11 Oct 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

11 Oct 2023 CNA
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A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. The Maldives, the evolution of a democracy
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. The impact of Claudia Goldin's work
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
INDIAN POLITY
1. Women want change, society needs change
GOVERNANCE
1. We need evidence­ based traditional medicine
F. Prelims Facts
1. NBFCs under PCA norms
G. Tidbits
1. Space-tech Industry
2. Tele-MANAS seva
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

A. GS 1 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials

Category: INDIAN POLITY

1. Women want change, society needs change

Syllabus: Indian Constitution – Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure.

Prelims:  Global Gender Gap Report 2023, Constitution (One Hundred Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023

Mains: Need for representation of women in politics

Context: 

• The Constitution (One Hundred Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, also known as the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, was passed by both Houses, making it an important piece of legislation in independent India.
• Recently, the Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum (2023) revealed that it will take 149 years in South Asian countries like India to close the gender gap.

Why have women been underrepresented?

• Despite India’s founding fathers ensuring universal adult suffrage, the role of women in shaping the country’s political future remains limited.
• Society tends to appreciate women in supportive and emotional roles rather than leadership roles, and ambitious women are often disliked.
• Throughout history, women who have taken on leadership roles have often faced significant societal obstacles and discrimination. 
• The fact that women have achieved leadership positions despite these barriers suggests that they have had to overcome additional hurdles beyond those faced by men in similar positions.
• Many women leaders have also had privileged backgrounds, including higher education, influential mentors or families, and belonging to upper classes or castes.
• Despite the above advantages, women still face obstacles in achieving leadership positions, and often take longer to do so compared to men.
• Women who lack basic necessities like nutrition, education, and financial independence find it difficult to aspire for public office.
• The largest obstacle to achieving gender equality has also been the regressive attitudes towards women’s rights held by both men and women.

Why is reservation needed?

• Reservation is an effective form of affirmative action and equity is the first step towards equality.
• Criticism of the women’s reservation bill that it will benefit educated, urban, and elite women only, ignores the fact that its true purpose is to create opportunities for underprivileged women as has been observed in the case of reservations in local bodies. 
• Additionally, the perception that reservation for women by itself will lead to inefficiency and incompetence has been criticized by the courts on various occasions.
• Women outperform men in academics and have higher college graduation rates.
• Despite this, women are underrepresented in leadership positions due to male dominance rather than lack of competence.
• Women are not inherently inferior to men in any way, and any perceived gaps in competency can be addressed through training and development opportunities.

Way Forward: 

• Women have had to wait too long to achieve gender parity, and the current Bill is a first step towards realizing this goal.
• It is time to correct past mistakes and bring about change, which is necessary for both women and society as a whole. 
• We need to create enabling conditions for ordinary Indian women so that they can dream of becoming the Prime Minister of India one day, just like Jacinda Ardern did in New Zealand

Nut Graf: Removing entry barriers for women who aspire to political leadership is essential to increase their representation. The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, marks a significant step towards achieving gender parity and fostering an inclusive environment where all women can pursue leadership roles.

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. We need evidence­ based traditional medicine

Syllabus: Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Prelims: Ministry of AYUSH, artemisinin, Ayurveda, Traditional Medicine

Mains: Importance of evidence-based medicine, Role of traditional medicine in modern world

Context: 

• A case filed by a manufacturer of indigenous drugs against a medical practitioner due to their social media thread affecting their business has sparked debate in medical circles.
• The case raises questions about the role of traditional medicine in modern society and the importance of evidence-based medicine.

Evolution of Modern Medicine

• Modern medicine is not synonymous with allopathy. 
• The term allopathy was coined by Hahnemann in the 18th century to differentiate it from his newly invented system i.e. homeopathy.
• Modern medicine became science-based only from the late 19th century onwards, with advances in technology. This allowed for accurate study of the human body and led to breakthroughs such as safe anaesthesia and surgery.
• Medical therapies were also evaluated based on the principle of falsifiability. Falsifiability is a concept in science that refers to the ability of a scientific theory or hypothesis to be tested and potentially disproven through experimentation or observation.
• Those practices which were found to be ineffective were abandoned after being subjected to modern scientific methods. 
• Modern medicine is thus not limited to the Western world; rather, it is a global phenomenon that tests new therapies and accepts them into the canon if found effective, regardless of their origin.

