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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 15th, 2024. If you missed the July 14th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.
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UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II: Constitution of India —historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure.
What’s the ongoing story- The Union government is set to embark on an extended campaign to celebrate 75 years of the Constitution, The Indian Express has learnt. The government on Friday announced that from next year June 25, the day Emergency was declared in 1975, would be observed as “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas”.
Prerequisites:
— Read about the Constituent Assembly of India.
— Know the characteristics and important sources of the Constitution of India.
— What is Constitution Day?
Key takeaways:
— “This year marks the 75 years of the Constituent Assembly adopting the Constitution of India. The idea is to create awareness about what the Constitution stands for, the Assembly debates, and how the government has taken steps to strengthen it,” a source told The Indian Express.
— Government sources said though the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution on November 26, 1949, the “75 years of Constitution” campaign might kick off on August 15 or later in the year and conclude on January 26 of next year to coincide with the day in 1950 when the Constitution came into effect and India became a Republic.
For Your Information:
— The Government has decided to observe June 25, the day the Emergency was declared in 1975, as “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” to commemorate the “massive contributions” of those who endured “inhuman pains of the period”.
— Till now, three times an emergency has been imposed in India.
1. The first time the emergency was imposed was on October 26, 1962, on the grounds of war.
2. The second time emergency was imposed on December 3, 1971, on the grounds of war.
3. The third-time emergency was proclaimed on June 25, 1975, due to an “internal disturbance.” (Note: This ground of “internal disturbance” was removed by the Constitution (Forty-fourth Amendment) Act, 1978, by the Janata government that came to power after the emergency.)
Points to Ponder:
— What are the criticisms of the Constituent Assembly of India?
— What are the constitutional provisions related to emergencies in India?
— How did the national emergency of 1975 unfold?
— What was the aftermath of the National Emergency of 1975?
Post Read Question:
Prelims
Which one of the following statements best reflects the Chief purpose of the ‘Constitution’ of a country? (UPSC CSE 2023)
(a) It determines the objective for the making of necessary laws.
(b) It enables the creation of political offices and a government.
(c) It defines and limits the powers of government.
(d) It secures social justice, social equality and social security.
Mains
It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss. (UPSC CSE 2015)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
To mark Emergency, Centre to observe June 25 as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: GS-II: India and its neighbourhood relations.
What’s the ongoing story- On Monday, K P Sharma Oli will be sworn in as the head of Nepal’s 14th government since 2008, when the country became a republic. Last week, Oli’s party, the Communist Party of Nepal (UML), withdrew support to the Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” government, ending the latest attempt at an alliance between the Himalayan nation’s leftist forces.
Prerequisites:
— Know the history of India-Nepal bilateral relations.
— Read about the Treaty of Sugauli and the India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950.
— What is the present status of India-Nepal bilateral relations?
— Map work: Location of Kali River, Limpiadhura, Lipulekh, Kalapani, Indian states bordering Nepal, China-Nepal border.
Key takeaways:
— The opportunism of leaders has been the only constant in Nepal’s political landscape since 2015.
— Once a rice exporter, Nepal now depends on foodgrain imports and the cement industry, one of the prime employers in the country, is running at 30 per cent capacity. The World Bank estimates that the country’s economic growth is not likely to exceed 4 per cent in the current fiscal and the IMF has warned Nepal of a financial crisis if steps are not taken to improve the economy.
— New Delhi will be watching the developments in Kathmandu with caution. While Prachanda enjoyed goodwill in India, Oli’s hardline stance during the border blockade of 2015, his pro-China position and moves to include disputed territories in Nepal’s map have not gone down well with South Block.
— The Chinese footprint in Nepal is growing. However, India continues to be Nepal’s largest trading partner and about eight million Nepalese citizens live and work in India. New Delhi would, therefore, do well to take a nuanced position on the politics in the Himalayan nation and ensure that Beijing does not use the latest political turn in Kathmandu to its advantage.
For Your Information:
— India is Nepal’s largest trading partner, the top-source country for tourists, the only supplier of petroleum products and the largest source of total foreign investment. India also provides transit for almost all of Nepal’s third-country trade and accounts for a significant share of inward remittances from pensioners, professionals and labourers working in India. It has always been the first responder during disasters and emergencies in Nepal.
Points to Ponder:
— What are the areas of cooperation and conflict between India and Nepal?
— What is India’s Neighbourhood First Policy?
— How is China’s political influence in Nepal harming Indian interests?
