UPSC Key | Crimes against women, Special China problem, Project Cheetah and more

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Front Page

Modi: Crimes against women, children’s safety serious concern, ensure swift justice

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Right issues

Mains Examination: GS-I, GS-II: Role of women and women’s organization, Government policies and interventions,Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States

What’s the ongoing story- Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday called for quick disposal of cases of crimes against women, saying “the faster the decisions are taken” in such cases, “the greater will be the assurance of safety for half the population”.

Prerequisites: 

— What is the status of crime against women in India?

— Read about the Women’s Rights in India.

— Know in detail about the Indian judiciary.

Key takeaways: 

— The PM said: “Today, atrocities against women and protection of children are a serious concern.” Modi’s remarks come in the backdrop of the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata.

— “Many strict laws have been made for the safety of women. In 2019, a plan was made for fast-track special courts. Under this, there is a provision for deposition centres for important witnesses,” he said. “The role of district monitoring committees can be important. District judge, district magistrate and superintendent of police also participate in this committee.…The quicker the decisions in cases related to atrocities against women, the greater will be the assurance of safety for half the population,” he said.

— On the occasion, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud called the district judiciary the “backbone of the judiciary”. The CJI said while the district judiciary is the first point of contact for a citizen in search of justice, data on the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) reveals that it “is not just the first but more often, the final point of contact for citizens”. “The district judiciary is, therefore, called upon to shoulder tremendous responsibility and is aptly described as the backbone of the judiciary,” he said.

— The CJI also called for providing legal education in regional languages to “pave the way for the dissemination of legal knowledge to citizens in the language they understand”.

— The PM called for necessary steps to train the district judiciary in this new system, and suggested that judges and lawyers become a part of the campaign. Stating that about 4.5 crore cases were pending in the district courts, Modi said work has been carried out at multiple levels over the last decade to eliminate this delay in justice.

For Your Information:

From Govt & Politics, “CJI calls for legal education in regional languages to promote cause of justice”

— Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday batted for legal education in regional languages so as to “pave the way for the dissemination of legal knowledge to citizens in the language they understand”.

— While explaining the adoption of technology in the judiciary, the Chief Justice said that “the judgements of the Supreme Court are being translated in every language recognised by the Constitution”.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the different crimes against women prevalent in society?

— What is the legal framework available for the safety of women?

— What steps should be taken to ensure the safety of women?

— What are the challenges faced by the Indian judicial system?

— What measures should be taken to tackle the challenge of the burden of pending cases on the judiciary?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(1) With reference to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, consider the following statements:

1. The act was enacted as a special legislation to address incidents of sexual abuse of children.

2. The Act gives the well-being of the child paramount importance at every stage.

3. The Act makes it obligatory for anyone who has an apprehension that a child is being abused, to report the matter to the authorities.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Mains

We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace. (UPSC CSE 2014)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Crime against women rose by 15.3% in 2021: NCRB

India has a special China problem above world’s general China problem: Jaishankar

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood- relations; Bilateral agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

What’s the ongoing story- Flagging that India has a “special China problem” which is over and above the world’s “general China problem”, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Saturday that the border and the state of relations with the country call for investments from China to be scrutinised.

Prerequisites:

— What is the history of bilateral relations between India and China?

— Read about the Line of Actual Control (LAC). 

— What is the border conflict between India and China?

— Map work:  Galwan Valley, north and south banks of Pangong Tso, the Gogra-Hot Springs area, Depsang Plains, Demchok and other important sites in the news concerning the India-China standoff. 

Key takeaways: 

— “So, the fact is that it is not only India which has a China problem…India has a China problem… a special China problem that is over and above the world’s general China problem,” Jaishankar said.

— Jaishankar’s comments come days after diplomatic-level talks — the 31st meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) was held on August 29 in Beijing — between India and China on the border situation.

— Signalling some progress in diplomatic negotiations to resolve the standoff between Indian and Chinese troops that began in May 2020 along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, India had said Thursday that the two sides had a “frank, constructive and forward-looking” exchange of views in Beijing on the situation along the LAC to “narrow down the differences” and “find early resolution of the outstanding issues”.

