CNA 25 Mar 2022:-Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Govt. steps in to tackle Russian trade hurdles C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. The peculiar case of Ladakh’s eastern boundary 2. Crisis in Sri Lanka POLITY 1. Sealed justice F. Prelims Facts 1. Wings India-2022 2. President’s Election G. Tidbits 1. India to be TB-free by 2025: 2. Farm income fell in four States: panel 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. Govt. steps in to tackle Russian trade hurdles
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Mains: Various measures by India to address disruptions caused by the Ukraine crisis.
Context
This article discusses India’s latest stand on the Ukraine crisis and various steps taken up by the government to resolve trade disruptions.
Details
- The government has set up a multi-ministerial group which is led by the Finance Ministry to formulate plans to tackle challenges in trade with Russia, including managing payments for exporters and importers.
- The Union Foreign Minister held that India’s stand is for peace and immediate cessation of violence and that India’s foreign policy decisions are driven by “national interest”.
- Further, the Minister indicated that the government is looking at various options such as the revival of “rupee-rouble trade” between the countries to address current challenges.
- The Government is also analyzing various aspects of importing more oil from Russia, which is offering oil to India at discounted prices.
India abstains in UNGA and UNSC
- India abstained from voting in the UN General Assembly on a resolution by Ukraine and its allies on the humanitarian crisis in the region.
- India stated that the main focus currently should be on the cessation of hostilities and immediate humanitarian assistance. Since the resolution did not reflect the focus on these challenges, India abstained from voting.
- India also abstained from voting on a resolution by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine in the UN Security Council.
Nut Graf
Amidst the disruptions in the trade due to the situation in Ukraine, the Government has formed a group composed of different Ministries to look into the matters and recommend feasible actions.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The peculiar case of Ladakh’s eastern boundary
Syllabus: India and its Neighbourhood-Relations.
Mains: Long term solutions to India-China border stand-off in eastern Ladakh
Context:
- Chinese Foreign Minister is in India and is expected to meet Indian External Affairs Minister and National Security Adviser. This would be the first high-level Chinese official visit since the June 2020 clash between the armies of the two sides in a disputed section of the western Himalayas.
- The visit is being seen as an attempt by China to reach out to India in the midst of the military standoff in Ladakh, to revive bilateral dialogue and set the stage for the BRICS summit in China due to be held in 2022.
Details:
- The article tries to analyse the treaties, customary territorial limits to help find a realistic solution for the border stand-off between India and China in the eastern Ladakh region.
Territorial limits of erstwhile Ladakh region:
- Given that Leh has been a hub of trade since ancient times, traditionally, the boundaries of Ladakh have been defined by the trade routes via the Karakoram Pass to the north, Demchok to the south and Zojila to the west. Hence the customary boundary was defined only for the limited area under human occupation.
- The uninhabited Soda plains to the east extending over 100 square miles, now disputed between India and China, were of no use and not governed by anyone.
- Also, there has never been a defined boundary in the eastern Ladakh region because high watershed frameworks cannot be applied in these terrains characterized by the parallel ranges of Ladakh.
Treaties:
- The Treaty of Timosgang between Ladakh and Tibet in 1684 helped Ladakh emerge as a distinct entity. This treaty established relations between Leh and Lhasa.
- With the Treaty of Chushul in 1842, Ladakh and Tibet agreed to maintain the status quo with respect to territorial administration.
- The Treaty of Amritsar in 1846 between the East India Company and the State of Kashmir included Ladakh with its eastern boundary undefined. Under British rule, the focus remained only on the northern boundary of Ladakh because of the Russian advance into Central Asia.
Official documents of the British era:
- The ‘Gazetteer of Kashmir and Ladak’, brought out in 1890, noted doubtful the boundary demarcation between Ladakh and Tibet. The unoccupied Aksai Chin was described as “neutral territory”.
Recommendations:
- The article notes the ambiguity in defining the border and argues that this ambiguity should not lead to disputes due to unrealistic stands by either side as observed in the events leading to the 1962 Indo-Chinese war.
- India and China extended overlapping sovereignty in the uninhabited area in Ladakh over which neither had ever exercised control.
- The article suggests that the two countries should move away from establishing their respective claims to recognising the ground reality. The adopting of the watershed principle as adopted in the case of demarcating the border of all other Himalayan States seems the best way forward to decide on a mutually agreeable boundary. This would meet the national security concerns of India and China without bringing in the issues of sovereignty.
- Notably, even Indian diplomats and Army officers have characterised the Karakoram watershed as a defensible border, to which the Chinese claim line broadly corresponds, leaving the area where earlier no one exercised control, Aksai Chin, to China. However, this suggestion has been ignored at the political level.
- In this direction, there is the need to mould a new domestic consensus on this issue to help find the most favourable line in eastern Ladakh. For this to fructify, continued dialogue between the two sides should continue despite any sporadic military incidents.
Nut Graf
There has been ambiguity in defining the border in eastern Ladakh even since ancient times. Given that these ambiguities have led to disputes and military stand-offs between India and China, there is the need to find a permanent solution to this issue. Adopting the watershed principle to decide on a mutually agreeable boundary seems the best way forward for both countries.
Syllabus: India and its Neighbourhood- Relations.
Mains: Implications of the economic crisis in Sri Lanka for India
Context:
- The economic crisis in Sri Lanka has led to a steep rise in the prices of essential commodities and frequent blackouts.
- The economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the economic state of Sri Lanka which has been under pressure from high debt levels.
For more related information on this issue refer to the following article:
UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis of 22nd March 2022
Implications for India:
- Sri Lanka has repeatedly called on India to reschedule the loan repayment. Notably, over the last three months, India has provided assistance of $2.4 billion including a $500 million loan deferment and $1 billion credit line to Sri Lanka.
- The economic crisis in Sri Lanka can lead to a potential human migration into India. Tamil Nadu has reported the arrival of 16 persons from Sri Lanka through illegal means. Notably, this pretext can be used to step up smuggling activities and trafficking between the two countries.
Recommendations:
- The Sri Lankan administration should take the necessary steps for economic recovery. The restructuring of the administration of concessions and subsidies is imperative.
- India should help Sri Lanka during the crisis. India could use the opportunity to find a solution to the Palk Bay fisheries dispute, which has been a longstanding irritant in bilateral ties between the two neighbours.
Nut Graf
Sri Lanka is undergoing an economic crisis that is causing huge human distress among its citizenry. India should help Sri Lanka during the crisis and use this opportunity to find solutions to unresolved bilateral issues.
The article discusses the ‘sealed cover jurisprudence’ and concerns surrounding its increasing usage. This issue has been covered previously and for related information refer to the following articles.
UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis of 16th March 2022
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: Infrastructure
Prelims: Facts about Wings India-2022
Context
Wings India 2022 will be held between 24th – 27th March 2022 in Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, India.
Wings India-2022
- Wings India is a biennial show.
- Wings India-2022 is a four-day Civil Aviation show convened under the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Hyderabad.
- The programme is jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
- It is Asia’s largest event on Civil Aviation.
- The theme of Wings India-22 is “India@75: New Horizon for Aviation Industry”.
Syllabus: Appointment to various Constitutional posts
Prelims: Process of the election of the President
Context
The Presidential election is due in July 2022.
Presidential election
- The President of India is elected through an indirect election process consisting of an Electoral College.
- The electoral college for President’s elections consists of elected members from:
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Legislative Assemblies of the states (Legislative Councils have no role)
- Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry
- The electoral college currently comprises 543 Lok Sabha and 233 Rajya Sabha members and 4,120 MLAs.
- The value of the vote of MPs remains the same across the States, but the value of the votes of MLAs depends on the population of the State.
G. Tidbits
1. India to be TB-free by 2025:
- On World Tuberculosis Day (March 24th), the Union Health Minister said that the government is committed to making India tuberculosis–free by 2025
- The Union Minister further highlighted that tuberculosis–free India will be achieved by ensuring access to quality healthcare and advanced treatment.
- There was a 19% increase in the number of TB patients in 2021 compared to 2020.
- It is said that 18 States have committed to ending TB by 2025 by implementing state-specific and district-specific strategies which will act as a blueprint for the programme managers.
- The government released the National TB Prevalence Survey Report conducted between 2019 to 2021 which throws light on the actual disease burden of TB.
- The reports indicated an increase of 11% in the mortality rate due to all forms of TB between 2019 and 2020.
