CONTEXT: The Bihar government has recently released the results of its recently concluded survey of castes in the state.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY

• The survey puts the share of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) cumulatively at more than 63% (EBC :36.01% and OBC: 27.12%). The “unreserved” category of so-called “forward” castes is about 15.52% and scheduled castes 19.65% and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are (1.68%).
• Bihar’s population, according to the survey, is 13.07 crore compared to the 10.41 crore recorded in the 2011 census. Hindus comprise 81.99% of the population, and Muslims 17.72%. The populations of Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and other religious denominations are minuscule.

WHAT IS A CASTE CENSUS?

• Caste census means inclusion of caste-wise tabulation of India’s population in the Census exercise.
• India has counted and published caste data from 1951 to 2011of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes only. It also publishes data related to religions, languages and socio economic status.
• The Ministry of Rural Development Government of India, commenced the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, in June 2011 through a comprehensive door to door enumeration across the country.
• However, SECC 2011 did not publish the caste data. The SECC data excluding caste data was finalized and published in 2016.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CASTE SURVEY:

• Identity Politics: Caste survey can enforce Identity politics as it will become easier to resonate with vote bank politics. Party campaign tends to play upon fixed identities and harnessing the ides of shared ideas and shared concerns. Also, in the case of Bihar unified EBC leadership may receive a new fillip. Similarly, Political coalition will get shaped and reshaped.
• Amplify calls for enumeration outside state:Bihar’s caste survey will also amplify calls for enumeration outside the stateand even on nationwide.This comes amid submission of Justice G Rohini Commission report.
• Inclusive growth: Caste based survey can acts as equalizing forces. With the help of caste numbers an informed public decision making can be done with at the same time giving aspiration and freedom of opportunity to marginalized sections. The survey has not only considered one’s caste but also one’s economic status, which would help us devise further policies and plans for the development of all classes.”
• Renewed demand for reservation: It may create opportunity for renewed backward class mobilization and can amplify demand for OBC quota beyond 27%. The survey data will also reopen the longstanding debate over the 50% ceiling on reservation imposed by the Supreme Court in its landmark ruling in Indra Sawhney v Union of India (1992).

ISSUES INVOLVED:

• Not holistic image: The survey may not capture the holistic image of the dynamic changes which may lead to inaccurate representations of reality. The dynamic changes may include intra caste variation and associated historical changes that fail to take into account contemporary changes.
• Political Manipulation: Caste-based data can beexploited by politicians for short-term gainsleading to vote bank politics. This can divert attention from genuine policy issues and can led to division in society.
• Stigmatization of marginalized groups: Disclosure of caste identities could lead to individuals being stigmatized or discriminated against based on preconceived notions associated with certain castes.
• Census under the union list:Census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948.According to the constitution, Census is aUnion subject under list I, entry 69, schedule 7. Thus, it is held that it empowers only the central government to conduct census. Hence, by conducting the survey the state is violating the constitutional provisions according to critics.

WAY FORWARD:

• Balanced approach: There is a need of balanced approach for conducting a caste-based survey with establishing a clear ethical framework with informed consent that prioritizes privacy and dignity of citizens.
• Awareness campaigns: Public awareness campaigns with regular reviews and capacity-building initiatives can contribute to a long-term vision of conducting census with aim of reducing inequalities and fostering social integration.
• Uphold democratic principles: The census data should not become a weapon for increasing polarization to win elections and there is need to uphold democracy and the enhance the notion of representative democracy.
• Undoing historical injustice: Caste census data can be used as an instrument to address historically embedded backward and inequality and it can provide government opportunity for social justice.

CONCLUSION: There is no doubt that the publication of the Bihar caste survey results is an important moment in national politics. However, data must be handled with care and should not lead to shrinking of the very notion of representation in a large and diverse democracy.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/editorials/bihar-caste-survey-a-welcome-step-8965726/

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION

1. How do you explain the statistics that show that the sex ratio in Tribes in India is more favourable to women than the sex ratio among Scheduled Castes? (2015)
2. Though there have been several different estimates of poverty in India, all indicate reduction in poverty levels over time. Do you agree? Critically examine with reference to urban and rural poverty indicators. (2015)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. How can Caste based Survey help policymakers design and implement more effective policies to reduce socio-economic inequalities? Comment.
2. How Caste based Census can shape the identity politics in the country at regional and national level? Explain.

THE INDIAN HISTORY

1. EXPLAINED: RECALLING ‘QUIT INDIA’, WHEN ORDINARY INDIANS TOOK TO THE STREETS WITH A VOW TO ‘DO OR DIE’

THE CONTEXT: On this day 80 years ago — on August 9, 1942 — the people of India launched the decisive final phase of the struggle for independence. It was a mass upsurge against colonial rule on a scale not seen earlier, and it sent out the unmistakable message that the sun was about to set on the British Empire in India.
THE EXPLANATION:
About Quit India Movement:
• The call for Quit India Movement was given on August 8, 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi in a bid to end the British rule in India. the movement was launched at Mumbai session of the All-India Congress Committee. In the speech at August Kranti Maidan (Gowalia Tank maidan) in Mumbai, Mahatma Gandhi made a called for “Do or Die for Independence”.
• During the movement, Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the Indian flag at the August Kranti Maidan. Yusuf Meherally is also associated with the Movement, who gave the slogan of “Quit India” and “Simon Go Back”. This movement aimed at asking the British to grant Independence to India.
Immediate cause of Quit India Movement
• Immediate cause for Quit India failure of Cripps Mission, that was sent under Stafford Cripps to resolve the Indian question regarding new constitution and self-government. Cripps Mission failed because it did not offer complete freedom to India. It was for ‘Dominion Status to India’ along with partition.
Failure of the Quit India Movement
• The Quit India Movement was supposed to be a peaceful and non-violent movement. But it witnessed violence at some places. Furthermore, Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha and the Communist Party of India did not extended support to it. As a result, movement was suppressed by British, violently.
Gandhi’s address: Do or Die
• On August 8, 1942, Gandhi addressed the people in the Gowalia Tank maidan in Bombay (Mumbai). “Here is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. Imprint it on your hearts, so that in every breath you give expression to it,” he said.
• “The mantra is: ‘Do or Die’. We shall either free India or die trying; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery,” Gandhi said. Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the Tricolour on the ground. The Quit India movement had been officially announced.

