21 Mar 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. ‘Japan still hopes India will join RCEP’
2. Don’t go down the NATO path: China Minister
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. The complexities of introducing African cheetahs to India
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ECONOMY
1. Get these wrinkles out of the South Asian textile story
POLITY
1. Two freedoms and the hijab in our midst
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Harm in the name of good
F. Prelims Facts
1. African technique used to translocate deer from Keoladeo
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

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B. GS 2 Related

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. ‘Japan still hopes India will join RCEP’

Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting  India’s interests.

Prelims: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Mains: pros and cons of India joining Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

Context: Japan has still not given up hope that India might reconsider joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) from which it opted out in 2019.

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

• The 15-nation RCEP is the world’s largest trade deal.
• It includes China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand and 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
• It represents about 30% of the global GDP and population.
• Know more about Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). 

Why did India refuse to sign the RCEP deal?

• To defend its domestic economy, India has raised the subject of market access as well as a protected list of goods and services.
• Because China is a significant economy in the RCEP, inexpensive imports may flow into India if tariffs on goods are removed, as we have a large trade deficit with China.
• The fact that India opened 74 percent of its market to ASEAN while wealthy countries like Indonesia only opened 50 percent of their economy to India makes India wary of such agreements.

India Joining RCEP:

• Arguments in Favour:
  • The RCEP will boost India’s economy by improving its supply chain, particularly with ASEAN countries.
  • India’s bilateral trade partnership with RCEP members can also benefit from RCEP membership.
  • It will expand access to overseas markets, allowing member countries to benefit from economies of scale, making home enterprises more competitive.
  • Lower tariffs result in a greater volume of trade between countries, resulting in profits for all members.
  • As member countries are increasingly likely to build distinct aspects of value chains among themselves, India’s strategy of luring international supply chains to India will improve.
• Arguments Against:
  • Import surge in India: There are fears of a surge in imports from China against which it has inadequate protection. India also fears for the agricultural sector, which would not be able to compete against competitive imports from Australia and New Zealand.
  • Issue with Rules of Origin: The other unresolved issue included rules of origin; the fear was that some countries might route their products through RCEP members at low duties. 
  • Most-favored-nation (MFN) Obligation: India also wanted RCEP to remove the most-favoured-nation (MFN) obligation, as it did not want to give this benefit to nations with which it has border disputes. 
  • Market Access Issues: There was no assurance to India on non-tariff barriers and market access issues and it was felt that sectors like steel, leather goods, electronics, and textiles will be affected by cheaper imports.

C. GS 3 Related

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. The complexities of introducing African cheetahs to India

Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Prelims: African Cheetah

Mains: Causes of the extinction of cheetahs in India and conservation efforts

Context: The cheetah is all set to return with the Union Government launching an action plan. 

Distribution of cheetahs in India:

• Asiatic cheetahs used to be found from Punjab in the north to the Tirunelveli area in southern Tamil Nadu in the south, and from Gujarat and Rajasthan in the west to Bengal in the east.
• The majority of the data came from a band that stretches from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
• A cluster of reports had also emerged from southern Maharashtra, which has spread to portions of Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Habitats of Cheetah: 

• The cheetah preferred more open environments such as scrub woods, dry grasslands, savannas, and other arid and semi-arid open habitats.
• Some of the last records of cheetahs in India, previous to its extinction in the country, come from the edge habitats of sal forests in east-central India, which are not necessarily their preferred habitat.
• Currently, cheetahs are found in extremely low densities across broad swaths of land spanning thousands of square kilometres in Iran.
• Know more about the Reintroduction of the Cheetah in India.

Causes of the extinction of cheetahs in India:

• For generations, it has been taken from the wild, which has resulted in a significant reduction in its population.
• Its extinction was timed to coincide with the British colonial authority. In 1871, the British added to the species’ miseries by establishing a bounty for its extinction.
• The Asiatic cheetah’s extinction in India is due to the 
  • consistent and widespread capture of cheetahs from the wild over centuries, 
  • its reduced levels of genetic heterogeneity due to a historical genetic bottleneck resulting in low fecundity and high infant mortality in the wild, 
  • its inability to breed in captivity,’ sport’ hunting, and finally bounty killings.

