04 Apr 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. No-trust vote dismissed, Imran gets Pak. Parliament dissolved
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. The key takeaways of a UNEP report on noise pollution
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. NFC technology for instant payments
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Making groundwater visible
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. A far-reaching verdict that ends a regressive exception
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Yes, a Ukraine peace plan is possible
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. New accessibility guidelines to use universal design approach
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

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B. GS 2 Related

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. No-trust vote dismissed, Imran gets Pak. Parliament dissolved

Syllabus: India and its neighborhood- relations.

Mains: Implications of Pakistan’s Political Crisis on India

Context:

Pakistan Prime Minister locked a no-confidence vote and advised the president to order fresh elections, fueling anger among the opposition and deepening the country’s political crisis.

Political Crisis in Pakistan:

• The Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly has tabled a no-confidence motion against Pakistan’s Prime Minister, kicking off the process in the lower house to remove him.
• The opposition accuses Pakistan’s Prime Minister of failing to revive the economy and combat corruption.
• Pakistan’s inflation is high, its foreign reserves are depleting, and the country’s budget deficit is growing. It is also part of a difficult bailout programme run by the International Monetary Fund.
• A motion of no confidence in the government was blocked by the deputy speaker of parliament.
• After dissolving parliament, Pakistan’s Prime Minister called for new elections.
• Since Pakistan’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, no prime minister has completed a full five-year term.

Global Implications of Pakistan’s Political Crisis

• Afghanistan
  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban have retaken power and are facing an economic and humanitarian crisis as a result of a lack of funds and international isolation.
  • In recent years, ties between Pakistan’s military intelligence agency and the Taliban have loosened.
  • Pakistan wants the Taliban to do more to combat extremist groups, fearing that they will infect the country with violence.
  • Tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan’s military have risen as the latter has lost several soldiers in attacks near their shared border.

• China
  • Pakistan has consistently emphasized China’s positive impact on the country and the world.
  • Pakistan’s political crisis will have an impact on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects the two countries.

• United States:
  • Pakistan’s political crisis is unlikely to be a top priority for the US, which is preoccupied with the Ukraine conflict, unless it results in widespread unrest or increased tensions with India.
  • But, this could harm the United States’ efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s democratic governance institutions.
  • The Pakistani PM has blamed the US for the current political crisis, claiming that Washington wanted him removed as a result of his recent trip to Moscow.

Implications of Pakistan’s Political Crisis on India

• Pakistan’s current political unrest may have an impact on its relations with India, as the Pakistan army has more control over the country’s foreign policy than it has ever had.
• It could also pose new obstacles to improving India-Pakistan relations, as well as stifle hopes for effective regional cooperation and trade in South Asia.
• Since 1947, India and Pakistan have fought three wars, two of which were fought over Kashmir’s territory. Tensions along the de facto border issues will rise as a result of Pakistan’s political crisis.
• The Pakistani military may exert pressure on a new civilian government in Islamabad to build on the success of the Kashmir ceasefire.

C. GS 3 Related

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The key takeaways of a UNEP report on noise pollution

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation.

Mains: Noise Pollution; About the UNEP Report on Noise pollution, its Controversy

Context:

A report commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme on the environmental challenges became controversial on account of the mention of Moradabad.

What is noise pollution?

• Noise is defined as loud and unnecessary sounds. Noise pollution is the presence of loud, unwanted, and disturbing sounds in our environment.
• Know more about Noise Pollution

Consequences of Noise Pollution:

• Noise has a variety of negative effects on public health, ranging from mild and temporary distress to severe and chronic physical impairment, according to the Frontiers report.
• Noise at night disrupts sleep and has a negative impact on one’s well-being the next day.
• Noise-induced sleep disturbance is especially dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women, and shift workers.
• Noise-induced awakenings can cause a variety of physiological and psychological stress responses.
• Exposure to traffic noise has been linked to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
• Long-term exposure to environmental noise increases the risk of developing ischemic heart disease and leads to death.
• Acute myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure were linked to exposure to road traffic noise.
• Type 2 diabetes and hypertension were also more common as a result.
• Know more about Causes of Noise Pollution

About the UNEP Report Controversy and Author’s Explanation:

• The first chapter of the UNEP report compiles studies about noise levels in several cities around the world and illustrates a subset of 61 cities and the range of dB (decibel) levels that have been measured.
• It shows Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh as having a dB range from 29 to 114, second-most-noisiest city in the list.
• The author of the first chapter said that the confusion stemmed from errors in the bibliography. The 114 measurement was an average of measurements reported from a factory in an industrial zone.
• The author added that inferring Moradabad to be the ‘second-noisiest city’ was incorrect because the list of cities whose values were illustrated were only indicative.

