1. INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION ON VAQUITA PORPOISE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATION; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The International Whaling Commission (IWC) issued its first ‘extinction alert’ on the vaquita porpoise, of which only 10 individuals survive in the Gulf of California or Sea of Cortez in Mexico.

EXPLANATION:

• Numbers of vaquita porpoise have fallen from a population of approximately 570 in 1997 to around 10 animals in 2018.
• There are about 10 surviving animals and the IWC is speaking out now because it believes extinction is not yet inevitable.
• The IWC said the first extinction alert had been issued “to encourage wider recognition of the warning signs of impending extinctions, and to generate support and encouragement at every level for the actions needed now to save the vaquita”.
• The decline of the vaquita has continued despite a very clear understanding of both the cause i.e bycatch in gillnets and the solution i.e replacement of gillnets with safe alternatives in the vaquita habitat.
• The vaquita is caught as bycatch in gillnets meant for totoaba, a fish the swimbladders of which are prized in Chinese cuisine.
• Despite the very low number of surviving animals, 100 per cent enforcement of a ban on gillnets in their core habitat would still give this small but resilient porpoise a chance of recovery.

VAQUITA PORPOISE

• The vaquita is the world’s smallest cetacean and is only found in the northern-most part of the Gulf of California, Mexico.
• It is listed on Appendix I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
• It is unique among the porpoises as it is the only species of that family found in warm waters, and the size of the dorsal fin is believed to be an adaptation to that, allowing for extra body heat to dissipate.
• Like many other species of porpoise, vaquita tend to be shy and elusive, avoiding boats when approached. They are most commonly sighted in shallow waters up to 50 metres deep.
• They tend to prefer turbid, nutrient-rich coastal waters which attract their preferred prey: small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans.

Threat:

• The decrease in the vaquita population is related to the totoaba, a large fish that also only lives in the Gulf of California.
• The totoaba is listed as endangered in Mexico and the United States and is protected by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species.
• Because totoaba and vaquita are similar in size, gillnets illegally set for totoaba are the deadliest for vaquitas.

Appearance

• The vaquita is about 5 feet long and is one of the smallest members of the dolphin, whale, and porpoise family. Females are longer than males, but males have larger fins.
• Vaquitas have small, strong bodies with a rounded head and no beak. They have black patches around their eyes and lips and small, spade-shaped teeth.
• Vaquitas also have triangle-shaped dorsal fins in the middle of their backs, which are taller and wider than in other porpoises.
• These fins might allow vaquitas to reduce their body temperatures in warm water. Vaquita backs are dark gray, while their bellies are a lighter gray.

Behavior and Diet

• Vaquitas are often found alone or in pairs. These shy animals usually avoid boats with active engines. They are difficult to observe because of their small size, inconspicuous and slow surface rolls, small group size, and avoidance of motorized vessels.
• Vaquitas feed on small fish, crustaceans (such as shrimp), and cephalopods (such as squid and octopuses).

Where They Live

• The vaquita has the smallest geographical range of any marine mammal. It only lives in the northern part of the Gulf of California in Mexico. Most vaquitas live east of the town of San Felipe, Baja California, within a 1,519-square-mile area that is less than one-fourth the size of metropolitan Los Angeles.
• This area also includes the Delta of the Colorado River Biosphere Reserve, one of the earth’s most diverse marine habitats. The delta includes many types of fish, birds, marine reptiles, and marine mammals.

International Whaling Commission

• The International Whaling Commission was established under the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and orderly development of the whaling industry.
• The Commission meets this mandate in part by reviewing and, as necessary, revising the measures outlined in the legally binding Schedule included in the Convention.
• The Commission also conducts activities related to cetacean (e.g., whale, dolphin) conservation.
• The Commission normally meets every other year to review the condition of whale stocks and to modify conservation measures, as appropriate.
• Currently, there are 88 contracting governments. The United States has been an active member of the Commission and has served as its depositary government since the Commission’s establishment.

Regulation of Whaling under the IWC

• There are generally three types of whaling that the Commission regulates: commercial, scientific research, and aboriginal subsistence whaling.

Commercial Whaling

• In 1986, a global moratorium, or a temporary ban, on commercial whaling was adopted due to the overexploitation of whale stocks.
• The Commission has also designated sanctuary areas in the Indian and Southern Oceans where commercial whaling is not allowed.
• Although the moratorium is still in place, some countries, such as Norway and Iceland, continue to engage in commercial whaling activities.
• Norway objects to the moratorium, and Iceland has a reservation to the moratorium that allows it to continue commercial whaling.

Scientific Research Whaling

• Article VIII of the Convention allows contracting governments to issue special permits authorizing the taking of whales for purposes of scientific research.
• Japan’s lethal scientific research in the North Pacific and Southern Oceans under such special permit ended in 2019 with their withdrawal from the Convention.

Aboriginal Subsistence Whaling

• The Commission also regulates aboriginal subsistence whaling i.e whaling by native people to sustain themselves.
• Currently, the Commission permits indigenous communities in Denmark (Greenland), the Russian Federation, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the United States to engage in this type of whaling on certain whale stocks.
• The United States is subject to domestic legal requirements and works with the indigenous communities in Alaska and Washington states to ensure that the catch limits established through the Commission meet their cultural and subsistence needs.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/plight-of-the-vaquita-forces-international-whaling-commission-to-issue-first-extinction-alert-91057

2. INDRADHANUSH 5.0

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Indradhanush 5.0 vaccine campaign launched to ensure that children aged between 0-5 years and pregnant women do not miss out on any vaccinations. During the campaign, vaccination against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases will be provided.

EXPLANATION:

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0, the nationwide vaccine catch-up campaign, focusses on reaching zero-dose children aged between 0-5 years and pregnant women was launched in the Kerala.
• IMI 5.0 initiative is also intended to be the big leap for eliminating measles and rubella in the country by ensuring that every child under 5 years of age has completed the two-dose schedule of Measles and Rubella Containing Vaccine (MRCV).
• IMI 5.0 will be implemented in three phases, from August 7-11, September 11 to 16 and from October 9 to 14, when all children who might have missed out any vaccines under the Universal Immunisation Programme will have an opportunity to receive those vaccines.

Mission Indradhanush (MI)

• Mission Indradhanush (MI) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on 25th December 2014.
• It is a special catch-up campaign under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP), conducted in the areas of low immunization coverage to vaccinate all the children and pregnant women left out or dropped out from Routine Immunization.

Objectives

• The Mission Indradhanush aims to cover all those children who are either unvaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases.
• India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provide free vaccines against 12 life threatening diseases, to 26 million children annually.
• The Universal Immunization Programme provides life-saving vaccines to all children across the country free of cost to protect them against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea. (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts).

The following areas are targeted through special immunization campaigns:

1. High risk areas identified by the polio eradication programme. These include populations living in areas such as:

• Urban slums with migration
• Nomads
• Brick kilns
• Construction sites
• Other migrants (fisherman villages, riverine areas with shifting populations etc.) and
• Underserved and hard to reach populations (forested and tribal populations etc.)

2. Areas with low routine immunization (RI) coverage (pockets with Measles/vaccine preventable disease (VPD) outbreaks).
3. Areas with vacant sub-centers: No ANM posted for more than three months.
4. Areas with missed Routine Immunisation (RI) sessions: ANMs on long leave and similar reasons
5. Small villages, hamlets, dhanis or purbas clubbed with another village for RI sessions and not having independent RI sessions.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

• The Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) has been launched by the Government of India to reach each and every child under two years of age and all those pregnant women who have been left uncovered under the routine immunisation programme.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush covers low performing areas in the selected districts and urban areas.
• These areas have been selected through triangulation of data available under national surveys, Health Management Information System data and World Health Organization concurrent monitoring data.
• Special attention will be given to unserved/low coverage pockets in sub-centre and urban slums with migratory population. The focus is also on the urban settlements and cities identified under National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).
• IMI is supported by 11 other ministries and departments, such as Ministry of Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Youth Affairs among others.
• The convergence of ground level workers of various departments like ASHA, ANMs, Anganwadi workers, Zila preraks under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM), self-help groups is ensured for better coordination and effective implementation of the programme.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush is closely monitored at the district, state and central level at regular intervals. Further, it is reviewed by the Cabinet Secretary at the National level and continued to be monitored at the highest level under a special initiative ‘Proactive Governance and Timely Implementation (PRAGATI)’.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 was to ensure reaching the unreached with all available vaccines and accelerate the coverage of children and pregnant women in the identified districts and blocks from December 2019-March 2020.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 3.0

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 was to ensure reaching the unreached with all available vaccines and accelerate the coverage of children and pregnant women in the identified districts and blocks from February 2021-March 2021.
• The Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 will have two rounds starting from February 22 and March 22, 2021 and will be conducted in pre-identified 250 districts/urban areas across 29 States/UTs in the country. As per the Guidelines released for IMI 3.0, the districts have been classified to reflect 313 low risk; 152 as medium risk; and 250 as high risk districts.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0

• Intensified Mission Indradhanush 4.0 launched during Febraury 2022 had three rounds and was conducted in 416 districts (including 75 districts identified for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav) across 33 States/UTs in the country.
• In the first round (Feb-April 2022), 11 states conducted IMI 4.0. These are Assam, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Chhattisgarh.
• The others (22 states) conducted the rounds from April to May 2022. These states/UTs include Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Puducherry, Delhi, Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Telangana, Jharkhand, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, A & N Islands.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/indradhanush-vaccine-campaign-launched-in-state/article67169280.ece

3. HAVANA SYNDROME

TAGS: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The Central government has told the Karnataka High Court that it will look into the matter of the ‘Havana Syndrome’ in India in response to a Bengaluru resident’s recent petition.

EXPLANATION:

• A petitioner had approached the Karnataka High court requesting a writ of mandamus for an enquiry on Havana Syndrome in India and the prevention of high-frequency microwave transmission in India.
• A single-judge bench of High Court disposed of the petition after the Centre’s counsel agreed to examine the case. It directed the Centre to do so within three months.

What is Havana Syndrome?

• Havana Syndrome refers to a set of mental health symptoms that are said to be experienced by United States intelligence and embassy officials in various countries.
• It does not mean a unique medical condition, but rather a set of symptoms that are usually experienced together whose origins may be difficult to confirm.
• It typically involves symptoms such as hearing certain sounds without any outside noise, nausea, vertigo and headaches, memory loss and balance issues.

Background:

• It traces its roots to Cuba in late 2016. This was about a year after the US opened its embassy in the capital city of Havana after ties between the two countries were normalised in 2015.
• Some US intelligence officials and members of the staff at the embassy began experiencing sudden bursts of pressure in their brains followed by persistent headaches, feelings of disorientation and insomnia.

Where else has Havana syndrome been reported?

• Since the Cuban incident, American intelligence and foreign affairs officials posted in various countries have reported symptoms of the syndrome.
• In early 2018, similar accusations began to be made by US diplomats in China. The first such report was in April 2018 at the Guangzhou consulate.
• An American employee reported that he had been experiencing symptoms since late 2017. Another incident had previously been reported by a USAID employee at the US Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in September 2017.
• According to US media reports, in the past few years, its officials have reported more than 130 such experiences across the world including at Moscow in Russia, Poland, Georgia, Taiwan, Colombia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Austria, among others.
• In India, the first such case was reported in the same year, when a US intelligence officer travelling to New Delhi with CIA director William Burns reported symptoms of Havana Syndrome.

What are the causes of Havana Syndrome?

• Initially during the Cuban experience, the suspicion was on Cuban intelligence and it was then speculated to be a “sonic attack”.
• However, further study by scientists in the US and medical examination of the victims began to suggest that they may have been subjected to high-powered microwaves that either damaged or interfered with the nervous system.
• It was said to have built pressure inside the brain that generated the feeling of a sound being heard.
• Greater exposure to high-powered microwaves is said not only to interfere with the body’s sense of balance but also to impact memory and cause permanent brain damage.
• It was suspected that beams of high-powered microwaves were sent through a special gadget that Americans then called a “microwave weapon”.
• The use of microwaves as a counter-intelligence tactic has been experimented with since the Cold War and both Russia and the US have made attempts to weaponise it.
• There have been reports of US embassy officials in Moscow experiencing mental health issues due to the suspected use of microwaves in the 1970s.

Havana Syndrome in India:

• As of July 2023, the 2021 incident was the only reported occurrence of the syndrome in India. Sources in the Indian security establishment said in 2021 that they were not aware of any weapon with such capacities being in the possession of an Indian agency.

Microwave radiation:

• Microwaves are a form of “electromagnetic” radiation, that is, they are waves of electrical and magnetic energy moving together through space.
• Electromagnetic radiation spans a broad spectrum from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays.
• The human eye can only detect a small portion of this spectrum called visible light. A radio detects a different portion of the spectrum, and an X-ray machine uses yet another portion.
• Visible light, microwaves, and radio frequency (RF) radiation are forms of non-ionizing radiation.  Non-ionizing radiation does not have enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms. X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation. Exposure to ionizing radiation can alter atoms and molecules and cause damage to cells in organic matter.
• Microwaves are used to detect speeding cars and to send telephone and television communications.
• Industry uses microwaves to dry and cure plywood, to cure rubber and resins, to raise bread and doughnuts, and to cook potato chips. But the most common consumer use of microwave energy is in microwave ovens.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/havana-syndrome-meaning-explained-8880773/

4. TIDAL POWER DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Standing Committee on Energy submitted its report on the subject “Tidal Power Development in India”.

EXPLANATION:

• The report was tabled in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha
• It urged the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to provide updates on initiatives related to assessing the country’s tidal energy potential.
• KEY OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE
• ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OF TIDAL ENERGY
• The Committee noted that there are three main types of ocean energy: (i) wave, (ii) tidal, and (iii) ocean thermal.
• The theoretical potential of tidal and wave energy is 12.5 gigawatts and 41.3 gigawatts, respectively.
• The potential for ocean-thermal has not been estimated till date.
• The committee noted that the above potential does not necessarily constitute practically exploitable potential.
• Hence, the Committee recommended that the central government should reassess the exploitable potential tidal, wave, and ocean energy.
• COST OF TIDAL POWER PLANT
• The Committee noted that two tidal power plants were shut down in the past because of high cost. These are:

(i) 3.75 megawatt (MW) plant in West Bengal.

(ii) 50 MW plant in Gujarat.

• It recommended that the central government should reassess the current cost of tidal power to determine its economic viability and benefits in long term.
• SETTING UP A PILOT TIDAL POWER PROJECT
• The Committee noted the submission by the MNRE that all renewable sources of energy will be eligible for the 2030 target.
• The Committee recommended that the central government should set up a pilot tidal power project.
• The project should be set up at a cost-effective location such as the Gulf of Kutch.
• ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TIDAL POWER PLANT
• The Committee observed that there is no study on the assessment of the environmental and ecological impact of a tidal power plant.
• The power plants may environmentally impact a large area upstream and downstream.
• It recommended that the central government should assess the environmental impact and ecological sustainability of a tidal power plant.
• RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
• The Committee noted that no funds have been spent by the central government on the development of tidal power.
• It observed that the fund allocated to the MNRE, or research and development have been reduced significantly at the revised stage in the last few years.
• It recommended that the central government should not reduce the funds for research.

MNRE RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS

• A call for proposals has been issued under the Renewable Energy Research and Technology Development Programme (RE-RTD) which will include tidal power.
• The research and development and pilot projects proposals received in tidal power will be examined.
• However, the committee pointed out that merely issuing a call for proposals is not enough.
• The ministry should actively engage in preparing the groundwork for a demonstration/pilot tidal power project so that the feasibility of commercial generation of tidal power can be explored.

TIDAL POWER IN INDIA

• The ocean tides and currents are natural phenomena that can be harnessed to produce electricity is called tidal power.
• It is a renewable energy source that does not emit greenhouse gases or depend on weather conditions.
• Tidal power works by capturing the energy of the changing water levels and flows caused by the moon and the sun’s gravitational pull.

SOURCE: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/renewable-energy/standing-committee-asks-mnre-to-apprise-it-of-efforts-to-assess-tidal-energy-potential-91055

5. SMALL MODULAR REACTORS (SMRS)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Harnessing of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) will be helpful in realising India’s Sustainable Development Goals and Net-Zero Energy Future.

EXPLANATION:

• N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
• World still depends on fossil fuels for 82% of its energy supply, So, decarbonising the power sector is critical.
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) emerge as a promising solution for India, offering a pathway to enhance energy efficiency, and expedite the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.

INDIA’S NET ZERO TARGET

• To avert the worst impacts of climate change global temperature increase needs to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
• Currently, the Earth is already about 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s, and emissions continue to rise.
• To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C as called for in the Paris Agreement – emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
• At COP-26, India announced an ambitious target for achieving net zero GHG-emission by 2070 in 2021.
• What is net zero?
• Net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that is produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere.
• It can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal.

INDIA’S OTHER TARGETS REGARDING CLEAN AND EFFICIENT ENERGY

• Under Paris Agreement, India has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution, increasing its goal to reduce emissions intensity to 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, and committing to achieving 50% cumulative installed power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
• India has announced the target of 50% installed power generation capacity from non-fossil energy sources by 2030, raising the existing target of 40%, which has already been almost achieved.
• Under Sustainable Developmental Goal 7, India aims to ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030.

HOW SMRs ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO ENERGY?

• SMRs offer many advantages owing to their small size, flexibility, and complementarity to renewables.
• SMRs and other advanced reactor technologies, including Generation IV designs, will help India achieve net zero by 2050.
• Addressing the challenge of nuclear power:
• Conventional Nuclear power plants (NPPs) have generally suffered from time and cost overruns.
• As an alternative, several countries are developing SMRs nuclear reactors with a maximum capacity of 300 MW to complement conventional NPPs.
• SMRs can be installed in decommissioned thermal power plant sites by repurposing existing infrastructure, thus sparing the host country from having to acquire more land and/or displace people beyond the existing site boundary.
• Addressing the Challenges of Decarbonization:
• According to the International Energy Agency, the demand for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements, required for clean-energy production technologies, is likely to increase by up to 3.5 times by 2030.
• This jump poses several global challenges, including large capital investments to develop new mines and processing facilities.
• SMRs can be scaled to meet the grid size and have benefits in terms of safety, affordability, and capacity to partner with other clean power sources.

ADVANTAGES OF SMRs

• SMR enhance seismic isolation for more safety.
• Their designs are also simpler than those of conventional NPPs and include several passive safety features, resulting in a lower potential for the uncontrolled release of radioactive materials into the environment.

• SMRs are designed with a smaller core damage compared to conventional NPPs.

• The amount of spent nuclear fuel stored in an SMR project will also be lower than that in a conventional NPP.

• SMRs can reduce costs by simplifying plant design to facilitate more efficient regulatory approvals.
• SMRs are designed to operate for more than 40 years, the levelized cost of electricity is very low.
• SMRs possess transformative capabilities that can reshape India’s energy landscape.

SOURCE: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/small-modular-reactors-india-nuclear-power-net-zero/article67175626.ece

1. RAJMARGYATRA

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has launched a new app called ‘Rajmargyatra’ in a bid to improve user experience on highways and create a ‘citizen-centric unified mobile application’.

EXPLANATION:

• It is a user-friendly app that will help provide travellers with comprehensive information about India’s highways and also offer them an efficient grievance redressal mechanism.

4 Essential features of the Rajmarg Yatra app: 

1) Essential highway information: It will act as a “one-stop repository of essential information” for national highways. The app will allow users to get real-time weather conditions, details of nearby toll plazas, petrol pumps, hospitals, hotels and other essential services and timely traffic alerts.

2) Complaint Redressal: The app comes with an inbuilt complaint redressal and escalation mechanism. The app can help users report highway-related issues while having the feature to attach geo-tagged pictures and videos of the situation. The registered complaints will be addressed in a time-bound manner, and there will be system-generated escalations to higher authorities in case of delays in redressal.

3) FASTag services: The app has integrated its services with various banking portals to make it convenient for users to recharge their FASTags, avail monthly passes and get other FASTag-related services on a single platform.

4) Safe driving features: The Rajmargyatra app comes with over-speeding notifications and a built-in voice assistant to encourage safe driving behaviour.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)

• It was constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1988 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• It has been set up as a Central Authority to develop, maintain and manage the National Highways entrusted to it by the Government of India.
• The authority became operational in February 1995 and consists of a full-time Chairman and not more than five full-time Members and four part-time members who are appointed by the Central Government.
• The part-time Members are the Secretary (RT&H), Secretary (Expenditure), Secretary (Planning) and DG (RD) & SS. NHAI has technical, Finance, Administrative and Vigilance Wings at its Headquarters.
• Project implementation Units (PIUs) headed by a Project Director and supported by various technical and accounts officers have been set up at various sites to oversee timely completion of the projects.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/what-is-nhais-new-rajmargyatra-app-and-why-is-it-relevant-explained-11691119817040.html

2. VOYAGER MISSION

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after losing communication with Earth’s longest-running space probe, Voyager 2, the space agency detected a heartbeat signal from the spacecraft recently.

EXPLANATION:

• Voyager 2 was launched 46 years ago and is currently in interstellar space. Along with Voyager 1, it has provided invaluable data and inspired future space missions.
• Although too faint for extraction of data, the detected signal confirms that Voyager 2, which is about 19.9 billion kilometres away from Earth, is still operating.
• Voyager 2 is the second spacecraft to enter interstellar space, the region that lies outside the impact of our Sun’s constant flow of material and magnetic field.
• The first was Voyager 1, sent to space about two weeks after Voyager 2.
• Both probes have explored all the outer giant planets of our solar system and discovered over 40 moons and numerous rings.
• They have provided invaluable data on planetary astronomy and inspired many future space missions.

Why were the Voyager spacecraft sent into space?

• In 1972, NASA proposed to send the Voyager probes, initially slated to explore only Jupiter and Saturn. In 1974, however, it was decided that if one spacecraft completed the mission, the other one would be redirected towards Uranus and then Neptune.
• Interestingly, the spacecraft was scheduled for a take-off towards the end of the 1970s for a reason. According to a report by Scientific American, NASA chose the particular launch window to take advantage of a rare alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune that occurs once every 175 years.
• The alignment allowed the spacecraft to harness the gravity of each planet and swing from one to the next using relatively minimal amounts of fuel. NASA first demonstrated the technique with its Mariner 10 mission to Venus and Mercury from 1973 to 1975,” the report said.
• Voyager 2 was launched on August 20, 1977, two weeks before the September 5 Voyager 1 takeoff. This reversal of order took place as the two spacecraft were put on different trajectories. Voyager 1 was set on a path to reach Jupiter and Saturn, ahead of Voyager 2.

What are the features of the Voyager spacecraft?

• Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are identical spacecraft. Each of them is equipped with instruments to carry out 10 different experiments.
• The instruments include television cameras to take images of planets and other celestial bodies, infrared and ultraviolet sensors, magnetometers, plasma detectors, and cosmic-ray and charged-particle sensors.
• Both spacecraft features a large antenna, which is used to receive commands from Earth and radio their findings back to the planet.
• As their mission involved going far away from the Sun, they aren’t powered by solar power, like other spacecraft are. Instead, Voyager relies on a small nuclear power plant, drawing hundreds of watts from the radioactive decay of a pellet of plutonium.
• Notably, each Voyager spacecraft is adorned with a golden phonograph record, a 12-inch disc intended to be a sort of time capsule from Earth to any extraterrestrial life that might intercept the probes in the distant future.

What are the most notable achievements of the Voyager spacecraft?

• The most interesting discoveries made by Voyager 1 included the finding one of Jupiter’s moons was geologically active.
• The spacecraft noted the presence of at least eight active volcanoes spewing material into space, making it one of the most geologically active planetary bodies in the solar system.
• Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 discovered three new moons of Jupiter: Thebe, Metis and Adrastea.
• Voyager 1 discovered that Titan wasn’t the biggest moon in our solar system and was found to be smaller than Jupiter’s Ganymede. The spacecraft also noted that Titan’s atmosphere was composed of 90 per cent nitrogen, and it likely had clouds and rain of methane.
• Voyager 2 arrived at Uranus in 1986, becoming the first human-made object to fly past the aquamarine planet. The spacecraft confirmed that the main constituents of Uranus are hydrogen and helium. It also discovered 10 new moons and two new rings in addition to the previously-known nine rings, among other significant findings.
• Vogayer 2 became a first human-made object to fly by the planet in 1989; it discovered that Neptune is more active than previously thought. Winds on the planet blow at the speed of 1,100 kph. The spacecraft also observed the Great Dark Spot, which was essentially a huge spinning storm in the southern atmosphere of Neptune, and it was about the size of the entire Earth.
• Voyager 1 officially entered interstellar space in August 2012, Voyager 2 made its entry in November 2018. These exits were instrumental in enabling astronomers to determine where exactly the edge of interstellar space is, something that’s difficult to measure from within the solar system. They showed that interstellar space begins just over 18 billion kilometres from the sun.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/voyager-mission-8874644/

3. HIMALAYAN VULTURE

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Researchers have recorded the first instance of captive breeding of the Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis) in India at the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati.

EXPLANATION:

• Details of the successful breeding were recently published in a paper titled ‘Breeding of Himalayan Vulture Gyps himalayensis Hume, 1869 in the Assam State Zoo, Guwahati, Assam, India’ in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
• Breeding the species in Guwahati was a daunting task as, in nature, this species breeds in snow-clad mountains. But as these birds were kept in zoos for a long time, they acclimatised to the tropical environment.
• Conservation breeding of the Himalayan vulture at the Guwahati Zoo is the second such instance in the world, after France, where the species has been bred in captivity.
• Four Vulture Conservation Breeding Centre (VCBC) established by Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) at Pinjore in Haryana, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, Rani in Assam, and Rajabhatkhawa in West Bengal.
• These VCBCs are involved in the conservation breeding of the White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis), the Slender-billed vulture(Gyps tenuirostris), and the Indian vulture (Gyps indicus).
• The unprecedented scale and speed of declines in vulture populations has left all the three resident Gyps vulture species categorised ‘Critically Endangered’.

Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis):

• It is categorised as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species.
• It is a common winter migrant to the Indian plains and a resident of the high Himalayas.
• The Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis ) or Himalayan griffon vulture is an Old World vulture native to the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau. It is one of the two largest Old World vultures and true raptors.
• With striking bald white heads and broad hefty wings, it is the largest member of the Gyps species.
• They are usually sedentary, moving only altitudinally. Some young birds travel to the low plains in northern India.
• Himalayan vultures are monogamous, and pairs return to the same nesting and roosting sites from year to year.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/himalayan-vulture-bred-captively-for-the-first-time-in-india/article67154907.ece

4. THE OFFSHORE AREAS MINERAL (DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION) AMENDMENT BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Parliament passes the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023.

EXPLANATION:

• India has a unique maritime position. India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over two million square kilometres holds significant recoverable resources.
• The OAMDR Act of 2002 came into force in 2010. However, no mining activity has been undertaken in the offshore areas till date. Hence, the Central Government has proposed the present Amendment Bill to bring several reforms in the offshore mining sector.
• The OAMDR Act, in its current form, contains scope for discretion and does not provide for fair and transparent allocation of operating rights in the offshore areas.
• GSI has delineated the resources of the following minerals in the offshore areas:
• 1,53,996 million tons of lime mud within the EEZ off Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts.
• 745 million tons of construction-grade sand off the Kerala coast.
• 79 million tons of heavy mineral placers in the inner-shelf and mid-shelf off Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
• Phosphorite in the Eastern and Western continental margins.
• Polymetallic Ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodules and crusts in Andaman Sea and Lakshadweep Sea.
• As India aims to become a high-growth economy, it needs to harness its maritime resources to its optimal capacity.
• In order to harness the full potential of these maritime resources, it is imperative to encourage the participation of the public and private sectors.
• The private sector will bring the necessary expertise and technology to explore and mine the mineral resources present in the EEZ.

Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023:

• It seeks to make amendments to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (‘OAMDR Act’). It aims to bring major reform in the allocation of operating rights in Offshore Areas.
• Two types of operating rights are to be granted to the private sector through auction by competitive bidding, viz., production lease and composite licence.
• Composite licence introduced in the act is a two-stage operating right granted for the purpose of undertaking exploration followed by production operation.
• Operating rights to be granted to PSUs in the mineral-bearing areas reserved by the Central Government.
• It will bring major reform by introducing auction as the method of allocation of operating rights in the offshore areas.
• The transparent process has also generated additional revenue sources for the State Governments in terms of auction premiums.
• The introduction of the auction regime through the present amendment in the OAMDR Act is expected to provide the necessary impetus to the sector.
• Provision has been made for the grant of operating rights only to PSUs in the case of atomic minerals.
• Provision for renewal of production leases has been removed, and its period is fixed as 50 years on lines similar to the MMDR Act.
• A provision has been made for setting up of a non-lapsable Offshore Areas Mineral Trust, which will maintain a fund under the Public Account of India. This will be funded by an additional levy on the production of minerals, not exceeding one-third of the royalty. The exact rate of additional levy will be prescribed by the Central Government.
• To ensure the timely start of production from the leases, the Bill introduces the timelines for the commencement of production and dispatch after the execution of the production lease.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1945516

5. INDIA’S OUTREACH TO OCEANIA

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: With increasing focus on the Pacific part of the Indo-Pacific region, two frontline Indian naval warships made port calls at Port Moresby as part of ongoing initiatives for enhancing maritime partnership with Papua New Guinea.

EXPLANATION:

• The focus is on enhancing maritime partnership and cooperation with Papua New Guinea.
• Two frontline Indian naval warships under the Eastern Naval Command, INS Sahyadri and INS Kolkata, made a port call at Port Moresby in this regard.
• At the same time, two warships from the Western Naval Command are at Oman, INS Visakhapatnam at Muscat and INS Trikand at Duqm.
• During the port call, the crew from the two ships will engage with personnel from the PNG Defence Forces in a wide range of activities, including professional interactions, cultural exchanges, Yoga sessions and ship visits.
• The port call is aimed at strengthening ties between India and Papua New Guinea in the maritime domain.
• In May 2023, the Indian Prime Minister visited Papua New Guinea and attended the 3rd summit of the Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), where he spoke in favour of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
• He focused on India’s commitment to assist the development goals of the member countries of FIPIC, stating that New Delhi would continue to help the Pacific island states in “every possible” way.

Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC):

• FIPIC was launched by Indian Ministry in Fiji in November 2014.
• FIPIC includes 14 island countries – Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu – that are located in the Pacific Ocean, to the northeast of Australia.

Idea behind FIPIC:

• Despite their relatively small size and considerable distance from India, many of these islands have large exclusive economic zones (EEZs).
• India’s larger focus is on the Indian Ocean, where it has sought to play a major role and protect its strategic and commercial interests.
• FIPIC initiative then marks a serious effort to expand India’s engagement in the Pacific region as well.

1^st FIPIC Summit:

• FIPIC-I took place in 2014 at Suva, Fiji’s capital city.
• India announced various development assistance initiatives and other cooperation projects in areas of climate change, trade, economy, telemedicine and teleeducation, IT, grants for community development projects, etc.

2^nd FIPIC Summit:

• FIPIC-II took place in 2015 at Jaipur City, India.
• India approached the event from a large diplomatic perspective, calling for a “dedicated seat for Small Island Developing States in an expanded and reformed UN Security Council in both categories”.
• Seek for concrete and effective outcome on climate change conference at COP 21 in Paris.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/with-focus-on-pacific-indian-warships-make-port-call-at-papua-new-guinea/article67155482.ece

1. VIVAD SE VISHWAS II SCHEME

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Centre has launched a settlement scheme Vivad se Vishwas 2″ to provide a much-needed impetus to the resolution of contractual disputes involving the government and government undertakings,

Explanation:

• The scheme was announced in the Union Budget, 2023 and was launched by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.
• It aims to settle contractual disputes of government and government undertakings, wherein the arbitral award is under challenge in a court.
• The scheme will apply to all domestic contractual disputes where one of the parties is either the Government of India or an organisation working under its control.
• For cases involving Court awards, the settlement amount offered to the contractor will be up to 85% of the net amount awarded or upheld by the court, while the same threshold will be “up to” 65% of the net amount in case of arbitral awards.
• The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has developed a dedicated web page for the implementation of this scheme, and eligible claims shall be processed only through GeM.
• Eligible claims will be processed exclusively through the GeM platform, streamlining the settlement process and ensuring expeditious resolution.
• The move is aimed at promoting ease of doing business, and the deadline for submitting claims under the scheme is 31 October 2023.

Government e-Marketplace (GeM)

• It is a one-stop portal to facilitate online procurement of common-use Goods & Services required by various Government Departments / Organizations / PSUs.
• It aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement.
• It provides the tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction and demand aggregation to facilitate the government users achieve the best value for their money.
• All Central government and State Government Ministries/Departments, including its attached/subordinate offices, Central and State autonomous bodies, Central and State Public Sector Units and local bodies etc., are authorized to make procurement through the GeM portal.

Earlier initiatives for dispute resolutions:

Vivad Se Vishwas’ Scheme

• It aimed at reducing litigations in the direct taxes payments and was introduced in Union Budget 2020-21.
• It has been launched with a similar goal in an attempt to reduce the number of direct tax litigation cases that are currently pending.
• The scheme provided for settlement of disputed tax, disputed interests, disputed penalty or disputed fees in relation to an assessment or reassessment order on payment of 100% of the disputed tax and 25% of the disputed penalty or interest or fee.

Sabka Vishwas:

• It was proposed in the Union Budget 2019 and was launched to reduce the number of indirect tax cases.
• It was introduced to resolve all disputes relating to the erstwhile Service Tax and Central Excise Acts.
• The scheme was notified by the CBIC to come into force on the 1st of September 2019 and shall be operational until the 31st of December 2019. It is now subsumed under GST.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/business/government-kicks-off-contractual-dispute-settlement-scheme/article67150095.ece

2. DRAFT NATIONAL DEEP TECH STARTUP POLICY

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government put out a draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) for public comment.

