THE CONTEXT: December 12 marked the six-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement. The international community, including the European Union (EU) and India, gathered at the Climate Ambition Summit 2020 to celebrate and recognize our resolve in working towards a safer, more resilient world with net-zero emissions.

ABOUT PARIS AGREEMENT

• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.
• Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
• To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century.
• The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PARIS AGREEMENT

Implementation of the Paris Agreement requires economic and social transformation, based on the best available science. The Paris Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious climate action carried out by countries. By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):

• In their NDCs, countries communicate actions they will take to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions in order to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries also communicate in the NDCs actions they will take to build resilience to adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures.

Long-Term Strategies: 

• To better frame the efforts towards the long-term goal, the Paris Agreement invites countries to formulate and submit by 2020 long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies (LT-LEDs).
• LT-LEDs provide the long-term horizon to the NDCs. Unlike NDCs, they are not mandatory. Nevertheless, they place the NDCs into the context of countries’ long-term planning and development priorities, providing a vision and direction for future development.

Is the Paris agreement binding?

• The legal nature of the deal–whether it will be binding–had been a hotly debated topic in the lead-up to the negotiations. The agreement walks a fine line, binding in some elements like reporting requirements while leaving other aspects of the deal—such as the setting of emissions targets for any individual country—as non-binding.

Difference between Paris Climate and Kyoto Protocol:

• The Kyoto Protocol had a differentiation between developed and developing countries listed as Annex 1 countries and non-Annex 1 countries But, in the Paris agreement, there is no difference between developing and developed countries.
• The Kyoto Protocol aimed at 6 major greenhouse gases but the Paris Agreement is focused on reducing all anthropogenic greenhouse gases causing climate change.

Talanoa dialogue

• The UNFCCC Climate Change Conference (COP23) was held in Bonn, Germany, and was presided over by the Government of Fiji. It concluded with countries putting in place a roadmap for ‘Talanoa Dialogue’, a year-long process to assess countries’ progress on climate actions.

What is Talanoa?

• Talanoa is a traditional approach used in Fiji and the Pacific to engage in an inclusive, participatory, and transparent dialogue;
• The purpose of Talanoa is to share stories, build empathy and trust;
• During the process, participants advance their knowledge through common understanding;
• It creates a platform of dialogue, which results in better decision-making for the collective good;
• By focusing on the benefits of collective action, this process will inform decision-making and move the global climate agenda forward.

The significance of Talanoa dialogue

• The goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change, as agreed at the Conference of the Parties in 2015, is to keep global temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It also calls for efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The Under2 Coalition

• The Under2 Coalition is a coalition of subnational governments that aims to achieve greenhouse gases emissions mitigation. It started as a memorandum of understanding, which was signed by twelve founding jurisdictions on May 19, 2015, in Sacramento, California. Although it was originally called the Under2 MOU, it became known as the Under2 Coalition in 2017.
• As of September 2018, the list of signatories has grown to over 220 jurisdictions which combined encompasses over 3 billion people and 43% of the world economy.
• The intent of the memorandum signatories is for each to achieve Greenhouse gas emission reductions consistent with a trajectory of 80 to 95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050and/or achieving a per capita annual emission goal of less than 2 metric tons by 2050.
• Currently, Telangana and Chhattisgarh are signatories to this pact from India, as compared to representations from the other top emitters: 26 subnational governments in China and 24 in the U.S. Greater representation of Indian States is crucial.

FRAMEWORK OF PARIS AGREEMENT

The Paris Agreement provides a framework for financial, technical, and capacity-building support to those countries who need it.

Finance

The Paris Agreement reaffirms that developed countries should take the lead in providing financial assistance to countries that are less endowed and more vulnerable, while for the first time also encouraging voluntary contributions by other Parties. Climate finance is needed for mitigation because large-scale investments are required to significantly reduce emissions. Climate finance is equally important for adaptation, as significant financial resources are needed to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impacts of a changing climate.

Technology

The Paris Agreement speaks of the vision of fully realizing technology development and transfer for both improving resilience to climate change and reducing GHG emissions. It establishes a technology framework to provide overarching guidance to the well-functioning Technology Mechanism. The mechanism is accelerating technology development and transfer through its policy and implementation arms.

Capacity-Building

Not all developing countries have sufficient capacities to deal with many of the challenges brought by climate change. As a result, the Paris Agreement places great emphasis on climate-related capacity-building for developing countries and requests all developed countries to enhance support for capacity-building actions in developing countries.

ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY FRAMEWORK (ETF)

• With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF). Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions taken and progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures, and support provided or received. It also provides international procedures for the review of the submitted reports.
• The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global stocktake which will assess the collective progress towards the long-term climate goals.
• This will lead to recommendations for countries to set more ambitious plans in the next round.

INDIA AND PARIS AGREEMENT

India has not only achieved its targets but has exceeded them beyond expectations as per the Prime Minister. He delivered a virtual speech at the Climate Ambition Summit that India has reduced its global emissions by 21 percent compared to 2005 and is on its way to doing more.

• India mentioned that it has not caused the climate change crisis and it is meeting its obligations under the Paris Climate Accord.
• It stated that the developed nations have been the highest carbon emitters and thus, were responsible for global warming.
• It mentioned that besides India, only Bhutan, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Morocco, and the Gambia were complying with the accord.

India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC)

• To reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35 percent by 2030 from the 2005 level.
• To create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
• A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources.

India’s effort to address Climate Change

The Government of India has launched eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) for assessment of the impact and actions required to address climate change. These eight missions are:

1. National Solar Mission
2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
4. National Water Mission
5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
6. National Mission for A Green India
7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

Recent developments

• India has achieved a reduction of 21% in emission intensity of its GDP between 2005 and 2014, which fulfills its pre-2020 voluntary target.
• The Renewable energy installed capacity has increased by 226% in the last 5 years and stands more than 87 GW.
• The Government has provided 80 million LPG connections in rural areas, providing them with clean cooking fuel and a healthy environment.
• More than 360 million LED bulbs have been distributed under the UJALA scheme, which has led to energy savings of about 47 billion units of electricity per year and a reduction of 38 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
• It leapfrogged from Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms by April 1, 2020, which was earlier to be adopted by 2024.

SIX YEARS AFTER PARIS AGREEMENT

All states have submitted their national contributions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Distant hypothetical targets are being set. Seems like we are still speeding in the wrong direction or we are lagging far behind.

(1) Unclear targets and response

The world is still unclear for six years as to how the net-zero pledges will translate into shorter-term targets. Few of the countries that have announced ambitious long-term goals have implemented national policies to reach them in time.

(2) Degradation isn’t stopped

Meanwhile, we continue to destroy the world’s carbon sinks, by cutting down forests – the world is still losing an area of forest the size of the UK each year, despite commitments to stop deforestation – as well as drying out peatlands and wetlands, and reducing the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon from the air.

(3) Countries aren’t scaling up their targets

Although 151 states have indicated that they will submit stronger targets before December 31, only 13 of them, covering 2.4 percent of global emissions, have submitted such targets. While states have been slow to update their national contributions for 2025-2030, several have announced exaggeratedly high “net zero” targets in the recent past.

WAY FORWARD:

• The Paris agreement still provides the best hope of avoiding the worst ravages of climate breakdown: the question is whether countries are prepared to back it up with action, rather than more hot air.
• Renewing the shorter-term commitments is the best way ahead.
• Making promises for the 2050s-60s is one thing, but major policy changes are needed now to shift national economies onto a low-carbon footing.
• None of these (net zero) targets will be meaningful without very aggressive action in this decade. A diplomacy is inevitably a tool in global climate action.

