20-07-2021

20-JULY-2021

The Hindu News Analysis – 20st July 2021 – Shankar IAS Academy
S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

1 Egypt takes centre stage in West Asian affairs (Editorial) 10 6 6 6 6

2 Climate change has added over 1,000 lakes in Swiss Alps: study 15 11 11 11 11

3 Oxfam report highlights sharp inequalities in health indicators 14 10 10 10 10

4 Surveillance reform is the need of the hour (OPED) 7 7 7 7 7

5 New emigration law to replace extant 1983 Act - - - - 1, 4

6 Rain deficit may hit oilseed farmers 14 10 10 10 10

7 Fishermen protest against Marine Bill draft 5 - - - -

8 Prelims Practice Questions

@ end of the video
9 Mains Practice Questions
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

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Pg: 10 – C;
Pg: 13 – H, B, D, T;

Egypt
Part A—Preliminary Examination
Paper I - (200 marks) • Capital - Cairo.

Current events of national and international • Borders with:

importance.
Libya - west
Indian and World Geography- Physical, Social,
Economic Geography of India and the World Sudan - south
Part B—Main Examination
Israel - Northeast
PAPER-III
• Strategic location - Hub for trade routes
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity,
Social Justice and International relations between Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Effect of policies and politics of developed and Enhanced with opening of the Suez Canal.
developing countries on India’s interests, Indian
diaspora. • Topography - dominated by the Nile River.

• Official language - Arabic

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• 2013 - Overthrew its first democratically elected

government.

• $12 billion aid package from Saudi Arabia, the

United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.

• West Asian deposits - grants for the import of

petroleum products.

West Asian politics

• Influenced by the active role played by Saudi

Arabia and the UAE.

Source: Encyclopedia Britannica • Role of Egypt - reluctant.

• Qatar Blockade - role of Egypt was not much Present Developments in West Asia
intense. • Israel-Palestine conflict - negotiations by the

2017 - Arab transport blockade against Egyptian diplomats and intelligence officers.

Qatar in order to punish for its ties with • Turkey - anxious to reopen its relations.
radical Islamist groups.
• Tripartite grouping
To pressure reducing its diplomatic and
Intent to broaden regional engagements.
economic relations with Iran.
For Egypt - opportunity to move beyond
• Egypt regained influence - Good and abled
its traditional dependence on Saudi Arabia
management of its economy - facilitated Egypt.
and to assert its leadership in the region.
Egyptian Economic reforms, 2015.
Coalition - near-bordering land mass and a

Foreign exchange reserves of $40 billion considerable domestic agricultural and

industrial capacity.
by 2018.
Extensive cooperation in energy connectivity
Growth rate of 5.6% in 2019.
and reconstruction areas.

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Challenges

• Ethiopia’s “Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam” on

the Blue Nile

Concern - source of around 95% of Egyptian fresh

water.

Fear - Restrict this access to fresh water -

“existential threat”.

Egypt tackling with

Diplomatic engagements with Sudan, Uganda,

Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya.

Major dam and hydropower project in

Tanzania.

• Strained relations with Turkey - Libyan peace

process and the East Mediterranean.

Delineated energy claims in the

Mediterranean sea - in conflict with Practice Question – Mains
Turkey’s claims.
GS – I/II
• Present scenario of pandemic Q. Inspite of witnessing various
Unemployment on a rise. shortcomings in the past, Egypt has
managed to use its diplomacy to assert
Economy - slowed down recovery. its diverse interests in a complex and
Percentage of workers without adequate
conflictual region. Discuss.
income increased. (150 words, 10 marks)
Poverty rate - 2% higher than in 2015.

Concern - might compel Egypt to seek

assistance from the Gulf States.

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Pg: 15 – C;
Pg: 11 – B, D, H, T

Alps • Alpine region

• Highest mountain range in Europe. Strong cultural identity.

Traditional culture of farming, cheesemaking,

• Really young – Approx. 65 million years ago.
• Stretch for 1200km.
• Divided into the Western Alps & the Eastern
Alps - River Rhine.
and woodworking still exists.
Most of the revenue comes from the tourism
industry.
Famous for peaks and clear Alpine lakes.

Western Alps - Italy, France & Switzerland Lake Geneva, Lake Constance and Lake
Como.
Eastern Alps - Austria, Germany, Italy,
Attracts over 100 million visitors every year.
Liechtenstein, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Trekking, cycling, mountain biking,
• Highest peak - Mont Blanc (4,808m).
paragliding and rock climbing.
Location - Italian, French border.
Many Winters Olympic Games conducted in
Means ‘White Mountain’ - covered in snow Swiss, French, Italian, Austrian and German
and ice all year round. Alps.

