CNA 23rd April 2021:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. ‘U.S. will cut emissions by 52% by 2030’ 2. Modi announces climate partnership with U.S. 3. Australia ends China deals on national interest grounds C. GS 3 Related ECONOMY 1. Exploring best way to resolve Cairn issue: FM D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY 1. Judges pro tem 2. Should election campaigns be made virtual? EDUCATION 1. Making education accessible F. Prelims Facts 1. Swine fever hits four Mizoram districts G. Tidbits 1. Centre cracks down on curbs to oxygen movement 2. Israel strikes Syria after attack near nuclear site 3. Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe to visit Sri Lanka 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. ‘U.S. will cut emissions by 52% by 2030’
Context:
Leaders’ Summit on Climate was hosted by US President Joe Biden.
Details:
- 40 world leaders, including the Prime Minister of India, Presidents of China and Russia have been invited to the virtual Leaders’ Summit on Climate to underscore the urgency of stronger climate action.
- The US is seeking to bring America back into a leadership role on climate action after Mr. Trump had withdrawn the country from the Paris Agreement.
- President Biden and his administration have linked climate action and clean technology to jobs and economic growth.
- This is seen as a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021 in Glasgow.
Key Takeaways:
- It was announced that the U.S. would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50%-52% by 2030 relative to 2005 levels.
- It was also announced that the U.S. would double its annual financing commitments to developing countries by 2024, including a tripling of its adaptation finance by 2024.
- The emissions targets which are part of the Paris Agreement on climate are non-binding.
- Biden’s financing announcements are part of a $100 billion a year commitment from developed countries to developing countries for the period 2020-25.
2. Modi announces climate partnership with U.S.
Context:
The Prime Minister of India announced that India and the U.S. were launching an energy and climate partnership during the Leaders’ Summit on Climate.
Details:
- “India-U.S. climate and clean energy agenda 2030 partnership” will help mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies, and enable green collaborations.
- The partnership will proceed along two main tracks which will build on and subsume a range of existing processes:
- the strategic clean energy partnership and the climate action
- finance mobilisation dialogue
India’s Climate Targets:
- India is targeting a 2030 GDP emissions intensity ( i.e., volume of emissions per unit of GDP) that is 33%-35% below 2005 levels.
- It also seeks to have 40% of power generated from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
Note:
NDCs or Nationally Defined Contributions are targets defined by each country to help achieve the Paris Agreement’s objective of keeping global warming to considerably below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius.
3. Australia ends China deals on national interest grounds
Context:
Australia has cancelled two accords between Victoria State and China on the Belt and Road Initiative because they were out of line with the federal government’s foreign policy.
- It was asserted that Australia sees a “free and open Indo-Pacific” as a key goal.
Note:
- In Australia, under a new process, States must consult with the Foreign Minister before signing agreements with other nations.
Details:
- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman responded by urging Australia to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias and immediately correct its mistakes and change course.
- The China-Australia relationship is already facing serious difficulties.
- China blocked imports of Australian coal, beef, wine, lobsters and other goods after Australia called for an investigation into the coronavirus.
Note:
- China is Australia’s No. 1 foreign market.
- Chinese steel mills still buy Australian iron ore, the country’s most valuable export.
- The vast Chinese steel industry and its need for iron ore would likely restrain China from taking drastic action in response.
C. GS 3 Related
1. Exploring best way to resolve Cairn issue: FM
Context:
Finance Minister said that the government was looking at how best it could sort out the issue arising out of New Delhi being ordered to return $1.2 billion-plus interest and costs to the U.K.’s Cairn Energy Plc.
This issue has been covered in the 27th January 2021 Comprehensive News Analysis.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Context
- Under Article 224A of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for the appointment of retired judges as ad-hoc judges in High Courts to deal with the mounting backlog of cases.
224A. Appointment of retired Judges at sittings of High Courts
- The Chief Justice of a High Court for any State, may with the previous consent of the President, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of that Court or of any other High Court to sit and act as a Judge of the High Court for that State, and every such person so requested shall, while so sitting and acting, be entitled to such allowances as the President may by order determine and have all the jurisdiction, powers, and privileges of, but shall not otherwise be deemed to be, a Judge of that High Court
The appointment of the judges to the high courts is governed by Article 217 of the Constitution.
In addition to the constitutional provisions, the process of appointments is outlined in the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP).
- It is initiated by the Chief Justice of the concerned high court who recommends the nominees to the state government. Ideally, this process should begin six months prior to the occurrence of the vacancy.
