Hyundai, M&M, 6 others likely to face emission penalties of Rs 7,300 cr
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
What’s the ongoing story: The centre has found out that eight carmakers including Hyundai, Kia, Mahindra, and Honda have higher than mandated fleet emission levels in financial year 2022-23, which could mean penalties of around Rs 7,300 crore.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is the CAFE energy efficiency?
• Discuss the implications of imposing Rs 7,300 crore in penalties on automobile manufacturers. How does this reflect India’s commitment to environmental sustainability?
• Analyse the challenges faced by automobile manufacturers in India in complying with the updated Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms.
• Evaluate the role of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in enforcing emission standards among automobile manufacturers in India.
• How effective are financial penalties as a deterrent for non-compliance on automobile manufacturers? Discuss with reference to recent developments.
• Examine the impact of stringent emission norms on the operational strategies of automobile manufacturers in India.
• Critically assess the potential long-term benefits of enforcing strict fleet emission levels on India’s air quality and public health.
• “Stricter emission norms present both challenges and opportunities for the Indian automobile industry.” Analyse this statement in the context of recent penalties imposed for non-compliance with fleet emission standards.
• Discuss the significance of implementing Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms in India. How do these norms align with global efforts to combat climate change?
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current policies in India aimed at reducing vehicular emissions. What additional measures can be taken to enhance compliance among automobile manufacturers?
Key Takeaways:
• The penalty on Korean carmaker Hyundai is the highest, totalling over Rs 2,800 crore, followed by Mahindra (nearly Rs 1,800 crore) and Kia (over Rs 1,300 crore).
• For 2022-23, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, under the Union Ministry of Power, required car companies of all units sold during the year to achieve India’s Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms.
—This meant a fuel consumption of not more than 4.78 litres per 100 km and carbon dioxide emissions of not more than 113 grams per km (since it has a direct correlation with the amount of fuel consumed).
• In 2022-23, models and variants of 18 automobile manufacturers were tested at accredited laboratories by simulating actual driving conditions. When the results for a set of cars did not conform to specified CAFE standards, then penalties were calculated for the total number of cars sold in the full year.
• While the Annual Fuel Consumption Compliance Report for 2021-22 is available, that for 2022-23 has been delayed by more than a year and is yet to be published. In 2021-22, all 19 carmakers had complied with emission norms
Do You Know:
• Fleet emission levels refer to the average amount of pollutants, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂), emitted by all vehicles in a manufacturer’s fleet over a specific period. This metric assesses the environmental impact of a manufacturer’s vehicles and ensures compliance with regulatory standards aimed at reducing vehicular emissions.
—In India, the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms regulate these emissions.
—These standards set limits on the average fuel efficiency and CO₂ emissions for automobile manufacturers’ fleets.
—The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) monitors compliance with these norms.
—Non-compliance can result in financial penalties, as seen in recent actions where manufacturers faced fines for exceeding emission norms.
• The CAFE norms were tightened in the beginning of financial year 2022-23. The quantum of penalties has become a point of contention between the Centre and the auto industry. Car makers are learnt to have argued that the new and stricter penalty norms came into effect only from January 1, 2023, and therefore calculating penalties on the basis the cars sold in the entire financial year would not be appropriate.
• BEE introduced the CAFE norms in 2017 to regulate fuel consumption and carbon emissions from passenger vehicles. These norms apply to vehicles running on petrol, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), hybrids, and electric vehicles (EVs) weighing less than 3,500 kg.
• Carmakers are learnt to have argued that the stricter penalty norms came into effect only from January 1, 2023, and therefore calculating penalties on the basis of cars sold in the entire financial year would not be appropriate.
• Designed to reduce oil dependency and curb air pollution, the CAFE norms push automakers to lower carbon dioxide emissions while incentivising the production of EVs, hybrids, and CNG vehicles, which are less carbon-intensive than cars that run on fossil fuels.
• Initially, non-compliance with CAFE norms, as outlined in the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, later amended in 2010, carried a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh plus the cost of the excess metric ton of oil equivalent of energy reported. However, in December 2022, the Act was amended to impose stricter penalties.
