The Hindu Analysis 22-06-2022
1. A wish list for reform in India’s higher judiciary Page 6. GS 2, Judiciary, Constitution. It is generally assumed that the senior most judge of the Supreme Court should be the Chief Justice of India, but we may pause to consider whether this is what the law mandates, and whether it is wholly wise. As to the first, the Constitution mandates no such thing. Article 124 merely states that the President will appoint every judge of the Supreme Court, and this includes the Chief Justice, and each of these judges shall hold office until they attain the age of 65 years. The requirement about appointing the senior most judge to be the CJI is a sleight of hand devised in the Second Judges case (1993) and the consequent Memorandum of Procedure which is an obvious and naked usurpation of the President’s power and a blatant attempt to rewrite the Constitution. It has no constitutional legitimacy. 2. Progress without limits Page 6. GS 3, Growth and Development, Technology. The Union Cabinet last week cleared the decks for the first auction of radio spectrum to facilitate the roll-out of 5G telecommunication services. The Government has underscored that its primary motivation is to boost digital connectivity, a laudable objective given that the rapid growth of wireless telephony has perceptibly helped improve the delivery of services such as mobile banking, online education and telemedicine. 3. A new global standard for AI ethics Page 7. GS 3, Technology, Growth and Development. Artificial intelligence (AI) is more present in our lives than ever. From predicting what we want to see as we scroll through social media to helping us understand weather patterns to manage agriculture, AI is ubiquitous. AI algorithms can also be partially credited for the rapidity with which vaccines were developed to tackle COVID-19. The algorithms crunched complex data from clinical trials being undertaken in all corners of the world, creating global collaborations that could not have been imagined even a decade ago. 4. Analysing spectrum auction Page 7. GS 3, Technology, Growth and Development. The Union Cabinet has cleared a mega auction of radio spectrum in various bands for commercial mobile services. Based on the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the government is planning to auction spectrum in the sub-GHz bands of 600, 700, 800 and 900 MHz; in the mid-bands of 1,800, 2,100, 2,300, 2,500 and 3,300 MHz, and in the high frequency band of 26 GHz. 5. The absurdity of the anti-defection law Page 9. GS 2, Constitution, Polity. The anti-defection law was included in the Constitution to combat the “evil of political defections”. The main purpose was to preserve the stability of governments. The law stated that any MP or MLA would be disqualified from their office if they voted on any motion contrary to the directions issued by their party. 6. 5G to account for 39% of India’s subscriptions by 2027: Ericsson Page 14. GS 3, Technology, Growth and Development. The number of subscriptions to India’s 5G services, which are likely to be rolled out from later this year, is expected to reach about 500 million, or 39% of all subscribers, by 2027, telecom equipment maker Ericsson said in a report on Tuesday. while India presented significant opportunities, it also held challenges for service providers. It pointed out that average revenue per user for telcos remained low despite a recent increase in the price of data. “Moreover, India has some of the highest prices for spectrum in the world, constraining service providers’ ability to invest in infrastructure,” the company said. 7. Nonbank PPI issuers can’t load via credit Page 14. GS 3, Economy. The Reserve Bank has asked nonbank prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuers not to load their wallets and cards from credit lines or pre-set borrowing limits. PPIs are instruments that facilitate purchase of goods and services, financial services, and remittance facilities, against the value stored therein.
