01 August 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

Quote for the day Set 5 11

CNA 01 August 2022:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
GOVERNANCE
1. The need for a distinction between blasphemy and hate speech
C. GS 3 Related
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. The technology powering hybrid electric vehicles
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Representation, all the way up
2. An Alarming fall
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Bringing Eurasia Closer
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. AL NAJAH IV
2. Helicopters to armed forces
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

2. An Alarming fall

Syllabus: Parliament – conduct of business, powers and privileges and issues arising out of it.

Prelims: Function and responsibility of parliament.

Context:

  • Due to Opposition party’s protests in the parliament, the productivity and efficiency of the legislature have deteriorated.

Details:

  • The recent furore seen in the parliament and the continued protest have brought to fore the challenges in efficient business of the Legislative body.

Current Issues:

  • The ill timed legislation leaves no room for desired deliberation
  • The quality of debates and discussion are substandard.
  • The parliamentary committee role and participation have been diluted
  • Also the span and sessions of parliament have found to be inadequate
  • Datas has shown that in the previous years the suspension of member of parliament(M.P.) have went up three times

Impact:

  • It disrupts the legislative process of passing bills
  • Making the entire session unproductive.

Measures to be taken:

  • The efficient use of the tools, mechanism and business rule to ensure productive functioning of the legislature.
  • Both the ruling and the opposition party should delve into dialogues and enhance the efficiency of the parliamentary session.

Nut Graf: Robust parliamentary proceedings are required for efficient functioning of the Democracy.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Bringing Eurasia Closer

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interest

Prelims: Important International institutions, agencies and their structure, mandate

Context:

  • Recently, two containers from Russia’s Astrakhan port reached Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai

International North-South Transport Corridor:

  • It is a 7,200-km long multi-modal transport corridor combining road, rail and maritime routes.
  • It connects Russia and India via central Asia and Iran.
  • Purpose : To consolidate the Eurasian Free Trade Area
  • The legal framework of INSTC was established under trilateral agreement between Russia, India and Iran
  • Other Countries to sign the instrument of accession: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Oman, Syria and Tajikistan.

Significance:

  • INSTC would reduce the cost of freight by 30% and time of journey by 40% as compared to the conventional deep sea route via the Suez Canal.
  • Also untoward incidents like halting maritime traffic in the Suez Canal route (between Mediterranean sea and red sea ) can be avoided.

Significance for India:

  • Allow accessibility to Afghanistan and central Asia.
  • Indian companies will be offered the opportunity to expand their business through a special economic zone around Chabahar.
  • Reliance on Pakistan to access Afghanistan, central Asia and beyond will not be required.
  • It can counter the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative ) of China.

Challenges associated:

  • Both Iran and Russia are under western sanctions.
  • Quad Summit overshadowed the INSTC by pressing for the need for a free and open Indian ocean region.

For more on INSTC read: https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/international-north-south-transport-corridor/

Nut Graf: INSTC launch has great potential for India in expanding it’s trade to Central Asia as well as to counter China’s BRI.

F. Prelims Facts

Nothing here for today!!!

G. Tidbits

1. AL NAJAH IV

  • India and Oman will carry out a military exercise with a focus on counterterror cooperation. 
    • Scope of the exercise includes “the establishment of joint command and control structures and elimination of terrorist threats, professional interaction, mutual understanding of drills and procedures”
  • This will be the 04th edition between contingents of Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman 
  • It is scheduled to take place at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.
  • The previous edition was organized in Muscat in March 2019. 
  • These exercises enhance the  level of bilateral defense cooperation and act as a catalyst in bringing synergy and cooperation while undertaking such operations under the United Nations mandate.

2. Helicopters to armed forces

  • In the utility category, Indian Air Force and the Army together have a requirement of over 400 helicopters and are meant to replace the Cheetahs and Chetaks. 
  • This requirement was to be met jointly by the  light utility helicopters (LUHs) and the 200 Ka-226T utility helicopters to be built with technology transfer from Russia. 
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. has received the Letter of Intent from the Services for the manufacture of  indigenously designed and developed 12 LUHs. 
    • The LUH is a 03-ton class new generation single engine helicopter designed and developed by Rotary Wing Research and Design Center of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) indigenously with features suitable for operations in the diverse operating conditions unique to India.
  • Nine  light combat helicopters (LCH) have been manufactured against the sanction of 15 limited series production (LSP) variants and are in the process of being handed over to the Services.
  • The Indian Army is in negotiations for acquiring  more Apache AH-64E attack helicopters from Boeing.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the following are the examples of Residual Mountains? (Level- Medium)
  1. Aravalli
  2. Girnar hills
  3. Javadi hills
  4. Nilgiri hills

