multi-nation tour to push 10 Pacific nations to endorse a “game-changing” agreement called the “Common Development Vision”.
• The draft agreement, accessed by the Associated Press, spoke about China wanting to work with “traditional and non-traditional security,” and expand law enforcement cooperation with these countries.

What is being done by the US and its allies to counter China?

• Before launching the PBP the US and its partners started the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), a trade-boosting play in the region with 13 nations — Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Fiji and Vietnam — as partners.
• Away from the Pacific, the G7 announced a plan — Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) — to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative by promising to raise $600 billion to fund development projects in low and middle-income countries.

WORLD BANK APPROVES $250 MN LOAN FOR ROAD SAFETY

THE CONTEXT: The World Bank has approved a $250 million loan to support the Government of India’s road safety programme for seven States under which a single accident reporting number will be set up to better manage post-crash events.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The India State Support Program for Road Safety, financed by the World Bank, will be implemented in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The $250 million variable spread loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 18 years including a grace period of 5.5 years.
• The project will also establish a national harmonised crash database system in order to analyse accidents and use that to construct better and safer roads.
• It will also fund network expansion of basic and advanced life support ambulances and training of first responder caregivers to road crash victims on the spot.
• The project will also provide incentives to the States to leverage private funding through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concessions and pilot initiatives.
• According to a World Bank study, road crashes are estimated to cost the Indian economy between 5% to 7% of GDP a year. Official government data show that each year road accidents in India kill about 1,50,000 people and injure another 4,50,000. More than half of the victims are pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists and almost 84% of all fatalities are among road users between the working ages of 18-60 years.
• Poor households that account for over 70% of crash victims bear a higher proportion of the socio-economic burden of road crashes due to loss of income, high medical expenses and limited access to social safety nets.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABOUT WORLD BANK:

• The World Bank is like a cooperative, made up of 189 member countries. These member countries, or shareholders, are represented by a Board of Governors, who are the ultimate policymakers at the World Bank.
• Generally, the governors are member countries’ ministers of finance or ministers of development. They meet once a year at the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Which of the following reservoir is not located in Tamil Nadu?

a) Sholavaram

b) Chembarambakkam

c) Satyamurthy Sagar

d) Srisailam reservoir

ANSWER FOR 27^TH JUNE 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment is an initiative of G7 countries (launched in G7 Summit 2022) to counter China’s BRI.

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2. Power of Thought READ MORE

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(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Performance Grade Index-District 2019-20 report: Rajasthan tops the list, Punjab second READ MORE
2. ‘No place to store water’: TN asks A.P. to suspend supply of Krishna water to Chennai from July 1 READ MORE
3. In Raising Red Flag on the Key States, RBI Puts Spotlight on Unsustainable Subsidies READ MORE
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7. Explained: What is the US-led ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ initiative to counter China? READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. End of critical pedagogy READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Shooting messengers: Criminal defamation must go from IPC. Effective civil libel law is enough for protecting reputations READ MORE
2. Data analysis: Indian women are reluctant to approach the justice system when they are the victims READ MORE
3. Laws, flaws and accountability READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India and ASEAN: Overcoming perceptions READ MORE
2. India-South Africa TRIPS Waiver Proposal Dies at WTO READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. States, freebies and the costs of fiscal profligacy READ MORE
2. The market reality is catching up to the tech startup ecosystem READ MORE
3. State of dependence READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Go beyond supply curbs to squeeze plastic waste READ MORE
2. Asia’s largest cities, including Delhi, lack water security READ MORE
3. How to Save the Oceans From Climate Change and Wildlife Loss READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Transparency in the selection of CDS is a must READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Elusive ethics READ MORE
2. Power of Thought READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘There is enough scope for the Indo-ASEAN relationship to grow exponentially but it is perceptions and suspicions that will continuously make this more and more challenging’. What are these challenges and how these can be addressed?
2. With the help of recent examples, critically examine how this law is harming the concept of free speech?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• We are not makers of history, we are made by history.
• Accountability jurisprudence must take root in our justice delivery system so that the culture of impunity that our officials have grown up with gets obliterated from our lexicon.
• The absence of accountability jurisprudence has long-term consequences. Safety lessons are not learnt. Even if some lessons are learnt, they are quickly forgotten, and remedial steps are not taken.
• Whichever way you slice the data, there aren’t that many consumers with significant discretionary spending capacity, and those with capacity aren’t increasing their spending.
• Criminal defamation is particularly problematic, allowing complainants to claim the accused had the intention to harm their reputation. Claiming defamation on intent to harm reputation sets a very low and subjective bar for prosecution.
• India must shed criminal defamation colonial baggage, too, and get an effective civil libel law.
• India’s ban on disposable plastic items is slated to take effect on Friday, but their appeal on counts of cost and convenience is so strong that we’ll need to work on demand reduction too.
• The Centre needs to keep in mind the negative impact of compensation cess on consumers and industries, especially the automotive sector.
• History must arouse a learner’s interest in the major socio-cultural and techno-economic transformations that characterise the human race’s journey.
• A transparent and correct selection of our senior commanders including the CDS, the service Chiefs and the C-in-Cs of all three services, is a major factor in ensuring the long-term stability and war-fighting capability of our armed forces.
• The Indo-Pacific is getting increasingly complicated with Asean wondering if it should welcome India into its fold or shun it fearing rubbing China the wrong way.
• The liberal democratic values of India are in common with many ASEAN nations and the US would definitely wish to expand on that.
• ASEAN is unable to understand the nature of the relationship between India and China which brings close economic cooperation between the two giants and yet a massive trust deficit.
• There is enough scope for the Indo-Asean relationship to grow exponentially but it is perceptions and suspicions that will continuously make this more and more challenging.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Humans are not makers of history; humans are made by history.

50 WORD TALK

• Supreme Court set out to uphold the SIT’s clean chit to then-CM Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots. But it didn’t stop there. Instead, it wrote a new judicial doctrine by turning on those who knocked on its doors, drew conclusions on their guilt, and became the basis of their persecution.

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 on 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 main point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. Elusive ethics READ MORE
2. Power of Thought READ MORE

1. Self-help groups play a big role in the empowerment of women READ MORE
2. Regressive, inhumane: By removing the constitutional right to abortion, U.S. Supreme Court is on the wrong side of liberty READ MORE
3. Pandemic worsened a lot of Indian women READ MORE