THE INDIAN POLITY AND CONSTITUTION

1. ARUNACHAL PRADESH & MIZORAM CELEBRATES STATEHOOD DAY

THE CONTEXT: On 20^th February,2022 the two north-eastern states, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrated the day they were accorded the status of states.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Arunachal Pradesh was earlier known as Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA). It was renamed Arunachal Pradesh in 1972 and granted a union territory status. Earlier, the state was a part of Assam, and after it became a UT, its administration was entrusted in the hands of a chief commissioner. With the passing of the constitution 55^th Amendment Act, 1987 Arunachal Pradesh finally became a 24^th
• Mizoram’s statehood came after a bloody period of insurgency. Separatists’ groups had demanded independence from India in the 1960s. Mizo National Front (MNF) took to armed rebellion to realize this demand. The Indian government resorted to bombing parts of the state in retaliation. In 1986, Mizoram Peace Accord was signed between India and MNF. Mizoram was granted statehood on February 20, 1987, as per statehood Act of 1986 and Mizoram became the 23^rd State of the Indian union.

THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES

2. LEPROSY DETECTION FELL DURING PANDEMIC: REPORT

THE CONTEXT: According to the latest report by the Leprosy Mission Trust India in 2019, the states accounted for 35% of the total new leprosy cases reported in the country. They reported 22,000 new cases during April-September 2019, but only 8,270 for the same period in 2020.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) report, it highlights that the proportions of multibacillary (MB) leprosy and grade-2 disability (G2D) among the new cases increased by 20% and 12%, respectively, during April-September 2020, compared to the same six-month period in 2019. Moreover, the proportion of both women and children among new cases decreased by 70% compared to the same two quarters in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing recommendations on social distancing and lockdowns caused a fall of 62.5% in the detection of active leprosy cases between April and September 2020 when compared with the previous year’s corresponding period in four States — Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

What is leprosy?

• Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease.
• It is an infectious disease which is caused by a bacillus Mycobacterium leprae.
• The disease has been named after Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen who was a Norwegian physician.
• Hansen proved that leprosy is not a hereditary disease but is caused by a bacterium.
• The disease is a curable disease and treatment at the early stage can prevent any disability.
• It can cause a progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes if it is left untreated.
• The incubation period of the disease is 5 years usually. Symptoms of the disease can be seen within 1 year but it could also take 20 years or even more years to occur.

How it spreads?

The disease spreads through the droplets either from the nose or mouth when the affected person sneezes or coughs.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. MOTHS VITAL TO POLLINATION IN THE HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM, FINDS STUDY

THE CONTEXT: According to the findings,moths are vital to pollination in the Himalayan ecosystem of northeast India. The study establishes 91 species of moths as potential pollinators of 21 plant families in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the northeastern Himalayas.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The details of the study were recently published in a paper titled “Settling moths are the vital component of pollination in Himalayan ecosystem of North‑East India,” pollen transfer network approach revealed in Scientific Reports, a publication from the Nature group of journals.
• The results assume significance as a majority of the pollination-related studies are based on diurnal pollinators (bees and butterflies) and the role of nocturnal pollinators have so far received less scientific attention.
• “In the present study about 65% moths (91 species) carried sufficient quantities of pollen grains to be considered as potential pollinators. Teliphasa sp. (Crambidae) and Cuculia sp. (Noctuidae) are found to carry the highest quantity of pollen”.
• Another interesting outcome of the study is that the moth species achaeajanata (a well-known pest of various economically important plants) was identified as a potential pollinator of three plant families, indicating that moths can provide net benefits as pollinators even when acting as larval herbivores of the same species.
• According to the Scientists of the ZSI, the study assumes significance as it revealed a high degree of selectivity in moths, which are generally considered generalists (that is, not very choosy about food plants), and season and altitude affect the role of moths as potential pollinators.
• Also, they noted here are about 12,000 moth species in India and about 160,000 moth species in the world, and the study can go a long way in understanding the role of the nocturnal insect pollinators.

