UPSC CSE Key – April 27, 2022: What you need to read today

Jaishankar ticks off Europe: Ukraine a wake-up call to look at problems in Asia

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests

Key Points to Ponder:

• India’s stand on Bucha Massacres

• What do Understand by expression “War Crime”?

• What do you understand by term “genocide”?

• Bucha Massacres-A genocide or war crimes?

• The massacres in Bucha and International reactions?

• Know about European Union (EU)

• European Union (EU)-Members (Locate on Map)

• European Union and ‘Copenhagen criteria’

• India and European Union-Historical Relations and Current Status

• India’s Geopolitical Stature and Changes in India’s Diplomacy-Elaborate in the current scenario

• The first major conflict amongst the great powers in the 21st century has presented India with challenges and opportunities-What are they?

• India’s Stand on Ukraine-Russia Conflict-a fine balance or Loyalty towards an age-old friend?

• USA’s Geopolitics be in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq-why it is problematic?

• The Term ‘Indo-Pacific’-What does it mean? Define this term in Geopolitical and in geographical context.

• Importance of Indo-Pacific region for India

• India’s Indo-Pacific strategy

• Ukraine-Russia War-Try to understand the changing dynamics in diplomatic relations and its impact on India

• The Ukraine crisis throws up many learnings-what are they?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Autocrats and Oil

 

Drug regulator clears Covaxin for 6-12 yrs, Corbevax for 5-12 yrs

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI)-Under which nodal Ministry or Independent body?

• Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin-Key Features

• What is Corbevax?

• How does Corbevax and Covaxin works?

• Corbevax and Covaxin-Compare and Contrast

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Explained: What is Corbevax, the vaccine approved for your 5-year-old kid?

 

GOVT & POLITICS

PM CARES Fund can’t contract out of Constitution, HC told

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund)?

• Who are the Trustees of the PM CARES Fund?

• What are the Objectives of the PM CARES Fund Trust?

• What is the legal framework of PM CARES Fund?

• Public Charitable Trust and Article 12 of the Indian Constitution-Connect the dots

• What type of domestic donations are accepted in PM CARES Fund?

• Are contributions towards the PM CARES Fund exempted from Income Tax?

• Who audits the PM CARES Fund?

• Contribution to PM – CARES Fund will Qualify as CSR Expenditure?

• Whether Foreign Donation is accepted in PM CARES Fund?

• PM CARES Fund-Controversy, Issues and Challenges

• Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES)-Compare and Contrast

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 PM-CARES Fund not a fund of Government of India, Delhi HC told 

 

Puri king, temple servitors extend support to heritage corridor project

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the Lingaraj Temple Ordinance, 2020?

• Why has the Centre opposed the ordinance?

• Jagannath Temple one of the important Hindu temple- Significance (Hint: Char Dham)

• Vaishnava Traditions-Features and its impact on Bhakti Movement

• Jagannath Temple-Know some facts like it was built by the Ganga dynasty king Anantavarman Chodaganga in the 12th century CE.

• Jagannath Temple also as ‘Yamanika Tirtha’-Why?

• Jagannath Temple-Architectural features and Style of the temple (Is it Dravidian, Nagara, Vesara style or Different from these three Architectural Style?)

• Know more about Architectural features of Odisha temples classification like Rekhapida, Pidhadeul And Khakra

• Know more about-Paintings theme associated with lord Jagannath like Patachitra or Pattachitra

• What is the Puri heritage corridor?

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-Powers, Functions, Role and Mandate

• “Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) failed to act as guardian of India’s heritage” once observed by Supreme Court in the context of Taj Mahal-Do you think that ASI has failed to preserve other monuments and Heritage of India?

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-Significance

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Explained: What is the Puri heritage corridor, whose foundation will be laid soon in Odisha?

 

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Facing a Common Threat

Syllabus

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interest

Key Points to Ponder:

• India-Australia Bilateral Relations-Background

• India-Australia and the new cyber framework between the two Nations-Key Highlights

• Cyber Security in India- Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-IN), Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative, National Cyber Security Coordination Centre (NCCC), Cyber Swachhta Kendra, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Cyberdome (Kerala)

• INDAUS ECTA (India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement)-Key Proposals

• Early harvest trade agreement between India and Australia-Key highlights

• How has the Quad impacted trade relations between India and Australia?

• What other Free Trade Agreements is India currently negotiating?

• Map Work-Australia, Important Cities, Physiography

• Global Cyber Security Index (GCI)-Know the facts like who publishes and what are the components of this Index etc.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 India and Australia are finally acting like the natural partners they are

 

Whose V-C?

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States

Key Points to Ponder:

• The Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022-Key Highlights

• Chennai University (Amendment) Act, 2022-Key Highlights

• The Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2022 and Chennai University (Amendment) Act, 2022-Issues and controversies

• Are other states trying to curtail the Governor’s role in appointing VCs?

• Vice Chancellor in State and Central Universities-About and Role

• Who appoints Vice Chancellor in Central Universities and in State Universities?

• What is the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) role in this?

• What are the rules in Gujarat and Telangana?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 States vs Centre on VC selection: rules, friction

  

THE IDEAS PAGE

Falling behind the curve

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Main Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Inflation and Various Types of Inflation

• Causes of Inflation

• Long term, Medium Term and Short-term impact of Inflation

• How Inflation is Measured in India?

• What is the Wholesale Price Index?

• The base year of Wholesale Price Index (WPI)?

• What is Consumer Price Index (CPI)

• Base Year for Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

• ‘CPI-based inflation’ or ‘Retail Inflation’-Different or Both are same?

• National Statistical Office (NSO)-Role and Function

• What is the difference between CPI and WPI?

• How does the wholesale price index compare with CPI or retail inflation trend?

• What is the significance of wholesale and retail inflation rates diverging or Converging?

• Wholesale and retail inflation rates diverging or Converging-What are the possible reasons for this?

• New Standard for Measuring Inflation in India and Old Standard for Measuring Inflation-Key Differences

• What Is Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)?

• Monetary Policy Committee MPC-Importance

• Know about these terms-Bank Rate, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)

• Impact of Money Supply on an Economy-Inflation or Deflation?

• Steps or Measures Taken by GOI to Control Inflation

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Explain Speaking: Why (gentle) policymakers prefer retail (over wholesale) inflation

 

EXPLAINED

Musk’s free speech idea

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies II: Indian Constitution, Important aspects of Governance

Key Points to Ponder:

• Article 19 of the Indian Constitution (Free Speech and expression)

• What is India’s “reasonable restrictions” on free speech?

• Free Speech and Hate Speech- Where and what is that thin line drawn between the two?

• Free Speech and Social Media-Pros and Cons

• Do any restrictions apply specifically to content on social media?

• What are the implications for Musk’s maximalist ideas on free speech?

• In the context of Fundamental Rights, what do you understand by the term “Absolute” and “Reasonable Restrictions”?

• Absolute and Reasonable Restrictions-Where and what is that thin line drawn between the two?

• Laws restricting the freedom of expression

• Impact of Hate Speech on Freedom of Expression and Free speech

• International Legal Regime on Hate Speech

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍  What’s next now that Twitter agreed to Elon Musk bid?

 

 

Get an e-paper subscription via our special offer – click here
For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com
The UPSC KEY Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest Updates.