22-APRIL-2021

The Hindu News Analysis – 22nd April 2021 – Shankar IAS Academy
Page Number*
S.
News Articles
No. C B D H T

1 India should be a country of particular concern 8 10 8 8 10

Strengthening the process of choosing the police chief
2 6 8 6 6 8
(Editorial)
3 India at 142nd place in on press freedom index 8 10 8 8 10

4 A fresh push for green hydrogen (OPED) 7 9 7 7 9

5 Spotting the elusive big cat (Metro Plus) 2 2 - 2 -

6 Indian ads further gender stereotypes 9 11 9 9 11

7 Data and new global order (OPED) 7 9 7 7 9

8 What the comet left behind (Metro Plus) 1 1 - 1 -

9 Prelims Practice Questions

@ end of the video
10 Mains Practice Questions
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram
Pg: 8 – C, D, H; Pg: 10 – B, T;
U.S. Commission on International • Issues Annual Report which

Religious Freedom (USCIRF)  Assesses the U.S. government's implementation of

• An independent, bipartisan U.S. IRFA

federal government commission.  Recommends countries that the Secretary of State

• 1998 International Religious Freedom should designate as "Countries of Particular Concern”

Act (IRFA). (CPC) for engaging in or tolerating systematic, on-

going, egregious violations of religious freedom
• Monitors religious freedom violations
globally.  documents country conditions in around 30 countries,

• Makes policy recommendations to the  Reports on significant trends and recommends U.S.

President, the Secretary of State, policies.

and Congress. • Trump administration had rejected the USCIRF

• Non binding recommendation to designate India a CPC last year.

News:

• Recommendations of USCISRF: • Concerns of the 2021 report regarding India:

 The U.S. administration should impose  Citizenship (Amendment) Act,

targeted sanctions on Indian individuals
 National Register of Citizens (NRC),
and entities for “severe violations of
 Hindu Nationalism,
religious freedom”.
 Attack on religious minorities etc.
 The U.S. administration should promote
inter-faith dialogue and the rights of all • One of the 10 USCIRF commissioners was
communities at bilateral and multilateral against designating India as a CPC.
forums such as the Quad grouping.
 He said India is “diversity personified” and
 The U.S. Congress should raise issues in its religious life has been its greatest
the U.S.-India bilateral space - hosting historic blessing.
hearings, writing letters and constituting
Congressional delegations.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements with reference
to the term Country of Particular Concern (CPC),
recently seen in news:
1. It is a designation of a nation which is engaged
in severe violations of religious freedom.
2. It is maintained by the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC).
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Pg: 6 – C, D, H;
Pg: 8 – B, T;
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
 Current events of national and international importance.
 Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political
System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues,
etc.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity,
Social Justice and International Relations.
• Government policies and interventions for development
in various sectors and issues arising out of their design
and implementation.
Appointment and Removal of police chiefs
• Police -state government.
• State government -appointing and removing the
police chiefs.
Issues
State Security Commission (SSCs)
• Multiparty State Police Board.
• Made up of government officials, Leader of
the Opposition and independent members from
civil society.

• No independent vetting process. • Issues

• Lacks transparency and remains opaques.  SSCs -do not adhere to the balanced
composition of Supreme Court.
Reforms
 Do not meet on regular intervals.
• Bipartisan, independent oversight body.
 Many state governments still retain the
 National Police Commission (NPC) of 1979.
sole discretion of appointing police chiefs.
 Prakash Singh case, 2006.
 Assam, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Meghalaya
 Model Police Bill, 2015 and Mizoram
Establishment of objective criteria.
• Broad terms - “on administrative grounds” or
• Protect the operational autonomy “in the public interest”.

• Model Police Act require UPSC/SSC to shortlist U.K Model

candidates -length of service, service record, • The Police Reform and Social Responsibility
range of experience , performance appraisal Act in 2011.
of the candidates over the past 10 years.
• Introduced public confirmation hearings
 No clear guidance -explanation of these
terms. • Hearing organized by police and crime panel.

