03 Jan 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 03 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. With recent overtures, India, China eye stability in ties after a year of tensions
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. This NSP cannot change Pakistan’s direction
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. State schemes can cast a lifeline to this welfare plan
F. Prelims Facts
1. Two plant species discovered in Kerala
2. HC allows woman to terminate 28-week pregnancy
G. Tidbits
1. Kaziranga elevated road plan awaits nod
2. Telangana tops Open Defecation Free plus list
3.  ‘Malabar is the most complex naval exercise’
4. Draft national air sports policy pushes for safety standards
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

E. Editorials

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. This NSP cannot change Pakistan’s direction

Syllabus: India and its neighborhood- relations.

Context: –

Recently, Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) approved the country’s National Security Policy (NSP).

What is the National Security Policy (NSP)?

  • The National Security Policy (NSP) is a document that serves as a roadmap for the country’s defense and a comprehensive national security policy that is centered on citizens.
  • The NSP is a “Comprehensive National Security Framework” that spans five years, from 2022 to 2026.
  • The NSP aims to safeguard the “safety, security, and dignity of Pakistani nationals.”
  • In addition to economic and military challenges, the NSP addresses foreign policy, terrorism, water security, and demography.

Significance of National Security Policy of Pakistan

  • A national security policy is a vision of the path a country should pursue to achieve its goals.
  • In the wake of the United States’ precipitous exit from Afghanistan, regional security is rapidly changing.
  • Due to the country’s faltering economy and lack of basic utilities, such as vacant banks and almost “bankrupted” public institutions, the situation remains dangerous for Pakistan.
  • India, on the other hand, continues to acquire modern and dangerous military systems, endangering the region’s strategic stability.

Concerns with National Security Policy:

  1. Military Control:- Pakistan’s armed forces will play their due part in achieving the vision laid out in the policy. There are concerns that this will result in increasing military control over security challenges in pakistan.
  2. More space for Corruption: – The Pakistan Army has never let the full light of day reflect on the country’s defense spending. For the advantage of its commanders and personnel, it does not allow inspection of its huge network of economic businesses and real estate.
  3. Increased Radicalism:- There are concerns that Pakistan’s National Security Policy will  result in increased radical events of extremism in the wake of challenging the security issues.
  4. Hampering Social Development:- Pakistan’s philosophy and attitude, in addition to diverting resources from development to military, hampers the country’s social growth and economic management.
  5. China-Pakistan Relations:- The security partnership between China and Pakistan was the backbone of their relationship. Pakistan is hoping for Chinese support in transforming its economy.

What are the implications of the National Security Policy of Pakistan on India?

  • The policy hints at peace with other countries, especially in the neighborhood.
  • Strategic establishment in India would need to look at the policy in the context of security challenges.
  • The policy will impact Pakistan’s approach to India as an open-ended subject by changing the military engagements and infrastructure built up along the border areas.
  • The economic pressures and primacy in the National Security Policy make India review its trade policy towards Pakistan and take advantage of better economic dynamics.
  • India needs to demarcate a clear distinction between geo-politics and geo-economics in the context of provision of the policy.
  • The policy is unlikely to bring any change in Pakistan’s active support to cross-border terrorism and position on Kashmir.

Conclusion: –

The National Security policy aims to create official links between human prosperity and safety, as well as the nation’s economic and military security. But Pakistan’s active backing for cross-border terrorism and its posture on Kashmir are unlikely to alter as a result of the strategy. All of this would undoubtedly need to be comprehended and evaluated.

Nut Graf
India is concerned with National Security Policy of Pakistan in the articulation of the Pakistan policy with regard to Kashmir, terrorism, the proxy war, their nuclear policy, relations with China, policies with regard to Afghanistan and as well their relations with other countries in the region and beyond.

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. State schemes can cast a lifeline to this welfare plan

Syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre.