CONCLUSION:

For many, there is a mismatch between short-term actions and long-term commitments. A credible short-term commitment with a clear pathway is the key. Not all states will be in a position to pledge net-zero targets, nor should they be expected to. All states, including India, can, however, pledge actions that are credible, accountable and fair. Our real test on climate change is on building a new domestic consensus that can address the economic and political costs associated with an internal adjustment to the prospect of a great global reset.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1.NEW GIN BERRY SPICIES DISCOVERED IN TN

THE CONTEXT: A team of scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) has discovered a new gin berry species from the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The species, named Glycosmis albicarpa with a distinct large white fruit, is endemic to the southern Western Ghats. The species belongs to the Orange family, Rutaceae.
• Berries of Glycosmis species have the unique characteristic of ‘gin aroma’ and has gained in popularity as an edible fruit. The species is also a larval host plant for butterflies like other species of Glycosmis.
• The species, an evergreen small tree, was found as undergrowth in Tirunelveli semi-evergreen forests at the Panagudi forest section of the wildlife sanctuary as a single population that covers an area of approximately 2 sq.km.
• Many of the related plants of these taxonomic groups are being utilised for their medicinal values and food. Most commonly related species of these plants are collected from the wild, mainly for local use as food and medicine.
• According to experts, the discovery not only re-emphasises the uniqueness and endemism in Western Ghats’ flora but also add to the growing inventory of the region’s flora.

About Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

• Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was founded in the pre-independence era by the East India Company (EIC) in 1890. It is located in Kolkata, West Bengal. Its parent organization is the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
• It undertakes survey, research, and conservation of plant wealth of India. It collects and maintains gene banks of endangered and vulnerable plant species.
• India is endowed with rich biodiversity, which is now at threat from anthropogenic pressures. Urgent conservation measures are needed to prevent the loss of unique biodiversity.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. RUSSIA SEIZES EUROPE’S LARGEST NUCLEAR PLANT: ZAPORIZHZHIA

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ukrainian authorities, the Russian forces have captured Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.

THE EXPLANATION:

Russia had already captured the defunct Chernobyl plant north of Kyiv, which spewed radioactive waste over much of Europe when it melted down in 1986.

Where is it located?

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located in the southern Ukraine steppe on the Dnieper River, some 550 kilometres (342 miles) southeast of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and about 525km (325 miles) south of Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear power plant accident in 1986, which has also now been seized by Russian forces.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

3. UNION GOVT RETHINKS GOLD MONETISATION SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: The Union government is reconsidering its Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS) as it believes its costs outweigh benefits, and the scheme could not achieve what it set out to do, it is learnt.

THE EXPLANATION:

• RBI has been asked to conduct a structural review of the scheme, including its rationale, associated high costs, and desirability of its continuation.
• The idea behind introducing the scheme, among others, was to wean away investors from buying physical gold, and invest in paper gold, as high gold imports put pressure on the current account deficit, the gap between export and import of goods and services.
• India’s current account deficit in April-September of financial year 2021-22 stood at 0.2 per cent of GDP, as against a surplus of 3 per cent in the year-ago period on the back of a sharp increase in the trade deficit.

About the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme:

• The sovereign gold bond was introduced by the Government in 2015.
• The government introduced these bonds to help reduce India’s over-dependence on gold imports.
• The move was also aimed at changing the habits of Indians from saving in the physical form of gold to a paper form with Sovereign backing.
• Joint Holder: In the case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 kg will be applied to the first applicant only.

• Collateral: Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to the ordinary gold loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

Merits of investing in gold bonds:

• For investors, it is advisable to invest in gold for portfolio diversification.
• Sovereign gold bonds are considered one of the better ways of investing in gold as along with capital appreciation, an investor gets a fixed rate of interest.
• Apart from this, it is tax-efficient as no capital gains are charged in case of redemption on maturity.
• Sovereign gold bonds are a good way to ensure an investment that does not need physical storage of the gold.

Demerits of sovereign gold bonds

• This is a long term investment, unlike physical gold which can be sold immediately.
• Sovereign gold bonds are listed on an exchange but the trading volumes are not high, therefore it will be difficult to exit before maturity.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. POLAVARAM PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister announced that ₹5 lakh financial package would be given to the farmers who parted with their lands for the Polavaram irrigation project prior to the enactment of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

THE EXPLANATION:

The Chief Minister observed that the Polavaram irrigation project would be a lifeline for the entire State of Andhra Pradesh. “The Godavari and Krishna regions would flourish further once the project is commissioned”.

About the Project:

• Polavaram is a multi-purpose irrigation project which is under construction and located on river Godavari near Ramayyapet village of Polavaram Mandal of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. The project has been on cards for almost 75 years. This project is a dream for the 5-crore people of Andhra Pradesh. The project will be a one-stop solution for all the water needs of the state.
• The project reservoir has live storage 75.2 TMCs at canal’s full supply level of 41.15 metres (135 ft) MSL and gross storage of 194 TMCs thereby enabling irrigation of 23,20,000 acres (including stabilisation of existing irrigated lands).
• Polavaram will benefit all the 13 districts of A.P, directly and indirectly.
• Polavaram project dam being built on River Godavari can help divert and utilise Godavari water to Krishna and other rivers. If executed well, this project can make the state drought-free forever.

Features of Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

• First time provision of Social Impact Assessment Study for proposed projects prior to Preliminary Notification.
• Recognize non owners as Affected Families like Share Croppers, Tenants and Agricultural Labourers
• A mode of Acquisition requiring consent of displaced persons ( for private companies 80% and for PPP projects 70%)
• Statutory rehabilitation and resettlement entitlements for the project affected families
• Restricted the grounds on which land may be acquired under the urgency clause
• Recognition of principle of Social cost minimisation
• Special Provision for food security U/S 10 of the Act.
• Return of land to Land Bank/Original Owners as per section 101 of the Act.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

5. THE PRACTICE OF “NOKKUKOOLI”-GAWKING FEE

THE CONTEXT: Various trade unions in Kerala, said that they would take steps to end the anarchic trends in the industry, including ‘Nokkkooli’ and surprise strikes. The organisation also said they would stand by government measures to end practices that hinder industrial growth and increase the productivity of workers.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Nokkukooli?

• Nokkukooli is a type of wage meant for workers overseeing the work of fellow workers.
• This practice has been widespread among the head-load workers who are basically labourers involved in loading and unloading activities.
• A Registered head-load worker demands Nokkukooli for either doing the loading or unloading work himself or when he gets the job done though his own worker.
• Various laws were also enacted to ensure the rights of working to carry loads for loading and unloading were protected.

What was the reason behind Kerala’s recent decision?

• Nokkukooli became a notorious practice of demanding wages for just simply seeing the work as it was easy to appoint a worker to do the job.
• Head-load workers also started exhorting huge sums from construction sites where machines move heavy objects, on the grounds of denying their right to work.
• In recent years, the growth of infrastructure and other reality projects has allowed head-load workers to earn huge amounts as Nokkukooli.
• But all this is due to decline in the actual work for head-load workers as markets and packaging methods have changed.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 5^TH MARCH 2022

Q Consider the following statements about UNHRC:

1. It is made up of 47 United Nations Member States elected by the UN General Assembly.
2. Each elected member serves for a term of two years.
3. Countries are disallowed from occupying a seat for more than two consecutive terms.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)1 only

b) 1 and 3

c) 2 and 3

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 4^TH MARCH 2022

ANSWER: C)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: It is a popular ritual form of dance worship in Kerala (North Malabar).
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Theyyam is performed by males, except the Devakoothutheyyam; the Devakoothu is the only Theyyam ritual performed by women.
• Statement 3 is correct: The dance or invocation is generally performed in front of the village shrine. There is no stage or curtain or other such arrangements for the performance.

THE ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

1. A HISTORIC RESOLUTION TO TACKLE PLASTIC POLLUTION

THE CONTEXT: In a historic move, more than 170 countries at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee that will develop an international, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution by 2024.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the biggest environmental concerns worlds over. According to the World in Data, the world produced only 2 million tonnes of plastic per year in 1950. Since then, annual production has increased nearly 200-fold, reaching 381 million tonnes in 2015. A lot of plastic finds its way into natural systems and is also known to impact public health. At least 14 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean every year, according to the IUCN. Plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments.

