18-12-2022

18-DECEMBER-2022

The Hindu News Analysis – 18th December 2022 – Shankar IAS Academy
S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

1
Pendency poses a hurdle to Supreme Court’s role as 9 8 6 6 6
protector of citizens’ rights
2 Assembly session set to begin in Belagavi 8 6 3 - -

3 FOMO strikes ULFA(I) youth 1, 9 1, 8 1, 6 1, 6 1, 6

1, 3,
4 ESZ survey: LDF scrambles to mitigate resentment 8 7 3 -
4

5
Rajasthan sanctuary gets protection against ESZ 11 10 8 8 8
shrinking
6
Old pension scheme is a social security measure, says 10 9 3 7 7
Gehlot
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram
 18-12-2022

The Hindu News Analysis – 18th December 2022 – Shankar IAS Academy
S. Page Number*
News Articles
No. C B D H T

7
Godavari-Krishna-Cauvery link: change terminal point of 7 - - - -
project, asserts T.N.
8 GST Council keeps tax rate same, but defers key reforms 1, 9 1,8 1, 6 1,6 1, 6

9 Expedite FMD vaccine supply, Stalin tells Centre 1, 7 7 8 - 5

10
States can pitch in for security of border areas, suggests 10 9 7 7 7
Shah at eastern zonal meet
11 Prelims Practice Questions
@ end of the video
12 Mains Practice Questions
*C – Chennai; B – Bengaluru; D – Delhi; H – Hyderabad; T – Thiruvananthapuram

Pg: 6 – T, D, H;
Pg: 8 – B;
Pg: 9 – C
 18-12-2022

Part A—Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks)
• Indian Polity and Governance - Constitution,
Delay in Justice
Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy,
Rights Issues, etc. • "Justice delayed is justice denied”.
Part B—Main Examination • India - 40% of cases decided after three
PAPER-III years.
General Studies‐ II: : Governance, • Reason for Delay - Pendency of cases.
Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and
International relations.
• Structure, organization and functioning of the
Executive and the Judiciary — Ministries and
Departments of the Government; pressure groups
and formal/informal associations and their role in
the Polity.

Pendency of Cases in India - An Overview

 18-12-2022

Impacts of Pendency of Cases

• Overcrowding of Undertrials in Prison.

• Prison Statistics India, 2019 - 69% of

Prisoners are Undertrials.

• Takes away the constitutional rights of

citizens.

• Pushing out investment from India.

• Impacts in Judicial Process

• Affects Quality of Justice.

• Poor people cannot access the Judiciary.

• People’s trust in Judiciary comes down.

Reasons for Pendency of Cases

Frivolous Cases Judicial Vacancies

• High Judiciary encouraging silly cases. • 21 judges per million population is very
low.
• This results in overburdening of Judiciary.
Frequent adjournment
Public Interest Litigation
• Adjournment mainly due to improper
• Public are becoming more aware of their
evidence is delaying justice.
right.
Low budget allocation
• PIL although is a good tool, sometimes it is
misused to gain attention. • India - 0.08 and 0.09 percent of the GDP.

• Bad PILs clogging the judicial system. • Poor infrastructure and lack of man
power.
 18-12-2022

Mains Practice Question

GS – II
Q. Recently our Law Minister commented that
our courts are bogged down in “frivolous”
public interest litigation and bail
applications. In this context write about the
reasons for pendency of cases in India and
its impacts.
(150 words, 10 marks)

Pg: 3 – D;
Pg: 6 – B;
Pg: 8 – C
 18-12-2022

Part A — Preliminary Examination

Paper I - (200 marks)

• Current events of national and international

importance.

Part B — Main Examination

PAPER - II
General Studies I: Indian Heritage and Culture,
History and Geography of the World and Society.

• Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism &

secularism.

Border dispute between Karnataka & Maharashtra

• British India - Belgaum part of erstwhile Bombay Presidency.

 Vijayapura, Belagavi, Dharwad & Uttara-Karnataka - part of Bombay Presidency.

• Post independence - Belgaum came under Bombay state.

 1881 census - 64.39 % Kannada speakers, 26.04%

spoke Marathi.

• States Reorganisation Act, 1956 - made Belgaum &

10 talukas as part of Mysore State.

• 1966 - Mahajan Commission appointed.

 Belgaum should continue with Karnataka.

 Maharashtra - rejected report

 Karnataka - status quo to be maintained.

