The Hindu Newspaper Analysis 24 Mar, 2023

The Hindu Newspaper Analysis for UPSC

The Hindu Newspaper Analysis 23 March 2023

This week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the synthesis report of its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) cycle, drawing together key findings from its six most recent reports. The report gains added legitimacy as its summary for policymakers is approved line-by-line by governments of the world.
The report confirms that human activity is ‘unequivocally’ driving global temperature rise, which has reached approximately 1.1° C above pre-industrial levels. While the rate of emissions growth has slowed in the past decade, humanity is estimated to be on a 2.8° C(2.1°-3.4° C range) trajectory by 2100.
The leading message of the report is that of urgently adopting ‘climate-resilient development’ — a developmental model that integrates both adaptation and mitigation to advance sustainable development for all.
The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change.
It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

The Hindu Editorial Today

With an estimated 1.5-6 crore stray canines roaming around the streets in India, questions are being raised about the implementation of municipality laws and cultural attitudes of tolerance towards stray dogs.
The U.S. has a zero-tolerance policy for stray dogs and up to three million dogs and cats are euthanised every year.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act), which is the principal Act for the protection of animals, recognises that dogs are domestic animals, suffer on the streets due to homelessness and also impact human beings, and they should therefore be sheltered, re-homed, removed or euthanised.
The Animal Welfare Board of India, a statutory body under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, promulgated the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules in 2001 (now replaced with the even more draconian ABC Rules 2023).
This policy was meant to control both the dog population, as well the deadly rabies virus.

In legislative parlance, to “guillotine” means to bunch together and fast-track the passage of financial business. It is a fairly common procedural exercise in Lok Sabha during the Budget Session.
After the Budget is presented, Parliament goes into recess for about three weeks, during which time the House Standing Committees examine Demands for Grants for various Ministries, and prepare reports. After Parliament reassembles, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) draws up a schedule for discussions on the Demands for Grants.
Given the limitation of time, the House cannot take up the expenditure demands of all Ministries; therefore, the BAC identifies some important Ministries for discussions. It usually lists Demands for Grants of the Ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development and Human Resource Development. Members utilise the opportunity to discuss the policies and working of Ministries.

According to the Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1951, which guides the disqualification of a legislator, the moment a Member of Parliament is convicted of any offence and sentenced for at least two years, she or he attracts disqualification.
Constitutional law expert P.D.T. Achary says the disqualification is directly linked to the quantum of sentence and since the Surat court has suspended Mr. Gandhi’s sentence for 30 days, the disqualification process is also on hold for the same period.
However, according to former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quereshi, since the court has suspended the sentence and not the conviction, the disqualification according to the RP Act and its interpretation by the Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas case is automatic.
In 2013, the court in the Lily Thomas case had struck down Section 8(4) of the RP Act that gave a convicted lawmaker the power to remain in office on the grounds that appeals have been filed within three months of conviction.

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993

It set imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of Rs 2,000 for pushing a person to manual scavenging.

Self Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) 2017

It is a successor scheme to the National Scheme for Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers and their Dependents (NSLRS) with the objective to rehabilitate remaining manual scavengers and their dependents in alternative occupations, in a time-bound manner.
Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) and the government is looking to enable 100% mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers in all cities and towns.
It was launched in 2022 as a Central Sector Scheme.
The scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) and aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practices.

India has committed to adding “an additional (cumulative) carbon sink of 2.5-3 GtCO2e through additional forest and tree cover by 2030”, as part of its climate commitments to the U.N.
Afforestation is also codified in the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), a body chaired by the Environment Minister.(2016)
When forest land is diverted to non-forest use, such as building a dam or a mine, that land can longer provide its historical ecosystem services nor host biodiversity.
According to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the project proponent that wishes to divert the land must identify land elsewhere to afforest, and pay for the land value and the afforestation exercise. That land will, thereafter, be stewarded by the forest department.

Q) World Happiness Report, recently seen in the news, is an annual publication of which one of the following organizations?

World Economic Forum
United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network
World Bank
Oxfam International

वर्ल्ड हैप्पीनेस रिपोर्ट, हाल ही में समाचारों में रही, निम्नलिखित में से किस संस्था का वार्षिक प्रकाशन है?

विश्व आर्थिक मंच
संयुक्त राष्ट्र सतत विकास समाधान नेटवर्क
विश्व बैंक
ऑक्सफैम इंटरनेशनल

Explanation :

India has been ranked at the 126th place among 146 countries in the recently released World Happiness Report.

