Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for October 11, 2024. If you missed the October 10, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE PM unveils 10-point plan to strengthen India-ASEAN relations 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. What’s the ongoing story-Announcing a 10-point plan while underlining that dialogue and cooperation between India and ASEAN are of utmost importance at a time of conflict and tension in many parts of the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday flagged “respect” for “each other’s national integrity and sovereignty” at the India-ASEAN leaders’ summit in Laos capital Vientiane. Key Points to Ponder- • Know about Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) • Map Work-ASEAN Countries • India and ASEAN Summit 2024-what are the key takeaways • “I believe that the 21st century is the ‘Asian Century’, a century for India and ASEAN countries”- Interpret the remark within the context of the current conflict in West Asia. • In keeping with the theme of ‘Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience’, the Prime Minister announced a 10-point plan-know them in detail • What exactly the Joint Statement on strengthening ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region in the context of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with the support of India’s Act East Policy (AEP), said? • What is ‘Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)’? • India’s “trade with the ASEAN region”-Know in detail For Your Information- • Speaking at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit, PM Narendra Modi announced a 10-point plan to mark a decade of India’s Act East Policy that included ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue, 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism, doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University among others. • The 10-point plan announced by PM are: —Celebrating 2025 as ASEAN-India Year of Tourism for which India will make available USD 5 million towards joint activities; —Celebrate a decade of Act East Policy through several people centric activities including Youth Summit, Start-up Festival, Hackathon, Music Festival, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks and Delhi Dialogue; —Organise ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave under ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund; —Doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and provision of new scholarships for ASEAN students at Agricultural Universities in India; —Review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025; —Enhancing Disaster Resilience for which India will make available USD 5 million; —Initiate a new Health Ministers’ track towards building Health Resilience; —Initiate a regular mechanism of ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue towards strengthening Digital and Cyber Resilience; —Workshop on Green Hydrogen; and —Invited ASEAN Leaders to join the ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign towards building climate resilience. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍What is ASEAN? Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Evaluate the economic and strategic dimensions of India’s Look East Policy in the context of the post-Cold War international scenario. (UPSC Mains GS2, 2016) Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 📍The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as (2016) (a) G20 (b) ASEAN (c) SCO (d) SAARC 📍Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue with Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (2022) a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea. b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea. c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities. d) Though International Court of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them. 📍India is a member of which among the following? (2015) 1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2. Association of South-East Asian Nations 3. East Asia Summit Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) India is a member of none of them 📍Consider the following countries: (2018) 1. Australia 2. Canada 3. China 4. India 5. Japan 6. USA Which of the above are among the ‘free-trade partners’ of ASEAN? (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 (b) 3, 4, 5 and 6 (c) 1, 3, 4 and 5 (d) 2, 3, 4 and 6 How the introvert, dark horse rose to become India’s most respected businessman — and stayed on top Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies IV: Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance. What’s the ongoing story-Ratan Tata was unquestionably India’s most respected businessman, even though by the standards of India’s wealthiest billionaires he was relatively poor. But by virtue of his position as chairperson of the Sir Dorab Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, which own 66 per cent of Tata Sons, the holding company for India’s largest and most prestigious business house, he was more powerful than any other Indian businessman. Key Points to Ponder- • Know about Ratan Tata • What are his innovations and contributions? • What are Ratan Tata's contributions to philanthropy, corporate social responsibility, economics, society, and technology? • Ratan Tata and the Virtues of Leadership-Connect the dots • Ratan Tata and Corporate Ethics-Know in detail For Your Information- • Handed over the ropes of the Tata Group in 1991, Ratan Tata had just embraced the mantle of leadership when the diversified group’s growth story had some parallels with India’s economic growth story as well. As India took its leap towards liberalisation in 1991, Tata