InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
Table of Contents:
GS Paper 2:
1. US’s National Security Strategy (NSS)
GS Paper 3:
1. How RBI fell behind the curve in containing inflation
Facts for Prelims:
1. Chhath pooja
2. Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar
3. Sardar Patel
4. CAA 2019
5. IT Rules (amendment) 2021
6. Uniform Civil Code
7. IEPFA
8. World Energy Outlook 2022
9. Indian Steel Industry Is World’s Second Largest
10. Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)
11. Dolphins return to the Ganga in UP
12. WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List
13. DNA tests
14. Curcumin Compound
15. Salmonella
US’s National Security Strategy (NSS)
GS paper 2
Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global grouping involving India and affecting India’s interests
Context: The United States has launched its National Security Strategy (NSS).
- All U.S. Presidents are mandated by the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 to bring out their NSS and to communicate the executive’s vision of national security to the legislative.
What does NSS reflect?
- National security agenda: How the government of the day views the national security agenda.
- NSS also gives Congress an opportunity to assess the cost that the country will have to bear.
- Also, areas of investment to achieve the nation’s security goals.
- Inform the U.S. Department of Defense’s strategy about the country’s nuclear posture and missile defence.
Biden administration’s NSS:
- Leadership: The U.S. seek to sustain U.S. leadership
- Economy: Improve the U.S. economy
- Alliances: Build on a vast network of alliances and partnerships
- Counter China as its strategic competitor and Russia as a disruptor
- BoostS. competitiveness and defend democracy.
- Tying the domestic with the international: Agenda of the Biden administration to cover a comprehensive set of transnational challenges.
- These include:
- climate change
- food insecurity
- pandemics
- terrorism
- energy shortages
- inflation
- Considerable focus on outer space security and governance.
- Three main fulcrums of U.S. strategy: Invest; Build and Modernize
- It seeks to invest in the “tools of American power and influence:
- By strengthening the economy at home
- Improving critical infrastructure
- Investing in technologies such as microchips and semiconductors.
- Build ‘the strongest possible coalition of nations: A recognition of both the U.S.’s ambitions as well as limitations in driving global geopolitics unilaterally.
- Cater to the wide-ranging demands of internal and external security, simultaneously.
- These include:
NSS about Russia and China:
- Joint strategy: To tackle external challenges for the U.S. by out-competing China and constraining Russia
- Asymmetrically tilted its focus on threats from China despite an active war in which Russia is involved
- Taiwan: Opposition to any unilateral change to Taiwan’s status by China
- A contested Indo-Pacific region: China on one hand and a host of democratic partners on the other.
- Downgrade the Russian economy, military, soft power and influence globally.
- Identifies countries such as Japan and India to fill the emerging gaps.
NSS and India:
- Both as a bilateral and multilateral partner In the Indo-Pacific
- Democracy: It has kept India’s status as the largest democracy and a major defense partner.
- G7: India’s possible integration in important global forums such as the G7.
Biden’s NSS serves three broad purposes:
- Strategic vision: It completes the strategic vision by the Interim National Security Strategic Guidance released in March 2021
- Seeks to provide further clarity and direction on various policy verticals by the Biden administration
- Marks the end of political expectations about presidential doctrines in the U.S.
Way forward:
Further reinforcing the NSS: The Biden administration also released the National Defense Strategy, the Nuclear Posture Review and the Missile Defense Review to further reinforce the central message of the NSS.
Insta Links:
India, America and the China challenge
Mains Links:
Q. India and the USA are two large democracies. Examine the basic tenets on which the two political systems are based. (UPSC 2018)
How RBI fell behind the curve in containing inflation
GS Paper 3
Syllabus: Indian Economy and issues
Source: Indian Express
Directions: This Article has been taken from the Indian Express editorial. Go through it once to understand the basic concept.
Context: Very soon, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will convene to formulate its response to the Government of India about the high rate of inflation in the country.
What is inflation?
The general rise in the price level of goods and services is called inflation. The Reserve Bank of India is the authority to control inflation under RBI Act 1934.
Inflation targeting by RBI: The RBI is by law responsible for maintaining price stability.
- Under the “inflation-targeting” regime that began in 2016, RBI has to retain the inflation target of 4%, with a tolerance band of +/- 2 percentage
- Thus, for any given month, RBI’s comfort zone for inflation lies between 2 per cent and 6 per cent.
