CNA 10 Oct 2022:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. UN Peacekeeping Forces C. GS 3 Related ECONOMY 1. Direct tax receipts BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT 1. Graded Response Action Plan D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INDIAN ECONOMY 1. The fate of chips will determine the fate of nations INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Inflation peaks in Europe as Russia squeezes oil supply F. Prelims Facts 1. Ashoka Vijayadashami 2. Malabar Naval Exercise G. Tidbits H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
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B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Syllabus: Important International Institutions
Mains: India in UN
Context: The number of fatalities among the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces (UNPKF) in direct attacks is rising as per UN Undersecretary and UN Peacekeeping chief General Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
Introduction:
- UN Peacekeeping fatalities due to malicious acts (not illness or accidents) are rising from 13 in 2020 to 25 in 2021 and this year as many as 26 till August 2022.
- Recent attacks on United Nations Peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid anti-UN protests has left two Border Security Force jawans dead.
- India has lost 179 peacekeepers over the past 60 years.
- The issues of growing fatalities and the lack of clear mandates for the ‘blue helmets’ were at the top of the agenda as UN Peacekeeping chief JeanPierre Lacroix held a meeting in Delhi recently as part of a tour to India, Pakistan, the UAE and Japan.
- The UN Peacekeepers are known as ‘Blue Helmets’ or ‘Blue Berets’.
- Mr. Lacroix opined that soldiers need a more ‘robust’ or proactive mandate, better equipment to deal with deteriorating conditions in countries where UN Peacekeepers are posted.
Reason behind sudden increase in UN Peacekeeping fatalities:
- Peacekeepers serve in harsh conditions and at great personal risk. Since 1948, over 2,400 peacekeepers have died while serving in UN operations.
- Majority of UN peacekeeping operations are in an environment that is deteriorating, both from the point of view of the political environment, but also the security environment which increases the threats against UN peacekeepers.
- Peacekeeping environments now feature armed groups, terrorists, organised crime, street gangs, criminal and political exploitation, and other threats.
- Complex threats in several environments are causing a rise in fatalities and injuries of peacekeepers, and missions have sometimes lacked the personnel and equipment to meet these threats.
- Overstretched deployment without a clear objective imposes frequent long, slow supply convoys along roads in very bad conditions. This facilitates attacks against the UN Peacekeepers by armed groups.
India and UN Peacekeeping Mission:
- India today is the largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs).
- Currently, there are around 5,500 troops and police from India who have been deployed to UN Peacekeeping missions, the fifth highest amongst troop-contributing countries.
- In 2007, India became the first country to deploy an all-women contingent to a UN peacekeeping mission.
- In August 2021, India proposed a four point framework that would lay out a possible architecture for securing UN peacekeepers to meet contemporary threats. This includes,
- Focus on operationally proven, cost-effective, widely available, reliable and field-serviceable technologies.
- Sound information and intelligence foundation for early warning and mobilising a coherent and early response.
- More focus on technological improvements that are continuous and are available on the ground, in the gear that peacekeepers carry and the weapons and tools that they use to enhance their mobility, performance, endurance, range, and load-carrying capabilities while guaranteeing their safety and security.
- Attention and investment in consistent training and capacity building of peacekeepers in the realm of technology.
- India also proposed a 10-point plan, including making those targeting UN peacekeepers more accountable.
Nut Graf: UN Peacekeeping helps countries to achieve lasting peace, supports political processes, protects hundreds of thousands of civilians and helps guarantee cease fires. Yet peacekeeping faces several challenges such as protracted conflicts, elusive political solutions, increasingly dangerous environments, rising peacekeeping fatalities, and broad and complex mandates. Risks in recent missions must be addressed quickly in order to improve the safety and security of peacekeepers.
C. GS 3 Related
Syllabus: Mobilisation of Resources
Mains: Taxation reforms in India
Context: India’s net direct tax collections till October 8 in the financial year 2022-23 have risen to ₹7.45 lakh crore, more than half of the Budget targets.
Key Details:
- Gross direct tax collections including corporate and personal income tax rose nearly 24 per cent so far in the financial year 2022-23 to Rs 8.98 lakh crore.
- After adjusting for refunds, the net direct tax collections between April 1-October 8 stood at Rs 7.45 lakh crore, which is 52.46 per cent of the Budget estimates (BE) for the full year tax collection target.
- Tax on corporate and individual income makes up for direct taxes.