About World Happiness Report:

It is an annual publication of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
It is based on global survey data from people in more than 150 countries.
It is based on people’s own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data.
The report considers six key factors: social support, income, health, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption.
It assigns a happiness score based on an average of data over a three-year period.
Highlights of World Happiness Report 2023:
Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the sixth consecutive year.
India is ranked 126, ten places higher than its ranking of 136 in 2022. It remains below most neighboring counties, including Pakistan (108) and Sri Lanka (112).

Q) With reference to the National Chambal sanctuary, consider the following statements:

It is located at the tri-junction of three states namely Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
It is home to the largest population of Gharials.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

राष्ट्रीय चंबल अभ्यारण्य के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिये:

यह गुजरात, उत्तर प्रदेश और राजस्थान जैसे तीन राज्यों के ट्राइ-जंक्शन पर स्थित है।
यह घड़ियालों की सबसे बड़ी आबादी का घर है।

उपरोक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?

केवल 1
केवल 2
1 और 2 दोनों
न तो 1 और न ही 2

Explanation :

Recently, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh these three States have commenced joint action to stop illegal sand mining in National Chambal Sanctuary.

National Chambal Sanctuary lying at the tri-junction of three states Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
It is home to the critically endangered Gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle and the endangered Ganges River dolphin.
Chambal supports the largest population of Gharials in the wild.
Chambal River is one of the tributaries of the Yamuna River and the most pollution-free river in India.
It originates at the Singar Chouri peak on the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains.

Q) With reference to the River Kothari, consider the following statements:

It originates from the Girnar hills of Gujarat.
It is one of the tributaries of the River Tapi.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

कोठारी नदी के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिये:

यह गुजरात की गिरनार पहाड़ियों से निकलती है।
यह तापी नदी की सहायक नदियों में से एक है।

उपरोक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?

केवल 1
केवल 2
1 और 2 दोनों
न तो 1 और न ही 2

Explanation :

Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) to recover environmental compensation from Bhilwara municipal council for its failure to take action to remedy the pollution of River Kothari.

The Kothari River raises from the Aravalli hills near Devgarh in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan.
This river is one of the tributaries of river Banas which joins it at Nandrai in Kotri tehsil.
The Meja dam on the Kothari river provides drinking water to the Bhilwara district.
The most open wells in villages near the Kothari river, which flows along the industrial belt, had chromium, lead, iron, zinc and sodium above the norms set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, Poisoned Water.

Q) Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in the news, lies in which state?

Jharkhand
Karnataka
Odisha
Gujarat

हाल ही में खबरों में रहा सुनाबेड़ा वन्यजीव अभयारण्य किस राज्य में स्थित है?

झारखंड
कर्नाटक
ओडिशा
गुजरात

About Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary:

Location:
It is located in the Nuapada district of Odisha, adjoining Chhattisgarh.
It adjoins the Sitanadi and Udanti sanctuaries of Chhattisgarh.
The sanctuary harbors a great diversity of wildlife habitats with a vast plateau, canyons, and 11 waterfalls.
It also forms the catchment area of the Jonk River, over which a dam has been constructed to facilitate irrigation.

Q) With reference to the Navroz, consider the following statements:

It is celebrated by the members of the Parsi community.
It is listed as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

नवरोज के संदर्भ में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिये:

यह पारसी समुदाय के सदस्यों द्वारा मनाया जाता है।
इसे यूनेस्को द्वारा मानवता की अमूर्त सांस्कृतिक विरासत के रूप में सूचीबद्ध किया गया है।

उपरोक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?

केवल 1
केवल 2
1 और 2 दोनों
न तो 1 और न ही 2

Explanation :

Google Doodle is celebrating the Iranian New Year Navroz, a festival that is celebrated by Parsis all across the globe.

Navroz is an Iranian and Persian New year. The word ‘now’ means ‘new’ and roz means ‘day’. Therefore, the word translates to a new day.’
It marks the beginning of the spring season and is celebrated with great fervour by members of the Parsi community across the globe.
The festival of Nowruz is named after the Persian king, Jamshed, who is credited for creating the Persian or the Shahenshahi calendar.
It is said that the festival came to India courtesy of an 18th-century wealthy tradesman from Surat, Nusservanji Kohyaji, who often travelled to Iran and began celebrating Nowruz in India.
It is listed in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of India.
In India, the festival is observed around August 16-17 by the Parsi community following the Shahenshahi calendar which does not account for leap years.