Maritime domain awareness (MDA)
Maritime domain awareness (MDA) Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is the effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States. MDA is a key component of an active, layered maritime defense in depth. It will be achieved by improving our ability to collect, fuse, analyze, display, and disseminate actionable information and intelligence to operational commanders. MDA is supported by the Global Maritime Intelligence Integration Plan and is the enabler for the Maritime Operational Threat Response Plan. KEY DEFINITIONS: Maritime Domain is all areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway, including all maritime related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, and vessels and other conveyances. Maritime Domain Awareness is the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States. Global Maritime Community of Interest (GMCOI) includes, among other interests, the federal, state, and local departments and agencies with responsibilities in the maritime domain. Because certain risks and interests are common to government, business, and citizen alike, community membership also includes public, private and commercial stakeholders, as well as foreign governments and international stakeholders. MDA Goals : MDA supports core national defense and security priorities over the next decade. MDA serves to simplify today’s complex and ambiguous security environment by meeting the following strategic goals: Enhance transparency in the maritime domain to detect, deter and defeat threats as early and distant from U.S. interests as possible; Enable accurate, dynamic, and confident decisions and responses to the full spectrum of maritime threats; and Sustain the full application of the law to ensure freedom of navigation and the efficient flow of commerce. Maritime domain awareness MDA Objectives: Achieving MDA depends on the ability to monitor activities in such a way that trends can be identified and anomalies differentiated. Data alone are insufficient. Data must becollected, fused, and analyzed, preferably with the assistance of computer data integration and analysis algorithms to assist in handling vast, disparate data streams, so that operational decision makers can anticipate threats and take the initiative to defeat them. The following objectives constitute the MDA Essential Task List, which will guide the development of capabilities that the United States Government will pursue and when executed will provide the GMCOI an effective understanding of the maritime domain. Persistently monitor in the global maritime domain: o Vessels and craft o Cargo o Vessel crews and passengers o All identified areas of interest Access and maintain data on vessels, facilities, and infrastructure Collect, fuse, analyze, and disseminate information to decision makers to facilitate effective understanding. Access, develop and maintain data on MDA-related mission performance. Threats: Nation-State Threats: The prospect of major regional conflicts erupting, escalating, and drawing in major powers should not be discounted. Nonetheless, for the near-term, states represent a more significant challenge to global security. Terrorist Threats: The vastness of the maritime domain provides great opportunities for exploitation by terrorists. The use of smaller commercial and recreational vessels closer to our shores and areas of interest to transport WMD/E is of significant concern. Transnational Criminal and Piracy Threats: Modern-day pirates and other criminals are well organized and well equipped, often possessing advanced communications, weapons, and high-speed craft to conduct smuggling of people, drugs, weapons, and other contraband, as well as piracy. Environmental and Social Threats: Catastrophic destruction of marine resources, conflict between nation-states over maritime resources, and mass migration flows have the potential to harm the maritime domain or destabilize regions of the world. The accompanying economic impacts are often significant. KEY ORGANIZATIONS: Governmental Organizations : The Maritime Security Policy Coordinating Committee (MSPCC), established by NSPD41/HSPD-13 and co-chaired by representatives from the NSC and HSC staffs, is the primary forum for coordinating and implementing policies, strategies, and initiatives of this plan. Both through the MSPCC and other organizational implementation efforts, theUnited States Government will work with relevant intergovernmental, state, and local agencies, as well as private sector and international partners, to execute this plan. International Organizations: MDA must be embedded into all maritime activities to enhance global maritime security. Close, continual cooperation with international organizations is required to achieve MDA. For example, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) took steps toward embedding security within the global maritime domain with the adoption of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code. This provides a standardized, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling governments to offset changes in threat with changes in vulnerability for ships and port facilities. To help facilitate global MDA, this plan will leverage the efforts of the NSMS International