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This is an archive article published on August 15, 2023
UPSC Essentials : Key terms of past week with MCQs & Points to ponder
Keralam, Katchatheevu, Havana Syndrome, and more — here's a highlight of some of the important terms useful for UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains preparation.
Find Keralam as a key term to know from the past week. The image shows a boat race which is an inextricable part of Kerala's cultural heritage. (Picture: Jimmy Kamballur/Shutterstock)
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UPSC Essentials : Key terms of past week with MCQs & Points to ponder
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🚨 This story is part of our special initiative for UPSC and other competitive exams. Look out for UPSC KEY on weekdays and UPSC Essentials everyday, Weekly news express with MCQs, Key Terms of the past week, Quizzes as well as The Indian Express 360° Upsc Debate, Society & Social Justice, UPSC Mains Practice, Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik, UPSC Ethics Simplified, Experts Talk, and more. 🚨
Essential key terms from the last week’s news headlines or beyond the headlines for the UPSC-CSE and other competitive exams. Don’t miss the MCQs. Let’s learn!
KERALA and KERALAM
WHY IN NEWS?
— The Kerala Assembly Wednesday passed a resolution urging the Centre to rename the state as “Keralam” in the Constitution and all office records.
The resolution said, “The name of our state in Malayalam is Keralam. States were formed on the basis of language on November 1, 1956. That day is also observed as Kerala formation day. The demand for a united Kerala for all Malayalam-speaking communities has been strongly raised right from the days of the freedom struggle. However, the name of our state in the first Schedule of the Constitution has been written as Kerala. This Assembly is unanimously requesting the Union Government to take immediate steps under Article 3 of the Constitution to change the name of the state to Keralam.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Shaju Philip Explains:
Origin of the names
— There are several theories about the origin of the name ‘Kerala’. The earliest epigraphic record that mentions Kerala is emperor Asoka’s Rock Edict II of 257 BC. The inscription refers to the local ruler as Keralaputra (Sanskrit for “son of Kerala”), and also “son of Chera” referring to the Chera dynasty.
— About ‘Keralam’, scholars believe it could have originated from ‘Cheram’.
Dr. Herman Gundert, a German scholar who published the first Malayalam-English dictionary, observed the word ‘keram’ is the Canarese (Kannada) form of cheram, and he described Keralam as Cheram — the region between Gokarnam and Kanyakumari. The origin of the term could possibly be from the root ‘cher’, which means to join. This meaning is clear in the compound word ‘Cheralam’, in which alam means region or land.
Demands for the modern state
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— The people speaking Malayalam had been ruled by various kings and princely states in the region. It was in the 1920s that the Aikya (unified) Kerala movement gathered momentum and a demand for a separate state for Malayalam-speaking people came up. It aimed at the integration of Malabar, Kochi and Travancore into one territory.
— The Keralites who spoke the same language, shared common cultural traditions, and were unified by the same history, rituals and customs were inspired by the freedom movement to ask for unification and integration.
The state of Kerala after 1947
— The merger and integration of princely states was a major step towards the formation of the state of Kerala after Independence. On 1 July, 1949, the two states of Travancore and Kochi were integrated, heralding the birth of the Travancore-Cochin State.
— When it was decided to reorganise states on a linguistic basis, the State Reorganisation Commission of the Union Government recommended creation of the state of Kerala. The Commission under Syed Fazl Ali recommended the inclusion of the district of Malabar and the taluk of Kasargod to the Malayalam-speaking people’s state. It also recommended the exclusion of the four Southern taluks of Travancore viz Tovala, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam and Vilayankode together with some parts of Shenkottai (all these taluks now part of Tamil Nadu).
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— The state of Kerala came into being on November 1, 1956. In Malayalam, the state was referred to as Keralam, while in English it was Kerala.
What is the process to rename a state in India?
— Unlike in the case of renaming cities, to change the name of a state, approval from the Centre’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is required. This means that a Constitutional amendment becomes necessary to affect this change.
— The proposal has to first come from the state government. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) then takes over and gives its consent after it receives No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from several agencies such as the Ministry of Railways, Intelligence Bureau, Department of Posts, Survey of India and Registrar General of India.
