UPSC Key-20 June, 2023: What you should read in the news today

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story– THE APPOINTMENTS Committee of Cabinet has approved the appointment of senior IPS officer Ravi Sinha as the chief of India’s external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) for a period of two years. Currently in charge of the agency’s operations wing, Sinha will take charge from Samant Kumar Goel, who completes his four-year stint at the helm on June 30.

• What is the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)?

• Personality in News-IPS officer Ravi Sinha

• What exactly is an intelligence agency?

• Role of R&AW -What are they?

• What are the operations of R&AW?

• To whom does the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) submit its reports?

• Since its establishment, Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) has faced criticism for its lack of accountability to the citizens of India-Analyse

• What is the contribution of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍RN Kao, RAW’s first chief, laid the foundations of Indian espionage

IndiGo makes aviation history, orders 500 Airbus A320 planes

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance

Mains Examination: General Studies III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story– IndiGo on Monday announced a mega aircraft order for 500 Airbus A320neo family planes, the largest-ever order placed by an airline in one go anywhere in the world. With this order, India’s largest airline has dwarfed Air India’s February order for 470 Airbus and Boeing planes. The purchase agreement for the aircraft was signed on Monday at the Paris Air Show.

• What is no-frills carrier?

• Why the current IndiGo deal is historic?

• How big is the Indian aviation market?

• What are the sectors of the aviation industry?

• Can the Indian aviation industry be considered financially sustainable?

• Do You Know-IndiGo’s mega order reflects the carrier’s optimism about the growth potential of India’s aviation market, which has already become the third-largest globally and is growing at a breakneck speed. In May, India’s domestic passenger traffic was a record 1.32 crore flyers, surpassing even the pre-pandemic peaks.

• What are the challenges faced by the Indian airline sector?

• What measures has the Government of India implemented to support the aviation industry?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍IndiGo’s mega aircraft order: What it means for the carrier and India’s aviation sector

Previous Year Mains Questions Covering the Similar Theme:

📍Examine the development of Airports in India through joint ventures under Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities in this regard? (UPSC Mains, GS III, 2017)

GOVT & POLITICS

Toxic syrups: WHO probe flags 20 products in India, Indonesia

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

• General Studies II: Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- The World Health Organization’s probe into contaminated cough syrups, which have been linked to nearly 300 worldwide deaths so far, has flagged 20 such toxic medicines originating from two countries — India and Indonesia. In response to an email by The Indian Express, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said these 20 products were manufactured by “15 different manufacturers” in the two countries.

• What exactly World Health Organization said?

• Do You Remember-An alert for the first instance of contamination in India-manufactured syrups was raised by the World Health Organization (WHO) in October last year. The deaths of 70 children with acute kidney injury were linked to the consumption of four syrups manufactured by Indian pharmaceutical company Maiden. The second alert from WHO came in December, with the deaths of 18 children in Uzbekistan being linked to two syrups manufactured by Marion Biotech. In the third instance, the WHO raised an alert in April this year, with contaminated products being reported from the Western Pacific countries of Micronesia and Marshall Islands. The manufacturer, however, maintained that they did not sell their product to these countries. In all three instances, contaminants diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol were detected in the samples tested by other countries.

• What are diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol?

• Is diethylene glycol the same as ethylene glycol?

• What do diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol do?

• What exactly WHO said?

• Is this incident happened for the first time?

• How is cough syrup manufactured?

• Why is cough syrup restricted?

• What is the role of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO)?

• What and who is Drugs Controller General of India?

• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and Drugs Controller General of India-Connect the dots

• Why are the syrups not sold in India?

• How this incident impacted India’s Pharma sector?

• Do You Know-Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, CDSCO is responsible for approval of Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country and coordination of the activities of State Drug Control Organizations by providing expert advice with a view of bring about the uniformity in the enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

• World Health Organization (WHO)-Know in detail

• World Health Organization (WHO)-What are the Objectives?

• What are the global impacts and contributions of the World Health Organisation (WHO)?

• WHO and India-Know in detail

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍WHO says toxic syrup risk ‘ongoing’, more countries hit

📍India-made cough syrups and deaths in Gambia: what we know so far

EXPRESS NETWORK

Amid ongoing heatwave, death toll mounts in UP

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-Amid the heatwave in Uttar Pradesh, at least 14 new deaths and 178 admissions were reported from the Ballia district hospital within 24 hours on Sunday. The toll climbed to 68 over four days, between June 15 and June 18, and officials from Lucknow are investigating the spike in deaths. District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar said Sunday that the authorities had not yet got “solid evidence” linking the deaths to the high temperatures. Dr Diwakar Singh was Saturday removed as chief medical superintendent of the district hospital by the state government for “giving a careless statement on deaths caused by heatwave without having proper information”.

