CNA 16 March 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY 1. On reservation for women in politics C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. AUKUS Pact 2. China’s Path To Modernisation ENVIRONMENT 1. Brahmapuram Waste Crisis F. Prelims Facts 1. Eurasian Otter 2. Chameli Devi award G. Tidbits 1. Resolution introduced in U.S. Senate on McMahon Line 2. Governor cannot precipitate the fall of an elected govt.: SC 3. Foreign lawyers, firms can operate in India, says BCI H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. On reservation for women in politics
Syllabus: Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
Prelims: Women’s Reservation Bill
Mains: The need for reservation for women in politics, its significance, and criticism
Context
Several political parties in India participated in a protest seeking the passage of the long-pending Women’s Reservation Bill.
History of political reservation for women in India
- The matter of extending reservation for women in politics can be traced back to the Indian national movement with leaders such as Begum Shah Nawaz and Sarojini Naidu having raised their voices for the reservation for women in India.
- Later, the matter of women’s reservation was also seen in the debates of the Constituent Assembly. However, the reservation was rejected as being unnecessary as it was then assumed that democracy itself would facilitate the representation of all the groups.
- In the following years, the large-scale underrepresentation of women in politics made it evident that the issue of women’s reservation would resurface in the political debates.
- The Committee of the Status of Women in India which was established in 1971, had raised the issue of the declining political representation of women in India.
- In the subsequent days, various state governments started extending reservations for women in local bodies.
- In 1988, the National Perspective Plan for Women recommended that women must be provided reservation right from the level of the panchayat to that of Parliament.
- These recommendations facilitated the passage of the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution.
- The 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution (1992) mandated the State governments to reserve one-third of the seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and one-third of the offices of the chairperson at all levels of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, and in urban local bodies.
- Further, within these reserved seats, one-third is to be reserved for SC/ST women.
- In recent times, various States such as Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam among others have introduced provisions of 50% reservation for women in local bodies.
Women’s Reservation Bill
- The key objective of the Women’s Reservation Bill is to reserve 33% of seats for women in the lower house of the Parliament as well in State Legislative Assemblies.
- Such a Bill was introduced for the first time in the Lok Sabha as the 81st Amendment Bill in September 1996 by the United Front (UF) government.
- The Bill, however, did not get the approval of the House and was referred to a joint parliamentary committee and the Bill lapsed as the Lok Sabha was dissolved.
- Again in 1998, the Bill was reintroduced by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the 12th Lok Sabha but the Bill failed to get support and lapsed again.
- The Bill was reintroduced in 1999, 2002 and 2003 and despite having support within the major political parties, the Bill failed to receive majority votes.
- In 2008, the Bill was introduced by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the Rajya Sabha and it was passed with 186-1 votes in March 2010.
- However, the Bill was never taken up for consideration in the Lok Sabha and it lapsed with the dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
Arguments in favour of the Bill
- The supporters of the reservation for women believe that such affirmative actions are required to improve the condition of women since political parties are inherently patriarchal.
- As per the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s report, India ranks 144 out of 193 countries in the representation of women in Parliament.
- At present, only about 14% of the members in the Lower House of the Indian Parliament are women which is less than that of counties such as Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
- The proponents of the Bill argue that despite the various efforts, women are still under-represented in Parliament and reservations would ensure proper representation of women in policymaking which would help throw light on various issues that are often ignored.
- Example: Extending reservation to women in local bodies has helped to bust various social myths, regulate the liquor industry, increase investments in public goods, offer help to vulnerable sections of society, reduce corruption, etc.
- Furthermore, providing reservations to women would help issues such as the high percentage of crimes against women in India, low participation of women in the workforce, low nutrition levels and skewed sex ratio.
- According to the supporters of the Bill, such a Bill would not only ensure increased participation of women in decision-making but also bring about a change in the powerful and entrenched interests in the Indian political landscape.
Key arguments against the Bill
- Critics of the Bill opine that the idea of extending reservation to women violates the principles of equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
- Critics also believe that providing reservations would mean that women would not be competing based on merit which can lower their status in society.
- Also, extending reservations to women would limit the choices for voters.
- Experts have instead suggested alternate methods such as providing reservations for women within political parties or introducing the concept of dual member constituencies wherein such constituencies would have two MPs and one of them being a woman.
- Further, opponents of the Bill argue that women, unlike a caste group, are not a homogenous community and hence the arguments made in favour of the caste-based reservation cannot be made for women and women’s interests cannot be isolated from other social, economic and political strata.
- A few critics have also argued that extending reservations to women could destroy the “ideal family” as men continue to hold primary power and key positions in politics.
