DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 27th September 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –DEFENSE

Context: Recently, the Indian Army Contingent departed for the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) Plus Expert Working Group (EWG) on Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023.

About Counter Terrorism Field Training Exercise (FTX) 2023:-

• Date: 25th to 30th September 2023.
• Venue: Russia.
• It is a multinational joint military exercise being hosted by Russia as a co-chair of the EWG along with Myanmar. (Exercise IBSAMAR)
• It was preceded by the Table Top Exercise of the ADMM Plus EWG on Counter-Terrorism at Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar from 2nd to 4th August 2023.

Historical Background:-

• Since 2017, the ADMM Plus has met annually to allow dialogue and cooperation among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Plus countries.
• The inaugural ADMM Plus was convened in Ha Noi, Vietnam on 12th October 2010.
• This year ASEAN member states along with Plus Group will be participating in the exercise.
• Objective of the exercise: strengthening and promoting regional cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism.
• The exercise will comprise a number of counter-terrorism drills including destroying of terrorist groups in a fortified area.
• ADMM Plus EWG on Counter-terrorism 2023 will provide the Indian Army with a platform to share their expertise and best practices in counter-terrorism operations.
• It will increase the cooperation between the other 12 participating countries. (Military Exercises)
• The Indian Army looks forward to an enriching professional experience from the exercise.

MUST READ: 26th Exercise Malabar

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.
2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in the maintenance of internal security.
3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/ coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some states.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q.2) Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries? (2019)

1. Japan
2. Russia
3. The United Kingdom
4. The United States of America

Syllabus

• Prelims –ECONOMY

Context: The recent spike in global crude oil prices above the $80-per-barrel mark has contributed to petrol and diesel prices hitting all-time highs in India.

Background:-

• Since hitting a low of $16 per barrel on 22 April 2022, the price of Brent crude oil has been rising steadily.
• Since the beginning of the year (2023), it has risen nearly 58% from about $51.8 per barrel to about $81 in September.
• The rise has been sharp over the last six weeks, from $65 per barrel on 20 August 2023.
• According to analysts, prices are nearing their intermediate top level of $86 per barrel, around which some cooling off is expected even though the broader trend remains rising. ( Oil Price Rise)

Reasons for price rise:-

• Crude Oil prices have risen sharply in 2021 on the back of a recovery in global demand as the world economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Supply restrictions maintained by the OPEC+ grouping, have kept international oil prices high.
• These oil-producing economies have signaled slow production increases, which has led to a rise in gas prices as well.
• A shortage of gas in Europe and Asia has further boosted the demand for oil for power generation.

Impact on India:-

• The rise in crude prices has contributed to petrol and diesel prices hitting all-time highs in India.
• Prices of petrol and diesel in India are pegged to a 15-day rolling average of the international prices of these fuels.
• High taxes by the central and state governments have contributed to retail prices being far higher.
• Analysts point out that increasing oil prices reflect growing demand in the economy, and equities often deliver more than the expected inflation that the oil surge may lead to.
• In line with oil, prices of other commodities including coal have been rising

Impact stocks and bonds:-

• The BSE Basic Materials Index has risen more than three times from a low of 1,761 on April 3, 2020, to 5,725 at Wednesday’s close.
• This reflects the general view that economic recovery will strengthen going forward.
• For bonds: central bank policies will play a far greater role than the direct impact of rising oil prices.
• For equity investors: they can increase their exposure to upstream oil companies, which benefit from rising prices.
• In sectors where oil is a major cost component, a negative reaction on returns can be expected.

Impact currency and the economy:-

• Rising crude prices tend to depress the rupee, as India being a major importer of oil needs more dollars to buy the same amount of crude.
• A surge in crude prices tends to increase India’s expenditure and adversely affects the fiscal deficit.

MUST READ: Rising Oil Prices and Stagflation

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) The term ‘West Taxes Intermediate’, sometimes found in news to a grade of (2020)

1. Crude oil
2. Bullion
3. Rare earth elements
4. Uranium

Q.2) In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the ‘Additional Protocol’ with the ‘International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’? (2018)

1. Civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
2. The military nuclear installations come under the inspection of the IAEA
3. The country will have the privilege to buy uranium from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
4. The country automatically becomes a member of the NSG.

