THE ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE

1. EXPLAINED: WHAT WERE THE BAMIYAN BUDDHAS, AND WHY DID THE TALIBAN DESTROY THEM?

THE CONTEXT: The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has said it would protect the ancient Buddha statues in MesAynak, also the site of a copper mine where the Taliban are hoping for Chinese investment.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Taliban’s position is in marked contrast to the time they ruled Afghanistan earlier, when, in the face of global outrage, they brought down the centuries-old Buddha statues in Bamiyan using artillery, explosives, and rockets.
• The apparent change of heart over the MesAynak statues seems to be driven by economic interests, with the regime in desperate need of the income Chinese investment in the copper mines could generate.

The ancient Bamiyan Buddhas

• The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two 6th-century monumental statues, which were carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan.
• The Bamiyan Buddha statues, hewn from sandstone cliffs, are said to have dated back to the 5th century AD, and were once the tallest standing Buddhas in the world. In their Roman draperies and with two different mudras, the statues were great examples of a confluence of Gupta, Sassanian and Hellenistic artistic styles.
• The Bamiyan valley, in the Hindu Kush mountains and along the river Bamiyan, was a key node of the early Silk Routes, emerging as a hub of both commercial and cultural exchange.
• According to UNESCO, the “rise of Bamiyan was closely connected with spread of Buddhism across Central Asia, and that in turn was linked to the political and economic currents of that time.
• It is also called Salsal and Shamama by the locals, they rose to heights of 55 and 38 metres respectively. Salsal means “light shines through the universe”, while Shamama is “Queen Mother”.

After the destruction

• In 2003, UNESCO included the remains of the Bamiyan Buddhas in its list of world heritage sites. It was proposed that the statues should be reconstructed with the pieces that were still available, and restored in their niches, but it was met with opposition.
• While some argued that security concerns would always remain around the newly built statues in the war-torn country, many said the empty niches should be preserved as a testament to the violent fanaticism that destroyed them.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN 10.5% RESERVATION FOR VANNIYARS IN TAMIL NADU

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court struck down the 10.5 per cent reservation provided to Vanniyars, a Most Backward Community (MBC) in Tamil Nadu, in government jobs and admission to educational institutions.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Tamil Nadu Assembly had in February 2021 passed the then ruling AIADMK-piloted bill providing internal reservation of 5 per cent for Vanniyars, with the incumbent DMK government issuing an order in July 2021 for its implementation.
• It had split the aggregate 20 per cent reservation for MBCs and denotified communities into three separate categories by regrouping castes and provided a 10 per cent plus sub-quota for Vanniyars, formerly known as Vanniakula Kshatriyas.

Constitutional Provisions for Reservation

• Article 15(4) and 16(4): Enabled the State and Central Governments to reserve seats in government services for the members of the SC and ST.
• Constitution (77th Amendment) Act, 1995: The Constitution was amended and a new clause (4A) was inserted in Article 16 to enable the government to provide reservation in promotion.
• Constitution (85th Amendment) Act, 2001: Later, clause (4A) was modified by the Act to provide consequential seniority to SC and ST candidates promoted by giving reservation.
• Constitutional 81st Amendment Act, 2000: Inserted Article 16 (4 B) which enables the state to fill the unfilled vacancies of a year which are reserved for SCs/STs in the succeeding year, thereby nullifying the ceiling of fifty per cent reservation on the total number of vacancies of that year.
• Article 330 and 332: provides for specific representation through the reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the Parliament and in the State Legislative Assemblies respectively.
• Article 243D: provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Panchayat.
• Article 233T: provides reservation of seats for SCs and STs in every Municipality.
• Article 335:
• The claims of STs and STs shall be taken into consideration with the maintenance of efficacy of the administration.
• Part XVI deals with the reservation of SC and ST in Central and State legislatures.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

3. STATE OF THE WORLD POPULATION REPORT 2022

THE CONTEXT: According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s State of the World Population Report 2022, Between 2007-2011, 67 per cent of abortions in India were classified as unsafe. And unsafe abortions are the third leading cause of maternal mortality in India, and close to 8 women die from causes related to unsafe abortions each day.

THE EXPLANATION:

The report titled ‘Seeing the Unseen: the case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy’, has found that 121 million unintended pregnancies occur every year globally, an average of 331,000 a day.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT:

• One in seven unintended pregnancies in the world take place in India. The unintended pregnancies, and subsequent abortions, are intimately linked with the overall development of the country. As education and income levels increase, it results in a lowering of unintended pregnancies.
• It has called the staggering number of unintended pregnancies in the world “a global failure to uphold a basic human right”.One in seven unintended pregnancies in the world take place in India. The unintended pregnancies, and subsequent abortions, are intimately linked with the overall development of the country. As education and income levels increase, it results in a lowering of unintended pregnancies.
• “Globally, an estimated 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe, modern methods of contraception, and of them, 172 million women are using no method at all”.
• It adding that the current rate of 64 unintended pregnancies per 1,000 women means that roughly 6 per cent of the world’s women experience an unintended pregnancy each year.
• “An estimated 45 per cent of all abortions remain unsafe; they are also a public health emergency, hospitalising about seven million women a year globally, costing an estimated $553 million per year in treatment costs alone, and contributing to a significant share of all maternal morbidity and 4.7–13.2 per cent of all maternal deaths”.

India’s Pictures:

• Studies from India indicate unintended pregnancies are associated with lower maternal healthcare utilisation and poorer infant and maternal health outcomes. Women between the ages of 15–19 are at the highest risk of dying from an abortion-related complication, the report adds.
• The report also states 13 per cent of all young women (adolescents) in developing countries begin childbearing. Three-quarters of girls with a first birth at age 14 and younger had a second birth before turning 20, and 40 per cent of those with two births went on to have a third birth before turning 20. Half of the girls with a first birth between ages 15-17 had a second birth before turning 20.
• For adolescent fertility in India, women in the 15-19 age group have 43 births per 1,000 women (NFHS-5, 2019-21), which declined from 51 during NFHS-4 (2015-16). A total of 23.3 per cent women aged 20-24 were married before age 18 (NFHS-5), with a decline of only 3.5 points from NFHS-4. The median age at first birth is 21 years, and 9.3 per cent of women aged 20-24 have given birth before 18 years.
• The report points out that while teenage pregnancies in India have declined by 1 per cent, there is more that needs to be done. The report states that both the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of 1971, and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act 2021, which expands the scope of the Act and provides impetus for safer abortions, are progressive and encouraging.
• The NFHS 5 findings of increased contraception use across the country have been encouraging, with a 9 per cent jump in use of modern contraception methods between NFHS 4 and 5. However, it points out that female sterilisation as a method of contraception is at 37 per cent, and “is too high”.

What lies ahead?

• “If comprehensive sexuality education is not offered in her school, she may lack accurate information. Pregnancy may be her default option because she has few opportunities and choices in her life. Without a chance to finish her education, for instance, she may not see a reason to postpone childbearing.
• The UNFPA has propounded that increasing access and use of modern contraceptive methods in India, as well as creating awareness especially among adolescent girls through sex education, is the only way to curb unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

4. 5TH BIMSTEC SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister participated in the 5th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit hosted in virtual mode by Sri Lanka, the current chair of BIMSTEC.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Summit’s theme “Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy People” captures the main current priorities of member states, and the efforts by BIMSTEC to develop cooperation activities that support member state’s programmes to deal with the economic and development consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The main outcome of the Summit was the adoption and signing of the BIMSTEC Charter, which formalizes the grouping into an organization made up of member states that are littoral to, and dependent upon, the Bay of Bengal.
• The Summit also saw considerable progress being achieved in the BIMSTEC connectivity agenda with the adoption of the ‘Master Plan for Transport Connectivity’ by Leaders which lays out a guidance framework for connectivity related activities in the region in the future.

OUTCOMES:

Prime Minister along with other leaders also witnessed the signing of three BIMSTEC agreements which represent progress being achieved in ongoing cooperation activities:

• BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.
• BIMSTEC Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation in the field of Diplomatic Training and
• Memorandum of Association on Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

5. PERMANENT BODY CONSTITUTED TO PREVENT ELEPHANT DEATHS ON RAILWAY TRACKS

THE CONTEXT: The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a “permanent” coordination committee that includes the Ministry of Railways and the Environment Ministry to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Ministry of Environment, 19 elephants were killed across the country on railway tracks in 2018-19,14 in 2019-20 and 12 in 2020-21.
• These included making permanent and temporary speed restrictions in identified elephant corridors and habitats, making underpasses and ramps for movement of elephants at identified locations, providing fencing at selected locations, erecting signages to warn train drivers about identified elephant corridors, sensitising train crew and station masters to avoid train collisions with elephants, clearing vegetation on the sides of track within railway land, deputing Forest Department staff in railway control offices to liaison with railway authorities, engaging elephant trackers by the forest departments for timely action by alerting station masters and engine drivers as well as coordinating meetings between state forest departments and railway departments.
• According to the CAG, Railway collisions were the second-largest reason for the unnatural deaths of elephants despite tracts being specifically demarcated and notified as elephant passages.
• A Standing Committee on the Railways in 2013 had recommended restricting the speed of trains at vulnerable locations to reduce chances of collisions. This specifically translated into trains slowing down to 50 kilometre per hour (kmph) or less in vulnerable locations.
• The Wildlife Institute of India, an autonomous body of the Environment Ministry, in consultation with the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, National Highway Authority, National Tiger Conservation Authority and World Bank Group has published a document named ‘Eco-Friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure’ to assist project agencies in designing linear infrastructure, including railway lines, to reduce human-animal conflicts.
• According to the Ministry, India had a total of 29,964 wild elephants as per an estimate done in 2017. The southern region comprising Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra accounted for the highest population — 14,612 elephants.

Value Addition:

Elephants

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

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

6. GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITES OF HIMALAYAN REGION OF INDIA

THE CONTEXT: Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified two geological heritage sites in the Indian Himalayan Region of India.

THE EXPLANATION:

The details of the two sites identified by GSI in the Himalayan Region are as follows:

• These two geological heritage sites of Indian Himalayan region are not on the verge of disappearance. These sites are preserved in the respective States.
• Ministry of Mines has approached Ministry of Culture to explore the possibility of inclusion of Geological Heritage sites declared by GSI, under the purview of existing Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 (amended in 2010), by making suitable amendment in the Act.

VALUE ADDITION:

• The term geological heritage is used for natural geological or geo-morphological features that have aesthetic, intrinsic or scientific and educational value, that provide unique insight into geological processes affecting the formation or evolution of Earth.
• While there are 147 UNESCO Global geoparks spread across 41 countries.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

7. PLI SCHEME FOR TELECOM SECTOR

THE CONTEXT: The Government has notified Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme on 24.02.2021 to promote Telecom and Networking Products manufacturing in India within overall financial outlay of Rs.12,195 Crore over 5 years.

THE EXPLANATION:

Total 31 applicants have been approved under the Scheme, out of which 16 are MSME, 8 Non- MSME (Domestic) and 7 Non-MSME (Global).

• The projected investment proposed in the telecom Sector under the PLI Telecom Scheme is Rs. 3,344.90 crores.
• The financial outlay reserved for this scheme over the scheme period is Rs. 12,195 crores.
• 31 Companies have been selected under the PLI Scheme for manufacturing of telecom and networking products in India are detailed at Annexure.
• To reduce dependence on other countries for importing telecom and networking products, the Government has taken steps like imposition of basic custom duty (ranging from 10-20%) on certain identified telecom products and notified Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order on 29.08.2018.

VALUE ADDITION:

About Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:

• Notified on April 1 as a part of the National Policy on Electronics.
• It proposes a financial incentive to boost domestic manufacturing and attract large investments in the electronics value chain.
• The scheme shall extend an incentive of 4% to 6% on incremental sales (over the base year) of goods manufactured in India and covered under target segments, to eligible companies, for five years with financial year (FY) 2019-20 considered as the base year for calculation of incentives.
• The scheme will be implemented through a Nodal Agency, which shall act as a Project Management Agency (PMA) and be responsible for providing secretarial, managerial and implementation support and carrying out other responsibilities as assigned by MeitY from time to time.
• All electronic manufacturing companies which are either Indian or have a registered unit in India will be eligible to apply for the scheme.
• These companies can either create a new unit or seek incentives for their existing units from one or more locations in India.
• However, all investment done by companies on land and buildings for the project will not be considered for any incentives or determine the eligibility of the scheme.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

8. PM-YUVA SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: Pradhan Mantri – Mentorships’s Scheme for Young writers (PM-YUVA) has been launched by the Ministry of Education on 29 May 2021 for young writers up to the age of 30 years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The launch of YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) isin tune with PM’s vision to encourage young writers to write about India’s freedom struggle.
• YUVA is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) to bring to the fore the perspectives of the young generation of writers on themes like Unsung Heroes, Freedom Fighters, Unknown and Forgotten Places and their role in National Movement, and other related themes in an innovative and creative manner. This scheme will thus help to develop a stream of writers who can write on a spectrum of subjects to promote Indian heritage, culture and knowledge system.
• The National Book Trust, India under the Ministry of Education as the Implementing Agency will ensure phase-wise execution of the Scheme under well-defined stages of mentorship. ​The books prepared under this scheme will be published by National Book Trust, India; and will also be translated into other Indian languages ensuring the exchange of culture and literature, thereby promoting ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 31^ST MARCH  2022

Q. ‘Project NETRA’ of ISRO is for which one of the following purposes?

a) To know more about the outer surface of the Sun.

b) To keep an eye on the celestial phenomenon.

c) To detect the space debris and hazards to the Indian satellites.

d) To know more about nature of surface of the Mars planet.

ANSWER FOR 30^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

• In January 2021, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet decided to award renewable energy projects in Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu, and Analaitivu islands to Chinese firm Sinosoar-Etechwin.
• Now, India will set up hybrid power projects in three islands off Jaffna, effectively replacing the Chinese venture cleared by Colombo last year. The MoU for the project was among those signed during a meeting between visiting External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and his Sri Lankan counterpart G.L. Peiris late on 28th March 2022.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIAN POWER PROJECTS REPLACE CHINESE VENTURES IN SRI LANKA

THE CONTEXT: New Delhi and Colombo signed hybrid power projects on three islands off Jaffna along with cooperation on developing fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka. The agreements effectively replace the Chinese projects that were okayed by Colombo in 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The MoU for the project was among those signed during a meeting between visit of External Affairs Minister (EAM) and his Sri Lankan counterpart.
• It is the third Indian energy project coming up in Sri Lanka’s north and east, after the recent agreements for National Thermal Power Corporation’s solar venture in the eastern Sampur town, and the Adani Group’s renewable energy projects in Mannar and Pooneryn in the north.
• In January 2021, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet decided to award renewable energy projects in Nainativu, Delft or Neduntheevu and Analaitivu islands to Chinese company Sinosoar-Etechwin, following an Asia Development Bank-backed competitive bid.
• India was quick to express concern to the Sri Lankan side over the Chinese project coming up in the Palk Bay, barely 50 km off Tamil Nadu. New Delhi offered to execute the same project with a grant rather than a loan. Unable to pick a side for over a year, Colombo kept the project in suspension, apparently putting off China.

India and Sri Lanka have also signed the agreement to set up a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) with the involvement of the defence sector PSU Bharat Electronics Limited. The cooperation in the defence sector may be viewed against the backdrop of increasing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

2. RHINO POPULATION UP BY 200 IN KAZIRANGA

THE CONTEXT: The population of Assam’s iconic one-horned rhino at Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has increased by 200 in the last four years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the census of the animal at the park, it has estimated number at 2613.
• In the last headcount in 2018, the rhino population in the population in the park, which is spread over 859.98sq km, was 2413. The census in 2015 had counted 2401 rhinos in the

ABOUT ONE-HORNED RHINOS:

• Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
• Also known as the Indian Rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is identified by a single black horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
• Conservation status:

• CITES Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

Types of Rhinos:

The Greater One-Horned Rhino is one among the five different species of Rhino. The other four are:

1. Black Rhino: Smaller of the two African species. (IUCN: Critically Endangered)

1. White Rhino: Recently, researchers have created an embryo of the northern white Rhino by using In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. (ICUN: Near Threatened)
2. Javan Rhino: Critically endangered in IUCN Red List.
3. Sumatran Rhino: Recently gone extinct in Malaysia, but Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List.

Kaziranga National Park:

• It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
• It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985
• It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International.
• The National Highway 37 passes through the parking area.
• The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it. Also it is home to elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.

Value Addition:

 3. MASSIVE FIRE IN SARISKA TIGER RESERVE

THE CONTEXT: According to Rajasthan Forest officials a massive fire has broken out in the Sariska Tiger Reserve and Air Force helicopters equipped with water sprays are battling to bring it under control.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the forest officials Sariska has a total of 27 tigers. Around nine tigers including four adult tigers and tigress and five cubs/sub-adults are known to move around in the area in Akbarpur where the fire has broken out. Some of the tigers that move around in the area include tigers ST-14, ST-17 and ST-23”.

ABOUT SARISKA TIGER RESERVE

• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Alwar District of Rajasthan in the lap of Aravali hills. Sariska Tiger Reserve or Sariska National Park was a hunting reserve area for Alwar state. It got the status of a wildlife reserve in the year 1955 and in the year 1978, it became Sariska Tiger Reserve.
• It covers an area of 866 sq km. The Wildlife 0f Sariska Park includes Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Jungle Cat, Caracal, Striped Hyena, Golden Jackal, Chital, Sambhar, Blue Bull, Chinkara, Four Horned antelope.
• Flora of Sariska is found as Dhok tree, Salar, Kadaya, Dhak, Gol, Ber, Khair, Bargad, Arjun, Gugal and Bamboo etc.
• The topography of Sariska supports scrub-thorn arid forests, dry deciduous forests, rocks and grasses.
• The park is home to numerous carnivores including Leopard, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Civets Hyena, Jackal, and Tiger.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. EXPLAINED: ARTICULATED ALLTERRAIN VEHICLE

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the supply of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles to be deployed in Ladakh and Kutch.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles?

• Articulated All-Terrain Vehicle is a twin cabin, tracked, amphibious carrier for off road mobility. The special design of this equipment exerts low ground pressure on the soil and a pull-push mode of locomotion between two cabins facilitates mobility over varied terrains like snow, desert and slush. A ballistic protection in the cabin body ensures protection to troops travelling in it from small arms fire.
• These vehicles are very useful to move troops or supplies in snow-bound terrains and in marshy/sandy environments. They can reach where wheeled vehicles cannot due to deep snow, slush or marshy terrain and can be very effective for patrolling and rapid deployment in operational situations.

What are the requirements of the Army from the vehicles?

• As per the specifications in the RFI, the vehicle should be able to perform at heights of 18,000 feet in glaciated and snow bound conditions and in salty/dry marshes.
• The vehicles should be able to seat 10 soldiers with full combat load (excluding the crew) and should have inbuilt ballistic protection. It should have an operating range of not less than 150 kms in cross country terrain in plains and at an altitude of 15,000 to 18,000 feet in the mountains. The vehicles should have a service life of at least 15 years.

Who manufactures such vehicles?

• There are several Western manufacturers of Articulated All-Terrain Vehicles including Canada and Finland. The NASU vehicle of Finland is used by the Finnish, French, Belgian and US Armies among others.
• The Bandvagn 206 is used by the Swedish Army and was developed by a Swedish Company which is now part of BAE Systems, Platforms and Services. The British and US militaries also use the Bandvagn 206. The Russian Army uses the DT-30 Vityaz vehicle and GAZ 3344 manufactured in the country.

5. ASSAM, MEGHALAYA INK PACT TO END BORDER ROW

THE CONTEXT: Assam and Meghalaya signed an agreement to resolve their five-decade-old border dispute in six of the 12 locations.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister and the chief Minsters of the two states. The pact will resolve the protracted dispute in six of the 12 places along the 884.9 km border between the two states.

History Behind Border Demarcation

• During the British rule, Assam consisted of the present-day Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, besides Mizoram, which later became separate states.
• However, the long-standing dispute between Assam and Meghalaya began in 1972 when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam under the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, a law that it challenged.

Major Point of Contention

• Since 1993, twelve (12) areas of differences have evolved between the two states. The said areas are: Upper Tarabari, Gazang reserve forest, Hahim, Langpih, Borduar, Boklapara, Nongwah, Matamur, Khanapara-Pilangkata, Deshdemoreah Block I and Block II, Khanduli and Retacherra.
• In August 2021, the governments of Assam and Meghalaya had formed a committee to resolve the border rows in a phased manner in six (6) of the 12 disputed sites (Hahim, Gizang, Tarabari, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pilingkata, Ratacherra).
• The proposed recommendations for the 36.79 square km of land said that Assam would keep 18.51 square km, while Meghalaya would get the remaining 18.28 square km.

What is the Next Step?

• The Survey of India (SoI) will delineate and demarcate the boundary in the presence of representatives of both governments. It will then go to Parliament for approval and will likely take a few months.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS: BUDGET SESSION 2022

6. RASHTRIYA GOKUL MISSION

THE CONTEXT: According to the information given by the Ministry of fisheries, Animal husbandry and dairying.

As per the revised and realigned scheme, under Rashtriya Gokul Mission 2021-2026, the following tentative targets have been set for the next 5 years:-

• 165 million animals to be covered under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination.
• 40,000 Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians for Rural India (MAITRIs) to be established to provide doorstep AI service.
• 4700 High Genetic Merit Bulls (HGM) to be produced under the Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection.
• 44 existing semen stations to be strengthened to meet demand of semen doses and to improve quality of semen doses.
• 1,15,000 assured pregnancies to be established through IVF technology.
• 51 lakh assured pregnancies to be established through use of sex sorted semen doses.
• 125 number of Breed Multiplication farms preferably of indigenous breeds to be established.
• A sum of Rs. 2316.15 crore has been released to all the States/UTs under Rashtriya Gokul Mission during the last 5 years and current financial year including a sum of Rs. 39.75 crore released to the State of Karnataka.
• Benefit of the scheme has been accruing to all 8 crore farmers engaged in dairying in terms of enhancement in milk production and productivity of bovines. Under the component of Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP) 1.92 crore farmers have been benefited and their data has been uploaded on Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) data base.

 THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 30^TH MARCH  2022

Q1. Nainativu, Neduntheevu and Analaitivu, recently seen in news are-

a) Islands of India off the coast of Tamil Nadu

b) Islands of India off the coast of Kerala

c) Islands of Sri Lanka near Jaffna Peninsula

d) Islands of India in Lakshadweep Archipelago

ANSWER FOR 29^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• Zozila pass located in Zaskar range and connects Srinagar to Leh.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

1. MORADABAD 2ND IN WORLD IN NOISE POLLUTION: UN REPORT

THE CONTEXT: According to the latest report unveiled by the United Nations Environment Programme, Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the second noisiest city in the world, with Delhi, Kolkata, Asansol and Jaipur also exceeding permissible noise limits.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The UN report titled ‘Frontiers 2022: Noise, Blazes and Mismatches’, released in February 2022, measured noise levels in 61 cities of the world.
• Notably, all the top three cities are from South Asia. Other Indian cities which recorded a higher decibel than the permissible levels were Delhi (83 dB), Kolkata and Asansol (both 89 dB) in West Bengal and Jaipur (84 dB).
• The UNEP report further found that Irbrid in Jordan at 60 decibels was the world’s quietest city, followed by Lyon in France (69 dB), Madrid in Spain (69 dB), Sweden’s capital Stockholm in (70 dB) and Belgrade in Serbia (70 dB).

What are permissible sound levels?

• According to 1999 WHO guidelines, the report said, the permissible noise level limits are 55 dB (decibels) LAeq (equivalent continuous sound level is the sound level in decibels) for outdoor residential areas and 70 dB LAeq for commercial areas and where there is traffic.
• According to experts that noise above 70 dB over a prolonged period of time can increase the risk of hearing loss. “High levels of noise impair human health and well-being – by disrupting sleep or drowning out the beneficial and positive acoustic communications of many animal species that live in these areas.

2. INDIAN OCEAN HIT BY SIX HEATWAVES IN 2021: DEPT OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: According to the Department of Science and Technology, the Indian Ocean witnessed six marine heatwaves in 2021 over a period of 52 days. The situation was grim in the Bay of Bengal, which suffered four of the six weather-related events.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the Ministry, the weather-related incident is not a single event, and the tropical Indian Ocean has been facing the brunt of rising temperatures for decades. The minister informed that the western Indian Ocean region experienced a four-fold rise in marine heatwave events (increasing at a rate of 1.5 events per decade) and the North Bay of Bengal experienced a two-to-three-fold rise (at a rate of 0.5 events per decade).

What is Marine Heatwave?

A marine heatwave is defined as when seawater temperatures exceed a seasonally-varying threshold (usually the 90th percentile) for at least 5 consecutive days. Successive heatwaves with gaps of 2 days or less are considered part of the same event.

Value Addition:

• A report released by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had dire warnings for India stating that 12 coastal cities in the country could be submerged by the end of the century.
• The cities could be nearly three feet underwater by the century’s end, the climate change report has warned. The cities include Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, and Visakhapatnam, among others.
• Researchers have predicted that because of rising temperatures, extreme sea events along coastlines will become 100 times more frequent by the end of the century.
• Globally, areas likely to be affected most include the Southern Hemisphere, locations along the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Peninsula, the southern half of North America’s Pacific coast, and areas including Hawaii, the Caribbean, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

3. FIRST-EVER SIGHTING OF ROUGH-TOOTHED DOLPHINS IN WATERS

THE CONTEXT: A Marine Mammals Research (MMR) team of the Department of Environment and Forest in Lakshadweep has reported the first-ever live sighting of rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) in Indian waters.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Rough-toothed Dolphin is a slender dolphin and has a forehead and the sides of the head sloping smoothly on to a long and slender beak, making the entire body in front of the flippers appear very long and nearly conical. There is no prominent melon and no crease between the beak and forehead, unlike many other dolphins. The flippers are moderately long. The dorsal fin is relatively tall and sickle shaped.
• Rough-toothed Dolphins are variable in coloration but are generally dark grey to purplish black above. The eyes are large and bulging.

