 Welcome to the Hindu News Analysis by Shankar Reyes Academy. These are the news articles that are selected for today's analysis and the page numbers in different editions of the Hindu newspaper. The link for the handed notes in the PDF format and the time-stamping of the discussed articles are provided in the description and also in the comment section for the benefit of mobile phone viewers. Now let's move on to the analysis of first news article. This discussion is based on this editorial in which Arthur discusses about the recent decision by the state government of Tamil Nadu to collect caste-wise data. In this context, we will see why the decision was taken and the special case of Tamil Nadu regarding reservation. The syllabus relevant for the analysis of this editorial is highlighted here for your reference. See, the decision of Tamil Nadu government to collect caste-wise data that news appeared in yesterday's newspaper and for the purpose of collecting caste-wise data, a commission will be set up which will examine the methodologies to adopt for collecting the data and after examining this, the commission will conduct a survey and will submit a report to the government. Now this decision was taken by Tamil Nadu government because of the recent agitation by a particular community in the state of Tamil Nadu. People belonging to this community are demanding 20% exclusive reservation in government jobs and in higher education. So to look into such demands and to arrive at some possibilities, quantifiable caste-wise data in the present scenario is necessary. However, many are criticizing that Tamil Nadu government is doing this for political convenience before the elections. Additionally, such caste-wise data is required because of the social and legal necessity. Socially it is needed to know the real backwardness of the particular community in question and the real backwardness of various other caste and communities. And legally, Tamil Nadu would need such data to retain its 69% total reservation, about which we will discuss in the later part of this discussion. We often see news about political parties and social organizations demanding a caste survey. In this regard, we can say that the decision of Tamil Nadu government is a welcome move as it will help in providing benefits to the right target groups who are really at the disadvantaged position. But here you should remember the special case of Tamil Nadu with respect to reservation. Before that, let us understand the necessity for reservation. Historically, there have been certain caste and groups that have faced exclusion from the mainstream society in all spheres of life because of their backwardness that is imposed by some caste which claimed as dominant or superior caste. We know precisely clear there is nothing as upper or superior and no community as lower or less dominant. Everyone is equal. However, because of the historical discrimination, this led to absence of equal opportunities for disadvantaged caste and groups. Now this includes the persons belonging to schedule caste, the schedule tribes and backward classes. So there was no level playing field among caste groups. Therefore for their betterment and for their better representation and development and to reduce inequality, reservation is provided as a means of positive discrimination or affirmative action. Now coming to the case of Tamil Nadu, 69% reservation is provided for the backward classes, most backward classes or denotified communities, backward classes Muslims, then the schedule caste and the schedule tribes. Now the division is 18% reservation for the schedule caste, 1% reservation for the schedule tribes. This would have been based on the population of persons belonging to schedule tribes. Then 50% for the other backward classes. Now here other backward classes are caste. It includes backward classes, backward classes Muslims and most backward caste. The 69% reservation is based on a law called as Tamil Nadu backward classes, schedule caste and schedule tribes. Reservation of seats in education institutions and of appointment or post in the services under the state act of 1993. But you may think this Tamil Nadu reservation quota is far exceeding the 50% ceiling criteria on reservation. That is the total resort quota should not exceed 50% as held by the Supreme Court in Indra Sani case that is the Mandal case in the year 1992. But there is an exception that it can exceed in some extraordinary situations. Therefore Tamil Nadu has been following 69% reservations including in admissions to medical, engineering and arts and science colleges since 1994. Still there is a worry that the validity of Tamil Nadu's 1993 law will be challenged in courts that is it will be subjected to judicial review. So to protect it from judicial review, the 76th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1994 based the particular law in the 9th Schedule. See the 9th Schedule to the Indian Constitution was added by the first Constitutional Amendment Act of 1951. It was added to protect the laws that are included in the schedule from judicial scrutiny on the ground of violation of fundamental rights. However, in the IR Coelow v. State of Tamil Nadu which is a 2007 case law, Supreme Court ruled that the laws included in the schedule after 24 April 1973 are now open to judicial review. It is because judicial review is a basic feature of the Constitution and it could not be taken away by putting a law under the 9th Schedule. Therefore an advocate K. M. Vijayan moved the Supreme Court in the mid 1990s challenging the reservation in medical college admissions in Tamil Nadu but even after two decades this case is still pending before the Supreme Court. However, to offset the effect of 19% extra reservation and for permitting Tamil Nadu to continue with 69% reservation until the final verdict, Supreme Court used to create additional 19% seats in educational institutions for the general turn or the underserved category for many years. That is if there are 100 