CNA 24 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related GOVERNANCE 1. The basic structure of the Constitution C. GS 3 Related SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. The dark sky is a natural resource, and too much light is polluting it D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Democracy and its structural slippages INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE 1. Needed, a new approach to data protection for minors EDUCATION 1. An India chapter for foreign universities F. Prelims Facts 1. Norovirus G. Tidbits 1. INS Vagir, fifth Scorpene submarine, commissioned 2. 21 Andaman islands named after Param Vir Chakra awardees H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. The basic structure of the Constitution
Syllabus: Constitution of India — Basic structure
Prelims: Facts about Basic structure doctrine
Mains: Basic structure doctrine – its evolution, significance and its aftermath
Context
- The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has compared the “Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution” to the North Star, which acts as a guide and shows the right path when the path appears convoluted.
- The CJI made these observations while responding to the Vice President’s comments that the basic structure doctrine diluted parliamentary sovereignty.
- The “Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution” was introduced by a 13-judge Bench in the Kesavananda Bharati v/s State of Kerala case (1973) through a 7:6 majority judgment.
- Kesavananda Bharati case is also known as the Fundamental Rights case.
Read more about – Basic Structure of the Indian Constitution
Basic structure doctrine
- In the Kesavananda Bharati judgment, the Supreme Court had held that Parliament cannot use its constituent power to alter the basic structure or the key essential features of the Constitution.
- Therefore, there is no mention of the term “Basic Structure” anywhere in the Constitution as the idea that the Parliament cannot introduce laws that would change the basic structure of the constitution evolved gradually over time and in many cases.
- According to Granville Austin’s Working of a Democratic Constitution, the basic structure doctrine is said to have become the bedrock of constitutional interpretation in India”.
C. GS 3 Related
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. The dark sky is a natural resource, and too much light is polluting it
Syllabus: Awareness in the fields of Space
Prelims: Dark Sky Reserves
Mains: Phenomenon of skyglow and its consequences
Context
Recently a study report titled “Citizen scientists report global rapid reductions in the visibility of stars from 2011 to 2022” was published.
Background
- In December 2022, the district administration of Ladakh designated six hamlets within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary as “dark-sky reserves”.
- The designation of areas as “dark-sky reserves” means that efforts are to be undertaken to keep the skies dark, mainly for the purpose of astronomical observatories set up in these areas.
- Further, the skies were recognised as a natural resource capable of being polluted as SpaceX’s Starlink constellation of satellites began to obscure the view of ground-based telescopes around the Earth.
- Since then, the concept of “dark-sky reserves” has become extremely popular.
Dark Sky Reserves
- A Dark Sky Reserve is public or private land with a distinguished nocturnal environment and starry nights that have been developed to prevent light pollution.
- As per the International Dark Sky Association (IDSA), Dark Sky Reserves comprise a core area with minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness, and a peripheral area that supports dark sky preservation in the core areas.
- The key objectives of the Dark Sky Reserves are to:
- Promote astronomy tourism in a sustainable and environment-friendly manner
- Facilitate astronomical observations
- Protect nocturnal species which rely on darkness to hunt and forage
- Use of various scientific methods to preserve the night sky from ever-increasing light pollution.
- The International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) has specified five designated categories of Dark Sky Reserves namely International Dark Sky parks, communities, reserves, sanctuaries and Urban Night Sky Places.
Read more about – Dark Sky Reserves
Key findings of the new report
- In a recent study, researchers from Germany and the U.S. have studied a global database of what the dimmest star visible from a particular location is.
- According to the study, non-natural light increased the brightness of the night sky (skyglow), by about 9.2% to 10% every year between 2011 and 2022.
- The study also notes that the skyglow had brightened by about 6.5% over Europe, 10.4% over North America, and 7.7% over the rest of the world.
- These findings of the report have gained significance as it opposes the satellite-based data, which indicated that the rate of increase has been about only 2% per year.
- The latest study says that the discrepancy between the data is because satellites are not capable of sensing blue light emitted by LEDs and the light that is emitted parallel to the ground.
- As per the study. the visible light emitted by various sources is divergent, therefore the light emitted downwards could also find its way into the sky.
