CNA 03 June 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. China’s growing footprint in the Pacific Islands C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India-Pakistan ties and the mirror of 2019 F. Prelims Facts 1. International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) G. Tidbits 1. India, Israel seek links on futuristic defence tech 2. India sends senior diplomats to Kabul for talks with Taliban 3. Blast on tracks to alert loco pilots may stop soon 4. Trade deficit widened to a record $23.33 bn 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. China’s growing footprint in the Pacific Islands
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries
Prelims: About Pacific Island Countries
Mains: Significance of Pacific Island Countries, China’s interests in the region and the implications of China’s recent moves
Context
The Chinese Foreign Minister is visiting ten Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and is trying to push through a comprehensive framework agreement.
Background
For detailed background refer to the following article:
UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated 15 Apr 2022
Pacific Island Countries
- The Pacific Island Countries are a group of 14 islands that are located in the tropical region of the Pacific Ocean between Asia, Australia and the two Americas.
- Pacific Island Countries include the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
- These countries are classified based on their physical and human geography into three distinct regions namely Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia.
- These island nations have very small land areas and are spread across the vast Pacific ocean.
- Despite these countries being some of the smallest and least populated countries, they have some of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in the world.
Image source: Wikipedia
Strategic Significance of Pacific Island Countries
- Large Exclusive Economic Zones: As these countries have large EEZs they have a huge economic potential to utilise these EEZs which are rich in fisheries, energy, minerals and other marine resources.
- These nations prefer to be regarded as the Big Ocean States, rather than the Small Island States.
- Countries like Kiribati and the Federation States of Micronesia have EEZs larger than that of India.
- Strategic establishments: These island states in the past have played a crucial role in major power rivalry as they have been launchpads for establishing power projections and laboratories for developing and demonstrating strategic capabilities.
- Nuclear test sites: Due to the remoteness of these States from major population centres of the world, a few major nuclear weapon test centres of the nuclear powers such as the U.S., the U.K. and France were located in these countries.
- Also, these island states acted as one of the major theatres of war during the Second World War — between Japan and the U.S.
- Geopolitical influence: These 14 Pacific Island Countries are bonded together through shared economic and security concerns, and most importantly they account for a significant amount of votes in the United Nations and other international organisations and act as a vote bank for the major powers to mobilise international support.
China’s interests in Pacific Island Countries
- China is looking to enhance its relations with these island states as it does not have any historical connections with these countries, unlike the Western powers.
- The geostrategic location of these islands lies in the natural line of the expansion of China’s maritime interest and naval power.
- These countries are located beyond China’s ‘First Island Chain’, which represents the country’s first threshold of maritime expansion.
- China refers to this region as its ‘Far Seas’ and gaining control of it will make China an effective Blue Water capable Navy which is an essential prerequisite for becoming a superpower.
- China is also looking to build its relations with these countries to counter the rising influence of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) which has emerged as a major force in the Indo-Pacific.
- The vast marine richness and the huge economic potential of these island states have also attracted China.
- The Taiwan Factor – The islands in the south Pacific are countries where China has competition from Taiwan for diplomatic recognition.
- China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province awaiting reunification, therefore any country that has relations with China will have to sever ties with Taiwan.
- Taking these island countries away from the West and Taiwan will make the goal of Taiwan’s reunification easier for China.
- China has succeeded in getting diplomatic recognition from 10 out of the 14 Pacific Island states through its economic assistance and at present only four of these countries namely Tuvalu, Palau, Marshall Islands and Nauru recognise Taiwan.
Implications of China’s recent moves
- Recently, the two draft documents prepared by China namely “China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Common Development Vision”, and “China-Pacific Islands Five-Year Action Plan on Common Development (2022-2026)” have been leaked and have gained the attention of the international community.
- The vision document deals with the proposal to improve cooperation in political, security, economic and strategic spheres.
- The action plan document highlights specific details of cooperation in these identified areas.
- However, the Pacific Island Countries as a collective decision rejected China’s extensive and ambitious proposals.
- The Prime Minister of the Federation States of Micronesia had written to all the island country governments to consider China’s proposals with caution, as they can have negative implications on the sovereignty and unity of these island countries and may lead them into major power conflicts in the future.