Found In: Rough-toothed Dolphins are to be found mainly at and beyond the edges of the continental shelves in deep water. They feed on octopus, squid and fish.

IUCN REDLIST: LEAST CONCERN

Records from India: Found offshore along the southwest and east coasts of India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Reported as by catch in gill nets in India.

4. DETECTING MICROPLASTICS IN HUMAN BLOOD

THE CONTEXT: A study by researchers from Netherlands published has examined blood samples of 22 persons, all anonymous donors and healthy adults, and found plastic particles in 17 of them.

THE EXPLANATION:

The report conveys that about half of these were PET (polyethylene tertraphthalate) plastics, which is used to make food grade bottles. The size of the particles that the group looked for was as small as about 700 nanometres (equal to 0.0007 millimetres). This is really small and it remains to be seen if there is a danger of such particles crossing the blood cell walls and affecting the organs. Also, a larger study needs to be conducted to firm up the present findings.

What are microplastics?

• Microplastics are tiny bits of various types of plastic found in the environment. The name is used to differentiate them from “macroplastics” such as bottles and bags made of plastic.
• There is no universal agreement on the size that fits this bill — the U.S. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the European Chemical Agency define microplastic as less than 5mm in length. However, for the purposes of this study, since the authors were interested in measuring the quantities of plastic that can cross the membranes and diffuse into the body via the blood stream, the authors have an upper limit on the size of the particles as 0.0007 millimetre.

What were the plastics that the study looked for in the blood samples?

The study looked at the most commonly used plastic polymers. These were polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET), polyethylene (used in making plastic carry bags), polymers of styrene (used in food packaging), poly (methyl methylacrylate) and poly propylene. They found a presence of the first four types.

What are the key results of this study?

• The study found that 77% of tested people (17 of the 22 persons) carried various amounts of microplastics above the limit of quantification.
• In 50% of the samples, the researchers detected PET particles.
• In 36%, they found presence of polystyrene. 23% of polyethylene and 5% of poly(methyl methylacrylate) were also found. However, traces of poly propylene were not detected.
• They found in each donor, on average, 1.6 microgram of plastic particles per milli litre of blood sample.

What is the significance of the study?

• The authors of the paper also remark that validated methods to detect the tiny (trace) amounts of extremely small-sized (less than 10 micrometre) plastic particles are lacking. Hence this study, which builds up a method to check the same, is important.
• Owing to the small size of the participants, the study results cannot be taken as such to mould policy etc, but the power of this paper is in the method and in demonstrating that such a possibility of finding micro plastics in the blood exists.

5. THE PHENOMENON OF CORAL BLEACHING

THE CONTEXT: The management authority of the world’s largest coral reef system, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, confirmed on March 25, 2022 that the reef is experiencing a mass coral bleaching event.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This is the sixth time that the coral reef system is being hit by a widespread and damaging bleaching event and the fourth time in six years that such an event has occurred. The bleaching event coincides with a 10-day UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) scientific mission currently underway in Australia.

What are coral reefs?

• Corals are marine invertebrates or animals not possessing a spine. Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony, which grows when polyps multiply to make copies of themselves.
• Corals are of two types — hard coral and soft coral.
• Hard corals, also called hermatypic or ‘reef building’ corals extract calcium carbonate (also found in limestone) from the seawater to build hard, white coral exoskeletons. Soft coral polyps, however, borrow their appearance from plants, attach themselves to such skeletons and older skeletons built by their ancestors.
• Soft corals also add their own skeletons to the hard structure over the years and these growing multiplying structures gradually form coral reefs. They are the largest living structures on the planet.
• Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae. The algae provides the coral with food and nutrients, which they make through photosynthesis, using the sun’s light. In turn, the corals give the algae a home and key nutrient. The zooxanthellae also give corals their bright colour.
• Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system stretching across 2,300 km. It hosts 400 different types of coral, gives shelter to 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc.

What is Coral Bleaching?

• Bleaching happens when corals experience stress in their environment due to changes in temperature, pollution or high levels of ocean acidity. Under stressed conditions, the zooxanthellae or food-producing algae living inside coral polyps start producing reactive oxygen species, which are not beneficial to the corals.
• So, the corals expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae from their polyps, which exposes their pale white exoskeleton, giving the corals a bleached appearance. This also ends the symbiotic relationship that helps the corals to survive and grow.
• Under all positive outlooks and projections in terms of cutting greenhouse gases, sea temperatures are predicted to increase by 1.5°C to 2°C by the time the century nears its end.

Why does it matter?

• Coral reefs support over 25% of marine biodiversity, including fish, turtles and lobsters; even as they only take up 1% of the seafloor. The marine life supported by reefs further fuels global fishing industries. Even giant clams and whales depend on the reefs to live.
• Besides, coral reef systems generate $2.7 trillion in annual economic value through goods and service trade and tourism. In Australia, the Barrier Reef, in pre-COVID times, generated $4.6 billion annually through tourism and employed over 60,000 people including divers and guides.
• Aside from adding economic value and being a support system for aquatic life, coral reefs also provide protection from storm waves.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

6. INDIA CROSSES MILESTONE OF 50,000 ODF PLUS VILLAGES

THE CONTEXT: The country has crossed a milestone of 50 thousand open defecation-free (ODF) Plus villages. Among the top performing States are Telangana with 13 thousand 960 ODF Plus villages followed by Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Ministry of Jal Shakthi, the mission towards becoming ODF Plus has several components including biodegradable waste management including the GOBAR dhan Scheme, Grey water management, Plastic waste management and Faecal sludge management.
• The Ministry has said, ODF Plus villages have been divided into three categories, Aspiring, Rising, and Model, to showcase their progress.
• This has created a healthy, competitive spirit, resulting in people participation for accelerated implementation of sustaining sampoorn swachhata. Also, it noted as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, more than one crore people across 22-thousand-gram panchayats participated in various sanitation activities.

 THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

7. WHAT IS ALOPECIA AREATA?

According to US Department of Health and Human Services, alopecia areata is condition that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss.

• The condition usually affects the head and face.
• Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter, but in some cases, hair loss is more extensive. Most people with the disease are healthy and have no other symptoms, the US Department of Health said.

What causes the condition?

In alopecia areata, the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing inflammation. Researchers do not fully understand what causes the immune attack on hair follicles, but they believe that both genetic and environmental (non-genetic) factors play a role.

Types of alopecia areata

Health experts have classified the hair loss condition in three types:

• Patchy: In the most common type, hair loss happens in one or more coin-sized patches on the scalp or other parts of the body.
• Totalis: People with this type lose all or nearly all of the hair on their scalp.
• Universalis: This is an extremely rare type, there is a complete or nearly complete loss of hair on the scalp, face, and rest of the body.

  THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 29^th MARCH  2022

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Zozila pass is located in the Pir Panjal range of Western Himalayas.
2. It connects Jammu to Srinagar.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER FOR 28^TH MARCH 2022

 Answer: D

Explanation:

• The National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS), a protected riverine area, spans Rajasthan, MadhyaPradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
• Chambal flows though the sanctuary, which is home to rare wildlife.
• The river harbours some of the most pristine sandbanks, which are the basking and egg-laying habitats for the critically endangered gharial, for the endangered Indian skimmer,the critically endangered, red-crowned roofed turtle, and a host of other threatened andendangered species. India’s national aquatic animal, the endangered Ganges river dolphin,is also spotted here.
• Illegal sand mining in the protected riverine area continues unabated, endangering several threatened species. According to reports, rampant sand mining within NCS is forcing gharialsto migrate to Kuno and Parbati rivers, tributaries of the Chambal, in search of safer egg-laying habitats.

THE PHYSICAL AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

1. THE DEMAND FOR TWO TIME ZONES IN INDIA

THE CONTEXT: A favorite question of parliamentarians that has repeated, time after time, in every session of Parliament since 2002, is fittingly about time. Cutting across party lines, members from both Houses have for two decades asked the Centre at least 16 times if India proposes to have two time zones and the steps taken to implement it.

THE EXPLANATION:

The India debates,

India extends from 68°7’E to 97°25’E, with the spread of 29° representing almost two hours from the geographic perspective. This has led to the argument that early sunrise in the easternmost parts — the Northeast — causes the loss of many daylight hours by the time offices or educational institutions open, and that early sunset, for its part, leads to higher consumption of electricity.

To deal with this tea gardens of Assam have been following ‘Chaibagaan time’ which is one hour ahead of India Standard Time (IST).

How time is maintained?

If lines of longitude are drawn exactly a degree apart, they will divide the Earth into 360 zones. Because the Earth spins 360° in 24 hours, a longitudinal distance of 15° represents a time separation of 1 hour, and 1° represents 4 minutes. Theoretically, the time zone followed by any place should relate to its longitudinal distance from any other place. Political boundaries, however, mean that time zones are often demarcated by bent lines rather than straight lines of longitude. This is “legal time”, as defined by a country’s law.

The geographic “zero line” runs through Greenwich, London. It identifies GMT, now known as Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), which is maintained by the Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France. Indian Standard Time, maintained by CSIR-NPL, is based on a line of longitude that runs through Mirzapur in UP. At 82°33’E, the line is 82.5° east of Greenwich, or 5.5 hours (5 hours 30 minutes) ahead of UCT. While India follows one IST, the United States follows several time zones across its breadth.

New Study:

• Recently, a study done by team of researchers from CSIR-NPL has been published in the journal Current Science that supported the demand of dual time zones for these states and said it is feasible to have dual time zones for them. The study said that technically it is feasible to have two time zones and two ISTs in India.
• It recommended that IST-I for most of India and IST- II for the North-eastern region, this would be separated by difference of one hour. At present, the country observes a single time zone based on the longitude passing through 82°33′E.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. STATES CAN IDENTIFY MINORITIES: CENTRE

THE CONTEXT:  In an affidavit filed in the top court, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs said “state governments can also declare a religious or linguistic community as a ‘minority community’ within the state”.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is the current issue?

The petition by Advocate has contended that the 2011 census showed that Hindus have become a minority in Lakshadweep (2.5%), Mizoram (2.75%), Nagaland (8.75%), Meghalaya (11.53%), J&K (28.44%), Arunachal Pradesh (29%), Manipur (31.39%), and Punjab (38.40%), but were bring denied minority benefits that are currently being enjoyed by the respective majority communities in these places.

Centre’s response:

• The Ministry of Minority Affairs, in an affidavit, said: “It is submitted that the state governments can also declare a religious or linguistic community as a minority community within the said state. For instance, the government of Maharashtra has notified Jews as a minority community within the state of Maharashtra.”
• According to the affidavit,it stated that the Karnataka government has notified Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Tulu, Lamani, Hindi, Konkani, and Gujarati languages as minority languages within the state. “Further, the states too can certify institutions as being minority institutions as per the rules of the said state.
• The ministry clarified that most of these schemes do not involve quotas in jobs and admissions but efforts to raise the education level and participation in employment, skill and entrepreneurship development and reducing deficiencies in civic amenities and infrastructure.
• These are mostly targeted at the most disadvantaged among the minorities such as women and children and those who are economically weaker and hence do not violate the right to equality guaranteed to all under the Constitution.

Where the lacuna lies?

• The constitution mentioned the term ‘minority’ only on two occasions in Article 29 and in Article 30, but it nowhere defines the term, and no effort was made to define it. It was left at the discretion of central government to determine what constitute minorities and they found five religious minorities in India not bothering itself that these minorities are in fact majority in few states.
• The Central government notified six communities, namely Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains, as minorities under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act of 1992”.
• The definition provided by United Nations is “Any group or community which is socially, political and economically non-dominant and inferior in population are minorities”.Similarly, Section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act provides that ‘minority’ means a community notified as such by the Central government.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. RHINO CENSUS BEGINS AT KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

THE CONTEXT: The Assam Forest Department began the 14th census of the one-horned rhinoceros at the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The forests of the Kaziranga National Parkare home to the world’s largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses. The last rhino census was held three years ago in 2018 and since then as many as 400 rhinos died as devastating floods swept Assam, even though the menace of poaching declined significantly.
• Forest officials have identified 76 blocks and invited 60 enumerators and observers for this census.

ABOUT ONE-HORNED RHINOS:

• Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
• Also known as the Indian Rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is identified by a single black horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
• Conservation status:

• CITES Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

Types of Rhinos:

The Greater One-Horned Rhino is one among the five different species of Rhino. The other four are:

1. Black Rhino: Smaller of the two African species. (IUCN: Critically Endangered)
2. White Rhino: Recently, researchers have created an embryo of the northern white Rhino by using In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. (ICUN: Near Threatened)
3. Javan Rhino: Critically endangered in IUCN Red List.
4. Sumatran Rhino: Recently gone extinct in Malaysia, but Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List.

Kaziranga National Park:

• It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
• It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with a core area of 430 sq. km.
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985
• It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.
• The National Highway 37 passes through the parking area.

The park also has more than 250 seasonal water bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. DRDO’S CORNER-SHOT WEAPON SYSTEM (CSWS)

THE CONTEXT: A corner-shot weapon system (CSWS) designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is at an advanced stage of being inducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir police.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The CSWS is a special purpose weapon designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune. It can engage targets located around the corners as the system bends and captures video feed thus saving soldiers from any surprise counter attack and is best suited for urban, close quarter situations.
• The CSWS is equipped with weapon, camera, laser, infrared illuminator and torch in front portion, while display, electronics, battery and swivelling mechanism are located at rear portion, the official said. The body is made from high–grade aluminium alloy to make it lighter and durable.
• Features like day night firing capability, colour display, digital zoom, zeroing facility, hot keys, high power battery along with status display and compliance with JSS 5855 makes it a very potent system for security forces engaged in Counter Insurgency and Counter Terror (CI/CT) operations.
• According to the officials,this indigenously designed and developed system available in 9 mm GLOCK 17/19 and 1A1 Auto Pistol variant.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

5. THE EXTENSION OF PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB KALYAN ANN YOJANA (PMGKAY)

THE CONTEXT: Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for a period of another six months till September 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In the wake of economic disruptions caused by the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government in March 2020 had announced the distribution of additional free-of-cost food grains (Rice/Wheat) to about 80 Crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries at the scale of 5 Kg per person per month under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY).
• Phase-I and Phase-II of this scheme were operational from April to June 2020 and July to November 2020 respectively. Phase-II of the scheme was operational from May to June 2021. Phase-IV of the scheme is currently operational for July-November 2021 months.
• Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) under the Ministry of Finance is a scheme as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to supply free food grains to migrants and the poor.

Eligibility

• Families belonging to the Below Poverty Line – Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) categories will be eligible for the scheme.
• PHH are to be identified by State Governments/Union Territory Administrations as per criteria evolved by them. AAY families are to be identified by States/UTs as per the criteria prescribed by the Central Government:
• Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons, or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
• All primitive tribal households.
• Landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans/craftsmen such as potters, tanners, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, slum dwellers, and persons earning their livelihood on daily basis in the informal sector like porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers, fruit and flower sellers, snake charmers, rag pickers, cobblers, destitute and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas.
• All eligible Below Poverty Line families of HIV positive persons.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. RAMA LAKSHMANA KAMBALA FESTIVAL

THE CONTEXT: The fifth edition of Rama-Lakshmana Kambala organised by Mangaluru Kambala Samiti will be held at Gold Finch City in Bangrakuloor.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Kambala

• Kambala is the traditional buffalo slush track race Buffalo Race held annually in coastal Karnataka.
• The Kambala season lasts from November to March.
• About 150 kambalas are held in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and neighbouring Kasaragod (Kerala) districts in the season between November and March. This area is called Tulunadu (Land of Tulu Language).
• A pair of buffaloes is tied to the plough and one person anchors it.
• There are two parallel muddy tracks, on which two competing pairs of buffaloes run. Fastest team wins.

Belief

• According to one belief, Kambala is a festival that originated in the farming community of Karnataka around 800 years back.
• The festival is dedicated to Kadri’s Lord Manjunatha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva.
• It is believed to be celebrated to please the Gods for a good harvest.
• It is a form of recreational sport for the farming community and also another belief is that it is considered as the Sport of the royal (landlord) Family.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 28^th MARCH  2022

Q1. If you visit National Chambal Sanctuary, which of the following threatened species you may find?

1. Gharial
2. Indian skimmer
3. Red-crowned roofed turtle
4. Gangetic dolphin

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 1, 2 and 3 only

c) 1, 3 and 4 only

d) All of them

ANSWER FOR 26^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

• It is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations with a
• membership of 57 states.
• It was established in September 1969.
• Headquarter- Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (therefore, statement C is incorrect)
• It is the collective voice of the Muslim world.
• India is not member of OIC.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. SRI LANKA TO SET UP SPECIAL NORTH-EAST FUND

THE CONTEXT: The Sri Lankan government will set up a ‘North-East Development Fund’ to increase investments in the war-affected areas, while probing cases of enforced disappearances and land grabs that remain chief concerns of the Tamil people 13 years after the war ended.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It was first meeting with the country’s Tamil political leadership since his election to office in November 2019.
• The TNA has been demanding that the government deliver the long-pending political solution to Sri Lanka’s national question, through a new constitutional settlement.
• The President agreed to focus on four key areas, including
  • possibly releasing long-term detainees under the country’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act — which the government recently amended but critics want repealed — and suspects held without being charged.
  • ending the incessant land grabs in the north and east by different state agencies to allegedly change the demographics of the region.
  • inquiring into cases of enforced disappearances.
  • establishing a special development fund for the north and east.
• The initiative to set up a development fund exclusively for the war-affected areas comes nearly three years after his election, amid widespread joblessness, indebtedness, and poverty in the region that the pandemic and Sri Lanka’s current economic crisis have only aggravated.

2. INDIA, U.K. END ROUND TWO TALKS ON FTA

THE CONTEXT: India and the United Kingdom concluded a second round of negotiations towards a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in London, with a draft treaty text discussed across most chapters that will make up the pact.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The FTA is expected to facilitate the target of doubling bilateral trade between India and the United Kingdom by 2030, set by the Prime Ministers of both nations.
• According to the agreements, the Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) on Pharma could provide additional market access. There is also great potential for increasing exports in service sectors like IT/ITES, Nursing, education, healthcare, including AYUSH and audio-visual services. India would also be seeking special arrangements for the movement of its people.
• India-UK FTA will also contribute to integrating value chains and help augment our mutual efforts to strengthen the resilience of supply chains. Reminding that the leaders of both nations had envisioned launching the FTA Negotiations in early 2022.

What is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

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

Key features of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs):

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

Value Addition:

India-UK bilateral trade

• Bilateral trade between India and UK stood at 18.3 billion in the year 2020. It was lesser than the trade of 3 billion pounds in 2019. India and UK have also launched a new Enhanced Trade Partnership. It opened ways for future Free Trade Agreements.
• Currently, India is the largest market with which the UK has committed to negotiating any trade deal. India is the second-largest investor in the UK economy.
• About 842 Indian companies in the UK, are employing more than 110,000 people. The combined revenue of Indian companies has increased by 87% in the last five years.

3.  THE HOUTHI ATTACK ON THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

THE CONTEXT: A Yemeni rebel attack on a Saudi oil plant set off a huge fire near Jeddah’s Formula One circuit, part of a wave of assaults on Aramco facilities.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Shia Houthi rebels of Yemen, who have been controlling the northern parts of the country, including the capital Sana’a, for almost seven years, have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Who are the Houthis?

Founded in the 1990s by Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, a member of Yemen’s Shia majority, the Houthi movement has a pretty straightforward slogan or sarkha: “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, the curse on the Jews, victory to Islam.” After Yemeni soldiers killed Hussein in 2004, his brother Abdul Malik took over.

How did Saudi Arabia get involved?

The rise of the Houth is sent alarm bells ringing across Sunni Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition — backed by the US, UK and France — then launched an air campaign in Yemen, with the aim of defeating the rebel group.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

4. RBI SETS GEO-TAGGING RULES FOR PAYMENT TOUCH POINTS

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a framework for geo-tagging of payment system touch points, issuing instructions to bank and non-bank payment system operators to maintain and submit to it the geographical locations of their touch points on a regular basis.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the central bank, this framework is intended to ensure that there is a robust payment acceptance infrastructure with multiple types of touch points across India, available and accessible at all times.

According to RBI, the banks and non-bank payment system operators need to capture and maintain geographical coordinates for all payment touch points.

Both banks and non-banks need to maintain a registry with accurate location of all payment touch points across the country that should include merchant-related information and payment acceptance infrastructure details.

Besides, banks and non-banks need to report information on payment touch points to the RBI through the Centralised Information Management System (CIMS) of RBI, the framework said.

How does it work?

• In a geo-tagging infrastructure, the geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) of payment touch points deployed by merchants to receive payments from their customers are captured. According to the RBI, geo-tagging has several benefits including providing insights on regional penetration of digital payments, monitoring infrastructure density across different locations, identifying scope for deploying additional payment touch points, facilitating focused digital literacy programmes.
• The central bank had focussed on the setting up of Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) to encourage deployment of acceptance infrastructure, and creating additional touch points is a step in this direction.

 5. ‘GUJARAT TOPS AGAIN IN EXPORT PREPAREDNESS INDEX’

THE CONTEXT: Gujarat has been named India’s top State in terms of export preparedness for the second year in a row as per an index released by the NITI Aayog.

THE EXPLANATION:

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu were ranked second, third and fourth in the index, as coastal States with higher industrial activity and access to seaports account for a majority of India’s exports.

Challenges:

The index identifies three major challenges to India’s export promotion efforts.

• “These are intra- and inter-regional differences in export infrastructure.
• Weak trade support and growth orientation across States and
• Lack of R&D infrastructure to promote complex and unique exports,”

EPI 2021 – Key Goals

The EPI’s primary goal is to instill competition among all Indian states (‘Coastal’, ‘Landlocked’, ‘Himalayan’, and ‘UTs/City-States’) to bring about favourable export-promotion policies, ease the regulatory framework to prompt sub national export promotion, create the necessary infrastructure for exports, and assist in identifying strategic recommendations for improving export competitiveness. It promotes competitive federalism and a fair contest among States/UTs.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

6. ‘PROJECT UDAAN’ GIVES GIRLS WINGS TO A BETTER FUTURE IN RURAL RAJASTHAN

THE CONTEXT: The Udaan project, launched by the Rajasthan government in collaboration with a development consulting group ‘IPE Global’, has made attempts to keep girls in schools through their enrollment at the secondary level while ensuring that the eligible ones among them get their scholarships. While generating awareness about scholarship schemes, the programme has also mobilised rural communities to support girls’ education and facilitate their attendance in school without a break.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Project Udaan seeks to reduce adolescent pregnancies in Rajasthan by leveraging existing government platforms and programmes across the Health and Education Departments, for scale up and sustainability.
• It adopts a multi-sectoral approach to prevent adolescent pregnancy, layering interventions beyond sexual health, to fundamentally change the way adolescent programming is carried on.
• Udaan attempts to keep girls in school through their enrollment (school-going and dropout girls) at secondary school level while ensuring that the eligible girls receive their scholarship through collective efforts.
• School and community-level interventions have been designed to increase girls’ enrollment at secondary level school by generating wide public awareness on the scholarship schemes and mobilising communities to support girls’ education and facilitate their going back to school. It works towards strengthening scholarship delivery systems (IT enabled) and builds capacities of government functionaries for effective state-wide scale up to ensure sustainability and stability.
• It is an integrated intervention which seeks to prevent adolescent pregnancies in Rajasthan by leveraging existing government programmes and platforms for realizing girl’s potential and reducing the number of babies born low birth weight from teenager mothers.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 26^th MARCH 2022

Q1. Which of the following statement is incorrect about Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC)?

a) It was established in 1969.

b) It has total 57 member countries.

c) Its headquarter is located in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

d) India is not a member of OIC.

ANSWER FOR 25^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) seeks to create an enabling environment to ensure universal acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy, so that every child achieves the desired learning competencies in reading, writing and numeracy by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Although the National Education Policy had included a 2025 deadline to achieve the goal, the Centre has pushed back the target date to 2026-27, given that COVID-19 has already disrupted two academic years.

THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. INDIA TO BE TB FREE BY 2025: INDIA TB REPORT 2022

THE CONTEXT: On World Tuberculosis Day, Union Health Ministry released India TB Report 2022 and it’s reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making India tuberculosis–free by 2025 and this will be achieved by ensuring access to quality healthcare and advanced treatment.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the report, 19% increase was witnessed in 2021 from the previous year in TB patients’ notification. The number of incident TB patients (new and relapse) notified during 2021 was 19,33,381 against the 16,28,161 in 2020.
• In terms of DS-TB (Drug sensitive) treatment performance, in 2021, among 21,35,830 patients diagnosed, 20,30,509 (95%) patients were put on treatment. While the dis aggregated treatment success rate of patients notified from the public and private sectors are 83% and 82%, respectively.
• Regarding DR-TB (Drug Resistant) treatment performance, in 2021, 48,232 MDR/RR-TB patients were diagnosed and 43,380 (90%) were put on treatment.
• In 2021, the data was captured for 72% of total notified patients, out of which 7% admitted to alcohol usage. Similarly, out of the 74% of the known tobacco usage among all TB patients, 12% of TB patients were reported to be tobacco users. Among those screened, 30% were linked to tobacco cessation services.
• In India, childhood Tuberculosis remains a staggering problem, contributing to approximately 31% of the global burden. Over the last decade, consistently, children constitute 6-7% of all the patients treated under NTEP annually, pointing to a gap of 4-5% in total notification against the estimated incidence. To that end, intersectoral coordination is critical for ensuring wide-reach of the programme to remedy this gap.

TB Prevention

‘Prevent’ is one of the four critical pillars (Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build) of India’s National Strategic Plan for Elimination of Tuberculosis (NSP 2017-25) that focuses on preventing the emergence of TB in a vulnerable population. The program has offered TB Preventive Therapy (TPT) for more than a decade, albeit limitedly to children below the age of six years and People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) for the past few years.

