THE CONTEXT: In the past decade, improving sanitation coverage has been one of the key public policy miracles in India. It is in line with access to water and sanitation which is Goal 6 in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals envisaged by the United Nations. However, despite various measures there are few rising concerns regarding issues in sanitation.

BACKGROUND:

• Public sanitation programmes have a long history in the country, beginning with the launch of the highly subsidised Central Rural Sanitation Programme (CRSP) in 1986.
• The Total Sanitation Campaign in 1999 marked a shift from a high subsidy regime to a low subsidy one and a demand-driven approach.
• The public sanitation programme evolved as a mission in 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) to make India Open Defecation Free (ODF) by October 2019.
• According to information by the Government of India, sanitation coverage in the country improved from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019.
• Encouraged by the achievements under the SBM, the government launched Phase II of the SBM-G. The focus here was on the sustainability of initial achievements by promoting solid and liquid waste management and covering those households left out earlier.
• The government aims to transform India from ODF to ODF Plus by 2024-25. Around 85% of villages in India have become ODF Plus, according to government data.
• Nevertheless, this impressive performance also needs to be viewed from the perspective of behavioural change, which will usher in sustainability in a true sense.

 OPEN DEFECATION FREE STATUS:

• ODF: An area can be notified or declared as ODF if at any point of the day, not even a single person is found defecating in the open.
• ODF+: This status is given if at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/or urinating in the open, and all community and public toilets are functional and well maintained.
• ODF++: This status is given if the area is already ODF+ and the faecal sludge/septage and sewage are safely managed and treated, with no discharging or dumping of untreated faecal sludge and sewage into the open drains, water bodies or areas.

ISSUES:

• Unused despite construction: The construction of toilets does not automatically lead to their use. A National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) survey (69th round), showed that in 2012, when 59% of rural households had no access to a toilet, 4% of individuals who had access reported not using the facility. The primary reasons for not using one were not having any superstructure (21%), the facility malfunctioning (22%), the facility being unhygienic/unclean (20%), and personal reasons (23%).
• Variations: There are variations across surveys of the percentage of households having access to toilets and their uses. The more comprehensive National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey (NARSS)- Round-3 (2019-20), conducted by the Ministry, shows that 95% of the rural population had toilet access in India. However, the same report suggests that only 85% of the rural population used safe, functional, and hygienic toilets. Assuming that the same percentage of people have toilet access as the households, the gap rises to 10% between access to toilets and their use.
• Household size: The econometric models show that along with economic conditions and education, toilet use depends on household size. The higher the household size, the greater the chances of not using the toilet. Overcrowding prevent all household members from using the same toilet. Phase II of the programme does not have any criteria mandating multiple toilets for households larger than a certain size. Neither does it have any provision for building an attached bathroom.
• Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) programme was launched to provide tap water to each household by 2024. Nevertheless, no relation has been observed between per capita central expenses made on the JJM and the percentage of villages declared ODF Plus across States. Neither is there any relation between the percentage of ODF Plus villages in a State and households having tap connections.
• Social norms: Social norms that act through social networks play a significant role in toilet construction and use. Examining the networks through which others influence people for their sanitation behaviour, it is observed that the size and characteristics of these networks can be different in various parts of the country.
• Socio economic issues: In one of the upper caste-dominated villages, lower castes find it difficult to make social norms acceptable and enforceable. Hence, sanitation decisions are less likely to be taken independently.
• Lack of synergy: Around 10 crore toilets were constructed between 2014 and 2019 during the initial phase of the SBM-G. There are separate programmes for each of these basic needs, but they are not well coordinated. The lack of overall planning in India has led to a lack of synergy of programmes despite high levels of expenditure in fulfilling basic needs. Uncoordinated efforts often lead to an inefficient utilisation of precious public finances.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• Collective behaviour change: The collective behavioural change in the nation needs to take place. As studies suggest that behavioural change in sanitation cannot happen independently. It is contingent upon social networks and an overall improvement of living standards, including better housing and access to basic services.
• Covering left out households: The left-out households appear substantial and need to be covered in SBM Phase II. The government should identify the shortcomings of the previous phase and cover the gaps in the present phase.
• Civil society participation: Sanitation Policies and Programs should facilitate the participation of civil society including women in the design, implementation and monitoring of local priorities in rural and urban areas.
• Effective monitoring: There is a need for strengthening of institutions for efficient monitoring and evaluation for improved accountability and implementation.
• Conduct analysis and assessment: An analysis to examine policies, governance structures, and funding is needed. An assessment is necessary for updated figures on schemes coverage and compliance in health facilities. It will form the basis for prioritising policies and mobilising resources.

THE CONCLUSION:

There have been significant improvements in public health since sanitation systems and schemes have been implemented but universal access to safely managed sanitation services remains a challenge. The government needs to identify the shortcomings in the existing programme to transform India from open defecation free to open defecation free-plus status by 2024-25.

UPSC PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION

Q. What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid waste which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment? (2021)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Despite significant improvement in sanitation coverage in the country from 39% in 2014 to 100% in 2019, it is facing several constraints. Identify the socio economic and behavioural constraints and justify with data and figures and suggest the measures to address the shortcomings.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-critical-view-of-the-sanitation-miracle-in-rural-india/article67814953.ece

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. What the World Malaria Report says about India READ MORE
2. COP28: What is Global Stocktake — and why is it important? READ MORE
3. RBI monetary policy: Why is the Monetary Policy Committee likely to leave repo rate unchanged? READ MORE
4. BCG revaccination study in high-risk adults to begin in 23 States READ MORE
5.  ‘India will be the largest cotton producer’ READ MORE
6. COP28 climate meet | India not among 118 nations that pledged to triple green energy READ MORE
7. Lithium supply strategy: India’s initiative with Argentina’s CAMYEN gains traction READ MORE
8. Natural superhero fungi boosts crop yields by 40% READ MORE
9. After COVID break, Centre approves fourth phase roll-out of GIAN scheme READ MORE
10. India agreed to withdraw soldiers from country, says Maldives President Muizzu READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Re-criminalising adultery as a gender-neutral offence READ MORE
2. Weather Report: East India braces for wet days ahead as Cyclone Michaung builds up; North India to remain dry READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The legal net to trap peddlers of deepfakes READ MORE
2. Private job quota for locals ends with order READ MORE
3. Role of Governors in focus again READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. India, disability inclusion and the power of ‘by’ READ MORE  

 INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Kissinger: Cold warrior of realpolitik READ MORE  
2. Time for a reset in India-US ties READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Growth surprise points to status quo on repo rate READ MORE
2. Economy well on track but growth not yet broad-based READ MORE
3. Why government is not worried about missing disinvestment target READ MORE
4. How Indian economy has silenced ‘perennial pessimists’ READ MORE
5. India’s geo-digital age is here – tech partnerships, data protection, semiconductors READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Why India will continue to rely on coal for foreseeable future READ MORE  
2. India reduced emissions intensity 33% in 2005-2019, shows new submission to UN READ MORE
3. COP28 must put global climate action back on track READ MORE
4. Will COP28 UAE shape climate justice amid clash between urgency and economic realities in global climate action? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The transformative benefits of population-level genome sequencing | Explained READ MORE   
2. Artificial Intelligence: Benefits outweigh the detriments READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Combating cybercrimes READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. The Uttarakhand tunnel workers have been rescued. It’s time to ask hard questions about the project READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Panacea for grief: Realise the eternity within READ MORE
2. Your anger, your energy READ MORE
3. Serve Param Purush READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. A bottom-up approach to disability inclusion is needed to ensure that persons with disabilities are recognised as active members of society and the economy. In the light of the statement critically examine the schemes established as part of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016).
2. The goal of social justice cannot be achieved without the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of development, starting with rural areas and rural resilience. Comment.
3. The historic marginalisation of persons with disabilities and the backsliding of the progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, a fundamental shift in commitment, solidarity, financing and action is critical. Discuss how the voices and needs of persons with disabilities be prioritised at the centre of the global development agenda.
4. ‘Strategic Autonomy’ deployed by India in recent times owes itself to the foundational principle of realpolitik, as it allows the practitioner to not get closeted within the linear grouping. Critically examine the statement.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
• There needs to be more inclusive opportunities and employment in the rural areas as a majority of persons with disabilities live here.
• The first step is awareness to ensure last-mile connectivity of the benefits enumerated for people with disabilities by the government, which begins with the capacity-building of community leaders who can advocate for this at the grass-roots level.
• A bottom-up approach to disability inclusion is crucial to build productive pathways out of poverty and ensure that persons with disabilities are recognised as active members of society and the economy.
• The goal of social justice cannot be achieved without the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all spheres of development, starting with rural areas and rural resilience.
• A bi-directional link to poverty, nutrition, and hunger, and as a consequence, there needs to be more inclusive opportunities and employment in rural areas.
• The historic marginalisation of persons with disabilities and the backsliding of the progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, a fundamental shift in commitment, solidarity, financing and action is critical.
• It is about time that the voices and needs of persons with disabilities be prioritised at the centre of the global development agenda.
• Though the domestic economy is on a stronger footing, inflation needs to sustain at 4 per cent for interest rates to be cut.
• Though the domestic economy is on a stronger footing and global headwinds are not too threatening as to upset inflation-growth dynamics, the lingering El Nino impact on the farm sector could be a cause of concern.
• ‘Strategic Autonomy’ deployed by India in recent times owes itself to the foundational principle of realpolitik, as it allows the practitioner to not get closeted within the linear grouping and associated puritanism of ‘allies’ to which a sovereign subscribed.
• As India meanders and navigates its rise in global relevance and animus simultaneously, it would do well to mull over and keep pace with the evolving nature of diplomacy.
• The extent of moral compromises, leniencies and even suppressions done by Superpowers in their quest to assert their geopolitical agendas and interests, is even more pronounced.
• It is imperative to foster a constructive working relationship to resolve the disharmony between the Centre and the states.
• Instead of engaging in public arguments, Chief Ministers and Governors should create a more conducive environment for the federal structure to operate seamlessly. Establishing a positive and productive relationship is crucial for the efficient functioning of the state.
• The core commitment of COP28 is to conceptualise a sustainable socio-economic model that will substantively decouple itself from conventional reliance on the fossil-related energy model.
• The alignment of AI use cases with the vision of the organisation is the most important aspect of the adoption of AI.
• The development of AI should not be an ad-hoc process but a part of a well-thought-out strategy which has the support of the top management and confidence of all stakeholders as a tool for reducing their burden rather than replacing them or their work.

ESSAY TOPIC

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

50-WORD TALK

• Tamil Nadu police have a new target. It’s called ED. Scenes of police raiding ED office upend the playbook of what has become so routine and partisan that nobody even ponders anymore. It shows how broken the federal compact is. The primary responsibility of repairing centre-state balance lies with centre.
• China has become the first nation to accept the Taliban’s ambassador, starting the normalisation of the outfit in the global order. This is the destiny of Afghanistan that everyone will have to accept, even as efforts continue to sustain international pressure on the Taliban for women’s rights and curbing terrorism.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

RELEVANCE TO UPSC SYLLABUS:GS3: ENVIRONMENT: CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE AND ISSUES

THE CONTEXT:  Stubble burning by farmers in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh (UP) creates seasonal pollution in northern India. This situation is very serious in northwest India and critical in the National Capital Territory Region.

WHAT IS STUBBLE BURNING?

Stubble (parali) burning is a method of removing paddy crop residues from the field to sow wheat from the last week of September to November.

• It is a process of setting on fire the straw stubble, left after the harvesting of grains, like paddy, wheat, etc.
• It is usually required in areas that use the combined harvesting method which leaves crop residue behind.
• The process of burning farm residue is one of the major causes of air pollution in parts of north India, deteriorating the air quality.
• The rice stubble burning is highest in the state of Punjab followed by Haryana, whereas Uttar Pradesh ranks higher in wheat stubble burning.

HISTORY:

Dry fodder: Till a few decades ago, crop residue, including stubble, was used as dry fodder for livestock or as fuel for the kitchen or incorporated in-situ in soil. It wasn’t burnt, at least not on a large scale.

During the 1990’s: Things started changing in the 1990s. Two factors contributed:

• Free or highly subsidised power supply for groundwater extraction.
• Power supply to the farm sector in Punjab has been free since 1997, while in Haryana, it is subsidised.
• With access to assured irrigation, paddy acreages in Punjab grew from 50 per cent of the net sown area in the mid-1990s to 75 per cent in recent years.
• In Haryana, this jumped from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.

• In the absence of cheap labour, machines like the Combined Harvester appeared:
  • Paddy harvesting and threshing are labour-intensive and this pushed up the demand for labour.
  • This machine only picked the plant’s top part (panicle) and left the remaining stalk of about 2-3 feet (stubble) standing in the field.
  • Clearing this stalk required a separate round of harvesting, collection and disposal and the easy solution was to set it on fire.
  • Manual harvesting: In Manual harvesting, stalks are harvested close to the ground. They were later collected at one place and grain was recovered through manual beating.
  • The remaining stalk was piled in a corner of the field where it decomposed slowly.
  • This occupied a small area and farmers did not mind sparing that for storage of paddy straw.

IMPACT:

• There have been incidences of stubble burning wherever a combined harvester has been used.
• Such incidents are being reported from paddy fields in central and eastern Indian states as well.

Pollution: Stubble burning emits toxic pollutants in the atmosphere containing harmful gases like:

• Carbon Monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds (VOC).
• These pollutants disperse in the surroundings and eventually affect air quality and people’s health by forming a thick blanket of smog.

Soil fertility: Soil becomes less fertile and its nutrients are destroyed when the husk is burned on the ground.

Heat penetration: Stubble burning generates heat that penetrates into the soil, causing an increase in erosion, loss of useful microbes and moisture.

Silica content in paddy straw: Paddy straw has high silica content and is not preferred as animal feed. If ploughed back into the field, it interferes with subsequent crop operations. Only some farmers use farm machines like happy seeder and straw management machines to incorporate the stubble back into the soil instead of setting it on fire.

INITIATIVES:

• Applying a decomposer to encourage in-situ management of stubble.
• Using the direct seeding of rice (DSR) technique.

Baling machines (balers) for paddy straw:  These machines are already in use in Punjab and Haryana, which has made it feasible to put paddy and other crop straws in the value chain.

• The total cost of procuring the entire stubble burnt in the field in Punjab comes to Rs 2,000 crore and, in Haryana, about Rs 1,000 crore.

Production of biofuel: A small market for paddy straw sold in compact bales has already emerged in both the states (Haryana and Punjab) for production of biofuel such as Bio CNG and ethanol and as direct fuel in brick kilns, furnaces, and thermal plants. Some enterprising farmers have sold parali(stubble) at Rs 180 per quintal this season.

MEASURES TO REDUCE POLLUTION DUE TO STUBBLE BURNING:

The Commission on Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has developed a framework and action plan:

In-situ Crop Residue Management: CRM machines procurement, setting up of Custom Hiring Centers, high yield and short duration paddy varieties, staggering of harvesting schedule, extensive use of bio-decomposer by IARI.

Ex-situ Crop Residue Management: Biomass Power Projects, Co-firing in Thermal Power Plants, Feed stock for 2G Ethanol plants, Feed stock in Compressed Biogas plant, fuel in industrial boilers, WTE plants, packaging materials etc.

• Prohibition of stubble /crop residue burning.
• Effective monitoring /enforcement.
• Schemes to reduce the generation of paddy straw.
• IEC activities for the plan of action.
• Standard protocol for recording and monitoring of fire counts.

THE WAY FORWARD:

Finding an alternative to paddy: An alternative crop like maize will also produce large amounts of stubble like paddy, and only a small part of that will have demand as dry fodder.

Reducing the duration of the rice crop: It is believed that early harvest would leave a longer period for the next crop. It would address the farm-fire problem. It will mitigate the environmental problem to a small extent.

Rethinking the policy: Rethinking the policy of providing free power. This is also needed to avert the over-exploitation of groundwater.

Direct Cash/benefit transfer (DBT): A simple shift to a metered supply of power will not be acceptable without compensating farmers’ income for the cost of power. One possibility is to give a direct cash/benefit transfer (DBT) instead of a power subsidy. By indexing the DBT amount to inflation in power tariffs, this amount can grow annually and remain relevant for farmers. This will make diversification away from paddy feasible.

Creating a market: Create a market for paddy straw/stubble. Unless stubble is made valuable for farmers, they will continue to burn it. We need to create an effective market for stubble that at least compensates them for the extra effort and cost involved in its harvest, collection and disposal.

Subsidised supply of machinery: Further modifications and subsidised supply of machinery for in-situ use of paddy stubble will also be very helpful in preventing farm fires in some areas.

Happy seeder: Mounted on a tractor, this machine is used to cut and lift straw, sow wheat and rice in soil and deposit straw over the sown area, instead of burning the stubble.

Law against the burning: A law against the burning of any crop straw should be strictly enforced.

THE CONCLUSION: With market avenues for crop residue, legal backing against polluting practices and administrative support, the proposed system can work to prevent stubble burning while saving the health of millions of lives and contributing to the economy.

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS:

1. Q) What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the system? (2017)
2. Q) How do subsidies affect the cropping pattern, crop diversity and economy of farmers? What is the significance of crop insurance, minimum support price and food processing for small and marginal farmers? (2017)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:

1. Q) Comment upon the various measures taken by the Union and the state governments to address the problem of stubble burning. What more needs to be done according to you to find a permanent solution to this problem? Explain

SOURCE: How to solve the problem of stubble burning | The Indian Express

TOPIC 1: RHODODENDRON

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT  

THE CONTEXT: The rhododendron flower in Uttarakhand, is portrayed as an integral part of the region’s culture, rituals, mythology, and even culinary practices.

RHODODENDRON AS A CULTURAL SYMBOL:

• Cultural and Ritual Importance:
  • The rhododendron is deeply embedded in Uttarakhand’s culture, being an essential part of local rituals and mythology.
  • Its presence in rituals and temples signifies purity and endurance, demonstrating the reverence people hold for this flower.
• Pilgrimage Significance:
  • The flower is central to the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, a significant pilgrimage in Uttarakhand that occurs every 12 years.
  • This underscores the strong bond between the local people and their natural environment.

UTILIZATION BEYOND AESTHETICS:

• Culinary and Medicinal Use:
  • Beyond its visual appeal, the rhododendron finds usage in regional cuisine, with its blossoms being used to create sweets, drinks, jams, and juice.
  • Its distinct flavour and purported cooling properties make it popular among locals and visitors alike.
• Environmental Concerns:
  • Climate change-induced alterations in temperature and precipitation patterns are impacting the rhododendron’s growth and flowering cycles.
  • Consequently, conservation efforts are gaining importance, with initiatives in place to safeguard these Himalayan flowers, including the establishment of conservation zones and promoting eco-friendly travel practices.

ECONOMIC AND TOURISTIC VALUE:

• Cultural Tourism:
  • The rich cultural connection with the rhododendron offers a unique opportunity for cultural tourism.
  • Visitors are drawn not only to the natural beauty but also to the rituals and traditions associated with the flower.
• Local Economy:
  • The utilization of rhododendron in cuisine and traditional practices also contributes to the local economy, providing opportunities for culinary ventures and indigenous products.

IMPLICATIONS:

• Cultural Heritage Preservation:
  • The importance of preserving not just the flower itself but also the associated cultural heritage and traditions has been emphasized.
  • The emphasis on conservation and sustainable practices reflects a holistic approach to safeguarding this floral emblem and the surrounding ecosystem while acknowledging its cultural significance.
• Sustainable Development:
  • Balancing conservation with tourism and economic activities is crucial to ensure sustainable development, where efforts to protect the rhododendron align with the promotion of eco-friendly practices.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/the-power-of-the-rhododendron/article67529485.ece

TOPIC 2: ONATTUKARA SESAME

TAG: GS 3: AGRICULTURE

THE CONTEXT: Efforts are being made to expand the cultivation of Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Onattukara sesame in the Kerala region.

INITIATIVE TO EXPAND SESAME CULTIVATION:

• Increase in Cultivation Area:
  • The Onattukara Vikasana Agency (OVA) plans to significantly increase the area under sesame cultivation.
  • It aimed to expand it to 2,000 hectares from the current 600 hectares in the region encompassing three districts of Kerala: Alappuzha, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta.
• Incentive Scheme:
  • To encourage farmers, a financial assistance program has been announced, offering ₹40 for a cent of land for cultivating sesame within the Thekkekara Krishi Bhavan limits.
  • This incentive is expected to attract individuals, farming collectives, Kudumbashree groups, self-help groups, and joint liability groups towards sesame cultivation.
• Collaborative Efforts:
  • The initiative is a joint venture involving local Krishi Bhavan, Onattukara Vikasana Agency (OVA), Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station (ORARS), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kayamkulam, and Mavelikara Thekkekara Panchayat.
  • Collaboration between these entities indicates a concerted effort to promote sesame cultivation.
• Support Mechanisms:
  • Farmers and groups engaging in sesame cultivation are offered additional support.
  • It also includes access to workforce from Thekkekara Karshika Karma Sena and tractor rental at a nominal charge of ₹750 per hour.

SIGNIFICANCE OF ONATTUKARA SESAME:

• Geographical Indication (GI) Tag:
  • The Onattukara sesame holds a GI tag, signifying its unique characteristics and origin from a specific geographical location, adding value to its identity and quality.
• Medicinal and Nutritional Value:
  • Studies by the Kerala Agricultural University reveal the medicinal value of Onattukara sesame.
  • It contains high levels of Vitamin E, antioxidants, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitoleic acid, promoting good health.
• Varieties Cultivated:
  • Apart from the traditional Ayali variety, farmers in the region are cultivating varieties like Kayamkulam-1, Thilak, Thilathara, and Thilarani, developed by the Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station (ORARS).

POTENTIAL BENEFITS:

• Economic Development:
  • Expanding sesame cultivation holds the potential to boost local economies, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to the agricultural sector’s growth in the region.
• Health and Nutritional Benefits:
  • Highlighting the nutritional and medicinal values of Onattukara sesame could create consumer awareness, potentially increasing demand for this particular variety.
• Collaborative Approach:
  • The joint efforts involving various agricultural institutions, local governance bodies, and farmers’ groups indicate a coordinated strategy towards agricultural development and sustainability.
• GI Tag and Quality Assurance:
  • The GI tag signifies quality, authenticity, and unique characteristics associated with the geographical region, contributing to the promotion and branding of Onattukara sesame.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/measures-on-to-expand-cultivation-of-gi-tagged-onattukara-sesame/article67551308.ece/amp/

TOPIC 3: INDIA-UK FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (FTA)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: External Affairs Minister of India discussed the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Britain’s Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary recently.

EXPLANATION:

• The agreement is under negotiation and has not been signed yet.
• When signed, the India-UK FTA will serve as a template for an agreement with the European Union (EU).

