08 Jan 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 08 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
WOMEN ISSUES
1. ‘Marital rape Already Covered under IPC’
B. GS 2 Related
EDUCATION
1. SC Permits NEET Counseling under present OBC, EWS quota
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Awaiting Law panel Report on Uniform Civil Code: Centre
C. GS 3 Related
AGRICULTURE
1. Sustainable Farming Creates New livelihood Sources
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. The baton of forest restoration in the net zero race
SECURITY
1. A serious lapse
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. On the boil
F. Prelims Facts
1. NSO estimates FY22 GDP growth at 9.2%
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Awaiting Law panel Report on Uniform Civil Code: Centre

Syllabus: Constitution of India — significant provisions and basic structure.

Prelims: Uniform Civil Code

Mains: Critical Evaluation Uniform Civil Code in India.

Context: Delhi High Court responded to a plea seeking direction to the government to draft a Uniform Civil Code.

Background of the Case:

A politician Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has filed a petition alleging that the government has “failed” to implement a Uniform Civil Code, as required by Article 44 of the Constitution.

Government’s Response:

  • The Centre stated that it was awaiting the findings of India’s Law Commission, which is looking at several aspects of the Uniform Civil Code.
  • Citizens of other religions and denominations follow distinct property and matrimonial laws, which is an insult to the nation’s unity, according to the centre.
  • The centre claimed that this was against the constitutional plan in response to the appeal, which sought an order against the Union of India to write a Uniform Civil Code in the spirit of Article 44 of the Constitution within three months.
  • Only the “Parliament possesses sovereign power to create laws, and no other force or authority may provide a direction to pass a specific piece of legislation,” it stated.

For more on the pros and cons of a Uniform Civil Code, check the linked article.

Nut Graf
The enactment of a Uniform Civil Code is a highly emotive issue and the outcome of the PIL, filed in the Delhi HC in this regard seeking a directive to the Parliament to implement the code, will be closely watched by the political and legal circles.

E. Editorials

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The baton of forest restoration in the net zero race

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Mains: Forest degradation in India, its challenges and solutions.

Context:

India’s pledge to set a net zero target by 2070, at the COP26 summit, Glasgow, has again highlighted the importance of forests as an undisputed mechanism to help mitigate the challenges of climate change. 

Read more about UNFCCC COP26 in the link.

India’s New Climate Action Goals at COP 26 (Glasgow)

  • India will achieve a net-zero emissions target by 2070.
  • By 2030, India will ensure 50% of its energy will be sourced from renewable sources. 
  • India plans to generate 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. 
  • India also committed to reducing its carbon emissions until 2030 by a billion tonnes. 
  • By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy to less than 40% of its GDP. 

Degradation of Forests in India

  • Though India has increased its forest cover by 15,000 sq km in the last six years, the degradation of existing forests still continues. 
  • According to the State of Forests Report (1989), the country had 2,57,409 sq km under the open forest category (i.e. having a density ranging between 10% to 40%) accounting for 7.83% of its geographical area.
  • However, in the last 30 years (till 2019) this has been increased to 3,04,499 sq km that is 9.26% of its geographical area. 
  • This suggests that every year on average, nearly 1.57 lakh hectares of forests were degraded. 
  • This degradation is mainly due to  anthropogenic pressures that include encroachment, grazing, and fire. 
  • A total of nearly 1.5 million hectares of forests have been diverted since 1980 for developmental activities and nearly 1.48 million hectares of forests have been lost to encroachers.
  • This has a link between poverty and unemployment in India.

Study by Griscom in 2017

The study suggests that better management of land is needed to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement goal of holding warming to below 2 °C. The study examined various options available and their mitigation potential. The study concludes by saying that,

  • The maximum potential of land-based sinks, when coupled with food security, fiber security, and biodiversity conservation, is 23.8 petagrams of carbon-di-oxide (CO2) equivalent.
  • Land-based sinks can provide 37% of cost-effective CO2 mitigation needed through 2030 for >66% chance of restricting warming to below 2 °C. 
  • One-third of this cost-effective natural climate solution can be delivered at less than 10 USD.
  • If actions are implemented effectively, they also offer water filtration, flood buffering, soil health, biodiversity habitat, and enhanced climate resilience.
  • The report provides a robust basis for immediate global action to improve ecosystem management as a major solution to climate change. 

