04 Mar 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. A.P. govt. can’t change capital: HC
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. Trade deficit seen high, to widen CAD
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Find space for new science, its ethical dilemmas
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. Care Informed by data
F. Prelims Facts
1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
2. Village Defence Committees
G. Tidbits
1. Nod for defence acquisition procedure
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. A.P. govt. can’t change capital: HC

Syllabus: State legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

Mains: State legislatures’ moves to decentralize administration in the states by proposing multiple capitals and the Court’s view.

Context

The Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered the State government to construct and develop Amaravati as the state capital.

The judgement by the High Court

• A three-judge Bench gave the final verdict in a case relating to writ petitions filed by landowners of Amaravati.
• The Court held that the State government did not have the powers to change the capital or remove Amaravati from being the capital of the three civic wings of the state namely the legislature, executive and judiciary.
• The Court instructed the government and the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) to perform their duties mentioned in the A.P. CRDA Act and Land Pooling Rules.
• The Court also held that the agreement signed between the farmers and the CRDA is a Development Agreement-cum-Irrevocable General Power of Attorney and it is a statutory agreement; the violation of terms and conditions by the respondents or by State and APCRDA calls for the interventions by the court.

Read more about this issue in CNA dated 17 Nov 2020.

C. GS 3 Related

Category: ECONOMY

1. Trade deficit seen high, to widen CAD

Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development.

Mains: Analysing India’s rising trade and current account deficits and the reasons for the increase.

India’s Trade and Capital Account Deficit

• India’s trade deficit rose to $21.2 billion in February 2022, and is expected to rise in the next few months.
• The trade deficit had reduced to $17.9 billion in January 2022 after peaking at $22.9 billion in November 2021 and averaging $21.7 billion between September and December 2021.
• The current account deficit is expected to widen to 2.6% of GDP in 2022-23 from 1.7% in 2021-22.

Reasons for the rising deficits

• Rise in oil prices
  • Brent crude oil prices reached $120 a barrel.
  • The Union Budget for 2022-23 had assumed an average oil price of $75 a barrel.
  • A 10% rise in global oil prices would widen India’s current account deficit by 0.3% of GDP.
• Rise in imports bill
  • Along with the rising imports of oils, there was also an increase in the imports of commodities, fertilizers and gold imports.
• Russia Ukraine Conflict
  • Despite Russia accounting for just 0.8% of India’s exports, the risks to export demand will increase as the slowdown in Russia’s economy has ripple effects.
  • Indian exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) include pharmaceutical, telecom, marine products, and iron & steel.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Find space for new science, its ethical dilemmas

Syllabus: Developments and their applications and effects in everyday life

Prelims: Xenotransplantation, Article 51A

Mains: Opportunities in new sciences, emerging technologies and the need to promote them.

Context: Developments and advancements in the field of science and technology have been away from the public view and are not adequately addressed as the discussions revolve majorly around the subjects related to electoral democracy.

What’s New?

• Facebook in a partnership with Ray-Ban, introduced the first generation of smart glasses called Ray-Ban Stories.
• These smart glasses are capable of recording any event and taking photos without the knowledge of those who are being captured.
• The glasses are also provided with open ear speakers and three microphone audio arrays that enable the users to attend calls.
• The speakers make use of beamforming technology and background noise suppression algorithm for enhanced calling experience.
• For now, it is available in the US, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy and the UK.
• Before it reaches the Indian market, these glasses with extra added features raise major concerns pertaining to security and privacy.
• Such association between fashion and technology needs an effective intervention by the experts regarding its implications on privacy.

Read about Data Protection in Perspective, Sansad TV.

Directions of medical science:

• In the field of medical science, Xenotransplantation has caught enormous attention for its numerous advantages in the treatment of organ failure by using certain gene-editing techniques in model organisms like pigs and transplanting a fully functioning organ into humans.
• There have been successful cases of heart and kidney transplants that saved the lives of patients with organ failures and other disorders.

Read more about Xenotransplantation in the linked article.

Moral and Social Issues:

• Medical advances are not immune to certain questions that emerge on social, ethical and moral grounds.
• In the context of Indian society, advances like that of xenotransplantation carry additional sting that might involve sensibilities. This suppresses open discussions on certain areas of medical advancements.
• It is alleged that xenotransplantation acts against the rights of animals and several animal rights movements have objected to such medical advances.
• There exists a number of arguments against the animal farms using genetically modified animals to harvest organs required for human transplants.
• It is believed by many that protecting the rights of animals is a moral responsibility.
• All these give rise to a classic utilitarian dilemma of whether to kill an animal to save a human life or vice-versa.