Options:

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

Answer: d

Explanation: 

  1. Residual mountains are the remains of previously existing mountains that have been subjected to weathering and erosion for an extended period.
  2. They owe their current shape to erosion by  glaciers, rivers, wind, etc
  3. Aravalli hills, Nilgiri Hills, Javadi hills, Girnar hills, Sierra of Spain are so[me of the examples of Residue mountains.

Read more on Mountain Formation

 

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Aravalli range: (Level-Easy)
  1. It acts as a major barrier preventing the spread of the desert
  2. The highest peak is Guru Shikhar
  3. All the rivers in Rajasthan originate from the slopes of the Aravalli range

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: a

Explanation: 

  • Statement 01 is correct, Aravalli range acts as a barrier to check further spread of desertification to the east of Rajasthan and subsequently to Gangetic plains.
  • Statement 02 is correct, Guru Shikhar is the highest peak of Aravalli with 1722 meters, located near Mount Abu.
  • Statement 03 is incorrect, Chambal, the only perennial river of Rajasthan, originates from the Northern slopes of Vindhya Range

Read more on Aravalli Range here

 

Q3. Al Najah is joint military training exercise between India and (Level-easy)
  1. Bahrain
  2. Oman
  3. Qatar
  4. United Arab Emirates
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:  

  • It takes place between contingents of the Indian Army and the Royal Army of Oman.
  • Fourth edition of Al Najah is set to take place at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan.
  • Focus of fourth edition will be on Counter terrorism operations.

 

Q4. Which of the following is/are correctly matched? (Level-Difficult)
  1. Kerch Strait -Black Sea with the Sea of Azov
  2. Strait of Messina- Tyrrhenian Sea with the Ionian Sea
  3. Strait of Dover- North Sea with English Channel

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: 

  • Statement 01 is correct, The Kerch Strait is in Eastern Europe connecting Black Sea and the Sea of Azov separating the Crimean Kerch Peninsula in the west from the Taman Peninsula of Russia in the east.
Kerch Strait

Image Credit: The Economist Intelligence Unit

  • Statement 02 is correct, The Strait of Messina is a narrow strait between the eastern Sicily and  western tip of calabria in Southern Italy. 
  • It connects the Tyrrhenian Sea to the north with the Ionian Sea to the south, within the central Mediterranean.
Strait of Messina

Image Credit: www.jcvi.org

  • Statement 03 is correct, Dover Strait marks the boundary between the English Channel and North Sea separating Continental Europe from Great Britain.
Dover Strait

Image Source: Wikipedia

 

Q5. Consider the following statements:(Level-Difficult)(CSE-2022)
  1. Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the recent years.
  2. Vietnam is led by a multi-party political system.
  3. Vietnam’s economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and focus on exports.
  4. For a long time, Vietnam’s low labor costs and stable exchange rates have attracted global manufacturers.
  5. Vietnam has the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific region.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 2 and 4
  2. 3 and 5
  3. 1, 3 and 4
  4. 1 and 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: 

  • Statement 1 is correct. Economic reforms initiated in 1986, along with beneficial global trends, have helped Vietnam move from being one of the world’s poorest nations to a middle-income economy in one generation. 
    • Between 2002 and 2021, GDP per capita increased 3.6 times, reaching almost US$3,700.
  • Statement 2 is incorrect. Vietnam is a one-party socialist republic.
  • Statement 3 is correct: Vietnam’s export-led growth strategy and global integration are the major contributors in its growth and poverty reduction. 
  • Statement 4 is correct: By minimizing trade and foreign investment restrictions, Vietnam attracted several multinational companies. Along with this and its low wages, it became an attractive platform for manufacturing and exports.
  • Statement 5 is incorrect: Vietnam has one of the  most productive e-service sectors in the Indo-Pacific region but cannot be called the most productive e-service sector in the entire Indo-Pacific region.

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 01 August 2022:- Download PDF Here

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