UPSC Current Affairs November 19 2016 | Comprehensive News Analysis

Useful News Articles

A. GS1 Related

Nothing here today folks!

B. GS2 Related

Scheme soon to grade CSIR scientists’ performance

Category: Polity and Governance

Topic: Govt. Initiatives

Key Points:

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who is also the president of The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is expected to soon clear a controversial proposal to grade the performance of CSIR scientists.

Brief Background of CSIR

The CSIR is a 75-year-old institution that has a large network of 38 laboratories spread across the country.
This large network of laboratories is involved in a wide range of research from battery technology and genomics to glass-making.
Over the years, the Council has emerged as India’s biggest publisher of research papers as well as the largest patentee.

What will the new system propose to do?

The new appraisal system will reduce the importance to research publications and gives greater weight to developing products.
The new system is a departure from the existing format of having scientists internally evaluated by their peers.
The new system proposes to encapsulate a scientist’s performance into a single equation.

India denies Pak. claims of submarine intrusion

Category: International Relations

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points:

Recently, Pakistan has claimed that it prevented Indian submarines from intruding into its territorial waters.
The Indian Navy has responded to this claim by categorically denying the statement of Pakistani navy.
A statement issued by the Pakistani Navy claimed that it had detected Indian submarines on November 14 and 16.
The exchange of words indicates rising tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad after both accused each other of ceasefire violations.

NSG membership for India seems unlikely this year

Category: International Relations

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points:

With the NSG meeting in Vienna ending inconclusively, India’s hopes of a membership at the Nuclear Suppliers Group this year were virtually dashed.
It is important to note that China’s push for a two-step process — to first identify the criteria for non-signatories to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — as both India and Pakistan are, was considered by the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Some experts have suggested that if India has succeeded in negotiating with Japan, Australia and Canada, who are some of the formerly non-proliferation hardliners, the NSG is still a possibility by June 2017.
June 2017 is when the next plenary session of the NSG will be held.

New administration takes shape in U.S.

Category: International Relations

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points:

President-elect Donald Trump is moving ahead with filling key posts in his administration.
Trump is a foreign policy novice. His early moves on national security are being closely watched both in the U.S. and overseas.
He is reportedly considering a range of officials with varying degrees of experience to lead the State Department and the Pentagon.
Trump has also consulted with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and sat down with South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
Nikki Haley is a potential contender to lead the State Department.

C. GS3 Related

Global unity to act on Paris climate deal

Category: Environment and Ecology

Topic: Climate Change

Key Points:

Recently, nearly 200 nations attending the COP22 summit adopted the Marrakech Action Proclamation.
Heads of state, and, delegations from other U.N. member countries issued the proclamation to signal a shift towards a new era of implementation and action on climate and sustainable development.
It is important to note that a ‘Climate Vulnerable Forum’, comprising a group of over 45 most vulnerable countries, was launched.
This ‘Climate Vulnerable Forum’ adopted an agenda for maintaining the target of limiting warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
Further, the countries also called for an increase in volume, flow and access to finance for climate projects, alongside improved capacity and technology.
Nations, who are parties to the Kyoto Protocol (which does not include the U.S.), also encouraged the speedy ratification of the Doha Amendment.

2. Boeing to invest in new factory in India

Category: Economy

Topic: Manufacturing, Industry

Key Points:

Boeing, an aerospace major, will invest in a brand new factory in India.
This factory would create an entire aviation ecosystem for its fighter aircraft the F/A-18 Super Hornet.
The F/A-18 Super Hornet is a multirole, dual seat aircraft, and is reported to be of interest to India.
This project would give a fillip to the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The project has been called a “crown jewel project” that includes indigenisation and tapping into a supplier chain of vendors.
This initiative will attempt to mirror the system around the Super Hornet production line at St. Louis, U.S.
This production line at St. Louis, U.S. is now supported by 800 vendors in 44 states and employs 60,000 people.

3. States innovate to stave off labour unrest

Category: Economy

Topic: Labour, Industry

Key Points:

The recent demonetization initiative by the Government has severely affecting disbursal of salary to low-wage workers as they are paid mostly in cash.
But, states such as West Bengal and Assam have evolved a novel plan aimed at preventing any major labour unrest.
It is important to note that the norms following demonetisation have not capped the amount that government agencies can withdraw from a bank.
Thus, these States have asked employers in labour-intensive sectors such as tea plantations to deposit workers’ wages in a designated account.
As per the strategy, district collectors/district magistrates, who have been asked to implement the new exercise, will ensure timely payments to the workers.
It is important to note that the plantation industry is among the most labour-intensive sectors in the country as it employs about 33 lakh workers.

