07 Aug 2023: UPSC Exam

Comprehensive News Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related

B. GS 2 Related

C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT
1. MP strategy for Tigers can help Cheetahs

D. GS 4 Related

E. Editorials
AGRICULTURE
1. Is India’s sugar surplus leading to a crisis?

F. Prelims Facts
1. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

G. Tidbits
1. 5% of birds in India are endemic: ZSI

2. FATF trying to safeguard Non-Profit Organisation

3. Importance & concerns of Starlink

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

 A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!

B. GS 2 Related
Nothing here for today!!!

C. GS 3 Related
Category: ENVIRONMENT
1. MP strategy for Tigers can help Cheetahs

Syllabus: Biodiversity and conservation, Environmental pollution and degradation and

Environmental impact assessment

Mains: Conservation of tiger and cheetahs, Need for principles of active prey management for
cheetah conservation.

Context:

Madhya Pradesh's tiger population surged by 50%, securing the top spot in the 2022 tiger census,
attributed to the state's strategic active management of predator and prey populations.

Introduction

● The success of Madhya Pradesh in achieving a 50% increase in its tiger population, securing the
top spot in the 2022 tiger census, can be attributed to a strategic approach of actively managing
predator and prey populations.
● This approach has been lauded by tiger experts and holds potential for the formation of a viable
cheetah population in the state, despite challenges faced in translocating African cheetahs to
Kuno National Park.

Madhya Pradesh's Tiger Population Surge

● Madhya Pradesh reported 785 tigers in the 2022 tiger census, representing a 50% rise since the
previous census.
● The state has achieved the highest tiger count for the second time in the last three censuses.
● The Forest Department's strategy of actively moving tigers and prey within the state to balance
predator and prey populations played a crucial role in this success.
Active Management Practices

● Madhya Pradesh Forest Department demonstrated remarkable commitment and success in active
management practices to restore low-density areas.
● Strategies include incentivized voluntary village relocations, prey supplementation, and
reintroduction of species such as Barasingha and Gaur to new habitats like Satpuda,
Bandhavgarh, and Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserves.
● Prey species such as chital have been successfully supplemented in various reserves through
translocation from high-density areas.

Also read Guru Ghasidas National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh

● Madhya Pradesh accounts for six out of India's 53 tiger reserves.

● Five out of the six tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh have over 50 tigers, indicating successful
conservation efforts.
● Additionally, 563 tigers have been reported outside the reserves but within the state's forest
divisions.

Significance of Active Prey Management

● While nature corrects imbalances between predator and prey populations, the process can be
slow, and various pressures on wild habitats necessitate active prey management.
● Active prey management involves identifying regions with abundant prey and moving some to
areas with lower prey densities.
● Once prey populations reach critical numbers in the new area, tigers can be translocated safely to
maintain balance.

Applicability to Cheetah Conservation

● Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh is currently home to African cheetahs, but the
translocation project has faced challenges, with six out of 20 cheetahs dying since September
2022.
● Learning from tiger conservation practices, experts believe that active prey management
principles could help establish a viable cheetah population in the state.
● Similar to the approach used for tigers, maintaining balanced predator and prey populations is
essential for successful cheetah conservation.

Conclusion

● Madhya Pradesh's successful tiger population surge can be attributed to the Forest Department's
active management practices in balancing predator and prey populations.
 ● This approach holds promise for the establishment of a viable cheetah population in the state.
● As both tigers and cheetahs play critical roles in maintaining ecosystem balance, such
conservation efforts are vital for preserving India's rich wildlife heritage.

Nut Graf: Balancing predator and prey populations was crucial in achieving a 50% rise in Madhya
Pradesh's tiger population, making it the top state in the 2022 census. This successful approach also
holds promise for forming a viable cheetah population, despite challenges faced in translocating African
cheetahs to Kuno National Park.

D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!

E. Editorials
Category: AGRICULTURE
1. Is India’s sugar surplus leading to a crisis?

Syllabus: Major crops-cropping patterns in various parts of the country

Mains: Critical analysis of Excess Sugar Production in India

Background:

● In 2021-2022, India surpassed Brazil as the world's leading sugar producer, with a record of 359
lakh tonnes.
● Sugar exports have increased as a result of the excess, with a record of 110 lakh tonnes sold in
2021-2022.
● In fact, Brazil, Australia, and Guatemala filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) against India for providing excessive export subsidies and domestic support to farmers in
order to outcompete other countries in the global sugar market.

