23 Mar 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 23 March 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Russia and China vow to deepen relations
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. The road to ending tuberculosis
ENVIRONMENT
1. IPCC Synthesis report
F. Prelims Facts
1. Exercise Cobra Warrior
2. Abel Prize
G. Tidbits
1. Indian Army to reintroduce millets in rations of soldiers
2. Chandrayaan 3 likely to be launched in mid-2023: ISRO
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: ENVIRONMENT

1. IPCC Synthesis report

Syllabus: International Environment Agencies & Agreements

Mains: Key findings of sixth assessment report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeΒ 

Context: The IPCC released its Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Cycle.

Introduction:

  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Cycle on March 20 in Interlaken, Switzerland.Β 
  • This Synthesis Report (SYR) of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) summarises the state of knowledge of climate change, its widespread impacts and risks, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.Β 
  • It integrates the main findings of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) based on contributions from the three Working Groups.
    • WG I evaluated the physical science basis of climate change; WG II evaluated the impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, and WG III evaluated the mitigation.

Highlights of the report:

  • The report highlights the urgency of drastically reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and thereby limiting rising global temperatures by 1.5Β°C from pre-industrial levels, set by the Paris Agreement.
    • The report says that the planet’s best chance to keep temperatures below 1.5Β°C is to ensure greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to 48% of 2019 levels by 2030 and 99% by 2050.Β 
  • The report also recognises the impact of the rise in temperature which has made people much more susceptible to food insecurity and water shortages with vulnerable populations disproportionately facing the brunt of climate change.Β 
unnamed 54

Image Source: IPCC

  • The report, therefore, stressed the need for financial resolution for a more equitable world.Β 
  • The report stresses the need for finance to flow from developed countries to developing countries and the need to compensate countries that are poised to lose the most from climate change, to help them build resilience.
  • The report also emphasised the role of financial investments to achieve climate goals and encouraged public funding through central banks, government and financial regulators to reduce emissions, scale up climate resilience and protect marginalised communities.
  • The report highlighted the benefits of climate-resilient development in mitigating the effects of climate change and also in providing wider benefits.Β 
  • Access to clean energy, improving air quality, increasing employment opportunities, boosting healthcare through technology, and delivering equity are among the report’s recommended goals to help adapt to climate change.Β 

Implications for India:

  • The IPCC Synthesis Report underscores the urgency of action to address climate change and its impacts, particularly in countries like India that are already vulnerable to its effects.Β 
  • It highlights the need for a concerted effort by governments, businesses, and individuals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the changing climate, and build resilience to the inevitable impacts of climate change.
  • The report has been “welcomed” by India, which noted that several parts support its stance that unequal contributions are to blame for the climate crisis and that climate justice must underpin mitigation and adaptation.Β 
  • Several messages emerge in the report that are salient for India as it suggests a strategy that emphasises “climate-resilient development.”Β Β 
  • However, India’s priority should be to minimise loss and damage in terms of lives, livelihood and biodiversity, and accelerate equitable action and adaptation.Β 
    • As a developing country, India can lower its per-capita emissions through energy efficiency policies already being implemented in almost every sector.Β 
    • It can also decarbonise the energy sector by using cleaner options like solar and renewable energy.

Read more on Climate Change in India

Nut Graf: The β€˜Synthesis Report’ from IPCC recognizes the interdependence of climate, ecosystems and biodiversity, and human societies and highlights the insufficient pace and scale of climate action to tackle climate change.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Exercise Cobra Warrior

Syllabus: GS-3; Security; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.Β 

Prelims: About Exercise Cobra Warrior and Mirage-2000 aircraft

Context

The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Mirage-2000 aircraft have been undertaking joint training involving high intensity, large force, and tactical air war fighting operations as part of Exercise Cobra Warrior.

Exercise Cobra Warrior

  • Exercise Cobra Warrior is the largest air exercise conducted by the Royal Air Force of the U.K.
  • Exercise Cobra Warrior takes place twice a year.
  • The Exercise is designed to train participants in high intensity, large force, tactical air warfighting operations.
  • Apart from India, the other countries participating in the 2023 edition of the Exercise include Finland, Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Singapore.
    • Finland, India and Saudi Arabia have joined for the first time.Β 
  • The aim of the exercise is to participate in diverse fighter aircraft engagements and share the best practices of various Air Forces.

Mirage-2000 aircraft

  • Mirage 2000 is a multirole, single-engine, fourth-generation fighter jet.
  • Mirage 2000 aircraft are manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France.
  • India signed a deal with France in 1980 and the jet is considered IAF’s strategic aircraft.
  • Mirage 2000 was designed as a lightweight fighter, however, it has evolved into a multirole aircraft with various variants.Β 
  • The Mirage 2000 aircraft have played a crucial role in various operations of the IAF including in Kargil and Balakot air strikes.

2. Abel Prize

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Prelims: About Abel Prize

Context

Argentine-American Luis A. Caffarelli, an expert in β€œpartial differential equations” which can explain phenomena such as water flow and population growth has been awarded the Abel Prize 2023.

Abel Prize

  • The Abel Prize recognises pioneering achievements in the field of mathematics.
  • The prize is named after Niels Henrik Abel who is considered Norway’s greatest mathematician.
  • The Abel Prize was established by the Norwegian Parliament in 2002, on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Niels Henrik Abel.
  • The Abel Prize is awarded every year to facilitate outstanding mathematicians.
  • The Abel Prize is given by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, on behalf of the Ministry of Education of the Norwegian Parliament.

