18 Mar 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 18 Mar 2022:-Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Russia-Ukraine conflict: ICJ’s provisional measures on military operations
2. Indian firms buy more oil from Russia, energy ties may deepen
HEALTH
1. One more age group to get vaccines
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ECONOMY
1. Transmogrifying a behemoth — the Railways
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. In sanctions route, what the world must take note of
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. IAF to employ ‘direct tactical planning’ for S-400
2. Rajasthan plants to get coal under bridge linkage
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

2. Indian firms buy more oil from Russia, energy ties may deepen

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Mains: India’s approach in sourcing oil from Russia amidst stringent sanctions on Russia and its impact on India.

Context

Indian firms buy more oil from Russia which is offering oil at discounted prices in the face of economic sanctions by the Western countries.

Details

  • Despite the sanctions, many Western economies continue to import Russian energy.
  • India also looks to import crude oil from Russia which will help deepen energy cooperation between the two countries.
  • Reports confirm that the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) have bought two million barrels of Russian crude oil.
  • IOC and HPCL bought Russian Urals crude through Vitol (European energy trader).

India’s approach

  • The stringent sanctions by the Western world led by the U.S. have made many countries avoid Russian oil and gas.
    • This has provided an opportunity to global major oil importers like India to import Russian oil at a discount.
  • This move is said to ensure energy security in India as the oil and gas market is experiencing disruptions due to recent developments. 
  • The economic sanctions on Russia also demand financial adjustments by India.

Impact on India

  • The U.S. alleged that India is bypassing international sanctions and purchasing oil from Russia at a discounted rate, giving Russia “an economic lifeline”.
  • Companies that have deep ties with the U.S. would not purchase Russian crude oil.
  • Example: Reliance Industries Ltd, which operated the world’s biggest refining complex, may avoid purchasing Russian energy as it has exposure in the U.S. and the sanctions against Russia may hurt its business. 
  • This could potentially reduce India’s chances of negotiating a waiver of CAATSA sanctions by the U.S. on the import of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia.
Nut Graf

Category: HEALTH

1. One more age group to get vaccines

Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Mains: Details about India’s decision to vaccinate children and its associated concerns 

Context

The Government’s action to start COVID-19 vaccinations for children between 12 and 14 years with Corbevax.

Background

  • India has thus far vaccinated about 60% of its population with around 180 crore doses.
  • In January (2022), India started vaccinating children in the age group 15-17 and 9 crore vaccine doses have been administered.
  • The Health Ministry announced that those between 12 and 14 years will also be eligible for vaccination.

Corbevax

  • Corbevax is a protein-based vaccine manufactured by Biological E Ltd.
  • Spike protein production: The spike protein is grown in yeast cells.
  • Working: The subunit vaccine contains a harmless S protein. Once the immune system recognizes the protein, it produces antibodies to fight infection and is less likely to trigger adverse reactions.
  • Corbevax has been approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) based on the results of the ongoing phase II and III clinical trials. The vaccine has been approved for adults as well.
  • Details of its efficacy studies have not been made public.
  • The Centre has placed an order for over 50 million doses of vaccine at a price of ₹145/dose. 
  • Biological E Ltd claims that the vaccine can be stored in ordinary refrigerators.

Key concerns

  • The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), which reviews data on vaccine safety and recommends the administration of vaccines has not scrutinised the Corbevax.
  • Concerns were raised about the absence of efficacy data for Covaxin at the time of approval which arguably led to vaccine hesitancy in the beginning. The same is being followed in the case of Corbevax.
  • Questions are raised as to why only Corbevax is administered when both Covaxin and Corbevax are approved for immunisation of children.
  • The decision to use the new Corbevax vaccine first on children without widespread use in adults is also criticised.
  • India has performed inadequately in reporting and recording adverse events post-vaccination.

Know more about the Need and Concerns about vaccination of children in CNA dated Jan 9, 2022.