Value Addition:

Visions & Goals of the National Strategic Plan 2017 – 2025

• The Vision is of a TB free India with zero deaths, disease and poverty due to tuberculosis.
• The Goal is to achieve a rapid decline in the burden of TB, mortality and morbidity, while working towards the elimination of TB in India by 2025.
• The requirements for moving towards TB elimination in India have been arranged in four strategic areas of Detect, Treat, Prevent & Build. There is also across all four areas, an overarching theme of the Private Sector. Another overarching theme is that of Key Populations.

Targets

The targets of the National Strategic Plan are set out as consisting of both outcome and impact indicators. There are also four main “thrust” or priority areas in the NSP which are:

• Private sector engagement;
• Plugging the “leak” from the TB care cascade (i.e. people with TB going missing from care);
• Active case finding among key populations;
• People in “high risk” groups, preventing the development of active TB in people with latent TB.

Nikshay Poshan Yojana has been implemented from 01^st April 2018, wherein 500 rupees per month is being provided to All TB patients towards nutritional support for the duration of their treatment. Tribal patient travel support, wherein 750 rupees is being provided to all TB patients in tribal notified blocks towards travel support is an ongoing scheme since the twelfth plan.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. INDIA ABSTAINS ON UNGA VOTES

THE CONTEXT: India abstained on two resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on related to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are the resolutions?

• The first abstention was on a draft resolution proposed by Ukraine that held Russia responsible for the crisis.
• The second was a procedural vote — on whether the UNGA ought to take up a second resolution, proposed by South Africa, for action at all. This resolution did not mention Russia.

Background:

• The first resolution was adopted with support from 140 countries and the second was not put to vote because it did not have sufficient support.
• The draft version of Ukraine’s resolution named Russia, the UNGA “demands an immediate cessation of the hostilities by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, in particular of any attacks against civilians and civilian objects.”
• The 140 countries that voted in its favour included the U.S. and European Union countries. India was among 38 abstentions, as were China, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Five countries voted against it: Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Eritrea.

Value Addition:

 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

• About: Established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations, the UN General Assembly occupies a central position as the chief deliberative, policy making and representative organ of the United Nations.
• The UNGA is headed by its President, who is elected for a term of one year.
• Composition: It comprises all 193 Members of the United Nations.
• Mandate: provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.
• It also plays a significant role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

3. EXPLAINED: WHAT IS THE NATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL PRICING AUTHORITY’S ROLE IN FIXING DRUG PRICES?

THE CONTEXT: According to the Government sources, for the first time in many years, prices of nearly 800 drugs and medical devices under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) are set to increase by over 10 percent, owing to a sharp rise in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI).

THE EXPLANATION:

• If the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) allows a price hike of over 10% in the drugs and devices listed under the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) the consumers may have to pay more for medicines and medical devices.
• The escalation which is expected to have an impact on nearly 800 drugs and devices is propelled by the rise in the Wholesale Price Index (WPI). Lobby groups that represent domestic pharmaceutical companies have been engaging with the Central Government to ask it to extend the 10% annual hike to scheduled formulations under price control.
• NELM lists drugs used to treat common conditions such as fever, infection, heart disease, hypertension, skin diseases and anaemia, among others.
• It includes paracetamol and antibiotics such as azithromycin, used to treat bacterial infections, anti-anaemia prescriptions such as folic acid, vitamins and minerals.
• Some drugs used for treating moderately to severely sick COVID-19 patients, steroids like prednisolone, are also included

 About NPPA:

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is a government regulatory agency that controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs in India.
• It was constituted by a Government of India Resolution dated 29th August, 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers as an independent regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices with Headquarter at New Delhi, India.

Functions of NPPA:

4. FARM INCOME FELL IN FOUR STATES: REPORT BY PARLIAMENTARY PANEL

THE CONTEXT: According to the Parliamentary panel, While National farm income rose 27% between 2015-16 and 2018-19, Jharkhand saw a drop in monthly income by 30%.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Committee recommended that the Department of Agriculture and Family Welfare “should formulate a Special Team to figure out the reasons for falling farmers’ income in those States and take some course corrective measures so that the doubling of farmers income is not lost sight of.”
• The Doubling Farmers’ Income (DFI) committee had calculated the 2015-16 baseline by extrapolating the National Statistical Organization’s (NSO) survey data from 2012-13, calculating that the national average monthly income of a farm family in that year was ₹8,059. By the time the next NSO survey was conducted in 2018-19, monthly income had risen 27% to ₹10,218.
• In Jharkhand, however, a farm family’s average income fell from ₹7,068 to ₹4,895 over the same period. In Madhya Pradesh, it fell from ₹9,740 to ₹8,339, in Nagaland, from ₹11,428 to ₹9,877, and for Odisha, it dipped marginally from ₹5,274 to ₹5,112.
• The panel also noted that while the Department’s budgetary allocation may have risen in absolute terms, it has consistently declined in percentage terms. In the 2019-20 Budget, announced just before Lok Sabha polls, the department received 4.7% of total allocations. That proportion has dropped every year since, and in 2022-23, the department’s budget accounted for only 3.1% of the total.

Value Addition:

Committee on Doubling of Farmers Income:

The Government constituted an Inter-ministerial Committee (on the recommendation of Ashok Dalwai) in April, 2016 to examine issues relating to “Doubling of Farmers Income” (DFI) and recommend strategies to achieve the same. The Committee submitted its Report to the Government in September, 2018 containing the strategy for doubling of farmers’ income by the year 2022.  The DFI strategy as recommended by the Committee include seven sources of income growth viz.,

1. improvement in crop productivity.
2. improvement in livestock productivity.

• resource use efficiency or savings in the cost of production.

1. increase in the cropping intensity.
2. diversification towards high value crops; (vi) improvement in real prices received by farmers; and (vii) shift from farm to non-farm occupations.

5. FCRA REGISTRATION EXTENDED

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the validity of FCRA [Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act] registration of NGOs till June 30, 2022 revising its previous extended deadline of March 31, 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

The registration of thousands of non-governmental organizations and associations that were up for renewal in October 2021 were stuck and the deadline for the same was December 31.

Value Addition:

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act:

It is an act of Parliament enacted in 1976 and amended in 2010. It was to regulate foreign donations and to ensure that such contributions do not adversely affect internal security.

• Coverage: It is applicable to all associations, groups, and NGOs which intend to receive foreign donations.
• Registration: It is mandatory for all such NGOs to register themselves under the FCRA. The registration is initially valid for five years. Further, it can be renewed subsequently if they comply with all norms.
• Registered NGOs can receive foreign contributions for five purposes — social, educational, religious, economic, and cultural. There are 22,591 FCRA registered NGOs.

Foreign Contribution Regulation (Amendment) Rules 2020:

• New rules require any organization that wants to register itself under the FCRA to have existed for at least three years. Further, it should have spent a minimum of Rs. 15 lakh on its core activities during the last three financial years for the benefit of society.

• Office bearers of the NGOs seeking registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act must submit a specific commitment letter from the donor. It should indicate the amount of foreign contribution and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given.
• Any NGO or person making an application for obtaining prior permission to receive foreign funds shall have an FCRA Account.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. IMD LAUNCHES CLIMATE HAZARDS E-BOOK AND VULNERABILITY E-ATLAS

THE CONTEXT: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) launched an e-book, Climate Hazards and Vulnerability Atlas of India- State: Tamil Nadu, as part of the World Meteorological Day celebrations.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the officials, the e-atlas would help disaster management agencies take preventive steps. Also, it helps in challenges in hydrological modelling in urbanized river basins for flood forecasting.
• The newly launched atlas can be accessed by the public from the website mausam.imd.gov.in.
• This e-atlas will help the disaster management agencies to take preventive steps against any disaster that they might face.
• A topic of discussion during the launch event of this e-atlas was about the challenges faced in the hydrological modelling in urbanised river basins for the forecasting of floods.
• An exhibition was hosted by the IMD, and its facilities were opened to the members of the public.

Value Addition:

About IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is the country’s principal agency that is responsible for forecasting weather, meteorological observations, and seismology. This organization is headquartered in Delhi and has hundreds of other observation stations stationed across India and Antarctica. The regional offices of the IMD are Mumbai, Chennai, Nagpur, Kolkata, New Delhi, and Guwahati.

The IMD is also one among the World Meteorological Organisation’s six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres. IMD is responsible for naming, forecasting, and warnings distribution for tropical cyclones in the region of the Northern Indian Ocean that includes the Bay of Bengal, the Malacca Straits, the Persian Gulf, and the Arabian Sea.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 25^th MARCH 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about ‘NIPUN Bharat’ initiative:

1. It seeks to ensure universal acquisition of foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3 of schooling.
2. Target is to be achieved by 2025.
3. It is being funded through Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan.

Which of the above given statements are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 24^th MARCH 2022

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Abel Prize recognizes contributions to the field of mathematics that are of extraordinary depth and influence.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: It was established by the Norwegian government in 2002, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Niels Henrik Abel's birth. The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters awards the Abel Prize based on a recommendation from the Abel committee.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE PROPOSED MEKEDATU WATER PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are at loggerheads over the Mekedatu drinking water project across river Cauvery. Tamil Nadu’s Assembly has passed a resolution against the project, while Karnataka’s legislative assembly is set to counter it with a resolution seeking the project’s early implementation and clearance.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Mekedatu is a drinking water cum power generation project proposed by Karnataka across the river Cauvery. The ₹9,000 crore balancing reservoir at Mekedatu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border envisages impounding of 67.15 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) ft. of water.
• Karnataka has argued that since the project falls inside its own jurisdictional limit, Tamil Nadu’s permission is not needed.

What is the project?

• Originally mooted in 1948, Mekedatu (which translates as Goat’s crossing) is a drinking water cum power generation project across river Cauvery.
• Karnataka gave the project shape after the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was notified in February 2013 allocating the riparian states their shares.
• After a pre-feasibility study report was submitted in 2018, the State submitted a detailed project report to the Central Water Commission in 2019.
• The project, which will involve submergence of nearly 5,100 hectares of forest in Cauvery wild life sanctuary hosting rich flora and fauna, will help the state in utilising the additional 4.75 tmc ft. of water allocated by Supreme Court in 2018 for consumptive use for drinking purpose for Bengaluru and neighbouring areas.
• Karnataka’s share in the award has been decided at 284.75 tmc ft. In July 2019, the Expert Appraisal Committee on River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has said the proposal could be reconsidered only after Tamil Nadu and Karnataka reach an “amicable solution.”

How will it benefit Karnataka?

• The water from Mekedatu is to be pumped to quench the thirst of the burgeoning population of Bengaluru which is estimated to be around 1.3 crore. Currently, more than 30% of Bengaluru is dependent on borewell water. Along with the 5th stage of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme, which will be completed shortly, the water from Mekedatu is projected to meet the water requirement of the State capital for the next 30 years.
• Besides, there are also plans to generate 400 MW of power. The revenue earned from power generation is expected to compensate the Government its investment on the project within a few years.
• Karnataka argues that the reservoir will also help to ensure monthly flow stipulated in the award for Tamil Nadu rather than harm the neighbouring State’s interest in any way.

What is Karnataka’s stand?

• Karnataka says that there is no case for Tamil Nadu after its share of 177.75 tmc ft. of water is ensured at the inter-State border gauging centre at Biligundlu. Also, the project falls inside the jurisdictional limit of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu’s permission is not needed.
• The State also argues that since there is no stay in any court for the project, Karnataka can go ahead. On utilising the surplus water, Karnataka says that any allocation in this sphere should be done after hydrology studies to ascertain the quantum of excess water available in the basin.

Why is Tamil Nadu opposed to it?

• According to the TN Govt, through the project, Karnataka will impound and divert flows from “uncontrolled catchments” to it, a component which was taken into account by the Tribunal in the 2007 order while arriving at the water allocation plan for the State.
• As per an estimate, around 80 tmc ft of water flows annually to Tamil Nadu, thanks to the catchments including the area between Kabini dam in Karnataka and Billigundulu gauging site on the inter-State border, and the area between Krishnaraja Sagar dam in Karnataka and the gauging site.
• As the upper riparian State has adequate infrastructure even now to address the water needs of Bengaluru, there is no need for the Mekedatu project, according to Tamil Nadu.
• Mekedatu also does not find mention in the Tribunal’s final order or the Supreme Court judgement. Besides, given the unpleasant experiences that it has had with Karnataka in securing its share of the Cauvery water, as per the monthly schedule of water release, Tamil Nadu is wary of assurances from the other side.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2. THE ARTEMIS PROGRAMME, NASA’S NEW MOON MISSION

THE CONTEXT: In early March 2022, the NASA rolled out its Artemis I moon mission to the launchpad for testing at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, United States. The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion capsule of the mission were hurled out to the launchpad by NASA’s Crawler-Transporter 2 vehicle.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is the Artemis mission?

• NASA’s Artemis mission is touted as the next generation of lunar exploration and is named after the twin sister of Apollo from Greek mythology. Artemis is also the goddess of the moon.

• Artemis I is the first of NASA’s deep space exploration systems. It is an uncrewed space mission where the spacecraft will launch on SLS — the most powerful rocket in the world — and travel 2,80,000 miles from the earth for over four to six weeks during the course of the mission. The Orion spacecraft is going to remain in space without docking to a space station, longer than any ship for astronauts has ever done before.
• The SLS rocket has been designed for space missions beyond the low-earth orbit and can carry crew or cargo to the moon and beyond. With the Artemis programme, NASA aims to land humans on the moon by 2024, and it also plans to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon.
• With this mission, NASA aims to contribute to scientific discovery and economic benefits and inspire a new generation of explorers.
• NASA will establish an Artemis Base Camp on the surface and a gateway in the lunar orbit to aid exploration by robots and astronauts. The gateway is a critical component of NASA’s sustainable lunar operations and will serve as a multi-purpose outpost orbiting the moon.
• The Canadian Space Agency has committed to providing advanced robotics for the gateway, and the European Space Agency will provide the International Habitat and the ESPRIT module, which will deliver additional communications capabilities among other things. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency plans to contribute habitation components and logistics resupply.

What is the mission trajectory?

• SLS and Orion under Artemis I will be launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, U.S. in the summer of 2022. The spacecraft will deploy the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS), a liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen-based propulsion system that will give Orion the thrust needed to leave the earth’s orbit and travel towards the moon.
• The spacecraft will communicate with the control centre back on Earth through the deep-space network. The aim of the exercise is to collect data and to allow mission controllers to assess the performance of the spacecraft.
• To re-enter the earth’s atmosphere, Orion will do a close flyby within less than 100 km of the moon’s surface and use both the service module and the moon’s gravity to accelerate back towards the earth. The mission will end with the spacecraft’s ability to return safely to the earth.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/ INITIATIVES IN NEWS

3. JAL SHAKTI MINISTRY LAUNCHES SUJLAM 2.0 CAMPAIGN TO BOOST GREYWATER MANAGEMENT

THE CONTEXT: On the occasion of World Water Day, the central government launched a nationwide campaign for greywater management. Called Sujlam 2.0, the campaign will focus on creation of community and institutional greywater management assets.

THE EXPLANATION:

The objective of this campaign

The Sujlam 2.0 campaign was launched with the objective of managing greywater through the participation of the people. Under this campaign, there are plans to mobilize communities such as schools, panchayats, and anganwadis to help in greywater management.

Funding of this campaign

Funds for greywater management will be provided from the Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin Phase II or through grants under the 15th Finance Commission as well as the MGNREGS or through the convergence between all of them.

What is Greywater?

Greywater refers to the domestic wastewater that is generated in households, office buildings, etc. and is without faecal contamination. Sources of greywater include showers, sinks, washing machines, baths, etc.’

Since greywater contains less pathogens compared to domestic wastewater, it is safer to treat, handle, and reuse for the purpose of landscape, toilet flushing, crop irrigation, etc.

How can Greywater be managed?

It can be best managed where greywater is generated.  It can turn into a major infrastructure and management challenge if greywater is allowed to be accumulated and thus, can stagnate.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. THE AHIR REGIMENT DEMAND

THE CONTEXT: An ongoing agitation by members of the Ahir community disrupted traffic on a 6-kilometre stretch of the Delhi-Gurgaon highway. The protesters demanding an Ahir Regiment in the Indian Army.

THE EXPLANATION:

WHAT IS THE REASON BEHIND THE DEMAND?

Members of the community have long argued that the Ahirs deserve a full-fledged Infantry Regiment named after them, not just two battalions in the Kumaon Regiment and a fixed percentage in other regiments.

The demand got a boost during the 50th anniversary of the 1962 War in 2012 when the saga of the Ahirs’ heroism was recounted repeatedly and has received renewed traction in the 60th anniversary year.

• The protesters contend that the Indian Army had several caste-based regiments (for Sikhs, Gorkhas, Jaats, Garhwals, Rajputs).
• In the battle of Rezang La in 1962, out of 120 casualties, 114 were Ahirs.
• It is unfortunate that Ahirs have not got the recognition like other communities.
• The recruitment to President’s Bodyguard (PBG) is open only for Rajputs, Jats and Sikh regiments.
• The Ahirs are variously described as a caste, a clan, a community, a race and a tribe.
• The traditional occupations of Ahirs are cattle-herding and agriculture.

What has been the Army’s response to the demand?

The Army has rejected the demand for any new class or caste-based regiment. It has said that while the older regiments based on castes and regions like the Dogra Regiment, Sikh Regiment, Rajput Regiment, and Punjab Regiment will continue, no new demands on the lines of an Ahir Regiment, Himachal Regiment, Kalinga Regiment, Gujarat Regiment, or any tribal regiment would be entertained.

 5. EXPLAINED: WHAT ARE BLACK BOXES, AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT IN A CRASH INVESTIGATION?

THE CONTEXT: The Eastern Airlines of Boeing 737-800 with 132 people on board crashed in Guangxi province of southern China after a sudden plunge from cruising altitude at about the time when it would normally start to descend ahead of its landing.

THE EXPLANATION:

Black boxes

• These are two large metallic boxes containing recorders that are required to be kept on most aircraft, one in the front and the other in the rear. The recorders record the information about a flight, and help reconstruct the events leading to an aircraft accident.
• The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) records radio transmissions and other sounds in the cockpit, such as conversations between the pilots, and engine noises. The flight data recorder (FDR) records more than 80 different types of information such as altitude, airspeed, flight heading, vertical acceleration, pitch, roll, autopilot status, etc.
• Black boxes are mandatory on commercial flights. Their purpose on aircraft is not to establish legal liability, but to identify the causes of a mishap and, therefore, help to prevent adverse incidents in the future.

Orange, not black

Black boxes are a blazing, high-visibility orange in colour, so that crews looking for them at a crash site have the best chance of finding them. The use of black boxes dates back to the early 1950s, when, following plane crashes, investigators were unable to arrive at a conclusive cause for the accidents.

Surviving the crash

• In the initial days of the black box, a limited amount of data were recorded on wire or foil. Thereafter magnetic tape was used, and modern models contain solid state memory chips.
• The recording devices, each weighing about 4.5 kg, are stored inside a unit that is generally made out of strong substances such as steel or titanium, and are insulated from extreme heat, cold or wetness. The FDR is located towards the tail end of the aircraft because that is usually where the impact of a crash is the least.
• To make black boxes discoverable under water, they are equipped with a beacon that sends out ultrasound signals for 30 days.

Retrieving the data

• It usually takes 10-15 days to analyse the data recovered from the black boxes. Meanwhile investigators look for other clues such as taking accounts from air traffic control personnel and recordings of the conversation between ATC and the pilots’ moments before the crash.
• This helps investigators understand if pilots were aware that they were in a situation that was headed to such an eventuality and if so, whether they had reported any problems regarding controlling the aircraft.

6. ABEL PRIZE FOR 2022

THE CONTEXT: Dennis Parnell Sullivan, an American mathematician, has been announced as the winner of the Abel Prize 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The math genius received the award for his work in topology and its branches, specifically “for his groundbreaking contributions to topology in its broadest sense, and in particular its algebraic, geometric and dynamical aspects.”
• Topology is a branch of mathematics that considers two objects of different shapes equivalent if they can be deformed into one another through shrinking, stretching and similar forces, but gluing foreign parts or tearing them apart is not allowed in the study of topology. This stream of mathematics is comparatively new as it was born in the late 19th century. The study of topology has been remarkably important in maths and other fields such as economics, data science and physics.

Abel Prize

• Abel Prize is an annual prize given annually to a person by the King of Norway, who has done a remarkable job in the field of mathematics.
• The annual award for mathematics is named after the great Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel. The award is inspired by the famous Nobel Prize. It is pertinent to note that there is no Nobel Prize for mathematics, though some mathematicians have won the prestigious Nobel Prize in different fields other than Mathematics.
• The Fields Medal is another annual award that is sometimes considered the ‘Mathematics Nobel’ but is only awarded to those below 40 years of age.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 24^th MARCH 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about Abel Prize:

1. It recognizes contributions to the field of mathematics that are of extraordinary depth and influence.
2. It is established by the Sweden government in 2002.
3. The award has been awarded biennially since 2003.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 23^RD MARCH 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: It was launched during 12th Five Year Plan. It was approved and notified on 29.09.2014.
• Statement 2 is correct: It is centrally sponsored scheme.
• Statement 3 is correct: Government of India has recently announced its continuation of its implementation up to 2026.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. BIHAR TO BECOME THE FIRST STATE TO IMPLEMENT DYNAMIC MAP TO TRACK LAND OWNERSHIPS

THE CONTEXT: New technological interventions are leading to better management and ease of living. Aligning with this, Bihar has become the first state in the country to introduce the concept of the dynamic map for villages. The dynamic map will automatically get updated, each time land ownership changes hands. The objective of the move is to reduce legal disputes.

THE EXPLANATION:

About the Initiative

As stated by the Bihar government, since February 2021, the state has seen almost 37,000 cases of land disputes and others. The move aimed to implement dynamic maps is taken as the state government’s initiative to resolve the issue of long-pending land reforms. It is pertinent to mention that the state Assembly has recently passed the Bihar Land Mutation Amendment Bill, 2021, that made the mutation of maps mandatory.

How will it work?

Every time a mutation takes place now, it will entail three changes, including

• A change in the text
• A change in the land parcel
• A modification of the survey map

What is Bihar Land Mutation Amendment Bill 2021?

• The Bill is aimed at reducing land-related disputes in the state. According to the Bihar government, in just about a year since February 2021, the state has seen almost 37,000 cases of some land dispute or the other. The move towards dynamic maps is part of a series of steps taken by the state government to implement long-pending land reforms.
• Therefore, dynamic maps of the village would ultimately reduce the cases related to land disputes considerably.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. RISE IN HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT IN KERALA

THE CONTEXT: The Wildlife Institute of India-Dehradun and Periyar Tiger Conservation Foundation in Kerala had jointly conducted a study to identify the reasons behind the increasing incidents of man-animal conflict in the state.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to Kerala Forest Department data, the state has, since 2011, reported 34,875 cases of wildlife attacks, leaving 1,233 dead and 6,803 injured. A large number of deaths have been caused by snake bites. The incidents of attacks have been reported from across the state with a slight increase in central and northern forest circles.
• Wildlife attacks on humans have assumed alarming proportions in Kerala, where as many as 1,233 people have been killed in such attacks in the last one decade. One of the major factors behind the menace is the depletion in the quality of forest habitats in the state due to the growth of invasive alien plants.

• The Forest Department sources said the study has specifically pointed out that foreign invasive plants at forests have reduced the availability of fodder in forests, forcing animals to foray into settlements and farmlands.
• The quality of forest habitats has been lost due to the cultivation of alien plants mainly acacia, mangium and eucalyptus in forest tracts for commercial purpose. In Kerala, these alien trees have been cultivated at 30,000 hectares of forest land, impacting the quality of animal habitats.
• Other factors identified behind the increase in wildlife attacks are changing patterns of crops cultivated in farmlands near forests. Sugarcane, banana and similar crops are largely cultivated in such areas. Besides, the area of cultivation near forest tracts has increased leading to the conflict.
• The study also noted an increase in wildlife population due to effective conservation strategies. The movement of wildlife has been disrupted due to the fragmentation of habitats coupled with the increased movement of humans through such fragmented areas during odd hours.
• Recently, Kerala government had submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to declare wild boar as vermin, which would make the culling of the animal legal. However, the Union Ministry turned down the proposal.

3. MOST OF GANGA CLEAN, CLAIMS JAL SHAKTI MINISTRY

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ministry of Jal Shakthi, the water quality of the river Ganga was clean enough for bathing and capable for supporting the river ecosystem for almost the entire stretch of the river.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Ministry, the Dissolved Oxygen (DO), which is an indicator of river health was within “acceptable limits” of “bathing water quality criteria”.
• A report by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2018, pointed out four polluted stretches on the main stem of river Ganga. There are five categories ranked 1 to 5, with 1 the most polluted and 5 the least. An updated 2021 report noted that none of the stretches of the Ganga stretches were now in Priority Category I to IV and only two stretches are in Priority Category V with Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), a parameter different from DO, ranging between 3-6 microgram/litre as per CPCB categorisation of polluted stretch.
• A comparison of median data of water quality parameters such as DO, Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Faecal Coliform (FC) from 2014 and 2021; DO (Median) has improved at 31 locations; BOD at 46 and FC at 23 locations, respectively, the Ministry data noted.
• The 2018 report of the CPCB had identified 351 polluted stretches on 323 rivers based on monitoring results of 521 rivers in terms of Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). “Based on the assessment of water quality, various measures are being taken both by the Centre and the States to prevent pollution of rivers and drains out–falling into them. River cleaning is a continuous process and the Central government assists the State governments and urban local bodies through schemes like ‘Namami Gange’ and National River Conservation Plan (NRCP).

Value Addition:

National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)

• NMCG has been focusing on youth as part of its outreach and public communications efforts as they are the impellers of change.
• NMCG has tied-up with Diamond Toons to develop and distribute comics, e-comics and animated videos.
• The content will be designed with the objective of bringing about behavioral change amongst children towards Ganga and other rivers.