THE INDIAN POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. MANIPUR’S NRC EXERCISE

THE CONTEXT: On July 5, the 60-member Manipur Assembly resolved to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and establish a State Population Commission (SPC).
THE EXPLANATION:
• The approval to a couple of private member resolutions moved by Janata Dal (United) MLA, came after more than two dozen organizations, most of them tribal, demanded an Assam-like NRC to protect the indigenous people from a perceived demographic invasion by “non-local residents”.
• The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register of all Indian citizens whose creation is mandated by the 2003 amendment of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India.
• Its purpose is to document all the legal citizens of India so that the illegal immigrants can be identified and deported.
• It has been implemented for the state of Assam starting in 2013–2014.
• The GoI announced plans to implement it for the rest of the country in 2021, but it has not yet been implemented.

NRC and Assam
• Assam, being a border state with unique problems of illegal immigration, had a register of citizens created for it in 1951 based on the 1951 census data.
• However, it was not maintained afterwards.
• For decades, the presence of migrants, often called “bahiragat” or outsiders, has been a loaded issue here.
• The Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983 was then passed by the Parliament, creating a separate tribunal process for identifying illegal migrants in Assam.
• The Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional in 2005, after which the Centre agreed to update the Assam NRC.
Who is a Foreigner in Assam?
• The National Register of Citizens now takes its definition of illegal immigrants from the Assam Accord – anyone who cannot prove that they or their ancestors entered the country before the midnight of March 24, 1971, would be declared a foreigner and face deportation.
• Those who entered on or after March 25, 1971, the eve of the Bangladesh War, would be declared foreigners and deported.
• This means you could be born in India in 1971 to parents who crossed the border in that year, and still be termed an illegal immigrant at the age of 48.
CAA and NRC protests
• These were a series of protests in India against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which was enacted into law on December 12, 2019, and against the nationwide implementation of the NRC.
• Protesters in all regions are concerned that the upcoming compilation of the National Register of Citizens might be used to deprive a community of its Indian citizenship.
VALUE ADDITION:
National Population Register (NPR)
• The NPR is a database containing a list of all usual residents of the country.
• Its objective is to have a comprehensive identity database of people residing in the country.
• It is generated through house-to-house enumeration during the “house-listing” phase of the census, which is held once in 10 years.
• A usual resident for the purposes of NPR is a person who has resided in a place for six months or more, and intends to reside there for another six months or more.
• Once the basic details of the head of the family are taken by the enumerator, an acknowledgement slip will be issued. This slip may be required for enrolment in NPR, whenever that process begins.
• And, once the details are recorded in every local (village or ward), sub-district (tehsil or taluk), district and State level, there will be a population register at each of these levels.
• Together, they constitute the National Population Register.

3. NITI AAYOG GOVERNING COUNCIL MEETING

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the 7th Governing Council meeting was held at Rashtrapati Bhawan Cultural Centre in New Delhi. It was chaired by Prime Minister. It was the first in-person meeting of the council since July 2019.
THE EXPLANATION:
Agenda of the NITI Aayog meeting were;
• To achieve self-sufficiency in pulses, oilseeds & other agri-communities.
• Issues of crop diversification and National Education Policy were also discussed, besides the Urban Governance.
• States’ interventions were moderated by Defence Minister.
• External Affairs Minister gave presentation on India’s G20 presidency from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.
• Discussions on ‘ongoing controversy related to freebies’ could not held.
• Many states raised concerns on Minimum support price for farmers, review of GST, shortage of IAS officers, and increased allocation of funds for states.
• NITI Aayog will increase its outreach to states on how it could collaborate with them further.
• They discussed on how to lower down dependence imported edible oils, from 50 % to 25% in coming years.
• During the meeting, PM note that, every state played a significant role in fight against Covid-19. India’s federal structure and cooperative federalism have become a model for the world during covid pandemic.
NITI Aayog’s Governing Council:
Members of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog include-
• Prime Minister of India
• Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories with legislature
• Ex-Officio Members
• Lt Governors of Union Territories
• Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog
• Full-Time Members of NITI Aayog and
• Special Invitees.

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. INDIAN ARMY ‘SKYLIGHT’ MEGA- EXERCISE

THE CONTEXT: The Indian Army recently conducted “Skylight Mega-Exercise”, to enhance its space domain capabilities. It was first of its kind large-scale exercise. Skylight exercise was aimed at testing operational readiness of satellite communication assets and giving training to personnel manning these assets.
THE EXPLANATION:
• Skylight Mega-Exercise was pan-India exercise, covering Lakshadweep and Andaman Islands. It also covered high reaches of India’s northern borders where Indian Army had activated all satellite communication assets from July 25-29, 2022.
• During the exercise, several technical and operational scenarios in space domain were pointed up.
• The exercise witnessed the participation of ISRO and other agencies responsible for space & ground segments.
• More than 280 platforms were checked in field formations.
• Indian Army makes use of services of a number of satellites by ISRO. These satellites are used to connect multiple communication terminals of different types, including transportable vehicle mounted terminals, static terminals, small form factor etc.
Communication Satellite of Indian Army:
Satellite communication networks are being used by The Indian Army across some of the remote border areas. On the other hand, Navy and Air Force have satellite of their own. Thus, Indian Army is also working to have its own communication satellite, called GSAT-7B, by 2025. Indian Army got the nod from Defence Acquisition Council to work on Satellite GSAT-7B in March 2022.
About GSAT-7B Satellite:
The GSAT-7B satellite is an indigenous multiband satellite, that has been designed with advanced security features. Satellite will extend support to tactical communication needs of the troops deployed on the ground as well remotely piloted air defence weapons, aircraft, & other mission.

