THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. EXPLAINED: WHAT IS FINLANDIZATION ?

THE CONTEXT: France President invoked a Cold War-era term“Finlandization” of Ukraine was “one of the models on the table” for defusing tensions with Russia.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is term about?

• The term refers to Finland’s strict neutrality during the Cold War, enshrined in a 1948 treaty with Moscow when tensions between the Soviet Union and the West were at a high.
• The treaty ensured Finland that unlike other countries in Eastern Europe, it would not face a Soviet invasion, but in return, it agreed to stay out of NATO and allowed the giant next door to exercise significant influence over its domestic and foreign policy.
• The origin of Finlandization can be traced back to the Cold War. Finland did not join NATO and there was no interference from Moscow due to the Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948.

THE NEW ALLIANCE

• Ukraine, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, has increasingly tilted toward the West, economically and politically, while resisting Russian influence. In 2008, NATO said it planned eventually for Ukraine to join the alliance, a popular idea within the country, though it has never actually applied for membership and NATO officials say it would not happen any time soon.
• “Finlandization” would appear to rule out that possibility, and allow Moscow a heavy hand in Ukrainian affairs — concessions Kyiv and NATO have rejected as unacceptable.
• “All of this goes against what Ukraine has been striving for. “It would be a big shift from a long-term political aim of joining NATO and joining the E.U., which is what they have wanted.”
• The arrangement of French President appeared to suggest is “a way of solving a problem by making a decision over the head of the Ukrainians”.

With Russia determined to expand his sphere of influence and undermine an independent Ukrainian government, and the West making it clear it would not go to war against Russia to defend Ukraine, some experts have argued that “Finlandization” is the best course Ukraine can take.

2. RUSSIAN CLAIMS OF GENOCIDE FALSE: UKRAINE TO INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)

THE CONTEXT: Ukraine has filed an application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), instituting proceedings against the Russian Federation concerning “a dispute…relating to the interpretation, application and fulfillment of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide” (the “Genocide Convention”).

THE EXPLANATION:

Ukraine has accused Russia of falsely claiming that “acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine”, and of using that as a pretext to recognise the independence of these regions and of going to war against Ukraine.

About the International court:

• The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.
• The court is the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ), which was brought into being through, and by, the League of Nations, and which held its inaugural sitting at the Peace Palace in (HQ)The Hague, Netherlands, in February 1922.
• After World War II, the League of Nations and PCIJ were replaced by the United Nations and ICJ respectively. The PCIJ was formally dissolved in April 1946.
• It is the only one of the six principal organs of the UN that is not located in New York City.(The other five organs are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the Secretariat.)

India at the ICJ

India has been a party to a case at the ICJ on six occasions, four of which have involved Pakistan. They are:

1. Right of Passage over Indian Territory (Portugal v. India, culminated 1960);
2. Appeal Relating to the Jurisdiction of the ICAO Council (India v. Pakistan, culminated 1972);
3. Trial of Pakistani Prisoners of War (Pakistan v. India, culminated 1973);
4. Aerial Incident of 10 August 1999 (Pakistan v. India, culminated 2000);
5. Obligations concerning Negotiations relating to Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race and to Nuclear Disarmament (Marshall Islands v. India, culminated 2016);
6. (Kulbhushan) Jadhav (India v. Pakistan, culminated 2019).

3. JAPAN AND INDIA RENEWS BILATERAL SWAP ARRANGEMENT

THE CONTEXT: Japan and India have renewed the Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) of up to $75 billion with effect from February 28, 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• “Japan and India believe that the BSA, which aims to strengthen and complement other financial safety nets, will further deepen financial cooperation between the two countries and contribute to regional and global financial stability”

What is Bilateral Swap Arrangement?

• Bilateral Swap Arrangement is a two-way arrangement where both authorities can swap their local currencies in exchange for the US Dollar.
• This means, India can acquire dollars from Japan in exchange for rupees. And, conversely, Japan can also seek dollars from India in exchange for yen
• The BSA was negotiated between India and Japan during the Indian prime minister’s visit to Japan in 2018. Consequently, the swap arrangement was signed to the tune of $75 billion in October 2020, to bring greater stability to foreign exchange.

Background:

In recent years, economic relationship between Japan and India have steadily expanded and deepened. The volume of trade between the two countries has increased. India was the 18th largest trading partner for Japan, and Japan was the 12th largest trading partner for India in 2020.

The year 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India. It is an opportunity to reminisce, be mindful of the present and envision our future. It gives me pleasure that we can celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Independence of India and the 70th anniversary of Japan-India diplomatic relations together.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

4. SIXTH ASSESSMENT REPORT (AR6) ON CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACTS, ADAPTATION AND VULNERABILITY

THE CONTEXT: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the climate science body of the United Nations, published the second instalment of its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). It focuses on the effects of climate change on ecosystems and society.

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:

• Most populated regions at high risk: Cities — which house more than half of the world’s population — are at the highest risk from climate change. Globally, about 3-3.6 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate change.
• Poor most hurt: Climate impacts do not distinguish between borders but the poorest are hit the hardest. Low-income populations face the largest gap in adaptation action.
• Every degree of rise in warming increases risks: “Projected adverse impacts as well as related losses and damages escalate with every increment of global warming. Up to 14 per cent of species face a very high risk of extinction at global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) over pre-industrial levels. The risk increases to 29 per cent at 3°C and 39 per cent at 4°C of global warming.
• Some changes irreversible: Some climate change-driven losses, such as the extinction of species, are irreversible. Others are approaching irreversibility with accelerating climate change. These include the retreat of glaciers and thawing of permafrost, particularly in the Arctic region.
• If global average temperature rise temporarily crosses the 1.5°C — known as the “overshoot” scenario — critical and fragile ecosystems will be lost, even if temperatures are brought down (theoretically, using carbon dioxide removal technologies like direct air capture). This will be disastrous for biodiversity.
• Impact on health, food, agriculture: Climate change has conclusively affected the physical and mental health of people around the world. Human society will increasingly face heat stress, water scarcity, threats to food security and flood risks as the crisis worsens.
• At 2°C of warming, people in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Small Island Developing States will face severe food shortages and malnutrition.

INDIA’S PICTURE

According to IPCC report, Lucknow and Patna, are among the cities predicted to reach wet-bulb temperatures (a metric of humidity) of 35°C if emissions continued to rise, while Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Mumbai, Indore, and Ahmedabad are all identified as at risk of reaching wet-bulb temperatures of 32-34°C with continued emissions; overall, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab will be the most severely affected, but if emissions continue to increase, all Indian States will have regions that experience wet-bulb 30°C or more by the end of the century.

BIODIVERSITY

According to the report, the future climate change could reduce the extent of a suitable habitat for giant pandas, the moose, black muntjac, the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey in China, Persian leopard in Iran, Bengal tiger and four tree snail species in Thailand.

Climate change will have little impact on the habitats of the Asian elephant, but would cause the extinction of the Hoolock gibbon in Bangladesh by 2070.

The snow leopard, which is the apex predator in the mountain ranges of central and south Asia, is found across 12 countries in Asia. Of these, its suitable habitat area will increase in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia.

Climate change will promote the invasion of six mostly serious invasive plant species in Nepal. These are:

• Ageratum houstonianum (Floss flower)
• Chromolaena odorata (Bitter bush)
• Hyptissuaveolens (Pignut)
• Lantana camara (Raimuniya in Hindi)
• Mikania micrantha (Bitter vine)
• Parthenium hysterophorus (Carrot grass)

It would also promote the growth of eleven invasive plant species in the western Himalayas and the Giant African Snail in India. Climate change would also inhibit the invasion of two invasive plants — Chromolaena odorata (Bitter bush) and Tridax procumbens (Tridax daisy) — in India.

“Projected sea-level rise, related aquatic salinisation and alteration in fish species composition may have a negative impact on poor households in southwest coastal Bangladesh.

URGENT NEED FOR MORE FINANCE, POLITICAL COMMITMENT

• In case of some regions and population groups, the limits to adaptation may have been reached. This is particularly for people living in the low-lying areas of Australasia and Small Islands, smallholder farmers in central and south America, Africa, Europe and Asia.
• To reap further benefits from adaptation, other constraints need to be overcome such as poor governance, climate literacy and access to finance.
• Current global financial flows for climate action are insufficient. They are mostly targeted at emissions reductions, with a small proportion going towards adaptation. As climate impacts worsen, economic growth will slow down and thus, reduce the availability of financial resources for vulnerable regions.
• Climate adaptation efforts have improved in recent years, but progress is unevenly distributed by geography and is slow. Political commitment and follow-through are needed across all levels of government, to accelerate adaptation. Institutional frameworks with clear goals and priorities that define clear responsibility are also key.

WAY FORWARD

• A key aspect of this report is the vast set of options it provides to reduce risks to people and nature. Strengthening of health systems can reduce impacts of infectious diseases and heat stress, and should be combined with disease surveillance, early warning systems, and improved access to potable water, it outlined.
• The report recommended harnessing the adaptive strengths of nature through measures like:
• Agroforestry
• Conservation, protection and restoration of natural forests
• Planting of diverse tree species to withstand climate impacts.
• Adopting rainwater storage and other water-saving technologies can help combat groundwater depletion in agriculture.
• Food security can be enhanced by adopting stress-tolerant crops and livestock, promoting community-based adaptation that is locally driven as well as respecting local and indigenous knowledge system.
• Cities can use nature-based engineering approaches like establishing parks, green corridors, and urban agriculture. And expanded social safety nets will help with disaster management.
• The report closes on an instructive and poignant note: The cumulative scientific evidence is unequivocal: Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health. Any further delay in concerted anticipatory global action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.
• Holding global temperature rise to below 1.5°C could reduce projected losses.

THE PT PERSPECTIVE- PLACES IN NEWS

5. TURKEY BLOCKS WARSHIPS FROM STRAITS AMID RUSSIA-UKRAINE CRISIS

THE CONTEXT: Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Turkey has barred warships from passing through the key straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles in a bid to de-escalate the crisis.

THE EXPLANATION:

The Turkish straits give Russia’s Black Sea fleet entry to the Mediterranean. The Montreux agreement allows Ankara to regulate maritime traffic through the waterways during peace and wartime alike.

The Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits connect the Aegean (part of the Mediterranean), Marmara (Turkey’s inland sea), and the Black Sea, the latter from which Russia launched an incursion on Ukraine’s southern coast.

The 1936 pact gives Ankara the right to bar warships from using the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus during wartime and in case of threats to Turkey.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 1^ST MARCH  2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about IPCC:

1. It was established in 1988 by WMO and UNDP.
2. Its headquarter is hosted at WMO headquarters in Geneva.
3. It is scientific body which gathers, monitors and do research on climate related data.

Which of the above given statements is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 3 only

Q2. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?

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

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 28^TH FEB 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Society for Worldwide Inter bank Financial Telecommunication(SWIFT) is a messaging network used by banks and financial institutions globally for quick and faultless exchange of information pertaining to financial transactions. SWIFT, first used in 1973, went live in 1977 with 518 institutions from 22 countries, its website states. SWIFT itself had replaced the much slower and far less dynamic Telex.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Belgium-headquartered SWIFT connects more than 11,000 banking and securities organisations in over 200 countries and territories.

Statement 3 is correct: SWIFT is merely a platform that sends messages and does not hold any securities or money. It provides standardised and reliable communication to facilitate the transaction.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1.THE EXCLUSION OF RUSSIA FROM SWIFT

THE CONTEXT: The U.S., Europe and several other western nations are moving to exclude Russia from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), an international network for banks to facilitate smooth money transactions globally. This could be the strongest economic sanction against Russia over its military moves in Ukraine, as it will potentially cut off the country from receiving international payments.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is SWIFT?

SWIFT is a messaging network used by banks and financial institutions globally for quick and faultless exchange of information pertaining to financial transactions. The Belgium-headquartered SWIFT connects more than 11,000 banking and securities organizations in over 200 countries and territories.

Each participant on the platform is assigned a unique eight-digit SWIFT code or a bank identification code (BIC).

EXAMPLE:

If a person,in New York with a Citibank account, wants to send money to someone with an HSBC account in London, the payee would have to submit to his bank, the London-based beneficiary’s account number along with the eight-digit SWIFT code of the latter’s bank. Citi would then send a SWIFT message to HSBC. Once that is received and approved, the money would be credited to the required account.

SWIFT is merely a platform that sends messages and does not hold any securities or money. It provides standardised and reliable communication to facilitate the transaction.

What happens if one is excluded from SWIFT?

If a country is excluded from the most participatory financial facilitating platform, its foreign funding would take a hit, making it entirely reliant on domestic investors. This is particularly troublesome when institutional investors are constantly seeking new markets in newer territories.

An alternative system would be cumbersome to build and even more difficult to integrate with an already expansive system. SWIFT, first used in 1973, went live in 1977 with 518 institutions from 22 countries.

Are any countries excluded from SWIFT?

Certain Iranian banks were ousted from the system in 2018 despite resistance from several countries in Europe.

How is the organization governed?

• SWIFT claims to be neutral. Its shareholders, consisting of 3,500 firms across the globe, elect the 25-member board, which is responsible for oversight and management of the company.
• It is regulated by G-10 central banks of Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and Sweden, alongside the European Central Bank. Its lead overseer is the National Bank of Belgium.
• The SWIFT oversight forum was established in 2012. The G-10 participants were joined by the central banks of India, Australia, Russia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, the Republic of Turkey, and the People’s Republic of China.

2. EXERCISE EASTERN BRIDGE -VI

THE CONTEXT: The Indo-Oman exercise, Eastern Bridge-VI (2022) was successfully conducted at Air Force Station Jodhpur. Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) participated with Indian Air Force (lAF) in the exercise which was aimed at providing operational exposure and undertaking mutual exchange of best practices, towards enhancing operational capabilities of both the Air Forces.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It was aimed at providing operational exposure and undertaking mutual exchange of best practices, towards enhancing operational capabilities of both the Air Forces.
• According to the Defense Ministry stated that both sides discussed further prospects of mutual co-operation. The exercise provided an opportunity for fruitful interaction between IAF and RAFO elements through mutual exchange of experience and operational knowledge. It also provided avenues of cultural exchanges between the personnel of both countries.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

3. EXPLAINED: WHAT IS MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE INSTITUTIONS?

THE CONTEXT: The National Stock Exchange (NSE), the country’s largest equities and derivatives exchange, was fined for laxity in governance pertaining to actions taken during the tenure of its former MD and CEO Chitra Ramakrishna.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are MIIs?

• Stock exchanges, depositories and clearing houses are all Market Infrastructure Institutions and constitute a key part of the nation’s vital economic infrastructure.
• A panel set up under the chairmanship of former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan — to examine issues arising from the ownership and governance of MIIs — in its 2010 report said: “The term ‘infrastructure’ would mean the basic, underlying framework or features of a system; and the term ‘market infrastructure’ denotes such fundamental facilities and systems serving this market. The primary purpose of securities /capital market is to enable allocation/reallocation of capital/financial resources.”
• Such movement, it pointed out, helped optimal use of money in the economy and fostered economic development. Well-functioning MIIs, constitute “the nucleus of (the) capital allocation system”, are indispensable for economic growth and have a net positive effect on society like any other infrastructure institution, the panel noted.

Why are they considered to be systemically important?

• According to the Jalan committee, MIIs are systemically important in India is clear from the phenomenal growth of these institutions in terms of market capitalisation of listed companies, capital raised and the number of investor accounts with brokers and depositories and the value of assets held in the depositories’ account.
• Unlike typical financial institutions, the number of stock exchanges, depositories and clearing corporations in an economy is limited due to the nature of its business, although they cater to the entire marketplace.
• “Any failure of such an MII could lead to even bigger cataclysmic collapses that may result in an overall economic downfall that could potentially extend beyond the boundaries of the securities market and the country.”

What are the specific institutions in India that qualify as MIIs?

Among stock exchanges, the SEBI lists seven, including the BSE, the NSE, the Multi Commodity Exchange of India and the Metropolitan Stock Exchange of India. There are two depositories — charged with the safekeeping of securities and enabling their trading and transfer — that are tagged MIIs: the Central Depository Services Ltd. and the National Securities Depository Ltd.

4. RUSSIA-UKRAINE CONFLICT HITS SUNFLOWER OIL IMPORTS

THE CONTEXT: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has jolted the crude oil market around the world and that is poised to raise petrol and diesel prices in India as well. However, that is not the only issue India has to face because of this geopolitical conflict.

THE EXPLANATION:

• India, which heavily depends on edible oil imports to fulfil its requirement. Nearly 93 per cent of India’s sunflower seeds oil imports are sourced only from Ukraine and Russia.Indian traders have contracted 5.5 lakh tonnes sunflower oil from Ukraine, Russia, most of which is stuck.
• Traders of India, the largest importer of sunflower oil at 60 per cent of its total needs, have contracted around 5.5 lakh tonnes of sunflower oil from Ukraine and Russia in February and March,of this, 1.8 lakh tonnes have left but the fate of the rest of the shipments remains uncertain.
• India’s total imports of edible oils surged to a record ₹1.17 lakh crore in 2020-21 marketing year (November to October) from almost ₹72,000 crore in the previous year due to a sharp rise in global prices.
• According to the Department of Food and Public Distribution,the total quantity of oils imported, palm oils constitute around 54 per cent and are imported mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia. Soybean oil constitutes around 25 per cent and is imported from Argentina and Brazil.
• It is to be noted that the effective rate of duty on crude palm oil is 35.75 per cent while that on soybean and sunflower oil is 38.5 per cent.
• Consumer food prices had risen the fastest in January (2022) in the past over a year, which has affected the household budgets. This has happened despite the government cutting taxes and imposing limits on the stocking of cooking oil.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. THE LARGEST BACTERIUM EVER DISCOVERED

THE CONTEXT: Scientists discovered an absolutely massive bacterium that can be seen without the aid of a microscope and lurks among the mangroves of Grande-Terre in the Caribbean.

THE EXPLANATION:

Most species of bacteria measure between one and five micrometers long, but the biggest previously known was Thiomargarita namibiensis, which tops out at 750 micrometers or 0.75 mm. But this newly identified species blows everything else out of the water – its average length is a whopping 9,000 micrometers (0.9 cm/0.4 in), with the largest recorded specimen reaching 2 cm. This single cell is longer than your everyday housefly.

The organism was actually first discovered about a decade ago, as bundles of white filaments growing on decaying mangrove leaves in a Caribbean swamp. But at the time, its discoverer, marine biologist Olivier Gros, didn’t realize they were bacteria, let alone single cells. That identification only came more recently, with detailed analysis.

Its physical size isn’t the only giant thing about this bacterium. Genetic analysis revealed that its genome is also massive, containing 11 million bases and around 11,000 genes, which is almost three times larger than most bacterial genomes. On closer inspection, the team found that the genome is quite repetitive, with more than half a million copies of certain sequences.

Value Addition:

Few Important Facts about Bacteria.

• Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms that exist in their millions, in every environment, both inside and outside other organisms.
• Some bacteria are harmful, but most serve a useful purpose. They support many forms of life, both plant and animal, and they are used in industrial and medicinal processes.

Types of Bacteria:

Spherical: Bacteria shaped like a ball are called cocci, and a single bacterium is a coccus. Examples include the streptococcus group, responsible for “strep throat.”

Rod-shaped: These are known as bacilli (singular bacillus). Some rod-shaped bacteria are curved. These are known as vibrio. Examples of rod-shaped bacteria include Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), or anthrax.

Spiral: These are known as spirilla (singular spirillus). If their coil is very tight they are known as spirochetes. Leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and syphilis are caused by bacteria of this shape.

Where do they live?

• Bacteria can be found in soil, water, plants, animals, radioactive waste, deep in the earth’s crust, arctic ice and glaciers, and hot springs. There are bacteria in the stratosphere, between 6 and 30 miles up in the atmosphere, and in the ocean depths, down to 32,800 feet or 10,000 meters deep.
• Aerobes, or aerobic bacteria, can only grow where there is oxygen. Some types can cause problems for the human environment, such as corrosion, fouling, problems with water clarity, and bad smells.
• Anaerobes, or anaerobic bacteria, can only grow where there is no oxygen. In humans, this is mostly in the gastrointestinal tract. They can also cause gas, gangrene, tetanus, botulism, and most dental infections.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

6. THE OMBUDSPERSON APP FOR MGNREGS

THE CONTEXT: TheUnion Ministry for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, launched Ombudsperson App for Mahatma Gandhi NREGA.According to the Ombudsperson App is a step towards e-governance, this will be helpful in ensuring transparency and accountability.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Ministry has developed an Ombudsperson App for smooth reporting and categorization of grievances by Ombudsperson based on complaints he received from various sources viz. physical, digital and mass media, related to the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi NREG Scheme in the States/UTs.
• At present, the reporting of complaints, passing awards and disposal of complaints are in physical form. This will strengthen Ombudsperson in the discharge of her/his duty in a hassle-free manner. After joining of Ombudsperson, the Registration of Ombudsperson is done by the State. On registration, Ombudsperson will use the Username and password to use this App.
• Also, it will enable easy tracking and timely passing of awards by Ombudsperson on each case as per the guidelines. Ombudsperson can also easily upload the quarterly and annual reports on the website through the app.
• The app will help the ombudsperson to a greater extent in discharging her/his duty towards transparency and accountability. Also, smooth disposal of the grievances in a time-bound manner with minimal support of further human resources will be possible through the app.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 28^TH FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements with reference to SWIFT:

1. It is a messaging network used by banks and financial institutions globally.
2. It headquarter is in Paris.
3. It is merely a platform that sends messages and does not hold any securities or money.

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 26^TH FEB 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875. A few years later the headquarters of the Arya Samaj were established at Lahore.

Main principles and objectives of the Arya Samaj are as follows:

1. Believes in infallibility of Vedas and takes them as only truth and source of all source all knowledge. Believed that post-vedic texts such as Puranas were responsible for pollution of Vedic religion.
2. Opposes the idol-worship and reincarnation theory of God but accepts the doctrine of ‘Karma’ and transmigration of soul. Dayanand also rejected the theory of destiny / fate (Niyati).
3. Believes in one God who has no physical existence.
4. Rejects Brahmanical dominance of spiritual and social life of Hindus. Denounces claim of Brahmins as intermediaries between man and God.
5. Supported Four Varna System but the Varna system should be based on merit not birth. Hindu religion gives everyone an equal place in the spiritual and social life.
6. Advocated equal status for women in the society. There is no room for any kind of discrimination against women on the basis of gender.
7. Advocated widow remarriage, female education and opposed polygamy, child marriage, Sati, etc.
8. Backed propagation of Hindi and Sanskrit. Considered good education as base of a goodNand solid social system. It did phenomenal work in the field of education even for women.
9. Denounces socio-religious evils such as animal sacrifices, religious pilgrimages, feeding the dead through sraddhas, magic and charms etc. According to Swami Dayanand, these evils exist in the society due to ignorance of the teaching of the Vedas.

THE INDIAN HISTORY

1.THE BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SWAMI DAYANAND SARASWATI

THE CONTEXT: Every year, this special day is celebrated in all vedic institutions and religious establishments across the country with great pomp and fervour.

THE EXPLANATION:

• He was born on 12 February, 1824, in Gujarat, Saraswati’s original name was Mool Shankar Tiwari. The name Mool was given to him as he was born when the Mool Nakshatra conquered the sky.
• But according to the traditional Hindu calendar, the great Indian philosopher was born on the Dashami tithi of Phalguna Krishna Paksha. This year, Dayanand Saraswati’s birth anniversary is celebrated on 26 February, 2022.

His journey:

Dayanand Saraswati was one of India’s greatest social reformers, leaders and philosophers during the pre-independence era. Dayanand Saraswati was the one who first gave the call for Swaraj in 1876 as ‘India for Indians’. It was a call that was later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak.

Snippets from Dayanand Saraswati’s life: 

• More than a religious leader, who left a deep impression on the minds of countrymen. His ideas were more against following empty rituals, denouncing caste system, encouraging education and giving equal rights to men and women.
• He was the one who promoted Vedic philosophy with principles of karma and reincarnation.Saraswati’s mission in life was universal brotherhood. He founded the Arya Samaj that opposed caste system based on birth rather than merit, child marriage, idol worship, untouchability and temple offerings. Factors concerning social reform and education were Swami Dayanand Saraswati’smain focus.
• To understand and realise the vision that Dayanand Saraswati had, the Dayanand Anglo Vedic (DAV) schools came into existence in 1886. In the country, the first DAV School was founded at Lahore and Mahatma Hansraj was appointed as its first Headmaster.

Main principles and objectives of the Arya Samaj are as follows:

• Believes in infallibility of Vedas and takes them as only truth and source of all source all knowledge. Believed that post-vedic texts such as Puranas were responsible for pollution of Vedic religion.
• Opposes the idol-worship and reincarnation theory of God but accepts the doctrine of ‘Karma’ and transmigration of soul. Dayanand also rejected the theory of destiny / fate (Niyati).
• Believes in one God who has no physical existence.
• Rejects Brahmanical dominance of spiritual and social life of Hindus. Denounces claim of Brahmins as intermediaries between man and God.
• Supported Four Varna System but the Varna system should be based on merit not birth. Hindu religion gives everyone an equal place in the spiritual and social life.
• Advocated equal status for women in the society. There is no room for any kind of discrimination against women on the basis of gender.
• Advocated widow remarriage, female education and opposed polygamy, child marriage, Sati, etc.
• Backed propagation of Hindi and Sanskrit. Considered good education as base of a good and solid social system. It did phenomenal work in the field of education even for women.
• Denounces socio-religious evils such as animal sacrifices, religious pilgrimages, feeding the dead through sraddhas, magic and charms etc. According to Swami Dayanand, these evils exist in the society due to ignorance of the teaching of the Vedas.
• Shuddhi Movement: Shuddhi provided for the reconversion of such persons to Hinduism. This movement was primarily directed against the Christian missionaries, who had converted a large number of Hindus, particularly from the depressed classes to Christianity.

• Protection of the cow: In 1882 the Arya Samaj formed a ‘Cow Protection Association’. However, this antagonized the Muslim theologists and resulted in serious Hindu Muslim riots.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. INDIA’S ABSTENTION ON UNSC

THE CONTEXT: Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, India abstained on a US-sponsored UN Security Council resolution that “deplores in the strongest terms” Russia’s “aggression” against Ukraine.

THE EXPLANATION:

India’s decision to abstain from the UNSC resolution on Ukraine strikes a balance between national interest and its core belief. The tough resolution was expectedly vetoed by Russia, 11 countries supported it with India, UAE and China choosing to abstain from the vote.

Who moved the resolution?

• The UN Security Council voted on the draft resolution presented by the US and Albania, and co-sponsored by several other nations, including Australia, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.

What was the resolution about?

• The Council’s resolution reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
• The resolution “deplores in the strongest terms Russia’s aggression against Ukraine” and decides that Russia “shall immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and shall refrain from any further unlawful threat or use of force against any UN member state”.

Why did India abstain?

India did not endorse the harsh language used in the resolution condemning Russia’s actions. It wants to maintain a balance between the Western bloc led by the US, and Russia, since it has strategic partners on both sides.

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

3. TWO NEW PREHISTORIC BIRD SPECIES IDENTIFIED IN CHINA

THE CONTEXT: Paleontologists at the Changma locality in China’s Gansu province have found six specimens from three species of ornithuromorph birds — two of which are new to science.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It’s the second-richest Mesozoic fossil bird site in the world, but more than half of the fossils found there belong to Gansusyumenensis, a species of aquatic bird that lived approximately 120 million years ago (Early Cretaceous epoch).
• “Gansusyumenensis is the first known true Mesozoic bird in the world, as Archaeopteryx is more dinosaur-like, and now we know what its skull looks like after about four decades”.
• The new six specimens from the Changma site are primarily just skulls and necks, parts not preserved in known specimens of Gansusyumenensis.
• The fossils were also somewhat smashed by their time deep in the Earth, which made analyzing them difficult.
• According to the paleontologist, these fossils come from a site in China that has produced fossils of birds that are pretty darned close to modern birds, but all the bird fossils described thus far haven’t had skulls preserved with the bodies.”
• “These new skull specimens help fill in that gap in our knowledge of the birds from this site and of bird evolution as a whole.”
• The two other specimens are considered new species: Meemannavisductrix and Brevidentaviszhangi.
• Like Gansusyumenensis, both Meemannavisductrix and Brevidentaviszhangi are ornithuromorph birds — the group that contains modern birds.

4. NEW SPECIES OF LARGE-SIZED PTEROSAUR UNEARTHED IN SCOTLAND

THE CONTEXT: A fossil of a huge flying reptile known as pterosaur from the Jurassic period has been discovered on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the University of Edinburgh, the giant winged creature with an estimated wingspan of more than 2.5 metres lived around 170 million years ago.

The creature has been named Dearcsgiathanach, meaning ‘winged reptile’ in Scottish Gaelic.

The spectacular fossil was discovered by scientist, spotted its jaw protruding from the limestone layer on a tidal platform. It was extracted after strenuous efforts and later investigated. CT scan of the skull showed that Dearc had large optic lobes suggesting good eyesight.

Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to gain flying ability, even 50 million years before birds. The discovery of Dearc has confirmed that pterosaurs grew to the size of fighter jets, just before the extinction of dinosaurs 66 million years ago. Meanwhile, they were earlier believed to be smaller during the Jurassic period.

What are a Pterosaurs?

Neither birds nor bats, pterosaurs were reptiles, close cousins of dinosaurs who evolved on a separate branch of the reptile family tree. They were also the first animals after insects to evolve powered flight—not just leaping or gliding, but flapping their wings to generate lift and travel through the air. They evolved into dozens of species.

5. RAILWAYS’ SOLAR POWER PLANT IN MP SHORTLISTED FOR INTERNATIONAL AWARD

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Railways’ solar power plant set up near Bina station in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh has been shortlisted for an international award.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has successfully commissioned a 1.7-megawatt solar photovoltaic plant at Bina in Madhya Pradesh for the Indian Railways. The plant directly feed power to traction systems of Indian Railways.
• The move to create a solar plant was taken after Indian Railways decided to be self-reliant for its energy needs and solarise railway stations by utilizing its vacant lands for Renewable Energy (RE) projects. The Ministry of Railways has decided to install solar power plants on its vacant unused lands on mega scale.
• On this light, the International Union of Railways recently shortlisted this green initiative of the Indian Railways for an award in ‘Best Use of Zero-Carbon Technology Category’, adding that the other two which are in the race to win this award are railways of east Japan and South America.
• “The solar power plant having an installed capacity of 1.7 megawatt has been operating since the last one-and-a-half years, supplying electricity directly to the traction system used to run trains”.
• Indian Railways present demand would be fulfilled by the solar projects being deployed, making it the first transport organisation to be energy self-sufficient. This would help in making Indian Railways green as well as ‘AtmaNirbhar’.
• It has started energy procurement from various solar projects like 3 MWp solar plant set up at MCF Raebareilly (UP). About 100 MWp rooftop solar systems have already been commissioned on various stations and buildings of Indian Railways.

THE MISCELLANEOUS

6. 12TH ANNUAL AEGIS GRAHAM BELL AWARDS

THE CONTEXT: Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier Telecom R&D centre of the Government of India has bagged three awards at 12th Annual Aegis Graham Bell Awards in a virtual ceremony on 25th Feb 2022 for its indigenously designed & developed innovative Telecom solutions in various categories.

THE EXPLANATION:

CDOT is declared TOP WINNER in three categories as below

1. Indigenous Early Warning Platform for Disaster Management & Preparedness based on ITU’s Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) in the “Tech for Social Good” category.
2. 2. C-DOT SAMVAD – A Unified Platform for Secure Messaging and Calling Solution.
3. C-DOT Quarantine Alert System (CQAS) has won the first prize in the category of “Preventive measures to combat Covid 19”.

About Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)

• It was established in 1984 as an autonomous Telecom R&D centre under the Department of telecommunication (DoT), Government of India.
• Also,it is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act,1860.
• It is a registered public-funded research institution with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India.
• Currently, C-DOT is working towards realising the objective of various flagship programmes of Govt. of India which include Digital India, BharatNet, Smart Cities etc.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 26^th FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Which of the following statements is incorrect about Arya Samaj?

a) It opposes the idol-worship and reincarnation theory of God.

b) It rejects the doctrine of ‘Karma’ and transmigration of soul.

c) It rejects Brahmanical dominance of spiritual and social life of Hindus.

d) It advocated widow remarriage and female education.

 ANSWER FOR 25^th FEBRUARY 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

Chhau Dance:

• The word ‘Chhau’ probably comes from chhauni (camp), and the art form was arguablyinvented to keep foot soldiers war-ready.
• The martial movements and mock fights subsequently took the shape of dance, becomingpopular in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region.
• Apart from Purulia Chhau, there are two other variants, Mayurbhanj and SeraikellaChhau,which are practised in Odisha and Jharkhand respectively.
• The mask is the defining feature of Purulia Chhau, differentiating it from its two otherbranches. Though SeraikellaChhau does use masks, they are simpler, with none of the pomp of these.
• With stories taken from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas, the dance dramascelebrate the triumph of good over evil. In these pandemic times, Chhau has even beenused to spread awareness about COVID-19.
• These days, Chhau festivals are held throughout the year and dancers are called to perform on national and international stages.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. THE RUSSIAN INVASION ON UKRAINE

THE CONTEXT: The Russian President approves ‘special military operation’ as Russia launches an invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea. Also, the Russian actions have been widely condemned and raise several questions concerning violation of international law.

THE EXPLANATION:

Russia launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine. Missiles rained down on Ukrainian cities. Ukraine reported columns of troops pouring across its borders into the eastern Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, and landing by sea at the cities of Odesa and Mariupol in the south.

Russian troops attacked Ukraine from Belarus as well as Russia with Belarusian support, and an attack was also being launched from annexed Crimea, Ukraine’s border.

How is Russia violating the UN Charter?

The principle of non-intervention is enshrined in article 2(4) of the UN Charter. It requires states to refrain from using force or threat of using force against territorial integrity or political independence of any state. The Russian attack on Ukraine is violative of this principle, and amounts to aggression under international law. Russia’s desire to keep Ukraine out of NATO is a prime reason for its use of force against Ukraine.

• Russia has claimed it is acting in self-defence as Ukraine could acquire nuclear weapons with the help of its western allies. However, the International Court of Justice in the Legality of Threat of Nuclear Weapons case held that mere possession of nuclear weapons does not constitute a threat. Further, mere membership in a defence alliance like NATO can also not be considered a threat of aggression.
• The UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (1974) defines aggression as the use of armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another state. Additionally, allowing one’s territory to be used by another state for aggression against a third state, also qualifies as an act of aggression.
• Accordingly, Belarus can also be held responsible for aggression as it has allowed its territory to be used by Russia for attacking Ukraine. Aggression is also considered an international crime under customary international law and the Rome statute establishing the International Criminal Court.

Russia’s and the West’s interests in Ukraine:

• Ukraine and Russia share hundreds of years of cultural, linguistic and familial links. As part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine was the second-most powerful Soviet republic after Russia, and was crucial strategically, economically and culturally. Ever since Ukraine split from the Soviet Union, both Russia and the West have vied for greater influence in the country in order to keep the balance of power in the region in their favour.
• For the United States and the European Union, Ukraine is a crucial buffer between Russia and the West. As tensions with Russia rise, the US and the EU are increasingly determined to keep Ukraine away from Russian control.
• Efforts to induct Ukraine into NATO have been ongoing for many years and seems to have picked up pace recently. Russia has declared such a move a “red line”, with Moscow worried about the consequences of the US-led military alliances expanding right up to its doorstep.

What about the principle of self-defence?

In face of the use of force by Russia, Ukraine has the right to self-defence under international law. The UN Charter under article 51 authorisesa state to resort to individual or collective self-defence, until the Security Council take steps to ensure international peace and security. In this case, it seems implausible for the UNSC to arrive at a decision as Russia is a permanent member and has veto power. However, Ukraine has a right under international law to request assistance from other states in form of military assistance, supply of weapons etc.

On the other hand, Russia has also claimed that it is acting in self-defence. This claim is questionable, as there has been no use of force, or such threats against Russia by Ukraine. It has been claimed by Russia that Ukraine may acquire nuclear weapons with the help of western allies. However, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Legality of Threat of Nuclear Weapons case held that mere possession of nuclear weapons does not necessarily constitute a threat.

Thus, even if Ukraine has, or were to acquire nuclear weapons in the future, it does not become a ground for invoking self-defence by Russia. Further, mere membership in a defence alliance such as NATO cannot necessarily be considered as a threat of aggression against Russia. Thus, here too Russia cannot invoke self-defence.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. PLEA AGAINST KERALA IN ENDOSULFAN CASE

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court issued notice on a petition seeking contempt action against Kerala for not disbursing ₹5 lakh each as compensation to the victims of endosulfan pesticide exposure.

THE EXPLANATION:

The bench stated that the State had not acted despite orders from the apex court in January 2017 and July 2019. The counsel for the petitioner said the State had taken “no steps for compliance”.

In January 2019, Kerala government had claimed that it had earmarked over ₹180 crore for payment of compensation to victims, some of whom were terminally-ill from the effects of the pesticide which was being aerially sprayed on cashew plantations adjoining habitats where the victims lived.

BACKGROUND:THE ENDOSULFAN TRAGEDY IN KERALA

What is Endosulfan?

• It is an organochlorine insecticide- a Persistent Organic Pollutant.
• It is used in Cashewnut, Coconut, Rubber Plantation (Bioaccumulant).

Endosulfan is a pesticide developed in 1954. People extensively used it in farming with high consumption in the 1980s and 1990s. Later, it was highly toxic to human health and the environment. It poisoned entire populations of useful and necessary insects. The Endosulfan tragedy also caused many ailments. These ailments included skin irritations, destruction of nerve tissues and reproductive and developmental damage in human beings and animals.

For over 20 years, cashew plantations in Kasargod district in Kerala used Endosulfan as a pesticide. Tea plantations, paddy and fruit orchards in other areas of Kerala also used this pesticide administered via aerial spraying or manual pumps. Prone to long-range atmospheric transport, Endosulfan linked to serious health disorders in the citizens residing in these areas.

The Ban of Endosulfan

The Kerala Government banned the use of Endosulfan in 2005. However, neighboring States still used them. In 2011, the seventh meeting of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP’s) placed a global ban on the manufacture and use of Endosulfan. In the same year, the Supreme Court of India banned the use, manufacture and distribution of the pesticide. A Supreme Court-appointed panel recommended phasing out the use of Endosulfan across a period of two years to avoid the high cost of incinerating.

Relief and Remediation Program

Furthermore, in 2017, the Supreme Court of India directed the Kerala Government to pay Rupees 500 Crores to over 5,000 victims of the Endosulfan tragedy. It also directed it to set up a medical facility to treat ailments resulting from exposure to Endosulfan. Relief and remediation plans focus on health, socio-economic welfare, rehabilitation and empowerment as well as a periodic assessment of environmental effects.

3. CLIMATE CHANGE FAVOUR SOIL-BORNE PLANT PATHOGENS

THE CONTEXT: Indian Scientists have identified that high-temperature drought conditions and low soil moisture content are favourable conditions for dry root rot (DRR), a disease that damages the roots or girdles the trunk in chickpea. This work will be useful for the development of resistant lines and better management strategies.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The team which closely monitored the disease identified that high temperatures ranging between 30 to 35 degrees, drought conditions, and less than 60% soil moisture content are favorable conditions for dry root rot (DRR).
• The scientists explained that Macrophomina (soil-borne fungus) survives in a wide range of environmental conditions, even at extremes of temperature, soil pH, and moistures. In chickpea, DRR is highly prevalent during the flowering and podding stages coinciding with high temperature and drought conditions. They scientists are exploring ways to use the study for development of resistant lines and better management strategies.
• The team is also trying to address the disease favourable conditions identified from a molecular perspective. In a recent breakthrough in gene expression studies, scientists have identified a few promising chickpea genes encoding for enzymes like chitinase and endochitinase, which can provide some degree of defense against DRR infection.
• The team at ICRISAT, in collaboration with ICAR research institutes, has also adopted several multi-pronged approaches, including continuous surveillance, better detection techniques, development of forecast models, screening assays, etc., to fight against such deadly plant diseases.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

4. PM KISAN SAMMAN NIDHI YOJANA: CELEBRATION OF 3^RD ANNIVERSARY

THE CONTEXT: PM-KISAN is a central sector scheme launched on 24^thFebruary, 2019 to supplement financial needs of land holding farmers. Financial benefit of Rs 6000/- per year in three equal installments, every four month is transferred into the bank accounts of farmers’ families across the country through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

THE EXPLANATION:

The scheme was initially meant for small and marginal farmers (SMFs) having landholding upto 2 hectares but scope of the scheme was extended to cover all landholding farmers.

As of now, the benefits under PM Kisan scheme have been provided to about 11.78 Crore farmers and funds amounting to Rs1.82 lakh crore in various instalments have been released to the eligible beneficiaries of this scheme across India. Out of which Rs. 1.29 lakh crore has been released during the current Covid 19 pandemic period.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABOUT PM-KISAN SCHEME

• PM Kisan is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from Government of India.
• Under the scheme an income support of 6,000/- per year in three equal installments will be provided to all land holding farmer families.
• State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.
• The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
• There are various Exclusion Categories for the scheme.

Scheme Exclusion

The following categories of beneificiaries of higher economic status shall not be ligible for benefit under the scheme.

1. All Institutional Land holders.
2. Farmer families which belong to one or more of the following categories:

• Former and present holders of constitutional posts.
• Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of LokSabha/ RajyaSabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils,former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
• All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries /Offices/Departments and its field units Central or State PSEs and Attached offices /Autonomous Institutions under Government as well as regular employees of the Local Bodies (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff /Class IV/Group D employees).
• All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs.10,000/-or more (Excluding Multi Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees) of above category.
• All Persons who paid Income Tax in last assessment year.
• Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out profession by undertaking practices.

5. ASI’S UNDERWATER EXPLORATIONS IN FOUR STATES

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ministry of Culture,the underwater wing of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is being revived for explorations in four states with a significant coastline.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the officials, Over the next few months, several projects will be readied for excavations in0020Dwarka (Gujarat), several mythological sites in the Cauvery delta (Tamil Nadu), and sites along the coast in Maharashtra and Odisha.

Even as the ASI had established its underwater wing in 2001, it has remained defunct for more than a decade, mostly owing to lack of experts at the helm. In fact, several underwater excavations had to be abandoned in the past, including an offshore exploration in Tamil Nadu’s Poompuhar between 1981 and early 2000s to unravel the 2000-year-old port of Kaveripattinam. According to officials further surveys could reveal more facts about the ancient port city, which reportedly had trade links with the Roman empire and China.

Value Addition:

About Archaeological Survey of India

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an attached office in the Ministry of Culture. It was set up in 1861 with the primary object of surveying antiquarian remains in this country and their study. ASI’s function is to “explore, excavate, conserve, preserve and protect the monuments and sites of National & International Importance.”

Its main functions are:

• preservation, conservation and environmental development of centrally protected monuments and sites, including World Heritage Monuments and antiquities
• maintenance of gardens & development of new gardens surrounding centrally protected monuments and sites
• exploration and excavation of ancient sites
• specialized study of inscription and various phases of Indian architecture
• maintenance of Archaeological site Museums
• Operation of the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act
• Research and Training in different areas of Archaeology

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

6.“EXERCISE MILAN 2022”

THE CONTEXT: The Navy’s Milan 2022 will begin in Vishakhapatnam, the largest-ever edition of the exercise that will see the participation of 40 countries, including all major navies of the world.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This year theme is ‘Camaraderie – Cohesion – Collaboration’ which “aims to project India as a responsible maritime power to the world at large”.
• The aim of the exercise is to hone operational skills, imbibe best practices and procedures, and enable doctrinal learning in the maritime domain, through professional interaction between friendly navies. The exercise would be larger in “scope and complexity” with a focus on “exercises at sea including exercises in surface, sub-surface and air domains and weapon firing.
• The biennial exercise, being conducted after four years, will last nine days with the harbour phase starting and the sea phase on March 1, 2022.The 2020 edition of the exercise had been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background:

A multilateral exercise, Milan began in 1995 with the participation of only four countries – Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Until now, it was held at the Andaman and Nicobar Command, but given the large number of participants this time, it was shifted to the Eastern Naval Command, which offers larger sea room.

7. MAYURBHANJ CHHAU DANCE: ODISHA

• There are three recognized styles of Chhau: Seraikella from the state of Jharkhand, Purulia from West Bengal, and Mayurbhanj from Odisha. It is a semi-classical Indian dance with martial, tribal, and folk traditions, with origins in one belt of eastern India.
• The one stark difference being that Mayurbhanj does not use the elaborate masks adorned by dances from Seraikella and Purulia. The dance ranges from celebrating martial arts, acrobatics, and athletics performed in festive themes of folk dance, to a structured dance with religious themes found in Shaivism, Shaktism, and Vaishnavism such as the characters portrayed in the dance are of Gods and Goddesses and sometimes animals.
• The dance technique is based on chaalis and topkas—stylised walks choreographed after a keen observation of nature, e.g.baaghchaali (tiger walk), mayoorchaali (peacock walk), khel—variations of swordplay, and ufli—thirty-six movements describing everyday activities.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 25^th FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Chhau dance form:

1. It is popular in Chota Nagpur Plateau region.
2. Mask is defining feature of Chhau dance.
3. Only male members participate in Chhau dance.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) All of them

 ANSWER FOR 24^th FEBRUARY 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

Please refer to the given map-

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1.‘LAKSHYA ZERO DUMPSITE’

THE CONTEXT: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved proposals worth ₹28.5 crores submitted by the UT for remediating 7.7 lakh MT of waste in Daddumajra dumpsite.

THE EXPLANATION:

This initiative is set to give residents of Chandigarh respite from diseases and the foul smell of garbage and will ensure that the city is on its way to remediate its legacy waste and become 5-Star Garbage Free in the coming period of time.

• The ‘Heritage City’ of Chandigarh, founded in 1953 and planned by famous Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, stands out for its immaculate urban planning and design. The city is renowned for its open public spaces, adequate green covers, and strict norms for residential and commercial zones that have preserved the sanctity of the city.

What is the need?

• The city generates 521 metric tonnes (MT) of waste every day, mostly consisting of horticultural waste due to the wide spread green cover across 1,800 parks, and processes the same into 4,000 quintals of compost annually.
• The city has been certified as 1-Star Garbage Free in the recently concluded Star Rating Assessment for Garbage Free Cities in 2021, under the aegis of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0. It was also recognized for its commitment to transform ‘manhole to machine hole’ by winning the ‘Best Performing UT’ inSafaiMitra Suraksha Challenge 2021.
• For decades, the city’s waste would travel to the Daddumajra dumpsite which is now estimated to hold around 7.7 lakh MT of legacy waste. As part of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, the UT has pledged to achieve ‘Lakshya Zero Dumpsites’ within the Mission period and has undertaken the challenge of remediating the 7.7 lakh (MT) of legacy waste lying across 8 acres of land as part of the Daddumajra dumpsite.
• The land captured by Chandigarh’s largest and only dumpsite is valued at around ₹80 crores and efforts are now underway to completely remediate the dumpsite and provide a healthier future to the residents of the city.

2. DRAFT INDIA DATA ACCESSIBILITY & USE POLICY, 2022

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) on February2022 released a policy proposal titled as, “Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy, 2022”.

THE EXPLANATION:

About “Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy, 2022”:

Aim:  To “radically transform India’s ability to harness public sector data”. The proposals of the Draft Data Accessibility Policy has been in the spotlight for permitting the licensing and sale of public data by the Government to the private sector.

Highlights of the Draft Policy:

• Commercial Use: The policy will be applicable to all data and information created/generated/collected/achieved by the government directly or through authorised agencies by various ministries/departments/organisations/ agencies and autonomous bodies.
• Data Authority: Indian Data Office (IDO) will be constituted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to streamline and consolidate data access and share public data repositories across the government and other stakeholders.
• Consultative body: Indian Data Council (IDC) will comprise the IDO and data officers of five government departments. Its tasks will include defining frameworks for defining high-value datasets, finalizing data standards and metadata standards and reviewing the implementation of the policy.
• Database Integration: All central and state government bodies will have to compulsorily share data with each other to create a common “searchable database”. A data-sharing toolkit will be provided to ministries and departments to assess and manage risks associated with data sharing.
• The monetisation of Data: The datasets that have undergone value addition could be monetised by the government.
• Stakeholders: Start-ups, other enterprises, individuals and researchers will be able to access enriched data through data licensing, sharing and valuation within the frameworks of data security and privacy.

What are the privacy issues with the Draft Data Accessibility Policy?

• India does not have a data protection law that can provide accountability and remedy for privacy violations such as coercive and excessive data collection or data breaches. Here, inter-departmental data sharing poses concerns related to privacy since the open government data portal which contains data from all departments may result in the creation of 360 degree profiles and enable state-sponsored mass surveillance.
• Even though the policy considers anonymisation as a desired goal there is a lack of legal accountability and independent regulatory oversight. There is also a failure to consider scientific analysis and the availability of automated tools for the re-identification of anonymous data.
• The commercial value of the data increases with greater amounts of personal data.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. INDIAN RAILWAYS INSTALLING SOLAR FENCES TO SAVE ELEPHANTS

THE CONTEXT: Agricultural Engineering Department is planning to install hanging solar-powered fences. Though the concept is not new to the State, it will be carried out with a 40% back-ended subsidy to be provided to farmers willing to have such fences.

THE EXPLANATION:

The barrier, to be hung from a height of about 12 ft, is made up of hot-dip galvanised aluminium conductor steel reinforced wires, which are considered rust-free. This is said to be useful in protecting the fields against wild boar and bison attacks.

The cost varies depending upon the number of lines of the wire. For instance, wires with five lines are estimated to cost about ₹2.91 lakh, of which the government’s subsidy will cover around ₹1.16 lakh. If the number of lines is 10, the cost goes up to approximately ₹3.37 lakh, of which the subsidy component will be nearly ₹1.35 lakh.

Significance:

• While electrocution claimed the lives of 741 elephants, train hits led to the death of 186 pachyderms, followed by poaching (169) and poisoning (64).
• Karnataka and Odisha lost 133 elephants each to electrocution and Assam reported 129 deaths in the recent past. Among elephant casualties due to train hits, Assam stood first with 62 deaths, followed by West Bengal at 57. A total of 169 elephants were killed by poachers in the 10 years and Odisha reported the highest of 49, fol-lowed by Kerala 23. Assam reported the highest number of elephants poisoned, 32, and Odisha stood second with 15.
• According to the Ministry, India had a total of 29,964 wild elephants as per an esti-mate 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.

4. NUEVA PESCANOVA: WORLD’S FIRST OCTOPUS FARM

THE CONTEXT: A Spanish company plans to open the first commercial octopus farm  in 2023, but as scientists discover more about the enigmatic animals, some have warned it could be an ethical and environmental disaster.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Nueva Pescanova, the company pouring 65 million euros ($74 million) into the farm, which is pending environmental approval from local authorities.
• The commercial incentives for the farm, which is slated to produce 3,000 tonnes per year by 2026 for domestic and international food chains and generate hundreds of jobs on the island of Gran Canaria.
• Between 2010 and 2019 the value of the global octopus trade ballooned to $2.72 billion from $1.30 billion, according to data from the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, while landings only rose around 9% to 380,000 tonnes.
• Despite increasing concern for animal rights, demand is booming, led by Italy, Korea, Japan and Spain, the world’s biggest importer. Natural fishing grounds are feeling the strain.
• However, previous efforts to farm octopus have struggled with high mortality, while attempts to breed wild-caught octopus ran into problems with aggression, cannibalism and self-mutilation.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. NASA’S RETIREMENT PLAN FROM SPACE STATION

THE CONTEXT: According to a NASA’s press release, NASA plans to retire the International Space Station at the end of 2030 and crash it into the Pacific Ocean in an area called Point Nemo.

THE EXPLANATION:

For over two decades, the International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting Earth at a speed of about eight kilometres per second, while an international crew of astronauts and cosmonauts onboard conducted ground-breaking scientific investigations that have thrown open the doors for deep space exploration.

What is International Space Station?

• The International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. It serves as a home where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live. The space station is also a unique science laboratory. Several nations worked together to build and use the space station. The space station is made of parts that were assembled in space by astronauts.
• It orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 250 miles. It travels at 17,500 mph. This means it orbits Earth every 90 minutes. NASA is using the space station to learn more about living and working in space. These lessons will make it possible to send humans farther into space than ever before.

What’s next for the ISS?

According to NASA, once it retires, the ISS will be replaced by “one or more commercially-owned and -operated” space platforms. “The private sector is technically and financially capable of developing and operating commercial low-Earth orbit destinations, with NASA’s assistance.

What about India’s Space Station?

According to the ISRO, India will launch its first indigenously made space station by 2030, just a few years after the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission which will kick off starting 2022.

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

6. THE STRATEGIC LOCATION OF GOLAN HEIGHTS

The Golan Heights are a fertile plateau of around 1,300 sq km area lying to the north and east of the Sea of Galilee, which Israel seized from Syria during the Six-Day War of 1967, and has occupied ever since.

The inhabitants

Around 50,000 people are estimated to live on the Golan, divided almost equally between Israeli Jewish settlers and Arabic-speaking Druze people of Syrian origin, who follow a monotheistic Abrahamic religion related to Ismaili Shia Islam.

Significance:

• The heights give Israel an excellent vantage point for monitoring Syrian movements. The topography provides a natural buffer against any military thrust from Syria.
• Israel’s government says it also fears that Iran, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is seeking to establish itself permanently on the Syrian side of the border in order to launch attacks on Israel.
• The area is also a key source of water for an arid region. Rainwater from the Golan’s catchment feeds into the Jordan River.

7. THE 9,000-YEAR-OLD SHRINE FOUND IN JORDAN

THE CONTEXT: A team of Jordanian and French archaeologists found a roughly 9,000-year-old shrine at a remote Neolithic site in Jordan’s eastern desert.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The ritual complex was found in a Neolithic campsite near large structures known as “desert kites,” or mass traps that are believed to have been used to corral wild gazelles for slaughter.
• Such traps consist of two or more long stone walls converging toward an enclosure and are found scattered across the deserts of the West Asia.
• “It’s 9,000 years old and everything was almost intact.” Within the shrine were two carved standing stones bearing anthropomorphic figures.

MAPPING-PLACES IN NEWS

8. WHO ARE ANGADIAS?

The Angadia system is a century-old parallel banking system in the country where traders send cash generally from one state to another through a person called Angadia that stands for courier. It is by and large used in the jewellery business with Mumbai – Surat being the most popular route as they are two ends of the diamond trade.

 The cash involved is huge and it is the responsibility of the Angadia to transfer cash from one state to another for which they charge a nominal fee. Generally, it is the Gujarati, Marwari and Malbari community that are involved in the business.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 24^th FEBRUARY 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Israel does not share its border with Syria.
2. Jordan does not share its border with Mediterranean Sea.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER FOR 23^rd FEBRUARY 2022

1. Answer: D

Explanation:

Mission Shakti:

• It envisages a unified citizen-centric lifecycle support for women through integrated care, safety, protection, rehabilitation & empowerment to unshackle women as they progress through various stages of life.
• It has two sub-schemes ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’.
• ‘Sambal’ is for safety and security of women, the ‘Samarthya’ sub-scheme is for empowerment of women.
• The Sambal sub-scheme consists of the existing scheme of One Stop Centres (OSC), Women Helplines (181-WHL) and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP). Besides, a new component of Nari Adalats has been added as women’s collectives to promote and facilitate alternative dispute resolution and gender justice in society and within families.
• The Samarthya sub scheme is for empowerment of women, consisting of existing schemes of Ujjwala, SwadharGreh and Working Women Hostel. In addition, the National Creche Scheme for children of working mothers and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which have been under the Umbrella ICDS Scheme till now, are also subsumed in ‘Samarthya’.

2. Answer: B

Explanation:

The iconic island Char Chinari in the middle of the Dal Lake in Srinagar:

• Recently, two tall chinar trees were planted on the picturesque island with the Zabarwan hills in the backdrop. This will be the second time in the past decade that chinar trees, which can survive for centuries, will be planted on the island.
• The 2014 floods left two mighty chinars damaged.
• The island, in fact, owes its name to chinar trees, as Char Chinarimeans four chinars.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1.THE UKRAINE’S BREAKAWAY AREAS

THE CONTEXT: Russia has formally recognised the Luhansk and Donetsk ‘People’s Republics’ in Ukraine’s Donbass.

THE EXPLANATION:

The amid tension between the Russia and Ukraine, the Russian President formally recognised the Luhansk “People’s Republic” and Donetsk “People’s Republic”, two breakaway areas of the Donbass region of Ukraine.

The President has ordered Russian troops into these areas for “peacekeeping”. The deployment is viewed as bringing Russia and the US-European alliance closer to war.

The two areas

• Luhansk and Donetsk are areas in south-eastern Ukraine, both major industrial centres in an area collectively known as the Donbass that borders Russia. They had declared themselves independent of Ukraine in 2014, encouraged by Russia’s annexation of Crimea, but had remained unrecognised by Moscow and the international community. Western intelligence reports have spoken about the presence of Russian troops in these two areas since then, but this was denied by Russia.
• Donbass has the largest coal reserves in Ukraine. Donetsk, with a population of about 2 million, is the fifth largest city in Ukraine, and is known for a wide range of metallurgical industries. Luhansk, also an industrial city centred on metal industries, has a population of 1.5 million.

2. GERMANY SUSPENDS NORD STREAM 2 GAS PIPELINE

THE CONTEXT: Germany has taken steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Nord Stream 2?

• Nord Stream 2 is a 1,200km pipeline under the Baltic Sea, which will take gas from the Russian coast near St Petersburg to Lubmin in Germany.
• It cost €10bn (£8.4bn) and was completed September 2021. The Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom put up half of the cost and western energy firms such as Shell and ENGIE of France are paying the rest.
• Nord Stream 2 runs parallel to an existing gas pipeline, Nord Stream, which has been working since 2011.

Why is Nord Stream 2 pipeline important for Russia?

While Europe needs Russian gas, Gazprom relies on the European market for sales to support Russian government budgets. The European Union has been able to force Gazprom to comply with many of its anti-monopoly rules in recent years.

German dependence

Germany finds itself in a precarious position. Oil and gas are the lifeblood of Germany’s manufacturing economy, but the country produces very little energy domestically and is dependent on imports for 98% of its oil and 92% of its gas supply. As of 2015, Russia already supplied the plurality of its oil and gas (40% and 35% respectively), so it was with no great surprise that plans to increase Russia’s presence were met with hostility on both sides of the Atlantic.

Nordic security

The 1,200 kilometer pipeline travels from Russia to Germany, but its proposed route enters the territorial waters and EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of three other countries: Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES THREATEN AGRICULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY IN AFRICA: STUDY

THE CONTEXT: According to a new report, the Invasive alien species (IAS) of plants, animals and microbes lead to losses running up to billions of dollars annually in every part of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The region has seen the arrival of many IAS in recent years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Africa may lose about $3.66 trillion annually from the impact of the IAS on agriculture and other vital food production programmes, a 2021 study showed.
• The new study was conducted in Ghana on nearly 200 potentially harmful alien plant species that can affect agriculture, forestry and biodiversity. It was led by the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International and published in the journal NeoBiota.

What is Invasive Alien Species?

• The International Union for the Conservation of Nature defines an alien species as a species introduced outside of its natural range. They may be brought in by people accidentally or intentionally into regions where they do not exist.
• There are around 18,000 invasive alien species around the world, according to another study by an international team of scientists from 13 countries.
• IAS cause yield loss, resulting in serious negative impacts on livelihoods. They are also responsible for the extinction or decline of many species.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

4. THE CHILD WELFARE SCHEME SAW HIKE OF 390%

THE CONTEXT: According to the Union Ministry of Women and development, that a children-centric scheme of the government had seen a “390%” increase in budgetary allocations since 2014.

MISSION VATSALYA: Children have been recognized by policy makers as one of the supreme national assets. India is home to 472 million children upto the age of 18 years and comprise 39 percent of the country’s population. The objective of Mission Vatsalya is to secure a healthy and happy childhood for every child in India; foster a sensitive, supportive and synchronized ecosystem for development of children; assist States/UTs in delivering the mandate of the Juvenile Justice Act 2015; achieve the SDG goals.

Components under Mission Vatsalya will include statutory bodies; service delivery structures; institutional care/services; non-institutional community based care; emergency outreach services; training and capacity building.

Recently, the ministry of women and child development classified all of its major schemes under 3 umbrella schemes: MissionPoshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti.

MISSION SHAKTI: It envisages a unified citizen-centric lifecycle support for women through integrated care, safety, protection, rehabilitation and empowerment to unshackle women as they progress through various stages of their life. Mission Shakti has two sub-schemes ‘Sambal’ and ‘Samarthya’. While the “Sambal” sub-scheme is for safety and security of women, the “Samarthya” sub-scheme is for empowerment of women. The Sambal sub-scheme consists of the existing scheme of One Stop Centres (OSC), Women Helplines (181-WHL) and BetiBachaoBetiPadhao (BBBP). Besides, a new component of Nari Adalats has been added as women’s collectives to promote and facilitate alternative dispute resolution and gender justice in society and within families. The “Samarthya” sub scheme is for empowerment of women, consisting of existing schemes of Ujjwala, SwadharGreh and Working Women Hostel. In addition, the National Creche Scheme for children of working mothers and the Pradhan Mantri MatruVandanaYojana (PMMVY), which have been under the Umbrella ICDS Scheme till now, are also subsumed in ‘Samarthya’.

Mission POSHAN 2.0:It is an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme. It seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity. Poshan 2.0 will seek to optimize the quality and delivery of food under the Supplementary Nutrition Program.

Mission Poshan 2.0 will contribute to human capital development of the country; address malnutrition challenges; promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health & well-being and address nutrition related deficiencies through key strategies.Under the programme, nutritional norms and standards and quality and testing of THR will be improved and greater stakeholder and beneficiary participation will be promoted besides traditional community food habits.Poshan 2.0 will bring 3 important programmes/schemes under its ambit, viz., Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and PoshanAbhiyaan.

Poshan 2.0 shall focus on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, Treatment of MAM/SAM and Wellness through AYUSH. It will rest on the pillars of Convergence, Governance, and Capacity-building. Poshan Abhiyan will be the key pillar for Outreach and will cover innovations related to nutritional support, ICT interventions, Media Advocacy and Research, Community Outreach and Jan Andolan.

Mission Poshan 2.0 will integrate several key strategies to fulfil its objectives, viz., Corrective strategies, Nutrition Awareness strategies, Communication strategies and Creation of green eco-systems. The objectives under Mission Poshan 2.0 will be realized through strong interventions-driven convergent activities with key Ministries/Depts./Organizations.

Digital infrastructure under the “Poshan Tracker” rolled out by MoWCD on 1st March 2021 through National e-Governance Division as a governance tool, will strengthen and bring about transparency in nutrition delivery support systems. Technology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for (i) dynamic identification of stunting, wasting, under-weight prevalence among children; (ii) last mile tracking of nutrition service delivery.

