The Hindu News Analysis – 13th December 2022 – Shankar IAS Academy

S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

1
India imported coal worth ₹2.3 lakh crore in April- 16 12 14 12 12
September

2 Cycles of crises (Editorial – 12/12/2022) 8 6 6 6 6

3
Protests against the ouster of Castillo turn violent in 15 11 13 11 11
Peru; new President proposes moving up elections

4 White Blanket (Image) 15 11 13 11 11

5
Big Tech and the need in India for ex-ante regulation 10 6 6 6 6
(Editorial)
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram
The Hindu News Analysis – 13th December 2022 – Shankar IAS Academy
S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

6 NPAs under credit line scheme stand at 3.9%: Karad 16 12 14 12 12

7
RS passes ‘futuristic’ Energy Conservation Bill to further 12 8 10 8 8
regulate carbon emissions

8
‘More than 11,000 children killed or wounded in Yemen 15 11 13 11 11
since 2015’
9 Prelims Practice Questions
@ end of the video
10 Mains Practice Questions
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram
Pg: 16 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 14 – Delhi Edition;
Pg: 12 – B, H, T
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Carbonization
Paper I - (200 marks)
• Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Dead plants fall in low lands
Economic Geography of India and the World.

Part B—Main Examination Plants are buried due to sedimentation

PAPER-II
Decomposition stops
General Studies‐ I: : Indian Heritage and
Culture, History and Geography of the World
More sedimentation
and Society.
• Distribution of key natural resources across the
More Pressure and temperature
world (including South Asia and the Indian sub-
continent); factors responsible for the location of
primary, secondary, and tertiary sector industries in Hydrogen and Oxygen forced out

various parts of the world (including India).

Carbon content increase
Inference

• High temperature and

pressure forces out
oxygen and hydrogen.

• More time – more

amount of oxygen and
hydrogen forced out.

• Older the coal –

more carbon content.
 Bituminous Coal
Types of Coal
• 40 to 80% carbon content.
Anthracite Coal
• It belongs to Gondwana period.
• 80 to 95% carbon content.
• Non Coking grade
• It belongs to carboniferous period.
• West Bengal – Raniganj
• Found in Jammu Kashmir
• Jharkhand - Jharia, Bokaro, Girdih,
Karanpura.

• Odisha – Talcher, Rampur.

• Madhya Pradesh – Singrauli.

• Andhra Pradesh – Singareni, Kothagudam.

• Maharashtra - Kamptee .
Lignite Coal

• It belongs to tertiary period.

• Low Carbon content.

• High Moisture content.

 Peat
Lignite Coal
• Lowest Grade.
• Meghalaya - Darangiri, Cherrapunji,
• High Moisture.
Mewlong, Langrin.
• High Ash Content.
• Assam - Makum, Jaipur, Nazira.
• Nilgiris and Jhelum Valley.
• Arunachal Pradesh - Namchik – Namphuk.

• Jammu Kashmir – Kalakot.

• Tamil Nadu – Neyveli.

• Gujarat.

• Pondicherry.
Why India imports coal
• Infrastructure bottleneck.
• Non availability of coking grade coal.
 Cost of moving coal from our coal fields
 Bituminous coal – Non coking grade. to the power plant is high.
• Demand supply mismatch.  Cheaper to import.
 Post pandemic increase in electricity • Policy bottleneck.
consumption.
 No proper land acquisition policy that
 Domestic production could not match satisfy all stakeholders.
demand for coal.
 UPSC 2021 Mains Paper
GS – I
Q. Despite India being one of the countries
of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry
contributes much less to its Gross
Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage.
Discuss.
(150 words, 10 marks)
Pg: 8 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 6 – B, D, H, T
Pg: 15 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 13 – Delhi Edition;
Pg: 11 – B, H, T
Separation of Power

• The three governmental powers should be

exercised by three distinct bodies

 Judiciary- Adjudication

 Legislature- Law making

 Executive- Enforcement of laws

• Article 50

• Article 53
Fusion of Power

• Different branches of government are

Division of Power
intermingled.
• Federal system

• Power is divided equally between the two

governments- states and the centre

• Quasi-federal system- India

• Separate constitution

• Power majorly concentrated with the centre

Pg: 15 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 13 – Delhi Edition;
Pg: 11 – B, H, T
British climate

• Cool temperate western margin climate.

• Permanent influence of Westerlies all-round

the year.

• Cyclonic activity - temperate cyclones.

• Most of the Britain - British climate.

