CNA 20 Aug 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India- China Relationship 2. The ocean diversity pact C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. The injustice of exceptionalism ECONOMY 1. From darkness to solar-powered light F. Prelims Facts 1. CAROTAR 2. AK-203 Rifles G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Category: GS2-International relations
Syllabus: India and its Neighbourhood – Relations
Mains: Shift in India-China relations
Context: China concurred with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent observation on the significance of India-China cooperation.
India’s Comment:
- During a lecture on ‘India’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific’, Mr. Jaishankar highlighted the ongoing difficult phase in the relationship between India and China due to the standoff following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area in May 2020. Know more about the India – China clash in 2020 in the linked article.
- He emphasized the need for cooperation between both countries to realize the goal of the ‘Asian Century’ among other reasons.
- China has so far not responded positively to the peace process, though it insists on greater elaboration of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) in order to keep the India-China frontier calm.
China’s response:
- Chinese Foreign Minister endorsed Mr. Jaishankar’s view and said it hoped India would work with it in “the same direction” to bring relations back on track at “an early date”.
- China emphasized the need for development in both countries for a true ‘Asia Pacific Century’ or ‘Asian Century’ as both have far more common interests than differences and the two neighbours have the wisdom and capability to reinforce each other better than pose a threat to each other.
- However, China responded with a different note on the Minister’s remarks on the border situation and on the Quad.
- Common understanding between both countries on being each other’s cooperative partners, not causing threats to each other, and presenting each other with development opportunities is the need of the hour as per China’s comment to bring back China-India relations on the right track.
- China also reiterated its willingness to maintain smooth communication over the border issues with effective dialogue.
Present Scenario:
- Talks to restore the status quo of April 2020, prior to China’s multiple transgressions across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), have led to disengagement in some friction areas but have recently been deadlocked over disengagement in the remaining spots in Demchok, Hot Springs and Depsang.
- Both countries also differed their views on the India-Japan-Australia-U.S. Quad grouping, as the desire to exercise a veto on the choices of others, brings in these “reservations” about the Quad.
- China reiterated its views on the Quad as ‘consistent and clear’. It expresses its displeasure at the creation of smaller regional associations. It believes that these groups are against the “world of peace, cooperation and openness”.
Read more on India-China Relations.
Nut Graf: The expression “Asian century” has served as a driving force for China and India to strengthen and normalize their relations since 1988, and Mr Jaishankar’s use of the term in stressing the need for a friendly bilateral relationship is crucial in these times.
Category: GS2- International Relations
Syllabus: Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests
Mains: Exploration and protection of Marine Biodiversity
Context: An agreement to protect marine biodiversity in the high seas/oceans that extend beyond countries’ territorial waters, is being discussed in New York by delegates from India and other UN members.
Details on the Pact:
- It comes after a resolution by the UN General Assembly on marine biodiversity protection.
- This pact will help conserve biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) that lie outside countries’ 322-kilometre exclusive economic zones.
- It is anticipated to be the last in a series of steps started in 2018 to design an international legally binding instrument under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).
- The rights of companies that conduct high seas biological exploration regarding their discoveries, resources they extract and profit-sharing provisions are being decided under the agreement.
- They also include provisions regarding royalties and intellectual property shared with UNCLOS.
High Seas Mining: Marine mineral sources
- Nearly 45% of the surface of the Earth is covered by the high seas.
- Gas hydrates, precious metals, and other fossil fuel resources have been mined in the ocean.
- Numerous businesses see possibilities in unusual bacteria and other species that live in the deep ocean and could be exploited for medications and vaccines thanks to advancements in biotechnology and genetic engineering.
‘Blue Economy’ policy of India:
- It is a policy with a budget of rupees 4000 crores spread over five years. The primary emphasis will be on studies on the sustainable exploitation of deep sea bio-resources.
- This will, among other things, work on “bio-prospecting of deep-sea flora and fauna including microbes” and create a manned submersible vehicle.
Read more on Blue Economy
Nut Graf: Universal and sustainable pact on protection and exploration is crucial when international firms are engaged in a “race” for marine biological resources. This should be in line with the development and climate goals of the countries.
C. GS 3 Related
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D. GS 4 Related
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E. Editorials
1. The injustice of exceptionalism
Syllabus: GS2, Protection and betterment of the vulnerable sections.
Mains: Remission policies adopted by the state governments and various concerns with it.
Context: 11 convicts who were sentenced to life imprisonment in 2008 in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case and for the murder of her family members in 2002 have been released from Godhra jail in Gujarat.
Details
- The Gujarat government used its powers and remitted the sentences of the convicts.
- There have been questions about the legality of the decision by the state government.
Concerns over the remission policy
- The key objective of remission of prisoners is to run prisons as reformative and rehabilitative spaces. The Supreme Court in the past had said that remission is an inherent part of a prisoner’s right to life.
