The Hindu Newspaper Analysis for UPSC
The Hindu Newspaper Analysis 18 January 2023
- Come April and it will be 50 years since the Supreme Court of India delivered its verdict in┬аKesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala. The judgment is widely recognised as a milestone in IndiaтАЩs history. In holding that ParliamentтАЩs power to amend the Constitution was not plenary, that any change that damages the documentтАЩs basic structure would be declared void, the Court, it was understood, had helped preserve the essence of our republic.
- Over the course of the last few months, not a day has gone by without one member or the other of the political executive excoriating the Court over its apparent excesses.
- To be sure, genuine criticism of both the CollegiumтАЩs functioning and the CourtтАЩs judgment upholding the bodyтАЩs legality ought to be welcomed.
- On any reasonable reading of constitutional history, one can see that the Constitution is a product of a collective vision.
- That vision was built on distinct, if interwoven, ideals: among others, that India would be governed by the rule of law, that our structure of governance would rest on Westminster parliamentarianism, that the powers of the legislature, the executive and the judiciary would be separate, that the courts would be independent of government, and that our States would have absolute power over defined spheres of governance.
- Since its judgment in┬аKesavananda, the Supreme Court has identified several features that are immutable. There is no doubt that on occasion, the CourtтАЩs interpretation of these features has suffered from incoherence. But to suggest that the basic structure doctrine is by itself unsanctioned is to place the Constitution at the legislatureтАЩs whim.
- There is little doubt that the GovernmentтАЩs anger is towards the 2015 judgment of a Constitution Bench striking down the formation of a National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC). While few would disagree that the Collegium system needs reform, the GovernmentтАЩs motive in carrying on a campaign against the judiciary in the name of seeking reform in the appointments process is questionable.
- The answers to some of the issues raised by the Government are quite simple, and has been repeatedly pointed out by the Court, as well as the political opposition. It can address the need for a more transparent and independent process by making a fresh legislative effort to establish a neutral mechanism that does not impinge on the independence of the judiciary.
- The deaths of five men in Tamil Nadu in as many events of jallikattu and manjuviratu тАФ in Madurai, Tiruchi, Sivaganga, Pudukottai and Karur districts тАФ and injuries to dozens of persons this week, though unfortunate, are no surprise.
- Ever since the event resumed in January 2017 after a three-year ban and a massive agitation, participants and spectators alike have been its victims.
- According to the Animal Welfare Board of India, between 2008-14, there have been 43 deaths and thousands of injuries.
- The Supreme Court of India has reserved its judgment on a batch of petitions questioning the validity of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act of 2017.
What is Jallikattu?
- The bull-taming sport is popular in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Theni, Pudukkottai and Dindigul districts known as the Jallikattu belt.
- Jallikattu is celebrated in the second week of January, during the Tamil harvest festival, Pongal.
- A tradition over 2,000 years old, Jallikattu is a competitive sport as well as an event to honour bull owners who rear them for mating.
- It is a violent sport in which contestants try to tame a bull for a prize; if they fail, the bull owner wins the prize.
- One of the most disquieting puzzles the Indian strategic community has been confronted with since 2020 are the sources of New DelhiтАЩs underbalancing behaviour towards China.
- To begin with, there is a growing consciousness within the government and the larger strategic community in India that China is a threat to IndiaтАЩs national security.
- New DelhiтАЩs China strategy is akin to closing oneтАЩs eyes and pretending it is dark around.
- To begin with, it is neither possible nor desirable for India to actively man the entire LAC with China.
- Secondly, responding to China could potentially spread the fight, thereby creating more flashpoints on the LAC, something New Delhi wants to avoid. Thirdly, IndiaтАЩs underbalancing behaviour is also a result of the uncertain outcomes of a military escalation with a superior power.
- There seems to be a strong strand of thinking in New Delhi that we should wait to build our capability to take on the China threat. But such a strategy of тАШthreat postponementтАЩ is based on misplaced optimism as China will continue to grow stronger than India.
- One, potential strategy is calibrated escalation. New Delhi could employ a tit-for-tat strategy and consider occupying unmanned areas on the Chinese side.
