TABLE OF CONTENT
A. GS1 Related Geography 1. Volcanism heralded dinosaur era? B. GS2 Related Polity 1. Dalveer Bhandari gets renomination to ICJ B. GS2 Related International Relations 1. India and Portugal Sign a Historical agreement to promote Cooperation in The Field of Archives 2. Raja Mandala: India, US, and an East-of-Suez moment C. GS3 Related Internal Security/Disaster Management 1. Indians have 'rather few' deposits: Swiss banks Miscellaneous 1. Indian Delegation at 2017 BIO International Convention D. GS4 Related E. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn F. Bills/Acts/Schemes/Orgs in News G. Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam
UPSC Current Affairs 2017: News Analysis
A. GS1 Related
1. Volcanism heralded dinosaur era?
In news:
Oxford study revealed the fact regarding the mass extinction during Triassic period
- Volcanic activity may have played a key role in triggering the mass extinction event about 200 million years ago, which set the scene for the rise and age of the dinosaurs.
- The Triassic extinction, one of the largest mass extinctions of animal life on record, was preceded by the dinosaur era.
- The casualty list includes large crocodile-like reptiles and several marine invertebrates.
- This mass extinction has long been linked to a large and abrupt release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, but the exact source of this emission has been unknown.
- Following the discovery of volcanic rocks of the same age as the extinction, volcanic carbon dioxide emissions had previously been suggested as an important contributor to this extinction event. These volcanic rocks covered a huge area, across four continents, representing the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province.
- The findings of the study link volcanism to the previously observed repeated large emissions of carbon dioxide that had a profound impact on the global climate, causing the mass extinction at the end of the Triassic Period, as well as slowing the recovery of animal life afterwards.
B. GS2 Related
1. Dalveer Bhandari gets renomination to ICJ
In news:
- India has renominated its serving candidate at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal legal organ of the United Nations.
- Justice Dalveer Bhandari, 69, who received the re-nomination, will serve for a term of nine years as the Indian judge at the ICJ, which is the platform of the ongoing Kulbhushan Jadhav case.
- Election process: The Court consists of 15 judges who are elected to nine-year terms by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies.
- Privileges: As a judge of the ICJ, Justice Bhandari will enjoy privileges and immunities equal to the head of a diplomatic mission. Each member of the Court receives an annual salary and supplementary allowance. After leaving the court, members receive annual pensions.
- Role of ICJ: Founded in 1945, the ICJ settles disputes between sovereign states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions that have been referred to it by other authorised UN organs.
- The ICJ is open to all UN member states.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India and Portugal Sign a Historical agreement to promote Cooperation in The Field of Archives
In news:
- A Protocol of Cooperation was signed between the National Archives of India and the Minister of Culture of the Portuguese Republic in the field of archives in Lisbon, Portugal.
- Under this agreement, the Torre do Tombo (National Archives of Portugal) handed over to the National Archives of India digital copies of 62 volumes of the collection known as ‘Moncoes do Reino’ (Monsoon correspondence).
- These volumes were originally part of over 456 volumes that cover the period from 1568 to 1914 and form the largest of all record collections in the Goa State Archives.
- The collection consists of direct correspondence from Lisbon to Goa and is important primary source for the study of the Portuguese expansion in Asia, their trade rivalries with the Arabs and European powers and their relations with neighbourings Kings in South Asia and East Asia.
2. Raja Mandala: India, US, and an East-of-Suez moment
Context:
- The Article is about Indo-US relations
- And upcoming (first)face to face meet of Narendra Modi and Donald Trump
Issues that can be discussed by the two leaders
- America’s view of supporting a larger Indian role in securing the Subcontinent and the Indian Ocean
- The shared interest of India and US in an Eurasian balance of power
India’s Concerns
- America looked at partnering India to sustain US primacy in the Indo-Pacific
- Delhi acknowledged American primacy, but was afraid of becoming a “junior” partner
- India is concerned that US strategic indulgence towards Pakistan and China may make US an unreliable partner(of India)
- As a result, the hype about India-US security cooperation never really lived upto its potential
Trump’s Views on Security
- Trump thinks the US is doing too much(while Modi thinks India could do a lot more) on the security front
- Trump does not think that America is forever obliged to defend its friendy nations at any cost(like Japan and Germany).
- He wants the allies to spend more on building their own national defence capabilities or financially compensate America for its heavy lifting.
India’s History of Providing security to the world
- Until now, India has been hesitant to take on a regional security role beyond the Subcontinent
- After independence, there was the opportunity of India working with Britain for a regional order under the rubric of the Commonwealth(under ‘east of the Suez’)
- But Nehru was unwilling to back a Commonwealth military framework
- Two decades later, when Britain ended its security commitments “east of the Suez”, India didn’t have the political will or material resources to consider regional security leadership
- The US, which replaced Britain as the dominant power in the Indian Ocean in the 1970s, may now be headed to its own “east of Suez” moment
C. GS3 Related
Category: INTERNAL SECURITY/DISASTER MANAGEMENT
1. First indigenously built floating dock launched
In news:
- The Indian Navy’s first indigenously built Floating Dock (FDN-2), developed by Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T), was launched at L&T’s shipyard in Kattupalli.
- The Floating Dock is 185 metres long and 40 metres wide and will enable docking of all kinds of vessels, including Naval ships and submarines (excepting aircraft carriers and tankers) of up to 8,000 tonnes displacement, with draughts of up to seven metres, during both day and night.
- FDN-2 will be based in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and will enhance the Navy’s technical repair infrastructure.
1. Indian Delegation at 2017 BIO International Convention
In News:
- The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) BIO 2017 is being held in the San Diego Convention Centre, San Diego from 19th June t0 22nd June, 2017.
About BIO International Convention:
- The BIO International Convention is the largest global event for the biotechnology industry and attracts the biggest names in biotech, offers key networking and partnering opportunities, and provides insights and inspiration on the major trends affecting the industry.
- The event features keynotes and sessions from key policymakers, scientists, CEOs, and celebrities.
- The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum (One-on-One Partnering), hundreds of sessions covering biotech trends, policy issues and technological innovations, and the world’s largest biotechnology exhibition – the BIO Exhibition.
- The first BIO International Convention was held in 1993 and attracted approximately 1,400 attendees.
About Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO):
- The BIO International Convention is hosted by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). BIO represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations.
- BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
- The BIO International Convention helps BIO fulfill its mission to help grow the global biotech industry.
D. GS4 Related
Nothing here for Today!!!
E. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
Prelims worthy factual information
- Vanuatu; officially the Republic of Vanuatu is a Pacific island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 540 kilometres (340 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, east of New Guinea, southeast of the Solomon Islands, and west of Fiji.
F. Bills/Acts/Schemes/Orgs in News
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Scheme in News |
About the Scheme |
G. Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam
Question 1: Vanuatu , an island nation is located in ______.
- North Pacific Ocean
- South Pacific Ocean
- North Atlantic Ocean
- Mediterranean Sea
Question 2: Consider the following statements:
- ICJ judges are appointed by UN General Assembly.
- ICJ judges enjoy privileges and immunities equal to the head of a diplomatic mission.
Identify the incorrect statements
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Question 3: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has recently approved the
membership of which of the following nations?
- Taiwan, Ukraine and Tonga
- Ukraine, Argentina and Japan
- Japan, Colombia and United States
- Argentina, Madagascar and Tonga
Question 4: Sparkle in the toothpaste comes from?
- Fluoride
- Mica
- Calcium Silicate
- Calcium Carbonate
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