seats, you proceed with 69% reservation but ensure there are additional 19% seats in general turn. Now in addition to this, Supreme Court ordered the state to produce actual percentage of backward classes in the state and for this a survey was to be conducted. But this is a sensitive issue and moreover the state needed a lot of money for that to be conducted. So Tamil Nadu government sought the help of central government and asked the census commissioner to conduct the survey but central government did not conduct it so far. Next the author discusses the reasons why certain communities such as Gujar's, Jetz's, Patti Dhar's and now the one years demand for exclusive reservation. According to the author it is due to the manner in which affirmative action programs based on classes and communities have been implemented so far. Now when we say affirmative action program, it is a policy or program that provides advantages for people of a minority group or disadvantaged group who are seen to have traditionally been discriminated against. It is a policy or program with the aim of creating a more egalitarian society through preferential access to education, employment, healthcare, social welfare etc. Author feels that some cause that have either electoral importance or numerical significance across India are not happy about affirmative action programs based on their cause or some other cause. They feel that they are unable to reap the benefits of such affirmative action programs. On the whole the author notes that it will be challenging for the Tamil Nadu commission to arrive at a sound assessment of social and educational backwardness of each caste. So as a suggestion author asked the Tamil Nadu government to seek access to the data pertaining to Tamil Nadu that was collected by the central government in its 2011 socio-economic caste census. See the socio-economic caste census collected the caste data along with socio-economic data so that there could be a comprehensive assessment of levels of deprivation and backwardness in the society. And due to many reasons the caste portion of socio-economic caste census has not been disclosed so far. Some of the reasons include lack of reliability on collected data, political and electoral sensitivity. So the conclusion is that a true assessment of the backwardness of various castes is required to rationalize and to deepen the social justice policy. So Tamil Nadu government is moving in the right direction. It will also help as a performance review of the affirmative action programs whether it has targeted the communities that are really at disadvantage, whether some of the groups that are at disadvantage or marginalize section are so far excluded from such affirmative action programs. So these are some of the important information with reference to the analysis of this editorial. Now let's move on to the analysis of next news article. This news article is with reference to Polavaram project which is being built across river Godavari in Polavaram village of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The news article is primarily about the issues in centers devolution of funds to Andhra Pradesh government for the construction of the project. Now a doubt may arise why center needs to give money if state is constructing a river project. See under Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act of 2014 which bifurcated Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Polavaram project was made a national project. This is as per section 90 of this law. Ideally it should have been built by the union government according to the act but the then Andhra Pradesh government for the purpose of speedy construction of the project took the responsibility of construction and center agreed to pay the expenditure for this project. What is the significance of this project? See it is reported that people of Andhra Pradesh they are emotionally attached to this project because it is expected to solve the water issues of almost all the districts of the state and will irrigate around 3 lakh hectares of land. Though Andhra Pradesh is a land of many rivers including major rivers like Godavari, Krishna, the Raya Lashima region is severely doubt prone because it comes under rain shadow region of western Ghats. Now this project also aims to transfer extra water from Godavari to Krishna so as to meet the needs of this Raya Lashima region. And therefore also know that Polavaram is a river interlinking project as well that connects Godavari and Krishna. See the Polavaram irrigation project it is a multipurpose project that provides irrigation benefits in the upland areas of four districts which are Vishakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna. It also envisages to provide drinking water supply to Vishakhapatnam city and other nearby towns and villages. Then it also aims to provide industrial water supply to the Vishakhapatnam coast based steel plants and other industries in the vicinity. Then it also aims to provide generation of 960 megawatt hydel power, providing navigation facilities, development of fish forming which is also called as PC culture and also to provide recreation and other benefits in addition to urbanization. Because of these many benefits from this project the people of Andhra Pradesh have very high hopes on this project. Also note that Polavaram project will be benefiting the Vishakhapatnam Chennai industrial corridor which is a key part of east coast economic corridor and India's first coastal corridor. Now this corridor is also aligned with golden quadrilateral and is expected to play a critical role in driving India's act east policy and also make in India campaign. So as said before in the context of interlinking of rivers this project provides diversion of 80 tmc of Godavari waters to Krishna basin. The height of this dam is to be 45.72 m and the full storage capacity is 194,000 million cubic feet. Now there are concerns regarding the height and storage capacity from the neighboring state of Telangana