THE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

5. THE PARVAZ MARKET LINKAGE SCHEME

THE CONTEXT: Government of Jammu & Kashmir launched the “PARVAZ Market Linkage Scheme” recently. This is an innovative Market Linkage scheme, having tremendous potential to uplift the economic conditions of farmers across Jammu and Kashmir.
THE EXPLANATION:
About PARVAZ Market Linkage Scheme:
• The PARVAZ scheme was launched with the aim of creating market linkage support for shipment of Agriculture & Horticulture perishables from Jammu and Kashmir.
• Under the scheme, government will provide a subsidy of 25% on freight charges, in a bid to carry perishable fruits through Air Cargo. Subsidy will be provided to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
• Scheme is being implemented by Jammu & Kashmir Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (JKHPMC).
• JKHPMC is spreading awareness among farmers regarding the significance of PARVAZ scheme so that they could benefit from it.
Significance of the Scheme:
Government has made the documentation work related to scheme simple and easy. Farmers will get the subsidy on time, under the scheme. This scheme seeks to benefit the farmers in doubling their income. Thus, it will ensure economic and social welfare of the farmers. They will receive the price of their produce directly in bank account and no intermediary will get involved.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6. AUGUST 7: NATIONAL HANDLOOM DAY

THE CONTEXT: National Handloom Day is celebrated in India on August 7, every year. The day highlights the contribution of handloom industry in socio-economic development of India. It also raises awareness among people regarding the handloom industry. Ministry of Textile is the nodal agency of the celebration.
THE EXPLANATION:
About Indian handloom Industry:
• Handloom Industry is the largest industry in India.
• Products manufactured by weaving community of this sector are popular worldwide.
• It is a significant employment source across rural areas of India.
• This sector is an important player in women empowerment. 70% of all weavers and allied workers are women.
• Indian handloom sector exports its products to more than 20 countries worldwide, like the UK, the USA, France, Germany, and South Africa.
HISTORY OF THE DAY
• India’s handloom industry played a significant role in Swadeshi Movement, which was launched on August 7, 1905.
• Swadeshi movement was aimed at curbing dependency on foreign goods and boosting domestic production.
• As a part of the movement, production of khadi started in almost every household.
• When India got independence, Indian flag made of Khadi was unfurled near India Gate.
• Thus, the National Handloom Day is celebrated on August 7, the same day when Swadeshi Movement was started.
• First National Handloom Day was celebrated on August 7, 2015; in Chennai.
• National Handloom Day is observed in the honour handloom weaving community. The day highlights the contribution weaving community across several sectors of India, including rural employment. The day also seeks to protect the rich handloom heritage of India as well as to empower handloom community by providing better opportunities.

THE NEWS IN NUMBERS

7. INFRA ASSETS MONETISED

1.62 In ₹ lakh crore, the worth of infrastructure assets expected to be monetised during FY22-23. The government had last year announced a ₹6 lakh crore National Monetisation Pipeline to unlock value in infrastructure assets across sectors till 2025. Minister of State for Finance said about ₹97,000 crore worth of public assets were monetised in the last fiscal. The proposed transactions include highway TOT bundles and InvIT future rounds, redevelopment of sports stadia etc.

8. SCHEME FOR BEEDI WORKERS

49.82 In lakh, the number of ‘beedi’ workers and their families in India, for whom the Centre is running a labour welfare scheme, according to Union Labour and Employment Minister . He said the scheme envisages health care facilities, scholarships and housing for the workers. He added that under the scheme, health care facility is provided to ‘beedi’ workers and their families within a network of 285 dispensaries and 10 hospitals across the country.

9. INSOLVENCY CASES

1,999 The number of cases of corporate insolvency resolution processes (CIRP) going on under the insolvency law as of June this year out of which only 436 are in the real estate sector. These resolutions are done under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code which provides for resolutions through a market-driven process. The Minister of State for Corporate Affairs said that the time taken for CIRP depended on factors such as market sentiments, marketing efforts and so on.

GRAPHICALLY SPEAKING: CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SURVEY 2022

THE HEALTH ISSUES

1.INDIA’S FIRST HPV VACCINE COULD MEAN FOR FIGHT AGAINST CERVICAL CANCER

THE CONTEXT:The Serum Institute of India (SII)’s vaccine Cervavac recently received the Drugs Controller General of India’s (DGCI) approval for market authorisation. Cervavac is India’s first quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) and intended to protect women against cervical cancer.

THE EXPLANATION:

Experts see this as a real opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer and have expressed the hope that it will be rolled out in national HPV vaccination strategies and be available a cost more affordable than existing vaccines.

The disease

• Cervical cancer is preventable but kills one woman every eight minutes in the country, according to reports. It is preventable as long as it is detected early and managed effectively.
• Cervical cancer is a common sexually transmitted infection. Long-lasting infection with certain types of HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer.
• Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer type and the second most common cause of cancer death in women of reproductive age (15–44). India accounts for about a fifth of the global burden, with 1.23 lakh cases and around 67,000 deaths per year according to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC-WHO).
• “Screening and vaccination are two powerful tools that are available for preventive cervical cancer. Still there is little awareness among women for prevention of this cancer and less than 10% of Indian women get screened. All women aged 30-49 must get screened for cervical cancer even if they have no symptoms and get their adolescent daughters vaccinated with HPV vaccine”.