Outreach and Coordination Strategy, which provides a framework to coordinate all maritime security initiatives undertaken with foreign governments and international organizations, and solicits international support for enhanced maritime security. Private Sector Organizations: Private Sector Organizations Initiatives conducted with the support of the private sector are also necessary to ensure full information dominance in the maritime domain. Public-private sector partnership initiatives, such as the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), provide models for enhancing awareness and incentives for private sector participation. Such initiatives have helped enhance the visibility and security of the global supply chain, a key element of MDA. To this end, we must engage private sector organizations to include: Harbor Safety Committees, shipping companies, associations and consortia within the GMCOI, including the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC) and other private sector advisory committees. Conclusion: To meet emerging threats, MDA may be required to support the entire spectrum of national security events – from the Global War on Terrorism and stability operations to disaster response and recovery. These requirements may call for a surge or sustained capability to provide MDA where strategically, operationally, or tactically most important. In these cases, capabilities supporting MDA will be focused toward identified maritime areas of interest, such as military vessels or formations, the center of a maritime operating area or a geographic area of interest (e.g., choke point, special security
Water, Sanitation And Women’s Rights
Water, Sanitation And Women’s Rights The right to water and sanitation is recognized as fundamental to attaining all other human rights. Globally, however, 2.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water at home, 2.3 billion do not have basic sanitation and 1 billion practice open defecation. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, due to their needs during periods of increased vulnerability to infection around menstruation and reproduction Interconnection: Water, Sanitation & Hygiene With Women’s Rights: Women and girls also have a larger role relative to men in water, sanitation and hygiene activities, including in agriculture and domestic labour. This situation has implications for gender equality and empowerment. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) make an important initial step in connecting water, sanitation and hygiene (SDG 6) and gender equality and empowerment (SDG 5) through target 6.2, which emphasizes access to equitable sanitation and hygiene, and the needs of women and girls. However, indicators to measure the specific needs of women and girls are still emerging. Inequalities in access to water, sanitation and hygiene services have been measured between rural and urban areas and across country wealth quintiles, as well as by sex. However, measurement of the burden placed on women and girls, the opportunity costs of these burdens, and female empowerment related to water, sanitation and hygiene decision-making and autonomy are limited. Based on a process of expert input and literature review, here we offer a compilation of current water, sanitation and hygiene indicators that measure gender equality and empowerment in four interrelated priority areas. Within each priority area, we describe and critique the status of these measures and identify where further research is needed to better measure gendered aspects of water, sanitation and hygiene at programme, national and global levels. The first priority area is that of women’s water-fetching responsibility and time-use burden, and the implications for health and economic well-being. Currently, as part of SDG monitoring, indicators are collected on access to water on premises (SDG 6) and proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work by sex and age (SDG 5) The second area is sanitation access and its relationship with gender-based violence and psychosocial stress. The third area is women’s water, sanitation and hygiene needs during menstruation, pregnancy and caregiving, and effects on health, education and psychosocial stress. Read Also National Nutrition Mission Challenges: The lack of basic water, sanitation and hygiene services in households and extra-household settings, such as schools and health-care facilities, has implications for girls’ menstrual hygiene management, safety and emotional and physical well-being. The presence of these services in health-care facilities is critical to reducing the risk of infections among patients and providers, especially during childbirth. Women’s participation in water, sanitation and hygiene decision-making and governance, leading to their social and political empowerment. Conclusion: Women are largely responsible for household water, sanitation and hygiene management; they bear a disproportionate burden when these basic services are lacking, and face health, security and psychological vulnerabilities due to inadequate access and decision-making control. To emphasize the need for measurement at the intersection of gender equality and water, sanitation and hygiene to guide SDG monitoring and achievement.
