1. Human rights and the State READ MORE
2. A crisis of compassion in India READ MORE

1. Why India’s bureaucracy needs urgent reform READ MORE
2. Human rights and the State READ MORE
3. Regulate private hospitals: Must check fleecing of patients at all times READ MORE
4. Why India’s civil services need corporate management structures and culture READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Country’s first ‘One Health’ consortium launched by D/o Biotechnology, Post COVID 19 READ MORE
2. India gets re-elected to U.N. Human Rights Council for 2022-24 term READ MORE
3. Global Hunger Index 2021: India slips to 101st spot, behind Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal READ MORE
4. India among 50% countries where classes are yet to go fully in-person: Unicef-backed study READ MORE
5. Are we seeing early signs of reverse migration in India? READ MORE
6. Centre notifies new rules allowing abortion till 24 weeks of pregnancy in case of minors, rape survivors READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. The declining monsoon rainfall in Punjab over last two decades READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Why India’s bureaucracy needs urgent reform READ MORE
2. Human rights and the State READ MORE
3. Regulate private hospitals: Must check fleecing of patients at all times READ MORE
4. Why India’s civil services need corporate management structures and culture READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Our public schooling system requires rapid expansion READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. AUKUS, Australia, and the Importance of Trust in Foreign Policy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India towards the space and beyond READ MORE
2. PLI Schemes: not a long-term answer READ MORE
3. Speed and strength: Gati Shakti shows the intent, but hurdles remain READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate negotiations need an innovative approach READ MORE

 SECURITY

1. The global war on terror grinds along: Notwithstanding some temporary setbacks, the broad contours of terrorism remain much the same READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. A crisis of compassion in India READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The civil services held India together after Independence, but if the country’s potential is to be realised, existing problems of inefficiency and inaction must be fixed’. Analyse the statement.
2. ‘Space is a global phenomenon and India must not allow itself to miss the opportunity to be at the top of this frontier’. In the light of the statement, analyse whether India should move towards the privatisation of ISRO?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Fairness is what justice really is.
• The civil services held India together after Independence, but if the country’s potential is to be realised, existing problems of inefficiency and inaction must be fixed.
• Indian habitations must have easily accessible schools that serve the educational needs of children at every level if we are to ease a severe supply constraint in generating human capital.
• There is a crying need for reforms such as a transparent and result-driven appraisal system, rules that make decision-making easier, better interdepartmental coordination, among others.
• India’s private healthcare industry provides vital services to those who can afford to pay for them as the country’s public healthcare system is overburdened, understaffed and wholly inadequate.
• Opening space programmes to private players is a breakthrough act and the world is watching keenly to see how feasible it will be to set up shop here.
• India could then be a world leader not only in climate change innovation but also effectively control pollutants and use pollution as a raw material for mineral production.
• The previous infrastructure pushes by the Union government failed because of burdensome or contradictory approaches from state government regulators and in some cases strong opposition by civil society groups. Planning should take these issues into account and therefore will need to be transparent and inclusive.
• Space is a global phenomenon and India must not allow itself to miss the opportunity to be at the top of this frontier. Policies must be harmonised with the global best practices. Developments and standards need to be on par with the rest of the world.

50- WORD TALK

• The Centre’s order to expand the BSF’s jurisdiction in border states from 15 km to 50 km inside Indian territory can severely strain the fragile federal structure. It amounts to big-footing the state police forces. Instead of adding muscle, it can create confusion in intelligence gathering and law enforcement activities.
• The extortion “nexus” in West Bengal’s Jaigaon involving SSB officers and so-called ‘journalists’ preying on Bhutan’s trade with India is deplorable. Bhutan is a valuable friend and strategic ally of India. Such nefarious activities need to be dealt with a heavy hand, especially when China is hyperactively eyeing India’s neighbourhood.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. ONE HEALTH CONSORTIUM

THE CONTEXT: Country’s first ‘One Health’ consortium launched by the Department of Biotechnology.

THE EXPLANATION: 

• The consortium, consisting of 27 organisations led by DBT-National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, is one of the biggest health programs launched by the Govt of India in post-COVID times. The One health consortium consists of AIIMS, Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur, IVRI, Bareily, GADVASU, Ludhiana, TANUVAS, Chennai, MAFSU, Nagpur, Assam agricultural and veterinary university and many more ICAR, ICMR centres and wildlife agencies.
• COVID-19 pandemic showed the relevance of ‘One Health’ principles in the governance of infectious diseases, especially efforts to prevent and contain zoonotic diseases throughout the world.
• The risk of infectious agents capable of jumping the barriers of species is increasing, mainly because of the potential of novel infectious agents to spread rapidly around the globe due to increased travel, food habits and trade across borders.
• Such diseases have devastating impacts on animals, humans, health systems, and economies, requiring years of social and economic recovery.

ABOUT ONE HEALTH CONCEPT

• One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach— working at the local, regional, national, and global levels — with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
• This concept is used by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). In India, it is a component under the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well Being.

SOURCE: PIB

2. GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX 2021

THE CONTEXT:  India has slipped to the 101st position among 116 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 from its 2020 ranking (94), to be placed behind Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

THE EXPLANATION: 

• With this, only 15 countries, like Papua New Guinea (102), Afghanistan (103), Nigeria (103), Congo (105), fared worse than India this year.
• A total of 18 countries, including China, Kuwait and Brazil, shared the top rank with a GHI score of less than five.
• The report, prepared jointly by Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and German organisation Welt Hunger Hilfe, mentioned the level of hunger in India as “alarming” with its GHI score decelerating from 38.8 in 2000 to the range of 28.8 – 27.5 between 2012 and 2021.
• The GHI score is calculated on four indicators — undernourishment; child wasting (the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition); child stunting (children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition); child mortality (the mortality rate of children under the age of five).
• According to the report, the share of wasting among children in India rose from 17.1 per cent between 1998-2002 to 17.3 per cent between 2016-2020.
• However, India has shown improvement in indicators like the under-5 mortality rate, the prevalence of stunting among children and prevalence of undernourishment owing to inadequate food.

SOURCE: IE

3. NEW RULES ALLOWING ABORTION

THE CONTEXT:  As per the government’s new rules, the gestational limit for termination of a pregnancy in India has been increased from 20 to 24 weeks for some categories of women.