- State governments in India have notified behaviour and various activities that can help convicts earn remission or premature release
- Example: if a convict is sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment and earns two years in remission, the individual can be released from prison effectively after eight years.
- The above-mentioned system is also mentioned in the Prisons Act, 1894, and also rules formulated by the State governments as prison is a state subject under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
- However, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) clearly mentions that life convicts have to undergo at least 14 years of actual imprisonment before they are considered for remission.
- Every State has formulated and practices its own procedure to consider applications for remission and experts feel that there is a lack of transparency in such procedures.
- State governments can also provide remissions by using the pardoning powers of the Governor guaranteed under Article 161 of the Constitution. Such a power cannot be influenced by the CrPC and has been used in various instances to bypass the minimum 14 years of actual imprisonment requirement in the CrPC.
Concerns over the release of rape convicts
- According to the new remission policies of most of the states including Gujarat, the individuals convicted of rape are ineligible for premature release.
- However, the Supreme Court had ruled that the question of remission, in this case, would be governed by the remission policy of 1992 that was in force at the time of conviction which did not have any exemptions for individuals convicted of rape from remission.
- Critics have raised questions about the use of the remission policy of 1992 to remit the sentences of the convicts when the Gujarat government had excluded the rape convicts from any consideration whatsoever under the policy of 2014.
- They feel that the cardinal rule of justice has been violated as others convicted for the same offense have been treated differently as compared to these 11 convicts.
- Critics also feel that harsher sentences and stringent practices against rape convictions cannot compensate for a broken and discriminatory justice system in the country.
Challenges for survivors
- Rape survivors currently face various challenges while filing criminal complaints and navigating the justice system in India.
- It is seen in the past that rape has been used as a weapon of social oppression against the minority sections of society and the following intimidation by the perpetrators, pressure from the community and also from local police are also other key challenges.
- The lack of victim and witness protection measures has forced the survivors to withdraw criminal proceedings in order to protect themselves.
- Example: in the Bilkis Bano case, the victim had to migrate to various places because of death threats.
Nut graf: The release of 11 convicts of Bilkis Bano gang rape case when there was an option of excluding such category of offenders from remission of premature release is seen as an act of exceptionalism by the executive and the act is criticised as an injustice to the case and the victim.
2. From darkness to solar-powered light
Syllabus: GS3, Infrastructure: Energy
Prelims: About Micro-grid solar plants
Mains: Advantages and significance of establishing solar microgrid power plants in remote areas
Context: Installation of micro-grid solar plants in Sarkhipara of Tripura and other remote villages.
Case study of Sarkhipara
Image source: The Hindu
- Sarkhipara village is located in the Khowai district of Tripura and all its residents are Reangs which is one of the 19 Scheduled Tribes in the State but the only recognised “particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG)”.
- It is about 90 km away from Agartala which is the capital city of Tripura and comprises about 17 families. It is a remote area with the nearest public health centre being about 38 km away, the nearest police station being 40 km away and the nearest school is 4 km away.
- There has been a significant change in the lives of residents of the village after a micro-grid solar plant was set up.
- A 2 kWp solar plant can provide 7 to 8 hours of power for the basic requirements of the residents. This solar plant helps provide adequate power for 15 streetlights, a television for community viewing, three lights, a fan and a socket primarily to charge mobile phones per family.
Micro-grid solar plants
 Image Source: renewable-world.org
 Image Source: Tata Power Solar |
Setting up of solar microgrids and other power projects
- 500 other geographically remote and far-flung villages across Tripura are also on the radar for solar power connectivity.
- The microgrids are one of three solar-powered projects which are being undertaken with the other two being Grameen Bazaar Alok Jyoti Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme.
- The Grameen Bazaar Alok Jyoti scheme provides for setting up solar-powered lights at “haats” (periodic rural markets) and is partially funded by the Central government.
- PM-KUSUM is mainly focused on providing electricity for farmers.
- The Tripura government has undertaken the installation of 3,000 standalone solar pumps with a total project cost of ₹80.24 crores.
- According to the directions from the Centre, 50% of the cost is to be borne by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, 30% by the State government and 20% by the beneficiary. However, acknowledging the state of economic conditions of the rural and tribal farmers, the Tripura government is providing 48% of the cost of the solar pump and 100% of the boring cost for a submersible pump with funding from NABARD.
Nut graf: The establishment of solar microgrid power plants in remote and far-flung villages in the country is seen as a significant move as it not only helps in providing power for domestic use but also helps the farmers to reduce their dependence on monsoon rains.
F. Prelims Facts
1. CAROTAR
Syllabus: GS3, Industrial Policy – Liberalization
Prelims: Free Trade Agreement
Context: The Union Finance Ministry recently clarified certain provisions of Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) CAROTAR Rules.
