Professional Documents
Culture Documents
CA 30 May 2023 Monthly
CA 30 May 2023 Monthly
CURRENT AFFAIRS 30
MAY 2023
.IW NSIGHTSONINDIA.CM
O
Current Affairs 30
4. India’s New Parliament: Need and Significance 29
2 www.insightsonindia.com
Current Affairs 30
32. Forum for India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) 61 21.NavIC satellite: Why a regional navigation system matters
33. G7: De-risking and Effective Climate Action 62 to India 89
Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation
Countries on India’s Interests 22.Globalization and Climate Change 91
34. EU’s carbon border tax 63 23.Methane mitigation policies 92
35. Indian Diaspora: Sri Lanka’s Malaiyaha Tamils 64 24.Debt-for-climate swaps 92
Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their 25.Green Energy Open Access Rules, 2022 93
structure, mandate 26.Groundwater exploitation and sinking land 94
36. WTO: Outlawing India’s tech tariffs 65 27.Making Cities Climate-Ready 95
37. 76th World Health Assembly 66 28.The 2023-2033 Implementation Plan for Advancing Cli-
mate, Environment and Health Science 96
GS PAPER 3 29.Roadmap to energy justice 97
30.The Role of Small Modular Reactors in the Energy Transi-
Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobiliza- tion 98
tion, of resources, growth, development and employment. 31.Land reclamation 99
1. GST has begun to show sustained growth 66 32.Global Land Outlook Report 100
2.Gig economy 68 33.Wildlife translocation programmes 101
3. Why has the RBI withdrawn Rs 2,000 notes? 69 Disaster management
4. RBIs report on currency and finance 70 34.Combating forest fires in Uttarakhand 102
5. RBI’s gold reserves 71 35.New ESCAP Study on Natural Disasters 103
6. Cross-Border Insolvency 72 Linkages between development and spread of extremism.
7. SAI20: Blueprint for a blue economy 73 36. Maoist challenge: Needs political understanding, not se-
8. National Manufacturing Innovation Survey (NMIS) 2021- curitization 104
22 74 37.Insurgency in Manipur 105
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc. Internal Security
9. Decarbonising transport sector 75 38. 25th anniversary of Pokhran-II 106
Economic Liberalization, Trade Agreement
10. TEPA between India and EFTA states 76 GS PAPER 4
Inclusive Growth 1. Ethical Issues with Remission 107
11. Financial Inclusion in Rural India 77
A. The financial inclusion of women 78 CONTENT FOR MAINS ENRICHMENT (CME)
Agriculture
12.Agricultural exports-imports 79 1. NITI Aayog’s Compendium on Best Practices in Social Sec-
13.Making agri-commodity value chains sustainable 81 tor 2023 108
14.Direct-seeding method gains currency in India’s pad- a. Best Practices in ‘AGRICULTURE’ 108
dy-growing regions 82 b. Best Practices in ‘EDUCATION’ 108
15.GM food and sustainable food production 83 c. Best Practices in ‘SOCIAL WELFARE’ 109
Health d. Best Practices in ‘ENVIRONMENT’ 109
e. Best Practices in ‘SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY’ 110
16.WHO: Incentivising the development of new antibacterial
treatments 2023 84 F. Best Practices in SKILL DEVELOPMENT 110
17.Indian Pharma Industry 85 g.Best Practices in HEALTH & NUTRITION 110
h.Best Practices in Financial inclusion and Energy conserva-
Science and Technology
tion 111
18.“Risk-based” regulation for artificial intelligence (AI) 86 i. Best Practices in ‘E-governance and digitization’ 111
19.Decentralised renewable energy (DRE) technologies 88 j. Best Practices in Women’s Empowerment 112
Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology k.Best Practices in Sports and Disaster mitigation 112
20.India’s Women in Science 88 2.Colonel John Pennycuick 113
Space 3.Commander Abhilash Tomy 113
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4.John Sullivan 113 50.Use of animals for espionage 125
5.Maria Mies 113 51.‘Shuttle Diplomacy’ 125
6.Neeraj Chopra 114
7.Georgi Gospodinov 114
8.L. Elayaperumal 114
FACTS FOR PRELIMS(FFP);
9.Tina Turner 114 GS PAPER 1
10.Richard Feynman: Think on your own 114
11.My life as a Comrade 115 Indian Heritage and Culture
12.Return to Roots 115 1. Thrissur Pooram 126
13.25 years of Kudumbashree 115 2. Vaisakh Purnima 126
14.Sachhi Saheli Mahila Agro Producer Company Limited 3. Mridangam 126
116 4. Sengol 127
15.Welfare fund for MGNREGS workers 116 5. Saraswati Yantra 127
16.Shramavahini 116 6. Tungnath temple 127
17.Rajasthan Platform-based Gig Workers Bill 116 7.Rang Ghar
18.Single-teacher schools (Jharkhand) 116 127
19.Changathi literacy examination 117 8. Santiniketan 128
20.Keep Underprivileged Youth Away from Drugs 117 9. Mohenjodaro’s Dancing Girl 128
21.Racism in football 117 10. Gongadi Shawls 128
22.Shift to Cash Transfer 117 11. Muziris 128
23.Freeing “dotted lands” 118 12. Pandya: Trade routes between Romans and Madurai129
24.Bihan Mela (Seed Festival) 118 13. Shilabhattarika 129
25.Total e-Governance Kerala’s declaration 118 14. Matrilineal Meghalaya 129
26.Punjab: Right to Walk 118 15.Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology
27.Agra Smart City 118 (CSTT) 130
28.Digital Tripura project 119 16. International Museum Expo 2023 130
29.India Data Capacity Accelerator 119 17. France’s Bastille Day celebrations 131
30.Sam Altman: Challenges and future of AI technology 119 Modern India / Personalities
31.Regulation of AI 119 18. Maharana Pratap 131
32.Thirsty AI 119 19. Samarth Ramdas and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj 131
33.Giant Artificial Intelligence 120 20. Gopal Krishna Gokhale 132
34.’Odisha for Artificial Intelligence’ and ‘Artificial Intelli- Urbanization, their problems and their remedies
gence for Youth’ initiatives 120
21.Digital twins 132
35. WHO: Potential harm of using AI 120
36.Technophobia 121 Important Geophysical Phenomena/Geography
37.NYC skyscrapers turning to carbon capture 121 22. Blue Hole 132
38.Examples of initiatives under Mission LiFE 121 23.Seamounts 133
39.Bhopal and local SDGs 122 24. Palghat Gap 133
40.Ganga Prahari 122 25.Northern Lights In India 133
41.Disposable Diapers 122 26.India is heating up slower than the world average 133
42.Appointment of Sultan Al Jaber as the president-delegate A.Heat Index 133
of COP28 122
43.Saving Olive Ridley Turtles 122
44.Nature Education Centre 123
GS PAPER 2
45.Napier grass 123 Indian Constitution
46.Utilizing pine needles 123
1.Article 299 of the Constitution 134
47.Bushfire Management Program 123
Local Government
48.Heli-tourism 124
49.Riverine-Based Religious Tourism Circuit 124 2. Quota in Urban Local Bodies 134
Judiciary
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3. Hate Speech 135 22. Prices of Drugs going off-patent 145
4. Use of Regional Language in Courts 136 Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population
5. Power to direct changes in STs list 136 23. Twenty Point Programme 145
A. Article 355 137
Issues relating to development and management of Social
Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Re-
sources.
24. ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’ campaign 145
25.India’s Child Wasting 146
26.Programmes for Social Security Cover 146
27. Stars Programme 146
A. PARAKH 147
International Relations, News & Organizations
28.Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP)
147
29. India-Bangladesh rail link 148
31. ‘Route to Development’ 149
32. Washington Declaration 149
33.International Organization for Migration (IOM) 150
34. Migration, Mobility Pact with Australia (MMPA) 150
35. New Development Bank (NDB) 150
36. International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) 151
137 37. 75 years of UN Peacekeeping Forces 151
6. Anuradha Bhasin’s Case – Internet Shutdown 137 38. NATO Plus 152
7.Freedom to Protest 137 39.Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) 152
8. ‘Forum Shopping’ 138 A. IPEF Ministerial Meeting 152
9. Independence of District judiciary 138
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
GS PAPER 3
10. Cantonments 139 Economy, Banking, Energy, Infrastructure
Important Aspects of Governance, Transparency and Ac- 1. Robert Lucas’ rational expectation theory 152
countability, E-governance; Policy, Legislations
2. Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) 153
11. Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 140 3.ECL-based loan loss provisioning norms 153
12. National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) 140 4. Surety bonds 154
140 5.RBI payout to Government 154
13.e-Malkhana 140 6. SAMARTH campaign 154
14. National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) 140 7. Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS) 155
15. Link death and birth register 141 8. Centre for Processing Accelerated Corporate Exit (C-PACE)
A. Census in India 141 155
Government policies and interventions for development in 9. Clearing corporations 156
various sectors and issues arising out of their design and im- 10.Front-Running 156
plementation. 11. LIBOR 156
16. PM CARES Fund 142 12. Snowball effect 156
17. SAKSHAM Learning Management Information System 13. Evergreening of loans 157
143 14. ‘Lightweight’ payments system 157
18. ODF Plus Status 143 15. Startup India Seed Fund Scheme 157
19. Blood Donation by LGBTQ 143 16. US debt ceiling deal 158
20. Pension Adalat 144 17. Business Ready Project 158
21.Sanchar Saathi Portal 144 18. Agmark registration 159
A. CEIR system 144 19. IT Hardware PLI Scheme 2.0 159
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20. Project-SMART 159 62. Space Science and Technology AwaReness Training
21. Build-Operate-Transfer (toll) model 160 (START) 177
22. Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) 160 63. Saturn’s Moon 177
23.Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) 161 64. XPoSat 178
24.Industrial Corridor Development in Andhra Pradesh 161 65. Cosmic Dust Particles 178
25.Govt cuts subsidy on electric 2-wheelers 161 66. China sends its 1st Civilian to space 178
26. UDAN 5.1 162 67. Semi-cryogenic Engine 179
27.Greenwashing TechSprint 162 Environment, Climate & Conservation
28. Coal production in India 163 68.Global temperature likely to breach 1.5°C threshold by
29. Manufactured sand (M-Sand) 163 2027 179
30. Ethanol blending 164 69. Global Greenhouse Gas Watch 180
31. Oil pipelines 164 70. Carbon Capture Coalition 180
32.South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE) 165 71. Impact of Warming on the Aquatic Animals 180
Agriculture 72.Tipping Points 180
33. Pesticides in Tea 165 73. Climate Reparations 181
34. Krishi Mapper 165 74. Meri LiFE, Mera Swachh Shehar 181
35. Nutrients in millets affected by processing and polishing A. Meri LiFE’s app 182
166 75. Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) 182
36.Minimum Import Price for Apples 166 76.’Harit Sagar’ Green Port Guidelines 182
37. Sunflower oil 166 77.Lakes 183
38. World Food India 2023 167 78. People’s Biodiversity Register 183
39. Certification of Indian organic products 167 79. World Biodiversity Day 2023 183
40. Pradhan Mantri MatsyaSampada Yojana (PMMSY) 168 80. Star rating system for water taps, and sanitary fixtures:
Bharat Tap 184
HEALTH
81. International Climate Action in Civil Aviation 184
41.Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine 169
82. Great Nicobar Island (GNI) Project 184
42. National Programme for Prevention & Control of
83. ADB’s IF-CAP 185
Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) 169
84. Fit for 55 186
43. Policy on rare diseases 169
85. Central Asian Flyway (CAF) 186
44. World Thalassemia Day 170
86. Credit Suisse-Ecuador Deal for Galapagos Conservation
45. Mpox 170
186
46.Arsenic contamination 170
87. UNFF18 187
47. WHO’s advice on non-sugar sweeteners 170
88. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blend 187
48. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria 171
89. Regulating captive breeding of exotic animals 187
Science and Technology 90. Cold-blooded animals 187
49. Biosynthetic clock 171 91.Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary 188
50. Foucault pendulum 172 92.Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary 189
51. Sludge to Fertilizer 172 93. Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) 189
52. Mitochondrial Donation Treatment (MDT) 173 94.Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) 190
53. Calcium-41 173 Disaster Management
54. Pangenome Map 173
95. Neurotoxins 190
55. AI Supercomputer ‘AIRAWAT’ 174
SPECIES IN NEWS
56. ASTR 174
57.Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) 175 96.Babool 191
58. Telangana: State Robotics Framework 175 97.Baobab trees 191
59. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) 176 98.Lesser flamingos 191
60. EU Code of practice against disinformation 176 99. Gharials 191
100. Shelled pteropods & Flightless Midge 192
Space Technology
101.Leatherback Turtles 192
61.StarBerrySense 176
102. Malabar Pied Hornbill 192
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103. Gangetic dolphins 193
104.International Leopard Day 2023 193
105. Cheetah Project Steering Committee 193
CyberSecurity
106. Bluebugging 194
107. FluHorse 194
108. Volt Typhoon 195
Security challenges
109. Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) 195
110. Thermobaric Bomb 196
Defense
111. ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) 2023 196
112.Defence production 196
113. NIA’s Operation Dhvast 197
114. Tarini 197
115. NAFIS 197
116. INDUS-X under the iCET 198
Reports & Indices
117. WEF: “Future of Jobs” Report 198
118. Global Report on Food Crises 2023 199
119. World Press Freedom Index 2023 199
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2. As a social reformer:
GS PAPER 1 • He constantly questioned the importance of caste in
India’s discourse.
• In his poem - ‘The Sacred Touch’ (in the Harijan) and
MODERN INDIAN HISTORY drama - ‘Chandalika’, he shunned untouchability as
being inhumane.
• His works - Chokher Bali (on themes like widowhood,
1. GURUDEV RABINDRANATH TAGORE patriarchy and child marriage), Maanbhajan, and
Aparichita (shunning the practice of dowry) - touched
Context: upon almost all the social evils of that time.
The 162nd birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tag- Works • He published his first poems at the
ore was celebrated across the globe on May 7. age of 16 under the pen name ‘Bha-
nusimha’.
Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore (7th May 1861 – 7th Au- • Notable works include Gitanjali,
gust 1941) Ghare-Baire, Gora, Manasi, Balaka,
and Sonar Tori. He is also remem-
About He was a Bengali polymath who worked
bered for his song ‘Ekla Chalo Re’.
as a poet, writer, playwright, composer,
• For all his contributions he is widely
philosopher, social reformer and painter.
known as ‘Kavi guru’.
Philosophies • He propagated ideas of humanism,
Tagore vs • He was a good friend of Mahatma
idealism, nationalism and interna-
Gandhi Gandhi and is said to have given him
tionalism.
the title of Mahatma. However, both
• One of the most remarkable institu-
disagreed on key issues at times.
tions established by Tagore - Visva
• For example, Tagore sharply criti-
Bharati University (1921) - ushered
cised Gandhi, after he blamed the
in a new era of Indian nationalism
prevalence of untouchability for the
(incorporating all the best aspects of
massive earthquake in Bihar.
Western culture into the best of Indi-
• Tagore renounced British imperial-
an culture).
ism, yet he did not fully support or
Contributions agree with Gandhi and his Non-co-
1. As a freedom fighter: operation movement.
• For him, true freedom meant the ability to be truthful Awards • In 1913 he became the first non-Eu-
and honest with oneself otherwise autonomy loses all ropean to have won the Nobel Prize
of its worth. in Literature for his novel ‘Geetanja-
• He viewed British rule as a symptom of the overall li’.
“sickness” of the social “disease” of the public. • Knighthood was given to him by Lord
• He wrote the song ‘Banglar Mati Banglar Jol’ (Soil of Hardinge in 1915.
Bengal, Water of Bengal) to unite the Bengali popula- Relevance to- Tagore’s ideas on nationalism, human-
tion after the Bengal partition in 1905. day ism, internationalism and divinity stay as
• He actively participated in the Swadeshi movement alive and relevant.
(1905). Being shocked when it broke into communal
violence, he withdrew from the movement.
• He wrote the ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ (adopted as the Prelims Links: (UPSC 2021)
national anthem of Bangladesh later) and ‘Jana Gana Q. With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh,
Mana’ (adopted as the national anthem of indepen- which one of the following statements is correct?
dent India later) which helped ignite a feeling of na- 1. Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian Nation-
tionalism amongst people. al Flag here.
• For Hindu-Muslim unity, he started the Rakhi festival. 2. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of
the Andhra region from here.
He renounced the Knighthood in protest of the Jallian- 3. Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem
wala Bagh massacre (1919). from Bengali to English here.
4. Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up the head-
quarters of the Theosophical Society first here.
Ans: 3
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WORLD HISTORY
Context:
UN commemorated the mass displacement of Palestinians,
known as the Nakba, for the first time in its history.
Conclusion:
The UN marking 75 years since the displacement of 700,000
Palestinians recognizes historical injustice, affirms Palestin-
ian rights, advocates for a peaceful resolution, and shows
solidarity with Palestinians.
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Insta Links: Socializa- Family plays a vital role in socializing children,
Israel Palestine conflict tion teaching them societal norms, values, and
behaviours
Mains Links: I d e n t i t y Family provides a sense of belonging and
Q. “India’s relations with Israel have, of late, acquired a Formation helps individuals develop their identity by
depth and diversity, which cannot be rolled back.” Discuss. instilling cultural, religious, and familial val-
(UPSC 2018) ues.
Intergen- The presence of multiple generations in a
e rat i o n a l family fosters intergenerational relation-
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2015) Bonding ships, creating opportunities for shared wis-
Q. The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears dom, experiences, and mutual learning.
in the news in the context of the events related to
Moral and Families teach principles of honesty, integrity,
a) Central Asia Ethical De- compassion, and responsibility.
b) Middle East velopment India swear by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
c) South-East Asia Kutumb or family has traditionally acquired
d) Central Africa primacy in human interpersonal-social rela-
Ans: B tionship dynamics.
Education Guidance and Financial Support
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Balancing The traditional family system may face difficul- 4. THE BATTLE TO END CHILD MARRIAGE
Work and ties in accommodating individual aspirations
Family while maintaining traditional family roles and Context:
responsibilities. According to UNICEF, multiple crises are threatening to re-
verse hard-earned gains in the decline in child marriage.
Ways of Reviving India’s Traditional Family System:
Example Child marriage:
Promote In- Using storytelling, family meals, and • It refers to any formal marriage or informal union
ter-generational cultural celebrations. between a child under the age of (18 for females
Bonding and 21 for males in India) and an adult or another
child.
Strengthen Com- Promote dialogue that goes beyond • Most child marriages involve girls, many of whom
munication and formalities and embraces deeper are in poor socio-economic conditions.
Dialogue emotional connections.
Value Traditional Encourage the preservation of tradi-
Data on child marriage:
Values and Cus- tional values, customs, and cultural
• Worldwide, an estimated 640 million girls and wom-
toms practices within the family, ensuring
en alive today were married in childhood, or 12 mil-
that they are passed down to younger
lion girls per year.
generations.
• Child marriages have declined from 21 to 19% (glob-
Foster Mutual E.g., provide emotional support during ally) since the last estimates were released five years
Support and Care challenging times and engage in acts of ago.
kindness and assistance. • However, global reductions would have to be 20
Balance Individu- E.g., Encourage family members to times faster to meet SDG 5.3 of ending child mar-
alism and Collec- pursue personal goals while maintain- riage by 2030.
tivism ing a sense of togetherness, shared de-
cision-making, and a commitment to Status in India:
the welfare of the family unit. • While India has recorded significant progress in re-
Embrace Modern E.g., Encouraging the use of technolo- cent decades, it still accounts for one-third of the
Technology Re- gy for virtual family gatherings, shar- global total (India’s child marriage rate is 21% as
sponsibly ing updates, and staying connected per NHFS-5).
across distances. • 8 States have a higher prevalence of child marriage
Promote Gender Advocate for gender equality within than the national average - West Bengal, Bihar and
Equality and Em- the family, promoting shared respon- Tripura top the list with more than 40% of women
powerment sibilities, equal opportunities, and em- aged 20-24 years married below 18.
powering women to pursue their aspi-
rations. Most affected regions:
• South Asia continues to remain home to nearly half
Woman-led, child-focused and elder- (45%) of the world’s child brides.
ly-sensitive families are the need of • Sub-Saharan Africa is home to the second-largest
the hour global share of child brides (20%).
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Way ahead for India:
• The solution lies in empowering girls, creating prop-
er public infrastructure and addressing societal
norms.
• At the gram panchayat level, ensuring that Child
Protection Committees and Child Marriage Prohibi-
tion officers are doing the job and activating com-
munity support groups.
Best practice: Odisha now has over 12,000
Child Marriage Free Villages.
Conclusion:
It is possible to end child marriage, which requires unwav-
ering support for vulnerable girls and families. The focus
should be on keeping girls in school and making sure they
have economic opportunities.
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Status of Marriages in India: Consequences of the prevalence of the dowry system in In-
• Most Indian marriages are still arranged, and nearly dia:
all women marry by their late twenties. • Financial Burden on the Bride’s Family
• Some 90% of the marriages studied until 1999 in- • Abuse: Women are subjected to physical, emotion-
volved dowry al, and mental abuse if dowry demands are not met.
• Nearly all marriages in India are monogamous • Norms: Reinforcement of patriarchal norms, treating
• Less than 1% end in divorce women as inferior and perpetuating gender-based
• Parents play an important role in choosing the discrimination.
bride/groom • Breakdown of Marriages: Dowry-related disputes
• Over 90% of couples live with the husband’s family and conflicts often lead to marital discord, separa-
after marriage tion, and even divorce.
• More than 85% of women marry someone from • Deaths: Cases of dowry deaths, suicides, and bride
outside their own village burning due to dowry disputes and harassment.
• Over 78% of marriages are within the same district • Financial dependence: Women’s lack of financial in-
dependence and control over their own resources,
(Source: India Human Development Survey, 2005; National leads to dependency on their husbands.
Family Health Survey 2006; REDS, 1999) • Inequality: Preference for investing in dowry over
girls’ education, limiting their opportunities for per-
sonal and professional growth.
What is the Dowry system in India? • Reinforcement of Harmful Stereotypes: Dowry per-
The dowry system in India refers to the bride’s family giving petuates the notion that women are commodities to
to the bridegroom, his parents, or his relatives as a condition be bought, reinforcing harmful stereotypes in soci-
of the marriage. ety.
Causes of the prevalence of the dowry system in India: Provisions to combat the prevalence of the dowry system
Causes Description in India:
Patriarchal Soci- Women are considered as econom- Provisions Examples
ety ic burdens and need to be financially Legal provi- Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 (Prohibits
supported. sions: the giving or taking of dowry); Section
Economic Fac- Dowry is seen as a way to provide fi- 498A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)
tors nancial security to the bride after mar- (Criminalizes cruelty against married
riage. women); Mandatory requirement to
Social Pressure Expectations from the bride’s family to report dowry-related offences to the
and Status display their social and economic sta- police or concerned authorities.
tus. I n s t i t u t i o n a l Family Welfare Committees (Constitu-
Gender Inequal- Unequal distribution of property and provisions tion of committees at district levels to
ity inheritance rights favouring male heirs. review dowry complaints and provide
assistance); Women Helpline Numbers;
Cultural and Tra- Deep-rooted customs and traditions
Sensitization of Law Enforcement Agen-
ditional Beliefs have perpetuated the practice of dow-
cies
ry.
SC observations In Vishaka vs State of Rajasthan (1997):
Fear of Social Concerns about societal judgment and
SC requested the Law Commission of
Stigma reputation if dowry is not provided.
India to take a “fresh look” to bring
Lack of Legal En- Inadequate implementation and en- “more teeth” to the law against dowry.
forcement forcement of laws against dowry. Recently, the Supreme Court has held
Lack of Educa- Limited awareness about gender equal- that Dowry’s death can be presumed
tion and Aware- ity and the negative impacts of dowry. if the wife was harassed, mentally and
ness physically close before her death in the
Desire for Mate- Greed for wealth and material posses- marital home.
rial Gain sions led to demands for dowry. G o v e r n m e n t Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao; Sukanya Sam-
Peer and Family Pressure from extended family, rela- schemes riddhi Yojana; Ujjawala Scheme; One
Pressure tives, and societal expectations. Stop Centres (Sakhi); and National Ser-
vice Scheme (NSS) Special Camping Pro-
grammes
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• Active awareness of the “gender-specific” con-
straints that face most women.
• Gender-responsive policies need to be contextually
developed.
• The goal is not merely to increase female labour
force participation, but to provide opportunities for
decent work → contribute to the economic empow-
erment of women.
Conclusion:
Women’s labour force participation and access to decent
work are important and necessary elements of an inclusive
and sustainable development (SDG 5) process.
Mains Links:
Q. What are the continued challenges for women in India
against time and space? (UPSC 2019)
Steps taken:
• A new Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepre-
neurship has been established to coordinate the
skill development schemes across various sectors. 7. SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN SPORTS
• The National Career Service (NCS) Project provides
a nationwide online platform for job seekers and Common issues faced by women in sports:
employers.
Issue Examples
• The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 pro-
vides for enhancement in paid maternity leave from Lack of funding For example, the US women’s soccer
12 weeks to 26 weeks and provisions for mandatory and support team has won more titles than the
crèche facilities. men’s team but has been paid less.
• An advisory to the States under the Factories Act G e n d e r- b a s e d Female athletes may face discrimina-
1948 for permitting women workers in the night discrimination tion based on their gender, such as be-
shifts with adequate safety measures. ing told they are not as strong or capa-
• A network of Women Industrial Training institutes, ble as male athletes.
National Vocational Training Institutes and Regional
Vocational Training Institutes. E.g., Indian sport is characterised by
• A number of protective provisions have been incor- a dangerous combination of political
porated in various labour laws - The Equal Remuner- nexus and male domination of posi-
ation Act 1976, The Minimum Wages Act 1948. tions of power.
Sexual harass- Tennis player Ruchika Girhotra from
Best practices: ment and abuse 1990 dared to raise her voice against
● TVS (one of India’s biggest two-wheeler manu- the then president of the tennis feder-
facturers): Offers a scheme for women who are ation and IG Haryana Police;
returning to their careers (after the break) with Chinese Tennis star Peng Shuai accused
flexible working hours, mentoring and training to former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang
them. Gaoli of sexual assault (2018); USA
● Gabriel India Ltd [An auto parts company in Ho- Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal
sur (Tamil Nadu)]: It provides perks such as on-site
Lack of media Women’s sports events are often giv-
accommodation, subsidised food and training pro-
coverage en less media coverage compared to
grammes to attract more women workers, as their
men’s events, which can limit their vis-
attrition rates are lower compared to their male
counterparts. ibility and opportunities for sponsor-
ship.
Decreased Qual- Inferior facilities and equipment, lack
Way ahead: ity Training of quality trained coaches
• A policy framework encouraging and enabling wom-
en’s participation should be constructed.
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Conclusion:
To address the issues faced by women in sports. It will re-
quire a concerted effort from various stakeholders, including
governments, sports organizations, and civil society, to cre-
ate a safe and equitable environment for women in sports.
Insta Links:
What triggered Indian Wrestlers’ Protests?
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Cost savings Moving to smaller cities allows companies What is the Smart Cities Mission?
to reduce real estate costs and invest • It is an initiative of the MoHUA launched as a Cen-
more in people and R&D. trally Sponsored Scheme on June 25, 2015.
• To promote cities that provide core infrastructure,
Employees can save more in terms of
and a clean and sustainable environment, 100 cities
rental costs and experience social benefits
(to be developed as Smart Cities) have been select-
in smaller towns.
ed through a two-stage competition (from January
Rich talent Smaller cities have untapped talent with 2016 to June 2018).
pool a potential talent drain to larger metros, • 66 of the cities are small (less than 1 million popu-
providing opportunities. lation) and are implementing two-thirds of the proj-
Higher reten- Employees prefer to stay in their home- ects.
tion rates towns, leading to higher retention rates in
smaller cities. It aims to:
Availability of Smaller cities like Coimbatore offer qual- • Drive economic growth through comprehensive
office space ity office spaces with amenities at lower work on social, economic, physical and institutional
and ameni- costs compared to metros. pillars of the city and
ties • Improve the quality of life through smart solutions.
Rise of Co-working spaces provide access to • Focus on sustainable and inclusive development by
co-working high-quality office space at a fraction of the creation of replicable models which act as light-
spaces in the cost in larger cities. houses to other aspiring cities.
smaller cities
Counter-mag- Surat and Pune have started acting as a The six fundamental principles on which the concept of
net dynamics counter-magnet region to Mumbai and Smart Cities is based are:
attract migrants from the neighbouring
districts of Maharashtra
Insta Links:
Human Migration
What kinds of projects were proposed?
Mains Links: • The project includes making certain stretches of pe-
destrian-friendly roads into more capital-intensive
Q. What are the main socio-economic implications arising
ones like laying water pipelines and constructing
out of the development of IT industries in major cities of
STPs.
India? (UPSC 2021)
• In addition, some PPP infrastructure projects like
multi-modal transport hubs, common mobility cards
Q. Discuss the changes in the trends of labour migration and public bike sharing are included.
within and outside India in the last four decades. (UPSC • All 100 cities have also constructed Integrated Com-
2015) mand and Control Centres to monitor all security,
emergency and civic services.
During the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic,
these were converted into emergency re-
DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES, URBAN- sponse units by many of the cities.
IZATION, THEIR PROBLEMS AND
THEIR REMEDIES What is the status of the projects?
• The projects were supposed to be completed with-
in five years, but in 2021 the Ministry changed the
9. SMART CITIES MISSION deadline for all cities to June 2023.
• As of March 2023, the 100 cities have issued work
Context: orders for 7,799 projects worth Rs 1.80 lakh crore.
The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry (MoHUA) has • 50 out of the 100 cities have completed 75% of the
extended the deadline for the Smart Cities Mission from projects and would be able to complete the remain-
June 2023 to June 2024. ing works by June.
• However, they would need more time to carry out
the documentation, dissemination and institution-
alisation of the best practices and innovations.
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Significance of extending the deadline to June 2024: It will sphere can fuel hurricanes in the central/eastern
enable all 100 smart cities to not only complete their proj- Pacific Ocean and can hinder hurricane formation
ects but also document and disseminate the learnings from in the Atlantic Basin.
the mission.
Potential threats due to an El Niño event:
Insta Links: Smart Cities Mission (SCM) • A new spike in global heating will increase the
chance of breaking temperature records (in 2024).
• 50:50 chance of the global temperature temporarily
IMPORTANT GEOPHYSICAL PHE- reaching 1.5°C above the pre-industrial era.
NOMENA
Likely impact on India:
• Normally, El Nino is good for the northeast mon-
10. EL NIÑO LIKELY TO BRING EXTREME soon [Oct-Dec in the peninsular region] but bad for
WEATHER ACROSS THE WORLD the southwest monsoon (dry periods during June-
Sept).
Context: • The monsoon season (~70% of India’s annual rain-
According to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), fall) is crucial to India’s agriculture - a lifeline for
the world should prepare for the development of El Niño, about 60% of the country’s net cultivated area.
which is often associated with increased heat, drought or • Monsoon drives farm produce, rural spending, in-
rainfall in different parts of the world. flation, jobs, and industrial demand.
• Good farm output checks food inflation, raises rural
incomes and helps inject demand into the economy.
Background:
• La Niña has now ended after persisting for three
years and the tropical Pacific is currently in an EN- Insta Links: El Nino and Monsoon
SO-neutral state (neither El Niño nor La Niña).
• There is a 60% chance for a transition from EN- 11. CYCLONES: HOW ARE CYCLONES
SO-neutral to El Niño during May-July 2023.
• 2016 was the warmest year on record because of
FORMED AND NAMED?
the confluence of a very powerful El Niño event and
global warming. Context:
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), a
cyclonic/low-pressure area is developing in the Bay of Bengal
The typical impacts of El Niño include:
and may intensify into a cyclonic storm.
● Increased rainfall in parts of southern South Amer-
ica, the southern US, the Horn of Africa and central
Asia. What this weather system be called? Cyclone Mocha (pro-
● Severe droughts over Australia, Indonesia, and parts nounced ‘Mokha’) - a name suggested by Yemen after the
of southern Asia. Red Sea port city, which is known to have introduced coffee
● Warm water during summer in the northern hemi- to the world over 500 years ago.
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of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
• The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12
other countries in the region on the development
of cyclones and storms.
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the circulation pattern. REPORTS & INDICES
Impact of ‘the Slowing’:
• It can lead to reduced oxygen levels in the deep
ocean, affecting marine organisms. 13. GLOBAL SLAVERY INDEX 2023
• Disrupts the base of the food chain: As the Southern
Ocean supports about three-quarters of global Context:
phytoplankton production → impacts the marine According to the Walk Free Foundation’s Global Slavery In-
ecosystem. dex 2023, 50 million people are living in conditions of mod-
• It can also intensify global warming by reducing the ern slavery - a 25% rise over the last five years.
ocean’s capacity to store carbon dioxide and heat.
• It can contribute to rising sea levels due to the ther-
Modern slavery:
mal expansion of warmer waters.
• It refers to situations of exploitation in that a per-
About Deep Water Circulations (DWC): son cannot refuse or leave because of threats, vi-
olence, coercion, or deception.
Deep Water Circulation (DWC) • It manifests as forced labour, child labour, forced
About DWC refers to the movement of water in marriage, debt bondage, commercial sexual ex-
the deep ocean, driven by density differ- ploitation, human trafficking, etc.
ences caused by temperature and salinity
variations.
The Global Slavery Index:
Formation In polar regions, sea ice formation causes • It is an assessment of modern slavery conditions in
surrounding seawater to become saltier 160 countries.
and denser, leading to sinking. The process • It uses data released by the International Labour Or-
repeats as surface water is pulled in to re- ganisation (ILO), the International Organisation for
place sinking water. This circulation pattern Migration (IOM), etc.
is known as thermohaline circulation. • The Index provides rankings across 3 dimensions:
Significance Heat Distribution; Carbon Dioxide Control; Size of the problem (prevalence), Government re-
Shapes ocean currents and circulation pat- sponse and Vulnerability (political instability, in-
terns globally; Affects sea level by redistrib- equality).
uting heat and influencing thermal expan- • The 2023 index is significant as India holds the G20
sion presidency this year, with a focus on sustainable de-
Deep-Water The Indian Ocean does not produce its own velopment and climate change mitigation.
Circulations deep water; it receives it from other sourc-
in the Indian es like the North Atlantic and the Antarctic. Highlights of the Global Slavery Index 2023:
Ocean
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2021)
Q. Consider the following statements:
1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the
oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the
influence of trade winds. • 50 million people were living in conditions of mod-
ern slavery on any given day in 2021.
2. In the temperate Zone, westerlies make the east-
• The practice has become more prevalent over the
ern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections
last five years (a 25%/10 million rise), due to cli-
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? mate change, armed conflict, weak governance and
1. 1 only COVID-19.
2. 2 only • G20 nations account for more than half of all peo-
3. Both 1 and 2 ple living in modern slavery because their trade op-
4. Neither 1 and 2 erations and global supply chains allow for human
Ans: 3 rights abuses.
The situation within G20 nations: India tops the list with 11
million people working as forced labourers, followed by Chi-
na, Russia, Indonesia, Turkey and the U.S.
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Challenges:
• SDG 8.7 [ending forced labour and modern slavery]:
High prevalence of modern slavery and stagnating gov- Key Highlights of the Report:
ernment action highlight the difficulty in achieving this Highlight Details
goal by 2030.
Total Number of Over 71million IDPs across 110
• Sectors of the economy promote modern slavery: Like
IDPs countries and territories at the end
the textile industry promotes conditions of forced and
of 2022, a 20% increase in a year
unpaid work, lack of benefits (maternity leave), etc.