- The Budget had estimated direct tax collection at Rs 14.20 lakh crore this fiscal, higher than Rs 14.10 lakh crore collected last fiscal (2021-22).
- This includes a 32.3 percent growth in personal income tax (including Securities Transaction Tax) mop up and 16.73 percent increase in corporate tax revenues over the same period last year.
- Tax refunds had jumped 81% over the preceding year to touch ₹1.53 lakh crore.
Image Source: The Hindu
Significance of this rise in direct tax collection:
- Tax collection is an indicator of economic activity in any country.
- In India, the robust tax collection is witnessed despite a slowdown in industrial production and exports.
- Merchandise exports have lost on the momentum of last year’s surge and shrunk by 3.5 per cent in September 2022.
- Trade deficit has nearly doubled in the first six months. Collection from levy of tax on goods and services sold (GST) has flattened at around Rs 1.45-1.46 lakh crore per month.
- The Reserve Bank of India last month cut its production of India’s GDP growth in the current fiscal to 7 percent from 7.2 percent previously estimated.
- The rise in direct tax collections can be attributed to tightened enforcement and compliance using technology including the use of the Annual Information Statement (AIS).
- The AIS provides comprehensive information to taxpayers on their financial transactions. The purpose of the new AIS is to make it easier for taxpayers to file their returns.
- Direct taxes like income tax, wealth tax, etc. are based on the principle of ability to pay, so the equity or justice in the allocation of tax burden is well secured by these taxes.
- Usually direct taxation is progressive in effect. Since direct taxes can be designed with fine gradation and progressiveness, they can serve as an important fiscal weapon of reducing the gap of inequalities in income and wealth. Direct taxes thus lead to the objective of social equality.
Recent taxation related reforms:
- By removing the interface between the Assessing Officer and the Assessee, maximising resource use through functional specialisation, and introducing team-based assessment, the E-assessment Scheme, 2019 offers a new system for making assessments.
- The Finance Act, 2020 empowered the Union Government to notify the Faceless Appeal Scheme in the appellate function of the department between the appellant and the Commissioner of Income-tax (Appeals).
- Under ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme, declarations for settling pending tax disputes are currently being filed.
- This will benefit the Government by generating timely revenue and to the taxpayers by bringing down mounting litigation costs.
- The Finance Act, 2020 removed the Dividend Distribution Tax under which the companies are not required to pay DDT with effect from 01.04.2020. The dividend income shall be taxed only in the hands of the recipients at their applicable rate.
- This increased the attractiveness of the Indian Equity Market and provided relief to a large class of investors in whose case dividend income is taxable at the rate lower than the rate of DDT.
- The Finance Act, 2020 has provided an option to individuals and co-operatives for paying income tax at concessional rates if they do not avail of specified exemption and incentive.
Read more on Taxation in India
Nut Graf: Various efforts were taken by tax administration on direct as well indirect taxes to nudge higher compliance through use of technology and artificial intelligence. These taxation reforms resulted in better direct tax collection despite various challenges and loss of momentum in the economy.
Category: BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT
1. Graded Response Action Plan
Syllabus: National Environment Agencies, Legislations and Policies
Mains: Policies to tackle air pollution
Context: Recently, the first stage of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR)
Introduction:
- On October 6, the first stage of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented to fight air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) after a sudden dip in air quality in the capital and its neighbouring areas.
- The order came after Delhi’s AQI deteriorated to be in the ‘poor’ category recently. Other parts of the NCR, including Gurgaon, Noida and Greater Noida, also recorded ‘poor’ air quality.
- GRAP is a set of emergency measures that kick in to prevent further deterioration of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold. Stage 1 of GRAP is activated when the AQI is in the ‘poor’ category (201 to 300).
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP):
- The Central Pollution Control Board submitted a list of measures to address different levels of air pollution to the Supreme Court in January 2016.
- These measures were combined into GRAP — a set of anti-air pollution measures which are to be followed in Delhi and its vicinity according to the severity of the situation.
- The GRAP was approved by the SC after modifications and notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on January 12, 2017.
- The Union government set up the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas to consolidate resources to efficiently tackle the problem of toxic air.
- This body coordinates with other States to plan and execute strategies to prevent and control air pollution in the NCR, and has been enforcing GRAP since 2021.
- The orders and directions of the CAQM will prevail in case of any conflict between directions issued by the State governments and the CAQM.