- Further, most of the surfaces in cities reflect light, and hence even the entirely down-cast light can be reflected upwards, contributing to light pollution.
The Indian context
- In March 2021, an engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle had shared pictures of the impact of the lighting at the Chemrey Monastery, near Leh.
- The pictures clearly highlighted the fact that a number of stars become invisible when the monastery is lit.
- Further, a study in 2016 highlighted that 19.5% of India’s population witnessed a level of skyglow that would at least keep the Milky Way galaxy out of sight and made it difficult to render the dark adaptation for human eyes.
- The effects of which include stimulating the cone cells in human eyes, which is possible only when the surroundings are well-lit.
- According to a 2017 study, India’s lit area increased by 1.07% to 1.09% between 2012 and 2016, and the average radiance of stably lit areas increased by 1.05% to 1.07%.
The impact of skyglow or artificial light pollution
- Studies have indicated that artificial light at night adversely impacts not just humans but also wildlife in significant ways.
- As per a study conducted in 2003, light pollution near beaches deters sea turtles from coming ashore to nest.
- Another report found that the skyglow impacts the ability of the trees to sense seasonal variations.
- A study conducted in 2017 found that young burrow-nesting seabirds don’t take flight until the nesting site becomes dark.
- Studies have indicated that clownfish eggs don’t hatch if they are exposed to artificial light at night, thus there are high chances of killing the offspring.
- A study in 2020 revealed that the skyglow impacts various aspects of insect life and allows the predators of insects to hunt longer.
- Further, artificial light at night is known to disrupt the circadian rhythm (which is a natural and internal process that regulates the sleep – wake cycle) which in turn affects the production of melatonin, a key hormone in the human body that regulates sleep, moods and cognition.
- Furthermore, a review convened in 2009 concluded that circadian disruption increased the chances of breast cancer among night-shift workers by about 40%.
- Researchers in Australia have noted that the erasure of the night sky would dilute the indigenous cultural and ecological connection with the stars.
Nut graf: There is an urgent need to bring in a global treaty or an agreement to reduce light pollution as the phenomenon of “skyglow” caused mainly due to artificial light pollution has significant ecological, health and cultural consequences.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Democracy and its structural slippages
Syllabus: Democracy.
Mains: Democracy and associated Concerns.
Details:
- Despite a long history of evolution, Democracy was basically a 19th-century to 20th-century western creation.
- The universal adult franchise and governance through regular and multi-party elections are not more than 100 years old. For instance,
- The most “advanced” democracies like the United States, did not include African-American citizens in the “universal franchise” of the 1920s.
- Similarly, women in Britain, France, and Switzerland obtained the right to vote in the 1930s, 1944, and 1971 respectively.
Also read: What are the features of democracy? [Get the Answers at BYJU’S]
Devolution and Capitalism:
- The devolution of power is basic to democracy and it occurs on the premise of the individual and equality.
- Almost complete abolition of autocratic monarchies and hereditary aristocracies and the spread of economic resources, infrastructure, education, health, etc. to the masses calls for acknowledgment.
- There is an important link between the spread of devolution and capitalism. In capitalism freedom for resources such as land, labour, and movement from the autocratic restraints of medieval monarchies is required. It further evolved into the notion of a free market and implied a great deal of uniformity.
- Notably, human history has several instances of equality, particularly in religions like non-theistic Buddhism and monotheistic religions of Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism, which were proponents of social equality. However, equality here implied the subjugation of the individual to the community or society.
- No egalitarian ideology has ever been able to create an egalitarian society. It has only reshuffled the existing social hierarchies and created opportunities for the upward movement of the lower rungs of society.
- Humanity’s urge for equality has erupted time and again in different parts of the world. And the current urge is to establish uniformity through some institutions and practices.
- The Uniformity is the conduct of regular multi-party “free and fair” elections and guarantees freedoms, particularly to the market.
Also read: Difference between Communism, Capitalism and Socialism With their Comparisons
Elections:
- The majority-minority division in elections is highly dubious as 50% plus one(majority) and 50% minus one (minority) is hardly a decisive mandate.