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— If the proposal is accepted, the resolution, introduced as a Bill in the Parliament, becomes a law and the name of the state is changed thereafter.
Point to ponder: How a state is formed ?
MCQ:
Which of the statements(s) below is/are correct?
1. Constitutional amendment becomes necessary in case of changing the name of a state and cities.
2. Article 3 of the Constitution, amended in 1955, empowers Parliament to enact legislation to form new state or UT.
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
KATCHATHEEVU
WHY IN NEWS?
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his speech in the Parliament during the No Confidence debate on August 10, mentioned the island of Katchatheevu.
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— Today a part of Sri Lanka, Katchatheevu remains a hot-button political issue in Tamil Nadu, for politicians across the aisle.
— Just recently, ahead of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremsinghe’s visit to New Delhi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to PM Modi requesting him to retrieve the island.
— “The transfer of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, by the Union government, without the state government’s consent, has deprived Tamil Nadu fishermen’s rights and adversely impacted their livelihoods,” Stalin’s letter said.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Arjun Sengupta Explains:
Where is the island of Katchatheevu?
— Katchatheevu is a 285-acre uninhabited speck in the Palk Strait, between India and Sri Lanka. It is no more than 1.6 km in length and slightly over 300 m wide at its broadest point.
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— It lies northeast of Rameswaram, about 33 km from the Indian coast. It is about 62 km southwest of Jaffna, at the northern tip of Sri Lanka, and 24 km away from the inhabited Delft Island, belonging to Sri Lanka.
— The only structure on the island is an early 20th century Catholic shrine – St Anthony’s church. During an annual festival, Christian priests from both India and Sri Lanka conduct the service, with devotees from both India and Sri Lanka making the pilgrimage. This year, 2,500 Indians made the journey to Katchatheevu from Rameswaram for the festival.
— Katchatheevu is not suited for permanent settlement as there is no source of drinking water on the island.
What is the island’s history?
— The island is relatively new in the geological timescale, being the product of a 14-century volcanic eruption.
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— In the early medieval period, it was controlled by the Jaffna kingdom of Sri Lanka. In the 17th century, control passed to the Ramnad zamindari based out of Ramanathapuram, about 55 km northwest of Rameswaram.
— It became part of the Madras Presidency during the British Raj. But in 1921, both India and Sri Lanka, at the time British colonies, claimed Katchatheevu in order to determine fishing boundaries.
— A survey marked Katchatheevu in Sri Lanka, but a British delegation from India challenged this, citing ownership of the island by the Ramnad kingdom. This dispute was not settled until 1974.
What is the agreement now?
— In 1974, Indira Gandhi made attempts to settle the maritime border between India and Sri Lanka, once and for all.
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— As a part of this settlement, known as the ‘Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement’, Indira Gandhi ‘ceded’ Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. At the time, she thought the island had little strategic value and that ceasing India’s claim over the island would deepen its ties with its southern neighbour.
— Moreover, as per the agreement, Indian fishermen were still allowed to access Katchatheevu “hitherto”. Unfortunately, the issue of fishing rights was not ironed out by the agreement. Sri Lanka interpreted Indian fishermens’ right to access Katchatheevu to be limited to “rest, drying nets and for visit to the Catholic shrine without visa”.
— Another agreement in 1976, during the period of Emergency in India, barred either country from fishing in the other’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Again, Katchatheevu lay right at the edge of the EEZs of either country, retaining a degree of uncertainty with regards to fishing rights.
How did the Sri Lankan Civil War impact Katchatheevu?
— However, between 1983 and 2009, the border dispute remained on the backburner as a bloody civil war raged in Sri Lanka.
— With the Sri Lankan naval forces preoccupied in their task of cutting off supply lines of the LTTE based out of Jaffna, incursions by Indian fishermen well into Sri Lankan waters were commonplace. Bigger Indian trawlers were especially resented as they would not only tend to overfish but also damage Sri Lankan fishing nets and boats.
— In 2009, the war with the LTTE ended, and things dramatically changed. Colombo beefed up its maritime defences, and turned focus to Indian fishermen. Facing a depletion of marine resources on the Indian side, they would frequently enter Sri Lankan waters as they had been doing for years, but finally began facing consequences.
