08-01-2023

08-JANUARY-2023

The Hindu News Analysis – 08th January 2023 – Shankar IAS Academy
S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

1
Reading newspapers effectively to prepare for the civil T&C T&C T&C T&C T&C
services examination (Text and Context) (05/01/2023) Pg: II Pg: II Pg: II Pg: II Pg: II

2 Alzheimer’s disease (Science – Question Corner) 13 13 11 13 11

3 IISER Pune’s new material removes pollutants from wat 13 13 11 13 11

4 The escalation on the India-China border (FAQ) 14 14 12 14 12

5 Floating solar power can help generate more electricity 13 13 11 13 11

*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

 08-01-2023

The Hindu News Analysis – 08th January 2023 – Shankar IAS Academy
S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

6
Assam’s Deepor Beel soars above garbage mounds; survey - - 9 - -
shows more birds in wetlands

7 Roots connect a Meghalaya village 1 1 1 1 1

8
‘Frequent outbreaks of bird flu in Kerala require diagnostic 8 8 6 8 6
studies’

9 Prelims Practice Questions

@ end of the video

10 Mains Practice Questions

*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

Date – 05/01/2023
Text & Context Pg: 2 – C, B, D, H, T
 08-01-2023

Newspaper for Preliminary Examination Facts.

Facts

Static
background Prelims Data

Economic
terms

UPSC 2021 Prelims Question

Q. With reference to ‘palm oil’ consider
the following statements:
1. The palm oil tree is native to
Southeast Asia.
2. The palm oil is a raw material for
some industries producing lipstick
and perfumes.
3. The palm oil can be used to
produce biodiesel.
Which of the above statements is/are
correct?
a) 1 and 2 only.
b) 2 and 3 only.
c) 1 and 3 only. 19th August 2021 Hindu News Analysis
d) 1, 2 and 3 only.
 08-01-2023

Economic Terms

UPSC 2022 Prelims Question

Q. With reference to the Indian economy,
consider the following statements:
1. If the inflation is too high, Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) is likely to buy
government securities.
2. If the rupee is rapidly depreciating,
RBI is likely to sell dollars in the
market.
3. If interest rates in the USA or
European Union were to fall, that is
likely to induce RBI to buy dollars.
Which of the above statements is/are
correct?
a) 1 and 2 only.
b) 2 and 3 only.
c) 1 and 3 only.
d) 1, 2 and 3 only.
 08-01-2023

UPSC 2022 Prelims Question

Q. With reference to the Indian economy,
consider the following statements:
1. If the inflation is too high, Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) is likely to buy
government securities.
2. If the rupee is rapidly depreciating,
RBI is likely to sell dollars in the
market.
3. If interest rates in the USA or
European Union were to fall, that is
likely to induce RBI to buy dollars.
Which of the above statements is/are
correct?
a) 1 and 2 only.
b) 2 and 3 only.
c) 1 and 3 only.
d) 1, 2 and 3 only.

Static background behind the current news

UPSC 2022 Prelims Question

Q. The world’s second tallest statue in sitting
pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the
Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad
recently.
Which one of the following statements
correctly represents the teachings of
Ramanuja?
a) The best means of salvation was
devotion.
b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly
authoritative.
c) Logical arguments were essential means
for the highest bliss.
d) Salvation was to be obtained through
meditation.
 08-01-2023

Static background behind the current news

UPSC 2022 Prelims Question

Q. The world’s second tallest statue in
sitting pose of Ramanuja was
inaugurated by the Prime Minister of
India at Hyderabad recently.
Which one of the following statements
correctly represents the teachings of
Ramanuja?
a) The best means of salvation was
devotion.
b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and
wholly authoritative.
c) Logical arguments were essential
means for the highest bliss.
d) Salvation was to be obtained
through meditation.

Newspaper for Main Examination

Editorial

Mains Different
sample point of
question view
Main
examination

Chart down
points in
mains Syllabus
answer
format
 08-01-2023

Newspaper for interview SUCCESS MANTRA – Works 100%

Revision Revision
Read number number
Three news 4 infinity
paper

Revision
Take
number Success
Notes
3
Interview

Well
informed Sansad TV
opinion Revision Revision
number number LBSNAA
1 2
 08-01-2023

Pg: 13 – C, B, H;
Pg: 11 – D, T

Alzheimer’s disease Cause:

Accumulation of amyloid-beta
• Progressive neurologic disorder.
peptides.

• Affects Brain Cells.