THE EXPLANATION: 

• Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the women for whom the limit has been increased include survivors of sexual assault, rape or incest, minors, those whose marital status changes during pregnancy (widowhood and divorce) and those with physical disabilities.
• The new rules also include mentally ill women, cases of foetal malformation in which there is a substantial risk of physical or mental abnormalities and women in disasters or emergency situations as declared by the government.
• These new rules fall under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021, which was passed by Parliament in March this year.
• Earlier, an abortion required the opinion of one doctor if carried out within twelve weeks of conception and two doctors if done between twelve and twenty weeks.
• As per the new rules, state-level medical boards will be set up to decide if pregnancy may be terminated after 24 weeks in cases of foetal malformation where there is a substantial risk of incompatibility with life, physical or mental abnormalities or handicaps.
• The medical boards are to examine the woman and her reports and then either accept or reject the proposal for medical termination of pregnancy within three days of receiving the request.
• The boards also have to ensure that the abortion procedure, when advised by them, is carried out with all precautions along with counselling. The procedure has to be done with five days of the board receiving the request for the same.
• Experts say that given the advancements in scientific and medical technology the world has witnessed over the years, the extended 24-week gestation period should be for all women and not just ‘special categories of women. The creation of state medical boards could potentially create impediments for women’s access to abortion services as many women discover they are pregnant at a later stage.

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

4. GLOBAL COVID-19 EDUCATION RECOVERY TRACKER

THE CONTEXT: A global Covid-19 education recovery tracker has revealed that nearly half the countries across the world are still taking classes in the online and hybrid (both online and offline) mode while some are on an extended break due to the pandemic.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Created by the Johns Hopkins University in the US, Unicef and World Bank, the tracker captures information from 208 countries worldwide and was launched in March.
• While schools have restarted in several countries over the past few months, the latest data on the tracker, till the month of September, shows that classes are yet to go fully in-person in almost half the nations.
• A large number of countries are either teaching children online or through the hybrid mode, which means juggling online and in-person lessons.
• in India, education is currently being imparted in the hybrid mode. At the school level, students in the senior classes have started attending school in person in most states while junior classes continue online.
• The tracker also shows that schools in some countries are on an extended break due to Covid-19.

Source: THEPRINT

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

5. THE DECLINING MONSOON RAINFALL IN PUNJAB OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES

THE CONTEXT: The state has seen a declining trend in rainfall during monsoon in the past two decades. The only silver lining was that the rainfall pattern was good this year, which was witnessed after a long gap.

THE EXPLANATION:

• There are several factors and they are not Punjab-specific but a global phenomenon due to which erratic weather changes are occurring, for which a collective approach is required to minimise the effect of global warming to control extreme weather variables.
• Experts said deforestation in the state is also one of the causes of the decreasing rainfall trend.

SOURCE:IE

6. THE LARGE SCALE BESS FOR 1000 MW HOUR PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: Government has given go-ahead for inviting the expression of interest for the installation of a 1000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as a pilot project.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This is the joint effort of both Ministry of New and renewable energy and the Ministry of Power who have been working on this to provide a road map for the installation of the energy storage system in the country.
• In order to support the ambitious goal of achieving the 450 GW renewable energy target of the Ministry of New and renewable energy by 2030, it is important that it gets duly supported with the installation of energy storage systems (battery energy storage system, hydro pump storage plants etc.).
• Going forward, India plans to use an energy storage system under the following business cases:–
• Renewable energy along with the energy storage system
• The energy storage system as grid element to maximize the use of transmission system and strengthening grid stability and also to save investment in the augmentation of transmission infrastructure.
• Storage as an asset for balancing services and flexible operation. The system operator i.e. load dispatchers (RLDCs and SLDCs) may use storage system for frequency control and balancing services to manage the inherent uncertainty/variations in the load due to un-generation.
• Storage for distribution system i.e. it may be placed at the load centre to manage its peak load and other obligations.
• As a merchant capacity by the energy storage system developer and sell in the power market
• Any other future business models as a combination of the above.

SOURCE:   PIB

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

7. INDIA-U.S. FINANCIAL DIALOGUE

THE CONTEXT: Finance Minister and her American counterpart, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, met for the eight Ministerial meetings of the U.S.-India Economic and Financial partnership. The Ministerial held a session dedicated to climate finance for the first time.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference ( “COP26”)in Glasgow at the end of the month, India has been pushing for rich countries to meet their Paris Accord climate finance commitment of $100 billion per year.
• The two sides “reaffirmed the collective developed country goal to mobilise $100 billion annually for developing countries from public and private sources, in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation,” the statement said. Holding such a session, the statement said, reflected the “critical” role climate finance has to play in achieving global climate goals and the two sides’ commitments to drive “urgent progress” in combatting climate change.
• On international taxation, the two sides welcomed the OECD (Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, a group of wealthy countries) tax agreement and committed to working with others to implement the agreement’s two pillars by 2023. Pillar One involves the allocation of taxing rights (tax on multinationals) between jurisdictions, and Pillar Two, a global minimum tax of 15% on certain companies

SOURCE: TH

8. INDIA GETS RE-ELECTED TO U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

THE CONTEXT:  India was re-elected to the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2022-24 term on Thursday with an overwhelming majority in the General Assembly, with New Delhi’s envoy describing the election as a “robust endorsement” of the country’s strong roots in democracy, pluralism and fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The 76th UN General Assembly held elections on Thursday for 18 new members of the U.N. Human Rights Council who will serve for a period of three years, starting in January 2022.
• India got 184 votes in the 193-member assembly, while the required majority was 97.
• India’s current term was set to end on December 31 2021. For election for the term 2022-2024, there were five vacant seats in the Asia-Pacific States category – India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

SOURCE: TH

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to “One Health Concept”

1. The goal of one health is achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.
2. It is a component under the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well Being.

