18 Apr 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Retirement spree in SC may affect efforts to scale down pendency

Syllabus: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary

Prelims: Retirement of Supreme court Judges

Mains: Concerns with Judges retirement in Supreme court

Context: A number of judges of the supreme court are about to retire in recent months amidst the high pendency of cases in the Supreme court.

Retirement of Supreme court Judges:

• Judges on the Supreme Court retire when they reach the age of 65.
• Retired Supreme Court or High Court judges can be appointed to sit on the Court and act as judges.
• A person who has served as a Supreme Court Judge is barred from practicing law in any court in India or before any other authority.
• Know more about Supreme Court of India

Concerns with Judges retirement in Supreme court:

• The retirements come at a time when the court is attempting to regain its footing following particularly brutal pandemic waves.
• Even as the virus refuses to go away, the court continues to struggle with the issue of pendency.
• The Supreme Court is juggling Benches, with judges sitting on Special Benches in various combinations to expedite the hearing and disposition of pending matters, including death penalty cases.
• Seven impending retirements in seven months could stifle the recovery at a critical juncture. This is compounded by the fact that there are already two openings. The working judicial strength is 32 against the sanctioned strength of 34.
• If no new appointments are made till the retirement of Justice Lalit on November 8, the year may see nine vacancies in the court.
• Know more about Pendency of cases in supreme court

C. GS 3 Related

Category: INTERNAL SECURITY

1. The status of India’s National Cyber Security Strategy

Syllabus: Basics of cyber security and its prevention.

Mains: Need of a cybersecurity strategy for India and recommendations

Context: The Data Security Council of India (DSCI) has prepared a report focussing on different areas to ensure a safe and vibrant cyberspace for India.

Need of a cybersecurity strategy for India:

• As per American cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks’ 2021 report,
  • India is among the more economically profitable regions for hacker groups.
  • Maharashtra faces 42% of all ransomware attacks.
  • One in four Indian organizations suffered a ransomware attack in 2021.
  • Indian organizations witnessed a 218% increase in ransomware.
• Increase in such attacks has brought to light the urgent need for strengthening India’s cybersecurity.

National Cyber Security Strategy

• The National Cyber Security Strategy is conceptualized by the Data Security Council of India (DSCI).
• It focuses on 21 areas to ensure a safe, secure, trusted, resilient, and vibrant cyberspace for India.
• The main sectors of focus of the report are:-
  • Large scale digitisation of public services:
    • Security in the early stages of design in all digitisation initiatives
    • Developing institutional capability for assessment, evaluation, certification, and rating of core devices.
  • Supply chain security:
    • Robust monitoring and mapping of the supply chain
    • Product testing and certification.
  • Critical information infrastructure protection:
    • Integrate supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) security with enterprise security.
    • Maintain a repository of vulnerabilities.
  • Digital payments:
    • Mapping and modeling of devices and platforms deployed, transacting entities, payment flows, interfaces and data exchange.
    • Threat research and sharing of threat intelligence.
  • State-level cyber security:
    • Develop State-level cybersecurity policies and guidelines for security architecture, operations, and governance.

Recommendations:

To implement cybersecurity in the above-listed focus areas, the report lists the following recommendations:

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. A north pole for science and technology

Syllabus: Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology.

Prelims: Dr. Y. Nayudamma.

Mains: Goals and objectives for the use of science and technology

Background:

• Mankind’s evolution into modern civilisation has been propelled by rapid strides in the fields of science and technology. However, this rapid development has also thrown up some serious issues about the values, the purpose, the relevance, and the consequences of a blind-folded pursuit and application of science and technology.
• Hence it becomes extremely critical for setting the right goals and objectives for the use of science and technology and the values that should guide this process.
• In this direction, the article authored by Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, prescribes the following agenda while pursuing science and technology.

People centric:

• Science and technology should adapt to the people. As against the import of technology and solutions, there is the need for domestic solutions given that they would be more effective. Western remedies may not solve India’s problems, which are different and context-specific.
• The new developments should be able to meet the needs and concerns of the common people. Science should be for society and technology should be driven by the needs of the people.
• The undesirable consequences of the application of the science and technological developments should be avoided and taken care of.

Sustainable:

• As against the values of ‘materialism and consumerism’ guiding the human society currently, Science and technology should enable development that is in harmony with nature and society.

