InstaLinks : help you think beyond the issue but relevant to the issue from UPSC prelims and Mains exam point of view. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background. This helps you study a topic holistically and add new dimensions to every current event to help you think analytically
1. The grandeur of the Chola Empire
2. The Court and the problem with its collegium
3. We need a forest-led COP27
4. No more prosecutions under Section 66A
7. WHAT IS INTERPOL AND WHAT IS ITS RED NOTICE?
8. IMF’s latest world economy report: Red flags for India
13. National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET)
13. Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FFV-SHEV)
14. TAMIL NADU NOTIFIES INDIA’S FIRST SLENDER LORIS SANCTUARY
Syllabus Ancient India (Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times)
Directions: This article is taken from The Hindu. Go through it and prepare a holistic note on the Chola empire both from the Prelims and Mains perspective.
Q. Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. (UPSC MAINS 2013)
Q. The Chola period witnessed remarkable development in sculptures and bronze works with a special emphasis on Hindu iconography. They portray a classic grace, grandeur and taste. Discuss.
Syllabus: Judiciary- Structure, functioning and conduct of business, issues with the collegium system
Directions: There have been many articles on collegium system (including yesterday). We are including only unique points from this article.
Issues with the Collegium system:
The principle of seniority and next CJI(FFP)
Q. Critically examine the Supreme Court’s judgment on ‘National Judicial Appointments Commission Act, 2014’ with reference to appointment of judges of higher judiciary in India.(UPSC 2017)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Directions: The article highlights the flaws in current climate mitigation strategies. Go through it once, you can use it for value addition.
Context: A study published in the journal Science said earth may have already passed through five dangerous tipping points due to the 1.1°C of global heating caused by humanity to date.
Issues with current climate mitigation strategies
What does the research say?
Why we need a forest led- mitigation effort:
What are the other measures that can be taken?
Thus, Technology, at best, can assist us, not lead us, on the pathway to a sustainable, regenerative and equitable world.
Q. Discuss the measures required to realize the climate change targets that India had declared to achieve by 2070.
Context: Tribals of the Tana Bhagat sect are demanding complete self-rule in the Latehar district of Jharkhand.
Tana Bhagat movement( started in April 1914), under the leadership of Jatra Bhagat, to stop the evil practices which were taking place in the Oraon community of Chotanagpur and to oppose the exploiting Jamindars policies.
Context: Nanaji Deshmukh was born on 11th October 1916 in Maharashtra’s Hingoli district.
Context: Union Home Minister unveiled a 15-foot statue of Jayaprakash Narayan or JP on his 120th birth anniversary at the socialist icon’s birthplace, Sitab Diara village in Bihar’s Saran district.
Values: Patriotism, Socialism, Selflessness, perseverance for justice.
Context: The Supreme Court ordered States and police forces to stop prosecuting free speech on social media under Section 66A of the Information Technology Act which was declared unconstitutional by the court in a judgment.
Context: PM-DevINE, was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the North Eastern Region (NER).
Context: World Bank has provided the loan to Support Andhra’s Learning Transformation (SALT) project.
The project aims to transform the state’s school education system by focusing on improving foundational learning, professional development of teachers, early childhood education etc.
CONTEXT– INTERPOL has rejected India’s request for red notice against Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (Canada-based founder and legal advisor of pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs for Justice ) as there is not sufficient information.
REASON BEHIND REQUEST: Mr Pannun has been listed as a “terrorist” under Indian UAPA law.
INTERPOL: INTERPOL known as the ‘International Criminal Police Organisation’, is an international organization and a UN agency that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control. Headquartered in Lyon, France.
RED NOTICE – It is a request to locate and provisionally arrest individual pending extradition. It is issued by the General Secretariat at the request of a member country or an international tribunal based on a valid national arrest warrant. Apart from ‘red notice’, INTERPOL also issues 7 other notices i.e – Black notice, yellow notice etc.
Context: The central message of the International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) is worst is yet to come for the world economy.
Key highlights of the report
What does it mean for India?
What is World Economic Outlook?
