02 Jan 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 02 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Gupkar pact leaders put under house arrest over protest plan
HEALTH
1. Basis for precaution dose approval not clear
C. GS 3 Related
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
1. Crossing the border: viewing through elephants’ lens
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Punishing hate speech
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. What will be the impact of China’s border law?
HEALTH
1. When will the new vaccines be available?
F. Prelims Facts
1. ‘Recognition’ of Bhima Koregaon reflects shift in narrative
2. PM-KISAN scheme
3. Konyak groups in Nagaland slam extension of AFSPA
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: HEALTH

1. Basis for precaution dose approval not clear

Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Mains: Need and Science behind the Booster Shots

Prelims: What are Booster Shots?

Context:

This article examines the effectiveness of booster dose and precaution dose against COVID-19 in India. 

What are Booster Shots?

  • A booster shot is just a way of bolstering one’s immune system’s defenses against a certain infection. 
  • It might be the same vaccination as before, with the purpose of increasing the magnitude of protection by creating more antibodies.
  • A booster shot is administered when the protection provided by the original vaccination has begun to wane over time.

Need for Booster Shots: 

  • According to the World Health Organization, a booster dose is given to persons who have completed a primary immunization series and whose immunity and clinical protection have decreased.
  • Neutralizing antibodies have been shown to wane after at least 6 months of antibody persistence.
  • A booster’s purpose is to restore vaccination efficacy when it has been determined that it is no longer adequate.
  • The booster is intended to help people retain their immunity for a longer period of time.

The Science on Boosters: 

  • COVID vaccines elicit a systemic immune response that protects against a virus that has reached the respiratory tract, but they do not prevent infection in the first place.
  • Secretory antibodies are needed to prevent infection by cleaning the virus when it tries to settle in the membranes of the respiratory system.
  • The majority of current vaccinations are focused against the virus’s spike protein. The spikes are located on the virus’s outer surface.
  • They allow the virus to bind to the receptor on human cells and enter the cell, where it utilizes the cell’s genetic material to replicate itself multiple times.
  • Efficacy levels also decreased with each successive version, from Alpha to Delta.
  • The effectiveness levels of these vaccinations were lower against the Alpha variant than they were against the original virus. 
  • Against the Delta, the reduction in effectiveness was more pronounced.

Read more on coronavirus variants in the link.

What are the Concerns with the boosters?

  • No Scientific Evidence: The scientific evidence from within the country does not underline the need for a booster dose. 
  • Ambiguity over the Need for Boosters: There is no need for a booster dose as the memory cells will produce the specific antibody once the virus comes in contact with a vaccinated or a naturally recovered person.
  • Absence of Vaccine Effectiveness Data: Whether the decision to approve the precaution dose was based on the emergence of the Omicron variant but in the absence of vaccine effectiveness data is not clear.
  • Vulnerable Populations: The protection offered by boosters available against the variant in older people and other vulnerable populations is not known. 
  • Concerns over Immunocompromised People: The immunocompromised people have not been included. A third dose or additional dose for immunocompromised individuals is something on which experts have consensus. 
  • Limited T-Cell Response: The researchers found that T cell immunity from natural infection lasted as long as 10 months. But they did not measure the duration of protection offered by T cell immunity in fully vaccinated people who have not been previously infected.
  • Making Policy Decisions: These findings are of limited use in formulating policy decisions since breakthrough infections are considerably more likely with the Omicron version than with the Delta variant. It is unclear if the booster dosage will be given with the same vaccination as the first two doses or with a different vaccine.
  • No Trials for Booster Shots: There is no scientific proof of the effectiveness of Covishield or Covaxin as booster injections from clinical studies in India. Despite the lack of a scientific study for effectiveness, Covaxin will be administered as a booster dosage.

Nut Graf

The waning of vaccine-induced immunity coupled with the emergence of SARS-CoV2 variants has led to an increase in breakthrough infections, prompting considerations of booster doses. The decision to administer booster shots of the covid-19 vaccines may come in the way of increasing the second dose coverage of the population. Any decision on a booster shot should be based entirely on scientific evidence.

E. Editorials

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Punishing hate speech

Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Mains: Hate Speech and current provisions against it in India.

Context:

Verifying existing laws that cover “hate speech”.

Hate Speech – Meaning and Definition

There is no specific legal definition of ‘hate speech’. Hate speech refers to words whose intent is to create hatred towards a particular group, that group may be a community, religion, or race. This speech may or may not have meaning, but is likely to result in violence. 

