Index 1. ECONOMY 1.
Who is a Farmer?
4
2.
Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund
6
3.
Fugitive Economic Offenders
8
4.
RBI keeps interest rates unchanged
9
5.
WTO’s Dispute Settlement Mechanism
11
6.
Silver Line Railway Project
13
7.
Operation Twist
14
8.
Do RBI’s Inflation Targeting really promotes India’s Growth
15
9.
“Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2018-2019”
18
1.1 ECONOMY SNIPPETS 1. Operating Ratio
21
2.
National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF)
22
3.
MCLR
23
4.
Stagflation
23
5.
Bharat Petroleum Cooperation Ltd (BPCL)
24
6.
National Economic Census
25
7.
Merchant Discount Rate
26
8.
Asia’s Biggest Surge Pool
26
2. ENVIRONMENT 1. Operation Clean Art
28
2.
Antarctic Treaty System (ATS)
29
3.
16 Seismometers Defunct in Earthquake-Prone Zones
30
4.
Torrefaction Technology to Reduce Stubble Burning
31
5.
Global Climate Risk Index: Concerns for India
33
6.
Centre Objects to Uttarakhand’s Definition of Forest
37
7.
Tyre Pyrolysis
39
8.
Fatal Fires: The Need for Strict Safety Norms
40
9.
U.S., Saudi at bottom of Climate Class: Report
43
10. Green Window for Green Energy Finance
44
11. How India lost its spots
45
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12. Article 6 of The Paris Agreement (CARBON MARKETS)
47
13. Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) Report, 2019
48
14. Green Bonds
49
15. Overall Green Cover Rises, North East Faces a Dip
49
16. Carbon Market
52
2.1 ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS 1. Gangetic Dolphin
54
2. Clownfish
56
3. Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)
56
4. Sukapaika River
57
5. Pygmy Hog
58
6. Green Good Deeds
59
7. Bar Headed Goose
59
8. Typhoon Phanfone
59
9. Bandhavgarh National Park
60
10. Belcum Caves
61
3. POLITY & GOVERNANCE 1. Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019
62
2. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT)
63
3. “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019
64
4. A Potential Seedbed for Private Profits
68
5. KALIA Scheme
72
6. Sexual Cases under POCSO
74
7. Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019
75
8. Right to Protest Under Article 19
77
9. Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code
78
10. National Population Register (NPR)
81
11. India Eyes 60% of Global Ship Recycling Business
82
3.1 POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS 1. Inner Line Permit (ILP)
84
2. Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill,2019
85
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3. Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP)
86
4. Nehru-Liaquat Pact, 1950
87
5. Mallakhamba
88
6. Global Refugee Forum (GRF)
88
7. SHARJAH-IAU
89
8. National Anthem
89
9. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI)
90
10. Nari Shakti Puraskar 2019
91
4.SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1. Polar Science Cooperation
92
2. ISRO’s Second Spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam (TN)
93
3. PSLV-C48/RISAT-2BR1
95
4. Synthetic Biology
96
5. Echo Network
98
6. Solar Eclipse
99
4.1 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS 1. Meteor Missile
100
2. Hera Mission
100
3. Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security - Regolith Explorer
101
4. Frog Phone
102
5. STRANDHOGG
103
6. New System for Measurement of Weight
103
7. Pinaka Missile System
104
8. Frontier Technologies: The Tech Frontier for Developing Nations
105
9. SnowEx
106
10. Gaganyaan – Unmanned Test Mission
107
11. Navy Plans 24 Submarines to Strengthen Fleet
108
12. Aditya -L1 First Indian Mission to Study the Sun
109
13. Sun’s Corona
112
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5.SOCIAL ISSUES 1. Reservations in Promotions for SC/ST: An Overview
113
2. Stop the Brutality: The Rape Culture in India
116
3. The Neglected Foot Soldiers of a Liberalised Economy
118
4. The Structural Flaws in India’s Higher Education System
121
5. Southern States have High Prevalence of Mental Disorder: Study
124
6. Need a Different Approach to Address Child Malnutrition
125
7. Kerala Tops NITI Aayog’s SDG Index
127
8. India Needs a Bottom-up Growth Model
129
9. Higher Education – Quality Mandate
132
10. WEF Gender Gap Index: India Slips to 112th Rank
135
6.INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India – Japan: 2+2 Dialogue
137
2. Emigration Policies: Challenges and Way Forward
139
6.1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS 1. Exercise Hand-in-Hand-2019
142
2. Blue Notice
142
3. Raisina Dialogue
144
4. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
145
5. Zero-Waste Alliance
146
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1. ECONOMY 1. Who is a Farmer? Why in News? •
Union Agriculture Minister has failed to answer the question regarding the definition of farmer, when it was asked in Parliament last week. This has raised a debate in the parliament regarding the issue.
Background: •
In the discussion last week in parliament, MPs pointed out that the number of land holdings do not necessarily equate with the number of farming households.
•
It was noted that dairy farmers, fisher-folk, fruit and flower growers, as well as landless agricultural workers who cultivate the land belonging to others, would not fit into a narrow definition where farmers are linked to ownership of land alone.
•
The government’s ambiguity has serious implications for the design and beneficiaries of the schemes meant to help them, including its flagship PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi).
Definition as per National Policy for Farmers: •
There is a clear and comprehensive definition available in the National Policy for Farmers, which was drafted by the National Commission of Farmers headed by M.S. Swaminathan and officially approved by the Centre in 2007 following consultations with the States.
•
As per the Policy, the term ‘FARMER’ will refer to a person actively engaged in the economic and/or livelihood activity of growing crops and producing other primary agricultural commodities and will include all agricultural operational holders, cultivators, agricultural labourers, sharecroppers, tenants, poultry and livestock rearers, fishers, beekeepers, gardeners, pastoralists, non-corporate planters and planting labourers, as well as persons engaged in various farming related occupations such as sericulture, vermiculture and agro-forestry. The term will also include tribal families / persons engaged in shifting cultivation and in the collection, use and sale of minor and non-timber forest produce.
Impact of Ambiguity: •
The definition of a farmer is not merely a philosophical or semantic question, but rather has practical implications. Most of the schemes meant for farmers’ welfare, including the procurement of wheat and paddy at minimum support prices, are effectively available only for land owners.
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•
Even in death, those who work on the land may not be identified as farmers for the purposes of counting farmer suicides.
•
In practice, those who cultivate or work on the land but do not own it are excluded from access to agricultural credit and interest subvention for farm loans.
•
Crop insurance and loan waivers go to loaners so they are left out of that as well.
•
Access to subsidised crop inputs is difficult without identification as farmers. In the event of crop failure, compensation is only given to owners.
•
Direct income support schemes such as PM-KISAN are limited to owners
•
Tax exemption is usually claimed by owners who give an unverified affidavit that they cultivate the land.
Way Ahead: •
M.S. Swaminathan Commission’s definition should be converted into a legal and actionable tool for identification. Already, the revenue department is supposed to annually record who is actually cultivating each piece of land. So, the above step will be useful for this exercise too.
•
Apart from adding inclusion criteria other than land-ownership, the Centre must add exclusion criteria so absentee landlords are left out. Otherwise, the farmer who actually takes the risk gets no support, but those who treat land as an investment or speculation get all the benefits.
2. Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund Why in News? •
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given its approval for creation and launch of Bharat Bond Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).
Exchange Traded Fund: •
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are mutual funds listed and traded on stock exchanges like shares.
•
Index ETFs are created by institutional investors swapping shares in an index basket, for units in the fund.
•
Usually, ETFs are passive funds where the fund manager doesn’t select stocks on your behalf. Instead, the ETF simply copies an index and endeavours to accurately reflect its performance.
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•
In an ETF, one can buy and sell units at prevailing market price on a real time basis during Market Hours.
Significance of ETF: •
ETFs are cost efficient. Given that they don’t make any stock (or security choices), they don’t use services of star fund managers.
•
They allow investors to avoid the risk of poor security selection by the fund manager, while offering a diversified investment portfolio.
•
The stocks in the indices are carefully selected by index providers and are rebalanced periodically. They offer anytime liquidity through the exchanges.
What is Bharat ETF? •
Bharat Bond ETF would be the first corporate Bond ETF in the country.
•
Bharat Bond ETF will create an additional source of funding for Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), Central Public Financial Institutions (CPFIs) and other Government organizations. ETF will be a basket of bonds issued by CPSE/CPSU/CPFI/any other Government organization Bonds.
Features of Bharat ETF: •
Tradable on exchange
•
Small unit size Rs 1,000
•
Transparent Net Asset Value (NAV) i.e. periodic live NAV during the day
•
Transparent Portfolio (Daily disclosure on website)
•
Low cost (0.0005%)
Structure of Bharat ETF: •
Each ETF will have a fixed maturity date
•
The ETF will track the underlying Index on risk replication basis, i.e. matching Credit Quality and Average Maturity of the Index
•
Will invest in a portfolio of bonds of CPSE, CPSU, CPFI or any other Government organizations that matures on or before the maturity date of the ETF
•
As of now, it will have 2 maturity series - 3 and 10 years. Each series will have a separate index of the same maturity series.
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3. Fugitive Economic Offenders Why in News? •
A special court on Thursday declared absconding Nirav Modi, prime accused in the Punjab National Bank scam, a fugitive economic offender (FEO).
•
The declaration allows the government to initiate action to confiscate the offender’s properties. Nirav Modi is the second person to be declared a fugitive economic offender, under the new fugitive Economic Offenders Act, after Vijay Mallya.
“Fugitive Economic Offender” •
A person can be named an offender under this law if there is an arrest warrant against him or her for committing any offence listed in the schedule of the act and for involvement in economic offences involving at least Rs. 100 crore or more and has fled from India to escape Legal Action.
•
Major criteria that have to be satisfied are: ✓ The Person has left the country to avoid facing prosecution. ✓ He refuses to return to India to face prosecution.
About Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018: •
The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 seeks to confiscate properties of economic offenders who have left the country to avoid facing criminal prosecution.
•
Offences involving amounts of Rs. 100 crore or more fall under the purview of this law.
•
Some of the offences listed in the schedule of the bill are-counterfeiting government stamps or currency, cheque dishonour for insufficiency of funds, money laundering, transactions defrauding creditors etc.
Proceedings as per the Act: •
To declare a person an FEO, an application will be filed in a Special Court (designated under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002) containing details of the properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person’s whereabouts.
•
The Special Court will require the person to appear at a specified place at least six weeks from issue of notice. Proceedings will be terminated if the person appears.
•
Attachment of the property of a fugitive economic offender.
•
Confiscation of the property of an individual declared as a fugitive economic offender resulting from the proceeds of crime. Confiscation of other property belonging to such offender in India and abroad including benami property.
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•
Disentitlement of the fugitive economic offender from defending any civil claim.
•
All cases under the proposed law will be tried under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act and the administrator will sell the fugitive's properties to pay off the lenders.
•
The proposed law will have an overriding effect over all other pieces of legislation.
United Nations Convention against Corruption: •
Non conviction-based asset confiscation for corruption related cases are enabled under provisions of United Nations Convention against Corruption which India ratified in 2011. This Act is adopted based on this principle. ✓ The United Nations Convention against Corruption is the only legally binding universal anti-corruption instrument. ✓ It was adopted by the General Assembly in 2003 and entered into force on December 14, 2005. ✓ The Convention covers five main areas: preventive measures, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange.
4. RBI keeps interest rates unchanged Why in News? •
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided to keep the interest rate unchanged at 5.15% in the fifth bimonthly policy review, citing inflation concerns despite economic growth continuing to slow down.
Instruments for implementing Monetary Policy: •
Repo Rate: The (fixed) interest rate at which the Reserve Bank provides overnight liquidity to banks against the collateral of government and other approved securities under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF).
•
Reverse Repo Rate: The (fixed) interest rate at which the Reserve Bank absorbs liquidity, on an overnight basis, from banks against the collateral of eligible government securities under the LAF.
•
Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF): The LAF consists of overnight as well as term repo auctions. Progressively, the Reserve Bank has increased the proportion of liquidity injected under fine-tuning variable rate repo auctions of a range of tenors.
•
The aim of term repo is to help develop the inter-bank term money market, which in turn can set market-based benchmarks for pricing of loans and deposits, and hence improve the transmission of monetary policy.
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•
The Reserve Bank also conducts variable interest rate reverse repo auctions, as necessitated under the market conditions.
•
Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): A facility under which scheduled commercial banks can borrow an additional amount of overnight money from the Reserve Bank by dipping into their Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) portfolio up to a limit at a penal rate of interest.
•
This provides a safety valve against unanticipated liquidity shocks to the banking system.
•
Corridor: The MSF rate and reverse repo rate determine the corridor for the daily movement in the weighted average call money rate.
•
Bank Rate: It is the rate at which the Reserve Bank is ready to buy or rediscount bills of exchange or other commercial papers. The Bank Rate is published under Section 49 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. This rate has been aligned to the MSF rate and, therefore, changes automatically as and when the MSF rate changes alongside policy repo rate changes.
•
Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR): The average daily balance that a bank is required to maintain with the Reserve Bank as a share of such percent of its Net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) that the Reserve Bank may notify from time to time in the Gazette of India.
•
Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR): The share of NDTL that a bank is required to maintain in safe and liquid assets, such as unencumbered government securities, cash and gold. Changes in SLR often influence the availability of resources in the banking system for lending to the private sector.
•
Open Market Operations (OMOs): These include both, outright purchase and sale of government securities, for injection and absorption of durable liquidity, respectively.
•
Market Stabilisation Scheme (MSS): This instrument for monetary management was introduced in 2004. Surplus liquidity of a more enduring nature arising from large capital inflows is absorbed through the sale of short-dated government securities and treasury bills. The cash so mobilised is held in a separate government account with the Reserve Bank.
About Monetary Policy Committee: •
The policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation target is decided by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
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•
MPC is a six-member committee constituted by the Central Government (Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934) - three officials of the Reserve Bank of India and three external members nominated by the Government of India.
•
The MPC is required to meet at least four times in a year. The quorum for the meeting of the MPC is four members.
•
Each member of the MPC has one vote, and in the event of an equality of votes, the Governor has a second or casting vote.
•
The resolution adopted by the MPC is published after the conclusion of every meeting of the MPC. Once in every six months, the Reserve Bank is required to publish a document called the Monetary Policy Report to explain: (1) the sources of inflation and (2) the forecast of inflation for 6-18 months ahead.
Decisions Taken by MPC: •
The MPC recognises that there is monetary policy space for future action.
•
However, given the evolving growth-inflation dynamics, the MPC felt it appropriate to take a pause at this juncture.
•
The MPC also decided to continue with the accommodative stance as long as it is necessary to revive growth, while ensuring that inflation remains within the target”.
Current Economic Situation: •
Inflation forecast had been raised to 5.1-4.7% for H2:2019-20 and 4.0-3.8% for H1:2020-21, with risks broadly balanced, the RBI said.
•
In October, CPI inflation was projected at 3.5-3.7% for H2:2019-20 and 3.6% for Q1:2020-21.
•
Growth forecast for the current financial year was revised downward sharply — from 6.1% projected in October policy to 5%.
5. WTO’s Dispute Settlement Mechanism Why in News? •
The World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) dispute settlement mechanism is on the verge of collapse due to the non-appointment of requisite members in the appellate body of the WTO.
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Recent Issue: •
Over the last two years, the membership of the body has dwindled to just three persons instead of the required seven.
•
The dispute settlement mechanism requires at least three members to function out of the total seven-member strength. Currently there are only three members and term of two members out of those three also came to an end recently.
•
So, world trade is about to enter a phase in which there will be no official resolution for many international disputes — potentially creating the circumstances for a free-for-all.
Reason behind the Issue: •
The United States has blocked the appointments of new members, and the reappointments of members who had completed their four-year tenures in the appellate tribunal for the last two years which made the membership of the body to dwindle to (the present) three persons (instead of the required seven).
•
The US believes the WTO is biased against it, and has criticised it for being “unfair”. The administration of American President has, therefore, taken the decision to starve the body of personnel. With complete disregard to its authority — U.S.A has also been imposing new tariffs on not just China, but also American allies such as Canada, Europe, and Japan.
About WTO’s Appellate Body: •
The Appellate Body, set up in 1995, is a standing committee of seven members that presides over appeals against judgments of WTO panel passed in trade-related disputes brought by WTO members.
Who Can Approach? •
Countries involved in a dispute over measures purported to break a WTO agreement or obligation can approach the Appellate Body if they feel the report of the panel set up to examine the issue needs to be reviewed on points of law.
•
The Appellate Body can uphold, modify, or reverse the legal findings of the panel that heard the dispute. Countries on either or both sides of the dispute can appeal.
Significance: •
The WTO’s dispute settlement procedure is seen as being vital to ensuring smooth international trade flows.
•
The Appellate Body has so far issued 152 reports. The reports, once adopted by the WTO’s disputes settlement body, are final and binding on the parties.
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After Effects of the Issue: •
With the Appellate Body unable to review new applications, there is already great uncertainty over the WTO’s dispute settlement process.
•
The understaffed appeals body has been unable to stick to its 2-3 month deadline for appeals filed in the last few years, and the backlog of cases has prevented it from initiating proceedings in appeals that have been filed in the last year. If the body is declared nonfunctional, countries may be compelled to implement rulings by the panel even if they feel that gross errors have been committed. Should such a country refuse to comply with the order of the panel on the ground that it has no avenue for appeal, it will run the risk of facing arbitration proceedings initiated by the other party in the dispute.
6. Silver Line Railway Project Why in News? •
The Ministry of Railways granted in-principle approval for the ‘Silver Line’ project, a proposal of the Kerala government that involves laying of semi high-speed trains between the two corners of the state of Kerala.
The Silver Line project: •
The Silver Line project aims to connect major districts and towns with semi high-speed trains that will run on their own tracks.
•
The 532-km corridor is projected to be built at a cost of Rs 56,443 crore.
•
Trains would complete the journey at four hours instead of 12, with a maximum speed of 200 km/h.
•
The corridor will be built away from the existing line between Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. The semi high-speed trains will traverse through 11 of the state’s 14 districts, Alappuzha, Wayanad and Idukki being the exceptions.
•
There are also plans to connect the corridor with the international airports at Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The project is scheduled to be commissioned by 2024.
Significance: •
Kerala’s road networks are clogged and experience dense traffic during peak hours.
•
According to a data, less than 10% of the state’s roads handle nearly 80% of the traffic.
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•
This also gives rise to accidents and casualties; in 2018, Kerala recorded 4,259 deaths and 31,687 grievous injuries.
•
Experts have been demanding faster transportation options including railways and waterways. The current railway network is congested with a large number of trains, level crossings and sharp curves. The project will result in direct and indirect employment opportunities for 50,000 people, and the project once completed would create direct employment for at least 11,000 people.
Implementation: •
The Kerala Rail Development Corporation (K-Rail), a joint venture between the Ministry of Railways and the Kerala government to execute projects on a cost-sharing basis, will be the nodal agency.
•
The government is believed to be looking at external funding agencies.
•
An initial investment is likely to be made by K-Rail for acquiring land. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be commissioned soon.
7. Operation Twist Why in News? •
Recently, RBI has planned to conduct “Operation Twist”.
About Operation Twist: •
Operation Twist is actually a move that is used by U.S Federal Reserve in past.
•
The central bank uses the proceeds from the sale of short-term bonds to buy long term government bonds, leading to easing of interest rates on the long-term bonds.
•
It involves simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities under Open Market Operations (OMO) for 10,000 crore each.
•
It will purchase the longer (government bonds maturing in 2029), and simultaneously sell the shorter duration ones (short-term bonds maturing in 2020).
•
It will be done through electronic platform.
About Open Market Operations: •
Open Market is known as unrestricted, free access market.
•
It aims to regulate the money supply in the economy.
•
It is used to adjust the liquidity conditions in the market.
•
It is the sale and purchase of government securities and T-bills by RBI.
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•
During increase in liquidity condition then RBI sells G-secs to Open Market.
•
During decrease in liquidity condition then RBI buys G-secs from Open Market.
Repurchase or buyback of G-secs: •
It is known as buying back the existing securities that are sold in Open Market.
•
Sometimes RBI Prematurely buys G-secs.
•
The Reasons are to: ✓ Reduce the cost of particular G-secs (High coupon G-secs), ✓ Reduce the number of outstanding G-secs and improve liquidity, ✓ Infuse liquidity in the system
Government Securities (G-Secs): •
It is a Tradeable Instrument that is issued by the central Government/ state governments.
•
It is also called as risk-free gilt-edged instruments. It has two types, short term bonds and long-term bonds.
•
Short term bonds are also known as Treasury Bill. Its maturity period is less than 1 year.
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Long Term Bonds are also known as Government Bonds or Dated Securities.
•
Central Government issues both Government bonds and Dated Securities.
•
In case of State Government either Government bonds or Dated Securities through RBI. It is called as State Development Loan. Its maturity period is greater than or equal to 1 year.
•
G-sec is issued through auctions conducted by RBI, by an electronic platform called
•
E-Kuber. It is the Core banking Solution platform of RBI.
•
RBI issues Indicative auction calendar, which contains details of calendar. It also contains information regarding amount of borrowing, maturity time period and time of auction.
8. Do RBI’s inflation Targeting really promotes India’s Growth? Why in News? •
Indian Economy is being through a slowdown, and in this scenario, the efficacy of RBI’s Inflation targeting process has come under criticism, stating it as a reason behind this slowdown.
•
So, the process of inflation targeting and the benefits accrued due to it and the possible reasons (apprehensions) behind various criticism and the way forward has been discussed in this article in brief.
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What is Inflation Targeting? •
Inflation Targeting is a part of monetary policy framework wherein the Central Bank of a country focuses on maintaining the rate of Inflation within a targeted range.
•
It is believed that increasing prices in an economy create uncertainties in decision making, adversely affecting savings and encouraging speculative investments (such as buying Gold). Inflation targeting brings in more predictability and transparency in deciding monetary policy.
•
Inflation targeting was first adopted by New Zealand and subsequently, a large number of countries including India have been following Inflation Targeting as their core element of monetary policy.
•
In case of India, the Inflation targeting was introduced through the Monetary Policy Framework Agreement signed between the RBI and Government in 2015. As per terms of the agreement, RBI's primary objective would be to maintain price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth. The RBI is required to maintain rate of inflation of 4% with a deviation of 2% i.e. inflation has to be maintained between 2% to 6%.
Benefits of Inflation Targeting: 1. Enhanced Transparency: The Inflation targeting explicitly states as to what would be the targeted rate of Inflation in an economy. Such explicitly mandated target brings in more clarity and predictability with respect to the rate of Inflation and monetary policy formulation. 2. Promote Growth: A high rate of inflation leads to decrease in the purchasing power of currency, reduces the savings and investment rate, increases the unemployment and leads to overall decrease in the GDP growth rate. Further, high rate of inflation is accompanied 3. by higher levels of Fiscal Deficit and Current Account Deficit leading to an adverse impact on the macro-economic stability of the country. Hence, low and moderate level of inflation would incentivise the investors to undertake the investment in the economy leading to the promotion of higher growth and development. 4. Autonomy and Accountability of RBI: As per the monetary policy framework agreement, the RBI has been given complete autonomy in maintaining the rate of inflation within the mandated targets. If the RBI fails to maintain the Inflation within the target, then it would be required to submit in writing, the reasons for its failure. Such a provision enables the RBI to enjoy autonomy and at the same time, it enables the Government to have enhanced accountability over the actions of the RBI.
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5. Empirical Evidence: The Inflation targeting has been quite successful in some of the advanced economies such as UK, New Zealand etc. These advanced economies have been able to maintain moderate rate of inflation for a much longer time leading to increased macro-economic stability.
Problems and Challenges with Inflation Targeting: 1. Disregards the Multi-faceted role of RBI: In a developing country like India, it is not practical for the central bank to focus exclusively on inflation without taking into account the larger development context. The RBI needs to balance between growth, price stability and financial stability. 2. No Clear link between Price Stability and Financial Stability: Prior to 2008, advanced economies were able to maintain moderate rate of inflation for a long term mainly due to adoption of Inflation Targeting. It was believed that Inflation targeting was responsible for overall macroeconomic stability of the country. However, the 2008 Global Financial Crisis has clearly proved that price stability alone cannot lead to financial stability and the excessive focus of the Central banks on the price stability may lead to neglect of other crucial functions such as regulation leading to the economic crisis. 3. Empirical Evidence failing in India: The RBI has been able to maintain stable rate of Inflation within the mandated range since last 2-3 years. However, inspite of stable rate of Inflation, Indian economy is facing challenges on multiple fronts. The GDP growth rate has been reduced to 25 quarter low of 5% for the first quarter of financial year 2019-20. The unemployment has increased to 45- year high of 6.1%. There has been contraction in the manufacturing activity as evident in declining IIP. The agriculture sector is staring at agrarian distress. All these clearly highlight that the Inflation targeting has failed to promote growth and development. 4. Poor Monetary Policy Transmission: The Inflation targeting is more suited to the developed economies since the monetary policy transmission in such economies is quite efficient. However, in case of India, the monetary policy transmission is quite inefficient and this can in turn reduce the effectiveness of Inflation Targeting. 5. Hinder GDP Growth: In order to contain Inflation, the RBI would be required to increase the rate of Interest by following the contractionary monetary policy. However, such a policy would lead to increase in the rate of interest on the loans leading to decrease www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
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in investment and consumption expenditure leading to decline in the GDP growth rates. For example, during 2013-2015, the higher interest rates in the country on account of higher rate of inflation had led to decrease in the GDP growth rates. 6. Does not address the Supply Side Inflation: The inflation in India may take place due to supply side bottlenecks such as increase in global crude oil prices, poor monsoon, floods etc. For instance, the recent increase in the prices of Tomato and Onions is mainly on account of supply side disruptions. Under such circumstances, RBI would have limited role to play in easing the rate of inflation. Rather, the Government of India would be required to address these supply side disruptions in order to moderate the prices of such commodities.
Way Forward •
Post-Global Financial crisis, the dominant view around the world is that flexible inflation targeting, rather than pure inflation targeting is more efficient for monetary policy formulation. According to the Flexible inflation targeting, the major role of the Central Bank would depend on the prevailing rate of inflation in the country.
•
If the rate of inflation is way off the target, the primary emphasis of the central Bank would be to bring the rate of inflation within an acceptable range. On the other hand, if the rate of inflation is within the range, the central Bank should focus on its other core objectives. Thus, it is being said that the Central banks should focus on flexible inflation targeting rather than pure inflation targeting. Here pure inflation targeting means RBI solely concentrating on the inflation targeting at the cost of other major functions of it. In this aspect, there is a need for greater debate around kind of Inflation targeting in India.
9. "Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2018-19” Why in News? •
The RBI has recently released "Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2018-19". This Report presents the performance of the banking sector during 2018-19 and 2019-20 so far.
•
Before dwelling into the report, let us have a brief look into the key terminologies used in the report for better understanding.
Basic Terminologies: 1. Non-Performing assets (NPA): ✓ The assets of the banks which don't perform (that is - don't bring any return) are called Non-Performing Assets (NPA) or bad loans. www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
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✓ According to RBI, terms loans on which interest or instalment of principal remain overdue for a period of more than 90 days from the end of a particular quarter is called a Non-performing Asset. •
Depending upon the due period, the NPAs are categorized as under: 1. Sub-Standard Assets: > 90 days and less than 1 year 2. Doubtful Assets: greater than 1 year 3. Lost Assets: loss has been identified by the bank or RBI but the amount has not been written off wholly.
2. Gross and Net NPA: Gross NPA refers to the total NPAs of the banks. The Net NPA is calculated as Gross NPA -Provisioning Amount. 3. Provisioning Coverage Ratio (PCR): ✓ Under the RBI's provisioning norms, the banks are required to set aside certain percentage of their profits in order to cover risk arising from NPAs. ✓ It is referred to as "Provisioning Coverage ratio" (PCR). It is defined in terms of percentage of loan amount and depends upon the asset quality. As the asset quality deteriorates, the PCR increases. •
The PCR for different categories of assets is as shown below: ✓ Standard Assets (No Default) : 0.40% ✓ Sub-standard Assets ( > 90 days and less than 1 year) : 15% ✓ Doubtful Assets (greater than 1 year): 25%-40% ✓ Loss Assets (Identified by Bank or RBI) : 100%
4. Special Mention Accounts (SMA): ✓ Special Mention Account (SMA) Category has been introduced by the RBI in order to identify the incipient stress in the assets of the banks and NBFCs. ✓ These are the accounts that have not-yet turned NPAs (default on the loan for more than 90 days), but rather these accounts can potentially become NPAs in future if no suitable action is action. ✓ The SMA has the various sub-categories as shown below: a) SMA-0: Principal or interest payment not overdue for more than 30 days but account showing signs of incipient stress b) SMA-1: Principal or interest payment overdue between 31-60 days c) SMA-2: Principal or interest payment overdue between 61-90 days ✓ If the Principal or interest payment is overdue for more than 90 days, then the loan is categorized as NPA. www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
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5. Leverage Ratio (LR): ✓ The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) introduced Leverage ratio (LR) in the 2010 Basel III package of reforms. The Formula for the Leverage Ratio is (Tier 1 Capital/ Total Consolidated Assets) ×100 where Tier 1 capital represents a bank's equity. ✓ It is to be noted that the Tier 1 capital adequacy ratio (CAR) is the ratio of a bank’s core tier 1 capital to its total risk-weighted assets. On the other hand, leverage ratio is a measure of the bank's core capital to its total assets. ✓ Thus, the Leverage ratio uses tier 1 capital to judge how leveraged a bank is in relation to its consolidated assets whereas the tier 1 capital adequacy ratio measures the bank's core capital against its risk-weighted assets. 6. Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR): ✓ A failure to adequately monitor and control liquidity risk led to the Great Financial Crisis in 2008. To improve the banks' short-term resilience to liquidity shocks, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) introduced the LCR as part of the Basel III post-crisis reforms. ✓ The LCR is designed to ensure that banks hold a sufficient reserve of high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) to allow them to survive a period of significant liquidity stress lasting 30 calendar days. ✓ HQLA are cash or assets that can be converted into cash quickly through sales (or by being pledged as collateral) with no significant loss of value.
✓ Total net cash outflows are defined as the total expected cash outflows minus the total expected cash inflows arising in the stress scenario.
Now we can dive into the Key Highlights of the Report. •
Health of the Banking Sector: Important Highlights:
1. Decline in Gross and Net NPA: ✓ For the first time in the last 7 years, the Gross NPAs of the Scheduled Banks has declined to 9.1% by the end of September 2019. Similarly, the net NPAs has declined to 3.7% in September 2019. ✓ The decrease in the Gross NPAs and Net NPAs can be attributed to success of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
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2. Concentration of NPAs: ✓ Most of the NPAs are concentrated in the larger borrower accounts (exposure of Rs 5 crore or more) which account for almost 82% of the GNPAs. The report has highlighted that there has been increase in stress of these accounts and hence it may be difficult to reduce NPAs in future. 3. Decline in Special Mention Accounts (SMA): In 2018-19, scheduled Banks recorded decline in all the special mention accounts (SMA-0, SMA-1 and SMA2) which points to the broad-based improvement in asset quality. However, in the first half of 2019-20, there has been increase in the number of SMA accounts. 4. Provisioning Coverage Ratio (PCR): The provision coverage ratio (PCR) of all Scheduled Banks improved to 61 per cent by end of September 2019. 5. Leverage Ratio (LR): The leverage ratio of Scheduled Banks was at 6.6 per cent, above the prescription of 3 per cent by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS). 6. Banking Frauds: The Public sector Banks (PSBs) accounted for the bulk of the banking frauds reported in 2018-19 accounting for almost 55% of the total cases pending. •
The following table shows India’s position in the list of countries with emerging economies.