Traditional Medicine

• Despite the advancements of modern medicine, the presence of alternative healing systems can’t be denied. For example, Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha are practiced in India. 
• The physiological basis of Ayurveda may not be scientifically accurate, but that doesn’t necessarily mean its therapies are not effective.
• Ayurveda, like other traditional medical systems, was limited by the technology available at the time in understanding the human body.
• Despite this limitation, the Ayurveda texts emphasized the importance of basing diagnoses and therapies on a sound understanding of the human body.
• Ayurveda is differentiated from other traditional medical systems by its reason-based approach, rather than being based on faith.
• In contrast to modern medicine, which isolates active principles and carefully calculates dosages, Ayurvedic medicines often combine ingredients, making it difficult to determine their interactions

Adoption of modern principles in Traditional medicine

• To increase the acceptance of Ayurvedic medicines in the scientific community, they should be evaluated using modern scientific methods that don’t compromise the holistic nature of Ayurvedic formulations.
• New investigation methods and trial designs must be developed to evaluate Ayurvedic therapies without undermining their classical origins.
• All traditional medical systems should undergo evidence-based appraisals. 
• For example,the development of artemisinin, an antimalarial drug, was made possible by researchers who drew inspiration from a 1,600-year-old Traditional Chinese Medicine text.
• Similarly, what is useful in traditional medicine can be retained and integrated into a comprehensive system of medicine accessible to everyone.
• The Ministry of AYUSH can facilitate this evaluation process.

Way Forward

• Claiming that everything was already known to ancient people does a disservice to Ayurveda and hinders its growth and development. It should evolve to integrate the learnings from modern science.
• Rejecting traditional systems without proper examination would lead to the dismissal of valuable medical knowledge that has been informally verified over many generations. 
• It would also be a great disservice to both scientific inquiry and cultural achievements.
• Governments can play a role in ensuring public health by promoting evidence-based and scientific evaluation of traditional medicines.

Nut Graf: Traditional medicine has the potential to be a valuable part of modern healthcare, but it needs to be evaluated and integrated using modern scientific methods. New investigation methods, trial designs and evidence-based appraisals are the need of the hour.

F. Prelims Facts

1. NBFCs under PCA norms

Syllabus: GS 3- Economics

Prelims: Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework

Introduction

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has declared that the stringent regulatory standards outlined in the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework will be extended to state-owned non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) starting in October 2024.
• This move extends the PCA framework, which was originally applied to banks, to government-owned NBFCs. 
• Some of the major government NBFCs affected by this decision include the Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), and Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI).

PCA framework

• Under the PCA framework, NBFCs will be subject to various restrictions and supervisory measures aimed at maintaining their financial stability and preventing further deterioration. These measures include:
  • Restrictions on dividend distribution and remittance of profit.
  • Requirements for promoters and shareholders to infuse additional equity capital.
  • Reduction in leverage to improve capital adequacy.
  • Restrictions on taking on other contingent liabilities on behalf of group companies.

Read more on the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework in the linked article.

Objective of applying the PCA framework to NBFCs

• This is to allow supervisory intervention when necessary, helping to address financial stress and prevent systemic risks. 
• This move underscores the RBI’s commitment to ensuring the financial stability and health of the NBFC sector in India.

Conclusion

• By extending the PCA framework to government-owned NBFCs, the RBI aims to create a more robust regulatory environment for these entities, which play a crucial role in supporting various sectors of the Indian economy, including power, infrastructure, and finance.

G. Tidbits

1. Space-tech Industry

Introduction

• Demand for satellite technology applications will primarily depend on Earth-based requirements and demands, according to a report by Deloitte India, published with the Indian Space Association and NASSCOM.
• The report focuses on analysing the ‘downstream’ opportunities in space technology (spacetech), referring to services like communications, earth imaging, and navigation facilitated by satellites.

