26 Apr 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 26th April 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
WORLD HISTORY
1. What happened to Armenians in 1915?
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. U.S. to allow India access to vaccine raw materials
C. GS 3 Related
SECURITY
1. ‘No volunteer list under cyber scheme’
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY
1. A case for judicial federalism
ENVIRONMENT
1. A green partnership
HEALTH
1. The road ahead in India’s augmented vaccination drive
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. What Israel wants in Syria
2. Endeavour, leadership and the story of a nation
F. Prelims Facts
1. PM CARES to fund 551 oxygen plants in hospitals
2. Compulsory Licensing
3. Deep Time Project
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

2. Compulsory Licensing

  • Compulsory License is a licence issued/authorised by the government that allows the company or an individual seeking other’s intellectual property to use it (making, using and selling a patented product or employing a patented process) without having to seek the consent of the owner/the right holder, by paying a predetermined fee for the license.
  • Indian Patents Act 1970 and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights deal with compulsory licensing.
  • The application for a compulsory license can be made any time after 3 years from the date of sealing of a patent.
  • As per Clause 92 of the Patent Act, compulsory licenses can also be issued suo motu by the Controller of Patents pursuant to a notification issued by the Central Government in cases of national emergency, extreme urgency, public non-commercial use.

Read more on Compulsory Licensing.

3. Deep Time Project

What’s in News?

Deep Time project in the Lombrives Cave in France came to an end. For 40 days and 40 nights, a group of 15 members lived in and explored the cave as part of the project.

  • It is being studied by the Human Adaption Institute.
  • Deep Time project investigated how a lack of external contact would affect the sense of time.
  • It aimed at studying how people adapt to drastic changes in living conditions, environments.

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. How did the Defense Production Act of the USA affect India during the pandemic?
  1. US violated India’s EEZ under its provisions.
  2. US raised the prices of defence exports to India.
  3. US placed export controls on raw materials for COVID-19 vaccines.
  4. US withdrew from joint defence production projects with India.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Defense Production Act of USA was passed in 1950 in response to the Korean War.
  • The act grants emergency powers that allow the U.S. government to control private-sector production decisions.
  • As a consequence of the U.S.’s Defense Production Act, federal government purchase orders have to be prioritised over foreign orders.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US placed export controls on raw materials for COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Exports of critical raw materials used in the production of some Covid-19 vaccines were blocked by the US as a result of Biden’s decision to invoke the US Defense Production Act.
  • The US restrictions hit the output of major suppliers for the world. This includes vaccines like Covishield and Covovax, which the Serum Institute of India was expected to supply.
Q2. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. Compulsory licensing (CL) is when a government allows someone else to produce a patented product or process without the consent of the patent owner or plans to use the patent-protected invention itself.
  2. It is one of the flexibilities in the field of patent protection included in the WTO’s agreement on intellectual property — the TRIPS.
  3. When a CL is issued, the patent owner loses rights over the patent and need not be compensated for copies of the products made under the compulsory licence.

Options:

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2, and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Compulsory licensing (CL) is when a government allows someone else to produce a patented product or process without the consent of the patent owner or plans to use the patent-protected invention itself.
  • It is one of the flexibilities in the field of patent protection included in the WTO’s agreement on intellectual property — the TRIPS.
  • When a CL is issued, the patent owner would still continue to have rights over the patent, including a right to be paid compensation for copies of the products made under the compulsory licence.
Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal has been set up under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to allow reporting of cybercrimes.
  2. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has been established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to act as a nodal point in the fight against cybercrime.
  3. I4C has envisaged the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program to bring together citizen volunteers on a single platform to help them contribute to the fight against cybercrime by flagging any unlawful content for facilitating law enforcement agencies.

Options:

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal has been set up under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has been established under the Ministry of Home Affairs to act as a nodal point in the fight against cybercrime.
  • I4C has envisaged the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program to bring together citizen volunteers on a single platform to help them contribute to the fight against cybercrime by flagging any unlawful content for facilitating law enforcement agencies.
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are INCORRECT?
  1. India has procured the C-17 Globemaster from the USA.
  2. It is manufactured by Boeing.
  3. It is a large military transport aircraft used for tactical and strategic airlift missions to transport troops, cargo including heavy weaponry, medical evacuation and airdrop duties.

Options:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • India has procured the C-17 Globemaster from the USA.
  • C-17 Globemaster is manufactured by Boeing.
  • It is a large military transport aircraft used for tactical and strategic airlift missions to transport troops, cargo including heavy weaponry, medical evacuation and airdrop duties.
Q5. The ‘Deep Time’ project, that aimed at studying how people adapt to extreme changes in 
living conditions and environment caused by isolation and darkness, was held recently in 
which country?
  1. Switzerland
  2. France
  3. USA
  4. Germany
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Deep Time project was held in the Lombrives Cave in France.
  • Deep Time project investigated how a lack of external contact would affect the sense of time.
  • It aimed at studying how people adapt to drastic changes in living conditions, environments.
Q6. Siachen Glacier is situated to the – [UPSC 2020]
  1. East of Aksai Chin
  2. East of Leh
  3. North of Gilgit
  4. North of Nubra Valley
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • The Siachen Glacier is a glacier located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas.
  • It is situated to the North of Nubra Valley.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Evaluate India’s contribution to the ‘Liberation of Bangladesh’ War and what has been its biggest outcome today? (250 words; 15 marks) [GS 2, International Relations]
  2. The U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership has the potential to aid sustainable post-pandemic development. Discuss (250 words; 15 marks) [GS 3, Environment]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 26th April 2021:- Download PDF Here

Comments

Leave a Comment

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published.

*

*