The Hindu Analysis 21-06-2022
Kerala to give ‘maximum’ water to T.N. Page 5. GS 2, Inter-State Water Disputes, Polity. Steps will be taken to provide maximum water to Tamil Nadu from Siruvani Dam considering the water shortage faced by Coimbatore city, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. At the centre of job creation Page 7. GS 2,3; Employment, Human Resources, Growth and Development. The creation of employment is indeed a problem and can no longer be hidden from the public discourse. The private sector, especially modern sectors such as the service and manufacturing sectors, which are dominated by multinational companies, have not created many jobs. Even if the Information Technology sector or the modern gig economy have created jobs, these are either very high-skilled jobs or low-skilled ones. Also, the government in the Nehruvian scheme of development occupied an important place in the labour market. Resurrecting a dead law Page 7. GS 2,3; Judiciary, Technology. Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional in 2015 in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India for having a “chilling effect on free speech”, is in talks. As part of the ongoing negotiations at the United Nations for a proposed international treaty on combating cybercrime, India made a formal submission for criminalising “offensive messages”. Dutch disease Page 9. GS 3, Economy. Dutch Disease in economics refers to a phenomenon wherein a country witnesses uneven growth across sectors due to the discovery of natural resources, especially large oil reserves. According to the concept, when a country discovers natural resources and starts exporting them to the rest of the world, it causes the exchange rate of the currency to appreciate significantly and this, in turn, discourages the exports from other sectors while encouraging the import of cheaper alternatives. While the idea was first proposed by economists Peter Neary and Max Corden in 1982, the term ‘Dutch disease’ was first coined by The Economist in 1977 to describe the decline of the manufacturing industry in the Netherlands. Solving the Sterlite problem Page 9. GS 3, Growth and Development, Resources. Sterlite Copper of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu has become a moral issue after the police firing on protesters resulted in the deaths of 13 people in May 2018. Sterlite’s product, copper, is a strategic metal. Important applications are energy, electrical equipment and electronics. Copper production provides strategic balance and price stability. The shuttering of the Sterlite plant quickly made India, a copper exporter, an importer. However, distrust of Sterlite is so much that many people now credit good rains to the shuttering of the plant. The community complains that Sterlite did not employ enough local people and did not give enough contracts for local businessmen. Therefore, the corporate group needs to act responsibly and take the people along with it if it wants to conduct its business. Shah flags importance of data protection Page 10. GS 3, Cyber Security. Union Home Minister said that forces inimical to India had constituted “cyber armies” to launch cyberattacks against India but the Home Ministry was ready to thwart any such attempt. Mr. Shah said crimes such as malware attacks, phishing, attack on critical infrastructure and child pornography were not new and these were going to only increase in the future. The number of cybercrimes registered in 2012 was 3,377 and in 2020, it had increased to more than 50,000 cases and by 2025, the crime rate was projected to go up by 231%. India faces near-term challenges: Finance Ministry Page 14. GS 3, Economy. India is facing near-term challenges in managing its fiscal deficit, sustaining economic growth, reining in inflation and containing the current account deficit but the country is relatively better placed to weather these headwinds compared with other nations, the Finance Ministry said in its monthly economic report.
The Hindu Analysis 20-06-2022
1. India gives emergency visas for 111 Afghan Hindus, Sikhs Front Page. GS 2, 3; Citizenship, Population related Issues, IR, Growth and Development, Govt Policies and Interventions. The Union Home Ministry granted emergency visas to 111 Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan, hours after Saturday’s terror attack at a gurdwara in Kabul. All had applied for visas in September 2021, but the applications were cleared only after the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), a terrorist group, attacked the gurdwara on Saturday killing two persons including a Sikh granthi, a member representing the community said. 2. The EPI may rankle but India can recast policies Page 6. GS 3, Growth and Development, Environment, Conservation. The latest Environmental Performance Index (EPI) placing India last among all 180 assessed countries has naturally touched a raw nerve. The assessment with an emphasis on climate change mitigation, has become controversial for prioritising the flow of greenhouse gases from countries while reducing the emphasis on the stock of carbon dioxide from industrialised countries that is warming the globe. The EPI report estimates that China, India, the United States, and Russia are expected to account for over 50% of global residual greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 3. Revisiting social justice under the Dravidian model Page 6. GS 1,2; Society, Polity. Davidian politics in Tamil Nadu has played a significant role in democratising the public space for wider participation. As emphasised by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu recently, social justice has been the integral part of the Dravidian development model. Social justice principles in Tamil Nadu were initially emphasised and propagated by Periyar, who fought for community-based representation while fighting the evils of the caste system. 