- Under the RBI Act, 1934, if the central bank fails to meet the inflation target for three consecutive quarters, it is required to provide the following information to the government:
- reasons for the failure to achieve the inflation target;
- remedial actions proposed to be taken; and
- an estimate of the period within which the inflation target shall be achieved pursuant to the timely implementation of the proposed remedial actions.
How does the MPC target inflation?
Composition of MPC: The MPC has six members including the RBI Governor — three each nominated by the RBI and the government, who meet every two months (starting from February every year).
What is the repo rate and How does movement in the repo-rate influence inflation?
Repo rate; – (it is the rate at which RBI lends money to commercial banks).
- For instance, at times of high inflation RBI increases the repo rate (“dear money policy”) which results in costlier borrowing both for consumers and producers and effectively slows down economic activity in the economy.
How did RBI fail to check inflation?
- Time lag: MPC’s knowledge of inflation typically lags by two months — which means as it deliberates in October, it works with data until August.
- Accommodative stance of RBI (growth more priority than inflation control): RBI despite being aware about the inflation level has kept the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent and to continue with an accommodative stance as long as necessary to revive and sustain growth on a durable basis.
Limitation of monetary policy in curbing inflation
- Incomplete transmission; – it means that the cumulative easing in policy rates by RBI is not being reflected in the lowering of their lending rates by banks.
- Policy rates are not market linked; – the repo rates decided by monetary policy committees are not truly market linked which results in banks many times negating these policy rates set by RBI.
Cost-push inflation; – due to disruption in the supply chain of the produce e.g. Russian-Ukrain war.
- Ineffective against supply shocks; – RBI’s policies can stabilize inflation only caused due to demand shocks and they are ineffective against supply shocks.
- For instance, food inflation is prone to supply-side bottlenecks and is out of the scope of any remedy under the aegis of the monetary policy of RBI.
- Limited financial inclusion; – India suffers from limited financial inclusion. Indians, unlike Americans, earn before spending and do not live by credit. This limits the success of RBI’s credit control policy.
- Fiscal policy; – The Central and State Governments can play a progressively active role to help curb inflation by framing new policies or altering the old ones.
- Many times there is no synchronisation between monetary and fiscal policy.
- Globalisation; –
- With the current uncertainty about the global economy, especially in the United States of America and the Eurozone due to the Russia –Ukraine war, RBI should not rely on monetary tools alone to combat inflation.
Functions of RBI
Insta Links
Prelims link
- What is inflation?
- CPI vs WPI
- GDP Deflator
- Monetary Policy Committee
- Powers and functions of RBI
- SLR vs CRR
Mains Links:
Q. What is inflation targeting? From a critical assessment of inflation-targeting by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the Indian economy.
Q. If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do? (UPSC CSE 2020)
1. Cut and optimize the Statutory Liquidity Ratio
2. Increase the Marginal Standing Facility Rate
3. Cut the Bank Rate and Repo Rate
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
[a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
[c) 1 and 3 onlyd) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: (b)
Facts for Prelims
Chhath pooja
Source: Indian Express
Chhath Puja, an ancient Hindu Vedic festival, is dedicated to the solar deity Surya and Shashthi Devi.
- Thanking them for bestowing life on earth, as part of the tradition, women (and some men too) fast for the well-being of their sons and the happiness of their families.
- Chhath Puja is also known as Pratihar, Dala Chhath, Chhathi and Surya Shashthi.
- Primarily observed in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and even in
- Festival period: worshipping of the Sun God spans four days.
Significance: Interestingly, this four-day festival does not involve idolatry. Devotees believe that the main sources of the sun’s powers are his wives, Usha and Pratyusha.
- Hence, Chhath involves combined worship of both powers along with the Sun.
- The festival finds a mention in both epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar
Source: PIB
Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the freedom fighter — Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar — on the occasion of his guru pooja.
Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar
- Born on October 30, 1908, in Pasumpon in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, he was a freedom-fighter cum spiritual leader and was seen as a deity among the Mukulathor community.
- He did not accept traditional Hinduism because it supported the ‘Varnashrama’.
- He regularly fought against the evils of the Hindu religion.
- Membership of congress: Thevar became a full-time member of the Congress party and attended the 1927 Congress session at Madras as a volunteer when he was just 19.
- Aide of Netaji: He became a close aide of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
- He was elected three times to the national parliamentary constituency of the All India Forward Bloc.
- He supported the temple entry movement and he helped the activist Vaidyanatha Iyer take Dalits to Meenakshi Temple in Madurai.
- He was instrumental in getting the Criminal Tribes act repealed after continuous efforts in 1946.