- The Commission for Air Quality Management relies on air quality and meteorological forecasts by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for implementing various stages of the action plan.
Revised action plan:
- Under the revised action plan, restrictions on polluting activities will be dependent on the Air Quality Index (AQI) which takes other pollutants also into account, such as ozone, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen rather than considering only PM2.5 and PM10 concentration.
- In the previous version, measures kicked in after pollution concentrations reached a certain level. As per updated plan, measures are pre-emptive and will kick in based on forecasts in an attempt to prevent the AQI from deteriorating further.
How will the action plan function?
- The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality — Stage one for “poor” AQI ranging between 201 and 300, Stage two for “very poor” AQI of 301-400, Stage three for “severe” AQI of 401-450 and Stage four for “severe plus” AQI more than 450.
- Stage one bans construction and demolition activities at specific sites.
- Agencies must make sure that no solid trash is dumped on open land and is instead taken from designated dump sites.
- Openly burning municipal solid trash and biomass will result in severe fines.
- Roads will be mechanically cleaned and water sprinkled from time to time.
- Agencies and the public must abide by the court-ordered restrictions on firecrackers.
- In stage two, roads will be mechanically swept every day, and water will be sprayed using dust suppressants at least every other day. To deter the usage of generators, authorities would need to guarantee a constant power supply.
- At stage three, authorities will levy different rates on public transport services to encourage off-peak travel.
- A strict ban will be enforced on all construction activities, except ongoing construction of railway, metro, airport and hospital projects.
- The State government will be empowered to impose restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles (LMVs).
- During stage four, entry of all trucks, except those carrying essential commodities, will be restricted.
- All construction and demolition activities would have to be stopped.
- The respective governments could take a call on allowing public, municipal and private offices to work on 50% strength.
- Additional emergency measures like closing schools, non-emergency commercial activities and plying of vehicles on an odd-even basis may also be enforced.
- Revised GRAP also includes a graded advisory for the public.
- The measures include properly tuning engines of their vehicles, ensuring accurate air pressure in tyres and updating PUC (pollution under control) certificates.
Nut Graf: The revised version of GRAP could prevent the air quality crisis in Delhi-NCR after Diwali and the stubble burning season which peaks in November. Preemptive measures to tackle the challenges of air pollution may help to avoid a severe situation in winter provided all other measures are followed strictly.
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. The fate of chips will determine the fate of nations
Syllabus: Changes in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Mains: Semiconductor chips shortage and associated concerns.
Prelims: Semiconductor industry.
Context: The semiconductor chip crisis.
Background Detail:
- The size of most advanced chips is about half the size of 0.1-0.5 microns in diameter and is further reducing with technological advancement.
Importance of chips:
- Each and every phone call, message, and capturing of pictures depend on the chip.
- The importance of the chip can also be understood from the following instances:
- The new A16 chip of Apple company has more than 16 billion transistors.
- Similarly, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is the leading manufacturer of chips in the world, placed approximately one quintillion (1 followed by 18 zeros) transistors on the iPhone chip.
- A trillion-dollar company like apple is unable to manufacture the chips by itself.
- Toyota has to temporarily shut its production at five plants in Japan because of the shortage of chips.
- The waiting time for buying a new car in the USA is also very long because of the shortage of chips.
- Chips are manufactured in very few countries like China, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, the United States, and Taiwan. It should also be noted that Taiwan and South Korea can produce chips faster and better than any other country.
- The precision-guided missiles used by Ukraine against Russia are also comprised of chips. Ukraine has procured these missiles from Western allies. Moreover, the Entity list of the United States of America’s Government aims that this technology is not transferred to Russia and China.
- The ability to synthesize and integrate the chips in complex systems is also crucial apart from manufacturing.
- The critical sectors like electronics, telecom, mobility, and defence are highly dependent on chips. These sectors have been severely impacted by the shortage and will face a crisis period till 2023, as per some studies. Any sort of mishappening/disaster in any of the manufacturing countries can further worsen the situation.
- Countries like China, India, Japan, The U.S., and European Union have invested nearly $200 billion in the semiconductors sector.
For more information on semiconductor shortage, read here: Semiconductor Shortage – UPSC Notes
Remedial Measures and Associated Challenges in the Semiconductor industry:
- India has adopted a visionary step in this direction through the Production Linked Incentive scheme. However, India should remain cautious about it by not repeating the mistakes of Brazil, Vietnam, and Wisconsin Valley Science and Technology park in the US.
