16 Jun 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

14 May

CNA 16 June 2022:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The fragile state of nuclear disarmament
2. The controversy around the Northern Ireland Protocol
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. In Sri Lankan crisis, a window of economic opportunity
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. A poverty trend in search of an explanation
F. Prelims Facts
1. 3-year degree programme for Agnipath recruits
G. Tidbits
1. Cabinet approves mega 5G auction
2. Demolition drives may challenge the rule of law
3. Drones to drop balls with 11 lakh seeds
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

2. The controversy around the Northern Ireland Protocol

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

Prelims: Northern Ireland Protocol

Mains: Critical Analysis of Northern Ireland Protocol

Context:

The Boris Johnson administration has come up with new legislation, the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which would enable the U.K. to override provisions of the Brexit deal.

Northern Ireland Protocol:

  • Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. that shares a land border with the EU, as the Republic of Ireland (or Ireland) is an EU member-state. 
  • As long as the U.K. was part of the EU, things were fine. But with Brexit, the U.K. exited the EU’s customs union. 
  • This created a problem whose solution needed two seemingly contradictory outcomes: preserving the sanctity of the EU’s single market, as well as that of the U.K.’s domestic market. 
  • The NIP’s solution was to avoid a customs check at the actual customs border as this would have violated the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and risked instability in a region with a volatile past. 

This issue has been covered in the following articles:

U.K. wants new trade deal for N. Ireland – CNA dated July 22, 2021.

Five years later, Brexit continues to divide – CNA dated July 15, 2021.

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. A poverty trend in search of an explanation

Syllabus: Issues relating to poverty.

Mains: Trends in poverty in India and the need for the surveys on poverty

Context

This article talks about the trends in poverty in India.

Details

  • In recent years there is an evident absence of information on poverty and its estimates in India.
  • The last official estimate of poverty was undertaken by the Planning Commission for the year 2011-12. There has not been any household consumption expenditure survey for subsequent years.

Know more about – Household Consumption Expenditure Survey in CNA dated April 26, 2022.

Trends in the consumption expenditure in India

  • A consumption expenditure survey was conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) for 2017-18, but this was dismissed by the government as defective. 
  • However, a leaked version of the survey revealed that the real consumption expenditure had dropped since 2011-12 at a time when experts believed that reduction in consumption is not possible when income (GDP) has grown.
  • Two recent reports or studies from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, although not related directly to household expenditure surveys, highlight the consumption spending estimates and thereby poverty.
    • These studies provide an estimate of the poverty rate for five data points after 2011-12.
    • The World Bank’s definition of “extreme poverty” defines poverty as per capita consumption of less than $1.90 per day as per. 
    • The level of poverty estimated by these two studies varies considerably, with the one by the World Bank showing twice the poverty level estimated by the IMF.
    • Both the studies share a common feature, which is an accelerated decline in poverty since 2011-12.
  • Although the growth in the economy has slowed since 2017-18, the accelerated decline in poverty as overall economic growth slows is not unprecedented.
    • Previously, there was a significant reduction in poverty in India in the late 1960s, when the growth had begun to slow from the mid-sixties.
  • This co-movement can be explained by the fact that as the economy-wide growth rate had slowed, growth in India’s agricultural sector accelerated post the Green Revolution and there has been a higher average annual agricultural growth ever since. 
  • As the workforce concentration was higher in agriculture it is expected that wages and consumption of rural workers grew and thereby there was a decline in rural poverty. 
    • However, the decline in urban poverty took more time highlighting the significant role of agriculture in India.

Effects of demonetisation

  • Since 2016-17 there is no significant growth in any one sector of the economy which is comparable to the increase in the rate of growth of agriculture in the late 1960s.
  • Experts feel that the demonetisation of 2016 is said to have adversely affected the majority of workers. 
  • Data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey suggest that the unemployment rate increased significantly after demonetisation.
  • However, the accelerated decline in poverty during this period is attributed to lower inflation since 2014 which resulted in the faster real wage growth thereby ensuring increased consumption and thus an accelerated decline in poverty.

Trends in real wage growth in recent years

  • The author of this article computed real wage growth starting 2015-16 and the annual all-India real wage growth is computed for two groups of rural men, namely non-agricultural labourers and construction workers.
  • The economy-wide inflation rate was adopted and all the data were taken from the RBI’s website. 
  • The study showed that the annual real wage rate growth was either negligible or negative in four out of the five years during the period 2015-16 to 2019-20 for non-agricultural labourers.
  • In the case of construction workers, annual real wage growth was negative in three years and slightly positive in one year and slightly over 1% in only one year. 
  • This shows that there has been a meagre real wage growth since 2015-2016 and highlights the need for an explanation of the accelerated decline in poverty.

Way forward

  • There is a need to understand various drivers of poverty which helps to undertake remedial actions. 
  • Also, there is a need for reliable data provided by independent public agencies without any political interventions. 
  • There is a need for the government to undertake a household consumption expenditure survey immediately without any delays to help analyse the trends in poverty in India in recent years.
Nut Graf

It is extremely crucial to measure the progress made with respect to the reduction of poverty in India to assess the overall state of the economy. This mandates the policymakers to reinitiate surveys that provide comprehensive information regarding poverty in India.

F. Prelims Facts

1. 3-year degree programme for Agnipath recruits

Syllabus: GS2: Polity and Governance: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Prelims: Agnipath Scheme

Context:

Recently, the Cabinet approved the ‘Agnipath’ scheme for temporary recruitment to the armed forces.

