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Insights IAS Static Quiz May 2021 Hindi PDF

Insights IAS Static Quiz 2021 May in English PDF

 GS SCORE Current Affairs June 2021 Week 3 PDF

 Why in news?

The G-7 summit recently took place in the U.K., and the leaders jointly signed the Carbis Bay Declaration.

What are the highlights?

• Vaccine - The G7 pledged over the next 12 months to secure a further one billion COVID-19 vaccine doses.
• This will be either through donating surplus supplies or providing further finance to Covax.
• [Covax is the UN-backed scheme charged with distributing vaccines to low- and middle-income countries.]
• The G7 also committed to invest $12 trillion in the combined pandemic recovery plan.
• It also pledged to reinforce global surveillance for potentially dangerous diseases.
• Economy - The joint statement set out plans to reduce roadblocks to production in Africa.
• On the controversial issue of enforced temporary waivers of patents, it said the leaders will support manufacturing in low income countries.
• They would engage constructively on the issue of intellectual property waivers in discussions at the WTO.
• The G7 also agreed to increase the special drawing rights (SDRs) in    IMF of low-income countries by $100bn.

What was the U.S.'s role?

• United States’s new President Biden vowed that “America is back” to take the lead on global challenges.
• The G-7 commitments on vaccines and pandemic recovery depends on U.S. commitments for a large part.
• There was an invitation by the G7 to “fellow democracies” India, Australia, South Korea and South Africa.
• There was also special communiqué on “Open Societies” for the G-7 outreach.
• These are an extension of Biden's stated commitment to convening a Democracy Summit soon.

What is G7's stance on China?

• Consensus amongst the seven-member countries on countering China was an important message from the meet.
• The final G-7 communiqué holds no less than four direct references to China, each negative.
• It includes criticising Beijing for its -
  1. rights record in Xinjiang and democratic freedoms in Hong Kong
  2. “non-market policies and practices”
  3. concerns over its actions in the China Seas
• The G7 also underscored “the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.

• Besides, there was a demand for a transparent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 virus.
• The G7 also vowed to cooperate with China on issues such as the climate.

What are the concerns?

• The bonhomie among the G-7 leaders was obvious.
• But the differences and contradictions in the grouping remain a challenge.
• Even two decades ago, questions were raised about whether the grouping (earlier, the G-8), could claim to be the world’s “richest” countries.
• This is especially true when emerging economies, China and India, are not included.
• On economic issues, the EU is a more representative unit than the individual European G-7 member countries.
• Finally, G-7 is much an exclusive club of the “haves” or “the best vs the rest.”
• This seems anachronistic in a world that is much more interlinked now than in 1975, when the grouping first came about.
• Given all this, G7 needs to be more open and less exclusive in an increasingly interlinked world.

Where does India stand?

• India is a special guest to the G-7/G-8 since 2003.
• It has maintained its independent course, especially on political issues.

• At the recent meet, India voiced concerns about some clauses in the joint communiqué on Open Societies.
• The communiqué condemned “rising authoritarianism”, net shutdowns, manipulation of information, and rights violations.
• These are areas the Indian government has often been criticised for in the recent years.
• However, India signed off on the joint statement by G-7 and guest countries on “open societies.”
• The statement reaffirms and encourages the values of “freedom of expression, both online and offline".
• In the present, India will be expected to walk the talk on its commitments at the G-7 outreach, especially in the areas of information clampdowns.
• [Notably, India had the largest number of Internet shutdowns in 2020.]

Source: The Hindu, The Guardian

 What is the issue?

• On June 15, 2020, the Line of Actual Control (LAC) witnessed its first deaths after 1975, in a violent clash with China in Galwan in Ladakh.
• After an year, here is an assessment of the military and geopolitical situation.

What is the current situation?

• Militarily, the current situation in Ladakh is not bad.
• There is a continued deployment of 50,000-60,000 soldiers.
• With this, the Indian Army has been able to hold the line to prevent any further ingress by the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
• The Chinese presence on the Indian side of the LAC in Gogra, Hot Springs and Demchok gives the PLA some tactical advantage.
• But the area which majorly jolts Indian military plans is the Chinese control of Depsang Plains.

