CNA 25 June 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Mutiny in Russia C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. China- Pakistan Nuclear Deal F. Prelims Facts 1. India-US MQ-9B Reaper Drone Deal G. Tidbits 1. US to return over 100 Indian antiquities 2. Elephant relocation and Man-Animal conflict 3. New ART regulations 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
Syllabus: Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on India’s Interests
Mains: Implications of Ukraine crisis for India
Context: Mutiny in Russia by rebel Wagner mercenary force.
Introduction:
- The rebel Wagner mercenary force threatened to march on Moscow on June 24,2023 before announcing a pull-back.
- Ukraine seized on the chaos to launch new assaults against Russian positions in Ukraine.
- Ukraine announced that its forces had gained more ground in Donbas region, launching new counter offensives in several areas.
- The Wagner private army captured a key military headquarters in southern Russia, and sent a force north to threaten the capital, defying Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s warning of civil war.
- But amid this serious security crisis, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin delivered an announcement, saying his troops were turning back to avoid bloodshed in the Russian capital.
What is the Wagner Group?
- The Wagner Group first surfaced during Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Essentially a network of contractors that supply soldiers for hire, the group got registered in 2022 and opened its new headquarter in St Petersburg.
- The organisation is supported by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch.
- Apart from Ukraine, Wagner Group is reportedly also active in West Asia and several countries in Africa.
- Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year, numerous news reports have claimed that the group — consisting of over 50,000 mercenaries in Ukraine, as per the UK Ministry of Defence — has been supporting Russia’s war effort.
- The group has been accused of being involved in carrying out murders, mass rape, torture, forced disappearance and dislocation of thousands of people not only in Ukraine but also in Africa.
- Most recently, it was accused of carrying out massacres, rapes, and torture of civilians in Ukraine’s Bucha that took place in March 2022.
Why have the Wagner Group and Russian military fallen out?
- Prigozhin accused the Russian military of attacking the group’s encampments and killing “a huge number of fighters.,”
- He further alleged that Russian military officials deceived Putin regarding the motives for engaging in a conflict with Ukraine.
- Russia described the Wagner Group’s move towards Moscow as a “coup”.
- The Wagner Group and the Russian army had a visible confrontation in early May. During this event, Prigozhin expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the Russians had not adequately provided ammunition to his fighters for capturing the city. He even issued a threat to withdraw them from the battle.
Read more on Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Nut Graf: The rebel Wagner mercenary force threatened Moscow before withdrawing, allowing Ukraine to launch new assaults against Russian positions. The group’s leader accused the Russian military of attacking and deceiving Putin.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. China- Pakistan Nuclear Deal
Syllabus: India and its Neighborhood – Relations
Mains: Broader implications of recent nuclear deal between China-Pakistan
Context: Recent agreement between China and Pakistan on nuclear power plant.
Introduction:
- China and Pakistan signed an agreement on June 20 to establish a 1,200 MW nuclear power facility in Pakistan’s Chashma nuclear complex.
- With a reported value of $4.8 billion, the agreement is critical for Pakistan as it is grappling with an energy and economic downturn.
- The implications of this nuclear deal extend beyond Pakistan, raising concerns about the global regulation of nuclear trade as China proceeded without obtaining required waivers from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
About the deal:
- The new reactor will be the fifth reactor at the Chashma nuclear complex (C-5).
- C-5 will be the biggest reactor at Chashma, where China has already constructed four phases of the complex, with four reactors of around 325 MW each.
- It will use China’s Hualong One reactor, which has also been installed in two plants in Karachi.
- Pakistan is currently operating six China-built nuclear plants, four smaller reactors at the Chashma complex and two at the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP).
- An agreement for KANUPP-3 was signed in 2013, the year Chinese President Xi Jinping launched his Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and became a flagship energy project as part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) of the BRI.
Broader Implications:
- China’s civilian nuclear collaborations with Pakistan have faced scrutiny due to the restrictions imposed by the NSG.
- The NSG prohibits member countries from transferring nuclear technology to nations that haven’t signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
- Although China became an NSG member in 2004, it argued that the Chashma 3 and Chashma 4 reactors were exempt due to previous agreements with Pakistan predating its NSG membership.
How different is it from the India-U.S. nuclear deal?
- Chinese analysts have attempted to justify this nuclear cooperation by citing the India-U.S. nuclear deal.
- However, there are notable differences between the two cases.
- The India-U.S. deal required a waiver from the NSG, which was granted in 2008, allowing India to participate in global nuclear trade.
- India had to make commitments such as placing facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, separating civilian and military nuclear programs, and maintaining a testing moratorium.
- China, on the other hand, has not sought a waiver from the NSG, and Pakistan has not made similar commitments. China has argued that IAEA safeguards on the reactors would suffice.
- Additionally, China’s opposition has impeded India’s bid to become a full member of the NSG, as China linked India’s membership with that of Pakistan’s in 2015, creating obstacles in the process.
- Concerns are raised by experts regarding the erosion of global nuclear commerce regulations due to these recent deals, questioning the future and significance of the NSG and the governance of global nuclear commerce.
Nut Graf: China and Pakistan signed a $4.8 billion agreement for a 1,200 MW nuclear power plant in Pakistan. The deal raises concerns about global nuclear trade regulations and impedes India’s NSG membership bid. Experts question the future of the NSG.