A balanced approach needed:

• Over the years, the conventional set of beliefs and social bigotries and customs have been the stumbling blocks towards advancements in sciences, especially with regard to medical sciences.
• Anthropocentric philosophy has swept away important discussions of emerging technologies and their implications. This creates enormous trouble for the medical fraternity with moral dilemmas.
• The emerging areas of medical sciences and other advancements in science and technology need more discussion to make people aware with authentic information.
• In the midst of the existential moral dilemmas, the medical authorities are expected to develop a balanced approach in recommending the government on advancements in medical research.
• The Government and respective regulatory authorities can put a joint effort to frame policies that will address the real concerns of illegal and immoral businesses involving human organs with respect to medical advancements instead of blindly objecting to practices like xenotransplantation only on the grounds of anthropocentric beliefs.
• Therefore, new developments in the field of science and technology must be provided with significant attention, thereby eliminating the social stigmas and upholding Article 51A of the Constitution that offers an obligation “to develop scientific temper”.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

Syllabus: Important International institutions

Prelims: Facts about AIIB

Context

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) said that it is reviewing all projects in Russia and Belarus.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

• AIIB is a multilateral development bank established by the AIIB Articles of Agreement in 2015.
• It has its headquarters in Beijing, China
• It has 103 members and the membership is open to all members of the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
• China is AIIB’s largest shareholder with a 26.5% voting share.
  • India is the second-largest, with 7.5%, followed by Russia, which has a 5.97% voting share.
  • Belarus is also a member of the bank.

To read more about AIIB click on the link.

2. Village Defence Committees

Syllabus: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate

Prelims: Village Defence committees

Context

The Union government will re-establish village defence committees (VDCs) in Jammu.

Village Defence Committees (VDCs)

• The VDCs were set up in 1995 in 10 districts of the Jammu region to fight militants in remote places.
• The VDCs were created for self-defence and for supplementing efforts of the forces to curb militancy and cross-border infiltration in the mid-90s.
• Nearly 26,567 locals were recruited to VDCs.
• The Indian Army conducts training camps for VDCs consisting of weapons training and intelligence gathering basics.
• They were provided with hi-tech weapons to fight the militants.
• It said that the VDCs will be re-established with a changed name and will be termed as ‘Village Defence Groups’

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Who among the following set up the ‘Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha’?

1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
2. Ramabai Ranade
3. Tarabai Shinde
4. Savitribai Phule 

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Savitribai Phule together with her husband opened a care centre called Balhatya Pratibandhak Griha (Child-killing Prohibition Home) for pregnant rape victims and helped deliver and save their children.
• Hence option d is correct.
• Read more about Savitribai Phule.

Q2. Consider the following Statements with respect to QUAD:

1. The idea of “QUAD” was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.
2. All the QUAD members are the members of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
3. All the QUAD members first participated in the Malabar Exercise in 2020.

Which of the given statements is/are INCORRECT?

1. 2 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 1 only

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct. The idea of Quad was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.
• Statement 2 is not correct. While India and Australia are members of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the U.S.A. and Japan are dialogue partners.
• Statement 3 is not correct. During the 2004 Tsunami, India conducted relief and rescue operations for itself and neighbouring countries and was joined by Japan, the US and Australia. The move was paralleled by the joint military exercise ‘Malabar’ which was held at an unprecedented scale involving India, Japan, Australia, Singapore and the US.

Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to the United Nations Environment Assembly 
(UNEA):

1. It is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
2. It is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
3. It was created in 2012 during the Rio+20 negotiations.

Which of the given statements are INCORRECT?

1. 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 only
4. None of the above

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct. The UNEP’s governing body is called the United Nations Environment Assembly.
• Statement 2 is correct. UNEA is said to be the world’s highest decision making body on the environment.
• Statement 3 is correct. UNEA was formed in 2012 during the Rio+20 negotiations and is headed by a Bureau and its President. 

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to the SVAMITVA Scheme:

1. The scheme is piloted by the Ministry of Rural Development.
2. Under the scheme, residential land in villages will be measured using drones to create a non-disputable record.
3. Under the scheme, property card for every property in the village will be prepared by states.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 2 only

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct. The Nodal Ministry for the SVAMITVA scheme is the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
• Statement 2 is correct. Drone Surveying technology and Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) will be used for demarcation of rural abadi areas.
• Statement 3 is correct. Under the scheme, SVAMITVA property cards for every property in the village will be prepared by states.

Read more about the SVAMITVA Scheme.

Q5. With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following 
statements:

1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga
2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana
3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC 2020]

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct. Patanajali, one of the greatest geniuses in Indian history, was a student of Panini.
  • Patanjali is a contemporary of Pushyamitra Shunga.
• Statement 2 is not correct. Amarasimha is associated with the Gupta age and Harshavardhana is a post-Gupta emperor.
• Statement 3 is correct. Kalidasa belonged to the court of Chandra Gupta-II (Vikramaditya).

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Highlight some of reasons behind a large number of medical students in India opting for medical education from nations such as Ukraine, Russia and China. What initiatives can be taken to fulfill their needs within the country? (250 words; 15 marks)[GS-2, Governance]
2. Examine the prominent provisions of the National Child Policy. How far has the government succeeded in implementing these provisions? (250 words; 15 marks)[GS-2, Social Justice]