15 Jan 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 15 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Interim Free trade pact with Australia
2. Wolf Warrior Diplomacy
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. Microfinance institutions in India
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. What does Centre want in Bhopal gas case?
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Where do Indian cities stand on toxic air?
F. Prelims Facts
1. Soul of Steel Endurance Challenge
G. Tidbits
1. Neelakurinji
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

2. Wolf Warrior Diplomacy

Syllabus: Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on India’s Interests

Mains: China’s foreign policy

Context: China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, widely regarded as a “wolf warrior” diplomat, has been transferred to the ministry’s Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs.

Introduction:

  • The posting of Zhao Lijian to a less high-profile Boundary and Ocean Affairs Department has turned the spotlight on China’s diplomacy, as well as ignited a debate on its recalibration.
  • Zhao came to the limelight with his tweet accusing the US Army of bringing coronavirus to China in March 2020.
  • Chinese diplomats extensively use Twitter, which is banned in China, to promote Chinese diplomacy and policies.

What is the ‘Wolf Warrior Approach’?

  • It is a new approach inside China which reinforces a presumed transition of Chinese diplomacy from conservative, passive, and low-key to assertive, proactive that goes as far as insulting or threatening those deemed to violate China’s interests. 
  • This approach is in contrast to prior Chinese diplomatic practices of Deng Xiaoping of 1970s-80s, which had emphasised on 
    • working behind the scenes, 
    • avoiding controversy and 
    • Favouring a rhetoric of international cooperation.
  • Wolf Warrior and Wolf Warrior II are Chinese action blockbusters that highlight agents of Chinese special operation forces. They have boosted national pride and patriotism among Chinese viewers.
  • ‘Wolf-warrior diplomacy’, named after these movies, describes offensives by Chinese diplomats to defend China’s national interests, often in confrontational ways.
  • Many Chinese believe the Western media portrayal of China is highly biassed, often with ideological and racist biases. Wolf-warrior diplomacy is part of the Chinese government’s endeavour to “tell the China story.”
  • Wolf warrior diplomacy has been widely used in the past few years, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
  • Wolf warrior diplomacy has often garnered a strong response and in some  cases has provoked a backlash against China.It can have negative ramifications for bilateral relations with other countries.

Fizzling Out:

  • Just as Chinese society has become more diverse, Chinese diplomats are not monolithic. There is no consensus within the Chinese foreign policy establishment on whether confrontational diplomacy is desirable, and not all Chinese diplomats are wolf-warriors.
  • Traditionally minded Chinese diplomats have sought to tamp down the combative impulse and dismissed Zhao’s theory about the US military as “crazy.” 
  • Wolf warrior tactics, combined with great military assertiveness on the China-India border, has ended up pushing India much closer to the U.S., and alienating a billion plus-person economy.
  • Striking a balance between firmly defending national interests and enhancing soft power is a great challenge in Chinese diplomacy today due to political, ideological, and cultural differences with western powers.

Nut Graf: China’s foreign policy under President Xi Jinping appears to be caught between presenting itself as the saviour of the UN-centred world order and globalisation and pursuing China’s core interests ever more aggressively, regardless of the consequences to global politics.

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Where do Indian cities stand on toxic air?

Syllabus: Environmental pollution and degradation.

Mains: Analysis of NCAP.

Prelims: National Clean Air Campaign

Details:

  • It is often argued by experts that even after four years of the National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP) the progress has been slow and pollution had not been significantly reduced in most cities.
  • NCAP was launched by the government on 10 January 2019 to commit funds and set targets for the 131 most polluted cities in India. These cities are called non-attainment cities because they did not meet the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the period of 2011-15 under the National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP).

National Clean Air Campaign (NCAP):

  • India’s annual average prescribed limits for PM2.5 and PM10 are 40 micrograms/per cubic metre (ug/m3) and 60 micrograms/per cubic metre respectively. 
  • The NCAP initially prescribed reducing PM10 and PM2.5 by 20-30% in 2024 (taking the pollution levels in 2017 as the base year). However, in September 2022 it was revised to a 40% reduction in particulate matter concentration by 2026. 
  • The government has disbursed nearly ₹6,897.06 to the cities for the programme. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) coordinates the programme and monitors PM10 levels.
  • It was further mandated that the cities should quantify improvement beginning from 2020-21, which requires a 15% and more reduction in the annual average PM10 concentration and a concurrent increase in “good air” days to at least 200. If these targets are not met the Centre would reduce the funds.