• Poor govt policies: For example, the “Sumangali” Total IDPs in India Over 6 lakh were from conflict and
scheme in Tamil Nadu traps women and girls from mar- violence while 32 thousand were
ginalised locations to work in exploitative conditions in due to disasters
spinning mills. Weather-Related 98% of disaster displacements in
Displacements 2022 were triggered by weather-re-
Way ahead: lated events; floods and storms
• South-south cooperation to bring more transparency in caused 6 out of 10 disaster displace-
value chains, social security for workers at all stages, and ments
holding corporations accountable in multilateral and bi- Pakistan and India Pakistan had the highest number
lateral free trade agreements. of disaster displacements in 2022,
• Implementing stronger measures and legislations that followed by China and Afghanistan,
prevent governments and businesses from sourcing while India ranked fourth
goods and services linked to modern slavery.
• Embedding anti-slavery measures in climate change
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Context:
The Global Report on Internal Displacement 2023 (GRID-
The Supreme Court of India has passed a unanimous verdict
2023), published by the Internal Displacement Monitoring
on various issues related to the split in Shiv Sena in June
Centre (IDMC), is the world’s leading source of data and
2022.
analysis on Internal Displacement (ID). The 2023 edition
sheds light on the significant increase in the number of
people displaced by disasters in 2022 and the complex re- Background of the issue:
lationships between disasters, conflict and violence, food In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray became the Chief Minister of
security and ID. Maharashtra leading the MVA alliance. In 2022, Eknath
Shinde and other MLAs went missing, claiming no confi-
IDMC (formed 1998; HQ: Geneva) is an International dence in the MVA alliance and Thackeray. The Thackeray
non-governmental organization established in 1998 by group initiated disqualification proceedings against them,
the Norwegian Refugee Council in Geneva. It is focused on and Mr Shinde moved the Supreme Court to dispute it. The
monitoring and providing information and analysis on the Governor directed a floor test to see if Thackeray’s govern-
world’s internally displaced persons. ment still had support, and Uddhav Thackeray resigned
without facing it. Later, the Election Commission of India
allotted the name Shiv Sena and party symbol to Shinde’s
Conclusion: faction, and Thackeray’s side argued that they must be dis-
There is a need for India to formulate policies and strategies qualified as their actions amounted to defection.
that are focused on migration, promote inclusive growth and
development, and reduce distress-induced migration.
Key observations by Supreme Court in the Maharashtra
verdict:
1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol assert the
principle of non-refoulment (a refugee should not be re- Observation Explanation
turned to a country where they face serious threats to Appointment of Speaker must recognise the whip and
their life or freedom) whip leader authorised by the political par-
ty, based on the party constitution, af-
ter conducting an inquiry.
Insta Links
Forcibly displaced crossed 100 million in 2022
The power to appoint a whip and a
leader rests with the “political party”
and not the “legislature party,” as stat-
ed in the Tenth Schedule of the Con-
stitution.
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What is the Verdict of the SC? Special provision for Delhi UT:
Verdict Special provisions have been made for certain UTs, such
Powers of Lt. Governor shall be bound by the decision as Puducherry, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir (yet to
LG of the Delhi government over services, apart be constituted), which have a legislative assembly and a
from public order, police and land. Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister. The leg-
Powers Centre had exclusive legislative and execu- islative assembly of these UTs has the power to make laws
of Central tive control over ‘services’ relating to public with respect to matters enumerated in List II or List III in
govern- order, land and police as envisaged under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution insofar as these
ment Article 239AA. matters are applicable in relation to the UT.
Federalism The Centre had argued that the Constitution
in UT is a federal Constitution with a strong uni- However, some entries in List II, such as public order, po-
tary bias as far as UTs are concerned. lice, and land, are not within the legislative competence of
the legislative assembly of Delhi.
Contradicting it, SC said that Indian federal-
ism is not unitary and any further expansion Quotes used by SC:
of the Union’s power will be contrary to the Quote 1: “The principles of democracy and federalism are
Constitutional scheme. essential features of our Constitution and form a part of
Powers to If a democratically elected government is the basic structure.
the elect- not given the power to control the officers, Quote 2: “Federalism is a means to reconcile the desire of
ed govern- the principle of the triple chain of account- commonality along with the desire for autonomy and ac-
ment ability (Political, Administrative and Public commodate diverse needs in a pluralistic society”
accountability) will be redundant.
Principle It extends to the responsibility of officers,
of collec- who in turn report to the ministers. If the offi-
tive re- cers stop reporting to the ministers or do not Prelims Links:
sponsibil- abide by their directions, the entire principle Q. In the context of India, which one of the following is
ity of collective responsibility is affected. the characteristic appropriate for bureaucracy? (UPSC
2020)
1. An agency for widening the scope of parliamenta-
The scope of the Court’s verdict:
ry democracy
• While interpreting Article 239AA(3)(a), the Court
ruled that the Legislative Assembly of the NCTD has 2. An agency for strengthening the structure of
jurisdiction over entries in List II (The State list) and federalism
List III (The Concurrent list), except three entries in 3. An agency for facilitating political stability and
List II (public order, police, and land). economic growth
• The Union of India has executive power only over 4. An agency for the implementation of public policy
these three entries in List II over which the NCTD Ans: 4
does not have legislative competence.
• Consequently, executive power over “services” (List Q. Which of the following are the discretionary powers
II) can be exercised exclusively by the Government given to the Governor of a State? (UPSC 2014)
of the NCTD.
1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing
the President’s rule
How are UTs administered? 2. Appointing the Ministers
The Union Territories (UTs) in India are administered by the 3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature
President through an appointed administrator, who rep- for consideration of the President of India
resents the President and exercises administrative powers 4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State
in the UT. The judiciary in the UTs is governed by the Con- Government
stitution and laws made by the Parliament. In some UTs, Select the correct answer using the code given below.
such as Delhi and Puducherry, the administrator holds
significant powers, including the ability to make laws and 1. 1 and 2 only
regulations for the UT, while in others, the administrator’s 2. 1 and 3 only
powers are limited to providing advice to the elected gov- 3. 2, 3 and 4 only
ernment. 4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans: 2
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utilization above the Srisailam Reservoir) without proper Other Inter-State River Water Sharing Disputes:
clearance from river boards and authorities as required by River (s) States
the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. This led to
Ravi and Beas Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan
complaints and disputes between the two states. Also, Tel-
angana has been pushing for an equal share. Narmada Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharash-
tra, Rajasthan
Krishna Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kar-
Legal Provisions:
nataka, Telangana
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 mandates for
the constitution of an Apex Council by the Central Govern- Vamsadhara Andhra Pradesh, Odisha
ment for the supervision of the functioning of the Godavari Cauvery Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
River Management Board and Krishna River Management Puducherry
Board. The Apex Council comprises the Union Water Re- Godavari Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kar-
sources Minister and the Chief Ministers of Telangana and nataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha
Andhra Pradesh.
Mahanadi Chhattisgarh, Odisha
Mahadayi Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka
Constitutional provisions:
Periyar Tamil Nadu, Kerala
Inter-State River Water Disputes: Under Article 262, Parlia-
ment may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute
or complaint with respect to the use, distribution and con-
trol of waters of any inter-state river and river valley. The Par- About Description
liament enacted two laws, the River Boards Act (1956) and
Godavari River The river
the Inter-State Water Disputes Act (1956).
(Source: Trim-
bakeshwar near
About River board: Nasik; Length:
The River Boards Act provides for the establishment of river 1465km) extends
boards by the Central government for the regulation and over the states
development of inter-state rivers and river valleys. A River of Maharash-
Board is established at the request of state governments tra, Telangana,
concerned to advise them. Andhra Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh and
Odisha in addi-
tion to smaller
About Inter-State Water Disputes Act: parts in Madhya
It empowers the Central government to set up an ad hoc Pradesh, Kar-
tribunal for the adjudication of a dispute between two or nataka and the
more states in relation to the waters of an inter-state river or Union territory
river valley. The decision of the tribunal is final and binding of Puducherry.
on the parties to the dispute. Neither the Supreme Court Its tributaries
nor any other court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any are: Pravara, Pur-
water dispute which may be referred to such a tribunal un- na, Manjra, Pen-
der this Act. ganga, Wardha,
Wainganga, Pra-
Way forward: nhita (combined
To address water disputes effectively, it is necessary to es- flow of Waingan-
tablish a permanent tribunal with Supreme Court’s appel- ga, Penganga,
late jurisdiction and amend Article 262 and the Inter-State Wardha), Indra-
Water Disputes Act. Communication channels must be im- vati, Maner and
proved for consensus-building, and the central body should the Sabri
represent states adequately. The Ministry of Jal Shakti has
issued a gazette notification defining the jurisdiction of river
management boards, which can help overcome challenges.
Clear demarcation of power for each state should be fol-
lowed.
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Insta link:
Krishna River water dispute
Mains Links:
Q. Write a critical note on the Krishna River water dispute
and critically evaluate the successes of tribunals in resolv-
ing river water disputes in India. (250 Words)
The old Parliament:
• At the coronation of George V as Emperor of India in
1911, the announcement of the transfer of the seat
of GoI from Calcutta to the ancient Capital of Delhi
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was made.
• The GoI Act 1919 provided for a bicameral legisla-
ture for India and the need for the new was felt.
• The parliament building’s construction took six years
(and Rs 83 lakhs) - from 1921 to 1927, and its circu-
lar shape is believed to be inspired by the Chausath
Yogini temple at Mitawli village in MP’s Morena dis-
trict.
Interior decorations:
• Murals depicting maps of ancient India-protected
monuments of ASI and UNESCO, etc.
• 3 ceremonial entrance halls with huge brass imag-
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es of Mahatma Gandhi, Chanakya, Gargi, Sardar The Pal- Bucharest,
Vallabhbhai Patel, B.R. Ambedkar, and the Chariot ace of Romania
Wheel from the Sun Temple at Konark are on dis- Parlia-
play. ment
• Reflecting the cultural diversity of India in line with
the “Made in India” initiative Tripura’s epitome
bamboo wood flooring and carpets from UP’s Mir-
zapur embellished the new Parliament.
The Re- Berlin, Ger-
Some other magnificent Parliament buildings ichstag many
The Great B e i j i n g ,
Hall of China
the Peo-
ple
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Explaining the issues: Mains Links:
The tenure for directors of CBI and ED is two years. Howev-
Q. The erosion of institutional autonomy and freedom in
er, in November 2021, the President promulgated two ordi-
the decision-making of organisations like the Enforcement
nances allowing the Centre to extend the tenures from two
Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
years to up to five years. So, now they can be given three an-
has weakened Indian polity and democracy. Critically anal-
nual extensions. The Supreme Court had previously upheld
yse. (250 Words)
this and allowed the extension of ED’s chief Sanjay Kumar
Mishra, but said that such extension should be done in rare
and exceptional cases and for a short period. Q. Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation
contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to
tackle the problem of money laundering both at national
Now, the government has again extended the tenure of
and international levels. (UPSC 2021)
Mr Mishra citing a pending review by the Financial Action
Task Force and that Mishra would not remain in service after
his term comes to an end in November. This has been chal- 6.NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
lenged in SC again.
Context:
Issues with ED and PMLA: For the 2nd time in a decade, the UN-backed Global Alliance
Issue Example of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) deferred
Misuse of PMLA is used to investigate crimes not the accreditation of the National Human Rights Commission,
PMLA for or- related to money laundering or organized India (NHRC-India).
dinary crimes crime, leading to the attachment of assets
of genuine victims. GANHRI:
Lack of trans- The Enforcement Case Information Re- ● Formerly known as the International Coordinating
parency and port (ECIR) is not given to the accused and Committee of National Human Rights Institutions
clarity the ED lacks clarity in selecting cases to (NHRIs), GAHNRI is a global network of NHRIs.
investigate. ● It is constituted as a non-profit entity (under Swiss
law) and Secretariat support is provided by the Of-
Blanket pow- The ED has been assigned almost blanket
fice of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
ers powers under PMLA for searching, seiz-
(OHCHR).
ing, investigating, and attaching assets
● It coordinates the relationship between NHRIs and
considered to be proceeds of crime.
the UN human rights system.
Low convic- Between 2005 and 2013-14, there were
tion rate zero convictions, and between 2014-15 The Paris Principles:
and 2021-22, only 23 cases were under ● They were defined in 1991 and were adopted by
conviction out of 888 cases registered. the UN Human Rights Commission (1992) and the
UN General Assembly (1993).
Allegation of “Political figures who have crossed over
Political bias- to the government side have mysteriously ● They provide the international benchmarks
against which NHRI can be accredited.
es been given ‘clean chits’ or have seen ED
go slow in proceedings against them” ● They set out 6 main criteria that NHRIs are re-
quired to meet. These are:
○ mandate and competence;
Way forward: ○ autonomy from the government;
While the ED has been given expansive powers under PMLA,
○ independence guaranteed by a statute or
there must be a balance between these powers and adher-
Constitution;
ence to constitutional provisions to prevent political misuse.
○ pluralism;
The process of investigation should not become a punish-
ment, and there should be a commitment to expeditiously ○ adequate resources; and
resolve cases for speedy trials and convictions. ○ adequate powers of investigation.
Constant scrutiny over the operations of the Enforcement Importance of GANHRI accreditation:
Directorate is necessary, and any lacunas in the operative ● Institutions accredited with “A status” means full
part can be filled through suitable legislation, executive ac- compliance with the Paris Principles.
tion, or a revised order of the apex court. ● It is the only non-UN body whose internal accredita-
tion system grants access to UN committees - speak-
ing rights and seating at human rights treaty bodies.
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divorce through family courts, which have a large number of Justice must not only be done but must also
similar cases pending. be seen to be done.
• The oath of office: Both the SC and HC judges prom-
About Article 142: ise to perform their duties without fear or favour, af-
fection or ill-will, in accordance with the III Schedule
Topic Information
of the Constitution.
Article 142 (1) provides discretionary power to the Su- • Restatement of the Values of Judicial Life adopted
preme Court as it states that the SC in the exercise of its by the SC: It forbids a judge from deciding a case
jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is where he holds pecuniary interest unless the con-
necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or mat- cerned parties clarify that they have no objections.
ter pending before it.
Application Release of AG Perarivalan, one of the Recent instances of judicial recusals:
life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassi- • In the afore-mentioned case involving a former
nation case; Cleansing of Taj Mahal and IPS officer (Sanjiv Bhat), recusal was sought on the
granting justice to many undertrials; ground that there was a likelihood of bias since the
Ayodhya dispute case same Judge, a Gujarat HC judge had reprimanded
Significance It has been invoked to protect the the IPS officer.
rights of different sections of the pop- • The CJI rejected an application seeking his recusal
ulation and serves as a check on the from hearing petitions seeking legal recognition of
government, acting as a system of same-sex marriages.
checks and balances with the legis- • Justice Gita Gopi of the Gujarat HC recused herself
lature. It provides complete justice to from hearing Rahul Gandhi’s appeal seeking a stay
various deprived sections of society or on his conviction in the criminal defamation case.
protects the environment
Example of judi- Ban on the sale of alcohol along na- Why do judges recuse?
cial overreach tional and state highways where the • To prevent the perception that the judge was biased
court extended the ban to State high- while deciding a case.
ways as well • When an appeal is filed in the SC against an HC judg-
Negative Impact Article 142 has some negative aspects ment delivered by the concerned judge before his
such as ambiguity, promoting judicial elevation.
overreach, and unaccountability. The
phrase “complete justice” is still un- What is the procedure for recusal?
clear and judgments passed by the Su- • Although several SC judgments have dealt with the
preme Court have created confusion. issue, India has no codified rules governing recusals.
• There are two kinds of recusals - automatic (where
a judge himself withdraws from the case) or when a
8. JUDICIAL RECUSALS party raises a plea for recusal.
• The decision to recuse rests solely on the conscience
Context: and discretion of the judge and no party can compel
Calling it an attempt to indulge in ‘bench hunting’, a former a judge to withdraw from a case.
SC judge refused to recuse himself from hearing a plea. • If a judge recuses himself, the case is listed before
the Chief Justice for allotment to an alternate
What is recusal? Bench.
• It is the act of declining to take part in an official ac-
tivity, such as a court case because the administra- Do judges have to record reasons for recusal?
tive or court authority presiding over it has a conflict Since there are no statutory rules governing the process, it
of interest. is often left to the judges themselves to record reasons for
• This conflict of interest can arise in many ways - recusals.
from holding shares in a litigant company to having
a prior or personal association with a party. Concerns:
• The majority of the time, the grounds for recusal are
The practice of judicial recusals stems from: not made public, which endangers judicial transpar-
• The cardinal principles of due process of law: ency.
Nemo judex in sua causa - no person shall • However, the Delhi HC recently ruled that any inves-
be a judge in his own case. tigation into the reasons for recusal would consti-
34 www.insightsonindia.com
Current Affairs 30
tute an interference with the course of justice. What is Jallikattu/eruthazhuvuthal?
• It is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in TN as
part of the Pongal harvest festival and as a celebra-
Rules formulated by the SC in the past:
tion of nature, of which cattle worship is a part.
● Ranjit Thakur v. Union of India (1987): To deter-
• However, it has long been contested over cruelty to
mine if a judge should recuse, what is relevant is
animals and the bloody and dangerous nature of
the reasonableness of the apprehension of bias in
the mind of the concerned party. the sport.
● State of West Bengal v. Shivananda Pathak (1998):
Judicial bias is a condition of mind which renders Background of the case:
the judge incapable of impartiality in a particular W e l f a r e A two-judge Bench of the SC banned such
case. Board of sports including Jallikattu.
● SC Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India v. A. • The apex court held “bovine sports”
India (2015): Where a judge has a pecuniary in- Nagaraja contrary to the PCA Act - fixes the du-
terest, no further inquiry is needed to establish 2014 ties of persons in charge of animals and
whether there is a ‘real danger’ of bias.
defines animal cruelty.
● Indore Development Authority v. Manoharlal and
• The PCA Act overrides the so-called tra-
Ors (2019): Merely having a legal opinion does not
dition and culture and the Parliament
disentitle one from being impartial.
must elevate the rights of animals to
that of constitutional rights (under Arti-
Practice in foreign jurisdictions: cles 14, 21).
• The United States has a well-defined law on recus- MoEFCC It prohibited the “exhibition or training of
als, which details the grounds for recusal - financial notifica- bulls as performing animals”.
or corporate interest, a case in which the judge was tion, 2016 However, an exception specified that bulls
a material witness or a lawyer, and a relationship to
might still be trained as performing animals
a party.
at Jallikattu, according to the customs and
• The United Kingdom’s law laid down a standard to
culture of different communities.
look at the likelihood of bias from the perspective of
a fair-minded and reasonable observer. TN amend- • This was done to allow Jallikattu in
ed the PCA the state, to preserve the cultural her-
Act in 2017 itage of TN, to ensure the survival and
Conclusion: well-being of the native breeds of bulls,
• It is the judge’s ‘constitutional duty’ to be ‘transpar- and to minimize cruelty to animals in the
ent and accountable’ and therefore reasons must concerned sports
be indicated for recusal (Justice Kurien Joseph). • A batch of petitions were filed chal-
• There is a need for ‘procedural and substantive lenging the above exemption and
rules to deal with the growing frequency of recusal the amendments, following which
pleas (Justice Madan Lokur). the SC referred the matter to the
Constitution Bench, as the issue
The practice of “bench hunting” refers to petitioners at- involved the interpretation of the
tempting to have their cases heard by a specific judge or Constitution.
court in order to obtain a favourable order. • The Bench was tasked with decid-
ing whether Jallikattu could be pre-
served as the cultural right of TN
under Article 29(1) of the Constitu-
9. JALLIKATTU, KAMBALA CAN GO ON IN
tion.
TAMIL NADU AND KARNATAKA: SC The recent verdict of the SC:
Context:
A five-judge Bench of the SC upheld the amendments made
by TN, Maharashtra and Karnataka to The Prevention of Cru-
elty to Animals (PCA) Act 1960, allowing bull-taming sports
like Jallikattu, Kambala, and bullock-cart races.
www.insightsonindia.com 35
Current Affairs 30
• It overruled its 2014 ruling in ‘Welfare Board of India What is Criminal Justice System in India?
v. A. Nagaraja’ and held that Jallikattu has a strong cul- The Criminal Justice System (CJS) in India is a set of legal and
tural component. institutional frameworks that govern the detection, inves-
• The amendments (to the PCA) were “valid legisla- tigation, prosecution, and punishment of criminal offences.
tions”, as these are not a piece of colourable legisla- • The CJS in India is mainly guided by three major legal
tion and that it relates to List III of the 7th Schedule documents:
to the Constitution [prevention of cruelty to animals]. The Indian Penal Code
• The court also said that the 2017 amendment does The Code of Criminal Procedure
not violate - The Indian Evidence Act.
Articles 51-A (g) and 51-A (h), which im- CJS has four subsystems:
pose duties on Indian citizens to protect Legislature (Parliament)
the environment and develop a scientific
temper, humanism, spirit of inquiry, and Enforcement (Police)
reform, respectively. Adjudication (Courts)
Articles 14 (Right to Equality) and 21 Corrections (Prisons, Community Facilities)
(Right to Life) of the Constitution.
• However, the Jallikattu issue is “debatable” and must Need for new Prison Act:
ultimately be decided by the Parliament, as the issue
Examples/Facts
requires social and cultural analysis in greater detail.
O u t d a t e d The Indian Prison Act was enacted in 1894
laws and amended several times, but it fails to
Insta Links: Jallikattu address modern-day prison challenges.
Human rights E.g., custodial deaths, torture, and over-
violations crowding are widespread in Indian pris-
GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND IN- ons.
TERVENTIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT Focus on re- The current prison system focuses more
habilitation on punishment than rehabilitation, which
IN VARIOUS SECTORS AND ISSUES leads to high recidivism rates (committing
ARISING OUT OF THEIR DESIGN AND offence again).
IMPLEMENTATION
A new act should emphasize the need for
rehabilitation programs and better in-
10.MODEL PRISONS ACT 2023 tegration of prisoners into society upon
release.
I m p r o v e d Many Indian prisons lack adequate health-
healthcare care facilities, leading to higher mortality
rates.
Te c h n o l o g y The current prison system is largely man-
integration ual and paper-based, leading to delays
and inefficiencies.
Overcrowding According to the latest data available
from the National Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB), the occupancy rate of Indian pris-
ons is over 117%, indicating severe over-
crowding.
Staff training Many Indian prison staff lack adequate
training, leading to incidents of human
rights abuses, corruption, and misman-
agement.
36 www.insightsonindia.com
Current Affairs 30
Previous other recommendations: Status of Persons with Disabilities in India:
SC appointed Justice Amitava Roy (retd.) The committee There are about 2.68 crore (2.21% of the population) peo-
recommended several measures to address the issue includ- ple with disabilities in India according to the 2011 census of
ing: India.
• Speedy trials
• Increasing the number of lawyers for prisoners
• Setting up special fast-track courts for petty offences
About the Accessibility standards for persons with disabil-
• Promoting the concept of plea bargaining
ities:
Aspect Accessibility Standards
Initiative for prison reforms in India: The Modernisation
Aim Provide access to medical services for per-
of Prisons Project (2021-26) aims to enhance security and
sons with disabilities—Preventive, curative
facilitate prisoner rehabilitation in India through the use
and rehabilitative.
of modern security equipment; E-Prisons Project, Model
Prison Manual 2016, and National Legal Services Authority Barriers Limited access to quality education, low em-
(NALSA). ployment rates, and inadequate healthcare
services.
Key Aspects of accessibility standards
Conclusion:
The Model Prison Act 2023 is aimed at improving prison Physical En- E.g., Ramps and accessible entrances; Bar-
administration and conditions, protecting the rights of pris- vironment rier-free pathways and accessible parking
oners, and promoting their rehabilitation and reintegration spaces; Elevators and lifts for vertical acces-
into society. It is expected to bring much-needed reforms to sibility
the Indian prison system and align it with international stan- Transporta- Accessible buses, trains, and stations;
dards. tion Wheelchair ramps and lifts; Audible and vi-
sual announcements
Insta Links: Information Accessible formats for printed materials;
Prison Reforms in India and Com- Captioning and audio descriptions for au-
munication dio-visual content; Accessible websites and
digital platforms
Mains Links: Technology Screen reader compatibility; Keyboard ac-
Q. Instances of the President’s delay in commuting death cessibility; Alternative text for images
sentences have come under public debate as denial of jus-
The initiative taken by India
tice. Should there be a time specified for the President to
accept/reject such petitions? Analyse. ( UPSC 2014) C o n v e n - • India has ratified the UN Convention on
tions the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• India is a signatory to the Biwako Mil-
11. GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTS RPWD lennium Framework and the Declara-
ACT 2016 tion on Full Participation and Equality
of People with Disabilities in the Asia
Pacific Region.
Context: • Incheon Strategy to “Make the Right
The Government of India has implemented the Rights of Real” for Persons with Disabilities in
Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 to establish ac- Asia and the Pacific.
cessibility standards for persons with disabilities.
Constitu- • Article 41 of DPSP: State shall make
What are accessibility standards for persons with disabili- tional effective provisions in cases of disable-
ties? ment.
Accessibility standards for persons with disabilities refer to • 7th schedule: The subject of ‘relief of
guidelines and regulations that aim to ensure equal access the disabled and unemployable’ is
and participation for individuals with disabilities in various specified in the state list of the Seventh
environments and services. These standards cover different Schedule of the Constitution.
aspects of accessibility—Physical environment, transporta- Legislation Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act
tion, information and communication, technology, and pub- 2016 increased the number of disabilities
lic facilities. from 7 conditions to 21; Accessible India
Campaign;
www.insightsonindia.com 37
Current Affairs 30
Shift in Atti- Focus on disabilities has been shifted from 12. LABOUR DAY
tude the individual to society, i.e., from a medi-
cal model of disability to a social or human Context:
rights model of disability. May 1 is widely known as Labour Day/International Work-
Institute Indian Sign Language Research and Training er’s Day - a day to celebrate the contribution of workers
Centre and the National Institute of Mental worldwide.
Health Rehabilitation, have been established
Technology Unique Disability Identification Portal; BIS Background:
standard IS 17802, focuses on accessibility • The origin of Labour Day dates back to the 19th cen-
requirements for ICT products and services tury - when a nationwide strike of 1886 for an eight-
hour workday culminated in a violent movement in
Measures needed: Chicago, US.
• Strengthen preventive health programs, including early • In 1889, the International Socialist Conference de-
screening for all children, as demonstrated by Kerala’s clared May 1 would be an international holiday for
successful Comprehensive Newborn Screening (CNS) labour/May Day/Labour Day/Workers Day.
programme • In India, the first Labour Day (initiated by the Labour
• Embrace a Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) ap- Kisan Party of Hindustan) was celebrated on May 1,
proach to maximize the abilities of individuals with dis- 1923, in Madras.
abilities
• Increase public awareness and understanding of dis- The primary objective of Labour Day:
ability through social campaigns that challenge stigmas • To acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the
and stereotypes. working class,
• Encourage inclusiveness by transitioning individuals • Create awareness about their rights, and
from special schools to mainstream environments, pro- • Protect them from exploitation.
moting a diverse range of influences and interactions.
Current trends in the labour market worldwide:
Insta Links Three years after the COVID-19,
75 Years: Laws that Shaped India- The Rights of Persons with • Small and micro-enterprises/people have been hard
Disabilities Act, 2016 hit by inflation
• Lack of opportunities
Mains Links • Real wages have fallen, and poverty inequality is
rising
Q. Though the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
was a landmark step but much is left to be desired to
achieve inclusivity and accessibility for the disabled. Exam- Indian labour market - Major issues:
ine. (250 Words) • Surplus labour force: Without the commensurate
rise in job opportunities in the labour market.
• Unskilled labour force: Leading to a rise in indecent/
Prelims Links: poor quality jobs like manual scavenging, etc.
Q. India is home to lakhs of persons with disabilities. For example, 8 people died in Gujarat (in
What are the benefits available to them under the law? April 2023) while cleaning sewers, despite
(UPSC 2011) the practice being declared illegal across the
country.
1. Free schooling till the age of 18 years in govern-
ment-run schools. • Low absorption of skilled labour
2. Preferential allotment of land for setting up busi- • Labour market imperfections: Such as lack of ade-
ness. quate information regarding jobs, numerous labour
laws, etc.
3. Ramps in public buildings.
• The workers in the unorganised sector: Constitute
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? about 93% of the total workforce in the country →
(a) 1 only not covered under social security measures → most
(b) 2 and 3 only affected during COVID-19 pandemic.
(c) 1 and 3 only • Unemployment: Causing problems like disguised
(d) 1, 2 and 3 unemployment, seasonal unemployment, open un-
Ans: D employment and educated unemployment.
• Son of the soil doctrine: For example, Haryana en-
38 www.insightsonindia.com
Current Affairs 30
acted a new law reserving 75% of private sector jobs Conclusion:
with monthly salaries up to ₹30,000 for locals. Social justice should be the keystone of labour reforms at
the level of national, regional and global policies and actions.
This will help in achieving equitable and resilient societies.
Labour reforms
Global • The International Labour Organization (ILO)
is a UN agency to advance social and eco- Insta Links: New labour codes give a free hand to employ-
nomic justice by setting international labour ers: Unions
standards.
• In 1919, the ILO adopted the Hours of Work Mains Links:
(Industry) Convention (British India ratified
Q. “Success of the ‘Make in India’ programme depends
in 1921), limiting the number of working
on the success of the ‘Skill India’ programme and radical
hours to eight a day and 48 hours a week.
labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments. (UPSC
• The Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) re-
2015)
stated the traditional objectives of the ILO
and highlighted two new directions: the cen-
trality of human rights to social policy, and ISSUES RELATING TO THE DEVELOP-
the need for international economic plan-
ning. MENT AND MANAGEMENT OF SO-
India • Labour falls under the Concurrent List of the CIAL SECTOR/SERVICES RELATING
Constitution.
• The central government replaced the 29 ex-
TO HEALTH, EDUCATION, HUMAN
isting labour laws with four Codes. RESOURCES
• These Codes regulate (i) Wages, (ii) Industrial
Relations, (iii) Social Security, and (iv) Occu-
pational Safety, Health and Working Condi- 13. MISLEADING FOOD ADS AND REGULA-
tions. TIONS TO CURTAIL THEM
• eShram: This portal will help build a compre-
hensive National Database of Unorganised Context:
Workers (NDUW) in the country. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has
• PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM): flagged 32 new cases of misleading advertisements and
Meant for old age protection and social secu- claims made by food business operators.
rity of Unorganised workers.
• Aam Admi Bima Yojana: Providing social se- • FSSAI has referred the cases to licensing authorities
curity to unorganised sector workers. and warned that offenders face penalties of up to
INR 10 lakh or suspension or cancellation of licens-
es for repeated offences.
How to prioritise social justice for a sustainable and stable
future?
What are misleading advertisements?
• Policies and actions must be human-centred.
Misleading advertisements are those that make false or ex-
• Focusing on ‘decent work’: The most effective way
aggerated claims about a product or service with the inten-
to reduce inequality, and poverty and ensure social
tion of deceiving consumers.
protection is a ‘Decent Work for All’ - SDG 8.
• Addressing the long-term structural transforma-
tions: By ensuring that new technology creates and Examples of misleading advertisements:
supports employment, and skills training, treating Company Misleading Claim
demographic changes/migration as a ‘dividend’.
Detox Tea Co. “Lose 10 lbs in 7 days with our tea”
• Reinvigorate labour institutions and organisations:
To make social dialogue effective and vigorous. Beauty Products “Eliminates wrinkles in one day”
• Review laws and regulations: To make them up-to- Inc.
date - protecting workers and supporting sustain- Bourn Vita “Our drink is low in sugar” (when it
able businesses. contains high sugar content)
• Creating a global platform: To recommit to inter- Fresh Teeth Inc. “Whitens teeth 10 shades in one use”
national cooperation and solidarity and to create Hair Care Co. “Regrows hair in 2 weeks”
greater policy coherence, a Global Coalition for So-
cial Justice is needed. Social Networking “100% safe and secure”
Inc.
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Current Affairs 30
Impact of misleading advertisement: Consumer Protec- These mandatory rules require sell-
Examples tion (E-Commerce) ers to take back defective or defi-
Loss of Volkswagen used deceptive advertising to Rules, 2020 cient goods, withdraw services, or
Customer market their diesel cars as environmentally provide refunds if goods or services
Trust friendly, causing damage to the environment do not meet the description on the
and a loss of trust in the company by custom- platform.
ers. Advertising Stan- A self-regulatory organization that
N e gat i ve PepsiCo’s advertising campaign for Aquafina dards Council of monitors ads and deals with com-
Brand Im- bottled water, which claimed the water was India (ASCI) plaints against them in India.
age “pure, perfect and refreshing,” was mislead-
ing because the water was sourced from tap Tags given to packaged foods:
water.
Tag Description Example
Legal Con- L’Oreal was sued by the Federal Trade Com-
sequences mission (USA) for advertising that their an- Natural A food product that is a single Fresh fruits
ti-ageing creams could mimic the effects of a food derived from a recog- and vegetables
surgical facelift. nized natural source and has
nothing added to it. Packaging
Health Im- For example, sugary drinks such as soda are must be done without chemi-
pact associated with many health problems. cals and preservatives.
Ethical im- Unfair Competition, Breach of Trust, Decep- Fresh The term “fresh” can only be Freshly baked
pact tion and Manipulation used for food products that bread, freshly
have been washed, peeled, squeezed juice
Legal provisions against misleading advertisements: chilled, trimmed, or cut with-
Legal Provisions Description out any other processing that
alters its basic characteristics.
CCPA’s Guidelines Issued in 2022, these guidelines cov- If food is processed in any way
to Prevent False or er goods, products, and services, and to extend its shelf life, it can-
Misleading Adver- aim to prevent false or misleading not be labelled as “fresh.”
tisements advertising.
Pure “Pure” is to be used for sin- Pure honey,
Food Safety and Specifically deals with food (and re- gle-ingredient foods to which pure maple
Standards Regula- lated products), and regulates prod- nothing has been added, and syrup
tions, 2018 uct claims, while the above guide- the unavoidable contami-
lines deal with goods, products and nants are within prescribed
services. controls.
Cable Television Advertisements must not draw in- Original “Original” is used to describe Original recipe
Network Rules, ferences that it has “some special or food products made to a for- potato chips
1994 miraculous or supernatural property mulation, with a traceable
or quality, which is difficult to prove. origin that has remained un-
FSS Act 2006 Misleading ads are punishable under changed over time.
Section 53 of the Food Safety and N u t r i - Nutritional claims in food ad- “High in pro-
Standards Act, 2006. t i o n a l vertisements can be about the tein”, “Low in
Consumer Welfare Set up under the Central Goods and Claims specific contents of a product sugar”
Fund Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017, this or comparisons with another
fund promotes and protects the wel- food item.
fare of consumers.
Central Consumer Monitors and enforces consumer Conclusion:
Protection Council protection laws facilitates consumer To improve food safety in India, companies should provide
education, and provides consumer evidence to support their claims and modify advertise-
redressal mechanisms. ments for better consumer understanding. FSSAI and state
food authorities should conduct surveys to ensure better
enforcement and administration of the FSS Act. Compen-
sation and fines should be increased in cases of injury or
death, and more food testing laboratories should be estab-
lished.
40 www.insightsonindia.com
Current Affairs 30
Insta Links
Regulating misleading advertisements
Mains Links
Q. Do you think that the brand ambassadors of products
should be held accountable for misleading advertise-
ments and endorsements? Examine. (250 Words)
In India, drugs and cosmetics are regulated by:
• Act: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945: It
Prelims Links assigns various responsibilities to central and state reg-
Q. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2018) ulators.
1. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced • Agencies:
the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. • Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI): It is respon-
2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of In- sible for approving licenses for specified categories of
dia (FSSAI) is under the charge of the Director General of drugs, setting standards for manufacturing, sales, im-
Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family port, and distribution of drugs in India, and heads the
Welfare. department of CDSCO.
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO):
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
It prescribes standards for ensuring the safety, efficacy,
(a) 1 only and quality of drugs, cosmetics, diagnostics, and devic-
(b) 2 only es. It also regulates the market authorization of new
(c) Both 1 and 2 drugs and clinical trial standards.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 • National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA): It
Answer: A controls the pricing of pharmaceutical drugs in India
www.insightsonindia.com 41
Current Affairs 30
Fragmented India has a highly fragmented regulato- Meaning It means a conjoint study, training and
Regulatory ry structure, with each state having its practice in indigenous/traditional medicine
Structure own drug regulator. (ayurveda, Unani, etc) and modern (allopa-
Opposition to Both the pharmaceutical industry thy) medicine.
Centralized Reg-
and state drug regulators have resist- Why do pa- 5 barriers(5As) to healthcare: awareness,
ulatory ed greater centralization of regulatory tients favour access, acceptability, affordability, and ac-
powers. They fear that a central regula- complemen- countability.
tor could slow down the growth of the tary medi- Complementary medicine gives people
industry. cine? with chronic diseases who have already
No Interest in There appears to be no sustained de- tried a number of things an option. That is
Government mand from civil society for reform, and why, 50% of people use complementary
the government is more invested in the medicine, and more than 70% have used it
growth of the pharmaceutical industry. at some point during their lifetime.
Concerns No evidence-based benefits of comple-
Impact of substandard drugs: mentary medicine, lack of data on safety
and efficacy, and a lack of standardization
Impact Example
of formulations.
Adverse health In 2022, the World Health Organization
Integrative medicine is a business: Data
effects linked the deaths of almost 60 children
shows that it increases the cost of care and
in Gambia to substandard cough syrups
does not improve the patient’s clinical out-
manufactured in India.
comes.
Loss of trust in In 2019, the case of supplying substan-
Efforts to The National Integrated Medical Associ-
the healthcare dard and falsified antiretroviral drugs
p r o m o t e ation (NIMA) is an Indian NGO of general
system to the government in South Africa.
complemen- practitioners educated in integrated system
Economic losses Patients may have to spend more mon- tary medi- of medicine.
for patients and ey on healthcare due to the need for cine in India The National Ayush Mission (launched in
the healthcare additional treatments and hospitaliza-
2014) has played a crucial role in preserving
system tions.
and promoting India’s traditional systems
Legal and reg- In 2021, a firm was seized in Agra City of medicine and their integration into the
ulatory con- (UP) for purchasing expired drugs at mainstream healthcare system.
sequences for low costs and reselling them with new
WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medi-
manufacturers packaging. The company may face legal
cine (Jamnagar, Gujarat) was set up to pro-
consequences for these actions.
mote Traditional Medicines as a system of
treatment for various ailments.
Way forward: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medi-
To create an effective recall mechanism, the responsibility of cine is a premier institute located in Jam-
recalling drugs needs to be centralized under one authority mu and dedicated to the research of drug
with the legal power to hold companies liable for failures to discovery.
recall drugs and search and seize batches of failed medicine.
Some universities in India offer BISM (Bach-
elor in Integrated System of Medicine)
Insta Links: What is the agreement between ICMR and the Ministry of
Spurious Drug Menace Ayush: The two-day National Ayush Mission Conclave talks
about the practice at AIIMS and research in complementary
15. AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF MEDICINE medicine.
42 www.insightsonindia.com
Current Affairs 30
Way ahead: Health schemes in tribal areas:
Randomised control trials (RCTs) and peer-reviewed studies
of traditional medicine must be promoted. • The National Health Mission (NHM): It envisages the
achievement of universal access to equitable, afford-
able and quality healthcare services that are account-
Conclusion: able and responsive to people’s needs.
Many systems of medicine have a role to play in keeping hu- • Various initiatives supported under the NHM for bet-
man beings well. Modern medicine is extremely important, ter healthcare in tribal areas:
but there is a wealth of wisdom and ancient traditions which • Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres
can be incorporated sensibly and safely for the well-being of (HWCs) are established as part of the Ayushman
man. Bharat programme.
• National Free Drugs Service Initiative and Nation-
Insta Links: Integrated medicine system to alter the future al Free Diagnostic Service Initiative have been
of disease management rolled out.
• The ASHA programme provides for recruitment of
ASHA at habitation level, in hilly, tribal and difficult
areas.
16. INDIA@100: RESOLVING THE TRIBAL • National Ambulances Services under NHM for
HEALTH CHALLENGE free transportation of sick patients to the health
facilities.
• All tribal majority districts whose composite
Context:
health index is below the State average have been
As India celebrates its achievements, it must build a health-
identified as High Priority Districts (HPDs)
care system that caters to tribal communities.
Challenges:
• Equitable, affordable and quality healthcare for 1.4
billion people.
• Finding a way to achieve this without disrupting the
identities of tribals.
www.insightsonindia.com 43
Current Affairs 30
tate a unique approach. Plan by IRDA (Bima Trinity of the policy):
Best practices: • Bima Sugam: The portal will integrate insurers and
• Mera Baccha Abhiyan: distributors, providing customers with a one-stop
It aims to fight malnutrition through pub-
shop for purchasing insurance policies and managing
lic participation in Datia district, Madhya
Pradesh. service requests and claim settlements. It will also be
As a result, the district witnessed a drop in integrated with digitized birth and death registries
malnutrition rates (by 17.5%), rise in immu- • Bima Vistar: It will be bundled risk cover product,
nisation, breastfeeding and a drop in diar- which offers defined benefits for each risk and aims
rhoea. to provide faster claim payouts without the need for
• Piramal Swasthya - One of the largest implementing surveyors.
agencies of primary healthcare programmes in India: • Bima Vaahaks: The third component of the plan in-
It has over a decade’s experience of work- volves deploying a women-centric workforce called
ing with the tribal communities of Andhra Bima Vaahaks (carriers) in each Gram Sabha (village
Pradesh, implementing its unique commu- council) to promote the benefits of insurance prod-
nity-based model. ucts.
More recently, it has partnered with NITI
Aayog to transform the health and nutrition
systems in 25 Aspirational Districts spread Other plans:
across 7 States of India. • State-level insurance committees: To achieve the goal
of providing insurance coverage for all citizens by 2047,
Conclusion: the IRDA plans to establish State-level insurance com-
• As India moves towards India@100, the responsibil- mittees and involve State governments in formulating
ity of providing healthcare (a fundamental human district-level insurance plans.
right) for all lies both with private and government • Amendment to insurance laws (Insurance Act, 1938) to
institutions. allow differentiated capital requirements for niche in-
• Tribal communities can be empowered by inclusive surers, attract more investments, and enable the addi-
leadership and investments in healthcare infrastruc- tion of value-added services to insurance policies.
ture, contributing to the UN SDGs.
Benefits:
Insta Links: Launch a national tribal health mission • It will provide citizens with an affordable single poli-
cy that covers health, life, property and accident
• Settling claims within a short timeframe (potentially
within six to eight hours or a maximum of one day)
17. ALL-IN-ONE INSURANCE POLICY PLAN • Will allow policyholders to easily access their policies
and submit death certificates, enabling quick processing
and transfer of funds.
Context:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
(IRDA) in India is working on an all-in-one policy plan to ad- Issues with the current Insurance law: The current insur-
dress the low insurance penetration in India. ance laws in India do not allow the inclusion of value-add-
ed services along with insurance policies. For instance, in-
surance companies are restricted from offering additional
Aim:
benefits like an annual yoga membership or nursing ser-
• To offer an affordable bundled insurance product
vices for policyholders’ parents who live far away.
that covers health, life, property, and accident risks.
• To expedite claim settlements by linking death reg-
istries onto a common platform In 2022, India’s life insurance penetration stood at around
• To create a “UPI-like moment” in insurance, similar 3%, while the non-life insurance penetration was much
to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the bank- lower at one percent.
ing sector
About IRDA: The Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (founded 1999; HQ: Hyderabad) is a
statutory body (under the IRDA Act 1999) and is under
the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance and is tasked with
regulating and licensing the insurance and re-insurance
industries in India.
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• India needs National HC Services Regulatory Au- 19. UN REPORT: IMPROVING MATERNAL
thority: To check rampant black marketing of criti-
AND NEWBORN HEALTH AND SURVIVAL
cal drugs, artificial shortage and discrepancies in the
cost of the same. AND REDUCING STILLBIRTH
• India needs more doctors, paramedics and hospi-
tals. Context:
• Revamp Primary health centres with the PPP mod- According to a report by the United Nations global progress
el. on improving maternal and newborn health has halted since
• Bring the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under 2015.
PMO to enhance proficiency in predicting future
pandemics.
Objective of the report:
• Better pay and training of ASHA workers: They
It outlines progress at the mid-point for the achievement of
played a critical role in creating awareness in rural
the Sustainable Development Goals, and highlights priority
India - allaying fake apprehensions regarding vac-
actions towards eliminating preventable maternal and new-
cines.
born deaths and stillbirths.
• Fight disinformation in mission mode.
• A strategic reserve of critical medicines.
Global Findings:
Way ahead: • Global progress in reducing deaths of pregnant women,
• COVID-19 has ‘officially’ transitioned from a popula- mothers and babies has stagnated for eight years
tion-level challenge to more of an individual health • Deaths: Over 4.5 million women and babies die every
concern. year during pregnancy, childbirth or the first weeks after
• The government should offer formal training cours- birth - mostly from preventable or treatable causes if
es in epidemiology to prepare India for future out- proper care was available.
290 000 maternal deaths each year
breaks and epidemics and to curb misinformation.
1.9 million stillbirths (babies who die after
• Integrate the COVID-19 response to general health
28 weeks of pregnancy )
services.
2.3 million newborn deaths (in the first
• It is time to drop the COVID-19 fixation and move on month of life)
to tackle other more pressing health challenges in
the country.
India Findings:
• India tops the list of 10 countries which bear 60% of
Mains Links:
global maternal deaths, stillbirths & newborn deaths
Q. Critically examine the role of WHO in providing glob- burden
al health security during the COVID-19 Pandemic. (UPSC • India accounts for 17 per cent of global maternal deaths,
2020) stillbirths and neonatal births
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2022) Despite the high numbers, As per the Sample Registra-
Q. In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent the tion System (SRS) report by the Registrar General of India
COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: (RGI), the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) of India has re-
1. The Serum Institute of India produced a COVID-19 vac- duced from 130 per 100,000 live births in 2014-16 to 113
cine named Covishield using mRNA platform. per 100,000 live births in 2016-18.
2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using a vector-based
platform. Reasons for the halt in progress:
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.
Reasons Examples
Which of the statements given above are correct? Decreasing Just 1 in 10 countries (of more than 100
1. 1 and 2 only investments surveyed) report having sufficient funds
2. 2 and 3 only in maternal to implement their health schemes relat-
3. 1 and 3 only and newborn ed to maternal and newborns.
4. 1, 2 and 3 health
Ans: 2 Lack of Infra- Less than a third of countries report hav-
structure ing sufficient newborn care and maternal
care units.
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www.insightsonindia.com 47
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• Poverty can be defined as a condition in which an • No public discussion on the new methodology.
individual or household lacks the financial resources
to afford a basic minimum standard of living. Conclusion:
• Reliable estimation of poverty is the first step to- The discourse on poverty estimation has played an import-
wards eradication of poverty as it provides input for ant role in highlighting the living conditions of the poor and
the design, implementation and monitoring of an- the effectiveness of government policy. Thus, the adoption
ti-poverty programmes. of a scientific methodology that will generate uniform-er-
• Two critical components of the estimation of pov- ror-free data is the need of the hour.
erty in India:
Information on the consumption expendi-
tures; Insta Links: Ways to measure poverty in India — and why the
These expenditures are evaluated with ref- numbers matter
erence to a given poverty line.
• In 2011, 21.9% of Indians were considered to be liv- Mains Links:
ing below the national poverty line. Q. Though there have been several different estimates of
• Globally, 8% lived on less than the international pov- poverty in India, all indicate a reduction in poverty levels
erty line (WB) of US$1.90 per person per day. over time. Do you agree? Critically examine with refer-
ence to urban and rural poverty indicators. (UPSC 2015)
Issues with estimates of poverty in India:
• Vary in a wide range: From as high as 35% of India’s
population in 2017-18 (by S. Subramanian) to a low
21.THE GOAL OF ZERO HUNGER
of 1.4% (by Bhalla, Bhasin and Virmani) found for
2019-20. Context:
• No clear conclusion/consensus on whether poverty To achieve the goal of zero hunger, India should have a spe-
rose after 2011-12 or fell. cial and immediate focus on India’s youngest children.
Why do these differences arise? Why do India’s youngest children need urgent attention?
• Due to varying consumption expenditure data used. • According to the WHO, a minimum of 33% of the dai-
A modified version of data (by Bhalla) from ly calorie intake is expected to come from food (at six
the Consumer Pyramid Household Survey months of age). The child obtains the remaining calories
(CME) shows that poverty has declined in through “on-demand” breastfeeding.
India. • According to the NFHS-5, 18% of mothers reported that
While the National Statistical Office (NSO) their child (between ages 6-23 months) did not eat any
data (by S. Subramanian) that poverty in-
food/“zero-food” in the 24 hours preceding the survey.
creased in India.
• Close to 40% did not eat any grains (roti, rice, etc) for an
The only consumption expenditure survey
conducted by NSO in 2017-18 was aban- entire day, and six out of 10 children do not consume
doned. milk (“zero-milk”).
• This raises serious concerns related to severe food in-
• Due to different poverty lines used:
security.
The consumption aggregates from the PLFS
estimate poverty at 17.9% in 2020-21, com-
pared with 21.9% in 2011-12. Steps taken:
The latest (Panagariya and More) report a
• Mission Poshan 2.0: The flagship programme dedicat-
poverty ratio of 32% in 2019-20 and 26% in
2020-21 using the same PLFS consumption ed to maternal and child nutrition.
data. • National Food Security Act 2013
• Zero Hunger Programme: Began in 2017 to improve
agriculture, health and nutrition.
Good news for India:
• Eat Right India Campaign
• A consumption expenditure survey is currently un-
• Food Fortification
derway.
• PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana
• This will update the national accounts and inflation
indices.
Challenges:
Challenges: • Zero-food underscores that achieving sufficiency in
• The new methodology adopted: The absence of food production (the world’s leading country in milk
a comparable survey means it won’t help answer production) does not necessarily mean attaining
what happened to poverty after 2011-12. food security.
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• Deficiency in data (food-based metrics) related to Highlights of the report:
food and dietary consumption to effectively monitor • Many hotspots [Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia,
and assess the performance of government initia- Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, and the Sahel
tives. (Burkina Faso and Mali)] are facing growing hunger
• The rising burden of cardiovascular and other crises.
non-communicable diseases in India. • Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks
• Disruptions in global food production and dis- continue to drive more and more communities into
tribution systems, accentuated by the ongoing crisis.
Ukrainian-Russian conflict. • The spillover from the crisis in Sudan is driving mas-
sive population displacement and hunger among
What needs to be done? people in search of refuge.
• Given their multifactorial nature with regard to
what causes stunting or wasting among children, Risks ahead:
the specific nature of the deficiencies must be as- • Deepening economic shocks and a likely El Nino
sessed. climatic phenomenon is raising fears of climate ex-
For this, assessments using household-level tremes in vulnerable countries around the globe.
food insecurity modules developed by the • Acute food insecurity can potentially increase in
FAO can be adapted. magnitude and severity.
This will constitute the foundation for any
evidence-based policy.
• Multiple (not single) ministries/departments of the
Government of India should take responsibility for Recommendations
designing, implementing and monitoring policies. Anticipatory Emergency re- Other actions
actions sponse
The success story of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM): Support the Sustain hu- Establish a local
SBM offers valuable insights for schemes like Poshan 2.0, upcoming cul- manitarian nutrition surveil-
in its strategic use of directly trackable metrics, and strong tivation with assistance, in- lance system to
political commitment at the highest levels. harvesting cluding food monitor the de-
packages. assistance and terioration of the
Conclusion: agricultural in- nutrition situa-
To achieve the SDG 2 of zero hunger, India should consider puts. tion, especially in
a strategic initiative aimed at eliminating food insecurity by high-risk areas.
ensuring adequate-affordable-accessible-nutritionally di- Supporting Nutrition-re- Build the capacity
verse food, with a special and immediate focus on mothers the establish- lated and of national and
and children. ment of green a g r i c u l t u ra l provincial disas-
corridors be- livelihoods ter-management
tween rural programmes. authorities on
Insta Links: The road to zero hunger by 2030
and urban the inclusion of
centres to en- forecast-based fi-
Mains Links: courage safe nancing and risk
Q. There is a growing divergence in the relationship be- spaces to sell insurance.
tween poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of so- produce.
cial expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to
spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their
food-budget – Elucidate. (UPSC 2019)
Context:
According to a new UN report - Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP
early warnings on acute food insecurity - India’s neighbours
(Pakistan, Afghanistan and Myanmar) are among the hun-
ger hotspots in the world.
www.insightsonindia.com 49
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Implement Maintain pre- Advocate for the duction and scientific storages like silos and logisti-
cash-for-work vention and return of female cal support.
activities by treatment of staff to work • Innovations and investments, both public and pri-
supporting acute malnu- across the coun- vate, are key to addressing the food loss and waste
harvesting ac- trition activi- tries to reach pop- challenges. For example,
GreenPod Labs is innovating in the packag-
tivities, to pro- ties integrat- ulations in need.
ing and storing of produce to augment their
vide income ed with the shelf life.
sources for food security, Dehaat provides an online marketplace to
farmers. health, and farmers and buyers that reduces the num-
water, sanita- ber of hands the food trades in.
tion and hy-
giene (WASH)
package of 22. FOOD FORTIFICATION: BENEFITS AND
services. ASSOCIATED RISKS
Context:
According to a UN report, India’s pilot studies on rice fortifi-
Case of India: cation showed a significant drop in the prevalence of anae-
• The Global Hunger Index 2022 ranks India 107 (out mia among schoolchildren.
of 121 countries), and the level of hunger and un-
dernutrition in the country is now at “serious” lev- Food Fortification:
els. • It is defined as the practice of adding vitamins and
• India’s rank on this index has been worsening since minerals to commonly consumed foods during pro-
2020 - 94 in 2020 and 101 in 2021. cessing to increase their nutritional value.
• With 19.3%, India has the highest rate of child wast- • Food fortification has been identified as the strategy
ing (among under 5 children) in the world. by the WHO and FAO for decreasing the incidence
• About 16.3% of Indians are undernourished, and of nutrient deficiencies at the global level.
about one in every three children is stunted.
The scenario in India:
• In 2016, the FSSAI established standards for the for-
tification of rice, wheat flour, edible oil, double-for-
tified salt (DFS) and milk. It developed the ‘+F’ logo
and helped build capacity for food producers.
• The pilot public food fortification programme was
launched in 2019 by the FSSAI in partnership with
external non-profits, who are also associated with
the nutraceutical industry.
Real problem: • Fortified foods are now being included in public
• India is the largest producer of milk, pulses, banan- food schemes like PDS, ICDS, and Mid-Day Meal
as, and the 2nd-largest producer of wheat, rice, and Scheme/Poshan, helping to address the challenge
vegetables in the world. of malnutrition.
• Therefore, poor hunger indices can be attributed
mainly to food losses and wastage in India. Impact:
• Crops lost between post-harvest and the retailer Fortification may contribute to the prevention, reduction
(due to poor storage, handling, and transportation) and control of micronutrient deficiencies through mass for-
are referred to as losses. Food wastage is the loss of tification or targeted fortification.
food at the consumer’s end.
• Anywhere between 1% (in the case of milk) to 16%
Major issues with food fortification:
(guava) of the agricultural produce is lost by the
• The one-sided portrayal of fortification as a ‘cure-
time it reaches the retailer.
all’: Without any significant scientific perspective
and evidence on fortification.
Way ahead for India: • No independent risk analysis: FSSAI’s statutory reg-
• By providing farmers with a mechanism to access ulations caution against consuming iron-fortified
real-time prices, processing to absorb ‘excess’ pro- food by patients with thalassemia and sickle cell
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anaemia.
• Conflict of interest: The studies which FSSAI relies
on to promote fortification are sponsored by private
food companies.
• Evaluation studies are still not publicly available.
Way ahead:
• Fortification should be pushed in a transparent man-
ner.
• To treat undernutrition in India, all three - dietary
diversity, higher protein consumption and fortifica-
tion, are essential.
• It is imperative to develop individualised strategies
and ensure thorough monitoring to detect any ad-
verse events at the earliest.
Insta Links:
Report alleges conflict of interest behind India’s fortified
food programme
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ducting a well-funded adoption campaign, and providing a ed by K Santhanam - constituted in 1962.
secured single window for issue resolution.
Code of conduct highlighted in the rules:
Mains Link: ● Every member of the Service shall -
Q. Discuss the significance of ONDC. (150 Words) Maintain high ethical standards, integrity
and honesty; political neutrality; account-
ability and transparency; fairness and im-
Prelims Links: partiality; responsiveness to the public, etc.
Use public resources efficiently, effectively
Q. Consider the following: ( UPSC 2022) and economically; declare any private inter-
1. Aarogya Setu ests relating to his public duties to resolve
2. CoWIN any conflict of interest.
3. DigiLocker At all times maintain devotion to duty, and
do nothing which is unbecoming of a mem-
4. DIKSHA ber of the Service.
Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital ● No member of the Service shall -
platforms? Use his/her position to secure employment
(a) 1 and 2 only for any of his/her family members with any
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only private undertaking/NGO;
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only Give or take or abet the giving or taking of
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 dowry.
Ans: D ● A member of the service may accept gifts from his
near relatives or friends having no official dealings
with them.
ROLE OF CIVIL SERVICES IN A DE- But, he shall report to the government if the
MOCRACY value of such gift exceeds Rs.25,000.
● While members can hold personal political beliefs,
these rules restrict the degree to which they can act
24. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CIVIL SER- on them. For example, members not allowed -
VANTS To be part of, assist political parties; inter-
fere with or take part in an election to any
legislature or local authority.
Context: To criticise any current policy or action of
Specially designed Conduct Rules govern a civil servant’s be- the government. However, civil servants are
haviour and conduct. allowed to express their opinion on official
documents.
Who are the civil services? Penalties for transgressions:
• Major penalties can include “dismissal” from the
• There are 3 All India Services (governed by Article 312
service as well.
of the Indian Constitution) - the IAS, IPS and the Indian
• Besides, there are also the penal provisions men-
Forest Service (IFoS) - with officers allotted to various
tioned under the Prevention of Corruption Act
state cadres by the central government. The Centre
(POCA).
then gets a certain percentage of officers from each
state on central deputation.
• Other services are called Central Civil Services (such Issues with the Conduct Rules:
as the Indian Foreign Service, the Indian Revenue Ser- • Vague: For example, while the promotion of
vice, Customs and Central Excise Service, etc). These casteism is not covered under any specific Conduct
are under the central government with no state cadre Rules, casteist behaviour can be interpreted as “un-
system. becoming of a member of the Service”.
• Ambiguous: Ideas like personal integrity are not
well defined. That is why evils like taking dowry are
Rules governing civil services: banned but seemingly common.
• There are two sets of rules for civil servants - one for • There is no ethical code for civil servants in India.
AISs (The AIS Conduct Rules, 1968) and the other for
CCSs (The CCS Conduct Rules, 1964).
• These were framed based on recommendations of
the Committee on Prevention of Corruption head-
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E c o n o m i c Brazil and Russia have been experiencing BRICS faces several challenges such as internal differences,
Divergence economic recessions in recent years, while global economic slowdown, and geopolitical tensions. How-
China and India have sustained high growth ever, the group can remain relevant by expanding its agenda
rates. South Africa’s economy has been per- to promote comprehensive development and enhanced co-
forming poorly, with high levels of unem- operation among all states. BRICS should also focus on the
ployment and inequality. democratization of international issues, respect for cultural
diversity, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Political Dif- Russia’s annexation of Crimea and involve-
ferences ment in conflicts in Ukraine and Syria have
strained its relations with other BRICS mem- Mains Links
bers. China’s territorial claims in the South Q. Discuss the importance of BRICS for India. (250 Words)
China Sea have been a source of tension
with other BRICS countries that have com-
peting claims in the region. Prelims Links
I n s t i t u - The New Development Bank (NDB), es- Q. Consider the following statements: ( UPSC 2016)
tional Con- tablished by BRICS in 2014 to provide de- 1. New Development Bank has been set up by APEC.
straints velopment financing, has faced challenges 2. The headquarters of the New Development Bank
in disbursing loans and identifying viable is in Shanghai.
projects. The Contingent Reserve Arrange- Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
ment (CRA), a pool of foreign exchange re- (a) 1 only
serves, has not been tested yet. (b) 2 only
C o o r d i n a - Disagreements over the governance struc- (c) Both 1 and 2
tion Diffi- ture of the NDB and the CRA, as well as (d) Neither 1 nor 2
culties differing priorities in areas such as trade, in- Ans: B
vestment, and climate change, have made it
difficult for BRICS to present a unified front
on many issues.
E x t e r n a l The rise of protectionism, nationalism, and
Pressures populism in some advanced economies
has posed challenges for BRICS in terms of
trade, investment, and access to capital.
Way forward for BRICS:
27. INDIA-UAE CEPA
Example
Reform of BRICS countries could jointly advocate for
Multilateral the reform of the UN Security Council,
Institutions calling for the inclusion of more develop-
ing countries as permanent members.
Resolve to BRICS countries could share best practic-
Combat Ter- es and intelligence to combat terrorism,
rorism as well as work together to cut off funding
and resources for terrorist groups.
Promoting BRICS countries could share their experi-
Technological ences in adopting and implementing dig-
and Digital ital solutions in these sectors
Solutions for
the SDGs
E x p a n d - BRICS countries could organize joint cul-
ing Peo- tural events and exhibitions, establish
ple-to-People more student exchange programs and
Cooperation scholarships, and encourage more tour-
ism and business visits to each other’s
countries.
www.insightsonindia.com 55
Current Affairs 30
goods to over USD 100 billion and trade in services to over D i g i t a l The CEPA includes provisions on digital
USD 15 billion within five years. Trade trade, which aim to promote the develop-
India-UAE Trade relations: ment of e-commerce and digital trade be-
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is India’s 3rd largest trading tween India and the UAE.
partner, after the United States and China, with a bilateral
trade turnover of USD 68 billion in 2021. The UAE is also the Some of the challenges that the India-UAE CEPA may face
7th largest investor in India. are:
• Competition from other existing trade agreements in the
Various dimensions of India-UAE CEPA: region
Dimension Example • Diverse business and cultural practices between the two
Trade in The CEPA provides preferential market ac- countries
Goods cess for over 80% of products traded be- • The disparity in the level of development and economic
tween India and the UAE. size of the two countries
• Possible resistance from domestic industries in both
countries
Bilateral trade between India and the UAE
• Differences in regulatory standards and intellectual
reached historic highs during FY 2022-23,
property protection.
increasing from USD 73 billion to USD 84
billion, registering a 16% increase
Trade in The CEPA covers 11 broad service sectors
Services and more than 100 sub-sectors, such as Conclusion:
business services, communication services, The trade between India and UAE has strengthened over
financial services, tourism, and transport the years, with the UAE becoming India’s closest geopoliti-
services. cal partner in the Arab world. Despite recent challenges, the
bilateral ties between the two nations have proven resilient.
Investment The CEPA provides for a liberal and non-dis-
criminatory regime for cross-border invest-
ment between India and the UAE. Insta Links:
Te c h n i c a l TBT aim to ensure that technical regula- • India-UAE
Barriers to tions, standards, and conformity assess-
Trade (TBT) ment procedures do not create unneces-
sary obstacles to trade.
Sanitary It aims to protect human, animal, and plant
and Phy- health by setting standards for food safety,
28. INDIA-MALDIVES RELATIONS
tosanitary animal and plant health, and other related
(SPS) Mea- issues. Context:
sures India and the Maldives have marked a milestone in their de-
Dispute Set- The CEPA includes provisions on dispute fence ties with the laying of the foundation stone for the
tlement settlement, which provide for the resolu- Coast Guard ‘Ekatha Harbour’ in the Uthuru Thila Falhu atoll.
tion of disputes between India and the UAE
through consultations and negotiations. About the project:
Movement The CEPA includes provisions on the move- Purpose To strengthen the capability of the Maldivian
of Natural ment of natural persons, which aim to fa- Coast Guard and facilitate regional humani-
Persons cilitate the temporary entry of business- tarian assistance and disaster relief efforts
persons, investors, and skilled professionals S i g n i f i - The project is among the biggest Indian
between India and the UAE. cance grant-in-aid projects in the Maldives; a ma-
P h a r m a - The CEPA includes provisions on pharma- jor step in growing defence cooperation be-
c e u t i c a l ceutical products, which aim to promote tween India and Maldives
Products cooperation in the regulation and marketing O t h e r India gifted an additional landing craft to the
of pharmaceuticals between India and the D e v e l o p - Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF);
UAE. ments India had gifted a Dornier aircraft, patrol ves-
Intellectu- The CEPA includes provisions on IPR, which sel, and coastal radar system to the Maldives
al Property aim to protect and enforce intellectual prop- in previous years
Rights (IPR) erty rights between India and the UAE.
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Current Affairs 30
Controver- Allegations that the project was a cover for Economic India is Maldives’ 2nd largest trading partner.
sy Indian military presence in Maldives; led to Coopera- Afcons, an Indian company, signed a contract
an “India Out” campaign backed by opposi- tion for the Greater Male Connectivity Project
tion leader Abdulla Yameen (GMCP)
I n f r a - Hanimaadhoo International Airport Devel-
Importance of Maldives for India: Long-standing ties with structure opment project under an Indian credit line.
the Maldives; strategic location in the Indian Ocean; bene- Projects National College for Policing and Law Enforce-
ficial to India and other nations in the region with common ment (NCPLE) was inaugurated by India’s Ex-
maritime interests; in the backdrop of growing Chinese at- ternal Affairs Minister (2022)
tempts to expand its influence in the region Grant As- Grant assistance of 100 million Rufiyaa (cur-
sistance rency of Maldives) for the High Impact Com-
munity Development Project (HICDP) scheme.
S p o r t s Development of a sports complex in Gahd-
and Edu- hoo, and academic collaboration between
cation Maldives National University and Cochin Uni-
versity of Science and Technology.
Rehabil- A drug detoxification and rehabilitation cen-
i t a t i o n tre in Addu was built with Indian assistance.
Centre
C h i n a China’s strategic footprint in India’s neigh-
Factor bourhood has increased. The Maldives has
emerged as an important ‘pearl’ in China’s
“String of Pearls” construct in South Asia. Giv-
en the uncertain dynamics of Sino-Indian re-
lations, China’s strategic presence in the Mal-
dives remains a concern.
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India needs to play a crucial role in ensuring regional se- Ec o n o m i c India is currently home to seven of the eight
curity in South Asia and surrounding maritime boundaries Benefits most significant Buddhist sites in the world.
by actively participating in the Indo-Pacific security space. The Indian government has been developing
Effective communication and convincing Maldivians about the Buddhist Circuit, a tourist trail that con-
India’s intentions behind its projects on the island nation nects them.
are essential to avoid any changes in the domestic political
situation in Maldives.
Insta Links
India-Maldives
Mains Links
Q. Discuss the political developments in the Maldives in
the last two years. Should they be of any cause for con-
cern to India? ( UPSC 2013)
Pan-Asian 97 per cent of the world’s Buddhist pop-
presence ulation lives in the Asian continent, and a
29. BUDDHISM: INDIA’S SOFT POWER PRO- number of countries such as Bhutan, Myan-
JECTION TOOL mar, Thailand, and Sri Lanka conceive of
Buddhism as intrinsic to their national values
and identity
Context:
Soft Power India can use its Buddhist cultural diplomacy
India recently hosted a global Buddhist summit in New Del-
Projection to improve its relations with Southeast Asian
hi, which saw the participation of key figures from the global
countries and increase its influence in the re-
Buddhist community, including the Dalai Lama.
gion.
What is soft power diplomacy? 1. India has tried to provide an alterna-
• Soft power is the ability to obtain preferred outcomes tive to contested global politics, with moral-
by attraction rather than coercion or payment. Soft ity as the guiding principle.
power diplomacy refers to the use of cultural, social, 2. India’s Panchamrit principles in-
and economic means to influence the attitudes and clude “Sanskriti Evam Sabhyata” which
behaviours of other countries, rather than relying means cultural and civilizational links
solely on military or economic coercion. The concept
of soft power was coined by Joseph Nye in the 1990s.
• Examples include cultural exchanges, educational pro- Comparison of India’s approach to using Buddhism for soft
grams, humanitarian aid, and public diplomacy cam- diplomacy with that of China:
paigns. India China
Importance of Buddhism for India’s soft power diplomacy: Approach India has been pro- China has been using
moting Buddhism Buddhism as a tool of
Examples
as a soft power tool soft power diplomacy
Historical India’s cultural and historical ties with Bud- since the 1950s. for over two decades,
and Cultur- dhism can help strengthen its soft power particularly in South-
al Ties diplomacy with Buddhist countries like Sri east Asia and other
Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and parts of the world.
Vietnam.
O b j e c - To counter China’s To promote Chinese
Promoting As the birthplace of Buddhism, India can use tives growing influence, culture and expand
Religious its Buddhist heritage and teachings to en- and promote India’s China’s influence in the
Harmony gage with countries like China, which has a cultural heritage. region and beyond.
significant Buddhist population, to promote
dialogue and understanding between the
two nations.
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Key strat- India has focused During the Cold War, dhist schools of thought, such as Nagarjuna Buddhism,
egies on restoring an- China effectively used which is largely unexplored in academic study. Also, empha-
cient Buddhist Buddhist diplomacy to size the need for effective implementation of the Nalanda
sites, building new engage with its neigh- University project and proper management of tourist sites
ones, supporting bouring countries, and for the success of the Buddhist Circuit Project.
scholars and monks, it continues to employ
and promoting Bud- this approach to gain le- Quote: “India has not given ‘Yuddha’ to the world but
dhism through cul- gitimacy for its Belt and ‘Buddha’.” –PM Modi
tural exchanges. Road Initiative. Conclusion 2: As Buddha was the first diplomat of peace,
his teachings of peace and cooperation in these tough
Also, China has invest- times can become the guiding light of Indian diplomacy on
ed heavily in building the world stage.
Chinese Buddhist tem-
ples and monasteries
Insta links
abroad.
• New Delhi Declaration
Film Link India has not been China, with its influence
able to effectively over Hollywood, has Mains Links:
utilize this domain completely dominated Q. Analyze the significance & challenges of India’s soft
the narrative around power diplomacy through Buddhism. (250 Words)
Buddhism through cin-
ema.
30. STRATEGIC CONVERGENCE BETWEEN
Examples Restoration of the China has established
of initia- ancient Nalanda the World Buddhist Fo-
THE US, UAE, SAUDI ARABIA
Context:
tives University, orga- rum, which brings to-
The meeting in Riyadh between Saudi Arabia and the US,
nizing the Inter- gether Buddhist leaders
UAE, and India underlines the growing strategic conver-
national Buddhist from around the world.
gence between Delhi and Washington in the Gulf.
Conclave, 1st global Support the restoration
Buddhist summit of ancient Buddhist What is unique about this meeting?
and promoting Bud- sites, such as the Ang- • A major departure from the traditional approaches
dhist circuit tourism kor Wat temple com- to the Middle East in both India and the US.
in India. plex in Cambodia. • In India, the Nehruvian foreign policy either op-
posed Washington or kept its distance from the US
in the Middle East.
India faces several challenges in promoting soft power
through Buddhism, including: Recent changes in India’s Impact
foreign policy
• Many of India’s ancient Buddhist heritage sites are in a
state of disrepair, which makes it challenging to attract Shedding its “anti-West- Transformed India’s relations
visitors and promote Buddhist tourism. ern” lens in the Middle with the two Arabian king-
• Competition with other countries: Despite being home East. Joining hands with doms - Saudi Arabia and the
to a number of key Buddhist sites, such as Bodhgaya, the US (in the Middle UAE, into solid strategic part-
Sarnath, and Kushinagar, India has struggled to attract East), openly showcased nerships.
Buddhist tourists, who tend to favour sites in Thailand its friendly relations to Is-
and Cambodia. rael.
• Fragmented Buddhist community: The Indian Buddhist France has emerged as an The formation of a four-nation
community is fragmented and divided along sectarian important partner in the grouping (in October 2021)
lines, which makes it challenging to create a unified ap- Gulf and the Western In- called I2U2 brought the US,
proach to promoting Buddhism. dian Ocean. India now has India, Israel, and the UAE to-
• India’s soft power is often overshadowed by its eco- a trilateral dialogue with gether.
nomic and political power, which means that its cultural Abu Dhabi and Paris.
influence, including that of Buddhism, is not always rec- Delhi and London are ex- A new quadrilateral with the
ognized on the international stage. pected to work together US, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
in the Gulf soon. Britain
Conclusion: enjoys much residual in-
There is a need of promoting connections with other Bud- fluence in the Gulf.
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Recent changes in USA’s foreign policy (recalibrating its re- Mains Links:
gional strategy):
• Pakistan was a key part of the Baghdad Pact (1955), Q. ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)’ is transform-
Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) and the Region- ing itself into a trade bloc from a military alliance, in pres-
al Cooperation for Development (1964) to counter ent times – Discuss. (UPSC 2020)
the Communist threat to the region.
• However, it does not figure in the current strategy
to connect the Gulf with the Subcontinent. 31. QUAD COOPERATION IN BIOTECHNOL-
• This means the US is discarding its pro-Pakistan bias OGY
in thinking about the relationship between the Sub-
continent and the Gulf and building new partner-
ships, including with Delhi.
Context:
In order to give the necessary fillip to enhance Quad coop-
What led to the changes in the foreign policies of India and eration in biotechnology, India should be an ideal choice for
the US? the establishment of a Quad-led biomanufacturing hub.
• The decline in the Role of Pakistan in the Middle
East:
Pakistan’s continuing strategic decline, and
socio-economic-political challenges.
Pakistan has drifted too close to China
(all-weather partnership), tempted to align
with China and Russia in the region.
• The rising power of the Arabian Peninsula:
The Gulf kingdoms (especially Saudi Arabia
and the UAE) have accumulated massive
financial capital and economic transforma-
tion will reduce their dependence on oil.
They have also begun to diversify their stra-
tegic partnerships, develop nationalism,
promote religious tolerance and initiate so-
cial reform.
Conclusion:
Biomanufacturing:
Seizing the new strategic opportunities in the Gulf would
• Meaning: It uses living systems, particularly micro-
involve the long overdue modernization of Delhi’s strategic
organisms and cell cultures, to produce molecules
discourse on the Gulf.
and materials on a commercial scale.
• Potential:
Insta Links: Diplomatic Dispatch- I2U2 Summit It can transform the global industrial sys-
tem, with up to 60% of physical inputs to the
global economy.
Countries like the US and China have de-
signed specific policies to shape their
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bio-economies. Conclusion:
• The proposed hub in India can capitalise on the eco-
nomic potential of the biomanufacturing industry
Case of India: and address existing and potential vulnerabilities in
• The National Biotechnology Development Strategy the global system.
envisions the country as a “Global Biomanufacturing • Through cross-Quad collaboration, India may
Hub” by 2025. emerge as a major force in the field of biomanufac-
• While the strategy sets a target of $100 billion for turing and assist the Quad in competing in this key
the hub, it is important to recognize that India’s am- area.
bitions require external support.
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tation labourers and most of whom settled par- er to PICs and to further strengthen its ties, In-
ticularly in Fiji and PNG. dia should assist the development goals of
• After independence, the region did not find the PICs.
much significance in India’s foreign policy.
• However, the changing geopolitical scenario and
strategic and economic compulsions, rising na-
33. G7: DE-RISKING AND EFFECTIVE CLI-
val capabilities have driven India to refresh and MATE ACTION
redesign its Pacific policy.
• India’s renewed interest can also be seen in the light Context:
of its own rechristened Act East policy. The 49th annual summit (Hiroshima, Japan) of the G7 lead-
• At this moment, the total annual trade between ers concluded recently.
India and PICs is about $300 million – exports are
around $200 million and imports are around $100
million.
The Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC):
• It was launched during the PM of India’s visit to Fiji
in 2014 and includes 14 of the PICs.
• The FIPIC initiative marks a serious effort to expand
(from the Indian Ocean) India’s strategic and com-
mercial interests in the Pacific region.
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Need • The 1.5 degree Celsius threshold was likely bitious target of becoming climate neutral by 2050.
to be temporarily breached over the next • This was followed by a proposal for a regulation on
five years (WMO). CBAM in 2021 as part of the “Fit for 55” policy pack-
• Surpassing 2016, 2023 is on track to be- age, aiming to reduce GHG by at least 55% by 2030,
come the warmest ever. from the levels of 1990.
• The probability of occurrence of heat
waves in India and neighbouring countries What is the CBAM?
has increased by 30 times due to global
warming.
Mile- • A global peak by 2025: The G7 claimed
stones that their GHG emissions had already peak-
listed for ed, and asked all major economies (India,
effective China, Brazil, South Africa, and Russia) to
climate ensure that their individual emissions peak
action by 2025.
• Net-zero by 2050: It is essential in order to
meet the 1.5 degree Celsius target. The G7
asked all major economies to come up with
detailed road maps to reach the target.
• Eliminating “inefficient fossil fuel subsi-
dies” by 2025.
• It plans to impose a tariff/import duty on a set of
C h a l - • The 2025 peak year is not mandated un-
carbon-intensive imports, which will have to be
lenges in der the Paris Agreement. India has indicat-
paid by EU importers and companies who export
meeting ed that its emissions will grow in the next
such goods to EU countries.
the mile- decade as well. China, the world’s largest
stones emitter, would peak only towards the end
of this decade. Need for CBAM:
• Only Germany (among the major emitters • To prevent “carbon leakage”:
like the US, EU) has said it would attain Carbon leakage is when companies relo-
cate the production or manufacturing of
net-zero status by 2045.
carbon-intensive materials to countries with
• China would turn net-zero in 2060, while less stringent climate rules.
India has set 2070 as the target. Some oth- This is to avoid restrictions on carbon emis-
er countries. sions in their home country.
• The G7 countries put no deadline to end-
● To nudge behavioural change:
ing the use of fossil fuels.
According to WB, less than 4% of glob-
al emissions are currently under carbon
Insta Links: pricing regimes as envisioned by the Paris
Clean-tech as the next big thing in rural India Agreement.
Most levies aren’t high enough to effect an
actual change in polluter behaviour.
EFFECT OF POLICIES AND POLITICS
OF DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING Old vs proposed regime in the EU
COUNTRIES ON INDIA’S INTERESTS Emissions Trading System CBAM
Industries have to buy car- Will Phase out free carbon
34. EU’S CARBON BORDER TAX bon certificates if the num- allowances to domestic busi-
ber of emissions crosses ness, so that it doesn’t get
Context: The European Parliament - the legislative body of the cap. in a tangle with the WTO’s
the 27-member EU, reached a political deal on the carbon rules.
border tax - Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Background: Significance:
• CBAM was first introduced as a part of the European By setting the price for the carbon content of goods regard-
Green Deal, which serves as a guide for both tax and less of where they are produced, it will create a level field
non-tax policy initiatives in the EU to achieve its am- for businesses inside the bloc and those outside.
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Context:
Significance: The article highlights the trend in tax collection in India
Instead of health for all being seen as the servant of eco- post-Covid, specifically focusing on direct taxes and GST.
nomic growth → roadmap will structure economic activity
in a way that will allow all people faster with better access to Direct Tax Vs GST
essential health services. Direct Tax GST
Direct tax refers to the GST (Goods and Services Tax)
2. Pandemic treaty: taxes imposed on in- is an indirect tax levied on the
• Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pan- dividuals and entities supply of goods and services.
demics are underway at the WHA. (levied directly on the GST is a consumption-based tax
• The WHO already has binding rules known as the taxpayer) based on that is charged at each stage of
International Health Regulations - adopted in 2005 their income, profits, or the supply chain, from produc-
after the SARS outbreak. assets. It includes taxes tion to the final sale.
• These regulations are still considered appropriate like income tax, corpo-
for regional epidemics, such as Ebola but inade- rate tax, and wealth tax.
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During COVID, direct The recovery in GST collection Reduction in GST has significantly reduced trans-
tax experienced a de- has been better compared to transaction costs action costs, making business opera-
cline of nearly 10% but direct taxes. tions more efficient and cost-effective.
then saw a growth rate Removal of hid- By removing hidden and embedded
of 49% in 2021-22 and den and embed- taxes, GST has improved the competi-
18% in 2022-23. ded taxes tiveness of domestic industries in the
While the growth of Better recovery in GST has been global market.
corporation tax has due to: Seamless tax The system of seamless tax credits
been high, personal in- a) e-invoicing and procedural credits throughout the value chain and across
come-tax collection has simplification, b) better compli- state boundaries has minimized the
declined. ance procedures, c) the rising cascading effect of taxes.
inflation rate and d) the rise in
import duties
Challenges/Limitations of GST:
Challenge Explanation
About GST:
Refund de- There are concerns regarding delays in ex-
GST (introduced on July 1, 2017) is a multi-stage collection
lay issues port refunds, impacting businesses reliant on
mechanism and aims to be a unified indirect tax across the
timely refunds under the GST regime.
country on products and services. The objectives of GST in-
clude simplifying the tax system, preventing misclassifica- Rate dif- The presence of multiple tax rates is seen as
tions and litigations, avoiding an inverted duty structure, fe r e n t i a - inefficient for targeting benefits to the poor,
and ensuring a destination-based consumption taxation ap- tion leading to complexities and potential dispari-
proach. ties in the tax system.
Lack of The absence of a statutory mechanism for
Implementation: d i s p u t e uniform rulings by authorities has resulted in
GST is implemented through a dual GST model, with the Cen- redressal a lack of clarity and consistency in resolving
tre and States levying taxes on a common base. The rates m e c h a - disputes under the GST regime.
for GST range from 5%, 12%, 16% and 28%, and it applies to nism
most goods and services, excluding alcoholic liquor for hu- C o n s t a n t The frequent amendments made to the GST
man consumption and five petroleum products (petroleum a m e n d - law have caused confusion among taxpayers
crude, motor spirit (petrol), high-speed diesel, natural gas ments and tax administrators, leading to misunder-
and aviation turbine fuel). The GST Council, headed by the standings and misconceptions.
Union Finance Minister, is the governing body responsible Adaption Small and medium businesses face challeng-
for making key decisions regarding GST. and tech- es in adapting to the tech-enabled GST re-
nical is- gime, with IT glitches affecting the seamless
Achievements of GST: sues flow of input credits and ease of compliance.
C o m p l e x Businesses often face difficulties in moni-
Achievement Explanation
penalties toring vendor behaviour and believe they
High GST reve- GST revenues have shown a high should not be penalized for compliance de-
nues growth rate ( constantly reaching over ficiencies of their vendors after paying GST
1.5 Lakh crore a month collection) amounts.
Te c h n o l o g i c a l The GSTN, the technology platform 15th Fi- The 15th Finance Commission has highlighted
achievements for GST, has been successfully stabi- n a n c e additional concerns, including the multiplici-
lized, ensuring smooth operations and C o m m i s - ty of tax rates, shortfalls in GST collections,
transactions. sion con- volatility in collections, and inconsistencies
E-invoicing imple- Mandating e-invoicing for businesses cerns in return filing. The dependency of states on
mentation above Rs 100 crore has improved in- compensation from the centre is also a con-
voice matching and detection of fake cern.
invoices, enhancing tax compliance.
Improved tax E-invoicing, e-waybill and online pro- Conclusion:
compliance and cesses have improved tax compliance Anti-profiteering measures and compliance procedures in
enforcement and enabled better enforcement, GST need to be streamlined to ensure cost efficiency and
reducing instances of fraud and dis- price reduction benefits reach the common man. A group of
putes. ministers has proposed the removal of exemptions on vari-
ous services, aiming to bring uniformity and broaden the tax
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base under GST. Background: The strikes began when Blinkit slashed the min-
Insta Links: imum payout per delivery to Rs 15 per delivery from Rs 25.
Decriminalisation of offences under GST
The gig economy in India:
Mains Links
Q. Explain the rationale behind the Goods and Services Tax
(Compensation to States) Act of 2017. How has COVID-19
impacted the GST compensation fund and created new
federal tensions? (UPSC 2020)
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What is the proposed law for gig workers? Best practices:
In keeping with the National Commission on Labour’s recom-
mendation to consolidate central labour laws, the Ministry • In 2021, the UK Supreme Court classified Uber driv-
of Labour and Employment introduced the Code on Social ers as ‘workers’ under the UK Employment Rights Act
Security 2020. 1996.
• Germany’s Temporary Employment Act provides for
equal pay and equal treatment of gig workers.
Salient provisions in the Code on Social Security 2020: • Singapore has also proposed legislative changes to ex-
• It brings gig workers within the a mbit of labour laws tend work injury insurance and pension coverage to
for the first time. such workers.
• It distinguishes between such workers and employ-
ees.
• It stipulates that Central and State Governments Way ahead for India:
must frame suitable social security schemes for gig • The Labour Codes need to be implemented as soon
workers. as possible.
• A social security fund for gig workers, to which Gig • For this, State governments should frame rules as
employers must contribute 1-2% of their annu- soon as possible.
al turnover → to be used for the aforementioned
schemes. Mains Links:
• It also mandates the compulsory registration of all Q. How globalization has led to the reduction of employ-
gig workers to avail of benefits under these schemes. ment in the formal sector of the Indian economy? Is in-
• It also envisages the constitution of a National So- creased in formalization detrimental to the development
cial Security Board by the Central government to of the country? (UPSC 2016)
monitor the implementation of such schemes.
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Disadvan- Expenses issuing new currency and coinage What is the Clean Note Policy?
tages minting can be high, illegal activity will not be • The policy was introduced in 1999 by the then RBI
stopped entirely and may create chaos among Governor: Bimal Jalan.
individuals • It seeks to give the public good-quality currency notes
P r i m a r y To check fake currency notes and to break the and coins with better security features, while soiled
r e a s o n s grip of corruption and black money. notes are withdrawn out of circulation.
for de- • Under the policy, the RBI had earlier decided to with-
moneti- draw from circulation all banknotes issued prior to
sation in 2005 as they have fewer security features.
India in
2016
Will the Rs. 2000 banknotes continue to be legal tender?
Effect on • Yes. The public can continue to use Rs 2000
India banknotes for their transactions and also receive
them in payment.
• However, they are encouraged to deposit/exchange
these banknotes on or before September 30, 2023.
The RBI has not clarified the status of these notes
after September 30.
Context:
Why has the RBI withdrawn Rs. 2000 notes? The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a report on cur-
• With the fulfilment of the objective, the printing of rency and finance for the financial year (FY) 2022-23. The
Rs 2000 notes was stopped in 2018-19. theme of the report is ‘Towards a Greener Cleaner India’.
• The RBI issued the majority of the Rs 2000 denom-
ination notes prior to March 2017 - now at the end Major points in the Report are:
of their estimated lifespan of 4-5 years. Topic Summary
• Therefore, in pursuance of the Clean Note Policy
of the RBI, it has been decided to withdraw the Rs CBDC and CBDC can be more environment-friendly
2000 denomination banknotes from circulation. E n v i r o n - compared to alternative cashless methods.
ment Payments effected through CBDC would be
instantaneous and final, and reduced reli-
ance on clearing corporations and other
settlement infrastructure could cut down
energy consumption.
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Why is gold used as a reserve in Central banks? • The two key drivers behind the decision to hold gold
Unlike fiat currencies, which can be subject to inflation or - its performance during crisis times and its role as
devaluation due to various economic factors, the value of a long-term store of value.
gold tends to be relatively stable over time, which makes
it an attractive asset for central banks to hold as a reserve. Insta Links: Rising forex reserves and their importance
Additionally, gold is highly liquid, which means it can easily
be converted into cash or used to settle international trans-
actions. 6. CROSS-BORDER INSOLVENCY
Composition of India’s gold reserves:
• The 794.64 tonnes of gold reserves included gold Context:
deposits of 56.32 tonnes. The Indian government has decided to halt its plan to adopt
• 437.22 tonnes of gold is held overseas in safe custo- a cross-border insolvency regime that would have allowed
dy with the Bank of England and the Bank of Interna- foreign lenders to initiate bankruptcy proceedings against
tional Settlements (BIS). defaulting Indian businesses in local tribunals.
• 301.10 tonnes of gold is held domestically.
About Cross-border Insolvency:
Comparison with total foreign exchange reserves: Cross-border insolvency typically occurs when a debtor has
operations or creditors in multiple countries, and there is
a need for coordination and cooperation among different
courts and stakeholders to achieve an efficient and fair res-
olution.
• United Nations Commission on International Trade
Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Cross-Border Insol-
vency, 1997, is a widely accepted legal framework
to deal with cross-border insolvency issues.
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Insolvency Enacted in 2016, it consolidates laws re- and transparency of public administration,
and supporting SDG implementation.
and Bank- lated to the insolvency resolution of busi-
ruptcy Code ness firms. Promoting intergenerational equity and ad-
dressing climate change concerns.
Insolvency Introduces Pre-packaged Insolvency Res-
and Bank- olution Process (PIRP) for Micro, Small,
ruptcy Code and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with Meaning of blue economy and its significance:
(Amendment defaults up to Rs 1 crore.
Bill), 2021
Challenges for
Lack of proper resolution with over 50%
the IBC of cases ending in liquidation; Significant
delays in resolution; High haircuts (debt
foregone) by creditors; Lack of digitization
Achievements A successful revival of India’s insolvency
regime and addressing non-performing
assets (NPAs); Improved credit discipline;
India’s rank in resolving insolvency im-
proved significantly
Provision of Currently, section 234 (empowers the • The global annual value of the blue/ocean economy
Cross border central government to enter into bilat- is ~$2.5 trillion.
Insolvency eral agreements) and 235 (adjudicating • About 90% of global trade by volume [75% by val-
authorities issuing letters of request to ue] is carried out through sea routes.
foreign courts) of IBC, 2016 provide a ba-
sic framework for cross-border insolvency
Efforts to promote blue economy:
Global India
Conclusion:
The introduction of a cross-border insolvency regime will be Sustainable Blue The blue economy is one of the 10
considered once the institutional capacity and overall bank- Economy Finance core sectors for national growth in
ruptcy resolution ecosystem are more robust. Principles (2018): India.
Laid out by the UNEP,
the framework can
Insta Links: be used by Investors
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code: Provisions to fund ocean-based
industries and Finan-
ciers to see how ma-
Mains Links
rine investment can
Q. The introduction of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy
impact livelihood and
Code (IBC) in 2016 was a ‘watershed’ moment in India.
poverty eradication.
Comment (250 Words)
COP15 (CBD): It laid A National Blue Economy Poli-
out the global biodi- cy that aims to harness maritime
7. SAI20: BLUEPRINT FOR A BLUE ECONO- versity framework to resources while preserving the
MY conserve and sustain- country’s rich marine biodiversity
ably use the planet’s has been prepared by the Ministry
Context: biodiversity. of Earth Sciences.
The Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) will chair Compendium of Asset Accounts
SAI20 - the Engagement Group for Supreme Audit Institu- of Natural Resources: This first-ev-
tions (SAls) of G20 countries in Goa. er country-wide handbook (by
CAG) sets a national accounting
framework for the blue economy.
What is SAI20?
• The SAI20 Engagement Group of G20 was estab- Conservation of Coastal Ecosys-
lished in 2022 during Indonesia’s Presidency of the tem report by CAG: The audit
G20. resulted in focused recommenda-
• The constitution of SAI20 stems from a recognition tions to help improve the Coastal
of the role of SAIs in - Regulation Zone (CRZ) ecosystem.
Promoting the efficiency, accountability,
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Challenges: 8. NATIONAL MANUFACTURING INNOVA-
• The measurement of the blue economy is challeng-
TION SURVEY (NMIS) 2021-22
ing due to conflicting definitions and issues while
classifying different sectors and sub-sectors.
• Climate change: Sea-level rise, water temperature,
storm surges, cyclones and wave conditions are
some of the signs.
• Land use changes, sand mining and deforestation
impinge on the coastal ecosystem.
What is expected in the blue economy deliberations? Major Findings of the NMIS Survey 2021-22:
● Preparation of technology-driven tools to assess
Findings Description:
authorised development in coastal stretches and
track marine water quality. Innovative Nearly 25% of India is innovative
● Evolution of globally relevant audit toolkits for firms
coastal spaces, which include - To p - ra n ke d Karnataka> Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Da-
○ Legal and institutional frameworks, state in in- man & Diu> Telangana> Tamil Nadu
○ Compliance with coastal regulations, novation (in
○ Biodiversity conservation, IMII)
○ Capacity building and compliance to SDGs. L o w e s t North-eastern states> Bihar> Assam>
ranked state Jharkhand
Lack of fi- Nearly 40% of the firms faced this issue
Way ahead:
nance from
• Disaster-resilient infrastructure along coasts
external
• ICT hubs for early warning systems
sources as a
• The SAI20 audit toolkits being prepared under the
barrier
leadership of the CAG of India will provide a unique
opportunity for constructive dialogue to improve Triple-Helix
the auditing of ocean-based activities. model focus
Conclusion:
The audit toolkits will help in the assessment of policy goals,
and resource efficiency while leveraging economic opportu-
nities towards a truly sustainable blue economy-based glob-
al development model.
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Recommendations of the Survey: INFRASTRUCTURE: ENERGY, PORTS,
Recommenda- Example ROADS, AIRPORTS, RAILWAYS ETC.
tion
Awareness E.g., Through events, webinars, and me-
campaign for dia campaigns. 9. DECARBONISING TRANSPORT SECTOR
innovation
Collaboration Create a joint R&D program between Context:
( Tr i p l e - H e l i x universities, research institutes, and in- According to the ITF Transport Outlook 2023, acting now
model focus) dustries to foster collaboration and shar- and decarbonising transportation can help in achieving the
ing of best practices. goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Innovation Establish innovation centres in every
centres state that offer training and funding to The ITF Transport Outlook 2023: It was released by the In-
MSMEs. ternational Transport Forum (ITF) at the Leipzig Transport
Investment Encourage venture capitalists and angel Summit.
investors to invest in innovative startups
by providing tax incentives and reducing
ITF: It is a think tank (administratively integrated with the
regulatory barriers.
OECD yet politically autonomous) for transport policy that
Financing Establish a government-backed loan organises the Annual Summit of transport ministers.
program that offers low-interest loans to
firms for innovation projects.
Leipzig (Germany) Transport Summit:
Workforce Promote STEM education and provide
• Transport ministers from across 64 member coun-
training programs for workers to learn
tries of the ITF gathered under the event theme of
new skills in emerging technologies.
‘Transport Enabling Sustainable Economies’.
Industry 4.0 Provide financial assistance to firms to • The United Kingdom holds the current Presidency of
technologies upgrade their manufacturing facilities the annual Summit.
with digital technologies such as IoT, AI,
and big data analytics.
Intellectual Establish a strong legal framework that
property rights protects patents, trademarks, and copy-
protection rights, and provides swift enforcement
against infringement.
Mains Links
Q.1 “Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the over-
all growth of Gross-Domestic-Product(GDP) in the post-re-
form period” Give reasons. How far are the recent chang-
es in Industrial Policy capable of increasing the industrial
growth rate? (UPSC 2017)
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• A combination of complementary policies that What is TEPA?
avoid unnecessary transport activity. A trade and Economic Partnership Agreement is a type of
• Shift to no-carbon transport and improve the effi- economic partnership agreement between countries. TEPA
ciency of transport. agreements offer flexibility in terms of negotiating terms
• Scale up cost-competitive technologies and fuels to and conditions, as the parties involved can tailor the agree-
move people and goods with fewer emissions. ment to their specific needs and interests.
Policy recommendations:
Initiatives:
• The Decarbonising Transport initiative of the ITF: European Free Trade Association (est. 1960; HQ: Gene-
Promotes carbon-neutral mobility to help stop cli- va) is an intergovernmental organization founded by four
mate change. European countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and
• India: Switzerland as an alternative to the EU.
Forum for Decarbonizing Transport:
Launched by NITI Aayog and WRI India, the Purpose To promote free trade and economic
project aims at bringing down the peak level cooperation among its member states
of GHG emissions (transport sector) in Asia. and with other countries
EVs: National Electric Mobility Mission Plan, R e l a t i o n s h i p EFTA has a close relationship with the
FAME Scheme, Incentives under PLI Scheme, with EU EU and has signed several agreements,
etc. which allow for the free movement of
Alternative fuels (CNG, etc), Ethanol blend- goods, services, capital, and people be-
ing, hybrid vehicles, BS (VI) norms, etc.
tween the EFTA countries and the EU
Strength of EFTA The economy of these countries is very
ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION, TRADE countries strong. They rank among the highest
in the world in innovation, competi-
AGREEMENT tiveness, wealth creation per inhabi-
tant, life expectancy, and quality of life.
EFTA companies are also world leaders
in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology,
10. TEPA BETWEEN INDIA AND EFTA STATES machinery manufacturing, R&D-driven
technology products, geothermal-re-
lated technologies and many more.
Context:
The Secretary General of the European Free Trade Associ- Potential Benefits of TEPA between India and EFTA States:
ation (EFTA) states that a Trade and Economic Partnership
Agreement (TEPA) between India and EFTA will enhance the Area Benefits
economic partnership Trade India’s growth and leadership in green technol-
ogies can benefit from EFTA’s support.
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Highlights of the study: Way ahead:
• 59% of the surveyed households experienced cli- • Financial inclusion will reduce the resources that
mate shocks in at least one of the five previous years households need to keep in liquid form and there-
→ using their own savings to cope with the issue. fore make them available for productive invest-
• As rural households have limited access to liquidity, ments to address climate risk.
they take high-interest loans from informal sources. • Climate adaptation requires putting resources in the
• Households rely on financial assistance from kin hands of people because they are best placed to un-
and relatives followed by friends, village communi- derstand climate impacts.
ties, money lenders, and banks (in this order).
A. THE FINANCIAL INCLUSION OF WOMEN
Factors affecting access to financial services:
• Location: Most commercial banks set up their
Context:
branches in profitable urban commercial areas.
It is challenging to achieve financial inclusion (FI) for women
• Lack of infrastructure in rural and semi-urban ar-
until they actively participate in the formal financial industry.
eas: Lack of access to a formal banking outlet, prop-
er internet, electricity, etc., are major roadblocks to
both consumers and financial institutions. Why do women need FI?
• Rising unemployment and low wages: Financial • FI is considered a critical indicator of development
conditions of people plays a pivotal role in accessing and is identified as an enabler for at least eight of
available financial services. the 17 SDGs.
• Service charges: High bank charges not only dis- • For women, access to bank accounts, loans, insur-
courage people but also create a lack of trust among ance, and other financial services, results in direct
people using banking and financial services. improvements in outcomes of health, education,
employment → economic independence → em-
Financial institutions for inclusion: powerment.
• Scheduled commercial banks • In turn, such progress helps achieve the collective
• Regional rural banks goals of eradicating poverty, promoting inclusive
• Payment banks growth, and reducing inequality.
• Micro-finance institutions
• Business correspondents (Bank Mitra) The schemes promoting FI in India:
• Small finance banks
Government efforts:
• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)
• Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT)
• Aadhaar Enabled Payment Services (AePS)
• Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)-UPI
Best practices:
• Companies such as Vakrangee Ltd., BTI payments,
FINO, etc., have provided many banking and ATM
services through a technology-driven platform.
They have managed to boost rural entre-
preneurship and increase the level of fi-
nancial literacy.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY):
• The PM Mudra Yojana provides collateral-free
• 56% of all these new accounts are owned by wom-
loans up to Rs. 1 million for small and micro en-
en, which implies remarkable FI that has significant-
terprises.
ly reduced the gender gap, from 17% in 2011 to 6%
in 2017.
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Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT): Prelims Links: UPSC 2016
• Since its inception in 2013, the Indian government
Q. The establishment of ‘Payment Banks’ is being allowed
has cumulatively transferred Rs. 16.8 trillion to
in India to promote financial inclusion. Which of the fol-
beneficiaries through DBT. This has led to the FI of
lowing statements is/are correct in this context?
women, as they constitute a good number of bene-
ficiaries under the schemes. 1. Mobile telephone companies and supermarket chains
that are owned and controlled by residents are eligible
to be promoters of Payment Banks.
Challenges: 2. Payment Banks can issue both credit cards and debit
• Women still lack participation in the formal financial cards.
industry. For example, 3. Payment Banks cannot undertake lending activities.
Most women only access their PMJDY ac-
counts to withdraw the benefit transfers Select the correct answer using the code given below.
from the various government initiatives. 1. 1 and 2 only
Most of them do not use these accounts for 2. 1 and 3 only
savings, to build a credit history or avail of 3. 2 only
any financial products such as insurance
and loans. 4. 1, 2 and 3
Best practice:
• The Bank Sakhis programme by the National Rural
Livelihoods Mission trains SHG members to work as
BCs in rural districts.
Way ahead:
Digital payment solutions can be easily redesigned to en- • Agricultural trade surplus (Exports - Imports): It has
able access to information that are key stumbling blocks to marginally dipped from $17.82 billion to $17.46 bil-
the FI of women. lion.
The surplus narrows further if one adds the
import of fertilizers, which have risen from
Insta Links: Women and financial inclusion $14.17 billion in 2021-22 to $17.21 billion in
2022-23.
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The drivers - global prices: • Spices exports have stagnated since 2020-21.
• The UN FAO’s Food Price Index (FPI) - a weighted • The exports of raw cotton, guar-gum (a thickening
average of world prices of a basket of food commod- agent used in extraction of shale oil and gas) and oil
ities over a base period value (2014-16 = 100) - re- meals, have declined.
mains high since 2020-21.
• It made India’s agri-commodities more globally price Imports profile:
competitive. • Imports meet roughly 60% of India’s vegetable oil
requirements, 10% of pulses.
Major export-import contributors: • Imports of spices, cashew and cotton - commodities
where India has traditionally been a net exporter -
have shown a rising trend.
Concerns:
• Unfavourable regulatory regime:
Cultivation of GM Bt cotton and high glob-
al prices had enabled India to become the
world’s top producer (ahead of China) and
No. 2 exporter (after the US) of natural fibre.
But, as the government is not permitting
new gene technologies, the country has
turned from a net exporter to an importer
of cotton.
• Domestic crop shortages: Specially in cotton, soy-
abean, guar-gum and oil meal.
• Spice imports going up are a reflection of reduced
price competitiveness (vis-à-vis Vietnam in pepper
and Guatemala in pepper).
• Export curbs: The government banned wheat ex-
ports, broken rice exports and slapped a 20% duty
on all non-parboiled non-basmati shipments.
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Concerns: Trade deficit raises uncertainty on the outlook for India’s current account deficit and thereby rupee.
13.MAKING AGRI-COMMODITY VALUE Need for making agri-commodity value chains sustainable:
CHAINS SUSTAINABLE Making agri-commodity value chains sustainable is essential
to protect the environment, ensure long-term agricultural
productivity, meet consumer demands, address global sus-
Context: tainability challenges, promote stakeholder accountability,
The article highlights the challenges associated with making and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
agricultural commodity value chains sustainable. It identifies
four dimensions that make mitigating environmental im-
pacts a difficult task The challenges of ensuring sustainability in agricultural
commodity value chains:
Meaning of agri-commodity value chains: Challenges Examples
It refers to the entire process of production, processing, Market and produc- E.g., uncertain Export policies; ad-
distribution, and consumption of agricultural commodities, er Related verse WTO norms influencing Indi-
from farm to fork. an farmers; uncertain MSP by the
government
“Making Agri-commodity value chains sustainable” means Production related The production process, including
the practice of ensuring that the agricultural value chain land-use strategies, seed quality,
minimizes negative environmental and social impacts while and input usage, varies across differ-
promoting long-term economic viability. ent commodities. Lack of specific in-
tervention by farmers suited to the
specific production systems, such as
intensive or extensive agriculture or
agroforestry, leads to low yield.
Weak policies Weak governance mechanisms,
subsidies, market access, and infra-
structural support for Indian agricul-
ture
Marginalized farm- Poor Working conditions for mar-
ers ginalized tenants, almost no labour
rights, and inequity for Indian farm-
ers
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Few Government Initiatives for sustainable agriculture: 14.DIRECT-SEEDING METHOD GAINS
Scheme Objective CURRENCY IN INDIA’S PADDY-GROWING
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Promote organic farming REGIONS
Yojana
National Mission on Promote climate-resilient and Context:
Sustainable Agriculture sustainable agricultural prac- There is a growing trend of farmers in rice-growing states
(NMSA) tices such as conservation ag- of India adopting the direct-seeding method for paddy cul-
riculture, agroforestry, inte- tivation.
grated farming systems, etc.
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sin- Improve water use efficiency
Reasons:
chayee Yojana in agriculture
With delays in rainfall and labour shortages, this method al-
Soil Health Card Scheme Encourage balanced and judi- lows farmers to sow seeds without waiting for rain or spend-
cious use of fertilizers ing time in nurseries.
National Mission on Promote sustainable produc-
Oilseeds and Oil Palm tion of oilseeds and oil palm
What is Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)?
(NMOOP)
DSR, also known as the ‘broadcasting seed technique,’ is
National Agricultural Mar- Create a unified national mar- a method in which seeds are directly drilled into the fields.
ket (e-NAM) ket for agricultural commod- There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved
ities in this method.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan Develop agri-processing clus-
Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) ters and infrastructure to in-
Technique:
crease value addition and re-
In this technique, farmers level the land, provide one
duce post-harvest losses
pre-sowing irrigation, and then sow the rice seeds directly
into the field instead of transplanting seedlings.
What should be done:
The production process, including land-use strategies and
Advantages of DSR over Traditional Agriculture:
inputs, varies across commodities, requiring tailored inter-
ventions. Strong governance mechanisms and policies, in- Advantages Direct Seeding Traditional Agricul-
cluding subsidies and regulations, can support sustainable Method (DSR) ture
value chains. Additionally, an inclusive approach is neces- Water Con- D i r e c t - s e e d i n g Relies heavily on
sary, considering working conditions, labour rights, equity, servation method reduces wa- flood irrigation,
and the effects of the climate crisis on production. ter requirement by leading to water
about 15%. wastage
Conclusion: Labour Effi- Requires fewer la- Requires a signifi-
There is a need to address the environmental, social, and ciency bourers for nursery cant workforce for
economic dimensions of sustainability in the context of ag- preparation and nursery and trans-
ricultural production, processing, and distribution. transplantation planting
Time Savings Eliminates the need Requires time for
for nursery prepara- nursery preparation
Insta Links
tion and transplant- and transplanting
Food Processing and Supply-chain management
ing time
Yield Poten- Can result in high- Yield may vary
tial er yields due to im- based on crop man-
Mains Links: proved crop man- agement and envi-
agement ronmental factors
Q. Examine the role of supermarkets in the supply Soil Health Helps prevent the Puddling can lead to
chain management of fruits, vegetables, and food items. development of hard soil compaction and
How do they eliminate the number of intermediaries? crust beneath the reduced soil health
(UPSC 2018) plough layer
Crop Resi- Allows for better Crop residue man-
due Manage- management of crop agement can be
ment residue challenging in tradi-
tional methods
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Limitations of DSR: Challenges the world is facing - Conflict between food secu-
• Weed Management Challenges: DSR often requires rity and environmental protection:
multiple sprays of weedicides to control weed growth. • Agriculture is responsible for a quarter of the car-
In comparison, flood irrigation in the traditional meth- bon emissions and the vast majority of the world’s
od acts as a natural weedicide. biodiversity losses.
• Vulnerability to Climate Extremes: DSR may be more • However, there is the need to increase food pro-
susceptible to extreme weather conditions, such as high duction (by 50%), as the world’s population keeps
temperatures and deficient rainfall. growing [will reach 10 billion in 2057 (as per UN es-
• Crop Residue Management: Unlike traditional agricul- timates)].
ture, where rice straw is removed after harvest, DSR
leaves the crop residue in the field. Approaches to achieving food security and mitigating cli-
• Variability in Yield: The success of DSR can vary depend- mate crisis:
ing on factors like farmer expertise, soil type, and envi- • Dietary changes to make consumption more sus-
ronmental conditions. tainable.
• Initial Learning Curve: Transitioning from traditional • Better technologies to create more environmentally
agriculture to DSR may require farmers to acquire new friendly methods of agriculture. Gene technologies
knowledge and skills. are a crucial part of the strategy for a sustainable
• The seed requirement for DSR is also higher than food system.
transplanting.
• Land levelling is compulsory in DSR, therefore, in- What is GM food?
creasing the cost. • Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organ-
isms that have altered DNA to change their proper-
ties.
Mains Link:
• Foods produced from or using GMOs are often re-
Q. Discuss the significance of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) ferred to as GM foods/crops.
(250 Words) • GMOs were first introduced in the US in 1994, to
prolong the shelf life of tomato plants.
• Since then, GM soybeans, wheat and rice have been
Prelims Links: approved for agricultural use.
• Currently, GM crop production uses ~10% of the
Q. What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage
land as compared to non-GM crops.
in agriculture? ( UPSC 2020)
1. Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the resi-
due of the previous crops. Advantages:
• Can improve yield, delay ripening to prolong their
2. Without the need for a nursery of rice saplings, direct
shelf life, builds resistance to disease/pests, frost, or
planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.
drought, or adds nutrients.
3. Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible. • Can be modified to reduce carbon emissions and
Select the correct answer using the code given below: boost the sustainability of food production.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only GM controversy:
(c) 3 only • Uncertainty (over-regulation) and concerns about
(d) 1, 2 and 3 safety (long-term impact on human-animal health
Ans: D and biodiversity).
• The monopoly of big corporations (like Monsanto)
→ expensive GM seeds.
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(GEAC) cleared the environmental release of mus- gaps in ensuring a robust pipeline of antibiotic treatments.
tard hybrid Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH-11) for its
seed production and testing
What is AMR?
• Indian scientists have also developed strains of Sub-
It refers to the ability of microorganisms, such as bacteria,
1 rice, which are much more resistant to flooding.
viruses, fungi, and parasites, to resist the effects of anti-
• Golden rice is a GM strain modified to contain vita-
microbial drugs, such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals,
min A, to combat the shortage of dietary vitamin A
and antiparasitic drugs. E.g., New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase
in parts of Asia and Africa.
(NDM-1) superbug
Way ahead:
• The focus of GM products must be on the social and Status of AMR:
public enterprise. It was responsible for nearly 5 million global deaths in 2019
• The industry must look at more local solutions that and is projected to cause over 2mn death by 2050 in India
help smallholder farmers in developing countries. alone. Yet the development of new antibiotics is limited,
• Easy availability of open-source seeds and GM tech- and access to existing treatments remains a challenge.
nologies.
• Creating a licensing landscape that empowers lo- What does the Report say:
cal farmers to adapt to the demands of sustainable • AMR remains one of the top 10 global public health
agriculture, to meet rising populations and climate threats facing humanity
change. • 1 in 5 deaths caused by AMR occurred in children under
the age of 5.
Insta Links: Genetic Modification in Crops • If no action is taken, AMR could cost the world’s econo-
my USD 100 trillion by 2050.
• Recommendations by the report: increased investments
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2018) in research and development, alignment of financing
With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mechanisms, and global efforts to ensure equitable ac-
mustard) developed in India, consider the following state- cess to antibiotics.
ments:
1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that What are the problems with AMR in India?
give the plant the property of pest resistance to a
AMR is a particular challenge in India due to the high burden
wide variety of pests.
of communicable diseases, an overburdened public health
2. GM mustard has the genes that allow plant system, limited laboratory capacity, inexpensive and widely
cross-pollination and hybridization. available antibiotics without prescriptions, Excessive use of
3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the antibiotics in livestock and poultry farming etc
IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Ans: 2
HEALTH
Context:
The new WHO report (Incentivising the Development of
new antibacterial treatments 2023) highlights progress in
addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) but also identifies
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Major pharmaceu- Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Anklesh- In India, drugs and cosmetics are regulated by:
tical hubs in India war, Vapi, Baddi, Sikkim, Kolkata, • Act: Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules
Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Banga- 1945: It assigns various responsibilities to central
lore, Chennai, Margao, Navi Mum- and state regulators .
bai, Mumbai, Pune and Aurangabad,
• Agencies :
Pithampur.
Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI):
It is responsible for approving licenses
for specified categories of drugs, setting
standards for manufacturing, sales, import,
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and distribution of drugs in India, and heads Conclusion:
the department of CDSCO. Indian government can enhance the quality and regulation
Central Drugs Standard Control Organisa- of the pharmaceutical industry through legislative amend-
tion (CDSCO): It prescribes standards for ments, centralized drug databases, and the merging of regu-
ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of lators. It will build confidence, ensure high-quality generics,
drugs, cosmetics, diagnostics, and devices. and uphold India’s reputation as a reliable supplier, benefit-
It also regulates the market authorization
of new drugs and clinical trial standards. ing both domestic and global healthcare while protecting
National Pharmaceutical Pricing public health.
Authority (NPPA): It controls the pricing of
pharmaceutical drugs in India Insta Links:
Spurious Drug Menace
Steps that can be taken by the government:
Steps Description Mains Links:
Amend the Drugs Modify the existing legislation to align Q. India enjoys an important position in the global phar-
and Cosmetics Act it with current requirements and en- maceuticals sector. Analyse the strength and weakness-
(1940) hance regulatory oversight. es of India in this sector. Suggest steps to overcome the
weaknesses. (250 Words)
Create a central- Establish a comprehensive database
ized drug data- to facilitate effective surveillance of
base all pharmaceutical manufacturers. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Merge India’s 36 Consolidate the regional regulatory
regional regula- authorities into a unified entity to
tors streamline the regulatory process and 18.“RISK-BASED” REGULATION FOR ARTIFI-
reduce the risk of inconsistent en- CIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
forcement.
Set common Implement uniform quality standards Context:
quality standards across all states to ensure consistent The Group of Seven (G7) has proposed a “risk-based” reg-
across states product quality and reduce the risk of ulation for artificial intelligence (AI) tools, which could be a
varying regulatory enforcement. first step towards creating a template to regulate AI such as
Increase budget- Allocate additional funds to strength- OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard.
ary support en inspection teams and conduct
more frequent inspections related to
What is AI?
product quality.
AI stands for artificial intelligence, which is the ability of ma-
Impose clear pen- Establish strict penalties for compa- chines to learn and perform tasks that normally require hu-
alties for firms ex- nies involved in exporting counterfeit man intelligence, such as problem-solving, decision-making,
porting spurious or substandard drugs. This will deter and language understanding.
drugs such practices and safeguard public
health.
What is GPT?
Create a public Develop a comprehensive safety da-
database of safe- tabase that contains information on
ty data drug-related adverse events, side ef-
fects, and other safety concerns.
Enact a national This will ensure swift and effective
law on drug recall recall processes, protecting the public
from potentially harmful drugs.
Strengthen CDS- Strengthen the Central Drugs Stan-
CO dard Control Organisation (CDSCO)
and provide it with statutory backing
WHO’s Good Promote and incentivize pharmaceu-
M a n u fa c t u r i n g tical manufacturers to adhere to the
Practice certifica- WHO’s Good Manufacturing Practice
tion (GMP) standards.
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Concerns related to rising AI software and chatbots: UK Adopts a ‘light-touch’ approach that aims to
Concerns Explanation foster innovation in the AI industry.
Privacy There is a risk that personal and sensi- Japan Takes an accommodative approach to AI devel-
tive information data could be used for opers.
unethical purposes, such as for target- China Drafted a 20-point draft to regulate generative
ed advertising or for political manipu- AI services that are likely to be enforced later
lation. this year.
Responsibility Since AI models can generate new con- India ICMR releases guidelines for artificial intel-
tent, such as images, audio, or text it ligence use in the health sector; Niti Aayog’s
may be used to generate fake news or National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and
other malicious content, without know- the Responsible AI for All report. India is not
ing who is responsible for the output. considering any law to regulate AI currently. In-
This could lead to ethical dilemmas over dia’s AI penetration factor at 3.09, the highest
responsibility. among all G20, OECD countries
Automation AI has the potential to automate many US Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights that proposed
and Lowering of processes, which could lead to job dis- a nonbinding roadmap for the responsible use
Job placement for people who are skilled of AI. The Blueprint spelt out five core princi-
in those areas. ples to govern the effective development of AI
Bias and Dis- AI can be trained on biased data, which systems.
crimination can result in the algorithm making deci-
sions that unfairly disadvantage certain
Conclusion:
groups. This can perpetuate societal in-
Although the risks of AI are widely known, it remains un-
equalities and lead to discrimination.
clear how the proposed AI Bill of Rights would address
Lack of Trans- There are concerns about who should these risks and how grievances would be remedied. Elon
parency and Ac- be held responsible for the actions of Musk, Steve Wozniak, and over 15,000 others have called
countability AI systems - creators of the AI systems, for a six-month pause in AI development, and for shared
the companies that deploy them, or the safety protocols to be implemented by labs and independent
governments that regulate them. experts.
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Biotechnology (DBT).
• National Award for woman scientist: To recognize
the contribution of women scientists in the field of
Earth System Sciences.
• Multifaceted initiatives (like Women Entrepreneur’s
Quest (WEQ) Programme) have been launched by
DST to encourage women’s entrepreneurship under
Start-up India-Stand up India.
Conclusion:
STEMM is the prime engine that have steered national
growth and created a self-reliant India. Hence, equal partic-
ipation of both men and women in STEMM will help India
realise ‘Amrit Kaal’ in the true sense.
Data on women in science in India: As per the latest “Re-
search and Development Statistics 2019-20” of the Depart- Insta Links: Women in Science
ment of Science and Technology (DST), India has 16.6% of
women researchers directly engaged in R&D activities.
SPACE
The obstacles that hold women back include:
• Lack of representation, deeply entrenched patriarchy
• Institutional apathy
21.NAVIC SATELLITE: WHY A REGIONAL
• Poor working conditions, sexual harassment NAVIGATION SYSTEM MATTERS TO INDIA
• Familial issues like marriage, family responsibility (twin
burden of home and the workplace), relocation due to Context:
transferable job of the spouse, etc. ISRO will launch a new NavIC satellite (NVS-01), belonging
to the second generation of the Indian Regional Navigation
Impact: Satellite System (IRNSS), known as NavIC, to overcome some
Dropout from higher studies, career break, overage for sci- of the previous issues faced by NavIC.
entific jobs and prolonged absence from place of work or
even resignation from the job. Issues faced by NavIC (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite
System):
The government has taken several corrective steps: • Atomic clock failure: Several of the existing satellites
• Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement stopped providing location data after their onboard
through Nurturing (KIRAN) Scheme: Instituted to atomic clocks failed
encourage women in the field of S&T. • Satellite Replacement: Some of the satellites in the
Women Scientist Scheme (WOS) under NAVIC constellation have reached the end of their mis-
KIRAN provides career opportunities, es- sion life or become partially defunct.
pecially for those who had a break in their • Limited Coverage: While NAVIC provides coverage over
career. the Indian landmass and a radius of 1,500 km around
The Mobility Scheme under KIRAN ad- it, there is a need for further expansion and ground sta-
dresses relocation issues of working women tions outside India to improve coverage and accuracy in
scientists and provides support in project hard-to-reach areas.
mode for 2-5 years.
• User Segment Development: There has been a delay in
• Consolidation of University Research through Inno- the development of user receivers for the NAVIC system,
vation and Excellence in Women Universities (CU- resulting in limited utilization of the navigation services.
RIE) Programme. • Mobile Compatibility: Mobile phones in India currently
• Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM (Science, lack compatibility to process NAVIC signals, limiting the
Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine) widespread use of the system.
encourages Indian women scientists to undertake • Security and Encryption: Ensuring the security of NAVIC
international collaborative research. signals and preventing breaches or spoofing is a signifi-
• Vigyan Jyoti Scheme: Encourages girl students of cant challenge.
Class 9 to 12 to pursue education and career in S&T.
• Biotechnology Career Advancement and Re-orien-
tation Programme (BioCARe) of the Department of
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New features of the Satellite are (to overcome some of the Disaster Man- NavIC helps in tracking and responding
issues): agement to natural disasters, such as cyclones
• L1 Frequency: The inclusion of the L1 frequency (besides and floods.
L5 and S frequency) enhances compatibility with wear-
Transportation NavIC enables precise tracking of com-
able devices and personal trackers. The inclusion of L1
and Navigation mercial vehicles, enhancing road safety
frequency also increases interoperability with other sat-
and efficiency.
ellite-based navigation systems.
• Longer mission life: The second-generation satellites will Precision Ag- NavIC aids farmers in optimizing crop
also have a longer mission life of more than 12 years. riculture and management, irrigation, and soil nutri-
The existing satellites have a mission life of 10 years. Farming ent application.
• Rubidium atomic clock: The atomic clock ensures ac- Personal and NavIC enables real-time tracking of fish-
curate positioning, addressing a previous issue faced by Public Safety ermen and sends alerts in case of po-
satellites in the constellation tential dangers at sea.
• The heaviest in the constellation of NAVIC satellites ( Scientific and NavIC aids in scientific experiments,
will be launched by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Te ch n olog ical geological surveys, and geodetic net-
Vehicle (GSLV) rocket): Previous satellites were much Advancements work development.
lighter and launched on PSLV. The higher weight allow-
ance allows for more instruments and fuel to be loaded.
Conclusion:
Currently, NavIC’s reach extends only 1,500 km beyond In-
NavIC’s advantages over other systems:
dian territory. However, for applications involving ships and
Advantages Explanation aeroplanes travelling beyond this range, satellites in Medium
Regional Cover- India is the only country that has a re- Earth Orbit (MEO) would be required. By adding MEO satel-
age gional satellite-based navigation system lites in the future, NavIC can extend its global reach and aim
(there are four global satellite-based to provide navigation services on a global scale, similar to
navigation systems — the American the capabilities of the GPS system.
GPS, the Russian GLONASS, the Europe-
an Galileo, and the Chinese Beidou
Mains Links:
Q. Why is the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite Sys-
Higher Accura- Once fully operational, NavIC open sig- tem (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation?
cy nals are expected to provide accuracy (UPSC 2018)
up to 5 meters, surpassing GPS accuracy
(20 meters).
Geo-stationary Unlike GPS, NavIC uses satellites in high
Satellites geo-stationery orbit, ensuring constant Prelims Links:
coverage over the designated region. Q. With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Sat-
Improved Sig- NavIC signals arrive in India at a 90-de- ellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: (
nal Reception gree angle, making them easier to re- UPSC 2018)
ceive even in congested or obstructed 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four
areas (unlike GPS). satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
Indigenous De- NavIC is developed by ISRO, showcasing 2. IRNSS covers the entire India and about 5500 sq. Km
velopment India’s technological capabilities and re- beyond its borders.
ducing dependence on foreign systems. 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with
full global coverage by the middle of 2019.
Why a regional navigation system matters to India:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Examples
(a) 1 only
Strategic Inde- India’s NavIC system operates inde-
(b) 1 and 2 only
pendence pendently without relying on GPS or
other global systems. (c) 2 and 3 only
National Secu- NavIC enables precise tracking and nav- (d) None
rity igation for defence operations and mili-
tary applications. Ans: A
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Conclusion:
Balancing the benefits of globalization with environmental
sustainability requires careful consideration and implemen-
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tation of policies and practices that mitigate its negative Highlights of the study:
effects while maximizing its positive contributions to decar- • Since the 1980s, the rate of increase in methane
bonization and environmental protection. emissions is higher than ever before.
• Methane policies are actions by governments that
explicitly aim to monitor, prevent, or reduce meth-
Mains Links:
ane emissions from anthropogenic sources.
Q. Critically analyse the potential of Globalization as a cli- • 90% of identified national policies were from three
mate change mitigation strategy (250 Words) regions: North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.
• The policies targeting fossil methane (coal, oil, and
gas) are lower than biogenic methane (released by
living organisms).
23.METHANE MITIGATION POLICIES
Concerns:
Context: • This trend has emerged despite readily available
According to a new study, only 13% of methane emissions solutions to cut methane emissions from the fossil
are covered by global methane mitigation policies. fuel sector.
• Impact of methane mitigation policies on industries
Methane (CH4) (like agriculture) important to the national economy,
energy and food security or rural poverty consider-
• A greenhouse gas (GHG) responsible for 30% of the ations.
warming since preindustrial times, second only to car-
bon dioxide (CO2).
India-specific findings:
• However, it is 80 times more potent at warming than
• No effective policies targeting methane emissions
CO2.
from rice cultivation and biomass burning (burning
• Agriculture, fossil fuels as well as solid waste and
of crop residues).
wastewater are the three major sources of methane.
• While policies targeting biomass burning have quite
• In India (3rd largest emitter of CH4) ~20% of its an-
broad coverage, their implementation remains
thropogenic CH4 emissions come from agriculture
challenging.
(manure management), coal mines, municipal solid For example, the 1997 Coalbed methane
waste, etc. policy was ineffective in incentivising coal-
• According to the IPCC, the world must cut methane bed methane production.
emissions by at least 30 % by 2030.
Efforts to curb methane emissions
Way ahead:
Global India • The policies should focus on super emitters, which
Global Methane Pledge According to the Ministry of are facilities, equipment, and other infrastructure,
- Both the US and the New and Renewable Energy, a typically in the fossil-fuel, waste, or agriculture sec-
EU have planned to cut nationwide strategy to boost tors, that emit methane at high rates.
methane emissions by biogas production has re- • While reducing livestock or rice-production-related
30% (by 2030) compared ceived significant funding. emissions is challenging, India can contribute by re-
with the 2020 levels. ducing emissions associated with coal production.
UNEP’s International ICAR’s National Innovations in
Methane Emissions Ob- Climate Resilient Agriculture
servatory (IMEO) strate- (NICRA) project: Technologies Insta Links:
gy - To get policy-relevant (like System for Rice Intensi- Fossil fuels firms failed to curb methane emission: What
data into the right hands fication, Direct Seeded Rice) IEA’s annual report says
for emissions mitigation. were developed to reduce
methane emissions.
Methane Alert and Re- Crop Diversification Pro-
sponse System (MARS) gramme: Methane emissions 24.DEBT-FOR-CLIMATE SWAPS
- Launched at the COP27 are avoided due to the di-
to the UNFCCC in Sharm version of paddy to alternate Context:
El-Sheikh, Egypt crops like pulses, oilseeds, In the past decade, debt-for-climate swaps have grown rel-
maize, cotton, and agro-forest- atively popular among low- and middle-income countries.
ry.
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Debt-for-climate/debt-for-nature swaps Way ahead Countries like Sri Lanka [ranked as highly
vulnerable to climate change catastrophes
Meaning It is a debt restructuring device between and also reeling under the sovereign debt
the creditor and a debtor by which the for- crisis] can seek the help of these instru-
mer forgoes a portion of the latter’s foreign ments.
debt/provides its debt relief, in return for a
commitment to invest in specific environ-
mental mitigation and adaptation projects. 25.GREEN ENERGY OPEN ACCESS RULES,
Who will be • Low and middle-income countries, 2022
benefitted? small island developing states (SIDS).
• Example - Caribbean SIDS: The
Context:
COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a 73%
Union Power & NRE Ministry, urged industry leaders to set
drop in international tourist arrivals in
green targets and report violations of Green Energy Open
2020, and has aggravated the region’s
Access Rules.
debt crisis.
Need • These countries are most vulnerable to
What is Open Access?
climate change and are least able to af-
Open Access (OA) means non-discriminatory access to elec-
ford the investment to strengthen resil-
tricity transmission and distribution system
ience due to their debt burden.
• The signatories to the Paris Agreement
and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for What are Green Open Access Rules?
Net Zero (GFANZ) have a commitment It refers to regulations and guidelines implemented by the
to provide financial assistance to de- Government of India to promote the generation, purchase,
veloping countries to build clean, cli- and consumption of green energy.
mate-resilient futures. • The Ministry of Power notified the Electricity (Promot-
Advantages • Dual objectives: to promote specific in- ing Renewable Energy through Green Energy Open Ac-
vestment and policy action (that aims cess) Rules, 2022 in June 2022.
to combat climate change) on the one About the Rules:
hand and some debt relief on the other. Description
• Seeks to free up fiscal resources →
Aim To ensure affordable, reliable, sustainable,
Governments can improve resilience
and green energy for all and promote clean
without triggering a fiscal crisis or sac-
and green energy in India
rificing spending on other development
priorities. Features • Any consumer with a connected load of
• Developed countries can fulfil their 100 kW or above can get Renewable Ener-
commitments (to support developing gy through open access from any Renew-
countries) through this attractive and able Energy generating plant
transparent instrument. • Open access to stakeholders—traders,
Power Exchanges, National / Regional /
Swap vs Swap: Offer debt relief above what is need-
State Load Despatch Centres, and Central/
condition ed to finance the climate investments (net
State transmission utilities.
grants debt relief), leading to a higher fiscal trans-
• Timeline: The open access has to be
fer and the creation of fiscal space.
granted within 15 days or else it will be
Conditional grants: Cover the cost of an in- deemed to have been granted.
vestment and require economic dislocation • Consumers may demand a supply of
→ diversion of resources from planned de- Green Power from DISCOMs.
velopment programmes. • Commercial and Industrial consumers are
Successful • In 2017, this small African country an- allowed to purchase green power on a vol-
implemen- nounced the successful conclusion of untary basis.
tation negotiations for a debt-for-adaptation • There shall be a uniform Renewable Pur-
(Seychelles) swap under a tripartite model. chase Obligation (RPO). Also, Green Hy-
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a US- drogen/Green Ammonia is included for
based environmental organisation, the fulfilment of its RPO.
bought $22 million of its debt in ex- • Promoting generation, purchase and con-
change for a promise to create 13 new sumption of green energy including from
marine protected areas. Waste-to-Energy plants
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S i g n i f i - It provides a transparent, simplified, uniform • According to the 2021 CAG report, groundwater ex-
cance and streamlined procedure for granting open traction in India (annual use - ~433 billion cubic metres)
access to green energy. Also, it facilitates the has exceeded the recharge rate, threatening 80% of po-
deepening of electricity markets and enables table water over the next two decades.
the integration of Renewable Energy (RE) re-
sources into the grid. What is land subsidence?
I n d i a ’ s India is contributing only 3.5 per cent to the Land subsidence is defined as the progressive or abrupt
Status global emission despite having about 17 per sinking of the earth’s surface caused by the elimination or
cent of the world’s population. India is lead- dislocation of subsurface earth components (like aquifers)
ing the clean energy transition globally and triggered by natural/human activity.
has the fastest growth of RE capacity addi-
tion. How is groundwater extraction linked to sinking land?
When the underlying aquifers - deep water channels that
Insta Links: are stores of percolated water, aren’t recharged, they run
dry. Hence, the layers of soil and rock above them start to
• India’s Renewable energy plan: Click here
sink and the issue is not specific to north India alone.
• India’s solar capacity: Milestones and challenges
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• The government and policymakers should have a de- Resilience Cities in low- and Cities in Bangladesh
tailed understanding of the geophysical properties lower-middle-income and India are more
of the areas undergoing subsidence. countries face the vulnerable to floods,
• Incentivising rainwater harvesting, ensuring strict highest exposure to heat stress, and cy-
implementation of laws against illegal mining of climate change-relat- clones, resulting in
groundwater, evaluating building conditions in haz- ed hazards. severe economic
ard zones and provisioning of such subsidence in consequences.
building designs.
Inclusive- Lack of inclusive- Cities in low- and
ness ness contributes to l owe r- m i d d l e - i n -
Some initiatives the vulnerability and come countries of-
lack of resilience in ten struggle with
International National
cities of low- and inadequate access
• The United Na- • Atal Bhujal Yojana is a lower-middle-income to healthcare, edu-
tions-Water Sum- groundwater manage- countries. cation, and essential
mit on Groundwater ment scheme launched in utilities such as wa-
2022: Organised to 2019. ter and electricity.
raise awareness on • Jal Shakti Abhiyan
Air Pollu- Cities in low- and Delhi, Kanpur, Pat-
groundwater conser- (2019): Launched in 256
tion middle-income coun- na etc. have expe-
vation. water-stressed districts
tries have higher lev- rienced high levels
• “Groundwater: Mak- to improve groundwater
els of air pollution, of PM2.5, especially
ing the invisible visi- conditions in these areas.
particularly PM2.5, during the winter
ble” campaign run by • Aquifer Mapping and
compared to cities in season
UN-Water throughout Management Pro-
high-income coun-
2022. gramme
tries.
Vertical De- Cities that develop New York City, have
Insta Links: UN Groundwater Summit 2022 to help raise velopment vertically consume higher population
awareness on aquifer protection, sustainable use and Pros- less land, accommo- density and eco-
perity date more people, nomic activity com-
Mains Links: and show increased pared to cities with
Q. Discuss the Status of Groundwater Depletion in the prosperity. sprawled develop-
country and account for the associated problems and ment.
suggest measures on the lines of groundwater extraction Lack of Cities with less veg- Cities like Tokyo,
norms that have been notified recently. (250 words) Vegetation etation, particularly with limited green
and Heat in upper-middle-in- spaces, face high-
Impact come countries, er temperatures
experience exacer- during heat waves
27.MAKING CITIES CLIMATE-READY bated impacts from due to the lack of
extreme heat events vegetation and in-
Context: and urban heat island creased heat reten-
A recent report by the World Bank titled “Thriving: Making effects. tion.
Cities Green, Resilient, and Inclusive in a Changing Climate”
provides guidance to local and national policymakers on how Five sets of instruments to improve the greenness, resil-
to create greener, more resilient, and inclusive cities. ience, and inclusiveness of cities (as recommended by the
report):
Status of Cities in terms of their greenness, resilience, and 5 I’s Description Example
inclusiveness (as per the report): Information Policies and measures Establishing a cli-
Aspect Findings Example to provide credible mate change in-
Greenness Cities in high- and up- Cities in North Amer- and timely informa- formation centre
per-middle-income ica are among the tion to individuals, to provide climate
countries contribute largest per capita businesses, and local risks data specific
significantly to global emitters of green- governments about to their city.
greenhouse gas emis- house gases. climate change risks,
sions. mitigation and adap-
tation measures
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Incentives It includes remov- FAME I and II nclusiveness: Inclusiveness refers to creating cities that
ing subsidies that scheme, EU’s Car- are socially and economically equitable, where all individ-
encourage activities bon Border Adjust- uals and communities have equal access to opportunities,
with negative envi- ment Mechanism resources, and services.
ronmental external- (CBAM)
ities, Implementing
Insta Links:
tax incentives or re-
Climate resilience plans in Indian Cities
bates for installing
energy-efficient tech-
nologies Mains Links:
Insurance Developing climate risk insurance schemes Q. Discuss global warming and mention its effects on
that provide coverage for businesses and the global climate. Explain the control measures to bring
households against losses from extreme down the level of greenhouse gasses which cause global
weather events, encouraging investment warming, in the light of the Kyoto Protocol, 1997. (UPSC
in climate-resilient infrastructure and en- 2022)
abling quick recovery.
Integration Policy interventions E.g., Smart City
promoting compact mission, PURA
cities and better inte- Scheme (provide 28.THE 2023-2033 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
gration between ur- urban amenities FOR ADVANCING CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT
ban and rural areas; and livelihood op- AND HEALTH SCIENCE
Developing efficient portunities in rural
public transportation areas)
Context:
networks that con-
The World Meteorological Congress, the supreme body of
nect urban and rural
the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), is currently
areas
holding its 19th session (Cg-19).
Investments Investments by na- Allocating funds for
tional and local gov- the construction
ernments in green, of green buildings, The outcome of the Congress:
resilient, and inclu- renewable energy It recognised climate change as a threat to human health and
sive urban infrastruc- projects, and ur- endorsed a 10-year plan - The 2023-2033 Implementation
ture. This includes na- ban parks. Plan for Advancing Climate, Environment and Health Science
ture-based solutions and Services by the WHO-WMO, to scale up health services.
and measures to at-
tract private-sector fi- About the plan:
nance for sustainable Aim: To achieve better health and well-being for people fac-
development. ing existing and emerging extreme weather events, climate
change and environmental risks.
Conclusion:
Addressing the challenges of climate change and creating How?
sustainable cities requires a multi-faceted approach. It in- • Through the effective integration of climate, envi-
volves prioritizing green practices, building resilience to cli- ronment and health science and services across the
mate impacts, and promoting inclusiveness in urban devel- world.
opment. Taking action at the city level is crucial in mitigating • It will promote a coordinated approach to manag-
climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for gener- ing the impact of climate, weather, air pollution, ul-
ations to come. traviolet radiation, extreme events, etc., on health.
Significance:
Definitions: It is significant when
Greenness: Greenness refers to the environmental sus- • Climate-related illnesses (like malaria and dengue),
tainability and ecological balance of a city. premature deaths, malnutrition and threats to men-
Resilience: Resilience refers to the ability of a city to tal health and well-being are increasing.
withstand and recover from shocks, stresses, and climate • Climate-related cascading risks of extreme heat
change impacts. (15,000 people died in Europe in 2022), wildfire and
air quality-related health risks are increasing.
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Significance for India: 2014 to rationalise and reform APM gas pricing.
• In 2022, India recorded its hottest March which
triggered an early onslaught of heat waves across Outcome:
north, central and east India from March-May. • Prices of diesel in India have gone down in the last
• Extreme heat will oust 600 million Indians from year: This is when petrol and diesel prices went up
their climate niche, exposing them to extreme tem- by 35-40% in global markets, India imports over 85%
peratures by 2030. of its crude oil requirements and 55% of its natural
gas requirements.
Challenges: • No shortage of fuel anywhere in India: This is when
several neighbourhood countries have had dry outs
and power cuts to manage demand.
2. Strengthening ties:
With countries like the US (energy trade has gone up 13
times in the last four years) and Russia to ensure a reli-
able supply of crude oil.
Short-term actions towards ensuring energy justice in In- 5. Moving towards a gas-based economy:
dia: ● By increasing the share of gas from the current 6.3
to 15% by 2030.
• Massive cuts in excise duty and VAT rates of petrol
and diesel. ● India has connected more than 9.5 crore families
• An export cess on petrol, diesel and ATF. with clean cooking fuel in the past nine years.
• Windfall tax on domestically produced petroleum ● PNG connections have increased from 22.28 lakh in
products to prevent refiners and producers from 2014 to over 1 crore in 2023.
profiteering at the cost of domestic consumers. ● The number of CNG stations in India has gone up
• Subsidised administered pricing mechanism (APM) from 938 in 2014 to 4,900 in 2023.
gas for the city gas distribution sector was drastically ● Since 2014, India has increased the length of its gas
increased. pipeline network from 14,700 km to 22,000 km in
• Revising the New Domestic Gas Pricing Guidelines 2023.
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6. Biofuel revolution: Background:
● At the recent India Energy Week 2023, India launched • Apart from Renewable Energy (RE), nuclear is also being
E20 - 20% ethanol blended gasoline - which will be explored as a clean energy option to help the nations in
expanded across the country in the next two years. achieving their decarbonisation goals.
● India’s ethanol-blending gasoline has grown from • The IEA has projected the global nuclear-installed pow-
just 1.53% in 2013-14 to 10.17% in 2023. er capacity to rise from 413 GW in 2021 to 871 GW by
● India is also setting up five 2nd generation ethanol 2050.
plants, which can convert agricultural waste into • Innovation in nuclear reactor technologies, both in
biofuel → reducing pollution due to stubble burning Large Reactors (LRs) and in the newer concept of Small
→ generating income for farmers. Modular Reactors (SMRs) will be important.
7. Developing the entire green hydrogen ecosystem: Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
● The National Green Hydrogen Mission has been
launched with an outlay of Rs 19,744 crore to accel- SMRs are Small - physically a fraction of the size of
erate India’s efforts towards - a conventional nuclear power reactor.
○ 4 MT of annual green hydrogen production Modular - making it possible for systems
and and components to be factory-assem-
○ Rs 1 lakh crore of fossil fuel import savings bled and transported as a unit to a loca-
by 2030. tion for installation.
Reactors - harnessing nuclear fission to
8. An integrated path for transitioning India’s future mobil- generate heat for electricity production
ity pathways: or direct application.
● Along with green hydrogen and biofuels, India is Capacity Ranging from less than 30 MWe to 300+
also supporting electric vehicles through a produc- MWe.
tion-linked incentive scheme. Classification Land-based water-cooled SMRs, Marine
● India is targeting the installation of alternative fuel based water cooled SMRs, High-tem-
stations (EV charging/CNG/ LPG/LNG/CBG etc.) at perature gas-cooled SMRs (HTGRs), Liq-
22,000 retail outlets by May 2024. uid metal-cooled fast neutron spectrum
SMRs (LMFRs), etc
Conclusion: Status of de- At present, nearly 80 SMR designs are in
● According to IEA estimates, India will account for v e l o p m e n t the development and licensing stages,
~25% of global energy demand growth between (globally) and a few of them are in the deployment
2020-2040. and operational stages.
● As India aspires to become a $26 trillion economy Advantages Manufactured off-site: This can signifi-
by 2047, implementing a unique strategy for ensur- cantly save construction time, unlike the
ing energy security and achieving energy indepen- conventional nuclear reactors that are
dence is the need of the hour. built on-site.
Low running costs (lesser fuel, fewer
Insta Links: The Road to Energy Atmanirbharta staff) and increased efficiency.
Better control/flexibility: Generating
Mains Links: less electricity when demand is down
Q. “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and mod- and are particularly useful for remote lo-
ern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable cations - have variable power generation
Development Goals (SDGs)”.Comment on the progress requirements.
made in India in this regard. (UPSC 2018) Safety features: Don’t need a power
supply and can handle accidents without
the assistance of a person or a computer.
30.THE ROLE OF SMALL MODULAR REAC-
SMRs and SDGs: SMRs can play a key
TORS IN THE ENERGY TRANSITION role in the clean energy transition, while
also helping countries achieve SDG 7
(universal access to energy).
Context:
The NITI Aayog recently released a report on ‘The Role of
Small Modular Reactors in the Energy Transition’.
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31.LAND RECLAMATION
Context:
Should new land be generated in oceans by land reclama-
tion, given that coastal regions around the world are endan-
gered by rising sea levels and more severe storms?
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Challenges: Highlights of the report:
• Most coastal land expansions happened in low-lying ar- Importance of Land: It is the operative link between biodi-
eas, with more than 70% of new land ‘at high risk’ of versity loss and climate change, which means restoring land
storm surges and flooding due to rising sea levels linked is crucial to solving interconnected crises.
to climate change.
• The environmental cost of land reclamation projects can
What are planetary boundaries?
be significant.
• The environmental thresholds that establish a “safe
• Projects have destroyed coastal land like marsh-
operating space for humanity” are known as plane-
es, swamps and mangrove forests.
tary boundaries.
• Using sand obtained from the marine and river en-
• The nine planetary boundaries are:
vironment can mean the destruction of habitats Biodiversity loss
and spawning grounds of organisms. Land-use change
Climate change
As sea levels rise, is land reclamation still a good idea? Nitrogen and phosphorus (geochemical) cy-
While land reclamation has provided benefits in the past, cles
the changing climate and rising sea levels introduce new Freshwater use
challenges and risks. For example, the Maldives, a nation Ocean acidification
that heavily relied on land reclamation, now faces the Chemical pollution
threat of losing large portions of its reclaimed land due to Atmospheric loading
rising sea levels, making it an unsuitable long-term solution. Ozone depletion
Recommendations:
GLO: Effective land restoration:
• It is a United Nations Convention to Combat Desert- • The report defines land restoration as a continuum
ification’s (UNCCD) flagship publication, whose 1st of activities that
edition was launched in 2017 at the UNCCD COP13 Avoid (By eliminating practices that degrade
(China). the environment, ranging from land and
• It underscores land system challenges, showcases ecosystem conversion to socio-economic in-
transformative policies and practices, and points to equalities)
cost-effective pathways to scale up sustainable land Reduce (By adopting sustainable land and
and water management. water management practices) and
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Reverse (By revitalising soil, watersheds, Some best practices in India:
and other elements of natural ecosystems)
land degradation with the explicit objective • Holiyas: These are water management systems in Gu-
of meeting human needs and improving jarat, which store rainwater below the land surface.
ecology. The groundwater can be accessed and distributed us-
• The global annual cost of land restoration is expect- ing solar pumps when there is scarcity.
ed at ~$300 billion by 2030. • Plantopathy: It is a unique nature-based solution that
• Each dollar invested is estimated to return between can limit the impact of plant diseases on yields with-
$7 and $30 in economic benefits, moving towards out pesticides or chemicals.
an equitable and sustainable future. • Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF): It combines tra-
ditional and emerging practices to reduce costs (i.e.,
zero budget) while boosting yields and overall farm
Achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN):
health by using organic inputs sourced locally (i.e.,
LDN is a state whereby the quantity and quality of land re-
natural farming).
sources required to maintain ecosystem functions and ser-
vices and improve food security are steady or growing.
Conclusion:
Land restoration is a shared responsibility. Hence, govern-
Integrated land use planning:
ments, scientists, civil society, and private sector players
• Identifying the best combination of land uses →
need to work together to set land and ecosystem restoration
sustainably meeting the needs of the stakeholders
goals that transform land-use systems.
as well as preserving the land resources.
• A cost-effective approach is to identify landscapes
while maximising benefits, such as in global resto-
ration hotspots.
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Advantages: The success story of including an anthropogenic angle:
• An important conservation tool for restoring threat- Four cheetahs were translocated from South Africa to Ma-
ened and endangered wildlife populations. lawi in 2017 is a major conservation success for a species
• To meet the goal of re-establishing populations in that is considered vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
formerly occupied areas.
• Population balancing - shifting from high/overpopu-
lation to low population regions. Global efforts - ICTC:
• International Conservation Translocation Confer-
ence (ICTC) is a premier conservation translocation
Risks associated:
science event, linked to the IUCN.
• Legal and policy issues
• This helps the government/policymakers to learn
• Disease concerns
from global experts how to best plan and imple-
• Stress to the animal: Translocation, unlike dispersal,
ment conservation translocations.
is not due to natural or deliberate behaviour.
• Homing: It refers to an animal’s capacity to travel
back to its original catch site after translocation. Conclusion:
The problem with India’s Project Cheetahs is that the species
is being translocated from entirely different countries and
The success/failure of translocating wildlife depends on -
ecosystems. Therefore, proper scientific study must be con-
• Which species is being shifted;
ducted before executing the project.
• Whether it can survive in its new habitat and breed
successfully;
• The amount of time and resources being allocated Insta Links: Cheetah project to bring in 12 big cats from
to the process. South Africa
• Anthropogenic angle/coexistence with people.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
The failure of a translocation programme can lead to -
• Distrust between stakeholders;
• The loss of resources and 34.COMBATING FOREST FIRES IN UTTARA-
• Even the extinction or extirpation of entire popula-
KHAND
tions or species.
Context:
Case of India –
The chir pine belt of Uttarakhand, India, faces significant for-
• The ongoing Project Cheetah of the GoI: It has suf-
est fire challenges.
fered setbacks recently. Two cheetahs (one from
South Africa and the other from Namibian) brought
to MP’s Kuno National Park from South Africa died What is Chir Pine Belt?
of cardiac and renal failure. It refers to an area characterized by the dominance of chir
• The Gaur Relocation in India (2011): The project pine trees (Pinus roxburghii). It is found primarily in the state
saw the first reversal of local extinction in the Band- of Uttarakhand. The high presence of chir pine trees in this
havgarh Tiger Reserve (MP), with 19 Gaurs coming belt also contributes to the susceptibility to forest fires in
here from Kanha Tiger Reserves (MP). the area.
Need of the hour - Importance to be given to anthropogen- About the chir pine:
ic angle: It is a species of pine tree that is native to the Himalayan
• The IUCN Global Re-Introduction Perspective Series region. It is a fast-growing evergreen tree and forms dense
identifies the relationship between the inclusion of forests in the sub-tropical and temperate regions of Uttara-
human dimension objectives in wildlife transloca- khand.
tion efforts and programme outcomes. Factors contributing to forest fire challenges in the Chir
• Of the six key strategies identified for including hu- Pine Belt of Uttarakhand:
man dimension objectives, education was the most
common, followed by Factors Description
Engaging locals, High forest Uttarakhand accounts for 1.6 per cent
Providing economic benefits, density of India’s total geographical area. But in
Increasing social tolerance, terms of forest cover, the state accounts
Enforcing regulations and for 45 per cent, in contrast to national for-
Supplying cultural benefits. est cover of just 21.67 per cent.
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High presence Chir pine dominates the forest composi- Joint Forest Manage- Promote community involve-
of pine trees tion in the region. Pine trees are rich in ment (JFM), Van pan- ment and cooperation in for-
organic polymers, making them vulnera- chayats, and communi- est management. Utilize elec-
ble to forest fires. cation tronic, social media, radio, and
Dry biomass Pine needles and other plant-based litter television for awareness. Raise
create fuel for fires. Dry biomass increas- awareness and encourage re-
es the risk of fire outbreaks. sponsible forest practices.
V u l n e r a b i l - The forest ecosystem in the region is
ity of nar- dominated by narrow-leaved species like National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has sug-
r o w - l e a v e d Pinus, Picea, and Abies. These species are gested measures for fire control in Himalayan regions such
species susceptible to fires when exposed to low as Early detection and reporting; Fireline creation; Commu-
temperatures and humidity. nity involvement; Training and capacity building; Use of tech-
Human-made Timber smugglers often set intentional nology and Firefighting teams.
fires fires to divert attention and facilitate il-
legal activities. Developmental activities A few measures taken are:
and unchecked land-use patterns con- National Policy on Forest Fire (finalized by the government);
tribute to human-induced fire hazards. National Plan for forest fire management; National Forest
Climate condi- Uttarakhand experiences low rainfall and Fire Danger Rating System; Firefighting tools and machinery
tions high temperatures. The ample availabil- (e.g. Fire Beaters, Pulaskis Tools, Forest Fire Showel, etc.);
ity of dry biomass during the summer Forest Fire Prevention & Management Scheme (FFPMS,
season increases fire risks. Also, Strong 2017)
winds contribute to the rapid spread of
fires across the forests. Conclusion:
Addressing and mitigating forest fires in the Himalayan re-
Measures to Combat Forest Fires in the Chir Pine Belt of gion requires a comprehensive approach that includes ear-
Uttarakhand: ly detection, community involvement, capacity building,
technology utilization, and effective collaboration between
Measures Description
various stakeholders. By implementing these measures, the
Plantation of suitable Introduce species like oak and risk and impact of forest fires can be significantly reduced,
broad-leaved species rhododendron with lower fire protecting the invaluable biodiversity and ecological balance
susceptibility. Diversify the for- of the region.
est composition and reduce the
overall fire risk.
Construction of watch Install watch towers to detect Mains Link
towers for early detec- forest fires at an early stage. Q. Enumerate the causes for the rising instances of forest
tion Facilitate prompt response and fires in India. What measures are needed to mitigate the
intervention to control fire inci- adverse impacts of forest fires? (250 Words)
dents.
Deployment of fire Assign personnel as fire watch-
watchers ers in vulnerable areas. Regular
surveillance to detect and re-
35.NEW ESCAP STUDY ON NATURAL DISAS-
port fires promptly. TERS
Creation and mainte- Clear vegetation creates fire
nance of fire lines lines and fire breaks as barriers. Context:
Use of remote sensing Utilize technology to detect According to a new study by the ESCAP, most countries in
technology and satel- active forest fires from space. Asia-Pacific (AP) are inadequately prepared to manage the
lite data Enable early identification and rising challenges of extreme weather events and natural di-
timely response to fire incidents. sasters.
Exclusive recruitment Employ trained personnel
of forest fire-fighting equipped with modern firefight- Highlights of the UN Economic and Social Commission for
staff ing technologies. Ensure spe- Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) study:
cialized teams are available for
fire suppression.
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1. Energy:
• A rapid increase in renewable energy by restructur-
ing national energy systems, new technical capaci-
ties, etc.
• The need for cross-border electricity grids to in-
crease the share of renewable energy.
• Energy efficiency codes must be aligned with net-ze-
ro goals to reduce carbon footprint in the building
sector.
• Climate-proofing energy systems.
2. The transport sector: Should be shifted to a low-carbon
• The AP region accounts for more than half of the
pathway by reducing transport distance through integrated
world’s GHGs.
land use, planning, shifting to sustainable transport modes,
• Over the past 60 years, temperatures in the AP re-
as well as improving vehicle and fuel efficiency.
gion have increased faster than the global mean.
• Extreme, unpredictable weather events and natu- 3. International trade:
ral hazards (like Tropical cyclones, heatwaves, floods • Integrate climate considerations into regional trade
and droughts) have become more frequent and in- agreements.
tense. • Trade must be climate-smart.
• The private sector must be encouraged to work
Impact: towards a low-carbon pathway and sustainability
• Damaging people’s health, immense loss of life and should be ingrained into business operations.
displacement. Some best practices:
• Food systems here are being disrupted, economies
damaged and societies undermined.
• Leading cause of poverty and inequality across the
region by disproportionately burdening poor and
marginalised groups.
Challenges:
• The AP region is one of the most rapidly developing
regions of the world, with a significant proportion
of the global population.
• The region is also home to most of the world’s
low-lying cities and vulnerable small island states. About ESCAP:
• Overlapping crises of climate change and climate-in- The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for
duced disasters are increasingly threatening devel- Asia and the Pacific (est. 1947; HQ: Bangkok) is one of
opment in AP - the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the
Undermining hard-won development gains. United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Imperils Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG).
• Lack of necessary data as well as means to support LINKAGES BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT
adaptation and mitigation efforts.
• The current financing is insufficient to meet the re-
AND SPREAD OF EXTREMISM.
gion’s requirements for investment in climate action
or to contain global warming at 1.5°C. 36. MAOIST CHALLENGE: NEEDS POLITICAL
UNDERSTANDING, NOT SECURITIZATION
Steps needed:
The emissions gap in three key sectors - energy, transport,
and international trade and investment - needs to be closed. Context:
The efficacy of the Maoist movement needs to be gauged in
terms of their declining social base, not on the basis of how
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many violent incidents occur. cess.
Insta Links: LWE
Maoist movement in India
Mains Links:
Current Expected out- Issues
approach come Q. The persisting drives of the government for the devel-
Use ofThe use of The use of more force only opment of large industries in backward areas have result-
Force force (includ- helped the Maoists recruit ed in isolating the tribal population and the farmers who
ing special- from the local tribal popula- face multiple displacements with Malkangiri and naxal-
ly-trained tion. bari foci, discuss the corrective strategies needed to win
forces such the left-wing extremism (LWE) doctrine affected citizens
as the Grey- back into the mainstream of social and economic growth.
The Maoist movement moved (UPSC 2015)
hounds) has from the leadership of outsid-
led to a de- ers (mostly from Telangana) to 37.INSURGENCY IN MANIPUR
cline in Mao- that of local tribals. Context:
ist presence Amid fresh violence in Manipur, the Kuki National Organisa-
and the use tion (KNO) has countered the claims of the Manipur CM that
of more force Such internal changes led to
local support for the move- 40 insurgents had been killed by security forces.
will end its
remaining in- ment from tribals in Chhattis-
fluence. garh and Jharkhand.
Develop- Welfare and The D Bandyopadhyay Com-
ment development mittee (2006) stated that land
as part of the alienation and poverty among
“strategy” to STs and Dalits, and lack of ac-
calm down cess to basic forest resources
and make the contributed to the growth of
Maoists irrel- Naxalism.
evant.
The state’s model of develop- How did violent clashes start?
ment has resulted in the dis- • Violence erupted in the Kuki-dominated Churachand-
placement of tribals → lead- pur district, where members of the Kuki tribe were pro-
ing to the peaceful Pathalgarhi testing against the Meitei community’s demands to be
movement in Jharkhand designated as a “Scheduled Tribe”.
• The tribes believe granting ST status to the Meiteis
What led to the failure of the above approaches: would be an infringement of their rights as they claim
• Declining Maoist presence/violence could well be a po- to be the marginalised part of the population.
litical strategy of the Maoists to go silent/underground History of conflict in Manipur: Manipur has been in the
and wait for lapses on the part of the security forces. cross-currents of India’s oldest insurgent movement - The
• Eminent Domain doctrine, argues that all resources be- Naga national movement in the 1950s.
long to the nation and can be extracted in the “national The Valley insurgent groups:
interest”. • In 1964, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) was
• Development is seen as a zero-sum game by either side formed, demanding secession from India.
leads. • Subsequently, numerous Meitei insurgent groups
• A single conception of development to address the var- (PREPAK, PLA) came into being, which received arms and
ious, occasionally incompatible demands of oppressed training from China.
groups. • These groups operated with a dual purpose - indepen-
• The securitisation paradigm is also insufficient to com- dence from India, and warding off Naga insurgent
prehend social exclusion. groups.
The Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups:
Conclusion: • It started as a defence against aggression by other
• Both Ambedkar and Gandhi were of the view that social groups, but quickly turned to a call for Kukiland - an
exclusion and caste cannot be addressed through vio- imagined country spreading across the Kuki-Zomi inhab-
lence. ited areas of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
• To end the social exclusion of tribals there is the need • Over time, this was diluted to simply a call for a sepa-
to understand that development is a multi-faceted pro- rate state.
Government reaction:
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• The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 was INTERNAL SECURITY
enacted and extended to the entire state.
• In the 1980s, Manipur was declared a disturbed area.
• A tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement 38. 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF POKHRAN-II
between the Centre, the state and the Kuki-Zomi groups
was signed in 2008. Context:
• As the law-and-order situation gradually improved, AFS- On May 11, 1998, codenamed Operation Shakti (literally,
PA has been repealed in several areas. “strength”)/Pokhran-II, India conducted three nuclear bomb
• However, the Valley insurgent groups (like the UNLF, test explosions at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range.
which is considered the mother of all Meitei insurgent
groups) have never entered an agreement with the Cen-
tre. Timeline of Operation Shakti/Pokhran-II:
Insurgent groups in society and politics: Foundation of India’s nuclear programme laid by physicist
• The insurgent groups are intricately woven into daily Homi J Bhaba:
life in Manipur. • Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR): India’s
They conduct strikes, and impose moral first research institution dedicated to the study of nucle-
codes such as a ban on Hindi movies and ar physics opened (1945) in Bombay, after Bhaba’s suc-
music, etc. cessful lobbying.
The groups also levy ‘taxes’ on the public. • Department of Atomic Energy (DAE): Founded in 1954
• The groups are most visible today in the political life of with Bhabha as director.
the state. Candidates, cutting across party lines, stand
for elections with insurgent backing, and the groups The threat of China and Pakistan:
dictate to the voters who should win. • The 1962 Sino-Indian War and China’s subsequent nu-
clear bomb test at Lop Nor in 1964.
• The 1965 India-Pakistan war, with China openly sup-
porting Pakistan.
• Therefore, India was surrounded by two unfriendly na-
tions and needed to take steps towards building self-suf-
ficiency.
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• The world was not willing to buy India’s version of the intelligently building sufficient and resilient
motive behind Pokhran-I and countries like the US and retaliatory capability to signal credible de-
Canada imposed significant sanctions. terrence.
• These sanctions (majorly on tech transfer) would be a To make long-term innovative diplomatic
major setback for India’s nuclear journey and majorly investments towards the creation of a glob-
decelerate its progress. al environment conducive to peace and uni-
versal nuclear disarmament.
• Simultaneously, India can leverage the economic,
The period between the two tests:
political and cultural appeal to showcase the advan-
• Domestic political instability: The Emergency of 1975
tages of its philosophy of nuclear deterrence.
and PM Morarji Desai’s opposition to nuclear weapons
brought the programme to a grinding halt.
• 1980s: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was made in charge of In-
dia’s missile programme (1983) and India exponentially
increased its plutonium stockpiles. GS PAPER 4
• 1990S:
• With the fall of the USSR in 1991, India lost one of
its biggest military allies. 1. ETHICAL ISSUES WITH REMISSION
• The US continued to provide military aid to Pakistan.
• Discussions regarding a Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty (CTBT) were also underway in the UN (it
would be finalised in 1996, but India did not sign it).
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‘Kalika Habba’ - A State-wide Karnataka A state-wide festival designed around activities in sciences,
Festival on Learning mathematics, social sciences, and languages in Karnataka in-
volving students from grade 4 to grade 9, to involve the com-
munity with the education programme and academic prac-
tices of schools.
School Adoption Initiative, Government of Assam An initiative under which one college teacher adopted one
Darrang (Assam) school in the district of Darrang, Assam, with the aim of im-
proving teaching and learning practices.
Abhyudaya Dhubri Assam The initiative uses virtual reality (VR) to make learning a
more fun experience for the children, where the focus has
shifted from memorizing to understanding.
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Blockchain-based caste certificates Gadchiroli, Ma- Issuance of caste certificates whose authenticity is guaranteed
harashtra by a blockchain, thereby preventing forgery and disallowing fake
caste certificates to be used for availing government services.
Infrastructure Snapshot App Goalpara, As- An application that enables a user to monitor the maintenance
sam of public services in the district and hold the concerned officials
accountable for tardy work.
Loksewak App: E-Attendance Khandwa, Mad- An attendance and field monitoring tool based on M-governance
hya Pradesh and E-governance technology.
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Disaster Risk Reduction Integrate Disaster Risk Reduc- Enhanced resilience of local communities to climate-in-
(Chitrakoot, UP) tion in development, build local duced stress
capacities, leverage technology
for disaster management
Flood and Landslide Di- Establish SOPs, coordination Proper disaster management, preventive evacuations, re-
saster Management ( between departments and lief camp amenities, crop loss compensations
Wayanad, Kerala) agencies, and minimize casual-
ties and distress
4.JOHN SULLIVAN
About John Sullivan, a British administrator, played a crucial role in introducing tea cultivation in the Nilgiris
hills. In 1834, the Tea Committee was formed in India with a focus on Assam and its surrounding regions.
He also played a significant role in the development of the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, India. Sullivan’s
efforts led to the establishment of Udhagamandalam (Ooty) as a popular hill station and his contribu-
tions are widely recognized in the region.
Usage The example can be used to cite some of the positive contributions of the British Legacy in India.
5.MARIA MIES
Context Maria Mies, a Marxist Feminist scholar, recently passed away. She was known for her extensive work on
how patriarchy, capitalism, and colonialism exploit women and nature.
Her works:
• Ecofeminism: She co-wrote the book “Ecofeminism” with Vandana Shiva, a scientist and activist. Ecofeminism recog-
nizes the interconnectedness of humans with nature and women.
• Mies’s work emphasized women’s contributions to the economy.
• “Indian Women and Patriarchy”: In this book, she highlighted how capitalism and Patriarchy undermine women’s
control over various sectors such as farming.
• Impact of climate change on women: Climate change disproportionately impacts women, denying their knowledge
and vulnerability to climate disasters.
Usage Her works and views can be directly quoted in the Essay/Indian Society/ Sociology paper.
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6.NEERAJ CHOPRA
Context Indian javelin thrower and Olympic Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has achieved the top spot in the World
Athletics men’s javelin throw rankings. This marks the first time Chopra has reached the number-one posi-
tion in his career. Previously, he had secured the second spot in the rankings.
About Jave- The javelin throw is an athletic event in which athletes throw a spear-like object called a javelin as far as pos-
lin throw sible. It is one of the track and field events. The javelin is made of metal or fibreglass and has a pointed tip.
Usage: You can use the example to highlight the values of Dedication, Perseverance, Focus, Resilience, Sportsman-
ship, etc.
7.GEORGI GOSPODINOV
Context Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov and translator Angela Rodel have won the International Booker Prize
for their novel “Time Shelter.”
About the The book explores the impact of nostalgia and memory through a story set in a clinic that recreates differ-
book ent decades of the past. It examines the allure of escaping the present and the consequences of vanishing
memories.
Lessons The book cautions against excessive nostalgia and the temptation to escape from the present. It highlights
that can be the importance of living in the present and embracing the opportunities it brings.”Time Shelter” under-
drawn from scores the importance of striking a balance between preserving the past and embracing the future.
the book
Usage: The example can be used in Essay/Ethics paper.
8.L. ELAYAPERUMAL
About L. Elayaperumal, a late Dalit leader, played a crucial role in the abolition of hereditary priesthood in Tamil
Nadu. The recommendations of the committee headed by Elayaperumal formed the basis for the historic
amendment to the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, passed by the Tamil
Nadu Assembly in 1970. This amendment aimed to abolish the system of hereditary priesthood and allow
individuals of all castes to become priests.
Usage: Values that we can use from his life: Equality; Social justice; Human dignity; Integrity; etc
9.TINA TURNER
Context Tina Turner, the legendary musician, passed away at the age of 83. She was a trailblazer, especially as an
African-American woman in rock and roll. Her singing talent and on-stage persona highlighted the pivotal
role of African-American women in the genre.
About Tina’s journey, marked by her escape from an abusive marriage, served as an inspiration to many. Her
reinvention as a pop icon in the 1980s solidified her place in music history. Tina Turner’s contributions
were widely celebrated, and she received numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards and induction
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her impact extended beyond music, with a bestselling autobiogra-
phy and a stage show based on her life. Tina Turner’s legacy as a pioneer across genres will continue to
resonate.
Usage: Her life can be used as a story in an Essay paper. Also, values from her life e.g., Resilience and Persever-
ance; Overcoming Obstacles; Self-Belief and Empowerment; Embracing Change and Reinvention; etc. can
be used in the Ethics paper
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About Albert Einstein discovered the theory of general relativity in 1915, including the existence of gravitational
waves, but he was skeptical. The debate continued for decades until Feynman (in 1957) proposed a simple
thought experiment that demonstrated how gravitational waves could transfer energy, resolving the con-
fusion. Feynman’s argument convinced many physicists, inspiring further research on gravitational waves. In
2016, scientists finally announced the first direct detection of gravitational waves, a significant achievement
made possible in part by Feynman’s influential contribution.
Usage: The story can be used in an Essay to illustrate the importance of Independent thinking, Simplicity, Persistence
and inspiration etc.
12.RETURN TO ROOTS
The Australian High Commission in India announced its Government Grant for a project in Kargil called “Return to Roots.”
This project aims to integrate traditional knowledge with the current school science curriculum in alignment with the
goals of the National Education Policy, which includes increasing scientific engagement among school children of the tribal
background.
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16.SHRAMAVAHINI
About In Odisha, a group of young bonded labourers have formed a network called Shramavahini, which uses
smartphones and social media to alert authorities and rescue fellow workers in distress. The network
has over 4,000 members who report cases of distressed labourers requiring assistance from the district
administration and concerned officials.
Aim Shramavahini aims to combat the issue of migrant labourers’ voices going unheard by local administra-
tion by facilitating the rescue of distressed labourers as quickly as possible.
Usage The example highlights the ethical values of empathy towards fellow labourers in distress; Social responsi-
bility; collaboration with civic authorities etc. It can be used in ethics/Governance paper
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Usage: Such an example can be used to highlight issues with the education sector in India.
21.RACISM IN FOOTBALL
Context The La Liga game between Valencia and Real Madrid had to be temporarily stopped after the Brazilian foot-
baller Vincius Jr’s said he was racially abused by a fan.
Some of the ways of Racism in football are:
• Monkey chants directed at black players during matches
• Racial slurs and insults hurled at players
• Lack of diversity in club ownership and leadership positions
• Underrepresentation of black referees at the top level
Other ex- The racist incident involving England players Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka after they
amples: missed penalties in the Euro 2020 finals. They received online racist comments and abuse, highlighting the
persistent issue of racism in football.
Usage: These examples can be used to highlight the ethical issues of Discrimination and inequality; lack of respect
and dignity; biased media and representation
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32.THIRSTY AI
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About According to a recent study by the University of California, Riverside, ChatGPT requires half a litre of wa-
ter to answer every 20-50 questions, making the total water footprint of AI extremely large.
Water use in Water used in maintaining AI tools is primarily used for cooling data centres to prevent equipment failure.
AI: Also, the water used in this process must be pure freshwater to prevent corrosion and the formation of
microorganisms.
Usage: The example can be used to show the water footprint of emerging technologies.
The ‘Odisha for AI’ initiative offers a free 4-hour course on AI by Intel through their app/site.
Usage: Such initiatives can be quoted as examples of government schemes for the promotion of AI in India.
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36.TECHNOPHOBIA
Technophobia is the tendency of individuals or societies to exhibit resistance, fear, or negative attitudes toward emerging
technologies.
Examples of Technophobia:
Technology Description
Railroads In the early days of railroads, some people perceived them as the work of the devil, expressing
fear and concerns about the speed, vibrations, and potential health impacts associated with
train travel.
Nuclear Energy The development of nuclear energy sparked widespread fear and worry, particularly after inci-
dents like the Three Mile Island accident and the Chornobyl meltdown.
Artificial Intelligence The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has generated fears of job displacement, loss of
human control, and potential misuse of AI technology.
Genetically Modified Genetically modified organisms have faced resistance and criticism due to concerns about po-
Organisms (GMOs) tential health risks, environmental impacts, and ethical implications of manipulating the genetic
makeup of plants and animals.
Reason for “technophobia”:
It can be attributed to various factors such as complexity, lack of knowledge, fear of losing control, and emotional re-
sponses.
Usage: Such terms and related examples can be used in the Essay to highlight psychological fear related
to ‘new technologies’.
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40.GANGA PRAHARI
About Ganga It refers to the volunteers (about 4000 in number) who are part of the task force called “Guardians of
Prahari the Ganga.” They are individuals who have joined the National Mission for Clean Ganga and Namami
Gange initiative to protect and preserve the Ganga River in India.
Training: The Wildlife Institute of India provides training in conserving biodiversity as well as livelihood training
opportunities to the volunteers.
Responsibilities: Monitoring the river, preventing littering, and reporting instances of poaching.
Usage: This example can be quoted in the Essay/Ethics and Environment paper. Also, Ganga Prahari shows the
values of Environmental Stewardship, Respect for Life, Civic Duty, Courage and Resilience, Collabora-
tion and Community Engagement, etc.
The United Nations in December 2022 recognised the Namami Gange initiative as one of the top 10 World Restoration
Flagships involved in reviving the natural world.
41.DISPOSABLE DIAPERS
About • Disposable diapers are single-use, absorbent diapers made of materials like plastic, absorbent
polymers, and soft fibres. They are commonly used for infants and young children as a convenient alter-
native to cloth diapers.
• Scientists have found a unique solution to make building materials cost-effective and environ-
mentally friendly by incorporating disposable diapers into them.
Benefits: By using disposable diapers in construction, it can help reduce the environmental impact of traditional
building materials like concrete. Recycling diapers in this way can make a positive difference by shrink-
ing their carbon footprint and creating durable materials.
Usage: Such an example can be used in the Environment question to highlight the use of alternative materials
in construction and minimization of wealth.
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About The documentary emphasizes the transformation of local villagers who were once involved in poaching
turtle eggs but have now become protectors of the turtles. Collaborative efforts by the Forest Depart-
ment, naturalists, and environmental enthusiasts have raised awareness among residents about the im-
portance of conservation. Villagers now await the turtles’ arrival, ensuring their safety and transferring
the eggs to protected hatcheries.
Usage: Such an example can be used to show attitudinal changes in local people and the use of media/films for
ecological conservation.
45.NAPIER GRASS
About Also known as elephant grass, is a productive and versatile forage grass native to Africa and Southeast
Asia. It is widely used as feed for livestock and in bioenergy applications.
Favourable properties for its use in bio-energy:
• Energy output-to-input ratio of approximately 25:1
• High yield
• Ability to withstand drought conditions
• An excellent feedstock for anaerobic digestion processes
• it can be harvested 5-6 times annually
• Short cycle: Its first harvest occurs four months after planting.
Location It is found in various parts of India, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh, and Kerala.
Usage The example can be used in Geography/Economy/Environment questions for alternative energy sourc-
es.
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About • Australia faces frequent bushfires due to its hot and dry climate, flammable vegetation like euca-
lypt forests, weather patterns including droughts and strong winds, and human activities like land
clearing and arson.
• To deal with it, a highly effective bushfire management program has been developed over the past
20 years. From April to June each year, fire managers use small controlled fires to reduce fuel loads
and make the landscape safer. This practice, known as “painting with fire,” combines satellite data
with Indigenous knowledge and expertise from pastoralists and park rangers.
Significance: The program has led to significant declines in fire across the region and has gained international at-
tention as a model for fire management. It highlights the importance of integrating technology, local
knowledge, and diverse skills to achieve sustainable and resilient environmental management.
Usage: Such techniques can be used for Indian forest fire management as well. Such solutions can be used in
Disaster Management/ Environment/ Geography Questions.
48.HELI-TOURISM
About Kerala Tourism is planning to introduce heli-tourism to attract premium tourists. They have drafted
guidelines for heli-taxi services connecting Kochi with popular tourist destinations like Thekkady,
Munnar, and Kumarakom. The department aims to set up the necessary infrastructure through pub-
lic-private partnership (PPP) to facilitate this initiative.
Usage Such an example can be used in questions related to tourism/the importance of PPP etc.
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51.‘SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY’
About Shuttle diplomacy refers to a type of diplomacy where a mediator travels back and forth between two
or more parties in order to facilitate negotiations and resolve disputes. It is often used when direct talks
between the parties are not possible due to political, geographical, or security reasons.
Example Efforts made by then-U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the 1970s to negotiate peace between
Israel and Egypt. Kissinger flew back and forth between Jerusalem and Cairo, meeting with leaders from
both sides, in order to broker a ceasefire and ultimately the Camp David Accords.
Present con- More recently, the term “shuttle diplomacy” has been used to describe the efforts made by Japanese
text: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to mend ties between their two
countries.
Usage: Such terms can be directly asked in prelims or can be used in Mains in International Relations/Essay paper.
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1. THRISSUR POORAM
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7.RANG GHAR
Context:
The Rang Ghar amphitheatre (large open area surrounded
by rows of seats sloping upwards) in Assam’s Sivasagar dis-
trict has drawn criticism after a laser show projecting “reli-
gious symbols” as part of PM’s 100th Man Ki Baat episode
celebration.
About Rang Ghar:
Rang Ghar is a historical two-story amphitheatre, built
during the reign of Swargadeo Pramatta Singha in the mid-
18th century and served as a royal pavilion and amphithe-
atre during the Ahom dynasty. It is considered Asia’s first
amphitheatre and is known for its unique octagonal shape
and architectural features, including an inverted boat-
shaped roof topped with stone crocodiles.
6. TUNGNATH TEMPLE
Context:
As per the Archaeological Department of Uttarakhand, Ke-
dar Tungnath Temple will be declared a national monument
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11. MUZIRIS
Context:
The archaeological site of Pattanam, on the southwestern
coast in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, is believed to be part of
9. MOHENJODARO’S DANCING GIRL
the ancient port city of the Muziris.
Muchiri/Muziris
About Ancient harbour and an urban centre
Location
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Commodi- Gold coins, multicoloured textiles, sulphide ated with Chalukyan Emperor, Pulakeshin II of Badami
ties import- of antimony, copper, tin, lead, coral, raw
ed glass, wine, etc. Works of Shilabhattarika:
Decline Roman trade declined from the 5th centu- It adheres to the Panchali style that calls for a balance of
ry AD, the port attracted the Persian, Chi- words with its meaning. She inspired the Sanskrit poet-crit-
nese and Arab traders until the devastating ic Rajashekhara (who lived in the 9th-10th century CE)
floods of Periyar in 1341. and was the court poet of the Gurjara-Pratiharas and not-
ed Marathi poetess, Shanta Shelke drawn inspiration from
Recent find- DNA analysis suggests that the site was first
Shilabhattarika’s verse to compose one of her most icon-
ings occupied by the indigenous and ‘Megalith-
ic songs— toch chandrama nabhat (translated as ‘it is the
ic’ (Iron Age) people. A continuous inflow
same moon in the sky’).
of traders exemplified multicultural mixing
in ancient South India.
What are Copper-plate charters?
They are ancient inscriptions on copper plates that were
12. PANDYA: TRADE ROUTES BETWEEN RO- used as legal documents in India during the medieval pe-
MANS AND MADURAI riod. These plates were used to record land grants, dona-
tions, and other royal decrees. This charter had five plates,
Context: held together by a copper ring bearing a beautiful Varaha
The article discusses the historical trade routes between (boar) seal (trademark of the Badami Chalukyas)
Roman merchants and the city of Madurai in India (Pandya
Dynasty). About Chalukya dynasty (6th to 12th Century; founder:
Pulakeshin I):
It was a Classical Indian dynasty that ruled large parts of
southern and central India as three related yet individual
dynasties— “Badami Chalukyas”, ruled from Vatapi (mod-
ern Badami), Eastern Chalukyas (from Vengi) and Western
Chalukyas (from Kalyani)
About Pulakeshin II
He ruled from 610-642 CE. He defeated Harshavardhan of
Kanauj in a battle near the banks of the Narmada River in
618 CE.
Context:
Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) ordered
not to issue an ST certificate to any Khasi person who adopts
their father’s surname as it is against the traditional custom
of inheriting the mother’s surname.
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Administra- Not all museums are administered by the Battle Battle of Haldighati fought in 1576 with Raja
tion of Muse- Ministry of Culture. Some are run inde- Man Singh of Amber, general of Mughal em-
ums in India pendently under a Board of Trustees. peror Akbar. Maharana Pratap was defeat-
Notable Mu- National Museum, New Delhi; National ed.
seums in In- Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru; Victo- Maharana Pratap’s loyal horse named Che-
dia ria Memorial Hall, Kolkata; Asiatic Society, Horse tak
Kolkata; National Museum of Natural His- Legacy Known for his bravery and patriotism to-
tory, New Delhi. wards his kingdom
17. FRANCE’S BASTILLE DAY CELEBRATIONS 19. SAMARTH RAMDAS AND CHHATRAPATI
SHIVAJI MAHARAJ
Context:
The NCP has demanded an “unconditional apology” from
a religious leader (Jaggi Vasudev) for making the claim that
Saint Samarth Ramdas was Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shiva-
ji’s guru.
About
Description Details
Rana Pratap Singh (Maharana Pratap) was a Hindu Rajput
king of Mewar from the Sisodia dynasty. He fought sev-
eral major battles against Akbar including the Battle of
Haldighati in 1576 to resist the expansionist policy of the
Mughal empire
Capital Chittor (ruled by
Maharana Udai
Singh II)
City found- Udaipur (by Ma-
ed harana Udai
Singh II)
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What do historians say? Purpose To improve efficiency, coordination, and
• Shivaji Maharaj and Samarath Ramdas were contempo- governance of cities. E.g., digital twins can
raries. be used to optimize traffic flow and reduce
• Shivaji Maharaj gave donations to temples of Samarth congestion, improve the efficiency of pub-
Ramdas as well as other people and religions. lic transportation systems, manage energy
• There is no historical evidence to verify the fact that consumption, monitor air and water quali-
Samarth Ramdas was the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji. ty, and identify areas that are vulnerable to
• This may be done for the maintenance of Brahmanical natural disasters.
supremacy.
Benefits Enables better planning of infrastructure
at lower costs. Can support climate-smart
20. GOPAL KRISHNA GOKHALE cities or green infrastructure. Can improve
healthcare, education, agriculture, and
other areas
Challenges Requires large amounts of data collection
and processing. Can be costly and time-con-
suming to develop. Requires expertise in
data analysis and 3D modelling
Future po- Could revolutionize the way we plan and
tential manage cities. Could improve the quality
of life for urban residents. This could lead
to more sustainable and efficient use of re-
sources
21.DIGITAL TWINS
Context:
India may soon join the ranks of cities and countries such as
Singapore, Yingtan in China, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, etc. that
have built digital twins to enhance their efficiency, coordi- The blue hole is the second deepest marine sinkhole or
nation and governance. cavern discovered in Chetumal Bay, off the coast of the Yu-
catan Peninsula in Mexico
About digital twins:
Colour Dark blue, caused by the high trans-
It is a three-dimensional (3D) virtual representation of a parency of water and bright white
city or system that provides real-time insights into the per- carbonate sand
formance, operation, or profitability of a city. For example,
let’s say a city government wants to develop a new trans- Water Circulation Poor, commonly anoxic below a cer-
port system. By creating a digital twin of the city, they can tain depth
simulate the transport system and see how it will function Sea Life An unfavourable environment for
in real-world conditions. most sea life can support large num-
bers of bacteria that live off sulfur
compounds
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What are Blue They are large, undersea vertical 25.NORTHERN LIGHTS IN INDIA
Holes caves or sinkholes found in coastal
regions.
Karst formation Blue Holes are found on coastal karst
platforms around the world. They
are formed by the dissolution of sol-
uble rocks such as limestone, dolo-
mite, or gypsum
Deepest Blue Hole Dragon Hole (Longdong) in the South
China Sea
Overall Largest Great Blue Hole, located 100 kilome-
Blue Hole tres from the coast of Belize, is 300
meters wide and 125 meters deep
23.SEAMOUNTS
A.HEAT INDEX
Context:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced
plans to launch a composite index next year to measure the
impact of heat on India’s population.
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What is The heat index is the combination of air About the case:
the heat temperature and relative humidity, it is the The case involved Glock Asia-Pacific Limited, a pistol man-
index? measure of how hot it really feels when rela- ufacturing company, and the Centre (government). Glock
tive humidity is factored in with the actual air had a contract with the Ministry of Home Affairs to supply
temperature. pistols, but a dispute arose when the government invoked
Aim of the To quantify the impact of heat on its popu- a performance bank guarantee. Glock invoked arbitra-
new index lation and generate impact-based heatwave tion, but the government challenged the appointment of
alerts for specific locations. the arbitrator based on a tender condition.
P a r a m e - Temperature, humidity, wind, and duration
ters to be of exposure The Supreme Court decided in favour of Glock, stating that
used the arbitration clause allowing a government officer as an
S i g n i f i - The analysis will help generate heat hazard arbitrator conflicted with the law. The court appointed a
cance scores, which will be used as thresholds to retired Supreme Court judge as the arbitrator to resolve
issue impact-based heatwave alerts for spe- the dispute.
cific locations.
H e a t According to IMD data, there was a 24% in- Article 299 of the Constitution:
Waves in crease in the number of heat waves during It specifies the manner in which government contracts
India 2010-2019 compared to 2000-2009. Be- should be concluded and executed. The objective of this ar-
tween 2000 and 2019, the mortality rate for ticle is to ensure that contracts made by agents acting on
tropical cyclones decreased by 94% where- the government’s behalf adhere to a defined procedure to
as it increased by 62% for heat waves. Heat prevent unauthorized or illegitimate contracts that may de-
waves is not notified as a natural disaster at plete public funds.
the national level in the country.
Impact of Heat waves cause cramps, exhaustion, Provision Explanation
heat waves stress, heat stroke and very severe heat
waves even lead to death. The elderly, chil- Contracts must be All contracts made in the exercise
dren, and people with heart and respiratory expressed to be of executive power must be clearly
problems, kidney diseases and psychiatric made by President/ stated to be made by the President
disorders are particularly affected. Extreme Governor of India or the Governor of a State.
periods of high temperatures can lead to a Execution of con- Contracts and assurances of proper-
significant reduction in crop yields and cause tracts ty made in the exercise of executive
reproductive failure in many crops. power shall be executed on behalf
of the President or Governor by
persons authorized by them.
About IMD: The India Meteorological Department (found-
Personal liability Neither the President nor the Gov-
ed: 1875; HQ: New Delhi; Ministry of Earth Science) is the
exemption ernor shall be personally liable for
principal agency responsible for meteorological observa-
any contract or assurance made or
tions, weather forecasting and seismology in India
executed in accordance with Article
299.
Exemption for per- Individuals executing contracts on
GS PAPER 2 sons executing con-
tracts
behalf of the President or Governor
shall also not be personally liable
for those contracts.
INDIAN CONSTITUTION Compliance with Article 299 does not grant the gov-
statutory law ernment immunity from the appli-
cation of statutory laws when enter-
1.ARTICLE 299 OF THE CONSTITUTION ing into contracts. The government
is still bound by applicable laws.
Context:
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court states that when
the government enters into a contract under the President’s LOCAL GOVERNMENT
name, it cannot claim immunity from the legal provisions of
that contract under Article 299 of the Constitution.
2. QUOTA IN URBAN LOCAL BODIES
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Context: Reser- Provided in the 73rd & 74th Constitutional
The Haryana Cabinet has accepted the State Backward vation Amendment Act of 1992. Article 243T makes
Classes Commission’s report on the proportion of reserva- provisions provisions for the reservation of seats in
tions for the Backward Classes Block-A category in urban lo- for SC/ST ULBs.
cal bodies.
• Seats are reserved for the Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in every
Recommendation of the commission: Municipally.
• The commission has recommended that every munici- • Not less than one-third of the total
pal body should have at least one councillor belonging number of seats are reserved for women.
to BC (A) if its population is not less than two per cent of • The office of Chairpersons in the Mu-
the total population of the urban local body. nicipalities shall be reserved for the
• There are 78 backward classes in Haryana and 72 of Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes
them have been notified in the Block-A sub-category and and women.
six in the Block-B category.
Other Kalelkar Commission identified backward
Commis- classes other than SCs and STs in 1953. Man-
OBC reservation in local body polls: sions dal Commission (1980) estimated the OBC
Informa- Details population at 52% and recommended in-
tion creasing existing quotas to 49.5%.
Supreme As per the directions of the Supreme Court,
Court the reservation shall not exceed the aggre-
gate of 50% of the total seats reserved
Triple test
JUDICIARY
formula
3. HATE SPEECH
Context:
The Supreme Court of India has directed all states to regis-
ter FIRs (First Information Reports) against hate speech inci-
dents and proceed against the offenders without waiting for
someone to lodge a complaint.
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Rise in Cases According to the National Crime Records O f f i c i a l It empowers the Governor of a state to, with
Bureau (NCRB), there has been a huge Languages the previous consent of the President, au-
increase in cases registered to promote Act 1963 thorise the use of Hindi/the official language
hate speech and foster animosity in of the state, in addition to English, for the
society. As there were only 323 cases purpose of any judgement, decree or order
registered in 2014, it had increased to passed by the High Court of that state. How-
1,804 cases in 2020. ever, the judgement should follow an English
Punishment The punishment for hate speech is not translation.
defined in Indian law. However, the
Supreme Court has stated that hate S u b o r - Regional language determined by the state
speech statutes aim to prevent preju- d i n a t e government
dice and ensure equality. Courts
Hate Speech Vs Hate speech laws aim to prevent prej- (District
Blasphemy udice and ensure equality, while blas- Courts,
phemy laws prohibit criticism of reli- etc.)
gion, which is incompatible with the
principles of democratic societies. Sec-
tion 295(A) of the IPC punishes any 5. POWER TO DIRECT CHANGES IN STS LIST
speech, writings, or signs that insult cit-
izens’ religion or religious beliefs with a Context:
fine and imprisonment for up to three The CJI questioned why an old Constitution Bench judgment
years. which states that no court or State has the power to add/
subtract/modify the Scheduled Tribes List - was not shown
to the Manipur HC.
4. USE OF REGIONAL LANGUAGE IN
COURTS Background:
Violent clashes followed after a Single Judge Bench of the
Context: Manipur HC directed that the State government shall consid-
Union Law Minister has stated that regional languages er the case for the inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei communi-
should be used in courts in every state. ty (in Manipur) in the ST list, expeditiously.
About the Languages to be Used in Courts in India: Article 342 of the Indian Constitution:
Courts • Clause (1): The President may, with respect to any State
(after consultation with the Governor) or UT, by public
A r t i c l e Unless Parliament by law provides other-
notification, specify the tribes deemed to be ST in rela-
348(1)(a) wise, all proceedings before the Supreme
tion to that state or UT.
Court and in every High Court shall be con-
• Clause (2): The Parliament may by law include or exclude
ducted in English.
from the list of ST specified in the above notification.
A r t i c l e The Governor of a state may, with the previ- • The above Article also provides for listing of STs State/UT
348(2) ous consent of the President, authorise the wise and not on an all-India basis.
use of Hindi or any other language used for
any official purpose, in proceedings in the
The Maharashtra versus Milind (2000) case:
High Court except for any final judgement,
• A notification issued under Article 342 (1), specifying
decree or order (which has to be in English)
STs, can be amended only by law to be made by
Parliament.
E.g., the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajas- • In other words, inclusion/exclusion from the list of
than and Madhya Pradesh have already au- STs issued under Article 342 (1) can be made only by
thorised the use of Hindi Parliament by law and by no other authority.
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Background:
The main petition was filed by Anuradha Bhasin, which chal-
lenged the curbs on the internet, media, and other prohibi-
tions imposed in the Kashmir region following the abroga-
tion of the special status of J&K.
7.FREEDOM TO PROTEST
Context:
The Andhra Pradesh High Court recently struck down a gov-
ernment order that aimed to regulate public meetings, pro-
cessions, and assemblies on roads, highways, and streets.
What was the issue?
The Andhra Pradesh government contended that its action
was necessary to regulate these activities in light of recent
accidents caused by processions on roads. However, the
Andhra High Court struck down the government order, stat-
ing that the tradition of public meetings and assemblies
holds historical, cultural, and political significance in the
country.
6. ANURADHA BHASIN’S CASE – INTERNET What did Andhra HC say:
SHUTDOWN Topic Summary
About Police The court analyzed relevant sections of
Context: Act 1861 the Police Act, 1861, and concluded that
The Supreme Court issued notice-seeking compliance with they give authorities the power to regu-
the judgment of the Apex Court in Anuradha Bhasin v. late (e.g., in case of “road blockage”), but
Union of India and Ors, wherein it had laid down guidelines not completely restrict, assemblies and
with respect to the internet shutdown. processions on public roads.
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Fundamental The right to assemble, to protest peace- to an imbalance in the workload of courts.
Rights fully, and to express one’s opinion freely • The Supreme Court has condemned this practice. It has
is an important freedom which cannot be no sanction in law and must be discouraged.
taken away. • Ethical issues: Unfair advantage; Manipulation of the le-
gal system
Constitutional Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution
Provision guarantees the right to freedom of speech
and expression. Article 19(1)(b) protects Recourse available with courts in case of ‘forum Shopping’:
the right to assemble peaceably and with- • Courts may exercise discretionary powers and refuse
out arms. jurisdiction over a matter if another court or forum is
more suitable. This ensures that cases are allocated to
I m p o r t a n c e Freedom of speech is considered the
the appropriate bench and promotes fairness and jus-
of freedom of “bulwark” of democracy and is regarded
tice.
speech and as the first in the hierarchy of liberties. It
• Courts can impose fines on litigants
democracy plays a crucial role in safeguarding dem-
ocratic principles and ensuring open dia-
logue and expression of ideas. SC judgements on ‘Forum Shopping’:
SC guidelines The Supreme Court, in the case of Maz- • SC in 1998 (Chetak Construction Ltd. vs. Om Prakash):
door Kisan Shakti Sangathan vs Union of “A litigant cannot be permitted choice of the forum,”
India, laid down guidelines for regulating and that every attempt at forum shopping “must be
protests and demonstrations. crushed with a heavy hand.”
• SC (2017) (‘Union of India & Ors. vs. Cipla Ltd.’): SC
These guidelines include regulating the laid down a “functional test” to be adopted for forum
intended number of participants, pre- shopping.
scribing minimum distances, imposing • SC (2022) (Vijay Kumar Ghai vs. State of W.B.): Su-
restrictions on certain routes, and disal- preme Court termed forum shopping as a “disreputa-
lowing the carrying of weapons. ble practise by the courts” that “has no sanction and
paramountcy in law”.
Protest vs Protests are broader expressions of dis-
Strike sent or objection by individuals or groups
on various issues. Strikes, on the other Related term:
hand, specifically refer to organized work The practice of “bench hunting” refers to petitioners at-
stoppages by employees seeking im- tempting to have their cases heard by a specific judge or
proved labour conditions. court in order to obtain a favourable order.
Right to pro- In India, the right to protest is a funda-
test vs right to mental right under Article 19 of the Con-
strike stitution. However, the right to strike is 9. INDEPENDENCE OF DISTRICT JUDICIARY
not a fundamental right but a legal right,
protected by specific labour laws and reg- Context:
ulations. SC has held that the independence of the district judiciary is
part of the basic structure of the Constitution and judicial in-
dependence from the executive and the legislature requires
8. ‘FORUM SHOPPING’ the judiciary to have a say in matters of finances.
Context:
Recently, CJI Chandrachud has condemned ‘forum shop-
ping’.
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SC observations:
• The independence of the district judiciary is a vital 10. CANTONMENTS
part of the independent judicial system, which is, in Context:
turn, part of the basic structure of the Constitution. The Indian Army is planning to merge civilian areas at can-
District judiciary was the backbone of the judicial sys- tonments with municipal corporations and municipalities
tem and designate them as military stations.
• ‘Doctrine of Inherent Powers of the Judiciary’: Judi- What is the plan?
ciary must possess the inherent power to compel pay- Plan is to carve out the military areas in cantonments and
ment of those sums of money which are reasonable convert them into “exclusive military stations” with the
and necessary to carry out its mandated responsibili- Army exercising “absolute control” over them. The civilian
ties, and its powers and duties to administer justice. areas, in turn, will be merged with the local municipalities
This doctrine is only the logical conclusion of separa- so as to provide them with the benefits of various govern-
tion of powers and ensures that the independence of ment schemes.
the judiciary is secured • The first cantonment to be renamed a military station is
• Significance of District Judiciary: The district judiciary Yol in Himachal Pradesh
is, in most cases, also the court which is most acces- • Not all cantonments will become military stations as
sible to the litigant. On a single day, the district ju- some army and civilian pockets are intertwined.
diciary handled nearly 11.3 lakh cases. Even during
the period of the pandemic, the district judiciary was
efficient and undertook its functions to ensure that What are the issues with Cantonments?
justice was delivered in a timely manner. Cantonments have strict restrictions on construction, road
use, and common area occupation, causing tension be-
tween civilians and the military. Civilians face challenges in
About the Basic Structure Doctrine: obtaining home loans and accessing government schemes.
The Kesavananda Bharati judgment introduced the Basic Even basic renovations require multiple permissions.
Structure doctrine which limited Parliament’s power to
make drastic amendments that may affect the core values About Cantonment:
enshrined in the Constitution like secularism and federal-
Information
ism. The verdict upheld the power of the Supreme Court
to judicially review the laws of Parliament. Defini- A proclaimed area under the Cantonments
tion Act, 2006, governed and controlled by the cen-
tral government of India to provide municipal
services for civilians living in the area.
Catego- Cantonment Boards are categorized into four
ries categories based on population: Category I
(>50,000), Category II (10,000-50,000), Catego-
ry III (2,500-10,000), and Category IV (<2,500).
Authority Cantonment Board is an authority under the
Ministry of Defence.
Composi- Consists of eight members: three ex-officio
tion members, three nominated military members
(garrison engineer, station commander, and
senior executive medical officer), and one rep-
resentative of the district magistrate.
Services Sanitation, primary education, street lighting,
Provided water supply, maintenance of roads, bridges,
and public hospitals.
Canton- Cantonments are civilian areas that are under
ments vs the control of the military, and they usually
M i l i ta r y have a civilian population living in them as
station well. Military stations, on the other hand, are
purely military areas where only military per-
STATUTORY, REGULATORY AND VAR- sonnel and their families reside.
IOUS QUASI-JUDICIAL BODIES.
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Features:
The system uses standardized cardboard boxes labelled
with unique numbers and QR codes for easy retrieval and
access to case-related information.
• Benefits: It enhances efficiency, transparency, and
the chain of custody for law enforcement officials.
Other such measures are: Crime and Criminal Tracking
Network and Systems (CCTNS), e-Courts, e-Prisons, Na-
tional Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO), Integrated
Criminal Justice System (ICJS), etc.
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Context: his name from the voter list.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is organizing a two-day Unique features in the Bill:
National Workshop on the National e-Vidhan Application ‘Geofencing of blocks’ to be covered under the Sample Reg-
(NeVA) in New Delhi. istration System (SRS) is being done so that the enumerator
cannot fudge the data and responsibility is fixed.
What is NeVA? • Geofencing refers to the creation of virtual bound-
It is a workflow system deployed on the NIC Cloud, MeghRaj, aries or perimeters around specific geographical ar-
designed to facilitate smooth proceedings of the Parliament eas.
or State Assembly House and efficient handling of legisla-
About Birth rate:
tive business in a paperless manner.
It refers to the number of births per 1,000 individuals in a
population over a specific period, typically measured per
Aim: NeVA aims to eliminate the need for physical notices year. It is an indicator of the fertility level within a popu-
or data collection requests and brings all legislatures onto a lation.
single platform, creating a centralized data repository.
About the Death rate:
Also known as mortality rate, it refers to the number of
Features: deaths per 1,000 individuals in a population over a specific
It is a device-neutral and member-centric application that period, usually measured per year. It represents the mor-
provides members with comprehensive information, such as tality or death occurrence within a population.
contact details, rules of procedure, a list of business, no-
tices, bills, questions and answers, committee reports, and
more, directly on their handheld devices or tablets. Naga- A. CENSUS IN INDIA
land and Himachal Pradesh have become paperless assem-
blies using the NeVA application. Context:
The next Census form in India will only include six religion
options: Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain,
About e-Vidhan: It is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under despite demands from several communities to be counted
the Digital India Programme being implemented by the as separate religions.
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs (MoPA) with technical
support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Definition of The total process of collecting, compil-
Technology (MietY). It is a Central Sponsored Scheme. It Population Cen- ing, analyzing and disseminating de-
aims to digitize and bring all the legislatures of the country sus mographic, economic and social data
together, in one platform thereby creating a massive data pertaining, at a specific time, to all per-
depository. sons in a country or a well-defined part
of a country.
Constitutional The population census is a Union sub-
Backing ject under Article 246 of the India Con-
15. LINK DEATH AND BIRTH REGISTER
stitution; 69th in the seventh schedule
of the constitution
Context:
A Bill to link birth and death register with electoral rolls will
be introduced in the Parliament. Changes introduced in the upcoming Census:
• On religion: The Census officials dropped the detailed
Need: codes for religion (e.g., Sarnaism, the Lingayat religion,
• If the birth and death certificate data are preserved in a etc.) that were designed based on data collected during
special way, development works can be planned prop- the 2011 Census. Respondents can write the name of
erly. any other religion, but no separate code will be provid-
• Interlinking of various schemes ed.
• New questions introduced: The Census will introduce
new questions, such as whether individuals consume
For Example: packaged or bottled water and factors responsible for
As soon as a person turns 18, the Election Commission will migration, including natural calamities. There will be ad-
intimate him and make his voter card. ditional questions about travel time, modes of transport,
In case of someone’s death, the Census registrar will send types and causes of disabilities, and property ownership.
a notice to the family that they have received information • Digital Census: The next Census will be the first digital
about the person’s death and the family has 15 days to ob- Census, allowing respondents to fill in the questionnaire
ject, following which the Election Commission will remove from their homes.
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• Code directory: For the first time, a code directory —
containing possible responses and their matching codes
for questions involving descriptive and non-numeric en-
tries — has been prepared for the use of enumerators
during the second phase of Census 2021. It will facilitate
data processing and reduce bias and errors in the de-
scriptive responses.
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About SBM-Gramin:
The Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) Phase I was
17. SAKSHAM LEARNING MANAGEMENT
launched in 2014 to eliminate open defecation in rural areas
INFORMATION SYSTEM by 2019. Phase II, implemented from 2020-21 to 2024-25,
focuses on sustainability of ODF status. It also includes:
Context: • Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM)
The Union Health Ministry has launched the SAKSHAM • Plastic Waste Management (PWM)
(Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health • Faecal Sludge Management (FSM)
Management) Learning Management Information System • GOBARdhan
(LMIS) developed by the National Institute of Health & Fam- • Information Education and Communication
ily Welfare (NIHFW) • Behaviour Change Communication
Topic Details • Capacity Building
Ministry Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
System Name SAKSHAM LMIS is a dedicated and uni-
fied platform for providing online train-
ing and medical education to all health
professionals in the country
Capacity Build- Ensures inclusive capacity building of
ing health professionals from primary health
centres located in rural and remote areas
up to tertiary care and corporate hospi-
tals in metropolitan cities
Other pro- Saksham Anganwadi (Ministry of Wom-
grams with the en and Child Development); Project
name ‘SAKSH- Saksham (Indian Railways- for increas-
AM’ ing the productivity and efficiency of its
employees); SAKSHAM awareness cam-
paign (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas) to spread awareness about green
energy
Context:
India’s Ministry of Jal Shakti has announced that over half of
the nation’s villages have achieved ODF Plus status under
the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin (SBM-G) Phase II.
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New guidelines: The portal introduces three reforms:
• Donors have to answer a questionnaire and they will be • CEIR for blocking stolen/lost mobiles
screened based on their recent sexual activity rather • Know Your Mobile Connections for checking registered
than their sexual orientation or sex. connections
• Have done away with the three-month deferral period • ASTR (Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition pow-
for monogamous MSM, but it stays in place for those ered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification)
who have had new or multiple partners in the past three for identifying fraudulent subscribers.
months.
Aim: The initiative is designed to prevent frauds such as
Benefit: The new changes have been introduced to boost identity theft and banking fraud by misusing mobile phones.
blood donations across the US and address the discriminato-
ry nature of the existing policy. Achievement of the Portal: Over 40 lakh fraudulent con-
nections have been identified and 36 lakhs disconnected
India: Transgenders, gay people, and female sex workers ar- through the portal. Disconnected numbers have been shared
en’t allowed to donate blood. This is according to clauses with financial institutions and social media platforms for
12 and 51 of the ‘Guidelines for Blood Donor Selection & further action.
Blood Donor Referral, 2017’ issued by the National Blood Sanchar Saathi initiative: It includes modules for IMEI reg-
Transfusion Council (NBTC) and the National Aids Control istration, fraud detection, and facial recognition-based ver-
Organisation on October 11, 2017. ification.
Portal developed by: Department of Telecom
Reason for ban: Government argues that there is substantial
evidence to show that LGBTQ is at risk for HIV, Hepatitis B or
A. CEIR SYSTEM
C infections.
Context:
20. PENSION ADALAT The Indian government has launched the Central Equipment
Context: Identity Register (CEIR) tracking system to combat mobile
Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare is set to phone theft.
inaugurate an all-India pension adalat aimed at resolving
chronic pension cases. About the CEIR system:
• Status: The initiative was started in 2017 and has orga- Central Equipment Identity Register is a tracking system
nized seven all-India pension adalats so far (the current to combat mobile phone theft and facilitate the blocking
one is the 8th Adalat). and tracking of lost or stolen mobile phones across the
• Benefits: The adalat brings together all stakeholders in- country. CEIR serves as a central depository or database of
volved in a grievance on a common platform to ensure International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers,
speedy resolution and timely pension processing. models, versions, and other details of mobile devices.
I m p l e m e nt i n g Centre for Department of Telematics
Other initiatives: Body (CDoT)
• Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare has
Pan-India De- Ready for pan-India launch on May 17,
decided to integrate various portals, including pension
ployment 2023
disbursing bank portals, ANUBHAV, CPENGRAMS, and
CGHS, with the newly created “iIntegrated pensioners’ Key Features In-built mechanism to detect cloned
portal” (ipension.nic.in) mobile phones; Access to Internation-
• Bhavishya portal (to access pension slip, check the sta- al Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)
tus of life certificate submission, and obtain Form-16) number and associated mobile num-
• SANKALP (It is a project to channelize the skill, experi- ber; Prevent revenue loss to the gov-
ence and time available with Central Government Pen- ernment; Mandate disclosure of IMEI
sioners into meaningful social intervention) number prior to mobile device sale;
Block unauthorized mobile phones on
telecom networks
21.SANCHAR SAATHI PORTAL Success Story Karnataka Police used the CEIR system
to recover and return over 2,500 lost
Context: mobile phones
Ministry of Communications has launched the Sanchar Existing Systems Apple has a tracking system through
Saathi portal, which aims to enhance the safety and security Apple ID for its devices, but Android
of mobile phone users in India. phones face challenges in this regard
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Impact Use of stolen mobile phones will be- Concerns: Civil society representatives have raised concerns
come futile about the potential for increased prices by generic manu-
facturers.
Challenges Database maintenance authority; Clon-
ing or reprogramming of stolen mobile
phones; Potential blocking of authentic WELFARE SCHEMES FOR VULNERA-
IMEI numbers when blocking cloned
ones BLE SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION
22. PRICES OF DRUGS GOING OFF-PATENT What is the Twenty Point Programme?
Iinitially launched in 1975, and restructured in 1982, 1986,
and 2006, it’s a package of government programs, with the
Context:
aim of improving the quality of life in rural areas. The pro-
The government has introduced a formula to determine the
gram includes a range of schemes related to poverty allevi-
pricing of medicines that are losing their patent exclusivity.
ation, employment generation, education, health, housing,
and environmental protection.
Patents in India:
A patent for drugs in India gives the patent holder exclusive Monitoring: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Im-
rights to manufacture, use, sell, or import the patented drug plementation (MOSPI) monitors the performance of the TPP
in India for a specified period, typically 20 years from the based on reports received from state governments and cen-
date of filing the patent application. tral nodal ministries.
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National Educa- Prioritizes foundational literacy and 2022, compared to 2.2 per cent in 2012.
tion Policy numeracy with emphasis on Child’s • India is the largest country in southern Asia, where half
Mother tongue of all children with wasting in the world live
• More than three-quarters of all children with severe
R e c o m m e n d a - “Rebranding of anganwadis” with up-
wasting live in Asia
tions of High-Lev- graded infrastructure; Re-designation
• There is insufficient progress to reach the 2025 World
el Task Force on of Anganwadis workers as Anganwa-
Health Assembly (WHA) global nutrition targets and
ECCE (2022) di teachers, and helpers as childcare
UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goal target 2.2.
workers; Creche facilities for children
under 3 years; Develop common
curriculum across different models 26.PROGRAMMES FOR SOCIAL SECURITY
and emphasis on education in child’s COVER
mother tongue.
What is Early It refers to the formative stage of the
Childhood? first six years of life, with well-marked
sub-stages and age-specific needs.
What is Anganwa- Anganwadi is a type of rural child care
di? centre that serves as a crucial link be-
tween the government and the ru-
ral population, particularly pregnant
women, new mothers, and children
under the age of six. Anganwadi cen-
tres provide basic health care, nutri-
tion, and early childhood education
services to women and children in
their respective villages.
Context:
The Ministry of Education and the World Bank organized a
workshop on School-to-Work Transition under the STARS
Program.
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Type of It would be implemented as a new Cen- evaluation methodologies to enhance credibility, recog-
Scheme trally Sponsored Scheme under the nition of certificates, and grades obtained across boards.
Department of School Education and • Unification also aims to address the prevailing rote ex-
Literacy, Ministry of Education. amination culture and promote holistic assessments
that encompass various dimensions of a student’s abili-
Objectives Improve learning assessment systems,
ties and potential.
strengthen classroom instruction and re-
• It emphasizes the importance of well-designed ques-
mediation, facilitate school-to-work tran-
tion papers, balanced assessments, and reducing the
sition, and strengthen governance and
burden of high-stakes examinations while effectively
decentralized management.
measuring student progress.
Expected Ben- Around 250 million students (between
eficiaries the age of 6 and 17) in 1.5 million schools
and over 10 million teachers will benefit About PARAKH:
from this USD 500 million programme. It has been launched as part of the implementation of the
National Education Policy (NEP)-2020 which envisaged a
Vision The program strengthens public school
standard-setting body to advise school boards regarding
education and supports India’s goal of
new assessment patterns and the latest research and pro-
providing ‘Education for All’.
mote collaborations between them.
Components of the Project
• It will be tasked with holding periodic learning out-
C o n t i n g e n - This component enables the program to comes tests like the National Achievement Survey
cy Emergen- be responsive to any natural, man-made, (NAS) and State Achievement Surveys.
cy Response and health disasters. It helps the govern- • It will work on three major assessment areas: large-
C o m p o n e n t ment respond to situations leading to loss scale assessments, school-based assessments, and
(CERC) of learning such as school closures/infra- examination reforms.
structure damage and inadequate facili-
ties.
PARAKH PARAKH serves as a National Assess-
ment Centre. It sets norms for student
assessment and evaluation for all school
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, NEWS
boards across the country. It also guides & ORGANIZATIONS
standardized testing to monitor learning
outcomes at the state and national levels.
Success Sto- India has successfully achieved gender 28.KALADAN MULTIMODAL TRANSIT
ries parity in enrolment in primary educa- TRANSPORT PROJECT (KMTTP)
tion but that is not the case in second-
ary education. India has significantly im- Context:
proved access to education across the India has officially begun the operation of the Sittwe Port
country. in Myanmar by flagging off a vessel containing 1,000 metric
tonnes of cement from the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in
Kolkata.
A. PARAKH
About Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project
Context: (KMTTP):
The Ministry of Education organised a workshop with the aim
of unifying the 60 school examination boards operating in Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) connec
different States and union territories under one umbrella. we seaport in Rakhine State, Myanmar by sea. In Myanmar, it will
the Kaladan river boat route, and then from Paletwa by road to M
• The main component of this plan is PARAKH or the
National Assessment Centre which has been set up
as an organisation under the National Council of Ed-
ucational Research and Training.
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Context:
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the U.S. on
April 25 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of U.S.-South
Korea bilateral relations. During the visit, the two countries
signed the “Washington Declaration,” which focuses on nu-
clear deterrence strategy.
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Nuclear Con- The declaration makes it possible for the Work IOM works in four broad areas of migra-
s u l t a t i v e US and South Korea to establish a Nucle- tion management—Migration and devel-
Group ar Consultative Group (NCG) similar to the opment, facilitating migration, regulating
one that exists between the US and NATO. migration, and Forced migration.
Through this group, South Korea can have Members It has 175 member states. India is a mem-
more control over nuclear response plan- ber of IOM.
ning and coordination, although the nu-
Significance The IOM, with predominantly American
clear weapons will be under the exclusive
leadership, plays a significant role in ad-
control of the US.
dressing global migration challenges, pro-
Authority The declaration mandates the U.S. Presi- viding assistance to migrants, and advising
dent as the only ‘sole authority’ to use the governments on migration-related policies.
nuclear arsenal of the U.S. in the event of a
nuclear confrontation.
Criticisms of The Washington Declaration (WD) has 34. MIGRATION, MOBILITY PACT WITH
the Declara- been criticized for not achieving anything
tion substantial and only reiterating what was AUSTRALIA (MMPA)
already inherent in the US-South Korea
alliance. China and North Korea have crit- Context:
icized the agreement. India and Australia signed a migration partnership agree-
Significance While India is not a direct participant in ment during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Austra-
for India this agreement, the Washington Decla- lia.
ration reinforces the US commitment to
its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, Features of the Agreement:
including India, and could strengthen the • Aim: It is aimed at promoting two-way exchange of stu-
Quad alliance. dents, graduates, researchers, and business people,
and expanding people-to-people ties.
• New Pathway: Their mobility will be facilitated through
33.INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR a new skilled pathway named MATES (Mobility Arrange-
ment for Talented Early Professionals Scheme) specifi-
MIGRATION (IOM) cally created for India.
Context:
Other developments:
Amy Pope from the United States has been elected as the
• India announced the opening of a consulate in Brisbane,
new Director General of the International Organization for
adding to its existing consulates in Perth, Melbourne,
Migration (IOM), making her the first woman to hold this
and Sydney.
position.
• The India-Australia hydrogen task force was established,
Information Description to explore opportunities in green hydrogen and address
About IOM is an intergovernmental organization energy targets.
that provides services and advice con-
cerning migration to governments and To know details of India-Australia relations: Click here
migrants, including refugees, internally dis-
placed persons, and migrant workers.
Origin IOM was established in 1951 as Intergov-
35. NEW DEVELOPMENT BANK (NDB)
ernmental Committee for European Mi-
gration (ICEM) to help resettle people dis- Context:
placed by World War II. The New Development Bank (NDB) has launched its Indian
Status in UN It was granted Permanent Observer status Regional Office (IRO) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-
to UN General Assembly in 1992. It is part City (GIFT City).
of the UN now.
Major report World Migration Report is published every Objective:
year. The establishment of the IRO aims to address infrastructure
and sustainable development needs in India and Bangla-
desh, contributing to economic growth and sustainable de-
velopment in South Asia.
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Other offices of NDB: The NDB already has regional offices in Regulation: Regulatory framework of the respective home
Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia. country shall apply in all academic matters in such FIs. Also,
the regulatory authority for IFSCs, the IFSC Authority (IFS-
CA), will have limited jurisdiction over these courses.
About the New Development Bank (NDB):
Dimen- Description
Aim: This move aims to provide flexibility and encourage
sions
the participation of foreign institutions in offering special-
About NDB (est. 2014; HQ: Shanghai) is a multilat- ized courses in the financial and technology sectors within
eral development bank founded to mobilise IFSCs.
resources for infrastructure and sustainable
development projects in emerging markets
and developing countries. It received observ- About IFSCs:
er status in the United Nations General As- International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) are desig-
sembly in 2018. nated areas within a country that facilitate the conduct
Member BRICS nations, Bangladesh, UAE, Egypt of global financial services. They are designed to attract
M a j o r Committed funding to major infrastructure international financial institutions, banks, and other finan-
Projects projects in India, including Mumbai Metro cial service providers by offering a business-friendly envi-
rail, Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid ronment and a range of tax benefits. It caters to customers
Transit System, and Renewable Energy proj- outside the jurisdiction of the domestic economy.
ects; Approved 14 Indian projects with a to-
tal funding of nearly USD 4.2 billion; Signed a Examples: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC);
1 billion USD loan pact with India in 2020 for GIFT City; Singapore International Commercial Court
rural employment and infrastructure. India is (SICC); Shanghai International Financial Centre (SIFC)
the second-largest recipient of NDB’s finan-
cial support after China.
A c h i e v e - Innovated in areas such as lending in local
ments currencies; Holds an AA+ credit rating; Suc- 37. 75 YEARS OF UN PEACEKEEPING FORC-
cessfully launched bonds, including ‘green ES
bonds’.
Issues Low disbursal of loans despite approving
over USD 12 billion; Challenges due to po-
litical turmoil and economic crises in mem-
ber countries; Difficulty in lending to Russian
companies due to sanctions and strained Chi-
na-India relations
About GIFT Gujarat International Finance Tec-City is a
City central business district under construction
in Gandhinagar district in Gujarat, India. It is
India’s first operational greenfield smart city
and international financial services centre.
Context:
The Indian finance ministry has announced that courses in
financial management, fintech, science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics (STEM) offered by foreign insti-
tutions in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs)
(such as GIFT City) will be exempt from certain provisions 3 Indian U.N. peacekeepers were honoured posthumously
of the University Grants Commission Act and the All-India with the Dag Hammarskjold Medal
Council for Technical Education Act.
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Context:
India fears that a proposal by the US under the “supply
chains” pillar of the IPEF could violate WTO rules and reduce
policy space.
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tions” approach to macroeconomics. • The model removes the need for OTPs, bank ac-
count details, and other financial details.
• It allows fund transfers using only the bank name,
What is Macroeconomics?
Aadhaar number, and fingerprint captured during
It studies the behaviour and performance of an economy
Aadhaar enrolment, according to the National Pay-
as a whole. It focuses on analyzing aggregate economic vari-
ments Corporation of India (NCPI).
ables such as GDP (gross domestic product), inflation, unem-
ployment, and overall economic growth.
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Context:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of In-
dia (Irdai) has relaxed norms for ‘surety bonds’.