G. Tidbits

1. Indian Army to reintroduce millets in rations of soldiers

  • The Indian Army is looking to reintroduce millet flour into the rations provided to soldiers.Β 
  • This decision has been taken with an aim to promote the consumption of millets and as the UN has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
  • In this regard, the Indian Army has sought Union government sanction to procure millet flour not exceeding 25% of the authorised entitlement of cereals (rice and wheat flour) in rations for troops starting from FY 2023-24.Β 
  • The Army has stated that the procurement and issue of millets would be based on the option exercised and quantity demanded. Further, three popular varieties of millet flour namely bajra, jowar and ragi will be issued to troops considering their preferences.
  • According to the statement of the Indian Army, this is a landmark decision that would help ensure that troops are supplied with native and traditional grains.

Also read – Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness (MIIRA)

2. Chandrayaan 3 likely to be launched in mid-2023: ISRO

  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath announced that the launch of Chandrayaan-3 and the Aditya L1 will likely take place by the middle of 2023.Β 
    • Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third lunar mission and Aditya L1 is India’s first-ever solar mission.Β 
  • According to ISRO, Chandrayaan-3 which is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 would demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.Β 
  • As per the ISRO Chairman, the key objective of the Chandrayaan-3 mission is to demonstrate a precise landing which requires a lot of work including building new instruments, better algorithms and strengthening the failure modes.
  • ISRO is also discussing a possible mission to the moon with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
  • ISRO Chairman also confirmed that there is a good opportunity to launch a mission to explore Venus by 2028.

Read more about – Chandrayaan-3

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with regard to the High Seas: (Level – Easy)
  1. UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea) defined the rights and duties of countries in the oceans, the extent of ocean areas over which countries could claim sovereignty, and the legal status of marine resources.
  2. UNCLOS established exclusive economic zones (EEZ), ocean areas up to 200 miles from the coastline, where a country would have exclusive rights over all economic resources such as fish, oil, minerals, and gas.
  3. The high seas are the areas beyond the EEZ of any country.

Choose the correct code:

  1. Only one statement is wrong
  2. Two statements are wrong
  3. All statements are wrong
  4. None of the statements is wrong
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, UNCLOS defined the rights and duties of countries in the oceans, the extent of ocean areas over which countries could claim sovereignty, and the legal status of marine resources.
    • UNCLOS also specified general rules for a range of activities in the oceans such as navigation, scientific research, and deep-sea mining.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, The treaty established exclusive economic zones (EEZ), ocean areas up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the coastline, where a country would have exclusive rights over all economic resources such as fish, oil, minerals, and gas.
  • Statement 3 is correct, The high seas are the areas beyond the EEZ of any country.
Q2. Consider the following statements with regard to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy 
Code (IBC): (Level – Moderate)
  1. It is a reform enacted in 2016 which amalgamates various laws relating to the insolvency resolution of business firms.
  2. Section 53 of the Code prescribes an order of priority in which proceeds will be distributed to the creditors based on the liquidation value.
  3. Financial creditors like banks have the last claim until exhaustion.

Choose the correct code:

  1. 1 & 3 only
  2. 2 & 3 only
  3. 1 & 2 only
  4. All of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC) is the bankruptcy law of India which seeks to consolidate the existing framework by creating a single law for insolvency and bankruptcy.
  • Statement 2 is correct, Section 53 of the Code prescribes an order of priority in which proceeds will be distributed to the creditors based on the liquidation value.Β 
    • According to this waterfall mechanism, secured financial creditors rank the highest in the order of priority followed by unsecured financial creditors, government dues and operational creditors.
  • Statement 3 is not correct, The creditors receive proceeds under the resolution plan in order of the mentioned priority and hence financial creditors like banks have the first claim until exhaustion.Β 
Q3. Consider the following statements with regard to different generations of telecom 
communications: (Level – Easy)
  1. 1G was launched in the 1980s and worked on analogue radio signals and supported only voice calls.
  2. 2G was launched in the 1990s which uses digital radio signals and supports both voice and data transmission with a bandwidth of 64 Kbps.
  3. 3G was launched in the 2000s with a speed of 1 Mbps to 2 Mbps and it has the ability to transmit telephone signals including digitised voice, video calls and conferencing.

Choose the correct code:

  1. Only one statement is wrong
  2. Two statements are wrong
  3. All statements are wrong
  4. None of the statements is wrong
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, 1G was launched in the 1980s and worked on analogue radio signals and supported only voice calls.Β 
  • Statement 2 is correct, 2G was launched in the 1990s which uses digital radio signals and supports both voice and data transmission with a bandwidth of 64 Kbps.
  • Statement 3 is correct, 3G was launched in the 2000s with a speed of 1 Mbps to 2 Mbps and it has the ability to transmit telephone signals including digitised voice, video calls and conferencing.
Q4. Consider the following statements with regard to the Padma awards & Bharat 
Ratna: (Level – Easy)
  1. Padma awards were instituted in 1954.
  2. The Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
  3. The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.

Choose the correct code:

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954.Β 
    • The award is given in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.Β 
  • Statement 2 is correct, The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
  • Statement 3 is not correct, The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.
Q5. The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of 
(Level – Easy) PYQ (2020)
  1. brown forest soil
  2. fissure volcanic rock
  3. granite and schist
  4. shale and limestone
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Black Cotton soil is often referred to as β€œregur”.
  • The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of fissure volcanic rock.
  • Volcanic rocks that developed in the Deccan Plateau are the parent material for the majority of the black soil (Rajmahal trap and Deccan).

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. β€œThe road to ending the TB epidemic needs proactive intervention in key areas”. Discuss. (150 words; 10 marks) (GS-2; Health)
  2. Discuss how the Russia and China relationship impacts India’s interest in the Indo-Pacific. (150 words; 10 marks) (GS-2; International Relations)

Read the previous CNAΒ here.

CNA 23 March 2023:- Download PDF Here

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