1. Remission without reform: Premature release of prisoners must be done with discretion and wisdom READ MORE
2. Supreme Court’s contradictory verdicts reinforce the need for a Bail Act READ MORE
3. Our Constitution, Our People READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. WPI inflation eases to 5-mth low of 13.9% READ MORE
2. Child mortality has dipped to 35 per 1,000 live births: Minister READ MORE
3. Understanding ethanol blending READ MORE
4. Explained: All about F-INSAS, Nipun mines, LCA — the new defence systems handed over to Army READ MORE
5. The pesky problem of offshoring pollution READ MORE
6. SBI opens its first dedicated branch for startups in Bengaluru READ MORE
7. Government unveils Manthan, a platform to drive R&D collaboration with the industry READ MORE
8. What is in the Climate & Health Bill signed into law by Joe Biden? READ MORE
9. Why has FIFA banned India, and what happens to Indian football now? READ MORE

Main Exam

GS Paper- 1

1. A workforce less diverse: Muslim presence is declining in public sector and even in the self-employed. They are overrepresented among the unemployed. READ MORE
2. Dwindling dividend: Demographic advantage will not last forever READ MORE

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Remission without reform: Premature release of prisoners must be done with discretion and wisdom READ MORE
2. Supreme Court’s contradictory verdicts reinforce the need for a Bail Act READ MORE
3. Our Constitution, Our People READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Monkeypox is a chance to fix inequities in the global health system READ MORE  

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. History of strategic thinking on the Indo-Pacific READ MORE
2. Common Security: New Cold War and the Global South READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Power, a reality check: Failing to fully integrate discom operations in the analysis of state government finances obscures the true picture of loss. READ MORE
2. Hedging wheat imports can pay off READ MORE
3. Adopt a pragmatic policy on inflation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Stepping back from an ecological abyss: There is a need to balance India’s developmental needs with the sustenance of its ecological foundations READ MORE   
2. Ecological marvel READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The coming 75 years: A higher standard of living is possible if India shifts its focus to science and technology READ MORE
2. High points in science, technology and innovation READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. A true master focuses on your state of being READ MORE
2. It Doesn’t Follow READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Unless global health inequities are addressed, national health security will continue to be illusory, regardless of any amount of economic and political clout’. Analyse the statement.
2. ‘Greatness is not a genetic trait, but a dream that is achieved with courage and strength’. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Each step in the right direction allows you to see further in that direction.
• A higher standard of living is possible if India shifts its focus to science and technology.
• Entrepreneurship will only succeed in India if it is backed by a funnel of ideas and a liberal process of taking those ideas out of our university labs.
• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has undertaken its mission effectively since Independence.
• The local democracy heralded 30 years ago with great hopes to build India on a plank of economic development, and social justice from the grassroots level faces utter neglect.
• Failing to fully integrate discoms operations in analysing state government finances obscures the true picture of loss.
• Muslim presence is declining in the public sector and even in the self-employed. They are overrepresented among the unemployed.
• With domestic wheat stocks falling and prices rising, it’s time to secure supplies through derivative contracts on foreign bourses.
• Unless global health inequities are addressed, national health security will continue to be illusory, regardless of economic and political clout.
• Legal provisions were put in place to ensure the continuity of this ecosystem by dedicating an entire Act to its governance.
• Civil society and social movements must continue putting pressure to collectively show that the existential threats for all peoples are global warming, destruction of ecosystems, and the increasing social inequity between and within nations.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Each step in the right direction allows you to see further in that direction.
• India@75: Looking back to move forward.
• Greatness is not a genetic trait but a dream that is achieved with courage and strength.

50 WORD TALK

• It will be a make-or-break effort in the next decade and a half for India to catch up with China while India still has the potential for a demographic dividend. So, out-of-the-box thinking is vital or else the present, all-round asymmetry with China will become permanent. This will drive India into the arms of the US, a declining global power, and New Delhi’s strategic autonomy will be lost.

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 the news, you should do map work (marking those areas on 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 main 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 311]

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Centre has defined a list of single-use plastic items that will are banned from 1st July 2022.The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of notified single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities are also prohibited with effect from the 1st July 2022. This article analyses the ban on single-use plastic for greater benefits and related concerns.

SINGLE-USE PLASTIC

ABOUT

It refers to plastic items that are used once and discarded.

HIGHEST SHARES OF PLASTIC MANUFACTURED AND USED

Single-use plastic has among the highest shares of plastic manufactured and used — from the packaging of items to bottles (shampoo, detergents, cosmetics), polythene bags, face masks, coffee cups, cling film, trash bags, food packaging etc.

MINDEROO FOUNDATION 2021 REPORT

• Accounts for a Third of all Plastic Produced Globally:

According to a 2021 report of the Minderoo Foundation, an Australian philanthropic organization, single-use plastics account for a third of all plastic produced globally, with 98% manufactured from fossil fuels.

• The Majority of Plastic Discarded:

Single-use plastic also accounts for the majority of plastic discarded – 130 million metric tonnes globally in 2019 — all of which is burned, buried in landfills or discarded directly into the environment.

• Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

On the current trajectory of production, it has been projected that single-use plastic could account for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

• Data for India:

o   The report found that India features in the top 100 countries of single-use plastic waste generation – at rank 94 (the top three being Singapore, Australia and Oman).

o   With domestic production of 11.8 million metric tonnes annually, and import of 2.9 MMT, India’s net generation of single-use plastic waste is 5.6 MMT, and per capita, generation is 4 kg.

PLASTIC ITEMS TO BE BANNED:

• The items on which the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have announced a ban are earbuds; balloon sticks; candy and ice-cream sticks; cutlery items including plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, trays; sweet boxes; invitation cards; cigarette packs; PVC banners measuring under 100 microns; and polystyrene for decoration.
• The choice for the first set of single-use plastic items for the ban was based on the difficulty of collection, and therefore recycling. When plastic remains in the environment for long periods of time and does not decay, it turns into microplastics – first entering our food sources and then the human body, and this is extremely harmful.
• The largest share of single-use plastic is that of packaging – with as much as 95% of single-use belonging to this category – from toothpaste to shaving cream to frozen foods. The items chosen are of low value and of low turnover and are unlikely to have a big economic impact, but can be a great contributing factor in reducing environmental pollution.
• The Ministry had already banned polythene bags under 75 microns in September 2021, expanding the limit from the earlier 50 microns. The ban will be extended to polythene bags under 120 microns from December 2022. The ban is being introduced in phases to give manufacturers time to shift to thicker polythene bags that are easier to recycle.
• As per the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, there is also a complete ban on sachets using plastic material for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.

ENFORCEMENT OF THE BAN IN INDIA

MONITORED BY

• The ban will be monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) from the Centre and by the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) that will report to the Centre regularly.

DIRECTIONS ISSUED

• Directions have been issued at national, state and local levels — for example, to all petrochemical industries — to not supply raw materials to industries engaged in the banned items.
• Directions have also been issued to SPCBs and Pollution Control Committees to modify or revoke consent to operate issued under the Air/Water Act to industries engaged in single-use plastic items.
• Local authorities have been directed to issue fresh commercial licenses with the condition that SUP items will not be sold on their premises, and existing commercial licences will be cancelled if they are found to be selling these items.

BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

• Promoting Compostable and Biodegradable Plastics – The CPCB issued one-time certificates to 200 manufacturers of compostable plastic and the BIS passed standards for biodegradable plastic.

PENALTY

• Those found violating the ban can be penalised under the Environment Protection Act 1986 – which allows for imprisonment up to 5 years, a penalty up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
• Violators can also be asked to pay Environmental Damage Compensation by the SPCB.
• There are municipal laws on plastic waste, with their own penal codes.

WHY BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC – THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PLASTIC POLLUTION

LONGEVITY

• The chemical bonds that make-up plastics are strong and made to last. The decomposition rate of plastic typically ranges from 500 to 600 years, depending on the type. This makes them one of the major environmental pollutants.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

• On the current trajectory of production, it has been projected that single-use plastic could account for 5-10% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

LANDFILL CREATION

• The country is witnessing a rise in landfill creation, especially across major cities like Delhi, Mumbai etc. The Ghazipur landfill in Delhi is soon expected to surpass the height of Qutub Minar. Single-use plastic has played a crucial role in enhancing the extent and height of such landfills. Plastics also keep on releasing harmful toxins in the adjacent areas polluting local soils and groundwater.

IMPACT ON HEALTH

• When plastic remains in the environment for long periods of time and does not decay, it turns into microplastics. This enters food sources and then the human body, causing severe health problems.

IMPACT ON THE MARINE ECOSYSTEM

• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world produces over 300 million tonnes of plastic every year, of which 14 million tonnes end up in the ocean. Marine species ingest or are entangled in plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death. Microplastics are also a major contributor to marine pollution.

CHALLENGES IN PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT

INPUT COST

• While manufacturers can use the same machine for 50- and 75-micron bags, the machinery will need to be upgraded for 120 microns. This will enhance the cost of production and put a greater burden on consumers. Similarly, many sellers fear that the alternatives will cost more than single-use plastic. The availability of substitutes might not be enough to meet the demand.

INTERNATIONAL LAWS

• There is currently no dedicated international instrument in place designed specifically to prevent plastic pollution throughout the entire plastics lifecycle.

EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION

• The success would rely largely on how effectively these norms are governed by the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. Their past records in plastic waste management are quite uninspiring. This is testified by frequent violations of plastic rules in major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru etc.
• The prevalence of corruption impedes the effective implementation of the ban and fails to create a substantial deterrence on violators. India’s rank has slipped six places to 86th among 180 countries in Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2020.

INFORMAL WASTE COLLECTION

• Informalized Structure of Rag Pickers inhibits a strong linkage between waste collectors and processing plants.

THE ANALYSIS:

• India’s ban on select single-use plastic items comes into effect from 1^st July 2022. Although this is the country’s first attempt to regulate plastics available in the market, it will send out the wrong message if we say “India is banning single-use plastic”because even after July 1, the Indian market has continued to sell a gamut of single-use plastic items like soft drinks and mineral water bottles, all products sold in multi-layered packaging, among others. These plastic items perfectly fit the bill for single-use plastic going by the definition India has adopted. India defined single-use plastic in an August 2021 notification as “plastic item intended to be used once for the same purpose before being disposed of or recycled”.
• The government has tried to identify a handful of problematic plastics, which are low-utility and have high littering potential, from the bucket of single-use plastic commodity list and give the industry a reasonable time to phase them out. But many items have been left out. Plastic carry bags, for instance, will not be banned, they will still be available but the thickness has been regulated to be more than 75 microns till December 31, 2022, and more than 120 microns from December 31, 2022 onward. Similarly, banners made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), will still be available, but the thickness should not be less than 100 microns, the government mandated.
• The first announcement for phasing out single-use plastic was made on August 15, 2019 by the Prime Minister of India. Roughly two years later, in March 2021, the draft notification was released. The deadline for phase-out, proposed in the draft notification, was January 1, 2022. In the final notification released in August 2021, the deadline was extended to July 1, 2022 based on the request from the plastic industry and AIPMA.Still, the plastic industry, along with companies such as ParleAgro, Amul, Dabur, Pepsico and All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), are seeking an extension of 6-12 months on the ban, citing issues like unavailability of alternatives, economic infeasibility and demand-supply gap, which will increase the cost of their product packaging. This clearly questions the intent of the industries to adopt the policy guidelines.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• An international instrument to manage plastic pollution can be formulated by parties of the UN Environment Assembly. Earlier this year, 124 parties of UNEA including India, signed a resolution to draw up an agreement. The agreement will make it legally binding for the signatories to address the full life of plastics from production to disposal, to end plastic pollution.
• The alternatives manufactured in India come with a premium price which may be unaffordable in most cases. This is primarily due to the scale at which the alternative market currently operates. The alternative market needs to be offered support through government initiatives to make its reach wider. However, caution is needed when promoting alternatives, so as not to create a fresh set of problems while fighting plastic pollution.
• The Government should also encourage the creation of sustainable bioplastics. These plastics can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into the water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Recently, the BIS passed standards for biodegradable plastic.
• The Government should take proactive steps to ensure that the plastic ban becomes a success. The recent launch of a public grievance app to track complaints of single plastic use is a laudable step in this regard.
• An independent environment regulator as envisaged by the Supreme Court should be created to oversee the prudent implementation of the new rules.
• India’s plastic consumption at 11 kilogrammes is still only a tenth of the US and less than a third of China’s, according to PlastIndia 2015. But, the projected high growth rates of GDP and continuing rapid urbanisation suggest that India’s trajectory of plastic consumption and plastic waste is likely to increase. The masses shall be sensitized about plastic waste through awareness programmes and other campaigns and shall be encouraged to use alternatives to plastic.

