24 Dec 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 24 Dec 2022:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. 81 cr. people to get free foodgrains for one year
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. Private Healthcare in India
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Fighting Cancer
F. Prelims Facts
1. Bharat Biotech’s nasal COVID vaccine
2. Joynagar Moa
G. Tidbits
1. Illegal phone tapping: chargesheet against 2 former MDs of NSE
2. CAG pulls up DRDO for delay in the completion of projects and failure to achieve 
key parameters
3. Kerala farmer uses UAVs in his plantation, shares the idea with agricultural 
scientists and officials
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. 81 cr. people to get free foodgrains for one year

Syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population

Prelims: National Food Security Act, Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana

Mains: The reasons and the significance of merging Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana with the National Food Security Act.

Context: The Union Cabinet announced free foodgrains to all 81 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for one year.

National Food Security Act The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was enacted on 5th July 2013. The launch of NFSA has marked a paradigm shift in the approach to food security from welfare to a rights-based approach. The Act is being implemented throughout the country with over 81.34 crore beneficiaries. The NFSA at present covers over 50% of the urban population and 75% of the rural population. In order to facilitate women’s empowerment, the eldest woman of a household of age 18 years and above is considered the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards under the Act. According to NFSA, the Union government is tasked with the job of allocation and transportation of food grains to States and Union Territories (UTs). The administrations of States and UTs are responsible for the effective implementation of the scheme which includes the identification of eligible households and issuing ration cards. The NFSA had brought about reforms to the Targeted Public Distribution System by including provisions such as cash transfers via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) as the mode for the provisioning of food entitlements. Two categories of beneficiary households under the NFSA: Antyoday Anna Yojana (AAY): These beneficiaries are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains every month irrespective of the number of family members. Priority Households. These households get foodgrains depending on the number of family members i.e. each member 5 kg per month. Image Source: Indian Express Read more about – National Food Security Act (NFSA)

Details

• The beneficiary households who earlier paid ₹1 for coarse cereals, ₹2 for wheat and ₹3 for rice per kilogram will now be provided 35 kilograms of foodgrains free of cost every month for the next one year.
• Further, other beneficiaries covered under the NFSA will now get five kilograms of food grains free of cost for every month till December 2023. 
• According to the Union government estimates, about ₹2 lakh crores will be required additionally to facilitate the scheme and the Union government will bear the entire cost.

Significance of the move

• The move is regarded as a historic decision as it aims to ensure food security to the poor free of cost across the country.
• As per the Union Food Minister, the latest initiative is yet another reflection of the government’s pro-poor stand.
• According to the Union Food Minister, a decision has been taken to extend the benefits of the schemes such as Antyodaya Anna Yojana, Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and the NFSA to more beneficiaries by merging these schemes.
  • Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was started during the initial phases of the COVID lockdown in April 2020. 
  • The Scheme had been extended multiple times and was finally scheduled to end on December 31, 2022.
  • The PMGKAY had ensured five kg of food grains for the poor free of cost.
• With the merger of PMGKAY with the NFSA, the entire quantity of 5 kg and 35 kg of food grains would be available free of cost. 

Image Source: Indian Express

Nut graf: As the economic situation is coming back to normal post the pandemic and considering the significant depletion of the foodgrains stocks, the government has decided to discontinue PMGKAY and merge it with the NFSA. The move has gained a lot of significance as it ensures both fiscal prudence as well as the extension of a safety net to the vulnerable sections. 

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Fighting Cancer

Syllabus: Indigenization of Technology & Developing New Technology

Mains: Universal Immunization Programme of India

Context: The Union government has written to all States and Union Territories to create awareness of the prevention of cervical cancer and the importance of the HPV vaccine among girl students across the country.

Introduction: 

• The Centre recently announced that the cervical cancer vaccine for girls aged between 9 and 14 years will be provided primarily through schools. 
  • India is expected to roll out the indigenously developed CERVAVAC vaccine among girls aged 9-14 years through their schools by mid-2023.
• This is a vital step because studies show that there is a link between cervical cancer incidence and human development index values. 
• A study in The Lancet published in December 2022 showed that India accounts for the highest number of cervical cancer cases in Asia, followed by China. 
  • More than 58% of all cases of cervical cancer and deaths globally were estimated in Asia with India accounting for 21% of cases and 23% of deaths, followed by China (18% and 17%).
• The World Health Organization has laid down several guidelines that countries need to follow to eliminate it as a public health problem. 
• The WHO has specified that countries must reach and maintain an incidence rate of fewer than 4 new cases of cervical cancer per 1,00,000 women a year. 
  • To achieve that goal, it is necessary that 90% of girls will have to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15.

Cervical Cancer:

• Cervical cancer develops in a woman’s cervix.
• Almost all cervical cancer cases (99%) are linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), an extremely common virus transmitted through sexual contact.
• Cervical cancer is a preventable and treatable cancer.
  • Screening and vaccination are two powerful tools that are available for preventing cervical cancer. 
• When diagnosed, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer, as long as it is detected early and managed effectively. 
• Cancers diagnosed in late stages can also be controlled with appropriate treatment and palliative care.
• More than 6,00,000 women have been diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide in 2020.