• What is a heat wave?

• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) criteria for Heat Waves?

• What is the present situation of Heat Waves in India?

• What is the reason behind heat wave in North India?

• La Nina phenomenon, North-South low-pressure pattern over India in winters and Heat Waves-Connect the dots

• What is the Impact of these Heat Waves?

• Health Impacts of Heat Waves?

• What is heatstroke?

• Why do heat waves cause deaths?

• For Your Information-High temperatures alone aren’t fatal in nature. It’s when high temperatures are combined with high humidity, known as the wet bulb temperature, heatwaves become lethal. For instance, in April this year, 13 people died from an apparent heatstroke while attending a government award function in an open space in Navi Mumbai. Although the city wasn’t experiencing heatwave conditions — the maximum temperatures were in the range between 30 and 35 degree Celsius — experts said high humidity levels at the venue could have been one of the reasons behind the unusual death toll. The deaths in Ballia might have happened due to a similar reason. As per IMD, the relative humidity in the city on June 18 was 31 per cent (at 5:30 pm) and the maximum temperature reached 43.5 degrees Celsius. This means that the Heat Index (HI), or “real feel” temperature, touched 51 degree Celsius according to the calculations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) HI calculator. Such conditions could severely impact human bodies, sometimes leading to death. Notably, relative humidity levels of Ballia before June 18 weren’t available.

• How can high temperatures and high humidity impact humans?

• ‘High temperature in itself is not fatal. The combination of high temperature and high humidity, referred to as the wet bulb temperature, is what makes heatwaves deadly’-comment

• What is dry and wet bulb temperature?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍68 dead in Ballia amid heatwave: How high temperatures combined with high humidity can be fatal

EXPRESS NETWORK

Raths fit for the Lords: The hands that shape Puri’s chariots

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: History of India

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-Surya Prakash Mohapatra wields a wooden hammer and chisel on a log with the confidence of a master carver. Dressed in a red T-shirt and black shorts, the 11-year-old sweats as he carves along the chalk outlines of flowers and animals on the log under the watchful eye of two experienced rupakar servitors (woodcarvers). The class 7 student has been learning woodcarving since he was just 5.

• Why is Rath Yatra celebrated?

• The Rath Yatra festival is held at which city?

• Who are the 3 chariots of Rath Yatra?

• What does mythology say about the Rath Yatra?

• What does history say about the Rath Yatra?

• History and Mythology-Compare

• Tradition and Culture-Compare

• Do You Know-The yatra, which takes place on the second day of the Odia month of Ashadh Shukla Tithi, sees sibling deities-Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath — embark on a 3-km journey to their ‘aunt’s’ residence at the Gundicha Temple in three gigantic chariots pulled by devotees with the help of 250-feet long ropes made using coconut fibres. The Bahuda Yatra, which marks their return home, will be celebrated with the same fervour on June 28. The Taladhwaja Rath for Lord Balabhadra, the Darpadalan Rath for Goddess Subhadra and the Nandighosa Rath for Lord Jagannath each have their own colours, height, diameter, wooden horses, guardian deities and even charioteers. Grand engineering marvels, these raths are over 40 feet tall and have at least 12 wheels each. They are made from wood of local trees like fasi, dhaura, simili and asana. The wood is obtained from the Nayagarh forest each year.

• Jagannath Temple one of the important Hindu temple- Know its Significance (Hint: Char Dham)

• Jagannath Temple and Vaishnava Traditions-Connect the dots

• Jagannath Temple-Know some facts like it was built by the Ganga dynasty king Anantavarman Chodaganga in the 12th century CE

• Jagannath Temple also as ‘Yamanika Tirtha’-Why?

• Jagannath Temple-know the architectural features and Style of the temple (Is it Dravidian, Nagara, Vesara style or Different from these three Architectural Style?)

• Know more about Architectural features of Odisha temples classification like Rekhapida, Pidhadeul And Khakra

• Know more about-Paintings theme associated with lord Jagannath like Patachitra or Pattachitra

• What is the Puri heritage corridor?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: All you need to know about the Festival of Chariots

After West Bengal, Punjab to table Bill to remove Governor as Chancellor of universities today

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: 

• General Studies II: Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States and Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

• General Studies II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story- AMID a conflict between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the former has decided to replace the Governor as the Chancellor of state-run universities with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Talking to The Indian Express, Mann said, “We will be bringing a Bill in Vidhan Sabha session on Tuesday. It is a replica of West Bengal government Bill. Once the Act is enacted, the CM will be the Chancellor of state-run universities.” The cabinet Monday gave its nod to Bill to be tabled in Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday.

• What is the role of the Governor as the Chancellor of State public universities?

• What are the powers of the Governor as Chancellor?

• What is the role of Chancellor of a university in state?