•
The table shows India holding 3rd position among the highest NPA holding economies.
1.1 ECONOMY SNIPPETS 1. Operating Ratio Why in News? •
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India said in its report on railway expenditure that the Operating ratio of Indian Railways in 2017-18 is worst in the last 10 years.
About: •
Its 95% profit from freight is used to compensate loss on passenger and coaching operations. The decline of surplus revenue for Railways from 2016-17 is 66.1 %.
Recommendation of CAG: •
It says to augment their internal revenue so that dependence on Gross and Extra Budgetary Resources is contained.
•
Under Provisioning for Depreciation is resulting in piling up of throw forward of words concerning renewal of over aged assets. To Avoid creating new funds without any "Justifiable Reason".
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Operating Ratio: •
It is measure of expenditure against revenue, that shows how efficiently the Indian Railways (IR) is operating and how healthy its finances are.
•
The ratio of Indian Railway 2017-18 is 98.44%.
•
It means that the Railways spent Rs.98.44 to earn Rs.100.
2. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) Why in News? •
Recently Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has agreed to invest about $600 million in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) through the NIIF Master Fund.
About NIIF: •
It is India’s first sovereign wealth fund set up by government of India in 2015.
•
It is a fund manager that invests in infrastructure and related sectors in India.
•
It is created with the objective to maximize economic impact especially by infrastructure investment in commercially viable projects.
•
It mandates to invest in areas such as energy, transportation, housing, water, waste management and other infrastructure-related sectors in India.
•
It is mandate to seek equity participation from strategic anchor partners like quasisovereign, overseas sovereign, bilateral/multilateral investors, as one of the key sources of funds. It is currently managing three funds each with its distinctive investment mandate.
•
Master Fund is an infrastructure fund with the objective of primarily investing in operating assets in the core infrastructure sectors such as roads, ports, airports, power etc.
•
Fund of Funds is managed by fund managers who have good track records in infrastructure and associated sectors in India. Some of the sectors of focus include Green Infrastructure, Mid-Income & Affordable Housing, Infrastructure services and allied sectors.
•
Strategic Investment Fund is registered as an Alternative Investment Fund II under SEBI in India. The objective is to invest largely in equity and equity-linked instruments. It will focus on green field and brown field investments in the core infrastructure sectors.
•
It is operationalised by establishing three alternative investment funds (AIFs) under SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) regulations.
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•
The government had set up the 40,000 crore NIIF in 2015 as an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled infrastructure projects. The Indian government is investing 49% and the rest of the corpus is to be raised from thirdparty investors such as sovereign wealth funds, insurance and pension funds, endowments, etc.
3. MCLR Why in News? •
State Bank of India, the country’s largest lender, has reduced the one-year marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) by 10 basis points (bps) to 7.9%.
About: •
The marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR) refers to the minimum interest rate of a bank below which it cannot lend, except in some cases allowed by the RBI.
•
It is an internal benchmark or reference rate for the bank.
•
MCLR actually describes the method by which the minimum interest rate for loans is determined by a bank – on the basis of marginal cost or the additional or incremental cost of arranging one more rupee to the prospective borrower.
•
The MCLR methodology for fixing interest rates for advances was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India with effect from April 1, 2016.
•
This new methodology replaced the base rate system introduced in July 2010.
•
In other words, all rupee loans sanctioned and credit limits renewed with effect from April 1, 2016 would be priced with reference to the Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) which will be the internal benchmark (means a reference rate determined internally by the bank) for such purposes.
4. Stagflation Why in News? •
Shrinking of IIP again has accelerated the inflation which has led to the Stagflation.
About: •
According to official data released recently, Industrial activity has contracted for the third consecutive month in October by 3.8%, driven by a fall in activity across sectors.
•
Inflation refers to the rise in general price level in the country over a period of time. Inflation could be monetary or price inflation.
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•
When you have inflation more money is being circulated in the economy which causes the currency to lose its purchasing power and this leads to an increase in the price of goods and services.
•
Over the course of many years, economic cycles go through periods of inflation, deflation and stagflation.
Concepts related to Inflation: •
Deflation: A general decline in prices, often caused by a reduction in the supply of money or credit.
•
Deflation can be also caused by a decrease in government, personal or investment spending. The opposite of inflation, deflation has the side effect of increased unemployment since there is a lower level of demand in the economy, which can lead to an economic depression.
•
Stagflation: When you have a slow economy with high inflation rates
and
unemployment, stagflation is usually the result. When the economy does not grow and prices continue to rise you have a stagflation cycle in the economy. •
Disinflation: This is a reduction in the rate of inflation over time, even though inflation itself may be positive.
•
Reflation: It is an attempt to bring back inflation in an economy, which is in deflation so as to Induce Growth.
5. Bharat Petroleum Cooperation Ltd (BPCL) Why in News? •
Recently, Government is strategic sell of 53.39% stake in BPCL.
About BPCL: •
It is a Government of India controlled Maharatna-Oil and Gas company.
•
It is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
•
It operates two large refineries situated in Kochi and Mumbai.
Types of Disinvestment % of shares sold by Government Final Ownership
Normal Disinvestment
Strategic Disinvestment
< 50 % of a PSE
> 50% of a PSE
Government
Private sector entity
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Criteria for Maharatna status: •
The company should already hold Navratna status.
•
The Average annual turnover of company during the last 3 years is more than Rs. 25,000 crores.
•
The Average annual net worth during the last 3 years is more than Rs. 15,000 crores.
•
The Average annual net profit after tax during the last 3 years is more than Rs. 5,000 crores.
•
The company should have a significant global presence or international operations.
6. National Economic Census Why in News? •
The Seventh Economic Census was launched in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi is the 26th state where the survey has been launched, while the process is already on in 20 states and 5 UTs.
National Economic Census: •
In 1976, GoI launched a planning scheme called Economic Census and Surveys.
•
It is the census of the Indian economy through counting all entrepreneurial units in the country which involved in any economic activities of either agricultural or non-agricultural sector which are engaged in production and/or distribution of goods and/or services not for the sole purpose of own consumption.
•
It provides detailed information on operational and other characteristics such as number of establishments, number of persons employed, source of finance, type of ownership etc.
•
This information used for micro level/ decentralized planning and to assess contribution of various sectors of the economy in the GDP.
Past Censuses: •
Total Six Economic Censuses (EC) has been conducted till date.
•
In 1977 CSO conducted First economic census in collaboration with the Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DES) in the States/UTs.
•
The Second EC was carried out in 1980 followed by the Third EC in 1990. The fourth edition took place in 1998 while the fifth EC was held in 2005.
•
The Sixth edition of Economic Census was conducted in 2013.
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7. Merchant Discount Rate Why in News? •
Finance Ministry has announced that the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges for businesses with over ₹50 crore annual revenues will be waived off from January 1, 2020.
About Merchant Discount Rate: •
MDR is charge or fee imposed on merchant by bank for accepting payment from their customers in credit and debit cards every time card is used for payments (like swiping) in their stores.
•
MDR charges are usually shared in pre-agreed proportion between them and are expressed in percentage of transaction amount.
•
MDR compensates bank issuing card, bank which puts up swiping machine (Point-of-Sale or PoS terminal) and network providers such as MasterCard or Visa for their services.
•
In India, the RBI specifies maximum MDR charges that can be levied on every card transaction.
•
But now, Finance Ministry has notified that Digital transactions made using RuPay credit cards, or UPI QR codes will not face additional charges for merchants or customers from the beginning of next year.
•
All shops, business establishments and companies with an annual turnover of ₹50 crore or more have been mandated to offer these modes of payment to customers.
Significance of the Move: •
The move will encourage use of digital transactions.
•
It will eventually reduce the physical form of currency increasing the net amount held by the banks. The banks shall then absorb the costs from such savings that accrues to them.
•
The government has already amended two laws — the Income Tax Act and the Payments and Settlement Systems Act which are related to this move.
8. Asia’s Biggest Surge Pool Why in News? •
Stage is all set for the filling of the Asia’s biggest surge pool (open to sky) with the waters of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
Surge Pool: •
Surge pool or tank is a water storage device used as pressure neutralizer in hydropower water conveyance system to resists excess pressure rise and pressure drop conditions.
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•
It is a standpipe or storage reservoir at the downstream end of a closed aqueduct, feeder, dam, barrage pipe to absorb sudden rises of pressure, as well as to quickly provide extra water during a brief drop in pressure.
Kaleshwaram Surge Pool: •
Constructed on the hillocks on the outskirts of Thippapur village in Illanthakunta mandal, the surge pool measures 92 meters deep and 56 meters diameter and would store one tmc feet of water. Water would be lifted by using four motors to the Ananthagiri Reservoir.
•
The water would reach the surge pool from Mid Manair Dam — Sri Raja Rajeshwara reservoir — by travelling 3.4 km through gravity canal and 7.6 km through tunnel.
•
Incidentally, the open-to-sky Surge pool was constructed in a record time of 13 months at a cost of ₹ 2,700 crore. The four motors in this pool would use 106 MWs of power and accordingly a 440 KVA sub-station was constructed at the vicinity of the pool.
Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project: •
Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) claimed as the world’s largest multi-stage and multi-purpose lift irrigation scheme,
•
The Kaleshwaram project is an off-shoot of the original Pranahitha-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme taken up by the government in 2007 when Andhra Pradesh was not divided.
•
It is aimed to make Telangana drought proof by harnessing the flood waters of the Godavari. Waters of the Godavari will be tapped by reverse pumping and storage, thereby facilitating agriculture on over 38 lakh acres.
•
It would help rejuvenate thousands of tanks, providing water for industries, and supplying drinking water to Hyderabad and Secunderabad by creating a series of storage tanks and a network of pipelines.
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2. ENVIRONMENT 1. Operation Clean Art Why in News? •
A raid conducted by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) under Special Operation named 'Operation Clean Art' has seized over 50,000 Mongoose hair brushes across 5 state recently.
About Operation Clean Art: •
Operation Clean Art was the first pan India operation to crackdown on the smuggling of mongoose hair in the country.
•
This is an special operation of WCCB to conduct raids across various states to keep a check on the factories that were making brushes with mongoose hair.
•
Painters prefer brushes made of mongoose hair because they are superior and hold colour better, and there is no better alternatives it.
•
During this raid approximately 26,000 brushes and over 100 kg of raw mongoose hair was seized. It has to be noted that for about 150 kg of mongoose hair, at least 6,000 animals would have been killed.
About Mongoose species: •
There are six species of mongoose found in India.
•
All mongoose species found in India are protected under Schedule II (Part II) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits all trade of animals listed in it.
•
IUCN Status - Least concern.
Government Interventions: •
There have been instances in which mongoose hair has been transported using courier companies. So, Postal Department authorities are also trying to spread awareness and identify illegal trade in wildlife.
•
There is also a campaign on social media where concerned organisations are urging artists to take a pledge to refrain from using brushes made of mongoose hair.
About WCCB: •
WCCB is statutory multi-disciplinary body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to combat organized wildlife crime in the country.
•
It was established in June 2007 by amending the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972.
•
It is headquartered in New Delhi and has five regional offices.
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Functions of WCCB: •
Under Section 38 (Z) of WLPA, 1972, it is mandated it to state and other enforcement agencies for immediate action.to collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime and disseminate it to state and other enforcement agencies for immediate action.
•
It assists foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate coordination and universal action for wildlife crime control. It is tasked with capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist states to ensure success in wildlife crimes prosecutions.
2. Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) Why in News? •
Reports have claimed that compared to last year, 40 per cent more tourists, numbering about 80,000, are expected to visit Antarctica, the least visited continent in the world.
Highlights: •
All human activities on the continent are regulated by the Antarctic Treaty, which was signed in 1960.
•
The treaty entered into force in 1961 and currently has 54 parties. India became a member of this treaty in 1983.
•
For the purposes of the treaty system, Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude.
•
The treaty sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation, and bans military activity on the continent.
•
The treaty was the first arms control agreement established during the Cold War. Since September 2004, the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquarters has been located in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Regulating Tourism: •
Tourism in Antarctica started around the 1950s, starting out with a few hundred visitors annually to over 38,000 per year in 2015-2016.
•
Working within the mechanism of this treaty is the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), a body which was founded in 1991 by seven tour operators to promote safe and environmentally responsible travel in Antarctica.
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•
While IAATO maintains that the tourism conducted under its banner has virtually no environmental impact on the region, the IAATO rules and guidelines are not mandatory or binding.
Melting Antarctica: •
In September, a report on oceans released by the IPCC said that between 2006 and 2015, the Antarctic ice sheet lost about 155 billion tonnes of mass on average every year.
•
This ice melt from Antarctica likely contributed to sea-level rises.
•
The main sources of environmental damage to the continent include planet-wide impacts such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, impacts of fishing and hunting (of whales and seals) and lastly, the impact of visitors which includes Scientists and Tourists.
3. 16 Seismometers Defunct in Earthquake-Prone Zones Why in News? •
At least 20 out of 35 seismometers in Maharashtra are lying in a state of disrepair, and 16 of these are located in seismic zones III and IV.
Seismometers: •
A seismometer is an instrument used to measure and record earthquakes.
Seismic Zones in India: •
Over 59 % of India’s land area is under threat
of
moderate
to
severe
earthquakes. •
The zones are divided on the basis of Modified which
Mercalli measures
(MM) the
intensity,
impact
of
earthquakes.
Earthquake-Prone-Zones-in-India-2: •
The bureau of Indian standards is the official agency for publishing the seismic hazard maps and codes. Bureau of Indian Standards grouped India into four seismic zones, viz. Zone II, III, IV and V.
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•
Zone – V (highest seismic activity zone): Entire north-eastern India, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Rann of Kutch, part of North Bihar and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Zone – IV (high seismic zone): Parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Sikkim, Northern Parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, parts of Gujarat and small portions of Maharashtra near the west coast and Rajasthan.
•
Zone – III (moderate seismic zone.): Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep islands, remaining parts of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, Parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Zone – II (least active seismic zone): Remaining parts of India.
Significance of India’s Seismic Zoning Map: •
It is mainly used by the Department of Disaster Management of the different state governments. It also helps them in planning for a natural disaster like earthquake.
•
An Indian seismic zoning map assists one in identifying the lowest, moderate as well as highest hazardous or earthquake prone areas in India. Even such maps are looked into before constructing any high rise building so as to check the level of seismology in any particular area.
North Indian Plate: •
Indian tectonic plate broke off from an ancient supercontinent called Gondwana 100 million years ago.
•
The Indian plate skewed north and slammed into the Eurasian plate, creating the Himalayas. India still moves northeast into Eurasian plate at roughly 5 cm every year. About 60% of India is vulnerable to earthquakes caused by northward grind of the Indian subcontinental landmass.
4. Torrefaction Technology to Reduce Stubble Burning Why in News? •
India is planning to make use of the Swedish torrefaction technology to reduce stubble burning issue.
What Is Torrefaction? •
Biomass torrefaction is a thermal process used to produce high-grade solid biofuels from various streams of woody biomass or agro residues.
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•
The end product is a stable, homogeneous, high quality solid biofuel with far greater energy density and calorific value than the original feedstock, providing significant benefits in logistics, handling and storage, as well as opening up a wide range of potential uses.
How it Functions? •
Biomass torrefaction involves heating the biomass to temperatures between 250 and 300 degrees Celsius in a low-oxygen atmosphere.
•
When biomass is heated at such temperatures, the moisture evaporates and various lowcalorific components (volatiles) contained in the biomass are driven out.
•
During this process the Hemi-Cellulose in the biomass decomposes, which transforms the biomass from a fibrous low-quality fuel into a product with excellent fuel characteristics.
•
To make a biomass torrefaction plant economically viable it is crucial to use the energy “lost” in the volatiles. This can be done by burning the volatiles (torgas) in a lean gas combustor. This combustor can provide the heat for the drying and torrefaction also.
Possible Benefits of the Technology: •
Torrefaction of biomass results in a high grade biofuel which can be used as a replacement of coal in electricity and heat production and as input for gasification processes in the production of high value bio-based fuels and chemicals.
•
The Torrefied pellets becomes an ideal coal replacement because of its following features:
•
Grinds & burns like coal – Existing Infrastructure Can be used
•
Lower Feedstock Costs
•
Lower shipping and Transport Costs
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Minimal de-rating of the Power Plant
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Provides Non-Intermittent Renewable Energy
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Lower sulphur and Ash Content (compared with coal)
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5. Global Climate Risk Index: Concerns for India •
Around the world, people are experiencing both the subtle and stark effects of climate change. Gradually shifting weather patterns, rising sea levels and more extreme weather events are all clear and devastating evidence of a rapidly changing climate. The impacts of climate change affect every country on every continent. They’re creating unprecedented challenges for millions of people already burdened by poverty and oppression. The devastating consequences are felt in both rich and poor countries across the globe.
•
As per a report released by international environment think-tank Germanwatch, around 60 million people were affected by extreme weather in 2018. India recorded the highest number of fatalities due to climate change and the second highest monetary losses from its impact last year.
The Rich, the poor and the Earth: •
The Mother Earth has shown equality between both the rich and the poor countries, in terms of damages caused due to Climate Change. The High-Income Countries, are also affected due to changes in global climate, where their damage is predominantly economical. Countries like Germany and Japan, the face of industrialized nations, face heatwave and droughts.
•
The Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries face both economic and human loss. These countries are more vulnerable as they do not have finance to adapt or infrastructure to mitigate the damages caused by the climate extremities.
•
The Climate Risk Index, has another set of ranking for the period 1999-2018 — which is based on average values over a twenty-year period. In the 1999 to 2018 period Puerto Rico is the most vulnerable followed by Myanmar, Haiti, Philippines and Pakistan. India is ranked 17th under long term vulnerability.
India’s Increasing Vulnerability: •
In the Climate Risk Index 2020, published by German watch, India’s rank has worsened from the 14th spot in 2017 to 5th in 2018 in the global vulnerability ladder.
•
The increasing vulnerability is attributed to the increase in the spells of severe rainfalls and its associated floods and landslides. In 2018, the South-West Monsoon severely affected the country.
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•
The 2018 Kerala floods, which is termed as the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century, has claimed around 400 lives and also made more than two lakh people to leave their homes.
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The cyclones Titli and Gaja hit the coastal states of India left around four lakh citizens without electricity for days.
•
Heat related disasters like heat waves have created severe economic damages.
India and the Anthropocene: •
Climate change impacts the Economic Performance and affects lives of millions in any country. India is highly vulnerable due to its high proportion of population and the pressure it exerts on water, air, soil and forest. The growing population and poverty, increases the risks associated.
“For India, Climate Change is, not just an Environmental concern, But a biggest developmental challenge.” •
According to IMD data, India’s Average temperature has risen by 0.6oC, between 190110 to 2009-18. The World Bank data, claims that Climate Change could push the average temperature in India by 29.1oC, by the end of the century from the current 25.1oC. And this could impact the GDP per capita in the future.
•
According to the Economic Survey 2018, the climate change is taking toll on both agricultural productivity and farmers income. Droughts and extreme temperature, may shrink farmer’s income by 4-14%. In the construction sector, increase in the temperatures, makes the life of the workers miserable, and also decreases their productivity.
•
In the case of Agriculture, the climate change may affect the cultivation of crucial tropic l crops like Banana. India is the world’s largest cultivator and consumer of banana. According to a study, the rising temperatures may cause decline banana productivity.
•
Some parts of India are more vulnerable than others – Average temperature in the last decade increased by 1oC in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the parts of North Eastern India, compared to the historical average in 1950-1980 period.
•
Cities are getting hotter- there is an increase in number of extremely hot days across the cities in India, with, the cities having high economic activities are directly linked to increase in temperature. This causes, increase in the occurrence and the spread of diseases, which in turn, leads to decrease in the productivity.
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•
According to the Journal Energy and Environment Science, Climate change may leave India without enough water even to cool the power plants, in the near future.
Concerns for India: •
10% of India’s wildlife is threatened with extinction.
•
Agricultural bio-diversity has seen significant decline, in some regions the loss is severe, with loss of around 90% of the bio-diversity.
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Around half of the available water bodies are heavily polluted and they are neither potable nor can be used for agricultural purposes.
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More than 2/3rd of the land has been degraded to the level of sub-optimal productivity.
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The air pollution is growing, with more cities facing higher levels of pollution.
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Electronic and chemical wastes that are produced are far against our capacity to recycle or even manage.
What India Needs? •
According to International Energy Agency, India stands second in the coal production, next only to China. India also imports coal, to feed its starving thermal power plants. India receives a larger share of its electricity from coal. Therefore, India needs to shift its focus towards non-fossil, renewable energy to reduce its carbon emissions.
•
India’s inefficient agricultural policies, should be tweaked to reduce the excessive usage of water, fertilizers and electricity.
“Managing the unavoidable, and also, avoiding the unavoidable”
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•
Mitigation methods – Increasing the non-fossil fuel capacity, increasing energy efficiency etc.,
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Adaptation methods – Improving the irrigation methods, reforestation, geoengineering etc.,
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While India has left no stones unturned in its efforts towards climate change mitigation, India’s adaptation efforts are still in development stage. India needs to enhance its political visibility of adaptation to entrain the adaptation process.
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India has been constantly working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of ending poverty, combating inequality and tackling the climate change. In the upcoming Conference of Parties (CoP-25) of UNFCCC, to be held in Madrid, India’s approach is expected to be guided by the principles of Equity & Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capability (CBDR-RC).
“The Time for talking is over, the world needs to act now” •
Prime Minister of India, in the Climate Action Summit, convened by UN Secretary General, stated India’s plan to scale up its renewable energy target to 450GW. India has also taken steps to rise up a coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure.
•
India, through its International Solar Alliance, had brought a cohesive and robust global body which could win the twin goal of adaptation and integration of energy resources along with the climate change. India also ratified the Paris Climate Agreement, that seeks to limit Earth’s warming to below 2oC of pre-industrial levels.
Way Forward: •
Inter-linking of rivers without compromising the sustainability.
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Development of drought resistant crops.
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Moving towards High Yielding crops like GM crops.
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Moving towards non-fossil, renewable energy resources.
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While Mitigation efforts can reduce the economic damages incurred by the developed countries, the less developed and the developing countries need to push towards adaptation methodologies, to build a climate resilient economy, that can sustain climate change shocks in the future.
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To build such economy, they need technology and finance which must be made available through avenues like climate financing by the developed countries.
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6. Centre Objects to Uttarakhand’s Definition of Forest Why in News? •
The Union Ministry for Environment and Forests Climate Change (MoEFCC) has objected to an Uttarakhand government’s notification defining the term ‘forest’.
Definition of Forests: •
The freedom to define land, not already classified as forests by the Centre or State records, as forest has been the prerogative of the States since 1996 and stems from a Supreme Court order, called the Godavarman judgment.
•
The Supreme Court judgment expanded the definition of forest to include lands that were already notified by the Centre as forests that appear in government records as forests as well as those that fell in the “dictionary definition” of forest.
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The latter clause allows the States to evolve their own criteria and define tracts of land as forest, and these would then be bound by forest conservation laws.
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An all-encompassing definition of forest is difficult for India because the country has 16 different kinds of forest. A tract of grassland in one State might qualify in one region as forest, but not in another. However, once a State applied criteria, it couldn’t be reversed.
•
The onus on the States to define forests is also significant because the States often claim that they are helpless in preventing encroachment because a patch of land in question hadn’t been notified as forest.
What are Deemed Forests? •
The SC, in a Dec 12, 1996 judgement, had broadened the definition of forest to include not just land classified as forest under forest or revenue departments, but also those that are forests according to the definition of a forest.
•
It had then also asked states to form committees to identify forests, irrespective of the nature of land ownership or whether they are notified, recognised or classified in a timebound manner.
•
There are forests that are notified either with the forest department or revenue department.
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Then there are those areas that are like forests but are neither recorded, nor notified. The Supreme Court had ordered that the states identify and classify these as deemed forests.
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Deemed forests are already a legal category of forests in some states and they are not defined according to the Dictionary Definition.
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Classification of Forests: •
The forest cover is broadly classified in 4 classes, namely very dense forest, moderately dense forest, open forest and mangrove.
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The classification of the cover into dense and open forests is based on internationally adopted norms of classification. It has not been possible to further segregate the dense forest into more classes owing to enormity of work of ground validation and limitations of methodology. Mangroves have been separately classified because of their characteristic tone and texture and unique ecological functions.
•
The other Classes Include Scrub and non-forest. These classes are defined is below. ✓ Very Dense Forest - All Lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density of 70% and above ✓ Mod Dense forest - All lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density between 40% and 70% above ✓ Open Forest - All lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density between 10% and 40%. ✓ Scrub - All forest lands with poor tree growth mainly of small or stunted trees having canopy density less than 10 percent ✓ Non-Forest - Any area not included in the above classes.
What is the Issue? •
In a notification on November 21, the Uttarakhand government said that in areas recorded as “deemed forest”, only tracts 10 hectares and more, and having a canopy density of greater than 60%, would be considered as forests.
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Land already registered as ‘reserved’ and ‘protected’ forests would be out of the remit of this definition.
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However, land recorded in government records as ‘revenue’ land could potentially be influenced by this definition of Deemed Forest.
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The Uttarakhand order was in “contravention” of the Supreme Court's orders. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 would be applicable to all areas recorded as forest in any government records...the State should not issue any communication that is violative of any order passed by the Supreme Court.
•
Deemed forests, which comprise about 1% of India’s forest land, are a controversial subject as they refer to land tracts that appear to be a “forest”, but have not been notified so by the
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government or in historical records. Uttarakhand’s criteria may pave the way for large parts of forestland to be captured by builders and industrialists. It is to be noted that before 1972, Forest and Wildlife came under State list. In 1976, 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act Forests were brought under Concurrent List, this means that both the state and Centre can make Laws on the subject but in case of a difference, the law of centre would prevail.
7. Tyre Pyrolysis Why in News? •
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has pulled up 270 tyre pyrolysis units in 19 States for employing technology that is polluting and harmful to the health of the workers employed.
About Tyre Pyrolysis: •
Tyre pyrolysis refers to a technique of breaking down used tyres in the absence of oxygen. Shredded tyres, at temperatures between 250º C and 500º C, produce liquid oil and gases.
•
While this is considered a safer technique than burning tyres, pyrolysis leaves fine carbon matter, pyro-gas and oil as residue and the inadequate management of these by-products Poses Health Risks.
Initiatives by the Government: •
The CPCB has said that states should be closing down all pyrolysis units that are not compliant and that the import of hazardous substances — these include used tyres — ought to be strictly regulated. More than 40% of tyre pyrolysis units were not complying with rules, the NGT observed in April 2019, after it sought a report from the CPCB.
•
The CPCB reported that there were 637 units in 19 States of which 251 units were compliant, 270 non-compliant and 116 were closed.
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•
The National Green Tribunal in 2014 prohibited used tyres from being burnt in the open or being used as fuel in brick kilns, because of the toxic emissions. Subsequently, the board issued a set of guidelines, in which pyrolysis was recommended as an Acceptable Mode.
Important Facts: •
India is also a recipient of used tyres from Australia and the U.K., which are sent for recycling and disposal. As of 2016-17, official estimates indicate 127.34 million tyres were produced in India, which was seen to be a 12% increase from the previous year.
•
A 37% increase in the tyre production has been observed in the two-wheeler segment, a 23% increase in the tractor segment and 16% in the passenger car/jeep segment.
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India discards about 100 million tyres every day and only a fraction of it is recycled.
•
India is also responsible for 6% of the global tyre waste, according to a 2017 report by environmentalist group Chintan.
8. Fatal Fires: The Need for Strict Safety Norms •
The Discovery and use of fire may be regarded as the beginning of civilization. Anthropologist Claude Levi-Straus said that ‘primitive people became different From Animals when they started cooking their food’. Not only in cooking, fire was used by them in crafts, in industries and in clearing forests for agriculture and new settlements.
•
However, fire also kills people and destroys their possessions.
•
Recently, the National Capital witnessed one of the worst fire tragedies in almost two decades when at least 43 people were killed, and several others injured in north Delhi's Anaj Mandi.
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Initial enquiries points to many glaring negligence such as locked escape routes, unavailability of fire safety equipment and buildings without the fire safety clearances from the authorities. Rescue operations were also hampered due to narrow lanes.
Fire Safety in India: •
India’s abysmal record on fire safety is reflected in the death of 17,700 people countrywide in fires in both public and residential buildings during 2015, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.
•
It should be noted here that the record of rural areas, which remains largely unreported, is no better and on addition will push the figure further up from the estimated total of 20,000 deaths per annum.
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•
Likewise, the property loss is estimated to be 0.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Don't dig well when house is on fire” •
Fire prevention and fire protection is a state subject. The primary responsibility for fire prevention and fire protection lies primarily with State Governments.
•
Fire services in India come under the Twelfth Schedule of the Constitution of India, under the provisions of Article 243W of the Constitution. The performance of the functions listed in the Twelfth Schedule comes under the domain of Municipalities.
The National Building Code (NBC): •
The National Building Code is published by Bureau of Indian Standards. The first edition of the NBC was published in 1970. The third edition of the NBC was published in 2016, incorporating the latest developments in the construction activities in the country.
•
The National Building Code (NBC) is the basic model code in India on matters relating to building construction and fire safety. The rules for fire prevention and fire protection are laid in the form of State Regulations or Municipal By-Laws.
Codes and Standards: •
Bureau of Indian Standards has formulated more than 150 standards on fire safety in buildings and firefighting equipment & systems.
•
Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) is a technical directorate under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of Government of India. It formulates and coordinates the implementation of a series of self-regulatory measures aimed at enhancing the safety in the oil & gas industry in India.
Fire and laissez-faire: •
According to the India Risks Survey, there has been a 300% increase in fire incidents of commercial buildings in 2014-15. This highlights the gap between India’s dreamy visions of smart cities and the cruel reality of urban chaos.
•
Periodically, high-profile cases such as the Uphaar cinema blaze in Delhi that killed 59 people in 1997, and the Kumbakonam school fire in Tamil Nadu in 2004 in which 94 children perished shock the nation, but the issue of fire safety is largely unattended.
•
Flouting Fire Safety Norms - Many commercial and residential buildings, have been found flouting fire safety norms.
•
Many occupiers or societies do not bother to conduct regular maintenance of the fire prevention systems installed in their buildings.
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Why does India lag in Fire Safety? •
Prospective Laws – Fire Safety Laws that are framed now are not applicable to the existing buildings, they cannot be implemented retrospectively. For instance, a 100-year old building is not required to obtain fire safety certificate, and the present building codes are not applicable to such buildings.
