21-APRIL-2021

The Hindu News Analysis – 21st April 2021 – Shankar IAS Academy

S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T
1 U.S. currency watchlist an intrusion into policy: official 1, 10 10 1, 8 1, 8 1, 8
2 Sri Lanka - India travel bubble delayed 13 13 13 11 11
3 Tackling vaccine hesitancy (OPED) 9 9 7 7 7
4 A low carbon future through sector led change (Editorial) 8 8 6 6 6
5 Jagan launches crop loan scheme for farmers 7 7 5 5 5
6 EPFO adds 12.37 lakh subscribers in February 10 10 8 8 8
7 Boeing 737 MAX 8s allowed to overfly India 10 10 8 8 8
8 Russia says it will launch own space station in 2025 13 13 13 11 11
9 Civil Services Day - - - - -
10 Prelims Practice Questions
@ end of the video
11 Mains Practice Questions
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram
Pg: 1, 10 – C; Pg: 1, 8 – D, H, T; Pg: 10 – B;
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
Current events of national and international importance.
Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics,
Social Sector initiatives, etc.

Part B—Main Examination

PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and
Disaster Management.
• Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development
and Employment.
Watchlist for currency manipulators Currency Manipulators

• U.S. Treasury Department -retained India on • Countries who engage in “unfair currency
watchlist for currency manipulators. practices” by deliberately devaluing their
currency.
• Reasons
• Devaluation -reduction of the official value of
Higher dollar purchases by Reserve Bank
a currency in relation to other currencies.
of India (RBI).
• Artificially lowering the value of currency to
Threshold of U.S -only 2% of GDP.
gain unfair advantage.
20 billion dollar trade surplus.
• Reduce the cost of exports and artificially
Trade plus grew from 18 billion dollar
show a reduction in trade deficits.
to 23 billion.
Criteria for Currency Manipulators

• US Department of Treasury -semi-annual report

where developments in global economic and
exchange rate policies are reviewed.
• Current account surpluses -country has more
• Watchlist for currency manipulators.
exports than imports of goods and services.
• Three criteria - any two of the three
• Currency manipulator does not immediately
criteria.
attract any penalties -dent the confidence
20 billion dollar-plus bilateral trade surplus
about a country.
with the U.S.

Foreign currency intervention exceeding 2%

of gross domestic product.

Global current account surplus exceeding 2%

of GDP.
 Practice Question – Mains
GS – III
Q. Recently India was retained in the
watchlist for currency manipulators by
the U.S. Treasury Department. In this
context discuss the implications for
Indian economy of such move.
(250 words, 15 marks)
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
Current events of national and
international importance.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies-II: Governance,
Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and
International Relations.
• India and its neighborhood- relations.
• Bilateral, regional and global groupings
and agreements involving India and/or
affecting India’s interests.
• Effect of policies and politics of
developed and developing countries on
India’s interests, Indian diaspora.
Pg: 13 – C, B, D; Pg: 11 – H, T;
Travel bubble / Air bubble

• A pact/agreement.

• Also called as Transport Bubbles or Air Travel

Arrangements.

• Temporary international bilateral agreement between

two countries aimed at restarting commercial
passenger services stopped in the wake of pandemic.

Provide for restarting suspended passenger

services.

• Reciprocal in nature.

• Tickets sold through the airlines' website, travel

agents and Global Distribution Systems.

• India:

Flight services operated between the destinations

of party countries.
• Example: India – Bahrain air travel 2. Bahrain to India - Indian nationals
arrangement. stranded in Bahrain, all OCI cardholders
holding Bahraini passports, Bahraini
Air India/Air India Express and Gulf Air
nationals including diplomats holding valid
are permitted to operate services between visa issued by an Indian Mission in any
India and Bahrain. category covered under Ministry of Home
Affairs guidelines amended from time to
Can carry following categories of persons on
time.
such flights.
Air bubble agreement flight service
1. India to Bahrain - Bahraini between Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, India
nationals/residents and any Indian and Bahrain was operated in September
national holding any type of valid visa 2020.

from the Kingdom of Bahrain and • Benefit - helping to bring back stranded
destined for Bahrain only. Indians from abroad to India and unite them
with their families.
• News: Significance:

Recently, India’s Civil Aviation Ministry Sri Lanka - wanted to open its tourism
announced setting up a bilateral air bubble sector – one of the main contributor to
arrangement with Sri Lanka. its economy.

