14 Nov 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 14 Nov 2021:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLICIES FOR INDIA’S INTERESTS
1. Govt. under pressure to revisit ‘travel bubble’ policy
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY
1. COP26 seals deal, after India intervenes
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Stop misleading ads on crypto: Govt.
2. Was it really a black hole that the EHT imaged in 2019?
3. Zika virus outbreaks, an opportunity to improve healthcare in India
INTERNAL SECURITY
1. Assam Rifles Commanding Officer, family, four jawans killed in Manipur ambush
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Will MPLADS be changed for post-pandemic needs?
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Will India be sanctioned for S-400 purchase?
2. Gilts for all
F. Prelims Facts
1. ‘37,024 tonnes of monazite can be extracted from beach sand stored by private miners’
2. Nomadic tribal group gets Aadhaar
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Stop misleading ads on crypto: Govt.

Context:

Recently, the Prime Minister chaired a meeting to consider the regulatory prospects for cryptocurrencies.

Details:

• A significant consensus was achieved during the conference to put an end to “attempts to mislead the youth by over-promising and non-transparent advertising.”
• Unregulated crypto markets must not be used as a conduit for money laundering or terror funding.
• Despite the lack of a defined regulatory framework, a number of investors, particularly the young, have been banking on cryptocurrencies for apparently quick profits.

Additional Information

Cryptocurrency

• Cryptocurrency is a digitised asset spread through multiple computers in a shared network.
• The decentralised nature of this network shields them from any control from government regulatory bodies.
• The term “cryptocurrency in itself is derived from the encryption techniques used to secure the network.
• The first type of crypto currency was Bitcoin, which to this day remains the most-used, valuable and popular.

2. Was it really a black hole that the EHT imaged in 2019?

Context: –

A recently published paper provides an alternative explanation of the image of the Balck hole(M87*) taken by the Event Horizon Telescope.

Background

• In 2019, researchers using the Event Horizon Telescope acquired the first photograph of a supermassive black hole (M87*) at the galaxy’s centre, Messier 87. (M87).
• Now, an article published in The European Physical Journal C proposes a new theory for the compact object observed by the Event Horizon Telescope.
• It (M87*) might be a “bare singularity with a gravitomagnetic monopole,” according to the scientists, rather than a black hole.

Additional Information

Black Hole:

• A black hole is a region of space in which gravity is so strong that even light cannot escape. Because matter has been crammed into such a small space, gravity is extremely powerful.
• When stars reach the end of their lives, they collapse under their own gravity, and the product of this collapse, most astronomers believe, is a black hole.
• A black hole has two parts:
  • Singularity: At its core is a singularity which is a point that is infinitely dense. The remnant mass of the star is compressed into this point.
  • Event Horizon: The event horizon is an imaginary surface surrounding the singularity, and the gravity of the object is such that once anything enters this surface, it is trapped forever. Not even light can escape the pull of the singularity once it crosses the event horizon.
• That is why, we cannot see the singularity at the heart of a black hole but only see points outside the event horizon.

Black Hole singularity

• A gravitational singularity is a one-dimensional point in the core of a black hole that holds a massive mass in an endlessly tiny space.
• Here the rules of physics as we know them cease to apply.
• The presence of a singularity is frequently viewed as proof that general relativity theory has failed.
• It is probably unsurprising given that it happens in situations when quantum effects should become significant.

2. Zika virus outbreaks, an opportunity to improve healthcare in India

Context:-

There is a need to optimally use the lab for COVID-19 to conduct testing for other emerging infections such as zika virus.

Background: –

• In 1947, the Zika virus was discovered in rhesus monkeys in Uganda’s Zika forest.
• In 2007, the first Zika virus epidemic was discovered on the Pacific island of Yap.
• The Zika virus epidemic was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016.

Additional Information

Zika Virus

• Zika virus is primarily a mosquito-borne illness which is transmitted by the Aedes Mosquitoes (which transmit chikungunya and dengue).
• Zika virus is transmitted from infected mother to fetus during pregnancy, through blood and other body floods and organ translation as well as sexual contact.
• The symptoms are very similar to other common viral illnesses.
• This virus is an enveloped positive-sense RNA genome that can be translated into viral proteins
• It mutated into two strains called the Asian Strain and the African Strain
• A definitive treatment for Zika Virus has yet not been found and no vaccines have been approved.

Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC)

• The International Health Regulation (2005) defines a PHEIC as an unusual occurrence that is determined to pose a public health risk to other States through the international transmission of illness and to need a coordinated international response.
• Public Health Emergency of International Concern refers to a scenario that is dangerous, uncommon, or unexpected and has public health ramifications beyond the affected State’s national boundary and may necessitate prompt international response.
• Recent PHEIC declarations:

1. The 2009 H1N1 (or swine flu) pandemic
2. The 2014 Polio declaration
3. The 2014 outbreak of Ebola in Western Africa
4. The 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic
5. The ongoing 2018–20 Kivu Ebola epidemic, and
6. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Category: INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Assam Rifles Commanding Officer, family, four jawans killed in Manipur ambush

Context:

Recently, four jawans and Assam Rifles Commanding Officer(CO) were attacked by militants in Manipur.

Background:

• The officer’s convoy was attacked with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by militants.
• The People’s Liberation Army(PLA) and the Manipur Naga People’s Front(MNPF)  jointly claimed responsibility for the ambush.
• The PLA and MNPF’s targeted killing of a CO marked a major escalation in insurgent operations in Manipur.

Insurgency in Manipur

Background of insurgent Groups In Manipur:

• The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) was formed in the 1960s owing to resentment among a portion of Meitei society over Manipur’s merger into the Union of India. This led to the beginning of the insurgency in Manipur.
• Later, various more insurgent organisations arose to demand independence of Manipur.
• The Meiteis were further radicalised by the creation of the People’s Liberation Army.
• After separating from the UNLF in 1969, N Bisheshwar founded the People’s Liberation Army. 
• The goal was freeing the northeastern area via a meticulously organised revolutionary revolt. This was used as a basis for ‘liberating’ the rest of India.” 
• Bisheswar claimed to have built his organisation on Marxism-Leninism and Mao’s ideas, as well as appealing to the Naga and Mizo groups to join the PLA. 
• The Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the PLA’s political branch, was founded in 1979.
• The Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF), which claimed responsibility for the attack, claims it arose from a combination of two Naga underground organisations operating in Manipur.

Significant Work of Assam Rifles 

• The battalion has carried out major seizures of drugs and several successful operations to disrupt illegal smuggling including narcotics along the Myanmar border.
• The battalion has also recovered several weapons and war-like stores which could have landed in the hands of anti-national elements thus avoiding major casualties.
• The battalion focused activities under civic action, student outreach and health campaigns, especially during challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic.

Challenges

• Manipur has a diverse ethnic population with Meitis controlling the Valley, Nagas on the surrounding hills and Kukis interspersed in between.
• Multiethnic Communities: There are a number of other smaller tribal groups with their own set of demands.
  • Naga inhabited areas of Manipur demand Nagalim or Greater Nagaland.
  • The Meitis aim to preserve a unique geographic unit that has existed for ages.
  • Kukis also seek their rights in the fragmented society.
• Political Interests: Insurgent groups are also linked to political parties, resulting in a set of relationships between weapons and political power, as well as finance. As a result, there are inherent interests in maintaining the insurgency. 
• Economic Benefits of Insurgency: Insurgency is increasingly viewed as a lucrative industry, and insurgencies have turned into criminal activities in reality.
• AFSPA is more of a perception problem than a legal issue involving alleged human rights violations.

What Is The Solution To The Insurgency Problem In Manipur?

1. People in the state should reject the state’s fragmented political system by coming together to strive for a better life.
2. People will have to rise beyond petty local politics to guarantee that success in industry and tourism is achieved in a peaceful manner.
3. Given the high level of education, more people should enter the national mainstream through government work or private sector employment, bringing a fresh perspective to the area.
4. There is a need to ensure greater transparency in the local police system.
5. In addition, the legislation should be improved to incorporate the Supreme Court-approved guidelines.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Will India be sanctioned for S-400 purchase?

Context

While India is preparing to welcome the Russian President and Russian defence shield “S-400”, there are speculations over the CATSAA sanctions.

Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) Sanctions

What is CAATSA?

• The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is intended to ensure that no country may strengthen military involvement with Iran, North Korea, or Russia without incurring serious actions from the United States.
• No country is obligated to accept the penalties because they are unilateral and not part of any UN decision.
• This policy makes it illegal for US trading partners to enter into bilateral deals with these three nations.

What are the Sanctions under CAATSA?

• Section 231 states that the President must impose at least five sanctions on any government that engages into a serious defence or intelligence agreement with Russia.
• Section 235 has a list of 12 possible sanctions. Section 235 includes the following options:
  • stopping credit lines from U.S. and international banks such as the IMF,
  • blocking sales of licensed goods and technology,
  • banning banks, manufacturers and suppliers,
  • Banning property transactions
  • financial and visa sanctions on specific officials.

Examples of CAATSA Sanctions on S-400

• China and Turkey have already been sanctioned by the US for purchasing the S-400.
• China was sanctioned by the US State Department in 2018 for purchasing S-400 system-related goods and Sukhoi-35 combat aircraft from Russia.
• The United States sanctioned Turkey in 2020, as well as cancelling an agreement to supply F-35 fighter fighters to Ankara.