•
Commercial Use – Residential buildings that are considered as low hazard occupancies and are exempted from safety guidelines but being used for commercial purposes increases the risks associated.
•
Town Planning – Horizontal and vertical expansion of the cities, without proper planning leads to congestion, which increases the risks.
•
Fire Master Plans – Many cities are planned without Fire Protection Masterplans; this makes them vulnerable.
•
Citizen Training – Least importance is given to create a knowledged community, which can pro-actively take part in prevention of such incidents. They should at least be trained to operate fire extinguishers and other basic escape precautions.
•
Monitoring – Fire safety audits are not conducted properly, due to the unavailability of trained personnel.
•
Laxity in following fire safety measures - It was observed that most skyscrapers in Mumbai continue to overlook the fire safety norms compliance certificate. Several prominent high rises in New Delhi are at a high risk of turning into fire traps.
Way Forward: •
Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA) can be focused to identify potential hazards.
•
A comprehensive fire safety audit can address the inherent fire hazards and recommend measures to reduce the potential fire hazards.
•
The fire safety audit work shall be entrusted to Third Party Agencies, who have expertise in it. Training the personnel and creating a well-informed citizenry.
•
The State Governments should shed more towards modernization of the fire fighting force. Mandating compulsory insurance for all public buildings against fire risk and public liability can bring about a change to the way architects and builders approach the question of safety, since the insurer would require a reduction of risk and compliance with building plans.
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•
In India, although there are many rules and regulations, codes and standards related to fire safety, these are seldom followed. By 2050, almost 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. India and all countries around the world must see the importance of fire safety when building and extending cities. If not, we will be walking unprepared into a deadly inferno.
9. U.S., Saudi at bottom of Climate Class: Report Why in News? •
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are among major polluters showing “hardly any signs” of reducing their Greenhouse Gas Production.
About CCPI: •
The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is an instrument covering 58 countries and supposed to enhance transparency in international climate politics.
•
Its aim is to encourage political and social pressure on those countries which have, up to now, failed to take ambitious actions on climate protection as well as to highlight countries with best-practice climate policies.
•
The ranking results are defined by a country’s aggregated performance on 14 indicators within the four categories “GHG Emissions”, “Renewable Energy” and “Energy Use”, as well as on “Climate Policy.”
•
The 2020 Climate Change Performance Index, prepared by a group of think tanks comprising the New Climate Institute, the Climate Action Network and Germanwatch. On the basis of standardized criteria, the index evaluates and compares the climate protection performance of 58 countries that are, together, responsible for more than 90% of global energy-related CO2 emissions.
•
80% of the evaluation is based on objective indicators of emissions trend and emissions level. 20% of the index results are built upon national and international climate policy assessments by more than 200 experts from the respective countries.
Report’s Findings: •
It found the U.S. ranks last, followed by Saudi Arabia and Australia, although several countries did report falls in emissions last year, largely due to an industry-wide fade out of coal. While climate performance varied greatly — even within the EU, with Sweden leading the way — the report found that none of the countries surveyed were currently on a path compatible with the Paris climate goals.
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•
The 2015 accord saw nations agree to work towards limiting global temperature rises to “well below” two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
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U.S. President Donald Trump says he plans to withdraw from the global plan to reduce emissions. China, the world’s largest single emitter, was found to have taken “medium action” due to its high investment in renewable.
•
India, for the first time, ranks among the top 10 in this year’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) presented on Tuesday at the COP25 climate summit here.
•
The current levels of per capita emissions and energy use in India, ranked 9th in the “high category”, are still comparatively low and, along with ambitious 2030 targets, result in high ratings for the green house gas emissions and energy use categories.
Approach towards Future: •
However, despite an overall high rating for its Climate Policy performance, experts point out that the Indian government has yet to develop a roadmap for the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies that would consequently reduce the country’s high dependence on coal.
•
However, the index warned that Beijing could slump to the bottom rungs if it follows through on its plan to continue building coal-fired power plants.
•
The index shows signs of a global turnaround in emissions, including declining coal consumption. However, several large countries are still trying to resist this trend - above all the USA. Delegates are gathered at the COP 25 in Madrid to devise ways of putting the Paris plan in action, but key sticking points remain over emissions trading schemes and how the fight against climate change is funded.
•
This science-based assessment shows again that in particular the large climate polluters do hardly anything for the transformational shift we need. Nations need to implement “deep emissions reductions to curtail the run to potentially irreversible climate change”.
10. Green Window for Green Energy Finance Why in News? •
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) is planning to set up a dedicated “Green Window to serve the unserved segments of Renewable Energy.”
Highlights: •
The IREDA Green Window would provide a significant boost to the Renewable Energy Market.
•
This is a new financing approach to boost investment in clean energy.
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•
The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), the country’s premier public finance institution, is considering an allocation of $20 million in seed funding to set up its pioneering “Green Window” aimed toward catalysing private investment and expanding the Indian clean energy market. A green window is a financing approach designed to leverage limited government funds to attract private capital to achieve climate and clean energy goals. The IREDA Green Window builds on the globally successful green bank model.
Green Windows: •
Green windows, like green banks, are public entities created to work with the private sector to increase investment in green energy and bring clean energy financing into the mainstream.
•
They are innovative and new tools that have been successful in the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and the United States.
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India is one of the top three nations leading global renewable energy growth.
•
As of October 2019, India’s installed renewable capacity has already met about half of its 2022 target of 175 GW. Achieving the 175 GW goal would increase green energy access for millions of Indians and, additionally, could create up to 1 million job opportunities for over 300,000 workers in the country by 2022.
IREDA: •
IREDA is India’s leading financial institution dedicated to clean energy expansion.
•
Since its founding under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in 1987, IREDA has financed the largest share of renewable energy projects in India.
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It is a Mini-Ratna (Category 1) enterprise.
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It was established as a non-banking financial institution engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation. Its motto is: “Energy for Ever”.
11. How India lost its spots? Why in News? •
In the recent UNCCD COP 14 (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), held in Delhi, a researcher from India pronounced desertification as the primary cause of the extinction of the cheetah in India.This has reinvigorated debate around Cheetah extinction and slow progress of Cheetah Reintroduction project that was initiated in 2009.
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About Cheetah: •
It is the fastest land animal in the world.
•
They can be distinguished from other big cats by their smaller size, small head and ears and distinctive "tear stripes" from eye to nose.
•
They are diurnal animals and hunt mostly during the late morning or Early Evening.
Habitat: •
Open tall grasslands, scrubs, bushlands, arid and semi-arid open lands.
•
Found mostly in open savannah.
Distribution: •
Historically cheetahs were found throughout Africa and Asia including India particularly sal forests in east-central India.
•
Today they are now confined to eastern, central and southwestern Africa and a small portion of Iran.
•
About 9,000 cheetahs remain in the wild in Africa. In Iran, around 50 cheetahs live in small isolated populations.
Reasons Behind Extinction of Cheetah: •
Loss of grassland habitat: Inability to breed while in captivity meant that wild cheetahs were only found in natural habitats. Thus, loss of habitat meant detrimental to Cheetah population which was highlighted at UNCCD COP-14.
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Cheetahs were classified as vermin (harmful to crops and spreads diseases) during British period.
•
This led to rewarding the act of killing of Cheetah.
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Cheetahs were impossible to breed in captivity.
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Hunting because Cheetahs were known to be easy to hunt
Cheetah Reintroduction Programme: •
The last Cheetah died in Chhattisgarh in 1947 after which it was declared extinct in India in 1952.
•
Since 1970s India is trying to bring back the big cat from Iran. However due to lower number of cheetahs in Iran it was not considered to be feasible.
•
In 2009, the reintroduction project has got a fillip and India was exploring a plan of importing the South African cheetah from Namibia for reintroduction in India.
•
3 regions were shortlisted for Reintroduction Including:
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•
The Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh and the Shahgarh bulge landscape in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
•
However the project did not take off finally.
Roadblocks encountered in re-introduction of Cheetahs: •
IUCN guidelines require a no-objection certificate for translocation of wildlife species. Besides the guidelines warn against the introduction of alien or exotic species. Finally in December 2018, IUCN gave no-objection certificate for translocation.
•
The reintroduction plan to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary hit a roadblock as it was also been shortlisted for introduction of Asiatic Lions from Gir forest in Gujarat. A petition is filed in the Supreme Court with respect to this and the matter is still subjudice.
•
Lack of funds hindered the reintroduction project in Nauradehi sanctuary in MP. Recently MP has shown interest in revival of the cheetah reintroduction project here.
About UNCCD: •
United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification
•
Established in 1994, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
•
The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
•
The Convention’s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought.
•
The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation.
•
The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.
•
The permanent Secretariat of the UNCCD was established during the first Conference of the parties (COP 1) held in Rome in 1997. It has been located in Bonn, Germany since January 1999.
12. Article 6 of The Paris Agreement (CARBON MARKETS) Why in News? •
Recently, Madrid climate talks finally setting up a new carbon market under the Paris Agreement.
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About Carbon Market: •
It allows the buying and selling of carbon credits. It existed under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol as well but that regime is coming to an end next year.
About Article 6 of Paris Agreement: •
It describes provisions relating to setting up a new carbon market.
•
It allows for two different approaches of carbon trading.
•
It enables bilateral arrangements for transfer of emissions reductions, while ensuring that they do not double-count the reductions.
•
It talks about a wider carbon market in which reductions can be bought and sold by anyone. It also provides for making ‘non-market approaches’ available to countries to achieve targets. It includes any cooperative action, like collaboration on climate policy or common taxation, that are not market-based.
•
Countries like India, China and Brazil want their unsold carbon credits to be valid in the new market while the developed countries are opposing it on the ground that many of these credits were bogus and did not represent actual emission reductions.
13. Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP) Report, 2019 Why in News? •
India saw the most pollution deaths — about 2.3 million — a new report has found. Air pollution — both ambient and indoor — is one of the largest and most obvious types of pollution affecting global health.
Highlights: •
The report is titled Pollution and Health Metrics: Global, Regional and Country Analysis.
•
It is released by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP).
•
It seeks to update findings from The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health, and provides a ranking of pollution deaths on global, regional and country levels.
•
The report uses the most recent Global Burden of Disease data from the Institute of Health Metrics Evaluation. India is followed by China in the number of pollution deaths, with about 1.8 million. The United States makes the top 10 list with 1,97,000 pollution-related deaths, while ranking 132nd in the number of deaths per 100,000 people.
•
The report includes three lists on pollution-induced deaths. India is the only country that features in the top 10 in all three lists. The top 10 countries with the most pollution deaths include both the world’s largest and wealthiest nations, and some of its Poorer Ones.
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14. Green Bonds Why in News? •
NTPC is planning to increase solar energy generation in India by 10 GW by 2022, mainly funded by Green Bonds.
About GREEN BONDS: •
The Green Bonds are similar to Corporate Bonds. However, the proceeds of such Bonds are exclusively used for financing green projects such as renewable energy projects, projects to mitigate the impact of climate change, reducing the emission of fossil fuels etc.
•
With this instrument, the issuer of the green bond gets the capital to finance green projects while the investors receive fixed income in the form of interest.
•
The first Green Bond was issued in 2007 when European Investment Bank raised €600 million under the label “Climate Awareness Bond” dedicated for renewable energy projects and energy-efficient projects.
•
Though green bonds are only a small share of the larger bond market, they have grown rapidly over the last decade. In 2008, only $1 billion worth of green bonds were issued but by 2018 this has increased to $143 billion. ✓ The green bond market is dominated by three countries - China, United States and France who have emerged as the largest issuers of Green Bonds
Green Bonds in India: •
In 2016, SEBI published its official green bonds requirements for Indian issuers making the second country (after China) to provide national level guidelines.
•
The Indian Railway finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) has established a green Bond Framework for fund raising.
•
The proceeds were proposed to be used for financing the Dedicated Freight Corridor Project and electrification of the railways. The IRFC had raised $500 million in 2017 from the 10-year green bond through India INX, GIFT City.
•
Further, in June 2019, Adani Green Energy issued Green Bonds Worth $ 500 Million.
15. Overall Green Cover Rises, Northeast Faces a Dip Why in News? •
The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) has been released recently by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
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About the Report: •
India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2019 is a biennial publication of Forest Survey of India (FSI), an organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India engaged in the assessment of country’s forest resources.
•
The first report was brought out in 1987. Since then FSI has published 15 reports while 2019 report is the 16th report in the series.
•
The report provides state/district wise forest cover of the country and changes thereon with respect to the previous assessment.
•
It also provides the estimates of growing stock within and outside the forest areas, forest cover in the hill, tribal and north eastern states, carbon and other important aspects such as tree, bamboo and mangrove cover.
Classification of Forests: •
The forest cover is broadly classified in 4 classes, namely very dense forest, moderately dense forest, open forest and mangrove.
•
The classification of the cover into dense and open forests is based on internationally adopted norms of classification.
•
It has not been possible to further segregate the dense forest into more classes owing to enormity of work of ground validation and limitations of methodology. Mangroves have been separately classified because of their characteristic tone and texture and unique ecological functions.
•
The other Classes Include Scrub and non-forest. These classes are defined is below:
•
Very Dense Forest – All Lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density of 70% and above
•
Mod Dense forest – All lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density between 40% and 70% above
•
Open Forest – All lands with tree cover (Including mangrove cover) of canopy density between 10% and 40%
•
Scrub – All forest lands with poor tree growth mainly of small or stunted trees having canopy density less than 10 percent
•
Non-Forest – Any area not included in the above classes.
Key Findings of the Report: •
The total forest cover of the country is 7, 12,249 sq km which is 21.67% of the geographical area of the country.
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•
The tree cover of the country is estimated as 95,027 sq km which is 2.89% of the geographical area. The total Forest and Tree cover of the country is 8, 07,276 sq km which is 24.56% of the geographical area of the country. The current assessment shows an increase of 3,976 sq km (0.56%) of forest cover, 1,212 sq km (1.29%) of tree cover and 5,188 sq km (0.65%) of forest and tree cover put together, at the national level as compared to the previous assessment i.e. ISFR 2017.
•
Forest cover within the Recorded Forest Area/Green Wash (RFA/GW) has shown a slight decrease of 330 sq km (0.05%) whereas there is an increase of 4,306 sq km of forest cover outside the RFA/GW as compared to previous assessment of 2017.
•
The top five States in terms of increase in forest cover are Karnataka (1,025 sq km), Andhra Pradesh (990 sq km), Kerala (823 sq km), Jammu & Kashmir (371 sq km) and Himachal Pradesh (334 sq km).
•
Forest cover in the hill districts of the country is 2, 84,006 sq km, which is 40.30% of the total geographical area of these districts. The current assessment shows an increase of 544 sq km (0.19%) in 140 hill districts of the country.
•
The total forest cover in the tribal districts is 4, 22,351 sq km, which is 37.54% of the geographical area of these districts.
•
The current assessment shows a decrease of 741 sq km of forest cover within the RFA/GW in the tribal districts and an increase of 1,922 sq km outside. Total forest cover in the North Eastern region is 1, 70,541 sq km, which is 65.05% of its geographical area.
•
The current assessment shows a decrease of forest cover to the extent of 765 sq km (0.45%) in the region. Except Assam and Tripura, all the States in the region show decrease in forest cover.
•
Mangrove cover in the country has increased by 54 sq km (1.10%) as compared to the previous assessment. The total growing stock of wood in the country is estimated 5,915.76 million cum comprising 4,273.47 million cum inside forest areas and 1,642.29 million cum outside recorded forest areas (TOF).
•
The average growing stock per hectare in forest has been estimated as 55.69 cum.
•
Total bamboo bearing area of the country is estimated as 1, 60,037 sq km. There is an increase of 3,229 sq km in bamboo bearing area as compared to the estimate of ISFR 2017.
•
In the present assessment, total carbon stock in forest is estimated as 7,124.6 million tonnes. There is an increase of 42.6 million tonnes in the carbon stock of the country as compared to the last assessment of 2017.
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•
The annual increase is 21.3 million tonnes, which is 78.1 million tonnes CO2 eq. Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) represents the largest pool of carbon stock in forests, which has been estimated 4,004 million tonnes. The SOC contributes 56% to the total forest carbon stock of the country.
•
There are 62,466 wetlands covering 3.83% of the area within the RFA/GW of the
country.
The
total
number
of
wetlands located within the RFA/GW is 8.13%. Amongst the States, Gujarat has largest area of wetlands within RFA in the country followed by West Bengal. •
Dependence of fuel wood on forests is highest in the State of Maharashtra, whereas, for fodder, small timber and bamboo, dependence is highest in Madhya Pradesh. It has been assessed that the annual removal of the small timber by the people living in forest fringe villages is nearly 7% of the average annual yield of forests in the country.
•
The information on area affected by five major invasive species in States/UTs based on analysis of NFI data has been given in the present ISFR.
•
Fire prone forest areas of different severity classes have been mapped in the grids of 5km x 5km based on the frequency of forest fires.
•
The analysis reveals that 21.40% of the forest cover of the country is highly to extremely fire prone.
16. Carbon Market Why in News? •
Almost halfway through the climate conference in Madrid, one big thing it had to resolve — disagreements over setting up a new carbon market — remains contentious as Ever.
The Market Mechanism: •
Under the Paris Agreement, every country has to take action to fight climate change. These actions need not necessarily be in the form of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which can constrain economic growth. India, for example, has said it would reduce its emissions per unit of GDP.
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•
Only the developed countries have included absolute emission cuts in their action plans. Yet, there is scope for absolute emissions reductions in developing countries too.
•
For example, a brick kiln in India can upgrade its technology and reduce emissions. But because India does not need to make absolute reductions, there is no incentive to make this investment. It is to deal with situations like these that the carbon market mechanism is conceived. Markets can potentially deliver emissions reductions over and above what countries are doing on their own.
•
For example, if a developed country is unable to meet its reduction target, it can provide money or technology to the brick kiln in India, and then claim the reduction of emission as its own. Alternatively, the kiln can make the investment, and then offer on sale the emission reduction, called carbon credits. Another party, struggling to meet its own targets, can buy these credits and show these as their own.
•
Carbon markets also existed under the Kyoto Protocol, which is being replaced by the Paris Agreement next year.
•
The market mechanisms being proposed under the Paris Agreement are conceptually not very different, but are supposed to have more effective checks and balances, and monitoring and verification processes.
How to set up a Market: •
The provisions relating to setting up a new carbon market are described in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. These are enabling provisions that allow for two different approaches of carbon trading, more or less on the lines described earlier.
•
Article 6.2 enables bilateral arrangements for transfer of emissions reductions, while ensuring that they do not double-count the reductions. Article 6.4 talks about a wider carbon market in which reductions can be bought and sold by Anyone.
•
Article 6.8 provides for making ‘non-market approaches’ available to countries to achieve targets.
•
It is not yet very clear what these approaches would constitute, but they could include any cooperative action, like collaboration on climate policy or common taxation, that are not Market-Based.
What is Contentious? •
The main tussle is over two or three broad issues — what happens to carbon credits earned in the Kyoto regime but not yet sold, what constitutes double-counting, and transparency mechanisms to be put in place. Developing countries have several million unsold CERs
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(certified emission reductions), each referring to one tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent emission reduced, from the Kyoto regime. Under the Kyoto Protocol, only developed countries had the obligation to reduce emissions. •
In the initial phase, some of these were interested in buying CERs from projects in India or China, which were not obliged to make reductions.
•
In the last few years, several countries walked out of the Kyoto Protocol, and those that remained did not feel compelled to fulfil their targets.
•
The second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2012-20) never came into force. As the demand for CERs crashed, countries like India were left with projects generating CERs with no one to buy them.
•
India has about 750 million unsold CERs and, along with other similarly placed countries, wants these credits to be valid in the new mechanism too.
•
Developed countries are opposing it on the ground that the rules and verification procedures under the Kyoto Protocol were not very robust; they want the new mechanism to start with a clean slate. The second issue is that of double counting, or corresponding adjustment.
•
The new mechanism envisages carbon credits as commodities that can be traded multiple times among countries or private parties.
•
It is important to ensure that in this process, credits are not counted at more than one place; whoever sells carbon credits should not simultaneously count these as emissions it has reduced. The developing countries argue that the country that reduced emissions should be able to show it even after selling the credits, and that adjustments should be made only for subsequent transfers, if any.
Evaluation: •
Carbon markets are not essential to the implementation of Paris Agreement.
•
But with the world doing far less than what is required to prevent catastrophic impacts of climate change, the markets can be an important tool to close the action gap.
2.1 ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS 1. Gangetic Dolphin Why in News? •
According to the data released by Ministry of Environment, the count of Gangetic dolphins is increased in Assam and Uttar Pradesh.
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About Gangetic Dolphin: •
It is been notified as both India’s national aquatic animal and also as the Assam’s state aquatic animal.
•
The population assessment in Assam was done between January and March 2018, while the UP count of 1,272 is for 2015, up from 671 in 2012.
•
It is found in parts of the Ganges-Meghna-Brahmaputra and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
•
It is popularly known as ‘Susu’.
•
It is otherwise called as Platanista gangetica.
•
It is among the four freshwater dolphins in the world- the other three are:
•
The ‘Baiji’ now likely extinct from the Yangtze River in China, ‘Bhulan’ of the Indus in Pakistan, and ‘Boto’ of the Amazon River in Latin America.
•
They live only in rivers and lakes. Their presence indicates the health of the riverine ecosystem.
•
According to the WWF, the main threat to the Gangetic dolphin is the creation of dams and irrigation projects.
•
The Conservation Action Plan for the Gangetic Dolphin, 2010-2020, identified threats to these dolphins that include the impact of river traffic, construction of irrigation canals and depletion of their prey-base.
Protection Status: •
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the Gangetic dolphin as an endangered species in India.
•
It is listed on CITES Appendix-I.
•
It is classified under Schedule 1, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 providing absolute protection as offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties.
•
India’s only sanctuary for national aquatic animal is Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district.
About Irrawaddy Dolphin: •
It is not a River Dolphin, but an oceanic dolphin that lives in brackish water near coasts, river mouths and in estuaries in South and Southeast Asia.
•
It is slaty blue to slaty gray throughout, with the underparts slightly paler.
•
It is identified by a bulging forehead, a short beak.
•
It is also known as Orcaella brevirostris
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•
Its population is established in freshwater rivers, including the Ganges and the Mekong, as well as the Irrawaddy River from which it takes its name.
•
Its habitat range extends from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea and the Philippines. They do not appear to venture off shore.
Protection Status: •
IUNC has classified it as Endangered in Red Data list.
•
Fishing nets, developmental projects like construction of dams, tourism and diseases are some of the threats for it.
2. Clownfish Why in News? •
The clownfish, made so popular by the animated film Finding Nemo and its sequel Finding Dory, cannot be expected to be able to adapt to a rapidly changing environment, a new study has concluded.
Clownfish •
Clownfish are found in various parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, including the Great Barrier Reef. They typically live at the bottom of shallow seas in sheltered reefs or in shallow lagoons. It is this habitat that is under threat.
Habitat Under Threat: •
Clownfish breed only in sea anemones, sharing a symbiotic bond.
•
Clownfish shelter in the anemone and are the only fish that do not get stung by the nematocysts of the anemone. The anemone benefits because clownfish can defend the anemone from fish that might eat it. They never live anywhere but in the anemone.
•
Like coral reefs in general, Anemones are under direct threat from the impacts of climate change.
•
The anemones share another symbiotic bond, with algae. Under stress in warming waters, the algae leave the anemones. If the algae stay away too long, the anemone starve to death. Which leaves the clownfish without a home.
3. Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) Why in News? •
Supreme Court has recently agreed to Airport Authority of India (AAI) to build an extra terminal at Agra airport.
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About TTZ: •
It is a defined area of 10,400 sq. km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution.
•
The Supreme Court of India delivered a ruling on December 30, 1996 regarding industries covered under the TTZ, in response to a PIL seeking to protect the Taj Mahal from environmental pollution.
•
It banned the use of coal or coke in industries located in the TTZ with a mandate for switching over from coal or coke to natural gas, and relocating them outside the TTZ or shutting down.
•
It comprises monuments including three World Heritage Sites the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri. It is so named since it is located around the Taj Mahal and is shaped like a trapezoid.
4. Sukapaika River Why in News? •
Embankments have killed Odisha’s Sukapaika river that was the lifeline of over 0.5 million people.
Sukapaika: •
Sukapaika is one of the several distributaries of the mighty Mahanadi river in Odisha.
•
It branches away from the Mahanadi at Ayatpur village in Cuttack district and flows for about 40 kilometres (km) before rejoining its parent river at Tarapur in the same district.
•
In the process, it drains a large landmass comprising over 425 villages.
•
However, the river is undergoing sudden barrenness.
Why is the River Diminishing? •
The problem has its roots in 1952, when the state government blocked the starting point of the Sukapaika with an embankment to save the villages around it from floods.
•
Subsequently, in 1957, two major projects — Hirakud Dam in Sambalpur district and Naraj barrage at Cuttack — were built upstream on the Mahanadi, ostensibly to control floods in it. However, the embankment on the Sukapiaka was not removed.
•
This left the distributary totally dependent on rainwater. The neglect has hit the 0.5 million people residing in the villages over the next half a century. The riverbed has suffered erosion and it is full of hyacinth.
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9.
5. Pygmy Hog Why in News? •
Pygmy Hog has been recently in news due to its dwindling population in the context of Increased Human Interference.
About Pygmy Hog: •
It is the Smallest and the rarest wild pig in the world.
•
It is an indicator species of tall wet grasslands
About Status of the species: •
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule 1 (most threatened)
•
CITES – Appendix 1, IUCN Red List 2019: Critically Endangered mammal
•
It is one of the most endangered of all mammals (IUCN 2007).
Habitat: •
Tall and wet grasslands of Himalayan foothills.
•
Originally undisturbed tall grasslands of Terai region of India, Nepal and Bhutan and Bengal Duar region.
•
Currently viable population of Wild pygmy hog is known to exist only in the Manas National Park, Oran National Park and Sonai-Rupai wildlife sanctuary in Assam.
About Importance of Pygmy Hog: •
It is extremely sensitive to changes in the grassland ecosystem. It is a key indicator of health of grassland ecosystem in the Terai region which is crucial for survival of a number of other endangered species such as the great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, swamp deer, wild buffalo, Bengal florican etc.
Threats: •
Loss of habitat due to Agriculture, Livestock grazing, Flooding by irrigation projects, Tree plantation under forestry operations and Encroachment by Human Settlements.
Conservation Efforts: •
Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme was launched in 1995 in Assam.
•
Multi-pronged approach of captive breeding, re-introducing in the wild and habitat management. Reintroduction was done from 2008 in Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, and Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary.
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6. Green Good Deeds Why in News? •
Recently, Environment Ministry has launched Green Good Deeds campaign.
About Green Good Deed: •
It aims to sensitise the people and students, in particular, about climate change and global warming. Its objective is to restore and return the clean and green environment to the next generation.
•
It also aims to broad its base with involvement of teachers, students and other voluntary organisations.
•
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had drawn up a list of over 500 Green Good Deeds and asked people to alter their behavior to Green Good Behavior to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility.
•
These small positive actions to be performed by individuals or organisations to strengthen the cause of environmental protection, were put on a mobile application named “Dr Harsh Vardhan App”.
7. Bar-headed Goose Why in News? •
Bar-headed goose, a rare goose species was sighted in the wetlands of Karingali Puncha in Kerala. The Puncha is a major birding spot in the district which reported the highest bird count in the Asian Waterfowl Census of 2015.
About Bar-headed geese: •
Its Scientific name is Anser Indicus.
•
It is found in central China and Mongolia and they breed there.
•
Its IUCN Status is Least Concern.
•
They start migration to the Indian sub-continent during the winter and stay here till the end of the season. Their migration has been a fascination for birders as they cross the Himalayas on one of the most high-altitude migrations in the world.
8. Typhoon Phanfone Why in News? •
Recently, the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Phanfone.
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About Typhoon Phanfone: •
It is known as Ursula in the local language in the Philippines.
•
It is the second typhoon after typhoon Kammuri which hit the Philippines.
•
It is following a similar path as Super Typhoon Haiyan, which had hit the country.
About Typhoon: •
It is a region-specific name of the Tropical Cyclone which is a swirling system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical oceans.
About Tropical Cyclone: •
It is the formation of a very low-pressure system with very high-speed winds revolving around it.
•
It is called as 'Hurricanes' in the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, 'Typhoons' in South-East Asia and China and ‘Tropical Cyclones’ in the South-West Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.
9. Bandhavgarh National Park Why in News? •
Madhya Pradesh has recently got its first elephant colony.
About Bandhavgarh National Park: •
It is located in the Umaria District of Madhya Pradesh.
•
It was declared a national park in 1968 and then became Tiger Reserve in 1993. The famous for White Tigers of Rewa were discovered here.
•
Its name has been derived from the most prominent hillock of the area of Umaria.
•
It has been divided into three major zones named as Tala, Magdi and Bamera out of which the Tala zone attracts major number of tourists
by
offering
the
tiger
sighting
opportunities. •
It beholds the largest breeding population of leopards and various species of deer.
•
It also includes Nilgai, Chau Singha, Chital, Chinkara, Wild Boar and sometimes a Fox or Jackal.
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•
It consists of mixed vegetations ranging from tall grasslands to thick Sal forest and so is the perfect habitat of variety of animals and birds.
10. Belum Caves Belum Caves: •
Located near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, Belum Caves is the largest and longest cave system open to the public on the Indian subcontinent.
•
These caves, which get their name from the Sanskrit word bilum (hole), were formed by the action of water flowing on limestone deposits over millions of years.
•
They are known for its speleothems (mineral deposits formed in a cave), such as stalactite and stalagmite formations.
•
Though these caves were known to the locals for thousands of years, the first official records that mention them are from 1884, by Robert Bruce Foote, who conducted surveys for the Geological Survey of India.
•
In 2013, a new cavernicolous species (inhabiting caves) named Andhracoides gebaueri was discovered at the Belum caves.
•
Jains and Buddhists monks occupied these caves centuries ago. Many Buddhists relics were found inside the caves.
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3. POLITY & GOVERNANCE 1. Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019 Why in News? •
The Parliament has recently passed the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill, 2019.
What are e-cigarettes? •
An electronic cigarette (or e-cig) is a battery-powered vaporizer that mimics tobacco smoking.
•
It works by heating up nicotine liquid.
•
Nicotine juice comes in various flavors and nicotine levels.
•
e-liquid is composed of five ingredients: vegetable glycerin (a material used in all types of food and personal care products, like toothpaste) and propylene glycol (a solvent most commonly used in fog machines.) propylene glycol is the ingredient that produces thicker clouds of vapor.
•
Electronic cigarettes do not burn or use tobacco leaves but instead vaporize a solution the user then Inhales.
What does the Bill Say? •
Any production, import, export, transport, sale (including online sale) or advertisement (including online advertisement) of e-cigarettes shall be a cognizable offence punishable with an imprisonment of up to one year or fine up to Rs. 1 lakh or both for the first offence.
