21 Apr 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
HEALTH
1. Visas for AYUSH therapy
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT
1. ‘Sea may inundate many cities by 2050’
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Unfounded apprehensions about this Act
ECONOMY
1. Bumps ahead
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. When the stars came out
F. Prelims Facts
1. Tilting Trains Technology
2. INS Vagsheer
G. Tidbits
1. Navy chief unveils joint navigation chart in Maldives
2. Judges must give reasons for bail decisions, says SC
3. PM launches new plans in Gujarat’s tribal areas
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related

Category: HEALTH

1. Visas for AYUSH therapy

Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Mains: Significance of the AYUSH sector and the initiatives taken by the government to boost the sector

Context

The Prime Minister of India announced visas for AYUSH therapy.

Details

• The PM announced that a special category would be created for individuals who would travel to India for AYUSH therapies.
• The PM said that “Heal in India” has the potential to become a big brand and therapies based on Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and other traditional practices could attract people from across the world. 
• Kerala has been a very good example for attracting tourism through its traditional medical practices and other states also have to take up steps in this regard.
• There has been significant growth in the production of AYUSH medicines, supplements and cosmetics in recent years.
• The sector which accounted for about $3 billion in 2014, has now crossed $18 billion and is continuously expanding.
• The PM also announced the introduction of the ‘AYUSH mark’  to recognise traditional medicine products which will give authenticity to quality AYUSH products of the country. 
  • The introduction of “AYUSH MARK” would help promote the traditional medicine industry by authenticating products that are made in India.

National Ayush Mission (NAM) The National Ayush Mission is a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The key objective of the mission is to promote the AYUSH sector through cost-effective services, boosting its educational systems, quality control of AYUSH drugs and ensuring the sustainable availability of AYUSH raw materials. The mission also aims to strengthen the sector by enabling them to become prominent medical streams in the country in the healthcare sector. Read more  – National Ayush Mission (NAM)

C. GS 3 Related

Category: ENVIRONMENT

1. ‘Sea may inundate many cities by 2050’

Syllabus: Environmental pollution and degradation

Prelims: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Mains: Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of IPCC and the impact of climate change on India

Context:

A study by RMSI (an IT consulting firm) on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)  The IPCC provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. However, the IPCC does not conduct its own research. The IPCC is divided into three Working Groups and a Task Force.  Working Group I – deals with “Physical Science Basis of Climate Change”  Working Group II – “Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability”  Working Group III – “Mitigation of Climate Change” Read more – IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) – 2021

Impact of climate change on India

• The IPCC assessment report suggests that India’s sea level will see a sharp increase by 2050.
  • The sea-level rise in the North Indian Ocean (NIO) happened at a rate of about 1.75 mm per year from 1874 to 2004 and has increased to nearly 3.3 mm per year in the last 25 years.
• According to a study by RMSI, the rising sea would affect a large population, property, and infrastructure in cities like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram along with four other cities namely Mumbai, Chennai, Vizag and Mangaluru which are expected to be underwater.
  • Out of the buildings and key infrastructure that would be affected, 91% are residential buildings.
  • While reporting, RMSI used coastal flood modelling capabilities to map the cities’ submergence levels based on numerous sea-level rise forecast studies.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Unfounded apprehensions about this Act

Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.

Mains: Arguments in favour of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022

Context:

• The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 has received the President’s assent and has become an act.
• While many concerns have been raised with respect to the provisions of the new act being unconstitutional and liable to misuse, this article, authored by R.K. Vij, a former Special DGP of Chhattisgarh, argues in favour of the new act.

Provisions of the new act:

• The new Act authorises the police and prison authorities to take ‘measurements’ of convicts and others for the purpose of identification and investigation in criminal matters and to preserve records.
• The new act seeks to repeal the Identification of Prisoners Act (IPA) of 1920. While the IPA, 1920 was of limited scope and allowed for recording measurements of finger impressions and footprint impressions of certain convicts and non-convict persons, the new act allows for physical measurements such as finger impressions, palm prints, footprint impressions, photographs, iris and retina scans; biological samples (blood, semen, swabs, sputum, sweat, hair samples and fingernail clippings) and their analysis using modern and scientific techniques including DNA profiling and other necessary tests; and behavioural attributes including signatures, handwriting; or any other examination referred to in Sections 53 or 53A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973.