THE CONCLUSION: Making India plastic-pollution free is not going to be easy and the responsibility is not limited to one stakeholder — the plastic industry or governments, for instance. All the stakeholders involved from the production of raw materials, plastic manufacturers, giant FMCG companies, national, state and local governments along with the consumers have their parts to play to make the ban a success. The national and state governments have a long road ahead of them to ensure enforcement of the notified ban. We just cannot envisage that from July, India will become a single-use plastic-free nation.Consumers like you and I also have a role to play, which ranges from refusing the use of plastic carry bags irrespective of the thickness, consuming consciously and, of course, segregating the solid waste we generate in our households. This will ensure plastic waste can be diverted away from dumpsites to treatment facilities, where it can be recycled and given a second life.

Mains Practice Questions:

1. The single-use plastic (SUP) ban is a significant step towards building a sustainable planet we can proudly hand over to the next generation. Comment.
2. Researchers, experts and environmentalists feel that bans work but only to an extent. Critically examine the statement in the context of the single-use plastic ban.

ADD TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE

PLASTIC BAN AROUND THE WORLD

• United Nations resolution: 124 countries which are party to the United Nations Environment Assembly including India signed a resolution to draw up an agreement which will in the future make it legally binding for the signatories to address the full life of plastics from production to disposal, to end plastic pollution.
• Bangladesh became the first country to ban thin plastic bags in 2002.
• New Zealand became the latest country to ban plastic bags in 2019.
• China issued a ban on plastic bags in 2020 with a phased implementation.
• Seattle became the first major US city to ban plastic straws in 2018.
• European Union (EU): The directive bans certain single-use plastics for which alternatives are available.
• Current scenario: 68 countries have plastic bag bans with varying degrees of enforcement.

Successful initiatives:

In 2008, Rwanda became a pioneer in banning the disposal of plastic among the developing nations and has transformed into one of the cleanest nations on the globe, in spite of its financial constraints.

Less successful initiatives:

Ethiopia’s ban on the import and production of carrying bags thicker than 330 microns, plateaued out in a short period. This is the matter with many developing countries including India, despite strengthening their stance against packaging plastics, they fail to effectively implement it due to the dearth of infrastructure, enforcement, and availability of affordable alternatives.

INDIA’S EFFORTS IN TACKLING PLASTIC WASTE

THE PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES, 2016

• It clearly stipulates that urban local bodies (ULBs) should ban less than 50 micron thick plastic bags and not allow the usage of recycled plastics for packing food, beverage or any other eatables.
• It introduced the concept of EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) to manage plastics in India.EPR means the responsibility of a producer for environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life.

PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2022

• The guidelines on EPR(Extended Producer Responsibility) coupled with the prohibition of identified single-use plastic items. It banned the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carrying bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than seventy-five microns.
• The items that will be banned are—Earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration, plastic plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons and knives, straw, trays, wrapping films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100-microns and stirrers.
• The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
• The Central Pollution Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, will monitor the ban, identify violations, and impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act.

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION – URBAN 2.0

Segregation and sorting:

• Under this, every Urban Local Body (ULB) is required to adopt 100% source segregation of waste, and have access to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for sorting the dry waste (including plastic waste) into further fractions for recycling and/ or processing into value-added products.
• This is aimed to reduce plastic and dry waste ending up in dumpsites or waterbodies.
• Further, the ULBs will need to identify SUP ‘hotspots’ and eliminate them.
• ULB shave to leverage the support of State Pollution Control Boards and form special enforcement squads, conducting surprise inspections and imposing heavy fines and penalties on defaulters, for enforcing SUP bans.

Alternatives:

• The ULBs will need to identify SUP alternatives (such as cloth/jute/plastic bags, degradable cutleries, etc.) readily available in the market and create awareness about such alternatives among citizens.

Reuse:

• States and ULBs have also been advised to enter into MoUs with nearby cement plants or other industrial units as well to ensure that a part of the plastic waste generated is used either as an alternative fuel in cement plants or for road construction purposes.

THE “INDIA PLASTIC CHALLENGE – HACKATHON 2021

• It is a unique competition calling upon start-ups /entrepreneurs and students of   Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to develop innovative solutions to mitigate plastic pollution and develop alternatives to single-use plastics.

OTHERS:

India Plastics Pact:

• The India Plastics Pact is an ambitious, collaborative initiative that aims to bring together businesses, governments and NGOs to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics in their value chain. The Pact aims to transform the current linear plastics system into a circular plastics economy that will:

o   Reduce the use of problematic plastics in India.

o   Retain valuable materials in the economy for use in other products.

o   Generate jobs, investments and opportunities in the plastics system in India.

Project REPLAN:

• This is the first of its kind project in India, where plastic waste is de-structured, degraded, diluted and used with paper pulp while making handmade paper and thus reducing plastic waste from nature. The invention is aligned with the Prime Minister’s call for fighting the menace of single-use plastic.

Un-Plastic Collective:

• The Un-plastic Collective (UPC) is co-founded by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and WWF-India.
• The Collective seeks to minimise the externalities of plastics on the ecological and social health of our planet. The word ‘un-plastic’ specifically refers to moving all types of plastics in a circular economy and removing unnecessary plastic in the long run, while using sustainable alternative materials.

GoLitter Partnerships Project

• The Project was launched by the International Maritime Organization(IMO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO). The Government of Norway provided initial funding for the project. The project aims to help the maritime transport and fishing sectors to adapt to a low-plastic future. To achieve this goal, this initiative will assist developing countries to apply best practices for the prevention, reduction, and control of marine plastic litter from those sectors.
• 30 Countries are participating in the project. India is also one of the participating countries.

THE INDIAN MODERN HISTORY

1. WOMEN HEROES OF INDIA’S FREEDOM STRUGGLE

THE CONTEXT: During the Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister hailed “nari shakti”, and urged people to pledge to not do anything that lowers the dignity of women. He also paid tribute to women freedom fighters for showing the world the true meaning of India’s “nari shakti”.

THE EXPLANATION:

Prime Minister hailed “nari shakti”, and urged people to pledge to not do anything that lowers the dignity of women. He also paid tribute to women freedom fighters like Laxmibai, Jhalkari Bai, Durga Bhabhi, Rani Gaidinliu, and VeluNachiyar, among others, embody the spirit of India’s ‘nari shakti’ and for showing the world the true meaning of India’s “nari shakti” and stressed that women is an important pillar of India’s growth.

RANI LAXMIBAI

• The queen of the princely state of Jhansi, Rani Laxmibai is known for her role in the First War of India’s Independence in 1857. Born Manikarnika Tambe in 1835, she married the king of Jhansi. The couple adopted a son before the king’s death, which the British East India Company refused to accept as the legal heir and decided to annex Jhansi.
• Refusing to cede her territory, the queen decided to rule on behalf of the heir, and later joined the uprising against the British in 1857. Cornered by the British, she escaped from Jhansi fort. She was wounded in combat near Gwalior’s Phool Bagh, where she later died. Sir Hugh Rose, who was commanding the British army, is known to have described her as “personable, clever…and one of the most dangerous Indian leaders”.

JHALKARI BAI

• A soldier in Rani Laxmibai’s women’s army, Durga Dal, she rose to become one of the queen’s most trusted advisers. She is known for putting her own life at risk to keep the queen out of harm’s way. Till date, the story of her valour is recalled by the people of Bundelkhand, and she is often presented as a representative of Bundeli identity.
• According to Ministry of Culture’s Amrit Mahotsav website, “Many Dalit communities of the region look up to her as an incarnation of God and also celebrate Jhalkaribai Jayanti every year in her honour.”

DURGA BHABHI

• Durgawati Devi, who was popularly known as Durga Bhabhi, was a revolutionary who joined the armed struggle against colonial rule. A member of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, she helped Bhagat Singh escape in disguise from Lahore after the 1928 killing of British police officer John P Saunders.
• During the train journey that followed, Durgawati and Bhagat Singh posed as a couple, and Rajguru as their servant. Later, as revenge for the hanging of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, she made an unsuccessful attempt to kill the former Punjab Governor, Lord Hailey.
• Born in Allahabad in 1907 and married to Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) member Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Durgawati, along with other revolutionaries, also ran a bomb factory in Delhi.

RANI GAIDINLIU

• Born in 1915 in present-day Manipur, Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader who fought the British.
• She joined the Heraka religious movement which later became a movement to drive out the British. She rebelled against the Empire, and refused to pay taxes, asking people to do the same. The British launched a manhunt, but she evaded arrest, moving from village to village.
• Gaidinliu was finally arrested in 1932 when she was just 16, and later sentenced for life. She was released in 1947. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, according to the Amrit Mahotsav website, described Gaidinliu as the “daughter of the hills”, and gave her the title of ‘Rani’ for her courage.

RANI CHENNAMMA

• The queen of Kittur, Rani Chennamma, was among the first rulers to lead an armed rebellion against British rule. Kittur was a princely state in present-day Karnataka.
• She fought back against the attempt to control her dominion in 1824 after the death of her young son. She had lost her husband, Raja Mallasarja, in 1816. She is seen among the few rulers of the time who understood the colonial designs of the British.
• Rani Chennamma defeated the British in her first revolt, but was captured and imprisoned during the second assault by the East India Company.

BEGUM HAZRAT MAHAL

• After her husband, Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah, was exiled after the 1857 revolt, Begum Hazrat Mahal, along with her supporters, took on the British and wrested control of Lucknow. She was forced into a retreat after the colonial rulers recaptured the area.

VELU NACHIYAR

• Many years before the revolt of 1857, VeluNachiyar waged a war against the British and emerged victorious.
• Born in Ramanathapuram in 1780, she was married to the king of Sivagangai. After her husband was killed in battle with the East India Company, she entered the conflict.
• She is remembered for producing the first human bomb as well as establish the first army of trained women soldiers in the late 1700s
• “She went on to produce the first human bomb as well as establish the first army of trained women soldiers in the late 1700s,” says the Amrit Mahotsav website. Her army commander Kuyili is believed to have set herself ablaze and walked into a British ammunition dump. She was succeeded by her daughter in 1790, and died a few years later in 1796.

2. COMMEMORATING PARTITION HORRORS REMEMBRANCE DAY ON AUGUST 14

THE CONTEXT: India is commemorating August 14, as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. The commemoration was announced by Prime Minister in 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The day would be observed every year to commemorate the “struggles and sacrifices” of millions of people who were displaced and lost their lives during Partition.
• On August 14, Pakistan emerged as a political entity after Partition and is observed as Independence Day of Pakistan.

Significance

• This move by Prime Minister becomes significant in the backdrop of situation in Afghanistan and advance of the Taliban raising old spectres in the region.

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day

• This day is a national Memorial Day in India, that was announced to be observed on August 14. The day commemorates the victims and sufferings of people during Partition of India. It remembers the sufferings of Indians during partition. The day was announced with the aim of reminding Indians the need of removing social divisions and disharmony. It seeks to further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment.

About Partition

• Partition was the division of British India into two independent dominions namely India and Pakistan. These two dominions have gone through further reorganisation. Dominion of India is called as Republic of India. The Dominion of Pakistan was composed of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
• Partition basically divided two provinces, Bengal and Punjab on the basis of district-wide non-Muslim or Muslim majorities. Partition also led to the division of British Indian Army, Royal Indian Navy, Indian Civil Service, central treasury and railways. The partition was done in accordance to the Indian Independence Act 1947. The act also dissolved the British Raj in India. Dominions of India and Pakistan legally came into existence on 15 August 1947.

Why partition is a horror?

• Partition led to the displacement of some 10 and 20 million people on the religious lines, creating a refugee crisis in India and Pakistan. It is marked with large-scale violence that ultimately created an everlasting atmosphere of hostility and suspicion between India and Pakistan. 

THE HEALTH ISSUES

3. POLIO BEEN FOUND IN LONDON, NEW YORK AND JERUSALEM

THE CONTEXT: Polio, a deadly disease that used to paralyze tens of thousands of children every year, is spreading in London, New York and Jerusalem for the first time in decades, spurring catch-up vaccination campaigns.

THE EXPLANATION:

Polio- A Dreaded disease

• Polio terrified parents around the world for the first half of the 20th century. Affecting mainly children under five, it is often asymptomatic but can also cause symptoms including fever and vomiting. Around one in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, and among those patients, up to 10% die.
• There is no cure, but since a vaccine was found in the 1950s, polio is entirely preventable. Globally, the wild form of the disease has almost disappeared.
• Afghanistan and Pakistan are now the only countries where the highly infectious disease, spread mainly through contact with faecal matter, remains endemic. But this year, imported cases were also found in Malawi and Mozambique, the first in those countries since the 1990s.

