25 Jun 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
INDIAN SOCIETY
1. A small start that went on to change the lives of women
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT
1. Climate change and crop failure
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. The advent of ‘app-solute’ chaos in NREGA
F. Prelims Facts
1. Invasive weed, 17 plants stifling Kaziranga
2. Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)
G. Tidbits
1. U.S. Supreme Court overturns abortion right
2. U.S. House passes gun-safety legislation
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Category: INDIAN SOCIETY

B. GS 2 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

1. Climate change and crop failure

Syllabus: Environmental pollution and degradation

Mains: The consequences of climate change and irregularities in weather phenomena on agriculture.

Context

Climate change-induced deficient rainfall in Kerala.

Details

• Except for mild drizzles, the third week of June, which was supposed to experience the onset of monsoons, has been rather dry.
• The large rain deficiency during the month of June along with the soaring temperature levels poses the threat of crop failure.
• Further, a delayed or failed monsoon will impact a variety of crops and impact the capsule formation and the yield.
• Prolonged dry spells, delayed monsoons, intensity shifts and cloudbursts highlight the fact that there is a significant change in the rainfall pattern.

Consequences of climate change and irregularities in weather phenomena

On the cultivation of Cardamom 

• Cardamom is one of the thermosensitive crops which has been impacted by increasing temperature, changes in weather patterns and extreme weather conditions.
• Cardamom cultivators say that the inconsistent rains are causing yield loss and delay in flowering, and the fluctuations in temperature and humidity are causing pest attacks.
• Farmers highlight the fact that the average yield per acre has come down to  160-170 kg of dried cardamom from 250 kg in the past.

On the cultivation of Cashew nut

• The Aralam Farming Corporation Kerala Limited in Kannur, which accounts for about 90% of the raw cashew nut production in Kerala, witnessed a record fall in yield.
• The total yield has come down to 90 tonnes compared to 184 tonnes in the previous season (2021).
• The excess rainfall during the flowering season which continues till November (2021) impacted the fruit setting process as the nuts started sprouting which resulted in the loss of nearly 1,500 kg of nuts.
• Further, the increase in the temperature has affected the quality of the produce.

On Paddy cultivation 

• Heavy rainfall at the beginning of the harvest season has severely impacted paddy cultivation. 
• Further, heavy summer rainfall increased the frequency of bacterial leaf blight disease in paddy and caused severe losses to the farmers.

On Pest attacks

• The variations in temperature and relative humidity lead to the emergence of new pests and diseases, leaving many crops susceptible to attacks and outbreaks.
• Due to the increase in the frequency of pest attacks, farmers are forced to use local chemical pesticides which will have severe consequences on the fertility of the soil in the long term.

Other consequences

• In January 2021, a sub-zero temperature was recorded in Munnar and the cold wave severely affected the vegetable tracts in Vattavada.
• In Idukki, the temperature is increasing during the day and the night temperature is falling. This increasing gap in the daily range of temperature significantly impacts a high range of crops growing in forest-agro ecosystems.
• In Marayur, sugarcane cultivators lost an entire season, when Kerala experienced a very high rainfall of 105.5 mm as compared to the normal of 11.0 mm.
• Heavy rainfall will lower the soil fertility and turn it acidic and further as the topsoil is washed away there will be a depletion in organic matter.
• Also, the climate change and the resulting shift in the cropping pattern have impacted thermosensitive crops such as cocoa, black pepper, coffee and tea.

 

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

1. The advent of ‘app-solute’ chaos in NREGA

Syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes

Mains: National Mobile Monitoring Software application

Mains: Challenges associated with the National Mobile Monitoring Software application 

Context

This article talks about the challenges associated with the National Mobile Monitoring Software application.

National Mobile Monitoring Software application

• The Ministry of Rural Development introduced the National Mobile Monitoring Software (NMMS) application in 2021.
• This application aims to improve citizen oversight and increase transparency in National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) works.
• The app is deployed by NREGA Mates, local women at the panchayat level who are trained to monitor NREGA worksites. 
• The major feature of the app is the real-time, photographed, geo-tagged attendance of every worker to be taken once in each half of the day.

Challenges associated with the application

• Compulsory attendance – NREGA wages are fixed based on the amount of work done every day, and the workers are not expected to clock a fixed amount of hours. This flexibility had contributed a lot to the success of NREGA. 
  • However, the feature of marking the attendance twice a day mandates NREGA workers to be present at the worksite for the entire day or travel twice to mark their attendance. This is causing difficulty for the workers.
• Affects women workers – NREGA has traditionally had a higher share of women workers (54.7% in FY 2021-22) and has played a key role in transforming the working conditions for women in rural areas. 
  • As the women have to balance the burden of household chores along with NREGA works, the feature of marking the attendance twice a day would significantly affect women workers.
• Challenges with internet connectivity – the app requires a stable network for real-time monitoring and internet connectivity is a major challenge in rural India.
  • This impacts the ability of the workers to mark their attendance and results in the loss of wages.
  • This problem has been reported in states like Kerala, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu. 
• Impact on NREGA Mates – the role of a NREGA Mate was envisaged to empower rural women to manage attendance and work measurement in their panchayats. But with the advent of the app, an individual must mandatorily have a smartphone to become a Mate. 
  • This new condition disqualifies several women who do not own smartphones from becoming Mates and smartphone-owning men are likely to be given preference as Mates. 
  • Further, women could become proxy Mates (officially registered, but men work and get paid). 
  • Many individuals who are working as Mates say that adequate training has not been provided to them which is causing errors in recording workers’ attendance resulting in delays or non-payments. 
• Problems in implementation – With no records of physical attendance, there is no proof for workers of their attendance and work done which can be used by the workers as evidence.
  • Experts feel that this erodes transparency and increases chances for corruption as funds are siphoned off by faking attendance records.

