20 Jul 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

20 July 2024 CNA
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A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
SECURITY
1. Microsoft update flaw triggers worldwide chaos
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ECONOMY
1. Living in denial about unemployment
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. The promise of parametric insurance
F. Prelims Facts
1. ‘EPFO’s IT systems are dysfunctional and crash-prone’
2. Elevating India’s capital goods for a global electronics revolution
G. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
H. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

Category: ECONOMY

1. Living in denial about unemployment

F. Prelims Facts

1. ‘EPFO’s IT systems are dysfunctional and crash-prone’

Context: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in India, responsible for managing the provident fund and pension claims of millions of workers, is facing severe IT system challenges. Despite repeated warnings and requests for intervention over the past two and a half years, the issues remain unaddressed, leading to significant operational inefficiencies and frustrations among EPFO staff.

Current Issues:

• System Crashes and Instability: EPFO’s IT systems have been experiencing frequent crashes, system slowdowns, involuntary user logouts, and complete system failures.
• Operational Challenges: The deficiencies in the IT infrastructure make it difficult for staff to process claims efficiently, often taking longer than the stipulated 20 days, despite performance indicators suggesting a 10-day turnaround.

Efforts to Address Issues:

• Repeated Warnings Ignored: The EPF Officers’ Association has consistently flagged these issues to the Central PF Commissioner and other top officials, but their concerns have not been acknowledged.
• Extraordinary Measures: Field offices have resorted to working on weekends and holidays to manage claim settlements during periods of lower system load.

Call for Comprehensive Overhaul:

• Expert Evaluation Needed: The officers’ association has proposed a comprehensive evaluation of EPFO’s application software by leading industry experts.
• Technological Upgrades: An urgent overhaul of the IT systems is necessary to align with the technological advancements seen in other departments, such as the Income Tax department.

Significance

Impact on Employees and Beneficiaries:

• Delayed Claims Processing: The inefficiencies in the IT systems directly affect millions of workers who depend on timely processing of their provident fund and pension claims.
• Increased Frustration: Both staff and beneficiaries experience escalating frustration due to the prolonged inefficiencies and lack of resolution.

Operational Efficiency:

• Resource Utilization: The current situation demands additional resources and extraordinary measures to manage claim settlements, which could be optimized with a fully functional IT system.
• Performance Metrics: The discrepancy between actual performance and the performance indicators suggests a systemic failure in addressing the core issues.

Systemic Implications:

• Organizational Trust: The continued denial and delay in addressing these issues can erode trust in the EPFO’s ability to manage its responsibilities effectively.
• Benchmarking Against Other Departments: The successful technological upgrades in other government departments highlight the lag in EPFO’s systems, underscoring the need for urgent action.

2. Elevating India’s capital goods for a global electronics revolution

Context: India stands at a critical juncture with its capital goods industry, particularly in electronics manufacturing. Similar to the transformative power of the steam engine during the Industrial Revolution, the development of advanced capital goods can propel India to the forefront of the global electronics market. 

• The nation’s electronics production has seen remarkable growth, reaching $115 billion in FY24, and is poised for further expansion. To capitalize on this potential, India must focus on innovation, research and development (R&D), and robust manufacturing infrastructure.

Current State of Electronics Manufacturing:

• Impressive Growth: India’s electronics production has quadrupled over the past decade, with projections to increase fivefold in the next five years.
• Global Market Potential: The global electronics market, valued at $4.5 trillion, is expected to reach $6.1 trillion by 2030, presenting a significant opportunity for India.

Role of Capital Goods:

• Definition: Capital goods include machinery, tools, and equipment essential for production.
• Importance: Advanced capital goods are crucial for producing high-quality electronics efficiently and at scale.

Demand-Supply Gap:

• Domestic Demand: There is an urgent need to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of capital goods within India.
• Dependency on Imports: Enhancing domestic manufacturing infrastructure will reduce reliance on imports and ensure a steady supply of high-quality equipment.