Background of Joint Forest Management Activities in India

  • As proposed in National Forest Policy, 1988, India made its first attempt to engage local communities in a partnership mode to protect and manage forests and restore wastelands with the concept of “care and share”. 
  • The concept of joint forest management gave much hope for the States and communities living in the forest perimeter. 
  • Later, the funds flowed in from various other sources like the World Bank, the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) Japan, the Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom and the European Union. 
  • The efforts to make this participatory approach operative resulted in the formation of about 1.18 lakh joint forest management committees managing about 25 million hectares of forest area. 
  • A similar system was also implemented to manage national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves which resulted in a considerable reduction of man-animal conflicts and the protection of forests from fires and grazing.

Current challenges

  • Post the completion of the project period, lack of further funding and also lack of support from associated NGOs affected the functionality of forest management committees.
  • Except for the National Mission for Green India, all other centrally sponsored programmes such as Project Tiger, fire management, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) and the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) lack the policy support to ensure the participation of local communities resulting in the decline of their effectiveness.
  • The role of local institutions like gram panchayat is currently restricted to only consultation instead of being partners in planning and implementation.
  • Distancing the local communities from participating in the planning and implementation of various schemes will further affect the harmony between them.

Solutions

  • To achieve net zero targets there is a need to examine our existing legal and policy framework; there is a need to incentivise the local communities and ensure enough supply of funds. Also further steps need to be taken to involve local communities in the planning and implementation of projects. 
  • Political interventions like in Telangana, wherein the panchayat and municipal acts were amended to include environmental concerns and provision for the creation of Green Fund and Telangana Haritha Nidhi – for tree planting and related activities need to be replicated in other states.
  • The inclusive approach of joint forest management will help reduce emissions as well as conserve and increase our forest cover. It will also help protect our rich and precious biological diversity.

Conclusion

As India has committed at Glasgow, we have to focus more on climate change and formulate plans and programs to achieve the net zero target. Apart from reducing the amount of emission, equal priority must be given to the approaches of carbon storage and carbon sequestration through natural sinks like forest lands.

Nut Graf
As India is witnessing large-scale degradation of forests, the participation of local communities becomes an important and effective way to achieve the desired target of carbon sequestration through the restoration of forests.

Category: SECURITY

1. A serious lapse

Syllabus: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Mains: Lapse in the security of the Prime Minister – its details and concerns

Context:

The lapse in Prime Minister’s security arrangements, which left his convoy stranded on a flyover for around 20 minutes, near Ferozepur in Punjab is certainly a serious lapse in the security system as stated by the Union Home Ministry.

Background

  • The PM landed at Bathinda from where he was to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala. It was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road, which would take close to 2 hours. Around 30 km from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road ahead was blocked by protesters. The PM was stuck on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. 
  • This is considered a major lapse in the security of the leader of the nation.
  • Two parallel inquiries have been launched both by the Centre and the State of Punjab.
  • The Supreme Court directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to “forthwith” seize and secure records of the security measures for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab.

Details

India is a country that takes the security of its Prime Minister very seriously, as the past experiences of assassinations of the nation’s top leaders have proved costly and have a negative remark on internal security. The security of the PM is taken care of by the Special Protection Group (SPG).

Special Protection Group (SPG)

  • The Special Protection Group (SPG) was formed in 1988 by the SPG Act, 1985 to provide security to the PM, former PMs and their family members.
  • The SPG’s ‘Blue Book’ lays down security guidelines for the protection of the Prime Minister.
    • The Blue Book is a set of instructions, in which information about the procedure to be followed regarding the security of VVIPs is written.
    • The Book contains complete information about the guidelines to be followed in PM security and the protocol is decided accordingly.
    • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issues instructions in the ‘Blue Book’ that serve as guidelines for the security forces.
  • The SPG has an outlay of around ₹600 crore and around 3,000 personnel.
    • The SPG draws its personnel (both men and women) from the Central Armed Police Forces such as the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Railway Protection Force Service.
  • The PM’s convoy contains dozens of vehicles including an Ambulance, a Jammer, two dummy cars identical to that of PM’s vehicle and shooters from NSG protect all these cars.

Read more about SPG in RSTV Big Picture.

