04 Oct 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

Quote for the day Set 5 11

CNA 4 Oct 2022:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
GOVERNANCE
1. The Mediation Bill, 2021
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INDIAN ECONOMY
1. With the rupee under pressure, what next
SOCIAL JUSTICE
1. Is TN’s breakfast scheme populist or pertinent?
F. Prelims Facts
1. Swedish scientist gets medicine Nobel for work on human evolution
2. SASTRA Ramanujan Prize
G. Tidbits
1. Induction of indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter marks a new 
chapter: Air chief
2. MGNREGS to fund work to reverse desertification of land across the States
3. 69% houses under PMAY in rural India are owned by women
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Nothing here for today!!!

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Is TN’s breakfast scheme populist or pertinent?

Syllabus: Welfare schemes for the vulnerable sections of the population by the centre and the state and the performance of the scheme.

Mains: Free breakfast scheme for children.

Context: Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme in Tamil Nadu.

Details:

  • The objective of the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme of Tamil Nadu is to help students from vulnerable sections to attend school hunger-free and improve their nutritional status.
  • The initial budget outlay of the scheme was β‚Ή33.5 crore. But the revamped scheme will cater to approximately 1,14,095 primary school students from nearly 1,545 government schools.
  • The scheme is said to be at the crossroads of three crucial socio-political concerns which are:
    • The ongoing debates on the freebies culture
    • Declining human development performance
    • The impact of the pandemic on educationΒ 
  • The scheme was defended by the Chief Minister on account of the State’s responsibility rather than charity, freebie, or incentive. According to Article 38, it is the responsibility of the state to minimize the inequalities in income, facilities, and opportunities and promote welfare among individuals and groups.Β Β 
  • The populist schemes, human development promotion schemes, and welfare schemes are all labelled as freebies without any distinction. This argument however uses fiscal burden as a reason to restrict the state from discharging its duty.
  • Moreover, some of the initiatives taken in the education sectors are Illam Thedi Kalvi and Ennum Ezhuthum.

For more on the Freebies issue, read here: Freebies in India

Recent Trends in Human Development Parameters:

  • India ranks 101 out of 116 on the Global Hunger Index.
  • On the Global Food Security Index, India stands at rank 71 out of 113 countries.
  • The rank on Human Development Index is 132 out of 191 nations.
  • The mean years of schooling in India is 6.7 years (as per 2020-21 data). Moreover, India has the highest levels of education inequality.Β 
  • Similarly, the rising wealth inequality is also high, as evident from the recent Credit Suisse report.

Case Study of Tamil Nadu:

  • Findings of the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18 (conducted in 2018):
    • Nearly 10% of children in the age group of 5-9 years were stunted, in contrast to the national average of 22%. It is also lower than Kerala, where it stands at 11%.
    • Approximately 19% of children faced malnourishment as against 23% of the national average.
    • The share of underweight children in Tamil Nadu is 23%, whereas the national average is 35%.
    • In health parameters like Anaemia, Vitamin A deficiency, and Vitamin D deficiency the share of the population in Tamil Nadu is 10%, 7%, and 41% respectively.Β 
  • The performance of Tamil Nadu is quite decent in aspects like nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies among primary school level students. However, these levels may be higher in socio-economically disadvantaged sections.

Potential of the Scheme:

  • The scheme is targeted toward socioeconomically disadvantaged children, who are mainly enrolled in government schools. This would reduce the disparity in the nutritional status among children.
  • However, it is also argued that the state of Tamil Nadu is already faring well in terms of nutrition and the scheme is unlikely to bring any major improvements in this regard.
  • The scheme might benefit in the aspect of hunger-free school attendance. But again, reliable data regarding the percentage of students who attend school without having breakfast is scarce.Β 
  • Even though it is an acknowledged fact that children tend to skip breakfast owing to the school timings and the financial situation, the major reason among the two is yet to be known.
  • According to studies of free breakfast schemes in other countries, it is noted that the programme has the potential to improve the concentration of students in studies and increase students’ attendance.