QUICK FACTS:

• Made for each other: Bees pollinate the flowers of a whole range of plants that humans cultivate for food — fruits like apples, spices like cardamom, onion, coffee, coconut — its a long list. Bee pollinated flowers bloom during the day, when bees fly to look for food. They contain nectar, a sugar rich liquid that bees love. Bees also feed on pollen. Nectar gives the bees energy while the pollen provides them with proteins.
• Moths are attracted to purple, pink or white flowers, which have a strong, sweet smell.
• Tobacco is pollinated by moths. Bat pollinated flowers have a strong, musty smell and are bowl shaped; pollen gets stuck onto the bat’s face as it drinks the nectar.

4. CENTRE MOOTS POLICY ON SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Centre is working on a national policy on synthetic biology, an emerging science that deals with engineering life forms for a wide range of applications from making designer medicines to foods.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the range of experts from India, “It is time for India to consolidate its stand on the science of synthetic biology and communicate its interests and aspirations in relevant international fora with clarity and should avoid conflicting stands on science on one hand and policy on the other. “
• As part of the 12th Five-Year Plan, India had set up a task force on systems biology and synthetic biology research in 2011. This body underlined the potential benefits from synthetic biotechnology in biofuels, bioremediation, biosensors, food and health and made a strong case for a push for the technology and highlighted that India could be a world leader as a protector and supporter of “open-source biological platforms”.
• Instances of application of synthetic biology include the use of gene editing systems such as CRISPR that allow defective genes in animals, plants and even people to be silenced, or changed, and control biological outcomes. The discovery of the CRISPR system earned scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020.
• However, legislation regarding genetically modified crops are still in a lurch in India.Due to opposition from several interest groups in India, the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill is pending approval in Parliament since 2013. Currently, approvals for such crops come from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) under the Department of Biotechnology.

BACKGROUND:

What is Synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology refers to the science of using genetic sequencing, editing, and modification to create unnatural organisms or organic molecules that can function in living systems. Synthetic biology enables scientists to design and synthesise new sequences of DNA from scratch.

APPLICATIONS:

• In the pharmaceutical industry, synthetic biology can be used to make natural compounds such as artemisinin used for the treatment of malaria and Car T cell therapy for cancer treatment. It is starting to be used in the fashion industry as well; some companies are exploring the possibility of dyeing jeans without producing hazardous waste.
• Then there are companies using it to deliver fixed nitrogen to plants instead of using fertilisers, engineering microbes to create food additives or brew proteins.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES IN NEWS

5. THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA & WORLD BANK SIGN LOAN AGREEMENT FOR REWARD PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: The Government of India, State Governments of Karnataka and Odisha, and the World Bank have signed loan agreements of 115 million US dollars for the implementation of “Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development” (REWARD) Project.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

• It will help national and state institutions adopt improved watershed management practices to help increase farmers’ resilience to climate change, promote higher productivity and better incomes. Ministry of Finance in a statement said that the Government of India has committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and doubling farmers’ income by 2023.
• It is effective watershed management can help enhance livelihoods in rainfed areas, while building a more resilient food system.
• It will also help the participating and other states to adopt new approaches to watershed development.India has one of the largest watershed management programs in the world. This programme will further advance this progress by developing and applying comprehensive spatial data and technologies, decision support tools, and knowledge exchanges.

Objectives of the project

• The outcomes are prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rainwater harvesting and recharging of the groundwater table.
• This enables multi-cropping and the introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area.

6. THE PM FLAGS OFF 100 KISAN DRONES

THE CONTEXT: The Prime Minister flagged off 100 Kisan drones in different cities and towns of India to spray pesticides in farms across India. He virtually addressed to a group of farmers gathered at Manesar from where the “Drone Kisan Yatra” was flagged off.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is a Kisan drone?

• The Kisan drone will have an unmanned tank filled with insecticides and nutrients. The drones are expected to have a high capacity of 5 to 10kg. The drone will spray the same amount of pesticide on about one acre of land in just 15 minutes. This will save time, will require less effort and spraying will be done uniformly.
• Also, it will be used to boost the agricultural sector in the country, the use of Kisan Drones will be promoted for crop assessment, digitization of land records etc.

What is the Need?

• This step was taken as the government aims to promote chemical-free national farming.
• During the Budget 2022 the finance minister announced “the Chemical-free Natural farming to be promoted throughout the country, with focus on farmers’ lands in 5-kilometre-wide corridors along the river Ganga in the first stage.
• Kisan Drone will usher in a new edge revolution as high-capacity drones will be used to carry vegetables, fruits, fishes to the market directly from the farms. “These items will be supplied directly to the market with minimal damage, consuming lesser time, resulting in more profits to farmers and fishermen”.

NEWS IN SHORTS-PT PERSPECTIVE

7. THE ASSAM GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED “PROJECT AROHAN”TO HONE STUDENTS’ SKILLS

Assam Government will launch a four-year mentorship programme called ‘Project Arohan’ to provide guidance to students and improve their skills.

8. GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI) LABEL ON KASHMIR PASHMINA

In order to preserve the centuries old art of spinning and weaving of genuine pashmina fabric. And to maintain international standards the Government of India (Under WTO) has established a quality mark for genuine Pashmina that will identify items the genuine fiber known as Pashm obtained from the goat living in Ladakh of Kashmir region. Geographical Indication (GI) Label on Kashmir Pashmina is a US patent stamp on the original ‘Kashmir Pashmina’ fabric or its products and is known as the G.I Mark.

 9. THE STUDY ON KASHMIR SHAIVISM

THE CONTEXT: The Kashmir Shaiva Institute (KSI) will come up as the first research, studies and publications centre on Kashmir Shaivism.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Kashmiri Shaivism, also called Pratyabhijna(Sanskrit: “Recognition”), religious and philosophical system of India that worships the god Shiva as the supreme reality. The school is idealistic and monistic, as contrasted with the realistic and dualistic school of Shaiva-siddhanta.
• It is actually a group of several monistic and tantric religious traditions that flourished in Kashmir from the latter centuries of the first millennium C.E. through the early centuries of the second.
• Vasugupta is regarded by some as the founder of the system of Hindu philosophy known as Advaita Shaivism of Kashmir, or Trika. Vasugupta’s Shiva Sutra is an important Yoga text, foundational to the Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism.
• Anuttara is the ultimate principle in Kashmir Shaivism, and as such, it is the fundamental reality underneath the whole Universe. Among the multiple interpretations of anuttara are: “supreme”, “above all” and “unsurpassed reality”.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 21^STFEB 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Pashmina wool:

1. It is derived from the undercoat of Changthangi goat.
2. The undercoat is collected by combing goat, not by shearing.
3. The tribal people of Kashmir valley are traditional producers of Pashmina wool.

Which of the statements given statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d)  1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 19^TH FEB 2022

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Green Hydrogen: It is produced from renewable resources of energy and not fossil fuels. The by products are water and water vapor.
• Blue Hydrogen: It is sourced from fossil fuels. The emission or the by products such as CO2 and CO are stored. It is better than grey hydrogen.
• Grey Hydrogen: India’s bulk comes from fossil fuels at present.

1. When habits return READ MORE
2. LEAD WITH COMPASSION READ MORE
3. Stress: A Positive Phenomenon READ MORE

1. Marine Birds Continue to Die as Peru Oil Spill Clean-Up Stretches On READ MORE
2. Humans have degraded 84% of the world’s coastlines, reveals a new study READ MORE
3. Wildfires will be more frequent, larger and intense due to climate change: UNEP READ MORE

1. Tapping technology for multilingual learning: As the theme of International Mother Language Day 2022, it has much relevance in reshaping Indian higher education READ MORE
2. A Bindi, a Hijab and the Inequality in What Is Proclaimed to Be Indian READ MORE
3. Will India’s gender budget truly serve as an instrument for ushering in women-led development? READ MORE

