{"id":12927,"date":"2017-12-07T13:18:53","date_gmt":"2017-12-07T07:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=12927"},"modified":"2017-12-04T14:19:49","modified_gmt":"2017-12-04T08:49:49","slug":"answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-december-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-december-6\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 December 6"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/mains-marathon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archives<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.1) Supreme Court has recently requested all States and Union Territories to move forward towards a nationwide ban on the use of pet coke and furnace oil. In the light of this statement, discuss the environment and health related hazards of pet coke and furnace oil and how is it a failure of India\u2019s Carbon tax policy? (GS-3)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Supreme Court recently requested all States and Union Territories to move forward towards a nationwide ban on the use of pet coke and furnace oil to power up industries, in a bid to fight pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are various health and environment related hazards due to the use of pet coke and furnace oil.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Health hazard<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Petcoke is an exceptionally polluting form of carbon which is banned in several countries due to its severe toxicity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furnace oil is the thick black residue left at the bottom of the barrel when relatively cleaner fuels such as petrol, kerosene and petrol are removed from crude petroleum during the refining process.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Petroleum coke is a source of fine dust, which can get through the filtering process of the human airway and lodge in the lungs. They can cause serious health problems.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Petcoke has a deleterious effect on the respiratory system and particulate matter can get embedded in lung tissues, causing serious long term health hazards.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furnace oil not only have high levels of sulphur but heavy metals which bind with sulphur and are cancer causing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Environment Hazard<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from sulphur, petcoke also releases a cocktail of other toxic chemicals such as nitrous oxide, mercury, arsenic, chromium, nickel, hydrogen chloride and greenhouse gases (GHG) which contribute to global warming.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EPCA investigation has exposed extremely high sulphur level in these fuels ranging from more than 20,000 PPM to 74,000 PPM as opposed to only 50 PPM sulphur in BSIV transport fue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Loopeholes in carbon tax policy<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carbon tax was introduced in India in 2010 and has since its inception been fraught with complications due to its improper structuring and pervasive maladministration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s carbon tax is myopically restricted to coal, thereby excluding other forms of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitting fuels like petcoke and furnace oil<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although petcoke is much more harmful than coal both from an environmental and health perspective, there is no tax or cess levied on the use or production of petcoke.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to circumvent the current carbon cess of Rs 400 per metric tonne on coal, cement and steel manufacturers have been heavily relying on petcoke, thereby increasing carbon emissions and air pollution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While India witnessed a decrease in coal imports by 20 million tonnes last year, petcoke imports doubled exceeding 10 million tonnes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.2)Today crypto currencies have become a global phenomenon known to most people. In this context discuss the meaning of bitcoins ? What are the pros and cons of it? (GS-3)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today crypto currencies have become a global phenomenon known to most people. While still somehow geeky and not understood by most people, banks, governments and many companies are aware of its importance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Bitcoins:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bitcoin is one of many cryptocurrencies that have gained popularity across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cryptocurrency is a basically a digital asset that has been created to function as a medium of exchange, like cash<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It uses cryptography to ensure the security of transactions \u2014 authentication and prevention of duplicate transactions \u2014 and to control the creation of new units of currency.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is different from cash in that cryptocurrencies have no physical form. These blur the boundaries between fiat and non-fiat currencies. They are simply numbers on a screen and there is no central bank that issues new currency. However, bitcoin has emerged as the popular face of cryptocurrencies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Pros and cons<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is possible to send and receive bitcoins from any part of the world irrespective of traditional hurdles like national borders and banking regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bitcoin does away with the need for a regulator.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By making everything public, bitcoin negates the need for a middleman.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to bitcoin.org, no individual or organisation can manipulate Bitcoins because it is cryptographically secure and do not contain customers\u2019 personal information.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not being backed by any government entity is Bitcoin\u2019s biggest disadvantage and affects its adoption by people<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With less Bitcoins in circulation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the number of businesses using Bitcoin still very small, relatively small events, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can significantly affect the price<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the biggest problems that cryptocurrencies face is acceptance<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, many businesses have started accepting Bitcoins. One of the largest PC companies in the US, \u00a0Dell, started accepting Bitcoin in 2014. Travel website Expedia allows you to pay with Bitcoins. Tech giant Microsoft \u00a0\u00a0also embraced bitcoins in December 2014. In India too, the adoption has started. Bengaluru-based exchange Unocoin has a growing list of merchants on its website that includes e-commerce firms, web-hosting companies and even schools.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q.3) The Union Cabinet recently approved the launch of National Nutrition Mission with a target to reduce malnutrition. In this context, discuss the problem of Malnutrition in India and its causes. What are its consequences? (GS-2)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ion Cabinet approved the launch of <\/span><b>National Nutrition Mission<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with a target to reduce malnutrition and low weight by 2% each year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Malnutrition in India:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malnutrition refers to the situation where there is an unbalanced diet in which some nutrients are in excess, lacking or wrong proportion.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Bank estimates that India is one of the highest ranking countries in the world for the number of children suffering from malnutrition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prevalence of underweight children in India is among the highest in the world and is nearly double that of Sub Saharan Africa.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI) Report ranked India 97<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> out of 118 countries with a serious hunger situation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amongst the South Asian nations, it ranks third behind only Afghanistan and Pakistan with a GHI score of 29.0(\u201cserious situation\u201d).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Causes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b>Improper implementation<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A major hindrance in fighting starvation in India is the lack of proper implementation of government schemes which are directed towards providing food for one and all<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Corruption is the root cause<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corruption on the local levels or there is a disinterest among the government officials to ensure that the schemes are properly being carried out.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>flawed food distribution system<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Almost 51% of the food delivered is lost to leakages and is sold in the open market for a higher price.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Other causes :<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor sanitation spread diseases that sap children\u2019s energy and stunts their growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poverty is also one of the causes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Poor health of a child\u2019s mother and Women\u2019s undernourishment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of food, quality as well as capacity to absorb and utilize nutrients.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non exclusive breastfeeding<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduced appetite due to infection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Loopholes in the National Food Security Bill :<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clear mechanisms with respect to the identification of beneficiaries have not been defined<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Lack of awareness: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of awareness among people about sufficient health and nutrition is the primary reason (about wholesome, balanced and natural diets; healthy child-feeding and caring practices)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Consequences:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children who are on stunted do less well in school, earn less, and die sooner than children who are not.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It affects women more than males due to specific nutrition needs of women during adolescent, pregnancy and lactation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Undernourished girls grow up to become undernourished women who give birth to a new generation of undernourished children.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Undernourishment puts women on a greater risk of pregnancy related complications.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anaemia and other deficiencies can have irreversible damage on child\u2019s ability to learn.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Widespread child under nutrition greatly impedes India\u2019s socio-economic development and potential to reduce poverty.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Conclusion:<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has a major child malnutrition problem. Timely and effective policy, programmes and budgetary allocation is very much essential. Now it is time to combine the existing technical knowledge with the political will to change the lives of millions of children and women in India.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is very important to invest in nutrition in India because balanced diet and healthy nutrition plays a pivotal role in overall development of women and children. The \u00a0National Nutrition Mission programme is the good initiative in this direction.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Archives Q.1) Supreme Court has recently requested all States and Union Territories to move forward towards a nationwide ban on the use of pet coke and furnace oil. In the light of this statement, discuss the environment and health related hazards of pet coke and furnace oil and how is it a failure of India\u2019s&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-december-6\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 December 6<\/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-12927","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":"","cached_date":1704928341},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12927","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=12927"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12927\/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=12927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}