24 Jan 2024 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. Gender equity in education C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. The larger message to New Delhi from the Red Sea POLITY 1. Limits and borders F. Prelims Facts 1. Bharat Ratna for former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur 2. Maldives rules out research by Chinese vessel in its waters 3. The pulsar and the neutron G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Syllabus: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Mains: Issues related to women
Introduction:
As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, it is crucial to turn the spotlight onto the persistent gender disparities within education, particularly in the crucial fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The Annual Status of Education Report has recently brought to light concerning trends in STEM education in India, indicating that while rural boys and girls equally aspire to be doctors or engineers, there exists a significant gender gap when it comes to pursuing STEM courses.
Gender Parity in Learning Outcomes:
- A detailed analysis of the National Achievement Survey (2017) reveals an encouraging gender parity in learning outcomes between boys and girls in elementary and secondary classes across the country.
- The average test scores in mathematics for both genders are remarkably similar, showcasing equality in educational achievements.
Widening Gender Gap in Education:
- A deeper examination exposes a disconcerting trend over the past two decades.
- Although girls in India are receiving more education than ever before, the gender gap in educational attainment has widened.
- Despite the mean years of schooling for girls nearly tripling, the gap between male and female attainment has increased, contrary to global trends.
- The gender gap expands with progressive levels of education due to heightened barriers faced by girls, rooted in social norms and gender stereotypes correlated with adolescence.
- This is evident in the radical reversal of dropout rates, with twice the number of girls dropping out of the schooling system by Class 8.
Early Signs of Gender Discrimination:
- Alarming insights from the Annual Status of Education Report’s “Early Years” section reveal early signs of gender discrimination.
- Boys tend to be enrolled in private institutions, incurring out-of-pocket expenses, while girls are often directed towards free government schools.
- This enrollment bias emerges as early as the age of four, indicating societal gender biases in school choices.
The Role of Early Childhood Education (ECE):
- To address these deep-rooted issues, a shift in focus towards Early Childhood Education (ECE) is imperative.
- The foundations for gender-neutral education must be established during these formative years, where children develop their understanding of identities, behaviours, and stereotypes.
Challenges and recommendations:
- Challenges such as the lack of a regulatory framework, inadequate funding, and poor quality of ECE persist in India.
- Urgent attention is required to address these bottlenecks and ensure that every child receives a holistic and unbiased early education.
- The policy shift towards ECE should not only emphasize universal enrollment but also actively work towards eliminating gender stereotypes within preschool education. Longitudinal studies consistently show that investing in ECE yields substantial returns, making it a high-impact strategy for eradicating gender disparities in education.
- Existing initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and the Draft National Education Policy can serve as catalysts for this paradigm shift.
- By aligning efforts and focusing on actionable roadmaps, these initiatives can propel the campaign for universal early childhood education across the country.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the gender gap in STEM education is a multifaceted challenge that requires immediate and sustained intervention. By prioritizing Early Childhood Education, we have the opportunity to reshape societal norms and lay the groundwork for a future where every child, regardless of gender, can realize their full potential. The call is not just for educational reform but for gender empowerment responsible for shaping the destiny of our nation.
Nutgraf: The article sheds light on gender disparities in STEM education, emphasizing the widening gap in educational attainment despite parity in learning outcomes. It advocates for a crucial shift towards Early Childhood Education (ECE) to eliminate deep-rooted gender biases and calls for urgent policy interventions to ensure a holistic and unbiased early education for every child.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The larger message to New Delhi from the Red Sea
Syllabus: GS-2, India and its Neighbourhood – Relations.
Mains: Two front challenges in the wake of unfolding new era of Geopolitics
Indo-Pacific Breakout:
- The shift from Continental to Maritime Focus
- The Indo-Pacific represents India’s strategic shift from the continental theatre, surrounded by China and Pakistan, to a maritime focus.
- Challenges at land borders prompt a move towards maritime opportunities.
- Houthi Terror Attacks
- Recent Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea raise concerns.
