Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for April 5, 2023. If you missed the April 4, 2023 UPSC key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE AMONG KEY DELETIONS ON GANDHI’S ASSASSINATION IN NCERT CLASS 12 TEXTS ARE THESE LINES Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc. 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’s the ongoing story-*He (Gandhi) was particularly disliked by those who wanted Hindus to take revenge or who wanted India to become a country for the Hindus, just as Pakistan was for Muslims…* His steadfast pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists so much that they made several attempts to assassinate Gandhiji… * Gandhiji’s death had an almost magical effect on the communal situation in the country… The Government of India cracked down on organisations that were spreading communal hatred. Organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh were banned for some time* These sentences that have been taught to Class 12 students for more than 15 years as part of their Political Science curriculum now stand deleted from NCERT textbooks. • Why were these sentences deleted from the NCERT textbooks? • “Significantly, the above deletions did not figure in the “list of rationalised content” officially released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in June last year”- What is the textbook “rationalisation” exercise by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)? • What are the reasons given by Union Government for the textbook “rationalisation” exercise? • How the content of NCERT textbooks are decided? • Who decides the content of NCERT textbooks? • Who writes the NCERT books? • Who prepares the National Curriculum Framework for school education? • What are some of the key changes carried out in the textbooks? • “History is always written by the winners”-How this statement is relevant in present Context? • How ‘ideology’ influenced the course of Indian history? • Indian history has faced massive distortions from the time of British rule-How far you agree with this statement? • What are the most sweeping changes in social science school textbooks since 2014 in India? • Do You Know-Education as a subject comes under both the state and central governments according to the Constitution, meaning both the states and central governments have a role to play here. Further, India has multiple education boards across the country that decide crucial matters such as conducting exams and deciding the syllabus in schools. State education boards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), are a few examples. They are autonomous or independent bodies. They make decisions based on the guidelines laid down by The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). An autonomous organisation, set up in 1961 by the government “to assist and advise the Central and state governments” for improving the quality of education, NCERT’s objectives include the task of preparing and publishing model textbooks. Its chairman is appointed by the central government. For deciding the content of textbooks, the NCERT is currently preparing a document called the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). It was last prepared in 2005 under the UPA government, and before that, it was revised in 1975, 1988 and 2000. The NCF will have broad guidelines for the revised syllabus that will be followed by the boards for their textbooks. • Growth of Education in India: Historical Background from Vedic Period to British Period • Growth of Education in the Post-Independence Period-Reforms taken so far • Education was initially a state subject but following an amendment (42nd) to the Constitution in 1976, it became a concurrent subject-True or False? • The gains in terms of the literacy rates of the Indian population since independence-Know in detail • Constitutional Provisions Regarding Education- What Article 28, Article 29, Article 30, Article 21A, Article 45 and Article 46 says about Education? • Education System in India-Know the Present Structure from Pre-primary level to Primary or elementary Level (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) to Secondary level (Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan) to Higher education (Rastriya Uchhattar Shiksha Abhiyan) • Goal 4 of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) related to Education and Govt of India’s initiatives/schemes/programmes to achieve the SDG Goal 4-Know in detail • How National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable development goals are linked? • What are the salient features of New Education Policy 2020? • How many policies India had so far and what was the fundamental objective of each which makes every policy unique? • Know the Kothari Commission (1964–1966) recommendations to formulate a coherent education policy • National Policy on Education (NPE) 1986 and New Education Policy (NEP) 2020-Compare and Contrast • What do you understand by National Curriculum Framework? • National Policy on Education (NPE) and National Curriculum Framework (NCF)-Connect the dot • “If NEP is the guiding philosophy, then NCF is the pathway”-Elaborate Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍In NCERT textbook prune: Mughal era, Delhi Sultanate, Emergency impact and 2002 riots 📍Explained: How are history textbooks written? 