•
For a subsequent offence, there will be imprisonment of up to 3 years and fine up to Rs. 5 lakh.
•
Storage of electronic-cigarettes shall also be punishable with an imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to Rs 50,000 or both.
•
The Sub-Inspector of Police has been designated as the Authorized Officer to take action under the Ordinance.
•
The Central or State Governments may also designate any other equivalent officer(s) as Authorized Officer for enforcement of the provisions of the Ordinance.
What is the Concern? •
India has the second largest number of tobacco users (268 million) in the world – of these at least 12 lakh die every year from tobacco-related diseases.
•
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) solutions and emissions contain other chemicals, some of them considered to be toxicants.
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•
ENDS contain nicotine solution which is highly addictive.
•
The flavouring agents and vaporizers used in e-cigarettes are also harmful for health.
•
Use of e-cigarettes has documented adverse effects on humans like DNA damage, carcinogenesis, cellular, molecular and immunological toxicity.
•
It can cause respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological disorders.
•
They are also known to have adverse effects on pregnancy and foetal development.
•
Lack of knowledge about negative effects of nicotine and easy accessibility of these products make the youth prone to addiction.
2. National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) Why in News? •
In pursuance of judgement of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Government has decided to set up a bench of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) at Chennai.
About NCLAT: •
National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013.
•
Benches of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) are set up in various States depending on the case load and other relevant factors. Considering the heavy case load at some existing benches, additional members have been appointed and additional courts have been operationalised from Time to Time.
Composition: •
The President of the Tribunal and the chairperson and Judicial Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed after consultation with the Chief Justice of India.
•
The Members of the Tribunal and the Technical Members of the Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of:
1. Chief Justice of India or his nominee—Chairperson. 2. A senior Judge of the Supreme Court or a Chief Justice of High Court— Member. 3. Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs—Member. 4. Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice—Member. 5. Secretary in the Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance— Member
Functions: •
It hears appeals against the orders of National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT), with effect from 1st June, 2016.
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•
It is the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). It is also the Appellate Tribunal for hearing appeals against the orders passed by Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC.
•
It is the Appellate Tribunal to hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
3. “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 Why in News? •
Rajya Sabha has recently passed “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019” without any Amendments.
About Transgenders: •
Transgender community includes Hijras, Eunuchs, Kothis, Aravanis, Jogappas, ShivShakthis etc., who have been a part of Indian society for centuries. The Vedic and Puranic literatures mention “tritiyaprakriti” meaning the third gender.
•
Though most of the eunuchs seen today are begging at traffic signals or during weddings, they were a respected lot during the Mughal rule in the Medieval India.
•
During the British rule, they were denied civil rights and were considered a separate caste or tribe who did kidnapping and castration of children and danced and dressed? like women. In Post-Independence Era, the Act was repealed but its legacy continues and many local laws reflected the prejudicial attitudes against certain tribes, including Hijras.
•
In contemporary times, the LGBTQ group is referred to as the “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community” which includes those with gender dysphoria and different sexual orientations.
Sex (vs) Gender: •
It also needs to be understood that “Sex” and “Gender” are different things. One may be born as Male (sex) but may identify himself like a Woman (Gender). So “Sex” is biological and “Gender” is the real sexual identity of a person.
Transgenders in India: •
According to the 2011 Census, the number of persons who do not identify as ‘male’ or ‘female’ but as ‘other’ stands at 4,87,803 (i.e. 0.04% of the total population)
•
Indian census has never recognized the third gender, i.e., transgender while collecting census data for years.
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•
The 2011 census also reported 55,000 children as transgender identified by their parents.
About Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019: Key Provisions of the Bill: 1. Definition of a Transgender Person: The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It includes trans-men and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with sociocultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra. Intersex variations are defined to mean a person who at birth shows variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of male or female body. 2. Certificate of identity for a Transgender Person: A transgender person may make an application to the District Magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as ‘transgender’. A revised certificate may be obtained only if the individual undergoes surgery to change their gender either as a male or a female. 3. Prohibition against Discrimination: The Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to: (i) Education; (ii) employment; (iii) healthcare; (iv) access to, or enjoyment of goods, Facilities, opportunities available to the public; (v) right to movement; (vi) right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property; (vii) opportunity to hold public or private office; and (viii) access to a government or private establishment in whose care or custody a transgender person is. 4. National Council for Transgender persons (NCT): The NCT will consist of: (i) Union Minister for Social Justice (Chairperson); (ii) Minister of State for Social Justice (Vice- Chairperson); (iii) Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice; (iv)one representative from ministries including Health, Home Affairs, and Human Resources Development. Other members include representatives of the NITI Aayog, and the National Human Rights Commission. State governments will also be represented. The Council will also consist of five members from the transgender community and five experts from nongovernmental organisations. 5. Right of Residence: Every transgender person shall have a right to reside and be included in his household. 6. Employment: No government or private entity can discriminate against a transgender person in employment matters, including Recruitment, and Promotion. www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
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7. Education: Educational institutions funded or recognised by the Relevant Government shall provide inclusive education, sports and recreational facilities for Transgender Persons, without Discrimination. 8. Health Care: The government must take steps to provide health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries. The government shall review medical curriculum to address health issues of transgender persons, and provide comprehensive medical insurance schemes for them. 9. Welfare Measures by the Government: The Bill states that the relevant government will take measures to ensure the full inclusion and participation of transgender persons in society. 10. Offences and Penalties: The Bill recognizes the following offences against transgender persons: (i) forced or bonded labour (excluding compulsory government service for public purposes), (ii) denial of use of public places, (iii) removal from household, and village, (iv) physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or economic abuse. Penalties for these offences vary between six months and two years, and a fine.
Arunkumar (vs) The Inspector General of Registration case: •
In April 2019, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court delivered a historic judgment in Arunkumar v. The Inspector General of Registration. This judgment marks the beginning of a normative journey of intersex human rights in India. The court took up the issue of validity of consent given on behalf of intersex infants for undergoing sex selective surgeries.
•
It held that the consent of the parent cannot be considered as the consent of the child. Hence, such surgeries should be prohibited. This is a momentous judgment as it recognises the consent rights of intersex children and the right to bodily integrity.
Major Concerns in the Bill: •
Definition: The definition of ‘transgender persons’ in the Bill is at variance with the definitions recognised by international bodies and experts in India. The terms, ‘transmen’, ‘trans-women’, persons with ‘intersex variations’ and ‘gender-queers’ have not been defined.
•
Self-Identity: Even though the bill says that a transgender person “shall have a right to self-perceived gender identity,” its language could be interpreted to mean transgender people are required to have certain surgeries before legally changing their gender.
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•
Privacy: A District Screening Committee would issue a certificate of identity to recognise transgender persons. This is also a violation of Fundamental Right to Privacy.
•
Existing Framework: Certain criminal and personal laws that are currently in force only recognise the genders of ‘man’ and ‘woman’. It is unclear how such laws would apply to transgender persons who may not identify with either of the Two Genders.
Other Issues to be considered: •
If a transgender person is denied a Certificate of Identity, the Bill does not provide a mechanism for appeal or review of such decision of the District Screening Committee.
•
The bill is also silent on whether a trans-person who holds a male or female gender certificate will have access to government welfare schemes and programs meant for transgender people.
•
The Bill is silent on granting reservations to transgender persons.
•
The Bill does not mention any punishments for rape or sexual assault of transgender persons as according to Sections 375 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code, rape is only when a man forcefully enters a woman.
Key Recommendations towards the Bill: 1. The title of the Bill itself is exclusionary as it does not accommodate all persons whose legal protection it seeks to recognise. Therefore, the definition should highlight this distinction between transgender persons and intersex persons enabling them to exercise the rights which they are entitled to. Parliament will be well-advised to consider changing the title of the Bill to Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019. 2. The Bill doesn’t say much about discrimination against intersex persons. Intersex conditions are termed in derogatory terms even by medical professionals. To address this, the Bill should have included a provision directing medical professionals to ensure that intersex traits are not characterised as “disorders of sex development”. Intersex traits should not be considered as genetic defects/ disorders, and terms like ‘gender dysphoria’ should be used to characterise them. 3. The bill should be revised to emphasize training teachers to help them adopt inclusive teaching methods to ensure that children are not harassed or discriminated against by staff or other children. www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
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4. A Potential Seedbed for Private Profits Context: •
Seeds Bill 2019 which was introduced in the parliament was taken up for consideration recently.
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The earlier versions of the Bill, in 2004 and 2010, had generated heated debates. The present version has also been with certain problematic provisions and the article discusses it in brief.
Background Information: 1. India Signing TRIPS and UPOV •
In 1994, India signed the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In 2002, India also joined the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) Convention.
•
The above two agreements has made a nation has to give priority to Seed breeder’s rights over farmer’s rights. Both TRIPS and UPOV led to the introduction of some form of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over plant varieties.
•
Member countries had to introduce restrictions on the free use and exchange of seeds by farmers unless the “breeders” were remunerated.
2. India signing CBD and ITPGRFA: •
In 1992, India signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which provided for “prior informed consent” of farmers before the use of genetic resources and “fair and equitable sharing of benefits” arising out of their use.
•
In 2001, India signed the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) which recognised farmers‟ rights as the rights to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds.
•
It is clear that these two agreements has made a country to favour farmer’s rights over breeder’s rights. So, national governments had the responsibility of protecting farmer’s rights. Here we can notice TRIPS and UPOV runs counter to the above two international conventions.
3. A Delicate Balance of all: •
As India was a signatory to TRIPS and UPOV (that gave priority to breeders‟ rights) as well as CBD and ITPGRFA (that emphasised farmers‟ rights), any Indian legislation had to be in line with all..
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•
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers‟ Rights (PPVFR) Act of 2001 was enacted with this delicate balance. The PPVFR Act retained the main spirit of TRIPS viz., IPRs as an incentive for technological innovation. However, the Act also had strong provisions to protect farmers‟ rights. The PPVFR Act also recognised three roles for the farmer: cultivator, breeder and conserver. As cultivators, farmers were entitled to plant-back rights. As breeders, farmers were held equivalent to plant breeders. As conservers, farmers were entitled to rewards from a National Gene Fund.
Introduction of New legislation - Seed Bill, 2019 •
According to the government, a new Seeds Bill is necessary to enhance seed replacement rates in Indian agriculture, specify standards for registration of seed varieties and enforce registration from seed producers to seed retailers.
•
While these goals are indeed worthy, any such legislation is expected to be in alignment with the spirit of the PPVFR Act. Not surprisingly, many of the Bill’s provisions deviate from the spirit of the PPVFR Act, are against farmers’ interests and in favour of private seed companies. For instance, a shift from farm-saved seeds to certified seeds, which would raise seed replacement rates, is desirable.
•
Certified seeds have higher and more stable yields than farm-saved seeds. However, such a shift should be achieved not through policing, but through an Enabling Atmosphere.
Interest of Private Companies: •
From the late-1980s, Indian policy has consciously encouraged the growth of private seed companies, including companies with majority foreign equity.
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Today, more than 50% of India’s seed production is undertaken in the private sector.
•
These firms have been demanding favourable changes in seed laws and deregulation of seed prices, free import and export of germplasm, freedom to self-certify seeds and restrictions on the use by farmers of saved seeds from previous seasons.
•
Through the various versions between 2004 and 2019 of the same bill, private sector interests have guided the formulation of the Seeds Bill.
•
As a result, even desirable objectives, such as raising the seed replacement rates, have been mixed up with an urge to encourage and protect the business interests of private companies.
Problematic Provisions of the New Bill: ✓ The provisions of the new bill that runs counter to the existing PPVFR Act are as follows: www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
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1. Compulsory Registration of Seeds •
The Seeds Bill insists on compulsory registration of seeds. However, The PPVFR Act was based on voluntary registration of seeds.
•
As a result, many seeds may be registered under the Seeds Bill but may not under the PPVFR Act.
•
Assume a seed variety developed by a breeder, but derived from a traditional variety. The breeder will get exclusive marketing rights. But no gain will accrue to farmers as benefitsharing is dealt with in the PPVFR Act, under which the seed is not registered.
2. Compensation for Farmer’s Role in Development of a Seed Variety: •
As per the PPVFR Act, all applications for registrations should contain the complete passport data of the parental lines from which the seed variety was derived, including contributions made by farmers.
•
This allows for an easier identification of beneficiaries and simpler benefit-sharing processes. Seeds Bill, on the other hand, demands no such information while registering a new variety. As a result, an important method of recording the contributions of farmers is overlooked and private companies are left free to claim a derived variety as their own.
3. Ever-Greening of registration •
The PPVFR Act, which is based on an IPR like breeders‟ rights, does not allow reregistration of seeds after the validity period.
•
However, under the new bill private seed companies can re-register their seeds an infinite number of times after the validity period. Given this “ever-greening” provision, many seed varieties may never enter the open domain for free use.
4. Seed Pricing •
The new bill has vague provisions for regulation of seed prices which appears neither sufficient nor credible.
•
This has been the scenario, when strict control on seed prices has been an important demand raised by farmers’ organisations.
•
In its absence, they feel, seed companies may be able to fix seed prices as they deem fit, leading to sharp rises in costs of cultivation.
5. Compensation to Farmers: •
According to the PPVFR Act, if a registered variety fails in its promise of performance, farmers can claim compensation before a PPVFR Authority.
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•
This provision is diluted in the Seeds Bill, where disputes on compensation have to be decided as per the Consumer Protection Act 1986. Consumer courts are hardly ideal and friendly institutions that Farmers can Approach.
Way Ahead: •
Private seed companies prefer policing because their low-volume, high-value business model is crucially dependent on forcing farmers to buy their seeds every season.
•
So, on the other hand, an enabling atmosphere has to be generated by the strong presence of public institutions in seed research and production.
•
When public institutions, not motivated by profits, are ready to supply quality seeds at affordable prices, policing becomes redundant. For the seed sector and its laws to be truly farmer-friendly, the public sector has to recapture its lost space.
About Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority, India: •
It has been established under the provisions of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001.
•
Its Objectives Includes:
•
An effective system for protection of plant varieties,
•
The rights of farmers and plant breeders and
•
To encourage the development of new varieties of plants it has been considered necessary to recognize and protect the rights of the farmers in respect of their contribution made at any time in conserving, improving and making available plant genetic resources for the development of the new plant varieties.
•
To accelerate agricultural development, it is necessary to protect plants breeders' rights to stimulate investment for research and development for the development of new plant varieties. Such protection is likely to facilitate the growth of the seed industry which will ensure the availability of high-quality seeds and planting material to the Farmers.
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5. KALIA Scheme Why in News? •
Odisha government has decided to merge its KALIA Scheme with centre’s PM-KISAN Scheme recently.
About KALIA Scheme? •
KALIA or “Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation” scheme was launched by the Odisha Government for farmer’s welfare.
•
The aim of the scheme is to accelerate agricultural prosperity and reducing poverty in the State by encouraging cultivation and associated activities through financial assistance to farmers.
•
The scheme is being seen as a viable alternative to farm loan waivers.
About Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme: •
Under this programme, vulnerable landholding farmer families, having cultivable land upto 2 hectares, will be provided direct income support at the rate of Rs. 6,000 per year.
•
This income support will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers, in three equal instalments of Rs. 2,000 each.
About the Merger: •
Odisha government has decided to merge its KALIA Scheme with centre’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme.
•
So, in wake of this, Odisha government has also reduced the financial assistance given to farmers under the Kalia scheme to Rs 4,000 per annum from Rs 10,000.
•
This is because of the reason to keep parity between both the schemes.
•
The small farmers/marginal farmers may be given with Rs Rs.4,000 per year under KALIA scheme, so that they will get Rs 10,000 cumulatively per year. (i.e. Rs 6,000 from PMKISAN and Rs 4,000 from KALIA).
•
The Odisha government has also announced that the actual cultivators (share croppers) who are landless, if any, will also continue to get assistance from Kalia i.e; Rs 10,000 annually, since they are not considered under PM-KISAN.
Eligible Beneficiaries under KALIA Scheme (Before Merger): •
This scheme is for the benefit of Small and marginal farmers, landless Agricultural household, vulnerable Agricultural household, landless Agricultural labourers and sharecroppers (Actual cultivators).
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•
Small and Marginal Farmers are eligible to get benefit financial assistance of Rs.25000 per family over 5 seasons under support to cultivators for cultivation. a) Marginal Farmer – who owns less than 1 hectare of Agricultural land b) Small Farmer – who owns 1 hectare (2.5 acres) to 2 hectares (5 acres) of Agricultural land.
•
Land less agricultural households is eligible to get financial Assistance of Rs.12500 for the livelihood support under the scheme. Vulnerable agricultural household covering vulnerable cultivators/ landless agricultural labourers are eligible to get financial assistance of Rs, 10,000 per year under the KALIA scheme.
•
Vulnerable cultivators/ landless agricultural labourers include old age, disability, disease or any other reason.
•
Out of the above three components viz., support to cultivators for cultivation, livelihood support for landless agricultural household and financial assistance to vulnerable agricultural household, one beneficiary will avail only one benefit as per the eligibility.
•
Apart from these components, the scheme also provides for life insurance support and interest free crop loans for all the categories of beneficiary under KALIA scheme.
Similar Farmer Assistance Schemes Elsewhere: Rythu Bandhu Scheme of Telangana: •
Rythu Bandhu scheme also known as Farmers’ Investment Support Scheme (FISS) is a farmer welfare program of the Government of Telangana. This scheme has been introduced in order to support farmers' investment in the agriculture so as to boost the agricultural prosperity.
•
Under this scheme, the government is providing Rs 4,000 per acre per season, twice a year for growing Kharif and Rabi crops.
•
The financial assistance is provided to all the farmers and there is no cap on the number of acres owned by the farmers.
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It is to be noted that more than 75% of the agricultural land in Telangana is under the control of small and marginal farmers and hence this scheme is considered to be of immense benefit to the small and marginal farmers.
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A Comparison in Brief: KALIA Scheme
Rythu Bandhu Scheme
PM-KISAN SCHEME
Odisha
Telangana
Centre
All the Farmers
All the land holding Farmers
Yes
No
No
Differs for different categories of beneficiaries
Uniform financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per year
Rs.6000 per year
Yes
No
Not provided
Yes
No
Not provided
State Coverage
Tenants and Sharecropper s included Financial Assistance Provided Life Insurance Support Interest Free Crop Loans
Small and marginal farmers Landless Agricultural household, Vulnerable Agricultural household Landless Agricultural labourers Sharecroppers (Actual cultivators)
6. Sexual Cases under POCSO Why in News? •
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 has adequate provisions ensuring speedy trial under the Act.
POCSO Act, 2012: •
Section 28 of the POCSO Act 2012 provides for establishment of Special Courts for the purpose of providing speedy trial.
•
Further, Section 35 of the POCSO Act provides that the evidence of the child shall be recorded within a period of thirty days of the Special Court taking cognizance of the offence and reasons for delay, if any, shall be recorded by the Special Court.
•
Further, Section 35 also lays down that the Special Court shall complete the trial, as far as possible, within a period of one year from the date of taking cognizance of the offence.
•
However, Police and Public Order are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.
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•
The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including children, rest primarily with the respective State Governments and UT Administration.
Steps Taken to Ensure speedy Dispensation of Justice: •
In furtherance to The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018, the Government has finalized a scheme in for setting up of total of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) across the country for expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases pertaining to rape and POCSO Act, 2012, in a time-bound manner under Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
•
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 was enacted for effective deterrence against sexual offences. Further, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 was enacted to prescribe even more stringent penal provisions including death penalty for rape of a girl below age of 12 years.
•
The Act also inter-alia mandates completion of investigation and trials within 2 months each. A “National Database on Sexual Offenders” has been launched to facilitate investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country by law enforcement agencies.
•
An online analytic tool for police called “Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences” has been launched to monitor and track time-bound investigation on sexual assault cases in accordance with the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.
•
In order to improve investigation, steps have been taken to strengthen DNA analysis units in Central and State Forensic Science Laboratories.
•
This includes setting up of a State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Unit in Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh.
•
Guidelines have been notified for collection of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases and the standard composition in a Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit.
•
A scheme namely Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children (CCPWC) has been approved under which an online cybercrime reporting portal to enable public to report complaints pertaining to child pornography/ child sexual abuse material, rape/gang rape imageries or sexually explicit content.
7. Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 Why in News? •
Lok Sabha passed the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
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Highlights: •
The Bill seeks to enhance the punishment for existing offences like illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, etc.; illegal acquiring, possessing or carrying prohibited arms or prohibited ammunition; and illegal manufacture, sale, transfer, conversion, import, export, etc., of firearms.
•
It also proposes to define new offences and prescribes punishment for them, such as taking away firearms from police or armed forces, involvement in organized crime syndicate, illicit trafficking including smuggled firearms of foreign make or prohibited arms and prohibited ammunition, use of firearms in rash and negligent manner in celebratory gunfire endangering human life, etc.
•
Further, the Bill seeks to enhance the period of arms license from three years to five years and also to issue arms license in its electronic form to prevent forgery.
•
The Amendment assumes significance in recent times as law enforcement agencies have indicated a growing nexus between possession of illegal firearms and commission of criminal offences.
•
The trans-border dimensions of illegal arms trafficking are causing threat to internal security and to prevent the usage of illicit firearms so trafficked has also become a prime concern.
•
To effectively curb crimes related to or committed by using illegal firearms and to provide effective deterrence against violation of law, there is an urgent need to strengthen the existing legislative framework by making appropriate amendments in the Arms Act, 1959.
•
The licenses and arms ownership of sportspersons would not be adversely affected because of the Bill.
•
The provisions related to ownership of arms by retired and serving personnel of armed forces also remain unaffected by the Amendment.
History of the Act: •
The original law was brought by the British after the Revolution of 1857, in order to prevent such a rebellion in the future.
•
Mahatma Gandhi also connected the issue of arms ownership with the basic rights of Indians and demanded a repeal of the Indian Arms Act, 1878.
•
This demand was also included in the eight-point agenda that Mahatma Gandhi presented to Lord Irwin.
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8. Right to Protest under Article 19 Why in News? •
CJI Sharad Arvind Bobde recently stated that people have right to protest, but they should stop riot.
What does the Constitution say? •
The right of citizens to protest peacefully is guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
•
Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) give to all citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression, and to assemble peaceably and without arms.
•
However, under Articles 19(2) and 19(3), the right to freedom of speech is subject to “reasonable restrictions in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the
•
security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence”.
What are the Legal Provisions? •
The legal provisions and avenue available to police for handling agitations, protests, and unlawful assemblies are covered by the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973, the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and The Police Act, 1861.
•
The CrPC’s Sections 129-132 deal with “Dispersal of assembly by use of civil force”, use of the armed forces in situations of civil unrest, and protection against prosecution for acts done under these sections.
•
The IPC’s Sections 141-158 deal with unlawful assembly, and the responsibilities, liabilities, and punishments related to this offence.
What are the Judicial Guidelines? •
In ‘Karam Singh vs. Hardayal Singh and Ors 1979’ the High Court of Punjab and Haryana underlined that before any force can be used, three prerequisites are to be satisfied.
•
These were:
•
Firstly, there should be an unlawful assembly with the object of committing violence or an assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a disturbance of the public peace.
•
Secondly, such assembly is ordered to be dispersed and
•
Thirdly, in spite of such orders to disperse, such assembly does not disperse.
International Provision for Right to Protests: •
The ‘Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials’ was adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress in Havana, 1990.
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•
It resolved that law enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms.
9. Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code Context: •
In the backdrop of invocation of section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in many parts of the country amid protest, this article highlights that this provision of criminal law is a legacy of British which we continue to practice even in modern times.
Who is Empowered? •
District Magistrate, a Sub-divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate can invoke section 144 of CrPC in an area in urgent cases of nuisance of apprehended danger or if they believe immediate prevention or speedy remedy is desirable to control the situation.
What can the Magistrate Do? •
Section 144 of CrPC gives power to a District Magistrate, a sub- divisional Magistrate or any other Executive Magistrate on behalf of the State Government to issue an order to an individual or the general public in a particular place or area to "abstain from a certain act"
•
or "to take certain order with respect to certain property in his possession or under his management".
•
As per the Section, the order can be passed only "if such Magistrate considers", that the direction is likely to prevent: a. Obstruction, Annoyance or Injury to any person lawfully employed b. Danger to Human Life, Health or safety c. Disturbance of the Public Tranquility, or a riot or Affray
•
This order can be passed against a particular individual or general public. The order can be passed even ex-parte. In emergency cases, the magistrate can pass these orders without prior notice to the individual against whom the order is directed.
Can they Prevent Assembly of People? •
It is generally believed that assembly of three or more people is prohibited under Section 144. However, it can be used to restrict even a single individual. Such an order is passed
•
when the magistrate considers that it is likely to prevent, or tends to prevent, obstruction, annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health or safety, or a disturbance of the public tranquillity, or a riot, of an affray.
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What is the Maximum Tenure of Section 144? •
However, no order passed under Section 144 can remain in force for more than two months from the date of the order, unless the state government considers it necessary. Even then, the total period cannot extend to more than six months.
Rescinding of section 144: •
As per Cr.PC, an aggrieved person may challenge the order of magistrate to invoke section 144. So under section 144, Any Magistrate may, either on his own motion or on the application of any person aggrieved, rescind or alter any order made under this section, by himself or any Magistrate subordinate to him.
•
While taking such application of rescinding section 144, the magistrate concerned shall provide the applicant an opportunity to appear before him either in person or by pleader for showing cause against the order.
Criticism on invoking section 144 by the Government: •
Section 144 ends up conferring almost unbridled powers upon executive officers to commit any kind of atrocities on people detained. It also takes away people’s fundamental right under Article 19 of expression and protest against government actions and policies.
•
The only check placed upon the officer before passing any order under Section 144 is whether or not it satisfied his conscience, which is often eroded by political demands by the ruling government.
•
The immediate remedy against such an order is a revision application to the magistrate himself. An aggrieved individual can also approach the High Court by filing a writ petition if his fundamental rights are at stake. However, fears exist that before the High Court intervenes, the rights could already have been infringed.
•
Imposition of Section 144 to an entire state, as in UP, has also drawn criticism since the security situation differs from area to area.
Impact on Fundamental Rights: •
The orders under this provision will lead to the infringement of fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression, assembly and movement guaranteed under Articles
•
19(1)(a),(b) and (c) of the Constitution. Hence, the orders under Section 144 have to meet the test of "reasonable restrictions" as per Article 19.
“Test of Proportionality”: •
1. Modern Dental College case (2016):
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•
To ascertain whether a restriction on liberties guaranteed under Article 19 is reasonable or not, the Supreme Court has developed the "test of proportionality".
•
In the Constitution Bench decision in Modern Dental College case (2016), the Supreme Court held that a law imposing restrictions will be treated as proportional if : a. It is meant to achieve a proper purpose, and b. If the measures taken to achieve such a purpose are rationally connected to the purpose, and c. If such measures are Necessary.
•
2. Also in the Puttaswamy case (2017), the SC laid down a four-fold test to determine proportionality: a. A measure restricting a right must have a legitimate goal (legitimate goal stage). b. It must be a suitable means of furthering this goal (suitability or rationale connection stage). c. There must not be any less restrictive but equally effective alternative (necessity stage). d. The measure must not have a disproportionate impact on the right holder (balancing stage).
•
So, the legality of the orders passed under Section 144 CrPC will be tested on the basis of these principles of 'reasonableness' and 'proportionality'.
Rulings of Judiciary favouring Section 144: 1. Babulal Parate vs State of Maharashtra (1961): •
A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court refused to strike down the law, saying it is “not correct to say that the remedy of a person aggrieved by an order under the section was illusory”.
2. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya case (1967): •
It was challenged again by Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya in 1967 and was once again rejected, with the court saying “no democracy can exist if ‘public order’ is freely allowed to be disturbed by a section of the citizens”.
3. Madhu Limaye vs Sub-Divisional Magistrate (1970): •
In another challenge in 1970 Madhu Limaye vs Sub-Divisional Magistrate, a seven-judge Bench said the power of a magistrate under Section 144 “is not an ordinary power flowing
•
from administration but a power used in a judicial manner and which can stand further judicial scrutiny”.
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•
The court, however, upheld the constitutionality of the law.
•
It ruled that the restrictions imposed through Section 144 cannot be held to be violative of the right to freedom of speech and expression, which is a fundamental right because it falls under the “reasonable restrictions” under Article 19(2) of the Constitution.
•
The fact that the “law may be abused” is no reason to strike it down, the court said.
Mere likelihood of danger not a ground to invoke Sec.144: •
As held by the Supreme Court, mere apprehension of danger is not a sufficient ground to curb citizens' rights by invoking Section 144 CrPC.
•
There should be 'genuine' apprehension of 'imminent' danger and not mere 'likelihood' or 'tendency'.
•
In Babulal Parate v State of Maharashtra (1961) case, the SC held that the power can be used even in anticipation of danger. But it should be based on sufficient materials
•
which show that immediate prevention of certain acts is necessary to preserve public safety.
•
"The test laid down in the Section is not mere `likelihood' or `tendency'. The section says that the magistrate must be satisfied that immediate prevention of particular acts is necessary to counteract danger to public safety etc. The power conferred by the section is exercisable not only where present danger exists but is exercisable also when there is an apprehension of danger".
10. National Population Register (NPR) Why in News? •
The Kerala Government has recently decided to put on hold to all proceedings for updating the National Population Register (NPR).
About NPR: •
It is a Register of usual residents of the country.
•
It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
•
It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.
•
A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the
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next 6 months or more. To create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.
What does NPR consist of? •
The NPR database would contain demographic as well as biometric details.
•
As per the provisions of the NPR, a resident identity card (RIC) will be issued to individuals over the age of 18. This will be a chip-embedded smart card containing the demographic and biometric attributes of each individual.
•
The UID number will also be printed on the card.
What is the Controversy Around It? •
It comes in the backdrop of the NRC which excludes lakhs of people in Assam.
•
It intends to collect a much larger amount of personal data on residents of India.
•
There is yet no clarity on the mechanism for protection of this vast amount of data.
Significance of the Data: •
Every country must have a comprehensive identity database of its residents with relevant demographic details.
•
It will help the government formulate its policies better and also aid national security.
•
It will ease the life of those residing in India by cutting red tape. Not only will it help target government beneficiaries in a better way, but also further cut down paperwork and red tape in a similar manner that Aadhaar has done.
•
With NPR data, residents will not have to furnish various proofs of age, address and other details in official work.
11. India eyes 60% share of Global Ship Recycling Business Why in News? •
Union Minister for shipping has recently said that India is aiming to garner at least 60% of the global ship recycling business and emerge as a key destination for recycling warships and other ships.
About: •
The government exudes confidence that contribution from ship recycling activities to the country’s GDP would reach $2.2 billion, almost double compared to the current level.
•
Currently, India recycles around 300 of the 1,000 ships which are demolished per annum globally.
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•
However, the likes of Japan, the United States and Europe were not sending their ships for recycling to India in the absence of ratification of a global convention. That scenario is set to change with the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019.
Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 Key features of the bill: 1. Authorization of Recycling Facilities: •
Under the Bill, ship recycling facilities are required to be authorized and ships shall be recycled only in such authorized Ship Recycling Facilities.
2. Ship-Specific Recycling Plan: •
The Bill also provides that ships shall be recycled in accordance with a ship-specific recycling plan. Ships to be recycled in India shall be required to obtain a Ready for Recycling Certificate in accordance with the Hong Kong Convention (HKC).
3. Restriction on Hazardous Material: •
It restricts and prohibits the use or installation of hazardous material, which applies irrespective of whether a ship is meant for recycling or not. Ships shall be surveyed and certified on the inventory of hazardous material used in ships.
4. Grace Period for Existing Ships: •
For new ships, such restriction on use of hazardous material will be immediate, that is, from the date the legislation comes into force, while existing ships shall have a period of five years for compliance. However, restriction on use of hazardous material would not be applied to warships and non-commercial ships operated by Government.
5. Impact: •
Regularising Ship Recycling Industry: The bill will help to provide for the regulation of recycling of ships by setting certain international standards and laying down the statutory mechanism for enforcement of such standards.
•
The Act ratifies the Hong Kong convention that would facilitate an environmentfriendly process of recycling ships and adequate safety for yard workers.
What is Hong Kong Convention? •
The Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (the Hong Kong Convention), was adopted at a diplomatic conference held in Hong Kong, China in 2009.
•
It was adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2009.
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•
The Convention is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health, safety and to the environment.
•
It also addresses concerns raised about the working and environmental conditions at many of the world’s ship recycling locations.
•
The Convention is yet to come into force because it has not been ratified by 15 nations, representing 40 per cent of the world merchant shipping by gross tonnage (capacity) and a maximum annual ship recycling volume of not less than 3 per cent of the combined tonnage of the countries.
•
When India accedes to the IMO’s treaty, after the approval by the Parliament, it will become the 14th contracting state to ratify the Convention.
Benefits to India: •
Boost to Ship Recycle Industry: Accession to HKC will provide boost to recycling sector as more ships will be allowed to come in from countries like Japan, Korea, to be
•
recycled. At present, a lot of countries raise environment and safety issues related to the ship-wrecking industry in India.
•
Investment Opportunities: Being a world player in ship recycling, the move will allow global funds to come and invest in ship-recycling centres in India.
•
Green Recycling of Ships: It will help India to bring in global best practices followed in recycling industries, ensuring that the ships are dismantled in an environment-friendly and responsible manner.
•
It will help in addressing the major issues related to hazardous substances such as asbestos, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, ozone depleting substances and others, which pose a grave threat to the Environment.
3.1 POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS 1. Inner Line Permit (ILP) Why in the News? •
The Union Home Minister, assured the civil society groups that the Citizenship Bill would provide protection to such regions and states where the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is applicable.
•
The autonomous administration has been granted under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
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About Inner Line Permit: •
It is an official travel document issued by the Government of India to grant inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period.
•
It is obligatory for Indians residing outside those states to obtain permission prior to entering the protected areas.
•
It is currently operational in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
•
It is issued by the state government concerned.
•
It can be issued for travel purposes solely.
Issues: •
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill aims to make it easier for Non-Muslim Refugees from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to obtain Indian citizenship.
•
If it is implemented with provisions for excluding from its ambit the states under the ILP regime, it means that beneficiaries under CAB will become Indian citizens but will not be able to settle in these three states the same restriction applies to existing Indian citizens.
•
Now, on these lines, even Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya are demanding the implementation of ILP system.
Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873: •
Under this Act, the British colonial government framed regulations restricting the entry and regulating the stay of outsiders in designated areas.
•
This is to protect the British own commercial interests by preventing Indians from trading within these regions.
2. Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill,2019 Why in News? •
Recently Parliament passed an amendment to the SPG (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
About SPG (Amendment) Bill, 2019 •
It proposes to provide security to the Prime Minister and the members of his immediate family, who are residing with him at the official residence.
•
It also proposes to provide security to former prime ministers and their immediate family members residing with him at the official residence allotted to him for five years.
•
It focusses solely on the security of the Prime Minister, as ensuring the security of the head of the government is of great importance for governance and national security.
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•
It provides a condition to continue the SPG cover of the PM’s immediate family members if the level of perceived threat is high in case of withdrawal of the SPG cover to the former Prime Minister.
Special Protections Group Act, 1988: •
The act proposed to provide SPG security based on the level of threat as decided by the Union Government. It states that if the SPG security cover is withdrawn from a former Prime Minister, it will also be withdrawn from his immediate family members unless the threat level faced by the family member warrants such security.
•
This means that in case of death of a former Prime Minister, the SPG security would be withdrawn from his immediate family members.
•
Under the bill’s provisions, only those family members will be provided with SPG security cover, who stay with the PM or former PM at the allotted residence.
•
The Gandhi’s and the former PM are now protected under the "Z plus" security cover of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
•
The government stated that the decision was taken after reviewing the threat level.
SPG: •
It is the highest tier of security, which was set up in 1985 to protect the Prime Minister of India after the assassination of late PM Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards in October 1984.
•
It is initially constituted to provide proximate security to the PM and his immediate family members, the SPG Act was amended in 1991 to provide security cover to former PMs and their immediate families after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1992.
3. Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) Why in News? •
Recently Ministry of Rural Development has implemented Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) exclusively for Women Farmers.
About MKSP: •
It is a sub-component of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM). The main objective of the scheme is to empower women in agriculture by making systematic investments to enhance their participation and productivity.
•
It is implemented by the Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development.
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•
It provides 90% funding for North Eastern States and 60% for rest of the part of India
•
It is to improve the skills and capabilities of women in agriculture to support farm and non-farm-based activities
•
It is also to create and sustain agriculture-based livelihoods of rural women.
•
It helps women to have better access to inputs and services of the government and other agencies;
•
It is to improve the capacities of women in agriculture to access the resources of other institutions and schemes within a convergence framework.
•
It is to ensure food and nutrition security at the household and the community level;
•
It recognizes the identity of “Mahila” as “Kisan” and strives to build the capacity of women in the domain of agro-ecologically sustainable practices.
Women | Agriculture: •
Rural women are the most productive workforce in agriculture.
•
Agriculture sector in India, contributing to 16% of the GDP is increasingly becoming a female activity.
•
It employs 80% of all economically active women which they comprise of 33% of the agricultural labour force and 48% of self-employed farmers.
•
They are not able to access extension services, farmers support institutions and production assets like seed, water, credit, subsidy etc.
•
Compared to men, women are paid less as agricultural workers.
4. Nehru-Liaquat Pact, 1950 Why in News? •
Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that the passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 (CAB) is a historic bill that has created a history which the Nehru-Liaquat Pact could not do.
About: •
Delhi Pact, also called Nehru-Liaquat Pact, pact made on April 8, 1950, following the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after economic relations between the two countries had been severed in December 1949.
•
An estimated one million people—Hindus from East Pakistan and Muslims from West Bengal—crossed the borders during 1950.
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•
In spite of the opposition of his colleague Vallabhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, prime minister of India, concluded a pact with Liaquat Ali Khan, prime minister of Pakistan, whereby refugees were allowed to return unmolested to dispose of their property, abducted women and looted property were to be returned, forced conversions were unrecognized, and minority rights were confirmed.
•
Minority commissions were established to implement these terms, and confidence was in fact restored for a time; however, in the months following the pact, more than a million additional refugees migrated to West Bengal.
•
The continuing struggle over Kashmir also strained relations between the two countries.
5. Mallakhamba Why in News? •
Mallkhamba art form is recently displayed in the “The Fitness Arts Festival” of Maharashtra.
About Mallakhamba: •
Mallakhamba is a traditional sport, in which a gymnast performs aerial yoga postures and wrestling grips on a hanging wooden pole, cane, or rope.
•
Mallakhamb ('malla' meaning 'wrestler' and 'khamb' meaning 'pole').
•
It is performed as an art form, especially during national festivals.
•
The pole is usually made from Indian rosewood polished with castor oil.
•
This traditional sport is more prevalent in Maharashtra and adjacent regions.
•
In 2013, Madhya Pradesh declared Mallakhamba the state sport.
6. Global Refugee Forum (GRF) •
Recently, the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) is began at Geneva, Switzerland.
About GRF: •
It is jointly hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, and the government of Switzerland.
•
It will be held every four years at the Ministerial level.
•
It aims to debate and discuss the response of the world countries to the Global refugee situation. It is been organised around six areas, such as burden- and responsibilitysharing, education, jobs and livelihoods, energy and infrastructure, solutions, and protection capacity.
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About UNHCR: •
It is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
7. SHARJAH-IAU Why in News? •
Recently, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named the newly discovered stars as "Sharjah"
About: •
The Sharjah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
•
The star HIP 79431 is named as "Sharjah".
•
The planet affiliated with this star is named as "Barjeel".
About International Astronomical Union (IAU): •
It is a collection of professional astronomers.
•
Its Headquarters is located in Paris, France.
•
It aims to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation.
•
It is an internationally recognized authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies (Stars, Planets, Asteroids, etc.) and any surface features on them.
8. National Anthem Why in News? •
On December 27, 1911, the National Anthem was first sung at the Calcutta session of the Congress.
About: •
‘Jana Gana Mana’ is the first stanza of the Bengali hymns ‘Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata’, written by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.
•
A slightly varied version of the song was adopted by Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army in 1941 as the national anthem, called ‘Shubh Sukh Chain’, which also became popular in India.
•
‘Jana Gana Mana’ was adopted as the country’s National Anthem by the Constituent Assembly of India on January 24, 1950, the last day of its last session.
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•
Reverence to the National Anthem is a Fundamental duty in India. According to Article 51A (a) of the Constitution: “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem”.
9. Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Context: •
Recently, the Union Home Ministry has relaxed the provisions for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders that made it compulsory for those aged above 50 and below 20 to renew their cards on renewal of their passports.
About: •
They are required to re-register each time a new passport is issued till 20 years of age and once after 50 years of age but re-issuance of OCI registration is not mandatory each time a new passport is issued between the ages of 21 and 50.
•
Because of this requirement, the OCI card holders were not able to travel to India and many were stopped by airlines and immigration authorities at various airports due to the mismatch. This requirement has been relaxed till 30th June 2020 as per MHA instructions. They should carry existing OCI card along with Old and New passport.
•
They are given benefits on a par with non-Resident Indians in financial, economic and educational fields, except in the acquisition of agricultural or plantation properties.
•
They are also given free multiple entry and multi-purpose life-long visa to visit India and are also exempted from reporting to police authorities for any length of stay in India.
About OCI: •
It is a category introduced by the government in 2005.
•
Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) of certain categories as specified in the Citizenship Act, 1955 are eligible for being OCI cardholders.
•
Some of the benefits for PIO and OCI cardholders were different until 2015, when the government merged these two categories.
•
The MHA defines an OCI as a person who was a citizen of India on or after January 26, 1950; or was eligible to become a citizen of India on that date; or who is a child or grandchild of such a person, among other eligibility criteria.
•
According to Section 7A of the OCI card rules, an applicant is not eligible for the OCI card if he, his parents or grandparents have ever been a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh.
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10. Nari Shakti Puraskar 2019 Why in News? •
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has invited applications for Nari Shakti Puraskar for the year 2019.
Nari Shakti Puraskar: •
The National Award is given annually to individuals, groups, institutions in recognition of their exceptional work towards the cause of women empowerment, especially for vulnerable and marginalized women.
•
Nearly 40 Nari Shakti Puraskars will be given away on International Women’s Day observed on 8th March 2020. The President gives away the awards.
•
The award was formerly known as the Stree Shakti Puraskar. It was instituted in the year 1991. The award carries a cash prize of rupees one lakh and a citation.
•
For the year 2012, the award was posthumously bestowed on the 2012 Delhi gang rape victim named ‘Nirbhaya’.
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4.SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1. Polar Science Cooperation Why in News? •
India and Sweden are likely to sign their first maritime cooperation agreement, Cooperation in Polar Science.
•
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being prepared, encompassing cooperation in both Arctic and Antarctic regions. India and Sweden have arrived at a Tentative Agreement.
Polar Science: •
The world’s Polar Regions and their contiguous oceans are attracting more interest than ever before. Once regarded as barren, inhospitable places, the north and south Polar Regions have been transformed into high profile sites of scientific research.
•
Polar science has the potential to benefit humanity, help sustainable use of resources, and protect the planet and generate economic and social impact.
Research in the Polar
Regions is important and relevant to present-day needs. •
The Polar Regions may be at the ends of the Earth but what happens there affects us all. Understanding how the Earth works, and in particular how it is responding to everincreasing human pressure, is one of the greatest challenges of science.
•
Be it in understanding the role of the polar realm in modulating the global climate or for studying the ecosystem adaptability and survival under extreme conditions, there has been an increasing interest in the science of the polar realm, over the past two decades. Major research areas in polar science include Geology, atmospheric sciences, Meteorology, Snow study, Geomagnetism, Environmental Sciences, Wildlife biology, Oceanography, Ozone depletion, Climate change, etc.
Significance: •
In the past few years, India has signed a series of maritime information exchanges as well as military logistics support agreements, extending the reach of its armed forces.
•
The pact with Russia, in advanced stages of discussion, will give India access to Russian bases in the Arctic for logistics and operational turnaround. However, the agreement with Sweden is scientific in nature.
India’s Role in Polar Science: •
Realizing the importance of polar science as a pedestal for scientific research and to cater to the requirements of the Indian scientists in both the Polar Regions, two stations
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“Maitri” and “Himadri” have been established to serve as living-cum-research bases in the Antarctic and the Arctic respectively. •
Another permanent Indian research base “Bharati” in Antarctica was commissioned.
•
India commenced Arctic research by establishing its Arctic research station in 2008.
•
India’s Arctic programme aims to contribute to the development, consolidation and dissemination of the current understanding of climate change, its impacts and adaptations in the Norwegian Arctic, Svalbard.
•
The focus areas of scientific studies in the Arctic and the Antarctic have been largely confined to earth, atmospheric and biological sciences.
•
Considering the significance of the polar ice cap and the sea ice in the Polar Regions in modulating, if not driving the global climate, it is proposed to initiate a major national mission of cryospheric studies of both the Polar Regions.
National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR): •
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, (NCPOR) formerly known as the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) is an Indian research and development institution, situated in Vasco, Goa.
•
It is India’s premier R&D institution responsible for the country’s research activities in the polar and Southern Ocean realms.
•
It is an autonomous Institution of the Department of Ocean Development (DOD), Government of India which is responsible for administering the Indian Antarctic Programme and maintains the Indian government’s Antarctic research station, Maitri.
•
At present, NCPOR is an agency working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India since 2006, by the notification of the President of India.
2. ISRO’s Second Spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam (TN) Why in News? •
The
ISRO
has
commenced
land
acquisition
for
its
second
launchpad
in
Kulasekarapattinam, a town in the Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) district of Tamil Nadu.
ISRO’s spaceport: •
ISRO’s first and only spaceport, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), is located in Sriharikota, about 100 km north of Chennai, in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
•
The organisation launches its PSLV and GSLV rockets from here.
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•
The SDSC, setup in 1971, currently has two active launchpads. Its first launchpad was decommissioned once the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle programme ended in 1994. The first of the two active pads mostly services the PSLV and the second, the GSLV, and which ISRO is currently modifying to accommodate crewed vehicle missions as part of its upcoming
human
spaceflight
project,
Gaganyaan.
The
second
spaceport
at
Kulasekarapattinam is expected to provide an important advantage to ISRO’s upcoming Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), a smaller counterpart of the PSLV.
Need for another Launchpad: •
The PSLV is designed to launch satellites into pole-to-pole, or polar, orbits around Earth.
•
However, it can’t enter into such an orbit straightaway after launch because its trajectory needs to avoid flying over Sri Lanka, protecting its popular centres from any debris from the rocket.
•
So once the rocket lifts off from Sriharikota, it flies further east to avoid Sri Lanka and then steers itself back towards the South Pole.
•
This manoeuvre requires more fuel, and for a smaller rocket like the SSLV, the addition could eat into its already limited payload capacity and reduce the rocket’s value for Antrix, ISRO’s commercial operator.
•
By setting up a spaceport in Kulasekarapattinam the SSLV will lift off over the Lakshadweep Sea and won’t have to swerve around Sri Lanka as it climbs to higher altitudes.
Significance of Thoothukudi's location: •
Proximity to the seashore makes Thoothukudi ideal for “straight southward” launches. From Sriharikota, such southward bound launches are not possible as the rockets have to fly around Sri Lanka.
•
Nearness to the equator: Like the Sriharikota spaceport in the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Thoothukudi was selected as a spaceport due to its nearness to the equator. A rocket launch site should be on the east coast and near the equator.
•
Logistical ease: ISRO has its Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Mahendragiri in Tirunelveli district, where it assembles the second and fourth stage engines for the PSLV.
•
Instead of transporting the second and fourth stages to Sriharikota from Mahendragiri, it would be easier to shift them to the launch pad if it is built in Kulasekarapattinam, which is around 100 km away.
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3. PSLV-C48/RISAT-2BR1 Why in News? •
PSLV-C48 successfully launched RISAT-2BR1 and nine commercial satellites from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota.
About the Launch: •
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its 50th flight (PSLV-C48), successfully launched RISAT2BR1, an earth observation satellite, along with nine commercial satellites of Israel, Italy, Japan and USA from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.
•
These satellites were launched under commercial arrangement with New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
•
It was PSLV’s 50th flight and 48th successful flight since its first successful launch in 1994.
•
It was the 75th launch from Sriharikota.
•
This was the 2nd flight of PSLV in 'QL' configuration (with 4 solid strap-on motors).
•
With this, ISRO has launched a total of 319 foreign satellites from 33 countries since the first launch in 1999 when PSLV-C2 carried satellites from Germany and South Korea.
About PSLV: •
PSLV is an expendable medium-lift launch vehicle designed and operated by ISRO.
•
The PSLV, which has a history of successful launches of payloads that include Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission and the space recovery mission.
•
The PSLV had helped take payloads into almost all the orbits in space including GeoStationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), the Moon, Mars and would soon be launching a mission to the Sun. Initially, the PSLV had a carrying capacity of 850 kg, and over the years it has been enhanced to 1.9 tonnes. The PSLV has failed only twice in its history — the maiden flight of the PSLV D1 in September 1993 and the PSLV C-39 in August 2017.
About RISAT-2BR1: •
RISAT-2BR1 is radar imaging earth observation satellite carrying X-band synthetic aperture radar, an Indian version of Israel’s TecSAR satellite, with radial rib reflector 3.6 metre mesh antenna.
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•
The satellite weighs about 628 kg. The mission life of RISAT-2BR1 is 5 years.
•
The satellite will provide services in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Disaster Management.
•
It is believed that RISAT-2BR1 along with Cartosat-3, a remote sensing satellite which was launched on November 27, 2019, will also be used for Military Reconnaissance.
4. Synthetic Biology Context: •
The technology of Synthetic Biology is been pursued by industries despite there being no regulatory framework.
About Synthetic Biology: •
It is a field of science that involves redesigning of organisms for useful purposes by engineering them with new enhanced abilities.
•
It aims to solve problems in varied fields like medicine, manufacturing and agriculture despite there being no regulatory framework in place.It combines chemical synthesis of DNA with growing knowledge of genomics to enable researchers to quickly manufacture catalogued DNA sequences and assemble them into new genomes. It is used to generate products ranging from ethanol and drugs to complete synthetic organisms such as complex bacteria that can digest and Neutralize Toxic Chemicals.
Objective: •
To create fully operational possible biological systems from the smallest constituent parts, including DNA, proteins, and other organic molecules.
Difference between Synthetic Biology and Genome Editing: SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
GENOME EDITING
It involves organism’s genetic code
It also involves organism’s genetic code
It stitches together long stretches of DNA and
It uses tools to delete or add small stretches
insert them into an organism.
of DNA in the genome
DNA could be genes that are found in other
It uses tools to make small changes to the
organisms or they could be entirely new.
organism's own DNA
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Applications: •
It identifies and categorize standardized genomic parts that can be used (and synthesized quickly) to build new biological systems.
•
It redesigns existing biological parts and expand the set of natural protein functions for new processes.
•
For example, the Modified rice to produce beta-carotene a nutrient usually associated with carrots, that prevents Vitamin A deficiency.
•
The Natural Product Synthesis is a use of microbe to produce all of the necessary enzymes and biological functions to perform complex multistep production of natural products.
•
For example, Microorganisms harnessed for bioremediation use of living microorganisms to degrade environmental contaminants into less toxic forms to clean pollutants from water, soil and air. Synthetic Genomics is a design and construct of a ‘simple’ genome for a natural bacterium.
•
For example, Yeast is used to produce rose oil as an eco-friendly and sustainable substitute for real roses that perfumers use to make luxury scents.
International Scenario: •
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), has been working for more than four years in providing a global framework to deal with synthetic biology in the context of its impacts on conservation and sustainable use of biological resources.
•
In the past few years, Japan’s research and development into this technology has been phenomenal. Also, in Europe, the foresight assessment of this technology has brought the elements of real opportunities at par with virtual problems.
Indian Scenario: •
India established the Department of Biotechnology in 1986 to harness the emerging science to the benefit of the country.
•
There is been a long-standing lack of clarity and consensus on how India needs to deal with genetic modification technology in areas like agriculture.
•
Those who are developing this new technology are cautious of India’s changing stance on use and protection of such technology while, on the other, the farmers are completely at a loss at comprehending how to increase productivity without having access to technology.
•
Even the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change is striving hard to gain approval for commercialisation of such new technology.
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Way Forward: •
The bioethics have expressed the need for enhanced public engagement and dialogue in the governance of emerging synthetic biology and genome editing technologies in order to efficiently harness its benefits.
•
India’s policy and regulatory framework needs to focus on issues like, ✓ Defining what Constitutes the Science of synthetic biology ✓ Research and Development Priorities that will be made for public sector ✓ Guidance for Private Sector for Future Research
•
Like any other technology, synthetic biology is an emerging science with possible positive and negative impacts.
•
The science is real and its applications are varied. However, the potential harms and benefits associated with synthetic biology are required to be addressed. Countries like India, are in a dilemma where the industry is pushing ahead with investments in developing organisms and products with almost no regulatory or policy oversight on such technology.
5. EChO Network Why in News? •
EChO network to catalyze cross-disciplinary leadership in India has been recently launched.
EChO Network: •
It is a national program to provide a template for cross-disciplinary leadership in India with the specific focus of increasing research, knowledge, and awareness of Indian ecology and the environment has been launched.
•
The purpose of this Network is to bring all those together to share knowledge and synergize efforts under the umbrella of science.
•
It aims to train a new generation of educators and students who can identify and solve problems in an interdisciplinary manner to tackle real-world problems in medicine, agriculture, ecology, and technology.
•
The initiative has drawn in partners from Government, industry and academia, with the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India steering the program under the guidance of Prof. Shannon Olsson, Director, EChO Network.
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Significance: •
India faces unprecedented threats to its human environmental and ecosystems, solving which requires a confluence of India’s strong technological expertise and knowledge of the natural world itself. EChO Network would develop a national network to catalyse a new generation of Indians who can synthesize interdisciplinary concepts and tackle real-world problems in medicine, agriculture, ecology, and technology. With no precedent for such a network anywhere in the world, EChO Network establishes a new platform to change how science is embedded in our modern society.
11. Solar Eclipse Why in News? •
The Annual Solar Eclipse was recently observed in parts of India.
About: •
The Solar eclipse happens when the moon while orbiting the Earth comes in between the sun and the Earth, due to which the moon blocks the sun’s light from reaching the Earth, causing an eclipse of the sun or a solar eclipse.
•
There are three types of eclipses.
•
Total solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon and Earth are in a direct line. The dark silhouette of the Moon completely covers the intense bright light of the Sun. Only the much fainter solar corona is visible during a total eclipse which is known as a Totality.
•
Partial solar eclipse happens when the shadow of the moon appears on a small part of the sun.
•
Annular solar eclipse, which happens when the moon is farthest from the Earth, which is why it seems smaller. In this type of an eclipse, the moon does not block the sun completely, but looks like a “dark disk on top of a larger sun-colored disk” forming a “ring of fire”.
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•
Lunar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon and earth all fall in the same line and Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.
4.1 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS 1. Meteor Missile Why in News? •
India has recently requested for an early delivery of Meteor air to air missile from France.
About Meteor missile: •
They are beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles.
•
Have a range of 150 km and no escape zone of 60 km.
•
This no escape zone is the largest in the world according to its manufacturers.
•
These missiles are to be attached to the Rafale jets.
•
With increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, India is requesting for an early delivery.
About Operation Chammal: •
The base is currently executing Operation Chammal.
•
The operation also supports Iraq army.
•
It is a French Military operation in Syria and Iraq to contain the expansion of Islamic State. The French Government is invited India to visit the Al Dhafra air base in UAE where the Rafale aircrafts are on active operations.
•
The name of the operation comes from the north westerly wind that blows over Persian Gulf and Iraq.
2. Hera Mission Why in News? •
European Space Agency has recently Planed for humankind’s first mission to a binary asteroid system.
About Hera Mission-ESA: •
It is the first spacecraft to explore a Binary Asteroid.
•
It is named after the Greek goddess of marriage.
•
It will travel to a binary asteroid system that is the Didymos pair of near-Earth asteroids.
•
It won’t be the first to reach Didymos.
•
It will be launched to asteroid 65803 Didymos, in 2023.
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•
It is as nicknamed Didymoon.
About Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) -NASA •
It is a planetary Defense-Driven test of one of the technologies for preventing the Earth impact of a hazardous asteroid.
•
Its aim is to demonstrate a kinetic impact on a small asteroid.
•
It will be the first demonstration of the kinetic impact technique to change the motion of an asteroid in space.
•
It will target Didymoon as part of its planetary defence programme.
•
It will deliberately crash itself into the moonlet at a speed of approximately 6 km per second, using an onboard camera and autonomous navigation software.
•
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in USA plans to launch the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) between 2020 and 2021.
About | Didymoon: •
It is chosen because of its close proximity to Earth and its size.
•
It is small and in a tight enough 12-hour orbit around its parent, that its orbital period can indeed be shifted in a measurable way.
•
Its primary body has a diameter of around 780 m and a rotation period of 2.26 hours.
•
Its secondary body has a diameter of around 160 m and rotates around the primary at a distance of around 1.2 km from the primary surface in around 12 hours.
Need | Planetary Defence Mechanism: •
There are around 25,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs) that orbit the Sun on a trajectory that brings them close to our planet’s orbit. Certain near-Earth objects have been classified as “potentially hazardous” which are 140 meters or more in size and come within 0.05 AU (astronomical unit) to Earth. There are about 900 near-Earth objects measuring more than 1 km. An impact from one of these NEOs can bring devastating effects to Earth.
•
So, only scientists are working on a number of planetary protection initiatives to deflect asteroids if they threaten to impact the Earth.
3. Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security - Regolith Explorer (OSIRIX-REx) Why in News? •
Recently OSIRIX REx has captured an incredible close up shot of dust and rocks erupting from the surface of asteroid Bennu.
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About OSIRIX-REx •
It will travel to a near Earth asteroid, called Bennu and bring a 60-gram sample back to earth for study.
•
It will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact earth.
•
It observed the three largest particle ejection events on Jan 6, Jan 19 and Feb 11.
•
It concluded that the events originated from different locations on Bennu's surface.
•
It is the first asteroid sample return mission.
•
Sandpiper, Osprey, Kingfisher and Nightingale are the four sample sites, named after birds. It is found that he asteroid could be active or consistently discharging particles into space. It first observed a particle ejection event in images captured by spacecraft's navigation cam.
About Reasons for Ejection Event: •
Meteoroid Impacts: It is common in the deep space neighborhood of Bennu.
•
Thermal Stress Fracturing: Bennu's surface temperature vary drastically over its 4.3hour rotation period.
•
Released of Water Vapour: When Bennu's water-locked clays are heated, the water could begin to release and create pressure.
4. Frog Phone Why in News? •
Recently, the world’s first solar-powered remote survey device that can be installed at any Frog Pond.
About Frog Phone: •
It is developed by a team from various Australian institutions.
•
It will allow researchers to dial these devices remotely, and analyze the data later.
•
After a call is made to one of the Frog Phones already on a site, the device will take three seconds to receive it. During these few seconds, the device’s temperature sensors will get activated and environmental data such as air temperature, water temperature and battery voltage will be sent to the caller’s phone via a text message.
•
Because frogs are most active during night, researchers are usually required to make nightly observations in order to monitor them on site.
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Advantages: •
It will reduce costs and risks, including the negative impact of human presence on the field site. It also allows for monitoring of local frog populations more frequently than before, which is important because these populations are recognised as indicators of environmental health.
5. STRANDHOGG Why in News? •
Recently, the Union Home Ministry has sent an alert to all States warning them about a bug called ‘StrandHogg’.
About StrandHogg: •
It allows real-time malware applications to pose as genuine applications.
•
It can listen to their conversations, access photo album, read/send messages, make calls, record conversations and get login credentials to various accounts.
•
It will ask for permission to send notifications, messages etc., which acts as the main entry points for ‘StrandHogg’ to launch the attack. All versions of Android are vulnerable to this bug, but it may not be apparent to the affected users that malware applications are already on board in their device.
6. New System for Measurement of Weight Why in News? •
The prototype of one kilogram (NPK-57) is now available in India and placed at the National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. The new definition of kilogram which has come into effect from May 2019 and few countries have developed the system of realization of unit of mass ‘kg’.
Highlights: •
Over the centuries, it has been defined and redefined, with a standard in place since 1889.
•
Called Le Grand K, a cylinder of platinum-iridium is locked up in a jar at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Paris. For nearly 130 years, the mass of this cylinder has been the international standard for the kilogram.
Redefining what constitutes 1 Kg: •
Representatives from 57 countries will vote in Versailles, France, to redefine SI, or the International System of Units.
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•
The kilogram’s definition will be based on a concept of physics called the Planck constant.
•
Reports worldwide suggest that the new definition is set to be voted in.
Kibble Balance: •
Kibble balance is a self-calibrating electromechanical balance and provides the measurements of mass, traceable in terms of electrical parameters and provides linkage of macroscopic mass to the Planck constant (h).
•
The advantages of Kibble balance would be that the NPK need not to be sent to BIPM for calibrations and the accuracy and stability of Kibble balance is very high.
•
This is very important where low weights with high accuracies are essential, for example in pharmaceuticals and biotechnologies.
7. Pinaka Missile System Why in News? •
India’s indigenously developed Pinaka missile system, which is capable of striking up to range of 75 kilometres, was successfully flight-tested, a boost to its artillery power.
Highlights: •
Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army.
•
The earlier version of Pinaka system, known as Mark-I has the maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I while the latest version, known as Mark-II, has the range of 75 km.
•
Pinaka Mark-II rocket is modified as a missile by integrating the navigation, control and guidance system to improve the end accuracy and enhance the range.
•
Pinaka missile system was designed to replace the BM-21 multiple rocket launcher systemof the Indian Army. Mark-I was used in Kargil War.