• Crime panel - local councils and independent

• Removal of police chiefs -no scrutiny process.
members.
 NPC -State governments to seek approval of
SSC before removing police chief. • Candidate’s ability to recognize and
understand the separation of political and
 T.P. Senkumar vs Union of India- “prima operational responsibilities.
facie satisfaction of the government” alone
• Power to veto -proposed appointment.
is not a sufficient.
• Removals - police chief an opportunity to
 Compelling reasons and verifiable
material. respond to the allegations.
 Prakash Singh case - 7 points

1. Setting up of State Security Commissions (SSC) – lays broad policy guidelines, evaluated
performance of state police & ensures state government does not exercise unwarranted pressure

2. Fixing the tenure (minimum of two years) and merit based transparent selection of the DGP

3. A minimum tenure for the Inspector General of Police

4. Separation of investigation and law and order functions

5. Setting up of Police Establishment Boards– to decide transfers, postings, promotions and other
service-related matters of police officers of and below the rank of DySP and make recommendation
with these matter of police officers above rank of DySP.

6. Creating a Police Complaints Authority- to inquire into public complaints against police officers of
and above the rank of DySP

7. Forming a National Security Commission– at the union level to prepare a panel for selection and
placement of Chiefs of the Central Police Organisations (CPO) with a minimum tenure of two years.
 Practice Question – Mains
GS – II
Q. Comment on the urgency to have
necessary police reforms in India.
(150 words, 10 marks)
Pg: 8 – C, D, H;
Pg: 10 – B, T;
World Press Freedom Index (WFPI): Methodology used for ranking:

• An annual ranking of about 180 • Involves qualitative feedback and quantitative scores.
countries based on the freedom
• Qualitative data: generated based on the feedback
available to the press.
given for the questionnaire - collected from media
• Compiled and published by ‘Reporters professionals, lawyers and sociologists of the countries
without Borders’ (RSF). evaluated.

Reporters without Borders (RSF): • Quantitative scores: generated based on the data on
abuses and acts of violence against journalists -
• Original name: ‘Reporters Sans Frontiers’.
abuse scores.
• A Paris based international non-profit,
• Highest rank: 1.
non-governmental organization.
• Lowest rank: 180.
• Conducts political advocacy on issues
relating to freedom of information and • Best score: 0

the freedom of the press. • Worst score: 100.

 Practice Question – Prelims
India’s case:
Q. Consider the following statements with reference
• India’s rank: to the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI):
 133 (2016), 136 (2017), 138 (2018), 140 1. This index is compiled and published by
International Press Institute, a global network
(2019), 142 (2020).
of editors, media executives and leading
• 2021 index: ranked India at 142nd journalists.
2. India’s rank in WPFI has steadily declined from
• RSF report: India - one of the world’s most the year 2016 to 2020.
dangerous countries for journalists.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
• They are exposed to every kind of attack - (a) 1 only
police violence, ambushes by political activists, (b) 2 only
reprisals by criminals / corrupt local officials. (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Pg: 7 – C, D, H;
Pg: 9 – B, T;
Hydrogen

• Simplest element on earth - one proton and one

• High efficiency and zero-or near
electron.
zero-emissions operation- potential
• Can store and deliver usable energy- doesn't to reduce GHG emission.
typically exist by itself in nature.
• Challenge: Hydrogen production from
• Most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels- natural renewable resources- providing
gas; electricity is also used. hydrogen at lower cost.

• Green hydrogen: produced using green source of • International Energy Agency: global
electricity low-carbon hydrogen production
increased from just 0.04 million
• Hydrogen is an energy carrier, not an energy source
tonnes in 2010 to 0.36 million tonnes
• Used in fuel cells to generate electricity, or power in 2019.
and heat- a clean fuel when consumed in a fuel cell.
 Expected to reach 1.45 million
• Applications in transportation, commercial, tonnes in 2023.
industrial, residential etc.
 Recommendations to scaleup commercial-scale
operations of hydrogen:
• India consumes around 5.5 million tonnes of
hydrogen. • Promote decentralised hydrogen production
through open access of renewable power to an
• 2021-22 budget announced the National
electrolyser.
Hydrogen Energy Mission.
• Ensure access to round-the-clock renewable
 Lays down India’s vision for hydrogen power for decentralised hydrogen production.
energy, strategies and approaches for
realizing the vision. • Take steps to blend green hydrogen in
existing processes
• Pilot project for blending hydrogen with
compressed natural gas for use as • Facilitate investments in research and
transportation fuel is running at Rajghat development in India
Bus depot in Delhi. • Focus on domestic manufacturing- securing
supplies of raw materials and developing
electrolyser and fuel-cell technologies.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. With reference to fuel cells, consider the following
statements:
1. Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not
run down or need recharging.
2. If hydrogen is the fuel, electricity, water, and
heat are the only products.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Metro Plus
Pg: 2 – C, B, H;
Snow Leopard

