26 Mar 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 26 Mar 2022:-Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Peace in border areas key to normal ties, India tells China
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
GOVERNANCE
1. Forging a social contract for data
ECONOMY
1. Heartening milestone
F. Prelims Facts
1. INS Valsura awarded President’s Color
2. ‘Gujarat tops again in export preparedness’
G. Tidbits
1. Sri Lanka to set up special ‘North-East Development Fund’
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: ECONOMY

1. Heartening milestone

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

Mains: Significance of the surge in exports from India and the way forward to address the current bottlenecks in exports.

Context

The government’s announcement of India’s annual merchandise exports breaching the $400-billions mark and reaching the target for the financial year 2021-22.

Background

Refer to Comprehensive News Analysis of 24th March 2022

Significance of the achievement

  • The increase in the exports as the economy is still struggling and in the backdrop of a fall in global demand in the previous fiscal year is a welcome sign.
  • Major value-added sectors such as engineering goods and apparel and garments have performed well.
    • Engineering goods have witnessed about a 50% year-on-year increase.
    • Ready-made garments have registered over 30% growth in the April-February period.
  • Even in the case of petroleum products, the rise in oil prices globally lifted the dollar value of exports of goods produced at India’s refineries by 150% in the initial 11 months of the fiscal.
  • The rise in the exports against the backdrop of continuous logistical issues which include container shortages and port congestion that pushed the freight charges is commendable and is the result of collaborative initiatives by the government along with the industry and overseas institutions.
  • The role played by India’s embassies and envoys in exploring new opportunities for Indian products is also significant in the achievement.

Way forward

  • The trade deficit has widened due to the increase in imports and efforts are to be directed towards stepping up the pace of export growth.
  • The diplomatic corps should enlarge their role in trade promotion to sustain the current momentum in exports.
  • The lack of purchases of capital goods from abroad for new projects shows that the private players in the country are hesitant to make fresh investments due to the lack of momentum in personal consumption.
    • An effort needs to be made to increase the domestic consumption demand.
  • The crisis in Ukraine and the following sanctions on Russia poses new challenges for the exporters and hence the government should consider going beyond temporary measures such as enabling rupee-rouble trade and expediting ongoing negotiations on the free trade agreements which will provide some relief to the industry.

Nut Graf
The surge in India’s merchandise exports is a welcome sign for the revival of the economy post the pandemic. However, the current challenges in the trade front and the widening trade deficit need to be acknowledged and actions have to be undertaken to counter them at the earliest.

F. Prelims Facts

1. INS Valsura awarded President’s Color

Syllabus: GS3: Security Challenges: Defense equipment

Prelims: What is President’s Colour; INS Valsura

Context: The President presented the President’s Colour to INS Valsura, the Navy’s premier technological training establishment.

President’s Colour:

  • The President’s Colour is bestowed on a military unit in recognition of the exceptional service rendered to the nation, both in peace and in war.
  • It is also known as ′Nishaan′ which is an emblem that will be worn by all unit officers on the left-hand sleeve of their uniform.
  • The ‘Standards’ are awarded to Heavy Cavalry and the ‘Guidons’ are awarded to Light Cavalry.
  • The Navy was the first Indian armed force to be awarded the President’s Colour by Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1951.

INS Valsura:

  • INS Valsura was started as a torpedo school in 1942 under the British.
  • INS Valsura is a “stone frigate” of the Indian Navy in Jamnagar, Gujarat. A premier technological training institution, it houses the Electrical School of the Indian Navy.
  • INS Valsura trains officers and men on operation and maintenance of sophisticated and technologically advanced equipment onboard warships.

2. ‘Gujarat tops again in export preparedness’

Syllabus: GS3: Economy: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

Prelims: Export Preparedness Index for 2021

Context: NITI Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2021.

Export Preparedness Index for 2021

  • NITI Aayog, in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness, released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2021.
  • The report is a comprehensive analysis of India’s export achievements.
  • The Export Preparedness Index is a data-driven endeavour to identify the fundamental areas critical for subnational export promotion.

Framework:

  • The 4 pillars and the rationale behind their selection are given below:
    • Policy: A comprehensive trade policy provides a strategic direction for exports and imports.
    • Business Ecosystem: An efficient business ecosystem can help attract investments and create an enabling infrastructure for businesses to grow.
    • Export Ecosystem: This pillar aims to assess the business environment, which is specific to exports.
    • Export Performance: This is the only output-based pillar and examines the reach of export footprints of states and union territories.

Findings of Export Preparedness Index for 2021

  • Gujarat has been named India’s top state in terms of export preparedness for the second year in a row as per the release by the NITI Aayog.
  • Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu were ranked second, third and fourth in the index.
    • The Coastal States with higher industrial activity and access to seaports account for a majority of India’s exports.