- Two, New Delhi could further raise the economic costsfor China by reducing high tech Chinese imports in select areas.
- Three, it is perhaps an opportune moment for New Delhi to consider nuclear modernisation and perhaps even develop low yield weapons.
- As schools reopened after nearly two years of closure due to COVID-19, student enrolments increased to more than pre-pandemic levels, but the learning gap widened for foundational skills in reading and arithmetic, reversing several years of improvement, finds the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022, released by Pratham, a non-governmental organisation, on Wednesday.
- The national-level study shows that despite school closures during the pandemic, the overall enrolment figures, which have been above 95% for the past 15 years for the six-to-14 age group, increased from 97.2% in 2018 to 98.4% in 2022.
- The ASER is a household survey conducted across 616 rural districts covering 6.9 lakh children in the three-to-16 age group to record their schooling status and assess their basic reading and arithmetic skills.
- The report is being brought out after four years and records the impact of school closures in 2020 and 2021, as well as the return to school of children in 2022.
- The proportion of children in the three-to-16 age group who are not currently enrolled dropped to its lowest level ever from 2.8% to 1.6% in 2018, when the last full-scale ASER survey was conducted.
- Government schools have seen a sharp increase in children enrolled from 65.6% in 2018 to 72.9% in 2022, reversing another trend of a steady decrease in student enrolments seen since 2006, when it was at 73.4%.
- basic literacy levels of children have taken a big hit, with their reading ability, as compared with numeracy skills, worsening much more sharply and dropping to pre-2012 levels
- While families withdrew students from private schools to save money on fees, they invested in private tuitions, which increased as the proportion of such students rose from 26.4% in 2018 to 30.5% in 2022 in private and government schools. This may be the reason learning gaps are sharper in reading because students typically choose to study maths and science in tuition classes.
Q) Exercise VARUNA is a joint Navy exercise between which countries?
- India and France
- India and Thailand
- India and Seychelles
- India and Indonesia
рдЕрднреНрдпрд╛рд╕ рд╡рд░реБрдг рдХрд┐рди рджреЗрд╢реЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдмреАрдЪ рдПрдХ рд╕рдВрдпреБрдХреНрдд рдиреМрд╕реЗрдирд╛ рдЕрднреНрдпрд╛рд╕ рд╣реИ?
- рднрд╛рд░рдд рдФрд░ рдлреНрд░рд╛рдВрд╕
- рднрд╛рд░рдд рдФрд░ рдерд╛рдИрд▓реИрдВрдб
- рднрд╛рд░рдд рдФрд░ рд╕реЗрд╢реЗрд▓реНрд╕
- рднрд╛рд░рдд рдФрд░ рдЗрдВрдбреЛрдиреЗрд╢рд┐рдпрд╛
Explanation :
Recently the 21st┬аEdition of the Bilateral Naval Exercise Varuna-2023 commenced on the Western Seaboard.
- It is the Bilateral┬аNaval Exercise┬аbetween India and France.
- This bilateral exercise between the two navies was┬аinitiated in 1993.
- It was named тАШVARUNAтАЩ in 2001 and has become a hallmark of India France strategic bilateral relationship.
- This edition will witness the participation of indigenous guided missile stealth destroyer INS┬аChennai, guided missile frigate┬аINS┬аTeg,┬аmaritime patrol aircraft P-8I and Dornier, integral helicopters and MiG29K fighter aircraft.
- The French Navy will be represented by the aircraft carrier┬аCharles De Gaulle, frigates FS┬аForbin┬аand┬аProvence, support vessel FS┬аMarne┬аand maritime patrol aircraft┬аAtlantique.
- The exercise will be conducted over five days from 16 to 20 January 2023┬аand will witness advanced air defence exercises, tactical manoeuvres, surface firings, underway replenishment and other maritime operations.
Q) With reference to the Snow leopard, consider the following statements:
- It is only found in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
- It is categorized as a vulnerable species under the IUCN Red List.
