UPSC 2017: Comprehensive News Analysis - Sept 03

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
Polity
1. Haryana targets 2 lakh jobs for youth under ‘Saksham Yojana’
2. Bengal mulling English medium sections in government schools
3. To clear the path ahead  
4. Madras HC issues notice to Union law secretary on PIL against mandatory death penalty 
C. GS3 Related
Economics
1. PM tells tax authorities to bring all traders in GST net 
Internal Security
1. Adani, SAAB tie up to build fighter jets
Science and Technology
1. Novel compounds destroy biofilm-forming bacteria 
D. GS4 Related
E. Prelims Fact
F. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
G. UPSC Mains Practice Questions 

 

A. GS1 Related

Nothing here for Today!!!

 

B. GS2 Related

Category: POLITY

1. Haryana targets 2 lakh jobs for youth under ‘Saksham Yojana’

In news:

  • The Haryana State government has set a target to provide employment to two lakh youth in the State under the ‘Saksham Yojana’.
  • Officials to recruit youth under the Yojana for various departments where there was shortage of employees.
  • Other areas of opportunity:
    • The youth should also be provided job opportunities in industrial units.
    • There was a new plan to establish a trauma centre at every 60 km to provide instant medical facilities to those injured in road accidents on national highways.
Basic Information

‘Saksham Yojana’:

  • Target group: Educated unemployed youth.
  • Under this scheme Rs.9000 per month will be offered for working 100hours a month. It is mandatory to register online to start taking the benefits.
  • Eligible criteria
  • Applicant should be domicile of Haryana
  • Applicant should be registered in the Employment Exchange
  • Applicant should be post graduate
  • Age: between 21 to 35years
  • Annual family income: less than Rs. 3 lakh per annum.
  • The benefit of the scheme will be given for max of 3 years
  • Applicant should register online for this scheme

2. Bengal mulling English medium sections in government schools

In news:

  • The West Bengal government is considering a proposal to introduce separate English medium sections at the primary level to class VIII in government-run schools.
  • Why such a move?
    Introducing separate English medium sections in government-run schools had become all the more important as such schools were lagging behind private English medium schools.

3. To clear the path ahead

Context

  • For the first time in Indian history talaq-e-bid’awas specifically debated and set aside by the Supreme Court
  • Latest ruling completely and unconditionally invalidates talaq-e-bid’ and renders it bad in law.
  • The Koranic procedure of talaq is the only way by which a Muslim husband will be able to divorce his wife from now on

Talaq-e-bidat

  • Talaq-e-bidat has allowed men to pronounce talaq thrice in one sitting, sometimes scrawled in a written talaqnama, or even by phone or text message.
  • Thereafter, even if the man himself perceives his decision to have been hasty in hindsight, the divorce remains irrevocable

The majority judgment

  • Talaq-e-bid’a cannot be excluded from the definition of “talaq” mentioned in Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937.
  • As the Shariat Act was a law made before the Constitution came in force, it would fall within the expression “laws in force” in Article 13(3)(b), and would be hit by Article 13(1) if found to be inconsistent with Part III of the Constitution, to the extent of the inconsistency.
  • The two judges chose not to examine if the Narasu Appa Maliruling. This judgment had held that personal laws cannot be tested against the provisions of Part III of the Constitution.
  • Biggest achievement was harmonisation of constitutional equality with Koranic egalitarianism.
  • This was done by endorsing the Koranic law of talaq mentioned in Shamim Ara and declaring talaq-e-bid’a to be “manifestly arbitrary” and violative of Article 14
  • Because it allows a Muslim man to break the marriage “capriciously and whimsically” without attempting to save it through reconciliation.
  • On these grounds, Section 2 of the 1937 Act was struck down as being void to the extent that it recognises and enforces instant talaq.
  • Talaq-e-bid’a falls outside the Shariahbecause it goes against its primary source, the Koran

The minority opinion

  • Declared talaq-e-bid’a to be an essential part of the Hanafi faith and gave it protection under Article 25(1).
  • Given weight to the overwhelming evidence in the Koran and authentic hadeeses against instant talaq they could have avoided the problematic invocation of Article 142 to direct the state to enact an “appropriate legislation” on talaq-e-bid’a.
  • Article 13(2) clearly states that the “State shall not make any law which takes away or abridges the rights conferred by this Part and any law made in contravention of this clause shall, to the extent of the contravention, be void.
  • The AIMPLB cited just one report from Sihah Sitta in which instant talaq is mentioned. But this hadees does not show any Prophetic support for talaq-e-bid’a.
  • It clearly states that the man who pronounced “triple talaq” did so “without the Prophet’s command.

Implications of verdict

  • Biggest achievement for Muslim women, that talaq-e-bid’ain any of his manifestations will not dissolve the marriage.
  • This renders redundant not just halala but the incorporation of a platitudinous advisory against instant talaq in the nikahnama
  • There is also scope now to amend the 1937 Act, to exclude talaq-e-bid’a from the definition of the word “talaq” mentioned in Section 2, and make the Koranic procedure of talaq gender-neutral.
  • This judgment will also encourage Muslim intellectuals to establish mediation centres across India under the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism to help Muslim couples amicably resolve their marital disputes

4. Madras HC issues notice to Union law secretary on PIL against mandatory death penalty

In news:

  • The Madras High Court has issued notice to the Union law secretary and the secretary of the social justice and empowerment ministry on a PIL, urging for a section of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act), providing for a “mandatory death penalty”, to be declared as null and void.
  • The petitioner, alleged that section 3(2)(I) of the said act, providing for the punishment, was violative of the Constitution.
  • Section provided for the punishment if any person, not being a member of the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe community, gave or fabricated false evidence, with an intention to cause a member of the SC/ST community to be convicted for an offence, resulting in the imposition of capital punishment.
  • The section added that if such a person was executed on account of the false evidence, the person responsible for the same should also be punished with death
  • A mandatory death punishment had been held to be opposed to human dignity and struck down by constitutional courts across the world

 

C. GS3 Related

Category: ECONOMICS

1. PM tells tax authorities to bring all traders in GST net

In news:

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive to tax officials: make every effort to bring all traders, including smaller businesses with turnover of less than ₹20 lakh, into the Goods and Services Tax (GST) net.
  • Currently, traders with less than ₹20 lakh annual turnover have to register under GST only if they are supplying goods to other States.
  • PM said he was dismayed at the huge pendancy of tax-related cases where huge sums of money that could have been used for the welfare of the poor were locked up.
  • He also asked the officers to use data analytical tools to pro-actively track and determine undeclared income and wealth
  • Mooting a time-bound solution for ‘tax raised and not realised,’ the PM said that human interface must be kept to a minimum in the tax administration’s dealings by pushing “e-assessment” and anonymity of proceedings using technology.

Category: INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Adani, SAAB tie up to build fighter jets

Collaboration with SAAB

  • The Adani group has announced a collaboration with Swedish defence major SAAB to manufacture Gripen fighter jets in India, if selected
  • However, the partnership would be possible if Adani being shortlisted in the evaluation process
  • Why this collaboration: Indian Government is going to issue a multibillion dollar tender for over a 100 single engine fighter jets

Particulars of the Tender

  • IAF is expected to begin the process in the next few months for a single engine fighter aircraft to replace the Russian Mig-21s and Mig-27s in service
  • The procurement would be under the recently promulgated Strategic Partnership (SP) model of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)
  • The deal for 100 plus fighter aircraft is estimated to be worth over Rs. 60,000 crore

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2. Novel compounds destroy biofilm-forming bacteria

In news:

  • Scientists at the Bengaluru-based Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), have developed two new molecules capable of destroying bio-film forming bacteria.
  • The molecules performed better than conventional antibiotics in killing the bacteria during the dormant phase
  • When used in combination with existing antibiotics, the molecules reduced the microbial burden in the case of burns and surgical wounds.
  • What are Bio-films?
    Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that attach to each other and to surfaces and are able to act as barriers to antibiotics

 

D. GS4 Related

Nothing here for Today!!!

