UPSC CSE Key – February 28, 2022: What you need to read today

Putin orders nukes on alert after West removes Russian banks from SWIFT

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, Indian diaspora

Key Points to Ponder:

• Know in detail about North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• Post-Cold War cooperation between Russia and NATO

• Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security, 1997

• Ukraine, Georgia and NATO’s Expansion since 1997

• What presence does NATO have in Eastern Europe?

• How did NATO step up defenses before the conflict?

• Why is NATO not planning to intervene in Ukraine as of now?

• Russia’s NATO problem-What is the main Issue/Issues?

• What is SWIFT?

• Excluding Russian banks from the SWIFT platform-What does the move aim to achieve?

• Map Work-Eastern European Countries

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 A day after Russia veto, Ukraine seeks to move UNGA

📍 Zelensky says he is ready for talks; EU, UK, Canada close their skies to Russian planes

📍 SWIFT: what it is, and how limiting Russia access helps

📍 Ukraine: A short history of its creation

GOVT & POLITICS

Triple talaq a ‘social evil’, 80% drop in cases since law enacted: PM Modi

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Main 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 do you understand by the term ‘Triple Talaq’?

• Supreme Court of India’s Verdict in Shayara Bano v. Union of India & Others

• The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019-Key Highlights

• Talaq-e-Ahsan, Talaq-e-Hasan and Talaq-e-Biddat-Three types of divorce under Islamic law and Difference between them?

• Which Type of Talaq comes under the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019?

• Talaq-e-Ahsan, Talaq-e-Hasan and Talaq-e-Biddat-Present Situation, Issues and Challenges

• Article 44 of the Indian Constitution and Uniform Civil Code-Ongoing Debate

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 What is instant triple talaq?

📍 Flawed understanding of triple talaq law is leading to its misuse

THE EDITORIAL PAGE

The Abstention

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora

Key Points to Ponder:

• Know about United Nation Security Council (UNSC)

• Who moved the resolution?

• New Delhi’s abstention from the vote on the UNSC draft resolution-Fine Balance or Loyalty towards age old friend?

• What was the resolution about?

• How did India explain its vote?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 The Other Oil

📍 What Russia stands to lose

📍 Friends and partners on both sides: Why India abstained on UN vote against Russia

Hands Off the Hijab

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism.

Key Points to Ponder:

• The Doctrine of Essential Practices

• What is the essential practice test?

• How diverse country like India should distinguish between matters of religion and matters other than religion?

• Supreme Court of India on definition of religion with respect to the constitution

• How judiciary has drawn a distinction between the sacred and the secular?

• Indian model of positive secularism

• Karnataka’s hijab controversy-How did it start?

• Karnataka Government on Hijab Controversy

• What Does the Indian Constitution Say on Freedom of Religion?

• Bombay High Court verdict in Fathema Hussain Sayed v Bharat Education Society

• Kerala High Court’s verdict in Fathima Thasneem vs State of Kerala

• Hijab Row- Other religious symbols like kalawa, Cross should be banned? India should follow western thought on secularism?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Sabarimala order: What is the ‘essentiality’ test in religious practice?

THE IDEAS PAGE

So that the war doesn’t hit us

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

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

Key Points to Ponder:

• Know about India-Ukraine and India-Russia-Trade relations

• Economic geography of Russia and Ukraine-Countries dependent on them for Oil, Energy and food

• Ukraine Invasion-What’s at Stake for the Global Economy

• War and Impact on Indian Economy in the context of crude oil prices, inflation, Import and Exports, Current account deficit, subsidies on LPG and Kerosene

• What exactly is crude oil?

• What do you understand by Sanctions and embargoes?

• Economic sanctions on Russia-Impact

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Russia invades Ukraine, rumble shakes the world

EXPLAINED

The German turnaround

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, Indian diaspora.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Germany’s turnaround on the SWIFT ban proposal

• Reversal of policy on arms supply

• Nord Stream 2-what is this and why it is crucial for Germany?

• USA and Europe’s role in Ukraine-Russia Conflict-Example of Energy Geopolitical Conflict?

• Importance of Ukraine for Europe

• Applicability and Relevance of the Green Marshall Plan in energy conflict between Europe and Russia

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Ukraine: why Germany matters

📍 The ISS, Russia’s participation, and its threat to let it fall to Earth

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