It is a survey by the IMF that is usually published twice a year in the months of April and October. It analyses and predicts global economic developments during the near and medium term. Other report published by IMF is the Global Financial Stability report.
Context: Kyrgyzstan cancelled its military exercises for Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to be held this month.
The Collective Security Treaty Organization (est. In 1992) is an intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia consisting of six post-Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
Context: Recently three economists were awarded the Nobel prize for their research on banking and financial crises. It highlighted the term ‘Bank Run’.
A bank run occurs when many clients withdraw their money from a bank because they believe the bank may cease to function in the near future.
The economist recommended that countries have deposit insurance provisions ( e.g. India provides Rs 5 Lakh deposit insurance) to build trust and prevent a bank run.
Context: Many economists have warned that Europe may be headed for a doom loop
The doom loop is the circle of vulnerability where a country’s banking system can be severely hurt by volatility in the economy. A country is at risk of a doom loop when a shock to one part of its economic system is amplified by its effect on another.
Note: In ethics/psychology: A doom loop is a negative belief cycle, where a series of beliefs, actions, and reactions work to reinforce negative beliefs and unwanted behaviours.
Context: Government may scrap the reverse auction process for wind and solar projects.
A reverse auction is a type of auction in which sellers bid for the prices at which they are willing to sell their goods and services. It is the opposite of a regular auction, where a seller puts up an item and buyers place bids until the close of the auction, at which time the item goes to the highest bidder.
It is a non-profit autonomous body constituted under the Mines& Minerals (Development Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, with the aim of boosting mineral exploration activities in the country.
It funds various Notified Exploration Agencies to carry out exploration projects across the country.
Context: Several Oil and Gas and coal-bed methane blocks were offered under the HELP auction.
The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) replacing the erstwhile New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) was approved in March 2016.
The main features of HELP are a Revenue Sharing Contract, single Licence for exploration and production of conventional as well as unconventional Hydrocarbon resources, Open Acreage Licensing Policy (choice of blocks for investors), marketing & pricing freedom, no oil cess, year-round bidding, etc.
Context: A report by Niti Aayog and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has found that India bears the world’s highest health and economic burden due to lead poisoning.
Key highlights of the report
It is a medical condition caused by increased levels of heavy metal lead in the body and its interference with a variety of body processes resulting in toxicity to many organs and tissues (called plumbism)
What are the factors that contribute to lead poisoning?
What needs to be done?
Context: 1st of this kind of project has been launched by the Ministry of Road and Transport
Flexi-fuel vehicles(FFV) can run on Petrol as well as a blended Petro-ethanol mixture. FFV- Hybrid electric vehicles can run on a combination of 100% Petrol or Petrol+ ethanol/methanol or Electric power.
TAMIL NADU NOTIFIES INDIA’S FIRST SLENDER LORIS SANCTUARY
CONTEXT – Tamil Nadu government has notified the Kaduvur slender loris sanctuary, spread across Karur and Dindigul districts.
India’s first Dugong conservation reserve (in Pali bay) is also in Tamil Nadu.
Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? (UPSC 2020)
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Musk deer largely can be seen in Himalayan states. States such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. It inhabits high alpine environments above altitudes of 2,500 m. Both the parks- Askot and Gangotri are in Uttarakhand.
CONTEXT: The First World Sloth bear day was observed on 12th October.
SLOTH BEAR – They are ‘endemic’ to the Indian subcontinent and almost 90% of their population is concentrated in India (almost throughout India) with small numbers in Sri Lanka and Nepal. They are omnivorous. They do not hibernate.
OTHER BEAR SPECIES FOUND IN INDIA –
In India, if a species of tortoise is declared protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, what does it imply? (UPSC 2017)
(a) It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger.
(b) It no longer exists in the wild, a few individuals are under captive protection, and now it is impossible to prevent its extinction.
(c) It is endemic to a particular region of India.
(d) Both (b) and (c) stated above are correct in this context.
It enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 Act provides for the protection of a listed species. Schedule I is endangered species.
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