14 Dec 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Analysing U.S.-China bilateral ties
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ENVIRONMENT
1. A conservation Bill that endangers forest rights
INDIAN ECONOMY
1. The rise of rural manufacturing
F. Prelims Facts
1. World Monkey Day
G. Tidbits
1. Ministry evades direct reply on demand to include Ladakh under 6th Schedule
2. House panel flags ‘casual approach’ of govt. over setting up disability centres
3. Moderna, Merck see positive results from cancer vaccine
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. Analysing U.S.-China bilateral ties

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries 

Mains: Trends in U.S.-China Relations

Context

The bilateral relations between the U.S. and China have witnessed an unprecedented downturn in recent years.

Background 

• The diplomatic relations between the U.S. and China were established during the later part of the Cold War.
• Since then, both countries have worked toward integrating their economic systems in line with the strategies of economic complementarity and strategic convergence. 
• The integration of economic systems helped China to become the second-largest economy and get itself ingrained into the global economy which led to China’s significant economic growth and might along with increasing political ambitions.
• With rising ambitions and might, China started undermining the global dominance of the U.S. through its military and diplomatic means. 
  • Further, this took place at a time when there were increasing perceptions about the decline of the U.S. on account of the global financial crisis and its involvement in the “forever wars” of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Downturn in the U.S.-China bilateral ties in recent years

• China’s assertiveness and its ambition to dominate global geopolitics increased further under the leadership of Xi Jinping. Also, the concerns about the threat from China reached critical levels during the tenure of Donald Trump as the US President. 
• The Trump administration initiated various confrontational measures against China.
• The imposition of tariffs on China’s exports by the US took the shape of a “trade war” which adversely impacted U.S.-China relations. 
  • Further, the policy on China has not changed significantly even after Mr.Biden took over the administration and the momentum of decoupling of bilateral relations continued to gather momentum.
• China’s crackdown in the Xinjiang and Hong Kong provinces and its “wolf warrior diplomacy” adopted during COVID-19 have aggravated the tensions between the countries as they were involved in blame games.
• The year 2022 witnessed the relations descend to unprecedented levels with: 
  • China directly supporting Russia during the Russia-Ukraine war
  • The visit of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to Taiwan at a time when China escalated its offensive posture towards Taiwan
  • The imposition of heavy restrictions on China’s semiconductor industry by the U.S. to restrict China’s technological dominance in the fourth Industrial Revolution over the U.S.

Read more about the visit of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to Taiwan: 

UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated 04 Aug 2022 

Bilateral discussions on the G-20 sidelines

• In the wake of rising tensions between the two countries, U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping had their first in-person interaction on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali in November 2022.
• Both leaders discussed various outstanding issues associated with the U.S.-China bilateral ties at Bali. 
• It was reported that both leaders agreed upon easing tensions and reopening communication channels.
• The President of the U.S. said that both countries should manage the competition responsibly and maintain open lines of communication and clarified that the U.S. is not looking for conflict with China but the U.S. will continue to compete vigorously with China. 
  • The U.S. President also urged for increased cooperation between the countries on issues such as climate change, global macroeconomic stability, global health and food security. 
• Further, the Chinese President urged the U.S. to not see the relationship through the prism of “democracy versus authoritarianism”. 
  • The Chinese President also re-emphasised Taiwan’s position as being at the very core of China’s core interests and the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U.S. relations.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping also noted the “five noes” which were previously mentioned by Joe Biden – not seek a new Cold War; not seek to change China’s system; not to revitalise its alliances against China; not to disturb the cross-Strait status quo; and not look for conflict with China. 

Path ahead

• The meeting between the two leaders of the countries indicated that there have been efforts to bridge the gaps and ensure more stability in bilateral relations. 
• However, there is still no clarity on the possible extent of the success of such moves as China has still not moved away from its objectives of attaining its long-term goal of centrality in the global order which has been a major deterrent for bettering bilateral relations with the U.S. 
• China has also reiterated its ambitions of the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland which can aggravate the existing tensions between the U.S. and China.
• On the other hand, even the U.S. administration has continued to intensify its conflict with China and has widened it beyond trade into other aspects such as technology and political freedoms.
  • The U.S. has also been utilising various multilateral approaches such as strengthening the Quad and starting the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. 
• Further, the U.S. administration in its China policy released in May 2022 had considered China as the “most serious long-term challenge” to the international order and had outlined a three-pillar approach towards China which was “invest, align, compete”. 
  • This reflects the U.S. administration’s intent to address the threat posed by China without triggering an unintentional conflict.

Nut graf: Despite the recent discussions indicating a probable relaxation of the growing tension between the U.S. and China, the long-term trajectories of both countries do not suggest a possible reset but instead both seem to be buying time to mitigate unnecessary risks.