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

5. THE CHAR CHINARI ISLAND ON SRINAGAR’S DAL LAKE

THE CONTEXT: The Char Chinar, the iconic tourist spot in the middle of Dal Lake in Srinagar, is set to regain its glory that had somewhat faded in the wake of the decay of three of the four majestic chinar trees from which the island got its name.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Char Chinar, also sometimes called Char Chinari, Ropa Lank, or Rupa Lank, is an island in Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Dal Lake includes 3 islands, 2 of which are marked with beautiful Chinar trees.
• The island located on the Lakut Dal (small Dal) is known as Roph Lank (Silver Island), is marked with the presence of majestic Chinar trees at the four corners, thus known as Char-Chinari (Four Chinars).
• The second Chinar Island, known as Sone Lank (Gold Island), is located on the Bod Dal (Big Dal) and overlooks the holy shrine of Hazratbal.
• Chinar trees characteristically grow in Eastern Himalayas. Their botanical name is Platanus orientalis. They have been an important part of Kashmiri tradition, in that, a Chinar tree is found in almost every village in Kashmir. These trees have survived for ages, because Chinar is basically a long-living tree.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 23^rd FEBRUARY  2022

Q1. ‘Samarthya’, is one of the two sub-schemes of umbrella scheme ‘Mission Shakti’. It does not include which of the following earlier scheme?

a) Ujjwala

b) SwadharGreh

c) Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

d) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Q2. Char Chinari island is located in which of the following?

a) Wular lake

b) Dal lake

c) Maharana Pratap Sagar

d) Harike lake

ANSWER FOR 22^nd FEBRUARY 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

Please refer to the given map:

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. THE RHINO POACHING IN ASSAM

THE CONTEXT: Rhino poaching in Assam is one of the major environmental issues in India which continues in the region of Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and some other grasslands of Assam.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Wildlife officials said 2,479 of the 2,623 horns stored in 12 district treasuries since 1979 were burnt in six large iron pyres placed at a stadium in Bokakhat, about 240 km east of Guwahati. These were lit remotely through drones.

INDIAN RHINO VISION 2020 (IRV 2020)

• Launched in 2005.
• Initiative led by Forest Department, Government of Assam, in partnership with WWF India, International Rhino Foundation.
• Goal of IRV2020 was to increase the rhino population in Assam to 3,000by, establishing populations in new areas.
• Rhinos are now found in four Protected Areas in Assam:Pabitora Wildlife Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, and Manas National Park.

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:
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
• The Greater One-Horned Rhinois 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 endangeredin IUCN Red List.
4. Sumatran Rhino:Recently gone extinct in Malaysia, but Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. THE NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS

THE CONTEXT: According to market data tracker DappRadar data analytics, the sales of NFTs surged $25 billion in 2021 as the crypto asset exploded in popularity, fuelled by the rising interest of celebrities and tech evangelists.

THE EXPLANATION:

The cryptocurrency boom over the past two years has helped propel a newer market to record heights: digital collectibles, also known as NFTs.

What are Fungible and Non-Fungible assets?

• A fungible asset is something that can be readily interchanged like money. With money, you can swap a £10 note for two £5 notes, and it will have the same value.
• On the other hand, a non-fungible asset means it has unique properties which cannot be interchanged with something else.

Example: It could be a painting that is one of a kind. You can take a photo of the painting or buy a print, but there will only ever be one original painting.

What are Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)?

• Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain and cannot be replicated.
• They are one-of-a-kind assets in the digital world that can be bought and sold like any other piece of property, but they have no tangible form of their own.
• The digital tokens can be thought of as certificates of ownership for virtual or physical assets.

How do they work?

• Non- Fungible tokens are unique, irreplaceable, mostly digital items that users buy and sell online.
• NFTs use blockchain technology to keep a digital record of ownership, similar to cryptocurrencies. They were first launched on ethereum, the same blockchain that supports the cryptocurrency ether, and to this day most NFTs can still only be purchased using ether.

How is an NFT different from cryptocurrency?

NFTs and cryptocurrencies are very different from each other. While both are built on Blockchain, that is where the similarity ends.

Cryptocurrency is a currency and is fungible, meaning that it is interchangeable. For instance, if you hold one crypto token, say one Ethereum, the next Ethereum that you hold will also be of the same value. But NFTs are non-fungible, that means the value of one NFT is not equal to another. Every art is different from other, making it non fungible, and unique.

Who can buy NFTs?

Anyone who holds a cryptocurrency wallet can buy an NFT. This is the only prerequisite to purchase an NFT.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

3. THE ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP) POLICY

THE CONTEXT: The government clarified that the same rank and length of service were necessary for claiming the OROP benefits.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is OROP Policy?

• OROP means same pension, for same rank, for same length of service, irrespective of the date of retirement.
• It was a longstanding demand of the Indian armed forces and veterans.
• The concept was provoked by the then decision by Indira Gandhi-led government, in 1973, two years after the historic victory in the 1971 Bangladesh war.

How did the issue escalate?

• The Rank pay was a scheme implemented by the Rajiv Gandhi led govt in 1986, in the wake of 4th Central Pay Commission.
• It reduced the basic pay of seven armed officers’ ranks of 2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Majors, Lt. Colonel, Colonels, Brigadiers and their equivalent by fixed amounts designated as rank pay.

How was it reviewed?

• In 2008, the then UPA led Government in the wake of the Sixth Central Pay Commission (6CPC), discarded the concept of rank-pay.
• Instead, it introduced Grade pay, and Pay bands, which instead of addressing the rank, pay, and pension asymmetries caused by ‘rank pay’ dispensation, reinforced existing asymmetries.

Issues with this pension policy

• The causes that inform the OROP protest movement are not pension alone, as armed forces veterans have often tried to make clear, and the parliamentary committee recorded.
• The issues, veterans emphasize, are of justice, equity, honor, and national security.
• The failure to address issue of pay-pension equity, and the underlying issue of honor, is not only an important cause for the OROP protest movement, but its escalation.

What is the Present Scenario?

• The ruling Government has accepted the OROP. It has already released Rs. 5500 crores to serve the purpose, but still, there are some grievances from the veterans’ side.
• It refined Pensions for all pensioners retiring in the same rank as the average of the minimum and maximum pensions in 2013.
• The veterans noted governments’ proposal as one rank many pensions since the review of 5 years would lead to differences in pension between senior and a junior.

THE PT PERSPECTIVE

4. THE INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY- FEBRUARY 21

THE CONTEXT: International Mother Language Day is observed every year on February 21 to honour those in Bangladesh who sacrificed their lives to protect their mother tongue, Bangla, against the then rulers of West Pakistan and to honour the ethno-linguistic rights of individuals across the world.

THE EXPLANATION:

The Language movement: The transition from East Pakistan to Bangladesh has a blood-stained story behind it. For the first time in world history, a mother tongue became the focal point for an independence movement.

According to the United Nations, at least 43% of the estimated 6,000 languages spoken in the world are endangered. The UN proclaimed the period between 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, “to draw global attention to the critical status of many indigenous languages around the world and to mobilize stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalization, and promotion.”

 Ray of hope

• International Mother Language Day 2022 was celebrated across the world with the theme, ‘Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities’. It highlighted the role of technology in developing multilingual education and in supporting the development of quality teaching and learning for all.

5. THE 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS

THE CONTEXT: The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics concluded on February 20, 2022 during a snowflake-themed closing ceremony at the Bird’s Nest stadium attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

DIPLOMATIC BOYCOTT BY COUNTRIES:

• Recently, India announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics 2022 over Galwan row with China.
• Other countries like USA, New Zealand, Australia and Canada have already announced the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics 2022.

Reason for Boycott: Indian response to boycotting the Beijing Olympics came from the backdrop of China picking a Chinese soldier involved in the Galwan incident as an Olympic torchbearer.The Galwan clashes inmid-June 2020 had resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel.

FEW FACTS ABOUT WINTER OLYMPICS

Winter Olympic Games are held once every four years for sports that are practiced on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympic Games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France.

What sports are in the 2022 Winter Olympics?

There will be a total of 109 medal events across the following 15 sports:

1. Alpine Skiing
2. Biathlon
3. Bobsled
4. Cross-Country Skiing
5. Curling
6. Figure Skating
7. Freestyle Skiing
8. Hockey
9. Luge
10. Nordic Combined
11. Short Track
12. Skeleton
13. Ski Jumping
14. Snowboarding
15. Speed Skating

Additionally, the 2022 Winter Olympics will feature seven new events: Women’s Monobob, Men’s and Women’s Big Air (Freestyle Skiing), Mixed Team Snowboard Cross, Mixed Team Aerials, Mixed Team Short Track Relay, and Mixed Team Ski Jumping.

Mascots of the Beijing Winter Games?

• Bing DwenDwen, the Olympic mascot, is a In Mandarin, the word “Bing” has several meanings, including ice, and also symbolizes purity and strength.
• ShueyRhonRhon, the Paralympic mascot, is a Chinese lantern child with a glowing heart who symbolizes warmth, friendship, courage, and perseverance of Paralympic athletes.

THE PLACES IN NEWS

6. THE CRISIS IN UKRAINE’S DONBASS REGION

THE CONTEXT: As tensions spiral between Russia and the West over Ukraine, the rebel-held self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR/DPR and LNR/LPR) in Eastern Ukraine have started evacuating civilians to the Rostov region in Russia claiming an impending Ukrainian military offensive.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Since Moscow invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula in March 2014, pro-Russia rebels in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions began seizing territory in Eastern Ukraine and held a referendum to declare independence from Ukraine
• In February 2015, representatives of Russia, Ukraine, the OSCE and the leaders of Donetsk and Luhansk signed a 13-point agreement, now known as the Minsk 2 accord.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 22^nd FEB 2022

Q. Which of the following country do not border with Ukraine?

a) Hungary

b) Poland

c) Romania

d) Bulgaria

ANSWER FOR 21^STFEB 2022

Answer: b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Pashmina refers to a fine variant of spun cashmere, the animal-hair fibre forming the downy undercoat of the Changthangi goat.
• Statement 2 is correct: Goats naturally shed their undercoat, which regrows in winter. This undercoat is collected by combing goat, not by shearing, as in other fine wools.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: A traditional producer of pashmina wool in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas are a people known as the Changpa. These are a nomadic people and inhabit the Changthang plateau of Tibet.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND CONSTITUTION

1. ARUNACHAL PRADESH & MIZORAM CELEBRATES STATEHOOD DAY

THE CONTEXT: On 20^th February,2022 the two north-eastern states, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram celebrated the day they were accorded the status of states.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Arunachal Pradesh was earlier known as Northeast Frontier Agency (NEFA). It was renamed Arunachal Pradesh in 1972 and granted a union territory status. Earlier, the state was a part of Assam, and after it became a UT, its administration was entrusted in the hands of a chief commissioner. With the passing of the constitution 55^th Amendment Act, 1987 Arunachal Pradesh finally became a 24^th
• Mizoram’s statehood came after a bloody period of insurgency. Separatists’ groups had demanded independence from India in the 1960s. Mizo National Front (MNF) took to armed rebellion to realize this demand. The Indian government resorted to bombing parts of the state in retaliation. In 1986, Mizoram Peace Accord was signed between India and MNF. Mizoram was granted statehood on February 20, 1987, as per statehood Act of 1986 and Mizoram became the 23^rd State of the Indian union.

THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES

2. LEPROSY DETECTION FELL DURING PANDEMIC: REPORT

THE CONTEXT: According to the latest report by the Leprosy Mission Trust India in 2019, the states accounted for 35% of the total new leprosy cases reported in the country. They reported 22,000 new cases during April-September 2019, but only 8,270 for the same period in 2020.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) report, it highlights that the proportions of multibacillary (MB) leprosy and grade-2 disability (G2D) among the new cases increased by 20% and 12%, respectively, during April-September 2020, compared to the same six-month period in 2019. Moreover, the proportion of both women and children among new cases decreased by 70% compared to the same two quarters in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing recommendations on social distancing and lockdowns caused a fall of 62.5% in the detection of active leprosy cases between April and September 2020 when compared with the previous year’s corresponding period in four States — Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

What is leprosy?

• Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease.
• It is an infectious disease which is caused by a bacillus Mycobacterium leprae.
• The disease has been named after Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen who was a Norwegian physician.
• Hansen proved that leprosy is not a hereditary disease but is caused by a bacterium.
• The disease is a curable disease and treatment at the early stage can prevent any disability.
• It can cause a progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes if it is left untreated.
• The incubation period of the disease is 5 years usually. Symptoms of the disease can be seen within 1 year but it could also take 20 years or even more years to occur.

How it spreads?

The disease spreads through the droplets either from the nose or mouth when the affected person sneezes or coughs.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. MOTHS VITAL TO POLLINATION IN THE HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM, FINDS STUDY

THE CONTEXT: According to the findings,moths are vital to pollination in the Himalayan ecosystem of northeast India. The study establishes 91 species of moths as potential pollinators of 21 plant families in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in the northeastern Himalayas.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The details of the study were recently published in a paper titled “Settling moths are the vital component of pollination in Himalayan ecosystem of North‑East India,” pollen transfer network approach revealed in Scientific Reports, a publication from the Nature group of journals.
• The results assume significance as a majority of the pollination-related studies are based on diurnal pollinators (bees and butterflies) and the role of nocturnal pollinators have so far received less scientific attention.
• “In the present study about 65% moths (91 species) carried sufficient quantities of pollen grains to be considered as potential pollinators. Teliphasa sp. (Crambidae) and Cuculia sp. (Noctuidae) are found to carry the highest quantity of pollen”.
• Another interesting outcome of the study is that the moth species achaeajanata (a well-known pest of various economically important plants) was identified as a potential pollinator of three plant families, indicating that moths can provide net benefits as pollinators even when acting as larval herbivores of the same species.
• According to the Scientists of the ZSI, the study assumes significance as it revealed a high degree of selectivity in moths, which are generally considered generalists (that is, not very choosy about food plants), and season and altitude affect the role of moths as potential pollinators.
• Also, they noted here are about 12,000 moth species in India and about 160,000 moth species in the world, and the study can go a long way in understanding the role of the nocturnal insect pollinators.

QUICK FACTS:

• Made for each other: Bees pollinate the flowers of a whole range of plants that humans cultivate for food — fruits like apples, spices like cardamom, onion, coffee, coconut — its a long list. Bee pollinated flowers bloom during the day, when bees fly to look for food. They contain nectar, a sugar rich liquid that bees love. Bees also feed on pollen. Nectar gives the bees energy while the pollen provides them with proteins.
• Moths are attracted to purple, pink or white flowers, which have a strong, sweet smell.
• Tobacco is pollinated by moths. Bat pollinated flowers have a strong, musty smell and are bowl shaped; pollen gets stuck onto the bat’s face as it drinks the nectar.

4. CENTRE MOOTS POLICY ON SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Centre is working on a national policy on synthetic biology, an emerging science that deals with engineering life forms for a wide range of applications from making designer medicines to foods.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the range of experts from India, “It is time for India to consolidate its stand on the science of synthetic biology and communicate its interests and aspirations in relevant international fora with clarity and should avoid conflicting stands on science on one hand and policy on the other. “
• As part of the 12th Five-Year Plan, India had set up a task force on systems biology and synthetic biology research in 2011. This body underlined the potential benefits from synthetic biotechnology in biofuels, bioremediation, biosensors, food and health and made a strong case for a push for the technology and highlighted that India could be a world leader as a protector and supporter of “open-source biological platforms”.
• Instances of application of synthetic biology include the use of gene editing systems such as CRISPR that allow defective genes in animals, plants and even people to be silenced, or changed, and control biological outcomes. The discovery of the CRISPR system earned scientists Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2020.
• However, legislation regarding genetically modified crops are still in a lurch in India.Due to opposition from several interest groups in India, the proposed Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill is pending approval in Parliament since 2013. Currently, approvals for such crops come from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM) under the Department of Biotechnology.

BACKGROUND:

What is Synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology refers to the science of using genetic sequencing, editing, and modification to create unnatural organisms or organic molecules that can function in living systems. Synthetic biology enables scientists to design and synthesise new sequences of DNA from scratch.

APPLICATIONS:

• In the pharmaceutical industry, synthetic biology can be used to make natural compounds such as artemisinin used for the treatment of malaria and Car T cell therapy for cancer treatment. It is starting to be used in the fashion industry as well; some companies are exploring the possibility of dyeing jeans without producing hazardous waste.
• Then there are companies using it to deliver fixed nitrogen to plants instead of using fertilisers, engineering microbes to create food additives or brew proteins.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES IN NEWS

5. THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA & WORLD BANK SIGN LOAN AGREEMENT FOR REWARD PROJECT

THE CONTEXT: The Government of India, State Governments of Karnataka and Odisha, and the World Bank have signed loan agreements of 115 million US dollars for the implementation of “Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development” (REWARD) Project.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

• It will help national and state institutions adopt improved watershed management practices to help increase farmers’ resilience to climate change, promote higher productivity and better incomes. Ministry of Finance in a statement said that the Government of India has committed to restoring 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and doubling farmers’ income by 2023.
• It is effective watershed management can help enhance livelihoods in rainfed areas, while building a more resilient food system.
• It will also help the participating and other states to adopt new approaches to watershed development.India has one of the largest watershed management programs in the world. This programme will further advance this progress by developing and applying comprehensive spatial data and technologies, decision support tools, and knowledge exchanges.

Objectives of the project

• The outcomes are prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rainwater harvesting and recharging of the groundwater table.
• This enables multi-cropping and the introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area.

6. THE PM FLAGS OFF 100 KISAN DRONES

THE CONTEXT: The Prime Minister flagged off 100 Kisan drones in different cities and towns of India to spray pesticides in farms across India. He virtually addressed to a group of farmers gathered at Manesar from where the “Drone Kisan Yatra” was flagged off.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is a Kisan drone?

• The Kisan drone will have an unmanned tank filled with insecticides and nutrients. The drones are expected to have a high capacity of 5 to 10kg. The drone will spray the same amount of pesticide on about one acre of land in just 15 minutes. This will save time, will require less effort and spraying will be done uniformly.
• Also, it will be used to boost the agricultural sector in the country, the use of Kisan Drones will be promoted for crop assessment, digitization of land records etc.

What is the Need?

• This step was taken as the government aims to promote chemical-free national farming.
• During the Budget 2022 the finance minister announced “the Chemical-free Natural farming to be promoted throughout the country, with focus on farmers’ lands in 5-kilometre-wide corridors along the river Ganga in the first stage.
• Kisan Drone will usher in a new edge revolution as high-capacity drones will be used to carry vegetables, fruits, fishes to the market directly from the farms. “These items will be supplied directly to the market with minimal damage, consuming lesser time, resulting in more profits to farmers and fishermen”.

NEWS IN SHORTS-PT PERSPECTIVE

7. THE ASSAM GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED “PROJECT AROHAN”TO HONE STUDENTS’ SKILLS

Assam Government will launch a four-year mentorship programme called ‘Project Arohan’ to provide guidance to students and improve their skills.

8. GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION (GI) LABEL ON KASHMIR PASHMINA

In order to preserve the centuries old art of spinning and weaving of genuine pashmina fabric. And to maintain international standards the Government of India (Under WTO) has established a quality mark for genuine Pashmina that will identify items the genuine fiber known as Pashm obtained from the goat living in Ladakh of Kashmir region. Geographical Indication (GI) Label on Kashmir Pashmina is a US patent stamp on the original ‘Kashmir Pashmina’ fabric or its products and is known as the G.I Mark.

 9. THE STUDY ON KASHMIR SHAIVISM

THE CONTEXT: The Kashmir Shaiva Institute (KSI) will come up as the first research, studies and publications centre on Kashmir Shaivism.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Kashmiri Shaivism, also called Pratyabhijna(Sanskrit: “Recognition”), religious and philosophical system of India that worships the god Shiva as the supreme reality. The school is idealistic and monistic, as contrasted with the realistic and dualistic school of Shaiva-siddhanta.
• It is actually a group of several monistic and tantric religious traditions that flourished in Kashmir from the latter centuries of the first millennium C.E. through the early centuries of the second.
• Vasugupta is regarded by some as the founder of the system of Hindu philosophy known as Advaita Shaivism of Kashmir, or Trika. Vasugupta’s Shiva Sutra is an important Yoga text, foundational to the Trika system of Kashmir Shaivism.
• Anuttara is the ultimate principle in Kashmir Shaivism, and as such, it is the fundamental reality underneath the whole Universe. Among the multiple interpretations of anuttara are: “supreme”, “above all” and “unsurpassed reality”.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 21^STFEB 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Pashmina wool:

1. It is derived from the undercoat of Changthangi goat.
2. The undercoat is collected by combing goat, not by shearing.
3. The tribal people of Kashmir valley are traditional producers of Pashmina wool.

Which of the statements given statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d)  1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 19^TH FEB 2022

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Green Hydrogen: It is produced from renewable resources of energy and not fossil fuels. The by products are water and water vapor.
• Blue Hydrogen: It is sourced from fossil fuels. The emission or the by products such as CO2 and CO are stored. It is better than grey hydrogen.
• Grey Hydrogen: India’s bulk comes from fossil fuels at present.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIA, UAE INKS COMPREHENSIVE TRADE PACT

THE CONTEXT: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is set to reduce tariffs for 80 per cent of goods and give zero duty access to 90 per cent of India’s exports to the UAE.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The agreement, which is expected to come into effect in about 60 days, is expected to boost annual bilateral trade to $100 billion within 5 years of its adoption, up from about $60 billion currently. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the UAE’s Ministry of Economy Ab after 88 days of negotiations.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRADE PACT

• An India-UAE Joint Vision Statement was adopted which lays down contours of future course of bilateral relations and highlights areas of focus.
• On defence and security, both sides agreed to enhance maritime cooperation contributing to maintenance of peace and security in the region. They also reaffirmed joint commitment to fight against extremism and terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, in all forms, at both regional and international levels.
• On energy partnership, they agreed to promote collaboration opportunities to support India’s energy requirements, including new energies, and ensure the provision of affordable and secure energy supplies to India’s growing economy. They also expressed mutual support in energy transition and focused work on a low-carbon future.
• On climate action and renewables, they agreed to support each other’s clean energy missions and establish a joint Hydrogen Task Force to help scale up technologies, with special focus on production of Green Hydrogen.
• On emerging technologies, they agreed to expand cooperation on critical technologies and mutually promote e-businesses and e-payment solutions and promote start-ups from both countries.
• On education cooperation, they agreed to establish an Indian Institute of Technology in the UAE.
• On health cooperation, they decided to collaborate in research, production and development of reliable supply chains for vaccines and enhance investments by UAE entities in the health infrastructure in India as well as collaborate in providing healthcare in underprivileged nations.
• On food security, they acknowledged the need to enhance the resilience and reliability of food supply chains. They also decided to expand cooperation through enhanced bilateral food and agriculture trade and, promote and strengthen the infrastructure and dedicated logistic services connecting farms to ports to final destinations in the UAE.

VALUE ADDITION:

India–United Arab Emirates relations:

• Relations between both the countries were traditionally close. They had enjoyed close and friendly ties on the basis of historic and cultural ties. Barter trade for clothes & spices in exchange of dates & pearls and people-to-people contacts from the region have existed for centuries.
• Relations flourished with the creation of federation in 1971. Today, Indians make up ‘largest minority ethnic group’ in the UAE, accounting for around 38% of UAE’s total residents.

Trade Relations:

• UAE is currently India’s third-largest trading partner. It is also India’s second-largest export destination after the US. India was UAE’s second-largest trading partner in 2019. Furthermore, UAE is the eighth-largest investor in India.
• India’s major exports to the UAE include petroleum products, stones, minerals, precious metals, gems &jewellery, food items like sugar, cereals, tea, meat, fruits & vegetables, seafood, textiles etc. India imports crude petroleum, petroleum products, stones, minerals, precious metals, gems and jewellery, chemicals, wood and wood products.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. THE ARMY TAG FOR NEW GECKO FROM MEGHALAYA

THE CONTEXT: A team of herpetologists have recorded a new species of bent-toed gecko from a wooded part of the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Its scientific name is Crytodactylusexercitus and English name is Indian Army’s bent-toed gecko. Exercitus in Latin means army.
• “The name was given to honour the Army for its services to the country. The military station where the bent-toed gecko was discovered was also a factor behind its name.
• The genus Cyrtodactylus is represented by about 320 species worldwide and is the third most speciose vertebrate genus in the world. The members of the genus range from South Asia to Melanesia with high diversity in south Asia.
• India is now home to 40 species of the bent-toed gecko with the northeast accounting for 16 of them.

3. THE NATIONAL GREEN HYDROGEN POLICY

THE CONTEXT: Releasing the first part of India’s National Green Hydrogen Policy, the government on announced some incentives for potential manufacturers, generation companies (gencos) and distribution licensees (discoms) to boost large scale indigenous production of green hydrogen, so as todecarbonise the energy sector and reduce India’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels and crude oil imports.

THE EXPLANATION:

The Mission aims to aid the government in meeting its climate targets and making India a green hydrogen hub. This will help in meeting the target of production of 5 million tonnes of Green hydrogen by 2030 and the related development of renewable energy capacity.

What is the Significance?

• Hydrogen and Ammonia are envisaged to be the future fuels to replace fossil fuels. Production of these fuels by using power from renewable energy, termed as green hydrogen and green ammonia, is one of the major requirements towards environmentally sustainable energy security of the nation.
• Government of India is taking various measures to facilitate the transition from fossil fuel / fossil fuel based feed stocks to green hydrogen / green ammonia. The notification of this policy is one of the major steps in this endeavour.
• The policy promotes Renewable Energy (RE) generation as RE will be the basic ingredient in making green hydrogen. This in turn will help in meeting the international commitments for clean energy.

The policy provides as follows:

• Green Hydrogen / Ammonia manufacturers may purchase renewable power from the power exchange or set up renewable energy capacity themselves or through any other, developer, anywhere.
• Open access will be granted within 15 days of receipt of application.
• The Green Hydrogen / Ammonia manufacturer can bank his unconsumed renewable power, up to 30 days, with distribution company and take it back when required.
• Distribution licensees can also procure and supply Renewable Energy to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia in their States at concessional prices which will only include the cost of procurement, wheeling charges and a small margin as determined by the State Commission.
• Waiver of inter-state transmission charges for a period of 25 years will be allowed to the manufacturers of Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia for the projects commissioned before 30th June 2025.
• The manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Ammonia and the renewable energy plant shall be given connectivity to the grid on priority basis to avoid any procedural delays.
• The benefit of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) will be granted incentive to the hydrogen/Ammonia manufacturer and the Distribution licensee for consumption of renewable power.
• To ensure ease of doing business a single portal for carrying out all the activities including statutory clearances in a time bound manner will be set up by MNRE.
• Connectivity, at the generation end and the Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia manufacturing end, to the ISTS for Renewable Energy capacity set up for the purpose of manufacturing Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia shall be granted on priority.
• Manufacturers of Green Hydrogen / Green Ammonia shall be allowed to set up bunkers near Ports for storage of Green Ammonia for export / use by shipping. The land for the storage for this purpose shall be provided by the respective Port Authorities at applicable charges.

The implementation of this Policy will provide clean fuel to the common people of the country. This will reduce dependence on fossil fuel and also reduce crude oil imports.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES IN NEWS

4. PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA (PMFBY) ENTERS ITS 7TH YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION

THE CONTEXT: The Pradhan Mantri FasalBima Yojana (PMFBY) has successfully entered its 7th year of implementation with the upcoming Kharif 2022 season, completing 6 years of its implementation since its launch announcement in February 2016.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the Government, over 36 crore farmer applications have been insured under PMFBY, with over INR 1,07,059 crores of claims have already been paid under the scheme as of 4th February 2022.

• The PMFBY replaces the existing two schemes National Agricultural Insurance Scheme as well as the Modified NAIS.
• The scheme has been able to provide financial assistance to the most vulnerable farmers, as around 85% of the farmers enrolled with the scheme are small and marginal farmers. The recent announcement by Finance Minister of India during her 2022-23 budget speech on the use of drones for crop insurance will further strengthen the integration of technology for smooth implementation of the scheme on the ground.
• It is to be noted that the scheme will be launching a doorstep distribution drive to deliver crop insurance policies to the farmers ‘Meri Policy Mere Hath’ in all implementing States. The campaign aims to ensure all farmers are well aware and equipped with all information on their policies, land records, the process of claim and grievance redressal under PMFBY.

ABOUT THE SCHEME

Objectives

• To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.
• To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.
• To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.
• To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.

Highlights of the scheme

• There will be a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 5% for all Rabi crops. In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%. The premium rates to be paid by farmers are very low and balance premium will be paid by the Government to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities.
• There is no upper limit on Government subsidy. Even if balance premium is 90%, it will be borne by the Government.

Farmers to be covered

• All farmers growing notified crops in a notified area during the season who have insurable interest in the crop are eligible.
• To address the demand of farmers, the scheme has been made voluntary for all farmers from Kharif 2020.
• Earlier to Kharif 2020, the enrolment under the scheme was compulsory for following categories of farmers:
  • Farmers in the notified area who possess a Crop Loan account/KCC account (called as Loanee Farmers) to whom credit limit is sanctioned/renewed for the notified crop during the crop season.
  • And such other farmers whom the Government may decide to include from time to time.

Voluntary coverage: Voluntary coverage may be obtained by all farmers not covered above, including Crop KCC/Crop Loan Account holders whose credit limit is not renewed.

 THE MISCELLANEOUS

5. EXPLAINED: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FIR

What is an FIR?

An FIR is the document that has been prepared by the police after verifying the facts of the complaint. The FIR may contain details of the crime and the alleged criminal.

The term first information report (FIR) is not defined in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, or in any other law, but in police regulations or rules, information recorded under Section 154 of CrPC is known as First Information Report (FIR).

Section 154 (“Information in cognizable cases”) says that “every information relating to the commission of a cognizable offence, if given orally to an officer in charge of a police station, shall be reduced to writing by him or under his direction, and be read over to the informant; and every such information, whether given in writing or reduced to writing as aforesaid, shall be signed by the person giving it, and the substance thereof shall be entered in a book to be kept by such officer in such form as the State Government may prescribe”.

Also, “a copy of the information as recorded…shall be given forthwith, free of cost, to the informant”.

In essence then, there are three important elements of an FIR:

1. the information must relate to the commission of a cognizable offence,
2. it should be given in writing or orally to the head of the police station and,
3. it must be written down and signed by the informant, and its key points should be recorded in a daily diary.

What is a cognizable offence?

• A cognizable offence/case is one in which a police officer may, in accordance with the First Schedule of the CrPC, or under any other law for the time being in force, make an arrest without a warrant.
• In the First Schedule, “the word ‘cognizable’ stands for ‘a police officer may arrest without warrant’; and the word ‘non-cognizable’ stands for ‘a police officer shall not arrest without warrant’.”

What is the difference between a complaint and an FIR?

• The CrPC defines a “complaint” as “any allegation made orally or in writing to a Magistrate, with a view to his taking action under this Code, that some person, whether known or unknown, has committed an offence, but does not include a police report.”
• However, an FIR is the document that has been prepared by the police after verifying the facts of the complaint. The FIR may contain details of the crime and the alleged criminal.
• If, on the basis of a complaint, it appears that a cognizable offence has been committed, then an FIR under Section 154 CrPC will be registered, and police will open an investigation. If no offence is found, the police will close the inquiry.
• In case of non-cognizable offences, an FIR under Section 155 CrPC, commonly called “NCR”, is registered, and the complainant will be asked to approach a court for an order. The court may then direct the police to conduct an investigation on the complaint.
• Section 155 (“Information as to non-cognizable cases and investigation of such cases”) says: “When information is given to an officer in charge of a police station of the commission within the limits of such station of a non-cognizable offence, he shall enter or cause to be entered the substance of the information in a book…and refer the informant to the Magistrate. No police officer shall investigate a non-cognizable case without the order of a Magistrate having power to try such case or commit the case for trial.”