Also read: Poshan Abhiyaan – Features, Significance, Concerns

Nut Graf: Though Tamil Nadu fares well in the country in terms of the nutrition aspect, the scheme tends to have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of the students. The Breakfast scheme is a first-of-its-kind scheme in India and thus needs to be observed closely both in aspects of education as well as nutrition.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Swedish scientist gets medicine Nobel for work on human evolution

Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology

Prelims: About Nobel Prize for Medicine 2022

Context

Svante Paabo, a scientist from Sweden, won the Nobel Prize in medicine.

Details

  • Svante Paabo was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discoveries on human evolution that provided key insights into the immune system of modern humans and what makes modern humans unique as compared to other extinct species.Β 
  • Svante Paabo spearheaded the development of new techniques that allowed researchers to compare the genome of modern humans and that of other hominins such as the Neanderthals and Denisovans.Β 
  • The Neanderthal bones were first discovered in the mid-19th century and only by unlocking their DNA, the scientists were able to fully understand the links between species. This included the time when modern humans and Neanderthals diverged as a species around 8,00,000 years ago.
  • Svante Paabo and his team found that gene flow had occurred from Neanderthals to Homo sapiens, demonstrating that they had children together during periods of coexistence.
    • This transfer of genes between hominin species has had a significant impact on the immune system of modern humans. It was also seen that people outside Africa have 1-2% of Neanderthal genes.
  • Mr. Paabo and his team managed to extract DNA from a tiny finger bone that was excavated from a cave in Siberia, which led to the recognition of a new species of ancient humans named Denisovans.Β 
  • This discovery has helped to show that Neanderthals and Denisovans were sister groups that split from each other around 6,00,000 years ago.Β 
    • Further, the Denisovan genes have been found in about 6% of modern humans in Asia and Southeast Asia which indicates interbreeding.
  • By mixing with Denisovans after migrating out of Africa, Homo Sapiens picked up gene sequences that improved their chances of surviving in their new environments.

2. SASTRA Ramanujan Prize

Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology

Prelims: About SASTRA Ramanujan Prize and Srinivasa Ramanujan

Context

The SASTRA Ramanujan Prize for 2022 would be awarded to Yunqing Tang who is an Assistant Professor at the University of California for her contribution to the field of Mathematics.

SASTRA Ramanujan Prize

  • The Ramanujan Prize was instituted by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) in 2005.
  • The award recognises the outstanding contributions in the field of Mathematics by individuals aged 32 and below.
  • The award has been instituted with the objective of encouraging young minds to pursue research in Mathematics influenced by Srinivasa Ramanujan and increase the visibility of Mathematics both at the national and international levels.
  • The award, which includes a cash prize of $10,000, is presented annually.

G. Tidbits

1. Induction of indigenously built Light Combat Helicopter marks a new chapter: Air chief

  • The Air Chief Marshal said that the induction of the indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) provides unique capabilities to the combat potential of the Indian Air Force (IAF) and marks a new chapter.
  • The Army had formally received its first LCH in Bengaluru recently and the Air Chief Marshal said that the LCH met the requirements of modern warfare, necessary quality parameters under varied conditions of operations and fully met the requirements of both the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
  • The twin-engine LCH, designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, is a 5-8 tonne class dedicated combat helicopter that was conceptualised post the 1999 Kargil war.Β 
    • It is said to be the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take off at an altitude of 5,000 mΒ  or 16,400 ft with a considerable load of weapons and fuel.
    • Furthermore, the LCH is equipped with a 20 mm nose gun, 70 mm rockets, an anti-tank guided missile called β€œDhruvastra” and an air-to-air missile called β€œMistral-2”.

Read more about – HAL Light Combat Helicopter

2. MGNREGS to fund work to reverse desertification of land across the States

  • As per the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas published by the Environment Ministry in 2021, at least 30% of India’s total geographical area is under the category of β€œdegraded land”.
    • Also, states such as Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Delhi, Gujarat and Goa have more than 50% of their land area undergoing desertification or degradation.
  • Due to limited funds to tackle the issue of land degradation and restore degraded land and reverse desertification, the government is looking to bring convergence between the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
  • The central government has urged the states to undertake activities such as ridge area treatment, drainage line treatment, soil and moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, nursery raising, afforestation, horticulture and pasture development that are done under PMSKY now by using MGNREGA funds.
    • This move is expected to help take up treatment of about 30% more land than feasible with the current scheme size.
  • Earlier in 2019, the government had increased its target of restoration of degraded land from 21 million hectares to 26 million hectares by 2030 following its commitment during the UN Convention to Combat Desertification – COP14

