CNA 08 April 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Yemen War SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. Cannabis Cultivation C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Some advice to India on the IFA negotiations SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Science for all F. Prelims Facts 1. Genome India Project G. Tidbits 1. Financial assistance to prison inmates 2. Track and Trace System for Pharmaceutical exports H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Yemen War
Syllabus: Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on India’s Interests
Mains: Consequences of Yemeni civil war
Context: A Saudi-Omani delegation in Yemen on talks to end the Yemen war.
Introduction:
- The Yemen War is an ongoing conflict that began in 2015 between two factions vying for control of Yemen, the internationally recognized government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Houthi rebels.
- The conflict escalated when the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, seized control of Yemen’s capital city of Sana’a in 2014 and forced President Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia.
- The Houthis, who ousted the internationally recognised government from Sanaa in late 2014, are de facto authorities in North Yemen and say they are rising up against a corrupt system and foreign aggression.
- A Saudi-Omani delegation is planning to travel to Yemen’s capital Sanaa to work on a permanent ceasefire deal with Houthi officials and end the war.
Image Source: Alamy
Significance of this delegation:
- The visit by Saudi officials to Sanaa is an indication of progress in Oman-mediated talks between the kingdom and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which run in parallel to UN peace efforts.
- It is also an indication of the easing of regional tensions. This comes after years of hostility between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who have supported opposing sides in various Middle Eastern conflicts, including Yemen.
- In March 2023, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies.
- The discussions focusses on a full reopening of Yemen’s ports and airports, payment of wages for public servants which could aid in the rebuilding process and a political transition.
Read more on Yemeni Civil War
Significance to India:
- Yemen holds strategic importance for India due to its location at the entrance of the Red Sea, a crucial trade route for Indian shipping.
- The Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which lies between Yemen and Djibouti, is a major choke point for oil tankers travelling to and from the Suez Canal, through which a significant portion of India’s oil imports pass.
- India has also historically had cultural and economic ties with Yemen, with a significant population of Indians living and working in the country before the outbreak of the Yemen War.
- India has provided humanitarian aid to Yemen, and Indian naval ships have been involved in evacuating Indian citizens and providing assistance during the conflict.
- Additionally, Yemen’s instability and conflict have had regional security implications, including the threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean and the spread of extremism.
- As a major regional power, India has an interest in promoting peace and stability in Yemen and the wider Middle East region.
Read more on Conflicts in West Asia
Nut Graf: The Yemen War is an ongoing conflict between the government led by President Hadi and the Houthi rebels backed by Iran. A Saudi-Omani delegation’s visit to Sanaa signals progress in talks for a permanent ceasefire with the Houthis, and easing of regional tensions.
Syllabus: Issues Relating to Development & Management of Social Sector/Services
Mains: Regulation of cannabis in India
Context: Himachal Pradesh is considering legalising cultivation of cannabis.
Introduction:
- Himachal Pradesh government is considering legalising the cultivation of cannabis. It has formed a five-member committee of MLAs to study the potential increase in drug use and other possible implications.
- The state wants to legalise commercial cultivation of the plant for non-recreational uses such as making medicines and fabrics.
Case made by Himachal Pradesh:
- Legislators in the state have been advocating the use of hemp for years in order to strengthen the state’s economy.
- Industrial and agricultural expansions in Himachal are bound by geographical constraints, and the tourism sector has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The state government is facing a debt burden and is heavily dependent on the union government for funds.
- Legalising cannabis cultivation in India for medicinal and industrial purposes could generate significant revenue and create new job opportunities.
Uses of hemp/cannabis:
- The fibre obtained from hemp is used in a variety of industrial applications, including the production of textiles, paper, and building materials.
- Hemp seeds are used as a source of protein and oil for human and animal consumption.
- In parts of Himachal such as Kullu and Mandi, hemp had traditionally been used for making footwear, ropes, mats, food items, etc.
Cannabis cultivation in India:
- Cannabis cultivation in India is illegal under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985, which criminalises the production, sale, and consumption of cannabis and other drugs.
- However, despite the prohibition, cannabis is widely grown and used in India for medicinal and recreational purposes.
- However, NDPS Act, 1985 allows state governments to allow controlled and regulated cultivation of hemp for obtaining its fibre and seed for industrial or horticultural purposes.
- In 2018, Uttarakhand became the first state in the country to do so, allowing the cultivation of only those strains of cannabis plant which have a low concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the primary psychoactive constituent of cannabis that produces a high sensation.
- Uttar Pradesh followed a similar policy, while Madhya Pradesh and Manipur are reportedly considering it as well.
