06 Jan 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 06 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
SOCIETY
1. Why is Japan offering money to move out of Tokyo?
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT
1. National Green Hydrogen Mission
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Ties With Nepal in Uncertain Times
GOVERNANCE
1. Making India an Uplinking Hub
F. Prelims Facts
1. Tirupati to have largest liquid waste treatment plant
2. Asian Elephant
G. Tidbits
1. Decennial census put off till Sept. to freeze boundaries
2. Following protests, Centre stops Parasnath projects
3. At Strategic Dialogue, India and France share views on security and defence cooperation
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. Making India an Uplinking Hub

Syllabus: Government Policies & Interventions for Development

Mains: Analysis of Policy guidelines to make India an uplinking hub

Context: This article discusses various policy interventions towards making India an uplinking hub.

Introduction: 

  • In November 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the policy guidelines for the uplinking and downlinking of television channels from India.
    • The consolidated policy guidelines are aimed at making India the hub of uplinking as they allow Indian teleports to uplink foreign channels.
  • An uplink refers to the link from a ground station up to a satellite, a downlink is the link from a satellite down to one or more ground stations or receivers. 
  • In 2021, the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994, were amended to include a statutory mechanism for the redressal of grievances and complaints of viewers relating to content broadcast by television channels in accordance with the provisions of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995. 
    • The amended Rules bring in a strong institutional system for redressing grievances and make broadcasters and their self-regulating bodies accountable and responsible. 

Cable Television in India:

  • Television started in India in September 1959 and broadcasting was solely under the control of the state till the early 1990s.
  • Cable television arrived in India in the 1990s and used foreign satellites to transmit and broadcast. Cable television networks mushroomed haphazardly, and foreign television networks invaded our culture through their programmes. 
  • India’s first private television channel, Zee TV, was launched in October 1992 with the help of some Non-Resident Indians in Hong Kong who took an idle AsiaSat satellite transponder on lease for five years to uplink programmes. 
    • In the next few years, Business India Television; Asia Television Network and Jain TV also began operating and flew out tapes every day to Hong Kong, Singapore or Moscow for uplinking. 
    • Using the Russian satellite was cheaper than using the satellite in Hong Kong or Singapore.
  • This made broadcasting an expensive and cumbersome affair in the 1990s.

Uplinking from India:

  • In order to regulate the industry and to make registration of cable operators mandatory, the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 was brought in. 
    • Indian broadcasters were allowed to uplink from India through the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL).
    • But it was only in 2000 that the first licence to set up a teleport — an earth station facility from where TV signals can be uplinked to a geostationary satellite was granted.
    • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Government of India, notified the ‘Guidelines for Uplinking from India’ in July 2000 and private broadcasters got permission to set up their own earth stations and to uplink. 
  • The first licence was given to TV Today Network Limited in November 2000 which started the channel, Aaj Tak, on December 31, 2000. 
    • Aaj Tak became the first Indian private television channel to uplink signals from its own earth station. 
    • In 2001, five broadcasters set up their earth stations with the facility to uplink.
  • The MIB issued uplinking and downlinking policy guidelines in 2011 for private satellite TV channels and teleports.
  • In 2022,  the government amended the policy guidelines in light of the difficulties posed by the development of broadcasting technology, changes in market scenarios, and other operational developments in the broadcasting industry. 
  • The guidelines aim to create a conducive environment in line with the principle of ease of doing business on a sound regulatory framework and make India a teleport hub for other countries. 
    • Neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan can also use India as a hub for uplinking their television channels.
  • The Union government had approved USD 102 million in remittances to foreign satellite operators over the last two years for providing uplinking and downlinking services to television channels.
  • Uplinking using Indian satellites will greatly reduce these foreign remittances.

Read more on Broadcasting Socially Relevant Topics in CNA dated Nov 11, 2022.

Nut Graf: From the time when Indian broadcasters flew tapes to foreign countries for uplinking to the time when foreign broadcasters sent their programmes to Indian teleports for uplink, the television industry has made enormous strides. In this aspect, the new policy guidelines on uplinking need to be celebrated in India’s ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal’.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Tirupati to have largest liquid waste treatment plant

Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology; Indigenization of technology

Prelims: Liquid waste treatment plant and phytorid technology

Context: The Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) will be establishing India’s largest liquid waste treatment plant.

Details

  • The liquid waste treatment project is being developed at a cost of ₹11 crores under Smart City funds.
  • The plant will adopt the phytorid technology for its operation.
  • The Phytorid technology has been developed by CSIR’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
  • Phytorid technology involves the treatment of wastewater under a sedimentation process to eliminate solid matter after which, the water is made to flow in a serpentine motion into a sub-surface chamber containing multiple barricades. 
    • Further, saplings are planted atop a porous medium containing gravel and stones which helps to eliminate the organic matter.
    • Later, the water is made to flow through activated carbon filters to reduce the Biochemical Oxygen Demand to 5mg, which is lower than the national standard of 10mg put in place by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  • The key advantages of Phytorid technology are: Cost-effective, simple operational process, leaves a smaller footprint and does not emanate foul odour.

2. Asian Elephant

Syllabus: GS-3; Environment; Biodiversity conservation

Prelims: About Asian Elephants and Biosphere Reserves

Context: Recent reports have pointed out that the Asian Elephants have lost most of their “optimal” habitat in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR).

