11-DECEMBER-2020

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© Shankar IAS Academy
 The Hindu News Analysis – 11th December 2020 – Shankar IAS Academy

S. Page Number*
News Articles
No.
C B D H T

1 Morocco to normalise ties with Israel 13 11 13 11 11

2 Iran’s calculated risk (OPED) 9 7 7 7 7

3 DRDO completes trials of indigenous carbine 12 10 10 10 10

4 NHRC got over 46,000 plaints since April 11 9 9 9 9

5 Prelims Practice Questions

@ end of the video
16 Mains Practice Questions

© Shankar IAS Academy *C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

Pg: 13 – C, D; Pg: 11 – B, H, T;
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 • Borders:
Morocco:  Algeria to the east and southeast,
• A mountainous country in western North  Western Sahara to the south,
Africa.  Atlantic Ocean to the west,
 Mediterranean Sea to the north.

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• Only African country with coastal
exposure to both the Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea.

• Most of it lies at high elevations (about

800 metres above sea level).

• Two chains of mountains divide eastern

Morocco from Atlantic Morocco - Rif
Mountain system and Atlas Mountain
system.

 Two parts connected by the

narrow Taza Gap in the northeast
and by roads.

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Drainage:
• Has numerous perennial watercourses - it has the most-extensive stream network in North Africa.
• Rivers:
• Sebou river (largest volume of water compared to any other Moroccan river),
• Drâa (longest river of Morocco),
• Oum el-Rbia,
• Moulouya rivers etc.

Ethnicity:
• Mainly composed of Arabs and Imazighen or an
admixture of the two.
• 2 official languages: Arabic and Amazigh.
• Official state religion: Islam (majority are Sunni
Muslims of the Mālikī rite).

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 Economy:

• Heavily dependent on the

export of raw materials.

• Good agricultural potential

due to availability of
arable land and
Mediterranean climate.

Source: https://cdn.britannica.com/
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Pg: 9 – C;
Pg: 7 – B, D, H, T;
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JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action): What Saudi Arabia and Israel want?

• agreement signed by Iran and the P5+1+1 on • Unhappy with JCPOA.

July 14, 2015.
• Does not limit Iran's ambitions.
• to prevent Iran from producing a nuclear
• Only has few restrictions with regard to nuclear
weapon — by putting curbs on its capabilities
atomic program in exchange for economic
• Want not just nuclear capabilities contained but
incentives.
also entire Iran’s geo political game.
Why did US withdraw from JCPOA?
What Israel is doing to weaken Iran?
• JCPOA did not put restrictions
• Killed prominent scientists.
on Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and
alleges Iran was violating JCPOA treaty. • Stealing documents using spies in Iran

• actions of Iran in Syria and other west Asian • Bombing Iran's camps in Syria
countries
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US approach:

• Obama- wanted to solve the Iran problem using

diplomatic channels

• Trump-wanted to force Iran to submission using

economic sanctions.

• Biden- taking the Obama path

Iran’s dilemma:

• Not respond- will be perceived as a weak

player and will be prone to more attacks.

• If respond- will give opportunity to out going

Trump administration and Israel to increase
conflicts in other areas.

• With Biden coming in, tensions with US might

ease. No respite in sight for improving relations
with Israel.
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© Shankar IAS Academy
Pg: 12 – C;
Pg: 10 – B, D, H, T;
© Shankar IAS Academy
DRDO:

• R&D wing of Ministry of Defence - to empower

India with cutting-edge defence technologies -
achieve self-reliance in
critical defence technologies and systems -
equipping our armed forces with state-of-the-art
weapon systems and equipment in accordance
with requirements laid down by the three
Services.

• The motto of the organization is:

"Balasya Mulam Vigyanam"—the source of

strength is science.

• Established in 1958 after combining Technical

Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian
Army and the Directorate of Technical
Development & Production (DTDP) with
the Defence Science Organisation (DSO). © Shankar IAS Academy
© Shankar IAS Academy
Integrated Guided Missile
Development Programme (IGMDP):

1. Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic

missile – Prithvi

2. Intermediate-range surface-to-surface
ballistic missile – Agni

3. Short-range low-level surface-to-air

missile – Trishul

4. Medium-range surface-to-air missile –

Akash

5. Third generation anti-tank missile –

Nag

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 News

• Virtual event held by NHRC to commemorate human rights day,

• Over 46,000 complaints filed against the violation of rights

• Human Rights: rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of

the individual, guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the
International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):

• An autonomous and statutory body under Government of India.

• Aim: to Protect and safeguard human rights.

• Established in 1993.

• Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993

Pg: 11 – C; • Paris Principles.

Pg: 9 – B, D, H, T;
© Shankar IAS Academy
Functions of NHRC

• Section 12 of the PHRA

 Inquire in to violation of human rights

 Intervention into pending proceedings.

 Visit to study living conditions

 Review the constitutional safeguards:

 Passes recommendations

 research in the field of HR.

 Human Rights literacy

 efforts of NGO and other institutions

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 Practice Question – Prelims
Q1.Consider the following places.
1. Algeria Practice Question – Prelims
2. Mali Q2.Which one of the following pairs of
countries open out to both
3. Mediterranean sea Mediterranean sea and Atlantic ocean.
4. Atlantic Ocean (a)Tunisia and Spain
Which of the these are bordered by (b)Tunisia and Morocco
Morocco?
(a) 1, 3, 4 only (c) Morocco and Spain
(b) 1, 2, 3, 4 only (d)Algeria and France
(c) 1, and 2 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 only

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 Practice Question – Prelims
Q3.Consider the following statements with
regard to Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO):
Practice Questions – Prelims
1. It works under the administrative control
of Ministry of Science and Technology, 11-12-2020
Government of India. Answers
2. Its motto is ‘ "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam“
Q1. Option – a
- the source of strength is science.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are Q2. Option – c
correct? Q3. Option – b
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

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 Practice Question – Mains
GS-II
Q. With increasing clandestine attacks on
Iran's top nuclear scientists and
sabotaging of their nuclear operations,
what options do Iran have to respond to
attacks against them? How would the
change of regime in the White House
alter the dynamics of this geo political
game in West Asia?
(15 marks, 250 words)

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