  • According to the Law Commission of India, “Hate speech generally is an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief and the like. This, hate speech is any word written or spoken, signs, visible representations within the hearing or sight of a person with the intention to cause fear or alarm, or incitement to violence.”
  • Bureau of Police Research and Development defined hate speech as a “language that denigrates, insults, threatens or targets an individual based on their identity and other traits such as sexual orientation or disability or religion, etc.”

Know more about Hate Speech.

Legal Provisions in India against “hate speech”

Sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code are taken to be the major penal provisions that deal with inflammatory or hate speeches.

  • According to Section 153A of IPC, “promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony”, is a punishable offence and attracts three years of imprisonment.
  • According to Section 505 of IPC, “Statements that promote mutiny by the armed forces, or causes such fear or alarm that people are induced to commit an offence against the state or public tranquillity; or is intended to incite or incites any class or community to commit an offence against another class or community”, will attract a jail term of up to three years under Section 505(1).
  • Under Section 505(2), “it is an offence to make statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.
  • Under Section 505(3), the offence will attract up to a five-year jail term if it takes place in a place of worship, or in any assembly engaged in religious worship or religious ceremonies.
  • Section 295A of the IPC deals with punishing acts that deliberately or with malicious intention outrage the religious feelings of a class of persons.

Law Commission Recommendations

  • Separate sections are to be added to the IPC to criminalize hate speech instead of merging it with existing sections related to inflammatory acts and speeches.
  • It has proposed two new sections, Section 153C and Section 505A in this regard.
  • Section 153C – criminalize and attract a two-year jail term or a fine of ₹5,000 or both to  anyone who,
    • Uses gravely threatening words, spoken or written or signs or visible representations, with the intention to cause fear or alarm.
    •  Advocates hatred that causes incitement to violence, on grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability, or tribe.
  •  Section 505A – proposes a prison term of up to one year and/or a fine up to ₹5,000 or both, to criminalize words, or display of writing or signs that are gravely threatening or derogatory, within the hearing or sight of a person, causing fear or alarm or, with intent to provoke the use of unlawful violence against that person or another”.

Conclusion

Hate speech is a serious threat to society that disrupts the peace prevailing in a democratic system. Critics argue that the hate speech laws in India are not adequate and proposals to add sections to the IPC to punish such acts have been made by many Committees. Currently, the Committee for Reforms in Criminal Laws is examining to add more comprehensive changes to criminal law to tackle the issue of hate speech.

However, the already existing laws are sufficient to deal with such instances. The only part missing in curbing this menace is the lack of enforcement of these laws.

Nut Graf

The blatant misuse of the constitutional guarantee of free speech to instigate violence and call for genocide of a community is a blot on the rule of law.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. What will be the impact of China’s border law?

Topic: India and its neighbourhood – relations.

Mains: China’s new land border law and India’s concerns.

Context: 

China passed a new land law for the “protection and exploitation of the country’s land border areas” which will come into effect from 1st January 2022.

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of China said it has issued “standardised” names for 15 places in the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh. The names are to be used henceforth on all official Chinese documents and maps, which show Arunachal as “south Tibet”.

Significance of the new law

New Border Law of China

Image Source: The Hindu

  • The law has 62 articles in seven chapters, covering issues like delineation and border defence, immigration, border management and trade.
  • To “safeguard national sovereignty”, the law lists various responsibilities for civilian and military authorities in China. 
  • The state can take up steps “to strengthen border defence, support economic and social development as well as opening-up in border areas, improve public services and infrastructure in such areas, encourage and support people’s life and work there, and promote coordination between border defence and social, economic development in border areas”.
  • The law also asks the state to follow the principles of “equality, mutual trust, and friendly consultation, and handle land border related-affairs with neighbouring countries through negotiations to properly resolve disputes and longstanding border issues”.
  • Article 7 calls for promoting border education at all levels of government. 
  • Article 22 calls for the Chinese military to carry out border drills and to “resolutely prevent, stop and combat” what it calls “invasions, encroachments and provocations”.
  • Article 43 supports the state in the construction of border towns, strengthening supporting capacity for the construction, and improving the functioning of border towns.

