28 May 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

C. GS 3 Related

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Google said to mull joining India’s ONDC

Syllabus: Science and Technology – developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Mains: Details about Open Network for Digital Commerce and its significance

Context

Alphabet Inc’s Google is said to have considered integrating its shopping services with India’s open e-commerce network ONDC.

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

• The ONDC project was commissioned by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) through the Quality Council of India (QCI). 
• The ONDC initiative was introduced to promote the use of open networks for all the aspects of trade in goods and services over digital or electronic platforms. 
• ONDC is developed based on an open-sourced model, using open specifications and open network protocols independent of any specific platform.
• ONDC is set to digitise the whole value chain, standardise operations, promote inclusion of suppliers, increase efficiency in logistics, and improve value for consumers.
• The ONDC platform is in the middle of the interfaces which has both buyers and sellers. It connects a buyer who searches for an item on the interface with the sellers who have listed that particular item. 
• ONDC will have several backend partners such as logistics service providers, enterprise resource planners, e-commerce store hosting service providers, etc.

Read more about- Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

Latest developments

• With a view to restrict the dominance of U.S. firms such as Amazon and Walmart in the fast-growing e-commerce market, India soft-launched its Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) recently.
• The Central government believed that the Indian e-commerce market was worth more than $55 billion in gross merchandise value in 2021 and is expected to increase to about $350 billion by 2030.
• Following the success of its payments business in India because of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Google has shown interest in joining the ONDC. 
  • Currently, Google’s shopping business is limited to being an aggregator of listings and doesn’t carry out order fulfilments like delivery, which the companies like Amazon do.

E. Editorials

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Doing no justice to a vision of democracy

Syllabus: GS II, Social Justice, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States

Mains: Necessary interventions to offer justice to the vision of democracy. 

Context: Over the progressive rhythm of time, India’s vibrant democracy has deviated from Ambedkar’s vision. 

 Analysing further:

• The birth anniversary of the iconic personality Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is celebrated nationally and internationally to commemorate the socio-economic and political reforms nurtured under his vision.
• The Indian Constitution is a befitting example of a timeless effort by Dr. Ambedkar. 
• Ambedkar’s indomitable spirit to uplift the downtrodden section of the society and his staunch opposition to caste discrimination were important elements to establish an equal and just society. 
• Moreover, Dr. Ambedkar’s strong advocacy of socio-cultural justice and economic fairness is echoed through different constitutional provisions. 
• However, as we have graduated with time as a nation, the economic and political setup in the present scenario lacks the true vision of democracy that B. R. Ambedkar put forth. 

The Fundamentals of Democracy:

• There are multiple definitions of democracy including the most popular one penned by Abraham Lincoln which defined ‘Democracy’ as a government of the people, by the people and for the people. 
• These definitions exemplify the people-centric approach as the underpinning for democracy. 
• According to Dr. Ambedkar, there are certain necessary conditions that must be achieved for the sustainable functioning of democracy. These conditions are:
  • The trinity of liberty, equality and fraternity (excerpts of the French Revolution) with a special emphasis on equality 
  • Two-party system to prevent despotism 
  • Equality in law and administration
  • Constitutional morality
  • Absence of tyranny
  • Moral order
  • Public conscience

Revisiting Ambedkar’s Vision: The way ahead

• The profound analysis of the authentic elements of a functional democracy through the eye of Dr. Ambedkar has made the transformation of social, political, and economic systems in the country an urgent requirement. 
• It is time that the government revisits Ambedkar’s active participation in the fight for economic and labour rights. 
• The policies of the day must ensure all the variants of justice that include social, political and economic. 
• Dr. Ambedkar promoted the nationalisation of key and basic industries, the agriculture, and insurance sectors as a way to encourage economic democracy. 
• But the existing acts of the government like the monetisation/privatisation of public sector undertakings, airports, the Indian Railways, telecom companies (BSNL), the Life Insurance Corporation of India, public sector banks, and other public organisations are a deviation from the vision of democracy envisaged by B. R. Ambedkar. 
• It is necessary for the government to act towards the larger interest of the public. This would ensure an adept way of paying homage to the iconic personality of Ambedkar upholding the sanctity of the living document of people’s faith and aspirations, the Constitution.

2. Disability and the barriers to feminine hygiene

Syllabus: GS II, Social Justice, Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector Services relating to Health

Mains: Significance of menstrual health and hygiene management

Context: The issues of menstrual health and hygiene management along with the challenges faced by women with disabilities, need immediate intervention. 

Overview:

• The Government and the non-governmental organisation have put enormous efforts to improve menstrual health and hygiene management in the country with increased awareness and access to female-friendly sanitation facilities.
• Despite several initiatives for the betterment of sanitation facilities for women, certain groups like those women with disabilities have been overlooked and faced hurdles in accessing proper sanitation facilities and menstrual products. 
• According to Census 2011, nearly 27 million persons are disabled and are unable to fully participate in many areas of daily life. 
• These disabled persons have been facing a sense of exclusion and there exists a social barrier for them. 
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 specified that a person with disabilities has long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which prevent the individual from social engagements and activities. 
  • The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act intends to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and provides them with legal safeguards to make them feel equal to the rest of society. 

Emerging concerns:

• Despite the provisions of the act of 2016, the realisation of the rights of disabled persons is poor, especially for those from socially and economically vulnerable sections of society. 
• The girls and women from the poor and marginalised groups with disabilities in India have the added burden of accessing proper sanitation services to maintain their menstrual hygiene. 
• This makes them vulnerable to many infectious diseases such as urinary tract infection, candidiasis and other infections in the vaginal region. 
• There exist embedded prejudices and misconceptions regarding women with disabilities that question their suitability for marriage and their ability to reproduce. 
• Due to the social and physical barriers, access to sexual and reproductive health information and services is suppressed. 
• Preconceived notions attached to menstruation act as hurdles to developing a sense of awareness about menstrual health and hygiene among the poor sections of the population.  
• These issues have impacted the active participation of women in the labour force and kept away many girls from school. 