Nut Graf
The Government’s move to extend the immunisation programme to include children between 12 and 14 years is a welcome step towards universal vaccination, however, for it to become successful the government has to address various doubts and concerns surrounding it.

E. Editorials

Category: ECONOMY

1. Transmogrifying a behemoth — the Railways

Syllabus: Infrastructure, Railways

Mains: Concerns over the financial health and the future management architecture of the Indian Railways

Context:

  • The article while taking note of some recent improvements in the services of Railways cautions against the continued neglect of some crucial policy issues related to the Indian railways.

Developments in the railway sector:

  • Proposals for bullet trains.
  • Introduction of ‘Vande Bharat’ express trains.
    • Vande Bharat is a semi-high speed trainset, each of 16 coaches, and self-propelled — they do not require an engine. Budget 2022 laid out a grand plan of introducing 400 semi-high speed, next-generation Vande Bharat trains in the next three years.
  • Introduction of Vistadome coaches along selected routes.
  • Remodelling of railways stations along the ‘airport standard’.
  • Historically lower number of accidents.
  • Historic levels of capital investments in the railway sector.
    • The capex outlay for 2021-22 is Rs 2,15,000 crore which is more than five times the 2014 level. The next 10 years will see a very high level of capital expenditure in the railway sector.
  • Record levels of freight loading.
  • National Rail Plan
    • The National Rail Plan lays down the road map for capacity expansion of the railway network by 2030 to cater to growth up to 2050. It envisages the creation of a future-ready railway system that is able to not only meet the passenger demand but also increase the modal share of railways in freight to 40-45 per cent from the present level of 26-27 per cent.

Concerns:

  • The article argues that the points discussed above amount to mere feel-good image makeover of the railways and there continues to be neglect of crucial policy issues, especially those that concern the financial health and the future management architecture of the Indian Railways.

Precarious financial health:

  • While the recent budget reflects a ‘surplus’ of ₹875 crore for the railways, the article argues that this is mainly attributable to window dressing of the financial statistics to hide the actual financial status of the railways which continues to remain in deficit.
  • The planned projects like line doubling of existing routes, the introduction of new lines and 100% electrification require huge investments and have long gestation periods. Given the limited fiscal capacity of the government, these projects will need to be financed by heavy institutional/market borrowings at relatively high rates. Hence the repayment of loans and interest will continue to remain a pressure on the railways at least in the near future until the new infrastructure additions start generating revenues for the railways. Notably, some experts have also raised doubts over the financial viability of some of the planned infrastructural projects.
  • The Eighth Pay Commission, normally due by around 2025-26, is bound to strain finances further.

Confusion regarding management architecture:

  • There continues to be mixed signalling on changing the management architecture of the Indian Railways.
    • In 2019, the government decided to do away with the system of recruiting officers to the ‘Group A’ services in the Railways through the Combined Engineering Services Examination (for technical posts) and the Civil Services Examination (for non-technical positions). Instead, it proposed having recruitments to a single service called the Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS). This decision was based on the argument that the old system had led to departmentalism in railways which was hampering optimum decision making and the smooth working of the Railways.
    • In what is being viewed as a turn around the recruitment to the IRMS would be made through the Civil Services Examination. This is based on the questionable argument that since about 70% of the candidates who qualify in the CSE are engineers there is no need to hold separate exams for IRMS. This the article argues could impact the quality of human resources especially manning technical roles.
    • The kind of career progression possible in such a system will again lead to the generation of generalists as against the desire to have domain experts as envisaged by the changes made to the management architecture.
  • The privatisation moves of the Indian railways is also fraught with challenges. The Indian Railways is poised to migrate to the Public Private Partnership (PPP)/Joint Venture (JV) mode or outright privatisation in its major activities such as train running, asset maintenance, station management, project management and execution, production units and medical services. This will result in all relevant domain expertise resting in the private sector, only supported at certain levels by the IRMS cadre. This does not augur well for the building of a strong IRMS cadre with experience and expertise.
  • The lack of a clear policy for the management architecture of the railways will result in systemic challenges in its functioning going ahead.