INDIA-UK FREE TRADE AGREEMENT:

• Strategic Importance as a Template for EU Agreement:
  • The FTA between India and the UK is seen as a model for a similar pact with the European Union, India’s second-largest trade partner.
  • It signifies a shift in India’s trade strategy towards Western nations and African countries rather than solely focusing on the East, as previously done under the UPA government.
• China Factor and Supply Chain Disruptions:
  • The disruption in supply chains during the pandemic has prompted Western companies to reconsider their over-dependence on China, leading to a ‘China-plus one’ strategy.
  • This shift has motivated countries like Australia and the UK to seek stronger economic ties with India.
• Brexit-Induced Insecurities for the UK:
  • Brexit has created uncertainties for the UK, making an FTA with India crucial to compensate for the loss of access to the European Single Market.
  • However, concerns exist regarding offering work permits to Indian service sector workers due to political reasons.
• Potential Gains and Challenges for India:
  • For India, the FTA presents an opportunity to revive declining sectors like apparel and gems/jewellery by reducing tariffs in the UK.
  • However, concerns have been raised about the impact on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) like Bangladesh if India gains zero-duty access for its textiles.
• Beneficial Aspects for the UK:
  • The UK aims to gain deeper access to the Indian market, especially for goods like cars, Scotch whisky, and wines, which currently face significant tariffs.
  • Elimination or reduction of tariffs on these goods could enhance British exports to India.
• Tariff Disparity and Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs):
  • There exists a substantial tariff disparity between goods imported from India into the UK and vice versa.
  • The FTA negotiations might focus on reducing these tariff barriers.
  • Additionally, addressing non-tariff barriers such as regulations and standards could be crucial for Indian exporters, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
• Carbon Tax and Border Adjustment Mechanism:
  • The UK’s plan to impose a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) similar to the EU’s strategy might affect India’s exports, especially in sectors like cement, chemicals, steel, and others.
  • This imposition aims to reduce dependence on high carbon-emitting imports and could potentially impact Indian exports to the UK.

IMPACTS AND CHALLENGES:

• Strategic Shift: India’s reorientation towards Western nations and away from over-dependence on China is evident. However, concerns persist regarding the impact on LDCs, especially in terms of textiles.
• Potential Imbalance: While India aims to boost declining sectors, the disparity in tariffs and non-tariff barriers presents a challenge. Addressing these barriers will be critical for ensuring mutual benefits.
• Carbon Tax Implications: The UK’s plan for a carbon tax and CBAM could pose challenges for India’s exports, especially in energy-intensive sectors.
• Negotiation Dynamics: The negotiations hold importance for both countries, but balancing mutual benefits while addressing concerns of sectors vulnerable to tariff changes and non-tariff barriers is crucial.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/proposed-india-uk-fta-its-politics-and-why-the-uk-may-benefit-more-9031599/

TOPIC 4: 30th ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) ECONOMIC LEADERS’ MEETING

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: The 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting concluded in San Francisco recently with the adoption of the Golden Gate Declaration. The declaration underscores the commitment to creating a resilient and sustainable future for all member economies.

EXPLANATION:

• For the first time since 2011, USA hosted annual APEC
• Theme of the meeting was creating a “Resilient and Sustainable Future for All”.

GOLDEN GATE DECLARATION:

• The declaration aims to harness the technological and economic progress to continue to unleash the enormous potential and tremendous dynamism across regions, spur economic growth.
• The declaration was adopted after the two-day meeting, during which the leaders focused on the subjects of sustainability, climate, just energy transition, interconnectedness and building inclusive and resilient economies.
• The importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its core, which continues to catalyze APEC region’s extraordinary growth has been reaffirmed.
• APEC economies vow to accelerate the transition towards low and zero emissions vehicles; sustainable aviation fuels; and low and zero emission maritime shipping and port decarbonization, reads the document.

APEC:

• It was formed in 1989 with 12 members.
• Now, it has 21 members.
• Grouping of economies around Pacific Ocean aiming to promote trade, investment, and economic development in region.
• Accounts for nearly 62% of global GDP, half of global trade and covers 38% of global population.
• Operates on basis of non-binding commitments with decisions reached by consensus. India is an observer since 2011.

SOURCE: https://www.wionews.com/world/apec-summit-live-updates-biden-meets-mexican-president-lopez-obrador-659895

TOPIC 5: GOVERNOR’S ROLE IN LEGISLATION

TAG: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Tamil Nadu Governor R. N. Ravi has withheld assent for certain Bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. In this article, we will analyse the governor’s role in legislation.

EXPLANATION:

• The role of a Governor in the legislative process within a state is a crucial aspect of India’s federal structure.
• The Governor, as the constitutional head of a state, plays a significant role in the enactment of laws.

GOVERNOR’S ROLE IN LEGISLATION:

• Options When Receiving a Bill for Assent:
  • Article 200 of the Indian Constitution provides a structured approach for the Governor’s actions concerning bills, emphasizing the Governor’s role as a link between the State Legislature and the Union.
  • It also outlines four alternatives available to a Governor upon receiving a bill from a State Legislature:
    • Give Assent: The Governor approves the bill, making it law.
    • Withhold Assent: The Governor refuses to approve the bill, effectively rejecting it.
    • Return for Reconsideration: If it’s not a Money Bill, the Governor can send the bill back to the State Legislature for reconsideration.
    • Reserve for President’s Consideration: Certain bills need to be reserved for the President’s consideration, such as those that reduce High Court powers or conflict with Union laws.
  • Exercise of Discretionary Powers:
    • According to judicial precedents like the Shamsher Singh case, the Governor typically acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers while withholding assent or returning a bill.
    • Discretionary powers might be exercised in rare cases where the Governor believes a bill contravenes the Constitution and should be reserved for the President’s consideration.
  • Recommendations and Unimplemented Suggestions:
    • Reports like the Sarkaria Commission and the Punchhi Commission have suggested limiting the Governor’s discretionary powers, emphasizing adherence to ministerial advice.
    • Recommendations also proposed time limits for decision-making on bills but have not been implemented.
  • Resolution of Impasses:
    • The politicization of the Governor’s role has been a persistent issue.
    • Suggestions include consulting Chief Ministers before a Governor’s appointment, and the possibility of impeachment by the State Legislature to remove an uncooperative Governor.
    • Amendments are proposed to ensure responsible cooperation between the Centre and States in matters related to Governors’ appointments and functioning.

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE GOVERNOR

• Article 153 says that there shall be a Governor for each State. One person can be appointed as Governor for two or more States.
• A Governor is appointed by the President and is a nominee of the Central Government.
• It is stated that the Governor has a dual role.
• He is the constitutional head of the state, bound by the advice of his Council of Ministers (CoM).
• He functions as a vital link between the Union Government and the State Government.
• Articles 157 and 158 specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor. A governor must:
• Be a citizen of India.
• Be at least 35 years of age.
• Not be a member of the either house of the parliament or house of the state legislature.
• Not hold any office of profit.
• Governor has the power to grant pardons, reprieves, etc. (Article 161).
• There is a CoM with the CM at the head to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his functions, except some conditions for discretion. (Article 163).
• The Governor appoints the Chief Minister and other Ministers (Article 164).
• Governor assents, withholds assent, or reserves the bill for the consideration of the President passed by the Legislative Assembly (Article 200).
• Governors may promulgate the Ordinances under certain circumstances (Article 213).
• Governor’s role:
• The Governor holds a constitutional position and is expected to perform specific functions, including granting assent to bills passed by the state legislature and ensuring the proper functioning of state administration.
• The Governor’s actions are perceived as a hindrance to these responsibilities.
• FOR FURTHER RINFORMATION PLEASE REFER TO THE DNA ARTICLE OF 1^ST OCTOBER 2023.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-role-of-the-governor-in-legislature-explained/article67552112.ece/amp/

RELEVANCE TO UPSC SYLLABUS: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE: IRRATIONAL FREEBIES, FREEBIES AND ITS IMPLICATION ON ECONOMY; ELECTORAL REFORMS

THE CONTEXT

The ongoing assembly elections in five states are seen as a prelude to the general election expected in the first half of 2024. Competitive populism seems to have replaced communalism in these campaigns. Whether its ruling party or opposition, India’s political landscape stuck with the dilemma of populist policies, which may end up shifting the country from reforms to retrogression.

 MORE ON THE NEWS

• Polling has concluded in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram while campaigning is peaking in Rajasthan and Telangana, which will vote on November 25 and 30, 2023.
• Competitive populism has been the defining theme of campaigning so far, and attempts at communal polarisation have been relatively understated.
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, the main contestants in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, have sought to outdo each other in promising a widening array of welfare schemes.
• In Telangana, the Congress, which is mounting a serious challenge to incumbent Bharat Rashtra Samithi, has promised to expand the State’s saturated welfare regime even further.
• Incumbents in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the Congress and the BJP, respectively, have relied on new welfare architectures to fight for another term.
• Tribal voters have received special attention from the BJP and the Congress. Prime Minister launched a ₹24,000-crore PM Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan for last-mile welfare scheme delivery and protection for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups. Congress and BJP have both claimed a better track record in delivering on election promises they make.

WHAT IS COMPETITIVE POPULISM?

• Competitive populism is the idea of framing the policies and campaigns by the political parties that focuses more on the individual problem rather than the country as a whole.
• The thrust is majorly on promising schemes for the poor, senior citizens, women and children, patients, farmers, the homeless and differently-abled people, pensioners and home makers.
• This results in the implementation of short term plans and lack proper outcomes, resulting in the wastage of financial resources.

 ISSUES WITH COMPETITIVE POPULISM

Financial issues: Competitive populism raise questions about welfare schemes without specifying details about resource mobilisation. Example: Loan waiver schemes for farmers cause big relief from farmers’ perspective but cause huge problems in Indian economy by widening the fiscal deficit. Many of our states are deep in debt. The national average of liabilities of states is as high as 31% of their total GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product).This creates a financial situation that is untenable in the long run.

Temporary solutions: Competitive populism among political parties offers in the run up to elections are just temporary solutions. It does not address structural changes needed to sustainable development.

Loss of trust of people: Competitive populism causes the loss of trust and confidence of people on Government thus affecting the mechanism of good governance in India at all levels of administration.

Centralisation of power: This competitive populism leads to centralisation of power, not just institutionally but also within the Party. It implies that the voter is increasingly likely to attribute the delivery of economic benefits to one leader rather than the party as a whole.

 THE WAY FORWARD

Empowering Election Commission of India: ECI should be provided more powers to regulate and monitor the announcement of freebies by political parties during elections. This would include giving the ECI more powers to de-register parties, impose penalties on violation of model code of conduct.

Voter awareness: There is a need for educating voters about the economic and social consequences of freebies and false promises. This can be done by creating awareness campaigns to empower voters to make rational and ethical choices.

Right approach for welfare schemes: Welfare schemes can result in more equitable development outcomes, but a more thoughtful and researched approach would be healthier for public finances.

Capacity creation: There is a need for skill development rather than providing unemployment allowances that will further breed an aversion to work. There is need of building social infrastructure such as rural schools and public healthcare over vote catching vows that are seldom fulfilled.

 THE CONCLUSION

With the campaign going for competitive populism, the impact of these promises on the economy would be vast. In this condition, there is a need to focus on inclusive development that would create a more conducive environment for economic growth and social progress rather than freebies.

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTION

Q. In what way could the replacement of price subsidy with direct benefit Transfer (DBT) change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss. (2015)

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. Regular electioneering forces parties to indulge in competitive populism to differentiate themselves and attract voters. Can simultaneous elections help in overcoming this challenge? Argue.
2. Critically examine the socio-economic implications of competitive populism which is a recent phenomenon devised by political parties to attract voters.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/raining-promises-the-hindu-editorial-on-competitive-populism-in-the-assembly-elections-in-five-states/article67551104.ece

1. Let society evolve; resist return of regressive laws READ MORE
2. Improve teacher quality to raise school standards READ MORE
3. Extend political discourse on poverty to redistributive justice READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. India sees 6.2% rise in goods exports in October READ MORE
2. PM launches Rs 24,000-cr scheme for vulnerable tribal groups’ welfare READ MORE
3. NASA, ISRO gearing up to launch joint space mission to map globe every 12 days READ MORE
4. Gold pushed trade deficit to new high of $31.46 billion in October READ MORE
5. Greenhouse gases hit record high in 2022: UN READ MORE
6. FATF team in India to hold on-site review meetings READ MORE
7. Tribal body declares ‘self-rule’ in a few districts of Manipur READ MORE
8. India to host 2nd Voice of Global South Summit on November 17 READ MORE
9. WHO roadmap to end TB in children focuses for 1st time on pregnant, post-partum women affected by disease READ MORE
10. CBD’s Geneva meetings: Benefit sharing on traditional knowledge & digital sequence information on agenda READ MORE  
11. Why adultery was struck off IPC, and why a House panel wants to make it a crime again READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Let society evolve; resist return of regressive laws READ MORE
2. Challenges to curbing community-based prostitution READ MORE  
3. Does It Work To Pay People Not To Cut the Forest? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The growing wave of decentralisation: Comparative evidence from developing countries READ MORE
2. The price of persistent federal frictions READ MORE
3. Life over death: On death penalty abolition and parliamentary panel report READ MORE
4. Regulating OTT: Draft Broadcasting Regulation Bill may be an attempt to control digital infrastructure READ MORE
5. A grave error in the law READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Improve teacher quality to raise school standards READ MORE
2. Extend political discourse on poverty to redistributive justice READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India Once Was a Strong Ally of Palestine. What Changed? READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Food flux: On food costs and the October tidings READ MORE
2. IPEF supply chain pact is unfair READ MORE
3. Is there more room for competitive populism? READ MORE
4. Electrification of last-mile mobility and logistics READ MORE
5. RBI, Narendra Modi and the Subtle Art of Ignoring Concerns READ MORE
6. How a gendered digital divide, low quality of jobs keeps Indian women out of the workforce READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate pledges lacking: 87% of remaining global carbon budget to limit warming may be depleted by 2030, finds UN READ MORE
2. Global emissions: UN report exposes inadequacy of efforts READ MORE
3. Climate concerns or trade barriers? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI can play the sleuth to expose scientific fraud READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. MHA extends UAPA ban against eight Meitei extremist organisations READ MORE
2. Realism, not machismo, to counter terror READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Another warning in the Himalayas READ MORE
2. Tunnel tragedy is another eco-warning we need to heed READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. In the age of Kalyug, it is time to leverage the power of the collective READ MORE
2. Does Philosophical Reflection Still Hold Value? READ MORE
3. Tolerance is the key to achieving peace READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. AI is one of the most significant technical advancements in recent times, but it is posing a great danger to humanity by unleashing misinformation and deepfakes. Justify with recent examples.
2. The cause of poverty in the country is not only economic but the issue of caste plays a substantial role. Argue and justify.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator.
• Improving teacher quality and pedagogical innovation to enhance the overall rigour of education in the country, must be an immediate and urgent priority.
• Higher than expected tax revenues provide a cushion for the government. However, concerns remain about the medium-term fiscal deficit
• For an economy whose resilience relies on its domestic demand buffer against global shocks, reluctant or budget-cramped consumers are the biggest headwind for policymakers to strive to address.
• Any interest rate hike over and above the 2.5 percentage points already administered in this rate hike cycle would have hurt growth significantly.
• The agreement on Supply Chain Resilience will enhance the resilience of the US, while deepening the vulnerability of India and other developing countries.
• AI is one of the biggest technical advancements in recent times but it can pose a great danger to humanity by unleashing misinformation and deepfakes.
• Ensuring AI safety would require the convergence of multiple branches of activity, including skills, talent, and physical infrastructure.
• Transitioning to low-carbon cities can significantly reduce CO2 levels.
• The future will either be green or not at all.
• Energy justice and social equity issues can have severe implications for the economic well-being of people, livelihoods, and economic development.
• A beginning can be made by providing gig workers with EVs. The Govt must support them and acknowledge their contribution to the economy.
• As the demand for reservation reaches a crescendo, the original justification for this departure from formal equality has become more difficult.
• The cause of poverty in the country is not only economic. A substantial number of the poor belong to the Scheduled and Backward Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• If background inequalities force certain people to live below the poverty line, this should be seen as a serious infringement of the right to equality granted by our Constitution.
• The idea of caste is the greatest dividing factor… all caste either on the principle of birth or of merit is bondage.
• India this time around has taken a much stronger pro-Israel stand than is typical during Israeli-Palestinian conflicts.
• The state and central governments also need to acknowledge the contributions and the critical nature of these gig workers.
• COP28 presents an opportunity to India and other nations to hold the West accountable and liable for the environmental crisis.

ESSAY TOPIC

• The future will either be green or not at all.

50-WORD TALK

• Irrational and unscientific fixed-dose combination drugs ruling the Indian pharma market is a menace that has gone on unchecked for too long. A study shows 70% of antibiotic FDC drugs in the market are banned or unapproved. This is a public health hazard; convoluted and inefficient regulations are bad medicine.
• The ordeal of 40 men trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand is a reminder of the tightrope walk infrastructure development is in Garhwal Himalayas. Aggressive construction without mountain-appropriate plans is a slippery slope. We hope they are rescued soon, but disregarding the region’s vulnerability will only endanger more lives.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. India and Sri Lanka re-launch negotiations of the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) READ MORE
2. UPSC tightens guidelines for appointment of State DGPs READ MORE
3. Haemoglobin isn’t used only in blood, scientists find in major discovery READ MORE
4. Manufacturing PMI falls to an eight-month low READ MORE
5. Gwalior, Kozhikode now on Unesco list of creative cities READ MORE
6. Bangladesh PM Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed voted as new WHO regional director READ MORE
7. India-born author Nandini Das wins 2023 British Academy Book Prize READ MORE
8. Rajya Sabha panel to hold meeting, take up pending cases of privilege breach READ MORE
9. India’s cotton yield may be lowest in 15 years, to drop by 20% READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Divorce: Changing attitudes and social mores READ MORE
2. WWF: 32 million acres of grasslands across US & Canadian Great Plains ploughed up since 2012 READ MORE
3. View from the Himalayas | The ‘Third Pole’ is drying up READ MORE
4. With El Nino around, the heat is on READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The blueprint to develop India by 2047 must factor in critical governance reforms READ MORE
2. Impacting a woman’s freedom to reproductive choices READ MORE
3. Law doesn’t bar states from counting castes READ MORE
4. Small projects, big impact READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Challenges in equipping job seekers with skills READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Hope floats for a thaw in China-US relations READ MORE
2. US can help India become battery manufacturing powerhouse. And decouple from China READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India is proud to be the biggest development partner of Bangladesh: PM READ MORE
2. Why GST collections surged sharply in October READ MORE
3. Supreme Court’s decision on tax treaties clarifies India’s Most Favoured Nation approach READ MORE
4. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation: India and global supply chains READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. India’s race to a green hydrogen future READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI and the issue of human-centricity in copyright law READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Malware malice: On the Apple cyberattack alert READ MORE
2. India’s Need for a National Security Strategy Cannot Be Ignored READ MORE
3. Is it Time to Call India a Digital Dystopia? READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Farm fires rage on: Stakeholders not doing enough to curb menace READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The birth and death of Ego READ MORE
2. Essence of the Upanishads READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. One of the strengths of an effective administrator is the ability to retain equanimity and restraint in any situation and those in power do not act as the instruments of nemesis due to their inflamed egos. With the help of some real-life examples, justify this statement.
2. To address the challenges posed by rapid and mass urbanisation, policymakers must shift their focus to organic rural development that involves farmers and local communities. Do you think, in this regard, a bottom-up infrastructure development approach over a top-down approach would be an effective strategy?
3. Policymakers in India need to assume a more cautious approach against diluting the human-centricity in copyright law. Discuss why there is a need to have a cautious approach in extending existing IP protections to work generated by Artificial Intelligence?
4. Caste censuses are essential for addressing socioeconomic inequalities and informing policymaking. How far do you agree with this view? Justify your view.
5. India is deploying smart fencing, but there should be a balance between manned security and technologies. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
6. Recent data breach shows that digital India, in reality, is too far from the claim and India needs to renew its efforts to de-mystify technology with the aim of surveillance reforms. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
• One of the strengths of an effective administrator is the ability to retain equanimity and restraint in any situation and those in power do not act as the instruments of nemesis due to their inflamed egos.
• Policymakers and courts in India also need to assume a more cautious approach against diluting the human-centricity in copyright law.
• The popularity and importance of the right to a piece of information has been used to hold local governments accountable for lapses in the delivery of services and secure access to basic rights and entitlements.
• Aiming for a high 9% growth rate between 2030 and 2047 is laudable but factoring in alternative scenarios and changing course when warranted, is advisable.
• There needs to be cautious approach in extending existing IP protections to work generated by Artificial Intelligence.
• There is no place within our constitutional structure to see a foetus as anything but dependent on the mother. To see it as a separate, distinct personality would be tantamount to conferring a set of rights on it that the Constitution grants to no other class of person.
• As economic realities change, negotiated relations among countries must also adapt. There is a need for periodic review of tax treaties, especially with respect to their economic benefits.
• The Hamas attack on Israel and this colossal human crisis that is unfolding before our eyes has key lessons for India and the world.
• Engaging with research organisations and academic institutions that focus on education, skills, and labour markets is critical to building capability.
• India needs infrastructure, but the issue is that policymakers often prioritise large and impressive projects that often benefit only those directly connected to the larger economy.
• To address the challenges posed by rapid and mass urbanisation, policymakers must shift their focus to organic rural development that involves farmers and local communities.
• India is deploying smart fencing but the recent developments show that there needs to be a balance between manned security and technologies.
• It is time to renew efforts to de-mystify technology with the aim of surveillance reforms, before this Digital Dystopia becomes a permanent future.
• Digital India isn’t what it is being claimed, the reality is different on the ground. It is time to renew efforts to de-mystify technology with the aim of surveillance reforms, before this Digital Dystopia becomes a permanent future.