— Till date, the Sri Lankan navy routinely arrests Indian fishermen and there have been many allegations of custodial torture and death. The demand for Katchatheevu is revived each time such an incident happens.
Point to ponder: The Indo-Sri Lankan dispute over fishing rights in the Palk Strait, the water body separating Tamil Nadu from the Jaffna region of Sri Lanka, has been an emotive issue of long-standing. Discuss.
2. MCQ:
With reference to Katchatheevu, consider the following statements:
1. Katchatheevu is a uninhabited speck in the Palk Strait, between India and Sri Lanka.
2. In the early medieval period, it was controlled by the Jaffna kingdom of Sri Lanka.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
HAVANA SYNDROME
WHY IN NEWS?
— The Central government has told the Karnataka High Court that it will look into the matter of the ‘Havana Syndrome’ in India, in response to a Bengaluru resident’s recent petition.
— The petitioner had approached the court requesting a writ of mandamus for an enquiry on Havana Syndrome in India and the prevention of high-frequency microwave transmission in India.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What is Havana Syndrome?
— Havana Syndrome refers to a set of mental health symptoms that are said to be experienced by United States intelligence and embassy officials in various countries. It is worth noting that in general, the word ‘syndrome’ simply means a set of symptoms. It does not mean a unique medical condition, but rather a set of symptoms that are usually experienced together whose origins may be difficult to confirm.
— What is known as the Havana Syndrome typically involves symptoms such as hearing certain sounds without any outside noise, nausea, vertigo and headaches, memory loss and balance issues.
— As the name suggests, it traces its roots to Cuba in late 2016. This was about a year after the US opened its embassy in the capital city of Havana after ties between the two countries were normalised in 2015. Some US intelligence officials and members of the staff at the embassy began experiencing sudden bursts of pressure in their brains followed by persistent headaches, feelings of disorientation and insomnia.
Where else has Havana syndrome been reported?
— Since the Cuban incident, American intelligence and foreign affairs officials posted in various countries have reported symptoms of the syndrome. In early 2018, similar accusations began to be made by US diplomats in China.
— According to US media reports, in the past few years, its officials have reported more than 130 such experiences across the world including at Moscow in Russia, Poland, Georgia, Taiwan, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Austria, among others.
— A New York Times report from 2021 said US Vice-President Kamala Harris was delayed for three hours as she was about to fly to Hanoi, Vietnam, after a US official in Vietnam reported the symptoms.
— In India, the first such case was reported in 2021, when a US intelligence officer travelling to New Delhi with CIA director William Burns reported symptoms of Havana Syndrome.
What are the causes of Havana Syndrome?
— No one is entirely sure. But initially during the Cuban experience, being in a country that had been hostile to the US for over five decades, the suspicion was on Cuban intelligence or a section within the Cuban establishment that did not want US-Cuba relations to normalise. It was then speculated to be a “sonic attack”.
— However, further study by scientists in the US and medical examination of the victims began to suggest that they may have been subjected to high-powered microwaves that either damaged or interfered with the nervous system. It was said to have built pressure inside the brain that generated the feeling of a sound being heard. Greater exposure to high-powered microwaves is said not only to interfere with the body’s sense of balance but also to impact memory and cause permanent brain damage. Low levels of microwaves are also emitted from mobile phones but they are not targeted.
— It was suspected that beams of high-powered microwaves were sent through a special gadget that Americans then called a “microwave weapon”.
— The use of microwaves as a counter-intelligence tactic has been experimented with since the Cold War and both Russia and the US have made attempts to weaponise it. There have been reports of US embassy officials in Moscow experiencing mental health issues due to the suspected use of microwaves in the 1970s.
What do we know of Havana Syndrome in India?
— As of July 2023, the 2021 incident was the only reported occurrence of the syndrome in India. Sources in the Indian security establishment said in 2021 that they were not aware of any weapon with such capacities being in the possession of an Indian agency. Even if there was one, it was unlikely the government would admit to having acquired such counter-espionage technology given the sensitive nature of intelligence work.
“But why would an Indian agency target the US? Given the geopolitics of today, they are our closest friends,” an intelligence official told The Indian Express in 2021.
“Even if we were to assume that the Russians or the Chinese have been able to bring in such equipment without our knowledge, once such a thing comes out, it negatively impacts relations between our country and theirs. Why would they risk that unless they want to hurt us as well?” another intelligence official said.