• Under the compliance rules for CAFE norms, automakers must submit data to the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) in Manesar by May 31 of each assessment year. ICAT, in turn, is required to compile the data and forward it to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Power by August 31.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Automakers seek relief on new fuel efficiency, emission norms
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
1. What is the primary objective of CAFE norms introduced in India?
a) To reduce production costs for automobile manufacturers
b) To enhance road safety features in vehicles
c) To reduce vehicular carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency
d) To increase vehicle exports to international markets
Previous year UPSC mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Evaluate the effectiveness of financial penalties as a tool to ensure compliance with emission standards among automobile manufacturers in India.
Plea claims Shiva temple at Ajmer dargah, seeks survey; court notices to Centre, ASI
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies I: Secularism
What’s the ongoing story: Even as Sambhal district in Uttar Pradesh remains on edge following a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid there, a local court in Rajasthan’s Ajmer on Wednesday issued notices to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Archaeological Survey of India, and the Ajmer Dargah Committee over a petition seeking a survey of the renowned Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Discuss the historical and cultural significance of the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer. How do such monuments contribute to communal harmony in India?
• Analyse the implications of legal disputes over religious sites in India. How do such conflicts affect the secular fabric of the nation?
• Examine the role of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in resolving disputes related to historical monuments and religious sites. What challenges does the ASI face in such matters?
• Critically evaluate the impact of organizations like the Hindu Sena filing lawsuits concerning historical religious sites. What are the potential social and political consequences of such actions?
• Discuss the importance of preserving India’s syncretic heritage in the face of contemporary challenges. How can the government and civil society work together to maintain communal harmony?
• “Religious disputes over historical monuments challenge India’s secular fabric.” Discuss this statement in the context of recent controversies. Suggest measures to mitigate such conflicts.
Key Takeaways:
• The petition was filed by Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta who, claimed that there was a temple at Ajmer Sharif Dargah like “in Kashi and Mathura”.
• Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel issued notices after Gupta claimed in his petition that the dargah — the mausoleum of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti – was a Shiva temple. The court order has not been uploaded online or shared with the petitioners so far.
Do You Know:
• The Places of Worship Act, 1991, was a legislative attempt to strengthen the preambular goal of secularism, recognising that the rich
cultural history of India carries with it centuries-old narratives and experiences of violence between communities who at that time had no shared aspiration for a common nation.
• The Parliament of the time, conscious of the potential harm to the body politic which could arise from repeatedly reopening centuries-old wounds, chose in its wisdom to acknowledge that August 15, 1947, was a watershed moment. It was from that day onwards that various communities came together to primarily pledge their allegiance to the idea of India as a nation-state while continuing to practice their religion and faith with the protection of the law. The Act draws an imaginary line, to ensure that any section of the Indian population of today is not punished or subjected to humiliation and violence on the pretext of actions of people from their religion centuries ago.
• Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (1141–1236 CE), also known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, was a revered Sufi saint and the founder of the Chishti Order in the Indian subcontinent. His teachings emphasized love, tolerance, and service to humanity, making him one of the most influential spiritual figures in South Asia. His final resting place is the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan, which is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in South Asia.
—The Urs festival, commemorating his death anniversary, attracts devotees from across the globe.
—Moinuddin Chishti’s work laid the foundation for Sufi traditions in India, which became integral to the region’s spiritual and cultural fabric. His emphasis on compassion and harmony continues to inspire millions today.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: Places of Worship Act, and the legal issues in the Sambhal mosque case
📍What makes the Ajmer Sharif Dargah a space that embodies the sanatan spirit
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
2. With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices? (2012)
1. Meditation and control of breath.
2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place.
3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Previous year UPSC mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍Sufis and medieval mystic saints failed to modify either the religious ideas and practices or the outward structure of Hindu / Muslim societies to any appreciable extent. Comment. (2014)
GOVT & POLITICS
NSO Group’s Pegasus pitch: ‘Heaven’, ‘Eden’, ‘Erised’ & $6.8 mn/yr licence
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: General Studies III: Basics of Cyber Security
What’s the ongoing story: The documents reveal that between April 2018 and May 2020, the company charged its customers — “select government agencies approved by the Government of Israel”— $6.8 million (Rs 57.3 crore) for a one-year license.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is Pegasus Software? How does it work?
• How is Pegasus different from another spyware?
• What kind of devices are vulnerable and What information can be compromised?