50-WORD TALK

• India’s major IT companies have laid off 21,000 people between June and September, largely citing operational efficiency. This data is important. While there is the social cost of such a move, this is how markets function. It’s important for IT giants to think long and hire responsibly, not on impulse.
• India is testing smart fencing in Kashmir using sensors by Magal, which developed systems in Gaza and US. But the Israel episode shows that there needs to be a balance between manned security and technologies that enable unmanned defence at borders. Reliance on such technologies can only go so far.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Cabinet approves Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2024-25 READ MORE
2. How quantum algorithms solve problems that classical computers can’t READ MORE
3. Parliamentary Panel examining Bill to increase minimum age of marriage for women gets another extension READ MORE  
4. Centre notifies transfer of 16 High Court judges, appointment of 17 READ MORE
5. OBCs and subcategories: Why this has been a hot-button issue for long READ MORE
6. Severe drought grips the Amazon rainforest: The impact, cause and grim future READ MORE
7. Israel using white phosphorus in Gaza? 5 things about the controversial weapon READ MORE
8. Flash floods in Kerala: A junked breakwater plan may have been Achilles’ heel READ MORE
9. Microalgae are adapting to warming climate, declining nutrient levels in seas with novel strategy READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. In India, reproductive autonomy remains a pipedream READ MORE
2. Why Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage verdict opens no doors for queer people READ MORE
3. Same-Sex Marriage: An opportunity lost, hope not forever READ MORE
4. Holes in the green cover READ MORE
5. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Revamp governance to make cities liveable READ MORE
2. Limits to women’s reproductive rights READ MORE
3. Same-Sex Marriage : Onus on legislature to initiate reforms READ MORE
4. Two decades on, India plans to strengthen diplomatic corps READ MORE
5. Federalism puzzle READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. India Improve nutrition delivery and don’t bristle at low rank READ MORE
2. Global Hunger Index a stark reminder to address hunger, poverty READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The BRI at 10, some hits, many misses READ MORE
2. The old Middle East is not back READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The measure of the working woman READ MORE
2. Fear factor: On the inflation battle READ MORE
3. Going beyond the International Year of Millets to achieve decade-long action READ MORE
4. Tackling urban poverty READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Accelerating green innovation through EVs READ MORE
2. India’s energy transition: Who will lead the way? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The explosion of digital uncertainty READ MORE
2. The final frontier READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Localise strategies to build climate resilience READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Cybercrime surge: Focus on persistent vigil, collaborative efforts READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Consciousness chronicles, from duality to bliss READ MORE
2. Happy greetings READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions, the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters. Comment.
2. Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-independence period, India has yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy. Do you agree that transforming education into the practice of freedom is an effective way forward?
3. The Electoral Bonds scheme not only creates an uneven playing field for political parties but is a danger to our democracy. Comment.
4. The SHG federations with the existing panchayat-level committees have opportunities to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• You cannot continue to victimise someone else just because you yourself were a victim once.
• Our real enemies are not men and women but suspicion, fear, hatred, violence and feeling of revenge and these enemies cannot be eliminated by military means.
• Discoms will be profitable only when they are unshackled from state controls and electricity distribution is deregulated.
• The goal should be to create more employers than employees, and it is hoped that “PM Vishwakarma” will help make this a reality.
• The SHG federations can work with the existing panchayat-level committees to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities.
• The SHG model is a flexible and comprehensive tool to steer holistic development services as opposed to only providing financial and livelihood services to SHG women.
• While women-led federations role in promoting empowerment and livelihoods promotion is well known, not much has been highlighted about the SHG federation’s work in providing non-financial and development services in their communities.
• As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters.
• The biggest concern for India right now is the decline in both merchandise exports and imports over the past eight months.
• If the Indian government remains convinced about not joining the RCEP, it must have strategic reasons, which is fine. But it must nevertheless address the ongoing outcomes of such a decision, and that’s where agility in policymaking comes in.
• Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-Independence period, India is yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy.
• Education has to set its epistemic and moral worth and the goals of education should be quality, equity and efficiency in learning outcomes.
• A level playing field in terms of educational opportunities and competition, coupled with affirmative action, can enhance classroom accountability.
• To integrate critical thinking, educational reform has to assimilate the willingness to be rationally critiqued and learning must inculcate the ability to question from different vantage points.
• One is the legalisation of anonymous donations, and the other is the violation of citizens’ right to information about the funding of parties.
• The legalisation of anonymous donations would amount to facilitation and legitimisation of corruption.
• In a democracy, the public have the right to know who funds parties because the funding may be used to influence policies.

50-WORD TALK

• While arguments on who bombed al-Ahli Hospital rage, it underlines the horrors ahead if war grinds on in densely-populated Gaza. The killing of innocent civilians is empowering extremists and defeating the international peacemaking crisis. Leaders on all sides must refrain from stoking a fire threatening to spread beyond the region.
• As the threat of climate change grows stark, events like the recent glacial lake outburst flood that caused death and devastation in Sikkim are becoming frequent. This underlines the urgency of installing early warning systems in the fragile Himalayan range. Governments can no longer afford to ignore such red flags.
• Faced with a moral, legal and ethical dilemma, the Supreme Court walked on eggshells to reject a 26-week-old pregnant woman’s plea to abort her foetus on the ground that it risked her psychologically. The issue will be debated in the coming days as a prudent balance between competing fundamental rights.
• GIFT City has many infrastructural marvels, and attractive tax incentives. But, it’s nowhere near being the next Singapore. It needs to come out of Gujarat government’s shadows and allow a restriction-free, socially liberal lifestyle that youthful, global workforce thrives on. Relax prohibition, improve connectivity, housing, open spas, and golf courses.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM inaugurates Global Maritime India Summit 2023 READ MORE
2. SC declines to legalise same-sex marriage, says legislature to decide READ MORE
3. Kerala mulls planting bamboo along Munnar’s Gap Road to avert landslips READ MORE  
4. ST status for Meiteis was considered and rejected in 1982 and 2001, government records show READ MORE
5. How synergistic barriers are affecting progress on SDGs READ MORE
6. AI finds supernova, the biggest explosion in universe, first without human help READ MORE
7. India-Sri Lanka ferry service restarted after 40 yrs: Opportunities, challenges READ MORE
8. Scientists using AI to decode secrets of ancient Pompeii scroll READ MORE
9. Amazon forests threatened: 10% more wildfires than last year, environmental gains may be undone READ MORE
10. No health warnings on iron fortified rice: SC directs govt to respond in 4 weeks READ MORE  

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Why Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage verdict opens no doors for queer people READ MORE
2. Solve water woes to save TN growth target READ MORE
3. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Demolishing the frame from outside the Constitution READ MORE
2. Centralised procurement as a powerful health idea READ MORE
3. Law and custom: On the Supreme Court’s verdict on same-sex marriage READ MORE
4. Invoking the spectre of judicial legislation READ MORE
5. Empowered CAG: Guardian of public purse must stay independent READ MORE
6. Providing non-financial services to rural communities READ MORE
7. Electoral Bonds must be scrapped READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Food deprivation & hunger remain widespread in India READ MORE
2. Higher education at crossroads READ MORE
3. Transform learning READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. A ferry tale from the neighbourhood READ MORE
2. Building bridges READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How to read India’s latest employment data READ MORE
2. Role of banks in a knowledge economy READ MORE
3. Gig workers law deepens industrial democracy READ MORE
4. Watch out for global headwinds READ MORE
5. Farm to fork: An overview of millet supply chains in India READ MORE
6. GM crops need more research READ MORE
7. Indian Agriculture has a problem. We farm too much for too little READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate lessons from G20 for Dubai COP28 READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI could redefine police techniques READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Localise strategies to build climate resilience READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Cybercrime surge: Focus on persistent vigil, collaborative efforts READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. This Quote Means: ‘Women… are fuelled by a will to survive’, from Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize winner READ MORE
2. The Buddha’s wisdom can help to heal the mind READ MORE
3. Supreme intelligence READ MORE
4. Civil servants who say no to scams are national icons READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions, the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters. Comment.
2. Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-independence period, India has yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy. Do you agree that transforming education into the practice of freedom is an effective way forward?
3. The Electoral Bonds scheme not only creates an uneven playing field for political parties but is a danger to our democracy. Comment.
4. The SHG federations with the existing panchayat-level committees has opportunities to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The Constitution’s identity is endangered not just by a textual transformation but also in the subversion of its liberal, democratic environment.
• Our real enemies are not men and women but suspicion, fear, hatred, violence and feeling of revenge and these enemies cannot be eliminated by military means.
• Discoms will be profitable only when they are unshackled from state controls and electricity distribution is deregulated.
• The goal should be to create more employers than employees, and it is hoped that “PM Vishwakarma” will help make this a reality.
• The SHG federations can work with the existing panchayat-level committees to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities.
• The SHG model is a flexible and comprehensive tool to steer holistic development services as opposed to only providing financial and livelihood services to SHG women.
• While women-led federations role in promoting empowerment and livelihoods promotion is well known, not much has been highlighted about the SHG federation’s work in providing non-financial and development services in their communities.
• As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters.
• The biggest concern for India right now is the decline in both merchandise exports and imports over the past eight months.
• If the Indian government remains convinced about not joining the RCEP, it must have strategic reasons, which is fine. But it must nevertheless address the ongoing outcomes of such a decision, and that’s where agility in policymaking comes in.
• Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-Independence period, India is yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy.
• Education has to set its epistemic and moral worth and the goals of education should be quality, equity and efficiency in learning outcomes.
• A level playing field in terms of educational opportunities and competition, coupled with affirmative action, can enhance classroom accountability.
• To integrate critical thinking, educational reform has to assimilate the willingness to be rationally critiqued and learning must inculcate the ability to question from different vantage points.
• One is the legalisation of anonymous donations, and the other is the violation of citizens’ right to information about the funding of parties.
• The legalisation of anonymous donations would amount to facilitation and legitimisation of corruption.
• In a democracy, the public have the right to know who funds parties because the funding may be used to influence policies.

50-WORD TALK

• As the threat of climate change grows stark, events like the recent glacial lake outburst flood that caused death and devastation in Sikkim are becoming frequent. This underlines the urgency of installing early warning systems in the fragile Himalayan range. Governments can no longer afford to ignore such red flags.
• Faced with a moral, legal and ethical dilemma, the Supreme Court walked on eggshells to reject a 26-week-old pregnant woman’s plea to abort her foetus on the ground that it risked her psychologically. The issue will be debated in the coming days as a prudent balance between competing fundamental rights.
• GIFT City has many infrastructural marvels, and attractive tax incentives. But, it’s nowhere near being the next Singapore. It needs to come out of Gujarat government’s shadows and allow a restriction-free, socially liberal lifestyle that youthful, global workforce thrives on. Relax prohibition, improve connectivity, housing, open spas, and golf courses.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Mission Indradhanush 5.0 (IMI 5.0) campaign with special focus on improvement of Measles and Rubella vaccination coverage, will conclude all three rounds on 14 October 2023 READ MORE
2. INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION RISES TO 10.3% IN AUGUST 2023 READ MORE
3. India ranks 111 out of 125 countries in Global Hunger Index READ MORE  
4. What war crimes laws apply to the Israel-Palestinian conflict? READ MORE
5. Why Odisha govt’s new rural development scheme has triggered a controversy READ MORE
6. Dragonfly: The faces of wetlands in India READ MORE
7. IMI 5.0 reaches children up to five years for the first time READ MORE  
8. Biohydrogen’s role in India’s green hydrogen pathway READ MORE
9. Targeted methane mitigation can avoid 0.1°C warming in 2050, should be adopted with decarbonisation efforts: Report READ MORE
10. Joshimath sinking: Landslides in region not a new problem, says GSI report READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. The case for caste census in India | Explained READ MORE
2. Changed outlook READ MORE
3. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Should the 50 % legal ceiling on reservation be reconsidered? READ MORE
2. Administrators: All services need more officers, not just IFS. So do local govts. And recruit more specialists READ MORE
3. Pharma laxity: No tainted firm deserves leniency READ MORE
4. Make funding truly transparent and free of cash for fair polls READ MORE
5. ‘One Nation, One Election’ Will Further Weaken Indian Democracy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Pro-choice, pro-women: A split SC verdict reflects a wider judicial-medical confusion about abortion rights. This must change READ MORE
2. India Ranks 111th Among 125 Countries in Global Hunger Index Report READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Non-state actors are a threat to world peace READ MORE
2. ASEAN must reinvent itself to stay relevant in region READ MORE
3. India-Maldives Ties: A Walk on Eggshells As New Delhi Faces the China Question READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Ways to make IBC more effective READ MORE   
2. Terms of Trade | Let’s discuss India’s growth forecast READ MORE
3. The right path: IMF raises India’s growth rate, validating that its economy is on a firm footing READ MORE
4. India’s farm machinery has global market READ MORE
5. By the farmers READ MORE
6. IMF and India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Curbing air pollution: Centre, states need to work in close coordination READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI could redefine police techniques READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Localise strategies to build climate resilience READ MORE
2.  India’s cyclone warning system is the model for disaster-proofing the country. Floods next READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Lies, levels, life: Cultivating your best being READ MORE
2. Misery is a choice READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Repeated elections have a cost, but the benefits of enhanced democracy that they trigger are far greater. Critically examine the statement in the light of recent debate about One Nation, One Election.
2. India is diverse, with different regions confronting diverse issues, and that impacts politics in the states. In light of statement, how far do you agree with this view that the concept of One Nation, One Election goes against the reality of India’s diversity?
3. Balancing growth and inflation is a complex endeavour, requiring a steady hand on the economic tiller. Discuss, how India can this balance in the ongoing uncertain global economic landscape?
4. Assessing vulnerabilities is the first step in reducing disaster risk. In light of recent disasters in the Himalayan region, discuss how the climate resilience approach in infrastructure development can minimize the disaster risk in that region.
5. The bureaucracy delivers on episodic events like conducting elections, which have a clear exit date but when it comes to daily events such as provision of civic amenities, the result is deeply unsatisfactory. Do you think that the division of bureaucracy between the three levels of government is a likely reason for such unamenities?
6. Modern states have evolved from directly running factories to regulating economic activity and for that Indian government needs to revisit the bureaucracy’s recruitment process and should focus on more domain expertise. Discuss.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable.
• Delhi’s history of intervening positively also led to the ironical consternation of the Maldivian opposition parties who started a disquiet campaign against the Maldivian Government’s traditional ‘India First’ policy to suggest a compromise to Maldivian sovereignty.
• Democracy weakens when the people’s choice is not based on who will represent their interests and fulfil their aspirations.
• Democracy is always in a state of flux and not in its ideal form.
• To strengthen democracy, politics needs to be more accountable.
• Having one election every five years will make political parties more unaccountable and free to fulfil the agenda of vested interests. That will weaken democracy and cost the nation far more than the direct and indirect costs of elections at present.
• Even if India had a perfect democracy, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea assumes homogeneity in the nation.
• A one-size-fits-all approach goes against the reality of the nation’s diversity and can lead to severe political backlash.
• The reality is that India has an imperfect democracy that needs to be strengthened.
• Elections are the times when the public can force political parties to become answerable.
• Repeated elections have a cost, but the benefits of enhanced democracy that they trigger are far greater.
• No farmers’ company can address climatic aberrations amidst a changing climate, broken landscapes, tattered ecologies and market volatilities unless supported by policies and incentives.
• Balancing growth and inflation is a complex endeavour, requiring a steady hand on the economic tiller.
• Ever since the artificial intelligence chatbot GPT technology burst on the global computer media scene suggesting its multifarious applications and uses in almost any area of human endeavour.
• If the ASEAN has to remain relevant, it needs to reinvent itself to suit the changing regional environment.
• Shortage of workers is pushing the demand for farm equipment. India can dominate the world market by leveraging its machine tools.
• The UN has the responsibility to resolve conflicts. But its failure should not be taken as an opportunity to abet terrorism in the name of freedom.
• It is crucial to re-evaluate building typologies and focus on developing climate-resilient designs.
• The bureaucracy delivers on episodic events like conducting elections, which have a clear exit date. But when it comes to daily events such as provision of civic amenities, the result is deeply unsatisfactory.

50-WORD TALK

• The external affairs ministry’s statement has rightly made it clear that India’s condemnation of the Hamas terror attack on Israel and New Delhi’s stated support to two-states solution on Palestine are not mutually exclusive. Unnecessarily obfuscating the two issues only sullies public debate. India’s position has been nuanced but consistent.
• Supreme Court listing electoral bonds case for final hearing after six years is welcome. Issues at stake are vital for democracy— need for transparency in political funding and undue advantage to ruling party. From passage as Money Bill to legalization of anonymity—this haze-shrouded scheme calls for thorough judicial scrutiny.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Cabinet approves royalty rates for mining of three critical and strategic minerals- Lithium, Niobium and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) READ MORE
2. Cabinet approves establishment of an autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat READ MORE
3. ‘Operation Ajay’ set to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel READ MORE  
4. Cauvery Committee retains water release recommendation of 3,000 cusecs to T.N. READ MORE
5. The cases before the new CJI-led nine-judge Constitution Bench | Explained READ MORE
6. Order on cleaning rivers not followed, NGT issues notice to Chief Secretaries of all States, Ministry of Jal Shakti READ MORE
7. India, China agree to maintain momentum of ‘dialogue and negotiations’ READ MORE  
8. How new royalty rates for strategic minerals lithium, REEs can help cut their imports READ MORE
9. What the GI tag can mean for the cashew industry in Goa READ MORE
10. India’s first bamboo-based biorefinery to start operations in March READ MORE
11. Chhattisgarh Baiga tribe gets habitat rights under FRA READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Globally, 9 million girls face extreme risks of climate disaster and child marriage every year: Report READ MORE
2. Changed outlook READ MORE
3. Even temporary global warming above 2°C will affect life in the oceans for centuries READ MORE
4. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Women’s quota — rhetoric and reality READ MORE
2. CrPC, IPC changes fall short of expectations READ MORE
3. RTI Act: Time to make it more effective READ MORE
4. Transparency Law | CIC’s evolution from defender to bystander READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Learning for the future READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. UN Security Council reform is a song in a loop READ MORE
2. Are reunifications the key to world peace? READ MORE
3. Global Leadership Is Not Just About Drafting a Statement READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India may face economic trouble as fertility levels drop READ MORE   
2. The labour market is tougher on women. This is what the Economics Nobel for 2023 acknowledges READ MORE
3. Good, do better: For India, to be the fastest growing major economy isn’t enough. Real change needs 8% growth READ MORE
4. Focus on economy’s basics for 8% growth READ MORE
5. India Needs Stronger Exports to Hold the Line READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Curbing air pollution: Centre, states need to work in close coordination READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Generic drugs are everywhere – and that’s a problem READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. How the government covered up the severity of Teesta floods by blaming them on a ‘cloudburst’ READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The inescapable meaning of life READ MORE
2. Dealing with failure READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. India’s economy is navigating a labyrinth of interconnected challenges, and addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach encompassing domestic policy reforms. Comment on the statement in light of global economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions.
2. The challenges against world leadership cannot be addressed if the global institutions are not reformed with time. Analyse the statement in the light of recent global challenges.
3. If global institutions are not reformed as per occurring challenges, then instead of solving problems, they risk becoming part of the problem. In the light of statement, discuss the need for reforms in the United Nations.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Unlike carbon-based fuels, the wind and the sun and the earth itself provide fuel that is free.
• China’s Tibet policy is primarily based on ruthless exploitation hidden under the façade of mega infrastructure projects which are showcased to the rest of the world as a sign of development in this region.
• Goldin’s Nobel and her own awarded work which took decades of research provides a tremendous intellectual platform for a wider level of global policy discussion and action on issues of gender wage gap, women and work, and more.
• Based on its achievements in key fields of technology, India is not in the global game. Yet, as a geopolitical pivot whose importance is derived not by its national power but its sensitive location, India is being courted by all three geostrategic players.
• The inclusion of the African Union as the new G-20 member was a pyrrhic victory compared with the six new members added to the BRICS (these include all global major energy exporters and importers) given that 50 of the 54 African nations attended the 2023 BRICS summit.
• India’s economy is navigating a labyrinth of interconnected challenges and addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach encompassing domestic policy reforms, diversification of export markets and enhancing economic resilience to global shocks.
• India’s ability to overcome global economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions hurdles will be critical in ensuring continued economic growth and stability in an ever-evolving global landscape.
• Non-urban India has remained blindsided for decades in terms of superannuation, benefits, and social security. Rural India will now catch up with its urban counterpart at a quicker pace.
• The Central Information Commission’s job is to strike a balance between people’s right to know and the State’s legitimate need for limited secrecy.
• Right to Information (RTI) has brought transparency and systemic reforms but there is need to prevent its misuse and plug in loopholes.
• Climate change is exacerbating the risks. Because of global warming, more and more glaciers are melting.
• We must be careful in granting permission for the design of our mega hydro projects. We must do proper environment assessment of these projects and ensure that these withstand any water discharge that may happen in case of a glacier outburst.
• An increase in investment in traditional sectors such as mining and utilities because they trigger wider economic activities.
• Frequent tweaks of irritants aside, the GST regime needs a holistic reform plan, including a road map to bring in excluded items such as electricity, petroleum and alcohol.

50-WORD TALK

• A radical re-imagination of growth and developmental opportunities offering a wider platform for Indian (and other developing countries’) women (especially those at the margin in the employment landscape) through a greater, more assertive policy can be a starting point for subsequent transformations to happen across other nations too.
• The disaster in Sikkim is only the latest in a string of related incidents. But it must serve as an urgent reminder at all levels of the state and Central governments that the fragile condition of the Himalayas as the effects of climate change escalate will pose a continued and imminent danger to residents of India’s hill states.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. Mental disorders 10 times more likely following detention among asylum-seeking children: Report READ MORE
2. Women want change, society needs change READ MORE
3. DC Edit | Caste census to address inequity READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Competition Commission of India to host 8th BRICS International Competition Conference during October 11-13, 2023 in New Delhi READ MORE
2. SC to hear pleas challenging electoral bond scheme on October 31 READ MORE
3. Net direct tax collections up 21.8% to ₹9.57 lakh crore READ MORE  
4. PCA regime to cover PSU NBFCs from October 2024 READ MORE
5. IMF raises India growth forecast to 6.3% for FY24 READ MORE
6. India, Italy sign defence cooperation agreement READ MORE
7. SC to hear petition challenging electoral bonds: What is the scheme and its criticisms? READ MORE  
8. Dancing frogs of Western Ghats among most threatened amphibians globally READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Mental disorders 10 times more likely following detention among asylum-seeking children: Report READ MORE
2. Women want change, society needs change READ MORE
3. DC Edit | Caste census to address inequity READ MORE
4. Something changed about cyclone formation in the 1990s | Explained READ MORE  
5. What the hottest September ever reveals about climate change READ MORE
6. India can reap the demographic dividend – but there’s a deadline READ MORE
7. Why does Delhi NCR frequently experience earthquakes, what causes seismic activity in region? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Caste census: Why the liberal intelligentsia’s opposition is misplaced READ MORE
2. Stop being vindictive’: SC directive to ED welcome READ MORE
3. DC Edit | SC’s relook at PMLA provisions welcome READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Learning for the future READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. BRICS: The mortar of competition in a globalised world READ MORE
2. ‘West is hypocritical’ is now India’s go-to foreign policy response. Delhi not exempt either READ MORE
3. India and the Israel-Palestine War: Choices, challenges and trade-offs READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The impact of Claudia Goldin’s work READ MORE  
2. Achieving the green energy goal READ MRE
3. Centre’s push on infra is transforming India READ MORE
4. West Asia crisis can hit global economy READ MORE
5. Claudia Goldin’s Nobel is a Wake-up Call for India’s Disjointed Labour Markets READ MORE
6. DC Edit | RBI keeps its focus on inflation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Deregulation of biodiversity regime to impact environment READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. We need evidence-based traditional medicine READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. More people moved into high flood zones, exposing larger populations to water disasters: World Bank READ MORE
2. Sikkim’s Chungthang dam collapse signals the need for dam safety & emissions reduction READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Gita unfolds the true essence of sanatan dharma READ MORE
2. Dealing with failure READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Why does Delhi NCR frequently experience earthquakes? What causes seismic activity in this region?
2. There is a need to redefine the relationship between the State and universities for a truly autonomous and thriving academic environment. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
3. While constitutional safeguards and legal protection for Dalits exist, caste-based discrimination has taken on new forms in the modern era. Discuss why the safeguards and legal protection failed to address the issue of discrimination in higher educational institutions?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A leader who doesn’t hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.
• India must carefully weigh the situation, its long-term trajectory, and fall outs and find sensible geopolitical choices and security measures to deal with future challenges.
• The growing perception of Canada being a sanctuary for global offenders not only tarnishes its international reputation but also poses a threat to its societal fabric.
• It is difficult to fathom how a pause in policy rates or controlling liquidity could bring down food inflation, which was caused mainly because of supply shortages.
• Inclusion does not happen on its own in a society beset with inequalities which have a history of thousands of years; it takes deliberate and forceful attempts.
• While the apex court puts its imprimatur on the law finding it an effective tool to take on international terror rackets, its use on the ground does not share that confidence.
• It may be a paradox that a country which runs per a democratic Constitution and vouches by the rule of law has for all these years let an investigating agency infringe on the fundamental right to liberty of citizens without offering them a reason.
• Future-ready education is one that will help students adapt to ever-changing circumstances, prepare them for the drastic fallouts of climate change, teach them the importance of maintaining a balanced ecology and help them to be genuine global citizens.
• Generative AI’s impact on military warfare can be both revolutionary and riddled with ethical and legal considerations. It has significant implications for defence strategies, intelligence gathering, and training simulations.
• The fall in prices and the strengthening of international financial linkages will allow India to attain a current account surplus.
• The United Nations’ report on ageing in India serves as a reminder that the country’s opportunity to reap the demographic dividend is not perpetual.
• Russia’s increasing involvement in Africa is about its geopolitics, economics, and intricate security concerns.
• Reservation is the most effective form of affirmative action and equity is the first step to equality.