— The border standoff has been ongoing for more than five years now and two sides have each deployed around 50,000-60,000 troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

— Friction points such as Galwan Valley, north and south banks of Pangong Tso and the Gogra-Hot Springs area, have seen some resolution since the beginning of the standoff with the creation of buffer zones along the LAC.

For Your Information:

From “Border infra projects top priority, work on third route to Leh in full swing”

— An all-weather link to Leh and 14 key road projects covering four states, two UTs under the India-China Border Programme have been put on top priority by the Border Roads Organisation. These are vital for fast mobility of forces in operational situations.

— At present, there are three routes to reach Leh, the first being via Srinagar-ZojiLa-Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir.

— The second is through Manali-Rohtang in Himachal Pradesh. This road splits at a place called Darcha, from where one route connects to Leh via Padam and Nimu, and the other goes across mountain passes Baralacha La in Himachal Pradesh and Tanglang La in Ladakh via Karu before connecting to Leh.

— At present, both these routes to Leh don’t have all-weather connectivity.

— The Srinagar-Leh and the Baralacha La-Karu-Leh are the old traditional routes to reach Leh.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and China?

— What are the issues and challenges in India-China bilateral ties?

— What are the steps taken by India and China in resolving border disputes?

— What are the security challenges along the LAC?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(2) “Belt and Road Initiative” is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of : (UPSC CSE 2016)

(a) African Union

(b) Brazil

(c) European Union

(d) China

Mains

Examine the strategic and economic significance of the South China Sea in the context of Indian trade. Discuss the implications of the ongoing territorial disputes in the region for international shipping routes and global supply chains.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

How India is making friends and influencing the world

LAC talks: India, China for ‘intensified contact’ to ‘narrow down differences’

Fingers crossed over Kuno cheetah ‘drowning’ amid fears of poisoning

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-III:  Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story- Earlier this week, Pawan, the only cheetah, ranging outside the enclosures in Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh, was reported to have died by drowning. Officials and researchers at Cheetah Project, under which cheetahs, like Pawan, are being brought to India from Africa, say that the circumstances of the cheetah’s death raise questions.

Prerequisites:

— Know about the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.

— What is the IUCN status of Cheetah?

— Institutions to look for:  National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

— Location on Map: Kuno National Park, Satpura Tiger Reserve, Kanha National Park, and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Key takeaways: 

— The Cheetah Project’s brightest silver lining, among multiple setbacks, has been its success in avoiding man-animal conflict. A death by poisoning could challenge that exceptional run as the project approaches its second anniversary and pose a fresh challenge for the cheetahs waiting to be released in the wild.

For Your Information:

— Cheetahs are the fastest land animals and can, in short sprints on open ground, reach speeds in excess of 100 kph. Asiatic Cheetahs were once abundant in India but their numbers dwindled over the centuries due to loss of habitat and widespread hunting. The last cheetah in the country died in 1952.

Points to Ponder: 

— What is the significance of the Project Cheetah?

— What are the challenges of the cheetah reintroduction project?

— What measures should be taken for the success of Project Cheetah?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(3) Kuno National Park was in the news recently. The park is located in:

(a) Gujarat

(b) Andhra Pradesh

(c) Madhya Pradesh

(d) Uttarakhand

Mains

Critically analyse the proposal to introduce cheetahs into the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, considering its ecological and conservation implications.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

The 360° UPSC Debate: Project Cheetah — Is it problematic, or is it too early to judge?

 

Govt and Politics

PM flags off 3 Vande Bharat trains: ‘Progress of Southern states key to developed India’

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation, Infrastructure

What’s the ongoing story- Flagging off three new Vande Bharat trains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that the Railways has made big strides in addressing long-standing issues and will not stop until it becomes a guarantee of comfortable travel for all sections of society.

Prerequisites:

— What’s Vande Bharat?

— What are the key specifications of the Vande Bharat Express and when was it first introduced?

Key takeaways: 

— The trains flagged off by PM through video conferencing connect Meerut with Lucknow, Madurai with Bengaluru, and Chennai with Nagercoil, taking the number of Vande Bharat trains above 100.

— The PM said that over `2.5 lakh crore was allocated to the Railways in the 2024 Union Budget and underlined that the government was connecting Railways with high-tech services to transform its old image.