- But experts feel that China is expected to come back with an improvised deal that is more acceptable and also this failure to get a consensus on the deal will not stop China from pursuing bilateral deals with individual countries of similar nature.
- This policy of China has cautioned the powers who have traditionally enjoyed a higher degree of influence in the region like the U.S. and Australia.
- The U.S. is revisiting its diplomatic priority for the region ever since the China-Solomon Islands deal.
- Also, the U.S. is said to have played a key role in mobilising opposition against China’s proposed deal as the Federation States of Micronesia is the only nation which recognises China and is also part of the Compact of Free Association with the U.S. simultaneously.
- Australia has sent its officials to these countries to revisit their ties and has promised due priority and assistance to these countries.
Nut Graf
The geostrategic significance of Pacific Island Countries had attracted major powers of the colonial era to compete with each other to gain control of these states in the past and the recent moves by China in this context have alerted other major powers in the region and the leaders of these Pacific Island Countries.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India-Pakistan ties and the mirror of 2019
Syllabus: GS II, India and its neighbourhood relations
Prelims: Indus Water Treaty, Article – 370
Mains: Analysing the way forward for India-Pakistan relations in the light of changing trends of India’s Neighbourhood Policy.
Context: Talks were held between India and Pakistan under the aegis of the Indus Water Treaty.
India-Pakistan: Strengthening ties
- India has embraced a more friendly approach to its neighbourhood policy.
- For a long time, the India-Pakistan Relation has spanned historic episodes of hostility and enmity.
- However, dynamism is a key flavour of diplomacy.
- There have been developing instances that exemplify subsiding hostility between India and Pakistan.
- The Government of India has sent consignments of wheat under the World Food Programme to Afghanistan through Pakistan.
- The channels of communication between India and Pakistan have opened up.
- The emerging ties between the countries can be observed in the political speeches of the leaders. For example, the Indian Prime Minister ceases to address Pakistan as an enemy country.
- India also opened backchannel talks with Pakistan, using the United Arab Emirates as an interlocutor.
- It is inferred that such a change has been driven by realist considerations that surfaced during the border skirmish in the Galwan region of Ladakh between India and China.
The China effect:
- It is a known fact that the aggressive expansionist ideology of China has been a massive threat to India’s territorial sovereignty and its border security.
- The border crisis in Ladakh raised the spectre of a military threat between China and Pakistan.
- Several military experts have asserted that the challenge of the border crisis cannot be resolved only by military actions.
- There was limited disengagement that had occurred with the Chinese forces in the Ladakh region.
- Pakistan refrained from mobilising its forces to the Line of Control as a result of the backchannel talks with India. This protected India’s security from a nightmare scenario of enhanced border threats from both sides of China and Pakistan.
- To tackle such challenges, other instruments of diplomacy must be employed. For example, peaceful negotiations, diplomatic talks, and economic engagements.
Pakistan’s Demand:
- The dilution of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir as a union territory, spurred a new discontent between India and Pakistan over disputed territories.
- Pakistan had put forth certain conditions requisite for engaging in any interaction with India.
- These conditions included:
- Restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir
- An announcement of no demographic change in the Kashmir Valley
Possible Inferences:
- The backchannel talks extended for a long period of time and India conveyed its political inability to initiate any actions in alignment with the demands of Pakistan.
- The revival of India-Pakistan relations reached a stalemate with certain disagreements in place.
- The Kashmir issue remains a challenge with increased violence in the region despite the high security-centric approach by the administration.
- It has been alleged by the Indian government that the violence in Kashmir is nurtured by Pakistan by cross-border transfer of weapons and militants.
- Resolving these issues is anticipated to be a time-taking process.
The roadmap ahead:
- It has been stated by the officials from both sides (India and Pakistan) that there are certain disputes that can be resolved with the aid of political will.
- These issues entail:
- A deal on the Sir Creek dispute
- An agreement for the revival of bilateral trade
- Return of High Commissioners to the missions in Delhi and Islamabad.
- Developing strong diplomatic ties
- There must be negotiations regarding the demilitarisation of the Siachen glacier which is seen to be off the table.
