THE ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE

1. EXPLAINED: WHAT WERE THE BAMIYAN BUDDHAS, AND WHY DID THE TALIBAN DESTROY THEM?

THE CONTEXT: The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has said it would protect the ancient Buddha statues in MesAynak, also the site of a copper mine where the Taliban are hoping for Chinese investment.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Taliban’s position is in marked contrast to the time they ruled Afghanistan earlier, when, in the face of global outrage, they brought down the centuries-old Buddha statues in Bamiyan using artillery, explosives, and rockets.
• The apparent change of heart over the MesAynak statues seems to be driven by economic interests, with the regime in desperate need of the income Chinese investment in the copper mines could generate.

The ancient Bamiyan Buddhas

• The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two 6th-century monumental statues, which were carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan.
• The Bamiyan Buddha statues, hewn from sandstone cliffs, are said to have dated back to the 5th century AD, and were once the tallest standing Buddhas in the world. In their Roman draperies and with two different mudras, the statues were great examples of a confluence of Gupta, Sassanian and Hellenistic artistic styles.
• The Bamiyan valley, in the Hindu Kush mountains and along the river Bamiyan, was a key node of the early Silk Routes, emerging as a hub of both commercial and cultural exchange.
• According to UNESCO, the “rise of Bamiyan was closely connected with spread of Buddhism across Central Asia, and that in turn was linked to the political and economic currents of that time.
• It is also called Salsal and Shamama by the locals, they rose to heights of 55 and 38 metres respectively. Salsal means “light shines through the universe”, while Shamama is “Queen Mother”.

After the destruction

• In 2003, UNESCO included the remains of the Bamiyan Buddhas in its list of world heritage sites. It was proposed that the statues should be reconstructed with the pieces that were still available, and restored in their niches, but it was met with opposition.
• While some argued that security concerns would always remain around the newly built statues in the war-torn country, many said the empty niches should be preserved as a testament to the violent fanaticism that destroyed them.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN 10.5% RESERVATION FOR VANNIYARS IN TAMIL NADU

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court struck down the 10.5 per cent reservation provided to Vanniyars, a Most Backward Community (MBC) in Tamil Nadu, in government jobs and admission to educational institutions.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Tamil Nadu Assembly had in February 2021 passed the then ruling AIADMK-piloted bill providing internal reservation of 5 per cent for Vanniyars, with the incumbent DMK government issuing an order in July 2021 for its implementation.
• It had split the aggregate 20 per cent reservation for MBCs and denotified communities into three separate categories by regrouping castes and provided a 10 per cent plus sub-quota for Vanniyars, formerly known as Vanniakula Kshatriyas.

Constitutional Provisions for Reservation

• Article 15(4) and 16(4): Enabled the State and Central Governments to reserve seats in government services for the members of the SC and ST.
• Constitution (77th Amendment) Act, 1995: The Constitution was amended and a new clause (4A) was inserted in Article 16 to enable the government to provide reservation in promotion.
• Constitution (85th Amendment) Act, 2001: Later, clause (4A) was modified by the Act to provide consequential seniority to SC and ST candidates promoted by giving reservation.
• Constitutional 81st Amendment Act, 2000: Inserted Article 16 (4 B) which enables the state to fill the unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for SCs/STs in the succeeding year, thereby nullifying the ceiling of fifty per cent reservation on the total number of vacancies of that year.
• Article 330 and 332: provides for specific representation through the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Parliament and in the State Legislative Assemblies respectively.
• Article 243D: provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Panchayat.
• Article 233T: provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Municipality.
• Article 335:
• The claims of STs and STs shall be taken into consideration with the maintenance of efficacy of the administration.
• Part XVI deals with the reservation of SC and ST in Central and State legislatures.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

3. STATE OF THE WORLD POPULATION REPORT 2022

THE CONTEXT: According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of the World Population Report 2022, Between 2007-2011, 67 per cent of abortions in India were classified as unsafe. And unsafe abortions are the third leading cause of maternal mortality in India, and close to 8 women die from causes related to unsafe abortions each day.

THE EXPLANATION:

The report titled ‘Seeing the Unseen: the case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy’, has found that 121 million unintended pregnancies occur every year globally, an average of 331,000 a day.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT:

• One in seven unintended pregnancies in the world take place in India. The unintended pregnancies, and subsequent abortions, are intimately linked with the overall development of the country. As education and income levels increase, it results in a lowering of unintended pregnancies.
• It has called the staggering number of unintended pregnancies in the world “a global failure to uphold a basic human right”.One in seven unintended pregnancies in the world take place in India. The unintended pregnancies, and subsequent abortions, are intimately linked with the overall development of the country. As education and income levels increase, it results in a lowering of unintended pregnancies.
• “Globally, an estimated 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe, modern methods of contraception, and of them, 172 million women are using no method at all”.
• It adding that the current rate of 64 unintended pregnancies per 1,000 women means that roughly 6 per cent of the world’s women experience an unintended pregnancy each year.
• “An estimated 45 per cent of all abortions remain unsafe; they are also a public health emergency, hospitalising about seven million women a year globally, costing an estimated $553 million per year in treatment costs alone, and contributing to a significant share of all maternal morbidity and 4.7–13.2 per cent of all maternal deaths”.

India’s Pictures:

• Studies from India indicate unintended pregnancies are associated with lower maternal healthcare utilisation and poorer infant and maternal health outcomes. Women between the ages of 15–19 are at the highest risk of dying from an abortion-related complication, the report adds.
• The report also states 13 per cent of all young women (adolescents) in developing countries begin childbearing. Three-quarters of girls with a first birth at age 14 and younger had a second birth before turning 20, and 40 per cent of those with two births went on to have a third birth before turning 20. Half of the girls with a first birth between ages 15-17 had a second birth before turning 20.
• For adolescent fertility in India, women in the 15-19 age group have 43 births per 1,000 women (NFHS-5, 2019-21), which declined from 51 during NFHS-4 (2015-16). A total of 23.3 per cent women aged 20-24 were married before age 18 (NFHS-5), with a decline of only 3.5 points from NFHS-4. The median age at first birth is 21 years, and 9.3 per cent of women aged 20-24 have given birth before 18 years.
• The report points out that while teenage pregnancies in India have declined by 1 per cent, there is more that needs to be done. The report states that both the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971, and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021, which expands the scope of the Act and provides impetus for safer abortions, are progressive and encouraging.
• The NFHS 5 findings of increased contraception use across the country have been encouraging, with a 9 per cent jump in use of modern contraception methods between NFHS 4 and 5. However, it points out that female sterilisation as a method of contraception is at 37 per cent, and “is too high”.

What lies ahead?

• “If comprehensive sexuality education is not offered in her school, she may lack accurate information. Pregnancy may be her default option because she has few opportunities and choices in her life. Without a chance to finish her education, for instance, she may not see a reason to postpone childbearing.
• The UNFPA has propounded that increasing access and use of modern contraceptive methods in India, as well as creating awareness especially among adolescent girls through sex education, is the only way to curb unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

4. 5TH BIMSTEC SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister participated in the 5th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit hosted in virtual mode by Sri Lanka, the current chair of BIMSTEC.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Summit’s theme “Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy People” captures the main current priorities of member states, and the efforts by BIMSTEC to develop cooperation activities that support member state’s programmes to deal with the economic and development consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The main outcome of the Summit was the adoption and signing of the BIMSTEC Charter, which formalizes the grouping into an organization made up of member states that are littoral to, and dependent upon, the Bay of Bengal.
• The Summit also saw considerable progress being achieved in the BIMSTEC connectivity agenda with the adoption of the ‘Master Plan for Transport Connectivity’ by Leaders which lays out a guidance framework for connectivity related activities in the region in the future.

OUTCOMES:

Prime Minister along with other leaders also witnessed the signing of three BIMSTEC agreements which represent progress being achieved in ongoing cooperation activities:

• BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
• BIMSTEC Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation in the field of Diplomatic Training and
• Memorandum of Association on Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

5. PERMANENT BODY CONSTITUTED TO PREVENT ELEPHANT DEATHS ON RAILWAY TRACKS

THE CONTEXT: The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a “permanent” coordination committee that includes the Ministry of Railways and the Environment Ministry to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Ministry of Environment, 19 elephants were killed across the country on railway tracks in 2018-19,14 in 2019-20 and 12 in 2020-21.
• These included making permanent and temporary speed restrictions in identified elephant corridors and habitats, making underpasses and ramps for movement of elephants at identified locations, providing fencing at selected locations, erecting signages to warn train drivers about identified elephant corridors, sensitising train crew and station masters to avoid train collisions with elephants, clearing vegetation on the sides of track within railway land, deputing Forest Department staff in railway control offices to liaison with railway authorities, engaging elephant trackers by the forest departments for timely action by alerting station masters and engine drivers as well as coordinating meetings between state forest departments and railway departments.
• According to the CAG, Railway collisions were the second-largest reason for the unnatural deaths of elephants despite tracts being specifically demarcated and notified as elephant passages.
• A Standing Committee on the Railways in 2013 had recommended restricting the speed of trains at vulnerable locations to reduce chances of collisions. This specifically translated into trains slowing down to 50 kilometre per hour (kmph) or less in vulnerable locations.
• The Wildlife Institute of India, an autonomous body of the Environment Ministry, in consultation with the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, National Highway Authority, National Tiger Conservation Authority and World Bank Group has published a document named ‘Eco-Friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure’ to assist project agencies in designing linear infrastructure, including railway lines, to reduce human-animal conflicts.
• According to the Ministry, India had a total of 29,964 wild elephants as per an estimate done in 2017. The southern region comprising Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra accounted for the highest population — 14,612 elephants.