India’s Picture:

• According to data submitted in the Parliament in 2019, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) estimates that India generates a whopping 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste per day. Of this, 60% is collected and recycled; the rest is littered in the environment. Some states have placed curbs on the use of some types of plastic. Himachal Pradesh, for instance, was the first state to ban plastic bags in 2009.
• By 2018, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha imposed bans on plastic and thermocol.
• Earlier Centre had announced in both 2018 and 2019 that India would phase out single-use plastics by 2022. That, however, has not yet materialized. The environment ministry recently notified the new Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules 2022, making it mandatory for plastic carry bags to be at least 120 microns thick: this will kick into effect from December 31, 2022. The rules also reportedly prohibit the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of several products with low utility but high littering potential.

Various Causes of Plastic Pollution

• Rapid urbanization and population growth increase the demand of cheap plastics.
• Since it is an affordable and durable material, it is utilized in every other way possible, from packaging materials to plastic bottles and containers, straws to plastic carry bags.
• Plastic takes 400 years and even more to Decompose. The decomposition rate of plastic typically ranges from 500 to 600 years, depending on the type.
• Abandoned Fishing Nets
• Disposal of plastic is often mismanaged; it ends up in landfills.
• Burning plastic is incredibly toxic and can lead to harmful atmospheric conditions and deadly illnesses.

Impact of Plastic Waste on Climate

• In 2015, greenhouse gas emissions from plastics were 1.7 gigatons of CO2 equivalent. By 2050, they’re projected to increase to approximately 6.5 gigatons. That number represents 15% of the whole global carbon budget.
• Plastic can also alter global carbon cycling through its effect on plankton and primary production in marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems.

Impact of Plastic Waste on Economy

• By 2040, there could be a $100 billion annual financial risk for businesses if governments require them to cover waste management costs. It can also lead to a rise in illegal domestic and international waste disposal.

Way forward:

• Policy shifts can reduce plastic pollution by incentivizing changes in both business and consumer behaviour, as well as in plastic design, alternatives and recycling.
• Governments can also impose taxes to deter the production or use of single-use plastics, or offer tax breaks, subsidies and other fiscal incentives to encourage alternatives to single-use plastic products.
• Product standards, certifications and labelling requirements can be designed to educate the public on the environmental impacts of plastic, and on the health and safety hazards involved in their production and use.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs can ensure that manufacturers maintain responsibility for single-use plastic products throughout the whole life cycles of those products.

2. NEW PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) RULES 2022

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 through which it has notified the guidelines on extended procedure responsibility for plastic packaging.

THE EXPLANATION:

The guidelines pave a roadmap for entities to shift towards sustainable plastic packaging. As per the notification, the new guidelines shall come to effect with immediate effect.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2022

New Classification for plastic

The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 seek to classify plastic in four primary categories as shown below:

• Category 1 will entail rigid plastic packaging;
• Category 2 shall entail flexible plastic packaging of an individual layer or multilayer (comprising different types of plastics, plastic covers & sheets made of plastic sheet, plastic sachet, carry bags.
• Category 3 shall include Multi-layered plastic packaging (comprising one layer of plastic and one layer of non-plastic).
• Category 4 shall include plastic sheets for carrying bags and packaging produced from compostable plastics.

Mandating PIBOs to share the detail of recycling certificates

• With regards to plastic packaging, the extended producer responsibility encompasses reutilization, recycling, use of recycled plastic content & end-of-life disposal by PIBOs (Producer Importers and Brand Owners).
• As per the new guidelines, the PIBOs shall have to facilitate the details pertaining to the recycling certificates only from authorized recyclers along with the particulars of quantity channelled for end of life disposal by June 30 of subsequent FY while filing annual returns on the web-based portal.

CPCB to launch a centralized web portal: A new web-based portal developed by CPCB shall reflect the plastic packaging material released into the marketplace by PIBOs in the FY. It will also manifest the particulars relating to the audit of the PIBOs and recyclers or other waste processors. The online system would serve as the single window data repository with regards to orders and directions relating to the deployment of EPR for plastic packaging under PWM rules, 2016.

 Environmental compensation will be imposed based upon the polluter pays principle, with regard to non-compliance of EPR targets by PIBOs, to safeguard and improve the quality of the environment and restrain, curb, and lessen the pollution.

Carry forward of unfulfilled EPR directions: It also state that unfulfilled EPR directions for a given year shall be carried forward to the subsequent year for the duration of three years.

Inculcation of new committee by SPCB: According to the new guidelines, the GOI has declared the establishment of a committee formed by the State pollution control board under the chairpersonship of CPCB chairman to suggest measures to the ministry of environment for seamless implementation of EPR including amendments to EPR directions.

Annual Report on EPR: Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022 mandate SPCBs or PCCs to furnish an annual report on the EPR web portal with regards to its fulfilment by PIBOs (which entail plastic packaging material manufacturers) & plastic waste processors in the State/UT to the CPCB.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

3. YOUTUBE CREATORS CONTRIBUTED $894 MILLION TO INDIA’S GDP IN 2020

THE CONTEXT: According to Oxford Economics, published a report, where it says, YouTube creator ecosystem contributed Rs 6,800 crore to the Indian economy. The Google-owned online video platform also supported 6,83,900 full-time equivalent jobs in India in 2020.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The report claims that YouTube has become a significant tool for small and medium sized business (SMB’s).” Through their own channel, targeted adverts or simply from watching You Tube content, businesses have successfully grown sales and connected with customers”.
• Terming the YouTube community an “emerging soft power”. “As our creators and artists build the next generation of media companies that are connecting with a global audience, their impact on the economy’s overall success will only continue to accelerate.”

THE INTERNAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. VILLAGE DEFENCE COMMITTEE IN JAMMU

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Home Affairs’ decision to revive the infamous village defence committees (VDCs) as village defence groups across Jammu and Kashmir contradicts the government’s claims about normalcy in the Union territory.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved a “Revised Scheme of Village Defence Groups (VDGs) in J&K” under which the erstwhile village defence committees will be designated as village defence groups.
• In more vulnerable areas the order provides that people who lead these village defence groups will be paid an honorarium of Rs 4,500 per month and other persons who are voluntary members of these groups will be paid an honorarium of Rs 4,000 a month for their participation.
• The use of civilians to aid in law enforcement is not something new in India. The Police Act, 1861, provides for the appointment of special police officers (SPOs) if a magistrate determines they are required. The appointment is more of a conscription as if a person fails to respond to the request they can be punished under the Act. However, their deployment in conflict zones like Jammu and Kashmir does raise certain issues, particularly, from a human rights perspective.
• There are three broad categories of armed forces that may be used in a conflict zone: regular military force, paramilitary force and the police force. The village defence guards will be under the supervision of the local police. Accordingly, they will constitute an extension of the third category.

Background:

• VDCs were first set up in J&K during the 1965 war. They were also used to keep a check on cross-border infiltration during the 1971 war.
• VDC policy in 1995, the Union Home Ministry unveiled a village defence committee (VDC) policy “to organise a small group, of volunteer armed civilians, in the identified villages along the borders as well as in-depth areas of Jammu division… to ensure the safety and security of such villages, infrastructural installations in and around them and to check the trans-border movement”.
• According to MHA, in recent years, as the situation started showing signs of improvement in Jammu and Kashmir, the VDCs also began to lose their clout. Due to paltry pay, which hasn’t been paid to them for nearly four years now, most of the VDCs have become dysfunctional.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. OLD STONE AGE CULTURE DISCOVERED IN CHINA

THE CONTEXT: Scientists discovered remnants of an Old Stone Age culture, less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Beijing, where ancient hominins used a reddish pigment called ochre and crafted tiny, blade-like tools from stone. The archaeological site, called Xiamabei, offers a rare glimpse into the life of Homo sapiens and now-extinct human relatives who inhabited the region some 40,000 years ago.

THE EXPLANATION:

The newly excavated site lies within the Nihewan Basin, a depression in a mountainous region of northern China. The excavation team found evidence of the culture about 8 feet (2.5 meters) underground, when they spotted a layer of dark, silty sediment that dated to between 41,000 and 39,000 years ago, based on radiocarbon dating and other analyses.

This Stone Age sediment contained a treasure trove of artifacts and animal remains, including more than 430 mammal bones; a hearth; physical evidence of ochre use and processing; a tool made of bone; and more than 380 miniaturized lithics, or small tools and artifacts made of chipped or ground stone.

Based on the available evidence, however, they could not determine exactly how the pigment was used. Ochre can be used in adhesives, for example, or in “symbolic applications” such as rock art paint or paint that’s applied to the body as both cosmetic decoration and sunscreen.

According to excavators, “Distinguishing between symbolic and functional uses of ochre in the material culture record is an ongoing challenge for prehistoric archaeologists.”

Value Addition:

What is Carbon Dating?

Radiocarbon dating or carbon dating or carbon-14 dating is a method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of radiocarbon, a radioactive isotope of carbon. Unstable carbon-14 gradually decays to carbon-12 at a steady rate

How does it work?

• Radiocarbon dating works by comparing the three different isotopes of carbon. Isotopes of a particular element have the same number of protons in their nucleus but different numbers of neutrons. This means that although they are very similar chemically, they have different masses.
• The total mass of the isotope is indicated by the numerical superscript. While the lighter isotopes 12C and 13C are stable, the heaviest isotope 14C (radiocarbon) is radioactive. This means its nucleus is so large that it is unstable.

6. MEKEDATU PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: Karnataka plans to construct a balancing reservoir or a storage dam built downstream of the main reservoir to capture excess water that flows out – over the river Cauvery. Estimated to cost around Rs 9,000 crore, also the state believes it would resolve the drinking water shortage in the districts of Bengaluru and Ramanagara and also generate hydroelectricity to meet the power needs of the state.

THE EXPLANATION:

WHAT IS THE MEKEDATU PROJECT ?

Named after the village where the project is expected to be constructed, the reservoir will have a capacity of 284,000 million cubic feet (TMC). It is proposed to be built over the Cauvery River, which is why Tamil Nadu has been vehemently opposing it.

PARCHED BENGALURU

• According to a 2021 report, Karnataka at a Glance by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Bengaluru’s urban population was 96.21 lakh in 2011 and was projected to rise to 1.42 crore by 2021. Located in a semi-arid peninsular plateau region, the city relies heavily on two rivers, Cauvery and Arkavathi to meet its water needs.
• Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) calculates the demand for water to be 1,400 million per day (MLD).
• However, there have been several reports claiming that Bengaluru will go dry in the next few decades.
• An analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) also found that the total number of extraction wells in the city had shot up from 5,000 to 4,50,000 in the past 30 years.
• The environmental perspective, it is hugely destructive to the Cauvery wildlife and river life.
• Reports by entities like NITI Aayog claiming that Bengaluru will be among India’s 21 cities to run out of groundwater soon sound alarmist.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 4^TH MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Theyyam:

1. It is a popular ritual form of dance worship in Kerala.
2. It is only performed by males.
3. There is no stage for the performance.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) All of them

 ANSWER FOR 3^RD MARCH 2022

Answer: 1 & 2

Explanation:

THE CONTEXT: The United States has once again included India in its monitoring list of countries with potentially “questionable foreign exchange policies” and “currency manipulation”.The designation of a country as a currency manipulator does not immediately attract any penalties but tends to dent the confidence about a country in the global financial markets. This article discusses US’s currency watch list and its implications on India.

WHAT DOES THE TERM ‘CURRENCY MANIPULATOR’ MEAN?

• This is a label given by the US government to countries it feels are engaging in “unfair currency practices” by deliberately devaluing their currency against the dollar.
• The practice would mean that the country in question is artificially lowering the value of its currency to gain an unfair advantage over others.
• This is because the devaluation would reduce the cost of exports from that country and artificially show a reduction in trade deficits as a result.

ALL ABOUT US’s CURRENCY WATCH LIST

Why is India on the monitoring list?: 

The US Department of Treasury releases the semi-annual report where it has to track developments in international economies and inspect foreign exchange rates.

• India, which has for several years maintained a “significant” bilateral goods trade surplus with the US, crossed the $20 billion mark, according to the latest report.
• The bilateral goods trade surplus totaled $22 billion in the first four quarters through June 2020.
• Based on the central bank’s intervention data, India’s net purchases of foreign exchange accelerated notably in the second half of 2019.
• Following sales during the initial onset of the pandemic, India sustained net purchases for much of the first half of 2020, which pushed net purchases of foreign exchange to $64 billion–or 2.4% of GDP–over the four quarters through June 2020.

India and Singapore had intervened in the foreign exchange market in a “sustained, asymmetric manner” but did not meet other requirements to warrant designation as manipulators.

What are the parameters used: 

An economy meeting two of the three criteria in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is placed on the Watch List. This includes:

• A “significant” bilateral trade surplus with the US — one that is at least USD 20 billion over a 12-month period.
• A material current account surplus equivalent to at least 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) over a 12-month period.
• “Persistent”, one-sided intervention — when net purchases of foreign currency totaling at least 2% of the country’s GDP over a 12 month period are conducted repeatedly, in at least six out of 12 months.

Consequence: 

• Inclusion in the list does not subject to any kind of penalty and sanctions but it deteriorates the global financial image of the country in the financial markets in terms of foreign exchange policies including undervaluation of currencies to gain export advantages.
• According to some experts, the tag could lead to rupee appreciation as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) might step back from its dollar purchases.

Other countries on the list:

• The US Department of the Treasury Office of International Affairs, in its latest report to the US Congress, has included India, Taiwan, and Thailand in its Monitoring List of major trading partners that “merit close attention” to their currency practices and macroeconomic policies.
• Other countries in the latest list comprise China, Japan, Korea, Germany, Italy, Singapore, and Malaysia.

UNDERSTANDING CURRENCY MANIPULATION

• Consider the laws of demand and supply. The value of a commodity rises when there’s considerable buying pressure and it tumbles when people start selling it en masse. It’s the age-old maxim that applies to almost everything you see around you, including currencies.
• So when the Reserve Bank of India shows an insatiable desire to buy the Indian currency by selling the US Dollar, then you are most likely to see an appreciation in its value. And when they start selling the rupee in exchange for dollars, then the value of our currency depreciates.
• In general, countries prefer their currency to be weak because it makes them more competitive on the international trade front.
• A lower currency makes a country’s exports more attractive because they are cheaper on the international market. For example, a weak Rupee makes Indian exports less expensive for offshore buyers.
• By boosting exports, a country can use a lower currency to shrink its trade deficit.
• A weaker currency alleviates pressure on a country’s sovereign debt obligations.
• After issuing offshore debt, a country will make payments, and as these payments are denominated in the offshore currency, a weak local currency effectively decreases these debt payments.

IMPACT ON INDIA

WAYFORWARD:

• India has traditionally tried to balance between preventing excess currency appreciation on the one hand and protecting domestic financial stability on the other.
• India being on the watch list could restrict the RBI in the foreign exchange operations it needs to pursue to protect financial stability. This comes when global capital flows threaten to overwhelm domestic monetary policy.
• The two most obvious consequences could be an appreciating rupee as well as excess liquidity that messes with the interest rate policy of the RBI.
• Other things remaining the same, government securities may also gain marginally as the RBI could choose OMOs to provide primary liquidity.

CONCLUSION:

• It will be a tall ask for India to be able to qualify all three conditions of the US Treasury to be tagged as a currency manipulator.
• Thus for India, it would not lead to any meaningful change in diplomatic and trade ties with the US. However, it may keep RBI somewhat guarded on aggressive forex intervention if capital flows continue to flood Indian shores, and thus could be mildly positive for the rupee.

JUST TO ADD IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE

EXCHANGE RATE

• The exchange rate is the price of one currency in terms of another currency.
• It often determines the affordability of buying or selling internationally. For instance, if one wants to buy a car produced in the U.S. that will involve two transactions: one, using rupees to buy dollars; two, using these dollars to buy the car.
• The exchange rate for any currency would be determined by the interplay of its demand and supply. For instance, if more Indians want to buy US goods, there would be a higher demand for the dollar relative to the rupee. This, in turn, would mean the dollar would be “stronger” than the rupee — and gain in strength as the demand increases.
• If demand falls, the dollar would depreciate relative to the rupee (or the rupee would appreciate relative to the dollar).
• Sometimes a central bank of a country intervenes to reduce wild fluctuations in the exchange rate. But excessive and undisclosed interventions are not considered fair.
• For instance, if China’s central bank buys dollars in the forex market, it can artificially weaken the yuan — and Chinese goods will then become more affordable (and competitive) in the international market.

[WpProQuiz 172]

1. Elective identity, religion and gender READ MORE
2. Valuation Of Values READ MORE

1. Climate challenge: India must adapt fast to be future-ready READ MORE
2. India identifying, defining forests wrongly, say experts at Anil Agarwal Dialogue READ MORE

1. Chauvinist India: A Pew survey holds the mirror up to men as regards women’s status at home and in society READ MORE
2. The many symbols of religion and resistance READ MORE

1. Lines and roles: The time may have come for clarifyingthe role and functions of Governors READ MORE   
2. Disquiet in states over officers’ Central deputation READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Congress promises Mekedatu project when voted to power READ MORE
2. War in Ukraine: China-backed AIIB freezes Russia, Belarus loans READ MORE
3. At UNHRC, India calls for immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities in Ukraine READ MORE
4. Quad Announces New Mechanism on Ukraine Response, Agrees Not to Repeat Crisis in Indo-Pacific READ MORE
5. UN Adopts Historic Resolution to Tackle Plastic Pollution READ MORE
6. Old Stone Age culture discovered in China READ MORE
7. Afterglow of a possible kilonova explosion creates a buzz READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Chauvinist India: A Pew survey holds the mirror up to men as regards women’s status at home and in society READ MORE
2. The many symbols of religion and resistance READ MORE
3. India identifying, defining forests wrongly, say experts at Anil Agarwal Dialogue READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Lines and roles: The time may have come for clarifyingthe role and functions of Governors READ MORE   
2. Disquiet in states over officers’ Central deputation READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Care informed by data: India must pursue schemes for rehabilitation of children orphaned by the pandemic READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The ‘global rules-based order’ is an idealistic myth READ MORE
2. Shrinking foreign policy space for India READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Explained: War impact, beyond oil READ MORE
2. One step forward, two steps back READ MORE
3. Modi govt rethinks Gold Monetisation Scheme, feels it’s too expensive, hasn’t achieved aim READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. Climate challenge: India must adapt fast to be future-ready READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Find space for new science, its ethical dilemmas: In election-obsessed India, there is hardly any time to discuss the advances of modern science and the repercussions READ MORE

SECURITY

1. India’s national security: Imperatives for 2022 READ MORE
2. The digital threat: India’s cyber-security strategy needs a credible deterrence capacity READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Elective identity, religion and gender READ MORE
2. Valuation Of Values READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. The economic impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine is not confined to oil. It extends as much to agricultural commodities and fertilisers. What do the soaring prices of these commodities mean for India and how India can address the issue?
2. What are the main factors responsible for gender inequality in India? Discuss the contribution of Savitribai Phule in this regard.
3. Discuss, how ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis shrinking foreign policy space for India and what should be the way forward for India’s foreign policy?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• You never know how strong you are, until being strong is your only choice.
• In election-obsessed India, there is hardly any time to discuss the advances of modern science and the repercussions.
• India must pursue schemes for rehabilitation of children orphaned by the pandemic.
• While the study does include revised estimates for all the nations, the message that it seeks to convey is the absolute urgency with which governments must incorporate childcare into any COVID-19 management programme.
• The economic impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine is not confined to oil. It extends as much to agricultural commodities and fertilisers.
• That is the state of corporate governance in India where promoters have been, of late, successful in delaying or even reversing well intentioned regulations.
• A comprehensive National Security Doctrine for India must be defined so that there is no ambiguity even with a change in Government.
• India needs to update its cyber-security strategy to incorporate this aspect as well.

50-WORD TALK

• Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari winding up his address to the joint session of legislature within a minute and walking out was uncalled for. Disruption by legislators was deplorable but Koshyari’s response was disproportionate. Governors acting like sovereigns in non-NDA-ruled states is damaging India’s federal system. The Centre must intervene.
• Kerala High Court’s division bench upholding central government’s ban on Media One TV without fully disclosing reasons for refusing security clearance, is disturbing. The news channel has the right to know why it’s being banned in the least to seek redressal. The higher judiciary should protect this right, not secrecy.

Things to Remember:

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

1. An appetite for war but no place for peace: Millennia after Ashoka’s well-articulated moral discourse against war, the world is far from walking the talk READ MORE
2. Key findings on Indian attitudes toward gender roles READ MORE

1. IPCC sounds another climate warning READ MORE
2. What the New IPCC Climate Report Portends for India and South Asia READ MORE
3. Climate, land use change threaten sustainable reindeer herding in the Arctic: IPCC Report READ MORE

1. Key findings on Indian attitudes toward gender roles READ MORE
2. Gender norms aren’t a monolith in India READ MORE
3. Aging Concerns READ MORE

1. Lines and roles: The time may have come for clarifyingthe role and functions of Governors READ MORE   
2. Rules for deputation of DIGs: what Centre proposes to change, and why READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. N. General Assembly asks Russia to pull back troops READ MORE
2. Exports up 22.36% to $33.81 billion in February; trade deficit widens to $21.19 billion READ MORE
3. Explained: What constitutes a war crime? READ MORE
4. India rated ‘partially free’ for second consecutive year in Freedom House report READ MORE
5. At UN General Assembly, India Abstains From Resolution Criticising Russian Actions in Ukraine READ MORE
6. Global food systems emissions alone can cause global warming to exceed 1.5°C: CSE report READ MORE

Main Exam    

GS Paper- 1

1. Key findings on Indian attitudes toward gender roles READ MORE
2. Gender norms aren’t a monolith in India READ MORE
3. Aging Concerns READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Lines and roles: The time may have come for clarifyingthe role and functions of Governors READ MORE   
2. Rules for deputation of DIGs: what Centre proposes to change, and why READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. The post-pandemic crisis in schooling and higher education portends a grim future for India’s students, especially the poor READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. In war-torn Ukraine, has international law failed us once again? READ MORE
2. Will Russia’s war spur trade diversification? READ MORE
3. How Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has undermined strategic choices available to India READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Our green energy policy needs a close relook READ MORE
2. IPO dilemma READ MORE
3. Ukraine crisis could stall economic recovery READ MORE
4. For India to measure poverty and achieve development goals, it needs a multipronged approach READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. IPCC sounds another climate warning READ MORE
2. What the New IPCC Climate Report Portends for India and South Asia READ MORE
3. Climate, land use change threaten sustainable reindeer herding in the Arctic: IPCC Report READ MORE

SECURITY

1. The history of the Kuki insurgency in Manipur READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. An appetite for war but no place for peace: Millennia after Ashoka’s well-articulated moral discourse against war, the world is far from walking the talk READ MORE
2. Key findings on Indian attitudes toward gender roles READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. To what extent, do you think that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has undermined strategic choices available to India? Analyse your view.
2. ‘Food production as a fundamental determinant of human well-being and progress faces a climate threat’. Discuss how India can minimize this threat.
3. Discuss the relevance of Ashoka’s Dhamma in the present world.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Millennia after Ashoka’s well-articulated moral discourse against war, the world is far from walking the talk.
• Far from addressing the situation, the NEP has been effectively sidelined.
• Green Hydrogen measures for cost reduction are welcome but much else could be done for India to achieve its larger goal.
• The so-called weakness of international law is a tale of the feebleness of global institutions and countries mandated to implement the law.
• The conflict between these two countries has wide-ranging ramifications on economic growth in India as well as other emerging economies.
• The old system provides social and economic security to employees; hence, the Rajasthan Govt decided to restore it in their larger interest.
• India to involve private players in a big way must ensure that future doctors are of international quality with Indian medical degrees. In sync with medical studies, the government’s budgetary spend on overall education too must go up significantly.
• Multidimensional poverty requires multidimensional indications and approaches. Therefore, only an administrative boundary-based approach ignoring the social group, natural resource dependency groups would be partial and ineffective in the last miles of target.

50-WORD TALK

• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s claim that 90% of Indians studying medicine abroad had failed NEET was tasteless — and wrong. NEET is a pre-requisite to study in many countries, although cut-offs are lower than in India. Students go abroad because India has historically failed to meet the demand for medical education.
• With India importing over 80% of its consumption, oil companies have no option but to raise prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas. Otherwise, they could be saddled with huge under-recoveries on these products. Raising prices will inevitably fuel inflation, which has already touched 6%, the upper end of the band fixed by the RBI. The cascading impact of diesel prices, in particular, will fuel inflationary pressures.

Things to Remember:

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

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. 19^TH EDITION OF INDIA-US MILITARY COOPERATION GROUP (MCG)

THE CONTEXT: The 19th edition of India-US Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was held in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The discussions focused on strengthening the ongoing defence engagements between the two sides and mulled on new initiatives under the ambit of existing cooperation mechanism.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The India-US MCG is a forum established to progress defence cooperation between the countries through regular talks at the strategic and operational levels between Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff and the US Indo-Pacific Command.
• The strengthening of the mechanisms of cooperation between the two militaries must be seen in the context of an increasingly aggressive China, which threatens a large number of countries in its neighbourhood and beyond, and which has been challenging several established norms and aspects of international relations.

Background:

• Amid the ongoing standoff on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh — the longest and most serious in three decades — India and the US intensified under-the-radar intelligence and military cooperation at an unprecedented level, especially since June 2019.
• India signed four foundational agreements of US, and they are:

2. WHAT CONSTITUTES A WAR CRIME?

THE CONTEXT: The International Criminal Court has announced that it will open an investigation into possible war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. There are specific international standards for war crimes.

THE EXPLANATION:

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, its troops have increasingly hit civilian sites with airstrikes and artillery, raising concerns that war crimes are being committed.

Amnesty International said Russia’s military was conducting “indiscriminate attacks” in Ukraine.

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described Russia’s missile strikes in civilian areas as war crimes, most recently, when the Russian army launched airstrikes on Kharkiv’s Freedom Square.

‘Laws of war’

• There are specific international standards for war crimes, which are not to be confused with crimes against humanity.
• War crimes are defined as serious violations of humanitarian laws during a conflict. The definition, established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) is derived from the 1949 Geneva Conventions and is based on the idea that individuals can be held liable for the actions of a state or its military.

The UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect separates war crimes from genocide and crimes against humanity. War crimes are defined as occurring in a domestic conflict or a war between two states, while genocide and crimes against humanity can happen in peacetime or during the unilateral aggression of a military towards a group of unarmed people.

 Distinction, proportionality, precaution

To decide whether an individual or a military has committed a war crime, international humanitarian law lays down three principles: distinction, proportionality and precaution.

• “The principle of distinction says that you have to be constantly trying to distinguish between civilian and belligerent populations and objects,” Kersten said, adding that this can be difficult.

“For example, attacking a barrack where there are people who have said they no longer participate in the conflict can be a war crime,” he said. “The same goes for bombing a military base where there are generators that supply hospitals with electricity.”

• The principle of Proportionality prohibits armies from responding to an attack with excessive violence. “If a soldier is killed, for example, you cannot bomb an entire city in retaliation”.
• The principle of Precaution requires parties to a conflict to avoid or minimize the harm done to the civilian population.

The Difference Between ICJ and ICC

About International Criminal Court:

• ​The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.
• The Court is participating in a global fight to end impunity, and through international criminal justice, the Court aims to hold those responsible accountable for their crimes and to help prevent these crimes from happening again.
• ​​The Court cannot reach these goals alone. As a court of last resort, it seeks to complement, not replace, national Courts. Governed by an international treaty called the Rome Statute, the ICC is the world’s first permanent international criminal court

THE GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES/SCHEMES IN NEWS

3. OPERATION GANGA

THE CONTEXT: Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Government of India launched ‘Operation Ganga’ initiative to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. Under this, India has already successfully brought back more than a 1,000 of its nationals from the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

• To ensure a safe evacuation of the stranded students, the Indian government has initiated ‘Operation Ganga’ to bring them home through alternate routes via Romania, Poland, Hungary and the Slovak Republic.
• Government also set up 24×7 control centres to assist in the evacuation of Indians through the border crossing points with Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic. A Twitter handle, ‘OpGanga Helpline’, has also been dedicated to the mission, where all information regarding evacuation process and advisories of embassies are shared to keep everyone up to date.
• Air India, Indian Air Force- C17 Globe Master, Spice Jet, Indigo joined the mission of evacuation of Indians who are stranded in Ukraine.

Why Indians flock to Ukraine to study medicine

According to the Indian Embassy in Ukraine, 18,000 of a total population of 20,000-odd Indians in Ukraine are students pursuing medicine and engineering courses. These students are also the largest group of the 76,000 international students studying in Ukraine

Ukraine colleges – cheaper, viable alternatives to India

• Students who don’t get a seat in government medical colleges in India or are unable to afford the steep fees of private medical colleges, find better prospects in Ukrainian medical colleges, getting admissions to which are comparatively easier and cheaper.
• While the fee to study in private colleges in India may range between ₹60 lakh and ₹1 crore, pursuing a six-year course in medicine in Ukraine would cost ₹15-₹22 lakh and is affordable for middle class parents.
• There is no mandate to clear any entrance examination to get admitted to medical colleges in Ukraine. And the certification is accepted globally.

4. STREE MANORAKSHA PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: Union Ministry of Women and Child Development organised an event, in collaboration with NIMHANS, the “Stree Manoraksha project” as part of International Women’s Day week from 1^st to 8^th March.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The project is aimed at extending mental health training to 6000 OSC functionaries across India. Later in the day, in the afternoon session, a consultative conclave on capacity building of OSCs was organized in collaboration with NALSA. The event was attended by Government officials, representatives of NIMHANS, NALSA and the representatives of OSCs from across the country.
• The event highlighted the current developments in the country and the initiatives that have been implemented through MWCD for the safety, security and enhancing psychological wellbeing of women.

5. “SAGAR PARIKRAMA PROGRAM”

THE CONTEXT: On the occasion of 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is going to launch a program “SAGAR PARIKRAMA” saluting our great freedom fighters, sailors and fishers.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The first leg of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ shall begin from Gujarat. Sagar Parikrama program is proposed to be celebrated in all coastal states/UT s through a pre-decided sea route down right from Gujarat, Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands to have interaction programme with fishermen, fisher communities and stakeholders in these locations and districts as a part of 75th “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava” in order to know the problems of Coastal Fisher folk.
• It’s one of the significant initiatives of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. An evolutionary journey is envisaged in the sea across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholder’s as a spirit of Aatma nirbhar Bharat.
• Government of India is in the forefront in transforming the fisheries sector and to formulate fisheries management plans along with regulatory framework towards effective fisheries governance to ensure sustainable and responsible development through an ecosystem approach. The journey of Sagar Parikrama shall focus on sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for food security of nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities and protection of marine ecosystems.
• The Country has a coastline of 8118km, covering 9 maritime States/4UTs and providing livelihood support to millions of coastal fisher folk.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

6. THE FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT

THE CONTEXT: India’s status remained as a “partially free” country for the second consecutive year in the annual report of Freedom House, a US government-funded non-profit that assesses the level of political rights and civil liberties across the globe.

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:

• The Freedom House report has been published annually since 1973. It uses surveys and analysis to tabulate indices around freedom and human rights. India was rated as a “free” country in 2018, 2019 and 2020, but through the years, its scores and rank have fallen.
• The Pegasus spyware scandal, ‘love jihad’ laws, and death of adivasi rights activist Stan Swami in custody were some of the major factors cited by the report as the reasons for India’s ‘partially free’ status. The country’s total score also fell from ’67’ in 2021 to ’66’ in 2022 out of 100. The scores are similar to Malawi in southeastern Africa and South American nation Bolivia.
• The report noted that “the current instances of discriminatory policies that persecuted Muslims and hounded NGO, Journalists, activists are presided over by the right-wing
• The report also highlighted the government’s response towards farmers protesting against the three agriculture laws and Opposition leaders being “arrested” by the government while trying to visit Lakhimpur Kheri, where a minister’s car had allegedly hit protesting farmers.
• The harassment of journalists, non-governmental organisations and other government critics has “increased significantly”, while Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis “remain economically and socially marginalised”.
• The report also took note of the Covid-19 pandemic in India and the resultant Information Technology Act that restricted any content around poor handling of the health crisis.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 3^rd MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements about the International Criminal Court:

1. It is the official court of United Nations.
2. It handles the subject matters of Maritime disputes and trades.
3. It headquartered at Hague.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 2^nd MARCH 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: These are Overseas Derivative Instruments that have Indian stocks as their underlying assets. They allow foreign investors to buy stocks listed on Indian exchanges without being registered.

Statement 2 is incorrect: These investments are considered as Foreign Institutional Investment (FII).

Statement 3 is correct: SEBI mandated that in addition to KYC, the anti-money laundering rules (AML) will also be applicable to P-Note holders.

[WpProQuiz 171]

1. Policies and People | The RE sector must be mindful of its impact on people READ MORE
2. Beware of the Avalanche of Stupidity Threatening to Bury Us All READ MORE

1. A cautionary tale: India must heed the warning of the IPCC report and shore up adaptation measures READ MORE
2. What the New IPCC Climate Report Portends for India and South Asia READ MORE
3. UNEA 5.2: Australia dumping plastic in ASEAN countries despite ending exports in 2020, shows report READ MORE

1. A history of clothing and why it matters: Understanding clothing and defiance of dress codes can build greater civility and respect for difference READ MORE
2. How Gandhi Offered an Antidote to Our Sanitised Economic Inequality Discourse READ MORE

1. Data mine: The proposed data use policy is good on intent but lacks clarity on critical aspects of privacy and transparency READ MORE  
2. Bombay HC Directs POCSO Act Offender to Compensate for Upbringing of Child Born Out of Sexual Assault READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. India expects West sanctions on Russia to impact key sectors, defence, engg could take big hit READ MORE
2. Investments through P-notes decline to ₹87,989 crore in January READ MORE
3. Explained: Why rule change in BBMB has become a flashpoint between Centre and Punjab READ MORE
4. UNEA 5.2: UN assembly to come up with an agreement on plastic pollution READ MORE
5. AFSPA extended in Assam for 6 more months with effect from Feb 28 READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. A history of clothing and why it matters: Understanding clothing and defiance of dress codes can build greater civility and respect for difference READ MORE
2. How Gandhi Offered an Antidote to Our Sanitised Economic Inequality Discourse READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Data mine: The proposed data use policy is good on intent but lacks clarity on critical aspects of privacy and transparency READ MORE  
2. Bombay HC Directs POCSO Act Offender to Compensate for Upbringing of Child Born Out of Sexual Assault READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The Ukraine war, India and a stand of non-alignment: New Delhi’s present position apart, the only lasting principle in foreign policy is the principle of national interest READ MORE
2. Ukraine challenge in changing global order READ MORE
3. Changing geopolitics: India must focus on creating a genuinely market-oriented economy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India Economic recovery still needs policy support READ MORE
2. DUET: A proposal for an urban work programme READ MORE
3. Unemployment crisis: Job creation a big challenge for governments READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY  

1. A cautionary tale: India must heed the warning of the IPCC report and shore up adaptation measures READ MORE
2. What the New IPCC Climate Report Portends for India and South Asia READ MORE
3. UNEA 5.2: Australia dumping plastic in ASEAN countries despite ending exports in 2020, shows report READ MORE

SECURITY

1. The history of the Kuki insurgency in Manipur READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Policies and People | The RE sector must be mindful of its impact on people READ MORE
2. Beware of the Avalanche of Stupidity Threatening to Bury Us All READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The proposed data use policy is good on intent but lacks clarity on critical aspects of privacy and transparency’. Comment.
2. Recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia shows that UNSC is failed as facilitators of global peace. In the light of the this development analyse the reforms required in UNSC.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Some of the greatest battles will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul.
• Modest growth signals in third quarter point to need for continuing stimulus.
• The role of fiscal and trade policy will be dominant, but monetary policy will continue to have a crucial role in maintaining stable financial markets to reduce at least one component of uncertainty.
• The proposed data use policy is good on intent but lacks clarity on critical aspects of privacy and transparency.
• The Centre can convert the data use policy itself into a Bill and get it enacted as a law by the Parliament given that public funds will be used to set up the institutional framework to implement it.
• As India transitions towards a low-carbon economy, it is critical that its future energy systems are designed to foreground ecological health, human dignity and well-being.
• Russia’s unprovoked assault on the territorial integrity of Ukraine has ramifications for global political stability. It raises once again the profoundly important question about the role and relevance of the UN and its instrumentalities as facilitators of global peace.
• Contemporary India will do well to urgently move away from a technocratic Kuznets Ratio world and embrace the normative and political promise of the Gandhi-Irwin Ratio.

50-WORD TALK

• Slower Q3 GDP growth and lower forecast for the full year is bad news for India’s economic recovery. Tackling the fallout of the Ukraine crisis and containing inflation should be Modi government’s priority. For starters, it should cut taxes to prevent petrol-diesel prices from soaring after voting ends in UP.

Things to Remember:

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

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIA EXPECTS WEST SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA COULD TAKE BIG HIT

THE CONTEXT: According to the Government sources, amid crisis between Russia and Ukraine are mounting that wide-ranging Western sanctions on Russia will have a harsh impact on strategically important sectors in India, especially defence and engineering.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In a joint statement the United States (US), the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom (UK), Italy, Germany, France, and Canada agreed on restrictive measures that will prevent the Russian central bank from using its foreign exchange reserves to undermine the impact of the sanctions.
• They also decided to cut off some Russian banks from the SWIFT inter-banking system, a move meant to isolate Russia from global trade.
• Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication or SWIFT is a messaging system that facilitates cross-border transactions in a timely manner and has become the backbone of international financial trade.
• According to sources, the government is still in the process of reviewing the sectors likely to be hit hardest by the sanctions and devising mechanisms to deal with the blow.
• The sanctions will not only “deeply impact” India’s defence trade with Russia, they will “adversely impact” New Delhi’s trade with Moscow when it comes to other commodities such as engineering goods, automobile components, pharmaceuticals, telecom equipment and agricultural products.

Value Addition:

Bilateral trade between India & Russia

• According to the commerce ministry, India’s bilateral trade with Russia during 2020-21 amounted to $8.1 billion. Indian exports totalled $2.6 billion, while imports from Russia amounted to $5.5 billion.
• While India exports electrical machinery, pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, iron & steel, apparel, tea, coffee, and vehicle spare parts to Russia, it imports defence equipment, mineral resources, precious stones and metals, nuclear power equipment, fertilisers, electrical machinery, articles of steel and inorganic chemicals, from the country.

