WSDP Bulletin (06/12/2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1.  Why Moody’s cut China’s economic outlook to ‘negative’ READ MORE

2.  COP28 Climate Summit | Global Stocktake draft calls for phasing out fossil fuels READ MORE

3.  Illegal iron ore mining no longer rampant in Karnataka, industry body wants SC to lift production cap READ MORE

4.  Disc of gas whirling around star found for the first time in another galaxy READ MORE

5.  Mysterious mineral produced in ocean could keep Earth cool, even induce ice age READ MORE

6.  James Webb telescope finds water in roiling disk of gas around ultra-hot star for 1st time ever READ MORE

7.  What’s the status of the UN treaty to end plastic pollution? | Explained READ MORE

8.  COP28 summit: Global dairy companies join alliance to cut methane READ MORE

9.  India’s CO2 emissions likely to register biggest rise for second year, says report READ MORE

10.  Glaciers shrank 1 m a year in a decade: WMO READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Chronicles Of Death: Suicide is a rising trend in India, including among the young READ MORE

2. ‘Caste census will turn India into a Union of Castes’ READ MORE

3. World Soil Day: Preserving and restoring soil health is crucial for a prosperous and sustainable future READ MORE

4. New unified theory shows how past landscapes drove the evolution of Earth’s rich diversity of life READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The case of delayed bail and trial READ MORE

2. Cut out red tapism in public sector share sale READ MORE

3. Role of Governors in focus again READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Impact of India’s Mission Parivar Vikas on fertility rates and family planning READ MORE  

2. Make steady nutrition grants to reap demographic dividend READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Decoupling, derisking, China + 1. All Beijing wants is a less hostile, more predictable US READ MORE

2. India holds firm: Seeks climate justice for Global South READ MORE  

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Honest reckoning: On the reality behind the commitment to renewable energy READ MORE

2. Firing up hydrogen start-ups READ MORE

3. Striking a Balance READ MORE

4. RBI could sustain the pause READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. What happens after net zero? The impacts will play out for decades, with poorest countries still feeling the heat READ MORE  

2. The journey towards a plastic-free world READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. How does GPS work? | Explained READ MORE  

2. OpenAI’s Q* is alarming for a different reason READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Combating cybercrimes READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Shared blame: Cyclone Michaung alone was not responsible for Chennai’s troubles READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Your Happy Future Flows From Fertile Soil READ MORE

2. The true end of learning READ MORE

3. Only right education can ensure world peace READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. High fertility is a public health concern as it has negative consequences for maternal and child health and also has a negative association with GDP levels at an aggregate level. Critically analyse the impact of India’s Mission Parivar Vikas on fertility rates and family planning.

2. “All the wealth in the world is not worth it unless there is peace in the human heart”. Explain the meaning of statement with relevant examples.

3. The majority ownership and control by the Government for several decades has ingrained in the bureaucrat a feeling of exercising command over the management of the PSU. Comment.

4. The government wants to remain in the driver’s seat even after strategic sales of PSUs. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot.
  • The extent to which climate change ‘boosted’ Cyclone Michaung is for attribution science to say, although it would be naive to wait for any verdict other than that warmer seas are feeding stronger cyclones.
  • The paradox of the world’s major economies’ commitment to renewable energy is that it is not, as of now, actively geared to replace fossil fuel.
  • In UAPA cases, courts must either push for bail if there is an inordinate delay by the investigating agency in preparing charge sheet or ensure a speedy trial.
  • High fertility is a public health concern as it has negative consequences for maternal and child health and also has a negative association with GDP levels at an aggregate level.
  • The quality of school education deserves maximum attention, particularly in terms of teacher education and recruitment, vocational skills and interest identification.
  • The lengthy and cumbersome process of approval and bureaucratic red tape undermines the chances of the Government selling CPSU shares to willing investors.
  • The majority ownership and control by the Government for several decades has ingrained in the bureaucrat a feeling of exercising command over the management of the PSU.
  • The government wants to remain in the driver’s seat even after strategic sales of PSUs.
  • Weaponization, ostensibly for security, is driven by the lurking fear of potential attacks by a neighbouring country at some point or another.
  • All the wealth in the world is not worth it unless there is peace in the human heart.
  • Countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh stood with India on the Canada issue, but as details of the U.S. indictment are revealed, South Asian capitals, and not just Islamabad, will be studying the footprint of Indian agencies in their countries as well.
  • In dealing with India, diplomats in the US and other Western countries need to take into account Indian sensitivities.
  • COP28 has seen a step forward towards climate justice as it approved the ‘loss and damage fund’. Now, the moot point is that the developed countries must finally pay compensation that is adequate for the Global South to combat climate change.
  • The Green Credit Scheme is a novel and unique initiative to achieve the goals and objectives of Mission LiFE, launched by Prime Minister This unique initiative  can be adopted by other nations at the global level by adjusting environment-friendly lifestyles.
  • While gross domestic product metrics indicate positivity, India seems to have successfully warded off the boogeyman of recession standing at the doorstep of several countries across the globe. India today is a global image of solidity and performance.
  • Before India and China can commit to a future without coal, there are geopolitical and technological hurdles that need to be resolved.

ESSAY TOPIC

  • World has enough to satisfy everybody’s need, but not everybody’s greed.
  • All the wealth in the world is not worth it unless there is peace in the human heart.

50-WORD TALK

  • The engagement between the US deputy NSA and S Jaishankar shows that both sides are acting responsibly to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control amid the Nijjar-Pannun saga. They have kept emotion out of the equation, displaying statesmanship that is vital to bilateral ties as significant as theirs.
  • China has become the first nation to accept the Taliban’s ambassador, starting the normalisation of the outfit in the global order. This is the destiny of Afghanistan that everyone will have to accept, even as efforts continue to sustain international pressure on the Taliban for women’s rights and curbing terrorism.

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.


Day-548 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | ECONOMY

Day-548

Time limit: 0

Quiz-summary

0 of 5 questions completed

Questions:

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Information

DAILY MCQ

You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.

Quiz is loading...

You must sign in or sign up to start the quiz.

You have to finish following quiz, to start this quiz:

Results

0 of 5 questions answered correctly

Your time:

Time has elapsed

You have reached 0 of 0 points, (0)

Categories

  1. Not categorized 0%
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  1. Answered
  2. Review
  1. Question 1 of 5
    1. Question

    1. Consider the following:
    1. Access to a larger and more liquid market
    2. Savings on the costs and time involved in the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process
    3. Avoidance of the dilution of ownership and control
    4. Exposure to the currency fluctuations and market volatility of the foreign exchange
    How many of the above are the possible benefits of direct listing of shares on a foreign stock exchange?

    Correct

    Answer: C
    Explanation:
    ● Direct listing is a process by which a company can list its shares on a foreign stock exchange without issuing new shares or raising capital from investors.
    ● Direct listing is different from the traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO), where a company sells a portion of its shares to the public and raises funds from investors.
    ● Direct listing is also different from the Depository Receipt (DR) route, where a company issues its shares to a custodian bank, which then issues DRs to foreign investors.
    Not a possible benefit of direct foreign listing:
    ● Exposure to the currency fluctuations and market volatility of the foreign exchange is one of the effects of direct foreign list. However, it can affect their share price and returns. So, it is a challenge not a benefit.
    Benefits of Direct Foreign Listing:
    ● Access to a larger and more liquid market, which can increase the demand and valuation of their shares.
    ● Savings on the costs and time involved in the IPO or DR process, such as underwriting fees, listing fees, legal fees, etc.
    ● Avoidance of the dilution of ownership and control that comes with issuing new shares or DRs.
    ● Ability to reach out to a wider and more sophisticated investor base, which can enhance their reputation and credibility.
    ● Startups and unicorns may benefit from this avenue of raising funds and increasing their global profile.
    ● Exposure to the best practices and regulations of the foreign jurisdiction can improve their governance and transparency.
    Additional information:
    How do Indian Companies Currently List on Foreign Exchanges?
    ● Currently, Indian companies list on foreign bourses using depository receipts, including American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depository Receipts (GDRs).
    ● To list on foreign stock exchanges, Indian companies entrust their shares to an Indian custodian, who then issues depository receipts (DRs) to foreign investors.
    ● Between 2008 and 2018, 109 companies raised over Rs 51,000 crore through ADRs/GDRs.
    ● However, after 2018, no Indian companies pursued overseas listings through this route.
    ● ADR refers to a negotiable certificate issued by a U.S. depositary bank representing a specified number of shares, usually one share of a foreign company’s stock.
    ● GDRs is a certificate issued by a depository bank that represents shares in a foreign company and deposits them in an account. GDRs are mostly traded on the European markets.
    Challenges Involved in Direct Foreign Listing:
    ● Compliance with the laws and rules of the foreign jurisdiction, which may be different from or more stringent than those in India.
    ● Challenges in direct foreign listings include valuation issues, as global investors may not offer the same valuations as in India, potentially impacting the company’s market perception and pricing.
    ● Potential conflicts or disputes with the existing shareholders, regulators, or tax authorities in India or abroad.
    ● Clarity is needed on which classes of public companies can use this route, the classes of securities that can be listed, the foreign jurisdictions and permitted stock exchanges for listing, and the exemptions offered to such companies in terms of procedural compliances.

    Incorrect

    Answer: C
    Explanation:
    ● Direct listing is a process by which a company can list its shares on a foreign stock exchange without issuing new shares or raising capital from investors.
    ● Direct listing is different from the traditional Initial Public Offering (IPO), where a company sells a portion of its shares to the public and raises funds from investors.
    ● Direct listing is also different from the Depository Receipt (DR) route, where a company issues its shares to a custodian bank, which then issues DRs to foreign investors.
    Not a possible benefit of direct foreign listing:
    ● Exposure to the currency fluctuations and market volatility of the foreign exchange is one of the effects of direct foreign list. However, it can affect their share price and returns. So, it is a challenge not a benefit.
    Benefits of Direct Foreign Listing:
    ● Access to a larger and more liquid market, which can increase the demand and valuation of their shares.
    ● Savings on the costs and time involved in the IPO or DR process, such as underwriting fees, listing fees, legal fees, etc.
    ● Avoidance of the dilution of ownership and control that comes with issuing new shares or DRs.
    ● Ability to reach out to a wider and more sophisticated investor base, which can enhance their reputation and credibility.
    ● Startups and unicorns may benefit from this avenue of raising funds and increasing their global profile.
    ● Exposure to the best practices and regulations of the foreign jurisdiction can improve their governance and transparency.
    Additional information:
    How do Indian Companies Currently List on Foreign Exchanges?
    ● Currently, Indian companies list on foreign bourses using depository receipts, including American Depository Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depository Receipts (GDRs).
    ● To list on foreign stock exchanges, Indian companies entrust their shares to an Indian custodian, who then issues depository receipts (DRs) to foreign investors.
    ● Between 2008 and 2018, 109 companies raised over Rs 51,000 crore through ADRs/GDRs.
    ● However, after 2018, no Indian companies pursued overseas listings through this route.
    ● ADR refers to a negotiable certificate issued by a U.S. depositary bank representing a specified number of shares, usually one share of a foreign company’s stock.
    ● GDRs is a certificate issued by a depository bank that represents shares in a foreign company and deposits them in an account. GDRs are mostly traded on the European markets.
    Challenges Involved in Direct Foreign Listing:
    ● Compliance with the laws and rules of the foreign jurisdiction, which may be different from or more stringent than those in India.
    ● Challenges in direct foreign listings include valuation issues, as global investors may not offer the same valuations as in India, potentially impacting the company’s market perception and pricing.
    ● Potential conflicts or disputes with the existing shareholders, regulators, or tax authorities in India or abroad.
    ● Clarity is needed on which classes of public companies can use this route, the classes of securities that can be listed, the foreign jurisdictions and permitted stock exchanges for listing, and the exemptions offered to such companies in terms of procedural compliances.

  2. Question 2 of 5
    2. Question

    2. Consider the following statements about the Index of Industrial Production (IIP):
    1. It measures the short-term changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products.
    2. The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) computes and publishes the IIP index on a quarterly basis.
    3. The current base year for the IIP series in India is 2011-12.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    Correct

    Answer: B
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is correct: The IIP measures the short-term changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products.
    Statement 2 is incorrect: The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) computes and publishes the IIP index on a monthly basis.
    Statement 3 is correct: The current base year for the IIP series in India is 2011-12.
    Additional information:
    ● IIP is an important composite indicator in India that measures the changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products. IIP measures the growth of manufacturing, mining, and electricity sectors.
    ● The aim of IIP is to capture the direction and the trend of industrial production in the country, not the absolute value of industrial production.
    ● This index gives the growth rates of different industry groups of the economy over a specified time period.
    ● The eight core industries of India represent about 40% of the weight of items that are included in the IIP. The Eight Core Sectors/Industries are: Electricity; Steel; Refinery products; Crude oil; Coal; Cement; Natural gas; Fertilizers.
    ● The industry groups that it measures are classified under the following:
    1. Broad sectors like manufacturing, mining, and electricity.
    2. Use-based sectors like capital goods, basic goods, intermediate goods, infrastructure goods, consumer durables, and consumer non-durables.

    Incorrect

    Answer: B
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is correct: The IIP measures the short-term changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products.
    Statement 2 is incorrect: The Central Statistical Organization (CSO) computes and publishes the IIP index on a monthly basis.
    Statement 3 is correct: The current base year for the IIP series in India is 2011-12.
    Additional information:
    ● IIP is an important composite indicator in India that measures the changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products. IIP measures the growth of manufacturing, mining, and electricity sectors.
    ● The aim of IIP is to capture the direction and the trend of industrial production in the country, not the absolute value of industrial production.
    ● This index gives the growth rates of different industry groups of the economy over a specified time period.
    ● The eight core industries of India represent about 40% of the weight of items that are included in the IIP. The Eight Core Sectors/Industries are: Electricity; Steel; Refinery products; Crude oil; Coal; Cement; Natural gas; Fertilizers.
    ● The industry groups that it measures are classified under the following:
    1. Broad sectors like manufacturing, mining, and electricity.
    2. Use-based sectors like capital goods, basic goods, intermediate goods, infrastructure goods, consumer durables, and consumer non-durables.