Dr. Y. Nayudamma:

• The article reminisces the role played by noted scientist and former Director-General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Dr. Y. Nayudamma.
• Nayudamma’s work and contributions demonstrated how scientists and technologists could (and can) be effective agents of social change. His role in changing the nature of the tannery industry in India by infusing science and technology is laudable. This not only improved the quality of products but also improved the lives of the people involved in the job. Thus his contributions had both economic as well as social impacts.
• Nayudamma emphasized on women empowerment, national self-reliance in science and technology and importance of education in national development.

Recommendations:

Education:

• Given the emergence of knowledge economy, empowering all with education and knowledge is the best path to growth and development of the nation.
• Education should release the inner potential of all to make everyone self-reliant and self-confident and also contribute to the development of the nation. There is the need to develop and adopt suitable education systems in the country.

Sustainable development models:

• The rapid resource depletion, and ecological imbalances and inequities should be taken care of. There is the need to have alternative development models to ensure sustainable and harmonious development.

Community/ collective endeavour:

• Given the potential of community and collective efforts in realizing the true potential of every individual and the society and the role of nationalism in ensuring such an ecosystem, there is the need to promote nationalism in the mainstream agenda of the country.

F. Prelims Facts

1. The functioning of the Enforcement Directorate

Syllabus: GS-2: Polity and Governance: Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.

Prelims: Enforcement Directorate (ED): Functioning of ED

Context: This article examines the powers and functioning of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Enforcement Directorate (ED):

• In 1956, the Department of Economic Affairs established a ‘Enforcement Unit’ to deal with violations of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act’s Exchange Control Laws (FERA).
• The ED is a multi-faceted organization that investigates economic crimes under
  • the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA),
  • the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act,
  • the Foreign Exchange Management Act, and
  • the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA).
• Know more about Enforcement Directorate (ED)

Sources of Powers of ED:

• Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002:
  • The PMLA was brought to control and prevent the laundering of money.
  • As per the Act, the ED got its power to investigate under Sections 48 (authorities under act) and 49 (appointment and powers of authorities and other officers).
  • If money has been laundered abroad, the PMLA court has the right to send a letter of rogatory under Section 105 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
  • The said government can then share the documents and evidence needed by the agency.

Know more about Prevention of Money Laundering Act

Working of the ED:

• The investigating police officer forwards the details of the case to the ED if the offense generates proceeds over and above ₹1 crore.
• If the offense comes under the knowledge of the Central agency, they can then call for the First Information Report (FIR) or the charge sheet if it has been filed directly by police officials.

Other roles and functions of the ED:

• After determining that the money has been laundered, the ED can conduct searches (property) and seizures (money/documents).
• The ED can also conduct a search and seizure without summoning the individual for questioning. It is not necessary to first summon the individual before beginning the search and seizure.
• If the person is arrested, the ED has 60 days to file a chargesheet because the maximum penalty under the PMLA is seven years.
• If no one is arrested and only the property is attached, the prosecution complaint must be filed with the adjudicating authority within 60 days, along with the attachment order.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the following is/are the initiatives of UNESCO?

1. Global Geopark Network
2. World Heritage Education Programme
3. Man and Biosphere Programme
4. Creative Cities Network

Options:

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

Q2. Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

1. A government resorts to a reduction of Repo rate to reduce inflation.
2. A government cuts its spending to reduce inflation.
3. Inflation target to be set by the Reserve Bank of India, in consultation with the Government of India, once every five years.

Options:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. None of the above

Q3. Which of the given statements with respect to INSV Tarini is/are correct?

1. It is an indigenously-built sailing vessel, which was inducted in the Indian Navy in 1971.
2. The first Indian all-woman crew circumnavigated the globe in INSV Tarini.
3. It was inducted in the Indian Navy with the objective of ocean surveillance.

Options:

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

Q4. Which of the given statements with respect to National Technical Research Organization 
(NTRO) is/are correct?

1. NTRO was created after the 1999 Kargil war as a dedicated technical intelligenceagency.
2. It has the right to lawfully intercept and monitor communications externally.
3. National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Center (NCIIPC) is a unitunder NTRO.
4. The National Technical Textiles Mission was launched by NTRO.

Options:

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

Q5. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram?

1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. None of the statements given above is correct

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Discuss the powers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2, Polity and Governance]
2. Discuss the key recommendations of the Data Security Council of India with respect to framing a robust and holistic cyber security policy.  (15 Marks, 250 Words)[GS-3, Cyber security]