26 June 2024, The Indian EXPRESS
CRPF plans to raise mountain battalions to fight terror in J&K
Page no- 8
GS3-Various Security Forces and Agencies and their Mandate
- Against the backdrop of an uptick in terror attacks, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) plans to raise Mountain Battalions in J&K, starting with training the existing battalions in mountain warfare to improve their operational efficiency, The Indian Express has learnt.
- On June 16, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had chaired a high-level meeting at North Block to review the security situation in J&K and take stock of preparedness for the Amarnath Yatra, set to begin on June 29.
- National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha were among those in attendance.
Security and ecology
Page no- 10
GS3-Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas
- As far back as 1945, India’s visionary historian-diplomat Sardar K M Panikkar had warned that, “the active control of the Indian Ocean and defence of the coastline is possible only by having islands as advanced bases.
- The A&N archipelago is admirably placed to secure control of the Bay of Bengal.”
- Manifold preoccupations with the western Indian Ocean expanse had, however, led India to neglect its eastern waters, including the strategic Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) archipelago.
- These included a perennially adversarial Pakistan, our huge diaspora and trading links with the Persian Gulf, as well as traditional ties with Indian Ocean island nations and the East African littoral.
Cereal control
Page no- 10
GS3-Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security
- If the Union Agriculture Ministry is to be believed, Indian farmers have harvested an all-time-high wheat crop of 112.93 million tonnes (mt) this time, surpassing last year’s record output of 110.55 mt.
- Against this background, the Narendra Modi government’s decision to impose stock limits on the cereal with effect from June 24 and applicable until March 31, 2025, “in order to manage the overall food security and to prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation” is inexplicable.
- Wholesalers and big-chain retailers will not be allowed to hold more than 3,000 tonnes, with the corresponding stock limits set at 10 tonnes for individual stores and at 70 per cent of the installed milling capacity for processors.
The fertility myth
Page no- 10
GS1-Population and Associated Issues
- On June 13, the Supreme Court of India stayed the release of the film Hamare Baarah (Our Twelve), originally called Hum Do, Hamare Barah (Two of Us, Our Twelve), and directed the Bombay High Court to take a final decision.
- On June 19, the Bombay High Court allowed the film’s release, provided the filmmakers removed certain scenes and inserted disclaimers. Many political leaders in the past have used the slogan “Hum Paanch, Hamare Pachchees” (“Five of Us, Our 25”) to target the Muslim community.
- This propaganda slogan reiterates the belief that a Muslim man typically has many wives and children leading to rapid population growth among Muslims, which will eventually result in Muslims surpassing the majority Hindu population.
Putting manufacturing on track
Page no- 11
GS3-Infrastructure
- The manufacturing sector’s share in the GDP has stagnated as per the National Accounts Statistics. In 2014-15, the share was 16.1 per cent at current prices.
- It fell by three percentage points by 2022-23. At constant prices (net of inflation), the share declined marginally to 15.6 per cent.
- Make in India, initiated in October 2014, was one of the first policy measures of the then-incoming government.
- It aimed to raise the manufacturing sector’s share in the GDP to 25 per cent and create 100 million jobs by 2022 (in addition to the existing 60 million at the time).
Growing water shortage can hit India’s credit strength, says Moody’s
Page no- 13
GS3-Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development
- Global rating firm Moody’s has warned that India’s growing water shortage and frequent climate change-driven natural disasters can negatively affect the country’s sovereign credit strength.
- India’s water shortage can disrupt farm and industry sectors, Moody’s said, adding that it’s detrimental to the credit health of the sovereign as rising food inflation and decline in income may spark social unrest.
Why the success of China’s sample return lunar mission matters
Page no- 14
GS3-Awareness in the fields of Space
- China’s Chang’e-6 on Tuesday became the first spacecraft to bring back samples from the far side of the Moon — the part that the Earth never gets to see.
- The lander descended on the Moon’s surface on June 1, and spent two days collecting rocks and soil from one of the oldest and largest of lunar craters — the 2,500 km-wide South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin — using a robotic arm and drill.
Post of Deputy Speaker
Page no- 14
GS2-Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges
- With the Opposition’s increased strength in Lok Sabha, its members are hoping to get the post of Deputy Speaker.
- There was no Deputy Speaker for the entire duration of the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24). M Thambi Durai of the AIADMK, a BJP ally at the time, was Deputy Speaker of the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-19).
- Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that the Opposition was willing to support the NDA’s candidate for Speaker provided the government followed parliamentary convention and gave the Deputy Speaker’s post to the Opposition.
Why India needs to build disaster resilience in its critical infrastructure
Page no- 14
GS3-Disaster and Disaster Management
- This past month, amidst relentlessly high temperatures, electricity demand in Delhi repeatedly broke records.
- The unusually high demand also led to frequent power cuts in Delhi and neighbouring areas. Several places in central and eastern India faced similar or worse situations.
- The lack of electricity, combined with abnormally high night temperatures, made lives miserable, and could have even contributed to several heat-related deaths.
