13 July 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 13th July 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Losses forced closure of dairy farms, Lakshadweep tells HC
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. China says it ‘drove away’ U.S. warship
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. Inflation remains above 6% in June
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. 68 killed in lightning strikes in 3 States; experts issue warning
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
EDUCATION
1. Prioritising school reopening on the road to recovery
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Tracing the decline of U.S. power
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. The power of scrutiny
F. Prelims Facts
1. Red sanders worth ₹6.2 crore seized, 1 held
2. G-secs: RBI unveils retail direct scheme
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. China says it ‘drove away’ U.S. warship

Context:

China’s military said it “drove away” a U.S. warship that illegally entered Chinese waters near the Paracel Islands.

Background:

  • On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled that China had no historic title over the South China Sea.
  • In its 2016 ruling, it had also said China had interfered with traditional Philippine fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal and breached the country’s sovereign rights by exploring for oil and gas near the Reed Bank.
  • However, Beijing has not accepted the ruling.
  • The date of the recent event marks the anniversary of an international court ruling that held Beijing had no claim over the South China Sea.

Details:

  • The islands are claimed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam, which require either permission or advance notification before a military vessel passes through.
  • Hundreds of other islands, reefs and atolls in the resource-rich waterway are contested by Brunei, China, Malaysia and the Philippines, with China claiming rights to resources within its so-called nine-dash line, or most of the region.
  • It is a critical global sea route and China continues to coerce and intimidate Southeast Asian coastal states, threatening freedom of navigation in the throughway.

Read more on South China Sea Dispute – Countries Involved, Causes, Effects & Resolution

US response:

  • The US Navy has said that it asserted navigational rights and freedoms in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands consistent with international law.
  • It said that, under international law, the ships of all states enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
  • It said that by engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification, the U.S. challenged these unlawful restrictions imposed by China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Category: DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. 68 killed in lightning strikes in 3 States; experts issue warning

Context:

With the monsoon making a slow revival over several parts of India there is a rise in lightning-linked deaths.

Details:

  • The Home Ministry’s statistics consistently cited lightning as the biggest natural disaster-linked killer in India.
  • Nearly 68 were reportedly struck dead by lightning on a single day in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

What is lightning, and how does it strike?

  • Lightning is a very rapid and massive discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, some of which is directed towards the Earth’s surface.
  • These discharges are generated in giant moisture-bearing clouds that are 10-12 km tall.

How does this current reach the Earth from the cloud?

  • While the Earth is a good conductor of electricity, it is electrically neutral. However, in comparison to the middle layer of the cloud, it becomes positively charged.
  • As a result, about 15%-20% of the current gets directed towards the Earth as well. It is this flow of current that results in damage to life and property on Earth.

How common are deaths by lightning?

  • Lightning is the biggest contributor to accidental deaths due to natural causes. 
  • In 2019, an analysis by Skymet reported that five States accounted for half the lightning strikes that year, led by Odisha with 9,37,462 strikes or about 16% of the cloud-to-ground strikes. There were 20 million lightning strikes in that period with over 72% of them being instances of “in-cloud” lightning.

Issue:

  • Several thousand thunderstorms occur over India every year. Each can involve several — sometimes more than a hundred — lightning strikes.
  • Occurrences of lightning are not tracked in India.
  • Just one group of scientists, at the Indian Institute of Tropical Management (IITM) in Pune, works full-time on thunderstorms and lightning.
  • There is simply not enough data for scientists to work with.

Often, safety measures and precautions against lightning strikes do not receive as much publicity as other natural disasters such as earthquakes.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Tracing the decline of U.S. power

Context:

  • The article analyzes the change in U.S. foreign policy approach over the years and its impact on the U.S.’ standing in global affairs.