Conservation objectives of introducing African cheetahs in India: 

• To establish viable cheetah metapopulation in India that allows the cheetah to perform its functional role as a top predator.
• To make room for the cheetah’s expansion within its historical range, thereby helping worldwide conservation efforts.
• To raise funds for the restoration of open woodland and savanna ecosystems, which will improve biodiversity and ecosystem services.
• To enhance India’s ability to absorb carbon through ecosystem restoration initiatives in cheetah conservation zones, contributing to global climate change mitigation targets.

Concerns with Cheetahs Relocation Project: 

• When the area they’ve picked already has a resident population of leopards and transient tigers, African cheetahs aren’t necessary to play the position of top predator.
• The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision to suspend efforts to bring African cheetahs into India, specifically at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
• Even the government’s official estimate predicts only a few dozen cheetahs at most at a few places, necessitating ongoing and intense control.
• The stated goal of executing its ecological role at any considerable scale to have a genuine on-ground impact cannot be met with such a small number of cats at very few sites.
• There are clearly far more cost-effective, efficient, faster, and inclusive ways to maintain India’s grasslands and other open habitats.
• Experts argue that the importation of African cheetahs, at a cost of $40 million, is unnecessary, given the risk of infections that haven’t been adequately addressed.

Current status of the Relocation project

• Namibia is seeking India’s help in easing the CITES ban on the commercial trafficking of wildlife items, such as ivory. According to reports, a provision in Namibia’s draught memorandum of understanding requires India to assist Namibia’s “sustainable use of wildlife.”
• Negotiations to finalize the MoU are presently underway, and it is scheduled to be finalized by the end of March 2022.
• The cheetahs will be provided by the Cheetah Conservation Fund, a non-governmental organization, rather than the Namibian government.
• The first set of cats is scheduled to include three to five cheetahs, who could come as early as May 2022.

Recommendations:

• The government must first declassify grasslands as wastelands in order to prevent further degradation, fragmentation, and annihilation. 
• Investing directly in science-based restoration and inclusive ecosystem protection will produce far more rapid and long-term outcomes than introducing African cheetahs.

Conclusion: 

Given the numerous obstacles, particularly the lack of large territories spanning hundreds, if not thousands, of square kilometres with a sufficient density of acceptable prey, African cheetahs are unlikely to establish themselves in India as a fully wild and self-sustaining population. The diversion of scarce conservation resources, distraction from true conservation goals, and a further delay in the translocation of lions to Kuno are all possible unintended consequences of this endeavour.

D. GS 4 Related

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E. Editorials

Category: ECONOMY

1. Get these wrinkles out of the South Asian textile story

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

Mains: The trends in the textile and clothing market, the impact of various factors and the way forward.

Context

South Asia has become a global hub for the textiles and clothing market.

Analyzing the market trends in South Asian countries

• India
  • India constitutes around 4% of the $840 billion textile and apparel market worldwide.
  • India is the fifth largest exporter in the textile market. (Top 4 –  China, Germany, Bangladesh, Vietnam)
  • With the successful implementation of the Technical Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS), India has developed backward links in the cotton and technical textiles industry.
• Bangladesh
  • The country joined the group of textiles and clothing producing countries in the 1980s on the onset of civil war in Sri Lanka.
  • Favourable industrial policies along with zero duty on raw material and capital machinery; lower production costs and negotiations of free trade agreements with the western markets have helped Bangladesh.
  • Its capacity to adopt technology faster has also significantly helped Bangladesh.
  • Bangladesh has also specialised in capturing the low-value and mid-market price segment of cotton products
• Pakistan
  • Pakistan has made steady progress in the tactile market in recent years.
  • Pakistan gained a 24.73% increase in textile exports in 2021-22, accounting for about $10.933 billion.
  • Despite its advancements, issues with respect to skilling and policy implementation hinder its potential.
• Sri Lanka
  • Sri Lanka is witnessing progress in ascending the value chain. 
  • Advancement in training, quality control, product development and merchandising are attracting international brands to Sri Lanka.

The impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)

• The 4IR has resulted in the integration of technology in the production life cycle.
• Technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, 3D printing, etc. are now extensively used in production processes.
• The advent of these technologies has increased production efficiency in areas such as cutting and colour accuracy.
• Adoption of new technology also results in diversifying in-product baskets.
• The 4IR also brings about various challenges that affect production. The Asian Development Bank predicts that there will be an increase in issues such as
  • Job losses
  • Increased disruption, inequality and political instability
  • Concentration of market power by global powers
  • Increase in vulnerability to cyberattacks.
• India with an unemployment rate of 7%, faces the challenge of job creation in the wake of increased automation.

Remedies to challenges posed by 4IR 

• Integration of skilling and technological investments will be crucial in eliminating obsolete jobs, and creation of new and useful jobs. 
• Ensuring living wages and making education more accessible.
• Adopting methods such as digitalisation and automation in various stages of production will help in controlling production quality and timely delivery. 
• Better logistical support will also assist in cost-cutting, as reshoring and near-shoring help gain revenue. 

Other factors that impact the exports

• Sustainability
  • Sustainability is an important consideration for exports.
  • The sector through the release of its effluents in water bodies constitutes around 17%-20% of all water pollution. 
  • Sustainable mechanisms such as organic farming, sustainable manufacturing of energy through renewable sources and the creation of a circular economy are to be adopted. 
• Labour costs
  • Affordable human resources is one of the key factors for the better performance of the countries in the region.
  • The allegations and sanctions of the U.S. on China due to human rights violations provide a chance to the South Asian countries to strengthen their market.

Various initiatives by the countries

• India
  • India has a huge potential in terms of resources, infrastructure, technology, demographic dividend and policy framework. 
  • India has created a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
  • The Indian government through project sustainable resolution has committed to promote sustainability.
  • India has proposed an investment of about $1.4 billion in the sector and the creation of all-in-one textile parks 
  • India has extended tax rebates in apparel export till 2024, which will help achieve competitiveness and policy stability.
  • Labour law reforms, additional incentives, income tax relaxations, duty reductions for man-made fibre are also other key initiatives by India.
• Bangladesh
  • Bangladesh has initiated ‘green manufacturing’ practices to ensure sustainability by the efficient use of resources.
  • Bangladesh has envisioned the year 2041 for technological advancement, particularly in Information and Communication Technology.
  • Bangladesh has increased its investments in technology significantly in recent years.
• Pakistan
  • Pakistan has also increased its investment to adopt modern technologies.
  • Pakistan has imported advanced machinery worth $504 million in 2019-2020.

Way forward

• Countries should ensure diversification technology, the product basket and the client base.
• Increase the capabilities to meet the rising demands for man-made textiles.
• Device innovative approaches that are transparent, safer, and sustainable.
• Reskilling and upskilling of the labour force. 
• The governments should lend proactive support to infrastructure development.

Category: POLITY

1. Two freedoms and the hijab in our midst

Syllabus: Indian Constitution—Features, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.

Mains: The concepts of freedom, social contract theory, liberalism, secularism and essential religious practices.

Context

Karnataka High Court’s ruling in the Resham vs State of Karnataka case.

Background

• The High Court dismissed the arguments which said that “prescription of a uniform by educational institutions, disallowing the wearing of the hijab are violative of Article 25 of the Constitution”. 
• The High Court passed the judgment concluding that the hijab is not an essential practice in Islam.
• The judgement has resulted in increased debates about fundamental ideals mentioned in the Constitution.

Questions about freedom

• Individual freedom – Wherein the individual irrespective of being a man or a woman or a transgender is “free” to act based on his own choice without being influenced by external factors.
  • Example: a Muslim woman ‘freely’ chooses to wear the hijab or does so because of religious obligations.
• Freedom of the individual or a community limited by the state – Here, the freedom guaranteed to the individuals or a community is not absolute but is limited by the state.
  • Example: laws on homosexuality, ban on certain foods, one-child policy of China.

Social contract theory 

• This contract establishes an agreement between the state and the individual, where the individual sacrifices a certain amount of freedom in exchange for basic amenities.
• The theory maps on to the distinction between the public and the private spheres.
• There is a certain degree of freedom in an individual’s private sphere but in the public sphere, there are few restrictions on the freedom of the individual as he is a citizen of the state.
• The heart of the theory is ‘liberalism’ which determines the degree of freedom that is available to the individuals.

