IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 4th May 2020

Archives


(PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS)


India’s Foreign Exchange (Forex) reserves decline 

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economy 

In News:

Important value additions:

Foreign Exchange Reserves

India’s Forex Reserve 


Confederation of Indian Industry argues for calibrated exit from the lockdown

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economy 

In News:

Important value additions:

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) 


World Health Organization (WHO) cautious of using BCG vaccine for COVID-19

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Health  

In News:

Key takeaways:

Important value additions:

Randomised controlled trials

BCG vaccine

Cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) 


Non-Aligned Movement (NAM): Indian PM to attend the Virtual Summit

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Groupings 

In News:

Important value additions:

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) 


Miscellaneous 

The World Press Freedom Index 2020

eCovSens

The Bay of Bengal Boundary Layer Experiment (BoBBLE)


(MAINS FOCUS)


GOVERNANCE/ HEALTH 

Topic: General Studies 2 & 3:

India’s disease surveillance system needs a reboot

Context: COVID-19 data in India show the following trends:

What does the above data indicate?

How has COVID-19 impacting the healthcare of existing illness?

Critical Analysis of India’s disease surveillance system

Many of the adverse medical conditions prevalent among the vast majority of our country are not even identified due to the lax disease surveillance system

Some of the reasons for the failure of disease surveillance are:

Way Ahead

Connecting the dots:


INTERNATIONAL/ GOVERNANCE

Topic: General Studies 2:

India can take the lead in reshaping global order

Context: At a time when the UNSC, G20, G7 and the EU were not active, India stood out with its initiatives to develop a joint response Ex. SAARC fund to tackle COVID-19

The rapid spread of coronavirus around the world has created fresh opportunities for creating a new global compact. India can offer its leadership in this endeavour.

How can India reshape the world?

  1. Indian can help build Multilateral Cooperation
  2. Indian can make efforts to strengthen the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
  3. Promotion of Yoga
  4. Potential to emerge as pharmacy to the world
  5. India can strengthen Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) of 1975
  6. India must push for multi-stakeholder model of internet governance

Conclusion

Despite hardships, India can, and must, take the lead in bringing the world together to practice a new multilateralism that places the common interests of humanity above narrow national interests.

Connecting the dots:


(TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE)


Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section)

Note: 

Q.1 BCG vaccine is used against which of the following disease? 

  1. Tuberculosis
  2. Typhoid 
  3. Malaria 
  4. Smallpox

Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding The World Press Freedom Index 2020 report:

  1. Norway is ranked first in the global press freedom.
  2. India has dropped down to 142nd place.

Which of the above is/are correct?

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

Q.3 The value of the SDR is not calculated from a weighted basket of which of the following currency?

  1. U.S. Dollar 
  2. Euro 
  3. Yen
  4. None of the above 

Q.4 Which of the following is one of the founding members of Non Aligned Movement?

  1. India
  2. USA
  3. Russia
  4. Japan

ANSWERS FOR 2nd May 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK)

1 A
2 D
3 A
4 D
5 C
6 A

Must Read

About impact of pandemic in South Asia:

The Hindu

About migrant workers’ crisis:

The Hindu

About Capitalism in post- COVID world:

The Indian Express

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