50-WORD TALK

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is complaining about India to a growing list of global leaders from the UK, the UAE, and now Jordan. If Trudeau has concrete evidence of Indian wrong-doing, he should present it. Else, he’ll have to get used to the eye-rolling all whiny children eventually get.
• Awarding the Economics Nobel to economic historian Claudia Goldin is entirely appropriate. She’s greatly enhanced our understanding of women’s pay and labour participation, and historical issues therein. That she’s only the third woman to win this Nobel, and the first to do it solo, highlights how vital her research is.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Harvard professor Claudia Goldin wins Nobel Economics Prize for gender gap research READ MORE
2. Scientists untangle mystery about the universe’s earliest galaxies READ MORE
3. Sri Lanka to take over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association READ MORE  
4. Ahead of Bima Vistaar rollout, IRDAI issues guidelines on Bima Vahaks READ MORE
5. ICMR to set up study to develop solutions to remedy childhood undernutrition READ MORE
6. What is multimodal artificial intelligence and why is it important? READ MORE
7. Joint Statement during the State Visit of the President of Tanzania to India and launch of Strategic Partnership between India and Tanzania (8-10 October 2023) READ MORE  
8. Appointment of Manipur HC CJ to be notified soon, Centre tells apex court READ MORE
9. Unemployment rate drops to 6.6% in urban areas in Q1 READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Mental health and the floundering informal worker READ MORE
2. Socio-economic takeaways from Bihar caste survey READ MORE
3. Does India need a caste census? READ MORE
4. Extreme weather impact: 20,000 children displaced every day in last 6 years READ MORE  
5. How climate crisis will trigger more water wars in India READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The state of India’s Scheduled Areas READ MORE
2. Uncertain timing, Census and delimitation hurdles cast shadow over women’s reservation READ MORE
3. Law Commission age of consent recommendations threaten to criminalise the young READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. The ‘invisible’ disability of mental illness: Challenges of social security access READ MORE
2. Fundamental health services for women: Analysing gender disparities READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The end of the two-state solution: Hamas’s spectacular terrorism will push back Palestinian statehood by a generation READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. With food inflation limited to dal roti, why govt policy may need changes READ MORE  
2. Economics Nobel 2023: How Claudia Goldin shed light on the status of women in the workforce READ MORE
3. Is RBI heading in the right direction? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Why India is launching a national framework for climate services Extreme weather impact: 20,000 children displaced every day in last 6 years READ MORE
2. Natural disasters occur due to our apathy towards environment READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. More people moved into high flood zones, exposing larger populations to water disasters: World Bank READ MORE
2. Sikkim’s Chungthang dam collapse signals the need for dam safety & emissions reduction READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Back to square one on theatre commands READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. It’s okay to be not okay READ MORE
2. Only we can reform our society READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Empowering women with the right to a safe and inclusive online environment is a crucial step toward a more equitable and just society in the digital age. Comment.
2. There is a need to redefine the relationship between the State and universities for a truly autonomous and thriving academic environment. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
3. While constitutional safeguards and legal protection for Dalits exist, caste-based discrimination has taken on new forms in the modern era. Discuss why the safeguards and legal protection are failed to address the issue of discrimination in higher educational institutions?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Palestine is the cement that holds the Arab world together, or it is the explosive that blows it apart.
• The disturbing trends seen in women’s mental health call for immediate gender mainstreaming action in mental health policies.
• Policy neglect, uncertain job market, and increased contractualisation are making labourers’ economic condition worse. Inflation is negating purchasing power too.
• Wages of informal labourers neither become an election issue nor do they count as a measure of poverty.
• ]The only way to protect the Indian rupee is through price stability. Assured stability through firmer anti-inflationary measures sends an effective message to overseas investors.
• We need to enhance our responsibility and responsiveness towards climate cure and healing; we must investment in climate-pro solutions.
• Enhance cooperation for mitigation efforts, and develop sustainable and viable ecosystems for a crisis-free society.
• A caste census is deemed discriminatory and opposed by those who seek equal rights for all. Besides, opinions are sharply divided on its impact.
• The release of the socio-economic profile of various SRCs can bring back the lost focus on the ‘economic’ aspect of social justice.
• The promise of a caste census could influence outcomes in the upcoming assembly elections but not do much for the cause of universal welfarism.
• India and South Korea, guided by universal values, should build beyond bilateralism as they refuse to be bystanders amid global disorder.
• Law Commission recommendations on age of consent sidestep key question of how to protect the young from sexual abuse, while ensuring they are not punished for consensual sexual activity with peers.
• Informal workers, despite their significant contribution to national income, are perennially exposed to economic, physical, and, in turn, mental vulnerabilities.
• The only way forward is for a Palestinian leadership that can credibly signal to the Israeli people that it will not use the freedoms it gains from any peace deal to hurt Israel. The prospects for that seem dim.

50-WORD TALK

• The shocking failure of Israel’s security services to preempt Hamas’ brutal strikes illustrates the damage caused when elected dictators operate without scrutiny and the perils of emulating Erdogan-style rule. PM Netanyahu’s politics undermined Jerusalem’s military and intelligence leadership. Israel will prevail—but at a price that need not have been paid.
• Army signing contracts worth Rs 18,000 crore under emergency procurement and asking it be institutionalised shows how convoluted military procurement has become. It is a shame that Services have to use EP to fill up critical gaps. This piecemeal approach should be stopped and procurement systems decluttered for faster procurement.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. As per GRAP, Stage-I is to be imposed in the entire NCR when the daily average AQI of Delhi touches/ crosses 201 index value READ MORE
2. India Re-elected as President of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) for a Third Successive Term READ MORE
3. REC launches ‘SUGAM REC’, a mobile app for 54EC Bonds Investors READ MORE  
4. Two of every five amphibians threatened with extinction, reveals study READ MORE
5. Election Commission briefs observers ahead of Assembly polls in five states READ MORE
6. RBI’s status quo and an indication that rate cuts would have to wait: What’s in store for borrowers, depositors READ MORE
7. Russia may pull out of CTBT: How the treaty tried — and failed — to stop nuclear testing READ MORE
8. When can a bill be designated as a ‘money bill’: SC to hear challenge READ MORE
9. UN launches 10 principles to close Asia-Pacific sustainable finance gap READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Equality and identity: On the findings of the Bihar caste count READ MORE
2. Implement women’s reservation now READ MORE
3. Beyond Politics: Caste Census Is About Deepening India’s Social Justice Paradigm READ MORE
4. Modelling study shows how controversial geoengineering may affect global food production READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Age of Consent: Law Panel Report Simply Diagnoses, Doesn’t Solve the Problem READ MORE
2. In Strong Judgement, SC Comes Down Heavily on ‘Arbitrary Exercise of Power’ by ED READ MORE
3. Law Commission of India and Uniform Civil Code: Looking Back, Looking Forward READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Aligning higher education with the United Nations SDGs READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. India-China power play gets new life in Maldives READ MORE
2. Reading ‘India Way’ in the Neighbourhood First Policy: Moral Exceptionalism or Strategic Pragmatism? READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Revenue riddles: On GST inflows and areas of concern READ MORE  
2. RBI’s Monetary Policy and the art of letting it be READ MORE
3. Rates to stay elevated for longer READ MORE
4. Inflation clouds growth dreams READ MORE
5. De-risking is better than decoupling READ MORE
6. Factsheet of bad loans in the banking sector READ MORE
7. GDP Growth: The Gap Between Reality and Rhetoric READ MORE
8. K-shaped Recovery Dents Growth of Worker Earnings READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Over $9 trillion investments in infrastructure resilience, Net Zero needed by 2050 to mitigate climate impact: CDRI READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Inspiring colours: On the 2023 Chemistry Nobel READ MORE
2. Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2023 goes to three scientists for quantum dots fundamental to nanotechnology READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. ‘Sikkim tells us to be very careful before allowing any new hydropower project in the Himalayas’ READ MORE
2. Sikkim serves a warning, govts must heed now READ MORE
3. Deluge of apathy: Sikkim flash flood has claimed several lives after decade-old warnings were conveniently ignored READ MORE
4. Sikkim Flood Was a Disaster Forecast – But Warnings Were Ignored READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. In Manipur, another internet shutdown, a conflict intensified READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Can We Teach Someone to Be Ethical? READ MORE
2. Give us a smile READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Ethics are moral principles that govern behavior. Comment.
2. An urgent review of both the impact of climate change and infrastructure development in hilly areas is needed. Comment on the statement in the wake of the Sikkim glacial lake outburst flood.
3. India’s Neighborhood First Policy is guided by ideas of moral exceptionalism rooted in particular civilizational framings but is not without strategic pragmatism. Critically examine.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Anything that you will build on the foundations of caste will crack and will never be a whole.
• As India refigures its foreign policy to a region now changed by Armenia’s defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh, it almost certainly will have to seek out other, more stable avenues for its infrastructure ties given the potential of the INSTC project.
• India’s Neighborhood First Policy is guided by ideas of moral exceptionalism rooted in particular civilizational framings, but is not without strategic pragmatism.
• The growing dependence of female workers on self-employment points to increasing economic distress that forced women to shift from household work to informal employment.
• India’s GDP numbers need to be recalculated with a change in methodology. The argument that the discrepancies get evened out is not a strong one.
• The eastern Himalayas require special attention in terms of the potential for earthquakes as well as flood disasters. A special effort needs to be mounted to develop hazard scenarios and models as well as land zonation maps that demarcate areas prone to floods and landslides.
• Nationality is a feeling of oneness which makes those who are charged with it feel they are kith and kin. It is a feeling of ‘consciousness of kind.
• With four decades of experience in political reservation for women in local elections, there’s a compelling case for introducing the bill sooner rather than later.
• The Indian banks, especially the public sector banks, are yet to benchmark the criterion for NPA and keep risk in tolerable limits while disbursing loans.
• Globalisation has become so strong that complete economic decoupling of a country or region is not feasible. De-risking and realignment is the way forward.
• The victory of a pro-China government in the Maldives offers Beijing an opportunity to restore its influence in the Indian Ocean region.
• The rise in extreme weather events should prod the government to rehaul its management of all mountain approaches.
• We need high-elevation meteorological stations for more accurate weather forecasts. Most of us use remote-sensing methods but we also need to develop our capacity in field glaciology.
• Educational institutions have to rethink their approach so that it is in tune with the NEP which will be crucial in realising the 2030 deadline for SDGs.
• It is high time that universities adopted sustainability as a mantra and incorporated SDGs into their institutional strategies, both in daily administration and in teaching and research.
• It has been realised that higher education cannot work in isolation; rather it must be directly integrated with socio-economic development where each activity and transaction has meaningful and multiple impacts on SDGs.
• Every citizen must feel that the universities contribute directly to their well-being and nation-building.

ESSAY TOPIC

• India to awaken the people, it is the women who must be awakened
• What we sow we reap.

50-WORD TALK

• In wake of the Sikkim glacial lake outburst flood, an urgent review of both the impact of climate change and infrastructure development in such areas is needed. India alone can’t do anything about global warming. But it’s imperative to assess the viability, risks of dams generating power from glacier runoff.
• MK Stalin is right to say that National Medical Commission rules are undermining state rights. Linking MBBS seats with state population means southern states can’t raise seats or open new colleges. It amounts to punishing states that actually delivered quality medical education. Instead, add better colleges elsewhere in the country.
• Hiking LPG subsidy for Ujjwala customers by 50% is further backsliding of the government’s proclaimed freebie policy. From making scathing political speeches about opposition’s ‘revdi culture’, PM Modi is himself distributing subsidies with increasing frequency as elections approach. It’s cynical politics that fiscal prudence is being sacrificed for electoral gain.
• Nobody’s above the law of the land, including NewsClick. But UAPA, on top of the already draconian PMLA, peremptory seizure of electronic devices, characterises a heavy-handed State. Just allow the law to play out instead. The goal appears to be to silence critics through shock-and-awe while courts watch on ineffectually.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Carbon capture technology is a key tool to address the problem of climate change.  This technology can be used  to clean up industries like cement and chemicals.

EXPLANATION:

What is carbon capture and storage?

• Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a way to catch carbon and trap it beneath the earth. It is different to carbon dioxide removal (CDR), where carbon is sucked out of the atmosphere.
• It is a way to cut pollution in sectors where other clean technologies are farther behind.
• The key difference is that CDR brings down the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, cooling the planet, while CCS in fossil fuel plants and factories prevents the gas from getting out in the first place.
• CCS can be used in factories that make cement and fertiliser, as well as in plants that burn waste material.

How well does CCS work?

• Engineers have captured carbon from concentrated streams of gas, pushing it into tanks, scrubbing it clean and using it in industry or storing it underground.
• Some bioethanol plants, where the gas stream is pure, already report capturing more than 95% of the carbon emissions.
• However, it is not effective in capturing carbon from dirtier gas streams, like those from factories and power plants.
• There are a handful of test facilities that have managed to capture more than 90% of emissions from some dirty gas streams or commercial projects.

Why is CCS controversial?

• Activists have called out energy companies for failing to capture much carbon while at the same time drilling for oil and lobbying against laws to cut fossil fuel production. They have pushed policymakers to put more weight on societal shifts like cutting energy demand rather than placing their faith in shaky technologies.
• A big part of this is what fossil fuel companies call enhanced oil recovery pumping carbon dioxide underground to push out more oil from drying wells. Historically, most captured carbon has been used for this purpose.

How can CCS work better?

• In Norway, a German industrial giant is building the first facility to capture carbon from cement and store it underground. The company claims a capture rate of close to 100% is possible.
• According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a Paris-based organization led by the energy ministers of mostly rich countries, new companies are focusing on specific parts of the problem, like transport and storage.
• There should be a bigger focus on storing CO2 than using it to extract more oil.
• To make the technology grow cheaper and work better, governments need to tax carbon, make it easier to approve CCS projects and help set up the infrastructure around it.

International Energy Agency (IEA):

• It was established in 1974, in the wake of the 1973-1974 oil crisis, to help its members respond to major oil supply disruptions, a role it continues to fulfil today.
• It is an international energy forum of 29 industrialized countries under the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD).
• Its mandate has expanded over time to include tracking and analyzing global key energy trends, promoting sound energy policy, and fostering multinational energy technology cooperation.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/can-we-capture-carbon-and-store-it-8821800/

2. OPEN DEFECATION FREE INDIA

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The latest WHO-UNICEF data shows at least one-sixth of India’s rural population still defecate in the open, and a quarter doesn’t have even basic sanitation access.

EXPLANATION

• On October 2, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared India open defecation-free (ODF).
• It is in sync with the goal of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of giving universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene.
• Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released their Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) report for water supply, sanitation and hygiene for households for the year 2022. The JMP report gives status on access to water, sanitation and hygiene to monitor the progress on SDG 6.
• According to this report, 17 per cent of the rural population in India still defecated in the open in 2022. One-quarter of the rural population didn’t have even “at least basic” sanitation facilities.
• The JMP report for monitoring progress on SDG 6 defines “basic” services as the improved sanitation facility which the household doesn’t share with others.
• The latest JMP report tracked the progress from 2015, when these goals were set. India has recorded significant progress: in 2015, some 41 per cent of its rural population defecated in the open (17 per cent in 2022), while 51 per cent of households (75 per cent in 2022) had at least a basic sanitation facility.

What is ODF?

• The original ODF protocol states, “A city/ward is notified as ODF city/ward if, at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating in the open.”

What is ODF+, ODF++?

• ODF+ and ODF++ were launched in August 2018 to further scale up and sustain the work undertaken by the cities after achieving the ODF status under Phase I of the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban (SBM-Urban).
• Eligibility: Cities that have been certified ODF at least once, on the basis of the ODF protocols, are eligible to declare themselves as SBM-ODF+ & SBM-ODF++.

What is ODF+?

• A city, ward or work circle could be declared ODF+ if “at any point of the day, not a single person is found defecating and/or urinating in the open, and all community and public toilets are functional and well-maintained.”

What is ODF++?

• The ODF++ protocol adds the condition that “faecal sludge/septage and sewage is safely managed and treated, with no discharging and/or dumping of untreated faecal sludge/septage and sewage in drains, water bodies or open areas.”

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/is-open-defecation-back-in-india–90483

3. INDIA-RUSSIA TRADE PAYMENTS IN CRISIS

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: With continued oil imports from Russia, the Indian government is worried about payment mechanisms and the repercussions of breaching the oil price cap of $60 a barrel put in place by the U.S. and European nations.

EXPLANATION:

Status of oil imports from Russia:

• In February 2023, Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia to become the second biggest exporter of crude oil to India in FY23.

India’s exports to Russia (principal commodities)

Indian exports are grappling with payment-settlement uncertainty leading to declining exports.

Change in trade from Feb 24, 2022, to April 5, 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year.

India’s imports from Russia (principal commodities)

Imports have surged with sanctions-hit Russia’s discounts to India on key commodities.

Change in trade from Feb 24, 2022, to April 5, 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year.

Which currency is being used for payments?

• As part of war-induced sanctions on Moscow, the U.S., the EU, and the U.K. have blocked multiple Russian banks from accessing the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT).
• Meanwhile, Indian refiners have also settled some non-dollar payments for Russian oil in the Chinese yuan and the UAE dirham.

What about the rupee-rouble mechanism?

• India was in negotiations with Russia to reactivate the rupee-rouble trade arrangement, which is an alternative payment mechanism to settle dues in rupees instead of dollars or euros.
• It could not takes off as there is scepticism on the rupee-rouble convertibility as the rouble’s value is kept up by capital controls and not determined by the market, as in the case of reserved currencies, and Russia has also pointed out that it finds the rupee to be “volatile”.
• India’s trade deficit with Russia touched high, which has led to staggering amounts of Indian rupees in Russian banks that cannot be used by Russia in its war efforts.

Is de-dollarisation being attempted?

• Since the dollar is largely considered the global reserve currency, many countries have seen the U.S. sanctions as a way for America to weaponise the dollar.
• This has given rise to countries looking at de-dollarisation, which means the replacement of the U.S. dollar with other currencies as the global reserve currency.
• India, too, has recently released a roadmap for the internationalisation of the Indian rupee to create broader acceptance.
• However, the value and the acceptability of any currency depend mainly on its purchasing power which is expressed in terms of the number of goods or services that one unit of money can buy. For example, daily average share for the rupee in the global foreign exchange market is ~1.6%, while India’s share of global goods trade is ~2%.

Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT):

• It is a global network connecting banks for communicating money transfers in a secure way with a code, much like the domestic IFSC code.
• Its principal function is to serve as the main messaging network through which international payments are initiated.
• It also sells software and services to financial institutions, mostly for use on its proprietary “SWIFTNet”.
• The Swift messaging network is a component of the global payments system.
• However, the organisation does not manage accounts on behalf of individuals or financial institutions, and it does not hold funds from third parties. It also does not perform clearing or settlement functions.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/explained-why-are-india-russia-trade-payments-in-crisis/article67058400.ece

4. REGULATION OF OVER-THE-TOP (OTT) PLATFORMS BY TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA (TRAI)

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Almost three years after it first recommended against creating a specific regulatory framework for over-the-top (OTT) communication services like WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Meet, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is revisiting its stance and starting consultations on how these services can be regulated.

EXPLANATION:

• TRAI suggested for regulation of OTT platforms such as WhatsApp , Zoom, and Google Meet etc, as they are not bound by the same requirements as telecom service providers.
• TRAI has asked stakeholders to send suggestions about regulating services and whether a selective banning of OTT services can be done as opposed to shutting down the entire Internet.
• Regulating such services has been a long-standing demand of telecom operators, who have, for years, been advocating for ‘same service, same rules’.
• The draft telecom Bill released by the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) also recommended bringing OTT services under its ambit by creating a licensing regime for them. The IT Ministry is already the nodal ministry for regulating such services.

Earlier stance by TRAI:

• In September 2020, TRAI recommended against regulatory intervention for OTT platforms, saying that it should be left to market forces. However, it also said that the sector should be monitored and intervention should be done at an “appropriate time”.
• In 2022, the DoT wrote back to the authority, requesting it to reconsider its recommendations and also suggest a suitable regulatory mechanism for “selective banning of OTT services”.

Contention between OTTs and Telecom services:

• Telecom service providers in India are regulated by several laws, including the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, the Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933 and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act of 1997. While such requirements are not applicable to OTT services currently.
• Apart from a different regulatory regime, there are other financial considerations for the tussle between telcos and Internet applications. Key among them is the avenue of revenues that has shifted from voice and SMS to data.
• It added that OTT services do not financially contribute towards increasing telecom services penetration in the country, unlike the operators who have to pay towards the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

What did the draft telecom Bill prescribe for OTT services?

• One of the key changes is the inclusion of new-age over-the-top communication services like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram in the definition of telecommunication services.
• As per the draft law, providers of telecommunication services will be covered under the licensing regime and will be subjected to similar rules as other telecom operators.