• Governor vs CM-what is going in Punjab?

• In General, the Governor is Chancellor of which all universities in the state?

• What are the governor’s responsibilities as Chancellor of a University?

• Does the Governor have discretion in his capacity as Chancellor?

• What role does the Governor play in the parliamentary system?

• What Articles 153-161 of the Constitution says?

• The Governor is appointed by whom?

• ‘The post of the Governor was envisaged as being apolitical; however, the role of Governors has been a contentious issue in Centre-state relations for decades’-Discuss

• Article 164(1) says state “Ministers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor”- What is the pleasure of the Governor?

• So, can the Governor of a state sack minister?

• In a landmark decision of the Supreme Court in Nabam Rebia (2016), the Chief Justice-led bench held that “[t]he exercise of executive power by the governor, is by and large notional”-Discuss

• What attempts have been made to address concerns over the alleged partisan role played by Governors?

• The Sarkaria Commission, set up in 1983 to look into Centre-state relations, proposed certain points for the selection of Governors-Know them in detail

• What Punchhi Committee, constituted in 2007 on Centre-state relations said on selection the Governor?

• The Punchhi Committee recommended deleting the “Doctrine of Pleasure” from the Constitution-What is “Doctrine of Pleasure”?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍States vs Centre on selection of Vice-Chancellors: rules, friction

📍Explained: Role of Governor in Public Universities

EXPLAINED

India-US: Trade & Strategy

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.

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-As Narendra Modi heads to the United States for an official state visit on the invitation of President Joe Biden, the bipartisan consensus in Washington on fostering the bilateral relationship is exemplified by the invitation extended to the Prime Minister by the leaders of the two chambers of the US Congress to address a joint meeting of Congress for a second time — an honour that has been accorded earlier only to a few leaders including Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Israel’s Prime Ministers Binyamin Netanyahu and Yitzhak Rabin.

• What is meant by state visit?

• Do You Know-This is Modi’s first state visit to the US since he assumed office in 2014. His previous visits to the US to meet then Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump at the White House were not classified as state visits. The last official state visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the US was undertaken by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009.

• What is the difference between state visit and official visit?

• Is every visit by a foreign leader a state visit?

• For Your Information- State visits are considered to be the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations and are replete with official public ceremonies. In the US, these ceremonies include a flight line ceremony (where the visiting head of state is greeted at the tarmac after landing), a 21-gun salute White House arrival ceremony, a White House dinner, exchange of diplomatic gifts, an invitation to stay at the Blair House (US President’s guesthouse across the Pennsylvania Avenue), and flag street-lining.

• “The visit will underscore the growing importance of the strategic partnership between India and the United States as the two nations collaborate across numerous sectors”-Discuss

• Why this visit will be significant?

• At the heart of the Indo-US strategic partnership is deepening economic engagement and a resolve on both sides to elevate the bilateral relationship to a “global strategic partnership”-Comment

• Indo-US defence ties-Know in detail

• Is India a Defence partner of US?

• United States (US) and India relations in defence sector-Know in detail

• The US-India defence relationship, despite its remarkable rise in the past two decades, is intermittently impeded by functions of political, bureaucratic, economic and strategic realities-Discuss

• What is India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X)?

• India-USA Relations-Know the background

• What are India’s major imports from USA?

• How much India import from USA?

• The current India-US defence relationship is important for both commercial and strategic reasons-Comment

• What is I2U2?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍The diaspora moment

📍PM Modi leaves for US today; focus on meetings with Biden, closer ties in defence

Karnataka’s free bus rides for women: what the numbers on costs show

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.

Mains Examination: General Studies I: Social empowerment

Key Points to Ponder:

• What’s the ongoing story-In the 20-year period between 2000-01 and 2020-21, the Karnataka government did not pay its four road transport corporations an amount of Rs 4,265 crore, owed to them over concessions for various categories of commuters. In this scenario, the new Congress government’s announcement of the Shakti scheme, which offers free bus rides within the state to women and trans people, has been met with trepidation in some quarters. Here is a look at the financial health of the four state-run transport corporations — Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), and Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC).

• What did the recent CAG report say?

• How much will the Shakti scheme cost the RTCs?

• How much does the government reimburse the RTCs?

• What has the government said?

• What is the Shakti scheme in Karnataka?

• What is meant by female mobility?

• How does gender affect mobility?

• What is the gender difference in mobility?

• “Across history, new possibilities and modes of mobility for women have brought about revolutionary changes in their lives as well as in the societies in which they lived”-Discuss

• How provision of free state-owned public transport will expand the vistas of female mobility and the opportunities and choices?

• What Impact Shakti Scheme will make on economically marginalised sections of society?

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Karnataka: Women, transgender persons can travel for free in government buses from June 11

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