Arguments in favour of the new act:

Utility in investigation:

• The provisions of the new act will help the enforcement agencies in the prevention and detection of crime. It will facilitate the identification and investigation of criminal matters.
  • The biological sample of an accused person and fingerprints would establish crucial linkages in the case while signature and handwriting specimens would help identify disputed or forged documents.
• The use of better technology will only help in minimising the probability of errors and in establishing crucial evidence.

No additional powers to the enforcement agencies:

• Notably, the new act does not empower the enforcement agencies additionally. The new act only includes provisions mentioned previously in the IPA and provisions of the CrPC, with the addition of modern techniques of identification such as an iris and retina scan.

Reasonable restrictions on fundamental rights:

• As against the argument that the provisions of the new act are in violation of Article 20(3) of the Constitution, the article argues that these new provisions need to be viewed as permissible restrictions on fundamental rights.
  • Testimonial compulsions are prohibited under Article 20(3) of the Constitution. Clause (3) of Article 20 declares that no person accused of an offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself. Clause 3 is a protection against such compulsion resulting in his giving evidence against himself.
• The right of an individual will have to be balanced against the interests of society. Hence the data proposed to be collected through the new act does not appear to be disproportionate.

Judicial view on the matter:

• The Supreme Court in the State of Bombay vs Kathi Kalu case of 1961 had noted that a person in custody giving his specimen handwriting or signature or impression of his thumb, finger, palm or foot, to the investigating officer, cannot be included in the expression “to be a witness” under Articles 20(3) of the Constitution.
• Additionally, in other cases too the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of DNA tests of blood, and voice samples noting that they don’t amount to compelling an accused to become a witness against himself.
• Only techniques of narcoanalysis, polygraphy and brain fingerprinting have been held to be testimonial compulsions (if conducted without consent) by the Supreme Court in the Selvi vs State of Karnataka case (2010).

Limitations on power:

• The Act does not mandate the compulsory recording of all measurements for all types of offences. The measurements shall be taken ‘if so required’ and as may be prescribed by governments. Thus, the new act is unlikely to harm an individual’s privacy.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Tilting Trains Technology

Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Prelims: Tilting trains

Context

Experts have recommended the adoption of tilting train technology for Kerala to develop a speedy mass rapid transport system.

Tilting Trains

• Tilting Train technology helps achieve increased speed on regular rail tracks without disturbing passengers while negotiating a curve.
• As ordinary trains round a curve at speed, objects inside the train experience centrifugal force thereby making the seated passengers feel squashed and standing passengers lose their balance. 
  • The tilting train technology aims to counter this centrifugal force by tilting the carriages towards the inside of the curve.
• The first tilting car design was developed in the US in 1937.
• This mechanism is currently used in many countries including the US, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Russia, the Czech Republic, the UK, and China.
• These trains can achieve a speed of over 200 km/hr. 

G. Tidbits

1. Navy chief unveils joint navigation chart in Maldives

• The Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), during his visit to the Maldives, unveiled the first navigation chart jointly prepared by the two countries. 
• He presented a consignment of engineering equipment which includes hydrography equipment for further sustenance of MNDF ships, thereby reaffirming India’s commitment to the capacity-building efforts of the MNDF.
• The Maldivian Defence Ministry thanked the Indian Navy for facilitating the transport of medicines during the pandemic and for the continuous support rendered by the Indian Navy in the maintenance and repair of the MNDF Coast Guard Fleet.
• INS Sutlej is deployed in the Maldives and it undertakes joint hydrographic surveys under the MoU on hydrographic cooperation.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to AYUSH: 

1. In 2014, the Department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare became a ministry on its own – the Ministry of Ayush.
2. The ministry of AYUSH runs an e-AUSHADHI Portal for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters.
3. Practitioners of Ayurveda aren’t allowed to perform any surgery in India.