- A deeper understanding of the situation makes it obvious that the willingness expressed by New Delhi and Islamabad to revive the ties is accompanied by the restrictions imposed by Pakistan’s domestic political instability and economic crisis.
- Therefore, the environment in Pakistan is not conducive to any advancements with India.
- However, there is always a doorway for India to revamp its diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
Nut Graf
A shift from the traditional hostility to the actions in favour of proper diplomatic and political engagements will be the cornerstone of reviving India-Pakistan ties despite the existing challenges. Such a developing tie is backed by sound reasons of serving the national interests and an effective neighbourhood policy.
F. Prelims Facts
1. International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT)
Syllabus: GS3; Science and Technology; Awareness in the fields of Space
Prelims: About International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT)
Context
The world’s first liquid mirror telescope has been set up in Devasthal.
International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT)
- The world’s first Liquid Mirror Telescope was installed at the Devasthal Observatory of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital, Uttarakhand which is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology.
- ILMT will be the third telescope to be operating from Devasthal after the Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT) [the largest in India commissioned in 2016] and the Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) inaugurated in 2010.
- This telescope will help in making sky surveys and obtain images that can help observe transient phenomena such as asteroids, and supernovae and record the presence of space debris or meteorites.
- ILMT has been constructed by a collaboration of scientists from Canada, Belgium and India.
- It was designed and built at the Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems Corporation and the Centre Spatial de Liege, Belgium.
- The first image made by the telescope consisted of several stars and a galaxy, NGC 4274, which is 45 million light-years away.
- ILMT has a primary mirror that is liquid and cannot be turned and pointed in any direction.
- The telescope basically stares at the zenith and watches the sky as the earth rotates, thereby giving a view of different objects.
- This property can be used to scan and survey the sky, and observe transients and moving objects such as meteorites.
- A large pool of mercury is placed in a vessel that is spun around so fast that it curves into a parabolic shape. Since mercury is reflective, this shape helps in focusing the reflected light. A thin layer of mylar is used to protect the mercury from the wind.
G. Tidbits
1. India, Israel seek links on futuristic defence tech
- The Defence Minister of India and his Israeli counterpart exchanged a Letter of Intent on enhancing cooperation in the field of futuristic defence technologies.
- The two also discussed partnerships within the government-to-government framework, military training, and technological cooperation with a focus on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and defensive capabilities.
- The Ministers also discussed a cooperation agreement signed between the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel’s Directorate for Defence R&D.
- The Ministers announced their intentions to further develop defence cooperation in a manner that harnesses Israel’s technological advancements and operational experience together with India’s extraordinary development and production capabilities.
- The two countries are also finalising a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
2. India sends senior diplomats to Kabul for talks with Taliban
- India has sent a multi-member team of senior diplomats to Afghanistan for the first time since the Indian Embassy in Kabul was evacuated in August 2021 after the arrival of the Taliban in the Afghan capital.
- The Taliban has urged the Indian team to reopen its Embassy in Kabul.
- The Ministry of External Affairs said that more foodgrains and medical shipments will be sent to Afghanistan in the future and India also announced the shipment of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Iran for distribution among Afghan refugees staying in Iran.
- The team of diplomats visited the Habibia High School, which is being renovated with assistance from the Government of India, and the Chimtala Electricity Sub-station, which was built by the Power Grid Corporation of India for electricity supply to Kabul.
- The Indian team also included a woman official, which is being interpreted as a reminder to the Taliban to ensure equitable treatment for women in Afghanistan.
3. Blast on tracks to alert loco pilots may stop soon
- The Indian Railways may go back to using the decades-old practice of the crew using detonator signals to alert loco pilots of an obstruction or danger.
- The employees’ unions have urged for stopping the practice of detonating signals since there are advancements in technology and gadgets such as anti-collision devices, train protection warning systems, short circuiting clips, fog signal devices and auxiliary warning systems serve the purpose.
- The Explosive Substances Act also prohibited the staff from possessing explosives in public places.
- The railway employees say that dispensing with detonator signals would reduce the weight of the essential equipment carried by loco pilots and train managers.
4. Trade deficit widened to a record $23.33 bn
- India’s merchandise trade deficit broadened to a record $23.33 billion in May 2022 as exports grew by 15.5% to reach $37.3 billion while imports increased by 56.1% to reach $60.62 billion.