Nut graf: Although the representation of women in Indian polity has increased in recent years, it is still far lower than in many countries across the world. While simply extending reservation for women might not solve all issues affecting them, it will be a step in the right direction as a higher share of women in politics reportedly has resulted in better social outcomes.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. AUKUS Pact
Syllabus: Bilateral, Regional & Global Groupings & Agreements Affecting India’s Interests
Mains: Significance of ongoing negotiations amongst the AUKUS members to Indo-pacific countries.
Context: Australia to get nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS enhanced security partnership.
Introduction:
- The AUKUS deal is expected to be rolled out in three phases in the Indo-Pacific region.
- In the first phase, the U.S. and the U.K. navies will embed Australian personnel, and increase port visits to Australia to train together.
- In the second phase, U.S. and U.K. nuclear submarines will travel rotationally to Australia, and the U.S. will sell Australia up to five nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines.
- AUKUS unveiled plans to provide Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines in the early 2030s to counter China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific.
- The deal, the biggest for Australia, using British design and U.S. technology, is expected to cost $368 billion.
- A new submarine called the SSN-AUKUS will be built and used by all three navies, with interoperable workings.
How will nuclear submarines help Australia?
- Firstly, the agreement represents a significant shift in Australia’s strategic posture, as it seeks to enhance its military capabilities to better deter potential adversaries in the region.
- The acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines will provide Australia with a powerful tool to project its military power and strengthen its strategic position vis-à-vis China.
- Nuclear-powered submarines can reach far out into the ocean and launch attacks on the enemy, an important capability for blue water navies.
- Virginia class submarines and SSN-AUKUS will give the Royal Australian Navy the capability to go into the South China Sea to protect its assets and conduct patrols, a capability which it currently does not possess.
China Factor:
- This move to provide Australia with the technology and expertise to develop nuclear-powered submarines is seen as a significant shift in the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The agreement has raised concerns in China, which sees it as a provocative move that could escalate tensions in the region. China has accused the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia of forming a “new Cold War clique” aimed at containing China’s rise.
- China has also criticised the agreement for its potential impact on the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
- This might lead to a further deterioration in the already strained relationship between China and the United States. It has also raised concerns among other countries in the region, including Japan and South Korea, who fear that the agreement could destabilize the region and trigger an arms race.
Read more on AUKUS
Nut Graf: Nuclear-powered submarines to Australia are expected to bring a significant shift in the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. It will help Australia enhance its military capabilities and strengthen its strategic position against China. The move has the potential to deepen the security cooperation between the US, the UK, and Australia.
2. China’s Path To Modernisation
Syllabus: Effect of Policies & Politics of Developed & Developing Countries on India’s Interests
Mains: Significance of India-China Cooperation to realise the Asian Century.
Context: This article discusses China’s recent measures towards rejuvenation and modernisation.
Introduction:
- China is focusing on modernisation based on its practices with a focus on high-quality development. It means the modernisation of a huge population, where there is common prosperity for all, material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development.
- This is expected to create new opportunities for all countries in the world, especially neighbouring countries.
- As two neighbouring and ancient civilisations, with a combined population of 2.8 billion, China and India are representing developing countries and emerging economies.
- China and India have far more common interests than differences both in the process of national rejuvenation and a crucial period of modernisation.
China’s focus areas:
- Steady Growth: In 2022, China’s economy grew by 3% with a total of 12.06 million urban jobs added. China’s GDP increased to 121 trillion yuan (approximately $18 trillion), registering an annual growth rate of 5.2% over the past five years and an annual growth of 6.2% over the past decade with GDP increasing by nearly 70 trillion yuan.
- People’s well-being: China has alleviated close to 100 million rural residents from poverty. Over 70% of the government’s expenditure went toward ensuring people’s well-being. Basic old-age insurance covers 1.05 billion people, an increase of 140 million.
- Opening up: In 2022, China’s total volume of trade in goods exceeded 40 trillion yuan, registering an annual growth rate of 8.6%. China’s actual use of foreign capital was up by 8% and the country remained one of the top destinations for foreign investors. The overall tariff level continues to fall, from 9.8% to 7.4%.
- Win-win cooperation: In the period 2013-2021, China’s contribution to global economic growth averaged 38.6%, higher than that of G7 countries combined (25.7%). More than 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI) since 2021.
India-China Nexus:
- The relationship between India and China has been marked by a complex mix of cooperation, competition, and conflict.
- Over the years, the two countries have had a number of shared interests, including economic development, regional stability, and global governance despite several areas of disagreement and tension including longstanding border disputes, trade imbalances, and geopolitical rivalries.
- China and India are important trading partners, with bilateral trade volume reaching $135.984 billion in 2022.
- Despite a huge trade deficit, India’s import of equipment and materials from China reduces the overall cost of “Made-in-India” products.
- It tends to benefit Indian downstream industries and consumers and enhances the competitiveness of Indian exports.
- Investments by Chinese enterprises have created a large number of jobs for the Indian people and contributed to India’s economic development.
