20 Nov 2020: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

20 Nov 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. What are Sri Lanka’s prospects with RCEP in India’s absence?
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Digital India is now a way of life, says PM
C. GS 3 Related
SECURITY
1. Terror funding: Saeed gets 10 years in jail
2. Centre keen to grow India as a large data economy: Prasad
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. A world in chaos and a moment of truth
ECONOMY
1. India’s mask of economic liberalism is off
F. Prelims Facts
1. Willow warbler spotted for the first time
2. Panel mulls if MPs can teach at universities
G. Tidbits
1. PM moots closer fintech ties with Luxembourg
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Digital India is now a way of life, says PM

Context:

At the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2020, the Prime Minister of India has asserted that ‘technology first’ is India’s governance model.

Details:

  • Digital India mission was launched in India in 2015.
  • The Digital India mission is not being seen as any regular government initiative and has become a way of life, especially for the poor and marginalised and those in the government.
  • The PM called on the youth to play a big role in devising robust cybersecurity solutions.

Note:

  • Addressing the summit, the Australian Prime Minister said India and Australia had unlimited possibilities of working together in space research, critical minerals, 5G, Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing and much more.
  • The two countries are working together for an open, free, safe and secure Internet.
  • Australia’s PM said that Australia-India cyber and critical technologies partnership grant programme would be soon launched.
  • They have already signed the landmark Australia-India Technology Framework agreement on cyber and cyber-enabled technology.
  • Australia believes that technology held the key to new science, medical research, reduction of carbon emission and tackling of global climate change, and it was now at the forefront of foreign policy, security and defence.

2. Centre keen to grow India as a large data economy: Prasad

Context:

 The Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology said that, as a precursor to the government’s plans to cultivate India as a large data economy, the country will have its Data Protection Law in place.

Details:

  • He asserted that data would drive the digital economy and international commerce, and that it offered ‘a great opportunity for India to emerge as a data economy’, supported by innovation and data refining.

Read more about the Personal Data Protection Bill 2019.

2. Panel mulls if MPs can teach at universities

What’s in News?

The Joint Parliamentary Committee on Office of Profit deliberated on whether an MP can continue to teach at a university and if this draws the provisions of “Office of Profit” rules.

  • So far, the committee has not taken any call on the issue.
  • Under Article 102 (1) and Article 191 (1) of the Constitution, an MP or an MLA (or an MLC) is barred from holding any office of profit under the Central or State government.

Read more about the Office of Profit.

G. Tidbits

1. PM moots closer fintech ties with Luxembourg

What’s in News?

The first bilateral summit in two decades was held via videoconferencing between the Prime Minister of India and his Luxembourg counterpart.

  • The Prime Minister of India has pitched for strengthening ties between India and Luxembourg in areas such as financial and digital technologies.
  • Luxembourg is the third-largest source of Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI).
  • It is one of the most important financial centres globally.
  • Several Indian companies have raised capital by issuing Global Depositary Receipts at the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
  • Luxembourg-based investment funds hold substantial banking and asset management market share in portfolio investments in India.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Office of Profit:
  1. The Constitution of India states that an MP or MLA is not allowed to hold any office of profit.
  2. The office of profit comprises any place or position that carries or offers some remuneration, financial advantage, benefit, etc.
  3. The office of profit concept has been adopted from the British parliamentary model.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

  1. 1 only
  2. 3 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

All the statements are correct.

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to “Five Eyes”:
  1. It is an anglophone intelligence alliance.
  2. It comprises Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
  3. The “Five Eyes” are parties to the multilateral UKUSA Agreement.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • The Five Eyes, often abbreviated as FVEY, is an anglophone intelligence alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • The United Kingdom – United States of America (UKUSA) Agreement is a multilateral agreement for cooperation in signals intelligence between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • The alliance of intelligence operations is also known as the Five Eyes.
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Vellayani-Punchakkari wetlands:
  1. Vellayani-Punchakkari wetlands is located in Tamil Nadu.
  2. It is included in the list of Ramsar wetlands of international importance.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Vellayani-Punchakkari wetlands is located in Kerala.
  • It is not a Ramsar site, i.e, it is not included in the list of Ramsar wetlands of international importance.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Global Depository Receipt (GDR):
  1. It is a depository receipt which is issued by the international depository bank, representing the foreign company’s stock.
  2. GDR is denominated in any foreign currency but the underlying shares would be denominated in the local currency of the issuer.
  3. GDRs enable a company to access investors in capital markets outside of its home country.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Global Depository Receipt (GDR) is a negotiable instrument that is denominated in some freely convertible currency.
  • GDR is denominated in any foreign currency but the underlying shares would be denominated in the local currency of the issuer.
  • GDRs enable a company, the issuer, to access investors in capital markets outside of its home country. Several international banks issue GDRs, such as JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, The Bank of New York Mellon.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. What are Sri Lanka’s prospects with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in India’s absence? Examine. (10 Marks, 150 Words) (GS 2 International Relations).
  2. What do you understand by “Office of Profit”? Discuss the purpose of including the ‘Office of Profit’ as a criterion for disqualification of legislators. (10 Marks, 150 Words) (GS 2 Polity and Governance).

Read the previous CNA here.

20 Nov 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

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