The Hindu News Analysis – 01st April 2022 – Shankar IAS Academy

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

1 Local bodies up in arms against ESZ norms - - - - 3

2 External debt rose $11.5 bn to $614.9 bn at end Dec. 18 14 16 12 12

3 Dip in Chilika lake’s dolphin population - - 6 - -

4 An opportunity to repolish India-Nepal ties (Editorial) 12 8 8 6 6

5 Dam Safety Act can end disputes, says SC 11 - 6 5 5

6 Cong., BJP spar over MGNREGS 15 11 13 9 9

7 Prelims Practice Questions

@ end of the video
8 Mains Practice Question
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram
Pg: 3 –
Thiruvananthapuram
edition
Eco-sensitive Zones Aim

Purpose • To regulate activities around National Parks

and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• To create “shock absorbers” to the protected
areas. • To minimise impact on fragile ecosystem of
the Protected Areas.
• By regulating and managing activities.
Declaring authority
• Transition zone.
• Notified by Central Government.
Definition
• Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate
• Buffer or transition zone around National
Change.
Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Environment Protection Act of 1986.
• Govt - regulates and manages the activities.
• Delineation of ESZ - site specific.
• Wildlife Conservation Strategy 2002-2005 and
Supreme Court judgements.

 Up to 10 km around the protected area. Statutory background

• Sensitive corridors, connectivity and • 21st meeting of Indian Board for wildlife -
ecologically important patches - areas beyond 2002
10 kilometres.
 Wildlife Conservation strategy - 2002

 Land falling within 10kms of the

boundaries of NP and Sanctuaries - eco-
fragile zones.
• National Board for Wildlife - 2005
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
 Delineation of eco-sensitive zones would be site
specific.  Duty of the NBWL to promote the
conservation and development of
 Relate to regulation rather than prohibition.
wildlife and forests.
• Supreme Court - 2006
• Environment Protection act EPA, 1986.
 Environmental clearances involving activities
 Central government to take all the
within 10km referred to a standing committee of
measures for protecting and improving
NBWL.
the quality of environment.

 To prevent and control environmental

pollution.
Pg: 18 – C;
Pg: 14 – B;
Pg: 16 – D;
Pg: 12 – H, T;
Public Finance

• Public finance - management of a country’s revenue, expenditures & debt - through Government,
quasi-government institutions, policies, and tools.

• Public budgeting - an annual financial statement.

• Revenue receipts - Grant in aid from
foreign countries.
Impacts of excessive foreign debt
 Grant in aid - given to a country -
emergency or a specific project. 1. Hinder country’s capacity to invest -financial
prospects.
 No need for repayment.
2. Small income spent on loan repayments.
• Capital receipts - India borrows money
from foreign country or from an 3. Long term economic development - Challenge.
organization.
4. Exchange Rate - international debt often
denominated in issuer’s country currency.

5. Borrowing country's economy declines - more

difficult to repay such obligations.
Pg: 6 – Delhi Edition
 Previous year Question – Prelims 2014
Q. Other than poaching, what are the possible
reasons for the decline in the population of
Ganges River Dolphins ?
1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers.
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in
rivers.
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally.
4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other
agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the
vicinity of rivers.
Which of the above statements is/are correct ?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Previous year Question – Prelims 2015
Q. Which one of the following is the
national aquatic animal of India ?
a) Saltwater crocodile
b) Olive ridley turtle
c) Gangetic dolphin
d) Gharial
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements with
reference to Dolphin?
1. It is a mammal.
2. They are at the base of the food chain.
3. They are called susu.
4. They use the way of ‘Echolocation’ to
trap their prey.
Which of the above statements is/are
correct ?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2 , 3 and 4
• Project Dolphin - lines of Project Tiger.

• Project approved in December 2019

• At the first meeting of the National Ganga

Council (NGC), headed by the Prime Minister.

• Implemented by the Ministry of Environment,

Forest and Climate Change.
 QUIZ QUESTION
Q. Consider the following statements with
reference to Project Dolphin?
1. It is implemented by Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate
Change.
2. It is to protect River Dolphin only.
Which of the above statements is/are
correct ?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Pg: 12 – C;
Pg: 8 – B, D;
Pg: 6 – 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.
 India and its neighborhood- relations.
 Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements
involving India and/or affecting India’s interest.
Recent issues in India Nepal relations

2015 blockade

• 2015 - new Nepal constitution.

• New constitution denied rights of Madheshi people.

• Madheshi people blocked border points between

India and Nepal.

• Nepal - India locked.

• Nepal depends on India - petroleum needs and

port use (Kolkata port).

• Both denied during blockade.

• Disinformation campaign against India in Nepalese

social media.
Source - https://www.nationsonline.org/
2016 demonetization

• India banned old 500 and 1000 rupee notes.

• 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty
• Bhutan and Nepal use Indian currency.
 To strengthen India Nepal relations.
• Nepal Rastra Bank - INR 7 cr of demonetized
notes.
 Article 1 - mutually acknowledge and
• India denied to take.
respect sovereignty, territorial
Eminent Persons Group report integrity and independence.