📍Express Investigation — Part 1: From Emergency to Gujarat riots, lessons of past deleted from textbooks of future 📍Express Investigation — Part 2: Key deletions on caste, minorities in revised school textbooks In close touch with Bhutan on security: India on Doklam issue Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighborhood- relations. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- As the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in New Delhi, days after Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering raised eyebrows with his statement on China having an equal say in resolving the border dispute at Doklam, India said Tuesday that it follows all developments which have a bearing on its national interest “very closely” and will take all “necessary measures to safeguard them”. Underlining that India and Bhutan share ties characterised by “trust, goodwill, mutual understanding,” Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, “India and Bhutan remain in close touch relating to our shared interest, including security interest.” • India and Bhutan- What is the basic framework of India and Bhutan bilateral relations? • Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between India and Bhutan in 1949-What is that? • Why Bhutan is important for India? • Is there any security pact between India and Bhutan? • India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, 2007 says what? • Article 2 of India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty says what? • How did the Doklam situation develop in 2017? • What lies at the root of the standoff between India and China in Doklam? Is it driven by history? • First of all, where exactly standoff happened — is it in Doka La, Doklam, Donglang or Dolam? • Where is Doklam, or Donglang? • Map Work-Doklam • Where then, is the ‘trijunction’? • For Your Information-The trijunction is the point where the borders of India (Sikkim), Bhutan and China (Tibet) meet. The trijunction is disputed — India claims it is at Batang La, while China claims it is around 6.5 km to the south, at Gymochen. Both claims are based on competing interpretations of the 1890 Calcutta Convention between Britain and China. As per the agreement between the Special Representatives of India and China in 2012, the two sides have to maintain the status quo until their competing claims are resolved in consultation with the third party, Bhutan. Gymochen is 20 km as the crow flies from the West Bengal border. • Is this also the Line of Actual Control (LAC), then? • So where exactly is Dolam plateau? • What was that “motorable road” that the Chinese wanted to build? • What are the Chinese interests and strategic aims in this area? • Why is India so insistent on stopping the road construction? • India-Bhutan and China-Connect the dots • Ongoing Bhutan-China boundary talks, in the wake of the 2017 border Doklam border standoff-Know the key highlights Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Two perspectives on Doklam standoff 📍Simply Put: A year after Doklam face-off Seven tourists killed as avalanche hits road from Gangtok to Nathu La Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization. Main Examination: General Studies III: Disaster and disaster management. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- At least seven tourists were killed after a massive avalanche hit the Gangtok-Nathu La road on Tuesday. The avalanche hit the arterial Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, which connects Gangtok to Nathu La at the China border, at about 11.30 am, trapping five-six vehicles carrying 20-30 tourists under the snow, the Army said in a statement. The incident occurred near Milestone 15, short of Nathu La and close to the Tsomgo Lake, a popular tourist spot in East Sikkim. While at least 13 tourists were rescued by afternoon, the joint search and rescue operation, by the Army’s Trishakti Corps, state disaster management teams and the police, was called off at 5.30 pm as it started snowing again, triggering fears of fresh snowslides. • What is avalanche? • What are the main causes of avalanches? • What are the effects of Avalanches? • Why Himalayas are vulnerable to Avalanches? • Map Work- Nathu La and Tsomgo Lake • What are the Prediction and protective measures for Avalanches in India? • Avalanches Vulnerability Profile in India-Know previous such cases • Avalanches and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)-connect the dots • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)-Know in detail Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Explained: Glacial lakes — risks, solutions THE SECOND PAGE Skyroot test fires 3D-printed cryogenic engine Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- Private space vehicle company Skyroot Aerospace on Tuesday test-fired its 3D-printed Dhawan II engine for a duration of 200 seconds. The engine was developed by the company for its heavier vehicle, Vikram II. • What is Skyroot? • Skyroot carried out its first sub-orbital flight, where the launch vehicle just reaches space but is not fast enough to get into an orbit around the Earth-What happened? • The Vikram-S rocket-Know key features • The Department of Space and ISRO are considering bringing in private players to the space industry for what reasons? • Have you heard of “Mission Prarambh”? • Do You Know-Skyroot plans to carry out its first orbital flight by the year-end, with the updated Vikram II rocket scheduled to become launch-ready by next year, according to the company. This