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 FOR OCTOBER 14, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

ANSWER: A

Explanation:

Prime Minister launched the Gati Shakti – National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity.   Gati Shakti — a digital platform — will bring 16 Ministries including Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

[WpProQuiz 69]

1. Modern women and their troubles READ MORE
2. Healthcare infrastructure needs a check-up: Data passing through the hospital systems and databases must be digitised and harmonised to truly transform the healthcare infrastructure READ MORE

1. Enjoy God’s play and remember him with love READ MORE
2. Nothing is mine READ MORE

1. Explained: Why Bengaluru is receiving more rains this October READ MORE
2. How smartphones are killing the planet READ MORE
3. Agenda for CoP26 READ MORE

1. CJI Ramana Wants ‘Indianisation’ of the Justice System. What Does That Entail? READ MORE
2. NHRC’s remit: Human rights body has an incredibly important job. Praising govt is not part of that READ MORE
3. Bombay High Court POSH guidelines risk silencing victims of sexual harassment READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM launches Gati Shakti- National Master Plan for infrastructure development READ MORE
2. Fish species found only in the Pacific, discovered in the Bay of Bengal READ MORE
3. Govt scraps basic custom duty cuts agriculture cess on crude palm, sunflower oil READ MORE
4. Explained: Why govt proposes to redefine forests, and the concerns this raises READ MORE
5. Centre enhances powers of BSF; Punjab slams move READ MORE
6. India’s trade with China set to cross $100 billion in 2021 READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. Explained: Why Bengaluru is receiving more rains this October READ MORE
2. Modern women and their troubles READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. CJI Ramana Wants ‘Indianisation’ of the Justice System. What Does That Entail? READ MORE
2. NHRC’s remit: Human rights body has an incredibly important job. Praising govt is not part of that READ MORE
3. Bombay High Court POSH guidelines risk silencing victims of sexual harassment READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Healthcare infrastructure needs a check-up: Data passing through the hospital systems and databases must be digitised and harmonised to truly transform the healthcare infrastructure READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The goings-on in Myanmar: Quad, ASEAN focus on the strife-torn nation at Washington Summit READ MORE
2. How the US got it all wrong in Afghanistan READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Sowing better to eat better: Agri-food systems need a transformative change for better production, nutrition, environment and life READ MORE
2. Coal crisis triggers the need for alternatives READ MORE
3. New public-private partnership: Collaboration in space research will increase opportunities READ MORE
4. To Maximise Value of Troubled Firms, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Needs More Reforms READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. How smartphones are killing the planet READ MORE
2. Agenda for CoP26 READ MORE

 SECURITY

1. The global war on terror grinds along: Notwithstanding some temporary setbacks, the broad contours of terrorism remain much the same READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Enjoy God’s play and remember him with love READ MORE
2. Nothing is mine READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The current crisis is an opportunity for the country to cut coal dependence and push renewable energy for the long term’. Comment.
2. ‘While the IBC has successfully chartered a new era in the history of bankruptcy resolution in India, it needs several reforms to strengthen its supporting role in capital formation and economic growth of the country’. Analyse the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself.
• Notwithstanding some temporary setbacks, the broad contours of terrorism remain much the same.
• Agri-food systems need a transformative change for better production, nutrition, environment and life.
• Food systems can help combat environmental degradation or climate change. Sustainable agri-food systems can deliver food security and nutrition for all, without compromising the economic, social and environmental bases.
• Digital sabotage has already entered the armoury of certain terrorist groups.
• While keeping identities confidential from the media until the verdict has been arrived at may be reasonable, not allowing these judgments to be published without court approval, and restricting access to such information goes against the need for transparency and accountability in the judicial process.
• India should continue to work closely with the special envoy and the Myanmar government to devise measures for arriving at a regional consensus on dealing with the situation in Myanmar.
• Nothing can progress without innovation and everything of today exists because of yesterday’s innovation and invention. We need to innovate to accommodate evolving situations and needs and prepare a wonderful place to live in, not only for us but for our future generations as well.
• Data passing through the hospital systems and databases must be digitised and harmonised to truly transform the healthcare infrastructure.
• While the IBC has successfully chartered a new era in the history of bankruptcy resolution in India, it needs several reforms to strengthen its supporting role in capital formation and economic growth of the country.
• If ‘Indianisation’ is to mean the democratisation of the justice system, then the prevailing social and political logic must be democratic too.
• The energy used to build a single smartphone is equal to the energy required to operate it for about a decade.

50- WORD TALK

• India’s coal-power crisis reflects poorly on the planning, policy-making abilities of both the central and state governments. India’s recovering economy needs to fire on all cylinders, not grapple with energy shortages. Short-term fixes are necessary but this is another reminder that power sector reforms have a long way to go.
• PM Modi’s framework of human rights is problematic. Sequencing basic needs first and linking rights with duties amount to their obfuscation and derogation. Invoking India’s image in the context of violations is gratuitous. PM’s message to embrace others’ rights as our duty is well-said. But it’s the government’s duty, too.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: On June 30th, 2021, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana delivered the 17th Justice P.D. Desai Memorial Lecture on the “Rule of Law”. According to CJI, regular participation in polls was not a guarantee against the tyranny of the elected. In his speech, he underscored the pressure of social media on institutions. Identifying Covid-19 as “an unprecedented crisis”, CJI urged the governments to evaluate how they used the rule of law or failed to ensure protection to, and, the welfare of all of our people. This article provides insights into the lecture on the Rule of Law vs. the Rule by Law.

IMPORTANT EXCERPTS OF THE LECTURE

4 CORE PRINCIPLES OF RULE OF LAW

THE RULE OF LAW BY DICEY

• A detailed analysis of the concept of Rule of Law was done by Professor A.V. Dicey who in his book “Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution” published in the year 1885 tried developing the concept of Rule of Law.
• Dicey’s theory of Rule of Law consists of three basic principles:

1. The supremacy of law
2. Equality before law
3. The predominance of Legal Spirit

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RULE OF LAW AND RULE BY LAW

RULE OF LAW AND INDIAN CONSTITUTION

• In India, the concept of Rule of Law can be traced back to Upanishads. Its traces can also be found in the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana, Ten Commandments, Dharma Chakra, and other seminal documents.
• The Preamble to the Indian Constitution mentions Justice, Liberty, and Equality.
• Articles 13, 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution promote equality although there are exceptions as we

JUDICIAL PRONOUNCEMENTS ON RULE OF LAW

• The judicial decisions have played an indispensable role to counter any arbitrariness on part of the state.
• In K. Kraipak V. Union of India the Apex Court held that ours being a welfare State, it is regulated and controlled by the Rule of Law.
• In Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, the court ensured that the exercise of power in an arbitrary manner by the government would not infringe the rights of the people.
• The Apex Court in Indira Nehru Gandhi Vs. Raj Narain (1975) held that the Rule of Law embodied in Article 14 of the Constitution is the “basic feature” of the Indian Constitution and hence it cannot be destroyed even by an amendment of the Constitution under Article 368 of the Constitution.
• In L Chandra Kumar v Union of India, the court declared the independence of the judiciary to be a part of the basic structure and further the court struck down the amendment to article 323A of the constitution.
• The Habeas Corpus Case (1976) held that article 21 is the sole repository of Rule of law in India.