1. Upholding the law: UP pays for overreach in penalising anti-CAA protesters READ MORE
2. The steel frame of cooperative federalism READ MORE
3. The artificial intelligence-enabled nation READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Leather, footwear exports to reach $6 billion in 2022-23: Council for Leather Exports READ MORE
2. Explain Speaking: Why record food grain production may trigger renewed demands for MSPs READ MORE
3. Centre moots policy on synthetic biology READ MORE
4. KSI to be first research, studies centre on Kashmir Shaivism READ MORE
5. Assam government to launch ‘Project Arohan’ to hone students’ skills READ MORE
6. Government of India, World Bank sign loan agreement of 115 million US dollar for implementation REWARD Project READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Tapping technology for multilingual learning: As the theme of International Mother Language Day 2022, it has much relevance in reshaping Indian higher education READ MORE
2. A Bindi, a Hijab and the Inequality in What Is Proclaimed to Be Indian READ MORE
3. Will India’s gender budget truly serve as an instrument for ushering in women-led development? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Upholding the law: UP pays for overreach in penalising anti-CAA protesters READ MORE
2. The steel frame of cooperative federalism READ MORE
3. The artificial intelligence-enabled nation READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUE

1. Protect LGBT people from violence, bias READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between India and the UAE READ MORE
2. The significance of EU-India partnership in the Indo-Pacific READ MORE
3. The imperial roots of the India-China row READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Beyond the hype of blockchain, a look at its reality READ MORE
2. Green hydrogen’s promise READ MORE
3. Wealth Inequality: Capitalism Versus Socialism READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Marine Birds Continue to Die as Peru Oil Spill Clean-Up Stretches On READ MORE
2. Humans have degraded 84% of the world’s coastlines, reveals a new study READ MORE
3. Wildfires will be more frequent, larger and intense due to climate change: UNEP READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. When habits return READ MORE
2. LEAD WITH COMPASSION READ MORE
3. Stress: A Positive Phenomenon READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The growing use of artificial intelligence in public policy is the most important thing to track about India’s governance’. Comment.
2. Do you think that Democracy resulting in better economic growth and educational attainment is a universal standard? Substantiate.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position. But certainty is an absurd one.
• Barely three decades ago, there existed societies where inequality was lower than ever before in human history, as compared to now when a mere 0.027% of world’s population owns a combined wealth of $45 trillion.
• Lightning strikes and air pollution will also increase due to wildfires according to the UNEP Frontiers report.
• Without urgent change, the implications for coastal biodiversity and society will become more profound.
• Co-existing over centuries, borrowing from and nurturing each other, our languages are interwoven with our individual, local and national identity.
• A truly strategic relationship can reshape the post-pandemic world and promote a multipolar order.
• A policy thrust will work well with India’s solar push. An RPO-like package will boost demand.
• At the heart of border dispute is the larger historical challenge of fitting the Ladakh region into a territorial model ill-suited to it.
• The state’s contention that a refund of damages would send a wrong message on deterrence was also rightly denied, highlighting the supremacy of the law.
• Consultation and consensus, and not unilateralism, must inform decision making, being the bedrock of our cooperative federalism.
• Once you create a new inequality, it is difficult to extinguish it; even if this ‘interim’ ban on the hijab is lifted, the harm won’t be undone.

50-WORD TALK

• The current payment and reimbursement structure creates incentives that are not only perverse but also disparate. The larger private sector fuelled by diabolical out-of-pocket payments has little or no incentive to control costs or deliver value. On the other hand, the public sector has strong incentives to underperform, again compromising on the value in healthcare.

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.

[WpProQuiz 163]

THE CONTEXT: The government’s macro-economic strategy, as articulated through the Budget and the Economic Survey, can be stated simply: Growth will take care of all problems, as it had worked for India previously.  Yet many parameters have changed since then.

THE ISSUE: After the LPG era when the macro-economic indicators were comparable to today’s fiscal deficits, heavy interest burden on public debt, and problem-ridden banks. Yet the silver lining was world economy was growing which boosted tax revenues, reduced the deficit and debt in relation to GDP, and helped digest the interest burden. However, that scenario has changed since. In such a case, what’s the viability of growth being the centerpiece for the development in India?

THE SHACKLES NOW:  Due to inflationary pressure now, low-interest rates are climbing. While the global economy was accelerating then, it is slowing now. So, if the government thinks growth is the solution, can it be delivered in a slowing world with rising rates — bearing in mind also the domestic context of slower growth even during the pre-pandemic phase?