 What is a Zero FIR?

• When a police station receives a complaint regarding an alleged offence that has been committed in the jurisdiction of another police station, it registers an FIR, and then transfers it to the concerned police station for further investigation. This is called a Zero FIR.
• No regular FIR number is given. After receiving the Zero FIR, the concerned police station registers a fresh FIR and starts the investigation.

What if the police refuse to register an FIR?

• Under Section 154(3) CrPC, if any person is aggrieved by the refusal on the part of the officer in charge of a police station to register an FIR, she can send the complaint to the Superintendent of Police/DCP concerned who, if satisfied that such information discloses the commission of a cognizable offence, will either investigate the case, or direct an investigation by a subordinate police officer.
• If no FIR is registered, the aggrieved persons can file a complaint under Section 156(3) CrPC before a concerned court which, if satisfied that a cognizable offence is made out from the complaint, will direct the police to register an FIR and conduct an investigation.

What happens after an FIR is filed?

• The police will investigate the case and will collect evidence in the form of statements of witnesses or other scientific materials. They can arrest the alleged persons as per law.
• If there is sufficient evidence to corroborate the allegations of the complainant, then a chargesheet will be filed. Or else, a Final Report mentioning that no evidence was found will be filed in court.
• If it is found that no offence has been committed, a cancellation report will be filed. If no trace of the accused persons is found, an ‘untraced’ report will be filed.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 19^TH FEB 2022

Q.Which of the following explains ‘green hydrogen’?

a It is produced from renewable resources of energy.

b It is produced from green plants.

c It is produced from sea water.

d It is produced from fossil fuels.

ANSWER FOR 18^TH FEB 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

India’s first water taxi service was inaugurated in Maharashtra connecting the Navi Mumbai area to mainland Mumbai.

THE ART AND CULTURE

1. “PASUVULA PANDUGA”

THE CONTEXT: Tension prevailed at Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh after villagers protested against the police over the conduct of a traditional bull-taming match – a version of Tamil Nadu’s jallikattu.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The villagers and the police vehemently reject the “bad propaganda” against the bull races by wrongly terming the events as “Jallikattu”.
• According to the villagers, these annual festivities, history of which dates back to the British Raj, are responsible for the preservation of the native breeds of cattle and the continuing love for the bulls despite mechanised agriculture practices.”
• As per “HaddulaPanduga”, the bulls brought to the race would be unleashed into a set track flanked by the curious crowds. The participants, mostly youth, would be encouraged to stop the raging bulls, fixing the parameters of distance and time.
• The bulls would be stopped by the youth, who pull and manage the long ropes tied to the animals. This is unlike Jallikattu of Tamil Nadu, where a frenzied bull would be released unfettered into an open ring, posing grave danger to youth who are set to tame it.

Value Addition:

PasuvulaPanduga (Festival of Cattle):

• It is considered as the ‘milder equivalent’ of Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu.
• It is conducted every yearin the villages of Chittoor district during the Kanuma festival (Sankranti).
• The bulls ran amok as the participants gave them hard chase in their attempt tame the animals and grab the prize money tied to their horns.

Kanuma festival is quite similar to the Mattu Pongal observed in Tamil Nadu. The festival is dedicated to cows, bulls and other animals that are part of agrarian economy. Cattle and cattle sheds are cleaned on the day. Cows are decorated with marigold flowers and are worshipped.

QUICK FACTS:

Bhumi Panduga is a festival celebrated by the Koya Tribe in the Chintoor Agency of East Godavari district. The tribals go hunting as part of the ‘Bhumi Panduga’ celebrations, marking the beginning of farm operations every year.

THE HEALTH AFFAIRS

2. GILOY IS SAFE TO USE: MINISTRY OF AYUSH

THE CONTEXT: Certain sections of the media have falsely linked again Giloy/Guduchi to liver damage. The Ministry of Ayush reiterates that Giloy/Gudduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is safe and as per available data, Guduchi does not produce any toxic effect.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In Ayurveda, it is said to be the best rejuvenating herb. Acute toxicity studies of aqueous extract of Guduchi reports that it does not produce any toxic effect. However, the safety of a drug depends on how it is being used. Dosage is one of the important factors that determine the safety of a particular drug.
• A special focus has been made on its health benefits in treating various metabolic disorders and its potential as an immune booster. It is used as a major component of therapeutics for ameliorating metabolic, endocrinal, and several other ailments, aiding in the betterment of human life expectancy.
• It is a popularly known herb for its immense therapeutic applications in traditional systems of medicine and has been used in the management of COVID-19. Considering the overall health benefits, the herb cannot be claimed to be toxic.

Value Addition:

Guduchiis known in Ayurvedic medicine for the power to detoxify, rejuvenate, boost the immune system, and more. This popular adaptogenic herb is thought to prolong life and was recognized by ancient rishis of the Vedic era in the classic healthcare text, the revered Charak Samhita, written by Maharishi Agnivesha.

Also, its helps in:

• Ability to balance blood sugar
• Relieve fever and spasms
• Fight inflammation
• Promote joint health
• Calm allergic reactions
• Reduce stress
• Protect the kidneys
• Support the immune system.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

3. THE FINTECH OPEN HACKATHON

THE CONTEXT: NITI Aayog in association with the digital payment’s platform PhonePe launched the first-ever open-to-all hackathon that aims to showcase path-breaking solutions for the fintech ecosystem.

THE EXPLANATION:

The Hackathon will provide an opportunity for innovators, digital creators and developers from all over India to think, ideate and code.

Participants at the hackathon need to use any open-data APIs like PhonePe Pulse along with frameworks such as Account Aggregator as a foundation to power the following use cases:

• Alternate risk models for Lending, Insurance or Investments with focus on financial Inclusion.
• Innovative Products that use the power data signals for various demographics and Geos for broader adoption of financial services.
• Improved Visualisation and Derived intelligence based on the Digital payments data.

Aim:

Creating an immersive learning experience, the FinTech month with the overarching theme ‘OPEN’ aims to achieve three key objectives – 1) encourage an OPEN ecosystem across the FinTech industry; (2) Foster co-innovation and growth; (3) Ensure financial inclusion and leverage new models like Account Aggregator to unleash the next wave of fintech innovation.

 What is Fintech Company?

• Fintech is a portmanteau of the terms “finance” and “technology” and refers to any business that uses technology to enhance or automate financial services and processes.
• Fintech companies integrate technologies (like AI, blockchain and data science) into traditional financial sectors to make them safer, faster and more efficient. Fintech is one of the fastest-growing tech sectors, with companies innovating in almost every area of finance; from payments and loans to credit scoring and stock trading.

Areas of FinTech:

• Banking

• Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

• Investment & Savings

• Machine Learning & Trading

• Payments

• Lending

• Insurance

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

4. THE MIGRATION OF CRIMSON ROSE BUTTERFLIES

THE CONTEXT: Thousands of Crimson Rose butterflies swarmed all available flowering plants along the beach of Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu. It was their stopover for nectaring, before the butterflies undertook their ultimate flight towards Sri Lanka, which is around 25 km away from the tip of Dhanushkodi.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to the officials, Migration by Tigers and Crows from the sub-family Danainae of Nymphalidaeknown to migrate just before the onset of the southwest and northeast monsoons from the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats and plains, and vice-versa. Butterfly species like Common Emigrant, Common Albatross and Lime Butterfly are also known to undertake migration on a large scale.

Value Addition:

Pachliopta hector, the crimson rose, is a large swallowtail butterfly belonging to the genus Pachliopta (roses) of the red-bodied swallowtails.

Distribution:

• It is found in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and possibly the coast of western Myanmar.
• In India, it is found in the Western Ghats, southern India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), eastern India (West Bengal and Odisha). It is a straggler in the Andaman Islands

Conservation Status:

• It is generally common and not known to be threatened.
• IUCN STATUS: LEAST CONCERN
• Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule 1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

 5. INDIA LACKS SOLAR WASTE HANDLING POLICY

THE CONTEXT: The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimated that the global photovoltaic waste will touch 78 million tonnes by 2050, with India expected to be one of the top five generators of such waste.

 THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), India currently considers solar waste a part of electronic waste and does not account for it separately. And also the Ministry constituted a committee to propose an action plan to evolve a “circular economy” in solar panel, through reuse/recycling of waste generated.
• There was no commercial raw material recovery facility for solar e-waste operational in India, but a pilot facility for solar panel recycling and material recovery had been set up by a private company in Gummidipoondi in Tamil Nadu. India has set a target of producing 100 GW of solar energy by 2022.
• The cumulative capacity of grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) installations is around 40 GW and of the current capacity, about 35.6 GW, is generated from ground-mounted plants and 4.4 GW from rooftop solar. A gigawatt is 1,000 megawatt.

Solar panel’s life       

• Solar panels have an estimated life of 25 years and given that India’s solar manufacturing industry took off around 2010, most of the installed systems were new and early in their calendar lifecycle and therefore unlikely to generate a large quantity of solar waste.
• That, however, is only partially accurate, according to the Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), a Delhi based think-tank. End-of-life was only one of the possible waste streams for PV modules and there were several other stages where modules could get damaged.
• However,India’s solar PV manufacturing uses imported components with parts mostly sourced from China.

6. WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT 2022

THE CONTEXT:Prime Minister delivered the inaugural address at the 21st World Sustainable Development Summit 2022 (WSDS-22)on the three-day summit organised by TERI with participation from over 100 nations.

 THE EXPLANATION:

• The theme of the summit is ‘Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future’.
• According to the Prime Minister “the energy requirements of the people of India are expected to double in the next 20 years, also he urged developed countries to fulfil their commitments on finance and technology transfer.

Prime Minister Speech Highlights:

• “The Energy requirements of the people of India are expected to double in the next 20 years. Denying this energy would be denying life itself to millions. Successful climate action also needs adequate financing. For this, developed countries need to fulfil their commitments on finance and technology transfer’.
• Also, India believes in fulfilling commitments under the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and added that the country has raised its ambitions during CoP-26 at Glasgow. Sustainability requires coordinated action for the global commons.
• The International Solar Alliance, our aim is One Sun, One World, One Grid. We must work towards ensuring availability of clean energy from a worldwide grid everywhere at all times. This is the ‘whole of the world’ approach that India’s values stand for”.
• He also noted the measures taken and schemes like
  • Ujjwala Yojana
  • M-KUSUM scheme
  • Broder focus on ‘chemical-free natural farming’
  • LED bulbs distribution scheme
  • National Hydrogen Missionand alsoIndia now has 49 Ramsar sites spread over more than 1 million hectaresrestoring degraded land has been one of the main focus areas.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

7. THE SCHEME FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF DNTS (SEED)

THE CONTEXT: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, launched the Scheme for Economic Empowerment of DNTs (SEED) for the welfare of De-notified, Nomadic and Semi Nomadic Communities.

THE EXPLANATION:

Who are De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes?

The De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes are the most neglected, marginalized and economically and socially deprived communities. Most of them have been living a life of destitution for generations and still continue to do so with an uncertain and gloomy future. De-notified, Nomadic and Semi- nomadic Tribes somehow escaped the attention of our developmental framework and thus are deprived of the support unlike Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The term ‘De-notified Tribes’ stands for all those communities which were once notified under the Criminal Tribes Acts, enforced by the British Raj between 1871 and 1947. These Acts were repealed by the Independent lndian Government in 1952, and these communities were “De-Notified”. A few of these communities which were listed as de-notified were also nomadic.

About the Scheme:

• To provide coaching of good quality for DNT/NT/SNT candidates to enable them to appear in competitive examinations.
• To provide health insurance to DNT/NT/SNT Communities.
• To facilitate livelihoods initiative at community level to build and strengthen small clusters of DNT/NT/SNT Communities institutions.
• To provide financial assistance for construction of houses to members of the DNT/NT/SNT Communities.

The funds will be transferred directly to the beneficiaries in their account. The other implementing agencies are Ministry of Rural Development, National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and National Health Authority (NHA).

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

• The Government in July 2014 had constituted National Commission for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (NCDNT) for a period of three years to prepare a State-wise list of castes belonging to Denotified and Nomadic Tribes and to suggest appropriate measures in respect of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes that may be undertaken by the Central Government or the State Government.
• The Renke Commission (2008) was earlier commissioned to identify and list the DNT communities.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 17^TH FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Which of the following pairs of Ramsar sites is/are correctly matched?

1. DeeporBeel – West Bengal
2. Kabartal Wetland – Bihar
3. Bhoj Wetland – Madhya Pradesh

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 16^TH FEB 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) is a Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj was nation-wide launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on National Panchayati Raj Day, 24^th April 2021 after successful completion of pilot phase of scheme (2020-2021) in 9 states.

Scheme is a reformative step towards establishment of clear ownership of property in rural inhabited (Abadi) areas, by mapping of land parcels using drone technology and providing ‘Record of Rights’ to village household owners with issuance of legal ownership cards (Property cards/Title deeds) to property owners.

Statement 1 is correct: The Scheme is implemented with the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Revenue Department, State Panchayati Raj Department and Survey of India.

THE POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. NO CLEAR DEFINITION FOR LYNCHING UNDER IPC

THE CONTEXT: The Union Home Ministry informed Parliament in 2019 that there was “no separate” definition for lynching under the IPC, adding that lynching incidents could be dealt with under Sections 300 and 302 of the IPC, pertaining to murder

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Lynching?

• lynching, a form of violence in which a mob, under the pretext of administering justice without trial, executes a presumed offender, often after inflicting torture and corporal mutilation. The term lynch law refers to a self-constituted court that imposes sentence on a person without due process of law.

Anti-mob lynching bills passed by 4 Assemblies at various levels of non-implementation:

1. In 2018, the Manipur Assembly passed the The Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Bill, recommending life imprisonment for those involved in mob violence if it led to death. The bill is still being examined by the Ministry.
2. On August 5, 2019, the Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Protection from Lynching Bill, 2019, providing for life imprisonment and a fine from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh to those convicted in cases of mob lynching leading to the victim’s death.
3. On August 30, 2019, the West Bengal Assembly passed a legislation- the West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019 that proposes a jail term from three years to life for those involved in assaulting and injuring a person and also defines terms such as “lynching” and “mob.” The government also proposed the West Bengal Lynching Compensation Scheme.
4. On December 22, 2021 the Jharkhand Assembly passed the Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021, providing for punishment from three years to life imprisonment. The Bill awaits the Governor’s nod.

Why are the bills pending?

Most bills have been reserved by the Governor for consideration of the President.

The President has to go with the advice given by the Council of Ministers, in the case of such legislations, represented by the MHA.

The Union Home Ministry examines the State legislation’s on three grounds-

• Repugnancy with Central laws
• Deviation from national or central policy and
• Legal and constitutional validity

Supreme Court on Lynching:

• In July 2017, the Supreme Court, while pronouncing its judgment in the case of Tahseen s. Poonawala v. UOI, had laid down several preventives, remedial and punitive measures to deal with lynching and mob violence. States were directed to set up designated fast track courts in every district to exclusively deal with cases involving mob lynching’s.
• The court had also mooted the setting up of a special task force with the objective of procuring intelligence reports about the people involved in spreading hate speeches, provocative statements and fake news which could lead to mob lynchings. Directions were also issued to set up Victim compensation schemes for relief and rehabilitation of victims.

2. THE DIGITAL MAPS OF ALL VILLAGES

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ministry of Science and technology India plans to prepare digital maps of all its 6,00,000 villages and pan-India 3D maps will be prepared for 100 cities

THE EXPLANATION:

• An ongoing scheme, piloted by the Panchayati Raj Ministry, called SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) was launched in 2020.
• The updated guidelines help private companies prepare a variety of maps without needing approvals from a host of Ministries and make it easier to use drones and develop applications via location mapping. The “trinity of geospatial systems, drone policy and unlocked space sector will be the hallmark of India’s future economic progress”.
• The complete geospatial policy would be announced soon as the liberalisation of guidelines had yielded very positive outcomes within a year’s time. The geographical information-based system mapping would also be useful in forest management, disaster management, electrical utilities, land records, water distribution, and property taxation.
• Also, the Ministry noted, estimated the size of the Indian geospatial market in 2020 to be ₹23,345 crore, including ₹10,595 crore of export which was likely to grow to ₹36,300 crore by 2025.
• According to current information on the SVAMITVA portal: So far, drone surveys have covered close to 1,00,000 villages and maps of 77,527 villages had been handed over to States. Property cards have been distributed to around 27,000 villages.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

3. BAN ON ONLINE GAMING PLATFORMS

THE CONTEXT: The division bench of the Karnataka High Court delivered a judgment striking down major portions of the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act, 2021, a new law that was introduced by the State government to ban online gambling and skill-based gaming platforms like rummy, poker and fantasy sports that involved any wagering or risking of money on an uncertain event.

THE EXPLANATION:

Apart from Karnataka, a similar law introduced by the Tamil Nadu government was struck down by the Madras High Court in August 2021. In September 2021, the Kerala High Court had also quashed a notification issued by the State government specifically banning the game of online rummy when played for stakes.

On what grounds did the Karnataka High Court strike down the online gaming law?

The Karnataka High Court struck down the amendments to the Karnataka Police Act on three major grounds: violation of fundamental rights of trade and commerce, liberty and privacy, speech and expression; the law being manifestly arbitrary and irrational insofar as it did not distinguish between two different categories of games, i.e. games of skill and chance; and lastly lack of legislative competence of State legislatures to enact laws on online skill-based games.

Is regulation of online gaming a better solution?

Experts believe that instead of a complete ban, one could look at licensing and regulating the industry with various checks and balances such as diligent KYC and anti-money laundering processes, barring minors from accessing real money games, placing weekly or monthly limits on the money that can be staked or time that can be spent, counselling for addictive players and allowing self-exclusion of such players etc.

4. THE PHENSEDYL SMUGGLING

THE CONTEXT: The Border Security force (BSF) has seized 630 bottles of Phensedyl worth Rs.1,09,905 in two incidents and apprehended two phensedyl smugglers, while they were trying to illegally cross the international border from India to Bangladesh.

THE EXPLANATION:

According to BSF officials, it was difficult to contain the smuggling because Phensedyl is smuggled in low quantities from India to Bangladesh. “In the past few years, BSF has stopped factories in the hinterland that were manufacturing Phensedyl. Sometimes farmers smuggle it, at other times people throw it over the fence on the other side of the border”.

Why Phensedyl?

• Bangladesh had a majority Muslim population, the religious faith prohibited consumption of liquor and cough syrups with codeine phosphate were an easy way for people to get high. Since liquor is banned in Bangladesh, the drug became a popular alternative for alcohol.
• Phensedyl used to contain codeine phosphate along with hydrochloride ephedrine and promethazine, a unique combination for addiction. This is what made it a popular drug of abuse and unfortunately the trend still continues even after the chemical formulation was changed.A bottle costs about ₹200 in India and the moment it crosses the border, the price goes up to thousands.

YABA TABLETS- The Madness Drug

• Along with Phensedyl another narcotic that is smuggled in huge quantities along the international border is Yaba tablets. According to investigative agencies, these tablets usually originate in Myanmar and come to India from Bangladesh.
• Yaba is a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine sold as cheap red or pink pills and works as stimulant to the central nervous system. In 2021, the BSF south Bengal Frontier seized about 14,147 tablets when it was allegedly being smuggled into India. The seizure in 2019 by the same frontier was 53,763 Yaba tablets.
• The ratio of caffeine to methamphetamine inevitably varies; however, the potent drug makes up approximately 20% of yaba. There is also a crystalline form of this narcotic known as ice, which can almost entirely be made up of methamphetamine.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

5. THE INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON COMBATING MARINE PLASTIC POLLUTION

THE CONTEXT: The Government of India, in partnership with the Government of Australia and the Government of Singapore, conducted an international workshop on combating marine pollution focusing on marine plastic debris on February 14-15, 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It aimed to discuss research interventions toward monitoring and assessing marine litter and plausible sustainable solutions to address the global marine plastic pollution issue.
• The workshop had four major sessions; the magnitude of the marine litter problem-monitoring program and research on plastic debris in the Indo-Pacific Region; best practices and technologies; solutions to prevent plastic pollution; and polymers and plastics: technology and innovations and opportunities for regional collaboration to remediate or stop plastic pollution.
• The sessions involved panel discussions and interactive break-out sessions to encourage discussion amongst participants from East Asia Summit countries.

Why is it important ?

• Plastic pollution is a widespread problem affecting the marine environment. It threatens ocean health, the health of marine species, food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.
• The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for action to ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’ (Goal 14) and ‘By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution’ (Target 14.1).

According to IUCN:

• Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year for use in a wide variety of applications.
• At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year, and plastic makes up 80% of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments.
• Plastic pollution threatens food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.

Impacts on marine ecosystems

The most visible impacts of plastic debris are the ingestion, suffocation and entanglement of hundreds of marine species. Marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fish and turtles mistake plastic waste for prey; most then die of starvation as their stomachs become filled with plastic.

What can be done?

• Efforts should be made to adhere to and strengthen existing international legislative frameworks that address marine plastic pollution. The most important are the 1972 Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter (the London Convention), the 1996 Protocol to the London Convention (the London Protocol) and the 1978 Protocol to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).
• Governments, research institutions and industries need to work collaboratively to redesign products, and rethink their use and disposal to reduce microplastic waste from pellets, synthetic textiles and tyres. Consumers and society must shift to more sustainable consumption patterns.
• More funding for research and innovation should be made available to provide policymakers, manufacturers and consumers with the evidence needed to implement technological, behavioural and policy solutions to address marine plastic pollution.

THE HEALTH AND COVID CORNOR

6. LASSA FEVER CLAIMS 3 LIVES IN UK

THE CONTEXT: For a world grappling with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the news of a fresh virus has spared concern. The Lassa fever has claimed three lives in the United Kingdom, and the country’s health officials have said that it has “pandemic potential”. Eight cases of the Lassa fever have been reported in the UK since the 1980s, with the last two coming in 2009.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Lassa fever?

According to United States’ Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is an animal-borne, or zoonotic,acute viral illness. The haemorrhagic illness is caused by Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses.

How does it infect the humans?

According to World Health Organization (WHO), humans usually become infected with Lassa virus through exposure to food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in the rodent population in parts of West Africa.

Person-to-person infections and laboratory transmission can also occur, particularly in health care settings in the absence of adequate infection prevention and control measures, according to further information about the disease from WHO.

When was the first case of Lassa virus reported?

The illness was discovered in 1969 and is named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases occurred. According to CDC, an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 infections of Lassa fever occur annually, with approximately 5,000 deaths.

Treatment: Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has been used with success in Lassa fever patients.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 16^TH FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about SVAMITVA scheme:

1. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
2. The Scheme is implemented with the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, State Revenue Department and Survey of India.

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 15^TH FEB 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: It is a polar satellite launched with the help of PSLV C-52 and put in sun-synchronous orbit.

Statement 2 is correct: It is a radar imaging satellite is designed to provide high-quality images in all weather conditions for applications such as agriculture, forestry, plantation, flood mapping, soil moisture and hydrology.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIA-AUSTRALIA INTERIM TRADE AGREEMENT AND FTA

THE CONTEXT: India and Australia have announced that they are set to conclude an interim trade agreement in March 2022 and a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) 12-18 months thereafter.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is the early harvest agreement likely to cover?

• An interim or early harvest trade agreement is used to liberalise tariffs on the trade of certain goods between two countries or trading blocs before a comprehensive FTA (Free Trade Agreement) is concluded.
• According to the Commerce Ministry, the interim agreement set to be announced in about 30 days will cover “most areas of interest for both countries” including goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures and customs procedures.
• Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at about $12.5 billion in FY21 and has already surpassed $17.7 billion in the first 10 months of FY22.
• India has imported merchandise worth about $12.1 billion from Australia in the first 10 months of the fiscal and has exported merchandise worth $5.6 billion in the same period. Key imports from Australia include coal, gold and LNG while key exports to the country from India include diesel, petrol and gems and jewellery.

How has the Quad impacted trade relations between India and Australia?

India and Australia are both members of the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) along with the US and Japan. Both countries have noted that the coalition has given impetus to increasing trade relations between all members of the Quad. Australia noted that it already had FTAs with both the US and Japan and that all four countries could start building a framework for economic cooperation within the countries of the Quad after they announced a deal with India.

What other Free Trade Agreements is India currently negotiating?

India is currently in the process of negotiating FTAs with the UAE, the UK, Canada, the EU and Israel, besides Australia. India is also looking to complete an early harvest agreement with the UAE and the UK in the first half of 2022.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. THE INFLATION EDGES PAST 6% IN JANUARY 2022

THE CONTEXT: Retail inflation rose to a seven-month high of 6.01 per cent in January 2022, breaching the upper tolerance level of the medium-term inflation target of 4+/-2 per cent set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO). The rise was mainly on account of high food inflation, which jumped to a 14-month high of 5.43 per cent, along with an unfavourable base.

THE EXPLANATION:

• • Inflation at the wholesale level in January softened to 96 per cent from 13.56 per cent in December 2021 but marked the tenth consecutive month of being in double digits, another set of data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Wholesale food inflation was, however, at a 24-month high of 9.6 per cent. Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation rate is reflective of the price pressures on the inputs side and of manufacturers passing on the higher input costs to their output prices.
  • According to Economists, the high inflation was now turning structural, with price rise being seen in non-food segments such as clothing, fuel and light, household goods, health, transport, and communication above 6 per cent.

• These prices are based on the MRP principle and will not come down once increased. Manufacturers are in the process of passing on the higher input cost to the consumer and this will carry on for the next two months too.
• The structural aspect of inflation is reflected in the core inflation remaining sticky (96 per cent in January). “Clothing & footwear inflation now stands at a 97-month high (8.84 per cent) on the back of higher cotton prices. Household goods and services inflation at 7.1 per cent is at a 94-month high in January 2022. Amid elevated input costs, various automobile, telecom and FMCG firms have announced price hikes. As a result, core inflation has remained sticky.

VALUE ADDITION:

About Wholesale Price Index (WPI):

• Measures inflation at the first stage of the transaction, i.e. wholesale prices.
• Compiled by the Office of Economic Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• The Wholesale Price Index measures inflation on a year-on-year basis.
• It consists of 3 major groups as below:

QUICK FACTS

GLOSSARY

• Disinflation: Reduction in the rate of inflation.
• Deflation: Persistent decrease in the price level (negative inflation).
• Reflation: Price level increases when the economy recovers from recession based on the value of inflation.
• Creeping inflation – If the rate of inflation is low (up to 3%).
• Walking/Trotting inflation – Rate of inflation is moderate (3-7%).
• Running/Galloping inflation – Rate of inflation is high (>10%).
• Runaway/Hyper Inflation – The rate of inflation is extreme.
• Stagflation: Inflation + Recession (Unemployment).
• Misery index: Rate of inflation + Rate of unemployment.
• Inflationary gap: Aggregate demand > Aggregate supply (at full employment level).
• Deflationary gap: Aggregate supply > Aggregate demand (at full employment level).
• Suppressed / Repressed inflation: Aggregate demand > Aggregate supply. Here govt will not allow rising of prices.
• Open inflation: A situation where the price level rises without any price control measures by the government.
• Core inflation: Based on those items whose prices are non-volatile. (All items in CPI -Food & Energy).
• Headline inflation: All commodities are covered in this. (Goods + Services).
• Structural inflation: Due to structural problems like infrastructural bottlenecks.

3. CENTRE CUTS AGRI-CESS ON CRUDE PALM OIL

THE CONTEXT: According to the the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution the Centre Government has reduced the Agri-cess on crude palm oil (CPO) from 7.5 per cent to 5 per cent. This will benefit the domestic edible oil refiners and also check prices of cooking oils.

BEHIND THE MOVE?

 “With a view to provide further relief to consumers and to keep in check any further rise in the prices of domestic edible oils due to rise in the prices of edible oils globally, the Government of India has reduced the agri-cess for Crude Palm Oil (CPO) from 7.5% to 5% with effect from 12th February, 2022.”

“After reduction of the agri-cess, the import tax gap between CPO and Refined Palm Oil has increased to 8.25%. The increase in the gap between the CPO and Refined Palm Oil will benefit the domestic refining industry to import crude oil for refining”.

The rate of import duty on Refined Palm Oils at 12.5%, Refined Soyabean oil and Refined Sunflower Oil at 17.5% will remain in force up to 30th September 2022. This measure will help in cooling down the prices of edible oils which are witnessing an upward trend in the international market due to lower availability and other international factors”.

Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC)

• It was proposed in the 2021 Budget and it is applied on a small number of items.
• Under the norms, no additional burden will be placed on consumers on most items.
• AIDC was announced because there was an immediate need to improve the agricultural infrastructure in order to produce more along with conserving and processing agricultural output efficiently.
• This cess would also ensure enhanced remuneration for the farmers.

About National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)

• The government will invest more than ₹11,000 crore via the National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm to provide farmers with everything possible.
• Under the scheme, the government will ensure that farmers get all facilities, from quality seeds to technology to promote farming to produce palm oil and other oil seeds.
• The Centre plans to raise the domestic production of palm oil by three times to 11 lakh MT by 2025-26.
• It will involve raising the area under oil palm cultivation to 10 lakh hectares by 2025-26 and 16.7 lakh hectares by 2029-30.
• Under the scheme, oil palm farmers will be provided financial assistance and will get remuneration under a price and viability formula.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. THE FIGHT AGAINST ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE

THE CONTEXT: According to the paper titled Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators, “Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis”, published by  the Lancet, found that AMR is a leading cause of death around the world, with the highest number of deaths occurring in low-resource settings.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of microorganisms to persist or grow in the presence of drugs designed to inhibit or kill them. These drugs, called antimicrobials, are used to treat infectious diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoan parasites.

Bacterial antimicrobial resistance occurs when changes in bacteria causes the drugs used to treat the infection to become less effective. A paper authored by Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators states that around 4.95 million deaths were associated with bacterial anti microbial resistance in 2019 alone.

Impact

When infections can no longer be treated by first-line antibiotics, more expensive medicines must be used. A longer duration of illness and treatment, often in hospitals, increases health care costs as well as the economic burden on families and societies.

Antibiotic resistance is putting the achievements of modern medicine at risk. Organ transplantation’s, chemotherapy and surgeries such as caesarean sections become much more dangerous without effective antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of infections.

Research on a massive scale

The paper is an analysis of the burden of AMR, producing estimates for 204 countries and territories, 23 bacterial pathogens, and 88 drug-pathogen combinations in 2019. The six leading pathogens for deaths associated with resistance included E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, S. pneumoniae, A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They have been registered as priority pathogens by WHO.

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics, no proper sanitation and the lack of awareness among the public about the dangers of AMR are some of the reasons which need to be tackled in order to fight against antimicrobial resistance.

The way forward

• Reducing exposure to antibiotics that are used in the farming sector and poultry industry is also key. In this context, doctors point out that India’s move to ban colistin usage in the poultry industry will go a long way in reducing the AMR burden in the country.
• Antibiotic stewardship, or minimising the use of antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, remains at the core of the fight against AMR.
• It is the hope of all collaborators, who continue to fight the big war with bacterial antimicrobial resistance, before, and through pandemics, that this new data provides the urgency and fresh momentum for global action to counter the single biggest burden that poses a major threat to human health.