EXPLANATION:

• The draft policy was shaped by the National Consortium and Working Group set up by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
• The draft policy seeks to preserve Indian firms’ interests while promoting more coordination to develop tech startups that work on fundamental problem-solving in key areas.
• The policy seeks to “ensure India’s position in the global deep tech value chain” in areas such as semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and space tech.
• The policy seeks to bolster research and development in deep tech start-ups, which work on fundamental and technical problems, unlike firms that monetise technology with distinguished business models, the draft says.
• Additionally, the policy seeks to simplify the intellectual property regime for such start-ups, ease regulatory requirements, and propose a slew of measures to promote these firms.
• For instance, the NDTSP suggests that an Export Promotion Board be created to ease barriers of entry for Indian deep tech start-ups into foreign markets and that clauses to ease such market access be included in foreign trade agreements.
• The policy suggests the creation of an “Inter-Ministerial Deep Tech Committee” to regularly review the requirements of enabling the deep tech ecosystem to function better.
• A deep tech startup involves early-stage technologies based on scientific or engineering advancements, which are yet to be developed for any commercial applications.
• The draft NDTSP suggests necessary changes in nine policy areas, such as
• nurturing research, development and innovation
• strengthening the intellectual property regime
• facilitating access to funding
• enabling shared infrastructure and resource sharing
• creating conducive regulations, standards, and certifications
• attracting human resources and initiating capacity building
• promoting procurement and adoption
• ensuring policy and program interlinkages
• sustaining deep tech startups.
• This policy complements and adds value to the existing Startup India policies, programmes and initiatives by fostering a conducive ecosystem for deep tech startups to thrive and address their unique and complex challenges.

Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC):

• It is an overarching council that facilitates the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India to assess the status of specific science and technology domains.
• It comprehends the challenges at hand, formulates specific interventions, develops a futuristic roadmap and advises the Prime Minister accordingly.
• The PM-STIAC is assisted by the Project Management Team (PMT) at Invest India, together with the Office of the PSA. The PMT at Invest India facilitates the delivery and progress of the ‘9 National Missions’ under the PM-STIAC.
• Four of the nine missions, Deep Ocean Mission, Natural Language Translation mission, AI mission, and Quantum Frontier mission have been approved.

• Besides the ‘9 National Missions’, the PMT also advises on other science and technology projects like establishment of The Indian Museum of The Earth (TIME), Developing City Research and Innovation Clusters across the nation, amongst others.

Nine National Missions are:

• Mission 1: Natural Language Translation: The Mission strives to make possibilities and advanced science and technology available to all by releasing the fence that the need for a high-level facility in English poses in modern times.
• Mission 2: Quantum Frontier: It strives to start work in the management of quantum mechanical methods, with a considerable number of grades of freedom, as one of the significant modern challenges in basic science and technology.
• Mission 3: Artificial Intelligence (AI): It will concentrate on handling societal requirements in education, agriculture, infrastructure, smart cities, including intelligent mobility and transport.
• Mission 4: National Biodiversity Mission: Exhaustive record of India’s biodiversity with the possibility of mapping and cataloguing all lifeforms in India, including associated traditional and cultural practices
• Mission 5: Electric Vehicles (EVs): It will create automobile sub-systems and elements for Indian needs, including rare-earth-based 4 electric engines, power electronics, Li-ion batteries, and using academic-industry partnership.
• Mission 6: BioScience for Human Health: It strives to create complete reference maps of genomes and to comprehend the dynamics of how vulnerability to different climates has an impact on human bodies.The Mission will concentrate on the genomic analysis of populations of humans to determine and solve the genetic basis and prevalence of irregular and inherited disorders.
• Mission 7: Waste to Wealth: It seeks to determine, design, and deploy technologies to treat waste to create power, recycle materials and extract value. The Mission will also recognize and sustain the growth of new technologies that hold promise in building a green and clean environment.
• Mission 8: Deep Ocean Exploration: It strives to scientifically analyze the in-depth oceans towards enhancing India’s knowledge of the blue border. It will handle problems arising from long-term transformations in the ocean due to weather changes.
• Mission 9: AGNIi (Accelerating Growth of New India’s Innovations): The Mission strives to sustain the national measures to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in India by linking innovators across industry, people, and the grassroots to the market and assisting in commercializing innovative solutions.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/draft-national-deep-tech-startup-policy-published-by-principal-scientific-adviser/article67142857.ece

3. SIMILIPAL TIGER RESERVE

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: To protect the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) and its wildlife in view of the killing of two forest frontline workers by alleged poachers, the Odisha government has set up a joint task force (JTF) comprising around 200 armed police and forest personnel.

EXPLANATION:

• The task force will gather intelligence and identify people with illegal arms and ammunition in the fringe and buffer villages of Similipal Tiger Reserve.
• The task force has been assigned the key responsibilities of collecting intelligence and identifying people holding illegal arms and ammunition in the fringe and buffer villages of the tiger reserve and preparing a database.
• It has also been empowered to take comprehensive action in ‘de-weaponing’ all the illegally acquired weapons in the fringe and buffer villages of the tiger reserve.
• The state government had recently granted immunity to forest personnel under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for the use of firearms for self-defence while dealing with poachers and in reserve forest areas.
• Odisha is the third state in India after Assam and Maharashtra to initiate such a measure.

Similipal Tiger Reserve:

• Similipal, which derives its name from ‘Simul’ (Silk Cotton) tree, is a national park and a Tiger Reserve situated in the northern part of Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district.
• The tiger reserve is spread over 2750 sq km and has some beautiful waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.
• The park is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini (1515m above mean sea level).
• At least twelve rivers cut across the plain area, all of which drain into the Bay of Bengal. The prominent among them are Burhabalanga, Palpala Bandan, Salandi, Kahairi and Deo.
• The Tiger Reserve originated as a hunting ground for the surrounding royalty. It was formally designated a tiger reserve under Project Tiger in May 1973.
• The Government of Orissa declared Similipal as a wildlife sanctuary in 1979, with an area of 2750 sq. km.
• Later in 1980, the Government of Orissa proposed 303 sq. km of the sanctuary as National Park. Further, in 1986, the area of the National Park was increased to 845.70 sq. km.
• The Government of India declared it a biosphere reserve in 1994.
• UNESCO added this National Park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.
• This tiger reserve also comes under Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, which includes the adjacent Hadgarh and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• Apart from its biodiversity, the region around Similipal forests is home to a variety of tribes. Prominent among these are Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.

Flora and fauna:

• The vegetation is a mix of different forest types and habitats, with Northern tropical moist deciduous dominating some semi-evergreen patches.
• Sal is the dominant tree species here. These forests boast of many plants that have medicinal and aromatic properties.
• The park is known for the tiger, elephant and hill mynah. It holds the highest tiger population in the state of Orissa.
• Apart from the tiger, the major mammals are leopard, sambar, barking deer, gaur, jungle cat, wild boar, four-horned antelope, giant squirrel and common langur.
• Grey hornbill, Indian pied hornbill and Malabar pied hornbill are also found here.
• The park also has a sizeable population of reptiles, which includes the longest venomous snake, the King cobra and the Tricarinate hill turtle.
• The Mugger Management Programme at Ramatirtha has helped the mugger crocodile to flourish on the banks of the Khairi and Deo Rivers.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bhubaneswar/task-force-with-armed-personnel-to-protect-odishas-similipal-tiger-reserve-8874248/

4. POOR REPRESENTATION OF SCHEDULED CASTES AND TRIBES IN THE HIGHER BUREAUCRACY

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has flagged the poor representation of the SCs and STs in the higher bureaucracy at the central level in its recent report. The Committee submitted its report “Role of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) in Formulation, Implementation and Monitoring of Reservation Policy” in the Lok Sabha.

FINDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

• The Committee highlighted that the representation at various levels for SCs and STs is far below the constitutionally mandated percentage of 15 % and 7.5 %, respectively.
• The maximum number of SC and ST candidates were appointed at the level of deputy secretary or directors – 423 in 2017 to 509 in 2022.
• At the senior level of Joint Secretary /AS/Secretary, the figure remains almost the same with 35 in 2017 and 41 in 2022.
• It pointed out the increase in the number of SC and ST officers in the higher bureaucracy between 2017 (458) and 2022 (550).
• But the figure had remained far below the expected level.
• There are currently 12 additional secretaries and 25 joint secretaries against the sanctioned numbers of 90 and 242 from the SC and ST categories.
• At the deputy secretary or director level, there are just 79 officials from SC or ST communities against 509 sanctioned posts.
• It drew the attention towards negligible or no presence of SC and ST members on the boards of directors of almost all ministries, departments, public-sector units, and state-run banks.
• It highlighted that underrepresentation would deprive the marginalised communities of becoming part of the decision-making process on matters of policy.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

• Names of candidates taking the public service exams should remain undisclosed during selection to ensure fair assessment and to avoid any possible form of discrimination.
• It recommended to provide unique identification numbers to candidates who appear in competitive exams.
• It directed the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) to explore all possibilities to increase the representation of SCs and STs to ease out the current imbalance.
• DoPT may also consider setting up a separate regulatory authority to ensure meaningful implementation of reservation policies and orders till legislation to this effect is enacted by the government.
• It also directed DoPT to identify the backlog of vacancies and carry out special recruitment drives to fill the posts.
• It instructed the Department of Personnel and Training to submit an action taken report within three months.

RESPONSE BY DoPT

• DoPT said the appointment of officers to senior posts under the Government of India is filled on deputation.
• Out of the empanelled officers, those who give the option for deputation are considered for appointment for Joint Secretary and above under the Central Staffing Scheme (CSS).
• There is no provision for reservation in the posts filled up on a deputation basis under the CSS.
• The Officers of SC/ST community could not be appointed to the post of Members and Chairman, primarily due to non-availability of suitable candidates.
• However, the Committee is not willing to accept the reply as there are highly qualified deserving and meritorious candidates among SCS/STs available.

SOURCE: https://m.thewire.in/article/government/parliament-panel-headed-by-bjp-mp-slams-govt-on-dismal-sc-st-representation-in-higher-bureaucracy/amp

5. CASTE BASED SURVEY IN BIHAR

TAG: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Petitions were filed against the decision of the Bihar Government to conduct a caste-based survey in the Patna High Court but the court upheld the validity of Bihar Caste Survey.

EXPLANATION:

• The Patna HC has allowed the State government to continue with the survey.
• Patna High Court found State’s action ‘initiated with due competence’, and ‘not having violated the rights of privacy of the individual especially since it is in the furtherance of a ‘compelling public interest’’.
• Patna High Court stated that Census is a collection of accurate facts and verifiable details. Whereas a survey is intended at collection and analysis of opinions and perceptions of the public, which may be aimed at a specific community.
• The Bihar Government has submitted that it is competent to conduct a caste-based survey collecting data on the caste, Jati, and socio-economic well-being of the people of the state.
• The Government has also submitted that the people are not being forced to declare their caste and that participation in the entire exercise is purely voluntary and this fact makes it different from a caste-based census wherein declaration of caste is mandatory.

ARGUMENTS GIVEN AGAINST THE SURVEY

• Census falls under the union list of government.
• State does not have the right to conduct any caste census.
• Executive did not have the jurisdiction to conduct caste-based census.
• The privacy of the public will be violated by the caste-based survey.
• Caste enumeration is in the interest of the State, and it should be done across the country.
• Central government should get the caste census.

WHAT IS CASTE BASED SURVEY

• A caste-based survey is a data collection exercise that gathers information about individuals’ caste affiliations.
• It aims to understand the distribution and social dynamics of different caste groups within a particular population.
• Such surveys are often conducted to study caste-based disparities, identify social and economic inequalities, and inform policies to address issues related to caste discrimination and social justice.

IMPORTANCE OF CASTE SURVEY

• The caste survey holds significant importance in understanding social dynamics, inequalities, and historical imbalances within a society.
• Conducting a caste survey allows policymakers and researchers to gain valuable insights into the distribution.
• Representation of various caste groups, help to design targeted policies and affirmative action initiatives to address disparities and uplift marginalized communities.
• By collecting comprehensive data on caste demographics, educational attainment, employment opportunities, and socio-economic conditions, the survey helps identify areas requiring intervention and measures progress towards social equity.
• It also aids in monitoring the effectiveness of existing welfare schemes and policies.
• The caste survey facilitates a deeper understanding of the impact of caste-based discrimination, ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and human dignity for all individuals.
• It serves as a basis for fostering inclusive governance and promoting a society that values diversity and promotes social harmony.
• However, it is essential to conduct such surveys with sensitivity, respecting privacy and ensuring that the data is used responsibly to create a fair and just society.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/as-patna-high-court-upholds-bihar-caste-census-it-is-advantage-nitish-kumar-8873996/

1. RESOURCE EFFICIENCY CIRCULAR ECONOMY INDUSTRY COALITION

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Union Minister launched Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition on the sidelines of 4th G-20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers’ meeting in Chennai.

EXPLANATION:

• Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition is conceived during India’s G20 Presidency, is an industry-led initiative with a global focus on promoting resource efficiency and circular economy practices.
• 39 multinational corporations (MNCs) from sectors such as steel, FMCG, and electronics came together to pledge to adopt resource efficiency and circular economy principles.
• The ECSWG has been involved in discussing environmental issues and promoting global collaboration towards a sustainable and resilient future.
• Embracing a circular economy model enables the transition from the linear “take-make-waste” paradigm and embraces a more sustainable and regenerative approach.

Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition:

• Designed as an autonomous body, the coalition is projected to continue operations beyond India’s G20 tenure, thereby facilitating a sustainable environmental impact.
• The coalition would be led by industries, and the government would only play a supporting role. The coalition includes “39 founding members from 11 different nations.”
• It aims to address environmental challenges arising from waste, including plastics, microplastics, e-waste, and chemical waste.
• It is designed to be a platform for knowledge and best practice exchange, fostering sustainable practices among its participating industries.
• Its core principles revolve around partnership for impact, technology cooperation, and finance for scalability.
• The coalition is structured around the 3 guiding pillars of partnerships for impact, technology cooperation and finance for scale.

The mission of this coalition is to:

• Facilitate and foster greater company-to-company collaboration,
• Build advanced capabilities across sectors and value chains,
• Bring learnings from the diverse and global experiences of the coalition members, and
• Unlock on-ground private sector action to enhance resource efficiency and accelerate circular economy transition.

Significance of RECEIC:

• It would play a pivotal role in promoting alliances, encouraging technological cooperation and knowledge transfer, fostering innovation, and facilitating the exchange of insights to enhance access to finance.
• It will contribute towards progress on key global goals and priorities set by the G20 and other international fora.
• RECEIC will also act as an overarching platform enabling industries to address information gaps and coordination challenges across the G20 members.

What is a circular economy?

• It is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.

• In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy by recycling. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value.

Benefits:

• To protect the environment: Reusing and recycling products would slow down the use of natural resources, reduce landscape and habitat disruption and help to limit biodiversity loss.
• Reduction in GHG emission: Another benefit of the circular economy is a reduction in total annual greenhouse gas emissions. According to the European Environment Agency, industrial processes and product use are responsible for 9.10% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU, while the management of waste accounts for 3.32%.
• Reduce raw material dependence: Recycling raw materials mitigates the risks associated with supply, such as price volatility, availability and import dependency.
• Create jobs and save consumers money: Moving towards a more circular economy could increase competitiveness, stimulate innovation, boost economic growth and create jobs.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/39-mncs-come-together-for-circular-economy-coalition/article67128308.ece

2. DIGITAL PAYMENTS INDEX

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India’s Digital Payments Index has increased across all parameters, driven by significant growth in payment infrastructure and payment performance across the country over the period.

EXPLANATION:

• The Reserve Bank of India’s Digital Payments Index rose to 57 in March 2023 from 377.46 in September 2022 and 349.30 in March 2022.
• The RBI introduced the composite Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) in January 2021 to capture digitisation of payments. The index has since been steadily rising, crossing the 300-point mark in September 2021.
• As per the Economic Survey 2022-23, India has the highest fintech adoption rate of 87 per cent among the public compared to the global average of 64 per cent.
• Further, India has gained the third place in digital payments, coming only after US and China.
• The increase in RBI’s Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) highlights the remarkable surge in digital payment adoption in India, predominantly propelled by the success of UPI.

Digital Payments Index (DPI):

• RBI is publishing the Digital Payments Index (DPI) semi-annually from March 2021 onwards for measurement of the deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods.
• The RBI-DPI is a first-of-its-kind index to measure the spread of digital payments across the country.The Base period of the RBI-DPI has been set as March 2018, at a score of 100.
• The DPI index comprises five broad parameters to evaluate the penetration of digital payments in the country.
• These parameters are –

(i) Payment Enablers

(ii) Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors

(iii) Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors

 (iv) Payment Performance

(v) Consumer Centricity.

• Out of all the indicators, payment performance has the highest weight of 45%, followed by Payment Enablers with a weight of 25%, and Payment Infrastructure- supply side and demand side with a weight of 15% and 10%, respectively.
• Lastly, the indicator Consumer Centricity has a weight of 5%. This is an important indicator to track the development in all aspects of the digital payments index.
• Each indicator has various sub-parameters, as listed in the table below:

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/rbis-digital-payments-index-jumps-to-39557-in-march-from-37746-in-sept/article67128759.ece

3. IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL AQUIFER MAPPING AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (NAQUIM)

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Government has recently informed the parliament that mapping of acquifers under National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme has been completed by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

EXPLANATION:

National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)

• It is a pioneer programme for the scientific management of aquifers, where a large amount of data is being collected and analyzed.
• It aimed to delineate aquifer (water-bearing formations) disposition and their characterization for preparation of aquifer/ area specific groundwater management plans with community participation.
• The management plans are shared with the respective State Governments for suitable implementation.
• The management plans are subject to a three-tier review, including a review by a National Level Expert Committee (NLEC) before finalization.
• It aims to make expeditious availability of groundwater-related information for suitable interventions to the stakeholders.
• It has been taken up by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the scheme of Ground Water Management and Regulation.
• Out of the total geographical area of nearly 33 lakh km² of the entire country, an area of around 25 lakh km² has been identified to be covered under the NAQUIM programme in phases.

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)

• It is a multi-disciplinary scientific organization of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.
• It is the National Apex Agency entrusted with the responsibility of providing scientific inputs for the management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, augmentation and regulation of groundwater resources of the country.

Mandate:

• To develop and disseminate technologies and monitor and implement national policies for scientific and sustainable development.
• Management of India’s groundwater resources, including their exploration, assessment, conservation, augmentation, protection from pollution, and distribution, based on principles of economic and ecological efficiency and equity.

Its Mission:

• To develop groundwater policies, programmes and practices to monitor and enable the effective use of the country’s groundwater resources in a sustainable manner with the active involvement of all stakeholders.
• To put into place scientific systems and practices which would result in a sustained increase in groundwater use efficiency.
• To disseminate information, skills and knowledge, which would help in capacity building and mass awareness in the ground water sector.

Organization Setup:

• It is headed by the Chairman and has six Members. The central headquarters is at Faridabad.
• The administrative and financial matters of the Board are dealt with by the Director (Administration) and Member(Finance), respectively.
• For undertaking the activities in the field, 18 Regional Offices, each headed by a Regional Director, have been established in the country.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1943353

4. SMALL SATELLITE LAUNCH VEHICLE (SSLV)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The government’s effort to privatise part of its space programme by opening bids to build its small satellite launch rocket has attracted initial interest from 20 companies.

EXPLANATION:

• Under a policy driven by Prime Minister, India is following NASA’s lead in opening launch and other space businesses to private investment. The bid to take over the manufacturing and development of the SSLV rocket programme was the first privatisation of its kind under that policy.
• India’s newly created space regulatory body, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, known as IN-SPACe, opened the process by allowing qualified companies to register an interest.
• In this respect, 20 companies had submitted an “expression of interest” (EOI) in the rocket programme.
• To be eligible to bid, companies have to be profitable, and the lead bidder in a consortium has to have at least five years of manufacturing experience and annual revenue of Rs 400 crore.
• India is aiming to increase its share of the global satellite launch market by fivefold within the next decade.

Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV):

• Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a low-cost means of launching satellites weighing up to 500 kg into low-earth orbit.
• It was developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation, the national space agency, and had its first successful satellite launch in February 2023.
• It serves a market experiencing a surge in demand for launching clusters of satellites for communication and data.
• A small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) is a 3-stage Launch Vehicle configured with three Solid Propulsion Stages and liquid propulsion-based Velocity Trimming Module (VTM) as a terminal stage.
• SSLV is 2m in diameter and 34m in length with a lift-off weight of ~120 tonnes. SSLV is capable of launching a ~500kg satellite in a 500km planar orbit from SDSC/SHAR.
• The key features of SSLV are Low cost, with low turn-around time, flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites, Launch on demand feasibility, minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc.
• The SSLV was developed with the aim of launching small satellites commercially at drastically reduced prices and higher launch rates compared to Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Key Features:

• Low cost
• Low turn-around time
• Flexibility in accommodating multiple satellites
• Launch demand feasibility
• Minimal launch infrastructure requirements, etc.

Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe):

• It is a single-window, independent, nodal agency that functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
• It is formed following the Space sector reforms to enable and facilitate the participation of private players.
• It is responsible for promoting, enable, authorising and supervising various space activities of non-governmental entities, including building launch vehicles & satellites and providing space-based services
• Its mandate includes sharing space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO, and establishing new space infrastructure and facilities.
• The agency acts as an interface between ISRO and Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) and assesses how to utilize India’s space resources better and increase space-based activities.
• It also assesses the needs and demands of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explores ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/policy/indias-offer-to-privatise-rocket-has-20-potential-bidders/articleshow/102162635.cms?from=mdr

5. AYUSHMAN BHARAT DIGITAL MISSION (ABDM)

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: To promote digital health adoption and make healthcare more accessible, the National Health Authority (NHA) has launched 100 Microsites Project under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).

EXPLANATION:

• These microsites will serve as clusters for small and medium-scale clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, and other healthcare facilities that are ABDM-enabled and offer digital health services to patients.
• The microsites will be established across the country in various states/union territories.
• It will primarily be implemented by State Mission Directors of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, while the National Health Authority will provide financial resources and overall guidance.
• The main goal of these microsites is to create a small ecosystem in specific geographic areas where complete ABDM adoption is present and the entire patient journey is digitized.
• Patients visiting these centres will also become part of ABDM, with their health records linked to their ABHA.
• The ABHA(Ayushman Bharat Health Account) Number will be used for the purposes of uniquely identifying persons, authenticating them, and threading their health records (only with the informed consent of the patient) across multiple systems and stakeholders.
• The project intends to raise awareness about ABDM and its benefits among small and medium-scale healthcare providers, encourage them to register on ABDM’s core registries, use ABDM-certified digital solutions and ultimately link digital health records.

Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM):

• It aims to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country.
• It will bridge the existing gap among different stakeholders of the Healthcare ecosystem through digital highways.

Vision:

• To create a national digital health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, inclusive, affordable, timely and safe manner.
• It provides a wide range of data, information and infrastructure services, duly leveraging open, interoperable, standards-based digital systems, and ensures the security, confidentiality and privacy of health-related personal information.

Objectives:

• To establish state-of-the-art digital health systems, to manage the core digital health data and the infrastructure required for its seamless exchange.
• To establish registries at appropriate levels to create a single source of truth in respect of clinical establishments, healthcare professionals, health workers, drugs and pharmacies.
• To enforce the adoption of open standards by all national digital health stakeholders.
• To promote development of enterprise-class health application systems with a special focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for health.
• To adopt the best principles of cooperative federalism while working with the States and Union Territories for the realization of the vision.

Building blocks of ABDM

• Health ID – It standardizes the process of identification of an individual across healthcare providers to ensure that the created medical records are issued to the correct individual or accessed by Health Information User through appropriate consent.
• Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR) – It is a comprehensive repository of all healthcare professionals involved in the delivery of healthcare services across both modern and traditional systems of medicine.
• Health Facility Registry (HFR) – It is a comprehensive repository of health facilities of the nation across different systems of medicine. It includes both public and private health facilities, including hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and imaging centres, pharmacies, etc.
• ABHA Mobile App (PHR) – A PHR is an electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards, and that can be drawn from multiple sources while being managed, shared, and controlled by the individual.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/national-health-authority-launches-100-microsites-project-for-digital-health-adoption-in-ayushman-bharat-digital-mission-11690542056171.html

1. SILVOPASTURE SYSTEMS

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: A study on deforestation drivers in seven South American countries found that more than 70 per cent of deforestation was driven by an increased demand for pasture. In this regard, silvopasture systems can play a vital role in reversing the negative trend of deforestation for pasture land.

EXPLANATION:

• Livestock’s impact on land use is not only restricted to direct grazing land use but also through indirect land use for fodder crop production.
• In light of the global deterioration of natural resources and forests, silvopasture systems offer a relevant solution to deforestation trends.

Silvopasture system:

• It is an ancient and proven practice that harmoniously integrates trees, forage and livestock on the same land. It presently covers a vast expanse of 550 million hectares worldwide.
• By combining these elements, silvopasture brings numerous environmental advantages as it acts as a buffer against temperature and wind extremes, providing a favourable living environment for livestock.
• Moreover, the trees on silvopasture lands act as natural carbon sinks, sequestering significantly five-10 times more carbon than pastures without trees, all while maintaining or enhancing productivity.
• It also regulates local climatic conditions, buffering against temperature and wind extremes, providing a favourable living environment for livestock.
• Moreover, the extensive root systems of trees within silvopasture plots contribute to nutrient cycling, improved soil stability and quality, while effectively combating erosion.
• Soil infiltration rates in silvopasture systems surpass those of open pastures, enhancing water storage potential. It fosters milder microclimatic conditions compared to their open-pasture counterparts.
• The local climate buffering capacities suggest that silvopasture may offer a ‘middle ground’ between intact secondary forests and managed open fields, retaining the climate benefits of forests while enabling the expansion of agricultural land.
• It offers a multifaceted approach that enhances local climate resilience, mitigates carbon emissions, and promotes sustainable land use.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/environment/harness-silvopasture-systems-for-local-climate-resilience-90813

2. THE GLOBAL CLIMATE LITIGATION REPORT

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the UNEP released the Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review.

EXPLANATION:

Findings of the report:

• The cases for climate justice have more than doubled globally since 2017, showing that climate litigation is becoming an integral part of securing climate action and justice.
• While most climate litigation was in the US, about 17 per cent were reported in developing countries, including the Small Island Developing States
• Climate policies are far behind what is needed to keep global temperatures below the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold, with extreme weather events and searing heat already baking our planet.
• People are increasingly turning to courts to combat the climate crisis, holding governments and the private sector accountable and making litigation a key mechanism for securing climate action and promoting climate justice.
• As climate litigation increases in frequency and volume, the body of legal precedent grows, forming an increasingly well-defined field of law.
• These legal actions were brought in 65 bodies worldwide: International, regional and national courts, tribunals, quasi-judicial bodies and other adjudicatory bodies, including special procedures of the UN and arbitration tribunals.
• Some key climate litigation cases and matters covered in the report:
• UN Human Rights Committee concluded for the first time that a country has violated international human rights law through climate action, finding Australia’s government is in violation of its human rights obligations to Torres Strait Islanders.
• Brazil’s Supreme Court holding that the Paris Agreement is a human rights treaty, which enjoys “supranational” status and a Dutch court ordering oil and gas company Shell to comply with the Agreement were also covered.
• Most ongoing climate litigation falls into one or more of six categories:
• Cases relying on human rights enshrined in international law and national constitutions;
• Challenges to domestic non-enforcement of climate-related laws and policies;
• Litigants seeking to keep fossil fuels in the ground;
• Advocates for greater climate disclosures and an end to greenwashing;
• Claims addressing corporate liability and responsibility for climate harms;
• Claims addressing failures to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review:

• It was published by the UNEP in cooperation with the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University.
• It was launched in conjunction with the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
• It provides an overview of the current state of climate change litigation and an update on global climate change litigation trends.
• It highlights that Climate litigation cases have increased in recent years, which shows courtrooms are increasingly relevant to efforts to address climate change across the world.
• It further demonstrates the importance of an environmental rule of law in combating the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• It was established by Maurice Strong in June 1972 following the UN conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm.
• The organisation involves in coordinating the responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
• It provides leadership, delivers science and develops solutions to issues like climate change, management of marine & terrestrial ecosystems and green economic development.
• It also develops the international environmental agreement and helps in achieving the environmental targets.
• The primary aim of the UNEP is to help the world to meet the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
• Environmental agreements such as the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Convention on Migratory Species are organised by UNEP.
• It also helps in implementing the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol and Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/cases-for-climate-justice-more-than-doubled-globally-since-2017-finds-unep-90862

3. THE JAN VISHWAS (AMENDMENT OF PROVISIONS) BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Jan Vishwas Bill was passed in Lok Sabha, which seeks to redefine the regulatory landscape of the country.

EXPLANATION:

• The proposed legislation was tabled in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry in December 2022 and was later referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for review.
• The JPC presented its report with seven general recommendations to Parliament during the Budget Session in March 2023.

What does the Bill propose?

• It seeks to redefine the regulatory landscape of the country with decriminalisation of minor offences under 42 acts to reduce compliance burden and promote ease of living and doing business in the country.
• It aims to decriminalise around 180 offences across 42 laws governing environment, agriculture, media, industry and trade, publication, and other domains that create barriers to the ease of doing business in the country.
• It seeks to completely remove or replace imprisonment clauses with monetary fines to provide a boost to the business ecosystem and improve the well-being of the public.
• The Bill also proposes compounding of offences in some provisions.
• Broadly, the draft proposes the following changes in existing Acts:
• Decriminalising of offences
• The Bill removes all offences and penalties under the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.
• Changes in grievance redressal mechanisms and the appointment of one or more Adjudicating Officers for determining penalties. These officers can conduct inquiries into violations of the respective Acts and even summon individuals for evidence.
• A periodic revision of fines and penalties for various offences in the specified Acts. The Bill proposes an increase of 10% of the minimum amount every three years.

Need for such a law:

• It can make a shift from Micro, small and medium-scale businesses to the formal sector and generate jobs and income through effective and efficient business regulations in place that eliminate unnecessary red tape.
• It can minimize excessive regulation that has proved onerous for business enterprises, especially MSMEs. As currently, there are 1,536 laws which translate into around 70,000 compliances that govern doing business in India.
• It envisages decluttering the system and shedding the baggage of archaic and obsolete laws.

A web of outdated rules and regulations causes a trust deficit, and reducing compliance burden gives impetus to business process reengineering and improves the ease of living of people.

• The Bill seeks to reduce compliance and remove the fear of imprisonment for minor offences, to give an impetus to businesses and improve ease of doing business and living, thus bolstering ‘trust-based governance’.

Criticism of the bill:

• The Bill uniformly substitutes imprisonment clauses with monetary fines or penalties, which experts say is not a good enough attempt at ‘decriminalisation’.
• The blanket removal of imprisonment provision might also remove the deterrence effect of the environmental legislation, especially for large corporations profiteering from the offence.
• The Bill empowers Adjudicating Officers to decide penalties under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. These Adjudicating Officers may lack the technical competence necessary to decide all penalties under the Air Act and the EP Act.
• The Bill has nothing to do with its objective of decriminalising to promote ease of doing business like theft or misappropriation of postal articles.

Which are the key provisions under consideration?

• As stated above, there are a total of 42 laws under the purview of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill of 2023.
• These are administered by different Union ministries, including finance, agriculture, commerce, environment, road transport and highways, food production and distribution, and electronics and IT.
• Here are some key suggestions in the draft legislation:

The Indian Forest Act, 1927: Trespassing, permitting cattle to trespass; cutting timber; or causing damage in felling a tree in a reserved forest is a punishable offence with a jail term of up to six months or a fine up to Rs 500, or both. The Bill removes the clause of imprisonment. Only a fine of up to Rs 500 will be imposed in addition to compensation for damage done to the forest. The Bill also removes the jail term clause for burning trees near a reserved tree. The JPC has suggested an increase in penalty from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 for violation of sections 26 (1) (e) and 33(e) and (f) of the Act, which deal with the above.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: The Bill proposes to replace imprisonment for lapses with heavier penalties. For instance, failure to comply with provisions that bar an industrial unit from operating in an air pollution control area will be liable to pay a penalty of up to Rs 15 lakh. The offence currently attracts a jail term of up to six years, along with a monetary penalty.

The Information Technology Act, 2000: The Bill proposes to remove Section 66A, which provides for punishment for sending offensive messages or false information through a communication service. For breach of confidentiality and privacy, the Bill proposes a penalty of Rs 5 lakh. The offence is presently punishable with imprisonment up to two years, with a fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.

Disclosing personal information in breach of a lawful contract is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years and/or a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh. The proposed Bill replaces it with a penalty of up to Rs 25 lakh.

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: The Bill suggests a penalty of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 15 lakh for inadvertent compliance breaches, such as being unaware of excess discharge of pollutants under Sections 7 and 9 of the Act. The offence currently carries an imprisonment of five years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

The Copyright Act, 1957: The proposed law omits the penalty for making false statements for deceiving or influencing an authority or officer. The offence is presently punishable with imprisonment, which may extend to one year, or fine, or both.

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Under Section 192A, a person using a motor vehicle without a valid permit faces a jail term of up to six months and a fine of Rs 10,000. The Bill proposes the same jail term but omits the compulsion of paying a fine of Rs 10,000.

