THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 11 June 2020 (Wrong priorities (The Hindu))

Wrong priorities (The Hindu)

• Mains Paper 2:Governance 
• Prelims level: Not much 
• Mains level: Priorities for government during the pandemic period, Challenges and way forward  

Context:

• Some things are better kept for later during a pandemic. And, public worship is certainly one of them. 
• Mass religious gatherings defeats physical distancing and have a history of amplifyingthe COVID-19 pandemic in more than one country. 
• Governments should sober down to open religious places early in the unlock phase. 

Key Priorities:

• Even with online registration, e-passes, distance marking and use of personal protective equipment by staff, gatherings in confined spaces go against the grain of infection prevention principles. 
• It is heartening that some temple boards, churches and Islamic religious bodies have wisely decided to remain closed. 
• As among the top five virus-affected nations, India cannot afford to create conditions that lead to mass transmission. 
• The priority today is to refloat a crippled economy safely, while postponing all optional activities to a time when there is better disease control, and prevention and treatment courses are available. 
• The compulsion to unlock when infections have not peaked has already placed the onus of...........................

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Political will:

• After pursuing a lockdown strategy that had low impact on the infection curve, but many negative outcomes, India needs to draw up it unlock priorities carefully. 
• It must show the political will to enforce norms on public behaviour such as mask wearing and physical distancing. 
• Yet, the scenes from many cities coming out of lockdown, including hard-hit ones such as Mumbai, show anxious crowding in many situations, including on public transport. 
• Night curfews are weakly enforced. 
• This is worrying, considering the limited medical capacity that exists to care for a large number who might suffer the worst effects of COVID-19. 
• Getting unlocking wrong could mean an explosion of cases, which, WHO has warned, remains a possibility in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. 

 Way forward:

• National policy should not put the cart before the horse, by prioritising activities such as worship at public places. 
• All available resources must be devoted towards productive and essential work. 
• The Centre has to also explain what it is doing to assess the prevalence of infection at the community-level at a suitable scale.

Conclusion:

• By opening up religious places for worship now, India risks high community...........

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1)With reference to the ordinance to amend Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, consider the following statements:
1. Under it, fresh insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) will not be initiated against companies for defaults due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
2. It suspends sections 7, 9 and 10 of the IBC for a period of 2 months. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer...............

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Mains Questions:
Q.1)To what extent by opening up religious places for worship in India is justified. Critically comment.