- Additionally, both countries have been involved in regional and global forums, such as the BRICS grouping and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where they have cooperated on issues such as climate change and terrorism.
- Cooperation between India and China is crucial to realise the Asian Century, a period in which Asia is expected to become the world’s dominant economic and political region. As two of the fastest-growing economies in the world, they have the potential to play a significant role in shaping the future of the region and beyond.
- Both countries could strengthen communication and coordination and be partners on the path to modernisation in the common interests of developing countries, and make contributions to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Read more on India-China Relations
Nut Graf: China’s focus on modernization aims for common prosperity and peaceful development. China has made steady economic growth and has improved people’s well-being. Despite some disagreements, India and China have shared interests in economic development and global governance and have the potential to strengthen peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Syllabus: Legislations and Policies to address Environmental Pollution & Degradation
Mains: Policy measures to address landfill fires
Context: The Brahmapuram plant landfill in Kochi caught fire on March 02, 2023.
Key Details:
- Brahmapuram waste plant is spread over 110 acres of land near the major IT parks of Kochi city.
- Currently, apart from the Kochi Corporation, other municipalities and panchayats also dump their waste at the Brahmapuram waste plant.
- 390 tonnes of waste is dumped at the Brahmapuram waste plant every day.
- 64 percent of this is biodegradable while the rest is plastic and other non-biodegradable material.
- Despite several interventions by the National Green Tribunal and the State Pollution Control Board, the Kochi Corporation couldn’t improve the functioning of the Brahmapuram Waste Management Plant.
- In light of the recent fire, the Pollution Control Board imposed a fine of Rs 14.92 crore on the Kochi Corporation for non-compliance with waste disposal regulations. However, the Corporation has sought a stay from the high court.
Read more on Landfill Fires in CNA dated Mar 15, 2023.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS-3; Environment; Biodiversity
Prelims: About Eurasian Otter
Context
The first photographic record of the Eurasian Otter was caught on the infrared camera along the Neeru stream in Jammu and Kashmir.
Eurasian Otter
Image Source: IUCN Red List
- Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra) is an elusive semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal species.
- The Eurasian Otter has one of the widest distributions as its range covers three continents (Europe, Asia and Africa).
- In India, Eurasian otters are found across the northern, northeast and southern parts of India.
- The Eurasian Otters have short limbs, brown fur, and sensitive whiskers near the snout that help detect prey.
- They also have webbed feet and claws and the ability to close the small ears and the nose when underwater which has helped them adapt to an aquatic lifestyle.
- Eurasian Otters are usually nocturnal in nature and can be found near freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, and swamp forests.
- The diet of Eurasian Otters includes fish, crustaceans, amphibians, birds, eggs, insects and worms.
- Eurasian Otter is regarded as a flagship species and an indicator of high-quality aquatic habitats.
- Conservation status:
- IUCN RedList: Near threatened
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II
- CITES: Appendix I
About Neeru stream
- Neeru river is located in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Neeru stream is a tributary of the Chenab river.
- Neeru is a 30-km perennial stream that originates in the Kailash Lake at 3,900 metres above mean sea level and drains into the Chenab at Pul-Doda in the Doda district.
- The presence of Eurasian Otters is encouraging for the health of the Neeru stream.
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Prelims: About the Chameli Devi award
Context
Dhanya Rajendran, who is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The News Minute portal, has been declared the winner of the Chameli Devi Jain Award for 2022.
About the Chameli Devi Award
- The Chameli Devi Award is awarded annually to recognise the outstanding work of women in the field of journalism.
- The Award is named after Chameli Devi Jain who was an Indian independence activist during India’s struggle for independence.
- The Award is presented by the Media Foundation and was instituted in 1980.
- The Media Foundation was founded in 1979 by B.G. Verghese and the family of Chameli Devi.
- Eligibility: Journalists in print, digital and broadcast along with photographers, cartoonists and newspaper designers.
- The criteria for selection include social concern, dedication, courage, and compassion.
G. Tidbits
1. Resolution introduced in U.S. Senate on McMahon Line
- A resolution has been introduced in the US Senate which aims to recognise the McMahon Line as the international boundary between China and India (Arunachal Pradesh).
- The bipartisan Senate resolution looks at Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India.
- Senator Bill Hagerty while introducing the resolution has said that it is important for the US to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with India and other strategic partners in the region at a time when Chinese actions are threatening the Free and Open Indo-Pacific.
Read more – McMahon Line
2. Governor cannot precipitate the fall of an elected govt.: SC
- The Supreme Court has held that Governors could undermine democracy if they use their constitutional office to call for a trust vote, citing dissension within a ruling party, and precipitate the fall of a legitimately established government.
- The Chief Justice of India (CJI) who led a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has said that calling for a trust vote could lead to the toppling of a functioning government and Governors must refrain from using their offices for effectuating a particular result and precipitate the fall of a government.