Which of the above statements is/are Incorrect?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
рд╣рд┐рдо рддреЗрдВрджреБрдП рдХреЗ рд╕рдВрджрд░реНрдн рдореЗрдВ рдирд┐рдореНрдирд▓рд┐рдЦрд┐рдд рдХрдердиреЛрдВ рдкрд░ рд╡рд┐рдЪрд╛рд░ рдХреАрдЬрд┐рдпреЗ:
- рдпрд╣ рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ рд╣рд┐рдорд╛рдЪрд▓ рдкреНрд░рджреЗрд╢ рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╛рдпрд╛ рдЬрд╛рддрд╛ рд╣реИред
- рдЗрд╕реЗ IUCN рд░реЗрдб рд▓рд┐рд╕реНрдЯ рдХреЗ рддрд╣рдд рдПрдХ рдХрдордЬреЛрд░ рдкреНрд░рдЬрд╛рддрд┐ рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рд╡рд░реНрдЧреАрдХреГрдд рдХрд┐рдпрд╛ рдЧрдпрд╛ рд╣реИред
рдЙрдкрд░реЛрдХреНрдд рдореЗрдВ рд╕реЗ рдХреМрди рд╕рд╛/рд╕реЗ рдХрдерди рдЧрд▓рдд рд╣реИ/рд╣реИрдВ?
- рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ 1
- рдХреЗрд╡рд▓ 2
- 1 рдФрд░ 2 рджреЛрдиреЛрдВ
- рди рддреЛ 1 рдФрд░ рди рд╣реА 2
Explanation :
Recently 4 snow leopards were spotted in a rare sighting in Himachal Pradesh.
- It is found in the mountainous regions┬аof┬аcentral and southern Asia.
- In India, it is seen in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
- The┬аHemis National Park┬аhas a good presence of Snow Leopard.
- They play a key role as a top predator, an indicator of the health of their high-altitude habitat, and, increasingly, an important indicator of the impacts of climate change on mountain environments.
What is the Conservation status?
- IUCN Red List:┬аVulnerable
- Under CITES: It is listed in Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I
Q) What is the main purpose of the GovernorтАЩs Address to the State Legislature?
- To outline the legislative agenda for the upcoming session
- To discuss the state’s budget and financial plans
- To review the state’s progress and achievements in the previous year
- All of the above
рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рд╡рд┐рдзрд╛рдирдордВрдбрд▓ рдореЗрдВ рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдпрдкрд╛рд▓ рдХреЗ рдЕрднрд┐рднрд╛рд╖рдг рдХрд╛ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рдЙрджреНрджреЗрд╢реНрдп рдХреНрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ?
- рдЖрдЧрд╛рдореА рд╕рддреНрд░ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП рд╡рд┐рдзрд╛рдпреА рдПрдЬреЗрдВрдбрд╛ рдХреА рд░реВрдкрд░реЗрдЦрд╛ рддреИрдпрд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдирд╛
- рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдХреЗ рдмрдЬрдЯ рдФрд░ рд╡рд┐рддреНрддреАрдп рдпреЛрдЬрдирд╛рдУрдВ рдкрд░ рдЪрд░реНрдЪрд╛ рдХрд░рдирд╛
- рдкрд┐рдЫрд▓реЗ рд╡рд░реНрд╖ рдореЗрдВ рд░рд╛рдЬреНрдп рдХреА рдкреНрд░рдЧрддрд┐ рдФрд░ рдЙрдкрд▓рдмреНрдзрд┐рдпреЛрдВ рдХреА рд╕рдореАрдХреНрд╖рд╛ рдХрд░рдирд╛
- рдЙрдкрд░реЛрдХреНрдд рд╕рднреА
Explanation:
- The GovernorтАЩs Address to the State Legislature is a formal speech given by the Governor of a state in India at the beginning of the legislative session.
- The speech outlines the legislative agenda for the upcoming session, discusses the stateтАЩs budget and financial plans, and reviews the stateтАЩs progress and achievements in the previous year.
Q) What is the main goal of IndiaтАЩs National Clean Air Programme?
