GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

1. MARINE SPATIAL PLANNING FRAMEWORK

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-II-GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT: Puducherry has launched the country’s first Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) framework as part of a pact under the Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative.

THE EXPLANATION:

Aim: to balance growth alongside sustainable management of ocean resources and coastal environment preservation.

About Marine Spatial Planning:

• MSP is an ecosystem-based spatial planning process for analyzing current and anticipated ocean and coastal uses and identifying areas most suitable for various activities.
• It provides a public policy process for society to better determine how the ocean and coasts are sustainably used and protected – now and for future generations.
• The initiative, known as Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) for India.

The IOC-UNESCO Marine Spatial Planning Programme:

• It helps countries implement ecosystem-based management by finding space for biodiversity, conservation and sustainable economic development in marine areas.
• IOC-UNESCO has developed several guides, including a 10-step guide on how to get a marine spatial plan started: “Step-by-step Approach for Marine Spatial Planning toward Ecosystem-based Management”.

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

2. ALLOCATION OF ELECTION SYMBOLS BY ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI)

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-II-POLITY

THE CONTEXT: ECI has recognised Eknath Shinde group as official “Shiv Sena”, allowing them to use the official “Bow & Arrow” symbol and “Shiv Sena” name.

THE EXPLANATION:

Sadiq Ali case

• The ECI has applied the tests mentioned in the 1971 Supreme Court judgment in Sadiq Ali v. Election Commission of India.
• In the Sadiq Ali case, it was held that in matters of disputes among groups of a political party, the test of majority support among the members of the ‘organizational and legislature wings’ of the party was the critical test to decide the dispute.
• It includes the Test of aims and objects of the Party Constitution, Test of Party Constitution and Test of Majority.

The 1968 Order

• On the question of a split in a political party outside the legislature, Para 15 of the Symbols Order, 1968, states that the decision of the Commission shall be binding on all such rival sections or groups.
• This applies to disputes in recognised national and state parties (like the Shiv Sena).
• For splits in registered but unrecognized parties, the ECI usually advises the warring factions to resolve their differences internally or to approach the court.
• The first case to be decided under the 1968 Order was the first split in the Indian National Congress in 1969.

Election Symbols:

• Political parties are allotted the symbols by the Election Commission of India under the Election Symbols (Reservation & Allotment) Order, 1968.
• A reserved symbol is one that is allocated to a registered political party while a free symbol is available to be allocated to non-recognized parties and independent candidates.
• Paragraph 4 of the order deals with the allotment of symbols.
• Paragraph 5 classifies the symbol into reserved and free symbols.
• Paragraph 8 of the Election Symbols Order deals with the choice and allotment of symbols to candidates of national and state parties.

Registration of Political Parties:

• According to the Election Commission, any party seeking registration has to apply to the Commission within a period of 30 days following the date of its formation as per guidelines prescribed by the Commission
• It is in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 324 of the Constitution of India and Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• The registration of all political parties is governed by the provisions of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

3. MOMENTUM 2.0 APP

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-II- Government Schemes

THE CONTEXT: Delhi Metro will introduce the Momentum 2.0 app that will allow users to make a variety of purchases and schedule various services, including those for last-mile connectivity.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Momentum 2.0 app:

• It is India’s first virtual shopping app for the metro.
• It is launched by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
• Features:
• It will allow customers to make payments and schedule services, including those for last-mile connections.
• It will also contain features such as rapid recharge of Delhi Metro’s smart cards and smart payment choices for other utility services.
• The app would also allow users to have digital lockers at metro stations.
• Commuters can use this app to find bikes, e-rickshaws, cabs, and the schedules of feeder buses and cluster bus routes from Delhi Metro stations.
• The app will also provide complete information on metro station infrastructure, such as the location and condition of gates, lifts, escalators, platforms, train scheduling, coach occupancy, and space availability.
• The app will also provide information on shops, outlets, kiosks, and ATMs located at the stations.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

4. PANGOLINS

TAGS: PRELIMS- GS-III- Environment

THE CONTEXT: According to the analysis by TRAFFIC, a global wildlife conservation non-profit, and World-Wide Fund for Nature-India, over 1200 Pangolins were poached for illegal wildlife trade in India from 2018-2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Pangolins:

• Pangolins are nocturnal, toothless mammals that dig burrows and feed on ants and termites.
• Pangolins are scaly anteater mammals and they have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin.
• Pangolin is the only scaly mammal on the planet.
• It uses these scales as armor to defend itself against predators by rolling into a ball when threatened.
• Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are found in India.

