CNA 04 Nov 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related EDUCATION 1. Decline in pre-primary enrolments continued in 2021-22, says govt. Report C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT 1. Climate Change Migration F. Prelims Facts 1. Cordy gold nanoparticles 2. Wangala dance G. Tidbits 1. Going beyond Amur falcons: Nagaland to celebrate avian diversity, undertake census 2. RISAT-2 satellite makes re-entry into Earthβs atmosphere 3. India will insist on action, clear framework at COP27 H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. Decline in pre-primary enrolments continued in 2021-22, says govt. Report
Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education
Prelims: About Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) Report
Mains: Key findings of the UDISE+ report
Context: Release of a Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report by the Ministry of Education.
Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) Report
- Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) was started in 2013 by integrating DISE for elementary and secondary education.Β
- Ever since, it has been one of the largest Management Information Systems on School Education that covers over 1.49 million schools, over 9.5 million teachers and about 265 million children.
- UDISE+ report is an updated version of UDISE and now the entire system is made online and has been collecting data in real-time since 2018-19.
- UDISE+ report is released by the Ministry of Education.
- UDISE+ has been mandated to collect data from all schools imparting formal education from Classes I to XII.
- UDISE+ considers schools as the unit of data collection and districts as the unit of data distribution.
- UDISE+ collects data through an online Data Collection Form (DCF) based on parameters such as school, infrastructure, teachers, enrolments, examination results, etc.
Key findings of the latest UDISE+ report
- According to the report, the number of students entering pre-primary classes in 2021-2022 experienced a further reduction which has led to 30% fewer students in the school sections as compared to pre-Covid times.
- As per the report, about 94.95 lakh students entered pre-primary classes in 2021-2022 which saw a drop of about 10% as compared to 2020-21 wherein close to 1.06 crore students entered pre-primary classes.Β
- However, the year 2020-2021 also experienced a 21% drop in enrolment in pre-primary classes as compared to 1.35 crore student enrollments in 2019-2020 which was the year before school closures and classrooms moving online.
- The report also notes that younger students in areas where there is lesser access to remote learning continue to be the most impacted due to learning loss on account of the COVID pandemic.
- The enrollments into primary classes (classes 1 to 5) also witnessed a decline for the first time.
- The enrollments reduced to 12.18 lakh in 2021-2022 from 12.20 lakh in 2020-2021.Β
- However, the report suggests that the total number of students from primary to higher secondary has increased by about 19 lakh to 25.57 crores.
- The report for the first time since the pandemic highlights that there was a reduction in the number of schools because of closures and a lack of teachers.
- The number of schools in the country declined by about 20,000 in 2021-2022 (14.89 lakh) as compared to 15.09 lakh in 2020-21.
- Additionally, the number of teachers also reduced from 96.96 lakh in 2020-2021 to 95.07 lakh in 2021-2022.
- Computer facilities were found in about 44.75% of schools and internet access was available in about 33.9% of schools.Β
- However, the availability of computer facilities and internet access has improved as compared to pre-COVID years as only 38.5% of schools had computers and 22.3% had Internet facilities earlier.
- Further, the Gender Parity Index (GPI) which indicates the number of girls in school with respect to their population in the corresponding age group, was seen to be favourable to girls with a GPI value of 1.
Nut graf: The latest UDISE+ report suggests that the number of school dropouts is on the rise coupled with a decline in the number of schools and teachers post the COVID pandemic. This calls for significant efforts by the government and all the stakeholders as quality education is the right of every child in the country.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
Category: BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT
Syllabus: International Environment Agencies & AgreementsΒ
Mains: Policies to combat Climate Change
Context: Vanuatu backs fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty at UN General Assembly.
Introduction:
- Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation, has called on countries at the UN General Assembly to sign up for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, ending all new coal, oil and gas projects and phasing out existing ones.Β
- It is the first country to call for such a treaty. The Vatican, the UN Secretary-General and the World Health Organization have all backed ending fossil fuel production worldwide.Β
- A similar call on coal use was made at the COP26, Glasgow.Β
- The language of the decision at Glasgow was toned down from βphaseoutβ to βphase downβ of unabated coal power and inefficient fuel subsidies after a strong protest by several countries, especially India who argued that the phaseout was unfair to countries that were heavily dependent on coal power in the medium term.Β
- Vanuatu also urged global leaders to support its campaign to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on countriesβ legal obligations to protect people from climate harm.
- Comprising more than 80 islands stretching across 1,300km, Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and intense cyclones.Β
- Palau and the Marshall Islands previously tried to request a similar advisory opinion from the ICJ in 2012, but failed to secure a majority.Β
Treaty v/s Convention:
- The call to end fossil fuels through a mandate in the UN has very different implications than when it is presented under the UN Climate Change Convention.Β
- A UN mandate of this nature is divorced from the legal responsibility of the developed countries to reduce their emissions on the basis of responsibility, capability and national circumstances, as required by the Climate Change Convention.Β
- It also makes no provisions for technological and financial innovations that are necessary to ensure the transition.Β
- A few months ago, the UN Security Council rejected a draft resolution that would have integrated climateβrelated security risk as a central component of United Nations conflictβprevention strategies aiming to help counter the risk of conflict relapse.