Agreement: for operation of special India is the top source for tourist influx
international passenger flights. into Sri Lanka -over 42 lakh Indian
tourists travelled to Sri Lanka in 2018.
But Sri Lanka has postponed the launch of
proposed “travel bubble” with India. For helping Buddhist pilgrims in Sri Lanka
to visit important religious sites in India.

Sri Lankan tourists are among the top ten

sources for the Indian tourism market
also.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. With reference to ‘Air Bubble Pact’, often
seen in news, consider the following
statements:
1. A temporary international bilateral
agreement aimed at restarting commercial
passenger services suspended in the wake
of pandemic.
2. It is signed between countries sharing
international land border.
Which of the statements given above is/are
incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Pg: 9 – C, B; Pg: 7 – D, H, T;
 Reasons
Vaccine Hesitancy
• Extremely localized and sociocultural contexts.
• World Health Organization -reluctance or
refusal to be vaccinated. • Digital technology -misinformation spreading
through social and digital media channel
Britain -vaccination against whooping
cough and against measles. • India is vulnerable -increasingly moving towards
consumption of news and information online and
HPV vaccine in Japan and tetanus
through social channels.
toxoid in Kenya.
Solutions
India -polio vaccination campaign
• Building public trust through clear and transparent
Second wave
communication.
• Number of cases and deaths are increasing
• Garnering the support of trusted local and
• Covid 19 vaccines -countering the disease community leaders
and reducing the fatalities.
• Spreading positive messages proactively.
Save lives and reduce the demand for
healthcare services • Understand and address our community’s concerns
with empathy.
 Practice Question – Mains
GS – III
Q. What do you understand by Vaccine
Hesitancy? Elucidate with appropriate
examples.
(150 words, 10 marks)
Pg: 8 – C, B; Pg: 6 – D, H, T;
 Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks)
Current events of national and international importance.
Indian Polity and Governance – Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy, Rights
Issues, etc.
General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not require
subject specialization.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies-II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations.
• Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their
design and implementation.
PAPER-IV
General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio-diversity, Environment, Security and
Disaster Management.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
• US President Joe Biden invited 40 world Way forward for India:
leaders to the Leaders’ Summit on Climate.
• Come up with a plan to limit global
To discuss on the urgency and the economic
temperature rise below 1.5°C- considering its
benefits of stronger climate action. own developmental needs.

• A milestone on the road to the United Nations • Cannot afford to commit 2050 as the net zero
Climate Change Conference (COP26) this year- more burden of decarbonisation than
November in Glasgow. many developed countries.

• World leaders are expected to catalyse their • Focus on near-term sectoral transformations-
efforts that keep the 1.5-degree goal within aggressive adoption of available technologies.
reach and achieve net zero emissions target.
• Focus on sectoral low-carbon development-
• IPCC report- called for global carbon emissions combine competitiveness, job-creation,
to reach net-zero by 2050. distributional justice and low pollution in key

• Countries including India are expected to areas.

announce 2050 as the net-zero target year.