Amyloid plaques
• Common cause of dementia in old people
Brain Cortex
• Form of dementia

 Dementia - negatively affect memory, Reduced brain function

thinking, and behavior.
Alzheimer’s Disease

Dementia

Alzheimer’s
 08-01-2023

Disease:
Affected persons
• Begins with mild memory loss
• Majority
• Loss of the ability to respond to environment
 People over age 65
• Involved part - thought, memory, and
 People with family history of condition
language
• Person under age of 65 - younger-onset
Alzheimer’s (early onset)

• Early onset Alzheimer’s – Hereditary

Memory
Withdrawal loss
Trouble
from
with
friends,
familiar
family, and
tasks
community

Mood and Problem-

personality solving
changes difficulties
Symptoms

Decreased Speech or
personal writing
hygiene trouble

Disorientation
Decreased
about times
judgment
or places
 08-01-2023

Treatment News

• No cure • University of Washington

• Medications & treatments – slow down • Detecting amyloid-beta peptides in blood.

the progress of the disease
• Early detection of Alzheimer's disease is
 Ex: aducanumab (Aduhelm) now possible.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements
regarding Alzheimer’s disease:
1. All types of Alzheimer’s are hereditary.
2. Alzheimer’s affect only people above
the age of 65.
Which of the above statements is/are
correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
 08-01-2023

Pg: 13 – C, B, H;
Pg: 11 – D, T

Need for Viologen-unit grafted organic-

framework (iFVOFm)

• Water contamination in Lakes & rivers

 Worldwide phenomenon
iFVOFm principles

• Works based on two principles

 Electrostatics driven ion exchange

 Use of macro pores & binding sites for

targeting pollutants
 08-01-2023

Macro pores & binding sites for targeting

pollutants

Electrostatics driven ion exchange • Allows for diffusion of contaminants

• Electrostatics  Sorbent

 Branch of physics that studies electric  Substance with property of collecting

charges at rest molecules of another substance by
adsorption
• Ion-exchange mechanism
• iFVOFm capable of ultrafast removal of
 Used to separate ionic compounds on the
sulfadimethoxine
basis of differences in net charge
 Antimicrobial medication used in veterinary
medicine

Previous Year Question – Prelims 2013

Q. Which of the following can be found as
pollutants in drinking water in some parts of
India
1. Arsenic
2. Sorbitol
3. Fluoride
4. Formaldehyde
5. Uranium
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 3 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
 08-01-2023

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.

Pg: 14 – C, B, H;
Pg: 12 – D, T

Why Tawang is the area of contention?

• Tawang - strategically important for India.

• Border with China - part of the unsettled

Clash between China and India
border in LAC.
• Yangtse area - Tawang region.
• China’s stand - Twang region is an integral
• Tawang region - Arunachal Pradesh. part of China.

• Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)

 Clash - new road infrastructure by China.

 China’s road development - provides an

access to key locations on Yangtse.
 08-01-2023

What led to the clash?

Yangtse plateau

• Peak at over 5,700 metres - enables the

visibility of much of the Tawang.

• India’s control - prevents Chinese overwatch

of Indian roads

• Sela Pass - only access for India to get in

and out of the Tawang region.

• India is constructing an all-weather tunnel.

• Despite tunnel construction - all traffic will

be still be visible.

• If China captures Yangtse plateau - visibility

over Indian roads.

LAC ridgeline

LAC ridgeline

Tangwu New Village Tangwu New Village

 08-01-2023

Why is there an infrastructure race

between India & China ?

• Clash - new infra development of China. Developments in Galwan and Pangong-Tso

• Infra - compensated China for its tactical • Where there is the political will - tense
disadvantage. situations can be disengaged.

• New road - China can deploy forces rapidly.  With involvement of both India & China.

• Small clashes - disadvantage to China • Active discussions - successfully redeployed

• If more significant conflict - advantage to their positions.

Chinese army.  Reduced the risk of conflict.

 Durable transport infrastructure.

• Indian troops - less reliable access roads.

• India’s claim - clashes was provoked by the

Chinese troops.

• China’s goal - to have an inalienable access

across the India-China border.

• China - continuously constructing roads &

villages along the Border.

• India - developing many road infrastructures

along the Border.
 08-01-2023

Solution
• India has to pursue non-military &
• China’s rapid infrastructure - escalation
trap for India. multilateral measures

• Difficult for India to unilaterally de-  To reduce the risk of accidental

escalate the situations escalation.

• India should seek & receive support from

 Endanger India’s positions in the Yangtse
plateau. international community

• India has to increase its vigilance &  To call out China’s provocative behaviour

readiness along the border - surveillance. on the border.