— Without discounting US anxieties over it, another former R&AW officer said, “If a foreign power is doing it, why will they target the US alone. Why aren’t other countries reporting the same? Barring the Canadian embassy in Havana, there have been no such reports from officials of any other country anywhere in the world. This is not to say that the US assertions may not be true. But it’s a curious case.”
Point to ponder: India must update its security strategy and shed obsession with Pakistan. Do you agree?
3. MCQ:
With reference to Havana Syndrome, consider the following statements:
1. It is a unique medical condition which has high powered microwaves as its confirmed cause.
2. It traces its roots to Cuba in late 2016.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are true?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
SPONGE CITIES
WHY IN NEWS?
— China has been hit by devastating floods in recent weeks, inundating cities and causing deaths and infrastructural damage, as well as raising questions about the effectiveness of its 2015 “sponge city” initiative aimed at reducing urban flood risks.
— The initiative was launched to boost flood resilience in major cities and make better use of rainwater through architectural, engineering and infrastructural tweaks. But cities remain vulnerable to heavy rain. In July alone, floods and related geological disasters caused 142 deaths and disappearances, destroyed 2,300 homes and caused direct economic losses of 15.78 billion yuan ($2.19 billion), China’s emergency ministry said on Monday.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
David Stanway Explains:
Why was this initiative launched?
— China has long sought to improve the way it handles extreme weather, and make highly populated cities less vulnerable to flooding and drought. The “sponge city” initiative was designed to make greater use of lower-impact “nature-based solutions” to better distribute water and improve drainage and storage.
— Those solutions included the use of permeable asphalt, the construction of new canals and ponds and also the restoration of wetlands, which would not only ease waterlogging, but also improve the urban environment.
— Breakneck urbanisation has encased vast stretches of land in impermeable concrete, often along banks of major rivers that traditionally served as flood plains. With wetlands paved over and nowhere for surplus water to settle, waterlogging and flooding was commonplace.
What are the limitation of sponge cities?
— Sponge cities were unable to deal with its heaviest rainfall in history in 2021. Experts believe sponge city infrastructure can only handle no more than 200 millimetres (7.9 inches) of rain per day. At the height of the rainstorms that lashed Beijing at the end of July, rainfall at one station reached 745 millimetres over three and a half days. In July 2021, Zhengzhou saw rainfall in excess of 200 mm in just one hour.
— Authorities are also playing catch-up to climate change. This year’s heavy rain hit cities in the normally arid north, where sponge city development is less advanced.
Point to ponder: Why our cities fail the rain test?
4. MCQ:
With reference to “sponge city” initiative, consider the following statements:
1. This initiative was launched in China to boost flood resilience in major cities and make better use of rainwater through architectural, engineering and infrastructural tweaks.
2. The solutions of this initiative included the use of permeable asphalt, the construction of new canals and ponds and also the restoration of wetlands, which would not only ease waterlogging, but also improve the urban environment and was able to deal with its heaviest rainfall in history in 2021 in China.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are true?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ECOWAS
WHY IN NEWS?
— In a July 26 coup, soldiers in the West African nation of Niger installed Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of state after ousting President Mohamed Bazoum, who said he was held “hostage”. Along with the difficult economic conditions already prevailing in the country, what has added to the concern for some in the West are the Nigerien calls for assistance from Russia’s Wagner Group.
— A mercenary organisation that was also active in the Ukraine war and maintained a footprint in Africa, the Group has fallen out of favour with Russian President Vladimir Putin after its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin attempted a coup in Moscow in late June this year. However, its presence in Africa pre-dates its involvement in Ukraine.
— Apart from the expected international players, such as Russia and the United States, the regional bloc ECOWAS or the Economic Community of West African States has been playing an active role. Its heads of state will meet on Thursday (August 10) to discuss their next steps, after Niger’s military junta defied their August 6 deadline to reinstate the country’s ousted president and the soldiers closed the country’s airspace. There is also apprehension that ECOWAS may choose to intervene militarily.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What is ECOWAS?
— Also known as CEDEAO in French, the regional group was established in 1975 through the Lagos Treaty – with a mandate of promoting economic integration among its members. Today, ECOWAS has 15 members: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo. Around 400 million people live in this region.