For more information on NCAP, read here: National Clean Air Programme – NCAP Full Form. Significance, Ministry, etc. for IAS.

Impact of NCAP:

  • It was found in the analysis of the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) that only 38 of the 131 cities met the targets for FY21-22. 
  • However, the analysis reports are not available in the public domain and no city action plan was updated on the basis of the studies, as mandated by the NCAP programme. 
  • It was further estimated by CREA that India needs to install more than 300 manual air quality monitoring stations per year to reach the NCAP goal of 1,500 monitoring stations by 2024. It should be noted that only 180 stations have been installed in the last four years.
  • The NCAP Tracker, a joint project by Climate Trends and Respirer Living Sciences, monitors progress in achieving the 2024 clean air targets. The following findings were noted:
    • The national capital of Delhi was ranked the most polluted in 2022 with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 99.71 ug/m3. However, there is an improvement of over 7% compared to 2019. 
    • Most cities in the top 10 most polluted list of 2022 belonged to the Indo-Gangetic Plain. 
    • 9 out of the 10  most polluted cities of 2019 have reduced their PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. However, they remain higher than CPCB’s average annual safe limits. 
  • It was reported by the Centre for Science and Environment in September 2022 that only 14 of 43 (NCAP) cities registered a 10% or more reduction in their PM2.5 level between 2019 and 2021.
  • Whereas 21 out of 46 non-NCAP cities with adequate data, recorded a considerable improvement in their annual PM2.5 value with a 5% or more decline between 2019 and 2021.
  • Around 16 NCAP and 15 non-NCAP cities registered an increase in their annual PM2.5 levels. This shows that both non-NCAP and NCAP cities are equally likely to be polluted and NCAP is not a very effective approach.

Related Link: Pollution measurement – Air Quality Index (AQI) Overview

Nut Graf: Various analysis of the National Clean Air Campaign highlights that it has not achieved the desired results in the past four years. There is a need to review the programme and help in effectively reducing the pollution from all the cities of the country.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Soul of Steel Endurance Challenge

Syllabus: GS03-Economy

Prelims: Adventure Tourism

Context: ‘Soul of Steel’ challenge was launched in Uttarakhand on January 14,2023.

Introduction:

  • A ‘Soul of Steel’ alpine challenge was launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Dehradun, Uttarakhand on the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans Day on January 14,2023.
  • It is an initiative to promote tourism in border areas.
  • The expedition will test one’s high-altitude endurance and will initially have 12 Indian participants plus six international teams, in the age group of 18 to 30. 
    • The challenge will be spread across three months with a total cost of around Rs 30 crore.
    • Participants will be selected through a detailed screening and training model through traditional and modern standards.
  • The Minister also launched a website for volunteers to sign up for various adventure activities under the joint initiative of the Indian Army and CLAW Global organisation.

What is the Soul of Steel Challenge?

  • The challenge is an initiative of CLAW Global and is being supported by the Indian Army.
  • The idea behind Soul of Steel is pooling of skill sets and creating a challenge that will unlock the human ability to survive, stabilise and thrive in high altitude areas.
  • It is based on the lines of the ‘Ironman triathlon’, a long-distance triathlon held in Europe which tests an individual’s physical capabilities.
  • The initiative is aimed at enabling life skill training and youth development. It is also expected to boost global promotion of adventure tourism in Uttarakhand.

CLAW Global:

  • The goal of CLAW (Conquer Land Air Water) Global is to project the strength of self-belief and group effort to generate a powerful perception of ability and freedom.
    • The team is made up of Special Forces veterans and persons with disabilities from different nationalities, religions, abilities, etc.
    • It was set up in 2019 by Major Vivek Jacob, a para special forces officer who retired after 14 years of service after a combat skydive injury.
  • CLAW introduced ‘Operation Blue Freedom’ in 2019 – a global mission to highlight and mainstream the ‘Abilities’ of People with Disabilities.