• Types of Cyber Attacks
• Pegasus in India-What is the Controversy?
• Cyber Security in India- Computer Emergency Response Team – India (CERT-IN), Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative, National Cyber Security Coordination Centre (NCCC), Cyber Swachhta Kendra, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Cyberdome (Kerala)
• Snooping and Surveillance in the name of National Security-Where to draw the line?
• Supreme Court of India on snooping and surveillance-People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) vs Union of India case in 1996, Rule 419A of the Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951
• Justice Raveendran Committee Report-know in detail
• The deployment of surveillance tools like Pegasus has raised concerns about privacy and civil liberties. Critically analyse the legal and ethical implications of using such spyware by state agencies in India.
• Discuss the potential threats posed by advanced surveillance technologies like Pegasus to national security and individual privacy. Suggest measures to regulate the use of such technologies to ensure a balance between security needs and citizens’ rights.
• The use of spyware like Pegasus by government agencies involves ethical considerations related to privacy, consent, and oversight. Examine the ethical dilemmas associated with state surveillance in the digital age and propose frameworks to address these challenges.
• “Surveillance versus Privacy: Navigating the Complex Terrain in the Digital Era.” Discuss in the context of the Pegasus spyware controversy.
Key Takeaways:
• The documents reveal that between April 2018 and May 2020, the company charged its customers — “select government agencies approved by the Government of Israel”— $6.8 million (Rs 57.3 crore) for a one-year license.
• WhatsApp estimated the number following an expert testimony by Dana Trexler, who runs an “intellectual property disputes and valuations practice”.
• WhatsApp also estimated that NSO Group earned an approximate $31 million in revenue in 2019 from the sale of these licenses. NSO has challenged these numbers.
• At the heart of how the NSO Group fanged its Pegasus product is a sophisticated cat-and-mouse game between its engineers and WhatsApp.
• It first launched Heaven in 2018, an exploit born out of NSO’s extensive reverse-engineering efforts—mimicking everything from
WhatsApp’s servers to decompiling the source code, a violation of WhatsApp’s Terms of Service.
Do You Know:
• The installation of Pegasus extended to devices in India, including those allegedly belonging to journalists, politicians, Union Ministers, besides members of the civil society.
• After allegations in India that Pegasus was used on people in India, several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court seeking an inquiry into the charges.
• In 2021, the Supreme Court had formed a committee of technical experts to look into allegations of unauthorised surveillance using the Pegasus software.
• In August 2022, the committee of technical experts found no conclusive evidence on use of the spyware in phones examined by it but noted that the Central Government “had not cooperated” with the panel. The report is sealed and has not been released publicly since.
• “As the report is submitted to the Supreme Court, it will not be proper to offer any comments,” retired judge Justice R V Raveendran, who was supervising the probe panel, said.
• Pegasus aka Q Suite, marketed by the NSO Group aka Q Cyber Technologies as “a world-leading cyber intelligence solution that enables law enforcement and intelligence agencies to remotely and covertly extract” data “from virtually any mobile devices”, was developed by veterans of Israeli intelligence agencies.
• Until early 2018, NSO Group clients primarily relied on SMS and WhatsApp messages to trick targets into opening a malicious link, which would lead to infection of their mobile devices. A Pegasus brochure described this as Enhanced Social Engineering Message (ESEM). When a malicious link packaged as ESEM is clicked, the phone is directed to a server that checks the operating system and delivers the suitable remote exploit.
• In its October 2019 report, Amnesty International first documented use of ‘network injections’ which enabled attackers to install the spyware “without requiring any interaction by the target”. Pegasus can achieve such zero-click installations in various ways.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: Why was Pegasus panel needed, what it will do now — and how
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
3. Consider the following statements regarding the Pegasus spyware:
1. It can access messages and calls from apps like WhatsApp and Facebook.
2. It requires physical access to the target device for installation.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
THE EDITORIAL PAGE
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance-Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights Issues, etc.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Appointment to various Constitutional posts, powers, functions and responsibilities of various Constitutional Bodies.
What’s the ongoing story: S Y Quraishi Writes: The institution has stood the test of time and lived up to the trust of the nation as a powerful watchdog of democracy, some temporary hiccups notwithstanding.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Who appoints Chief Election Commissioner of India?