- Criminal Tribes Act criminalized entire communities by designating them as habitual criminals.
Sardar Patel
Source: PIB
Context: All India Radio will broadcast its Annual Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on October 31, National Unity Day.
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
- Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), popularly known as Sardar Patel, was the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home minister of India.
- He was one of the main leaders of Kheda Satyagraha (1918) and Bardoli Satyagraha (1928).
- The women of Bardoli gave him the title of “Sardar”.
- He was appointed as the 49th President of the Indian National Congress, organising the party for elections in 1934 and 1937 while promoting the Quit India Movement.
- For his commitment to national integration, he is known as the “Iron Man of India”.
- He is also remembered as the “patron saint of India’s civil servants” for having established modern all-India services.
- The Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, was dedicated to him on 31 October 2018 and is approximately 182 metres (597 ft) in height.
- He was a major driving force behind the liberal industrial policy resolution of 1948.
- He headed the following committee of the Constituent Assembly:
- Advisory Committee on Fundamental Rights.
- Committee on Minorities and Tribal and Excluded Areas.
- Provincial Constitution
- In 2014, the Government of India decided to celebrate the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as “National Unity Day” to honour Sardar Patel’s contribution to integrated India.
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019
Context: CAA is legislation which seeks to provide a relaxation, in the nature of an amnesty, to specific communities from specified countries with a clear cut-off date, the Home Ministry told the Supreme Court.
- SC is hearing petitions challenging the CAA of 2019.
Key Highlights:
- CAA: It does not in any manner affect the legal, democratic or secular rights of any Indian citizen, the Home Ministry said.
- Sixth Schedule and areas covered under ‘The Inner Line’: They have been included in the CAA on tangible material, historic reasons and prevalent classifications and reasons of national security.
Citizenship Amendment Act 2019:
Amendments to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021
Context: The Ministry of Electronics and IT notified amendments to IT Rules, 2021 aimed at protecting the rights of Digital Nagriks (citizens).
- Towards an Open, Safe & Trusted and Accountable Internet
Key Amendments:
- Legal obligation on intermediaries: Take reasonable efforts to prevent users from uploading content that intentionally communicates any misinformation or information that is patently false or untrue.
- 72-hour time frame for content removal instead of 24 hours.
- Regional languages: For effective communication of the rules and regulations of the intermediary, communication should be done in regional Indian languages as well.
- Removing the words ‘defamatory’ and libellous.
- Whether any content is defamatory or libellous will be determined through judicial review.
- To deal particularly with misinformation, and content that could incite violence between different religious/caste groups.
- Respect rights: The rules have made it explicit for the intermediary to respect the rights accorded to the citizens under Articles 14, 19 and 21.
- Grievance Appellate Committee(s):
- It will be established to allow users to appeal against the inaction or decisions taken by intermediaries on user complaints.
- Users have the right to approach courts for any remedy.
- The appellate committee shall consist of:
- A chairperson
- Two whole-time members appointed by the Center
- One shall be a member ex-officio and two shall be independent members
Need for amendment:
- Digital users: To make the internet open, safe, and accountable for all digital users.
- Constitutional rights: To make intermediaries (Twitter, Facebook) respect constitutional rights granted to citizens under articles 14, 19 & 21.
Criticism:
Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC): It will give the government greater powers in content moderation.
Uniform Civil Code
Source: The Hindu
Context: Recently Gujarat government announced that it will set up a committee on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
- Earlier in May this year, the Uttarakhand government announced its decision to implement the UCC in the State.
What is Uniform Civil Code?
UCC is one that would provide for one law for the entire country, applicable to all religious communities in their personal matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption etc.
Constitutional direction regarding UCC:
Article 44 of the Constitution lays down that the state shall endeavour to secure a UCC for the citizens throughout the territory of India.
Historical perspective: The debate for a uniform civil code dates back to the colonial period in India.
- The Lex Loci Report of October 1840– It stressed the importance and necessity of uniformity in the codification of Indian law, relating to crimes, evidence and contract.
- But it also recommended that the personal laws of Hindus and Muslims should be kept outside such codification.
- The Queen’s 1859 Proclamation– It promised absolute non-interference in religious matters.
- So while criminal laws were codified and became common for the whole country, personal laws continue to be governed by separate codes for different communities.
Indian laws do follow a uniform code in most civil matters – Indian Contract Act, Civil Procedure Code, Sale of Goods Act, Transfer of Property Act, Partnership Act, Evidence Act etc.