Post Read Question:
What is the significance of the India-Nepal relationship? Discuss the key difficulties and prospects in the India-Nepal border dispute.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance and Social Development
Mains Examination: GS-II: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States
What’s the ongoing story- Shashank Pandey Writes– “On July 8, the Supreme Court laid down a framework for the representation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in visual media. This ruling was in response to an appeal against the verdict of the Delhi High Court. The case dealt with the contents of the movie Aankh Micholi produced by Sony Pictures.”
Prerequisites:
— What are the constitutional frameworks for PwDs in India?
— Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 [RPwD Act]: Key Highlights
— Read about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Key takeaways:
— “Although the SC didn’t pass any adverse order against Sony Pictures under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) or Cinematograph Act, 1952, it laid down and elaborated upon a few fundamental principles on disability rights vide its order.”
— “The SC laid great emphasis on the human rights model of disability, which goes beyond the social model and medical model of disability. The medical model traces the disability within the medical condition of an individual. The social model identifies disability in the attitude and structure of society.”
— “The human rights model goes beyond the social model and is embedded in international human rights law principles. It states that disability is a natural part of human diversity, and PwDs are also rights holders whose participation and inclusion in society must be ensured.”
— “The SC emphasis on the human rights model is significant as it casts a positive obligation on the appropriate government and private parties to facilitate full and effective participation.”
— “The extent of the obligation of private bodies under the RPwD Act is disputed. In Vikash Kumar vs UPSC, the Court has accepted the obligation of private parties under the RPwD Act and in the current case, it also acknowledged the limitation of this obligation.”
— “The SC didn’t use the phrase “attitudinal barrier”, it provided detailed jurisprudence on it. The attitudinal barrier is recognised under RPwD as one of the societal barriers as per the social model of disability.”
— “Stereotypes play an instrumental tool in perpetuating the attitudinal barrier against a group. The SC acknowledges that the stereotypes are operationalised as discrimination against the group members (para 32) and emphasises the importance of “stereotypes as an anti-thesis to dignity and non-discrimination”.”
— “The SC concluded by stating that “the creative freedom of the filmmaker cannot include the freedom to lampoon, stereotype, misrepresent or disparage those already marginalised” (para 70). In determining these aspects, the “intention” and “overall message” of the film have to be considered.”
Points to Ponder:
— What are the issues and challenges related to PwDs in India?
— What initiatives have been taken by the government for the PwDs?
— What measures should be taken for the empowerment of PwDs?
Post Read Question:
India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. What are the benefits available to them under the law? (UPSC CSE 2011)
1. Free schooling till the age of 18 years in government-run schools.
2. Preferential allotment of land for setting up business.
3. Ramps in public buildings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
What is India’s disability law; how accessible are govt buildings to PwD?
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests
What’s the ongoing story- Rajan Kumar Writes– “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Moscow represents a bold diplomatic effort by India to alleviate Russian apprehensions regarding a potential shift in India’s policy.”
Prerequisites:
— Know in detail the history of India-Russia bilateral relations.
— Read about the Ukraine-Russia war and India’s stand on it.
Key takeaways:
— “Modi’s visit assumes special significance because few global leaders of his stature, barring Chinese President Xi Jinping, have visited Moscow in the last two years. In his third term in office, PM Modi picked Russia as his first foreign destination for a bilateral meeting. At a time when Russia is confronting Western isolation, such optics matter a lot.”
— “India has remained sympathetic to Russia throughout the war. It has refused to condemn Russia, refrained from adverse voting in the UN, and disregarded Western threats of sanctions on its energy imports from Russia. Ironically, India’s trade with Russia reached a historic high of $65 billion in the last financial year…India’s diplomacy has come under severe strain in the tug-of-war between the two sides; Western criticism has increased, inflationary pressure looms large, and to its detriment, Russia has moved closer to China.”
— “In fact, Russia’s growing dependence on China represents a serious concern for India. Moscow and Beijing have forged the closest possible ties in their history, generating fears that Russia will become a subordinate partner given the growing economic, demographic and technological asymmetry between them.”
— “India’s strong ties with Russia somewhat change the dynamics and empower both sides. New Delhi seeks to offset the Chinese advantage in Eurasia by forging close ties with Russia. With the US and Japan on its side and Russia as a neutral player, India is indisputably better placed than China in the Asian security architecture. Moscow is mindful of New Delhi’s concerns and has somewhat accepted India’s ties with the West, akin to how India has accepted the Moscow-Beijing alignment.”
— “India-Russia ties are exceptionally comprehensive, covering everything under the sun, from defence and trade to space, nuclear and cultural cooperation. They cooperate actively in multilateral forums such as the BRICS, SCO and the G20. Therefore, more than adding new items to the catalogue, they should focus on revamping existing ties and reviewing the progress regularly.”
