17 Apr 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. ‘Social media apps must take steps to protect women’
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
GOVERNANCE
1. Spectrum price row
ECONOMY
1. What’s fuelling inflation in rural India?
F. Prelims Facts
1. Childline 1098 may be merged with emergency helpline 112
2. Center extends tenure of green permits
3. Yemen’s Houthi rebels criticize U.S.-led task force in Red Sea
4. A better millet for potential iron deficiency
G. Tidbits
1. DGCA unveils plan to ensure flight safety
2. ‘Governor has very limited powers’
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Category: SOCIAL ISSUES

1. ‘Social media apps must take steps to protect women’

Syllabus: Women and associated issues

Mains: Concerns with Social media abuse and Recommendations to prevent them

Context: Former Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Cyber Cell speaks about the need to counsel women who have been victims of abuse on social media.

Recent Social Media Abuse cases:

• Bulli Bai case: The Bulli Bai case is related to an online mock auction of women of a particular community in India. Photos of prominent women from this community were uploaded on the Bulli Bai app without their permission where they were auctioned virtually.
• Clubhouse case: the Clubhouse app case is a hate app case where derogatory comments were made against women of a particular community.

Concerns with abuse on social media

• The accused are young whose parents are unaware that they have a virtual alter ego.
• There is resentment toward a particular religious community, as well as hatred for the women who belong to that community.

Recommendations:

• Victim Counseling: Victims of social media abuse, like those who have been subjected to extortion, should receive counseling.
• Special Grievance Cell: All social media apps should have a separate grievance cell dedicated solely to women’s safety issues, capable of working around the clock to prevent abuse and protect women on these platforms.
• Generate Awareness: Parents, teachers, and psychologists must collaborate to raise awareness among minors and teenagers so that they do not develop a false sense of identity and seek fake validation in the virtual world.
• Redefine Women’s safety: We must redefine women’s safety. It’s impossible to talk about a woman’s need to walk safely on the road while also abusing her online.
• Use of Technology to Prevent Abuse: The use of algorithms on social media platforms can easily track and block handles and users who use vulgar and inappropriate language or words towards women.
• Focus on Research and Studies: Cyberpsychology should be studied, and people should be taught how to use social media responsibly.

B. GS 2 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

C. GS 3 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. Spectrum price row

Syllabus: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Mains: Critical evaluation of the recommendations of TRAI on the spectrum pricing.

Context

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) proposed recommendations on the auction of spectrum, this will also include spectrum for 5G services.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

• TRAI is a statutory body established in 1997 through the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• It was established to create and nurture conditions and also provide a fair and transparent policy environment for growth in the telecommunications sector.
• TRAI regulates telecom services including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services that were earlier vested in the Central Government.

Read more about – Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)

TRAI Recommendations

• All the spectrum in the existing bands of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz is to be available for auction, along with airwaves in new bands like 600 MHz, 3300-3670 MHz and 24.25-28.5 GHz.
  • TRAI has in total recommended Over 1,00,000 MHz of airwaves for the auction.
  • The total spectrum on offer at reserve price is estimated to be around ₹5 lakh crore for 20 years.
• The reserve price for the 3300-3670 MHz band, which has been regarded as the key spectrum for 5G has been reduced by 35.5% to ₹317 crore/MHz, from ₹492 crore/MHz.
• The reserve price for the high-end 700 MHz band has been reduced to ₹3,927 crore/MHz from ₹6,568 crore/MHz.
• TRAI has fixed the reserve price for spectrum bands for a 20-year holding period.
  • The prices to raise the holding period to 30 years would be 1.5 times the recommended prices for 20 years.
• TRAI also recommended various alternatives for the uptake of Captive Wireless Private Networks (CWPN), which includes, the likes of private networks through telcos, independent isolated networks in company’s establishments using telcos’ spectrum, permitting the companies to avail spectrum on lease from telcos or directly from Department of Telecom (DoT) to set up their own isolated CWPN.
  • TRAI also said that companies can get the spectrum directly from the government and establish their own isolated CWPNs.

Reasons for price cut

• The increasing financial burden on the telecom sector.
• To create a balance between rising revenues and maintaining the sustainability of the sector, in such a way that telecom companies have adequate capacities to make a capital expenditure for making a shift to adopt 5G technology.
• Further, in the previous spectrum auction, only about 37.1% of the total spectrum offered was acquired by the companies, mainly because of high prices.
  • The high-end 700 MHz band saw no buyers in the last auction.
• The key reason is that the spectrum lying idle is a waste for the economy.
• TRAI added that the valuation of spectrum exercise is based on techno-economic methodology and is aimed to set the spectrum prices that encourage buyers to acquire radio frequencies in different bands and also ensure that buyers are discouraged from collusive behaviour.