because the tall dam may submerge some villages of Telangana. Now as we saw the project also includes a 960 megawatt hydel power project so making it as a multi-purpose project. Now today's news is that Andhra Pradesh government is asking the center to revise the prices of this project because union government is only willing to give prices on the rates of 2013-14 but it is to be noted here that the costs of national projects had to be updated once in three years and state should claim funds accordingly. Now coming to the current status of this project by 2019 nearly 70% of works were completed but due to change in government it is reported that existing tenders were cancelled and new tenders were called on. So the project is delayed by two years and it is expected to be completed by 2021. So these are some of the important information with reference to the analysis of this news article we discussed about Polavaram Irrigation project. Now let's move on to the analysis of next news article. Now this news article it is about under representation of women in higher judiciary. When we say higher judiciary here we are referring to high courts and the supreme court which is the highest court of appeal in our country. Now in this context the current attorney general of India has informed that there has never a women chief justice of India until now. He was invited to suggest ways to gender sensitize judges. He told the supreme court that more women judges in constitutional courts would certainly improve gender sensitivity in the judiciary. The background is that Madhya Pradesh high court has recently passed an order wherein Bail was granted to an alleged sexual offender who molested a woman. The conditions for grant of Bail included visiting the victim at her home, tying a rakhi on her hand and giving money and sweets to her and her son. Earlier in the year 2015 there was an order from Madras High Court wherein a rape offender was given Bail and was asked to meet the victim for a settlement and to arrive at a happy conclusion which could be marriage. That particular case the victim was raped at the age when she was 15 year old. In almost in most of such orders it is reported that victim would never give consent to such activities mentioned in the order. In abroad there is a concept called as restorative justice wherein for some offenses less serious offenses. There is victim offender mediation with the consent of both of them and with the government approved terms and conditions the offender could be left free at the same time victim is also taken care of. If a victim gives consent for victim offender mediation there could be an opportunity for the offender to understand the circumstances, the challenges, the trauma of the victim. In India we have a concept called compoundable offenses but serious offenses are not compoundable for example offense of rape. However we found that in some of the cases high courts have granted Bail asking the offender to carry out certain activities which trivialize the trauma of the victim or the victimization process. So in relation to the Madhya Pradesh High Court recently granting Bail to the molester eight women lawyers of the Supreme Court brought the matter to the attention of the Supreme Court. They had challenged the High Court's trivialization of victims trauma. In this context Supreme Court asked the Attorney General of India to assist in improving gender sensitivity in the higher judiciary or in judiciary in general. As said before the Attorney General raised an important point that India never had a women's chief justice and the representation of women judges in the Supreme Court and High Courts had been very low. For example Supreme Court has only two women judges against a sanction strength of 34 judges. Roughly we can say around only 5% of the judges of the Supreme Court are women and this figure is consistently low across higher judiciary. See only around 78 out of 1079 sanction strength of judges in high courts are women. So together if you take higher judiciary only 80 women judges are there out of the sanctioned 1113 judges in the High Courts and the Supreme Court. So together comprising only 7.2% of the number of judges and the worst case is there at present there are six high courts Manipur, Meghalaya, Patna, Tripura, Chalangana and Uttrakand where there are no sitting women judges. We have to note that while Parliament's poor representation of women gets a fair attention of media there is very less attention or which will be none in relation to the gender gap in the Supreme Court or the High Courts. In the last 70 years since the inception the Supreme Court has had only 8 women judges. However there is a ray of hope that is among the lowest level of judiciary there is greater gender representation. It is found that in 17 states between 2007 and 2017 36.45% of judges and magistrates were women. Now this shows that women representation in lower judiciary is relatively much better than higher judiciary. One reason often cited for this is that the recruitment in lower judiciary is mostly through merit while in higher judiciary is through the collegium system often criticized for its opaqueness that is it is not transparent. So women are often left out in constitutional courts or in higher judiciary and also know that in addition to this few other factors also contribute to the diminishing role of participation of women in litigation and also in judiciary. One is patriarchal mindset then asserting and stereotyping the role of women as a caregiver then series of sexual harassment and other related gender harassment an absence of basic amenities for women in court complexes. So these are some of the information with reference to the analysis of this news article where we saw about the poor gender representation at the higher judiciary. Now let's move on to the analysis of next news article. Now this news article it is about a study conducted by Center for Science and Environment which is a public interest