C. GS 3 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

F. Prelims Facts

1. World Monkey Day

Syllabus: GS-3; Environment and Biodiversity 

Prelims: World Monkey Day 

World Monkey Day 

• Monkey Day is celebrated across the world on the 14th of December every year.
• Monkey Day is observed to raise awareness about the modern threats to monkeys and celebrate monkeys and “all things simian”, including other non-human primates such as apes, tarsiers, and lemurs. 
• Monkey Day was started and popularised by contemporary artists Casey Sorrow and Eric Millikin in 2000.
• Since then, the Day is celebrated by animal rights and environmental activists, visual artists and arts institutions across the globe.
• The Day draws attention to issues such as medical research, animal rights, and evolution.

G. Tidbits

1. Ministry evades direct reply on demand to include Ladakh under 6th Schedule

• The Union Home Ministry while evading a reply on the possible inclusion of Ladakh under the Fifth/Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, said that the main objective of the inclusion of tribal populations under the Sixth Schedule is to ensure the overall socio-economic development and the administration of Ladakh is already taking care of it since its inception.
• The erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir was divided into the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and there is no Legislative Assembly in Ladakh at present.
• Post the removal of the special status, various political groups in Ladakh have been demanding the protection of land, employment and cultural identity under the Sixth Schedule.
  • In 2021, Ladakh’s only member in the Lok Sabha demanded constitutional safeguards by amending the Ladakh Autonomous Hill District Council Act.
  • Later, acknowledging the developmental requirements of the tribal population, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs placed a report in the Rajya Sabha recommending that special status may be granted to the UT.
• If an area is included under the Sixth Schedule, the tribal population of that area would be protected by extending autonomy to communities through the creation of Autonomous Development Councils, which can frame laws on land, public health and agriculture.

Read more about – Sixth Schedule of the Constitution

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. ‘3200 Phaethon’ recently seen in the news is: (Level - Medium)

1. An asteroid
2. A Japanese lunar landing mission
3. A natural satellite spotted near Pluto
4. A ransomware cryptoworm

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• The 3200 Phaethon is an asteroid discovered in October 1983. 
• It is named after the Greek mythological character Phaethon, son of the Sun God Helios. 
• 3200 Phaethon takes about 1.4 years to complete one round of the Sun. 

Q2. He contributed articles to the magazine Jugantar which inspired many young people 
to take up revolutionary work during the Indian National Movement. His theory of 
nationalism was based on Vedanta philosophy which saw unity and oneness in man and 
God. His greatest literary achievement was ‘Savitri’, an epic poem. The personality 
described in the passage is: (Level - Medium)

1. Khudiram Bose
2. Aurobindo Ghosh
3. Prafulla Chaki
4. Rabindranath Tagore

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Aurobindo Ghosh contributed articles to the magazine Jugantar which inspired many young people to take up revolutionary work during the Indian National Movement.
• Aurobindo Ghosh’s theory of nationalism was based on Vedanta philosophy which saw unity and oneness in man and God.
• Aurobindo Ghosh wrote ‘Savitri’ and it is considered his greatest literary achievement. He also developed a kind of Yoga called Integral Yoga. 
• Read more on Aurobindo Ghosh in the linked article.

Q3. In which of the following protected areas are you most likely to spot the 
Great Indian Bustard? (Level - Difficult)

1. Desert National Park
2. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Valley of Flowers National Park

Options:

1. One only
2. Two only
3. Three only
4. All four

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• The Desert National Park in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan is famous for the Great Indian Bustard.
• Apart from the Desert National Park, Great Indian Bustards are mostly found in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

Image Source: IUCN

Q4. How many of the following occupational diseases are correctly matched? 
(Level - Difficult)

      Disease                             Occupation

1. Byssinosis                      Textile Workers
2. Pneumoconiosis          Coal Mine Workers
3. Asbestosis                     Construction Workers

Options:

1. One only
2. Two only
3. All the three
4. None of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Pair 1 is correct, Byssinosis is an occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of cotton or jute dust in inadequately ventilated working environments.
• Pair 2 is correct, Pneumoconiosis is an occupational lung disease caused by breathing in certain kinds of dust particles such as coal dust that damage the lungs. 
  • The disease is also called coal worker pneumoconiosis.
• Pair 3 is correct, Asbestosis is a type of lung disease caused by breathing in asbestos dust and fibres. Construction workers have a high risk of occupational asbestos exposure.

Q5. Consider the following statements: (PYQ-2017) 

1. In tropical regions, Zika virus disease is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue.
2. Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, In tropical regions, the Zika virus is transmitted mainly through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito which are the same mosquitoes that spread the dengue and chikungunya viruses.
• Statement 2 is correct, Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible.