CNA 01 March 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India should stick to the middle path in the new world disorder C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials ART & CULTURE 1. A thumbs down for the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 1. International courts and climate change INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Border troubles F. Prelims Facts 1. CE-20 cryogenic engine G. Tidbits 1. India, Australia to sign agreement on mutual recognition of qualifications 2. Portal opened for complaints against decisions of social media platforms 3. Legislator facing disqualification can’t attend floor test: SC 4. Core sector output rose to a 10-month high in January 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. India should stick to the middle path in the new world disorder
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
Mains: India’s non-alignment in the global order and the future course of Indian foreign policy
Context:
India has once again abstained from voting in a UN General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Background
- Post the Second World War, the global order witnessed two major transitions:
- A bipolar world, led by the US and the Soviet Union.
- Unipolarity replaced bipolarity with the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, and the U.S. became the centre.
- However, in recent years, American unipolarity is questioned and challenged by the rapid rise of China and Russia’s aggressive foreign policy which has marked the third transition post the War.
- While the US continues to remain the world’s most powerful military power, countries such as India, Russia and China have welcomed multipolarity and the ability of the US to influence geopolitics is declining which was seen in the cases of NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and also during the course of the Russia-Ukraine war.
- These changes have made it harder for countries such as India as there is no clarity regarding the future course of the global order.
India’s non-alignment success
- At the time when India got its independence, the Cold War was in its early stages and it was a challenging task for India at that time to manage its foreign policy in an ideologically and geopolitically divided world.
- However, the adoption of non-alignment as a foreign policy doctrine by India played a key role in managing most of such geopolitical challenges.
- India’s foreign policy during the Cold War phase was considered and regarded as “too idealistic” but India’s foreign policy choices have actually been flexible and have readapted themselves to the changes in the global and regional equations.
- Then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru played a crucial role in turning non-alignment into a movement in the 1960s after the formation of the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
- In line with the true spirit of non-alignment, India maintained equidistance from both blocs of the cold war during the 1950s and 1960s.
- In the 1970s, as China started moving closer to the US, India began tilting towards the Soviet Union, but still did not join any Soviet-led military alliances.
- However, with the disintegration of the Soviet Union, India looked to better its ties with the US and integrate itself with the global economy in the new era of globalisation.
- In doing so, India still managed to maintain close relations with Russia through defence and strategic ties and developed a vibrant economic partnership with China.
Read about – Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
New challenges
- The centre of the Cold War was Europe but the theatre for the potential US-China great power contest would be Asia which will make it difficult for India to stay out of it.
- Additionally, during the Cold War, India did not have any hostile relations with the opposing superpowers. However, as per the current geopolitical scenario, India would be seen to join the US bloc as there are bilateral issues with China.
- The power imbalance between India and China has increased of late.
- China has been developing a strategic partnership with Pakistan, and increasing its influence in the Indian neighbourhood.
- Also, the long-standing border peace between India and China was disturbed during the Galwan valley clash in 2020.
- India and Russia have maintained close relations traditionally but India is now under immense pressure from its Western partners to criticise Russia and its actions in Ukraine.
- While taking such decisions, India should also consider the fact that isolating Russia would push the country further towards China.
- There has been a convergence of interests between India and the US with respect to China as the US sees China as a threat to the liberal international order and India sees China as a close competitor whose rise can change the regional balance of power.
- These shared interests helped the US and India to build deeper ties to address the Chinese challenge. However, the Russia-Ukraine war has made it difficult to further the ties.
Learning from China
- Until the 1970s, the Soviet Union was an ideological guide and an important neighbour to China. However, China was not happy to play second fiddle to the Soviets and thus it moved away from the Soviet communist fold.
- China got into a quasi-alliance with the U.S. and helped them defeat the Soviet bloc and later as China acquired more economic and military might it started challenging the US.
- Experts feel that India’s key focus must be on transforming itself economically and militarily like China did and should work towards bridging the gap with China.
- India should also look to involve itself as a stabilising power in the South Asian and the Indian Ocean regions as China is looking to extend its dominance in these regions.
Other challenges to India and possible solutions
- Besides the problems with China, India is also witnessing other challenges, especially near its northwestern borders post the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan which has allowed the Taliban to return to power.
- To address the security challenges posed by such developments, India has to work closely with Central Asian and Eurasian powers such as Russia and Iran, both of which are at odds with the US.
- Thus changing the current stance on strategic autonomy and joining the US-led bloc would adversely impact India’s options in the new world.
- Furthermore, experts believe that even if a new cold war breaks out between the US and China, the global order is unlikely to be bipolar as the current global order is diverse ideologically and integrated economically.
- In case of such a scenario, India must adopt a multi-engagement strategy i.e. instead of joining any bloc, India should look to develop new pillars of the order by engagement and partnership with middle powers.
Nut graf: As the arena of the possible US-China great power contest is shifting towards India’s neighbourhood, it has become crucial for India to adopt a multi-engagement approach and stick to the middle path rather than following a multi-alignment approach.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. A thumbs down for the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme
Syllabus: GS-1, Indian Heritage and Culture.
Mains: Adopt a Heritage Scheme and associated concerns.
Prelims: Adopt a Heritage Scheme.
Details:
- Private companies/firms and public sector entities can adopt and maintain State-owned archaeological sites/monuments by entering into an agreement with the Ministry of Culture.
- These entities will be called Monument Mitras. It is a revamped version of the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme which was launched in 2017.
- The ‘overhauled’ scheme will allow businesses to use their Corporate Social Responsibility funds to construct and maintain ticket offices, museums, restaurants, toilets, and walkways. They can also illuminate monuments, set up guided tours, organize cultural programmes, arrange for light and sound shows, etc.
For more information on Adopt a Heritage scheme, read here: Adopt a Heritage Scheme
Associated Concerns:
- Though the scheme is intended to improve visitor services and amenities, there are chances of perils. For instance,
- In Morbi, Gujarat, a watch company (without expertise in bridge engineering) was permitted to maintain a colonial-era bridge.
- Similarly, giving businesses a chance to maintain museums and interpretation centres (overlooking the professional experts) can endanger India’s own understanding of its past.
- It is argued that the new plan sidelines the mandate of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and abandons The Sarnath Initiative, guidelines devised by the ASI, the Getty Trust, the U.S., the British Museum, and National Culture Fund to safe-keep excavated objects and display them to visitors in an engaging manner.
- Many monuments selected for the scheme already have tourist infrastructure. For example, Sanchi stupas, the Brihadeshwar temple (Thanjavur), etc.
- Moreover, the businesses will occupy the public land and build their own brands. This would diminish the valuable land around iconic monuments.
- There are apprehensions that it might undermine local communities and their relationships with historical sites. For instance, guided tours by business entities would endanger the livelihood of local communities.
- The illumination of monuments at night would further result in pulling electricity away from rural homes and hospitals.
- Many monuments/sites selected for the scheme are already maintained by central agencies or the Archaeology Directorate of the State.
- There are accusations of placing reckless tourism and corporate interests over historical preservation.
Way Ahead:
- Businesses should help citizens understand the monuments better. The CSR funds can be earmarked for researching, writing, publishing quality textbooks, and developing innovative methods of teaching history.
- Corporates can also help by instituting fellowships, endowing professorships, and supporting research training. For instance, Mr. and Mrs. Narayan Murthy aided organizations to continue writing history by rationally linking the textual record and the archaeological evidence.
- Industrial houses can also utilize their CSR funds to install equipment that releases fewer noxious gases and discharge fewer effluents into rivers.
- Organizations can also train individuals in restoration skills. Advanced-level training can also be provided to deal with emerging climate change threats. Some of the examples of climate change impacting monuments are:
- Rising sea levels and salination are disturbing the foundation of various forts in Maharashtra.
- High rainfall is causing Ladakh’s stucco houses to crumble.
- Similarly, high temperatures are risking Shekhawati murals.
Also read: List of Important Historical Monuments in India
Nut Graf: The revamped ‘Adopt a heritage’ scheme has several issues associated with it. The government of India should embrace forward-looking principles of historical preservation. It will further inspire India’s citizens to safeguard India’s pluralistic heritage.
Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. International courts and climate change
Syllabus: GS-3, Climate change.
Mains: Role of International Courts in climate change.
Prelims: Vanuatu’s initiative and the International Court of Justice.
Context: Vanuatu’s initiative of seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice.
Details:
- A group of sixteen countries has launched an effort to tackle the issue of climate change at the United Nations.
- The group is led by Vanuatu and seeks an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change.
- Notably, ICJ’s advisory opinions are non-binding. However, they carry a normative weight and clarify international laws.
Initiative by Vanuatu:
- Despite several international agreements on climate change like the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, the international community has not delivered enough solutions for climate change.
- Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Vanuatu are at relatively higher risk due to rising sea levels and increasing temperatures.
- Vanuatu launched an initiative on September 2021 through UNGA to seek an advisory opinion from ICJ on the “legal obligations of all countries to prevent and redress the adverse effects of climate change”.
- More than 100 countries have backed Vanuatu in its initiative.
- The draft resolution seeks answers on the following aspects:
- International obligations of countries for the protection of the climate from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.
- It is suggested by some scholars that ICJ can also use general and customary international law (CIL) to fill the gaps in these treaties.
- Thus, it can use the ‘no harm’ principle (an important part of CIL) to highlight equivocal provisions of the Paris Agreement.
- As per the ‘no harm’ principle states are under an obligation that activities within their jurisdiction do not damage other countries.
- It would seek answers on the legal consequences for countries that have caused significant harm to the climate and the SIDS.
- The resolution further demands clarification on climate reparations, which is a long-standing demand in direction of climate justice.
- International obligations of countries for the protection of the climate from anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.
Other measures for climate justice:
- The Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (including countries like Antigua, Barbuda, and Tuvalu) has also sought the advisory opinion of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
- ITLOS is requested to determine the obligations of the countries for preventing, controlling, and reducing marine pollution under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Also read: UNCLOS: UN’s Convention on Law of the Sea
Conclusion:
Nations across the world and international groupings like G20 should support the efforts of Small Island Developing States. India should also use the opportunity of the G20 Presidency to lay relentless emphasis on the LiFE campaign.
Also read: Small Island Developing States
Nut Graf: A group of countries led by Vanuatu has sought an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the issue of climate change. All countries should support the initiative and take lead in their own respective ways to address the ever-increasing challenge of climate change.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Syllabus: GS-2, Effect of policies and politics of the developed world.
Mains: Windsor Framework.
Prelims: Windsor Framework.
Context: The U.K. and the European Commission have announced the Windsor Framework.
Details:
- The United Kingdom and the European Commission have announced a new deal known as the “Windsor Framework” to repair post-Brexit difficulties in Northern Ireland. It will also pave the way for improved cooperation between London and Brussels.
- The “Windsor Framework” intends to address the trade disruptions between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. that were caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Also read: BREXIT
Northern Ireland Protocol:
- The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed upon as a part of Brexit.
- According to the protocol, Northern Ireland would remain a part of the European Union’s (EU) single market for goods and operate under EU customs rules.
- The protocol was implemented by creating a customs border between Northern Ireland and the U.K.
- Despite hammering out the protocol in 2019, it raised concerns among some Unionists.
Windsor Framework:
- The new deal would preserve free trade by establishing green and red lanes.
- It would ensure better availability of British goods like medicine and food in Northern Ireland markets.
- Moreover, the framework would protect Northern Ireland’s place in the Union and restore its people’s sovereignty.
- It is an agreement where the U.K. administration has arrived at a formula that could be implemented on the ground while upholding London’s obligations under the withdrawal agreement.
- However, the framework is protested by many, particularly in the U.K.
- One of the major concerns is the ‘Stormont brake’. It is an emergency measure that would allow the government of Northern Ireland to expediently halt any new EU laws from being imposed on the province.
Conclusion:
Despite potential challenges and concerns the close cooperation that resulted in the Windsor framework should be heralded as the start of a positive phase after Brexit in the U.K. – the E.U. relationship.
Also read: Differences Between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and England
Nut Graf: The Windsor Framework is a positive step in the United Kingdom and the European Union relations. It would also repair the post-Brexit difficulties of Northern Ireland.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Prelims: About CE-20 cryogenic engine and Chandrayaan-3 Mission
Context:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine
CE-20 cryogenic engine and Chandrayaan-3 Mission
- The CE-20 cryogenic engine will power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LMV3) for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
- The high-thrust cryogenic engine is the most powerful upper-stage cryogenic engine in service at present.
- The CE-20 is the first Indian cryogenic engine to feature a gas-generator cycle.
- The cryogenic upper stage of the LVM3 vehicle (C25 stage) is powered by a CE-20 engine working with the LOX-LH2 propellants combination i.e. cryogenic engine that makes use of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) as propellants
- CE-20 cryogenic engine develops a nominal thrust of 186.36 kN in vacuum.
- Chandrayaan-3 is India’s interplanetary mission and third moon mission.
- Chandrayaan-3 is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate the capability of safe landing and roving over the lunar surface.
- The Chandrayaan-3 mission has three major modules namely the propulsion, lander and rover modules.
- The Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LMV3) is the launch vehicle for the mission.
Learn more about – Chandrayaan-3 Mission
G. Tidbits
1. India, Australia to sign agreement on mutual recognition of qualifications
- The Australian Education Minister arrived in Delhi along with a team of Australian higher education leaders to promote collaboration between the two countries.
- During this visit, a series of meetings and programmes have been scheduled with the Indian Education Minister with an aim to provide impetus to the bilateral relations in the education domain.
- The two Ministers are expected to sign the Mechanism for the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications which puts in place the rules for mutual recognition to access education in both countries and is expected to be the broadest and most favourable recognition agreement India has signed with another country.
- This agreement will play a key role in enhancing student mobility between both countries.
- The Australian Minister further added that India’s National Education Policy, which has set a target of increasing the enrollments in higher education and vocational education to 50% by 2035 has provided a unique opportunity for Australian education providers to collaborate with India.
- Further, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be visiting India in March and during his visit, Australia’s Deakin University would announce an independent foreign campus in Gujarat’s GIFT City thereby becoming the first international university to set up an offshore campus in India.
2. Portal opened for complaints against decisions of social media platforms
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has launched a Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) portal under the Information Technology Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021).
- This portal allows people who are dissatisfied with the resolution of their complaints to social media companies on content takedown requests, to be heard by one of the three committees set up by the government.
- Three committees were constituted in January 2023 to receive complaints and enforce the recent amendment to IT Rules.
- The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were amended which mandated that social media companies must “respect all the rights accorded to the citizens under the Constitution, including in the articles 14, 19 and 21.”
- This made the social media platforms allow such speech that was not allowed on their platforms but was otherwise legal to express in public.
- The IT Rules further have provisions that require platforms to have a process for accepting complaints against content and appeals against takedowns from users.
- Further, the IT Ministry has said that efforts are being made to formulate a “Digital India Bill” to extend statutory support to the IT Rules.
3. Legislator facing disqualification can’t attend floor test: SC
- A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of India has held that allowing a Legislator (MP or MLA) who is facing disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law to participate in a floor test will defeat the very purpose of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
- According to the Supreme Court Bench, allowing an individual whose actions caused a split in the party and is liable to be disqualified for defection, to attend a trust vote would amount to “legitimising” a “constitutional sin”.
- The apex court further questioned whether a legislator who is the very reason for unsettling the ruling government can benefit from a subsequent floor test, which is the product of his actions.
4. Core sector output rose to a 10-month high in January
Image source: The Hindu
- The output growth in eight core sectors of the country registered a four-month high of 7.8% in January 2023 as compared to 7% in December 2022.
- This output growth is led by a sharp 17.9% year-on-year increase in fertiliser production and significant expansions in coal mining and electricity generation.