VALUE ADDITION:

About:

• Polio is a highly infectious disease, caused by the virus which multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.
• Once that happens, the patient is crippled for life because there is no treatment for the affliction. Colloquially they are referred to as wild polio virus.

Variants:

There are three types of wild poliovirus:

• Type 1: still exists but efforts are going on to eradicate it.
• Type 2: eradicated.
• Type 3: eradicated.

Transmission

• The virus is transmitted by person-to-person, mainly through the faecal-oral route or less frequently, by a common vehicle (contaminated water or food).
• Because the virus lives in the faeces of an infected person, people infected with the disease can spread it to others when they do not wash their hands well after defecating.

Endemism:

• Currently, wild poliovirus is endemic in two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• The detection of Type 1 outside the two countries where the disease is endemic demonstrates the continuous risk of international spread of the disease until every corner of the world is free of Type 1.

4. WHO NEW NAMES FOR MONKEYPOX VARIANTS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) rechristened the variants of monkeypox virus that are currently in circulation. It was done to avoid any cultural or social offence. Monkeypox variant has been renamed as “Clades I, IIa and IIb”.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Phylogeny and nomenclature of known and new monkeypox virus variants or clades was reviewed by experts in pox virology and representatives of research institutes from worldwide.
• Clades have been renamed using Roman numerals, on the recommendations of experts.
• Former Congo Basin (Central African) clade has been renamed as Clade one (I) while the former West African clade has been renamed as Clade two (II). Clade II also comprises of two subclades.

About Monkeypox:

• Monkeypox is an ongoing outbreak. First case of the viral disease was reported in May 2022 in the United Kingdom. First case was reported in individual with travel links to Nigeria. Monkeypox disease is endemic to Nigeria. For the first time, this disease is being reported outside Central and West Africa. It was declared a public health emergency of international concern on July 23, 2022.
• Monkeypox cases have been reported in over 80 countries. Considering this, the WHO has declared it as a global health emergency. The confirmed cases have reached over 32,000. In Delhi, 5 monkeypox cases have been reported.

Symptoms of monkeypox:

Monkeypox is a viral infection, that displays week or two after exposure with the virus. Common symptoms include fever, followed by rash with lesions. The lesions last for 2–4 weeks before falling off.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

5. NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AWARENESS MISSION (NIPAM)

THE CONTEXT:The National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) was launched on December 8, 2021 by Ministry of Commerce & Industry in association with Intellectual Property Office and Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (CGPDTM).

THE EXPLANATION:

Under this programme, awareness and training are provided on Intellectual Property (IP). This scheme has met its goal of training one million students on July 31, 2022, before the deadline of August 15, 2022.

IP Awareness:

• Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has mandated to increase IP awareness, in line with the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. This is because, IP awareness is significant to ensure that intellectual capital developed in country is recognised and protected in order for IP producers to take advantage.
• IP encourages and extends support to innovation and creativity, that are contributing towards societal cultural and economic progress.
• It encourages inventors, artists and authors, as well as ensures sustainability of research and development.

About National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission:

The National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission targets students in two levels:

1. Level A– It includes school students of class 9^th to 12^th.
2. Level B – It includes students from Universities or Colleges

This programme was launched with the aim of raising and stimulating innovation and creativity, and thus contributing to cultural and economic development of society. It seeks to contribute towards creation of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat by increasing awareness on IP among one million students across India.

VALUE ADDITION:

What is IPR?

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are the rights acquired by an owner of an intellectual property.
• Intellectual property is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect.
• In simple terms, it refers to creations of the mind, such as
• inventions
• literary & artistic works
• designs & symbols,
• names & images used in commerce.
• The main purpose of intellectual property law is to
• encourage the creation of a wide variety of intellectual goods &
• strike the right balance between the interests of innovators & wider public interest.

6. EXPLAINED: DIGIYATRA, THE CONTACTLESS PASSENGER PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR AIRPORTS

THE CONTEXT: The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), run by GMR, announced the soft launch of the Centre’s DigiYatra initiative, rolling out the beta version of its app for Android platforms. DigiYatra , the passenger processing system based on facial recognition technology, has been piloted at the Delhi airport and has had the required infrastructure set up at the airport’s Terminal 3.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is DigiYatra and how will it work?

• DigiYatra envisages that travellers pass through various checkpoints at the airport through paperless and contactless processing, using facial features to establish their identity, which would be linked to the boarding pass.
• With this technology, the entry of passengers would be automatically processed based on the facial recognition system at all checkpoints – including entry into the airport, security check areas, aircraft boarding, etc.

How can people avail the DigiYatra facility?

• To use this facility, passengers will need to first download the DigiYatra app. The Android version of the app is out, while the iOS version is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Users can register on the app using Aadhaar credentials, followed by a selfie with the Aadhaar card. After this, vaccination details using CoWIN credentials will have to be added to the app. Then, the person will have to scan his or her boarding pass with the QR code or Bar code, after which the credentials will be shared with the airport.
• For entry into the airport, passengers will need to scan their boarding passes at the e-gate and look into the facial recognition system camera installed there. A similar method will be applicable for entry into other checkpoints.

How is DigiYatra being implemented?

• Recently, the Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation met to discuss the DigiYatra project. The project is being implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation — a joint-venture company whose shareholders are the Airports Authority of India (26% stake) and Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Mumbai Airport and Cochin International Airport. These five shareholders equally hold the remaining 74% of the shares.
• The DigiYatra Foundation will be the custodian of the passenger ID validation process. It will also define the criteria for compliance and guidelines for the local airport systems. There will be regular audits of the various compliances and guidelines (including guidelines on security, image quality, and data privacy) defined by the DigiYatra guidelines for the local airport Biometric Boarding Systems.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

7. PRESIDENT’S TATRAKSHAK MEDAL (PTM)

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the President of India  approved around 107 gallantry awards for the armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). It comprises of 3 Kirti Chakras and 13 Shaurya Chakras. Apart from that, 81 Sena Medals, 1 Nao Sena Medal and 2 Bar to Sena medals were also announced.

THE EXPLANATION:

• 40 Mention-in-Despatches for Indian Army, 1 to for Indian Air Force and another for Army Dog Axel (posthumously) was also approved by the President, to honour their significant contributions in military operations like Operation Tirkit and Operation Snow Leopard.
• Kirti Chakra was awarded to Naik Devendra Pratap Singh from the Army, for his courage and devotion in eliminating two hardcore terrorists at Pulwama.
• Shaurya Chakra was awarded to 8 Army personnel, including two posthumously. It was also awarded to one personnel from Indian Navy.
• Out of 8 Shaurya Chakra awardees, 2 are from Para Special Forces while rest were from Rashtriya Rifles in Kashmir Valley.
• All Shaurya awards were given for conducting counter-terror and counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir.
• Kirti Chakra was awarded posthumously to Constable Sudip Sarkar and sub-inspector PaotinsatGuite from BSF, for their bravery away from the battle field.

President’s Tatrakshak Medal

On the occasion, President also approved 3 Tatrakshak Medals (TM) to Coast Guard personnel, to honour their acts of conspicuous gallantry, meritorious service and exceptional devotion to duty. It is a military decoration, that is presented for selfless devotion and distinguished service in Indian Coast Guard. President of India confers the award on the occasion of national celebrations, Republic Day and Independence Day.

POINTS TO REMEMBER: UPSC 2021 QUESTION ON BHARAT RATNA

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards:

1.  Bharat Ratna and Padma awards are titles under the Article 18 (1) of the Constitution of India.
2.  Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, were suspended only once.
3.  The number of Bharat Ratna Awards is restricted to a maximum of five in a particular year.

Which of the above statements are not correct?

a)      1 and 2 only

b)      2 and 3 only

c)       1 and 3 only

d)      1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

THE DATA POINT

1. Turn attention inside to change your destiny READ MORE
2. Equality And Unity READ MORE

1. Arctic Is Warming Nearly Four Times Faster Than the Rest of the World READ MORE
2. Climate and Us | India’s domestic goal of 450 GW RE capacity by 2030 is crucial READ MORE  
3. Another Okay for Biodiversity Change Bill Is a Reminder To Remember Its Dangers READ MORE

1. For progress, dilute caste purity notions READ MORE
2. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi writes: Commitment to inclusivity and social justice should drive the nation’s march to 100 READ MORE  
3. The menace of trafficking READ MORE

1. Fundamental duties are not just pedantic, they are key to social transformation: CJI READ MORE
2. The shackles of 1861 need to go: Though much has changed, attention needs to be paid to lingering issues in India’s police agency READ MORE
3. Meeting aspirations: India needs better governance for the sake of its own people, not global approbation READ MORE
4. NITI Aayog has failed cooperative federalism READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Researchers develop 3D printed artificial cornea READ MORE
2. President approves 107 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and CAPF personnel on Independence Day READ MORE
3. The spectrum of law-making in independent India READ MORE
4. New law for SEZs: Commerce ministry proposes host of incentives READ MORE
5. Explained: What happened in the Constituent Assembly 75 years ago, when the National Flag was adopted? READ MORE
6. Explainer: What’s the Risk of Disaster at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant? READ MORE
7. US lawmakers arrive in Taiwan amid China tensions READ MORE
8. Arctic Is Warming Nearly Four Times Faster Than the Rest of the World READ MORE

Main Exam

1. For progress, dilute caste purity notions READ MORE

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Fundamental duties are not just pedantic, they are key to social transformation: CJI READ MORE
2. The shackles of 1861 need to go: Though much has changed, attention needs to be paid to lingering issues in India’s police agency READ MORE
3. Meeting aspirations: India needs better governance for the sake of its own people, not global approbation READ MORE
4. NITI Aayog has failed cooperative federalism READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi writes: Commitment to inclusivity and social justice should drive the nation’s march to 100 READ MORE  
2. The menace of trafficking READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. C Raja Mohan writes: Diplomacy for Viksit Bharat READ MORE
2. A road map for India-EU ties: India and EU should not let divergence of views on some issues overwhelm the convergence of views on other areas READ MORE
3. Biggest external challenges come from China READ MORE
4. Saving India from unruly neighbours READ MORE
5. Seventy Five Years of Indian Foreign Policy: Key Successes, and the Gaps That Still Remain READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Our problem is fiscal mismanagement and not freebies READ MORE
2. To be developed: Farm reform, judicial reform, freer trade are critical if India wants an economic change of status READ MORE
3. Manufacturing needs cohesive policies READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate and Us | India’s domestic goal of 450 GW RE capacity by 2030 is crucial READ MORE  
2. Another Okay for Biodiversity Change Bill Is a Reminder To Remember Its Dangers READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Turn attention inside to change your destiny READ MORE
2. Equality And Unity READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. ‘Fundamental duties are not just pedantic; they are key to social transformation’. Examine the statement.
2. NITI Aayog generated hopes of building Team India making states equal partners in nation’s development and promoting cooperative fiscal federalism. Critically examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.
• Fundamental duties are not just pedantic, they are key to social transformation.
• India and EU should not let divergence of views on some issues overwhelm the convergence of views on other areas.
• India and the EU should not let such divergences of views overwhelm the many areas of convergence among them.
• European partners acknowledge India as an important pillar in ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
• India needs better governance for the sake of its own people, not global approbation.
• India might not need approval from other countries, but it needs to do better on rights and freedoms, welfare and justice, growth and development, and in building a more egalitarian society.
• We need a course correction so that our upcoming generations witness a free and prosperous society. We should ensure our republic protects all citizens and approaches checkpoints in this journey with a scientific temper.
• India must act on its domestic renewable energy and climate goals for this will also help in delivering on its updated NDC. It will also help maintain people’s trust in the Centre’s seriousness when it comes to clean energy.
• Despite several measures, human trafficking goes on unabated. It must be the Govt’s priority to check this inhumane trade.
• While liberty and equality are enforced with constitutional means, fraternity is getting the short shrift Fraternity, as opposed to liberty and equality, fails to get traction in public discourse or political programmes.
• Aayog generated hopes of building Team India making states equal partners in nation’s development and promoting cooperative fiscal federalism.

50 WORD TALK

• It will be a make-or-break effort in the next decade and a half for India to catch up with China while India still has the potential for demographic dividend. So, out-of-the-box thinking is vital or else the present, all-round asymmetry with China will become permanent. This will drive India into the arms of the US, a declining global power, and New Delhi’s strategic autonomy will be lost.