- The state government then sends the recommendation to the Union Law Ministry, which then sends it to the Supreme Court Collegium.
- It is a cumbersome procedure and while timelines for certain stages are contemplated in the MoP, they are rarely adhered to in the absence of an overall time limit for the completion of the process.
A look at numbers – Pendency and Vacancy
- High courts currently have a sanctioned strength of 1,080 judges and are working with only 661 judges, leaving 419 posts vacant. This approximates to a 39 per cent vacancy.
- An estimated 57 lakh cases are pending in the 25 high courts across the country.
Supreme Court guidelines for the appointment of ad-hoc judges in High Courts
The Court has made a beginning by directing that the trigger point for such an appointment will be when-
- The vacancies are more than 20% of the sanctioned strength.
- The cases in a particular category are pending for over five years.
- More than 10% of the backlog of pending cases are over five years old.
- The rate of disposal is slower than the rate of the institution of fresh cases.
Pre-recommendation process
- Past performance of recommendees in both quality and quantum of disposal of cases should be factored in for selection as the objective is to clear the backlog.
Tenure of Appointment
- The tenure for which an ad hoc Judge is appointed may vary on the basis of the need but suffice to say that in order to give an element of certainty and looking at the purpose for which they are appointed, generally, the appointment should be for a period between two to three years.
Emoluments and Allowances
- The emoluments and allowances of an ad hoc Judge should be at par with a permanent Judge of that Court at the relevant stage of time minus the pension.
- Emoluments to be paid would be a charge on the Consolidated Fund of India consisting of salary and allowances.
Concerns
- Extraordinary delay in filling up judicial vacancies.
Clarification from the top court
- The Court has clarified that this is a “transitory methodology” and does not constrain the regular appointment process.
Way forward
- As for the judiciary, it should ensure that only retired judges with experience and expertise are offered temporary positions, and there is no hint of favouritism.
- The judiciary and executive should work together to address the shortage of judges and the mounting backlog of cases.
2. Should election campaigns be made virtual?
What if campaigning is restricted to virtual mode?
Concerns:
- It will disadvantage candidates from deprived socioeconomic communities, and candidates in rural India.
- In a virtual campaign, there will be unevenness with regard to the Internet and social media access, and the ability to use new technology to one’s advantage.
If the pandemic situation doesn’t improve, does the Election Commission (EC) have the powers to mandate a virtual campaign?
- The EC has the powers to set the terms and conditions of the campaign. If those are very tough, political parties may go to court against the EC’s decision.
- But the EC does have the powers to set the rules for how an election is to be conducted. For instance, campaigning normally stops 48 hours before polling, but now in Bengal EC has extended the silence period from 48 hours to 72 hours.
1. Making education accessible
Context
- The article analyses the challenges with respect to quality education and suggests measures to be taken by the Government at the earliest.
Use of Airwaves
- The Government of India owns the airwaves. Prasar Bharati is India’s broadcasting corporation handling both radio and television in India.
- All India Radio (AIR) is blessed with 470 broadcasting centres which cover 92% of the country’s geographical area and 99.19% of our population.
- Doordarshan (DD) handles television, online and mobile broadcasting across our country and the world with 34 satellite channels, 17 well-equipped studios in State capitals and 49 studio centres in other cities.
Suggestion
- With such resources, AIR and DD can be used to broadcast lessons, given that education is one of the three functions of the two agencies under the Prasar Bharati Act.
- If regular radio is not enough, we also have digital radio spawning FM stations leased out to private players for a fee and several FM stations that are run by NGOs, universities and such agencies.
- These agencies can be reinvented to cater to the needs of the education sector.
Significance
- With AIR and DD being free, the heavy drain on financial resources will be drastically reduced.
Free hours of Internet
- The Government can request the Internet Service Providers to provide the teachers and students after verification few hours of free Internet usage.
Conclusion
- These steps will not be easy to implement but the government should take a firm decision that is in the interest of the people.
- Therefore, adequate public financial resources must be allocated for providing access to online educational facilities, in particular, for the students belonging to the economically weaker sections in order to overcome the prevalent digital divide.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Swine fever hits four Mizoram districts
What’s in News?
Certain areas in four districts of Mizoram have been declared as epicentres of the African swine fever (ASF).
African swine fever (ASF):
- African Swine Fever (ASF) is different from swine flu. The virus does not affect people and there is no impact on human health.
- Swine influenza or swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs, which is caused by type A influenza virus.