- The Wisconsin valley technology park promised of becoming the largest LCD manufacturer and creating large-scale employment. However, this was not fructified as it remained only on the municipal records and was secretly designated as a storage facility.
- It should also be observed that a constant supply of electricity is also important to set up a chip manufacturing unit in India. Furthermore, billions of gallons of clean water is a crucial necessity for the manufacturing process of chips.
- $15 billion-$20 billion investment is required by a chip manufacturing plant, which might take years to turn profitable even after smooth running for a long time.
- The global supply chains are disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have further aggravated the complications.
For more on India’s semiconductor mission, read here: India Semiconductor Mission UPSC Notes – About ISM, its Importance, Semicon India Conference and FAQs
Related Links: 27 Sep 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis
Nut Graf: Semiconductors are an important component for the major economic superpowers. The countries are investing both intelligence and money to deal with the current semiconductor crisis, but the challenges are immense. It will require prudent strategies and efficient leadership to tackle the situation better.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Inflation peaks in Europe as Russia squeezes oil supply
Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed countries; Global and regional agreements.
Mains: Russia’s oil imports and its impact on the global economy.
Context: Rising inflation in European countries.
Details:
- After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, various sanctions (both commercial and financial) were imposed by Western countries on Russia. This impacted the Rouble rates considerably. The rouble was trading at 81 per dollar earlier, which fell to nearly 151 in March 2022. However, it soon returned to pre-invasion rates.
- The European region toughened the sanctions on the trade of Oil and gas trade with Russia. It should be remembered that a quarter of Europe’s energy needs are dependent on Russia.
- Eventually Russia also decreased the exports of oil to the European country as a response to the price cap strategy of the U.S. and European Nations bloc.
For more on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, read here: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine 2022 [UPSC Notes]
Impact of trade restrictions:
- Restrictions have caused an immediate escalation in the energy prices in Europe.
- Inflation in European countries has surged uncontrollably.
- The inflation in the energy sector reached nearly 40% in the span of a few months. The food price inflation and the overall inflation rate have peaked at a ten-year high figure.
- The impact of increased energy prices was felt in all European countries. Some examples are:
- The energy inflation crossed the seventy percent mark in the United Kingdom, whereas in Spain the figure has increased by nearly sixty percent.
- In the Netherlands, energy inflation touched 100%.
Month-wise inflation rates in the EU since 2010 across various sectors
Source: The Hindu
- Countries like Finland, Netherlands, and Belgium, are highly dependent on Russia for oil. Germany’s 38% of domestic oil demand was met through the imports of Russian oil. Thus, these countries have been drastically impacted by the sudden increase in prices.
- The figure below shows the share of Russia’s oil imports in the share of domestic oil consumption of a country. It is the average share between 2014-2019. It should also be observed imports might exceed 100% because a country might import more fuel for stocking, re-exporting, or converting to other petroleum products.
Russia’s oil imports share in different countries of EU
Source: The Hindu
- Declining share of Russian oil:
- The oil trade from Russia has decreased to a great extent post the Ukraine invasion.
- For example, oil imports in Finland from Russia have declined to 10-30% in the April-June quarter of 2022 from the earlier 60-75%.
- Similarly in the United Kingdom, it declined from 15-20% to 2-5% in April-June 2022.
Related Link: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis. June 2nd, 2022 CNA. Download PDF
Nut Graf: It is thus evident that Russian oil and gas plays a major role in the economy of the European countries. These have been drastically impacted by the sanctions, thus pushing up inflation to extremely high levels.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS01- Ancient History
Prelims: Buddhism, Emperor Ashoka
Key Details:
- Recently a minister of Delhi state government resigned from his post due to controversy for attending an event in which hundreds allegedly converted to Buddhism.
- The event was held on October 5, on the occasion of Ashoka Vijayadashami.
Read more on Emperor Ashoka
Ashoka Vijayadashami:
- Ashoka Vijayadashami commemorates Emperor Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism.
- Dr. BR Ambedkar converted to Buddhism with lakhs of people in Nagpur on the day of Vijayadashami on 14th October 1956.
- Ambedkar chose Vijaya Dashmi as it was on this day that Emperor Ashok had converted to Buddhism.
- Dhammachakra Pravartan Day is celebrated every year on the day of Ashoka Vijayadashami to commemorate the day when B. R. Ambedkar renounced Hinduism and accepted Buddhism.