Image Source: India Today
Nut Graf: The government of Himachal Pradesh is considering legalising cannabis cultivation for non-recreational purposes, forming a committee to study potential drug use and economic benefits. The state hopes to use hemp for textiles and medicine to bolster its economy, which is constrained by geography and tourism setbacks.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Some advice to India on the IFA negotiations
Syllabus: Global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interest.
Mains: Investment Facilitation Agreement of WTO.
Prelims: World Trade Organization.
Context: WTO is carrying out rule-making for investment facilitation agreement (IFA).
Details:
- The World Trade Organization (WTO) is undertaking prolific activity in the area of rule-making for investment facilitation agreement (IFA).
- The proposed IFA tries to create legally binding provisions intended at facilitating investment flows.
- These rules are backed by more than 100 countries. However, the group does not include India.
- The legal provisions will require the states to augment regulatory transparency and predictability of investment measures.
Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS):
- The proposed IFA will differ from investment protection agreements like bilateral investment treaties (BITs), which allow foreign investors to bring claims against the host state for alleged treaty breaches. This is called investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS).
- India is concerned about this provision as foreign investors can use it to bring claims under the existing BITs.
- It is argued that foreign investors might utilize the most favoured nation (MFN) provision in BITs to import or borrow stipulations from the IFA considered to be more beneficial than those given in the BIT.
- Similarly, they can use the provision of fair and equitable treatment (FET) present in BITs to challenge non-compliance with IFA.
- Earlier investment treaties do not clarify the meaning of FET, allowing the ISDS tribunal to supply its normative content.
- In several instances, tribunals have ruled the FET provision includes investors’ legitimate expectations.
- It is said that another entry point of IFA into ISDS can be through the ‘umbrella clause’.
- This ‘umbrella clause’ is a BIT clause that permits contractual and other commitments owed to a foreign investor to be brought under the protective umbrella of the treaty.
- However, it is countered that these are mere assumptions as ISDS is unlikely to agree with investors due to various reasons like:
- Many BITs exempt an economic integration agreement from the application of MFN. Thus, the chances of foreign investors successfully importing IFA provisions into the BIT is remote.
- Moreover, it is doubtful that the ISDS tribunal will accept that mere non-compliance with IFA breaches an investor’s legitimate expectations.
- The majority of the new investment treaties avoid ‘umbrella clauses’ altogether and limit the possibility of investors suing states for non-compliance with IFA.
- Additionally, IFA can be safeguarded from BITs by explicitly stating that it cannot be used to interpret or apply any new rules for the protection of investments.
- The IFA can also state that it does not create rights for non-signatory countries and their investor. Infact, the language of the draft IFA intends to insulate the IFA from BITs and ISDS.
Reforming Bilateral Investment Treaty:
- It is said that IFA cannot bind ISDS.
- Moreover, for the ISDS tribunal, IFA is just an instrument of international law that should be interpreted and applied in accordance with the context of the relevant BIT.
- The countries that are pushing for IFA can jointly agree to reform their BITs.
Conclusion:
- The possibility of the ISDS tribunal interpreting provisions can never be ruled out. But it should not be the reason to oppose international law through domestic and national courts.
- India should also re-assess its stand and join the IFA negotiation at WTO.
Related Link: Sansad TV Perspective: Episode on 23rd Nov, 2021: WTO Reforms
Nut Graf: The World Trade Organization (WTO) is making rules for Investment Facilitation Agreement (IFA). However, there are various concerns associated with regards to Investor-State Dispute Settlement and Bilateral Investment Treaties. India has not yet backed the agreement and should be re-assessed.
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Syllabus: Development in the field of Science and technology.
Mains: LIGO-India.
Prelims: LIGO.
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a gravitational-wave detection facility in Maharashtra.
Details:
- The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of a gravitational-wave detection facility in Maharashtra.
- It is a ₹2,600 crore project that will consist of a detector called the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO). It will be built on the lines of the twin LIGO instruments operational in the U.S.
- The development of a third detector in India will improve the detection of gravitational waves in the sky.
Also read: Gravitational Waves – Definition, India’s Contribution and LIGO
Opportunities for India:
- India can become a global site for gravitational physics research.
- It will aid in the training and handling of sophisticated control systems and precision technologies.
- LIGO-India will present opportunities to demonstrate an ability to reckon intelligently with Indian society’s relationship with science.
- It should be noted that India has had a contested relationship with big projects like the Challakere Science City and the stalled India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO). The cabinet’s approval will provide the opportunity that ‘Big Science’ affords.
- It is the opportunity for LIGO-India to build a facility that contributes to the communities sustenance and knowledge.
Associated Concerns:
- Such big science projects require large land tracts thus raising issues of land rights.
- Other issues include sustainable use of natural resources, carbon sequestration targets, and human rights concerns.