Background:

Phase of pragmatism in US foreign policy:

  • Between the period of 1970 to 1990s, U.S. foreign policy was guided by the philosophy of realist pragmatism.
  • Through Henry Kissinger’s visit to China in July 1971, the U.S. chose to ignore the huge human rights violations in China during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) and chose to engage with China in a bid to counter the Soviet Union. This came despite the large deviations in their respective world views and ideologies.

Phase of liberal idealism in US foreign policy:

  • In the post-Cold War era, US foreign policy seems to be guided by the philosophy of liberal idealism.
  • This phase has witnessed U.S. intervention in many countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. guided by its paternalistic responsibility to world peace and stability. US has also taken great measures to expand NATO into the former Soviet bloc.

Analysis of the foreign policy approach:

  • The article laments the switch from realist pragmatism to liberal idealism in the U.S. foreign policy approach based on the following arguments.

Success of the moral pragmatism phase:

  • Kissinger’s visit to Beijing in July 1971 is widely regarded as a major move that swung the ‘correlation of forces’ in America’s favour and led to the ultimate victory over the Soviet Union.
  • Despite the overwhelming pragmatism in its foreign approach during the pre-1991 phase, there was scope for liberalism too as witnessed in US support to democratic struggles.

Failures of the liberal idealism phase:

  • The article argues that the abandonment of Kissingerian realist pragmatism has weakened the U.S. both domestically and externally.
  • The lack of focus on its own domestic development due to an excessive focus on global affairs has resulted in a scenario where its own economic global dominance is at stake.
  • The U.S. military interventions in different nations have not only resulted in huge civilian casualties in these countries, but have also resulted in the loss of life of U.S. army personnel and cost trillions of dollars to the American exchequer.

Conclusion:

  • Pointing to the adverse impact of abandoning realist pragmatism and switching to liberal idealism, the article suggests a return to Kissingerian realist pragmatism to manage and counter the threat posed by a rising China.

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The power of scrutiny

Context:

  • The Supreme Court of India has upheld the authority of a committee of the Delhi Assembly to summon a senior official of Facebook.

Background:

  • Facebook’s India vice-president was repeatedly summoned by the Delhi Assembly’s Committee on Peace and Harmony on the subject of the Delhi riots of 2020.
  • Facebook had argued before the Supreme Court that this was a case of overreach given that Delhi’s law and order came under the central government and also because Facebook was governed by the IT Act of Parliament on which the State government has no power.

Details:

  • Despite the constraints of the powers of the Delhi Assembly on the subject of law and order, the Court found that its committee still could summon the Facebook India official without encroaching upon the turf of the Centre.

Significance:

Recognition of the power of state assemblies:

  • The judgement is an extremely nuanced recognition of the extent of powers of State Assemblies in matters regulated by an Act of Parliament.

Role to be played by state assemblies:

  • The Supreme Court ruling supports the notion that an assembly should not be restricted to the passage of new laws but could also play an important role in other aspects of governance as well. The SC judgement held that the “inquisitorial” and “recommendatory” powers of a House can be used for better governance.

Recognition of the risk posed by unregulated social media operations:

  • Recognizing the potential risk associated with the spread of misinformation on social media, the Court has rightly recognized the impact of social media on law and order, a subject matter which ultimately affects the governance of States. The judgment could pave the way for scrutiny of social media platforms by other States.

Concerns:

  • This development could further intensify the discordance over legislative turf between the central government and the Delhi government and the SC rightly cautions the committee from transgressing into any fields reserved for the Union Government.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Red sanders worth ₹6.2 crore seized, 1 held

What’s in News?

The Andhra Pradesh police raided red sanders dump in Tamil Nadu.

Red Sanders:

  • Pterocarpus santalinus or Red Sanders is a tree endemic to South India.
  • They are found in the Tropical Dry Deciduous forest of the Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh and also found in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
  • It is used for various purposes such as immunity medicine; it is used in Ayurveda and Siddha medicine.
  • The IUCN has classified red sanders as endangered (Assessment year: 2020).