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: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 (released on 7th July 2022) provides a global overview of progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, using the latest available data and estimates. It tracks the global and regional progress towards the 17 Goals with in-depth analyses of selected indicators for each Goal.The Report highlights the severity and magnitude of the challenges before us. The confluence of crises, dominated by COVID-19, climate change, and conflicts, are creating spin-off impacts on food and nutrition, health, education, the environment, and peace and security, and affecting all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article discusses the challenges before us in detail.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS REPORT

ABOUT

• It is a global assessment of countries’ progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
• It is published by a group of independent experts at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
o SDSN was launched in 2012 to mobilize global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical problem solving for sustainable development and implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
o Following their adoption, SDSN is now committed to supporting the implementation of the SDGs at national and international levels.

RANKING

• Countries are ranked by their overall score.
• The overall score measures the total progress towards achieving all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The score can be interpreted as a percentage of SDG achievement.
• A score of 100 indicates that all SDGs have been achieved.

PERFORMANCE OF THE COUNTRIES

• The 2022 SDG Index is topped by Finland, followed by three Nordic countries –Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
• East and South Asia is the region that progressed most on the SDGs since their adoption in 2015.
• Bangladesh and Cambodia are the two countries that progressed most on the SDGs since 2015.
• By contrast, Venezuela has declined the most on the SDG Index since their adoption in 2015.

SDG REPORT 2022 AND INDIA

• India’s rank in the report has slipped for the third consecutive year. It has been ranked 121 out of the 163 countries in 2022. India ranked 117 in 2020 and 120 in 2021.
• India continues to face major challenges in achieving 11 of the 17 SDGs, which has pushed down its global ranking on SDG preparedness.
• The progress in around 10 of the SDG goals is similar to those in 2021. These include SDG 2 on ending hunger, SDG 3 on good health and well being and SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation.
• But ensuring decent work (SDG 8) has become more challenging.

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

• The United Nations defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
• It includes “harmonising” three elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

• The United Nations Document “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
• This agenda contains 17 goals and 169 targets.
• The agenda is built on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were adopted in 2000 and were to be achieved by 2015.
• SDGs provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
• They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE REPORT

MEETING THE DEADLINE

• The report highlights the severity and magnitude of the crises before us and states that urgent action is needed to achieve the 2030 deadline of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

GLOBAL ISSUES AFFECTING SGDS

• According to the report, all 17 SDGs, set at the UN General Assembly in 2015, are in jeopardy due to the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and an increase in the number of conflicts across the world.
• The pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have already led to a lowering of global economic growth projections by 0.9 percentage points.
• It is harming in more ways than one:
o Raising food and fuel prices.
o Hampering global supplies and trade.
o Disturbing financial markets.

IMPACTED AREAS

The “cascading and intersecting” issues impact the environment, food and nutrition, health, peace and security as well as education, according to a UN statement on the report.
Environment:
o Greenhouse gas emissions are set to rise 14 per cent over a decade, antithetical to the Paris Agreement plan — a 2025 peak followed by a 43 per cent decline by 2030 and Net 2050.
o Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions shot up 6 per cent, taking down gains due to COVID-19.
Economic shocks and poverty:
o Economic shocks due to the worldwide health emergency pushed 93 million into poverty in 2020 alone, undoing “more than four years” work at alleviating poverty.
Education and healthcare:
o It also affected the education and healthcare services for millions.
o Immunisation, for example, has dropped for the first time in a decade even as deaths from malaria and TB have risen.
Cascading effect:
o The report also flagged threats to food security and aids, rising unemployment (especially among women) and increases in child labour as well as child marriages.
o The burden was greater on least developed countries and vulnerable population groups.

UNDOING PROGRESS:

The report details the reversal of years of progress in eradicating poverty and hunger, improving health and education, providing basic services, and much more.

COVID – 19 AND SDGs

SDG 1 (NO POVERTY)

• The COVID-19 pandemic has put steady progress in poverty reduction over the past 25 years into reverse, with the number of people in extreme poverty increased for the first time in a generation.
• Between 657 and 676 million people are currently projected to live in extreme poverty in 2022, compared to the pre-pandemic projection of 581 million.
• In 2020, for the first time in two decades, the share of the world’s workers living in extreme poverty increased, rising from 6.7 per cent in 2019 to 7.2 per cent, pushing an additional 8 million workers into poverty.

SDG 3 (GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING)

• The pandemic has severely disrupted essential health services, triggered an increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression, lowered global life expectancy, derailed progress towards ending HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, and halted two decades of work towards making health coverage universal. As a result, immunization coverage dropped for the first time in 10 years, and deaths from TB and malaria increased.

SDG 4 (QUALITY EDUCATION)

• The COVID-19 pandemic has deepened a crisis in education, with severe disruptions in education systems worldwide. School closures have had worrisome consequences for children’s learning and well-being, particularly for girls and those who are disadvantaged, including children with disabilities, rural dwellers and ethnic minorities.
• An estimated 147 million children missed more than half of their in-person instruction over the past two years and 24 million learners from the pre-primary to university level are at risk of not returning to school.

SDG 8 (DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH)

• The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated the worst economic crisis in decades and reversed progress towards decent work for all. Although the global economy began to rebound in 2021, bringing some improvement in unemployment, recovery remains elusive and fragile. Recovery patterns also vary significantly across regions, countries, sectors and labour market groups.
• By the end of 2021, global economic recovery had been hampered by new waves of COVID-19 infections, rising inflationary pressures, major supply-chain disruptions, policy uncertainties and persistent labour market challenges.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SDGs

SDG 13 (Climate Action)

• The world is on the brink of a climate catastrophe, and the window to avert it is closing rapidly. Increased heatwaves, droughts and floods caused by climate change are already affecting billions of people around the world and causing potentially irreversible changes in global ecosystems.
• To limit warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, as set out in the Paris Agreement, global greenhouse gas emissions will need to peak before 2025. Then they must decline by 43 per cent by 2030, falling to net zero by 2050, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body responsible for assessing the science related to climate change.
• However, current national commitments are not sufficient to meet the 1.5 °C targets. Under these commitments, greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase by almost 14 per cent over the next decade.

SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

• Human activity is endangering the planet’s largest ecosystem – its oceans and seas – and affecting the livelihoods of billions of people. Continuing ocean acidification and rising ocean temperatures are threatening marine species and negatively affecting marine ecosystem services.
• In 2021, more than 17 million metric tons of plastic entered the ocean – a number projected to double or triple by 2040.

CONFLICTS AND SDGs

SDG 1(NO POVERTY)

• Forecasts for 2022 estimate that 75 million more people than expected prior to the pandemic will be living in extreme poverty. Rising food prices and the broader impacts of the war in Ukraine could push that number even higher, to 95 million, leaving the world even further from meeting the target of ending extreme poverty by 2030.

SDG 2 (ZERO HUNGER)

• Global food supply systems have been partially undermined by a cascading combination of growing conflicts, climate-related shocks and widening inequalities. As a result, as many as 828 million people may have suffered from hunger in 2021.
• The outbreak of war in Ukraine poses an additional threat to food insecurity, with the potential to provoke a surge in levels of hunger and malnutrition, especially among the poorest and most vulnerable.

SDG 10 (REDUCED INEQUALITIES)

• The number of refugees worldwide reached the highest absolute number on record in 2021; sadly, that year also saw a record number of migrant deaths.
• The ongoing war in Ukraine has created the worst refugee crisis in recent history. To date, the movement of more than 6 million people from Ukraine to other countries has been registered, the majority of whom are women and children. In addition, at least 8 million people have been displaced inside the country to escape the conflict.

SDG 16 (PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS)

• Pleas for global peace are growing louder as the world witnesses the largest number of violent conflicts since 1946, with one-quarter of the global population living in conflict-affected countries at the end of 2020.
• Amid these crises, and despite movement restrictions prompted by COVID-19, forced displacement has continued and even grown.

THE ANALYSIS OF THE THREE CASCADING AND INTERLINKED CRISES:
Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on almost every aspect of our lives. And it is still far from over. The pandemic wiped out more than four years of progress on poverty eradication. The immediacy of the COVID-19 crisis is now overshadowed by the existential threat of climate change. Increased heat waves, droughts and apocalyptic wildfires and floods are already affecting billions of people around the globe and causing potentially irreversible damage to the Earth’s ecosystems. To avoid the worst effects of climate change, we need to meet the targets set out in the Paris Agreement. The outbreak of war in Ukraine has caused food, fuel and fertilizer prices to skyrocket, disrupted supply chains and global trade, and roiled financial markets, fuelling the threat of a global food crisis.
To stay ahead of these crises, we need to understand where we are and where we are headed, and that will require significant investment in our data and information infrastructure. Policies, programmes and resources aimed at protecting people during this most challenging time will inevitably fall short without the evidence needed to focus interventions. Timely, high-quality and disaggregated data can help trigger more targeted responses, anticipate future needs, and hone the design of urgently needed actions. To emerge stronger from the crisis and prepare for unknown challenges ahead, funding statistical development must be a priority for national governments and the international community.

THE WAY FORWARD:
1. The severity and magnitude of the challenges before us demand sweeping changes on a scale not yet seen in human history. We must start by ending armed conflicts (such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict) and embarking on a path of diplomacy and peace – a precondition for sustainable development.
2. We must adopt low-carbon, resilient and inclusive development pathways that will reduce carbon emissions, conserve natural resources, transform our food systems, create better jobs and advance the transition to a greener, more inclusive and just economy.
3. The COVID-19 crisis has been an extraordinary challenge for statistical systems also. It has also been an opportunity to experiment with innovative data collection methods, explore new data sources and modernize ICT infrastructures to meet data demands for policy making. Moving forward, experiences during the pandemic can be used to inform the future of innovation in statistics.
4. The last two years have seen a major blow to the world’s economy and people, and lower-income countries were hit particularly hard. Investing in data capacities and data partnerships to leave no one behind, build trust and fill data gaps to achieve the SDGs must be a priority for national governments and the international community if countries are to rely upon evidence-based policy responses to emerge stronger from the crisis and face the unknown challenges ahead.
5. The conflict has caused a steep and sudden reduction in exports of grain, sunflower seeds and fertilizers. As a result, import-dependent countries are vulnerable to rising food costs and supply chain disruptions. Joint, coordinated activities and policy solutions are urgently needed to avert food shortages for the world’s poorest people and to reduce the impact of the conflict, as well as lingering consequences of the pandemic, on global food insecurity. (For instance, the recently adopted “GENEVA PACKAGE” at the 12th ministerial conference of WTO, also agreed on Exemptions from Export Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Food Purchases made by World Food Programme (WFP).
6. Millions of children and youth worldwide are in similar situations as those in Ukraine whose learning has been interrupted – by war, disasters and other crises. Providing safe, inclusive and continuous education to those girls and boys is crucial in helping them cope with current and future crises. Online Education/Classes is one of the soundest and most important investments that can be made in human and socio-economic development.

THE CONCLUSION: The road map laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals is clear, just as the impact of crises is compounded when they are linked, so are the solutions. When we take action to strengthen social protection systems, improve public services and invest in clean energy, for example, we can address the root causes of increasing inequality, environmental degradation and climate change. The report emphasized that to emerge stronger from the crisis and prepare for unknown challenges ahead, it is imperative for the national governments and the international community to fund the data and information infrastructure at a priority level.

Mains Practice Questions:
1. Geo-political conflicts, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have put the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations in jeopardy. Comment.
2. What are the cascading and intersecting contemporary issues having an impact on the environment, food and nutrition, health as well as global peace and security?Suggest possible ways to address them.

[WpProQuiz 310]

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR DISPLAYING THE TRICOLOUR?

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Department of Post (DoP) revealed that it had taken only 10 days to sell one crore National Flags through its widespread network of 1.5 lakh post offices across the country and online channels.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Retailers in cities, towns and villages are also witnessing high sales of the flag as people prepare to celebrate the 75th Independence Day by participating in the government’s Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, being held under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav programme.
• The purpose is to spread the message of patriotism, but not many know that there are a number of rules surrounding the act of hoisting or displaying the Tiranga. These instructions are contained in the Flag Code of India 2002 and upheld by the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Who is allowed to fly a national flag and on which days?

• According to the Flag Code of India, paragraph 2.2, which came into effect on January 26, 2002, any person, organisation, private or public, or educational institution (including scout camps) can hoist or display the Tricolour on “all days or occasions in accordance with the dignity and honour of the National Flag”.

How should you choose a flag?

• The flag can be as big or small as one wants “but the ratio of the length to the height (width) of the National Flag shall be 3:2”.
• So, the flag must always be a rectangle rather than square or any other shape. After an amendment on December 30, 2021, the material of the flag has been decided as “handspun and handwoven or machine-made, cotton, polyester, wool, silk or khadi bunting”. If the flag is placed in the open or on the house of a member of the public, it may be flown day and night.

What if your flag is damaged by the elements or otherwise?