About Ecosystem Services:

• They play a vital role in the ecosystem management, mostly in aerating and adding moisture to the soil as well as succession of plant communities through burrowing.
• They also keep in check the population of certain insects they prey on.
• The burrows made by pangolins also get utilized as shelters by other species within their ecosystem.

Indian Pangolin

• Range – Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
• IUCN – Endangered
• The Indian pangolin, which dons a thick scaly skin, is hunted for meat and used in traditional Chinese medicine.
• Both these species are listed under Schedule I Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Chinese Pangolin

• Range – Bangladesh; Bhutan; China; Hong Kong; India; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Myanmar; Nepal; Taiwan, Province of China; Thailand; Viet Nam
• IUCN – Critically Endangered.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. KENDU LEAF

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT:The GST council meeting recently rejected Odisha’s demand for tax exemption on kendu leaf.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Kendu leaf:

• Kendu leaf is called the green gold of Odisha.
• It is a nationalized product like Bamboo and Sal seed.
• It is one of the most important non-wood forest products of Odisha.
• It is also referred to as tendu leaf in some parts of the country and is used to roll tobacco into bidis (local cigarettes).

Production:

• The states producing kendu leaves in India comprise mainly Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
• Odisha is the third-largest producer of kendu leaf after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

INDIAN AGRICULTURE

1. INDIA’S BIG MILLETS PUSH, AND WHY IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE THESE GRAINS

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III- ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Union Budget has accorded high priority to millets — grains such as jowar, bajra, ragi — citing their health benefits.
THE EXPLANATION:

According to the Finance Minister, India is  the largest producer and second largest exporter of ‘Sree Anna’ (millets) in the world… The Indian Institute of Millet Research-Hyderabad will be supported as the Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies at the international level.

India’s millets push

• Two years ago, the UN General Assembly adopted India’s resolution to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets. Through the year, several central ministries and government organisations will work towards promoting this “nutri cereal”. Delegates at G20 meetings will be given a “millet experience” through tasting, meeting farmers, and interactive sessions.

• Indian embassies in more than 140 countries will organise exhibitions, seminars, and cooked millet dish competitions.
• The government also intends to increase procurement of these grains under the public distribution system. Agriculture Minister said last year (2022) that it was time for public distribution programmes to focus on a more diverse food basket to improve nutritional status.

What are the benefits of millets?

• Millets are both eco-friendly and healthier than more commonly consumed grains. They require much less water than rice or wheat, and can be grown in rain-fed areas without irrigation. Belonging to the grass family, millets tend to be more tolerant to drought and extreme weather, and can grow in poor soil and in hilly areas.
• Millets can be a healthier option to keep lifestyle diseases such as obesity and diabetes at bay. Switching out the regular grains can be especially beneficial in India, which is considered to be the diabetes capital of the world. It is projected that the country will have 69.9 million diabetics by 2025. Indians are also at a high risk of cardiovascular diseases at a young age.
• Millets have a much lower glycaemic index — a measure of how much blood sugar levels spike after consuming a food item — than processed rice or wheat. A low glycaemic diet can help in controlling weight and blood sugar levels, consequently reducing the risk of heart disease or even cancers.
• Millets are also high in fibre content that is known to improve gut microbiota. They result in satiety faster and keeps people fuller for longer, thereby reducing the amount of food consumed.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS

2. ENTRENCHED INFLATION

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III-ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The 2022 Economic Survey presented an optimistic growth outlook for the next year, but it did highlight the risks of an “entrenched inflation” and hence “higher and longer” interest rates, and a “depreciating rupee” leading to higher current account deficit, both on account of global headwinds.
THE EXPLANATION:

