Daily Current Affairs 12 May 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

Daily Current Affairs 12 May 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020


    1) ATAL PENSION YOJANA (APY)

    • The flagship social security scheme of Government of India ‘Atal Pension Yojana’ (APY) has completed five years of successful implementation. Launched on 9th May 2015 by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to deliver old age income security particularly to the workers in the unorganized sector and Government providing a guarantee of minimum pension after 60 years of age, the scheme even after garnering 2.23 crores workers under the ambit of pension still remains unequivocally relevant for addressing the challenges of rapidly increasing aging population of India. Apart from remarkable enrolments, the scheme has been implemented comprehensively across the country covering all states and Union Territories with males to a female subscription ratio of 57:43.
    • The journey of APY over these five years has been phenomenal and as on 9th May 2020, the total enrolment under the scheme stood at 2,23,54,028.  During the first two years of its launch, almost 50 lacs subscribers were enrolled which doubled to 100 lacs in the third year and the milestone of 1.50 crore was achieved in the 4th year. In the last financial year, almost 70 lacs subscribers were enrolled under the scheme.
    • APY can be subscribed by any Indian citizen in the age group of 18-40 years having a bank account and its uniqueness is attributable to three distinctive benefits. First, it provides a minimum guaranteed pension ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 on attaining 60 years of age, Secondly, the amount of pension is guaranteed for a lifetime to spouse on the death of the subscriber and lastly, in the event of the death of both the subscriber and the spouse, entire pension corpus is paid to the nominee.

    About PFRDA

    • Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is the statutory authority established by an enactment of the Parliament, to regulate, promote and ensure orderly growth of the National Pension System (NPS) and pension schemes to which this Act applies. NPS was initially notified for central government employees recruits w.e.f 1stJan 2004 and subsequently adopted by almost all State Governments for its employees. NPS was extended to all Indian citizens (resident/non-resident/overseas) voluntarily and to corporates for its employees.
    • As on 30th April 2020, the total number of subscribers under NPS and Atal Pension Yojana has crossed 3.46crore and the Asset under Management (AUM) has grown to Rs 4,33,555crore. More than 68 lakh government employees have been enrolled under NPS and 22.60 lakhs subscribers have subscribed to NPS in the private sector with 7,616 entities registered as corporates.
    1) ATAL PENSION YOJANA (APY)
    Source: PIB

    2) Face-off Between India and China

    Recently, Indian and Chinese troops engaged in a temporary and short duration face-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Naku La (Sikkim) and near Pangong Tso Lake (Eastern Ladakh).

    Naku La

    • Naku La sector is a pass at a height of more than 5,000 meters above Mean Sea Level (MSL) in the state of Sikkim.
    • It is located ahead of Muguthang or Cho Lhamu (source of River Teesta).
    • At Muguthang, the road on the Chinese side is motorable, and on the Indian side, it is a remote area.
    • The other passes located in the state of Sikkim are Nathu La Pass and Jelep La Pass.

    Pangong Tso Lake

    • Pangong Lake is located in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
    • It is situated at a height of almost 4,350m and is the world’s highest saltwater lake.
    • Extending to almost 160km, one-third of the Pangong Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.

    Key Points

    • The temporary and brief face-offs occur because of the unresolved and undemarcated boundary issues.
      • The India-China border shares the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control.
    • Both countries have differing perceptions owing to the undemarcated boundary, which lead to transgressions and face-offs as each side patrols up to the areas.
    • Any such issue is resolved through the mutually established protocols to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border. The resolving mechanism also involves the local Border Personnel Meeting (BPM).
      • These protocols with China have been established to resolve issues amicably at the local formation commander level.
    • The recent clash happened three years after the Doklam stand-off between India and China (2017), which was also experienced across the border in Sikkim.
    • Doklam, or Donglang in Chinese, is an area spread over less than 100 sq km comprising a plateau and a valley at the trijunction between India, Bhutan, and China.
    • The Doklam issue was discussed in the Wuhan Summit (2018) and two nations decided to issue "strategic guidance" to their militaries to strengthen communications so that they can build trust and understanding.
    2) Face-off Between India and China

    Concerns:

    • Border skirmishes:
      • Though such an incident occurred after a long time, border skirmishes have been common at the India – China border.
    • Unresolved issues:
      • Temporary and brief face-offs occur between the two armies because the boundary is undemarcated.
      • Both countries have differing perceptions owing to the non-demarcated boundary, which lead to transgressions and face-offs, as each side patrols up to the areas they claim along the 3,448-km Line of Actual Control (LAC).
    • India’s vulnerability:
      • At Muguthang in the Naku la sector, the road on the Chinese side is motorable and on the Indian side, it is a remote area. Due to this, the Chinese can mobilize a large number of troops in a short time if needed as compared to India.
      • This puts the Indian forces at a disadvantage.