5. ISRO’S FIRST LAUNCH OF 2022

THE CONTEXT: ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C52 successfully injected Earth Observation Satellite EOS-04, into an intended sun-synchronous polar orbit of 529 km altitude.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The INSPIREsat-1 is a student satellite from the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology in association with the University of Colorado, USA and is aimed at improving the understanding of ionosphere dynamics and the Sun’s coronal heating processes. The Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and the National Central University, Taiwan, were part of the development team of the INSPIREsat. Taiwanese is the first time collaborated with an international team to launch a satellite from India.
• The INS-2TD is a precursor to the India-Bhutan joint satellite [INS 2-B] and will assess land and water surface temperatures, delineation of crops and forest and thermal inertia.
• According to ISRO, with a mission life of 10 years, the EOS-4, a radar imaging satellite is designed to provide high quality images in all weather conditions for applications such as agriculture, forestry, plantation, flood mapping, soil moisture and hydrology. The satellite will collect earth observation data in C-band and will complement and supplement the data from Resourcesat, Cartosat series and RISAT-2B series.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

6. WHY DID THE GOVT BAN MORE CHINA-LINKED APPS?

THE CONTEXT:The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)  issued orders to ban 54 more apps, which either have originated in China or have some Chinese connection. These apps were banned for being a threat to national security.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are these new apps and why have they been banned?

As per the new list, video editing apps such as Viva Video Editor- Snack Video Maker with Music and Nice Video Baidu, which are used extensively for making short videos, games such as Onmyoji Chess and Conquer Online II have been banned in India. Garena Free Fire– Illuminate, a game, which had gained popularity among children, teenagers and youth in India after the ban on PUBG, has also been banned.

According to the Meity, the new apps have been banned using emergency powers under Section 69 of the Information Technology Act. Most of these apps, , were operating as clones or shadow apps of the apps that had earlier been banned by the government.

Which other apps have been banned by the government in the past?

• In June 2020, the IT ministry had, in a similar order issued under Section 69 of the IT Act, banned 59 apps, including TikTok, ShareIt, UC Browser, Likee, WeChat, and Bigo Live. In its reasoning then, the ministry had said that these apps were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.
• The first ban was followed by another set of 47 apps being barred from operations in India from July 2020. These apps were mostly proxies of the apps banned in June 2020.
• Later, on September 2, 2020, the IT ministry banned another 118 Chinese mobile apps, which included the popular gaming platform PUBG as well as Baidu, which is China’s largest search engine provider. In total so far, close to 300 apps and their proxies have been banned by the IT ministry.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/INITIATIVES IN NEWS

7. THE NHA TO INTEGRATE DATABASES WITH PM-JAY

THE CONTEXT: According to the Union Health Ministry the National Health Authority (NHA) is working to integrate the database of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 beneficiaries with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) portal so that beneficiaries can seek information regarding their entitlements under the AB PM-JAY using their ration card number.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The NHA is mandated with the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri–Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). The scheme provides health assurance of up to ₹5 Lakhs per family per year, for secondary and tertiary care-related hospitalizations.
• The Ministry added that the NHA is also working on a proposal to use Fair Price Shops or ration shops for providing information related to the scheme and entitlement under the scheme to eligible beneficiaries.
• “According to the Ministry, that this will provide an additional avenue to beneficiaries along with the existing Common Service Center, UTI-ITSL etc., for card creation. This will make the beneficiary identification process very convenient”.

Aadhar based

• It added that the existing beneficiary data available with various government welfare schemes can be meaningfully utilized only if a common identifier is available. “Aadhaar being a common identity across the majority of government databases will enable this integration.
• The beneficiary database enrichment under ABPM-JAY would mean adding additional parameters to the database for making searching easier. The majority of ABPM-JAY beneficiaries from SECC 2011 are also eligible for benefits under National Food Security Portal.

About National Health Authority (NHA)

• It is the apex body responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme called “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana” & has been entrusted with the role of designing strategy, building technological infrastructure and implementation of “Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission” to create a National Digital Health Eco-system.
• NHA is leading the implementation for Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission ABDM in coordination with different ministries/departments of the Government of India, State Governments, and private sector/civil society organizations.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 15^TH FEBRUARY 2022

Q Consider the following statements about Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-04):

1. It is a geo-stationary satellite.
2. It has applications in the fields of disaster management, resource survey and agriculture.

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 FEB 2022

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: It is the world’s largest nature conservation partnership. It consist of 120 BirdLife Partners worldwide.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The term ‘biodiversity hotspot’ was coined by Norman Myers (1988). The Conservation International in association with Myers made the first systematic update of the hotspots.
• Statement 3 is correct: It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’. It is the official Red List authority for birds, for the IUCN.

Note: According to Birdlife International, designation of IBAs is based on standardized criteria, namely (i) hold significant numbers of one or more globally threatened bird species, (ii) be one of a set of sites that together hold a suite of restricted-range species or biome-restricted species and (iii) have exceptionally large numbers of migratory or congregatory birds. The Bombay Natural History Society and Birdlife International have identified 467 IBAs in India. Forty percent of these IBAs fall outside the PA network.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL PRACTICE TEST?

THE CONTEXT: 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. While the girls have been protesting against being denied access to education, the counter-protests by a section of Hindu students wearing saffron shawls and turbans have led to a tense situation outside some campuses. The action of the college where the row broke out in Udupi is now being questioned in the Karnataka High Court. The court, by an interim order, has directed that students should not wear attire linked to any religion until it resolves the legal questions arising from the issue.

THE EXPLANATION:

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 whether educational institutions can bar religious attire as part of their power to prescribe uniforms for students is also linked to the constitutional question 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 violation of the students’ 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.

What is the constitutional position?

Bijoe 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) as well as their right to freely practise and profess their faith under Article 25(1).

The freedom of conscience and to profess, practise and propagate religion is guaranteed by Article 25. This freedom is subject to ‘public order, morality and health’. It also makes it clear that there can be a law regulating any economic, financial, political, or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice or to provide for social welfare and reform, including throwing open Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.

The test in this approach is to find out whether a student who asserts religious freedom for a course of action that the authorities find objectionable genuinely and conscientiously holds that belief or not. Such a belief is constitutionally protected.

As for the wearing of hijab, the students are relying on a Kerala High Court judgment that had in 2016 allowed two Muslim students to take the All India Pre-Medical Test while wearing a hijab, after holding that it was an essential part of Islam. In a different case, the Kerala High Court declined to intervene in favour of a Muslim student who was not allowed to wear a head-scarf by a school.

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

• The ‘essential practice’ doctrine can be traced to a 1954 decision of the Supreme Court in ‘Shirur Mutt’ case. This litigation involved action sought to be taken by the Madras government against a mutt over some disputes over the handling of financial affairs.
• 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 excommunication 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 seem to endorse the applying 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.

2. THE POLICE MODERNISATION SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: According to MHA, under the five-year plan, provision has been made for internal security, law and order, adoption of modern technology by police, assisting states for narcotics control and strengthening the criminal justice system by developing a robust forensic set-up in the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Government has approved the umbrella scheme of modernisation of police force for the next five years with a financial outlay of Rs 26,275 crore. More than Rs 18,000 crore of this money will go towards security related expenditure in Jammu and Kashmir, Left Wing Extremism areas and the Northeast.
• “The approval for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, moves forward the initiative of the Union Home Ministry to modernise and improve the functioning of Police Forces of States and Union Territories. This scheme comprises all relevant sub-schemes that contribute to modernization and improvement”.
• According to MHA, “the scheme for modernization of state police forces has a Central outlay of Rs 4,846 crore”.The approval includes central outlay of Rs 2,080 crore “to develop operationally independent and high-quality forensic sciences facilities in States/Union Territories for aiding scientific and timely investigation through modernization of resources”.
• Incidentally, in the 2022-23 Budget presented by Finance Minister, the central outlay for “Modernisation of Forensic Capacities” in the coming FY alone is Rs 8,976 crore.
• Also, the central outlay of Rs 18,839 crore has been earmarked for security related expenditure for the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, insurgency affected North Eastern States and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas
• “With the implementation of ‘National Policy and Action Plan’ for combating LWE, the LWE violence incidents have come down drastically. To further pursue this accomplishment, six LWE-related schemes with Central outlay of Rs.8,689 crore have been approved. These schemes include Special Central Assistance (SCA) to Most LWE Affected Districts & Districts of Concern to consolidate the gains.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. INDIA SIGNS MOU TO HAND OVER WHEAT TO WFP IN KANDAHAR

THE CONTEXT: India signed an agreement with the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat that it has committed to sending Afghanistan as part of a humanitarian assistance.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The MoU for WFP to take charge of the wheat convoys when they reach Afghanistan, and to distribute them to those Afghans who are facing a humanitarian crisis.
• The WFP runs its own logistics network inside Afghanistan, partnering with civil society groups, and has launched a global campaign for enough food and aid for the population facing malnutrition — estimated to be half the population or 22 million Afghans.
• The route via Pakistan, which has been closed for all exports from India since 2019, and opened only as an exception, is likely to require several weeks for the transport of the current consignment, as infrastructure and labour required to load and reload the wheat has to be organised.
• Pakistan had shut down all trade with India to protest the government’s changes in Jammu and Kashmir and Article 370 in August 2019. Subsequently, the Pakistan government had allowed Afghan exports to India to pass through the Wagah border, making an exception also for medicines from India during the pandemic. India has also flown several consignments of medicines and medical equipment to hospitals in Afghanistan on board flights.

ABOUT WORLD FOOD PROGRAM:

It is an United Nations Agency division for the provision of food aid to those unable to provide enough food to feed  themselves  and their family. Headquartered in Rome.

• The World Food Programme (WFP) is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience.
• As the international community has committed to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition by 2030, one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. Food and food-related assistance lie at the heart of the struggle to break the cycle of hunger and poverty.
• For its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, WFP was awarded theNobel Peace Prize in 2020.
• In 2020, WFP assisted 115.5 million people – the largest number since 2012 – in 84 countries.

4. THE MAITRI SCHOLARS PROGRAMME

THE CONTEXT: Australian Foreign Minister announces Maitri initiatives aimed at strengthening ties with India. Under the Maitri Scholars Programme, the Australian government will provide over 11 million dollars over four years to support Indian students to study at Australia’s world-leading universities.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The initiatives are appropriately called the ‘Maitri’, meaning friendship initiatives,” Australian Foreign Minister continued saying that under the Maitri Scholars Program, the Australian government will provide over USD 11 million over four years to support Indian students to study at Australia’s world-leading universities.
• “The Maitri Fellowships Program will provide USD 3.5 million over four years to build links between future leaders, will support mid-career Australian and Indian professionals to collaborate on strategic research initiatives
• Australia will also provide over USD 6 million over four years for the Maitri cultural partnerships to support cultural exchanges and boost the role of the creative industries in our two countries.
• Cultural Partnerships: Australia will also provide over USD 6 million over four years to support cultural exchanges and boost the role of the creative industries in both countries.Also, the relationship between the countries has connections in trade and investment as well.
• CECA: Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment visited India to attend negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).The CECA is an agreement that both parties are certain will open up new trade and investment opportunities, particularly in the context of the impact of COVID-19.

Background:

India and Australia have deep ties in fields related to education and higher studies. India and Australia bilateral trade stood at $12.3 billion in 2020-21 compared to $12.63 billion in 2019-20. India exports refined petroleum, medicaments, railway vehicles including hover-trains, pearls and gems, jewellery, made up textiles articles while importing coal, copper ores and concentrates, gold, vegetables, wool and other animal hair, fruits and nuts, lentils and education related services.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

5. THE WINTER BIRD MONITORING PROGRAM (2021-22)

THE CONTEXT: The Winter Bird Monitoring Programme for 2021-22 has recorded the presence of 203 bird species, including 53 non-resident species, in the districts of Mysuru, Mandya, and Chamarajanagar.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The teams have collected data from 147 locations spread across Mysuru-Mandya-Chamarajanagar belt between January and February 2022. In all, 20 teams comprising 63 birders took part in the bird enumeration and each team was given a different route to cover, monitor and enumerate the birds.
• The data indicates that the number of species found in the region this year is almost identical to what were recorded in the past. While 203 species were recorded this year, 204 species were recorded year 2021. The bird count too was healthy this year and the team recorded 34,361 birds of all species underlining the sheer diversity of birds that is supported in the region. This is against 32,304 birds counted in last year’s exercise.
• The data has also generated interesting insights and of the 203 species of birds the most abundant – total counts from all locations — was Cattle Egret (2,064) followed by Eurasian Coot (1,111), Bar-headed Goose (995), Barn Swallow (974), and Little Cormorant (900).
• The most abundant species in any single location was Northern Shoveler and 650 of these birds was found in Lingambudhi Lake in Mysuru. There were 530 Spot-billed Pelicans at Ranganathittu apart from 480 Asian Openbills and 410 Indian Cormorants, also at Ranganathittu. Hadinaru lake in Nanjangud taluk played host to 400 Bar-headed Goose, as per the data generated by the bird monitoring teams.

VALUE ADDITION:

Important Bird Areas (IBA)

• Important Bird Areas are sites of international importance for the conservation of birds and their habitats.
• IBAs are among the world’s key site for biodiversity conservation and the IBA concept developed by the BirdLife International Partnership facilities their identification nationally using data gathered locally following globally agreed and standardized criteria. IBAs are practical networks for conservation.
• They help decision makers locally, nationally and globally to identity priorities and bring together key stakeholders to conserve and manage sites sustainably.
• The Indian IBA declaration is the result of five years’ exhaustive work by the IBA team and a large number of people: many amateur and professional ornithologists, birdwatchers, conservationists, forest officials and people interested in birds. As a partner designate Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) successfully corroborated the data and to the possible extent sprading the message and conserving these IBA sites.

Among 465 conservation priority locations identified as Important Bird Areas (IBA) spread throughout India, 37 sites are located in Karnataka. Assam is leading with 46 IBAs and next is Karnataka. Mysore area hosts 12 IBAs. They are:

1. Adi-chunchanagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandya district
2. Karanji Lake, Mysore district
3. Kokkarebellur, Mandya district
4. Krishnarajasagar Reservoir, Mandya & Mysore district
5. Kukkarahalli Tank, Mysore district
6. Kunthur-Kalluru Lakes, Chamarajanagar district
7. Lingambudhi Lake, Mysore district
8. Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandya district
9. Narasambudhi Lake, Mysore district
10. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mandya district
11. Sule kere, Mandya district
12. Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary, Mysore district

THE COVID CORNOR

INDIA’S mRNA VACCINE TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT:The Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals is expected to roll out India’s first home-grown mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine by April 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

The COVID-19 pandemic awakened the world to the power of RNA therapies — two of the first vaccines that emerged in late 2020, Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna, used this technology. At Present, an Indian company is developing an mRNA vaccine from scratch, signalling possibilities of the use of the molecule in a variety of diseases beyond COVID-19.

What are mRNA vaccines and how do they work?

• Most vaccines contain a weakened or dead bacteria or virus. However, scientists have developed a new type of vaccine that uses a molecule called messenger RNA (or mRNA for short) rather than part of an actual bacteria or virus. Messenger RNA is a type of RNA that is necessary for protein production.
• In cells, mRNA uses the information in genes to create a blueprint for making proteins. Once cells finish making a protein, they quickly break down the mRNA. mRNA from vaccines does not enter the nucleus and does not alter DNA.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 14TH FEB 2022

Q.With reference to an organization known as ‘Birdlife International’ which of the following

statements is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2015)

1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known/referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a 1 only

b 2 and 3 only

c 1 and 3 only

d 1, 2 and 3

 ANSWER FOR 11^TH FEB 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• A koala or koala bear (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a well known native animal of Eastern Australia, as iconic as the kangaroo.
• They are usually found sleeping or browsing for leaves in trees, especially eucalypts. It is the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae and its closest living relatives are the wombats, which are members of the family Vombatidae. The koala is found in coastal areas of the mainland’s eastern and southern regions, inhabiting Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb). Fur colour ranges from silver grey to chocolate brown. Koalas from the northern populations are typically smaller and lighter in colour than their counterparts further south. These populations possibly are separate subspecies, but this is disputed.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. SC SAYS TOO EARLY TO INTERVENE IN KARNATAKA HIJAB CONTROVERSY

THE CONTEXT: The Supreme Court said it was “too early” for it to intervene in the Karnataka hijab row when the State High Court was hearing it.

• The court’s response came to a plea made by senior advocate Kapil Sibal to transfer the petitions from the High Court to the top court and to place it before a nine-judge Bench examining questions of law on religious freedom emanating from the Sabarimala review verdict.
• In February 2020, the Supreme Court had upheld the decision of the Sabarimala Review Bench to refer to a nine-judge Bench questions on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths.
• The court had framed various questions of law for the nine-judge Bench to decide. These include:
• What is the scope and ambit of religious freedom under Article 25 of the Constitution?
• What is the interplay between religious freedom and rights of religious denominations under Article 26 of the Constitution?
• Whether religious denominations are subject to fundamental rights?
• What is the definition of ‘morality’ used in Articles 25 and 26?
• What is the ambit and scope of judicial review of Article 25? What is the meaning of the phrase “sections of Hindus under Article 25 (2)(b)?
• Whether a person not be- longing to a religious group can question the practices, beliefs of that group in a PIL petition?

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS RELATED TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION

• Article 25 says that all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and propagate religion. The implications of these are:

1. Freedom of conscience: Inner freedom of an individual to mould his relation with God or Creatures in whatever way he desires.
2. Right to profess: Declaration of one’s religious beliefs and faith openly and freely.
3. Right to practice: Performance of religious worship, rituals, ceremonies and exhibition of beliefs and ideas.
4. Right to propagate: Transmission and dissemination of one’s religious beliefs to others or exposition of the tenets of one’s religion. But, it does not include a right to convert another person to one’s own religion. Forcible conversions impinge on the ‘freedom of conscience’ guaranteed to all the persons alike.

• Article 25 covers not only religious beliefs (doctrines) but also religious practices (rituals). Moreover, these rights are available to all persons—citizens as well as non-citizens.
• However, these rights are subject to public order, morality, health and other provisions relating to fundamental rights.
• Further, the State is permitted to:

1. regulate or restrict any economic, financial, political or other secular activity associated with religious practice; and
2. provide for social welfare and reform or throw open Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus.

• Article 25 also contains two explanations: one, wearing and carrying of kirpans is to be included in the profession of the Sikh religion; and two, the Hindus, in this context, include Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.
• According to Article 26, every religious denomination or any of its section shall have the following rights:

a) Right to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes.

b) Right to manage its own affairs in matters of religion.

c) Right to own and acquire movable and immovable property.

d) Right to administer such property in accordance with law.

• Article 25 guarantees rights of individuals, while Article 26 guarantees rights of religious denominations or their sections. In other words, Article 26 protects collective freedom of religion. Like the rights under Article 25, the rights under Article 26 are also subject to public order, morality and health but not subject to other provisions relating to the Fundamental Rights.
• Supreme Court held that the ‘Ramakrishna Mission’ and ‘Ananda Marga’ are religious denominations within the Hindu religion. It also held that Aurobindo Society is not a religious denomination.
• Article 27 lays down that no person shall be compelled to pay any taxes for the promotion or maintenance of any religion or religious denomination. In other words, the State should not spend the public money collected by way of tax for the promotion or maintenance of any religion. This provision prohibits the State from favouring, patronising, and supporting one religion over the other. This means that the taxes can be used for the promotion or maintenance of all religions.
• This provision prohibits only levy of a tax and not a fee. This is because the purpose of a fee is to control secular administration of religious institutions and not to promote or maintain religion.
• Under Article 28, no religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State funds. However, this provision shall not apply to an educational institution administered by the State but established under any endowment or trust, requiring imparting of religious instruction in such institution.
• Further, no person attending any educational institution recognised by the State or receiving aid out of State funds shall be required to attend any religious instruction or worship in that institution without his consent. In case of a minor, the consent of his guardian is needed.
• Article 28 distinguishes between four types of educational institutions:

a) Institutions wholly maintained by the State.

b) Institutions administered by the State but established under any endowment or trust.

c) Institutions recognised by the State.

d) Institutions receiving aid from the State.

• In (a) religious instruction is completely prohibited while in (b), religious instruction is permitted. In (c) and (d), religious instruction is permitted on a voluntary basis.

THE INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

2. PM TO ADDRESS HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT OF ONE OCEAN SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the high-level segment of the One Ocean Summit through a video message, his office said.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The high-level segment of the summit will also be addressed by several other heads of states and governments including Germany, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and Canada, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
• PM Modi will address the high-level segment of the One Ocean Summit at around 2:30 pm on Friday through a video message, it said.
• The summit is being organised by France from February 9-11 in Brest in cooperation with the United Nations and the World Bank.
• The objective of the summit is to mobilise the international community to take tangible action towards preserving and supporting healthy and sustainable ocean ecosystems.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

3. GOVT BANS IMPORT OF FOREIGN DRONES TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC MANUFACTURING

THE CONTEXT: As part of efforts to promote domestic manufacturing of drones in the country, the Government has banned import of foreign drones with certain exceptions. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade DGFT has issued a notification banning the import of foreign drones.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the commerce and industry ministry has issued a notification banning the import of foreign drones.
• The civil aviation ministry said that in order to promote Made in India drones, import of foreign drones has been prohibited with effect from February 9, 2022.
• Import of drones for Research and Development, defence and security purposes have been exempted from the ban but such imports will require due clearances. Import of drone components shall not require any approvals.
• Import of drones for R&D, defence and security purposes have been exempted from the ban but such imports will require due clearances.
• Import of drone components, however, shall not require any approvals.
• Import of drones by government entities, educational institutions recognised by central or state government, government recognised R&D entities and drone manufacturers for R&D purpose will be allowed in CBU, SKD or CKD form. This will be subject to import authorisation issued by DGFT in consultation with concerned line ministries.
• Import of drones for defence and security purposes will be allowed in CBU, SKD or CKD form subject to import authorisation issued by DGFT in consultation with concerned line ministries.
• After the rules, the ministry issued the drone airspace map and PLI scheme in September 2021, UTM policy framework in October 2021. Besides, drone certification scheme and single window DigitalSky Platform were put in place last month.
• The ministry came out with liberalised drone rules in August 2021.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. SOUTH AFRICA SEEKS TO INCREASE WATER THROUGH RECYCLING, REUSE

THE CONTEXT: South Africa, which witnessed a year-long drought in Cape Town, is using new, unique methods to increase its water supply: By recycling and reusing its wastewater. The country is using phycoremediation or the ‘use of algae to treat wastes or wastewaters’ towards this end in a number of its provinces.

THE EXPLANATION:

• One such instance is the Zaalklapspruit wetland system, some 75 kilometres from the Loskop Dam on the Olifants River in Mpumalanga province. Authorities were spurred into action after a large number of crocodiles, terrapins and fish died in the mid-2000s in the dam.
• The reason for the die-off was acid mine drainage, untreated sewage and industrial and agricultural pollution, which severely impacted the water quality. Mpumalanga is home to many of South Africa’s coal mines. The major sources of acid mine drainage spills in the area were not necessarily those mines currently in operation, but rather the abandoned ones that were mined from the 1930s. There are at least 3,000 abandoned mines in Mpumalanga.
• The work began in 2012 to ‘rehabilitate’ Zaalklapspruit. The water plants were reintroduced including algae. A channel through the middle of the wetland was removed, as were ridges and furrows that impacted water flow.
• More space has meant that the acidic water flows more slowly through the wetland, giving more time to the water plants and algae to filter out as much heavy metals as possible. Water flowing into the wetland has a pH of 2.7 and that being released is 7.1 pH.
• Tests show that the algae filter out around 74 per cent of phosphates, a nutrient that can cause harmful toxic blue-green algae bloom. The algal species were first isolated at the CSIR, has since been cultured in five 5,000 litre translucent water tanks on site.
• The low-cost passive system does not use chemicals nor electricity — crucial in a country such as South Africa suffering from electricity supply issues.
• If one could raise fish in such a system, or produce an alternative biomass source (in the form of dried-out algal-rich sludge) for bio-energy production — an attractive option given the depletion of fossil fuels and the need to manage climate-changing greenhouse gases. This aspect was piloted in a similar phycoremedial project at Brandwag, a 500-strong farming community in the Southern Cape.
• There, algae cultivated in three tanks have been added since 2016 to an existing pond micro-water treatment system that handles the wastewater Brandwag residents produce daily.
• COVID-19 has however temporarily halted plans to make compost and fertiliser from the dried-up sludge and to safely water the sports fields of a nearby school with water cleaned at the sewerage works.
• The algal-based system as an ideal, electricity-free, passive option to reduce eutrophic conditions and clean wastewater, as 65 per cent of wastewater treated on the continent is in any case done in maturation treatment pond facilities similar to that of Motetema and Brandwag.

Recent paper in 2021, the science journal Processes:

• The implementation of phycoremediation in maturation treatment pond systems in African countries could also effectively minimise greenhouse effects, since the algae mass culturing in maturation ponds is a carbon-absorbing process, which can be used by municipalities in the carbon trading market and to provide a subsidy to reward their contributions to environmental protection.

Spinach farming

• In another of South Africa’s provinces, the Eastern Cape, brewery effluent rather than domestic wastewater is successfully being farmed with at the Ibhayi Brewery of South African Breweries (SAB) in the harbour city of Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth).
• The 900 bunches of spinach, 70 bunches of kale (leaf cabbage) and 40 kilograms of baby spinach being sold from a 2,000 square metre irrigated mini-farm in the shadows of the brewery is testimony to the success of the first fully-green biological treatment system at a brewery in Africa.
• Row upon row of produce grows in plastic-lined raised beds, from which all unused irrigation water is again collected and recycled.
• No fertiliser is added, as the crops’ nutrient requirements are fully provided for by the phosphate-rich wastewater generated in the brewing process and cleaned through an activated sludge system.

5. AUSTRALIA DESIGNATES KOALAS AS ENDANGERED SPECIES

THE CONTEXT: Australia has designated the koala an endangered species amid unprecedented pressure on the marsupials’ eucalyptus tree habitats across the country’s eastern states.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Environment Minister said there would be increased protection for the animal, classed as vulnerable only 10 years ago, in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
• The impact of prolonged drought, followed by the black summer bushfires, and the cumulative impacts of disease, urbanisation and habitat loss over the past twenty years have led to the advice.
• Conservationists have long been calling for more support for the koala amid dramatic declines in populations across the country.
• WWF-Australia, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Humane Society International all proposed the listing to the government in April 2020 after research found population declines of about 50 percent in Queensland since 2001, and 62 percent in New South Wales.
• The Endangered status of the koala means they and forest homes should be provided with greater protection under Australia’s national environment law. Not only will this protect the iconic animal but many other species living alongside them. Consideration of future development plans would take into account the potential effect on the animal.
• This must be a wakeup call to Australia and the government to move much faster to protect critical habitat from development and land-clearing and seriously address the impacts of climate change.
• Thousands of koalas are thought to have been among the native animals killed in the fires that swept Australia’s eastern and southern states in late 2019 and early 2020.
• An inquiry last year in New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, warned the koala could become extinct by 2050.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 11TH FEB 2022

Q1. The koala bear, is seen recently in the news, is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to which of the following regions?

a) Africa

b) East Asia

c) South America

d) Australia

ANSWER FOR 10^TH FEB 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• The PMMVY scheme was announced by Prime Minister in a televised address to the nation on December 31, 2016.
• It provides a benefit of 5,000 in three installments to a woman for her first living child upon meeting certain conditions.

This is meant as partial compensation for loss of wage during her pregnancy so that she can get proper nutrition.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. GOVERNOR’S POWERS, FRICTION WITH STATES, AND WHY THIS HAPPENS OFTEN

THE CONTEXT: In recent years, the bitterness between states and Governors have been largely about the selection of the party to form a government, deadline for proving majority, sitting on Bills, and passing negative remarks on the state administration.

RECENT CASES:

1. In February, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blocked Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Twitter. She said she was “forced” to do so because of his “unethical and unconstitutional” statements and accused him of treating government officials like “his servants”. Dhankhar responded with a series of tweets on the “essence and spirit of democracy” and saying the CM’s move was “against constitutional norms”.
2. In the same month,, the Tamil Nadu government had taken exception to Governor R N Ravi’s Republic Day speech articulating the benefits of NEET, the medical entrance exam. Tamil Nadu has passed a Bill to exempt the state from NEET Ravi has sent it back to the state.

WHAT IS THE LAW ON GOVERNOR-STATE RELATIONS ?

• Although envisaged as an apolitical head who must act on the advice of the council of ministers, the Governor enjoys certain powers granted under the Constitution, such as giving or withholding assent to a Bill passed by the state legislature, or determining the time needed for a party to prove its majority, or which party must be called first do so, generally after a hung verdict in an election.
• There are, however, no provisions laid down for the manner in which the Governor and the state must engage publicly when there is a difference of opinion. The management of differences has traditionally been guided by respect for each other’s boundaries.

WHAT REFORMS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED ?

• From the Administrative Reforms Commission of 1968 to Sarkaria Commission of 1988 and the one mentioned above, several panels have recommended reforms, such as selection of the Governor through a panel comprising the PM, Home Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker and the CM, apart from fixing his tenure for five years.
• Recommendations have also been made for a provision to impeach the Governor by the Assembly No government has implemented any of these recommendations.

2. NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES ENROLLED FOR MATERNITY BENEFIT PLAN EXCEEDED TARGET BY GOVERNMENT

THE CONTEXT: The number of beneficiaries who enrolled for the maternity benefit programme, called Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), exceeded the Government’s target of 51.7 lakh per year in each of the last three years.

THE EXPLANATION:

‘The total number of beneficiaries enrolled during each of the last three financial years under the PMMVY is more than the indicative target,’ the Minister said in the Rajya Sabha. The reply did not provide the exact number of enrollments. The PMMVY scheme was estimated to cover 51.70 lakhs beneficiaries annually

3 Instalments –

1. The scheme was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a televised address to the nation on December 31, 2016. It provides a benefit of ₹5,000 in three instalments to a woman for her first living child upon meeting certain conditions. This is meant as partial compensation for loss of wage during her pregnancy so that she can get proper nutrition. The scheme is only for those women who are not employed by the Central or State governments or a Public Sector Undertaking and don’t receive similar benefits under any law. It is clubbed with the Janani Suraksha Yojana scheme which provides nearly ₹1,000 for institutional births so that altogether mothers get ₹6,000 in maternity benefit.
2. In response to a question on whether the Government had carried out an assessment to know the total number of beneficiaries of the scheme, the Minister said that as per the Sample Registration System Statistical Report (SRS) 2018, the percentage of first order births in India was 49.5 of the total live births.
3. According to the Health Ministry’s Health Management Information System, total live births in 2019-2020 were at 2.71 crores and, therefore, first order births were at 1.34 crore. The scheme has been criticised for under-funding and failing to cater to all targeted beneficiaries. Activists also call the scheme illegal as it violates the National Food Security Act, 2013 under which all mothers, and not just mothers of the first living child, should get a maternity benefit of ₹6,000.

No Commensurate Increase –

• The benefit would be extended for the birth of the second child when the second child is a girl; the Budget for financial year 2022-2023 has not seen a commensurate increase.
• The allocation for the scheme in 2019-2020 was ₹2,522 crore. In 2020-2021, the scheme was clubbed with several other programmes under the Samarthya scheme and altogether ₹2,500 crore was allocated. For financial year 2022-2023, the combined allocation for the Samarthya scheme is at ₹2,622 crore.
• According to an analysis by the Centre for Policy Research’s Accountability Initiative and IFPRI, the PMMVY scheme in 2019-2020 required a budget of ₹6,636 crores to cover all targeted beneficiaries.

 THE INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

3. EU JOINS CHIPS RACE WITH €43-BILLION BID TO RIVAL ASIA

THE CONTEXT: The EU unveiled a plan to quadruple the supply of semiconductors in Europe by 2030, hoping to limit the bloc’s dependence on Asia for a key component used in electric cars and smart phones.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The production of chips has become a strategic priority in Europe as well as the United States, after the shock of the pandemic choked off supply, bringing factories to a standstill and emptying stores of products.
• The manufacturing of semiconductors overwhelmingly takes place in Taiwan, China and South Korea and the European Union wants factories and companies inside the bloc to take on a bigger role.

