01-09-2021

01-SEPTEMBER-2021

The Hindu News Analysis – 01st September 2021 – Shankar IAS Academy
S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T
1 The next step in democratic evolution is overdue (Editorial) 10 6 6 6 6

2 China opens first road-rail transport link to Indian Ocean 15 11 11 11 11

3 Managing natural resources (OPED) 11 7 7 7 7

4 ‘Govt. to make flexible engine mandatory’ 16 12 12 12 12

5 Activists raise red flag over draft plan - - 3 - -

6 UNSC resolution addresses ‘key concerns’ on Afghanistan: India 1, 12 1, 8 1, 8 1, 8 1, 8

7 Overseas settlement of G-sec deals on anvil: Das 16 12 12 12 12

8 Comments and Clarification Second last session

9 Prelims Practice Questions

@ end of the video
10 Mains Practice Questions
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

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Pg: 10 – C
Pg: 6 – B, D, T, H;

Part A—Preliminary Examination Democracy

Paper I - (200 marks)
• Greek word dēmokratia - dēmos ( “people”)
 Current events of national and international + kratos (“rule”)
importance.
• Democracy is a form of government in which
 Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political
System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, the rulers are elected by the people - narrow
etc. definition of democracy.

Part B—Main Examination • Citizenry is powerful.

PAPER-III
Features of Democracy
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity,
Social Justice and International relations. • Effective people participation.
• Indian Constitution—historical underpinnings,
• Free, fair, and frequent elections (An
evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions
autocratic government may also hold elections
and basic structure.
• Comparison of the Indian constitutional scheme with - doesn’t make it a democracy)

that of other countries • Equality in voting

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• Informed electorate

• Independent sources of information 2. People who don’t have access to these

digital platforms are at the risk of being
• Inclusion
excluded from the ideological discourse -
• Fundamental rights reflection of an already existing social-
economic divide.
• Freedom of expression
• Democracy in this scenario gets diluted in
Democracy in the Age of Internent
the absence of free and open debate.
• Idea echos between a limited group of people or
• Need to learn from history.
likeminded individuals - trapped in one echo
chamber where we validate our idea as infallible. • Assemblies of Emperors Ashoka and Akbar
conducted centuries ago in India -
Implications
untrammelled deliberations that were open.
1. Will tend to exclude the groups and people and
develop some sort of enmity towards the opposing
ideology.

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II
Q. Democracy in the digital age has new
challenges with the citizenry trapped in
echo chambers. Discuss.
(150 Words, 10 Marks)

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China’s Rail-Road link to Indian

Ocean

• Transport corridor involves a sea-road-

rail link.

 Multi-modal in nature.

• Singapore to Yangon Port, Myanmar -

On ship through Andaman Sea.

Transported by road to Lincang

Railway line from Lincang to Chengdu,

Pg: 15 – C
completes the corridor.
Pg: 11 – B, D, T, H;

Source : The Hindu

Source: indiafoodprocessingmap.nic.in

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Gwadar port

Images source: https://www.c3sindia.org/

https://icsin.org/

Significance

• China now has access to Indian ocean through

Myanmar (India’s friendly neighbour) - strategic
and a diplomatic setback for India.
Practice Question – Mains
• Could supplement Gwadar port.
GS – II
• Reduces the strategic importance
of Malacca strait.
Q. Discuss the implications of China’s new
rail-road link that runs through Myanmar.
• Will be a part of China’s
(150 Words, 10 Marks)
ambitious BRI.

• For China it may save a travel

time of about 20 days.

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Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks)
 Current events of national and international
importance.
 Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social,
Economic Geography of India and the World.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-II
General Studies‐I: Indian Heritage and Culture,
History and Geography of the World and Society
 Distribution of key natural resources across the
world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-
continent); factors responsible for the location of
primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in
Pg: 11 – C various parts of the world (including India)
Pg: 7 – B, D, T, H;

• News - A center of excellence proposed - in

Meghalaya.

 Act as one-stop centre - natural resources

management.

Meghalaya

• A North Eastern State - bounded by Assam

(North and East) and Bangladesh (South & West).

• State capital - Shillong (Hill-town)

• Upland area - detached block of the

Deccan plateau.

• The Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills - Part of

peninsular plateau.