Syllabus

• Prelims –ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Tamil Nadu and Kerala may soon join hands to perform a synchronized census of the Nilgiri tahr.

About Nilgiri tahr:-

• The Nilgiri tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in India.
• It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu. (Project Nilgiri Tahr)
• Habitat: open montane grassland habitat of the South Western Ghats montane rain forests eco-region.
• Distribution: It is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Eravikulam National Park is home to the largest population of this Tahr.
• It has become locally extinct in around 14% of its traditional shola forest-grassland habitat.
• Unique feature: The Adult males of Nilgiri Tahr species develop a light grey area or “saddle” on their backs and are hence called “Saddlebacks”

Cultural significance:-

• The species is locally known as Varaiaadu.
• There are multiple references to the Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Sangam literature dating back to 2,000 years.
• The late Mesolithic (10,000-4,000 BC) paintings highlight the significance of the Tahr in folklore, culture, and life.

Population decrease:-

• The Nilgiri tahr, which used to be found along the entire stretch of the Western Ghats.
• It is presently found only in small fragmented pockets.
• A large part of its population has been wiped out from its historical range.

Threats:-

• Habitat loss
• Hunting
• Poaching
• Climate Change
• Invasive plants such as wattles, pines, and eucalyptus.

Conservation Status:-

• IUCN: Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I

MUST READ: Endangered Asian elephant in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Recently, there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to which one of the following sites? (2017)

1. Corbett National Park
2. Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Sariska National Park

Syllabus

• Prelims –ART AND CULTURE

Context: Recently, a Mewar-style Mahabharata painted by a Muslim was discovered in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Background:-

• A trunk in a dingy room in Udaipur’s City Palace had been sheltering thousands of miniature paintings of the Mahabharata, painted by Allah Baksh between 1680 and 1698.
• In The Mahabharata by Baksh, they highlight how literature undergoes constant reinterpretation through centuries and millennia.
• A 300-year-old text, in this Baksh’s illustrations is not a Sanskrit Mahabharata but a Rajasthani one.
• It is not painted by a Muslim but by a proponent of the Mewari school of thought, in such a manner that when one sees the paintings, and visualizes Mewari culture in its entirety.

About Mewar-style painting:-

• Timeline: 17th and 18th centuries.
• Mewar painting is one of the most important schools of Indian miniature painting.
• It is a school in the Rajasthani style.
• It developed in the Hindu principality of Mewar (Udaipur).

Salient features:-

• It is characterized by simple bright colour and direct emotional appeal.
• The earliest dated manuscript associated with the Mewar school of Rajput painting is the Chawand Ragamala series (1605), painted by the artist Nasiruddin.
• Most of the paintings of this series are in the collection of Shri Gopi Krishna Kanoria.
• The expressive and vigorous style continued with some variations through 1680 in the region, after which time Mughal influence became more apparent.
• An increasing number of paintings were concerned with portraiture and the life of the ruler though religious themes were popular.
• The Mewar school of miniature painting, is renowned for vibrant colors and intricate narratives within a single frame.
• These paintings provide historical insights, including details like sword storage, turban styles, and the occasions celebrated during the depicted times. (Mural Art)

Famous artists of Mewari school of painting:-

• Allah Baksh: Allah Baksh, a notable Mewari painter during Maharana Jai Singh’s reign (1653-98), is renowned for creating comprehensive depictions of the entire Mahabharata and including every shloka of the Gita.
• Sahibdin: In the later half of the seventeenth century, during the reigns of Raj Singh and Jai Singh, portraiture gained prominence in Mewar.

MUST READ: (Ancient rock paintings)

SOURCE: THE PRINT

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: (2022)

1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Which of the above are Jaina’s texts

1. 1,2 and 3
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1,3 and 4
4. 2, 3 and 4

Q.2) Kalamkari painting refers to (2015)

1. A hand-painted cotton textile in South India.
2. A handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in Northeast India.
3. A block-painted woolen cloth in the Western Himalayan region of India.
4. A hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India.