• The Entrenched inflation tends to stick around even after the immediate problems that spurred it on have resolved.
• It’s extremely difficult to assess whether inflation is transitory or entrenched in real time. It’s often a retrospective designation, and with all the uncertainty still swirling around, it is still wise to invest for long-term goals even though you may not see large immediate returns.
• Transitory inflation tends to be short-lived and circumstantial. Examples of transitory inflation include the inflationary periods during and immediately following both World Wars, while an example of entrenched inflation is the entire decade of the 1970s.

What Entrenched Inflation could mean for the economy long-term?

• If the RBI continues to raise interest rates, we could be looking at a recession. In the past, recessions have caused companies to cut labour costs, which results in Indians losing their jobs.
• Regardless of the cause, recessions are a time when the average household tends to lack an adequate amount of income to meet the price requirements of running their home – whether that’s because prices are too high, income is too scarce, or both.

What Entrenched Inflation could mean for your investments

• Entrenched inflation and associated recessions are not going to yield high times for the stock market. If companies are cutting costs, they’re just not as focused on growth. That means stock prices are not as likely to rise.
• It also means your return on investments may not keep pace with inflation in the short-term. However, over the long haul, the stock market tends to outperform inflation even after accounting for the down times that come with recessions.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES IN NEWS

3. REVISION SERIES: RASHTRIYA VAYOSHRI YOJANA

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II-GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana is scheme for providing Physical Aids and Assisted-living Devices for Senior citizens belonging to BPL category. This is a Central Sector Scheme, fully funded by the Central Government.
• The expenditure for implementation of the scheme is being met from the “Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund”. The Scheme is being implemented by the Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation (ALIMCO), a PSU under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Importance of the scheme

• As per the Census figures of 2011, the population of senior citizens in India is 10.38 crore.More than 70% of the population of senior citizens live in rural areas of the country. A sizeable percentage (5.2%) of the senior citizens suffers from some sort of disabilities related to old age. Projections indicate that the number of elderly population will increase to around 173 million by 2026.
• The Government has hence devised the Central Sector Scheme to provide Physical aids and Assisted Living Devices for such senior citizens suffering from age related disabilities/ infirmities, who belong to BPL category.

Eligibility

• Senior Citizens, belonging to BPL category and suffering from any of the age related disability/infirmity viz. Low vision, Hearing impairment, Loss of teeth and Locomotor disability will be provided with such assisted-living devices which can restore near normalcy in their bodily functions, overcoming the disability/infirmity manifested. The Scheme is expected to benefit 5,20,000 Senior Citizens across the country.

4. MISHTI : THE NEW GOVERNMENT SCHEME

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II-GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT: The Finance Minister budget speech introduced schemes and policies aimed at ecological conservation. Targeting an array of different issues, these schemes come with the promise of preserving India’s ecological health.
THE EXPLANATION:

• This is part of a larger “green push” with focus on the environment and climate change. The following are the schemes announced.

MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes)

• MISHTI is a new programme that will facilitate mangrove plantation along India’s coastline and on salt pan lands. The programme will operate through “convergence between MGNREGS, Campa Fund and other sources”.
• This new programme will aim at intensive afforestation of coastal mangrove forests. India has such forests on both its Eastern and Western coasts with the Sundarbans in Bengal being one of the largest mangrove forests on the planet.

Why does this matter?

• Mangroves are not just some of the most bio-diverse locations in India, they also protect the coastlines from the vagaries of inclement weather. As climate change increases the incidence of extreme weather events across the world, mangrove plantations have shown to make coastal lands resilient, preventing flooding, land erosion and acting as a buffer for cyclones.
• Furthermore, they are also excellent carbon sinks. Mangrove trees can grow in saline waters, and can sequester up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests.

PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

5. SHALIGRAM STONE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the  two sacred Shaligram stones, weighing 31 tonnes and 15 tonnes, arrived in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. The stones are expected to be used for constructing the idols of Lord Ram and Janaki at the Ram Temple.
THE EXPLANATION:

What is a shaligram stone?

• According to Anthropologists,  ‘Shaligram Pilgrimage in the Nepal Himalayas’, the shaligram stones are fossils of ammonite, which is a type of mollusc that lived between 400 million and 65 million years ago.
• Referring to a Geological Survey of India publication from 1904, anthropologists said  that shaligram stones “date specifically from the Early Oxfordian to the Late Tithonian Age near the end of the Jurassic Period some 165-140 million years ago”.

Where  do we find this stone?

• Mostly found in riverbeds or banks of the Kali Gandaki, a tributary of the Gandaki River in Nepal, this stone is revered by Hindus who believe it to be a representation of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu was cursed to become the shaligram stone for “betraying the chastity of the goddess Tulsi”.
• The stone is considered to have divine powers and is seen as a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

Why use the shaligram stone in the Ram temple?

• Lord Ram is believed to be the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, and the use of the shaligram stone symbolises the connection between the two gods. The two stones were welcomed by people in Ayodhya by offering prayers, flowers, and bursting firecrackers.

VALUE ADDITION:

Gandak River:

• Gandak River, also called Narayani River, river in central Nepal and northern India. It is formed by the union of the Kali and Trisuli rivers, which rise in the Great Himalaya Range in Nepal; from this junction to the Indian border the river is called the Narayani.
• It flows southwest into India and then turns southeast along the Uttar Pradesh–Bihar state border and across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It enters the Ganges (Ganga) River opposite Patna after a winding course of 475 miles (765 km).

SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. JHARKHAND’S FIRST SURVEY OF MIGRANTS

TAGS: GS-II- SOCIAL ISSUES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

THE CONTEXT: Around 8.5 lakh migrants returned to their home state, Jharkhand, during the COVID crisis. To help these migrants with a good livelihood, the State Government of Jharkhand started the State and Responsible Migration Initiative in 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Creating a robust database of the migrants in the state is a part of this initiative. To achieve this, the Jharkhand Government recently launched the first survey of Migrants. Jharkhand is not the only state to launch such states. Several other states like Tamil Nadu and Punjab had already launched such surveys.

About the Survey

• The survey is to be conducted in 24 districts. Officers will knock on the doors of 11,000 households to take the survey
• The survey outputs will be used to create a state-level policy
• The survey will also help the State in identifying the cause of migration.

Why the Jharkhand people are leaving the state?

• The survey will find out the factors influencing migration in the state
• During the survey, the officers will talk to community leaders to get a greater insight into the problem
• The survey has blocks of questions to understand and decipher the issue. They are household characteristics, incoming migrants, outgoing migrants, quality of life of migrants, understanding the mindset of migrants, etc.
• The survey will also collect details on the nature of work the migrants are expecting and what is the role of women in the household and in the earnings.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2. WHAT IS THE INDUS WATER TREATY?

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II-INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE CONTEXT: India recently issued a notice to Pakistan for modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

THE EXPLANATION:

About Indus Water Treaty:

• It was signed in September 1960 between India and Pakistan.
• The treaty was brokered by the World Bank, which too is a signatory to the treaty.
• The treaty fixed and delimited the rights and obligations of both countries concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system.
• It gives control over the waters of the three “eastern rivers’ — the Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej — to India, while control over the waters of the three “western rivers’ ‘ — the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum — to Pakistan.
• The treaty allows India to use the western river waters for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-consumptive use for such applications as power generation, navigation, floating of property, fish culture, etc.
• It lays down detailed regulations for India in building projects over the western rivers.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

3. LUCY MISSION

TAGS:PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-III- SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: NASA recently announced that it is adding a new target for the Lucy mission as the spacecraft goes on its more than 6-billion-kilometre-long journey to study the Jupiter trojan asteroids.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Lucy Mission:

• NASA’s Lucy mission is the first spacecraft launched to explore the Trojan asteroids, a population of primitive asteroids orbiting in tandem with Jupiter.
• Lucy was successfully launched Oct. 16, 2021, and will visit eight asteroids over 12 years — one asteroid in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, and seven Trojan asteroids leading and trailing Jupiter in its orbit.

