{"id":10950,"date":"2017-10-25T13:31:20","date_gmt":"2017-10-25T08:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=10950"},"modified":"2017-10-23T12:33:56","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T07:03:56","slug":"answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-october-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-october-24\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 October 24"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/mains-marathon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archives<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.1) Recently, the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the International<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). \u00a0In this context highlight the rationale behind awarding this Prize to ICAN. \u00a0Highlight the harmful threat of nuclear Weapons on human health and environment? (GS-3)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the International<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year\u2019s Peace prize to ICAN comes at a time when the threat posed by nuclear weapons has been all too evident in the global crisis triggered by North Korea\u2019s nuclear programme.The prize was awarded \u201cfor its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Rationale behind giving this Prize:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year\u2019s Peace prize to ICAN (International campaign to Abolish Weapons) comes at a time when the threat posed by nuclear weapons has been all too evident in the global crisis triggered by North Korea\u2019s nuclear programme.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prize was awarded \u201cfor its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was the second time in the last decade; the Nobel Committee awarded its annual peace prize to the laudable goal of nuclear disarmament.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Harmful threat of Nuclear Weapons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNuclear weapons pose a constant threat to humanity and all life on earth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>On Environment:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nuclear weapons are fundamentally different from conventional weapons because of the vast amounts of explosive energy they can release and the kinds of effects they produce, such as high temperatures and radiation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prompt effects of a nuclear explosion and fallout are well known through data gathered from the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A special feature of a nuclear explosion is the emission of nuclear radiation, which may be separated into initial radiation and residual radiation. Initial radiation, also known as prompt radiation, consists of gamma rays and neutrons and \u00a0produced within a minute of the detonation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gamma rays and neutrons can produce harmful effects in living organisms, a hazard that persists over considerable distances because of their ability to penetrate most structures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Health effects of nuclear weapons:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The health effects of nuclear explosions are due primarily to air blast, thermal radiation, initial nuclear radiation, and residual nuclear radiation or fallout.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nuclear explosions produce air-blast effects similar to those produced by conventional explosives. The shock wave can directly injure humans by rupturing eardrums or lungs or by hurling people at high speed, but most casualties occur because of collapsing structures and flying debri.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thermal radiation.Unlike conventional explosions, a single nuclear explosion can generate an intense pulse of thermal radiation that can start fires and burn skin over large areas. In some cases, the fires ignited by the explosion can coalesce into a firestorm, preventing the escape of survivors. Though difficult to predict accurately, it is expected that thermal effects from a nuclear explosion would be the cause of significant casualties<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initial radiation.Nuclear detonations release large amounts of neutron and gamma radiation. Relative to other effects, initial radiation is an important cause of casualties only for low-yield explosions (less than 10 kilotons).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a nuclear detonation occurs close to the ground surface, soil mixes with the highly radioactive fission products from the weapon. The debris is carried by the wind and falls back to Earth over a period of minutes to hours.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a perpetual threat or insecurity of nuclear weapons among nuclear have- nots<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cyber warfare emerged as a more potent tool as nations can be destroyed without killing a single human being.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this regard International Committee of the Red Cross, 2010 rightly pointed out that \u201cNuclear weapons are unique in their destructive power, in the unspeakable human suffering they cause, in the impossibility of controlling their effects in space and time, and in the threat they pose to the environment, to future generations, and indeed to the survival of humanity.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security concern: Nuclear weapons pose a direct threat to people everywhere. They breed fear and mistrust among nations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another long-term health effect is the induction of eye cataracts. This effect has been noted in the Japanese studies and also in a study of the Chernobyl cleanup workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The immediate effects of radiation include the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central nervous system dysfunction (at very high doses);<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea from damage to the gastrointestinal tract, leading to potentially fatal dehydration and nutrition problems; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Destruction of the body\u2019s capacity to produce new blood cells, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding (because of the absence or severe reduction of platelets) and life-threatening infections (because of the absence or reduction of white blood cells<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.2) India remains committed to universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable nuclear disarmament. \u00a0In this context, elaborate on the role played by treaty on achieving the vision of world without nuclear disarmament? (GS-2)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans :<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>What is Nuclear Prohibition Treaty?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It creates a legal basis for proscribing nuclear weapons among adhering states. It is helpful in achieving the vision of \u00a0world without nuclear disarmament in the following \u00a0ways:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons prohibits States Parties from developing, testing, producing, manufacturing, acquiring, possessing, or stockpiling nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Signatories are barred from transferring or receiving nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices control over such weapons, or any assistance with activities prohibited under the Treaty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States are also prohibited from using or threatening to use nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">States Parties cannot allow the stationing, installation, or deployment of nuclear weapons and other nuclear explosive devices in their territory.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the Treaty\u2019s prohibitions, States Parties are obligated to provide victim assistance and help with environmental remediation efforts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.3<\/span><b>) <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recently, India sent a refutation to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) challenging India\u2019s ranking in a global slavery report. Highlight the reasons behind India\u2019s stand against the report? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Where is India lagging behind in meeting the challenges posed by the unemployment and lobour problems? (GS-1)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To pressure ILO to distance itself from Australian NGO\u2019s survey, which can potentially harm India\u2019s image.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India sends a refutation to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) challenging India\u2019s ranking in a global slavery report.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The country will now build pressure on the global body to distance itself from the Australian-based NGO-Walk Free Foundation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why is India against the report?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has raised question about why the International Labour Organization (ILO) tied up with Walk Free Foundation \u00a0(WFF) to produce a report on \u2018modern slavery\u2019, a term ILO hasn\u2019t so far defined in its own convention.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ILO, without following any protocol, endorsed WFF\u2019s survey.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is India\u2019s position in the recent Global Slavery Index?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2016 Global Slavery Index estimates that 45.8 million people are subject to some form of modern slavery in the world today.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, India has been ranked 4th out of 167 countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The top three countries were North Korea, Uzbekistan and Cambodia.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2016, it was deemed to have some 18.3 million people trapped in slavery.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2017, about 1.4% of the population working under coercive conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Where is India lagging behind?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The long-term structural weakness of India\u2019s economic reform has been the inability to expand the market for jobs in sync with its demographic growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many of these new-age slaves are women and children, the most vulnerable sections on the frontline of economic slowdown and poverty.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase in number of slaves every year is due to the rank failure of India\u2019s law enforcement institutions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Archives\u00a0 Q.1) Recently, the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). \u00a0In this context highlight the rationale behind awarding this Prize to ICAN. \u00a0Highlight the harmful threat of nuclear Weapons on human health and environment? (GS-3) Ans: Recently, the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-october-24\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 October 24<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":2292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mains-marathon-answers","category-public","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/pen-paper-laptop.jpg?fit=1000%2C500&ssl=1","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":1700806525,"cached_date":1704536894},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10950\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}