• How Chief Election Commissioner of India and other Election Commissioners are appointed?
• Election Commission of India and Article 324 of the Constitution-Know in detail
• Discuss the significance of Article 324 in the Indian Constitution concerning the establishment and functions of the Election Commission of India.
• How does Article 324 in the Indian Constitution ensures free and fair elections in the country?
• Examine the challenges faced by the Election Commission of India in maintaining its autonomy and effectiveness.
• Analyse the role of the Election Commission of India in upholding the democratic process.
• How has Election Commission of India contributed to the conduct of free and fair elections since its inception?
• Suggest measures to strengthen Election Commission of India’s role in the democratic framework of India.
Key Takeaways:
• For the Constituent Assembly (CA), if a democratic country was the goal, free and fair elections were its means. Not many know that 16 articles of the Constitution were enacted exactly two months before the Constitution became fully operational.
—These included Article 324, which laid the foundation for the establishment of the Election Commission that was mandated with “superintendence, direction and control” of all elections.
—Interestingly, the Election Commission of India (ECI) was established on January 25, 1950-one day before India was born as a sovereign democratic republic.
• During proceedings of the Assembly, the Sub-Committee on Fundamental Rights recognised the independence of and non-interference by the executive and legislature in elections a fundamental right. Most significantly, the Constitution, through Article 329, debarred even the judiciary from interfering in the election process to ensure uninterrupted elections. This provision has been the envy of many election
commissions.
• A significant issue of discussion in the CA was whether the elections to the state legislatures should be vested in the state election commission or the central commission. In a far-sighted move and radical departure from the federal principle, the CA, put the Vidhan Sabha elections under the central Election Commission.
• In February 2024, the apex court struck down electoral bonds as “unconstitutional and manifestly arbitrary” annulling all the legislative changes which had institutionalised and legalised crony capitalism in India. SC, which has been a guardian angel of democracy, has undone a great damage.
• One important factor that makes our democracy flawed is the low participation of women in elections, both in terms of voter enrolment and voter turnout, despite the Constitution giving them equal voting rights from day one (Article 326). ECI, by its concerted efforts, has corrected the skewed gender ratio in the electoral roll.
Do You Know:
• The Constitution of India gave the Election Commission sweeping powers without going into the specifics. Introducing this provision in the Constituent Assembly on June 15, 1949, Babasaheb Ambedkar had said “the whole election machinery should be in the hands of a Central Election Commission, which alone would be entitled to issue directives to returning officers, polling officers and others”. Parliament subsequently enacted The Representation of the People Act, 1950, and The Representation of the People Act, 1951, to define and enlarge the powers of the Commission.
• The Supreme Court in ‘Mohinder Singh Gill & Anr vs The Chief Election Commissioner, New Delhi and Ors’ (1977) held that Article 324 “operates in areas left unoccupied by legislation and the words ‘superintendence, direction and control’ as well as ‘conduct of all elections’ are the broadest terms”. The Constitution has not defined these terms.
• The SC said Article 324 “is a plenary provision vesting the whole responsibility for national and State elections” in the ECI “and, therefore, the necessary powers to discharge that function”.
The Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 (EC Act) requires that the EC and CEC must hold the post for a period of six years. This law essentially governs the conditions of service of the CEC and ECs.
• In March 2023, the Supreme Court stepped in to check what it called the “pernicious effects of the exclusive power being vested with the Executive to make appointment to the Election Commission” and ordered that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs) shall be appointed on the advice of a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India. Ruling on petitions seeking an independent mechanism to appoint the CEC and ECs, a five-judge Constitution Bench presided by Justice K M Joseph said where no Leader of Opposition is available, the committee will include the leader of the largest Opposition party in Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍ECI members to have same status as SC judges: Why Govt has chosen to make U-turn on proposed Bill
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
4. Consider the following statements: (2017)
1. The Election Commission of India is a five-member body.
2. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs decides the election schedule for the conduct of both general elections and bye-elections.
3. Election Commission resolves the disputes relating to splits/mergers of recognised political parties.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: History of India
Main Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
What’s the ongoing story: Mrinal Pande Writes: Now comes news from one of the biggest Hindi dailies that a case of impersonation and cheating under section 319 (1) of the penal code has been slapped against three Muslim men from the village of Atarsanwa in Ghazipur district.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Discuss the historical role of the Gorakhnath Math in promoting inclusivity across caste, religion, and gender in Indian society. How has this role evolved in contemporary times?