•
The navigation system of the missile is aided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM)
Why in News? •
Recently, DRDO has successfully test-fired indigenously developed Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air missiles (QRSAM).
About QRSAM: •
It is a sophisticated all-weather and all-terrain missile.
•
It is developed to replace the ‘Akash’ missile defence system.
•
It has 360-degree coverage. It uses solid fuel propellant.
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•
It has a strike range of 25-30 km with capability of hitting multiple targets.
•
It is capable of hitting the low flying objects.
•
It can be mounted on a truck and stored in a canister.
8. Frontier Technologies: The Tech Frontier for Developing Nations Context: •
Industrial Revolution 4.0 or Frontier Technology, the latest wave of disruptive technological change is fundamentally altering how goods, services and ideas are exchanged.
•
However, the disruptive nature of technology is nothing new, and it offers promising new opportunities, while at the same time posing a challenge to Policymaking.
About Frontier Technologies: •
It is defined as potentially disruptive technologies that can address large-scale challenges or opportunities.
•
It is the next phase in the evolution of modern technology. It is the intersection where radical forward-thinking and real-world implementation meet.
•
It has unlocked new routes to prosperity through agriculture, manufacturing, trade in services, the linking of informal and formal sectors, and domestic interconnectivity.
•
The rapid technological transformations that started from the Industrial Revolution to the digital revolution, have boosted economic performance, improved efficiency, accelerated the pace of globalization, and transformed human society in the process.
•
The Frontier technologies include robotics, automation, renewable energy technologies, Artificial Intelligence and bio technologies. Some of the top frontier technologies are Big Data Analysis, Sustainable polymers, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, 3D printing, Nanotechnology, renewable energy technologies, drones and customized satellites.
•
They are technologies that offer potential for cheaper, faster, scalable and easy to use solutions for everyday problems. It includes waste management as well.
Applications of Frontier Technologies: •
It is used to improve Government Administration and the delivery of Public Services.
•
It can help anticipate and respond to the effects of climate hazards and air pollution through the adoption of state-of-the-art technologies to address environmental impacts.
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•
It is used to reduce traffic pollution, save energy and water, and create a cleaner environment in Republic of Korea, which is built around the Internet of Things.
•
It is used to achieve the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Challenges in Frontier Technologies: •
The backbone of many frontier technologies are Information and Communication Technology, there is a risk of its triggering a new frontier technology divide, compounding an already existing digital divide.
•
It is estimated that, three billion people could still lack internet access by 2023, and many more will have little or no opportunity to reap the benefits of Digital Technologies.
Way Forward: •
There is a need to promote lifelong learning, reskilling and entrepreneurship development to develop a cadre of job creators. The government should start planning for digital readiness in areas such as infrastructure, human capital, policy and regulation, and finance. There should be a policy framework to strengthen public-private partnerships, so as to capture the benefits of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Here the Policymakers must also account for local contexts and conditions so that they can create social, political and economic ecosystems in which technology creates jobs and drives inclusive growth.
•
The policy framework for the next generation of technology and innovation should focus on creating an enabling environment for frontier technologies to positively impact the Economy, Society, and Environment; and to Reduce Inequalities.
9. SnowEx Why in News? •
For a better understanding of how much water is contained in each winter’s snowfall and how much will be available when it melts in the spring, NASA has launched a seasonal campaign — part of a five-year programme called SnowEx.
•
Around 1.2 billion people, or nearly one-sixth of the world, depend on seasonal snow and glaciers for their water supply.
SnowEx: •
SnowEx was initiated in 2016-17.
•
The overall target is optimal strategies for mapping global snow water equivalent (SWE) with remote sensing and models leading to a Decadal Survey “Earth System Explorer” mission.
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•
Within its geographic range, SnowEx assesses where snow has fallen, how much there is and how its characteristics change as it melts.
How does it work? •
It uses airborne measurements, ground measurements and computer modelling.
•
The airborne campaign will fly radar and lidar to measure snow depth, microwave radar and radiometers to measure SWE, optical cameras to photograph the surface, infrared radiometers to measure surface temperature, and hyperspectral imagers for snow cover and composition. Ground teams will measure snow depth, density, accumulation layers, temperature, wetness and snow grain size — the size of a typical particle.
10. Gaganyaan - Unmanned Test Mission Why in News? •
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planning its first unmanned test mission of the Gaganyaan mission.
Highlights: •
Gaganyaan will be the first manned space mission of ISRO which is proposed to be launched by 2022.
•
India has already successfully developed and tested several building blocks, including reentry space capsule, pad abort test, safe crew ejection mechanism in case of rocket failure, flight suit developed by DEBEL and the powerful GSLV-MkIII launch vehicle.
•
The orbital and re-entry mission and recovery operations have been flight demonstrated in Space Capsule Re-entry Experiment (SRE) mission.
•
Having met all required technological keystones, the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme was accepted and formally announced by the Prime Minister on 15 August 2018. Gaganyaan is an Indian crewed orbital spacecraft intended to be the basis of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme.
•
Gaganyaan is expected to carry three people into space for seven days. The largely autonomous capsule will orbit the Earth in the low earth orbit of 300-400 Km.
•
The crewed vehicle is planned to be launched on ISRO’s GSLV Mk III in December 2021. HAL has manufactured the crew module.
•
With this, India could potentially become the fourth country to send a man to space, after the erstwhile USSR, the US and China. Denmark also has a manned space flight scheduled for 2022.
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Timeline: •
Two unmanned Gaganyaan missions will be undertaken prior to sending humans.
•
As per ISRO schedule, the first and second unmanned flights would be sent in orbit within 30 and 36 months beginning from August 2018.
•
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to fly the first unmanned test mission carrying a humanoid ahead of its crewed Gaganyaan mission.
11. Navy Plans 24 Submarines to Strengthen Fleet Why in News? •
To strengthen its underwater fleet, the Indian Navy plans to build 24 submarines, including six nuclear attack submarines, a parliamentary panel was told.
Submarines in the Navy: •
According to the data from Indian Navy, currently there are 2 nuclear submarines and 15 conventional submarines in its fleet.
•
The two nuclear submarines in the fleet are INS Arihant and INS Chakra. Out of these INS Chakra has been leased from Russia.
Significance: •
Navy has made plans to build new submarines as the conventional submarines are more than 25 years old.
•
Thirteen submarines in the fleet are between the age 17 and 32. Also, it is important for the Indian Navy to strengthen its fleet as there is increased activity of the Chinese in the Indian Ocean Region.
•
The main issue that is further delaying addition of submarines to the fleet is US sanctions and CAATSA act of US.
•
CAATSA is Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Along with the Arihant Class SSBNs which are nuclear-powered submarines equipped with nuclear missiles, the Indian Navy has plans to build six nuclear attack submarines. They are also planned to be built indigenously in partnership with private sector industries. The Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear (SSBN) is a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.
Concerns: •
Rising Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region:
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•
The Indian Ocean Region, the area of operations of the Navy, has witnessed rising activities of the Chinese Navy.
•
The Chinese have increased their presence in the form of increased patrolling by submarines and ships.
Aging Fleet: •
A majority of the conventional submarines in the Indian Navy are over 25 years old. Thirteen submarines are between 17 and 32 years, impairing the capability of the Indian submarines.
Delay in Commissioning New Submarines: •
The Indian Navy has been revamping its infrastructure, including procuring new ships to match the naval capabilities of the Chinese.
•
Due to the delay in the new submarine construction projects like the six submarines under Project 75 being carried out at Mazagaon Docks, Mumbai, the Defence Ministry has approved Medium Refit cum Life Certification or MRLC of six older submarines.
The sanctions on Russia: •
The MRLC of submarine Sindhuraj was held up due to sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Russia. This has impeded the ability of Russia to submit bank guarantees and the integrity pact under the MRLC framework.
•
The sanctions imposed on Russia by the U.S. under its Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) have severely impaired the capabilities of Russia to service the submarines it has leased out to India.
12. Aditya - L1 First Indian Mission to Study the Sun Context: •
If 2019 was all about the Moon for Indian space agency ISRO, year 2020 could well be about the Sun. In his Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the ISRO’s plans to launch its first Sun Mission Aditya L1.
•
The 400 KG-Class Aditya L1 will carry six scientific payloads that will be inserted in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 or L1. Incidentally L1 is 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth.
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The Sun - Our Central Star: •
The Sun is the star nearest to us. It is a huge, luminous ball of gas like other stars in the Universe.
From the Inside out, the Solar Interior Consists of: •
The Core - The central region where nuclear reactions consume hydrogen to form helium. These reactions release the energy that ultimately leaves the surface as visible light.
•
The Radiative Zone – It extends outward from the outer edge of the core to base of the convection zone, characterized by the method of energy transport – radiation.
•
The Convection Zone - The outer-most layer of the solar interior extending from a depth of about 200,000 km to the visible surface where its motion is seen as granules and super-granules.
The Solar Atmosphere is made up of: •
The Photosphere - The visible surface of the Sun
•
The Chromosphere - An irregular layer above the photosphere where the temperature rises from 6000°C to about 20,000°C
•
Transition Region - A thin and very irregular layer of the Sun's atmosphere that separates the hot corona from the much cooler chromosphere
•
The Corona - The Sun's outer atmosphere.
•
Beyond the corona is the Solar Wind, which is actually an outward flow of coronal gas. ✓ The sun's magnetic fields rise through the convection zone and erupt through the photosphere into the chromosphere and corona. ✓ The eruptions lead to solar activity, which includes such phenomena as sunspots, flares, prominences, and Coronal Mass Ejections.
Aditya - L1: •
The Aditya-1 mission was conceived as a 400kg class satellite carrying one payload, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) and was planned to launch in a low earth orbit.
•
The Aditya-1 mission has now been revised to “Aditya-L1 mission” - placed in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is 1.5 million km from the Earth.
•
Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system - has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any Occultation/Eclipses.
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✓ A Lagrange point is a location in space where the combined gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as Earth and the sun, equal the centrifugal force felt by a much smaller third body. Aditya-1 was meant to observe only the solar corona - It has a temperature of more than a million-degree Kelvin which is much higher than the solar disc temperature of around 6000K. •
The complete list of payloads and their science objective for developing the Payloads: ✓ Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC): To study the diagnostic parameters of solar corona and dynamics and origin of Coronal Mass Ejections. ✓ Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT): To image the spatially resolved Solar Photosphere and Chromosphere in near Ultraviolet. ✓ Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX): To study the variation of solar wind properties as well as its distribution and spectral characteristics. ✓ Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA): To understand the composition of solar wind and its energy distribution. ✓ Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS): To monitor the X-ray flares for studying the heating mechanism of the solar corona. ✓ High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS): To observe the dynamic events in the solar corona and provide an estimate of the energy used to accelerate the particles during the eruptive events. ✓ Magnetometer: To measure the magnitude and nature of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field.
Questions about the Corona: •
The outer layers of the Sun, extending to thousands of km above the disc (photosphere) is termed as the corona.
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•
It has a temperature of more than a million-degree Kelvin which is much higher than the solar disc temperature of around 6000K.
•
How the corona gets heated to such high temperatures is still an unanswered question in solar physics. ✓ With the inclusion of multiple payloads, this project also provides an opportunity to solar scientists from multiple institutions within the country to participate in spacebased instrumentation and observations. ✓ Thus, the enhanced Aditya-L1 project will enable a comprehensive understanding of the dynamical processes of the sun and address some of the outstanding problems in solar physics.
13. Sun’s Corona Why in News? •
Solar physicists from Centre for Excellence in Space Sciences (CESSI), IISER Kolkata, have succeeded in predicting the shape of Sun’s corona at the time of the Recent Annular Eclipse.
Corona: •
The corona is the outermost part of the Sun’s atmosphere. It is the aura of plasma that surrounds the Sun and other stars. The Sun’s corona extends millions of kilometres into outer space and is most easily seen during a total solar eclipse, but it is also observable with a coronagraph. Spectroscopy measurements indicate strong ionization in the corona and a plasma temperature in excess of 1000000 Kelvin much hotter than the surface of the Sun. The Predictive Solar Surface Flux Transport model developed by the CESSI team can predict the shape of the corona well in advance.
•
The researchers can predict the large-scale structure of the Sun’s corona up to two months in advance. This model gives advance knowledge and a large window of preparedness for space weather driven by Coronal Magnetic Fields.
Space Weather: •
The dynamic events on the Sun can affect Earth
•
’s outer atmosphere and our technologies, leading to disruption in communication and navigation networks (GPS).
•
These are more frequent during solar maxima and pose a threat to space reliant Technology and Astronauts.
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5.SOCIAL ISSUES 1. Reservations in Promotions for SC/ST: An Overview Why in News? •
The Centre on Monday has asked the Supreme Court to refer to a seven-judge Bench the question whether the creamy layer concept should apply or not to the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes while providing them reservation in promotions.
Current Scenario of Reservations in Promotions in for SC/ST: •
The 2006 verdict on Nagaraj vs Union of India brought in a creamy layer filter for promotions for SC/ST employees. Also, the judgement ruled that the state had to collect 'quantifiable data on backwardness' of the SC/ST class if it wished to provide reservation in promotions. The judgement finally held that when it comes to promotion of SC/ST employees, the court held that the creamy layer concept does Apply.
•
So now, only in direct recruitment of the SC/STs, the creamy layer concept Does Not Apply.
Background Information: •
Constitutional basis- Article 335:
•
Article 335 recognises that special measures need to be adopted for considering the claims of SCs and STs in order to bring them to a level-playing field.
•
Need: Centuries of discrimination and prejudice suffered by the SCs and STs in a feudal, caste-oriented societal structure poses real barriers of access to opportunity. The proviso contains a realistic recognition that unless special measures are adopted for the SCs and STs, the mandate of the Constitution for the consideration of their claim to appointment will remain illusory. Significance: The proviso is an aid of fostering the real and substantive right to equality to the SCs and STs. It protects the authority of the Union and the States to adopt any of these special measures, to effectuate a realistic (as opposed to a formal) consideration of their claims to appointment in services and posts under the Union and the states. It also emphasises that the need to maintain the efficiency of administration cannot be construed as a fetter on adopting these special measures designed to uplift and protect the welfare of the SCs and STs.
•
Indra Sawhney vs Union of India case (1992):
•
In its landmark 1992 decision in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India, the Supreme Court had held that reservations under Article 16(4) could only be provided at the time of entry into government service but not in matters of promotion.
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•
It added that the principle would operate only prospectively and not affect promotions already made and that reservation already provided in promotions shall continue in operation for a period of five years from the date of the judgment.
•
On June 17, 1995, Parliament, acting in its constituent capacity, adopted the seventyseventh amendment by which clause (4A) was inserted into Article 16 to enable reservation to be made in promotion for SCs and STs.
•
M Nagaraj case (2006):
•
The validity of the seventy-seventh and eighty-fifth amendments to the Constitution and of the legislation enacted in pursuance of those amendments was challenged before the Supreme Court in the Nagaraj case.
•
Upholding the validity of Article 16 (4A), the court then said that it is an enabling provision.
•
“The State is not bound to make reservation for the SCs and STs in promotions. But, if it seeks to do so, it must collect quantifiable data on three facets:
1. The backwardness of the class. 2. The inadequacy of the representation of that class in public employment. 3. The general efficiency of service as mandated by Article 335 would not be affected. •
This is to provide for reservations in promotions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with consequential seniority.
•
"Consequential seniority" refers to promotions made purely on reservation basis despite another person waiting for promotion being actually senior to him/her.
•
Jarnail Singh case (2018):
•
In2018, a five-judge Bench in the Jarnail Singh case unanimously agreed with a 2006 judgment of another five-judge Bench in the M. Nagaraj case, which had upheld the application of the creamy layer principle in promotions.
•
Also the judgment has modified a part of the Nagaraj case verdict which required the States to show quantifiable data to prove the “backwardness” of a Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe in order to provide quota in promotion in public employment.
•
The whole object of reservation is to see that the backward classes of citizens move forward so that they may march hand in hand with other citizens of India on an equal basis. This will not be possible if only the creamy layer within that class bag all the coveted jobs in the public sector and perpetuate themselves, leaving the rest of the class as backward as they always were.
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What are the Current Concerns? 1. Against Precedence •
It has been clearly stated in Indra Sawhney (1992) case, that any discussion on creamy layer “has no relevance” in the context of SC/STs.
2. Against equal Representation •
Going by the creamy layer ceiling of Rs 8 lakh per annum, even “Group D” functionaries will come under the definition of creamy layer.
•
But notably, the SC/STs lack representation mainly at the Group A level which do not have direct recruitment provisions.
•
Promotions are the way through which members of SC/ST communities make it to this level.
•
So the consequence of the judgement (applying creamy layer in promotions) will be that promotions will stop even at the Group D and Group C levels.
3. Protection •
The SC/STs are given job reservations not because they are poor but because they are excluded.
•
The Constitution made the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as a separate category of subjects to protect them from caste aggression.
•
It was also to help them gain the strength they need to withstand it and to grow autonomously.
4. Article 335 •
The first part of Article 335 stipulates job reservations for SC/STs as a right of representation, not as a welfare measure.
•
However, the creamy layer among SC/ST employees helps fulfil the second part of Article 335 that requires maintaining the “efficiency of administration”.
•
So, the recent judgement largely undoes the affirmative action of ensuring equality of opportunity.
5. Right to opt out •
The court also failed to address this, as at present, an SC/ST candidate does not have the right to reject reservations.
•
It is also a punishable offence to withhold one’s caste status while seeking government employment.
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•
But allowing SC/ST candidates to compete in the general category would help thousands to leave the space for the less privileged among them.
•
Also, by competing as non-reserved candidates, the well-qualified SC/ST group would corner a substantial number of open posts (General Category).So theoretically, SC/STs would end up garnering more posts than at present.
2. Stop the Brutality: The Rape Culture in India •
The
recent
issue
of
rape
in
Hyderabad has triggered an intense debate on sexual violence, and the punishment that should be meted out to perpetrators. Rape is a stigma which exists in the society from a long time. The word rape is legally defined under Section375[1] of Indian Penal Code, 1860. It defines the rape and also prescribes its punishment •
“While a murderer destroys the
physical
frame
of
the
victim, a rapist degrades and defiles the soul of a Helpless Female.”
No Stranger to Crime: •
According to a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) (2017) report, around 93% Rapes in India Committed by Persons Known to the Victim. Large number of rape cases were filed against “family friends”, employers, neighbours or other known persons.
•
In most cases, the victims are specifically not allowed to speak to the investigating team and police officers under the pressure of their families who are stuck between getting justice and what the society says for a girl being raped.
Gender Stereotyping in the Society: •
Socio-culturally transmitted attitudes toward women, rape, and rapists are often internalized from the male dominated viewpoint. The Patriarchal Mindset showcases women as weaker sex, which leads to sexual violence against women.
•
This brings out the Misogynist Attitude prevalent in the Indian culture.
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Disclosure of Identity and Victim Blaming: •
Despite clear legal prohibitions, victim’s names are used in media and social media, causing real damage to the mental state of the victims. This may intensify the aftershocks on victims including depression, fear, guilt-complex, suicidal-action, diminished sexual interest etc,
•
According to the Section228-A of IPC, no person can disclose the name of the rape victim and if anybody discloses the name, he shall be punished with either description for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable for fine.
•
Despite these provisions and the punishments clearly specified, nothing much has changed. Poor journalism and the irresponsible social media have breached both ethical and legal norms, after every such incident.
•
“Even the dead have their own dignity” – The Supreme Court, in a judgement, held the name and identity of a victim who was either dead or of unsound mind should also not be disclosed even under the authorisation of the next of the kin.
•
Victim Blaming in India- In the Indian society, the victim of a sexual offence, especially a victim of rape, is treated worse than the perpetrators of the crime.
•
Identification of the survivors, either through names or other characteristics that point out to them have become reasons of ill-treatment and sometimes even abandonment of the survivors by their family.
Justice Verma Committee Report: •
Justice Verma Committee was constituted to recommend amendments to the Criminal Law. The committee was set up after the Nirbhaya incident of December 2012.
•
Rape: The Committee recommended that the gradation of sexual offences should be retained in the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The IPC differentiates between rape within Marriage and Outside Marriage. Under the IPC sexual intercourse without consent is prohibited.
•
Verbal Sexual Assault: The Committee has suggested that use of words, acts or gestures that create an unwelcome threat of a sexual nature should be termed as sexual assault.
•
To ensure Speedy Disposal of Complaints, the Committee proposed a tribunal must be set up and it should not function as a civil court but may choose its own procedure to deal with each complaint.
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Way Forward: •
The government should create a separate cell under the Union Home Ministry to address the sexual crimes against the women.
•
Schools should take forward the cause of sex education and also the sexual education.
•
Reforms in police department to gender sensitize them, in treating the cases involving sexual violence.
•
Implementing the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee, to ensure timely justice.
•
Make a directory of sex offenders in the lines of the western countries where such directories are used to trace paedophiles.
•
Media, both visual and print media should be penalised, if they disclose name and photo of the victims.
•
Conducting a Census of missing children in India, particularly girl children, might give the data of children who might have been trafficked.
✓ As women go about getting an education, doing work or simply doing daily chores, the inability of state and society to provide them - either safe passage or safe public spaces, effectively reduces their rights to that of second-class citizens.
3. The Neglected Foot Soldiers of a Liberalised Economy Why in News? •
There has been a drastic rise in the contractualisation of the workforce in India. But the government has failed to address the aspiring needs of this segment including the Social Security benefit needs of the same.
Recent Issue: •
There has been a proposed merger of BSNL and MTNL entities. Permanent employees of these two telecommunication companies are planning to opt for lucrative voluntary retirement schemes and a generous package also awaits the senior employees.
•
But the future of thousands of contract labourers, contractual and temporary workers — who have served the two organisations for several years for far less wages and without any substantial social security benefits is in dire straits.
•
There are also incidents of suicides among these contractual labourers of these two entities.
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Who is a Contract Labour? •
Contract Labour refers to the labourers who do not work directly for a firm but are employed by another firm (intermediary/contractor) which has a contract to do particular work.
Contract workforce share in India: •
Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) shows that there was an increase in total employment from 7.7 million to 13.7 million between 2000-01 and 2015-16.Of this, over half of the increase was accounted for by contract workers.
•
The share of contract workers in total employment increased sharply from 15.5% in 200001 to around 28% in 2015-16.
•
But the Contract Labour Act, 1970, is applicable only to organisations and contractors who are employing 20 or more workers. Hence, the number of such workers could be much more than what the numbers suggest.
Issues Faced by the Contractual Labour segment: 1. Non-compliance of the Contract laws: •
The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 and the Inter State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 have been in place for long; but non-compliance is the order of the day.
•
Similarly, manual scavengers, most of them employed as contract labourers, are still forced to do cleaning jobs under the most inhumane conditions, despite this barbaric practice having been outlawed through successive pieces of legislation.
•
The Supreme Court, in judgment after judgment, has ruled that contract workers should be paid the same wages as permanent employees for similar jobs, but these orders seem to exist only in the papers. Similarly, Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, has largely been a cosmetic exercise.
2. Hire and fire norm: •
Indian labour laws are stringent and protective, but this statement applies only to the fortunate permanent employees, who constitute roughly 10% of the total workforce. Hire and Fire is the rule for the contract labourers. Laissez faire is in Full Bloom.
3. Social Aspect: •
Paradoxically, a rigid labour law system has also contributed to greater contractualisation of the workforce. And, engaged in substantial numbers as contract labourers are people from vulnerable caste groups.
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4. Lack of Revisal in the salary structure: •
Pay Commissions are always very gracious to upgrade the salary structure of permanent employees on a periodical basis, but the genuine needs of contract workers are repeatedly ignored by the state.
5. Precarious Service Conditions. •
There are thousands of employees in the informal sector, a majority of them engaged through contractors, working in precarious service conditions.
Recommendations of the National Commission on Labour: •
The second National Commission on Labour, had Strongly Recommended for:
1. Abolition of the exploitative contract labour system in course of time 2. Implementation of a comprehensive social security scheme. 3. A contract worker should be treated as a permanent worker, after two years of working for an organisation •
But these Recommendations are yet to be Implemented.
Way Ahead: •
The Contract Labour Act prescribes that contract workers are entitled to “same wages” for the same kind of work as regular workmen. It is thus important to ensure that wages of contract workers are at par with directly hired workers. This is necessary not just for the benefit of contract workers, but also for directly employed workers who have had meagre growth in their real wages. Further, now, contract workers should not be engaged in “core” and “perennial” activities as per the law. However, with increasing substitution of regular workers with contract workers and the changing nature of core and perennial activities, there is an urgent need to review the Contract Labour Act.
The provision of decent
conditions of work and social security for contract workers must be strictly adhered to.
Conclusion: •
In the liberalised Indian economy of the 21st century, such labourers are treated as sacrificial goats. Unless our policymakers ensure strong enforcement of policies linked to such workers, suicides, as in the BSNL-MTNL case, will continue.
•
Parliament has already enacted the Code on Wages, 2019. Indeed, we do need reform in our labour laws to enhance globalisation. But, at the same time, we also need a comprehensive umbrella of social security for these foot soldiers of Growth and Development.
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4. The Structural Flaws in India’s Higher Education System Why in News? •
Recently, fee hike in JNU has raised a debate regarding the quality of higher education in India and the kind of support the government is giving to our students. In this context, we need to take a look into the problems that clog the higher education system in India.
Issues and Challenges: 1. Low Enrolment Ratio: •
According to All India Survey on Higher Education, the gross enrolment ratio in higher education is 25.2% in 2016-17 compared to 44% of China and 85% in US. This shows lack of access to higher education institutions.
2. Shortage of faculty •
Faculty vacancies at government institutions are at 50% on average and the teacherstudent ratio is now 1:20. The problem lies in increased demand, and stagnant supply.
•
A Deloitte gathering of 63 Deans of top-tier institutions revealed that 80% of those listed lack of quality faculty.
3. Quality standards: •
About 94% of students of higher education study in 369 State universities.
•
In 2012 only 106 State universities and 4,684 colleges were accredited by NAAC.
4. Underfunding: •
The number of institutions has surged in India since the 2000s, while the number of students doing PhD has remained constant. Meanwhile, there are over a 1,00,000 Indiaborn PhDs in universities around the world, who are kept away from India due to paltry salaries and poor funding. It has to be noted that China has solved this problem by attracting Chinese-origin PhDs back home with dollar salaries and monetary incentives for published research.
5. Complexity in Regulation •
The heavy hands of multiple regulators (like the UGC and All India Council for Technical Education), together with the empowerment of professional bodies (like the Bar Council of India and Council of Architecture) have not yielded the desired dividends
6. Inadequate Infrastructure •
Most of the funding from the Central government is skewed towards Central universities, IITs and IIMs.
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•
150 Centrally-funded institutions get most of funding by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
7. Lack of Industry connect •
Indian universities persist in separating research and teaching activities, depriving students of exposure to cutting-edge ideas. Monetary incentives for academia are practically non-existent, and Indian R&D expenditure at 0.62% of GDP is one of the lowest in emerging economies. It is not surprising, then, that Indian universities rank low in both research and teaching. According to India Skills Report only 47% of the Indian graduates are considered employable.
Impact of such an Issue: •
These structural flaws in the Indian higher educational institutions could affect macroeconomic indicators such as labour productivity.
•
Labour Productivity: ✓ Output obtained from each employee ✓ Determined mainly by
1. Innovation 2. Human Capital
Suggestion to improve Labour Productivity:
Government Interventions in this Aspect: 1. Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) •
To address the funding concerns of State institutions, the MHRD in 2013 has launched RUSA scheme.
•
RUSA provides strategic funding to eligible State higher educational institutions.
•
The scheme is performance-based in that the funding is linked to reforms in the key areas of governance, learning-teaching outcomes, enrolment and infrastructure support.
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2. Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP) •
It is an ambitious programme to improve Access and Quality in Higher Education over next 5 years. It provides for funding through HEFA that will raise Rs 1 Lakh crore for infrastructure improvement.
3. Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act) Bill 2018: •
The Bill seeks to repeal UGC Act and provides for setting up of Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) to replace the UGC.
•
Separation of academic functions and grants thereby promoting autonomy.
•
The new commission will cover all fields of education (except medical) and institutions set up under the Central and State Acts excluding those of national importance).
4. Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) •
Launched in 2018
•
Primarily aims at improving the research ecosystem of India’s Higher Educational Institutions.
5. Institutions of Eminence programme •
The above efforts have been coupled with an ‘Institutions of Eminence’ programme started in 2018 that gave increased funding to some research universities.
Way Forward: •
The Draft National Education Policy, 2019 has recommended for: 1. Increase GER to at least 50% by 2035. 2. Establishment of National research foundation to improve R&D. 3. Restructure of Higher Education Institutions into following Tiers: ✓ Tier 1: Research and teaching ✓ Tier 2: Professional courses ✓ Tier 3: Liberal Arts
•
The government needs to recognise the systemic anger at play, and ensure that higher education’s role in innovation and human capital is not ignored.
•
The Draft National Education Policy, 2019 is a great first-step, but the reforms must be pushed through and must lead to legislation that will fund research-based universities.
•
Only this can bring a culture of discovery and accountability to India’s Higher Education Institutions.
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5. Southern States have High Prevalence of Mental Disorder: Study Why in News? •
The Indian State Level Disease Burden Initiative has recently prepared a comprehensive estimates of disease burden attributes to mental health.
•
This report is been published in Lancet Psychiatry journal.
Categorization of states as per the Report: •
The study divides different States into three categories on the basis of their sociodemographic index (SDI), that is low, medium and high SDI States.
•
The SDI is a composite measure of per-capita income, mean education, and fertility rate in women younger than 25 years and is calculated on a scale of one.
Key findings of the Report: •
The study finds that roughly one in seven Indians, or 197 million persons, suffered from mental disorders of varying severity. It includes depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, idiopathic developmental intellectual disability, conduct disorders, and autism.
•
Importantly, the contribution of mental disorders to the disability adjusted life year (DALY) — the sum of total years of life lost and years lived with disability — has doubled between 1990 and 2017 increasing from 2.5% to 4.7%.
•
Depressive disorders were highest in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Telangana among the high SDI State group. Andhra Pradesh in the middle SDI State group.
•
Anxiety disorders were found to be more common in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Maharashtra in the high SDI State group and Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, and West Bengal in the middle SDI State group.
Significance of the Report: •
It provides the state with disease profile which will be useful for the state-specific health planning instead of general one.
•
It shows both overall trend and inter-state variations over a considerably large period.
•
It also calls for strengthening the local level health infrastructure and creating awareness among masses.
•
It leads to speeding up health expenditure in states due to the rise of non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases in children.
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•
The regional diversity in its risk show that we need different approaches, especially since food habits differ vastly in India from state to state.
•
Unhealthy diet leading to several diseases is almost a national crisis and shows that policies need to synergise health sector with other sectors such as that of fast-moving consumer goods.
•
The report will provide important input for date driven and decentralized health planning and monitoring recommended by National Health Policy 2017 and NITI Aayog Agenda 2017-2020
6. Need a Different Approach to Address Child Malnutrition Why in News? •
Though National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) shows an encouraging improvement in child nutrition, the world level rankings on child nutrition draws a different picture about India.
