Hindu Notes from General Studies-02

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{Op-Ed}Trump and the new world disorder

Current scenario:

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s speech on relations with India on October 18 was ambitious in scope and sought to define it for the “next hundred years,” when both countries will be “standing firm in defence of a rules-based order.”

Background:

• American leadership and ability to arm twist other countries, including China and Pakistan, have benefited India on occasions, the space for New Delhi’s global ambitions come only from America’s retreat.
• It was the U.S. that forced China to accede to Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver for nuclear commerce for India and forced Pakistan into resolving the Kargil conflict.
• But a relatively weakened U.S. is what took a more friendly view of India to begin with.

The change in Washington

• The Trump administration’s disregard for the ‘world order’ would open opportunities for India’s ambitions to be a ‘leading power,’ but a gradual retreat of the existing order is what could benefit India.
• The transition from a U.S President (Barack Obama) who reminded India about its own Constitution to a leader (Mr. Trump) who does not bother much about even the U.S’s Constitution could be welcome from the perspective of the Narendra Modi government’s nationalist agenda.

However, any abrupt creation of a power vacuum in the event of American abdication of its global role would invite conflict and chaos.  More than the reassurance of order, what India should be watchful of should be the threats of conflict.

Navy to increase watch over Indian Ocean

News:

• The Navy is institutionalizing an experimental concept of round-the-clock surveillance of critical choke points in the Indian Ocean.

Beyond News:

• The new mission-based deployment concept was unveiled in the last Naval Commander’s Conference and was ratified for incremental implementation, in the backdrop of increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• As part of this, at least 12-15 major warships are on round-the-clock surveillance of critical choke points in the IOR, the official added.
• Earlier, China has increased its presence in Indian Ocean in the name of anti-piracy operations.

‘Linking of Aadhaar, bank account must’

News:

The government has proposed extending the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile phones from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

Beyond News:

• The note, however, insisted that those who already have Aadhaar will be “required” to sync their numbers with SIM cards, bank accounts, PAN and “other schemes where Section 7 (Aadhaar Act) notifications have been issued.”
• The court asked Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, for the Centre, whether it can give an assurance that no “coercive action” would be taken against those who do not want to link their bank accounts and mobile phones with Aadhaar.
• Mr. Venugopal gave a verbal assurance, but this did not satisfy the petitioners who have been challenging the constitutionality of the Aadhaar scheme.

U.S. opposes Iran’s ‘DESTABILIZING’ activities

News:

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that Washington does not intend to oppose Iran’s business with India.

Beyond News:

• Tillerson said U.S. opposition to Iran was limited to Tehran’s “destabilising activities” in the wider West Asian region and sought help from countries with ties with Iran to push it to stop its regional activities.
• India and North Korea have maintained diplomatic offices in each other’s capitals, though New Delhi recently banned trade of most goods with the country, except in food or medicine.

Hindu Notes from General Studies-03

Railways floats global tender for procuring rail worth about Rs. 3,500 cr.

News:

• In a first, the Ministry of Railways has floated a global tender to procure seven lakh tonne of rail, worth about Rs. 3,500 crore, instead of purchasing from the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), in a bid to clear pending track renewal work.

Beyond News:

• At present, the Railways procures rail solely from public sector SAIL which is the largest steel producer in the country.
• The move comes five months after the Union Cabinet approved a policy to provide preference to domestically manufactured iron and steel products in government procurement.
• The Ministry had decided that the rails earmarked for constructing new lines would be diverted for renewing tracks in accident-prone areas in the wake of rising derailment cases.

NITI report:

SAIL had committed to supply 11.45 lakh tonne rail to the Railways in 2017-18, leaving a deficit of 3.14 lakh tonnes.

A NITI Aayog report earlier this year raised concerns over delay in overdue track replacement that could likely lead to train accidents. In 2016-17, the Railways renewed 2,487 km tracks compared with 2,794 km in 2015-16 and 2,424 km in 2014-15.

‘Fish-lizard’ fossil from Kutch is a Jurassic first

News:

• A near-complete Jurassic-era fossil of an intriguing animal that looks like a mashup of a dolphin and lizard, and lived during the twilight of the dinosaurs, has been unearthed in Kutch, Gujarat.

Beyond News:

• Ichthyosaurs, or ‘fish- lizards’ in Greek, were large reptiles that lived at the same time as dinosaurs.
• Many ichthyosaur fossils have been found in North America and Europe, the fossil record in the Southern Hemisphere has mostly been limited to South America and Australia.
• The 5.5 metre-long skeleton is thought to belong to the Ophthalmosauridae family, which likely lived between 165 and 90 million years ago, when the arid Kutch was a sea.

Background:

• Earlier too, researchers have discovered evidence of ichthyosaurs in prehistoric India.
• Remnants were reported from Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu in 2016 but these were only fossils of teeth and part of the vertebra.
• In Kutch, the team reported the finding of vertebral column, ribs, neural spines and a part of the snout. Some isolated teeth, vertebrae, jaw fragments, and other bone fragments were found scattered around the excavation site.

 

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