08 July 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 8th July 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Indemnity issues hold up U.S. vaccine donation
2. Give details on information panel, says SC
3. Judge recuses from Mamata’s election case
C. GS 3 Related
SECURITY
1. New platform maps Pegasus spread
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Challenging negative social norms
2. A long road for migrant workers
F. Prelims Facts
1. Delhi gets own genome sequencing lab
2. HC: submit report on black fungus drug
3. Only traditional food items to be served at Assam govt. events
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

2. Give details on information panel, says SC

Context:

The Supreme Court has directed the Central government to provide details on the appointment of Information Commissioners, vacancies and pendency of cases in the Central Information Commission (CIC).

Issue:

  • The pendency of cases in the CIC is as high as 36,000.
  • Activists have raised concerns that the appointments to CIC have been made in an opaque manner despite a direction from the court in 2019 that the appointment process should be transparent.

Central Information Commission:

  • It is the apex adjudicatory body for disputes under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
  • The CIC was constituted with effect from 12th October 2005 under the RTI Act 2005.
  • It is not a constitutional body.

Read more on Central Information Commission.

3. Judge recuses from Mamata’s election case

Context:

Justice Chanda has recused himself from hearing the petition filed in the Calcutta High Court by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee challenging the Assembly poll result in Nandigram but imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on her.

Recusal
  • Recusal is the act of abstaining from participation in an official action such as a legal proceeding due to a conflict of interest of the presiding court official or administrative officer.
  • It is the withdrawal of a judge, prosecutor, or juror from a case on the grounds that they are unqualified to perform legal duties because of a possible conflict of interest or lack of impartiality.

As noted by the Supreme Court in the NJAC judgment, a judge may be required to step down in one of two scenarios:

  • Cases of presumed bias, where the judge has a pecuniary interest in the outcome of a case (extended, through the Pinochet judgment to other similar non-pecuniary interests); or
  • Cases of apparent bias, where a reasonable, fair-minded observer would believe there is a real possibility that the judge is biased.

Read more on “Recusal” comprehensively covered in the Editorial “When can a judge opt out of a case?” in 16th February 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis.

2. A long road for migrant workers

  • The article analyzes the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the migrant labourers case.
    • The court had laid down guidelines to provide relief to migrant workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This topic has been previously discussed in the following article:

UPSC Comprehensive News Analysis of 30th June 2021

UPSC Comprehensive News Analysis of 25th May 2021

F. Prelims Facts

1. Delhi gets own genome sequencing lab

What’s in News?

Chief Minister of Delhi inaugurated the SARS CoV-2 genome sequencing facility at Delhi.

  • It will help in the timely identification of COVID-19 variants and aid strategies to counter them.

What is a genome?

  • A genome is the complete set of genetic information of an organism. It contains all the instructions for creating and maintaining life.
  • A human genome consists of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.
  • The genome of a virus comprises RNA as the genetic material.

Genome Sequencing:

  • Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome.
    • The order of As, Cs, Ts, and Gs that make up an organism’s DNA.

2. HC: submit report on black fungus drug

What’s in News?

The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to submit a status report on the availability of Liposomal Amphotericin B, used for treating patients of mucormycosis (black fungus).

Mucormycosis:

  • Mucormycosis or black fungus is primarily affecting people recovering from COVID-19.
  • It is a complication caused by a fungal infection.
  • Mucormycosis affects the sinuses, brain, and lungs, and is life-threatening.

Read more on Mucormycosis [Black Fungus].

3. Only traditional food items to be served at Assam govt. events

What’s in News?

The State Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister has decided that only traditional food items will be served at government programmes in Assam.

  • The decision has been taken in sync with the Prime Minister’s maxim of ‘vocal for local’ for promoting indigenous food products.

