1. THE LEGALITY OF THE DELHI ORDINANCE

TAG: GS 2: POLITY

THE CONTEXT: The Ordinance promulgated by the President on May 19, 2023 amending the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act 1991(GNCTD Act) took away the services from the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. The services had been earlier restored to the Delhi government by the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment delivered on May 11, 2023.

EXPLANATION:

• Supreme Court has held in a large number of cases that since Parliament does not possess judicial powers, it cannot negate the decision of the Court. The Ordinance nullifies that judgment of the Supreme Court.
• The Court had found that if a government does not have control over its officers it would paralyse governance which cannot be the intention of the Constitution makers while incorporating Article 239AA, which gives a special constitutional status to Delhi.
• The Court held that “legislative and executive power over services such as the Indian Administrative Services or Joint Cadre Services which are relevant for the implementation of policies and vision of NCTD [National Capital Territory of Delhi] in terms of day-to-day administration of the region shall lie with the NCTD.”

Provision for Services under Delhi Government:

• Article 239AA (3)(a) which states that Delhi’s Legislative Assembly shall have the power to make laws with respect to any of the matters enumerated in the State list or the concurrent list except the three excluded items such as police, public order and land.
• Since the executive power is co-extensive with the legislative power the Government of NCTD gets all the powers to deal with the services. This position was affirmed by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court.

How the ordinance is violating the constitutional provisions?

• Section 3A of the new GNCTD Act inserted through the Ordinance which states that notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment of any court, the legislative assembly shall not have the power to make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in entry 41 which means services.
• After taking away the services from the Delhi government, the Ordinance confers the powers of posting, transfer and disciplinary matters on an authority named the National Capital Civil Services Authority consisting of a chairman and two members.
• The Chief Minister is made the chairman and the Chief Secretary and the Home Secretary are the other members. With two members constituting the quorum and the fact that the two members can take all decisions makes the purpose of constituting this authority all too obvious.
• All decisions relating to posting, transfer, disciplinary issues etc. will be taken by the two officers and the opinion of the Chief Minister will have no value. These decisions will then be forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi whose decision shall be final.
• Such a statutory body, wherein all decisions are taken by bureaucrats and the opinion of an elected Chief Minister can just be ignored, is unheard of in administrative history.

Ordinance making power of the President

• Article 123 of the Indian Constitution grants the President of India certain lawmaking powers i.e. to Promulgate Ordinances when either of the two Houses of the Parliament is not in session which makes it impossible for a single House to pass and enact a law.
• When both the houses of the parliament or the legislatures are in session then there is no provision for the promulgation of the ordinances.
• Ordinances may relate to any subject that the parliament has the power to make law, and would be having the same limitations as
• When the legislature is not in session: the President can only promulgate when either of the House of Parliament is not in session.
• Immediate action is needed: the President though has the power of promulgating the ordinances but the same cannot be done unless he is satisfied that there are circumstances that require him to take immediate action.
• Parliament should approve: after the ordinance has been passed it is required to be approved by the parliament within six weeks of reassembling. The same will cease to operate if disapproved by either House.
• The President may withdraw an ordinance at any time. However, he exercises his power with the consent of the Council of Ministers headed by the President.
• The Ordinances may have retrospective effect and may modify or repeal any act of parliament or other ordinances. It may be used to amend a tax law but it can never amend the Constitution.

Few cases related to Ordinances:

Case 1: The Central farm laws which met with widespread protests were initially brought through the ordinance route. The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, and the ordinance to amend The Essential Commodities Act were brought in June 2020. Later, all three ordinances were replaced by laws in parliament during its monsoon session in 2022.

Case 2: An ordinance was brought for ‘Commission on Air Quality Management’ (CAQM) in October 2020, the ordinance allows for the setting up of a statutory body to manage air quality in India’s polluted National Capital Region and adjoining areas of the Indo-Gangetic plain, which includes Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

2. RECENT FINDING OF PARKER SOLAR PROBE

TAG: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Parker Solar Probe identifies mechanism driving the sun’s fast wind and finds magnetic energy near sun’s surface enables solar wind to reach gravity-defying speeds.