3. 69% houses under PMAY in rural India are owned by women

  • According to the data shared by the government, as of September 29, 2022, about two crore houses had been constructed in rural areas out of the 2.46 crore houses that were sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and over 69% of these are partly or completely owned by women.
    • This is in line with the government’s Nari Shakti initiative and the vision of bringing about β€œwomen-led” development instead of β€œdevelopment of women”.
  • The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is another initiative that has helped protect the health of women and children by ensuring the supply of clean cooking fuel.
    • More than 9.4 crore LPG connections have been released under the scheme which has played a key role in improving the environment and health of women.
  • Additionally, the Swachh Bharat Mission is another initiative that has helped protect the health of women and children and ensure their dignity and security.
    • Under the scheme, about 11.5 crore toilets were constructed in the rural areas and over 70 lakh toilets were built in the urban areas thereby ensuring the dignity and security of women and children.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following pairs: (Level – Difficult)

Folk DancesΒ  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  State of Origin

  1. LambadiΒ  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Rajasthan
  2. GarbaΒ  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Gujarat
  3. LahoΒ  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Tripura
  4. Dhol Cholam Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Β  Andhra Pradesh

How many of the pairs are correctly matched?

  1. One only
  2. Two only
  3. Three only
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Pair 1 is not correct, Lambadi is a folk dance associated with the Banjara tribes of Telangana.
  • Pair 2 is correct, Garba is a form of dance which is traditionally performed during Navratri and has its roots in Gujarat.
  • Pair 3 is not correct, Laho Dance is a folk dance of Meghalaya.
  • Pair 4 is not correct, Dhol Cholam is a folk dance of Manipur.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to National Means-cum-Merit 
Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS): (Level – Medium)
  1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
  2. The scheme envisages an award of one lakh fresh scholarships every year to selected students of classes VI to IX.
  3. The scholarships are awarded to students directly into their bank accounts by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

How many of the given statements is/are INCORRECT?

  1. One statement only
  2. Two statements onlyΒ 
  3. Three statements only
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, NMMSS is a central sector scheme as 100% of the funds are provided by the central government.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, Under the Scheme, one lakh fresh scholarships @ of Rs.12000/- per annum per student are awarded to selected students of class IX every year and their continuation/renewal in classes X to XII for study in a State Government, Government-aided and Local body schools.
  • Statement 3 is correct, The scholarships are awarded to students directly into their bank accounts by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Purchasing Managers’ 
Index (PMI): (Level – Medium)
  1. It is an economic indicator derived from an annual survey of private sector companies.
  2. PMI is a number from 0 to 100.
  3. If the PMI of the previous month is higher than the PMI of the current month, it represents that the economy is contracting.

How many of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. One statement only
  2. Two statements only
  3. Three statements only
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, The Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) is an economic indicator derived from the monthly survey of the private sector companies.
  • Statement 2 is correct, The headline PMI is a number which ranges from 0 to 100.
  • Statement 3 is correct, If a PMI is above 50, it represents an expansion when compared with the previous month and if the PMI value falls below 50, it indicates a contraction.
Q4. β€œTurtuk” recently seen in news is located in (Level – Difficult)
  1. West bank territory
  2. Donetsk Basin
  3. Golan Heights
  4. Nubra Valley
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Turtuk is a small village located in the Nubra Valley.
  • It is said to be the northernmost village of India situated in the Leh district.
Q5. In the context of India, which of the following factors is/are contributor/contributors 
to reducing the risk of a currency crisis? (Level – Medium) PYQ-2019
  1. The foreign currency earnings of India’s IT sector.
  2. Increasing the government expenditure.
  3. Remittances from Indians abroad.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, Foreign currency earnings of India’s IT sector help reduce the risk of a crisis.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, Increasing government expenditure will not help reduce the risk of crisis.
  • Statement 3 is correct, Remittances from Indians abroad also help reduce the risk of a currency crisis.

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