Waiver of CAATSA Sanctions

• The law does provide the President the authority to waive or postpone sanctions if he certifies that the agreement poses no harm to the United States or its allies.
• The waiver of sanctions is in the United States’ “vital national security interests,” or the sanctioned country commits to lessen its future reliance on the “adversary country.”

CAATSA and India

Current Position of the Biden Administration on India

• The Biden administration has not said clearly where it stands on India’s case.
• Representatives from Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, have urged the Biden administration to consider granting India a special waiver.

What is India’s position?

• India is scheduled to receive the first S-400 deliveries in December.
• India has not backed down in the face of U.S. opposition thus far.

Why Should the US give CAATSA Waiver to India?

• India is a key defence partner as well as a strategic partner on US concerns surrounding China and in the Quad.
• There is potential for a long-term strategic cooperation between the United States and India, which would benefit the US’s own security interests.
• Any sanctions imposed on India as a result of its acquisition of the S-400 will be detrimental to the United States.
• However, some analysts in the United States believe that granting India a waiver would send the incorrect message to other countries considering similar agreements.

Significance of the S-400 deal to India

1. Game changer: The S-400 is very important for India’s national security considerations, especially as it faces new threats from China, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
2. Advancing Defence capability: The system will also offset the air defence capability gaps due to the IAF’s dwindling fighter squadron strength.Integrating the S-400 into the national air defence architecture will be much easier as India has a large number of legacy Russian air defence systems.
3. Political Reasons: It is necessary for India to preserve and protect its national security interests”. In addition, buying the S-400 is a way for the Narendra Modi Government to assert its ‘strategic autonomy’.
4. Restore Reputation: When India agreed to stop buying Iranian oil over the threat of sanctions in 2019. It has caused India both financial and reputational damage. Thus, it is necessary to restore the wavered principle of Indian foreign policy.

2. Gilts for all

Context

Recently, RBI announced proposals for the Retail Direct Scheme for investors in government securities and the Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.

Retail Direct Scheme

• Small investors can now purchase and sell government securities (G-Secs) or bonds through the Retail Direct Scheme.
• The securities can be purchased directly rather than through a middleman such as a mutual fund.
• Investors who want to register a Retail Direct Gilt account with the RBI directly can do so using an internet portal created specifically for the programme.
• Net banking or the UPI platform can be used to make payments. The securities would be auctioned in the “non-competitive” portion of primary auctions of Government Securities and Treasury Bills by retail participants.
• The government’s ability to tap individual investors may also free up space for corporations to suck up capital from institutional investors.

Aims and Objectives:

• To help broaden the investor base and provide retail investors with enhanced access to the government securities market — both primary and secondary.
• To place India among a select few countries which have similar facilities.
• To facilitate smooth completion of the Government borrowing programme in 2021-22.

Integrated Ombudsman

• The RBI would appoint the Ombudsman and a Deputy Ombudsman for three years.
• Complaints may be made either physically to the Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre or the RBI’s offices; or electronically through the regulator’s complaint management system.

Need of an Integrated Ombudsman

• Previously, the RBI had three distinct ombudsman programmes for banks, NBFCs, and non-bank prepaid payment issuers to help with dispute resolution.
• With the implementation of the integrated scheme, conflict resolution will become “simpler, more efficient, and more responsive.”
• As a result, the idea aimed to simplify the grievance resolution procedure by allowing customers to register their concerns.

Concerns of Retail Direct Scheme

• As the borrower, the government provides a sovereign guarantee for the money, ensuring that there is no chance of default.
• In addition, depending on current interest rate patterns, government securities may offer superior interest rates than bank fixed deposits.
• The RBI underlined that the adjudication of outstanding complaints, appeals, and enforcement of the awards passed “will continue to be regulated by the terms of the various Ombudsman Schemes” despite the repeal of the three previous schemes.

2. Nomadic tribal group gets Aadhaar

Context:

Members of Kattupaniya have enrolled for Aadhaar cards with the intervention of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA).

Kattupaniya Tribe

• Kattupaniya is a nomadic tribal group of Kerala.
• The tribe was rehabilitated from caves near the South Wayanad-Nilambur Forest Division in Kerala a few years ago.

Q1. Consider the following Pairs:

Q2. With reference to TESS, which of the following statements is/are correct?

Q3. Which of the following are Mosquito-borne diseases?

Q4. Consider the following statements:

Q5. Consider the following statements in respect of Trade Related Analysis of Fauna and Flora 
in Commerce (TRAFFIC):

CNA 14 Nov 2021:- Download PDF Here