Nut Graf
Given that railways are one of the principal modes of transportation for freight and passengers in India and given the potential of railways in augmenting economic growth while also giving rise to socio-economic development, addressing the critical policy issues of financial health and management architecture of the Indian Railways needs utmost attention.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. In sanctions route, what the world must take note of

Syllabus: Important International Institutions, agencies and fora – their Structure, Mandate.

Prelims: World Trade Organization; Most Favoured Nation status

Mains: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the established international order

Background:

  • The United States, Canada, and the European Union (EU) are using economic sanctions against Russia for its military action against Ukraine. Trade restriction has been one of the main avenues for economic sanctions against Russia.
  • Canada has suspended the most favoured nation (MFN) treatment to Russia. The EU and the U.S. are also contemplating similar moves.

Concerns:

  • While the Russian action against Ukraine amount to a violation of established international law, UN Charter spirit and fundamental principles of international peace and security, the article expresses concerns over the methods adopted by the other countries to curtail Russia’s aggression.

Limited applicability of Article XXI:

  • Notably, the World Trade Organization, the body which polices the international law on multilateral trade does allow its member countries to take actions (imposing trade sanctions, suspending MFN status) against any other member for breaching international law obligations on peace and security. This is regulated by Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
    • Article XXI empowers a member country to adopt measures “which it considers” necessary for the protection of its essential security interests (ESI) taken in time of “war” or other “emergency in international relations”.
  • While article XXI can be used by Canada to justify its deviating from the MFN rule it cannot be employed to judge whether Russia has breached international law on peace and security. Such interpretation has been previously upheld by a 2019 WTO panel in the ‘Russia – Measures Concerning Traffic in Transit’ case as well. In this case, the WTO panel had refused to characterise the Russian invasion of Crimea as a violation of international law in general.
  • So even if it is judicially established that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a breach of international law, that alone will not be sufficient to impose trade sanctions against Russia as per the WTO law unless countries make a clear case under Article XXI.

Adopting methods not based on international law:

  • The article criticizes the route adopted by the western powers to respond to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wherein they have adopted measures not rooted in international law.
  • The article argues that countering Russian aggression and illegality with measures not ingrained in international law amounts to reprisal. This could lead to wrong precedents wherein countries overlook established rule-based international order and start taking laws into their own hands. This will only further undermine the international order which is so very critical for international peace, security and development.
  • The article suggests that countries that want Russia to respect the rule-based order should follow it themselves first.

For more related information refer to the following article:

CNA dated Mar 15, 2022: Editorials

Nut Graf
While international action against Russia’s unilateral military action against Ukraine is needed, such actions should themselves be ingrained in established international law. If not they risk undermining the established international order so very important for international peace, security and development.

F. Prelims Facts

Nothing here for today!!!

G. Tidbits

1. IAF to employ ‘direct tactical planning’ for S-400

  • The S-400 Triumf long-range air defence system is being inducted by India. 
  • The Indian Air Force will counter it based on “direct tactical planning” as China too has the system and it remains a potent weapon for the country.
  • India began taking deliveries of the S-400 systems in December 2021, out of which five regiments were contracted from Russia under a $5.43 billion deal signed in October 2018.
  • Recent sanctions on Russia have raised concerns of a possible impact on deliveries from Russia. 
  • The Defence Ministry is said to be assessing the impacts of the sanctions on the shipping and cargo movement which could delay deliveries of large systems.

Read more about S-400 Missile System.