EXPLANATION:

Recent finding

• Researchers have utilized data from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to understand how the sun’s wind, composed of ionized particles or plasma, can exceed speeds of 1 million miles per hour.
• This could assist in predicting large solar eruptions, enhance our understanding of cosmic wind phenomena, and aid in the search for habitable planets.
• They discovered that the energy released from the magnetic field near the sun’s surface is powerful enough to drive the fast solar wind, which is made up of ionized particles called plasma that flow outward from the sun.
• The solar wind forms a giant magnetic bubble, known as the heliosphere, that protects planets in our solar system from a barrage of high-energy cosmic rays that whip around the galaxy.
• Solar wind also carries plasma and part of the sun’s magnetic field, which can crash into earth’s magnetosphere and cause disturbances, including geomagnetic storms.
• These storms occur when the sun experiences more turbulent activity, including solar flares and enormous expulsions of plasma into space, known as coronal mass ejections.
• Geomagnetic storms are responsible for spectacular aurora light shows that can be seen near the Earth’s poles.
• Entire surface of the sun is covered in small “jetlets” of hot plasma that are propelled upward by magnetic reconnection, which occurs when magnetic fields pointing in opposite directions cross-connect which triggers the release of massive amounts of energy.
• First characterization of the bursts of magnetic energy occurs in coronal holes, that are openings in the sun’s magnetic field as well as the source of the solar wind.
• The researchers demonstrated that magnetic reconnection between open and closed magnetic fields known as interchange connection is a continuous process, rather than a series of isolated events. This led t to conclusion that the rate of magnetic energy release, which drives the outward jet of heated plasma, was powerful enough to overcome gravity and produce the sun’s fast wind.
• By understanding these smaller releases of energy that are constantly occurring on the sun, researchers hope to understand and possibly even predict the larger and more dangerous eruptions that launch plasma out into space.

The Parker Solar Probe:

• It is a NASA space probe launched in 2018 with the mission of making observations of the outer corona of the Sun.
• It will approach to within 9.86 solar radii from the center of the Sun, and by 2025 will travel, at closest approach, as fast as 690,000 km/h (430,000 mph), or 0.064% the speed of light.
• It is the fastest object ever built by humans.

3. PM-PRANAM (PM PROGRAMME FOR RESTORATION, AWARENESS, GENERATION, NOURISHMENT AND AMELIORATION OF MOTHER EARTH) SCHEME

TAG: SCHEMES

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the PM-PRANAM (PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Generation, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) scheme.

EXPLANATION:

• The PM-PRANAM scheme is aimed to promote use of nutrient-based, biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture to save the soil by balanced use of fertilizers.
• Centre would incentivise those States which would adopt alternative fertilizers with the subsidy that was saved by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers.
• The scheme included a bouquet of various schemes which would boost farmers’ income, strengthen natural / organic farming, rejuvenate soil productivity, and ensure food security.

Objectives of PM PRANAM Scheme:

• The scheme aims to reduce the subsidy burden on chemical fertilisers, expected to increase by 39% to Rs.2.25 lakh crore in 2022-2023 compared to Rs.1.62 lakh crore in the previous year.
• It aims to discourage chemical fertiliser usage and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
• The government plans to introduce this scheme to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers in India by incentivising states.

Features of PM PRANAM Scheme:

• The scheme will be financed by the “savings of existing fertiliser subsidy” under the schemes run by the Department of Fertilisers scheme and will not have a separate budget.
• 50% subsidy savings will be given as a grant to the state that saves money.
• States can use 70% of the grant given under the scheme for asset creation related to alternate fertiliser production and technological adoption of alternate fertiliser units at the block, village and district levels.
• States can use the remaining 30% of the grant money to incentivise panchayats, farmer producer organisations, farmers and self-help groups involved in awareness generation and reducing fertiliser use.
• The government would compare a state’s reduction or increase in urea in a particular year to its average consumption of urea during the last three years.
• The data on a Fertiliser Ministry dashboard, IFMS (Integrated fertilisers Management System), would be used to collect the state’s urea consumption data.

