10 Feb 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 10 Feb 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Locating China in the Russia-Ukraine war
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India-France Partnership
ECONOMY
1. India must avoid growing into a dystopia
F. Prelims Facts
1. Small Satellite Launch Vehicle-D2
G. Tidbits
1. Bullet train project tunnel to bypass mangroves will raise cost to β‚Ή10,000 crore
2. U.S. will not sanction India for buying Russian oil: senior American officials
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

G. Tidbits

1. Bullet train project tunnel to bypass mangroves will raise cost to β‚Ή10,000 crore

  • Construction of a 7-km undersea tunnel for the bullet train project is being planned in order to safeguard about 12 hectares of mangrove forests in Maharashtra’s Thane creek.Β 
  • The move to construct a tunnel will result in an increase in the cost of construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor project’s 21-km stretch from Bandra Kurla Complex Station to Shilphata, from β‚Ή100 crores to β‚Ή10,000 crores.
  • Further, the construction of the tunnel in Thane creek will also be a challenging task as it will involve two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will meet halfway under the sea to join two parts of the tunnel by a process called docking.
    • The key challenge is to ensure that there is no seepage in the tunnel due to water pressure.
  • The total cost of the project is estimated to be β‚Ή1.08 lakh crores, out of which the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has expended about β‚Ή32,000 crores for the implementation of the project.

2. U.S. will not sanction India for buying Russian oil: senior American officials

  • Senior American officials have said that the U.S. does not wish to sanction India over its continued purchase of Russian oil.
  • According to officials, despite India not being a participant in the price cap coalition, India’s purchase of Russian Urals crude oil was at rates below the β€œprice cap” of $60 set by G-7 countries in December 2022.Β 
    • Officials believe that this move by India has assisted the U.S.’s twin goals of ensuring there was enough oil in the market and not giving Russia a premium price for its exports.
  • In spite of the increased external pressure to reduce oil purchases from Russia, the Indian government has reiterated that it would buy oil from β€œwherever” it needs to.Β 
    • As per the latest data (January), India has imported about 1.27 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian Urals oil which marks a 30-fold jump as compared to the previous January when it was about 40,000 bpd.
    • Russia, which was India’s 17th biggest oil supplier has become the highest exporter in the past few months.Β 
    • Russia accounts for close to 28% of India’s oil imports as compared to just 0.2% before the war with Ukraine.
  • American officials have further rejected the calls by senior Ukrainian lawmakers for imposing secondary sanctions against countries like China and India which according to Ukraine are β€œfinancing the Russian economy and the Russian military machine”.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to President’s Rule: 
(Level – Moderate)
  1. It can be extended for a maximum period of five years with the approval of the Parliament, every six months.
  2. Every resolution approving the proclamation of the President’s Rule or its continuation should be passed by the Parliament by a special majority.
  3. It has no effect on the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, The President’s Rule is initially for a period of six months. Later, it can be extended for a period of three years with parliamentary approval, every six months.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, The proclamation of the President’s Rule should be approved in both Houses of Parliament within two months of its issue. The approval is through a simple majority i.e. majority of the members of the House present and voting.Β 
  • Statement 3 is correct, The President’s Rule has no effect on the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.
Q2. With respect to Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), which of the following 
statements is/are correct? (Level – Easy)
  1. SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to low earth orbits on a ‘launch-on-demand’ basis.
  2. The rocket is configured with three solid propulsion stages and a velocity terminal module.

Options:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, SSLV caters to the launch of up to 500 kg satellites to Low Earth Orbits on a β€˜launch-on-demand’ basis. It provides low-cost access to space.
  • Statement 2 is correct, SSLV uses three solid stages which are then followed by a liquid-fuel-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) to place satellites in the intended orbits.
Q3. Consider the following pairs: (Level – Difficult)

Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Folk DanceΒ  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  State

  1. Dol Cholam Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Manipur
  2. Hojagiri Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Tripura
  3. Kalbelia Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Rajasthan
  4. OttanthullalΒ  Β  Β  Β  Β  Kerala

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Only one pair
  2. Only two pairs
  3. Only three pairs
  4. All four pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Pair 1 is correct, Dhol Cholom is a form of drum dance performed during Holi in the state of Manipur.Β 
  • Pair 2 is correct, Hojagiri is a tribal folk dance performed in the state of Tripura by the Bru Reang clan on the occasion of Hojagiri Festivals or Laxmi puja.
  • Pair 3 is correct, Kalbelia dance is a folk dance performed by the snake charming tribe from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.
  • Pair 4 is correct, Ottanthullal is a recite-and-dance art form belonging to the state of Kerala.
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to the Rights 
of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016? (Level – Difficult)
  1. All children with benchmark disabilities between 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education.
  2. Special Courts would be set up in each district of the State to handle offences against persons with disabilities (PwDs).
  3. 21 types of disabilities are listed in the RPwD Act and the State Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities.

Options:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, According to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, every child with a benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education.
  • Statement 2 is correct, As per the Act, Special Courts are to be designated in each district to handle cases concerning the violation of the rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs).
  • Statement 3 is not correct, 21 types of disabilities are listed in the RPwD Act and the Central Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities.
Q5. Consider the following statements: (Level – Moderate) [PYQ 2007]
  1. The Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
  2. The Committee on Public Accounts comprises Members of the Lok Sabha, Members of the Rajya Sabha and a few eminent persons of industry and trade.

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: a

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, The Chairman of the Committee on Public Accounts is appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, The Public Accounts Committee has 22 members.Β 
  • All the members are taken from the Indian Parliament.Β 
  • Out of 22 members, 15 are elected from Lok Sabha and 7 members are elected from the Rajya Sabha.
    • The members of the committee are elected annually by the Parliament according to the principle of Proportional Representation by means of a Single Transferable Vote (PRSTV.)

CNA 10 Feb 2023:- Download PDF Here

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