- On the eve of Ashoka Vijayadashami, millions of Buddhists gather at Deekshabhoomi to celebrate the mass conversion.
- Every year, thousands of people convert to Buddhism on Dhammachakra Pravartan Din and Ashoka Vijayadashami at Deekshbhoomi, Nagpur.
Syllabus: GS02- Global Groupings Involving India
Prelims: Military Exercise
Key Details:
- Japan is set to host the 2022 edition of the Malabar naval exercise consisting of India, Australia, Japan and the U.S. in the second week of November, according to official sources.
- The Indian Navy will also participate in the International Fleet Review (IFR) being hosted in the first week of November to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF).
What is Malabar Exercise:
- Malabar is a multilateral war-gaming naval exercise that was started in 1992.
- It began as a bilateral exercise between the navies of India and the United States.
- Two more editions of the exercise were carried out in 1995 and 1996, after which there was a break until 2002 in the aftermath of India’s nuclear tests.
- From 2002 onward, the exercise has been conducted every year.
- Japan and Australia first participated in 2007, and since 2014, India, the US and Japan have participated in the exercise every year.
- It was a trilateral naval exercise. But due to the participation of Australia in 2020 & 2021, it has now become a quadrilateral exercise.
- It takes place annually in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans alternatively.
G. Tidbits
Nothing here for today!!!
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Abhidhamma Day: (Level-Difficult)
- It is mostly celebrated in countries where Buddhism is practised by the majority of the population.
- It is the day when Lord Buddha came back to earth from heaven.
- He is believed to have gone to heaven to teach Abhidhamma Pitaka to his mother.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 01 is correct, Abhidhamma Day marks the end of three-month rainy retreat – Varshavaas or Vassa – for the Buddhist monks and nuns during which time they stay at one place and pray. It is mostly celebrated in countries where Buddhism is practised by the majority of the population.
- Statement 02 is correct, According to widely held belief, this is the day when Lord Buddha came back to earth from heaven.
- Statement 03 is correct, He is believed to have gone to heaven to teach Abhidhamma Pitaka (a basket of ultimate things) to his mother. The teaching took three months after which Buddha came back to Earth.
Q2. UN Peacekeeping is guided by which of the following three basic principles? (Level-Difficult)
- Consent of the parties
- Equality and cooperation
- Impartiality
- Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate
- Respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty
Options:
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
- 2, 4 and 5 only
- 1, 4 and 5 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:
- Consent of the parties
- Impartiality
- Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.
Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level-Difficult)
- C++ is a programming language commonly associated with Ethereum.
- Solidity is the programming language mainly used on the blockchain platform Bitcoin.
- Rust is commonly associated with the Solana blockchain
Options:
- 1 only
- 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Statement 01 is incorrect, Solidity is the programming language mainly used on the blockchain platform Ethereum.
- The language is influenced by C++, Python, and JavaScript.
- It is also known as a ‘curly bracket language’ as it uses the flower bracket special character
- Statement 02 is incorrect, C++ is a programming language commonly associated with Bitcoin.
- Statement 03 is correct, Rust is commonly associated with the Solana blockchain, which is known for its high speeds and relatively low transaction fees.
- The Polkadot blockchain, which helps to better connect blockchains with each other, also uses Rust.
- Developers have complained that Rust is too difficult to learn.
Q4. The Capitulation of Alexandria was an important event in the struggle between France and England for influence in the (Level-Difficult)
- Falkland Islands
- Middle East
- North America and the Caribbean
- West Africa
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- The Capitulation of Alexandria was an important event in the struggle between France and England for influence in the Middle East in the years around 1800 AD.
- The French Campaign in Egypt and Syria (1798–1801) was part of Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaign in the East.
Q5. The term “Levant” often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following Regions? (Level-Difficult) (CSE-PYQ-2022)
- Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores
- Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco
- Region along Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa
- The entire coastal areas of Mediterranean Sea
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Levant historically, the region along the eastern Mediterranean shores, roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and certain adjacent areas.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- What is the Graded Response Action Plan? What are the main principles in its attempt to mitigate pollution? (150 words, 10 marks) (GS-2; Environment)
- “The Chip shortage in the world can paralyze the world economy”. Discuss. (150 words, 10 marks) (GS-3; Economy )
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 10 Oct 2022:- Download PDF Here
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