research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi. Now the study states that honey marketed by prominent Indian brands have failed a key test of purity. In this context let us understand adulteration of honey and also how to identify it. The syllabus relevant for the analysis is highlighted here for your reference. You see honey is a natural sweet substance that is produced by honey bees from the nectar of plants or from secretions of living parts of plants or from excretions of plant sacking insects on the living parts of plants. The nectar or the secretion is collected by bees and transformed into honey by combining with specific substances of their own and this is deposited dehydrated stored and left in honey combs so as to ripen and to become mature. Honey is comprised of 17 to 20 percent water 76 to 80 percent glucose then there is fructose pollen wax and mineral salts. Now its composition and color are dependent on the type of the flower that supplies the nectar. Now as we know it has number of health benefits. It is antiviral, antimicrobial and antiparasitic. Now it has capacity to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and fungi then honey contains a number of minerals and vitamins including you know vitamin C, vitamin A, iron and also calcium. Then there are also important anti-accidents like flavonoids and alkaloids in honey then there are trace amounts of more than 50 amino acids found in honey. In addition to this honey strengthens the immune system, heals wounds and burns and provides relief at times with reference to coughs and also helps in relieving seasonal allergies and nourishes the skin as well. Now while there are numerous health benefits that can be gained from honey now the extent of such benefits greatly depend on its quality. Now there are various types of honey that do not necessarily provide the same benefits or the required benefits of honey and the adulteration of honey is what it compromises most of its qualities. When we say adulteration of honey it means it is impure, artificial and also adulterated. There is addition of glucose, dextrose, molasses, sugar syrup, inward sugar, corn syrup and also other similar products that are added to it in relation to adulteration. Some of them are contaminated with high fructose corn syrups, potato syrups then commercial glucose. Now this is a serious economic and regulatory problem and as usual the losers are the consumers. So in the year 2018 Food Safety and Standards Authority of India notified that honey sold as such should not have addition of any food ingredient, food additives or there should not be any other additions other than honey. It also introduced these parameters so as to find out whether the honey is pure or not. So how the consumers can check for possible adulteration. One thing is that before buying honey we have to read the label and check that the ingredient list does not contain high fructose corn syrup or it should not contain commercial glucose or we can take a tablespoon of honey and put it in a glass of water. If the honey dissolves then it is not pure and one can also light a match and try to burn some of the honey. If it lights and burns then it is pure and impure or low quality honey often contains extra water that prevents it from burning. Then another test is using iodine. Take some honey mix it with water and add a few drops of iodine. If the solution turns blue then the honey has been adulterated and the quality compromised it has been adulterated with some sort of starch or flour. So like that there are several other methods to identify adulteration in honey. The news article states that current regulations specify around 18 parameters that honey must comply with for producers to label it as pure honey. Now the study reported in the news article has selected 13 brands of raw and processed honey from prominent brands and they subjected them to tests that are required under national food regulatory laws to be labeled as honey. Most brands passed most of the tests but when subjected to one particular test called as nuclear magnetic resonance test many products failed. Now this test ascertains the composition of a product at the molecular level. At this stage it was found that only two brands passed the test with complete success Safola and Markford Sona. Note that this nuclear magnetic resonance test is not required by Indian law for honey that is being marketed locally but this test is required for export of honey from India and among the tests that are employed as per Indian regulations one is to check whether the honey is adulterated with C4 sugar that is cane sugar or C3 sugar which is rice sugar. It is found that most samples cleared these tests but failed the trace marker for rice test that is to test for rice syrup adulteration. So these are some of the information with reference to the discussion on adulteration on honey. Now let's move on to next part of the discussion. This news article is about Changofai spacecraft. Know that Changofai is China's first-ever sample return mission. It has landed on the surface of the moon. The article states that it has begun drilling on the lunar surface in an ambitious attempt to bring back lunar samples to earth. As we know China is no stranger to missions to moon. It has earlier completed four robotic missions to moon which also includes delivery of two rovers to the moon's surface. Now coming to Changofai it is the first-ever sample return mission. Previously only the United States and the former Soviet Union have brought lunar rocks back to earth. Now Changu is a series of lunar probes that are launched by China that is China National Space Administration. The satellites are named after a goddess who according to Chinese legend flew from earth to the moon and Changu-1 was crashed into the moon on March 1, 2009 and Changu-2 was launched in next year in 2010 as a backup satellite for Changu-1 and Changu-3 was launched in 2013. This spacecraft consisted of a lander and carried a rover called U2 and then Changu-4 