General Studies Paper 1 GS1 2020
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 1 (GS1) – UPSC CIVIL SERVICES MAINS EXAM (CSE) 2020 Q.1) The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) Q.2) Pala period is the most significant phase in the history of Buddhism in India. Enumerate. (Answer in 150 words) Q.3) Evaluate the policies of Lord Curzon and their long term implications on the national movement. (Answer in 150 words) Q.4) Discuss the geophysical characteristics of the Circum-Pacific zone. (Answer in 150 words) Q.5) The process of desertification does not have climatic boundaries. Justify with examples. (Answer in 150 words) Q.6) How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India? (Answer in 150 words) Q.7) Account for the present location of Iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples. (Answer in 150 words) Q.8) Has caste lost its relevance in understanding the multi-cultural Indian society? Elaborate your answer with illustrations. (Answer in 150 words) Q.9) COVID-19 pandemic accelerated class inequalities and poverty in India. Comment (Answer in 150 words) Q.10) Do you agree that regionalism in India appears to be a consequence of rising cultural assertiveness? Argue. (Answer in 150 words) Q.11) Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and art in India.Discuss (Answer in 250 words) Q.12) Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment? (Answer in 250 words) Q.13) Since the decade of 1920s, the national movement acquired various ideological strands and thereby expanded its social base. Discuss. (Answer in 250 words) Q.14) The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multidimensional interrelated problems of droughts, floods, and interrupted navigation. Critically examine (Answer in 250 words) Q.15) Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (Answer in 250 words) Q.16) India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its development. ELaborate (Answer in 250 words) Q.17) Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change. (Answer in 250 words) Q.18) Is diversity and pluralism in India under threat due to globalisation? Justify your answer. (Answer in 250 words) Q.19) Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree? (Answer in 250 words) Q.20) How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer. (Answer in 250 words)
General Studies Paper 2 GS 2 UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam 2020
General Studies Paper 2 (Gs2) – UPSC Civil Services (Cse) Mains Examination 2020 Q.1) “There is a need for simplification of Procedure for disqualification of persons found guilty of corrupt practices under the Representation of Peoples Act”. Comment (Answer in 150 words) Q.2) “Recent amendments to the Right to Information Act will have profound impact on the autonomy and independence of the Information Commission”. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) Q.3) How far do you think cooperation, competition and confrontation have shaped the nature of federation in India ? Cite some recent examples to validate your answer. (Answer in 150 words) Q.4) The judicial system in India and UK seem to be converging as well as diverging in recent times. Highlight the key points of convergence and divergence between the two nations in terms of their judicial practices. (Answer in 150 words) Q.5) ‘Once a Speaker, Always a speaker’! Do you think this practice should be adopted to impart objectivity to the office of the Speaker of Lok Sabha? What could be it’s implication for the robust functioning of parliamentary business in India? ( (Answer in 150 words) Q.6) In order to enhance the prospects of social development, sound and adequate health care policies are needed in the fields of geriatric and maternal health care. Discuss (Answer in 150 words) Q.7) “Institutional quality is a crucial driver of economic performance”. In this context, suggest reforms in Civil Service for Strengthening Democracy. (Answer in 150 words) Q.8) “The emergence of Fourth Industrial Revolution (Digital Revolution) has initiated e-Governance as an integral part of the government”. Discuss (Answer in 150 words) Q.9) Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Answer in 150 words) Q.10) “Indian diaspora has a decisive role to play in the politics and economy of America and European Countries”. Comment with examples. (Answer in 150 words) Read UPSC 2021 Mains Complete Questions Q.11) Indian Constitution exhibits centralising tendencies to maintain unity and integrity of the nation. Elucidate in the perspective of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897; The Disaster Management Act, 2005 and recently passed Farm Acts. (Answer in 250 words) Q.12) Judicial legislation is antithetical to the doctrine of separation of powers as envisaged in the Indian Constitution. In this context justify the filing of large number of public interest petitions praying for issuing guidelines to executive authorities. (Answer in 250 words) Q.13) The strength and sustenance of local institutions in India has shifted from their formative phase of ‘functions , functionaries and funds’ to the contemporary stage of’ functionality’. Highlight the critical challenges faced by local institutions in terms of their functionality in recent times. (Answer in 250 words) Q.14) Rajyasabha has been transformed from a ‘useless Stepney tire’ to the most useful supportive organ in past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as areas in which this transformation could be visible. (Answer in 250 words) Q.15) Which steps are required for constitutionalisation of a commission? Do you think imparting constitutionality to the national commission for woman would ensure greater gender justice and empowerment in India? Give reasons. (Answer in 250 words) Q.16) “Incidence and intensity of