• High altitudes -steep mountains of Central and

Southern Asia.

• Extremely cold climate.

• India- Higher Himalayan and trans-Himalayan

landscape

 Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,

Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal
Pradesh.

Conservation Status

• ‘Vulnerable’ - IUCN
Snow Leopard
• Schedule I -Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act Source: https://wildlifezones.com/

1972.

• Appendix I – CITES and CMS.

Conservation efforts

• Project Snow Leopard (PSL).

International Snow Leopard Day
 Inclusive and participatory approach
• 23rd October.
 Involves local communities.
• Bishkek Declaration.
• SECURE Himalaya
 12 countries
 Conservation of high-altitude biodiversity
 India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Mongolia,
 Reducing the dependency of local Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan,
communities on the natural ecosystem. Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

 Fund - GEF and UNDP. • The Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem
Protection Programme(GSLEP)
 Opertional - Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim.  Address high-mountain development issues.

• Himal Sanrakshak

 Community volunteer programme

 Previous Year Question
Practice Question – Prelims
UPSC CSE Prelims 2012
Q. Consider the following statements:
Q. Consider the following:
1. The Snow leopards are categorized as
‘Endangered’ by IUCN. 1. Black-necked crane

2. Himal Sanrakshak is a community volunteer 2. Cheetah

programme launched by India to protect 3. Flying squirrel
snow leopards.
4. Snow leopard
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
(a) 1 only
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only (Correct answer)
(c) Both 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Pg: 9 – C, D, H;
Pg: 11 – B, T;
Gender bias and inclusion in advertising in
India:

• A study which was released by UNICEF and

the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
(GDI).

• An analysis of gender representation in 1,000

• women are more likely to be depicted as
most viewed advertisements in India on TV
caretakers and parents than men; women are
and YouTube during the year 2019.
less likely to be shown in paid occupation.
Findings:
• Women more depicted as selling cleaning
• Female characters are just as likely to supplies and food and beauty products to
appear in ads as male characters. women consumers.

• Girls and women have parity of representation • Male characters are more likely to be shown
in terms of screen and speaking time. making decisions about their future than
female characters; but women are twice as
• Women are more likely to be shown as married
likely to be shown making household decisions
than male characters.
than male characters.
• Age wise representation:

 There are more boys than girls in ads.

 Female characters are more likely to be depicted in their 20s

than male characters - most older characters are male.

• Character gender by social class:

 Male and female characters are about equally likely to be depicted

in all classes.

• Character gender by skin tone:

 Most characters in Indian advertising have lighter skin tones.

 Two-thirds of female characters - light or medium-light skin tones.

 Male characters are five times more likely to have a dark skin
tone than female characters.

 A majority of characters with dark skin are presented as lower-

class.
• Sexualisation and stereotypes:

 Female characters are nine times more

likely to be shown as ‘stunning/very
attractive’ than male characters. Conclusion:
 Female characters are four times more • Presence of women in ads in India reinforces
likely to be depicted as partially nude than traditional gender roles.
male characters.
• Women are also marginalised by colorism,
• Intelligence: hyper-sexualisation, and without careers or
 Male characters are more likely to be aspirations outside of the home.
shown as smart than female characters.