- This was due to the opposition of most of the global south, which saw in this an attempt to address climate change not through international cooperation and consensus but by imposing the wish of a select few on others.
Significance of this plea:
- Vanuatu represents a strong and vocal group of small island developing states whose voice is heard with attention and empathy in the UN as the matter will affect the global discourse on climate change.Β
- The small island group has gone around seeking endorsements from various quarters β governments, the corporate world and civil society.Β
- The Mayor of Kolkata, the capital of one of the largest coal-producing States in India, has lent his voice of support.Β
- This call for a treaty has started discussions around the issue ahead of COP27 in Egypt.
- If a majority of countries at the UN general assembly give the ICJ a mandate to act, the court will be tasked with interpreting what international human rights and environmental laws mean for countriesβ responsibility to act on the causes and impacts of climate change.Β
- The UN general assembly is one of the few bodies authorised to request advisory opinions from the ICJ, which settles legal disputes between countries.Β
- This could inform climate lawsuits around the world and strengthen vulnerable countriesβ calls for more support at international negotiations.
Road Ahead:
- The unsustainable levels of natural resource consumption and the extravagant lifestyles led by consumers in developed economies account for a sizable portion of the increase in global emissions.
- The Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) movement recently initiated by India assumes importance in this context.
- There are other methods to lower world emissions besides coal phasedown. In many countries, including India, coal is the principal source of energy and the fundamental and integral part of their energy system.
- Reducing coal-fired power may create several difficulties in securing the progress of developing economies towards key sustainable development goals.Β
- The transition to a world of lower emissions has to be sustainable and equitable.Β
- The transition must ensure equal access to energy and secure energy supplies for all.Β
- Building climate-resilient infrastructure in developing countries must be given high priority.
- More investment in energy innovations and alternative technologies is necessary along with phasing down the fossil fuel use in the energy mix.
Nut Graf: Recent call for fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty by Vanuatu assumes significance ahead of COP 27Β in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Ongoing energy stress in Europe due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis has dented countries’ ability to reduce emissions. Addressing the adverse impacts of climate change and preparing the vulnerable population for an uncertain future assumes priority.Β
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology; Achievements of Indians in science & technology
Prelims: Cordy gold nanoparticles
Context: A collaborative experiment by scientists which led to Cordy gold nanoparticles (Cor-AuNPs) has received an international patent from Germany.
Cordy gold nanoparticles (Cor-AuNPs)
- These are nanoparticles derived from the synthesis of the extracts of Cordyceps militaris and gold salts.
- Cordyceps militaris is a high-value parasitic fungus. It is also regarded as a βsuper mushroomβ for its remarkable medicinal properties.
- Gold salts are ionic chemical compounds of gold used in medicine.
- These Cordy gold nanoparticles are expected to make drug delivery in the human body quicker and surer.
- According to experts the penetration of drugs in the cells is better and more proficient when the drug particles are smaller. In this context, Cordyceps militaris adds bioactive components to the synthesis of gold nanoparticles for better penetration.
- The research on biosynthesised nanogold particles unlocks a whole new application of nanoparticles in the development of therapeutic drugs that can be delivered in the form of ointments, tablets, and capsules among others.
- A group of scientists from India had been working extensively on the genetic diversity and medicinal properties of the wild Cordyceps mushroom grown in the eastern Himalayan belt and they have now standardised the cultivation of this mushroom with antimicrobial, antidiabetic and antioxidant properties.
Syllabus: GS-1; Art and Culture; Salient aspects of Art Forms
Prelims: About Wangala dance
Context: The members of the Garo tribal community perform the Wangala dance on the occasion of βThe Rising Sun Water Fest-2022β held on the banks of Umiam Lake in Meghalaya.
Wangala Dance
- Wangala dance is one of the most popular folk dance forms among the Garos of Meghalaya.
- Wangala dance is performed during the Wangala festival which is also known as a β100 drums festivalβ.
- The Wangala Festival is a harvest festival held in honour of Saljong who is the βSun-god of fertilityβ.Β
- The festival also marks the end of a period of toil which brings good output from the fields and indicates the onset of winter.
- While performing the dance people are dressed in colourful attire with feathered headgear.Β
- During the performance, the main motif is a queue of two parallel lines – one of the men and the other of women clad in their festive fineries.
- The instruments used during the dance include long oval-shaped drums, gongs, and flutes made of buffalo horn.
G. Tidbits
1. Going beyond Amur falcons: Nagaland to celebrate avian diversity, undertake census
- Nagaland is undertaking TokhΓΌ Emong Bird Count (TEBC), the first avian documentation exercise. The exercise is held with the collaboration of the Wokha Forest Division, the Divisional Management Unit of the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) and Bird Count India.
- The exercise has been undertaken amidst the celebration of TokhΓΌ Emong festival which is the post-harvest festival of the Lothas community who dominate the Wokha district which is said to be the most preferred stopover of the Amur Falcons, a migratory bird travelling from east Asia to southern Africa.