India’s power sector • Coal provides roughly 75% of electricity today

• 2010: 25% of the global greenhouse gas and supports the key sectors in economy.
emissions came from Electricity and Heat
• Pledge that India won’t grow its coal-fired
Production.
power capacity- reach peak coal electricity
• Burning of coal, natural gas, and oil for capacity by 2030 and make existing coal-based
electricity and heat: largest single source of
generation cleaner.
global greenhouse gas emissions.
Encourage investors in renewable energy
• Electricity sector is the single largest source-
contributes about 40% of India’s greenhouse sector- scope for its full-scale development.
gas emissions.
Also reduce air pollution and help to
• Efforts focused on expanding renewable mitigate climate change.
electricity capacity- present target is 450GW
• Create a multi-stakeholder Just Transition
of renewable capacity by 2030.
Commission.
• Decarbonising electricity sector in India- limit
the expansion of coal-based electricity Represent all levels of government and the
capacity. affected communities.
 ensure decent livelihood opportunities beyond • Air conditioners, fans and refrigerators together
coal in India’s coal belt. consume about 60% of the electricity in

• Address existing problems in the power sector: households.

poor finances and management of distribution • Most of the electric appliance sold in our
companies etc. market are not energy efficient.

• India shall work on to become a leader in Example: An average fan sold in Indian
technologies of the future- electricity storage, market consumes more than twice what an
smart grids etc. efficient fan does.

• Create employment and improve global • India should set aggressive targets: 80% of air
competitiveness: partner with the private conditioner sales and 50% of fan and
sector and provide production-linked incentives. refrigerator sales in 2030 shall be in the most

Enhancing the efficiency of electricity use efficient bracket.

• Growing urbanisation and increased energy • Use it to become a global leader in production

consumption- rapid increase in cooling needs. of clean appliances.

• Sector-by-sector approach shall be developed for
other sectors to achieve net zero emissions
without compromising on development.

• Later, India can commit for timelines to

achieve net-zero emissions.
Practice Question – Prelims
Shall assess India’s development needs and GS – II, III
low-carbon opportunities.
Q. ‘India shall adopt a sector-led and action-based
possible pace of technological developments, approach to drive low-carbon transformation
without compromising her development goals’.
similar targets of developed countries etc. Illustrate with an example.
• Develop a strategic road map to enhance its (150 words, 10 marks)
own technology and manufacturing competence.

geo-political and geo-economic risks

associated with over-dependence on certain
countries.
Pg: 7 – C, B; Pg: 5 – D, H, T;
Foreground

Amount of ₹128.47 crore has been credited into • Allotment Criteria

the accounts of 6.27 lakh farmers
The loans will be granted to the eligible
YSR Zero Interest Crop Loan Scheme/AP farmers based on the e-Crop Data.
YSR Sunna Vaddi Panta Runalu Scheme The farmers who have taken the loans up
• State Govt. Of AP will provide interest subsidy to 1 lakh and repaid in the given
on loans for crops. deadlines will get eligible for 0% interest
on the loan taken.
• Parts of the earlier launched YSR Sunna Vaddi
Pathakam Scheme for women SHGs. AP State Government has set up the
Rythu Bharosha Kendras (RBKs) to make
Reimbursed the interest paid by SHGs on the scheme more accessible to farmers.
outstanding Bank loan up to Rs. 3 Lakhs.
Permanent resident
• State govt. reimburses all the interests on the
outstanding crop loans of those farmers who • This entire scheme falls under YSR Rythu
repay it on time Bharosa scheme
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Sunna Vaddi Panta Runalu Scheme or Zero Interest
Crop Loan Scheme, that is seen in the news
recently is introduced by which of the following
states:
(a) Andhra pradesh
(b) Telengana
(c) Odisha
(d) Karnataka
Pg: 10 – C, B; Pg: 8 – D, H, T;
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
1. Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme
• One of the World's largest Social Security 1952.
Organisations.
Contributory provident fund scheme.
• Autonomous body under the administrative control of
Accumulation plus interest upon
Ministry of Labour and Employment.
retirement or death.
• Employees Provident Fund (EPF)
Partial withdrawals in case of
Established initially through an ordinance. exigencies - education, marriage,
Later Employees' Provident Funds Act, 1952 illness and house construction.
enacted - now referred as the Employees'
2. Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 - lifelong
Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act,
pension to the member and family.
1952.
3. Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance
To provide for the institution of provident funds
Scheme 1976.
for employees in factories and other
establishments. Insurance benefits to the kin in
case of the unfortunate death of a
Schemes to provide a comprehensive retirement
subscribed member.
solution to enrolled members.
• Central Board of Trustees, EPF

Administers the act and schemes.

Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Consider the following schemes:
Consists of representatives from Central and
State Governments, Employers, and Employees 1. Employees Provident Fund Scheme.
2. National Pension Scheme
Assisted by EPFO - EPFO also administers
these schemes. 3. Employees’ Pension Scheme.
4. Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance
• Main duties are
Scheme.
To secure compliance and Which of the above is/are administered by
the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
To deliver timely benefits
(EPFO)?
• Well-equipped training set up - officers and (a) 1 only
employees of the Organization and the (b) 2 and 3 only
Representatives of the Employers and Employees
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
attend sessions for trainings and seminars.
Pg: 10 – C, B;
Pg: 8 – D, H, T;
Boeing 737 MAX:

• A twin-engine narrow body / single-aisle aircraft

developed by Boeing.

• Based on the world’s best-selling aircraft Next-Generation

737.

• Intended to deliver improved fuel efficiency for the

customers - in single-aisle segment.

Design:

• New winglet technology - delivers a fuel-burn advantage.

• improved fuel-efficiency w

• Uses CFM International LEAP-1B engines - reduces CO₂

Source: https://www.boeing.com/commercial/737max/
Reason for its ban in 2019 by several aviation
regulators including India’s DGCA: Aircraft stall:

• Crash of two new aircraft - a Lion Air Flight 610 • A state in which an aircraft loses flight and
and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, fall like a stone from the sky.

• Main cause - design flaw. • Reason for stall:

• manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system ✔When the nose of a plane is too high,
(MCAS) - responsible for pushing the nose of the the aircraft loses speed - likely to enter
aircraft down when it senses a high angle of attack a stall.
that may result in an aircraft stall.

• MCAS falsely misread the plane’s angle of attack.

 Practice Question – Prelims
Q. Which of the following is correct with reference to
Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System
(MCAS), recently seen in news?
(a) It is a flight control law implemented to improve
aircraft handling characteristics
(b) It is the basic technology used in Chandrayaan-2
(c) It is the technology used by Indian Navy’s
aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya
(d) It is a nuclear technology which was recently
transferred to India by Russia
Pg: 13 – C, B, D;
Pg: 11 – H, T;
Foreground

• Russia is planning to pull out of ISS

collaboration amid rising tensions between
Russia and USA.

ISS

• First rudimentary station was created in 1969

-linking of two Russian Soyuz vehicles in
space.

• Construction began on the ISS in 1998.

• 10 years and more than 30 missions to

assemble.

• International partnership of space agencies -

United States, Russia, Europe, Japan,
and Canada.
• The space station is approximately the size of a
football field.
Practice Question – Prelims
• Permanently crewed platform.
Q. With reference to International Space
• Orbiting 250 miles above Earth. (Approx 400 km station(ISS), consider the following
above earth). statements:
1. It is the joint effort of space agencies of
• The ISS became fully operational in May 2009
USA, Russia, India and ESA
when it began hosting a six-person crew.
2. It was constructed in 1978
Three Russians
3. The ISS is fully automated that it doesn’t
Two Americans have a crew stationed at all times

One astronaut from either Japan, Canada, or Which of the statements given above is/are
the ESA.
incorrect?
(a) 1 only
• Russia was the first to send a man to orbit. (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
• Russia had monopoly in sending astronauts to ISS.
(d) All the above
Recently that was broken by Space X
Civil services day
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel
• April 21 every year as ‘Civil Services day’
• Popularly known as Sardar Patel
• 1947-Vallabhbhai Patel had addressed the
probationers of Administrative Services Officers • Born on October 31, 1875
at the Metcalf House in New Delhi. • Lawyer by degree
• Steel frame of India • Plunged into public life in the year 1917.
• Only in 2006 the first Civil services day was • Condemned the British Rulers for the
celebrated at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi
massacre at Jallianwala Bagh.
Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in • Supported the Khilafat Movement
Public Administration presented
• Criticised the treatment meted out to
• The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Turkey and West Asian countries after
Public Administration World War I.