Know more about the Agnipath Defense Policy Reforms.

Recent Updates: Three-year Degree Programme

  • The Union Education Ministry said it will launch a three-year degree programme that will give credits to serving defense personnel who avail themselves of the scheme.
  • Aims:
    • To enhance the future career prospects of our ‘Agniveers’.
    • To equip them for various job roles in the civilian sector.
    • To recognise the skill training received by them during their defense tenure.
  • Under the programme that will be designed and executed by IGNOU, 50% of the credits required for the graduate degree will come from skills received under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme.
  • The remaining 50% will come from a basket of courses that cover a wide variety of subjects like languages, economics, history, political science, public administration, etc.
  • Recognition of the Course: 
    • IGNOU will enter into an MoU with the Army, the Navy and the Indian Air Force to offer the programme to their personnel. 
    • The course has been recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) and the UGC.
    • It will be recognised in India and abroad.
  • The programme will conform with UGC norms as well as those laid down under the National Skills Qualifications Framework as part of the National Education Policy, 2020.

Agniveers to get priority in CAPF recruitment

  • The Union Home Ministry announced that youth recruited in the armed forces under the short-term ‘Agnipath’ scheme will get priority in recruitment to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles.
  • A senior Ministry official said the details were being worked out, but ‘Agniveers’ would be given priority when they completed the four years of military service.

G. Tidbits

1. Cabinet approves mega 5G auction

  • The Union Cabinet has approved the auction of airwaves capable of offering fifth generation, or 5G, telecom services, including ultra-high-speed Internet.
  • It gave its nod for setting up captive 5G networks by big tech firms.
  • It is said that the Cabinet has approved 5G auctions at reserve prices recommended by the sector regulator, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

2. Demolition drives may challenge the rule of law

  • The Supreme Court observed that the recent demolition drives in the aftermath of the row over the remarks on Prophet Muhammed may challenge certain basic tenets of law, including the right of a person to be heard first.
  • It also observed that the state can deprive a person of his or her property only after following due procedure and under the authority of a valid law as mandated under Article 300A of the Constitution.
  • A slew of Supreme Court decisions on Article 300A, including in the Indian Handicrafts Emporium case, has held that the right to property was also a “constitutional right”.
  • Article 300A was inserted shortly after the Emergency through the Constitution (44th Amendment) Act of 1978.

3. Drones to drop balls with 11 lakh seeds

  • A whopping 11 lakh seeds are set to be sown on the hillocks in Tirupati in a bid to turn the landscape greener.
  • Pratap Swami of Ekaveera Seva Foundation has taken the initiative to make the hillock green.
  • Eleven lakh seeds mixed in clay are moulded in the shape of balls, to be air-dropped over the hillocks.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements: (Difficulty Level: Medium)
  1. The right to property ceased to be a fundamental right with the 42nd Constitution Amendment in 1978.
  2. The Doctrine of Adverse Possession refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • The 44th Constitution Amendment Act of 1978 removed the right to property from the list of Fundamental Rights, and it was later established as a legal right by Article 300-A in Part-12 of the Constitution.
  • Adverse Possession is a legal theory that asserts that if a renter has inhabited a property for 12 years and the owner does not take action, the tenant is awarded ownership rights to the property.
  • Hence both the statements are incorrect.

 

Q2. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (Difficulty Level: Medium)
  1. Population control and family planning are under the State list.
  2. The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  3. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, the current fertility rate is slightly lower than the replacement level of fertility of 2.1 children per woman.

Options:

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Population control and family planning are listed in the Concurrent List. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
  • The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is in charge of conducting the decennial Census. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • According to the National Family Health Survey-5, India has made significant progress in population control measures in recent times with the Total Fertility Rates (TFR). TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level fertility rate at which population stability is achieved. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Q3. With respect to the Press Council of India (PCI), which of the following statements 
is/are correct? (Difficulty Level: Medium)
  1. It only has the power to enforce standards on print media and has no powers to enforce standards on electronic media.
  2. PCI is responsible for enquiring about the complaints it receives and can also penalize anyone for violation of the guidelines.

Options:

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • The Press Council of India (PCI) is a statutory body created by the Press Council Act of 1978. It is the apex body for the regulation of Print Media in India. It enjoys independence from the government. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • PCI is responsible for enquiring about the complaints it receives. It can summon witnesses, and demand copies of public records. PCI can issue warnings, and criticize the guilty, it could be journalists, newspapers, newspaper agencies or editors. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
Q4. Which of the following missiles is/are developed under the Integrated Guided Missile 
Development Programme? (Difficulty Level: Easy)
  1. Agni
  2. Akash
  3. Trishul
  4. Prithvi

Options:

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was launched in 1983. This program was launched with an agenda to develop five missile systems in the country – Trishul, Akash, Nag, Prithvi, and Agni.
  • Hence D is the correct option.

 

Q5. Which one of the following best describes the term “greenwashing”? (Difficulty 
Level: Medium) [UPSC 2022]
  1. Conveying a false impression that a company’s products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound.
  2. Non-inclusion of ecological/environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country.
  3. Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development.
  4. Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Greenwashing is the technique of creating a false image or presenting misleading information about how a company’s products are better for the environment. Greenwashing is defined as making an unfounded claim in order to mislead customers into believing that a company’s products are ecologically beneficial.
  • Hence A is the correct option.

 

CNA 16 June 2022:- Download PDF Here

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