    Global Examples of Aggressive Diplomacy by China

    • Covid-19 Origin:
      • China has been engaged in aggressive diplomacy with western countries, which have sought clarity on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic that has crippled the world economy, and led to almost four million people across the globe falling ill.
    • South China Sea:
      • It has also reported that China has established new administrative districts for the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos in the South China Sea.
      • China has also named 80 islands and other geographical features in the sea, claiming sovereignty over underwater features in the contested region.
    Source: The Hindu

    3) India-Nepal on Kailash Mansarovar Link Road

    • Nepal has strongly objected to the newly inaugurated link road which connects Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand) to Lipulekh pass (China border) significantly reducing the time of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
    • Nepal claims the territory at the Lipulekh pass around 400 sq km area east of the Kali river in the tri-junction of Nepal, Tibet, and India, through which the road passes as its own.

    Key Points

    • Nepal's Stand
      • Nepal referred to the 2014 agreement between Prime Ministers of both countries, for Foreign Secretaries to work out the “outstanding boundary issues” on Kalapani (where Lipulekh lies) and Susta (bordering Bihar).
        • According to Nepal’s Foreign Ministry, the unilateral decision to build a road there is a breach of the 2014 agreement.
      • For evidence, Nepal has the maps during the 1816 Sugauli treaty and other complementing treaties that followed, fixing that Limpiadhura, Kalapani, and Lipulekh were shown east of the Kali river and part of Nepal.
        • These arrangements were made following Nepal’s war with the British due to which Nepal had to cede a large part of the territory that currently forms the present Uttarakhand.
      • Nepal seeks to question China as well because China and India had signed an agreement in May 2015 to develop Lipulekh as a commercial passage without consulting Nepal which majorly affected the triangulation of the countries.
      • The government of Nepal remains committed to seeking diplomatic solutions to the boundary issues based on the historical treaty, documents, facts, and maps in keeping with the spirit of close and friendly bilateral ties between the two countries.
    • India’s Response
      • According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the road going through Pithoragarh lies completely within the territory of India.
      • The road follows the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra which has been made pliable for the ease and convenience of pilgrims, locals, and traders, under the present project.
      • India held that the boundary delineation exercise with Nepal is in process and it is committed to resolving outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue.
    • Other Issues
      • In November 2019, Nepal protested against the publication of Indian maps that included the Kalapani area.
      • However, India rejected Nepal’s contention, asserting that the map accurately depicts the sovereign territory of India.
    • Both nations are in the process of scheduling foreign secretary-level talks, which will be held once dates are finalized after the two governments have successfully dealt with the challenge of Covid-19.
    3) India-Nepal on Kailash Mansarovar Link Road

    Kali River

    • It is also known as Sharda river or Kali Ganga in Uttarakhand.
    • It joins the Ghagra river in Uttar Pradesh, which is a tributary of Ganga.
    • River Projects: Tanakpur hydro-electric project, Chameliya hydro-electric project, Sharda Barrage.

    Lipulekh Pass

    • It is also known as Lipu-Lekh Pass/Qiangla or Tri-Corner is a high altitude mountain pass situated in the western Himalayas with a height of 5,334 meters or 17,500 feet.
    • It is an International mountain pass between India, China, and Nepal.
    Source: The Hindu

    4) Data Related to Birth Rate and Death Rate

    Recently, the Registrar General of India released data related to birth rate, death rate, and infant mortality rate in its Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin for 2018.
    • The rates are calculated per one thousand of the population.

    Key Points

    • Birth rate:
      • India’s birth rate has declined drastically over the last four decades from 36.9 in 1971 to 20.0 in 2018.
      • The rural-urban differential has also narrowed. However, the birth rate has continued to be higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.
      • Bihar (26.2) continues to remain at the top of the list in the birth rate while Andaman and Nicobar (11.2) are at the bottom.
      • The birth rate is a crude measure of fertility of a population and a crucial determinant of population growth.
    • Death rate:
      • The death rate of India has witnessed a significant decline over the last four decades from 14.9 in 1971 to 6.2 in 2018.
      • In the last decade, the death rate at an all-India level has declined from 7.3 to 6.2.
      • The decline has been steeper in rural areas.
      • Chhattisgarh has the highest death rate at 8 and Delhi, an almost entirely urban state has the lowest death rate of 3.3.
      • Mortality is one of the basic components of population change. The data related to it is essential for demographic studies and public health administration.
    • Infant mortality rate:
      • IMR has decreased to 32 about one-fourth as compared to 1971 (129).
      • The IMR at an all-India level has declined from 50 to 32 in the last decade.
      • Madhya Pradesh has the highest IMR of 48 and Nagaland has the lowest IMR of 4.
      • Infant mortality is the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births.

