26 Jul 2020: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

26th July 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Australia rejects China’s sea claims
2. The confluence of four powers and two seas
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Cabinet decision binding on Governor
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Jairam slams draft project clearance rules
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Is SARS-CoV-2 a latent virus which can recur?
F. Tidbits
1. UN report flags IS threat in Karnataka, Kerala
G. Prelims Facts
1. Made in India: the handmade copy of a Stradivarius violin
2. Kashmir saffron now has GI certificate
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Australia rejects China’s sea claims

Context:

• Australia’s formal declaration to the UN on the South China Sea dispute.

Details:

• In a formal declaration to the UN, Australia has rejected China’s territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea. Australia has held that there is no legal basis for China’s historic claims in the South China Sea.

Australia- U.S. compact:

• Australia’s declaration to the UN comes after the U.S. Secretary of State declared China’s pursuit of territory and resources in the South China Sea as illegal, backing the claims of Southeast Asian countries against China’s claims.

For more information on this refer to: CNA 15^TH July 2020

• Through this move, Australia seems to be aligning itself more closely with the U.S. in the escalating tensions between China and the U.S.
  • U.S. relations with China have markedly deteriorated in recent months, especially over trade disputes, the COVID-19 pandemic and China’s crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong.
• The latest escalation comes ahead of annual talks between Australia and the U.S.

2. The confluence of four powers and two seas

Context:

• The article analyzes India’s dilemma with respect to closer co-ordination with the Quad.

Background:

Evolution of the Quad:

• The Quad was born out of the crisis that followed the Tsunami in December 2004. India’s humanitarian and disaster relief effort in the Indian Ocean was coordinated with the three other naval powers engaged in similar efforts — U.S., Australia and Japan.
• Since then the idea of the Indo-Pacific as a larger maritime strategic community, and the Quad as an effective instrument in it, has gained credence among the four nations.
• In 2007, the annual India-U.S. ‘Malabar’ exercises included Japan, Australia and Singapore.
• After being neglected for about a decade due to strategic reasons, in 2017, the Quad returned, coinciding with the revision in U.S.’s assessment of the challenge from China, and similar reassessments in India, Japan and Australia.
• In November 2017, just months after the Doklam stand-off between the Indian Army and the PLA, officials from all four countries met in Manila for the ‘India-Australia-Japan-U.S.’ dialogue.
• There have been increasing naval exercises between the nations in the region. Recently, a trilateral exercise between the U.S., Australia and Japan was held in the Philippines Sea, There has been speculation that Quadrilateral (Quad) exercises will be launched soon between all four navies.

Significance:

• The Quad grouping primary objectives include connectivity, sustainable development, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and maritime and cybersecurity, with a view to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in an increasingly inter-connected Indo-Pacific region.
  • The Quad has been coordinating efforts to provide financing and sustainable alternatives to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
    • Notable among these initiatives being the India and Australian efforts in the Pacific islands, India-U.S. coordination in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and India-Japan joint efforts to develop projects in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
  • The military aspect of the Quad has also grown. India has strengthened its naval ties with each of the other Quad countries, and there have been more interactions, formal and informal at the official, political and military levels.

Details:

India’s dilemma:

• The article discusses India’s dilemma in being part of the Quad.
• The need to counter the aggressiveness of China on one side by partnering with other powers in the region as against India’s desire for strategic autonomy has thrown tough choices for India in respect of its Indo-Pacific maritime alliance.
• India’s choices will have not only far-reaching implications for regional but also global security.

Arguments against India’s greater involvement in the Quad:

• China has always opposed the militarization of the quad coalition which it views as a counter to its claims in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
• India has been wary of joining any exercise that could be construed as an alliance.
• India is the only country in the Quad that shares a land boundary with China, and the militarisation of the Quad will not help India deal with this threat.
• Unlike the U.S., Japan and Australia, which are tied by military alliances, India is a member of other strategic forums, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation with China, Russia and Central Asia, BRICS and RIC, which appear to be at cross purposes with a Quad alliance.