— Chennai Egmore-Nagercoil Vande Bharat train will cover 726.06 km in 8.50 hours and cut down travel time by almost 2 hours compared to the existing faster trains. Madurai-Bengaluru Vande Bharat — the fourth connecting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka — will cover 578 km in 8 hours and save around one and a half hours. Passengers taking the Meerut City-Lucknow Vande Bharat will save around 1 hour compared to the current fastest train between the two cities.

— PM Modi said that with the introduction of Vande Bharat in Meerut, the distance to Lucknow has also been reduced.

For Your Information:

— Vande Bharat is a semi-high speed trainset, each of 16 coaches, and self-propelled — they do not require an engine. This is called a distributed traction power system, which is increasingly becoming the norm the world over for passenger operations. Distributed power gives the train higher acceleration and deceleration compared to loco-hauled trains, which take a much longer time to reach top speed or to gradually come to a halt

Points to Ponder: 

— What initiatives have been taken by the government for the modernisation of railways?

— What are the challenges and criticisms associated with the Vande Bharat Express project?

— What are the steps taken by the government to ensure railway safety?

— What is the Kavach System?

Post Read Question:

The setting up of a Rail Tariff Authority to regulate fares will subject the cash strapped Indian Railways to demand subsidy for obligation to operate nonprofitable routes and services. Taking into account the experience in the power sector, discuss if the proposed reform is expected to benefit the consumers, the Indian Railways or the private container operators. (UPSC CSE 2014)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Explained: Can India meet the target of 400 Vande Bharat trains in three years?

 

Express Network

IMD: August was India’s warmest since 1901

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance and Environment 

Mains Examination: GS-I, GS-III: Geography, Environment and Science

What’s the ongoing story- The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Saturday said that India recorded its warmest August since 1901. The all-India average monthly minimum temperature rose to an all-time record of 24.29 degrees Celsius for August. The normal is 23.68 degrees Celsius.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the IMD.

— What is cyclone Asna?

— Know about the southwest monsoon.

— What is Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO)?

Key takeaways: 

— Multiple favourable weather factors at local, regional and global-scales had kept the southwest monsoon active for a majority of days during August. There were a total of six low pressure systems, one of which went on to intensify into to a ‘rare’ cyclone Asna is the Arabian Sea on August 30.

— As a result of frequent low pressure systems, the country remained affected by a total of 16.5 low pressure-affected days in August.

— Similarly, atleast two geographical regions — southern peninsular India and central India — experienced the warmest August in 123 years.

— At the end of three months of the southwest monsoon season, the country had recorded 749mm, which was a 7 per cent surplus. Last month, the country experienced a total of 753 rainfall incidents categorized as ‘very’ heavy (115.6 – 204.4mm in 24-hours), the second highest recorded since 2020 (1,008).

— A comparison of August rainfall over India for the past six years showed that the monthly rainfall performance was the highest in 2019 followed by 2024.

— The low pressure systems mainly were responsible for causing extremely heavy rainfall (more than 200mm in 24 hours) over Tripura, Rajasthan and Gujarat during the latter half of the month.

For Your Information:

— India’s weather department is set to get a massive upgrade of its forecasting capabilities that will enable it to make localised and extreme-weather predictions with far greater accuracy.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the weather forecasting methods used by the IMD?

— What are IMD’s colour-coded weather alerts?

— What challenges are faced by the IMD in providing accurate weather forecasts?

— What are the factors affecting the monsoon in India?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(4) With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.

2. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mains

How far do you agree that the behaviour of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscape? Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2015)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Knowledge nugget of the day: IMD’s colour-coded weather alerts

ASG: CBFC yet to clear Kangana’s film, will keep in mind sentiments of all

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity

Mains Examination: GS-II: Indian polity and governance, Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Arising Out of Design & Implementation of Policies.

What’s the ongoing story- Stating that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is yet to award certification to actor and Mandi Lok Sabha member Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Satyapal Jain said the Board will keep in mind the sentiments of all communities, including the Sikh community.

Prerequisites:

— Read about the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

— What is the CBFC organisational set-up?

— How films are certified in India?