D. GS4 Related

E. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance

The Hindu

Justice beyond borders

Category: International Relations

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points:

Recently, Russia decided to quit the International Criminal Court (ICC).
It is important to view this as the outcome of the political undercurrents that have of late strained its relations with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The International Criminal Court (ICC) had reported recently, stating that the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine amounted to an occupation.
As a reaction to this report, Russia has denied any role by its military, maintaining that Crimea’s accession was authorised in a popular referendum.
It is important to note that even South Africa had decided to walk out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in October this year.

Saying no to jallikattu, again

Category: Polity and Governance

Topic: Judiciary, Govt. Initiatives

Key Points:

Jallikattu is a popular bull-taming sport held alongside annual harvest festivities in rural Tamil Nadu.
Recently, the Supreme Court declined to review its 2014 judgment banning Jallikattu.
In its original judgment, the Supreme Court had drawn on sound legal principles to conclude that the need to prevent cruelty to animals overrides the consideration that conducting the sport was necessary to preserve culture and tradition.
Despite evidence that the game of Jallikattu caused distress and pain to the animals, and even led to injuries and occasional fatalities, political leaders in the State and sections of the public have often made the claim that jallikattu has cultural and religious significance for the Tamil community.

The Indian Express

Agitation foretold

Category: International Relations

Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points:

Hong Kong ceased to be a part of the British empire and joined with China in 1997.
When this happened, it was promised a large degree of autonomy, political and economic, for 50 years.
Recently, two young legislators elected to Hong Kong’s legislative council (Legco), were disqualified.
This development has increased fears that the Chinese government will make its presence felt in the city long before the 2047 deadline.
It is important to note that nationalist aspirations are increasing in Hong Kong.

Chinese Aggression

It is important to note that both internally and externally, the Chinese state has displayed aggression and has been increasingly sensitive on issues of nationalism and territorial and political control.
This has brought it into conflict with Japan, the US and its allies in the South China Sea.

It is important to note that, in Hong Kong, we find the values of liberal political democracy. These values have been bequeathed to it by a European tradition.
While, on the other hand, Chinese capitalism has been state and party-led, and the Chinese political system hasn’t evolved ways to incorporate and accommodate democratic dissent.

Business Line

Moving towards a cashless society

Category: Indian Economy

Topic: Govt. Initiatives

Key Points:

It is important to note that India is in the midst of a cash management crisis.
It is imperative on the Government to take adequate and quick steps to alleviate sufferings of the common man.

Steps to be taken in the wake of demonetization

Restore calm and reduce the anxiety levels across the board by providing correct information.
That adequate time is available for depositing the old currency in the accounts is to be stressed.

Further points to be noted:

There has been a criticism of the lack of banking facilities for the poor and those living in isolated villages, particularly in north east, hilly and tribal areas.
In fact, under the policy of financial inclusion, the RBI had made it mandatoryfor the banks to open branches in every village with a population of 2,000 or more, allocated to them and a large number of such branches have been opened.
A vast network of more than 1,50,000 post offices are spread across the length and breadth of the country- many of these post offices have at least one computer terminal installed.
Making use of these outlets, India Post has made it easier, faster and safer for transfer of money from one corner of the globe to the other.
The India Post Payments bank is to be launched shortly. In an effort to strengthen this institutional network, a large number of banking correspondents are functioning, though with some limitations.
Further, the numbers of point of sale (PoS) terminals have substantially gone up in the recent past. But the scope still remains immense.
There have been examples of vegetable vendors and street food carts offering to accept cards with small PoS machines.

F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:

Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
Nuclear Suppliers Group
International Criminal Court (ICC)

G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS

International Criminal Court (ICC)

H. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂

Question 1: Consider the following statements,

The CSIR is a 75-year-old institution that has a large network of 38 laboratories spread across the country.
This large network of laboratories is involved in a wide range of research from battery technology and genomics to glass-making.
Over the years, the Council has emerged as India’s biggest publisher of research papers as well as the largest patentee.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 Only

b) 2 and 3 Only

c) All 1, 2 and 3

d) 2 Only

Question 2: Consider the following statements,

Recently, a ‘Climate Vulnerable Forum’, comprising a group of over 45 most vulnerable countries, was launched. This ‘Climate Vulnerable Forum’ adopted an agenda for maintaining the target of limiting warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
U.S. has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 Only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 3: Consider the following statements,

Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Turkey share a coast with the Black Sea.
The Danube river flows into the Black Sea.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 Only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 4: Consider the following statements,

South Africa and Russia have quit the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 Only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question 5: Consider the following statements,

Coffee is majorly grown in three regions of India with Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu forming the traditional coffee growing region of India.
The most commonly used coffee beans are Arabica and Robusta.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 Only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Check Your Answers

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