29 Oct 2021: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

Oct 29th, 2021, CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India-EU trade talks to resume by December
2. Eye on Afghanistan, China to build military base in Tajikistan
C. GS 3 Related
SECURITY
1. Support for terror outfit doesn’t attract UAPA: SC
2. China rejects concerns over border law
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ENVIRONEMANT AND ECOLOGY
1. The Glasgow climate test
2. A climate dividend
GOVERNANCE
1. Should the NDPS Act be amended?
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. Getting the focus back on Early Childhood Education
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

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2. Eye on Afghanistan, China to build military base in Tajikistan

Context

• In the backdrop of growing terror threats originating from Afghanistan, China is planning to take control of existing military base and also construct a new military base near Tajikistan’s border with Afghanistan

Details

• Tajikistan has granted approval for the construction of a new base which will be financed by China for a cost of $10 million.
• It would be owned by Tajikistan’s Rapid Reaction Group or Special Forces
  • However, the Tajikistan government has agreed to transfer full control of an existing facility that both sides have been using jointly.

Location of New base

• It will be located in the eastern Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous province near the Pamir Mountains, and Chinese troops will not be stationed there.

Why is China building a new base?

• China’s anxieties over Afghanistan becoming a breeding ground for growing terrorism relate to the separatist East Turkistan Islamic Movement, which has been blamed for attacks in China’s Xinjiang province.
  • Beijing worries that extremists in Afghanistan could attach themselves to the East Turkistan cause.
• The base, once full control has been transferred, will become only the second known overseas Chinese security facility, after Djibouti near the Horn of Africa.

Why is Tajikistan worried?

• The Tajik government has been taking a hard stance against the Taliban government in Afghanistan as Tajikistan is worried about the treatment of the Tajik minority
• The Taliban, in contrast, is mainly made up of the Pashtun group

Russia

• Tajikistan is also home to Russia’s largest military base abroad
  • Russia remains worried about terrorist infiltration in its Central Asian “backyard” following the Taliban’s swift takeover of Afghanistan
  • The Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Eurasian defence alliance, has conducted a number of military drills within Central Asian nations that border Afghanistan.

2. China rejects concerns over border law

Reference:

UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis of 28th Oct 2021

2. A climate dividend

Background:

Calls for net zero carbon targets and India’s stance:

• Ahead of the upcoming UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP26, India has resisted pressure from adopting a national deadline for net zero carbon dioxide emissions.
• India’s line of argument has been that it has the moral claim to a far greater share of the remaining global carbon budget given its lower legacy emissions and its developmental necessities.
  • The carbon budget represents the estimated volume of future emissions that will allow global average temperature rise to be kept within safe limits — well below 2° C or 1.5° C under the Paris Agreement.
• India is likely to face pressure at the COP from both the developed nations as well as small and climate vulnerable nations. In this context, the article discusses what should be India’s stand at the upcoming COP26.

Details:

• India should expose how the calls for net zero carbon targets would be insufficient to meet the targets set forth in the Paris climate agreement and how this would only allow the highest emitting nations to occupy a bigger share of the remaining carbon budget.
• India should showcase its historical energy poverty, underdevelopment and low per capita emissions to convince the world that it is entitled for a larger share of the remaining carbon budget.
• India should call on the developed nations to deliver on the promised $100 billion climate finance a year from 2020 to help poor nations adapt to climate change.
• Given the global repercussions of emissions for all climate vulnerable nations including itself, the Indian government should not limit itself to a minimalist approach. India should seek green growth pathways. Notably, India stands to gain from such an energy transition given the economic growth prospects and the sustainability of such green growth pathways.
  • The green growth pathway could involve widespread adoption of renewable energy while also averting long-term lock-in effects of fossil fuel dependence in energy generation, buildings, mobility and so on. India should formulate a clear plan for a multi-sectoral energy transition. The indirect carbon tax in the form of levies on automotive fuels should be used for renewable energy adoption and push for affordable electric mobility. This will help ease the financial challenges in the adoption of green growth pathways.
• Given the global repercussions of climate change, India should participate in global efforts to draw up technological, socio-economic, and financial policies and requirements to demonstrate a commitment to the 1.5° C goal.

For more related information refer to the following article:

UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis of 25th Oct 2021
Category: GOVERNANCE

1. Should the NDPS Act be amended?

Context:

• The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has proposed certain changes to some provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985.

Background:

Lacunae in NDPS act of 1985:

• The Act which was brought in 1985 is not in line with the latest developments with respect to drug regulation in other countries.
• The provisions of the NDPS act are very stringent. The Act as of now prescribes jail for everyone — the end user and the drug supplier.
• The principle of first arrest and then investigate under the NDPS act is liable for misuse since the onus is on the accused to prove their innocence under cases of this act.

Details:

• One of the recommendations of the Ministry is to decriminalise the possession of narcotic drugs in smaller quantities for personal purposes. It instead proposes treating them as victims.
• This is welcome as this allows for distinction between the drug peddler and the end user. The person using it in smaller quantities for personal use cannot be bracketed with the person producing narcotic drugs.
• The recommendations proposes that certain provisions of the act could be changed to ensure a reformative approach towards addicts
• The Ministry proposes to refer persons possessing drugs in smaller quantities to government-run rehabilitation centres instead of awarding them jail terms and imposing fines

Challenges in enforcing recommendations:

• The proposal to send persons to rehabilitation centres is good on paper but the lack of infrastructure may affect its actual implementation.
  • There is the lack of adequate number of de-addiction centre and counsellors or psychiatrists.

Recommendations:

• There is the need to address the root or underlying causes for drug addiction. This will require a thorough understanding of why and how people are getting addicted to narcotic drugs. One has to ascertain why different sections of the society, be it street children or youngsters from rich families, are getting addicted to drugs. There is the need to redefine and redesign the law so as to tackle what acts as a trigger for drug usage.
• The government could also study some of the best practices in the world. The community-led approach followed in Iceland could be replicated in India wherein the Iceland government tackled the issue right from the school level in creating awareness to tackling drug trafficking.
• The use of whiteners, glue, painting chemicals, etc, as drugs in children could be restricted via proper restrictions on their sale and distribution.
• Parents and teachers should play a pivotal role in educating the children against the practice of drug usage.
• The government should allocate more money for the national fund for rehabilitation to help transform drug addicts.

Q1. In which of the following cases, burden to prove innocent rests on the accused?

Q2. CAATSA has been imposed on which of the following countries? 

Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

Q4. The Ministries/Departments of the Government are created by the 

Q5. In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs: (UPSC-2016)

Read the previous CNA here.

Oct 29th, 2021, CNA:- Download PDF Here