 What are Trojan Asteroids?

• Asteroids sharing an orbit with a planet, but which are located at the leading (L4) and trailing (L5) Lagrangian points, are known as Trojan asteroids.
• These asteroids occupy a stable Lagrangian point in a planet’s orbit around the Sun.
• Trojan Asteroids are some of the oldest remnants from the formation of our solar system 5 billion years ago.
• There are currently over 4,800 known Trojan asteroids associated with Jupiter.
• They orbit the Sun in two loose groups: one group leading ahead of Jupiter in its orbit, the other trailing behind at the same distance from the Sun as Jupiter.
• Due to the combined gravitational influences of the Sun and Jupiter, these Trojan asteroids have been trapped on stable orbits (around what is known as the Lagrange Points) for billions of years.

 What is a Lagrange point?

• Lagrange Points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of a two body system like the Sun and the Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.
• The Lagrange Points are positions where the gravitational pull of two large masses precisely equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them.
• These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES IN NEWS

4. EXTENDED REALITY (XR) STARTUP PROGRAM

TAGS:PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II- GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT:The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and Meta have recently announced the list of 120 startups and innovators for the Extended Reality (XR) Startup Program.

THE EXPLANATION:

About Extended Reality (XR) Startup Program:

• The XR Startup Program is a collaboration between Meta and MeitY Startup Hub (MSH).
• Aim: To accelerate India’s contribution towards building the foundations of the metaverse and nurturing the development of Extended Reality (XR) technologies in India.
• It includes two segments namely; an Accelerator and a Grand Challenge.

Accelerator:

• The Accelerator will nurture and foster 40 early-stage startups working with XR technologies through a well-designed 6-month program.
• Each startup will get access to many benefits, including a grant of ₹ 20,00,000, mentorship by industry experts and researchers, access to a network of potential strategic partners and investors, technology and infrastructure support, and opportunities to participate and present at relevant industry events.

Grand Challenge:

• The Grand Challenge is aimed at supporting early-stage innovators to upscale from the R&D phase to developing workable prototypes and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).
• It will encourage early-stage innovators in sectors like Education, Learning and Skills, Healthcare, Gaming and Entertainment, Agritech& Climate Action and Tourism & Sustainability.
• It will include 4 sector-specific challenges to advance the XR technology ecosystem in India.
• A total of 80 shortlisted innovators will receive a grant of ₹ 50,000 and an opportunity to attend the boot camp.
• Of the 80 shortlisted innovators, 16 innovators will be supported with grants worth ₹ 20,00,000 to help them develop MVP(s)/ prototypes.

5. NATIONAL TECHNICAL TEXTILES MISSION

TAGS:PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II- GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT:Recently, The Union Minister of Textiles cleared 15 R&D projects across key strategic areas such as Speciality fibre, Protective textiles, High-Performance Textiles , Medical Textiles etc under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

THE EXPLANATION:

What are Technical Textiles?

• Technical Textiles are textile products which are manufactured primarily for their functionality and use rather than aesthetic appeal.
• Technical textiles are classified into 12 major groups based on their application areas namely;Agrotech, Geotech, Buildtech, Mobiltech, Hometech, Clothtech, Indutech, Meditech, Sportstech, Protech, Packtech, Oekotech.

Key features of the National Technical Textiles Mission India

• The Ministry of Textiles has launched NTTM to increase the penetration level of technical textiles in India while leveraging the extraordinary growth rate of the sector.
• The mission aims to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles.
• The mission will comprise the following four components:
• Research, Innovation and Development
• Promotion and Market Development
• Export Promotion
• Education, Training, Skill Development
• Implementation:It has been approved with an implementation period of four years starting from FY 2020-21 till FY 2023-24. The total outlay of the mission is INR 1480 Cr.