was lifted in 2018 and in 2019 Changu-4 became the first spacecraft to land on the moon's far side that is the side that faces away from earth. It landed in the Von Karman crater in the South Pole Aitken basin. The Changu-5 was launched last month in November 2020. It landed on the moon recently. Know that China is planning for three more such missions. The Changu-6 which is also a sample return launch is planned for 2023-24. It is a planned lander that is designed to return samples from the lunar South Pole. Now there are two more missions future missions Changu-7 and 8. The seven would be survey mission planned to make detailed surveys of South Polar region of the moon which will cover the terrain geological composition locations of water ice and also its space environment. Its primary objective will be to detect water ice in permanently shadowed areas and to determine its origin. The next one the Changu-8 is a technology test launch. It is designed to technologies that are necessary to the construction of a lunar science space that is to construct a science base at the moon. It will also conduct surveys and scientific experiment and know that the time of launch of Changu-7 and 8 are yet to be decided or disclosed. So these are some of the information with reference to Changu-5 and some of the spacecrafts or launches associated with Changu series. Now let's move on to next part of the discussion. We have come to the last session the practice questions discussion session. Now see this question previously asked in films 2019. The 9th schedule was introduced in the constitution of India during the prime ministership of. Now this may appear like a difficult question but it is not. If you know by which amendment the 9th schedule was included in the Indian constitution one can easily answer this question. See 9th schedule was added by the first constitutional amendment act of 1951. We know that the first prime minister of India is Sri Javaharlal and he was the prime minister at that point of time. The schedule was included to protect the laws included in it from judicial scrutiny on the ground of violation of fundamental rights. However in the year 2007 Supreme Court ruled that laws included in this schedule after 24 April 1973 are now open to judicial review. See the article covered by this schedule is article 31 capital B of the constitution. Article 31 capital B it saves the acts and regulations included in the 9th schedule from being challenged and invalidated on the ground of contravention of any of the fundamental rights. The 9th schedule was added to the constitution along with article 31 capital B with a view to provide a protective umbrella to land reform laws to save them from being challenged in courts on the ground of violation of fundamental rights. The correct answer for this question is option A Javaharlal Nehru. Now see this question asked in the year 2018. Two statements are given. They are asking to select the correct statement. The parliament of India can place a particular law in the 9th schedule of the constitution of India. Now the statement is correct. Second statement the validity of a law placed in the 9th schedule cannot be examined by any court and no judgment can be made on it. Now this statement is incorrect. In IR Coelho versus State of Tamil Nadu in the year 2007 Supreme Court ruled that the laws included in 9th schedule after 24 April 1973 are open to judicial review. That is the laws that are placed in 9th schedule after the Kesavananda Bharati judgment on April 24 1973 are open to judicial review. See the Kesavananda Bharati judgment propounded the basic structure doctrine where judicial review is also a basic feature of constitution and could not be taken away by putting a law under the 9th schedule. The correct answer is option A only the first statement is correct one only. Now see this question with reference to Polavaram project. Three statements are given. They are asking which of the statements given above are incorrect. It is a multipurpose project being constructed across river Godavari in the state of Telangana. The statement is incorrect because this project is being built across river Godavari in Polavaram village in Andhra Pradesh. The second statement it is accorded national project status in the year 2014. The statement is correct through the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act 2014 under section 90. Third statement it is also a river interlinking project and proposes to divert excess water from Godavari to Krishna river. This statement is also correct. We have to identify incorrect statements. Only the first statement is incorrect. Correct answer option A one only. Now see this question according to food safety and standards authority of India which of the following can be used for adulteration of honey? Glucose, dextrose, molasses, sugar syrup, corn syrup, potato syrup. See all of them if added constitutes adulteration. Correct answer option D. Now this question is with reference to Changu Phi. Two statements are given they are asking which of the statements are correct. It is a solar satellite placed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point one of the sun earth system with an objective to study solar surface. Now this statement is closely connected with Aditya L1 mission of ISRO not Changu Phi. So first statement is incorrect. Second statement it is the first ever sample return mission under Changu series launched by China National Space Administration. Yes it is the first sample return mission under the Changu series. So the correct answer is option B two only. The mission seeks to bring sample from moon. Now see this mains practice question that could be covered in GS1 or GS2. You may write the answers and post them in the comments section. With this we come to the end of today's the Hindu News Analysis. If you like the video click the like button, comment, share and subscribe to Shankaray's Academy YouTube channel. For more updates and content on civil services exam preparation.