1. THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR CLIMATE SERVICES
TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: India is embarking on a major programme to launch the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS).
EXPLANATION:
- It will be Spearheaded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
- It envisions to bring a seamless working platform for users of climate information and services, and help decide and mitigate climate risks for key sectors like agriculture, energy, disaster management, etc.
WHAT THE NFCS IS BASED ON?
- The NFCS is based on the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).
- The Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) is a partnership of governments and organisations at a global level, for the production and better usage of climate information and services.
- The GFCS aims to facilitate researchers and users of climate information and services to join hands to make informed and actionable decisions for the long-term betterment.
- The announcement to establish a GFCS was made during the third World Climate Conference held in Geneva in 2009.
- This framework, led by National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) in their respective nations, includes active participation of policymakers, investors, vulnerable sectors etc.
- The five major components under GFCS are:
- Observations and Monitoring,
- Research, Modelling and Prediction,
- Climate Services Information System,
- User Interface Platform and
- Capacity Building.
- At present, the priority sectors where the GFCS focuses upon are agriculture and food security, energy, health, water and disaster risk reduction.
WHAT THE NFCS WILL DO?
- In lines with the global framework, the national framework will be based on country-specific weather and stakeholder needs.
- Unlike the GFCS, the nodal agency for the formulation and implementation of the national framework in India will be the IMD.
- Along with the identified sectors of focus, India could add other relevant sectors like transport, tourism and other emerging sectors from time to time.
- Initially, the NFCS will work in bridging functioning gaps between the various agencies who require climate services.
- These include the hydrological, power, renewable energy, transport, dams and irrigation, health agencies are central, state and other levels.
WHY THE NFCS IS NEEDED?
- The IMD makes daily weather forecasts and season predictions for the winter, summer and the monsoon seasons.
- There remain many gap areas across terrains and the seas, wherein no weather data is available.
- It results in the lack of long-term (100 years or more) climatological data from the Himalayan regions, the oceans, besides inexistence of radar and satellite-based climatology.
- This is one of the major reasons why the IMD could make limited in providing climate predictions.
- To have a complete composite of climatological information of all the weather parameters, in order to make climate predictions. There is a need to integrate the weather and climate services.
- With NFCS, the Meteorological department aims to strengthen the observational network on land and the seas, improve the data inflow and eventually use it to run weather and climate models for deriving climate predictions.
- Suitable to the user’s needs, the climate data and information products will be tailored and help identify agricultural production, health trends, population distribution in high-risk areas etc.
- The framework aims to support efforts to prepare for new climate conditions and adapt to their impacts on water supplies, health risks, extreme events, farm productivity etc.
HOW THE NFCS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED?
- Switzerland, China, Germany and the United Kingdom have launched the NFCS, since the 2009 declaration of frameworks for climate services.
- Countries where the NFCS implementation is in the advanced stages include Benin, Madagascar, Moldova, Niger, and South Africa etc.
- With the first workshop organised recently in Pune, India has joined Cuba, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville and Ethiopia, where the NFCS-related national consultation workshops are being planned.
- India will be soon releasing the statement of NFCS after consensus received from the key partnering stakeholders.
2. ASIATIC WILD DOGS
TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: As per a new study, overlapping prey availability or habitat suitability could dictate a positive association between dholes or Asiatic wild dogs and tigers, facilitating co-existence or even cooperative behaviours between the two species of carnivores.
EXPLANATION:
- The activity of the Asiatic wild dog in Assam’s Manas National Park showed the highest temporal overlap with the leopard and the lowest with the clouded leopard.
An Asiatic wild dog at Manas National Park, Assam.
FRAGMENTATION OF THE DHOLE POPULATION AS PER THE STUDY:
- Operating in packs of 5-10 individual larger groups of more than 30 were observed in 2004.
- Dholes were once widespread across southern and eastern Asia.
- Factors such as habitat loss, declining prey availability, persecution, disease, and interspecific competition have contributed to the ongoing fragmentation of its populations.
- The global population of adult dholes are classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
- It is estimated to be between 949 and 2,215 individuals, scattered in localised areas of India and Thailand.
- Study findings revealed a surprising positive relationship between dhole habitat use and tiger, rejecting the habitat exclusivity hypothesis.
- This unexpected result challenges the assumption of antagonistic interactions between these two species and suggests a more complex ecological dynamic.
DHOLE OR ASIATIC WILD DOG:
- Appearance:
- Depending on their habitat, these wild dogs vary in colour from charcoal grey to rust red to sandy beige. They have a long, brushy, fox-like tail that often has a black tip. They usually have a white belly, chest, and feet. Adults have rounded ears and a pointed snout.
- Habitat:
- Dholes occupy a wide variety of climates and habitats, such as dense forests, scrub, steppes, and alpine regions.
- Geography:
- Dholes are found in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia.
- Lifespan:
- Dholes live about 10 years in the wild and up to 16 years in captivity.
- Threats:
- The greatest threat to dholes is habitat loss and fragmentation.
- As human activity expands, dholes are losing their places to live, reproduce and feed.
- Not only are dhole at risk, but so is their prey.