• It is against rules to display a damaged or disheveled National Flag. At all times, the National Flag must be displayed in a position of honour and should be distinctly placed.
• “No other flag or bunting shall be placed higher than or above or side by side with the National Flag; nor shall any object including flowers or garlands, or emblem be placed on or above the flagmast from which the National Flag is flown”. The Tricolour should never be used as a festoon, rosette, bunting or for a decorative purpose. No advertisements should be festooned to the pole from which it flies.

Can it be put up on vehicles?

The National Flag cannot be flown on any vehicle except those of the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governor and other dignitaries. The flag should also not be used to cover the sides, back, and top of any vehicle.

What is the punishment for disrespecting the flag?

• According to Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, “whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or otherwise brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag….shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with a fine, or with both”.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

2. MANUAL SCAVENGING: GOVT. TO ENUMERATE PEOPLE WHO CLEAN SEWERS

THE CONTEXT:The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E) is now preparing to undertake a nationwide survey to enumerate all people engaged in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks, an activity that has led to at least 351 deaths since 2017.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Drawing a distinction between this work and manual scavenging, the Ministry insisted that the practice of manual scavenging no longer takes place in the country as all manual scavengers had been accounted for and enrolled into the rehabilitation scheme.
• Ministry officials said that the enumeration exercise, soon to be conducted across 500 AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) cities, is part of the Union government’s National Action Plan for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE), which will streamline the process of rehabilitating sanitation workers and eventually merge with and replace the Self-Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), which was started in 2007.
• The NAMASTE scheme is being undertaken jointly by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the MoSJ&E and aims to eradicate unsafe sewer and septic tank cleaning practices.
• Other benefits under the scheme will include capital subsidies of up to ₹5 lakh on sanitation machinery costing up to ₹15 lakh and interest subsidies on loans, where interest rates will be capped between 4-6% for the beneficiaries.

VALUE ADDITION:

NAMASTE SCHEME:

Government has formulated a scheme “National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)”, a joint project of Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), which aims to achieve the following outcomes:

• Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India.
• All sanitation work is performed by skilled workers.
• No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter.
• Sanitation workers are collectivized into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and are empowered to run sanitation enterprises.
• All Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers (SSWs) have access to alternative livelihoods.
• Strengthened supervisory and monitoring systems at national, state and Urban Local Body (ULB) levels to ensure enforcement and monitoring of safe sanitation work.
• Increased awareness among sanitation services seekers (individuals and institutions) to seek services from registered and skilled sanitation workers.

THE HEALTH ISSUES

3. EXPLAINED: CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

THE CONTEXT:A woman from Bengaluru has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court to stop her Noida-based friend, who has been suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 2014, from travelling to Europe to undergo a physician-assisted euthanasia.

THE EXPLANATION:

The petition stated that his condition has deteriorated over the past eight years, making him “completely bed-bound and just able to walk a few steps inside home”.

The disease

• Also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a serious and debilitating disease that affects the nervous system, the immune system and the body’s production of energy, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Experts have suggested that the term can trivialize the severity of the illness. In a 2015 report, the US Institute of Medicine proposed the term systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID).
• Its causes are still unknown. However, the potential triggers would include viral or bacterial infection, hormonal imbalances and genetic predispositions. There is no specific test for the disease, and doctors have to rely on medical examinations, blood and urine tests.
• ME/CFS can affect anyone, from children to adults of all ages. According to the CDC, it’s more common in women and people between 40 and 60 years old.

Symptoms

• The biggest telltale symptom is a significantly lowered ability to do activities that were performed before the illness. This is accompanied by at least 6 months (or longer) of debilitating fatigue that is more severe than everyday feelings of tiredness.
• This fatigue is not relieved by sleep or rest and exercising usually makes the symptoms worse, according to the UK’s National Health Services (NHS).
• Other symptoms include trouble sleeping, difficulty in thinking, memory retention and concentration, dizziness/lightheadedness, headaches, muscle pain, joint ache, flu-like symptoms, tender lymph nodes and digestive issues.

According to the New York state health department, the most recognizable symptom is post-exertional malaise (PEM). Patients often describe it as a “crash” in physical/mental energy following even minor activities like grocery shopping or brushing teeth.

Treatment

• As of yet, there is no specific cure or approved treatment. Instead, doctors recommend ways to deal with the symptoms of the disease.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4. CENTRE TO FILE REVIEW PETITION ON ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES IN SC

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has said the Ministry will file a review petition in the Supreme Court urging a relook into its judgment on eco-sensitive zones.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Speaking at the observance of World Elephant Day at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, the Minister said the Centre would seek a review of Sections 44A and 44E of the judgment as more clarity was required on the issue.

Protected areas

• The sections pertained to the directive to notify eco-sensitive zones of minimum 1 km from the demarcated boundaries of protected areas and the exemption provided for ongoing activities within the proposed eco-sensitive zones, provided they did not figure on the ‘prohibited list’.
• Yadav added that a committee had been formed to adopt a ‘holistic’ approach on the reports of the K. Kasturirangan and Madhav Gadgil committees for the conservation of the Western Ghats.
• The panel will also consider the representations submitted by the public.

VALUE ADDITION:

Madhav Gadgil Committee Report on the Western Ghats

Gadgil Commission, an environmental research commission known as Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP). The commission submitted the report to the Government of India on 31 August 2011.

Report Highlights:

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) designated the entire hill range as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).

• The panel, in its report, has classified the 142 taluks in the Western Ghats boundary into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) 1, 2 and 3.
• ESZ-1 being of high priority, almost all developmental activities (mining, thermal power plants etc) were restricted in it.
• Gadgil report recommended that “no new dams based on large-scale storage be permitted in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1. Since both the Athirappilly of Kerala and Gundia of Karnataka hydel project sites fall in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1, these projects should not be accorded environmental clearance,”.
• Gadgil Committee report specifies that the present system of governance of the environment should be changed. It asked for a bottom to top approach (right from Gram sabhas) rather than a top to bottom approach. It also asked for decentralization and more powers to local authorities.
• The commission recommended the constitution of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA), as a statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, with the powers under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Madhav Gadgil committee recommendations faced huge criticism because of its more environment-friendly and not in tune with the ground realities. As many mafias created fear among the people that the Gadgil report is anti-farmer and anti-people, people burnt the Gadgil Committee report.

And it is in this background that another committee was appointed to study Gadgil Report, review and suggest measures for implementation.

Image Courtesy: Western Ghats Biodiversity

Kasturirangan committee

The Kasturirangan committee was constituted to examine the WGEEP report. The committee is often called HLWG – it denotes the 10 members high-level working group (HLWG).

Recommendations:

The Kasturirangan committee report proposes 37 per cent of the total area of the Western Ghats, which is roughly 60,000 square kilometres, be declared as an eco-sensitive area (ESA).

A complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining in ESA.

• Distinguished between cultural (58% occupied in the Western Ghats by it like human settlements, agricultural fields and plantations) and natural landscape (90% of it should come under ESA according to the committee).
• Current mining areas in the ESA should be phased out within the next five years, or at the time of expiry of mining lease, whichever is earlier.
• No thermal power be allowed and hydropower projects are allowed only after detailed study.
• Red industries i.e. which are highly polluting be strictly banned in these areas.
• Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats has made several pro-farmer recommendations, including the exclusion of inhabited regions and plantations from the purview of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs).
• The Kasturirangan report had said 123 villages fall under the ESA purview.
• The Kasturirangan panel had submitted its report to the Ministry on April 15, 2013.

5. ‘29 ELEPHANT POACHING CASES IN 3 YEARS’

THE CONTEXT:According to the data shared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), In the past three years, 90 cases of seizure of elephant tusks/ivory have been reported in India along with 29 cases of poaching of elephants.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The highest number of cases of elephant tusk seizure was reported in 2021 with 42 cases, and incidents of poaching were the highest in the year 2021 with 14 incidents having been reported throughout the country. Meghalaya alone accounted for seven of the 14 poaching deaths. In the year 2018-19, six elephant deaths due to poaching were reported and nine poaching deaths were reported in 2019-20.
• Odisha, which has emerged as one of the hot spots of human-elephant conflict, has accounted for seven elephant deaths due to poaching in the past three years, while Meghalaya accounted for 12 poaching deaths in the past three years. Tamil Nadu has accounted for three deaths of elephants due to poaching. The data were tabled by Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey in response to a question by five MPs.
• Of the 90 cases of seizure of elephant tusks reported in the past three years, in the year 2020 the number of such cases reported was 21. In 2019, 27 cases of seizure of elephant tusks were reported. In response to the question, the Ministry has informed that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has conducted a special pan-India enforcement operation to coordinate action among State and Central enforcement agencies. “Ivory seizures have been affected in the ‘Operation WILDNET-I, II, III and IV’”.
• Wildlife experts and conservationists point out that while India is home to 60% of Asian elephants, the human-elephant conflict continues to be the biggest challenge for wildlife management.

Value Addition:

Elephants

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

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

UPSC PRELIMS 2020

Q. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements:

1. The leader of an elephant group is a female.
2. The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
3. An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
4. Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 4 only

c) 3 only

d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: A

Explanation:

Elephants live in small family groups led by old females (cows) and Gestation is the longest of any mammal (18–22 months). So, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

According to the report, released by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on August 12, Karnataka has the highest number of elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719) and Kerala (3,054). So, statements 3 and 4 are not correct.  Therefore, the correct answer is (a).

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. THE ONGOLE BREED OF CATTLE

THE CONTEXT: Ongole breed of cattle had remained indispensable for all farm operations for centuries in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh in view of their draught power.

THE EXPLANATION:

However, over a period, the average farmer dumped the world famous bulls which thrive between Musi and Gundlakamma rivers in Prakasam district and gradually went for machines, including tractors, for all farm operations leaving the task of nurturing the bulls to progressive farmers and racing enthusiasts.

About Ongole cattle:

• It is an indigenous cattle breed that originates from Prakasam District in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The breed derives its name from the place the breed originates from, Ongole.
• The Ongole breed of cattle, Bos Indicus, has a great demand as it is said to possess resistance to both foot and mouth disease and mad cow disease. They are known for their toughness, rapid growth rate. And it is one of the heaviest breeds.
• These cattle are commonly used in bull fights in Mexico and some parts of East Africa due to their strength and aggressiveness. They also participate in traditional bull fights in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• It has a great similarity with the Gaolao breed of Madhya Pradesh and also has a resemblance to the Bhagnari type of cattle in the north of India.

THE CONTEXT: In June 2022, the Union government has amended the rules related to the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The post of the CDS has been vacant since December 8, 2021, when India’s first CDS General Bipin Rawat, died in a helicopter crash. In this article, we will analyse the issues related to the delays in the appointment of the CDS.

THE GENESIS OF THE CDS

1982

• General K .V Krishna Rao advanced the creation of the post of Chief of Defence.

1999

• The Kargil Review Committee (KRC), headed by K. Subrahmanyam, appointed after the Kargil conflict, proposed the creation of the post of CDS.

2001

• The Group of Ministers Task Force that studied the KRC report proposed to the Cabinet Committee on Security that a CDS, a 5-star officer, be created.

2012

• The Naresh Chandra Committee recommended the appointment of a Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) as a midway to allay apprehensions over the CDS.

2016

• The CDS was one of the 99 recommendations made by the Lt General D.B. Shekatkar (retd) Committee.

2019

• The PM announces the decision to create the post of CDS.
• The Union Defense Ministry set up a high-powered committee under National Security Advisor to implement the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision to create the post of Chief of Defence Staff and also frame the terms of references for this post.
• Pursuant to the recommendations, a CDS post is created, and a new Department of Military Affairs was established, headed by the CDS

2022

• The rules relating to the CDS appointment changed (Read Ahead).

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CDS

DUAL ROLE

• The role of the CDS has been defined as a “dual-hatted” role as the CDS serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) in the Ministry of Defence.

JOINTNESS OF OPERATIONS

• The CDS is also mandated with the role of inducing jointness in the armed forces, theatre commands, carrying out reforms, and the optimal utilisation of infrastructure.

IN CHARGE OF MAKE IN INDIA IN DEFENCE

• The government has also made the CDS in-charge of the ‘Make in India’ in defence programme and has been given the mandate of promoting and ensuring the Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme in the defence sector.

OTHERS

• Principal Military Advisor to Defence Minister on all tri-services issues
• Administration of the Tri-Service  organizations/agencies/commands
• Member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister
• Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority.