Criticism

  • The decision to travel by road for more than 100 km, and the inputs into making the decision are being questioned by the critics.
  • Since the route was identified in advance as a contingency plan, the security arrangements made in this regard are criticized as below par.
  • It is questioned on what basis, the Director-General of Police (DGP) of Punjab gave the all-clear message to the Prime Minister’s security.
  • It is the responsibility of the local police to sanitise the entire route and place snipers on rooftops. SPG never allows the PM to move unless it has got the go-ahead from the local police about the security of the route. In this case, the PM was totally exposed atop a flyover for over 15 minutes.
  • Also, such a lapse in security in the state of Punjab, a border state to Pakistan is a cause of major concern.
  • The miscommunication, misinformation and misjudgment between the state force and central forces are said to be the cause of this chaos.

Conclusion

It is the job of the government to analyze and give protection to a person who needs it, as security is a matter of utmost importance. This episode must also lead to a more efficient protocol for the Prime Minister’s travel, and a restructuring of the SPG needs to be done if required.

Nut Graf
In a country like India that takes the security of its prominent leaders very seriously, the recent incident of lapse in the security arrangements of the PM questions the efficiency of the security protocols in place and reiterates the need for restructuring the security system.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. On the boil

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Mains: The political crisis in Kazakhstan and its latest developments.

Context:

The protests that started out in Kazakhstan over a rise in fuel price has amplified into the biggest political crisis the oil-rich Central Asian country has faced in over three decades.

Details

  • Kazakhstan broke away from the Soviet Union to become an independent republic in 1991.
  • Kazakhstan is located between Russia and China and also shares borders with three other ex-Soviet republics and is the largest economy in Central Asia, with rich hydrocarbon and metal deposits.
  • Strategically, it links the large and fast-growing markets of China and South Asia with those of Russia and Europe by road, rail, and a port on the Caspian Sea. It has described itself as the buckle in China’s huge ‘Belt and Road‘ trade project.

The Crisis

  • The uprisings began in the oil-rich western regions against the removal of state price caps on New Year’s Day for butane and propane, which are often referred to as ‘road fuels for the poor’ due to their low cost.
  • The protests began in the oil city of Zhanaozen, a city in the western Mangystau Region, which has had a history of unrest since 2011.
  • Despite its oil wealth, low salaries and poor working conditions have always been issues. 
  • The pandemic-induced economic slowdown and soaring inflation further aggravated the issues.
  • Public discontent was rising against the ruling elite over the years, and the fuel price hike ignited the same, triggering protests first in Zhanaozen.
  • The protests soon spread to other parts of the country, especially to Almaty, the largest city where a mob stormed the Mayor’s office. 
  • The protesters, encouraged by the compromise made by the regime, now demand democracy and political reforms.

Response by the Regime

  • President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took a series of swift measures to put an end to the unrest. He first reversed the fuel price hike and later sacked his Cabinet.
  • He has also appealed to the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization for assistance.
  • A Moscow-led military alliance dispatched troops to help to put an end to the mounting unrest in Kazakhstan.
  • Kazakhstan’s President rejected the calls for talks with protesters after days of unprecedented unrest.
  • Vowing to destroy the “armed bandits”, he authorised his forces to shoot to kill without warning.

The Impact of Intervention by Russia and its Allies

  • The move is widely criticized, stating that it is a compromise on Kazakhstan’s sovereignty. 
  • Russian intervention also risks weakening Kazakhstan’s ethnic divides. Ethnic tensions have recurred since independence and Russia’s military intervention could upset this fragile balance.
  • The United States being one of the countries investing in Kazakhstan’s energy sector has raised concerns regarding Russia’s interventions.
  • The United States is said to be closely monitoring reports of peacekeeping forces of Russia and will also be watching for any violation of human rights.

Conclusion

The result of the current crisis would largely depend on the choices the regime would undertake. Dealing with the protests only through force, including with the help of Russia would not resolve the underlying issues and give a long term solution. More sensible options such as reaching out to the public, holding consultations and building consensus would be steps in the right direction.

Nut Graf
Unless the Kazakh President builds a new social contract with the people of his country, the anti-government protests can soon spill out of control and risk the very sovereignty of the Central Asian country.

F. Prelims Facts

1. NSO estimates FY22 GDP growth at 9.2%

Context:

As per the National Statistical Office (NSO) estimates, India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 9.2% in the current financial year.

National Statistical Office (NSO) Estimates: 

Real GVA at Basic Prices is estimated at a growth of 8.6%.