2. Farm income fell in four States: panel
- The Centre had pledged to double the income of the farmers’ between 2015 and 2022, but the farm families in Jharkhand witnessed a drop of about 30% in their average monthly income.
- The Parliamentary standing committee in its report highlighted that the income declined in four States (Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Odisha) between 2015-16 and 2018-19 and also nationwide farm income rose only about 27% which is still short of the goal of doubling income.
- The committee recommended that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare constitute a special team to identify the reasons for falling farmers’ income and also formulate corrective measures to achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. With respect to election to the office of President of India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- He/she is elected by members of both the houses of the Parliament and members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States.
- The President’s election is held in accordance with the system of Proportional representation by means of a single transferrable vote and the voting is by Open ballot.
- Any dispute related to his/her election is taken up by Supreme Court (SC). SC’s decision is final.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, The electoral college for President’s elections consists of elected members from:
- Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Legislative Assemblies of the states (Legislative Councils have no role)
- Legislative Assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry
- Statement 2 is not correct, according to Article 55, the President’s election is held in accordance with the system of Proportional representation by means of a single transferrable vote and the voting is by Secret ballot.
- Statement 3 is correct, according to Article 71, any dispute related to the President’s election is taken up by Supreme Court (SC). SC’s decision is final.
Q2. Which of the following Dams/Power Projects is/are constructed/proposed to be constructed on River Chenab?
- Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant
- Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project
- Pakal Dul Dam
- Salal Dam
- Uri Dam
Options:
- 1, 2 and 5 only
- 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant, Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project, Pakal Dul Dam and Salal Dam are being constructed on River Chenab.
- Uri Dam is a hydroelectric power station on the Jhelum River.
Q3. Which of the following Island Countries are in the Pacific Ocean?
- Comoros
- Fiji
- Kiribati
- Solomon Islands
- Tonga
Options:
- 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
- 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Comoros are a group of islands at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel of the Indian Ocean.
- All the other countries are in the Pacific Ocean.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to appointment of High Court Judges:
- The Judges of a high court are appointed by the Governor.
- A distinguished Jurist in the opinion of the Governor can be appointed as a High Court Judge.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is not correct, the Judges of the High Court are appointed by the President and not by the governor.
- Statement 2 is not correct, a distinguished Jurist in the opinion of the President can be appointed as a High Court Judge.
Q5. Which amongst the following is regarded as the mother of all gharanas as it is considered to be the oldest?
- Gwalior Gharana
- Dilli Gharana
- Agra Gharana
- Patiala Gharana
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Gwalior Gharana is the oldest and is also regarded as the mother of all other Gharanas.
Q6. Chamayavilakku ritual is a practice in the state of
- Tamil Nadu
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Andhra Pradesh
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Chamayavilakku ritual is a part of the annual festival of the Chavara Kottankulangara Devi temple in Kollam, Kerala.
Q7. The Chauri-Chaura Incident took place in which amongst the following districts in the United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh)?
- Benares
- Gorakhpur
- Jhansi
- Rae Bareli
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- The Chauri Chaura incident took place on 4 February 1922 at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the United Provinces.
Q8. With reference to India, consider the following statements:
- Retail investors through demat account can invest in ‘Treasury Bills’ and ‘Government of India Debt Bonds’ in primary market.
- The ‘Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching’ is a government securities trading platform of the Reserve Bank of India.
- The ‘Central Depository Services Ltd.’ is jointly promoted by the Reserve Bank of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, the RBI has announced that retail investors will be provided the access to buy Government securities online through a Non-Competitive bidding way, directly from Stock Exchanges.
- Statement 2 is correct, the “Negotiated Dealing System Order matching” is a government securities trading platform of the RBI.
- Statement 3 is not correct, CDSL is promoted by Bombay Stock Exchange jointly with banks such as State Bank of India, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and Union Bank of India.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Discuss the possible reasons for the economic turmoil in Sri Lanka and its consequences on India. (15 Marks, 250 Words)[GS-2, International Relations]
- Ambiguity in defining the border in Ladakh have led to disputes and military stand-offs between India and China. Discuss appropriate steps to be taken to restore peace in the region.(10 Marks, 150 Words)]GS-2, International Relations]
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CNA 25 Mar 2022:-Download PDF Here
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