Mains:  Critical Evaluation of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Prelims: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)- Provisions

Context: –

India accounts for a fifth of the total childbirths in the world, with a decline in maternal mortality ratio.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): –

  • It is a “cash incentive system” in which a cash payment of Rs. 5,000 is made immediately to the bank or post office account of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers for the family’s first living child.
  • Its goal is to improve health-seeking behavior and compensate pregnant women for salary loss, especially in the unorganized sector.

Know More about the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

What are the Concerns with Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)?

  1. Poor Performance: The scheme’s performance has been poor, forcing an immediate need for improvement.
  2. Exclusion of beneficiaries: The Government of India’s yearly estimate of the intended recipients has remained consistent throughout time. Because the objective has stayed constant throughout time, it barely covers 40% of the eligible population.
  3. Expenditure Deficit: According to data published by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, enrolment and payouts under the plan have decreased in the previous two years.
  4. Improper Implementation: More than half of registered beneficiaries did not receive all three installments in 2020-21, resulting in a 9% decline in participation in the plan.
  5. Budget cuts: For 2021-22, the entire budget for women’s and children’s development has been cut by 20%. Additionally, budget allocation for the PMMVY has been reduced as it has been combined with many other programmes under SAMARTHYA.

Examples of State Specific Schemes: –

Way Forward: –

  1. Extend the PMMVY maternity benefit to the second live birth.
  2. Include all live births in the maternity benefit coverage, especially for women in the unorganized sector who are more vulnerable to economic shocks and nutrition loss.
  3. Examine the amount of the maternity benefit and consider increasing it. Because the PMMVY’s principal goal is to give partial salary compensation.
  4. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should get 12 weeks of pay compensation totaling to Rs. 15,000 in accordance with the Maternity Benefit Act of 1961, which stipulates 12 weeks of maternity leave for women with two or more children.
  5. Reduce the number of steps and ensure easy access to the scheme. Removing the PMMVY scheme’s implementation gaps will boost coverage.
Nut Graf
To fulfill India’s commitment towards the Sustainable Development Goal of improving maternal health, an ambitious Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) scheme is a promising initiative by the Centre.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Two plant species discovered in Kerala

  • Researchers have reported two new plant species, Fimbristylis sunilii and Neanotis prabhuii from the Western Ghats regions of Kerala.
    • Fimbristylis sunilii is a perennial plant of the Cyperaceae family found in grasslands. It has been provisionally assessed as data deficient (DD) under the IUCN Red List categories.
    • Neanotis prabhuii is a prostrate perennial herb from the Rubiaceae family and grows on high-altitude grasslands.

2. HC allows woman to terminate 28-week pregnancy

  • The Delhi High Court has allowed a woman to terminate her 28 weeks’ pregnancy on grounds of the foetus suffering from substantial abnormality.
    • Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, termination is permissible where the length of pregnancy does not exceed 20 weeks, on an opinion formed of one doctor. The grounds for termination include possible risk to the life of the pregnant woman, grave injury to mother’s physical or mental health or the risk of the child suffering from serious physical or mental abnormality.
    • Termination is allowed even after the pregnancy exceeds 20 weeks but not 24 weeks, based on the opinion formed of two registered medical practitioners.
  • The Court noted that continuing with the pregnancy would have a deleterious impact on the women’s mental health. The Court noted that the reproductive choice is a part of reproductive rights of a woman and a dimension of her ‘personal liberty’.

G. Tidbits

1. Kaziranga elevated road plan awaits nod

  • The Assam government is planning an elevated road over nine corridors used by the animals of the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve usually during high floods. The project will also have two tunnels.
  • The project is important given the fact that the highway along the southern edge of Kaziranga National Park has often proved fatal for animals fleeing the park during floods for the safety of the hills of the Karbi Anglong district located south of the National Park. Speed restrictions during the monsoon have proved ineffective in preventing collisions between vehicles and animals.
  • This initiative marks an effort to balance the developmental needs like road infrastructure and bio-diversity conservation efforts.