Details:

Gamosa:

  • Gamosa is a symbol of Assamese culture, an important marker of cultural identity for the Assamese.
  • This small piece of cloth has high esteem and wide usage in Assamese culture.
  • It is also known as ‘Bihuwaan’, as it is an essential part of the Bihu festival of Assam.
  • It is generally a white rectangular piece of cloth with primarily a red border on three sides and red woven motifs on the fourth.
  • Although cotton yarn is the most common material for making/weaving gamosas, there are special occasion ones made from Pat silk.
  • Assam has traditionally had two types of gamosas – the uka and the phulam.
    • The uka or plain kind is used to wipe sweat or dry the body after a bath.
    • The phulam is decorated with floral motifs to be gifted as a memento or during festivals such as Bihu.

Note:

  • Handloom (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 reserves certain articles for exclusive production by handloom.
  • These include the gamosa, angavastram and the Manipuri phanek.

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. With reference to Council of Ministers, which of the following statements is/are 
incorrect?
  1. The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Parliament.
  2. The nature of advice tendered by ministers to the President can be enquired by the courts.
  3. President can remove a minister only on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of India.

Options:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 3 only
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • The Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha.
  • The nature of advice tendered by ministers to the President cannot be enquired by any court. This provision emphasizes the intimate and confidential relationship between the President and the ministers.
  • President can remove a minister only on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of India.

Read more on Chief Minister & Council of Ministers – Relation, Appointment, Powers

Q2. Which of the following is/are correctly matched?
  1. Gunboat Diplomacy – Use of Limited Naval Force as a threat to advance foreign policy.
  2. Shuttle Diplomacy – Diplomatic negotiations conducted by an official intermediary who travels frequently between the nations involved.
  3. Track-one Diplomacy – Formal methods of conflict resolution involving diplomats, ministers, heads of states and representatives of international organisations.

Options:

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

Types of diplomacy in international politics.

  • Gunboat Diplomacy – Use of Limited Naval Force as a threat to advance foreign policy.
  • Shuttle Diplomacy – Diplomatic negotiations conducted by an official intermediary who travels frequently between the nations involved.
  • Track-one Diplomacy – Formal methods of conflict resolution involving diplomats, ministers, heads of states and representatives of international organisations.
Q3. Pegasus recently seen in news is a
  1. Theft tactic that allows hackers to create a fake credit card by stealing the information off an individual’s actual card
  2. Malware that can initiate total surveillance on the targeted device
  3. Virus capable of slowing down internet traffic
  4. Ransomware attack which has hit hundreds of US companies
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

Pegasus is a spyware tool from Israeli firm NSO Group. It is a malware that can initiate total surveillance on the targeted device. Once Pegasus is installed, the attacker has complete access to the user’s phone.

Q4. Consider the following statements:
  1. This region is surrounded by the Gulf of Aqaba.
  2. The Strait of Tiran connects two water bodies.
  3. Its coastlines touch the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

The country in question is:

  1. Jordan
  2. Egypt
  3. Syria
  4. Israel
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

The coastline of Egypt touched both the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea that is connected by the Strait of Tiran. Egypt is bordered by the Gulf of Aqaba.

Egypt in Map

Source-Wikipedia

Q5. Which of the following has/have occurred in India after its liberalization of economic 
policies in 1991? (UPSC 2017)
  1. Share of agriculture in GDP increased enormously.
  2. Share of India’s exports in world trade increased.
  3. FDI inflows increased.
  4. India’s foreign exchange reserves increased enormously.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1 and 4 only
  2. 2, 3 and 4 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Post the liberalization of economic policies in 1991, the share of agriculture in GDP did not increase.
  • Some of the positive impacts of LPG reforms are:
    • Increase in share of India’s exports in world trade.
    • Increase in the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment.
    • Increase in India’s foreign exchange reserves.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. With the Taliban making rapid advances in Afghanistan, what does the future hold for the country and the region? Examine. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, International Relations]
  2. India has entered a demographic sweet spot. So it is time for our population stabilization strategy to be adjusted keeping in mind the rights of women and girls. Discuss. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, Governance]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 8th July 2021:- Download PDF Here

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