4. Petty patents can boost R&D Page 7. GS 3, Economy, Growth and Development, Innovation and Technology. Innovative activity is the key driver of competitiveness and economic growth. In that context, India’s rank of 46 in WIPO’s Global Innovation Index (GII) 2021, up from 81 in 2015, is encouraging. This finding corroborates an earlier one by UNCTAD in its Digital Economy Report 2021 where India was seen as exceeding expectations. While these findings are encouraging, India, which aspires to emerge as one of the largest economies of the world, needs to move up further in the innovation rankings, for building self-reliance in technology, especially in the context of the incipient digital revolution. China occupies the 12th rank in GII, ahead of Japan at 13th. This shows that it is possible to move up the ladder with sustained effort. 5. Indian interests at the WTO Ministerial Conference Page 8 GS 2,3; Global Groupings, IR, Growth and Development. On June 17, member countries of the WTO wrapped up the Ministerial Conference’s twelfth outing (MC12) securing agreements on relaxing patent regulations to achieve global vaccine equity; ensuring food security, according subsidies to the fisheries sector and continuing moratoriums relevant to eCommerce, among others. Together they constitute the “Geneva Package.” Negotiators could not reach agreements on issues such as permissible public stockholding threshold for domestic food security, domestic support to agriculture, cotton, and market access. 6. Auctioning 5G spectrum bands Page 8. GS 2,3; Govt Policies and Interventions, Technology, Growth and Development. The Union Cabinet gave its nod for the auction of spectrum that can be used to offer 5G services, at its meeting held on June 14. A total of 72 Ghz of spectrum with a validity period of 20 years will be put on sale towards the end of July. The two issues that the industry has highlighted with regards to the upcoming auctions are high reserve prices for the spectrum and direct allotment of spectrum to enterprises for setting up captive private networks. 5G is expected to form the backbone of emerging technologies such as IoT and machine to machine communications, thereby supporting a much larger range of applications and services, such as tele-surgery and real time data analytics. 7. Agniveer to have distinct rank and insignia Page 10. GS 2,3; Govt Policies and Interventions, Employment, Human Resources, Growth and Development. On discharge after completion of four years, Agniveers will be paid a Seva Nidhi package to enable them to return to society for pursuing employment in other sectors, both the Indian Army and the IAF said, which would approximately be ₹11.71 lakh. “Agniveers will not be eligible for any kind of pension or gratuity, neither will they be eligible for Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), Canteen Stores Department (CSD) facilities, Ex-Serviceman status and other related benefits,” the terms state. “Agniveers will be barred from disclosing classified information gained during service to any unauthorised person or source under Official Secrets Act, 1923.”
The Hindu Analysis 18-06-2022
ADP to be extended to block, city level: PMGS Paper- 2, Govt Policies and Interventions, Governance.Context: The Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the Aspirational Districts plan in January 2018, with the goal of rapidly and successfully transforming 112 of the country’s most underdeveloped districts. Aspirational districts should be designated as “inspirational districts” in India, and the Aspirational District Programme (ADP) should be expanded to the block and city levels, according to the Prime Minister. Aspirational Districts’ Programme: Aspirational districts are those in India that suffer from low socioeconomic indices. In the context, they are aspirational in the sense that progress in these districts can lead to broader improvements in human development in India. The programme is supported by NITI Aayog at the level of the Government of India. Furthermore, particular Ministries have taken on responsibility for driving district success. The program’s goal is to track the progress of aspirational districts in real time. The basic features of the scheme: Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District Collectors), and Competition among districts by monthly delta ranking are, all pushed by a public movement. Performance Indicators: With the states serving as the primary drivers, this initiative focuses on the strengths of each district, finding low-hanging fruit for quick development and monitoring success by rating districts on a monthly basis. The ranking is based on incremental improvement in 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) spanning five main socioeconomic themes: Health And Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development, and Infrastructure. The Champions of Change Dashboard displays the delta-ranking of Aspirational Districts as well as the performance of all districts. Other Features: The government is dedicated to improving people’ living conditions and fostering inclusive progress for all — “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas.” This initiative focuses on strengthening people’s capacity to engage fully in the expanding economy in order to allow them to maximise their potential. Districts are urged and encouraged to first catch up with the best district in their state, and then strive to be among the best in the country by competing with and learning from others in the spirit of competitive and cooperative federalism. This Aspirational Districts Programme Appraisal aims to assess the effectiveness of the Government of India’s flagship programme and generate evidence-based documentation that can be used to support NITI Aayog and other stakeholders in their efforts to address existing gaps, evidence-based planning, and decision making. The 2030 Agenda can only be realised with collaboration and dedication at all levels of government, as well as the numerous partners and stakeholders engaged. Subnational and local governments play a critical role in localising global goals, interpreting