Some Exceptions:

• Articles 15 and 16, Article 105 and Article 194.
• Criminal immunity to President and Governor as mentioned in Article 361.
• Diplomatic Immunity as per the Vienna Convention.

ANALYSIS: PRESENT STATUS OF RULE OF LAW IN INDIA

• In India, the Rule of Law is not followed in stricto sensu (“In the strict sense.”). There are several instances:

1. Several guidelines have been laid down by the court to curb the practice of honour killing but still, there have been numerous instances of honour killing reported. The decision on honour killing is taken by an extra-constitutional body by the nomenclature of Khap Panchayat which engages in feudalistic activities has no compunction to commit such crimes which are offences under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. No heed is paid to the basic human right of “Right to life and liberty”.
2. The Sabarimala case verdict throws light upon the discretion of men in abiding by the directions given by the Supreme Court only to the point if they are analogous to the belief they hold. After the verdict massive protests were carried out, there were also occurrences of violence against women who tried to enter the temple. The women were denied their constitutional right to worship and the principles of equality were violated even after the practise was declared unconstitutional by the Apex Court.
3. Another evil practise pertinent in society is that of mob lynching. Supreme Court described it as horrendous acts of mobocracy and stated that “the law is the mightiest sovereign in a civilized society”.

In fact, the present debate has started due to an increase in the incidences of RULE BY LAW like

1. Internet shutdown in J&K for over one year
2. The arbitrary application of laws against media and journalists
3. The arbitrary application of UAPA, sedition law and NSA against protesters, dissenters, activists, etc.
4. Gagging criticisms on the mishandling of covid second wave

Such developments give a feeling of an authoritarian state and not of a democratic state. The CJI in his lecture has also highlighted how the people have largely plaid their role through 17 general elections and have rejected the governments if they have failed to withstand the rule of law. No government is permanent. Hence, it is the duty cast upon the three organs to play their role in upholding the rule of law.

THE CONCLUSION: The work of ensuring complete justice can never be said to be completed. The mandate of our Constitution is to work tirelessly to surpass our expectations, to make India a country wherein rights are cherished, and which sets an example for other countries to follow.

“Desamamte Matti Kadoi, Desamamte ManushulOi”(“A nation is not merely a territory. A nation is essentially its people. Only when its people progress, the Nation progresses”)

                                                                                                             ———– Maha Kavi Gurajada Appa Rao,

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. TRIFED IS WORKING TO GET GI TAG FOR TRIBAL PRODUCTS

THE CONTEXT: The GI initiative taken up by TRIFED aims at protecting and reviving the traditional mastery that the Indian tribal folks possess, in producing some of the most exotic products.

THE EXPLANATION: 

• TRIFED, through marketing GI, tagged products of tribal origin or source, is working extensively towards realizing the importance of protecting and promoting agricultural, natural or manufactured goods with specific geographical characteristics thereby contributing in the preservation ofinvaluable treasures of Incredible India.
• The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ corner in the High Commissions is being set up as part of a global initiative, in collaboration with TRIFED, to promote products that tribal groups across India have been creating for centuries.
• TRIFED’s GI intervention and setting up of Atmanirbhar corner in Indian Missions abroad aims at:
• To safeguard the interests of the original producers as well as that of the product and ensure that the producer avails optimum cost for their premium goods even in the highly competitive market scenario.
• To ensure recognition of indigenous products both in India and the global market.
• To revive diminishing art and craft from a Tribal specific geographical location.
• At present, TRIFED markets 56 GI tagged products, owing to their tribal origin/involvement, from among the 300+ registered Indian GIs through its well-established network of 141 Tribes India retail outlets and various E-Commerce platforms.
• It has facilitated authorized user-ship for 94 artisans to date and is persevering to increase the authorized user base to 500 in the near future.
• In addition to marketing 56 GI products, TRIFED is also working to get GI tag for the 177 potential products that have been identified from the states under operational areas of our Regional Offices across the country namely North-East(88), Uttarakhand(14), Jharkhand(11), Madhya Pradesh(11), Maharashtra(10) Odisha(6), West Bengal(9), Gujarat(7), Chhattisgarh(7), Andhra Pradesh(4), Rajasthan(4), South(3) and North(3).
• Also, GI registration of 21 potential products from the states of Gujarat, Assam, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand has already been initiated under the mentorship of Padma Shree Dr. RajnikantDwivedi. This will increase the number of GI products marketed by TRIFED to 77 GI products which it sources from empanelled Tribal suppliers.

SOURCE: PIB

ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

2. GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO REDEFINE FORESTS

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) published proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, easing diversion of forests and exempting certain categories of development from the need to take clearance from the Ministry.

WHAT ARE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS?

• The Ministry has proposed that all land acquired by the Railways and Roads Ministries prior to 1980 be exempted from the Act. It says these lands had been acquired for expansion, but subsequently, forests have grown in these areas, and the government is no longer able to use the land for expansion. If the amendment is brought in, these Ministries will no longer need clearance for their projects, nor pay compensatory levies to build there.
• For individuals whose lands fall within a state-specific Private Forests Act or come within the dictionary meaning of forest as specified in the 1996 Supreme Court order, the government proposes to allow “construction of structures for bona fide purposes’’ including residential units up to 250 sq m as a one-time relaxation.
• Defence projects near international borders will be exempted from forest clearance.
• Oil and natural gas extraction from forested lands will be permitted, but only if technologies such as Extended Reach Drilling are used.
• The Ministry has proposed doing away with levies for non-forestry purposes during the renewal of a lease, saying the double levy at the time of awarding of the lease and the renewal is “not rational”.
• Strip plantations alongside roads that would fall under the Act will be exempted.

WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS?

• Activists and opposition leaders say the relaxation of forest rules will facilitate corporate ownership and the disappearance of large tracts of forests.
• About the exemption of forests on private land, even former forest officials said many forests will disappear. For instance, 4% of land in Uttarakhand falls under private forests.
• the amendments do not address the issue of tribals and forest-dwelling communities
• Environmentalists say exemption for Roads and Railways on forest land acquired prior to 1980 will be detrimental to forests as well as wildlife – especially elephants, tigers and leopards.
• Environmentalists say a one-time exemption for private residences on the private forests will lead to fragmentation of forests and open areas such as the Aravalli Mountains to real estate.

DO ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS NOTE ANY POSITIVES?

• They have welcomed the fact that the consultation paper has been public, and the decision to make changes through an amendment using the parliamentary process. Environmental groups have also acknowledged that:
• The MoEFCC has pointed out where the pressure for forest land diversion has been coming from — Ministries such as Rail and Roads — and allowed a public debate on it.
• It has proposed making forest laws more stringent for notified forests, making offences non-bailable with increased penalties including imprisonment of up to one year.
• It has disallowed any kind of diversion in certain forests.
• It has attempt to define and identify forests once and for all — something that has been often ambiguous.

SOURCE: IE

INDIAN ECONOMY

3. GATI SHAKTI

THE CONTEXT:Prime Minister launched the Gati Shakti – National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity.   Gati Shakti — a digital platform — will bring 16 Ministries including Railways and Roadways together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It will incorporate the infrastructure schemes of various Ministries and State Governments like Bharatmala, Sagarmala, inland waterways, dry/land ports, UDAN etc. Economic Zones like textile clusters, pharmaceutical clusters, defence corridors, electronic parks, industrial corridors, fishing clusters, Agri zones will be covered to improve connectivity & make Indian businesses more competitive.
• It will also leverage technology extensively including spatial planning tools with ISRO imagery developed by BiSAG-N (Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geoinformatics).
• The multi-modal connectivity will provide integrated and seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods and services from one mode of transport to another. It will facilitate the last mile connectivity of infrastructure and also reduce travel time for people.

SOURCE: PIB

4. INDIA’S TRADE WITH CHINA SET TO CROSS $100 BILLION IN 2021

THE CONTEXT: India’s trade with China is set to cross the $100 billion mark for the first time in 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Figures released by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed that two-way trade after nine months reached $90.37 billion, up 49.3% year-on-year. India’s imports from China reached $68.4 billion, up 51.7% year-on-year, while India’s exports amounted to $21. 9 billion, up 42.5%.
• Two-way trade was substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels, with bilateral trade up 29.7% compared to the same period in 2019, with India’s imports up 21.5% and exports to China up 64.5%.
• India’s biggest exports to China annually are iron ore, cotton, and other raw material-based commodities. India imports mechanical and electrical machinery in large quantities from China, while imports of medical supplies have soared in the past two years.
• Chinese trade officials attributed China’s overall trade performance after three quarters to the country’s economic recovery as well stronger global demand.
• Figures with India were among the fastest-growing for China’s major trading partners. China’s total trade was up 22.7% year-on-year, while bilateral figures with the three biggest trading partners, ASEAN, the EU and the U.S., were up 21.1%, 20.5%, and 24.9% respectively.
• The GAC said Chinese exports of mechanical and electrical products, as well as medicine and medicinal materials, grew particularly robustly. Medicine and medicinal material exports were up 108%.

SOURCE: TH

5. GOVERNMENT SCRAPS BASIC CUSTOM DUTY AND CUTS AGRICULTURE CESS

THE CONTEXT: The government scrapped basic customs duty as well as slashed Agri cess on crude varieties of palm, soya bean and sunflower oil till March 2022, a move that will help cool prices and increase domestic availability in the festive season.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Crude palm oil will now attract Agri infrastructure development cess (AIDC) of 7.5 per cent, while the rate will be 5 per cent for crude soyabean oil and crude sunflower oil.
• Post reduction, the effective customs duty on crude varieties of palm, soya bean and sunflower oil will be 8.25 per cent, 5.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively.
• Besides, the basic customs duty on refined varieties of sunflower, soybean, palmolein and palm oil has been slashed to 17.5 per cent each from 32.5 per cent at present.

SOURCE: THEPRINT

6. INVESTMENT ACTIVITY REBOUNDED

THE CONTEXT: As per Projects Today’s latest survey on fresh investments, investment activity rebounded sharply between July and September after a dip in the COVID-hit first quarter of the year, lifting fresh investment commitments in the first half of 2021-22 by 13.5% over pre-pandemic levels.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Investments had declined sequentially by 18% between April and June as the second COVID wave triggered lockdown across States, but the lifting of restrictions as the wave ebbed has enabled the resumption of Capex activities across the country.
• While investment plans recovered, two critical indicators of actual capital spending — project tendering and project contracts — registered impressive growth in Q2, rising by 52.7% and 19.33%, respectively, over the previous quarter.
• Manufacturing leads the charge, but irrigation and infra are still a concern

SOURCE: TH

7. RBI BANNED CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT FIRM

THE CONTEXT: In an unprecedented move, the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday banned one of the country’s top chartered accountant firms Haribhakti& Co LLP from undertaking any type of audit assignments for regulated entities for a period of two years starting April 1, 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Haribhakti& Co LLP was the auditor of Srei Infrastructure Finance Limited (SIFL), whose board was superseded by the RBI and insolvency proceedings were initiated last week.
• The banking sector regulator has taken this action against the firm for failure to comply with a specific direction issued by the RBI with respect to its statutory audit of a Systemically Important Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).
• This is the first time that the RBI has taken such action against an auditor of any systemically important NBFC.