poverty are most important in determining poverty based on income alone”. In this context analyze the latest United Nations Multi Poverty Index report. Q.17) “Microfinance as an anti-poverty vaccine is aimed at asset creation and income security of the rural poor in India”. Evaluate the role of Self Help Groups in achieving twin objectives along with empowering women in rural India. (Answer in 250 words) Q.18) National Electronic Policy 2020 is in conformity with the Sustainable Development Goals-4 (2030). It intended to restructure and re-orient the education system in India. Critically examine the statement. (Answer in 250 words) Q.19) Quadrilateral Security Dialogue is transforming itself into a trade block from the military alliance, in present times. Discuss (Answer in 250 words) Q.20) What is the significance of Indo-US deals over Indo-Russian defence deals? Discuss with reference to stability in the Indo-Pacific region (Answer in 250 words)
UPSC Mains 2020 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 4 (ETHICS – GS4) – UPSC CIVIL SERVICES (CSE) MAINS EXAMINATION 2020
UPSC Mains 2020 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 4 (ETHICS – GS4) – UPSC CIVIL SERVICES (CSE) MAINS EXAMINATION 2020 SECTION A 1.(a) Discuss the role of ethics and values in enhancing the following three major components of Comprehensive National Power(CNP)viz. human capital, soft power(culture and policies), and social harmony. (150 words) (b) “Education is not an injunction, it is an effective and pervasive tool for all-round development of an individual and social transformation”.Examine the New Education Policy,2020(NEP,2020)in light of the above statement. (150 words) (a) ‘ Hatred is destructive of a person‘s wisdom and conscience that can poison a nation’s spirit. Do you agree with this view? Justify your answer. (150 words) (b) What are the main components of emotional intelligence (EI) ? Can they be learned? discuss. (150 words) (a) What teachings of Buddha are most relevant today and why? Discuss. (150 words) (b) ‘The will to power exits, but it can be tamed and be guided by rationality and principles of moral duty.’ Examine this statement in the context of international relations. (150 words) (a) Distinguish between laws and rules. Discuss the role of ethics in formulating them. (150 words). (b) A positive attitude is considered to be an essential characteristic of a civil servant who is often required to function under extreme stress. What contributes a positive attitude in person.? (150 words). (a) What are the main factors responsible for gender responsibility in India ? Discuss the contribution of Savitribai Phule in this regard. (150 words). (b) The current internet expansion has instilled a different set of cultural values which are in conflict with traditional values. Discuss. (150 words). What do each of the following quotations mean to you? (a) ” Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand do so. If not fold your hands, bless your brothers and let them go their own way.” – Swami Vivekanand (150 words). (b) “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others .” Mahatma Gandhi (150 words). (c) ” A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.” – Socrates. (150 words). Read UPSC 2021 Mains Complete Questions SECTION B Rajesh Kumar is a senior public servant, with a reputation of honesty and forthrightness, currently posted in the Finance Ministry as the Head of the Budget Division. His department is presently busy in organizing the budgetary support to the states, four of which are due to the polls within the financial year. This year’s annual budget had allotted Rs 8300 crores for the National Housing Scheme (NHS), a centrally sponsored social housing scheme for the weaker sections of society. Rs 775 crores have been drawn for NHS till June. The Ministry of Commerce had long been pursuing a case for setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in a southern state to boost exports. After two years of detailed discussion between the center and state, the Union Cabinet approved the project in August. The process was initiated to acquire the necessary land. Eighteen months ago a leading Public Sector Unit (PSU) had projected the need for setting up a large natural gas processing plant in a northern state for the regional gas grid. The land is already in possession of the PSU. The gas grid is an essential component of the national energy security strategy. After three rounds of global bidding, the project was allotted to an MNC, M/s XYZ Hydrocarbons. The first tranche of payment to the MNC is scheduled to be made in December. Finance Ministry was asked for a timely allocation of an additional Rs 6000 crores for these two developmental projects. It was decided to recommend re-appropriation of this entire amount from NHS allocation. The file was forwarded to the Budget Department for their comments and further processing. On studying the case file, Rajesh Kumar realized that this re-appropriation may cause an inordinate delay in the execution of NHS, a project much publicized in the rallies of senior politicians. Correspondingly, the non-availability of finances would cause a financial loss in the SEZ and national embarrassment due to delayed payment in the international project. Rajesh Kumar discussed the matter with seniors. He was conveyed that this politically sensitive situation needs to be processed immediately. Rajesh Kumar realized that diversion of funds from the NHS could raise difficult questions for the government in the Parliament. Discuss the following with reference to this case: Ethical issues involved in re-appropriation of funds from a welfare project to the development projects. Given the need for proper utilization of public funds, discuss the options available to Rajesh Kumar. Is resigning a worthy