• Analyse the implications of individuals impersonating members of religious sects, such as the Gorakhpanthis, on social harmony and legal frameworks in India.
• Evaluate the significance of Kabir’s critique of pseudo-ascetic practices in the context of the Nath tradition, as referenced in the article. How do such critiques contribute to the understanding of religious authenticity?
Key Takeaways:
• The given article delves into the inclusive nature of the Gorakhpanthi sect and examines a recent incident in Ghazipur district.
• Three Muslim men from Atarsanwa village were arrested for allegedly impersonating Gorakhpanthi jogis (ascetics) by wearing saffron robes and performing bhajans. They claimed this was their ancestral vocation, but local villagers, led by a BJP leader, contested their authenticity, asserting that the Gorakhpanthi sect is exclusively Sanatani (Hindu).
• Founded by Guru Gorakhnath, the sect has historically embraced followers across caste, religion, and gender lines. Guru Gorakhnath, a disciple of Matsyendranath, integrated elements from Tantric Shaivism and Buddhism, fostering an inclusive spiritual tradition.
• Under Matsyendranath and later Gorakhnath, the tradition bridged Tantric Shaivite rituals and Tantra-inspired Buddhism, leading to the formation of the Nath Siddha tradition. This tradition emphasized rationalism and defied societal divisions.
• Over time, some Hindu disciples incorporated Hindu gods and goddesses into the sect’s practices, which traditionally worshipped Adi Nath (a form of Shiva). This led to some lower-caste Gorakhpanthis converting to Islam while continuing to identify as Nathpanthi jogis.
• During the British colonial period, the Gorakhpanthi jogis were often misrepresented as degenerate and dangerous, which contrasted with the sect’s original inclusive and rationalist principles.
• The poet Kabir criticized the sect’s deviation from its original principles, particularly the adoption of violent and aggressive behaviours, urging a return to true asceticism.
Do You Know:
• Gorakhpur takes its name from Gorakhnath, who was a saint of the ‘Nath Sampradaya’. A shrine called Gorakhnath Mandir was built in his honour at the location where he did his Sādhanā.
• The Gorakhpur region comprises the districts of Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia and parts of Nepal Terai. These areas, which may be called the Gorakhpur Janapad, were an important centre of the Hindu culture. Gorakhpur was a part of the kingdom of Magadha, one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas in the 6th century BCE.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
5. Consider the following statements regarding the Gorakhnath Math:
1. It has historically promoted inclusivity, transcending divisions based on caste, religion, and gender.
2. The Math has remained apolitical throughout its history.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
THE IDEAS PAGE
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
What’s the ongoing story: C Raja Mohan writes: India will need to move much faster on the reform front than it has so far to cope with the massive gap in the defence capabilities with China as well as seize the international opportunity for the transformation of its defence industrial base.
Key Points to Ponder:
• Which strategy best describes India’s strategic approach towards China?
• According to C. Raja Mohan, which of the countries plays a significant role in India’s strategy to counterbalance China?
• C. Raja Mohan suggests that India’s engagement with which regional grouping is crucial in addressing the China challenge?
• Discuss the significance of India’s strategic partnerships in counterbalancing China’s influence.
• Analyse the role of the QUAD in India’s strategy to address challenges posed by China.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of India’s current foreign policy strategies in managing its relationship with China.
Key Takeaways:
• China’s rapid economic and military growth has significantly altered the global power balance, presenting both challenges and opportunities for India.
• India has strengthened ties with nations such as the United States, Japan, and Australia to counterbalance China’s influence, exemplified by the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).
• Despite political tensions, China remains one of India’s largest trading partners, necessitating a nuanced approach to economic relations.
• Ongoing boundary issues, particularly in regions like Ladakh, underscore the complexity of India-China relations and the need for diplomatic and military readiness.
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its growing presence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region pose strategic challenges to India’s regional influence.
• Some of Policy Recommendations are:
—Diplomatic Engagement: Maintain open channels for dialogue to manage disputes and explore areas of cooperation.
—Military Preparedness: Enhance defense capabilities and infrastructure along the border to deter aggression.
—Economic Strategy: Diversify trade partnerships and strengthen domestic industries to reduce economic dependence on China.
—Regional Cooperation: Collaborate with neighbouring countries to promote a multipolar Asia and counterbalance China’s dominance.
Do You Know:
• One key concern is Chinese assertiveness on territorial disputes in the region. To be sure, Beijing is turning on its charm diplomacy these days after years of muscular unilateralism on disputed frontiers with its neighbours, including India, and intense “wolf-warrior” diplomacy. Sceptics remind us that China’s mood could easily swing the other way at any time.
• Beijing’s defence production has reached formidable proportions, thanks to China’s expansive industrial infrastructure, impressive military modernisation over the last three decades, and massive investments in defence research and development. Consider this example: China commissioned 70 submarines between 1995 and 2020 — nearly three a year. This scale of military production hasn’t been seen since the height of the Second World War.
• There was a time when the region believed in “Asia for Asians” and saw no reason for “external powers” to maintain their military presence. China still plays on this sentiment, arguing that “outsiders” shouldn’t meddle in its disputes with Asian neighbours. Few in Asia today accept this “Asia for Asians” rhetoric, though not all express this openly for fear of offending Beijing. Many of them can see that the slogan of “Asia for Asians” is about consolidating Chinese primacy over the region.
• China’s assertiveness has produced strong regional support for American armed forces in Asia. It’s also Washington’s fear of Beijing replacing it as Asia’s dominant power that drives increased US strategic attention to the region.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Explained: China-India state of play
Previous year UPSC mains Question Covering similar theme:
📍The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is viewed as a cardinal subset of China’s larger ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. Give a brief description of CPEC and enumerate the reasons why India has distanced itself from the same. (2018)
EXPLAINED
What is govt’s ‘One Nation One Subscription’ initiative?
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
What’s the ongoing story: The Union Cabinet on Monday (November 25) approved a budgetary allocation of Rs 6,000 crore for an initiative called ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) which the Centre hopes will help India’s higher education institutions (HEIs) access academic resources for the better.
Key Points to Ponder:
• ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) scheme-Know in detail
• How ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) scheme will enhance skill development?
• How do HEIs currently access journals?
• What does the ONOS scheme offer?
• What is the need for ONOS?
• Highlight the economic advantages of the ‘One Nation One Subscription’ scheme in terms of cost-effectiveness for government-funded institutions.
• Analyse the role of government initiatives like ONOS in reducing dependency on international publishers and promoting self-reliance in research infrastructure.
• What impact might the ‘One Nation One Subscription’ scheme have on India’s ranking in global research indices and academic output?
Key Takeaways:
• The Union Cabinet on Monday approved the ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) scheme, which aims to centralise journal subscriptions for nearly 6,300 government-run institutions, ONOS seeks to provide equitable access to 13,000 scholarly journals under a single platform.
• Access will be provided through a national subscription, coordinated by the Information and Library Network (INFLIBNET), an autonomous inter-university centre under the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Currently, there are ten separate library consortia under different ministries that provide access to journals for higher education institutions within their administrative remit. In addition, individual institutions subscribe to journals separately.
• With ONOS, all government higher education institutions, including universities, colleges, and institutions of national importance, will have unified access to national and international journal publications covering all academic disciplines on one platform.
• The scheme involves an outlay of ₹6,000 crore for three years, until 2027, and will provide subscriptions to around 13,000 journals published by 30 international publishers.
• Apart from higher education institutions run by the Centre and states, research and development institutions under the Centre will also be included, covering around 6,300 institutions.
• All 13,000 journals will be accessible to these institutions under the scheme.
• INFLIBNET will make central payments to the 30 publishers, while institutions can continue to use their own budgets to subscribe to publishers not covered under the scheme.
• Among the publishers included in the scheme are Elsevier ScienceDirect, Springer Nature, Wiley Blackwell Publishing, Taylor & Francis, Sage Publishing, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and BMJ Journals.
• The scheme is expected to provide broader access to research journals for institutions that previously lacked sufficient resources. The platform is set to become operational on January 1, 2025.