    Sample Registration System

    • The SRS is a demographic survey for providing reliable annual estimates of infant mortality rate, birth rate, death rate, and other fertility and mortality indicators at the national and sub-national levels.
    • It was initiated on a pilot basis by the Registrar General of India in a few states in 1964-65, it became fully operational during 1969-70.
    • The field investigation consists of a continuous enumeration of births and deaths in selected sample units by resident part-time enumerators, generally Anganwadi workers & teachers, and an independent survey every six months by SRS supervisors. The data obtained by these two independent functionaries are matched.

    Registrar General of India

    • Registrar General of India was founded in 1961 by the Government of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
    • It arranges, conducts, and analyses the results of the demographic surveys of India including the Census of India and Linguistic Survey of India.
    • The position of Registrar is usually held by a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary.
    Source: Indian Express

    5) RBI’s Gold Reserve Increased

    • According to the ‘Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves’, the Reserve Bank of India’s total holdings of gold reached 653.01 tonnes in the financial year 2019-20.
    • The Reserve Bank of India publishes half-yearly reports on the management of foreign exchange reserves as part of its efforts towards enhanced transparency and levels of disclosure.
    • These reports are prepared half-yearly about the position as at end-March and end-September each year.

    Key Points

    • The RBI’s total gold reserves were 612.56 tonnes in the preceding fiscal ended in March 2019.
    • The addition of 40.45 tonnes of gold has raised the value of gold reserves to $30.57 billion by March 2020 from $23.07 billion in March 2019.
    • The share of gold in the total foreign exchange (forex) reserves rose from about 5.59% as of March 2019 to about 6.40% by March 2020.
      • India’s Forex Reserve include: Foreign Currency Assets, Gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights and Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
    • Around 360.71 tonnes of gold is held overseas in safe custody with the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements, while the remaining gold is held domestically.
    • The gold reserves will help the central banks around the globe to focus on the measures needed to contain the economic impact of Covid-19.
    • Gains or losses on the valuation of foreign currency assets and gold due to movements in the exchange rates and/or price of gold are booked under a balance sheet head named the Currency and Gold Revaluation Account (CGRA).
      • CGRA represents the value of the gold and foreign currency that the RBI holds on behalf of India.
      • It shows funds that are available to compensate for RBI’s loss in the value of gold and foreign exchange reserve holdings.
      • The balances in CGRA provide a buffer against exchange rate/gold price fluctuations.

    Gold & Economy

    • As Currency:
      • Gold was used as the world reserve currency up through most of the 20th century. The United States used the gold standard until 1971.
      • The paper money had to be backed up by equal amounts of gold in their reserves.
      • Although the gold standard has been discontinued, some economists feel that we should return to it due to the volatility of the U.S. dollar and other currencies.
    • As a hedge against inflation:
      • The demand for gold increases during inflationary times due to its inherent value and limited supply. As it cannot be diluted, gold can retain value much better than other forms of currency.
    • Strength of Currency:
      • When a country imports more than it exports, the value of its currency will decline.
      • On the other hand, the value of its currency will increase when a country is a net exporter.
      • Thus, a country that exports gold or has access to gold reserves will see an increase in the strength of its currency when gold prices increase, since this increases the value of the country's total exports.
        • Since the central banks rely on printing more money to buy gold, they create an excess supply of the currency. This increases the supply and thereby reduces the value of the currency used to purchase it.
    Source: Indian Express

    6) Toda Embroidery

    • In the wake of the Covid-19, Toda artisans from the Nilgiris have come forward to use their traditional skills in making face-masks and to help people ward off the infection and also provide Todas with a livelihood.

    Key Points

    • Toda Tribe is a pastoral tribe of the Nilgiri Hills of southern India.
    • The Toda language is Dravidian but is the most unusual and different among the languages belonging to the Dravidian family.
    • They live in settlements of from three to seven small thatched houses.
    • They traditionally trade dairy products, as well as cane and bamboo articles, with the other Nilgiri peoples.

    Toda Embroidery

    • In the Toda language, it is called pohor.
    • The traditional Toda dress is a distinctive shawl which is called putukuli.
    • Considered a grand garment, it is only worn for special occasions like visits to the temple, festivals, and finally as a shroud.
    • The embroidery is done by Toda women and has distinctive red and black (and occasionally blue) thread work in geometric designs on unbleached white cotton fabric.
    • It has got a Geographical Indications (GI) Tag.
    6) Toda Embroidery

    7) CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru develop BiPAP Non-Invasive Ventilator “SwasthVayu”