Chips Act –

• The highly anticipated EU Chips Act will ‘mobilise more than €43 billion ($49.1 billion) of public and private investments’ and ‘enable the EU to reach its ambition to double its current market share to 20% in 2030’, the European Commission said.
• If it is approved, the EU plans could generate a total of €43 billion via existing EU budget money as well as by loosening existing rules on public subsidy from member states.

Approval of members –

• The proposal will need the approval of the EU member states and European Parliament, where opinions will vary between the ambitions of industrial heavyweights such as Germany, France and Italy and those of smaller states that are worried about closing off valuable supply chains with Asia.
• Some member states, led by the Netherlands and Nordic nations, will also resist any plan to widen the scope for state aid, with the commission planning to make it easier for EU governments to pump money to chip-makers.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

4. RBI MONETARY POLICY: REPO RATE UNCHANGED AT 4% FOR TENTH CONSECUTIVE TIME

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) kept the repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent for the tenth consecutive time while maintaining an ‘accommodative stance’ as long as necessary.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The central bank governor said that the MPC had voted unanimously 5:1 to maintain the accommodative stance and added that the reverse repo rate too was kept unchanged at 3.35 per cent.
• The Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)rate and bank rate also remained unchanged at 4.25 percent.
• The central bank had last revised its policy repo rate or the short-term lending rate on May 22, 2020, in an off-policy cycle to perk up demand by cutting the interest rate to a historic low.
• During the speech on the RBI’s key decisions, Das said that India is charting a different course of recovery from rest of the world and the country is poised to grow at fastest pace year-on-year among major economies as per projections by IMF. This recovery is supported by large scale vaccination and sustained fiscal and monetary support.
• Speaking on the GDP, Das said that the real GDP growth is projected at 7.8 per cent for the next financial year 2022-23 (FY23). The RBI governor said that real GDP growth of 9.2 per cent in the current fiscal (FY22) will take the economy above the pre-pandemic level.
• The bi-monthly policy comes against the backdrop of the Budget wherein a nominal GDP of 11.1 per cent has been estimated for FY23. The bi-monthly policy comes against the backdrop of the Budget wherein a nominal gross GDP of 11.1 per cent has been estimated for 2022-23.
• Speaking about inflation, the RBI governor said that the CPI inflation projection for the current financial year 2021-22 (FY22) is retained at 5.3 per cent while the retail inflation for the next fiscal (FY23) is projected at 4.5 per cent. The RBI forecasts Q1 FY23 CPI at 4.9 per cent, Q2 at 5 per cent, Q3 at 4 per cent and Q4 at 4.2 per cent. He said that the CPI is in-line with expectations and the food prices easing will add to the optimism, however, hardening crude oil prices is a key upside risk.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. SCIENTISTS SET NEW RECORD IN CREATING ENERGY FROM NUCLEAR FUSION

THE CONTEXT: A team at the Joint European Torus facility near Oxford generated 59 mega joules of sustained energy. Scientists in the United Kingdom said they have achieved a new milestone in producing nuclear fusion energy, or imitating the way energy is produced in the Sun. Energy by nuclear fusion is one of mankind’s long standing quests as it promises to be low carbon, safer than how nuclear energy is now produced and, with an efficiency that can technically exceed a 100%.

THE EXPLANATION:

• A team at the Joint European Torus (JET) facility near Oxford in central England generated 59 mega joules of sustained energy during an experiment in December, more than doubling a 1997 record, the UK Atomic Energy Authority said in a statement on Monday. A kg of fusion fuel contains about 10 million times as much energy as a kg of coal, oil or gas.
• The energy was produced in a machine called a tokamak, a doughnut-shaped apparatus, and the JET site is the largest operational one of its kind in the world. Deuterium and tritium, which are isotopes of hydrogen, are heated to temperatures 10 times hotter than the centre of the sun to create plasma. This is held in place using superconductor electromagnets as it spins around, fuses and releases tremendous energy as heat.
• The record and scientific data from these crucial experiments are a major boost for ITER, the larger and more advanced version of the JET. ITER is a fusion research mega-project supported by seven members – China, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA – based in the south of France, to further demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy.
• Ian Chapman, CEO, UK Atomic Energy Authority, said in a statement: ‘These landmark results have taken us a huge step closer to conquering one of the biggest scientific and engineering challenges of them all. It is reward for over 20 years of research and experiments with our partners from across Europe… It’s clear we must make significant changes to address the effects of climate change, and fusion offers so much potential. We’re building the knowledge and developing the new technology required to deliver a low carbon, sustainable source of base load energy that helps protect the planet for future generations. Our world needs fusion energy.’
• Last August, scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the U.S. reported generating 1.3 mega joules in 100 trillionths of a second from fusion in an alternative approach to a tokomak by focussing 192 giant lasers onto a pea-size pellet of hydrogen.

6. ISRO TO LAUNCH NEW SATELLITE ON FEB. 14 – EARTH OBSERVATION SATELLITE

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set for its first launch of 2022 in February.

THE EXPLANATION:

• ISRO plans to place, into orbit, an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-04) on board PSLV C-52 on February 14.
• According to ISRO, the PSLV C-52 is scheduled to launch at 5.59 a.m. from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
• ISRO plans to place the 1,170 kg EOS-04 in a sun synchronous polar orbit of 529 km.
• EOS-04 is a radar-imaging satellite, designed to provide high-quality images under all weather conditions for applications such as agriculture, forestry & plantations, soil moisture and hydrology, and flood mapping.
• The mission will also carry two small satellites as co-passengers — a student satellite, INSPIREsat-1, from the Indian Institute of Space Science & Technology (IIST) in association with the Laboratory of Atmospheric & Space Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder and a technology demonstrator satellite, INS-2TD from ISRO.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 10TH FEB 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana:

1. It provides a benefit of ₹5,000 in three installments to a woman for her first living child upon meeting certain conditions.
2. It is meant as partial compensation for loss of wage during pregnancy so that she can get proper nutrition.
3. It is only for those women who are not employed by the Central or State governments or a Public Sector Undertaking.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

 ANSWER FOR 9^TH FEB 2022

Answer: D

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: There is no time frame fixed in the Constitution for Governor to act on State bills.

Statement 1 is incorrect: When the governor reserves a bill for the consideration of the President, he will not have any further role in the enactment of the bill. If the bill is returned by the President for the reconsideration of the House or Houses and is passed again, the bill must be presented again for the presidential assent only. If the President gives his assent to the bill, it becomes an act. This means that the assent of the Governor is no longer required.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. THE GOVERNOR’S ROLE IN APPROVING A BILL

THE CONTEXT: The Tamil Nadu Assembly has once again adopted a Bill that was earlier returned by Governor R.N. Ravi. The Bill seeks to grant exemption from the mandatory National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) for seats allotted by the Government in undergraduate medical and dental courses in Tamil Nadu. Before it, the Governor returned the Bill, contending that it was against the interests of rural and poor students.

What comes next?

There is no doubt that the Governor will now have to grant his assent to the Bill. Under Article 200 of the Constitution, which deals with grant of assent to Bills passed by the Assembly, the first proviso enables the Governor to return a Bill, that is not a Money Bill, with a message requesting the House, or Houses, if there is an upper chamber, to reconsider the Bill, or any provisions, and also consider introducing amendments he may recommend. The House will have to reconsider as suggested. If the Bill is passed again, with or without changes, and presented for assent, “the Governor shall not withhold assent therefrom”.

In the present case, the Bill will have to be sent to the President for his assent, as it is enacted under an entry in the Concurrent List on a subject that is covered by a central law. NEET is mandatory under Section 10D of the Indian Medical Council of India Act, an amendment introduced in 2016. Therefore, the State law can be in force only if the President grants his assent. This will cure the ‘repugnancy’ between the central and State laws.

What is the Governor’s function in passing a Bill?

• Under Article 200, the Governor maya.

a) Grant assent

b) Withhold assent

c) Return for reconsideration by the Legislature or

d) Reserve for the consideration of the President any Bill passed by the State legislature and presented to him for assent.

• There is no time frame fixed in the Constitution for any of these functions.
• The Constitution makes it mandatory that the Governor should reserve for the President’s consideration if, in his opinion (a phrase that means he exercises his own discretion in this), a Bill that “so derogates from the powers of the High Court as to endanger the position which that Court is by this Constitution designed to fill”.
• In other words, any Bill that seems to clip the wings of the High Court or undermine its functioning will not become law without the President’s assent.

What happens when the President considers the Bill?

• Article 201 says when a Bill is reserved by a Governor for his consideration, “the President shall declare either that he assents to the Bill, or that he withholds assent therefrom”.
• He may also direct the Governor to return the Bill, if it is not a Money Bill, to the Legislature along with a message.
• The House or Houses will have to reconsider the Bill within a period of six months from receiving it. It may pass the Bill again with or without any change. The Bill shall again be presented to the President for his consideration. The article ends with that.
• This means that the Bill will become law if the assent is given, but nothing can be done if the Bill is denied assent by the President or if he makes no decision.

THE INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

2. INDIA TO HELP SRI LANKA LAUNCH ITS VERSION OF AADHAAR

THE CONTEXT: India has agreed to provide a grant to Sri Lanka to implement a ‘Unitary Digital Identity framework’, apparently modelled on the Aadhaar card. The Rajapaksa government will “prioritise” the implementation of the Framework as a national level programme.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Under the proposed Unitary Digital Identity Framework, it is expected to introduce a personal identity verification device based on biometric data, a digital tool that can represent the identities of individuals in cyberspace, and the identification of individual identities that can be accurately verified in digital and physical environments by combining the two devices.
• The initiative follows bilateral talks between President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2019.
• It comes amid substantive economic assistance from India totalling $ 1.4 billion since the beginning of this year to Sri Lanka, to help the island nation cope with its dollar crunch, and import food, medicines and fuel amid frequent shortages.
• This is not the first time that Sri Lanka is attempting to digitise its citizens’ identities. Just a few years ago, the predecessor Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, in power from 2015 to 2019, mooted a similar Electronic-National Identity Card or E-NIC that privacy advocates opposed on grounds that the state would have full access to citizens’ personal data in a central database.
• The former Mahinda Rajapaksa government tried initiating the project as early as 2011. Neither project was implemented.

THE ECONOMY

3. PRADHAN MANTRI ANNADATA AAY SANRAKSHAN ABHIYAN (PM AASHA)

THE CONTEXT: It is a scheme announced in 2018, that aims at ensuring fair price for farmers and their produce.

Its three components are as follows:

1. Price Support Scheme (PSS): Through the Price Support Scheme procurement of pulses, oilseeds will be carried out by the Central Nodal Agencies with support from state governments. The PSS will be set up by the Food Corporation of India along with NAFED and any expenses incurred will be borne by the Central Government.
2. Price Deficiency payment Scheme (PDPS): In this scheme, all oilseed notified for SP will be covered. Direct payment of difference between Minimum Support Price (MSP) and selling price will be made to registered farmers. All payments will be made to the registered bank account of the farmer. No procurement will take place but rather the difference between MSP and selling price will be paid to farmers.
3. Pilot of Private Procurement &Stockist Scheme (PPPS): As per the Pilot of Private Procurement &Stockist Scheme (PPPS) the private sector will take part in the procurement operations. The states will have an option to carry out the scheme on pilot basis in selected APMCs with involvement from the private sector.

4. STEP UP AGRI-SPENDING, BOOST FARM INCOMES

THE CONTEXT: The growth in agriculture sector has the highest positive impact on poverty reduction. Any Budget is best evaluated by examining the continuity in policies and programmes highlighted in the previous Budget(s), linkage(s) among related ministries and departments and the harmony with the overall needs of the society. The Budget apropos agriculture and farmers’ welfare can be said to pass the muster from this perspective.

THE EXPLANATION:

India’s agriculture is needed to meet nutritional security, generate jobs, create wealth for the farmers and ensure ecological sustainability. Diversification of production, integration of farm gates with markets for monetisation and expansion of the sector into bio economy-centric secondary agriculture contain the kernel of solution. The Budget attempts to address these issues, when the statements and allocations of different ministries/departments related to the agriculture sector are evaluated, and not just of the Ministry of Agriculture.

 Deficit crop segments

• Rightly is the attention paid to deficit crop segments — oil seeds and millets. India has been importing annually 70,000 crore worth edible oils. If domestic oilseeds and others sources like palm are encouraged, it is the Indian farmers who will gain. Millets are a rich source of the much-needed nutrients.
• These two segments along with pulses are also climate-resilient, thus offering a win: win solution to India’s efforts in climate action. The millets will now be provided for post-harvest value addition, enhancing domestic consumption and branding their products for integration with supply chains. Promoting these deficit-crops is integral to the practice of smart agriculture.
• Stepping of the Budget into smart agriculture is further galvanised by supplementing production technology with digital technology. The ensemble of digital technology including that of ‘Kisan Drones’ will take care of the plurality of issues all along the value chain. These encompass production planning, resource use efficiency and risks that arise from monsoons and markets, apart from the desired digitisation of land records and delivery of digital and high-tech services.
• The increasing volumes of marketable surpluses will get better monetised with the continuing support to mobilisation of farmers and aggregation of farm-produce through FPOs. The budgetary allocation gets strengthened with blended capital to be raised under the co-investment model facilitated through NABARD. The spin-off effect of financing the agricultural and rural entrepreneurial start-ups linked to farm produce value chains will extend the footprints of agriculture into secondary agriculture.
• This finds adequate support in the higher allocations for the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (a jump of more than 125 per cent); and various initiatives committed in favour of the MSME sector, including the Credit Guarantee Trust Fund for Micro & Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), that expands the credit size to ₹200,000 crore. The resulting growth of secondary agriculture and bio economy will generate supplementary jobs and incomes besides stimulating an eco-friendlier developmental approach.
• Making a strong bid for energy transition and climate action, specific references are made to solar power, circular economy, carbon neutral economy, and promotion of agro forestry and private forestry. If the targeted 5-7 per cent biomass pellets come to be co-fired in thermal power plants, along with savings of carbon di-oxide, there will be opportunities for extra income to the farmers and jobs for the locals.
• The government’s focus is on higher capital investment through convergence of budgetary and non-budgetary financial sources by way of sinking up the policies and programmes of various ministries. The Railways, for example, intends to develop infrastructure for small farmer produce. It is such cohesive inter-ministerial approach that will enhance capital use efficiency, which has a great bearing on agricultural growth rate. The vision of the government for transitioning agriculture as an employment creating, income generating and sustainable entrepreneurial system even as it meets the food and nutrition security is well borne out by the Budget.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

5. 50 CHEETAHS TO BE INTRODUCED IN INDIA IN NEXT 5 YEARS

THE CONTEXT: Cheetah was expected to be reintroduced into our country in November 2021 in Madhya Pradesh, but the plan got derailed due to the pandemic. After becoming extinct in 1952, cheetah is all set to return to India as the Central Government has launched an action plan under which 50 of these big cats will be introduced in the next five years.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Union Environment Minister launched the action plan at the 19th meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The plan to reintroduce cheetah had gone in limbo due to COVID-19, an NTCA official had earlier said.
• As per the action plan, a cohort of around 10-12 young cheetahs that are ideal for reintroduction shall be imported from Namibia or South Africa as a founder stock during the first year.
• An existing coalition of wild males shall be selected while the selected females shall also be known to each other as far as possible.
• The animals’ lineage and condition shall be checked in the host country to ensure that they are not from an excessively inbred stock and are in the ideal age group, so as to conform to the needs of a founding population, said the over 300-page action plan.
• Among the 10 surveyed sites in five central Indian States, Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh was rated high on the priority list for introduction of cheetah because of its suitable habitat and adequate prey base. As per the plan, the Central Government, along with ministry of environment and the Cheetah Task Force, will create a formal framework to collaborate with governments of Namibia and/or South Africa, through the Ministry of External Affairs.
• The Union Minister released a Water Atlas, mapping all the water bodies in the tiger-bearing areas of India.
• The atlas contains information about presence of such bodies in several areas, including the Shivalik Hills and Gangetic plain landscape, Central Indian Landscape and Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats landscape, North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra flood plains and Sundarbans. The atlas has been put together using remote-sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping. It will provide baseline information to forest managers to shape their future conservation strategies.
• Union Environment Minister said that tiger continues to be an endangered species. He said it is imperative that we have a reliable estimate of tiger number at Tiger Reserve & Landscape Level for their effective management. The 5th cycle of All India Tiger Estimation which is currently underway will help in taking correct policy decisions.

India has 51 Tiger Reserves in the country and efforts are being made to bring more areas under the Tiger Reserve network. The minister said that the tiger reserves were not just for tigers because more than 35 rivers originate from these areas which are crucial for water security. The continuous efforts are being made for involvement of local communities for protection of tiger reserves and eco-tourism there.

Fourteen tiger reserves have been accredited under CA|TS, and NTCA is working on getting other reserves evaluated for CA|TS accreditation. The minister said that six committees will be formed which can visit the reserves and help formulate better policy.

Regarding poaching, the minister said the air gun problem in north eastern states is an issue and that states and union territories have been advised by the ministry for holding awareness program so that people can surrender their air guns.

6. INDIA’S NEWEST MAMMAL: WHITE CHEEKED MACAQUE

THE CONTEXT: The White Cheeked Macaque has distinct white cheeks, long and thick hair on the neck and a longer tail than other Macaque species. It is the last mammal to have been discovered in Southeast Asia. Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have found a new mammal species in the country — the White Cheeked Macaque.

THE EXPLANATION:

• While the Macaque was first discovered in China in 2015, its existence was not known in India before this — it is only now that Indian scientists have discovered its presence in the remote Anjaw district in central Arunachal Pradesh. That is barely 200 km aerial distance from where it was first spotted in China — in Modog in South-eastern Tibet.
• The discovery has been published in the February 3 issue of international journal ‘Animal Gene’. The discovery was entirely accidental. The ZSI scientist and Dr Mukesh Thakur said that they were not looking for the White Cheeked Macaque; they had received a grant of Rs 10 crore for a project to study Himalayan species — this involved exploring biodiversity of the Himalayas and studying large threatened species in the region,” ZSI scientist and Dr. Mukesh Thakur, also the lead author of the study carried out under recently retired director of ZSI, Dr. Kailash Chandra.
• ZSI scientist said that they were tracking the Red Panda and the Arunachal macaque in the eastern Himalayas after that they started studyingon Arunachal macaque. They collected faecal and skin samples of the macaque and when they carried out DNA sequencing at ZSI lab, expecting it to be the Arunachal macaque, they realised it was actually the White Cheeked Macaque.
• Taken aback by the results, ZSI scientist Dr. Thakur said the team carried out DNA sequencing a second time around. Only to reconfirm that the ZSI had indeed stumbled upon the White Cheeked Macaque in India.
• Since then, ZSI has carried out several confirmations — through more testing and camera trapping of the animal. They even discovered a juvenile White Cheeked Macaque, which had been captured and held in the house of a local villager — the tribal people inhabiting Anjaw are traditional hunters.
• ZSI scientist Dr. Thakur called the discovery in both China and India as ‘breakthrough discoveries’.

Features of White Cheeked Macaque –

• The White Cheeked Macaque has distinct white cheeks, long and thick hair on the neck and a longer tail than other Macaque species. It is the last mammal to have been discovered in Southeast Asia.
• Both the Arunachal macaques as well as the White Cheeked Macaque exist in the same biodiversity hotspot in the eastern Himalayas.
• The further exploration will lead to more populations of the White Cheeked Macaque in eastern Arunachal, which is closer to where the Chinese White Cheeked Macaque was found, and that there is a high likelihood of the animal being present in Bhutan as well.
• The discovery will also lay the foundation of the species not only being included in the wildlife list but also being covered by the Wildlife Protection Act of India.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 9TH FEB 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about Governor’s power related to State bills:

1. When a bill is sent to the governor after it is passed by state legislature, Governor has to either give assent or send it for reconsideration of the House withing six months.
2. If the bill is returned by the President for the reconsideration of the House or Houses and is passed again, the assent to the bill can be withheld by Governor.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor

ANSWER FOR 8^TH FEB 2022

Answer: b)

Explanation:

• The first separate Agriculture Budget to be presented in the Rajasthan Assembly session starting on February 9, with the emphasis on welfare measures for farmers and innovations for the benefit of cultivators.
• Budget will especially promote drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in view of scarcity of water in the State.

Answer: b)

Explanation:

• It is located in the state of Telangana and also known as the Rudreshwara (Lord Siva) temple.
• It was inscribed recently as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
• Outside the temple, there is an inscription in Telugu that describes Racherla Senapati Rudrayya, a general of the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal, who commissioned the lake and the temple, which took 40 years for completion in the 13th century.
• The Kakatiyas, after breaking free from Chalukyan overlordship, ruled much of central India, up to the eastern seaboard, between the 12th and 14th centuries.

Architecture:

• In contrast to the softer sandstone used for in the temples of Khajuraho, or the carvings of chlorite, laterite and khonda- rite in the Sun Temple in Konark, Ramappa’s sculptures are carved of black basalt, one of the hardest stones to work with.
• The temple is neither named after the presiding deity, Rudreshwara, nor the general who commissioned the project, but after the sculptor who built it.
• The temple rests on a foundation that uses sandbox technology, with red sandstone and black basalt used to construct the main temple, and light bricks used for the gopuram or cupola.

Dance guru Nataraja Ramakrishna used the dance poses carved in this temple to revive Perini Sivatandavam, a Kakatiya-era warrior dance form performed by men.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. RPF LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE OPERATION TO CURB HUMAN TRAFFIC

THE CONTEXT: Railway Protection Force has launched a nationwide operation to curb human trafficking. As a part of “Operation AAHT”, special teams will be deployed on all long-distance trains/routes with focus on rescuing victims, particularly women and children, from the clutches of traffickers. The Railways, which operate about 21,000 trains across the country daily, is the most reliable mode of transportation for the traffickers who often moved their victims on long-distance trains.

THE EXPLANATION:

The RPF that rescued more than 2,000 women and children between 2017 to 21 from the clutches of traffickers intensified the crackdown on human trafficking with the increasing number of cases. The National Crime Records Bureau registers about 2,200 cases of Human Trafficking cases on an average each year.

Human Trafficking, especially of women and children, for sexual exploitation, forced marriage, domestic servitude, organ transplant; drug peddling etc is an organised crime and the most abominable violation of human rights. Thousands of Indians and persons from neighboring countries were trafficked every day to some destinations where they were forced to live like slaves.

The Indian Railways which transported over 23 million passengers each day (pre-pandemic), is the largest, fastest and most reliable carrier for suspects who trafficked scores of women and children. The RPF personnel had a pan-India presence and were deployed in escorting trains to provide security to railway assets and passengers.

Analysis of the operation –

As part of “Operation AAHT”, the infrastructure and intelligence network of the force could be utilised to collect, collate and analyse clues on victims, source, route, destination, popular trains used by suspects, identity of carriers/agents, kingpins etc and shared with other law-enforcing agencies. The RPF could act as a bridge cutting across States to assist the local police in the mission to curb the menace.

Explaining the need to strengthen the intelligence machinery and the action plan to identify, investigate, rescue and rehabilitate victims of the offence, the cyber cells would start patrolling the web/social media to look for digital footprints of Human Trafficking and added that the focus should be more on trains originating from districts bordering Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

2. J&K BECOMES FIRST UT TO BE INTEGRATED WITH NATIONAL SINGLE-WINDOW SYSTEM

THE CONTEXT: Lt Governor Manoj Sinha launched the single-window portal for Jammu and Kashmir, making it the first Union territory to be integrated with the national single-window system.While 130 industrial services have been made online on the single-window system, over 160 more services will be integrated this year.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Terming the system a “historic move” to facilitate investment. Now global investors can apply for all their business approvals in Jammu and Kashmir through the national single-window system.
• Government is linking the Union territory into a web of partnerships with domestic and foreign companies and ensuring global best practices in our regulatory institutions and systems.
• Since the launch of the new industrial development scheme, policies have evolved to make the Union territory more competitive and lucrative for industries and service enterprises.
• In January last year, the UT administration announced a new industrial developmental scheme (IDS) with a total outlay of Rs 28,400 crore to encourage new investment and to take industrial development to the block level.
• The administration was strengthening the Union territory’s power and road infrastructure, improving connectivity and the law and order situation.
• The integrated single-window system will facilitate new investments locally and globally, e through the national single-window system or through J&K single-window system with user-friendly interfaces and timely approvals.

THE ECONOMY

3. VANDE BHARAT TRAIN

THE CONTEXT: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has in the Union Budget for 2022-2023 proposed the development and manufacture of 400 new Vande Bharat trains in the next three years. In her speech, Ms. Sitharaman said these would be “new generation” trains with better energy efficiency and passenger riding experience.

WHAT IS VANDE BHARAT TRAIN?

• The Vande Bharat train is an indigenously designed and manufactured semi high speed, self-propelled train that is touted as the next major leap for the Indian Railways in terms of speed and passenger convenience since the introduction of Rajdhani trains.
• These trains, dubbed as Train 18 during the development phase.
• The Vande Bharat coaches incorporate passenger amenities.
• The first Vande Bharat was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, in about 18 months as part of the ‘Make in India’ programme.
• It can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph due to faster acceleration and deceleration.
• It has an intelligent braking system with power regeneration for better energy efficiency thereby making it cost, energy and environment efficient.
• The Vande Bharat was India’s first attempt at adaptation of the train set technology compared with conventional systems of passenger coaches hauled by separate locomotives.

HOW MANY VANDE BHARAT TRAINS DO THE RAILWAYS CURRENTLY OPERATE?

• Currently, two Vande Bharat Expresses are operational —one between New Delhi and Varanasi and the other from New Delhi to Katra.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE PROGRAMME?

• On the 400 new trains, Railway minister said the announcement had given the Railways a target of coming out with an even better version.
• The design updates in the upcoming trains would focus on safety and comfort of the passengers, including reduced noise and vibration levels.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

4. BETTER HABITAT MANAGEMENT FOR TIGERS, FLOURISH IN SARISKA

THE CONTEXT: The measurement for habitat management for tigers launched about six months ago at the famous Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan’s Alwar district has started bearing fruit. The tiger population in the wildlife sanctuary has gone up to 25, while the resources are being provided to create water supply and develop grasslands for ungulates as a prey base.

THE EXPLANATION:

New route for tourist –

The forest administration has already opened a new route in the tiger reserve’s buffer zone, adjacent to Alwar town, for tourists to facilitate better sightings of the big cats. The new Bara-Liwari route, located in the region where a tigress gave birth to two cubs recently, will reduce pressure on the core area and increase livelihood opportunities for the rural population.

A foundation established by a private bank has started delivering goods and resources which the Forest Department could not arrange because of a variety of handicaps. As part of its corporate social responsibility expenditure, the foundation is funding development of grasslands, earthen bunds and water holes for wild animals at 10 different locations and making livelihood intervention for the villagers being relocated from the sanctuary.

The tiger reserve, spread across 1,216 sq. km area, witnessed the first-of-its-kind tiger relocation from the Ranthambore National Park by helicopter in 2008 after the felines became extinct in the sanctuary. Since then, the animal has taken some time in multiplying at its own ease, unlike the Panna tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, where a similar aerial translocation was carried out in 2009.

Facility for guards –

The foundation has already distributed 23 motorcycles with helmets to the forest guards in Sariska for monitoring the tiger movement with the pledge that one new motorcycle per new tiger will be given in the future.

 The grassland habitats developed in dry patches of land have helped ungulates to feed better and breed in the areas such as Naya Pani, Dabli and Bhagani, leading to an enhanced feed for tigers.

The forest administration, assisted by the foundation, has created new water sources at 10 diverse habitats within the forest, where solar pump-based tubewells were being sunk. This will facilitate the supply of water to far-off areas, even in the elevated zones without any diesel pump noise as faced in the past.

Amid the efforts being made for relocation of villages, about 1,000 families are still staying in the forest area, with some of them residing within the core area of 881 sq. km, such as in Madhopur, Indala, Kundalka and Haripura. According to the forest officials, the rehabilitated villagers’ needs, including thekhatedarirights on the land allotted to them, have been met on priority to act as a catalyst for the remaining villages to be shifted out of the reserve areas.

5. WHAT ARE RAMSAR SITES, AND WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS LISTING?

THE CONTEXT: On the eve of the World Wetlands Day, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands designated Khijadia Bird Sanctuary near Jamnagar in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh as wetlands of international importance.

WHAT IS RAMSAR CONVENTION?

The Ramsar Convention, which came into existence in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

With the addition of these two wetlands, the number of Ramsar Sites in India has gone up to 49, the highest for any country in South Asia.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF WETLANDS?

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands defines wetlands as “areas of marsh, fen, peat land or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters.”

As per US Fish and Wildlife services-

• at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes
• the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil
• the substrate is non-soil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season of each year.

However, the Indian government’s definition of wetland excludes river channels, paddy fields and other areas where commercial activity takes place.

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change define wetlands as “area of marsh, fen, peatland or water; whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters, but does not include river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/ tanks specifically constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes.”

WETLANDS IN INDIA

• Globally, wetlands cover 6.4 per cent of the geographical area of the world.
• In India, according to the National Wetland Inventory and Assessment compiled by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), wetlands are spread over 1,52,600 square kilometres (sq km) which is 4.63 per cent of the total geographical area of the country.

Ramsar Sites in India

• India’s tally of 49 designated wetlands spread over 10,936 sq km in 18 states and two Union Territories is the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia.
• Of the 49 sites, 10 are in UP, 6 in Punjab, 4 each in Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir, 3 each in Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, 2 each in Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Rajasthan and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Ladakh, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RAMSAR LISTING

Not every Ramsar Site is a notified protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, hence systematic protection and conservation regimes might not be in place there. But a Ramsar tag makes it incumbent upon authority to strengthen the protection regime there and also creates defences against encroachment etc on wetlands.

6. E-FASTING CAN MINIMISE E-WASTE

THE CONTEXT: Electronic (e-waste) is emerging as a serious public health and environmental issue globally in this century.

STATUS OF E-WASTE AROUND THE WORLD

• The United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste, generating about three million tonnes each year.
• China already produces about 2.3 million tonnes (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States.
• India is the ‘fifth-largest electronic waste producer in the world’. Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of e-waste is generated annually in India according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Annually, computer devices account for nearly 70 per cent of e-waste; 12 per cent comes from the telecom sector, eight per cent from medical equipment and seven per cent from electric equipment.
• The government, public sector companies and private sector companies, generate nearly 75 per cent of electronic waste, with the contribution of individual households being only 16 per cent. Unorganised processing and recycling of e-waste is also not safe from the environmental point of view.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PROCESSING DIFFERENT ELECTRONIC WASTE COMPONENTS

HOW E-WASTE IS HARMFUL AND HAZARDOUS ?

• E-waste is already a major catastrophe due to its harmful and hazardous effects. It will continue to create more problems if not handled or processed properly.
• Children and adults, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of e-waste, often work, live and play in or near e-waste recycling centres. E-waste can pose several health hazards which include damage of kidney, immune system, reproductive system and central nervous system.
• Electronics waste contains hazardous but also simultaneously valuable and scarce materials which can be extracted. Up to 60 elements are generally found in complex electronics. In the United States, an estimated 70 per cent of heavy metals in landfills come from discarded electronics.

HOW CAN E-FASTING MINIMISE E-WASTE ?