Existing vaccines

• Two vaccines licensed globally are available in India — a quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil, from Merck) and a bivalent vaccine (Cervarix, from GlaxoSmithKline). Each dose costs Rs 2,800 per dose (Gradasil) or Rs 3,299 (Cervarix).Although HPV vaccination was introduced in 2008, it has yet to be included in the national immunisation programme.
• According to a report in the Indian Journal of Gynaecologic Oncology (December 2021), a vaccine delivery and demonstration project led by international non-profit organisation PATH was started in 2009 in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat but had to be suspended in 2010 as a result of public concern allegedly arising from the deaths of seven girls who received the vaccine.
• In 2016, a multidisciplinary expert group of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reviewed available evidence globally regarding immunogenicity and efficacy, adverse effects and cost effectiveness of HPV vaccines, and recommended that adolescent girls should be vaccinated with two doses.

The new vaccine

• The vaccine is based on VLP (virus like particles), similar to the hepatitis B vaccine, and provides protection by generating antibodies against the HPV virus’s L1 protein.
• Experts have expressed hope that the DGCI approval will allow the government to procure enough HPV vaccines at a special price to vaccinate nearly 50 million girls aged 9–14 years in India who are waiting to receive the vaccine. This will be a huge step to accelerate cervical cancer elimination in India and globally, a statement from IARC.

THE SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

2.THE GLOBAL GENDER GAP INDEX 2022

THE CONTEXT:The Global Gender Gap Index for 2022 was released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and it ranks India at 135 out of 146 countries. In 2021, India was ranked 140 out of 156 countries.

THE EXPLANATION:

What is the Global Gender Gap Index?

• The Global Gender Gap index “benchmarks the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions(Economic Participation and Opportunity,Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment)”. According to the WEF it is the longest-standing index, which tracks progress towards closing these gaps over time since its inception in 2006.
• On each of the four sub-indices as well as on the overall index the GGG index provides scores between 0 and 1, where 1 shows full gender parity and 0 is complete imparity. “The cross-country comparisons aim to support the identification of the most effective policies to close gender gaps,” states the report.
• 

How has India fared on different sub-indices?

• India has approximately 662 million (or 66.2 crore) women. In 2022, India’s overall score has improved from 0.625 (in 2021) to 0.629. “India’s (135th) global gender gap score has oscillated between 0.593 and 0.683 since the index was first compiled. In 2022, India scored 0.629, which is its seventh-highest score in the last 16 years,” states the report.
• The report notes that India’s score of 0.629 was its seventh-highest score in the last 16 years. India also “recovered” ground since 2021 in economic participation and opportunity though the report goes on to add that the labour force participation shrunk for both men (by -9.5 percentage points) and women (-3 percentage points).
• The gender parity score for estimated earned income improved because even though the values for both men and women diminished, the decline was more for men. India recorded a declining score on political empowerment due to the diminishing share of years women have served as head of state for the past 50 years.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABOUT WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM:

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a Swiss nonprofit foundation established in 1971, based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is recognised by the Swiss authorities as an international institution for public-private cooperation

What is the mission of WEF?

WEF is committed to improving the situation of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

Some of the major reports published by WEF are:

• Energy Transition Index,
• Global Competitiveness Report,
• Global IT Report (WEF along with INSEAD, and Cornell University publishes this report),
• Global Gender Gap Report,
• Global Risk Report
• Global Travel and Tourism Report

THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3.EXPLAINED: WHAT IS I2U2 THAT IS HOLDING ITS FIRST-EVER LEADER’S SUMMIT

THE CONTEXT:Prime Minister will participate in the first-ever I2U2 Virtual Summit along with the heads of state of Israel, the UAE, and the US according to a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

THE EXPLANATION:

What does I2U2 stand for?

• I2U2 stands for India, Israel, the UAE, and the US, and was also referred to as the ‘West Asian Quad’. Back in October 2021, a meeting of the foreign ministers of the four countries had taken place when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was visiting Israel. At that time, the grouping was called the ‘International Forum for Economic Cooperation’.
• The MEA said in its press release that the countries have had sherpa-level interactions regularly to discuss the possible areas of cooperation.

What is the aim of I2U2 grouping?

• Its stated aim is to discuss “common areas of mutual interest, to strengthen the economic partnership in trade and investment in our respective regions and beyond”.
• Six areas of cooperation have been identified by the countries mutually, and the aim is to encourage joint investments in water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security. The press release added that with the help of “private sector capital and expertise”, the countries will look to modernise infrastructure, explore low carbon development avenues for industries, improve public health, and promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies.

Significance of the initiative

• I2U2 seeks to empower the partners and encourages them to collaborate more closely, resulting in a more stable region.
• India is seen as a large consumer market as well as a large producer of high-tech and highly sought-after items in the United States.
• This has led India to enhance its relationship with Israel without jeopardising its ties with the UAE and other Arab states.

VALUE ADDITION:

ABRAHAM ACCORDS

• The Israel–UAE normalization agreement is officially called the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement.
• It was initially agreed to in a joint statement by the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on August 13, 2020.
• The UAE thus became the third Arab country, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, to agree to formally normalize its relationship with Israel as well as the first Persian Gulf country to do so.
• Concurrently, Israel agreed to suspend plans for annexing parts of the West Bank. The agreement normalized what had long been informal but robust foreign relations between the two countries.

THE ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

4.CAQM FORMULATES COMPREHENSIVE POLICY TO ABATE THE MENACE OF AIR POLLUTION IN DELHI-NCR

THE CONTEXT:The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has formulated a Comprehensive Policy to abate the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, in a crucial step towards overall amelioration of the air quality of the National Capital Region (NCR) through differentiated geographical approach and timelines of action.