Value Addition:

Elephants

There are three subspecies of Asian elephants – the Indian, Sumatran and Sri Lankan. The Indian has the widest range and accounts for the majority of the remaining elephants on the continent.

• IUCN Red List of threatened species status- African elephants are listed as “vulnerable” and Asian elephants as “endangered”.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) status- Appendix I. Appendix I lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants. They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial, for instance for scientific research.

6. GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITES OF HIMALAYAN REGION OF INDIA

THE CONTEXT: Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified two geological heritage sites in the Indian Himalayan Region of India.

THE EXPLANATION:

The details of the two sites identified by GSI in the Himalayan Region are as follows:

• These two geological heritage sites of Indian Himalayan region are not on the verge of disappearance. These sites are preserved in the respective States.
• Ministry of Mines has approached Ministry of Culture to explore the possibility of inclusion of Geological Heritage sites declared by GSI, under the purview of existing Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (amended in 2010), by making suitable amendment in the Act.

VALUE ADDITION:

• The term geological heritage is used for natural geological or geo-morphological features that have aesthetic, intrinsic or scientific and educational value, that provide unique insight into geological processes affecting the formation or evolution of Earth.
• While there are 147 UNESCO Global geoparks spread across 41 countries.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

7. PLI SCHEME FOR TELECOM SECTOR

THE CONTEXT: The Government has notified Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme on 24.02.2021 to promote Telecom and Networking Products manufacturing in India within overall financial outlay of Rs.12,195 Crore over 5 years.

THE EXPLANATION:

Total 31 applicants have been approved under the Scheme, out of which 16 are MSME, 8 Non- MSME (Domestic) and 7 Non-MSME (Global).

• The projected investment proposed in the telecom Sector under the PLI Telecom Scheme is Rs. 3,344.90 crores.
• The financial outlay reserved for this scheme over the scheme period is Rs. 12,195 crores.
• 31 Companies have been selected under the PLI Scheme for manufacturing of telecom and networking products in India are detailed at Annexure.
• To reduce dependence on other countries for importing telecom and networking products, the Government has taken steps like imposition of basic custom duty (ranging from 10-20%) on certain identified telecom products and notified Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order on 29.08.2018.

VALUE ADDITION:

About Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:

• Notified on April 1 as a part of the National Policy on Electronics.
• It proposes a financial incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the electronics value chain.
• The scheme shall extend an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales (over the base year) of goods manufactured in India and covered under target segments, to eligible companies, for five years with financial year (FY) 2019-20 considered as the base year for calculation of incentives.
• The scheme will be implemented through a Nodal Agency, which shall act as a Project Management Agency (PMA) and be responsible for providing secretarial, managerial and implementation support and carrying out other responsibilities as assigned by MeitY from time to time.
• All electronic manufacturing companies which are either Indian or have a registered unit in India will be eligible to apply for the scheme.
• These companies can either create a new unit or seek incentives for their existing units from one or more locations in India.
• However, all investment done by companies on land and buildings for the project will not be considered for any incentives or determine the eligibility of the scheme.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

8. PM-YUVA SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: Pradhan Mantri – Mentorships’s Scheme for Young writers (PM-YUVA) has been launched by the Ministry of Education on 29 May 2021 for young writers up to the age of 30 years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The launch of YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) isin tune with PM’s vision to encourage young writers to write about India’s freedom struggle.
• YUVA is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) to bring to the fore the perspectives of the young generation of writers on themes like Unsung Heroes, Freedom Fighters, Unknown and Forgotten Places and their role in National Movement, and other related themes in an innovative and creative manner. This scheme will thus help to develop a stream of writers who can write on a spectrum of subjects to promote Indian heritage, culture and knowledge system.
• The National Book Trust, India under the Ministry of Education as the Implementing Agency will ensure phase-wise execution of the Scheme under well-defined stages of mentorship. ​The books prepared under this scheme will be published by National Book Trust, India; and will also be translated into other Indian languages ensuring the exchange of culture and literature, thereby promoting ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 31^ST MARCH  2022

Q. ‘Project NETRA’ of ISRO is for which one of the following purposes?

a) To know more about the outer surface of the Sun.

b) To keep an eye on the celestial phenomenon.

c) To detect the space debris and hazards to the Indian satellites.

d) To know more about nature of surface of the Mars planet.

ANSWER FOR 30^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

• In January 2021, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet decided to award renewable energy projects in Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu, and Analaitivu islands to Chinese firm Sinosoar-Etechwin.
• Now, India will set up hybrid power projects in three islands off Jaffna, effectively replacing the Chinese venture cleared by Colombo last year. The MoU for the project was among those signed during a meeting between visiting External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and his Sri Lankan counterpart G.L. Peiris late on 28th March 2022.

1. Clash and Creation READ MORE
2. Never Allow Circumstances Break You READ MORE
3. Ethics of Ecology: The topical agenda of ecological ethics is molded by contemporary environmental problems READ MORE

1. Dry March: Is India looking at deficient pre-monsoon rain in 2022 READ MORE
2. Dry March: Is India looking at deficient pre-monsoon rain in 2022 READ MORE

1. Social media impact: Shield India’s young READ MORE   
2. Gender violence not just a legal issue READ MORE

1. Identity and privacy: Prisoners’ identification Bill, which raises privacy, data safety concerns, requires scrutiny READ MORE  
2. Why the Criminal Identification Bill overreaches: It clubs serious offences with trivial ones and lacks enough safeguards on access to sensitive data READ MORE
3. New methods, new concerns: The ways in which investigative agencies identify criminals and suspects have drastically changed over the course of the 21st century READ MORE
4. The MCD bill is an assault on democracy READ MORE
5. Captive rights: There is a need for disciplining jail inmates, with humaneness READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. 5th BIMSTEC Summit READ MORE  
2. PLI scheme for telecom sector READ MORE
3. Geological Heritage Sites of Himalayan Region of India READ MORE
4. ISRO to step up tracking of space debris READ MORE
5. Four government-run film and media units merged with NFDC READ MORE
6. Explained: What were the Bamiyan Buddhas, and why did the Taliban destroy them? READ MORE
7. Supreme Court strikes down 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars in Tamil Nadu READ MORE
8. Pluto: ‘Recent’ volcanism raises puzzle — how can such a cold body power eruptions? READ MORE
9. Explained: Why Karnataka is launching an untouchability eradication scheme in 2022 READ MORE
10. Permanent Body constituted to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks READ MORE

Main Exam   

GS Paper- 1

1. Social media impact: Shield India’s young READ MORE   
2. Early Indic visions of history – I READ MORE
3. Dry March: Is India looking at deficient pre-monsoon rain in 2022 READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Identity and privacy: Prisoners’ identification Bill, which raises privacy, data safety concerns, requires scrutiny READ MORE  
2. Why the Criminal Identification Bill overreaches: It clubs serious offences with trivial ones and lacks enough safeguards on access to sensitive data READ MORE
3. New methods, new concerns: The ways in which investigative agencies identify criminals and suspects have drastically changed over the course of the 21st century READ MORE
4. The MCD bill is an assault on democracy READ MORE
5. Captive rights: There is a need for disciplining jail inmates, with humaneness READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Report: 67% abortions in India unsafe, cause nearly 8 deaths every day READ MORE
2. Gender violence not just a legal issue READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India and Australia are finally acting like the natural partners they are READ MORE
2. The Great Debate Over India’s Neutrality in the Ukraine War READ MORE
3. India Scores a Strategic Victory Over China in Sri Lanka READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explaining Sri Lanka’s economic crisis: The country’s current situation is due to misguided policies and flawed external advice READ MORE
2. India’s food response as ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ READ MORE
3. Growth in exports needs consistency READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Global Wind and Solar Growth on Track To Meet Climate Targets READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Inter-state border pact: Assam, Meghalaya show way for peaceful resolution READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Clash and Creation READ MORE
2. Never Allow Circumstances Break You READ MORE
3. Ethics of Ecology: The topical agenda of ecological ethics is molded by contemporary environmental problems READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The concern over privacy and the safety of the data are undoubtedly significant and the collection of any sensitive data ought to be introduced only after a strong data protection law’. Examine the statement in the light of the recently proposed Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022.
2. ‘India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement represents a watershed moment in bilateral relations, and a significant turning point for India’s foreign policy in terms of geo-strategy as well as geo-economics’. Comment on the statement in the light of recent developments in India-0Australia relations.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Peace is not only better than war, but also infinitely more arduous.
• The current Sri Lankan economic crisis, then, is the product of the historical imbalances in the economic structure, the IMF’s loan-related conditionalities, misguided policies of authoritarian rulers and the official embrace of pseudo-science.
• India’s recent and ongoing humanitarian food assistance to the people of Afghanistan, through the United Nations Food Programme is an example of its commitment and commendable steps towards humanitarian crises.
• As India’s foodgrain surplus continues to grow, along with its footprint as a key humanitarian food assistance player, underlining its partnership with the WFP, it is also important to highlight the story of its transition from receiving food aid to now providing food aid to those in need.
• Humanitarian food assistance and partnerships that help create robust policy innovations by way of food safety nets and resilient livelihoods, will contribute towards global peace.
• India has made major progress in addressing hunger and malnutrition, but a lot needs to be done and we must continue this path as the trailblazer in access and inclusion through public policies and systems.
• The concern over privacy and the safety of the data is undoubtedly significant. Such practices ought to be introduced only after a strong data protection law, with stringent punishment for breaches, is in place.
• India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement represents a watershed moment in bilateral relations, and a significant turning point for India’s foreign policy – in terms of geo-strategy as well as geo-economics.
• Ethics itself must change to fit the reality that humans are not only social animals, as recognized in classical ethics, but also ecological animals.