- Moreover, it is difficult to find a government anywhere in the world that governs through a majority as only 30% to 40% of the votes cast can give a party a comfortable majority to rule legitimately.
- This flawed majority principle is not only visible in multi-party elections through “the first past the post” system, but was also seen in the United States when Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton even though she received around 2.5 million more popular votes than him (in 2016).
- The vote of an individual voter is affected by various factors like family, community, religion, culture, and, most importantly the political alternatives offered by political parties. This reflects the loss of individuality.
Indian Democracy:
- Indian democracy is modern as it offers unconditional adult franchise and regular multi-party elections.
- However, the operative categories of electoral politics are basically pre-modern as it is based on identity politics of caste, sub-caste, community, region, language, etc. For instance, the use of acronyms like AJGAR (Ahir, Jat, Gurjar, and Rajput castes) and MY (Muslims and Yadavs), etc signifies the vote base (often referred to as the ‘vote bank’) of different political parties.
- It was hoped by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that education and democracy would help in retreating these operative categories and generate a more “modern” consciousness among the masses. However, the contrary has occurred.
- It can be said that history is still unfolding and the urge for social equality keeps erupting in one form or the other.
Related Link: Caste System and Panchayati Raj – UPSC Polity, Governance, Social Issues
Nut Graf: Democracy is the most popular form of government. However, there are several lacunae attached to it, the most popular being the operative forces of caste, sub-caste, religion, etc. It is important to address these concerns and attain greater social equality.
Category: INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Needed, a new approach to data protection for minors
Syllabus: Government policies and intervention in various sectors.
Mains: Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022, and its provisions for minors.
Prelims: Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022.
Context: Provisions for children in Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022.
Details:
- The draft Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Bill, 2022 has provisions for compulsory parental consent for all data processing activities by children, defined as persons aged below 18 years.
- It is argued that this approach misses the mark on two important fronts, that are:
- The Bill mandates parents to grant consent on behalf of the child instead of asking the online platforms to proactively ensure safer and better services for minors. It should also be noted that in India there is low digital literacy in India and parents often have to depend on their children to navigate the Internet.
- The government has not considered the “best interests of the child” (a standard given in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989) in the issue of data protection. It is argued that the bill overlooks the fact that teenagers use Internet platforms for self-expression and personal development. These platforms are central to the experience of adolescents these days.
- Though the bill allows exemptions in the future from strict parental consent requirements, profiling, tracking prohibitions, etc., the whitelisting process does not acknowledge the usage of platforms. For instance, Instagram is basically a social media platform but it is also used as an educational and professional development tool by many artists.
Also read: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – CRC Notes for UPSC
Other issues in the Bill:
- Each platform will be required to obtain ‘verifiable parental consent’ for minors. This provision will mandate the verification of the age of every user. It is yet to ascertain whether verifiability will be based on ID proof, facial recognition, reference-based, or other ways.
- This in turn would require managing more personal data than before. Moreover, the risks of data breaches, identity theft, etc would increase.
For more information on the draft bill, read here: Digital Data Protection Bill, 2022 – Features, Significance [USPC Notes]
Way Ahead:
- It is important to move away from a blanket ban on tracking, monitoring, etc. and adopt a risk-based approach to platform obligations. The Platforms should be compelled to undertake a risk assessment for minors with desired settings and features to protect the, from harm. This would result in a co-regulation approach.
- Relaxation of the age of mandatory parental consent for all services to 13 years (in line with other countries). It will minimize data collection and protect children while allowing them Internet access.
- In countries like the U.K., and the U.S. (California, New York, etc.) age-appropriate design codes have been formulated. In order to adopt this in India, the government should conduct large-scale surveys (of both children and parents) for more information on online habits, preferences, digital literacy, etc.
- The onus of the safety of children should lie on the entire society.
Related Link: Digital Personal Data Protection Bill: Sansad TV Perspective Discussion of 16 Nov 2022
Nut Graf: The draft Digital Personal Data protection bill has mandated parental consent for teenagers. This might hamper the free accessibility of Internet by the teenagers and several other issues might emerge. The need of the hour is to involve all the stakeholders including the internet platforms for ensuring better safety and security for minors in the domain of the internet.
