the hindu newspaper daily analysis · 4/27/2020 · • ‘guns, germs, and steel: the fates of...

DAILY WISDOM TEST LUKMAAN IAS 1

THE HINDU NEWSPAPER DAILY ANALYSIS

(JUNE 27, 2020)

Important articles For Prelims Page No. For Mains Page No.

1. Hardship may push people into making drugs for a living: UNODC

10 1. Getting out of the ‘guns, germs and steel’ crisis

6

2. Centre rolls out anti-drug plan in 272 vulnerable districts

11 2. The pandemic imposes a steep learning curve

6

ASEAN states warn of S. China Sea tensions

14 3. Science vs nonsense 6

Voters over 64 can opt for postal ballot

9

Noticeable thinning of Chinese troops along the LAC in Ladakh

1

LUKMAAN IAS THE HINDU NEWSPAPER DAILY ANALYSIS (JUNE 27, 2020)

Key points:• Context- Crisis faced by India in three aspects- Border stand-

off, Health emergency and Economic downslide.• ‘Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies’ –

Book written by Jared Diamond.1. Guns- Chinese “guns” on the borders 2. Germs- There are coronavirus “germs” in our bodies. 3. Steel- There are “steel” makers and other businesses on the verge of bankruptcy • Common thread across these is that its resolution requires

significant financial resources. Important facts:1. India’s defence budget- 2% of GDP for 2021. 2. China’s defence budget is nearly four times larger. 3. Combined public health expenditure of States and the

central government in India is a mere 1.5% of GDP, compared to China’s at 3% and America’s at 9%.

• India’s economy has four major drivers - people’s spending on consumption, government spending, investment and external trade.

• The government needs to spend an additional eight percentage points of GDP while revenues will be lower by two percentage points of GDP, a combined gap of 10% of GDP.

• Economic theory states that if money is printed at will, it can lead to a massive spike in prices and inflation.

• Conclusion: It seems that the best course of action is to borrow unabashedly to pull India out of the “guns, germs and steel” crisis.

Essay topic- Guns, germs and steel crisis in IndiaLUKMAAN IAS THE HINDU NEWSPAPER DAILY ANALYSIS (JUNE 27, 2020)

Key points:• Context- Online education: opportunities and costs• It is clear that technology will play a bigger role in education

in the coming years. • Courses that traditionally need a laboratory or practical

component are an obvious example where online classes cannot offer an alternative.

• There is a huge digital divide in the country in terms of band- width and reliable connectivity, as well as very unequal access to funding.

• National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL)

• SWAYAM- “Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds”.

• Both the quality and quantity of online courses need to be enhanced.

• Gandhiji’s “Nai Talim” put a high premium on self study and experiential learning.

• Use of Digital tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) can improve learning outcomes; in particular, this can be a boon for teaching students who are differently-abled.

• Pedagogic material must be made available in our other national languages.

• Government has responsibility to improve digital infrastructure.

Conclusion: Blended modes of education will be unavoidable: online instruction where possible, and limited contact for laboratory instruction and individual mentoring.Q. Examine the prospects of online education in India. Essay topic- Online education: Opportunities and costs


Key points:• Context- Patanjali Ayurved claiming successful drug for

Covid-19.• Patanjali Ayurved’s recent claim of having discovered a

“cure” and the publicity that this garnered, bypassing every regulatory requirement without any serious consequence so far, shows that India’s regulatory checks and balances are wanting.

• The company said in Haridwar that its product, ‘Coronil’, had cured everyone in a clinical trial.

• They had neither published their results nor submitted it for peer-review. Therefore, the company’s claim of a cure by all accounts was a clear subversion of the scientific process.

• More than the outcome, it is the method deployed that ought to be scrutinised by scientists to reinforce public trust in scientific assessment.

• There has always been a tension between traditional Indian systems of medicine and pharmaceutical drugs but there is now consensus in India’s regulatory system that claims by both systems of developing safe efficacious drugs must pass clinical trials.

• It is well within the domain of institutions of the ICMR or the CSIR or national science academies to call out a breach of due process in the appraisal of any drug, whether allopathic, ayurvedic or homeopathic.

• To not do so would amount to criminal negligence.

About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):

• It is a United Nations office that was established in 1997 as the Office for Drug

Control and Crime Prevention by combining the United Nations International Drug Control Program (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division in the United Nations Office.

• Headquarter: Vienna (Austria)

• It is a member of the United Nations Development Group.• It was renamed the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in 2002.

• The United Nations Secretary-General appoints the agency's Executive Director.• UNODC incorporates the secretariat of the International Narcotics Control

Board (INCB).

• The World Drug Report is a yearly publication that presents a comprehensive assessment of the international drug problem.