The Railways Act, 1989: A person caught begging or selling goods without a permit in a railway carriage or at a railway station is liable for punishment. The Bill removes the punishment clause for beggars. It sets a clause of a jail term of up to one year or a fine of a maximum of Rs 2,000 for illegal hawkers, or both.

The Cinematograph Act, 1952: Unauthorised tampering of an already certified film will be punishable with up to three years in jail, a fine of up to Rs. 10 lakh, or both. It also proposes a penalty of up to Rs 10,000 for a person showing an adult movie (A-rated) to a minor.

The Patents Act, 1970: If a person wrongly claims a patent on an article sold by him, he will be liable to pay a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh and a further penalty of Rs 1,000 per day in case of a continuing claim. The offence is presently punishable with a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.

The Agricultural Produce (Grading & Marking) Act, 1937: The Bill removes the provision of jail term for unauthorised marking of an article with a grade designation mark and its sale. Instead, it proposes a penalty of Rs 5 lakh.

The Trade Marks Act, 1999: Falsely representing a trademark as registered is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, with a fine, or both. The Bill proposes a penalty of Rs 25,000-Rs 1 lakh.

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: For the sale of unsafe food, the Bill proposes imprisonment for three months with a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh. Currently, the jail term for the offence is not more than six months, while the fine goes up to Rs 1 lakh. Similarly, for providing misleading or false information, a person can be jailed for up to three months, with a fine extending to two lakh. The Bill proposes that the offence be punishable by a fine extending to Rs 10 lakh.

The High Denomination Bank Notes (Demonetisation) Act, 1978: The Bill decriminalises offences under the Act, which was used to remove high-value banknotes as legal tender in 1978. Noting that the law has outlived its utility, the parliamentary committee suggested the Ministry of Finance repeal the Act.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jan-vishwas-amendment-bill-2023-monsoon-session-parliament-bill-explains/article67095334.ece

4. STARFIRE

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI) developed a new algorithm called STARFIRE to quantify terrestrial Radio Frequency in space.

EXPLANATION:

• In order to study the early Universe and its evolution, astronomers tune their radio antennas within the 40 to 200 Mega Hertz (MHz) range in search of the 21-cm hydrogen line, believed to contain some of the unknown secrets about the cosmos.
• However, given their faint and weak strength, detecting these signals is extremely challenging. In this regard, scientists have developed new algorithms.

STARFIRE:

• It has been developed by scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
• It is a new algorithm to quantify terrestrial Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) in space for earth-orbiting radio astronomy experiments.
• It can estimate the RFI emitted by FM radio stations, WiFi networks, mobile towers, radar, satellites, and communication devices.
• It can use this calculation for designing and fine-tuning the antennas and other instrument components of missions like India’s Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen (PRATUSH).
• It is capable of estimating and mapping the unwanted Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) signals in space, and can help design instruments that are capable of offering optimal operations in the presence of RFI.
• It enriches the data obtained from the future space-based Astronomy missions.
• It is flexible for users to change properties of the antennas that transmit and receive RFI along with including the astrophysical radio signals from our own galaxy and the cosmos to derive meaningful conclusions about experiment sensitivity.

PRATUSH

• It is one of the several mission opportunities in space contemplated to address the growing RFI on land
• It can study the birth of the first stars and galaxies in the Universe using the 21-cm hydrogen line obtained from the far side of the moon.

Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)  

• Radio frequency interference is the conduction or radiation of radio frequency energy that causes an electronic or electrical device to produce noise that typically interferes with the function of an adjacent device.
• It also refers to the disruption of the normal functionality of a satellite due to the interference of radio astronomy.
• It can disrupt and disturb the normal functioning of electronic and electrical devices, and thus it is important to limit it when possible.
• The fast-advancing technologies and expanding areas of human settlements have led to an increased number of sources emitting RFIs, many even constraining the efforts for recording astronomical observations on land.
• The RFI emitted by Frequency Modulation (FM) stations is one of the major concerns for the frequency band of our scientific interest.

Source: https://government.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/technology/starfire-rri-develops-new-algorithm-to-quantify-terrestrial-radio-frequency-interference-in-space/102120458

5. NATIONAL COAL INDEX

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The National Coal Index (NCI) has shown a significant decline of 33.8% in May 2023 compared to May 2022, which indicates a strong supply of coal in the market, with sufficient availability to meet the growing demands.

EXPLANATION:

Findings:

• The National Coal Index (NCI) fell a significant 33.8% year-on-year to 157.7 points in May, in an indication that supplies in the country remain sufficient.
• Similarly, NCI for non-coking coal declined 34.3% on year to 147.5 points in May. Non-coking coal is mainly used in thermal plants for power generation due to its inherent lack of caking properties.
• There has been a sharp decline in coal auction premiums, too, pointing at sufficient coal availability. The Indian coal industry affirms a substantial stockpile, with companies holding impressive stock.
• This availability ensures a stable supply for various sectors dependent on coal, significantly contributing to the overall energy security of the nation.The trend witnessed in the NCI shows that a more balanced market prevails at the moment.
• With sufficient coal availability, the nation can not only meet the growing demand but also support its long-term energy requirements, thus building a more resilient and sustainable coal industry.

National Coal Index:

• The NCI is a price index which reflects the change in the price level of coal on a particular month relative to the fixed base year.
• This price index combines the prices of coal from all the sales channels- Notified Prices, Auction Prices and Import Prices.
• It was rolled out on 4th June 2020, and the aim is to have an index that will truly reflect the market price.
• The National Coal Index combines coal prices from all sales channels, including notified prices, auction prices and import prices.
• Established with the base year as fiscal year 2017-18, it serves as a reliable indicator of market dynamics, providing valuable insights into coal price fluctuations.
• The concept and design of the Index as well as the Representative Prices, have been developed by the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

Components of NCI

• The concept and design of the Index as well as the Representative Prices, have been developed by the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.
• NCI is composed of a set of five sub-indices: three for Non-Coking Coal and two for Coking Coal.
• The three sub-indices for Non-Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Non-Coking Coal, and the two sub-indices for Coking Coal are combined to arrive at the Index for Coking Coal.
• As per the grade of coal pertaining to a mine, the appropriate sub-index is used to arrive at the revenue share.

Implementation of NCI

• The amount of revenue share per tonne of coal produced from auctioned blocks would be arrived at using the NCI by means of a defined formula.
• The Index is meant to encompass all transactions of raw coal in the Indian market.
• This includes coking and non-coking of various grades transacted in the regulated (power and fertilizer) and non-regulated sectors.
• Washed coal and coal products are not included.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/industry/energy/national-coal-index-nci-falls-33-8-in-may-2023-indicating-sufficient-coal-supply-in-new-delhi-market-11690360065671.html

1. MAGROVE CONSERVATION

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: West Bengal government announced the setting up of a ‘Mangrove Cell’ in the State on the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem.

EXPLANATION:

• Recently, several islands have been completely submerged, and 100 sq. km of mangroves have been lost in two decades.
• Mangrove Cell will bring certain continuity to the efforts of the State government in mangrove management.
• This cell will have an annual action plan for the plantation of mangroves, and it will look at maintenance and coordinate with NGOs.
• This platform will generate funds from private and international sectors, as well as publish books and conduct research on the subject.

Mangroves in India:

• Mangrove forests, also known as mangrove swamps, mangals, or mangrove thickets, occur in coastal intertidal zones.
• They are productive wetlands that grow mainly in tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. Mangrove forests live between the ocean, the land, and the atmosphere, which functions as a centre for the flow of matter and energy from one system to another.
• Mangrove forest reduces soil erosion caused by currents, waves, surges, and tides. Plants of these forests have dense prop roots, also known as breathing roots, with numerous pores through which the plants breathe.
• The presence of these roots allows the trees to slow down tides’ movement and hence settle down the mud in the water.
• India has about 3% of the total Mangrove cover in South Asia. The mangrove cover in the country is 4,975 sq km [(1.2 million acres)], which is 0.15% of the country’s total geographical area.
• West Bengal has 42.45% of India’s mangrove cover, followed by Gujarat 23.66% and A&N Islands 12.39%. Gujarat shows a maximum increase of 37 sq km in mangrove cover [(over 9,000 acres)].”
• South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal alone accounts for 41.85% of mangrove cover of the country.” South 24 Parganas holds the Sunderban National Park, home to one of the largest mangrove forests in the world.

Sundarbans

• The Sundarbans is in the delta formed by the confluence of the Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Padma rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
• Sundarban is a long stretch between Bangladesh and India. It spans from the Baleswar River of Bangladesh to the Hooghly River in India.
• Being home to the world’s largest mangrove forest area, its protected areas are enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Sundarbans’ largest available tree species are Sundari (Heritiera fomes) and gewa (Excoecaria agallocha).
• The Sundarbans are threatened by natural and human-made disasters, even though a commitment to its protection is made.

Sustainable Aquaculture In Mangrove Ecosystem (SAIME) initiative:

• For several years, environmentalists and experts have expressed concerns over unsustainable aquaculture, particularly shrimp collection, after cleaning large tracts of mangrove forests in Sunderbans.
• It is a new initiative for sustainable shrimp cultivation and to restore mangrove cultivation in Sundarbans.
• Under the initiative, farmers have taken up cultivation of shrimp at 20 hectares at Chaital in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas and 10 hectares at Madhabpur in adjoining South 24 Parganas. However, they are doing their part in restoring the mangroves as well.
• The SAIME initiative was started in 2019, and sustainable shrimp cultivation is being conceived by NGOs- Global Nature Fund and Nature Environment and Wildlife Society. Bangladesh Environment and Development Society.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/wb-government-announces-mangrove-cell-on-international-day-of-mangrove-ecosystem/article67123522.ece

2. MULTI-STATE COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Lok Sabha also passed the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill to increase transparency, accountability and profit in multi-state cooperative societies.

EXPLANATION:

Highlights of the Bill

• The Bill amends the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
• It establishes the Co-operative Election Authority to conduct and supervise elections to the boards of multi-state co-operative societies, which seeks to strengthen cooperatives by making them transparent and introducing a system of regular elections
• A multi-state co-operative society will require prior permission from government authorities before the redemption of their shareholding.
• A Co-operative Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Development Fund will be established for the revival of sick multi-state co-operative societies.  The Fund will be financed through contributions by profitable multi-state co-operative societies.
• The Bill allows state co-operative societies to merge into an existing multi-state co-operative society, subject to the respective state laws.
• The government has decided to form three new multi-state societies to strengthen cooperatives.

1. The first society will act as a platform to export the produce of the farmers.
2. The second society will associate small farmers with the production of seeds, and through these, farmers with 1 acre of land will also be able to associate with seed production.
3. The third society will provide suitable prices to the farmers for their produce by marketing their organic products across the country and the world.

• In addition, if one-third of vacancies are created on the board, a provision has been made to hold elections again for the vacant posts.
• Along with this, there are also provisions for discipline in board meetings and the smooth functioning of cooperative societies.
• The chairman, vice-chairman and members of the committees will be required to call board meetings in three months. A provision has been made to give a majority to the equity shareholders to bring transparency in the governance of the cooperative society.
• Reservation to one Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and one woman in the committees has been provided in this Bill, which will increase representation of these sections in the committees.
• The minister said that non-compliance with various constitutional requirements could lead to the disqualification of the board members.
• No one will be given a job in blood relations or distant relations in the recruitment process of employees.
• Right to Information has also been included in this bill.
• The Union government has also decided to set up a cooperative university for cooperative education in the coming days.

Cooperative Society and its jurisdiction:

• Co-operatives are voluntary, democratic, and autonomous organisations controlled by their members who actively participate in its policies and decision-making.
• As per the Constitution, states regulate the incorporation, regulation, and winding up of state cooperative societies.
• Parliament can legislate on matters related to incorporation, regulation, and winding up of multi-state co-operatives.
• The Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002, provides for the formation and functioning of multi-state co-operatives.
• In 2011, the Constitution was amended (adding Part IXB) to specify guidelines for running cooperative societies.
• These guidelines provide for: (i) composition of the boards of co-operatives, (ii) election of members of the board, (iii) audit of accounts of co-operative societies, and (iv) supersession of the board.
• The Supreme Court, in July 2021 in Rajendra N Shah vs State of Gujrat held that Part IXB will only be applicable to multi-state co-operative societies, as states have the jurisdiction to legislate over state co-operative societies.

Criticisms of the Bill:

• The new fund will put an additional burden on MSCSs and affect their autonomy.
• Against the federal structure: The bill seeks to take away state governments’ rights and is against the country’s federal structure. The Bill seeks to amend Section 17 of the principal act to allow the merger of any State cooperative society with an existing MSCS.
• Against democratic principles: Central and state governments have been given veto powers over the redemption of their shareholding, which violate the principles of democratic member control and autonomy, as provided in the First Schedule of the Act.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/lok-sabha-passes-multi-state-cooperative-societies-amendment-bill-11690347273525.html

3. WHITE LABEL ATMs

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has informed that in order to drive ATM penetration in the country, non-bank companies have been permitted to set up, own and operate White Label ATMs (WLAs) in the country.

EXPLANATION:

• WLAs provide banking services to the customers of banks in India based on the cards (debit/credit/prepaid) issued by banks. In addition to dispensing cash, WLAs may offer many other services / facilities which inter-alia include:

1. Account Information
2. Cash Deposit

• Regular Bill Payment

1. Mini / Short Statement Generation
2. PIN Change
3. Request for Cheque Book

• RBI has started the steps taken to increase the presence of WLAs and to improve their viability and functioning, with a greater focus on Tier III to VI centres.
• RBI has allowed White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) to source cash from retail outlets to address the cash sourcing constraints and has enabled on-tap authorisation for WLAs.
• To further give impetus to WLA deployment and to encourage more non-bank players to enter the ATMs industry, RBI has permitted WLAOs to:
• buy wholesale cash above a threshold directly from the Reserve Bank (Issue Offices) and Currency Chests
• source cash from any scheduled bank, including Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks
• offer bill payment and Interoperable Cash Deposit service
• display advertisements pertaining to non-financial products / services, and in addition
• banks are permitted to issue co-branded ATM cards in partnership with the authorised WLAOs and extend the benefit of ‘on-us’ transactions to WLAs as well.

ATM and their types:

• An ATM (Automated Teller Machine) is an electronic machine used for financial transactions.
• It is an ‘automated’ banking platform that does not require any banking representative/ teller or a human cashier.
• ATMs can also be classified into 3 categories based on the labels assigned to them:

1. Bank owned ATMs
2. Brown Label ATMs
3. White Label ATMs

These categories of ATMs are on the basis of ownership of the ATM, ATM location, and service contract of the bank with the service provider.

1. Bank Owned ATMs:

• Such ATMs are set up and owned by the bank itself. Bank is responsible for its operation and maintenance.
• Banks are entitled to the responsibility for cash loading, AMC, and security of the ATMs. ATMs may also be categorized into two types on the basis of location – (i) ONSITE ATM (ii) OFFSITE ATM

ONSITE ATM – These ATMs are located at the premises of the bank branch.

OFFSITE ATM – Offsite ATMs are located at a location away from the bank premises. They are generally set up at important places like Railway Station, Airports, Bus Stand, Market etc.

2. Brown Label ATMs:

• In the case of Brown Label ATMs, service providers own the hardware of the ATM machine. The responsibility of identifying the ATM site, lease agreement with the landlord, and power supply to the ATM kiosk lies with the service provider.
• Thus, the service provider takes the responsibility for the maintenance of the ATM, whereas the sponsor bank takes the responsibility of cash management and provides connectivity to the ATM to the banking network.
• The logo of the sponsor bank is displayed on brown label ATM kiosk premises. Brown Label ATMs are the most cost-effective solution for banks.

3. White Label  ATMs:

• White Label ATMs are owned and operated by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC).
• RBI has granted licenses or permission to non-banking entities to open such ATMs.
• Any non-banking entity with a minimum net worth of ₹ 100 crore can apply for white label ATM.
• NBFCs rely on sponsor banks to settle all issues related to cash management, transaction settlement with other banks etc.
• Customers with debit cards from any bank may withdraw cash from such ATMs, but they will have to pay a fee for the services.
• Unlike Brown Label ATMs, White Label ATMs will not display the logo of any bank like SBI, CANARA BANK, PNB etc. The logo of White Label ATM operators is like Tata Indica, Muthoot Finance etc.
• White Label ATMs also reduce the pre-transaction cost for banks, and there is no hassle to maintain and run such a payment channel.

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1942516

4. IMPORTANCE OF MANAGEMENT OF MICROPLASTIC FOR MEETING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT; GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Microplastics are a significant environmental problem and pose risks to marine life, terrestrial organisms, and human health. Therefore, managing microplastic pollution is important for meeting sustainable development goals in India.

EXPLANATION:

• Microplastics which can enter different ecosystems, pose a serious risk to marine life, terrestrial organisms, and human health.
• With a population of 1.42 billion, India is the most populous country in the world.
• India is facing a mammoth challenge of achieving United Nations-mandated sustainable development goals (SDG) by 2030.
• Access to water plays a critical role in all 17 SDGs, either directly or indirectly.
• Microplastics affect human health, and economic activities and threaten food and energy security. Urgent concerted efforts are required to shift the current trend of water use and misuse.

MICROPLASTICS

• Microplastics are tiny plastic particles up to 5mm in diameter.
• In the last four decades, concentrations of these particles appear to have increased significantly in the surface waters of the ocean.
• Its concern about the potential impact on the marine environment, terrestrial organisms, and human health has gathered momentum during the past few years.
• The number of scientific investigations has increased, along with public interest and pressure on decision-makers to respond.
• A significant environmental problem is microplastic pollution, which has not attracted attention as it is invisible.
• It demands serious and immediate attention before it is too late.

SDGs

• In June 1992, at the Earth Summitin Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 178 countries adopted Agenda 21.
• Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to build a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment.
• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
• There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership.

SDG GOAL RELATED TO WATER

• Here are some SDGs that have direct and intricate relation with water:
• SDG 2: Zero hunger
• SDG 3: Good health and well-being
• SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
• SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
• SDG 14: Life below water
• SDG 15: Life on land
• Let us focus only on the key targets of SDG 6, which are:

1. a) Achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
2. b) Improve water quality by reducing pollution and increasing water treatment.
3. c) Increase water-use efficiency in all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater.
4. d) Implement integrated water resources management to support the sustainable use of water resources.
5. e) Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes.
6. f) Access to clean water for every household is an ambitious goal set for India, as multiple stressors impact the water resources, starting from rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and wetlands in India.

ISSUE OF MICROPLASTICS IN INDIA

• Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and population growth have led to increased plastic consumption and waste generation.
• Inadequate waste management systems, including limited recycling infrastructure and improper disposal practices, exacerbate the issue.
• The country’s vast coastline and numerous rivers make it susceptible to the transport of microplastics from inland areas to the marine environment.
• Due to urban runoff and industrial discharge, both Ganga and Yamuna rivers have been found to carry significant loads of microplastics.
• Coastal regions, including popular tourist destinations, also face the problem of microplastic pollution.
• Microplastics have been detected in seafood, indicating the potential for human exposure through the food chain.

WAY FORWARD

• India should focus on improving waste management infrastructure, promoting recycling and responsible consumption and raising awareness among the public and industries.
• MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which prohibited single-use plastic items by the end of 2022.
• The permissible thickness of plastic carry bags was increased from 50 to 75 microns and then 120 microns from December 31, 2022.
• It is essential to implement stricter regulations, enhance monitoring and research on microplastics and promote sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
• It is important to note that managing microplastics is a complex task that requires interdisciplinary efforts from various stakeholders, including government bodies, research institutions, industries and the public.
• Addressing microplastic pollution requires a comprehensive approach involving government agencies, industries, communities and individuals working together to reduce plastic waste and protect the environment.

Source:https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/water/amp/managing-microplastic-pollution-is-important-for-meeting-sustainable-development-goals-in-india-90789

5. AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION (SCHEDULED TRIBES) ORDER

TAG: GS 2: POLITY, SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Parliament Passes Amendment to Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order to Add Certain Chhattisgarh Communities in ST List.

EXPLANATION

• Recently, Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 to amend the Constitution (Schedule Tribes) Order, 1950
• It aimed for the inclusion of certain communities in the list of Schedule Tribes of Chhattisgarh that was passed in Lok Sabha in December 2022.
• The castes, namely Dhanuhar, Dhanuwar, Kisan, Saundra Saonra and Binjhia communities, are added to the list.
• The three Devanagari versions of the Pando community are also included.
• The Bill states that “The State Government of Chhattisgarh has recommended to modify the list of the Scheduled Tribes to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950.”
• According to the provisions of Article 342 of the Constitution, the first list of the Scheduled Tribes was notified on 6th September 1950 in respect
• of various States and Union territories, vide the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950. This list was modified from time to time.

SCHEDULE 5 OF THE CONSTITUTION

• At present, 10 States, namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana, have Fifth Schedule Areas.
• According to Article 342 (1), the President may, after consultation with the Governor of the State, by public notification, specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for the purposes of this Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to that State.
• The Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Tribes specified in a notification issued under clause (1) any tribe or tribal community or part of or group within any tribe or tribal community.
• In Article 244(1) of the Constitution, the expression Scheduled Areas means such areas as the President may by order declare to be Scheduled Areas.
• The President may at any time by order:
• direct that the whole or any specified part of a Scheduled Area shall cease to be a Scheduled Area or a part of such an area.
• increase the area of any Scheduled Area in a State after consultation with the Governor of that State.
• alter, but only by way of rectification of boundaries, any Scheduled Area.
• on any alteration of the boundaries of a State on the admission into the Union or the establishment of a new State, declare any territory not previously included in any State to be, or to form part of, a Scheduled Area.
• rescind, in relation to any State of States, any order or orders made under these provisions and in consultation with the Governor of the State concerned, make fresh orders redefining the areas which are to be Scheduled Areas.
• The criteria followed for declaring an area as Scheduled Area are:
• the preponderance of the tribal population.
• compactness and reasonable size of the area.
• under-developed nature of the area.
• marked disparity in the economic standard of the people.

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SCHEDULED TRIBES

• The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was established by amending Article 338.
• A New Article 338A was inserted in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
• By this amendment, the erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was replaced by two separate Commissions, namely-
• (i) the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
• (ii) the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) w.e.f. 19 February 2004.
• It was established with a view to provide safeguards against the exploitation of Scheduled Castes and Anglo-Indian communities.
• Special provisions were made in the Constitution to promote and protect the social, educational, economic, and cultural interests.

Source: https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/rajya-sabha-passes-constitution-scheduled-tribes-order-fifth-amendment-bill-2022-233613?infinitescroll=1

1. MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME (MGNREGS)

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

THE CONTEXT: Rural Development Minister, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, informed that names of over five crore workers have been deleted under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the financial year 2022-23.

EXPLANATION:

• The Ministry stated these deletions are a “regular exercise” conducted by State governments. They have listed five reasons for the deletions, including fake job cards, duplicate job cards, not willing to work, the family shifting from gram panchayat permanently, and a single person in job card and the person is expired.
• There has been a hike of 247% in the deletions during 2022-23 as compared to 2021-22. This year, till June 23, 61 lakh registered workers have been deleted.
• Among the 34 States and union territories, between the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23, West Bengal has reported the largest hike in deletion, a whopping 5,199%.
• The Centre has stopped all payments to the State under the MGNREGS for reportedly not following the programme’s guidelines. It is followed by Telangana (2727%) and Andhra Pradesh (1147%). Uttar Pradesh has reported a deletion of 466% and Uttarakhand 427%.
• As per the statistics maintained by the Rural Development Ministry, there are about 10 reasons listed for deletions of workers and job cards.
• incorrect job card
• fake applicant
• duplicate applicant
• family had been shifted
• person shifted to a new family
• single person in job card and expired
• unwilling to work
• person expired
• non-existent panchayat
• village becomes urban.
• It has been reported that the deletions are spiralling because of the government’s emphasis on linking MGNREGS job cards with Aadhaar cards and making wage payments through the Aadhaar-Based Payments System (ABPS).

About the Scheme:

• The Government of India passed the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 in September 2005.
• The MGNREGA provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of employment in every financial year to adult members of any rural household willing to do public work-related unskilled manual work at the statutory minimum wage.
• The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), Govt of India, is monitoring the entire implementation of this scheme in association with state governments.
• The Act will be applicable to areas notified by the Central Government.
• The objective of the Act is to enhance the livelihood security of the people in the rural areas by generating wage employment through works that develop the infrastructure base of that area.
• Roughly one-third of the stipulated workforce must be women.
• Cost Sharing: Financial assistance shall be provided by Central and State Governments in the ratio of 90:10 respectively.
• The Gram Panchayat registers households after making an enquiry and issues a job card. The job card contains the details of the adult member enrolled and his /her photo.

Implementation of the scheme:

• The programme is implemented through Panchayati Raj Institutions. The Block Programme Officer shall allot fifty percent works in terms of cost to the Gram Panchayat. Gram Sabha shall recommend works, and the Gram Panchayat shall identify/approve the works for implementation.
• The Block Programme Officer will scrutinize the Annual Plan. The Panchayat Samiti will maintain the priority of works indicated by the Gram Panchayat and approve the Block level Plan.
• The Chief Executive Officer is designated as District Programme Coordinator for the implementation of the Act/Scheme in the district. The DPC shall scrutinize the plan proposals of the Panchayat Samitis. The whole exercise shall be completed by DPC before the end of December each year.

MGNREGA Goals

• Strong social safety net for the vulnerable groups by providing a fall-back employment source when other employment alternatives are scarce or inadequate.
• Growth engine for sustainable development of an agricultural economy through the process of providing employment on works that address causes of chronic poverty such as drought, deforestation and soil erosion.
• The act seeks to strengthen the natural resource base of rural livelihood and create durable assets in rural areas.
• It fosters conditions for inclusive growth ranging from basic wage security and recharging rural economy to a transformative empowerment process of democracy.

Aadhaar-Based Payments System (ABPS):

• It is a bank-led model which allows online financial transactions at Point-of-Sale (PoS) and Micro ATMs through the business correspondent of any bank using Aadhaar authentication.
• Banking Services Offered by ABPS includes cash deposit, cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, mini statement, Aadhaar to Aadhaar fund transfer, authentication, and BHIM Aadhaar pay.
• The model removes the need for OTPs, bank account details, and other financial details.
• It allows fund transfers using only the bank name, Aadhaar number, and fingerprint captured during Aadhaar enrolment, according to the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI).

The only inputs required for a customer to do a transaction under this scenario are:

• Bank Name
• Aadhaar Number
• Fingerprint captured during enrollment.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-proceedings-names-of-over-five-crore-mgnregs-workers-deleted-in-2022-23-minister-tells-lok-sabha/article67120001.ece

2. LUDWIGIA PERUVIANA

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: An invasion of Ludwigia peruviana over the last decade is suppressing edible forage for elephants, gaurs and other herbivores, increasing the risk of man-animal conflict in the area.

EXPLANATION:

• It is threatening elephant habitats and foraging areas in Valparai, a Tamil Nadu hill station close to the Kerala border, and reviving the risk of human-elephant conflicts in the region.
• It grows fast along water bodies, and has infested the majority of the hill station’s swamps, locally known as vails, where elephants used to find lush grass even in the summer.
• The rapid large-scale spread of this weed, which was probably introduced as an ornamental plant for its tiny yellow flowers, has limited the growth of grass and native plants that are palatable to elephants and other animals, including gaur.
• It mainly spreads along the swamps in the middle of the tea estates and forms thickets. These swamps are known for excellent grass covers, sedges and water sources that are very good for herbivores like gaur and elephant in particular.
• Swamps are unique habitats that support amphibians and otters besides the large herbivores. They act as water storage areas that need to be preserved. If Ludwigia colonises, it completely chokes swamps and does not allow grasses to grow.
• Unlike other invasive plants, Ludwigia poses a unique challenge as it grows in swamps, and there is little scope to use machinery which may further destroy the ecosystem.
• Even if Ludwigia is pulled out manually, the soft plant easily breaks, and it spreads again from the root or broken stems that fall in the swamp.

Ludwigia Peruviana

• It is an aquatic weed native to some countries in Central and South America, including Peru.
• It is deciduous species of flowering plant in the evening primrose family.
• Habitat: It is usually found in warmer temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions that are usually found in wetlands, swamps, marshes and along the edges of lagoons and slow-moving waterways (sometimes also floating on the water surface).

Environmental impacts:

• The Peruvian primrose-willow forms dense colonies along the shore then creep into the water, where it impedes navigation, damages structures, and competes with native vegetation.
• This species is classified as a category I invasive species by the United States state of Florida, where it clogs numerous lakes and rivers, and as a noxious weed by the government of Australia.
• It also causes more wide-ranging ecological damage through increased sedimentation and accumulation of organic material. This results in the deoxygenation of the water column and can lead to the death of aquatic animals.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/peruvian-weed-threatens-elephant-habitats-in-tamil-nadu/article67109844.ece

3. LAW OF THE SEA

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Small Island developing states are facing more extreme weather, increasingly acidic oceans, coral bleaching and harm to fisheries. In this regard, the law of the sea can be used to protect small island states from climate change.

EXPLANATION:

• Climate change will wreak havoc on small island developing states in the Pacific and elsewhere. Some will be swamped by rising seas.
• These communities face more extreme weather, increasingly acidic oceans, coral bleaching and harm to fisheries. Food supplies, human health and livelihoods are at risk.
• The international community has certain legal obligations under the law of the sea. So, island states are asking whether obligations to address climate change might be contained in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• If states do have specific obligations to stop greenhouse gas pollution damaging the marine environment, then legal consequences for breaching these obligations could follow. It is possible small island states could one day be compensated for the damage done.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

• 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 embodies in one instrument traditional rules for the uses of the oceans and, at the same time, introduces new legal concepts and regimes and addresses new concerns.
• The Convention also provides the framework for further development of specific areas of the law of the sea.
• 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
• It provides information, advice and assistance to States with a view to providing a better understanding of the Convention and the related Agreements, their wider acceptance, uniform and consistent application and effective implementation.
• The convention set the limit of various areas, measured from a carefully defined baseline.

 International Tribunal under UNCLOS

• The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
• The tribunal has jurisdiction over any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the convention and certain legal questions requested of it. The answers to these questions are known as advisory opinions.
• Advisory opinions are not legally binding; they are authoritative statements on legal matters. They provide guidance to states and international organisations about the implementation of international law.
• The tribunal has delivered two advisory opinions in the past: on deep seabed mining and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities.
• These proceedings attracted submissions from states, international organisations and non-governmental organisations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/climate-change/could-the-law-of-the-sea-be-used-to-protect-small-island-states-from-climate-change–90807

4. NIPAH VIRUS

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: An ongoing nationwide survey by the Pune-based Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV) has found evidence of the Nipah virus circulation in the bat population across nine states and one Union Territory.

EXPLANATION:

• The presence of Nipah viral antibodies has been found in bats in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Meghalaya and the Union Territory of Pondicherry.
• The Nipah virus causes a highly fatal respiratory and encephalitic infection in humans. The Pteropus species of fruit bats, commonly called flying foxes, are the known carriers of the virus.
• One of the priority pathogens with a pandemic potential, case fatality is a big concern, and Nipah’s sudden emergence in 2018-19 in Kerala had warranted the need for constant surveillance.

Nipah virus (NiV)

• It is a zoonotic virus, meaning that it can spread between animals and people.
• Fruit bats, also called flying foxes, are the animal reservoir for NiV in nature.The Nipah virus is also known to cause illness in pigs and people.
• Infection with NiV is associated with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and can cause mild to severe illness and even death.
• Outbreaks occur almost annually in parts of Asia, primarily Bangladesh and India.

Diagnosis

• It can be diagnosed during illness or after recovery. Different tests are available to diagnose NiV infection.
• During the early stages of the illness, laboratory testing can be conducted using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from throat and nasal swabs, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and blood.
• Later in the course of illness and after recovery, testing for antibodies is conducted using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Transmission

Nipah virus (NiV) can spread to people from:

• Direct contact with infected animals, such as bats or pigs, or their body fluids (such as blood, urine or saliva)
• Consuming food products that have been contaminated by body fluids of infected animals (such as palm sap or fruit contaminated by an infected bat)
• Close contact with a person infected with NiV or their body fluids (including nasal or respiratory droplets, urine, or blood)

Symptoms

• Infection with Nipah virus (NiV) can cause mild to severe disease, including swelling of the brain (encephalitis) and potentially death.
• Symptoms typically appear in 4-14 days following exposure to the virus. The illness initially presents as 3-14 days of fever and headache and often includes signs of respiratory illness, such as cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing.
• A phase of brain swelling (encephalitis) may follow, where symptoms can include drowsiness, disorientation, and mental confusion, which can rapidly progress to coma within 24-48 hours.
• Death may occur in 40-75% of cases. Long-term side effects in survivors of Nipah virus infection have been noted, including persistent convulsions and personality changes.
• Infections that lead to symptoms and sometimes death much later after exposure (known as dormant or latent infections) have also been reported months and even years after exposure

Prevention:

• Nipah virus infection can be prevented by avoiding exposure to sick pigs and bats in areas where the virus is present and not drinking raw date palm sap which can be contaminated by an infected bat.
• During an outbreak, standard infection control practices can help prevent person-to-person spread in hospital settings.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/icmr-niv-survey-finds-proof-of-nipah-virus-in-bats-across-nine-states-one-ut-8860154/

5. THE DNA TECHNOLOGY (USE AND APPLICATION) REGULATION BILL 2019

TAG:GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the government withdrew The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill 2019 from the Lok Sabha.