- India’s External Affairs Minister engaged with Houthi sponsors to cease attacks.
- Indian Navy deployed guided missile destroyers in response to the Red Sea situation.
Two-Front Challenge:
- Evolving Security Landscape:
- India faces a new two-front challenge, combining continental and maritime threats.
- Shift in focus from the Pakistan-China nutcracker situation to a combination of continental and maritime challenges.
- China’s Dual Strategy:
- China, with a growing navy, exerts pressure on the Line of Actual Control and increases its presence in the Indian Ocean.
- China’s overseas military bases in Djibouti, activities in Gwadar, Hambantota, Kyaukpyu port in Myanmar, and strategic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific encircle India.
- Maritime Containment:
- China’s actions from Djibouti to the Indian Ocean indicate a strategy to contain India in the Indo-Pacific.
- Expansion of influence from the Horn of Africa to the Far East challenges India’s traditional sphere of influence.
Crafting a Response
- Global Attention on Indo-Pacific:
- Growing global interest in the Indo-Pacific provides an opportunity for India.
- The Indian Ocean’s significance prompts major countries, including the U.S., to be concerned about China’s actions.
- Coalition Building
- India should form coalitions with like-minded countries to counter China’s influence.
- Partnerships are crucial for India, given its pivotal role in the Indo-Pacific.
- Indo-Pacific Strategy
- India needs a well-thought-out Indo-Pacific strategy beyond ad-hoc responses.
- Initiatives like the Quad and Exercise Malabar are steps but insufficient to address the grand challenge unfolding quickly.
- Long-term Considerations
- The Red Sea situation is temporary, but India’s two-front challenge will persist.
- India’s decision not to join ‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ may be appropriate for now, but long-term strategies must be developed to effectively meet the China challenge.
Nut Graf: India’s strategic shift from a continental to a maritime focus faces challenges, highlighted by recent Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. China’s dual strategy, combining continental and maritime pressure, poses a significant two-front challenge, urging India to craft a comprehensive Indo-Pacific strategy and build international coalitions.
Syllabus: GS-2, Issues and Challenges Pertaining to the Federal Structure
Mains: Reason of Federal dispute and possible remedies
Introduction: Lack of Effective Consultation
- Litigation origin: The territorial jurisdiction dispute involving the Border Security Force (BSF) in Punjab results from insufficient consultation between central and state governments.
- Constitutional challenge: Punjab files a suit under Article 131, challenging the Union government’s decision to expand the BSF’s operational jurisdiction from 15 km to 50 km.
- Federal principles: Punjab views the move as breaching federal principles and encroaching on the law and order powers of the state police.
- Similar stance: West Bengal shares Punjab’s concerns, passing resolutions in their Assemblies against the BSF’s expansion.
Supreme Court’s Intervention:
- Significance: The Supreme Court’s decision to examine issues arising from the BSF’s expanded operations gains importance.
- October 2021 notification: The Centre issues a notification under the BSF Act, standardizing operational jurisdiction across states.
- Varying changes: Operational distance increased to 50 km in Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam; reduced from 80 km to 50 km in Gujarat; unchanged at 50 km in Rajasthan.
- Government rationale: The Union government cites increased jurisdiction as aiding the BSF in effectively carrying out border patrol duties.
Constitutional Responsibilities:
- State powers: State governments are constitutionally responsible for maintaining public order and exercising police powers.
- Limited BSF role: BSF focuses on preventing trans-border crimes, lacking powers for investigation or prosecution; it hands over offenders and seized contraband to local police.
- Coordination: BSF and police typically work in close coordination to avoid jurisdictional conflicts.
- Expanded jurisdiction: Questions were raised about whether the Centre’s notification encroaches upon the state government’s domain.
Justification for Expanded Jurisdiction:
- Border patrol duty: BSF’s primary role is preventing unauthorized entry or exit from Indian territory.
- Search and seizures: Expanded jurisdiction argued to authorise BSF for more effective searches and seizures, particularly for offenders entering deep into the country.