Category: EDUCATION
1. An India chapter for foreign universities
Syllabus: Issues relating to the development and management of Education.
Mains: Establishing Foreign Universities in India.
Details:
- Various proponents of the internationalization of higher education for almost two decades have emphasized the need to ensure a conducive environment and an enabling framework for establishing foreign universities in India.
- However, not much has been achieved in this direction due to regulatory concerns both in India and foreign higher educational institutions.
Also read: Sansad TV Perspective: Rules for Foreign Universities
Background Details:
- Establishing foreign universities in India would limit the outflow of $28-30 billion in foreign exchange.
- The foreign outflow for education abroad in 2021-22 was not above $5.165 billion.
- Students prefer foreign studies not only for degrees but also for experience, post-study work visas, income opportunities, and career prospects.
Associated Concerns:
- Some of the major concerns are about encouraging excellence, preventing malpractices, safeguarding the interests of students, and protecting national interests.
- There are also concerns about the cultural threat.
- Many policy planners and regulators are wary of establishing a framework that attracts the best and deters the fly-by-night kinds of universities.
- There are also issues about the potentially harmful effect of establishing offshore campuses with their accreditation, ranking, and reputation.
- Notably, countries with such offshore campuses had to hard-sell the idea by leasing land at negligible cost, bearing the majority of the infrastructure cost and guaranteeing academic, administrative, and financial autonomy. It is difficult for India to afford such incentives.
- Studying in foreign universities in India might not allow the students to navigate career opportunities and better income prospects in other countries.
Provisions in the National Education Policy:
- The National Education Policy 2020 has suggested a “legislative framework” but it is being executed through a regulatory route by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
- The draft regulation is willing to dilute the standards by extending the scope to the top 500 top universities of the world. Moreover, it would be sufficient to be a “reputed educational institution” in their home country. The UGC would unbiasedly and thoroughly process the applications and identify the best institutions.
Contradictions in Regulation:
- The draft regulation suggested that the quality of education should be on par with the quality of courses at their campus in the country of their origin. It further insists that it should not “offer any study programme that jeopardizes standards of higher education in India and the national interest ”.
- On one hand it guarantees academic, administrative, and financial autonomy to foreign institutions while asserting that they should abide by the UGC and Indian government.
- It further highlights that foreign institutions should not do anything “contrary to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality”. It is argued that this might deter the best universities as they usually value academic autonomy.
Conclusion:
Despite several issues, India should have an enabling framework for the entry and operation of foreign higher educational institutions.
Related Link:
UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis. Jan 23rd, 2023 CNA. Download PDF
Nut Graf: India is looking forward to establishing foreign higher educational institutions in India and has taken several steps in this direction. However, there are still various issues that should be timely addressed to attract the best of the world universities.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Norovirus
Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology; Awareness about various diseases
Prelims: About Norovirus
Context
Norovirus infection was confirmed in two schoolchildren in Ernakulam district of Kerala.
Norovirus
- Norovirus is a contagious virus that is also called the “winter vomiting bug”.
- Norovirus is an RNA virus belonging to the family Caliciviridae.
- It is a human enteric pathogen that causes acute gastroenteritis.
- The most common symptoms caused due to Norovirus include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.
- Norovirus mainly spreads through faecal-oral routes such as:
- Direct contact with an infected person
- Consuming contaminated water or food
- Touching contaminated surfaces and using unwashed hands
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), norovirus can infect anyone.
- Since the Norovirus genus comprises viruses that infect humans, pigs, cattle, and mice, the possibility of zoonotic transmission of infection exists.
Read more about – Norovirus
G. Tidbits
1. INS Vagir, fifth Scorpene submarine, commissioned
- INS Vagir, which is the fifth Scorpene-class conventional submarine, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
- Six conventional diesel-electric Scorpene-class submarines are being built at the Mazagon Dockyards Limited in Mumbai under Project 75.