- Amur Falcons have put Nagaland on the world birding map and the exercise is being organised to make the residents of the state feel proud of the birdlife and nature.
- Experts feel that such initiatives have become important for the northeastern states as the regionβs rich bird diversity is threatened by habitat loss and hunting in recent times.
2. RISAT-2 satellite makes re-entry into Earthβs atmosphere
- ISROβs RISAT-2 satellite has made an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earthβs atmosphere in the Indian Ocean near Jakarta.
- RISAT-2 satellite was launched by the PSLV-C12 launch vehicle in 2009 and the initial designed life of the satellite was said to be only four years.Β
- However, the satellite has provided very useful payload data for over 13 years because of proper maintenance of orbit, mission planning and economical fuel usage by the spacecraft operations team of ISRO.
- The Indian System for Safe and Sustainable Space Operations Management (IS4OM) facility in ISTRAC, Bengaluru, had been monitoring the re-entry of the satellite and analysis was continuously carried out by VSSC and ISTRAC teams through its in-house developed analysis software and tracking the object using the Multi Object Tracking Radar (MOTR) at SDSC, Sriharikota.
3. India will insist on action, clear framework at COP27
- The Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has held that India will insist on βactionβ and a clear pathway for the developed countries to follow to deliver long-promised finance to developing countries at the upcoming United Nations Conference of Parties-27 (COP27) being held in Sharm-El-Shaikh in Egypt.
- India will seek clarity on climate finance, technology transfer and clear definitions of climate finance as there have been several claims made on funds being given by the West but loans and grants must be clearly differentiated.Β Β
- About $100 billion annually has been assured to developing countries since 2008 for mitigating climate change but only a small share of it has actually been extended.
- Further, the minister added that India would endorse initiatives that provide technical assistance to developing countries for minimising loss and damage due to the impacts of climate change, and insist on an institutional network for the same.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following Pairs: (Level β Difficult)
Β Β Β Β Β DanceΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β State
- Chari Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Madhya Pradesh
- Dhimsa Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Arunachal Pradesh
- PadayaniΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Goa
- WangalaΒ Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Β Meghalaya
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- Only one pair
- Only two pairs
- Only three pairs
- All four pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Pair 1 is not correct, Chari dance is a folk dance form associated with the Gujjar and Saini communities of Kishangarh, Ajmer and other places of Rajasthan.
- Pair 2 is not correct, Dhimsa is a tribal dance form performed mainly by the Porja caste women in Andhra Pradesh.
- Pair 3 is not correct, Padayani is a ritual art form performed at Bhadrakali temples located on the banks of river Pampa in the state of Kerala.
- Pair 4 is correct, Wangala dance is performed during the Wangala festival, also called the festival of βThe Hundred Drumsβ, associated with the Garo tribes in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Assam.
Q2. With respect to Enemy Property, which of the following statements is/are correct (Level β Medium)?
- Enemy property is the property left behind in India by people who took Pakistani and Chinese citizenship.
- The law of succession applies to enemy property.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Enemy properties are those left behind by the people who took citizenship of Pakistan and China after leaving India.
- Statement 2 is not correct, Law of succession does not apply to enemy property.
Q3. Which of the following are the applications of RISAT-2? (Level β Medium)
- Monitor India’s borders
- Track hostile ships at sea that are deemed a military threat
- Beneficial in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides
- Take images of the Earth through the thickest cloud cover, in rain, and in snowy or foggy conditions during night and day
Options:
- 1 and 2 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- RISAT-2 is an X-band SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) reconnaissance satellite of ISRO.
- RISAT-2 is India’s first satellite with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
- The applications of RISAT-2 satellite include:
- Monitor India’s borders as part of anti-infiltration and anti-terrorist operations
- High-resolution spot imaging of locations
- Track hostile ships at sea that are deemed a military threat
- Β Beneficial in mapping and managing natural disasters, such as floods and landslides
- Take images of the Earth through the thickest cloud cover, in rain, and in snowy or foggy conditions during night and day
- Hence option d is correct.
Q4. Bonalu is a traditional festival celebrated in the State of: (Level β Easy)
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Bonalu is a traditional Hindu festival centred on the Goddess Mahakali and celebrated in Telangana.Β
- Bonalu festival is celebrated annually in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, and other parts of the state.
Q5. Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers (Level β Medium)?
- Cauvery
- Manjira
- Pennar
- Tungabhadra
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Gandikota which is regarded as the βGrand Canyon of South Indiaβ is located in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
- Gandikota gorge is situated along the Pennar River.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- The UNFCCC COP27 may well be defined as a βnow or neverβ chance for the nations to save our Earth. Do you agree? Comment. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS-3; Environment)
- While the school enrolment numbers may have increased in the past few years, the learning outcomes in India are still far from satisfactory. What are the possible reasons behind this? (250 words; 15 marks) (GS-2; Education)
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 04 Nov 2022:- Download PDF Here
Comments