Telecom sector regulation in India:

Authorities in India

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology presides over the telecom industry in India and governs the following bodies:

• Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The Central Government acts through the DoT to exercise its exclusive privilege of establishing, maintaining and working telegraph and wireless equipment, as well as granting of licences for such activities.
• Wireless Planning Commission (WPC): The WPC is a wing of the DoT responsible for Frequency Spectrum Management, including the licensing of wireless stations. They are in charge of catering to the needs of all wireless users in India
• Standing Advisory Committee on Frequency Application (SAFCA): It is another wing of the DoT that grants approval for radio frequency used by telecom service providers. In addition to a telecom license, an operator requires a NOC from SAFCA to commence their service.
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI): TRAI is an autonomous statutory body with the sole authority to take binding decisions on the fixation of tariffs for the provision of telecommunications services. TRAI’s recommendations must be considered by the DoT before licensing telecom services.
• Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal: The TDSAT has been vested with exclusive powers to adjudicate any dispute between the licensor (DoT) and the licensee’; service providers; and service providers and groups of customers.

Laws and Regulations:

• Indian Telegraph Act, 1885: It is one of the oldest legislations in India .The term telegraph encompasses any appliance, instrument, material or apparatus used or capable of use for transmission or reception of signs, signals. It can be of any nature by wire, visual or other electromagnetic emissions, radio waves or Hertzian waves, galvanic, electric or magnetic means
• Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933: It regulates the possession of wireless telegraphy apparatus. Furthermore, any device, appliance, instrument, or material that uses or is capable of using wireless communication. The possession of wireless telegraphy apparatus by any person can only be allowed when a license is issued by the telecom authority.
• Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997: It was established under the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997. It empowered the TRAI, a quasi-judicial authority, to adjudicate upon and settle telecom disputes. The Act was amended in 2000 to clearly distinguish between the regulatory and recommendatory functions of TRAI. The Amendment also set up the TDSAT, clarifying that the jurisdiction of civil courts has been expressly barred in cases where the TDSAT has jurisdiction.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/trai-regulate-whatsapp-ott-services-8815512/

5. PERFORMANCE GRADING INDEX

TAG: GS I and II: SOCIAL SECTOR, GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Ministry of Education releases a report on Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States/UTs for the year 2021-22.

EXPLANATION:

• The Indian Education System is one of the largest in the world, with about 14.9 lakh schools, 95 lakh teachers, and nearly 26.5 crore students from varied socio-economic backgrounds.
• Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, devised Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and UTs.
• The prime objective of PGI is to promote evidence-based policy-making and highlight course correction to ensure quality education for all.
• It assesses the performance of the school education system at the State/UT level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.
• The ultimate is to propel States & UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions that will bring about the much-desired optimal education outcomes covering all dimensions.

Methodology:

• The PGI evaluation classifies States and UTs into grades/ levels instead of ranking.
• The report grades the performance of States/ UTs on a uniform scale.
• It covers 73 indicators, focused more on qualitative assessment besides including digital initiatives and teacher education.
• It comprises of 1000 points across 73 indicators grouped into 2 categories viz., Outcomes, Governance Management (GM).
• These categories are further divided into 6 domains, viz., Learning Outcomes (LO), Access (A), Infrastructure & Facilities (IF), Equity (E), Governance Process (GP) & Teachers Education and Training (TE&T).
• It classified the States/UTs into ten grades viz., the highest achievable Grade is Daksh, which is for State/UT scoring more than 940 points out of a total of 1000 points. The lowest grade is Akanshi-3 which is for a score up to 460.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1937945

1. THE FARMERS DISTRESS INDEX

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The work of the farmers distress index is in the final stages and it will be handed over to the central government in the next two-three months.

EXPLANATION:

• Farmers’ exposure to shocks have increased in the recent years, with an increase in extreme climate events as well as market and price fluctuations, many times driving them to death by suicides.
• In this regard, the farmers distress index is being prepared by the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) as an early warning system.
• The index will try to anticipate farmers distress and prevent its spread from a few farmers to the village or block level.
• The main aim behind creating such an index is to minimise the agrarian distress in the form of crop loss / failure and income shock.
• It will pre-warn different stakeholders, including central, state, local and also non-government agencies about the future occurrence of farmers distress in a particular block / district so that they can take timely preventive measures.

Methodology to track distress

• The first step is to raise awareness through local newspapers, other news platforms and social media platforms for any report on incidence of farmers distress.
• Distress can include localised cases of issues with debt repayment, death by suicide, pest attacks, drought, floods, migration, among others.
• Following this, contacts of marginal and small farmers or tenant farmers from the area will be collected to conduct telephonic interviews, which will have 21 standardised questions to gauge early signs of distress.
• The answers will be mapped against seven indicators :

1) exposure to droughts, floods, crop failure due to pest attacks, livestock deaths

2) debt

3) adaptive capacity of farmer and local government through different schemes

4) land holding and irrigation facilities

5) sensitivity, mitigation and adaptation strategies like growing of contingency crops if main crop fails

6) triggers for immediate distress like health-related expenditure

7) socio-psychological factors and impacts.

• These different agencies can then carry out interventions to prevent income shocks to farmers depending on the severity of distress.
• Few solutions suggested include direct money transfer, mid-term release of claims under government’s crop insurance scheme, providing work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act etc.
• The index is currently being worked out in the form of a mobile or desktop application.
• It will be made available to different state governments, agriculture departments, rural development departments, agriculture universities, which have databases of local farmers.

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA)

• It is an institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and located in Hyderabad.
• It was formed in 1985 as the Project Directorate of the All India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture.
• The institute was set up with the intention of undertaking agricultural research activities in areas that have low rainfall.
• The mission of Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) is:
• Conduct basic and applied research for improving the productivity of natural resources in dryland / rainfed areas
• To develop techniques and systems for long-term conservation and efficient utilization of dryland / rainfed environmental resources
• To understand crop growth process and yield management more specifically under moisture stress
• To conduct mitigation and adaptation research on climate change impacts.

2. INTERNATIONALISATION OF RUPEE

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a RBI Panel headed by RBI Executive Director recommended measures for internationalisation of the rupee. The group was constituted by the RBI Deputy Governor to review the position of the rupee as an international currency and to frame a road map for the internationalisation of the domestic currency.

EXPLANATION:

Some of the recommendations by the RBI panel:

• A standardised approach should be adopted for examining all proposals that involve bilateral and multilateral trade agreements/arrangements for invoicing.
• It recommended the use of the existing bilateral and multilateral payment and settlement mechanisms, such as ACU (Asian Clearing Union), to internationalise the rupee.
• It recommended for opening of the rupee accounts for non-residents both in India and outside India and integrating Indian payment systems with other countries for cross-border transactions.
• Measure should be taken for the inclusion of Indian Government Bonds (IGBs) in global bond indices.
• It suggested for rationalisation of the FPI regime to facilitate a more conducive environment for foreign investments into the Indian debt markets (both government and corporate).

Internationalisation of the rupee

• Internationalisation of the rupee is a process that involves increasing the use of the local currency in cross-border transactions.
• Rupee has the potential to become an internationalised currency as India is one of the fastest growing countries.
• Higher usage of the rupee in invoicing and settlement of international trade, as well as in capital account transactions, will give the domestic currency a progressively international presence.

Measures that can be taken:

• Inclusion of the rupee in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket
• Recalibration of the foreign portfolio investor (FPI) regime
• Higher usage of the rupee in invoicing and settlement of international trade
• Higher usage of the rupee in capital account transactions

Earlier measures:

• In July,2022 the RBI put in place a mechanism to settle international trade in rupees in order to promote growth of global trade to support the increasing interest of the global trading community in the rupee.
• Along with rupee arrangements with Bhutan and Nepal, Sri Lanka has formally included the rupee as a designated foreign currency.

Special Drawing Rights (SDR):

• The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the IMF (International Monetary Fund) to supplement the official reserves of its member countries.
• The value of the SDR is based on a basket of five currencies—the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Chinese renminbi, the Japanese yen, and the British pound sterling.

3. ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR)

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is today reckoned among the most ominous threats confronting Global Public Health. AMR is a global issue, not confined by political boundaries, and is a threat to all humanity.

EXPLANATION:

• It is commonly known as Antibacterial Resistance (ABR).
• AMR implies that a pathogen is sensitive to a certain drug and ceases to respond to that drug.
• AMR encompasses resistance to medicines for treatment of other pathogens too, which cause viral, fungal, and parasitic diseases.
• Human beings are the victims of AMR due to the irrational and improper use of drugs. AMR spreads in humans through their food, water, and from their environment.
• Animals and plants are also afflicted by diseases caused by pathogens, and hence are vulnerable to AMR.

Causes of AMR:

Antibiotic resistance develops naturally in bacteria. However, our actions can increase resistance developing and spreading. This can happen:

• when human and animal health professionals over prescribe antibiotics.
• when people don’t take antibiotics as directed.
• due to poor hygiene and a lack of infection prevention and control e.g. not washing hands properly.
• due to people travelling around the world, spreading resistant bacteria.

A serious concern around the world

• Over the last ten years, the prevention, control, and response to AMR has been a high priority for most national governments, international organisations, healthcare communities etc.
• The WHO’s global action plan (GAP) was adopted by member nations in 2015. National action plans have been prepared by many countries.
• India’s National Action Plan(NAP), 2017 includes:
• Coordinated action by the government and non-government sectors
• A whole of government approach (Health, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Agriculture, Dairy, Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors)
• Advocacy, awareness-building and involvement of the community
• Infection prevention and control
• National AMR Surveillance Network (NARS Net)
• Research and international collaboration
• AMR is also an important priority in the G20 health agenda under India’s presidency.

4. HIGH SEAS TREATY

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the UN adopted the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the High Seas Treaty. It became the third agreement to be approved under UNCLOS, after the 1994 and 1995 treaties, which established the International Seabed Authority and the Fish Stocks agreement.

EXPLANATION:

Background:

• The idea of protecting the marine environment led to the UNGA resolution in 2015 to form a Preparatory Committee to create the treaty.
• The Committee recommended the holding of intergovernmental conferences (IGC) and after five prolonged IGC negotiations, the treaty was adopted in 2023.

What does the treaty entail?

• The treaty’s objective is to implement international regulations to protect life in oceans beyond national jurisdiction through international cooperation.
• The treaty aims to address critical issues such as the increasing sea surface temperatures, overexploitation of marine biodiversity, overfishing, coastal pollution, and unsustainable practices beyond national jurisdiction.
• It aims to establish marine protected areas to protect oceans from human activities through a “three-quarterly majority vote,” which prevents the decision from getting blocked by one or two parties.
• The treaty mandates sharing of scientific information and monetary benefits through installing a “clear house mechanism” on the fair sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources.
• To bring transparency and boost cooperation, information on marine protected areas, marine genetic resources, and “area-based management tools” will be open to access for all parties
• The last pillar of the treaty is capacity building and marine technology. The Scientific and Technical Body will also play a significant role in environmental impact assessment.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):

• It was adopted in 1982 and lays down a comprehensive regime of law and order in the world’s oceans and seas establishing rules governing all uses of the oceans and their resources.
• It provides information, advice and assistance to States with a view to providing a better understanding of the Convention and the related Agreements, uniform and consistent application and effective implementation.
• The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations serves as the secretariat of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• The Division monitors all developments relating to the Convention, the law of the sea and ocean affairs and reports annually to the General Assembly of the United Nations on those developments.

International Seabed Authority (ISA)

• It is an intergovernmental body of 167 member states and the European Union established under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its 1994 Agreement on Implementation.
• The Authority operates as an autonomous international organization with its own Assembly, Council and Secretariat.
• The ISA’s dual mission is to authorize and control development of mineral related operations in the international seabed and also protect the ecosystem of the seabed, ocean floor and subsoil in “The Area” beyond national jurisdiction.

Fish Stocks Agreement:

• It sets out principles for the conservation and management of those fish stocks and establishes that such management must be based on the precautionary approach and the best available scientific information.
• It states that the states should cooperate to ensure conservation and promote the objective of the optimum utilization of fisheries resources both within and beyond the exclusive economic zone.

5. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GREEN HYDROGEN (ICGH-2023)

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The ICGH-2023 is organized by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

EXPLANATION:

• The fundamental aim of the Conference is to establish a Green Hydrogen ecosystem and foster a systemic approach for meeting the global goals for decarbonization through Green Hydrogen.
• The Conference discussed on hydrogen production, storage, distribution and downstream applications and green financing, human resource upskilling etc.
• It provides a platform for domestic and international participants from the industry to discuss of the objectives embedded in India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Green hydrogen and its significance:

• Green hydrogen is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
• The carbon intensity ultimately depends on the carbon neutrality of the source of electricity i.e., the more renewable energy there is in the electricity fuel mix, the “greener” the hydrogen produced.
• Green Hydrogen can be utilized for:
  • long-duration storage of renewable energy,
  • replacement of fossil fuels in industry,
  • clean transportation, and
  • decentralized power generation,
  • aviation and marine transport.
• It has the potential to decarbonize various sectors such as transport, industry, power and buildings, and contribute to the global efforts to mitigate climate change.
• It can also help to balance the intermittency of renewable energy sources, by storing excess electricity and releasing it when needed.
• It can also be converted into other forms of energy carriers such as ammonia, methanol or synthetic fuels, which can be used for various applications.

Green hydrogen mission

• It is a mission launched to help achieve India’s target of Net Zero by the year 2070 and energy independent by 2047.

Objectives of the mission:

• Making India a leading producer and supplier of Green Hydrogen in the world.
• Creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
• Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock.
• Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities.
• Attracting investment and business opportunities for the industry.
• Creating opportunities for employment and economic development.

The mission outcomes projected by 2030 are:

• Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country.
• Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments.
• Creation of over Six lakh jobs.
• Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. one lakh crore.
• Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.

1. CREDIT INFORMATION COMPANIES

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

CONTEXT: Recently, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) put a total penalty of over Rs one crore on four Credit Information Companies (CICs) for their failure to update credit information of borrowers which has resulted in problems for bank customers while applying for banking services like loans and credit cards.

EXPLANATION:

Issue:

• The RBI conducted statutory inspection of four credit information companies and found financial irregularities and credit information was not accurate and complete.
• Therefore, Penalty was imposed under provisions of the Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005.
• If a credit card holder defaults on a credit card or loan instalment, it is immediately notified to the CICs. However, CICs have failed to reclassify them when they rectified the payments.

Credit Information Companies or Credit Bureaus:

• Credit InformationCompany (CIC) or Credit Bureau is an RBI-licensed and authorized organization that collects, maintains and analyses the consumer and business credit information of individuals and companies across the nation, as provided by the financial institutions.
• They maintain credit information of borrowers (including individuals, corporate, SMEs) which can be accessed by banks and other lending institutions.
• Banks have direct access to database of CICs while borrowers do not have access to CICs while the borrowers have to approach the CIC to their credit rating and status of loan repayments.
• CICs have details about all the creditors and borrowers in the financial system. CICs also capture the names of directors, guarantors and partners involved in the loans.
• They collect information from a variety of credit providers including banks, credit card companies and non-bank financial institutions.
• They rate the borrowers in a scale of 300-900 with 900 being the highest rating. Banks and finance companies normally take decision on the rating given by the credit bureaus.
• If the borrower has a rating of over 800, he has a good chance to get a loan or credit card easily and at a lower interest rate. If a borrower defaults, his rating will come down. When the rating declines below 500, chances of getting low interest rates and even loans or cards also decline accordingly.
• CICs and banks are supposed to keep the credit information collected/ maintained by them, updated regularly on a monthly basis or at such shorter intervals as may be mutually agreed upon between the banks and the CICs.

Credit Information Companies (Regulation) Act, 2005

• The Credit Information Companies Act of 2005 was created with the primary purpose of providing a framework for the functioning of credit information companies and streamline the distribution of credit.
• The Act passed by the Parliament is designed to assist both credit information companies and their clients. The Credit Information Companies Act of 2005 can be enforced by the relevant authorities across the territorial jurisdiction of India.

2. HUL DIWAS: REMEMBERING THE SANTAL REBELLION AGAINST THE BRITISH

TAG: GS 1: ART AND CULTURE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Prime Minister celebrated Hul Diwas and was remembering the sacrifice of Adivasis in their fight against British colonial authorities.

EXPLANATION:

• The Santal rebellion or ‘Hul’ revolution began in 1855, two years before the uprising of 1857, which is often referred to as “the first war for Indian independence”.
• It was an “organized war against colonialism” led by the Santals, standing against the economic oppression of British.
• It was led by two brothers Sidhu and Kanhu with participation of as many as 32 castes and communities rallying behind them.
• The rebellion took place in the ‘Damin-i-Koh’ meaning the ‘skirts of the hills’ and took the British by complete surprise. This region falls in present-day Jharkhand around the Rajmahal Hills of eastern Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district.
• Every year, the state of Jharkhand celebrates June 30 as ‘Hul Diwas’, marking the beginning of the rebellion, even though some historical accounts date it to the first week of July instead.

Who were the Santhals?

• They were not the original inhabitants of modern day Santhal Pargana which includes the six districts of Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj, Deoghar and parts of Jamtara. They had migrated from the Birbhum and Manbhum regions (present-day Bengal), starting around the late 18th century.
• With the enactment of the Permanent Settlement Act of 1790, the East India. Company was desperate to bring an ever-increasing area in its control under settled agriculture and they chose the area of Damin-i-Koh in order to collect a steady stream of revenue.
• However, once settled, the Santals bore the brunt of colonial oppression. Santhal migration was “forced” by the British merely to collect more revenue. Predatory money-lenders and the police were a byproduct of this system.
• Today, the Santal community is the third largest tribal community in India, spread across Jharkhand-Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal.

Why did the Hul happen?

• Social conditions of the peasants
• Heavy interest on loans of money ranging from 50 to 500 percent
• False measures at the haut and the market
• Zamindars, the police, the revenue and court have exercised a combined system of extortions, oppressive extractions, forcible dispossession of property, abuse and personal violence and a variety of petty tyrannies upon Santhals.

Aftermath of rebellion:

• Santhal uprising did not die in 1855 and even in 1857 they participated in mutiny as the Santals in Hazaribagh and Manbhum area had also led a war against the Britishers. So the idea of ‘Hul’ rebellion did not die down with its suppression.

3. GRAVITATIONAL WAVE BACKGROUND

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, scientists have found evidence to suggest that the universe is replete with low-frequency gravitational waves ripples in the fabric of space-time. They are created by huge objects moving around, colliding, and merging with each other. This was predicted by Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity more than 100 years ago.

EXPLANATION:

• Gravitational waves were first detected in 2015 using an experiment involving Laser Interferometer Gravitational Observatory (LIGO) detectors. However, those waves were of high frequency, believed to be produced by the merger of two small black holes that took place about 1.3 billion years ago.
• These waves create a cosmic background. It is the first time that there is evidence of large-scale motion of everything in the universe.

How were low-frequency gravitational waves detected?

• It was carried out by radio astronomers representing five different international teams including Indian Pulsar Timing Array (InPTA) in a bid to discover low-frequency gravitational waves.
• The researchers used six large radio telescopes around the world, to study objects called pulsars distant rapidly-rotating neutron stars that emit pulses of radiation, observed from the Earth as bright flashes of light. These bursts take place at extremely precise intervals, and therefore scientists use pulsars as ‘cosmic clocks’.
• Scientists have proposed that the observed inconsistencies were due to deformities caused in spacetime by gravitational waves. These irregularities showed consistent effects of the presence of gravitational waves.

What are gravitational waves?

• In his theory of gravitation, Isaac Newton postulated that every celestial body exerts an attractive force on every other. This force was proportional to the masses of the two bodies and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. So, the greater the distance between the bodies, the lower the gravitational force between them. Newton’s gravitational law described the motion of heavenly bodies with accuracy.
• Einstein in his General Theory of Relativity proposed that gravitational attraction was a result of the bending of the fabric of spacetime by the equivalent of a heavy object.
• Einstein said the Sun, the Earth and all other bodies formed similar curvatures around them, and this was the reason for smaller objects getting pulled towards them. But since the Earth, sun and everything else are also moving, the curvature around them moves too. This creates ripples in spacetime, just like a moving boat in water creates ripples. It is these ripples that Einstein called gravitational waves.

What is spacetime?

• In his Special Theory of Relativity, Einstein proposed that space and time don’t exist as independent entities.
• Space and time combine the three dimensions (height, width and depth) of space and one dimension of time into a single four-dimensional continuum.
• Space time was not a mere transparent, inert or fixed background to all the events in the universe, instead spacetime was flexible and malleable, interacted with matter.

4. DRUG REGULATION IN INDIA

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: Since October last year, Indian pharma companies have been under constant international scrutiny for exporting allegedly contaminated drugs, which have led to deaths of children.

EXPLANATION:

• Recently, several countries as Nigeria, Cameroon and Gamibia and Sri Lanka called out for drugs manufactured in India linking them to adverse reactions in several patients with high amounts of diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol.
• The pharma company license was cancelled by the national pharma watchdog, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).
• Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, manufacturers not adhering to good manufacturing practices can be subjected to a maximum punishment of imprisonment for life.

Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940:

• The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (DCA), is one such law that governs the manufacture, import, and distribution of medicines in the country.
• It was followed by the Drug and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, which categorised the drugs into schedules and provided regulations for the sale, storage, and prescription of each category.
• It seeks to discuss its provisions, as set out in 1940, and how the legislation has been enhanced in the past two decades and what new rules and legal provisions have been introduced into the Act.

Objectives of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act:

• It aims to hold medical technology and pharmaceutical companies liable for negligence and sub-standard services provided by them. A major objective of enacting this legislation was to prevent adulteration in medicines.
• Regulation of the sale, import, and distribution of drugs and cosmetics by means of licensing.
• Ensuring that only qualified individuals are involved in the import, distribution, and sale of drugs and cosmetics.
• Preventing substandard drug quality, presumably in order to maintain high medical treatment standards.
• Regulation of the production and sale of Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani drugs.
• To form a Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB) and Drugs Consultative Committees (DCC) for allopathic and allied drugs, as well as cosmetics.

Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB)

• It is a part of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• It functions by taking policy decisions related to the technical aspects of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules.

Drugs Consultative Committees (DCC) 

• It is the Advisory Body nominated by the Central Government for advising the Central and State Governments.
• It also advises DTAB on the matters pertaining to the uniform implementation of the provisions of DCA and Rules.

Diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol:

• It is an organic compound with the formula (HOCH2CH2)2O.
• It is a colorless, practically odorless, and hygroscopic liquid with a sweetish taste.
• It is a four carbon molecule of ethylene glycol. It is miscible in water, alcohol, ether, acetone, and ethylene glycol.

Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO):

• The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) comes under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India.
• Its headquarters is located in New Delhi  and also has six zonal offices, four sub zonal offices, thirteen Port offices and seven laboratories spread across the country.
• The Drugs & Cosmetics Act,1940 and rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central & state regulators for regulation of drugs & cosmetics.
• It envisages uniform implementation of the provisions of the Act & Rules made there under for ensuring the safety, rights and well being of the patients by regulating the drugs and cosmetics.
• Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, CDSCO is responsible for approval of New Drugs, Conduct of Clinical Trials and laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs in the country.
• It coordinates with the State Drug Control Organizations by providing expert advice with a view of bring about the uniformity in the enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
• Further CDSCO along with state regulators, is jointly responsible for grant of licenses of certain specialized categories of critical Drugs such as blood and blood products, I. V. Fluids, Vaccine and Sera.

