UPSC CSE Key – May 25, 2022: Know the Relevance of QUAD 2022 to Pangong Tso for UPSC CSE

Quad signs off on Indo-Pacific: Split on Russia, unity on China

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 interests.

Key Points to Ponder:

• Know the Key takeaways from Quad 2022

• “Russia-Ukraine Conflict is not local issue but global Issue”-Analyse this statement

• QUAD 22 saw dichotomy among Quad leaders on two pressing challenges-What were those and know each QUAD member’s stand on those pressing challenges (Hint: given in the Article)

• The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) is a major new initiative for the Indo-Pacific which was launched in QUAD 2022-Know the Key Highlights of The Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA)

• In the joint statement, the Quad leaders reaffirmed UNSC Resolution 2593 (2021), What is UNSC Resolution 2593?

• India-Japan Bilateral Relations-Know the Background and what is the Present Status?

• What is ‘Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)’?

• Know the objectives of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

• Fundamentally, the ‘Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) complements the “Quad Plus” process-How far you agree with this statement?

• What is QUAD Plus?

• India-Australia Bilateral Relations-Background

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

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

• What is Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)?

• Formation of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) and 2004 tsunami relief operations-Connect the Dots

• Know the Principles and the motive behind the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)

• Who are member nations in Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)?

• Who are observer nations in Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)?

• Know the difference between observer and member countries

• What are U.S. interests in the Quad?

• What is Japan’s aims for the Quad?

• How is China’s relations with each of the Quad members?

• The QUAD in the Indo-Pacific region and its geopolitical implication-Know in detail

• How QUAD is Significant for India?

• India’s Role in Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)?

• Quad Summit 2022-Where will the Quad summit 2022 be held?

• What are the challenges and opportunities for QUAD in Current Scenario?

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

• Know the importance of Indo-Pacific region for India

• India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy-Know in Detail

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Quad condemns terror, to work on space apps

📍 India, Japan agrees to enhance bilateral security, defence co-op

📍 PM meets Aus counterpart, leaders review bilateral ties

📍 Adding up to Quad Plus

📍 Closer Together

📍 IPEF unlikely to kickstart tariff talks; eye on synergies

📍 Quad: opportunities, challenges

📍 Explained: What is the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework?

📍 India & Quad’s technopolitik

Qutub Minar plea: ASI says worship can’t be allowed; court verdict June 9

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement.

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:

• Why Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is maintaining that the Qutub Minar complex’s status cannot be changed to allow worship-What is the issue thus far?

• Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958-Know the Key Highlights

• Minar (Another form of stambha or tower)- Know the names of two most striking Minars of medieval times in India

• Know the importance of Minar in Indo-Islamic Architecture

• The Qutub Minar and Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki-How they are interconnected?

• The Qutub Minar, built in the thirteenth century have certain striking features which makes it unique-Know the features and characteristics of Qutab Minar

• The Qutub Minar is largely built of red and buff sandstone with some use of marble in the upper storeys-True or False?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Fine Arts Class 11th NCERT (Ch-8: SOME ASPECTS OF INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE)

📍 History lessons in the shadow of Qutub Minar

📍 Know Your Monument: The resilience of Qutub Minar

EXPLAINED

Harmonium in Sikh tradition, and why Akal Takht wants it removed from Golden Temple

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement.

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:

• Know the History of harmonium

• Harmonium at the Golden Temple-When it was introduced to kirtan jatha?

• The harmonium has its origins in the period of British rule in India, then how it become integral part of Hindustani vocal music?

• The Akali movement or the Gurdwara Reform Movement, in India during the early 1920s-What were the reasons behind reform movement?

• The Akali movement, the introduction of the Sikh Gurdwara Bill in 1925 and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)-Connect the Dots

• Kirtan in Sikhism is described as chanting of Gurbani-Know in detail the Importance of Kirtan in Sikhism

• Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and Kirtan-Connect the dots

• Kirtan, or singing of Gurbani and use of Harmonium-What is the recent Issue in this regard?

• Bhakti Movement and Sikhism-Connect the Dots

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 100th Foundation Day of Shiromani Akali Dal: History is all about 2 friends turning into enemies

Previous Year Prelims Questions Based on Similar theme:

📍 Consider the following Bhakti Saints:
1. Dadu Dayal
2. Guru Nanak
3. Tyagaraja
Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over? (Please refer Prelims 2013 GS question Paper for complete question)

The new Indo-Pacific bloc

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 interests.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)?

• Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), Trans Pacific Partnership (TTP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for TTP (CPTPP), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)-Compare and contrast

• India and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)-Know the opportunities and Challenges for India

• What are the four pillars identified under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)? (Hint: Given in the Article)

• Know the objectives of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)

• India’s Significance in Indo-Pacific Region-Brainstorm

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 India joins Indo-Pacific economic bloc led by US to counter China

What China’s second, larger bridge on Pangong Tso aims to achieve

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Geography and Current events of national and international importance

Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.

Key Points to Ponder:

• India-China Border Dispute-Background

• China is building a second bridge on the Pangong Tso lake, not far from the site of one of the most intense friction points in the border standoff that began in May 2020-Why China is building bridges on this Lake?

• What has been India’s response?

• Map Work-Ladakh, Pangong Tso/Pangong Lake and Arunachal Pradesh

• What is Line of Actual Control?

• Know the Significance of the Pangong Tso/Pangong Lake

• Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake and Wetland and Ramsar Convention-Connect the Dots

• China’s aggressive attitude towards Indo-China Border and What impact can it have on India-China relations?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Explained: The importance of Ladakh’s Pangong Tso south bank

📍 Explained: Pangong Tso lake, theatre of India-China LAC scuffles

📍 A strategy of assertion: Why China is inventing names for places in Arunachal Pradesh

THE IDEAS PAGE

Export ban, dismal message

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment, Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country

Key Points to Ponder:

• The Government of India has banned wheat exports with effect from May 13, 2022-why?

• What happened between April 11 and May 13 that such a drastic decision had to be taken?

• What could have been done even when wheat production and procurement are down?

• From an all-time high last year, procurement of wheat is set to hit a 15-year low this season, falling below existing stocks for the first time. What are the main reasons for procurement plunging to a 15-year-low this time?

• Wheat Production in India-Know all the facts like Highest producing States, Geography and Environment associated with Wheat Production like Soil, temperature, Rainfall and Humidity etc.

• Wheat Production in India-Wheat is a Rabi or Kharif Crop?

• How does the government procure wheat-Know about government’s wheat procurement policy

• What is the procurement scale against the total production of wheat in India?

• From how many states is wheat procured for the central pool?

• How much wheat is procured for the central pool by the FCI every year?

• What is the procurement scale against the total production of wheat in India?

• What is the share of wheat contribution of various states to the central pool?

• Wheat production in India-Know the statistics

• MSP (minimum support price) and effectiveness of MSP implementation

• How MSP is calculated (paid out costs, labour etc.) and Crops covered under the MSP

• Food Corporation of India (FCI)-About, Role, Functions

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Behind low wheat procurement

📍  Caught with Chaff

ECONOMY

Rising global rates, Re fall may scale down India Inc ECB plans

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

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

Key Points to Ponder:

• What is External commercial borrowing (ECBs)?

• Who monitors and regulates External commercial borrowing (ECBs) guidelines and policies in India?

• How Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and Reserve Bank of India monitors and regulates External commercial borrowing (ECBs)?

• What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of External commercial borrowing (ECBs)?

• What was the Sahoo Committee’s 2013, recommendation with respect to External commercial borrowing (ECBs)?

• What is London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 What Is London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)?

📍 External commercial borrowings decoded

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