Reasons Behind Excess Sugar Production

● India is the world's largest consumer of sugar, thus it must produce enough to meet its massive
domestic demand.
● The excess sugar production is the result of policies and procedures that encourage farmers to
cultivate sugarcane.
● The Central Government provides a fair and remunerative pricing (FRP) scheme, which requires
sugar mills to pay a minimum price to sugarcane growers.
● State governments also provide substantial subsidies to encourage sugarcane growth.
Concerns

● India's main sugarcane-growing states rely largely on groundwater for irrigation, raising
concerns about groundwater depletion.
● Sugarcane's water-intensive farming has depleted groundwater. In states that are already prone to
drought and groundwater stress, 100 kg of sugar requires two lakh liters of irrigation
groundwater, which raises worries.
● The enormous use of resources in sugar production is fast decreasing, threatening a future
disaster.
● Sugarcane over-cultivation has resulted in a sugar surplus and excessive exports, which has a
negative impact on groundwater.
● The sugar industry's excessive usage of groundwater must be addressed if agricultural collapse is
to be avoided.

Sugar Surplus and Ethanol Production

● The Indian government explored diverting the sugar excess to the manufacturing of ethanol, an
organic chemical produced by fermenting sugarcane molasses or sugar.
● The government began the EBP project in 2003 in order to cut crude oil imports and minimize
greenhouse gas emissions from gasoline-powered vehicles; it has been somewhat successful.
● It began with a modest goal of obtaining a 5% blending rate, but the ambition for 2025 is 20%.
● In addition, in 2021, the government will lower the Goods and Services Tax on ethanol from
18% to 5%.
○ Ethanol is a key element in alcoholic beverages, as well as in the chemical and cosmetics
industries.
○ In the transportation industry, using ethanol-blended petrol (EBP) greatly reduces
harmful emissions from automobiles, such as carbon monoxide and other hydrocarbons.

Measures to be Taken

Even though the negative effects of excessive sugar production on the environment should be obvious,
exporting extra sugar has significant economic benefits, bringing in millions or crores of dollars
annually.

● To evaluate and then rectify incentives that favor sugarcane over other crops, resulting in a
persistent surplus.
● The implementation of fair and comprehensive crop subsidy programmes for a variety of crops
can assist farmers in diversifying agriculture equally and ensuring an equitable income.
● To ensure the availability of a broader range of profitable and less resource-intensive crops can
help to reduce the burden on essential natural resources.
● To focus on needs to invest in overall water-saving and management systems.
● To map different aspects of groundwater availability and distribution throughout India.
Conclusion

Cleaner practices such as rainwater gathering, wastewater treatment, and canal irrigation networks can
assist reduce demand on groundwater reservoirs as additional water sources become accessible for
irrigation. Investment in groundwater research must therefore be taken seriously. As India continues to
rise to prominence in the agriculture sector, it must prioritize sustainability.

Nut Graf: India surpassed Brazil as the world's greatest sugar producer, however the enormous use of
resources in sugar production is depleting rapidly, threatening a future disaster.

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Why did Meta block Canada’s access to news reports?

Syllabus: Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Mains: Online News Act and its impact on digital platforms

Background

● In a recent statement, Meta stated that it would prevent users from Canada from posting to or
accessing news articles on its Facebook and Instagram services.
● This is following the implementation of Canada's Online News Act, which mandates that
significant digital companies like Meta and Google pay news publishers for information made
available on their platforms.

What is the Online News Act?

● The Online News Act requires digital platforms that provide news to negotiate equitably with
Canadian news organizations for the use of their news material on their services.
● Essentially, Google and Meta will be required by the government to enter into reimbursement
agreements with recognised Canadian news providers.
● According to the law, the platforms must make a minimal contribution based on their earnings in
Canada.
● The bill also permits the government to limit how news items or themes are treated by digital
platforms, such as algorithmically elevating or downplaying them.

Australian Experience

In 2021, Australia passed the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code,
which became the blueprint for Canadian law and similar laws are being considered in Europe and
many other countries.
Need of Such Regulation

● Due to the shift of readers and advertisers online, printed periodicals recently suffered a fall in
revenue in industrialized economies.
● Google and Meta now dominate internet ad revenue and content distribution, raising concerns
about the news publishers' excessive revenue share.
● Although Australia and Canada have legislation that allow them to negotiate and set reasonable
conditions, critics contend that they only favor huge media businesses. Similar legislation is
being considered in India.
● These attempts are part of a global techlash aimed at limiting the power of large tech giants in
numerous fields.

Conclusion

The Online News Act mandates digital platforms with strategic market dominance, such as Google and
Meta, to negotiate reasonably for the use of their material with Canadian news organizations. This
legislative effort stems from the asymmetric interdependence that has evolved between a few large
digital platforms and news producers. However, for internet behemoths like Meta and Google, regulated
news does not constitute a large or commercially useful portion of content.

Nut Graf: Under government supervision, Google and Meta will be obliged to engage into
compensation agreements with permitted news publishers in Canada, with a minimum contribution
based on their revenue in the country.

F. Prelims Facts
1. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme

Syllabus: GS 3- Economy

Prelims: Infrastructure – Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.

Foundation Stone Laid for Redevelopment of 508 Railway Stations

● Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a virtual ceremony to symbolically lay the foundation
stone for the redevelopment of 508 railway stations across India.
● The project's cost is over ₹24,470 crore, and the stations are spread across 27 States and Union
Territories.

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and City-Center Development

● The redevelopment is part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, aiming to revamp 1,300 prime
railway stations in the country.
 ● The selected stations will be developed as "city centres," integrating both sides of the city into
the station's vision.
● The focus is on overall urban development, centred around the railway stations, providing better
amenities and modern conveniences for passengers.

Modernization and Passenger Amenities

● The redeveloped stations will feature improved seating on platforms, upgraded waiting rooms,
and free Wi-Fi for passengers' comfort.
● Proper traffic circulation, inter-modal integration, and passenger signage will be ensured to
enhance the station experience.

Northeast India Railways Expansion

● Prime Minister Modi highlighted the rapid progress in doubling of lines, gauge conversion,
electrification, and new railway routes in Northeast India.
● He emphasised the government's commitment to connect all state capitals in Northeast India
through a railway network.

Design Inspired by Local Culture and Heritage

● The station buildings' designs will be inspired by the local culture, heritage, and architecture of
the regions they represent.
● Examples include glimpses of Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort in Rajasthan's Jaipur station and
Raghunath Mandir's design at Jammu Tawi station.

Green Initiatives and Net-Zero Emissions

● The Prime Minister highlighted green energy production from every railway station as a
government goal.
● LED lights have been installed in nearly 70,000 coaches, and the number of bio-toilets in trains
has increased significantly since 2014.
● All Amrit stations will be built to green building standards, and the government aims for India's
railway network to run on net-zero emissions by 2030.

G. Tidbits
1. 5% of birds in India are endemic: ZSI

● A recent publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) reveals that 5% of the bird species
found in India are endemic, meaning they are not reported in other parts of the world.
● On the 108th foundation day of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the publication called "75
Endemic Birds of India" was unveiled.
 ● India is home to 1,353 bird species, representing approximately 12.4% of the global bird
diversity. Out of these, 78 (5%) are endemic to the country.
● Three of the endemic species mentioned in the publication have not been sighted in recent
decades:
○ The Manipur bush quail (Perdicula manipurensis) is categorized as "endangered" by the
IUCN Red List, and its last recorded sighting dates back to 1907.
○ The Himalayan quail (Ophrysia superciliosa) holds a "critically endangered" status, and
its last sighting was recorded in 1876.
○ Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) is classified as "critically endangered," and its
last confirmed sighting occurred in 2009.
● ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee emphasized the importance of conserving the habitats of endemic
bird species to prevent them from dwindling out.
● The publication aims to raise awareness among the general public, especially students, about the
presence of endemic bird species in restricted spaces.
● The Western Ghats region has the highest number of endemic species, with 28 bird species
recorded, including the Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar parakeet, Ashambu laughingthrush, and
the white-bellied sholakili.

2. FATF trying to safeguard Non-Profit Organisation

● The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is planning to revise its current recommendations that
aim to protect non-profit organisations (NPOs) from terrorist financing abuse, as these
recommendations may inadvertently harm legitimate NPO activities.
● The revision will focus on Recommendation 8 of the FATF Standards, which pertains to
non-profits, and its interpretive note. Additionally, an updated best practices paper on the issue
will be adopted.
● The proposed amendments were prepared by a project team established after the FATF's June
2022 plenary, where they agreed to consider changes to the recommendation.
● The revisions are intended to tackle the problem of overly applying preventive measures to the
Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) sector in certain countries, while considering the adverse effects
on legitimate NPO activities.
● The deadline for public comments on these proposed revisions is August 18, and they will be
discussed further at the FATF's October plenary.

