22 Feb 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 22 Feb 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India waited till China pulled back its troops
2. India and Maldives sign defence pact
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Child abuse is unpardonable, says HC
2. Telangana achieves 100% tap water connections to schools
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. Cairn Energy seeks swift resolution
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Voice vote as constitutional subterfuge
EDUCATION
1. The blank pages in India’s online learning experience
ECONOMY
1. Clean energy post COVID-19
F. Prelims Facts
1. Amid surge in cases, Centre orders more RT-PCR tests
2. Iran says talks with IAEA chief ‘fruitful’
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

2. India and Maldives sign defence pact

Context:

India and the Maldives signed a defence Line of Credit agreement worth $50 million during the ongoing visit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Details:

  • The Defence Line of Credit will facilitate capability building in the maritime domain.
  • Both sides agreed to maintain peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region.
  • They agreed to strengthen coordination in enhancing regional maritime security.
  • An agreement to develop, support and maintain a Maldives National Defence Force Coast Guard Harbour at Sifvaru was also signed.
    • This indicates deepening security cooperation.

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Child abuse is unpardonable, says HC

Context:

The Delhi High Court remarked “An offence involving abuse of child victim is unpardonable”, while refusing to lower the sentence awarded to a teacher, who was convicted for sodomising a 7-year-old boy.

Details:

  • It was opined that reducing the sentence would send a wrong signal to the society and will be against the purpose for which the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act was enacted.

Read more on the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act

2. Telangana achieves 100% tap water connections to schools

Context:

Telangana has joined a group of States that has ensured tap water connections to all schools and Anganwadi centres (AWCs).

Details:

  • Telangana was among States like Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, which reported the provision of tap water in all schools and AWCs.
  • Work on providing connection to schools, AWCs and ashramshalas was taken up under the 100-day special campaign of the Ministry of Jal Shakti under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
  • The programme was launched by the Union government, which acknowledged the need for potable piped water to children as they were more susceptible to water-borne diseases.

Note:

  • The State was the first to provide tap water connections to all households and the achievement was recently acknowledged by the Central Government.

2. Iran says talks with IAEA chief ‘fruitful’

What’s in News?

Iran said that it had held fruitful discussions with the UN nuclear watchdog chief in Tehran.

  • The discussion comes ahead of a deadline when Iran is set to restrict the agency’s inspections unless the United States lifts painful sanctions.
  • Efforts are being stepped-up between U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, European powers and Iran to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) that has been on the brink of collapse since former President Donald Trump withdrew from it.

Concerns:

  • Iran has signalled that it wants to avoid an impasse, but also warned it could step further away from its commitments if sanctions are not lifted.
  • Iran’s conservative-dominated parliament had demanded that if the U.S. did not lift sanctions, Iran would suspend some IAEA inspections.
  • However, Iran has stressed it will not cease working with the IAEA or expel its inspectors.

Read more about International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Reverse Transcription Polymerase 
Chain Reaction (RT-PCR):
  1. It is a nuclear-derived method for detecting the presence of specific genetic material from any pathogen, including a virus.
  2. It helps to measure the amount of a specific RNA in a sample.
  3. It combines reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and amplification of specific DNA targets using polymerase chain reaction.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) is a nuclear-derived method for detecting the presence of specific genetic material from any pathogen, including a virus.
  • RT-PCR is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and amplification of specific DNA targets using polymerase chain reaction.
  • It is primarily used to measure the amount of a specific RNA.
Q2. Consider the following with respect to Sant Ravidasji:
  1. He was a poet-saint of the Bhakti movement in northern India.
  2. Some of the devotional verses composed by him are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
  3. He was the founder of the Ravidassia sect.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Guru Ravidas/Sant Ravidasji was a North Indian mystic poet of the bhakti movement.
  • The saint chose to focus on spiritual pursuits and also penned several devotional songs which made a huge impact on the Bhakti movement during the 14th to 16th century CE.
  • Some of the devotional verses composed by him are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
  • He was the founder of the Ravidassia sect.
  • Guru Ravidas spoke against the caste divisions and spoke of removing them to promote unity. His teachings resonated with the people, leading to a religion being born called the Ravidassia religion.
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to International Atomic Energy Agency:
  1. It is a specialised agency of the United Nations.
  2. The organisation’s first name when it was formally established was ‘Atoms for peace’.
  3. India is a founding member of the IAEA.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • ‘Atoms for Peace’ was the organisation’s first name when it was formally established in 1957.
  • It is an autonomous organisation within the United Nations system and not a specialised agency of the UN.
  • India became a member in 1957 itself. It is a founding member.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to International Mother Language Day:
  1. It is part of the initiative to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world.
  2. The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of India.
  3. First announced by UNESCO in 1999, it was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002.

Which of the given statement/s is are correct?

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • International Mother Language Day is observed on 21 February every year.
  • It is part of the initiative to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world.
  • The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh.
  • It was announced by UNESCO in 1999 and was formally recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002.
  • The theme for IMLD 2021 is “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society”.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Even laws that are unquestionably desirable and necessary cannot be enacted using dubious legislative mechanisms. Comment in light of the recent concerns associated with the legislative process in India. (15 marks, 250 words) (GS Paper 2/Polity and Governance)
  2. Analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education sector. Also evaluate if the initiatives taken by the government for the promotion of digital distance learning have been effective in addressing the challenges put forth by the pandemic. (15 marks, 250 words) (GS Paper 2/Education)

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 22 Feb 2021:- Download PDF Here

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