- To reduce air pollution in urban areas
- To increase the use of renewable energy sources
- To improve water quality in India
- To promote sustainable transportation
рднрд╛рд░рдд рдХреЗ рд░рд╛рд╖реНрдЯреНрд░реАрдп рд╕реНрд╡рдЪреНрдЫ рд╡рд╛рдпреБ рдХрд╛рд░реНрдпрдХреНрд░рдо рдХрд╛ рдореБрдЦреНрдп рд▓рдХреНрд╖реНрдп рдХреНрдпрд╛ рд╣реИ?
- рд╢рд╣рд░реА рдХреНрд╖реЗрддреНрд░реЛрдВ рдореЗрдВ рд╡рд╛рдпреБ рдкреНрд░рджреВрд╖рдг рдХреЛ рдХрдо рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП
- рдирд╡реАрдХрд░рдгреАрдп рдКрд░реНрдЬрд╛ рд╕реНрд░реЛрддреЛрдВ рдХреЗ рдЙрдкрдпреЛрдЧ рдХреЛ рдмрдврд╝рд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП
- рднрд╛рд░рдд рдореЗрдВ рдкрд╛рдиреА рдХреА рдЧреБрдгрд╡рддреНрддрд╛ рдореЗрдВ рд╕реБрдзрд╛рд░ рдХрд░рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП
- рдЯрд┐рдХрд╛рдК рдкрд░рд┐рд╡рд╣рди рдХреЛ рдмрдврд╝рд╛рд╡рд╛ рджреЗрдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП
Explanation: The mandate of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP); тАУ
- The goal of NCAP (annual average ambient air quality standards at all locations in the country): 20%тАУ30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by taking 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration.
- Under NCAP, 132 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country based on the Air Quality data from 2014-2018.
- Preparation of the city-specific action plans including measures to strengthen the monitoring network, reduce vehicular/industrial emissions, and increase public awareness.
- Implementation of the city-specific action plans to be regularly monitored by Committees at the Central and State level namely Steering Committee, Monitoring Committee and Implementation Committee.
Q) Magh Bihu is a harvest festival of
- Sikkim
- Assam
- Ladakh
- Bihar
рдорд╛рдШ рдмрд┐рд╣реВ рдлрд╕рд▓ рдХрдЯрд╛рдИ рдХрд╛ рддреНрдпреЛрд╣рд╛рд░ рд╣реИ
- рд╕рд┐рдХреНрдХрд┐рдо
- рдЕрд╕рдо
- рд▓рджреНрджрд╛рдЦ
- рдмрд┐рд╣рд╛рд░
Explanation: About Magh Bihu:
- It is a harvest festival of Assam where people express gratitude for a good harvest and marks the end of the harvest season.
- It believes in sharing the gifts of nature as a community and strengthening a sense of identity and belonging.
- The festival of Bihu has three forms: Bohag Bihu, Kati Bihu, and Magh Bihu. Each of these falls in the agriculture calendar.
Mains Practice Question:
Q) For India to be heard as the тАШVoice of the Global South at the G20тАЩ, it must reflect on the aspirations of the other nations and amplify them. Explain (150 words)
рднрд╛рд░рдд рдХреЛ ‘рдЬреА20 рдореЗрдВ рд╡реИрд╢реНрд╡рд┐рдХ рджрдХреНрд╖рд┐рдг рдХреА рдЖрд╡рд╛рдЬ’ рдХреЗ рд░реВрдк рдореЗрдВ рд╕реБрдиреЗ рдЬрд╛рдиреЗ рдХреЗ рд▓рд┐рдП, рдЗрд╕реЗ рдЕрдиреНрдп рджреЗрд╢реЛрдВ рдХреА рдЖрдХрд╛рдВрдХреНрд╖рд╛рдУрдВ рдХреЛ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдмрд┐рдВрдмрд┐рдд рдХрд░рдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдП рдФрд░ рдЙрдиреНрд╣реЗрдВ рдмрдврд╝рд╛рдирд╛ рдЪрд╛рд╣рд┐рдПред рд╕рдордЭрд╛рдирд╛ (150 рд╢рдмреНрдж)