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• Most important river - Umiam River. Issues

 Major source of Hydroelectric • Forest cover & natural resources - rapidly

power for Assam and Meghalaya deteriorating.
states.
• ‘Wettest places’ on earth - facing severe water
• Predominantly a tribal state. crisis.

 Origin of inhabitants - Tibeto-Burman • Management of natural resources - critical

(Garos) or Mon-Khmer (Khasis).
Reasons
• Mawsynram village - receives world’s
highest rainfall - about 750 cm. • Indigenous knowledge - begun to fade away.

• Total forest cover - 37.5%  Sacred grooves - extraction of any kind of forest
produce is forbidden.
• Rich natural resources - limestone and
coal.  Traditional agricultural system - Jhum cultivation.

• Growing population • Threat of indiscriminate exploitation of

natural resources - rural and urban population
• Quest for unsustainable developmental
heavily dependent on forests resources (water,
activities.
food etc.)
 Jhum cultivation fading away - leading to
• Lack of knowledge accessibility among the
fragmentation of forests.
rural communities.
 Shortening jhum cycle - depleted soil
• Lack of technological empowerment.
fertility and and affecting recovery of
forests.

 Coal and limestone mining

 Urbanisation - constructing
roads etc.

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Measures

• Provide correct knowledge - enable local

community to conceive a solution and implement
it.

• Ensure - Reactivating the community’s

connection to natural resources.

• Make use of MGNREGA.

 Leverages technology and youth population.

• Empower people with Technology.

 Example: Participant Digital Attestation

(PDA) - digital Application

• Centre of excellence - act as a one-stop

centre for natural resources management.

 Mandates

 To build leadership capabilities. Practice Question – Mains

 To enable close cooperation among GS – III
departments. Q. What are reasons behind the depleting
 Democratise access to knowledge.
natural resources of Meghalaya? Suggest
lasting remedial measures.
 Continue with research and development
(250 Words, 15 Marks)
on every aspect of natural resource
management

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News

• India - Auto manufacturers to offer vehicles that run 100%

on biofuels

• Mutually beneficial - Consumers and environment.

Bio - Fuels

• Fuel (liquid or gaseous) - Primarily produced from biomass

(plant, algae material or animal waste

• Fossil fuels - Petroleum, coal and natural gas

• Replace or are used in addition to fossil fuels

• Renewable energy - Cost-effective and an advisable

Pg: 16 – C
environmental alternative

Pg: 12 – B, D, T, H;

Manufacturing

• Crops - High in sugar, starch or oil

First Generation Biofuels - Sugar, starch, vegetable oil or animal fats using conventional technology.

 Bio alcohols, Biodiesel, Vegetable oil , Biogas

Image source: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/

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Second generation Biofuels - Produced from non-food crops

• Cellulosic biofuels and waste biomass ( stalks of wheat and corn, and wood)

 biohydrogen, bio methanol.

Image source: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/

Third-generation biofuels - Produced from micro-organisms like algae.

Image source: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/

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Previous Year Question – Prelims 2020

Q. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels, Practice Question – Prelims
which of the following can be used as raw materials
for the production of biofuels? Q. Which of the following statements is
1. Cassava correct about Bio fuels?
2. Damaged wheat grains a) It causes less harmful carbon emission
3. Groundnut seeds
compared to standard diesel.
4. Horse gram b) They have a longer life, requires less
maintenance and brings down overall
5. Rotten potatoes
pollution.
6. Sugar beet
c) Being made from renewable resources,
Select the correct answer using the code given
below?
it is less-flammable than conventional
a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
fuel.
b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only d) All of the above.
c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

News

• Draft Regional Plan-2041 for the National

Capital Region and its associated
criticisms.

Pg: 3 – Delhi Edition

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Natural Conservation Zone

Regional Plan
• Natural area - Recharging the ground water
• Urban planning strategy - social, economic, and
and maintaining the water table.
environmental development
• Earmarked for conservation, rather than real
• NCR Regional Plan-2021 - To develop the entire
estate.
NCR by promoting economic growth and
balanced development of the Region.  Construction (0.5 percent) - Regional
recreational activities
• Regional Plan-2041 - Amended several
environmental safeguards that is present in the  Strictly precludes - Commercial, residential,
Regional Plan 2021. tourism, and other real estate purposes.