Benefits of PM PRANAM Scheme:

• The scheme explicitly aims to promote the reduced use of chemical fertilisers.
• It would promote using other nutrients and fertilisers, including natural nutrients.
• Reduced use of chemical fertilisers may improve soil quality in the long run.
• Excessive exposure to chemical fertilisers affects human health through cancers and diseases caused due to DNA damage. It would promote a safe work environment.
• Environmental pollution due to chemical fertilisers can pollute water bodies, leading to algal bloom and affecting aquatic life. This scheme would prevent environmental damage.
• It would encourage natural farming, lower the burden of subsidies, increase yield, and encourage states.

4. GREEDFLATION AND ITS COUNTER ARGUMENTS

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, economists have questioned the validity of the argument that corporate thirst for higher profits is the cause behind inflation.

EXPLANATION:

• Greedflation refers to price inflation caused by corporate greed for high profits in products as food and energy.
• Here, where companies exploit inflation by raising prices excessively, going beyond covering their increased costs, and aiming to maximize their profit margins.
• Progressives in the United States have accused corporate greed as a major reason for the historically high price inflation in the U.S. since the pandemic.
• S. corporations have allegedly increased the prices of their goods by more than what was necessary to compensate for higher input costs caused by supply-chain bottlenecks.
• The proponents of the idea of greedflation argue that corporate profit margins have risen significantly since the pandemic even the larger economy has struggled which has contributed to high inflation.
• They also see this as a sign of increased market dominance by corporations and have called for efforts to rein in market power of large corporations and some have even advocated for a ban on price hikes to prevent “profiteering”.

Reasons for greedflation:

• Cost of inputs used by businesses has risen at a faster pace than the pace at which the prices of consumer goods have risen which indicates market dominance of U.S. corporations may have risen considerably could possibly be a sign of weakening competition among businesses.
• However, it still does not mean that rising profit margins are the reason behind high inflation as prices are ultimately determined by buyers and not by sellers.
• The only way corporations can influence the overall price level is by reducing the supply of goods and services. There is, however, no evidence of deliberate reduction in the output of U.S. corporations recently.
• The current high inflation in the U.S. is due to U.S. Federal Reserve’s expansionary monetary policy during the pandemic which increased the prices of goods and services in the economy.
• This condition combined with supply-chain bottlenecks caused by stringent lockdowns led to high inflation.

Greedflation and cost push inflation:

• Greedflation is compared to other theories of “cost-push” inflation which attribute inflation to a rise in input costs. For example, in the past, a rise in the wages demanded by workers has been blamed for the rise in the prices of goods and services. In the case of greedflation, it is the rise in the corporate thirst for profits that is seen as a cost that is driving up prices.
• A criticism of the cost-push theory of inflation has been that it ignores the fact that the cost of producing any good is itself determined indirectly, but ultimately, by consumers. It should be noted that the cost of inputs, which can be used towards different alternative ends of society, is determined by competitive bidding in the market.

Inflation:

• Inflation refers to a general rise in the price level (meaning a widespread rise in the prices of goods and services across the broader economy) rather than in the prices of individual goods and services.
• Inflation is the percentage change in the value of the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) on a year-on year basis. It effectively measures the change in the prices of a basket of goods and services in a year. In India, inflation is calculated by taking the WPI as base.
• Inflation occurs due to an imbalance between demand and supply of money, changes in production and distribution cost or increase in taxes on products. When economy experiences inflation, i.e. when the price level of goods and services rises, the value of currency reduces.

Types of inflation:

1. Demand-Pull Inflation: This type of inflation is caused due to an increase in aggregate demand in the economy.

Causes of Demand-Pull Inflation:

• A growing economy or increase in the supply of money
• Asset inflation or Increase in Forex reserves
• Government spending or Deficit financing by the government
• Depreciation of rupee. Low unemployment rate.

2. Cost-Push Inflation: Cost pull inflation is considered bad among the two types of inflation. Because the National Income is reduced along with the reduction in supply in the Cost-push type of inflation.

Causes of cost pull inflation:

• Increase in price of inputs
• Hoarding and Speculation of commodities
• Defective Supply chain, Increase in indirect taxes
• Depreciation of Currency
• Interest rates increased by RBI

5. DEEP SEA MINING

TAG: GS 1: GEOGRAPHY

THE CONTEXT: The International Seabed Authority that regulates the deep sea mining and world’s ocean floor is now preparing to resume negotiations that could open the international seabed for mining the materials critical for the green energy transition.

EXPLANATION:

• The ISA’s Legal and Technical Commission, which oversees the development of deep-sea mining regulations, will meet in early July to discuss the yet-to-be mining code draft. The earliest that mining under ISA regulations could begin is 2026. Applications for mining must be considered and environmental impact assessments need to be carried out.
• In the meantime, some companies such as Google, Samsung, BMW and others have backed the World Wildlife Fund’s call to pledge to avoid using minerals that have been mined from the planet’s oceans.
• More than a dozen countries including France, Germany and several Pacific Island nations have officially called for a ban, pause or moratorium on deep sea mining at least until environmental safeguards are in place.

What is deep sea mining?

• Deep sea mining involves removing mineral deposits and metals from the ocean’s seabed. There are three types of such mining: taking deposit-rich polymetallic nodules off the ocean floor, mining massive seafloor sulphide deposits and stripping cobalt crusts from rock.
• Deep sea mining can led to findings of nodules, deposits and crusts containing materials, such as nickel, rare earths, cobalt and more, that are needed for batteries and other materials used in tapping renewable energy and also for everyday technology like cellphones and computers.

Deep sea mining regulation:

• Countries manage their own maritime territory and exclusive economic zones, while the high seas and the international ocean floor are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. It is considered to apply to states regardless of whether or not they have signed or ratified it.
• Under the treaty, the seabed and its mineral resources are considered as the “common heritage of mankind” that protects the interests of humanity through the sharing of economic benefits and protecting marine environments.

Environmental concerns:

• Ecosystems will be damaged by mining, especially without any environmental protocols.
• Damage from mining can include noise, vibration and light pollution, as well as possible leaks and spills of fuels and other chemicals used in the mining process.
• Sediment dust from some mining can harm filter feeding species like corals and sponges, and could smother or otherwise interfere with some creatures.

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 ISA’s dual mission is to authorize and control development of mineral related operations in the international seabed considered the “common heritage of all mankind and also protect the ecosystem of the seabed, ocean floor and subsoil in “The Area” beyond national jurisdiction.
• The ISA is to safeguard the international deep sea, the waters below 200 meters or 656 feet, where photosynthesis is hampered by inadequate light Governing approximately half of the total area of the world’s oceans, the ISA is to exercise oversight of activities that might threaten biological diversity and harm the marine environment.
• The Authority operates as an autonomous international organization with its own Assembly, Council and Secretariat.

India in International Seabed Authority:

• International Seabed Authority has officially designated India as a “Pioneer Investor”.
• Pioneer Investor is an early investment made in any new sector or technology. e.g. Polymetallic nodules at the ocean bed.
• International Seabed Authority (ISA) and Ministry of Earth Sciences also exchanged PMN (Polymetallic Nodules) exploration extension contract. This contract was initially signed on 25th March 2002 for a period of 15 years, which later was extended by the authority twice for 5 years period, during 2017 and 2022.

1. RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (RELIEF MEASURES BY BANKS IN AREAS AFFECTED BY NATURAL CALAMITIES) DIRECTIONS, 2018

TAG: GS 3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT: The Manipur government has declared that the whole State of Manipur has been affected by riots and violence, impacting the economic activities and livelihood of majority of the general public.  To provide relief to the affected people and businesses, the State government has invoked a rarely used Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provision pertaining to restructuring and rescheduling of loans. It provides relief to borrowers when economic activity comes to a halt and offers moratorium on repayment of loans.