    • CSIR - National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) Bangalore, a constituent of the lab of CSIR has developed a Non-Invasive BiPAP Ventilator in a record time of 36 days to treat COVID-19 patients.BiPAP Non-Invasive ventilator is a microcontroller-based precise closed-loop adaptive control system with a built-in biocompatible “3D printed manifold & coupler” with HEPA filter (Highly Efficient Particulate Air Filter). These unique features help to alleviate the fear of the virus spread. It has features like Spontaneous, CPAP, Timed, AUTO BIPAP modes with provision to connect Oxygen concentrator or Enrichment unit externally.  The system has been certified for safety and performance by NABL accredited agencies. The system has undergone stringent biomedical tests and beta clinical trials at NAL Health Centre.
    • The major advantage of this machine is that it is simple to use without any specialized nursing, cost-effective, compact, and configured with the majority of indigenous components. This is ideal for treating COVID -19 patients in Wards, Makeshift Hospitals, dispensaries, and home in the current Indian COVID 19 scenario.CSIR-NAL is in process of taking it forward with the regulatory authorities for the approval and expected to get shortly. CSIR-NAL has already initiated dialogue with major public/private industries as a partner for mass production.
    7) CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Bengaluru develop BiPAP Non-Invasive Ventilator “SwasthVayu”

    Source: PIB

    8) Massive revamp of Forest Ministry units

    Restructuring plan of the regional offices and departments of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

    Details:

    • The reorganization plan involves merging the 10 regional offices of the MoEF&CC and 19 centers of the Forest Survey of India (FSI), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and Central Zoo Authority (CZA) into just 19 regional offices of the Ministry.
    • The stated objective of merging regional offices with the NTCA, WCCB, CZA, and FSI centers is improving efficiency and ensuring better coordination between the constituent units.

    Concerns:

    • Though increasing efficiency and transparency is required, there are doubts as to whether merging of these organizations would achieve it given the fact that the specialized organizations have very different objectives.
    • Environment and wildlife activists are concerned that the proposed restructuring would make the key conservation wings of the Ministry powerless and thus weaken India’s efforts to protect the environment.

    Counter arguments:

    • Though the specialized wings of the Ministry have some independence in their functioning, they report to the same higher-ups.
    • The merging of the different organizations would help in better coordination in the sanctioning and implementation of various schemes.
    Source: The Hindu

    9) Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)

    • The Indian government has decided to begin weather forecasts for regions under Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, and Mirpur.
    • After DD and AIR started airing weather forecasts from PoK regions, In return Radio Pakistan also featured updates from Srinagar, Pulwama, and Ladakh.

    What’s the issue?

    • The ‘weather war’ — a diplomatic move by India — started after Pakistan’s Supreme Court issued notices to the advocate general of Gilgit-Baltistan in late April, directing them to amend the Gilgit-Baltistan Order-2018 and establish a caretaker government there.

    About PoK:

    • Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is that part of the Jammu and Kashmir (India) which was invaded by Pakistan in 1947. The region is referred by the United Nations and other international organizations, as ‘Pakistani-controlled Kashmir’ (or Pakistan Administered Kashmir) and it was re-named as ‘Pakistan occupied Jammu-Kashmir’ by the Modi government.

    PoK divided into two parts:

    • Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
    • Gilgit-Baltistan (referred to as the ‘Northern Areas’ till August 2009).

    What is the root of the fight between India and Pakistan?

    • The fact that PoK is an integral part of India has been our consistent policy ever since 1947.
    • In 1947, Pakistan’s Pashtoon tribals attacked Jammu and Kashmir.
    • So to tackle this critical situation the Ruler of that time Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir sought military assistance from the Indian government and the then Indian Governor-General Mountbatten signed an agreement on 26 October 1947 in which three subjects Defense, Foreign Affairs and Communications was handed over to India.
    • Except for these subjects, Jammu and Kashmir were free to all its decisions.
    • On the basis of this accession of the treaty, the Government of India claims that India has the full right to interfere in the matters related to Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan, on the other hand, doesn’t agree with India.
    • The legality of the transfer of the territory of J and K through the instrument of accession to India is unquestionable.
    • The unanimous resolution of the Parliament talks about the whole of J & K been an integral part of India.
    • Pakistan’s claim on Kashmir is based on the declaration of 1993. As per this declaration, Jammu & Kashmir were among those 5 states in which the rule of Government of Pakistan was supposed to be established. But India never accepted this claim of Pakistan.
    • India has also made clear to the world that it is the internal matter of India.

    Why is PoK important?

    • Because of its location, PoK is of immense strategic importance. It shares borders with several countries – the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province provinces (now called Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa) in Pakistan to the west, the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan in the north-west, Xinjiang province of the People’s Republic of China to the north and India’s Jammu and Kashmir to the east.

    Challenges for India in the PoK region:

    • Terrorist infiltration through the region is high.
    • Pakistan has changed the demography of PoK over a period of time.
    • It has settled ex-servicemen, Punjabi’s, and Pathans so the original colors of PoK have changed.
    • Gilgit Baltistan region is easy as compared to others.
    9) Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK)

    Source The Print

    Comments

    Post a Comment