Q.1. With respect to Particular Vulnerable Groups (PVTGs), consider the following statements:
- Dhebar Commission first recognized the most backward tribal communities in 1961
- Andhra Pradesh has the largest population of PVTGs
- Odisha’s Saura is the largest PVTG in India
- Bharias is the second largest PVTG in India
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 1, 2 and 3
- (c) 1 and 3
- (d) All of the above
Ans: (c)
Source: The numbers and the politics of PM’s PVTG push
Explanation:
- The Ministry of Tribal Affairs in India identifies 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
- PVTGs have certain characteristics, including a pre-agriculture level of technology, stagnating or declining population, very low literacy rates, and a subsistence economy.
- The 1961 Dhebar Commission led to PVTGs being recognised as a separate category.
- Data from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the 2011 Census reveals that the highest PVTG population resides in Odisha at 8.66 lakh.
- Madhya Pradesh is the next highest with 6.09 lakh PVTGs, followed by Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana) with 5.39 lakh.
- The total PVTG population exceeds 40 lakh.
- The Saura community from Odisha is the largest PVTG with a population of 5.35 lakh.
- In Madhya Pradesh, the Baiga (4.14 lakh) and the Bharias (1.93 lakh) are the most populous PVTGs.
- Baigas, who constitute the second largest PVTG in India, are spread across the forests of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. They depend on shifting cultivation and forest produce for their livelihood.
- The dominant PVTGs in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are the Kondasavaras (1.39 lakh) and Kondareddis (1.08 lakh).
Q.2. Consider the following statements:
- The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the is the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organiser of each edition of the IPRD (Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue)
- Goa Maritime Conclave 2023 was organised by the Indian Navy
- Since 2018, the Goa Maritime Conclave has been providing a forum for the Indian Navy’s international engagement at the strategic-level.
How many of the above statements are true?
- (a) Only 1
- (b) 1 and 2
- (c) Only 3
- (d) All of the above
Ans: (b)
Source: The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2023 (PIB, 14 November, 2023)
Explanation:
- The Indian Navy’s annual international conference, the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), will take place in New Delhi from 15 to 17 November 2023.
- The IPRD is coming right after the Goa Maritime Conclave 2023. The conclave was organised by the Indian Navy in Goa from 29 to 31 October 2023.
- The Goa Maritime Conclave shows the Indian Navy’s strategic-operational level cooperative engagement. Here, Chiefs-of-Navy and Heads of Maritime Agencies in the Indian Ocean Region gather.
- The IPRD, however, represents the Navy’s strategic-level international engagement. It focuses on comprehensive maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific.
- The first two IPRDs took place in New Delhi in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to Covid-19.
- The conference returned to an online format in 2021 and then to an in-person format in New Delhi in 2022.
- The Indian Navy’s knowledge partner, the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), is the main organizer of the IPRD.
- The aim of the IPRD is to discuss maritime trends, opportunities, and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. It also promotes dialogue among key stakeholders to find solutions.
- The theme of IPRD-2023 is “Geopolitical Impacts on Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity”.
- The event continues the dialogue from the former IPRD, where the topic was ‘Implementing the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)’.
- Specifically, this year’s discussion will focus on the ‘Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport’ component of the IPOI.
- It’s important to note that both ‘Trade’ and ‘Maritime Transport’ are key facets of maritime connectivity.
Q.3. Recently, India signed Supply Chain Resilience Agreement with the members of which of the following groups?
- (a) QUAD
- (b) ASEAN
- (c) BIMSTEC
- (d) IPEF
And: (d)
Source: Shri Piyush Goyal participates in the 3rd in-person Ministerial meeting of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) (PIB, 15 November, 2023)
Explanation:
- Union Minister Piyush Goyal attended the third Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Ministerial meeting on November 14, 2023.
- He signed the IPEF Supply Chain Resilience Agreement. This is a first-of-its-kind agreement.
- Other IPEF partner countries’ ministers also signed the agreement.
- The agreement aims to strengthen IPEF supply chains and promote regional economic development.
- Key benefits include potential changes in production centers and reduced risk of economic disruptions.
- The agreement helps IPEF member nations reduce reliance on China and prepare for future supply-chain challenges.
- The IPEF was initiated in Tokyo by the US and various Indo-Pacific countries on May 23, 2022.
- Member nations include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- The IPEF focuses on four key areas: trade, supply chains, clean economy, and fair economy. India participates in all categories, except trade.
Q.4. Consider the following statements:
- Statement I: India has called for the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) to be more transparent
- Statement II: WGI has significant weightage in sovereign ratings given by the three credit rating agencies
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
- (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
- (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
- (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Ans: (a)
Source: Need for World Bank’s Governance indicators to be transparent: CEA (The Indian Express, November 16, 2023)
Explanation:
- Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran voiced concerns on November 15 over the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators’ use in credit ratings assessments. These concerns primarily focus on evaluations of emerging economies.
- Nageswaran stressed the need for these indicators to be less subjective and more transparent.
- He noted that the Worldwide Governance Index greatly influences the credit rating of member countries, particularly emerging markets, in non-transparent ways.
- The World Governance Index builds on several sub-indices, which solely rely on the subjective views of specific expert institutions. These institutions often lack local presence and may not fully understand the context of the countries they are evaluating.
- These indices, however, form a significant part of the credit rating agencies’ assessment methodology. The agencies do not disclose how these indices influence their assessments or their weightage in the process.
- Nageswaran further criticised the qualitative overlays on top of qualitative assessments, suggesting a lack of transparency.
- He expressed these views during a seminar on “Multilateral Institutions for the 21st Century,” organised by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
- The WGI feature six aggregate governance indicators for over 200 countries and territories over the period 1996–2022:
- Voice and Accountability
- Political Stability and Absence of Violence/Terrorism
- Government Effectiveness
- Regulatory Quality
- Rule of Law
- Control of Corruption
- The WGI were developed in 1999 by two World Bank researchers, Daniel Kaufmann and Aart Kraay. The data are updated annually each September.
Q.5. Consider the following statements:
- Statement I: Members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) groupings are called trade partners
- Statement II: Trade and economic issues are the focus of the APEC
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
- (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
- (c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
- (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Ans: (d)
Source: This Word Means (APEC) (The Indian Express, November 16, 2023)
Explanation:
- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional forum. It was formed in 1989.
- APEC’s goal is to use the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific region. They aim to create prosperity for their people through regional economic integration.
- APEC has 21 members. They are referred to as “economies” instead of countries or member states. This is because the focus of the forum is on trade and economic issues.
- Taiwan and Hong Kong participate in APEC meetings as separate entities. This is despite China’s claim that they are part of China.
- The APEC economies include Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong (under China), The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Canada, The United States, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. All these economies are geographically located around the Pacific Ocean.
- The grouping champions free trade, lowering of trade tariffs, and economic liberalization.
- India made a formal request to join APEC in 1991.