5. JAL JEEVAN MISSION

TAG: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: The government’s ambitious Har Ghar Jal initiative to provide all rural households in India with potable water connections by 2024 under its flagship Jal Jeevan Mission is likely to fall short of its target according to a newspaper report.

EXPLANATION:

Findings of the report:

• Only 75% of village homes is likely to have tap water by March, 2024.
• The delay is due to several factors, including the pandemic, which slowed operations, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which caused a shortage in raw materials for manufacturing metal pipes.

Har ghar Jal:

• The Har Ghar Jal initiative was announced by PM on August 15, 2019 and aims to provide every rural household with affordable and regular access to safe drinking water through taps by 2024.
• It is also part of India’s progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a set of global goals announced in 2015 that countries across the world have to work towards to improve peoples’ quality of life and protect the planet.
• According to the Jal shakti ministry, the Har Ghar Jal program’s components align with the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (JMP) to monitor progress on SDG 6.1 for safely managed drinking water services.
• At the village level, each local gram panchayat has to declare their village as ‘Har Ghar Jal’ certified through a resolution to mark all households in the village as having access to safe water in their taps.

Jal Jeevan Mission:

• Jal Jeevan Mission is envisioned to provide safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections by 2024 to all households in rural India.
• It is being implemented by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The programme will implement source sustainability measures as mandatory elements, such as recharge and reuse through grey water management, water conservation, rain water harvesting.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water and will include extensive Information, Education and communication as a key component of the mission.

The broad objectives of the Mission are:

• To provide Functional Household Tap Connections(FHTCs) to every rural household. The priority will be in quality affected areas, villages in drought prone and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
• To provide functional tap connection to Schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings, Health centres, wellness centres and community buildings
• To promote and ensure voluntary ownership among local community by way of contribution in cash, kind and/ or labour and voluntary labour (shramdaan) and to bring awareness in water conservation.
• To assist in ensuring sustainability of water supply system, i.e. water source, water supply infrastructure, and funds for regular O&M
• To empower and develop human resource in the sector such that the demands of construction, plumbing, electrical, water quality management, water treatment, catchment protection, O&M, etc. are taken care of in short and long term

The following components are supported under JJM:

• Development of in-village piped water supply infrastructure to provide tap water connection to every rural household.
• Development of reliable drinking water sources and/ or augmentation of existing sources to provide long-term sustainability of water supply system.
• Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, treatment plants and distribution network to cater to every rural household.
• Technological interventions for removal of contaminants where water quality is an issue.
• Greywater management

1. BRAZIL GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF) MEET

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: At the 64th Global Environment Facility (GEF) council meeting in Brazil, the governing body approved the disbursement of $1.4 billion to accelerate efforts to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises. Over half a billion dollars set aside for work on biodiversity.

EXPLANATION:

• Adequate funds are needed to meet the 4 goals & 23 targets set under the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework by 2030.
• Of this, $653 million has been set aside for biodiversity and this would be used to help countries update their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, biodiversity programmes and meet the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreed in December.
• This is the second work program of the GEF-8 funding period, which runs from 2022 and 2026.
• The funding package includes support for 136 countries and has a significant focus on action to address species and habitat loss, in line with the GBF.
• Keeping this in mind, 47 per cent of the funds have been earmarked for work on biodiversity, followed by 16 per cent for climate change, 12 per cent for land degradation, 11 per cent for international waters and 6 per cent for chemicals and waste.
• The Latin America and the Caribbean region is getting the most of the funds, followed by the Africa region. Out of the 18 implementing agencies for GEF; the United Nations Development Programme is getting the maximum funds followed by the UN Environment Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
• At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, it was decided that a new trust fund, GBF, would be put in place to run the projects under the framework.
• Approval to establish the GBF fund with the objective to ratify it at the upcoming GEF Assembly in August 2023 will now ensure “adequacy, predictability and timely flow of funds” in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework.
• Adequate funds are needed as there are merely eight years to meet the four goals and 23 targets set under the Framework.

 Global Environment Facility (GEF):

• Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a family of funds dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and strains on land and ocean health.
• Its grants, blended financing, and policy support helps developing countries address their biggest environmental priorities and adhere to international environmental conventions.
• Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $22 billion and mobilized $120 billion in co-financing for more than 5,000 national and regional projects.
• GEF funds are available to developing countries seeking to meet the objectives of international environmental agreements.
• Support is provided to government agencies, civil society organizations, private sector companies, research institutions, and other partners to implement projects and programs related to environmental conservation, protection, and renewal.
• The GEF’s governing structure is organized around an Assembly, Council, Secretariat, 18 implementing agencies, a Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, and the Independent Evaluation Office.
• The Council, the GEF’s main governing body, comprises 32 members appointed by constituencies of member countries.

2. NEW CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR ANTIBIOTICS MANUFACTURING

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: A new certification scheme to promote responsible antibiotics manufacturing was launched in India on June 26, 2023, by British Standards Institute (BSI) and AMR Industry Alliance.

EXPLANATION:

• In 2022, The AMR Industry Alliance and BSI came up with a set of Antibiotic Manufacturing Standards and launched the certification to ensure their implementation.
• AMR Industry Alliance, one of the largest private sector coalitions that provide long-term solutions to antimicrobial resistance, engaged BSI, a business improvement and standards company, to provide expert services for the development of this standard.
• Responsible antibiotic production is critical to encouraging sustainable drug production.
• This also addresses growing environmental concerns about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by limiting the release of antibiotic residues into waterways through industrial waste, which contributes significantly to AMR, particularly the environmental aspect of it.
• Antibiotic residues enter waterways from various sources, including hospital wastewater, farms, sewage systems and others. While antibiotic overuse in humans and animals is considered the primary cause of AMR, the environmental aspect of AMR is gaining global attention.
• The certification is the first of its kind, with a third-party validation process, to monitor environmental concerns in the antibiotic manufacturing process. The certification helps in determining whether environmental and waste control procedures are in place throughout the manufacturing process.
• This intends to ensure that the concentration of antibiotics in waste streams is below a threshold that does not result in the emergence of AMR in the environment. During the development of this certification, several manufacturers have expressed their willingness to self-regulate the processes.
• A manufacturer should provide effective environmental management and a wastewater treatment system that minimises the discharges of active pharmaceutical ingredients to obtain certification. The certificate, once issued, is valid for three years. Annual surveillance is carried out to ensure ongoing maintenance.
• Antibiotic concentration at the release point must be less than the predicted no-effect concentration the level at which the chemical has no toxic effect and will not promote AMR to meet the certification standard.
• Waste should be minimised and strictly controlled every time production is run, so we want to create a robust environmental management system,” said Steve Brooks, an advisor to the AMR Industry Alliance.

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR):

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi.
• AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result, the medicines become ineffective and infections persist in the body, increasing the risk of spread to others.
• Antimicrobials – including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics – are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants. Microorganisms that develop antimicrobial resistance are sometimes referred to as “superbugs”.
• Increased use and misuse of antimicrobials and other microbial stressors, such as pollution, create favourable conditions for microorganisms to develop resistance both in humans and the environment.
• Bacteria in water, soil and air for example, can acquire resistance following contact with resistant microorganisms. Human exposure to AMR in the environment can occur through contact with polluted waters, contaminated food, inhalation of fungal spores, and other pathways that contain antimicrobial resistant microorganisms.

What is the impact of AMR?

• The World Health Organization (WHO) lists AMR among top 10 threats for global health. Antimicrobial resistance threatens human and animal health and welfare, the environment, food and nutrition security and safety, economic development, and equity within societies.
• Antimicrobial resistance in mycobacterium tuberculosis, malaria parasites, viruses, and HIV is becoming a reality that could increase human suffering.
• It could also deal a huge blow to the world economy due to productivity losses, increased healthcare costs and a rise in poverty. Even if it is a global crisis, poverty, lack of sanitation and poor hygiene make AMR worse. Also, AMR disproportionately impacts Low-Income Countries and Lower-Middle-Income Countries. AMR is thus an equity issue too.

Management and response to AMR:

• Environment plays a key role in development, transmission and spread of AMR. Therefore, the response must be based on a One Health approach, recognizing that humans, animals, plants and environment are interconnected and indivisible, at the global, regional, and local levels from all sectors, stakeholders, and institutions.
• Prevention is at the core of the action needed to halt the emergence of AMR and environment is a key part of the solution

3. US INDIA DIGITAL TRADE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: U.S. industry body CCIA backed by the likes of Google and Meta has flagged India’s “protectionist” approach to US digital services providers while also describing a set of other policies as trade barriers.

EXPLANATION:

• During Prime Minister’s U.S. state visit, cooperation on technology emerged as a prominent talking point and yielded some of the most substantive outcomes.
• However, digital trade is also the area where some of the biggest U.S. tech companies have recently flagged multiple policy hurdles, including “India’s patently protectionist posture”.
• Earlier this year, the Washington D.C.-headquartered Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), with members like Amazon, Google, Meta, Intel, and Yahoo, flagged 20 policy barriers to trading with India in a note titled “Key threats to digital trade 2023”.

What is the current status of India-U.S. technology trade?

• Notably, in FY2023, the U.S. emerged as India’s biggest overall trading partner with a 7.65% increase in bilateral trade to $128.55 billion in 2022-23. However, digital or technology services did not emerge as one of the sectors at the forefront of bilateral trade.
• The CCIA points out in its report that “despite the strength of the U.S. digital services export sector and enormous growth potential of the online services market in India, the U.S. ran a $27 billion deficit in trade in digital services with India in 2020”.
• In the recent past, however, the two countries have been ramping up their tech partnership through moves like the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
• Under the iCET, India and the U.S. agreed to cooperate on critical and emerging technologies in areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors and wireless telecommunication.
• Additionally, under the iCET, India and the U.S. also established a Strategic Trade Dialogue with a focus on addressing regulatory barriers and aligning export controls for smoother trade and “deeper cooperation” in critical areas.
• The joint statement released on the first day of PM’s visit, also mentions the ambitious MoU signed between the two states on the Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership, which includes a combined investment valued at $2.75 billion.
• On the telecommunications front, the two leaders launched two Joint Task Forces to focus on the Open RAN network and research and development in 5G/6G technologies.
• Besides, the two countries are bullish on future tech such as AI and Quantum Computing, having put in place the Quantum Coordination Mechanism and a joint fund for the commercialization of Artificial Intelligence

What taxation measures has the CCIA raised concerns about?

• One of the taxation tools that U.S. tech firms have long taken exception to is the expanded version of the “equalisation levy” that India charges on digital services.
• India in 2016, with the goal of “equalising the playing field” between resident service suppliers and non-resident suppliers of digital services imposed a unilateral measure to levy a 6% tax on specific services received or receivable by a non-resident not having a permanent establishment in India, from a resident in India who carries out business.
• In 2020, the Centre came out with the ‘Equalisation Levy 2.0’, which imposes a 2% tax on gross revenues received by a non-resident “e-commerce operator” from the provision of ‘e-commerce supply or service’ to Indian residents or non-resident companies having a permanent establishment in India.
• The equalisation levy, when it was first introduced in 2016, led to double taxation and further complicated the taxation framework. Besides, it also raised questions of constitutional validity and compliance with international obligations.
• The 2020 amendment again led the levy to become sweeping and vague in its scope. Further, in 2021, instead of introducing an amendment, the government issued a “clarification” to say that the expression ‘e-commerce supply or service’, inter alia, includes the online sale of goods or the online provision of services or facilitation of the online sale of goods or provision of services.
• The CCIA argues that the government decided to put the levies in place and continue their imposition unilaterally even as 135 other countries await clarity on an Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) agreement to overhaul the global tax system. This deal would ask countries to remove all digital services tax and other similar measures and to commit to not introduce such measures in the future.

What about India’s IT Rules 2021?

• The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, has been flagged by the consortium of foreign tech firms under the some of the most “problematic policies”.
• The IT Rules place compliance burden on social media intermediaries (SMIs) and platforms with five million registered users or more, which means several U.S. firms end up falling under the ambit.
• Some points of concern raised are the “impractical compliance deadlines and content take-down” protocols — the IT Rules require intermediaries to take down content within 24 hours upon receiving a government or court order. The platforms are also required to appoint a local compliance officer.
• Moreover, with the amendments made to the Rules late last year, SMIs are now obligated to remove, within 72 hours, information or a communication link in relation to the six stipulated prohibited categories of content as and when a complaint arises.
• There is also major criticism against the government’s institution of the three-member Grievance Appellate Committees (GAC), which will hear user complaints about the decisions of SMIs regarding their content-related issues and have the power to reverse those decisions.
• Additionally, in January 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) added another layer of compliance, requiring platforms to make reasonable efforts to prevent the publication of content fact-checked as fake or false by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

What are the criticisms of the new draft of the data protection law?

• India, with more than 759 million active internet users representing more than 50% of its population is a gold mine for data.
• The country is also planning to become a hub for data processing, wanting to host data centres and cloud service providers.
• This means that India’s policy on the flow of data across borders will impact the same on a global level, as was seen with the European Union’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• While there are various arguments in favour of data localisation requirements by governments, such requirements also tend to significantly increase operating costs of companies and can be seen as discriminatory by foreign companies.

4. SUGAR SUBSIDIES AT WTO

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: India is expected to negotiate with Brazil to resolve a long-standing dispute about sugar subsidies accorded by India. Brazil had submitted a complaint in 2019.

EXPLANATION:

• Ministry of Commerce and Industry is coordinating with the concerned departments to arrive at possible alternatives. The same approach has been adopted with other complainants in the dispute.
• Back in 2019, the South American nation had submitted a complaint against India alleging that the latter’s according of sugar subsidies was inconsistent with global trade rules.
• In February 2019, Brazil, Australia and Guatemala sought consultations with India, concerned about domestic support measures to agricultural producers of sugarcane and sugar.
• They alleged that India for five years, from 2014-15 to 2018-19, provided domestic support in excess of the permissible 10% of the total value of production thus, inconsistent with the norms laid out under the organisation’s Agreement on Agriculture.
• The countries argued that the minimum prices of sugarcane and sugar, specifically fair and remunerative prices (FRP) alongside specific states enforcing higher minimum prices, incentivised Indian sugarcane farmers. This led to increased domestic production of sugarcane and sugar.
• It contended that with production exceeding domestic demand, and ensuing increases in sugar stocks, the government also intervened in the market with assistance programmes, thereby facilitating lowered prices for the commodity in the global market.
• The complainant also argued against India’s mill-specific Minimum Indicative Export Quota (MIEQ) wherein sugar mills must export an allocated amount of sugar by the end of each season (October-September).
• It alleged that certain support measures were dependent on compliance with the MIEQ, or otherwise dependent on export performance. MIEQ allocates the minimum quantity of sugar which must be exported and distributes that quantity among individual sugar mills operating in India.
• India is the second-largest producer of sugar in the world behind Brazil, which also is the largest exporter.
• WTO constituted a panel to study the allegations in October 2019, which submitted its report in December 2021.

What did the WTO conclude?  

• The multilateral trade organisation held that India was acting inconsistently with its obligations under Article 7.2 (b) of the Agreements on Agriculture (AoA) as far the domestic support was concerned. This article stipulates that members cannot provide support in excess of the relevant de minimis standards.
• It held that the ‘price support’ would entail “assistance from a government or other official body in maintaining prices at a certain level regardless of supply or demand.” In FRP, while the prices may appear to be paid by the mills, they are set by the government, it said.
• The WTO asked India to withdraw its exports subsidies within 120 days from the circulation of the report. It also sought that the country withdraw the proscribed subsidies (as per the multilateral organisation’s rules) meant for production assistance, buffer stock, marketing and transportation along with the duty-free import authorisation (DFIA) scheme.
• The report concluded that India was providing “lump sum assistance” for expenses emanating on account of sugar towards maximum admissible export quality or MAEQ (which works as a marketing assistance listing upper limit for exports) of sugar mills for the sugar season 2019-20. It broadly covered marketing including handling, quality upgradation, debagging and re-bagging and other processing costs.

What was India’s defence?  

• Following the report in December 2021, the Indian government stated the panel had made “certain erroneous findings” about the schemes meant to support sugarcane producers and exports. It held the findings of the panel were “completely unacceptable to India”, adding, “The panel’s findings are unreasoned and not supported by the WTO rules.
• It contended that FRP and state-advised prices do not constitute ‘applied administrative prices’, that is, prices for agricultural products determined by administrative actions of the government and not market forces.
• It was before the consultations that India had argued that market price support could only exist when the government or its agents pay or procure the product. Thus, it would be incorrect to conclude that India provided any market price support to sugarcane producers, it said.

Agreements on Agriculture (AoA)

• The domestic support systems in agriculture are governed by the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), which entered into force in 1995 and was negotiated during the Uruguay Round (1986-1994).
• The long-term goal of the AoA is to establish a fair and market-oriented agricultural trading system and to initiate a reform process through the negotiations of commitments on support and protection, and through the establishment of strengthened and more operationally effective rules and discipline.

5. MINERALS SECURITY PARTNERSHIP

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: India joins the critical minerals club. India’s inclusion in the partnership will help its transition to clean energy & pave way for other countries to be part of the critical minerals club.

EXPLANATION:

• India became a part of the coveted critical minerals club the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) headed by the United States.
• MSP is a strategic grouping of 13 member states including Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, US, the European Union, Italy and now India.
• It aims to catalyse public and private investment in critical mineral supply chains globally.
• The proposal to onboard India comes after strong diplomatic engagements and push for joining the strategic partnership to secure and build a resilient supply chain for critical minerals.
• India is already a member of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development, which supports the advancement of good mining governance.
• India’s inclusion in the club is vital for India to fulfill its ambition of shifting towards sustainable mobility through large, reliable fleets of electric public and private transport. Securing the supply chain of critical minerals will also provide the country with the necessary push towards a concerted indigenous electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
• The inclusion will also pave the way for equitable sharing of resources across the globe. The MSP is elitist in its very idea of formation and induction of members. Countries like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Democratic Republic of Congo, which have abundant reserves of critical minerals are not part of this strategic grouping formed by US.
• The diplomatic strength India possesses can create space for other countries to be part of the partnership and reduce their dependence on China by building a robust and reliable supply chain of raw materials needed for the clean energy transition, something that many economies across the world have been hoping for.
• With heavy demand and the supply chain irregularities across the global mineral markets, various strategic groupings or international agreements have been started by major players to foster international partnerships, and to ensure a reliable and secure supply chain. Due to geopolitical uncertainties, unfavourable rising of prices, COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war have resulted in the supply chain disruptions across the globe for these critical minerals.
• Over the past decade, the G7 and G20 member countries, including US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia have declared their critical minerals lists and are also the part of several bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral agreements, specifically for the governance involving critical minerals and their strategic importance.
• Cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, nickel and rare earth elements are these common strategic mineral resources that are demand-intensive due to their strategic uses in wind turbines, batteries of electric vehicles and other critical emerging technologies for green transition.
• Recently, the US and the UK signed the Atlantic Declaration to begin negotiations on a critical minerals agreement, which would allow some UK firms to access tax credits available under the US Inflation Reduction Act.
• With India pushing for an indigenous development of emerging technologies in the clean energy sector, scaling up the manufacturing of the technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric vehicles will result in significant demand for and dependence on the supply of a range of minerals for the foreseeable future.
• India and Australia have already signed the Critical Minerals Investment Partnership — a major milestone in working towards investment in critical minerals projects to develop supply chains between the two countries.
• Investments under the partnership will seek to build new supply chains underpinned by critical minerals processed in Australia that will help India’s plans to lower emissions from its electricity network and become a global manufacturing hub, including for electric vehicles.
• India’s entry into MSP will foster several bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral agreements, specifically for the governance involving critical minerals and their strategic importance among the member countries.

1. NEW GUIDELINES ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED INSECTS

TAG:  PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Department of Biotechnology issued the ‘Guidelines for Genetically Engineered Insects. They provide procedural roadmaps for those interested in creating GE insects.

EXPLANATION:

• India’s bioeconomy contributes 2.6% to the GDP.
• In April 2023, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) released its ‘Bioeconomy Report 2022’ report, envisioning this contribution to be closer to 5% by 2030.
• This ambitious leap of $220 billion in eight years will require aggressive investment and policy support. .
• Along with more money, policies that enable risk-taking appetite within Indian scientists will be required to create an ecosystem of innovation and industrial action.
• Despite a slight uptick during COVID-19, when DBT led the vaccine and diagnostics efforts, funding hasn’t returned to the pre-pandemic level. The current allocation is also only 0.0001% of India’s GDP, and it needs to be significantly revised if biotechnology is to be of any serious consequence for the economy.

Issues:

Uncertainty of purpose:

• The guidelines note that GE insects are becoming globally available and are intended to help Indian researchers navigate regulatory requirements.
• However, the guidelines don’t specify the purposes for which GE insects may be approved in India or how the DBT, as a promoter of biotechnology, envisions their use.
• The guidelines only provide regulatory procedures for R&D on insects with some beneficial applications.
• The emphasis of using GE insects appears to be on uplifting the standard of living by reducing disease burden, enabling food security and conserving the environment.
• The guidelines which are more procedural in nature than indicative of governmental policy set out forms and instructions for using GE insects of various types.
• The approval for these experiments comes under the broad ambit of the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation, a body under the DBT.
• The guidelines have been harmonised to guidance from the World Health Organisation on GE mosquitoes.
• GE mosquitoes represent the most advanced application for this technology yet the guidelines seem to downplay the economic opportunities that such insects provide.
• Engineering honey bees to make better-quality and/or quantities of honey will help reduce imports and also maybe facilitate exports.
• Similarly, GE silkworms may be used to produce finer and/or cheaper silk, affecting prices and boosting sales. But the guidelines and policy are both quiet on how GE insects can benefit the bioeconomy and for which purposes the government might approve the insects’ release.

Uncertainty for researchers

• The guidelines are applicable only to research and not to confined trials or deployment. That is, once the insects are ‘made’ and tested in the laboratory, researchers can conduct trials with them on the approval of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), of the Union Environment Ministry.
• Government authorities will also have to closely follow the deployment of these insects. Once deployed, GE insects can’t be recalled, and unlike genetically modified foods, they are not amenable to individual consumer choice.
• So wider community engagement and monitoring of the impact of GE will be required. The nature of the technology products – i.e. mosquitoes, honey bees, etc. – also make their private use difficult.
• In any case, the government will be the primary buyer in many cases, such as ‘GE mosquitoes for disease alleviation’ or ‘honey bees for increased pollination’.
• On the other hand, as honey bees populations decrease, genetically edited honey bees which live longer, might be of use in India.
• On a related note, the guidelines define GE insects by their risk group and not by the end product.