• A digital fasting or e-fasting is usually referred to as reducing technology use such as turning off notifications, turning our phone off while working and setting limits for time we spend on technology daily can not only be helpful for us but also minimise e-waste.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY 8TH FEB 2022

Q. Which of the following is the first state in India to present a separate agriculture budget?

1. Telangana
2. Rajasthan
3. West Bengal
4. Tamil Nadu

Q2. Ramappa temple, which received world heritage tag recently, is located in which of the following states of India?

a. Andhra Pradesh

b. Telangana

c. Karnataka

d. Tamil Nadu

ANSWER FOR 7^TH FEB 2022

Answer:  C

Explanation:

1. Satkosia Tiger reserve – Odisha
2. Valmiki Tiger reserve – Bihar
3. Mukundara Hills Tiger reserve – Rajasthan

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. THE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND ATTIRE

THE CONTEXT: The controversy surrounding the wearing of ‘hijab’ in a college in Karnataka’s Udupi district has spread to more colleges in the state, causing concerns within the Education department as well as parents and students.

THE EXPLANATION:

The amid Karnataka school’s denial of entry to six girls in hijab throws the spotlight on freedom of religion. The issue throws up legal questions on reading the freedom of religion and whether the right to wear a hijab is constitutionally protected.

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, practice and propagate religion”. It is a right that guarantees a negative liberty — which means that the state shall ensure that there is no interference or obstacle to exercise 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.

What is Essential Practice of Religion?

• It was held that a 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 which 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 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.

2. THE STATUS OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST LEGISLATORS

THE CONTEXT: According to the Supreme Court, a total of 4,984 criminal cases against former and sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are awaiting trial before various sessions and magistrate courts across the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

This marks an increase of 862 such cases in the last three years – up from 4,122 in December 2018 to 4,984 in December 2021.

According to the report, “Even after disposal of 2,775 cases after 04.12.2018, the cases against MPs/MLAs have increased from 4,122 to 4,984. This shows that more and more persons with criminal antecedents are occupying the seats in the Parliament and the State Legislative Assemblies,” adding that “it is of utmost necessity that urgent and stringent steps are taken for expeditious disposal of pending criminal cases”.

Reasons for delayed trial:

• Stays granted by various high courts,
• Insufficient special courts to exclusively try cases against MPs/MLAs,
• Shortage of prosecutors and latches in prosecution,
• Delayed investigation.

CRIMINALIZATION OF POLITICS

The criminalization of politics means the participation of criminals in politics. Means that persons with criminal background contest in the election and get selected as a member of parliament or state legislature. It is said that the politics had reached a stage where the lawmakers became the lawbreakers. In a democratic country like India, the increasing nexus between criminals and politics threatens the survival of true democracy.

The increasing percentage of members of parliament who have a criminal background:

• 2004- 24%
• 2009-30%
• 2014-34%
• 2019-43%

The law commission in its 179th report recommended an amendment to the Representation of people act 1951. It suggested the people with criminal backgrounds should be disqualified for five years or until acquittal. It also recommended that the person who wants to contest the election must furnish details regarding any pending case, with the copy of the FIR/complaint, and also furnish details of all assets. But no action was taken on the recommendation by the government due to a lack of consensus amongst the political parties.

Suggested measures:

• There should be an amendment in the RP act to debar those persons from contesting elections against whom any serious Nature of crimes is pending.
• A kind of awareness program should be started for voters to make them aware of their right to know the criminal background of the person to whom they are going to cast their votes.
• The election commission should be given more rights to prevent the criminalization of politics. A penalty should be inflicted on those political parties who give tickets to those persons who have a criminal background.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. ASSAM’S FIRST LEOPARD CENSUS

THE CONTEXT: A forest division in Assam has initiated the State’s first leopard census to map the habitat and routes of the spotted cat and establish standards to be followed for urban planning.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the forest officials, mapping the leopard’s territories was necessary in view of the increasing man-animal conflicts due to rapid infrastructure development. The division covers urban, semi-urban and rural areas on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra river facing Guwahati, once a leopard domain.
• “Leopards have been the most neglected of the greater cats in Assam. The census will help understand their habitat and occupancy area leading to better management in an area which is a mosaic of suburban, rural and forest areas.
• Leopards prefer the fringe areas of jungles and often raid human settlements for food. The objective of this exercise was to map their population, habitat and movement routes for better planning of human settlements.
• In 2014, a national census of leopards around tiger habitats was carried out in India except the northeast. 7,910 individuals were estimated in surveyed areas and a national total of 12,000-14,000 speculated

About Leopard:

• Scientific Name- Panthera pardus.
• The Indian leopard is a leopard subspecies widely distributed on the Indian subcontinent.
• Nine subspecies of the leopard have been recognized, and they are distributed across Africa and Asia.

Habitat & Protection: In India, the leopard is found in all forest types, from tropical rain forests to temperate deciduous and alpine coniferous forests. It is also found in dry scrubs and grasslands, the only exception being desert and the mangroves of Sundarbans.

Threats: Hunting & Poaching, Human-Leopard Conflict.

Protection Status:

• Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Included in Appendix I of CITES.
• Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.

4. ASSAM VILLAGERS OPPOSE SANCTUARY TAG FOR GOLDEN LANGUR HABITAT

THE CONTEXT: Villagers staying adjacent to Kakoijana reserve forest in Assam’s Bongaigaon district have opposed the state government’s decision to earmark the area as a wildlife sanctuary as they believe it will take away their rights.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The forest is home to the golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), characterised by its striking golden orange pelage and found only in Assam and Bhutan,which is listed in the “world’s 25 most-endangered primates”.
• The Assam forest department had recently issued a preliminary notification for 19.85 sq km Kakoijana Bamuni Hill Wildlife Sanctuary under Aie Valley Division.
• A total of 34 villages with a population of around 2,000 households stay adjacent to the reserve forest. The people are mostly from Koch Rajbongshi, Boro, Garo, Rabha and Gorkha communities.
• According to the villagers the imposition of rigid laws under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 by upgrading the Kakoijana reserve forest as a wildlife sanctuary would tinker with the customary and traditional practices, and consequently result in them losing the community ownership over the forest.
• The villagers pointed out that the conservation efforts of the locals had helped the authorities concerned to restore the forest canopy from less than 5% to more than 70%, and the golden langur population from less than 100 to more than 600 over almost three decades.

ABOUT GOLDEN LANGUR

• The golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), characterised by its striking golden orange pelage and found only in Assam and Bhutan, is found in the forest reserve area.
• Golden langur is an endangered primate, endemic to the semi-evergreen and mixed-deciduous forests along India-Bhutan border.
• It was found in 1953 by naturalist E.P. Gee. Kakoijana is one of the prime habitats of the golden langur. It has already been listed as an endangered species in the IUCN Red List and is in the Schedule-I species of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and it was Listed in Appendix I of CITES.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 5^th FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Golden langur:

1. It is endemic to India.
2. It is found only in state of Assam in India.
3. It is an endangered species.

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 4^th FEB 2022

Answer: c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The State of Forest Report was published by every two years.

Statement 2 is incorrect: According to the report, Northeastern states shows decreased in the forest cover.

THE BUDGET PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS 2022

1. DEFINITION UNDER THE STATE OF FOREST REPORT

THE CONTEXT: In January 2022, the Environment & Forest Ministry released India State Forest Report 2021 (ISFR-2021), the forest cover figures are divided as ‘Inside Recorded Forest Area’ and ‘Outside Recorded Forest Area.’

THE EXPLANATION:

As per decision 19/Conference of Parties (CP) 9-Kyoto Protocol, the forest can be defined by any country depending upon the capacities and capabilities of the country as follows:-

Forest- Forest is defined structurally on the basis of

• Crown cover percentage: Tree crown cover- 10 to 30% (India 10%)
• Minimum area of stand: area between 0.05 and 1 hectare (India 1.0 hectare) and
• Minimum height of trees: Potential to reach a minimum height at maturity in situ of 2 to 5 m (India 2m).

India’s definition of forest has been taken on the basis of above three criteria only and  accepted by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for their reporting/communications.

The forest cover is defined as ‘all land, more than one hectare in area, with a tree canopy density of more than 10 percent irrespective of ownership and legal status.Such land may not necessarily be a recorded forest area. It also includes orchards, bamboo and palm’. The definition of forest cover has clearly been defined in all the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) and in all the International communications of India.

The Interpretation of satellite data for classifying Very Dense Forest (VDF) is also supported by the ancillary data like field inventory data of FSI, ground truthing data and high resolution satellite imagery wherever required.

2. CHANDRAYAAN-3 IS SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH IN AUGUST 2022

THE CONTEXT: According to the Budget Parliamentary proceedings of 2022, Minister for Science and Technology informed in the parliament that India plans to execute the Chandrayaan-3 mission by August 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Chandrayaan-3 mission is a follow-up of Chandrayaan-2 of July 2019, which aimed to land a rover on the lunar South Pole. It was sent aboard the country’s most powerful geosynchronous launch vehicle, the GSLV-Mk 3.
• However, lander Vikram, instead of a controlled landing, ended up crash-landing on September 7, 2019, and prevented rover Pragyaan from successfully travelling on the surface of the moon. Had the mission been successful, it would have been the first time a country landed its rover on the moon in its maiden attempt.
• The ISRO has planned 19 missions until December consisting of eight launch vehicle missions, seven spacecraft missions and four technology demonstrator missions.
• The ISRO has been allotted ₹13,700 crore for this financial year, nearly ₹1,000 crore more than it spent last year. Despite the several missions planned this year, the budgeted outlay this year is less than the ₹13,949 crore allotted in the year 2021.

Decoding Chandrayaan-3

• Chandrayaan-3 is a lander-and rover-specific mission, which will demonstrate India’s capability of soft landing on a celestial body, with the rover then communicating with Earth via the existing orbiter from Chandrayaan-2 and taking images 100 km from Moon’s orbit. The orbiter has an estimated lifespan of seven years.
• The unique exploration of Chandrayaan-3 aims at studying not just one area of the Moon but all the areas combining the exosphere, the surface as well as the sub-surface in a single mission.
• With Chandrayaan-1, ISRO achieved immense success as the ‘Moon Impact Probe’ by Chandrayaan-1 lunar remote sensing orbiter detected water in vapor form in trace amounts. The discovery was done along with JPL-Brown University payload Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) that confirmed that the formation of Hydroxyl ions and water molecules on the lunar surface is an ongoing process.
• With Chandrayaan-3, India aims to further the study of the lunar surface, focusing on the dark side of the Moon that has not seen sunlight in billions of years, which is believed to have ice and vast mineral reserves.

3. KHADI PRAKRITIK PAINT

THE CONTEXT: Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI), Jaipur, a unit of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the administrative control of the Ministry of MSME, developed Khadi Prakratik Paint has been developed from cow dung.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It is envisaged that manufacture of Khadi Prakritik Paint will promote local manufacturing, create sustainable employment and generate additional revenue for farmers and cow shelter homes and will also generate employment in the rural areas, which will improve the rural economy and help in controlling the migration from rural to urban areas, in the country.
• Cow dung is a major constituent used in the manufacture of Prakritik Paint. 100 kgs. of cow dung is utilized for making 500 liters of paint. Therefore, setting up of paint units would be helpful in utilization of cow dung and thereby help in cleaning the environment.
• KNHPI imparts training in manufacture of Khadi Prakritik Paint. Prakritik Paint manufacturing units are being set up under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) scheme of Ministry of MSME.

4. NATIONAL ADAPTATION FUND FOR CLIMATE CHANGE (NAFCC)

THE CONTEXT: According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change, the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was established to support adaptation activities in the States and Union Territories (UTs) of India that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. NAFCC is implemented in project mode and till date, 30 projects are sanctioned in 27 States and UTs.

THE EXPLANATION:  

The Ministry has demarcated the Hazard Line for the entire mainland coast of India under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project. Further, Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2019 has been notified to conserve and protect the unique environment of coastal stretches and marine areas to promote sustainable development.

The NAFCC projects implemented in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh include activities relating to coastal areas and these projects are-

• Promotion of integrated farming system of Kaipad in coastal wetlands of North Kerala
• Management and rehabilitation of coastal habitats and biodiversity for climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Livelihood in Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu and
• Climate Resilient interventions in Dairy Sector in coastal and Arid areas in Andhra Pradesh. Till date, a sum of Rs. 6,35,68,108/- has been released to the State of Andhra Pradesh under NAFCC

Definition of Integrated Coastal Zone Management:

• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is a resource management system following an integrative, holistic approach and an interactive planning process in addressing the complex management issues in the coastal area
• The concept of Integrated Coastal Zone Management was borne in 1992 during the Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro. The policy regarding ICZM is set out in the proceedings of the summit within Agenda 21.

 5. HELI BORNE SURVEY TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has taken up Heli-borne survey for generation of aquifer related information and its management in certain Arid/Semi-Arid areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana.

THE EXPLANATION:

Under Ground Water Management & Regulation scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, with an estimated cost of Rs 54.00 Cr and likely date of completion as 31 March 2022.

Heli Survey Technology

• The state-of-the-art technology, Heli Survey Technology, will be used to map the groundwater sources in arid regions. Survey will help in utilizing groundwater for drinking purposes.
• Heli-borne geophysical mapping technique will provide high-resolution 3D image for sub-surface up to a depth of 500 meters below the ground level.

Aim of the project

This project has been developed with the aim of mapping potential groundwater sources and its management in providing safe drinking water to people in the water scarce arid regions of India.

Two Phases of the project

The mega project worth Rs. 150 crores will be implemented in two phases. To implement the project, CSIR has collaborated with the Ministry of Jal Shakti under the “National Aquifer Mapping Project”.  This project will bring high visibility to CSIR to implement the Jal Jeevan Mission project.

Significance of the technology

Water technologies of CSIR from source finding to water treatment will positively contribute towards “Har Ghar Hal se Jal” scheme as well as “doubling farmer’s income goals”.

Arid areas in India

Arid areas in northwestern India are spread across the States of Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab. The area covers about 12% of the total geographical area in India and is home to about 8 crore people. Annual rainfall in arid areas is in the range of 100 to 400 mm. Thus, there is an acute shortage of water throughout the year.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

6. NASA’S RETIREMENT PLAN FROM SPACE STATION

THE CONTEXT: According to a NASA’s press release, NASA plans to retire the International Space Station at the end of 2030 and crash it into the Pacific Ocean in an area called Point Nemo.

THE EXPLANATION:

For over two decades, the International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting Earth at a speed of about eight kilometres per second, while an international crew of astronauts and cosmonauts onboard conducted ground-breaking scientific investigations that have thrown open the doors for deep space exploration.

What is International Space Station?

• The International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. It serves as a home where crews of astronauts and cosmonauts live. The space station is also a unique science laboratory. Several nations worked together to build and use the space station. The space station is made of parts that were assembled in space by astronauts.
• It orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 250 miles. It travels at 17,500 mph. This means it orbits Earth every 90 minutes. NASA is using the space station to learn more about living and working in space. These lessons will make it possible to send humans farther into space than ever before.

What’s next for the ISS?

According to NASA, once it retires, the ISS will be replaced by “one or more commercially-owned and -operated” space platforms. “The private sector is technically and financially capable of developing and operating commercial low-Earth orbit destinations, with NASA’s assistance.

What about India’s Space Station?

According to the ISRO, India will launch its first indigenously made space station by 2030, just a few years after the ‘Gaganyaan’ mission which will kick off starting 2022.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 4^th FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about the recently published India State Forest Report 2021.

1. India’s forest and tree cover published every year by the Forest Survey of India under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
2. According to the report, Northeastern states shows consistently increased in the forest cover.
3. For the first time, the report assessed forest cover in tiger reserves, tiger corridors and the Gir forest which houses the Asiatic lion.

Which of the 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 3^rd FEB 2022

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Contracting Parties are expected (but not mandated) to manage their Ramsar Sites so as to maintain their ecological character and retain their essential functions and values for future generations.
• Statement 2 is correct: The convention specifies that “Contracting Parties shall (not may) formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the List”.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Many important wetlands extend as one ecologically coherent whole across national borders. In these cases, COP can agree to establish Ramsar Sites on their territory as parts of a bigger Trans boundary Ramsar Site.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIA, NEPAL SIGN MOU ON CONSTRUCTION OF MOTORABLE BRIDGE OVER MAHAKALI RIVER

THE CONTEXT: India and Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a motorable Bridge over the Mahakali River connecting Dharchula (India) with Darchula (Nepal), under Indian grant assistance.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Benefits: The project will improve cross-border connectivity between Nepal’s Sudur paschim province and India’s Uttarakhand state, where close people-to-people ties exist between communities on both sides of the border.
• This is in line with both governments’ shared goal of increasing cross-border connectivity to facilitate commercial, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges. The construction of the bridge is planned to commence soon.

India- Nepal Relations:

As close neighbours, both nations share unique ties of friendship and cooperation characterized by an open border and deep-rooted people-to-people ties of kinship and culture. The free movement of people across borders has a long history. Nepal has a border with five Indian states – Sikkim, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttarakhand – spanning over 1,850 kilometres.

VALUE ADDITION:

• Kali river or Sharda River, it originates at Kalapani in the Himalayas at an elevation of 3,600 m (11,800 ft) in the Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, India. It flows along Nepal’s western border with India and has a basin area.
• Its major tributaries are the Dhauliganga, Goriganga, and Sarju. The Sarda Barrage (dam), near Banbasa (Uttarakhand), is the source of the Sarda Canal (completed 1930), one of the longest irrigation canals in northern India. It joins Ghaghra River, a tributary of the Ganges.
• NOTE: The Pancheshwar multipurpose dam project, is on the Kali river.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. INDIA ADDS TWO NEW RAMSAR SITES

THE CONTEXT: On World Wetlands Day, 2022 (2^nd February ) India added two Ramsar sites upscaling the number from 47 to 49.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat and Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh are the latest Ramsar sites to join the list of protected wetlands in the country.
• World Wetlands Day 2022 theme is ‘Wetlands Action for People and Nature,’ which highlights the importance of actions to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands for humans and planetary health.
• All 49 Ramsar Sites together now cover 10,93,636 Ha, making it the highest in South Asia. Bakhira Wildlife Sanctuary offers a safe wintering and staging ground for a large number of special Central Asian Flyway while Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary is a coastal wetland with rich avifaunal diversity. It provides a safe habitat to endangered and vulnerable species.
• The original Wetland Atlas was released in 2011. The decadal change atlas highlights the changes which have happened in wetlands across the country.

Value Addition:

What is Ramsar Sites?

• Any wetland site which has been listed under the Ramsar Convention that aims to conserve it and promote sustainable use of its natural resources is called a Ramsar Site.
• Ramsar Convention is known as the Convention of Wetlands. It was established in 1971 by UNESCO and came into force in 1975.
• India is a party to the Ramsar Convention. India signed under it on 1st February 1982.

• Contracting Parties are expected (but not mandated) to manage their Ramsar Sites so as to maintain their ecological character and retain their essential functions and values for future generations.
• The convention specifies that “Contracting Parties shall (not may) formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the List”.
• The Changwon Declaration on human well-being and wetland 2008 – It highlights positive action for ensuring human well-being and security in the future under the themes – water, climate change, people’s livelihood and health, land use change, and biodiversity.
• Many important wetlands extend as one ecologically coherent whole across national borders. In these cases,COP can agree to establish Ramsar Sites on their territory as parts of a bigger Transboundary Ramsar Site.

The Ramsar Convention works closely with six organizations known as International Organization Partners(IOPs). These are:

• Birdlife International
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
• Wetlands International
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
• International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT)

Prelims Perspective:

• Uttar Pradesh (10) has the maximum number of Wetlands in India.
• Sundarbans is the largest Ramsar Site of India (Added in 2019).
• Renuka Wetland (Area – 20 ha) in Himachal Pradesh is the smallest wetland of India.
• Chilika Lake (Orissa) and Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) were recognized as the first Ramsar Sites of India.
• The world’s first site was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974.
• The countries with the most Ramsar Sites are the United Kingdom with 175 and Mexico with 142.
• Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar protection.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

3. SRI LANKA SIGN $500-MILLION LOAN AGREEMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Export Import Bank (EXIM) of India and the Government of Sri Lanka on signed a $500- million Line of Credit agreement aimed at helping Sri Lanka cope with its current fuel shortages, amid one of the worst economic meltdowns facing the island nation.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to a statement from the Indian High Commission in Colombo, India’s support for fuel imports through the Line of Credit, is in response to Colombo’s “urgent requirement”.
• Recently, India extended a $400 million currency swap to Sri Lanka, while also deferring another $500 million due for settlement to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), to help the island nation cope with its dollar crunch.
• Further to the $900 million extended then, and the emergency credit for fuel imports now, both governments are in talks for another $ 1 billion assistance that Colombo has sought from New Delhi, at a time when the island nation faces an unprecedented economic crisis.

What is Line of Credit?

• The Government of India is reasonably satisfied with the progress in the implementation of Lines of Credit supported by India in foreign nations over the past 3 years.
• The Line of Credit is not a grant but a ‘soft loan’ provided on concessional interest rates to developing countries, which has to be repaid by the borrowing government.

 Value Addition:

• Exim Bank was established under the Export-Import Bank of India Act, 1981 as a purveyor of export credit, mirroring global Export Credit Agencies. Exim Bank serves as a growth engine for industries and SMEs through a wide range of products and services.
• This includes import of technology and export product development, export production, export marketing, pre-shipment and post-shipment and overseas investment.
• Exim Bank extends Lines of Credit (LOCs) to overseas financial institutions, regional development banks, sovereign governments and other entities overseas, to enable buyers in those countries to import developmental and infrastructure projects, equipment, goods and services from India, on deferred credit terms.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 3^rd FEBRUARY 2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Ramsar Convention:

1. Contracting Parties are mandated to manage their Ramsar Sites so as to maintain their ecological character.
2. Contracting Parties shall formulate and implement their planning so as to promote the conservation of the wetlands included in the Ramsar List.
3. There is no provision to establish transboundary Ramsar site between more than one nation.

Which of the given statements are incorrect?

a 1 and 2 only

b 2 and 3 only

c 1 and 3 only

d 1, 2 and 3

ANSWER FOR 2^nd FEB 2022

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Indira Gandhi was first woman minister to present budget in India, Nirmala Sitaraman is second woman.
• Statement 2 is correct: Morarji Desai had presented maximum number (10 times) of budgetsso far.
• Statement 3 is correct: Railway budget was merged with Union budget in 2017 (Arun Jaitleywas Finance Minister).

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BUDGET 2020-2023

THE CONTEXT: The Union Budget seeks to complement macro-economic level growth with a focus on micro-economic level all inclusive welfare. The Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, tabled the Union Budget 2022-23 in Parliament on 1st February 2022.

PART A

• India’s economic growth estimated at 9.2% to be the highest among all large economies.
• 60 lakh new jobs to be created under the productivity linked incentive scheme in 14 sectors.
• PLI Schemes have the potential to create an additional production of Rs 30 lakh crore.

Entering Amrit Kaal, the 25 year long lead up to India @100, the budget provides impetus for growth along four priorities:

PM GATISHAKTI

The seven engines that drive PM GatiShakti are Roads, Railways, Airports, Ports, Mass Transport, Waterways and Logistics Infrastructure.

PM GatiShkati National Master Plan

• The scope of PM GatiShakti National Master Plan will encompass the seven engines for economic transformation, seamless multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency.
• The projects pertaining to these 7 engines in the National Infrastructure Pipeline will be aligned with PM GatiShakti framework.

Road Transport

• National Highways Network to be expanded by 25000 Km in 2022-23.
• Rs 20000 Crore to be mobilized for National Highways Network expansion.

Multimodal Logistics Parks

• Contracts to be awarded through PPP mode in 2022-23 for implementation of Multimodal Logistics Parks at four locations.

Railways

• One Station One Product concept to help local businesses & supply chains. 2000 Km of railway network to be brought under Kavach, the indigenous world class technology and capacity augmentation in 2022-23.
• 400 new generation Vande Bharat Trains to be manufactured during the next three years.
• 100 PM GatiShakti Cargo terminals for multi-modal logistics to be developed during the next three years.

Parvatmala

• National Ropeways Development Program, Parvatmala to be taken up on PPP mode.
• Contracts to be awarded in 2022-23 for 8 ropeway projects of 60 Km length.

INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT

Agriculture

• 2.37 lakh crore direct payment to 1.63 crore farmers for procurement of wheat and paddy.
• Chemical free Natural farming to be promoted throughout the county. Initial focus is on farmer’s lands in 5 Km wide corridors along river Ganga.
• NABARD to facilitate fund with blended capital to finance startups for agriculture & rural enterprise.
• ‘Kisan Drones’ for crop assessment, digitization of land records, spraying of insecticides and nutrients.

Ken Betwa project

• 1400 crore outlay for implementation of the Ken – Betwa link project.
• 08 lakh hectares of farmers’ lands to receive irrigation benefits by Ken-Betwa link project.

MSME

• Udyam, e-shram, NCS and ASEEM portals to be interlinked.
• 130 lakh MSMEs provided additional credit under Emergency Credit Linked Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS)
• ECLGS to be extended up to March 2023.
• Guarantee cover under ECLGS to be expanded by Rs 50000 Crore to total cover of Rs 5 Lakh Crore.
• Rs 2 lakh Crore additional credit for Micro and Small Enterprises to be facilitated under the Credit Guarantee Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE).
• Raising and Accelerating MSME performance (RAMP) programme with outlay of Rs 6000 Crore to be rolled out.

Skill Development

• Digital Ecosystem for Skilling and Livelihood (DESH-Stack e-portal) will be launched to empower citizens to skill, reskill or upskill through on-line training.
• Startups will be promoted to facilitate ‘Drone Shakti’ and for Drone-As-A-Service (DrAAS).

Education

• ‘One class-One TV channel’ programme of PM eVIDYA to be expanded to 200 TV channels.
• Virtual labs and skilling e-labs to be set up to promote critical thinking skills and simulated learning environment.
• High-quality e-content will be developed for delivery through Digital Teachers.
• Digital University for world-class quality universal education with personalised learning experience to be established.

Health

• An open platform for National Digital Health Ecosystem to be rolled out.
• ‘National Tele Mental Health Programme’ for quality mental health counselling and care services to be launched.
• A network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence will be set up, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre and International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) providing technology support.

Saksham Anganwadi

• Integrated benefits to women and children through Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
• Two lakh anganwadis to be upgraded to Saksham Anganwadis.

Har Ghar, Nal Se Jal

• 60,000 crore allocated to cover 3.8 crore households in 2022-23 under Har Ghar, Nal se Jal.

Housing for All

• 48,000 crore allocated for completion of 80 lakh houses in 2022-23 under PM Awas Yojana.

Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North-East Region (PM-DevINE)

• New scheme PM-DevINE launched to fund infrastructure and social development projects in the North-East.
• An initial allocation of Rs. 1,500 crore made to enable livelihood activities for youth and women under the scheme.

Vibrant Villages Programme

• Vibrant Villages Programme for development of Border villages with sparse population, limited connectivity and infrastructure on the northern border.

Banking

• 100 per cent of 1.5 lakh post offices to come on the core banking system.
• Scheduled Commercial Banks to set up 75 Digital Banking Units (DBUs) in 75 districts.

e-Passport

• e-Passports with embedded chip and futuristic technology to be rolled out.

Urban Planning

• Modernization of building byelaws, Town Planning Schemes (TPS), and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) will be implemented.
• Battery swapping policy to be brought out for setting up charging stations at scale in urban areas.

Land Records Management

• Unique Land Parcel Identification Number for IT-based management of land records.

Accelerated Corporate Exit

• Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE) to be established for speedy winding-up of companies.

AVGC Promotion Task Force

• An animation, visual effects, gaming, and comic (AVGC) promotion task force to be set-up to realize the potential of this sector.

Telecom Sector

• Scheme for design-led manufacturing to be launched to build a strong ecosystem for 5G as part of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme.

Export Promotion

• Special Economic Zones Act to be replaced with a new legislation to enable States to become partners in ‘Development of Enterprise and Service Hubs’.

Atma Nirbharta in Defence:

• 68% of capital procurement budget earmarked for domestic industry in 2022-23, up from 58% in 2021-22.
• Defence R&D to be opened up for industry, startups and academia with 25% of defence R&D budget earmarked.
• Independent nodal umbrella body to be set up for meeting testing and certification requirements.

Sunrise Opportunities

• Government contribution to be provided for R&D in Sunrise Opportunities like Artificial Intelligence, Geospatial Systems and Drones, Semiconductor and its eco-system, Space Economy, Genomics and Pharmaceuticals, Green Energy, and Clean Mobility Systems.

Energy Transition and Climate Action:

• Additional allocation of Rs. 19,500 crore for Production Linked Incentive for manufacture of high efficiency solar modules to meet the goal of 280 GW of installed solar power by 2030.
• Five to seven per cent biomass pellets to be co-fired in thermal power plants:
• CO2 savings of 38 MMT annually,
• Extra income to farmers and job opportunities to locals,
• Help avoid stubble burning in agriculture fields.
• Four pilot projects to be set up for coal gasification and conversion of coal into chemicals for the industry
• Financial support to farmers belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who want to take up agro-forestry.

Public Capital Investment:

• Public investment to continue to pump-prime private investment and demand in 2022-23.
• Outlay for capital expenditure stepped up sharply by 4% to Rs. 7.50 lakh crore in 2022-23 from Rs. 5.54 lakh crore in the current year.
• Outlay in 2022-23 to be 2.9% of GDP.
• ‘Effective Capital Expenditure’ of Central Government estimated at Rs. 10.68 lakh crore in 2022-23, which is about 4.1% of GDP.

GIFT-IFSC

• World-class foreign universities and institutions to be allowed in the GIFT City.
• An International Arbitration Centre to be set up for timely settlement of disputes under international jurisprudence.

Mobilising Resources

• Data Centres and Energy Storage Systems to be given infrastructure status.
• Venture Capital and Private Equity invested more than Rs. 5.5 lakh crore last year facilitating one of the largest start-up and growth ecosystem. Measures to be taken to help scale up this investment.
• Blended funds to be promoted for sunrise sectors.
• Sovereign Green Bonds to be issued for mobilizing resources for green infrastructure.

Digital Rupee

• Introduction of Digital Rupee by the Reserve Bank of India starting 2022-23.

Providing Greater Fiscal Space to States

• Enhanced outlay for ‘Scheme for Financial Assistance to States for Capital Investment’:
• From Rs. 10,000 crore in Budget Estimates to Rs. 15,000 crore in Revised Estimates for current year
• Allocation of 1 lakh crore in 2022-23 to assist the states in catalysing overall investments in the economy: fifty-year interest free loans, over and above normal borrowings
• In 2022-23, States will be allowed a fiscal deficit of 4% of GSDP, of which 0.5% will be tied to power sector reforms

Fiscal Management

• Budget Estimates 2021-22: Rs. 34.83 lakh crore.
• Revised Estimates 2021-22: Rs. 37.70 lakh crore.
• Total expenditure in 2022-23 estimated at Rs. 39.45 lakh crore.
• Total receipts other than borrowings in 2022-23 estimated at Rs. 22.84 lakh crore.
• Fiscal deficit in current year: 6.9% of GDP (against 6.8% in Budget Estimates).
• Fiscal deficit in 2022-23 estimated at 6.4% of GDP.

PART B

DIRECT TAXES

• Vision to establish a trustworthy tax regime.
• To further simplify tax system and reduce litigation.

Introducing new ‘Updated return’

• Provision to file an Updated Return on payment of additional tax.
• Will enable the assesses to declare income missed out earlier.
• Can be filed within two years from the end of the relevant assessment year.

Cooperative societies

• Alternate Minimum Tax paid by cooperatives brought down from 18.5 per cent to 15 per cent.
• To provide a level playing field between cooperative societies and companies.
• Surcharge on cooperative societies reduced from 12 per cent to 7 per cent for those having total income of more than Rs 1 crore and up to Rs 10 crores.

