11 May 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 11 May 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. The troubles of India’s aviation industry
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. A ground view of the Indian Space Policy
SECURITY
1. Pokhran-II: A moment of profound epiphany
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. Santiniketan may be added to World Heritage List
2. Study on sludge finds high potential for use as fertilizer after treatment
3. China objects to India’s bid to blacklist senior JeM leader at the UN
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

2. Study on sludge finds high potential for use as fertilizer after treatment

  • In a first-ever study conducted on the sludge found in Indian sewage treatment plants (STP), it was found that most of the sludge had a β€œhigh potential” for use as fertilizer, but it required treatment before it could be used in an unrestricted manner in farms or as a biofuel.
  • One of the initiatives of the National Mission for Clean Ganga is to derive livelihood opportunities from the river rejuvenation programme.Β 
    • β€œArth Ganga” is one of the measures under the mission that aims to β€œmonetise” and reuse treated wastewater and sludge.
    • This involves converting sludge into usable products such as manure and bricks.
    • Sludge is a thick residue that usually consists of rich organic chemicals as well as heavy metals, industrial effluents and bacterial contaminants.
  • According to the standards of the United States Environment Protection Agency, treated sludge can be categorised into class A or B.
    • Class A is regarded as safe to be disposed of in the open and can be used as organic fertiliser.Β 
    • Class B sludge can be used in a β€œrestricted” manner in agricultural applications and the edible parts of the crop should not be exposed to the sludge-mixed soil.Β 
    • India, however, does not have any such standards in place to classify sludge.
  • A recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee has revealed that most of the sludge analysed fell into the class B category.Β 

3. China objects to India’s bid to blacklist senior JeM leader at the UN

  • India’s proposals to blacklist Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Abdul Rauf Azhar at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) were objected to by China.
  • Abdul Rauf Azhar has been involved in planning and executing numerous terror strikes in India which include the hijacking of Indian Airlines aircraft IC814 in 1999, the attack on Parliament in 2001 and the targeting of the IAF base in Pathankot in 2016.
  • China objected to the proposal from India to add Abdul Rauf of the JeM to the UN Security Council’s 1267 ISIL and Al Qaida Sanctions list.
  • China had also blocked the proposals to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists Hafiz Talah Saeed, Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Shahid Mahmood and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba terrorist Sajid Mir in the past.

For more information on this topic, refer to the following article:

UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated 18 Jan 2023

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with regard to the Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) project: (Level – Easy)
  1. The Indian LIGO would have two perpendicularly placed 4-km-long vacuum chambers, that constitute the most sensitive interferometers in the world.
  2. It will be located in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra, about 450 km east of Mumbai.
  3. The LIGO in the US first detected gravitational waves in 2013, which led to a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.

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, The Indian LIGO comprises two 4-km-long vacuum chambers, built perpendicular to each other that constitute the most sensitive interferometers in the world.
  • Statement 2 is correct, LIGO-India will be located in the Hingoli district of Maharashtra, about 450 km east of Mumbai.
    • The government has recently approved the construction of the project and it will be built by the Department of Atomic Energy and the Department of Science and Technology with the U.S. National Science Foundation and several national and international research institutions.
  • Statement 3 is not correct, The LIGO in the US first detected gravitational waves in 2015, which led to a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2017.
Q2. Consider the following statements about Section 144 of the CrPC: (Level – Easy)
  1. This law empowers the magistrate of any state or union territory in India to pass an order prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in a specified area.
  2. According to the order under this section, there shall be no movement of the public but the educational institutions may remain open.
  3. It doesn’t empower the authorities to block internet access in the region.

Which of these are incorrect?

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, Section 144 of the CrPC empowers a district magistrate, a sub-divisional magistrate, or any other executive magistrate empowered by the state government, to issue orders to prevent and address urgent cases of apprehended danger or nuisance.
    • This law empowers the magistrate of a State or UT to pass an order prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in a specified area.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, As per the order under the said section, there shall be no movement of public and all educational institutions shall also remain closed.
  • Statement 3 is not correct, The Section also empowers authorities to block internet access in the region.
Q3. Which of the following best defines the phrase β€˜persona non grata’? (Level–Moderate)
  1. It refers to a diplomat or foreign person whose entering or remaining in a certain country has been prohibited by that country
  2. It refers to a diplomat whose immunity has been taken away due to gross violation of a law
  3. It refers to a diplomat or foreign person who doesn’t need a visa to visit the country
  4. It refers to a diplomat or foreign person who acts as the ambassador of a nation in the absence of the full-time ambassador
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • In diplomacy, a β€œpersona non grata” refers to a foreign diplomat who is asked to be recalled to their home country by their host country.Β 
  • If the person is not recalled as requested, the host state may refuse to recognize the person concerned as a member of the diplomatic mission.
Q4. Which of the following statements is incorrect? (Level – Easy)
  1. NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) is a quasi-judicial body that adjudicates issues relating to companies.
  2. Any person aggrieved by any order of the NCLAT (National Company Law Appellate Tribunal) may file an appeal to the High Court.
  3. NCLAT is also the appellate tribunal for orders passed by the NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, and for orders passed by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under Sections 202 and 211 of the IBC.
  4. The NCLAT was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 to hear appeals against the orders of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT).
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is a quasi-judicial authority incorporated for dealing with corporate disputes that are of civil nature arising under the Companies Act.
  • A person aggrieved by an order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCALT) may file an appeal to the Supreme Court.
  • NCLAT is the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
  • NCLAT is also the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.
  • NCLAT was established under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of the National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT), with effect from 1st June 2016.
Q5. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the general difference 
between plant and animal cells? (Level – Easy) [PYQ - 2020]
  1. Plant cells have cellulose cell walls whilst animal cells do not.
  2. Plant cells do not have plasma membranes unlike animal cells which do.
  3. Mature plant cell has one large vacuole whilst an animal cell has many small vacuoles.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, All plant cells consist of a hard layer outside the cell membrane called a cell wall. Animal cells lack a cell wall.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, Plasma membranes are present both in plant as well as animal cells.
  • Statement 3 is correct, In plants, a single, large and permanent vacuole is present.Β 
    • In animal cells, vacuoles, if present are small and many.​

Read the previous CNAΒ here.

CNA 11 May 2023:- Download PDF Here

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