  3. Question 3 of 5
    3. Question

    3. With reference to the Angel tax in India, consider the following statements:
    1. Angel tax is an income tax, applicable only on unlisted companies.
    2. Angel tax can be imposed only on investments made by a resident investor.
    3. All government recognised startups are exempt from Angel tax.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    Correct

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    ● Statement 1 is correct: Angel Tax is a term basically used to refer to the income tax payable on the capital raised by unlisted companies via the issue of shares through off-market transactions.
    ● Statement 2 is incorrect: Before budget 2023-24, angel tax was imposed only on investments made by a resident investor. i.e., it was not applicable in case the investments are made by any non-resident or venture capital funds. With Budget 2023-24, the government has decided to include foreign investors in the ambit. That means when a start-up raises funding from a foreign investor, that too will now be counted as income and be taxable. However, these foreign investors will not need to pay any angel tax while investing in a government-recognised startup in India similar to the provision for domestic investors.
    ● Statement 3 is incorrect: All government recognised startups are not exempt from the Angel Tax. It is only those start-ups which meet certain criteria are exempted from this tax. Moreover, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that government recognised startups will not be scrutinized for the changes brought about by the Budget 2023-24.
    Additional information:
    ● Angel tax is levied on the capital raised via the issue of shares by unlisted companies from an Indian investor/ foreign investor from certain countries if the share price of issued shares is seen in excess of the fair market value of the company.
    ● Rule related to Angel Tax is described in Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
    ● This clause was inserted into the act in 2012 to prevent laundering of black money, round-tripping via investments with a large premium into unlisted companies.
    ● Allaying the concerns of the startup community, the govt had also exempted investments made by the domestic investors in companies approved by an inter-ministerial panel from Angel Tax.
    ● Government recognised startups, upon meeting certain criteria are exempted from this tax.
    ● Currently, angel tax is levied at the rate of 30.6 per cent.

    Incorrect

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    ● Statement 1 is correct: Angel Tax is a term basically used to refer to the income tax payable on the capital raised by unlisted companies via the issue of shares through off-market transactions.
    ● Statement 2 is incorrect: Before budget 2023-24, angel tax was imposed only on investments made by a resident investor. i.e., it was not applicable in case the investments are made by any non-resident or venture capital funds. With Budget 2023-24, the government has decided to include foreign investors in the ambit. That means when a start-up raises funding from a foreign investor, that too will now be counted as income and be taxable. However, these foreign investors will not need to pay any angel tax while investing in a government-recognised startup in India similar to the provision for domestic investors.
    ● Statement 3 is incorrect: All government recognised startups are not exempt from the Angel Tax. It is only those start-ups which meet certain criteria are exempted from this tax. Moreover, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has clarified that government recognised startups will not be scrutinized for the changes brought about by the Budget 2023-24.
    Additional information:
    ● Angel tax is levied on the capital raised via the issue of shares by unlisted companies from an Indian investor/ foreign investor from certain countries if the share price of issued shares is seen in excess of the fair market value of the company.
    ● Rule related to Angel Tax is described in Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
    ● This clause was inserted into the act in 2012 to prevent laundering of black money, round-tripping via investments with a large premium into unlisted companies.
    ● Allaying the concerns of the startup community, the govt had also exempted investments made by the domestic investors in companies approved by an inter-ministerial panel from Angel Tax.
    ● Government recognised startups, upon meeting certain criteria are exempted from this tax.
    ● Currently, angel tax is levied at the rate of 30.6 per cent.

  4. Question 4 of 5
    4. Question

    4. Which one of the following statements about the Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme is incorrect?

    Correct

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect: Parents or legal guardians can open deposits on behalf of a girl child (including adopted girl child) for up to 2 daughters aged below 10.
    Statement 2 is correct: Only one account can be opened in the name of a girl child.
    Statement 3 is correct: Maximum period up to which deposits can be made 15 years from the date of opening of the account.
    Statement 4 is correct: Interest that accrues against this account which gets compounded annually is also exempt from tax under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act.
    Additional information:
    ● Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) Scheme was Introduced in 2016, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Account (SSA) is a central government scheme aimed to cater to a girl child.
    ● The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a government savings scheme created with the intention to benefit girl child under the initiative called “Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao”.
    ● This scheme carries a higher interest rate along with several tax benefits.
    ● The principal amount deposited, interest earned during the entire tenure and maturity benefits are tax-exempt. The principal amount is deductible under section 80C up to Rs 1.5 lakh.
    ● The proceeds received upon maturity/withdrawal are also exempt from income tax.
    ● The account matures after 21 years of opening the account or in the event of the marriage of the girl child after she gains the age of 18 years.
    ● A premature withdrawal of up to 50% of the investment is allowed after the child gains the age of 18 years even if she is not getting married.
    ● Three girl children, in case of twin girls as second birth or the first birth itself results in three girl children.
    ● Minimum of Rs 250 of initial deposit with multiple of Rs 150 thereafter with annual ceiling of Rs.150000 in a financial year.
    ● The account shall mature on completion of 21 years from the date of opening of account or on the marriage of Account holder whichever is earlier.

    Incorrect

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect: Parents or legal guardians can open deposits on behalf of a girl child (including adopted girl child) for up to 2 daughters aged below 10.
    Statement 2 is correct: Only one account can be opened in the name of a girl child.
    Statement 3 is correct: Maximum period up to which deposits can be made 15 years from the date of opening of the account.
    Statement 4 is correct: Interest that accrues against this account which gets compounded annually is also exempt from tax under Section 10 of the Income Tax Act.
    Additional information:
    ● Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) Scheme was Introduced in 2016, the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Account (SSA) is a central government scheme aimed to cater to a girl child.
    ● The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a government savings scheme created with the intention to benefit girl child under the initiative called “Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao”.
    ● This scheme carries a higher interest rate along with several tax benefits.
    ● The principal amount deposited, interest earned during the entire tenure and maturity benefits are tax-exempt. The principal amount is deductible under section 80C up to Rs 1.5 lakh.
    ● The proceeds received upon maturity/withdrawal are also exempt from income tax.
    ● The account matures after 21 years of opening the account or in the event of the marriage of the girl child after she gains the age of 18 years.
    ● A premature withdrawal of up to 50% of the investment is allowed after the child gains the age of 18 years even if she is not getting married.
    ● Three girl children, in case of twin girls as second birth or the first birth itself results in three girl children.
    ● Minimum of Rs 250 of initial deposit with multiple of Rs 150 thereafter with annual ceiling of Rs.150000 in a financial year.
    ● The account shall mature on completion of 21 years from the date of opening of account or on the marriage of Account holder whichever is earlier.

  5. Question 5 of 5
    5. Question

    5. Consider the following statements:
    1. When the RBI buys government securities, it can increase borrowing costs in the market.
    2. When the RBI sells government securities, it can depreciate the rupees.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    Correct

    Answer: D
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect: Open Market Operations (OMOs) have a significant impact on interest rates. When the RBI buys government securities, it injects liquidity in the market. Banks have excess funds to lend to borrowers. This reduces the cost of borrowing in the market.
    Statement 2 is incorrect: OMOs can also influence the exchange rate of the Indian rupee. When the RBI sells government securities, it receives rupees from buyers, reducing the supply of rupees in the market and putting upward pressure on the exchange rate, making the rupee stronger.
    Additional information:
    ● Open market operations (OMOs) are one of the tools that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses to regulate the money supply and liquidity conditions in the economy.
    ● OMOs are the sale and purchase of government securities (G-Secs) and treasury bills (T-Bills) by the RBI in the open market. When RBI wants to inject liquidity into the system, it buys G-Secs and T-Bills from the market, thereby increasing the money supply.
    ● Conversely, when RBI wants to absorb excess liquidity from the system, it sells G-Secs and T-Bills to the market, thereby reducing the money supply.
    ● OMO plays a crucial role in ensuring consistent liquidity availability throughout the year, thus maintaining desired interest rate levels.
    ● Regular OMO activities are conducted to strike a balance between controlling inflation and ensuring that banks maintain sufficient funds for lending.
    ● Factors contributing to this tightening include reduced government expenditure, heightened currency demand during the festive season, and fluctuations in foreign institutional investments and tax payments.

    Incorrect

    Answer: D
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect: Open Market Operations (OMOs) have a significant impact on interest rates. When the RBI buys government securities, it injects liquidity in the market. Banks have excess funds to lend to borrowers. This reduces the cost of borrowing in the market.
    Statement 2 is incorrect: OMOs can also influence the exchange rate of the Indian rupee. When the RBI sells government securities, it receives rupees from buyers, reducing the supply of rupees in the market and putting upward pressure on the exchange rate, making the rupee stronger.
    Additional information:
    ● Open market operations (OMOs) are one of the tools that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) uses to regulate the money supply and liquidity conditions in the economy.
    ● OMOs are the sale and purchase of government securities (G-Secs) and treasury bills (T-Bills) by the RBI in the open market. When RBI wants to inject liquidity into the system, it buys G-Secs and T-Bills from the market, thereby increasing the money supply.
    ● Conversely, when RBI wants to absorb excess liquidity from the system, it sells G-Secs and T-Bills to the market, thereby reducing the money supply.
    ● OMO plays a crucial role in ensuring consistent liquidity availability throughout the year, thus maintaining desired interest rate levels.
    ● Regular OMO activities are conducted to strike a balance between controlling inflation and ensuring that banks maintain sufficient funds for lending.
    ● Factors contributing to this tightening include reduced government expenditure, heightened currency demand during the festive season, and fluctuations in foreign institutional investments and tax payments.

window.wpAdvQuizInitList = window.wpAdvQuizInitList || []; window.wpAdvQuizInitList.push({ id: '#wpAdvQuiz_587', init: { quizId: 587, mode: 0, globalPoints: 10, timelimit: 0, resultsGrade: [0], bo: 0, qpp: 0, catPoints: [10], formPos: 0, lbn: "Finish quiz", json: {"2729":{"type":"single","id":2729,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[0,0,1,0]},"2730":{"type":"single","id":2730,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[0,1,0,0]},"2731":{"type":"single","id":2731,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[1,0,0,0]},"2732":{"type":"single","id":2732,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[1,0,0,0]},"2733":{"type":"single","id":2733,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[0,0,0,1]}} } });



AN ANALYSIS ON THE NCRB DATA: THE CRIME STORY

THE CONTEXT: The latest edition of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report reveals disturbing trends. The recorded crimes against women, children, senior citizens, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes show a steep increase, 468 people took their lives every day in 2022 and cybercrimes went up by nearly 25 per cent.

ABOUT NATIONAL CRIME RECORDS BUREAU(NCRB)

KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE NATIONAL CRIME RECORDS BUREAU(NCRB) REOPRT

Decline in registration cases: In 2022, a total of 58,24,946 cognizable crimes comprising 35,61,379 Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes and 22,63,567 Special and Local Laws (SLL) crimes were registered.

  • This was a decline of 4.5% in the registration of cases over the second pandemic year, 2021.

Crime rate: The crime rate has declined from 445.9 in 2021 to 422.2 in 2022.

Crime against women: 4,45,256 cases of crime against women were registered in 2022. This was an increase of 4% over the 2021 numbers.

  • The largest share of crimes against women under IPC sections was registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’ (31.4%), followed by ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women’ (19.2%), and ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (18.7%).

Cybercrimes: Reporting of cybercrime increased significantly by 24.4 percentage points compared to 2021.

  • Around 64.8% of registered cases were of fraud, followed by extortion (5.5%), and sexual exploitation (5.2%).

Suicides: An increase of 4.2% was observed in suicides reported during 2022 (1,70,924 suicides) as compared to 2021.

  • Family Problems (other than marriage-related problems)’ (31.7%), Marriage Related Problems (4.8%) and Illness (18.4%) have together accounted for 54.9% of total suicides in the country during the year 2022.

State-wise data in the report: The states/ UTs reporting the highest charge sheeting rate under IPC crimes are Kerala (96.0%), Puducherry (91.3%), and West Bengal (90.6%).

  • This is the percentage of cases in which the police reached the stage of framing charges against the accused, out of the total true cases.

ISSUES

Data Inefficiencies at the local level: NCRB report is only a compilation of data submitted at the local level, inefficiencies or gaps in data at that level have an impact on the accuracy of the report.

Pressure faced by marginalised social groups: There is also a growing body of scholarship which shows that people from marginalised social groups are often pressured into not reporting crimes against them.

Limitation due to Principal Offence Rule: The NCRB follows what is known as the ‘Principal Offence Rule’.

  • This means that among the many offences registered in a single FIR, the crime that attracts the most severe punishment is considered as the counting unit.
  • Thus, ‘Murder with Rape’ would be counted as ‘Murder’, not rape — which would result in an undercounting of the crime of rape.

Socio-economic causative factors are not captured: The socio-economic causative factors or reasons of crimes are not being captured by the Bureau.

Women find difficult to register FIRs: NFHS reports or recent studies that show that women find it difficult to register FIRs.

  • Women find it very difficult to report abusers in their close circles (husbands, fathers, partners, family members, friends).

Unfilled vacancies in the relevant posts:  shortage of police officers or unfilled vacancies in the relevant posts at the local level may hinder the collection of data.

THE WAY FORWARD

Demands action: Policymakers and law enforcement agencies should not overlook that almost every NCRB compilation has framed the vulnerabilities of women and marginalised sections.

Sharpen its methodologies: The NCRB must sharpen its methodologies and make its reports more nuanced.

Modernizing police forces: The police force today needs to tackle traditional crimes and cybercrimes. This calls for better and modernized communication, tracking and monitoring equipment.

Strengthening support services for victims: We can suggest strengthening support services for victims, providing safe shelter homes, and making legal aid more accessible.

Leverage Technologies: We can also leverage technology to create safer environments, such as panic buttons in public spaces and enhanced surveillance systems.

Formulating the annual police strategy: States should use NCRB’s data in formulating their annual police strategy, it should have a multi-dimensional and multi-purposed use in crime control, only then will this institution become result oriented.

CONCLUSION:

The growing incidents of cybercrime, as highlighted in the NCRB report, demands that law enforcement agencies remain proactive. Across the world, data is becoming an important tool for ensuring public safety.

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION:

Q) Explain why suicide among young women is increasing in Indian society. (2023)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q) While legal frameworks exist to address sexual violence against women, the disturbing reality is that these crimes continue to escalate. In this context, what innovative approaches can be implemented to tackle this menace effectively? Explain.

SOURCE: Express View on latest NCRB data: The crime story (indianexpress.com)



CLIMATE AND DISASTER TRENDS IN 2011- 2020 DECADE

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Despite being recorded as the warmest decade in history, the period from 2011 to 2020 witnessed the lowest number of deaths attributed to extreme weather events, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

EXPLANATION:

  • This anomaly is attributed to advancements in early warning systems, which have significantly improved due to enhanced forecasting capabilities and better disaster management practices globally.

Enhanced Early Warning Systems and Disaster Preparedness

  • Notably, countries like India have seen substantial improvements in forecasting cyclone formations, allowing for timely warnings and evacuation procedures.
  • These advancements in prediction have contributed to increased preparedness, particularly for populations vulnerable to such natural disasters.

Unprecedented Lack of Catastrophic Short-term Events

  • A striking aspect highlighted in the report “The Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Acceleration” is that, for the first time since 1950, there was not a single short-term event causing 10,000 or more deaths during the 2011-2020 decade.
  • This significant change underscores the efficacy of improved early warning systems and disaster management practices.

Positive Environmental Trends: Ozone Hole Recovery and Glacial Changes

  • The decade also witnessed noteworthy environmental shifts, including the visible recovery of the depleted ozone hole.
  • However, glacial measurements exhibited concerning trends, with glaciers globally thinning by an average of approximately 1 meter per year during the period.
  • The report highlights that Greenland and Antarctica collectively lost 38% more ice compared to the 2001-2010 decade.
  • Additionally, the report references the 2021 Uttarakhand rock-avalanche, triggered by a breach in the Nanda Devi glacier in the Himalayas, underlining the continued vulnerability of certain regions to climate-induced events.

Impact of Human-Caused Climate Change

  • Human-induced climate change remains a key factor amplifying the risks associated with extreme heat events.
  • Heatwaves accounted for the highest number of human casualties during the decade, while tropical cyclones resulted in the most significant economic damages.

Climate Finance and Future Goals

  • The report highlights a notable increase in both public and private climate finance during the 2011-2020 period.
  • However, it emphasizes the necessity of a substantial increase, nearly sevenfold, by the end of the current decade to meet climate objectives.
  • This includes crucial goals such as limiting global temperature rise to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Conclusion: Climate Progress and Urgent Calls for Action

  • The analysis of the 2011-2020 decade demonstrates encouraging strides in early warning systems and disaster management, leading to reduced casualties despite escalating climate challenges.
  • However, the report underscores the critical need for intensified efforts in climate finance and mitigation strategies to address the escalating risks posed by human-induced climate change.
  • Meeting these challenges is essential to achieving global climate objectives and averting further environmental crises in the future.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2023-12-06/th_chennai/articleGELC3VAG2-5091755.ece



DISCOVERY OF AN EXTRAGALACTIC ACCRETION DISC

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Scientists have made a groundbreaking observation—an accretion disc of gas spinning around a star, marking the first time such a phenomenon has been detected outside our own Milky Way galaxy.

EXPLANATION:

  • Despite being common during the formation of stars and their planetary systems, this discovery in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a dwarf galaxy located about 179,000 light-years away, challenges previous assumptions about the universality of star formation processes.

Significance of the Observation

  • The detection of an accretion disc in the LMC signifies the potential universality of our understanding of star formation processes.
  • This remarkable finding broadens our knowledge of these mechanisms beyond the confines of our own galaxy, suggesting that similar cosmic phenomena exist throughout the Universe.
  • Astronomers involved in the discovery expressed astonishment at identifying the first extragalactic accretion disc.
  • A researcher explained the phenomenon’s detection based on shifts in the emitted light’s frequency, drawing parallels to the change in sound frequency of an ambulance siren passing by.
  • This mechanism helped astronomers discern the rotation of gas around the distant star in the LMC.

Understanding Star Formation

  • Stars typically form in molecular gas and dust-rich regions of space. Dense clumps of gas gravitationally attract each other, leading to collapse and initiating the star formation process.
  • As the protostar forms, it gathers material from its surroundings in an orderly manner, akin to water flowing down a drain.
  • During this phase, a disc of gas becomes visible, revolving around the nascent star.
  • Upon completion of the star’s formation, residual material continues to orbit the star.
  • However, this material begins to contribute to the formation of planetary systems, including planets, asteroids, comets, and other celestial bodies.

Conclusion: Expanding Knowledge of Cosmic Phenomena

  • The discovery of an accretion disc around a star in the LMC not only showcases the advancement in observational astronomy but also offers valuable insights into the consistency of star formation processes across galaxies.
  • This significant finding extends our understanding of cosmic mechanisms and underscores the potential uniformity of fundamental astrophysical phenomena throughout the vast expanse of the Universe.

SOURCE: https://www.wionews.com/science/disc-of-gas-whirling-around-star-found-for-the-first-time-in-another-galaxy-666217



SMECTITE – ROLE IN CLIMATE CONTROL

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: A recent research by geologists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), published in Nature Geoscience, highlights the significance of smectite, a clay mineral found in oceanic crust, in the process of capturing and storing carbon.

EXPLANATION:

  • This discovery holds the potential to significantly impact the planet’s climate by contributing to Earth’s cooling mechanisms.

Smectite’s Carbon-Sequestering Abilities

  • The accordion-like structure of smectite, discovered in the intricate layers of the seafloor, facilitates the trapping of organic carbon.
  • This natural process occurs during tectonic activities, where smectite forms as a result of the collision between oceanic and continental plates.
  • The mineral, once formed, descends back to the ocean bed, capturing remnants of deceased organisms within its microscopic folds, effectively preventing the release of carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

Historical Context and Geological Findings

  • MIT researchers linked smectite production to major tectonic events over the past 500 million years.
  • They suggest that the formation of significant quantities of these clays potentially contributed to the cooling of the Earth and even induced ice ages.
  • This groundbreaking study establishes a direct correlation between plate tectonics and the onset of ice ages, attributing this relationship to the creation of carbon-sequestering smectite.

Scientific Methodology and Confirmation of Hypotheses

  • The research team investigated geological records to analyze weathering patterns of magmatic minerals and the resulting types of clays.
  • Using simulations of the Earth’s carbon cycle, they assessed the impact of various minerals.
  • Smectite emerged as not only a product of tropical tectonics but also an exceptionally efficient captor of organic carbon.
  • Despite challenges in directly measuring ancient smectite, the presence of trace elements such as nickel and chromium in sedimentary deposits provided crucial evidence supporting the theory.
  • These elements, associated with rocks producing smectite, acted as identifiable “fingerprints.”

Quantifying Smectite’s Impact on Climate

  • Although smectite’s contribution to carbon preservation seems small—less than one-tenth of a percent—it holds significant implications over geological timescales.
  • The researchers estimate that this minor percentage played a pivotal role in triggering the planet’s major ice ages.

Implications and Future Applications

  • Beyond understanding Earth’s climatic history, this discovery introduces possibilities for climate change mitigation strategies.
  • Smectite could potentially be utilized to stabilize carbon-rich permafrost regions threatened by global warming, offering a natural solution to address human-induced climate challenges.

Conclusion: Harnessing Natural Processes for Climate Mitigation

  • The MIT team’s findings emphasize the importance of comprehensively understanding the global carbon cycle.
  • Furthermore, the discovery of smectite’s impact on climate paves the way for exploring and leveraging natural processes to mitigate human-induced climate change, presenting a promising avenue in the fight against the escalating climate crisis.

SOURCE: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/mysterious-mineral-found-in-ocean-could-keep-earth-cool-even-induce-ice-age-2472168-2023-12-05



UN TREATY TO END PLASTIC POLLUTION

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), operating under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), convened in Nairobi to pursue the creation of an international legally binding treaty to combat plastic pollution worldwide.

EXPLANATION:

  • The third round of negotiations, INC-3, aimed to refine the ‘zero draft’ text and establish a comprehensive global plastics treaty by 2025, as mandated by UNEA Resolution 5/14.

Outcome of INC-3: Evaluating the ‘Zero Draft’

  • The ‘zero draft’ initially proposed robust measures for a binding treaty to address plastic pollution.
  • However, during negotiations, member states diluted core obligations, particularly regarding high-impact elements like primary polymer production, chemical concerns, problematic plastics, trade regulations, and financial mechanisms.

Controversial Negotiations: Divergent Perspectives

  • Member states debated the treaty’s objective and scope, with consensus on ending plastic pollution and safeguarding human health and the environment.
  • Nevertheless, a group of nations, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Iran, and Gulf Cooperation Council members, advocated for a clause favouring sustainable development to protect economic interests.
  • The reduction of primary polymer production faced opposition due to industry concerns.
  • Lobbying from the fossil fuels and chemicals sector significantly influenced discussions, leading to debates about the treaty’s scope regarding plastic production.

Disagreements on Lifecycle Assessment and Key Provisions

  • Disagreements emerged regarding the starting point of the plastic lifecycle, with some countries arguing for product design as the initiation stage to exclude production from the treaty’s scope.
  • Additionally, objections were raised against provisions eliminating harmful compounds and polymers, hindering progress in combating plastic pollution.

Financial Control and Implications

  • Financial mechanisms within the treaty, such as imposing pollution fees on plastic producers and reducing investments in environmentally detrimental technologies, faced opposition from certain countries.
  • Implementing these measures could have required nations to curb fossil-fuel subsidies and investments in unsustainable practices, yet they were obstructed by opposing states.

Plastic Trade Regulations: Sovereignty vs. Restrictions

  • Debates arose on regulating the trade of polymers, chemicals, plastic products, and waste.
  • Concerns about infringing on national sovereignty clashed with efforts to strengthen regulations and align with the objectives of the Basel Convention.
  • Some countries misconstrued WTO rules to resist trade restrictions, impeding progress.

Challenges with Rules of Procedure and Decision-Making

  • INC-3 faced challenges finalizing rules of procedure, hindering effective decision-making.
  • Disagreements persisted regarding the voting process, causing delays and impeding consensus-based decisions.
  • This impacted negotiations and prevented significant advancements during the meeting.

Impact of Stalling and Resistance

  • INC-3 encountered delays and blockades, resulting in an expanded, contentious draft text and a lack of consensus on intersessional work.
  • The refusal to adopt a mandate for drafting the treaty’s first version underscored industry influence and identified states opposing a robust, binding treaty against plastic pollution.

Conclusion

  • INC-3’s proceedings revealed divisions among member states, industry influence, and challenges in establishing a comprehensive global plastics treaty.
  • Despite initial ambitions, divergent interests, resistance to strong provisions, and delays in decision-making have hindered progress toward an effective, binding framework to combat plastic pollution.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/inc-3-meeting-end-plastic-pollution-treaty-industry-pressure-explained/article67607097.ece



DAIRY INDUSTRY’S COMMITMENT TO CUT METHANE EMISSIONS

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Six of the world’s largest dairy companies will soon begin disclosing their methane emissions as part of a new global alliance launched at the United Nations climate summit.

EXPLANATION:

  • This alliance aims to disclose and mitigate methane emissions in the dairy sector, recognizing the urgency of tackling this issue for environmental sustainability.

The Significance of Methane Emissions in Dairy Industry

  • The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization highlights that approximately 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions stem from livestock, primarily through sources like cow burps and manure.
  • This underscores the pressing need to address methane emissions from the dairy industry as a crucial aspect of combating climate change.
  • Six prominent dairy companies – Danone, Bel Group, General Mills, Lactalis USA, Kraft Heinz, and Nestle – have joined forces to form the Dairy Methane Action Alliance.
  • This coalition’s primary objectives include disclosing methane emissions by mid-2024 and drafting actionable plans to mitigate these emissions by the end of the same year.

Focus on Reducing Methane: Importance and Challenges

  • Methane, known for being nearly 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide, is a focal point in global efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The alliance acknowledges the complexity of reducing dairy methane emissions, emphasizing the necessity of providing comprehensive support to farmers worldwide.
  • Strategies such as experimenting with feed additives are being considered to combat methane production from livestock.
  • While the alliance members are not mandated to commit to specific emission reduction targets, enhanced measurement and reporting of methane emissions serve as crucial steps towards eventual mitigation.
  • Companies like Danone have independently pledged significant reductions, aiming to cut methane emissions from their fresh milk supply chain by 30% by 2030.

Impact of Methane Reduction Goals on Global Warming

Environmental Defense Fund’s Role and Accountability

  • The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), convening this alliance, stresses the importance of increased accountability through improved measurement and reporting.
  • EDF considers these measures instrumental in compelling companies to eventually reduce their methane emissions.

COP28’s Focus on Food Sector Emissions

  • Acknowledging that food production accounts for approximately a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, leaders at COP28 have pledged to prioritize actions addressing emissions from the food sector.
  • The initiative by the Dairy Methane Action Alliance aligns with this overarching commitment to tackle emissions across industries.

Conclusion

  • The formation of the Dairy Methane Action Alliance marks a significant step in addressing methane emissions in the dairy industry.
  • The coalition’s commitment to disclosure, planning, and eventual mitigation of methane emissions signifies a collective effort by major players in the sector to contribute meaningfully to climate change mitigation efforts outlined at COP28.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE REFER TO 5TH DECEMBER 2023 DNA

SOURCE: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/global-dairy-companies-announce-alliance-cut-methane-cop28-2023-12-05/



TOPIC: THE FUTURE DELIMITATION AND THE CHALLENGES TO FEDERALISM

THE CONTEXT: Delimitation and readjustment of the seats in the Lok Sabha is due after 2026. Given the differential population matrix of northern and southern states such an exercise can lead to reduced political representation of southern states. As the time for reconsidering the freeze on delimitation exercise is coming closer, southern states are concerned that they would be marginalized further. This article analyses the various issues related to upcoming delimitation from the UPSC perspective.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS REGARDING THE DELIMITATION

  • Article 81 of the Constitution states that Lok Sabha constituencies in the country should be equal by the size of the population.
  • As per Article 82, after every census, the Parliament will enact a Delimitation Act. Once the Act is enacted, the Central Government sets up a Delimitation Commission.
  • As per Article 170, the states also get classified into territorial constituencies after every census, according to the Delimitation Act.
  • Based on the 1971 Census, the number of Lok Sabha constituencies for States was determined and frozen for the next 25 years through the 42nd Amendment Act 1976.
  • In 2001, through the 84th Amendment Act, the freeze on the number of constituencies for each state was further prolonged until the first census after 2026.

REASONS FOR FREEZING OF SEATS

  • An updated Census has been published every decade since 1951, but a Delimitation Commission has been set up on only four occasions – 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002
  • In its 1973 order, the Commission raised the maximum Lok Sabha members to 545 to account for population growth and the formation of new states.
  • Since then, the number of members has remained unchanged. Of the 545 members, 543 were directly elected and two were nominated posts for the Anglo-Indian community, until a 2019 Constitutional Amendment removed this provision. So, the Lok Sabha strength now is 543.
  • In 1976, the 42nd Amendment to the Constitution froze the number of Lok Sabha seats and put off delimitation for 25 years until the 2001 Census under Article 82.
  • The Congress government, at the time, cited “family planning policies” as the reason for this suspension. The government stated that it did not want to punish states with effective population control measures.
  • As their representation in the Lok Sabha would fall compared to states with high populations. The idea was to give states time to reduce their fertility rates and ensure parity across the country.
  • But in 2002, delimitation was delayed for another 25 years, with the 84th Amendment under the BJP government. Though constituency boundaries were redrawn to account for changes in population according to the 2001 Census, the total number of Lok Sabha seats and the number of seats allotted to each state remained unchanged.
  • The Amendment froze the allocation of seats in Article 82 until “the relevant figures for the first Census taken after the year 2026 have been published”.
  • In 2008, it seemed to be reverting the freeze on Delimitation, but it was done only to remove the freeze for the SC and ST seats and adjust them according to the 2001 Census. It was done via the Election Commission’s Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008.

REIGNITING THE DEBATE

In Indian federal democracy, a State’s relative population size gains political and economic significance. In sharp contrast to the northern States, population control has been achieved in the southern States through social development and economic growth. But as the delimitation exercise is set to begin, it seems to be unfair to southern states, which has reignited debate that allotting seats based on population would be a great injustice to states that have excelled in population control.

UPCOMING DELIMITATION

  • If the Lok Sabha seats are reallocated in proportion to each state’s projected population in 2026, all the South Indian states would be losing seats.
  • As, the share of the southern states in India’s population has drastically come down from 24.8% in 1971 to 19.9% in 2021 while for UP and Bihar it has gone up from 23% to 26%.
  • Thus, the delimitation exercise of delimitation could reduce the political influence of the southern states.
  • This political marginalisation of the south for demographic reasons could create tensions, some of which are already visible on the financial front.

NORTH-SOUTH DIVIDE

  • There is already a north south divide due to economic, social, political and historical factors. For example, the 15th Finance Commission use of the 2011 population census as a basis for the devolution of taxes has already marginalized southern states with less share of funds.
  • The exercise to delimit parliamentary constituencies could deepen the north-south divide.

POLITICAL DYNAMICS

  • The ruling party at the centre gain more seats in elections in the northern of country compared to the south.
  • The future delimitation can increase the number of seats allotted to northern states compared to southern states which will be beneficial for incumbent ruling party at the centre.

HIGHER STAKE OF BIG STATES

  • It is more likely to be seen that after delimitation, big states like Uttar Pradesh is likely to get up to 143 seats, a 79 per cent increase, while smaller state like Kerala’s representation will remain unchanged and that of Tamil Nadu will increase only by 10 seats.
  • Thus, similar to the existing condition where bigger states have more say in the formation of union government due to their large representation will continue.
  • Even delimitation may give them more power with an increase in a number of seats, leading to centralization of power at the centre.

SUB REGIONALISM

  • As further readjustment of seats may lead to more power to fewer big states, the other smaller states, whether in the South or North east, may feel left out.
  • This division of power can lead to sub-regionalism, which can even lead to feeling of separation and secessionism and can create condition for threat to internal security.
  • Therefore, as recognising a person’s equal voice in the democratic process is important, recognising the regional balance of power in a federal structure is also essential.

THE CONCERNS OF THE SOUTHERN STATES

DIFFERENCE IN POPULATION GROWTH RATES

  • The population growth rates differ between the non-Hindi-speaking southern States and the Hindi-speaking northern States.
  • Between 1971 and 2011, the proportion of the population of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh increased from 44% to 48.2%.
  • Whereas the proportion of population of the five southern States (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana) declined from 24.9% to 21.1%.
  • A population-based delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies has been long opposed by political parties in the south. They have argued that a population-based delimitation will give an undue advantage to northern and central states in the Lok Sabha.

DECREASED POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

  • Based on the previous census data and population projection, after the 2026 delimitation, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will have a total of 222 MPs(143+79), while four south Indian states will have a combined representation of 165 in the Lok Sabha.

  • If equal size of Lok Sabha constituencies by population is enforced today as in the population projections of 2023, the five southern States will lose 23 seats, while the northern States will gain 37.
  • In other words, the proportion of political representation of northern States will increase by 6.81% and that of southern States will decline by 4.24%.
  • Southern states which have implemented family planning programs more effectively than the states in North India would be penalized through reduced political representation.

THE NEED FOR DELIMITATION

ISSUE OF INAPPROPRIATE REPRESENTATION

  • There is a notable difference between the number of parliamentary seats and the extent of population in a geographical unit.
  • This leads to the underrepresentation of the area with the higher population as, despite the increase in population, the number of seats is still the same as decided in 1971.

SUBVERTING DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

  • There are issues of distorted political representation, which results in unequal value of votes of citizens. For instance, an MP from the Gangetic Valley represents about 25% more people than a non-Gangetic MP.
  • To ensure democratic principles, it is necessary that every person vote should have equal value.

CONCERNS WITH EXCESSIVE FEDERALISM

  • Due to the freeze of seats, there is an overrepresentation of citizens in smaller states in comparison to bigger states, which indicates a minority of states making important decisions on national policies.
  • For example, studies based on 2011 census indicate that Kerala, Tamil Nadu and undivided Andhra is over represented by 17 seats while UP, Bihar and Rajasthan is under represented by  19 seats.

INABILITY OF MPs TO ADDRESS THEIR CONSTITUENCIES

  • There is an increasing issue of increasing the distance between government and the governed. According to a study, India has one MP in the Lok Sabha for 2.2 million people, while the USA has one Congressman for 0.6 million people.
  • If there are so many people on one MP, they will not be able to communicate with people and cannot address their concerns which will affect governance and administration.

HOW TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES?

GRADUAL SHIFT IN POLITICAL POWER

  • There is a need of gradual shift in political power, for which there should be a mechanism for reallocation of seats after each decennial census.
  • For, now there is no need to further delay the process of delimitation as change in demography needs to be reflected in seat allocations.

STRENGTHENING THE SMALLER STATES

  • There are concerns that smaller states will be dominated by bigger states. Hence, a second state reorganization is needed.

INCREASE RAJYA SABHA POWER

  • There needs to expand the role and composition of Rajya Sabha. Here, steps as direct elections, restoring domicile requirements, fixed number of seats can be taken in this regard.
  • Also, a federal arrangement need to be devised to enable equal representation for each state, so that large states do not dominate the proceedings in the House.

INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SEATS IN LOK SABHA

  • There is a need of increase in number of seats in Lok Sabha to have adequate representation of people in the Parliament.
  • It will also increase the responsiveness of Members of Parliament in their respective constituencies.

POPULATION CONTROL

  • There is an urgent need for family planning in the states with higher populations. Although various government reports including NFHS V have observed that India is on course to achieve replacement level fertility rate, the TFR of Bihar (2.98) and Uttar Pradesh (2.35) is still  high compared to southern states which is lower than 2.
  • Northern states should follow the success of southern states in fertility reduction. Government and civil societies in Northern states needs to proactively act to update entire state apparatus to achieve population balance.

STATUS OF TOTAL FERTILITY RATE(TFR) IN INDIA

  • According to the NFHS-5 conducted from 2019-20, even though India’s overall decline of fertility rate has been encouraging and have achieved TFR of 2.
  • There are wide inter-regional variations with five states still not having achieved replacement-level of fertility of 2.1.
  • These states are Bihar (2.98), Meghalaya (2.91), Uttar Pradesh (2.35), Jharkhand (2.26) and Manipur (2.17). Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the lowest Total Fertility Rate (TFR). While, Southern states have TF R rate of less than 2.

THE CONCLUSION: It is not desirable to further delay delimitation and readjustment of legislative seats in the Lok Sabha and assemblies. This requires a consensus based approach involving all relevant stakeholders to devise an appropriate method for reconciling imperative of democracy and federalism. States that have effectively controlled their population should not be penalised through reduced political representation after delimitation in subsequent periods.

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Can we say that the new delimitation exercise post 2026 create asymmetry in the political representation between the North and the South? Suggest measures for their equitable representation in the Lok Sabha.

Q.2 In the federal political system, changes in population geography have a lasting impact on the political and economic geography. Explain.



MPOX OUTBREAK IN CONGO

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a significant surge in suspected mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from January 1 to November 12, 2023.

EXPLANATION:

  • A total of 12,569 suspected cases, with 581 deaths, were recorded, marking the highest annual case count in history.
  • The outbreak encompassed 22 out of 26 provinces, including regions previously unaffected, such as Kinshasa, Lualaba, and South Kivu.

Key Milestones and Grim Firsts:

  • Geographical Spread: The outbreak extended beyond previously endemic areas, indicating a rapid geographical expansion of mpox within the country.
  • Sexually Transmitted Cases: A distressing development was the first documented instances of sexually transmitted mpox infections globally, notably observed with Clade 1 MPXV in the DRC. This unprecedented transmission mode raises new challenges in managing and understanding the disease.
  • Capital City Affected: Kinshasa, the capital, reported its first mpox cases in August 2023, signaling a significant shift in the disease’s epidemiology. Clusters emerged due to travelers introducing the infection, causing local transmission in the urban setting.

Clade Differentiation and Transmission:

  • Clade Classification:
    • Mpox virus (MPXV) is categorized into Clade I and Clade II (further divided into Clade IIa and Clade IIb).
    • Only Clade I MPXV has been identified in the DRC.
  • Sexual Transmission of Clade I:
    • Before April 2023, no documented cases of sexual transmission involving Clade I MPXV existed globally.
    • However, the report highlighted the first-ever confirmed case of sexual transmission in March 2023, originating from a Belgian traveler in Kwango province and spreading through sexual contacts within the DRC.
    • Viral sequences showed a close genetic relationship among cases.

CLADE:

  • A clade is a group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all its descendants.
  • In the case of the Monkeypox virus (MPXV), it is categorized into two main clades: Clade I and Clade II, with Clade II further divided into Clade IIa and Clade IIb.
  • It has been identified that only Clade I MPXV has been found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

MPOX:

  • Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. Two different clades exist: clade I and clade II.
  • Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
  • Mpox can be transmitted to humans through physical contact with someone who is infectious, with contaminated materials, or with infected animals.
  • Laboratory confirmation of mpox is done by testing skin lesion material by PCR.
  • Mpox is treated with supportive care. Vaccines and therapeutics developed for smallpox and approved for use in some countries can be used for mpox in some circumstances.
  • In 2022–2023 a global outbreak of mpox was caused by a strain known as clade IIb.
  • Mpox can be prevented by avoiding physical contact with someone who has mpox. Vaccination can help prevent infection for people at risk.

Conclusion:

  • The unprecedented mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marked by a record number of cases, novel modes of transmission, and its spread to the capital city, Kinshasa, underscores the shifting landscape of the disease’s epidemiology.
  • The identification of sexually transmitted cases and the challenges posed by this new mode of transmission call for a rapid and comprehensive response.
  • Collaborative efforts between health authorities and international bodies are critical in understanding, containing, and managing this evolving public health crisis.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/africa/congo-reports-biggest-mpox-outbreak-with-first-sexually-transmitted-cases-in-the-world-who-93166



THE POST OFFICE BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The Rajya Sabha recently passed the Post Office Bill, 2023, aiming to revoke the longstanding Indian Post Office Act, a legislation in place for 125 years. This new bill is intended to consolidate, amend, and modernize the laws concerning post offices across India.

EXPLANATION:

PROVISIONS OF THE POST OFFICE BILL 2023 AND POST OFFICE ACT 1898

Post Office Act 1898 Post Office Bill 2023
The Act provides for the issuance of postage stamps as per the Rules prescribed by the central government. The Bill also states that the Post Office will have the exclusive privilege of issuing postage stamps.
The Act provides that wherever the central government establishes posts, it will have the exclusive privilege of conveying letters by post, as well as incidental services such as receiving, collecting etc. The Bill does not contain such privileges.
The Act specifies the services provided by the Post Office to include: (i) the delivery of postal articles including letters, postcards, and parcels, and (ii) money orders. The Bill provides that the Post Office will provide services prescribed by the central government.

 
Under the Act, the Director General has powers to decide the time and manner of delivery of postal services. Under the Act, the central government can notify charges for postal services through notifications. As per the Bill, the Director General may make regulations to specify charges.  The Director General may also make regulations on supply and sale of postage stamps and postal stationery.
The Act specifies various offences and penalties.  For instance, theft, misappropriation etc. The Bill does not provide for any offences or consequences, except one.  Amounts not paid or neglected by a user will be recoverable as arrears of land revenue.
The Act exempts the government from any liability related to the loss, mis delivery, delay or damage to a postal article.  This does not apply where the liability is undertaken by the central government in express terms.  Officers are also exempt from such liability unless they have acted fraudulently or wilfully. The Bill retains these provisions.  However, it provides that instead of the central government, the Post Office may prescribe the liability regarding its services.

 WHY THERE IS A NEED TO REPEAL THE ACT?

  • The Indian Post Office Act, 1898 was enacted in 1898 with a view to govern the functioning of the Post Office in India which was primarily related to mail services provided through the Post Office.
  • With time the services available through the Post Office have diversified beyond mails and the Post Office network has become a vehicle for delivery of a variety of citizen centric services. Further with India Post Payments Bank the postal department has entered banking too.
  • All this necessitated the repeal of the said Act and enactment of new law in its place.

SOURCE: https://www.business-standard.com/amp/india-news/rs-passes-post-office-bill-to-amend-125-year-old-indian-post-office-act-123120400816_1.html



NCRB 2022 REPORT ON CRIME IN INDIA

TAG: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its annual report on crime in India for the year 2022 recently.

EXPLANATION:

  • The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) annually releases a comprehensive report on crime statistics across India, offering a broad view of reported crimes and trends.
  • This report, while a valuable resource, demands a nuanced interpretation due to potential inaccuracies and limitations in its data.

Overview of the 2022 NCRB Report:

  • The 2022 report encompasses data on various crime categories, including crimes against women, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), cybercrimes, and more.
  • A total of 58,24,946 cognizable crimes were reported in 2022, with a decline of 4.5% compared to the previous year.
  • The crime rate per lakh population decreased from 445.9 in 2021 to 422.2 in 2022, serving as a better indicator considering population growth.
  • Crimes against women increased by 4%, with the highest percentages under IPC sections for ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives,’ ‘Kidnapping & Abduction of Women,’ and ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty.’
  • Cybercrime reporting surged by 24.4%, predominantly involving fraud, extortion, and sexual exploitation.
  • Suicides saw a 4.2% increase in reported cases, with causes primarily attributed to family problems, illness, and marriage-related issues.

Data Compilation Process:

  • The NCRB functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs and serves as a repository for crime data and fingerprint records.
  • Data for the annual Crime in India reports are sourced from police forces across 36 states and Union Territories and 53 cities with populations exceeding 10 lakhs.
  • The data undergoes multiple validation stages at local, district, state, and NCRB

Interpreting State-wise Trends:

  • The report highlights states with high charge sheeting rates under IPC crimes, such as Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal.
  • However, high rates do not necessarily denote higher crime prevalence; they signify cases where charges were framed against accused individuals.

Limitations and Interpretational Challenges:

  • The report records registered crimes, not actual crime incidence, acknowledging limitations in data accuracy.
  • Increased reporting in certain categories might signify heightened awareness rather than a surge in actual crimes.
  • The ‘Principal Offence Rule’ may lead to undercounting, where severe offenses overshadow lesser crimes within a single FIR.
  • Local-level inefficiencies or biases can affect data accuracy. For instance, reasons cited for suicides might not capture underlying causes accurately, impacting the analysis.
  • Socio-economic factors influencing crimes are not captured, leading to incomplete contextualization of crime trends.
  • Certain groups may hesitate to report crimes due to fear or lack of trust, affecting the representativeness of the data.
  • A shortage of police personnel or unfilled vacancies might hinder accurate data collection at the grassroots level.

Conclusion:

  • While the NCRB report offers valuable insights into crime statistics, it requires careful analysis due to inherent limitations.
  • The acknowledgment of data constraints, undercounting issues, and sociopolitical factors influencing reporting underscores the need for a cautious and contextual interpretation of the findings.
  • Collaborative efforts to address data gaps and enhance reporting mechanisms are essential for more accurate representations of crime trends in India.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/ncrb-2022-report-crime-india-limitations-9054144/



VENEZUELA AND GUYANA TERRITORIAL DISPUTE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Venezuelan electoral authorities recently claimed that 95% of voters in a nonbinding referendum approved of the nation’s territorial claim on a huge chunk of neighbouring oil-rich Guyana.

EXPLANATION:

  • The recent nonbinding referendum in Venezuela, purportedly showing an overwhelming approval for the nation’s territorial claim over a significant portion of oil-rich Guyana, has ignited both domestic enthusiasm and regional apprehensions.
  • President of Venezuela hailed the outcome as a significant victory, emphasizing historical entitlements and the pursuit of what he deems rightfully belongs to Venezuela—the oil-rich Essequibo territory governed by Guyana.

Guyana:

  • Guyana, a small country in South America, has recently become known for its significant oil reserves.
  • Over the past decade, it has been discovered that Guyana has huge amounts of oil and gas under its coastal waters, with reserves of about 11 billion barrels of oil.
  • This discovery has the potential to transform the Guyanese economy, with the country experiencing rapid growth and the expectation of substantial oil revenues in the coming years.
  • However, there are concerns about whether Guyana is prepared to manage this influx of wealth, and there are also questions about the potential impact on the country’s democracy, economy, and environment.
  • Additionally, Guyana has been involved in a long-standing territorial dispute with Venezuela, which has further complicated the situation regarding its oil-rich resources.

REFERENDUM OVER THE DISPUTE:

  • Recently, there has been a referendum regarding the disputed oil-rich territory between Guyana and Venezuela.
  • The referendum, held in Venezuela, asked voters whether they supported establishing a state in the Essequibo region, granting citizenship to its population, and incorporating it into Venezuelan territory.
  • The “yes” vote in the non-binding referendum was 95% according to officials.
  • However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had warned Venezuela against “annexation” of the territory called Essequibo, which has long been ruled by Guyana.
  • Guyana considers the referendum a step toward annexation, and the vote has its residents on edge.
  • The referendum took place on December 3, 2023, and more than 10.5 million out of 20.7 million eligible voters cast their ballots.
  • Venezuelan President claimed the referendum as a total success for his country and democracy.
  • However, the low turnout during the referendum was noted, with long lines typical of electoral events not forming outside voting centers.
  • The outcome of the referendum and its potential implications for the territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela remain uncertain.

Regional Reactions and Geopolitical Tensions:

  • The tensions heightened following Guyana’s oil exploration initiatives and a substantial oil discovery, likened in reserves to Kuwait.
  • The contest over this territory has implications for oil resources and geopolitical power in the region.
  • Guyana’s assurance of border security and the solidarity demonstrated by its citizens underline the gravity of this dispute and its implications for regional stability.

Legal Disputes and International Involvement:

  • Venezuela contends that the Essequibo River represents the natural border between the countries, dating back to Spanish rule, while Guyana upholds the border established during the British colonial era, validated by 1899 arbitration court.
  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) validated Guyana’s claims, but Venezuela proceeded with the referendum despite calls from the ICJ to refrain from actions affecting the disputed territory.

Current Situation and Future Implications:

  • The outcome of the referendum, though nonbinding, fuels geopolitical tensions and concerns about regional stability.
  • The contentious claims over the territory, coupled with its substantial oil reserves, underpin the high stakes involved for both nations and their neighbouring regions.
  • This ongoing dispute highlights the complexities of historical claims, legalities, economic interests, and geopolitical maneuvering, indicating the need for diplomatic dialogue and international cooperation to navigate through this sensitive issue without escalating tensions or jeopardizing regional stability.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/venezuela-vote-shows-overwhelming-support-for-claim-on-region-of-guyana/article67604673.ece



INCREASING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The recent data from the Climate Trace Project shows an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions since the Paris climate agreement in 2015.

EXPLANATION:

  • The recent data from the Climate Trace project underscores some critical points in the global effort to combat climate change.
  • It sheds light on the specific regions and sectors that have contributed significantly to the surge in greenhouse gas emissions since the signing of the Paris climate agreement in 2015.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

  • China, India, and the US stand out as major contributors to the increase in emissions.
  • Electricity generation in China and India, coupled with oil and gas production in the US, have been identified as the primary drivers behind this concerning trend.
  • These revelations highlight the challenges in accurately reporting emissions, showcasing deficiencies in fulfilling obligations under the Paris Agreement by both countries and companies.

Rising Methane Emissions and Pledges:

  • Despite global pledges to reduce methane emissions, the data indicates an alarming increase in methane levels, a potent greenhouse gas.
  • China’s coal mines contributed to the surge in methane emissions.
  • However, there’s a recent commitment from China to address methane emissions by including it in its national climate plans and collaborating with the US on this issue.

Importance of Accurate Emissions Information:

  • The Climate Trace project plays a crucial role in pinpointing emission sources using satellite images and AI software.
  • Al Gore emphasized the necessity of accurate emissions information to tackle the problem effectively, highlighting the significance of identifying precise emission sources to address the issue adequately.

Mitigating Methane and COP28 Summit:

  • Scientists stress the urgency of sharp cuts in methane emissions to mitigate the severe impacts of global heating.
  • The COP28 UN climate summit in Dubai aimed to assess progress towards emission cuts necessary to stay within the 1.5ºC temperature limit set by the Paris Agreement.
  • Cooperation on methane reduction at this summit was seen as a positive step towards achieving the 1.5ºC target, with reductions potentially contributing up to 0.3ºC in lowering global temperature increases.

Efforts and Challenges in Decarbonization:

  • More than 50 oil and gas companies at COP28 have pledged to join a “decarbonization accelerator” to reduce their climate impact.
  • However, critics argue that the voluntary nature of these pledges presents challenges in ensuring accountability.
  • They advocate for stronger legal agreements to phase out fossil fuels substantially.

Impact of Post-Covid Aviation and Positive Note on Deforestation:

  • Emissions from aviation rebounded post-Covid lockdowns, with a significant surge in both international and domestic flight emissions, along with a rise in road transport emissions potentially linked to increased SUV sales.
  • On a positive note, there’s a decline in emissions from deforestation in key regions like the Congo Basin, showcasing a reduction in forest degradation and destruction.
  • Overall, the data underscores the pressing need for coordinated global efforts to address emissions from various sectors, emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting, urgency in mitigating methane, and the necessity for stronger commitments and actions to achieve meaningful climate goals.

CLIMATE TRACE:

  • Climate TRACE is an independent initiative that aims to track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with unprecedented detail, speed, and trusted independence.
  • It was founded by a global coalition of nonprofits, tech companies, and universities to make meaningful climate action faster and easier by providing real-time or near-real-time data on GHG emissions.
  • The project uses a combination of satellite data, artificial intelligence, and other remote sensing technologies to monitor and publish GHG emissions within weeks, improving monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of both carbon dioxide and methane.

SOURCE: https://www.wionews.com/world/surge-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions-points-to-china-us-and-india-as-primary-culprits-data-665785



WSDP Bulletin (05/12/2023)

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1.  Lok Sabha passes Advocates (Amendment) Bill to weed out touts from court complexes READ MORE

2.  Surge in greenhouse gas emissions points to China, US, and India as primary culprits: Data READ MORE

3.  ‘Corporate bond market to more than double by 2030’ READ MORE

4.  Venezuela: vote shows ‘overwhelming’ support for claim on region of Guyana READ MORE

5.  RS passes Post Office Bill to amend 125-year-old Indian Post Office Act READ MORE

6.  Govt. committed to increasing strength of women in armed forces: PM Modi READ MORE

7.  What is climate finance — and why developing countries need it READ MORE

8.  How to read the NCRB 2022 report on crime in India READ MORE

9.  Local cooling and drying induced by Himalayan glaciers under global warming READ MORE

10. Global Fossil Fuel Emissions Are Rising, Report Finds READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Re-criminalising adultery as a gender-neutral offence READ MORE

2. The urbanisation challenge READ MORE

3. Weather Report: East India braces for wet days ahead as Cyclone Michaung builds up; North India to remain dry READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The legal net to trap peddlers of deepfakes READ MORE

2. Private job quota for locals ends with order READ MORE

3. Role of Governors in focus again READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. No, one Centre of Excellence in Transgender Care is not enough READ MORE  

2. Navigating the health crisis READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. A dark shadow on New Delhi’s credibility READ MORE

2. India holds firm: Seeks climate justice for Global South READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The need to transform agri-food systems READ MORE

2. What ails capital formation in agriculture? READ MORE

3. How to tackle food inflation READ MORE

4. India’s growth dynamics are lopsided READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. From COP 28 to a bad trade pact? READ MORE  

2. Climate justice is a must, but so is meeting green targets READ MORE

3. COP28 and the coal question READ MORE

4. A baby step on climate funding READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. 5G needs a licence-exempt 6GHz band READ MORE  

2. OpenAI’s Q* is alarming for a different reason READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Combating cybercrimes READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. The looming threat of urban floods READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Dealing with Stress In Modern Life READ MORE

2. Tips To Conquer Stress And Anger READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Without addressing the issue of non-coal fossil fuel and greenhouse gases, action on coal alone will not enable us to stay below the 1.5°C limit. Comment.

2. The integration of technology in health management, such as the use of health apps and telemedicine services, provides an effective way forward to address the issue of chronic illnesses. Comment.

3. Virtues like empathy, humility, integrity, honesty, and respect for others are ideals of democratic engagement. Comment.