• 2006 • Role in organising a successful non-

• Instituted to acknowledge, recognize and reward cooperation movement in Gujarat.

the extraordinary and innovative work

• Important role in Kheda satyagraha and Bardoli
satyagraha

• Part in Dhandi march. Practice Question – Prelims

• Elected as the president of congress in 1931. Q. With reference to Sardar Vallabhai Patel,
consider the following statements:
• After independence-Deputy Prime Minister and
1. He was the first Home minister of India
Union Home Minister of India
2. His role in Bardoli satyagraha earned him
• United 565 princely states with the mainstream
the title “Sardar”
India after the British Raj came to an end.
Which of the statements given above is/are
• Iron Man of India.
incorrect?
• In 1991-‘Posthumously’ Bharat Ratna (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
• Prime Minister Nehru said, "His name will live
(c) Both 1 and 2
for ever in history. He is the architect of
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Modern India.
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q1.With reference to ‘Air Bubble Pact’, often
seen in news, consider the following
statements:
1. A temporary international bilateral
agreement aimed at restarting commercial
passenger services suspended in the wake
of pandemic.
2. It is signed between countries sharing
international land border.
Which of the statements given above is/are
incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q2.Sunna Vaddi Panta Runalu Scheme or Zero Interest
Crop Loan Scheme, that is seen in the news
recently is introduced by which of the following
states:
(a) Andhra pradesh
(b) Telengana
(c) Odisha
(d) Karnataka
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q3.Consider the following schemes:
1. Employees Provident Fund Scheme.
2. National Pension Scheme
3. Employees’ Pension Scheme.
4. Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance
Scheme.
Which of the above is/are administered by
the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation
(EPFO)?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q4.Which of the following is correct with reference to
Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System
(MCAS), recently seen in news?
(a) It is a flight control law implemented to improve
aircraft handling characteristics
(b) It is the basic technology used in Chandrayaan-2
(c) It is the technology used by Indian Navy’s
aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya
(d) It is a nuclear technology which was recently
transferred to India by Russia
 Practice Question – Prelims
Q5.With reference to International Space station(ISS),
consider the following statements:
1. It is the joint effort of space agencies of USA,
Russia, India and ESA
2. It was constructed in 1978
3. The ISS is fully automated that it doesn’t have
a crew stationed at all times
Which of the statements given above is/are
incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) All the above
 Practice Question – Prelims Answers:
Q6.With reference to Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Q1. Option (b) – 2 only
consider the following statements:
Q2. Option (a) - Andhra Pradesh
1. He was the first Home minister of India
Q3. Option (d) - 1, 3 and 4 only
2. His role in Bardoli satyagraha earned him
the title “Sardar” Q4.Option (a) - It is a flight control law
implemented to improve aircraft handling
Which of the statements given above is/are characteristics
incorrect?
(a) 1 only Q5. Option (d) - All the above
(b) 2 only Q6. Option (d) - Neither 1 nor 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Practice Question – Mains
Practice Question – Mains
GS – III
GS – III
Q. Recently India was retained in the
watchlist for currency manipulators by Q. What do you understand by Vaccine
the U.S. Treasury Department. In this Hesitancy? Elucidate with appropriate
context discuss the implications for Indian examples.
economy of such move.
(150 words, 10 marks)
(250 words, 15 marks)

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II, III
Q. ‘India shall adopt a sector-led and action-based
approach to drive low-carbon transformation
without compromising her development goals’.
Illustrate with an example.
(150 words, 10 marks)