50-WORD TALK

• Although Russia-Ukraine talks are far from ending their war, Moscow’s promised pullback of troops is an encouraging step forward. President Vladimir Putin’s military has taken a beating, but it still has formidable destructive capacities. To ensure Putin doesn’t use them, he’ll have to be allowed a face-saving exit for now.
• BJP’s description of Odisha IAS, IPS officers as politicians in disguise is a tad harsh and sweeping but not entirely devoid of merit. They had no business congratulating CM Naveen Patnaik on election victories. They must remember that their oath of allegiance is to the Constitution, not to political masters.

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 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 190]

THE INTRODUCTION: Services sector contributes over 50 percent to India’s GDP. While the Covid-19 pandemic has hurt most sectors of the economy, the services sector has been the worst affected as its’ share in India’s GVA declined from 55 percent in 2019-20 to 53 percent in 2021-22.1 Within the services sector, the effect of Covid-19 has been varied. While non-contact services such as information, communication, financial, professional, and business services have remained resilient, the impact has been much more severe on contact-based services such as tourism, retail trade, hotel, entertainment, recreation, etc.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 AND SEQUENTIAL RECOVERY

• The services sector contracted by 8.4 percent Year on Year (YoY) in 2020-21 (Table 1). This decline was driven by a sharp contraction of 18.2 percent YoY in the sub-sector ‘Trade, hotels, transport, communication & services related to broadcasting.
• Owing to its contact-intensive nature, the services included in this sub-sector had to bear the maximum brunt of the disruptions caused by the prevailing pandemic.
• The sub-sector ‘Public administration, defense & other services’ includes expenditure by the government and services such as health, education, recreation, etc, on the other, contracted by 4.6 percent YoY in 2020-21.

• The relatively less contact intensive sub-sector ‘Financial, real estate & professional services’ was the least impacted, with a marginal decline of 1.5 percent YoY in its GVA during 2020-21.

TRENDS IN HIGH-FREQUENCY INDICATORS

The upturn in Services GVA, when seen with the trend in high-frequency indicators such as Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) Services Index, freight and passenger traffic point to a pickup in economic momentum.

SERVICES PMI

• India’s services sector activity, gauged by PMI services, which had contracted for five consecutive months since March 2020, recovered sharply in October 2020. It dropped again for three consecutive months (May, June, and July 2021) as a consequence of the second Covid-19 wave. Notably, the contraction during May-July 2021 was not as sharp as seen during the first lockdown.
• With the easing of restrictions, PMI Services started to grow once again from August 2021 recording the strongest jump in over 10 years to 58.4 in October 20213 (Figure 1(a)). PMI index moderated to 55.5 in December 2021.

FREIGHT TRAFFIC

• As the economy gradually opened up in June 2020, freight traffic also improved. Freight traffic registered strong growth during April- June 2021, partly reflecting the rebound from the low base during the same period last year. The impact of the second covid wave in April-May 2021 on these indicators was much more muted as compared to during the full lockdown in March-May 2020.

BANK CREDIT TO THE SERVICES SECTOR

• Bank credit growth to the services sector which had moderated significantly in 2019, started picking up in 2020, increasing to 8.8 percent (YoY) at the end of December 2020, as compared to 6.2 percent in December 2019 (Figure 2). This momentum has lost its pace in 2021-22.
• Bank credit growth decelerated to 3.6 percent YoY at the end of November 2021 as compared to 8.2 percent a year ago. However, it is important to note that corporates have raised more money through capital markets than banking capital in 2021-22 so far.

SERVICES SECTOR SHARES AT THE STATE AND UT LEVEL

• The services sector accounts for more than 50 percent of the Gross State Value Added (GSVA) in 12 out of the 33 states and UTs (Table 3). Chandigarh stands out with a particularly high share of services in GSVA at 74 percent while Sikkim’s share remains the lowest at 24.25 percent. Notably, the Services share in Sikkim’s GSVA has increased from over 18 percent in 2018-19 to over 24 percent in 2020-21. Similarly, over the last three years, the share of services in GSVA has increased by over 4 percent for Himachal Pradesh and Odisha. Maharashtra and Karnataka are the top two contributors to services GSVA, with Rs 15.1 lakh crore and Rs 9.71 lakh crore gross value added by the services sector in 2020-21 respectively.
• Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions on movement, GSVA in the services sector declined in 2020-21 relative to the pre-pandemic year 2019-20. This is true for 13 out of 20 states for which data is available. During 2020-21, services GSVA contracted by almost 11 percent in Rajasthan and almost 10 percent in Jharkhand and Punjab. On the other hand, Sikkim achieved the highest growth of 11.71 percent in services GSVA during 2020-21.

FDI IN SERVICES

• The Services Sector was the largest recipient of FDI inflows in India. During H1 2021-22, Services Sector received $ 16.73 billion in FDI equity inflows. “Financial, Business, Outsourcing, R&D, Courier, Tech testing & Analysis along with Education sub-sector witnessed strong FDI inflows”, mentioned the Survey.

TRADE-IN SERVICES

• India had a dominant presence in global services exports. It remained among the top ten services exporter countries in 2020, with its share in world commercial services exports increasing to 4.1% in 2020 from 3.4% in 2019. “The impact of Covid-19 induced global lockdown on India’s services exports was less severe as compared to merchandise exports”.
• Despite Covid-19’s impact on transport exports, double-digit growth in gross exports of services, aided by exports of software, business, and transportation services, resulting in an increase of 22.8% in net exports of services in H1 2021-22.

SUB-SECTOR WISE PERFORMANCE

IT-BPM (INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT) SECTOR

• IT-BPM sector as a major segment of India’s services. During 2020-21, according to NASSCOM’s provisional estimates, IT-BPM revenues (excluding e-commerce) reached $ 194 billion, growing by 2.26% YoY, adding 1.38 lakh employees.
• Within the IT-BPM sector, IT services constitute the majority share (>51%). The Economic Survey observed that over the last year, several policy initiatives have been undertaken to drive innovation and technology adoption in the sector, including relaxation of Other Services Provider regulations, Telecom Sector Reforms, and Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules, 2020.
• This would significantly expand access to talent, increase job creation and catapult the sector to the next level of growth and innovation.

STARTUPS AND PATENTS

• Startups in India had grown remarkably over the last six years, most of which belonged to the Services Sector. More than 61,400 startups have been recognized in India as of January 10, 2022.
• India had a record number of Startups (44) reaching unicorn status in 2021.
• intellectual property, specifical patents were key to a knowledge-based economy.
• The number of patents filed in India has gone up to 58,502 in 2020-21 from 39,400 in 2010-11 and the patents granted in India have gone up to 28,391 from 7,509 during the same period.

Tourism Sector

• The tourism sector was a major contributor to GDP growth, foreign exchange earnings, and employment, however, the Covid-19 pandemic had a debilitating impact on world travel and tourism everywhere, including India.
• The resumption of International tourism will continue to depend largely on a coordinated response among countries in terms of travel restrictions, harmonized safety, and hygiene protocols, and effective communication to help restore consumer confidence.
• Special international flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission which was currently in its 15^thphase and had carried over 63.55 lakh passengers.

PORTS, SHIPPING, AND WATERWAYS SERVICES

• The development of ports was crucial for the economy. Ports handled around 90% of export-import cargo by volume and 70% by value.
• The total cargo capacity of all ports had increased to 1,246.86 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) as of March 2021 from 1052.23 MTPA in March 2014.
• Also, the Port traffic had picked up in 2021-22 registering a growth of 10.16% during April-November 2021, after being hit by disruptions caused by Covid-19 in 2020-21.
• The Sagarmala Programme, a flagship program, aimed at promoting port-led development in the country with 802 projects worth Rs. 5.53 lakh crore under its ambit.

SPACE SECTOR

• Since its inception in the 1960s, the Indian space program has grown drastically. Capabilities have been developed in the space sector across all domains including indigenous space transportation systems, space assets comprising a fleet of satellites catering to various needs of the society.
• The Government undertook various reforms in the space sector in 2020, envisaging participation of the private sector in providing space-based services. These reforms included empowering New Space India Limited (NSIL) and changing the present supply-based model to a demand-driven model; creating an independent nodal agency i.e. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) under the Department of Space; and providing a predictable, forward-looking, well defined and enabling regulatory regime for space activities in the country.