3. Importance & concerns of Starlink

● Context:
○ The article discusses the impact of Starlink's satellite internet service, controlled by Elon
Musk, on global geopolitics, particularly its significance in the Russia-Ukraine war and
the need for more satellite constellations.
● Introduction
 ○ In January 2023, images of an unmanned Ukrainian drone with a retrofitted Starlink
satellite dish circulated on Telegram channels in Russia.
○ Pro-Russian paramilitary groups claimed that the integration of Starlink's satellite internet
service allowed remote control of the drone, raising concerns about its potential use in the
Russia-Ukraine war.
○ Elon Musk's tweet denying the use of Starlink for long-range drone strikes highlighted
how a tech CEO could alter the rules of engagement in a conflict.
● Starlink's Importance in Ukraine
○ Starlink's high-speed satellite internet access became crucial for communication in
war-stricken Ukraine after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
○ The Ukrainian government faced challenges in controlling internet access as it depended
on Musk's Starlink service, giving him significant control over connectivity in the
country.
● Warping the Internet's Functionality
○ Traditional infrastructure operates on a public utility principle, but satellite internet
companies like Starlink can exert control over connectivity due to the lack of regulation
and the technology's nature.
○ After the protests in Iran, the government shut down internet access, but Starlink
provided connectivity, enabling activists and protestors to communicate securely.
○ However, Starlink's monopoly raises concerns when Musk denies countries' requests for
connectivity or restricts specific uses, leaving decisions to tech company employees
rather than governments.
● The Need for More LEO Satellite Constellations
○ Starlink's monopoly results from several factors, including Musk's foresight and light
regulation from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
○ Rival firm OneWeb faced challenges when Russia demanded their satellites not be used
against Moscow, showing the importance of government-specific projects for satellite
constellations.
○ The European Union and China have initiated plans for their satellite constellations to
compete with Starlink, emphasising the need to decentralise the power concentrated in
one company.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements about the Financial Action Task Force (FATF):

1. FATF researches money laundering and terrorism financing.

2. It sets international standards to combat illegal financial activities.
3. India is not a member of the FATF.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

 A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

Answer: B

Explanation:

FATF sets international standards to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation
financing. India has been a member of FATF since 2010.

Q2. What is the primary focus of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for railway stations
in India?

A. Improving railway tracks and signalling systems.

B. Reducing travel time between cities.
C. Developing stations as city centres with improved amenities and urban integration.
D. Enhancing freight transportation efficiency.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme focuses on developing railway stations as city centres with improved
amenities and urban integration for better passenger experience.

Q3. Consider the following statements about the Global Tiger Forum (GTF):

1. It was established in 1994 to protect tigers globally.

2. GTF convenes its General Assembly every two years.
3. It aims to provide leadership and a common approach worldwide to save tigers, their prey, and
habitats.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

A. Only one
B. Only two
C. All three
D. None

Answer: B

Explanation:

It was established in 1994 with its headquarters in New Delhi. It convenes its General Assembly every
three years, and aims to protect tigers, their prey, and habitats.

Q4. Match the following endemic bird species with their respective International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation status:

Bird Species IUCN Conservation Status

1. Manipur bush quail A. Critically Endangered

2. Jerdon’s courser B. Least Concern
3. Indian Eagle-Owl C. Endangered

Select the correct match from the options below:

A. 1-A, 2-B, 3-C

B. 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
C. 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
D. 1-C, 2-A, 3-B

Answer: D

Explanation:

Manipur bush quail is listed as endangered, Jerdon’s courser is listed as critically endangered, and Indian
Eagle-Owl is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Q5. Which of the following islands is known for being an "eco-friendly" trash island
where ash from the incinerated garbage is dumped?

1. Pulau Ubin
2. Sentosa Island
3. Pulau Semakau
4. Lazarus Island

Answer: C

Explanation:

Pulau Semakau is a trash island near Singapore where ash from the city's incinerated garbage is disposed
of in an environmentally friendly manner.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. It is argued that India’s surplus sugarcane production is pushing the country’s agriculture towards
a crisis. Do you agree? Critically examine. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS-3; Economy and
Agriculture]
2. Examine the role of low-earth orbit satellites owned by private entities in wars & conflicts. (250
words, 15 marks) [GS-3; Security]