Choose the correct code. (Level – Medium)

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, In 2014, the Ministry of Ayush was set up which was earlier the Department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Statement 2 is correct, the AYUSH Ministry launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs and related matters.
  • The e-AUSHADHI portal is intended to increase transparency, improve information management facility, improve data usability and increase accountability.
• Statement 3 is not correct, The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), India’s principal regulatory body for Ayurveda education, released a notification that permits postgraduate Ayurveda practitioners to perform 58 types of surgeries. 

Q2. Which of the following nation's constitution’s 20th amendment, also known as 20A, has 
been in the news recently?(Level – Easy)

1. Pakistan
2. Nepal
3. Myanmar
4. Sri Lanka

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Sri Lanka’s 20th constitutional amendment is also known as 20A.
  • It provides expansive powers and greater immunity for the President.
• Hence option d is correct.

Q3. Consider the following statements with regards to the P75 project: 

1. Project 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that is based on the Scorpene class, which are being built at MDL (Mazagon Dock Limited).
2. Submarine Vagsheer is the last of the Scorpene-class submarines to be built under P75.
3. MDL has used indigenous technology for all the submarines built under P75.

Choose the correct code: (Level – Difficult)

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, Project 75 intends to build six diesel-electric attack submarines of the Kalvari class that are based on the Scorpene class, which are being built at Mazagon Dock Limited.
• Statement 2 is correct, Submarine Vagsheer is the last of the Scorpene-class submarines to be built under Project 75.
• Statement 3 is not correct, The Mazagon Dock Limited is manufacturing these submarines with technical assistance from the Naval Group of France.
  • Scorpene-class submarines are jointly developed by the French Naval Group and the Spanish company Navantia.
  • In 2005, India purchased six submarines for US$3 billion, under a technology transfer agreement.

Q4. Consider the following statements with regards to the Smart Cities Mission: 

1. The mission aims to develop 100 cities into self-sustaining urban developments.  
2. The mission includes setting up an Integrated Command and Control Centre for each of the smart cities.
3. During the pandemic, these centres also served as the war rooms for Covid-19 management. 

Choose the correct code: (Level – Easy)

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, The mission was launched in 2015 with an aim to develop 100 cities into self-sustaining urban developments.
• Statement 2 is correct, The mission includes setting up Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) for each of the smart cities.
• Statement 3 is correct, During the pandemic, the municipalities used the Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) as war rooms for the Covid-19 response.

Q5. Consider the following statements with regards to the freedom fighter Veer Kunwar Singh: 

1. He was the chief organiser of the fight against the British in Uttar Pradesh. 
2. He belonged to a family of the Ujjainiya clan of the Parmar Rajputs of Jagdispur.
3. To honour his contribution to India’s freedom movement, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp on 23 April 1966. 

Choose the correct code: (Level – Difficult)

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct, Veer Kunwar Singh was the chief organiser of the fight against the British in Bihar.
• Statement 2 is correct, Veer Kunwar Singh belonged to a family of the Ujjainiya clan of the Parmar Rajputs of Jagdispur (currently in Bhojpur District, Bihar).
• Statement 3 is correct, In 1966, the Government of India released a commemorative stamp in his honour.

Q6. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: 

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female. 
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months. 
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only. 
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (Level – Difficult) 

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, An elephant herd has mainly females and baby elephants. The oldest female is the leader of the herd.
• Statement 2 is correct, African elephants have a gestation period of up to 22 months, while Asian elephants have a gestation period of 18-22 months. 
  • This is the longest gestation period of all mammals.
• Statement 3 is not correct, The ability of elephants to produce offspring is constant between the ages of 16 and 40 and then declines slightly. However, females over the age of 60 can still give birth.
• Statement 4 is not correct, According to a report released by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Karnataka has the highest number of elephants followed by Assam and Kerala.