- The previous highest monthly trade deficit was in November 2021 with $22.91 billion.
- The goods exports dropped by 7.2% compared to April which has led to a trade deficit for the first two months of 2022-23 widening to $41.73 billion.
- Petroleum exports surged 52.7% from May 2021, and electronics (41.5%) and readymade textile garments (22.9%) have led the export growth.
- This is the third month in a row that merchandise imports have crossed $60 billion, this is mainly attributed to the increased commodity and oil prices amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. With reference to the Death Penalty in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level – Medium)
- The Judicial Magistrate of first class and Court of Sessions can award the death sentence but the high court needs to confirm it for the death sentence to be valid.
- The Law Commission of India in its 262nd report recommended the retention of the death penalty in India.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, According to Section 28(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code 1973, A Sessions Judge or Additional Sessions Judge may pass any sentence authorized by law, but any sentence of death passed by any Judge shall be subject to confirmation by the High Court.
- The Court of a Magistrate of the first class can pass a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or of fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees, or both. Hence a Judicial Magistrate of the first class cannot award a death sentence.
- Statement 2 is not correct, In 1962, the Law Commission, in its 35th report, had recommended the retention of the death penalty.
- The 262nd Law Commission of India’s report on the death penalty has recommended the abolition of the death penalty for all offences except those related to terrorism.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the Liquid mirror telescope: (Level – Medium)
- It is the country’s first and largest liquid-mirror telescope, as well as the largest in Asia.
- It is located at an altitude of 2450 metres at the Devasthal Observatory campus of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES).
- The telescope was designed and built at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, the International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) installed at Devasthal is the world’s first liquid mirror telescope.
- Statement 2 is correct, It is located at an altitude of 2450 metres at the Observatory of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital, Uttarakhand which is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology.
- Statement 3 is not correct, International Liquid mirror telescope has been constructed by a collaboration of scientists from Canada, Belgium and India.
- It was designed and built at the Advanced Mechanical and Optical Systems Corporation and the Centre Spatial de Liege, Belgium.
Q3. Consider the following statements: (Level – Difficult)
- Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir is the only Hindustani Classical Music Gharana from Jammu and Kashmir.
- Santoor is an Indian stringed musical instrument.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Sufiana Gharana of Kashmir is the only Hindustani Classical Music Gharana from Jammu and Kashmir.
- Statement 2 is correct, Santoor is a stringed instrument that has many variations all over the world and is popular in Hindustani classical music.
Q4. Which of the following statements with respect to Guru Arjan Dev is/are correct? (Level – Difficult)
- He laid the foundation of Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara, popularly known as the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
- He was the founder of major cities of Punjab such as Tarn Taran Sahib and Kartarpur.
- He was executed by Aurangzeb on charges of helping prince Khusrau with money and prayer.
Options:
- 1 only
- 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Guru Arjan Dev built the Harmandar, which is popularly known as the Golden Temple.
- Statement 2 is correct, Guru Arjan Dev became the founder of the major cities of Punjab such as Tarn Taran Sahib and Kartarpur.
- Statement 3 is not correct, Guru Arjan Dev was captured and executed by Mughal Emperor Jahangir because of his increasing influence among people and also the spread of Sikhism.
Q5. Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because (Level – Difficult) [PYQ 2021]
- it is dipolar in nature
- it is a good conductor of heat
- it has high value of specific heat
- It is an oxide of hydrogen
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Water molecule has a positive and negative pole due to the uneven distribution of electrons within it, called dipolar.
- This dipolar nature of water molecules helps it to dissolve other polar molecules (positive or negative) very easily.
Hence option a is correct.
Watch the detailed explanation of the questions in the video below:
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Rather than focusing on the Kashmir issue, India Pakistan relations can benefit considerably by focusing on low hanging fruits such as the Sir Creek dispute, Siachen and resumption of bilateral trade. Do you agree? Discuss. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS II – International Relations)
- Within a short span of time, Israel has emerged as one of India’s most significant partners in many areas. Comment. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS II – International Relations)
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CNA 03 June 2022:- Download PDF Here
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