schedule will make the company the first private launcher from South Asia. The endurance test of Dhawan-II demonstrated impressive performance results, as per the company. It was carried out at Solar Industries propulsion test facility in Nagpur using Skyroot’s indigenously developed mobile cryogenic engine test pad. • What is cryogenic engine? • Does ISRO have a cryogenic engine? • Who made cryogenic engine for ISRO? • For Your Information-According to ISRO, A Cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram of propellant it burns compared to solid and earth-storable liquid propellant rocket stages. Specific impulse (a measure of the efficiency) achievable with cryogenic propellants (liquid Hydrogen and liquid Oxygen) is much higher compared to earth storable liquid and solid propellants, giving it a substantial payload advantage. However, cryogenic stage is technically a very complex system compared to solid or earth-storable liquid propellant stages due to its use of propellants at extremely low temperatures and the associated thermal and structural problems. • How India’s first privately developed launch vehicle will be Beneficial for India’s Space Sector? • What about Foreign Investment in Space sector? • Is there any Government initiatives taken so far in this regard? • What are the advantages and disadvantages of private players in the space sector? • What is Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center or IN-SPACe? • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-About the Organisation • Know about India’s satellite launch vehicles Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍India’s first private rocket signals a foray into a field dominated by governments 📍India’s first private launch vehicle all set for maiden flight GOVT & POLITICS Cracks found on Gateway of India but structure fine: Govt Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: History of India and Indian National Movement Mains Examination: • General Studies I: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present significant events, personalities, issues. • 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’s the ongoing story- Cracks were found on the surface of Mumbai’s Gateway of India during inspection, even though the structure continues to be in good shape, the Centre has informed Parliament. The Gateway of India is not a Centrally protected monument. It comes under the purview of Maharashtra’s Archaeology Department, which will undertake the repair project estimated to cost Rs 9 crore at the century-old site. • Map Work-Gateway of India • The Gateway of India monument was built in which architectural style? • Who was the architect of this monument? • Why Gateway of India is not a Centrally protected monument? • Do You Know-The arch-monument was built to commemorate the arrival of George V, the first British monarch to visit India, in December 1911. The construction was completed in 1924. • The Gateway of India is a "jewel in the crown" and a "symbol of conquest and colonisation"-Elaborate • The Gateway of India and Indian National Movement-Connect the dots Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍BMC plans facelift of Gateway of India precinct for unhindered view 📍Gateway of India THE IDEAS PAGE Securing some, at great cost Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. Main Examination: General Studies II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes; mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- Shamika Ravi writes: It would result in a reallocation of resources from development expenditure that benefits the poor towards a smaller group of people who have benefitted from secured jobs • What is the Old Pension Scheme (OPS)? • Why the old pension scheme was discontinued? • What is the New Pension Scheme (NPS)? • What is the difference between the old and new pension schemes? • Why have some employees criticised the New Pension Scheme? • What is the argument over the financial burden of OPS? • According to the author, the New Pension Scheme (NPS) is one of the most far-sighted reforms in India-Do you agree? • What are the key feature of the New Pension Scheme (NPS)? • In recent times, some state governments have already reversed the pension reform and returned to Old Pension Scheme (OPS)-Why? • ‘Going back to the OPS will worsen inequality and lower economic growth in the states’-Do you also agree with the same? • What is real per capita gross fiscal deficit (GFD)? • The author has come with real per capita gross fiscal deficit (GFD) from the state budget-what exactly she is trying to convey? • What do you understand by the ‘Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) at factor cost in constant and current prices’? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Why the Old Pension Scheme is both bad economics and bad politics 📍OPS, NPS, GPS: The real pension reform is missing Old policy for new trade Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc. Mains Examination: • General Studies II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. • General Studies III: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment. Key Points to Ponder: • What’s the ongoing story- Biswajit Dhar writes: The long-awaited Foreign Trade Policy 2023 (FTP 2023) was unveiled at a time when India’s merchandise export performance is a mixed bag. While several technology-intensive sectors are showing dynamism over the past year, with the electronics sector leading this group, labour-intensive sectors, especially the textiles and clothing sectors, are downbeat. In general, exports have been affected by a slowing global economy, and this situation could get worse if the projections for the next two years are any indication. • What is Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023? • The aim of the new trade policy is fourfold-What is that? • Do You Know-The Key Approach to the policy is based on these 4 pillars that is Incentive to Remission, Export promotion through collaboration - Exporters, States, Districts, Indian Missions, Ease of doing business, reduction in transaction cost and e-initiatives and Emerging Areas – E-Commerce Developing Districts as Export Hubs and streamlining SCOMET policy. • Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023-Key highlights and features • What is the duration of Foreign Trade Policy in general? • What is the major highlight of Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023? (Hint: Something related to Rupee) • “The framework of trade policy in the 21st century has since moved to development and facilitation of trade, but there is no reflection of this in FTP 2023. Instead of recasting this vitally important policy, FTP 2023 is a compilation of “Foreign Trade Procedures” in which the words, regulate, prohibit, and restrict find more mentions than facilitate”-Analyse FTP 2023 • E-commerce, a focus of FTP 2023, is an area in which India has looked less comfortable in the past for at least two reasons-what are those? • For Your Information-While this policy comes at a time of considerable uncertainty across the world, as India accounts for a minuscule portion of global trade (its share in global merchandise exports stands at around 1.8 per cent, while that in services is roughly 4 per cent), there is considerable scope for improvement for the country on this count. The new policy needs to be supplemented with other measures to boost the country’s trade performance. These range from lowering import tariffs and ensuring a competitive exchange rate to signing broader and deeper free trade agreements. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Express View on new trade policy: The focus of the new policy on reducing points of friction across the system is unmistakable 📍Foreign Trade Policy 2023 announced EXPLAINED AS FINLAND JOINS NATO, WHY IS TURKEY MAKING SWEDEN WAIT? 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: • What’s the ongoing story-Sweden’s path to NATO membership remains blocked by Turkey and Hungary as neighbour Finland officially joined the 30-member alliance on Tuesday after its application was ratified in record time. Analysts do not expect Turkey to ratify Sweden‘s application until after Turkey’s May 14 election at the earliest. Even then, it is unclear what would trigger a change of heart by President Tayyip Erdogan. Hungary is seen following Ankara’s lead. • What’s Turkey’s problem with the membership bids? • Map work-Mark Finland, Turkey and Sweden (Both Physical and Political Map) • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-Know the historical background and current Status • NATO: Why Russia has a problem with its eastward expansion • What is Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty (Collective Security)? • What is Article 4 of NATO’s Founding Treaty? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Finland joins NATO, Russia issues warning 📍The new Warsaw pact With successful test, ISRO closer to an Indian reusable launch vehicle 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: • What’s the ongoing story-On the morning of April 2, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation and its partners successfully demonstrated a precise landing experiment for a Reusable Launch Vehicle at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga, Karnataka. The Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) test was the second of five tests that are a part of ISRO’s efforts to develop RLVs, or space planes/shuttles, which can travel to low earth orbits to deliver payloads and return to earth for use again. • What is ISRO’s RLV TD project? • For Your Information-According to ISRO, the series of experiments with the winged RLV-TD are part of efforts at “developing essential technologies for a fully reusable launch vehicle to enable low-cost access to space”. The RLV-TD will be used to develop technologies like hypersonic flight (HEX), autonomous landing (LEX), return flight experiment (REX), powered cruise flight, and Scramjet Propulsion Experiment (SPEX). “In the future, this vehicle will be scaled up to become the first stage of India’s reusable two-stage orbital (TSTO) launch vehicle,” according to ISRO. ISRO’s RLV-TD looks like an aircraft. It consists of a fuselage, a nose cap, double delta wings, and twin vertical tails. • How old is the RLV project? • What was the first RLV experiment about? • And what was the second experiment conducted recently? • What was the difference in the two tests? • What are its advantages? • How advanced are RLV technologies globally? Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍ISRO’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Mission RLV LEX: Why the experiment was carried out For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com The Indian Express UPSC Hub is now on Telegram. 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