Uncertainty of ambit

• The guidelines offer standard operating procedures for GE mosquitoes, crop pests, and beneficial insects but what ‘beneficial’ means, in the context of GE insects, is not clear.
• The lack of clarity about the insects and the modifications to them that are deemed ‘beneficial’ will impede funders and scientists from investing in this research. In a country with low public as well as private funding, the absence of a precise stance to identify and  promote research priorities hampers progress.
• Other gene-editing guidelines contain similar ambiguity, such as the National Guidelines for Gene Therapy Product Development and Clinical Trials. They identify a gene-therapy product as “any entity which includes a nucleic acid component being delivered by various means for therapeutic benefit”. But they don’t “define therapeutic benefit”, creating confusion on which gene therapy products will actually be permitted.
• Further, genetic engineering can also be used to unintentionally generate malicious products. In 2016, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency floated an ‘Insect Allies’ programme with the idea of creating insect vectors to deliver gene-editing components to plants that are threatened by pests. Scientists quickly pointed out that this application could also be used to create bioweapons. Similarly, the new guidelines don’t sufficiently account for more dangerous possibilities.

2. CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT (CSE) REPORT ON EMISSION

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: As of April 2023, however, only 5 per cent of the country’s installed coal-based thermal power generation capacities had the FGD mechanism in place, according to a new report by Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

EXPLANATION:

• Emission reduction has been the unequivocally accepted pathway for limiting global warming.  But despite ambitious targets, one of the most polluting sectors of India coal-based thermal power generation  was found to be brazenly flouting emission norms and not doing the bare minimum required to reduce their environmental footprint.
• A case in point is the poor implementation of the sulphur dioxide emissions regulations issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in 2015.
• The ministry made it mandatory for thermal power plants to instal a flue gas de-sulfurization (FGD) system to remove sulphur dioxide from their exhaust.
• Moreover, 17 per cent of the overall coal power capacity was still at very initial stages of compliance.
• The organisation analysed the updated status of FGD systems in thermal power plants from data released by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the technical arm of the Union Ministry of Power.
• The findings for eastern India were abysmal as no plant in the region was found to be compliant of SO2 emissions norms.
• Maharashtra has the highest capacity complying with the norms, followed by Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Tamil Nadu, showed the analysis.
• Only 0.81 GW of the 32.63 GW newly commissioned capacity is complying with the norms, the researchers found.
• Just 57 per cent of the capacity within 10 kilometres of Delhi-NCR or million-plus cities will be able to meet the deadline, based on the analysis. Around 11 per cent of the capacity within 10 km radius of critically polluted areas is unlikely to meet the deadline.
• Around 13 gigawatts of the installed capacity is now likely to comply because of the extension in deadline, the report noted.
• None of the plants that have installed FGDs or are reported to be complying with SOx norms are state-owned, the analysts found.
• The latest National Electricity Plan (NEP) for 2022-32 cited various factors that may have delayed the implementation of the norms: The sector’s dependency on the external market for some FGD components, novelty of the technology for the Indian market and the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Electricity Plan:

• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has notified the National Electricity Plan (NEP) for the period of 2022-32.
• The plan document, which was released on May 31, 2023, includes a review of the last five years (2017-22), a detailed plan for the next five years (2022-27), and the prospective plan for the next five years (2027-32).

Peak demand

• According to the NEP document, the projected All-India peak electricity demand and electrical energy requirement are 277.2 GW and 1,907.8 BU for FY27 and 366.4 GW and 2473.8 BU for FY32, as per 20th Electric Power Survey (EPS) Demand projections.
• The energy requirement & peak demand are inclusive of the impact due to increased adoption of electric vehicles, installation of solar rooftops, production of green hydrogen, Saubhagya scheme, etc, a government release said.

Generation Capacity

• Based on generation planning studies carried out under the purview of preparation of the National Electricity Plan for the period of 2022-27, the likely installed power generation capacity for FY27 is 609,591 MW, and that for FY32 is 900,422 MW.
• The projection of total capacity addition is in line with the target of the country to achieve a non-fossil-based installed capacity of around 500 GW by the year 2029-30.
• NEP envisages that the share of non-fossil-based capacity is likely to increase to 57.4 percent by the end of FY27 and may further increase to 68.4 percent by the end of FY23, from around 42.5 percent as on April 2023.
• The average PLF of the total installed coal capacity of 235.1 GW is likely to be about 58.4 percent in 2026-27and that of 259.6 GW of coal-based capacity is likely to be about 58.7 percent in 2031-32.
• The project battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity is projected at 8,680 mw for FY27. For FY32, the estimated figure is 47,244 MW. BESS capacity is based on four-hour storage. The corresponding power available would therefore be 34,720 MWh and 236,220 MWh, respectively.
• The domestic coal requirement has been estimated to be 866.4 million tonnes for FY276 and 1025.8 million tonnes for FY32 and an estimated requirement of 28.9 million tonnes of coal imports for the plants designed to run on imported coal.

3. FLASH FLOODS

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Flash floods have led to landslides in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. The Chandigarh-Manali highway was blocked following flash floods and landslides since in parts of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Flash floods were witnessed in Khotinallah near Aut (in HP) on the Pandoh–Kullu stretch due to a heavy downpour and the commuters have been stranded as a result.

EXPLANATION:

• Flash floods refers to a flood situation, but one that occurs in a much shorter span of time, under six hours, and is a highly localised phenomenon.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) added that there was no warning for flash floods. But flash floods are not simply a situation of excessive rains, there are certain criteria for terming rains as such.
• Excessive or continuous rainfall over a period of days, or during particular seasons, can lead to stagnation of water and cause flooding.
• Flash floods refer to such a situation, but occurring in a much shorter span of time, and are highly localised.
• For instance, the US’s meteorological agency, the National Weather Service, says flash floods are caused when rainfall creates flooding in less than 6 hours. It adds that flash floods can also be caused by factors apart from rainfall, like when water goes beyond the levels of a dam.
• In India, flash floods are often associated with cloudbursts – sudden, intense rainfall in a short period of time. Himalayan states further face the challenge of overflowing glacial lakes, formed due to the melting of glaciers, and their numbers have been increasing in the last few years.
• Frequently, flash floods are accompanied by landslides, which are sudden movements of rock, boulders, earth or debris down a slope. It is common in mountainous terrains, where there are conditions created for it in terms of the soil, rock, geology and slope.
• Natural causes that trigger landslides include heavy rainfall, earthquakes, snowmelting and undercutting of slopes due to Landslides can also be caused by human activities, such as excavation, cutting of hills and trees, excessive infrastructure development, and overgrazing by cattle. India is one of the countries most likely to face landslides.
• Flash flooding commonly happens more where rivers are narrow and steep, so they flow more They can occur in urban areas located near small rivers, since hard surfaces such as roads and concrete do not allow the water to absorb into the ground.

How common are flash floods and floods?

• According to government data from a project by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, India is the worst flood-affected country in the world, after Bangladesh, and accounts for one-fifth of the global death count due to floods. Flash floods have been commonly witnessed in cities like Chennai and Mumbai. Depression and cyclonic storms in the coastal areas of Orissa, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and others also cause flash floods.
• Further, data from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) states that one of the reasons for flood situations occurring so frequently is that nearly 75 per cent of the total Indian rainfall is concentrated over a short monsoon season of four months (June to September).
• As a result, the rivers witness a heavy discharge during these months. About 40 million hectares of land in the country are liable to floods according to the National Flood Commission, and an average of 18.6 million hectares of land are affected annually.
• Flash floods may in the future, begin to take place after wildfires that have been taking place more frequently. This is because wildfires destroy forests and other vegetation, which in turn weakens the soil and makes it less permeable for water to seep through.

4. GLOBAL LIVEABILITY INDEX 2023

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has recently unveiled its highly anticipated list of the ‘Most Liveable Cities in the World 2023’.

EXPLANATION:

• The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has recently unveiled its highly anticipated list of the ‘Most Liveable Cities in the World 2023’.
• Through an evaluation of five metrics, including healthcare, culture, environment, education, and stability, this ranking offers insights into the cities that excel in providing an exceptional quality of life.
• This year, the index covered 172 cities and for the second year in a row, Vienna, Austria, has been named the best city to live in the world.
• The Global Liveability Index 2023 attributed Vienna’s success to its “unsurpassed combination of stability, good infrastructure, strong education and healthcare services, and plenty of culture and entertainment.”
• Denmark’s capital Copenhagen also retained its second-place position in the list. Following it are two Australian cities, Melbourne and Sydney, respectively. “The Australian cities, which bounced up and down the rankings during the pandemic, are now in third and fourth place.
• They have seen their scores in the healthcare category improve since last year when they were still affected by Covid waves that stressed their healthcare systems.
• Three Canadian cities Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto also made it to the top ten list. From Asia, Japan’s Osaka was ranked number 10 in the rankings.
• According to EIU, the index rose last year to reach a 15-year high as the world recovered from the pandemic. The average index score is now 76.2 out of 100, up from 73.2 a year ago.
• Despite overall growth in the index score, stability saw a marginal decline.
• It is because of instances of civil unrest in many cities amid a cost-of-living crisis and an uptick in crimes in some cities. The EIU added that those in Western Europe in particular, have slipped in rankings due to increased instances of workers’ strikes failing to “match gains” made by cities in Asia and the Middle East.

List of the top 10 cities in the world in 2023:

1. Vienna, Austria
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
3. Melbourne, Australia
4. Sydney, Australia
5. Vancouver, Canada
6. Zurich, Switzerland
7. Calgary, Canada
8. Geneva, Switzerland
9. Toronto, Canada
10. Osaka, Japan

5. MEDICINES PATENT POOL (MPP)

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: In a move that would make certain cancer drugs more accessible and cheaper for patients, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) signed sub-licence agreements with three India-based companies, Eugia, Hetero and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, along with Indonesian firm BrightGene to manufacture generic versions of Novartis’ cancer treatment drug Nilotinib. The drug is used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a type of blood-cell cancer.

EXPLANATION:

• These are the first sub-licence agreements that MPP has signed for a cancer treatment drug and are the result of a licence agreement signed between MPP and Novartis Pharma AG in October 2022 for their patented cancer medicine. Nilotinib is sold under the brand name Tasigna and marketed worldwide by Novartis.
• According to information released by MPP, a United Nations-backed group working to increase access to, and facilitate the development of, life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the selected manufacturers can manufacture generic versions of Nilotinib in India and seven middle-income countries and supply it in 44 territories included in the licence through a non-exclusive licence agreement, subject to local regulatory authorisation.
• The licence includes the opportunity to develop and supply generic versions of Nilotinib in seven middle-income countries, namely Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tunisia, where patents on the product are pending or in force.
• In 2020, the World Health Organization reported that more than 3.5 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in LMICs and premature deaths from cancer in these countries will rise from 2.3 million to 4 million in the next 20 years.
• MPP, said that they have worked with the four generic manufacturers to develop generic Nilotinib and bring an affordable treatment option to people diagnosed with CML in the selected countries.
• Voluntary licensing is a truly impactful way of delivering affordable treatments to tackle the ever-rising burden of cancer in LMICs.
• President of Global Health and Sustainability added that great gains have been seen in cancer survival in the richest countries over the last decade.
• Through ‘public-private partnerships’, it aims to address barriers to healthcare and expand access to innovative treatment solutions for the long-term for as many people as possible regardless of location or socio-economic situation.

Medicines Patent Pool:

• The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to, and facilitate the development of, life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries.
• Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders, to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.
• MPP has signed agreements with 18 patent holders for 14 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 12 COVID-19 technologies.
• MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and SDC.

1. THE ARTEMIS ACCORDS

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: India has signed the Artemis Accords. The Accords are non-binding guidelines that underpin the Artemis programme, an ambitious project to return humans to the Moon.

EXPLANATION:

• The Artemis Accords are a set of non-binding guidelines that underpin the Artemis programme, an ambitious U.S.-led project to return humans to the Moon, this time permanently.
• The project plan includes a base on the lunar surface, multiple spacecraft to ferry humans and cargo, a small orbiting space station called the ‘Lunar Gateway’, and a constellation of satellites to help with navigation and communication.
• Artemis mirrors a Chinese-Russian plan for an ‘International Lunar Research Station’ (ILRS).
• Proponents of lunar exploration often cite the primordial human urge to explore, the supposed commercial windfalls from celestial mining, and the need to inspire younger generations. Such exhortations often overlook the more immediate and more proximate motivations.
• The ten principles listed in the Artemis Accords support an America-friendly interpretation of space law. In return for signing on, states get to participate in the Artemis programme, which can, in theory at least, bring both prestige and technological benefits.

Laws and the Moon

• Modern space law is a tent erected on four international agreements, headlined by the Outer Space Treaty. These agreements cover critical issues like the peaceful use of space, registration, and liability, and were struck between 1967 and 1976, a period roughly coinciding with both the original Space Race and Cold War detente. The ten principles of the Artemis Accords are generally in consonance with these agreements.
• A fifth treaty, the Moon Agreement, was introduced in 1979 but found no takers among the major spacefaring states of that time, including the U.S. and the Soviet Union. India joined a handful of other countries in signing the Moon Agreement, though it did not ratify it.
• A key provision in the Artemis Accords allows for actors to extract and utilise space resources. Experts have often interpreted this as being at odds with the Moon Agreement – which asks for the gains from commercial exploitation of the Moon’s resources to be equitably distributed.
• Artemis signatories like Australia and France have also signed the Moon Agreement.

Indian and Artemis Accords:

• The Artemis Accords came into being in 2020, just as India was beginning the process of opening up its own space sector to private players. While India being a signatory to the Moon Agreement may have initially given its diplomats pause, the cases of Australia and France are undoubtedly reassuring.
• India was also likely concerned that the Artemis Accords were an informal set of guidelines or norms rather than a legally-binding instrument. India has historically preferred formal law over informal guidelines because it believes laws foster better compliance among adherents regardless of their relative power in the international system.
• India feared that norms set by great powers are designed to maximise their own freedom of action while constraining less powerful states like India. That India now accepts Artemis norms set by the U.S. suggests a subtle shift in its diplomatic practice.

2. CLIMATE SHIFT INDEX

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Climate change made the recent heatwave in Uttar Pradesh at least two times more likely, as per the Climate Shift Index, which quantifies the impact of climate change on local weather in real time

EXPLANATION:

Links between climate change and temperatures:

• Climate change caused by global warming due to increased carbon emissions in the atmosphere can cause extreme weather events. Heat waves are one of them.
• As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a heat wave “is a condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to [the] human body when exposed [to it]”. The IMD defines a heat wave as occurring if temperatures depart by 4.5°C to 6.4°C more than normal (above different temperature levels for hills and plains), and a severe heat wave when the temperature rises to more than 6.4°C.
• The duration of heatwaves in India increased by about 2.5 days between 1961 and 2021 due to global warming, as per a report released by the IMD.

Climate Shift Index:

• Researchers at Climate Central, a US-based climate research and communications group, found that the three-day extreme heat event over parts of UP from June 14 to June 16 was made at least two times more likely by climate change.
• Climate Shift Index (CSI), developed by Climate Central, that uses a categorical five-point scale to show how climate change makes daily average temperatures more or less likely around the world.
• Currently, the index includes more than 1,000 cities and the online real-time map can also reveal changes across regions around cities.
• CSI levels over 1 indicate a clear climate change signal, while levels between 2 and 5 mean that climate change made those temperatures between two and five times more likely. Per the team, the methodology used to calculate the CSI is based on peer-reviewed science.
• A CSI of 4 means that the day’s temperature was made at least four times more likely than it would have been without the influence of climate change

Lapses in heat plan implementation:

• Heat action plans are documents that list preparatory, adaptive and responsive measures for government departments to tackle the heat and its impacts. UP is one of the 18 states to have a state-level heat action plan, per a recent report that analysed 37 heat action plans at the city, district and state levels.
• The state developed its heat action plan in 2022. The 2023 Heat Action Plan is being updated with the institutional collaboration of IIPH-Gandhinagar and UNICEF, as per a report.
• UP’s standard operating procedure for heat waves identifies heatwave responses, including related preparedness and actions at the district level. It includes operating procedures to undertake these response actions. It also lists the lead and support agencies responsible for heatwave response actions.
• The combination of extreme heat and humidity during heat waves is particularly dangerous for humans, and even more so in urban contexts where the ‘heat island’ effect can further increase temperatures.

3. THE ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY REGULATIONS

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: Earlier this year the Health Ministry notified the Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulations (ART), 2023, which are aimed at providing donors and patients with better medical care and security. But the new provisions have pushed up the already sky-high medical costs and are proving to be a challenge for treating doctors and couples wanting to have children through ART because of the restricted and limited resource availability in terms of donors, according to industry insiders.

EXPLANATION:

• The new ART provisions impose restrictions on the number of times a donor, male or female can donate (sperm/oocyte) in their lifetime, and specifies age limits for donors.
• The provision states that an oocyte donor should be an ever-married (persons who have been married at least once in their lives) woman having at least one living child of her own (minimum three years of age).
• She can donate oocyte only once in her lifetime and not more than seven oocytes can be retrieved. Also, an ART bank cannot supply gamete (reproductive cell) of a single donor to more than one commissioning couple (couple seeking services).
• Additionally, parties seeking ART services will be required to provide insurance coverage in the favour of the oocyte donor (for any loss, damage, or death of the donor). A clinic is prohibited from offering to provide a child of pre-determined sex. Also checking for genetic diseases before the embryo implantation is needed.
• Overall, the new ART laws restricting the number of donation attempts “have the potential to increase costs and create challenges for couples relying on assisted reproductive techniques.

THE ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY REGULATIONS:

• India’s convoluted and long tryst with assisted reproductive technology (ART) began in 1978 with the birth of India’s first test-tube baby in Kolkata.
• The industry grew exponentially, albeit without any congruent regulatory or legal framework to govern it.
• The legislative vacuum was attempted to be filled by the Indian Council of Medical research (ICMR) in 2005 with the issuance of the National Guidelines for Accreditation, Supervision and Regulation of ART Clinics in India – the first ever national guidelines for laying down standards of conduct for surrogacy in India.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs has also periodically issued guidelines for regulating surrogacy. In 2009, the Law Commission in its 228th report recommended the enactment of legislation to facilitate the correct use of ART and legalization of surrogacy.
• It is in this backdrop that Parliament on December 8, 2021 passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. The Act aims at the regulation and supervision of ART clinics and assisted reproductive technology banks, prevention of misuse, and safe and ethical practice of ART services.
• Right alongside this Act comes the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, which only recognises altruistic surrogacy as legal. While the Acts finally regulate the industry, they also bring in a number of concerns to the legal domain-including rights, scientific advances, cross-border surrogacies, obligations as well as ethical dilemmas.

Important highlights of the ART Act:

• Under the Act, every ART clinic and bank must be registered under the National Registry of Banks and Clinics of India. This Registry, comprising scientific and technical staff, will be a central database for all facilities providing ART services in India.
• State governments are required to appoint authorities to facilitate the registration process. No person/clinic/bank shall render ART procedures unless they are registered with the Registry.
• The Act also provides for setting up of a National Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board, which shall lay down a Code of Conduct to be observed by persons working at ART clinics and banks and also set minimum standards of physical infrastructure, laboratory and diagnostic equipment and expert manpower to be employed by clinics and banks. The Board shall also supervise the functioning of the Registry.
• Additionally, the Act also lays down the duties to be performed by ART banks and clinics, which include ensuring that the commissioning couple, woman and donor are eligible to avail ART services; requiring clinics to obtain donors’ gametes from banks which shall ensure that the donor has been tested for diseases; providing counselling services to commissioning couples and woman about the implications of ART; and rights of the child.
• A duty is imposed on the clinics and banks to keep the information of commissioning couples and women confidential and to maintain a grievance redressal cell. The Act also empowers the Central government to make rules to carry out the provisions of the Act as and when the need may arise.
• Further, the Act provides for stringent punishment in the event of contravention of its provisions. First-time offenders may be liable to pay a fine between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh, and for subsequent contraventions, the offender may be sentenced to imprisonment of 8 to 12 years and may also be liable to pay a fine of ₹10 to 12 lakh. Operators of clinics or banks offering or advertising sex selective ART may face imprisonment of 5 to 10 years or would also be liable to pay a fine of ₹10 to 25 lakh, or both.

Shortcomings of the ART Act:

• While the Act is a decisive and considerable step towards curbing the menace of illegal and unregulated ART clinics and towards safeguarding donors and women undergoing ART from the health implications faced due to unsafe and illegal procedures, it falls short of addressing some serious concerns.
• First and foremost, the Act excludes unmarried men, divorced men, widowed men, unmarried yet cohabiting heterosexual couples, trans persons and homosexual couples (whether married or cohabiting) from availing ART services. This exclusion is relevant as the Surrogacy Act also excludes above said persons from taking recourse to surrogacy as a method of reproduction.
• The Act is also limited to those commissioning couples who are infertile – those who have been unable to conceive after one year of unprotected coitus. Thus, it is limited in its application and significantly reduces the reproductive choices of those excluded. Third, the prices of the services are not regulated; this can certainly be remedied with simple directives.

4. PARIS FINANCE MEET

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Summit for a New Global Financing Pact concluded in Paris. The first of its kind, the conference was spearheaded by President of France, and had several leaders from the developing world, as well as European heads of state in attendance. The Summit took on the monumental task of addressing the lack of money flowing to poor and vulnerable countries as they battle “a cocktail of interconnected crises” as Prime Minister of Ethiopia framed it poverty, debt, inflation triggered due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and increasing climate impacts.

EXPLANATION:

• To begin with, countries of the South are in a debt crisis and are facing pressure to decarbonise their economies without adequate climate finance flowing in.
• “African countries are facing an unprecedented funding squeeze. Public and private debt has reached new heights. Inflation in almost all commodities has risen sharply, and today daily meals are the biggest issue for many Africans.

Clear demands:

• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have been at the center of the discussion on financial systems reform, and Indian Finance Minister pointed out that they are “being asked by non-borrowing shareholders to address transboundary challenges alongside their core development mandate”.
• Thus, the pressure on MDBs’ resources will increase manifold, and the G20 Capital Adequacy Framework recommendations, while welcomed, are still not enough due to the scale and scope of development challenges.
• This reveals the politics at the core of the MDB reform discussion, where developed countries want to squeeze more out of existing MDB resources while simultaneously adding on climate as a part of their mandate.
• More concessional and grant financing is needed, while there is a call for reduction of debt levels in developing countries particularly debt cancellations for least developed countries.
• It also emphasised that while private sector money can be unlocked, it cannot replace long-term development money. The latter is needed to help middle-income countries access concessional finance as well.
• South African President laid out his views on Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP)  a deal that his country is currently struggling to implement.
• Such plans must consider each country’s circumstances, the needs of workers and communities, and developmental goals to address poverty and unemployment.

What was announced?

• This was not a ‘pledging’ conference, but some announcements were unveiled, perhaps in an effort to address the thorny trust erosion issue.

1. MDBs: A contentious MDB Vision Statement document did not get full consensus at the Summit, and the Summit’s synthesis document mentions that “30 countries, in the presence of 8 Multilateral Development Banks” endorsed it.