INDIAN POLITY

1. DEMONETISATION VERDICT

TAGS: GS-II- INDIAN POLITY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court in the majority opinion (4:1) upheld the Union Government’s demonetization order of 8th November 2016 to demonetize currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

THE EXPLANATION:

The majority of judges (4:1) accepted all arguments of the Union Government

• Section 26(2) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 gives the Union government the power to demonetize currency “on the recommendation of the Central Board” of the RBI.
• The majority view found that the word ‘recommendation’ would mean a consultative process between the Central Board and the Central Government.”
• The judges highlighted that it cannot be expected that the RBI and the Central Government acted in two isolated boxes. An element of interaction/consultation in such important matters cannot be denied.
• The majority verdict states that curbing fake currency, black money and terror funding are legitimate interests of the state and have a rational nexus with demonetization.
• The court said that the Centre is the best judge since it has all the inputs about fake currency, black money, terror financing & drug trafficking.
• The majority stated that the court cannot determine the effectiveness of the economic policy. It agreed with the Centre’s contention that the decision had to be made in secrecy and haste for it to be effective.

Justice B V Nagarathna disagreed with the reasoning and conclusions in the majority opinion

• The Justice stated that demonetization was a violation of Section 26(2) of the RBI Act as the recommendation for the demonetization originated from the Centre and not the RBI’s Central Board.

2. AMENDMENT RELATED TO ONLINE GAMING

TAGS: GS-II- INDIAN POLITY & GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology proposed an amendment to bring online gaming under the regulations of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

THE EXPLANATION:

The proposed model is similar to the rules in place for digital news sites and streaming services under the IT Rules, 2021.

• The Ministry highlighted that the proposed framework will;
  o Boost the legitimate domestic online gaming industry.
  o Ensure greater transparency.
  o Promote Consumer protection and investor confidence.
• The All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) stated that it would reduce the State-wise regulatory fragmentation that was a big challenge for the industry.

Online Gaming Market in India

• A 2019 survey by the U.S.-based Limelight Networks found that India had the second-largest number of gamers after South Korea.
• The revenue of the Indian mobile gaming industry is expected to exceed $1.5 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $5 billion in 2025.
• The industry in the country grew at a CAGR of 38% between 2017-2020, as opposed to 8% in China and 10% in the US.
• It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% to reach Rs 153 billion in revenue by 2024. India’s percentage of new paying users (NPUs) in gaming has been the fastest growing in the world for two consecutive years, at 40% in 2020 and reaching 50% in 2021.
• According to a report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), transaction-based games’ revenues grew 26% in India, with the number of paying gamers increasing by 17% from 80 million in 2020 to 95 million in 2021.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

3. ONE-HORNED RHINOS

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Assam Chief Minister has recently announced that no rhinos were poached in the state in 2022.

THE EXPLANATION:

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

ABOUT ONE-HORNED RHINOS:

• Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
• Also known as the Indian Rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.
• It is identified by a single black horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds.
• They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
• Conservation status:
• CITES Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.

Types of Rhinos:

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

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

About Manas National Park

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

VALUE ADDITION:
INDIAN RHINO VISION 2020 (IRV 2020)

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

4. NEW TECHNOLOGY TO FILTER MICRO-PLASTICS FROM WATER

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-III- ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Scientists from South Korea have developed a new water purification system that can quickly and efficiently filter out microplastics. Crucially, the polymer used is relatively inexpensive with excellent adsorption performance and good photothermal properties.

THE EXPLANATION:

• In an experiment, over 99.9 per cent of contaminants were taken out of the water in just 10 seconds.
• Microplastics have inundated the world, finding their way into the human food chain . While some traditional carbon-based filters can filter out microplastics, they have limitations — the adsorption rate is slow and they are not energy-efficient.
• The Korean team’s breakthrough system requires lower levels of energy, making it ideal for solar-based use. This is particularly useful for developing countries where power supply is inconsistent.