- The CJI further added that the Governor using his/her powers to precipitate the fall of an elected government is a very serious issue for Indian democracy.
- The Bench was referring to the then Maharashtra Governor whose call for a trust vote in the Assembly, eventually led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in 2022.
3. Foreign lawyers, firms can operate in India, says BCI
- The Bar Council of India (BCI), which is a statutory body governing legal practice in India, has now opened up law practice in India to foreign lawyers and law firms.
- The BCI has formulated the “Bar Council of India Rules for Registration of Foreign Lawyers and Foreign Law Firms in India, 2021” which facilitate foreign lawyers and law firms to practise foreign law, diverse international law and international arbitration matters in India in a well-defined, regulated and controlled manner based on the principle of reciprocity.
- According to BCI the move would mutually benefit lawyers from India and abroad and the legal fraternity in India would not experience any disadvantage.
- Further, the latest move is expected to address the concerns over the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country and would help make India a hub for international commercial arbitration.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. How many of the pairs are correctly matched? (Level – Moderate)
- UMANG App: App to provide lightening forecasts
- Mausam App: App to provide weather forecasts
- Damini App: App to provide Agromet advisory
Options:
- None
- 1 pair only
- 2 pairs only
- All 3 pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, UMANG Apps provides a single platform for all Indian Citizens to access pan India e-Gov services ranging from Central to Local Government bodies.
- Statement 2 is correct, IMD developed mobile App “MAUSAM” for weather forecasting.
- Statement 3 is not correct, IMD had developed mobile App ‘Damini’ for lightning alerts.
- Meghdoot App is used for Agromet advisory dissemination.
Q2. Identify the correct statements: (Level – Easy)
- Milk is included while calculating the core inflation.
- Operation Flood led to India becoming the world’s biggest exporter of milk.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, Core inflation is the change in prices of goods and services, except for those from the food and energy sectors.
- Milk is not included while calculating the core inflation.
- Statement 2 is not correct, Operation Flood led India from being 50th in the world in terms of milk production to becoming the largest producer in just a couple of decades.
- However, India is not the largest exporter of milk due to domestic demands.
Q3. The “Security Bond” military exercise is conducted between: (Level – Moderate)
- India
- Russia
- China
- Iran
- Turkey
Options:
- 1 and 4
- 2, 3 and 4
- 2, 3, and 5
- 1, 2 and 4
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- The “Security Bond” is a military exercise conducted between China, Russia, and Iran.
- Security Bond-2023 is a five-day naval drill conducted in the Gulf of Oman.
Q4. If the UCO bank of India holds an account for a Russian Bank Gazprom, then which of the following statements are true regarding this? (Level – Difficult)
- The account is a Vostro account of SBI.
- The account is a Nostro account for Gazprom.
- The currency which will be maintained in this account will be Rubles.
Options:
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
- 1 and 3
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Public sector lender UCO Bank has received the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) approval to open a special vostro account with Gazprombank of Russia.
- Thus the account is a Vostro account of SBI. Hence Statement 1 is true.
- The account is a Nostro account for Gazprom. Hence Statement 2 is true.
- Statement 3 is not true, The UCO Bank has received the RBI’s approval to open a special vostro account (SVA) with Gazprombank of Russia for trade settlement in Indian rupees therefore, the currency which will be maintained in the account will be Rupees.
Q5. With reference to India’s Five-Year Plans, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level – Moderate) PYQ 2019
- From the Second Five-Year Plan, there was a determined thrust towards the substitution of basic and capital goods industries.
- The Fourth Five-Year Plan adopted the objective of correcting the earlier trend of increased concentration of wealth and economic power.
- In the Fifth Five-Year Plan, for the first time, the financial sector was included as an integral part of the Plan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 only
- 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, The basic objective of the Second Five-Year Plan was to adopt the Nehru-Mahalanobis model. Under this model, top priority was given to investment goods, as they were crucial for the further economic growth of India. Further, there was a determined thrust towards the substitution of basic and capital goods industries.
- Statement 2 is correct, The Fourth Five-Year Plan adopted the objective of correcting the earlier trend of increased concentration of wealth and economic power.
- Statement 3 is not correct, In the Fifth Five-Year Plan, the Indian national highway system was introduced for the first time.
- The financial sector was included as an integral part of Plan from the Fourth Five-Year Plan where 14 banks were Nationalised
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Discuss the utility of AUKUS as a grouping in the face of changing global geopolitics. (15 marks; 250 words) (GS-2; International Relations)
- ‘The issue of women’s reservation needs a larger public consensus’. Elaborate upon the statement by tracing the journey of the reservation bill for women. (15 marks; 250 words) (GS-2; Polity)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 16 March 2023:- Download PDF Here
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