Read about – Biosphere Reserves in India

Asian Elephant

  • The Asian Elephant is the largest terrestrial mammal on the Asian continent.
  • Asian Elephants play a crucial role in the continent’s culture and religion.
  • Asian Elephants are smaller as compared to their African counterparts and have proportionally smaller ears which are in constant motion to cool themselves.
  • The three subspecies of Asian elephants include the Indian, Sumatran and Sri Lankan.
    • The Indian Elephants account for the widest range and majority of the remaining elephants in the continent.
  • IUCN Red list status: Endangered
  • Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I Protection
  • CITES listing: Appendix I

Learn more about – Asian Elephant

G. Tidbits

1. Decennial census put off till Sept. to freeze boundaries

  • The decennial census exercise has been postponed till September 2022 as the Union government has informed the States that the date of freezing of administrative boundaries has been extended till June 30.
    • According to the existing norms, a census can only be conducted three months post the freezing of boundary limits of administrative units which include districts, talukas and police stations.
    • The finalisation of boundaries of administrative units requires covering all jurisdictional changes between two consecutive censuses. 
    • The last census was held in 2011.
  • The Census 2021 exercise has been postponed several times citing the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination drive. However, the latest letter by the office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) has not specified the reason for the postponement.
  • The first phase of Census 2021 which is the House listing and Housing Census along with updating the National Population Register (NPR) should have been held from April-September 2020 but was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
    • Further, the second phase of the census exercise which is the population enumeration was to be concluded by March 5, 2021.
  • The upcoming census would be the first-ever decennial census conducted both in digital mode and as well as paper mode (questionnaire/forms).
    • CMMS portal has been developed at a cost of ₹24.84 crore to facilitate digital data collection and management of various census-related activities.

2. Following protests, Centre stops Parasnath projects

  • The Union Environment Ministry revoked its permission for tourism and ecotourism activities in the vicinity of the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary in Jharkhand following protests by members of the Jain community.
  • The Chief Minister of Jharkhand has written to the Union Environment Minister asking him to take appropriate decisions with respect to the legal status of the eco-sensitive zone surrounding the Parasnath Hills.
  • As per the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, an eco-sensitive zone is a buffer zone surrounding a Protected Area.
    • While no activities are permitted in protected zones, eco-sensitive zones are allowed to promote tourism provided a master plan indicating the permissible activities is given to the Union government by the respective State government.
  • The location of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary is of significant religious importance to Jains and the members of the community said that the religious sanctity of the site was not considered while promoting tourism and ecotourism activities in the area.

3. At Strategic Dialogue, India and France share views on security and defence cooperation

  • The National Security Adviser (NSA) of India held the 36th round of the Indo-French Strategic Dialogue with his French counterpart and both the participants have agreed to intensify efforts “towards strategic autonomy”.
  • Both countries were involved in discussions regarding various issues such as the current global security scenario in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, regional security in the context of Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, among others.
  • The agenda of the discussions covered all aspects of the Indo-French strategic partnership: defence and security cooperation.
    • India is looking to decide on a fighter jet to fly off the Navy’s aircraft carriers, for which Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornet and Dassault Aviation’s Rafael-M are in contention.
    • Furthermore, Safran of France is in the race with other global engine manufacturers to co-develop a fighter jet engine with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. What do you understand by Sweet Revolution?
  1. It is aimed at promoting sweet potato and sugarcane production.
  2. It aims to raise awareness regarding Diabetes.
  3. It aims to promote apiculture or bee farming in India.
  4. It is a program by FSSAI to promote transparency in sugar content in food product labelling.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Sweet Revolution in India also known as Honey Mission was launched to increase the promotion of the development of scientific beekeeping and the production of honey.
  • The Prime Minister of India called for the Sweet Revolution in 2016 with the vision to double the income of the farmers by 2024. It was launched to promote beekeeping and associated activities.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Cold Waves:
  1. It is declared when the minimum temperature dips 4.5-6.4 degrees Celsius below the normal minimum temperature.
  2. It can also be declared when the minimum temperature of a place in the Plain region goes below 4 degrees Celsius.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 & 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, A Cold Wave is defined as a sudden fall in temperature in the same region and date as compared to its normal temperatures for previous years.
    • Cold Wave is declared when the minimum temperature dips 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius below the normal minimum temperature.
  • Statement 2 is correct, As per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a cold wave in the plains occurs when the temperature is 10 degrees Celsius or below and the minimum temperature falls below 4 degrees Celsius.
Q3. Consider the following statements:
  1. Inflation can be controlled by raising the interest provided on savings.
  2. If inflation is high the real rate of return will be low.
  3. The RBI decides the interest rates for the small saving schemes.

Which of the statements is/are correct?

  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, High-interest rates help in controlling/reducing inflation while low-interest rates may lead to a rise in inflation.
  • Statement 2 is correct, A real interest rate is one that has been adjusted for inflation and the real rate of return will be low if inflation is high.
  • Statement 3 is not correct, Interest rates on the small saving scheme are fixed by the Union Government from time to time.
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. The New Education Policy allows any foreign university to open its campus in India.
  2. These universities will have the autonomy to decide the admission process and the fee structure.

Options:

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 & 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, The National Education Policy [NEP], 2020 has envisioned that top universities in the world will be facilitated to operate in India.
    • A foreign university with a rank among the top 500 global rankings or a foreign educational institution of repute in its home jurisdiction can apply to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to set up a campus in India.
  • Statement 2 is correct, The universities can formulate their own admission process, criteria for admission of domestic and foreign students and also have the autonomy to decide their fee structure.
    • The universities will face no caps that are imposed on Indian institutions but the fee should be “reasonable and transparent”.
Q5. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following 
statements: (PYQ 2016)
  1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
  2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
  3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, The concept of Bodhisattva is central to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
  • Statement 2 is correct, Bodhisattva refers to an enlightened and compassionate being.
  • Statement 3 is correct, Bodhisattva compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshipped as a deity.

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 06 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here

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