The Problem of Microplastics in Water

• Microplastics, tiny plastic particles that are less than 5mm in size, have become a global problem. They have been found in water bodies, soil, and air, and have even made their way into the human food chain.
• The presence of microplastics in water can have negative impacts on aquatic life and potentially on human health.

VALUE ADDITION:
Measures taken by government:

• India has pledged to ban all single-use plastics by 2022.
• All offices of central and state governments and major PSUs have been told to prohibit single-use plastic products.
• India has banned imports of solid plastic waste.
• India has passed the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility.

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

• It aims to increase minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns.
• Expand the jurisdiction of applicability from the municipal area to rural areas, because plastic has reached rural areas also.
• Extended Producer Responsibility: To bring in the responsibilities of producers and generators, both in plastic waste management system and to introduce collect back system of plastic waste by the producers/brand owners, as per extended producers responsibility
• Introduced collection of plastic waste management fee through pre-registration of the producers, importers of plastic carry bags/multilayered packaging and vendors selling the same for establishing the waste management system
• Promote 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.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

5. ‘SMART’ (SCOPE FOR MAINSTREAMING AYURVEDA RESEARCH IN TEACHING PROFESSIONALS) PROGRAM

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE-GS-II- GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT: Recently, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) and Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) under Ministry of Ayush launched ‘SMART’- scope for mainstreaming ayurveda research in teaching professionals programme.

THE EXPLANATION:

About ‘SMART’ (Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research in Teaching Professionals) Program:

• It is aimed to boost scientific research in priority healthcare research areas through Ayurveda colleges and hospitals.
• The proposed initiative is conceptualised with an objective to identify, support and promote innovative research ideas in healthcare research areas including Osteoarthritis, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Chronic Bronchitis, Dyslipidemia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, Psoriasis, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
• The eligible Ayurveda academic institutions may apply by 10 January, 2023.
• All details regarding contact information, eligibility criteria and application process has been shared to all recognized academic institutions and hospitals through NCISM.
• The ‘SMART’ program will motivate teachers for taking up projects in designated areas of healthcare research and create a large database.

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. REMOTE ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINE (RVM)

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II-POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has developed a prototype for the Remote Electronic Voting Machine (RVM) aimed to facilitate voting for domestic migrants across India.

THE EXPLANATION:

• The prototype of the RVM will be demonstrated to political parties on January 16th, and if it is successful, it will allow domestic migrants to vote without having to travel back to their hometowns. The RVM will be a stand-alone system, not connected to the internet, and based on existing electronic voting machines. The goal of the RVM is to increase voter participation and make it easier for domestic migrants to participate in elections.

What are RVMs?

• The RVM is a multi-constituency electronic voting machine that can handle up to 72 constituencies from a single remote polling booth. It is based on the time-tested M3 (Mark 3) EVMs and will be used to enable voting at remote polling stations for domestic migrants.
• The ECI has invited all eight recognized national and 57 state political parties to a demonstration of the RVM on January 16th, and has also solicited written views from these parties by January 31st on various related issues, including changes needed in legislation and administrative procedures.

Challenges

• There are several challenges and considerations that must be addressed in order to successfully implement the RVM system.
• These include defining domestic migrants, enumerating remote voters, and ensuring the secrecy of voting and the presence of polling agents for voter identification.
• The Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951, The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, and The Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 will also need to be amended to introduce remote voting.
• Other considerations include the method of remote voting, the familiarity of voters with the RVM technology, and the counting and transmission of votes cast at remote polling stations.

Why do we need RVMs?

• There is no central database available for migration within India, but analysis of available data suggests that work, marriage, and education are major factors in domestic migration. “Out-migration” is more common among the rural population, and around 85% of internal migration is within states.
• The ECI has developed the RVM system in order to make it easier for domestic migrants to participate in elections, as many are reluctant to register to vote at their place of work due to frequently changing residences, a lack of social and emotional connections with their area of migration, or a desire to keep their name on the electoral roll of their home or native constituency.

Connect the dots:

• What is Proxy voting?