4. ‘Treat others the way we would wish to be treated’. How does this quote convey an effective message to one to be ethical in his decision-making?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

  • One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.
  • As we become more loving and calm, we eliminate much of our stress and anger. We replace stress and anger with love and tolerance for all, making our own lives and that of others more peaceful.
  • We need to heed the warnings posed by the climate crisis and urban floods. Indian cities need to be ready for frequent extreme events.
  • Transgender people are legally guaranteed equal access to healthcare. Yet, it is denied.
  • Countries such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh stood with India on the Canada issue, but as details of the U.S. indictment are revealed, South Asian capitals, and not just Islamabad, will be studying the footprint of Indian agencies in their countries as well.
  • In dealing with India, diplomats in the US and other Western countries need to take into account Indian sensitivities.
  • COP28 has seen a step forward towards climate justice as it approved the ‘loss and damage fund’. Now, the moot point is that the developed countries must finally pay compensation that is adequate for the Global South to combat climate change.
  • The Green Credit Scheme is a novel and unique initiative to achieve the goals and objectives of Mission LiFE, launched by Prime Minister This unique initiative  can be adopted by other nations at the global level by adjusting environment-friendly lifestyles.
  • While gross domestic product metrics indicate positivity, India seems to have successfully warded off the boogeyman of recession standing at the doorstep of several countries across the globe. India today is a global image of solidity and performance.
  • Before India and China can commit to a future without coal, there are geopolitical and technological hurdles that need to be resolved.
  • Action on coal alone will not enable us to stay below the 1.5°C limit, if non-coal fossil fuels are ignored.
  • The deceleration in public investment could be due to a compositional shift away from irrigation. A predominant part of public investment in agriculture relates to irrigation in major and medium irrigation projects.
  • Terms of trade in agriculture (vis-à-vis non-agriculture, ToT) is an important determinant of the private investment in agriculture.
  • Developing countries have to struggle a lot to ensure that the loss and damage fund is adequately financed to meet the needs of those countries which suffer because of extreme weather events caused by climate change.
  • For India, rapid urbanisation is crucial for harnessing the demographic dividend of a young population.
  • India needs to tackle the enormous challenges posed by the rapid urban surge, from mobilising more resources to build the urban infrastructure to promoting new centres of growth and managing congestion and pollution.
  • The integration of technology in health management, such as the use of health apps and telemedicine services, can provide employees with the tools they need to manage their conditions effectively.
  • As the economic growth has gathered pace, it will allow the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to focus on fighting inflation, which continues to remain in a zone which it is not comfortable with.
  • With the number of data breaches multiplying rapidly over the years, India must ensure the timely migration to PQC algorithms across all sectors, particularly critical infrastructure.
  • Civility represents the quality of our behavior with others in our communities. It signals who we are and what we value. Since the essence of ethics lies in how we are with others, civility and ethics are intricately linked.

ESSAY TOPIC

  • Strategy is not the consequence of planning, but the opposite: its starting point.

50-WORD TALK

  • The engagement between the US deputy NSA and S Jaishankar shows that both sides are acting responsibly to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control amid the Nijjar-Pannun saga. They have kept emotion out of the equation, displaying statesmanship that is vital to bilateral ties as significant as theirs.
  • China has become the first nation to accept the Taliban’s ambassador, starting the normalisation of the outfit in the global order. This is the destiny of Afghanistan that everyone will have to accept, even as efforts continue to sustain international pressure on the Taliban for women’s rights and curbing terrorism.

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 NEED TO TRANSFORM AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS

THE CONTEXT: A groundbreaking report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), published earlier this month, has laid bare the staggering hidden costs of our global agri­food systems, surpassing an astonishing $10 trillion.

ABOUT AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS

Agri-food systems have three main components:

  • Primary production: It includes food from agricultural and non-agricultural origins, as well as non-food agricultural products.
  • Food distribution: It links production to consumption through food supply chains and domestic food transport networks.
  • Household consumption: It is the downstream outcome of functioning agrifood systems, subject to varying degrees of demand shocks.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STATE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2023 REPORT

  • The report blames “unsustainable business­as­usual activities and practices” for these escalating costs, pointing to a need to transform agri­food systems.
    • In middle-income countries like India, these costs constitute nearly 11% of the GDP, which manifests as higher poverty, environmental harm, and health related impacts, including undernourishment and unhealthy dietary patterns.
  • One way to do so is to shift to multi-cropping systems that have the potential to protect farmers’ well-being, improve nutritional outcomes for our communities, and positively impact ecological health.

IMPROVEMENTS IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND ITS IMPACT:

  • Impressive improvements in agricultural productivity have been achieved in India over the last five decades by mainstreaming mono­cropping systems and chemical­intensive farming practices.
  • The Green Revolution focused on the marketing of high­yielding varieties of paddy and wheat on agricultural lands, which now constitute more than 70% of India’s agricultural production.
  • The infusion of seeds purchased from multinational corporations and fertilizers undermined seed sovereignty, dismantled Indigenous knowledge systems, and fuelled a shift from diverse crop varieties and staples such as pulses and millets to monoculture plantations.
  • This trend also compromised the nutritional needs of households and resulted in adverse ecological consequences including excessive extraction of groundwater.
  • This privatisation and deregulation of agricultural inputs also increased indebtedness among agrarian households.
  • In 2013, the debt to asset ratio of a farmer’s household in India was 630% higher than in 1992. Agriculture in India has increasingly become unviable:
    • The average monthly household income of a farming household sits at ₹10,816.

THE CROPS BEING FAVOURED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS ISSUES WITH IT

National Food Security Act 2013: 65% of households (around 800 million people) in India are legally assured a right to food at subsidised rates through the Public Distribution System and welfare programmes such as the Integrated Child Development Services and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

The Procurement of food crops: Procurement of food crops is coordinated by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which is required to maintain a central pool of buffer stock and to procure, transport, and store foodgrain stocks in the country.

  • However, this procurement policy heavily favours rice and wheat.
  • In 2019­2020, the FCI procured 341.32 lakh million tonnes (MT) of wheat and 514.27 lakh MT of rice.
  • Whole wheat and rice also became export commodities.
  • Not surprisingly, the area under cultivation of coarse grains dropped by 20% between 1966-1967 and 2017-­2018, whereas the area under rice and wheat increased by nearly 20% and 56% respectively.

Water-intensive cash crops: Water intensive cash crops like sugarcane and areca nut have also flourished under policies favouring investments in dams and canal irrigation (favourable for sugarcane) and free electricity for borewells (favourable for areca nut).

Threatens food security: Policies favour investments in water intensive cash crops, which threatens food security and the production of nutritional crops.

Affects Biodiversity: The expansion of sugarcane cultivation affects biodiversity, increases the pressure on groundwater resources, and contributes to air and water pollution.

Issues with small and marginal farmers:  Small and marginal farmers in India are among the most food and nutrition insecure.

  • The global food system structure has a direct impact on the last mile on both farmers and soil.
  • Between 2012 and 2016, large fluctuations in soya prices in the global market and a glut in supply from Latin American countries eroded income for soy farmers and agro companies in Malwa.
  • Historically as well, global trade relations have influenced food production systems in the Global South. In the pre-independence era, tax systems were introduced to efficiently collect revenue for British-enforced exports of primary raw materials, such as cotton.

HOW CAN CROP DIVERSIFICATION HELP?

Diversification of farms:  A systemic shift in food regimes, from local to global value chains, is essential. The starting point for addressing these complex systemic issues could arise from local efforts, such as the diversification of farms.

Solution to revitalise degraded land and soil: Diversified multi-cropping systems, rooted in agroecology principles, could be a viable solution to revitalise degraded land and soil.

Improves soil health: Practices known by various names locally, like ‘akkadi saalu’ in Karnataka, involve intercropping with a combination of legumes, pulses, oilseeds, trees, shrubs, and livestock.

  • This approach enables cash provision from commercial crops, food and fodder production, and offers ecosystem services such as nitrogen fixation and pest traps and supports the local biodiversity. They also collectively contribute to improving soil health.

FAO report: The FAO report says that there are substantial “hidden costs” associated with the current systems which need to be factored into long-term evaluations of income.

ISSUES WITH THE CROP DIVERSIFICATION

Arguments against alternative farming systems: Critics have often argued against alternative farming systems, suggesting they may lead to a decline in farmer income even if the environment improves.

Loss of productivity: While crop diversification will involve some loss of productivity using a narrow metric of kg/Ha, it would preserve natural capital and allow farmers to become nutritionally secure.

THE WAY FORWARD

Redirecting subsidies: By redirecting subsidies, currently accruing to corporations, we can pay farmers for their contribution to sustaining natural capital, instead of incentivising them to deplete it.

Systematic transition:  It is unrealistic to expect farmers to shift away from mono-cultivation of rice and wheat overnight. This transition needs to be systematic, allowing farmers to adjust gradually.

  • For instance, moving from chemical-intensive practices to non-pesticide management, then adopting natural farming practices, can reduce input costs.

Visual representation of a diversified: Among the various transition pathways, a visual representation of a diversified farm involves allocating 70% for commercial crops, 20% for food and fodder, and 10% for environmental services like oilseeds (acting as trap crops).

  • Over time, the fraction of commercial crops could be lowered to 50% and border crops could be replaced with locally suitable tree species for fruits and fodder.
  • Integrating livestock rearing could further improve incomes.

Addressing challenges related to local seeds: Addressing challenges related to local seeds, institutional arrangements for market access, drudgery, and the need for farm labour is crucial when envisioning such a transition.

Value addition: Farmers can diversify income through value addition, incorporating livestock and poultry. Some of these practices could be experimented with partially on specific portions of their lands.

Collaborating among institutions: Scaling up these practices requires collaboration among institutions, policymakers, and social groups to articulate economic incentives for farmers to shift from high-input monoculture to diversified cropping.

Focusing on millets: millets, whose yield per hectare is comparable to those of rice and wheat, are also more nutritious, grow in semi-arid conditions without burdening groundwater tables, require minimal input, and provide a diversified food basket.

CONCLUSION:

Shifting from the current high-input monoculture system to diversified cropping presents a crucial opportunity for environmental sustainability and improved farmer livelihoods. By implementing the proposed strategies, we can create a more resilient agricultural sector that benefits both farmers and the environment.

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS:

Q) What are the salient features of National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India? (2021)

Q) What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? (2021)

Q) What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make the food grain distribution system more effective? (2020)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

Q) Examine the need for transforming the agri-food systems for ensuring food security, protecting soil fertility and reducing the food subsidy of the government.

SOURCE:https://epaper.thehindu.com/reader?utm_source=Hindu&utm_medium=Menu&utm_campaign=Header



NO, ONE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN TRANSGENDER CARE IS NOT ENOUGH

THE CONTEXT: The All-India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) recently announced its plans to open a Centre of Excellence for transgender healthcare in 2024.  

ABOUT THE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE:

ISSUES FACED BY TRANSGENDERS

  • Discrimination: Transgenders face discrimination in employment, educational institutes, and within families which severely affects their overall wellbeing. They often face difficulty in property inheritance or child adoption. Because of being socially marginalised they are compelled to take up menial jobs despite good qualifications or forced into sex work. They face issues with the accessibility of even basic amenities as public toilets and public spaces.
  • Inadequate access to healthcare: They have been subject to unscientific and inhuman practices like “conversion therapy” by medical practitioners. The community lacks access to healthcare because of structural barriers like exclusionary infrastructure, lack of services and trained and sensitised healthcare workers. State policies in primary and secondary healthcare have made no effort to ensure access for the community. Mental healthcare continues to be dominated by tertiary institutes that have failed to provide for gender-diverse people.
  • Issue of legal recognition of gender: There are issues of legal recognition of gender in India. Certain documents in India, such as the passport, still do not have the provision of transgender as a gender marker. They are often forced to identify with a gender with which they are not associated despite Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 which allows the community the right to self-perceived gender identity.
  • Against NALSA judgement: The Transgender Act makes it mandatory for a transgender person to undergo surgery to change their gender within the binaries of male and female. This is in contravention of the NALSA judgment, which states that any insistence on sex reassignment surgery for declaring one’s gender is illegal. There is a misplaced focus on tertiary care and surgical procedures. This is pushing transgender people to undergo surgery to get a binary gender marker.

STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT

  • NALSA v Union of India (2014): The community was first given legal recognition in India in NALSA v Union of India(2014). The NALSA case judgement led to the recognition of transgender people as the ‘third gender’ by the Supreme Court of India. It affirmed that the fundamental rights granted under the Constitution will be equally applicable to them, and gave them the right to self-identification of their gender as male, female or third gender.
  • Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019: The Act aims to stop discrimination against a transgender person in various sectors such as education, employment, and healthcare. It also directs the central and state governments to provide welfare schemes for them. It re-emphasised the role of governments in holistic healthcare services to the community as providing sex reassignment surgery, counselling services and mental health services. It also asked for a review of the medical curriculum and medical research that caters to transgender persons. Most importantly, it called for facilitating trans peoples’ access to hospitals and healthcare institutions.
  • The Transgender Persons Rules, 2020: The Rules have been made under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The rules seek to recognise the identity of transgenders and prohibit discrimination in the fields of education, employment, healthcare, holding property and use of public services and benefits. It added that state governments shall ensure the provision of separate wards and washrooms for transgender people in hospitals by 2022. It asked states to undertake the sensitisation of healthcare professionals and directed the publishing of an equal opportunity policy and notification of a complaint officer by every establishment. It also suggested that at least one government hospital in a state should provide safe and free gender-affirming surgery and related services.
  • National Portal for Transgender Persons: It would help transgenders in digitally applying for a certificate and identity card from anywhere in the country, thus preventing any physical interaction with officials.It will help them track the status of application, rejection, grievance redressal, etc. which will ensure transparency in the process.

THE WAY FORWARD:

  • Increase in number of centre of excellence: One centre of excellence cannot cater to the needs of transgender people across India. All government medical colleges and hospitals in India should provide gender-affirming services. This must be in addition to quality, inclusive, and accessible primary and secondary healthcare. Institutions aiming to be Centres of Excellence must comply with legal necessities like transgender-inclusive wards, washrooms, equal opportunity policy, and grievance mechanisms.
  • Transgender-Inclusive Policies:There is a need to frame transgender inclusive policies by sensitizing the legal and law enforcement systems. It will increase their chance to be included in policies formulation and increase their public participation.
  • Financial Security: There is a need to ensure financial security among transgenders to mainstream the community in the society. For example, liberal credit facilities and financial assistance must be ensured to start up their career as an entrepreneur or businessman.
  • Sensitization and awareness:There is a need to increase awareness and sensitise the legal and law enforcement systems towards the challenges of the community. This requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the transgender community, the government, civil society, and religious leaders.

