02 May 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 02 May 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. CEC moves SC against Madras HC’s comments
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. U.S. begins final phase of Afghan pullout
2. On N. Korea, Biden to chart his own course
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. Public buildings and fire safety rules
F. Prelims Facts
1. J&K govt. teacher dismissed under Article 311 without inquiry
2. U.S. clears sale of six P-8I patrol aircraft to India
3. Wandering poles
4. Herpetologist Deepak Veerappan has a snake named after him
G. Tidbits
1. 1.5 lakh doses of Sputnik V land in India
2. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree to a ceasefire after deadly clashes
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. U.S. begins final phase of Afghan pullout

Context:

  • The final phase of ending America’s war in Afghanistan formally began with the withdrawal of the last U.S. and NATO troops.

Background:

  • The U.S. and its NATO allies went into Afghanistan in October 2001 to hunt the al-Qaeda perpetrators of the 9/11 terrorist attacks who lived under the protection of the country’s Taliban rulers.
  • The Taliban was defeated and al-Qaeda fighters and their leader, Osama bin Laden, were on the run.

Details:

  • The U.S. President Joe Biden had set May 1 as the official start of the withdrawal of the remaining U.S. troops and NATO soldiers.

U.S.’s stand:

  • The U.S. claims that its initial mission was accomplished when U.S. Navy SEALS killed bin Laden in his hideout in Pakistan.
  • The al-Qaeda has been degraded and is on the wane.
  • The terrorist threat has “metastasised” into a global phenomenon that cannot be contained by focussing only on one country like Afghanistan.
  • The U.S. is trying to keep up its part of Peace deal with the Taliban signed in February 2020, which said that it would withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by May 1.

Concerns:

  • The period since 2001, there have been over 47000 Afghanistan civilians killed. Millions more have been displaced inside Afghanistan or have fled to Pakistan, Iran and Europe.
  • Peace talks between the Taliban and Afghan government have made very little progress. Afghanistan’s security forces are expected to come under increasing pressure from the Taliban after the withdrawal if no peace agreement is reached in the interim.
  • There has been continuing violence in Afghanistan despite the historic February 2020 deal. The terrorist attacks have continued.

2. On N. Korea, Biden to chart his own course

Context:

  • U.S. administration officials have completed a review of U.S. policy toward North Korea

Background:

  • The U.S. considers North Korea nuclearization as one of the greatest and most vexing national security threats facing the U.S. and its allies and seeks to stop North Korea’s nuclear programme.

Details:

  • The U.S. administration would seek a middle ground between Mr. Trump’s “grand bargain” and Mr. Obama’s “strategic patience” approaches.
    • President Barack Obama’s dual-track policy involved keeping engagement open for North Korea’s good behaviour while seeking to impose sanctions for its bad behaviour.
  • While the policy goal continues to remain the complete de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, the new administration is trying to set the stage for incremental progress, in which denuclearisation steps by the North would be met with corresponding actions, including sanctions relief, from the U.S.

F. Prelims Facts

1. J&K govt. teacher dismissed under Article 311 without inquiry

Context:

  • A Jammu & Kashmir government teacher — who in the police records is a Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) supporter — was terminated from his services.
  • The action was taken by the Lieutenant Governor under the provisions of the Article 311 of the Constitution of India.

Article 311:

  • Article 311 deals with dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or a State.
  • Article 311(2), sub clause (c) notes that where the President or the Governor, as the case may be, is satisfied that in the interest of the security of the State, it is not expedient to hold such inquiry into the allegations against a person, enquiry may be skipped.

2. U.S. clears sale of six P-8I patrol aircraft to India

Context:

  • The U.S. State Department has approved the proposed sale of P-8I patrol aircraft and related equipment to India.

Details:

  • P-8I is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft manufactured by Boeing for the Indian Navy. It is a variant of the P-8A Poseidonoperated by the US Navy.
  • The P-8I aircraft is designed to protect the vast coastline and territorial waters of India. It can conduct anti-submarine warfare, intelligence, maritime patrol, and surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

3. Wandering poles

  • A new study points to the possibility of global warming and melting glaciers affecting drifting of the Earth’s magnetic axis.
    • The locations of the North and South Poles change as the Earth’s axis spins.
  • The melting glaciers could have redistributed the global water fronts to such an extent that they have redefined the ‘polar wander’ or the drifting of the Earth’s axis.

4. Herpetologist Deepak Veerappan has a snake named after him

  • A new snake species has been discovered. It has been reported to be an endemic species of Tamil Nadu and has been sighted in a few locations in the southern part of the Western Ghats.
  • Named Xylophis deepaki, it is a tiny snake of just 20 cm length with iridescent scales.
  • The species is named in honour of Indian herpetologist Deepak Veerappan for his contribution in erecting a new subfamily Xylophiinae to accommodate wood snakes.
    • Wood snakes are harmless, sub-fossorial and often found while digging soil in farms and under the logs in the Western Ghat forests. They feed on earthworms and possibly other invertebrates. Interestingly, their close relatives are found in northeast India and Southeast Asia and are known to be arboreal.
  • This new species is found in the drier regions and in lower altitudes around Agasthyamalai hills. The other Xylophis were reported from cold higher altitudes, of 1,700 m and above, in the Nilgiris and the Anaimalai.
  • The new find increases the total number of currently recognised wood snakes to five species.