EXPLANATION:

• Withdrawing the Bill ended a 20-year effort to build a new regulatory framework for the use of DNA fingerprinting technologyin the criminal justice system.
• It has faced multiple opposition on grounds of the accuracy of DNA technology, potential threats to individual privacy, and the possibility of abuse.
• The present Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in July 2019 and was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology.
• The committee submitted its report in February 2021, recommending several changes in the draft, but instead of introducing a fresh Bill with changes, the government decided to withdraw it altogether.
• The main provisions of the Bill have already been enacted as part of another law, the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, that was passed by both houses of Parliament 2022.

 THE DNA TECHNOLOGY (USE AND APPLICATION) REGULATION BILL 2019

• The Bill had three primary objectives:
• It sought to set up a DNA profiling board as the regulatory body, one of the functions of which would be to provide accreditation to laboratories authorised to carry out DNA sample tests.
• It provided for the creation of databases DNA Data Banks for storing of DNA information collected from convicts and accused. This database could be indexed and searched for matching samples from crime scenes.
• It sought to facilitate the collection of DNA samples from the convicts and accused.

Criticism of the Bill:

The primary objections were on grounds of privacy, utility and possibility of misuse.

• DNA information can be very intrusive, revealing not just identification traits but also many other features that can be liable for misuse.
• Critics pushed for the inclusion of as many safeguards into the Bill as possible.
• In recent years, apprehensions have been raised about the possibility of this law being used for racial profiling.
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee had objected to the setting up of DNA banks in every state and suggested that one national DNA bank was sufficient.

Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act, 2022:

• Unable to get the DNA Bill passed in Parliament, the government in 2022 included several of its provisions in the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill that was brought in to replace the Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920.
• The provisions related to collection, storage, access and sharing of DNA information that were part of the DNA Bill have more or less been included in the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill.
• It provides legal sanction to the police to take physical and biological samples of convicts as well as those accused of crimes.
• The police, as per the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, can collect Data.
• Data that can be collected: Finger-impressions, Palm-Print impressions, Footprint impressions, Photographs, Iris and Retina scan, Physical, Biological samples and their analysis, Behavioural Attributes among others.
• CrPC is the primary legislation regarding the procedural aspects of criminal law.
• Any person convicted, arrested or detained under any preventive detention law will be required to provide “measurements” to a police officer or a prison official.
• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will store, preserve, share with any law enforcement agency and destroy the record of measurements at national level. The records can be stored up to a period of 75 years.
• It aims to ensure the unique identification of those involved with crime and to help investigating agencies solve cases.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-the-dna-bill-8857810/

1. SILVER COCKSCOMB AND SOLIGA TRIBES

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: In Karnataka’s Chamarajanagara district, farmers of the Soliga tribe say controlling the weed can cost up to Rs 2,000 per acre (0.4 hectare) per year. Yet they do not consider silver cockscomb a weed.

EXPLANATION:

SILVER COCKSCOMB

• It is also referred to as anne soppu in Karnataka. It is also known as Lagos spinach.
• The plant is known as Celosia argentea in the scientific lexicon, kudu in Marathi and panini keerai in Tamil.
• It is believed to have originated in tropical Africa, according to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, silver cockscomb grows abundantly in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and parts of the US and Australia.
• Communities in these regions use it as a wild vegetable, for fodder and in medicine. Exploring and documenting their traditional knowledge may give this weed a makeover of a superfood.
• It is a beautiful but troublesome weed, and if left unchecked, it can spread quickly and suppress the growth of other crops, affecting their yield.
• It also attracts insects, caterpillars, worms and moths that can harm crops.
• It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, which includes economically important plants like spinach (Spinacia oleracea), beetroot and quinoa.
• However, it is considered as a nutritious leafy green vegetable that grows well even on fallow land and in drought-like conditions by soliga tribes.
• It is a short-lived 50-60 cm-tall plant that bears simple, spirally arranged leaves around the stem with pinkish or silky white flowers.
• Since it grows widely on farmlands across the country, most farmers use the plant as fodder.

Medicinal uses:

• The women of the Soliga tribe collect young shoots of silver cockscomb to prepare a mash called massage, which is eaten just to help lower the body’s heat and reduce stomach burn, which often stems from indigestion.
• Scientists studied the antibacterial activity of silver cockscomb and found that its stem and root extracts provide protection against microbial pathogens.
• Silver cockscomb leaves are high in nutrients such as beta-carotene and folic acids and have “medium” levels of vitamin E, calcium and iron.
• Although it is of the same family as spinach, it does not pose the same risk to kidneys.
• The plant is frequently used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for treating eye diseases and ulcers.
• Researchers reviewed studies available on the plant and found that the seed contains an edible oil that is beneficial for treating conditions such as bloodshot eyes and cataracts.

Soliga tribe:

• It is an ethnic tribe in south India that dwells in Biligirirangana Hills (BR Hills) situated in south-eastern Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu.
• The term “Soliga” literally translates to “children of bamboo”, which reflects the tribe’s relationship with nature and their belief that they, too, have emerged from it.
• They are said to possess vast knowledge about the forests of Western Ghats and biodiversity conservation.
• The Soliga speak Sholga, which belongs to the Dravidian family. Under Indian law, they are recognized as a scheduled tribe.
• The Soliga used to practice shifting cultivation but have more or less given up this practice now. They grow Ragi for subsistence.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/food/green-promise-silver-cockscomb-isn-t-a-troublesome-weed-for-karnataka-s-soliga-tribe-90593

2. BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (AMENDMENT) BILL

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022, is set to be tabled during the monsoon session of the Parliament.

EXPLANATION:

• The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill was introduced in Parliament in 2021 by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and climate change to amend the Biological Diversity Act of 2002.
• The Bill was moved to a joint committee due to concerns that the amendments favoured industry.

The main aims of the amendment Bills:

• To reduce the burden on wild medicinal plants and encourage their cultivation.
• To encourage the Indian system of medicine.
• To facilitate environmentalists for collaborative research and investments.
• To reduce the need for practitioners and companies making medicinal products for taking permission from the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
• Bill included the term “codified traditional knowledge”, under which the users, including practitioners of Indian systems of medicine, will be exempted from the provisions of approvals for access or sharing benefits.

Benefits of the Bill:

• This bill aims that the benefits from the use of biodiversity should be shared with the community that has conserved it for centuries. Access and benefit sharing remains an important part of this Framework.
• It will fast-track the approval as practitioners of Indian systems of medicine will be exempted from the provisions of approvals for access or sharing benefits.
• Since the time the Biological Diversity (Amendments) Bill was introduced first, the world has set new targets for biodiversity conservation at the 15th Conference of Parties to CBD held in Montreal in December 2022.

Criticism of the Bill:

• There can be cases of misappropriation of resources as it allows domestic companies to use biodiversity without the permission from biodiversity boards. Only ‘foreign-controlled companies’ would need to take permission.
• The Bill did not find favour among activists and legal experts as these amendments do not address the issues that biodiversity conservation in India face.
• The Bill de-criminalises violation and even withdraws the power given to the National Biodiversity Authority to file an FIR against a defaulting party which will encourage defaulters.

Biological Diversity Act, 2002:

• The act was enacted in 2002; it aims at the conservation of biological resources, managing its sustainable use and enabling fair and equitable sharing benefits arising out of the use.
• The act envisaged a three-tier structure to regulate the access to biological resources:
• The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
• The State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs)
• The Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) (at local level)
• The act provides these authorities with special funds and a separate budget in order to carry out any research project dealing with the biological natural resources of the country.
• Under this act, the Central Government, in consultation with the NBA:
• Shall notify threatened species and prohibit or regulate their collection, rehabilitation and conservation
• Designate institutions as repositories for different categories of biological resources
• The act stipulates all offences under it as cognizable and non-bailable.
• Any grievances related to the determination of benefit sharing or order of the National Biodiversity Authority or a State Biodiversity Board under this Act shall be taken to the National Green

Criticism of the Act:

• One of the major criticism is that emphasis is on preventing profit-sharing from the commercial use of biological resources rather than provisions for efficient conservation.
• This legislation does not act as an umbrella and overlooks its possibilities of harmonizing with prior existing legislation.
• It does not lay down guidelines for the assignment of non-monopoly rights nor for assessing contributions made by firms, local communities, or individual inventions.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/monsoon-session-of-parliament-to-decide-fate-of-biological-diversity-amendment-bill-90754

3. PRADHAN MANTRI UJJWALA YOJANA (PMUY)

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

THE CONTEXT: According to a recent report, after witnessing a rise in the number of subsidised LPG refills in the financial year 2020-21 under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), the trend has shown a decline in FY23.

EXPLANATION

• Out of the 95.9 million PMUY beneficiaries, 11.8 million (about 12%) did not get even a single LPG bottle during the last financial year.
• The report noted that this decrease reflects the stagnant income levels among the beneficiaries. However, it added that some smaller households may not require more than four refills annually.
• The Union government had admitted that the PMUY beneficiaries had not been able to fill cylinders due to high prices of LPG.
• As per Census 2011, there are 315 million domestic LPG consumers in India, covering 105.1% of estimated households.
• To promote the use of LPG, the government has implemented various measures, including subsidies that were extended for a year last March.

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana

• With the tagline “Swachh Indhan, Behtar Jeevan“, Union Government has launched a social welfare scheme “Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana” (PMUY) in 2016.
• The scheme envisages smoke-free Rural India and aims to benefit five crore families, especially the women living below the poverty line (BPL), by providing concessional LPG connections to the entire nation by 2019.
• It aims to increase the usage of LPG and would help in reducing health disorders, air pollution and deforestation.
• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

Salient Features

• To provide 5 crore LPG connections to BPL families, with the financial support of Rs 1600.
• Connections will be issued in the name of women beneficiaries.
• EMI facility will also be provided for stove and refill costs.
• It is complementary to Prime Minister’s Give It Up campaign, under which 75 lakh middle-class and lower middle-class households have voluntarily given up their cooking gas subsidy

Objectives

• To promote women’s empowerment
• To provide a healthy cooking fuel
• To prevent hazardous health-related issues among the millions of rural population due to the use of fossil fuel.

Implementation

• The identification of eligible BPL families will be made in consultation with the State Governments and the Union Territories.

Eligibility Criteria

• The applicant should be women above the age of 18 years.
• The applicant must be a rural inhabitant carrying a BPL
• The women applicant should have a savings bank account in any nationalized bank across the country to receive a subsidy amount.
• The applicant’s household should not already own an LPG connection.

Ujjwala 2.0

• The target of releasing 80 million connections was achieved in 2019; therefore, in 2021, Ujjwala 2.0 was launched.
• It aims to provide additional one crore LPG connections to adult women of poor households under PMUY with a budgetary support of Rs. 1600 /connection.
• In addition to existing eligibility criteria, the following facilities have been provided to beneficiaries under Ujjwala 2.0:-
• Online Application facility on newly launched portal pmuy.gov.in
• Acceptance of self-declaration from migrants to declare family composition and address proof.
• Free of cost – first refill and stove.
• e-KYC using Aadhaar authentication

Source: https://thewire.in/government/in-fy23-lpg-refills-under-ujjwala-fell-12-of-beneficiaries-didnt-get-a-single-refill-govt

4. LARGE NUMBER OF CASES PENDING AGAINST LEGISLATORS.

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: The amicus curiae appointed by the Supreme Court in Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay vs. Union of India, 2016. Informed the court about the Criminal Cases Pending Against Members of Parliament.

EXPLANATION:

• Criminal cases against Lok Sabha members are 44% (236 out of 542) and 31% against Rajya Sabha members (71 out of 226).
• Criminal cases against State Legislators are 1723 of 3991 (43%).
• He stated this in the 17th report submitted in the case relying on a study done by the Association for Democratic Rights.
• The Supreme Court has been monitoring expeditious disposal of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs since 2016 in a PIL filed by Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
• In his 18th Report, the amicus has also sought for a hearing date to be fixed to consider the constitutional validity of Section 8 of the Representation of the People’s Act, 1951 which limits the period of disqualification of a person to contest an election as an MP/MLA only for a period of six years from the date of the release upon conviction, even for a heinous offence.
• The Apex Court had directed that the Presiding officers of the Special Courts involving prosecution of MPs or MLAs, shall not be transferred except with the leave of the Apex Court. But later, order was modified.

SUPREME COURT ROLE IN DECRIMINALISING POLITICS, SOME RECENT STEPS

• The Supreme Court has been monitoring expeditious disposal of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs since 2016.
• Initially 12 Special Courts were constituted.
• Subsequently Special Courts have been established in almost all the districts, where the criminal cases are pending.
• The Supreme Court had directed that the Special Courts shall “fix a calendar for each case to be taken up on day-to-day basis.”
• The Supreme Court had also directed that “Chief Justices of the High Court shall also designate a Special Bench, comprising themselves and their designate, in order to monitor the progress of these trials.”
• Court directed that “keeping in mind public interest involved in the matter and in order to prevent undue delay, we direct that no unnecessary adjournments be granted in these matters.”

AMICUS CURIAE

• An amicus curia is an individual or organization who is not a party to a legal case.
• She is permitted to assist a court by offering information, expertise, or insight that has a bearing on the issues in the case.
• The decision on whether to consider an amicus brief lies within the discretion of the court.
• The phrase is legal Latin and the origin of the term has been dated to 1605–1615.
• The scope of amici curiae is generally found in the cases where broad public interests are involved and concerns regarding civil rights are in question.

Source:https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/criminal-cases-pending-against-44-of-lok-sabha-members-and-31-of-rajya-sabha-members-as-of-july-2022-amicus-curiae-informs-supreme-court-233536?infinitescroll=1

5. THE MCA (MINISTRY OF CORPORATE AFFAIRS) EXEMPTS REGIONAL RURAL BANKS (RRBS) FROM CCI’S  (COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA) MERGER CONTROL REGIME.

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY; GS 2: GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the MCA has exempted the RRBS from the purview of merger and acquisition regulations of CCI.

EXPLANATION:

• The exemption dispensation from prior scrutiny and approval of Competition Commission of India (CCI) would be available for five years.
• This move would pave the way for merger of RRBs without the prior scrutiny and approval of Competition Commission of India (CCI).
• The merger and acquisition regime of the CCI is directed towards establishing fair competition.
• This exemption will enable smooth consolidation of RRBs which will help in better service delivery with efficiency.

RRBs (REGIONAL RURAL BANKS)

• RRBs are financial institutions which ensure adequate credit for agriculture and other rural sectors. Regional Rural Banks were set up based on the recommendations of the Narasimham Working Group (1975), and after the legislations of the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976. The first Regional Rural Bank “Prathama Grameen Bank” was set up on October 2, 1975.
• The equity of a regional rural bank is held by the Central Government, concerned State Government and the Sponsor Bank in the proportion of 50:15:35
• Regional Rural Banks (RRB) are Indian Scheduled Commercial Banks (Government Banks) operating at regional level in different states of India.
• They have been created with a view of serving primarily the rural areas of India with basic banking and financial services.
• However, RRBs may have branches set up for urban operations and their area of operation may include urban area too.
• The area of operation of RRBs is limited to the area as notified by Government of India covering one or more districts in the State. RRBs perform various functions in following heads:
• They Carry out government operations like disbursement of wages of MGNREGA workers, distribution of pension etc.
• They provide Para-Banking facilities like locker facilities, debit and credit cards, mobile banking, internet banking, UPI etc.

CCI (COMPETITION COMMISSION OF INDIA)

• The Competition Act, 2002, as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007.
• It follows the philosophy of modern competition laws.
• The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.
• The objectives of the Act are sought to be achieved through the Competition Commission of India, which has been established by the Central Government with effect from 14th October 2003.
• CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
• It is the 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 in the markets of India.
• The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law.
• It undertakes competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.

Source: https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/mca-exempts-regional-rural-banks-from-ccis-merger-control-regime/article67100587.ece

1. E20 FUEL BY 2025

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: India’s aim to cover the entire nation with E20 fuel by 2025.

EXPLANATION:

• India has started the rollout of E20 fuel.
• It aims to cover the entire nation by 2025.
• We must find ways to bridge technology gaps, promote energy security and work on diversifying supply chains.

E20 Fuel

• E20 fuel is a blend of 20% ethanol with petrol.
• It is a move toward cleaner transportation.
• Sales of electric vehicles in India are on the upswing, but most people can’t afford them. As a result, E20 or flex-fuel vehicles provide a wonderful option for cutting down on pollution without breaking the bank.
• India has achieved 10% ethanol blending in petrol by 2021-22.

Ethanol Blending Programme

• This programme is under the ambit of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• The Government has advanced the target of 20% blending of ethanol from 2030 to 2025.
• Ethanol Blending programme has been a key focus area of the Government to achieve Aatmanirbhar in the field of energy.
• Due to the sustained efforts of the Government, Ethanol production capacity has seen six times increase since 2013-14.
• The achievements in the last eight years under Ethanol Blending Program & Biofuels Program have augmented India’s energy security.

India Energy Week (IEW)

• Prime Minister inaugurated India Energy Week (IEW) 2023 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on 6^thFeb 2023.
• IEW is aimed to showcase India’s rising prowess as an energy transition powerhouse.
• PM Launched E20 Fuel and Flagged off Green Mobility Rally.
• HPCL and other oil marketing companies are setting up 2G-3G ethanol plants that will facilitate the progress.
• It will help raise a lot of awareness in the Nation towards Green and Sustainable fuels.

Significance in Creating Sustainable Future

• The government of India’s policy push, like the Ethanol Blending Program and National Green Hydrogen Mission, will fuel the Indian economy towards its target of a 5 trillion-dollar economy and realizing Net Zero by 2070.
• It will help raise a lot of awareness in the Nation towards Green and Sustainable fuels.
• It will help in the achievement of the Paris Agreement Goals.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/indias-aim-to-cover-entire-nation-with-e20-fuel-by-2025-pm-modi-11690000951830.html

2. MARINE HEAT WAVES

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: The world is currently baking under the blazing sun. In April, it reached 21.1 degrees Celsius, breaking the previous record of 21 degrees Celsius in 2016. And since then, ocean temperatures have remained at record-high levels, giving rise to marine heat waves (MHWs) around the globe.

EXPLANATION:

• Sweltering temperatureshave induced extreme heat warnings, wildfires and poor air quality in different regions.
• At present, MHWs have gripped the north-east Pacific, the southern hemisphere in the southern Indian Ocean and the Pacific, the north-east Atlantic, tropical North Atlantic, and the Mediterranean.
• These disastrous consequences are set to become even worse as the world continues to get warmer, making MHWs more intense and longer.

What are marine heat waves?

• A marine heat wave is an extreme weather event.
• It occurs when the surface temperature of a particular region of the sea rises to 3 or 4 degrees Celsius above the average temperature for at least five days.
• MHWs can last for weeks, months or even years, according to the US government’s agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

What is the impact of marine heat waves on ocean life?

• It can be catastrophic for marine life. For instance, MHWs along the Western Australian coast during the summer of 2010 and 2011 caused some “devastating” fish kills over a short period and mainly within a particular area.
• It can lead to coral bleaching as when water gets too warm, they expel the algae known as zooxanthellae, living in their tissues, causing them to turn entirely white.
• Coral bleaching has severe consequences as it reduces the reproductivity of corals and makes them more vulnerable to fatal diseases.
• It also fuels the growth of invasive alien species, which can be destructive to marine food webs.
• It forces species to change their behaviour in a way that puts wildlife at increased risk of harm. For example, it has been linked to whale entanglements in fishing gear, according to a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• They may cause the deaths of several marine species, alter their migration patterns even impact weather patterns.

How do marine heat waves affect humans?

• When storms travel across hot oceans, they gather more water vapour and heat. This results in more powerful winds, heavier rainfall and more flooding when storms reach the land meaning heightened devastation for humans.
• Higher ocean temperatures, which are associated with MHWs, can make storms like hurricanes and tropical cyclones stronger, which can severely affect coastal communities.
• According to NOAA, half a billion people depend on coral reefs for food, income, and protection. So, when MHWs destroy these reefs, humans relying on them also bear the brunt.

Source:https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/marine-heat-waves-impact-cause-explained-8855048/

3. STAR-C INITIATIVE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Following the Prime Minister’s participation in a summit with Pacific Island countries, India is considering expanding its solar STAR-C initiative to a number of Pacific Island countries.

EXPLANATION:

• India’s efforts will primarily be focused on economic development, connectivity and climate change. The expansion of the STAR-C initiative will form a key part of that outreach. In the Pacific, it currently runs in Tonga.
• The government announced a 12-step action plan for the islands, which included solar power projects. India has also emphasized the importance of working with Pacific Island countries on climate change and renewable energy in recent years.

What is the STAR-C initiative?

• It is an initiative by ISA and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the funding for the project is provided by both India and France.
• Its major objective is to create a strong network of institutional capacities within ISA Member States.
• It aims to enhance quality infrastructure (QI) for the uptake of solar energy products and service markets, particularly in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).
• It aims to boost capacity in developing countries by building solar workforces, standardizing products, setting up infrastructure and bringing greater awareness among policymakers.
• In its initial stages, the focus was on the Economic Community of West African States, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the East African Community.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• The alliance is also called International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA).
• It is an alliance of 114 signatory countries, most being sunshine countries, which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient consumption of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights.

• The initiative was launched at the India Africa Summit and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015.
• In January 2016, the Indian Prime Minister and the then-French President jointly laid the foundation stone of the ISA Headquarters and inaugurated the interim Secretariat at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gurugram, Haryana.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/world/india-may-build-solar-infra-in-pacific-island-nations-amid-chinese-push-11689875862684.html

4. CREDIT GUARANTEE SCHEME FOR LIVESTOCK SECTOR

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Government launches first-ever credit guarantee scheme for collateral-free loans to livestock MSMEs.

EXPLANATION:

• It has been launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• The scheme is set up under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) under Prime Minister’s Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package and aims to facilitate collateral-free credit for MSMEs in the livestock sector.
• A credit guarantee fund trust of Rs 750 crores has been set up for credit guarantee coverage of up to 25 per cent of loans disbursed to MSMEs by eligible banks and other lending institutions.
• The primary aim of the scheme is for the lender to focus on project viability and secure the credit facility only based on the primary security of the assets financed.
• The credit guarantee scheme facilitates access to finance for the un-served and under-served livestock sector.
• Eligible beneficiaries for the availability of financial assistance from lenders are mainly first-generation entrepreneurs and underprivileged sections of society who lack collateral security for supporting their ventures. The aim is to incentivize investments by entrepreneurs, private firms, MSMEs, Farmers’ Producers Organizations (FPOs) and Section 8 companies.
• It aims to establish dairy processing and value addition infrastructure; meat processing and value addition infrastructure; animal feed plants; breed improvement technology and breed multiplication farm; etc.
• A credit guarantee portal has been developed as a rule-based B2B portal and implemented the enrollment of eligible lending institutions under the credit guarantee scheme, issuance/renewal of credit guarantee cover and settlement of claims.
• It will greatly increase the participation of MSMEs engaged in the livestock sector, leading to increased flow of credit to the sector and strengthening the MSMEs to boost the overall rural economy.

Status of the Livestock sector in India:

• Livestock plays an important role in the Indian economy. About 20.5 million people depend upon livestock for their livelihood.
• Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households.
• Livestock provides livelihood to two-thirds of the rural communities.
• It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast livestock resources. The livestock sector contributes 4.11% of GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP.

Other initiatives in Livestock Sector:

• National Livestock Mission: It was launched in the financial year 2014-15 and seeks to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders. The scheme was implemented as a sub-scheme of the White Revolution – Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana in April 2019. It aims for Employment generation through entrepreneurship development in the small ruminant, poultry and piggery sector & Fodder sector.
• Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund: It has been announced under NABARD to ensure that Dairy Cooperatives remain competitive for the sustained benefit of farmers in the Union Budget of 2017-18. Funding is in the form of an interest-bearing loan, which will flow from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) / National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and, in turn to eligible End Borrowers.

Source: https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/sme/msme-fin-government-launches-first-ever-credit-guarantee-scheme-for-collateral-free-loans-to-livestock-msmes/3179845/

5. INDIA CLIMATE ENERGY DASHBOARD (ICED)

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, NITI Aayog has released the India Climate Energy Dashboard (ICED) 3.0.

EXPLANATION:

• Developed as a user-friendly platform, ICED 3.0 enables users to freely access and analyse datasets using an analytical engine.
• It will facilitate insights and enhance understanding about the energy and climate sectors while identifying the key challenges.
• The portal will draw insights from the available data parameters and hence immensely useful in monitoring the progress of India’s clean energy transition journey.

India Climate Energy Dashboard (ICED):

• It is the country’s one-stop platform for near real-time data on the energy sector, climate, and related economic datasets based on government-published sources.
• It contains real-time information on energy, climate, economy and demography of the country, sourced from govt sources.
• It has been set up by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the energy and climate think-tank Vasudha Foundation.
• It is claimed to aid the policymakers, the general public, and energy and climate trackers to track the latest information on these topics, compiled from different ministries.
• The portal offers specialized, customized information sets which can be visualized with the help of maps, graphs and other visual elements.

• This dashboard empowers users with more than 500 parameters, over 2000 infographics, and several interactive visualizations, allowing users to gain a holistic understanding of India’s energy sector holistically.
• It is a user-friendly platform that aims to bring together comprehensive and time series data from 2005 onwards to provide single window access for all datasets on these topics required for their modelling assessments and research.
• It offers insightful analysis of India’s energy, climate, and relevant economy-related aspects
• and further act as a pillar for robust decision-making enabling India’s clean energy transition,
• Besides energy and climate.
• It also offers information on economy and demography for comparative study and its combined analysis along with the energy and climate issues.

Source:https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1941095#:~:text=The%20ICED%20is%20the%20country’s,datasets%20using%20an%20analytical%20engine.

1. HEATWAVES

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the US scientific and regulatory agency the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the year 2023 witnessed Earth’s hottest June since the record-keeping of global temperatures began 174 years ago.

EXPLANATION:

• According to scientists and experts, a number of factors are fueling the soaring temperatures in different parts of the world.
• At present, heat domes and anticyclones are responsible for the occurrence of heat waves in several parts of the world. Although they don’t occur due to climate change, they have become more intense and longer as a result of soaring global temperatures.
• Also, El Nino conditionsare exacerbating the extreme heat around the world. Essentially a weather pattern that refers to an abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, El Nino is known to “greatly increase the likelihood of breaking temperature records and triggering more extreme heat in many parts of the world and in the ocean.
• While in the USA and Algeria, heat domes are responsible for unleashing heat waves, Europe has suffered due to the arrival of two consecutive anticyclones that originated in Africa.

Anticyclones:

• An anticyclone, also known as a high-pressure system, is essentially an area of high pressure in which the air goes downwards towards the Earth’s surface. As the air sinks, its molecules get compressed, which increases the pressure, making it warmer. This causes dry and hot weather.
• The winds remain calm and gentle during an anticyclone, and there is almost no formation of clouds because here the air sinks rather than rises.

Heat domes:

• A heat dome occurs when an area of high-pressure stays over a region for days and weeks. It traps warm air, just like a lid on a pot, for an extended period.
• The longer that air remains trapped, the more the sun works to heat the air, producing warmer conditions with every passing day. Heat domes, if they last for a long period, may cause deadly heat waves.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/heat-domes-anticyclones-heat-waves-explained-8852775/

2. BHOOMI SAMMAN AWARD

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The President presented the Bhoomi Samman awards to nine state secretaries and 68 district collectors for their achievements in the implementation of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme.

EXPLANATION:

• Bhoomi Samman Awards aims to acknowledge and encourage outstanding performance in the implementation of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
• Digitisation increases transparency, and this mission of digitising land records will have a positive impact on rural development.
• The awards were given to nine state secretaries and 68 district collectors for achieving saturation of the core components of DILRMP.
• The digitisation process of land records and registration will help mitigate the huge pendency of court cases involving land disputes, cutting down the loss to the country’s economy due to projects being stalled over such litigations.
• It is expected to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of various services and benefits of the programmes of central and state departments related to agriculture and farmer welfare, chemical and fertilizer, public distribution system (PDS) etc.
• It is noted that the Department of Land Resources has achieved 94% digitisation targets pan-India and is aiming for 100% by March 31, 2024.

Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP):

• Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) led to merger of two erstwhile Centrally Sponsored schemes of the Land Reforms (LR) Division

1. Computerisation of Land Records (CLR)
2. Strengthening of Revenue Administration and Updating of Land Records (SRA&ULR).

• The main aims of DILRMP are to create a system of updated land records, automated and automatic mutation, integration between textual and spatial records, inter-connectivity between revenue and registration
• It aims to replace the present deeds registration and presumptive title system with that of conclusive titling with title guarantee.
• The DILRMP has 3 major components
• Computerization of land record
• Survey/re-survey
• Computerization of Registration.
• Programme implementation: The State Governments/UT Administrations will implement the programme with financial and technical support from the Dept. of Land Resources, Government of India. The district will be taken as the unit of implementation, where all activities under the programme will converge.
• The citizen is expected to benefit from DILRMP in one or more of the following ways;
• Real-time land ownership records will be available to the citizen
• Free accessibility to the records will reduce the interface between the citizen and the Government functionaries, thereby reducing rent-seeking and harassment.
• Public-private partnership (PPP) mode of service delivery will further reduce citizen interface with Govt. machinery, while adding to the convenience
• Abolition of stamp papers and payment of stamp duty and registration fees through banks, etc., will also reduce interface with the Registration machinery
• The single-window service or the web-enabled “anytime-anywhere” access will save the citizen time and effort in obtaining RoRs, etc.

Source:https://www.deccanherald.com/national/president-murmu-presents-bhoomi-samman-awards-1238245.html

3. INDIA-JAPAN SEMICONDUCTOR PACT

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: India and Japan have signed a memorandum of understanding for developing the semiconductor ecosystem, covering manufacturing and research.

EXPLANATION:

• Japan has become the second Quad partner after the United States to sign an agreement with India for the joint development of the semiconductor ecosystem and maintain the resilience of its global supply chain.
• Both nations will also work together on government-to-government and industry-to-industry collaboration and set up an implementation organisation.
• The agreement is for semiconductor design, talent development, research into equipment, and to increase resilience in the supply chain. It aims semiconductor industry to become a USD 1 trillion industry from USD 650 billion at present.
• Partnership with Japan will also help India to move from assembly and advanced packaging of semiconductors to manufacturing.
• Further, the government might also easily focus on developing the semiconductor ecosystem below the 28-nanometer node as well going forward. In the entire 100% of semiconductor demand, close to 55% of demand is going to come from the larger nodes such as 40 nanometers, 60 nanometers, even 90 nanometers, 28 nanometers.

Japan’s strengths:

• Japan houses companies that are global leaders in the raw form of semiconductor wafers, chemicals and gases, lenses that are used in chip manufacturing equipment, display technologies etc.
• With around 100 semiconductor manufacturing plants, Japan is among the top five countries to have a semiconductor ecosystem.
• Collaboration with Japan for the development of semiconductors will help the government to attract Japanese companies to the Rs 76,000 crore semiconductor incentive scheme, thereby boosting the semiconductor ecosystem in the country.

India’ Strengths:

• Japan sees India as a partner where complementary strengths can be used, adding that India has over 50,000 design engineers.
• Cost competitiveness of manufacturing in India, market and talent base are the key things that will drive Japanese companies to invest in India with regard to the semiconductor and electronic ecosystem.

Semiconductor:

• A semiconductor is a substance that has specific electrical properties that enable it to serve as a foundation for computers and other electronic devices.
• It is typically a solid chemical element or compound that conducts electricity under certain conditions but not others.
• Elemental semiconductors include antimony, arsenic, boron, carbon, germanium, selenium, silicon, sulfur and tellurium. Silicon is the best known of these, forming the basis of most ICs.
• Common semiconductor compounds include gallium arsenide, indium antimonide and the oxides of most metals.
• Types: An N-type semiconductor carries current mainly in the form of negatively charged electrons, similar to the conduction of current in a wire. A P-type semiconductor carries current predominantly as electron deficiencies called holes. A hole has a positive electric charge, equal and opposite to the charge of an electron.

Government initiatives in the semiconductor sector:

• India currently imports all chips, and the market is estimated to touch USD 100 billion by 2025 from USD 24 billion now.
• In 2021, India announced its roughly USD 10 billion-dollar Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemeto encourage semiconductor and display manufacturing in the country.
• In 2021, MeitY also launched the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) Schemeto nurture at least 20 domestic companies involved in semiconductor design and facilitate them to achieve a turnover of more than Rs.1500 Crore in the next 5 years.
• Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS): It aims to strengthen the value chain for the manufacturing of electronic products in India. The target segment comprises of the downstream value chain of electronic products, i.e., electronic components, semiconductor/ display fabrication units, ATMP units, specialized sub-assemblies and capital goods for the manufacture of aforesaid goods. The scheme will lead to higher domestic value addition and strengthen the existing ecosystem of ESDM in India.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/electronics/india-japan-sign-pact-for-semiconductor-development/articleshow/101992248.cms

4. FLYASH IN SUNDARBANS

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Barges carrying fly ash from India to Bangladesh through the vulnerable Sundarban islands are triggering erosion in the river banks.

EXPLANATION:

• About 40 barges regularly traverse adjacent to the Indian Sundarbans, taking fly ash from Indian thermal power plants to Bangladesh, where it is used as raw material for cement production.
• Ghoramara Island erosion has been cited as proof by a scientist. It has been alleged the erosion has increased significantly since the barges started travelling close to the inhabited islands of the Sundarbans about a decade ago. These barges are triggering the high erosion in the river banks.
• However, senior officials from both IWAI and Kolkata Port Trust claimed the regular tidal waves and fluctuations, as well as strong winds and sea level rise, damaged river banks.
• A 2019-20 report by IWAI showed fly ash transport accounts for 10 per cent of traffic on all the national waterways.