THE NUCLEAR COMMAND AUTHORITY(NCA)

NCA is the body that authorises the use of nuclear weapons. It has a Political Council headed by the Prime Minister and an Executive Council headed by the National Security Advisor. The decision to use weapons is taken by the Political Council, and Executive Council gives its input. The CDS is a member of this council in an advisory role.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE POST OF CDS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY MANAGEMENT

• JOINT PLANNING –A tri-service chief will help in the preparation integrated and holistic planning of defence policy combining all three wings
• OPTIMAL UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES – Earlier, due to a lack of coordination among the services, many repetitive costs must be incurred in logistics, training etc. The post of CDS would encourage synergy in operations to dispense with such unnecessary burdens in procurement. It would also expedite the defence procurement process.
• STRATEGIC FORCES COMMAND – With India’s “no first use” nuclear strategy, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) would be in a real quandary if at a critical stage during war, when the adversary has unleashed nuclear weapons, the three Chiefs of Staff express divergent views on the payoffs of using nuclear weapons in a retaliatory strike and the type and nature of the response. In such a situation, the CDS would be able to take a detached view and offer unified advice to the government.
• RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES AMONG SERVICES – The CDS helps in the resolution of conflicts arising among the services with respect to the allocation of resources, regarding the procurement of weapons etc.
• SPECIALIST ADVICE AVAILABLE TO GOVERNMENT – The CDS acts as a one-point contact to the government to assist in making decisions from a militarily cogent perspective
• INNOVATION IN DEFENCE FORCES – The CDS aids in the preparation of amphibious units such as Marines or in other joint inter-services research and development.
• CREATION OF THEATRE COMMANDS – It is also seen as being vital to the creation of “theatre commands”, integrating tri-service assets and personnel.

THE DELAY IN THE APPOINTMENT: AN ANALYSIS

Given the high-profile role and responsibilities are given to the CDS, a delay of almost 8 months in naming the successor of the late CDS is quite worried some. This inordinate delay is inexplicable as India is fighting a two and half-front war especially when a belligerent China is creating problems in India’s backyard. The initial euphoria associated with the creation of the post of PDF seems to have died down for reasons best known to the government. However, this is not a welcome development as a CDS has very significant roles according to its mandate. The CDS is one of the three critical links in India’s national security management, the other two being National Security Strategy and Defence Minister’s Operational Directives. The appointment of CDS was announced as a major reform in defence, but the delay means the government may have an afterthought on the concept of CDS. But whatever be the reasons, the delay takes the defence modernization backwards. Hence, the post should not be kept vacant or if the government feels it is not required, then it needs to be abolished to save defence expenditure, some defence analysts say.

 THE NEW AMENDMENTS RELATED TO THE POST OF CDS

• The government amended the defence rules to empower the Central Government to appoint as Chief of Defence Staff an officer” who is serving as Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral, Air Marshal or General, Admiral, Air Chief Marshal.
• An officer who has retired” from these ranks but has not attained the age of sixty-two years on the date of his appointment is also eligible to be appointed.
• The government may extend the service of the CDS for such a period as it may deem necessary, subject to a maximum age of 65.
• Although this amendment widens the talent pool for CDS, the appointment of a three-star officer `to the post will be a tricky affair as the service chiefs are four-star officers.
• Until now, the eligible rank was not explicitly mentioned with respect to the CDS appointment.

THE TWO OTHER MISSING LINKS IN INDIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY MANAGEMENT

ABSENCE OF A NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

• Unlike many other countries, India does not publish a formally articulated National Security Strategy or National Security Doctrine or a White Paper on National Defence.
• In the absence of a formally stated long-term national security strategy tied to viable operational plans, policy-making tends to be driven by knee-jerk responses to emerging situations and is, hence, mainly reactive.

OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVES OF THE DEFENCE MINISTER

• The three-armed forces are completely reliant on the Raksha Mantri’s Operational Directives for political direction in the event of all-out war or other emergencies. It is the most crucial political directive in terms of operational planning. And it hasn’t been updated in over a decade to account for newer challenges and changing circumstances.

THEATRE COMMAND

•  Theatre command means all three arms of the military would work under a unified command – modelled after the CDS at the central level.
•  Top militaries such as that of the US and China follow this command structure. The US military works under six theatre commands, while China has five theatre commands.
•  Unlike other large and efficient militaries, India does not follow a theatre command structure. It follows a single-service command structure. India has 19 commands – seven of the Indian Army, three of the Indian Navy, seven of the Indian Air Force, one tri-service command at Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
•  Each of these commands reports through separate chains to their respective chiefs, which are not known for best coordination.
•  All three forces have separate Eastern, Western and Southern commands. Army and air force also have Central and South-Western commands. Same name, same regions, different headquarters and at times diverging strategies. This prevents seamless performance in times of conflict or war.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• The government needs to appoint the CDS now that the new rules are in place and any further delay will only lead to unwarranted speculations.
• If the government is rethinking the roles and mandate of the CDS, then a study group needs to be instituted at the earliest with experts.
• The casual handling of the CDS post by the government does not augur well for the defence reforms and defence management. Hence, a change of thinking is required.
• As the only discernible output form, the DMA and the CDS is the Tour of Duty which has created a lot of unrest in the country. This requires better functioning of the department, and it needs to show more outputs to justify its new existence.
• There are many grey areas and overlapping responsibilities between the Department of Defence and DMA, leading to turf war and wastage of resources. This needs to be addressed by the clear demarcation of responsibilities.
• It is high time that India comes out with an NSS, and also it must revise the Operational Directive so as to improve India’s National Security Management.

THE CONCLUSION: The military’s agenda of manpower reduction, integrated, tri-service theatre commands, and equipment modernization must be advanced, and it is imperative that the CDS be appointed. His duties as a consultant to the Nuclear Command Authority, the execution of the Five Year Defence Capital Acquisition Plan, and the Two-Year Roll-On Annual Acquisition Plans are additional CDS obligations that brook no delays.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. Explain the role and responsibilities of the Chief of Defence Staff. Can we say that the undue delay in appointing a new CDS undermines India’s defence preparedness?
2. Despite the immense significance attached to the post CDS, the delay in appointment indicates a lack of seriousness by the government to national security management. Comment.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. WHAT IS THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (IDENTIFICATION) ACT, 2022?

THE CONTEXT: According to the new provisions of the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill,  it will allow police and prison authorities to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples including retina and iris scans of convicted, arrested and detained persons.

THE EXPLANATION

What is the legislation about?

• The Bill seeks to repeal the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920. The over 100-year-old Act’s scope was limited to capturing of finger impression, foot-print impressions and photographs of convicted prisoners and certain category of arrested and non-convicted persons on the order of a Magistrate.
• The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the 2022 Bill said that new ‘‘measurement’’ techniques being used in advanced countries are giving credible and reliable results and are recognised the world over. It said that the 1920 Act does not provide for taking these body measurements as many of the techniques and technologies had not been developed then.

What are the major changes proposed?

It proposes four major changes.

• First, it would define ‘‘measurements’’ to include “signature, handwriting, iris and retina scan, physical, biological samples and their analysis, etc.” It does not specify what analysis means, implying that it may also include storing DNA samples. The “etc.” mentioned in the text of the Bill could give unfettered powers to law enforcement agencies to interpret the law as per their convenience, sometimes to the disadvantage of the accused.
• Second, it empowers the National Crime Records Bureau of India (NCRB), under the Union Home Ministry, to collect, store and preserve the record of measurements for at least 75 years. The NCRB will be able to share the data with other law enforcement agencies as well. Police is a State subject and NCRB works under the Union government, and experts contend this provision may impinge on federalism.
• Third, it empowers a Magistrate to direct any person to give vital details, which till now was reserved for convicts and those involved in heinous crimes.
• Fourth, it empowers police or prison officers up to the rank of a Head Constable to take details of any person who resists or refuses to do so. 

What are some other changes?

• The Bill also seeks to apply to persons detained under any preventive detention law. The Bill also authorises taking vital details of “other persons” for identification and investigation in criminal matters. It doesn’t define the “other persons”, implying its ambit extends beyond convicts, arrested persons, or detainees.
• The Bill’s stated objective is it provides legal sanction for taking such details and will make the investigation of crime more efficient and expeditious, and help in increasing the conviction rate.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. INDIA AND UK CONCLUDE FIFTH ROUND OF TALKS FOR INDIA-UK FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

THE CONTEXT:Recently the Republic of India and the United Kingdom concluded the fifth round of talks for an India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

THE EXPLANATION:

• Negotiation officials undertook these technical talks in a hybrid fashion – with some of the teams meeting in New Delhi, India, and the majority of officials joined virtually. For this round of negotiations, technical experts from both sides came together for detailed draft treaty text discussions in 85 separate sessions covering 15 policy areas.
• Indian and UK officials will continue to work intensively throughout the summer towards our target to conclude the majority of talks on a comprehensive and balanced Free Trade Agreement by the end of October 2022.

What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

A free trade agreement is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them. Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange.

Key features of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs):

1. The member nations of FTAs explicitly identify the duties and tariffs that are to be imposed on member countries when it comes to imports and exports.
2. FTAs typically cover trades in (a) merchandise — such as agricultural or industrial products (b) services — such as banking, construction, trading and so forth (c) intellectual property rights (IPRs), (d) investment (e) government procurement (f) competition policy and so on.
3. FTAs additionally, for the most part, provide a criterion called the ‘Rules of Origin (RoO)’, required for the determination of the product’s country of origin for the imposition of the preferential tariff on international trade.
4. FTAs act as an exception to the Most Favoured Nation principle adopted by WTO (World Trade Organization).

India-UK bilateral trade

• Bilateral trade between India and UK stood at 18.3 billion in the year 2020. It was lesser than the trade of 23.3 billion pounds in 2019.  India and UK have also launched a new Enhanced Trade Partnership. It opened the way for future Free Trade Agreements.
• Currently, India is the largest market with which the UK has committed to negotiating any trade deal. India is the second-largest investor in the UK economy.
• About 842 Indian companies in the UK, are employing more than 110,000 people. The combined revenue of Indian companies has increased by 87% in the last five years.

THE INTERNAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

3. ASSAM, ARUNACHAL FORM PANELS TO RESOLVE BOUNDARY DISPUTE

THE CONTEXT:Recently, the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have formed 12 regional committees to expedite the process of identification and early resolution of disputed areas along their 804.10 km boundary.

THE EXPLANATION:

The two States had disputes in 123 villages along the border but the number was restricted to 86 in the Namsai Declaration, stated a document the Chief Ministers of the two States, signed on July 15 2022.

Genesis of Assam – Arunachal Pradesh border dispute:

• Assam has had boundary disputes with all the north-eastern States that were carved out of it.
• Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were separated from Assam as Union Territories in 1972 and as States in 1987.
• None of the new States accepted the “constitutional boundary” that they said was dictated by the partisan administration of undivided Assam without consulting the tribal stakeholders.
• The issue with Arunachal Pradesh has more to do with a 1951 report prepared by a sub-committee headed by Assam’s first Chief Minister, Gopinath Bordoloi.

The dispute:

Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have disputes at about 1,200 points along their 804 km boundary. 

Efforts to resolve the dispute:

• The apex court appointed a local boundary commission in 2006 headed by one of its retired judges.
• In its September 2014 report, this commission recommended that Arunachal Pradesh should get back some of the areas transferred in 1951 besides advising both the States to find a middle path through discussions. This did not work out.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4. ACTION PLAN FOR INTRODUCTION OF CHEETAH IN INDIA

THE CONTEXT: India plans to restore the only large carnivore, the Cheetah, that has become extinct in independent India.

THE EXPLANATION:

This endeavor will achieve the following goals and objectives:

Goal

Establish viable cheetah metapopulation in India that allows the cheetah to perform its functional role as a top predator and provide space for the expansion of the cheetah within its historical range thereby contributing to its global conservation efforts.

Objectives of the project are-

1. To establish breeding cheetah populations in safe habitats across its historical range and manage them as a metapopulation.
2. To use the cheetah as a charismatic flagship and umbrella species to garner resources for restoring open forest and savanna systems that will benefit biodiversity and ecosystem services from these ecosystems.
3. To enhance India’s capacity to sequester carbon through ecosystem restoration activities in cheetah conservation areas and thereby contribute towards the global climate change mitigation goals.
4. To use the ensuing opportunity for eco-development and eco-tourism to enhance local community livelihoods.
5. To manage any conflict by cheetah or other wildlife with local communities within cheetah conservation areas expediently through compensation, awareness, and management actions to win community support.

The introduction of the cheetah is not only a species recovery program but an effort to restore ecosystems with a lost element that has played a significant role in their evolutionary history, allow ecosystems to provide services to their full potential, and use the cheetah as an umbrella species for conserving the biodiversity of grasslands, savanna and open forest systems.

The word Cheetah is of Sanskrit origin and the cheetah finds mention in the ancient texts such as the Vedas and Puranas; it is indeed ironical that the species is currently extinct in India. The original threats that resulted in the extinction of the cheetah have been abated and India now has the technical and financial ability to bring back its lost Natural Heritage for ethical, ecological, and economic considerations.

Successful conservation introductions are a blend of best science, technology, sociological aspects and commitment of financial resources. These aspects are integrated in this Action Plan based on the modern scientific approach recommended by the latest International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines for reintroduction and other conservation translocations, provides the framework for bringing back the charismatic cheetah to India. 

VALUE ADDITION:

India’s effort related to relocation of Cheetahs

• This isn’t the first time that India has attempted relocation of the cheetah.
• In the early 1970s, negotiations were carried out with Iran on behalf of the Indira Gandhi administration.
• Assessed sites-Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve and Shergarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kuno National Park, Madhav National Park and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
• Kuno National Park is identified for the relocation.
• The site has been monitored since 2006 and identified for relocating the Asiatic Lion.

Significance of Reintroducing Cheetahs

• A section of conservationists has long advocated the reintroduction of the species in the country.
• It is recognised as a strategy to conserve threatened species and restore ecosystem functions.
• The cheetah is the only large carnivore that has been extirpated, mainly by over-hunting in India in historical times.
• India now has the economic ability to consider restoring its lost natural heritage for ethical as well as ecological reasons.”
• The conservation of the cheetah will revive grasslands and their biomes and habitat, much like Project Tiger has done for forests and all the species that have seen their numbers go up.

Kuno National Park

• Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh is one the most unique destination for all wildlife lovers and enthusiasts
• It has a healthy population of chital, sambar, nilgai, wild pig, chinkara and cattle. Currently, the leopard and striped hyena are the only larger carnivores within the National Park, with the lone tiger having returned to Ranthambore earlier this year.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INTERVENTIONS

5. AGRICULTURE MINISTRY LAUNCHES INDIGENOUS VACCINE FOR LUMPY SKIN DISEASE

THE CONTEXT: Providing a big relief to the livestock of the country, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,launched the indigenous vaccine Lumpi-ProVacInd to protect livestock from Lumpy Skin disease.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The vaccine has been developed by the National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar (Bareilly). Describing this vaccine as a milestone for eradicating the Lumpy disease. The Ministry also noted that livestock, along with human resource, is the biggest asset of our country, which we have a big responsibility to preserve and prosper.
• “According to the Ministry directed the concerned officials to provide this vaccine in large numbers at the earliest for relief to the cattle. He said that there are 30 crore livestock in the country, considering the plight of mute animals, all possible measures should be taken to provide them relief at the earliest”.
• Meanwhile, the Punjab government-run Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) issued an advisory on the disease, which, it said, is transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, biting flies and ticks.

VALUE ADDITION:

What is the Lumpy Skin Disease?

According to a report by GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) disease is caused by a virus called the Capripoxvirus and is “an emerging threat to livestock worldwide”. It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family.

• LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood-feeding insects. Signs of infection include the appearance of circular, firm nodes on the animal’s hide or skin that look similar to lumps.
• Infected animals immediately start losing weight and may have fever and lesions in the mouth, along with a reduced milk yield. Other symptoms include excessive nasal and salivary secretion. Pregnant cows and buffaloes often suffer miscarriage and in some cases, diseased animals can die due to it as well.

CASE STUDY:

• Nearly 3,000 cattle have died in Rajasthan and Gujarat due to a viral infection called the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) that has spread across the states. Gujarat Chief Minister visited the affected areas in Kutch to review the situation.
• On July 27, 2022, The Gujarat government banned the transport of livestock out of 14 affected districts. Around 11 lakh cattle have been vaccinated against the disease, and the National Dairy Development Board has supplied 28 lakh doses of goat pox vaccine to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab, bought from a private entity called Hester Biosciences. A toll-free helpline – 1962 – has also been activated to guide cattle-herders and dairy farmers to tackle the disease.

THE NEWS IN NUMBERS

6. UNEMPLOYED YOUTH

73 In million, the expected global number of unemployed youths in 2022, down two million from the year before, according to the United Nations. However, the figure is still six million higher than the pre-pandemic level of 2019, with the recovery in youth unemployment lagging behind the bounceback in other age groups, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said. Between 2019 and 2020, those aged 15 to 24 experienced a much higher percentage loss in employment than the rest of the labour market

7. ASSISTANCE FOR NEPAL

15 In ₹ billion, the amount China has pledged in grant assistance to Nepal. “The two foreign Ministers took stock of overall aspects of Nepal-China relations and agreed to promote further cooperation in various sectors, including trade, connectivity, investment, health, tourism, poverty alleviation, agriculture, disaster management, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges among others,” the Nepal Foreign Ministry said. Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka was visiting China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

8. OWNING DIGITAL CURRENCY

7.3 The percentage of Indian population that owns digital currency, the seventh highest in the world, according to the UN, which said that the use of cryptocurrency rose globally at an unprecedented rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. The UN trade and development body UNCTAD said that in 2021, developing countries accounted for 15 of the top 20 economies when it came to the share of population that owns cryptocurrencies. Ukraine topped the list with 12.7%.

1. Go beyond belief: Understanding the significance of misery READ MORE
2. Communal violence pushed Gandhi to the brink READ MORE
3. When obedience is virtue, questioning evil READ MORE

1. Evidence that giant meteorite impacts created the continents READ MORE
2. Warming and redistribution of nitrogen inputs drive an increase in terrestrial nitrous oxide emission factor READ MORE  
3. India’s new climate targets make no mention of some of the commitments made to the world in Glasgow READ MORE

1. The slow execution of the police as an institution continues. Who will save it? READ MORE
2. Digital regulation: Main challenges and how India can deal with them READ MORE
3. Confusion over freebies READ MORE
4. Goal of social democracy isn’t fulfilled for lack of fraternity READ MORE

1. Demographic benefit waning: India will start ageing soon, with average age slated to reach 38.1 years in 2050 READ MORE
2. Survey data on poverty and broad policy pointers READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Youth employment deteriorated in India: ILO report READ MORE
2. Jagdeep Dhankhar sworn in as 14th Vice President of India READ MORE
3. Rear Admiral Guillermo Pablo Rios of Argentina appointed leader of UNMOGIP READ MORE
4. What is this new Langya virus? Do we need to be worried? READ MORE
5. 7% Indians own crypto, 7th highest globally: UN READ MORE
6. ‘Inflation spike, CAD concerns easing; govt being watchful’ READ MORE
7. Do Vitamin D supplements help? READ MORE

Main Exam

1. Demographic benefit waning: India will start ageing soon, with average age slated to reach 38.1 years in 2050 READ MORE
2. Evidence that giant meteorite impacts created the continents READ MORE

 GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The slow execution of the police as an institution continues. Who will save it? READ MORE
2. Digital regulation: Main challenges and how India can deal with them READ MORE
3. Confusion over freebies READ MORE
4. Goal of social democracy isn’t fulfilled for lack of fraternity READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Survey data on poverty and broad policy pointers READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India as a major world player at 75 READ MORE
2. INDIA MUST REJIG TIES IN ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. A timely gesture: Transferring more tax devolutions to States early in the year is a prudent move READ MORE
2. Regulate fintechs, but not with a bludgeon READ MORE
3. The critical role of FPOs in doubling farmers’ income READ MORE
4. Ethanol push: More projects needed to spur transition to clean energy READ MORE
5. Regulating digital lending: Rules are in the right direction READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Warming and redistribution of nitrogen inputs drive an increase in terrestrial nitrous oxide emission factor READ MORE  
2. India’s new climate targets make no mention of some of the commitments made to the world in Glasgow READ MORE

SECURITY

1. Highs & lows of our defence and security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Go beyond belief: Understanding the significance of misery READ MORE
2. Communal violence pushed Gandhi to the brink READ MORE
3. When obedience is virtue, questioning evil READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. How far do you agree with this view that freebies for marginal section of society is not a freebie; this is just a state government discharging its “constitutional responsibilities” to create an equitable society? Justify your view.
2. ‘India has emerged as one of the key players in the international arena without compromising its basic premise’. Examine the statement with the help of recent developments.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.
• There needs to be engagement with survey data, but ground-level realities should shape programmatic interventions.
• Friction points between the Centre and States will persist with fluctuating intensities, but a rising economic tide will ease constraints for both.
• Fintech have become valuable partners for banks in connecting with consumers. It’s Bigtech that need greater regulatory watch now.
• A lot of recommendations rest on the ability of farmer producer organisations to address the structural weakness of small and marginal farmers.
• Religion becomes a matter of belief – and belief acts and has a corresponding influence on the mind; the mind then can never be free.
• The passage of the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill in the just-concluded Monsoon Session of Parliament is another indicator of the political resolve to promote the use of non-fossil fuels such as ethanol, green hydrogen and biomass.
• The Election Commission seems to be steering clear of the mess of freebies our politicians have created.
• Freebies for marginal section of society is not a freebie; this is just a state government discharging its “constitutional responsibilities” to create an equitable society.
• In the last 75 years, the world has changed and so has India. The world has seen the end of the Cold War and a world shifting from bipolar to unipolar and also stages of a multipolar one.
• The current discussion about democratic challenges is quite pertinent and clear, and it requires a critical examination of its pervasive and silent discourse.
• Fraternity, as opposed to liberty and equality, fails to get traction in public discourse or political programmes.
• The challenges in the path of fraternity projects are many. But we must overcome them, as it is on the pillar of fraternal relations that a well-functioning and healthy democracy rests.

ESSAY TOPIC

• Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power.

50 WORD TALK

• Government has done well to remove the regressive caps on airfares. It should also rationalise taxes and levies on the sector to make it more competitive and allow airlines to invest in growing the pandemic-hit business and safety. Civil aviation is no longer a luxury but a critical public-facing service.

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.) 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: In June 2022, the summit of the Group of Seven (G7) was held in Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, Germany. India participated in the summit as an invited member. The discussion focused on addressing the war crisis in eastern Europe between Russia and Ukraine, the Covid-19 crisis, climate change, infrastructure development and the food crisis. The detailed analysis of the development is as follows.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

DATE OF SUMMIT 26- 28 June 2022

PARTICIPATION

• Apart from seven G- 7 members (UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Japan, Italy and France), This year, Germany invited the leaders of five other countries; these are
o Argentina
o India
o Indonesia
o Senegal
o South Africa

ISSUES DISCUSSED IN THE SUMMIT

• During the three-day meeting, the G7 leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including:
o Ukraine and cooperating on foreign policy
o addressing energy and food security
o investing in climate and health
o promoting partnerships for infrastructure and investment
o shaping the global economy
o advancing gender equality
o shaping international cooperation

OUTCOMES OF THE SUMMIT

UKRAINE

• The G7 leaders re-emphasized their condemnation of Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine.
• Financial support from the G7 in 2022 amounts to more than EUR 2.6 billion in humanitarian aid.
• G7 countries are ready to grant or have pledged and provided EUR 28 billion in budget aid.
• The G7 leaders are strongly committed to supporting Ukrainian reconstruction through an international reconstruction plan and conference.
• G7 countries will continue to impose severe and enduring sanctions on Russia to help bring an end to this war.

ENERGY AND FOOD SECURITY
• Russia’s war on Ukraine is dramatically worsening energy security and access to food globally.
• The G7 leaders committed to taking immediate action to secure the energy supply and reduce price surges.
• This includes exploring additional measures such as price caps.
• The G7 countries will also increase global food and nutrition security through the Global Alliance on Food Security.

ECONOMIC ISSUES
• The G7 leaders remain committed to minimizing the impact of the war globally, as well as its impact on their own economies and population.
• G7 countries will help to stabilize and transform the global economy while tackling rising costs of living for citizens.

CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
• The G7 leaders endorsed the goals of an open and cooperative International Climate Club. The Climate Club will be built around three pillars: advancing ambitious and transparent climate change mitigation policies toward climate neutrality; transforming industries to accelerate decarbonization; and boosting international ambition through partnerships and cooperation to facilitate climate action and promote just energy transition.
• They will work with partners towards establishing it by the end of 2022.
• The objectives are to:
 drive urgent, ambitious and inclusive action to align with 1.5°C pathways
 accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement
• The G7 leaders committed to:
 a highly decarbonized road sector by 2030
 a fully or predominantly decarbonized power sector by 2035
 prioritizing the acceleration of the phase-out of domestic unabated coal power use.