- In 2008, there were estimated to be less than 2,500 adult dholes in the wild.
- Other threats include disease and human conflict. These wild dogs can easily catch diseases like distemper and rabies from domestic dogs brought by humans moving into the wild dogs’ habitat.
- Dholes are viewed as dangerous pests in some areas and are trapped and poisoned as a result.
- Conservation Status:
- As of 2015, the IUCN has classified the dhole as Endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species.
- Conservation Efforts:
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- Scientists and conservationists are working to better understand dholes.
- For example, scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Center for Species Survival (CSS) are working to study and save dholes by tracking animals with satellite collars, monitoring human-dhole conflict, and doing community outreach.
3. 52ND GST COUNCIL MEETING
TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY
THE CONTEXT: The 52nd GST Council met under the Chairpersonship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs in New Delhi on 7th October 2023.
EXPLANATION:
- The meeting was also attended by Union Minister of State for Finance, Chief Ministers of Goa and Meghalaya holding finance portfolio.
- The GST Council inter-alia made the recommendations relating to changes in GST tax rates, measures for facilitation of trade and measures for streamlining compliances in GST.
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO GST RATES ON GOODS AND SERVICES:
- CHANGES IN GST RATES OF GOODS
- GST rates on “Food preparation of millet flour in powder form, containing at least 70% millets by weight”, falling under HS 1901, with effect from date of notification, have been prescribed as:
-
- 0% if sold in other than pre-packaged and labelled form
- 5% if sold in pre-packaged and labelled form
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- Foreign going vessels are liable to pay 5% IGST on the value of the vessel if it converts to coastal run.
- OTHER CHANGES RELATING TO GOODS
-
- GST Council recommended to keep Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) used for manufacture of alcoholic liquor for human consumption outside GST.
- To reduce GST on molasses from 28% to 5%. This step will increase liquidity with mills and enable faster clearance of cane dues to sugarcane farmers.
- A separate tariff HS code has been created at 8 digit level in the Customs Tariff Act to cover rectified spirit for industrial use.
- CHANGES IN GST RATES OF SERVICES
-
- The GST Council has also recommended to exempt services of water supply, public health, sanitation conservancy, solid waste management and slum improvement and upgradation supplied to Governmental Authorities.
- OTHER CHANGES RELATING TO SERVICES
-
- To clarify that job work services for processing of barley into malt attracts GST @ 5% as applicable to “job work in relation to food and food products” and not 18%.
- To clarify that District Mineral Foundations Trusts (DMFT) set up by the State Governments across the country in mineral mining areas are Governmental Authorities.
- Thus eligible for the same exemptions from GST as available to any other Governmental Authority.
MEASURES FOR FACILITATION OF TRADE:
- Amnesty Scheme for filing of appeals against demand orders in cases where appeal could not be filed within the allowable time period.
- Clarifications regarding taxability of personal guarantee offered by directors to the bank against the credit limits/loans being sanctioned to the company.
- Taxability of corporate guarantee provided for related persons including corporate guarantee provided by holding company to its subsidiary company.
- Provision for automatic restoration of provisionally attached property after completion of one year.
- The Council has recommended to issue a Circular to clarify the place of supply in respect of the supply of services.
- Issuance of clarification relating to export of services.
OTHER MEASURES PERTAINING TO LAW AND PROCEDURES:
- The Council has recommended amendments in section 110 of the CGST Act, 2017 to provide that:
- an advocate for ten years with substantial experience in litigation under indirect tax laws for the appointment as judicial member;
- the minimum age for eligibility for appointment as President and Member to be 50 years;
- President and Members shall have tenure up to a maximum age of 70 years and 67 years respectively.
GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST):
- The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption.
- The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services.
- The GST (122nd Constitutional Amendment) Bill, 2014 was passed in May 2015.
- It was enacted as Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, 2016, with effect from, 16th September, 2016.
GST COUNCIL:
- Article 279A – GST Council to be formed by the President to administer & govern GST. It’s Chairman is Union Finance Minister of India with ministers nominated by the state governments as its members.
- The council is devised in such a way that the centre will have 1/3rd voting power and the states have 2/3rd.
- The decisions are taken by 3/4th majority.
SOURCE: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1965431
4. PACIFIC ASIA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION (PATA)
TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY
THE CONTEXT: Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has committed to work with India to expand Travel for LiFE initiative across Asia Pacific region.
EXPLANATION:
- India hosted 46th edition of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2023 from Oct 4 to Oct 6 at the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi.
- PATA Mart saw the participation of around 1000 delegates, is one of the major international trade exhibitions catering to the tourism sector.
- It serves as a platform for trade interactions between global buyers and sellers.
PACIFIC ASIA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION (PATA):
- It was founded in 1951.
- The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership-based association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.
- By bringing together private and public sector members, PATA facilitates meaningful partnerships to enhance the value, quality and sustainable growth of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.
- It serves as a platform for trade interactions between global buyers and sellers.
- Besides facilitating trade interactions between Buyer Sellers meet, the PATA Travel Mart (PTM) 2023 also included thought provoking knowledge sessions at PATA Forum and youth engagement at PATA Youth Symposium.