HIGHLIGHTS

• GVA of services crossed pre-pandemic level in July-September quarter of 2021-22; however, GVA of contact intensive sectors like trade, transport, etc. still remain below pre-pandemic level.
• Overall service Sector GVA is expected to grow by 8.2 percent in 2021-22.
• During April-December 2021, rail freight crossed its pre-pandemic level while air freight and port traffic almost reached their pre-pandemic levels, domestic air, and rail passenger traffic are increasing gradually – showing the impact of the second wave was much more muted as compared to during the first wave.
• During the first half of 2021-22, the service sector received over US$ 16.7 billion in FDI – accounting for almost 54 percent of total FDI inflows into India.
• IT-BPM services revenue reached US$ 194 billion in 2020-21, adding 1.38 lakh employees during the same period.
• Major government reforms include, removing telecom regulations in the IT-BPO sector and opening up of space sector to private players.
• Services exports surpassed the pre-pandemic level in the January-March quarter of 2020-21 and grew by 21.6 percent in the first half of 2021-22 – strengthened by global demand for software and IT services exports.
• India has become 3^rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world after US and China. The number of newly recognized start-ups increased to over 14000 in 2021-22 from 733 in 2016-17.
• 44 Indian start-ups have achieved unicorn status in 2021 taking the overall tally of unicorns to 83, most of which are in the services sector.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIAN POWER PROJECTS REPLACE CHINESE VENTURES IN SRI LANKA

THE CONTEXT: New Delhi and Colombo signed hybrid power projects on three islands off Jaffna along with cooperation on developing fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka. The agreements effectively replace the Chinese projects that were okayed by Colombo in 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The MoU for the project was among those signed during a meeting between visit of External Affairs Minister (EAM) and his Sri Lankan counterpart.
• It is the third Indian energy project coming up in Sri Lanka’s north and east, after the recent agreements for National Thermal Power Corporation’s solar venture in the eastern Sampur town, and the Adani Group’s renewable energy projects in Mannar and Pooneryn in the north.
• In January 2021, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet decided to award renewable energy projects in Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu and Analaitivu islands to Chinese company Sinosoar-Etechwin, following an Asia Development Bank-backed competitive bid.
• India was quick to express concern to the Sri Lankan side over the Chinese project coming up in the Palk Bay, barely 50 km off Tamil Nadu. New Delhi offered to execute the same project with a grant rather than a loan. Unable to pick a side for over a year, Colombo kept the project in suspension, apparently putting off China.

India and Sri Lanka have also signed the agreement to set up a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) with the involvement of the defence sector PSU Bharat Electronics Limited. The cooperation in the defence sector may be viewed against the backdrop of increasing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

2. RHINO POPULATION UP BY 200 IN KAZIRANGA

THE CONTEXT: The population of Assam’s iconic one-horned rhino at Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has increased by 200 in the last four years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the census of the animal at the park, it has estimated number at 2613.
• In the last headcount in 2018, the rhino population in the population in the park, which is spread over 859.98sq km, was 2413. The census in 2015 had counted 2401 rhinos in the

ABOUT ONE-HORNED RHINOS:

• Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
• Also known as the Indian Rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is identified by a single black horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
• Conservation status:

• CITES Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

Types of Rhinos:

The Greater One-Horned Rhino is one among the five different species of Rhino. The other four are:

1. Black Rhino: Smaller of the two African species. (IUCN: Critically Endangered)

1. White Rhino: Recently, researchers have created an embryo of the northern white Rhino by using In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. (ICUN: Near Threatened)
2. Javan Rhino: Critically endangered in IUCN Red List.
3. Sumatran Rhino: Recently gone extinct in Malaysia, but Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List.

Kaziranga National Park:

• It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
• It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985
• It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International.
• The National Highway 37 passes through the parking area.
• The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it. Also it is home to elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.

Value Addition:

 3. MASSIVE FIRE IN SARISKA TIGER RESERVE

THE CONTEXT: According to Rajasthan Forest officials a massive fire has broken out in the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Air Force helicopters equipped with water sprays are battling to bring it under control.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the forest officials Sariska has a total of 27 tigers. Around nine tigers including four adult tigers and tigress and five cubs/sub-adults are known to move around in the area in Akbarpur where the fire has broken out. Some of the tigers that move around in the area include tigers ST-14, ST-17 and ST-23”.

ABOUT SARISKA TIGER RESERVE

• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Alwar District of Rajasthan in the lap of Aravali hills. Sariska Tiger Reserve or Sariska National Park was a hunting reserve area for Alwar state. It got the status of a wildlife reserve in the year 1955 and in the year 1978, it became Sariska Tiger Reserve.
• It covers an area of 866 sq km. The Wildlife 0f Sariska Park includes Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Caracal, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Chital, Sambhar, Blue Bull, Chinkara, Four Horned antelope.
• Flora of Sariska is found as Dhok tree, Salar, Kadaya, Dhak, Gol, Ber, Khair, Bargad, Arjun, Gugal and Bamboo etc.
• The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses.
• The park is home to numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Civets Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. EXPLAINED: ARTICULATED ALLTERRAIN VEHICLE

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the supply of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles to be deployed in Ladakh and Kutch.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles?

• Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle is a twin cabin, tracked, amphibious carrier for off road mobility. The special design of this equipment exerts low ground pressure on the soil and a pull-push mode of locomotion between two cabins facilitates mobility over varied terrains like snow, desert and slush. A ballistic protection in the cabin body ensures protection to troops travelling in it from small arms fire.
• These vehicles are very useful to move troops or supplies in snow-bound terrains and in marshy/sandy environments. They can reach where wheeled vehicles cannot due to deep snow, slush or marshy terrain and can be very effective for patrolling and rapid deployment in operational situations.

What are the requirements of the Army from the vehicles?

• As per the specifications in the RFI, the vehicle should be able to perform at heights of 18,000 feet in glaciated and snow bound conditions and in salty/dry marshes.
• The vehicles should be able to seat 10 soldiers with full combat load (excluding the crew) and should have inbuilt ballistic protection. It should have an operating range of not less than 150 kms in cross country terrain in plains and at an altitude of 15,000 to 18,000 feet in the mountains. The vehicles should have a service life of at least 15 years.

Who manufactures such vehicles?

• There are several Western manufacturers of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles including Canada and Finland. The NASU vehicle of Finland is used by the Finnish, French, Belgian and US Armies among others.
• The Bandvagn 206 is used by the Swedish Army and was developed by a Swedish Company which is now part of BAE Systems, Platforms and Services. The British and US militaries also use the Bandvagn 206. The Russian Army uses the DT-30 Vityaz vehicle and GAZ 3344 manufactured in the country.

5. ASSAM, MEGHALAYA INK PACT TO END BORDER ROW

THE CONTEXT: Assam and Meghalaya signed an agreement to resolve their five-decade-old border dispute in six of the 12 locations.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister and the chief Minsters of the two states. The pact will resolve the protracted dispute in six of the 12 places along the 884.9 km border between the two states.

History Behind Border Demarcation

• During the British rule, Assam consisted of the present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, besides Mizoram, which later became separate states.
• However, the long-standing dispute between Assam and Meghalaya began in 1972 when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam under the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, a law that it challenged.

Major Point of Contention

• Since 1993, twelve (12) areas of differences have evolved between the two states. The said areas are: Upper Tarabari, Gazang reserve forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah, Matamur, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoreah Block I and Block II, Khanduli and Retacherra.
• In August 2021, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya had formed a committee to resolve the border rows in a phased manner in six (6) of the 12 disputed sites (Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, Ratacherra).
• The proposed recommendations for the 36.79 square km of land said that Assam would keep 18.51 square km, while Meghalaya would get the remaining 18.28 square km.

What is the Next Step?

• The Survey of India (SoI) will delineate and demarcate the boundary in the presence of representatives of both governments. It will then go to Parliament for approval and will likely take a few months.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS: BUDGET SESSION 2022

6. RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION

THE CONTEXT: According to the information given by the Ministry of fisheries, Animal husbandry and dairying.

As per the revised and realigned scheme, under Rashtriya Gokul Mission 2021-2026, the following tentative targets have been set for the next 5 years:-

• 165 million animals to be covered under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination.
• 40,000 Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians for Rural India (MAITRIs) to be established to provide doorstep AI service.
• 4700 High Genetic Merit Bulls (HGM) to be produced under the Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection.
• 44 existing semen stations to be strengthened to meet demand of semen doses and to improve quality of semen doses.
• 1,15,000 assured pregnancies to be established through IVF technology.
• 51 lakh assured pregnancies to be established through use of sex sorted semen doses.
• 125 number of Breed Multiplication farms preferably of indigenous breeds to be established.
• A sum of Rs. 2316.15 crore has been released to all the States/UTs under Rashtriya Gokul Mission during the last 5 years and current financial year including a sum of Rs. 39.75 crore released to the State of Karnataka.
• Benefit of the scheme has been accruing to all 8 crore farmers engaged in dairying in terms of enhancement in milk production and productivity of bovines. Under the component of Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP) 1.92 crore farmers have been benefited and their data has been uploaded on Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) data base.

 THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 30^TH MARCH  2022

Q1. Nainativu, Neduntheevu and Analaitivu, recently seen in news are-

a) Islands of India off the coast of Tamil Nadu

b) Islands of India off the coast of Kerala

c) Islands of Sri Lanka near Jaffna Peninsula

d) Islands of India in Lakshadweep Archipelago

ANSWER FOR 29^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• Zozila pass located in Zaskar range and connects Srinagar to Leh.