Syllabus

• Prelims – POLITY

Context: The Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley, the battlefield of the Kargil war, was recently, opened up for tourists.

Background:-

• Mushkoh Valley which resounded with artillery gunfire in 1999 is on the tourist map this year.
• This became possible due to the 43-month-long ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan.

About Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley:-

• Location: in Kargil’s Drass Sector, Jammu and Kashmir.
• It was a battlefield during the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. (Kargil Vijay Diwas)
• The region includes the Gurez Valley in north Kashmir, which was previously inaccessible to civilians due to shelling from Pakistan but now connects with the Mushkoh Valley in Kargil’s Drass Sector.

Gurez Valley:-

• Kaobal Gali is the highest pass at a height of 4,167 meters in Gurez.
• It connects Gurez to Mushkoh Valley.
• River: Kishanganga River flows through the valley.
• The Gurez Valley is close to the Line of Control (LoC).
• Inhabitants: Being situated very close to the Burzil Pass, which leads into Astore, the inhabitants are ethnic Dards/Shins.
  • They speak the Shina language and have the same styles of dress and culture as their kinsmen in Pakistani-administered Gilgit-Baltistan.
  • The Gurez Valley, with about 38,000 residents, is already setting a record by hosting 50,000 tourists this year so far.
• Fauna: ibex, musk deer, and marmots, Himalayan brown bear, and snow leopard.
  • Zumba yak (smaller than other yaks) is found in the Buduaab village, Gurez valley.

Mushkoh valley:-

• Location: Dras (Ladakh). (Operation Sadbhavana)
• It is also known as the valley of wild tulips.
• The meadows of Mushkoh offer boisterous wild tulip flowers.
• The valley is also home to the endangered Himalayan yew.

MUST READ: Judicial remedies for the Jammu and Kashmir net restrictions

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following is/are the exclusive power(s) of Lok Sabha? (2022)

1. To ratify the declaration of Emergency
2. To pass a motion of no-confidence against the Council of Ministers
3. To impeach the President of India

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3
4. 3 only

Q.2) If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it? (2022)

1. This would prevent the transfer of land from tribal people to non-tribal people.
2. This would create a local self-governing body in that area.
3. This would convert that area into a Union Territory.
4. The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.

Syllabus

• Prelims –IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS

Context: India Post Payments Bank Limited (IPPB) has released admit cards for the IPPB Executive Exam 2023 recently.

About India Post Payments Bank Limited (IPPB):-

• Launched: 2018.
• Governed by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• It was launched with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
• It is a payments bank of the Indian postal department.
• It works through a network of post offices and nearly 4 lakh postmen.
• Objective: to build the most accessible, affordable, and trusted bank for the common man in India.
• Focus group: While its services are available to all citizens, the IPPB is primarily focusing on serving social sector beneficiaries, migrant laborers, un-organized sector, Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Panchayats, low-income households, in rural areas and the unbanked and under-banked segments in both the rural and urban areas.
• IPPB offers services through a mix of physical and digital platforms.

Functions of IPPB:-

• It accepts deposits and offers remittance services, mobile banking, and third-party fund transfers.
• It offers 3 types of saving accounts:
  • Regular Account – Safal,
  • Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) – Sugam and
  • BSBDA Small – Saral
• The maximum limit on deposits for current and savings accounts is Rs 1 lakh.
• The bank offers a 4% interest rate on savings accounts.
• They can issue debit cards and ATM cards.
• It cannot issue credit cards.
• It cannot loan money.
• It provides social security payments like MNREGA wages, and direct benefit transfer and gives access to third-party services insurance, and mutual funds.
• IPPB account holders will be issued a QR code-based biometric card with a unique QR code.

Significance:-

• IPPB is committed to providing a fillip to a less cash economy and contributing to the vision of Digital India.