- With the inclusion of INS Vagir, the Indian Navy now has 16 conventional and one nuclear submarine in service which includes:
- Seven Russian Kilo-class submarines
- Four German HDW submarines
- Five Scorpene class submarines
- INS Arihant which is indigenous nuclear ballistic missile submarine
- Further the sixth and the last of the French-origin Scorpene-class submarines, INS Vagsheer, being built in India under technology transfer is currently undergoing sea trials and will be delivered to the Navy in 2024.
Learn more about – INS Vagir
2. 21 Andaman islands named after Param Vir Chakra awardees
- The Prime Minister of India named the 21 largest unnamed islands in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees.
- In 2018, Ross Island was named after Netaji, Neil Island was renamed as Shaheed Island and Havelock Island was renamed as Swaraj Island.
- The Prime Minister further said that the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is being celebrated as “Parakram Divas” across the country.
- According to the Prime Minister, naming the 21 islands after Param Vir Chakra awardees propagates the message of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat”.
- The Prime Minister further added that the move would also ignite the spirit of “Bharat Mata” and “India First”.
Also read – Subhash Chandra Bose – Role in Indian Freedom Struggle
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Which of the following is true regarding Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puruskar? (Level – Moderate)
- They are given only to Indian nationals and institutions.
- Odisha State Disaster Management Authority was the only winner for 2023.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, The Union government has instituted an annual award known as “Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar” to recognise and honour the contribution and service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management.
- Statement 2 is not correct, The Union government has selected the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and the Lunglei Fire Station (LFS), Mizoram, for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar for 2023
Q2. Which of the following is the highest military honour in India? (Level – Easy)
- Param Vir Chakra
- Ashok Chakra
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is India’s highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime.
- The Ashoka Chakra is India’s highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valor, courageous action, or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.
Q3. Which of the following are true regarding Scorpene class submarines? (Level – Difficult)
- They are being built in collaboration with France.
- They are stealth submarines.
- 5 such submarines have been inducted into navy till date
Options:
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
- 1 and 3
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Scorpene-class submarines are being built under Project 75 by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) with technical assistance from the Naval Group of France.
- Statement 2 is correct, Scorpene-class submarines have superior stealth features, such as low radiated noise levels, advanced acoustic silencing techniques and the ability to attack with precision-guided weapons on board.
- Statement 3 is correct, Five Scorpene-class submarines have been inducted into navy till date:
- The first submarine, INS Kalvari, was commissioned in December 2017
- The second INS Khanderi in September 2019
- The third INS Karanj in March 2021
- The fourth INS Vela in November 2021.
- The fifth INS Vagir was commissioned into service on 23rd January 2023.
- The sixth and the last, INS Vagsheer, will be delivered to the Navy in 2024.
Q4. What do you understand by Immune Imprinting? (Level – Difficult)
- It is a 3-D printing Technology to facilitate transfusion of white blood cells.
- It is a technology used to produce mRNA vaccines.
- It is a tendency of our immune system to repeat its immune response on facing a similar threat as before.
- It is the tendency of a foetus to imitate the mother’s immune system
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Immune imprinting is a tendency of the body to repeat its immune response based on the first variant it encountered through infection or vaccination when it comes across a newer or slightly different variant of the same pathogen.
- Immune basically imprinting acts as a database for the immune system, helping it put up a better response to repeat infections.
Q5. Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years? (Level – Easy) PYQ 2021
- Distances among stellar bodies do not change.
- Gravity of stellar bodies does not change.
- Light always travels in straight line.
- Speed of light is always same.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, The doppler effect proves that universe is expanding
- Statement 2 is not correct, The Gravitational power is dependent on the mass of the object. With change in Mass, there is change in Gravity
- Statement 3 is not correct, Although light travels in a straight line, Gravity can bend the light.
- Statement 4 is correct, As the speed of light does not change in vacuum and a light-year is the distance light travels in one Earth year in vacuum. Therefore, the speed of light is a constant that can be used to measure astronomical distances.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Democracy in its present form has got certain lacunae, but it still is the best form of governance available. Comment. (15 marks,250 words) (GS-2; Polity)
- What is light pollution? Discuss the consequences that it has on the natural ecosystem. (10 marks,150 words) (GS-3; Environment)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 24 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here
Comments