Rising Importance of Earth-Based Demand

• The trajectory of satellite-enabled services is increasingly determined by the demand from people and organisations on Earth.
• Satellite constellations are already orbiting the Earth, providing internet coverage to areas without terrestrial networks, further highlighting the importance of consumer and organisational demand.

Challenges in the Indian Space Market

• Despite advancements in satellite technologies, India’s share in the global spacetech market remains relatively small.
• The report highlights that India faces limitations in terms of significant growth opportunities for satellite applications.

Market Potential for Satellite Applications

• The report indicates that satellite internet for remote areas, a widely discussed application, is expected to have a market value of $263 million over the next five years.
• Other applications such as ecological monitoring, surveying, and logistics tracking are estimated to have market potentials that rarely exceed $1 billion.
• In contrast, DTH satellite TV, a relatively older technology, is estimated to have a market potential of $12.69 billion.

2. Tele-MANAS seva

Introduction

• Tele Manas Seva, a mental health counselling service launched last year on World Mental Health Day, has provided counselling to more than 350,000 individuals to date.
• The service currently assists around 2,000 individuals through 44 Tele Manas Cells, with more than 1,000 calls received daily.
• Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya shared this information at the National Mental Health Conclave, held to observe World Mental Health Day.
• The Minister also inaugurated new facilities at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) and unveiled the logo for Tele-MANAS.

Integration of Mental Health Services

• The Union Health Minister highlighted the integration of mental health services with primary health services, especially through Ayushman Bharat health and wellness centres, prioritising services for mental health, neurological disorders, and substance use disorders.

Recognition of State Performance

• The Minister recognized the performance of states and union territories and awarded certificates of appreciation along with mementoes to those achieving the highest number of calls in the National Tele Mental Health Program.
• In the larger states category, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh received recognition, while in the smaller states category, Telangana, Jharkhand, and Kerala were awarded.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. What is ‘Downstream’ in relation to space technology (spacetech), 
recently seen in the news?

1. Satellite manufacturing
2. Space exploration
3. Space station operation
4. Satellite-enabled services like communications and earth imaging

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation: ‘Downstream’ in space technology refers to the services and applications made possible by satellites, such as communications and earth imaging.

Q2. Consider the following statements, with reference to the 
Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC):

1. NBFCs can accept demand deposits.
2. The deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is available to depositors of NBFCs.
3. NBFCs can engage in agriculture and industrial activities.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation: NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits, and deposit insurance is not available to their depositors. They are not primarily engaged in agriculture or industrial activities.

Q3. What does the term "Tele MANAS" mean, recently seen in the news?

1. Government-run national tele-mental health programme
2. Captive breeding of wild fauna
3. Quick response system in national highways
4. Indigenous satellite navigation system

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation: “Tele MANAS” is a government initiative for tele-mental health services, part of the District Mental Health Programme.

Q4. With reference to Professor Claudia Goldin's research on gender differences 
in the labour market, which of the following statements is/are incorrect? 

1. Professor Goldin found that female labour force participation consistently increased over time.
2. Her research emphasized the role of various factors, including laws and norms, in shaping the gender gap in the labour market.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. Professor Claudia Goldin’s research revealed a U-shaped trend in female labour force participation

Q5. Which of the following serves as the maritime boundary between 
India and the Maldives?

1. Ten Degree Channel
2. Eight Degree Channel
3. Twelve Degree Channel
4. Nine Degree Channel

CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation: The maritime boundary between the Maldives and India runs through the Eight Degree Channel.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. ‘Traditional methods of medicine need to be dealt with the modern methodologies to make it clinically sound and acceptable.’ Comment. (250 words, 10 marks) [GS- III: Science and Technology]
2. “With the changing political landscape in our neighbouring nation of Maldives, discuss the impact on India along with the way forward. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS- II: International Relations]