INVESTMENT IN A BETTER FUTURE
• The G7 leaders reviewed the progress of the G7 Partnership for Infrastructure and Investment.
• Through the partnership, they aim to mobilize USD 600 billion over the next five years to narrow the global investment gap.
• The G7 leaders agreed to step up their cooperation globally. Building on their existing partnership with South Africa, they will work towards new Just Energy Transition Partnerships with:
 Indonesia
 India
 Senegal
 Vietnam

HEALTH
• On COVID-19, the G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to equitable global access to and delivery of safe, effective and affordable:
 vaccines
 therapeutics
 diagnostics
 other essential medical goods

DEMOCRATIC VALUES
• The G7 leaders will also cooperate with civil society and partners to:
 strengthen the resilience of our societies
 promote human rights online and offline
 address disinformation
 achieve gender equality

AN ANALYSIS OF THE OUTCOMES

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND CONFLICT

• Global Alliance for Food Security is a good step, but nutrition needs more attention.
• The Alliance should be engaged with governments, local farmers, smallholders, and social actors to develop and strengthen local food chains –and boost long-term food security, sovereignty and resilience.
• Communities in the Horn of Africa are facing the threat of starvation following four consecutive failed rainy seasons in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years.
• The March-May 2022 rainy season is likely the driest on record.
• Only USD 4.5 billion for global food security this year, while World Food Programme (WFP) needs USD 14 billion this year to tackle hunger.

OPEN SOCIETIES

• The G7 leaders’ special statement on resilient democracies and commitment to work with civil society and other partners is an improvement on the 2021 open societies statement because:
 It has increased the prominence of civic space in the statement, and there is now more detail.
 There is now a commitment to “advancing programmes for the protection of human rights defenders and all those exposing corruption”, which we can use to hold G7 leaders accountable.
 There is a commitment to “speaking out against threats to civic space, and respecting freedom of association and peaceful assembly.”
• But a special task force to strengthen and expand protection mechanisms for civil society organizations and activists under threat that was discussed in the previous meeting was not discussed this year.

ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND TRANSFORMATION

To address the problem of unsustainable debt levels, the G20 reached an agreement in November 2020 on a Common Framework for Debt Treatments which aimed to deal with insolvency and protracted liquidity problems in the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI)-eligible countries by providing debt relief but the initiative facing its implementation issues and struggling to maintain its credibility.
• While the G7 recognizes urgency “to improve multilateral frameworks for debt restructuring and to address debt vulnerabilities”, they failed to admit the weaknesses of the existing G20 Common Framework and the need for a reform of international debt architecture, which includes cancelling unsustainable debt for the countries that need it the most and
• In the 47th G-7 Summit in 2021, the group made an agreement to plug the cross-border tax loopholes used by the giant multinational companies (MNCs) to evade taxes has immense potential to reform and revolutionize
• the global tax system.
• The reform blueprint was based on two pillars:
o to distribute the profits equitably among countries where these are generated, enabling them to tax such profits
o by the adoption of a minimum corporate tax rate of at least 15 per cent globally.
• Establishing effective engagement with private creditors and China.
• Similarly, recognition of the weaknesses and limitations of the global tax deal reached in 2021, especially for the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), was absent.
• Lots of attention was given to gender equality, both in terms of addressing and mainstreaming it, and there was even the suggestion of developing “feminist development, foreign and trade policies.”

CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

• G7 leaders did not take any concrete steps forward on climate and environmental justice. They instead backtracked on their commitment to stop funding fossil fuels overseas. The G7 watered down the COP26 commitment to end new direct public support for fossil fuels by the end of 2022.
• No progress was made on increasing support for those on the frontline of the climate crisis, with the $100bn-a-year climate finance commitment (to help poorer countries cut carbon emissions and cope with global warming, but only two nations offered firm promises of more cash) reiterated but not met two years after failing to meet the delivery deadline.
• No concrete commitments were made to provide finance to address loss and damage, the missing component of climate finance, only empty words about scaling up climate and disaster risk finance and insurance.

GLOBAL HEALTH AND CARE

• Commitment to the collective support of USD 79 million for the Childcare Incentive Fund is a welcome step in the right direction, but the care economy should be seen beyond childcare and be part of adequately funded (2% of GDP) social protection.
• Did not commit to the critical TRIPS waiver, which would relax intellectual property rules and share Covid-19-related tech and know-how with Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs), allowing them to produce and use Covid-19 vaccines.
• Made a commitment to Universal Health Care by 2030, stepping up their efforts in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response under the One Health approach.
• Committed to supporting a successful Seventh Replenishment of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) with the goal of ending the three diseases, though it was not backed up with funding. In their final declaration, the G7 countries reaffirmed their support for international organizations such as the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

INDIA IN THE SUMMIT

Indian PM participated in the summit and discussed issues like energy, food security, counterterrorism, environment and democracy with the leaders of the powerful bloc and its partner countries.
The highlights of PM’s speech:
• Urged the countries to invest in clean energy and said access to energy should not be a privilege of the rich and the poor also should have an equal right to energy.
• Women’s rights and their leading role in development.
• On the issue of global food security by, saying that Millets can make a valuable contribution to ensuring food security in the world. Apart from it, PM Modi highlighted the role of Indian agriculture in global food security.
• Apart from it, PM lauded Indian agricultural manpower and how it can be instrumental in ensuring food security.
• The result of this can be seen as the first announcement made was a 600-billion-dollar infrastructure initiative to help developing countries tackle climate change. The initiative, namely, Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, is seen as the West’s response to China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Importance of meeting for India
The meeting was held at a time when the interesting turn of events in world politics, such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, growing Chinese threat in the Indo-Pacific, the revival of the global economy post-pandemic, energy transition and others are going on, and somehow, India is at the centre of it all. So, the invitation for the meeting to India shows that the canvas of India’s foreign policy is increasing day by day and day, and India has become an important ally for the West in the developing world.

WHAT DID INDIA GET FROM THE SUMMIT?

SERVES INDIA’S LARGER GEOPOLITICAL CALCULUS

• India’s relations with the West matter.
• India shares a large and conflicted border with China and is in the direct line of fire of China’s expansionist ambitions, the rise of terrorism with the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, walking thin rope in the Russia-Ukraine crisis, an economically ailing Sri Lanka in its backyard, India does not have it easy.
• Therefore, being part of plurilateral platforms like these serves India’s larger geopolitical calculus.

OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH WEST AND INDIA

• the G-7 Summit presents an opportunity for both the West and India to forge and strengthen their existing partnerships while also mindfully tackling the ongoing geopolitical crisis across the globe.
• Also, the summit has further established the “indispensability of India in any noticeable North, South, or North-South platforms when it comes to searching for solutions and their implementation”.
• The West knows that India has risen and is at the helm of global politics and, therefore, cannot be ignored at the table.

INDIA IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT SAVING ITS INTERESTS

• India is continuing to maintain its strategic autonomy as well as focus on serving its own economic and geopolitical interests along with regional prosperity.
• The Global politics of the 21st Century is centred around the Indo-Pacific, and India is at the centre of it the road to a stable, peaceful, resilient geopolitical environment goes via India.

HOW IS THE CANVAS OF INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY INCREASING?

INVITATION TO THE SUMMIT

• It is clear that despite India’s reluctance to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine and differing stances with the West, India was invited (not exclusive, though) as a partner country to the summit.

PARTICIPATED AS AN IMPORTANT ALLY IN INDO-PACIFIC

• India’s growing influence in global affairs is unquestionable. In the new Indo-Pacific construct and amidst China’s muscle-flexing, India is critical. Back in 2017, the then US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, referred to India as the “Western beacon” of the Indo-Pacific.

IMPORTANT MEMBER OF DIFFERENT GROUPINGS

• India’s growing stature and importance in world affairs are widely recognized. India’s diplomacy has led the country to emerge as a global influencer through active participation in I2U2, G-20, BRICS, QUAD, SCO, SAARC, and now G-7.

INDIA’S NARRATIVES ARE MAKING IT A GLOBAL FORCE IN WORLD FORUM

• It can be seen how India can bring a “fresh perspective on the narrative of the global north on climate change, carbon pricing, pandemic prevention, issues related to Intellectual Property, global food security and public stock holdings as well as promotion of shared values of democracy, and the rule of law”.

PGII vs. BRI

• The G 7 leaders launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), a joint initiative to fund infrastructure projects in developing countries. The project, launched on June 27, is being seen as the bloc’s counter to China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative.
• However, the stated purpose of both the PGII and the BRI is to help secure funding for countries to build critical infrastructure such as roads, ports, bridges, communication setups, etc., to enhance global trade and cooperation.
• China began the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 under President Xi Jinping. It aims to revive the ancient trade routes crossing to and from China–from Rome in Europe to East Asia.
• However, China was criticized in the West and by some other countries for providing unsustainable debts to countries that will be unable to repay them.

The comparison of BRI and PGII

BRI 

• 1.2 to 1.3 trillion-dollar project
• State-funded.
• Projects by extending large, low-interest loans to countries.
• The Belt and Road project started to revive connectivity, trade, and infrastructure along what was China’s ancient Silk Road.
• The project initially aimed to strengthen connectivity with Southeast Asia but later expanded to South and Central Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America
• the BRI has faced criticism for making countries sign confidential tenders for extending massive loans, leaving countries indebted to China.

PGII

• 600 billion project.
• Funded through private investors
• Build projects through grants and investments.
• The PGII is a values-based plan to help underfunded low and middle-income countries meet their infrastructure needs. PGII has laid focus on climate action and clean energy,
• G7 leaders emphasized ‘transparency’ as the cornerstone of PGII projects.

IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC ROLE FOR INDIA IN PGII?

• The PGII will have four key priorities on infrastructure: climate and energy security, digital connectivity, health and health security, and gender equality and equity, all of which are priority areas for India as well.
• A specific plan for investment in an Agritech and Climate sustainability fund would invest in companies that increase food security and promote both climate resilience and climate adaptation in India, as well as improve the profitability and agricultural productivity of smallholder farms.

WHAT ARE THE CRITICISM OF INDIA’S STAND IN G-7?

India has become an important ally of the West in the Indo-pacific region, and its participation in the summit clears it, but mere attending a summit does not serve India’s interest, and the development will lead to India’s hostilities with all-weather competitor China. Moreover, India didn’t call for any improvement in the structuring of the group, India’s interests can be negatively impacted by the developments because:
• G 7 is essentially a “First World Elite Club” that hasn’t grown- nor has it revised its membership, given that not all of its members are among the world’s top economies anymore.
• The G-7 countries represent more than 50% of Global GDP and just 10% of the world population, showing how much is concentrated in the hands of a few.
• By cutting out Russia and China, the G-7 ensured the polarization of the world into the two blocs, even as ties between Russia and China got stronger.
• The fact that G-7 countries are also military partners means that the economic agenda of the grouping often takes a backseat over political issues- in the current scenario- over the Russia-Ukraine war and the tussle with China.

THE WAY FORWARD:
• The participation is g good opportunity for India to increase its foreign policy canvas but with an independent foreign policy.
• The formation of PGII is an opportunity for India to counter China’s presence in South Asia. India should use this opportunity to engage maximum developing countries.
• West is continuously supporting India to counter China in Indo-Pacific and now continuously inviting India into their elite club, so India should use this opportunity to call the reform in UNSC.
• The Indian government would do well to engage with the multilateral ecosystem to ensure that future multilateral rules do not disadvantage developing economies instead of outrightly rejecting them.
• India should focus on capacity building and timely resolution of disputes.
• India’s 2022-23 presidency of the G20 presents an opportunity for the country to articulate a forward-looking vision for fair and comprehensive foreign policy.

THE CONCLUSION: India’s engagement with the West is the opportunity for India to overcome the challenge that occurred after Covid-19. India’s participation in the summit is a good move by India to engage deeply with the West but India should be concerned with saving its interests. India’s focus should be to create a balance between the West and its all-weather friend Russia. Though mere participation can’t hurt India’s interest, India should avoid the criticism of Russia as it did in the recent past.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. Critically examine the outcomes of the 14th G-7 summit.
2. How far do you agree with the view that the G-7 Partnership for Infrastructure and Investment is an alternative to the OBOR of China?
3. “Without a stable neighbourhood, attempts to increase the foreign policy canvas by India will not elicit desired outcomes”. Illustrate and Comment.

Just add to your knowledge

• The Grougroup7 (G7) is an informal group of seven countries, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, the heads of which hold an annual summit with the European Union and other invitees.
• Together the member countries represent 40% of global GDP and 10% of the world’s population.
• The G7 draws its roots from a meeting between the current G7 members, excluding Canada, that took place in 1975. At the time, the global economy was in a state of recession due to the OPEC oil embargo.
• After this first summit, the countries agreed to meet annually, and a year later, Canada was invited into the group marking the official formation of the G7 as we know it.
• The President of the European Commission was asked to join the meetings in 1977, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and a subsequent thaw in relations between the East and West, Russia was also invited to join the group 1998.
• Thereafter the group was named the G8 until 2014, when Russia was expelled for its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

[WpProQuiz 309]

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