CERVAVAC:

• CERVAVAC is the quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine against cervical cancer. It is said to be effective against four strains of the virus – Type 6, Type 11, Type 16 and Type 18.
• It is developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in coordination with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Cervavac received market authorisation approval from the Drug Controller General of India in July 2022.
• HPV vaccines are given in two doses and data has shown that the antibodies that develop after both are administered can last up to six or seven years.
• Previously, the HPV vaccines available in India were produced by foreign manufacturers at an approximate cost of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 per dose. 
  • Cervavac is likely to be significantly cheaper, slated to cost approximately Rs 200 to 400.
• It has also demonstrated a robust antibody response that is nearly 1,000 times higher than the baseline against all targeted HPV types and in all dose and age groups.

Government efforts:

• Prevention through vaccination is one of the pillars of the global strategy adopted by WHO for the elimination of cervical cancer.
• The Union government has decided to introduce the HPV vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). 
• • India’s immunisation network has worked well to eliminate diseases such as polio and maternal and neonatal tetanus. The UIP is one of the largest public health programmes targeting over 2 crore newborns and 2 crore pregnant women annually, and offers free vaccines for at least 12 diseases.
• It has received the Drugs Controller General of India’s approval and has been cleared by the National Technical Advisory Group for Immunisation for use in the UIP programme. 
• The vaccination will be provided primarily through schools. Out-of-school girls will be reached through community outreach and mobile teams. 
• To that end, the government’s intent to introduce the HPV vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is a welcome move. 

Nut Graf: India is expected to roll out the indigenously developed Cervavac vaccine to battle cervical cancer, by mid-2023. With a comprehensive approach to preventing, screening and treating, cervical cancer can be eliminated as a public health problem within a generation. 

F. Prelims Facts

1. Bharat Biotech’s nasal COVID vaccine

Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology; Achievements of Indians in science & technology and developing new technology.

Prelims: About iNCOVACC

Context: Bharat Biotech’s nasal COVID vaccine is now made available as a booster dose.

iNCOVACC

Image Source: The Hindu

• iNCOVACC is Bharat Biotech’s intranasal COVID-19 vaccine.
• iNCOVACC has been co-developed by Bharat Biotech and the Washington University of the U.S.
• An intranasal vaccine works by stimulating a broad immune response that neutralises the Immunoglobulin G (IgG), mucosal Immunoglobulin A (IgA), and T-cell responses.
• The non-invasive and needle-free nasal route of administering the vaccine has shown excellent potential due to the organised immune systems of the nasal mucosa.
• iNCOVACC is the first-ever intranasal vaccine approved for use in the world.
• iNCOVACC vaccine is approved both as a primary dose and a heterologous booster.
• iNCOVACC is an adenovirus-vectored vaccine with a prefusion stabilised spike protein, unlike Covaxin, which is an inactivated coronavirus injected along with an adjuvant.
• Advantages of nasal vaccines include ease of administration as it is non-invasive and needle-free, elimination of needle-associated risks and scalable manufacturing.
• Further, the immune responses at the nasal mucosa which is said to be the site of infection will play a crucial role in blocking both infection and transmission of COVID-19.

2. Joynagar Moa

Prelims: About Joynagar Moa

Context: The number of registered manufacturers of Joynagar Moa is increasing significantly with the extension of its Geographical Indication for 10 more years.

Joynagar Moa

Image Source: The Hindu

• Joynagar Moa is a popular Bengal sweetmeat.
• The making of Moa sweet dates back to 1904.
• Moa is made of aromatic Khoi (popped-rice ball) which is held together with fresh date-palm jaggery, extracted from the beginning of December till the end of February.
  • The making of Moa also includes sugar, cashew nuts and raisins. 
• Thus moa sweat is available only during the colder months of the year.
• Joynagar Moa was accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2015.
• The Joynagar Moa is known to have a very short shelf life (only about five days without refrigeration) and the high perishability of Moa has hindered its exports.

Also read – List of Geographical Indications (GI) Tags in India

G. Tidbits

1. Illegal phone tapping: chargesheet against 2 former MDs of NSE

• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated proceedings against two former managing directors of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), a former Mumbai Police Commissioner and others over their involvement in alleged illegal phone tapping of the NSE’s employees during 2009-17.
• The CBI during its investigation of another case related to the alleged “co-location scam” in the NSE, has found out that the landline phones of the NSE’s employees were illegally tapped and intercepted. 
• Further, CBI has alleged that the unauthorised recording and monitoring of personal call lines had been used since 1997 when the employees were connected to a voice recorder provided by a private company.
• As per the CBI, the employees of said company were given unauthorised access to listen to the calls and submit weekly reports to the NSE executive vice-president and head.