THE QUESTION NOW: In this case, given the status of the economy now Indian growth rate can sustain for 2-3 years, after which it will come under various traps. Some of these traps are

TRAPPED INDIA

Productivity trap: Persistently low productivity levels and poor productivity, performance across sectors in India are symptoms of a productivity trap. The concentration of exports of India on primary and extractive sectors undermines the participation of India in global value chains (GVCs). This, in turn, is associated with low levels of technology adoption and few incentives to invest in productive capacities. In all, competitiveness remains low, making it difficult to move towards higher added-value segments of GVCs. This fuels a vicious circle that negatively affects productivity.

Social vulnerability trap: Income growth paired with strong social policies since the beginning of the century has reduced poverty remarkably. Yet most of those who escaped poverty are now part of a new vulnerable middle class that represents 40% of the population. This comes with new challenges, as more people are now affected by a social vulnerability trap that perpetuates their vulnerable status. Those belonging to this socio-economic group have low quality, usually informal jobs associated with low social protection and low – and often unstable – income. Because of these circumstances, they do not invest in their human capital or lack the capacity to save and invest in entrepreneurial activity. Under these conditions, they remain with low levels of productivity, hence only with access to low-quality and unstable jobs that leave them vulnerable. This trap operates at the level of the individual, who is locked into a vulnerable status; this contrasts with the productivity trap, which refers to the whole economy.

Institutional trap: The expansion of the middle class in India has been accompanied by new expectations and aspirations for better quality public services and institutions. However, institutions have not been able to respond effectively to these increasing demands. This has created an institutional trap, as declining trust and satisfaction levels are deepening social disengagement. Citizens are seeing less value in committing to the fulfillment of their social obligations, such as paying taxes. Tax revenues are thus negatively affected, limiting available resources for public institutions to provide better quality goods and services, and to respond to the rising aspirations of society. This creates a vicious circle that jeopardizes the social contract in the region.

Environmental trap: This is linked to the productive structure of most developing economies, which is biased towards high material and natural resource-intensive activities. This concentration may be leading these countries towards an environmentally and economically unsustainable dynamic for two reasons. A concentration on a high-carbon growth path is difficult – and costly – to abandon; and natural resources upon which the model is based are depleting, making it unsustainable. This has also gained importance in recent years, with the stronger commitment to global efforts to fight climate change.

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THESE DEVELOPMENT TRAPS

The four development traps interact and reinforce each other. This makes development challenges particularly complex and the need for sound analytical tools and coordinated policy responses increasingly relevant.

• There are many examples of how the traps are mutually reinforcing. With respect to the social vulnerability and productivity traps, the vulnerability associated with informal jobs is largely a by-product of low levels of productivity that characterize the Indian economy.
  • Meanwhile, informality itself acts as a strong barrier to increases in productivity and tax revenues.
• Likewise, weak institutions and social vulnerability are mutually reinforcing.
  • Populations are vulnerable because they lack an adequate safety net or because weak institutions do not provide them with quality public services such as education and health.
  • At the same time, vulnerability weakens the capacity and willingness to pay taxes and comply with formal rules, weakening the institutional setup.
• The productivity trap is also directly linked to institutions, which appear as one of the main determinants of success for countries that overcame this challenge.
• Eventually, the environmental trap is also directly linked to the diversification of the productive structure, and to the ability of the institutional setup to direct investments from resources and carbon-intensive sectors into environmentally efficient technologies.
• At the same time, environmental degradation and depletion reinforce the vulnerability trap by increasing the overall level of uncertainty.

THE WAY FORWARD

So Govt budget policy responses to overcome these development traps in India must consider their interactions. Better understanding the links and common causalities between different policy issues and objectives will be critical to developing responses that address their complex interactions effectively.

THE CONCLUSION: Leaving for the future the question of whether growth beyond 2025 can be maintained at a high pace, the question to ask today is whether such growth should be the sole measure of success. What about employment, poverty, the environment, education, and health — all of which have independent but also inter-linked salience, have suffered in the last couple of years, if not longer, and which the Budget seems to underplay?