- States, however, have made hundreds of amendments and therefore in certain matters, there is diversity even under these secular civil laws.
Do you Know?
Goa is the only state where UCC has been implemented.
Cases relating to UCC:
- Shah Bano case (1985): (SC: Supreme Court specifically underlined that Triple Talaq cannot take away the maintenance right of a divorced Muslim woman)
- Sarla Mudgal Case (1995), dealt with the issue of bigamy and conflict between the personal laws existing on matters of marriage.
- In Shayara Bano v Union of India(2017) also known as the Triple talaq case
Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA)
Source: PIB
Context: IEPFA organises an Investor Education, Awareness and Protection Conference in Srinagar.
Major initiatives associated with the conference: IEPFA Mascot “Fundoo”; “Niveshak Didi” (to guide investment esp. for women); “Niveshak Sarathi” (investor awareness van) and “Investors’ Handbook”.
IEPFA was established in 2016 under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It administers the Investor Education protection fund and makes a refund of shares/unclaimed dividends/matured deposits to investors.
IEPF is funded by amounts such as dividends, applications money, matured deposits etc, which have remained unpaid or unclaimed for a period of 7 years. The fund is maintained under the Consolidated Fund of India (Article 266).
World Energy Outlook 2022
Source: DTE
Context: According to the World Energy Outlook, the Russian-Ukraine war provides an unprecedented incentive to accelerate the transition to clean energy sources of fuel.
Key highlights:
- Russia supplied 40 per cent of Europe’s natural gas, mostly via pipelines.
- Due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, Russia’s share of internationally traded natural gas may drop from 30 per cent in 2021 to 15 per cent in 2030
- Fall in natural gas demand: Natural gas demand is expected to be 750 billion cubic metres lower than it is today by 2050, driven by a switch from natural gas to renewables.
- Reduction in oil demand: Oil currently comprises 80 per cent of the global energy mix, but it may drop to 75 per cent by 2030 and around 60 per cent by 2050
- The demand for fossil fuels is expected to decline by 2030.
All these give opportunity for the world the to shift to cleaner renewable fuels.
World Energy Outlook: It is released by the International Energy Agency annually. It presents detailed projections of energy demand, production, trade and investment, fuel by fuel and region by region.
International Energy Agency (IEA): Established in 1974 as per the framework of the OECD, IEA is an autonomous intergovernmental organisation, which aims to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its member countries and beyond.
Composition: It has 30 members at present. The IEA family also includes eight association countries (including India). A candidate country must be a member country of the OECD.
Reports:
- Global Energy & CO2 Status Report.
- World Energy Outlook
- World Energy Statistics
- World Energy Balances.
- Energy Technology Perspectives.
Indian Steel Industry Is World’s Second Largest
Source: Times of India
Context: PM recently emphasized that the Indian steel industry has become the second largest, after China
According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT):
- The total steel production capacity of the country at present is 154 million tons (MT).
- India produced 10.14 MT of crude steel in April 2022, making it the second-largest producer in the world.
- India has set a target to double the crude steel production capacity from 154 MT per annum now to 300 MT per annum in the next 9-10 years in an order to boost indigenous capabilities.
Figure: State-wise Steel Production India – 2019
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) conference
Source: DTE
Context: Experts from the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) conference have observed that the Climate observing system remains fragile and needs financing for strengthening and sustaining it.
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) conference
GCOS conference was hosted by Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). The Global Climate Observing System was established in 1992 as an outcome of the Second World Climate Conference.
- Objectives: To ensure that the observations and information needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available to all potential users.
Dolphins return to the Ganga in UP
Source: The Hindu
Context: Dolphins have started coming back to the Ganga river with improvement in the quality of its water through the Namami Gange Programme
- At present, the population of dolphins in Ganga in Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be around 600
Gangetic Dolphins
- Protection Status: Dolphins have been included in Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
- IUCN Status: Endangered
- They are also one among the 22 species identified under the centrally sponsored scheme, “Development of Wildlife Habitat”.
- Characteristic features: The Gangetic river dolphins can only live in freshwater, are blind and catch their prey in a unique manner, using ultrasonic sound waves.
- Distribution: Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
- Habitat: They live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
- Significance: It is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river
- The global population of the Ganges Dolphin is estimated at around 4,000, and nearly 80% are found in the Indian subcontinent.
Namami Gange programme:
The Namami Gange programme was launched in 2014 with the objective to rejuvenate Ganga by adopting an integrated approach which focused on the interception and diversion of sewage by tapping the drains flowing into the river Ganga.