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Practice Question – Prelims

Q. The majestic Alps mountain range stretch
among which of the following countries?
1. Germany
2. Austria
3. Slovenia
4. Spain
5. France
Select the correct answer from the code
given below:
a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
b) 1, 2 and 5 only
c) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Pg: 14 – C;
Pg: 10 – D, B, 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. •
Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives,
etc.
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
Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes;
mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human
Resources.
Issues relating to poverty and hunger

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Oxfam

• A non-profit organization - to support child

• Oxfam India: member of global
education, empowering women & fighting against
confederation of 20 Oxfams across the
inequality across the world.
world.
• 1995 → Oxfam International - formed by a group
First came to respond to Bihar famine -
of independent NGOs.
in 1951.
• Oxfam or ‘Oxford Committee for Famine Relief’ -
Registered as a non-profit organization
founded in Britain (1942).
under the Indian Companies Act, 2013.
Campaigned to send food supplies to
Have a Foreign Contribution Regulation
enemy-occupied Greece during WWII.
Act (FCRA) license.
• Secretariat - Nairobi, Kenya.

• 21 member organizations based in Australia,

Brazil, Canada, Colombia, India, South Africa etc.

India Inequality Report 2021: India’s Unequal

Healthcare Story
• Weakness of India’s public healthcare
• India is one of the fastest growing economies- one
system
of the most unequal countries.
State governments with higher
• Inequality - rising sharply for the last three
expenditure on health → lower
decades - affect women and children the most.
confirmed cases of Covid19.
• Ordinary Indians - not able to access the health
Odisha and Goa - higher recovery
care.
rate.
63 million pushed into poverty - healthcare costs.
Way forward: More investment in
• Disproportionate effect of the second wave of public healthcare infrastructure.
Covid19 on rural India.

Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan - 75% cases in

rural areas.

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• Impact of existing social inequalities on

access to healthcare.
• Share of institutional deliveries:
General category is better off than SCs and
Increased from 38.7% in 2005-06 to 78.9%
ST.
in 2015-16.
Men are better off than women.
Inequalities:
Urban population is better off than the
ST households 1 5% below the general
rural population etc.
category.
• Women’s literacy: SC and ST women lag behind
Muslims 12% behind Hindus etc.
the general category by 18.6% and 27.9%

Female literacy rate among Muslims (64.3%)

- lower than all religious groups.

Previous Year Question – Prelims 2015

Q. Amnesty International is
Practice Question – Mains
GS – II
Q. ‘Currently, out-of-pocket expenditure
constitutes more than 60% of all health
expenses, pushing India’s poor to
poverty. In this context, discuss the
significance of Ayushman Bharat.
(150 words, 10 marks)
(a) an agency of the United Nations to
help refugees of civil wars.
(b) a global Human Rights Movement.
(Correct answer)
(c) a non-governmental voluntary
organization to help very poor people.
(d) an inter-governmental agency to cater
to medical emergencies in war-ravaged
regions.

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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.
Part B—Main Examination
PAPER-III
General Studies- II:Governance,
Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and
International relations.
• Important aspects of governance,
transparency and accountability, e-
governance- applications, models, successes,
limitations, and potential; citizens charters,
transparency & accountability and
Pg: 7 – C, institutional and other measures.
H, B, D, T;

Implications of surveillance
• Threatens the separation of powers
• Freedom of speech curtailed -
Judiciary can effectively over see and curtail such
journalists or dissidents who have
powers being misused.
criticised the government – targeted.
Laws provides no scope for an individual subjected
• Faulty refuge under Statues - Indian
to surveillance to approach a court of law.
Telegraph Act, 1885; section 69 and the
Key Take-away
Interception Rules of 2009 under

Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000. • Surveillance system impacts the right to privacy under
Art. 21 - reiterated in K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd) v.
Statutes provide way for surveillance,
Union of India (2017) case.
no protections to the surveilled.
• Impacts exercise of freedom of speech and personal
Even the opaque laws don’t provide
liberty under Art. 19 of the Constitution.
for surveillance
• Mass surveillance - risk of concentration of powers
Hacking is a criminal offence under
with the executive.
the IT Act.

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Practice Question – Mains

GS – II
Q. A surveillance state can turn the
governing draconian against the
governed. Elucidate.
(150 Words, 10 Marks)

News

• The Emigration Bill, 2021 to replace

the Emigration Act of 1983 may be
tabled in the current monsoon session.

• Emigration of Indian citizens for

employment and their return -
responsibility of the Ministry of
External Affairs.

Pg: 1, 4 – T

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Emigration Act, 1983

• Govern emigration from India. Draft Emigration Bill, 2021

• Regulatory framework for emigration of Indian workers • Seeks to create,

for contractual overseas employment - to safeguard their
Bureau of Emigration Policy and
interests.
Planning (BEPP)
• Result of ‘Kanga and Others vs. Union of India’ 1979 SC
Bureau of Emigration
judgement - emigration should be regulated on the basis
Administration (BEA)
of the guidelines enumerated.

• Protection of emigrants and their interest - duty of the

Office of the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE).

Functions under the Ministry of External Affairs.