Innovation and R&D:

• Investment in R&D: Significant investment in R&D is necessary to develop cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Strong IPR protection can foster a secure environment for innovation.

Strategic Initiatives:

• Dedicated Innovation Centre: Establishing a centre with a corpus of at least ₹1,000 crore at the Central Manufacturing Technology Institute (CMTI) to drive innovation in capital goods.
• Industry-Academia Collaboration: Partnering with industry leaders and academic institutions to streamline production processes and enhance competitiveness.

Significance

Economic Growth:

• Job Creation: Enhanced manufacturing capabilities can create numerous job opportunities.
• Export Potential: Developing a robust capital goods sector can position India as a major player in the global electronics market.

Technological Advancements:

• Global Standards: Indigenous technologies that meet and set international standards in quality and efficiency.
• Sustainable Practices: Adopting eco-friendly technologies to position India as a responsible manufacturing hub.

Global Competitiveness:

• Strategic Positioning: Indian firms can become formidable contenders on the global stage, potentially rivaling companies like ASML.
• Reputation for Excellence: Building a reputation for high-quality and efficient manufacturing processes.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. With respect to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which of the following 
statements is/are correct? (Level-Difficult)

1. It is a genetic disorder characterised by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness
2. Duchenne is caused by a change in the dystrophin gene.
3. It primarily affects females.

Options:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Statement 01 is correct, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterised by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. 
• Statement 02 is correct, It is caused by the alterations of a protein called dystrophin that helps keep muscle cells intact.
• Statement 03 is incorrect, DMD symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 2 and 3. The disease primarily affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls.

Q2. An underwater device that detects and records ocean sounds from all directions is
(Level-Easy)

1. Anemometer
2. Hydrometer
3. Hydrophone
4. Hygrometer

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: 

• A hydrophone is an underwater device that detects and records ocean sounds from all directions. 
• Just as a microphone collects sound in the air, a hydrophone detects acoustic signals under the water. 
• Most hydrophones are based on a special property of certain ceramics that produces a small electrical current when subjected to changes in underwater pressure. When submerged in the ocean, a ceramic hydrophone produces small-voltage signals over a wide range of frequencies as it is exposed to underwater sounds emanating from any direction.
• By amplifying and recording these electrical signals, hydrophones measure ocean sounds with great precision. 

Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to Rhododendrons? 
(Level-Medium)

1. Rhododendrons are indicator species as far as climate change is concerned
2. It is the State Tree of Uttarakhand
3. Rhododendrons are evergreen but some are deciduous.

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:

• Statement 01 is correct, Rhododendrons are prominent indicators of climate change- as their blooms correspond to the changing of the seasons.
• Statement 02 is correct, The species has been designated as the State tree of Uttarakhand and its blooming in the Garhwal Himalayas is celebrated as ‘Phool Sankranti’, a festival of flowers.
• Statement 03 is correct, Rhododendrons range in habit from evergreen to deciduous and from low-growing ground covers to tall trees.

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Aubrite meteorites: 
(Level-Difficult)

1. They are coarse-grained igneous rocks formed under extremely reducing conditions or by little or no free oxygen
2. They contain a variety of exotic minerals not found on Earth

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Statement 01 is correct, Aubrites are rare meteorites originating from an extremely reduced differentiated parent body in the solar system. They are rare meteorites originating from an extremely reduced differentiated parent body in the solar system.
• Statement 02 is correct, They contain a variety of exotic minerals not found on Earth.

Q5. Consider the following statements: (PYQ-CSE-2007) (Level-Medium)

1. North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) is the name of the new organisation which has replaced the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
2. The United States of America and the United Kingdom became the members of NATO when it was formed in 1949.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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, The North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC) was established by the Allies in December 1991 as a forum for dialogue and cooperation with NATO’s former Warsaw Pact adversaries. The NACC was succeeded by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997.
• Statement 02 is correct, The United States of America and the United Kingdom were two of the founding members of NATO. 
  • Other founding members include Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal.