07 Oct 2020: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

7 Oct 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Centre to fix jurisdiction of river boards
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Pressure builds for ceasefire as Karabakh fighting rages
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. IMF chief says global economy less dire but long climb ahead
2. Govt. clears Rs. 11,000-cr. of PLI proposals by Samsung, others
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
HEALTH
1. Vanquishing viruses
GOVERNANCE
1. Approaching the misinformation storm
F. Prelims Facts
1. 3 black hole researchers get Nobel Prize for Physics
G. Tidbits
1. Services PMI shows slump easing, but job losses swell
2. Child should learn mother tongue: SC
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Context:

  • Apex council meeting involving the Centre, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Background:

  • Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have had differences between the sharing of water resources post the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh.
  • The major point of difference between the two states is over the execution of irrigation projects and the sharing of water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
  • There had been a similar apex council meeting called earlier in 2016 to address these differences.

Details:

  • The key takeaways from the current apex council meeting include the following:
    • The Centre will determine the jurisdictions of the Krishna and Godavari river management boards (KRMB and GRMB).
    • The two states would submit Detailed Project Reports (DPR) of new irrigation projects for appraisal and sanction by the apex council.
    • The apex council would work towards establishing a mechanism to determine the share of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the Krishna and Godavari waters. The centre is expected to refer water sharing issues to the Krishna Godavari tribunal.
    • The headquarters of the KRMB would be located in Andhra Pradesh.

Additional information:

  • Article 262 of the Indian Constitution provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes. It allows the Parliament by law to provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.
  • Under this provision, the Parliament has enacted two laws i.e. the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act 1956.
  • The River Boards Act, 1956 provides for the establishment of river boards for the regulation and development of Inter-state River and river valleys. A river board is established by the Central government on the request of the state governments concerned.

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Pressure builds for ceasefire as Karabakh fighting rages

Details:

  • The Battle between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region has continued, with both sides vowing to pursue the conflict despite increasing international pressure for a ceasefire.
  • The battles mark an escalation of a long-simmering territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian enclave that broke away from Azerbaijan in the 1990s.

For detailed information on this issue, refer to:

CNA dated 30 Sep 2020: Why are Azerbaijan and Armenia fighting again?

  • Countries around the world are urging Turkey, a long-standing ally of Azerbaijan, to use its influence to restore peace in the region.

2. Govt. clears Rs. 11,000-cr. of PLI proposals by Samsung, others

Context:

  • The Ministry of Electronics and IT has approved 16 proposals by electronics manufacturers under its Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme.

Background:

For information on the provisions of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, refer to the following article:

PIB dated Aug 01, 2020: Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme

Details:

  • The approved firms include five international mobile phone makers and five domestic firms. Among the international firms approved, Foxconn Hon Hai, Wistron and Pegatron are contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones.
  • Additionally, six proposals have been approved under the Specified Electronic Components Segment too.

Significance:

  • The scheme by attracting global players into India is looking forward to building a strong ecosystem across the value chain and integrating India with the global value chains.
  • This would allow India to emerge as an export hub of high-value electronic goods while at the same time decreasing its import dependence and better self-reliance in this emerging economic sector.
  • The companies would bring additional investment in electronics manufacturing to the tune of Rs. 11,000 crore.
  • The investment is expected to generate more than two lakh direct employment opportunities in the next five years, along with the creation of additional indirect employment of almost three times the direct employment.

For more related information on measures introduced to provide an impetus to electronic manufacturing in India, refer to:

CNA dated March 22, 2020: Cabinet okays 48,000-cr. plan for electronics manufacturing

G. Tidbits

1. Services PMI shows slump easing, but job losses swell

  • The Nikkei/IHS Markit Services Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) has witnessed an improvement with the pace of contraction in services sector activity easing considerably in September after the government lifted some COVID-19 restrictions and relaxed lockdown rules.
    • The services sector accounts for about 55% of India’s economy and almost a third of its jobs.
  • This sign of stabilization in the services sector along with recent indications of India’s manufacturing sector also recovering augurs well for India, Asia’s third-largest economy.
  • However, sub-indexes tracking domestic and foreign demand have remained firmly in contraction territory, leading firms to cut their workforce.

2. Child should learn mother tongue: SC

  • The Andhra Pradesh government has approached the Supreme Court challenging its State High Court decision to strike down a government order which made English medium education compulsory from classes I to VI in primary, upper primary and high schools under all managements from 2020-21.
  • Andhra Pradesh government’s argument has been that given the limitations of education in the vernacular medium, English education was expected to empower a large number of people.
  • The Supreme Court while agreeing to hear the matter has noted that a child has to learn his mother tongue to gain a foundation.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct with respect to the appointment of 
external members to the Monetary Policy Committee?
  1. They are appointed for a term of three years.
  2. They are not eligible for re-appointment.

Options:

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

Answer: b
Explanation:

  • The Monetary Policy Committee is responsible for fixing the benchmark interest rate in India.
  • The committee comprises six members – three officials of the Reserve Bank of India and three external members nominated by the Government of India.
  • According to the RBI Act, external members of the MPC will be appointed by the central government “from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing, having knowledge and experience in the field of economics or banking or finance or monetary policy.”
  • The previous three external members were appointed for a term of 4 years.
  • All the central government nominees are not eligible to be re-appointed.
Q2. Which of the following is not a report published by the International Monetary Fund?
  1. World Economic Outlook
  2. Global Financial Stability Report
  3. Fiscal Monitor
  4. Global Competitiveness Report
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d
Explanation:

  • While the World Economic Outlook, Global Financial Stability Report, and Fiscal Monitor are flagship reports of the IMF, the Global Competitiveness Report is published by the World Economic Forum.
Q3. Which of the following statement/s is/are incorrect with respect to the Production 
Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme of the Ministry of Electronics and IT?
  1. It is applicable only to the domestic firms and global firms are barred from applying under the scheme.
  2. The scheme shall extend an incentive of 40% to 60% on incremental sales (over the base year) of goods manufactured in India and covered under target segments, to eligible companies, for a period of 10 years subsequent to the base year as defined.

Options:

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

Answer: c
Explanation:

  • The Ministry of Electronics and IT has approved 16 proposals by electronics manufacturers under its Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. The approved firms include five international mobile phone makers and five domestic firms.
  • The scheme offers a production linked incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in mobile phone manufacturing and specified electronic components, including Assembly, Testing, Marking and Packaging (ATMP) units.
  • The scheme shall extend an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales (over base year) of goods manufactured in India and covered under target segments, to eligible companies, for a period of five years subsequent to the base year as defined.
Q4. Which of the following statement/s is/are correct?
  1. Article 262 of the Indian Constitution provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes.
  2. Article 263 provides for the establishment of Inter-State Council to effect coordination between the states and between Centre and states.

Options:

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

Answer: c
Explanation:

  • Article 262 of the Indian Constitution provides for the adjudication of inter-state water disputes. It allows the Parliament by law to provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and control of waters of any inter-state river and river valley. Under this provision, the Parliament has enacted two laws i.e. the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Disputes Act 1956.
  • The provisions of Article 263 deal with Inter-state council. Article 263 contemplates the establishment of an Inter-State Council to effect coordination between the states and between Centre and states.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. Discuss the major concerns over the advent of social media platforms as information and news dispersion media and suggest measures to address these concerns. (15 marks, 250 words)(GS Paper 2/Governance)
  2. Enumerate the recent schemes and programmes launched in India in the domain of electronic manufacturing and discuss their significance. (15 marks, 250 words)(GS Paper 3/Economy)

Read the previous CNA here.

7 Oct 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

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