What are the shortcomings in India's approach?

1)  World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: 15 June

•World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed globally on 15th June every year. This day is celebrated to raise a voice for the elderly who are abused and victimized. The main objective of this day is to provide an opportunity for communities around the globe to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by creating awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.

2)  Naftali Bennett Takes Charge as Israel’s new Prime Minister

•Naftali Bennett, the former Defence Minister of Israel, and leader of the Yamina party took oath as the Prime Minister of the country. The 49-year-old former tech entrepreneur replaces Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been forced out of office after 12 years (2009 to 2021). (Netanyahu is the longest-serving PM of Israel).

•Bennett will lead a new coalition government, formed with Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party. The new Coalition government will run on a rotation basis, which means that Bennett would serve as Israel’s prime minister until September 2023, following which Lapid would take charge of the office, for the next two years, until 2025.

3)  India slips 12 spots to 55th position in Global Home Price Index

•India has moved down 12 spots in the global home price index to 55th rank in Q1 2021 against 43rd rank in Q1 2020, with a decline of 1.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in home prices, Knight Frank, in its latest research report “Global House Price Index” – Q1 2021.

•Global Home Price Index is prepared by the London-based Knight Frank, which monitors housing prices in 56 countries. Turkey continues to lead the annual rankings with prices up by 32 per cent YoY, followed by New Zealand. 

4)  India’s retail inflation touches 6.3%  in May

•India’s retail inflation shot up to a six-month high of 6.3 per cent in May, after easing to a three-month low of 4.23 per cent in April. Inflation, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI), has breached the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) target range for the first time after five months. The RBI is mandated to maintain the crucial number at 4 per cent in the medium term, with a 2 percentage point margin on either side as part of its inflation target.

•National Statistical Office data for retail inflation showed food inflation shot up to 5% in May from 2% in April as prices of protein items such as meat, fish, eggs, oils and fats accelerated. The fuel bill also went up 11.6% as the government increased retail prices of petrol and diesel after state election results on 2 May. Services inflation jumped as costs of health, transport and personal care rose during the second wave of the pandemic.

5)  Justice AK Sikri to chair IAMAI’s Grievance Redressal Board

•The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) has roped in former Supreme Court Justice (Retd.) Arjan Kumar Sikri to chair the Grievance Redressal Board (GRB), formed as a part of the Digital Publisher Content Grievances Council (DPCGC). The GRB will address content grievances pertaining to any of the DPCGC member’s video streaming services.

•With the addition of Apple, BookMyShow Stream, Eros Now, and Reeldrama, the DPCGC currently has 14 publishers of online curated content as members. Others include which include Amazon Prime Video, Alt Balaji, Firework TV, Hoichoi, Hungama, Lionsgate Play, MX Player, Netflix, Shemaroo, and Ullu.

6)  Assam to institute own versions of Bharat Ratna and Padma awards

•The Assam government will present its own versions of the Bharat Ratna and the Padma awards from next year. The cabinet also instituted other civilian honours such as the Asom Bibhushan Award to be presented to three persons, the Assam Bhushan to five, and the Asom Shree to 10 people every year. These 4 awards will carry cash prizes of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh, Rs 2 lakh & Rs 1 lakh respectively.

7)  47th G7 summit held in UK’s Cornwall

•The 47th G7 Leaders’ Summit 2021 (Outreach Session of the G7 meeting) took place in a Hybrid format from June 11-13, 2021 at Cornwall, United Kingdom (UK). It was hosted by the United Kingdom (UK) as it holds the Presidency of G7 for 2021. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually participated in the meeting and called G7 summit members for the ‘One Earth One Health’  approach to effectively deal with the coronavirus pandemic globally, and sought the support of the G7 grouping to lift patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines.

8)  Cricketer Suresh Raina releases his autobiography ‘Believe’

•Former Indian batsman, Suresh Raina has released his autobiography ‘Believe – What Life and Cricket Taught Me’. The book is co-authored by Bharat Sundaresan, Suresh Raina narrated the journey he has had for India and the golden word (Believe) from Sachin Tendulkar that he etched on his arm as a tattoo.