Points to Ponder:
— What are the areas of cooperation between India and Russia?
— What is the strategic significance of India and Russia’s ties?
— What are the major challenges and issues in India-Russia relations?
— How does Russia’s growing dependence on China represent a serious concern for India?
Post Read Question:
Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries? (UPSC CSE 2019)
(a) Japan
(b) Russia
(c) The United Kingdom
(d) The United States of America
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-I, GS-II: Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Related to Women
What’s the ongoing story- Flavia Agnes writes– “The recent Supreme Court judgment, Mohd Abdul Samad vs The State of Telangana, has upheld the divorced Muslim woman’s rights to claim maintenance under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973. This is a socially beneficial provision.”
Prerequisites:
— What are personal laws?
— What was the Supreme Court ruling in the Shah Bano case in 1985?
— Know about the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act of 1986 (MWA).
Key takeaways:
— “With this judgment, we have travelled a full circle from the controversial Supreme Court ruling in the Shah Bano case in 1985 (Mohd Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum), which was followed by the enactment of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act of 1986 (MWA).”
— “The issue now decided by the Supreme Court pertained to whether after the MWA came into force, the divorced Muslim woman is prevented from filing an application under Section 125 of the CrPC. This was a confusing issue….The Supreme Court’s decision has now cleared the ambiguity and has unequivocally held that the new Act has not extinguished the divorced Muslim woman’s rights under the beneficial provision of Section 125 of the CrPC.”
— “It was observed that the domains occupied by the two provisions are entirely different as the secular provision stipulates an inability to maintain oneself for invoking the said rights while Section 3 of the 1986 Act stands independent of one’s ability or inability to maintain oneself. Thereby, by adopting a harmonious and purposive approach amidst the two alleged conflicting legislative protections, the divorced Muslim woman’s rights were protected.”
— “The Court clarified that a divorced Muslim woman is entitled to all the rights of maintenance as are available to other equally situated women in the country and an interpretation otherwise would infringe upon the fundamental rights conferred through Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution. The nature of power and jurisdiction vested with a magistrate by virtue of these provisions is not punitive, neither is it remedial; it is a preventive measure.”
For Your Information:
— Section 125 CrPC places an obligation on “any person having sufficient means” to maintain “his wife” or “his legitimate or illegitimate minor child” if they are unable to maintain themselves — typically through monetary support at regular intervals. The explanation in the section clarifies that the word “wife” also includes a divorced woman who has not re-married.
Points to Ponder:
— What was the role of the Shah Bano case in the interpretation of personal laws?
— What are the concerns related to the personal laws in India?
— What are the debates around the Uniform Civil Code?
— What are the initiatives taken by the government for the protection of the rights of Muslim women?
Post Read Question:
Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (UPSC CSE 2020)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
CrPC & Personal law: Divorced Muslim women’s right to alimony
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance
Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Government policies and interventions, Security
What’s the ongoing story- The Maharashtra government has proposed a sweeping new law to deal with the “increasing presence of Naxalism in urban centres”. The Bill, introduced in the Assembly on Thursday (July 11), targets a wide range of actions by suspects: interference with the maintenance of public order and administration of the law, generating fear and apprehension in the public, encouraging or preaching disobedience of the law, etc.
Prerequisites:
— What is naxalism?
— What are the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, the National Security Act, and the Public Safety Acts?
— What are Articles 20, 21, and 22 of the Indian Constitution?
Key takeaways:
— The provisions of the Bill have been criticised for being “draconian”, and concerns have been raised over its wide definitions.
— The statement of objects and reasons of The Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPC) Bill, 2024, introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, says the “menace of Naxalism is not only limited to remote areas of the Naxal affected states, but its presence is increasing in the urban areas also through the Naxal front organisations”.
— The Bill gives the government the power to declare any suspect “organisation” as an “unlawful organisation”. It prescribes four offences for which an individual can be punished:
(i) for being a member of an unlawful organisation,
(ii) when not a member, for raising funds for an unlawful organisation,
(iii) for managing or assisting in managing an unlawful organisation and,
(iv) for committing an “unlawful activity”.
— These four offences carry jail terms of up to two years to seven years, along with fines ranging from up to Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
For Your Information:
— The UAPA is India’s main anti-terror law that is used most commonly in Naxalism-related cases. The UAPA, too, gives the state the power to designate associations as “unlawful associations”.
Points to Ponder:
— What constitutes “unlawful activity” in the bill tabled in the Maharashtra Assembly?