option? (250 words) The Chairman of Bharat Missiles Ltd (BML) was watching a program on TV wherein the Prime Minister was addressing the nation on the necessity of developing a self-reliant India. He subconsciously nodded in agreement and smiled to himself as he mentally reviewed BML’s journey in the past two decades. BML had admirably progressed from producing first-generation anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) to designing and producing state of the art ATGM weapon systems that would be the envy of any army. He sighed in reconciliation with his assumptions that the government would probably not alter the status quo of a ban on the export of military weaponry. To his surprise, the very next day he got a telephone call from the Director-General, Ministry of Defence, asking him to discuss the modalities of increasing BML production of ATGMs as there is a probability of exporting the same to a friendly country. The Director-General wanted the Chairman to discuss the details with his staff in Delhi next week. Two days later, at a press conference, the Defence Minister stated that he aims to double the current weapons export levels within five years. This would give an impetus to financing the development and manufacturing of indigenous weapons in the country. He also stated that all
GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 3 (GS3) – UPSC CIVIL SERVICES (CSE) MAINS EXAMINATION 2020
UPSC Mains 2020 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 3 (GS3) – UPSC CIVIL SERVICES (CSE) MAINS EXAMINATION 2020 Q.1) Explain intergenerational and intragenerational issues of equity from the perspective of inclusive growth and sustainable growth. (Answer in 150 words) Q.2) Define potential GDP and its determinants. What are the factors that have been inhibiting India from realizing its potential GDP? ( Answer in 150 words.) Q.3) What are the main constraints in transports and marketing of agricultural produce in India? ( Answer in 150 words.) Q.4) What are the challenges and opportunities in food processing sector in the country? How can income of the farmers can sustainably be increased by encouraging food processing? ( Answer in 150 words) Q.5) What do you understand by nanotechnology? And how its helping in health sector? ( Answer in 150 words.) Q.6) How is science interwoven deeply with our lives? What are the striking changes in agriculture triggered off by science-based technologies? (Answer in 150 words) Q.7) How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006? (Answer in 150 words) Q.8) What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security? (Answer in 150 words) Q.9) Discuss different types of Cybercrimes and measures required to be taken to fight the menace. (Answer in 150 words) Q.10) For effective border area management, discuss the steps required to be taken to deny local support to militants and also suggest ways to manage favourable perception among locals. (Answer in 150 words) Q.11) Explain the meaning of investment in an economy in terms of capital formation.Discuss the factors to be considered while designing a concession agreement between a public entity and private entity.(Answer in 250 words) Q.12) Explain the rationale behind Goods and Services Tax(Compensation to states)act of 2017.How has COVID-19 impacted the GST compensation fund and created new federal tensions? (Answer in 250 words) Q.13) What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success?In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?(Answer in 250 words) Q.14) Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenario. (Answer in 250 words) Q.15) COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crises.Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the Pandemic.(Answer in 250 words) Q.16) Describe the benefits of deriving electric energy from sunlight in contrast to the conventional energy generation. What are the initiatives offered by our government for this purpose? (Answer in 250 words) Q.17) What are the features of the National Clean Air Programme(NCAP) initiated by the government of India? (Answer in 250 words) Q.18) Discuss the recent measures initiated in the disaster management by the Government of India departing from the earlier reactive approach. (Answer in 250 words) Q.19) What are the determinants of left-wing extremism in the Eastern part of India? What strategy should the Government of India, civil administration and security forces adopt to counter the threat in the affected areas? (Answer in 250 words) Q.20) Analyze internal security threats and transborder crimes along Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan borders including Line of Control (LoC). Also, discuss the role played by various security forces in this regard. (Answer in 250 words)
Changing World Order India and UNSC
Changing World Order India and UNSC It enters the United Nations Security Council for the third time since the end of the Cold War, India finds a very different dynamic than the one it encountered during the earlier stints in 1991-92 and 2011-12. India, too, has changed over the last decade. The range of Indian interests has expanded and so has the circle of India’s international partners. Delhi’s attitudes have also shifted from the reactive to the proactive. That, in turn, should make India’s new stint at the UNSC more purposeful and pragmatic. Purposefulness is about tightly integrating its UNSC engagement with India’s broader national goals. Pragmatism demands adapting to the changed conditions at the UNSC and avoiding overly ambitious goals. India And UNSC : India will start its eighth term as a non-permanent, voting member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This two-year term presents a unique opportunity for the country to demonstrate global power and responsibility, thereby