Armed Forces Veterans Day:

  • The Armed Forces Veterans Day is celebrated on January 14 every year. 
  • The first armed forces Veterans Day was celebrated on January, 14, 2016, coinciding with the retirement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa.
  • He was the first  Indian Chief of the Indian Army. He retired from service on 14th January 1953. 

G. Tidbits

1. Neelakurinji

  • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) has listed Neelakurinji ( Strobilanthes kunthiana) under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, including it on the list of protected plants.
  • As per the order, those who uproot or destroy the plant will invite a fine of ₹25,000 and three years’ imprisonment. The cultivation of Neelakurinji and its possession is not allowed.
  • The blooming of Neelakurinji is a major attraction for tourists, who flock to the locations where it blooms. However, this has also led to the destruction and uprooting of the plant, which is a major threat to the flowering areas.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the statements is/are correct?  (Level-Easy)
  1. Army day is celebrated every year on 16th January.
  2. It commemorates the achievements of our Army’s first commander-in-chief K.M. Cariappa.

Options:

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

Answer: b

Explanation: Army Day is celebrated on 15 January every year in India, in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M. Cariappa taking over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Francis Roy Bucher , the last British Commander-in-Chief of India, on 15 January 1949.

  • It is celebrated every year to honour Cariappa and the defence forces.
  • India celebrates its 75th annual Army day on the 15th of January 2023.
Q2. Consider the following statements about Rare Earth Metals  (Level-Medium)
  1. It is a group of 17 metals.
  2. China is the biggest producer of Rare Earth Metals.
  3. India has 6% of the global Rare Earth Metal reserves.

How many of the statements are correct?

  1. Only 1 statement
  2. Only 2 statement
  3. All 3 statements
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 01 is correct, Rare Earth Metals are a set of seventeen metallic elements. These include the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table in addition to scandium and yttrium that show similar physical and chemical properties to the lanthanides.
  • Statement 02 is correct, As of 2021, China produced more than half of the total global rare earth mine production. In a distant second place was the United States, accounting for a 15.5 percent share of the global rare earths production.
  • Statement 03 is correct, India has the fifth-largest reserves (6% of total reserves) of rare earth minerals in the world.
Q3. Which of the following statements is correct?  (Level-Easy)
  1. The Western Disturbances bring in the winter rainfall all across India.
  2. They are also responsible for creating cold wave conditions in Northern India.

Options:

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 01 is incorrect, A western disturbance is an extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean region that brings sudden winter rain to the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, which extends as east as up to northern parts of Bangladesh and South eastern Nepal.
  • Statement 02 is correct, During the winter months, the passage of western disturbances causes “dry, cold north-westerly winds” to blow into north and central India, causing minimum temperatures to plummet over these areas, resulting in cold-wave conditions.
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level-Medium)
  1. The Neelakurinji flowers are known for blooming only once in 12 years
  2. They are found in the Eastern Himalayas.

Options:

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

Answer: a

Explanation: Strobilanthes kunthiana, known as Neelakurinji is a shrub that is found only in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The purplish blue flower blossoms only once in 12 years.

Q5. Which of the following statements are correct about the deposits of ‘methane 
hydrate? (CSE-PYQ-2019) (Level-Difficult)
  1. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.​
  2. Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the seafloor.​
  3. Methane in atmosphere oxidises to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.​

Select the correct answer using the code given below.​

  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:

  • Statement 01 and 02 is correct, Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in Arctic Tundra and under the sea floor as they have the temperature and pressure conditions suitable for the formation and stability of methane hydrate. Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.
    • Methane hydrate is a crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules. It is an “ice” that only occurs naturally in subsurface deposits where temperature and pressure conditions are favourable for its formation.
  • Statement 03 is correct, Methane is relatively short-lived in the atmosphere; a molecule of methane is oxidised to water and carbon dioxide within a decade or so, mainly by reaction with other trace gases. 

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 15 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here

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