News Analysis

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News – 1

Context: It is in public interest to set up courts to try lawmakers’ – SC seeks response from Madras HC

Topic in syllabus: Mains – Polity (GS-2)

[Use this example to write answer related the of criminalisation of politics]

News – 2

Context: Bio-­decomposer technique a success, claims Kejriwal – ‘Stubble turned to manure, fields are ready for sowing again’

Topic in syllabus: Prelims – Environment & ecology

What is bio decomposer?

• Pusa decomposer is developed by Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) to tackle the issue of stubble burning.
• It is a fungi-based liquid solution that can soften hard stubble so that it can be easily mixed with soil in the field to act as compost.
• It will also help in retaining the essential microbes and nutrients in soil that are otherwise damaged due to the burning.
• It is an eco-friendly and environmentally useful technology.

News – 3

Context: CCEA nod for hydropower project in H.P. (Luhri hydropower project)

Topic in syllabus: Prelims – Geography, Economy

About Luhri hydropower project:

• It is in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• It is on the Satluj river.
• The capacity of the project is 210 megawatt (MW).

What is CCEA?

• The Cabinet committee on economic affairs is not a constitutional body. CCEA is considered as extra-constitutional in nature.
• The members in CCEA work on all the matters that come under the ambit of economic field.
• The mandate to formulate, analyse and review the activities concerned with economic policies stretches out in expansive way.
• The work ranges from as grass-rooted as rural level to foreign investments that require policy making at the highest level.
• CCEA was made with an aim of reducing the workload from the departments dealing with economic policies.
• It is meant to smoothen the functioning and furthermore provide for an in-depth examination of policies.
• It keeps a check on prices of agricultural products.
• The activities related to small and marginal farmers that may give an impetus to the rural development, are looked upon by the said committee, too.

News – 4

Context: Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge’, which will be open for the 100 Smart Cities.

Topic in syllabus: Prelims – Schemes

Aim – It is to develop and implement initiatives to improve the quality of life of young children, caregivers and families.

News – 5

Context: Butterfly season has begun, and there is excitement among naturalists this year, as a wave of rare sightings surface along peninsular India.

Topic in syllabus: Prelims – Environment & ecology

About some Butterflies mentioned in the article:

• The Marbled Map butterfly:
  • It is recorded for the first time in Visakhapatnam
  • It is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act.
  • This ‘rare’ species is confined to the hilly forests of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bhutan and Myanmar
• Malabar Banded Peacock & Tree nymph:
  • It is endemic to South India. It is a large white butterfly with black spots resembling white
    paper wafting through the air.

News – 6

Context: U.S. formally exits Paris pact on curbing climate change.

Topic in syllabus: Prelims – Environment & ecology

About Paris pact & India’s role:

• Some 189 countries remain committed to the 2015 Paris accord, which aims to keep the increase in average temperatures worldwide “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, ideally no more than 1.5C, compared to pre­-industrial levels.
• Scientists say that any rise beyond 2 degrees Celsius could have a devastating impact on large parts of the world, raising sea levels, stoking tropical storms and worsening droughts and
  floods.
• The Paris accord requires countries to set their own voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
• The text of the agreement includes a provision requiring developed countries to send $100 billion annually to their developing counterparts beginning in 2020.
• The Paris Agreement requires all Parties to put forward their best efforts through “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) and to strengthen these efforts in the years ahead.
• India’s INDC include a reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 level.
• India has also pledged to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

What is the effect of the move?

• The U.S. is the world’s second biggest emitter after China of heat­ trapping gases such as carbon dioxide and its contribution to cutting emissions is seen as important.

News – 7

Context: Ethiopia sends Armyinto troubled region – Tensions have been escalating since September, when Tigray region held regional elections in defiance of the federal government.

Topic in syllabus: Prelims – Geography

Ethiopia shares the border with:

• Eritrea
• Djibouti
• Somalia
• Kenya
• South Sudan
• Sudan