Note:

  • Earlier, while farmers could grow red sanders, they required permits to fell and transport the wood.
  • The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) revised its export policy in 2019 to permit the export of red sanders if it is obtained from cultivated land.

2. G-secs: RBI unveils retail direct scheme

What’s in News?

The RBI announced the unveiling of a scheme under which retail investors will be allowed to open retail direct gilt accounts (RDG) directly with the central bank.

  • RDG account can be opened through a dedicated online portal, which will provide registered users access to the primary issuance of government securities and to NDS-OM.
    • NDS-OM is a screen based electronic anonymous order matching system for secondary market trading in government securities owned by RBI. 
  • The scheme aims at facilitating investment in government securities (G-secs) by individual investors.

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements about Contempt of Court:
  1. There is no limit on the time period for initiating contempt.
  2. The Supreme Court can take the cognizance of criminal contempt on its own motion or on a motion made by the Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General.
  3. Truth can be a valid defence in any contempt proceedings if such a defence is in the public interest and the request for invoking the defence is bona fide.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Contempt of court is the offence of being defiant or disrespectful to the court.
  • Section 20 of the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 states that “No court shall initiate any proceedings of contempt, either on its own motion or otherwise, after the expiry of a period of one year from the date on which the contempt is alleged to have been committed”.
  • The Supreme Court or High Court can take the cognizance of criminal contempt on its own motion or on a motion made by the Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General.
  • Truth can be a valid defence in any contempt proceedings if such a defence is in the public interest and the request for invoking the defence is bona fide.
Q2. With reference to Red sanders, which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. It is endemic to the Western Ghats.
  2. It is put under the category of endangered species in the IUCN Red List due to overexploitation.

Options:

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Red Sanders is a tree endemic to South India.
  • They are found in the Tropical Dry Deciduous forest of the Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh and also found in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
  • IUCN has classified red sanders as endangered (Assessment year: 2020).

Red Sanders in the IUCN Red List

Q3. Consider the following statements:
  1. Cloudburst is extreme precipitation, which lasts only for a short period of time and is extremely local in nature.
  2. Cloudbursts usually occur in connection with a thunderstorm.
  3. Cloudbursts happen only in the mountains and hilly areas.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Cloudburst is extreme precipitation, which lasts only for a short period of time and is extremely local in nature.
  • Cloudbursts usually occur in connection with a thunderstorm.
  • While there is a greater probability of cloudbursts occurring in the mountains and hilly areas, cloudbursts can also occur in plains.
Q4. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate is experienced only in the northern hemisphere.
  2. The Cool Temperate Western Margin (British Type) regions are under the influence of Westerlies all round the year.

Options:

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • The Cool Temperate Continental (Siberian) Climate is experienced only in the northern hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere is typically more temperate and warmer than the various landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere because of the effect of the oceans. Oceans absorb and store huge amounts of energy.
  • The Cool Temperate Western Margin regions are under the influence of Westerlies all-round the year. They are also regions of much cyclonic activity, typical of Britain, and therefore, they are said to experience the British type of climate.
Q5. Kalamkari painting refers to (UPSC 2015)
  1. A hand-painted cotton textile in South India
  2. A handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in North-East India
  3. A block-painted woollen cloth in Western Himalayan region of India
  4. A hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile produced in Andhra Pradesh. Only natural dyes are used in Kalamkari.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. The legislative assembly does not only perform the function of legislating. There are many other aspects of governance which can form part of its essential functions, such as “inquisitorial” and “recommendatory” powers, which can be used for better governance. Comment. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, Polity and Governance].
  2. Examine the ‘realist pragmatism’ and ‘liberal idealism’ schools of thought in international relations. Consequently, trace how the switch in US foreign policy from the former to the latter has led to its power decline in global geopolitics. (250 words; 15 marks) [GS-2, International Relations].

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 13th July 2021:- Download PDF Here

Comments

Leave a Comment

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published.

*

*