 Possible long-term disastrous implication for • NCR Regional Plan-2021 - Extension of the
the Natural Conservation Zone in the region. Aravali ridge in Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi,
forest areas, rivers and tributaries of major
rivers, sanctuaries, lakes and water bodies.

Draft Regional Plan - 2041 Area for development

Categorization of Natural Conservation • Draft - allows 0.5% to total area under the NCZ for
Zones. related compatible development.

• Provides - Components under NCZ to  Regional Plan-2021 - Regional recreational activities

remain and be continued to be conserved. with no construction exceeding 0.5% of the area

• Problem - categorizes as “forest” and Other provisions

“green cover” areas
• Dropped by the draft - Forest cover and conservation
 Conservation of “green cover” optional. of monuments, man-made heritage sites and riverbeds

 Aravalis is not categorised as forest  Regional Plan-2021 - total forest cover be 10% of
- lose their mandatory conservation the total area of the region.
status
 To keep waterbodies free from any
encroachment/development.

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Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The green belts are man-made
landscaped plantations that primarily
have an aesthetic function.
2. Green belts are also known as Natural
Conservation Zone.
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

Pgs: 1, 12 – C
Pgs: 1, 8 – B, D, T, H;

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UN resolutions • Resolution against Afghanistan - abstained by

• United Nations resolutions - formal expressions of two “P5” countries - Russia and China.

the opinion or will of United Nations organs. • 13 members voted in favour of the resolution.

• UNSC - 15 members (P5 countries + 10 members The Resolution

elected by the General Assembly).
• Insisted the Taliban - keep their
• P5 have power to veto.
commitments on preventing terror groups in
 Enables P5 to prevent the adoption of any Afghanistan. S
draft Council resolution, regardless of the level
 Afghan territory should not be used to
of international support.
threaten or attack any country.
• P5 can abstain from voting.
 Must not be used as a shelter to train the
• UN Charter - draft resolution adopted if 9 or terrorists.
more of the 15 council members vote for the
 Must not be used to plan or finance
resolution and not vetoed by any of P5 members.
terrorist attacks.

• Mentions terror outfits individually - includes

Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammad. 1988 Sanctions committee
• Urged Taliban to assist - safe evacuations of • Also called as the Taliban sanctions
all Afghan nationals (who wish to leave the committee.
country).
• Formed through resolution number 1988 in 2011
• News - India is expected to chair the 1988
Sanctions committee. • Purpose - address concern worldwide -
raising levels of violence in Afghanistan
 Participate in decision to extend the
caused by the Taliban.
mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA) is taken.

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Objectives of 1988 Sanction Committee

UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(UNAMA)

• UN Special Political Mission established to

assist - people of Afghanistan - laying the
foundations for sustainable peace and
development.

• UNAMA was established on 28 March 2002 by

United Nations Security Council Resolution.

• Reviewed annually.

• Mandate altered over time - reflect the needs

of the country.

• Can be extended for another year.

.
Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. All the members of UNSC has Veto
power.
2. Abstention from voting by P5 countries
on the draft resolution will not prevent
it from being adopted.
Which of the statements given above
is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

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• RBI - Enable international settlement of

transactions in government securities.

 International Central Securities

Depositories.

• Expected - Help expand the investor base

for the Government-securities market.

Government Security (G-Sec)

• Tradable instrument - Issued by the Central

Government or the State Governments.

 Acknowledge the Government’s debt

obligation.

• Securities - either be short term or long

Pg: 16 – C
term.
Pg: 12 – B, D, T, H;

International central securities depository

Depositories
• Settles trades in international securities such as
• Institutions - Hold investors securities like that
Eurobonds.
of shares, debentures, and mutual funds.
• Not limited - Settle trades in various domestic
 Electronic form in a Demat account.
securities either directly or through local
agents.

Central Securities Depository (CSD) Significance

• Financial organization that specializes in holding • Securities are held in depository accounts -
securities. Similar to holding funds in bank accounts.

• May exist for a specific type of security, such • Transfer of ownership of securities is done
as government bonds. through simple account transfers.

• Both national or international.  Paves way for the ownership to be easily

transferred electronically without the need for
physical certificates.

