Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020 | 11th July 2020

Dear Aspirants

IASbhai Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020 is an initiative to dilute major articles from leading Newspapers in India which are most relevant to UPSC preparation –‘THE HINDU, LIVEMINT , INDIAN EXPRESS’ and help millions of readers who find difficulty in answer writing and making notes everyday. Hence we choose articles on daily basis and analyse them with respect to UPSC PRELIMS 2020.

“Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. ” –Les Brown

HIGHLIGHT INFO:

ORANGE COLOUR: Important for Prelims.

RED COLOUR: Important for Mains.

BLACK COLOUR: Must Read !

BLUE COLOUR : Important Links/Survey.

PINK COLOUR: Reports/Themes/Summits.

Today's Must Read Articles :

REWA ULTRA MEGA SOLAR POWER PROJECT

NAVIGATION BILL 2020

ASEEM

NATIONAL FISH FARMERS DAY

Page Contents:

India, China to push for troop pullback

HEADLINES:

More military-level talks next week

WHY IN NEWS:

India, China to push for troop pullback

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 2 : IR

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS keep a track on day to day events ! You never know how questions can be formed . We should try to keep controversial issues as small as possible .

For MAINS track diplomatic dialogues and even sentences . Answers usually are rated good with such phrases .

ISSUE:

India and China on Friday agreed to push for a “timely” and “complete” disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and to hold another round of military-level talks.

DISENGAGEMENT PROCESS

This followed talks held during the day under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China Border Affairs, convened through video-conference.

This was the second WMCC meeting in the past two weeks and only the 16th meeting of the body in eight years
Underlining the unprecedented recent state of affairs along the border following the June 15 clash in the Galwan Valley.
The disengagement process is still in progress in several spots along the LAC, and there remains a substantial build-up of thousands of troops along the border, including in-depth areas.

IASbhai WINDUP:

The Ministry of External Affairs said both sides reaffirmed that they will ensure complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC and de-escalation from India-China border areas for full restoration of peace and tranquillity.

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

5 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters

HEADLINES:

IAF gets last of 5 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from Boeing

WHY IN NEWS:

They have been deployed at the Leh air base

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Defence

ISSUE:

Boeing handed over the last of the five AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force (IAF), completing the contract for 22 Apaches.

The Apaches were deployed at the Leh air base as part of the forward movement of assets, amid the stand-off with China in Ladakh.
The final five of the 22 Apache attack helicopters were handed over to the IAF at the Air Force Station, Hindan.
Earlier, in March, Boeing handed over the last five of the 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the IAF.
The IAF inducted the first batch of Apaches in September 2019 .

$3 BILLION DEAL

India contracted 22 Apache helicopters and 15 Chinook helicopters from Boeing through the Foreign Military Sales programme of the U.S. government in September 2015 under a $3 billion deal.

During the India visit of President Donald Trump in February, India and the U.S. signed a deal for six additional Apaches for the Army.

DEVELOPERS

Boeing’s joint venture in Hyderabad, Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited, has been producing aero-structures for the AH-64 Apache helicopter for both the U.S. Army and international customers.

IASbhai WINDUP:

Boeing’s suppliers in India are manufacturing critical systems and components for the Chinooks, including the crown and tail cone assembly by the Tata Advanced Systems.

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

‘India Cycles 4 Change Challenge’

HEADLINES:

Fresh push for pedal power in smart cities

WHY IN NEWS:

Govt. aims at creating extensive cycling networks

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Transport

ISSUE:

With public transport affected due to the spread of COVID-19, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry on Friday invited cities to come up with quick solutions for promoting cycling.

11th July _ Current Affairs News Analysis _ Prelims & Mains 2020

Cycling challenge: Cities would be encouraged to adopt low-cost methods to promote cycling.

The ‘India Cycles 4 Change Challenge’ and an online portal for cities to submit their proposals was launched by the Smart Cities Mission of the Ministry.

Apart from the 100 cities implementing the Smart Cities Mission, cities with population of over 5 lakh and capitals of States and Union Territories can apply.

AWARD

In October 2020, 11 cities will be shortlisted and will receive ₹1 crore award.
Guidance from national and international experts to further scale-up the initiatives in stage two, which will be held until May 2021.

THE CHALLENGE

The challenge aims to help cities connect with their citizens as well as experts to develop a unified vision and initiatives to promote cycling.

Cities would be encouraged to create extensive cycling networks using low-cost methods like pop-up cycle lanes and non-motorised zones and set up community-led cycle rental schemes.

TWO STAGE CHALLENGE

Implementation of pilot projects for cycling by all cities that register and scaling up the interventions by cities selected based on their proposals.

The programme would be supported by the India Programme of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

IASbhai WINDUP:

The cities shortlisted for the challenge would be announced on October 28.

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

How COVID-19 affects the brain

HEADLINES:

How COVID-19 affects the brain

WHY IN NEWS:

Inflammation of the brain; blood clots; damage to the nerves in the body

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3:Health:Diseases

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS there are some risks we should note here like Guillain-Barré syndrome and delirium.

For MAINS can you mention some long term effects of less oxygen to the brain ?

ISSUE:

Six months into the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, we’re still learning what the disease can do.

When it comes to the brain and nerves, the virus appears to have four main sets of effects:

A confused state (known as delirium or encephalopathy), sometimes with psychosis and memory disturbance.
Inflammation of the brain (known as encephalitis).
This includes a form showing inflammatory lesions — acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) — together with the effects of low oxygen in the brain.
Blood clots, leading to stroke (including in younger patients).
Potential damage to the nerves in the body, causing pain and numbness (for example in the form of post-infectious Guillain-Barré syndrome, in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves).

WHAT’S HAPPENING INSIDE PEOPLE’S HEADS?

Some people with COVID-19 experience confused thoughts and disorientation.
Thankfully, in many cases it’s short-lived.

There are also COVID-19 patients having ischaemic strokes, where a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.

Some of these patients have stroke risk factors (for example high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity).
Blood rapidly becomes thickened in COVID-19 and, in these patients, there have been multiple blood clots in the arteries feeding blood to the brain, even in patients already receiving blood thinners.

All of these effects on the brain and nervous system have the potential for long-term damage and can stack up in an individual.

IASbhai WINDUP:

COVID-19 has already exposed disparities in access to healthcare.
Societies will remain judged on how they protect and treat those most at risk from — and sustain the health consequences of — this virus.
This will include people with neurological disease arising from COVID-19

SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Current Affairs News Analysis | Prelims & Mains 2020

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