It was however announced that an additional lending capacity of $200 billion would be unlocked for emerging economies. The World Bank announced disaster clauses for debt deals, that would suspend debt payment in the case of extreme weather events.

New World Bank head also unveiled a ‘Private Sector Investment Lab’ with the aim to “develop and rapidly scale solutions that address the barriers that are preventing the private sector from investing  at scale  in emerging markets and developing countries, with a specific focus on renewable energy and energy infrastructure”.

2. Special Drawing Rights: IMF Head announced that 100 billion in SDRs for vulnerable countries has been met. Some experts were quick to point out that 20 billion worth of SDRs are yet to pass through the US Congress. The US being the biggest quota holder of SDRs. The ‘recycling’ of SDRs from rich countries whose central banks do not need the cushioning, to poor countries who need them or MDBs who can channel them, has been proposed by many as means to expand the amount of concessional finance to developing countries
3. A new JETP: A new 2.5 billion Euro JETP deal was announced for Senegal, with a consortium of countries comprising of Germany, France, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, with the goal of increasing the share of renewable energy in installed capacity to 40 per cent of Senegal’s electricity mix by 2030.
4. Debt: It was announced that Zambia reached a $6.3 billion debt restructuring deal in debt owed to other governments including China. Colombian and Kenya President also proposed a Global Expert Review on Debt, Nature and Climate to “assess the impact of debt on low- and medium-income countries capacity to preserve nature, adapt to climate change and decarbonise their economies”.
5. Climate finance goal: It was suggested that the long overdue $100 billion climate finance goal will be delivered this year, something that was also alluded to at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. The Paris Summit’s synthesis document mentions that this “should be further supported by confirmed figures provided by contributors and reported by the OECD”.
6. Carbon markets: The EU unveiled a call to action on ‘Paris Aligned Carbon Markets’ with the goal of covering at least 60 per cent of global emissions with carbon pricing mechanisms (compared to four per cent today) and allocating a proportion of the revenues to climate finance.
7. Polluter taxes: Momentum on polluter taxes accelerated at the Summit, with many groups supporting a tax on shipping emissions. More traction is expected on this issue at the International Maritime Organisation meeting.

5. MQ-9B DRONES

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: U.S President and Prime Minister welcomed India’s plans to procure General Atomics MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial vehicles (UAV. This sets the stage for the acquisition of 31 of these armed UAVs, 15 Sea Guardians for the Indian Navy and 16 Sky Guardians  eight each for the Indian Army and Air Force.

EXPLANATION:

• MQ-9Bs, which will be assembled in India, will enhance the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces across domains.
• As part of this plan, General Atomics will also establish a Comprehensive Global Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India in support of India’s long-term goals to boost indigenous defence capabilities.
• The procurement process has commenced with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister according the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN).
• India is negotiating to increase the indigenous content under the deal. “The current indigenous content proposed is 8-9% while India is hoping it can be increased upto 15-20%. Discussions are underway.

What do the UAV’s bring in terms of capability?

• The MQ-9B has two variants the SkyGuardian and the SeaGuardian, its maritime variant.
• The MQ-9B is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for up to 40 hours, depending on configuration, in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, according to its manufacturer.
• For instance, the SeaGuardian configuration can include a 360-degree surface-search maritime radar, automatic identification system, sonobuoy monitoring system, and sonobuoy dispensers for persistent anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
• According to General Atomics, the MQ-9B can provide roughly 80% of the capability of a large human-flown maritime patrol aircraft at about 20% of its cost per hour.
• For the Army and Air Force, the MQ-9Bs can provide round-the-clock surveillance looking far beyond the borders. It also seamlessly integrates with other U.S.-origin platforms that India operates, the P-8Is, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, MH-60R multi-role helicopters among others expanding MQ-9B’s multi-domain mission set.

What UAVs are already in service?

• The Indian Navy has leased two MQ-9As from General Atomics with the maiden flight taking place on November 21, 2020. In their two years of operation till November 2022, they had completed 10,000 flight hours, and “helped the Indian Navy to cover over 14 million square miles of operating area”, General Atomics has announced.
• At Aero India in Bengaluru in February 2023, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and General Atomics announced that the turbo-propeller engines which power the MQ-9B will be supported by HAL’s engine division for the Indian market. “The companies are looking to formulate a comprehensive engine MRO programme for upcoming HALE Remotely Piloted Aircraft projects,” a joint statement said.
• The MQ-9 is a significant technological leap from the original RQ-1/MQ-1Predator that heralded the arrival of long endurance armed drones at the end of the twentieth century. Armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, the Predator became a symbol of the U.S. war on terror after the 9/11 attacks, with their extensive employment in Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan in the early 2000s. The RQ-1 Predator, which was first flown by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) in 1995, was retired in 2018 and replaced by the MQ-9 Reaper.
• According to the USAF, the Reaper is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets. “Given its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons, it provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting, and time-sensitive targets.”
• According to the USAF, the Reaper is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets.

1. ARE PHONONS, PARTICLES OF SOUND, QUANTUM TOO?

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, IBM published a paper in which it claimed to have demonstrated that a quantum computer could solve a useful problem that today’s conventional computers can’t, a result merited by concerns that their computations might become too unreliable when they also become complicated .

EXPLANATION:

• One of the two big news items these days from the realm of computing is quantum computers (the other is artificial intelligence).
• Physicists have found that packets of vibrational energy behave like packets of light energy using a new kind of beam-splitter.

Quantum Computing

• The premise of quantum computing is that information can be ‘encoded’ in some property of the particle, like an electron’s spin, and then processed using these peculiar abilities.
• As a result, quantum computers are expected to perform complicated calculations that are out of reach of the best supercomputers today.
• Other forms of quantum computing use other units of information. For example, linear optical quantum computing (LOQC) uses photons, the particles of light, as qubits.
• Just like different pieces of information can be combined and processed by encoding them on electrons and then having the electrons interact in different ways, LOQC offers to use optical equipment like mirrors, lenses, splitters, waveplates, etc.  with photons to process information.
• In fact, any particle that can be controlled and manipulated using quantum-mechanical phenomena should, on paper, be usable as an information unit in a quantum computer.

What are qubits?

• Quantum computers use qubits as their basic units of information.
• A qubit can be a particle like an electron; a collection of particles; or a quantum system engineered to behave like a particle.
• Particles can do funky things that large objects like the semiconductors of classical computers  can’t because they are guided by the rules of quantum physics.
• These rules allow each qubit to have the values ‘on’ and ‘off’ at the same time.

What are phonons?

• Photons are packets of light energy; similarly, phonons are packets of vibrational energy.
• The problem is that researchers can manipulate electrons using electric currents, magnetic fields, etc., and they can manipulate photons with mirrors, lenses, etc.
• In the new study, researchers from the University of Chicago have reported developing an acoustic beam-splitter to manipulate phonos.

What is a beam-splitter?

• Beam-splitters are used widely in optics research.
• Imagine a torchlight shining light along a straight line. This is basically a stream of photons. When a beam-splitter is placed in the light’s path, it will split the beam into two: i.e. it will reflect 50% of the photons to one side and let the other 50% pass straight through.
• While it seems simple, the working of a beam-splitter actually draws on quantum physics. If you shine a million photons at it, it will create two beams, each of 500,000 photons.
• We can then reflect these two beams to intersect each other, creating an interference pattern. But researchers have found that an interference pattern appears even when they shine photons at the beam-splitter one by one.

What are the photons interfering with? The answer is themselves.

• This is because a) particles can also behave like waves, and b) until an observation is made, a quantum system exists in a superposition of all its possible states (like a qubit being partly ‘on’ and partly ‘off’ at the same time).
• So when the single wave interacts with the beam-splitter, it enters a superposition of the two possible outcomes reflected and transmitted. When these states recombine, an interference pattern shows up.

What did the new study do?

• In the new study, the researchers developed an acoustic beam-splitter a tiny device resembling a comb, with 16 metal bars jutting out of it.
• It was placed in the middle of a 2-mm-long channel of lithium niobate. Each end of the channel had a superconducting qubit, a qubit whose circuit components were superconducting that could both emit and detect individual phonons. The whole setup was maintained at an ultra-low temperature.
• If these phonons were converted to sound, their frequency would be too high for humans to hear. Each phonon in the study represented, according to the paper, the “collective” vibration of around one quadrillion atoms.
• The team found that these phonons interacted with the comb just like photons interact with an optical beam-splitter. When a phonon was emitted from the left side of the channel, it was reflected half of the time and transmitted to the right side the other half.
• When phonons were emitted simultaneously from the left and the right sides, they both ended up on one side (as expected)

2. EMERGING MONKEYPOX OUTBREAKS IN ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

TAG:  GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: In recent weeks, although overall global cases of mpox have been decreasing, some regions are seeing an increase in reported cases.

EXPLANATION:

• Over a month ago, the World Health Organization declared the Mpox global health emergency over. However, even though cumulative cases across the world continue to decline, there has been an increase in reported cases from some countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific Region.

What is monkeypox?

• Monkeypox, or mpox, is a viral disease that primarily spread to the human population through zoonotic spillovers, with rodents and primates serving as potential reservoirs.
• Mpox can be transmitted between humans through close contact and exposure to infected bodily fluids or lesions. Sexual contact is also believed to contribute to the spread of the disease particularly among certain demographics.
• Mpox was a rare infection that was predominantly restricted to some countries in Africa until early 2022, when a rise in cases across the globe where the disease was not endemic, particularly in Europe and North America.

Cause for concern

• Mpox being reported from newer territories is worrisome as the disease is potentially expanding its reach through an undetected spread, posing new challenges in its containment efforts.
• The lack of a corresponding surge in reported cases suggests that there may be challenges in accurately capturing and documenting cases in the Middle East, suggesting that there may be challenges in detecting cases in the region.
• This also highlights the need for improved reporting mechanisms to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the African region has also experienced a surge in cases, notably in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Nigeria.
• Genomic surveillance of the monkeypox pathogen allows for contact tracing and monitoring of its evolution.

3. BETELGEUSE

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The bright, red star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion has shown some unexpected behaviour. In late 2019 and 2020 it became fainter than before at least in records going back more than a century. Briefly it became fainter (just about) than Bellatrix, the third brightest star of Orion. This event became known as the “great dimming”.But Betelgeuse has since become bright again. For a few days this year, it was the brightest star in Orion.

EXPLANATION:

• Stars are, by and large, remarkably stable. They shine with the same brightness year after year. But there are exceptions and some stars dubbed variable stars change in brightness. Most famous is Mira, the “star of wonder”, which was discovered as a variable star by the German pastor David Fabricius in 1596 – it is a pulsating star which regularly expands and contracts.
• Algol is another well known example which is periodically eclipsed by a companion star. There are around 30 such variable stars visible with the naked eye, although it requires care to notice their variation in brightness.
• Betelgeuse, the seventh brightest star in the sky (discounting the Sun), is the brightest of the variable stars. Sometimes Betelgeuse becomes nearly as bright as Rigel (the blue fourth brightest star in the constellation), while at other times it is notably fainter. The variation is caused by pulsations, similar to those of Mira although not as large or as regular.
• Sometimes, however, a star can briefly become extremely bright. The brightest and rarest among those are the supernovae, formed when an entire star ends its life in a powerful explosion.
• Supernovae can be bright enough to be visible during the day, although that has only happened a few times in the past 1,000 years. A nearby, bright supernova is the kind of event astronomers live for but which few of us will ever get to see.

Mysterious behaviour

• Although Betelgeuse is a variable star, the great dimming in 2021 was extreme. Within months, it had in fact dimmed by about 60%. This was eventually shown to be caused by a cloud.
• It is still don’t know what caused the sudden brightening – it is now 50% brighter than usual. But an impending supernova doesn’t seem that likely. In these kinds of stars, a supernova explosion is triggered in the core. Brightness variations, on the other hand, are a surface phenomenon.
• The extreme brightening may in fact be due to the same dust cloud that caused the dimming, now reflecting light from the star towards us and making it appear brighter.
• Betelgeuse is about 15- to 20-times more massive than the Sun, and stars of this mass are expected to end their lives in a powerful explosion known as a supernova. Betelgeuse’s red colour shows it is a red supergiant, meaning it’s already approaching the end of its life.
• But that end may still be a million years away. Stars like Betelgeuse can live in excess of 10 million years – a very brief period to astronomers, but a very long time to anyone else.

Explosion dynamics

• If Betelgeuse does go supernova, there would be detect a rain of massless particles called neutrinos, which would be harmless. After that, the star would quickly brighten.
• After one or two weeks it would shine with about the same brightness as the full Moon. Betelgeuse would then fade over the next several months but remain visible in the day time for six to 12 months.

Is there any danger to us?

• Supernovae produce high energy particles called cosmic rays, which can get past the shield of the earth’s magnetic field. But the amounts would be small compared to other radiation we receive for all but the nearest supernovae.
• A supernova explosion would also create radioactive iron. In fact this substance has been found in the earth’s seabed and on the Moon, believed to have formed in a supernova explosion between 2 and 3 million years ago. That supernova was perhaps 300 light-years from us, closer than Betelgeuse, but far enough to cause no major problems for life on the earth.
• A very close supernova, closer than 30 light-years, could cause major problems as the cosmic rays could cause ozone destruction and dangerous UV levels on the earth. It could reduce ozone by half over a period lasting hundred to thousands of years: this level is considered capable of causing an extinction event. But such a close supernova would be very rare, and may happen only once per billion years.

4. ROOTS OF INDIA’S ANAEMIA PROBLEM

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: New Diet and Biomarker Survey(DABS) trace the roots of anaemia problems looks at nutritional profiles and biomarkers, and may put ‘anaemia back to the dietary deficiency position, which is not always the case’.

EXPLANATION:

• The Union Health Ministry is rethinking how it takes stock of anaemia across the country. Anaemia’s prevalence will be tracked using the new Diet and Biomarkers Survey (DABS), launched in December 2022 by the National Institute of Nutrition, which will “map the diet, nutrition and health status and provide a correct estimate of anaemia among urban and rural population using state-of-the-art techniques.
• The NFHS is a nationally representative survey providing granular data at the State and district levels. NFHS-5 conducted between 2019-21 showed an “inexplicable” jump in anaemia levels across all age groups as more Indians were anaemic than ever before, with at least 67% of children having anaemia as compared
• World Bank data shows one in two Indian women is anaemic, 20% higher than the world average.

All about anaemia

• Anaemia is linked to insufficient healthy red cells (haemoglobin) that carry oxygen in the body.
• Reasons for anaemia include iron deficiency, deficiencies in folate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, chronic conditions such as diabetes or inherited genetic disorders.
• There are several documented types of anaemia, with some being: aplastic anaemia; iron deficiency anaemia; sickle cell anaemia; thalassemia; vitamin deficiency anaemia.
• Anaemia extracts a significant physical and emotional toll, causing fatigue, heart problems, pregnancy complications and life threatening consequences due to chronic anaemia.
• Studies have also mapped the intangible social and economic burden, with people reporting lost productivity and schooling due to fatigue.
• India has recognised anaemia as a public health challenge, launching the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy in 2018, aiming to provide supplementation to the last mile, raise awareness levels and improve diagnostics.
• In the Union Budget 2023, Finance Minister announced plans to create awareness of sickle cell anaemia, with universal screening of seven crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas.
• Other government schemes, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, also list addressing anaemia as a challenge.
• Evidence shows India has increased the iron and folic acid (ICA) supplement coverage for all age groups steadily. However, challenges run parallel to these initiatives: including a lack of awareness about anaemia causes, undernourishment since birth, resistance to and information gap around iron-folic acid (ICA) tablets, cultural biases that fuel a lack of agency, and deficient health interventions that don’t reach the last mile.

The opportunities and challenges with DABS

• The Diet and Biomarkers Survey-I, for which the questionnaire is available online, will be conducted by the National Institution of Nutrition along with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• It will be the first reflection of “nutrient-composition data” on cooked and uncooked food across India, which can help develop interventions to tackle public health issues like obesity.
• DABS may offer more accurate, macro-level figures since it uses the venous blood sampling method. Venous blood sampling is considered the “gold standard” for anaemia diagnosis. A biomarker survey overcomes the limitations of questionnaires that rely on self-reported dietary intake measurements, which can often be biased, and instead more precisely “identify persons with specific dietary deficiency” in support of medical treatment, evidence shows.
• A biomarker test for anaemia can be used to analyse levels of folate, iron, vitamin B12, copper and zinc in the body, helping trace the cause of anaemia.
• Moreover, DABS also links a person’s nutrition profile with anaemia, providing a more comprehensive picture. The survey form includes questions at the household level, about the food and groceries, type of drinking water, cooking fuel, education status, religion and community details.
• What is unclear as of now is the list of biomarkers that will be assessed or how the data will be disaggregated and used for health interventions.
• However, the sample size for DABS is restricted to 1.8 lakh people (as opposed to NFHS’s 6.1 lakh). Venous blood testing requires trained personnel who are equipped to draw blood, which restricts the scale of the survey. Studies show “most population‐based surveys use point‐of‐care diagnostics and capillary blood” because it allows for testing more people.
• Sickle cell anaemia, for instance, is concentrated in tribal belts and areas that historically have a high malaria burden. Central government-funded schemes such as the public distribution system (PDS) or PM-Poshan (mid-day meals), focusing on iron supplementation, can cause adverse health issues among these communities, activists warned last year.

Anatomy of an anaemia survey

• Experts argue for filling more data gaps in the clinical and social understanding of anaemia. Both DABS and NFHS link anaemia to a haemoglobin deficiency, but assessment should ideally go beyond haemoglobin cut-offs and iron deficiencies.
• Diverse causes of anaemia, including hemoglobinopathy, inherited genetic disorders and vitamin deficiencies, are often overlooked but still require district-level screening and diagnosis. This skews health interventions whether through tablets or iron fortification, all of our interventions towards anaemia currently are focused on pumping iron.
• Moreover, since anaemia affects more women globally, a gendered lens to disease mapping is needed for targeted interventions. It is known that inequitable gender norms exacerbate anaemia cases among women systemic disregard for women’s health, unequal food allocation or lack of financial autonomy to seek healthcare shape a district’s anaemia profile.
• A comprehensive dataset can map other common causes of anaemia (beyond iron deficiency), and demographic- and region-specific burden, which can help calibrate targeted interventions that account for gender, caste, class and other socio-economic markers.

5. CONTENTION BETWEEN COAL INDIA AND Competition Commission of India (CCI)

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Supreme Court held that there was “no merit” in Coal India Ltd (CIL), a public sector undertaking, being excluded from the purview of the Competition Act. The Court was hearing the PSU’s appeal against the Competition Appellate Tribunal’s order which alleged the former of abusing its position.

EXPLANATION:

What was the case about?

• In March 2017, Competition Commission of India (CCI) had imposed a penalty of ₹591.01 crore on CIL for imposing unfair/discriminatory conditions in fuel supply agreements (FSAs) with the power producers for supply of non-coking coal.
• In other words, CIL was found to be supplying lower quality of the essential resource at higher prices and placing opaque conditions in the contract about supply parameters and quality.
• The regulator contended that Coal India and its subsidiaries operated independently of market forces and enjoyed market dominance in the relevant market with respect to production and supply of non-coking coal in India.

What did the PSU argue in court?

• Coal India argued that it operated with the principles of ‘common good’ and ensuring equitable distribution of the essential natural resource. With this objective, it was secured as a ‘monopoly’ under the Nationalisation Act, 1973 (more specifically, the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973).
• The entity said that it may have to adhere to a differential pricing mechanism to encourage captive coal production (referring to mines that are handed over to companies for specific and exclusive use through lease or any other route).
• Differential pricing, which may be inconsistent with market principles, was to ensure the viability of the larger operating ecosystem as well as for pursuing welfare objectives.

How did the CCI respond?

• The respondents broadened the scope of the arguments. The Raghavan Committee (2020) report, put up for perusal by the respondents, had observed that state monopolies were not conducive to the best interests of the nation.
• They could not be allowed to operate in a state of inefficiency and should instead, operate amid competition. Furthermore, coal ceased to be an ‘essential commodity’ in February 2007 and the Nationalisation Act too was removed from the Ninth Schedule (laws that cannot be challenged in court) in 2017.
• It was also pointed out that Coal India was a fully-government owned entity until the disinvestment in 2010. The government’s shareholding reduced to 67% with the rest held by private hands.
• Moreover, it was stated that the CIL directed 80% of its supplies to power companies. The latter would then pass power generated using coal to discoms (distribution companies), who, in turn, would supply power to the final consumer.
• The continual supply of coal, adherence to the contract, reasonableness in the rates and quality of coal also serve a common good, the respondents contended. Coal constitutes about 60 to 70% of the costs for power generation companies. Thus, irregular prices and supply will have a significant bearing indirectly on consumers.

What were the SC’s observations?

• The court said there was “no merit” in the argument that the Competition Act would not apply to CIL because they are governed by the Nationalisation Act, and it cannot be reconciled with the Competition Act.
• “The novel idea which permeates the Act, would stand frustrated, in fact, if the state monopolies, the government companies and public sector units are left free to contravene the (competition) act,” it stated. Separately, it said that entities cannot act with caprice, treat unfairly otherwise or similarly situated entities with discrimination.
• The judgment reinforced the principle of “competitive neutrality” entailing that the Competition Act equally applies to public and private sector enterprises.
• “Government companies, across sectors, which may be dominant in their sector of operation, would have to conduct business in a fair and non-discriminatory manner so as to not fall foul of the principles of antitrust law. This allows for a level playing field between public sector and private enterprises operating in India.

COAL INDIA LIMITED

• Coal India Limited (CIL) is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Coal, Government of India. It is headquartered at Kolkata. It is the largest government-owned-coal-producer in the world
• CIL have now 8 subsidiaries viz. Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI).
• The CMPDI is an engineering, design and exploration company set up for preparing perspective plan(s), rendering consultancy services and undertaking exploration and drilling work to establish coal reserves in the country and collection of detailed data for preparation of projects for actual mining. The other seven subsidiaries of CIL are coal producing companies.
• CIL and its subsidiaries are incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 and are wholly owned by the Central Government. The coal mines in Assam and its neighbouring areas are controlled directly by CIL under the unit North Eastern Coalfields.

 COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA (CCI)

• The Competition Act, 2002 was passed by the Parliament in the year 2002, to which the President accorded assent in January, 2003. It was subsequently amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.
• In accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act, the Competition Commission of India and the Competition Appellate Tribunal have been established. The Competition Commission of India is now fully functional with a Chairperson and six members. The provisions of the Competition Act relating to anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position were notified on May 20, 2009.
• The Competition Commission of India (‘Commission’) has been established to enforce the competition law under the Act. The Commission consists of a Chairperson and not more than 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
• It is the statutory duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade carried on by other participants, in markets in India as provided in the Preamble as well as Section 18 of the Act.
• The Commission is also mandated to give its opinion on competition issues to government or statutory authority and to undertake competition advocacy for creating awareness of competition law.