Q. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India? (UPSC CSE 2015)
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial
Ans: (c)
DNA tests fall under a grey area
Context: More and more complainants are seeking DNA tests.
- Such requests increased by around 20% each year.
DNA analysis, also called DNA typing or DNA profiling, examines DNA found in physical evidence such as blood, hair, and semen, and determines whether it can be matched to DNA taken from specific individuals. DNA analysis has become a common form of evidence in criminal trials.
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL): It says it tests around 300-400 samples each month-both private requests and court-mandated.
Supreme court on DNA tests:
- Compelling an unwilling person to undergo a DNA test: It would be a violation of his/her personal liberty and right to privacy.
- Bhabani Prasad Jena, 2010: Judges cannot order genetic tests as a “roving enquiry”.
- Ashok Kumar judgment(2021): Judges before ordering a genetic test, should examine the “proportionality of the legitimate aims” being pursued.
What are DNA tests used for?
- Nab Criminals: It can also help to nab criminals and as a piece of evidence in a criminal case
- DNA profiles taken from the place of crime can be matched with the samples of criminals arrested even after several years.
- Identifying accident victims, missing people or identifying disaster victims.
- The identification of parents is also possible with the use of DNA profiling.
Criticism: Privacy issues: DNA profiling is being criticized as a technique that breaches an individual’s privacy.
Process of DNA Profiling (see diagram below)
Deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA):
It is the hereditary complex molecule present in humans and almost all other organisms. It contains all of the information necessary to build and maintain an organism including biological information. DNA can be extracted from saliva, hair, blood samples, any small amount of the muscles or tissues of a person, or nail scraping.
- It was first identified by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953.
WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL)
Source: WHO; Hindustan Times
Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report highlighting the first-ever list of fungal “priority pathogens” – a catalogue of the 19 fungi that represent the greatest threat to public health.
“Emerging from the shadows of the bacterial antimicrobial resistance pandemic, fungal infections are growing, and are ever more resistant to treatments, becoming a public health concern worldwide”.
WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens List (FPPL):
- The WHO FPPL is the first global effort to systematically prioritize fungal pathogens.
- It is divided into three categories: critical, high and medium priority.
- Fungal pathogens are major threat as: Only four class of anti-fungal medicines are currently available; Fungal infection are becoming more common (esp. after Pandemic); Fungi are becoming more resistant to treatment.
- Steps Needed: Effective Surveillance; Public Health Interventions; R&D and innovations.
Curcumin Compound
Source: The Hindu
Context: Researchers of the Transdisciplinary University of Health Sciences & Technology (TDU), Bengaluru, have validated the immunity-boosting ability of the ‘Curcumin’ compound against mastitis in cattle
Curcumin:
It is a yellow pigment found primarily in turmeric. It is a polyphenol compound with anti-inflammatory properties and allegedly has the ability to increase the number of antioxidants that the body produces.
Till now clinical research has not confirmed any medical use for Curcumin in humans. However, it is commonly used in Ayurvedic prescriptions. Apart from medicine, it is used as a flavouring as well as for colouring agent in foods.
Bovine mastitis:
It is a condition with the persistent and inflammatory reaction of the udder tissue due to either physical trauma/injury or infections caused by various microorganisms including viruses, mycoplasma, fungus and bacteria.
Symptoms: inflammation of the udder into a red-hard mass with pain, milk yield totally stops or is severely restricted, milk produced contains blood clots and has a foul smell.
Treatment: No vaccination is available against mastitis. Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic treatment is used as applicable.
Salmonella
Context: Recent studies have found the emergence of multi-drug resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 that causes infections in humans and cattle.
Salmonella
- They are gram-negative bacteria(containing double cell walls). Hence they are highly resistant to antibiotics.
- Most infections are due to the ingestion of food contaminated by animal faeces or by human faeces, such as by a food-service worker at a commercial eatery.
- Two main groups—typhoidal and nontyphoidal
- Nontyphoidal serotypes are zoonotic and can be transferred from animal to human and from human to human. They usually invade only the gastrointestinal tract
- Typhoidal serotypes can only be transferred from human to human and can cause food-borne infection
- Recent studies reported an annual incidence of as many as 360 cases of typhoid fever per 1,00,000 people, with an annual estimate of 5 million cases and 8,930 deaths (0.2% fatality rate) in India.
In this cell structure of salmonella, you can see the thick cell membrane which protects it from anti-bacterial chemicals
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