 18-12-2022

Regionalism

• Interest of one region pitted against

• India being a diverse country has lot of scope
another region in a hostile way.
for developing regionalism.
 Result - conflict emerges between two
• Most potent force in Indian politics ever since
regions.
independence.
• Positive dimension to regionalism.
• State reorganization act & spirally of political
 If Claims of a region are justified
also due to regionalism.
ones.

 Will result in economic growth.

Causes of regionalism Initiatives by GOI to tackle regionalism

• May arise due to poor economic growth of • Industrial Policy of 1956

a particular region compared with others.  Economic redistribution through

• Political & administrative failure - development of industries.
providing social sector schemes. • Establishment of National Integration
• Sons of the soil theory Council.

 Propounded by population living in a • Article 275 - Grants to states with tribal

particular area for generations. population.

 To exclude migrants from accessing • Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat

job opportunities within contended  Khasi-Tamil sangamam.

area.
 18-12-2022

Previous year Question – Mains (2020)

GS – I
Q. Do you agree that regionalism in India
appears to be a consequence of rising
cultural assertiveness? Argue.
(150 Words, 10 Marks)

Pg: 1, 6 – T, D, H;
Pg: 1, 8 – B;
Pg: 1, 9 – C
 18-12-2022

United Liberation Front of Assam

• Aim - To establish an independent state of

socialist Assam.

• Origin - Founed in 1979 by Paresh Baruah

• Militant outfit.

• Present status - Banned by India in 1990

(Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act)-

• Military operation started in 1990 by

Indian Army against ULFA.

• 2013 Split - Pro-talks and anti-talks

faction.

Skill
Development

Efforts taken
Rehabilitatio
by Connectivity
n of Militants
government

Social Media
outreach
 18-12-2022

Pg: 8 – T, D, H;
Pg: 10 – B;
Pg: 8 – C; Pg: 11 – C
Pg: 3 – D;
Pg: 7 – B;
Pg: 1, 3, 4 – T

Pg: 8 – C;
Pg: 3 – D;
Pg: 7 – B;
Pg: 1, 3, 4 – T
 18-12-2022

Pg: 8 – T, D, H;
Pg: 10 – B;
Pg: 11 – C

Eco-Sensitive Zones
Extent of ESZs
• Buffer or transition zones - notified around
• National Wildlife Action Plan 2002-2016.
highly-protected areas.
 Land - within 10 km of the boundaries of
 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
NPs & WLS .

 Width - differs from one protected area

to other.

 General principle - width is maintained

at 10 km.

 Place - ‘Larger ecologically important

sensitive corridors’

 Areas beyond 10-km also.

 18-12-2022

Who notifies Eco-Sensitive Zones?

Purpose
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
• 2011 Guidelines - MoEFCC.
Change.
• Shock absorbers for the protected areas.
 Under section 3 of the Environment
Protection Act, 1986. • Minimize the negative impact on fragile
ecosystems - human activities.
• EPA - does not mention the term ‘ESZs’.
• Transition zone - between areas of high
protection to less protection.

• Not meant to hamper the daily activities of

people.

• To guard the protected areas & to refine

the environment.

Activities

• Prohibited activities
• Regulated activities
 Commercial mining,
 Felling of trees,
 Setting of saw mills & polluting industries,
 Drastic change in agriculture systems,
 Commercial use of firewood,
 Commercial use of natural water
 Major hydro-power,
resources,
 Certain tourism activities,
 setting up of hotels/resorts.
 Discharge of solid waste in natural water
bodies or terrestrial areas.

• Permitted activities
 Ongoing agriculture or
practices by local communities,
 Rainwater-harvesting,
 Organic-farming,
 Adoption of green-technology,
 Use of renewable-energy sources.
18-12-2022
Practice Question – Mains
horticulture GS – III
Q. Recently the Supreme court has ordered
the establishment of 1-km Eco-Sensitive
Zones around all protected areas, wildlife
sanctuaries and national parks. In this
context, discuss the significance of Eco-
Sensitive Zones in protection of the
natural environment.
(150 words, 10 marks)
Pg: 7 – T, H;
Pg: 9 – B;
Pg: 3 - D
Pg: 10 – C
 18-12-2022

Old Pension System

• Life-long post retirement income - given

to government employees until 2004.

• OPS NPS. Concerns

• Unsustainable.
• Fixed payment system.
• No specific corpus that would grow.
• 50% of their last drawn salary as the
monthly pension. • Pension benefits increased every year.

• Benefit of the revision of the dearness • Increased life expectancy.

allowance.

• No deduction from the salary.

• Provision of the GPF.