The concept of Liberalism

• Liberalism is a political ideology to establish individual freedom, consent and equality.
• In a liberal state, the scope of individual freedom is maximum and that of the state is minimum
• Whereas In an illiberal state, individual freedom even in the private sphere is minimum.
  • i.e. Citizens must give up most of their freedom to the state and have fewer rights.

Know more about – Liberalism

The concept of Secularism

• Secularism separates religion from political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life. And treats religion as a personal matter only.
• In a secular state, religion is in the private sphere. This means that;
  • An individual is free to practise any religion
  • An individual has not given up this freedom to the state. 
  • The state cannot interfere in the practice of religion and the state does not profess any specific religion.
• The public places in a secular state are free of religion. 
• This has often been controversial because there is no clear distinction between the public sphere and the private sphere.

Essential religious practice

• The doctrine of “essentiality” came into existence through the Supreme Court judgement in the ‘Shirur Mutt’ case in 1954.
• The court held that “religion” in Article 25 covers all rituals and practices that are “integral” to a religion. 
• According to the essential religious practices doctrine, practices and beliefs considered integral by a religious community are to be regarded as “essential”, and protected under Article 25.

To read more about the recent refer to UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis of 17th Mar 2022

Category: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Harm in the name of good

Syllabus: Conservation

Mains: Various issues with the tree plantation programmes and the way forward.

Context

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) has announced that March 21 would be celebrated as the International Day of Forests.

Details

• This proclamation by UNGA is aimed at spreading awareness about forests and their importance.
• Countries will organise programmes to promote the plantation of trees that helps in;
  • Increasing forest cover
  • Conservation of biodiversity
  • Counter climate change

Initiatives by India

• The government has spent huge amounts of rupees to increase the forest cover through tree planting.
• Recently, the Union government launched a ₹19,000 crore afforestation programme that aims to rejuvenate 13 major rivers under the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board.
• The government claims that “this project would increase ‘forest’ cover by 7,417.36 square kilometres in the vicinity of these rivers”. 

Issues with tree plantation programmes

• Loss of complex ecosystems
  • Forest is a complex ecosystem that is built over years of the interplay between various creatures such as birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, fungi, microorganisms, and other factors such as water, soil, climate, etc.
  • Tree plantation programmes that are simply aimed at planting trees ensure green cover but do not compensate for the loss of complex ecosystems such as the forests.
• Loss of biodiversity
  • All the trees help in carbon sequestration and reduce pollution, even the ones that are invasive.
  • Invasive species have the ability to alter the entire ecosystem, which will result in the extinction of certain species.
  • Examples:
    • Conversion of natural grasslands to wooded areas through tree plantations now threatens the existence of the Great Indian Bustard.
    • The Jayamangali Conservation Reserve, a grassland in Karnataka, which was home to wolves, now has an increased leopard population due to extensive plantation of Acacia, Eucalyptus and Tamarind trees. 
    • Ecosystems such as woodland savanna, laterite grasslands, scrubland, wetlands and rocky outcrops that home unique biodiversity have now transformed into sterile landscapes due to extensive tree planting.
• Loss of native species
  • The tree-planting campaigns propagate extensive plantations of neem, peepal, and banyan trees throughout the country despite them being non-native in many parts of the country. 
  • This results in the loss of native species which are crucial for the ecological balance.

Recommendations

• Tree-planting activities must be carefully planned such that they are friendly to local biodiversity.
• It is important to realise that the native vegetation and the local biodiversity also play an important role in the formation of forests
• One should plant the right tree in the right place along with the right reason.
• The results of such initiatives and campaigns must be carefully monitored and examined, to understand more about the consequences.
• Another solution is to let forests come back on their own through
• Adoption of more economical and sustainable initiatives such as assisted natural regeneration methods wherein the forests rejuvenate on their own through protection.
  • Reports suggest that natural regeneration methods absorb 40 times more carbon than plantations and also host more biodiversity.

G. Tidbits

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