- Requirement for justification: Emphasis on the need for strong reasons supporting the expansion of jurisdiction for any central force.
Supreme Court Questions:
- Encroachment concerns: Supreme Court to examine if the Centre’s notification encroaches upon the State government’s domain.
- Factors for consideration: Exploration of the factors determining the “local limits of areas adjoining the borders of India” in the context of expanded BSF jurisdiction.
Nut Graf: The dispute over Border Security Force (BSF) jurisdiction in Punjab, triggering litigation, underscores the importance of effective central-state consultation. The Supreme Court’s intervention raises questions on constitutional encroachment and the justification for expanding BSF’s operational boundaries amid concerns about federal principles.
F. Prelims Facts
1. Bharat Ratna for former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur
Context: In a significant announcement a day prior to the birth centenary celebrations of former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur, President Droupadi Murmu declared that Thakur would posthumously receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
About:
- Thakur, a socialist leader and fervent advocate for the marginalized, served as Bihar’s Chief Minister twice, leaving an indelible mark on Indian politics.
- Born to a marginal farmer, Thakur’s legacy is rooted in his dedication to social justice. During his 1977 Chief Ministership, the Mungeri Lal Commission recommended the reclassification of backward classes, a move later implemented in 1978, leading to a 26% reservation for them in Bihar government services.
- This precursor to the Mandal Commission’s report significantly impacted the political landscape in the 1990s.
- Thakur’s influence extended to contemporary politics, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar utilizing the “Karpoori Thakur formula” to categorize Backward Classes.
Significance:
- The posthumous award not only honours Thakur’s enduring efforts but also holds significance, addressing caste survey repercussions in Bihar.
- The recognition underscores Thakur’s lasting impact on social justice and political dynamics in India.
2. Maldives rules out research by Chinese vessel in its waters
Context: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Maldives disclosed that the Chinese government had diplomatically approached them, seeking necessary clearances for a port call. The request emphasized the need for the rotation of personnel and replenishment, dispelling any notion of research activities during the vessel’s stay.
Issue:
- This development follows Sri Lanka’s move to temporarily halt foreign research vessels from calling at its ports, a decision prompted by India’s expressed apprehensions over Chinese vessels.
- The regional dynamics and concerns over strategic influence have created a sensitive atmosphere, where the movements of research vessels are being scrutinized more closely than ever.
- The clarification from the Maldivian government aims to allay any fears or misconceptions surrounding the Chinese vessel’s presence.
- However, the timing of the announcement, coupled with regional tensions, underscores the delicate balance that small island nations like the Maldives must navigate in the midst of broader geopolitical rivalries.
Significance:
- As maritime nations jostle for influence in the Indian Ocean region, the movements of research vessels are increasingly becoming geopolitical flashpoints.
- The Maldives, situated at the crossroads of major sea routes, finds itself in a strategic position, necessitating careful diplomatic navigation to safeguard its national interests.
- The delicate balance between maintaining diplomatic ties and addressing regional concerns highlights the challenges faced by small nations caught in the crossfire of larger geopolitical dynamics.
- As the situation unfolds, it remains crucial for nations in the region to engage in open dialogue and transparent communication to foster stability and mutual understanding.
Context: In 1967, amid geopolitical tensions and scientific advancements, astronomers at the University of Cambridge stumbled upon a cosmic marvel during the Nathu La and Cho La clashes between Indian and Chinese armies.
Using an array of antennae, they discovered the first pulsar, PSR B1919+21. This finding, linked to James Chadwick’s 1932 discovery of neutrons, unveiled the enigmatic world of rotating neutron stars.
About:
- The subsequent exploration of pulsars revealed a fascinating glitch in their rotational patterns, discovered in 1969, posing a mystery that persists to this day.
- During a glitch, the rotation briefly accelerates before returning to its original rate.
- Scientists, intrigued by this phenomenon, propose that vortices in the superfluid state within neutron stars cause these glitches.
- The intricate dance of vortices, known as pinning, occurs between the neutron star’s solid crust and superfluid core.