Arguments in favour of enhanced engagement with Quad:

• The recent Chinese moves of transgression and deadly clashes across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) may prove to be the tipping point that makes India move closer to the Quadrilateral Security Group.

For more information on this refer to: CNA 20^th July 2020.

India’s options:

• India could revert to its traditional positions of non-alignment.
• India could opt for a closer coalition with China’s adversaries and take sides in the new Cold War-like situation that is developing between the U.S. and China.
• India could forge closer relations with China’s ally Russia in its attempt to manage the threat from China.
• India could pursue “multi-alignment”, inviting middle powers such as the EU, the U.K., France, Russia, and partners such as Brazil, the UAE and South Africa into its Indo-Pacific strategy.

For more information related to possible counter China policy refer to: CNA 22^nd July 2020.

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Cabinet decision binding on Governor

Context:

• Political turmoil in the state of Rajasthan.

Background:

• There has been a deadlock between Rajasthan Governor and Rajasthan Chief Minister over the summoning of an Assembly session for a floor test.
• While the Chief Minister has been demanding the summoning of an Assembly session at the earliest, the Governor has not been receptive of the demand.

Details:

• The article discusses a key Supreme Court judgment which could act as a guiding light during the current deadlock.

Nabam Rebia versus Deputy Speaker, 2016:

• In the Nabam Rebia versus Deputy Speaker case of 2016, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had held that a Governor is bound to convene a meeting of the Assembly for a floor test on the recommendation of the Cabinet. It held that the Governor cannot employ his/her discretion in this matter and should strictly abide by the aid and advice of the Cabinet.

Important observations made in the judgment:

Constitutional provisions:

• The judgment was based on the constitutional provision which states that the Governor can summon, prorogue and dissolve the House only on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers with the Chief Minister as the head.
  • Article 163 of the Indian constitution notes that there shall be a council of Ministers with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions.

Limited discretionary power for the governor:

• The Supreme Court has noted that despite the provision for some degree of discretion for the governor provided for under Article 163 (2) of the Indian Constitution, it does not mean a general discretionary power to act against or without the advice of his Council of Ministers.
• This judgment limits the Governor’s discretionary power to specific areas. It noted that the Governor’s discretionary powers are limited to specified areas like giving assent or withholding/referring a Bill to the President or appointment of a Chief Minister or dismissal of a government which has lost confidence but refuses to quit, etc.
• The judgment further held that even in areas where there is scope for discretion for the governor, the action should not be arbitrary or fanciful and must be dictated by reason, actuated by good faith and tempered by caution.

Responsible form of government:

• India has a parliamentary democracy with a responsible form of government. In such a form of government, the Governor functions only as a Constitutional or formal head of the State and his/her powers cannot be enlarged at the cost of the Council of Ministers, who are the real executive.

Constituent assembly discussions:

• The judgment noted the fact that even the Constituent Assembly was wary of extending the Governor’s discretion. Though the draft Constitution had vested the Governor with the discretion to summon and dissolve, it was later omitted by the framers of the Constitution.

C. GS 3 Related

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Jairam slams draft project clearance rules

Context:

• Former Environment Minister, Jairam Ramesh’s objections to the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020.

Details:

• Jairam Ramesh has opposed the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2020 based on the following arguments.
  • The provision of post-facto approval for projects goes against the principle of assessment prior to environment clearance.
  • The draft notification reduces public participation in the environment clearance process by lessening the notice period for public hearings and doing away with the need for public hearings for a large category of projects.
  • The provisions also give the Union government full powers to appoint the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority thus affecting the principle of cooperative federalism.
  • The proposed changes seem to promote unrestrained development by way of cutting down on environmental regulations. This approach could have a detrimental impact on the health and welfare of the people and go against the vision of ensuring development that is sustainable.

For more information on this issue refer to: CNA 13^th March 2020 and CNA 29^th June 2020.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

Q1. Who of the following were part of the Thanjavur Quartet?

Q2. Which of the following has a geographical indication (GI) tag?

Q3. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?

Q4. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?

Read the previous CNA here.

26th July 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here