Ways Ahead:

• It should be circulated in all sections of the society that every menstruating person has the right to menstrual health, irrespective of their gender identity, ability, disability or socioeconomic status.
• India has come a long way with significant progress in destroying stigmas surrounding menstrual health and expanding access to hygiene products. 
• More effective awareness programmes and initiatives must be carried out to promote the significance of menstrual health. 
• More efforts must be encouraged with the collaboration of society, government, and non-governmental organizations to ensure that all menstruating individuals are treated with dignity and inclusiveness.

Category: SOCIETY

1. Sex as Work

Syllabus: GS I, Society, Women and associated issues

Mains: Critical analysis of considering sex as work in the Indian context. 

Context: The Supreme Court has passed an order stating that adult sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection under the law.  

Highlighting the legal provisions:

• The apex court, in a landmark decision, has directed the police to respect the rights of consenting sex workers upholding the provisions of the right to a dignified life as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution. 
• This has been a long-standing demand of the sex workers to get their work decriminalised. 
• The court echoed the verdict of the Budhadev Karmakar case that confers on sex workers, the right to live with dignity. 
• The Court exercised powers under Article 142 to issue guidelines to recognise the rights of sex workers and to prevent human trafficking till a legislative safeguard is enforced. 
• The court has put significant efforts to encourage the government in giving effect to the Trafficking (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill. 

Read comprehensively about Human Trafficking and the legal framework in the linked article.

 The Court’s directive:

• The Supreme Court has asked for the government’s response to the decision of recognising the rights of sex workers within a period of six weeks. 
• The court has conveyed its determination to uphold the basic protections of human decency and the extension of dignity to sex workers and their children. 
• The state governments have been asked to conduct a survey of protective homes under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act which exemplifies legislation governing sex work in India. This law penalises acts such as running a brothel, soliciting in a public place, living off the earnings of a sex worker and living with or habitually being in the company of one. 

Road to a compassionate society:

• The Supreme Court’s order must ignite a sense of compassion in the civilised society we live in and facilitate the police, media and people to rise above all narrowness and head towards a transformative journey. 
• Such a transformed society must recognise the rights of every individual including the sex workers and protect the dignity of all. 
• Therefore, it depends considerably on the government to formulate legislation for protecting the legitimate interests of the consenting sex workers, free them from societal stigmas, offer proper health security benefits to prevent the transmission of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and engage them in the law-making process. 

G. Tidbits

1. IISc develops device to improve data security

• A team of engineers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has developed a True Random Number Generator (TRNG), which can enhance data encryption and provide better security for confidential digital data such as credit card details, passwords and other personal information.
• The strength of this encryption depends on the quality of random numbers generated as a part of Cryptographic Keys, but these are usually generated by the computers based on mathematical formulae or pre-programmed tables whereas the TRNG produces random numbers from inherently random physical processes, making it more secure.
• TRNG has an artificial electron trap made by placing atomically-thin layers of materials like black phosphorus and graphene. 
  • The current measured from the device increases and decreases as an electron is trapped and released. As the movement of electrons is random, the measured current also changes randomly. The timing of this change determines the generated random number.
• Min-entropy is a parameter used to gauge the performance of TRNGs. 
  • Its value ranges from 0 (completely predictable) to 1 (completely random). 
  • This TRNG of IISc has shown a record-high min-entropy of 0.98.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to International Booker 
Prize: (Level – Difficult)

1. The prize is given by the London-based Nomura Charitable Trust.
2. It is awarded annually for a single book, written in another language and translated into English.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is not correct, International Booker Prize is presented by Booker Prize Foundation.
• Statement 2 is correct, Since 2016 it is awarded annually for a single book, written in another language and translated into English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Q2. Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) seen in the news is the trade 
negotiation between India  (Level – Easy)

1. USA
2. Gulf Cooperation Council
3. European Union
4. African Union

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) is the trade negotiation between India and the European Union.
• The BTIA is a broad trade arrangement that covers many factors of trade in goods, services, and investment.

Q3. Which of the following statements about AKRUTI is/are correct? (Level – Medium)

1. It is a programme offered by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
2. It offers non-power applications and spin-off technologies for societal and industrial benefits to help people from the rural region become entrepreneurs. 

Options:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both
4. None 

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct, AKRUTI or Advanced Knowledge and RUral Technology programme is offered by the  Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
• Statement 2 is correct, It offers Non-Power Applications (NPAs) and Spin-off technologies in the area of water, agriculture, food processing and agri-land improvement through urban and rural waste management, that in turn helps people from the rural region become entrepreneurs.

Q4. Which of the following mountain passes are located in Arunachal Pradesh? 
(Level – Medium)

1. Bomdi-La Pass
2. Diphu Pass
3. Pangsau Pass
4. Sela Pass

Options:

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 2, 3 and 4 only
3. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Bomdi-La Pass – connects Arunachal Pradesh with Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet.
• Diphu Pass – connects Arunachal Pradesh with Mandalay in Myanmar.
• Pangsau Pass – connects Arunachal Pradesh with Myanmar.
• Sela Pass – connects Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh to Dirang and Guwahati.

5. In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on 
a surface without soil? (Level – Difficult) [UPSC 2021]

1. Fern
2. Lichen
3. Moss
4. Mushroom

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 4 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 3 and 4 only

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Lichens and mosses are found almost everywhere, like on rocks, ground, etc. and thus most commonly visible.
• Hence option c is correct.