Namami Gange Programme

It is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of 20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

Main pillars of the Namami Gange Programme are:-

• Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure
• River-Front Development
• River-Surface Cleaning
• Bio-Diversity
• Afforestation
• Public Awareness
• Industrial Effluent Monitoring
• Ganga Gram

Its implementation has been divided into

• Entry-Level Activities (for immediate visible impact),
• Medium-Term Activities (to be implemented within 5 years of time frame) and
• Long-Term Activities (to be implemented within 10 years).

4. NEW DELHI REMAINS THE WORLD CAPITAL IN AIR POLLUTION, SWISS SURVEY FINDS

THE CONTEXT: New Delhi has topped the list of most polluted capitals in 2021, a dubious first position it has now held for four successive years, according to the World Air Quality Report prepared by Swiss organization IQ Air.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT:

• According to the report, “Central and South Asia had some of the world’s worst air quality and was home to 46 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities” in 2021.
• “India was home to 11 of the 15 most polluted cities in Central and South Asia in 2021.Delhi saw a 14.6% increase in PM2.5 concentrations in 2021 with levels rising to 96.4 µg/m3 from 84 µg/m3 in 2020.
• Delhi is followed by the following capitals — Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan) and Muscat (Oman). The city is topping the list for the fourth consecutive year. Delhi topped a list of 92 capital cities in 2020, 85 such cities in 2019, and 62 such cities in 2018.
• Bhiwadi also topped the list of the ‘world’s most polluted cities’ in 2021 — 50 cities ranked in terms of PM 2.5 levels. This was followed by Ghaziabad and Hotan, China. Delhi was fourth on the list, while Noida was seventh with a PM 2.5 level of 91.4 µg/m3, and Gurgaon was eighteenth with 83.4 µg/m3. Faridabad, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Meerut, and Sonipat are other NCR areas that were on the list.
• Sources of PM 2.5 “include internal combustion engines, power generation, industrial processes, agricultural processes, construction, and residential wood and coal burning. The most common natural sources for PM 2.5 are dust storms, sandstorms, and wildfires,” the report stated.
• In 2021, none of the cities in India met the prescribed World Health Organization air quality standards of 5 micrograms per cubic meter, the report stated.
• India also continues to feature prominently among the most polluted cities with 35 of the top 50 most polluted cities being in this country. India’s annual average PM 2.5 levels reached 58.1 μg/m3 in 2021, ending a three-year trend of improving air quality.”

WHO’S NEW AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES

Governments Measures taken:

• Notification of National Ambient Air Quality Standards and sector-specific emission and effluent standards for industries.
• Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of ambient air quality.
• Introduction of cleaner gaseous fuels like CNG, LPG etc and ethanol blending.
• Launching of National Air Quality Index (AQI);
• Leapfrogging from BS-IV to BS-VI standards for vehicles by 1st April 2020.
• Regulating the bursting of pollution-emitting crackers.
• Notification of graded response action plan for Delhi identifying source wise actions for various levels of air pollution, etc.
• National Clean Air Programme.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

5. GOVERNMENT INCREASES MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE FOR JUTE

THE CONTEXT: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister approved a proposal to raise the minimum support price (MSP) for raw jute to ₹4,750 a quintal for the 2022-23 season, an increase of ₹250, or 5.5%, over the previous year.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Government, the new MSP would ensure a return of 60.53% over the all-India weighted average cost of production.
• The hike is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a minimum of 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production, as announced in the budget for 2018-19. This assures a minimum 50% profit margin.
• The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices had recommended the higher MSP.
• The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) will continue as the central government nodal agency to undertake the price support operation. In case of any losses in the operation, they would be fully reimbursed by the central government.

Value Addition:

About MSP:

• MSP is the rate at which the government purchases crops from farmers and is based on a calculation of at least one-and-a-half times the cost of production incurred by the farmers.
• The government of India sets the MSP twice a year for 23 crops (13 Kharif, 6 Rabi and 4 commercial crops).
• The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)attached the Ministry of Agriculture office, which decides the minimum support price and recommends it to the government. It is an advisory body whose recommendations are not binding to the government.

FRP for Sugarcane:

• The central government and State Government determine them.
• The Central Government announces Fair and Remunerative Prices, which are determined on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and are announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which Prime Minister chairs.
• The State Advised Prices (SAP) are announced by key sugarcane producing states generally higher than FRP.

 Additional information about crops:

6. EXPLAINED: NATIONAL LAND MONETIZATION CORPORATION

THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister has approved the setting up National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC),it will be wholly owned Government of India company with an initial authorized share capital of Rs 5000 crore and paid-up share capital of Rs 150 crore.

THE EXPLANATION:

• NLMC will undertake monetization of surplus land and building assets of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other Government agencies. The proposal is in pursuance of the Budget Announcement for 2021-22.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE?

• At present, CPSEs hold considerable surplus, unused and under used non-core assets in the nature of land and buildings. For CPSEs undergoing strategic disinvestment or closure, monetization of these surplus land and non-core assets is important to unlock their value.
• NLMC will support and undertake monetization of these assets. This will also enable productive utilization of these under-utilized assets to trigger private sector investments, new economic activities, boost local economy and generate financial resources for economic and social infrastructure.
• NLMC is also expected to own, hold, manage and monetize surplus land and building assets of CPSEs under closure and the surplus non-core land assets of Government owned CPSEs under strategic disinvestment.
• Efficiency:NLMC will undertake surplus land asset monetization as an agency function. It is expected that NLMC will act as a repository of best practices in land monetization, assist and provide technical advice to Government in implementation of asset monetization programme.
• Technical Experts: NLMC will have necessary technical expertise to professionally manage and monetize land assets on behalf of CPSEs and other Government agencies. The Board of Directors of NLMC will comprise senior Central Government officers and eminent experts to enable professional operations and management of the company.  The Chairman, non-Government Directors of the NLMC will be appointed through a merit-based selection process.

NLMC will be a lean organization with minimal full time staff, hired directly from the market on contract basis.  Flexibility will be provided to the Board of NLMC to hire, pay and retain experienced professionals from the private sector.

• Nodal Agency: Department of Public Enterprise, Ministry of Finance, will set up the company and act as its administrative ministry.

What does monetisation mean?

• When the government monetises its assets, it essentially means that it is transferring the revenue rights of the asset (could be idle land, infrastructure, PSU) to a private player for a specified period of time.
• In such a transaction, the government gets in return an upfront payment from the private entity, regular share of the revenue generated from the asset, a promise of steady investment into the asset, and the title rights to the monetised asset.
• There are multiple ways to monetise government assets; in the case of land monetisation of certain spaces like offices, it can be done through a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) — a company that owns and operates a land asset and sometimes, funds income-producing real estate. Assets of the government can also be monetised through the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) model.

What is the Need?

• There are different reasons why the government monetises its assets. One of them is to create new sources of revenue.
• Second is to unlock the potential of unused or underused assets by involving institutional investors or private players.
• Thirdly, it is also done to generate resources or capital for future asset creation.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 23^rd MARCH 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about National Ayush Mission (NAM):

1. It was launched during 11 th Five Year Plan
2. It is centrally sponsored scheme.
3. Government of India has recently announced its continuation of its implementation up to2026.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 22^ND MARCH 2022

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Stagflation is a situation in an economy when inflation and unemployment both are at higher levels.
• Conventional thinking that a trade-off existed between inflation and unemployment (i.e., Phillips Curve) was falsified when a situation first arose in the 1970s in the US economy (average unemployment rate above 6 per cent and the average rate of inflation above 7 per cent) and in many Euro-American economies. This took place as a result of oil price increases of 1973 and 1979 and anticipation of higher inflation.

When the economy is passing through the cycle of stagnation and the government shuffle with the economic policy, a sudden and temporary price rise is seen in some of the goods—such inflation is also known as stagflation. Stagflation is basically a combination of high inflation and low growth.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1.‘RUSSIA USED PHOSPHORUS SHELLS IN DONBAS ATTACKS’

THE CONTEXT: Ukrainian officials accused Russia of using phosphorus chemical bombs in the eastern Donbas region, while a separate air strike on a monastery sheltering civilians wounded 30.

THE EXPLANATION:

International law prohibits the use of white phosphorus shells in heavily populated civilian areas but allows them in open spaces to be used as cover for troops.

What is White Phosphorus?

• White phosphorous is a colour less, white or yellow, waxy solid.
• It does not occur naturally.
• It is manufactured using phosphate rocks. It smells like garlic.
• It is a highly combustible substance that reacts with oxygen in the air.
• It can catch fire at temperatures as low as 10 to 15 degrees above room temperature.

Applications:

• Militaries across the globe use white phosphorous (WP) in mortar shells, grenades and artillery shells.
• When burnt, WP produces a large amount of smoke that can be used to provide a screen to friendly troops’ movement.
• The smoke can also be used to mark the targets so that aircraft can drop bombs at the location.
• It can also be used by troops to give the signal for attack or evacuation.
• Other applications may include as a component in fertilisers, food additives and cleaning compounds.

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC):

• CWC is a multilateral treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their destruction within a specified period of time.
• CWC negotiations started in 1980 in the UN Conference on Disarmament.
• The convention entered into force on April 29, 1997.
• CWC is implemented by: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW),
• The OPCW receives states-parties’ declarations detailing chemical weapons-related activities and relevant industrial activities.
• CWC is open to all nations and currently has 193 states-parties.
• India is a signatory and party to the CWC.
• Three states have neither signed nor ratified the convention: Egypt, North Korea and South Sudan.

Prohibitions:

The CWC prohibits:

• Developing, producing, stockpiling, or retaining chemical weapons.
• The direct or indirect transfer of chemical weapons.
• Chemical weapons use or military preparation for use.
• Assisting, encouraging, or inducing other states to engage in CWC-prohibited activity.
• The use of riot control agents as a method of warfare.

2. JAPAN TO INVEST $42 BILLION IN INDIA OVER FIVE YEARS

THE CONTEXT: India and Japan set an investment target of “five trillion yen” ($42 billion) in the next five years, the leaders announced after a meeting in New Delhi for the 14th annual summit, where several agreements were signed.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The two sides discussed various regional issues where Indian Prime Minister briefed Japan PM Fumio Kishida on the situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, and the PLA’s attempts at “multiple transgression” on the LAC.
• The two sides also exchanged six agreements on cybersecurity, economic partnerships, waste–water management, urban development, a clean energy partnership and an agreement on promoting bamboo–based products from the northeast region.

List of Agreements/MoUs signed during the 14th India-Japan Annual Summit

1. Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the field of Cybersecurity: For information sharing, capacity building programs and cooperation in the area of cybersecurity.
2. 7 JICA Loans (INR 20400 crores) for projects in connectivity, water supply and sewerage, horticulture, healthcare, and biodiversity conservation in various States.

• Dedicated Freight Corridor Project (Phase 2) (III)
• North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project (NH208 (Khowai – Sabroom)) Phase 6

• Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Project (Phase 3) (II)
• Uttarakhand Integrated Horticulture Development Project
• Strengthening Health Systems and Excellence of Medical Education in Assam
• Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project Phase –II
• Chennai Metro (Phase 2) (II)

3. Amendment of Article 7 (Exchange of Information) of Implementing Agreement (IA) signed between India and Japan as per Article 13 of India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Amend Annex 2 (Product Specific rules) of CEPA to allow the fish surimi product of India with the non-originating additive to be considered as an originating good of India.

4. Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Management: To introduce Johkasoutechnology in India by Japanese companies for decentralized waste water treatment. It is used in areas where sewage infrastructure has not yet been developed.
5. India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership Roadmap: To implement the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnershipthat was signed in November 2021. It seeks to seeks to address issues that Japanese companies currently face in India through a fast-track mechanism. Working Groups on logistics and textiles have been established and in other sectors as needed. It includes cooperation in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector and supply chain matters.
   6. Memorandum of Cooperation on Sustainable Urban Development: Builds on the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Urban Development to include smart cities development, affordable housing, urban flood management, wastewater management, Intelligent Transport Management System etc.

For other Announcement during Summit

• Clean Energy Partnership (CEP): For cooperation in areas such as electric vehicles, storage systems including batteries, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, development of solar energy; hydrogen; ammonia; etc. The objective is to encourage manufacturing in India, creation of resilient and trustworthy supply chains in these areas as well as fostering collaboration in R&D. It will be implemented through the existing mechanism of Energy Dialogue.
• 5 trillion yen investment target (TBC): This follows from the Investment Promotion Partnership of 2014 when both sides had agreed for JPY 3.5 trillion investment during 2014-19. That target has been met, taking into account both ODA and Investments from Japan. The new ambitious target would provide a scope for greater involvement of Japanese companies in our economy.
• Sustainable Development Initiative for the Northeastern Region of India: Includes both ongoing projects and possible future cooperation in various States in the NER in areas such as connectivity, healthcare, new and renewable energy, as well as ‘Initiative for Strengthening Bamboo Value Chain in the North East’.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. THE VULTURE HOLOCAUST IN ASSAM

THE CONTEXT: According to forest officials, as many as 100 endangered vultures and an eagle have died in Assam’s Chaygaon region. The cause of death is being conjectured to be insecticide poisoning.

 THE EXPLANATION:

• As per reports, the area where they were found is located close to a village where at least 10 endangered vultures died after feeding on a pesticide-laced cattle carcass in February 2020. The vultures belonged to the Himalayan Griffon species while the eagle was a Stepee Eagle. Both birds are listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• There have been several instances of vultures dying after consuming carcass of poisoned animals in Assam in the past few years. In January and February 2021 , 56 vultures died in Tinsukia district in two separate incidents after consuming poisoned carcasses of cows.
• In April 2020, 19 vultures had died on a single day in Sivasagar district after consuming meat of a dead cow. In March 2019, 39 vultures had died in the same district after consuming poisoned meat.

VALUE ADDITION:

About Vultures:

• It is one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics.
• They act an important function as nature’s garbage collectors and help to keep the environment clean of waste.
• Vultures also play a valuable role in keeping wildlife diseases in check.

Why is the vulture population so significant?

• Vultures clear the carcasses of dead animals (nature’s cleanup crew) playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem
• Vultures have a highly acidic stomach that helps them kill disease-causing bacteria
• Reduces the health hazards associated with feral dogs that consume carcasses

What efforts have been taken for their conservation?

National Efforts

• India banned diclofenac for veterinary use in 2006.
• Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-25  was released by MoEFCC.
• Vulture Conservation Breeding Programme (VCBP) was established by Central Zoo Authority and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)  for captive breeding.
• Vulture Safe Zones are declared when no toxic drugs are found in undercover pharmacies and cattle carcass surveys for two consecutive years.
• Vulture restaurant has been established at Phansad wildlife sanctuarynear Murud in Maharashtra.

International Efforts

• Saving Asia’s Vultures from Extinction (SAVE) – A consortium of like-minded, regional and international organizations for conservation of south Asia’s vultures.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/NEWS IN NEWS

4. NIPUN BHARAT SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: The Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India has launched the National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy called National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) on 5^thJuly 2021 under the aegis of Centrally Sponsored Scheme of SamagraShiksha.

ABOUT THE SCHEME:

• The National Mission which has been launched under the aegis of the centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha, will focus on providing access and retaining children in foundational years of schooling; teacher capacity building; development of high quality and diversified Student and Teacher Resources/Learning Materials; and tracking the progress of each child in achieving learning outcomes.
• The Department of School Educationand Literacy, Ministry of Education (MoE) will be the implementing agency at the national level and will be headed by a Mission Director.

Students covered

• The mission will focus on children of age group of 3 to 9 years including pre-school to Grade 3. The children who are in Class 4 and 5 and have not attained the foundational skills will be provided individual teacher guidance and support, peer support and age appropriate and supplementary graded learning materials to acquire the necessary competencies.
• The goals and objectives of the mission are required to be achieved by all Govt., Govt. Aided and Private Schools so that universal acquisition of FLN skills can be achieved by 2026-27.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FORESTS- MARCH 21

THE CONTEXT: International Day of Forests is observed every year on March 21 The day aims to raise awareness regarding the importance of all types of forests.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the UN, around 1.6 billion people depend directly on forests for food, shelter, energy, medicines and income. Forests are home to about 80 per cent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity.
• World Forest Day theme 2022: The International Day of Forests 2022 theme is ‘Forests and Sustainable production and consumption.’
• The International Day of Forests was observed for the first time on March 21, 2013.

Why this day?

In 2012, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and United Nations (UN) established the day to combat climate change. Every year on this day, leading government networks and private organisations come together to enlighten people about the importance of forests and the role they play in our lives.

 THE DATA SHEET

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 22^ND MARCH 2022

Q. Which of the following best explains stagflation?

a) A situation in an economy when inflation and unemployment both are at higher levels.

b) A situation in an economy when inflation and employment both are at higher levels.

c) A situation in an economy when there is high inflation and low unemployment.

d) A situation in an economy when there is low inflation and high unemployment.

ANSWER FOR 21^ST MARCH 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Asiatic lion’s habitat included tropical dry forests, grasslands, thickets and deserts. Today’s,its population is limited in Gir National Park in Gujarat.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. PROJECT NILGIRI TAHR

THE CONTEXT: The Tamil Nadu Budget for FY 2022-23 allocated an amount of Rs.10 crore for protecting the state animal, Nilgiri Tahr.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The first-of-its-kind project aims to protect the endemic to the Nilgiris and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and raise awareness about it.
• The Nilgiri tahr population restricted to the fragmented patches of grasslands in the Mukurthi National Park.
• The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 under Schedule 1 protects this ungulate species, which is also listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Nilgiri tahr (nilgiritragushylocrius) lives in montane grasslands with rocky cliffs between 300 and 2,600 metres above mean sea level. Mukurthi, Glenmorgan of the Nilgiris, Anamalai, Grass Hills, Coimbatore’s Siruvani hills, Dindigul’s Palani hills, Megamalai of Theni, Agasthyamalai ranges, and Eravikulam in Kerala are all good places to see the elusive species.

Value Addition:

About Mukurthi National Park:

• The park was previously known as Nilgiri Tahr National Park.

• It was declared as a National Park in the year of 1990. Total area of the park is about 78.46 Km2. The park is characterized by montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with sholas in a high-altitude area of high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and high winds.
• The park is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India’s first International Biosphere Reserve. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1 July 2012. The Park is sandwiched between the Mudumalai National Park and the Silent Valley National Park.

2. THE GREAT BARRIER REEF SUFFERS WIDESPREAD CORAL BLEACHING

THE CONTEXT: According to the Australian government agency the Great Barrier Reef is suffering widespread and severe coral bleaching due to high ocean temperatures two years after a mass bleaching event.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The report by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Authority, which manages the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, comes before a United Nations delegation is due to assess whether the reef’s World Heritage listing should be downgraded due to the ravages of climate change.
• The reef has suffered significantly from coral bleaching caused by unusually warm ocean temperatures in 2016, 2017 and 2020. The previous bleaching damaged two-thirds of the coral.
• In July 2021, Australia garnered enough international support to defer an attempt by UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural organization, to downgrade the reef’s World Heritage status to “in danger“because of damage caused by climate change.

Value Addition:

What is coral spawning?

• Coral spawning is an annual event where corals simultaneously reproduce. During this synchronised breeding, coral polyps release millions of tiny egg and sperm bundles into the water. Each bundle must find another bundle from the same species to fertilise.
• Coral spawning is an annual event where corals simultaneously reproduce.
• During this synchronised breeding, coral polyps release millions of tiny egg and sperm bundles into the water.
• Each bundle must find another bundle from the same species to fertilise. By spawning on mass, corals increase the likelihood of finding and fertilising a matching bundle.

 When does coral spawn?

• This depends on a number of factors including their location, the water temperature and tides.
• On the Great Barrier Reef, inshore reefs typically spawn in October, while outer reefs spawn during November or December.
• Spawning follows a full moon and water temperatures must have risen enough to stimulate the maturation of the egg and sperm bundles. The timing of spawning is also impacted by the length of the day, the tide and salinity levels in the water.
• Spawning only happens at night and lasts from a few days up to a week. Different species of coral spawn on different days to prevent crossbreeding.

About Great Barrier Reef:

• The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands.
• The reef is located in the Coral Sea (North-East Coast), off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
• The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms.
• The reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. It was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Coral Bleaching:

• The stunning colours in corals come from marine algae called zooxanthellae, which live inside their tissues.
• This algae provides the corals with an easy food supply thanks to photosynthesis, which gives the corals energy, allowing them to grow and reproduce.
• When corals get stressed, from things such as heat or pollution, they react by expelling these algae, leaving a ghostly, transparent skeleton behind.
• This is known as ‘coral bleaching’. Some corals can feed themselves, but without the zooxanthellae most corals starve.
• Causes for Coral Bleaching include Change in Ocean Temperature, Runoff and Pollution, Overexposure to sunlight and Extreme low tides.

3. AFRICAN TECHNIQUE USED TO TRANSLOCATE DEER FROM KEOLADEO

THE CONTEXT: An uncommon experiment with Africa’s Boma technique undertaken at Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district for capturing and translocating spotted deer is set to improve the prey base in Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Boma Technique?

• The Boma capturing technique, which is popular in Africa, involves luring of animals into an enclosure by chasing them through a funnel-like fencing. The funnel tapers into an animal selection-cum-loading chute, supported with grass mats and green net to make it opaque for animals, which are herded into a large vehicle for their transport to another location.
• This old technique was earlier utilised to capture wild elephants for training and service. Following its adoption in Madhya Pradesh in recent years, Boma has been put to practice for the first time in Rajasthan for sending the ungulates to the prey-deficient Mukundara reserve as the kills for tigers and leopards.
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) technical committee has approved a proposal to shift two tigers from Ranthambhore National Park to Mukundara, which lost two tigers and two cubs in 2020 and is now left with an eight-year-old tigress. The reserve, spread across 759 sq. km area, was created with the portions of Darrah, Chambal and Jawahar Sagar wildlife sanctuaries in south-eastern Rajasthan.

Boma technique:

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. IAF TO EMPLOY ‘DIRECT TACTICAL PLANNING’ FOR S-400

THE CONTEXT: According to IAF official has told a parliamentary standing committee that countering the potent weapon of the adversary will be based on India’s “direct tactical planning”.

THE EXPLANATION:

• India is in the process of acquiring a batch of S-400 Triumf missile systems from Russia.
• The S-400 is considered the most advanced air-defence system worldwide. The missile is capable of protecting its air defence bubble against missiles, rockets, cruise missiles and aircraft.
• The system is already available with China, which has deployed it along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh amid the 18-month military standoff.

About S-400 Triumf

• S-400 Triumf is a mobile, surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. It was developed by Russia’s Almaz Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering in the 1990s, as an upgrade to the S-300 family.
• The first battalion of the newest surface-to-air missile systems assumed duty on August 6, 2007. China was the first foreign buyer of the missile, in 2014.
• Since then, countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Belarus and India have all acquired or expressed interest in the system. S-400 missile systems are organized across the 30K6E administration system. It is having a range of 400kms.

Connect the dots:

• US Congressional report had warned that “India’s multi-billion-dollar deal to purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defence system may trigger US sanctions on India under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” (CAATSA).

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. NARASINGHAPETTAI NAGASWARAM BAGS GI TAG

THE CONTEXT: The ‘Narasinghapettai nagaswaram’, an ancient musical instrument hand-crafted by artisans from Narasinghapettai, a nondescript village in Tiruvidaimarudur taluk in Thanjavur, has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

THE EXPLANATION:

This highly complex musical instrument, dating back to the 13th century, involves intricate craftsmanship and only a few artisans in Narasinghapettai have inherited the skill of chiselling the wooden instruments.

The unique feature of the ‘Narasinghapettainagaswaram’ is its production process as they are handmade unlike other machine-made nagaswarams. Also, ‘Aacha’ wood, which is naturally water-resistant, is procured specifically from the Cauvery river basin for making the instrument. But fresh wood cannot be used and the instrument is crafted with old wood which is at least 100 years old. The reeds themselves are made from the leaves of a locally grown plant called ‘naanal’, a bamboo variety.

The nagaswarams produced in Narasinghapettai are marketed and sold in different states and in countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. According to the officials, there are 46 products have been granted GI in Tamil Nadu so far.

Value addition:

Some Interesting facts about GI Tag:

• GI tag is the abbreviation of Geographical Indications tags in India. It came into force with effect from 15th September 2003.
• A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• The products which are given the Geographical Indication tag in India are regarded as the invaluable treasures of incredible India.
• This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
• Union Minister of Commerce and Industry had launched the logo and tagline for the Geographical Indications (GI) of India.
• The first product to get a GI tag in India was the Darjeeling tea in 2004.
• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 (GI Act) is a sui generis Act for the protection of GI in India.
• India, as a member of the WTO, enacted the Act to comply with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
• Geographical Indications protection is granted through the TRIPS Agreement.
• This tag is issued by the Geographical Indication Registry under the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• The Gucchi mushroom, one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world, from the state of Jammu and Kashmir was recently given the GI tag in India.

Benefits of GI Tags

• A geographical indication right enables those who have the right to use the indication to prevent its use by a third party whose product does not conform to the applicable standards.
• Geographical indication tags are given to the products for
• Legally protecting the goods.
• Preventing unauthorised or illegal use of geographical indication tags by others.
• Helping customers in getting the original items that contain all the specific traits.
• Promoting the economic prosperity of manufacturers/ producers of items under GI tags. Items with GI tags get enhanced demand in national as well as international markets.

6. WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT 2022

THE CONTEXT: Finland has been named the world’s happiest country for a fifth year running, in an annual UN-sponsored index. The report ranked Denmark in the second place, with Switzerland, Iceland, and the Netherlands rounding up the top five happiest places in the world.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Published ever since 2012 by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the World Happiness Report is based on people’s own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data. For the World Happiness Report 2022, people across 149 countries were asked to rate their happiness.
• The World Happiness Report ranks 146 countries based on a variety of factors, such as per capita GDP, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom of choice, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
• India ranks 136 on the 2022 World Happiness Report. It is among the 11 least happy countries. (2021 positioned India at rank 139 out of 149).
• According to the Happiness Report 2022 list, Afghanistan is the saddest country in the world (146th). Afghanistan is followed by Lebanon and Zimbabwe. China ranks 72nd on the list, while Russia, which is attacking Ukraine, ranks 80th. Ukraine ranks 98th in the Russian attack.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 21^ST MARCH  2022

Q. For translocation of Asiatic lions, which of the following forest ecosystem is more suitable?

a) Tropical evergreen forest

b) Moist deciduous forest

c) Dry deciduous forest

d) Montane forest

ANSWER FOR 16^TH MARCH 2022

ANSWER: A

EXPLANATION:

• The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient consumption of solar energy the reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights

The ISA is headquartered in Gurugram, Not in France.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1.HIJAB NOT AN ESSENTIAL PRACTICE OF ISLAM: KARNATAKA HIGH COURT

THE CONTEXT: A three-judge Bench of the High Court of Karnataka pronounced its verdict on the petitions related to the row over wearing hijab in educational institutions.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the High Court of Karnataka, wearing of hijab (head scarf) by Muslim women does not form a part of essential religious practices in Islamic faith and it is not protected under the right to freedom of religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

The court ruled that prescription of school uniform does not violate either the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1) (a) or the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution, and the restriction against wearing of hijab in educational institutions is only a reasonable restriction constitutionally permissible, which the students cannot object to.

What are the issues?

• The main question that arises is whether students can be kept out of educational institutions merely because they are wearing a piece of clothing indicating their religion. Is the denial of entry a violation of their freedom of conscience and freedom to practise their religion under Article 25?
• The question of whether educational institutions can bar religious attire as part of their power to prescribe uniforms for students is also linked to the constitutional question of whether the ban on such attire will come within the power to restrict freedom of religion in the interest of public order, health, and morality.
• Yet another question is whether the denial of entry into schools amounts to a violation of the student’s right to education under Article 21A.
• From the Muslim students’ point of view, they have a fundamental right to wear a hijab as part of their right to practise their religion. Going by precedent on a right asserted in contrast to the general rule, as well as arguments advanced in court on their behalf, the issue may boil down to a finding on whether the wearing of hijab is essential to the practice of their faith.

How is religious freedom protected under the Constitution?

• Article 25(1) of the Constitution guarantees the “freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion”. It is a right that guarantees negative liberty — which means that the state shall ensure that there is no interference or obstacle to exercising this freedom.
• However, like all fundamental rights, the state can restrict the right for grounds of public order, decency, morality, health and other state interests.
• Over the years, the Supreme Court has evolved a practical test of sorts to determine what religious practices can be constitutionally protected and what can be ignored.
• In 1954, the Supreme Court held in the Shirur Mutt case that the term “religion” will cover all rituals and practices “integral” to a religion. The test to determine what is integral is termed the “essential religious practices” test.
• Bijou Emmanuel vs. State of Kerala (1986) pertained to three children belonging to the Jehovah’s Witnesses sect refusing to sing the national anthem during the morning assembly. The Supreme Court ruled in the students’ favour, holding that their expulsion violated their freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a).

What is the Essential Practice of Religion?

• It was held that practice is considered essential to a religion if it is essential to the community following the religion. Furthermore, Article 25(1) and 26(b) offers protection to religious practices. Affairs that are purely secular may be regulated by statute without infringing the aforesaid articles.
• In order that the practices in question should be treated as a part of the religion they must be regarded by the said religion as its essential and integral part; otherwise, even purely secular practices which are not an essential or an integral part of religion are apt to be clothed with a religious form and may make a claim for being treated as religious practices within the meaning of Article 26.

How do we draw the line between matters of religion and matters other than religion?

• In Sardar Syedna Taher Saifuddin Saheb vs. Bombay (1962), the Supreme Court struck down a law that prohibited the head of the Dawoodi Bohra community from excommunicating members. The majority ruled that the power of ex-communication exercised by the religious head-on religious grounds was part of the management of affairs on religious matters, and the Act infringed on the community’s rights.
• In the Sabarimala case (2018), the majority ruled that the bar on entry of women in the age group of 10 to 50 was not an essential or integral part of the religion, and denied the status of a separate religious denomination of devotees of Lord Ayyappa. However, in a dissenting judgment, Justice Indu Malhotra, said they constituted a distinct denomination and that the restriction on women of a particular age group is an essential part of their faith and is constitutionally protected.

What is the criticism against the essential practice test?

• Jurists have criticised the continuing emphasis on applying the essential practice test to determine the constitutionality of state action against any religious practice that claims protection despite being either discriminatory or exclusionary.
• The first criticism is that it was never intended to be a test to find out if a particular practice is essential to the practice of the religion but was only made to distinguish a matter of religion from a matter other than religion. However, a long line of judicial decisions seems to endorse the application of this test to dispose of cases.
• The second criticism is that the doctrine of essentiality appears to allow courts to go deeply into the scriptures and tenets of a religion or a religious denomination to find out if the practice or norm that is at the heart of the issue is essential. This is seen as a theological or ecclesiastical exercise, which courts are forced to wade into.

What is the way forward?

• A more reasonable approach will be to apply the test of constitutional morality and legitimacy to the issue at hand. Applying the principles of equality, dignity and civil rights to a particular practice may be better to decide the constitutionality of a practice than a theological enquiry.
• The action of some pre-university colleges in Karnataka refusing entry to Muslim girl students wearing hijabs, or head-scarves, has now become a national controversy
• From the Muslim students’ point of view, they have a fundamental right to wear a hijab as part of their right to practise their religion.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. EXPLAINED: INDIA’S SOLAR CAPACITY: MILESTONES AND CHALLENGES

THE CONTEXT: As on 28 February 2022, India has surpassed 50 GW of cumulative installed solar capacity. This ranks the country fifth in solar power deployment.

THE EXPLANATION:

• India added a record 10 Gigawatt (GW) of solar energy to its cumulative installed capacity in 2021. This has been the highest 12-month capacity addition, recording nearly a 200% year-on-year growth. India has now surpassed 50 GW of cumulative installed solar capacity, as on 28 February 2022. This is a milestone in India’s journey towards generating 500 GW from renewable energy by 2030, of which 300 GW is expected to come from solar power. India’s capacity additions rank the country fifth in solar power deployment, contributing nearly 6.5% to the global cumulative capacity of 709.68 GW.
• Even as India continues down this impressive journey, there are some areas of concern to highlight. First, of the 50 GW installed solar capacity, an overwhelming 42 GW comes from ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and only 6.48 GW comes from roof top solar (RTS); and 48 GW from off-grid solar PV.

Why is India falling short in roof-top solar installations?

• The large-scale solar PV focus fails to exploit the many benefits of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) options, including reduction in transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.
• One of the primary benefits of solar PV technology is that it can be installed at the point of consumption, significantly reducing the need for large capital-intensive transmission infrastructure.
• However, there is limited financing for residential consumers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) who want to install RTS. Coupled with lukewarm responses from electricity distribution companies (DISCOMS) to supporting net metering, RTS continues to see low uptake across the country.

What are the challenges to India’s solar power capacity addition?

• Despite significant growth in the installed solar capacity, the contribution of solar energy to the country’s power generation has not grown at the same pace. In 2019-20, for instance, solar power contributed only 3.6% (50 billion units) of India’s total power generation of 1390 BU.
• The utility-scale solar PV sector continues to face challenges like land costs, high T&D losses and other inefficiencies, and grid integration challenges. There have also been conflicts with local communities and biodiversity protection norms. Also, while India has achieved record low tariffs for solar power generation in the utility-scale segment, this has not translated into cheaper power for end-consumers.

What’s the state of India’s domestic solar module manufacturing capacity?

• Domestic manufacturing capacities in the solar sector do not match up to the present potential demand for solar power in the country.
• Crisil’s report on the subject highlights that as on March 31, 2021, India had 3 GW capacity for solar cell production and 8 GW for solar panel production capacity. Moreover, backward integration in the solar value chain is absent as India has no capacity for manufacturing solar wafers and polysilicon.
• In 2021-22, India imported nearly $76.62 billion worth solar cells and modules from China alone, accounting for 78.6% of India’s total imports that year. Low manufacturing capacities, coupled with cheaper imports from China have rendered Indian products uncompetitive in the domestic market.
• This situation can, however, be corrected if India embraces a circular economy model for solar systems. This would allow solar PV waste to be recycled and reused in the solar PV supply chain. By the end of 2030, India will likely produce nearly 34,600 metric tonnes of solar PV waste.
• The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that the global value of recoverable materials from solar PV waste could exceed $15 billion.
• Currently, only the European Union has taken decisive steps in managing solar PV waste. India could look at developing appropriate guidelines around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which means holding manufacturers accountable for the entire life cycle of solar PV products and creating standards for waste recycling. This could give domestic manufacturers a competitive edge and go a long way in addressing waste management and supply side constraints.

What are the key takeaways from India’s solar story?

• India has grown from strength to strength in overcoming barriers to achieve the 50 GW milestone in Feb 2022. The destination is clear, and the journey is progressing. As India attempts to deal with some of the shortcomings identified above, India’s solar story will continue to provide important lessons for other developing countries that are looking to transition to clean energy.
• In addition to an impressive domestic track record, through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) established by India and France at COP-21 in 2015, there is a global platform to bring countries together to facilitate collaboration on issues such as mobilising investments, capacity building, program support and advocacy and analytics on solar energy. Technology sharing and finance could also become important aspects of ISA in the future, allowing a meaningful cooperation between countries in the solar energy sector.

3. AN EFFORT TO SAVE THE ENIGMATIC OWLS IN INDIA

THE CONTEXT: In February 2022, Traffic and WWF-India launched ID cards for owl species to highlight common threats and assist officials and other organisations working to protect the birds.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Owls are commonly found in the illegal wildlife trade in India due to various superstitions and taboos attached to them. Despite the immense ecological role of owls in our ecosystem, these endangered birds are trapped in large numbers for sacrifice and use in multiple rituals often promoted by local mystic practitioners.
• In light of this, TRAFFIC and WWF-India’s new identification (ID) tools for strengthening owl protection were launched on 3 March 2022 on the occasion of World Wildlife Day.
• The Identification (ID) cards have been issued to enable law enforcement authorities to accurately identify 16 commonly found owl species in illegal trade. The ID cards available in English and Hindi, will be distributed free to wildlife law enforcement agencies across India.

Significance:

• “India is home to about 36 species of owls, all protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. However, very little information is available on the status of species level counts, thus making them vulnerable.
• According to reports, at least 20 seizure incidences related to poaching and trafficking of owls have been reported across India since 2019. But many more go unreported. The new ID tools provide essential information related to the species’ legal status, habitat, and distribution. They provide valuable tips on identifying the owls at species level and highlight common threats.
• Through the identification tool, it highlights the need to protect these enigmatic creatures and assist officials and other organizations working for conservation in identification of owl species”.

Threats& Conservation:

• Hunting, trading, or any other form of utilization of owls is a punishable offense as per the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; all owl species found in India are enlisted in Appendix IIunder the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which restricts their international trade.
• The recently rediscovered Forest Owlet is listed under Schedule I of the Act while all other owl species are covered under Schedule IV.
• IUCN categorized Forest Owlet as

Value Addition:

Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF):

• It is international non-governmental organization working in the field of the wilderness preservation and reduction of human impact on the environment.
• It was formerly named World Wildlife Fund.
• It is world’s largest conservation organization with over five million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300 conservation and environmental projects.
• It was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
• WWF aims to stop degradation of planet’s natural environment and build future in which humans live in harmony with nature.
• Currently, its work is organized around these six areas: food, climate, freshwater, wildlife, forests, and oceans.
• It publishes Living Planet Report every two years since 1998 and it is based on Living Planet Index and ecological footprint calculation.

TRAFFIC

• TRAFFIC is an NGO (CITES on the other hand is a multilateral treaty) working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
• TRAFFIC is a joint programme of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and IUCN.
• Traffic is complimentary to CITES.
• The programme was founded in 1976, with headquarters now located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
• TRAFFIC’s mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
• It investigates and analyses wildlife trade trends, patterns, impacts and drivers to provide the leading knowledge base on trade in wild animals and plants.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

4. INTERNATIONAL DAY TO COMBAT ISLAMOPHOBIA

THE CONTEXT: As the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution to proclaim March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia, India expressed concern over phobia against one religion being elevated to the level of an international day, saying there are growing contemporary forms of religiophobia, especially anti–Hindu, anti–Buddhist and anti–Sikh phobias.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The resolution, introduced by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), was co–sponsored by Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mali, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
• Reacting to the adoption of the resolution, India’s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Ambassador noted in the General Assembly that India hopes the resolution adopted “does not set a precedent” which will lead to multiple resolutions on phobias based on selective religions and divide the United Nations into religious camps.India condemns all acts motivated by anti–semitism, Christianophobia or Islamophobia, such phobias are not restricted to Abrahamic religions only.
• The word ‘Islamophobia’ with meaning of ‘unseasonable and imaginary fear and hatred towards Islam’ entered into common usage in 1997. The 2004 UN conference later entitled ‘Confronting Islamophobia’, forced international recognition of ‘Islamophobia’ as a specific expression.

Value Addition:

About Organization of Islamic Cooperation:

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organisation after the United Nations, with the membership of 57 states, covering four continents. The OIC is the collective voice of the Muslim world to ensure and safeguard their interest on economic socio and political areas. Headquartered at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 16^TH MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements with respect to International Solar Alliance:

1. The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient consumption of solar energy the reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
2. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights
3. The ISA is headquartered in France.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) 1,2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 15^TH MARCH 2022

ANSWER: A

EXPLANATION:

• Tied grants are referred to projects which are earmarked for national priorities like drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting and sanitation. Hence the statement 1 is correct.
• The total grant-in-aid earmarked for Panchayati Raj institutions, 60 per cent is earmarked for national priorities like drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting and sanitation (referred as tied grants), while 40 per cent is untied and is to be utilised at the discretion of the Panchayati Raj institutions for location-specific felt needs.Hence the statement 2 is incorrect.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1.THE CENTRE RELEASES GRANT-IN-AID TO STATES FOR RURAL LOCAL BODIES

THE CONTEXT: According to data released by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance Rs 1,112.7 crore has been released to Bihar, Rs 473.9 crore to Karnataka and Rs 634.6 crore to West Bengal.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The local body grants are meant to ensure additional funds to rural local bodies over and above the funds allocated by the Centre and the State for sanitation and drinking water under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
• The 15th Finance Commission recommended tied grants are released to rural local bodies (RLBs) on the recommendations of the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation for making improvements on two critical services namely,

1. Sanitation and maintenance of open-defecation free (ODF) status
2. supply of drinking water, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.

• Untied grants are released to the rural local bodies on the recommendations of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj after satisfying the conditions stipulated by the 15th Finance Commission

• In order to be eligible for grants during the years 2021-22 and 2022-23, the rural local bodies have to fulfill certain conditions.
• These conditions have been stipulated to enhance transparency, regular conduct of elections to the local bodies and preparation of annual development plans by the local bodies.
• To receive both tied and untied grants, it is mandatory to prepare and make available online, in the public domain by at least 25 percent of the local bodies, both provisional accounts of the previous year and the audited accounts of the year before the previous year. Moreover, the accounts must be uploaded on eGramswaraj and Audit Online portal. The grant is released only to those local bodies which are duly elected.

 THE ECONOMY

2. INDIA TO ISSUE GREEN BONDS AS COUNTRY SHIFTS TO LOW-CARBON ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: According to the report, India will issue at least 240 billion rupees ($3.3 billion) in sovereign green bonds as the country marks a shift towards a low-carbon economy.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The debut sale may take place in the first half of the fiscal year that starts on April 1, and a decision to sell more green debt will depend on the response to the initial issuance.
• The South Asian country’s maiden foray into the green bond space comes as it plans to fund renewable energy projects that will help meet its goal of net-zero emissions by 2070.
• The planned issuance comes amid a global boom in sustainable investments. India is the world’s third-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and plans to more than quadruple its renewable power generation capacity by 2030.
• Indian renewable energy companies raised debt worth 17.6 billion rupees in February 2021 according to the report.

Value Addition:

What are Green Bonds?

A green bond is a type of fixed-income instrument that is specifically earmarked to raise money for climate and environmental projects. These bonds are typically asset-linked and backed by the issuing entity’s balance sheet, so they usually carry the same credit rating as their issuers’ other debt obligations.​

How Are Green Bonds Different From Climate Bonds?

“Green bonds” and “climate bonds” are sometimes used interchangeably, but some authorities use the latter term specifically for projects focusing on reducing carbon emissions or alleviating the effects of climate change. The Climate Bonds Initiative is an organization that seeks to establish a standard for certifying climate bonds.

Points to remember:

• The World Bank is a major issuer of green bonds. It has issued 164 such bonds since 2008, worth a combined $14.4 billion.
• The phrase “green bond” is sometimes used interchangeably with climate bonds or sustainable bonds.
• In 2020, the total issuance of green bonds was worth almost $270 billion, according to the Climate Bond Initiative. The cumulative issuance since 2015 is over $1 trillion.

3. THYSANOLAENA MAXIMA-THE BROOM GRASS

THE CONTEXT: Karbi Anglong district of Assam is the leading producer of broom grass in India, commonly known as Jharu has been contributing to the local economy since many years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Broom grass (Thysanolaena maxima) has emerged as the most widely cultivated cash crop in the hills of the State.
• Commonly known as Jharu, it is grown in the Jhum fallow season by people of the Tiwa, Karbi and Khasi communities as a mixed crop for its inflorescence used for making brooms.
• It also provides fuel and fodder during the lean period.
• Karbi Anglong is the largest producer of brooms in India. Cultivation of broom grass is comparatively easy and requires only small financial inputs.
• It can be grown on marginal lands, wasteland and in Jhum fallow land. It grows well on a wide range of soils from sandy loam to clay loam.
• The planting can be done by seeds or rhizomes. The harvesting starts from February and continues till March-end. About 90% of the produce is sold during March and April. The rest is used by the farmers themselves.
• Broom grass cultivation has the potential to generate local employment and can be used to enhance rural income.
• It constitutes a major source of income for Assamese families in the business. This year, the villagers sold dried broom grass for ₹90 a kg on an average.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

4. SYLLIPSIMOPODI BIDENI: PRIMORDIAL OCTOPUS HAD TEN ARMS

THE CONTEXT: Scientists unearthed a fossil at Central Montana of a species named Syllipsimopodi bideni represents the oldest-known relative of today’s octopuses and boasts 10 arms, with two twice as long as the other eight.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to Scientists, the fossil greatly changes our understanding of how octopuses evolved and indicates that the earliest members of the group superficially resembled living squids.
• The fossil, so well preserved that it reveals two parallel rows of suckers up and down each arm, dates to about 328 million years ago.
• Octopuses, ranging from the one-inch (2.5 cm) star-sucker pygmy octopus to the 30-foot (9-meter) giant Pacific octopus, are known for their otherworldly appearance, with bulbous heads, large eyes and beak-like jaws.

Syllipsimopodi Bideni

• Syllipsimopodi, about 4-3/4 inches (12 cm) long, had a torpedo-shaped body and squid-like appearance though it was not closely related to squids, which appeared much later. It also is the oldest-known creature with suckers, which enable the arms to better grasp prey and other objects.
• Syllipsimopodi pushes back by 82 million years the origins of a group called vampyropods that includes today’s octopuses and the world’s lone species of vampire squid, a misnomer because it is not a squid but rather an octopus cousin.
• They are adept at camouflage – changing colors and even textures to mimic their surroundings – and can maneuver their bodies into tiny cracks and crevices. They also are capable of tool use and problem-solving.
• Syllipsimopodi prowled the warm waters of a tropical bay – Montana at the time was situated close to the equator. It may have been a mid-level predator, eating smaller invertebrates.
• It is lived during the Carboniferous Period, a time of important evolutionary changes in other marine life that included the appearance of more modern-looking fishes.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. RADIOCARBON DATING TO IDENTIFY FORGED PAINTINGS

THE CONTEXT: Radiocarbon dating has unmasked two forged paintings in France — probably the first time the technique has been used in a police investigation. The paintings were supposedly impressionist and pointillist works from around the early twentieth century.

THE EXPLANATION:

• A team led by heritage scientist Lucile Beck at the University of Paris-Saclay used radiocarbon levels in the fibres of their canvases to date them to sometime within the past 70 years.
• The use of radiocarbon dating is gaining steam in the forensic analysis of artwork, thanks to advances that require smaller samples than ever before. Removing tinier samples from artwork is more palatable to auction houses, museums and owners of paintings.
• Researchers typically use imaging and chemical analysis to sniff out art forgeries. These methods can peer beneath brushstrokes to see how a painting’s materials have aged, but can’t conclusively nail down a painting’s date.

What is radiocarbon Dating?

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

How does it work?

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

THE SECURITY

6. MAN-PORTABLE AIR-DEFENCE SYSTEMS

THE CONTEXT: Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the United States President approved a $200-million arms package for Ukraine, which would include U.S. made Stinger Missiles, which are a type of shoulder-fired Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS).

THE EXPLANATION:

What are MANPADS?

• Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems are short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy aircraft or helicopters. They help shield troops from aerial attacks and are most effective in targeting low-flying aircrafts. MANPATs or Man-Portable Anti-Tank Systems work in a similar manner but are used to destroy or incapacitate military tanks.
• MANPADS can be shoulder-fired, launched from atop a ground-vehicle, fired from a tripod or stand, and from a helicopter or boat. Weighing anywhere between 10 to 20 kilograms and not being longer than 1.8 metres, they are fairly lightweight as compared to other elaborate weapon systems, making them easy to operate by individual soldiers. Operating MANPADS requires substantially less training.
• MANPADS have a maximum range of 8 kilometres and can engage targets at altitudes of 4.5 km. Most MANPADS have passive or ‘fire and forget’ guidance systems, meaning that the operator is not required to guide the missile to its target, enabling them to run and relocate immediately after firing.
• The missile stays locked-on to the targeted object, not requiring active guidance from the soldier. The missiles are fitted with infrared (IR) seekers that identify and target the airborne vehicle through heat radiation being emitted by the latter.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 15^TH MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements with respect to tied grants:

1. Tied grants are referred to projects which are earmarked for national priorities like drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting and sanitation.
2. There should be 50 per cent of the grant should be utilized at the discretion of the Panchayati Raj institutions for location-specific felt needs.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER FOR 14^TH MARCH 2022

ANSWER: C

EXPLANATION:

• The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station (habitable artificial satellite) in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).

THE SOCIAL ISSUES, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH

1. KERALA TOPS IN MATERNAL, CHILD HEALTH

THE CONTEXT: Kerala has yet again emerged on top when it comes to maternal and child health, with the State recording the lowest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of 30 (per one lakh live births) in the country. This puts Kerala way ahead of the national MMR of 103.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) special bulletin on maternal mortality in India (2017-19), brought out by the office of the Registrar General of India, Kerala’s MMR has dropped by 12 points. The last SRS bulletin (2015-17) had put the State’s MMR at 42 (later adjusting it to 43).

• The report highlighted that,India’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) improved to 103 per 100,000 live births for the period 2017-19.
• However, the MMR worsened in states like West Bengal, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh. Populous states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh showed major improvement with decrease in their MMR by 30, 23, 19 and 10 points, respectively. These states continue to have high level MMRs despite the improvement.
• The top state with the lowest MMR is Kerala, which dramatically improved from 43 to 30. Kerala is followed by Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
• Despite the dip in MMR, Madhya Pradesh, India’s second largest state by area, continues to be the third worst-performing state in this regard, following Assam (205) and Uttar Pradesh (167). Besides, more than 80% of births in MP took place in institutional facilities, according to National Family Health Survery (NFHS)-5.

Value Addition:

• Maternal death is the MMR is a key health indicator that shows the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births for a given period. According to the World Health Organization, “Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.”
• One of the targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the United Nations aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. India now seems close to achieving that goal much before the target year of 2030.

Interventions for improving Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR):

• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme was launched in April 2005 with the objective of reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) aims to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for pregnant women and sick infants by entitling them to free delivery including caesarean section, free transport, diagnostics, medicines, other consumables, diet and bloodin public health institutions.
• Surakshit Matratva Ashwasan (SUMAN) aims to provide assured, dignified, respectful and quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) provides pregnant women fixed day, free of cost assured and quality Antenatal Careon the 9thday of every month.
• Comprehensive Abortion Care services are strengthened through trainings of health care providers, supply of drugs, equipment, Information Education and Communication (IEC) etc.
• Midwifery programme is launched to create a cadre for Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery who are skilled in accordance to International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) competencies and capable of providing compassionate women-centred, reproductive, maternal and new-born health care services.