THE CONCLUSION:

Transgenders face various disadvantages in the Indian society. Therefore, state along with civil society must develop effective measures and also there should be efforts in sensitising the society and increasing awareness for fostering a sense of respect and acceptance for transgender community.

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1 Discuss the desirability of greater representation to women in the higher judiciary to ensure diversity, equity and inclusiveness. (2021)

Q.2 “Micro-Finance as an anti-poverty vaccine is aimed at asset creation and income security of the rural poor in India”. Evaluate the role of Self-Help Groups in achieving the twin objectives along with empowering women in rural India. (2020)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Q.1 What are the roadblocks in improving the status of transgenders in India? Highlight some major government initiatives related to their empowerment.

Q.2 Despite the constitutional safeguards and special legislation, transgenders are historically marginalized and disadvantaged groups in accessing healthcare in India. Comment.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/aiims-transgender-care-centre-conversion-therapy-unscientific-practices-9054488/



Day-547 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | ENVIRONMENT

Day-547

Time limit: 0

Quiz-summary

0 of 5 questions completed

Questions:

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Information

DAILY MCQ

You have already completed the quiz before. Hence you can not start it again.

Quiz is loading...

You must sign in or sign up to start the quiz.

You have to finish following quiz, to start this quiz:

Results

0 of 5 questions answered correctly

Your time:

Time has elapsed

You have reached 0 of 0 points, (0)

Categories

  1. Not categorized 0%
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  1. Answered
  2. Review
  1. Question 1 of 5
    1. Question

    1. Consider the following statements about ‘Sea Butterfly’, recently seen in the news:
    1. It is a unique pelagic fish species.
    2. It is a carnivore that preys on the other small fish species.
    3. The acidic ocean waters are harmful for its survival.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    Correct

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect: Sea butterfly is a type of planktonic marine snail belonging to the family Thecosomata, and its scientific name is Limacina helicina. They fall under pelagic sea snails.
    ● They are basically transparent. However, they have an orange red coloured head, a tail, and a gut to easily notice them in the ocean.
    ● Instead of regular wings, they have a set of developed parapodia or lobes. These act as their wings. Using the developed parapodia or lobes, they swim through the ocean water and heavy currents under the sea.

    Statement 2 is incorrect: Sea butterfly is a herbivore whose diet comprises of algae, zooplankton, and chalinid sponges. Sea butterflies have a special gland to capture the food or the tiny plankton. The gland has a mucous web like a net that helps them to take the plankton as food.
    ● The mucous membrane they use to capture the plankton is 5 cm, which is bigger than the body itself.
    ● The predators posing threats to sea butterfly include other bigger fish, birds, jellyfish, sea turtles, and whales.
    Statement 3 is correct: Ocean acidification is more dangerous for shelled, smaller sea butterflies which can impact entire ocean food web. As the sea absorbs an increasing quantity of carbon dioxide (CO2) that turns the water more acidic, the thin outer casing, or the ‘homes’ of these small sea butterflies, dissolve. This leaves them exposed, making it difficult for these delicate species to survive.
    ● The ocean is the most acidic in winter because cooler water absorbs more CO2. This means, the winter months are the most dangerous for the shelled sea butterflies.
    ● Their reduced population also impacts larger pteropods and other oceanic creatures that feed on them. The entire underwater food chain of the seas surrounding Antarctica may suffer as a ripple effect.
    Additional Information:
    ● Distribution: Sea butterflies are abundant worldwide in all open seas and oceans. They are widely available from the western coast of America to the North Atlantic Ocean.
    ● Behaviour Pattern: Social creatures and they often form groups called swarms.
    ● Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC).
    ● Reproduction: Sea butterflies are hermaphrodites. That means sea butterflies, irrespective of male and female; they possess both reproductive organs. During the early stage, sea butterflies remain as males and develop a male reproductive organ. Even when they mate, the sperms are contained until the male reproductive organ vanishes and turn out like females to lay eggs.

    Incorrect

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect: Sea butterfly is a type of planktonic marine snail belonging to the family Thecosomata, and its scientific name is Limacina helicina. They fall under pelagic sea snails.
    ● They are basically transparent. However, they have an orange red coloured head, a tail, and a gut to easily notice them in the ocean.
    ● Instead of regular wings, they have a set of developed parapodia or lobes. These act as their wings. Using the developed parapodia or lobes, they swim through the ocean water and heavy currents under the sea.

    Statement 2 is incorrect: Sea butterfly is a herbivore whose diet comprises of algae, zooplankton, and chalinid sponges. Sea butterflies have a special gland to capture the food or the tiny plankton. The gland has a mucous web like a net that helps them to take the plankton as food.
    ● The mucous membrane they use to capture the plankton is 5 cm, which is bigger than the body itself.
    ● The predators posing threats to sea butterfly include other bigger fish, birds, jellyfish, sea turtles, and whales.
    Statement 3 is correct: Ocean acidification is more dangerous for shelled, smaller sea butterflies which can impact entire ocean food web. As the sea absorbs an increasing quantity of carbon dioxide (CO2) that turns the water more acidic, the thin outer casing, or the ‘homes’ of these small sea butterflies, dissolve. This leaves them exposed, making it difficult for these delicate species to survive.
    ● The ocean is the most acidic in winter because cooler water absorbs more CO2. This means, the winter months are the most dangerous for the shelled sea butterflies.
    ● Their reduced population also impacts larger pteropods and other oceanic creatures that feed on them. The entire underwater food chain of the seas surrounding Antarctica may suffer as a ripple effect.
    Additional Information:
    ● Distribution: Sea butterflies are abundant worldwide in all open seas and oceans. They are widely available from the western coast of America to the North Atlantic Ocean.
    ● Behaviour Pattern: Social creatures and they often form groups called swarms.
    ● Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC).
    ● Reproduction: Sea butterflies are hermaphrodites. That means sea butterflies, irrespective of male and female; they possess both reproductive organs. During the early stage, sea butterflies remain as males and develop a male reproductive organ. Even when they mate, the sperms are contained until the male reproductive organ vanishes and turn out like females to lay eggs.

  2. Question 2 of 5
    2. Question

    2. Consider the following statements in the context of short-lived halogens:
    1. Short-lived halogens with oceanic sources have a lifespan of less than three months in the atmosphere.
    2. They tend to increase global warming by depleting ozone.
    3. They increase the lifespan of methane in the atmosphere.
    How many of the statements given above are correct?

    Correct

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    Recently, a study was published in the journal Nature which elaborately discussed the role of oceans in release of short-lived halogens.
    Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect- Short-lived halogens from oceans reduces warming by depleting ozone. Its cooling effect was found to be -0.24 ± 0.02 Watts per square metre (W m−2).
    Short-lived halogens have a lifetime of less than six months in the atmosphere and are naturally produced by the oceans. Examples of such halogens include such as chlorine, bromine and iodine. Currently, these halogens contribute 8-10 percent of cooling (and not global warming). This cooling could increase to 18-31 per cent by 2100, the study published in Nature projected.
    Human activities have amplified their release into the atmosphere. Human activities cause pollutants such as ozone to deposit on the ocean, which then convert the soluble short-lived halogens into insoluble ones, forcing them out of the sea water and into the atmosphere.
    Statement 3 is correct- However, their effect on methane is opposite. Short-lived halogens increase methane’s lifetime in the atmosphere by destroying hydroxyl radicals (OH). OH is a sink as it is known to break down this greenhouse gas.
    Additional information:
    ● These short-lived halogens increased global methane burden by 14 per cent and 9 per cent for pre-industrial and present-day conditions, respectively. This leads to a warming effect of 0.09 ± 0.01 W m−2 of warming.
    ● Similarly, these halogens increase the levels of water vapour, a greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere, causing a warming effect of 0.011 ± 0.001 W m−2.
    ● These short-lived halogens reduce the formation of cooling aerosols, which are minute particles suspended in the atmosphere that reflect sunlight. It causes a small warming of 0.03 ± 0.01 W m−2.
    ● Though these halogens drive an increase in warming by influencing methane, water vapour and aerosols, they compensate this by destroying ozone, which exerts a cooling effect. Overall, the net cooling effect was found to be −0.13 ± 0.03 W m−2.

    Incorrect

    Answer: A
    Explanation:
    Recently, a study was published in the journal Nature which elaborately discussed the role of oceans in release of short-lived halogens.
    Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect- Short-lived halogens from oceans reduces warming by depleting ozone. Its cooling effect was found to be -0.24 ± 0.02 Watts per square metre (W m−2).
    Short-lived halogens have a lifetime of less than six months in the atmosphere and are naturally produced by the oceans. Examples of such halogens include such as chlorine, bromine and iodine. Currently, these halogens contribute 8-10 percent of cooling (and not global warming). This cooling could increase to 18-31 per cent by 2100, the study published in Nature projected.
    Human activities have amplified their release into the atmosphere. Human activities cause pollutants such as ozone to deposit on the ocean, which then convert the soluble short-lived halogens into insoluble ones, forcing them out of the sea water and into the atmosphere.
    Statement 3 is correct- However, their effect on methane is opposite. Short-lived halogens increase methane’s lifetime in the atmosphere by destroying hydroxyl radicals (OH). OH is a sink as it is known to break down this greenhouse gas.
    Additional information:
    ● These short-lived halogens increased global methane burden by 14 per cent and 9 per cent for pre-industrial and present-day conditions, respectively. This leads to a warming effect of 0.09 ± 0.01 W m−2 of warming.
    ● Similarly, these halogens increase the levels of water vapour, a greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere, causing a warming effect of 0.011 ± 0.001 W m−2.
    ● These short-lived halogens reduce the formation of cooling aerosols, which are minute particles suspended in the atmosphere that reflect sunlight. It causes a small warming of 0.03 ± 0.01 W m−2.
    ● Though these halogens drive an increase in warming by influencing methane, water vapour and aerosols, they compensate this by destroying ozone, which exerts a cooling effect. Overall, the net cooling effect was found to be −0.13 ± 0.03 W m−2.

  3. Question 3 of 5
    3. Question

    3. Consider the following statements:
    Statement I: In India, light pollution is regulated through the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
    Statement II: Light pollution causes hormonal imbalances in the marine animals.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    Correct

    Answer: D
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect- In India, the National Lighting Code (NLC) published by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) regulates the light pollution. No separate legislative measure on the lines of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 has been taken, as of now. The umbrella legislation for regulation of the environmental stresses such as pollution, degradation of environmental quality etc. is the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
    ● The National Lighting Code (NLC) has been formulated for the purpose of setting out in a convenient form the requirements for responsible social, commercial and engineering conduct for the designers, manufacturers and suppliers of lighting.
    ● The intent of this code is to encourage good lighting practices and systems which would minimize light pollution, glare, light trespass and conserve energy while maintaining safety, security, utility and productivity.
    ● This National Lighting Code is applicable to the lighting systems in large varieties of interior and exterior installations including special areas like hospitals, utilities, sports complex, metro railway etc. under the control of qualified persons.
    ● The code, however, does not specify the additional requirements to be considered while designing lightening system for certain areas such as marine, railway rolling stock, theatre, television and photography etc.
    ● The code also does not cover the requirements and methods of test applicable to light sources and luminaries for which separate Indian Standards exists.
    Statement 2 is correct- Marine organisms that evolved over millions of years to adapt to natural light now face an ever-increasing flood of light from anthropogenic sources along the coasts. Artificial light can easily wash out the glow of moonlight and starlight, which are important cues for marine organisms. This disrupts their hormonal cycles, inter-species behaviour and reproduction, noted the findings of the study published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.
    Compared to prior technologies, LEDs often emit more short-wavelength light and can pierce deep into the water.
    Additional information:
    Impacts Of Light Pollution in a Nutshell:
    ● Light pollution interrupts wildlife patterns and harms biodiversity: Migratory birds rely on natural light to guide them, and interruptions can lead to collisions and incorrect navigations on their long-distance journeys.
    ● Risks to human health: Artificial light can wreak havoc on natural body rhythms in both humans and animals. Nocturnal light interrupts sleep and confuses the circadian rhythm—the internal, twenty-four-hour clock that guides day and night activities and affects physiological processes in nearly all living organisms. One of these processes is the production of the hormone melatonin, which is released when it is dark and is inhibited when there is light present. An increased amount of light at night lowers melatonin production, which results in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems.
    ● Impact on astronomy: Artificial light in the sky causes ‘sky glow’ which tends to reduce visibility of stars and interferes with the astronomical studies.

    Incorrect

    Answer: D
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is incorrect- In India, the National Lighting Code (NLC) published by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) regulates the light pollution. No separate legislative measure on the lines of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 has been taken, as of now. The umbrella legislation for regulation of the environmental stresses such as pollution, degradation of environmental quality etc. is the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
    ● The National Lighting Code (NLC) has been formulated for the purpose of setting out in a convenient form the requirements for responsible social, commercial and engineering conduct for the designers, manufacturers and suppliers of lighting.
    ● The intent of this code is to encourage good lighting practices and systems which would minimize light pollution, glare, light trespass and conserve energy while maintaining safety, security, utility and productivity.
    ● This National Lighting Code is applicable to the lighting systems in large varieties of interior and exterior installations including special areas like hospitals, utilities, sports complex, metro railway etc. under the control of qualified persons.
    ● The code, however, does not specify the additional requirements to be considered while designing lightening system for certain areas such as marine, railway rolling stock, theatre, television and photography etc.
    ● The code also does not cover the requirements and methods of test applicable to light sources and luminaries for which separate Indian Standards exists.
    Statement 2 is correct- Marine organisms that evolved over millions of years to adapt to natural light now face an ever-increasing flood of light from anthropogenic sources along the coasts. Artificial light can easily wash out the glow of moonlight and starlight, which are important cues for marine organisms. This disrupts their hormonal cycles, inter-species behaviour and reproduction, noted the findings of the study published in the journal Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.
    Compared to prior technologies, LEDs often emit more short-wavelength light and can pierce deep into the water.
    Additional information:
    Impacts Of Light Pollution in a Nutshell:
    ● Light pollution interrupts wildlife patterns and harms biodiversity: Migratory birds rely on natural light to guide them, and interruptions can lead to collisions and incorrect navigations on their long-distance journeys.
    ● Risks to human health: Artificial light can wreak havoc on natural body rhythms in both humans and animals. Nocturnal light interrupts sleep and confuses the circadian rhythm—the internal, twenty-four-hour clock that guides day and night activities and affects physiological processes in nearly all living organisms. One of these processes is the production of the hormone melatonin, which is released when it is dark and is inhibited when there is light present. An increased amount of light at night lowers melatonin production, which results in sleep deprivation, fatigue, headaches, stress, anxiety, and other health problems.
    ● Impact on astronomy: Artificial light in the sky causes ‘sky glow’ which tends to reduce visibility of stars and interferes with the astronomical studies.