9)  D. Gukesh wins Gelfand Challenge chess title

•D. Gukesh sensationally won the $15,000 Gelfand Challenge chess title and with it, a ‘wild card’ for the elite Meltwaters Champions Chess Tour. He won all four rounds, including the key battle against Praggnanandhaa, and emerged on top after a series of favourable results from the games involving other title-contenders.

📰 Government report flags ‘lapses’ in Nagaland bat study

1)  India ranks 67th in Coursera’s Global Skills Report 2021

•As per the ‘Global Skills Report 2021’ released by Coursera, India has been ranked 67th overall globally. The report reveals that, overall, India ranks 67th globally, with 38 per cent proficiency, with mid-rankings in each domain, 55th in business and 66th in both technology and data science. Indian learners have high proficiency in digital skills like Cloud Computing (83%) and Machine Learning (52%) & 54% in Mathematical skills. Improvement is needed in digital skills because in Data Analysis and Statistical programming, ranked only at 25% and 15% skills proficiency. But, Indians trail behind in data skills and need to focus on that.

2)  Israel will become the World’s First Mask-Free Country from June 15

•Israel will become the world’s first mask-free country in the Corona period. Here the rule of applying masks in closed places will end from June 15. This was announced by Israel’s Health Minister Yuli Edelstein. The rule of applying masks outside has already been abolished in the country.

•However, most restrictions related to foreign travel have not yet been lifted. For example, travel to nine countries is still banned. There is a rule of quarantine for travellers coming from these countries. His corona test is also being done.

3)  Weyan village in Bandipora, India’s first to inoculate all adults

•Weyan, a village in district Bandipora (J&K) has become the first village in the country, where the entire population above 18 years has been vaccinated. The vaccination in Weyan village was covered under the J&K model, a 10-point strategy to inoculate everyone who is eligible for the shots at a faster pace.

•The Union territory also achieved 70 per cent vaccination for those in the 45+ age group despite the initial vaccine hesitancy, almost double the national average. The village is located only 28 kilometres away from Bandipora district headquarters, but a distance of 18 kilometres has to be covered by foot as there is no motorable road.

4)  IDFC FIRST Bank launches Customer COVID relief Ghar Ghar Ration Program

•IDFC FIRST Bank has announced the launch of ‘Ghar Ghar Ration’ Program, an employee-funded program for its low-income customers whose livelihoods are affected by COVID-19. The bank has also announced a comprehensive program for the families of employees who unfortunately lost their lives due to COVID-19, and a number of other social responsibility initiatives.

5)  ‘Home in the World’ Book: by Amartya Sen’s memoir

•One of the world’s leading public intellectuals of our time, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has penned his memoir ‘Home in the World’. The book will be published in July by Penguin Random House. In this book, Sen shares how it was Rabindranath Tagore who gave him his name Amartya. He also reminisces the conversations at Calcutta’s famous Coffee House and at Cambridge, and Marx’s, Keynes’ and Arrow’s ideas all of which shaped his views.

6)  Biotechnology company MyLab appoints Akshay Kumar as brand ambassador

•Bollywood superstar, Akshay Kumar has been appointed as the new brand ambassador of biotechnology company Mylab Discovery Solutions. This announcement comes days after the Pune-based firm launched the country’s first COVID-19 self-test kit “CoviSelf”. The partnership with Akshay is aimed at creating awareness for Mylab’s products and kits such as CoviSelf.

7)  Novak Djokovic wins French Open Tennis Title 2021

•Novak Djokovic defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to lift the French Open title for the second time in his career. Djokovic, with his 19th Grand Slam title, has closed in on Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the all-time Grand Slam titles list. Both the players have won 20 Grand Slams each.

•Djokovic has also become the first man in the Open Era to complete the career Grand Slam twice. (He has won the Australian Open nine times, Wimbledon five times, and the US Open three times.) He has become the first man in 52 years, after Rod Laver, to win all the four Grand Slams twice. Overall, he is the third male tennis player to achieve this unique feat. The third being Roy Emerson.