 

E. PRELIMS FACT

NATIONAL PARKS/SANCTURIES/BIOSPHERE RESERVES:

Kali Tiger Reserve

Location: Kali Tiger Reserve is a protected area and tiger reserve. It is located in Uttara Kannada district, in Karnataka, India.

Features:

  • The park is a habitat of Bengal tigers, black panthers and Indian elephants, amongst other distinctive fauna.
  • The Kali River flows through the tiger reserve and is the lifeline of the ecosystem and hence the name. The Tiger reserve is spread over an area of 1300 square kilometers.

 

Bandipur National Park

Location: Bandipur National Park established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger, is a national park located in the south Indian state of Karnataka. Bandipur is located in Gundlupet taluq of Chamarajanagar district

Features:

  • Bandipur is known for its wildlife and has many types of biomes, but dry deciduous forest is dominant.
  • The park spans an area of 874 square kilometers (337 sq mi), protecting several species of India’s endangered wildlife.
  • Together with the adjoining Nagarhole National Park , Mudumalai National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary , it is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve making it the largest protected area in southern India and largest habitat of wild elephants in south Asia.

IUCN Red List:

Himalayan quail 

  • Scientific name: Ophrysia superciliosa
  • Habitat: The Himalayan quail or mountain quail is a medium-sized quail belonging to the pheasant family. This species was known from only 2 locations (and 12 specimens) in the western Himalayas in Uttarakhand, north-west India. The last verifiable record was in 1876 near the hill station of Mussoorie.
  • IUCN Classification: Critically endangered.

Jerdon’s courser

  • Scientific name: Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
  • Habitat: Jerdon’s courser is a nocturnal bird belonging to the pratincole and courser family Glareolidae endemic to India. This courser is a restricted-range endemic found locally in India in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. It is currently known only from the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, where it inhabits sparse scrub forest with patches of bare ground.
  • IUCN Classification: Critically endangered

 

F. Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam

Question 1. Identify the correct Statement.
  1. The Representation of the People Act bar political parties from receiving foreign funds.
  2. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act bar political parties from receiving foreign funds.
  3. Both A and B
  4. Neither A nor B

See

Answer


(c)

Topic: Polity
Level: Easy

Explanation 

The Representation of the People Act and the FCRA,both bars political parties from receiving foreign funds.

Question 2. Consider the following statement with reference to The National Pharmaceutical 
Pricing Authority:
  1. It is a statutory body
  2. It controls the prices of Pharmaceutical drugs in India.

Choose the correct answer.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

See

Answer


 (b)

Topic: Current Affair
Level: Moderate

Explanation

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is a government regulatory agency {set up as per executive order and thus not a statutory body} that controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India.

Question 3. Consider the following statements:
  1. In Multidrug Resistan Tuberculosis, patients do not respond to second-line of drugs.
  2. Drugs like Bedaquiline and Delamanid are not adequately available in India’s national healthcare system.
  3. India shoulders the highest TB burden in the world

Choose the correct answer.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. All are correct
  4. 1 and 3 only
See
Answer


 (b)

Topic: Current Affair
Level: Moderate

Explanation

  • Multidrug Resistant-Tuberculosis (MDR-TB), a version of the disease where patients do not respond to first-line drugs
  • Bedaquiline and Delamanid are to be made available in India’s national healthcare system.
  • Not only does India shoulder the highest TB burden in the world, with over 2 million of the 10 million reported cases, it also accounts for the most drug-resistant patients — nearly 1.3 lakh people who do not respond to first-line drugs.
Question 4. Consider the following statements:
  1. Railway Development Authority would involve in policy making of Railways.
  2. Railway Development Authority would involve in setting safety standards for the railways.
  3. Railway Development Authority would impose tariff on Indian Railways.