• On 26 June every year, UNODC marks the International Day against Drug Abuse and

Illicit Trafficking.• There are three drug related treaties that guide UNODC's drug related programs.

These are: 1. The Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972

Protocol2. The Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 3. The United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and

Psychotropic Substances of 1988.• UNODC campaigns to raise awareness of drugs and crime problems:

1. "Do Drugs Control Your Life?" – World Drug Campaign

2. "Your No Counts" – International Anti-Corruption Campaign3. "Think AIDS" – World AIDS Campaign4. Blue Heart Campaign Against Human Trafficking

Key points:

• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in its 2020 World Drug Report, has highlighted a wide range of

possible consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on illegal

drug production, supply and consumption. • The adverse impact of the economic hardship caused by the

pandemic could lead to an increase in the number of people

resorting to illicit activities linked to drugs to make a living.


Practice Prelims MCQ

Q. Which of the following is not the awareness campaign started by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)?a) "Do Drugs Control Your Life?" Campaign b) "Your No Counts” Campaign c) Glowing Glowing Gone Campaign d) Blue Heart Campaign



Q. Which of the following statements is incorrect about UNODC:a) It is UN office working for comprehensive response towards illicit

trafficking in and abuse of drugs. b) Its headquarter is located in Vienna.c) It incorporates the secretariat of the International Narcotics Control

Board (INCB).d) It releases World Drug Report biennially.


Important points:• An annual anti-drug action plan for 272

vulnerable districts was launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 26th June, the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

• ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat’, or drug-free India campaign will focus not just on institutional support but also on community outreach programmes in the districts identified in coordination with the Narcotics Control Bureau.

• It is important to sensitise parents to, and involve schools in, prevention of drug abuse.


Key points:• Context- ASEAN online summit• Vietnam and the Philippines warned of

growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at a regional summit amid concerns that China was stepping up its activity in the disputed South China Sea during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Both countries lodged protests with China in April after Beijing unilaterally declared the creation of new administrative districts on islands in the troubled waterways to which Vietnam and the Philippines also have competing claims.

• China has been pushing its presence in the Exclusive Economic Zones of other countries.


About ASEAN:• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional organization which was established to

promote political and social stability amid rising tensions among the Asia-Pacific’s post-colonial states.

• Motto of ASEAN : “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.• Secretariat: Indonesia, Jakarta.• It was established in 1967 through ‘Bangkok Declaration’ by five founding countries of Indonesia,

Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.• 10 Member Nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos,

Myanmar, Cambodia. • Chairmanship of ASEAN rotates annually, based on the alphabetical order of the English names of

Member States.• ASEAN summit takes place twice a year.ASEAN and India:• India and ASEAN already has 25 years of Dialogue Partnership, 15 years of Summit Level interaction

and 5 years of Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.• India has a separate Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.• ASEAN is India's fourth largest trading partner.• Funds: ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund, ASEAN-India Green

Fund.



Q. Consider the following statements about ASEAN:1. It was established through Bangkok Declaration in 1967.2. Its secretariat is located in Manila.3. India has a separate Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a) 2 and 3b) 1 and 2c) 1 and 3d) 1, 2 and 3


Key points:• The Law Ministry has reduced the age limit for senior citizens who can opt for

postal ballot in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. • In October 2019, the Law Ministry amended the Conduct of Election Rules to

allow people with disabilities and those who are 80 or older to opt for postal ballots.

• The Election Commission approached the government to amend the rule further as the pandemic could continue till the end of the year.

• On June 19, the Ministry notified a fresh change, allowing those aged 65 years and above to opt for postal ballot.

Postal Ballot system:• In this system, ballot papers are distributed electronically to electors and are

returned to the election officers via post.• Currently, only the following voters are allowed to cast their votes through postal

ballot:1. Service voters (armed forces, the armed police force of a state and government

servants posted abroad)2. Voters on election duty3. Voters under preventive detention.4. People with disabilities and those who are 80 or older.


India-China border stand-off (Keep Follow-up of developments)


Captions and quotations

• While the entire world is stretched thin in the fight against the pandemic, irresponsible acts and acts in violation of international law are still taking place, affecting the environment of security and stability in certain regions.• India faces a “guns, germs and steel” crisis. There are Chinese “guns” on the borders.

There are coronavirus “germs” in our bodies. There are “steel” makers and other businesses on the verge of bankruptcy.• Gandhiji’s “Nai Talim” put a high premium on self study and experiential learning.• Blended modes of education will be unavoidable: online instruction where possible,

and limited contact for laboratory instruction and individual mentoring. • “From being instruments of the perpetuation of status quo, the civil service was

envisaged as implementational agents of a mammoth socio-economic and political transformation,” Mr. Pranab Mukherjee (Former President of India).


Thank You


the hindu newspaper daily analysis · 4/27/2020 · • ‘guns, germs, and steel: the fates of...

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