THE EXPLANATION:

• This policy contains sector-wise recommendations for Agencies and Departments of Central Government, NCR State Governments and GNCTD along with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) of NCR to prevent, control and abate air pollution in the NCR including industries, vehicles/ transport, construction and demolition (C&D), dust from roads and open areas, municipal solid waste burning, crop residue burning etc.
• The policy framed by CAQM also deals with thermal power plants (TPPs), clean fuels & electric mobility, public transportation, road traffic management, diesel generators (DGs), bursting of firecrackers and abating air pollution through greening and plantation.

The scope of this comprehensive plan by CAQM is to abate air pollution primarily in Delhi and NCR. Owing to a deficit in infrastructure and systems across sub-regions of the NCR, wide variations in baseline actions, and varying levels of urbanization, a differentiated approach and timelines have been suggested for various sub-regions. These sub-regions include:

WHAT IS THE NEW POLICY?

• According to the policy, all thermal power plants located within 300 kilometer radius of Delhi will have to ensure compliance with emission standards as per the deadline set by the Union environment ministry.
• The policy talks about phasing out diesel-run auto-rickshaws in Gurugram, Faridabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad by December 31, 2024 and the remaining districts in the National Capital Region (NCR) by December 31, 2026.
• Only Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric autos will be registered in NCR from January 1, 2023.
• Fuels pumps in Delhi-NCR will not give fuel to vehicles not having a valid pollution-under-check certificate from January 1, 2023.
• State governments have been asked to implement scrappage policy for the end-of-life vehicles that cannot be used any more.
• Delhi and all NCR states will have to develop a plan to create a CNG and LNG fuelling network in NCR and on highways to shift long-haul trucking and other commercial vehicles to gas.
• The use of coal in industrial application will be banned from January 1, 2023.
• To prevent stubble burning, Punjab and Haryana will have to utilise 6 million tonnes and 2 million tonnes of paddy straw industrial applications, respectively as well as thermal power plants, biomass power and production of bio-fuels by December 31, 2026.
• The policy also stressed the need to upscale the application of bio-decomposer solution, which decomposes paddy straw, in the harvest season this year.
• For effective traffic management, the policy mandates the development of early warning systems to inform commuters and plan route diversions in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad districts.
• It also focuses on strengthening the quality of air pollution data and filling gaps through sensor-based monitoring to cover rural and peri-urban areas.

VALUE ADDITION:

Why Delhi air pollution rises in October?

Natural factors

• Northwesterly Winds: Month of October marks the withdrawal of Monsoon winds (South-West) from North India, leading to the arrival of North-Easterly winds.
  • Monsoon winds carry Moisture and rainfall all over the country, whereas northwesterly winds carry dust from dust storms originating in Rajasthan and sometimes Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • As per the study conducted by scientists at the National Physical Laboratory, 72 per cent of Delhi’s wind in winters comes from the northwest, while the remaining 28 per cent comes from the Indo-Gangetic plains.
  • One of such examples is a storm of 2017, originated from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that led to a drastic dip in Delhi’s air quality in a couple of days.
• Low-level inversion: Another factor is the temperature dip in the month of October. Low-temperature results in low-level inversion i.e. the layer that stops the upward movement of air from the layers below. It leads to the concentration of pollutants in the air at the lower heights.
• Wind speed: High wind speed in summers facilitates the faster movement of particulate matters in the air. As the wind speed decreases in winters, the air is not able to draw the pollutant away from a region.
• Landlocked Geography of Delhi: Geography of Delhi and the region around in the northern plains is landlocked. On the one hand source wind from North-West is already having pollutants, on the other, the Himalayas obstruct the escape route of air. Moreover, large buildings and other structures in Delhi also reduce airspeed.
  • It is the reason that Chennai with the third-highest number of automobiles in India faces far less pollution in the city in comparison as coastal reason provides air with an effective route to enter and exit.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

5.EXPLAINED: WHAT IS FCRA, THE LAW RELATED TO NGO FUNDING?

THE CONTEXT:The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has removed some crucial data from the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) website.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The information removed includes the annual returns of NGOs and a list of NGOs whose licences have been cancelled.
• The FCRA website used to maintain detailed data on NGOs granted licences; NGOs granted prior permission for receiving foreign contribution; NGOs whose licences have been cancelled, and the ones whose licences are deemed to have expired. It also had the annual returns of NGOs.

FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION (REGULATION) ACT:

• It is an act of Parliament enacted in 1976 and amended in 2010. It was to regulate foreign donations and to ensure that such contributions do not adversely affect internal security.
• Coverage: It is applicable to all associations, groups, and NGOs which intend to receive foreign donations.
• Registration: It is mandatory for all such NGOs to register themselves under the FCRA. The registration is initially valid for five years. Further, it can be renewed subsequently if they comply with all norms.
• Registered NGOs can receive foreign contributions for five purposes — social, educational, religious, economic, and cultural. There are 22,591 FCRA registered NGOs.

For how long is approval granted?

• Once granted, FCRA registration is valid for five years. NGOs are expected to apply for renewal within six months of the date of expiry of registration. In case of failure to apply for renewal, the registration is deemed to have expired, and the NGO is no longer entitled to receive foreign funds or utilise its existing funds without permission from the ministry.
• The FCRA registration of close to 5,900 NGOs, including Oxfam India Trust and Indian Medical Association, lapsed on December 31 last year. According to sources, the registration of as many as 5,789 NGOs had lapsed after they failed to apply for renewal before the due date. The rest, who had applied for renewal, were refused as the MHA found their operations or accounts to be in violation of the FCRA, sources had said at the time.
• According to the MHA, NGOs failing to apply before the due date can petition the ministry with cogent reasons within four months of the expiry of registration, following which their applications can be reconsidered.

On what basis is approval cancelled?