EXPLANATION:

• The guidelines have so far been mostly invoked in areas affected by natural calamities and not for a law and order situation in the recent past.
• Manipur is in the grip of ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and the Meitei communities. Internet remains suspended in the State and curfew has been imposed in several districts, more than 50 days since the violence started.
• Recently, reports were received from several Deputy Commissioners that many properties and businesses of residents have been affected either directly or indirectly due to the present law and order situation in the State.
• Due to this, the borrowers who had taken loans are not in a position to repay them and requested SLBC [State Level Bankers’ Committee] to extend relief to the affected persons.
• The order said chapter No. 7 of the “Reserve Bank of India (Relief Measures by Banks in Areas Affected by Natural Calamities) Directions, 2018”, related to “Riots and Disturbances”, applies to the State.
• Therefore, the Governor of Manipur hereby declares that the whole State of Manipur is being affected by violences/riots leading to economic activities and livelihood of the majority of the general public being affected,” and relief measures may be taken up under the RBI’s guidelines.

Reserve Bank of India (Relief Measures by Banks in Areas Affected by Natural Calamities) Directions, 2018

• It has been issued to banks in regard to matters relating to relief measures to be provided in areas affected by natural calamity.
• The provisions of these Directions shall apply to every Scheduled Commercial Bank (including Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and excluding Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)) licensed to operate in India by Reserve Bank of India.
• The developmental role assigned to the commercial banks including Small Finance Banks warrant their active support in reviving the economic activities of those affected by the occurrence of a natural calamity.
• In terms of the National Disaster Management Framework, there are two funds constituted viz. National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for providing relief in the affected areas.
• This framework currently recognizes 12 types of natural calamities viz. cyclone, drought, earthquake, fire, flood, tsunami, hailstorm, landslide, avalanche, cloud burst, pest attack and cold wave/frost.
• Out of these 12, for 4 calamities i.e. drought, hailstorms, pest attack and cold wave/frost, the Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal point and for the remaining 8, the Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal ministry to make the necessary administrative arrangements.
• The role of the scheduled commercial banks including Small Finance Banks (SFBs) is to provide relief measure through rescheduling existing loans and sanctioning fresh loans as per the emerging requirement of the borrowers.
• To enable banks to take uniform and concerted action expeditiously, these directions are issued covering four aspects viz. Institutional Framework, Restructuring of Existing Loans, Providing Fresh Loans and Other Ancillary Relief Measures.

Institutional framework:

• All Divisional/Zonal Offices and branches of Scheduled Commercial/Small Finance banks should be familiar with these standing instructions.
• These standing instructions will immediately come to force after the district/state authorities put in place the requisite declaration.
• It is essential that these instructions should also be made available to the State Government authorities and all the District Collectors so that all concerned are aware about the action that should be taken by the concerned authorities in the affected area.
• The Divisional/Zonal Managers of scheduled commercial/SF banks must be vested with certain discretionary powers to avoid the need to seek fresh approval from their Central Office regarding the line of action decided by the District Consultative Committee/State Level Bankers’ Committee.

Declaration of Natural Calamity:

• It is recognised that declaration of a natural calamity is in the domain of the Sovereign (Central / State Governments).
• The inputs received from the State Governments reveal that there are no uniform procedures being followed for declaration of natural calamity and issue of declarations / certificates.
• These declarations/certificates are called by different names such as Annewari, Paisewari, Girdawari, etc. in different States.
• Nevertheless, the common thread to extend relief measures including reschedulement of loans by banks, is that the crop loss assessed should be 33% or more.
• For assessing this loss, while some States are conducting crop cutting experiments to determine the loss in crop yield, some others are relying on the eye estimates/visual impressions.
• In both the cases, however, DCCs/SLBC have to satisfy themselves fully that the crop loss has been 33% or more before acting on these pronouncements.