Response from the industry

• The industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has expressed disappointment over the new recommendations.
• The industry body has regarded the recommendation as a “step backward” than going ahead towards building a digitally connected India.
• The service providers say that they expected and recommended 90% cuts in the prices whereas TRAI has proposed only a 35-40% reduction in prices which makes the spectrum pricing too high.
• It is also said that the extra charges of 1.5 times on the spectrum for a 30-year period will nullify the relief provided by the government in 2021.
• COAI notes that by introducing mandatory rollout conditions for 5G networks without factoring the high costs associated with such rollouts, the TRAI has deviated from the Government’s efforts of enhancing the ease of doing business.
• Allowing the private CWPNs for companies would discourage the industry to invest in networks and continue to pay more taxes.
• The Indian Space Association (association of all companies operating in the satellite communications and other space sector) said that making all spectrum available for sale in the coming auctions would be a “case of oversupply to terrestrial telecom at the cost of the satellite industry”.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Childline 1098 may be merged with emergency helpline 112

Syllabus: GS-2: Polity and Governance: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Prelims: Childline 1098

Context: Government is planning to merge Childline 1098 with national emergency helpline 112.

Childline 1098:

• Childline 1098 is a 24×7 emergency, free phone outreach for children in distress.
• It is the country’s only dedicated helpline number for children.
• It is one of the world’s biggest emergency helpline services dedicated to children.
• Recently, the government said the Childline will be “integrated” with the universal emergency helpline 112 of the Ministry of Home Affairs that provides assistance with services related to police, health and women’s safety.
• Childline 1098 receives funding from the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, which is now part of Mission Vatsalya.

Issues associated with merger:

• After the government announced plans to merge Childline 1098 with the universal emergency helpline 112, civil society organizations are concerned about the future of children.
• It will have a negative impact on the country’s largest emergency response system, which receives approximately 50 lakh calls per year.
• The merger will have an impact on children’s rescue and problem-solving efforts.

G. Tidbits

1. DGCA unveils plan to ensure flight safety

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has implemented a monitoring system to detect non-compliance with flight safety regulations.
• It will notify the relevant authorities, who will be required to take immediate corrective action to address the deficiencies.
• The initiative’s main goal is to find any significant non-compliance that lowers the safety standard and has a negative impact on flight safety.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Desert National Park (DNP):

1. It is spread over three districts in the State of Rajasthan
2. DNP is a spectacular representative of the desert ecosystem
3. The DNP is the most important site for the Globally Threatened Great Indian Bustard

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Desert National Park, situated in the west Indian state of Rajasthan,is one of the largest national parks. 
• Desert National Park is situated in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• It is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The DNP is the most critical habitat for the globally threatened Great Indian Bustards long-term survival. Other notable birds include the endangered Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and the Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus) etc. BirdLife International has identified bird species that are representative of the Biome. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q2. Which of the following are the features of the Government of India act of 1935?

1. It introduced, for the first time, bicameralism and direct elections in the country.
2. It extended the principle of communal representation by providing separate electorates for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans
3. It provided for the establishment of a Reserve Bank of India to control the currency and credit of the country

Options:

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• The Government of India act, 1919 introduced, for the first time, bicameralism and direct elections in the country. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Government of India Act 1919 extended the principle of communal representation by providing separate electorates for Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans.Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Other features of the Act:
  • The British Parliament retained its supremacy over the Indian legislatures both provincial and federal.
  • A Federal Railway Authority was set up to control Indian railways.
  • The act provided for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • The Act also provided for the establishment of federal, provincial and joint Public Service Commissions.
  • The subjects under the Federal List were divided into two: Reserved and Transferred.
  • The reserved subjects were controlled by the Governor-General who administered them with the help of three councilors appointed by him.
  • The transferred subjects were administered by the Governor-General with his Council of Ministers (not more than 10). The Council had to act in confidence with the legislature.
  • The Act gave more autonomy to the provinces.
  • Diarchy was abolished at the provincial level.

Q3. Which of the following countries share a border with the Red Sea?

1. Djibouti
2. Egypt
3. Jordan
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Sudan
6. Yemen

Options:

1. 1, 3 and 6 only
2. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
3. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 only
4. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 only

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• The Red Sea is an example of a faulted structure. 
• The Red Sea is surrounded by  Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen. 
• The northern part of the Red Sea is more saline than the southern part mainly due to the Gulf of Suez that lies to the west of the Sinai Peninsula.

Q4. With respect to Millets, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Millets are gluten-free and have a low glycemic index
2. Their micro-nutrients composition is better as compared to rice or wheat
3. Karnataka is the highest producer of Ragi in India

Options:

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Most of the millets are non-acid forming, non-glutinous, highly nutritious, and easily digestible foods. 
• Due to low glycaemic index (GI) being gluten-free, it helps in a slower release of glucose over a longer period of time thus reducing the risk of diabetes mellitus.
• Wheat, rice, and other cereal grains contain far less fiber and essential minerals than millets.
• Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh are the top ragi producers in the country.
• Hence all the statements are correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• In the Northern hemisphere of the tropical zone, the Northeast trade winds transport warmer water westward in the ocean. Due to trade winds, the western section of the ocean in tropical zones is warmer than the eastern section.
• Similarly, the Westerlies are important in transporting warm, equatorial waters and winds to continents’ western coasts.  Westerlies make the eastern section of the ocean warmer than the western section in temperate zones.
• Hence both the statements are correct.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Rising inflation hurts the poor in the rural areas. In the light of the statement examine the factors fuelling higher inflation. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-3, Economy]
2. How does the free electricity scheme in Punjab work? Discuss its impact on the consumers and the Government. ( 15 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2, Polity and Governance]