— Although, following coups in recent years in some of the biggest countries in the bloc – namely Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso – it suspended the three members and refused to recognise their new governments.
— ECOWAS’ larger aims are to have a single common currency and create a single, large trading bloc in areas of industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, financial issues, and social and cultural matters. According to its website, the vision of ECOWAS is the creation of a “borderless region” that is well-integrated. “ECOWAS is meant to be a region governed in accordance with the principles of democracy, rule of law and good governance,” it states.
— At the helm of its organisation structure is the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government. The Chairman is the current Head of State and Government and is appointed by other Heads of State and Government to oversee its affairs for one year.
— Beyond the goals of economic cooperation, ECOWAS has attempted to quell military conflicts in the region.
Point to ponder: Why Sudan’s latest conflict has led to concern among so many countries across the world?
5. MCQ:
Which of the following countries is not a member of ECOWAS?
(a) Ghana
(b) Mali
(c) Sudan
(d) Togo
MAUI & WILDFIRES
WHY IN NEWS?
— In one of the worst natural disasters to hit the US, multiple wildfires are raging through Hawaii, especially the island of Maui. It is known that at least 93 people have died as of August 13, thousands have been displaced and buildings and businesses have burnt down — the numbers will rise as rescue operations increase. More than 48 hours after it started, the fires are yet to be brought under complete control by crews.
— Maui is one of the eight main islands that make up the archipelago of Hawaii. Lahaina, a coastal town of art galleries, unique spots and history in Maui, has, reportedly, been reduced to ashes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Dipanita Nath Explains:
Man-made and natural causes
— The exact cause of the fire is still not certain. Data from 2000-2017 from US Forest Service, among others, shows that 85 percent of wildfires in the US are caused by humans and involve campfires, garbage burning, malfunctioning equipment and burning cigarettes, among others. Natural causes of fire include volcanic activity and lightning strikes.
— Maui is home to one of the six active volcanoes of Hawaii. What experts are noting is that most of Maui was experiencing severe drought, so the dry land, with dry non-native grasses and vegetation, was ready fuel for fires. These fed the fires and helped them spread.
The winds of Hurricane Dora
— Experts feel that the fire in Hawaii started in the wild and was carried by the wind that was blowing at almost 100 kmph. The winds have their origins in Hurricane Dora, an unusually strong storm in the Pacific Ocean. Hundreds of miles away from Hawaii, Hurricane Dora did not hit Hawaii. Instead, the islands were caught between high and low pressure zones due to the hurricane, which resulted in the winds fanning the flames and making these difficult to control.
The role of fossil fuel
— Hawaii, according to government data, has lost 1.5 million acres of native forest, which were natural water and climate regulators. “Without them, we are seeing disruptions in weather and temperature patterns. In other words, climate change and forest loss are working together to make Hawai‘i drier and hotter,” says an official statement. Maui, for instance, had suffered fires in 2018 and 2021, which caused massive destruction.
— Climate Scientist Prof. Katharine Hayhoe tweeted on August 10, “Amid the devastating Maui fires, I see many arguing, ‘it’s weather, arson – anything but climate change’. Let’s set the record straight. Climate change doesn’t usually start the fires; but it intensifies them, increasing the area they burn + making them much more dangerous”.
— One of the big reasons for climate change is the burning of fossil fuels which release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing global warming. Unprecedented climate events are increasing around the world. According to the United Nations, there will be an increase of extreme fires globally by up to 14 per cent by 2030, 30 per cent by the end of 2050 and 50 per cent by the end of the century.
Point to ponder: How wildfires impact wildlife and their habitat?
6. MCQ:
Which of the following is not a part of Hawaii islands?
(a) Maui
(b) Kauai
(c) Moloka‘i
(d) Spartly
ANSWERS TO MCQs: 1 (b), 2 (c), 3 (b), 4 (a), 5 (c), 6 (d)
(The UPSC Essentials Indian Express is now on Telegram- Indian Express UPSC Hub. Click here to join our YouTube channel and stay updated with the latest updates.
Note: Catch the UPSC Weekly Quiz every Saturday evening and brush up on your current affairs knowledge.)
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Share your views, answers and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com.
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