1. Society’s pushback could blunt bigotry READ MORE  
2. Centralising tests: A common test as the sole determinant of merit for admission is problematic READ MORE

1. Let there be peace in the ultimate reality too READ MORE
2. Self-knowing & meditation READ MORE
3. What philosopher Immanuel Kant’s ‘Toward Perpetual Peace’ has to do with the war in Ukraine READ MORE
4. Gandhi’s Moral Agents READ MORE
5. Responsible Management: The new paradigm READ MORE

1. Irreversible damage: Erosion of glaciers must be slowed READ MORE
2. Irreversible damage: Erosion of glaciers must be slowed READ MORE

1. Responsible Management: The new paradigm READ MORE
2. Educated Muslim Women Term Hijab Verdict ‘Judicial Overreach’ READ MORE
3. Decoding the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 READ MORE
4. This scheme mapping ‘abadi’ village areas is a win-win situation for Gram Panchayats READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission READ MORE
2. S. Senate approves $52 billion chips bill in bid to reach compromise READ MORE
3. Assam-Meghalaya Sign Agreement to Resolve Border Dispute in 6 Locations READ MORE
4. As told to Parliament: 75% cropland treated with chemical fertilisers READ MORE
5. Warm Arctic waves, La Niña to blame for early heat waves, depressions: Experts READ MORE
6. New Director-General of the International Labour Organization elected READ MORE
7. Nehru Memorial in Delhi to become ‘PM Museum’ READ MORE
8. Assam: Rhino population rises by 200 in Kaziranga National Park READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Society’s pushback could blunt bigotry READ MORE  
2. Irreversible damage: Erosion of glaciers must be slowed READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Responsible Management: The new paradigm READ MORE
2. Educated Muslim Women Term Hijab Verdict ‘Judicial Overreach’ READ MORE
3. Decoding the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 READ MORE
4. This scheme mapping ‘abadi’ village areas is a win-win situation for Gram Panchayats READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Centralising tests: A common test as the sole determinant of merit for admission is problematic READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Bridging the bay in quest of a stronger BIMSTEC: The grouping has potential as a natural platform for development cooperation in a rapidly changing Indo-Pacific region READ MORE
2. A missed chance for India-China relations READ MORE
3. Quad as ineffectual bloc: Quadrilaterals have been about common goals but lack the strategic depth READ MORE
4. China’s outreach to South Asia READ MORE
5. What good is the UN in its present shape READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India’s space economy boom is here READ MORE
2. Subsidise petrol, check fuel prices READ MORE
3. Is Entrepreneurship A Viable Alternative To Jobs? READ MORE
4. The Future of Fiscal Consolidation in India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. The principles of wildlife management READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Why India Needs a National Biosecurity Policy READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Let there be peace in the ultimate reality too READ MORE
2. Self-knowing & meditation READ MORE
3. What philosopher Immanuel Kant’s ‘Toward Perpetual Peace’ has to do with the war in Ukraine READ MORE
4. Gandhi’s Moral Agents READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The economic and strategic significance of the Bay of Bengal is growing rapidly with a re-emergence of the idea of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ region’. In the light of the given statement, discuss how India with the help of BIMSTEC can secure its interest in this region?
2. ‘BIMSTEC has huge potential as a natural platform for development cooperation in a rapidly changing geopolitical calculus and can leverage its unique position as a pivot in the Indo-Pacific region’. Analyse the statement in the light changing dynamics in Indo-pacific region.
3. ‘Despite, having many failures, the importance of UN can’t be neglected in world peace and without it, the influence of large countries themselves would be the more disastrous for world’. Justify the statement with the help of appropriate examples.

 QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Politics and religion are obsolete. The time has come for science and spirituality.
• When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.
• In the emerging post-Covid-19 global economic scenario, India has to attempt uplifting its growth rate closer to its potential while restoring fiscal consolidation so that sustained growth and stability in government finances can be achieved.
• A comprehensive employment strategy must extend far beyond entrepreneurship if we want to realise the productive potential and aspirations of our youth.
• The economic and strategic significance of the Bay of Bengal is growing rapidly with a re-emergence of the idea of the ‘Indo-Pacific’ region.
• BIMSTEC has huge potential as a natural platform for development cooperation in a rapidly changing geopolitical calculus and can leverage its unique position as a pivot in the Indo-Pacific region.
• If we can control the mind, then we can regulate peace in ourselves. If we are peaceful, then we can influence the state of peacefulness around us. If we are powerful or influential, the range of our control is widespread.
• Knowledge and self-control can lead us to a peaceful mind. When we have an abundance of peace in ourselves, it automatically diffuses to the surroundings.
• Event-specific evaluation of regulators can be harmful. Objective and periodic assessment of their performance is the need of the hour.
• Responsible management is all about growing and becoming successful without compromising on ethics, community development and safety of the earth.
• This integrative model for responsible management can be seen as the highest level in the evolution of responsible business thinking, since it incorporates the three background domains of sustainability, responsibility and ethics as distinct and equally important bases.

50-WORD TALK

• Fears about the misuse of a proposed new law allowing collection of biometric data from individuals accused of crimes are not unfounded. True, the US and UK have similar laws. But police powers are abused in India and concerns that innocents will be framed are real. Effective safeguards are needed.

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 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 189]

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

1. MORADABAD 2ND IN WORLD IN NOISE POLLUTION: UN REPORT

THE CONTEXT: According to the latest report unveiled by the United Nations Environment Programme, Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the second noisiest city in the world, with Delhi, Kolkata, Asansol and Jaipur also exceeding permissible noise limits.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The UN report titled ‘Frontiers 2022: Noise, Blazes and Mismatches’, released in February 2022, measured noise levels in 61 cities of the world.
• Notably, all the top three cities are from South Asia. Other Indian cities which recorded a higher decibel than the permissible levels were Delhi (83 dB), Kolkata and Asansol (both 89 dB) in West Bengal and Jaipur (84 dB).
• The UNEP report further found that Irbrid in Jordan at 60 decibels was the world’s quietest city, followed by Lyon in France (69 dB), Madrid in Spain (69 dB), Sweden’s capital Stockholm in (70 dB) and Belgrade in Serbia (70 dB).

What are permissible sound levels?

• According to 1999 WHO guidelines, the report said, the permissible noise level limits are 55 dB (decibels) LAeq (equivalent continuous sound level is the sound level in decibels) for outdoor residential areas and 70 dB LAeq for commercial areas and where there is traffic.
• According to experts that noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time can increase the risk of hearing loss. “High levels of noise impair human health and well-being – by disrupting sleep or drowning out the beneficial and positive acoustic communications of many animal species that live in these areas.

2. INDIAN OCEAN HIT BY SIX HEATWAVES IN 2021: DEPT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: According to the Department of Science and Technology, the Indian Ocean witnessed six marine heatwaves in 2021 over a period of 52 days. The situation was grim in the Bay of Bengal, which suffered four of the six weather-related events.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the Ministry, the weather-related incident is not a single event, and the tropical Indian Ocean has been facing the brunt of rising temperatures for decades. The minister informed that the western Indian Ocean region experienced a four-fold rise in marine heatwave events (increasing at a rate of 1.5 events per decade) and the North Bay of Bengal experienced a two-to-three-fold rise (at a rate of 0.5 events per decade).

What is Marine Heatwave?

A marine heatwave is defined as when seawater temperatures exceed a seasonally-varying threshold (usually the 90th percentile) for at least 5 consecutive days. Successive heatwaves with gaps of 2 days or less are considered part of the same event.

Value Addition:

• A report released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had dire warnings for India stating that 12 coastal cities in the country could be submerged by the end of the century.
• The cities could be nearly three feet underwater by the century’s end, the climate change report has warned. The cities include Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, and Visakhapatnam, among others.
• Researchers have predicted that because of rising temperatures, extreme sea events along coastlines will become 100 times more frequent by the end of the century.
• Globally, areas likely to be affected most include the Southern Hemisphere, locations along the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, the southern half of North America’s Pacific coast, and areas including Hawaii, the Caribbean, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

3. FIRST-EVER SIGHTING OF ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHINS IN WATERS

THE CONTEXT: A Marine Mammals Research (MMR) team of the Department of Environment and Forest in Lakshadweep has reported the first-ever live sighting of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in Indian waters.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Rough-toothed Dolphin is a slender dolphin and has a forehead and the sides of the head sloping smoothly on to a long and slender beak, making the entire body in front of the flippers appear very long and nearly conical. There is no prominent melon and no crease between the beak and forehead, unlike many other dolphins. The flippers are moderately long. The dorsal fin is relatively tall and sickle shaped.
• Rough-toothed Dolphins are variable in coloration but are generally dark grey to purplish black above. The eyes are large and bulging.

Found In: Rough-toothed Dolphins are to be found mainly at and beyond the edges of the continental shelves in deep water. They feed on octopus, squid and fish.

IUCN REDLIST: LEAST CONCERN

Records from India: Found offshore along the southwest and east coasts of India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Reported as by catch in gill nets in India.

4. DETECTING MICROPLASTICS IN HUMAN BLOOD

THE CONTEXT: A study by researchers from Netherlands published has examined blood samples of 22 persons, all anonymous donors and healthy adults, and found plastic particles in 17 of them.

THE EXPLANATION:

The report conveys that about half of these were PET (polyethylene tertraphthalate) plastics, which is used to make food grade bottles. The size of the particles that the group looked for was as small as about 700 nanometres (equal to 0.0007 millimetres). This is really small and it remains to be seen if there is a danger of such particles crossing the blood cell walls and affecting the organs. Also, a larger study needs to be conducted to firm up the present findings.

What are microplastics?

• Microplastics are tiny bits of various types of plastic found in the environment. The name is used to differentiate them from “macroplastics” such as bottles and bags made of plastic.
• There is no universal agreement on the size that fits this bill — the U.S. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the European Chemical Agency define microplastic as less than 5mm in length. However, for the purposes of this study, since the authors were interested in measuring the quantities of plastic that can cross the membranes and diffuse into the body via the blood stream, the authors have an upper limit on the size of the particles as 0.0007 millimetre.