SOURCE: THEPRINT

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

8. INDIA, IRAN DISCUSS WAYS TO FIGHT DRUG TRAFFICKING FROM AFGHANISTAN

THE CONTEXT: Indian and Iranian officials held a virtual meeting following the largest seizure of heroin (3000kg) at the Mundra port in Gujarat on September 15.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Initial reports had indicated that the containers carrying the substance originated from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.
• The drug haul also impacted Iran’s trade as the Adani Group declared that containers from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan will not be handled at the port from November 15.
• Both discussed and examined ways and means of mutual cooperation in fighting drug trafficking which accordingly resulted in some positive outcomes.
• It is for many decades that narcotic drugs production and organised drug trafficking from Afghanistan has posed a major threat to Iran, our region and to the world.

SOURCE: TH

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q1.  Recently launched the Gati Shakti is National Master plan for?

a) Multi-Modal connectivity

b) Defence Equipments

c) Vaccine for children

d) Tribal Development

ANSWER FOR OCTOBER 13, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Answer: c)

Explanation:

• Statement1 is correct: Kunming biodiversity fund was announced by China during the UN conservation summit.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: It is an independent fund and not part of the United Nations’ Global Environment Facility.
• Statement 3 is correct: It will be used to protect biodiversity in developing countries.

1. Jabbing children: As Covaxin gets closer to approval for children, data transparency is vital READ MORE
2. The RTI Law: 16 Years On, Still a Contested Space READ MORE
3. 16th Years of RTI Act: Defunct Commissions, Huge Backlog READ MORE

1. North East India saw the largest share of the country’s tree cover loss: Study READ MORE
2. ‘Seas will rise for centuries to come’ READ MORE

1. What NITI Aayog’s New Nutrition Report Tells Us About India’s Health Strategy READ MORE
2. How do we protect children in the Digital Age? READ MORE

1. Kriyayog practice for peace and salvation READ MORE  
2. Becoming Silence READ MORE
3. Violence born out of ignorance, misbelief READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Government accords “Maharatna” status to PFC READ MORE
2. NITI Aayog – UNDP Launch Handbook on Sustainable Management of Plastic Waste for ULB’s READ MORE
3. G-20 Summit on Afghanistan: PM Modi flags terror threat, calls for unified response READ MORE
4. Rare butterfly spotted at Paithalmala READ MORE
5. RBI bans Haribhakti & Co from undertaking audit assignments for 2 years READ MORE
6. Indian economy on the path to swift recovery: Finance Ministry report READ MORE
7. Do not breathe easy on the silicosis prevention policy READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. Vishnu temple in an ancient Chola capital READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Jabbing children: As Covaxin gets closer to approval for children, data transparency is vital READ MORE
2. The RTI Law: 16 Years On, Still a Contested Space READ MORE
3. 16th Years of RTI Act: Defunct Commissions, Huge Backlog READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. What NITI Aayog’s New Nutrition Report Tells Us About India’s Health Strategy READ MORE
2. How do we protect children in the Digital Age? READ MORE

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. LAC, LoC questions: Pakistan and China challenges require working on basics and preparing for the long haul READ MORE
2. In Afghanistan, the security challenge READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The Data Protection Authority can lay the foundation for a solid digital economy READ MORE
2. An award for certainty: Economics Nobel laureates this year have clear answers READ MORE
3. How India is successfully using insolvency code to resolve NBFCs in trouble READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. North East India saw the largest share of the country’s tree cover loss: Study READ MORE
2. ‘Seas will rise for centuries to come’ READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Kriyayog practice for peace and salvation READ MORE  
2. Becoming Silence READ MORE
3. Violence born out of ignorance, misbelief READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Without access to relevant information, citizens are unable to get their rights and entitlements and corruption thrives’. In the light of the statement, examine whether the RTI Act is successful in its purpose or not?
2. ‘Effective risk reduction relies on international cooperation and global solidarity’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
• Without access to relevant information, citizens are unable to get their rights and entitlements and corruption thrives.
• The role of Information Commissioners is “crucial to ensure that people can obtain information on health care facilities, social security programmes and delivery of essential goods and services meant for those in distress”.
• The Joint Parliamentary Committee must take cognisance of the far-reaching impact of these issues and lay the foundation of a robust institution that is transparent, competent, independent, predictable and not overzealous in its rulemaking.
• Even when adjusting for age, sex, relationship status, and the number of working hours, physicians are at an increased risk for occupational burnout compared to other working individuals.
• Dairy and poultry need a proper ecosystem comprising reliable animal feed supplies and FPOs with market linkages.
• Predatory activity apart, the injurious potential lurking in communication networks has greatly increased with children’s own participation in these networks.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Effective risk reduction relies on international cooperation and global solidarity.

50- WORD TALK

• India’s emergency use approval to Covaxin for children is the next big step towards immunising the entire country. India has done well to give almost 96 crore doses after a slow start. Now, children need to be covered swiftly so that they too can acquire protection and reclaim their lives.
• The pandemic highlighted the urgent need for accurate and easy-to-access information on the availability of hospital beds, essential drugs and medical equipment, like ventilators, in health facilities. It underlined the significance of information dissemination related to relief measures announced by governments and where public money is being spent in the efforts to combat the pandemic

Things to Remember

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and also exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

INDIAN POLITY, GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. COVAXIN FOR CHILDREN

THE CONTEXT: Health ministry sources said that the subject expert committee on Covid-19 vaccines has recommended the national drug regulator to grant an emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for the age group of 2 to 18 years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The development is significant as India is just one step away from a Covid-19 vaccine being formally approved for children above the age of 2 years.
• The recommendation of the SEC regarding Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin is based on the pediatric study that is evaluating the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of Covaxin. It is being conducted at six sites across the country in healthy volunteers above the age of 2 years.
• India’s drug regulator has already approved Zydus Cadila’s DNA Covid-19 vaccine for children aged above 12.
• The third vaccine that is being tested in children in India is the Covavax that will be manufactured by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India.
• The trials of Novavax’s recombinant nanoparticle protein-based COVID-19 vaccine – NVX-CoV2373 – in India is being branded as Covavax by SII. The trials will be conducted across 23 sites across the country.
• The fourth vaccine that is being tested in children in India is the Hyderabad-based Biological E’s Corbevax. The trials are expected to take place across ten sites across the country.

SOURCE: IE

2. THE CONTINUATION OF SBM U

THE CONTEXT:  The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) till 2025-26, with a focus on sustainability of Open Defecation Free (ODF) outcomes, achieving scientific processing of Solid Waste in all cities, and managing Wastewater in cities with less than 1 lakh population in Census 2011 [cities not covered under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)].