Choose the correct answer.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. All are correct
  4. None of the above
See
Answer


 (d)

Topic: Current Affair
Level: Moderate

Explanation

India’s first rail regulator, Rail Development Authority (RDA) functional areas:

  • Look at tariff structures for passenger and freight operations
  • Set standards of performance and efficiency – enforceable under the Railways Act.
  • RDA defined standards of performance and efficiency ,would be notified as rules under the Railway Act to give a binding force upon acceptance
  • RDA would be authorised to check for deviations and suggest remedial measures
  • The regulator will provide guidance on quantity and quality of service provided to passengers. These may include setting standards including hours of service, frequency of trains, capacity per coach, cleanliness level, and quality of water, food, furnishing and linen.

RDA’s non-functional areas:

  • The regulator will, however, not involve itself in policy making of the Indian Railways, operations and maintenance of the rail system, financial management, setting technical standards and compliance of safety standards.
  • Regulator would only make recommendations on tariff and not impose a tariff on the Indian Railways.
Question 5. Who is the present Indian member of the International Court Of Justice?
  1. Dalveer Bhandari
  2. V Ramana
  3. Amitava Roy
  4. Arjan Kumar Sikri
See
Answer


 (a)

Topic: G.K
Level: Easy

Explanation

Dalveer Bhandari (born 1 October 1947) is an Indian member of the International Court of Justice and was a judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Question 6. The Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane is approved by the _____.
  1. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
  2. Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
  3. Agricultural Produce Market Committee.
  4. Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture
See
Answer


 (a)

Topic: Current Affair
Level: Moderate

Explanation

Pentavalent vaccine- Cabinet Committee on Economic AffairsCabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Question 7. What are RIO+20 Conference, often mentioned in the news?
  1. It is the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
  2. It is a Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization.
  3. It is a Conference of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate change.
  4. It is a Conference of the Member Countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
See
Answer


 (a)

Topic: Current Affairs
Level: Moderate

Explanation

United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Rio summit or the Earth summit. It was a major United Nations Conference held in Rio de Janerio from 3 to 14 June 1992. In 2012, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development was also held in Rio and is also commonly called Rio+20 or Rio Earth Summit 2012.

Question 8. Recently Southern Bird Wing butterfly was approved as State Butterfly of 
which State?
  1. Karnataka
  2. Madhya Pradesh
  3. Kerala
  4. Tamil Nadu
See
Answer


 (a)

Topic: Current Affairs
Level: Moderate

Explanation

The Southern Bird Wing butterfly approved to become the “State butterfly” of Karnataka– distinctive red and yellow stripes.

 

Question 9. How do most insects respire?
  1. Skin
  2. Gills
  3. Lungs
  4. Tracheal System
See
Answer


 (d)

Topic: General Science
Level: Easy

Explanation

Most insects respire through tracheal system that lies on a network of small tubes that channel O2 directly to the different part of the body.

 

G. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

GS Paper II
  1. Discuss each adjective attached to the word ‘Republic’ in the ‘Preamble’. Are they defendable in the present circumstances?
GS Paper III
  1. The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods. highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.
  2. “Terrorism is emerging as a competitive industry over the last few decades.” Analyse the above statement.
GS Paper IV

Topic: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS

Question 1.

Anand is the inspector in charge of Rampur Police station. The police station building is in dire need of repairs, but hasn’t received any grants for years. One day, a cyclone hits a nearby area, damaging most of the houses and shops. Although Anand’s police station gets partially damaged, but most of the building remain intact. Government sends a disaster assessment team to ascertain the level of damage and pay relief money. The DSP Mr. Prem, orders Anand to do following:

Hire some laborers and destroy the remaining parts of your police station building. When disaster assessment team comes, you tell them building collapsed by the cyclone, and ask them to give priority in funding after all police stations is one the most important public offices in a town.

Should Anand obey his boss’s order?

 

Also, check previous Daily News Analysis

 

“Proper Current Affairs preparation is the key to success in the UPSC- Civil Services Examination. We have now launched a comprehensive ‘Current Affairs Webinar’. Limited seats available. Click here to Know More.”

 

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