Flyash and its regulations

• Fly ash is an unwanted unburnt residue of coal combustion in a coal thermal power plant. It is emitted along with flue gases during the burning of coal in a furnace and collected using the electrostatic precipitators.
• Fly ash consists of substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3), ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO).
• Uses: It is primarily known for improving the durability and workability of concrete mixes. It is also a filler in paints, adhesives, and metal and plastic composites. It is commonly used as structural fill for road construction, and fly ash can be used to make bricks, ceramic tiles, plaster, Portland cement, and ready-mix cement.

• Harmful effects: Fly ash contains mercury, cadmium, and arsenic. Without proper management, fly ash can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water, and air, posing a risk to humans, wildlife, and the environment. Using fly ash in construction materials instead of sending it to the landfill reduces the amount of hazardous waste affecting the environment. Substituting fly ash for a fourth or a third of the cement in concrete also decreases the CO₂ emissions generated by cement production, reducing the overall impact on the environment.
• Government initiatives and regulations:
• A web portal for monitoring fly ash generation and utilisation and a mobile-based application titled “ASHTRACK” has been launched by the Government.
• National Thermal Power Corporation: National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) issued an Expression of interest (EOI) call earlier in 2021 for the sale of fly ash. Additionally, NTPC has worked with cement producers all throughout the nation to supply fly ash.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana: The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) has placed a strong emphasis on cutting-edge, ecologically friendly building techniques, like the utilization of fly ash bricks.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban)has focused on new construction technologies such as using fly ash bricks that are innovative and environmentally friendly.
• Thermal power plants and lignite plants that do not utilise 100 per cent of the fly ash they generate in an “eco-friendly” way will now face penalties under a new set of rules notified by notification from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Sunderbans:

• The Sundarbans mangrove forest is one of the largest such forests in the world (140,000 ha), lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal.
• It is adjacent to the border of India’s Sundarbans World Heritage ,Site inscribed in 1987.
• The Sundarbans is made up of around 100 islands that are almost evenly divided between human habitats and wild islands.
• The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests and presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes.
• The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger and other threatened species, such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python.
• These have been identified as a climate impact hotspot. The islands are already being eroded due to the rapid rise in sea levels and tidal fluctuations.

Ghoramara island

• Ghoramara Island is an island 92 km south of Kolkata, India, in the Sundarban Delta complex of the Bay of Bengal.
• The island is small, roughly five square kilometres in area, and is quickly disappearing due to erosion and sea level rise.
• In the year 1903, this island was connected with Sagar Island. Now it is located at 18.36 nautical miles away from Haldia dock in the estuary of Hugli.
• Global warming has caused the rivers that pour down from the Himalayas and empty into the Bay of Bengal to swell and shift in recent decades, placing Sundarbans in danger.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)

• IWAI is a statutory body which looks after the development & maintenance of national waterways in India.
• The Authority primarily undertakes projects for the development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure on national waterways through grants received from the Ministry of Shipping.
• Its Head Office is in Noida, while regional offices are in Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati and Kochi.
• Functions related to National Waterways include Survey Navigation,Infrastructure and Regulations, Fairway Development, Pilotage and Coordination of IWT with other modes
• The general functions of IWAI include Carrying out hydrographic surveys, Developing consultancy services, Research & Development Classification of waterways and Standards & safety.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/barges-carrying-fly-ash-from-india-to-bangladesh-eroding-sundarbans-bengal-minister-90742

5. GAGANYAAN’S SERVICE MODULE PROPULSION SYSTEM

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully tested the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System (SMPS) at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu.

EXPLANATION:

• The service module of Gaganyaan is a regulated bi-propellant-based propulsion system that caters to the requirements of the Orbital Module, performing orbit injection, circularisation, on-orbit control, and de-boost manoeuvring during the ascent phase.
• This test involved five liquid apogee motor (LAM) engines with a thrust of 440 N, and 16 reaction control system (RCS) thrusters with a thrust of 100 N.
• The 440 N thrust LAM engines provide the main propulsive force during the ascending phase, while the RCS thrusters ensure precise altitude correction.
• The hot test of the System Demonstration Model (SDM) emulated the fluid circuit of the Service Module Propulsion System, encompassing the propellant tank feed system, helium pressurisation system, flight-qualified thrusters, and control components.
• With the successful completion of the hot test, the SMPS demonstrated its performance in the full configuration.
• Moving forward, ISRO has scheduled five additional tests to demonstrate both nominal and off-nominal mission scenarios, reinforcing the rigour of testing.

Gaganyaan mission:

• Gaganyaan project envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bringing them back safely to earth by landing in Indian sea waters.
• The project is accomplished through an optimal strategy by considering in-house expertise, experience of Indian industry, intellectual capabilities of Indian academia & research institutions, along with cutting-edge technologies available with international agencies.
• The pre-requisites for the Gaganyaan mission include the development of many critical technologies, including human-rated launch vehicle for carrying the crew safely to space, a Life Support System to provide earth-like environment to the crew in space, crew emergency escape provision and evolving crew management aspects for training, recovery and rehabilitation of crew.
• Various precursor missions are planned to demonstrate the Technology Preparedness Levels before carrying out the actual Human Space Flight mission.
• These demonstrator missions include Integrated AirDrop Tests (IADT), Pad Abort Tests (PAT) and Test Vehicle (TV) flights. Safety and reliability of all systems will be proven in unmanned missions preceding manned missions.

• LVM3 rocket – The well-proven and reliable heavy lift launcher of ISRO is identified as the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission. It consists of solid stage, liquid stage and cryogenic stage.
• All systems in the LVM3 launch vehicle are re-configured to meet human rating requirements and christened Human Rated LVM3. HLVM3 will be capable of launching the Orbital Module to an intended Low Earth Orbit of 400 km.
• HLVM3 consists of a Crew Escape System (CES) powered by a set of quick-acting, high-burn rate solid motors, which ensures that the Crew Module, along with the crew, is taken to a safe distance in case of any emergency either at the launch pad or during the ascent phase.
• Orbital Module (OM) that will be Orbiting Earth comprises of Crew Module (CM) and Service Module (SM). OM is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems with adequate redundancy considering human safety.
• Crew Module is the habitable space with Earth-like environment in space for the crew. It is of double-walled construction consisting of a pressurized metallic Inner Structure and an unpressurised External Structure with a Thermal Protection System (TPS).
• It houses the crew interfaces, human-centric products, life support system, avionics and deceleration systems. It is also designed for re-entry to ensure the safety of the crew during descent till touchdown.
• The service Module will be used to provide necessary support to CM while in orbit. It is an unpressurized structure containing thermal systems, propulsion systems, power systems, avionics systems and deployment mechanisms.
• Human safety is of paramount importance in the Gaganyaan mission. In order to ensure the same, various new technologies comprising Engineering systems and Human-centric systems are being developed and realised.
• Crew training for Gaganyaan: India has collaborated with Russia for crew training. Astronaut Training Facility established in Bengaluru caters to Classroom training, Physical Fitness training, Simulator training and Flight suit training.
• Training modules cover academic courses, Gaganyaan Flight Systems, Micro-gravity familiarization through Parabolic Flights, Aero-medical training, Recovery & Survival training, mastering of Flight Procedures and training on Crew Training Simulators.
• Aeromedical training, Periodical flying practice and Yoga are also included as part of the training.

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/isro-successfully-tests-gaganyaan-service-module-propulsion-system/article67101045.ece

1. ZOMBIE FIRES

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: Canada’s extreme wildfire season offers a glimpse of new risks in a warmer, drier future. As global temperatures rise, zombie fires are also spreading farther north and into the Arctic.

EXPLANATION:

• Earlier, the blanket of wildfire smoke spread across large parts of the U.S. and Canada, signifying apocalyptic orange skies and air pollution levels.
• These fires are not just burning in trees and grasses. New research on the exceptional Arctic fire seasons of 2019 and 2020 points to fires moving into the ground as well. These underground fires are known as “zombie fires”.
• First, as the organic-rich Arctic soils dry up because of changing climate conditions, they can burn slowly and release vast amounts of smoke into the atmosphere.
• Second, soil fires that spread underground are harder for firefighters to tame and extinguish, thus demanding more resources for longer periods of time.
• In areas where carbon-rich peatlands are common, people are dealing with fires smouldering to depths dozens of feet underground.
• As these soil fires don’t die easily, as recent research finds that Arctic soil fires can smoulder through the winter and reignite during early spring when temperatures rise, hence the nickname “zombie fires.”

What is a zombie fire?

• Most people picture wildfires as catastrophic flames consuming trees and grasses.
• Zombie fires are ground fires that do not flame but burn more slowly and have the tendency to spread deep into the ground and spread laterally.
• The result is that ground-smoldering fires are not only less visible, but they are also less accessible and require digging up and dousing with lots of water.
• These smouldering fires also produce more smoke because of their lower temperature of combustion.
• Ultra-fine particles in smoke are particularly harmful to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and can be carried far and wide by winds.
• Because of the slow combustion process and the abundance of fuel in the form of carbon and oxygen, smouldering ground fires can also burn for months and sometimes years.
• Some of these ground fires can become so massive that they release smoke plumes that cover vast geographical regions.
• In 1997, peat fires in Indonesia sent dangerous levels of smoke across Southeast Asia and parts of Australia and increased carbon emissions. They were ignited by slash-and-burn activities to plant palm plantations and amplified by drought conditions during a severe El Niño event.

Reasons:

• Wildfires have been a natural part of the northern forest and tundra ecosystems for thousands of years.
• Rising temperature: The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification, i.e. the Arctic has already exceeded a 2 C (3.6 F) increase compared with pre-industrial times.
• Changes in atmospheric circulation: It creates periods of extreme heat, dry out vegetation and reduces moisture in soils, and, importantly, leads to more frequent lightning strikes that can spark blazes.
• Lightning: Although lightning remains infrequent at very high latitudes, it is expected to increase and expand over larger territories into the far north as the climate warms and generates more storms that can produce lightning. In 2022, thousands of lightning strikes helped spark one of Alaska’s worst fire seasons on record.
• Peatleads: As the Arctic warms and fires move farther northward, peat soils rich in dead plant material burn at an accelerated rate. Northern ecosystems store twice as much carbon in their peat and permafrost as the atmosphere, and both are increasingly vulnerable to fire.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/climate-change/-zombie-fires-in-the-arctic-canada-s-extreme-wildfire-season-offers-a-glimpse-of-new-risks-in-a-warmer-drier-future-90711

2. BACTERIOPHAGES

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: With antibiotic resistance rising, scientists think bacteriophages which hunt and kill bacteria could cure bacterial infections.

EXPLANATION:

• Outbreaks of viral diseases, such as smallpox, influenza, HIV, and COVID-19, have killed billions and fundamentally shaped societies throughout human history.
• But not all viruses are bad; similar to bacteria, “good” or “friendly” viruses can also be beneficial for health.
• Scientists now talk of a virome which is all the different types of viruses that a human body hosts in bodies which contribute to health, much like the bacterial microbiome.
• A person has 380 trillion virus particles living (or existing) in the body right now, i.e. 10 times more than the number of bacteria.
• These viruses lurk in our lungs and blood, live on our skin and linger inside the microbes in our guts.
• There are viruses that kill cancer cells and help break down tumours, others that train our immune system and help them fight pathogens and even some that control gene expression in pregnancy.

Bacteriophages: Anti-bacterial guard dogs

• The vast majority of viruses inside us are bacteriophages which are the viruses that kill bacteria in our microbiomes.
• Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are harmless to human cells as they do not recognize them as their bacterial prey.

Mechanism of Bacteriophages:

• They work by hunting down bacteria and attaching themselves to the surface of a bacterial cell before injecting viral DNA material into the cell.
• The viral DNA then replicates inside the bacteria, sometimes by borrowing the DNA replication hardware of the bacteria.
• Once enough new viruses have been created inside the bacterial cell, the cell then bursts to release the new viral particles.
• All this takes just 30 minutes, meaning one virus can become many in a couple of hours.

Phage therapy:

• The advantages of phages lie in their effectiveness against every multi-resistant pathogen. Phages are extremely precise in their elimination of bacterial strains that won’t disturb the gut microbiome, as is the case with antibiotics.
• Phages could be a huge boon in our fight against antibacterial resistance.
• Due to the scarcity of antibiotics in Soviet-era Russia, phages were used to treat bacterial infections, and their use has continued in countries like Georgia, Ukraine and Russia for decades.
• However, Phage therapy must be precisely tailored to the bacteria that cause an infection in a patient, as bacteria do also develop resistance to phage therapies.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/bacteriophages-good-viruses-fight-bacteria-8848914/

3. WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT INDEX (WEI) AND THE GLOBAL GENDER PARITY INDEX (GGPI)

TAG: GS 1: SOCIETY; GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: According to a UN report, only 1% of women live in countries with high gender parity, and female empowerment. In India, women empowerment, gender parity was found to be ‘low’ despite ‘medium’ human development.

EXPLANATION:

• They are a first-of-its-kind report that presents a comprehensive analysis of the progress made in the human development of women and girls was jointly created by two UN agencies, i.e. UN Women and UN Development Programme.
• The bodies collated data from 114 countries and analysed them based on the twin indices of the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) and the Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI).
• This report highlights the global challenges faced by women and provides a roadmap for targeted interventions and policy reforms. The report introduces two new indices:
• The Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) measures women’s power and freedom to make choices.
• The Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI) evaluates the status of women relative to men in core dimensions of human development and exposes gaps in parity between women and men.
• Combined, these indices offer a comprehensive assessment of countries’ progress in achieving gender equality.
• The WEI focuses solely on women, measuring their power and freedom to make choices and seize opportunities in life.

Findings of the report:

• According to the report by the United Nations, only an abysmal 1% of women across the world live in countries that have managed to achieve both high women empowerment and gender parity.
• The report noted leadership roles and decision-making still mostly lie with men and are unavailable to women.
• As per WEI, on average, women are empowered to achieve only 60 per cent of their full potential.
• As measured by the GGPI, women were also found to achieve 28 per cent less than men across key human development dimensions.
• None of the 114 countries analysed achieved full women’s empowerment or complete gender parity.
• More than 90 per cent of the global population of women live in countries with low or middle women’s empowerment and low or middle performance in achieving gender parity.
• In India, women’s empowerment and gender parity were both found to be ‘low’, although it was assessed to be in the ‘medium’ category in terms of human development.
• It was found that about 8 per cent of women and girls live in countries with low or middle women’s empowerment but high performance in achieving gender parity.
• The report identified areas where comprehensive policy action is needed:

1. Health policies: Support and promote long and healthy lives for all, with a focus on universal access to sexual and reproductive health
2. Equality in education: Address gaps in skills and quality of education, especially in fields such as STEM, to empower women and girls in the digital age
3. Work-life balance and support for families: Invest in policies and services that address work-life balance, including affordable quality childcare services, parental leave schemes, and flexible working arrangements
4. Women’s equal participation: Set targets and action plans for achieving gender parity in all spheres of public life and eliminate discriminatory laws and regulations that hold women back
5. Violence against women: Implement comprehensive measures focused on prevention, changing social norms, and eliminating discriminatory laws and policies

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT INDEX (WEI)

• The WEI is a composite index designed to measure progress in the multi-dimensional aspects of women’s empowerment.
• Empowerment is considered a factor of both women’s achievements as well as of gender parity with men.
• WEI measures progress on women’s empowerment by aggregating results across five key areas (or “domains”). Each domain is comprised of a series of metrics (or “indicators”) which quantifies performance in this domain.

THE GLOBAL GENDER PARITY INDEX (GGPI)

• It is a socioeconomic index usually designed to measure the human development of males and females.
• It measures attempts to eliminate gender disparities and emphasizes the plight of girls with unequal access in third-world countries.
• It is often used in order to identify nations and regions that are in need of economic development and equality.
• For any development indicator, one can define the GPI relative to this indicator by dividing its value for females by its value for males.
• A GPI value less than one is an indication that gender parity favours males, while a GPI value greater than one designates that gender parity is in favour of females.
• The closer a GPI is to one, the closer a country is to achieving equality of access between males and females. A nation is said to have achieved gender parity when its GPI value falls within the range of 0.97 and 1.03.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/only-1-women-live-in-countries-with-high-gender-parity-female-empowerment-un-report-90685

4. U.S.-INDIA STRATEGIC CLEAN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP (SCEP)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: India and the US emphasized the need for joint action and collaboration to navigate the global energy transition during the Ministerial meeting of the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP).

EXPLANATION:

Highlights of the meeting:

• A joint statement said that both sides renewed their commitment to work towards a just, orderly and sustainable energy transition, which prioritizes access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy supply.
• The statement said that during the meeting, both the countries noted the growing importance of bilateral energy cooperation between the countries while underscoring the critical importance of bilateral clean energy engagement.
• They highlight the achievements of the SCEP in strengthening energy security, creating opportunities for clean energy innovation, addressing climate change and creating employment generation opportunities.
• They reviewed the mandates of SCEP, which over the years has deepened collaboration across a wide breadth of clean energy work streams, including clean and renewable energy, energy efficiency, and increased collaboration in emerging technologies.
• Both sides recognised the importance of producing green/clean hydrogen as a critical energy source for global decarbonisation and agreed to support each other’s national hydrogen missions.
• The sides also acknowledged that successfully achieving ambitious climate and clean energy aspirations necessitates coordinated efforts on development of energy transition roadmaps, capacity building, job skilling, and sharing of best practices at all levels of government.
• In that context, the sides agreed to work toward development of net zero villages in India to support the clean energy transition.”

Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP):

• A high-level U.S.- India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership was announced jointly by the Indian Prime Minister and US President on the margins of the April 2021 Leaders’ Summit on Climate.
• It aims to advance shared climate and clean energy goals.
• The Agenda 2030 Partnership includes two tracks in the form of the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) and the Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue.
• The SCEP was earlier established as the Strategic Energy Partnership in 2018 and had replaced the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue, the previous intergovernmental engagement for energy cooperation.
• The SCEP advances energy security and innovation with greater emphasis on electrification and decarbonization of processes and end uses, scaling up emerging clean energy technologies while finding solutions for hard-to decarbonize sectors.
• Engagement with the private sector and other stakeholders will remain a priority.

• The Strategic Clean Energy Partnership’s Renewable Energy Pillar objectives are aligned to drive faster deployment of renewable energy for inclusive and resilient development, taking into account national circumstances and sustainable development priorities.
• The overarching goal is to enhance equitable economic development, universal energy access, and energy security in India, with broader benefits through South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region as a whole.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/industry/energy/india-us-stress-on-joint-action-for-global-energy-transition-11689709121376.html

5. BURA CHAPORI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, in  Assam’s Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary, violence erupted, leaving one woman, Rahima Khatun, dead and six others, including three forest guards, injured.

EXPLANATION:

• The picturesque location first made news in February,2023 when it was at the centre of a massive eviction exercise during which the forest department cleared 1,282 hectares of land where more than 2,000 people had set up homes.

Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is a protected area located in the state of Assam in India. It is located in Sonipat district, 40 km from Tezpur town and 181 km away from Guwahati.
• This wildlife sanctuary covers 44.06 km2 on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River.
• The area was declared a Reserved forest in 1974; it became a sanctuary in 1995.
• It comprises of a mosaic of wet alluvial grassland, riparian and semi-evergreen forests dotted by wetland and river systems.
• It forms an integral part of the Laokhowa-Burachapori ecosystem and is a notified buffer of the Kaziranga Tiger reserve.

Biodiversity

• This sanctuary is home to the different mammals. Reptiles and fish are also found here.
• Mammals: Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wild buffalo, hog deer, wild pig, and elephants.
• Several wetlands within the wildlife sanctuary also make it an ideal breeding place for several species of migratory birds during the winter season.
• Bird: Bengal Florican, Black-necked Stork, Mallard, Open billed Stork, Teal, and Whistling Duck among others.
• The grassland is also rich in various kinds of medicinal herbs and plants.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-assam-eviction-flare-up-leaves-mother-of-2-dead-what-was-the-need-to-shoot-8847244/

1. CLIMATE RESILIENT PLANTS

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: In the biodiversity hotspot Western Ghats, researchers have found 62 species of plants that can withstand harsh environments and can survive extreme dehydration.

EXPLANATION:

Desiccation-tolerant (DT) vascular plants

• The species that can withstand harsh environments and can survive extreme dehydration are called as desiccation-tolerant (DT) vascular plants. It has potential applications in agriculture, particularly in areas where water is scarce.
• Genes of these desiccation-tolerant vascular plants can be used to create a high-temperature tolerant variety of crops to improve climate resilience and ensure food security.
• They are usually found in rocky outcrops in the tropics and can recover quickly when water supplies are restored.
• Out of the 62 species identified, 16 are endemic to India, while 12 are exclusive to Western Ghats outcrops.
• DT plant varieties are found in both flowering and non-flowering species and in both temperate and tropical climates. The global population of these species ranges between 300 and 1,500.
• India now has nine new generic records for the global list. They are identified as Pyrrosia, Aleuritopteris, Corallodiscus, Arundinella, Bhidea, Bothriochloa, Danthonidium, Dimeria and Glyphochloa.
• The findings revealed that Indian desiccation-tolerant plants are spread mainly in rock outcrops and partially shaded tree trunks inside the forests. Ferricretes (layers of sedimentary rock) and basaltic plateaus seemed to be the preferred habitats.

Adaptability of different species:

• To adapt to extreme conditions, these plant species develop adaptive strategies to survive through morphological and physiological traits.
• Hydration and desiccation tolerance are two commonly studied strategies for plants in extreme habitats. Hydration is a condition where plant tissues can tolerate more than 30 per cent of water content. But in desiccation, plants undergo longer dry days during which the moisture content of the leaves is the same as in the air.
• Species like Indopoa pauperculaand Dimeria preferred boulders, gravelly patches, cryptogamic crusts, shallow and deep soil depressions.
• Colour changes and morphological characteristics were also observed in the species. It was found that Tripogon species changed colours from greyish in dry conditions to green in hydrated situations while turning orange to brownish yellow at the beginning of greening.
• In another species, Oropetium thomaeum, the leaf cloud changed from green in the hydrated phase to dark purple or orange and ranged from greyish to ash colour during the period of desiccation.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/over-60-species-of-plants-that-can-survive-extreme-dehydration-found-in-western-ghats-90725

2. THE PRESS AND REGISTRATION OF PERIODICALS BILL, 2023 AND THE MEDIATION BILL, 2021

TAG: GS 2: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: The Union cabinet cleared both the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 and the Mediation Bill, 2021. The bills have now been reworked to incorporate suggestions from a Parliamentary panel.

EXPLANATION:

Mediation Bill, 2021:

• The bill has been proposed by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
• The idea of the bill is to find an efficient way of dispute resolution and free up the judiciary of avoidable litigation.
• The Mediation Bill includes a framework for settling civil or commercial disputes through mediation before parties approach a court or tribunal.
• Under the bill, Mediation Council of India will be set up.  Its functions include registering mediators and recognising mediation service providers and mediation institutes (which train and certify mediators). The Mediation Council requires prior approval from the central government before issuing regulations related to its essential functions.
• A party may withdraw from mediation after two mediation sessions.   The mediation process must be completed within 180 days, which may be extended by another 180 days by the parties.
• The Bill lists disputes that are not fit for mediation (such as those involving criminal prosecution or affecting the rights of third parties).   The central government may amend this list.
• If the parties agree, they may appoint any person as a mediator.  If not, they may apply to a mediation service provider to appoint a person from its panel of mediators.
• Agreements resulting from mediation will be binding and enforceable in the same manner as court judgments.
• The Bill makes participation in pre-litigation mediation mandatory. Mediation is a voluntary dispute-resolution process.
• The Bill applies to international mediations only if they are conducted in India.  It does not provide for enforcement of settlement agreements resulting from international mediation conducted outside India.

Benefits of the bill:

• Can spread awareness of mediation
• A less time-consuming method
• More affordable way to settle conflicts
• Increase peace and harmony
• Reduce the burden on courts by enabling out-of-court settlements.
• May help reduce pendency and the slow disposal rate in courts.

Criticism:

• Mandatory pre-suit negotiations which demonstrates the Bill’s coercive nature, which will cause delays and pending mediation cases.
• The Bill is applicable to commercial disputes but is non applicable to disputes/matters of non commercial nature involving the government and its agencies.
• The international mediation will only be taken into consideration if it is held in India.

Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023:

• The bill has been proposed bythe Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• It will replace the 155-year-old ‘Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867’ with simplified legislation that de-criminalises various provisions and brings digital media under its ambit.
• It seeks to provide a simple online system for registration of periodicals with the Registrar of Newspapers for India.
• It also seeks to do away with two provisions that required the publishers and printers to file a declaration before the district magistrate.
• It also seeks to do away with the penal provisions of the PRB Act, which made improper declaration of information a punishable offence with a prison term of up to six months.
• The new Bill also provides for an appellate authority.
• Currently, a person wanting to start a newspaper has to submit an application to the district collector, who sends it to the Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI) to check for title availability.
• The registration process moves forward only after the RNI conveys the availability of the title to the collector, who then administers the oath to the person keen on starting the newspaper as per provisions of the PRB Act.
• The new Bill also seeks to move this process of checking title availability online, thereby reducing the time required for registration of newspapers and periodicals significantly.

Benefits:

• Maintaining a credible directory of active publications.
• Provide for a simple online system for registration of periodicals.
• Bring transparency and ease of doing business.
• Reduce the time required for registration of newspapers and periodicals by checking title availability online.

Criticism:

• The Bill is being criticised as draconian as it has provisions to control the media.
• Lack of independence: The Bill is seen as increasing curbs on independent journalism.
• Increased penalties: It can discourage media and publishing of significant articles.

Press and Registration of Books (PRB) Act, 1867:

• It governs the registration of the print and publishing industry in the country.
• The Act was passed in the year 1867 when India was under the colonial rule.
• Therefore, it definitely had a dubious agenda. It was aimed at curbing free speech by introducing several procedural requirements if an individual wanted to start publication of any book, newspaper etc. In fact, violation of these trivial procedures rendered the entire publication unlawful. Despite attaining independence, the law continues to operate
• According to its statement of object and reasons, the act aims to

(a) regulate printing press and newspapers in India

(b) preserve copies of books and newspapers printed in India

 (c) provide for the registration of books and newspapers.

• ‘Book’ for the purposes of the Act includes even a pamphlet and every sheet of music, map, chart etc. Interestingly, electronic media is outside the purview of this act.

Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI)  

• Also known as the Office of the Registrar of the Newspapers for India is a Government of India statutory body of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
• It is the main office for the registration of the publications, such as newspapers and magazines in India.
• It was established on 1 July 1956, on the recommendation of the First Press Commission in 1953 and by amending the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867.
• The Office of the Registrar of Newspapers for India is headquartered in New Delhi.
• It regulates and monitors the printing and publication of newspapers based on the Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867 and the Registration of Newspapers (Central) Rules, 1956.

Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/cabinet-nod-for-press-mediation-bills-11689790147865.html

3. INDUS WATERS TREATY

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: The Indus Waters Treaty is cited by many as an example of cooperation between two unfriendly neighbours for many reasons but in the last decade, issues are arising out of the treaty.

EXPLANATION:

Issues involved:

• The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) regulates the Indus water courses between the two riparian states of India and Pakistan.
• IWT have survived several wars and phases of bitter relations, and its laying down of detailed procedures and criteria for dispute resolution.
• But in the last decade, exercising judicial recourse to settle the competing claims and objections arising out of the run-of-river hydroelectric projects on the tributaries of the rivers that flow into Pakistan has increased.
• In January 2023, Pakistan initiated arbitration at the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration to address the interpretation of the IWT to certain design elements of two run-of-river hydroelectric projects on the Kishanganga and Ratle.
• India raised objections as it views that the Court of Arbitration is not competent to consider the questions put to it by Pakistan and that such questions should instead be decided through the neutral expert process.
• On July 6, 2023, the court unanimously passed a decision (which is binding on both parties without appeal) rejecting each of India’s objections. The court determined that it is competent to consider and determine the disputes set forth in Pakistan’s request for arbitration.

Indus Waters Treaty 

• It was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank, which is also a signatory.
• The Treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.
• At the same time, the Treaty allows each country certain uses on the rivers allocated to the other.
• The Treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers, known as the Permanent Indus Commission, which has a commissioner from each country.
• The IWT requires Pakistan that it is under obligation to let flow and shall not permit any interference with the waters of the eastern rivers.
• India is also obligated to let flow all the waters of the western rivers and shall not permit any interference with these waters except for certain uses, which include the generation of hydroelectric power on the rivers and tributaries of the western rivers before they flow into Pakistan.
• The Treaty also sets forth distinct procedures to handle issues which may arise: “questions” are handled by the Commission; “differences” are to be resolved by a Neutral Expert; and “disputes” are to be referred to an ad hoc arbitral tribunal called the “Court of Arbitration.”
• As a signatory to the Treaty, the World Bank’s role is limited and procedural.
• In particular, its role in relation to “differences” and “disputes” is limited to the designation of individuals to fulfil certain roles in the context of Neutral Expert or Court of Arbitration proceedings when requested by either or both of the Parties.

Way forward:

• In an atmosphere of a lack of trust, judicial recourse appears to be the only rational strategy by the IWT parties. But it is not likely to address the rapidly growing industrial needs of the two countries, apart from food and energy needs.
• Reconciling this divergent approach can be sought with the help of two cardinal principles of international water courses law accompanying binding obligations, i.e., equitable and reasonable utilisation (ERU) and the principle not to cause significant harm or no harm rule (NHR).
• The states need to be guided by the factors mentioned in Article 6 of the Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses 1997, including climate change.
• World Bank, which is a party to the IWT, may use its forum to forge a transnational alliance of epistemic communities to build convergent state policies, resulting in the ultimate inclusion of these two principles in the IWT.

Permanent Court of Arbitration:

• It is a non-UN intergovernmental organization located in The Hague, Netherlands.
• PCA provides services of arbitral tribunal to resolve disputes that arise out of international agreements between member states, international organizations or private parties.
• The cases span a range of legal issues involving territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, international investment, and international and regional trade.
• The PCA is constituted through two separate multilateral conventions with a combined membership of 122 states. It is not a United Nations agency but a United Nations observer.

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/more-than-court-action-revisit-the-indus-waters-treaty/article67098290.ece

4. BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: India has voiced support for the U.N.’s efforts in continuing the Black Sea Grain initiative and expressed hope for an early resolution.

EXPLANATION:

• Earlier, Russia announced it was terminating the implementation of the U.N.-brokered deal that allowed the export of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilisers from Ukrainian ports.
• Addressing the U.N. General Assembly’s annual debate on the ‘Situation in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine’ on Tuesday, India’s Permanent Representative to the U.N.

supported the efforts of the U.N. Secretary-General in continuing the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

• The World Food Programme (WFP) has shipped more than 725,000 tonnes to support humanitarian operations relieving hunger in some of the hardest-hit corners of the world, including Afghanistan, Horn of Africa and Yemen.
• N. Secretary-General Highlighted the initiative ensured the safe passage of over 32 million metric tonnes of food commodities from Ukrainian ports.

Black Sea Grain Initiative:

• The initiative was negotiated by the United Nations (UN) and Turkey and was signed in Istanbul in July 2023.
• Initially stipulated for a period of 120 days, with an option to extend or terminate thereafter in November.
• It aims to provide a safe maritime humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian exports (particularly for food grains) from three of its key ports, namely, Chornomorsk, Odesa and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi.
• The central idea was to calm markets by ensuring an adequate supply of grains, thereby limiting food price inflation.
• Ukraine is among the largest exporters of wheat, maize, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil globally. Its access to the deep-sea ports in the Black Sea enables it to directly approach Russia and Europe along with grain importers from the Middle East and North Africa.

Other broad features of the initiative: 

• The deal put in place a Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) comprising senior representatives from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the UN for oversight and coordination.
• All commercial ships are required to register directly with the JCC to ensure appropriate monitoring, inspection and safe passage.
• Inbound and outbound ships (to the designated corridor) transit as per a schedule accorded by the JCC post-inspection. This is done so as to ensure there is no unauthorised cargo or personnel onboard. Following this, they are allowed to sail onwards to Ukrainian ports for loading through the designated corridor.
• All ships, once inside the Ukrainian territorial waters, are subject to the nation’s authority and responsibility.
• Moreover, in order to avoid provocations and untoward incidents, it is mandated that monitoring be done remotely. No military ships or unmanned aerial vehicles can approach the corridor closer than a pre-decided distance agreed upon by the JCC. This, too, would require consultation with the parties and authorisation of the JCC.
• In the event of non-compliance or suspicious activities, upon the request of a party, the JCC would provide assistance to the crew or conduct an inspection against security guarantees.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-supports-uns-efforts-in-continuing-black-sea-grain-initiative-hope-for-early-resolution-to-present-impasse-ambassador-kamboj/article67097359.ece#:~:text=India%20has%20voiced%20support%20for,and%20related%20foodstuffs%20and%20fertilisers

5. HENLEY PASSPORT INDEX

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: India has climbed seven places on the Henley Passport Index 2023 to 80th rank from 87 last year though the number of countries allowed visa-free access to Indian passport holders remains unchanged.

EXPLANATION:

Findings of the ranking:

• Progress of India: In 2014, India ranked 76 with 52 countries allowing Indian passport holders visa-free access, but its performance has not been linear. It ranked 88 in 2015 (visa-free access to 51 countries), 85 in 2016, 87 in 2017, 81 in 2018, 82 in 2019 and 2020, and 81 in 2021.
• Japan, which occupied the top position on the Henley Passport Index for five years, dropped to the third place. It was replaced by Singapore, which is now officially the most powerful passport in the world, with its citizens able to visit 192 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free.
• Germany, Italy, and Spain occupy the second place. Alongside Japan in the third position are Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea, and Sweden.
• The U.K. climbed two places to occupy the fourth place, while the U.S. continued its decade-long slide down the index, dropping two places to the eighth spot.
• The Top 20 ‘most open’ countries are all small island nations or African states, except for Cambodia.
• There are 12 completely open countries that offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to all 198 passports in the world, namely: Burundi, Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Micronesia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.

About the Index:

• The Henley Passport Index is the ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
• The Index is brought out by Henley and Partners. It started in 2006 as Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index (HVRI) and was changed and renamed in January 2018.
• The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team.
• The Henley Passport Index compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations.
• All destinations that are in the IATA database are considered by the index.
• The number of countries that a specific passport can access becomes its visa-free “score”.
• If no visa is required, then a score with value = 1 is created for that passport. The same applies if you can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority (ETA) when entering the destination.
• Where a visa is required, or where a passport holder has to obtain a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before departure, a score with value = 0 is assigned. This also applies if you need pre-departure government approval for a visa on arrival.
• The total score for each passport is equal to the number of destinations for which no visa is required (value = 1).

International Air Transport Association (IATA):

• IATA was formed in April 1945 in Havana, Cuba. It is the successor to the International Air Traffic Association, which was formed in 1919 in The Hague, Netherlands. At its founding, IATA consisted of 57 airlines from 31 countries.
• It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with executive offices in Geneva, Switzerland.
• IATA has been described as a cartel; in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff conferences that served as a forum for price fixing.
• It consists of 300 airlines, primarily major carriers, representing 117 countries; the IATA’s member airlines account for carrying approximately 83% of total available seat miles air traffic.
• IATA supports airline activity and helps formulate industry policy and standards.

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-secures-80th-rank-on-henley-passport-index/article67098698.ece#:~:text=India%20has%20climbed%20seven%20places,Indian%20passport%20holders%20remain%20unchanged

1. RAJASTHAN MINIMUM GUARANTEED INCOME BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Aiming to support individuals and households of the state with an “additional income”, the Rajasthan govt tables Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 to guarantee minimum income.

EXPLANATION:

Provisions of the Bill introduced:

• The Bill largely covers three broad areas: Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income, Right to Guaranteed Employment and Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension.
• Right to Minimum Guaranteed Income
• It is under the Mahatma Gandhi Minimum Guaranteed Income Yojana or MGMGIY.
• Under this, state government shall provide to eligible persons a minimum guaranteed income through:

1. Employment in urban areas through the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (IGUEGS)
2. Employment in rural areas through Chief Minister Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (CMREGS)
3. Pension to an eligible category of old age/specially abled/widow/single woman.

• Right to Guaranteed Employment
• Under this, every adult person residing in the rural areas shall have a right to get guaranteed employment for doing permissible work of at least additional 25 days in a financial year on completion of maximum days of work as prescribed by the MGNREGA.
• To receive minimum wages weekly or, in any case, not later than a fortnight.
• For urban areas, every adult person of the state shall have a right to get guaranteed employment for doing permissible work of at least 125 days in a financial year and to receive minimum wages weekly or, in any case, not later than a fortnight.
• The Right to Guaranteed Social Security Pension
• It entitles every person falling in the category of old age/especially abled/widow/single woman, with prescribed eligibility, to a pension.
• An important component of the pension would be an automatic increase of 15 per cent annually on the base rate in two instalments, i.e., 5 per cent in July and 10 per cent in January of each financial year, starting from financial year 2024-2025.

Universal Basic Income:

• In India, UBI was first tried out in rural Madhya Pradesh in 2011-12 with heartening results.
• It was also put forward in the 2017 Economic Survey and in a recent report by the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council as a potent social policy tool for India.
• Related Pros and Cons:

• UBI in other countries:

Government Initiatives in social security:

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005:

• It is a social welfare measure that aims to guarantee the ‘right to work’.
• It aims to enhance livelihood security in rural areas by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to at least one member of every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
• Women are guaranteed one-third of the jobs made available under the MGNREGA.
• Another aim of MGNREGA is to create durable assets (such as roads, canals, and wells).
• Employment is to be provided within 5 km of an applicant’s residence, and minimum wages are to be paid. If work is not provided within 15 days of applying, applicants are entitled to an unemployment allowance.
• If the government fails to provide employment, it must provide certain unemployment allowances to those people. Thus, employment under MGNREGA is a legal entitlement.

Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009:

• Enacted in 2009, It describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children.
• The Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools.
• It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats for children (to be reimbursed by the state as part of the public-private partnership plan).
• There is also a provision for special training of school drop-outs to bring them up to par with students of the same age.

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013:

• It marks a paradigm shiftin the approach to food security from a welfare to a rights-based approach.
• The Act legally entitles up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.
• About two-thirds of the population therefore is covered under the Act to receive highly subsidized foodgrains.
• As a step towards women’s empowerment, the eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above is mandated to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards under the Act.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/rajasthan-govt-tables-bill-to-guarantee-minimum-income-8847272/

2. THE COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (CGRFA)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Delegates from across the world have gathered at the 19th session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) in Rome, Italy to deliberate on biodiversity, nutrition & human health. During the 5-day session, members will also discuss the commission’s future work.

EXPLANATION:

Highlights of the meeting:

• The meeting is taking place at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) headquarters in Rome.
• Delegates and observers will deliberate on three matters:
• A review of work on biodiversity, nutrition and human health
• Access and benefit-sharing for food and agriculture
• Digital sequence information for food and agriculture.
• Delegates will discuss biodiversity for food and agriculture, the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, forest genetic resources, and animal genetic resources.
• Other than working on the diversity of domesticated crops, livestock and farmed fish and aquatic invertebrates, forest trees and aquatic species, the commission also covers the diversity of all the non-domesticated species that enable production to occur.
• These include pollinators, soil-dwelling organisms, the natural enemies of pests and the microorganisms that enable ruminant animals to digest their food.

Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA):

• It is the only permanent forum for governments to discuss and negotiate matters specifically relevant to biological diversity for food and agriculture.
• The commission was established in 1983, and on July 16, it completed 40 years of existence.
• Its headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.
• Its membership comprises 179 countries and the European Union.
• Its functions:

– It has a coordinating role and deals with policy, sectorial and cross-sectorial matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of relevance to food and agriculture.

– It monitors the state of the world’s genetic resources for food and agriculture.

– It strives to reach international consensus on policies and action programmes to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use.

– It contributes to the strengthening of national and regional policies on biodiversity for food and agriculture and promotes cooperation in capacity-building.

– It continues and strengthens cooperation and partnerships on biodiversity for food and agriculture.

Access and benefit-sharing:

It ensures that appropriate genetic resources with relevant traits are available and accessible is crucial for food security.

Globally, the issue of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) is addressed, in varying degrees of detail, by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Treaty) and the Nagoya Protocol, a supplementary agreement to the CBD.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

• Itis the international legal instrument for “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” that has been ratified by 196 nations.
• The CBD’s governing body is the Conference of the Parties (COP). This ultimate authority of all governments (or Parties) that have ratified the treaty meets every two years to review progress, set priorities and commit to work plans.

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Treaty):

• The objectives of the treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use.
• It is in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity for sustainable agriculture and food security.
• It also calls for protecting the traditional knowledge of these farmers, increasing their participation in national decision-making processes and ensuring that they share in the benefits from the use of these resources.

The Nagoya Protocol

• The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/genetic-resources-commission-gathers-in-rome-to-deliberate-on-biodiversity-nutrition-human-health-90700

3. GLOBAL BIOFUEL ALLIANCE

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The upcoming 14th Clean Energy Ministerial and Eighth Mission Innovation (CEM14/MI-8) conference, scheduled to take place in Goa from July 19-22, 2023, is likely to establish the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA).

EXPLANATION:

• Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) serves as a prominent international platform, bringing together influential figures to promote clean energy technology and knowledge exchange and facilitate the global transition towards a clean energy economy.
• Under the leadership of India during its G20 Presidency and with the support of Brazil and the United States, the alliance will focus on fostering international collaboration and cooperation to encourage the widespread acceptance and utilisation of biofuels.

Global Biofuel Alliance:

• It can power India’s energy transition drive but must have time-bound targets.
• The focus of the group will be on strengthening markets, facilitating global biofuel trade, sharing concrete policy lessons and providing technical support for national biofuel programmes.
• It will collaborate and complement existing regional and international agencies and energy transition initiatives, including the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform, the Mission Innovation Bioenergy initiatives and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).
• This alliance aims to promote cooperation and accelerate the adoption of sustainable biofuels.

India’s Green Fuel Push:

• In the fiscal year 2020-21, India achieved a significant milestone by producing 4.08 billion litres of ethanol, resulting in a blending rate of 10.02 per cent.
• This accomplishment led to a reduction of 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 emissions and saved approximately Rs 41,500 crore in foreign exchange.
• The current target for 2022-23 is to achieve a blending rate of 12 per cent. However, to reach the goal of 20 per cent blending by 2025, the production capacity for ethanol needs to be expanded to 17 billion litres.

• The Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) programme has played a crucial role in establishing 46 CBG plants and the sale of around 16,164 tonnes of CBG as of March 2023.
• India successfully conducted its first commercial passenger flight using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blend produced domestically to address decarbonisation in the aviation sector. The flight, which took place from Pune to Delhi on May 19, 2023, marked a significant milestone.
• The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has established the Bio-Aviation Turbine Fuel Programme Committee to further advance the programme in the country.
• The establishment of the GBA could assist India in achieving greater energy independence and reduce its reliance on foreign oil by promoting the increased utilisation of biofuels.
• In the context of India, immediate objectives could involve strengthening the biomass supply chains, transferring technology for the efficient production of second-generation ethanol from agricultural residue and promoting sustainable financial support for bioenergy initiatives.

National biofuel programmes.

• National Biofuel Policy 2018: The policy is aimed at taking forward the indicative target of achieving 20% blending of biofuels with fossil-based fuels by 2025-26. The Policy categorises biofuels as ‘Basic Biofuels’ viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel and ‘Advanced Biofuels’ Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop-in fuels, Third Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc. to enable extension of appropriate financial and fiscal incentives under each category.
• GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resource)-DHAN Yojana: The scheme aims to positively impact village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic waste. It also aims at creating new rural livelihood opportunities and enhancing income for farmers and other rural people. It was launched under Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).
• SATAT (Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation) Scheme: The scheme aims to extract economic value from bio-mass waste through Compressed Biogas (CBG) and bio-manure. It aims to cut down on import dependence and reduce vehicular emissions and pollution from the burning of organic waste.

Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform

• It was launched to lead global actions to accelerate development, scale-up, and deployment of sustainable bio-based alternatives to fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials.
• It is chaired by the U.S. Department of Energy and coordinated by the IEA, provides a forum for policy dialogue and collaboration among leading countries, organizations, academia, and the private sector.
• Partners include key organizations such as the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP).

Strategic goals of the Biofuture Platform Initiative:

• Foster consensus on biomass sustainability, availability and governance.
• Promote policy best practices and convergence
• Enable supportive financing mechanisms.
• Promote cooperation on policy, regulation and technology.

Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP)

• GBEP was founded in 2006 to implement the Gleneagles Plan of Action of the G8 +5 (Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa) to promote the continued development and commercialisation of renewable energy.
• It is a forum where voluntary cooperation works towards consensus amongst governments, intergovernmental organizations and other partners to advance bioenergy for sustainable development, climate change mitigation and food and energy security.
• It also provides a platform for raising awareness, sharing information and examples of good practice on bioenergy.

The main objectives of the Global Bioenergy Partnership are to:

• Promote global high-level policy dialogue on bioenergy and facilitate international cooperation
• Support national and regional bioenergy policy-making and market development
• Favour the transformation of biomass use towards more efficient and sustainable practices
• Foster exchange of information, skills and technologies through bilateral and multilateral collaboration.

Source:https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/energy/global-biofuel-alliance-can-power-india-s-energy-transition-drive-but-must-have-time-bound-targets-90694

4. GM CROPS

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: There is a determined battle by environmentalists in the Supreme Court of India against Delhi University’s genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant (HT) mustard which is causing an issue between GM food and Indian farmers and consumers.

EXPLANATION:

Issues regarding GM crops in India:

• India has seen a robust debate on GM crops in the last two decades. Environmentalists, scientists, politicians, farmers, consumers and the higher judiciary have asked probing questions about the safety, efficacy and even the very necessity of GM food.
• Many have been alarmed by the experience with Bt cotton, the first and only GM crop approved in the country. Long-term research suggests that Bt cotton has provided only fleeting benefits to farmers while enormously increasing their costs of cultivation and risk. On the other hand, some seed companies have profited handsomely from the expensive GM seeds.
• In the wake of the fierce debate, two Standing Committees of the Parliament independently and comprehensively examined GM crops and food. The Supreme Court also appointed a Technical Expert Committee (TEC) in the public interest litigations filed separately by the non-government organisation Gene Campaign.

Findings of Standing Committees of the Parliament:

• The Committee recommended that the central government, in consultation with states should ensure that the process of field trials is done in a closed environment and in consultation with agricultural universities. This will ensure bio and health safety and minimise the scope of fudging primary data.
• It stated that the Ministry should review the functioning and organisational setup of GEAC and take necessary corrective measures. This will ensure that the process of assessment and approval is transparent.

Findings of Supreme Court appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC):

• It has recommended an indefinite moratorium on open field trials of genetically-modified (GM) crops till the deficiencies in the regulatory and safety systems are effectively addressed.
• A deeper understanding of the process of risk assessment is needed within the regulatory system for it to meet the needs of a proper bio-safety evaluation.
• The committee has suggested setting up a secretariat comprising dedicated scientists with area and bio-safety expertise.

GM Crops:

• GM crops are quite different from conventional varieties and hybrids, such as those developed by farmers, agricultural research institutions and companies.
• Biotechnologists insert select genes at a random location in the DNA of a plant to develop a GM crop. The insertion makes a GM crop express traits that it ordinarily would not.

• For instance, GM mustard has been altered to withstand the broad-spectrum plant-killer or herbicide glufosinate. This makes it easier to develop hybrid mustard seeds for higher yields. And farmers growing GM mustard can spray the herbicide to kill all plants except the mustard.

Regulations of GM Crops in India:

• In India, the regulation of all activities related to GMOs and products thereof are regulated as per “Rules for the Manufacture/Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989” under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• It covers the entire spectrum of activities involving GMOs and products thereof, including sale, storage, exportation, importation, production, manufacturing, packaging, etc.
• These rules are implemented by the MoEFCC, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India and State Governments.

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC):

• It functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
• It is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials.
• It is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.

Regulations in other countries:

Benefits of GM Crops:

• Improve yields
• Reduced costs for food or drug production
• Reduced need for pesticides
• Enhanced nutrient composition and food quality
• Resistance to pests and disease
• Greater food security
• Medical benefits to the world’s growing population.

Risks Associated with GM Crops:

• Serious harm to the environment
• Long-term health risks
• Loss of nutrition
• Antibiotic resistance

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-push-for-gm-mustard-disregarding-science-the-law/article67095116.ece#:~:text=In%20recent%20hearings%20in%20the,it%20was%20to%20improve%20yields

5. WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT MECHANISM

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: One of the significant outcomes of the Indian Prime Minister’s official state visit to the U.S. was the decision of the two countries to end six long-standing trade disputes at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

EXPLANATION:

Issues:

• The WTO Appellate Body has been redundant since 2019, which led to the exaggeration of disputes between India and the US.
• Three cases settled as part of the deal are before the defunct Appellate Body, while the rest could have potentially been ‘appealed into the void’.

The disputes

• A challenge of the domestic content requirements under India’s National Solar Mission.
• While disagreements persisted regarding India’s compliance with the WTO treaty obligations, with the U.S. seeking authorisation from the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body for trade retaliation, which India contested.
• India, too, challenged certain sub-federal programmes implemented in the U.S. in the renewable energy sector and won the case.
• The challenges also involved some of its foreign trade policy schemes, including the special economic zone (SEZ) and export-oriented unit schemes.
• Another dispute between the two nations was over India’s export subsidy programmes, such as Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), Export Oriented Units Scheme, and sector-specific schemes, including Electronics Hardware Technology Park Scheme, Special Economic Zones, and Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme.
• A challenge by India against the controversial Section 232 tariffs imposed under the U.S. Trade Expansion Act, 1962. The U.S. had imposed an additional duty of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminium, triggering a series of WTO challenges and unilateral trade responses.
• India considered these as safeguard measures and imposed retaliatory measures. The U.S. considered India’s retaliatory duties excessive, while India believed that it could retain these duties as long as the Section 232 tariffs remained.
• India will now revert to the currently applied ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) rate for eight products. India is only removing the retaliatory duties on these eight products and not offering any preferential concessions on them. The MFN-applied rates would continue to apply to these products.
• Against that backdrop, settling disputes in all six cases shows a pragmatic approach on the part of two strong trading partners. They have accepted each other’s domestic challenges in dispute compliance and realised the importance of burying differences.

WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism:

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is responsible for maintaining the free flow of trade between its member countries.
• WTO, in the form of Dispute Settlement Undertaking (DSU), provides an instrument for the settling of trade disputes between the parties.
• The dispute generally arises when any member country violates any provision of the WTO agreement which other member countries think unreasonable.
• This dispute settlement process is the outcome of the Uruguay round (1996-1994). This mechanism provides a speedy resolution of a trade dispute.
• This settlement system applies to all disputes covered under the WTO agreement.

Dispute Settlement Body (DSB)

• It is a body established for resolving the disputes between the conflicting parties by overseeing the entire dispute settlement mechanism.
• The General Council of WTO, which carry out the functions of the Ministerial Conference, renders its obligations under the Dispute Settlement Understanding through Dispute Settlement Body.
• The Dispute Settlement Body consists of a Chairman and representatives of all WTO members (usually government representatives).
• The Chairman is usually a leader of the permanent mission of one of the member countries of WTO. The Chairman is elected with the consent of all WTO members.
• The Dispute Settlement Body shall be responsible for the establishment of the Appellate Body.

Appellate body:

• Where the parties are not satisfied with the decision of the panel report, then either of the parties may appeal to the Appellate Body.
• The Appellate body consists of seven persons. But only three of them shall serve in one case.
• These three people shall be selected based on rotation.
• The appointed person shall be in service for four years and can be re-appointed once. Therefore, a member can serve for a maximum of eight years.
• The persons comprising the Appellate body shall be persons of a recognized authority having expertise in the field of law, international trade and subject matter of the agreement in dispute.
• The person shall not be part of any governmental service. They shall be made available till the end of the dispute.

Problems with WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism:

• Reduced Manpower: The AB generally consists of seven members, but as of mid-2017, it was reduced to three members, which is the minimum number of members required for its functioning. The US has blocked the appointment of new members to the Appellate Body, and thus it has not been able to conduct its work.
• Time-taking process: While over half of all disputes are settled during the consultation period, the time taken for dispute resolution has grown from the original six months to an average of fifteen months.
• Biasness: It is believed that the WTO dispute settlement body is functioning transparent and favouring developed countries which gets more stakes in the dispute resolution process.

Way Forward:

• There is a need to find mutually agreed solutions to long-standing disputes. A greater use of diplomacy and bilateral negotiations can be more practically useful when adjudicatory outcomes are not immediately available or politically infeasible.
• There is a need for reforms by bringing transparency in existing WTO dispute to make the process inclusive and addresses the developmental concerns of developing and least developing countries.

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/dispute-settlements-that-have-no-parallel/article67089892.ece

1. THE BAY OF BENGAL INITIATIVE FOR MULTI-SECTORAL TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION (BIMSTEC)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the first-ever Foreign Ministers’ meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) concluded in Bangkok, Thailand. Areas of coordination challenges, including health and energy security, were discussed.

EXPLANATION:

What is BIMSTEC?

• BIMSTEC is a regional organisation that was established in 1997 with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
• The member countries are India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka.
• Initially known as BIST-EC (Bangladesh-India-Sri Lanka-Thailand Economic Cooperation), the organisation is now known as BIMSTEC, with Myanmar joining towards the end of 1997 and Bhutan and Nepal in 2004.
• Around 22% of the world’s population lives in the seven countries around the Bay of Bengal, with a combined GDP close to $2.7 trillion.
• All seven countries have sustained average annual rates of growth between 3.4% and 7.5% from 2012 to 2016. A fourth of the world’s traded goods cross the bay every year.
• Cooperation within the BIMSTEC had initially focused on six sectors in 1997 (trade, technology, energy, transport, tourism, and fisheries) and expanded in 2008 to other areas.
• India gave the forum a renewed push in October 2016, a month after the terrorist attack in Uri. Alongside the BRICS summit in Goa, India hosted an outreach summit with leaders of BIMSTEC countries.
• In 2021, a reorganisation led to each of the Member States leading certain sectors. India focuses on security, along with counter-terrorism and transnational crime, disaster management and energy.

India and BIMSTEC:

• With shared values, histories, ways of life, and destinies that are interlinked, BIMSTEC represents a common space for peace and development.
• For India, it is a natural platform to fulfil our key foreign policy priorities of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘Act East’.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra had said BIMSTEC not only connects South and Southeast Asia, but also the ecologies of the Great Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal.

BIMSTEC and other countries:

• Bangladesh views BIMSTEC as a platform to position itself as more than just a small state on the Bay of Bengal.
• Sri Lanka sees it as an opportunity to connect with Southeast Asia and serve as the subcontinent’s hub for the wider Indo-Pacific region.
• Nepal and Bhutan aim to connect with the Bay of Bengal region and escape their landlocked geographic positions.
• For Myanmar and Thailand, “connecting more deeply with India would allow them to access a rising consumer market and, at the same time, develop an alternative to China’s massive inroads into Southeast Asia”.

Countering China:

• The Bay of Bengal is crucial for an increasingly assertive China in maintaining its access route to the Indian Ocean.
• As China has undertaken a massive drive to finance and build infrastructure in South and Southeast Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative in almost all BIMSTEC countries except Bhutan and India.
• BIMSTEC is a new battleground in the India-China battle for dominance.
• BIMSTEC could allow India to push a constructive agenda to counter Chinese investments and instead follow best practices for connectivity projects based on recognised international norms. The Chinese projects are widely seen as violating these norms.
• The Bay of Bengal can be showcased as open and peaceful, contrasting it with China’s behaviour in the South China Sea. It could develop codes of conduct that preserve freedom of navigation and apply existing laws of the seas regionally.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/everyday-explainers/jaishankar-bimstec-explained-members-significance-8843569/

2. COMPREHENSIVE AND PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT FOR TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP (CPTPP)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: Britain has formally signed a treaty to join a major Indo-Pacific trading bloc through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Supporters of Brexit say the move will boost UK growth, but opponents say the benefits are marginal compared with EU trade.

EXPLANATION:

• It is said the pact would boost UK exports by 1.7 billion pounds (€1.9 billion, $2.23 billion), imports to the UK by 1.6 billion pounds and gross domestic product (GDP) by £1.8 billion pounds in the long term. The pact is expected to take effect in the second half of 2024.

What is CPTPP?

• The CPTPP is a landmark pact agreed upon in 2018 that cuts trade barriers among 11 countries, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
• The pact requires countries to eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs and make strong commitments to opening services and investment markets.
• It also has rules addressing competition, intellectual property rights and protections for foreign companies.
• CPTPP is seen as a bulwark against China’s dominance in the region, although Beijing has applied to join, along with Taiwan, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Ecuador.

Why is the CPTTP so important to the UK?

• CPTTP will cut tariffs for UK exports to Asia Pacific countries, and with UK membership, the trading bloc will have a combined GDP of 12 trillion pounds and account for 15% of global trade.
• It will help Britain to deepen trade ties in the Pacific after Brexit in 2020, as the UK has been pushing a “Global Britain” strategy since it gave up EU membership.
• Since Brexit, the UK has sought other trade deals with countries and trading blocs around the world and is struggling to achieve free trade deals with large powers like China and the United States.
• CPTTP can compensate for the economic damage sustained by leaving the now-27-member EU the world’s largest trading bloc and collective economy.
• The UK already has trade deals with 10 of the 11 other CPTPP members, and the eventual economic boost is likely to increase GDP by just 0.08% annually.

Highlights of the CPTTP meeting:

• The grouping is currently undertaking a membership process by information-gathering process on whether aspirant economies can meet the CPTPP’s high standards, taking into account their experience on their trade commitments.
• A decision on who will join and when will be made collectively.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/uk-signs-biggest-trade-deal-brexit-8842214/

3. GAMBUSIA FISH

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Andhra Pradesh government has released approximately 10 million Gambusia fish into the state’s water bodies to combat mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue.

EXPLANATION:

• Andhra Pradesh is reporting high dengue and malaria cases in the state, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (MoHFW).
• State Government released this fish to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
• However, the release of these invasive alien fish species has raised concerns about the potential harm that will be sustained by native species that are present in the state’s freshwater bodies.

Gambusia Fish:

• The fish is known as mosquitofish and is widely used as a biological agent for controlling mosquito larvae.
• Gambusia affinis (G affinis) is native to the waters of the southeastern United States.
• G affinishas a sister species, Gambusia holbrooki (G holbrooki), also known as the eastern mosquito fish.
• A single fully grown fish eats about 100 to 300 mosquito larvae per day.
• Gambusia has been a part of mosquito-control strategies for over a century in various parts of the world, including India.
• Mosquitofish has been part of various malaria control strategies in India since 1928, including the Urban Malaria Scheme.
• Fish has a high breeding capacity as a single female may produce between 900 and 1,200 offspring during its lifespan. The young females have two gestations per season, while the older females may have up to six generations per season. A season lasts about 30 days, and young ones are released in broods of 25-30 at a time.
• The fish can also survive in diverse environments. It is this adaptability that has allowed the fish to survive on six out of seven continents and has made the International Union for Conservation of Nature declare Gambusia one of the 100 worst invasive alien species in the world.

Concerns:

• The fish are generally understood to be a good biological control method against mosquito breeding but can only be a part of an integrated approach that involves various other methods like chemical spraying and, most importantly, source reduction.
• There are also studies that reported that Gambusia’s predatory efficacy reduced when they were introduced in running water streams, water bodies with high insecticide levels and waterbodies with thick vegetation.
• Multiple countries, including India, have listed Gambusia as invasive species. Known to outcompete and prey upon native species, Gambusia also get aggressive in environments where they need to compete with other species for resources. They are known to eat the eggs of competing fishes and frog tadpoles.
• In India, mosquitofish affected the ecosystem health of the lake after its introduction into the Nainital Lake in the 1990s to control malaria.

Steps that can be taken:

• Instead of relying on Gambusia, it has been suggested to encourage “biologists and fish taxonomists to come up with river basin-based lists of native fish species that can control mosquito larvae and release them into the natural environment.”
• Reducing the number of mosquito breeding sources like puddles and open drainages and clearing vegetation that mosquitoes feed on must be prioritised over releasing fish into waterbodies.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/gambusia-this-solution-could-actually-be-an-invasive-problem-90665

4. THE NATIONAL MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX

TAG: GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: The National Multidimensional Poverty Index says 13.5 crore people came out of multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21 with Bihar, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh top the list in index.

EXPLANATION:

Findings of the index:

• It is prepared based on the latest National Family Heath Survey of 2019-21 and is the second edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
• Marked improvement is witnessed along all the indicators of the index.
• According to the‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023’, India has registered a significant decline of 9.89% in the number of multidimensionally poor, from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-2021.
• The report said rural areas witnessed the fastest decline in poverty, from 32.59% to 19.28%, primarily due to a decrease in the number of multi-dimensionally poor in States such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• Delhi, Kerala, Goa and Tamil Nadu have the least number of people facing multidimensional poverty along with the Union Territories.
• Multidimensional poverty in urban areas, during the same period, saw a decrease from 8.65% to 5.27%.
• Uttar Pradesh registered the largest decline in a number of poor, with 3.43 crore people escaping multidimensional poverty.

• According to the report, between 2015-16 and 2019-21, the MPI value has nearly halved from 0.117 to 0.066 and the intensity of poverty has reduced from 47% to 44%.
• The remarkable progress achieved through extremely low deprivation rates, especially for electricity, access to bank accounts and drinking water, reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to improving citizens’ lives.

The National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):

• It is released by NITI Aayog, which ranks States and Union Territories based on their performance.
• It is aimed at deconstructing the Global MPI and creating a globally aligned and yet customised India MPI for drawing up comprehensive Reform Action Plans with the larger goal of improving India’s position in the Global MPI rankings.
• The National MPI measures simultaneous deprivations across the three equally weighted dimensions of health, education, and standard of living that are represented by 12 SDG-aligned indicators.
• These include nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts.

• With our own national MPI, India is poised to gain a deeper understanding of poverty’s complexities and forge solutions that ensure inclusivity for all.
• The district-wise estimation of the national MPI will also prioritise reaching out to the furthest behind first through focused efforts on specific indicators and dimensions.
• The results and findings of the index provide valuable insights for both policymakers and the wider community.
• It helps the country to achieve the target of reducing multidimensional poverty as per the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, also known as Agenda 2030.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/niti-aayog-report-claims-decrease-in-multidimensional-poverty/article67091078.ece

5. CRIMEAN-CONGO HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER (CCHF)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: As Europe is already facing heatwave and wildfires, the rising temperatures have also raised fears of the spread of viruses such as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which is generally not found in colder climates.

EXPLANATION:

• Scientists are warning that CCHF can kill between 10% and 40% of patients, and is spreading northward and westward in Europe. Cases have so far been reported in Spain, Russia and Turkey, and the UK.
• In India, one person succumbed to CCHF in June 2023 in Gujarat, the state that reports the majority of the country’s cases of this disease.

What is CCHF?

• According to the WHO, it is a viral haemorrhagic fever usually transmitted by ticks and has a high fatality rate ratio (10–40%).
• It is endemic to Africa, the Balkan countries, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
• The disease was first detected among soldiers in the Crimean Peninsula (near the Black Sea) in 1944; in 1969, it was found that an ailment identified in the Congo Basin was caused by the same pathogen. Thus, the disease was named the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.
• The first fatality from the disease in Europe was in Spain in 2016.
• The virus is present in the tick family of insects. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and hares “serve as amplifying hosts for the virus.
• It can be contracted through contact with viraemic animal tissues (animal tissue where the virus has entered the bloodstream) during and immediately post-slaughter of animals.
• Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected ticks or animal blood.
• It can be transmitted from one infected human to another by contact with infectious blood or body fluids, such as sweat and saliva.
• The ticks can also be hosted by migratory birds, thus carrying the virus over long distances.

What are the symptoms, cure of CCHF?

• According to the WHO, its symptoms include fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, backache, headache, sore eyes and sensitivity to light.
• There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion. After 2–4 days, the agitation may be replaced by sleepiness, depression and lassitude.
• There is no vaccine for the virus in either humans or animals, and treatment generally consists of managing symptoms.
• According to the WHO, the antiviral drug ribavirin has been used to treat CCHF infection with apparent benefit.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-health/climate-change-aiding-spread-of-deadly-virus-in-europe-what-is-cchf-8844383/

1. NASA’S PERSEVERANCE ROVER FINDING ON MARS

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Perseverance rover has discovered evidence of organic compounds in a Martian crater. It indicates clues on the potential habitability of the planet.

EXPLANATION:

Recent Findings of the rover:

• Earlier, researchers had found a variety of organic chemicals with a Martian origin in meteorites sent from Mars in Gale Crater. While earlier missions offered insightful data, the most recent research adds new evidence that deepens our understanding of Mars.
• The results reveal that Mars has a more complex organic geochemical cycle than previously thought, implying the existence of multiple reservoirs of potential organic molecules on the planet.
• Notably, the study found molecules associated with aqueous processes, suggesting that water may have been a significant factor in Mars’s vast range of organic matter.
• The potential detection of several organic carbon species on Mars has implications for understanding the carbon cycle on Mars and the potential of the planet to host life throughout its history.
• Organic compounds are carbon-based molecules. Other elements, such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphide, are often found in them.
• Organic matter can be formed by a variety of biological and non-biological processes. These possible Martian organics could have originated from geological processes or chemical reactions, which can also produce organic molecules.
• So far, only the Mars Phoenix lander and the Curiosity rover have been able to detect organic carbon using cutting-edge methods like evolved gas analysis and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
• The latest research presents an innovative approach that might also help locate basic chemical compounds on Mars. The scientists used an instrument called the Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals.
• Rover’s landing site in Jezero Crater has a variety of minerals, including carbonates, clays, and sulphates, which indicates a high possibility for past habitability. Organic compounds and perhaps even traces of prehistoric life could be preserved by these minerals.

NASA’S PERSEVERANCE ROVER

• NASA Perseverance launched on July 30, 2020, amidst the added challenge of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
• It landed in the Jezero crater of Mars, the site of an ancient lake and river delta.
• There, the rover is searching for microbial fossils in rocks that formed in Mars’ warm, wet past.
• It is also looking for carbon-containing molecules called organics that form the building blocks of life on Earth.

Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/science-technology/life-beyond-earth-nasa-s-perseverance-rover-finds-diverse-organic-matter-on-mars-90595

2. UPI LITE

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Google Pay has introduced the UPI Lite feature in India, allowing users to make fast and simple payments for everyday items.

EXPLANATION:

• It was launched by the Reserve Bank of India in September 2022. It is a digital payment service designed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• With UPI Lite, Google Pay users can make everyday payments for everyday items such as groceries, snacks, and cab rides faster, as users can send up to ₹200 with a single tap.
• The service does not require one to enter a PIN to initiate the payment. The aim of UPI Lite is to make digital payments simple and fast.
• Although UPI Lite is linked to the user’s bank account, it does not rely on the issuing bank’s core banking system in real time.
• The UPI Lite promises higher success rates even during peak transaction hours. Users can load up to ₹2,000 twice a day and make payments of up to ₹200 at a time.
• It aims to simplify small-value transactions by helping users access a convenient, compact and superfast payments experience.