strengthening its claim to a permanent seat on the Council, which it has sought for decades. Indeed, the UNSC is overdue for some structural reforms and India has vocally and rightfully asserted that it deserves to be taken more seriously on the international stage. At the same time, while the Indian government talks a lot about deserving global power status, what exactly does it want to do with this power? That’s a question that nobody, including the Indians, has an answer to yet. To be perceived as a major power, India must articulate a clear vision of a world order, something that it has not so far done. Seventy years after attaining independence, at a time of monumental global shifts, India cannot continue to seek refuge in vacuous statements about strategic autonomy and sovereignty, and expect that the world will see it as a worthy leader. It must demonstrate its capacity to lead by example, through changes in both its foreign and domestic policy environments. Changing World Order : New Cold-War: During 1991-92, Delhi saw the collapse of the Soviet Union, the end of the Cold War and the new Russia’s turn to the US and the West. The People’s Republic of China was focused on getting its house in order, opening its economy and keeping a low profile in the unipolar moment. India, too, had good reasons to keep its head down. Delhi had to fix its broken economy, put out political bushfires across the country and rejig its foreign policy to cope with the post-Soviet world. Retrenchment of US: retrenchment has led to a severe blow to multilateralism and globalisation Indo-Pacific as a New Sub-System: Indo-Pacific refers to the Indian and the Pacific Oceans between the east coast of Africa and the American west coast and their several littoral countries. Challenges For Indian Foreign Policy: Compromising Non-Alignment China protects Pakistan from the international pressures that India has sought to mobilise at various fora. China now has assumed an aggressive posture towards India. It can be seen in recent Galwan Valley Clashes. Way Forward: India now joins the UNSC amid a continuing military standoff, India can now expose the Chinese aggression in the Ladakh region. India should continue its partnership with G4 (Brazil, Germany and Japan) countries to expand the UNSC and become a permanent member. India could also use the UNSC tenure to deepen collaboration with its European partners like France and Germany in the security arena. India must also sustain an intensive dialogue with Russia on all international issues, notwithstanding Russia’s worsening problems with the West and closer ties to China. India needs to revitalise its engagement with its traditional partners in the global south by articulating their peace and security concerns in the UNSC
Ganges River Dolphin
Ganges River Dolphin Ganges River dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) occur in the Ganges-Brahmaputra River system primarily in India and Bangladesh. They are listed as Endangered by the IUCN due to a probable population decline of at least 50% over the last 50 years and projected future population declines. No quantitative estimates of abundance are available for the Ganges River dolphin although an overall abundance of about 2000 has been suggested. Dolphins have been extirpated from the upper reaches of many rivers, the population has been fragmented by irrigation barrages and dry season habitat is further reduced by diversion of water. In comparison to the Ganges, the Brahmaputra River is less degraded and is therefore of great importance for persistence of the subspecies. For this reason, a recent proposal by Oil India Ltd. to initiate seismic exploration (using explosives and airguns) along the bed of the Brahmaputra River to prospect for oil has potentially disastrous implications for Ganges River dolphins. This project was designed to provide missing baseline information on distribution, abundance, behaviour and acoustics of Ganges River dolphins in the Brahmaputra River and suggest suitable locations to establish protected areas. The hope is that the robust scientific data generated will enable informed management decisions that will safeguard this important and vulnerable population. An extensive survey was conducted in the entire 1044 km of dolphin inhabited sections of the Brahmaputra River from the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border to India-Bangladesh border. The best estimate of 264 dolphins in the entire Brahmaputra River system was recorded, with 80.3% occurring in the Brahmaputra mainstream, 11% in the Kulsi River and 8.7% in the Subansiri River. Dolphin encounter rate in the Brahmaputra was 0.24 dolphin/km, in the Kulsi was 0.40 dolphin/km and in the Subansiri it was 0.24 dolphin/km. Behavioural studies on dive time and surfacing interval and acoustic investigations were also carried out in two dolphin hotspots. Dolphins spent an average 107.3 seconds under water and 1.26 seconds above water. Mortality through fisheries by-catch was identified as one of the major threats to Ganges dolphins in the Brahmaputra. Based on high abundance, potential for protection and possibilities for dolphin eco-tourism, eight river sections were identified as potential protected areas and community-based conservation areas. Major Threats: Unintentional killing through entanglement in fishing gear. Poaching for dolphin oil, used as fish attractant and for medicinal purposes. Habitat destruction due to development projects (e.g. water extraction and the construction of barrages, high dams and embankments), pollution (industrial waste and pesticides, municipal sewage discharge and noise from vessel traffic) and overexploitation of prey mainly due to the widespread use of non-selective fishing gear. Fragmented populations created by dams and barrages have degraded downstream habitat and created impoundments with high sedimentation and altered assemblages of fish and invertebrate species. https://youtu.be/-q2splwaC1s