Interventions for improving Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):

• Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy as a part of POSHAN Bhiyan aims to strengthen the existing mechanisms and foster newer strategies to tackle anaemia which include testing & treatment of anaemia in school going adolescents & pregnant women, addressing non nutritional causes of anaemia and a comprehensive communication strategy.
• Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK): Children from 0 to 18 years of age are screened for 30 health conditions (i.e. Diseases, Deficiencies, Defects and Developmental delay) under Rashtriya Bal SwasthyaKaryakaram (RBSK) to improve child survival. District Early Intervention Centres (DEICs) at district health facility level are established for confirmation and management of children screened under RBSK.
• Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) initiative implemented since 2019 for reduction of Childhood morbidity and mortality due to Pneumonia.
• Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is implemented to provide vaccination to children against life threatening diseases such as Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rubella, Pneumonia and Meningitis caused by Haemophilus Influenzae B. The Rotavirus vaccination has also been rolled out in the country for prevention of Rota-viral diarrhoea. Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) has been introduced in all the States and UTs.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. THE LARGEST WINTERING GROUND OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

THE CONTEXT: Chilika Lake, the largest brackish water lake and wintering ground of the birds in the Indian subcontinent saw a million birds, including uncommon Mongolian gull, visiting the waterbody.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Chilika lake hosts birds migrating from thousands of miles away from the Caspian Sea, Lake Baikal, Aral Sea, remote parts of Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and South-East Asia, Ladakh and the Himalayas. The winged guests find the vast mud-field and abundant fish stock here suitable to congregate.
• As per the waterbird status survey-2022 conducted in the Chilika, a total of 10,74,173 birds of the 107 waterbird species and 37,953 individuals of 76 wetland-dependent species were counted at the entire lagoon. In the year 2021, the count in Chilika was over 12 lakh. Bird census members reported rare sightings of the uncommon Mongolian gull.
• The census was undertaken jointly by the Odisha State Wildlife Organisation, the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and the Bombay Natural History Society. The Chilika Lagoon was divided strategically into 21 segments for the census.
• A total of 3,58,889 birds (97 species) were counted in the Nalabana Bird Sanctuary inside Chilika – a decrease of 65,899 from the year 2021. The decrease is attributed to high water levels and the presence of water in cultivated fields in adjoining areas.
• “Among the three pintail species of ducks, the northern pintail (1,72,285), gadwall (1,53,985), Eurasian wigeon (1,50,843) accounted for over one lakh in this year’s count,” says the report. However, the population of gadwall and Eurasian wigeon was less than that of the year 2021.
• There was a marginal decrease in the number of species such as the northern shoveler, tufted duck and red-crested pochard. An increase in the population of northern pintail, common coot and common pochard was noticed.
• “The increase in numbers for the greater flamingo at Nalabana mudflat indicates that the restoration at Nalabana is effective. This year’s greater flamingo count was the highest in the last decade. It is largely due to appropriate management of mudflats”. Overall, the local resident species such as purple swamp-hen, purple heron, Indian moorhen, and jacanas were found in higher numbers.

Value Addition:

Significance of Chilika Lake:

• After the New Caledonian barrier reef, it is Asia’s largest and world’s second-largest brackish water lagoon.
• A lagoon is a shallow body of water that is isolated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform like reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses.
• It has been designated as a Ramsar Site and a possible UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Chilika Lake was declared as the first Ramsar Convention wetland of international importance in India in 1981.
• Satapada Island, Irrawaddy dolphins are frequently seen.
• In 1987, Nalabana Island (Forest of Reeds), a 16-square-kilometre island in the lagoon, was designated as a bird sanctuary.
• It covers an area of nearly 1,100 km2 and is located at the mouth of the Daya River, which flows into the Bay of Bengal.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

3. THE SARAS 3 RADIO TELESCOPE

THE CONTEXT: Indian researchers have conclusively refuted a recent claim of the discovery of a radio wave signal from cosmic dawn, the time in the infancy of our Universe when the first stars and galaxies came into existence.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In 2018 a team of researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) and MIT in the US detected a signal from stars emerging in the early universe using data from the EDGES radio telescope. The study published in the journal Nature created much excitement in the astronomy community around the world.
• ASU/MIT team had claimed the discovery of a radio wave signalling the birth of the First Stars, which was also hailed by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb as worthy of two Nobel prizes.
• Utilising the indigenously invented and built SARAS 3 radio telescope, researchers from Raman Research Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India refuted this claim.

Findings:

• The finding implies that the detection reported by EDGES was likely contamination of their measurement and not a signal from the depths of space and time. SARAS 3 was indeed the first experiment to reach the required sensitivity and cross-verify the claim of the signal detection.
• However, astronomers still do not know what the actual signal looks like. Having rejected the ASU/MIT claim, the SARAS experiment is geared towards discovering the true nature of Cosmic Dawn. The SARAS 3 team at RRI is planning more observations on remote lakes in India. Such expeditions will allow the team to detect the 21-cm signal from the Cosmic Dawn and unravel this last remaining gap in the history of our Universe.

Why is it difficult to detect radio wave signals early period of the Universe?

• Detecting a faint signal from such an early period of the Universe is extremely difficult. The celestial signal is exceptionally faint – buried in sky radio waves that come to us from the gas in our own Galaxy, the Milky Way, which are a million times brighter.
• Besides, this cosmic signal is in a radio wavelength band used by numerous terrestrial communications equipment and TV and FM radio stations, which makes detecting the extra-terrestrial signal extremely difficult.

 Value Addition:

SARAS 3 radio telescope

SARAS is a niche high-risk high-gain experimental effort of RRI initiated by RRI, it is an to design, build and deploy in India a precision radio telescope to detect extremely faint radio wave signals from the depths of time, from our “Cosmic Dawn” when the first stars and galaxies formed in the early Universe.

What is Cosmic Dawn?

One of the most important gaps in our understanding of our Universe’s history is the “Cosmic Dawn.” The period from about 50 million years to one billion years after the Big Bang when the first stars, black holes, and galaxies in the Universe formed.

Significance:

The requirements for these telescopes will push both technology boundaries and our knowledge of environmental effects at target destinations for human exploration. Such issues as trafficability in antenna deployment, space plasma effects, thermal shocking of electronics and mechanical systems, as well as power, survivability, and operation during lunar nights have direct applicability to exploration. The design of these observatories to conduct decadal-level research will provide some technology solutions for exploration.

4. THE NEW GENOMICC RESEARCH PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: Scientists in the United Kingdom as part of a research project, GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care), have identified 16 new genetic variants that make a person more susceptible to a severe COVID-19 infection.

THE EXPLANATION:

Scientists have developed a powerful, inclusive new tool for genomic research that boosts efforts to develop more precise treatments for many diseases by leveraging a better representation of the genetic diversity of people around the world.

What is the GenOMICC study?

• It is a research study that brings together clinicians and scientists from around the world to find the genetic factors that lead to determine the outcome in critical illnesses.
• While millions suffer from infectious diseases every year, even though most cases are mild, some people become extremely unwell and need critical care. This may be because of their genes and the GenOMICC project is about identifying them.

Methodology

The scientists involved compare the DNA of critically ill patients with members of the general population. However, ferreting out such differences requires a large number of people and comparing their genetic structures at multiple levels of resolution. Since 2015, the GenOMICC has been studying emerging infections such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), flu, sepsis, and other forms of critical illness.

How was the GenOMICC study for COVID-19 done?

The scientist sequenced the genomes of 7,491 patients from 224 intensive care units in the United Kingdom. Their DNA was compared with 48,400 other people who had not suffered from COVID-19, and that of a further 1,630 people who had experienced mild symptoms. Determining the whole genome sequence for all participants in the study allowed the team to create a precise map and identify genetic variation linked to severity of COVID-19.

What are the key findings?

• The team found key differences in 16 genes in ICU patients compared to the DNA of the other groups. It also confirmed the involvement of seven other genetic variations already associated with severe COVID-19 discovered in earlier studies by the same team.
• The 16 new genetic variants included some that had a role in blood clotting, immune response and the intensity of inflammation. A single gene variant, the team found, disrupted a key messenger molecule in immune system signalling — called interferon alpha-10 — that increased a patient’s risk of severe disease.
• There were variations in genes that control the levels of a central component of blood clotting — known as Factor 8 — that were linked with critical illness in COVID-19. This highlights the gene’s key role in the immune system and suggests that treating patients with interferon, which are proteins released by immune cells to defend against viruses, may help manage disease in the early stages.

How useful are these findings?

• The overarching aim of genome association studies is to not only correlate genes but also design treatments. For instance, the knowledge that interferons play a role in mediating a severe infection is already being used in drug therapies in the management of severe COVID.
• Genomics studies reveal an association with certain conditions but don’t necessarily explain how the genes direct the chain of chemical reactions that bring about an adverse outcome. But the knowledge of the gene helps to design targeted drugs.
• New technologies, such as CRISPR, allow genes to be tweaked or silenced and therefore this approach could be used to make new medicines. The GenOMICC study isn’t the only one of its kind. Several consortia globally are working on identifying genes that may explain different disease outcomes.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

5. LAQSHYA PROGRAM

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India launched an ambitious program LaQshyaon in 2017 with following objectives:

• Reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality
• Improve quality of care during delivery and immediate post-partum period
• Enhance satisfaction of beneficiaries, positive birthing experience and provide Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) to all pregnant women attending public health facilities.

Target Beneficiaries:

LaQshya program will benefit every pregnant woman and new-born delivering in public health institutions. Program will improve quality of care for pregnant women in labour room, maternity Operation Theatre and Obstetrics Intensive Care Units (ICUs) & High Dependency Units (HDUs).

Following facilities are being taken under LaQshya initiative on priority:

• All Government Medical College hospitals.
• All District Hospitals & equivalent healthy facilities.
• All designated FRUs and high case load CHCs with over 100 deliveries/60 (per month) in hills and desert areas.

Significance:

• The percentage of institutional births in India has doubled from 38.7% to 78.9% in the decade 2015-16, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4). However, this increase in coverage has not translated in commensurate reduction of maternal and newborn mortality and stillbirths.
• One of the major factors being inadequacies in the quality of care provided in health facilities. The current figures of maternal mortality ratio of 130and neonatal mortality rate of 24 suggest that though there has been tremendous improvement in maternal newborn healthcare indicators, there still exists a vast scope to achieve the targets set for our country.
• It is estimated that approximately 46% maternal deaths,over 40% stillbirths and 25% of under-5 deaths take place on the day of the delivery. Half of the maternal death each year can be prevented if we provide higher quality health care. Quality of care is increasingly recognized as a critical aspect of the unfinished maternal and newborn health agenda, mainly with respect to care around labour and delivery and in the immediate postnatal period.
• In this respect, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched program ‘LaQshya’- quality improvement initiative in labour room & maternity OT, aimed at improving quality of care for mothers and newborn during intrapartum and immediate post-partum period.

6. VIBRANT VILLAGE PROGRAMME

THE CONTEXT: The Union government plans to open the villages along the Chinese border for tourists under the Vibrant Village programme announced in the Union Budget 2022-23.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Recently the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a meeting with public representatives of such villages from the States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• A Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs in its December 2021 report had recommended that all villages in Ladakh, particularly those located in Zero-Border like Chumar and Demchok, should be electrified “in order to stop migration of people from these areas.”
• According to the report, of 236 habitable villages in Ladakh, only 172 have telecom infrastructure and “only 24 and 78 villages have 3G and 4G Internet connectivity” respectively.

About the Vibrant Villages Programme

• The Vibrant Villages programme is launched to improve infrastructure in villages along India’s border with China. Infrastructure will be improved in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Under the programme, residential and tourist centres will be constructed.
• It will also provide for improvement in road connectivity and development of decentralized renewable energy sources.
• Direct access of Doordarshan and education related channels will be provided. Support will be provided for livelihood.

SIGNIFICANCE:

• China has established several new villages along the LAC in the past few years particularly across the Arunachal Pradesh border.
• The Vibrant Village programme was a counter to China’s model villages but the nomenclature has been carefully chosen so as to not cause any consternation in the neighbouring country. China and India have been engaged in a standoff at multiple locations in Eastern Ladakh fo the past two years and in one of the violent clashes with the China’s Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), as many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 14^TH MARCH  2022

Q. Which of the following space agencies have cooperated for building the International Space Station?

1. NASA of the U.S.
2. China National Space Administration
3. Roscosmos of Russia
4. JAXA of Japan
5. Indian Space Research Organisation
6. Canadian Space Agency
7. European Space Agency

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 only

b) 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only

c) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only

d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

ANSWER FOR 12^TH MARCH 2022

ANSWER: A

EXPLANATION:

• The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).The Convention has reached almost universal membership with 183 States Parties and four Signatory States.
• India ratified this treaty in 2015. India is not the founding member of BWC.

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY: NATURAL RESOURCES

1. INDIA USED MORE COAL POWER IN 2021 THAN 2020: IEA STUDY

THE CONTEXT: According to a recent analysis from the International Energy Agency (IEA), India used 13 per cent more coal to generate electricity in 2021 than 2020, given the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to Experts, China and India might be some of the countries where the green transition may also be slowed down because Russia would shift their energy exports to them.
• India’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2021 soared to 80 megatonnes (Mt) above pre-pandemic levels in 2019, the report found. A slump in the renewable energy sector could partly explain this spike. Growth in this sector slowed to a third of its average rate of the previous five years.
• Also, the report noted that commodity prices are on a high. This has increased the cost of producing solar photovoltaic modules, wind turbines and biofuels.
• Globally, a similar pattern played out in 2021. CO2 emissions rose six per cent to 36.3 billion tonnes last year. Thirty-three per cent of these can be traced back to China.
• CO2 emissions worldwide dropped in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as countries announced strict lockdowns to control the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Emissions globally dropped to 5.4 per cent in 2020, compared to the previous year. The shutdown hurt economies worldwide.

Global patterns

• Global methane levels went up five per cent in 2021, but were still lower than pre-pandemic levels, according to the IEA report. The overall greenhouse gas emissions reached 40.8 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2021, above the previous all-time high in 2019.
• CO2 emissions from energy combustion and industrial process accounted for close to 89 per cent of energy sector greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. Gas flaring accounted for another 0.7 per cent of CO2 emissions.
• The United States and many European countries switched to coal from gas, adding roughly 250 Mt of CO2 in 2021. The costs of operating existing coal plants were considerably cheaper than that of gas-fired power plants for most of 2021.

 Value Addition:

• Coal is used to meet over 70% of India’s electricity needs. Most of this coal comes from domestic mines. In FY 2020-21, India produced 716 million tonnes of coal, compared with 431 million tonnes a decade ago.
• Most of the country’s coal production is limited to Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh with a total production of over 550 million tonnes, contributing to over 75% of the country’s total coal production.
• The Prime Minister promised to increase non-fossil fuel energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030, meet 50% energy needs from renewable sources and reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes in a decade.
• According to an estimate by the Centre for Science and Environment, the promise to reduce emissions by 1 billion tonnes means that India would need to reduce its carbon output by 22% by 2030. India now meets about 12% of its electricity needs from renewable sources and increasing it to 50% by 2030 will be difficult.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

2. EXPLAINED: WHAT IS MANUAL SCAVENGING, AND WHY IS IT STILL PREVALENT IN INDIA?

THE CONTEXT: The Mumbai Police arrested three people for hiring three men who died while manually scavenging a septic tank of a public toilet.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is manual scavenging?

Manual scavenging is the practice of removing human excreta by hand from sewers or septic tanks. India banned the practice under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR). The Act bans the use of any individual for manually cleaning, carrying, disposing of or otherwise handling in any manner, human excreta till its disposal.

In 2013, the definition of manual scavengers was also broadened to include people employed to clean septic tanks, ditches, or railway tracks. The Act recognizes manual scavenging as a “dehumanizing practice,” and cites a need to “correct the historical injustice and indignity suffered by the manual scavengers.”

Why is manual scavenging still prevalent in India?

The lack of enforcement of the Act and exploitation of unskilled labourers are the reasons why the practice is still prevalent in India. The Mumbai civic body charges anywhere between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 to clean septic tanks. The unskilled labourers, meanwhile, are much cheaper to hire and contractors illegally employ them at a daily wage of Rs 300-500.

According to report, there are 472 deaths due to manual scavenging had been recorded from 2016 to 2020.

Compensation

As per the Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013 and the Supreme Court’s decision in the Safai Karamchari Andolan v/s Union of India case, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each was awarded by the High Court to the three women. The Government Resolution is a huge win for safai karamcharis within the state because it acknowledges the role of the State even when deaths occur in private societies. Many deaths recorded are in private societies, where labourers are illegally hired.

Value Addition:

Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation (PEMSR) Act, 2013

• The Act prohibits the employment of manual scavengers, the manual cleaning of sewers and septic tanks without protective equipment, and the construction of insanitary latrines.
• It seeks to rehabilitate manual scavengers and provide for their alternative employment.
• Each local authority, cantonment board and railway authority is responsible for surveying insanitary latrines within its jurisdiction. They shall also construct a number of sanitary community latrines.
• Each occupier of insanitary latrines shall be responsible for converting or demolishing the latrine at his own cost. If he fails to do so, the local authority shall convert the latrine and recover the cost from him.
• The District Magistrate and the local authority shall be the implementing authorities.
• Offences under the Bill shall be cognizable and non-bailable and may be tried summarily.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. INDIA, CANADA TO REBOOT TRADE-PACT TALKS

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ministry of Commerce and trade, India and Canada have decided to restart talks for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) and will strive to seal an investment-protection agreement.

THE EXPLANATION:

• CEPA negotiations will be formally relaunched, and the two countries will consider an interim agreement or Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) that could be concluded early as a transitional step. India is eyeing market access for its sweet corn, baby corn and bananas in Canada.
• According to Joint statement, the EPTA shall include ‘high level commitments in goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and dispute settlement, and may also cover any other areas mutually agreed.
• CEPA talks with Canada had got derailed amid the COVID-19 pandemic but were expected to restart after the Canadian elections concluded in September 2021.

Value Addition:

Historical Ties:

• Canada and India have longstanding bilateral relations built upon shared traditions of democracy, pluralism and strong interpersonal connections. Canada is home to one of the largest communities of Indian origin, with approximately 4% of Canadians being of Indian heritage (1.4 million people).
• In 2019, India was the largest source of international students for Canada’s universities, colleges and schools.

Trade relations:

• A priority market for Canada, India is Canada’s 11th largest export market, and 12th largest trading partner overall. Canada’s commercial priorities in India are targeted at India’s policy objectives and sectors where Canada has a comparative advantage.
• Total bilateral trade between the two countries, including goods and services crossed $11 billion. During April 2021-January 2022, Indian exports to Canada increased to $3 billion, up almost by a fourth as compared to 2020.
• Major Indian exports to Canada include drugs and pharmaceutical products, iron & steel products, marine products, cotton fabrics & readymade garments (RMG) and chemicals etc, while key Canadian exports to India comprise pulses, fertilizers, coal and crude petroleum etc.

4. THE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION (BWC)

THE CONTEXT: India reiterated at UNSC, the need to implement biological and toxin weapons convention in full letter and spirit amid fears of the Russia-Ukraine conflict turning into a bio-chemical war.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Russian request for the Security Council meeting followed a US rejection of Russian accusations that Ukraine is operating chemical and biological labs with American Support.
• According to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, it has documents confirming that on the territory of Ukraine there was a network of 30 biolabs where “very dangerous
• In this context, India underlined the importance attached by India to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) as a key global and non-discriminatory disarmament convention, prohibiting an entire category of weapon of mass destruction.
• Also, it noted that, India believes that any matters relating to obligations under the BTWC should be addressed as per the provisions of the convention, and through consultation and cooperation between the parties concerned.

Value Addition

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

• The BWC is a key element in the international community’s efforts to address WMD proliferation and it has established a strong norm against biological weapons. The Convention has reached almost universal membership with 183 States Parties and four Signatory States.
• Formally known as “The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction”, the Convention was negotiated by the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Mandate: The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) effectively prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons. It was the first multilateral disarmament treaty banning an entire category of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).
• It opened for signature on 10 April 1972 and entered into force on 26 March 1975. The BWC supplements the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which had prohibited only the use of biological weapons.
• India ratified this treaty in 2015.
• HQ: Geneva.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

5. ILLEGAL TRADE OF PANGOLIN IN BIHAR-NEPAL BORDER

THE CONTEXT: A joint team of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Bihar Forest department rescued the pangolins and arrested two smugglers in the Govardhan forest area of VTR, West Champaran district.

THE EXPLANATION:

• A team of SSB also seized deer horns worth Rs 22 lakh and arrested two smugglers at Aamgachi near the Nepal border in Araria district.
• According to wildlife experts, pangolin scales and body parts are used for preparing traditional medicines in some Asian countries, for which the mammal is in high demand in the international trafficking market. Smugglers prefer live pangolins, which fetch more money (in lakhs) than the scales.
• The smugglers have been using the state to move body parts of poached animals as well as live specimens either to Nepal or West Bengal, to send them to China, Myanmar and other southeast Asian countries, where demand is high for use in traditional medicines.

Value Addition:

• There are two species of Pangolins found in India, the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla).

  

• The Indian Pangolin occurs sporadically throughout the plains and the Himalayan foothills to southern India. In the north-east it is replaced by the Chinese Pangolin, a species whose range extends to South-East Asia.
• Both the species are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. IUCN lists the Indian Pangolin as ‘Near Threatened’ and the Chinese Pangolin as ‘Endangered’.
• Both the species are on CITES Appendix II (but currently with zero export quotas for wild-sourced specimens).

Threats:

• Although pangolins are traded locally throughout India, the main threat to their survival comes from the high demand from international markets in China and Southeast Asia both for their flesh, which is considered a delicacy and a ‘tonic food’ for its alleged medicinal properties, and for their scales. Currently no international trade in Asian pangolin species is permitted under CITES.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 12^TH MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements about the Biological Weapons Convention:

1. It prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling and use of biological and toxin weapons.
2. India is the founding member of the convention.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. INDIA HAD THE HIGHEST MORTALITY OF ANY COUNTRY DURING PANDEMIC: LANCET STUDY

THE CONTEXT: According to the new study published by the Lancet, as many as 4.07 million people in India are estimated to have died during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This analysis attempted, for the first time, to estimate excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
• It has determined that 18.2 million people in 191 countries have died since March 2020 – versus 5.94 million officially recorded deaths.
• Overall, it suggests that India had the highest mortality of any country during the pandemic.
• This is eight times more than the number of COVID-19 deaths India has officially registered. Even now, the official toll is only 0.5 million.
• The second worst-hit country is reportedly the US, with 1.13 million deaths in 24 months – 1.14-times more than its officially recorded deaths. Five more countries had excess deaths exceeding 0.5 million in this period: Russia, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
• These seven countries together account for more than half of all excess deaths due to COVID-19 in the 191 countries.

State-wise scenarios

• According to the analysis, eight states in India had mortality rates exceeding 200 deaths per 100,000 people. Only 50 other countries in the world, of the 191, had worse mortality during the pandemic. These states were Uttarakhand, Manipur, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka (in descending order).
• On the other hand, Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Goa had excess mortality rates lower than the global average – of 120.6 per 100,000 people.
• In terms of the absolute number of estimated deaths, Maharashtra topped the chart in India with 0.6 million. Bihar came second with 0.3 million.
• Also the study noted, “the magnitude of disease burden might have changed for many causes of death during the pandemic period due to both direct effects of lockdowns and the resulting economic turmoil”.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2. EXPLAINED: WHAT IS XENOTRANSPLANTATION?

THE CONTEXT: In a landmark surgery in January 2022, doctors replaced the heart of a 57-year-old patient with the heart of a genetically altered pig. However, the patient died two months after the operation

THE EXPLANATION:

The experimental procedure was done after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization for it on December 31, 2021. The patient had been ruled ineligible for a conventional heart transplant or an artificial heart by major transplant centres.

WHAT IS XENOTRANSPLANATATION?

• According to the FDA, xenotransplantation is “any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation or infusion into a human recipient of either (a) live cells, tissues, or organs from a nonhuman animal source, or (b) human body fluids, cells, tissues or organs that have had ex vivo contact with live nonhuman animal cells, tissues or organs”.
• Xenotransplantation is seen as an alternative to the clinical transplantation of human organs whose demand around the world exceeds supply by a long distance.

The First Instance,

Xenotransplantation involving the heart was first tried in humans in the 1980s. A well-known case was that of an American baby, Stephanie Fae Beauclair, better known as Baby Fae, who was born with a congenital heart defect, and who received a baboon heart in 1984.

Why the heart of a pig?

• Pig heart valves have been used for replacing damaged valves in humans for over 50 years. There are several advantages to using the domesticated or farmed pig as the donor animal for xenotransplantation.
• The pig’s anatomical and physiological parameters are similar to that of humans, and the breeding of pigs in farms is widespread and cost-effective. Also, many varieties of pig breeds are farmed, which provides an opportunity for the size of the harvested organs to be matched with the specific needs of the human recipient.

3. “THE PARAM GANGA”-A PETASCALE SUPERCOMPUTER

THE CONTEXT: National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) has deployed PARAM Ganga, a supercomputer at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, with a supercomputing capacity of 1.66 petaflops.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The availability of such a supercomputer will accelerate the research and development activities in multidisciplinary domains of science and engineering with a focus to provide computational power to the user community of IIT Roorkee and neighbouring academic institutions.
• The system is designed and commissioned by C-DAC under phase-2 of the build approach of the NSM. Substantial components utilized to build this system are manufactured and assembled within India along with an indigenous software stack developed by C-DAC, which is a step towards the Make in India initiative of the government.
• C-DAC has been entrusted the responsibility to design, development, deployment and commissioning of the supercomputing systems under the build approach of Mission. The Mission plans to build and deploy 24 facilities with cumulative compute power of more than 64 Petaflops.

National Supercomputing Mission (NSM)

• The Mission envisages empowering our national academic and R&D institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising of more than 70 high-performance computing facilities.
• The four major pillars of the NSM, namely, Infrastructure, Applications, R&D, HRD, have been functioning efficiently to realize the goal of developing indigenous supercomputing eco system of the nation.
• The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) which is being steered jointly by Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeiTY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and implemented by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, has progressed significantly.

Value Addition:

What are Super Computers?

A supercomputer is the fastest computer in the world that can process a significant amount of data very quickly. The computing Performance of a “supercomputer” is measured very high as compared to a general purpose computer. The computing Performance of a supercomputer is measured in FLOPS (that is floating-point operations per second) instead of MIPS. The supercomputer consists of tens of thousands of processors which can perform billions and trillions of calculations per second, or you can say that supercomputers can deliver up to nearly a hundred quadrillions of FLOPS.

Applications:

Common applications for supercomputers include testing mathematical models for complex physical phenomena or designs, such as climate and weather, evolution of the cosmos, nuclear weapons and reactors, new chemical compounds (especially for pharmaceutical purposes), and cryptology.