Reports that pings on Child Nutrition: •
UNICEF's report - one in three malnourished child in world belongs to India, half of the children under three years old are underweight and a third of wealthiest children are overnutrient-ed.
•
The 2018 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report ranked India 103rd out of 119 countries.
•
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in 2017, malnutrition was the predominant risk factor for death in children younger than five in every state of India.
•
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017, malnutrition is among the leading causes of death and disability in India.
Measures to address the lag in Improving Child Nutrition: 1. Timely Intervention: •
The focus must be on the pregnant, breastfeeding mother and the child, especially in the first two years of the child’s life, which is the crucial phase for physical, mental and cognitive development.
2. Targeted Approach: •
A targeted approach is needed because the size of the needy and the budgetary constraints already pose a big challenge.
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•
NFHS-4 provided district level data as well, hence the focus should be on the ones which require urgent attention.
•
More public programmes which cover important nutrition-specific areas such as maternal nutrition should be started.
3. No “one size fits all approach”: •
As these districts are concentrated in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat – their governments should make arrangements for the required funds and formulate policies to tackle high incidence of stunting in these districts.
•
Further, even within these districts, the pockets where child malnutrition is high should be identified and the intervention or the target should go down till the clusters of Anganwadis where the problem is concentrated.
4. Policy Implementation based in Real Time Data: •
Policy initiatives should be guided by accurate real-time data at the sub-district level also.
5. Educating Girls and Spreading Awareness: •
Efforts should be made to spread messages on hygiene and sanitation, particularly the need to do away with open defecation practices.
•
Similarly, education for girls should be advocated, as should the importance of enabling the financial independence of women through skilling and employment opportunities along with their inclusion in the formal financial network.
6. Sound public Service Delivery Institutions: •
Lastly, Programmes will have an impact only when there are sound public service delivery mechanisms, especially in the nutrition, health and education sectors.
•
Hence, building a cadre of dedicated professionals in the government needs a high degree of political will and administrative commitment, centred around developing skills and knowledge and building motivation to stay the course.
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7. Kerala Tops NITI Aayog’s SDG Index Why in News? •
Kerala tops states in progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals, while Bihar is at the bottom of recently released NITI Aayog's SDG Index.
About Sustainable Development Goals: •
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are officially known as Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
•
There are 17 Sustainable Development Goals, associated 169 targets and 304 indicators.
•
They are universal call by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for action towards ending poverty, improving health and education, protecting planet, and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
•
India has been closely monitoring its progress on SDGs through its National Indicator Framework and India SDG Index released in 2018.
About the Report: •
The SDG India Index was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Global Green Growth Institute and United Nations in India. The index comprises a composite score for each State and Union Territory based on their aggregate performance across 13 of the 17 SDGs (leaving out Goals 12, 13, 14 and 17). The score, ranging between 0 and 100, denotes the average performance of the State/UT towards achieving the 13 SDGs and their respective targets.
•
The states were classified under 4 categories based on their scores. The states with scores between 0 and 49 were categorized ‘Aspirant’, between 50 and 64 were ‘Performers’, between 65 and 99 were ‘Front Runner’ and with a score of 100 were categorized ‘Achiever’. The aim of the index is to instill competition among States to improve their performance across social indices as the States’ progress will determine India’s progress towards achieving the set goals by 2030. Using the index, States will be monitored on a real-time basis.
Key Findings of the Report: •
Kerala ranked first in composite SDG index with score of 70.
•
Kerala was followed by Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
•
The biggest improvement was seen in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim. The score of UP improved from 29 in 2018 to 23 in 2019. Also, the rank of Odisha improved from 23 in 2018 to 15 in 2019.
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•
The least performing states were Bihar,
Jharkhand
and
Arunachal
Pradesh. •
In terms of poverty reduction, states such as Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Sikkim performed well.
•
The states Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Bihar that were in Aspirant category moved to performers in 2019.
•
The states that were in performer category in 2018 and moved to front runner include Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Sikkim and Goa.
What is the Concern? •
Ending hunger and achieving gender equality are the areas where most states fall far short, with the all-India scores for these goals at 35 and 42 points respectively.
•
The second SDG – zero hunger – shows sharp divergence in the performance of states, with little middle ground.
•
Kerala, Goa and parts of the north-east -- including Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim – have scored above 65, with Goa at 75 points.
•
However, 22 of the states and union territories have scored below 50, with the central Indian states of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Chhattisgarh scoring below 30, showing abysmal levels of hunger and malnutrition.
•
The chosen indicators are related to child stunting, obesity and anaemia, as well as agricultural production and subsidised food distribution.
•
On the fifth SDG – gender equality – almost all states fare poorly. Only Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala have managed to cross 50 points.
•
The indicators considered include crimes against women, eradicating sex selection and discrimination against daughters, and access to reproductive health schemes, as well as indicators showing women’s economic and political empowerment and leadership.
•
A sex ratio of 896 females per 1000 males, a 17.5% female labour participation rate, and the fact that one in three women experience spousal violence all contribute to a low score countrywide.
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•
The Swachh Bharat Mission has contributed largely to the high scores on the sixth SDG – clean water and sanitation – although that was helped by the fact that four out of seven indicators dealt with toilets and sanitation, while only one indicator was related to safe and affordable drinking water.
•
All states and union territories except for Delhi have scored above 65, with the national capital scoring poorly on the percentage of urban households with individual household toilets (less than one percent) and, oddly, providing no data on districts verified to be open defecation free.
•
Delhi also has 81% of blocks with overexploited groundwater, vastly higher than any other state.
Way Forward: •
Unless development becomes a mass movement, India can’t achieve what it is essential as of now.
•
India’s progress in achieving these goals are crucial for the world as it is home to about 17% of the world population, said a statement from NITI Aayog.
8. India needs a bottom-up Growth Model Why in News? •
There is a wide spread critique about India's growth model wherein it highlights that higher GDP growth rates in India has failed to translate into Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable growth of Indian citizens.
•
This article highlights the various defects in the policies of government and the need why the Government must adopt bottom-up and people-centered approach in its policies.
Problems with India's Growth Model: •
India has made rapid strides in its economic growth wherein the GDP size has increased from $ 275 bn in 1991 to $ 2.7 trillion in 2019. India has also been considered as the fastest growing major economies across the world.
•
However, such a growth model has failed to promote balanced, equitable and inclusive growth.
•
For instance, India's ranking on various Human Development Indicators such as HDI, Global Hunger Index (GHI), Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI), Environmental Performance Index etc. continues to be remain poor. Similarly, the PLFS report has highlighted that the unemployment has increased to 45-year high of 6.1%.
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Reasons for the poor outcomes of India's Growth Model: 1. Prioritising Growth over Development: •
The Government has excessively focused on enhancing the GDP growth rates without giving due emphasis on enhancing human capabilities. For instance, India's expenditure on Education and Health is hardly around 3% and 1.3% of the GDP respectively.
2. Pursuing Top-down Approach: •
Government has failed to incorporate bottom-up and people-centered approach in its policies which could have empowered the people and led to better outcomes.
•
The Government has excessively focused on improving "Ease of doing Business" to attract foreign capital, but it has failed to focus on improving "Ease of living" of its citizens.
3. Absence of Participatory Approach: •
Most of the Government schemes and programmes are implemented without the involvement of the stakeholders.
•
For instance, one of the reasons for the success of the MGNREGA programme is its participatory approach wherein the Gram Sabha members decide on the utilization of MGNREGA Funds.
•
However, other government schemes and programmes have failed to incorporate such a participatory approach leading to less than satisfactory results.
What can be done to Improve the Development Outcomes? 1. Follow the footsteps of China’s Model: •
India's growth outcomes can be improved by learning from the development models followed by China and some of the states in India.
•
Even though China is non-democratic country, it has given due emphasis on Human Development which is evident in China's better ranking on various Human development Indicators as compared to India.
•
On the other hand, in spite of being democratic country, India is yet to reach the level of development which China attained way back in 1990s.
•
Thus, there is a need to adopt people-centered policies rather than growth-centered policies to have better outcomes.
2. Kerala- the Forerunner: •
Similarly, some of the states in India have also taken a lead and shown as to how bottomup and people-centered policies can have transformative impact on the lives of the people.
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•
For instance, Kerala Government has followed "Participative Model" of Governance in order to empower the people at the grassroots level.
•
It has emerged as the frontrunner in empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions with the constitutionally mandated functions and finances.
•
It has also focused on the women empowerment through the "Kudumbashree" Scheme, which is considered to be a model scheme for multi-faceted development of women.
•
Such a participative model of Governance has enabled Kerala to be well ahead of all other states and match China in terms of Human Development Indicators.
3. Delhi’s “Common man's Model": •
Delhi Government has adopted "Common man's Model", wherein it has kept the common man at the centre of the various government policies and schemes.
•
It has given due emphasis on Health and Education and in order to ensure success of Government's intervention, it has focused on the active participation of the stakeholders.
•
For instance, it has established the School Management Committees which involves the parents.
•
The budget for training teachers has increased by more than five times. This has enabled the Delhi's Government schools to have much better performance than the private schools.
•
Similarly, the Public health expenditure has more than doubled. Mohalla Clinics have been set up in the poor colonies to provide accessible and affordable health care.
Way Forward: •
The Government has to realize that "Ease of Living" is much wider and comprehensive as compared to "Ease of Doing Business".
•
While, improvement in the Ease of Doing Business can lead to increase in the private sector investment, but improvement in the "Ease of Living" can lead to both better development outcomes and attract private sector investment.
•
This is so because a balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth can enhance the income levels of the people and attract greater amount of private sector investment.
•
Ultimately, Gandhi's philosophy of putting the last man first should be the sole guiding light for the government's policies.
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9. Higher Education - Quality Mandate Context: •
Human Resource Development Minister had launched five documents developed by University Grants Commission (UGC) covering the 5 verticals of Quality Mandate.
Quality of Higher Education •
Innovation and human capital - the two pillars of labour productivity and GDP growth, largely depends on the quality of the higher education. According to the India Skills Report-2019, only 47% of Indian graduates are employable, which is, exacerbated by startlingly low Faculty Figures.
•
Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015, SDG4 is dedicated to education.
•
Higher education is mentioned in target 4.3 of SDG4 - “By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.”
Structural flaws in Indian Higher Education System: 1. Faculty shortage - Faculty vacancies at government institutions are at 50% on average. The problem lies in increased demand, and stagnant supply. ✓ The number of institutions has surged in India since the 2000s, while the number of students doing PhD has remained constant. ✓ Meanwhile, there are over a 1,00,000 India-born PhDs in universities around the world, kept away by paltry salaries and poor funding. ✓ Indian R&D expenditure at 0.62% of GDP is one of the lowest in emerging economies. 2. Research and publications - Faculty are under pressure to produce a certain number of papers to Gain Promotion. ✓ This often makes them publish papers in journals that may not be of high quality. ✓ This also means that there is more emphasis on publishing papers than on teaching. 3. Quality Faculty - Teaching and research in any university depends on the quality of faculty as well as the quality of students. ✓ The quality of teaching depends on the quality of teachers.
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✓ For teachers to impart knowledge to students they must have a broad knowledge of their subject matter as well as enthusiasm and a desire for learning throughout the course of their career. 4. Expensive Education - Quality education is expensive in India. ✓ India has severely under-invested in education over the last 40 years, not much have been invested in R&D, and today even the top institutions are having very poor laboratory facilities. 5. Expansion - We expanded education very rapidly - India has larger number of institutions than China, both in terms of colleges and universities. ✓ In the process of standardisation of such institutions, India has erred by creating one single framework, where examinations became the only way to judge merit. ✓ This led to the mushrooming of coaching classes and anybody who could get ranks by studying in such coaching institutes were celebrated. 6. Leadership - The heads of universities are often appointed with Political Motivations. ✓ Vice-Chancellors are selected merely because they have the right political connections in the Ministry of Human Resource Development in the case of central universities, or appropriate political or caste affiliations in the concerned state. ✓ Also, in many cases, they pay huge amounts of money for the posts that are most visible symbols of the university system.
University Grants Commission and its Mandate: •
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India is a statutory body set up in 1956, and is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education.
The UGC’s Mandate Includes: •
Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination and research in universities.
•
Framing regulations on minimum standards of education.
•
Overseeing distribution of grants to universities and colleges in India.
•
Providing scholarships/fellowships to Beneficiaries.
•
Monitoring conformity to its regulations by universities and colleges.
•
Serving as a vital link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.
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Is UGC a Failure: •
Though the number of universities and student enrolment has been increasing, the quality of education is still lagging behind, which is attributed to UGC. UGC’s policies suffer from two diametrically opposite issues—under-regulation and over-regulation.
•
While it lets smaller substandard institutions slip by as deemed universities, it also instigates witch-hunts against reputed deemed universities.Hence, it is argued that UGC has not only failed to fulfil its mandate but also has not been able to deal with emerging diverse complexities.
Quality Mandate in 2019: •
The quality mandate aims at evolving higher education system to equip the country’s next generation with vital skills, knowledge and ethics for leading a rewarding life.
•
UGC released five documents concerning the 5 verticals of Quality Mandate, which covers✓ Evaluation Reforms ✓ Eco-Friendly and Sustainable University Campuses ✓ Human Values & Professional Ethics ✓ Faculty Induction ✓ Academic Research Integrity
•
SATAT- Framework for Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Campus development in Higher Educational Institutions.
•
Mulya Pravah – Guidelines for Inculcation of Human values and Professional Ethics in Higher Educational Institutions.
•
Guru-Dakshta – A guide to Faculty Induction Programme (FIP) to improve student centricity.
•
Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics (UGC-CARE) to continuously monitor and identify quality journals across disciplines.
•
‘Paramarsh’ - To mentor aspirant institutions for promoting quality assurance in higher education and facilitate National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) Accreditation.
Will Higher Education in India Ever Be “World-Class”? •
India is one of the youngest nations in the world, where the college-age group is growing at large. Where as in the QS World University Rankings-2015, only two Indian universities were featured in the top 200, while just 10 made it into the top 700.
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•
Therefore, the quality of education should be oriented more towards employability than rote learning.
•
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) – should be utilized to improve the quality of higher education.
•
India shall consider moving towards Learning Outcome based curriculum framework.
•
Continuous internal evaluation – can help in identifying Behavioural outcome of individuals.
•
In terms of faculty selection and promotion – it should be based on proper selection committee.
•
Brain Drain from the country – shall be reduced by appropriate schemes. ✓ China solved this problem by attracting Chinese-origin PhDs back home with dollar salaries and monetary incentives for published research.
•
With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), almost 40-50% of existing jobs would be heavily automated. This is the right time for the Indian Higher Education institutions to improve their quality to match the international standards and enhance the employability of the students.
10. WEF Gender Gap Index: India slips to 112th rank Why in News? •
WEF Gender Gap Index says that India has a very low (13.8 percent) women representation on company boards.
Highlights: •
World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently released Gender Gap Index-2019 that shows India has slipped to 112th position.
•
India has moved downwards four places in terms of gender equality amid increasing disparity in terms of women’s participation in the development of the country.
•
The country is ranked in the bottom five on health and economic fronts.
•
Last year, in 2018, India was on the 108th position on the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report.
India Specific Findings: •
The first WEF Gender Gap Index was published in 2006 when India was ranked at 98th position. WEF uses four metrics to give overall ranking that worsened India’s ranking from
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very next year. Now, India has slipped to 150th place on health and survival, 112th on educational attainment and 149th in economic participation. •
It was said in the report that there are very few economic opportunities for women in India. It is 34.5 per cent in India, 32.7 per cent in Pakistan, 27.3 per cent in Yemen and 22.7 in Iraq. The Report also highlights that India has a very low (13.8 percent) women representation on company boards.
Global Findings: •
World Economic Forum (WEF) Report said that Nordic countries are on the top of the list.
•
Iceland (1st) is ranked as the most appropriate country for women representation followed by Norway (2nd) Finland (3rd) and Sweden (4th).
•
In the top-10 list, these countries are followed by Nicaragua, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, Rwanda, and Germany. Apart from that, China ranked 106th, Bangladesh - 50th, Brazil 92nd, Nepal - 101st, Indonesia - 85th and Sri Lanka – 102nd.
•
The report suggests that it will take 95 years to close the political gender gap as women hold 25.2 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide.
World Economic Forum: •
World Economic Forum is a non-profit organization based in Switzerland. It is headquartered in Geneva. The Forum was established in 1971 by Professor Klaus M. Schwab, working at the University of Geneva, in the name of European Management.
•
It was renamed as World Economic Forum in the year 1949 and since then, it organizes an annual meeting every year in the month of January called Davos.
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6.INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India – Japan: 2+2 Dialogue •
India and Japan held their first ever Foreign and Defence Ministerial Dialogue (2+2), to discuss on the issues relating to defence and security, and other issues of mutual interest. The 2+2 ministerial dialogue is seen as an upgrade of the meeting between foreign and defence secretaries of the two countries, which is in place since 2010.
•
The upgrade is said to be the outcome of the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Japan, in October 2018, between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Japan is only the second country (after the US) with which India has such a dialogue format.
•
Quad, as one of the elements of Indo-Pacific strategy for “a free, open and rules-based order” in face of an aggressive and expansionist China in the region, should eventually evolve into a ministerial-level dialogue imbued with a strong military dimension.
India- Japan Relations: •
In spite of having ‘close-to-littoral’ policies of the past, India, realizing the importance of far reaching maritime ties with other Indo-Pacific nations, has had a close relation with Japan. The India-Japan 2+2 dialogue is an endorsement of the special strategic partnership between New Delhi and Tokyo. The dialogue, mainly, has been driven by the mutual desire to take forward Asia as a multi-polar region and ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific realm.
•
India and Japan continue to enjoy healthy maritime ties underscored by amity and trust with the two nations conducting annual bilateral naval exercise-JIMEX since 2012 and the formal inclusion of Japan into the MALABAR exercise in 2015 (India, US and Japan).
•
The defence exercises between the two nations include the Dharma Guardian land exercise and the Shinyu Maitr air exercise.
India and its Sphere of Influence in the Indo-Pacific: •
The rise of China, the realignment of US’ global strategy, the new approach adopted by Japan, ASEAN, France and other key players have further underlined the importance of the Indo-Pacific region.
•
China has increasingly active presence in the Indian Ocean region and also extends its efforts to expand its geopolitical reach in Asia and beyond, by the use of trade and military.
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•
India, also has a significant presence in the Indian Ocean and it is emphasizing regional connectivity and growth through - Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). This has made India, an option to counter the threat of unipolarity posed by China.
•
India, in recent years, understanding the salience of the region has moved from being a reluctant maritime power to a conscious one. It has sought to align its Indo-Pacific strategy with national maritime interests, and has developed partnerships accordingly.
•
India, also has created a nexus of common goals amongst different nations in South East Asia. And exercising its role as net security provider, is expanding its current sphere of influence.
•
India’s quick response to humanitarian disasters, piracy issues, evacuating civilians from conflict zones, and securing SLOCS, have displayed its capabilities as the net provider of security.
•
The US believes the Quad (Japan, India, United States and Australia), as one of the elements of its larger Indo-Pacific strategy for “a free, open and rules-based order” in face of an aggressive and expansionist China in the region.
India – Japan: Defence Trade: •
The sale of the ShinMaywa US-2 amphibious aircraft for the Indian Navy, is yet to be concluded. India’s purchase of the aircraft could see enhance India’s capability of the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts.
•
Further, the two have established a working group to study the possibilities in Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) Based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Augmentation Technology for UGV/robotics.
•
The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), which will enhance the strategic depth of bilateral security and defence cooperation between the two nations, is still in its development stage.
•
Opportunities in the areas of technology collaboration is significant. With India’s domestic defence electronic manufacturing segment still at a nascent stage, it has to partner with its strategic partners in building a domestic capability base.
•
Japan is also pushing for India to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and is making talks with other countries that are part of the deal to ensure that India’s concerns are addressed.
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What stops Japan? ✓ Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution declares that "the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling International Disputes". •
The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, wants to change the provisions to make Japan just as normal as other democratic countries. But any attempt to revise the constitution would be politically risky. And these amendments require approval of twothirds of both houses of parliament and a majority in a referendum.
•
Overall, the India-Japan ministerial level 2+2 strategic dialogue is an important initiative emphasizing the deep interest in both India and Japan to further strengthen their security and strategic engagements.
•
The two countries have built a strong strategic partnership in the last decade. But India and Japan also need to build a larger coalition if they are to balance China effectively.
2. Emigration Policies: Challenges and Way Forward •
India has been home to one of the longest and largest episodes of emigration in the world, from the Second Century BC, when Alexander the Great took back Indians to Central Asia and Europe, to the present times where Indians, moving out on their own volition, form one of the world’s largest populations of emigrants.
•
This population is also diverse in every aspect, from its geographical presence and skill sets to their purposes for migration and migration strategies.
India is a Migration Superpower: •
India is the top source of international migrants, with one-in-twenty migrants worldwide born in India. The number of international Indian migrants has more than doubled over the past 25 years, growing about twice as fast as the world’s total migrant population.
•
A large emigrant population has many benefits for India - International Remittances (touched $80 billion in 2018), and also a positive impact on foreign direct investments, trade and Foreign Relations.
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•
The Indian diaspora also provides much needed philanthropic activities in health and education to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Nearly half of India’s migrants are in just three countries: The United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and the United States.
•
The major reasons of migrations are economical in nature – growing unemployment in India and attractive opportunities available in the West Asia.
Kafala: System of Modern Slavery: •
The ‘kafala’ is an exploitative system used to monitor migrant laborers, working primarily in the construction and domestic sectors in Gulf Cooperation Council member states and a few neighbouring countries.
•
The system requires all unskilled laborers to have an in-country sponsor, usually their employer, who is responsible for their visa and legal status.
•
Through this system, an employer assumes responsibility for a hired migrant worker and must
grant
Explicit
Permission
before
the
worker
can
Enter,
Transfer
Employment, or leave the country. The kafala system gives the employer immense control over the worker.
Indians Amidst Kafala: •
A large number of people of India migrated to Gulf States for employment. The workers, mostly, are unskilled or semi-skilled, who require a sponsor to enter the immigrant country. They are mostly under-paid and are refused basic amenities like food and shelter.
•
Recently, nine Indian fishermen undertook the perilous sea journey from Yemen to flee from their sponsor and arrived in Kerala.
•
The Coast Guard rescued the fishermen who fled Yemen in a fishing vessel after being harassed by their sponsor in the Middle East nation.
Embassies and Consulates are Overburdened: •
Indian Embassies and consulates are often overburdened due to increasing issues related to NRIs, struck in Kafala system. Women stranded in the Kafala system are more disadvantaged than men. Human Rights Watch has pointed to the fact that most of the work in a near-feudal conditions, which is almost similar to "forced labour". The kafala or sponsorship system practised by GCC nations has been stated as the main reason for abuse of the rights of low-income migrant workers. GCC countries justify their act of imposing Kafala, saying that, these migrants form part of providers of critical services in their municipal sector, the transfer of such workers might affect the essential services.
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140 | P a g e
The Increasing Trend of footfall towards the West Asia •
Indian workers in West Asian Countries face competition from the workers of other less developed countries. With knowledge about opportunities increasing, more such workers from African countries are flooding the gates. The competition, however, might reduce the wages of existing unskilled workers and may also increase the rigidness of the Kafala system.
Unprecedented Deporting Incidents: •
In October, 2019, nearly 300 Indians were deported from Mexico for trying to enter the US illegally. The incidents of deportations are increasing due to attempts to illegal means of using tourist visa for other purposes.
Why Proper Registration of Emigration is Necessary? •
International crime syndicates may use innocent migrants for illegal trafficking of drugs and Terrorism. The women workers may also be trafficked when they venture in to foreign nations without proper registration as a worker.
•
Recently, the students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were sentenced to various durations of imprisonment for exploiting the US student visa system. Systematic streamlining of emigration processes might reduce such complications surrounding it.
Safeguarding the Emigrants: •
Since Independence, a steadily increasing number of low-skilled emigrants moved to destinations in West Asia. In order to safeguard their rights and welfare, the government enacted the Emigration Act, 1983. Perhaps it was an Act that was ‘formulated with the mindset of the 19th century, enacted in the 20th century and implemented in the 21st century’. In an effort to update and upgrade this framework, a draft Emigration Bill, 2019 was Released.
Draft Emigration Bill, 2019: •
It proposes a three-tier institutional framework, with the MEA as the nodal ministry. This could allow vertical policy coherence on emigration matters—particularly in promoting and managing safe, orderly and regular emigration.
•
The draft bill lists at length the duties and functions of recruitment agencies and subagents.
✓ The draft Emigration Bill 2019 does improve upon the extant legislative framework by adopting a whole-of-cycle migration approach. But, the current international paradigm relating to labour market protectionism, demands a much wider approach. www. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044-26265326/9884421666/9884472636 www.iasgatewayy.com Current Affairs | Monthly Magazines | Online Tests
141 | P a g e
Way Forward: •
Co-operation between External Affairs Ministry, Home Ministry and Ministry of HRD – should be strengthened Regulate recruitment agencies and educational Agencies that send citizens abroad. Social media can be used as an efficient way to reach the emigrants – For instance, Sushma Swaraj helped the diaspora in distress by her revolutionary social media outreach.
•
Manpower recruitment agencies can be standardized like in Kerala and Gujarat.
•
We should indulge in a shift from mere enactment of emigration management legislation to practising more broad-based diaspora engagement policies that could provide a cushion in these turbulent times.
6.1 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS 1. Exercise Hand-in-Hand-2019 Why in News? •
Opening Ceremony of the joint Exercise Hand-In-Hand-2019.
Exercise Hand-in-Hand: •
The eighth edition of the India-China joint training exercise ‘Hand-in-Hand-2019’ commenced at Meghalaya.
•
The People’s Liberations Army (PLA) contingent from the Tibet Military Command & an Indian Army contingent comprising of one Infantry company along with supporting staff are participating in the 14 days long joint training exercise. Besides counter-terrorism operations, discussions on Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) operations will also be conducted as part of the exercise.
•
The exercise was suspended in 2017 amid strained bilateral ties after the Doklam standoff.
•
In 2018, the exercise was held in China.
2. Blue Notice Why in News? •
Recently Interpol has issued Blue Notice against 5 youths.
About: •
Four Keralites and one Karnataka native who are suspected to joined terror group in Syria.
•
It is issued against these persons to get details about them from Syria.
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142 | P a g e
•
National Investigation Agency (NIA) initiated steps to attach the properties of Five Accused Persons.
About | Blue Notice: •
It is issued to the country which the criminal belongs to and to collect more information about a person's identity or activities related to the crime.
About | Other INTERPOL’S Notice: •
INTERPOL’s General Secretariat at the request of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and authorized entities issue 8 types of notices
•
It is published in four official languages of the INTERPOL, that is English, French, Arabic and Spanish.
Red Corner Notice: •
It is issued to seek the arrest or provisional arrest of wanted criminals, with the intention of extradition of the culprits. It is a request to locate and provisionally arrest an individual who is convicted in a criminal case. But just issue of red corner notice does not mean the person is guilty; he should be proven guilty by the court. It is issued by the General Secretariat at the request of a member country or an international tribunal based on a valid National Arrest Warrant. It is not an International Arrest Warrant.
•
It cannot put pressure on any member country to arrest an individual who is served a Red corner Notice. Each member country is free to decide the value of a Red corner Notice within their borders.
Yellow Notice: •
It is issued to locate missing persons, often minors or to seek help in identifying persons who are unable to identify themselves (in case of minors and people of unsound mind).
•
It is a valuable law enforcement tool that can increase the possibility of getting the location of the missing persons. It is to raise global alert to help locate missing persons, or to identify those persons who are unable to identify themselves. It is published for victims of criminal abductions (kidnappings), parental abductions or unexplained disappearance of the persons.
Black Notice: •
It is issued to seek information of unidentified bodies.
•
Here unidentified bodies mean the dead body of a person whose identity cannot be revealed by police and medical examiners.
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143 | P a g e
Purple Notice: •
It is issued to tackle environmental criminals.
•
It is issued for those criminals who hunts wild animals and sell their body parts in International Market.
Green Notice: •
It is issued to provide warnings and intelligence about persons who have committed criminal offences and are likely to repeat these crimes in other countries as well.
•
It is issued to many serial sex offenders. Interpol-United Nations Security Council Special Notice. It is issued for groups and individuals who are the targets of UN Security Council Sanctions Committees.
•
This type of notice is issued to terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and AlQaeda.
Orange Notice: •
It is issued to set alert about a person, an object, parcel bombs, disguised weapons and other dangerous and explosive materials; representing a serious and imminent threat to public safety.
3. Raisina Dialogue Context: •
It is a sad fact that stable regional security architecture has yet to emerge organically in Asia.
•
It is worth recalling what Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stated at the Raisina Dialogue in 2017.
About: •
It is an annual geo-political event, organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) designed on the lines of Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue. The dialogue is named after Raisina Hill, which is the seat of the Government of India, as well as the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
•
It is designed to explore prospects and opportunities for Asian integration as well as Asia’s integration with the larger world.
•
It is predicated on India’s vital role in the Indian Ocean Region and how India along with its partners can build a stable regional and world order.
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144 | P a g e
•
The conference is a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral meeting involving policy and decision-makers, including but not limited to Foreign, Defence and Finance Ministers of different countries, high-level government officials and policy practitioners, leading personalities from business and industry, and members of the strategic community, media and academia.
4. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Why in News? •
Recently, Russia is banned from the world’s top sporting event for four years by WADA.
About: •
It said that Russian athletes will still be allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympics as neutrals, but only if they can demonstrate that they were not part of what WADA believes was a state-sponsored system of doping.
•
It also banned Russia in 2020 Tokyo Olympics next summer and the 2022 football World Cup in Qatar, for tampering with doping test. It mentions that participants will have to prove that they were not involved in the doping schemes as described by the McLaren report, or they did not have their samples affected by the Manipulation.
About WADA: •
It is established in 1999 as an international independent agency composed and funded equally by the sport movement and governments of the world.
•
It is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. It aims at harmonizing anti-doping regulations in all sports and countries. It is collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee. Its key activities include scientific research, education, development of antidoping capacities, and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) the document harmonizing anti-doping policies in all sports and all countries.
•
It releases an annual report with regards to doping violations.
About McLaren Report: •
It is the name given to an independent report released in two parts by professor Richard McLaren into allegations and evidence of state-sponsored doping in Russia.
•
It was commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in May 2016.
•
In 2016, Professor Richard McLaren, an independent investigator working on behalf of WADA published a report showing that more than 1,000 Russians athletes in over 30 sports were involved in or benefited from state-sponsored doping between 2011 and 2015.
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145 | P a g e
5. Zero-Waste Alliance Why in News? •
Kerala’s capital city Thiruvananthapuram was recognised and awarded at the International Zero Waste Conference held in Malaysia in October this year.
•
Apart from Thiruvananthapuram Chennai is the other Indian city which is considered a Zero Waste city and is part of the International Zero Waste group.
Zero Waste Strategy: •
Zero waste is the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse and recovery of products, packaging and materials without burning, and with no discharges to land, water or air that threaten the environment or human health.