Tax relief to persons with disability

• Payment of annuity and lump sum amount from insurance scheme to be allowed to differently abled dependent during the lifetime of parents/guardians, i.e., on parents/ guardian attaining the age of 60 years.

Parity in National Pension Scheme Contribution

• Tax deduction limit increased from 10 per cent to 14 per cent on employer’s contribution to the NPS account of State Government employees.
• Brings them at par with central government employees.
• Would help in enhancing social security benefits.

Incentives for Start-ups

• Period of incorporation extended by one year, up to 31.03.2023 for eligible start-ups to avail tax benefit.
• Previously the period of incorporation valid up to 31.03.2022.

Incentives under concessional tax regime

• Last date for commencement of manufacturing or production under section 115 BAB extended by one year i.e. from 31st March, 2023 to 31st March, 2024.

Scheme for taxation of virtual digital assets

• Specific tax regime for virtual digital assets introduced.
• Any income from transfer of any virtual digital asset to be taxed at the rate of 30 per cent.
• No deduction in respect of any expenditure or allowance to be allowed while computing such income except cost of acquisition.
• Loss from transfer of virtual digital asset cannot be set off against any other income.
• To capture the transaction details, TDS to be provided on payment made in relation to transfer of virtual digital asset at the rate of 1 per cent of such consideration above a monetary threshold.
• Gift of virtual digital asset also to be taxed in the hands of the recipient.

Litigation Management

• In cases where question of law is identical to the one pending in High Court or Supreme Court, the filing of appeal by the department shall be deferred till such question of law is decided by the court.
• To greatly help in reducing repeated litigation between taxpayers and the department.

Tax incentives to IFSC

• Subject to specified conditions, the following to be exempt from tax
• Income of a non-resident from offshore derivative instruments.
• Income from over the counter derivatives issued by an offshore banking unit.
• Income from royalty and interest on account of lease of ship.
• Income received from portfolio management services in IFSC.

Rationalization of Surcharge

• Surcharge on AOPs (consortium formed to execute a contract) capped at 15 per cent.
• Done to reduce the disparity in surcharge between individual companies and AOPs.
• Surcharge on long term capital gains arising on transfer of any type of assets capped at 15 per cent.
• To give a boost to the start up community.

Health and Education Cess

• Any surcharge or cess on income and profits not allowable as business expenditure.

Deterrence against tax-evasion

• No set off, of any loss to be allowed against undisclosed income detected during search and survey operations.

Rationalizing TDS Provisions

• Benefits passed on to agents as business promotion strategy taxable in hands of agents.
• Tax deduction provided to person giving benefits, if the aggregate value of such benefits exceeds Rs 20,000 during the financial year.

INDIRECT TAXES

Remarkable progress in GST

• GST revenues are buoyant despite the pandemic – Taxpayers deserve applause for this growth.

Special Economic Zones

• Customs Administration of SEZs to be fully IT driven and function on the Customs National Portal – shall be implemented by 30th September 2022.

Customs Reforms and duty rate changes

• Faceless Customs has been fully established. During Covid-19 pandemic, Customs formations have done exceptional front line work against all odds displaying agility and purpose.

Project imports and capital goods

• Gradually phasing out of the concessional rates in capital goods and project imports and applying a moderate tariff of 7.5 percent – conducive to the growth of domestic sector and ‘Make in India’.
• Certain exemptions for advanced machineries that are not manufactured within the country shall continue.
• A few exemptions introduced on inputs, like specialised castings, ball screw and linear motion guide – to encourage domestic manufacturing of capital goods.

Review of customs exemptions and tariff simplification

• More than 350 exemption entries proposed to be gradually phased out, like exemption on certain agricultural produce, chemicals, fabrics, medical devices, & drugs and medicines for which sufficient domestic capacity exists.
• Simplifying the Customs rate and tariff structure particularly for sectors like chemicals, textiles and metals and minimise disputes; Removal of exemption on items which are or can be manufactured in India and providing concessional duties on raw material that go into manufacturing of intermediate products – in line with the objective of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atma nirbhar Bharat’.

Sector specific proposals

Electronics

• Customs duty rates to be calibrated to provide a graded rate structure – to facilitate domestic manufacturing of wearable devices, hearable devices and electronic smart meters.
• Duty concessions to parts of transformer of mobile phone chargers and camera lens of mobile camera module and certain other items – To enable domestic manufacturing of high growth electronic items.

Gems and Jewellery

• Customs duty on cut and polished diamonds and gemstones being reduced to 5 per cent; Nil customs duty to simply sawn diamond – To give a boost to the Gems and Jewellery sector
• A simplified regulatory framework to be implemented by June this year – To facilitate export of jewellery through e-commerce.
• Customs duty of at least Rs 400 per Kg to be paid on imitation jewellery import – To disincentive import of undervalued imitation jewellery.

Chemicals

Customs duty on certain critical chemicals namely methanol, acetic acid and heavy feed stocks for petroleum refining being reduced; Duty is being raised on sodium cyanide for which adequate domestic capacity exists – This will help in enhancing domestic value addition.

MSME

• Customs duty on umbrellas being raised to 20 per cent. Exemption to parts of umbrellas being withdrawn.
• Exemption being rationalised on implements and tools for agri-sector which are manufactured in India
• Customs duty exemption given to steel scrap last year extended for another year to provide relief to MSME secondary steel producers
• Certain Anti- dumping and CVD on stainless steel and coated steel flat products, bars of alloy steel and high-speed steel are being revoked – to tackle prevailing high prices of metal in larger public interest.

Exports

• To incentivise exports, exemptions being provided on items such as embellishment, trimming, fasteners, buttons, zipper, lining material, specified leather, furniture fittings and packaging boxes.
• Duty being reduced on certain inputs required for shrimp aquaculture – to promote its exports.

Tariff measure to encourage blending of fuel

• Unblended fuel to attract an additional differential excise duty of Rs 2/ litre from the 1st of October 2022 – to encourage blending of fuel.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 2^nd FEBRUARY  2022

Q. Consider the following statements about Union budget:

1. Nirmala Sitharaman is first woman finance minister to present budget.
2. Morarji Desai had presented maximum number of budgets so far.
3. Railway budget was merged with Union budget in 2017.

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 1^st FEB 2022

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: It is kind of extra-tropical or mid-latitude cyclone.
• Statement 2 is correct: It occurs when a storms central barometric pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
• Statement 3 is correct: It can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.
• Statement 3 is correct: It can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.

THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL ISSUES

1. THE 3RD WORLD NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES DAY

THE CONTEXT: Observing the 3rd World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day on 30^th January as a key moment to highlight the global community’s commitment to ending NTDs, India joined close to 40 other nations to illuminate the iconic New Delhi Railway Station in purple and orange hues, which is one of the busiest railway stations in the country in terms of train frequency and passenger movement.

THE EXPLANATION:

The Event organized by National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) to observe World NTD Day, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighted that the aim of illuminating the iconic New Delhi Railway Station was to generate awareness about NTDs in the visiting public and showcase progress and achievements towards their elimination.

ABOUT WORLD NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES:

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in tropical areas, (developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas), where they mostly affect impoverished communities and disproportionately affect women and children.
• They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and parasitic worms. These diseases generally receive less funding for research and treatment than malaises like tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS and malaria.
• The NTDs include:

• According to WHO estimates that over 1.7 billion of the world’s population should be targeted by prevention and treatment activities for at least one of these diseases, every year.
• In addition to significant mortality and morbidity – approximately 200,000 deaths and 19 million disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually.

India’s Measures to tackle NTD’s:

• The Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) was launched in 2018, as part of intensifying efforts towards the elimination of NTDs.
• A WHO-supported regional alliance established by the governments of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal in 2005 to expedite early diagnosis and treatment of the most vulnerable populations and improve disease surveillance and control of sandfly populations (Kala-azar).
• India has already eliminated several other NTDs, including guinea worm, trachoma, and yaws.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. INDIA’S FIRST GEO PARK TO COME UP IN MADHYA PRADESH

THE CONTEXT: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has approved the setting up of the country’s first geo park at Lamheta village on the banks of the Narmada River in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The GSI has sanctioned 1.30 crore to prepare a detailed project report of the geological rock formations in five acres in the Lamheta village, located 20 km away from the Jabalpur district.
• The site is already there in the UNESCO geo-heritage tentative list for the conservation of the natural heritage. Several dinosaur fossils had been found in the Narmada valley, particularly in the Bhedaghat-Lameta Ghat area of Jabalpur”.
• In 1828, the first dinosaur fossil was collected from the Lameta Bed by Indian Civil Service (ICS) officer William Sleeman.
• According to the GSI, the Science centre will come up at Bhedaghat, also in the Jabalpur district, known forwhite marble rock formations and a famous tourist hotspot, at the cost of ₹ 15.20 crore, to be shared by the Centre and the states. The centre would shed light on modern science, including scientific theories of various topics such as food, water and soil.m

What is a Geo Park?

A geo park is a nationally protected area covering a number of geological heritage sites of particular importance, rarity or aesthetic appeal. These can be promoted as ‘geotourism’ through conservation, education, and sustainable development.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

3. THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ECONOMIC SURVEY 2021-22

THE CONTEXT: The Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs, presented the Economic Survey 2021-22 in Parliament on 31 January 2022. The highlights of the Economic Survey are as follows:

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

• Indian economy estimated to grow by 9.2 percent in real terms in 2021-22 (as per first advanced estimates) subsequent to a contraction of 7.3 percent in 2020-21.
• GDP projected to grow by 8- 8.5 percent in real terms in 2022-23.
• The year ahead poised for a pickup in private sector investment with the financial system in good position to provide support for economy’s revival.
• Projection comparable with World Bank and Asian Development Bank’s latest forecasts of real GDP growth of 8.7 percent and 7.5 percent respectively for 2022-23.
• As per IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook projections, India’s real GDP projected to grow at 9 percent in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and at 7.1 percent in 2023-2024, which would make India the fastest growing major economy in the world for all 3years.
• Agriculture and allied sectors expected to grow by 3.9 percent; industry by 11.8 percent and services sector by 8.2 percent in 2021-22.
• On demand side, consumption estimated to grow by 7.0 percent, Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) by 15 percent, exports by 16.5 percent and imports by 29.4 percent in 2021-22.
• Macroeconomic stability indicators suggest that the Indian Economy is well placed to take on the challenges of 2022-23.
• Combination of high foreign exchange reserves sustained foreign direct investment, and rising export earnings will provide adequate buffer against possible global liquidity tapering in 2022-23.
• Economic impact of “second wave” was much smaller than that during the full lockdown phase in 2020-21, though health impact was more severe.
• Government of India’s unique response comprised of safety-nets to cushion the impact on vulnerable sections of society and the business sector, significant increase in capital expenditure to spur growth and supply side reforms for a sustained long-term expansion.
• Government’s flexible and multi-layered response is partly based on an “Agile” framework that uses feedback-loops, and the use of eighty High Frequency Indicators (HFIs) in an environment of extreme uncertainty.

 Fiscal Developments:

• The revenue receipts from the Central Government (April to November, 2021) have gone up by 67.2 percent (YoY) as against an expected growth of 9.6 percent in the 2021-22 Budget Estimates (over 2020-21 Provisional Actuals).
• Gross Tax Revenue registers a growth of over 50 percent during April to November, 2021 in YoY terms. This performance is strong compared to pre-pandemic levels of 2019-2020 also.
• During April-November 2021, Capex has grown by 13.5 percent (YoY) with focus on infrastructure-intensive sectors.
• Sustained revenue collection and a targeted expenditure policy has contained the fiscal deficit for April to November, 2021 at 46.2 percent of BE.
• With the enhanced borrowings on account of COVID-19, the Central Government debt has gone up from 49.1 percent of GDP in 2019-20 to 59.3 percent of GDP in 2020-21, but is expected to follow a declining trajectory with the recovery of the economy.

External Sectors:

• India’s merchandise exports and imports rebounded strongly and surpassed pre-COVID levels during the current financial year.
• There was significant pickup in net services with both receipts and payments crossing the pre-pandemic levels, despite weak tourism revenues.
• Net capital flows were higher at US$ 65.6 billion in the first half of 2021-22, on account of continued inflow of foreign investment, revival in net external commercial borrowings, higher banking capital and additional special drawing rights (SDR) allocation.
• India’s external debt rose to US $ 593.1 billion at end-September 2021, from US $ 556.8 billion a year earlier, reflecting additional SDR allocation by IMF, coupled with higher commercial borrowings.
• Foreign Exchange Reserves crossed US$ 600 billion in the first half of 2021-22 and touched US $ 633.6 billion as of December 31, 2021.
• As of end-November 2021, India was the fourth largest forex reserves holder in the world after China, Japan and Switzerland.

Monetary Management and Financial Intermediation:

• The liquidity in the system remained in surplus.
• Repo rate was maintained at 4 per cent in 2021-22.
• RBI undertook various measures such as G-Sec Acquisition Programme and Special Long-Term Repo Operations to provide further liquidity.
• The economic shock of the pandemic has been weathered well by the commercial banking system:
• YoY Bank credit growth accelerated gradually in 2021-22 from 5.3 per cent in April 2021 to 9.2 per cent as on 31st December 2021.
• The Gross Non-Performing Advances ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) declined from 11.2 per cent at the end of 2017-18 to 6.9 per cent at the end of September, 2021.
• Net Non-Performing Advances ratio declined from 6 percent to 2.2 per cent during the same period.
• Capital to risk-weighted asset ratio of SCBs continued to increase from 13 per cent in 2013-14 to 16.54 per cent at the end of September 2021.
• The Return on Assets and Return on Equity for Public Sector Banks continued to be positive for the period ending September 2021.
• Exceptional year for the capital markets:
• 89,066 crore was raised via 75 Initial Public Offering (IPO) issues in April-November 2021, which is much higher than in any year in the last decade.
• Sensex and Nifty scaled up to touch peak at 61,766 and 18,477 on October 18, 2021.
• Among major emerging market economies, Indian markets outperformed peers in April-December 2021.

Prices and Inflation:

The average headline CPI-Combined inflation moderated to 5.2 per cent in 2021-22 (April-December) from 6.6 per cent in the corresponding period of 2020-21.

• The decline in retail inflation was led by easing of food inflation.
• Food inflation averaged at a low of 2.9 per cent in 2021-22 (April to December) as against 9.1 per cent in the corresponding period last year.
• Effective supply-side management kept prices of most essential commodities under control during the year.
• Proactive measures were taken to contain the price rise in pulses and edible oils.
• Reduction in central excise and subsequent cuts in Value Added Tax by most States helped ease petrol and diesel prices.

Wholesale inflation based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) rose to 12.5 per cent during 2021-22 (April to December). This has been attributed to:

• Low base in the previous year,
• Pick-up in economic activity,
• Sharp increase in international prices of crude oil and other imported inputs, and
• High freight costs.

Divergence between CPI-C and WPI Inflation:

• The divergence peaked to 9.6 percentage points in May 2020.
• However, this year there was a reversal in divergence with retail inflation falling below wholesale inflation by 8.0 percentage points in December 2021.

This divergence can be explained by factors such as:

• Variations due to base effect,
• Difference in scope and coverage of the two indices,
• Price collections,
• Items covered,
• Difference in commodity weights, and
• WPI being more sensitive to cost-push inflation led by imported inputs.

With the gradual waning of base effect in WPI, the divergence in CPI-C and WPI is also expected to narrow down.

Sustainable Development and Climate Change:

• India’s overall score on the NITI Aayog SDG India Index and Dashboard improved to 66 in 2020-21 from 60 in 2019-20 and 57 in 2018-19.
• Number of Front Runners (scoring 65-99) increased to 22 States and UTs in 2020-21 from 10 in 2019-20.
• In North East India, 64 districts were Front Runners and 39 districts were Performers in the NITI Aayog North-Eastern Region District SDG Index 2021-22.
• India has the tenth largest forest area in the world.
• In 2020, India ranked third globally in increasing its forest area during 2010 to 2020.
• In 2020, the forests covered 24% of India’s total geographical, accounting for 2% of the world’s total forest area.
• In August 2021, the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, was notified which is aimed at phasing out single use plastic by 2022.
• Draft regulation on Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging was notified.
• The Compliance status of Grossly Polluting Industries (GPIs) located in the Ganga main stem and its tributaries improved from 39% in 2017 to 81% in 2020.
• The consequent reduction in effluent discharge has been from 349.13 millions of litres per day (MLD) in 2017 to 280.20 MLD in 2020.
• The Prime Minister, as a part of the national statement delivered at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP 26) in Glasgow in November 2021, announced ambitious targets to be achieved by 2030 to enable further reduction in emissions.

The need to start the one-word movement ‘LIFE’ (Lifestyle for Environment) urging mindful and deliberate utilization instead of mindless and destructive consumption was underlined.

Agriculture and Food Management:

• The Agriculture sector experienced buoyant growth in past two years, accounting for a sizeable 18.8% (2021-22) in Gross Value Added (GVA) of the country registering a growth of 3.6% in 2020-21 and 3.9% in 2021-22.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy is being used to promote crop diversification.
• Net receipts from crop production have increased by 22.6% in the latest Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) compared to SAS Report of 2014.
• Allied sectors including animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries are steadily emerging to be high growth sectors and major drivers of overall growth in agriculture sector.
• The Livestock sector has grown at a CAGR of 8.15% over the last five years ending 2019-20. It has been a stable source of income across groups of agricultural households accounting for about 15% of their average monthly income.
• Government facilitates food processing through various measures of infrastructure development, subsidized transportation and support for formalization of micro food enterprises.
• India runs one of the largest food management programmes in the world.
• Government has further extended the coverage of food security network through schemes like PM Gareeb Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY).

Industry and Infrastructure:

• Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew at 17.4 percent (YoY) during April-November 2021 as compared to (-)15.3 percent in April-November 2020.
• Capital expenditure for the Indian railways has increased to Rs. 155,181 crores in 2020-21 from an average annual of Rs. 45,980 crores during 2009-14 and it has been budgeted to further increase to Rs. 215,058 crores in 2021-22 – a five times increase in comparison to the 2014 level.
• Extent of road construction per day increased substantially in 2020-21 to 36.5 Kms per day from 28 Kms per day in 2019-20 – a rise of 30.4 percent.
• Net profit to sales ratio of large corporates reached an all-time high of 10.6 percent in in July-September quarter of 2021-22 despite the pandemic (RBI Study).
• Introduction of Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, major boost provided to infrastructure-both physical as well as digital, along with measures to reduce transaction costs and improve ease of doing business, would support the pace of recovery.

Services:

• GVA of services crossed pre-pandemic level in July-September quarter of 2021-22; however, GVA of contact intensive sectors like trade, transport, etc. still remain below pre-pandemic level.
• Overall service Sector GVA is expected to grow by 8.2 percent in 2021-22.
• During April-December 2021, rail freight crossed its pre-pandemic level while air freight and port traffic almost reached their pre-pandemic levels, domestic air and rail passenger traffic are increasing gradually – shows impact of second wave was much more muted as compared to during first wave.
• During the first half of 2021-22, service sector received over US$ 16.7 billion FDI – accounting for almost 54 percent of total FDI inflows into India.
• IT-BPM services revenue reached US$ 194 billion in 2020-21, adding 1.38 lakh employees during the same period.
• Major government reforms include, removing telecom regulations in IT-BPO sector and opening up of space sector to private players.
• Services exports surpassed pre-pandemic level in January-March quarter of 2020-21 and grew by 21.6 percent in the first half of 2021-22 – strengthened by global demand for software and IT services exports.
• India has become 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world after US and China. Number of new recognized start-ups increased to over 14000 in 2021-22 from 733 in 2016-17.
• 44 Indian start-ups have achieved unicorn status in 2021 taking overall tally of unicorns to 83, most of which are in services sector.

Social Infrastructure and Employment:

• 94 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines administered as on 16th January 2022; 91.39 crore first dose and 66.05 crore second dose.
• With revival of economy, employment indicators bounced back to pre-pandemic levels during last quarter of 2020-21.
• As per the quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PFLS) data up to March 2021, employment in urban sector affected by pandemic has recovered almost to the pre-pandemic level.
• According to Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) data, formalization of jobs continued during second COVID wave; adverse impact of COVID on formalization of jobs much lower than during the first COVID wave.
• Expenditure on social services (health, education and others) by Centre and States as a proportion of GDP increased from 6.2 % in 2014-15 to 8.6% in 2021-22 (BE)

As per the National Family Health Survey-5:

• Total Fertility Rate (TFR) came down to 2 in 2019-21 from 2.2 in 2015-16
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), under-five mortality rate and institutional births have improved in 2019-21 over year 2015-16
• Under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), 83 districts have become ‘Har Ghar Jal’ districts.
• Increased allotment of funds to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) to provide buffer for unorganized labour in rural areas during the pandemic.

4. THE CROSS-BORDER INSOLVENCY FRAME WORK

THE CONTEXT: The Economic Survey 2021-22 has called for a standardised framework for Cross-Border insolvency as the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) at present does not have a standard instrument to restructure the firms involving cross border jurisdictions leading to several issues.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The proposal to frame a robust cross border insolvency framework has already been highlighted in the report of the Insolvency Law Committee (ILC) which had recommended the adoption of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) with certain modifications to make it suitable to the Indian context.
• UNCITRAL on Cross-Border Insolvency, 1997 has emerged as the most widely accepted legal framework to deal with cross-border insolvency issues”.
• It provides a legislative framework that can be adopted by countries with modifications to suit the domestic context of the enacting jurisdiction.
• It has been adopted by 49 countries until now, such as Singapore, the U.K., the U.S.,South Africa and Korea. This law addresses the core issues of cross border insolvency cases with the help of four main principles which includes access, recognition, cooperation, and coordination.
• It allows foreign professionals and creditors direct access to domestic courts and enables them to participate in and commence domestic insolvency proceedings against a debtor. It also allows recognition of foreign proceedings and enables courts to determine relief accordingly. Also, it provides a framework for cooperation between insolvency professionals and courts of countries and allows for coordination in the conduct of concurrent proceedings in different justifications.

What is the Need?

• Cross border insolvency signifies circumstances in which an insolvent debtor has assets and/or creditors in more than one country.Typically, domestic laws prescribe procedures, for identifying and locating the debtors’ assets; calling in the assets and converting them into a monetary form; making distributions to creditors in accordance with the appropriate priority etc. for domestic creditors/debtors.
• At present, the IBC provides for the domestic laws for the handling of an insolvent enterprise but not to restructure the firms involving cross border jurisdictions.

 About UNCITRAL:

• The UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is a subsidiary body of the U.N. General Assembly. Established by the UNGA in 1966. Headquartered at Vienna.
• Aim: It is responsible for helping to facilitate international trade and investment.
• Mandate: “To promote the progressive harmonization and unification of international trade law” through conventions, model laws, and other instruments that address key areas of commerce, from dispute resolution to the procurement and sale of goods.
• The Tribunal constituted in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules 1976 is seated at the Hague, Netherlands, and proceedings are administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 1^ST FEBRUARY  2022

1. Consider the following statements about Theyyam:
2. It is a popular ritual form of dance worship in Kerala.
3. It is only performed by males.
4. There is no stage for the performance.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

a only

b 2 and 3 only

c 1 and 3 only

d All of them

ANSWER FOR 31^ST JAN 2022

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: It is kind of extra-tropical or mid-latitude cyclone.
• Statement 2 is correct: It occurs when a storm & central barometric pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
• Statement 3 is correct: It can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. INDIA-ASEAN DIGITAL WORK PLAN 2022

THE CONTEXT: During the second the 2nd ASEAN Digital Ministers (ADGMIN) meeting,India-ASEAN Digital Work Plan 2022 approved by the Union Ministry for Communications.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The ADGMIN is an annual meeting of Telecom Ministers of 10 ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam and dialogue partner countries – Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, UK and US.
• The meeting discussed and deliberated various matters relevant to strengthening regional digital cooperation in the spirit of digital inclusion and integration.

About the Work Plan:

• The work plan includes system for combating the use of stolen and counterfeit mobile handsets, WiFi Access network interface for nationwide public internet, the capacity building and knowledge sharing in emerging areas in the field of Information and Communication Technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Advanced Satellite Communication, Cyber Forensics, etc. Communication Technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), 5G, Advanced Satellite Communication, Cyber Forensics, etc. The ongoing and proposed projects in ICTs, will strengthen collaboration between India and ASEAN by leveraging complementary strengths of each other.

THE ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

2. PARASITIC FLOWERING PLANT DISCOVERED FROM NICOBAR ISLANDS

THE CONTEXT: A new genus of a parasitic flowering plant has recently been discovered from the Nicobar group of islands. The genus Septemeranthus grows on the plant species Horsfieldia glabra (Blume) Warb.

THE EXPLANATION:

• It is endemic only to the Nicobar group of islands.
• The genus Septemeranthushas a distinct vegetative morphology, inflorescence architecture and floral characters. The leaves of the plant are heart-shaped with a very long tip and the ovary,fruit and seeds are ‘urceolate’ (earthen pot-shaped).
• In addition to Septemeranthus, four other genera on non-parasitic plants, Nicobariodendron (Hippocrateaceae), Pseudodiplospora (Rubiaceae), Pubistylis (Rubiaceae),  Sphyranthera, (Euphorbiaceae) have also been discovered earlier from Nicobar group of islands, highlighting the ecological significance of the region.
• The newly discovered plant that derives nutrients from its hosts has green leaves capable of photosynthesis.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

3. THE DESIGN-LINKED INCENTIVE (DLI) SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: Recently, India has invited applications from 100 domestic companies, startups and small and medium enterprises to become a part of the design-linked incentive (DLI) scheme.  Along with it the IT ministry has sought proposals from academia, start-ups and MSMEs to train 85,000 qualified engineers on semiconductor design and manufacturing.

What is the DLI scheme?

• The DLI scheme aims to provide financial and infrastructural support to companies setting up fabs or semiconductor making plants in India.
• It will offer fiscal support of up to 50% of the total cost to eligible participants who can set up these fabs in the country. It will also offer fiscal support of 30% of the capital expenditure to participants for building compound semiconductors, silicon photonics and sensors fabrication plants in India, under this scheme.
• According to MeitY,an incentive of 4% to 6% on net sales will be provided for five years to companies of semiconductor design for integrated circuits, chipsets, system on chips, systems and IP cores. It is expected to facilitate the growth of at least 20 such companies which can achieve a turnover of more than ₹1500 crore in the coming five years.

GLOBAL PLAYERS:

• According to estimates by NXP semiconductors. A small number of chipmakers based largely in Taiwan and South Korea produce up to 70% of the world’s semiconductors.
• The EU has also announced a public-private semiconductor alliance with the goal of increasing Europe’s chip production share to 20% by 2030.

CHALLENGES FOR INDIA:

• Setting up fabs is capital intensive and needs investment in the range of $5 billion to $10 billion.
• Lack of investments and supportive government policies are some of the challenges in India.
• Crucial infrastructure like connectivity to airports, seaports and availability of gallons of pure water are the other challenges to set up fabs in India.

HOW THIS SCHEME BENEFITS ?

• The DLI scheme aims to attract existing and global players as it will support their expenditures related to design software, IP rights, development, testing and deployment.
• It will boost the domestic companies, start-ups, and MSMEs to develop and deploy the semiconductor design. It will also help global investors to choose India as their preferred investment destination.
• The firm reckons that this is a big step to bring India on the world map for semiconductor manufacturing.

According to experts, the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme along with the recent Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme have become crucial in shaping India as an efficient, equitable, and resilient design and manufacturing hub.

4. WHAT IS REVERSE REPO NORMALISATION?

THE CONTEXT: State Bank of India’s economic research team believes the stage is set for a reverse repo normalization.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The RBI’s revised liquidity management framework (February 2020) has retained the width of the liquidity management corridor at 50 basis points – the reverse repo rate being 25 basis points below the repo rate (of 4 per cent) and the Marginal Standing Facility rate 25 basis points above the repo rate.
• The purpose of the aforementioned cut in reverse repo rate was to make it relatively unattractive for banks to passively deposit funds with the Reserve Bank and use these funds for on-lending to productive sectors of the economy.

• This process of normalisation, which is aimed at curbing inflation, will not only reduce excess liquidity but also result in higher interest rates across the board in the Indian economy — thus reducing the demand for money among consumers (since it would make more sense to just keep the money in the bank) and making it costlier for businesses to borrow fresh loans.

5. INDIA-UAE VC FUND SET UP TO BOOST START-UP ECOSYSTEM

THE CONTEXT: A $150-millionIndia-UAE venture capital fund to fuel growth of start-ups in India and the UAE was launched at EXPO2020 Dubai.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The VC Fund is a first-of-its-kind to be set up in the UAE to source, invest and nurture promising start-ups through an accelerator to fuel the growth of India-UAE start-ups. It will be funded by investors across UAE, India and wider GCC countries.
• The Fund will also act as a catalyst to provide a process for developing early-stage start-ups in India and the UAE into viable global ventures and making them attain the unicorn level. It will target to invest in a minimum of 50 demonstrated and validated start-ups based in India and the UAE over a period of 5 years, turning 10 unicorns by 2025.

What is meant by Venture Capital?

• Venture Capital is a financing tool for companies and an investment vehicle for wealthy individuals and institutional investors. Wealthy investors like to invest their capital in startups with a long-term growth perspective.
• This capital is called venture capital and the investors are called venture capitalists, in other words, it is a way for companies to receive money in the short term and for investors to grow wealth in the long term.

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

6. THE MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF ASAFOETIDA

THE CONTEXT: In 2020, the scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) — Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) based in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, announced that they had planted 800 saplings of Ferulaasafoetida in the cold desert region of Lahaul and Spiti.

THE EXPLANATION:

• ASAFOETIDA (hing in Hindi, perungayam in Tamil): An integral part of Indian cuisine and natural medicine, asafoetida is extracted from the fleshy roots of the perennial ferula (part of the celery family) as an oleo-gum resin. It is also known colloquially as “devil’s dung” in English.
• Cold desert climatic conditions in the Lahaul–Spiti area in Himachal Pradesh are remarkably similar to those in the Iran and Afghanistan. Efforts are being done to grow it in that area.
• It has a pungent smell due to sulphide content, as reflected in its name, lending it the trivial name of “stinking gum”. The odour dissipates upon cooking; in cooked dishes.
• The chemical constituents shows that the raw herb has about 70% carbohydrates, 5% proteins, 1% fat, 7% minerals, and has compounds of calcium, phosphorus, sulphurand various aliphatic and aromatic alcohols.

What is the Need?

According to the CSIR-IHBT, Palampur, “the country imports about 1,540 tonnes of raw asafoetida annually from Afghanistan, Iran and Uzbekistan and spends approximately ₹942 crore per year on it. It is important for India to become self-sufficient in hing production”.

It has a wide range of applications in the field of medicine:

• It has been suggested to fight viruses such as influenza.
• Ayurveda suggests it for good digestion.
• To stop hiccups.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY 31^ST JANUARY 2022

Consider the following statements about Bomb cyclone:

1. It is a kind of tropical cyclone.
2. It occurs when a storm central barometric pressure drops at least 24 millibars in 24 hours.
3. It can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) All of them

ANSWER FOR 29^TH JAN 2022

Answer: d)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The electoral bonds will not bear the name of the donor. Thus, the political party might not be aware of the donor identity.
• Statement 2 is correct: The electoral bond will be valid only for fifteen days.
• Statement 3 is correct: A donor will get a tax deduction and the recipient, or the political party, will get tax exemption, provided returns are filed by the political party.
• Statement 4 is correct: On April 12, 2019, the Supreme Court asked all the political parties to
  submit details of donations received through electoral bonds to the ECI.