- Another contention is that the land is rendered physically inaccessible.
- It is argued that “science had become an agent of colonization”.
- It is often criticized that experimental Big Science undertakings in the economically developing world are far removed from the concerns of the majority population. There is a responsibility to justify the public value of such projects.
Way Ahead:
- The government should allocate resources and release funds without delay.
- It should also conduct public outreach on par with the international LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
Related Link:
Giant Metrewave Radiowave Telescope [GMRT]: Overview and Latest Developments
Nut Graf: The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of LIGO-India in Maharashtra. This would provide great opportunities for India in the field of big science projects. However, there are some concerns that should be addressed through proper public outreach.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS03-Science and Technology
Prelims: Genome; Biotechnology
Context: Progress in Genome India Project
Introduction:
- The Genome India Project (GIP) is a gene mapping project cleared by the Department of Biotechnology in 2020.
- It aims to collect 10,000 genetic samples from citizens across India, to build a reference genome to fully understand the type and nature of diseases and traits that comprise the diverse Indian population.
- It involves 20 leading institutions of the country with the Centre for Brain Research of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore as the nodal point.
- As of April 2023, it has sequenced close to 7,000 genomes and 3,000 of these are already available for public access by researchers.
Significance:
- GIP is inspired by the Human Genome Project (HGP 1990-2003)- an international programme that led to the decoding of the entire human genome.
- HGP has a major diversity problem as most genomes (over 95%) mapped under HGP have been sourced from urban middle-class white people. Thus, HGP should not really be seen as representative of the human genome.
- GIP aims to vastly add to the available information on the human species and advance the cause, both because of the scale of the Indian population and the diversity here. This diversity can be depicted by:
- Horizontal Diversity: The Indian subcontinent has been the site of huge migrations, where the first migrations were from Africa. Also, there have been periodic migrations by various populations from all around the world, making this a very special case of almost all races and types intermingling genetically.
- Vertical Diversity: There has been endogamy or inter-marriage practised among distinct groups, resulting in some diseases passed on strictly within some groups and some other traits inherited by just some groups.
- Studying and understanding both diversities would provide the bedrock of personalised healthcare for a very large group of persons on the planet.
- Creating a database of Indian genomes could help researchers learn about genetic variants that are unique to India’s population groups and use that to customise drugs and therapies.
Read more on IndiGen
G. Tidbits
1. Financial assistance to prison inmates
- The Union government has decided to launch a special scheme to provide financial support to prisoners who are unable to afford the penalty or the bail amount.
- The scheme, named ‘Support for Poo Prisoners’, will enable poor prisoners, majority of whom belong to socially disadvantaged or marginalised groups with lower education and income level, to get out of prison.
- As per the scheme, the union government will provide financial support to States to extend relief to those poor prisoners who are unable to avail bail or get released from prisons due to non-payment of fine.
- Financial support will be complemented with technology-driven solutions to ensure that benefits reach the poor prisoners.
- This includes reinforcement of e-prisons platform, strengthening of District Legal Services Authority and sensitisation and capacity building of stakeholders to ensure that quality legal aid is made available to needy poor prisoners.
- According to the Prisons Statistics of India Report, 2021, over 5.54 lakh people were lodged in prison and the total capacity of the jails in India was about 4.25 lakh, an occupancy rate of 130%.
2. Track and Trace System for Pharmaceutical exports
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers have got an extension to implement the Track and Trace system for export of pharmaceutical consignments till August 01,2023.
- The date for implementation of the Track and Trace system for export of drug formulations with respect to maintaining the parent-child relationship in packaging levels and its uploading on the central portal has been extended up to August 01,2023 for both SSI (Small Scale Industry) and non SSI manufactured drugs.
Track & trace system:
- The system was first floated in 2015 as a measure to address counterfeit and product recall challenges.
- Track and trace for pharmaceuticals lets you pinpoint any item’s current and past locations in your supply chain.
- When designed and implemented correctly, a track and trace system for pharmaceuticals tracks a drug, a vaccine, a medical device — anything in any configuration — as it moves forward through the supply chain and traces backward to reveal where it has been in the supply chain, all the way back to the individual ingredients or components that combined to create it.
- Its many benefits include optimising operational efficiency and speed; protecting against theft and diversion; ensuring your products remain safe and environmentally stable; and preventing counterfeit, adulterated, or expired medications from entering the supply chain.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Which of the following is/are examples of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)? (Level-Medium)
- Applications for viewing images from MRI, Ultrasound, or X-Ray examinations
- CT Scan
- Computer-Aided Detection software for image post-processing for detecting cancer
- Insulin Pump
Options:
- 1 and 3 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) refers to software that is intended for medical purposes and operates on its own or in conjunction with other medical devices. Here are some examples of SaMD:
- Diagnostic software: SaMD can help physicians diagnose medical conditions by analyzing medical images, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.