Applicability of the guidelines in case of riots and disturbances:

• Whenever RBI advises the banks to extend rehabilitation assistance to the riot/ disturbance affected persons, the aforesaid guidelines may broadly be followed by banks for the purpose.
• It should, however, be ensured that only genuine persons, duly identified by the State Administration as having been affected by the riots/ disturbances, are provided assistance as per the guidelines.
• In the event of large scale riots where most parts of the State/Area are affected and the State Administration is not in a position to identify the riot/disturbance affected persons and subject to SLBC’s specific decision, the onus of identifying ‘genuine persons’ will rest with banks.
• If the DCC is satisfied that there has been extensive loss to life and property on account of the riots/ disturbances, the relief as per the above guidelines may be extended to the people affected by the riots/ disturbances. In certain cases, where there are no District Consultative Committees, the District Collector may request the convener of the State Level Bankers’ Committee of the State to convene a meeting of the bankers to consider extension of relief to the affected persons. The report submitted by the Collector and the decision thereon of DCC/ SLBC may be recorded and should form a part of the minutes of the meeting. A copy of the proceedings of the meeting may be forwarded to the concerned Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India.

2. LAB-GROWN MEAT

TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

THE CONTEXT: Recently, two California-based companies were cleared to make and sell cell-cultivated chicken in the country in what is being hailed by stakeholders in the concept as a major step forward for reducing the carbon emissions associated with the food industry worldwide.

EXPLANATION:

• Cell-cultivated chicken” that’s the official name of chicken meat that is grown in a laboratory for human consumption.
• The two companies, Good Meat and Upside Foods, have received the U.S. government’s approval to make and sell their cell-cultivated chicken.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was involved in the regulatory process but didn’t technically approve the products because the process doesn’t require an approval.
• In such cases, a company in question is required to conduct a safety assessment of its own facilities and the veracity of its production process. Sometimes, in order to boost consumer and investor confidence, it may consult with the FDA.
• At the end of this process, if the FDA is satisfied by the company’s submissions, it will send a “no questions” letter, signalling the regulatory body’s tacit approval.
• S. Department of Agriculture finalised the label “cell-cultivated chicken” for the product being sold, and provided a ‘grant of inspection’, which is required to operate production facilities.

What is cell-cultivated chicken?

• To make cell-cultivated meat, these two companies isolate the cells that make up this meat, and put them in a setting where they have all the resources they need to grow and make more copies of themselves. These resources are typically nutrients, fats, carbohydrates, amino acids, the right temperature, etc.
• The ‘setting’ in which this process transpires is often a bioreactor (also known as a ‘cultivator’), a sensor-fit device – like a container – that has been designed to support a particular biological environment. Because of the techniques involved, producing meat in this way is also called cellular agriculture.
• Once these cells have become sufficiently large in number, which takes around two to three weeks in Upside’s process, they resemble a mass of minced meat. They are collected and then processed, with additives to improve their texture and/or appearance, and are destined for various recipes.

Why was cell-cultivated meat created?

• Its proponents have advanced the following arguments in favour of developing lab-grown meat: emissions, land use, prevention of animal slaughter, food security, and customisation.
• The first two are related to climate mitigation. The FAO has estimated that global livestock is responsible for 14.5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse-gas emissions.
• Of this, the production of beef as a commodity accounted for 41%, whereas chicken meat and eggs accounted for 8%.

What are the challenges?

• Consumer acceptance Perfectly substituting animal meat with alternative meat requires the latter to match the former’s taste, texture, and appearance, and cost. Researchers have achieved some success on these counts but it remains a work in progress, especially as more meats acquire alternative counterparts.
• For the cellular cultivation process, researchers require high quality cells to begin with (plus information about how different cell types contribute to the ‘meat’), a suitable growth-medium in which the cells can be cultured, plus other resources required to maintain the quality of the final product.

3. THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR INTEGRATED MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT (ICIMOD)

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: A new report released by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) warned Rivers in eastern and northeastern India including the Brahmaputra, Ganga and Teesta will, like their counterparts in the rest of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), see a rapid increase in stream flow followed by water scarcity.