and delivering them as integrated programmes and services that improve people’s lives. This is where the largest influence will be felt. Key Findings: Better governance through convergence: Of the three approaches of Convergence, Competition, and Collaboration, most stakeholders interviewed cited Convergence as a critical way for improving district performance. The stakeholders emphasised the need of convergence in moving away from working in silos and toward synchronised planning and governance in order to meet the program’s objectives. Accelerating growth through competitive federalism: The competition part of the 3Cs was also considered as a useful technique in fostering improved monitoring and establishing healthy competition to meet programme aims. This has also worked as a motivator for districts to step up their efforts and track their success. Collaboration: While this feature of ADP has helped assure systematic and targeted efforts across many groups, it may be emphasised more. This might be especially useful as an alternate approach to address some technical competence shortages that districts experience. Top-level political leadership commitment: The commitment displayed by the country’s senior political leadership to bring about speedy growth in underdeveloped regions in India is a notable element of the programme that has considerably contributed to its success. What gets assessed gets done: In addition to the 3Cs strategy, the study discovered that the ADP’s emphasis on continuous real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making has been a significant contribution to improved governance. This has aided district administrations in recognising a district’s strengths and shortcomings, leading in more planned and informed approaches to growth. Capacity building: While the ADP has increased the technical and administrative capacities of the districts, interviews with many stakeholders revealed a need to focus even more on this area. Other ideas include providing skill training for officials and employees, increasing hiring flexibility, and increasing incentives for boosting recruiting in these areas. Districts with High Aspirations vs Districts with Low Aspirations: One of the primary benefits of the ADP is that it has provided attention to districts that would otherwise be ignored owing to poor performance. This feature has benefited most districts in obtaining the necessary support for their districts. A crucial aspect that distinguishes the ADP from other development programmes is the clear and complete framework it gives to the districts. This framework has effectively guided districts in focusing their efforts on meeting the program’s objectives. In truth, the framework is an effective technique of ensuring that efforts are aligned with the country’s larger aims and are not arbitrary in nature. Criteria for Evaluation: Aspirational District Program Related Difficulties: Aspirational District Program is impacted by the issue of low fiscal resources. Aspirational District Program is implemented by several ministries, resulting in a lack of coordination. Data- High-quality administrative data is crucial for enhancing local programme implementation and planning. The Delta rating itself is mostly concerned with quantity (access coverage) rather than quality. -On-time textbook delivery in schools is included in the ranking index; nevertheless, textbook delivery may or may not be an issue in districts. -Furthermore, as indicated by the ASER study, the quality of education in India is dismal. Countering the Existing Gaps and Challenges: The programme was started with the goal of lowering inter- and intra-state inequities, and it is well on its way to accomplishing that goal. The distinctive aspects of introducing competition, handholding assistance from the centre and state, and collaboration with many agencies are
The Hindu Analysis 17-06-2022
Unemployment rate dips in first quarter of 2022: survey GS Paper 2, Employment, Human Resources. Context: According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the urban unemployment rate fell to 8.2 percent in January-March 2022, down from 8.7 percent in the previous quarter (October-December 2021) and 9.3 percent in the same period in 2021. According to the survey report, the unemployment rate is defined as the proportion of jobless people in the labour force. The National Statistics Organization (NSO) revealed the survey findings for 2020-21, which showed a 0.6 percentage point fall in the jobless rate to 4.2 percent, down from 4.8 percent in 2019-20. India’s Labour Structure: In its 2008 report, India’s Ministry of Labour categorised unorganised labour in four categories. This categorization classified India’s unorganised labour force according to occupation, kind of work, severely troubled categories, and service categories. In India, there are several types of unemployment: Unemployment in Disguise: more individuals are employed than are actually required. It is largely found in India’s agricultural and unorganised sectors. Seasonal Joblessness: happens during specific times of the year. Agricultural labourers in India rarely have employment all year. Structural Unemployment: caused by a mismatch between the jobs offered in the market and the abilities of the available employees. Many individuals in India are unemployed because they lack the necessary skills, and training them is difficult owing to a lack of knowledge. Cyclical Unemployment: It is a product of the business cycle, in which unemployment rises during recessions and falls during expansions. In India, cyclical unemployment is small. It is a phenomenon encountered mostly in capitalist economies. Unemployment Due to Technology: It is the loss of jobs as a result of technological advancements. According to World Bank data from 2016, the share of employment threatened by automation in India has increased by 69 percent year on year. Frictional Unemployment: Frictional unemployment, also known as Search Unemployment, refers to the time gap