MUST READ: India Post Payments Bank

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of the “Digital India” Plan of the Government of India? (2018)

1. Formation of India’s own Internet companies like China did.
2. Establish a policy framework to encourage overseas multinational corporations that collect Big Data to build their large data centers within our national geographical boundaries.
3. Connect many of our villages to the Internet and bring Wi-Fi to many of our schools, public places, and major tourist centers.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Q.2) Regarding DigiLocker’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)

1. It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under the Digital India Programme.
2. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Syllabus

• Prelims –SPACE

Context: NASA’s asteroid-hunting spacecraft OSIRIS-REx brought back asteroid fragments on the Earth recently.

About OSIRIS-Rex:-

• Launched on: Sept. 8, 2016.
• Launched y: NASA.
• OSIRIS-REx – short for Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer.
• It was the first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid.
• The OSIRIS-REx mission is essentially a seven-year-long voyage.
• It was meant to explore asteroid Bennu.
• The spacecraft contains five instruments including cameras, a spectrometer, and a laser altimeter.
• The spacecraft arrived at Bennu in December 2018.
• It surveyed the asteroid for more than two years.
  • Bennu is an ancient asteroid, currently more than 200 million miles from Earth.
  • The asteroid was discovered by a team from the NASA-funded Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research team in 1999.
• It offers scientists a window into the early solar system as it was first taking shape billions of years ago and tossing ingredients that could have helped seed life on Earth.
• On 20, 2020, the spacecraft collected a sample from the asteroid and stowed it in its sample return capsule.
• The pristine material from Bennu – rocks and dust collected from the asteroid’s surface will offer generations of scientists a window into the time when the Sun and planets were forming about 4.5 billion years ago.

MUST READ: Exoplanets

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in media? (2022)

1. A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
2. A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.
3. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.
4. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same surface. speed and places a probe on its

Q.2) With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (2018)

1. PSLVs launch satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3
3. 1 and 2
4. 3 only

Syllabus

• Mains – Governance

Context: According to the recent study conducted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), despite the production-linked incentive scheme, manufacturing telecom hardware in India is 12-13% costlier than China.

• Indian Networking and Telecom Equipment Manufacturing (NATEM) companies face relative cost disability up to 13.32% in comparison to the companies operating in China and up to 22% in comparison to the companies operating in Vietnam.
  • In case PLI benefits are not considered, the relative cost disability goes further up by at least 4%.
• TRAI observed that China offers programmes like “High- and New-Technology Enterprise (HNTE)” and “Made in China 2025” that provide multiple benefits to companies engaged in technological fields, including electronics production.
• But In India, subsidy schemes focus on providing incentives on the number of finished goods produced.
  • The regulatory authority has recommended the Union government to move beyond the PLI schemes.

About Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI):

• The PLI scheme was conceived to scale up domestic manufacturing capability, accompanied by higher import substitution and employment generation.
• Launched: March 2020
• Initially targeted three industries but later it was extended to 14 sectors:
  • Mobile and allied Component Manufacturing
  • Electrical Component Manufacturing and
  • Medical Devices.

Targeted Sectors:

• The 14 sectors are mobile manufacturing, manufacturing of medical devices, automobiles and auto components, pharmaceuticals, drugs, specialty steel, telecom & networking products, electronic products, white goods (ACs and LEDs), food products, textile products, solar PV modules, advanced chemistry cell (ACC) battery, and drones and drone components.

Salient features of the scheme:

• Output-oriented: The schemes are output-oriented rather than input-based.
  • They reward manufacturers for increasing their production and sales rather than for investing in capital or infrastructure.
• Time-bound: The schemes are time-bound and have a sunset clause.
  • They are valid for a period of five to six years depending on the sector.
• Performance-based: The schemes are performance-based and have a graded incentive structure.
  • The incentive rate varies according to the category of the manufacturer (domestic or foreign), the level of value addition, the type of product and the year of operation.
• Flexible: The schemes are flexible and allow manufacturers to choose their own base year, investment plan and production targets within the prescribed guidelines.
• Aligned with the national priorities: The schemes are aligned with the national priorities and strategic sectors.
  • They aim to reduce import dependence, promote innovation and R&D, create employment opportunities and enhance India’s share in the global value chain.