also worked towards revamping the Group, taking business decisions during his tenure that looked like failure to his critics, but helped turn around the fortunes of many group companies — both in domestic operations and the group’s global footprint. From Tata Tea’s acquisition of Tetley in the year 2000 to acquiring the UK-based Corus Group in 2007 and reviving the once-struggling British luxury car manufacturer, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) post acquisition in 2008, Tata set the ball rolling on the Group’s presence overseas, charting out a path for other companies to follow. • The $12 billion acquisition of Corus at a time when it was four times the size of Tata Steel marked a big milestone in Indian industry’s forays abroad. Close on the heels of the acquisition of Corus in 2007, Hindalco Industries, a subsidiary of the Aditya Birla Group, acquired American aluminium manufacturing company Novelis Inc. for $6 billion. • The decade from Tetley’s takeover to the time Ratan Tata left the Group in 2012 also marked the most remarkable phase for outbound investments from India. Between 2001-2012, there were around 1,135 overseas acquisitions by Indian companies with the majority share of software and business services. He was known for his values-driven leadership, which emphasised ethics, integrity, and corporate social responsibility. His commitment to innovation and inclusivity set a standard for businesses worldwide, inspiring countless leaders to adopt a similar approach. • Ratan Tata focused on modernising the group’s operations, fostering innovation, and expanding globally. The goal of internationalising the operations of the diversified business was stated by him in 2004 when he expressed optimism about making it a global group that is “at home in the world.” “I hope that a hundred years from now we will spread our wings far beyond India, that we become a global group, operating in many countries, an Indian business conglomerate that is at home in the world, carrying the same sense of trust that we do today,” he had said. • Ratan Tata's altruistic leadership is demonstrated by his philanthropic donations, with over 65% of his wealth allocated to humanitarian endeavours. An exemplary instance is his substantial backing for healthcare, education, and rural development via Tata Trusts. His dedication to philanthropy demonstrates his conviction in fostering enduring social change rather than pursuing personal benefit.HR directors can implement this strategy by promoting employee participation in community service and establishing company activities that emphasise social responsibility in conjunction with business goals. • Under Ratan Tata’s leadership, Tata Group’s revenue jumped from approximately $5 billion in 1991 to $100 billion in 2011-12, as per Tata Trust. But the business expansion under Ratan Tata came after a sea change in the group’s style of functioning. Unlike the decentralised approach followed by JRD Tata, Ratan Tata sought to centralise power, which led to the ouster of the old guard and the Tata Group companies global expansion. Tata advocated for projects that promoted education, healthcare, and rural development, embodying his conviction that enterprises should positively impact society. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been actively engaging with school kids throughout many Southeast Asian nations through technology education initiatives. These projects seek to improve digital literacy and provide students with the competencies required for the future employment landscape. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍On everyone’s lips: Who succeeds him, what of the challenges 📍What set him apart 📍The self-effacing visionary Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍What do you understand by 'moral integrity' and 'professional efficiency' in the context of corporate governance in India? Illustrate with suitable examples. (2023) 📍In contemporary world, corporate sector’s contribution in generating wealth and employment is increasing. In doing so, they are bringing in unprecedented onslaught on the climate, environmental sustainability and living conditions of human beings. In this background, do you find that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is efficient and sufficient enough to fulfill the social roles and responsibilities needed in the corporate world for which the CSR is mandated? Critically examine. (2022) EXPRESS NETWORK Hizb-ut-Tahrir banned, MHA says group intends to establish caliphate Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies III: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security What’s the ongoing story- The Centre on Thursday banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), a global pan-Islamic group set up in Jerusalem in 1953, under UAPA, saying that the organisation aims to establish Islamic state and caliphate globally, including in India, through jihad and terrorist activities. In a notification, the MHA said the HuT is involved in radicalisation and motivation of gullible youth to join terrorist organisations, such as ISIS, and raising funds for terror activities. Key Points to Ponder- • Know about Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) • Why Centre banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT)? • What is UAPA? • Why the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was invoked? • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)-Key Highlights • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Human Rights-Connect the dots • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Article 22 of the Constitution-Connect the Dot For Your Information- • Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international