EXPLANATION:

• The report Water, ice, society, and ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya pointed out that glaciers in the HKH region “can lose up to 80 per cent of their current volume by the end of the century (with) Himalayan glaciers disappeared 65 percent faster in the 2010s than in previous decade”.
• As a consequence, major rivers in the Himalayas including those in eastern and northeastern India are set to suffer.
• The report also observes that “floods and landslides are projected to increase over the coming decades” and warns that the effects on fragile mountain habitats may turn out to be “particularly acute”.
• The Eastern Himalayas will be affected as well (like the western part of the range), with rivers like Brahmaputra and Teesta getting their base flow from glacial melt reduced in the long-run.
• United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier pointed out that the flow in major Himalayan rivers including the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, all critical for India, may get significantly reduced as glaciers and ice sheets are expected to recede in the future due to global warming.
• As glaciers and ice sheets continue to recede over the coming decades, major Himalayan rivers like the Indus, the Ganges, and Brahmaputra will feel the impact seeing their flows reduced.
• The Eastern Ganga Region (ERG) with its development deficit context and low capacity is already becoming a crucible of hazards: Erratic and extreme rainfall, extreme floods and landslides, droughts, low flows, and scorching wet bulb heat.
• Eastern Himalayas, also called lesser Himalayas, have less glaciers compared to their western counterparts. Hence, rivers in the region get less contribution from such glaciers; and are less likely to be affected overall.
• Still, climate change can impact rivers if the snow and glacial meltwater get reduced in the region during March, which is the dominant contribution during that time.
• Tributaries play a major role in augmenting the flow of rivers in the region; and hence glacial melting impacts would be less compared to the western part of Himalayas.
• There is an immediate increase in water flow in major rivers due to melting; followed by long term water scarcity.
• The HKH region, harbours the highest mountain ranges in the world. It also contains the largest volume of ice on earth outside of the polar areas and is called “Asia’s water tower”.
• It added that “ice and snow in the Hindu Kush Himalaya are an important source of water for 12 rivers that flow through 16 countries in Asia, providing freshwater and other vital ecosystem services to 240 million people in the mountains and a further 1.65 billion downstream”.
• This report is important but the time has come to go beyond generalised reports and become specific. For example, it would have been great if the report could have told which areas of Himalayas are expected to be affected how much, so that specific combative strategies can be formulated,” expressed a senior water expert of South Asia.

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD):

• ICIMOD is an intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre that develops and shares research, information, and innovations to empower people in the eight regional member countries of the HKH – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
• It serve the region through information and knowledge generation and sharing to find innovative solutions to critical mountain problems.
• It bridge science with policies and on-the-ground practices.
• It provide a regional platform where experts, planners, policy makers, and practitioners can exchange ideas and perspectives towards the achievement of sustainable mountain development.
• It facilitate knowledge exchange across the region, help customize international knowledge and tailor it to the region’s needs, and bring regional issues to the global stage

4. ONE DISTRICT ONE PRODUCT(ODOP)

TAG: PRELIMS PERSPECTIVE

THE CONTEXT: Centre allocates 145 Crores rupees to Nagaland for the purpose of Unity Mall in Dimapur. Efforts such as Krishi UDAN scheme, expanding railway connectivity to be undertaken to improve logistics facilities for ODOP products from Nagaland.

EXPLANATION:

• ODOP Sampark event was organized to create awareness regarding the efforts of DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India through its two flagship Initiative One District One Product (ODOP) and PM Gati Shakti (Logistics).
• Organic certification will play major role in insuring better access for Indian products in foreign markets and help gain better prices for farmers.
• The documentation for the organic certification for over 15 chili farmers from Kohima was done during the workshop and the remaining will be completed soon after the verification of their documents.
• Efforts will be undertaken to improve the logistics facilities for ODOP products from Nagaland like chili, turmeric, kiwi, pineapple, etc, through the Krishi UDAN scheme, expanding railway connectivity, etc.
• The One District One Product Awards have been instituted by DPIIT to acknowledge the extraordinary work done by States/ UTs, Districts, and Indian Missions Abroad, for the economic development of the State and contribute towards the realization of the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat through the ODOP approach.  The Awards will be launched on 25th June 2023 in the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.
• PM GatiShakti is a transformative approach which was launched on October 13th, 2021 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for planning & building Next Generation Infrastructure in the country, thereby promoting multimodal logistics connectivity to improve both Ease of Living as well as Ease of Doing Business.