Recommendations

• Experts feel that rather than focusing on complex technological reforms, social audits must be strengthened. 
  • Social audits are people-centric instruments, where the citizens of the panchayat play a key role in the functioning of NREGA. 
  • Such social audits have worked efficiently, allowing the local right holders to participate in investment decisions and hold the authorities accountable.
• Any plans of reforms that are meant to improve citizen oversight and transparency are to be implemented only after thorough consultation and discussion with all the stakeholders such as NREGA workers, functionaries, or government field officials.

G. Tidbits

1. U.S. Supreme Court overturns abortion right

• The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade 1973 judgement which was considered a landmark judgement in extending women in America the right to have an abortion before the foetus is viable outside the womb — before the 24-28 week mark.
• Abortion rights that have been available to women will now be determined by individual States.
• About 20 States have laws restricting or banning abortions.

Read more about the issue – UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated 06 May 2022

Also watch below:

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to invasive species: (Level – Difficult)

1. A species is termed invasive if it’s previously absent in that ecosystem and has been introduced in that area from outside mostly by human intervention.
2. Invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has changed the ecological character of large areas of the Keoladeo National Park, reducing its suitability for certain waterbird species including the Siberian Crane.
3. The Ministry of Environment and Forests issues approval along with quarantine certificates for the export of wild animals and articles under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

Choose the correct code:

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, A species is termed invasive if it’s previously absent in that ecosystem and has been introduced in that area from outside mostly by human intervention.
• Statement 2 is correct, The invasive growth of the grass Paspalum distichum has changed the ecological character of large areas of  Keoladeo National Park, reducing its suitability for certain waterbird species including the Siberian Crane.
• Statement 3 is correct, Under the articles of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC) issues approval and quarantine certificates to export wild animals.

Q2. Consider the following statements with regards to Intelligence Bureau: (Level – Medium)

1. IB was founded on December 23, 1887, as the “Central Special Branch” by the Secretary of State for India in London.
2. IB technically falls under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
3. The Director of the Intelligence Bureau (DIB) has always been an IPS officer.

Choose the correct code:

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct,  Intelligence Bureau (IB) was founded on December 23, 1887, as the “Central Special Branch” by the Secretary of State for India in London.
  • The IB is considered the oldest surviving intelligence organization in the world.
• Statement 2 is correct, IB technically falls under the authority of the Ministry of Home 
• Affairs.
• Statement 3 is correct, The Director of the Intelligence Bureau (DIB) has always been an IPS officer.

Q3. VL-SRSAM missile system, often seen in the news, stands for (Level – Easy)

1. Very Light – Short Range Surface to Air Missile
2. Vertical Launch – Short Range Surface to Air Missile
3. Vertical Launch – Supersonic Range Surface to Air Missile
4. 5th generation Launch – Short Range Surface to Air Missile

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• VL-SRSAM stands for Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile. 
• VL-SRSAM has been designed and developed jointly by three facilities of the Defence Research and Development Organisation for the deployment of Indian Naval warships. 
• The VL-SRSAM system has been designed to strike at the high-speed airborne targets at the range of 40km to 50km and at an altitude of around 15km.

Q4. Consider the following statements with regards to NITI Aayog: (Level – Easy)

1. The ex-officio chairman of the NITI Aayog is the Prime Minister.
2. Vice-Chairperson of the NITI Aayog is appointed by the President of India.
3. The CEO of NITI Aayog will be in the rank of the Secretary to the Government of India.

Choose the correct code:

1. 1 & 2 only
2. 2 & 3 only
3. 1 & 3 only
4. All of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, The ex-officio chairman of the NITI Aayog is the Prime Minister.
• Statement 2 is not correct, The Prime Minister appoints the Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
• Statement 3 is correct, The CEO of NITI Aayog will be in the rank of the Secretary to the Government of India.

Q5. At the national level, which ministry is the nodal agency to ensure effective 
implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers 
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006? (Level – Easy) [UPSC 2021]

1. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
2. Ministry of Panchayati Raj
3. Ministry of Rural Development
4. Ministry of Tribal Affairs

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 recognizes the rights of the forest-dwelling tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers to forest resources, on which these communities were dependent for a variety of needs, including livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency to ensure the effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.