2. Telangana tops Open Defecation Free plus list

  • Telangana has stood first in the country in the list of highest number of open defecation free (ODF Plus) villages under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II programme.
  • Around 96.74% of the villages in Telangana have been declared ODF Plus.
  • The state government’s stress on garbage collection and scientific disposal is said to be contributing to the success of the state in the rankings.
  • The Telangana government has enacted a new Telangana Panchayat Raj Act to ensure holistic development of villages. Under the Palle Pragathi programme a secretary has been posted in every panchayat for smooth execution of welfare programmes, close monitoring and digital reporting to ensure prevalence of good governance in villages.

3. ‘Malabar is the most complex naval exercise’

  • Amid China’s expansion of its maritime presence and activities in the Indian Ocean Region, India too has been taking measures to protect its interests in the region.
    • India has been holding frequent bilateral navy exercise with countries in the region. There are also reports of India expanding existing bilateral or trilateral exercises into larger formats. Example- Milan, Malabar.
    • India has also been concluding bilateral logistics agreements, Navy to Navy agreements and information sharing agreements with several countries.
    • India has been exchanging maritime Information with friendly foreign countries to create Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) in the Indian Ocean Region.

4. Draft national air sports policy pushes for safety standards

  • The Union government has released a draft national policy for air sports in India.
  • Under the policy, entities providing services like aerobatics, ballooning, paragliding, hang gliding, air diving and microlighting and their equipment will have to be registered.
  • The policy proposes a two-tier governance structure for air sports in the country- apex governing body called the Air Sports Federation of India (ASFI) and associations for each air sport. ASFI will provide governance over various aspects of air sports, including regulation, certification, competitions, awards and penalties.
  • Under the new policy, popular air sports attractions in India such as Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh, Gangtok in Sikkim, Hadapsar in Maharashtra and Vagamon in Kerala could be declared as a “control zone” for air sports in order to ensure the safety of other manned aircraft.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the following is/are the Percussion Instruments?
  1. Alingya
  2. Chenda
  3. Kamaicha
  4. Oordhwaka

Options:

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Four major categories of musical instruments include:
    • Percussion instruments (Avanaddha vadya)
    • Ghana Vadya or idiophones
    • Sushira vadya or aerophones
    • Tata vadya or chordophones
  • Alingya, Chenda and Oordhwaka are percussion instruments while Kamaicha is a string instrument.
Q2. Arrange the following hills from North to South:
  1. Ramgarh Hills
  2. Garhjat Hills
  3. Nallamala Hills
  4. Ponmudi Hills

Options:

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Garhjat Hills is located in the state of Odisha
  • Nallamala Hills is located across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
  • Ponmudi Hills is located in Kerala
Q3. With reference to Kaziranga National Park, which of the following statements is/are 
correct?
  1. It is designated as an ‘Important Bird Area’ by Birdlife International.
  2. It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos.
  3. UNESCO has declared Kaziranga National Park as a World Heritage Site

Options:

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Kaziranga National Park is a national park located in the state of Assam. It hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses and is a declared World Heritage Site.
  • It is also designated as an ‘Important Bird Area’ by Birdlife International.
Q4. Basel Norms often seen in news seeks to
  1. Control Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
  2. Strengthen the regulation, supervision and risk management for more resilient banks and banking systems
  3. Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants
  4. Combat international tax avoidance by multinational companies
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Basel norms or Basel accords are the international banking regulations issued by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. The Basel norms is an effort to coordinate banking regulations across the globe, with the goal of strengthening the international banking system.
  • It aims to strengthen regulation, supervision and risk management for more resilient banks and banking systems
Q5. Consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2013)

          National Park                                                                    River flowing through the Park

  1. Corbett National Park:                                                                                     Ganga
  2. Kaziranga National Park:                                                                                Manas
  3. Silent Valley National Park:                                                                            Kaveri

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Corbett National Park: Ramganga
  • Kaziranga National Park: Brahmaputra, Diphlu, Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri
  • Silent Valley National Park: Kunthipuzha

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Irrespective of what the National Security Policy (NSP) of Pakistan may state, people can neither have human security nor a successful economy without cooperative ties with India. Examine. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2, International Relations]
  2. There is vast scope for improvement in the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Discuss. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2, Social Justice]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 03 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here

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