- ASF is a severe viral disease that affects wild and domestic pigs typically resulting in an acute haemorrhagic fever.
- ASF is caused by a large DNA virus of the Asfarviridae family.
G. Tidbits
1. Centre cracks down on curbs to oxygen movement
What’s in News?
The Centre invoked the Disaster Management Act, making the District Magistrates and Senior Superintendents of Police personally liable to ensure unhindered inter-State movement of vehicles carrying medical oxygen and to not restrict the supply to a particular State where the oxygen plant is located.
- The Disaster Management Act of 2005 (DMA 2005) is an act passed by the government of India for the efficient management of disasters and other matters connected to it.
- The stated object and purpose of the DM Act is to manage disasters, including preparation of mitigation strategies, capacity-building and more.
Read more on Disaster Management Act.
2. Israel strikes Syria after attack near nuclear site
What’s in News?
Syria fired a surface-to-air missile to a secretive nuclear site in Israel’s southern Negev.
Details:
- The missile was fired to southern Israel, where the Dimona nuclear reactor is located.
- Dimona has for long been identified as the epicentre of the Israeli regime’s military nuclear program.
- In response strikes were launched by Israel.
- The exchange of fire comes less than two weeks after Iran accused its arch-foe Israel of terrorism following an explosion at the Islamic republic’s Natanz nuclear facility.
Note:
- Syria and Israel are technically at war, due to Tel Aviv’s (Israel) occupation of the former’s Golan Heights.
- Since the outbreak of Syria’s civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out aerial raids on the country, mostly targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops.
3. Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe to visit Sri Lanka
What’s in News?
China’s Minister of Defence Wei Fenghe will visit Sri Lanka in the second high-level visit from Beijing to Colombo in the past six months.
- China has provided crucial support to Sri Lanka in the pandemic year, by way of a $1 billion loan, as well as a $1.5 billion currency swap facility to help the Colombo government boost its foreign reserves.
- The visit assumes significance in the wake of heightened scrutiny within Sri Lanka, over China’s role and presence in the country, through infrastructure projects.
- Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court is currently hearing a case, of nearly 20 petitions challenging a Bill, of proposed, special laws to govern the China-funded $1.4- billion Port City coming up on reclaimed land on Colombo’s seafront.
This issue has been covered in 16th April 2021 CNA.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. The Sabang Port signifies India’s close defence relations with which country?
- Oman
- Mauritius
- Indonesia
- Myanmar
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Sabang is a city consisting of a main island and several smaller islands off the northern tip of Sumatra.
- The Sabang port is located near the Strait of Malacca, a strategic shipping channel.
- Sabang lies at the northern entrance to the Strait of Malacca. It is also known as the northernmost and westernmost city of Indonesia.
Q2. Which of the following is NOT the mandate of the Competition Commission of India?
- Eliminate practices having an adverse effect on competition.
- Promote and sustain competition.
- Protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade.
- Intervene in the foreign exchange market to deal with currency fluctuation.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 4 only
- 1, 2, and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Competition Commission of India is a statutory body responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002.
- The mandate of the Commission is to:
- Eliminate practices having an adverse effect on competition.
- Promote and sustain competition.
- Protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants, in markets in India.
Q3. Solar dehydration helps in:
- Preserving natural produce and reducing food wastage.
- Stabilising electricity grids during voltage fluctuations.
- Restricting the impact of solar radiation on satellites and other space assets.
- Reducing water evaporation from irrigation canals and dams.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Solar dehydration is used as a way to preserve natural produce, thereby reducing food wastage.
- Equipment such as Solar Conduction Dryer (SCD), a portable solar-powered machine that dries vegetables and spices while retaining nutrients are used for dehydrating the natural produce.
Q4. A Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is associated with which technology?
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- 5G Communication
- Blockchain
- AI-driven Automation
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are cryptographic assets on blockchain with unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish them from each other.
- They cannot be traded or exchanged at equivalency like cryptocurrencies.
Q5. “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by:
- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- The UNEP Secretariat
- The UNFCCC Secretariat
- The World Meteorological Organization
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
“Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative spearheaded by the UNFCCC Secretariat.
Note: This question is from Civil Services Prelims (2018) Question Paper.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Roping in retired HC judges to clear the backlog of cases should not be at the cost of regular appointments. Elucidate. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, Polity and Governance]
- Examine the recent issues seen in appointments to Tribunals. (250 words; 15marks) [GS-2, Polity and Governance]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 23rd April 2021:- Download PDF Here
Comments