Significance achievements of the PLI Scheme:

• Increased export growth: Under the PLI scheme, sectors such as electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, white goods, and textiles have witnessed significant growth in exports.
  • For example, exports of electronic goods increased by 57.36 percent during March 2023 at USD 2.86 Billion as compared to USD 1.82 Billion in March 2022.
• Employment creation: The PLI scheme has played a crucial role in generating employment opportunities across sectors.
  • For example, the drone manufacturing sector alone is expected to create more than 10,000 direct jobs, while the textile sector is estimated to create over 7.5 lakh additional jobs
• Incremental production and investments: The PLI scheme has stimulated incremental production and investments in targeted sectors.
  • It is expected to bring in incremental investment of Rs 7,920 crore and incremental production worth Rs 1,68,000 crore.
• Attracting investments: The PLI scheme has successfully attracted both domestic and foreign investments in various sectors.
  • Companies have shown interest in setting up manufacturing facilities in India to leverage the incentives provided by the scheme.
  • For instance, The 20 automobile companies have proposed a total investment of around Rs. 45,000 crores (US$ 5.95 billion).
• Improving India’s Global Manufacturing Rankings: India’s efforts towards manufacturing growth, including the PLI scheme, have been recognized globally.
  • India secured second position after China in the Global Manufacturing Risk Index 2021, reflecting the progress made in the manufacturing sector.
• Contribution to GDP: The PLI scheme is expected to have a positive impact on India’s GDP.
  • It is estimated to add 1.7% to the country’s GDP by 2027, generating significant economic growth and contributing to overall prosperity.

Challenges associated with the schemes:

• Lack of a Centralized Database: The lack of a centralized database that captures information like increase in production or exports, number of new jobs created etc. make the evaluation process an administrative complexities.
  • This information ambiguity impacts transparency and can lead to malfeasance, further widening the fault lines and weakening the policy structure.
• Coordinated approach: The schemes require a coordinated approach among various ministries, departments, agencies and stakeholders to avoid duplication, overlap or conflict of policies and regulations.
  • The government needs to harmonize the PLI schemes with other existing or proposed schemes such as Make in India, Digital India, Startup India, etc.
• Supportive ecosystem: The schemes require a supportive ecosystem of infrastructure, logistics, finance, skilling and market access to enable the manufacturers to scale up their production and exports.
  • The government needs to address the bottlenecks and gaps in these areas through reforms and investments.
• Dynamic and responsive design: The schemes require a dynamic and responsive design to adapt to the changing market conditions and consumer preferences. The government needs to review and revise the PLI schemes periodically based on feedback from the manufacturers and other stakeholders.
• WTO Constraints: WTO rules prevent India from tying PLI subsidies to domestic value addition.
  • Although India’s aspiration to make chips is sound, chips are complex components.
  • The absence of significant domestic value addition likely stems from these constraints.

Way Forward:

The PLI schemes are a bold and ambitious step by the Govt to revitalize the manufacturing sector and make India a global hub for production and innovation thereby promoting employment generation, increase exports and decrease imports. Therefore the success of these schemes depends on their effective implementation and coordination among various actors. If done well, these schemes can transform India’s economic landscape and create a new wave of growth and development.

Source:   The Wire

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (International relations)

Context: The day before the opening of 19^th Asian Games, Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancelled his visit to China as a mark of protest to the last-minute denial of entry to three Indian Wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh.

• The three athletes — Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu — were given the accreditation needed to travel along with the rest of the Indian team for the Games.

About soft power:

• Joseph Nye Jr., a political scientist coined the term soft power in 1980s.
• Unlike in case of military hard power, it is the power of attraction through culture, political ideas, and policies rather than coercion.
• Over the years, India has been wielding its soft power in the form of Yoga, Bollywood, Sufi music and the shared heritage in art, cuisine, architecture and even democratic values.
• In the recent years, countries, including India, have been investing more in elite sports as success in international sporting events is boosting their soft power.

