05 Aug 2018: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS1 Related
CULTURE
1. Kailasa temple
B. GS2 Related
HEALTH
1. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Latin America seeks more missions
C. GS3 Related
ENVIRONMENT
1. Portuguese man-of-war
D. GS4 Related
E. Editorials
F. Tidbits
G. Prelims Fact
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions 

A. GS1 Related

• The construction of the temple began during the rule of the Rashtrakuta king, Dantidurga (735-757 AD).
• Major work on the temple was done by King Dantidurga’s successor, Krishna I (757-773 AD), although work continued under many successive kings for more than a century.
• It is located in Ellora, Maharashtra.

Facts

• There are 34 caves in Ellora, numbered according to their age.
• Temples 1 to 12 in the Southern side are the 12 Buddhist caves.
• Temples 13 to 29 are the 17 Hindu caves.
• Temples 30 – 34 are the 5 Jain caves.
• The Kailasanatha temple (Cave 16) is one of the 34 cave temples and monasteries known collectively as the Ellora Caves.

Features

• The carving of the temple started from the top of the mountain but a pit was later dug around the temple on the sloping side of the hill
• Apart from the gopura , the main temple has a sabha griha ( hall), vestibules and a Nandi mandap which leads to the garba griha (sanctum) with the Shiv linga, all of which are profusely carved and with Dravidian shikharas (towers). A bridge connects the Nandi mandap to the gopuram .

Cultural Link

• The temple houses several intricately carved panels, depicting scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the adventures of Krishna.
• There are five detached shrines in the temple premises; three of these are dedicated to the river goddesses: Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.

B. GS2 Related

Context

• A research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) revealed frequent digital media use appeared to increase the risk of having symptoms of ADHD by about 10%.

Likely Problems

• ADHD can have many negative effects on teenagers including poor school performance.
• The risk was higher among boys than girls, and among teens suffering from depression or have a previous history of getting into trouble
• It can also increase their likelihood of getting involved in risky activities like substance abuse and legal problems.
• It can cause insomnia, fragmented sleep, etc.
• Smartphone is a cause for parent-child conflict in 30% of the cases.
• It is found to decrease the brain’s grey matter density, which is responsible for cognition and emotional control.

Common symptoms

• Blackberry Thumb, cellphone elbow,
• Nomophobia (Nomophobia is the irrational fear of being without your mobile phone or being unable to use your phone for some reason, such as the absence of a signal or running out of minutes or battery power)
• Ringxiety (Phantom vibration syndrome or phantom ringing syndrome is the perception that one’s mobile phone is vibrating or ringing when it is not ringing.)
• inattentiveness (being easily distracted, having difficulty getting organised or remembering to do things),
• hyperactivity (having difficulty sitting still),
• Impulsivity (making decisions without thinking through the possible consequences).

Control Measures

Conclusion

• In this digital era, the key to good health should be moderation i.e. moderate use of technology.
• People have become slaves to devices that were really meant to free us and give us more time to experience life and spend time with people.

Background

• India had made a promise in 2010 that it will open three new embassies in Latin American nations

Details

• Shashi Tharoor Minister of State for External Affairs in the UPA Ministry, announced in the Dominican Republic that India would open missions in that country, Ecuador and Uruguay.
• These three countries have opened diplomatic missions in India, but India has not reciprocated the gesture
• India does not have missions in Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and El Salvador, though they have missions in India.

Embassy is not important

• Instead of spending millions to keep ambassadors, security teams, and other support staff resident in a foreign country, presidents and prime ministers can now conveniently communicate directly on matters of urgency and importance.
• Cellular phones, e-mails and video-conferencing technology enables world leaders, government officials and bureaucrats to communicate and coordinate directly with one another.
• If person-to-person contact is a must, air travel allows an official to be anywhere in the world in less than a day. Some countries designate special envoys to take advantage
  • The use of special envoys to cover specific countries and/or issues is certainly more cost-effective than maintaining a fully staffed embassy.
• A network of local contacts can likewise be established to serve as sources on the ground to help gather and evaluate data, information and news, which can then be made available electronically.

Embassy is important

1. Why is LA important for India?

• In 2016-17, India exported more to Mexico ($3.5 billion) than to neighbours such as Thailand ($3.1 billion), Myanmar ($1.7 billion) and Iran ($2.4 billion) or traditional trade partners Russia ($1.9 billion) and Canada ($2 billion).
• India’s trade with the Dominican Republic ($900 million) was more than the trade with Portugal, Greece and some other European countries.
• India beat China in export of pharmaceuticals to Latin America. India’s exports were $651 million in comparison to China’s $404 million in 2016. In fact, in the last five years, India has been exporting more pharma to Latin America than China.

2. Pacific Alliance

• The Pacific Alliance (Spanish: Alianza del Pacífico) is a Latin American trade bloc, formed by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, which all border the Pacific Ocean.
• These countries have come together to form an area of integration with the purpose of ensure a complete freedom in the movement of goods, services, capital, and people.

India’s Role

• India enjoys an observer status at the annual summit of Pacific Alliance
• A key area for collaboration for PA and India could be understanding the impacts of El-Nino and its common approach against this weather pattern. Countries dependent upon agriculture and fishing, particularly those bordering the Pacific Ocean, are the most affected by El-Nino. All PA states have coasts along the Pacific.
• PA is turning out to be an integrated market and it opens up opportunities for India in SMEs sector, trade facilitation, science & technology innovation and export of Indian pharmaceutical products.

The Indian elephant has already engaged the tigers of Asia. It is now the turn of the pumas of the Pacific

3. Differences between Chinese and Indian outward FDI.

• Indian FDI is largely fuelled by supply and demand and private companies, whereas the Chinese one is mostly led by government
• India’s FDI goes mostly to the developed world and to manufacturing and services, whereas Chinese FDI is mainly geared to developing countries and mining,
• India’s comparative advantages lie in its corporate governance and management, whereas China’s are in government strategy and economic diplomacy.

Conclusion

• A combination of government initiatives and private ventures and diplomatic engagements have to be increased if we have to realise the full potential of India-LAC ties.
• Specifically, establishing or maintaining an embassy is a clear sign to the host government of a commitment to deepening bilateral relations.

C. GS3 Related

Context

• Lifeguards have spotted a cluster of Portuguese man-of-war, a jelly-like marine organism in Goa Beaches

Details

• The marine organism is commonly known as ‘bluebottle’ or ‘floating terror’.
• IUCN: Least Concern

Issue Area

• Most jellyfish stings are harmless to humans and cause only a mild irritation, species like the bluebottle are venomous and can cause harm on contact.
• Even a dead bluebottle washed up on shore can deliver a sting

First aid

• First aid that can be delivered include washing the stung area with hot water, as heat breaks down the toxins.
• Vinegar is also known to diffuse the poison present in the tentacles.
• Ice packs can reduce swelling but a visit to the doctor is recommended

D. GS4 Related

E. Editorials

F. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam

Question 1. Mattala international airport is in

Question 2. Consider the following about PMI:

Question 3. Which road category has highest road length in India?

Question 4. With reference to Black buck consider the following statements:

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Establishing the embassy in another country is not important. Critically analyze.
2. India’s architectural expertise was much advanced than other civilizations. Illustrate with examples.
3. Define the terms:
   1. Fortitude
   2. Jus ad bellum
   3. Veracity
   4. Ethical governance

Also, check previous Daily News Analysis