G. Tidbits

1. Sri Lanka to set up special ‘North-East Development Fund’

  • The Sri Lankan government will set up a ‘North-East Development Fund’ to increase investments in the war-affected areas
  • There are allegations of enforced disappearances and land grabs in the north and east of the island nation that remain chief concerns of the Tamil people 13 years after the war ended. The President has said the government will inquire into these cases.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. With respect to Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, which of the following statements is/are correct?
  1. The Gram Nyayalayas have both civil and criminal jurisdiction 
  2. The Act does not make the setting up of Gram Nyayalayas mandatory. 
  3. The District Courts may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

Options:

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • The Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 was enacted to provide for the establishment of Gram Nyayalayas at the grassroots level.
  • It aims at providing access to justice to the citizens at their doorsteps and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen due to social, economic or other disabilities. 
  • The Gram Nyayalayas have both civil and criminal jurisdiction over the offenses and nature of suits specified in the First and Second schedules of the Act. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
  • As per Section 3 (1) of the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008, the State Governments are responsible for establishing Gram Nyayalayas in consultation with the respective High Courts. However, the Act does not make the setting up of Gram Nyayalayas mandatory. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
  • The High Court(Not district Court) may, by notification, make rules for carrying out the provisions of Power of High of this Act.  Hence Statement 3 is not correct.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Kalanamak rice:
  1. Kalanamak rice has been cultivated since the Buddhist period
  2. Kalanamak is highly resistant to rice diseases such as panicle blast, stem rot and brown spot
  3. Kalanamak Rice has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Kalanamak Rice is a non-basmati scented rice variety.
  • It is grown in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh and it is named so because of its black husk.
  • Kalanamak rice has been cultivated since the Buddhist period (600 BC). The kalanamak grains were found from excavation of Kapilvastu.  Hence Statement 1 is correct.
    • Kapilvastu, the Kingdom of King Śuddhodana, father of Gautama Buddha is located in Terai of Nepal.
  • Kalanamak is also highly resistant to notorious, and in India common, rice diseases such as panicle blast, stem rot and brown spot. Bacterial blight is quite rarely observed. Hence Statement 2 is correct.
  • In 2021 the government of Uttar Pradesh celebrated Kalanamak Rice Festival in order to promote the One district and One Product campaign.
  • The Kalanamak rice from the Siddharthnagar district is conferred with the GI tag.Hence Statement 3 is correct.
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Union Public Service Commission (UPSC):
  1. The Chairman and members of the commission hold office for a term of five years or until they attain the age of 65 years.
  2. The Chairman of UPSC is eligible for further employment in the Government of India 
  3. The UPSC has to be consulted while making reservations of appointments in favor of backward class of Citizens

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) consists of a chairman and ten members. The terms and conditions of service of the chairman and members of the Commission are governed by the Union Public Service Commission (Members) Regulations, 1969.
  •  The chairman and members of the Commission hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Hence Statement 1 is not correct.
  • The Chairman of the UPSC shall be ineligible for any further employment either under the Government of India or under the Government of a State.Hence Statement 2 is not correct.
  • The UPSC is not consulted on the following matters: While making reservations of appointments or posts in favor of any backward class of citizens. While taking into consideration the claims of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in making appointments to services and posts. Hence Statement 3 is not correct.
Q4. Who was the first ruler who tried to take his message to the people through inscriptions?
  1. Chandragupta Maurya
  2. Bindusara
  3. Ashoka
  4. Dasharatha Maurya
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • The most famous Mauryan ruler was Ashoka. He was the first ruler who tried to take his message to the people through inscriptions. Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in the Brahmi script. Kalinga is the ancient name of coastal Orissa.
  • Hence Option c is correct.
Q5. Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship:
  1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
  2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Every Test series was worth 120 points in the 2019-2021 cycles, with those points distributed evenly across the matches. 
  • All teams played the same number of series, and the two teams with the most points at the end of the cycle were supposed to advance to the final. 
  • The finalists were chosen based on the percentage of available points they accumulated rather than the number of matches they won. Hence Statement 1 is incorrect. 
  • New Zealand has a higher ranking than England because of the percentage of points they have collected rather than the match they have won. Hence Statement 2 is incorrect.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Explain how the draft data accessibility policy risks prioritizing commercial interests over privacy. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2, Polity and Governance]
  2. Discuss the factors that are contributing to India’s export growth and the risks that threaten to stall the momentum. (15 Marks, 250 Words)[GS-3, Economy]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 26 Mar 2022:-Download PDF Here

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