• The government reserves the right to cancel the FCRA registration of any NGO if it finds it to be in violation of the Act.
• Registration can be cancelled if an inquiry finds a false statement in the application; if the NGO is found to have violated any of the terms and conditions of the certificate or renewal; if it has not been engaged in any reasonable activity in its chosen field for the benefit of society for two consecutive years; or if it has become defunct.
• It can also be cancelled if “in the opinion of the Central Government, it is necessary in the public interest to cancel the certificate,” the FCRA says.
• Registrations are also cancelled when an audit finds irregularities in the finances of an NGO in terms of misutilisation of foreign funds.

FOREIGN CONTRIBUTION REGULATION (AMENDMENT) RULES 2020: New rules require any organization that wants to register itself under the FCRA to have existed for at least three years. Further, it should have spent a minimum of Rs. 15 lakh on its core activities during the last three financial years for the benefit of society. Office bearers of the NGOs seeking registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act must submit a specific commitment letter from the donor. It should indicate the amount of foreign contribution and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given. Any NGO or person making an application for obtaining prior permission to receive foreign funds shall have an FCRA Account.

THE PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

6.THE DHAMMACAKKA DAY 2022-13^TH JULY 2022

THE CONTEXT:The President of India, addressed the Dhammacakka Day 2022 celebrations at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Dhammacakka Day 2022, Ashaḍha Purṇima is the second most important sacred day of observance for Buddhists after Vaishakha Buddha Purṇima.
• It commemorates Buddha’s First Sermon or the First Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma, when he taught the Dhammacakka-pavattana Sutta (Pāli) or Dharmacakra pravartana Sūtra (Sanskrit).”
• “Seven weeks after his enlightenment, he gave this discourse to pancavargiya – the first five ascetic disciples- at the ‘Deer Park’, Ṛṣipatana Mrigadaya in the current day Sarnath, which is in Varanasi. It is here that the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Paths and the Middle Path: avoiding the two extremes, i.e., life of extreme indulgence and the life of extreme penance”.

VALUE ADDITION:

First Buddhist Council

• Venue: In Sattaparnaguha Cave situated outside Rajgriha (the modern city of Rajgir).
• Year: 486 BC.
• King: Ajatasatru, son of King Bimbisara (Haryanka Dynasty).
• Presiding Priest: Venerable Maha Kasyapa with 500 monks.

Resulted in:

• Vinaya Pitaka which mainly contains the rules of the Buddhist order. This was recited by Upali.
• Suttapitaka was recited by Ananda. It contains the great collections of Buddha’s sermons on matters of doctrine and ethical beliefs.

Second Buddhist Council

• Venue: Vaishali.
• Year: 386 BC
• King: Kalasoka (Shisunaga Dynasty).
• Presiding Priest: Sabakami.

Resulted in:

• The split of the Buddhist order into Sthaviravadinis(Theravada) and Mahasanghikas. The split was over small points of monastic discipline.
• The Second Buddhist Council made the unanimous decision not to relax any of the rules and censured the behaviour of the monks who were accused of violating the ten points.

Third Buddhist Council

• Venue: Pataliputra (today’s Patna).
• Year: 250 BC.
• King: Ashoka (Maurya Dynasty).
• Presiding priest: Mogaliputta Tissa (Upagupta).
• Its objective was to reconcile the different schools of Buddhism and to purify the Buddhist movement, particularly from opportunistic factions which had been attracted by the royal patronage.
• The responses to doctrinal questions and disputes formulated at the Third Council were recorded by Moggaliputta Tissa in the Kathavatthu, one of the books of the Abhidhamma Pitaka.

Resulted in:

• Made Sthaviravada School as an orthodox school – believed that the past, present, and future are all simultaneous. They may have contributed some formative influence to Mahayana.
• Codification of Abhidhamma Pitaka, dealing with Buddhist philosophy written in Pali.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q.Consider the following statements in the context of World Economic Forum:

1. It is an intergovernmental organization based in Geneva.
2. Global Gender Gap Report released by World Economic Forum.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a)1 only

b)2 only

c)Both 1 and 2

d)Neither 1 nor 2

 

ANSWER FOR 13^TH JULY 2022

ANSWER: D

EXPLANATION:

• All the Statements are Correct

 

 Types of Bail in India

Depending upon the sage of the criminal matter, there are commonly three types of bail in India:

Regular bail- A regular bail is generally granted to a person who has been arrested or is in

1. police custody. A bail application can be filed for the regular bail under sections 437 and 439 of CrPC.
2. Interim bail– This type of bail is granted for a short period of time and it is granted before the hearing for the grant of regular bail or anticipatory bail.
3. Anticipatory bail– Anticipatory bail is granted under section 438 of CrPC either by session court or High Court. An application for the grant of anticipatory bail can be filed by the person who discerns that he may be arrested by the police for a non-bailable offence.

What is default bail?

• Also known as statutory bail, this is a right to bail that accrues when the police fail to complete the investigation within a specified period in respect of a person in judicial custody. This is enshrined in Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure where it is not possible for the police to complete an investigation in 24 hours, the police produce the suspect in court and seek orders for either police or judicial custody. This section concerns the total period up to which a person may be remanded in custody prior to the filing of the charge sheet.

THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS: BUDGET SESSION 2022

1. THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND THEIR DELIVERY SYSTEMS (PROHIBITION OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES) AMENDMENT BILL, 2022

THE CONTEXT: During the 2022 Budget session of the Parliament, the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

THE EXPLANATION:

The Bill amends the WMD and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005 which prohibits the unlawful manufacture, transport, or transfer of WMD (chemical, biological and nuclear weapons) and their means of delivery. It is popularly referred to as the WMD Act. The recent amendment extends the scope of banned activities to include financing of already prohibited activities.

What was the purpose of the original WMD Act?