•
This definition was adopted by the Zero Waste International Alliance in 2002.
•
It means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.
Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA): •
It is a group of environmental professionals dedicated to working towards a world without waste through public education and practical application of Zero Waste principles.
•
By disseminating knowledge and providing support to its members ZWIA is promoting the implementation of Zero Waste Principles in Various Aspects.
TMC’s Waste Management: •
The TMC’s waste management plan was not the first of its far-sighted measures to manage waste. It brought in the green protocol for the first time in India to tackle plastic pollution.
•
The protocol was first practiced at an international workshop on zero waste in Kovalam in 2000. Many institutions have adopted this initiative, including the state legislative assembly complex in the city. Thiruvananthapuram, with a population of approximately 0.9 million, is spread over an area of 214.86 square kilometres and is divided into 100 wards. The TMC introduced segregated collection of waste to ensure maximum efficiency.
•
It Formalised and Institutionalised Source-Level composting and decentralised resource recovery as part of city waste management.
•
The entire process of waste management is based on the principle of proximity which ensures the least amount of displacement of waste.
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146 | P a g e
•
TMC also organizes periodical collection drives for specific types of non-recyclable discards. The materials will be sent to the authorized recyclers.
•
Bulk generators or commercial establishments, meanwhile, are required to take responsibility for their own waste.
•
They include hotels, restaurants, commercial establishments, community halls, and institutions.
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147 | P a g e
1. With reference to Irrawaddy Dolphin, consider
(b) 2 only
the following statements
(c) Both 1 and 2
1. It is not an oceanic dolphin, but a river
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
dolphin that lives in brackish water near coasts, river mouths and in estuaries. 2. Its habitat range extends from the Bay of Bengal to New Guinea and the Philippines. 3. IUNC has classified it as Critically Endangered in Red Data list.
4. Which of the following is not a specialised
agency of the United Nations? (a) International Maritime Organization (IMO) (b) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Which of the statements given above are
(c) Universal Postal Union (UPU)
incorrect?
(d) International Labour Organization (ILO)
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above
5. In the context of Hornbill festival, consider the
following statements: 1. Objective of the festival is to encourage inter-tribal interaction and to promote
2. BRUIE is recently displayed by NASA refers
cultural heritage of Nagaland. 2. It is organized by the Ministry of Tourism
to (a) Charged Coupled Device
and Art & Culture Departments of the
(b) Land Mine remover
Government of India.
(c) Under-ice exploration
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
(d) ArtioVision
incorrect? (a) 1 only
3. Consider the following statements regarding
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): 1. It is a statutory created under the provisions
(b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
of Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972. 2. "Operation Clean Art" is the recent
6. Which of the following is/are not the
recommendations of Swaran Singh Committee
operation of WCCB to prevent smuggling
with respect to Fundamental Duties?
of olive Ridleys.
1. The Parliament may provide for the
Choose the correct statement using the code
imposition of punishment or penalty as
given below:
considered suitable for non-compliance of
(a) 1 only
these duties. 148 | P a g e
2. Such punishment or
law won’t
be
questioned in a court of law for the
(d) 1, 2 and 3 9. Consider the following statements regarding
enforcement of fundamental Rights and in
Convention on Biological Diversity
case it caused a breach of fundamental
(CBD).
rights.
1. It was adopted at Earth Summit, 1992.
3. Duty to pay taxes by the citizen was by the
2. The Nagoya Protocol aims at sharing the
citizen was also on the list of fundamental
benefits arising from the utilization of
duties.
genetic resources in a fair and equitable
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
way. 3. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the
(a) 1 only
Convention on Biological Diversity is
(b) 2 and 3 only
an international agreement which aims to
(c) 1 and 3 only
ensure the safe handling, transport and
(d) 1, 2 and 3
use of living modified organisms (LMOs)
7. Surya-Kiran is a military exercise between
India and (a) Nepal (b) Srilanka (c) Bangladesh (d) Myanmmar 8. Consider the following statements regarding
Which of the above statements are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only (d) All the above 10. Consider the following statements regarding
Serious Fraud Investigation Office
‘Suriname’
(SFIO).
1. Suriname shares land borders with
1. It is a constitutional body.
Guyana, Brazil, and French Guiana 2. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north.
2. It functions under Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
3. Equator passes through it.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
Which of the statements given above is/are
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only
11. Consider the following statements regarding
“Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges” (INSTEX): 149 | P a g e
1. It is a payment mechanism being setup by
applicable. With reference to Inner Line Permit
the European Union to secure trade with
(ILP) consider the following statements:
Iran and skirt US sanctions
1. It is solely an official travel document.
2. It was initially set up by Belgium,
2. It
Denmark, Finland (E3) countries. Choose the correct answer using the code given
is
currently
operational
only
in
Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. 3. It is under the desecration of Central
below:
government.
(a) 1 only
Which of the statements given above are
(b) 2 only
incorrect?
(c) Both 1 and 2
(a) 1 and 2 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only
12. Consider the following judgements given
(d) All the above
below and find the Incorrect Match: Judgements
Relevant Issues
1. I.R Coelho Case (2007) 9th Schedule 2. Vishaka and State of Rajasthan case (1997) - Sexual harassment at the workplace 3. S. R. Bommai case (1994) - Misuse of Article 356 4. Indra Sawhney (vs) Union of India case (1992) - Issue of Reservations
14. Operating Ratio is recently seen in news refers
to. (a) Measure of expenditure against revenue. (b) Ratio of total variable cost to Average cost. (c) Product of Price and Quantity. (d) Change in Total Revenue to Change in Quantity 15. Consider the following statements regarding
Choose the answer using the code given below:
the ‘Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Bill,
(a) 1 only
2019’:
(b) 1 ,2 only
1. Any production, import, export, transport,
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
sale or advertisement of e-cigarettes shall
(d) None of the above
be a cognizable offence. 2. Storage of electronic-cigarettes shall also
13. The Union Home Minister, assured the civil
society groups that the Citizenship Bill would
be punishable with an imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to Rs 50,000 or both.
provide protection to North eastern regions and
3. Online sale and online advertisement of e-
states where the Inner Line Permit (ILP) is
cigarettes are still free from prohibition. 150 | P a g e
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
19. Consider the following statements about
(a) 1 only
Kafala System
(b) 1 and 2 only
1. In the Kafala system, a migrant worker’s
(c) 2 and 3 only
immigration status is legally bound to an
(d) 1, 2 and 3
individual employer or sponsor during the
16. Consider the following statements regarding
1. AMB is a 6x6x6 strategy that is targeting six age groups, with six interventions and
workers from neighbouring countries. 3. The system aims to improve labour mobility between India and Pakistan
six institutional mechanisms. mechanisms
contract period. 2. It is practised in Pakistan, to recruit Muslim
the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB):
2. Institutional
(d) Women Safety in Public places
include
a
Which of the statements given above is/are
National Anaemia Mukt Bharat Unit, and a
correct?
Indian Medical Association (IMA).
(e) 1 and 3 only
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(f) 2 and 3 only (g) 1 only (h) 1, 2 and 3 20. What is common to the places known as
(c) Both 1 and 2
Visakhapatnam, Mangalore and Padur?
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) Recently, Uranium deposits have been
17. ‘Jeholbaatar kielanae’, an extinct species
recently seen in news is a (a) a dinosaur (b) a rodent (c) a bird (d) a bull
discovered in these places. (b) These places are known for their water reservoirs. (c) Pink revolution which started in these areas, spread to the other parts of India. (d) Strategic crude oil storages of India are located here.
18. ‘Justice Verma Committee’, sometimes seen in
news is related to
21. Consider the following Statements:
1. A person to be elected to the legislative
(a) Reservations for SC’s and ST
assembly must be an elector for an
(b) Fundamental Duties
assembly constituency in the concerned
(c) Appointment of Supreme Court Judges
state. 151 | P a g e
2. The governor can nominate two members
2. DIN number has a lifetime validity.
from the Anglo-Indian community, if the
3. DIN is person-specific, if a person is a
community is not adequately represented in
director in two or more companies, he/she
the state assembly.
has to obtain only one DIN.
3. By-polls to State Assembly Constituencies
Which of the statements given above is/are
are conducted by the State Election
correct?
Commissions of the concerned state.
(a) 1 and 2 only
Which of the statements given above is/are
(b) 2 and 3 only
correct?
(c) 1 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only 24. Consider the following statements regarding
(c) 1 only
Particularly
(d) 1, 2 and 3 22. In the context of Shipbreaking, consider the
1. Shipbreaking
may
cause
Groups
Commission
Report
created
Primitive Tribal Groups as a separate
severe
category which was later renamed as
contamination of the sea bed.
PVTGs.
2. Dismantling of the ships on the beach is less polluting than dismantling on dry
Tribal
(PVTGs). 1. Dhebar
following statements:
Vulnerable
2. The scheme of Development of PVTGs is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in the ratio
docks.
of 90:10.
3. The Hong Kong Convention intends to address the issues around ship recycling. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) All the above
23. Consider the following statements regarding
Director Identification Number (DIN) 1. DIN is a unique identification number allotted by the Central Government to any person intending to be a director or an existing director of a company.
Choose the Incorrect statement using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 25. ‘Power of Siberia’, which is in news is related
to: (a) Seed vault for Eurasia (b) A policy launched by Russia to make Siberia hub of the crude oil industry.
152 | P a g e
(c) The inter-country gas pipeline between Russia and China.
the following statements with
reference to Gadhimai Festival:
(d) Largest electricity generation plant in the world.
1. It is held every 5 years at the at Gadhimai Temple of Bariyarupur, in Bihar.
26. Which of the following serves as International
Corridor
29. Consider
for
Asian
Elephant
Migration
between India and Bhutan?
2. Goat, Rat, Chicken, Pig and Pigeon are the animals slaughter in this festival. 3. The worshippers from India and Nepal offer prayers to the Goddess Gadhimai.
(a) Buxa Tiger Reserve (b) Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (c) Kaziranga National Park (d) Namdapha National Park 27. Consider the following statements regarding
Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above
the GST Council: 1. GST Council is a statutory body constituted
30. With reference to National Pension Scheme for
under the Goods and Services Tax Act,
Traders and Self-Employed Persons, consider
2017.
the following statements:
2. The GST Council is headed by the Finance Minister of India.
1. It is for Vyaparis with annual turnover exceeding Rs 1.5 crores.
3. Decisions are taken after a majority in the council with Centre has 1/3rd voting rights and states have 2/3rd voting rights.
2. It is mandatory and contributory pension scheme. 3. The Beneficiary should not be a member of
Which of the statement(s) given above
Employees Provident Fund Organisation,
is/are correct?
Employees State Corporation, National
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
Pension System, Pradhan Mantri Shram
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Yogi Maan-dhan.
28. Exercise Hand-in-Hand is a bilateral exercise
between India and which of the following
4. He/she should be within 18 to 40 years of age group.
country?
Which of the statements given above are
(a) China
correct?
(b) Pakistan
(a) 1 and 2 only
(c) Russia
(b) 3 and 4 only
(d) USA
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only 153 | P a g e
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
31. ‘Torrefaction’, recently seen in the news, is
related to: (a) Chemical process to refine petroleum products
34. Consider the following statements:
1. A person to be elected to the legislative assembly must be an elector for an assembly constituency in the concerned
(b) Antibiotic to eliminate Anaemia
state.
(c) Technology for water purification (d) Thermal process to convert biomass into a coal-like material
2. The governor can nominate two members from the Anglo-Indian community, if the community is not adequately represented in
32. Consider the following statements with respect
the state assembly. 3. By-polls to State Assembly Constituencies
to ‘Vanilla Alliance’ 1. It is an airline alliance formed to improve air connectivity within the Indian Ocean
are conducted by the State Election Commissions of the concerned state. Which of the statements given above is/are
region. 2. India is one of the founding members of the
correct? (a) 1 and 2 only
Alliance. Choose the correct answer using the code given
(b) 2 and 3 only
below:
(c) 1 only
(a) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 only
35. In the context of Shipbreaking, consider the
(c) Both 1 and 2
following statements:
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
1. Shipbreaking
33. The Programme for International Student
Assessment (PISA), a triennial international survey
to
evaluate
education
worldwide is conducted by: (a) UNICEF (b) World Economic Forum (c) United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture
systems
may
cause
severe
contamination of the sea bed. 2. Dismantling of the ships on the beach is less polluting than dismantling on dry docks. 3. The Hong Kong Convention intends to address the issues around ship recycling. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only 154 | P a g e
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(c) 4 only
(d) All the above
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 36. Consider the following statements regarding
Director Identification Number (DIN) 1. DIN is a unique identification number allotted by the Central Government to any person intending to be a director or an existing director of a company.
38. In context to Securities Appellate Tribunal
(SAT), consider the following statements: 1. It is a statutory body established under Securities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2014. 2. It consists of Presiding Officer and two members only. Which of the statements given above are
2. DIN number has a lifetime validity.
Incorrect?
3. DIN is person-specific, if a person is a
(a) 1 only
director in two or more companies, he/she
(b) 2 only
has to obtain only one DIN.
(c) Both 1 and 2
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 37. With reference to Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran
Pariyojana (MKSP), consider the following statements 1. It aims to empower women in agriculture. 2. It is a part of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM). 3. Under the scheme 90% of the funding is provided by central government. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 39. Which of the following World Heritage Sites
are included in Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)? 1. Taj Mahal 2. Agra fort 3. Fatehpur Sikri 4. Humayun's Tomb Select the correct code using the options below: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only 40. Which of the following schemes come under
Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA)? 1. Price Support Scheme (PSS) 2. Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) 155 | P a g e
3. Pilot of Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme (PPPS) Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
educational institutions by facilitating collaborations with top institutions of other countries. 2. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
(a) 1 and 2 only
is the National Coordinating Institute to
(b) 2 and 3 only
implement the SPARC programme.
(c) 1 and 3 only
Which of the statement(s) given above is / are
(d) 1, 2 and 3
correct? (a) 1 only
41. Consider the following statements regarding
Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018: 1. A person can be named as a “Fugitive Economic Offender” if there is an arrest warrant against him for involvement in
(b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 43. Operation Chammal’ is associated with which
economic offences involving at least
of the following countries?
Rs.500 crore.
(a) France
2. A Special Court designated under the
(b) Turkey
"Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016
(c) Russia
Act” can declare a person as Fugitive
(d) USA
Economic Offender. 3. No person in India has been declared as Fugitive Economic Offender yet.
44. With reference to Mekong River, consider the
following statements:
Which of the statement(s) given above is / are
1. It flows through five countries.
correct?
2. It drains into South China Sea.
(a) 1 only
3. It forms part of international border
(b) 1 and 3 only
between Laos and Vietnam.
(c) 2 and 3 only
Which of the statement(s) given above is/ are
(d) None of the above.
correct?
42. Consider the following statements regarding
“Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC)”: 1. The objective of the scheme is to improve
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above
the research ecosystem of India’s higher 156 | P a g e
45. In the context to Meteor missile, consider the
2. Monetary Policy Committee is a six-
following statements:
member committee headed by the Finance
1. It is a beyond visual range air to air missile,
Minister.
Russia.
3. Each member of the MPC has one vote, and
2. It is attached to Sukhoi 30 missiles.
in the event of an equality of votes, the
3. It has a range of 150 km and no escape zone
Governor has a second or casting vote.
of 60 km.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
Which of the statements given above are
Incorrect?
Incorrect?
(a) 1 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
(d) All the above 46. Consider the following, with regard to Extra
Neutral Alcohol (ENA): 1. It is red coloured food grade alcohol.
48. ‘Zero FIR’, recently seen in news is referred
to (a) Filing the case outside the jurisdiction of the police station.
2. It does not have impurities.
(b) Filing a case without any bribe.
3. It contains over 95 per cent alcohol by
(c) A station which has zero fake cases filed.
volume.
(d) Dealing a case without filing a FIR.
4. It is a by-product of sugar industry. Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only 47. Consider the following statements regarding
the Monetary Policy Committee: 1. The policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation target is decided by the Monetary Policy Committee.
49. In the context to FEMA Act, 1999, consider the
following statements: 1. The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) is an Act of the Parliament of India to consolidate and amend the law relating to foreign exchange. 2. The objective is to facilitate external trade and payments and for promoting the orderly development and maintenance of foreign exchange market in India. Which of the statement(s) given below is/are correct?
157 | P a g e
(a) 1 only
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 50. Which of the following magazines was
53. Which of the following missions are a part of
“New Frontiers program” of NASA? 1. JUNO
published by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar?
2. New Horizon
(a) Mook Nayak
3. Dragonfly
(b) New India
4. OSIRIS-REX
(c) Young India
Choose the correct statement using the code given
(d) Tribune
below:
(a) 1 and 2 only 51. Consider the following statements regarding
(b) 2 and 3 only
“Mallakhamba”
(c) 3 and 4 only
(a) It is an ancient style bronze and brasswork
(d) 1,2,3 and 4
still found in southern part of Coramandel area. (b) It is an ancient form of dance-drama and a
54. Crystal Award, sometime seen is awarded by
which of the following?
living tradition in the northern part of
(a) World Economic Forum
Malabar.
(b) World Bank
(c) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of south India.
(c) International Atomic Energy Agency (d) International Labour Organization
(d) A traditional sport of western India which involves gymnast performing on a hanging wooden pole. 52. Consider the following statement regarding
Competition commission of India: 1. It is a statutory body responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002. 2. It is created under the recommendations of Raghavan Committee.
55. With reference to Chief of the Army Staff,
consider the following: 1. Its appointment is made by Cabinet Committee on Security. 2. Tenure of the office is four years or at the age of 65, whichever is earlier. 3. It is created through the Commanders in chief Act of the Indian parliament in 1955.
Choose the correct statement using the code given
Which of the statements given above are
below:
Incorrect?
158 | P a g e
(a) 1 and 2 only
59. Consider the following statements:
(b) 1 and 3 only
1. Border Security Force is popularly known
(c) 2 and 3 only
as “Sentinels of the Northeast”.
(d) All the above
2. Border Security Force guards the border areas along India and Bangladesh.
56. Consider the following statements with regard
to Article 6 of Paris agreement:
the Hill People”.
1. It provides provisions relating to setting up a new carbon market.
that
establishes
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
2. It is transparency framework for action and support"
3. The motto of Assam Rifles is “Friends of
harmonized
monitoring, reporting, and verification
(b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
requirements. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
60. Arrange the following Tiger Reserves of
correct?
Assam from east to west:
(a) 1 only
1. Manas Tiger Reserve
(b) 2 only
2. Orang Tiger Reserve
(c) Both 1 and 2
3. Namas Tiger Reserve
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
4. Kaziranga Tiger Reserve Select the correct answer using the code given
57. Which of the following Right is not entitled
below:
under Article 19 of Indian Constitution?
(a) 1-2-3-4
(a) to freedom of speech and expression
(b) 2-3-4-1
(b) to assemble peaceably and without arms
(c) 3-4-1-2
(c) to acquire, hold and dispose of property
(d) 4-3-2-1
(d) to move freely throughout the territory of India 58. Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee, sometimes
61. Hump-backed
Mahseer,
a
critically
endangered fish recently in news, is found in the basin of:
seen in news is related to
(a) Tapti River
(a) Judicial Reforms
(b) Indus River
(b) Citizenship Amendment Act
(c) Ganges River
(c) Data Privacy
(d) Cauvery River
(d) Non-Performing Assets 159 | P a g e
62. Consider the following statements regarding
allocation of seats to Lok sabha:
3. It is participated by Ministerial level delegates.
1. The allocation Lok Sabha seats to the states
Which of the statements given above are
was based on the population data of 1971
correct?
census.
(a) 1 and 2 only
2. The next reallocation of seats to states will
(b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only
be altered only after 2036. Choose the correct answer using the code given below:
(d) All the above 65. With reference to Universal Service Obligation
(a) 1 only
Fund (USOF), consider the following:
(b) 2 only
1. It is under the Department of Economic
(c) Both 1 and 2
Affairs.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. The Funds received are deposited into
63. Consider the following, with regard to
3. It is a non-lapsable fund.
CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite
Which of the statements given above are
(CHEOPS): 1. It
is
Contingency fund of India.
an
Indian
Space
Research
Organisation’s (ISRO) space telescope. 2. It is designed to study the composition and formation of extrasolar planets. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
Incorrect? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above
correct? (a) 1 only
66. ‘Red Octagon’, sometimes seen in news is
(b) 2 only
referred to
(c) Both 1 and 2
(a) Name of a debris in space
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) warning symbol employed in packaged
64. In the context to Global Refugee Forum
(GRF), Consider the following: 1. It is hosted by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
foods (c) A series of active volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire (d) A software sold out using dark web
2. It will be held every four years.
160 | P a g e
67. The concept of the Recommended Dietary
(a) 1 and 3 only
Allowance (RDA) recently seen in news
(b) 2 and 3 only
indicates which of the following?
(c) 2 only
(a) a daily ceiling on the amount of salt, fat,
(d) 1, 2 and 3
carbohydrates and trans-fats. (b) a daily ceiling on the amount of salt, fat,
70. Consider the following statements regarding
Fort William
carbohydrates and protein. (c) a daily ceiling on the amount of protein,
1. Warren Hastings was the first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William
fat, carbohydrates and trans-fats. (d) a daily ceiling on the amount of protein,
2. The regulating act of 1773 established a supreme court at Fort William.
fat, carbohydrates and vitamins.
3. Fort Williams College for training Civil 68. Consider the following statements:
Servants locally, was founded by Warren
1. The Article 42 of the Constitution of India states that the state shall endeavour to secure all workers a living wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life. 2. Under the Constitution of India, Labour is a subject in the Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
Hastings. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
correct? 71. The ‘Hong Kong Convention’, recently in
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
news, is associated with (a) Laws of war and war crimes
69. Consider the following statements regarding
(b) Cross border Trade
Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):
(c) Rights of people in democracy
1. It is a statutory body under the Ministry of
(d) Ship Recycling
Power. 2. Energy
72. Consider the following statements regarding
Conservation
Building
Code
(ECBC) has been developed by BEE. 3. Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme is a flagship progarmme of BEE.
‘Global Refugee Forum’ 1. This forum is guided by the “Global Compact on Refugees” and is held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 161 | P a g e
2. The inaugural ‘GRF’ was held in 2016 at
(a) 1 only
the backdrop of the Syrian Refugee Crisis.
(b) 2 only
Select the correct statements using the code
(c) Both 1 and 2
given below:
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(a) 1 Only
75. Which of the following information related to
(b) 2 Only
RTI Act are exempted?
(c) Both 1 and 2
1. Personal information that is breaches of
(d) None of the above 73. Consider the following statements about
Special Protection Group (Amendment)Act, 2019, 1. SPG will provide security to the Prime minister only and not to his/her immediate family members. 2. It will provide security to any former P.M and his/her immediate family members, for a period of 3 years from the date on which he ceases to hold the PMO. Select the correct statements using the code given below:
(a) 1 Only (b) 2 Only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) None of the above 74. In the context to Right to Information (RTI)
Act, consider the following: 1. The information which cannot be denied to the Parliament shall not be denied to any person. 2. It is a Suo motu disclosure of information by each public authority. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
Privacy 2. Risk the life or physical safety of any person 3. Forbidden by any court of law in India 4. Affecting relation of State of India with foreign State Select the correct answer from the codes given below: (a) 1,2 and 3 only (b) 1,2 and 4 only (c) 2,3 and 4 only (d) All the above 76. In the context to National Ganga Council,
consider the following statements: 1. The National Ganga Council is formed under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. 2. The council consists of chief ministers from five states along the Ganga — Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand along with nine Union ministers and NITI Aayog vice-chairman. 3. National
Mission
for
Clean
Ganga
(NMCG) acts as an implementation arm of the National Ganga Council.
correct? 162 | P a g e
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
Select the correct answer using the code given
Incorrect?
below:
(a) 1 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
(d) All the above
77. With reference to the Gangetic Dolphin,
consider the following statements:
consider the following statements: 1. The Ganges river dolphin is a fresh water dolphin found in India, Bangladesh, and are
placed
under
“Critically
Endangered” category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 3. They are distributed across seven states in India
1. It was formally established in 1978 by the Coast Guard Act as an independent armed force of India.
Nepal only. 2. They
79. With reference to the Indian Coast Guard,
which
includes
Assam,
Uttar
2. It operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,
(c) Both 1 and 2
Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only
80. Consider the Following Statements
1. Bio-similar medicines are those, which are
(b) 1 and 2 only
produced from Biological sources like
(c) 1 and 3 only
cells, and not from synthesized chemicals.
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. They cannot be used for treating cancers, as they might react adversely with Tumor
78. Which of the following comes under the
Cells.
concept of Cooperative Federalism?
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
1. GST Council
correct?
2. NITI Aayog
(a) 1 only
3. Interstate Council
(b) 2 only
4. An industrial summit organised by a state
(c) Both 1 and 2
5. Panchayati Raj
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
163 | P a g e
81. Consider the following, with regard to Asian
85. India is a signatory to which of the following
Houbara bustard:
agreements?
1. It lives in arid climate.
1. COMCASA
2. It is listed as Endangered under IUCN Red list.
2. GSOMIA
3. Its population extends in the regions of Iran,
3. BECA
Pakistan and India.
4. LEMOA
Which of the statements given above are
Select the correct answer using the codes given
Incorrect?
below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) All the above
(d) All the above
82. Sharjah, sometimes seen in news related to (a) Roman-era hot spring (b) Expanding bullet (c) Newly discovered star (d) Short range infrared air to air missile
86. Consider the following statements: 1. Ration shops can be privately owned or owned by cooperative societies or by the government. 2. Ownership licenses to the Ration shops are issued by the concerned state government.
83. In the context to Synthetic Biology, consider the following: 1. It stitches together long stretches of DNA. 2. It redesigns existing biological parts. 3. It uses tools to delete or add small stretches of DNA in the genome. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above 84. ‘Industrial Security Annex’, a defence agreement
3. The responsibility of identifying eligible families and issuing ration cards to them rests with the local self-governments. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 87. Consider the following statements with respect
to ‘One Nation One Ration Card Scheme’
sometimes seen in news is related to which of the
(ONORC):
following countries?
1. With
(a) India and U.S (b) India and Australia (c) India and France (d) India and Japan
the
ONORC
scheme
being
implemented, the beneficiary can buy food grains from ration shops located in any of the states. 164 | P a g e
2. Currently,
the
central
government’s
(a) 1 only
ambitious initiative is being implemented
(b) 2 and 3 only
on a pilot basis in a cluster of six States.
(c) 1 and 3 only
Which of the statement(s) given above is/re
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
correct?
90. Old-age pension given to the Senior Citizens,
(a) 1 only
will be considered in terms of national income
(b) 2 only
as:
(c) Both 1 and 2
(a) Investment expenditure
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 88. With
reference
(b) Domestic consumption to
National
Statistical
Commission (NSC), consider the following: 1. It is set up on the recommendations of Rangarajan Commission. 2. Its composition consists of Chairperson and four members. 3. It is under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Which of the statements given above is/are
(c) Compensation to employees (d) None of the Above 91. Consider the following statements regarding
Bharat
Petroleum
Corporation
Limited
(BPCL): 1. It is a oil and gas company with “Maharatna” Status. 2. Majority of the shareholding in the company is held by private shareholders.
correct?
Choose the correct answer using the code given
(a) 1 and 2 only
below:
(b) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(d) All the above
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
89. Consider the following:
1. Reducing revenue expenditure 2. Introducing new welfare schemes 3. Rationalizing subsidies 4. Reducing import duty Which of the following action(s) can be taken by the Government to reduce the budget deficit?
92. Consider the following statements regarding
“Section 144”, recently in news: 1. This Section 144 derives its power from Indian Penal Code, 1860. 2. The Power to impose section 144 in a region lies with the Governor of the Corresponding state. 165 | P a g e
Choose the correct answer using the code given
(d) All the above
below: 95. In context to National Population Register
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(NPR), consider the following:
(c) Both 1 and 2
1. It is under the provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
2. It is voluntary for every usual resident to 93. Consider the following statements regarding
“Budapest Convention on Cybercrime”:
3. It is prepared only in national and state
1. It is the only Binding International Instrument that addresses internet and Cyber Related Crime.
Choose the correct answer using the code given below:
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 only
(d) All the above
(b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2
96. Which of the following is/are long-term
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 reference
level.
Correct?
2. India has recently signed this agreement.
94. With
register in NPR.
government securities? Digital
Communications
1. Dated Securities
Commission (DCC), consider the following:
2. Treasury Bills
1. It is responsible for formulating the policy
3. Government Bonds
of
Department
of
Electronics
and
Information Technology. 2. It prepares budget for Department of Telecommunications for each financial
Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) All the above
year. 3. Telecom secretary is ex-officio chairperson of DCC. Which of the statements given above are Correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
97. In context to Open Market Operation, consider
the following: 1. It aims to regulate money supply in the economy. 2. It is used to adjust the excess liquidity conditions in the market.
(c) 2 and 3 only 166 | P a g e
99. In context to Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP),
3. It is the sale and purchase of government securities by RBI.
consider the following: 1. It is a recognized book as per the Drugs and
Which of the statements given above are
Cosmetics Act, 1940. 2. It
Correct?
specifies
the
standards
of
drugs
manufactured and marketed in India.
(a) 1 and 2 only
3. It is formally recognized in Iran and
(b) 1 and 3 only
Afghanistan.
(c) 2 and 3 only
Which of the statements given above are
(d) All the above
Correct? 98. Consider the following, with regard to EChO
(a) 1 and 2 only
Network:
(b) 1 and 3 only
1. It is a National Program to provide a
(c) 2 and 3 only
specific focus of increasing research,
(d) All the above
knowledge, and Awareness of Indian 100. Consider the following, with regard to Pinaka
Ecology. 2. It can synthesize Interdisciplinary concepts and
tackle
Medicine,
real-world Agriculture,
problems Ecology,
in and
Technology. Which of the statements given above is/are Correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
missile system: 1. It is a multi- barrel rocket launch system. 2. It is been developed by Boeing production. 3. Its navigation system is aided by Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). Which of the statements given above are Correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All the above
167 | P a g e
ANSWER KEY 1
B
21
C
41
D
61
D
81
C
2
C
22
B
42
C
62
A
82
C
3
A
23
D
43
A
63
B
83
A
4
B
24
B
44
B
64
D
84
A
5
B
25
B
45
A
65
A
85
C
6
D
26
A
46
D
66
B
86
B
7
A
27
C
47
B
67
A
87
C
8
A
28
A
48
A
68
B
88
C
9
D
29
C
49
C
69
D
89
C
10
B
30
B
50
A
70
A
90
D
11
A
31
D
51
D
71
D
91
A
12
D
32
A
52
C
72
A
92
D
13
C
33
D
53
D
73
D
93
A
14
A
34
C
54
A
74
C
94
C
15
B
35
B
55
A
75
D
95
A
16
A
36
D
56
A
76
A
96
C
17
B
37
A
57
C
77
C
97
D
18
B
38
A
58
C
78
C
98
C
19
C
39
A
59
B
79
A
99
A
20
D
40
D
60
D
80
A
100
B
168 | P a g e