- Travel for LiFE initiative was showcased by the Ministry across all the events and it generated huge interest from international travel trade community.
LiFE (LIFESTYLE FOR ENVIRONMENT):
- Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was formally launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 19th October 2022, in the presence of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
- It is a global mass movement led by India urging individuals and communities to act for protection of the environment against the effects of the climate change.
- Ministry of Tourism will set up a PATA desk to strengthen engagement with PATA on Travel for LiFE and other areas of cooperation in tourism sector.
- This is the first major international partnership for Travel for Life (TFL) program after its global launch on September 27, 2023, world tourism day.
- Ministry of Tourism is already working with UNEP and UNWTO on strengthening the TFL program.
- Travel for LiFE embodies the spirit of the Pro Planet People and functions on the basic principles of “Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and by the planet”.
- It aspires to bring large-scale behavioral change amongst tourists and tourism businesses, which will have a significant impact on environment protection while ensuring socio-cultural sustainability.
- The Travel for LiFE program has identified an illustrative list of actions that are designed in line with the eight themes of Travel for LiFE
- Save Energy,
- Save Water,
- Say No to Single Use Plastic,
- Reduce Waste,
- Empower Local Businesses and Communities,
- Respect Local Culture and Heritage,
- Consume Local Foods and
- Conserve Nature
- Travel for LiFE Program will position India as leader in promoting sustainable and responsible tourism and using tourism as a vehicle for achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
SOURCE: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1965805
5. ATTACK ON ISRAEL
TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE CONTEXT: Recently, Israel witnessed the largest attack from the Palestinian enclave and perhaps the worst security crisis in 50 years.
EXPLANATION:
- Dozens of Hamas militants, using motorcycles, pickup trucks, boats, paragliders and mid-range rockets, launched a highly coordinated attack.
- They infiltrated Israeli cities, hitting military bases and killing and taking hostage soldiers and civilians.
- Israeli officials say at least 200 people were killed and hundreds of others injured.
- The attacks, reminiscent of the 1973 Yom Kippur holiday attack by Egyptian and Syrian troops, took Israel by surprise.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose right-religious government’s key promise is Israel’s security, has declared war on Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that runs the Gaza strip.
PALESTINE-ISRAEL RELATIONS:
- The Palestine-Israel relations have steadily deteriorated in recent years.
- Israel has been carrying out military raids in the occupied West Bank almost on a daily basis, besides tightening the screws of the occupation.
- At least 200 Palestinians and some 30 Israelis have been killed so far in 2023.
- In April 2023, Israeli police raided Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam’s third holiest place of worship, triggering rocket attacks from Gaza, which were followed by Israeli air strikes.
- In May 2023, Israel and the Palestine Islamic Jihad, which is based in Gaza, fought a short battle.
- In July 2023, Israel carried out a major raid in the West Bank town of Jenin, which has emerged as a hotbed of militancy in the West Bank.
- Currently, there is no peace process. Violence is perverse. And anger has been building up among Palestinians against both the Israeli occupiers as well as the Palestinian Authority.
- By launching such a massive attack from Gaza (which is controlled by Hamas) and asking “all Arabs of Palestine”, including the Israeli Arab citizens to take up arms against the state of Israel.
- Israeli Arab make up some 20% of the Israel’s population.
- Hamas is both trying to cash in on the public anger against occupation and emerge as the sole pole of the Palestinian cause.
DIVISIONS IN ISRAELI SOCIETY:
- Israel is also going through a difficult phase.
- The country is ruled by its most right-wing government whose key domestic agenda is to overhaul the structures of power so that the elected government would be more powerful than other institutions.
- The government has already pushed one part of its ambitious legislative agenda seeking to curtail the powers of the judiciary through Parliament, which triggered massive protests.
- Thousands of military reservists had joined the sit-ins and threatened to resign in protest against the Netanyahu government’s judicial overhaul plan.
- So, the government’s focus was on its legislative agenda; rights groups are up in arms showing deep divisions in society; and there were resenting voices even within the military.
- Hamas might have thought that Israel was at a weak moment internally, which provides an opportunity for it to launch an unprecedented attack from Gaza and trigger more resistance violence in the occupied West Bank.
GEOPOLITICAL ANGLE:
- It is unlikely to be a coincidence that the Hamas attack came when Israel and Saudi Arabia are in an advanced stage of normalisation talks.
- Recently, Saudi Crown Prince said in an interview that both countries were making progress every day.
- If Saudi Arabia, the custodian of the two holiest mosques of Islam and arguably the most influential Arab country, normalises ties with Israel, it would not only reset West Asian geopolitical dynamics but also put Hamas at a further disadvantageous position.
- Such a realignment is also not in the interests of Iran (which backs the Islamic Jihad and Hamas) and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has its own problems with Israel.
- Iran and Hezbollah were quick to welcome the Hamas operation, describing it as “heroic”.
- As Gaza is set to witness massive Israeli retaliation in the coming days, if not weeks, the prospects for an immediate normalisation deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel would be further complicated.