2. Rajasthan plants to get coal under bridge linkage

  • The thermal power stations in Rajasthan which are facing a shortage of coal will get the coal under a bridge linkage plan.
  • The delay in Parsa coal block allocation in Chhattisgarh for the State has impacted the availability of thermal power plants.
  • According to the Coal Ministry, the bridge linkage acts as a short-term arrangement to bridge the gap in the requirement of coal for a specific end-use plant of the Central and State public sector undertakings and the start of production from the linked allotted coal mine or block.
  • The bridge linkage may be granted for a fixed period of three years from the date of allotment of coal mines.
  • The shorter duration of bridge linkage will help expedite production from coal mines and blocks. While there is no minimum assured quantity, the coal is supplied on the “best effort basis” after meeting the existing contractual obligations of coal companies.
  • This move will ensure the supply of 24.4 million tonnes of coal annually to Rajasthan.
  • Meanwhile, the Parsa coal blocks are situated in a tribal-dominated region, cover forest areas and will require clearance from the Union Environment Ministry.
  • The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister has highlighted the concerns of the local population regarding the allocation of the coal block.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. With respect to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which of the following 
statements is/are correct?
  1. It is the second-largest organization after the United Nations.
  2. Iran was suspended from OIC after the Yemen crisis.
  3. The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.

Options:

  1. 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, it is the second-largest intergovernmental body next to the United Nations.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, Iran has not been suspended from OIC.
  • Statement 3 is correct, the OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to P-Waves and S-Waves:
  1. P-Waves create troughs and crests in the material through which they pass, S-waves create density differences in the material leading to stretching and squeezing of the material.
  2. P-Waves can travel through solid, liquid, and gas, S-Waves can only travel through solids and liquids.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct.
    • P-waves create density differences in the material leading to stretching (rarefaction) and squeezing (compression) of the material.
    • S-waves travel perpendicular to wave direction in a vertical plane, hence they create troughs and crests in the material through which they pass.
  • Statement 2 is not correct. 
    • P waves are the fastest seismic waves and can move through solid, liquid, or gas.
    • S waves are slower and can travel only through solids.
Q3. Which of the following has/have been accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag?
  1. Darjeeling Tea
  2. Basmati Rice
  3. Nagpur Oranges
  4. Naga Mircha
  5. Jalgaon Banana

Options:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
  3. 1, 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • All of the above have been accorded Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
  • Hence option d is correct.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Sawfish:
  1. Sawfish are elasmobranchs.
  2. Largetooth Sawfish is listed as Critically Endangered on IUCN.
  3. Sawfishes are a protected species in India under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, Sawfish belong to a group of fishes called elasmobranchs that include sharks and rays.
    • Elasmobranchs refer to members of the subclass Elasmobranchii.
    • The term elasmobranch is derived from the Greek term elasmos, meaning ‘metal plate’, and branchia, meaning  ‘gills’.
    • Elasmobranchs have cartilaginous skeletons and gill openings.
  • Statement 2 is correct, Largetooth Sawfish is listed as Critically Endangered on IUCN.
  • Statement 3 is correct, Sawfishes are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 in India.
Q5. Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2021)
  1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree.
  2. Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia.
  3. In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
  4. India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
  5. Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1, 2, 4 and 5
  2. 3, 4 and 5
  3. 1, 3 and 4
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 5
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, Moringa is a leguminous, small deciduous tree (family Moringaceae) native to tropical Asia but also naturalized in Africa and tropical America.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, Tamarind is popular in the Indian subcontinent and in Central America and Mexico and is a common ingredient in the cuisine of those regions. It is indigenous to Africa.
  • Statement 3 is correct, Tamarind is collected mainly as a minor forest produce in India.
  • Statement 4 is correct, India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
  • Statement 5 is correct, Fruits, leaves and flowers of moringa are used in the food industry, its seeds are being used to produce biofuels.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Discuss the issues that hinder the growth of Indian railways and suggest policy initiatives to revitalize the Indian Railways.(10 Marks, 150 Words)(GS3 – Economy)
  2. Can the International Court of Justice mandate a ruling in the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia? Examine. (15 Marks, 250 Words)(GS2 – International Relations)

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 18 Mar 2022:-Download PDF Here

IAS General Studies Notes Links
Udid Card Convectional Rainfall
Fundamental Rights Of India Lal Bal Pal
Schedules Of Constitution Quit India Day
Bharat Ratna List Mahabalipuram Temple
Types Of Forest In India Mural Art

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