GDP Growth Estimates

Image source: The Hindu

The NSO’s GVA estimates for Different Sectors: 

  • Mining sector – 14.3% 
  • Manufacturing – 12.5% 
  • Agriculture sector – 3.9% in FY22 (3.6%)
  • Electricity, water supply and other utility services category – 8.5% (1.9%)
  • Construction – expected to grow 10.7% (-8.6%) 
  • Trade, hotels, transport, communication and broadcasting services – 11.9% 

Know more about the GDP of India.

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following pairs:

           Island                                  State

  1. Sagar                                   West Bengal
  2. Pamban                               Kerala
  3. Nalbana                               Odisha
  4. Munroe                                Tamil Nadu

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Sagar Island is an island in the Ganges delta, lying on the Continental Shelf of the Bay of Bengal about 100 km south of Kolkata. This island forms the Sagar CD Block in the Kakdwip subdivision of South 24 Parganas district in the Indian State of West Bengal. 
  • Nalbana Island is the core area of the Ramsar designated wetlands of Chilika Lake in Odisha. It was declared a bird sanctuary under the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972.
  • Hence Option B is Correct.
  • Pamban Island, known as Rameswaram Island, is an island located between peninsular India and Sri Lanka, on the Rama Setu archipelago. Pamban Island belongs to India and forms the Rameswaram taluk of the Ramanathapuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu. Hence Statement 2 is not correct.
  • Munroe Island is an inland island group located at the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, in Kollam district, Kerala. Hence Statement 4 is not correct.
Q2. With reference to Ramanathaswamy Temple, which of the following statements is/are 
incorrect?
  1. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
  2. It is built in Dravidian style and was constructed during the Vijayanagar Period.
  3. Its Gopuram is the biggest Gopuram in India.

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:

  • Ramanathaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the God Shiva located on Rameswaram island in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples. 
  • The temple was expanded during the 12th century by the Pandya dynasty, and its principal shrine’s sanctum was renovated by Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan and his successor Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan of the Jaffna kingdom. The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.
  • Its Gopuram is NOT the biggest Gopuram in India.
  • Hence, all the statements are incorrect.
Q3. Which of the following statements with respect to the Law Commission of India is/are 
correct?
  1. It is a statutory body established under Section 4 of the Advocates Act.
  2. The first Law Commission was formed in 1834 as a result of the Charter Act, 1833 under the chairmanship of TB Macaulay.

Options:

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • The Law Commission is not a statutory body. It is an executive body. Hence Statement 1 is incorrect.
  • The first Law Commission was established during colonial rule in India, by the East India Company under the Charter Act of 1833, and was presided by Lord Macaulay. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
Q4. Consider the following statements about Indian Pangolin:
  1. As per the IUCN Red List, the Indian Pangolin is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’.
  2. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings.
  3. It is nocturnal and rests in deep burrows during the day.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • As per the IUCN Red List, the Indian Pangolin is listed as ‘Endangered’. Hence Statement 1 is NOT correct.
  • The pangolin possesses a cone-shaped head with small, dark eyes, and a long muzzle with a nose pad similar in colour, or darker than, its pinkish-brown skin. It has powerful limbs, tipped with sharp, clawed digits. The colour of its scales varies depending on the colour of the earth in its surroundings.
  • The most noticeable characteristic of the pangolin is its massive, scaled armour, which covers its upper face and its whole body with the exception of the belly and the inside of the legs. The pangolin has no teeth, but has strong stomach muscles to aid in digestion. Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Q5. Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom? 
PYQ (2017)
  1. Kakinada
  2. Motupalli
  3. Machilipatnam (Masulipatnam)
  4. Nelluru
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • The Kakatiyas’ famous commercial harbour was Motupalli. 
  • Marco Polo, the famed Venetian adventurer, passed through this port on his way to Kakatiya and published a travelogue on the richness and strength of Andhra Desha. 
  • The port of Machilipatnam functioned as the Golconda Kingdom’s main seaport. 
  • Hence Statement 2 is correct.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. What possible measures are needed from the government’s side to revive India’s growth story in the post-pandemic era? (15 Marks, 250 Words)[GS-3, Economy]
  2. The role played by local communities in preserving forests can’t be undermined. Discuss the changes needed in the existing policies to ensure an increased public participation in afforestation. (15 Marks, 250 Words)[GS-3, Environment]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 08 Jan 2022:- Download PDF Here

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