Key takeaways: 

— This is the first time that the government has clarified its stand on the issue. On Friday, the actor claimed that while her film, based on the life of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, had been cleared by the Board, its certification had been withheld because of “threats” made to CBFC

For Your Information:

— Once a filmmaker applies for certification, an Examining Committee is appointed by the Regional Officer. In case of short films, it consists of a member of the advisory panel and an examining officer, one of whom has to be a woman. Else, it has four members from the advisory panel and an examining officer of who two persons are to be women.

— Certification— unrestricted public exhibition (U), parental guidance for children below age 12 (U/A), adult (A), or viewing by specialised groups (S) — is decided by the Regional Officer based on reports by Examining Committee members in unanimity or majority. In case of a divided opinion, the case rests with the chairperson.

— If a filmmaker is unhappy or dissatisfied at the certification, she or he can ask for a second viewing. A Revising Committee cannot have any of the members who were on the earlier committee; and it also has to have a Board member (or more) on it, mandatorily. It is only at this stage that a Board member gets involved with the certification process: there is nothing to prevent a Board member from being part of the initial viewing, but their presence becomes mandatory only at the revising stage.

Points to Ponder: 

— What are the constitutional provisions related to the freedom of speech and expression?

— What is censorship?

— What are the advantages and disadvantages of censorship?

— What are the reasonable restrictions on freedom provided in the Constitution of India?

Post Read Question:

Prelims

(5) Right to Privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of Right to Life and Personal Liberty. Which of the following in the Constitution of India correctly and appropriately imply the above statement? (UPSC CSE 2018)

(a) Article 14 and the provisions under the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution.

(b) Article 17 and the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV.

(c) Article 21 and the freedoms guaranteed in Part III.

(d) Article 24 and the provisions under the 44th Amendment to the Constitution.

Mains

What do you understand by the concept of “freedom of speech and expression”? Does it cover hate speech also? Why do the films in India stand on a slightly different plane from other forms of expression? Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2014)

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

Explained: How films are certified, why it causes dispute

 

Economy

To consolidate chipmaking gains, how India plans to spend $15bn in next phase

UPSC Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic Development

Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors, Indian Economy

What’s the ongoing story- The government plans to increase the funding outlay for the second phase of its chip manufacturing incentive policy to $15 billion from the $10 billion it had committed for the first phase.

Prerequisites:

— What are semiconductors?

— What is the significance of the semiconductor?

— Read about the  India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).

Key takeaways: 

— Tata is building India’s first commercial fabrication plant along with its Taiwanese partner Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) for a cost of more than Rs 91,000 crore. The government has also approved three assembly and testing plants, which are called ATMP and OSAT in chip parlance.

— The four projects will together cost more than Rs 1.48 lakh crore, and the central government will spend almost Rs 59,000 crore in capex subsidies.

— India currently has virtually no footprint in manufacturing semiconductor chips. The bulk of the global chip production happens in countries like Taiwan and the United States.

— Domestic fabrication plants will boost India’s economic and strategic imperatives, given that chips are used in practically all downstream industries from rockets to power steering in cars to kitchen toasters.

For Your Information:

— Most modern-day semiconductors are integrated circuits, also referred to as ‘chips’… Fabs are the highly specialised semiconductor manufacturing facilities that print the miniaturised integrated circuits from the chip design into the silicon wafers.

— India has ambitions to become a major chip hub on the lines of the United States, Taiwan and South Korea, and has been courting foreign companies to set up operations in the country.

— India’s chip incentive plans are focused on boosting all three aspects of the semiconductor ecosystem – packaging, assembly and testing facilities (called ATMP and OSAT units), and full-scale foundries that can manufacture chips.

Points to Ponder: 

— Why is India aiming to become self-sufficient in chip manufacturing? 

— What are the issues concerning domestic manufacturing of semiconductors?

— What are the incentives taken by the government for promoting chip manufacturing in India?

Post Read Question:

(6) With reference to Semiconductor industry, consider the following statements :

1. The Indian government has created a dedicated task-force called the India Semiconductor Mission, which aims to serve as a focal point for an efficient implementation of India’s chip ambitions.

2. More than 90 per cent of the world’s most advanced chips required for almost all electronic equipment such as smartphones, car components, data centres, fighter jets and AI technologies, are made in South Korea.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

In new chip push, Centre ready with $15-billion blueprint