 Male characters are almost twice as likely

to be shown as funny than female
characters.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Which of the following published the
report called ‘Gender bias and inclusion in
advertising in India’?
(a) UN women
(b) Global Fund for Women
(c) International Alliance of Women (IAW)
(d) UNICEF
Pg: 7 – C, D, H;
Pg: 9 – B, T;
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
 Current events of national and international importance.
 Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights
Issues, etc.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation.
PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and
Disaster Management.
• Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
• Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, bio-technology and issues
relating to intellectual property rights.
 Strategic implications of mobile digital payment

• Shift of global power from the Atlantic • cybersecurity has become equivalent to national
or the west to the Indo-Pacific security.

Importance of data • Pervasive nature of data beyond borders- irrespective

• Industrial Revolution restructured the of the geographical location of the user, the data

global manufacturing order to Asia’s gets used in a different place.

disadvantage. • Universal rules have been now changing into issue -

• Digital Data Revolution: data based understanding.

determines innovation, the nature of • Asia’s huge demography- huge volume of data
productivity growth, and military power generated.
etc.
• Data streams: Information is at the centre of global
trade and countries’ economic and national power.
• India has massive data and a robust IT infrastructure.
China’s Fourteenth Five Year Plan
 capacity to negotiate new rules as an equal with
• A $1.4-trillion strategy for the
the U.S. and China.
development of science and
Rise of China
technology in this field.
• National security strategy of the U.S.: emphasize on
• China’s digital technology-led
diplomacy than military power to resolve conflicts with
China. capitalism is moving fast.

• Allies of US including itself have a complicated relation • Advantage: China has a $ 53-trillion
with China. mobile payments market and

Technological weakness of China: controlling over 50% of the global

market value.
• China is generations behind in semiconductors technology-
dependent on other countries. • India’s Unified Payments Interface

• Powerlessness against U.S. sanctions on banks, 5G and (UPI) volume is expected to cross
cloud computing companies working in the west. $ 1 trillion by 2025.
• U.S: only around 30% of consumers using
digital means and with the total volume of
mobile payments less than $ 100 billion.

• China formed a joint venture with SWIFT

for cross-border payments. India’s advantage:

• India fits into the U.S. frame and China wants

• Suggested foundational principles for
India as a partner.
interoperability between central bank digital
currencies at the Bank for International • India should be quick to take a stand in par
Settlements. with US and China- taking advantage of data.

• India’s goal is to become a $5-trillion

economy by 2025’

• challenge in promoting engagement with

major powers.
 Practice Question – Mains
GS-III
Q. ‘Though the 18th century Industrial revolution
favoured the European countries, the ongoing
Digital Data Revolution is in favour of the Asian
giants.’ Discuss.
[150 words, 10 marks]
 Previous Year Question
UPSC CSE Prelims 2012
Q. Consider the following:
1. Black-necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard
Which of the above are naturally found
in India?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
 Previous Year Question
UPSC CSE Prelims 2011
Q. Which is the difference between asteroids and
comets?
1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets
are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky
and metallic material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of
Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly
between Venus and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while
asteroids do not.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Metro Plus
Pg: 1 – C, B, H;
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements with reference
to the term Country of Particular Concern (CPC),
recently seen in news:
1. It is a designation of a nation which is engaged
in severe violations of religious freedom.
2. It is maintained by the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC).
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements with reference
to the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI).
1. This index is compiled and published by
International Press Institute, a global
network of editors, media executives and
leading journalists.
2. India’s rank in WPFI has steadily declined
from the year 2016 to 2020.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. With reference to fuel cells, consider the following
statements:
1. Fuel cells work like batteries, but they do not
run down or need recharging.
2. If hydrogen is the fuel, electricity, water, and
heat are the only products.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Which of the following published the report
called ‘Gender bias and inclusion in
advertising in India’?
(a) UN women
(b) Global Fund for Women
(c) International Alliance of Women (IAW)
(d) UNICEF
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Snow leopards are categorized as
‘Endangered’ by IUCN.
2. Himal Sanrakshak is a community volunteer
programme launched by India to protect
snow leopards.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Practice Question – Mains
Practice Question – Mains GS-III
GS – II Q. ‘Though the 18th century Industrial revolution
Q. Comment on the urgency to have necessary police favoured the European countries, the ongoing
reforms in India. Digital Data Revolution is in favour of the Asian
giants.’ Discuss.
(150 words, 10 marks)
[150 words, 10 marks]