Learn more about “Phone tapping in India” by watching the Big News episode: 

2. CAG pulls up DRDO for delay in the completion of projects and failure to achieve key parameters

• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) while assessing the Mission Mode projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has flagged various issues.
• Key issues flagged by the CAG include: 
  • Time and cost overruns.
  • Irregular closure of projects by declaring them as successful despite the failure to achieve the intended objectives. 
  • Initiating new projects in order to realise the unachieved objectives of earlier closed projects which were declared successful.
• The Mission Mode projects are undertaken by the DRDO as high-priority projects which deal with specific user requirements with a definite time frame for their completion.
• The report by the CAG has pointed out that despite having a very high outcome certainty because of the readily available technology, the MM projects have witnessed significant delays in initiation and sanction by DRDO.

3. Kerala farmer uses UAVs in his plantation, shares the idea with agricultural scientists and officials

• A farmer in Kerala’s Wayanad has been using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drone technology in his plantation after completing a six-month online course on “Drones for Agriculture” from the Wageningen University and Research of The Netherlands.
• The key advantages of drone technology in the agricultural sector include:
  • Aerial spraying of fertilisers and insecticides
  • Access to real-time information
  • Drone imaging is more accurate and precise than satellite imaging as satellite imaging can be impacted due to various weather conditions
  • Ability to capture micro-level images
  • Selective application of weedicides and micronutrients
  • Helps in precision farming
  • Helps in the overall improvement of agricultural practices at a lower cost

For more information on Drone technology refer to the following article:

Sansad TV Perspective: Drones: The New Era

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Genetic Engineering Appraisal 
Committee (GEAC): (Level - Medium)

1. GEAC is the apex biotech regulatory body in India.
2. It is a statutory body functioning under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
3. It has the power to take punitive action against people/bodies under the Environment (Protection) Act.

How many of the given statements is/are INCORRECT?

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, The GEAC is India’s apex biotechnology regulatory body. 
  • GEAC regulates the use, manufacture, storage, export and import of hazardous microorganisms or genetically-engineered organisms and cells in India.
• Statement 2 is not correct, GEAC is a statutory body that functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Statement 3 is correct, The Committee has the power to take punitive action against people/bodies under the Environment (Protection) Act.

Q2. Consider the following statements: (Level - Difficult)

1. There is evidence for the consumption of millets in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization.
2. With the consumption of Millet, a Celiac patient’s body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine.
3. Two pseudo millets buckwheat and amaranth are a part of the ‘Nutri Cereals’ declared by the Ministry of Agriculture.

How many of the given statements is/are INCORRECT?

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, Millets were among the first crops to be cultivated and there is evidence that the people of Harappan or the Indus valley civilization cultivated millets
• Statement 2 is not correct, Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the lining of the small intestine due to the consumption of gluten.
  • Gluten is a kind of protein found in wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats.
  • Millets are considered to be naturally gluten-free.
  • With the consumption of Millet, a Celiac patient’s body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine.
• Statement 3 is correct, The Agriculture Ministry has declared certain varieties of millets as “Nutri Cereals” for the purposes of production, consumption, and trade. These include: 
  • Major millets namely Jowar, bajra, ragi/mandua, 
  • Minor millets namely kangani/kakun, cheena, kodo, sawa/jhangora, and kutki
  • Two pseudo millets namely buckwheat (kuttu) and amaranth (chaulai)

Q3. Which of the following statements best describes ‘Loya Jirga’ often seen in the 
news:(Level - Medium)

1. A special type of legal assembly according to the traditional code of laws of the Pashtun people.
2. The official decision-making body that brings together representatives from the various ethnic, religious, and tribal communities in Israel.
3. Skilled folk musicians of the Thar Desert.
4. Traditional tribal law in Afghanistan.

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Loya Jirga, or “grand council” in Pashto, is a mass national gathering that brings together representatives from various ethnic, religious, and tribal communities in Afghanistan.
• Loya Jirga is a special type of legal assembly according to the traditional code of laws of the Pashtun people.

Q4. Arrange the following islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean from South to 
North: Level - Medium)

1. Vanuatu
2. Solomon Island
3. Fiji
4. Papua New Guinea

Choose the correct code:

1. 3-1-2-4
2. 2-3-1-4
3. 4-3-2-1
4. 3-2-1-4

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

Image Source: Britannica

Q5. Consider the following pairs: (Level - Medium) PYQ-2016

Community sometimes mentioned in the news in the affairs of

1. Kurd: Bangladesh
2. Madhesi:  Nepal
3. Rohingya: Myanmar

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3
4. 3 only

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Pair 1 is not correct, Kurds or Kurdish people are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia which spans across southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, and northern Syria.
• Pair 2 is correct, Madheshis is a term used for several groups of people living in the Terai region of Nepal.
• Pair 3 is correct, The Rohingya people are a stateless Indo-Aryan ethnic group who predominantly reside in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Discuss the challenges of the healthcare system in India and suggest remedial measures. (10 marks; 150 Words) (GS-2; Health)
2. What laws govern tapping a phone and what are the checks in place? (10 marks; 150 Words) (GS-2; Governance)

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 24 Dec 2022:- Download PDF Here