Significance of sports in the soft power race:

• The survey of French citizens’ perception of Chinese performance in the Olympics, by Professor Dongfeng Liu, showed that the country’s sporting achievements had a positive effect on Chinese soft power in 2020.
  • Despite this, countries like China, Russia and North Korea aren’t able to garner a completely positive perception as a consequence of their human rights record.
    • Hence, brand building is a very difficult task for such countries.
  • Large sports events generate massive viewership, providing a platform for the countries to showcase their tradition, culture and values.
    • For instance, the Tokyo Olympic Games was watched by more than 3.05 billion people– a 74% increase in digital viewers compared to Rio Games 2016.
    • This shows that there is a great opportunity in using such events as a platform to boost soft power.
  • Sports as brand for soft power: A strong nation brand and positive soft power perceptions allow a nation to promote itself as a place for people to visit, invest in, and build a reputation for their quality of goods and services.
  • Scope for domestic sector: The soft power can encourage domestic tourism, consumption of domestic goods and services (rather than imports).

China’s soft power through sports:

• China uses its superiority in elite sports to build “people-to-people” relations with other countries.
  • For example, athletes from African countries such as Madagascar are trained in swimming, badminton, table tennis, etc. in China, which helps Beijing create a positive impact on a wider population and results in better formal relations as well.
• China’s memorandum of understanding with countries such as Kenya so that Chinese runners can train with Kenyan athletes, as they are among the best in the world when it comes to long-distance running.

India’s tortoise-like walk due to various reasons:

• Poor population-to-medal Talley: India’s medal tally in the Tokyo Olympics Games seven was its most decorated Olympic Games in Indian history.
  • India has won 35 medals at the Olympics since the 1900 edition.
  • But as of 2022, China has finished first in the Summer Olympics once, second three times, third twice and third once in the Winter Olympics.
• Low exposure at the school level: Professional engagement in sports is hampered by the relatively low and scant exposure of Indians to sports at the elementary school level.
• Need for a favourable atmosphere: In 2016, a NITI Aayog report came up with a 20-point plan to improve India’s Olympics performance.
  • The report said India still lacks a favourable atmosphere for sports to polish the skills of early-stage athletes.
  • It recommended efforts to be made at the family, community school, regional academies, and State and national levels to improve things.
• Funding: Ensuring competent coaches, and having adequate funding and more sports academics remain major issues even decades later.
  • A reply in Parliament (2018) said that India spends only three paise per day per capita on sports.
  • In contrast, China spends ₹6.1 per day per capita.

Government Initiatives for the development sports in the country:

• Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) was launched by the Ministry of Sports in 2014.
  • It seeks to improve Indian athletes’ performance at the Olympic and Paralympics Games.
• NITI Aayog recommendations: The Government should work on a public-private partnership (PPP) model to create basic sporting infrastructure at the district level so that talent can be captured at an early stage.

Way Forward:

The soft power is a means to an end, not the end itself. It would help cement India’s standing in the global arena. It is always important to remember that sports are primarily intended to be a universal language of communication, uniting continents, and different peoples of the world. This means that it is necessary to realize the powerful potential of “sports diplomacy”. The Government should work on a public-private partnership (PPP) model to create basic sporting infrastructure at the district level to capture young talents at an early stage.

Source:   The Hindu

Q1) Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2) Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) cannot loan money.

Statement-II:

It can issue credit cards.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q3) With reference to Nilgiri tahr, consider the following statements:

1. It is listed as Endangered under the IUCN red list.
2. It is the state animal of Karnataka.
3. It is endemic to the Himalayas.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 2 only
2. 1, 2 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1 only

Mains Practice Questions

Q.1) Critically analyse the Production Linked Incentive Schemes which was launched to boost domestic manufacturing and attract foreign investments in various sectors. (250 words)

Q.2) How can sport be used as a tool of soft power in modern international relations? Suggest some measures to increase India’s sporting performance and soft power. (250 words)

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’  27th September 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – d