1. The climate crisis threatens universal health care achievements READ MORE
2. The Great Indian Poverty Debate, 2.0 READ MORE
3. The likely demographic impact of the covid pandemic READ MORE

1. Data, interrupted: Reviving the official household spending survey is only a first step READ MORE  
2. View: The core issues for regulators in India are inadequate autonomy and lack of parliamentary accountability READ MORE
3. A paradigm shift in higher education READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. What is Cost disease READ MORE
2. India’s Labour Force Market Down From 46% To 40% In 6 Years: CMIE Report READ MORE
3. At $76.6 billion, India is third highest military spender in world, says report READ MORE
4. States vs Centre on selection of Vice-Chancellors: rules, friction READ MORE
5. Edible oil industry suggests govt initiate dialogue with Indonesia over palm oil ban READ MORE
6. COVID-19: Wasting in children increased in low, middle income countries due to economic shock READ MORE
7. Explained | The Raisina Dialogue 2022 and its significance READ MORE
8. Explained: European Union ground rules for Web READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. The likely demographic impact of the covid pandemic READ MORE

GS Paper- 1

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Data, interrupted: Reviving the official household spending survey is only a first step READ MORE  
2. View: The core issues for regulators in India are inadequate autonomy and lack of parliamentary accountability READ MORE
3. A paradigm shift in higher education READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. The climate crisis threatens universal health care achievements READ MORE
2. The Great Indian Poverty Debate, 2.0 READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. To counter China’s BRI, MEA launches growth model READ MORE
2. India, again, ‘Country of Particular Concern’ on religious freedom grounds, says U.S. Commission READ MORE
3. India, Europe and the Russian complication READ MORE

GS Paper- 1

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Bolstering IBC architecture – a joke READ MORE
2. The poverty debate is an opportunity for food subsidy reforms READ MORE
3. RBI’s hawkish stance on liquidity READ MORE
4. Regulating digital assets READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 

1. Centre-state coordination must for cleaner air READ MORE
2. Fulfilling CoP26 promises can limit global warming to 2°C: Study READ MORE

GS Paper- 1

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Learning to overcome prolonged grief READ MORE
2. Integrity is a way of life READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Analyse the importance of public data gathered from various surveys for effective policymaking by the government.
2. How far do you agree with this view that as India faces the dilemma of inflation and economic recession, the RBI should not focus on controlling inflation and consider other tools in its MPC meeting? Analyse your view with the help of appropriate examples.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Example, whether good or bad, has a powerful influence.
• Reviving the official household spending survey is only a first step.
• The greatest wrong of the pandemic is how inequitable the rollout of health tools has been.
• The world faces its greatest challenge since the founding of the UN after the Second World War. Historic challenges need historic leadership and time is not on our side.
• Ukraine war has persuaded Delhi to recalibrate its great power relations, compelled Brussels to wake up from geopolitical slumber.
• India appears to have had neither a baby boom nor bust but we do need the numbers for policy planning.
• We must remain focused on the issues of youth, education and employment, and at the same time of the elderly, namely healthcare, elderly care and pensions. This bar-belling of requirements will require skilful political navigation.
• CCRI has placed India as one of the 33 extremely high-risk countries with flooding and air pollution being the repeated environmental shocks, leading to socio-economic adverse consequences for women and children. The Covid pandemic made us a bit more conscious of our food choices and reduced food waste.
• We must build on that and insist on calculated purchasing and single-use packaging as the shopping norm. The mindset has to change from ‘food abundance’ mode to ‘food scarcity’.
• Against the backdrop of the poverty debate Sparked by the IMF and the World Bank working papers, the Centre must consider reforming food subsidies meaningfully.
• With inflation rising, a slower monetary policy tightening by RBI could accelerate de-anchoring of inflation expectations. RBI might “bite the bullet” by hiking policy rates in upcoming MPC meetings.

50-WORD TALK

• Emmanuel Macron’s re-election as France’s President is a triumph for European centrists. His rival, Marine Le Pen, had vowed to pull France out of NATO, scrap the Euro and slash taxes. Economic hardship and social divisions helped Le Pen—but most voters realised her populist nationalism wouldn’t solve these problems.
• The increasingly frequent fire incidents involving electric two-wheelers is worrying news for the emerging automobile sector. Manufacturers and the government should urgently put their heads together and come up with tough standards for EV batteries and e-bikes. Transition to EVs is critical but can’t be at the cost of safety.

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 211]

THE CONTEXT: In the first week of April 2022 the appalling spectacle of human beings dying inside sewer lines was repeated on the outskirts of the national Capital after four people died in the area of Delhi. Before it, the Ministry of Social Justice and Women Empowerment said that a total of 971 people lost their lives while cleaning sewers or septic tanks since 1993, the year law prohibiting the employment of manual scavengers was enacted.

THE DEVELOPMENT

• A total of 971 people lost their lives while cleaning sewers or septic tanks since 1993, the year law prohibiting the employment of manual scavengers was enacted
• Tamil Nadu accounted for 214 of the 971 “sewer deaths”, the highest in the country. Gujarat reported 156 such deaths and Uttar Pradesh 106, the data said.
• In 703 cases, ₹10 lakh as compensation had been paid to the families of the victims, and in 136, an amount of less than ₹10 lakh was given.
• However, the Minister said, a total of 161 people died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the last three years but there was no death by manual scavenging.

WHAT IS MANUAL SCAVENGING?

• Manual scavenging is a profession which has been in existence since human civilisation. The inhuman practice of manually removing human excrements from dry toilets with bare hands, brooms, or metal scrappers; carrying excrements and baskets to dumping sites for disposal, is not only diabolic but perhaps the highest degree of human rights violation.
• People are made to carry out manual scavenging in two basic forms: the cleaning of dry latrines, and the cleaning of sewers and septic tanks. Both are illegal under the Manual Scavenging Act.
• In the first case, casteist attitudes enforce people into carrying out this labour and then perpetuating their exploitation.
• The second is an urban mess coupled with ignorance, lack of awareness, or deliberate disregard for the law, which makes people carry out this work. This category is often rationalised with the logic of demand and supply.
• Manual Scavengers are usually self-employed or contract employees. “Self-employed” means a person who scavenges a group of households” dry latrines or drains etc. in a particular ward, for payment in cash and/or in-kind, by the house-owners. Contract employees would normally be those who are hired through contractors, by a municipal body or any other organization or a group of house owners, to scavenge individual or community dry latrines and open drains where night soil is disposed.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• based on census data, Risley, the Commissioner for 1901 Census, classified castes into seven main categories according to their social standing and ranked the Jatis in the local hierarchy and varna affiliation of each.
• The scavenging castes which were known by different names in different States like
• Bhangi, Balmiki, Chuhra, Mehtar, Mazhabi, Lal Begi, Halalkhor etc. in northern India;
• Har, Hadi, Hela, Dom, and Sanei, etc. in eastern India; Mukhiyar, Thoti, Chachati, Pakay, Relli, etc. in Southern India; and
• Mehtar, Bhangias, Halalkhor, Ghasi, Olgana, Zadmalli, Barvashia, Metariya, Jamphoda and Mela etc. in Western and Central India,

 Why is manual scavenging still prevalent in India?

• The lack of enforcement of the Act and exploitation of unskilled labourers are the reasons why the practice is still prevalent in India.
• For example, the Mumbai civic body charges anywhere between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 to clean septic tanks. Meanwhile, unskilled labourers are much cheaper to hire and contractors illegally employ them at a daily wage of Rs 300-500.
• According to a report by Safai Karmachari Andolan, 472 deaths due to manual scavenging had been recorded from 2016 to 2020 in Mumbai alone.

LEGAL / LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK AND COMMITTEES/COMMISSIONS FOR MANUAL SCAVENGERS

THE PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 1955: 

• It has been enacted to abolish the practice of untouchability and social disabilities arising out of it against members of the Scheduled Castes.
• Under the revised Act, the practice of untouchability was made both cognizable and non-compoundable offence and stricter punishment was provided for the offenders.

THE SCHEDULED CASTES & SCHEDULED TRIBES (PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES) ACT, 1989:

• The Act, inter alia, specifies some types of offenses as atrocities, provides for the imposition of stricter penalties for the guilty and sets up Special Courts for speedy trial of such cases.

EMPLOYMENT OF MANUAL SCAVENGERS AND CONSTRUCTION OF DRY LATRINES (PROHIBITION) ACT, 1993:

• It provides for the prohibition of employment of manual scavengers as well as construction or continuance of dry latrines and for the regulation of construction and maintenance of water-sealed latrines and matters connected therewith.
• The act made employing a manual scavenger a cognisable offense with imprisonment and a fine.
• The 1993 Act made it the responsibility of citizens, organisations, and the state to maintain sanitary toilets.

THE PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT AS MANUAL SCAVENGERS AND THEIR REHABILITATION ACT, 2013:

• It has widened the definition of manual scavenging and shifted the focus of initiatives to end manual scavenging beyond sanitation to protect the dignity of communities engaged as manual scavengers.
• The 2013 Act prohibits dry latrines and outlaws all manual cleaning of excrement and cleaning gutters, sewers, and septic tanks without protective gear.
• The act says National Commission for SafaiKaramcharis (NCSK) would monitor the Act’s implementation and inquire into complaints regarding contravention of the provisions of the Act.

SCHEMES FOR WELFARE AND REHABILITATION OF MANUAL SCAVENGER

VALMIKI MALIN BASTI AWASYOJNA (VAMBAY): 

• This scheme was launched in 2001 with the aim to provide shelter and upgrade the existing shelter for people living below the poverty line in urban slums which helps in making cities slum-free.
• The scheme is shared on a 50:50 basis with states.

TOTAL SANITATION CAMPAIGN (TSC):

• The Total Sanitation Campaign is a comprehensive programme to ensure sanitation facilities in rural areas with a broader goal to eradicate the practice of open defecation.
• TSC was initiated in 1999 when Central Rural Sanitation Programme was restructured making it demand-driven and people-centered.

NATIONAL SCHEME OF LIBERATION AND REHABILITATION OF SCAVENGERS (NSLRS):

• NSLRS was launched in 1992 to provide alternate employment to the scavengers and their dependents.
• Under NSLRS, the Government of India has formulated and issued guidelines to all States and their Special Central Assistance (SCAs) to form groups of 5 to 25 scavengers and start a production-cum-trading-cum service center for large-scale conversion of dry latrines through Sanitary Marts in which the loan component would be provided by the National SafaiKaramcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).

SELF-EMPLOYMENT SCHEME FOR THE REHABILITATION OF MANUAL SCAVENGERS: The scheme is a successor to NSLRS which provides for: –

• One-time cash assistance of Rs 40,000 each to the identified manual scavengers.
• Loan for undertaking livelihood projects uptoRs 15 lakh at a concessional rate of interest.
• Credit linked capital subsidy up to Rs 3,25,000.
• Skill development training for up to two years with a stipend of Rs 3000 per month.

SWACCH BHARAT ABHIYAAN: Some of the features of the mission that promotes prohibition on manual scavenging are:

• Conversion of insanitary toilets to pour flush toilets,
• Eradication of manual scavenging,
• Spreading awareness among the citizens about sanitation and its linkages with public health.

SOME MAJOR IMPLICATIONS OF MANUAL SCAVENGING

• the Increasing number of waste-pickers is considered a sign of growing poverty. In this way, the Right to life of scavengers remains under consistent threat.
• Right to equality and dignity are violated due to the continuance of such inhuman practice.
• Right of Food or right against Hunger is violated due to the continuance of the evil practice of Scavenging.
• Manual scavengers are exposed to the most virulent forms of viral and bacterial infections that affect their skin, eyes, and limbs, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. According to the Environmental Sanitation Institute, Gandhi Ashram, the majority of scavengers suffered from anaemia, diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Right to development is also violated.
• Many labourers have died cleaning septic tanks and drains due to poisonous gases as the majority of them are without the necessary safety equipment.
• Social Exclusion experienced by Manual Scavengers by Denying access to places of worship, public sources of water & exclusion from cultural events

WHY MANUAL SCAVENGING STILL PERSISTS?

A plethora of legislation was enacted for ensuring an equitable and casteless society, but the conditions of the scavenging communities have remained deplorable.

Govt apathy:

1. Poor implementation of the MSRA, 2013

• 6 Mn insanitary latrines still exist (NGO Safai Karamchari Andolan, Census 2011 data)
• 72% of these are in Andhra, Assam, J&K, Maha, TN, UP, and WB
• 3 million Dalits (mostly women) make living as manual scavengers (NGO data)

1. 99% reduction (2014 vs. 2017) in budgetary allocations by the center. This is despite GoI’s commitment to sanitation and a dedicated cess.
2. The National Safai Karmachari Commission which was mandated to implement the act has not been functioning properly. Its website has not been updated about recent developments and new initiatives.
3. The States/UTs are slow to identify insanitary latrines and manual scavengers as there is no time-bound plan for identifying insanitary latrines and manual scavengers.

Indian Railways:

• Continues to be the largest employer of Manual Scavengers (no data available about the no. of MS employed)
• Typically employs Manual Scavengers through ‘contractors’

Societal prejudice:

• popular insensitivity towards the issue
• the notion of caste and pollution
• stigmatisation of the dalits

Loopholes in the 2013 Law: 

• The 2013 Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act aimed to introduce safety measures for manual scavengers and encouraged their rehabilitation. Activists and manual scavengers have since criticized the law on the grounds that it does not strictly ban the practice.
• The 2013 Act allows manual scavenging if the employer provides ‘protective gear’; However, the Act does not define what constitutes ‘protective gear,’ creating a possibility for employers to exploit this provision.

Slow & inadequate rehabilitation of manual scavengers:

• Manual scavengers are mostly illiterate and have no exposure to any work, other than sanitation-related work. Many of them are old. They lack confidence for running self-employment projects. Many of them are not willing even to avail any skill development training.
• Banks are hesitant about providing loans to manual scavengers. Even many State Channelizing Agencies, due to the low rate of recovery of loans from safai karamcharis, are not willing to extend loans to manual scavengers.

What should be done?

• Without community participation and awareness this dehumanizing practice cannot be abolished. Government must try to create a favorable environment through community awareness and sensitization of local administration.
• Strict enforcement of criminal penalties of the 2013 act must be undertaken.
• As long as open defecation and dry latrines continue, manual scavenging is not likely to die, thus government must fasten the process of identification of insanitary toilets, their demolition, and rebuilding.
• Build the capacity of the community to promote rehabilitation efforts and self-reliance and also build leadership in the community with a particular focus on Dalit women
• Alternate means of employment should be generated for the impoverished people who are forced to become manual scavengers due to a lack of alternatives means of livelihood.
• Breaking caste barriers through education and economic uplift.
• Compensation sanctioned for the families of those who died in the course of the humiliating and hazardous work should be paid immediately.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS TO ELIMINATE MANUAL SCAVENGING

Despite legislation and widespread campaigning against manual scavenging, the inhuman practice continues in India. But when it comes to solutions, there are practically none. The lack of technological replacement for humans cleaning sewers and septic tanks is the biggest challenge that the country faces. So, how do we end this? Here’s a brief look and what can be done and what needs to be done:

Machines: 

• When it comes to cleaning the drains, jetting and sucking machines can only be used on large roads.
• The government should place orders for small machines to negotiate the smaller lanes.
• Companies can manufacture them according to the customers’ requirements.

Design:

• The government has made it a criminal offense to ask someone to carry out manual scavenging but has not backed it up with redesigning septic tanks.
• Septic tanks here are designed badly. They have engineering defects which means that after a point, a machine cannot clean them.
• Sucking machines suck out liquid waste from septic tanks, but sometimes, fecal matter hardens and solidifies.

Proper waste disposal:

• It doesn’t help that people flush all kinds of things down the toilet with no thought for its repercussions. Improper disposal of condoms, sanitary napkins, and diapers contributes to clogged drains that machines cannot clear. This also creates circumstances forcing people to enter sewers.

Bio-Toilets:

• Indian RAIL has rolled out new coaches with bio-toilets, using the bio-digester concept of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• In phases, all conventional toilets should be replaced with bio-toilets, and the Southern Railway is looking at having only bio-toilets.

Bandicoot Robot & Sewer Croc:

• Sewer Croc, Bandicoot, and 14 other machines are in various development and deployment stages, with no help from the Centre.
• India’s first ‘manhole cleaning robot’ called Bandicoot.
• The Sewer Croc team came together last year following a spate of deaths of manual scavengers, and after a meeting with SKA’s national convenor, Bezwada Wilson.
• However, there are R&D problems: for instance, manholes are not consistent in shape or size: some are square, some are round; some are cylindrical, some are conical, and their diameters vary.

The WAY FORWARD:

In India in the 21st century, which aspires to be a world power the practice of manual scavenging must be abolished; otherwise, it will remain a blot on India and its value system. An aggressive campaign for this which focus on the attitudinal change in all sections of the society must be followed. The National Commission for SafaiKaramchari must be made responsive and responsible to time needs. Swachh Bharat Mission may be used to actively target the conversion of insanitary latrines on a priority basis. Liberated manual scavengers must be linked to social security and other welfare schemes to ensure that they are not dependent on this inhuman work for their survival. With all these steps if taken seriously the problem of manual scavenging can be eliminated.

THE CONCLUSION: A slew of interventions are needed to end manual scavenging including better methods of sanitation in the railways — were one of the largest sections of manual scavengers are employed to clean tracks — and more efficient machines to empty septic tanks. It is not going to be possible to eliminate manual scavenging unless we create the right technologies.

BEST PRACTICE: MALAYSIA’S TRANSFORMATION

• In Malaysia, for instance, sewerage management has evolved in a phased manner from primitive systems to more mechanical and automated systems since the country’s independence in 1957.
• New and improved equipment has also been continuously introduced due to technological advancements. Over time, this has increased the expectations regarding environmental standards and the skill level in the design, and construction.
• In the 1950s there were instances of Chinese migrants who were made to do manual scavenging.
• It was not an overnight decision. Malaysia started to make this shift to mechanisation not because there was activism in place to eradicate manual scavenging like in India, but because they wanted to promote the country as a tourist destination. There was a big push from the government for this.
• The approach was taken by the Malaysian government, highly subsidised the construction and maintenance of sewage plants. They also carried out surveys and outreach programmes to educate citizens about how often they should get their septic tanks cleaned.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

1. INDIA’S TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA HIT A RECORD $77 BN IN FY22

THE CONTEXT: China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) data showed that India’s exports to China stood at $26.46 billion while its imports from China stood at $103.47 for April 2021 to March 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Despite the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ push and attempts to reduce the nation’s dependence on goods manufactured in China, India’s trade deficit with the neighbouring country hit a record $77 billion from April 2021 to March 2022.
• Electrical and electronic goods, machinery and fertilizers are the main drivers of India’s imports from China, according to the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), the apex trade promotion body under India’s commerce ministry.

• Unlike the GACC, which has provided data for the month of March 2022 the Indian commerce ministry has only furnished figures up to February this year (2022). From the Indian side, the trade deficit so far stands at approximately $65.34 billion from April 2021 to February 2022.
• According to commerce ministry data, this is still far higher than what was recorded in previous years – the trade deficit stood at $53.57 billion in 2018-19, $48.65 billion in 2019-20 and $44.02 billion in 2020-21.
• In fact, the trade deficit breached the $60 billion-mark was in 2017-2018 at $63 billion. Reports at the time attributed this to the significant decline in India’s exports of ores and cotton to China.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

India’s total trade with China was $125.7 billion in 2021. The sharp uptick in imports has pushed India’s trade deficit with China to $69.4 billion in 2021, up from $45.9 billion in 2020 and $56.8 billion in 2019.

2. INDIA’S OIL IMPORT BILL DOUBLES TO USD 119 BN IN FY22

THE CONTEXT: According to data from the oil ministry’s Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (India, the world’s third-biggest oil consuming and importing nation, spent USD 119.2 billion in 2021-22 (April 2021 to March 2022), up from USD 62.2 billion in the previous fiscal year PPAC).

THE EXPLANATION:

• India’s crude oil import bill nearly doubled to USD 119 billion in the fiscal year that ended on March 31 2022, as energy prices soared globally following the return of demand and war in Ukraine.
• According to PPAC, India imported 212.2 million tonnes of crude oil in 2021-22, up from 196.5 million tonnes in the previous year. This was, however, lower than pre-pandemic imports of 227 million tonnes in 2019-20. The spending on oil imports in 2019-20 was USD 101.4 billion
• India, which is 5 percent dependent on imports to meet crude oil needs, has a surplus refining capacity and it exports some petroleum products but is short on the production of cooking gas LPG, which is imported from nations like Saudi Arabia.
• Import of petroleum products in the 2021-22 fiscal was 40.2 million tonnes worth USD 24.2 billion. On the other hand, 61.8 million tonnes of petroleum products were also exported for USD 42.3 billion.
• Besides, India also spent USD 11.9 billion on the import of 32 billion cubic meters of LNG in 2021-22. This compared to USD 7.9 billion spent on the import of 33 bcm of gas in the previous fiscal and USD 9.5 billion on the import of 33.9 bcm in 2019-20.
• India had spent USD 62.2 billion on the import of 196.5 million tonnes of crude oil in the previous 2020-21 fiscal when global oil prices remained subdued in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A higher crude oil import bill is expected to dent the macroeconomic parameters.
• The country’s import dependence has increased owing to a steady decline in domestic output. The nation produced 32.2 million tonnes of crude oil in 2019-20, which fell to 30.5 million tonnes in the following year and to 29.7 million tonnes in FY22, the PPAC data showed.
• According to PPAC, India’s oil import dependence was 85 percent in 2019-20, which declined marginally to 84.4 percent in the following year before climbing to 85.5 percent in 2021-22.

QUICK FACTS

Where does India import oil?

India imports most of its oil from the Middle East, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia being primary.

India‘s crude oil imports according to regions

1. Middle East: 52.7 %
2. Africa: Africa:15%
3. United States: 14%

Top Five countries  where India imports most of its crude oil from:

1. Iraq
2. United States
3. Nigeria
4. Saudi Arabia
5. UAE

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY, AND CLIMATE CHANGE

3. PALLI IN JAMMU BECOMES INDIA’S FIRST CARBON-NEUTRAL PANCHAYAT

THE CONTEXT: Palli village in Jammu’s Samba district has become the country’s first panchayat to become carbon neutral, fully powered by solar energy, and with all its records digitized and saturation of benefits of all the Central schemes.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Inaugurating the 500 KW solar plant at the country’s first carbon-neutral panchayat, Prime Minister it would take three weeks to move a ‘Sarkari’ file from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir but this project with the help of villagers was completed in a record time of three weeks.
• All 1,500 solar panels put up in a total area of 6,408 square metres, as per the officials, will provide clean electricity to 340 houses in the model panchayat under the Centre’s ‘Gram Urja Swaraj’ programme.

VALUE ADDITION:

• Carbon neutrality means every ton of anthropogenic CO2 emitted is compensated with an equivalent amount of CO2 removed, according to the World Resources Institute.
• In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon neutrality by the mid-21st century is essential. This target is also laid down in the Paris agreement signed by 195 countries, including the EU.
• Carbon sink is any system that absorbs more carbon than it emits.
• The main natural carbon sinks are soil, forests and oceans.
• To date, no artificial carbon sinks are able to remove carbon from the atmosphere on the necessary scale to fight global warming.
• The carbon stored in natural sinks such as forests is released into the atmosphere through forest fires, changes in land use, or logging.
• Another way to reduce emissions and pursue carbon neutrality is to offset emissions made in one sector by reducing them somewhere else. This can be done through investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency or other clean, low-carbon technologies.

4. AIR POLLUTANTS IMPACT IMMUNE CELLS IN CAUSING CANCER

THE CONTEXT: According to the latest research by Zhenzhen Wang of Nanjing University, China, experts believe that the new findings may lead to new approaches for treating the initial lung changes that eventually progress to cancer.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Air pollutants have many forms. Apart from gaseous chemical components like carbon, nitrogen, sulphur, etc., some tiny powdery particles also contribute to air pollution. These inhalable fine particulate matter (FPM) that circulate in the air have already been recognized as carcinogens. These particulate matters are now considered a substantial threat to global health. Although their role in the genesis of cancer is widely acknowledged, the mechanism through which they develop the disease remains largely enigmatic.
• In this context, it is worth mentioning that the highly complex cancer disease also involves cells from our immune system (our body’s defence mechanism).
• Some immune cells play a crucial role in preventing cancer progression by destroying the cells where cancer has been initiated.

According to the study,

• To explore the indirect way through which the FPMs can exert their impact on cancer progression, the researchers first collected samples of FPM from seven locations in China. The team then attempted to analyze their effects on a particular kind of immune cell called the cytotoxic T cells (CTL).
• The CTLs play a crucial role in defending the growth of tumours. The researchers first administered lung cancer cells in mice not exposed to FPM. In these mice, induced with lung cancer cells but unexposed to FPM, the important immune cells were recruited to the lung to destroy the tumour cells. On the other hand, the researchers conducted the same experiment with mice administered with lung cancer cells and exposed to FPMs.
• They found that in the second set of mice, the movement of CTLs was delayed, which concomitantly allowed the tumour cells to grow and establish in the lung tissue.
• The FPM exposed lung tissues got dramatically compressed up to the level where the space between the lung tissue and the space where CTLs move became congested. In addition, the researchers found that there was a high level of collagen.

• The CTLs struggled to move into the FPM exposed lung tissues where tumour formation had started.
• They further analyzed the lung tissues and found that they showed structural changes because of an increase in a particular type of collagen known as collagen IV. However, the team could not find any clue how FPM triggered this. Nevertheless, they found another hint. The enzymes, known as peroxidasin, make the collagen drive a specific type of situation, leading to the collagen formation becoming absurd.

PLACES IN NEWS

5. FALKLAND ISLANDS

THE CONTEXT: The Government of Argentina will launch a campaign in India demanding negotiation with the United Kingdom to settle the territorial dispute over the Islas Malvinas that are known as the Falkland Islands in the UK.

THE EXPLANATION:

The initiative, which comes two days after the visit of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, coincides with the 40th anniversary of the conflict between the UK and Argentina, which ended with the re-establishment of British control over the archipelago.

ABOUT FALKLAND ISLAND:

• The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf.
• As a British overseas territory, the Falklands have internal self-governance, and the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defence and foreign affairs. The capital and largest settlement is Stanley on East Falkland.
• Argentina has maintained that the Falklands were illegally taken from it in 1833 and invaded the British colony in 1982. That incident resulted in what later came to be known as the Falklands War which lasted a little over three months, ending in victory for the United Kingdom.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

6. WORLD MALARIA DAY

THE CONTEXT: On April 25, 2022, the Union Health Ministry organized Malaria awareness campaigns and events across the nation on the occasion of World Malaria Day.

THE EXPLANATION:

• World Malaria Day 2022 will be marked under the theme “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.” No single tool that is available today will solve the problem of malaria.
• WHO is calling for investments and innovation that bring new vector control approaches, diagnostics, antimalarial medicines and other tools to speed the pace of progress against malaria.
• The Global technical strategy for malaria 2016–2030 was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015. It provides a comprehensive framework to guide countries in their efforts to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination. The strategy sets the target of reducing global malaria incidence and mortality rates by at least 90% by 2030.

Status:

• According to World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the World Malaria Report 2021, highlighting the havoc malaria continues to wreck on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.
• An estimated 14 million more cases and 69,000 more deaths were caused by malaria in 2020 compared to 2019. India was the only high burden country to record progress by sustaining a reduction in malaria burden between 2019 and 2020. However, the rate of decline was slower than before the pandemic, the WHO report stated, with the country still sharing over 80 percent of the malaria burden of South-East Asia.
• The WHO report also highlighted sizable gaps in malaria funding, as the demand to sustain progress increased to a year to $6.8 billion with only a tiny increase in malaria funding. In the South-East Asia region, the malaria funding per person at risk in India has been slower than the neighboring countries, stated the report.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

1. Which of the following carries out an all-India survey on household consumption expenditure?

a) Labour Bureau

b) Union Ministry of Finance

c) Union Ministry of Home Affairs

d) National Statistical Office

ANSWER FOR 23RD APRIL 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

1. Hate speech is violent in itself and must be called out READ MORE
2. Plant the right seedREAD MORE

1. Saving Mangroves READ MORE
2. Agrarian Distress in Kuttanad a Wake-Up Call For Urgent Climate Adaptation READ MORE
3. World’s poorest countries need $6 billion a year for water, sanitation in healthcare centres: WaterAid READ MORE

1. Face the facts on communal violence in India READ MORE
2. The primacy of ‘Inclusion’ in Indian Thought READ MORE

1. Understanding the Olga Tellis judgment READ MORE
2. Towards a resolution of the Arunachal-Assam border dispute READ MORE
3. Reforming the higher education system READ MORE
4. Police must be part of the reform agenda READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM Modi receives Lata Mangeshkar Award READ MORE
2. Palli in Jammu becomes India’s first carbon-neutral panchayat READ MORE
3. Air Pollutants Impact Immune Cells in Causing Cancer READ MORE
4. The long road to Atmanirbhar Bharat: India’s trade deficit with China hit record $77 bn in FY22 READ MORE
5. French president Emmanuel Macron wins re-election: a victory with deep challenges READ MORE
6. How to read IMF’s latest GDP forecast for India READ MORE
7. India’s oil import bill doubles to USD 119 bn in FY22 READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. Face the facts on communal violence in India READ MORE
2. The primacy of ‘Inclusion’ in Indian Thought READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Understanding the Olga Tellis judgment READ MORE
2. Towards a resolution of the Arunachal-Assam border dispute READ MORE
3. Reforming the higher education system READ MORE
4. Police must be part of the reform agenda READ MORE

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. What Happens to the Right to Education, Online? READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Side-stepping irritants: India and the U.K. chose to keep the big picture in mind and work on long-term goals READ MORE
2. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and India’s opportunity READ MORE
3. Ukraine: Opportunities for India in a new world order READ MORE
4. Don’t lose sight of the neighourhood READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Why reforming the system of free food is necessary READ MORE
2. Can technology help provide easier access to finance? READ MORE
3. Bitcoin as next-generation money READ MORE
4. Limiting currency supply to bring down inflation is outdated. Inflation was never about money READ MORE
5. 2 Crore Women in India Quit Workforce in 2017-22 READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 

1. Saving Mangroves READ MORE
2. Agrarian Distress in Kuttanad a Wake-Up Call For Urgent Climate Adaptation READ MORE
3. World’s poorest countries need $6 billion a year for water, sanitation in healthcare centres: WaterAid READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Hate speech is violent in itself and must be called out READ MORE
2. Plant the right seedREAD MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘The challenge for Indian foreign policy lies in creating effective and enduring incentives for our neighbours to remain sensitive to India’s interests’. In the light of the statement why can’t India lose sight of the neighourhood?
2. ‘India has maintained its strategic autonomy on critical issues and increased its leverage vis-a-vis the other essential powers’. Analyse the statement in the light of recent developments in international politics.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A diplomat is a man who thinks twice before he says nothing.
• India and the U.K. chose to keep the big picture in mind and work on long-term goals.
• Religious consciousness is one degree of God consciousness. The lesser the connection we feel between ourselves and another, the lesser we are religious or spiritual. Total independence or non-connection with objects outside is opposite to religious consciousness.
• Inefficient implementation is the reason for the poor delivery of programmes. At times, the implementing agencies’ commitments are not in sync with the government’s vision.
• The challenge for Indian foreign policy lies in creating effective and enduring incentives for our neighbours to remain sensitive to India’s interests.
• A nationwide audit is needed to pinpoint the lapses in the implementation of the 2013 Act and prepare an actionable road map for complete mechanisation of sewer-cleaning operations.
• Economic prosperity of the country cannot be impacted by levying new taxes to fund the Robin Hood image of politicians.
• India has maintained its strategic autonomy on critical issues and increased its leverage vis-a-vis the other essential powers.
• The current foreign policy is a blend of multi-alignment and multilateralism, which is strongly tied to the commitment of Atmanirbhar Bharat to the defence sector and hence requires a strong support.
• There are three principal concerns in online education: digital divide, privacy, and access. All of these emerge from contexts in which cultural practices, of which education is one, have run into rough weather in terms of rights.

50-WORD TALK

• A multilateral approach, either through the BRICS or Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), will ensure intentions being translated into confidence that can result in India’s favourable position as far as the reforms of the UNSC are considered. One can recall that in 2010, despite the best attempts, India was unable to get even a two-thirds majority of UN members for the purpose mentioned above.

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.

THE CONTEXT: On 4 April 2022 South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Mayor wrote a letter to the SDMC commissioner to ensure all meat shops in the SDMC limits remain closed till 11 April 2022 “keeping in view the sentiments and feelings of the general public” during the festival of Navratri. Though a legally enforceable order to that effect is yet to be issued, the Mayor’s appeal has created enough confusion and controversy. This article analyzes the constitutional validity of imposing such meat bans citing the religious sentiments of a section of a population. Let us first understand the history, data, and lived experience of Indian society and its meat-eating habits.

HISTORY:

• Indian traditions present a far more complex picture than just being a vegetarian society. India has very old meat-eating as well as very deep vegetarian societies which often inappropriately compel or necessitate people to take a position or to defend one over the other.
• History suggests that meat was consumed widely in ancient India as far back as the Indus valley civilisation. Animal sacrifices were common in the Vedic era, between 1500 and 500BC – the meat was offered to the gods and then consumed at feasts. Over centuries meat disappeared from the diet of some communities for varied reasons but religion was not the only driver of such changes.
• Colonialism ( late 19^th century), which altered land use, agricultural patterns and trade, and even famines played a big role in making the modern Indian diet – a predominance of rice, wheat, and dals.

DATA:

• Meat consumption among Indians is growing, propelled by factory-farmed chicken. The most-ordered dish on the Indian food delivery platform Swiggy last year (2021) was chicken biryani. Indians ordered two plates every second.
• It’s hard to pin down exactly how much meat Indians consume. When asked if they are vegetarian, 39% said yes to a Pew survey and 81% said they eat meat, but with restrictions – either they don’t eat certain meats or avoid meat on certain days of the week.
• The term non-vegetarian for meat-eating is reflective of the popular perception that vegetarian food is the norm and meat-eating is the aberration. Let us see the constitutional reasonableness of such calls for a blanket ban on meat citing religious reasons.

ARTICLE 19(1)(g): The Constitution grants the fundamental right to carry out trade under Article 19(1)(g). The only permissible limitation of this fundamental right is through imposing reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2)-(6). However, any reasonable restriction under Article 19(2)-(6) must only be through a statutory ‘law’ as held in Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors. v. State of Kerala (1986). The orders by Mayors are executive orders and are not sufficient to restrict the freedom of trade. The existence of law is a necessary requirement.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE: Even if these bans were backed by statutory authorities, it has to pass the tests of the golden triangle (Article 14, 19, and 21). To pass the test of Article 14, the law has to be tested through the parameters of reasonableness since the guarantee of equality is a guarantee against arbitrariness. Any law which is disproportionate or excessive would be manifestly arbitrary as held in Sharaya Bano v. UOI (2017).

ARTICLE 21: It violates the right to freedom of choice of individuals under Article 21. The right to food as reiterated recently in Re: Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers (2021) and the right to choose as observed in Soni Gerry v. Gerry Douglas (2018), is an intrinsic part of Article 21. Thus, it is understandable that the freedom to choose a particular food of choice would also be a matter of personal liberty and individual autonomy.

ARTICLE 51(A)(e): Article 51(A)(e) of the Fundamental Duties promotes harmony and a spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic, and regional or sectional diversities.

ARTICLE 25: According to the Census of India, apart from the majority religions, more than 6 million people profess other religions and faith. Every religion and faith has its own custom and practice. An attempt to give these orders any legislative colour would infringe upon the secular feature of the Constitution because then it would lead to floodgates of different claims from different religious communities, shaking the very essence of Article 25.

In a series of rulings, courts have held that the right to choose one’s food is an intrinsic part of the right to privacy and personal liberty. In the landmark Puttaswamy ruling in 2017, upholding the right to privacy as a fundamental right, the Supreme Court held that “the choice of food habits” is an aspect of privacy that must be protected. The nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court in the Puttaswamy case, unanimously declared privacy to be a fundamental right and held that “it is a fundamental and inalienable right and attaches to the person covering all information about that person and the choices that he/she makes. It protects an individual from the scrutiny of the State in their home, of their movements, and over their reproductive choices, choice of partners, food habits, etc.

The bans must pass the test of proportionality and reasonableness evolved by the supreme court in the Puttaswamy judgement. The right to food has now been recognized as part of one’s fundamental right to privacy under Article 21.

WHAT DO THE COURTS SAY?

SUPREME COURT:

• In 2008, while deciding the constitutional validity of closing a slaughterhouse for 9-days during a Jain festival in Ahmedabad, the 2-judge bench of the Court held that “a large number of people are non-vegetarian and they cannot be compelled to become vegetarian for a long period. What one eats is one’s personal affair and it is a part of his right to privacy which is included in Article 21 of our Constitution”. However, the Court upheld the 9-day ban. Interestingly, after retirement, Justice Markandeya Katju, who authored the judgment, said that he had doubts about the correctness of that verdict.
• In 2015, the Supreme Court while refusing to interfere with the Bombay High Court decision staying the order prohibiting the sale of meat during a Jain festival remarked that the meat ban cannot be forced down people’s throats and that such matters must be handled with tolerance and compassion.
• In 2018, the Supreme Court in a PIL seeking a ban on the export of meat, orally remarked “Do you want everybody in this country to be vegetarian? We can’t issue an order that everyone should be vegetarian.“
• Similarly, in 2020, the Supreme Court commented while hearing a plea to ban Halal meat “Tomorrow you will say nobody should eat meat? We cannot determine who should be a vegetarian and who should be a non-vegetarian“.

VARIOUS HIGH COURTS: 

• In 2016, the Bombay High Court struck down certain amendments to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act 1976 relating to the beef ban
• In 2017, the Allahabad High Court held that the right to choice of food falls within the fundamental right to food, and eating food of choice, be it meat, is an aspect of the Right to Food.
• In 2011, the Uttarakhand High Court orally observed that the matter of banning meat concerns the fundamental rights of the citizen and that India is a country where 70% of the population eats non-vegetarian food hence meat ban is not a majority vs. Minority issue.

OTHER ASPECTS OF THE MEAT BAN

FOOD CULTURE AND NUTRITION: The lives and diets of poor people who cannot afford the amount of milk, dry fruits, and different pulses that the rich eat at every meal on a daily basis. The poor can only get their protein from meat, which is cheaper when compared with other meats, as well as vegetarian components.

IMPACT ON RURAL ECONOMY: Cattle that have outlived their utility for a farmer are usually sold in local cattle fairs and eventually find their way to slaughterhouses. The modest proceeds from such sales help the farmer in times of distress.

IMPACT ON LIVELIHOODS: The livelihoods of the butcher community in the urban centers solely revolve around the meat trade and imposing a blanket ban can have adverse effects.

IMPACT ON ECONOMY: India’s thriving leather Industry is valued at the US $ 17.8 billion, generating 95% of India’s footwear needs, and its offals are used widely in the pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries. The economic value of an animal, despite it not being purchased by another farmer, exists because of all post-farm downstream economic values of the cattle economy after slaughter (including exports) which will be negatively impacted.

THE ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE

• There cannot be 99 percent of people at any point in time, not consuming onion and garlic when we have meat-eaters on any given day. The state intervention in people’s eating habits is a dangerous step. The law prohibiting animal slaughter was a first, but now the flames are inching toward other non-vegetarian products. This must ring bells for a protein-deficient country where half the kids are suffering from anemia and malnutrition. In fact, you don’t even need to look that far. According to a 2017 study by research firm IMRB, close to 60 percent of Delhi’s population suffered from protein deficiency.
• It is evident that the clamour for a meat ban is aimed at making political gains by triggering religious sentiments. A ban on meat shops does not serve any larger public purpose other than catering to the sentiments of a section, which will amount to forcing all sections of society to follow the beliefs and observances of a particular group. Such a ban, imposed solely on the ground of religious sentiments and which infringes the fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21, falls foul of the post-Puttaswamy test of proportionality and reasonableness evolved by the Supreme Court.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Sans legitimacy, these bans only create societal unease leading to communal disharmony. While many communities do observe restraints on eating meat on certain occasions or eating certain types of meat, there is no logical corollary on putting a blanket ban on meat consumption for others when more than 70% of the people in India consume the same.
• Thus, any political overreach, regulating from the choice of clothes to wear to the type of food to consume, is surely unwarranted and constitutionally unsound and the government of the day must refrain from doing so.
• Though the Article 48 of the Indian Constitution guides the states to make efforts for banning the slaughtering of cows and calves, along with other milch and draught cattle; and directs them to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines, it should not be the basis for the state to regulate the choices of food that people of India consume.
• As the custodian of citizens’ rights and liberties in a diverse democracy, the court has played a seminal role in expanding the space for freedoms. People in positions themselves should draw the constitutional red line on such freedoms and must refrain from giving unwarranted public opinions.

THE CONCLUSION: Some people do not eat meat during these nine days of Navrati, but at the same time, they do not wish to see others being deprived of their food just because they themselves are participating in customs. That’s how you grow respect for a community, festival, or religion. In the neighbourhood of Ghaziabad, Mayor has rolled back a similar meat ban proposal and presents a good example for others to follow.

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

1. “India’s religiously diverse population is composed of religious communities who are not too familiar with each other’s beliefs and practices, yet many Indians take a pluralistic, rather than exclusivist, attitude toward religious beliefs.” Elaborate on how India has sustained over centuries as a peace-loving society.
2. “Regulating from the choice of clothes to wear to the type of food to consume, is surely unwarranted and constitutionally unsound.” Elaborate

THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. STUDY FLAGS POOR CONTROL OF BLOOD SUGAR IN INDIANS

THE CONTEXT: According to a recent paper published in the Lancet- Diabetes and Endocrinology, only over 7% of over 5,297 individuals in India with diabetes were able to achieve their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol targets.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The latest results of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-India Diabetes (INDIAB) study, conducted in 27 states (unified Andhra Pradesh), two Union Territories and the National Captial Territory over several rounds for the last decade, have stressed the need to have better control over various health parameters that impact mortality and quality of life.
• The report “Achievement of guideline recommended diabetes treatment targets and health habits in people with self-reported diabetes in India (ICMR-INDIAB-13): a national cross-sectional study” reasons that achievement of treatment targets remains sub optimal in India, in a pan-Indian study, and goes on to provide hints for shaping the health care response to the crises. The total sample size was 1, 13,043.
• Also, the study used Census data for population distribution, socio-economic factors. For the outcome assessment, good glycaemic control was defined as HbA1c of less than 7·0% (A), blood pressure control was defined as less than 140/90 mm Hg (B), and the LDL cholesterol target was defined as less than 100 mg/dL (C). ABC control was defined as the proportion of individuals meeting glycaemic, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol targets together.
• Only just over 36 %, 95% CI 34·7–37·9) of 4834 people with diabetes achieved good glycaemic (blood sugar) control, over 48% achieved blood pressure control, and 41·5%, achieved good LDL cholesterol control.

Education matters

• Higher education, male sex, rural residence, and shorter duration of diabetes (under 10 years) were associated with better achievement of combined achievement of targets.
• The results of the study, of significance to each State, had been handed over to the respective State governments. There is also a plan to go back and study as a follow up, the participants who had been enrolled in the trial.
• Among the key interventions that the researchers indicated as possible at this stage, at a governmental level, is improving education about diabetes, and its attendant conditions, making health care easily available and accessible to all, and ensuring monitoring of the condition.

THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS AND POLICIES

2. NITI AAYOG RELEASES DRAFT BATTERY SWAPPING POLICY

THE CONTEXT: Government think-tank, Niti Aayog has prepared a draft battery swapping policy, under which it has proposed offering incentives to electric vehicles (EVs) with swappable batteries, subsidies to companies manufacturing swappable batteries, a new battery-as-a-service business model, and standards for interoperable batteries, among other measures.

THE EXPLANATION:

The policy is targeted at supporting the adoption of battery-swapping, primarily for battery swapping systems used in electric scooters and three-wheeler electric rickshaws.

What are some of the key proposals?

• The draft policy has suggested that the GST Council consider reducing the differential across the tax rates on Lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicle supply equipment. Currently, the tax rate on the former is 18 per cent, and 5 per cent on the latter.
• The policy also proposes to offer the same incentives available to electric vehicles that come pre-equipped with a fixed battery to electric vehicles with swappable batteries. “The size of the incentive could be determined based on the kWh (kilowatt hour) rating of the battery and compatible EV,” the draft policy states.
• The government will also specify a minimum contract duration for a contract to be signed between EV users and battery providers to ensure they continue to provide battery swapping services after receiving the subsidy.
• The policy also requires state governments to ensure public battery charging stations are eligible for EV power connections with concessional tariffs. It also proposes to bring such stations under existing or future time-of-day (ToD) tariff regimes, so that the swappable batteries can be charged during off-peak periods when electricity tariffs are low.
• Transport Departments and State Transport Authorities will be responsible for easing registration processes for vehicles sold without batteries or for vehicles with battery swapping functionality. Municipal corporations will be responsible for planning, zoning permissions and land allocation for battery swapping stations.
• The policy also proposes to assign a unique identification number (UIN) to swappable batteries at the manufacturing stage to help track and monitor them. Similarly, a UIN number will be assigned to each battery swapping station. It also proposes to install battery swapping stations at several locations like retail fuel outlets, public parking areas, malls, kirana shops and general stores etc.

Does the draft policy talk about EV safety?

• To ensure a high level of protection at the electrical interface, a rigorous testing protocol will be adopted, the draft said, to avoid any unwanted temperature rise at the electrical interface. The battery management system, which is a software that controls battery functions, will have to be self-certified and open for testing to check its compatibility with various systems, and capability to meet safety requirements, it added.
• “Batteries shall be tested and certified as per AIS 156 (2020) and AIS 038 Rev 2 (2020) standards for safety of traction battery packs, as well as additional tests that may be prescribed for swappable batteries which are subject to multiple coupling/decoupling processes at the connectors,” the draft said.
• Additionally, for better protection of assets, swappable batteries will have to be equipped with advanced features like IoT-based battery monitoring systems, remote monitoring and immobilisation capabilities.
• The Aayog has proposed that all metropolitan cities with a population of more than 40 lakh will be prioritised for the development of battery swapping networks under the first phase, which is within 1-2 years of the draft policy getting finalised. Other major cities such as state capitals with a population greater than 5 lakh will be covered under the second phase.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

3. DEFENCE MINISTER ROLLS OUT SCHEMES FOR DEFENCE START-UPS

THE CONTEXT: In a bid to support Indian startups, Defence Minister has launched the sixth edition of the Defence Indian Startup Challenge (DISC) under the iDEX programme.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In this challenge, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will be backing startups that can offer software solutions such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), advanced imaging, sensor systems, big data analytics, autonomous unmanned systems and secured communication systems to the Indian military.
• Under this challenge, MoD aims to support Indian startups by offering financial assistance in the range of INR 1.5 Cr to INR 10 Cr.
• Seven newly-formed defence companies, the Indian Coast Guard, organisations working under the Ministry of Home Affairs, three services and some defence public sector undertakings are heading the challenge.
• In the fifth edition of the DISC challenge, startups and innovators were asked to resolve 35 problem statements (PS) from armed forces and OFB/DPSUs. These challenges were real-life problems faced by the Indian Army, Indian Airforce, Indian Navy, HAL, BEL, HSL, MDL, MIDHANI, and GRSE.

VALUE ADDITION:

• Defence India Startup Challenge, was launched under the iDEX initiative, by MoD and Atal Innovation Mission. It aims to support Indian startups, MSMEs and innovators that create prototypes, commercial products and solutions in the defence and aerospace sector.
• Founded in 2018, iDEX engages MSMEs, startups, individual innovators, R&D initiatives and academia and provides them financial assistance to create tech solutions that can be adopted by defence and aerospace sect.

4. INDIANS NOW MAKE PAYMENTS USING UPI IN UAE

THE CONTEXT: Tourists or migrants to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with Indian bank accounts will be able to make UPI payments at shops, retail establishments and other merchants in the gulf nation. This is possible because of the partnership between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Mashreq Bank’s NEOPAY.

THE EXPLANATION:

How does the service work?

• It will be mandatory for users to have a bank account in India with UPI enabled on it. The users will also need an application, like BHIM, to make UPI payments.
• “With the acceptance of BHIM UPI in the UAE, Indian tourists can now make seamless payments through BHIM UPI across NEOPAY enabled shops and merchant stores. This partnership will play a key role in transforming the P2M payment experience for Indian travellers in the UAE.
• The implementation of BHIM UPI in the UAE is a stepping stone toward providing a major boost to digital payments in the country”.
• Payments using UPI will only be accepted at those merchants and shops which have NEOPAY terminals.

Does NPCI have other such international arrangements?

• NPCI’s international arm NIPL have several such arrangements with international financial services providers for its products, including UPI and RuPay cards. Globally, UPI is accepted in Bhutan and Nepal, and is likely to go live in Singapore later this year (2022).
• In Singapore, a project to link UPI with the city-state’s instant payment system Pay Now is being undertaken by the RBI and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The linkage is targeted for operationalisation by July 2022.
• Even though the UAE arrangement only allows for Indians to make payments, in Singapore’s case, the UPI-Pay Now linkage will enable users of each of the two fast payment systems to make instant, low-cost fund transfers on a reciprocal basis without a need to get on-boarded onto the other payment system.

THE DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY

5. RUSSIA’S NEW NUCLEAR MISSILE SARMAT, CAPABLE OF STRIKING ‘ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD’

THE CONTEXT: Amidst stiff resistance from Ukraine in the ongoing war and harsh sanctions imposed by the West, Russia went ahead and tested its new Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Sarmat.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This was the first test launch of the ICMB Sarmat after having been delayed earlier in 2021. It was launched from Plesetsk in North West Russia with the intended target in the Kamchatka peninsula almost 6,000 km away.
• As per Russian news reports, the missile will have at least five more launches in 2022 before being inducted into the Russian military. Prior to the actual launch, a dummy missile test also took place. Computer simulated missile launches were also done multiple times and some of them were also shared publicly.

Was Russia known to be developing this missile?

• It was widely known that Russia was developing a new ICBM to replace its older ones and an announcement in this regard had been made by President Vladimir Putin in 2018 while making his State of the Nation address to the Federal Assembly.
• Even before Putin’s announcement, there had been reports that Moscow was developing a new ICBM and photos of the possible design came into the fore in 2016. The actual development schedule is believed to have been further back in 2009 to 2011. The deteriorating relations between Russia and the Western Powers is said to have given an impetus to its development.

How is it more advanced than the other Russian ICBMs?

• The RS-28 Sarmat (NATO name Satan-II) is reported to be able to carry ten or more warheads and decoys and has the capability of firing over either of the earth’s poles with a range of 11,000 to 18,000 km. It is expected to pose a significant challenge to the ground-and-satellite-based radar tracking systems of the western powers, particularly the USA.
• The ten warheads are Multiple Independently-Targetable Re-entry Vehicles and each has a blast yield of .75 MT. The Sarmat will also be the first Russian missile which can carry smaller hypersonic boost-glide vehicles.
• These are manoeuvrable and hard to intercept. The upgraded electronic counter measures, guidance systems and alternative warhead carrying capacity makes the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM more lethal than the R-36M Voyevoda ICBMs (NATO name Satan) currently in service in Russia.
• The Sarmat is a liquid fuelled missile as compared to US ICBMs which have moved on to solid fuel systems. Regardless of the different propulsion system, the Sarmat is supposed to pose a significant threat to the US Missile Defence Systems.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

6. OIL MEAL EXPORTS PLUNGE

According to a statement by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, 37 percentage, the decline in India’s oil meals exports to rs 5,600 crore in the financial year 2021-22, The exports declined in the last fiscal due to lesser overseas shipment of soybean meal, which plunged to 3,72,740 tonnes in 2021-22 from 15,64,833 tonnes a year ago. At present, Indian soybean meal is over-priced for exports as the rate is at $840 per tonne in comparison to $574 and $586 for each tonne of shipments originating from Brazil and Argentina.

7. POWER SHORTAGE IN STATES

The 12 States to face energy crisis amid low coal stock to fire thermal power plants, according to the All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF). The AIPEF has drawn the attention of Central and State governments towards the depleting coal inventory of domestic thermal power plants. While there was 1.1% power shortage in October 2021, this shortfall shot up to 1.4% in April 2022. States like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Jharkhand and Haryana are facing power cuts.

8. EXTENSION GRANTED FOR BORDER CROSSING

According to Pakistan Foreign officer, 2 Months, the extension given by Pakistan to India for the transportation of 50,000 metric tonnes (MTs) of wheat and life-saving medicines to war-torn Afghanistan via the Attari-Wagah border crossing. The officer informed that the time period granted had expired on March 21,2022 but accepting the request made by the Government of India the time has been extended. Pakistan, in November 2021, had approved the transportation of humanitarian assistance from India to Afghanistan via the Wagah border.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q Which of the following are the guiding principles of NITI Aayog?

1. Governance
2. Federalism
3. Sustainability
4. People’s Participation
5. Democracy

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1, 2 and 3 only

b) 1, 3 and 4 only

c) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

d) All of them

ANSWER FOR 22ND APRIL 2022

Answer: A

Explanation:

Gotipua is a traditional dance form in the state of Odisha, India, and the precursor of Odissi classical dance. It has been performed in Orissa for centuries by young boys, who dress as women to praise Jagannath and Krishna. In the Odia language, Gotipua means ‘single boy’.

THE CONTEXT: The UN Secretary-General on Nelson Mandela’s birthday, 18 July 2020 talked about how we can address the many mutually reinforcing strands and layers of inequality before they destroy our economies and societies. This article analyses the key themes in the speech.

THE KEY FEATURES OF THE SPEECH

INEQUALITY DEFINES OUR TIME: 

• More than 70 per cent of the world’s people are living with rising income and wealth inequality. The 26 richest people in the world hold as much wealth as half the global population.
• But income, pay, and wealth are not the only measures of inequality. People’s chances in life depend on their gender, family and ethnic background, race, whether or not they have a disability, and other factors.

GENERATIONAL INTERSECTION OF INEQUALITY:

• Multiple inequalities intersect and reinforce each other across the generations. The lives and expectations of millions of people are largely determined by their circumstances at birth.
• Hence, birth becomes a determining factor in deciding how much unequal a person is.

MANIFESTATIONS OF INEQUALITY:

• High levels of inequality are associated with economic instability, corruption, financial crises, increased crime, and poor physical and mental health.
• Discrimination, abuse and lack of access to justice define inequality for many, particularly indigenous people, migrants, refugees, and minorities of all kinds. Such inequalities are a direct assault on human rights.

RACIAL INEQUALITY:

• The anti-racism movement that has spread from the United States around the world in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing is one more sign that people have had enough.
• The world had enough of inequality and discrimination that treats people as criminals on the basis of their skin colour and of the structural racism and systematic injustice that deny people their fundamental human rights on the basis of race.

INSTITUTIONAL INEQUALITY:

• The nations that came out on top more than seven decades ago have refused to contemplate the reforms needed to change power relations in international institutions.
• The composition and voting rights in the United Nations Security Council and the boards of the Bretton Woods system are a case in point.  Inequality starts at the top: in global institutions. Addressing inequality must start by reforming them.

UNEQUAL GLOBAL TRADE:

• There is a new form of colonialism based on trade and economic policies premised on the concept and practice of a market economy.
• Economies that were colonized are at greater risk of getting locked into the production of raw materials and low-tech goods – a new form of colonialism.

GENDER INEQUALITY:

• The world should not forget another great source of inequality in our world: millennia of patriarchy.
• We live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture.
• Everywhere, women are worse off than men, simply because they are women. Inequality and discrimination are the norms. Violence against women, including femicide, is at epidemic levels.
• Globally, women are still excluded from senior positions in governments and on corporate boards. Fewer than one in ten world leaders is a woman.
• Gender inequality harms everyone because it prevents us from benefiting from the intelligence and experience of all of humanity.

DIGITAL DIVIDE AND INEQUALITY:

• Digital divide and climate change are the two new dimensions of the inequality that the world experience today.
• The digital divide reinforces social and economic divides, from literacy to healthcare, from urban to rural, and from kindergarten to college.
• In 2019, some 87 per cent of people in developed countries used the internet, compared with just 19 per cent in the least developed countries.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND INEQUALITY:

• By 2050, accelerating climate change will affect millions of people through malnutrition, malaria, other diseases, migration, and extreme weather events.
• This creates serious threats to inter-generational equality and justice.
• The countries that are most affected by climate disruption did the least to contribute to global heating.
• This is why the call is not only for climate action but climate justice.

THE PANDEMIC AND AN UNEQUAL WORLD

EXPOSED IGNORED RISKS: The pandemic has demonstrated the fragility of the world. It has laid bare risks ignored for decades: inadequate health systems; gaps in social protection; structural inequalities; environmental degradation; the climate crisis.

GAINS MADE BEING LOST: Entire regions that were making progress on eradicating poverty and narrowing inequality have been set back years, in a matter of months. The virus poses the greatest risk to the most vulnerable: those living in poverty, older people, and people with disabilities and pre-existing conditions.

ECONOMIC FALL OUT: The economic fallout of the pandemic is affecting those who work in the informal economy; small and medium-size businesses; and people with caring responsibilities, who are mainly women. In some countries, health inequalities are amplified as not just private hospitals, but businesses and even individuals hoarding precious equipment that is urgently needed for everyone.

EXPOSED LIES AND MYTHS: 

• The lie that free markets can deliver healthcare for all;
• The fiction that unpaid care work does not work;
• The delusion that we live in a post-racist world;
• The myth is that we are all in the same boat.

GLOBALISATION, TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, AND INEQUALITY-AN ANALYSIS

Globalization and technological change have indeed fuelled enormous gains in income and prosperity. More than a billion people have moved out of extreme poverty. But the expansion of trade and technological progress have also contributed to an unprecedented shift in income distribution. Between 1980 and 2016, the world’s richest 1 per cent captured 27 per cent of the total cumulative growth in income. Low-skilled workers face an onslaught from new technologies, automation, the offshoring of manufacturing, and the demise of labour organizations. Tax concessions, tax avoidance, and tax evasion remain widespread. Corporate tax rates have fallen. This has reduced resources to invest in the very services that can reduce inequality: social protection, education, and healthcare. And a new generation of inequalities goes beyond income and wealth to encompass the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in today’s world.

A NEW SOCIAL CONTRACT AND A NEW DEAL FOR THE WORLD

The response to the pandemic, and to the widespread discontent that preceded it, must be based on a New Social Contract and a New Global Deal that create equal opportunities for all and respect the rights and freedoms of all. This is the only way that we will meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement, and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda – agreements that address precisely the failures that are being exposed and exploited by the pandemic. Education and digital technology must be two great enablers and equalizers. The critical pillars of such a strategy are explained below.

EDUCATION FOR ALL:

• As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Governments must prioritize equal access, from early learning to lifelong education.
• Neuroscience tells us that pre-school education changes the lives of individuals and brings enormous benefits to communities and societies. So when the richest children are seven times more likely than the poorest to attend pre-school, it is no surprise that inequality is inter-generational.
• To deliver quality education for all, we need to more than double education spending in low and middle-income countries by 2030 to $3 trillion a year.
• Within a generation, all children in low- and middle-income countries could have access to quality education at all levels.

HARNESSING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY:

• As technology transforms our world, learning facts and skills is not enough. Governments need to prioritize investment in digital literacy and infrastructure.
• The digital revolution and artificial intelligence will change the nature of work, and the relationship between work, leisure and other activities, some of which we cannot even imagine today.
• The Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, launched at the United Nations, promotes a vision of an inclusive, sustainable digital future by connecting the remaining four billion people to the Internet by 2030.
• The United Nations has also launched ‘Giga’, an ambitious project to get every school in the world online.
• Technology can turbocharge the recovery from COVID-19 and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

TRUST BUILDING AMONG PEOPLE, INSTITUTIONS AND LEADERS:

• As there is a very high low level of trust among the people and government, trust-building is very essential.
• People want social and economic systems that work for everyone. They want their human rights and fundamental freedoms to be respected. They want a say in decisions that affect their lives.
• The New Social Contract, between Governments, people, civil society, businesses and more, must integrate employment, sustainable development and social protection, based on equal rights and opportunities for all.

LABOUR RIGHTS AND SOCIAL PROTECTION:

• Labour market policies combined with constructive dialogue between employers and labour representatives, can improve pay and working conditions.
• Labour representation is also critical to managing the challenges posed to jobs by technology and structural transformation – including the transition to a green economy.
• A changing world requires a new generation of social protection policies with new safety nets including Universal Health Coverage and the possibility of a Universal Basic Income.
• Establishing minimum levels of social protection, and reversing chronic underinvestment in public services including education, healthcare, and internet access are essential.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMMES FUNDED THROUGH CARBON TAX:

• We need affirmative action programmes and targeted policies to address and redress historic inequalities in gender, race or ethnicity that have been reinforced by social norms.
• Taxation has also a role In the New Social Contract. Everyone – individuals and corporations – must pay their fair share.
• In some countries, there is a place for taxes that recognize that the wealthy and well-connected have benefitted enormously from the state, and from their fellow citizens.
• Governments should also shift the tax burden from payrolls to carbon.
• Taxing carbon rather than people will increase output and employment while reducing emissions.

A FAIR GLOBAL ORDER:

• The global political and economic system is not delivering on critical global public goods: public health, climate action, sustainable development, peace.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has brought home the disconnect between self-interest and the common interest; and the huge gaps in governance structures and ethical frameworks.
• To close those gaps, and to make the New Social Contract possible, a New Global Deal to ensure that power, wealth and opportunities are shared more broadly and fairly at the international level.

CHALLENGES IN USHERING IN AN EQUAL WORLD

UNPRECEDENTED LEVEL OF DEBT:

• The response to addressing the existing and pandemic induced inequalities requires loosening the purse strings of the nations. But this may not be possible for under-developed countries which are already suffering from very high levels of debt.
• The result will be the reinforcement of existing socio-economic divides leading to furthering extreme inequality.
• A suspension in debt payment may be supplemented by a partial debt relief programme anchored by G-20 nations as an interim measure.

NATURE OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE REGIME:

• The central aspect of inequality is the consequence of low levels of investment in public health systems and in other aspects of the welfare state in education, in social security.
• But for the developing countries to do it, they need support, thus need a new global deal at the global level with an effective transfer of resources to the developing world for them to be able to address these issues.
• But the current global governance regime is heavily skewed against any such resource redistribution.

DATA AS THE NEW CAPITAL:

• The two superpowers, the USA and China hold power over most of the data that the people on the planet use and consume.
• Thus, digital technology as an enabler for the new social contract may not work as the power over data may be used to control the access and use of data.
•  This has implications on digital education, economy, security and the like. Hence, we need to address the power and control over data for an equal world.

LESS FOCUS ON PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION:

• When we talk about education, generally the discourse leave behind the importance of preschool education which is the most important aspect of determining a child’s future learning capabilities and outcomes.
• While the rich can provide for quality pre-school education, the poor are left behind. Thus unless the world community stress and develops pre-school infrastructure for all, the strength of education as an enabler will remain sub-optimal.

SELF-INTEREST OF THE WEALTHY:

• To bring a more egalitarian world order, a fair taxation system need to be built which as of now is lopsided and favours the rich.
• Tax havens are aiding and abetting the rich to hide assets and fleece money from the developing world.
• As long as self-interest drives individuals and nations, the wealthy will become wealthier. Thus, for a fair and equal global order, we need “enlightened –self-interest” which is arguably the lowest in today’s world.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• A New Global Deal, based on fair globalization, on the rights and dignity of every human being, living in balance with nature, taking account of the rights of future generations, and success measured in human rather than economic terms, is the need of the hour.
• The worldwide consultation process around the 75th anniversary of the United Nations has made clear that people want a global governance system that delivers for them.  The developing world must have a far stronger voice in global decision-making.
• We also need a more inclusive and balanced multilateral trading system that enables developing countries to move up global value chains. Illicit financial flows, money laundering and tax evasion must be prevented. A global consensus to end tax havens is essential.
• We must work together to integrate the principles of sustainable development into financial decision-making. Financial markets must be full partners in shifting the flow of resources away from the brown and the grey to the green, the sustainable and the equitable.
• Reform of the debt architecture and access to affordable credit must create fiscal space for countries to move investment in the same direction.

THE CONCLUSION: Inequality exposed and reinforced by the pandemic has posed challenges to the sustainable development goals too. The world needs to take note of the disparity of unequal relationships among nations and people cutting across neatly defined categories. The direction and leadership provided by the UN should encourage all to work towards a fair distribution of resources and opportunities.

 MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

1. A fair global order requires a new social contract and a new global deal. Elaborate.
2. “The ideal of equality faces challenges from multiple fronts”. Examine the statement in the context of the UN Secretary General’s view on inequality.
3. As the pandemic has deepened and reinforced the already existing inequality in India and in other developing nations, it is necessary to redraw the contours of SDGs. Comment.

THE INDIAN ART AND CULTURE

1. DHAULI-KALINGA MAHOTSAV-ODISHA

• Every year, in January and February, a popular festival in Odisha, the Kalinga festival or the Kalinga Mahotsava is organized.
• It brings together the folk, classical and martial art forms on one stage. It is said that people of Odisha are distinguished as kings in Malaysia, as they once colonized parts of Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. One can find the largest variety of tribal communities in Odisha. Since the Kalinga war, Odisha is known world over.
• The Dhauli festival represents the popular Konark dance and music festival. It was initiated by the famous Guru Gangadhar Pradhan about 13 years ago.
• The Kalinga Mahotsava was initiated by a famous Bhubaneswar-based Italian Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi. Kalinga Mahotsava represents the various forms of martial art forms and this popular festival is organized over the Dhauli hills near the famous Japanese Buddhist temple. As the story goes, after the bloodiest war of Kalinga, King Ashoka desperately looked for peace and hence this cultural festival in Odisha is held each year to depict the significance of peace over war.
• Thang-Ta from Manipur and Kalaripayattu from Kerala are also performed.

INDIAN POLITY

2. JUDGES MUST GIVE REASONS FOR BAIL DECISIONS, SAYS SC

THE CONTEXT: Judges are duty-bound to give reasons for granting or denying bail, especially in cases involving serious offences and hardened criminals, the Supreme Court has held.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Also, SC stressed that the cryptic bail orders without giving any reasons have no place in the judicial system.
• According to a bench led by the Chief Justice of India observed in a judgment “There is a recent trend of passing such orders granting or refusing to grant bail, where the courts make a general observation that ‘the facts and the circumstances have been considered. No specific reasons are indicated which precipitated the passing of the order by the court,”.

Grant of bail by HC

• CJI observed that “judges are duty-­bound to explain the basis on which they have arrived at a conclusion… The reasoning is the lifeblood of the judicial system. That every order must be reasoned is one of the fundamental tenets of our system. An unreasoned order suffers the vice of arbitrariness”.
• “There is a need to indicate reasons for prima face concluding why bail was being granted particularly where the accused is charged of having committed a serious offence. Any order devoid of such reasons would suffer from non-­application of mind’, CJI noted.

VALUE ADDITION:

WHAT IS A BAIL?

• The term Bail is not defined in the Criminal Procedure Code, however, this term, in the most common sense, indicates that the accused is set free from jail against a kind of security which is given by the accused to the court that he will attend the proceedings in court against the accusations made upon him and include personal bond and bail bond.
• Bail is a mechanism used to ensure that the accused is present before the court and is available for Trial. The sections 436 to 439 of the Criminal Procedure Code deal with the concept of Bail.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. THE U.K. RWANDA ASYLUM PLAN

THE CONTEXT: The United Kingdom has signed a deal with Rwanda to send some asylum seekers to the East African nation — a move that PM Boris Johnson said will “save countless lives” from human trafficking.

THE EXPLANATION:

IMMIGRANT CRISIS IN THE UK

• Since 2018, there has been a marked rise in the number of refugees and asylum seekers that undertake dangerous crossings between Calais in France and Dover in England.
• Most such migrants and asylum seekers hail from war-torn countries like Sudan, Afghanistan, and Yemen, or from developing countries like Iran and Iraq.
• The Britain that has adopted a hard line stance on illegal immigration, these crossings constitute an immigration crisis.
• The Nationality and Borders Bill, 2021, which is still under consideration in the UK, allows the British government to strip anyone’s citizenship without notice under “exceptional circumstances”.
• The Rwanda deal is the operationalization of one objective in the Bill which is to deter illegal entry into the United Kingdom.

WHAT IS THE RWANDA DEAL?

• The UK and Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership or the Rwanda Deal is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two governments.
• Under this deal, Rwanda will commit to taking in asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on or after January 1, 2022, using illegally facilitated and unlawful cross border migration.
• Rwanda will function as the holding centre where asylum applicants will wait while the Rwandan government makes decisions about their asylum and resettlement petitions in Rwanda.
• Rwanda will, on its part, accommodate anyone who is not a minor and does not have a criminal record.

RATIONALE OF THE DEAL

• The deal aims to combat “people smugglers”, who often charge exorbitant prices from vulnerable migrants to put them on unseaworthy boats from France to England that often lead to mass drownings.
• The UK contends that this solution to the migrant issue is humane and meant to target the gangs that run these illegal crossings.

DO ANY OTHER COUNTRIES SEND ASYLUM SEEKERS OVERSEAS?

• Several other countries — including Australia, Israel and Denmark — have been sending asylum seekers overseas.
• Australia has been making full use of offshore detention centres since 2001.
• Israel, too, chose to deal with a growing influx of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants from places like Sudan and Eritrea by striking deals with third countries.
• Those rejected for asylum were given the choice of returning to their home country or accepting $3,500 and a plane ticket to one of the third countries.
• They faced the threat of arrest if they chose to remain in Israel.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4. WORLD EARTH DAY 2022

THE CONTEXT: Every year on April 22, we celebrate our mother earth with ‘World Earth Day, which marks the anniversary of the Modern Environmental Movement, which started in 1970.

THE EXPLANATION:

• World Earth Day is a reminder for mankind to protect and safeguard the mother earth and its species, to make Earth a better place for the coming generations. April 22, 2022, will mark 52 years of Earth Day.
• Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and provoke policy changes.

WORLD EARTH DAY 2022: THEME

The Earth Day 2022 theme is ‘Invest In Our Planet’. According to the UN, “Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide at rates unprecedented in human history. It is estimated that around one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction”.

HISTORY OF EARTH DAY:

The first Earth Day in 1970 launched a wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day in 1970, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many countries soon adopted similar laws. Earth Day continues to hold major international significance: In 2016, the United Nations chose Earth Day as the day when the historic Paris Agreement on climate change was signed into force.

5. ‘SEA MAY INUNDATE MANY CITIES BY 2050’: SAYS GLOBAL RISK MANAGEMENT FIRM

THE CONTEXT: An analysis by RMSI, a global risk management firm has found that Haji Ali dargah, Jawahar Lal Nehru Port Trust, Western Express Highway, Bandra-Worli Sea-link, and Queen’s Necklace on Marine drive — all in Mumbai — are at risk of submergence.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The sea-level rise in coastal Indian cities could lead to some properties and road networks being submerged in Mumbai, Kochi, Mangalore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram by 2050.
• RMSI took findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) sixth assessment report, ‘Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis’ released in August 2021; publications based on the report, latest climate change data and its own models to assess the impact on the Indian coastline
• They considered Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Vizag, Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram for the analysis, with experts creating a high-resolution Digital Terrain Model for the coastline of these cities and then used a coastal flood model to map inundation based on sea level predictions.
• In Chennai, a road length of 5 km and 55 buildings are at the risk; in Kochi, around 464 buildings are likely to be impacted by 2050 with the number rising to around 1,502 buildings during high tide. In Thiruvananthapuram, due to sea-level rise by 2050 and sea-level rise with high tide, 349 and 387 buildings, respectively, are likely to be impacted. In Visakhapatnam, around 206 buildings and 9 km of the road network are likely to be inundated due to potential coastline changes by 2050.
• With the IPCC report projecting that sea levels around India will rise by 2050, another report by the Ministry of Earth Sciences also said that from 1993 to 2017, sea levels have been rising at an accelerated rate of 3.3 mm per year as opposed to 1.06-1.75 mm per year from 1874-2004 in the North Indian Ocean.
• “The moderate emissions (RCP 4.5) scenario of IPCC projects that steric sea level (variation in the ocean volume due to density changes) of the north Indian Ocean will rise by approximately 300 mm (a foot) relative to the average values from 1986 to 2005”.

The amount of greenhouse gases like CO2 emitted by the world needs to peak by 2025 followed by a 43% reduction in the 10 years after to limit global warming to 1.5 degree C by the year 2100, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

NEWS IN NUMBERS

6. RUSSIA SEIZES LUHANSK

80 percentage of Luhansk now under the control of Russia, according to Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai. Luhansk is one of two regions that make up the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. Before the invasion, the Kyiv government controlled 60% of the region. Haidai urged residents to evacuate immediately as the Russian forces are now threatening the cities of Rubizhne and Popasna, after seizing Kreminna. One of Russia’s stated goals is to expand the territory in the Donbas which is under the control of Moscow-backed separatists.

7. PENSION SCHEMES

4 crores, the total number of enrollments under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY) by the end of 2021-22, according to the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. APY is a government-backed pension scheme, targeted at the unorganised sector. More than 99 lakh APY accounts were opened during FY2021-22. The pension enrollments for APY had participation from all categories of banks. Around 71% of the enrollments were done by public sector banks, regional rural banks (19%), private sector banks (6%), and small finance banks (3%).

8. PARTY DONATIONS

258₹crore, the amount of donation received by seven electoral trusts from corporates and individuals, with the NDA bagging more than 82% (₹212.05 crore) of it, according to poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). An electoral trust is a non-profit organisation formed in India for the orderly receiving of contributions from corporate entities and individuals to political parties. It aims at improving transparency in the usage of funds for election-related expenses.

9. JEWELLERY EXPORTS RISE

56 percentage, the increase in gems and jewellery exports in 2021-22 to $39.15 billion which shows a significant jump in exports compared to the previous financial year, according to the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC). The gems and jewellery exports stood at $25.40 billion in 2020-21. “Out of the total gem and jewellery exports, the cut and polished diamonds segment alone accounted for 62% or $24,236.57 million, reflecting robust demand from the U.S., the UAE, Belgium, and Israel”.

10. AIDING SRI LANKA

40,000 metric tonnes, the amount of diesel to be sent to Sri Lanka by India. India said it had delivered one more consignment of diesel to Sri Lanka under the Indian credit line to help ease the acute power crisis in the island nation. India and Sri Lanka signed a $500 million Line of Credit Agreement for the purchase of petroleum products on February 2, 2022, which has proven to be a lifeline to Sri Lanka amidst one of its worst economic crises.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q. With reference to culture in India, Gotipua is

1. 1. Traditional dance form in Odisha
   2. Puppetry form in Andhra Pradesh
   3. Performing art from Kerala
   4. The martial art form in West Bengal

 ANSWER FOR 21ST APRIL 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

1. DDMA takes the right call on schools READ MORE
2. Investigation Reimagined READ MORE
3. Criminal Procedure Act’s grand tech vision comes with dangers of police power, data violation READ MORE
4. Explainer: Why the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act Is Being Challenged in Court READ MORE
5. What does ‘citizenship’ mean in India READ MORE

1. There is a growing intolerance to difference READ MORE
2. Hijab, skirts and a woman’s quest for choice READ MORE

1. Beyond CO2, tropical forests a ‘cool’ solution to climate crisis, study finds READ MORE
2. Deforestation of indigenous lands in Brazilian Amazon could derail climate targets READ MORE

1. PM Modi asks civil servants to prioritise ‘Nation First’ READ MORE
2. Positive and right thinking READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Dancing at the foothills of Dhauli READ MORE
2. SAANS launched for early detection of pneumonia READ MORE
3. Explained: UGC rules for tie-ups between Indian and foreign universities READ MORE
4. Earth Day 2022: It’s history, significance and this year’s theme READ MORE
5. Explained: How government procures wheat READ MORE
6. Genetically modified mosquitoes for controlling vector-borne diseases? The successful trial gives hope READ MORE
7. NITI Aayog, UNICEF India sign Statement of Intent on SDGs with focus on children READ MORE

Main exam

GS Paper- 1

1. There is a growing intolerance to difference READ MORE
2. Hijab, skirts and a woman’s quest for choice READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. DDMA takes the right call on schools READ MORE
2. Investigation Reimagined READ MORE
3. Criminal Procedure Act’s grand tech vision comes with dangers of police power, data violation READ MORE
4. Explainer: Why the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act Is Being Challenged in Court READ MORE
5. What does ‘citizenship’ mean in India READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. This is India’s moment of reckoning: The country can be the fulcrum of the new global order, as a peaceful democracy with economic prosperity READ MORE
2. Sharif inherits a troubled India-Pakistan legacy and a crumbling economy READ MORE
3. India-UK: Time is ripe to craft a new legacy READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code READ MORE
2. Skilling efforts need to be scaled up READ MORE
3. Digital delivery: New-age banks will increase inclusion READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY 

1. Beyond CO2, tropical forests a ‘cool’ solution to climate crisis, study finds READ MORE
2. Deforestation of indigenous lands in Brazilian Amazon could derail climate targets READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. PM Modi asks civil servants to prioritise ‘Nation First’ READ MORE
2. Positive and right thinking READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘India can be the fulcrum of the new global order, as a peaceful democracy with economic prosperity’. Comment.
2. ‘In the absence of data protection law, the Acts related to the privacy of citizens should be implement carefully’. Comment on the statement in the light of Criminal Procedure (Identification)Act, 2022.
3. ‘The hijab ban in Karnataka does not only invoke a question of faith but the larger issue of choice, which cannot be ignored at the cost of the other’. Elaborate the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Without peace, all other dreams vanish and are reduced to ashes.
• The great culture of India, our country is not made of royal systems and royal thrones. The tradition that we have for thousands of years has been a tradition of carrying on the strength of the common man.
• The country can be the fulcrum of the new global order, as a peaceful democracy with economic prosperity.
• During the Cold War, when India pursued a prudent foreign policy of non-alignment, trade was a small part of India’s economy. Now, trade represents a significant share of India’s GDP.
• The IBC is potentially as effective as a disciplining device as much as it is a resolution mechanism.
• For India to gain from its positive demographics, the skill gap must be bridged. Corporates can help by complementing govt’s efforts.
• It is now critical to keep schools open and allow teachers to assess the present learning level of students and commence remedial measures to ensure that children don’t suffer further.
• The growing closeness between China and Russia, along the current aggression in Ukraine has forced the UK to make the Indo-Pacific a key element of its foreign, trade, political and economic agenda.
• As the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act lacks appreciation for an individual’s consent to give such personal data, it empowers the police to initiate criminal proceedings against them in case they refuse to do so.
• The hijab ban in Karnataka does not only invoke a question of faith but the larger issue of choice, which cannot be ignored at the cost of the other.
• The recent trend of the Indian judiciary sentencing offenders for their natural life term reeks vengeance and departs from the reformatory process of making prisons humane and tolerable institutions.

50-WORD TALK

• Modi government’s move to establish a WHO centre for traditional medicine and offer Ayush visas holds promise. Traditional medicine has a mixed, controversial reputation and lacks adequate regulatory oversight in India. Raising its profile and globalising it can work only if it is based in science and has uniform standards.
• President Vladimir Putin’s declaration of victory in Mariupol is an admission of defeat. Putin has ordered troops to bypass defenders entrenched at Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks, who defied deadlines to surrender. This frees troops for Russia’s stalled offensive—but not enough to alter the outcome of poor equipment, logistics and generalship.

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 208]

1. The Guru who taught us to fear none, scare none READ MORE
2. Selective demolitions bring no glory to the nation READ MORE