UPSC Key- March 27, 2023: Know about One country-two system, Tactical nuclear weapons, Tornado and Hundi
THE WORLD
PROTEST IN HONG KONG FOR FIRST TIME IN YEARS
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story– Dozens of people on Sunday joined Hong Kong’s first authorized protest since the lifting of major COVID-19 restrictions under unprecedentedly strict rules, including wearing a numbered badge around their necks. The rules set out by the police, who cited security reasons, came as the financial hub was promoting its return to normalcy after years of anti-virus controls and political turmoil.
• Map Work-Hong Kong
• The first protest in two years has taken place in Hong Kong-But, why they are protesting?
• What is the purpose of the one country, two systems?
• What is “One country, two systems”?
• What is the ‘One China’ policy?
• Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China.
• ‘One country, two systems’ and ‘One China’ policy’-Compare and Contrast
• How Hong Kong is different from Taiwan?
• In 2020, China introduced a new national security law (NSL) for Hong Kong-What was that?
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• Why China came up with new national security law (NSL) for Hong Kong?
• What has changed in Hong Kong since the law was introduced?
• Why did China do this?
• For Your Information-Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841 until its handover to Chinese rule in 1997, with the exception of Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945. Its colonial status was the result of a pair of 19th century treaties signed at the end of the first and second Opium Wars, along with the granting of a 99-year lease in 1898 to the New Territories, which greatly expanded the size of the colony. China’s Communist Party, which seized power during a civil war in 1949, says it never recognized what it calls the “unequal treaties” that the former Qing Dynasty was compelled to sign following military defeats. In the late 20th century with China unwilling to extend the lease on the New Territories, and the colony not viable without them — Britain entered into protracted and often contentious negotiations with Beijing over conditions for the return of Hong Kong to Chinese rule. Ultimately, China took control of Hong Kong in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” arrangement that would keep the city’s economic, political and judicial systems distinct from those in mainland China for 50 years. That was laid out in a 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration registered with the United Nations, although China now refuses to recognize the agreement.
• What is the relationship between Hong Kong and India?
• How does India see Hong Kong?
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Timeline of Hong Kong under 25 years of Chinese rule
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China opens ties with Honduras, Taiwan says lured away by Beijing
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s Interest
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story--China established diplomatic ties with Honduras on Sunday after the Central American country ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan, while Taiwan’s foreign minister accused Honduras of demanding exorbitant sums before being lured away by Beijing. The ending of ties with Taiwan had been expected after the Honduran foreign minister travelled to China last week to open relations and President Xiomara Castro said her government would start ties with Beijing.
• Map Work-Honduras
• Why Honduras ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan?
• Map Work-Taiwan
• Do You Know-China claims Taiwan as its own territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taipei strongly rejects. China demands that countries with which it has ties to recognise its position.
• Why China claims Taiwan as its own territory?
• What is the ‘One China’ policy?
• India-Taiwan Bilateral Relations-Know in detail
• For Your Information-Relations between Honduras and Taiwan date back to 1941 when the government of the Republic of China, which remains Taiwan’s official name, was still in China before it fled to the island in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong’s communists. Taiwan now only has formal diplomatic relations with 13 countries, mostly poor and developing countries in Central America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: The China-Taiwan tussle
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Putin says Moscow to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, NATO decries
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
Key Points to Ponder:
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• What’s the ongoing story-Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, sending a warning to NATO over its military support for Ukraine and escalating a standoff with the West. Although not unexpected and while Putin said the move would not violate nuclear non-proliferation promises, it is one of the Russia’s most pronounced nuclear signals since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago.
• What is NATO?
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-Know the historical background and current Status
• What are the origins of NATO?
• What is important about NATO’s collective defence?
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• What is Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty (Collective Security)?
• What is Article 4 of NATO’s Founding Treaty?
• NATO: Why Russia has a problem with its eastward expansion
• Why India did not join North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?
• Map Work-Belarus
• Russia and Belarus-Know bilateral relations between the two nations
• Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus-Why this move seems to be one of the Russia’s most pronounced nuclear signals since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago?
• What do understand by “Tactical” nuclear weapons?
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: NATO expansion & Russia
Biden declares emergency in Mississippi; death toll rises to 25
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
Mains Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story- Rescuers raced Saturday to search for survivors and help hundreds of people left homeless after a powerful tornado cut a devastating path through Mississippi, killing at least 25 people, injuring dozens, and flattening entire blocks as it carved a path of destruction for more than an hour. One person was killed in Alabama.