• Post 2015 blockade - reevaluate relation.

• 8 members.  Article 2 - inform each other of any

serious fiction or misunderstanding
• Evaluate 1950 India-Nepal Friendship Treaty and
with any neighboring State.
open India Nepal border.
 • Treaty of Sugauli 1816 - River Kali forms the
boundary between India and Nepal.
 Article 6 and 7 - same privileges of
economic activity, employment, residence • Cause of issue - discrepancy in locating river
and property ownership. source.
Source - https://kathmandupost.com/
 Article 5 - Nepal to inform India and seek
its consent for purchase of military
hardware from third countries.

Border Issue - Kalapani

• India’s updated political map Kalapani, close

to Lipulekh pass was shown in Indian
Territory.

• Nepal claimed - disputed territory.

 Priority area to focus
Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) pact
Power trade agreement
• Bilateral foreign aid agency.
• 2070 - India carbon neutral.
• Nepalese Parliament ratified a U.S.$500
million grant from the US. • Solar energy cannot address peak demand.

 To build power and road infrastructure • Hydropower - renewable, non polluting and
projects. can address peak demand.

• China worried about US involvement in Nepal • Buying hydropower from Nepal is cheaper
- social media campaign against MCC pact. than building new power plants in India.

• India does not want both China and the US Transit and trade agreement
presence in Nepal. • Rethinking agreement to include electronic
movement of goods and payments.
Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection
Agreement (BIPPA)

• Agreement signed but Nepal must take

initiative.

• Will attract Indian investment in Nepal.

• Will promote economic integration.

Pg: 11 – C;
Pg: 6 – D;
Pg: 5 – H, T;
Dam Safety Act, 2021 Constitution of National Committee on Dam
Safety
Purpose
• Within a period of sixty days.
• To provide for surveillance, inspection, operation
and maintenance. • Reconstituted for every three years
thereafter.
• For prevention of dam failure related disasters.
• Members
• To provide for institutional mechanism.
 Chairperson
Important provisions
 10 representatives from Centre Govt.
Applicability
 7 representatives from State Govt.
• Dams as public sector undertaking or institution
• Functions
owned or controlled by Centre or State or
jointly by one or more Govt.  Prevent dam failure related disasters.

• Dams other than owned & controlled by Govt.  Maintain standards of dam safety.
Establishment of National Dam Safety Authority
• Functions
• Within a period of sixty days.
 Implement the policy, guidelines and
• Headed by
standards evolved by the National
 An officer not below the rank of Additional Committee.
Secretary.
 Proper surveillance, inspection and
 Equivalent to be appointed by the Centre maintenance of specified dams.
having capacity in dealing with problems
 Resolve any issue between the State Dam
relating to the dam engineering and dam
Safety Organisations of States and any
safety management.
owner of a specified dam in state.
• Headquarters
• Decision - final and binding.
 National Capital territory of Delhi.
Pg: 15 – C;
Pg: 11 – B;
Pg: 13 – D;
Pg: 9 – H, T;
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
• Aims
Guarantee Scheme
 Improving the purchasing power of the
• MGNREGS = MGNRREGA
rural people.
• Enacted on August 25, 2005.
 Bridge the gap between the rich and
• Provides a legal guarantee for one hundred poor.
days of employment.
 One-third of the stipulated work force
• Adult members of rural household for doing must be women.
public and unskilled manual work at the
 Strengthen the livelihood resource base of
statutory minimum wage.
the poor.
• Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) -
 Deepen democracy by strengthening
monitoring authority.
Panchayati Raj Institutions.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Which of the following statements with
reference to Eco-sensitive zones (ESZ)
is/are incorrect?
a) Agriculture and horticulture practices
are promoted in ESZ.
b) Establishment of major hydroelectric
projects is promoted in ESZ.
c) Felling of trees comes under
regulated activities in ESZ.
d) Conversion of hills for commercial
purpose is prohibited in ESZ.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following statements with
reference to Dam Safety Act, 2021
1. It provides for the establishment of State
Dam Safety Organisation.
2. If a state has more than thirty dams then
the State Dam Safety Organisation will be
headed by headed by an officer not below
the rank of Superintendent Engineer or
equivalent.
Which of the above statements is/are
incorrect?
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 MGNREGS.
1. Ministry of Labour and Employment is
monitoring the implementation of the
scheme.
2. The scheme provides legal guarantee of
employment for the adults who are
willing to do unskilled manual public
works.
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 – Prelims
Q. With reference to Union Budget, which of
the following is/are covered under
Revenue Expenditure?
1. Defence expenditure
2. Interest payments
3. Salaries and pensions
4. Subsidies
Select the correct answer using the code
given below.
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3
c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
d) None
 Practice Question – Prelims
Answers
Q1. Option (b) - Establishment of major hydroelectric projects is promoted in
ESZ
Q2. Option (b) - 2 only
Q3. Option (b) - 2 only
Q4. Option (c) - 1, 2, 3 and 4
 Practice Question – Mains
GS – II
Q. Highlight the recent issues in the India-
Nepal relations. Mention some steps
both countries can take to overcome the
issues.
(250 Words, 15 Marks)