How does India track noise levels?

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is responsible for monitoring noise levels, setting standards, and ensuring that sources of excessive noise are controlled through their State units.
• The agency has a manual monitoring system in place, with sensors installed in major cities, and only a few cities have the capability of tracking noise levels in real time.
• The CPCB also takes noise measurements before and after Diwali in major cities in order to raise awareness about the dangers of firecrackers.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Making groundwater visible

Syllabus: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Mains: Significance of groundwater resource; Concerns associated with groundwater resource management and recommendations.

Context:

• World Water Day was celebrated on March 22.
  • The theme of 2022 was ‘Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible’. The theme aims to draw attention to the role of groundwater in water and sanitation systems, agriculture, industry, ecosystems, and climate change adaptation.

Significance of groundwater resources:

• Groundwater is a vital water supply for humanity. Groundwater provides drinking water entirely or in part for as much as 50% of the global population and accounts for 43% of all of water used for irrigation. Worldwide, 2.5 billion people depend solely on groundwater resources to satisfy their basic daily water needs. Given this high dependency groundwater remains significant for sustainable development.
• India is among the largest users of groundwater in the world. Almost 89% of the groundwater extracted is used for irrigation and the rest for domestic and industrial use (9% and 2%).
• Groundwater remains the primary source of water for arid and semiarid regions.
• Global warming is leading to high temperatures and drought like conditions, which threatens water security. Due to its high storage capacity and its inherent nature, groundwater is more resilient to the effects of climate change than surface water. Groundwater helps reduce the risk of temporary water shortage.

Concerns with groundwater management:

Depletion of stored groundwater:

• The annual groundwater extraction in India stood at around 248.69 billion cubic meters in 2017.
• According to the Central Ground Water Board, the annual groundwater withdrawal is considered to be safe when the extraction rate is limited to below 70% of the annual replenishable recharge. Though the overall average for India stood at 63% in 2017, the extraction rate varies across the various regions.
• States like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry have crossed the 70% mark. Around 202 districts had extraction rate ranging from 71% to 385%. This high level of extraction has resulted in depletion of groundwater levels.

Deterioration of quality:

• Groundwater remains highly vulnerable to deterioration of water quality both in terms of chemical and biological contaminants.
• Fluoride, iron, salinity, nitrate, and arsenic contamination are major problems when it comes to ground water.
• Increasing number of districts have been reporting ground water quality deterioration. As many as 335 districts reported nitrate pollution in recent times as compared to 109 in 2006.

Lack of recognition of the importance of groundwater:

• Despite the increasing dependence on groundwater and the critical role played by groundwater resource, its value has not been fully recognised in policymaking.

Issue of ownership:

• There is currently no Central law on groundwater regulation. There is, however, a British-era law called the Indian Easement Act, 1882 which gives landowners the right to “collect and dispose” of all water under the land within their own limits.
• Although groundwater recharging takes place through a geohydrological process and is not confined to administrative or property boundaries, a landowner has the exclusive right to groundwater available in their property. This ownership pattern disincentivizes the sustainable use of this critical natural resource.

Fragmented approach to management:

• The existing approach of dealing with surface water and groundwater independently has severe limitations.

Recommendations:

Integrated water management:

• As proposed by the Mihir Shah Committee (2016), the Central Water Commission and the Central Ground Water Board should be united and a national water framework with an integrated perspective developed.
• Such a move will help acknowledge and recognize the connections between surface and groundwater systems, both for governance and management. This will result in better effectiveness of water management.

Local level plans:

• The new paradigm for groundwater management is a socio-ecological challenge, where localism matters.
• Local-level plans covering water resources in all its forms: rainwater, surface water, soil water and groundwater and the resource use sectors will be more effective in water management.
• Such a local area approach will help factor in aspects such as land use system and human behaviour in the water management system which would not be possible in the national or regional plans. It will also allow space for active public participation and community regulatory options to maintain groundwater balance at the village/ watershed level. Thus local level plans by involving the main stakeholders will prove to be more effective.