— What are the concerns and issues with UAPA?
— How does the Supreme Court protect the rights of the citizens?
Post Read Question:
Indian government has recently strengthed the anti-terrorism laws by amending the Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act, (UAPA), 1967 and the NIA Act. Analyze the changes in the context of prevailing security environment while discussing scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations. (UPSC CSE 2019)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Citing ‘Naxalism in urban areas’, Maharashtra Govt tables Bill
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-III: Science and Technology, Awareness in the fields of Space
What’s the ongoing story- The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 — one of the world’s most active rockets — after the failure of its upper stage engine that stranded 20 Starlink internet satellites in a low, non-survivable orbit. The failed mission ended a remarkable streak of more than 300 successful Falcon 9 flights in the last nine years.
Prerequisites:
— What is Falcon 9?
— What are the various space launch vehicles of ISRO?
— What is IN-SPACe?
Key takeaways:
— Falcon 9 is a partially reusable rocket designed and manufactured by Elon Musk-owned SpaceX. It can transport crew and payloads to low Earth orbit (an altitude of 2000 km or less) and beyond.
— The rocket has two stages. The first stage or booster stage comprises nine Merlin engines (a family of rocket engines developed by SpaceX), and aluminium-lithium alloy tanks containing liquid oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene propellant. The second stage consists of a single Merlin engine. The first stage, which is reusable, is capable of re-entering the atmosphere, and landing vertically after separating from the second stage.
— The issue occurred roughly 30 minutes after the launch of Falcon 9 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Thursday night. The rocket’s second stage experienced a liquid oxygen leak, and failed to complete a second, short engine burn needed to put 20 Starlink satellites in the correct orbit, according to a post on SpaceX’s website.
— The mishap occurred on the rocket’s 354th mission, and marks the first Falcon 9 failure since 2015, when the rocket exploded on a launch site in Florida. Falcon 9 is considered one of the most successful and reliable rockets ever made.
For Your Information:
— Utilising the services of SpaceX for the first time, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will deploy its heavy communication satellite GSAT-20 through the Falcon-9 rocket of the private space agency towards the middle of this year.
Points to Ponder:
— What are reusable rocket systems?
— What are the benefits of reusable launch vehicles?
— What are the initiatives taken by ISRO in the field of reusable rocket systems?
— What are the opportunities and challenges with private sector participation in space missions?
Post Read Question:
With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2018)
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 only
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
India to use SpaceX rocket to launch communications satellite
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Health, Government Policies & Interventions, Science
What’s the ongoing story- The development of various weight loss drugs has been a game changer for obesity treatment in recent years, especially in the US and Europe. But these drugs are yet to be commercially available in India, with pending regulatory clearances and high demand abroad delaying their arrival in the country. But this might soon change. Last week, in a first, an expert committee of India’s drug regulator gave the green light to the drug tirzepatide.
Prerequisites:
— What are semaglutide and tirzepatide?
— Read about diabetes and its types.
— What is obesity?
Key takeaways:
— In 2017, the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approved Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, with the active ingredient semaglutide, to manage type 2 diabetes. Soon, doctors in the US saw an interesting side-effect — weight loss. They started prescribing Ozempic off-label (the practice of prescribing a drug for a different purpose than what has been approved) to treat obesity.
— The FDA has approved Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) for chronic weight management in adults. These drugs can be prescribed to those who are obese (with a body mass index of over 30), or overweight (with a BMI between 27 and 30), and have at least one other health condition related to their weight (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes).
— Semaglutide and tirzepatide are polypeptides, small proteins that boost the levels of naturally-occurring hormones in the body, including that of glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1), which control weight through the brain and digestive tract. They also help manage glucose levels, making them an effective treatment for diabetes.
Points to Ponder:
— What causes obesity?
— What are the factors behind the increasing obesity in India?
— What are the impacts of obesity?
— What initiatives have been taken by the government to reduce the obesity burden in India?
Post Read Question:
Consider the following diseases:
1. Diabetes
2. Hypertension
3. Abdominal obesity
4. Hypercholesterolemia
How many of the above are non-communicable diseases?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
| ALSO IN NEWS | |
| Bihar govt seeks MSP for makhana, flags ‘bad shape’ of research centre | The Bihar government has urged the Centre to declare the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for makhana, an aquatic crop cultivated across 10 districts in the state, The Indian Express has learnt. The state has also flagged “lack” of manpower at the Darbhanga-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research — National Research Centre (ICAR-NRC) for Makhana and told the Centre it was in “bad shape”. |
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