- As the star loses energy through radiation, the pinned vortices are released, altering the rotation speed and manifesting as a glitch in pulsar data.
Significance:
This celestial puzzle, with over 3,000 pulsars and around 700 glitches identified, remains a fertile ground for scientific inquiry. Unravelling the intricacies of glitch mechanisms promises not only a deeper understanding of neutron stars but also sheds light on the diverse physics unfolding within these cosmic wonders.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements:
- Disease X is a name adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) on their shortlist of blueprint priority diseases to represent a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could cause a future epidemic.
- The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the WHO’s decision-making body attended by delegations from all of WHO’s member states.
Which of these statement(s) is /are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
Disease X is a term used by the World Health Organization (WHO) to denote a placeholder for a hypothetical, unknown pathogen that could potentially lead to a future epidemic. The World Health Assembly (WHA) is WHO’s decision-making body attended by delegations from all WHO member states, aligning with the second statement.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
- Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to get the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
- Lanjia Saura paintings are a unique style of wall mural art from Uttar Pradesh.
- The GI-tagged popular art form Tarkashi belongs to the state of Odisha.
Which of these statement(s) is /are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 & 3
- 1 & 2
- 3 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Darjeeling Tea holds the distinction of being the first Indian product to be granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, signifying its unique origin and characteristics associated with the Darjeeling region. In 2004, the famous beverage got recognition.
Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect: Lanjia Saura paintings are not from Uttar Pradesh but are a distinctive style of wall mural art originating from Odisha. It is associated with the Saura tribe of Odisha. Tarkashi, the GI-tagged art form, does not belong to the state of Odisha. Tarkashi, a popular art form from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, is primarily brass wire inlay work on wood.
Q3. Consider the following statements:
- The Haber process, also called the Haber–Bosch process, is a popular industrial procedure for the production of ammonia.
- Japan is the largest producer of ammonia globally.
- Green ammonia has applications in the production of carbon-neutral fertiliser products and also has potential as a future climate-neutral shipping fuel.
Which of these statement(s) is /are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 & 2
- 2 & 3
- 1 & 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 3 are correct: The Haber process, also known as the Haber–Bosch process, is a widely used industrial procedure for the production of ammonia. It involves the synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen gasses. Green ammonia, derived from renewable energy sources, has applications in producing carbon-neutral fertilizer products. Additionally, it holds potential as a future climate-neutral shipping fuel, making statement 3 correct.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Japan is not the largest producer of ammonia globally. China is the leading global producer of ammonia.
Q4. Consider the following statements:
- U Thant Cup and Corbillon Cup are associated with the game of lawn tennis.
- FIH (International Hockey Federation) is the international governing body of field hockey, indoor field hockey and ice hockey.
Which of these statement(s) is /are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- 1 & 2
- None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
Both the statements are incorrect: U Thant Cup and Corbillon Cup are not associated with the game of lawn tennis. U Thant Cup is associated with table tennis, and the Corbillon Cup is a table tennis trophy for women’s national teams. The FIH (International Hockey Federation) is the international governing body for field hockey and indoor field hockey but not for ice hockey. Ice hockey is governed by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).
Q5. “Rule of Law Index” is released by which of the following? (UPSC 2018)
- Amnesty International
- International Court of Justice
- The Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights
- World Justice Project
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
The “Rule of Law Index” is released by the World Justice Project. This comprehensive assessment evaluates the adherence of countries to the rule of law based on various factors such as government accountability, absence of corruption, respect for fundamental rights, and access to justice. It provides a global perspective on the effectiveness of legal systems and the extent to which the rule of law is upheld in different nations.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Analyze the current state of gender disparity in education in India, with a focus on the widening gap in educational attainment and dropout rates between boys and girls. Discuss the implications of these trends on socio-economic development and suggest measures to address these disparities. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2, Social Justice]
- Examine the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry in the global context and discuss the challenges and opportunities for India in establishing itself as a key player in this sector. (10 marks, 150 words) [GS-3, Economy]
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