The WMD and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act came into being in July 2005. Its primary objective was to provide an integrated and overarching legislation on prohibiting unlawful activities in relation to all three types of WMD, their delivery systems and related materials, equipment and technologies. It instituted penalties for contravention of these provisions such as imprisonment for a term not less than five years (extendable for life) as well as fines. The Act was passed to meet an international obligation enforced by the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 of 2004.

What is the UNSCR 1540?

• In April 2004 the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1540 to address the growing threat of non-state actors gaining access to WMD material, equipment or technology to undertake acts of terrorism. In order to address this challenge to international peace and security, UNSCR 1540 established binding obligations on all UN member states under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Nations were mandated to take and enforce effective measures against proliferation of WMD, their means of delivery and related materials to non-state actors.
• UNSCR 1540 enforced three primary obligations upon nation states — to not provide any form of support to non-state actors seeking to acquire WMD, related materials, or their means of delivery; to adopt and enforce laws criminalising the possession and acquisition of such items by non-state actors; to adopt and enforce domestic controls over relevant materials, in order to prevent their proliferation.
• It was to meet these obligations that enactment and enforcement of legislations to punish the unlawful and unauthorised manufacture, acquisition, possession, development and transport of WMD became necessary.

 What has the Amendment added to the existing Act?

• The Amendment expands the scope to include prohibition of financing of any activity related to WMD and their delivery systems. To prevent such financing, the Central government shall have the power to freeze, seize or attach funds, financial assets, or economic resources of suspected individuals (whether owned, held, or controlled directly or indirectly). It also prohibits persons from making finances or related services available for other persons indulging in such activity.

Why was this Amendment necessary?

• UNSCR 1540 undergoes periodic reviews to determine the success of its implementation and to identify gaps in enforcement. In one such review undertaken in 2016, it was concluded that the risk of proliferation to non-state actors is increasing due to rapid advances in science, technology, and international commerce.
• The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill presented in India echoes these developments for having made the Amendment necessary. Two specific gaps are being addressed — first, as the relevant organisations at the international level, such as the Financial Action Task Force have expanded the scope of targeted financial sanctions and demand tighter controls on the financing of WMD activities, India’s own legislation has been harmonised to align with international benchmarks.
• Secondly, with advancements in technologies, new kinds of threats have emerged that were not sufficiently catered for in the existing legislation. These notably include developments in the field of drones or unauthorised work in biomedical labs that could maliciously be used for terrorist activity. Therefore, the Amendment keeps pace with evolving threats. In fact, domestic legislations and international measures that address issues of WMD security cannot afford to become fossilised. They must be agile and amenable to modifications in keeping with the changing tactics of non-state actors.

What more should India do?

• India’s responsible behaviour and actions on non-proliferation are well recognised. It has a strong statutory national export control system and is committed to preventing proliferation of WMD. This includes transit and trans-shipment controls, retransfer control, technology transfer controls, brokering controls and end-use based controls. Every time India takes additional steps to fulfil new obligations, it must showcase its legislative, regulatory and enforcement frameworks to the international community.
• At the domestic level, this Amendment will have to be enforced through proper outreach measures to industry and other stakeholders to make them realise their obligations under the new provisions. India’s outreach efforts with respect to the WMD Act have straddled both region-specific and sector-specific issues. Similar efforts will be necessary to explain the new aspects of the law.
• It is also necessary that India keeps WMD security in international focus. There is no room for complacency. Even countries which do not have WMD technology have to be sensitised to their role in the control framework to prevent weak links in the global control system. India can offer help to other countries on developing national legislation, institutions and regulatory framework through the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) or on bilateral basis.

What is the international significance of these legislation? What is in it for India?

• Preventing acts of terrorism that involve WMD or their delivery systems requires building a network of national and international measures in which all nation states are equally invested. Such actions are necessary to strengthen global enforcement of standards relating to the export of sensitive items and to prohibit even the financing of such activities to ensure that non-state actors, including terrorist and black-market networks, do not gain access to such materials. Sharing of best practices on legislations and their implementation can enable harmonisation of global WMD controls.
• India initially had reservations on enacting laws mandated by the UNSCR. This is not seen by India as an appropriate body for making such a demand. However, given the danger of WMD terrorism that India faces in view of the difficult neighbourhood that it inhabits, the country supported the Resolution and has fulfilled its requirements.
• It is in India’s interest to facilitate highest controls at the international level and adopt them at the domestic level. Having now updated its own legislation, India can demand the same of others, especially from those in its neighbourhood that have a history of proliferation and of supporting terrorist organisations.

THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

2. PAKISTANI LAWMAKERS ELECT SHEHBAZ SHARIF AS THE NEW PRIME MINISTER

THE CONTEXT: The Pakistan parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif as the 23rd Prime Minister of the country.

THE EXPLANATION:

• While interacting with journalists then, Shehbaz had said that “war is not an option”, and had pitched for the resumption of “peaceful dialogue” on all issues including “Sir Creek, Siachen, water and Kashmir”.
• The Indian Prime Minister congratulated him on his election and said India desired peace and stability in a region free of terrorism.
• Emerging from the shadow of his elder brother Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz is known to be close to the Pakistan Army — he was chief minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Expecting a good ties,

• The Sharif family has always been an advocate of better ties with India. Shehbaz’s last India visit was in December 2013 when he met then Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, visited Metro stations and solid waste management plants in Delhi, and a power plant in Haryana. He also visited Punjab and held meetings with then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, where he worked on a roadmap for cooperation between the two Punjabs.
• Officials pointed out that the core concerns of the two countries remain the same over the last decade, and Shehbaz is well placed to take forward the bilateral conversation.
• Better trade ties with India could provide a much-needed boost to Pakistan’s economy. Known to be focussed on infrastructure projects — he is credited for many roads, bridges, flyovers and transport projects in Pakistan’s Punjab province — Shehbaz is keen to deliver before the next elections in 2023.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