What were the plastics that the study looked for in the blood samples?

The study looked at the most commonly used plastic polymers. These were polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET), polyethylene (used in making plastic carry bags), polymers of styrene (used in food packaging), poly (methyl methylacrylate) and poly propylene. They found a presence of the first four types.

What are the key results of this study?

• The study found that 77% of tested people (17 of the 22 persons) carried various amounts of microplastics above the limit of quantification.
• In 50% of the samples, the researchers detected PET particles.
• In 36%, they found presence of polystyrene. 23% of polyethylene and 5% of poly(methyl methylacrylate) were also found. However, traces of poly propylene were not detected.
• They found in each donor, on average, 1.6 microgram of plastic particles per milli litre of blood sample.

What is the significance of the study?

• The authors of the paper also remark that validated methods to detect the tiny (trace) amounts of extremely small-sized (less than 10 micrometre) plastic particles are lacking. Hence this study, which builds up a method to check the same, is important.
• Owing to the small size of the participants, the study results cannot be taken as such to mould policy etc, but the power of this paper is in the method and in demonstrating that such a possibility of finding micro plastics in the blood exists.

5. THE PHENOMENON OF CORAL BLEACHING

THE CONTEXT: The management authority of the world’s largest coral reef system, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, confirmed on March 25, 2022 that the reef is experiencing a mass coral bleaching event.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This is the sixth time that the coral reef system is being hit by a widespread and damaging bleaching event and the fourth time in six years that such an event has occurred. The bleaching event coincides with a 10-day UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) scientific mission currently underway in Australia.

What are coral reefs?

• Corals are marine invertebrates or animals not possessing a spine. Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony, which grows when polyps multiply to make copies of themselves.
• Corals are of two types — hard coral and soft coral.
• Hard corals, also called hermatypic or ‘reef building’ corals extract calcium carbonate (also found in limestone) from the seawater to build hard, white coral exoskeletons. Soft coral polyps, however, borrow their appearance from plants, attach themselves to such skeletons and older skeletons built by their ancestors.
• Soft corals also add their own skeletons to the hard structure over the years and these growing multiplying structures gradually form coral reefs. They are the largest living structures on the planet.
• Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae. The algae provides the coral with food and nutrients, which they make through photosynthesis, using the sun’s light. In turn, the corals give the algae a home and key nutrient. The zooxanthellae also give corals their bright colour.
• Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system stretching across 2,300 km. It hosts 400 different types of coral, gives shelter to 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc.

What is Coral Bleaching?

• Bleaching happens when corals experience stress in their environment due to changes in temperature, pollution or high levels of ocean acidity. Under stressed conditions, the zooxanthellae or food-producing algae living inside coral polyps start producing reactive oxygen species, which are not beneficial to the corals.
• So, the corals expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae from their polyps, which exposes their pale white exoskeleton, giving the corals a bleached appearance. This also ends the symbiotic relationship that helps the corals to survive and grow.
• Under all positive outlooks and projections in terms of cutting greenhouse gases, sea temperatures are predicted to increase by 1.5°C to 2°C by the time the century nears its end.

Why does it matter?

• Coral reefs support over 25% of marine biodiversity, including fish, turtles and lobsters; even as they only take up 1% of the seafloor. The marine life supported by reefs further fuels global fishing industries. Even giant clams and whales depend on the reefs to live.
• Besides, coral reef systems generate $2.7 trillion in annual economic value through goods and service trade and tourism. In Australia, the Barrier Reef, in pre-COVID times, generated $4.6 billion annually through tourism and employed over 60,000 people including divers and guides.
• Aside from adding economic value and being a support system for aquatic life, coral reefs also provide protection from storm waves.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

6. INDIA CROSSES MILESTONE OF 50,000 ODF PLUS VILLAGES

THE CONTEXT: The country has crossed a milestone of 50 thousand open defecation-free (ODF) Plus villages. Among the top performing States are Telangana with 13 thousand 960 ODF Plus villages followed by Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Ministry of Jal Shakthi, the mission towards becoming ODF Plus has several components including biodegradable waste management including the GOBAR dhan Scheme, Grey water management, Plastic waste management and Faecal sludge management.
• The Ministry has said, ODF Plus villages have been divided into three categories, Aspiring, Rising, and Model, to showcase their progress.
• This has created a healthy, competitive spirit, resulting in people participation for accelerated implementation of sustaining sampoorn swachhata. Also, it noted as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, more than one crore people across 22-thousand-gram panchayats participated in various sanitation activities.

 THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

7. WHAT IS ALOPECIA AREATA?

According to US Department of Health and Human Services, alopecia areata is condition that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss.

• The condition usually affects the head and face.
• Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter, but in some cases, hair loss is more extensive. Most people with the disease are healthy and have no other symptoms, the US Department of Health said.

What causes the condition?

In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation. Researchers do not fully understand what causes the immune attack on hair follicles, but they believe that both genetic and environmental (non-genetic) factors play a role.

Types of alopecia areata

Health experts have classified the hair loss condition in three types:

• Patchy: In the most common type, hair loss happens in one or more coin-sized patches on the scalp or other parts of the body.
• Totalis: People with this type lose all or nearly all of the hair on their scalp.
• Universalis: This is an extremely rare type, there is a complete or nearly complete loss of hair on the scalp, face, and rest of the body.

  THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 29^th MARCH  2022

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Zozila pass is located in the Pir Panjal range of Western Himalayas.
2. It connects Jammu to Srinagar.

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 28^TH MARCH 2022

 Answer: D

Explanation:

• The National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS), a protected riverine area, spans Rajasthan, MadhyaPradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Chambal flows though the sanctuary, which is home to rare wildlife.
• The river harbours some of the most pristine sandbanks, which are the basking and egg-laying habitats for the critically endangered gharial, for the endangered Indian skimmer,the critically endangered, red-crowned roofed turtle, and a host of other threatened andendangered species. India’s national aquatic animal, the endangered Ganges river dolphin,is also spotted here.
• Illegal sand mining in the protected riverine area continues unabated, endangering several threatened species. According to reports, rampant sand mining within NCS is forcing gharialsto migrate to Kuno and Parbati rivers, tributaries of the Chambal, in search of safer egg-laying habitats.

1. An Ethical View of the Current Geopolitics Behind the War on Ukraine READ MORE
2. How to Overcome Anxiety READ MORE

1. Indian Ocean hit by six heatwaves in 2021, temp rising by 0.15 degrees Celcius per decade READ MORE
2. Record-Smashing Heatwaves Are Hitting Antarctica, the Arctic Simultaneously READ MORE

1. India’s senior citizens are an untapped group. For startups, they can mean new business READ MORE
2. The problems with Common University Entrance Test that need examination READ MORE
3. Criminalizing marital rape: When is an exception not an exception? READ MORE

1. The MCD bill is about control over Delhi, not improving city’s governance READ MORE
2. With the Russian invasion, the spotlight is on Poland’s role in European politics READ MORE
3. Only tech can’t ensure good governance READ MORE
4. Why strikes are less successful READ MORE
5. Custodial deaths: Improve monitoring to curb excesses in prisons, lock-ups READ MORE
6. Simultaneous Elections, Democratic Concerns READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Social Forestry Schemes READ MORE  
2. Water Crisis in The Country READ MORE
3. Rough-toothed dolphins sighted first time ever in Indian waters READ MORE
4. The Startup India initiative READ MORE
5. Explained: What is alopecia areata, the auto-immune disorder that Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from? READ MORE
6. From a record low of 0.55, India’s Covid R value rises to 0.77 this month READ MORE
7. India crosses milestone of 50,000 ODF Plus villages READ MORE
8. Moradabad 2nd in world in noise pollution: UN report READ MORE

Main Exam  

GS Paper- 1

1. India’s senior citizens are an untapped group. For startups, they can mean new business READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The MCD bill is about control over Delhi, not improving city’s governance READ MORE
2. With the Russian invasion, the spotlight is on Poland’s role in European politics READ MORE
3. Only tech can’t ensure good governance READ MORE
4. Why strikes are less successful READ MORE
5. Custodial deaths: Improve monitoring to curb excesses in prisons, lock-ups READ MORE
6. Simultaneous Elections, Democratic Concerns READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. The problems with Common University Entrance Test that need examination READ MORE
2. Criminalizing marital rape: When is an exception not an exception? READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. A subregional grouping that must get back on course READ MORE
2. How Delhi carved out its diplomatic space on Russia-Ukraine war READ MORE
3. Between BRICS and Quad READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. RBI cannot ignore inflation READ MORE  
2. Sri Lanka’s agrarian crisis a cautionary tale for India READ MORE
3. Unlocking the potential of platform cooperatives READ MORE
4. Farmers and FCI need a new regime of MSP READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Indian Ocean hit by six heatwaves in 2021, temp rising by 0.15 degrees Celcius per decade READ MORE
2. Record-Smashing Heatwaves Are Hitting Antarctica, the Arctic Simultaneously READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. An Ethical View of the Current Geopolitics Behind the War on Ukraine READ MORE
2. How to Overcome Anxiety READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Discuss how the rivers interlinking project are helpful to solve the drought and flooding issues?
2. Discuss the reasons for the drought and flooding in the Bundelkhand region. How is the Ken-Betwa Rivers interlinking project helpful to address these issues?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The worst form of injustice is pretended justice.
• BIMSTEC is in need of a framework to tackle the specific challenges confronting the Bay of Bengal region.
• Marine environmental protection must become a priority area for cooperation in the Bay of Bengal. Enforcement must be strengthened, and information shared on best practices.
• The challenges that confront the Bay of Bengal region brook no more delay. BIMSTEC must arise, awake and act before it is too late.
• Inflation is best addressed by the central bank using monetary policy, not by the government adjusting taxes.
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana should be seen as a safety net, not the norm for all times.
• The cooperative model will benefit the vulnerable producers and consumers who are at the base of the pyramid.
• In treating technology as a panacea, we ignore its tendency to aggregate and centralise. Simultaneously, we have ignored the potential of decentralization.
• The diligence with which the footage is stored and accessed holds the key to preventing excesses in custody. The setting up of fast-track courts to deal with such cases can make a transformational difference.
• A crisis of credibility faces the Indian judiciary. Increasingly, death sentences and life terms awarded by lower courts in murder cases are getting reversed in appeals by the higher courts for reasons of error, subjectivity, or sentiment.
• India lacks a startup that can leverage the business and monetisation potential that the country’s ageing population holds.
• A step forward towards the re-implementation of the practice of simultaneous elections would effectively be two steps back for democracy in India.