- The overall Index of Core Industries accounts for around 40% of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and has increased to its highest level in 10 months.
- Core sectors’ output had grown about 4% in January 2022.
- All core infrastructure sectors except crude oil have registered growth in output from a year earlier.
- Steel and cement production have posted a growth of 6.2% and 4.6%, respectively.
- The coal and electricity sectors have posted a growth of 13.4% and 12% which reflects steady industrial activity and higher power demand in the economy.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level – Easy)
- The B20 is the meeting of the bureaucrats belonging to the G20 nations.
- It is an unofficial meeting, and not affiliated with the G20.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, The Business 20 (B20) leads the process of galvanizing global business leaders for their views on issues of global economic and trade governance and speaks in a single voice for the entire G20 business community.
- The members of B20 would be the representatives of industry and business leaders from all G20 members.
- Statement 2 is not correct, The B20 is the official G20 dialogue forum with the global business community.
Q2. How many of the below are included in GDP? (Level – Moderate)
- A car that gets assembled in India.
- A pack of screws that will be used for the assembly of the car.
- A software program developed in India by a foreign company.
- A finished computer imported from Russia to run the program on.
Options:
- Only 1 statement
- Only 2 statements
- Only 3 statements
- All 4 statements
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- GDP only includes final products i.e. the goods for sale, rather than intermediate goods that are used to make final products.
- Furthermore, GDP measures the aggregate production of final goods and services taking place within the domestic economy during a year.
- Thus, a car that gets assembled in India and a software program developed in India by a foreign company are included in India’s GDP.
- However, a pack of screws that will be used for the assembly of the car and a finished computer imported from Russia to run the program on are not included in India’s GDP.
Q3. How many of the below are true about the whip system? (Level – Moderate)
- This feature was borrowed from the Constitution of the USA.
- The one-line whip is the strictest of all whips and directs the members to vote according to the party line.
- Violation of a whip can lead to the disqualification of the member under the anti-defection law.
Options:
- Only 1 statement
- Only 2 statements
- All 3 statements
- None of the statements
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, The concept of the whip has been borrowed from the British parliamentary system.
- Statement 2 is not correct, the Three-line Whip which is issued to members directing them to vote as per the party line is the strictest of all whips.
- One-line Whip is issued to inform the members about a vote. In case a member decides not to follow the party line, one line whip allows the member to withhold.
- Two-line Whip is issued to direct the members to be present in the House at the time of voting but no instructions are given on the voting pattern.
- Statement 3 is correct, As per the Tenth Schedule i.e. Anti-Defection Law, a political party has a right to issue a whip to its members.
- If a member violates the whip of the party, he/she can be disqualified from the House under the Anti-Defection Law.
Q4. Which of the following are true regarding idol thefts in India? (Level – Difficult)
- India is a member of the UNESCO Convention that prohibits this.
- A dedicated Act has been passed by the Parliament to prevent this.
- National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities has a task to develop a national database of antiquities in the country.
Options:
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, India is a signatory to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. (India ratified it in 1977).
- Statement 2 is correct, The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 was enacted to regulate the possession and trade of antiquities and art treasures, to prevent smuggling and fraudulent dealings in antiquities.
- Statement 3 is correct, The National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA) is an Indian government agency responsible for maintaining the cultural heritage database under the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India.
Q5. In India, why are some nuclear reactors kept under “IAEA Safeguards” while others are not? (Level – Moderate) [PYQ 2020]
- Some use uranium and others use thorium.
- Some use imported uranium and others use domestic supplies.
- Some are operated by foreign enterprises and others are operated by domestic enterprises.
- Some are State-owned and others are privately owned.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- In India, only some nuclear reactors are kept under IAEA Safeguards because they use imported uranium while the others use domestic supplies.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- What are the provisions of ‘Adopt a Heritage’ Scheme? Critically examine the controversy surrounding it. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-1, Art & Culture]
- The Windsor Framework is a welcome deal between UK & EU. Examine. (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2, IR]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 01 March 2023:- Download PDF Here
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