between jobs while an individual is looking for a new work or changing occupations. It is sometimes referred to as voluntary unemployment since it is not caused by a lack of jobs, but rather by employees leaving their positions in pursuit of better chances. Vulnerable Employment: This refers to those who work informally, without appropriate job contracts, and hence without legal protection. These people are classified as “unemployed” since no records of their job are kept. It is a major source of unemployment. Unemployment Causes: A sizable population. Working population with little or no educational levels and occupational skills. Inadequate state assistance, regulatory difficulties, and inadequate infrastructural, financial, and market links to tiny/cottage industries or small firms, rendering such operations unviable due to cost and compliance overruns. A large workforce is linked with the informal sector as a result of a lack of needed education/skills, which is not reflected in any employment data. Domestic assistants, construction labourers, and so forth. The curriculum taught in schools and universities is out of date with regard to industry needs. This is the primary reason for structural unemployment. Inadequate infrastructural expansion and little investment in the manufacturing sector, limiting secondary sector job possibilities. Low agricultural production combined with a lack of other alternatives for agricultural workers makes the shift from primary to secondary and tertiary industries challenging. Regressive societal norms that discourage women from seeking/maintaining work. Impact: The issue of unemployment leads to the issue of poverty. Young individuals who have been unemployed for a long period engage in unlawful and illegal activities to make money. This also contributes to an upsurge in crime in the country. Unemployed people are readily swayed by antisocial influences. This causes people to lose trust in the country’s democratic principles. It is common for jobless persons to become hooked to drugs and alcohol or to attempt suicide, resulting in losses to the country’s human resources. It also has an impact on the country’s economy since the workforce that might have been gainfully employed to create resources becomes dependent on the remaining working population, raising socioeconomic expenses for the state. For example, a one percent rise in unemployment decreases GDP by two percent. Rate of Labour Force Participation (LFPR): The LFPR is essentially the proportion of the working-age (15 and above) population that is looking for employment. It shows an economy’s desire for work. It comprises both employed and jobless individuals. The Unemployment Rate (UER) is the fraction of the labour force that is jobless. The Importance of LFPR: More advanced than the Unemployment Rate (UER): The LFPR provides a more accurate representation of the country’s unemployment rate. Simply looking at the UER will understate the impact of unemployment in India. Demonstrates a shortage of “excellent” job: LFPR demonstrates how individuals of working age become disillusioned when they cannot find work. According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), India’s labour force participation rate (LFPR) has dropped to 40% from an already low 47 percent in 2016. This indicates that not only is more than half of India’s working-age population (15 years and older) opting out of the labour market, but that this proportion is growing. Who keeps track of India’s employment data? The Decennial Population Census and the National Sample Survey Office’s countrywide 5-yearly surveys on employment and unemployment have been two primary sources of data on workforce and employment. The NSSO quinquennial surveys only give data up to 2011-12. As a result, it was superseded by the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which began on an annual basis in 2017-18. PLFS is India’s first computer-based survey, launched in 2017 by the National Statistical Office (NSO). It was formed on the proposal of a committee chaired by Amitabh Kundu. It collects information on a variety of factors, including the degree of unemployment, the types of employment and their respective shares, the earnings obtained from various sorts of occupations, the number of hours worked, and so on. What are the statistics for women? Between 2017-18 and 2019-20, the female WPR ratio grew from 17.5 percent to 24 percent. When the ratio is multiplied by the female population, the yearly growth in female employees is 17 percent. Another encouraging finding
The Hindu Analysis 16-06-2022
The Fragile State of Nuclear DisarmamentGS Paper- 3, Energy and Security. Context: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) issued its yearbook a few days ago, detailing certain patterns in international security over the last year. Russia leads the way in terms of absolute quantities of nuclear weapons. During the 2017-2021 timeframe, India is the leading importer of weaponry. Other nations in the top five list of weaponry importers are Saudi Arabia, Egypt, China, and Australia. SIPRI estimates that these five countries account for 38% of total worldwide weaponry imports. Recent geopolitical developments in nearly every part of the world have made the global security situation more volatile. Military modernization is considered as a worldwide trend. Over the years, all nuclear-weapons nations have claimed and sought to modernise various aspects of their military forces. Nuclear Disarmament: The act of lowering or eliminating nuclear weapons is known as nuclear disarmament. It can also be the final state of a nuclear-weapons-free society in which nuclear weapons have been fully eradicated. Denuclearization is also used to denote the process that leads to total nuclear disarmament. Because of the grave dangers inherent in nuclear war and the possession of nuclear weapons, treaties on disarmament and non-proliferation have been agreed upon. Nuclear disarmament advocates argue that it would reduce the likelihood of nuclear conflict, particularly if it occurred accidently. Nuclear disarmament, according to critics, would undercut deterrence and increase the frequency of conventional warfare. Important Treaties: Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) of 1963 prohibited all nuclear weapons testing except underground. Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. An international pact (now signed by 189 countries) aimed at limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The pact is built on three pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the right to utilise nuclear technology peacefully. Interim Agreement on Offensive Arms (SALT I) 1972: The Soviet Union and the United States agreed to a freeze on the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) that they would deploy. Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) 1972: The United States and the Soviet Union agreed to install ABM interceptors at two locations, each with up to 100 ground-based launchers for ABM interceptor missiles. In a 1974 Protocol, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to only install an ABM system at one location. SALT II (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty): SALT II, which replaced SALT I, confined the Soviet Union and the United States to the same number of ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers. Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles were also restricted (MIRVS). Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) of 1987 prohibited the United States and the Soviet Union from using land-based ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and missile launchers with ranges of 500–1,000 kilometres (310–620 mi) (short medium-range) and 1,000–5,500 kilometres (620–3,420 mi) (long medium-range) (intermediate-range). Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I)—signed in 1991 and approved in 1994—limited long-range nuclear forces in the United States and newly independent states of the former Soviet Union to 6,000 attributable warheads on 1,600 ballistic missiles and bombers. Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (START II)—signed in 1993 but never implemented: START II was a bilateral agreement between the United States and Russia that tried to commit each side to installing no more than 3,000 to 3,500 warheads by December 2007. It also prohibited the use of multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT)—signed in 2002, entered into force in 2003: Russia and the United States agreed to limit their “strategic nuclear weapons” (a phrase that remained undefined in the pact) to between 1,700 and 2,200 by 2012. The deal was widely condemned by arms control campaigners for its vagueness and lack of depth. In 2010, the New Start Treaty took its place. CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty)—signed in 1996 but not yet in force: The CTBT is an international treaty (now signed by 181 states and ratified by 148 states) that prohibits all nuclear explosions in all circumstances. Despite the fact that the pact is not in force, Russia has not tested a nuclear bomb since 1990, and the US has not since 1992. New START Treaty—signed in 2010, entered into force in 2011: replaces the SORT Treaty, decreases deployed nuclear weapons by roughly half, and will be in effect until 2026. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons– signed in 2017, went into force on January 22, 2021: forbids its parties from possessing, manufacturing, developing, or testing nuclear weapons, as well as assisting in such operations. Only South Africa has ever entirely dismantled an indigenously created nuclear arsenal. South Africa’s apartheid regime developed a half-dozen primitive fission bombs in the 1980s, but they were destroyed in the early 1990s. Deterrence Theory: Deterrence is broadly defined as any use of threats (implicit or explicit) or restricted force to deter an actor from acting (i.e., maintain the status quo). During the Cold War, the concept acquired popularity as a military tactic including the use of nuclear weapons. It is linked to, but not the same as, the notion of mutual assured destruction, which mimics the preventive nature of a full-scale nuclear assault that would decimate both parties in a nuclear conflict. The primary difficulty of deterrence is how to credibly threaten the opponent with military action or nuclear retribution notwithstanding the costs to the deterrer. Nuclear Disarmament Issues: Nuclear ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots’: Proponents of disarmament are nuclear-armed countries themselves, establishing a nuclear monopoly. Peaceful Nuclear Explosion (PNE) concept: performed for non-military objectives such as mining. India’s commitment to nuclear disarmament: India has long advocated for a universal commitment and a worldwide, non-discriminatory multilateral system. It described a working paper on nuclear disarmament that was submitted to the United Nations General Assembly in 2006. India participated in the Nuclear Security Summit process and has attended International Conferences on Nuclear Security organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on a regular basis. India is a member of the Nuclear Security Contact Group (although it has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)). India has
The Hindu Analysis 07-06-2022