THE EXPLANATION: 

• The financial outlay of ₹1,41,600 crores for SBM-U 2.0, 2.5 times more than the first phase of the mission.
• SBM-U 2.0 targets complete elimination of Open Defecation, including faecal sludge management in all cities with less than 1 lakh population.
• Eradication of hazardous entry into sewers and septic tanks
• No untreated wastewater to pollute water bodies
• All cities to achieve at least 3-star Garbage Free certification

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION-URBAN 2.0: KEY FEATURES

• Over the next 5 years, the focus of SBM-U 2.0, launched on 1^st October 2021 by Hon’ble Prime Minister, will be on sustaining the sanitation and solid waste management outcomes achieved and accelerating the momentum generated, thus achieving the Mission’s vision of a “Garbage Free” Urban India.
• The implementation of the Mission components will be done in a structured and time-bound manner, with a thorough gap analysis of required infrastructure, detailed 5-year action plans, and annual action plans with timelines.
• The Mission will be completely paperless, digital, leveraging digital technology for complete transparency and accountability through GIS-mapped waste management infrastructure, robust user interface, online grievance redressal system, end-to-end online monitoring of projects starting from project creation to fund release, and project progress monitoring on integrated GIS-based platform.
• Enablers such as outcome-based fund release, greater funding support for smaller ULBs and convergence with 15^thFC grants for added funding support, a structured implementation plan for each component, robust capacity building, communication and advocacy for sustainable behaviour change, intensified thrust on private sector participation, and extensive industry collaboration will help in achieving the Mission’s objectives within the scheduled timelines

SOURCE: PIB

3. CABINET APPROVED– AMRUT 2.0 TILL 2025-26

THE CONTEXT:  The Union Cabinet approved the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0) till 2025-26, as a step towards AatmaNirbhar Bharat and with aim of making the cities ‘water secure’ and ‘self-sustainable through circular economy of water.

THE EXPLANATION: 

• Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), the first focused national water Mission was launched in June 2015 to facilitate ease of living to citizens in 500 cities by providing tap connections and sewer connections.
• So far, 1.1 crore household tap connections and 85 lakh sewer/ septage connections have been provided. 6,000 MLD sewage treatment capacity is being developed, of which 1,210 MLD capacity is already created, with provision for reuse of 907 MLD treated sewage. 1,820 parks with an area of 3,600 acres have been developed, while another 1,800 acres of area is under greening. So far, 1,700 flooding points have been eliminated.
• Taking forward the remarkable strides made under AMRUT, AMRUT 2.0, targets universal coverage of water supply by providing household tap connections in all 4,378 statutory towns.
• 100% coverage of household sewerage/ septage management in 500 AMRUT cities is another objective. Mission targets to provide 2.68 crore tap connections and 2.64 crore sewer/ septage connections to achieve the intended outcomes.
• The total indicative outlay for AMRUT 2.0 is ₹ 2,77,000 crore including the central share of ₹76,760 crores for five years from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
• The mission will be monitored on a robust technology-based portal. The projects will be geo-tagged. There will be an endeavour to make it a paperless Mission. Cities will assess their water sources, consumption, future requirement and water losses through a city water balance plan.
• Based on this, city water action plans will be prepared which will be summed up as State Water Action Plan and will be approved by the Ministry of Housing and Urban affairs. The funds for the projects will be shared by the Centre, State and ULBs. Central funds will be released to the States in three tranches based on allocation to the State as per State Water Action Plan.
• Other key features of AMRUT 2.0 (U) include Pey Jal Survekshan which will encourage competition among cities for benchmarking urban water services. Mission will also encourage the mobilization of market finance by mandating the implementation of 10% of the worth of projects in cities with populations above ten lakh through Public-Private Participation.
• Mission will also bring in the leading technologies in the water sector in the world through technology sub-Mission. Entrepreneurs/ start-ups will be encouraged in the water ecosystem. Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaign will be undertaken to spread awareness among the masses about water conservation.
• Mission has a reform agenda focussed on the financial health and water security of ULBs. Meeting 20% of water demand through recycled water, reducing non-revenue water to less than 20% and rejuvenation of water bodies are major water-related reforms. Reforms on property tax, user charges and enhancing creditworthiness of ULBs are other important reforms. ULBs will be rewarded with incentives for accomplishing the reforms.

SOURCE: PIB

 ENVIRONMENT, GEOGRAPHY AND AGRICULTURE

4. NORTHEAST SAW THE LARGEST SHARE OF THE COUNTRY’S TREE COVER LOSS

THE CONTEXT:  According to an analysis by Down To Earth, the northeastern region of India lost 79 per cent of its tree cover in 2020, recording the biggest dip in the country.

 THE EXPLANATION: 

• Over 110,000 hectares of tree cover vanished from the region last year, according to the University of Maryland’s forest change data.
• Researchers from the University of Maryland processed and analysed over a million satellite images to demonstrate the loss. Tree cover loss is ‘complete removal of tree cover canopy’, the scientists wrote.
• They used algorithms to identify individual pixel values for every tree canopy lost, to calculate even the smallest changes in the forest area.
• India lost close to 143,000 hectares of forest cover in 2020 when the overall forest area was 4.6 per cent lower than in 2001. But the loss has been uneven.
• The ‘seven sisters’ Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland individually were responsible for 5-14 per cent of the country’s loss in forest area from 2001 through 2020.
• Assam, the largest of the seven states, contributed the most (14.1 per cent) to the national tree cover loss during the period.
• Nagaland saw its forest cover shrink the fastest since 2001, suffering a 17 per cent drop in the two decades. It was followed by Tripura, where the area under forest cover decreased by 15 per cent in the years studied.
• Outside the North East, Odisha lost the largest area of land under tree cover (125,004 hectares) from 2001-2020 — 6.5 per cent of India’s total. It was followed by Kerala that contributed 4 per cent of the forest area lost.
• Tree cover loss can be triggered by various reasons, ranging from anthropogenic factors such as deforestation or timber harvesting to natural causes like forest fires or storms.