• Regions - N & W France, Belgium,

Netherlands, Denmark, W Norway and NW
Iberian Peninsula.

• Southern hemisphere - southern Chile,

Tasmania and most parts of New Zealand.
Climatic conditions Natural vegetation

• Temperature • Deciduous forest - protection from winter

snow & frost.
 Mean annual temperature –between 5°C &
15°C. • Shedding - begins in autumn season (fall

 Summers - not very warm. season).

 Winters - mild. • Tree species - oak, elm, ash, birch, beech,

poplar, & hornbeam
• Precipitation

 Adequate rainfall throughout the year.

 Winter - rainfall is slight

 Autumn - rainfall is maximum.

 Western margins - heaviest rainfall.

 Decreases eastwards - distance from sea.

 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. With reference to the British climate,
consider the following statements:
1. In this type of climate, the rainfall is
experienced only in the winter season.
2. The natural vegetation of this climate is
mostly deciduous forests.
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
Pg: 10 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 6 – B, D, H, T
 Part A — Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)

 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.

• Parliament and State legislatures - structure, functioning, conduct of business, powers & privileges
and issues arising out of these.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of
their design and implementation.
Significance of Competition

• Common Man - access to broadest range

of goods and services at the most
competitive prices.

• Competition increases - producers of goods

become more innovative.

• Innovativeness - reduced costs and wider

choice to the consumers.

• Fair competition in market - essential to

the country’s growth.
Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices
• Globalisation - India implemented new
Act, 1969
economic plans.
• First law enacted in India.
• Plans - reduced government interference.
• Goal
• Opened opportunities for industry &
 Functioning of market structure international investment.

 Did not result in concentration of • Central government - amended the MRTP

economic growth in a few hands. act, 1969.

 Prohibited monopolistic and discriminatory • Amendment - did not meet all the
acts - harmful to the public at large. requirements.

• 1991 - economic liberalisation.

• Parliament – repealed MRTP act.
• Trade barriers eliminated - competition within • Replaced by the Competition Act, 2002.
& outside the country.
Competition Act, 2002

• January 13, 2003 - passed by the Parliament.

Competition commission of India
• Force - March 31st, 2003.
• Statutory body - Competition Act, 2002.
• Drive for globalisation & economic liberalisation.
• Purpose
• Amended twice - 2007 and 2009.
 Administration, implementation &
• Goal enforcement of Competition Act.

 Controlling the anti-competitive behaviour of a • Functions

company.
 Gives opinion on competition issues -
 Encouraging & maintaining healthy market reference received from any statutory
competition. authority.

 Safeguarding the interests of consumers.  Strives to create public awareness and

impart training.
 Safeguarding market freedom in our country.
 Views of author
Open Network for Digital Commerce
• Indian govt should consider its local
• Private non-profit Section 8 company.
economy while making any framework.
• Establishment - Department for Promotion
• Local Kirana stores competing with e-
of Industry and Internal Trade.
retailers.
• Open e-commerce market place to connect
 Unfair competition between legacy
both sellers and buyers.
businesses and digital counterparts.
• If successful - it will challenge Amazon
• India needs a new ex-ante based
and Flipkart.
framework that promotes competition.
 Practice Question – Mains
GS – II
Q. The existing competition laws in India are
not effective in addressing the problems
created by the digital markets. To
address this issue, India needs ex-ante
regulations. State your opinion.
(150 words, 10 marks)
Pg: 16 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 14 – Delhi Edition;
Pg: 12 – B, H, T
Non Performing Asset - NPA

• Loans and advances that are in default or

in arrears

• Loans - assets.

• RBI - an asset becomes non-performing

when it stops to generate income for the https://blog.ipleaders.in

bank.

• NPA - any asset of a bank which is not

producing any income.

• NPA - declared by the concerned banks.

https://www.deccanherald.com
 Classification of NPA
NPA
• Substandard Assets
1. Overdue > 90 days in respect of a term
loan.  Asset which remains as NPAs for less
than or equal to 12 months.
2. Overdue > 90 days if bills purchased and
discounted. • Doubtful Assets

3. Overdue for two crop seasons for short  Asset which remained in the substandard
duration crops. asset category for 12 months.

4. Overdue for one crop season for long • Loss Assets

duration crops.
 Asset where loss has been identified by
the bank or the RBI.
Pg: 12 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 10 – Delhi Edition;
Pg: 8 – B, H, T
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
• Current events of national and international importance.

