11 Mar 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Doval calls for maritime cooperation
2. Can Donbas republics work as a buffer zone?
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Kudankulam panchayat adopts resolution against AFR
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
F. Prelims Facts
1. Rajasthan survey to assess damage to crops by hailstorms
2. India, Japan Army exercise concludes
G. Tidbits
1. Sugar exports accelerate on global price rally, weak rupee
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. Doval calls for maritime cooperation

Syllabus: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Prelims: Colombo Security Conclave

Mains: Significance of the Colombo Security Conclave for India and the region

Context:

• Fifth National Security Advisor-level talks of the Colombo Security Conclave held in the Maldives.

Colombo Security Conclave:

• The Colombo Security Conclave is a regional security grouping.
• It was initially formed in 2011 as a trilateral Indian Ocean maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It was revived again in 2021.
• The Colombo Security Conclave has since expanded both its membership as well as scope.
  • Colombo Security Conclave envisages sharing intelligence and collaborating on the security aspects of marine security, human trafficking, counter-terrorism, and cyber security.
  • The fifth edition saw the induction of Mauritius as a new member and the scope of the conclave has been expanded to include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

Details:

• At the fifth conclave, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Mauritius discussed ways to combat maritime challenges. Apart from the maritime security aspects, the NSAs also discussed countering narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime and cyber security and emerging technologies.
• The participating countries agreed on a roadmap to bolster cooperation. They identified key areas of cooperation to enhance and strengthen regional security based on five pillars.

• The roadmap will facilitate robust mechanisms for coordinated response capacity building and strengthening information flow between member states.
• Notably, delegations from Bangladesh and Seychelles participated as observers in the meeting raising the prospects of adding more member countries in future meetings.

Indian NSA’s address:

• The Indian NSA highlighted India’s contribution as the first responder in the region in crisis situations and noted the cooperation and collaboration among the member countries in tackling narcotics trafficking, organised crimes and mitigating threats posed by maritime accidents.
• Noting the fact that India’s national security is deeply intertwined with the collective security aspirations of the region, the Indian Security Adviser reiterated India’s commitment to working in close cooperation with its maritime neighbours in the form of building capacity through training, supply of equipment, upgrading coastal security installations, and exchange of information.
• The Indian NSA called for the institutionalisation of the Colombo Security Conclave through follow up meetings of the heads of the Coast Guards of the four member countries and the formation of joint working groups to tackle drug trafficking and transnational organised crimes.

India’s interests:

• Given India’s location in the Indian Ocean, maritime security remains a major security aspect for India. Closer cooperation among regional partners will aid India’s efforts to ensure security and stability in the region.
• The Colombo Security Conclave being a mainly India driven “minilateral”, it is being seen as India’s outreach to the Indian Ocean to underline regional cooperation and shared security objectives. In this way, India through CSC hopes to restrict China’s influence in an area of strategic importance, and to reduce the Chinese footprint in the member countries, including the new and proposed additions.

2. Can Donbas republics work as a buffer zone?

Syllabus: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora

Prelims: Abkhazia, Transnistria, South Ossetia, Donestk and Luhansk region.

Mains: Solutions to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Context:

• Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the questions over the status of the Donbas Republics of Donestk and Luhansk, some sections have suggested the ‘de facto states’ model followed for Abkhazia, Transnistria and South Ossetia as a possible way out for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Para states:

• Abkhazia, Transnistria and South Ossetia follow a de facto state model. These territories have internal but not external sovereignty, i.e., they are not de jure states and are not recognised by the global community.
  • South Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia. Transnistria broke away from Moldova.
  • Abkhazia and South Ossetia are recognised by Russia and some of its allies. Transnistria, however, is not recognised as independent even by Russia.
• Though all three territories have Russia as their patron state, the three para states have their own governments, parliaments, armed forces, constitutions, flags, anthems, etc.

For more related information refer to the following article:

Difference between De Facto and De Jure

Solution to the ongoing conflict:

• One of the solutions to settle the crisis over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is for the Donbas republics to follow the model of the de facto states.
• This would ensure that the Donbas republics of Donestk and Luhansk would get recognition from Russia, get a security guarantor and exist as de facto states. Russia would benefit from having friendly territories on its borders, which has been the major security demand of Russia.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Nothing here for today!!!

F. Prelims Facts

1. Rajasthan survey to assess damage to crops by hailstorms

Syllabus: Important Geophysical Phenomena

Prelims: Western disturbances

Western disturbance:

• Western disturbance is the extratropical storm originating in the Mediterranean region that brings winter rain to the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is associated with rainfall, snowfall and fog in northern India.
  • It travels from the “western” to the eastern direction and hence the name western.
  • “Extra-tropical” means outside the tropics. As the Western Disturbance originates outside the tropical region, the word “extra-tropical” has been associated with it.

Context:

• The standing rabi crops of wheat, fennel, barley, mustard and cumin, were affected by untimely rains and hailstorms caused by a western disturbance in Ajmer, Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur divisions of Rajasthan.

G. Tidbits

1. Sugar exports accelerate on global price rally, weak rupee

• In a significant development for the sugar industry in India, Indian sugar mills have signed contracts to export 5,50,000 tonnes of sugar.
• The rising global prices for sugar and the weak rupee has made overseas sales lucrative for Indian sugar mills.
  • The global price rise for sugar is attributed to the spike in crude oil prices and lower output from Brazil.
• The exports will help India reduce its stockpile and also help get better prices than local sales. This will help support the local prices of sugar, crucial in ensuring millions of cane farmers get government-mandated prices.
• India is the world’s second-biggest sugar producer.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. With respect to India's military exercises, which of the following is/are matched 
correctly? 

           Military Exercise                                                 Country

1. Ajeya Warrior                                                                    USA
2. Dharma Guardian                                                           Japan
3. Indra                                                                              Indonesia
4. Yudh Abhyas                                                                      UK

Options:

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Ajeya Warrior: UK
• Indra: Russia
• Yudh Abhyas: US

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to National Youth Parliament Festival:

1. It is organized by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
2. The objective of the National Youth Parliament Festival is to hear the voice of youth between 18 and less than 25 years of age.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• The National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) has been organised jointly by the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to Kudankulam Nuclear Power 
Project (KKNPP)?

1. It is a Civilian Nuclear Power Plant, built by India in joint collaboration with Russia.
2. It is the largest nuclear power station in India.
3. India is the world’s third-largest producer of nuclear power.

Options:

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

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

• United States, China, France and Russia rank among the largest producers of nuclear energy in the world. As per available data, India does not come even in the top ten nuclear energy producers currently.

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Cabinet committees:

1. Cabinet Committees find a mention in the Constitution.
2. All committees except Cabinet Committee on Accommodation and Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs are headed by Prime Minister.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• The cabinet committees are an extra-constitutional body, which means they are not mentioned in the Constitution.
• The Prime Minister sets up different cabinet committees with selected members of the Cabinet and assigns specific functions to these committees.
• All committees except Cabinet Committee on Accommodation and Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs are headed by Prime Minister.

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? (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:

• At the national level, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is the nodal agency to ensure implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Is the de facto states model followed for Abkhazia, Transnistria and South Ossetia a possible way out for the Russia-Ukraine conflict? Critically Examine. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2, International Relations]
2. Discuss the risks associated with Space Debris and suggest measures to reduce the threats posed by them. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-3, Science and Technology]