• Map Work-Mississippi
• What tornado means?
• Why is it called a tornado?
• What is the difference between tornado and cyclone?
• What is Typhoon, Cyclone, Hurricanes?
• How Typhoon, Cyclone, Hurricanes differs from Tornado?
• Cyclone, Tornado, Hurricane and Typhoon-How they are different from each other?
• How Are Typhoon, Cyclone, Hurricanes and Tornado Formed?
• Where on the earth are tornadoes most common?
• USA’s Vulnerability to tornado-Know in Detail
• Know the Structure of a Tornado
• Geographical significance of Tornadoes-brainstorm
• “Tornadoes normally rotate cyclonically”-discuss the structure of Tornadoes
• What are Air Masses and Fronts?
• World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)-About, Role, Vision and Mission
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Mississippi tornadoes kill 23, injure dozens overnight
Previous Year Mains Questions Covering the same theme:
📍Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? (GS-1, 2014)
📍The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world? (GS-1, 2013)
Front Page
India summons Canada envoy over attacks: Act against separatists
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story– Days after pro-Khalistan groups targeted Indian missions in the United Kingdom and United States, drawing a strong response from Delhi, India has lodged a protest with Canada, flagging actions of “separatist and extremist elements” against Indian diplomatic missions and consulates. The High Commissioner of Canada was summoned Saturday by the Ministry of External Affairs which conveyed India’s “strong concern” over the attacks over the last week, according to an MEA statement issued Sunday.
• What you know about the Khalistan movement?
• What are the Historical events responsible for Khalistan?
• How Khalistan movement affected Indo-Canadian relationship?
• A diplomatic mission or foreign mission-Mandate and Role
• What is the difference between Embassies and High Commissions?
• What is Embassy?
• What is Consulate?
• What are Key Differences Between Consulate and Embassy?
• The history of diplomatic missions-Know in brief
• What is the Vienna Convention?
• For Your Information-The term “Vienna Convention” can refer to any of a number of treaties signed in Vienna, most of which are related to the harmonisation or formalisation of the procedures of international diplomacy. The treaty being referred to by the MEA in this instance is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961), which “provides a complete framework for the establishment, maintenance and termination of diplomatic relations on a basis of consent between independent sovereign States”, as per an introductory note on the treaty in UN’s Audiovisual Library of International Law. Most notably, the Convention codifies the longstanding custom of diplomatic immunity, in which diplomatic missions are granted privileges that enable diplomats to perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country. It affirms the concept of “inviolability” of a diplomatic mission, which has been one of the enduring cornerstones of international diplomacy. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations entered into force on April 24, 1964 and is nearly universally ratified, with Palau and South Sudan being the exceptions.
• Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and Vienna Convention on Consular Relations-Know in detail
• What does the Vienna Convention say about obligations of a “receiving State”?
• Did the UK not fulfil its obligations in this instance?
• Know about Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian Foreign Service (IFS)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
FCRA on hold, Tirupati trust sits on Rs 26 cr forex, seeks way out
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Development processes and the development industry, Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story-With its registration under the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) under “suspension” for the past three years, the country’s richest religious Trust, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), faces an unprecedented situation: a mounting stockpile of foreign currency in cash anonymously dropped as “hundi” collections which cannot be deposited in its designated bank account.
• Why the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) registration under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) is under “suspension”?
• Why the State Bank of India (SBI) has forbidden the Trust from depositing any foreign contributions described as “hundi’’ donations into its designated account?
• What does hundi refer to?
• What is the concept of hundi?
• Which are the main types of hundi?
• Is hundi legal or illegal?
• What is the difference between hawala and Hundi?
• Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)-What and When it was enacted?
• Rationality behind the enactment of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA)?
• Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and Foreign Contribution Regulation (Amendment) Rules 2020-Key Changes
• NGOs and FCRA-why most of the NGOs are brought under FCRA?
• What is foreign contribution defined in Section 2(1)(h) of FCRA, 2010?
• What is a foreign source?
• Who can receive foreign contribution?
• Who cannot receive foreign contribution?
• Are there any banned organisations from whom foreign contribution should not be accepted?
• Whether donation given by Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) is treated as ‘foreign contribution’?
• Whether foreign remittances received from a relative are to be treated as foreign contribution as per FCRA, 2010?
