03 Feb 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

03 February 2024 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India to ‘replace’ military personnel in the Maldives
2. As Myanmar junta marks three years, resistance movement gathers steam
3. As Ariha turns three, mother Dhara Shah appeals to PM to intervene
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. KYC issues, money laundering concerns said to have led to RBI order on Paytm’s bank
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ECONOMY
1. Population priorities: On Interim Budget statement and the Census
2. A rising tide lifts all boats
F. Prelims Facts
1. Rooftop Solar Scheme
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

2. As Myanmar junta marks three years, resistance movement gathers steam

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Prelims: Free Movement Regime (FMR)

Mains: Issues in the India-Myanmar border

Context​: The plight of Myanmar refugees seeking shelter in India, particularly in Mizoram and Manipur, takes a critical turn as the Indian government decides to fence the 1,643 km-long India-Myanmar border and end the Free Movement Regime (FMR). As geopolitical dynamics shift, those fleeing violence in Myanmar now face an uncertain future, raising concerns about cultural ties, humanitarian issues, and India’s stance.

Issues

  • Civil Unrest in Myanmar: The takeover by Myanmar’s military in February 2021 has led to widespread violence, displacing citizens who seek refuge in neighbouring countries, particularly India.
  • Cultural Ties: The Chins and Mizos, sharing cultural roots, have historically coexisted along the India-Myanmar border. However, the decision to fence the border jeopardizes the free movement regime and familial relationships.
  • Humanitarian Concerns: The refugees, displaced due to the civil war, face challenges in adapting to a new life and are concerned about the uncertain future, compounded by geopolitical decisions affecting border dynamics.
  • India’s Border Policy: The decision to fence the border and end the FMR raises questions about India’s refugee policy, humanitarian considerations, and the impact on bilateral relations with Myanmar.

Significance

  • Cultural Disruption: The Chins and Mizos, with a shared ethnicity, have cultural and familial ties that span the India-Myanmar border. The fencing decision threatens to disrupt these ties, impacting social interactions and relationships.
  • Humanitarian Crisis: The refugees, including orphans and individuals fleeing violence, face challenges in resettling and worry about India’s changing border policies affecting their ability to seek refuge.
  • Bilateral Relations: India’s strategic ties with Myanmar’s military and conflicting views within India, particularly between Manipur and Mizoram, highlight the complexity of border policies and their impact on bilateral relations.

Solutions

  • Diplomatic Engagement: India should engage diplomatically with Myanmar to address the refugee crisis, fostering cooperation on humanitarian grounds and ensuring the well-being of displaced individuals.
  • Humanitarian Assistance: Providing continued humanitarian assistance, including healthcare, education, and basic amenities, is crucial for the well-being of refugees in Mizoram and Manipur.
  • Balanced Border Policy: Striking a balance between national security concerns and humanitarian considerations is essential. Fencing decisions should account for the unique cultural and familial ties between border communities.

Also read: India – Myanmar Relations

Nut Graf: The situation along the India-Myanmar border, especially for Myanmar refugees seeking shelter in Mizoram and Manipur, underscores the challenges posed by geopolitical decisions. Striking a balance between national security imperatives and humanitarian concerns is crucial.

3. As Ariha turns three, mother Dhara Shah appeals to PM to intervene

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests.

Mains: Issues of the Indian Diaspora

Context​:

  • The case of Ariha Shah, the Indian child placed in parental custody by German Youth Services in 2021, has taken a distressing turn as she turns three years old. Ariha’s mother, Dhara Shah, appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that German authorities are neglecting Ariha’s cultural upbringing, and despite visitations, she speaks only German and lacks exposure to Indian languages or culture.

Issues

  • Cultural Disconnect: Ariha, now three years old, has been under German Youth Services since 2021, and her mother claims that efforts to introduce her to Indian culture have been minimal, leading to a cultural disconnect.
  • Language Barrier: Despite the Ministry of External Affairs’ request for cultural exposure, Ariha speaks only German and is not being taught English or any other Indian language.
  • Guardian’s Influence: Ariha now refers to her guardian as her mother, impacting her relationship with her biological parents and cultural identity.
  • Limited Access: The parents face challenges in obtaining regular access, with Ariha spending significant time under German custody, affecting family bonds.

Significance

  • Parental Plea: The emotional plea from Ariha’s mother highlights the distressing situation and the urgency to address cultural and familial concerns.
  • Influence on Cultural Identity: The early years are crucial for cultural development, and a lack of exposure to Indian languages and customs could impact Ariha’s sense of identity.
  • Legal Battles: The Family Court in Berlin granted custody to Jugendamt (German Youth Office) in June 2023, based on abuse charges disputed by Ariha’s parents. The ongoing legal battle adds complexity to the case.

Solutions

  • Intensified Diplomatic Efforts: The Ministry of External Affairs should intensify efforts to ensure Ariha’s cultural exposure, including language education, in line with the parents’ and cultural requests.
  • Regular Consular Access: Consular access and periodic visitations should be facilitated to maintain family bonds and monitor Ariha’s well-being.
  • Legal Support: The Indian government should provide legal support to expedite the appeals process, ensuring a fair consideration of the Shahs’ plea for custody.

Nut Graf: Ariha’s third birthday marks another year of separation from her parents, prompting an emotional plea for intervention from Prime Minister Modi. The case underscores the need for immediate and intensified efforts to safeguard Ariha’s cultural identity and familial bonds, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic, legal, and emotional support in resolving this sensitive and challenging situation.

2. A rising tide lifts all boats

Syllabus: GS-3, Economic Development in India and Macroeconomics

Mains: Challenges and opportunities associated with rapid economic acceleration for India.

Context:​ India’s remarkable transformation from an underdeveloped nation to the fastest-growing economy globally. The Interim Budget embodies the buoyancy of India’s metrics and spirit, presenting immense opportunities for the nation’s future growth.

Issues

  • Economic Transformation: India’s journey from underdeveloped to developing and now the fastest-growing economy brings forth the challenges and opportunities associated with rapid economic acceleration.
  • Healthcare Priorities: The imperative need for preventive health measures is emphasized, especially through initiatives like promoting HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer. A call for incentivizing preventive health checks is put forward to alleviate the burden of diseases.
  • Health Indicators and Budgetary Allocations: Despite remarkable strides in health indicators, the budgetary allocation for health has remained below 2%. Increasing this allocation to 5% is proposed to achieve better population health outcomes.

Significance

  • Maternal and Child Health: The Interim Budget rightfully prioritizes maternal and child health care, recognizing the pivotal role it plays in women’s increased participation in the workforce.
  • Innovation Revolution: The government’s focus on innovation as a key pillar is highlighted, with the creation of a ₹1 lakh crore corpus for interest-free loans to promote research and technology. The potential impact of technology integration in healthcare is emphasized.
  • Medical Value Travel: The burgeoning trend of ‘medical value travel’ is acknowledged, with India becoming a global healthcare destination. The significance of enhancing connectivity for easy access to quality healthcare is emphasized.

Solutions

  • Incentivizing Preventive Health Checks: Proposing government incentives for individuals undertaking preventive health checks to proactively manage and reduce the disease burden.
  • Increased Budgetary Allocation for Health: Advocating for an increase in the budgetary allocation for health from less than 2% to 5% to further improve health outcomes.
  • Technology Integration: Encouraging deeper collaborations in healthcare technology to overcome challenges like the doctor-patient ratio and reduce healthcare costs.
  • Promoting Medical Value Travel: Emphasizing the potential benefits of medical value travel and advocating for improved connectivity to make quality healthcare more accessible to Indians.

Nut Graf: The importance of private sector involvement, hidden figures of rising private expenditure, increased consumption, and the collaborative efforts shaping India’s limitless potential is highlighted. Working together, India can continue its upward trajectory, realizing the promise of a bright and prosperous future.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Rooftop Solar Scheme

Context: The Pradhan Mantri Suryoday Yojana, recently announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to boost the adoption of household rooftop solar systems (h-RTS). Under this scheme, the Centre is expected to bear the entire cost of setting up such systems for households consuming less than 300 units of electricity a month. The initiative, if implemented, could potentially cost around ₹1 lakh crore.