India’s Concerns and Response

  • India raised concerns stating that “China must not use its new Land Boundary Law to justify the actions that alter the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
  • The Indian government called the law a “unilateral move”, and said it could have no bearing on existing arrangements between both sides, as India and China have not resolved their boundary issues thus far.
  • In the view of the Government of India, the law aims to give legal cover and formalise the Chinese military’s transgressions across the LAC in 2020. 
  • The law also appears to give momentum to civilian agencies in China to continue carrying out the construction of infrastructure, including “frontier villages”, in border areas.
  • Under the border village construction plan, China is building first line and second line villages in the border areas and moving civilians to live in the new dwellings along the borders of India, Bhutan and Nepal.
  • Recently surfaced satellite images show a Chinese cluster of newly built dwellings on what India sees as its territory in Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • The territory in question has been under Chinese control since 1959 and previously had Chinese military installations there.
  • India responded by saying that “assigning invented names” will not alter the facts on the ground or Arunachal Pradesh’s status as an integral part of India. 

Conclusion

India shares a 3500km not fully demarcated border with China extending from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. This has resulted in various standoffs between the nations, the latest being the one at Galwan Valley. While disengagement has been seen in the valley, the troops continue to be stationed at various other regions such as Gogra, Hot springs, and Depsang plains. A new border law by China, in this situation of prolonged discussions to resolve the standoff, will only make it difficult to negotiate for both countries.

Nut Graf

The enforcement of a new border law by China will not only disrupt the negotiations between the two countries to resolve the border dispute, but also have deep ramifications on the larger bilateral relations.

Category: HEALTH

1. When will the new vaccines be available?

Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Prelims: Facts relating to new vaccines.

Mains: India vaccination drive against COVID-19.

Context:

India has approved two more vaccines, Corbevax and Covovax as well as an antiviral drug, Molnupiravir, under emergency use authorization, to fight against COVID-19. 

Corbevax 

  • Manufacturer/s: Hyderabad-based Biological E, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, U.S., and American company Dynavax Technologies
  • Type: A protein subunit vaccine made by isolating a piece of the actual virus.
  • Spike protein production: The spike protein is grown in yeast cells.
  • Working: The subunit vaccine contains a harmless S protein. Once the immune system recognizes the protein, it produces antibodies to fight infection and is less likely to trigger adverse reactions.
  • Efficacy: More than 80% (demonstrated superior immunogenic response in comparison to COVISHIELD)
  • Misc: Biological E claims it will be able to produce 7.5 crore doses a month and scale up to 10 crores by February. The vaccine can be stored in ordinary refrigerators.

Covovax

  • Manufacturer/s: Serum Institute of India under licence from Novavax, a U.S.-based biotechnology company.
  • Type: Protein sub-unit vaccine.
  • Spike protein production: Spike proteins are grown in moth cells.
  • Working: A nanoparticle formula is used to make it resemble the structure of the coronavirus spike protein to stimulate the immunogenic response.
  • Efficacy: 90.4% 
  • Misc: The vaccine needs extra booster shots. The vaccine has also been tested on children in India.

Molnupiravir drug

  • Manufacturer/s: US firms Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck.
  • Type: Oral antiviral drug.
  • Working: It works by introducing errors into the virus’s genetic code, which prevents replication.
  • Efficacy: Safe and Effective
  • Misc: Thirteen companies in India are set to manufacture this drug.

Boost to India’s inoculation program

India has administered 151 crore doses of the vaccine so far and the Prime Minister announced that from January 3rd, those between the age bracket 15-17 years will be eligible for vaccination. Also, healthcare workers, frontline warriors, and those above 60 with comorbidities will be eligible for a third booster dose from January 10th. 

In the wake of the omicron surge and rise in demand for inoculation, the approval for the two new vaccines will make sure that the availability of vaccines will not be a problem. However, the production capacities of Corbevax and Covovax manufactures are untested and with experience, it is known that it can take several weeks to stabilize the process.

Nut Graf

As India approves three more vaccines in the fight against the coronavirus, questions abound such as which vaccine is suitable for children, what is the decision regarding the third dose, etc. The path towards universal vaccination will be influenced by how well and fast these questions are answered.

F. Prelims Facts

1. ‘Recognition’ of Bhima Koregaon reflects shift in narrative

Context:

The violent clashes that erupted in the village of Bhima Koregaon in 2018 seared Maharashtra’s social fabric, while heightening social tensions across the State.

Bhima-Koregaon Battle: 

  • The battle of Bhima-Koregaon in 1818, one of the final conflicts of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, ended with the fall of the Peshwa.
  • The East India Company erected a pillar known as Vijay Sthamb (victory pillar) in honour of those who fought for them in the fight.

Know More About the Bhima-Koregaon Battle.

2. PM-KISAN scheme

Context: 

Recently, the Prime Minister released financial aid for farmers under the PM-KISAN scheme.