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.
• Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill,  Bureau of Energy Efficiency

2022  Regulations & stds for energy

• Amends - Energy Conservation Act, 2001 consumption

• Act

 Framework for energy consumption

 Promotion of energy efficiency &

energy conservation
Provisions of the bill

1. Centre - to specify a carbon credit trading

scheme

• Tradeable permit

• Specific amount of CO2

• Carbon credit certificates - issued by

Centre or authorised agency
2. 2001 Act – Centre - to specify energy
consumption stds

• Bill, 2022 - designated consumers -

minimum share of energy consumption
from non-fossil sources

 Designated consumers

 Industries - mining, steel, cement,

textile, chemicals, & petrochemicals

 Transport sector - Railways

 Commercial buildings

 Non compliance – penalty - Rs 10 lakh

3. 2001 Act – Centre - Energy Conservation • 2001 act - energy conservation code -
Code for buildings (in terms of area) commercial buildings

• Bill - Energy Conservation and  Criteria

Sustainable Building Code
 Built after the notification of the
 Norms Code

 Energy efficiency and  Minimum connected load - 100 kW

conservation (or) contract load - 120 kVA

 Use of renewable energy • Bill – application to office &

 Other requirements for green residential buildings

buildings • Criteria – same as commercial buildings

4. 2001 act - energy consumption standards
- equipment & appliances

• Bill – expansion to vehicles & vessels

 Non compliance – penalty Rs 10 lakh

 Manufacturers – violation of fuel

consumption norms – penalty - Rs
50,000/unit of vehicles sold
5. 2001 act - Bureau of Energy Efficiency

• Governing Council - 20 and 26 members

Practice Question – Mains
 Secretaries of six depts,
GS – II/III
 Representatives of regulatory
Q. Efforts towards energy conservation and
authorities
efficiency gains are among the key
 Up to 4 members representing instruments envisaged for climate
industries & consumers. change mitigation. Explain the above
statement in lines of the Energy
• Bill – Increase in members (31 and 37) Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
 12 secretaries (150 words, 10 marks)
 Up to 7 members representing
industries & consumers.
Pg: 15 – Chennai Edition;
Pg: 13 – Delhi Edition;
Pg: 11 – B, H, T
News Houthis

• Yemen- Proxy war • The Houthis are a large clan originating

from Yemen’s Saada province.
Backstory- till 2012
• They belong to the Zaydi Shiia faction.
Religious and cultural differences
• They make up around 35 percent of

Note: (North- U.S.- Yemen’s population.

Unification and Saudi-backed
Yemeni Arab
Republic South- the
Soviet-backed
Houthi movement People’s Democratic
Republic of Yemen)

Yemeni Revolution of Dignity

After 2012…

• NDC sponsored by UN

• Hadi enjoyed little popular support in

Yemen Practice Question – Prelims
• Houthis consolidated their power Q. Bab el-Mandeb connects which two water
bodies?
• Proxy war-
a) Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
Yemen b) Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden
government, Houthi rebels
which is backed supported by
c) Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea
by a Saudi-led Iran d) None of the above
military coalition

Humanitarian Crisis
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Which of the following conditions leads to
increase in NPA?
1. Increase in demand in the economy.
2. When the economy is going through
recession.
3. Diligent lending by the banks.
4. Policy Paralysis.
Practice Question – Prelims
Q. With reference to the British climate,
consider the following statements:
1. In this type of climate, the rainfall is
experienced only in the winter season.
2. The natural vegetation of this climate is
mostly deciduous forests.

Select the correct code from the codes given Which of the statements given above is/are
below. correct?
(a) 1 only
a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only (c) Both 1 and 2
c) 2 and 4 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2
d) 1 and 3 only
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Bab el-Mandeb connects which two water
bodies?
a) Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
b) Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden
c) Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea
d) None of the above
 Quiz Question – Prelims (13-12-2022)
Q. The term "Levant" often heard in the news roughly
corresponds to which of the following regions ?
a) Region along the eastern mediterranean shore
b) Region from North African shore stretching from
Egypt to Morocco
c) Region along Persian gulf and horn of Africa
d) The entire coastal area of Mediterranean sea
 UPSC 2021 Mains Paper
GS – I
Q. Despite India being one of the countries
of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry
contributes much less to its Gross
Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage.
Discuss.
(150 words, 10 marks)
Practice Question – Mains
GS – II/III
Q. Efforts towards energy conservation and
efficiency gains are among the key instruments
envisaged for climate change mitigation. Explain
the above statement in lines of the Energy
Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
(150 words, 10 marks)