pan-Islamist and Islamic fundamentalist political entity that seeks to restore the Islamic caliphate to unify the Muslim community (referred to as ummah) and enforce sharia law worldwide. • Hizb ut-Tahrir perceives global history as a perpetual struggle between Islam and non-believers, viewing the state system as a historical affront to Islam. The group perceives Jihad as a fundamental component of its ideology and regards it as a mandatory obligation to combat disbelieve until universal submission to Islamic governance is achieved, without differentiating between the violent and spiritual facets of Jihad. Initially, Hizb ut-Tahrir focusses on the 'near enemy', promoting the ousting of rulers who "feign adherence to Islam", which they deem essential for the worldwide proliferation of Islam. Do You Know- • The UAPA gives powers to the government to probe and prosecute people for acts of terrorism, and to designate an organisation as an “unlawful association” or a “terrorist organisation”, or an individual as a “terrorist”. • It was enacted on the recommendation of the National Integration Council, set up in 1961 to find ways to counter problems that were dividing the country. In 1962, the Council constituted a committee that recommended introduction of “reasonable restrictions” in the exercise of certain fundamental rights. The UAPA was enacted with the objective of implementing these restrictions. However, in its original form, the Act largely dealt with secessionist activities, with no explicit mention of terrorism. • In 2004, the Act was amended for the first time, with “and for dealing with terrorist activities” added to its title. The UPA government had repealed the much criticised Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (POTA) that year, and the amendment to the UAPA sought to fill the void left by it. The amendment introduced Chapter IV (Sections 15 to 23) to the statute, which defines the act of terrorism, the punishment for it, and various activities associated with the same. It also introduced Chapter V which deals with “proceeds of terrorism”, and provides for seizure of such proceeds by authorities and forfeiture of properties owned by those accused of terrorism. • The government also amended Section 1 of the Act, to make illegal acts committed by Indian citizens abroad punishable under the law. In Section 2, which in the original Act defined “unlawful activity” as an act aimed at secession of a part of India or an act intended to disrupt sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, the government added the clause “which causes or intended to cause disaffection against India”. Over the years, however, UAPA has further evolved such that it can be invoked in situations which do not appear to be ‘acts of terror’, as the term is generally understood. • In 2019, the Narendra Modi government pushed through Parliament a controversial amendment in the Act which gave the government the powers to designate an individual as a terrorist. Until then, only organisations could be designated as “terrorist”. This was criticised as overturning the founding principle of the criminal justice system that presumes innocence until proven guilty for every suspect. The amendment also allowed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) powers to seize assets belonging to terrorists across the country without seeking consent or even informing the state concerned. It allowed even an NIA inspector to become the investigating officer of a terror case. Earlier, only DySPs could do so. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍UK government says lslamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir is antisemitic, moves to ban it Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍Indian Government has recently strengthened 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 the scope and reasons for opposing the UAPA by human rights organizations. (UPSC CSE 2019) EXPLAINED Why govt wants to formulate standard National Agriculture Code Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies III: Transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints What’s the ongoing story- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has begun the process of formulating a National Agriculture Code (NAC), on the lines of the existing National Building Code and National Electrical Code. Key Points to Ponder- • Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-Know in brief • What is the National Agriculture Code? • What will the NAC cover? • What are the stated objects of the National Agriculture Code? • What is the proposed timeline for this project? • What are Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms? How are they important? For Your Information- • The National Agriculture Code will cover the entire agriculture cycle, and will also contain a guidance note for future standardisation. The code will have two parts. The first will contain general principles for all crops, and the second will deal with crop-specific standards for the likes of paddy, wheat, oilseeds, and pulses. The NAC will serve as a guide for farmers, agriculture universities, and officials involved in the field. • In addition to standards for agriculture machinery, the NAC will cover all agriculture processes and post-harvest operations, such as crop selection, land preparation, sowing/transplanting, irrigation/drainage, soil health management, plant health management, harvesting/threshing, primary processing, post-harvest, sustainability, and record maintenance. It will also include standards for input management, like use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and weedicides, as well as standards for crop storage