Open Skies Treaty
Open Skies Treaty The United States announced its intention to withdraw from the Treaty on Open Skies on May 22, 2020; this withdrawal took effect on November 22, 2020. Russia has also announced its plans to withdraw, noting that it would begin the domestic procedures for withdrawal on January 15, 2021, and would then send the official notification to the other treaty parties. Key Provisions: Open Skies participants make all their territory accessible to over flights by unarmed fixed-wing observation aircraft. They can restrict flights for safety concerns, but cannot impede or prohibit flights over areas, including military installations that would otherwise be off-limits. In most cases, the nation conducting the observation flight provides the aircraft and sensors; officials from the host nation participate in the flight. The nation conducting an observation flight must provide 72 hours’ notice before arriving in the host country. This provides the host with time to suspend sensitive military exercises or activities. The observation team presents a mission plan, specifying details including the route and altitude for the flight. The host nation can propose changes to the mission plan, due to weather or flight safety considerations, but it cannot deny access to any area of its territory. Open Skies aircraft can be equipped with four types of sensors: optical panoramic and framing cameras (for still photography) with a ground resolution of 30 centimeters (around one foot); video cameras with a ground resolution of 30 centimeters; infrared line-scanning devices with a ground resolution of 50 centimeters (around 20 inches); and sideways-looking synthetic aperture radars (SARs) with a ground resolution of 3 meters (around 8 feet). This equipment can collect basic information on military forces and activities, but would not provide detailed technical intelligence. It also allows monitoring of military and civilian infrastructure, such as industrial plants, airports, roads, and railway lines, but would not allow recognition of sensitive details about items such as electronic equipment. The participants can upgrade cameras and sensors as technology advances, as long as the capabilities remain within treaty parameters. The party using the new technology must demonstrate that technology to the others participants and receive consensus approval before they can transition to new cameras. Russia has recently equipped its aircraft with electro-optical cameras, replacing film with digital cameras. In 2018, the United States blocked approval of Russia’s use of new cameras, delaying flights planned for that year; it reversed this decision in late 2018, and flights resumed in 2019 Russian Compliance According to the U.S. State Department, Russia restricted access for Open Skies flights over Kaliningrad, over Moscow, and along the border between Russia and the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia reportedly also failed to provide priority flight clearance for Open Skies flights on a few occasions. The United States raised these issues in the Open Skies Consultative Commission; some have been resolved. Nevertheless, the United States responded to limitations imposed by Russia by limiting the length of flights over Hawaii and removing access to two U.S. Air Force bases used during Russian missions over the United States. Benefits and Risks When the United States first signed Open Skies, most analysts agreed that the treaty would provide little information not already available from observation satellites. But supporters argued that the treaty could still benefit the United States and its allies. For example, most treaty participants do not have observation satellites, so, as former Secretary of State George Schultz noted, “Open Skies is their only means of alleviating security concerns through timely overhead imagery. ” This reduces the risk of misunderstandings or crises that could involve the United States and contributes to “a more stable and secure European continent.” In 1992, analysts asserted the treaty would create few risks for the United States because Russia could collect more detailed information with observation satellites. Nevertheless, some U.S. military and intelligence officials have since cautioned that better optical technology might allow Russia to overcome weaknesses in its satellite surveillance capabilities. Conclusions: Russia would operate commercially available cameras, with resolutions that are both within the bounds established by the treaty and also less precise than those offered by commercial satellites.
Parakram Diwas
Parakram Diwas The Indian government on Tuesday decided to celebrate Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birthday on January 23 as ‘Parakram Diwas’ every year. Born to advocate Janakinath Bose in Odisha’s Cuttack on January 23, 1897, Netaji played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement. Subhash Chandra Bose had also established the Azad Hind Fauj. While there is controversy over Bose’s death in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, the Central government had in an RTI in 2017 confirmed that he had died in the incident. “Starting from January 2021, every year the occasion will be celebrated to inspire people, especially youth of this country “to act with fortitude in the face of adversity as Netaji did, and to infuse in them a spirit of patriotic fervour,” . Centenary of the Chauri Chaura Incident Enroll today with the best civils service academy and take your first step towards your Civils journey. Feel free to reach out to us for any inquiries, collaborations, or support. We’re here to help. join now