  4. Question 4 of 5
    4. Question

    4. Which one of the following species has the habit of washing their face and limbs with their urine as a defence mechanism against the sting of the toxic insects which they eat?

    Correct

    Answer: C
    Explanation- Option C is the correct answer.
    Slender Lorris:

    ● Habitat and Distribution: Commonly found in the tropical scrub and deciduous forests as well as the dense hedgerow plantations bordering farmlands of Southern India and Sri Lanka, the Slender Loris is a small, nocturnal primate. It prefers to inhabit thick, thorny bushes and bamboo clumps where it can evade predators and also find insects, which is the main diet.
    ● Physical traits: These animals are about 25 cm long and have long, thin arms. They weigh around 275 grams. They have a small, vestigial tail. Their most prominent feature is the pair of two large, closely set, brown eyes.
    ● Behaviour: Being arboreal, they spend most of their life on the trees. Though their movements are slow, they can climb up fast to the tree top when threatened. They either hunt on their own or in pairs. They are known to be very social at dusk and dawn, interacting with others of their own.
    ● Reproduction: Their mating season is twice a year, from April to May as well as October to November. Gestation is 166-169 days. The females give birth to normally one and rarely two infants at one time. The mother carries the infants constantly during the first few weeks after birth. They live between 12-15 years.
    ● Diet: (Omnivores): Apart from insects they are also known to eat leaves, flowers, slugs and sometimes eggs of birds.
    ● Uniqueness: Among the strange habits they have is the urine washing of their face and limbs, which is thought to soothe or defend against the sting of the toxic insects they prefer to eat.
    ● Threats: These animals face a threat from poachers due to the misplaced belief that these animals have magical and medicinal powers. This hunting, along with destruction of their habitat, is their major threat.
    ● Conservation status: IUCN has listed them as ‘Endangered’, whereas they are listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972, according them the highest level of legal protection.
    About other species given in the options:
    Himalayan Musk Deer
    ● Distribution:The Himalayas from central Kashmir through Himachal Pradesh up to Sikkim.
    ● Habitat: Subalpine oak and rhododendron forests ( 3000-4300 m) medium to high elevation coniferous forest in the Western Himalayas below the tree line ( 2500-4400 m) in Sikkim, thick bamboo forests below alpine zone ( 2600-300 m.
    ● Unique Behaviour: Communication is chiefly by olfaction. The deer scent is marked by defecation and secretion of caudal, musk and inter digital glands.
    ● Solitary, except when female is with young.
    ● IUCN status: Endangered (EN); Schedule 1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

    Nilgiri Tahr
    ● The Nilgiri Tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in India.
    ● It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
    ● The Nilgiri Tahr is a sure-footed ungulate that inhabits the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from 1200 to 2600 m of the South Western Ghats.
    ● The Nilgiri Tahr, which used to be found along the entire stretch of Western Ghats, is presently found only in small fragmented pockets.
    ● The Eravikulam National Park in Anamalai hills, Kerala, is home to the largest population of the Nilgiri tahr, with more than 700 individuals.
    ● It faces several threats such as habitat loss due to rampant deforestation, competition with domestic livestock, hydroelectric projects in Nilgiri tahr habitat, and monoculture plantations and occasional hunting for its meat and skin.
    ● This endemic species of the Western Ghats is listed as ‘Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.

    Himalayan serow
    ● Official state animal of the Indian state of Mizoram.
    ● Native to the Himalayas where they inhabit hilly forests above an elevation of 300 m (980 ft) but descend to 100 m (330 ft) in winter.
    ● Himalayan serows are territorial animals that live alone or in small groups.
    ● They are active during the day (not nocturnal), and have acute vision, smell, and hearing, and are wary of humans.
    ● They move with ease through the difficult terrain of mountain and hill slopes and also swim well.
    ● Lifestyle: viviparous and terrestrial
    ● Himalayan serows are herbivores (folivores) and browse various types of vegetation.
    ● After the gestation period of 6 to 7 months, females give birth to a single kid; it is fully developed at birth and is able to travel with its mother shortly after birth.
    ● IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU)

    Incorrect

    Answer: C
    Explanation- Option C is the correct answer.
    Slender Lorris:

    ● Habitat and Distribution: Commonly found in the tropical scrub and deciduous forests as well as the dense hedgerow plantations bordering farmlands of Southern India and Sri Lanka, the Slender Loris is a small, nocturnal primate. It prefers to inhabit thick, thorny bushes and bamboo clumps where it can evade predators and also find insects, which is the main diet.
    ● Physical traits: These animals are about 25 cm long and have long, thin arms. They weigh around 275 grams. They have a small, vestigial tail. Their most prominent feature is the pair of two large, closely set, brown eyes.
    ● Behaviour: Being arboreal, they spend most of their life on the trees. Though their movements are slow, they can climb up fast to the tree top when threatened. They either hunt on their own or in pairs. They are known to be very social at dusk and dawn, interacting with others of their own.
    ● Reproduction: Their mating season is twice a year, from April to May as well as October to November. Gestation is 166-169 days. The females give birth to normally one and rarely two infants at one time. The mother carries the infants constantly during the first few weeks after birth. They live between 12-15 years.
    ● Diet: (Omnivores): Apart from insects they are also known to eat leaves, flowers, slugs and sometimes eggs of birds.
    ● Uniqueness: Among the strange habits they have is the urine washing of their face and limbs, which is thought to soothe or defend against the sting of the toxic insects they prefer to eat.
    ● Threats: These animals face a threat from poachers due to the misplaced belief that these animals have magical and medicinal powers. This hunting, along with destruction of their habitat, is their major threat.
    ● Conservation status: IUCN has listed them as ‘Endangered’, whereas they are listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972, according them the highest level of legal protection.
    About other species given in the options:
    Himalayan Musk Deer
    ● Distribution:The Himalayas from central Kashmir through Himachal Pradesh up to Sikkim.
    ● Habitat: Subalpine oak and rhododendron forests ( 3000-4300 m) medium to high elevation coniferous forest in the Western Himalayas below the tree line ( 2500-4400 m) in Sikkim, thick bamboo forests below alpine zone ( 2600-300 m.
    ● Unique Behaviour: Communication is chiefly by olfaction. The deer scent is marked by defecation and secretion of caudal, musk and inter digital glands.
    ● Solitary, except when female is with young.
    ● IUCN status: Endangered (EN); Schedule 1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

    Nilgiri Tahr
    ● The Nilgiri Tahr is the only mountain ungulate in southern India amongst the 12 species present in India.
    ● It is also the state animal of Tamil Nadu.
    ● The Nilgiri Tahr is a sure-footed ungulate that inhabits the open montane grassland habitats at elevations from 1200 to 2600 m of the South Western Ghats.
    ● The Nilgiri Tahr, which used to be found along the entire stretch of Western Ghats, is presently found only in small fragmented pockets.
    ● The Eravikulam National Park in Anamalai hills, Kerala, is home to the largest population of the Nilgiri tahr, with more than 700 individuals.
    ● It faces several threats such as habitat loss due to rampant deforestation, competition with domestic livestock, hydroelectric projects in Nilgiri tahr habitat, and monoculture plantations and occasional hunting for its meat and skin.
    ● This endemic species of the Western Ghats is listed as ‘Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.

    Himalayan serow
    ● Official state animal of the Indian state of Mizoram.
    ● Native to the Himalayas where they inhabit hilly forests above an elevation of 300 m (980 ft) but descend to 100 m (330 ft) in winter.
    ● Himalayan serows are territorial animals that live alone or in small groups.
    ● They are active during the day (not nocturnal), and have acute vision, smell, and hearing, and are wary of humans.
    ● They move with ease through the difficult terrain of mountain and hill slopes and also swim well.
    ● Lifestyle: viviparous and terrestrial
    ● Himalayan serows are herbivores (folivores) and browse various types of vegetation.
    ● After the gestation period of 6 to 7 months, females give birth to a single kid; it is fully developed at birth and is able to travel with its mother shortly after birth.
    ● IUCN status: Vulnerable (VU)

  5. Question 5 of 5
    5. Question

    5. Consider the following statements about jellyfish:
    1. In spite of having no central brain, they can learn from the past experiences like humans.
    2. They have a single organ for eating and excreting.
    3. They do not have scales, gills, or fins like fish.
    4. Some of them have the capacity for bioluminescence.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    Correct

    Answer: D
    Explanation: Pulsing along on our ocean currents, jellyfish can be found in waters both cold and warm, deep and shallow and along coastlines, too. Jellyfish have been around for millions of years, even before dinosaurs lived on the Earth.
    Statement 1 is correct: Even without a central brain, jellyfish can learn from past experiences like humans, mice, and flies. The researchers trained Caribbean box jellyfish (Tripedalia cystophora) to learn to spot and dodge obstacles.
    The study published in ‘Current Biology’ has challenged previous notions that advanced learning requires a centralised brain and sheds light on the evolutionary roots of learning and memory. No bigger than a fingernail, these seemingly simple jellies have a complex visual system with 24 eyes embedded in their bell-like body. Scientists demonstrated that the jellies could acquire the ability to avoid obstacles through associative learning, a process through which organisms form mental connections between sensory stimulations and behaviours.
    Statement 2 is correct: The jellyfish’s mouth is found in the centre of its body. From this small opening it both eats and discards waste. And it serves another purpose, too – by squirting a jet of water from its mouth, the jellyfish can propel forward. Therefore, the jellyfish is known as a simple or “primitive” animal.
    Statement 3 is correct: They aren’t actually fish. They are invertebrates from the phylum Cnidaria and are so varied as a taxonomic group that many scientists have taken to simply referring to them as “gelatinous zooplankton.” Jellyfish do not have scales, gills, or fins like fish. Instead, they swim by opening and closing their “bells.”
    Statement 4 is correct: Some jellyfish are clear, but others are vibrant colours of pink, yellow, blue and purple. They can be bioluminescent, too, which means they produce their own light!
    Additional information:
    ● The jellyfish itself provides a tasty meal for other ocean creatures, particularly sea turtles.
    ● Unlike most marine creatures, jellyfish are thriving in our oceans despite marine heat waves, ocean acidification, overfishing, and various other human influences. While corals, oysters, and any marine organisms that build shells are considered the biggest losers of increasingly acidic oceans, jellyfish don’t seem to be as susceptible to climate change.
    ● When threatened, a species of jellyfish namely ‘Turritopsis nutricula’ is capable of undergoing cellular transdifferentiation, a process whereby the organism’s cells essentially become new again.

    Incorrect

    Answer: D
    Explanation: Pulsing along on our ocean currents, jellyfish can be found in waters both cold and warm, deep and shallow and along coastlines, too. Jellyfish have been around for millions of years, even before dinosaurs lived on the Earth.
    Statement 1 is correct: Even without a central brain, jellyfish can learn from past experiences like humans, mice, and flies. The researchers trained Caribbean box jellyfish (Tripedalia cystophora) to learn to spot and dodge obstacles.
    The study published in ‘Current Biology’ has challenged previous notions that advanced learning requires a centralised brain and sheds light on the evolutionary roots of learning and memory. No bigger than a fingernail, these seemingly simple jellies have a complex visual system with 24 eyes embedded in their bell-like body. Scientists demonstrated that the jellies could acquire the ability to avoid obstacles through associative learning, a process through which organisms form mental connections between sensory stimulations and behaviours.
    Statement 2 is correct: The jellyfish’s mouth is found in the centre of its body. From this small opening it both eats and discards waste. And it serves another purpose, too – by squirting a jet of water from its mouth, the jellyfish can propel forward. Therefore, the jellyfish is known as a simple or “primitive” animal.
    Statement 3 is correct: They aren’t actually fish. They are invertebrates from the phylum Cnidaria and are so varied as a taxonomic group that many scientists have taken to simply referring to them as “gelatinous zooplankton.” Jellyfish do not have scales, gills, or fins like fish. Instead, they swim by opening and closing their “bells.”
    Statement 4 is correct: Some jellyfish are clear, but others are vibrant colours of pink, yellow, blue and purple. They can be bioluminescent, too, which means they produce their own light!
    Additional information:
    ● The jellyfish itself provides a tasty meal for other ocean creatures, particularly sea turtles.
    ● Unlike most marine creatures, jellyfish are thriving in our oceans despite marine heat waves, ocean acidification, overfishing, and various other human influences. While corals, oysters, and any marine organisms that build shells are considered the biggest losers of increasingly acidic oceans, jellyfish don’t seem to be as susceptible to climate change.
    ● When threatened, a species of jellyfish namely ‘Turritopsis nutricula’ is capable of undergoing cellular transdifferentiation, a process whereby the organism’s cells essentially become new again.

window.wpAdvQuizInitList = window.wpAdvQuizInitList || []; window.wpAdvQuizInitList.push({ id: '#wpAdvQuiz_586', init: { quizId: 586, mode: 0, globalPoints: 10, timelimit: 0, resultsGrade: [0], bo: 0, qpp: 0, catPoints: [10], formPos: 0, lbn: "Finish quiz", json: {"2724":{"type":"single","id":2724,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[1,0,0,0]},"2725":{"type":"single","id":2725,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[1,0,0,0]},"2726":{"type":"single","id":2726,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[0,0,0,1]},"2727":{"type":"single","id":2727,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[0,0,1,0]},"2728":{"type":"single","id":2728,"catId":0,"points":2,"correct":[0,0,0,1]}} } });