Key Details:
- The Ministry has advised customs field officers to be sensitive in applying CAROTAR and maintain consistency with the provisions of relevant trade agreements or its Rules of Origin.
- It also clarifies that the exemptions specified in a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with regard to the country of origin would prevail in case of a conflict between the revenue department and an importer.
Read more on CAROTAR Rules.
Syllabus: GS3, Various Security Forces & Agencies & Their Mandate
Prelims: Defence Manufacturing and FDI
Context: The small arms factory at Amethi is likely to start operations to produce AK-203 assault rifles by the end of 2022.
- Over 6.1 lakh AK-203 assault rifles costing over ₹5,000 crores will be manufactured by a Joint Venture, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd (IRRPL) in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh.
- IRRPL was set up jointly between Munitions India Limited (MIL)] of India and the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board now Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited and Rosoboronexport (RoE) and Kalashnikov of Russia.
- The manufacturing equipment required for it will be dispatched from Russia.
- The manufacturing process will reach 100% indigenization in three years.
- As per the contract, the first 70,000 rifles will be produced in India with a phased increase in the extent of localisation from 5% to 70%. The remaining rifles will be produced with 100% localisation.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Which amongst the following statements is the best description of default bail? (Level-Easy)
- It is a bail which can be granted pending the disposal of the main bail application which may require a longer time to decide.
- It is a direction to release a person on bail, issued even before the person is arrested.
- It is a right to bail that accrues when police fail to complete investigation within a specified period in respect of a person in judicial custody.
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Default bail also known as statutory bail is granted on the default of the police or investigating agency to file its report/complaint within a specific prescribed period of time.
- This is enshrined in Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Q2. Which of the following exercises with India is/are correctly matched? (Level-Medium)
- Cope India USA
- Eastern Bridge Japan
- Pitch Black Australia
- Shinyuu Maitri Vietnam
Options:
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 2 and 4 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Eastern Bridge Exercise is a Bilateral Joint exercise between Indian Air Force (IAF) and Royal Air Force Oman (RAFO) conducted biennially. The first exercise was held in 2009 at Thumrait, Oman.
- ‘SHINYUU Maitri’ is a military exercise between the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and the Indian Air Force.
Read more on Military Exercises of the Indian Army.
Q3. With respect to the Sovereign Gold Bond (SGB) scheme, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level-Medium)
- Interest on the Bonds will be taxable as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- These securities are eligible to be used as collateral for loans from banks, financial Institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC).
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Interest on the SGB will be taxable as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- The capital gains tax arising on redemption of SGB to an individual has been exempted.
- The indexation benefits will be provided to long terms capital gains arising to any person on transfer of bond.
- These securities are eligible to be used as collateral for loans from banks, financial Institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC). They can be gifted or transferred to others who are eligible under the scheme. They can also trade these bonds on stock exchanges subject to notifications from the Reserve Bank of India.
Read more on Sovereign Gold Bond.
Q4. What is Google's Project Zero? (Level-Easy)
- It is a project which is dedicated to finding and facilitating software patches for zero-day vulnerabilities
- A project on Supercomputers which can be used for highly intensive tasks such as quantum physics
- It is the use of helium-filled balloons to provide data connectivity in remote and rural areas
- The aim is to introduce additional proactive mechanisms and powerful tools to identify, block and remove counterfeit software online
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation: Project Zero is a security analysis employed by Google tasked with finding zero-day vulnerabilities announced in 2014.
- If the vulnerability has not been fixed after 90 days, the Project Zero team automatically releases information about the bug and provides the general public with a sample attack code.
Q5. In the context of WHO Air Quality Guidelines, consider the following statements: (Level-Difficult)(CSE Prelims-2022)
- The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 ug/m³ and annual mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.
- In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during the periods of inclement weather.
- PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.
- Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1, 3 and 4 only
- 1 and 4 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1 and 2 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- WHO Air Quality Guidelines are ambitious and reflect the large impact that air pollution has on global health.
- They recommend aiming for annual mean concentrations of PM2.5 not exceeding 5 µg/m3 and NO2 not exceeding 10 µg/m3, and the peak season mean 8-hr ozone concentration not exceeding 60 µg/m3.
Image Source: Health and Environment Alliance
- The highest levels of ozone pollution occur during periods of sunny weather and not during inclement weather. Ozone at ground level is formed by the reaction with the sunlight of pollutants from vehicles and industry emissions and volatile organic compounds emitted by vehicles, solvents and industry.
- Particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less, (≤ PM10) can penetrate and lodge deep inside the lungs whereas PM2.5 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the blood system.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Common grounds such as climate change can lead to the revival of strained India-China ties. Do you agree? Elaborate. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS-2, International Relations)
- Discuss in detail some of the initiatives of the Union Government for giving a push to the expansion of solar power in India. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS-3, Energy)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 20 Aug 2022:- Download PDF Here
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