{"id":9344,"date":"2017-10-03T11:45:19","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T06:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=9344"},"modified":"2017-09-28T15:52:27","modified_gmt":"2017-09-28T10:22:27","slug":"answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-october-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-october-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 October 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/mains-marathon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Archives<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Q1. Reforming the UN is an important agenda for United States. Do you agree? What is India\u2019s stand on UN reforms? Discuss. GS 2<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reforming United Nations is an important agenda for United Nations now, under<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trump Administration. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Trump Administration on UN reforms<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trump pledged that US would be partners to make the organization more effective for peace across the globe. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reforming the UN is big on the Trump administration\u2019s agenda and this reforms agenda is largely based on two principles: sovereignty and accountability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trump\u2019s vision is anchored in his \u201cAmerica First\u201d approach with national sovereignty as the main pillar of the internal system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US is keen that management of UN becomes more accountable and transparent as it remains the largest contributor to UN budget, in-line with its position as the world\u2019s largest economy. It pays 25% of the UN\u2019s regular operating budget and over 28% of the separate peacekeeping budget.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Trump administration has been critical of the UN\u2019s over-reliance on the US and wants a more equitable sharing of burden.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, some challenges are there. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Challenge \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UN is structured in such a way that decision-making process is distributed among a wide range of countries and constituencies with often competing and contradictory views and interests.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Russia and China, for example, did not attend the UN meeting on reforms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>India stand on UN reforms<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has suggested that UN reforms need to be \u201cbroad-based and all-encompassing\u201d and the changes should not be restricted to its secretariat only.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India thinks that reforms cannot sidestep issues related to the governance of UN bodies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But India has extended support to Trump\u2019s efforts at UN reforms, saying it should include expansion of the world body\u2019s permanent and non-permanent members to keep pace with the changed times.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has been spearheading a move for reforms at the UN to make the world body more representative of the changing global realities while enhancing its credibility and effectiveness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India remains one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping operations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Delhi has been concerned about the post-Cold War international acceptance of the UN\u2019s questionable \u201cright to intervene\u201d where it believed it to be necessary, allowing the UN to act with little debate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UN peacekeepers were deployed to environments in which the belligerent parties were not entirely on board with the deployment, thus seriously threatening the safety of the troops under the UN flag. India has repeatedly underlined the dangers inherent in such a rapid transformation from traditional UN missions to these new operations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trump administration\u2019s focus on \u201csovereignty\u201d as the defining feature of UN reforms is welcomed by New Delhi.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Way forward<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India continues to expand its diplomatic capital on finding a seat at the UN Security Council.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It will have to articulate new ways on how the UN can be made more effective and efficient.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is a need to create a new balance between India\u2019s pursuit of its narrow national interest and its responsibility as a rising power to maintain global peace and stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Q2. There needs a serious reform agenda for health financing. What is the problem with current system of health financing in India? Suggest measures to improve healthcare financing. GS 1<\/p>\n<p><b>Problems with current system of health financing<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The current \u201csystem\u201d of health financing is largely out-of-pocket payments, with tax breaks provided for health insurance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Sample Survey data shows that Indian households are increasingly relying on their own income and drawing down their savings to finance healthcare expenses. This holds true for both rural and urban households.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data for health insurance coverage shows that while private health insurance is largely limited to the richer urban households.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast, public insurance coverage is evenly distributed across all quintile groups of the population.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, these public health insurance schemes have not been associated with lower health burden for the average household as measured by total real out-of-pocket health expenditure, catastrophic health expenditure or impoverishment caused by health expenses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Suggestions<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India must be open to experimentation with newer products of healthcare financing. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical savings accounts (MSAs) is one such product. Its healthcare outcomes are comparable to most developed countries, while its spending is significantly lower.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are complemented by high deductible insurance (after a large amount has already been paid from the MSA) and a government fund to pay for those who cannot pay for themselves. Given India\u2019s large population below and around the poverty line, it could do the same.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In healthcare, it is important that even if one gets the financing model right, the sector remains labour-intensive with lower productivity growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In healthcare, there are no offsetting productivity gains. As a result, either the price of healthcare delivery goes up or quality falls. This is a long-term problem which the private sector and the government will have to grapple with perennially.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Q3. The recent privacy judgment of a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has observed that the right to reproductive choice of a woman is part of her fundamental right to privacy. In the light of this judgment, discuss the key \u00a0features of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971. What are the loopholes in this Act? Suggest some measures. GS 2<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ans:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recent privacy judgment of a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has observed that the right to reproductive choice of a woman is part of her fundamental right to privacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Medical termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act of 1971, is an act that is intended to protect the interests of both the pregnant women, and the unborn foetus, when the situation arises for ensuring a regulated medical termination of pregnancy under certain circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971 does not allow abortion if the pregnancy has crossed 20 weeks.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the 1971 law, an exception to the 20-week cap can be made if a registered medical practitioner certifies to a court that the continued pregnancy is life-threatening for either the mother or the baby.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was meant to be a safeguard against female foeticide.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent Example:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chandigarh case:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The court had recently denied permission to a 10-year-old rape survivor from Chandigarh to abort her foetus. Shortly after the court\u2019s denial, the girl gave birth. The apex court awarded Rs. 10 lakh compensation to the girl.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senior advocate Indira Jaising who is intervening in the Supreme Court in the issue, had argued that the delay in offering urgent medical help to such abused women and children have led to untold suffering for them<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, in recent times, there have been calls for making an amendment to the legislation because of \u00a0various loopholes in old law:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The limit of 20 weeks is regarded as an arbitrary on<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There has been a demand for incorporating a provision for allowing women to exercise their freedom of choice.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The act does not take into concerns the plight of rape victims in a separate manner.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The regulatory provisions are believed to be too strict.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The detection of foetal abnormalities within 20 week is actually not possible, according to many scientists and doctors.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Archives Q1. Reforming the UN is an important agenda for United States. Do you agree? What is India\u2019s stand on UN reforms? Discuss. GS 2 Reforming United Nations is an important agenda for United Nations now, under Trump Administration. Trump Administration on UN reforms Trump pledged that US would be partners to make the organization&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/answers-mains-marathon-upsc-mains-current-affairs-questions-october-2\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Answers: Mains Marathon \u2013 UPSC Mains Current Affairs Questions \u2013 October 2<\/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-9344","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":1704870798},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9344","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=9344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9344\/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=9344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}