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II
Q. Recently there was a clash between
Indian and Chinese troops in the
Tawang region. In this light, Discuss the
areas of contention between India and
China. Suggest some solutions to
improve the situation.
(150 words, 10 marks)
 08-01-2023

Pg: 13 – C, B, H;
Pg: 11 – D, T

100 MW Floating power plant

Floating solar power plants

• Solar plant - Set up on the surface of

waterbodies
 08-01-2023

Advantages
Disadvantages
• Minimum land requirement
• Expensive to install
• Evaporation rate from water bodies
• Limited applications
is reduced

• Efficiency and generation is

improved

• Coal consumption

• Quick to construct

• Silent to run

• Require no land levelling

• No removal of vegetation

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements
1. India ranks third in Asia and fourth in the
world in terms of solar power
production.
2. All solar projects in India till date has
been funded from the Clean Technology
Fund.
Choose the correct option
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
 08-01-2023

Pg: 9 – Delhi Edition

Deepor Beel

• Ramsar site near Guwahati Threats

Significance • large-scale encroachment

• only major storm water storage basin • heavy siltation

• largest concentrations of aquatic birds • accumulation of filth and wastes

• unregulated fishing

• invasion of aquatic weeds

• industrial development

• construction of railway line

 08-01-2023

Ramsar Convention

• intergovernmental treaty

• Focus on a single ecosystem

• 1971 by UNESCO

• came into force in 1975

• India - 1st February 1982

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements
regarding wetlands
Welands State
1. Deepor Beel - Assam
2. Sur Sarovar - Uttarakhand
3. Pong Dam lake - Himachal
Pradesh
How many pairs are correctly matched?
a) Only 1 pair
b) Only 2 pairs
c) All 3 pairs
d) None are correctly matched
 08-01-2023

Pg:1 – C, , B, D, H, T

Living root bridge

• Simple suspension bridge.

• Formed using living plant roots - tree shaping.

• Roots - shaped & tied with one another.

• Allowed to grow & strengthen over time.

 08-01-2023

Characteristics

Where are they found? • Length - about 100 feet.

• found in West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills • Perfect shape - after almost 10 to 15 years.
- Meghalaya.
• Life - 500 years or even more.
• Local name - jingkieng jri.
• Capacity - 50 people.
• Built by the local Jaintia and Khasi people.
• Purpose - connectors to cross streams &
• Earliest written record - Journal of the rivers.
Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1844.

• Meghalaya - Bridges are commonly made

from Ficus Elastica tree.

World-famous tourist attractions

• Riwai Root Bridge - Shillong • Umshiang Double Decker Bridge - Cherrapunji

 08-01-2023

Pg: 8 – C, B, H;
Pg: 6 – D, T

Bird Flu

• Highly contagious viral disease

• Affects a variety of birds

• H5N1 and H7N9 – Human infection

Transmission

• Direct contact - secretions from nostrils,

mouth eyes etc
How are we handling?
• Contaminated water and feed.
Prevention and Control of Infectious
and Contagious Diseases in Animals
No vaccine Act, 2009
 08-01-2023

Previous Year Question - Prelims (2015)

Q. H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the
news with reference to which one of the
following diseases?
(a) AIDS
(b) Bird Flu
(c) Dengue
(d) Swine Flu
 08-01-2023

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements
1. India ranks third in Asia and fourth in the
world in terms of solar power
production.
2. All solar projects in India till date has
been funded from the Clean Technology
Fund.
Choose the correct option
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Previous Year Question – Prelims 2013

Q. Which of the following can be found as
pollutants in drinking water in some parts of
India
1. Arsenic
2. Sorbitol
3. Fluoride
4. Formaldehyde
5. Uranium
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 3 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
 08-01-2023

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements
regarding wetlands
Welands State
1. Deepor Beel - Assam
2. Sur Sarovar - Uttarakhand
3. Pong Dam lake - Himachal
Pradesh
How many pairs are correctly matched?
a) Only 1 pair
b) Only 2 pairs
c) All 3 pairs
d) None are correctly matched

Previous Year Question - Prelims (2015)

Q. H1N1 virus is sometimes mentioned in the
news with reference to which one of the
following diseases?
(a) AIDS
(b) Bird Flu
(c) Dengue
(d) Swine Flu
 08-01-2023

Quiz of the day - Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements
regarding Alzheimer’s disease:
1. All types of Alzheimer’s are hereditary. Prelims Practice Questions – Answer
2. Alzheimer’s affect only people above Q1. Option A)
the age of 65. Q2. Option C)
Which of the above statements is/are Q3. Option B)
correct?
Q4. Option D)
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Practice Question – Mains

GS – II
Q. Recently there was a clash between
Indian and Chinese troops in the
Tawang region. In this light, Discuss the
areas of contention between India and
China. Suggest some solutions to
improve the situation.
(150 words, 10 marks)