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Hundies
Previous Year Prelims Questions Covering the same theme:
📍Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period? (Refer GS-1 2020 for complete question)
THE IDEAS PAGE
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government; pressure groups and formal/informal associations and their role in the Polity.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story-Anup Surendranath Writes: Even though the constitutional validity of the death penalty has been upheld by the Supreme Court, there have been persistent constitutional concerns with various aspects of the administration of the death penalty. Recent proceedings in the Supreme Court have, after nearly four decades, put the spotlight on the mode of execution in death penalty cases. It is inevitable that the Supreme Court will move towards the realisation that the concerns with the mode of execution to kill prisoners on death row raise insurmountable constitutional concerns.
• What is Capital Punishment?
• What annual statistics report ‘death penalty in India’ published by NLU says on Capital Punishment?
• For Your Information-Death row prisoners in India are executed by hanging and the constitutional validity of hanging was last considered and upheld by the Supreme Court nearly four decades ago in September 1983 (Deena v. Union of India). The Law Commission of India in October 2003 (187th Report) recognised the constitutional impermissibility of death by hanging and recommended that India consider using lethal injections instead.
• Recently, the Supreme Court was called upon to reconsider its September 1983 decision on whether India could continue using hanging for executions-Why?
• The author of this article has raised some fundamental constitutional questions for the administration of the death penalty-what is that?
• What does National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) says on capital punishment in India?
• How Countries retained death penalty or Capital Punishment?
• Know the Important Supreme Court Judgements Related To Capital Punishments in detail
• What was the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court recently in Manoj & others v. State of MP?
• What was the Supreme Court of India’s verdict in Jagmohan Singh v state of Uttar Pradesh in 1972?
• Bachan Singh v state of Punjab in 1980 and ‘rarest of rare cases’-What Supreme Court said about rarest of rare cases?
• Machhi Singh v state of Punjab in 1983 and broadening the categories of rarest of the rare cases by Supreme Court of India-Know in detail
• Kehar Singh v union of India,1989 and pardoning power of executive is subject to judicial review-Know in detail
• What are the arguments for Capital Punishment in India?
• What are the arguments against Capital Punishment in India?
• “Capital Punishment is a form of retribution”- What do you understand by this statement?
• Objective of justice should be reformative and not retributive- What do you understand by this statement?
• What Law commission of India says about death penalty?
• Pardoning Power of the President in India and Death Penalty-connect the dot
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍An Expert Explains: Reforming death penalty
📍On mode of capital punishment, fresh debate
EXPRESS NETWORK
ISRO’s LVM-3 launches 36 satellites, OneWeb constellation complete
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, bio-technology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story-Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) LVM-3, in its second commercial launch on Sunday, placed 36 OneWeb satellites in orbit, completing the first-generation constellation enabling the UK-based company to initiate global coverage this year. Sunday’s was the sixth launch for India’s heaviest rocket LVM-3 – which includes the launch of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019 – and the second one where it demonstrated the capability of launching multiple satellites in low earth orbit. The 36 satellites were placed in orbits in nine batches of four satellites each. The satellites in total weighed 5,805 kg.
• How ISRO’s OneWeb launch happened
• India’s plans to increase commercial launches-Know in detail
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)-About the Organisation
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍With OneWeb, ISRO cements its reputation in commercial launches
EXPLAINED
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Mains Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What’s the ongoing story-Five people have died and three others are infected with the Marburg virus – a highly infectious, Ebola-like disease – in Tanzania’s north-west Kagera region, authorities said earlier this week. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 161 people have been identified as at risk of infection through contact tracing and are currently being monitored. An emergency response team has been deployed in the area and no other cases of the virus have been reported in the country outside Kagera, The Guardian said.
• What is the Marburg virus disease?
• Do You Know-Marburg virus disease (MVD), earlier known as Marburg hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal hemorrhagic fever, according to the WHO. Marburg, like Ebola, is a filovirus; and both diseases are clinically similar. Rousettus fruit bats are considered the natural hosts for the Marburg virus. However, African green monkeys imported from Uganda were the source of the first human infection, the WHO points out. It was first detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany; and in Belgrade, Serbia. The disease has an average fatality rate of around 50%. However, it can be as low as 24% or as high as 88% depending on virus strain and case management, says the WHO.
• What are the symptoms of Marburg virus disease?
• How can Marburg virus disease be diagnosed and treated?
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: What is the Marburg virus, the Ebola-like outbreak now confirmed in Ghana?
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