15 Oct 2020: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

15 Oct 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. HC notice to Centre on same-sex couples’ pleas
B. GS 2 Related
EDUCATION
1. Cabinet approval for school education reform project
C. GS 3 Related
SECURITY
1. Nagaland govt. calls meeting on peace talks
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ECONOMY
1. Phased manufacturing policy that is hardly smart
2. The RBI tunes in to the economy
3. Labour’s data lost
F. Prelims Facts
1. Gupkar pact
2. Pakistan re-elected to UN rights body
3. J&K, Ladakh women to benefit from rural scheme
G. Tidbits
1. Robert Destro appointed U.S. special envoy to Tibet
2. Allow trading in bonds from stressed businesses
3. ‘Public debt ratio to rise to 90% of GDP on Covid’
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

2. Pakistan re-elected to UN rights body

What’s in News?

Pakistan has been re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Details:

  • Among the five candidates from the Asia-Pacific region vying for four seats in the UNHRC, Pakistan secured the highest number of votes.
  • This is despite opposition from activist groups over its abysmal human rights records.
    • A coalition of human rights groups from Europe, the U.S. and Canada called on UN member states to oppose the election of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Pakistan and Uzbekistan, saying their human rights records make them unqualified.
  • Pakistan is currently serving on the HRC since January 1, 2018.
  • With its re-election, Pakistan will continue as a member for another three-year term commencing on January 1, 2021.

United Nations Human Rights Council:

  • The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.
  • The UNHRC has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis from 5 groups.
  • Under the Human Rights Council’s rules, seats are allocated to regions to ensure geographical representation.
  • To become a member, a country must receive the votes of at least 96 of the 191 states of the UN General Assembly (an absolute majority).

Note:

  • Except for the Asia-Pacific contest, the election of 15 members to the 47-member Human Rights Council was decided in advance because all the other regional groups had uncontested slates.

3. J&K, Ladakh women to benefit from rural scheme

What’s in News?

The Union Cabinet has approved changes in the criteria of the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Rashtriya Aajeevika Mission.

Details:

  • Changes have been approved to extend benefits under the Mission to over 10.58 lakh women in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
  • An allocation of ₹520 crore has also been made for the next five years.

Deen Dayal Antyodaya Rashtriya Aajeevika Mission:

  • The Ministry of Rural Development is implementing Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) across the country in a mission mode.
  • Rashtriya Aajeevika Mission is aimed at providing livelihood to women in rural areas.
  • Its objectives include organizing the rural poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs), and continuously nurturing and supporting them to take economic activities so that they come out of abject poverty.

G. Tidbits

1. Robert Destro appointed U.S. special envoy to Tibet

What’s in News?

U.S. Secretary of State has announced the concurrent designation of Assistant Secretary Robert A. Destro of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour to serve as the country’s Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.

  • The position was established by the U.S.’s Tibetan Policy Act (2002).
  • The coordinator is, by law, assigned to:
    • Promote substantive dialogue between the Government of China and the Dalai Lama.
    • Coordinate U.S. policy and projects in Tibet.
    • Help promote policies that protect the distinct identity of Tibet and safeguard human rights in the region.
  • The position has been vacant since January 2017 and lawmakers, as well as the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, had urged the Trump administration to fill the position.

2. Allow trading in bonds from stressed businesses

  • Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) has suggested that the regulators must consider permitting the trading of bonds issued by distressed businesses in the corporate bond market.
  • He also suggested that, with the COVID-19 pandemic set to inevitably add to the distress in corporates’ and lenders’ balance-sheets, India needed a price discovery mechanism for stressed assets.

3. ‘Public debt ratio to rise to 90% of GDP on Covid’

  • According to the International Monetary Fund, India’s public debt ratio, which remarkably remained stable at about 70% of the GDP since 1991, is projected to jump by 17 percentage points to almost 90% because of an increase in public spending due to COVID-19.
  • The projections are based on the fact that there is an increase in public spending, in response to COVID-19, and a fall in tax revenue and economic activity.

Note:

  • The debt-to-GDP ratio is the metric comparing a country’s public debt to its gross domestic product (GDP).
  • It compares what a country owes with what it produces.
  • The debt-to-GDP ratio indicates the country’s ability to pay back its debts.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Thalassemia:
  1. It is a blood disorder commonly characterised by the abnormal production of haemoglobin in the body.
  2. Bone marrow transplant is the only cure available for the disease.
  3. Thalassemia is contagious.

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

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

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder commonly characterised by the abnormal production of haemoglobin in the body.
  • Bone marrow transplant is the only cure available for the disease.
  • Thalassemias are not contagious.
Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to retreating monsoon season:
  1. The South-Eastern coast of India receives a lot of rainfall.
  2. With the onset of retreating monsoon, skies become clearer and clouds disappear.
  3. The weather during the retreating monsoon is dry in North India.

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

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

All the statements are correct.

Read more about Retreating monsoon.

Q3. Philip’s curve describes the relationship between which of the following?
  1. Inflation and unemployment
  2. Tax rates and tax revenue
  3. Demand and Supply of money
  4. Growth and equality
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Philip’s curve describes the relationship between inflation and unemployment.
  • Phillips curve suggests there is an inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment.
Q4. Consider the following statements about the Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results 
for States (STARS) program:
  1. The project is partly funded by the Asian Development Bank.
  2. The project covers all the states across India.
  3. It would be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Department of School Education and Literacy.

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

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • The Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) program would be under the National Education Policy 2020.
  • The project is partly funded by the World Bank.
  • The project covers 6 States namely Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha.
  • The identified States will be supported by various interventions for improving the quality of education.
  • It would be implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Department of School Education and Literacy.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. The COVID-19-triggered recession has led to some of the strongly held economic assumptions being revised around the world. Comment. (10 marks, 150 words)(GS Paper 3/Economy)
  2. Though the schemes like the Phased Manufacturing Programme and Production Linked Incentive scheme are well intended, there are some reservations over the benefits that can accrue from these to India. Analyze. (15 marks, 250 words)(GS Paper 3/Economy)

Read the previous CNA here.

15 Oct 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

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