4. SCIENTISTS DEVELOP ENERGY-EFFICIENT HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY UREA ELECTROLYSIS

THE CONTEXT: Indian Scientists have designed an electrocatalyst system for energy-efficient hydrogen production with the help of electrolysis of urea. The urea electrolysis is helpful towards urea-based waste treatment with low-cost hydrogen production. This can be utilized for energy production towards our country’s benefits.

THE EXPLANATION:

Hydrogen Production by Urea electrolysis

• The energy requirement for production of hydrogen through water electrolysis can be reduced by 70 % through urea electrolysis.
• The energy-intensive counterpart of water splitting, oxygen evolution, can be replaced with urea oxidation in urea electrolysis. The low-cost, earth-abundant Ni-based catalysts are widely applied for this process.
• The main challenge associated with urea oxidation is retaining the prolonged activity of the catalyst as the strong adsorption of the reactive intermediate (COx) on the active site, referred to as catalyst poisoning, causes activity loss.

Methodology:

• The scientists have explored electrocatalysts and shown that surface defective NiO and Ni2O3 systems having more Ni3+ ions are more efficient electrocatalysts than conventional NiO. They have used high-energy electron beams to produce surface defective unsaturated Ni sites in NiO (e-NiO).
• The study reveals that e-NiO prefers direct mechanism of urea electro-oxidation due to strong adsorption of urea molecule, whereas NiO favors indirect mechanism with low activity. Further, the prominent electrocatalyst poison COx could be removed by adjusting the molar ratio of KOH and Urea with improved kinetics.

What is the significance of the production of hydrogen by Urea electrolysis?

India is one of the top countries in urea production, and it produced 244.55 LMT of urea during 2019-20. The nitrogenous fertilizer industries generate a high concentration of ammonia and urea as effluents. Hence, this can be utilized for energy production towards our country’s benefits.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. NARI SHAKTI PURASKAR’ – 2020 AND 2021

THE CONTEXT: The President of India, has conferred the ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ for the years 2020 and 2021, on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 08, 2022, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

THE EXPLANATION:

Overall, 29 women have been conferred the award for the years 2020 and 2021 in recognition of their outstanding and exceptional work towards the empowerment of women, especially the vulnerable and marginalised. There was a total of 28 awards which included 14 awards each for the years 2020 and 2021. The award ceremony for the year 2020 could not be held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Value Addition:

• Every single Nari Shakti Puraskar is disturbed among the deserving individuals and institutions on 08th March every year. The announcement of the award is made by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Nari Shakti Awards 2022 is distributed in six institutional categories: Rani Lakshmi Bai Award, Rani GaidinliuZeliang Award, Mata Jijabai Award, Kannagi Devi Award, Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Award & Rani Rudramma Devi Awards and two individual categories: For courage and bravery & For making outstanding contributions to women’s endeavour, community work, or making a difference, or women’s empowerment.
• It is the highest civilian award for women, which is given to deserving women because of their good deeds in the field of women empowerment.

6. EXERCISE “DHARMA GUARDIAN”-INDIA AND JAPAN

THE CONTEXT: Exercise Dharma Guardian, an annual exercise between Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Force, concluded at Belgaum with a focus on counter-terrorism operations and disruptive technologies between two key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

THE EXPLANATION: 

• Dharma Guardian is an annual military exercise that is being conducted in India since 2018.
• It has covered a vast spectrum – from cross training and combat conditioning in the field environment to sports and cultural exchanges. The contingents from the two armies jointly attended demonstrations at the firing ranges and also participated in various tactical exercises. Both contingents shared their expertise on contemporary subjects of counter-terrorism operations, as also on exploiting disruptive technologies such as drone and anti-drone weapons.

Other Joint Exercises with Japan

• SHINYUU Maitri: This is a bilateral exercise conducted between the Japanese Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) and the Indian Air Force.
• JIMEX: It is a bilateral maritime exercise held between Japan and India.
• Sahayog-Kaijin: A joint bilateral exercise between the Japan Coast Guard and the Indian Coast Guard.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 11^TH MARCH  2022

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Assertion (A): Craters on the moon are of a more permanent nature than that of Earth.
2. Reason (R): There is absence of atmosphere and plate tectonics on(in) the moon whereas both are present on(in) Earth.

Select the correct answer from the following:

a) A is true, but R is false.

b) A is false, but R is true.

c) A is true and R is the correct explanation of A.

d) Both a and R are not correct.

ANSWER FOR 10^th MARCH 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• Please refer to given map-

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. NEW PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR FEATURE PHONE USERS:” UPI123PAY”

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India, launched the country’s most famous unified payments interface (UPI) service for feature phones. Termed as UPI123PAY, the service will allow 40 crore feature phone users across India to access the payment service.

THE EXPLANATION:

• As of now,UPI was available only across all smartphones in India but with the latest move, feature phone users will also be allowed to send and receive payments.
• The UPI123Pay service is a three-step method to initiate and execute services for users, which will work on phones which do not have an option for internet connection. Presently there are an estimated 40 crore mobile phone users who possess feature phones.
• These users will now be able to undertake a host of transactions by 1. calling an IVR (interactive voice response) number, 2. app functionality in feature phones, 3. missed call-based approach and 4. also proximity sound-based payments.
• Users will be able to make payments to their friends and family, pay their utility bills, recharge FASTags, pay mobile bills and also check their account balances, the central bank said, adding customers will also be able to link bank accounts, set or change UPI PINs.

2. CABINET APPROVES NATIONAL LAND MONETIZATION CORPORATION

THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister has approved the setting up National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC),it will be wholly owned Government of India company with an initial authorized share capital of Rs 5000 crore and paid-up share capital of Rs 150 crore.

THE EXPLANATION:

• NLMC will undertake monetization of surplus land and building assets of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and other Government agencies. The proposal is in pursuance of the Budget Announcement for 2021-22.

SIGNIFICANCE?

• At present, CPSEs hold considerable surplus, unused and under used non-core assets in the nature of land and buildings. For CPSEs undergoing strategic disinvestment or closure, monetization of these surplus land and non-core assets is important to unlock their value.
• NLMC will support and undertake monetization of these assets. This will also enable productive utilization of these under-utilized assets to trigger private sector investments, new economic activities, boost local economy and generate financial resources for economic and social infrastructure.
• NLMC is also expected to own, hold, manage and monetize surplus land and building assets of CPSEs under closure and the surplus non-core land assets of Government owned CPSEs under strategic disinvestment.
• Efficiency:NLMC will undertake surplus land asset monetization as an agency function. It is expected that NLMC will act as a repository of best practices in land monetization, assist and provide technical advice to Government in implementation of asset monetization programme.
• Technical Experts: NLMC will have necessary technical expertise to professionally manage and monetize land assets on behalf of CPSEs and other Government agencies. The Board of Directors of NLMC will comprise senior Central Government officers and eminent experts to enable professional operations and management of the company.  The Chairman, non-Government Directors of the NLMC will be appointed through a merit-based selection process.

NLMC will be a lean organization with minimal full time staff, hired directly from the market on contract basis.  Flexibility will be provided to the Board of NLMC to hire, pay and retain experienced professionals from the private sector.

• Nodal Agency: Department of Public Enterprise, Ministry of Finance, will set up the company and act as its administrative ministry.

3. CABINET NOD FOR MINING NEW MINERALS

THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Mines for amendment of Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) for specifying the rate of royalty in respect of Glauconite, Potash, Emerald, Platinum Group of Metals (PGM), Andalusite, Sillimanite and Molybdenum.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The approval would ensure auction of mineral blocks in respect of Glauconite, Potash, Emerald, Platinum Group of Metals, Andalusite and Molybdenum thereby reducing import of these minerals, generating empowerment opportunity in the mining sector as well as manufacturing sector which will help in ensuring inclusive growth of a large section of the society.
• The approval will lead to import substitution in respect of many important minerals for the economy of the country thereby saving valuable forex reserves. It will reduce country’s foreign dependency through the local production of minerals.
• The Act was amended in 2015 to usher in new regime of granting mineral concessions through auction to ensure transparency and non-discrimination in allocation of mineral wealth of the country.
• To give further impetus to the mineral sector, the Act has been further amended in 2021. Under the reforms, the Government has given major boost to auction of mineral blocks, increasing production, improving ease   of   doing   business   in   the   country   and   increasing contribution of mineral production to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

What is the Need?

In the last 4-5 years, Central Agencies like Geological Survey of India and Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. have carried out exploration and handed over reports to the State Governments of several blocks of minerals which are hitherto not mined in the country.

 When it comes to minerals such as Glauconite/ Potash, Emerald, Platinum Group of Metals (PGM), Andalusite and Molybdenum, the country is totally dependent on import of these minerals for meeting our requirements.

As a major step towards mineral self-sufficiency, many State Governments have identified such mineral blocks for auction. However, the rate of royalty for these minerals were not separately provided and was not appropriate for giving impetus to mining of these minerals.

Minerals like Glauconite and Potash are used as fertilizer in agriculture. Platinum Group of Metals (PGM) are high value metal used in various industries and new innovative applications. Minerals like Andalusite, molybdenum are vital minerals used in industrial applications.

Value Addition:

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021

Highlights:

• Removal of restriction on end-use of minerals: The Act empowers the central government to reserve any mine (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals) to be leased through an auction for a particular end-use (such as iron ore mine for a steel plant). Such mines are known as captive mines.  The Bill provides that no mine will be reserved for particular end-use.
• Sale of minerals by captive mines: The Bill provides that captive mines (other than atomic minerals) may sell up to 50% of their annual mineral production in the open market after meeting their own needs.   The central government may increase this threshold through a notification.  The lessee will have to pay additional charges for mineral sold in the open market.
• Auction by the central government in certain cases: Under the Act, states conduct the auction of mineral concessions (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals). Mineral concessions include mining lease and prospecting license-cum-mining lease.  The Bill empowers the central government to specify a time period for completion of the auction process in consultation with the state government.  If the state government is unable to complete the auction process within this period, the auctions may be conducted by the central government.
• National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET): The Bill provides for the constitution of a Statutory body named the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET). It will see the overall functioning of the mining sector.
• National Mineral Index(NMI): The Bill proposes to introduce an index-based mechanism by developing a National Mineral Index(NMI). Various statutory payments and future auctions can use the National Mineral Index in the future.

4. THE INLAND WATER SYSTEM FOR THE NORTHEAST

THE CONTEXT: The Indian government has undertaken the ambitious Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) with an investment of about Rs 4,600 crore for the capacity augmentation of NW-1 (Ganga) for safe and sustainable movement of vessels of up to 2000 tonnes. After the MV Lal Bahadur Shastri’s journey, Inland Waterway Authority of India is looking to run regular scheduled services on these waterway routes.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The docking of the vessel carrying 200 MT of food grains for the FCI has rekindled hope for the inland water transport system which the landlocked northeast depended on heavily before India’s independence in 1947.
• It passed through Bhagalpur, Manihari, Sahibganj, Farakka, Tribeni, Kolkata, Haldia, Hemnagar in India, Khulna, Narayanganj, Sirajganj and Chilmari in Bangladesh and again to India on National Waterway-2 (NW2, river Brahmaputra) through Dhubri and Jogighopa covering 2,350 km.

How did the water cargo service through Bangladesh come about?

• The resumption of cargo transport service through the waterways in Bangladesh has come at a cost since the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade was signed between the two countries.
• India has invested 80% of ₹305.84 crore to improve the navigability of the two stretches of the IBP (Indo-Bangladesh Protocol) routes — Sirajganj-Daikhowa and Ashuganj-Zakiganj in Bangladesh.

Indo-Bangladesh Protocol

The Inland Water Transit & Trade exists between India and Bangladesh under which inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country.

The existing protocol routes are:

• Kolkata-Pandu-Kolkata
• Kolkata-Karimganj – Kolkata
• Rajshahi-Dhulian-Rajshahi
• Pandu-Karimganj-Pandu

For inter-country trade, certain ports of call have been designated in each country.

These Ports of call generally act as an intermediate stops for a ship on its scheduled journey for unloading and loading of cargo or taking on supplies or fuel and maintenance and refurbishing is carried out.

These are:

India

• Haldia (West Bengal)
• Kolkata (West Bengal)
• Pandu (Assam)
• Karimganj (Assam)
• Silghat (Assam)

Bangladesh

• Narayanganj
• Khulna
• Mongla
• Sirajganj
• Ashuganj

Significance:

• The waterways will not only remove geographical hindrance but also provide an economical and convenient transportation for the businesses and people of the region.
• In line with India’s “Act East” policy, the Indian Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has taken up several infrastructure projects on National Waterway-1, IndoBangladesh Protocol route and NW2, through the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to improve connectivity with the Northeastern region through waterways via Bangladesh.

National Waterway:

In 2016, the government notified 111 inland waterways as National Waterways of India under the National Waterways Act, 2016. Of these, 13 National Waterways are operational for shipping and navigation and cargo/passenger vessels.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Shipping is developing the National Waterways for commercial navigation, including with assistance from the World Bank.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

5. GLOBAL CENTRE FOR TRADITIONAL MEDICINE IN INDIA

THE CONTEXT: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister has approved the establishment of the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in Jamnagar, Gujarat by signing a Host Country agreement between the Government of India and the World Health Organization (WHO).

THE EXPLANATION:

The WHO GCTM will be established in Jamnagar under the Ministry of AYUSH.  This would be the first and only global outposted Centre (office) for traditional medicine across the globe.

Benefits:

• To position AYUSH systems across the globe
• To provide leadership on global health matters pertaining to traditional medicine.
• To ensure quality, safety and efficacy, accessibility and rational use of traditional medicine.
• To develop norms, standards, and guidelines in relevant technical areas, tools and methodologies, for collecting data undertaking analytics, and assess impact. Envisage WHO TM Informatics centre creating a collaborative of existing TM Data banks, virtual libraries, and academic and research institutes.
• To develop specific capacity building and training programmes in the areas of relevance to the objectives and conduct training programmes in campus, residential, or web-based, and through partnerships with the WHO Academy and other strategic partners.

The WHO GCTM would provide leadership on all global health matters related to traditional medicine as well as extend support to member countries in shaping various policies related to traditional medicine research, practices and public health.

The Ministry of AYUSH has collaborated with WHO on many fronts including developing benchmarks documents on training and practice of Ayurveda and Unani System, introducing a second module in the Traditional Medicine Chapter of the International classification of Diseases-11, developing apps like M-yoga, supporting the work of International Pharmacopeia of Herbal Medicine (IPHM) and other research studies etc.

 Significance:

• Traditional medicine is a key pillar of health care delivery systems and plays a crucial role in maintaining good health and well-being. Safe and effective traditional medicine will play a significant role in ensuring all people have access to quality essential health care services and safe, effective and affordable essential medicines as the world approach the ten-year milestone for Sustainable Development Goals in 2030.
• The WHO-GCTM will identify various challenges faced by the countries in regulating, integrating and further positioning Traditional Medicine in respective countries.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 10^TH MARCH  2022

Q. Which of the following pairs is/are incorrectly matched?

1. National Waterway 1 – Ganga River
2. National Waterway 3 – East Coast Canal
3. National Waterway 5 – West Coast Canal

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 3 only

d) 2 and 3 only

ANSWER FOR 9^th MARCH 2022

Q1. Answer: D

Explanation:

Both the statements are correct

SARKARIA COMMISSSION

Recommendations on Appointment of Governor:

• should be an eminent person.
• must be a person from outside the State.
• not have participated in active politics at least for some time before his appointment.
• he should be a detached person and not too intimately connected with the local politics of the State.
• he should be appointed in consultation with the Chief Minister of the State, Vice-President of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
• His tenure of office must be guaranteed and should not be disturbed except for extremely compelling reasons and if any action is to be taken against him, he must be given a reasonable opportunity for showing cause against the grounds on which he is sought to be removed. In case of such termination or resignation of the Governor, the Government should lay before both the Houses of Parliament a statement explaining the circumstances leading to such removal or resignation, as the case may be.
• After demitting his office, the person appointed as Governor should not be eligible for any other appointment or office of profit under the Union or a State Government except for a second term as Governor or election as Vice-President or President of India, as the case may be and
• At the end of his tenure, reasonable post-retirement benefits should be provided.
• The Punchhi commission recommended that Governor shall have fixed tenure.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. MOU FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF BBIN MOTOR VEHICLES AGREEMENT

THE CONTEXT: India, Bangladesh and Nepal finalized an enabling MoU to be signed by them for the implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA), pending ratification of the MVA by Bhutan.

What is BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement?

• India proposed a SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreement during the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in November 2014. Due to objections from Pakistan, an agreement could not be reached. India instead pursued a similar motor vehicle agreement with the BBIN. The Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement was signed on 15 June 2015.
• It enables vehicles to enter any of the four nations without the need for trans-shipment of goods from one country’s truck to another’s at the border. Under the system, cargo vehicles are tracked electronically, permits are issued online and sent electronically to all land ports. Vehicles are fitted with an electronic seal that alerts regulators every time the container door is opened.

Significance:

• Signing of the BBIN agreement will promote safe, economical efficient and environmentally sound road transport in the sub-region and will further help each country in creating an institutional mechanism for regional integration. BBIN countries will be benefited by mutual cross border movement of passenger and goods for overall economic development of the region. The people of the four countries will benefit through seamless movement of goods and passenger across borders.
• The implementation of the agreement is expected to improve the value chain in sub-regional trade. BBIN sub-grouping was expected to be the gateway to southeast and east Asia. India is working for development of inter connectivity infrastructure for Myanmar and Thailand.

2. INDIAN WOMEN JOIN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS

THE CONTEXT: In January 2022, at the United Nations Security Council, Indian officials called for more female participation in public life and the elimination of violence against them as a prerequisite for promoting lasting peace around the world.

THE EXPLANATION:

• For the first time in the history of UN peacekeeping, India sent an all-female Formed Police Unit (FPU) to be deployed in Liberia in 2007 after a civil war ravaged the African nation.
• According to the UN, of around 95,000 peacekeepers in 2020, women comprised 4.8% of military contingents and 10.9% of formed police units.
• Meanwhile, around 34% of personnel in peacekeeping missions were women.

About UN Peacekeeping Mission:

UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peace building support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.

UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles:

• Consent of the parties.
• Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

Peacekeeping is flexible and over the past two decades has been deployed in many configurations. There are currently 12 UN peacekeeping operations deployed on three continents.

Global partnership

• UN peacekeeping is a unique global partnership. It brings together the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Secretariat, troop and police contributors and the host governments in a combined effort to maintain international peace and security.
• Its strength lies in the legitimacy of the UN Charter and in the wide range of contributing countries that participate and provide precious resources.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

3. EXPLAINED: WHAT DOES RBI’S $5 BILLION DOLLAR-RUPEE SWAP MEAN?

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted a $ 5 billion dollar-rupee swap auction as part of its liquidity management initiative, leading to infusion of dollars and sucking out of the rupee from the financial system. The central bank’s move will reduce the pressure on inflation and strengthen the rupee.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The central bank said it received bids worth $13.56 billion for the sell/buy auction. It accepted 86 of these bids for $5.135 billion. The cut-off premium was set at 656 paise. The first leg of the settlement will be March 10, 2022, and the second leg will be March 11, 2024.
• The RBI sold $5.135 billion to banks on March 8,2022 and simultaneously agreed to buy back the dollars at the end of the swap settlement period. When the central bank sells dollars, it sucks out an equivalent amount in rupees, thus reducing the rupee liquidity in the system. Dollar inflow into the market will strengthen the rupee which has already hit the 77 level against the US dollar.

What’s the impact of the swap?

• The RBI would have removed close to Rs 39,000 crore ($5.135 billion) at rupee closing rate of 76.91 per dollar. The major impact will be that liquidity which currently averages around Rs 7.6 lakh crore will shrink.
• The RBI normally brings down liquidity in the system when inflation threatens to rise sharply. With crude oil prices rising sharply in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, inflation is set to rise in the coming days.

What is a Dollar–Rupee Swap auction?

• It’s a forex tool whereby the central bank uses its currency to buy another currency or vice versa.
• In a Dollar–Rupee buy/sell swap, the central bank buys dollars (US dollars or USD) from banks in exchange for Indian Rupees (INR) and immediately gets into an opposite deal with banks promising to sell dollars at a later date.
• In a dollar–rupee sell/buy swap it sells USD in exchange for INR and promises to buy dollar from banks after some years.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4. ASSAM’S MANAS NATIONAL PARK WITNESSES SHARP RISE IN TIGER, RHINO POPULATION

THE CONTEXT: Assam’s Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve has witnessed a sharp rise in the population of tigers and rhinos in recent times.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The authorities of the national park expect the tiger population will rise to more than 60 from 48 as per the 2021 census.
• In 2010, the tiger population of the park was recorded 10 while in 2020 it had increased to 30.
• In 2010, after the first tiger census in Manas National Park was conducted the Tiger Conservation Authority had said during their analysis that the national park’s tiger population will be increased by double in 2020 and it reached 30.
• In the 2021 census, 48 tigers were counted in the park which means the tiger population had increased by 18 within a year. The census for 2022 is ongoing and it will be finished by March and it is being expected that the population will increase to more than 60.

Rhino Population

The park’s Rhino population has also increased. Under the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020), the Assam government decided to reintroduce rhinos in Manas National Park in 2005, and the first rhino was translocated to the park in 2006, from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park.

About Manas National Park

• Manas National Park is situated on the bank of the river mans at the foothills of the Himalayas. The beautiful park earlier known as North Kamrup wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 519.77 sq km and was declared a sanctuary on December 01, 1928. It was established as the core of the Manas Tiger Reserve from April 1973 and elevated to the position of a National Park status on September 7, 1990.
• The wildlife spices found in national park are Hispid Hare, Pigmy Hog, Golden Langur, Indian Rhinoceros, Asiatic Buffalo etc. Other commonly seen animals are Elephant, Leopard, Clouded Leopard, Himalayan Bear, Wild Boar, Samber, Swamp Deer, Hog Deer etc.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. FUSOBACTERIUM PLAYS IN ORAL CANCER PATIENTS IN INDIA

THE CONTEXT: Scientists at Tata Memorial Centre developed a highly sensitive and specific automated computational tool HPV Detector to quantify the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV).

THE EXPLANATION:

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, it is known that infections could play a role in cancer, with 18-20% of cancers associated with infectious agents. This could be relatively higher in developing countries like India. 

• The analysis revealed significant occurrence of HPV 16, 18, and 31, among others, in cervical cancer. But a surprising finding was that Indian patients with oral tumours showing a distinct tobacco usage gene signature were devoid of HPV infection.

• This was in sharp contrast to the oral tumours among Caucasian patients, wherein tobacco genetic signature is not common but is marked by a significant presence of HPV. Several groups have corroborated this finding, and it is well established that oral tumours among Indian patients are not driven by HPV infection.

• Interestingly, Fusobacterium nucleatum is known to play a vital role in colorectal cancer, wherein its presence affects the spread of the disease and the patient’s response to chemotherapy. However, a similar role of Fusobacterium in oral cancer was not known earlier. The presence of the bacteria was found in Indian and Caucasian oral cancer patients, with a much higher incidence among the Indian patients. Moreover, oral cancer patients positive for Fusobacterium were found to be negative for HPV infection, suggesting they are present in a mutually exclusive way.

Value Addition :

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection that’s passed between people through skin-to-skin contact. There are over 100 varieties of HPV, more than 40 Trusted Source of which are passed through sexual contact and can affect your genitals, mouth, or throat.
• Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). The colon is the final part of the digestive tract.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. FIRST INDIAN TO GET BOLTZMANN MEDAL

THE CONTEXT: Professor Deepak Dhar, a physicist and emeritus faculty at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, has been selected to receive the prestigious Boltzmann Medal for 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Dhar has been given the award for his seminal contributions to several areas of statistical physics, including exact solutions of self-organized criticality models, inter-facial growth, universal long-time relaxation in disordered magnetic systems, exact solutions in percolation and cluster counting problems and definition of the spectral dimension of fractals.
• He took on several areas of statistical physics to understand the behaviour of self-organised critical systems, explain the dynamics at phase interfaces, and define the spectral dimension of fractals”.

About Boltzmann Medal:

• The Boltzmann Medal (or Boltzmann Award) is a prize awarded to physicists that obtain new results concerning statistical mechanics; it is named after the celebrated physicist Ludwig Boltzmann.
• The Boltzmann Medal is awarded once every three years by the Commission on Statistical Physics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, during the STATPHYS conference.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 9^TH MARCH  2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about the office of Governor:

1. The Sarkaria Commission recommended that the appointee should be someone from outside the respective State so that he would not have any personal interest to protect.
2. The Punchhi commission recommended that Governor shall have fixed tenure.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

 ANSWER FOR 8^th MARCH 2022

Q1. Answer: D

Explanation:

• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory body formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.
• It will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

1.DIALOGUE TOWARDS CLEAN AIR

THE CONTEXT: A two-day ‘Dialogue towards Clean Air’organised by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The discussions that  are geared towards deliberating measures to deal with the NCR’s air pollution problem.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the experts, there is a need to bring approaches related to health into plans and policies concerning air pollution, improving capacity and dealing with staff shortage at the local level, and scaling up the Ujjwala scheme.
• The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which was launched in 2019 with the aim of achieving a 20%-30% reduction in PM 10 levels by 2024. The 132 cities that are included under the NCAP were to prepare their own city-specific action plans.

Value Addition:

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

• Formed by an ordinance, “Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020”, in October 2020.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a statutory body formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas, Act 2021.

• The CAQM has replaced the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) which was appointed by the SC and had been active for 22 years.

• It will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.
• Composition:
  • The new 18-member Commission brings together the Centre, states, and other stakeholders on one collaborative platform.
  • Chaired by a government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary. The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years.
  • It will also have five ex officio members who are either Chief Secretaries, or Secretaries in charge of the department dealing with environment protection in the States of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Three full time technical members.
• Powers & Jurisdiction:
  • It will have the powers to issue directions to these state governments on issues pertaining to air pollution.
  • Exclusive jurisdiction over the NCR, including areas in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, in matters of air pollution, and will be working along with CPCB and ISRO, apart from the respective state governments.
  • The Commission will have the power to impose a fine of up to Rs 1 crore and imprisonment of up to 5 years in case its directions are contravened.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

• The scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• The target under the scheme was to release 8 Crore LPG Connections to the deprived households by March 2020.
• Under the Union Budget for FY 21-22, provision for release of additional 1 Crore LPG connections under the PMUY scheme has been made. In this phase, special facility has been given to migrant families.