Sustainable water usage:

• Given that agricultural irrigation accounts for the largest share of groundwater resource, linking cropping patterns and crop intensity with groundwater availability, aquifer type, and the present state of groundwater extraction at the farm level becomes an imperative.

Legal framework and introduction of groundwater usage charges:

• Given the concerns associated with the treating of a community resource like water as a private resource, there is the need for an appropriate legal framework to address this challenge.
• The introduction of groundwater usage charges should be introduced to motivate water saving.

F. Prelims Facts

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H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. With respect to Near-Field Communication (NFC), which of the following statements is/are 
correct?

1. It is a contactless communication technology based on Radio Frequency (RF)
2. NFC allows secure data exchange by using encryption
3. It requires a distance of one meter or less to initiate a connection.

Options:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless connectivity technology that allows NFC-enabled devices to communicate and transfer data with a single touch.
• It is a contactless communication technology based on a radio frequency (RF) field using a base frequency of 13.56 MHz. Hence Statement 1 is
• NFC technology is perfectly designed to exchange data between two devices through a simple touch gesture. NFC allows secure data exchange by using encryption. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
• NFC allows two devices to communicate by transmitting data through electromagnetic radio fields. Because transactions take place over such a short distance, both devices must have NFC chips. To transfer data, NFC-enabled devices must be physically touching or within a few centimeters of each other. Hence Statement 3 is not correct.

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. The President and the Governor can pardon sentences inflicted by court martial
2. The Supreme Court is authorized to grant in its discretion special leave to appeal from any judgment in any matter passed by any court or tribunal in the country, except military tribunal and court martial

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• The President can pardon a sentence of the convict given by the court-martial or the military court. The governor does not have the power to pardon the sentence inflicted by the court-martial on the convict. Hence Statement 1 is not correct.
• As per Article 136, the Supreme Court may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India.
  • Nothing in clause ( 1 ) shall apply to any judgment, determination, sentence or order passed or made by any court or tribunal constituted by or under any law relating to the Armed Forces. Hence Statement 2 is correct.

Q3. Which of the following are the Double Landlocked Countries?

1. Liechtenstein
2. Mongolia
3. South Sudan
4. Switzerland
5. Uzbekistan

Options:

1. 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
2. 1 and 5 only
3. 2, 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• There are two landlocked countries in the world that are double landlocked, meaning that they are surrounded by countries that are themselves landlocked.
• The only two double landlocked countries of the world are Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein. Hence option B is correct.
• Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan is one of the 12 landlocked countries of Asia. It is bordered by Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, all of which are, themselves, landlocked countries.

• Liechtenstein: Liechtenstein is a tiny country in Western Europe, sandwiched between two other landlocked countries, Switzerland and Austria. It is one of the 17 landlocked countries of Europe.

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to COMEX:

1. COMEX is the primary futures and options market for trading metals such as gold
2. COMEX itself does not supply precious metals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• COMEX is the primary futures and options market for trading metals such as gold, silver, copper, and aluminum. COMEX is an abbreviation of the exchange’s full name: The Commodity Exchange Inc.Hence Statement 1 is correct.
• COMEX does not supply metals but instead acts as an intermediary. It is important to note that the COMEX itself does not supply precious metals. These are made available by the seller as part of the contract rules. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
• Commodity Exchange Inc. (COMEX), the main exchange for silver and gold futures, was first founded in 1933 through the merger of four smaller exchanges based in New York—the National Metal Exchange, the Rubber Exchange of New York, the National Raw Silk Exchange, and the New York Hide Exchange.

Q5. The term ‘ACE2’ is talked about in the context of

1. genes introduced in the genetically modified plants
2. development of India’s own satellite navigation system
3. radio collars for wildlife tracking
4. spread of viral diseases

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a protein found on the surface of many different types of cells.
• It’s an enzyme that makes small proteins that help the cell regulate its functions. Prior to entering and infecting cells, the SARS-CoV-2 virus binds to ACE2.
• As a result, ACE2 serves as a cellular receptor for the virus that causes COVID-19.
• The protein ACE2 is discussed in relation to the spread of viral disease.
• Hence option D is correct.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Successful noise management should be based on the fundamental principles of precaution, the polluter pays principle and prevention. Discuss. (15 Marks, 250 Words)[GS-3, Environment]
2. The existing approach of dealing with surface water and groundwater independently has severe limitations. In the light of the statement, suggest ways to protect and conserve groundwater.(10 Marks, 150 Words) [GS-2, Polity and Governance]