and traceability. Crucially, the NAC will cover all new and emerging areas like natural farming and organic farming, as well as the use of Internet-of-Things in the field of agriculture. Do You Know- • The BIS is the national body which sets standards for different products across various economic sectors. In agriculture, it has already set standards for machinery (tractors, harvesters, etc.) and various inputs (fertilisers, pesticides, etc.) However, there are still many areas not covered by the BIS standards. For example, there is no standard for agriculture practices like preparation of fields, micro irrigation and water use. Thus, for a long time, policymakers have felt a need for a comprehensive standards framework, like the one now being formulated by the BIS. According to the BIS, the objectives are: • To create an implementable national code covering recommendations for agriculture practices taking agroclimatic zones, crop type, socio economic diversity of the country and all aspects of agrifood value chain into consideration; • To act as an enabler of quality culture in Indian agriculture by providing the required reference to policy makers, agriculture departments and regulators for incorporating the provisions of NAC in their schemes, policies, or regulations; • To create a comprehensive guide for the farming community to ensure effective decision making in agricultural practices; • To integrate relevant Indian Standards with recommended agricultural practices. • To address the horizontal aspects of agriculture such as SMART farming, sustainability, traceability and documentation; and • To aid in the capacity building program organized by agriculture extension services and civil society organisations. • Apart from drafting the NAC, the BIS has also taken an initiative for setting up of ‘Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farm’ (SADF) in selected agriculture institutes in the country. These farms will serve as experimental sites for testing and implementing various agricultural practices and new technologies in accordance with Indian Standards, according to the BIS. or the development of these specialised farms, the BIS plans to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with premier agricultural institutes. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Bureau of Indian Standards organises workshop on National Agriculture Code 📍In 100-day plan, Agri Ministry plans new Centre-state body for farm policy As green patch spreads in Antarctica, here’s what is worrying scientists Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies I: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment. What’s the ongoing story- Plant cover across the Antarctic Peninsula, a long, mountainous extension of Antarctica that points north towards South America, has increased more than 10 times over the past few decades due to rising temperatures, a new study says. “It is the beginning of dramatic transformation,” Olly Bartlett, a remote-sensing specialist at the University of Hertfordshire and one of the authors of the study, ‘Sustained greening of the Antarctic Peninsula observed from satellites’, told Nature. Key Points to Ponder- • Map Work-Antarctic Peninsula • What is the importance of the Antarctic Peninsula? • What are the key findings of the study on Antarctic peninsula? • Why are scientists concerned about Antarctica? • How quickly is Antarctica warming? • What are the concerns regarding the proliferation of vegetation in Antarctica? For Your Information- • Researchers used satellite imagery and data to conclude that the extent of vegetation in the Antarctic Peninsula has increased 14 times in just 35 years. Vegetation — mostly mosses and lichen — covered less than 1 sq km of the roughly 5,00,000-sq-km peninsula in 1986, but had spread to almost 12 sq km by 2021, according to the study. The rate of greening has increased by more than 30% between 2016 and 2021. • Although the actual area covered by plant life is tiny, the percentage increase in cover is astonishing, according to the researchers. Study co-author Thomas Roland, an environmental scientist at the University of Exeter, told CNN, “Our findings confirm that the influence of anthropogenic climate change has no limit in its reach… Even on the Antarctic Peninsula — this most extreme, remote and isolated ‘wilderness’ region — the landscape is changing, and these effects are visible from space.” • Rising temperatures in Antarctica have also resulted in a rapid decrease in the extent of sea ice — the 2024 extent was the second smallest of the satellite record, only slightly more than the record low set in 2023, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said on Tuesday. Warmer open seas may be leading to wetter conditions that favour plant growth, according to the study. Do You Know- • Mosses can colonise bare rock and create the foundation of soils that could in milder conditions make the continent more favourable for the growth of other invasive species that could threaten native flora and fauna. Study co-author Bartlett told The Guardian, “Soil in Antarctica is mostly poor or nonexistent, but this increase in plant life will add organic matter, and facilitate soil formation. This raises the risk of non-native and invasive species arriving, possibly carried by eco-tourists, scientists or other visitors to the continent.” • Increase in plant life could also reduce the Antarctic Peninsula’s ability to reflect sunlight (solar energy) back to Space — a darker surface absorbs more solar radiation. This could further increase ground temperatures, with local and global repercussions. Antarctica has already lost 280% more ice mass in the 2000s and 2010s than it lost in the 1980s and 1990s, according to a 2019 study published in the journal PNAS. Rising temperatures will exacerbate the loss of ice, and raise global sea levels. • As unprecedented levels of greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere mainly through the burning of fossil fuels, Antarctica will continue to get warmer, and the vegetation is only likely to increase, according to the researchers. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍‘Greening’ of the Antarctic: How extreme heat events threaten the icy continent’s fragile ecosystem Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 📍The formation of ozone hole in the Antarctic region has been a cause, of concern. What could be the reason for the formation of this hole? (2011) (a) Presence of prominent tropospheric turbulence; and inflow of chlorofluorocarbons (b) Presence of prominent polar front and stratospheric clouds; and inflow of chlorofluorocarbons (c) Absence of polar front and stratospheric clouds; and inflow of methane and chlorofluorocarbons. (d) Increased temperature at polar region due to global warming THE WORLD Han Kang, South Korean experimental novelist, wins Nobel for literature Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Main Examination: General Studies I: What’s the ongoing story- The Nobel Prize in Literature 2024 was awarded to South Korean author Han Kang “for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Literature laureate Kang’s physical empathy for extreme life stories is reinforced by her increasingly charged metaphorical style. Key Points to Ponder- • Who is Han Kang? • What distinguishes her writing style? • Nobel Prize in Literature-Know in brief For Your Information- • According to the press statement, in her oeuvre, Han Kang confronts historical traumas and invisible sets of rules and, in each of her works, exposes the fragility of human life. “She has a unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead, and in her poetic and experimental style has become an innovator in contemporary prose,” the Nobel site mentions. • She is the first South Korean writer to win the award, according to the Nobel Press Conference. • In 1993, when she was 23, Kang debuted as a poet in the magazine Literature and Society. Her prose debut came two years later with a short fiction collection, Love of Yeosu, before an international breakthrough with The Vegetarian (2007), a novel about a graphic designer who, one day, decides to stop eating might after a nightmare about human cruelty, evoking harsh reactions from her family, leading to a tailspin in fortune and health. The book won the International Booker Prize 2016 and was one of her first novels to be translated from Korean to English. • Anders Olsson, chairman, Nobel Committee stated that Han Kang began her career in 1993 with the publication of a number of poems in the magazine Literature and Society. “Her prose debut came in 1995 with the short story collection Love of Yeosu, followed soon afterwards by several other prose works, both novels and short stories,” he said in a statement. • Kang’s writing was described by Olsson as “crossing the boundaries between art forms… with a broad span of genre”, particularly music and art. “Her poetic style comes out in The White Book (2016),” he added, referring to the story of a woman who writes an elegy to a sister she never knew, one who died shortly after birth. “This renders it less a novel and more a kind of ‘secular prayer book’, as it has been described,” said Olsson. • On her approach to feminine gazes and vulnerability, Olsson referred to Greek Lessons (2023), a novel about a love affair between a young woman losing her speech and an old man, once her teacher, losing his sight. “The book is a beautiful meditation around loss, intimacy and the ultimate conditions of language,” he said. • We Do Not Part (2021) is a celebrated historical fiction novel by Kang about two friends who are mourning a devastating massacre that befell their families decades ago. “With imagery that is as precise as it is condensed, Kang not only conveys the power of the past over the present, but also, equally powerfully, traces the friends’ unyielding attempts to bring to light what has fallen into collective oblivion and transform their trauma into a joint art project, which lends the book its title,” said Olsson. • Last year, Jon Fosse won the prestigious honour. The Nobel Literature Committee hailed the Norwegian author of plays, novels, and children’s books for giving “voice to the unsayable”. • Previously, the prize has been awarded to French author Annie Ernaux (2022), Tanzanian novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah (2021), American poet and essayist Louise Glück ( 2020) and Austrian writer Peter Handke ( 2019). The list of famous winners from yesteryears includes: WB Yeats (1923), GB Shaw (1925) Herman Hesse ( 1946), TS Eliot(1948), Pablo Neruda ( 1971) and Gabriel García Márquez (1982). • Each year, since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been announced for achievements in the sciences, literature and peace. The Prize was established in the will of Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite. The Nobel Prize amount for 2024 is set at Swedish kronor (SEK) 11.0 million (over 8 crore 88 lakh) per full Nobel Prize, from a bequest “left by the award’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel” according to AP. “The laureates will receive their awards at ceremonies on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍The Third Edit: Han Kang, recipient of 2024 Literature Nobel, a writer who gets under the skin For any queries and feedback, contact priya.shukla@indianexpress.com Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