Significance:

• In India, the poor have limited access to cooking gas (LPG). The spread of LPG cylinders has been predominantly in the urban and semi-urban areas with the coverage mostly in middle class and affluent households. But there are serious health hazards associated with cooking based on fossil fuels.
• According to WHO estimates, about 5 lakh deaths in India alone due to unclean cooking fuels. Most of these premature deaths were due to non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer.
• Indoor air pollution is also responsible for a significant number of acute respiratory illnesses in young children. According to experts, having an open fire in the kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour.
• Providing LPG connections to BPL households will ensure universal coverage of cooking gas in the country. This measure will empower women and protect their health. It will reduce drudgery and the time spent on cooking. It will also provide employment for rural youth in the supply chain of cooking gas.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES INITIATIVES IN NEWS

2. CONTINUATION OF THE SWATANTRATA SAINIK SAMMAN YOJANA (SSSY)

THE CONTEXT: The Union Government approved the continuation of the SwatantrataSainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) and its components beyond 31.03.2021 for the Financial Years 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a total financial outlay of Rs.3,274.87 crore.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the decision shows the commitment of the Government to remember sacrifices of Freedom Fighters and taking inspiration from them during the year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

About the Scheme:

Swatantrata Sainik Samman Pension Scheme:

• A central scheme was introduced in 1972 during the silver jubilee year of independence which grants pension to freedom fighters and their eligible dependents if the freedom fighter had already expired. Later in 1980, it was liberalized and renamed as SwatantrataSainik Samman Pension Scheme, and made effective from August the same year.
• In 2017, when the 12th Five Year Plan ended, the NDA government approved the continuation of the scheme after renaming it as SwatantrataSainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) up to 2020. The monthly pension is considered a token of respect for the contribution of freedom fighters in the national freedom struggle. Various State wise pension schemes also exist for freedom fighter pensions.

3. “SAMARTH” INITIATIVE

THE CONTEXT: On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022, Union Minister for MSME launched a Special Entrepreneurship Promotion Drive for Women -“SAMARTH” initiative o provide them an opportunity to be self-reliant and independent by undertaking self-employment opportunities.

ABOUT THE INITIATIVE:

Under the Samarth initiative of the Ministry, following benefits will be available to aspiring and existing women entrepreneurs:

• 20% Seats in free Skill Development Programs organized under skill development schemes of the Ministry will be allocated for Women. More than 7500 women will be benefitted.
• 20% of MSME Business Delegations sent to domestic & international exhibitions under the schemes for Marketing Assistance implemented by Ministry will be dedicated to women owned MSMEs.
• 20% Discount on annual processing fee on NSIC’s Commercial Schemes
• Special Drive for registration of women-owned MSMEs under Udyam Registration

Through this initiative, Ministry of MSME is focusing on providing Skill Development and  Market Development Assistance to women and more than 7500 women candidates from rural and sub- urban areas will be trained in the FY 2022-23.  Besides, thousands of women will be getting marketing opportunities to showcase their products in domestic and international exhibitions.

Also, to enhance the participation of women entrepreneurs in Public Procurement, a special discount of 20% shall also be offered on annual processing fee on NSIC’s following commercial schemes during the year 2022-23:

Single Point Registration Scheme

• Raw Material Assistance and Bill Discounting
• Tender Marketing
• B2B Portal msmemart.com

4. CAMPAIGN TO BRING BACK AT LEAST FOUR LAKH GIRLS WHO DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL

THE CONTEXT: The Centre is launching a back-to-school campaign to bring at least four lakh young girls who are out of school into the formal education system.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The campaign to enrol them into schools will be driven by anganwadi workers in collaboration with district education officers, supported by tracking systems used by the WCD and Education Ministries.
• Under the new Saksham Anganwadi scheme of the Women and Child Development Ministry, these 11-14-year-old girls will no longer receive anganwadi support, as the focus shifts to 14-18-year-olds.
• According to UNICEF survey of 50,000 Indian adolescents during the COVID pandemic, also released at the same event, reported that while 90% of respondents were currently enrolled in school, a third of them knew of at least one girl who had dropped out.
• The dropouts were either engaged in domestic work or had gotten married. Also it added that at least a third of these girls wished to return to school, with respondents suggesting strategies to convince parents, to ensure girls’ safety in school and on the commute, and to provide better awareness of Government programmes.
• Also, in 2018-19, there were 11.88 lakh girls aged 11-14 years who were part of the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) in anganwadis, but this had dropped to 5.03 lakh by 2021.

What are Saksham Anganwadis?

• Saksham Anganwadis is a new generation of anganwadis that aims to upgrade anganwadis with better infrastructure and audio-visual aids.
• They are also powered by clean energy and thus provide a conducive environment for early child development. The outlay for Saksham Anganwadi &Poshan 2.0 in 2022-23 Budget Estimate is Rs. 20,263 crores. The scheme will hail a transformative change in the welfare, safety, and security of women and children of the nation.

5. LABOUR MINISTRY LAUNCHES ‘DONATE A PENSION’ SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: The Union Labour and Employment Ministry launched the “donate a pension” scheme allowing any citizen to pay the premium amount on behalf of an unorganised worker under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan Scheme.

THE EXPLANATION:

Immediate support staff:

• The scheme allows a citizen to “donate the premium contribution of their immediate support staff such as domestic workers, drivers, helpers, care givers, nurses in their household or establishment”.
• The donor can pay the contribution for a minimum of one year, with the amount ranging from ₹660 to ₹2,400 a year depending on the age of the beneficiary, by paying through maandhan.in or visiting a Common Service Centre.

Value Addition:

PRADHAN MANTRI SHRAM YOGI MAAN-DHAN YOJANA

It is a central government scheme meant for old age protection and social security of Unorganised Workers (UW).

Features

• It is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme, under which the subscriber would receive a minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- permonth after attaining the age of 60 years and if the subscriber dies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension as family pension. Family pension is applicable only to spouse.
• Contribution by the UW Subscriber : Through ‘auto-debit’ facility from his/ her savings bank account/ Jan- Dhan account from the date of joining PM-SYM till the age of 60 years as per the chart below. The Central Government will also give equal matching contribution in his pension account.

Eligibility criteria:

• Should be an unorganised worker (UW)
• Entry age between 18 and 40 years
• Monthly Income Rs 15000 or below

 THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. EXERCISE SLINEX-2022

THE CONTEXT: The Ninth Edition of India – Sri Lanka Bilateral Maritime Exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) is scheduled at Visakhapatnam from 07 Mar to 10 Mar 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• SLINEX aims to enhance inter-operability, improve mutual understanding and exchange best practices and procedures for multi-faceted maritime operations between both navies. The Harbour Phase would include professional, cultural, sporting and social exchanges. Exercises during Sea Phase will include surface and anti-air weapon firing exercises, seamanship evolutions, aviation operations including cross deck flying, advanced tactical manoeuvres and special forces operations at sea. These will further enhance the high degree of inter-operability already existing between the two navies.
• SLINEX exemplifies the deep maritime engagement between India and Sri Lanka and has grown in scope over the years to strengthen mutual cooperation, in consonance with India’s policy of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and Hon’ble PMs vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’.

7. EXERCISE VAYU SHAKTI 2022

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to postpone its firepower demonstration, Ex Vayu Shakti, scheduled in the Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan on March 7, 2022 “due to the developing situation”.

THE EXPLANATION:

Amid the deepening crisis in Ukraine, the Defence Ministry announced that the 12th edition of the biennial Defexpo to be held in Gujarat for the first time has been postponed “due to logistics problems being experienced by participants.”

Triennial exercise

• The triennial Ex Vayu Shakti 2022, aimed at showcasing the capability of the IAF to conduct full spectrum operations, was to see the participation of 148 aircraft and helicopters, including 109 fighter aircraft, 24 helicopters, seven transport aircraft and four unmanned aerial vehicles.

• The Indian Air Force showcases repower capability of indigenously developed aircrafts and its missile arsenal in this exercise.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 8^TH MARCH  2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM):

1. It is an attached body of the Environment Ministry.
2. It is the specialized body for tackling the air pollution of NCR regions only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

 ANSWER FOR 7^th MARCH 2022

Q1. Answer: D

Explanation:

FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF)

• It is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.
• It was established by the G-7 Summit that was held in Paris in 1989. Secretariat is located at the OECD Headquarters in Paris.
• It has 39 members, On June 25, 2010, India was taken in as the 34th country member of FATF.
• The current FATF blacklist includes two countries: North Korea and Iran.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1.THE DEMOCRACY REPORT 2022

THE CONTEXT: According to the latest report titled ‘Democracy Report 2022’, which is released by V-Dem Institute at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg, stated that One of the biggest drivers of autocratisation is “toxic polarisation”, a dominant trend in 40 countries, as opposed to 5 countries that showed rising polarisation in 2011.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are the main findings of the report?

• Sweden topped the LDI index, other Scandinavian countries such as Denmark and Norway, along with Costa Rica and New Zealand make up the top five in liberal democracy rankings.
• Autocratisation is spreading rapidly, with a record of 33 countries autocratising. Signaling a sharp break from an average of 1.2 coups per year, 2021 saw a record 6 coups, resulting in 4 new autocracies: Chad, Guinea, Mali and Myanmar.
• While the number of liberal democracies stood at 42 in 2012, their number has shrunk to their lowest level in over 25 years, with just 34 countries and 13% of the world population living in liberal democracies. Closed autocracies, or dictatorships, rose from 25 to 30 between 2020 and 2021.
• While the world today has 89 democracies and 90 autocracies, electoral autocracy remains the most common regime type, accounting for 60 countries and 44% of the world population or 3.4 billion people. Electoral democracies were the second most common regime, accounting for 55 countries and 16% of the world population.

What parameters were used to assess the status of a democracy?

• V-Dem’s conceptual scheme takes into account not only the electoral dimension (free and fair elections) but also the liberal principle that a democracy must protect “individual and minority rights against both the tyranny of the state and the tyranny of the majority”.
• The V-Dem report classifies countries into four regime types based on their score in the Liberal Democratic Index (LDI): Liberal Democracy, Electoral Democracy, Electoral Autocracy, and Closed Autocracy. The LDI captures both liberal and electoral aspects of a democracy based on 71 indicators that make up the Liberal Component Index (LCI) and the Electoral Democracy Index (EDI).
• The LCI measures aspects such as protection of individual liberties and legislative constraints on the executive, while the EDI considers indicators that guarantee free and fair elections such as freedom of expression and freedom of association.
• In addition, the LDI also uses an Egalitarian Component Index (to what extent different social groups are equal), Participatory Component Index (health of citizen groups, civil society organisations), and Deliberative Component Index (whether political decisions are taken through public reasoning focused on common good or through emotional appeals, solidarity attachments, coercion).

What does the report say about India?

• The report notes that India is part of a broader global trend of an anti-plural political party driving a country’s autocratisation.
• Ranked 93rd in the LDI, India figures in the “bottom 50%” of countries. It has slipped further down in the Electoral Democracy Index, to 100, and even lower in the Deliberative Component Index, at 102. In South Asia, India is ranked below Sri Lanka (88), Nepal (71), and Bhutan (65) and above Pakistan (117) in the LDI.

What does the report say about the changing nature of autocratisation?

• One of the biggest drivers of autocratisation is “toxic polarisation” — defined as a phenomenon that erodes respect of counter-arguments and associated aspects of the deliberative component of democracy — a dominant trend in 40 countries, as opposed to 5 countries that showed rising polarisation in 2011.
• The report also points out that “toxic levels of polarisation contribute to electoral victories of anti-pluralist leaders and the empowerment of their autocratic agendas”. Noting that “polarisation and autocratisation are mutually reinforcing”, the report states that “measures of polarisation of society, political polarisation, and political parties’ use of hate speech tend to systematically rise together to extreme levels.”
• The report identified “misinformation” as a key tool deployed by autocratising governments to sharpen polarisation and shape domestic and international opinion. Repression of civil society and censorship of media were other favoured tools of autocratising regimes.
• While freedom of expression declined in a record 35 countries in 2021, with only 10 showing improvement, repression of civil society organisations (CSOs) worsened in 44 countries over the past ten years, “putting it at the very top of the indicators affected by autocratisation”. Also, in 37 countries, direct government control over CSOs’ existence moved in an authoritarian direction — “evidence of the far-ranging weakening of civil society around the world.”
• Significantly, the report also found that decisive autonomy for the electoral management body (EMB) deteriorated in 25 countries.

2.  INTER-STATE RIVER WATER DISPUTES

THE CONTEXT: Karnataka Government said, its stand clear to the Centre against any kind of negotiation on water issues with neighboring States where tribunal award has been granted.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Water resource Minister of the state, Karnataka has the right on water and the right has been established by the tribunal awards. Negotiable settlement is not advisable after tribunal awards. In case of Cauvery and Mahadayi rivers, the Centre has already gazetted the awards and Krishna Tribunal 2 award is yet to be gazetted”.

Background:

What is Cauvery water dispute?

• The dispute started in 1892 when the Madras Presidency and princely state of Mysore could not agree over how to divide the water between the two regions. However, the British presided and an agreement was made between the two regions regarding the rules of water usage of Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam.
• According to the agreement in 1924, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would get 75% of the surplus water, while Karnataka would get 23% and the remaining would go to Kerala. However, post Independence when the re-organisation of states started Tamil Nadu and Karnataka came in dispute over the construction of dams on the river. Karnataka refused to abide by the old agreement which became a huge problem for Tamil Nadu’s agricultural requirements.
• Later Tamil Nadu moved to Supreme Court to resolve the issue. As a result the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was formed which directed Karnataka to ensure 205 tmcft of water reach Tamil Nadu per annum. Karnataka rejected the tribunal’s award and sought for an annulment in the Supreme Court. Since then, there have been various attempts to resolve the issue between the two states, but nothing has worked.

What is the Mahadayi river dispute?

• The dispute over  Mahadayi river began in the 80s and grew stronger in the subsequent decades. The trigger was Karnataka’s move to design a number of dams, canals and barrages to route the Mahadayi river water to the Malaprabha basin.
• The state claimed that channelling the river water into the basin of Malaprabha, a tributary of the Krishna, would meet the requirements of water-scarce districts of Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad and Belagavi.
• Goa, seeking redressal to the dispute in 2002, sought the constitution of a water disputes tribunal. The state also moved the apex court in 2006 with its demand. After sustained efforts by the Goan government, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set up on November 16, 2010.
• The dispute is also around the amount of water that Goa receives. Karnataka claims that the surplus from Mahadayi drains into the sea and that it should be diverted into the deficit basin in Malaprabha to meet the state’s drinking, irrigation, agriculture and power generation needs. Goa has, meanwhile, denied Karnataka’s claims saying it is a water deficient state and limiting the water supply would adversely impact its agriculture production.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. PAKISTAN RETAINED FATF’S GREYLIST AGAIN

THE CONTEXT: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) retained Pakistan in the ‘greylist’ yet again, observing that it needed to further demonstrate that investigations and prosecutions were being pursued against the senior leadership of U.N.-designated terror groups, which include Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The FATF had asked Pakistan to work on the remaining recommendation by demonstrating that terror financing investigations and prosecutions targeted senior leaders and commanders of the U.N.-designated terrorist groups.
• It had advised that Pakistan should continue to work to address its six strategically important deficiencies, which included enhancing international cooperation by amending the money-laundering law and demonstrating that assistance was being sought from foreign countries in implementing the UNSCR 1373 designations.

How may Pakistan come off the list?

• The FATF has advised Pakistan that it should continue to work to address its other strategically important AML/CFT deficiencies by:

(1) providing evidence that it actively seeks to enhance the impact of sanctions beyond its jurisdiction by nominating additional individuals and entities for designation at the U.N.;

(2) demonstrating an increase in money laundering investigations and prosecutions and that proceeds of crime continue to be restrained and confiscated in line with Pakistan’s risk profile, including working with foreign counterparts to trace, freeze and confiscate assets.

ABOUT FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF)

• It is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.
• It was established by the G-7 Summit that was held in Paris in 1989. Secretariat is located at the OECD Headquarters in Paris.
• It has 39 members, On June 25, 2010, India was taken in as the 34th country member of FATF.
• The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a coordinated global response to prevent organized crime, corruption and terrorism.
• The FATF also works to stop funding for weapons of mass destruction.
• FATF has 2 types of lists:

1. Black List: Countries knowns as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
2. Grey List: Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.

• Consequences of being in the FATF grey list: Those countries in the grey list may face economic sanctions from IMF, World Bank, ADB, Problem in getting loans from IMF, World Bank, ADB and other countries, Reduction in international trade, an international boycott.

4. THE EFFECTS OF THE RUSSIA­ UKRAINE CONFLICT ON MARITIME TRADE

THE CONTEXT: Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the Western economies and its allies have taken retaliatory steps, in the form of heavy sanctions, to effectively paralyse the Russian economy. One industry which is going to be heavily affected is the shipping industry as delays and shipping costs are expected to rise due to disruptions in the global supply chain.

THE EXPLANATION:

What has been the impact globally?

• As crude oil prices go up, the price of ship fuel is also going up. Fuel cost is the biggest contributor to the operating costs of a ship and the increase will have a cascading effect on shipping costs and freight.
• Russia and Ukraine are major traders in grain, minerals and oil so bulk shipping including oil and gas tankers will be significantly affected.
• As Turkey abides by the Montreaux convention, it has banned Russian naval ships from passing through the Bosphorus Strait which leads to the Black Sea.
• Black Sea is home to the few warm water ports the country has and is the theater of the war. As crude oil prices go up, the price of ship fuel, called Bunker fuel, is going up as well. Fuel cost is the biggest contributor to the operating costs of a ship and the increase will have a cascading effect on shipping costs and freight.

What is the role of Turkey in this conflict?

• Turkey controls the entry and exit of Black Sea and hence has a say over ship traffic in the Black Sea. It has banned Russian naval ships from passing through the Bosphorus Strait. Turkey is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea which sees the oceans as commons and allows even warships innocent passage through territorial waters of a nation.
• Turkey abides by the Montreaux convention which gives it greater control over the straits. Free passage is guaranteed for merchant vessels belonging to belligerents in war, especially if Turkey is not a belligerent. The convention also lays down clearly what is a warship and what is not. Having said that, any interpretation to curb Russian merchant ship movement will be a significant escalation and inflame the scenario.

 Value Addition:

Montreux Convention:

• The 1936 Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits, often referred to as the Montreux Convention.
• Under this convention, Turkey has control over both the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.
• In the event of a war, the pact gives Turkey the right to regulate the transit of naval warships and to block the straits to warships belonging to the countries involved in the conflict.
• It regulates maritime traffic through the Black Sea.
• It guarantees “complete freedom” of passage for all civilian vessels during peacetime and permits Turkey to restrict the passage of navies not belonging to Black Sea states.
• Military vessels are limited in number, tonnage and weaponry, with specific provisions governing their mode of entry and duration of stay.
• Warships must provide advanced notification to Turkish authorities, which, in turn, must inform the parties to the Convention.

QUICK FACTS:

DARDANELLES STRAIT:

BOSPORUS STRAIT

COUNTRIES BORDERED BY BLACK SEA

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

5. HARIKE WETLAND AND WATERBIRD CENSUS EXERCISE

THE CONTEXT: According to the forest officials in the state of Punjab, the year 2022 has been very difficult and challenging in relation to conducting the waterbird census exercise in wetlands of Punjab. The peak migratory bird season overlapped with the outbreak of the third wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Wildlife Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab, conducts waterbirds census exercise in six major and most biodiverse wetlands, which include the Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ropar Conservation Reserve, the Harike Wildlife Sanctuary, the Kanjli Wetland, the Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve and the Ranjit Sagar Conservation Reserve.
• However, the census could not be done this year on account of dense fog conditions.
• The Ropar and Nangal wetlands host the three migratory water species of the family Podicipedidae i.e., black-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe and Greater Crested Grebe along with the resident Little Grebe.

Significance:

Migratory Birds 

• The wetland is an important area for migratory birds. Every winter, the birds migrate to India through the central Asian flyway which covers a large continental area of Europe-Asia between the Arctic and Indian Oceans.
• Birds such as the Eurasian coot, Greylag goose, Bar-headed goose, Gadwall, and the northern shoveler are the prominent ones that could be sighted at Harike Wetland.

Concerns: Over the years, the number of certain species visiting the wetland are falling. The key reasons attributed to the drop are increased human interference in their breeding regions, oil exploration, use of pesticides in farms, climate change, and rising air and water pollution.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

6. THE HYBRID MODEL OF SECURITY

THE CONTEXT: Union Home Minister pitched for a “hybrid” security model where the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) could train and certify private security agencies so that they can take over the task of efficiently guarding various kinds of industrial and manufacturing units in the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to him, the CISF, raised in 1969, worked like a silent ” karmayogi” to ensure the country’s industrial development and secured the private manufacturing production units as India rode on to become a $2.5 trillion-strong economy.
• Keeping in view the “increasing” drone threat to industrial units along sea ports and the land border, he asked the CISF to collaborate with agencies like the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Border Security Force (BSF) to prepare an effective counter-technology against this menace.
• The force, at present, guards a total of 354 units in the government and private sectors, working in domains such as oil, power, information technology, civil airports, Delhi Metro, aerospace and nuclear, among others.

Value Addition:

The Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) refers to seven security forces in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

• The CISF came into existence in 1969 with a modest beginning, having three battalions, to provide integrated security cover to the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
• Among the important responsibilities recently entrusted to the CISF are the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, VIP Security, Disaster Management and establishment of a Formed Police Unit (FPU) of the UN in Haiti.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 7^TH MARCH 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Financial Action Task Force (FATF):

1. It was established by the G-7 Summit.
2. The FATF has developed the FATF Recommendations, or FATF Standards, which ensure a coordinated global response to prevent organized crime, corruption and terrorism.
3. The current FATF blacklist includes two countries: North Korea and Iran.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 3 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) None

ANSWER FOR 5^TH MARCH 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. Members are elected by the UN General Assembly.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Each elected member serves for a term of three years.

Statement 3 is correct: Countries are disallowed from occupying a seat for more than two consecutive terms.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1.NEW GIN BERRY SPICIES DISCOVERED IN TN

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

About Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

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

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

Where is it located?

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

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

3. UNION GOVT RETHINKS GOLD MONETISATION SCHEME

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

About the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme:

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

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

Merits of investing in gold bonds:

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

Demerits of sovereign gold bonds

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

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

4. POLAVARAM PROJECT

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

About the Project:

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

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

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

THE MISCELLANEOUS

5. THE PRACTICE OF “NOKKUKOOLI”-GAWKING FEE

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

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Nokkukooli?

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

What was the reason behind Kerala’s recent decision?

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

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 5^TH MARCH 2022

Q Consider the following statements about UNHRC:

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

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)1 only

b) 1 and 3

c) 2 and 3

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 4^TH MARCH 2022

ANSWER: C)

Explanation:

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

THE ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

1. A HISTORIC RESOLUTION TO TACKLE PLASTIC POLLUTION

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

India’s Picture:

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

Various Causes of Plastic Pollution

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

Impact of Plastic Waste on Climate

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

Impact of Plastic Waste on Economy

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

Way forward:

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

2. NEW PLASTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT (AMENDMENT) RULES 2022

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

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

New Classification for plastic

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

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

Mandating PIBOs to share the detail of recycling certificates

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

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

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

THE INTERNAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. VILLAGE DEFENCE COMMITTEE IN JAMMU

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

Background:

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

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. OLD STONE AGE CULTURE DISCOVERED IN CHINA

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

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

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

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

Value Addition:

What is Carbon Dating?

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

How does it work?

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

6. MEKEDATU PROJECT

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

THE EXPLANATION:

WHAT IS THE MEKEDATU PROJECT ?

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

PARCHED BENGALURU

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

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 4^TH MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Theyyam:

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

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) All of them

 ANSWER FOR 3^RD MARCH 2022

Answer: 1 & 2

Explanation:

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

Background:

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

2. WHAT CONSTITUTES A WAR CRIME?

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

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

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

‘Laws of war’

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

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

 Distinction, proportionality, precaution

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

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

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

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

The Difference Between ICJ and ICC

About International Criminal Court:

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

THE GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES/SCHEMES IN NEWS

3. OPERATION GANGA

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

Why Indians flock to Ukraine to study medicine

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

Ukraine colleges – cheaper, viable alternatives to India

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

4. STREE MANORAKSHA PROJECT

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

5. “SAGAR PARIKRAMA PROGRAM”

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

THE MISCELLANEOUS

6. THE FREEDOM HOUSE REPORT

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

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:

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

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 3^rd MARCH  2022

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

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

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 2^nd MARCH 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

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

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

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

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

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

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

Value Addition:

Bilateral trade between India & Russia

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

India-Russia payment mechanism 

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

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. INVESTMENTS THROUGH P-NOTES DECLINE IN JANUARY 2022

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

What is P-Notes?

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

How Do Participatory Notes Work?

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

Pros and Cons of Participatory Notes

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

THE INTERNAL SECURITY AFFAIRS

3. THE EXTENSION OF AFSPA IN ASSAM

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

THE EXPLANATION:

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

VALUE ADDITION:

How is a region declared ‘disturbed’?

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

Criticism of AFSPA:

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

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

Who are the Kukis?

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

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

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

What led to the Kuki insurgencies in Manipur?

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

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

5. ZERO DISCRIMINATION DAY 2022

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

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY:

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

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 2^nd MARCH  2022

Q. Consider the following statements about P-notes:

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

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 1^ST MARCH 2022

Q1. Answer: C

Explanation:

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

Q2. Answer: C

Explanation:

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