30 Jan 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

30 Jan 2021 CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Govt. tightens oversight on funds received by NGOs
2. ‘U.P. ordinance on conversion capable of public mischief’
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Myanmar poll panel rejects fraud claims
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. Economic Survey predicts 11% growth next fiscal
2. Plea seeks appointment of PMLA tribunal chief
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Wide aisle
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. A champion of science, pro-poor technology
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. WHO team begins fieldwork in Wuhan to trace virus origins
2. Fiscal deficit soars to 146% at ₹11.6 lakh cr.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

2. ‘U.P. ordinance on conversion capable of public mischief’

Context:

The former Chief Justice of Delhi High Court has said that the controversial Uttar Pradesh Ordinance aimed at checking unlawful religious conversions for inter-faith marriages was “capable of great public mischief”.

• He said “The ordinance makes it a criminal offence for a person to convert another by coercion, misrepresentation and so on. There is nothing objectionable in that itself. But it greatly violates the freedom of conscience and the fundamental right to practice religion. It also strikes at the right to life and liberty guaranteed by the Constitution.”

This topic has been covered in 2^nd January 2021 Comprehensive News Analysis.

For In-depth understanding of the issue, watch Explained: Love Jihad Laws.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Myanmar poll panel rejects fraud claims

Context:

Myanmar’s Election Commission rejected allegations by the military that fraud played a significant role in determining the outcome of elections, in which Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won the majority of seats.

Background:

• In the November 2020 elections, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party captured 396 out of 476 seats in the November 8 polls, allowing them to form the government for five more years.
• The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won 33 seats.
• Ever since, the military has been calling on the government and the Union Election Commission to review the results stating that it found irregularities in voter lists.
• Myanmar’s military chief also said that the Constitution could be revoked if the laws are not being properly enforced.

Details:

• The Election Commission said there was no evidence to support the military’s claims with respect to irregularities in voter lists.
• The decision came amid heightened tensions after the military refused to rule out the possibility of a coup if their complaints were ignored.
  • The military had ruled Myanmar for five decades until 2015.

Read more on a related topic covered in 16^th November 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis.

2. Plea seeks appointment of PMLA tribunal chief

Context:

The Supreme Court asked the government to respond to a petition seeking reasons for the delay in appointment of chairman and members to the appellate tribunal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Details:

• A plea was filed stating that the appointments to the appellate tribunal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) should be made on a priority basis.
• According to the plea, the tribunal in New Delhi is struggling to dispense justice.
  • Particularly in the absence of its chairman and three members out of the sanctioned strength of four.
  • Also due to the acute shortage of administrative staff.
• The plea argued that the very object for constituting tribunals is to supplement the functions of High Courts and other courts and to ensure that the consumer of justice gets speedy redress.

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. A champion of science, pro-poor technology

Context:

• The year 1910 was very significant for India and science. This was the year the astrophysicist, Dr. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar and C. Subramaniam were born.
• January 30 is the birth anniversary of  C. Subramaniam (CS), an architect of public policy for Indian science and of the ‘Green Revolution’ in the country.

Dr. Chandrasekhar:

• Dr. Chandrasekhar explored space and propounded the concept of black holes. He was concerned about processes of importance in the evolution of stars in the universe.

Contributions of C. Subramaniam:

• Subramaniam championed the cause of science and technology to solve societal problems.
• India is still benefitting from the long-term impacts of CS’s several contributions to education, agriculture, science and technology to name a few.
• He was one of the architects of modern India and relied on evidence-based approaches in decision making.
• Transparency and probity were his powerful tools.
• He was a rare combination of being a visionary and a missionary at the same time, and Indian science remains a beneficiary.
• He was a revered promoter of scientific temper and a shining Ratna of Bharat.

Food sufficiency goal:

• Subramaniam was concerned about the problem of food security in India.
  • He sowed the seeds of the Green Revolution in Indian agriculture.
• In the 1960s when India faced scarcity of food grains, a superordinate goal that India became self-sufficient in food in five years was set.
  • The goal was realised and has been sustained since then.

Investments in Science:

• In addition to the above, CS championed the cause of planned public investments in science.
• The blueprint for linking science and technology to the development path of India was cast by CS even before the formation of the dedicated Science and Technology Ministry.
• This year, 2021, is significant for another reason — it is the golden jubilee year of the founding of India’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
  • CS had an abiding trust in science and believed that technology alone could offer solutions to the problems faced by society.
  • He called for the practice of science to be celebrated not only by other scientists but also by citizens and humanity.

The agro foundation:

• He realised that the economic freedom of every citizen of India was heavily reliant on the 4Es: Education, Environment, Economy and Empowerment of our farmers.
• The National Agro Foundation (NAF) was his gift to the nation on his 90th birthday.
• NAF, in its journey of 21 years, has lived up to his ideals. It institutionalised his will through farmer-centric programmes.

Conclusion:

• His call for “science for [the] economic freedom of humanity” and his voice for pro-poor technology must be worked upon.
• The best way to pay tribute to a patriot like Mr. Subramaniam is to connect to science and see to it that it brings relief to the poor.

1. WHO team begins fieldwork in Wuhan to trace virus origins

What’s in News?

Fieldwork has begun in Wuhan for the coronavirus origins probe that will take place in a food market presumed to be “ground zero” of the pandemic.

• The Huanan market, which remains boarded up is believed to have been the first major cluster of infections.
• The WHO investigation has been hobbled by delays. The WHO insists the probe will be bound tightly to the science behind how the virus jumped to humans.
• However, there are fears over access and the strength of evidence a year after the virus emerged in Wuhan.

2. Fiscal deficit soars to 146% at ₹11.6 lakh cr.

What’s in News?

The government’s fiscal deficit soared to ₹11.58 lakh crore or 145.5% of the Budget Estimate (BE) at the end of December 2020.

• This is mainly on account of lower revenue realisation.
• Revenue realisation was hit by disruptions in normal business activity following the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns.

Note:

For the fiscal year 2020-21, the Centre had pegged the fiscal deficit at ₹7.96 lakh crore or 3.5% of the GDP.

Q1. The journal ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ was started by:

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Economic Survey of India:

Q3. Which among these tribes rear Changthangi and are the traditional producers of the
 Pashmina wool in the Ladakh region?

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to STARS project:

Read the previous CNA here.

30 Jan 2021 CNA:- Download PDF Here