Issues

  • High Implementation Cost: The scheme’s ambitious goal to provide free electricity to one crore households, with a potential cost of ₹1 lakh crore, raises financial concerns and challenges in budget allocation.
  • Transition from State-run to Union Government Companies: The shift from individual State-run power distribution companies to Union government companies for powering beneficiary households marks a significant departure from the existing approach.
  • Low Awareness and Uptake: The slow adoption of rooftop solar systems in India is attributed to low awareness and lack of understanding about the installation process.

Significance

  • Financial Inclusion: The scheme’s emphasis on households consuming less than 300 units per month aims to financially include a significant section of the population, providing them with up to 300 units of free electricity monthly.
  • Role of PSUs: Public sector units (PSUs) like the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) will play a crucial role in identifying eligible households, installing rooftop solar systems, and facilitating hassle-free installation.
  • Subsidies and Loan Mechanism: The Centre’s subsidy covering 60% of installation costs, along with PSU-backed loans for the remaining amount, ensures a cost-effective and accessible implementation model for beneficiaries.

Solutions

  • Awareness Campaigns: Conduct extensive awareness campaigns to educate households about the benefits of rooftop solar systems and the hassle-free installation process.
  • Budgetary Allocations: Ensure adequate budgetary allocations for the scheme to meet the ambitious target of electrifying one crore households.
  • Collaborative Approach: Establish collaborative special purpose vehicles (SPVs) with private companies to execute the program efficiently and involve stakeholders in the solar energy sector.
  • Deadline and Timely Implementation: Set a reasonable deadline for the scheme’s implementation to ensure a swift and efficient expansion. Monitor progress to meet targets and overcome hurdles promptly.

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements:
  1. INS Kalvari is an indigenously built submarine.
  2. It is the first conventional submarine to be inducted into the Indian Navy, post-induction of INS Sindhurashtra procured from Russia in the year 2000.
  3. SIMBEX is an annual naval bilateral exercise between India and Japan.

Which of these statement(s) is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 3 only
  3. 1 & 2
  4. All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: INS Kalvari is an indigenously built submarine. It is the first conventional submarine to be inducted into the Indian Navy, post-induction of INS Sindhurashtra, procured from Russia in the year 2000. SIMBEX is an annual naval bilateral exercise between India and Singapore.

Q2. Consider the following statements:
  1. Sachin Tendulkar was the first sportsperson to receive India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna Award.
  2. The award was originally confined to arts, literature, science, and public services, as per the 1954 regulations. In December 2011, the rules were changed to include “any field of human endeavour”.

Which of these statement(s) is /are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 & 2
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: Sachin Tendulkar was the first sportsperson to receive India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna Award. The award was originally confined to arts, literature, science, and public services, as per the 1954 regulations. In December 2011, the rules were changed to include “any field of human endeavour”.

Q3. Consider the following statements:
  1. UNICEF focuses on developing community-level services to achieve its larger goal of children’s welfare and development.
  2. The Nobel Peace Prize 1965 was awarded to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Which of these statement(s) is /are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 & 2
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: UNICEF focuses on developing community-level services to achieve its larger goal of children’s welfare and development. The Nobel Peace Prize 1965 was awarded to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Q4. The Eight Degree Channel separates which of the following?
  1. India from Sri Lanka
  2. Minicoy and Maldives
  3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
  4. Indira Point from Indonesia
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation: The Eight Degree Channel separates Minicoy from the Maldives.

Q5. The term “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” is sometimes seen 
in the news in the context of?
  1. Pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East.
  2. Plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change.
  3. Capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
  4. Plan of actions outlined by the countries regarding Sustainable Developments Goals.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation: The term “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions” is related to the plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change.

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