New Pension System

Practice Question – Prelims
• All citizen model.
Q. Consider the following statements:
• Participatory scheme.
1. Under the New Pension scheme,
• 60% of the corpus- tax-free. employees get 50% of their last drawn
salary as the monthly pension.
• 40% - in annuities, which is taxed.
2. The Old Pension scheme is based on the
• Amount is not fixed. ‘All-citizen model’.
• Requires the employees to make Which of the statements given above is/are
incorrect?
contribution.
(a) 1 only
Federal issue (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
• State Governments- restore OPS- Entry 42
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
on the State List
 18-12-2022

Pg: 7 – Chennai
Edition

Interlinking of rivers Advantages

• Excess water to deficient basin. • Controls both floods & droughts.

• Solves the water crisis.

• Hydropower generation.

• Dry weather flow augmentation.

• Enhancement of agriculture though irrigation.

• Betterment - inland waterways transport

system.

• Strengthens the security of country -

additional waterline of defense
 18-12-2022

Disadvantages

• Environmental impacts - Alters entire River

ecosystem.

 Affects fisheries, flora and fauna, wetlands &

other ecosystems.

• Forest reserves & NPs - affected due to the

link construction.

• Decrease in flow of fresh water into the sea.

 Affects marine life.

• Building of dams and reservoirs - displacement

of a lot of people.

• Water - state subject - Interstate disputes.

Practice Questions - Prelims

Q. Which among the following rivers drain
into Bay of Bengal?
1. Mahi
2. Godavari
3. Krishna
4. Kaveri
Choose the correct option from the code
given below
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1, 3 and 4 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1 and 2 only
 18-12-2022

Pg: 1, 6 – T, D, H;
Pg: 1, 8 – B;
Pg: 1, 9 – C

GST
GST Council
• Replaced many Indirect Taxes in India.
• A constitutional body.
• Before GST - different indirect tax structure
• GST introduced by 101st CA – 2016.
in our country.
• Amendment - GST council.
• Central and State govt. levied taxes.
• Article 279A of Indian Constitution.
• GST - significant step in the field of indirect
tax reforms in India. Membership

• Levied on supply of goods or services or both. • Article 279A (2) - chaired by Union FM.

• Consumption tax based on the credit-invoice • Members - Union State Revenue Minister or

method. FM

• Only value addition at each stage - taxed. • Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation
of all the States.
• Reduced ill effects of cascading taxation.
 18-12-2022

Functions

• Recommendations to Union & States on

 Taxes, cesses and surcharges - levied by

Centre, States and local bodies.  Special rate/rates for a specified period
- natural calamity or disaster;
 Goods & services -subjected to or
exempted from the GST.  Special provisions W.R.T Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, J&K, Manipur, Meghalaya,
 Model GST laws.
Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura,
 Principles of levy.
Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
 Allocation of Integrated-GST (IGST).

 Principles governing the place of supply.

 Threshold limit of aggregate turnover.

News • Compounding amount under certain offences -

reduced to 25% to 100%.
• 48th GST Council - clarified tax provisions
• Approved decision to scrap the 5% GST - husk
• Approved decriminalisation of some offences. of pulses.

 Obstruction or preventing any officers • Reduced the levy on ethyl alcohol -5% from 18%.

from discharging their duty.  Used by refineries to blend with petrol.

 Deliberate tampering of material • Put on hold

evidence.  Taxation regime for tobacco & gutkha

businesses.
 Failure to supply the information.
 Setting up a tribunal to settle disputes with
• Threshold limits of tax amounts for taxpayers.
initiating prosecution doubled.
 Determination of the tax treatment for
online gaming, casinos and horse-racing.
 18-12-2022

Prelims Practice Question

Q. With reference to GST Council, Consider
the following statements:
1. It is a constitutional Body .
2. It decides on various rate slabs of
GST.
3. Its recommendations are binding
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Pg: 1, 7 – C;
Pg: 8 – D;
Pg: 7 – B;
Pg: 5 – T
 18-12-2022

Foot and mouth disease (FMD)

• A severe, highly contagious viral disease of

livestock.

• Has significant economic impact.

• Disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats

and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.

• Transboundary animal disease (TAD).

• Deeply affects livestock production.

• Disrupts regional & international trade in

animals & animal products.

• Disease spreads both directly & indirectly.

Treatment

Symptoms • Suspected based on clinical signs.

• High temperature. • Cannot be differentiated clinically.

• Development of blisters - mouth & on feet. • From other vesicular diseases

• In sheep & goats - disease frequently less  Swine vesicular disease, vesicular
severe - sub-clinical infection. stomatitis and vesicular exanthema.