- SaMD can help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions by providing clinical decision support, which may include medical guidelines, decision algorithms, or predictive analytics.
- SaMD can help individuals monitor their health and wellness by tracking various health metrics, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels.
- SaMD can facilitate remote consultations between healthcare providers and patients, allowing for more accessible and convenient healthcare services.
- SaMD can help physicians manage patient prescriptions, including drug interactions, dosage recommendations, and potential side effects.
- SaMD can control medical devices such as pacemakers or insulin pumps, which help people manage certain medical conditions.
Q2. Consider the following Pairs: (Level-Difficult)
Village Unique heritage of the Village
- Raini Chipko movement
- Modhera First solar-powered village in India
- Suketi Asia’s oldest fossil park
- Vidurashwathar Linked to the Mahabharata
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- Only one pair
- Only two pairs
- Only three pairs
- All four pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Pair 01 is correct, Raini village in Uttarakhand is where the Chipko movement started in 1973 to protect and conserve trees. The area, close to the China border, is also of strategic importance. But it is now under stress from natural disasters.
- Pair 02 is correct, Modhera in Gujarat is India’s first village to be powered by solar energy completely.
- Modhera is famous for its Sun temple, a protected ancient site, which is situated on the river Pushpavati. It was built by King Bhima-I of the Chalukya dynasty in 1026-27.
- Pair 03 is correct, Suketi village in Himachal Pradesh has Asia’s oldest fossil park called Shivalik Fossil Park.It has a collection of prehistoric vertebrate fossils and skeletons recovered from the upper and middle Siwaliks geological formations of sandstones and clay at Suketi.
- Pair 04 is correct, Vidurashwatha is a village in Karnataka.It played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. It is known as the Jalianwalabagh of southern India. Around 35 freedom fighters were martyred while hoisting the flag of the Indian National Congress flag here.
- The name Vidurashwatha is derived from that of a big Ashwatha (sacred fig) tree located in this village. According to a legend of the times of Mahabharata, this tree was planted by Vidura, a courtier in the kingdom of Dhritarashtra; and hence the name Vidurashwatha.
Q3. Which of the following statements is the best description of 'Mission Arikomban'? (Level-Medium)
- An mission to ensure the safe mid-sea sojourn of breeding Olive Ridley sea turtles in odisha
- A concerted effort towards saving the Tigers in Karnataka
- It is an operation to capture wild tusker in Kerala
- Conserving the remaining population of critically endangered Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- ‘Mission Arikomban’ is a mission by the Kerala forest department to capture a wild elephant called ‘Arikomban’ posing threats to human habitations in Idukki district.
- Over the past few years, Arikomban has trampled at least 10 people to death and destroyed around 60 houses and shops.
- The forest department has come up with a plan to capture Arikomban and train it to be a ‘kumki’, a captive elephant used for operations against rogue elephants.
Q4. With respect to Biogas, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level-Medium)
- Biogas is produced through a biochemical process in which certain types of bacteria convert the biological wastes into useful bio-gas.
- The process of biogas production is anaerobic in nature
- Cattle dung has been recognized as the chief raw material for biogas plants, other materials like night-soil, poultry litter and agricultural wastes can also be used.
Options:
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 01 is correct, Biogas is produced through a biochemical process in which certain types of bacteria convert the biological wastes into useful bio-gas. Since the useful gas originates from a biological process, it has been termed as bio-gas. Methane gas is the main constituent of biogas.
- Statement 02 is correct, Biogas is generated during anaerobic digestion when microorganisms break down (eat) organic materials in the absence of air (or oxygen).
- Statement 03 is correct, Biomass is organic matter obtained from living or recently living organisms, such as crop residue, animal waste, forest debris, municipal solid waste etc
Q5. Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line? (Level-Difficult)
- Malacca Strait
- Bering Strait
- Strait of Florida
- Strait of Gibraltar
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Bering Strait is nearest to the International Date Line because the international Date Line runs equidistant between the American continents, to its east, and Asia, Australia, and Europe to its west.
- The International Date Line established in 1884, passes through the mid-Pacific Ocean and roughly follows a 180 degrees longitude north-south line on the Earth.
Image Source: NOAA
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Genome India Project provides an opportunity for India to make great progress in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture and healthcare. Discuss. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-3; Science and Technology]
- India’s reluctance to join the WTO’s investment facilitation agreement is justified. Do you agree? Critically analyze. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-3; Economy]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 08 April 2023:- Download PDF Here
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