26 Nov 2020: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

26 Nov 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
GEOGRAPHY
1. Heavy rain as Cyclone Nivar approaches coast
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. China slams India’s ban on apps
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. Govt. allots ₹2,000-cr. for infra funding
DEFENCE
1. Navy inducts 2 drones on lease from the U.S.
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ECONOMY
1. Refining trade union strategies to strike a chord
2. Jobs, exports and the trade pacts link
F. Prelims Facts
1. Server snag hits nutrition portal
2. More trilateral naval exercises on the cards
3. Jallikattu
G. Tidbits
1. Bhutan establishes formal ties with Germany
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: DEFENCE

1. Navy inducts 2 drones on lease from the U.S.

Context:

The Indian Navy has inducted two MQ-9B Sea Guardian unarmed drones procured from the U.S. on lease.

Details:

  • The drones are on lease for one year. All planning, execution and operations will be with the Indian Navy.
  • The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) will play a support role for maintenance as laid down in the agreement.

Note:

  • The recently released Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 has introduced an option for leasing military platforms.
  • As part of its force restructuring to offset budgetary constraints, the Navy has been looking to induct more unmanned solutions, both aerial and underwater.

Read more on Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 covered in UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis September 29th, 2020.

2. More trilateral naval exercises on the cards

What’s in News?

Two new trilateral naval exercises are in the works: one among India, Australia and Indonesia, and in the other, France is keen on joining the India-Australia bilateral naval exercise AUSINDEX.

  • There are several other proposals but a decision on them would be taken based on operational commitments and other factors.
  • This is in continuation of the trend of growing trilateral and multilateral exercises.

Note:

  • In the last few years, India has significantly expanded its military to military engagement with both Australia and France on a bilateral level.
  • In 2019, India, Thailand and Singapore began an annual exercise named SITMEX, which recently completed the second edition.
  • The 24th edition of the Malabar naval exercise among India, Australia, Japan and the U.S. concluded recently.
    • Australia joined the exercise for the first time since 2017.

3. Jallikattu

  • Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport organised in Tamil Nadu during Pongal.
  • According to some historical accounts, the practice dates back to as far as 2000 years ago.
  • The sport involves a natively reared stud that is set free inside an arena filled with young participants.
  • The challenge lies in taming the bull with bare hands.
  • It is also known as Eruthazhuvuthal or Manju virattu.

Read more on Jallikattu.

G. Tidbits

1. Bhutan establishes formal ties with Germany

What’s in News?

Bhutan announced that it had established diplomatic relations with Germany.

  • The ties with Germany mark the first new diplomatic agreement made by Bhutan since March 2013, when it had established ties with Oman.
  • This has increased the restricted number of capitals that it has formal ties with to 53 states and the EU.
  • In 1949 Bhutan first signed a friendship agreement with India, which kept the two countries closely engaged on all foreign policy issues.
  • Since then, Bhutan has been historically cautious about establishing ties with other countries.
  • Until 2007, when Bhutan conducted its first election, it had formal relations with just 22 countries, mostly donor countries such as Japan, Australia and several Nordic countries.
  • It also made a firm decision not to open ties with any of the permanent five members of the UN Security Council, despite many requests from them and in particular from the U.S. and China.

Note:

  • After the election of Prime Minister Jigme Thinley in 2008, the Bhutanese government rapidly increased its diplomatic forays.
  • It signed agreements with 31 countries in five years, possibly with a view to winning the election for a non-permanent seat at the UNSC in 2013-14, which it eventually lost.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following pairs:
  1. SITMEX: India, Thailand, Singapore
  2. AUSINDEX: Australia, India, Japan
  3. Malabar: India, USA, Japan
  4. SLINEX: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh

Which of the pairs is/are correctly matched?

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • SITMEX: India, Thailand, Singapore
  • AUSINDEX: Australia, India
  • Malabar: India, USA, Japan
  • SLINEX: India, Sri Lanka
Q2. Which of the following statements best describes the UMANG App?
  1. It provides an account in cloud to every Aadhaar holder to access authentic documents/certificates in digital format from the original issuers of these certificates.
  2. It provides a single platform for all Indian citizens to access pan India e-government services ranging from Central to local bodies and other citizen-centric services.
  3. It is an innovative web and mobile-phone-based application to improve service delivery and programme management of Integrated Child Development Services.
  4. It is an application designed to help women and children travelling in taxis and autorickshaws to raise an alarm in case of any emergency.
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • UMANG App provides a single platform for all Indian citizens to access pan India e-government services ranging from Central to local bodies and other citizen-centric services.
  • DigiLocker provides an account in cloud to every Aadhaar holder to access authentic documents/certificates in digital format from the original issuers of these certificates.
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan’s Integrated Child Development Services Common Application Software (ICDS-CAS) is an innovative web and mobile-phone-based application to improve service delivery and programme management.
  • Recently, the Andhra Pradesh government launched the Abhayam App. It helps women and children travelling in taxis and autorickshaws to raise an alarm in case of any emergency.
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Jallikattu:
  1. Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport organised in Tamil Nadu during Pongal.
  2. It is also known as Eruthazhuvuthal or Manju virattu.
  3. Silappatikaram has mentions of Jallikattu.

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

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

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Jallikattu is a traditional bull-taming sport organised in Tamil Nadu during Pongal.
  • It is also known as Eruthazhuvuthal or Manju virattu.
  • There are references to people enjoying, observing and partaking in Jalikattu in Silappatikaram, the great epic of the Tamil classical period and two other ancient literary works like Malaipadukadaam and Kalithogai.
Q4. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a free trade agreement between 
which of these countries?
  1. United States of America
  2. Mexico
  3. Cuba
  4. Canada

Choose the correct option:

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

The North American Free Trade Agreement, known usually as NAFTA, is a free trade agreement among Canada, the United States, and Mexico. NAFTA went into effect on January 1, 1994. NAFTA is also used to refer to the tripartite trading bloc of North American countries.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. With India on the verge of an unprecedented economic catastrophe, it is time for India to let its guard down and consider Free Trade Agreements. Critically comment. (15 Marks, 250 Words) (GS 3 Economy).
  2. With recently introduced labour reforms set to change industrial relations, trade unions must include effective social dialogue to get their grievances redressed. Elucidate. What are the other options available to the trade unions to confront the recent reforms? (15 Marks, 250 Words) (GS 3 Economy).

Read the previous CNA here.

26 Nov 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

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