India-Russia payment mechanism 

• This is not the first time that economic sanctions have been imposed on Russia. In 2014, after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the US and other western nations imposed economic sanctions, limiting the dollar trade between Russia and the rest of the world.
• In 2019, India selected Chennai-headquartered Indian Bank for transacting with Russian bank VTB for payments for their imports. The idea was that these banks would have the least exposure to the US currency. It is unclear whether Indian Bank will be used for transacting with Russia under the current sanctions.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. INVESTMENTS THROUGH P-NOTES DECLINE IN JANUARY 2022

THE CONTEXT: According to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) data, the value of P-note investments in Indian markets — equity, debt and hybrid securities — was at ₹87,989 crore by the end of January compared to ₹95,501 crore at December-end.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Experts believe that foreign investors will continue with their negative stance amid the Ukraine crisis. Also, with Omicron fears largely behind, investors were hopeful of a rapid recovery in the global economy. However, with the US Federal Reserve taking a ‘faster and sooner’ stance on rate hikes investors have been cutting their holdings in risk assets across the board.
• P-notes are issued by registered Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to overseas investors who wish to be a part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly.

What is P-Notes?

• Participatory notes also referred to as P-Notes, or PNs, are financial instruments required by investors or hedge funds to invest in Indian securities without having to register with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
• P-Notes are among the group of investments considered to be Offshore Derivative Investments (ODIs). Citigroup (C) and Deutsche Bank (DB) are among the biggest issuers of these instruments.
• Any dividends or capital gains collected from the securities goes back to the investors. Indian regulators are generally not in support of participatory notes because they fear that hedge funds acting through participatory notes will cause economic volatility in India’s exchanges.

How Do Participatory Notes Work?

• Participatory notes are offshore derivative instruments with Indian shares as underlying assets. Brokers and foreign institutional investors registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issue the participatory notes and invest on behalf of the foreign investors. Brokers must report their participatory note issuance status to the regulatory board each quarter.
• The notes allow foreign investors with high net worth, hedge funds, and other investors, to participate in the Indian markets without registering with the SEBI. Investors save time, money and scrutiny associated with direct registration.

Pros and Cons of Participatory Notes

• Participatory notes are easily traded overseas through endorsement and delivery. They are popular because investors anonymously take positions in Indian markets, and hedge funds may anonymously carry out their operations. Some entities route their investments through participatory notes to take advantage of tax laws that are available in certain countries.
• However, because of the anonymity, Indian regulators face difficulty determining a participatory notes original owner and end owner. Therefore, substantial amounts of unaccounted for money enters the country through participatory notes. This flow of untracked funds has raised some red flags.

THE INTERNAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

3. THE EXTENSION OF AFSPA IN ASSAM

THE CONTEXT: The Assam government extended the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in the entire state for six more months with effect from February 28.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Assam government, “after reviewing the law and order situation in Assam in the past six months, the state government has declared the entire State of Assam as ‘Disturbed Area’ up to 6 (six) months with effect from 28/02/2022.
• The government had last extended the “Disturbed Area” status of the state for another six months with effect from August 28 in the year 2021, thereby continuing the application of the AFSPA.
• The AFSPA was imposed in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since then after a review by the state government.
• Civil society groups and rights activists have been demanding withdrawal of the “draconian law” from the North East claiming violation of human rights by the armed forces.

VALUE ADDITION:

How is a region declared ‘disturbed’?

• Section (3) of the AFSPA empowers the governor of the state or Union territoryto issue an official notification in The Gazette of India, following which the Centre has the authority to send in armed forces for civilian aid.
• Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region has to maintain the status quo for a minimum of three months, according to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976.

Criticism of AFSPA:

• Sec 4(a) in which army can shoot to kill, as it violates article 21 which gives the right to life.
• Section 4(b) search without warrants violates the right to liberty and article 22.
• Dispersion of civil assembly by armed forces under section 121 violates the right to assembly
• No judicial magistrate permission required while arresting –violate article 22
• Overrides CrPC.
• Violation of human rights.
• It alienates the people from the army and then from the rest of India. A feeling of other worldliness is generated in their mind.

4. EXPLAINED: THE HISTORY OF THE KUKI INSURGENCY IN MANIPUR

Who are the Kukis?

The Kukis are an ethnic group including multiple tribes originally inhabiting the North-Eastern states of India such as Manipur, Mizoram and Assam; parts of Burma (now Myanmar), and Sylhet district and Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh. While Kuki is not a term coined by the ethnic group itself, the tribes associated with it came to be generically called Kuki under colonial rule.

In Manipur, the various Kuki tribes, living mainly in the hills, currently make up 30% of the total 28.5 lakh population of the State. While Churachandpur is their main stronghold, they also have a sizable population in Chandel, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal and Senapati districts.

The rest of the population of Manipur is made up mainly of two other ethnic groups — the Meiteis or non-tribal, Vaishnavite Hindus who live in the valley region of Manipur, and the Naga tribes, historically at loggerheads with the Kukis, also living in the hilly areas of the State.

What led to the Kuki insurgencies in Manipur?

• Manipur, formerly a princely state including parts of Burma, made the accession into India after Independence, but was only made a full-fledged State in 1972. The resentment over the “forceful” inclusion into India and delay in granting statehood led to the rise of various insurgent movements.
• The problem was intensified after Manipur was declared a ‘distubed area’ in 1980, under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives sweeping powers to the military and has led to excesses. Post-independence insurgent movements in Manipur, carried out by valley-based groups or Meiteis, can be traced back to around the 1960s, when various groups demanded self-determination and separate statehood for Manipur, inspired by left ideology.
• The roots of Kuki militancy lie in conflicts of ethnic identity. First was the demand for self-determination solely for groups belonging to their ethnic fabric, meaning the dream to form a Kukiland which includes Kuki inhabited regions of Myanmar, Manipur, Assam and Mizoram. The second reason for insurgency lies in the inter-community conflicts between the Kukis and the Nagas in Manipur.
• The Kuki-Naga conflict was started over securing identity and land as some Kuki inhabited areas coincided with Naga inhabited areas. Wanting to dominate trade and cultural activities in those areas the two communities often engaged in violent standoffs, with villages being torched, civilians killed and so on. Even though clashes have reduced in recent decades, tensions between the two ethnic groups still exist.

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

5. ZERO DISCRIMINATION DAY 2022

THE CONTEXT: To battle against the mentality that sparks issues, cases of violence, or general violence, Zero Discrimination Day is observed every year on March 1.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY:

• This year, the theme for Zero Discrimination Day is ‘Remove Laws That Harm, Create Laws That Empower.’ The theme signifies the ardent need to fight and take action against the myriad discriminatory laws in multiple countries that result in people being treated differently. While some laws harm the sanctity of human rights, some seem to cripple the fundamental freedom in society.
• The day was first launched by Michel Sidibe, director, UNAIDS, in December 2013. The next year on March 1, 2014, Zero Discrimination Day was observed for the very first time. UNAIDS led the way to cater to the people living with HIV/AIDS who face discrimination because of their ailment.
• The official symbol representing Zero Discrimination Day is a
• Discrimination has been prevalent in society as a glaring evil that highlights that underlying glitch in our understanding of humans. As humans, we have disintegrated ourselves into various categories based on gender identity, race, class, sexual orientation, sex, occupation, income, disability, etc.
• In India, this day backed the movement of the LGBTQIA+ community in India to repeal section 377 that criminalised homosexuality in the country. The law was finally repealed in September 2018.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 2^nd MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements about P-notes:

1. These are Overseas Derivative Instruments that have Indian stocks as their underlying assets.
2. These investments are considered as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
3. SEBI has mandated that KYC norms and Anti-Money Laundering rules (AML) will be applicable to P-Note holders.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 1^ST MARCH 2022

Q1. Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: It was established in 1988 by WMO and UNEP.
• Statement 2 is correct: It headquarter is hosted at WMO headquarters in Geneva.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: It is scientific body which reviews data submitted by countries and
• does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters.

Q2. Answer: C

Explanation:

1. Dardanelles Strait – The Aegean Sea and the Sea of Marmara.
2. Bosporus Strait – The Aegean Sea and the Black Sea.
3. Kerch Strait – The Black Sea and Sea of Azov.