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

2. PALEONTOLOGISTS FIND FOSSIL OF 119-MILLION-YEAR-OLD BEAKED BIRD

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, a  new species of confuciusornithid bird being named Confuciusornis shifan has been identified from a nearly complete skeleton found in northeastern China.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Confuciusornis shifan lived in what is now China during the Early Cretaceous epoch, some 119 million years ago.
• The new species belonged to Confuciusornis, a genus of extinct crow-sized beaked birds in the family Confuciusornithidae.
• Confuciusornis shifan weighed less than 200 grams and was smaller than most other confuciusornithid species.
• “Confuciusornithidae is a clade of Early Cretaceous pygostylian birds known from the Jehol Biota of East Asia, and represents the earliest known toothless, beaked birds”.
• “Five genera and eleven species, recovered from the Dabeigou, Yixian and Jiufotang formations, have been described and assigned to this family, though the validity of some species is questionable.”
• “They are represented by thousands of exceptionally preserved specimens that collectively provide rich information on confuciusornithid morphology, taxonomy, flight ability, growth, diet, and ecology.”

Connect the dots:

• What is Cretaceous epoch?

3. T.N. GOVERNMENT SETS UP NILGIRI TAHR CONSERVATION PROJECT

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Tamil Nadu government launched an initiative for the conservation of the Nilgiri Tahr, the State animal, at a cost of ₹25.14 crore.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Under The Nilgiri Tahr project, the government plans to develop a better understanding of the Nilgiri Tahr population through surveys and radio telemetry studies; reintroduce the Tahrs to their historical habitat; address proximate threats; and increase public awareness of the species. The project is to be implemented from 2022 to 2027.
• According to the order, there are multiple references to the Nilgiri Tahr in Tamil Sangam literature dating back to 2,000 years. The late Mesolithic (10,000-4,000 BC) paintings highlight the significance of the Tahr in folklore, culture and life. It was designated as the State animal in recognition of its ecological and cultural significance.
• The Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 under Schedule 1 protects this ungulate species, which is also listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the sole Caprinae species found in the tropical mountains of southern India. The animal inhabits meadows with steep cliffs at elevations between 300 metres and 2,600 metre above sea level. It is estimated that there are 3,122 Nilgiri Tahrs in the wild. Historically, the Nilgiri Tahr was known to inhabit a large portion of the Western Ghats. But today it remains restricted to a few scattered patches in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It has become locally extinct in around 14% of its traditional shola forest-grassland habitat.

Value Addition:

About Mukurthi National Park:

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

4. PRALAY MISSILE

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: In a major boost to the striking capabilities of the Indian armed forces, the defense ministry has recently cleared a proposal to purchase 120 Pralay missiles for the Indian Air Force and Army.

THE EXPLANATION:

• Pralay is an indigenous short-range ballistic surface-to-surface missile. The missile will be India’s first tactical quasi-ballistic missile and will give the armed forces the capability to hit enemy positions and key installations in actual battlefield areas.
• Developed by: The solid-fuel, battlefield missile developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is based on Prithvi Defence Vehicle from the Indian ballistic missile programme.
• Features:
  • Pralay’ is powered with a solid propellant rocket motor and other new technologies. The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics, according to the DRDO.
  • The advanced missile has been developed in a way to be able to defeat interceptor missiles. It has the ability to change its path after covering a certain range mid-air.
  • It is capable of carrying a conventional warhead of about 350 kg to 700 kg, which gives it a deadly punitive capability.
• Range: The canisterised Pralay missile, has a range of 150-500 kilometres.
• Ballistic missiles: They are initially powered by a rocket or series of rockets in stages, but then follow an unpowered trajectory that arches upwards before descending to reach its intended target at high speed. Unlike intercontinental ballistic missiles that exit the Earth’s atmosphere, short-range ballistic missiles stay within it.

REVISION SERIES

5. PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB KALYAN ANNA YOJANA (PMGKAY)

TAGS: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE- GS-II-GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

THE CONTEXT:Recently, the the Union government announced that it would discontinue the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) from January 1, 2023.

THE EXPLANATION:

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

Eligibility

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

Connect the dots:

• National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013