PM-KISAN Scheme:

  • PM Kisan is a Central Sector initiative that is entirely funded by the Indian government.
  • All land-owning farmer families would get an annual income assistance of 6,000/- in three equal instalments under the plan.
  • According to the scheme’s criteria, the State Government and the UT administration will select farmer families that are eligible for assistance.

Know More About the PM-KISAN Scheme.

3. Konyak groups in Nagaland slam extension of AFSPA

Context:

Konyak Naga organizations have criticized the extension of the AFSPA in Nagaland.

Konyak Naga: 

  • The Konkyaks are one of Nagaland’s most populous ethnic groups, residing mostly in the Mon region, commonly known as ‘The Land of the Anghs.’
  • The Konyak language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan Sal subfamily’s Northern Naga sub-branch.
  • This ethnic tribe is mostly located in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap, Longding, and Changlang districts, as well as Assam’s Sibsagar district, with a significant number in Myanmar.
  • Their traditional chiefs, the Anghs/Wangs, are held in great regard.

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the following items is/are kept outside the purview of GST?
  1. Alcohol for human consumption
  2. Petroleum Products
  3. Medicines

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

  • The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a tax on goods and services. 
  • It is an indirect tax that has mostly superseded several other indirect taxes in India, such as excise duty, VAT, and services tax.
  • At present, the following items are kept outside the purview of GST in India: 
    • Alcohol for human consumption: In India, alcohol for human consumption is currently exempt from the GST regime. The taxes on alcohol for human use, on the other hand, will remain in place as they were before the establishment of the GST. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
    • Petroleum products: Petroleum products such as crude oil, motor spirit (petrol), high-speed diesel, natural gas, and aviation turbine fuel, among others, are exempt from GST in India. However, the taxes on these items will be levied in accordance with the framework in place before the implementation of GST.  Hence Statement 2 is correct.
  • Medicines: GST levies on pharmaceutical products can range between different tax rates, i.e. Nil, 5%, 12% and 18%.  Hence Statement 3 is not correct.
Q2. With reference to Algal blooms, which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well as marine environments.
  2. Harmful algal blooms can produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals.

Options:

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

Answer: c

Explanation

  • Algal blooms may appear in both freshwater and marine habitats. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
  • Overgrowths of algae in water are known as harmful algal blooms. Harmful algal blooms may produce very toxic poisons that can make humans and animals sick or even kill them. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
Q3. Which amongst the following is the best description of the Bambatha Rebellion?
  1. It was the beginning of the civil war in Somalia
  2. It was a reaction to inequalities and injustices in British-controlled Kenya
  3. Protests against declining living standards and unpopular Soviet policies in East Germany
  4. It was a Zulu revolt against British rule and taxation in Natal, South Africa
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation

  • The Zulu rebellion against British control in southern Africa was known as the Bambatha Rebellion. The insurrection took place in Zululand, now KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in 1906.
  • Hence Option D is correct.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Sufism:
  1. It gained prominence in the 10th and 11th centuries during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate.
  2. The Chisti Silsila was founded by Shihabuddin in Baghdad and was established in India by Bahauddin Zakariya.
  3. The Chistis accepted maintenance grants from the Sultans and took an active part in politics.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: a

Explanation

  • Many native Indian ideas, including yogic postures, music, and dance, were absorbed by Sufism in India. During the time of the Delhi Sultanate in the 10th and 11th centuries, Sufism rose to prominence. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
  • Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti (also known as Gharib Nawaz) founded the Chisti order in India in 1192 CE. Hence Statement 2 is not correct.
  • The Chistis avoided the company of kings and nobles, preferring to stay out of state politics. Hence Statement 3 is not correct.
Q5. Which of the following is a most likely consequence of implementing the ‘Unified Payments 
Interface (UPI)’?
  1. Mobile wallets will not be necessary for online payments.
  2. Digital currency will totally replace the physical currency in about two decades.
  3. FDI inflows will drastically increase.
  4. Direct transfer of subsidies to poor people will become very effective.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation

  • The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system designed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. 
  • UPI allows you to send money instantly from your bank account to multiple retailers without having to type in your credit card number or your net banking or wallet password.
  • UPI is a payment mechanism that allows you to send money from one bank account to another using your smartphone.
  •  Hence Option A  is correct.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Should the laws relating to hate speech be made more stringent? Critically Examine. (15 Marks, 250 Words) [GSII Polity and Governance]
  2. Why has Beijing renamed several places in Arunachal Pradesh? How should India respond? (10 Marks, 150 Words) [GSII International Relations]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 02 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here

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