G. Tidbits

1. 1.5 lakh doses of Sputnik V land in India

  • The first consignment of Russia’s Sputnik V landed in Hyderabad from Russia.
  • Sputnik V will join Covishield and the indigenous Covaxin that are being used from vaccination in India. This third option will augment India’s vaccine capacity and accelerate the vaccination drive.
  • Based on the human adenoviral vector platform, the Russian vaccine received emergency use authorisation in India last month. The efficacy of Sputnik V has been reported to be 91.6%.

2. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan agree to a ceasefire after deadly clashes

  • Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have been involved in deadly clashes at their shared border.
  • Despite attempts to ensure a ceasefire, clashes have continued along the border.
  • Clashes between communities of the two countries over land and water along the long-contested border are regular occurrences, with border guards often getting involved.

Kazakhistan

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?
  1. The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and is the primary fund available with State Governments for responses to notified disasters.
  2. The annual Central contribution is released in two equal installments as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission.
  3. SDRF shall be used only for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims.
  4. The allocation to each State depends on its population and utilisation of such funds in the previous financial year.

Options:

  1. Only 1 & 2
  2. Only 1, 2 & 3
  3. Only 1, 3 & 4
  4. All of the Above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), constituted under Section 48 (1) (a) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, is the primary fund available with State Governments for responses to notified disasters.
  • The Central Government contributes 75% of SDRF allocation for general category States/UTs and 90% for special category States/UTs (NE States, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir).
  • The annual Central contribution is released in two equal installments as per the recommendation of the Finance Commission.
  • SDRF shall be used only for meeting the expenditure for providing immediate relief to the victims.
  • The allocation to each State depends on its population and utilization of such funds in the previous financial year.

Context:

  • As a special dispensation, the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, at the recommendation of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has released in advance of the normal schedule the first instalment of the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for 2021-22 to all the States.
  • In relaxation of the normal procedure, not only has the release of the SDRF been advanced, the amount has also been released without waiting for the utilisation certificate of the amount provided to the States in the last financial year.
Q2. Nagorno-Karabakh is often in news, in relation to which of the following?
  1. territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
  2. territorial conflict between Kyrgystan and Tajikistan
  3. territorial conflict between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
  4. territorial conflict between Kazakhstan and  Kyrgystan
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, within the mountainous range of Karabakh.
  • Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed territory, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
  • In September 2020, a new war erupted in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories, which saw armed conflict between the forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Q3. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct regarding National Building Code of 
India (NBC)?
  1. It is published by the Bureau of Indian Standards and is a “recommendatory document”, and States have been asked to incorporate it into their local building bylaws.
  2. It specifies the technical requirements for special buildings, high rises, educational and institutional buildings higher than 9 metres, and those with an area of over 300 square metres.
  3. The code mandates heavy fire liability insurance compulsory for all public buildings.

Options:

  1. Only 1
  2. Only 1 & 2
  3. Only 2 & 3
  4. All of the Above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • The National Building Code of India does not mandate heavy fire liability insurance for public buildings.
Q4. Which of the following statement regarding Remdesivir is incorrect?
  1. It is a brand name of a drug used in Covid-19 patients.
  2. It was originally developed to treat Hepatitis C.
  3. It is an intravenous nucleotide prodrug.
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Remdesivir, sold under the brand name Veklury, is a broad-spectrum antiviral medication.
  • Remdesivir was originally developed to treat hepatitis C, and was subsequently investigated for Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus infections before being studied as a post-infection treatment for COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, remdesivir was approved or authorized for emergency use to treat COVID‑19 in around 50 countries.
  • It is administered via injection into a vein.
  • Remdesivir is a prodrug.
    • A prodrug is a medication or compound that, after administration, is metabolized (i.e., converted within the body) into a pharmacologically active drug.
  • The GS-441524 monophosphate form of Remdesivir subsequently biotransforms into GS-441524 triphosphate, a ribonucleotide analogue inhibitor of viral RNA polymerase.
Q5. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?
  1.  Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference
  2.  Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
  3.  Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
  4.  Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • The Gandhi–Irwin Pact was a political agreement signed by Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India, in 1931.
  • While Gandhiji agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second round table conference, the British agreed to withdraw ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement and release prisoners who were not charged with violence.
  • Despite the demand for an enquiry into police excesses during the Civil Disobedience Movement, this demand was not accepted by the British administration, while the other three demands were accepted.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Discuss the measures that need to be adapted to prevent fire hazards in hospitals during the COVID-19 health crisis and suggest post-disaster recovery plan.  (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-3,Disaster Management]
  2. Write a note on Cross-Border Conflict in Post-Soviet Central Asia and examine the causes of the conflict. (10 Marks, 150 Words)[GS-2,International Relations]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 02 May 2021:- Download PDF Here

IAS General Studies Notes Links
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Section 377 Of Ipc Indra Sawhney
Deity How Many Languages Are Spoken In India
History Of India National Medical Commission
Psir Optional Syllabus Commonwealth Of Nations

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