Do You Know:
• Currently, higher education institutions (HEIs) can access journals through 10 different library consortia which are under the administrative control of various ministries.
—A library consortium is a group of two or more libraries that have agreed to cooperate to fulfil certain similar needs, usually resource sharing. For instance, INFLIBNET Centre (Information and Library Network Centre) in Gandhinagar is an Inter-University Centre of the University Grants Commission under the Ministry of Education (India) which oversees the UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium, providing access to selected scholarly electronic journals and databases in different disciplines.
—Apart from this, HEIs also subscribe to several journals individually. According to government estimates, roughly 2,500 HEIs can access 8,100 journals through the above networks and individual subscriptions.
• Through the ONOS scheme, the Centre aims to consolidate the disaggregated approach to journal access for all government HEIs. ONOS will enable state and central government HEIs to access thousands of journals on one platform, which will be active from January 1, 2025.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍Centre approves new scheme for research journals on one platform
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
6. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding National Innovation Foundation-India (NIF)? (2015)
1. NIF is an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology under the Central Government.
2. NIF is an initiative to strengthen the highly advanced scientific research in India’s premier scientific institutions in collaboration with highly advanced foreign scientific institutions.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal
Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.
Main Examination: General Studies II: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests,
What’s the ongoing story: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that he has agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
In a statement after a meeting with his security cabinet about a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Netanyahu said Hezbollah is “not the same anymore” and that Israel has pushed the group “decades back”.
Key Points to Ponder:
• What is Resolution 1701?
• What does the current ceasefire proposal say?
• Discuss the significance of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement brokered in November 2024. Analyse its potential impact on regional stability in the Middle East.
• Examine the role of international mediation in conflict resolution with reference to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. What are the challenges and prospects associated with such interventions?
• Evaluate the strategic interests of major global powers, such as the United States and France, in facilitating the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. How do these interests align with broader geopolitical objectives in the Middle East?
• Analyse the implications of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire on Lebanon’s internal security dynamics. How might the agreement affect the balance of power between state and non-state actors within Lebanon?
• Critically assess the provisions of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement concerning the withdrawal of armed groups and the deployment of peacekeeping forces. What measures are necessary to ensure effective implementation and prevent future escalations?
Key Takeaways:
• The most important underpinning to every development around Israel across the past year, has been the fact that October 7 decimated Israeli perceptions of security. This is what drove Israel to unleash a literal firestorm first in Gaza, and then in Lebanon.
• International pressure on Israel has been concerted, with the United Nations’ experts characterising Israel’s acts as a “genocide”, the International Court of Justice calling for Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, and the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant against Netanyahu. This has evidently not stopped Israel from pushing on in Gaza, as Israel now views this as its ultimate quest for complete security against all threats; a new “never again”.
• That said, the strong dent in Netanyahu’s image as “Mr Security” still lingers, and Israel’s threat perception has usually not differentiated between any of the Iran-sponsored groups. It is curious then that the post-ceasefire status quo post-bellum uncannily resembles the state of affairs at the end of the 34-day Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006. (The current invasion spanned 57 days.)
Do You Know:
• The UNSC unanimously passed Resolution 1701 on August 11, 2006, calling for a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. The 19-paragraph resolution calls for a long-term solution based on the following provisions:
—The full implementation of the relevant provisions of the Taif Accords and resolutions 1559 (2004) and 1680 (2006), requiring the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so there will be no weapons or authority in the country other than that of the Lebanese State
—No foreign forces in Lebanon without the Government’s consent
—No sales or supply of arms and related materials to Lebanon except as authorised by its Government
—Provision to the UN of all remaining maps of landmines in Lebanon in Israel’s possession
—Full respect by both parties for the Blue Line and security arrangements to prevent the resumption of hostilities, including an area free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the Lebanese authorities and UNIFIL between the Blue Line and the Litani River.
—The Security Council thus authorised the UNIFIL force strength to a maximum of 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to monitor the end of hostilities, help secure the area with Lebanese troops and ensure the safe return of displaced Lebanese.
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
📍What is the UNSC Resolution 1701 upon which the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is based?
Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:
7. Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea? (2015)
(a) Syria
(b) Jordan
(c) Lebanon
(d) Israel
| PRELIMS ANSWER KEY |
| 1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (a) 7.(b) |
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