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Practice Question – Prelims

• Brokers and financial companies can hold their

Q. With reference to the depositories in India,
Consider the following statements:
securities at a single location for clearing and
settlement.
1. It is an organization that holds securities of
investors in electronic form through a
• It does away with all the risks and hassles registered depository participant.
normally associated with paperwork. 2. Foreign banks operating in India cannot be
registered as a depository participant.
• Carry out centralized comparison and
transaction processing - clearing and settlement 3. National Securities Depository Limited and
Central Depository Services are the
of securities.
depositories in India.
• Cost of transacting in a depository environment Which of the statements given above is/are
is considerably lower as compared to correct?
transacting in certificates. a) 3 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

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Permanent Account Number

• Objective - enables the department to
• 10-digit unique alphanumeric number - an identify/link all transactions of the PAN
identifier issued by Income Tax Department. holder with it.

• Issued as per the rules and criteria mentioned  Transactions - tax payments, TDS/TCS
in the Income-tax Act, 1961. credits, returns of income, specified
transactions, correspondence etc.

• Need:

 Facilitates easy retrieval of information of

PAN holder - various investments,
borrowings and other business activities.

 For detecting and combating tax evasion

and widening of tax base.

Primary Account Number

• Number generated as a unique identifier designated

for a primary account.

 Digits on payment cards - credit and debit cards

- 14-, 15-, 16-, or 19-digit number.

• Linked to cardholder’s name, balance, credit limit.

• Identifies issuer and particular cardholder account.

• Supports account record keeping and resolution.

• Issue

Image source: https://ikajo.com/

 Merchants’ habit of storing unencrypted PAN on
their networks - risk of hacking.

 Once hacked - identification of card issuer and

tracing back the account.

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Previous Year Question – Prelims 2020

Q1. According to India’s National Policy on Biofuels,
which of the following can be used as raw materials
for the production of biofuels?
1. Cassava
2. Damaged wheat grains
3. Groundnut seeds
4. Horse gram
5. Rotten potatoes
6. Sugar beet
Select the correct answer using the code given
below?
a) 1, 2, 5 and 6 only
b) 1, 3, 4 and 6 only
c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

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Practice Question – Prelims

Q2. Consider the following statements:
1. The green belts are man-made
landscaped plantations that primarily
have an aesthetic function.
2. Green belts are also known as Natural
Conservation Zone.
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

Q3.With reference to the depositories in India,
Consider the following statements:
BANK DEPOSITORY
1. It is an organization that holds securities of
investors in electronic form through a Holds securities in an
Holds funds in an account
account
registered depository participant.
Transfers funds between Transfers securities
2. Foreign banks operating in India cannot be accounts on the between accounts on the
registered as a depository participant. instruction of the instruction of the BO
account holder account holder
3. National Securities Depository Limited and
Central Depository Services are the Facilitates transfer Facilitates transfer of
depositories in India. without having to handle ownership without having
money to handle securities
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? Facilitates safekeeping Facilitates safekeeping
of money of securities
a) 3 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

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.
Practice Question – Prelims
Q4. Consider the following statements:
1. All the members of UNSC has Veto
power.
2. Abstention from voting by P5 countries
on the draft resolution will not prevent
it from being adopted.
Which of the statements given above
is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Practice Question – Prelims

Q5.Which of the following statements is
correct about Bio fuels?
a) It causes less harmful carbon emission
compared to standard diesel.
b) They have a longer life, requires less
maintenance and brings down overall
pollution.
c) Being made from renewable resources,
it is less-flammable than conventional
fuel.
d) All of the above.

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Practice Question – Prelims

Answers (01-09-2021)

Q1. Option (a) – 1, 2, 5 and 6 only

Q2. Option (a) – 1 only
Q3. Option (b) – 1 and 3 only
Q4. Option (a) – 1 only
Q5. Option (d) – All of the Above

.
Practice Question – Mains
GS – II
Q. Democracy in the digital age has new
Practice Question – Mains challenges with the citizenry trapped in
echo chambers. Discuss.
GS – III
(150 Words, 10 Marks)
Q. What are reasons behind the depleting
natural resources of Meghalaya? Suggest
lasting remedial measures. Practice Question – Mains
(250 Words, 15 Marks) GS – II
Q. Discuss the implications of China’s new
rail-road link that runs through Myanmar.
(150 Words, 10 Marks)

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