1. INDIA-QATAR ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP During the India-Qatar Business Forum in Doha, he told Qatari businesspeople that the two countries have a special relationship that has evolved over centuries, and he called for further enriching the strong partnership and diversifying the trade basket, which is currently dominated by energy products. He expressed his delight that India-Qatar trade will reach a new high of US$ 15 billion in 2021-22, and noted that the number of registered Indian businesses in Qatar has surpassed 15,000 for the first time. He unveiled the “India-Qatar Start-Up Bridge,” which aims to connect the two countries’ start-up ecosystems. Noting that the year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of full diplomatic relations between India and Qatar, the Vice President suggested that the two Parliaments organise an event to commemorate the occasion. He also urged India and Qatar to work together more at multilateral forums such as the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, and others. 2. ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC) India has slammed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for condemning two BJP leaders’ derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammed and Islam. The OIC’s comments, according to the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson, are “misleading and mischievous.” With 57 member states spanning four continents, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations. The OIC is the Muslim world’s collective voice, ensuring and safeguarding their interests in economic, socioeconomic, and political matters. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has institutions that carry out its programmes. Its headquarters are located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 3. BRICS Under the chairmanship of BRICS China, the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs participated in the second BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting via virtual mode. Discussions on the outcomes of the BRICS Financial Cooperation Agenda for 2022 were on the agenda for the meeting. The BRICS Joint Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Statement, Infrastructure Investments, the New Development Bank, and the BRICS Think Tank Network for Finance were among the topics discussed. The Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of South Africa make up an informal group of states. It is more of a discussion forum than a traditional organisation with strict membership and rules. 4. LEADERS IN CLIMATE CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) India jointly announced ‘Leaders in Climate Change Management’ (LCCM), a practice-based learning programme, on June 5 in honour of World Environment Day. Its goal is to increase the capacity of urban professionals in India to lead climate action across sectors and geographies. The Administrative Training Institute (ATI), Mysuru, also signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NIUA and WRI India to facilitate this face-to-face learning programme, making it the first delivery partner of the LCCM programme. The LCCM plans to train 5,000 professionals, including mid-level government officials and frontline workers, to champion climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions as part of a coordinated effort to meet India’s climate commitments. 5. STATE ASSEMBLY Bills have been introduced in West Bengal to make the Chief Minister the Chancellor of State Universities. West Bengal’s government plans to introduce six bills in the Assembly to make the Chief Minister the Chancellor of all state-run universities. The Chief Minister has been named Chancellor of all State universities, according to a resolution passed by the Cabinet recently. In most cases, the Governor of the State holds the position of Chancellor. The governor has been accused by the state government of interfering with the operation of state universities. The Governor has also stated that he will not allow the legislation to be passed by the government.
CSE 2023 Resources
Let us have a look at a 5-step full-proof method for preparing for the Civil Services Exam. Step 1: Be well-versed on the test. Step 2: Consolidate your base. Step 3: Expand Your Knowledge Step 4: Work on your answer-writing skills. Step 5: March Towards Prelims/Mock-Test Based Learning Let us take a closer look at each of these stages individually: Step 1: Be well-versed on the test. Before studying for any exam, it is critical to understand the exam’s intricacies. Read the UPSC test notice attentively to familiarise yourself with the exam curriculum, exam pattern, exam timetable, and eligibility requirements. After that, have a look at the previous year’s papers and read through them to get a sense of what will be asked in the test. You will save a significant amount of time on your preparatory trip if you devote a focused amount of time to this activity! Alternatively, you may go through the material on our website to learn everything there is to know about the test! You should also begin reading the newspaper at this time. Step 2: Consolidate your base. Whatever your background, you must comprehend the fundamentals of the UPSC curriculum’ main disciplines. As a result, consult NCERTs, which may be obtained for free from NCERT’s official website. Before writing notes, read them at least twice, and then read NCERT. Step 3: Brush up on your knowledge by reading standard literature. After you have finished reading all of the NCERTs, it is time to broaden your horizons by reading some standard novels. On our website, you can get the whole UPSC book list. Step 4: Revision and Practice Writing Answers Answer-writing practise and revision are crucial in the UPSC preparation process, particularly for the UPSC Mains Exam. You can begin practising answer-writing when you have completed a topic from the NCERT as well as standard books. Before that, it will be a pointless exercise because the content of the answer will have to be based on literature. It is also crucial at this point to integrate constant revision. Step 5: A Learning Approach Based on Mock Tests You should start using a mock test-based study technique two months before the preliminary exam. It will make you feel like you are taking an exam. It will help you relax around test time after you have become used to it. Simultaneously take a genuine exam-style fake test and assess your results. Examine your weak spots and review any topics you may have forgotten. It will not only assist you in managing your anxiety during the exam, but it will also provide you with excellent exam preparation!