• Not usually fatal in adult animals. • No specific treatment for FMD.

• Many young animals may die. • Conventional method - antibiotics, flunixin

• Severe pain and distress. meglumine and mild disinfectants.

• Left permanently lame. Prevention

• Productivity reduced. • Prevented using FMD vaccine.

• Inactivated virus.
 18-12-2022

National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP)

• A flagship scheme launched by PM in 2019.

• For control of FMD & Brucellosis.

• By vaccinating 100% cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population for FMD.

• By vaccinating 100% bovine female calves

of 4-8 months of age for brucellosis.

• For 5 years (2019-20 to 2023-24).

• Brucellosis - reproductive disease of

• cattle and buffaloes.

• Caused by bacterium Brucella abortus.

Practice Questions - Prelims

Q. Which among the following are Bacterial
Disease?
1. Brucellosis
2. Foot and Mouth Disease
3. Tuberculosis
4. Cholera.
Choose the correct option from the code
given below:
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1, 3 and 4 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1 and 2 only
 18-12-2022

Pg: 7 – T, D, H;
Pg: 9 – B;
Pg: 10 – C

Members

• Head - union Home minister

Zonal councils
• CM’s of all states within the zone.
• Statutory bodies - unlike Inter-state
• Administrators of Union territory.
councils (Article 263).
• 2 ministers from each state inside the zone.
• Established through State reorganization
act, 1956. Aim

 5 zones - Northern, Central, Eastern, • Promote cooperation & coordination.

Southern & Western.
• Discussion of matters
• North eastern zone - north eastern areas
 Economic & social planning
(reorganization) act of 1971.
 Linguistic minorities

 Border disputes

 Inter-state transport
 18-12-2022

Objectives of zonal councils

• To achieve an emotional integration of the country.

• To help in arresting the growth of acute state-consciousness,

regionalism, linguism and particularistic trends.

• To help in removing the after-effects of separation in some cases

so that the process of reorganisation, integration and economic
advancement may synchronise.

• To enable the Centre and states to cooperate with each other in

social and economic matters and exchange ideas and experience in
order to evolve uniform policies.

• To cooperate with each other in the successful and speedy

execution of major development projects.

• To secure some kind of political equilibrium between different

regions of the country.

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. With reference to Zonal councils, Consider
the following statements:
1. Zonal councils are constitutional bodies.
2. Union Home minister is the chairman of
the Zonal councils.
3. India is divided into seven zones and
provided a zonal council for each zone.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) All of the above
 18-12-2022

Practice Question – Prelims

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Under the New Pension scheme,
employees get 50% of their last drawn
salary as the monthly pension.
2. The Old Pension scheme is based on the
‘All-citizen model’.
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
 18-12-2022

Practice Questions - Prelims

Q. Which among the following rivers drain
into Bay of Bengal?
1. Mahi
2. Godavari
3. Krishna
4. Kaveri
Choose the correct option from the code
given below
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1, 3 and 4 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1 and 2 only

Practice Questions - Prelims

Q. Which among the following are Bacterial
Disease?
1. Brucellosis
2. Foot and Mouth Disease
3. Tuberculosis
4. Cholera.
Choose the correct option from the code
given below:
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1, 3 and 4 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 1 and 2 only
 18-12-2022

Prelims Practice Question

Q. With reference to GST Council, Consider
the following statements:
1. It is a constitutional Body.
2. It decides on various rate slabs of
GST.
3. Its recommendations are binding.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Quiz Question – Prelims

Q. With reference to Zonal councils, Consider
the following statements:
1. Zonal councils are constitutional bodies.
2. Union Home minister is the chairman of
the Zonal councils.
3. India is divided into seven zones and
provided a zonal council for each zone.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) All of the above
 18-12-2022

Practice Question – Mains

Mains Practice Question
GS – III
GS – II
Q. Recently the Supreme court has
Q. Recently our Law Minister commented
ordered the establishment of 1-km Eco-
that our courts are bogged down in
Sensitive Zones around all protected
“frivolous” public interest litigation and
areas, wildlife sanctuaries and national
bail applications. In this context write
parks. In this context, discuss the
about the reasons for pendency of cases
significance of Eco-Sensitive Zones in
in India and its impacts.
protection of the natural environment.
(150 words, 10 marks)
(150 words, 10 marks)

Previous year Question – Mains (2020)

GS – I
Q. Do you agree that regionalism in India
appears to be a consequence of rising
cultural assertiveness? Argue.
(150 Words, 10 Marks)