26 Mar 2020: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 26th March 2020:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Saudi King to chair G20 virtual summit
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. Undisturbed mass nesting of Olive Ridleys at Rushikulya
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. ‘No evidence of an Indian strain yet’
ECONOMY
1. Banks get ready for merger, albeit reluctantly
2. Union Cabinet approves recapitalisation of RRBs
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ECONOMY
1. Dressing a wounded economy
F. Prelims Facts
1. Hantavirus
G. Tidbits
1. Unseasonal rain strikes parts of State
2. Indelible ink to be used to mark the quarantined
3. 25 worshippers killed in IS attack on Kabul gurdwara
4. U.S. Senate, White House agree on $2 trillion Coronavirus rescue plan
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

F. Prelims Facts

1. Hantavirus

  • The Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents. A person can get infected if he/she comes in contact with a rodent that carries the virus.
  • It remains unclear whether human-to-human transmission of the virus is possible.

What are the symptoms?

  • A person infected with the virus may show symptoms within the first to eighth week after they have been exposed to fresh urine, faeces or the saliva of infected rodents.
  • Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, chills and abdominal problems.
  • Four to ten days after being infected, late symptoms of HPS may start to appear, which include coughing and shortness of breath.

G. Tidbits

1. Unseasonal rain strikes parts of State

What’s in News?

Unseasonal rain, coupled with hail and lightning, was witnessed in parts of western Maharashtra, Pune and Kolhapur districts and in isolated areas in the Marathwada region.

Concern:

  • Unseasonal rain has exacerbated farmers’ losses amid the lockdown imposed to check the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
  • Also, gusty winds accompanied by rain led to the damage of orange fruit orchards spread over 50 hectares in Ahmednagar district’s Kedgaon locality.

Details:

  • According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the high temperatures coupled with excess humidity in the past few days have led to an upper air cyclonic circulation over southern parts of Maharashtra, creating conditions for thundershowers accompanied with hail and light to moderate rain in isolated parts.
  • An induced cyclonic circulation over the western part of Rajasthan had led to moisture incursion over parts of western India, which then coupled with the moisture incursion over the Arabian Sea, is expected to result in unseasonal climatic conditions over the next few days.

2. Indelible ink to be used to mark the quarantined

What’s in News?

The Election Commission of India  has said that it had allowed the government to use indelible ink, which is used to mark voters, to mark people ordered to quarantine themselves at home in view of the “extraordinary circumstances” due to the coronavirus pandemic.

  • In a letter to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the EC wrote that it had taken the suo motu decision to allow the use of indelible ink with certain conditions.
  • The EC wrote that according to Rule 49 K of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, an elector is supposed to be marked on the forefinger of his left hand before casting the vote.
  • The EC said the authorities should be directed not to use the ink on any finger of the left hand.

Indelible Ink:

  • In 1962, the Election Commission in collaboration with the Law Ministry, the National Physical Laboratory of India and the National Research Development Corporation, made an agreement with Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. to manufacture ink that couldn’t be wiped off easily.
  • Mysore Paints was founded in 1937 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV.
  • The company is the sole supplier of indelible ink for civic body, Assembly and Parliamentary polls.
  • It also supplies ink to about 25 countries.
  • Indelible ink is known to contain silver nitrate and is manufactured in secrecy.

3. 25 worshippers killed in IS attack on Kabul gurdwara

What’s in News?

A lone Islamic State gunman rampaged through a Sikh house of worship (Gurdwara) in the heart of the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing 25 worshippers and wounding eight.

  • The gunman held many of the worshippers hostage for several hours as Afghan special forces, helped by international troops, tried to clear the building.
  • As the siege ended, the Afghan special forces rescued at least 80 worshippers, who had been trapped inside the Gurdwara, as the gunman lobbed grenades and fired his automatic rifle into the crowd.
  • As the news of the attack first broke, Taliban spokesman tweeted that the Taliban was not involved.

Within hours, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.

4. U.S. Senate, White House agree on $2 trillion Coronavirus rescue plan

What’s in News?

The White House and Senate leaders of both parties announced agreement on unprecedented emergency legislation to rush sweeping aid to businesses, workers and a health care system slammed by the coronavirus pandemic.

  • The unprecedented economic rescue package would give direct payments to most Americans, expand unemployment benefits and provide a $367 billion program for small businesses to keep making payroll while workers are forced to stay home.
  • The unprecedented economic rescue package would give a one-time payment of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child directly to the public.
  • It is intended at rushing new resources onto the front lines of the nation’s health care fight.
  • And it will inject trillions of dollars of cash into the economy as fast as possible to help American workers, families, small businesses and industries make it through the disruption.
  • The urgently needed pandemic response measure is the largest economic rescue measure in history.
  • The emerging rescue package would be larger than the 2008 bank bailout and 2009 recovery act combined.
  • It is intended as a weeks- or months-long patch for an economy spiralling into recession.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1.  Which of the following are breeding ground/s for Olive Ridley Turtles?
  1. Rushikulya rookery coast
  2. Devi estuary
  3. Hope Island of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
  4. Gahirmatha beach

Choose the correct options:

a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 1, 2 and 4 only
c. 1 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

See
Answer

Answer: d

Explanation:

The major breeding ground for Olive Ridley Turtles are Rushikulya (Odisha), Dharma (Odisha), Devi estuary (Odisha), Astaranga Coast (Odisha), Gahirmatha beach (Odisha) and Hope Island of Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh). 

 

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs):
  1. RRBs are regulated and supervised by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
  2. The RRBs are required to provide 90% of their total credit as priority sector lending.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

See
Answer

Answer: d

Explanation:

Regional Rural Banks are regulated by the RBI and supervised by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The RRBs are required to provide 75% of their total credit as priority sector lending with primary focus on agricultural credit, including small and marginal farmers, as well as micro entrepreneurs and rural artisans. 

Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to “G-20”:
  1. It is a forum for the governments and central bank governors, aimed at promoting financial stability and sustainable development in the world.
  2. The permanent secretariat of G-20 is located in Tokyo, Japan.
  3. India has not hosted any of the G-20 summits.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1 and 3 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1 only

See
Answer

Answer: b

Explanation:

G-20 is a forum for the governments and central bank governors, aimed at promoting financial stability and sustainable development in the world. The G-20 operates without a permanent secretariat.  The group’s chair rotates annually among the members and is selected from a different regional grouping of countries. The incumbent chair establishes a temporary secretariat for the duration of its term, which coordinates the group’s work and organizes its meetings. India has so far, not hosted any of the G-20 summits. 

 

Q4. Which of the following is/are NOT correct with respect to Capital to Risk Weighted 
Assets Ratio (CRAR):
  1. Also known as Credit to Risk Asset Ratio, it measures capital adequacy of a bank in terms of the riskiness of the assets or loans given.
  2. It determines the bank’s capacity to meet both time liabilities and other risks such as credit risk, operational risk.

Choose the correct option:

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

See
Answer

Answer: a

Explanation:

Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) is also known as Capital to Risk Asset Ratio (CAR). It measures capital adequacy of a bank in terms of the riskiness of the assets or loans given. It determines the bank’s capacity to meet both time liabilities and other risks such as credit risk, operational risk. 

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Explain how G20 can help in mitigating the disruptive impact of the coronavirus on global supply chains? (10 marks, 150 words)
  2. What are Biological Weapons? Is the international community prepared to combat a biological warfare? Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 26th March 2020:- Download PDF Here

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