• Mandatory registration of Recruiting Agents with the

Protector General of Emigrants.

Bureau of Emigration Administration (BEA)

Bureau of Emigration Policy and
Planning (BEPP) • Composition - Chief Emigration Officer and other officers.

• Composition - a Chief of • Function: Implement the Act and to ensure the welfare and
Emigration Policy and other protection of the emigrants.
officers.
• To set up emigration check posts.
• Functions:
To prevent the contravention of the provisions of the Act/rules.
Formulate effective policies
In-charge - an officer of the Central/State govt - appointed
through periodic assessment.
by the Centre.
Undertake consultation with
Subject to general control and supervision of the Chief
relevant stakeholders
Emigration Officer.
Analysis of matters of
• Significance - Crucial for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
emigration and allied
matters. Covers labour migration, exploitation, student mobility, human
trafficking etc

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Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the
Office of Protector General of Emigrants (PGE):
1. It is the authority responsible for protecting
the interest of Indian workers going abroad.
2. It functions under the Ministry of Home
Affairs.
3. It issues Registration Certificate to the
Recruiting Agents for overseas manpower
exporting business.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2 and 3 only

Pg: 14 – C;
Pg: 10 – H, B, D, T;

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Oilseeds

• Oilseed crops - Second most important

determinant of agricultural economy.

• Yellow Revolution • India is one of the largest importers of

vegetable oils.
Increase the production of Edible oilseeds
Reason - demand-supply gap - tremendous
Meet the domestic demand
increase in vegetable oil consumption - Edible
Achieve self-reliance.
& Industrial usages.
Sam Pitroda - Father of Yellow Revolution
in India.

Initial success could not be sustained

beyond a short period.

Primary Source
Practice Question – Prelims
• Groundnut • Safflower
Q. Which of the following are the primary
• Rapeseed & Mustard • Niger sources of Edible Oils?
• Soybean • Castor 1. Mustard
• Sunflower • Linseed. 2. Groundnut
• Sesame 3. Coconut
4. Oil palm
• Soybean, groundnut, rapeseed & mustard - 88%
5. Soybean
of total oilseeds production.
Select the correct answer from the code
Secondary Source given below.
• Cottonseed • Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs)
a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
b) 1, 2 and 5 only
• Rice bran • Oil Palm. c) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
• Coconut d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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News

• Fishermen protest against the draft

Indian Marine Fisheries Bill, 2021.

Centre to pass the Bill without

discussing with stakeholders.

Pg: 5 – C;

Indian Marine Fisheries Bill, 2021

• Opposition by fishermen - seeking for its
• Aims to repeal the Maritime Zones of India withdrawal.
(Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act,
Reason: Impose laws against fishermen -
1981.
demarcating territorial waters, imposing
• Key objectives unnecessary fines - fine on crossing the
International Maritime Boundary Line.
Sustainable development of fisheries
resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone Against right to venture into the sea.
of India.
Bills out of its purpose and none of the
To promote the livelihoods of small-scale demands fulfilled - subsidies in diesel and
and artisanal fishers. better infrastructure etc.

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Practice Question – Prelims

Q1.Which of the following are the primary
sources of Edible Oils?
1. Mustard
2. Groundnut
3. Coconut
4. Oil palm
5. Soybean
Select the correct answer from the code
given below.
a)1, 2, 3 and 4 only
b)1, 2 and 5 only
c) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
d)1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Practice Question – Prelims

Q2.Consider the following statements regarding the
Office of Protector General of Emigrants (PGE):
1. It is the authority responsible for protecting
the interest of Indian workers going abroad.
2. It functions under the Ministry of Home
Affairs.
3. It issues Registration Certificate to the
Recruiting Agents for overseas manpower
exporting business.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2 and 3 only

Practice Question – Prelims

Q3.The majestic Alps mountain range stretch
among which of the following countries? • Alps is part of

1. Germany France Croatia

2. Austria Italy Bosnia and Herzegovina
3. Slovenia
Switzerland Montenegro
4. Spain
Germany Serbia
5. France
Austria Albania
Select the correct answer from the code
given below: Slovenia

a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
b) 1, 2 and 5 only
c) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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Practice Question – Prelims

Answers

Q1. Option (b) – 1, 2 and 5 only

Q2. Option (b) – 1 and 3 only
Q3. Option (c) – 1, 2, 3 and 5 only

Practice Question – Mains

Practice Question – Mains
GS – I/II
GS – II Q. Inspite of witnessing various
Q. A surveillance state can turn the shortcomings in the past, Egypt has
governing draconian against the managed to use its diplomacy to assert its
governed. Elucidate. diverse interests in a complex and
(150 Words, 10 Marks) conflictual region. Discuss.
(150 words, 10 marks)

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II
Q. ‘Currently, out-of-pocket expenditure constitutes more than
60% of all health expenses, pushing India’s poor to poverty. In
this context, discuss the significance of Ayushman Bharat.
(150 words, 10 marks)

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