SOURCE:  TH

5. CHINA LAUNCHES BIODIVERSITY FUND

THE CONTEXT:   China pledged to inject $233 million into a new fund to protect biodiversity in developing countries during a key UN conservation summit, despite disagreements among major donors on the initiative.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Its pledge came as delegates from about 195 countries gathered in the southern Chinese city of Kunming for the first of a two-part summit on safeguarding plants, animals and ecosystems.
• The summit aims to establish a new accord setting out targets for 2030 and 2050.
• A key proposal being debated at the conference is the “30 by 30” agenda that would afford 30% of the Earth’s land and oceans protected status by 2030.
• But some rich country donors say a new fund for conservation is unnecessary because the United Nations’ Global Environment Facility already helps developing nations finance green projects.

SOURCE: TH

INDIAN ECONOMY

6. INDIA’S GROWTH PROJECTIONS BY IMF

THE CONTEXT: according to the latest projections released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) India’s economy is expected to grow by 9.5 per cent in 2021 and 8.5 per cent in 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• India’s growth projection released by the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) remains unchanged from its previous WEO update of July this summer but is a three-percentage point in 2021 and a 1.6 percentage point drop from its April projections.
• According to the latest WEO update, released ahead of the annual meeting of the IMF and the World Bank, the world is expected to grow at 5.9 per cent in 2021 and 4.9 per cent in 2022.
• The United States is projected to grow at six per cent this year and 5.2 per cent the next year.
• China is projected to grow at 8 per cent in 2021 and 5.6 per cent in 2022.

SOURCE:  IE

7. MAHARATNA STATUS TO PFC

THE CONTEXT: The government of India accorded ‘Maharatna’ status to the state-owned Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC), thus giving PFC greater operational and financial autonomy. 

THE EXPLANATION:

• Incorporated in 1986, PFC is the largest Infrastructure Finance Company today, exclusively dedicated to Power Sector under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power.
• This new recognition will enable PFC to offer competitive financing for the power sector, which will go a long way in making available affordable & reliable ‘Power for All 24×7’.
• The enhanced powers that come with Maharatna Status will also help PFC in pushing the Government’s agenda of funding under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, the national commitment of 40% green energy by 2030 and effective monitoring and implementation of the New Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme with an outlay of more than Rs.3 Lakh crore.

SOURCE: PIB

 8. RETAIL INFLATION FALLS TO 4.35%

THE CONTEXT:  India’s retail inflation cooled off to a five-month low of 4.35% in September, thanks to a sharp dip in food price inflation, while industrial output growth accelerated to 11.9% in August.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Economists cautioned against reading too much into these encouraging official data prints yet, with adverse headwinds lurking on both fronts.

• Food inflation based on the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) fell to just 0.68% in September after having declined to a seven-month low of 3.1% in August.
• While vegetables recorded negative inflation of 22.5%, price rise in oils and fats remained sticky at 34.2% and in the range of 7% to 8.75% for key protein sources such as pulses, eggs and meat.
• However, core inflation which doesn’t include food and fuel price trends remained elevated at 5.8% for the third month in a row, and economists said the moderation in the inflation rate could be transient, with rising energy, metals and logistics costs being key risk factors.

SOURCE: TH

9. CENTRE ANNOUNCES PLASTIC WASTE RECYCLING TARGETS

THE CONTEXT:   The Environment Ministry has issued draft rules that mandate producers of plastic packaging material to collect all of their produce by 2024 and ensure that a minimum percentage of it be recycled as well as used in subsequent supply.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Companies would have to collect at least 35% of the target in 2021-22, 70% by 2022- 23 and 100% by 2024.
• Non- compliance would not invite a traditional fine.
• It has also specified a system whereby makers and users of plastic packaging could collect certificates — called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certificates — and trade in them.
• Only a fraction of plastic that cannot be recycled — such as multi-layered multi-material plastics — would be eligible to be sent for end-of-life disposal such as road construction, waste to energy, and waste to oil and cement kilns.
• Only methods prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) would be permitted for their disposal.

SOURCE: TH

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

10. PM MODI AT G20 SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi participated virtually in the G20 Extraordinary Summit on Afghanistan.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Meeting was convened by Italy, which currently holds the G20 Presidency, and chaired by Italian Prime Minister Mr Mario Draghi.
• Issues under consideration at the meeting related to the humanitarian situation; concerns relating to terrorism; and human rights in Afghanistan.
• In his remarks, the Prime Minister welcomed the initiative of the Italian G20 Presidency in convening the meeting to take stock of the current situation in Afghanistan.
• He emphasized the centuries-old people-to-people ties between India and Afghanistan. The Prime Minister mentioned that over the last two decades, India has contributed to promoting socio-economic development and capacity building of youth and women in Afghanistan. He recalled that over 500 development projects have been implemented by India in Afghanistan.
• The Prime Minister noted that the Afghan people have a great feeling of friendship with India. He conveyed that every Indian feels the pain of Afghan people facing hunger and malnutrition. He emphasized the need for the international community to ensure that Afghanistan has immediate and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance.
• The Prime Minister also underlined the need to ensure that Afghan territory does not become a source of radicalization and terrorism, regionally or globally. He emphasized the need to enhance our joint fight against the nexus of radicalization, terrorism and the smuggling of drugs and arms in the region.
• In order to preserve the socio-economic gains of the last 20 years and to restrict the spread of radical ideology, the Prime Minister called for an inclusive administration in Afghanistan, which includes women and minorities.
• He conveyed support for the important role of the United Nations in Afghanistan and called for renewed support of the G20 for the message contained in UN Security Council Resolution 2593 on Afghanistan.
• The Prime Minister called on the international community to forge a unified international response without which it would be difficult to bring about the desired change in Afghanistan’s situation.

SOURCE: PIB

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS FOR THE DAY

Q1. Consider the following statement about the Kunming biodiversity fund:

1. It was announced by China during the UN conservation summit.
2. It is part of the United Nations’ Global Environment Facility.
3. It will be used to protect biodiversity in developing countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

           a) 1 only                              b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only                   d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR OCTOBER 12, 2021 PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Answer: a)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: NHRC consists of a Chairman and five members.
• Statement 2 is correct: The chairman and members hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
• Statement 3 is correct: The salaries, allowances and other conditions of service of the chairman or a member are determined by the Central government.

[WpProQuiz 67]

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