 ODOP:

• The ODOP initiative is a visionary program aligned with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of fostering inclusive development across all districts of India.
• The objective is to identify and promote a distinct product from each district, thereby creating a niche identity for them. By focusing on these chosen products, ODOP aims to drive holistic socio-economic growth and improve market accessibility.
• Over 1000 products have been selected from all 761 districts of the country. The products are selected by the State Government in consultation with district administration.
• The ODOP initiative covers a wide range of products spanning textiles, agricultural produce, processed goods, pharmaceuticals, and industrial items. The aim is to promote and harness the diverse expertise present in different sectors and communities across the country.
• By identifying and addressing challenges throughout the supply chain, enhancing market reach, and providing dedicated support to producers, ODOP aims to transform districts into prominent market hubs for their chosen products.
• Through this comprehensive approach, ODOP is set to empower districts, promote entrepreneurship, and contribute to the overall economic growth and prosperity of the nation.

5. PRADHAN MANTRI MATSYA SAMPADA YOJANA

TAG: SCHEMES

THE CONTEXT: Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana Review Meeting for North Eastern Region Review meeting focuses around State Annual Action Plan 2023-24, utilisation of central funds, release of State share, SNA related issues.

EXPLANATION:

• Fisheries sector plays an important role in the Indian economy.
• It contributes to the national income, exports, food and nutritional security as well as the employment generation. The sector provides livelihood for more than 2.8 crore fishers and fish farmers at primary level and several more along the fisheries value chain.
• It is also a major source of income for a large proportion of the country’s economically disadvantaged population.
• As PMMSY enters its fourth year of implementation, the Department plans to expedite the pace of implementation.
• It is pertinent to note that no such specific allocation has been done for NER states before 2014. The sanctioned activities comprised of new ponds, integrated fish farming, ornamental fisheries, biofloc, RAS, hatcheries, brood banks, feed mills, etc.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

• The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to enhance fish production to 220 lakh metric tons by 2024-25 from 137.58 lakh metric tons in 2018-19 at an average annual growth rate of about 9%.
• “PMMSY – A scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India.
• PMMSY will create a conducive environment for private sector participation, development of entrepreneurship, business models, promotion of ease of doing business, innovations and innovative project activities including start-ups, incubators etc. in fisheries sector. T
• PMMSY being a fisher centric umbrella scheme, fishers, fish farmers, fish workers and fish vendors are the key stakeholders in the developmental activities envisaged and enhancement of their socio-economic status is one the core objectives of this scheme.
• The Fisheries Minister said that about 42% of the total estimated investment of the PMMSY is earmarked for creation and upgradation of fisheries infrastructure facilities. Focus areas include Fishing Harbours and Landing Centers, Post-harvest and Cold Chain Infrastructure, Fish Markets and Marketing Infrastructure, Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages and Development of Deep-sea Fishing.
• Besides creating critical fisheries infrastructure by attracting private investments in fisheries sector, the scheme plans to reduce post-harvest losses from the present high of 25% to about 10% by modernizing and strengthening value chain.
• Under the Swath Sagar plan, activities envisaged with a view to modernize the fisheries sector include promotion of Bio-toilets, Insurance coverage for fishing vessels, Fisheries Management Plans, E-Trading/Marketing, Fishers and resources survey and creation of National IT-based databases.
• Government will register “Sagar Mitra” and encourage formation of Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) to help achieve the PMMSY goals. Fisheries Extension Services Centers will be set up in private space to create job opportunities to young professionals.