National Payments Corporation of India

• It is an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, and is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
• It comes under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.
• It was created by RBI to operate retail payments and settlement systems in India.
• Few services offered by NPCI are: Aadhaar Enabled Payment System, Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), BHIM and UPI, among others.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

• It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
• It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collection request, which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.
• Each Bank provides its own UPI App for Android, Windows and iOS mobile platform(s).

Source:https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/google-pay-introduces-upi-lite-how-to-activate-what-it-means-for-users-and-more-11689254038048.html

3. MICROFIBRE POLLUTION

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: India’s journey towards achieving sustainable development goals (SDG) by 2030 will be unfulfilled until it can address the issue of microfibre which is one of the significant microplastic contributors to the marine environment.

EXPLANATION:

• Invisible thread-like pieces of size, usually less than 5 mm, are called microfibres. They come from all types of clothes; synthetic, natural and semi-synthetic.
• Synthetic microfibres under the microfibres are labelled as microplastics .
• Natural and semi-synthetic microfibres, which also release a plethora of chemicals and dyes, are not under regulations.

Associated Risks:

• These invisible threats jeopardise the growth and reproductive capabilities of various organisms and pose risks to human health when they inadvertently enter our food chain.
• In developing economies like India, where wastewater treatment systems seem inadequate, microfibres enter directly into aquatic systems and, ultimately, the marine environment.
• Even when wastewater treatment plants capture a portion of these microfibres, they manage to infiltrate the environment through landfills or sludge applications.
• Considering the sheer population of India, even a small percentage of households using washing machines significantly contribute to microfibre pollution.

India’s regulation:

• India’s plastic waste management and textile rules have not yet identified this pollutant or its significance.
• The Indian textile laws do not have complete control over this unregulated yet significant industry with a significant share in the global market regarding the production, import, and export of natural and synthetic textiles.

Reasons for the pollution:

• Studies have come up with varied reasons for the shedding of microfibres from textile laundering.
• Many factors influence microfibre release, from washing temperature and drum speed to water volume, detergent type, load capacity, washing machine type, textile design and even textile quality.
• The impact of washing by hand Dryers has also been identified as a significant source of microfibre emissions directly into the air.
• The burgeoning textile industry and the rise of fast fashion culture in emerging economies like India are one of the prominent reasons.
• This use-and-throw culture focuses on quantity over quality resulting in cheaper textile designs, compromised fabric quality and surplus production.
• Rapid urbanisation, increased purchasing power, growing gross domestic product and increased brand penetration in the Indian market contribute to unsustainability.

Solutions:

• For reducing emissions, approaches like using a front-loading washing machine, liquid detergents, washing on full load at cold temperature and normal drum speed reduce the shedding significantly by causing less stress to the clothes.
• Tools like guppy friend bags and cora balls, when used while laundering, have been shown to reduce emissions.
• Embracing natural air-drying methods also immensely aids in microfibre emission into the air.
• Another option is investing in an excellent external washing machine filter and sustainable disposal of the collected microfibres.
• India should put proper regulatory framework like countries like France which have created rules making it mandatory for washing machine brands to have inbuilt filters with associated sustainable disposable mechanisms by 2025.
• Proper labelling in textiles to raise awareness, novel corporate social responsibility strategies, etc, are some of their endeavours.
• Sustainable concepts like recycling and thrifting need more popularity in Indian culture. These can reduce the overexploitation of resources and limit mass production.
• These will help India achieve SDG targets, encompassing plastic pollution reduction, marine conservation and sustainable consumption practices.

Rules regarding Plastic Waste Management:

• To address the issue of scientific plastic waste management, the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 were notified in 2011, which included plastic waste management.
• The Government has notified the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and amendments to it in 2018 and 2021.

Few aims of the rules:

• To increase the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns and stipulate a minimum thickness of 50 microns for plastic sheets to facilitate the collection and recycling of plastic waste.
• To expand the jurisdiction of applicability from the municipal area to rural areas.
• To bring in the responsibilities of producers and generators, both in plastic waste management system.
• To introduce a collection of plastic waste management fees through pre-registration of the producers, importers of plastic carry bags and vendors selling the same for establishing the waste management system
• To promote the use of plastic waste for road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or energy recovery, or waste to oil etc., for gainful utilization of waste and also address the waste disposal issue.
• To entrust more responsibility on waste generators, namely payment of user charge as prescribed by local authority, collection and handing over of waste by the institutional generator, event organizers.

Source:https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/pollution/microfibre-free-laundry-multifaceted-approach-needed-to-combat-these-tiny-shreds-of-pollutants-90564

4. PARTIAL APP BANS

TAG: GS 2: GOVERNANCE, GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) sought inputs on whether it would be possible to have “selective” app bans instead of internet shutdowns.

EXPLANATION:

• Internet shutdowns are imposed in order to prevent the rapid spread of provocative content during communally charged periods.
• Shutdowns can have larger impacts with access to education, work, banking, and information strained.
• The approach suggested by TRAI would require telecom operators and messaging app firms like WhatsApp to cooperate with each other and stop access to services during a shutdown.
• The telecom regulator has sought inputs on licensing messaging apps in India, which may require firms to be subjected to surveillance and blocking requirements.

Has the TRAI considered app regulation before?

• In 2015 and 2018, the TRAI held consultations on regulating messaging apps, a process that led to wide-ranging discussions for net neutrality, the concept that all internet traffic should be treated equally.
• Telecom operators had then called for regulation because they argued that messaging apps provide the same service without going through the stringent security and surveillance regulations that telecom operators go through.
• Telcos were also wary of their revenues being undercut by online calls and messages, which were cheaper than calling and SMS rates then.
• However, from 2016 onwards, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) and the TRAI have rejected this argument, holding that telcos cannot discriminate between categories of data used by consumers.
• Since then, regulating messaging apps has become more a matter of security and policing.

Internet shutdowns:

• Till the year 2017, shutdowns were imposed largely under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• Section 144 of CrPC gave the police and the District Magistrate the powers in order to prevent unlawful gathering of people and also to direct any person to abstain from a certain activity.

Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017:

• Internet Shutdowns may be defined as any disruption in access to the internet services most of which deals with mobile internet.
• Under the Rules the efficient authority who are able to order such directions are:

1. The Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. (Central Government)
2. The Secretary of the Home Department to the concerned State Government. (State Government)

• According to rule 2(1) the order to suspend the telecom services shall be given only under these rules and according to the procedure mentioned.
• This also makes it clear that any order for suspension of telecom services may not be given under any other provision of law, even not under Section 144 of CrPC 1973.
• However, in inevitable circumstances, such an order may be issued by an officer ranked Joint Secretary or above who has been properly permitted by the Union Home Secretary or State Home Secretary.

Related News:

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs):

• It is an encrypted connection over the Internet from a device to a network.
• The encrypted connection helps ensure that sensitive data is safely transmitted.
• It prevents unauthorized people from eavesdropping on the traffic and allows the user to conduct work remotely.

Can VPN be blocked?

• It is possible to block websites and certain apps by ordering telecom operators to do so. However, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) make these blocks trivial to bypass.
• VPNs are often encrypted, leaving the government with little visibility into what goes on in users’ connections.
• VPN firms usually route data through servers located in another country and frequently cycle the IP addresses these servers use to evade detection and blocking.
• Blocking VPNs is not straightforward, as companies operating them tend to frequently change the IP addresses associated with their servers.
• While VPN services’ websites may be blocked, the installation files can be found elsewhere online.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):

• It is a regulatory body set up by the Government of India under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.
• It consists of a chairperson and not more than two full-time members, and not more than two part-time members.

Source:https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/explained-is-it-possible-to-have-partial-app-bans/article67073191.ece

5. INDO-PACIFIC ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK FOR PROSPERITY (IPEF)

TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: India has been asked for better market access in order to be a part of the trade pillar of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

EXPLANATION:

• IPEF has denied market access to India, which is being seen as a crucial factor to join the trade pillar (Pillar-I). India has observer status in the trade pillar negotiations.
• The developments come after text-based negotiations under the supply chain pillar (Pillar-II) were substantially concluded in the second ministerial meeting in May in the US.
• India felt that there was not much gain out of it, and environmental and labour laws conditions have been stringent.
• India had been reluctant to join Pillar-I in view of concerns to protect its domestic agricultural, labour and digital sectors without being completely sure about the impact of joining the IPEF.

Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF):

• In May 2022, the United States launched IPEF with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam in Tokyo, Japan.
• It aims to strengthen economic engagement among the member countries to advance growth, peace and prosperity in the region.
• It has 14 partner countries, including Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.
• Its framework is structured around four pillars:

1. Trade
2. Supply Chains
3. Clean Economy
4. Fair Economy

• India has joined Pillars II to IV of IPEF while it had opted out from Pillar-I in September 2022 and now has an observer status in Pillar-I.
• It accounts for about 40 per cent of the world’s GDP and 28 per cent of the world’s trade in goods and services.
• It is seen as an economic and trade strategy backed by the US to counter China’s economic influence in the region.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/india-weighs-better-market-access-to-join-ipef-trade-pillar-8835160/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CUnder%20the%20IPEF%20trade%20pillar,laws%20conditions%20have%20been%20stringent.

1. NARI ADALAT

TAG: GS 2: JUDICIARY

THE CONTEXT: The Centre is launching a unique initiative of setting up women-only courts at the village level as an alternate dispute resolution forum for issues like domestic violence, property rights and countering the patriarchal system.

EXPLANATION:

• The scheme would be launched on a pilot basis in 50 villages each in Assam and Jammu and Kashmir from August and would be extended to the rest of the country over the next six months.
• The Nari Adalat though does not hold any legal status.
• This platform leverages their potential as advisers and leaders within their communities, functioning as a pressure group.
• The Nari Adalat of each village would have 7-9 members, half of which would be the elected members of the gram panchayat and the other half women like teachers, doctors and social workers would be nominated by the villagers.
• It will cater to individual cases of all women and girls who require assistance or have grievances within the local community.
• Its main functions include raising awareness about the government schemes and legal rights and entitlements of women and resolving cases falling within its jurisdiction.
• The services provided will include alternate dispute resolution and grievance redressal, counselling, evidence-based decision making, pressure group tactics, negotiation, mediation among others.
• Additionally, the platform will engage with citizens, promoting awareness about women’s rights, legal opinions, various schemes and collecting public feedback.
• Members known as Nyaya Sakhis or legal friends will be nominated or selected by the gram panchayat. The head of Nari Adalat called the Mukhya Nyaya Sakhi or chief legal friend will be chosen among the Nyay Sakhis. The tenure of the head will be generally six months after which a new one will be selected.
• The scheme would be run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development under the Sambal sub-scheme of Mission Shakti, which is dedicated to strengthening women’s safety, security and empowerment.
• The implementation process will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Rural Development and Common Service Centers operated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information technology.
• The matters redressed through these Lok Adalats are related to family affairs, matrimonial disputes, bigamy, succession, and motor vehicle accident disputes related to labour.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):

• The concept of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism is capable of providing a substitute to the conventional methods of resolving disputes.
• ADR offers to resolve all type of matters including civil, commercial, industrial and family etc., where people are not being able to start any type of negotiation and reach the settlement.
• Generally, ADR uses neutral third party who helps the parties to communicate, discuss the differences and resolve the dispute.
• It is a method which enables individuals and group to maintain co-operation, social order and provides opportunity to reduce hostility.

Few important provisions related to ADR:

• The Acts which deals with Alternative Dispute Resolution are Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 and, The Legal Services Authority Act, 1987
• Section 89 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 provides elements of settlement outside the court and refers to methods as : Arbitration, Conciliation, Mediation or Lok Adalat.

Lok Adalat:

• Lok Adalat is called ‘People’s Court’ presided over by a sitting or retired judicial officer, social activists or members of Legal profession as the chairman.
• National Legal Service Authority(NALSA) along with other Legal Services Institutions conducts Lok Adalats on regular intervals for exercising such jurisdiction.
• Any case pending in regular court or any dispute which has not been brought before any court of law can be referred to Lok Adalat.
• There is no court fees and rigid procedure followed, which makes the process fast.

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996: This Act unites and manages the laws associated with domestic arbitration, international business arbitration, and the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. It also defines the law related to conciliation

The Legal Services Authority Act, 1987: The Act envisions that no one will be denied access to justice because of disability or economic reasons, and aims to educate the public about the law, offer free legal aid, and establish Lok Adalats.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coming-women-only-courts-for-alternative-dispute-resolution/article67053956.ece

2. OUTCOMES OF THE RECENT GST COUNCIL MEETING

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY; GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, 50^th meeting of GST council took place in which decision to levy a uniform 28 per cent tax on full face value for online gaming, casinos and horse-racing among others were taken.

EXPLANATION:

Highlights of the meeting:

• Decision taken to levy a uniform 28% tax on full face value for online gaming, casinos and horse-racing to align it with the regulation of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Tax on online gaming companies would be imposed without making any differentiation based on whether the games required skill or were based on chance.
• There will be an amendment to Schedule III of the GST Act and bringing in online gaming into the actionable claim list. However, betting, gambling and lottery are already in it and online gaming and horse racing will be included also into it.
• Decision was taken to reduce the rate for uncooked/ unfried snack pellets and imitation zari thread.
• The GST Council exempted GST on import of cancer drug Dinutuximab, and food used in Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), along with satellite launch services provided by private operators.
• Food and beverages consumed in cinema halls will attract a GST of 5 per cent, equivalent to the levy charged in hotels and restaurants, instead of 18 per cent which was being charged by many cinema halls for composite food packages.
• The Council also recommended setting up of mechanism for appellate tribunals .
• Demands for state-wise benches were presented by various states, and the Council approved setting up of as many as 40 benches in phases.
• The definition of utility vehicles has been tweaked to allow the levy of 22 per cent cess over and above the 28 per cent GST rate.

GST Council 

• GST council was established under Article 279A of the Indian Constitution.
• It serves as the apex committee responsible for recommending modifications, reconciliations, and exemptions related to GST.

Objectives of GST Council 

• To ensure a smooth implementation of the GST, regulate the goods and services tax regime in India.
• To harmonize tax laws across states, to simplify the tax structure, eliminate cascading taxes, and reduce compliance costs.
• To monitor all the taxation processes to avoid fraudulent processes.

Regulation of Online gaming in India:

IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023) enacted for online gaming regulations:

• It mark an important milestone for the Indian online gaming industry.
• It contains rules for safeguarding Indian gamers and their funds against online scams and frauds,.
• It aims to encourage responsible gaming, and protect young and vulnerable users against online abuse and indecency.
• It has introduced the following concepts:
• Permissible online game:  This includes permissible online real money games and all other online games which are not real money games.
• Permissible online real money game:  This includes only such games which have been verified by a self-regulatory body (“SRB”)

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/business/gst-council-impose-28-per-cent-tax-online-gaming-firms-8827305/

3. MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX (MPI)

TAG: GS 1: SOCIETY; GS 2: SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: As per UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), 415 million Indians came out of multidimensional poverty in 15 years. The UN report noted that deprivation in all indicators declined in India.

EXPLANATION:

Highlights of the index:

• The UN report noted that deprivation in all indicators declined in India and “the poorest States and groups, including children and people in disadvantaged caste groups, had the fastest absolute progress.
• A total of 415 million people moved out of poverty in India within just 15 years from 2005-2006 to 2019-2021 highlighting the remarkable achievement by the world’s most populous nation.
• It said that 25 countries, including India, successfully halved their global MPI values within 15 years, showing that rapid progress is attainable. These countries include Cambodia, China, Congo, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Serbia, and Vietnam.
• According to the report, people who are multidimensionally poor and deprived under the nutrition indicator in India declined from 44.3% in 2005/2006 to 11.8% in 2019/2021, and child mortality fell from 4.5% to 1.5%.
• Those who are poor and deprived of cooking fuel fell from 52.9% to 13.9% and those deprived of sanitation fell from 50.4% in 2005/2006 to 11.3% in 2019/2021.
• In the drinking water indicator, the percentage of people who are multidimensionally poor and deprived fell from 16.4 to 2.7 during the period, electricity (from 29% to 2.1%) and housing from 44.9% to 13.6%.
• According to the 2023 release, 1.1 billion out of 6.1 billion people (just more than 18%) live in acute multidimensional poverty across 110 countries. Sub-Saharan Africa (534 million) and South Asia (389 million) are home to approximately five out of every six poor people.
• Nearly two-thirds of all poor people (730 million people) live in middle-income countries, making action in these countries vital for reducing global poverty. Although low-income countries constitute only 10% of the population included in the MPI, these are where 35% of all poor people reside.

The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

• It was developed in 2010 by the Oxford Poverty & Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme .
• The Global MPI is released annually by UNDP and OPHI.
• The MPI is published along with the Human Development Index (HDI) in the Human Development Report.
• It measures poverty uses health, education and standard of living indicators to determine the incidence and intensity of poverty experienced by a population. It has since been used to measure acute poverty across over 100 developing countries.
• The global MPI monitors poverty reduction and informs policy, showing how people experience poverty in different aspects of their daily lives from access to education and health to living standards such as housing, drinking water, sanitation and electricity.
• The MPI as a poverty index can be pictured as a stacked tower of the interlinked deprivations experienced by poor individuals, with the aim of eliminating these deprivations.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/india-registers-remarkable-reduction-in-poverty-with-415-million-people-coming-out-of-it-in-15-years-united-nations/article67066698.ece

4. ENFORCEMENT DIRECTORATE (ED)

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Supreme Court asks ED chief to quit; but upholds amendments

Bench holds that back-to-back service extensions given to the ED chief in 2021 and 2022 were both invalid and illegal; it however, gave him time till July 31 to quit office for “smooth transition

EXPLANATION:

What is the issue?

• The Supreme Court asked Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director to quit four months before his third extension ends. However, court upheld statutory amendments which facilitate the tenures of Directors of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED to be stretched piecemeal.
• CBI and ED chiefs have fixed tenures of two years. However, amendments enacted in 2021 to the Central Vigilance Commission Act, the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act and the Fundamental Rules allow them a maximum three annual extensions.
• Earlier the court had directed the government to stop giving extensions which was overruled by the government through amendments.
• By upholding the 2021 amendments, the court disagreed with the submissions made by its own amicus curiae, which had urged the court to strike down the amendments. As the amendments went against the very principle of insulating the Central investigative agencies from government pressure.

High Level Committees

• 2021 amendments require High Level Committees to recommend the officers for service extensions.
• A five-member panel composed of the Central Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners had to recommend if an ED Director was worthy of an extension in service.
• In case of the CBI Director, a High-Level Committee of the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and the Chief Justice of India had to recommend.
• Besides, the committees were required to record reasons in writing in support of their recommendations.
• The court further said the 2021 amendments were enacted by the Parliament. They could not be declared unconstitutional lightly.

Enforcement Directorate (ED):

• The Directorate of Enforcement is a multi-disciplinary organization mandated with investigation of offence of money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws.
• It functions under the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance.
• ED with its headquarters at New Delhi, is headed by the Director of Enforcement.
• The statutory functions of the Directorate include enforcement of following Acts:

1. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA): It is a criminal law enacted to prevent money laundering and to provide for confiscation of property derived from, or involved in, money-laundering. ED has been given the responsibility to enforce the provisions of the PMLA by conducting investigation to trace the assets derived from proceeds of crime.
2. The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA): It is a civil law enacted to consolidate and amend the laws relating to facilitate external trade and payments and to and maintenance of foreign exchange market in India. ED has been given the responsibility to conduct investigation into suspected contraventions of foreign exchange laws and regulations.
3. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA): This law was enacted to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts. It is a law whereby Directorate is mandated to attach the properties of the fugitive economic offenders and provide for the confiscation of their properties to the Central Government.
4. Sponsoring agency under COFEPOSA: Under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act, 1974 (COFEPOSA), this Directorate is empowered to sponsor cases of preventive detention with regard to contraventions of FEMA.

Directorate of Enforcement

• Recruitment of the officers is done directly and by drawing officers from other investigation agencies.
• It comprises officers of IRS (Indian Revenue Services), IPS (Indian Police Services) and IAS (Indian Administrative Services) and others.
• The tenure of the Director is fixed for two years, but can be extended from two to five years by giving three annual extensions.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-holds-piecemeal-extensions-given-to-ed-director-illegal-invalid-in-law/article67067194.ece

5. GREEN WASHING AND THE FOREST (CONSERVATION) AMENDMENT BILL, 2023

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT.

THE CONTEXT: Recently proposed  Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, is leading to complex challenges of greenwashing as various concerns have been raised by environmentalist against the provisions of the bill.

EXPLANATION:

• Industrialisation inevitably means usurping greater tracts of forest land and ecosystems, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 has been the legislation that has empowered the state to regulate this and impose costs on such industrial exploitation.
• However, India’s forest cover has seen only marginal increases, as biennial reports of the Forest Survey of India illustrate.
• Growth in forest cover inside officially recorded forests is stagnant, or at best incremental. It is tree cover in orchards, plantations and village homesteads that has been on the rise and supplementing India’s claim that 24% of its area is under forest and tree cover.
• India has committed to increasing this number to 33% and adding a carbon sink of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide this way, by 2030, as part of its international climate commitments.
• The existing Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 was insufficient for these ends, as it did not incentivise private agro-forestry and tree plantation activities.

Provision of the Forest (conservation) Amendment bill, 2023:

• The Bill amends the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to make it applicable to certain types of land. These include land notified as a forest under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 or in government records after the 1980 Act came into effect.
• The Act will not be applicable for land converted to non-forest use before December 12, 1996.
• It also exempts certain types of land from the purview of the Act. These include land within 100 km of India’s border needed for national security projects, small roadside amenities, and public roads leading to a habitation.
• The state government requires prior approval of the central government to assign any forest land to a private entity.  The Bill extends this to all entities, and allows the assignment to be made on terms and conditions specified by the central government.
• The Act specifies some activities that can be carried out in forests, such as establishing check posts, fencing, and bridges.  The Bill also allows running zoos, safaris and eco-tourism facilities.
• Forest land authorised by States for non-forestry uses between 1980-1996 would not come under the provisions of the Act.
• The amendments effectively mean States can no longer classify unclassified forest land, or patches of trees with forest-like characteristics as ‘forest land’.
• The amendments also allow forest land, up to 100 km near India’s borders, to be appropriated, without central approval, for “strategic and security” purposes.

Need of the bill:

• The aim is to bring clarity to the country’s forest conservation law by increased provisions and guidelines.
• It aims to increase the forest area and to achieve 33% under forest area and adding a carbon sink of 2.5 billion to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide this way, by 2030,
• Certain exemptions under act can fast-track strategic and security-related projects.

Criticism of the bill:

• There are no specific conditions laid by the environment ministry for outrightly denying permission for deforestation for development projects.
• The amendment Bill, instead of completing the demarcation process on the ground, seeks to limit the applicability of the FC Act only to land recorded as ‘forest’.
• The amendment also proposes to redefine the ambit of “non-forest purpose” exemptions. This allows enumerated activities to be carried out on the forest land without prior approval of the central government.

Green Washing

• It is a term used to describe a false, misleading action or set of claims made by an organization about the positive impact that a company, product or service has on the environment.
• It was first coined in 1986 by environmentalist Jay Westerveld .
• In an era where increasing numbers of consumers as well as governments are interested in taking environmentally responsible actions, there has been a growing emphasis on environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives in companies.
• The need to demonstrate ESG efforts has led to many organizations making environmental claims that have turned out to be greenwashing.

How the Bill leads to green washing?

• The Bill removes the mandatory central government approval for diversion of forests in certain cases and a blanket exemption for projects like zoos, eco-tourism facilities, and reconnaissance surveys has been proposed. Such activities will disturb the forest and end up bringing down the total green cover.
• The proposed exemptions leave the Center with a lot of discretionary authority and fewer projects will need to seek forest clearance. It will also assist developers in obtaining necessary forest clerances.
• Therefore, these amendments do not really contribute to regenerating natural forest, but rather incentivise afforestation for commercial ends.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/green-washing-the-hindu-editorial-on-amendments-and-the-forest-conservation-amendment-bill-2023/article67067924.ece

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. OPEN MARKET SALE SCHEME

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: States have been looking at alternative ways of procuring wheat and rice in the aftermath of the Food Corporation of India’s (FCI) quantity restrictions followed by the refusal to allow states to procure the two food grains through its Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS).

EXPLANATION:

• Centre has made it clear that the reason for first restricting supplies per bidder and eventually excluding states for the OMSS was to curb inflation and regulate supply.
• State government in Karnataka announced that being unable to procure enough rice in the market at a reasonable cost in time to meet the needs of its free good grain distribution scheme for BPL families- the Anna Bhagya scheme, it had decided to temporarily give cash to the beneficiaries in lieu of the promised five kg of free rice.

What is the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS)?

• Firstly, the procurement of food grains like wheat and paddy for the central pool happens in Rabi and Kharif marketing seasons by the FCI and State corporations according to procurement estimates finalised by the government of India before the seasons. These purchases happen as per the Minimum Support Price.
• From the central pool, the government has to set aside wheat and rice for the beneficiaries of free foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), maintain a buffer stock, and have a marketable surplus.
• Under the Open Market Sale Scheme, the FCI from time to time sells surplus food grains from the central pool especially wheat and rice in the open market to traders, bulk consumers, retail chains and so on at pre-determined prices. The Corporation does this through e-auctions where open market bidders can buy specified quantities at the prices set at the start of a cycle and revised routinely.
• Usually, states are also allowed to procure food grains through the OMSS without participating in the auctions, for their needs beyond what they get from the central pool to distribute to NFSA beneficiaries.
• The idea is to activate the OMSS during the lean season, the time between harvests, to improve and regulate domestic supply and availability of the two grains and bring down their prices in the open market; essentially making the scheme a measure to curb food grain inflation.

How has the Centre revised the OMSS?

• Recently, the Centre decided to restrict the quantity that a single bidder can purchase in a single bid under the OMSS. While the maximum quantity allowed earlier was 3,000 metric tonnes (MT) per bid for a buyer, it will now range from 10-100 metric tonnes (MT).
• The rationale given for the same by the Corporation is that the quantities have been reduced this time “to accommodate more small and marginal buyers and to ensure wider reach of the scheme”.
• The body contends this move will allow the supplies to the general public immediately. The objective behind the move is also to curb retail prices as allowing smaller bids should ideally break monopolies of bulk buyers, allowing more competitive bids by small buyers.
• Another reason for the move is to meet the FCI’s food security obligations. The Centre said that in recent years, production of agriculture crops was affected due to untimely rains, rise in temperature in the month of March and so on, making it incumbent upon the FCI to release its stocks “judicious manner under the OMSS (D)” so that the overall stock position is maintained at a comfortable level”.

2. GREEN CREDIT PROGRAMME

TAG:  GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has notified draft rules for ‘Green Credit’, an incentive that individuals, farmer-producer organisations (FPO), industries, rural and urban local bodies, among other stakeholders, will be able to earn for environment positive actions. 

EXPLANATION:

• The ministry proposed the draft Green Credit Programme Implementation Rules 2023 in a notification issued June 26, 2023 and has invited for objections and suggestions within 60 days.
• The programme will incentivise individuals & organisations to take positive actions for the environment.
• By ‘green credit’, the government means a singular unit of an incentive provided for a specified activity, delivering a positive impact on the environment.
• The activities include:

1. Tree plantation-based green credit: To promote activities for increasing the green cover across the country through tree plantation and related activities
2. Water-based green credit: To promote water conservation, water harvesting and water use efficiency / savings, including treatment and reuse of wastewater
3. Sustainable agriculture-based green credit: To promote natural and regenerative agricultural practices and land restoration to improve productivity, soil health and nutritional value of food produced
4. Waste management-based green credit: To promote sustainable and improved practices for waste management, including collection, segregation and treatment
5. Air pollution reduction-based green credit: To promote measures for reducing air pollution and other pollution abatement activities
6. Mangrove conservation and restoration-based green credit: To promote measures for conservation and restoration of mangroves
7. Ecomark-based green credit: To encourage manufacturers to obtain ‘Ecomark’ label for their goods and services
8. Sustainable building and infrastructure-based green credit: To encourage the construction of buildings and other infrastructure using sustainable technologies and materials

• Through the programme, thresholds and benchmarks will be developed for each green credit activity.
• The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education shall be the administrator of the programme. The institute will develop guidelines, processes and procedures for implementation of the programme and develop methodologies and standards, registration process and associated measurement, reporting and verification mechanisms.
• The green credits will be tradable and those earning it will be able to put these credits up for sale on a proposed domestic market platform.
• It was first announced in the 2023-24 budget with a view to leverage a competitive market-based approach and incentivise voluntary environmental actions of various stakeholders.
• Apart from incentivising individual / community behaviour, the Green Credit Programme will encourage private sector industries and companies as well as other entities to meet their existing obligations, stemming from other legal frameworks, by taking actions which are able to converge with activities relevant for generating or buying green credits.
• It’s a first of its kind instrument that seeks to value and reward multiple ecosystem services to allow green projects to achieve optimal returns beyond just carbon. In fact, the scheme will allow project proponents to also access carbon markets additionally.

3. GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION HAS TILTED EARTH’S SPIN

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: Humans have caused marked tilts in the Earth’s axis by pumping water out of the ground and moving it elsewhere,  according to a new study. Pronounced shifts in the Earth’s axis of rotation can impact our planet’s climate, noted the study published in Geophysical Research Letters, the journal of the American Geophysical Union, on June 15, 2023.

EXPLANATION:

• Groundwater pumping has tilted the planet nearly 80 centimetres east between 1993 and 2010 alone. The water circulated across the planet determines how mass is distributed. Scientists had predicted that between 1993 and 2010, people pumped 2,150 gigatons of groundwater, or more than 6 millimetres (0.24 inches), of sea level increase. However, it is difficult to validate that estimate.
• Attempts to slow groundwater depletion rates in sensitive regions could alter the change in drift.
• Humans have caused marked tilts in the Earth’s axis by pumping water out of the ground and moving it elsewhere, according to a new study.
• The planet’s geographic north and south poles are where its axis intersects the surface; however, they are not fixed. The axis and hence the poles fluctuate due to variations in the Earth’s mass distribution.
• In the past, the poles’ drift was only caused by natural forces like ocean currents and the convection of heated rock deep beneath the Earth. But the new research pitched the redistribution of groundwater as the primary culprit for the drift.
• Rotational pole normally changes by several metres within about a year, so changes due to groundwater pumping don’t run the risk of shifting seasons. But on geologic time scales, polar drift can have an impact on climate.Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole.

• Redistributing water from the mid-latitudes significantly influences polar drift; therefore, the location of redistribution determines polar drift. During the study period, most redistribution occurred in western North America and northwestern India both located at mid-latitudes.
• In the new study, researchers analysed changes in the drift of Earth’s rotational pole and water movement first, by accounting for just ice sheets and glaciers and then by adding different groundwater redistribution scenarios.
• Although the shift isn’t significant enough to have real-life consequences, the study shows that humans have extracted so much water from the ground that it has impacted the planet’s axis and contributed to global sea level rise.

Earth’s axis keeps shifting

• Earth spins around an imaginary axis which passes through the north pole, its centre of mass and the south pole — just like a top spins around its spindle. Scientists for years have known that the poles and the axis keep shifting naturally as the mass distribution in and on the planet changes. This phenomenon is known as “polar motion”.
• There are several other reasons responsible for polar motion like ocean currents and even hurricanes. But this phenomenon is also impacted by human activities. In 2016, a team of researchers demonstrated that climate-driven changes in water mass distribution, led by the melting of glaciers and ice in Greenland, can cause Earth’s axis to drift. Five years later, another study said climate change was causing the rotational axis to shift more than usual since the 1990s.

4. ‘HORIZONTAL’ RESERVATION

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: In the 2014 NALSA judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that transgender persons have a right to reservation, owing to the fact that they “are a socially and educationally backward class. In response to a clarification requested by the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra government said on June 13 that it will be difficult to provide “additional reservations” to transgender persons in education and public employment, given the reservation that exists so far for various communities in India.

EXPLANATION:

• Considering the extent of vertical and horizontal reservations which are already provided, providing additional reservations for transgender persons seems difficult. The issue is pending before the Supreme Court.
• Trans persons in India have been fighting for the right to horizontal reservation for a long time.

What have the courts said on reservation for the transgender community?

• In the National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) v Union of India (2014) case, the Supreme Court ruled that transgender persons have a right to reservation, owing to the fact that they “are a socially and educationally backward class”.
• With regards to reservation, the judgment noted: “We direct the Centre and the State Governments to take steps to treat them [transgender persons] as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservation in cases of admission in educational institutions and for public appointments.”
• The NALSA judgment entitles trans persons to reservations on constitutional grounds. It does not, however, mention the nature of reservations – whether they are to be vertical or horizontal.

First, what are horizontal reservations?

• In India, historically oppressed and disadvantaged communities have a right to affirmative action policies. Reservation in education and employment can be divided into two broad categories, namely, vertical and horizontal.
• Vertical reservations are provisions aimed at addressing social asymmetry arising out of caste hierarchy. These include reservations for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
• Horizontal reservation, on the other hand, cuts across all vertical groups to provide affirmative policies for disadvantaged groups within categories. For example, disabled persons are guaranteed horizontal reservation in all the aforementioned vertical categories, general and reserved (vertical) alike, by the Central government States like Uttarakhand and Bihar have also rolled out policies that guarantee horizontal reservation for women. This means that a woman who belongs to the SC category should be able to avail reservation based on both caste and gender. The horizontal model ensures this. This is exactly what transgender persons are fighting for, as well.