50-WORD TALK

• US President Joe Biden’s declaration that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power”, is dangerously misguided. Waving the regime-change sword at Russia’s leadership encourages it to fight to the end, instead of negotiating a face-saving exit. That will mean more hardship across the world — and more devastation in Ukraine.

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 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 188]

THE INTRODUCTION: Global Industrial activity continued to be affected by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the Indian industry was no exception to these disruptions, its performance has improved in 2021-22. Gradual unlocking of the economy, record vaccinations, improvement in consumer demand, continued policy support towards industries by the government in the form of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, and further reinforcements in 2021-22 have led to an upturn in the performance of the industrial sector. The introduction of the production linked incentive scheme (PLI) to encourage scaling up of industries and a major boost provided to infrastructure-both physical as well as digital– combined with continued measures to reduce transaction costs and improve ease of doing business, would support the pace of recovery.

INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION (IIP)

• The impact of the pandemic on the industrial sector is reflected in the negative growth of 8.4 percent in 2020-21. From April-November 2021-to 22 the IIP grew by 17.4 percent as compared to (-15.3) percent in the corresponding period of the previous year.
• The supply-side measures as also steps to bolster demand, taken to address the contraction, are responsible for the significantly improved performance of the industrial sector in 2021-22.
• In November 2021 the IIP index grew by 1.4 percent with the mining sector recording a growth of 5.0 percent followed by electricity at 2.1 percent and manufacturing at 0.9 percent.

EIGHT CORE INDEX (ICI)

• The monthly Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) measures the collective and individual performance of production in selected eight core industries like Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity. This is an index of the eight most fundamental industrial sectors of the Indian economy and comprises 40.27 percent of the weight in IIP.
• The growth rate of the ICI index during the period of April-November 2021-22 was 13.7 percent as compared to (-)11.1 percent in the corresponding period of the last financial year. This acceleration in ICI is mainly driven by improved performance in steel, cement, natural gas, coal, and electricity. Fertilizers and crude oil registered a negative growth of 0.6 percent and 2.7 percent respectively.

GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION

• Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) is the gross addition to fixed assets like machinery and equipment, intangible assets and indicates the state of investments in the economy. During 2019-20, the share of the industrial sector in total GFCF in the economy (at current prices) was recorded at 30.1 percent, which is slightly lower than 31 percent in the previous financial year.
• Within the industrial sector, the share of manufacturing in GFCF was 51 percent, followed by electricity at 23 percent, construction at 21 percent, and mining with 5 percent. While aggregate GFCF (at constant prices) grew by 9.9 percent and industrial GFCF grew by 12.4 percent in 2018-19, it grew by 5.4 percent and 3.7 percent respectively in 2019-20.
• During 2019-20, GFCF in the mining and electricity sectors registered a negative growth of 12.9 percent and 6 percent respectively, but the GFCF grew by 10.2 and 4.4 percent in the manufacturing and construction sectors respectively on a yo-y basis.

CREDIT IN INDUSTRY

• Gross bank credit to the industrial sector, recorded a growth of 4.1 percent in October 2021 (Y-o-Y basis) compared to a negative growth of 0.7 growth in October 2020.
• The share of industry in non-food credit stood at 26 percent in October 2021. Certain industries such as mining, textiles, petroleum, coal products and nuclear fuels, rubber, plastic, and infrastructure have shown consistent improvement in credit growth.

FDI IN INDUSTRIES

• India registered its highest-ever annual FDI inflow of US$ 81.97 billion (provisional) in 2020-21 reflecting a growth of 10 percent as compared to the previous year.
• The increase has been on the back of growth of 20 percent in 2019-20. In the year 2021-22, FDI inflow grew by 4 percent in the first six months to reach US$ 42.86 billion as compared to US$ 41.37 billion for the same period of last year.
• Over the last seven financial years (2014-21), India received FDI inflow worth US$ 440.27 billion which is nearly 58 percent of the FDI received by the country in the last 21 years(US$ 763.83 billion).

PERFORMANCE OF CENTRAL PUBLIC SECTOR ENTERPRISES

• CPSEs are an important constituent of the Indian industry. As of 31.03.2020, 256 CPSEs were operational. The overall net profit of operating CPSEs during 2019-20 stood at Rs. 93,295 crore Contribution of all CPSEs to the central exchequer by way of excise duty, GST, corporate tax, dividend, etc. stood at Rs. 3,76,425 crore.
• The CPSEs across sectors employed 14,73,810 persons, of which 9,21,876 were regular employees.
• By Union Budget 2021-22 announcement, the government has approved a policy of strategic disinvestment of public sector enterprises that will provide a clear roadmap for disinvestment in all non-strategic and strategic sectors.
• The non-strategic CPSEs will be privatized or otherwise shall be closed. Thus, the policy on public sector enterprises provides a clear path for disinvestment in all nonstrategic and strategic sectors and strengthens the idea of Minimum Government – Maximum Governance.

CORPORATE PERFORMANCE

• With economic recovery, concomitant improvement in demand and improved business sentiments have had a positive effect on the performance of the corporate sector.
• In response to the favorable base effect, sales of 1,687 listed manufacturing companies recorded steady and broad-based growth of 34.0 percent in Q2: FY22 as compared to (-)4.3 percent growth in Q2: FY21, on an annual (y-o-y) basis.

SECTOR-WISE PERFORMANCE AND ISSUES IN THE INDUSTRY

Steel: The performance of the steel industry is pivotal for the growth of the economy. Despite being hit by COVID-19, the steel industry has bounced back with cumulative production of crude and finished steel in 2021-22(April-October) at 66.91 MT and 62.37 MT, an increase of 25.0 percent and 28.9 percent respectively.

Coal: Coal is the most important and abundant fossil fuel in India and accounts for 55 percent of the country’s energy needs. Coal production increased by 12.24 percent in April-October 2021 as compared to (-) 3.91 percent in April-October 2020. Overall production of raw coal in India during the year 2020-21 was 716.08 million tonnes (provisional) as compared to 730.87 million tonnes achieved in the previous year 2019-20.

Micro Small Medium Enterprise: Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the country by fostering entrepreneurship and by generating employment opportunities. The relative importance of MSMEs can be gauged from the fact that the share of MSME GVA in total GVA (current prices) for 2019-20 was 33.08 percent. The CHAMPIONS portal is an ICT-based technology system for making the smaller units big by helping and hand-holding them.

The key features of the portal include:

• Information dissemination: Regular updates on recent development in the MSME sector.
• To resolve the grievances in a fast track manner, all Nationalised Banks, a good number of Private/Regional Rural Banks, State Financial Corporations, Central Government Ministries/ Departments, State Governments, and CPSEs have been boarded on the portal.
• Scheme/Programme-wise mapping of officials of the Ministry for fast-track responses to grievances.
• Integration with various portals such as MSME Samadhaan, Udyam Registration, CPGRAM, etc.

Textiles: Textile industry is the second-largest employment generator in the country, next only to agriculture. In the last decade, close to Rs. 203,000 crores have been invested in this industry with direct and indirect employment of about 105 million people, a major part of which is women. Despite the industry being deeply affected by the lockdown, it has shown a remarkable recovery with a positive contribution to growth, as reflected by IIP, of 3.6 percent from April-October 2020.

Electronics Industry: Government accords high priority to electronics hardware manufacturing. The government has therefore notified the National Policy on Electronics 2019 (NPE 2019) on 25.02.2019 to position India as a global hub for Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) by encouraging and driving capabilities in the country for developing core components, including chipsets. Additionally, NPE 2019 attempts to catalyze the growth of the Indian electronics ecosystem through the

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing
• PLI Scheme for IT Hardware
• Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of electronic components and Semiconductors (SPECS)
• Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters 2.0 (EMC 2.0).

Recently, the government has approved an outlay of Rs. 76,000 Crore (>US$ 10 Bn) for the development of the Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem. The government’s intervention to boost this industry has come at a time when the global economy is facing an acute shortage of semiconductors due to severe disruptions in supply chains.