3. MICROPLASTICS DETECTED IN FISH SAMPLES FROM CAUVERY

THE CONTEXT: A new study by researchers at the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has found microplastics in fish, causing growth defects, including skeletal deformities, in River Cauvery in south India.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The study was conducted at the Krishnaraja Sagar dam, located below the confluence of river Cauvery with its tributaries Hemavati and Lakshmana Tirtha, in the Mandya district of Karnataka.
• The researchers collected water samples from three different locations with varying water flow speeds – fast-flowing, slow-flowing and stagnant – since water speed is known to affect the concentration of pollutants.
• In the first part of the study, the team analysed the physical and chemical parameters of the water samples. All but one of them fell within the prescribed limits. The exception was dissolved oxygen, which was deficient in samples collected from the slow-flowing and static sites. Water from these sites also had microbes such as Cyclops, Daphnia, Spirogyra, Spirochaeta, and E coli, well-known bio-indicators of water contamination.

The researchers conducted further studies. Using a technique called Raman spectroscopy, they detected microplastics — minute pieces of plastic often invisible to the naked eye — and some toxic chemicals.

• In the second part of the study, the team investigated the effect of the pollutants in water on fish. They treated zebrafish embryos, a well-known model organism, with water samples collected from the three sites, and found that those exposed to water from the slow-flowing and stagnant sites experienced skeletal deformities, DNA damage, early cell death, heart damage, and increased mortality. These defects were seen even after the microbes were filtered out, suggesting that microplastics and toxic chemicals were also causing problems on their own.
• The findings assume importance in the context of a recent study from the Netherlands, which has shown that microplastics can enter the bloodstream of humans. The researchers noted that the concentrations of the pollutants they have reported in the fish may not be alarming yet for humans. Still, long-term effects can’t be ruled out.

Quick Facts What is Raman Spectroscopy? Raman Spectroscopy is a non-destructive chemical analysis technique that provides detailed information about chemical structure, phase and polymorphy, crystallinity and molecular interactions. It is based upon the interaction of light with the chemical bonds within a material.

VALUE ADDITION:

What are microplastics?

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

THE SECURITY AFFAIRS

4. ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE ‘HELINA’ SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT TESTED

THE CONTEXT: Indigenously developed helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ was successfully flight tested on April 11, 2022 at high-altitude ranges as part of user validation trials.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The flight-test was jointly conducted by the teams of scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).
• The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and the missile was fired successfully engaging simulated tank target. The missile is guided by an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) Seeker operating in the Lock on Before Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world.
• In continuation to validation trials conducted at Pokhran in Rajasthan, proof of efficacy at high altitudes paves the way for its integration on the ALH. The trials were witnessed by senior Army commanders and senior scientists of the DRDO.

VALUE ADDITION:

• HELINA (Helicopter based NAG) is a third generation fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system mounted on the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The system has all weather day and night capability and can defeat battle tanks with conventional armour as well as explosive reactive armour.
• The HELINA missile can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode. HELINA Weapon Systems is being inducted into the Indian Army (IA). A variant of HELINA Weapon System called DHRUVASTRA is being inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF).

THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

5. INDIA HAS 217 SPACE OBJECTS ORBITING EARTH: REPORT

THE CONTEXT: India has 103 active or defunct spacecraft and 114 objects categorised as ‘space debris’ in orbit and it has embarked on research to reduce such fragments from outer space.

THE EXPLANATION:

• According to the Department of Science and Technology, “Presently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken up research activities to study the feasibility and technologies required to undertake active debris removal (ADR).
• According to Orbital Debris Quarterly News issued in March 2022 by NASA, India had 103 spacecraft, including active and defunct satellites, and 114 space debris objects, including spent rocket bodies orbiting the earth. So, the country has a total of 217 space objects orbiting the earth.
• Also, the department noted, Active Debris Removal (ADR) was one of the active methods suggested by the Space Debris Research Community to contain the growth of space debris objects. “ADR is a very complex technology and involves policy and legal issues. Technology demonstration studies have been taken up by many countries, including India. Developmental studies for finalising necessary technologies are initiated to demonstrate ADR.
• According to the Orbital Debris Quarterly News, the U.S. has 4,144 spacecraft (active and defunct), and 5,126 objects that can be categorised as space debris in the earth’s orbit.
• China has 517 spacecraft, active and defunct, and 3,854 objects, including spent rocket bodies, orbiting the earth.

Directorate Space Situational Awareness and Management Centre

• DoS highlighted that ISRO has also set up the Directorate Space Situational Awareness and Management at its headquarters to deal with issues related to space debris.
• A dedicated Space Situational Awareness Control Centre is set up in Bengaluru to coordinate all space debris related activities within ISRO and to safeguard Indian operational space assets from collision threats, he said.
• The minister added that ISRO was also planning to have its own observational facilities to track and catalogue the space objects.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken up research activities to study the feasibility and technologies required to undertake active debris removal.
• Active Debris Removal (ADR) is a very complex technology and involves policy and legal issues. Technology demonstration studies have been taken up by many countries, including India.
• A dedicated Space Situational Awareness Control Centre is set up in Bengaluru to coordinate all space debris related activities within ISRO and to safeguard Indian operational space assets from collision threats.

THE PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Q. State Energy and Climate Index is released by –

a) Ministry of Power

b) Ministry of New & Renewable Energy

c) Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change

d) NITI Aayog

ANSWER FOR 11TH APRIL 2022

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Bengaluru has become the first Indian city to get into the global network of silk cities.
• The network now has nine countries and 13 cities.
• The network helps artisans and craftsmen to exchange knowledge, build trade relations and under- stand various craftsmanship techniques.