What is the demand for horizontal reservation?

• It has to do with the need for mandating provisions for a community that has been marginalized for long in society and recognising the different aspects making up their social identity.
• In this regard, the NALSA verdict has largely been interpreted as directing reservations for transgender people in the OBC category. This perhaps stems from the bench identifying the community as “a socially and educationally backward class”. So far, no implementation has happened even to that end.
• Since the NALSA judgment, there has been no direction from the Central government on delivering on the right to reservation for trans persons.
• Alternatively, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, included in its purview the right of disabled persons to accrue horizontal reservation. Since this Act has been implemented, horizontal reservation for disabled people is now ensured under the Central government.

5. CRITICAL MINERALS

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: In a strategic move, the Centre has identified 30 critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, tin and copper, which are essential for the country’s economic development and national security.

EXPLANATION:

• The identification of these minerals which form part of multiple strategic value chains, including clean technologies initiatives such as zero-emission vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels; information and communication technologies, including semiconductors; and advanced manufacturing inputs and materials such as defence applications, permanent magnets, ceramics was done on the basis of a report on critical minerals prepared by an expert team constituted by the Ministry of Mines November, 2022.
• The ministry will revisit the list periodically.

The exercise

• While elements such as cobalt, nickel and lithium are required for batteries used in electric vehicles or cellphones, rare earth minerals are critical, in trace amounts, in the semiconductors and high-end electronics manufacturing. Most countries of the world have identified critical minerals as per their national priorities and future requirements.
• In India too, some efforts have been made in the past to identify the minerals that are critical for the country, including an initiative in 2011 by the Planning Commission of India (now NITI Aayog) that highlighted the need for the “assured availability of mineral resources for the country’s industrial growth”, with a clear focus on the well-planned exploration and management of already discovered resources.
• That report analysed 11 groups of minerals under categories such as metallic, nonmetallic, precious stones and metals, and strategic minerals. From 2017 to 2020, a big thrust was accorded to the study of exploration and development of rare earth elements in the country.
• The specific trigger for the latest exercise are India’s international commitments towards reducing carbon emissions, which require the country to urgently relook at its mineral requirements for energy transition and net-zero commitments.
• In November 2022, the Ministry of Mines had constituted a seven-member Committee under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary (Policy), Ministry of Mines to identify a list of minerals critical to our country and the panel decided to have a three-stage assessment to arrive at a list of critical minerals. Critical minerals
• One of the definitions cited in the report characterises a mineral as critical when the risk of supply shortage and associated impact on the economy is (relatively) higher than other raw materials.
• This definition of a critical mineral was first adopted in the US and the subsequent legislation that resulted from the analysis, the report said. The European Union also carried out a similar exercise and categorised critical minerals on the basis of two prerequisites: supply risk and economic importance.
• Australia refers to critical minerals as: “metals, non-metals and minerals that are considered vital for the economic well-being of the world’s major and emerging economies, yet whose supply may be at risk due to geological scarcity, geopolitical issues, trade policy or other factors”.

Three-stage process

• In its three-stage assessment for identifying the minerals critical to India, the panel, in the first stage, looked at the strategies of various countries such as Australia, USA, Canada, UK, Japan and South Korea.
• Accordingly, a total of 69 elements/ minerals that were considered critical by major global economies were identified for further examination, the report said, adding that due importance was given to domestic initiatives as well.
• In the second stage of assessment, an inter ministerial consultation was carried out with different ministries to identify minerals critical to their sectors. Comments and suggestions were received from the Ministry of Power, Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Department of Fertilisers, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Pharmaceuticals, NITI Aayog, etc.
• The third stage assessment was to derive an empirical formula for evaluating minerals criticality, taking cognizance of the EU methodology that considers two major factors — economic importance and supply risk.
• Based on this process, a total of 30 minerals were found to be most critical for India, out of which two are critical as fertiliser minerals: Antimony, Beryllium, Bismuth, Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Germanium, Graphite, Hafnium, Indium, Lithium, Molybdenum, Niobium, Nickel, PGE, Phosphorous, Potash, REE, Rhenium, Silicon, Strontium, Tantalum, Tellurium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zirconium, Selenium and Cadmium.

Domestic and global outreach

• The Geological Survey of India, an attached office of Ministry of Mines, has carried out a G3 stage mineral exploration (fairly advanced) during Field Season 2020-21 and 2021-22 in Salal- Haimna areas of Reasi district, Jammu & Kashmir, and estimated an inferred resource of 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore. The estimated value of lithium at that site will be estimated on completion of further exploration. Based on the mapping outcome, more exploration programmes on various mineral commodities including lithium will be taken up in future in different parts of the country, including Jammu & Kashmir.
• In addition, a joint venture company namely Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL) has been incorporated with equity contribution from three Central Public Sector Enterprises. It is mandated to identify and acquire overseas mineral assets of critical and strategic nature such as lithium, cobalt and others so as to ensure supply side assurance. KABIL has initiated engagement with several state owned-organisations of the shortlisted source countries through the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassies in countries like Argentina and Australia to acquire mineral assets, including lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements.
• In a fresh boost, India has recently been inducted into the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), a US-led collaboration of 14 countries that aims to catalyse public and private investment in critical mineral supply chains globally. India’s inclusion assumes significance given that one of the key elements of New Delhi’s growth strategy is powered by an ambitious shift in the mobility space through the conversion of a large part of public and private transport to electric vehicles.
• India is seen as a late mover in attempts to enter the lithium value chain, coming at a time when EVs are predicted to be a sector ripe for disruption. The year 2023 could be an inflection point for battery technology – with several potential improvements to the Li-ion technology, and alternatives to this combination in various stages of commercialization.

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. NEW COLLECTIVE QUANTIFIED GOAL ON CLIMATE FINANCE

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: The recently-concluded Bonn climate conference in Germany, expected to outline the political agenda for the crucial end-of-year Conference Of Parties-28 (COP28) in Dubai, was critical for reviewing and reforming the climate finance architecture.

EXPLANATION:

What is the NCQG?

• A commitment of ‘$100 billion per year till 2020’ to developing nations from developed countries was a target set at the Conference of Parties (COP) in 2009.
• But estimates since then show addressing climate change may cost billions, and even, trillions of dollars.
• Therefore, the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement agreed on setting a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCGQ) for climate financing prior to 2025 a reference point which accounts for the needs and priorities of developing nations.
• The NCGQ is thus, termed the “most important climate goal”. It pulls up the ceiling on commitment from developed countries, is supposed to anchor the evolving needs and priorities of developing countries based on scientific evidence and should respond “to the ever-increasing sums of funding necessary for Loss and Damage in response to failed and/or delayed financial support.
• It is stated under paragraph 53 of Decision 1/CP.21 that “developed countries intend to continue their existing collective mobilization goal through 2025 in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation.” All actors, from Parties to non-state stakeholders, must work together to create a bolder commitment to climate finance with the necessary tools and capacities to reduce adaptation and mitigation gaps and avoid any further loss and damage (L&D), in aid of climate-resilient development.

Guiding principles

• The formulation and operationalization of the NCQG need to be bound within the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, anchored on climate justice.

• The new goal must be grounded on the long-established principles of the “polluter pays”, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities, and intergenerational justice. It must be inclusive of the needs and priorities of developing countries and the most vulnerable sectors and communities (from both developed and developing nations), using the lens of gender, youth, indigenous peoples, and other highly-vulnerable sectors.
• It should also be primarily based on national climate policies and plans, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). All established financial glows must abide by Article 2.1c of the Paris Agreement, where Parties agreed to “making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.”

• The NCQG must be regularly updated to reflect the changing needs of developing countries and the most vulnerable sectors.

• Climate finance is never static, as risks, vulnerabilities, social, economic, and environmental conditions, development goals, and corresponding needs for adaptation and mitigation evolve as a response to GHG emissions, climate change impacts, and among themselves.
• The quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the new goal to be determined by 2025 must reflect the dynamic nature and interlinkages between and among impacts, solutions, and stakeholders relevant to developing countries, with subsequent finance goals being updated to cover changes to these factors and actors.

Structure and components

• The NCQG must be established as a matrix that categorizes targets according to the three pillars of climate action. These pillars are mitigation, adaptation, and L&D, with a specific list of quantitative and qualitative sub-goals listed under each of these components that differentiates needs for direct (i.e., project funding) and indirect (i.e., investments) modes of finance.
• Gaps, needs, and priorities must be based on what developing countries indicated in their policy documents under the UNFCCC, including NDCs, NAPs, and National Communications. With the understanding that current metrics for mitigation are mostly quantitative and those for adaptation are qualitative, the resulting formats for reporting data under the NCQG must reflect these characteristics.
• The funding allocated for adaptation and resilience must be at least half of the NCQG.
• Despite Article 9.4 of the Paris Agreement stating the need for a financing balance between mitigation and adaptation, the latter has been underfunded. The lack of adaptation finance places billions of people, especially those in Least Developed Countries and Small-Island Developing States, at even higher climate risk and worsens vulnerabilities that perpetuates climate injustices. Developed countries must commit to ensuring that at least 50% of the new goal will be dedicated to adaptation, with this percentage evolving in subsequent settings of the NCQG depending on global and national circumstances related to adaptation and mitigation.
• The NCQG must include allocated finance for averting or minimizing loss and damage. L&D must be officially recognized at COP27 as the third pillar of climate action and finance, separate from adaptation and mitigation, in words as much as in actions. Key to this call is the establishment of a L&D finance mechanism at COP27, which is vital to the survival of the victims of sudden onset disasters and slow onset events.
• Aligned with the justice and rights-based principles that are also reflected within the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreements, modalities under this finance facility must be grants-based, needs-based, gender-responsive, comprehensive in coverage of economic and non-economic L&D, and driven by inputs from those experiencing L&D themselves.
• The NCQG must allocate a portion of the finance in advancing climate change education. Education is the foundation on which to build the road to climate resilience and low- emissions sustainable development, a vital component of adaptation that strengthens multiple facets of climate action, especially long-term competencies, continuity within the climate sphere, and intergenerational justice.
• A fund under the NCQG must be allotted to support the implementation of the Glasgow Work Programme, which was adopted at COP26 to enhance the implementation of Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), as defined under Article 6 of the UNFCCC. The decision-making process in determining this “ACE Fund” must include youth representation and be largely driven by the inputs of this sector.
• The NCQG must increase every five years and embedded with monitoring, review, transparency, and accountability mechanisms. Updating the NCQG post-2025 should be based on the findings of the latest Global Stocktake (GST) through an evidence-based, comprehensive, regular, and inclusive review process. This must result in higher ambition and corresponding pledges for the next collective goal to be set, aligned with the principle of increasing ambition as stipulated within the Paris Agreement. Spaces and mechanisms must be placed such that the inputs of non-state actors, especially civil society groups and the most vulnerable communities and sectors, are meaningfully integrated into the process.
• Standardized terminologies, methodologies, formats, and communications of NCQG-related pledges by developed countries and other funding stakeholders must also be established to obtain as accurate of an assessment of the progress being made as possible, and avoid double- counting that dilutes the intended impact of such financing and collective pursuit of addressing the climate crisis, especially for developing countries.

2. NATIONAL MEDICAL COMMISSION (NMC)

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: While first year MBBS classes are likely to begin on August 1 of each year, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has also brought in changes in the undergraduate medical curriculum with the latest overhaul bringing in time limit on completing the MBBS course (by 9 years), fixed number of attempts to clear failed papers, compulsory attendance for both theory and practical papers and a family outreach programme.

EXPLANATION:

• Additionally, some subjects, including biochemistry and microbiology, have seen a reduction in the number of papers that need to be taken by the students.
• Reacting to the changes, senior doctors expressed fear that medical education is growing in its dependency on coaching institutes while medical students feel the changes are welcome.
• Meanwhile, as per the latest format, the four-and-half-year MBBS course will be divided into three phases with first and second phases of 12 months each, and phase three will be of 30 months — part I of 12 months and part II of 18 months.
• Each academic year will have at least 39 teaching weeks with a minimum of eight hours of study on each day and a total of 15 hours per week clinical posting is necessary from second year onwards. A minimum of 75% attendance in theory and 80% in practical or clinical is must for eligibility to appear for the examinations in that subject.
• Students failing in university examinations at the end of each professional year will appear in supplementary exams. As per the guidelines, supplementary exam results will be processed within three to six weeks from the date of declaration of the results of the main examination for every professional year, so that the candidates who pass can join the main batch for progression. The council has also specified the time that can be taken for clearing supplementary papers at various stages.
• Also, the National Exit Test (NExT), a comprehensive computer-based examination, that will replace the corresponding existing examinations for medical graduates in India, is to be conducted in December-January in the subjects of General Medicine, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, among others. NExT is also set to replace the NEET-PG entrance exams in India after 2023.

National Medical Commission (NMC)

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) has been constituted by an act of Parliament known as National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
• The Board of Governors in supersession of Medical Council of India constituted under section 3A of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 stands dissolved thereafter.
• While the MCI members were elected from within the medical community, the members of the NMCwere to be appointed by the government. NMC was thus prone to politicization of its very governing structure. It also summarily eroded the medical fraternity’s privilege of self-regulation.
• The Aim of the National Medical Commission are to (i) improve access to quality and affordable medical education, (ii) ensure availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals in all parts of the country; (iii) promote equitable and universal healthcare that encourages community health perspective and makes services of medical professionals accessible to all the citizens; (iv) encourages medical professionals to adopt latest medical research in their work and to contribute to research; (v) objectively assess medical institutions  periodically in a transparent manner; (vi) maintain a medical register for India; (vi) enforce high ethical standards in all aspects of medical services; (vii) have an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

3. INSOLVENCY RESOLUTION PROCESS

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The low-cost airline Go First (originally GoAir) filed for the initiation of insolvency proceedings recently. The company had been struggling with engine troubles for some time, which had led to the grounding of a large number of its aircraft. The percentage of grounded aircraft had risen from 7% of Go First’s fleet in December 2019 to 50% in December 2022. As a consequence, the market share of the airline crashed from 11% in November 2019 to 6.9% in March 2023. This significantly affected its cash flows, weakening its ability to meet its obligations.

EXPLANATION:

• A revival plan is reportedly in the works. But airfares are as of now through the roof, and the IBC process has been slower and less productive than expected. The longer this process is delayed, the more will be the value lost, and the more difficult it will be to restart operations.
• It is a struggling company’s financial creditors (banks) and operational creditors (who supply goods and services) who typically initiate proceedings under The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 for non-payment of their dues. In Go First’s case, however, it was the company that filed for the initiation of these proceedings. The airline had not defaulted on its loan repayments to banks, but had reportedly defaulted on obligations to its operational creditors.

 What is the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code?

• In 2016, the government put in place a framework to deal with the problem of bad loans in the country’s banking system. The IBC provides a framework for a time-bound resolution process.
• Broadly, if a company is unable to service its obligations (payments that are due to its financial and operational creditors), one of two processes could follow: (i) the company’s liabilities are restructured, and it gets a chance to continue its operations, perhaps under new owners; (ii) its assets are liquidated, and the money is recovered.
• Before the IBC, there were other regulatory frameworks to deal with bad loans. But it usually took very long for the process to conclude. As per the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report, it would take 4.3 years on average to resolve insolvency cases before the IBC was enacted.
• The IBC put strict timelines in place. Initially, the process was to be completed within 270 days, failing which the company would be pushed into liquidation; the deadline was subsequently extended to 330 days. The time-bound nature of the process under IBC was appealing, because delays in resolution lead to further destruction in the value of the firm.

So did the introduction of the IBC help creditors?

• The IBC attempted to reshape the credit culture in the country by titling the balance in favour of creditors. The threat of losing their company under this framework, as soon the proceedings are initiated, the existing promoters/ management lose control over the firm works as a powerful deterrent for errant promoters and puts pressure on them to honour their obligations.
• This framework has also given a negotiating tool to operational creditors, who are typically small firms, to negotiate the payment of their dues by larger firms. Data from the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India show that of all the cases admitted under IBC, proceedings in almost half have been initiated by operational creditors, signalling how widely this is being used by these firms.

4. SUMMER SOLSTICE

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: The longest day of the year, for anyone living north of the Equator, is June 21. The day is referred to as the summer solstice, and it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, or more specifically right over 23.5 degrees north latitude.

EXPLANATION:

Why do we have the summer solstice?

• Since Earth rotates on its axis, the Northern Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight between March and September over the course of a day, which also means people living in the Northern Hemisphere experience summer during this time. The rest of the year, the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight.
• During the solstice, the Earth’s axis around which the planet spins, completing one turn each day is tilted in a way that the North Pole is tipped towards the Sun and the South Pole is away from it.
• Typically, this imaginary axis passes right through the middle of the Earth from top to bottom and is always tilted at 23.5 degrees with respect to the Sun. Therefore, the solstice, as NASA puts it, is that instant in time when the North Pole points more directly toward the Sun than at any other time during the year. Solstice means “sun stands still” in Latin.
• While the solstice occurs at the same time across the world, different countries experience it at different times according to their time zones.

What happens during the solstice?

• This day sees the Earth receiving a greater amount of energy from the Sun.
• The maximum amount of sunlight received by the Northern Hemisphere during this time is usually on June 20, 21 or 22. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere receives most sunlight on December 21, 22 or 23 when the northern hemisphere has its longest nights or the winter solstice.
• The amount of light received by a specific area in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer solstice depends on the latitudinal location of the place. The further north one moves from the equator, the more light one receives during the summer solstice. At the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set during the solstice.
• Summer solstice, however, does not necessarily mean the earliest sunrise or latest sunset. That depends on the latitudinal location of the country.

5. TITAN, THE MISSING TITANIC TOURIST SUBMERSIBLE

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: On June 18, a submersible named Titan went missing. On board the missing vehicle were one pilot and four crew members travelling to see the wreckage of RMS Titanic, which is nearly four thousand metres under water in the frigid North Atlantic ocean. One hour and forty-five minutes into the journey, contact with Titan was lost.

EXPLANATION:

• United States and Canadian authorities have been using airplanes and boats, and are leveraging sonar technology to locate the sub.
• Titan has 96 hours of life support for a crew of five. Authorities are working round the clock to re-establish contact with the undersea vehicle. One of the crew members is Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate Inc., the company that runs these tours to the sunken ship.

What is the Titan submersible?

• Titan is a submersible, or an underwater vehicle. It is operated by the privately owned U.S. company OceanGate that organises underwater expeditions for both research and tourism.
• The company claims that Titan, which it said was built with “off-the-shelf” components, is lighter and more cost-efficient than other deep diving submersibles. The 6.7-metre-long manned submersible is intended for site survey and inspection, research and data collection, film and media production, and deep sea testing of hardware and software.
• The company said its expeditions were meant to document the Titanic and its rate of decay on the ocean floor, and that all expeditions were in line with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Guidelines for Research Exploration and Salvage of RMS Titanic, as well as the UNESCO guidelines for the preservation of underwater world heritage sites.

What do these guidelines say?

• The UNESCO guidelines stress on the long-term preservation of “underwater cultural heritage” and the need to protect the surrounding waters as well by ensuring “responsible non-intrusive access.”
• The NOAA guidelines are similar and insist that recovered material and artefacts must be managed as per professional standards. In other words, taking souvenirs from the wreckage site is strongly discouraged.

What is the difference between a submarine and a submersible?

• While the two categories can overlap, a submarine refers to an underwater vehicle that is largely independent and has power reserves to help it depart from a port or come back to the port after an expedition.
• Meanwhile, a submersible is generally smaller in size and has less power, so it needs to work with a ship in order to be launched and recovered.

How was the submersible operated?

• Titan is made of carbon fibre and titanium, and weighs 10,432 kilograms, according to OceanGate’s website. It is capable of going 4,000 metres undersea, and moves as fast as three knots per hour (5.56 kph). Based on images from the company website, there is space for the five crew members to sit on the floor, though not stand.
• A small porthole window is at one end, but below 1,000 metres no sunlight reaches the ocean so the submersible would have to rely on its own lighting. The submersible is dependent on external crew members, as it is bolted from the outside. Titan also has an integrated launch and recovery platform
• The sub’s interior was filmed when it was on land. In a 2022 video interview with BBC, OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush said that Titan had only one button inside and that the submersible was run with a “Sony PlayStation-style controller” made by Logitech. The company has explained that “off-the-shelf” technology helped make it easier to replace parts.
• While it may sound strange that a submersible on such a high-risk expedition was operated with a gaming-style controller, the fact is that such devices are also used by some drone operators, navy personnel, and robot operators. Game controllers are cheap, easy to buy in bulk, designed to be intuitive, and respond quickly to the users’ hand movements.
• Before the expedition, OceanGate also said in a tweet that it was relying on satellite-based internet from the Elon Musk-founded company SpaceX’s Starlink for communication from the middle of the ocean, throughout the Titanic expedition.

1. TRANSGENIC CROPS

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Three States, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Telangana, have deferred a proposal, approved by the Centre’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), to test a new kind of transgenic cotton seed that contains a gene, Cry2Ai, that purportedly makes cotton resistant to pink bollworm, a major pest. The conflict shows that a broad acceptance of genetically modified crops continues to be elusive.

EXPLANATION:

What is the status of transgenic crops in India?

• There is wide variety of crops as brinjal, tomato, maize, chickpea in various stages of trials that employ transgenic technology. However, cotton remains the only transgenic crop that is being commercially cultivated in India.
• After a long wait, the GEAC, the apex technical body charged with evaluating proposals for testing genetically modified (GM) seeds, approved the environmental release of Mustard hybrid DMH-11 and its parental lines in 2022 for seed production and testing.
• In 2010, the GEAC had approved GM Brinjal, but this was put on an “indefinite moratorium” by the United Progressive Alliance government.

What is the process of regulating transgenic crops in India?

• The process of developing transgenic crops is an elaborate one as inserting transgenic genes into plants to elicit a sustained, protective response is a mix of both science and chance.
• There are multiple safety assessments done by committees before they are cleared for further tests in open plots of land which are located at either agricultural universities or plots controlled by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• A transgenic plant can apply for commercial clearance, only after it has proven to be demonstrably better than comparable non-GM variants on claimed parameters (for instance, drought tolerance or insect resistance) without posing ecological harm to other species that may be being cultivated in the vicinity.
• Open field trials often take place over multiple crop seasons and types of geographical conditions, to assess its suitability across different States.

What is the issue?

• The cotton seed has been developed by the Hyderabad-based Bioseed Research India with Cry2Ai which makes it resistant to pink bollworm.
• The first generations of transgenic cotton had been developed to inure cotton against a more widespread pest called the American bollworm.
• The Cry2Ai seed has passed preliminary, confined trials and was recommended by the GEAC to be tested in farmer’s fields at Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.
• This was after the GEAC in October 2022 sent letters to all States to communicate their views within two months on the proposal. States responded that the proposal was unacceptable to them.

Are there changes in the offing in process of regulation of GM crops?

• The GEAC consists of a panel of plant biotechnologists and is headed by a senior official of the Environment Ministry and co-chaired by the scientist of the DBT
• To resolve the issue of States not according to approvals on testing, because of differing attitudes to GM crops, the GEAC is considering a proposal by the DBT to declare some regions across India as ‘notified testing sites.

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)

• It functions in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEF&CC).
• As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
• The committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the enviornment including experimental field trials.
• GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
• Presently, it has 24 members and meets every month to review the applications in the areas indicated above.

2. NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

TAG: GS 2: HEALTH ISSUES

THE CONTEXT: The new national estimates for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) shows that 31 million more Indians became diabetic in four years (2019-2021).

EXPLANATION:

What were the findings?

• In 2021, a study found that India has 101 million people with diabetes and 136 million people with prediabetes.
• Additionally, 315 million people had high blood pressure; 254 million had generalised obesity, and 351 million had abdominal obesity.
• 213 million people had hypercholesterolaemia (wherein fat collects in arteries and puts individuals at greater risk of heart attack and strokes) and 185 million had high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
• The decade-long nationwide study was funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research and Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and co-ordinated by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation. The results of the study are to be published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal.

What is the significance of the study?

• The study is the first comprehensive epidemiological research paper which includes participants from 31 States and some Union Territories. There are two big trend indicators in the study.
• First, diabetes and other metabolic non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia are much more common than estimated previously in India.
• Second, while currently urban regions had higher rates of all metabolic NCDs than rural areas, with the exception of prediabetes, rural India will see a diabetes explosion in the next five years if left unregulated.
• While the diabetes epidemic is stabilising in the more developed States of the country, it is still increasing in most of the other States. Thus, there are serious implications for the nation, warranting urgent State-specific policies and interventions to arrest the rapidly rising epidemic of metabolic NCDs in India.

Status of Non communicable disease:

• India is experiencing a rapid health transition with a rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) surpassing the burden of Communicable diseases like water-borne or vector borne diseases, TB, HIV, etc.
• The four major NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) and diabetes which share four behavioural risk factors – unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and use of tobacco and alcohol.
• Meanwhile, a study ‘India: Health of the Nation’s States – The India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative in 2017’ by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) estimated that the proportion of deaths due to NCDs in India have increased from 37.9% in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016.
• Non-Communicable Diseases like Cardiovascular diseases, Cancer, Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Diabetes, etc. are estimated to account for around 60% of all deaths. NCDs cause considerable loss in potentially productive years of life. Losses due to premature deaths related to heart diseases, stroke and Diabetes are also projected to increase over the years.

National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD)

• The existing National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) programme has been renamed National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) amid widening coverage and expansion.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has decided to rename the portal which enables population enumeration, risk assessment, and screening for five common NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, and oral, breast and cervical cancers of the population aged above 30 years.
• Now Schemes subsume all types of NCDs with an addition of diseases to the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic kidney disease etc.
• NP-NCD is being implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) across the country.
• Under NP-NCD, NCD Cells are being established at National, State and District levels for programme management, and NCD Clinics are being set up at District and CHC levels, to provide services for early diagnosis, treatment and follow-up for common NCDs.

Objectives of NP-NCD

• Health promotion through behaviour change with involvement of community, civil society, community based organizations, media etc.
• To prevent and control chronic non-Communicable diseases, especially Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs and Stroke.
• To support for diagnosis and cost-effective treatment at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health care.
• To support for development of database of NCDs through Surveillance System and to monitor NCD morbidity and mortality and risk factors.

3. TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS)

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a study by Stanford University researchers reported some evidence that in people without depression, a part of the brain called the anterior insula sends signals to another part called the anterior cingulate cortex, whereas in people with depression, the signal goes the other way. According to the researchers, TMS may be alleviating depression by reversing the signal to go the right way.

EXPLANATION:

• The technique is used to non-invasively modulate the cortical activity of the brain.
• Magnetic pulses applied non-invasively to the scalp can stimulate the brain, to reverse brain changes, and to bring about rapid relief to severely depressed patients for whom standard treatments may have failed. This non-invasive brain stimulation modality is called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
• rTMS is based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic mutual induction, first reported by Michael Faraday in 1831.
• rTMS generates brief electromagnetic pulses via an insulated coil placed over the scalp. These magnetic pulses non-invasively modulate the cortical activity of the brain.
• Daily rTMS stimulation for several weeks has also been shown to be effective in reducing the symptoms of a range of neuropsychiatric disorders.
• In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved TMS as a treatment for clinical depression.
• The neuropsychological effects of TMS are particularly likely when a current is delivered in repetitive trains rather than as single pulses. If the stimulation occurs more quickly than once per second (1 Hz), it is called fast rTMS.
• It’s quite different from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Unlike ECT, rTMS does not involve producing a seizure, and does not require the person to be asleep or under anaesthetic

Why does TMS work?

• rTMS stimulation, over the course of a few weeks, increases neuronal activity in the area under the coil. It also changes the strength of connections between different areas of the brain. There is some reason to believe this restores the normal interaction between brain regions, although such hypotheses require further testing and replication.
• By briefly passing a current through a coil of wires, a strong and rapidly fluctuating magnetic field can be formed. This generates electrical currents in the underlying brain tissue. This also affects the membrane potential of nearby brain cells.
• rTMS can stimulate specific brain regions, such as the sensory or motor areas, to evoke corresponding sensory or motor responses. It can also interfere with ongoing brain activity and act as a brief virtual lesion.

What are the clinical applications?

• TMS has been used for many years in clinical neurophysiology to explore the integrity of the motor cortex of the brain after a stroke.
• Clinically, rTMS has been used to relieve depressive states. In the treatment of depression, 40 pulses of stimulation are delivered over four seconds, followed by a gap of 26 seconds before the next 40 pulses. A brain area called the left prefrontal cortex, which is in the front part of the brain, is targeted in this process.
• Research studies have also examined whether active and sham (dummy) TMS produce the same clinical response in depression. These studies concluded that greater response was observed in patients who received active treatment.
• rTMS has also been used to treat refractory obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Although the FDA has approved the use of rTMS for refractory OCD, more evidence and refinement in protocols are needed at this time. At present, it remains an add-on treatment.
• There is also preliminary evidence that rTMS relieves post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD).

Does TMS have adverse effects?

• Rarely, rTMS may induce seizures in at-risk patients, for example those with a family history of epilepsy. This is more likely with fast rTMS than with slow rTMS. However, current safety protocols have also greatly reduced the likelihood of seizures.
• Minor side-effects are more common, including muscle tension headaches. To prevent short-term changes in hearing threshold as a result of the noise generated by the equipment, earplugs are recommended during the session.

4. ALLIGATOR GAR FISH

TAG: GS 3: ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a non-native alligator gar fish, known for its crocodile-like head and razor-sharp teeth, was found in one of Kashmir’s idyllic lakes, raising apprehensions about its impact on the native fish species.

EXPLANATION:

• The rare, carnivorous fish was caught by the Jammu and Kashmir Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) during the routine deweeding process near Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), the main venue for the Group of Twenty (G20) tourism meeting in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The finding sent alarm bells ringing among the scientists; they fear that the presence of non-native fish species will spell doom for the eco-fragile flora and fauna of the waterbody.
• It would kill all fingerlings of fish species already present in the waterbody and has a tendency to destroy natural aquatic life of Dal Lake.
• Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute Barrackpore, said alligator gar fish is not an Indian species and normally found in northern and central America and also in Mexico. “But in recent years it was also found in some parts of India like Bhopal, Kerala and from the waterbodies of Maharashtra and Kolkata.

Alligator gar:

• The alligator gar is a close relative of the bowfin species. It is a ray-finned euryhaline fish and is one of the biggest freshwater fish in North America and the largest species in the ‘gar’ family.
• It is a predator fish and a carnivore, it can eat all types of fishes and therefore poses a threat to native species and to the overall ecosystem. For example, gar fish grows rapidly and has a life span of 20-30 years.

• Alligator gars feed on other fish and are thrown in Indian waterbodies knowingly or unknowingly. Gar fishes are euryhaline and can grow up to eight feet. They can be dangerous for indigenous fish species. During winter, they can even sustain in the cold waters of Dal because the temperature they mostly live in is 11-23 degrees Celsius.
• The Indian Biological Diversity Act 2002 prohibits the presence of any kind of invasive fish species that can be hazardous to natural fish fauna.
• Alligator gars are undoubtedly a serious threat to local biodiversity but only if they become adaptive in a particular environment.

5. PREDATOR UAV

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT:  Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of armed Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI),  an aeronautics company based in the United States. The procurement is now awaiting the final nod from the Cabinet Committee on Security.

EXPLANATION:

• As per GA-ASI, the MQ-9 UAV has an endurance of over 27 hours, speeds of 240 KTAS, can operate up to 50,000 feet, and has a 3,850 pound (1,746 kilograms) payload capacity that includes 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of external stores.
• The maritime variant of the MQ-9 UAV, known as Sea Guardian, has an endurance of over 30 hours.

• Once delivered and employed, these High-Altitude Long Endurance drones can carry out and boost the Indian Armed Forces’ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
• Armed with payloads, the weaponized UAV will be able to strike strategic targets in mountains and the maritime domain during long-endurance missions.
• As per the USAF, MQ-9 UAV is employed primarily as an intelligence-collection asset and secondarily against dynamic execution targets.
• It can also undertake close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike, buddy-lase, convoy and raid overwatch, route clearance, target development, and terminal air guidance, according to the USAF.
• As per GA-ASI, the MQ-9 UAV has been acquired by the US Air Force, the US Department of Homeland Security, NASA, the Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force, the French Air Force and the Spanish Air Force.

Defence Acquisition Council (DAC):

• DAC is the highest decision-making body of the defence Ministry on procurement to ensure expeditious procurement of the approved requirements of the armed forces.
• The apex body is responsible for clearing all capital acquisitions for the Indian Armed Forces.
• The DAC will perform the following functions:

(a) Give ‘in principle’ approval to Capital acquisitions in the Long Term Perspective Plan (LTPP) covering a 15-year time span at the beginning of a Five Year Plan period.

(b) Give ‘in principle’ acceptance of necessity to each Capital acquisition project for incorporation in the forthcoming Five Year Plan, at least nine months before the commencement of the first year of that plan. The approval will involve the identification of Either – ‘Buy’ Projects (outright purchase) Or – ‘Buy and Make’ projects (purchase followed by licensed production/ indigenous development) Or – ‘Make’ Projects (indigenous production and R&D)

(c) Monitor the progress of major projects on a feedback from the Defence Procurement Board.

• The DAC will meet as required. The approval in principle should be seen as first step in the process of ‘acceptance of necessity’ by the concerned Administrative Wing in MoD in consultation with Defence(Finance) and as a recommendation for eventual consideration of FM/CCS (as required).
• The decision of Defence Minister based on DAC deliberations will flow down from implementation to Defence Procurement Board, Defence Production Board and Defence R&D Board.