Pharmaceuticals: Indian Pharmaceutical industry ranks third in the world in pharmaceutical production by volume. During 2020-21, total pharma export US$ 24.4 Bn against the total pharma import of US$7.0 Bn. The initiatives taken by the government to address the requirement of the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry are as follows:

• Bulk Drug Parks that envisages the creation of world-class infrastructure facilities.
• Bulk drugs have been approved for the promotion of domestic manufacturing of 53 critical APIs.
• Production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for Pharmaceuticals.
• Promoting Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices was approved on 20th March 2020.

INFRASTRUCTURE

NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE (NIP)

• To achieve a GDP of $5 trillion by 2024-25, India needs to spend about $1.4 trillion over these years on infrastructure. During FYs 2008-17, India invested about US$1.1 trillion in infrastructure. However, the challenge is to step up infrastructure investment substantially.
• Keeping this objective in view, National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) was launched with a projected infrastructure investment of around Rs. 111 lakh crore (US$ 1.5 trillion) during FY 2020-2025 to provide world-class infrastructure across the country and improve the quality of life for all citizens.
• It also envisages improving project preparation and attracting investment, both domestic and foreign in infrastructure.

NATIONAL MONETISATION PIPELINE (NMP)

• A robust asset pipeline has been prepared to provide a comprehensive view to investors and developers of the investment avenues in infrastructure. The pipeline includes a selection of de-risked and brownfield assets with a stable revenue generation profile (or long rights) which will make for an attractive investment option.
• Total indicative value of NMP for core assets of the Central Government has been estimated at Rs 6.0 lakh crore over 4 years (5.4 percent of total infrastructure investment envisaged under NIP).

ROAD TRANSPORT

• The road network of the country consists of National Highways(NH), State-Highways (SH), District Roads, Rural Roads, Urban Roads, and Project Roads of over 63.71(Provisional) lakh km of roads as of 31 March 2019, which is the second-largest in the world, after the United States with 66.45 lakh km of roads.
• There has been a consistent increase in the construction of National Highways/roads since 2013-14 with 13,327 km of roads constructed in 2020-21 as compared to 10,237 km in 2019-20, indicating an increase of 30.2 percent over the previous year.

RAILWAYS

• Being the third-largest network in the world under single management and with over 68,102 route km IR strives to provide a safe, efficient, competitive, and world-class transport system.
• An average of 1835 track km per year of new track length has been added through new-line and multi-tracking projects during 2014-2021 as compared to the average of 720 track km per day during 2009-14.
• To strengthen the agriculture sector, as of 31st December 2021, IR has operated 1,841 Kisan Rail services, transporting approximately 6.0 lakh tonnes of perishables including fruits and vegetables.
• To provide better amenities IR has embarked on providing Wi-Fi internet services at all stations (excluding halt stations). As of 5th December 2021, a total of 6,087 Railway Stations has been equipped with a Wi-Fi facility.

CIVIL AVIATION

• India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. The domestic traffic in India has more than doubled from around 61 million in 2013-14 to around 137 million in 2019-20, registering a growth of over 14 percent per annum.
• Till the launching of UDAN in 2016, India had 74 airports have scheduled operations. But, within 4 years under UDAN, four rounds of bidding under RCS-UDAN have taken place and 153 RCS airports including 12 water aerodromes & 36 Helipads have been identified for the operation of RCS flights.

PORTS

• Port performance in an economy is crucial for the trade competitiveness of that economy. Expansion of port capacity has been accorded the highest priority by the Government through the implementation of well-conceived infrastructure development projects. The capacity of 13 major ports which was 871.52 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) at the end of March 2014, has increased by 79 percent to 1,560.61 MTPA by the end of March 2021.
• Many initiatives have been taken by the government to improve port governance, augment capacity utilization, enhance port efficiency and connectivity. The measures include the following among others:
• Sagarmala is a National Programme aimed at accelerating economic development in the country by harnessing the potential of India’s 7,500 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways.
• The Major Port Authorities Act 2021 was notified on 18.2.2021. This act provides for inter alia regulation, operation, and planning of major ports in India and vests the administration, control, and management of such ports upon the Boards of Major Port Authorities.
• A new Captive Policy for Port Dependent Industries has been prepared to address the challenges of renewal of the concession period, the scope of expansion, and the dynamic business environment.

INLAND WATERWAYS

• Regulatory amendment through the Inland Vessels Act, 2021, replaced the over 100 years old Inland Vessels Act, 1917 (1 of 1917) and ushered in a new era in the inland water transport sector.
• Augmentation in navigation capacity of National Waterway-1 (NW-1) is being implemented since 2018 through the Jal Marg Vikas Project from Varanasi to Haldia stretch of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System to enable large barge movements.
• Construction of multi-modal terminals at Varanasi and Sahib Ganj has been completed and that of the multimodal terminal at Haldia and the Navigational Lock at Farakka has achieved substantial progress. The other projects such as the comprehensive development of NW-2 and NW-16 &Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route are proposed to be undertaken for 5 years for Rs. 461 crores and Rs.145.29 crores respectively, from 2020-21 to 2024-25.

TELECOM

• The relevance of the telecom sector has increased immensely. This can be gauged from the fact that the total telephone subscriber base in India has increased from 933.02 million in March 2014 to 1200.88 million in March 2021. In March 2021, 45 percent of subscribers were based in rural India and 55 percent in urban areas.
• Internet penetration in the country is increasing steadily with internet subscribers increasing from 302.33 million in march 2015 to 833.71 million in June 2021. While 67.2 percent of internet subscribers had narrowband connections and 32.8 percent had broadband connections in 2015, the composition had reversed by June 2021 with only 4 percent of subscribers having a narrow band and 96 percent with broadband connections.
• The number of mobile towers has also increased substantially reaching 6.93 lakhs towers in December 2021, reflecting that the telecom operators have well realized the potential in the sector and seized the opportunity to build up an infrastructure that will be fundamental in boosting the Government’s Digital India campaign.

PETROLEUM, CRUDE, AND NATURAL GAS

• Crude oil and condensate production during the year 2020-21 was 30.49 million metric tonnes (MMT), lower than the production level of 32.17 MMT in 2019-20 and 94.3 percent of the target of 32.32 MMT for 2020-21. India depends on imports to meet more than 80 percent of its requirements.
• Natural Gas production during the year 2020-21 was 28.67 billion cubic meters (BCM) as against the production of 31.18 BCM in 2019-20 and 85.4 percent against the target of 33.57 BCM for 2020-21.
• The production of petroleum products was 233.51 MMT in 2020-21 as against 258.18 MMT in 2019-20, showing achievement of 90.2 percent of the target of 259.02 MMT for 2020- 21.

ELECTRICITY

• India has witnessed a significant transformation from being an acute power deficit country to a situation of demand being fully met.
• India has also made remarkable strides to ensure universal access to electricity for every household.
• The total installed power capacity and captive power plant was 459.15 GW on 31.03.2021 as compared to 446.35 GW on 31.03.2020 registering a growth of 2.87 percent. Installed capacity in utilities was 382.15 GW on 31.03.2021 as compared to 370.11 GW on 31.03.2020 – increasing by 3.25 percent.
• Thermal sources of energy make the largest – 61.42 percent share of total installed capacity in utilities followed by renewable energy resource (RES) with 24.7 percent and hydro with 12.09 percent.
• The total electricity generated including that from captive plants during the year 2020-21 was 15.73 lakh GWh as compared to 16.23 lakh GWh during the year 2019-20, of which 13.73 lakh GWh was generated by utilities and 2 lakh GWh in captive plants.

Renewable energy – Solar, Wind, Biomass, and small hydro energy

• India has witnessed the fastest rate of growth in renewable energy capacity addition among all large economies, during the last 7.5 years with renewable energy capacity growing by 2.9 times and solar energy expanding by over 18 times.
• To facilitate renewable power evacuation and reshape the grid for future requirements, the Green Energy Corridor (GEC) projects have been initiated. The GEC Project aims at synchronizing electricity produced from renewable sources, such as solar and wind, with conventional power stations in the grid.

THE CONCLUSION: The Government has charted out a comprehensive program for industrial transformation. With an emphasis on supply-side measures, the reforms address long known bottlenecks of insufficient infrastructure, tardy business processes, and labour market reforms. The introduction of the production-linked incentive schemes intends to encourage the scaling up of industries that are strategic in nature or are technology-intensive. The objective is to create the capacity to integrate with the global value chains. Several measures have been taken to reduce transaction costs, especially for the small and medium enterprises as well as facilitate the inflow of capital, technology, and international best practices into the industries. The new CPSE policy provides a road map for disinvestment, opening up avenues for further growth and improvement in efficiency while enabling the government to focus its resources on the developmental needs of the country. The recovery of the industrial sector, positive business expectations propelled by extensive reforms, and improved consumer demand, suggest that further improvements in industrial performance can be expected.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew at 17.4 percent (YoY) during April-November 2021 as compared to (-)15.3 percent in April-November 2020.
• Capital expenditure for the Indian railways has increased to Rs. 155,181 crores in 2020-21 from an average annual of Rs. 45,980 crores during 2009-14 and it has been budgeted to further increase to Rs. 215,058 crores in 2021-22 – a five times increase in comparison to the 2014 level.
• Extent of road construction per day increased substantially in 2020-21 to 36.5 Km per day from 28 Km per day in 2019-20 – a rise of 30.4 percent.
• Net profit to sales ratio of large corporates reached an all-time high of 10.6 percent in the July-September quarter of 2021-22 despite the pandemic (RBI Study).
• Introduction of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the major boost provided to infrastructure-both physical as well as digital, along with measures to reduce transaction costs and improve ease of doing business, would support the pace of recovery.