F. Prelims Facts
1. India-US MQ-9B Reaper Drone Deal
Syllabus: GS03-Science and Technology
Prelims: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Context: Deal for procurement of 31 MQ-9B armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
Key Details:
- The Union Defence Ministry is set to issue a Letter of Request (LoR) to the U.S. for the procurement of 31 MQ-9B armed High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
- Discussions are ongoing to increase the indigenous content and sourcing in the deal, aiming for an increase from the proposed 8-9% to 15-20%.
- Certain components and electronics can potentially be manufactured in India, and General Atomics is engaging with Indian companies as part of the agreement.
- The joint statement issued after the talks between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised that the MQ-9Bs would be assembled in India, enhancing the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of the armed forces.
- The Indian Navy has a particular interest in these UAVs due to their cost-effectiveness and capability to significantly enhance ISR capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Read more on MQ-9B Drone
G. Tidbits
1. US to return over 100 Indian antiquities
- The Idol Wing-CID (IW-CID) of the Tamil Nadu Police, with assistance from U.S. authorities, has made significant progress in recovering 16 valuable antique idols stolen from Chola-era temples in Tamil Nadu.
- The idols, recently traced to museums and art galleries in the U.S., were taken from temples in Korukkai, Mayiladurai, Veeracholapuram, Kallakurichi, and Alathur, Mannarkudi.
- The IW-CID is working closely with U.S. agencies, such as Homeland Security and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, to facilitate the return of the idols to their respective temples.
- Evidence and documentation related to the stolen idols were submitted to the relevant U.S. authorities, who have successfully located the items.
- The investigators collaborated with the French Institute of Pondicherry to gather photos of the documented idols and formed specialised teams to search museums and art galleries worldwide.
- Through extensive efforts, the missing idols, including Shiva, Parvathi, Nataraja, Sundarar and Paravai Nachiyar, Veenadhara/Dakshinamurthy, and Nandikeshwarar, were found at the Cleveland Museum and Christie’s Auction House in the United States.
2. Elephant relocation and Man-Animal conflict
- The recent relocation of Arikompan, an elephant from Kerala, to the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu highlights the complexities involved in successful translocations.
- The objective of the translocation is twofold:
- To give the elephant a fresh chance at wildlife while ensuring the safety of villagers from potential food-related attacks.
- The forest department plays a crucial role as a stakeholder, facing the delicate task of balancing the well-being of both animals and humans.
- Conservationists suggest that while translocations and captures are temporary measures, promoting coexistence areas, cultivating non-palatable crops, restoring habitats, and exploring negative conditioning methods could help mitigate human-elephant conflicts more effectively.
- The long-term well-being of elephants may involve considering alternatives such as relocating them to elephant camps rather than subjecting them to repeated translocations and trauma.
Read more on Human-Wildlife conflict
- The Health Ministry recently introduced the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulations (ART), 2023, with the aim of improving medical care and security for donors and patients.
- However, the new provisions are increasing medical costs and posing challenges for doctors and couples seeking ART due to limited donor resources.
- The ART provisions impose restrictions on the number of times a donor can donate and specify age limits for donors.
- For oocyte/sperm donors, they should have been married and have at least one living child. They can donate oocytes only once in their lifetime, with a maximum of seven oocytes retrieved.
- An ART bank cannot supply reproductive cells from a single donor to more than one couple seeking services.
- Parties seeking ART services are required to provide insurance coverage for the oocyte donor. Clinics are prohibited from offering a child of a pre-determined sex, and genetic disease screening before embryo implantation is mandatory.
- While safety and transparency are welcomed, experts expressed concerns about the restrictions limiting opportunities for ART couples to find suitable donors.
- The new ART laws, along with declining fertility rates, are expected to bring more challenges as they further restrict the availability of donors in India and globally.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. The Wagner Group often seen in news is:
- A Russian paramilitary organisation
- A China-backed hacking group
- A U.S based non-governmental militia organisation
- Iranian hacker group
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
The Wagner Group also known as PMC Wagner is a Russian paramilitary organisation. It is believed to have been founded in 2014.
Q2. Consider the following statements w.r.t Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG):
- It is a multilateral nuclear export control arrangement.
- The NSG was formed in the wake of the nuclear tests conducted by India in 1974.
- India is not a member of the NSG
How many of the given statements is NSG /are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Q3. ‘Veeracholapuram’ recently seen in news is famous for:
- The Sun temple
- Thiruvalangadu copper plates
- Thirupurasundari idol
- The Siva temple
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
- The Veeracholapuram temple in Kallakurichi district is famous for its Shiva Temple. It was in news as steps are being taken to retrieve some idols that were stolen or went missing from Chola-era temples.
Q4. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is in:
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- Telangana
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
- Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is a protected area and tiger reserve in the Eastern Ghats in the Erode District of Tamil Nadu.
Q5. Consider the following:
- In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
- Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI)
- Cryopreservation
How many of these can be classified under Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), as commonly understood, comprises procedures such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), oocyte and sperm donation, cryopreservation and includes surrogacy as well.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Critically examine the recent attempted-mutiny in Russia and its impact on Russia’s internal security and on global geopolitics. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS-2; International Relations]
- Comment on the pros and cons of mandatory implementation of Aadhaar Based Payment System (ABPS) in MGNREGA. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS-2; Governance]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 25 June 2023:- Download PDF Here
Comments