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Aim: Permissible Education, travel, medical treatment, gift-
• To increase the adoption of digital payment methods, Transactions ing, investment in shares or property, etc.
particularly among women, in 50,000 Gram Panchayats
Non-Permis- Trading in foreign exchange or buying lot-
across the country.
sible Trans- tery tickets
• It seeks to empower rural communities by enabling
actions
them to participate in the digital economy and access
the benefits of digital transactions. Ineligible En-
Corporations, partnership firms, Hindu Un-
tities divided Family (HUF), Trusts, etc.
It is part of the larger AmritMahotsav celebrations and is be- Benefits Diversify investments and assets, finance
ing implemented under the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav, which foreign education or travel
commemorates 75 years of India’s independence. Issues Outward remittances may pressure Forex
reserves
Don’t get confused with a similar named initiative: Samarth Repatriation In August 2022, RBI had directed that
Scheme (search in FFP section) (under Ministry of Textiles) Directive any money remitted overseas by Indian
residents that remains unutilised for more
than 180 days needs to be repatriated
back into India.
7. LIBERALIZED REMITTANCE SCHEME (LRS)
Context:
Finance Ministry has announced that it will waive the 20%
tax on overseas credit card spending for individuals up to
₹7 lakh per financial year, following criticism and concerns
raised by taxpayers and businesses.
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9. CLEARING CORPORATIONS
Context:
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the
European Union’s financial markets regulator and supervisor,
has derecognised six Indian central counterparties (CCPs)
from April 30, 2023.
Examples of CCs:
The CCPs are The Clearing Corporation of India (CCIL), Indi- 11. LIBOR
an Clearing Corporation Ltd (ICCL), NSE Clearing Ltd (NSCCL),
Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing (MCXCCL), India Inter-
national Clearing Corporation (IFSC) Ltd (IICC), and NSE IFSC
Clearing Corporation Ltd (NICCL).
Impact:
As per the European Market Infrastructure Regulations
(EMIR), a CCP in a third country can provide clearing services
to European banks only if it is recognised by ESMA. With the
withdrawal of recognition, these CCPs will no longer be able
to provide services to clearing members and trading venues
established in the EU.
12. SNOWBALL EFFECT
Government’s stand – ESMA’s threat is unreasonable since
all clearing corporations are well-regulated in India.
Context:
According to the World Economic Forum president India
witnessing a ‘snowball effect’; set to see exponential growth
in coming years.
10.FRONT-RUNNING
About the Snowball effect:
When the snowball starts to roll, it gets bigger and bigger,
and that is what is happening with the Indian economy - the
growth will lead to more investments, and more jobs lead-
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ing to exponential growth in the coming years. Difference between UPI and lightweight system:
• The key difference lies in the resilience and availability
of the two systems.
• UPI and other conventional systems prioritize handling
large transaction volumes and require a stable and ro-
bust infrastructure.
• On the other hand, the lightweight system is designed to
operate even in volatile and extreme conditions when
regular payment systems may not be accessible.
Benefits:
• Such a system could ensure near-zero downtime of the
payment and settlement system in the country and
keep the liquidity pipeline of the economy alive and
intact by facilitating the uninterrupted functioning of es-
13. EVERGREENING OF LOANS
sential payments.
• By implementing a lightweight system as a backup, the
Context: RBI aims to ensure that individuals and institutions can
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor raised continue to make payments during emergencies or dis-
red flags over banks adopting innovative methods for ev- ruptions to the conventional payment infrastructure.
ergreening of loans – covering up the real status of stressed • It serves as a precautionary measure to be prepared
loans of corporates. for extreme situations and maintain the continuity of
financial transactions.
About Evergreening of loans:
• Evergreening of loans refers to a practice where banks
or lenders provide additional funds or take other mea-
sures to artificially sustain a loan that is not being re- 15. STARTUP INDIA SEED FUND SCHEME
paid as scheduled.
• It is a temporary solution used by banks to avoid classi- Context:
fying the loan as a non-performing asset (NPA) because The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
such classification would require them to set aside Trade (DPIIT) is conducting a third-party impact assessment
more money for potential losses, which could affect of the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme to evaluate its perfor-
their profitability. mance in benefiting the startup community.
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Grants and Sup- Grants of up to Rs. 5 crores are provid- Impact on In- Increased volatility in financial markets
port ed to eligible incubators, which in turn dia affects currency exchange rates, capital
provide grants of up to Rs. 20 lakhs to flows, and investor confidence.
startups for validation of proof of con- Impact on India’s exports, foreign direct
cept, prototype development, or prod- investment, and overall economic stabili-
uct trials. ty.
Estimated Bene- 3,600 entrepreneurs through 300 incu- Previous in- In 2011, the US faced a near default on
ficiaries bators in the next 4 years stance public debt due to a delay in raising the
What is Seed Seed Funding is an early stage of debt ceiling. This led to the first down-
funding? investment in a start-up or a new grade in the US credit rating, a sharp drop
business idea to help the company in the stock market, and higher borrowing
reach a point where it can secure ad- costs.
ditional rounds of funding or generate Suggestions Automatic increase of the debt limit when-
revenue to become self-sustaining. for reforms ever legislation is passed or abolishing the
debt limit altogether
16. US DEBT CEILING DEAL India’s Debt India does not have a formal debt ceil-
Ceiling Mech- ing mechanism like the one in the United
anism States.
Context:
The Indian government manages borrow-
The US government is facing a crucial issue regarding the
ing and debt obligations through fiscal dis-
debt ceiling.
cipline, budgetary controls, and oversight
by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The
About Debt Ceiling: Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Manage-
Topic Debt Ceiling ment (FRBM) Act governs India’s borrow-
Definition The maximum amount of money that the ing activities, setting targets for fiscal defi-
US government is legally allowed to bor- cits and debt-to-GDP ratios.
row to fund its operations and meet its fi-
nancial obligations. It sets a cap or limit on
the total amount of government debt.
17. BUSINESS READY PROJECT
Origin Established by the US Congress in 1917
during World War I to promote fiscal re-
sponsibility in the federal government.
Issue Disagreement between President Joe
Biden (executive) and the Republi-
can-controlled US Congress (Legislature)
on raising the debt ceiling. The decision to
increase the borrowing cap lies with the
US Congress, which needs to vote on it.
Impact Possible government default if the debt
ceiling is not raised, leading to econom-
ic consequences such as a weaker dollar,
stock market problems, and job losses.
The downgrade of the US credit rating
made future borrowing more expensive
for the government.
Hinders discussions on long-term fiscal
challenges and has become a political tool
instead of a responsible fiscal mechanism.
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20. PROJECT-SMART
Context:
The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the
Ministry of Railways in India have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) with the Japan International Coop-
eration Agency (JICA) for ‘Station Area Development along
Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail’ (Project-SMART)
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Context:
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis re-
cently reviewed the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL)
About MTHL:
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, also known as the Sewri–
Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link, is an under-construction
21.8 km 6-lane access-controlled expressway grade road The Clusters are:
bridge, which will connect Mumbai with Navi Mumbai, its • Visakhapatnam node: Rambilli and Nakkapalli industrial
satellite city. clusters; Nakkapalli cluster
• Srikalahasthi-Chittoor node: Chittoor–South industrial
Features of the Bridge: cluster; Naidupeta industrial cluster
• When completed, it would be the longest sea bridge in
India (World’s 10th longest sea bridge) The funds will be used to improve roads, water supply sys-
• It is expected to alleviate traffic congestion, promote tems, and electricity distribution networks in the clusters.
economic development, and reduce travel time be-
tween Sewri and Chirle to just 15 to 20 minutes. Aim: To promote industrialization, boost manufacturing,
• Fuel, transportation costs & 1 hour travel time will be enhance competitiveness, and create job opportunities in
saved these areas. The project also includes measures to strength-
• 1st project in India with an open road tolling system. en resilience to extreme weather, improve disaster risk
• For the first time in India, Orthotropic steel deck tech- management, and promote gender-responsive and socially
nology used inclusive development.
About the Open road tolling system: It refers to a method 25.GOVT CUTS SUBSIDY ON ELECTRIC
of collecting tolls on highways without requiring vehicles
to stop or slow down. Instead of traditional toll booths, 2-WHEELERS
open-road tolling uses electronic sensors and cameras to
detect vehicles as they pass through designated tolling Context:
points. The government has decided to reduce the subsidy pro-
About Orthotropic steel deck technology: It is a construc- vided under the FAME-II scheme for electric two-wheelers
tion method used in building bridges and other structures. starting in June.
It involves using steel plates that are specifically designed
to be strong and stiff in one direction while being flexible Ministry of Heavy Industries notified changes:
in other directions. This allows the steel deck to support • The subsidy for electric two-wheelers would be reduced
heavy loads, such as vehicles while remaining lightweight. to ₹10,000 per kilowatt hour (kWh) effective 1 June
2023 from ₹15,000 currently.
• The cap on incentives for such vehicles has been low-
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Current Affairs 30
ered to 15% of the ex-factory price of vehicles from the Aim: The scheme aims to democratize air travel and pro-
earlier 40%. mote tourism, hospitality, and local economies.
• But the total amount allocated toward providing Previous rounds of the scheme have already operationalized
incentives for these vehicles will be raised from the 46 helicopter routes, benefiting hilly and North East states
current ₹2,000 crores. and the current round aims to cover a larger number of
routes.
The rationale for changes:
The intention behind lowering the subsidy and increasing
Read about UDAN 5.0:
the funds for electric two-wheelers is to support more con-
sumers through the FAME scheme with the available funds.
162 www.insightsonindia.com
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About ESG It helps stakeholders, such as investors Safety in Ensure the best safety standards in coal
Framework and customers, understand how an or- Mines mines. Conduct safety management & re-
ganization manages its environmental sponse drills. Scientifically close mines to re-
responsibilities, social impact, and cor- store ecological balance
porate governance practices. Technolo- Implement technology roadmap in the coal
Status of India India is making progress in implement- gy Push to sector. Promote clean coal technology such
on ESG ing ESG regulations through the intro- Coal as Coal to Hydrogen, Coal & Lignite gasifica-
duction of the Business Responsibility tion, and CBM/CMM.
and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) S u s t a i n - Develop eco-parks/mine tourism. Utilize
framework by the Securities and Ex- ability in mine water/overburden and implement en-
change Board of India (SEBI). Coal Sector ergy-efficient measures
About BRSR The BRSR framework aims to connect a
framework company’s financial performance with
its ESG practices. It has been mandat- About Coal Sector in India:
ed for the top 1,000 listed entities in India has the fifth largest coal reserves, is second in coal
terms of market capitalization starting production (after China) and is among the largest importer
from the financial year 2022-23. of coal (mainly from Indonesia, South Africa and Australia).
Coal accounts for almost 50% share in the total installed
About GFIN GFIN was launched in 2019 by interna-
electricity generation capacity in India.
(Global Financial tional financial regulators and orga-
Innovation Net- nizations with the aim of supporting
work) financial innovation and identifying
regulatory gaps in emerging technolo-
gies across different sectors. It acts as a
surveillance tool to detect issues before
they become problematic.
Context:
The Ministry of Coal in India has formulated an ambitious
Action Plan for FY 2023-24, aimed at enhancing the produc-
tion, efficiency, sustainability, and new technologies in the
coal sector.
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Current Affairs 30
What is M sand?
M-Sand, or Manufactured Sand, is an alternative to natural
river sand used in construction. It is produced by crushing
rocks or quarry stones to obtain sand particles of consistent
size and shape.
Advantages:
It has similar properties to natural sand, making it suitable
for various construction purposes. It is cost-effective, readily
available, and reduces the need for mining natural sand.
It also requires less water for construction projects as it
does not need to be washed before use.
164 www.insightsonindia.com
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Context:
At the National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Cam-
paign 2023-24, the Union Agriculture Minister of India
launched Krishi MApper.
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Current Affairs 30
Context: Significance:
Recent studies have shown that grain processing reduces By setting a minimum import price, the government aims to
nutritional qualities in millets. prevent apple imports from flooding the market at exces-
sively low prices, and provide a level playing field to farmers
About Millets: in J&K.
• Millets are grasses and include varieties such as pearl
millet, barnyard millet, finger millet, and foxtail millet.
About Apple cultivation:
• India is the world’s largest producer of millets, account-
ing for over 40% of pearl millet production and over 8% Apple cultivation in India primarily takes place in regions
of sorghum production in 2021-2022. such as Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, the hills of
• Millets are drought-tolerant and thrive on marginal Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal. It is also grown to a lesser
land. Their nutrient content includes carbohydrates, extent in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Punjab, and Sik-
proteins, fibre, amino acids, and various minerals, and kim. China produces the world’s largest number of apples.
different millet varieties have different nutrient pro- India is ranked 5th.
files.
Climatic condition for Apples:
Nutrient Changes during Millet Processing: The ideal climatic conditions for apple cultivation include
an average summer temperature of 21-24 degrees Celsius
Processing Step Effect on Nutrients
during the active growth period. Apple trees can be grown
Removal of Husk Reduction of phytic acid and poly- at altitudes ranging from 1500 to 2700 meters above sea
phenol contents level. Well-distributed rainfall of 1000-1250 mm through-
Decortication Removal of crude and dietary fibre out the growing season is most favourable for the optimal
Milling and Sieving Reduction of nutrient content due to growth and fruitfulness of apple trees. Additionally, apples
loss of bran, but improved digestibil- thrive best in well-drained, loamy soils.
ity and accessibility
Germination and Positive improvement in overall nu- 37. SUNFLOWER OIL
Fermentation tritional characteristics
Polishing Removal of protein, fat, and fibre
Context:
contents, as well as iron, magne-
The Ukraine-Russia war had a significant impact on sunflow-
sium, phosphorus, potassium, and
er oil consumption in India.
manganese
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In India: The first edition of World Food India was held in 2017.
• Sunflower oil is the fourth most consumed edible oil in India leads the world in the production of milk, bananas,
India, following mustard, soybean, and palm oil. mangoes, papayas, guavas, ginger, okra and buffalo meat,
• Domestic production of sunflower oil has significantly and ranks second in the production of rice, wheat, pota-
declined over the past decade, unlike soybean oil, which toes, garlic, cashew nuts.
has expanded its cultivated area.
• India imports a substantial amount of sunflower oil due The United Nations has declared 2023 as the International
to limited domestic production. Year of Millets (IYM 2023) with the aim of increasing the
• Major producers: Karnataka (highest producer in India); production and consumption of millets worldwide.
Telangana and Maharashtra
• Major Consumer: Karnataka, Telangana, and Maharash-
tra Prelims Links:
Q. Among the following, which one is the largest exporter
About Sunflower: of rice in the world in the last five years? (UPSC 2019)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), popularly known as (a) China
“Surajmukhi” (it follows the sun by day) is an annual flow- (b) India
ering plant, native to North and Central America but is (c) Myanmar
now cultivated worldwide for its versatile uses. It is known (d) Vietnam
for its large, bright yellow flowers. Ans: B
Sunflowers are relatively easy to grow and are adaptable 39. CERTIFICATION OF INDIAN ORGANIC
to different climates and soil types. They require full sun
exposure and well-drained soil. They are known for their
PRODUCTS
ability to extract heavy metals from the soil, making them
useful in phytoremediation efforts to clean up polluted ar- Context:
eas. A European Union (EU) audit has found “many weaknesses”
in the certification of Indian organic products for exports to
the EU.
38. WORLD FOOD INDIA 2023
Issues highlighted:
Context: • Farmers of various organic producer groups (PGs) lacked
India’s Ministry of Food Processing Industries is organizing knowledge of organic farming.
the second edition of ‘World Food India 2023’ in New Delhi • Infringement of NPOP norms, inadequate supervision
from 3rd-5th November. and implementation of controls.
Aim: The event aims to showcase India’s food culture and Regulator of Organic Products:
attract global investments in the food processing sector. It Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) (un-
will bring together manufacturers, producers, investors, der the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) regulates the
policymakers, and organizations from across the global food manufacture, distribution, sale or import of Organic prod-
ecosystem. ucts through the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods)
Regulations, 2017 (under FSSA 2006).
Focus areas: Leveraging millets as a superfood; positioning
India as a global hub for food processing; unlocking growth
Certification of Organic products:
potentials in strategic segments; establishing an efficient
ecosystem, and promoting sustainable development. Certification Description
Participato- Implemented by the Ministry of Agricul-
The event is part of India’s vision to become a global leader ry Guaran- ture and Farmers Welfare. Ensures organic
in the food processing industry and highlights the country’s tee System product production adheres to quality stan-
production, consumption, and export potential in various (PGS) dards. Does not require third-party certifi-
food sectors. India is taking steps to create an inclusive and cation agencies. Certification is carried out
sustainable ecosystem, attract foreign investment, and en- by local groups consisting of producers and
hance the ease of doing business, in the food processing consumers and is based on trust. Involves a
system. documented logo or statement as proof of
certification.
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National Implemented by APEDA, under the Minis- es, storage container improvements, fish marketing
Programme try of Commerce & Industries. Regulates infrastructure, technology evaluation, monitoring
on Organic organic farming certification. Involves ac- mechanisms, and minimizing post-harvest losses.
Production creditation of Certification Bodies. Sets
(NPOP) standards for organic production. Pro- About PMMSY:
motes organic farming and marketing. It’s Dimension Information
Standards have been recognized by the EU,
About PMMSY (Under the Ministry of Commerce
Switzerland, and the US.
and Industry) was launched in 2020 for the
Other Pro- NMSA (National Mission for Sustainable sustainable development of the fisheries sec-
grams for Agriculture): Promotes sustainable agricul- tor and to bring about the ‘Blue Revolution’.
Organic Pro- ture, including organic production. Param-
Implemen- It is being implemented in all States and
duction paragat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY): Pro-
tation Union Territories for a period of 5 years from
motes organic farming. Mission Organic
FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. It provides insur-
Value Chain Development for North East
ance coverage, and financial assistance to
Region (MOVCD-NER): Supports the de-
fishermen.
velopment of organic value chains in the
North East region of India. Aim and Rural development and boosting the rural
Objectives economy; “Reform, Perform and Transform”
motto; Core and trunk infrastructure devel-
opment and Modernization of Indian fisher-
ies
Type of Umbrella scheme with Central Sector
scheme Scheme and Centrally Sponsored Scheme
components—meaning that the Central gov-
ernment bears project cost and States/UTs
share the cost of sub-components/activities
Targets Enhanced fish production of 22 million met-
ric tons; Increased contribution of Gross Val-
ue Added (GVA) of the fisheries sector to
agriculture GVA to 9%; Double export earn-
ings to about Rs. 1 lakh crore; Reduction of
post-harvest losses to about 10% and dou-
bling of incomes of fishers and fish farmer
A c h i e v e - The fisheries sector has achieved impressive
m e n t s growth of over 14% and an all-time high in
of the fish production and exports. The scheme has
scheme provided insurance coverage to over 31 lakh
farmers
Other ini- Fisheries & Aquaculture Infrastructure Devel-
tiatives opment Fund (FIDF); Kisan Credit Cards for
40. PRADHAN MANTRI MATSYASAMPADA Fishermen
YOJANA (PMMSY) F i s h e r y India is the 3rd largest fish producing and
sector in 2nd largest aquaculture nation in the world
India
Context: A b o u t NPC (est. 1958; HQ: Delhi) is an autonomous
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in In- N a t i o n a l organization under the Department for Pro-
dia is being supported by seven major field studies conduct- Productiv- motion of Industry & Internal Trade, Ministry
ed by the National Productivity Council (NPC). ity Council of Commerce and Industry. It conducts pro-
(NPC) ductivity research, consulting and training
services to the government, public and pri-
About the studies: vate sector organizations.
• Aim: These studies aim to enhance the fisheries
sector and its contribution to the country’s GDP.
• Fields covered: The studies cover various areas such
as fish marketing systems, innovative fishing practic-
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Current Affairs 30
Context: Context:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) A recent peer-reviewed study suggests that even low levels
launched the III phase of the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana of arsenic consumption, commonly found in contaminated
(TBSY) to commemorate World Thalassemia Day (May 8). groundwater in India, can impact cognitive function in chil-
dren, adolescents, and young adults.
Thalassemia:
• Thalassemia is an inherited (passed from parents What does the study say:
to children through genes) blood disorder caused • Arsenic exposure leads to reduced grey matter in the
when the body doesn’t make enough of a protein brain, affecting concentration, information storage, and
called haemoglobin, an important part of RBCs. switching between tasks.
• It’s a treatable disorder that can be well-managed • At the population level, contamination leads to in-
with blood transfusions and chelation therapy. creased school failures, diminished economic productiv-
ity, and a higher risk of criminal and antisocial behaviour.
Steps taken in India: • The major factor for contamination: Arsenic intake from
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016: food, primarily through rice consumption; using contam-
Thalassemia was recognised as a benchmark disabil- inated groundwater.
ity.
• TBSY: Coal India Limited, under the auspices of the Remedy:
MoH&FW, is implementing TBSY (since 2017) as part Modifying food preparation techniques, such as cooking rice
of its CSR initiative to support the treatment of chil- in a specific way, can significantly reduce arsenic levels; pro-
dren affected by Thalassemia and Aplastic Anaemia. moting piped water access and installing arsenic removal
• National mission to tackle thalassemia: The Union plants; encourage extraction from aquifers (water channels
government will soon launch the mission with a below the ground) that are deeper than 100 m.
country-wide screening exercise.
About Arsenic: Arsenic is an odourless and tasteless met-
45. MPOX alloid found naturally in the earth’s crust and groundwater.
It is highly toxic in its inorganic form and can cause arse-
nic poisoning. Arsenicosis, the accumulation of high levels
of arsenic in the body, leads to adverse health effects and
can result in multi-system organ failure and death. Efforts
have been made under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development to provide safely managed drinking water
free of arsenic contamination. The Jal Jeevan Mission aims
to provide safe drinking water to all households in rural
and urban India by 2024.
Context:
The WHO’s new guidelines advise against the use of non-sug-
ar sweeteners (NSS) as a “healthy” alternative to sugar.
Non-sugar sweeteners (NSS)
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Categories Aspartame (to sweeten diet colas), advan- spread through contaminated food, particularly ready-to-eat
tame, cyclamates, neotame, saccharin (to foods such as cooked meats, dairy products, and fresh pro-
sweeten tea or coffee), sucralose, stevia, duce.
etc.
Rise in Pop- In 2015, when WHO said that a high intake Symptoms: Symptoms of a Listeria infection can include high
ularity of free sugars is linked to weight gain and temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being
obesity. sick, and diarrhoea.
WHO’s new NSS should not be used as a means of Impact: Listeriosis, the illness caused by Listeria infection,
guidelines? achieving weight control or reducing the can lead to serious complications, such as meningitis, sepsis,
risk of diet-related non-communicable dis- and miscarriage.
eases. Long-term use of NSS could lead to
increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovas-
cular diseases, chronic kidney disease and
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
cancer.
C o n c e r n s One in 9 women and one in 25 men are 49. BIOSYNTHETIC CLOCK
for India obese (NFHS5), and an estimated 25 mil-
lion people living with pre-diabetes in India Context:
(WHO). Scientists have discovered that the ageing process of cells is
WHO’s nu- Having alternative foods which are mini- controlled by a genetic regulatory circuit that can be manip-
tritional ad- mally processed, unsweetened foods and ulated to extend their lifespan.
vice beverages.
This circuit functions like a clock, guiding the cell through
two distinct pathways of ageing. By manipulating this cir-
cuit, scientists have been able to generate a negative feed-
back loop that slows down the cell’s degeneration, leading
to a significant extension of cellular lifespan.
Significance:
This research may have important implications for improv-
ing human health and treating age-related diseases in the
future.
48. LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES BACTERIA
Context:
The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency (FSA) has is-
sued a recall for several Cadbury-branded dessert products
due to potential contamination by Listeria monocytogenes
bacteria.
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Context:
A Foucault pendulum has been installed inside the new
Parliament which is designed by the National Council of Sci-
51. SLUDGE TO FERTILIZER
ence Museums, Kolkata.
Context:
• Invented by French physicist Léon Foucault in the
A recent study conducted by the Indian Institute of Tech-
mid-19th Century, the pendulum provided the first
nology (IIT)-Roorkee has found that the sludge from sewage
laboratory demonstration in history to show that
treatment plants (STP) in India, which is rich in organic chem-
the Earth spins on its axis. The pendulum in the new
icals, has “high potential” for use as fertilizer.
Parliament is meant to symbolise the ‘integration of
the idea of India with that of the universe’.
About sludge:
About Foucault Pendulum: Topic Information
• The pendulum consists of a heavy bob suspended at Definition Sludge is the thick
the end of a long, strong wire from a fixed point in residue that remains
the ceiling. As the pendulum swings, the imaginary after the treatment of
surface across which the wire and the bob swipe is sewage or wastewater
called the plane of the swing. in a sewage treatment
plant.
Composi- Sludge is rich in organ-
Why is it important: tion ic chemicals, heavy
• It helped us understand that the Earth is rotating metals, industrial ef-
or spinning. As it swings back and forth, it seems to fluents and bacterial
change its direction over time. contaminants.
• This happens because while the pendulum swings, Treatment The sludge needs to be stored for at least
the Earth is spinning beneath making it look like three months to kill pathogens and blended
the pendulum is changing its direction. This effect is with cattle manure and husk or local soil to
called the Coriolis effect. Depending on where you reduce the heavy metal content.
are on Earth, the pendulum will appear to rotate in
Govern- National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCC)
different ways.
ment Ini- has launched “Arth Ganga” to monetise and
• For example, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere
tiative reuse treated wastewater and sludge by con-
(like in Europe or North America), the pendulum will
verting it into usable products such as ma-
rotate clockwise. But if you’re in the Southern Hemi-
nure and bricks.
sphere (like in Australia or South America), it will ro-
tate counterclockwise. Classifica- As per the United States Environment Pro-
• By observing this rotation, scientists like Foucault tion tection Agency standards, treated sludge
were able to prove that the Earth is spinning on its can be classified as Class A and Class B. India
axis. does not yet have such standards.
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Current Affairs 30
Class A Class A sludge can be disposed of in the open isotope carbon-14, which is a variant of the element carbon.
Vs Class B and used as organic fertilizer without any Carbon-14 is unstable and undergoes radioactive decay over
sludge safety concerns. time.
On the other hand, Class B sludge can only be
used in restricted agricultural applications Limitations of Carbon-14 dating:
where edible parts of the crop are not ex- • Limited Time Range: Carbon-14 dating is effective for
posed to the sludge-mixed soil, and people or objects up to approximately 50,000 years old due to the
animals do not come into extensive contact. short half-life of carbon-14 (5,700 years).
• Contamination Issues: Contamination from modern car-
bon sources can affect the accuracy of carbon-14 dating,
52. MITOCHONDRIAL DONATION TREAT- leading to inaccurate age estimates.
MENT (MDT) • Incomplete Preservation: Organic materials must be
well-preserved to contain sufficient carbon-14 for dat-
Context: ing. Poor preservation or exposure to environmental fac-
A baby has been born in the UK using a technique called tors can compromise the reliability of carbon-14 dating.
mitochondrial donation treatment (MDT) (popularly called
‘Three Parents Baby’), which involves using the DNA of Advantages of Calcium-41:
three people in an effort to prevent children from inheriting • Longer Half-Life: Calcium-41 has a much longer half-life
incurable diseases. of 99,400 years, allowing for the dating of much older
materials compared to carbon-14.
• Abundance in Earth’s Crust: Calcium-41 is found in the
Working:
Earth’s crust, making it available for dating various geo-
The procedure combines the sperm and eggs from the bi-
logical materials, including fossilized bones and rocks.
ological parents with mitochondria from a donor’s eggs.
• Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA): The technique of ATTA
Harmful mutations in mitochondria, which are inherited
enables the detection of calcium-41 atoms with high
only from the mother, can affect all the children a woman
sensitivity and selectivity, improving the accuracy of
has. As of now, the technique is still in its experimental stage.
dating methods.
• Potential for Extension: The successful application of
ATTA to calcium-41 opens the possibility of using simi-
lar techniques for other metal isotopes, expanding the
range of dating methods available.
• Earth-Science Applications: Calcium-41 and ATTA can be
used to study geological processes, such as determining
how long rocks have been covered by ice, providing valu-
able insights into Earth’s history and climate changes.
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Current Affairs 30
About ASTR:
55. AI SUPERCOMPUTER ‘AIRAWAT’ Dimensions Description
Purpose To detect and block fraudulent mobile
connections
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Origin In 2012, the DoT ordered telecom oper- 57.ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYS-
ators to share their subscriber database, TEMS (ADAS)
including user pictures. These images
form the basis for the facial recognition Context:
algorithm used in ASTR. The ASTR proj- Car manufacturers have started providing ADAS which could
ect was developed by the DoT’s unit in create a safe traffic environment resulting in reduced acci-
Haryana between April 2021 and July dental death.
2021.
T e c h n o l o g y Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Facial Rec- Information
Used ognition What is Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
Functionality Analyzing subscriber databases to iden- ADAS? is an electronic system of automated vehicle
tify multiple connections associated safety features.
with the same person Compo- The System uses innovative sensor technolo-
Example of its Suppose there is a suspected face as- nents gy to provide information, warnings, and as-
working sociated with multiple mobile con- sistance to the driver while they are driving.
nections. ASTR will compare this face Role The role of ADAS is to prevent deaths and
against a database of images to iden- injuries by reducing the number of car ac-
tify other connections linked to the cidents and the serious impact of those that
same face. If there are more than nine cannot be avoided on the road.
connections against a single individual’s ADAS Ap- Adaptive Cruise Control, Glare-Free High
photograph or if the same person has plications Beam Light, Adaptive Light Control, Automat-
taken SIMs under different names, ASTR ic Parking, Autonomous Valet Parking, Navi-
will flag it as potentially fraudulent. gation System, Night Vision,
C o n n e c t i o n Currently, a maximum of nine mobile What is Autonomous
Limit connections can be taken using a single Auton- driving is the
identity proof o m o u s ability of a ve-
Action Taken The list of fraudulent connections will be Driving? hicle to drive
shared with telecom operators, banks, itself.
payment wallets, and social media plat- C h a l - Limited success; No consensus on technology
forms lenges to to be used; Available technology at present
Description of technology used: Self-Driv- do not have the capacity of humans to pre-
Image Process- Faces in subscriber images are encod- ing Cars dict and take decision in complex traffic sce-
ing ed using convolutional neural network nario; and lack of government support.
(CNN) models
Face Compari- A face comparison is carried out for
son each face against all faces in the data-
base to group similar faces under one
directory
Matching Accu- Faces are considered identical if they
racy match to the extent of at least 97.5%
Name Matching “Fuzzy logic” is used to find similarity
or approximate matches for subscriber
names, accounting for typographical er-
rors
What is fuzzy Fuzzy logic is a mathematical approach
logic? that deals with uncertainty and impre- 58. TELANGANA: STATE ROBOTICS FRAME-
cise information. It allows for the rep- WORK
resentation of vagueness and partial
truth, unlike traditional binary logic. Context:
Telangana has become the first state in the country to
launch a state robotics framework with a vision to create a
sustainable robotics ecosystem.
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Current Affairs 30
Aim: Benefits of DPI:
It intends to leverage robotics technology in key domains, • Aadhaar enables the direct transfer of social safety net
including agriculture, healthcare, industrial automation, and payments, reducing leakages and corruption
consumer robotics. The ultimate goal of the framework is to • Digital payments expanded smaller merchants’ custom-
become a leader in robotics and promote a sustainable ro- er base and improved access to financial services.
botics industry in Telangana • Digitalization formalized the economy, with nearly 9
million new GST taxpayers registered. CoWIN platform
scaled India’s vaccine delivery services.
Implementation:
• Telangana Robotics Innovation Centre (TRIC) will be
established as an independent entity to implement the
framework 60. EU CODE OF PRACTICE AGAINST DISIN-
• Robo park and robotics accelerator for start-ups will
also be established
FORMATION
Context:
Twitter has decided to leave the EU’s disinformation code,
59. DIGITAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE (DPI) a voluntary pact that groups together the major social plat-
forms.
Context:
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) voted unani- A new law the Digital Services Act (DSA) is set to take effect
mously to adopt India’s proposal for developing digital pub- - which establishes requirements for monitoring and flag-
lic infrastructure (DPI) as the right way for deploying digital ging disinformation, which would make the now voluntary
technology, agreement mandatory for large social media sites.
SPACE TECHNOLOGY
61.STARBERRYSENSE
Context:
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) recently
launched a new low-cost star sensor called StarBerrySense
on board PSLV C-55.
About StarBerrySense:
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Purpose Low-cost star sensor for astronomy and Application Through the Jigyasa portal
small CubeSat class satellite missions Purpose To provide introductory-level training in
Developed by Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) Space Science and Technology to build
Technology An electro-optical system that takes an human capacity for future Space Science
image from a set of stars and determines and research
the angle deviation of the satellite by com- Other Training Remote Sensing Data Acquisition and
paring it with the star catalogue Programmes Remote Sensing Data Processing courses
Components Baffle, optical system, detector, electronic conducted by the ISRO’s National Remote
and image processing system Sensing Centre (NRSC) through the Cen-
tre for Space Science and Technology Ed-
ucation in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP)
About ISRO The Indian Space Research Organisation
(est. 1969; HQ: Bengaluru; founder:
Vikram Sarabhai; Parent organization:
Space Commission) is the national space
Platform Raspberry Pi Zero
agency of India, operating under the De-
Cost Less expensive than other star sensors partment of Space.
on the market by less than 10% based on
readily available commercial/off-the-shelf
components 63. SATURN’S MOON
Benefits Cost-effective, simple to build, can be de-
ployed on a wide variety of satellites
About POEM The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module
(POEM) is a platform developed by the In-
dian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
to carry small payloads for in-orbit testing
and validation of technologies.
About the In- The IIA (under Dept. of S&T; est.1971)
dian Institute is a premier research institute in India
of Astrophys- dedicated to the study of astronomy, as-
ics trophysics, and related fields. It has sev-
eral observational facilities including
the Hanle Observatory in Ladakh, Jammu,
and Kashmir.
www.insightsonindia.com 177
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(a) 1 only About Cosmic dust particles are tiny solid par-
(b) 2 and 3 only ticles that exist in outer space. They are
(c) 1 and 3 only composed of various materials, including
(d) 1, 2 and 3 minerals, metals, ice, and organic com-
Ans: B pounds.
Shape From spherical to irregular or fractal-like
structures.
64. XPOSAT Size Ranging from nanometers to micrometres
Composition Amorphous silicate (Forsterite) and amor-
Context: phous carbon
XPoSat is India’s first polarimetry mission, developed in col-
Found in Cosmic dust particles can be found in dif-
laboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation
ferent environments, such as interstellar
(ISRO) and the Raman Research Institute (RRI) (an autono-
space, planetary systems, and the atmo-
mous research institute), to be launched later this year.
spheres of planets and moons.
Role played They contribute to the formation of stars
and planetary systems by providing mate-
rial for accretion. They also scatter and ab-
sorb light, affecting the radiation proper-
ties of celestial objects. Additionally, these
particles serve as building blocks for the
formation of larger objects, such as aster-
oids, comets, and planets.
Context:
China’s Shenzhou-16 spacecraft has been launched with
three astronauts, including the first Chinese civilian, to the
Tiangong space station.
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Other impacts:
Impact of Warming on Descriptions
Aquatic Animals
Decreased oxygen levels Limit growth and develop-
ment of some species
Changes in food availabil- This can lead to decreased
ity populations
Increased prevalence of Can impact populations
70. CARBON CAPTURE COALITION diseases and parasites
Bleaching of coral reefs Loss of habitat for a diverse
Context: array of species
Carbon Capture Coalition have challenged a United Nations
The decline of coral reef This can lead to declines in
(UN) document that questions the effectiveness of carbon
ecosystems populations of fish and in-
removal technologies in combatting global warming.
vertebrates
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About Tipping Points: The companies with the highest reparations: ExxonMobil,
Description Saudi Aramco, and Shell.
Definition ‘Tipping points’ are thresholds where
the earth’s systems can no longer sta- About Climate reparations:
bilize. Crossing these points becomes Description
more dangerous with increased warm-
Definition Climate reparations aim to rectify climate
ing.
injustice by requiring those most respon-
Explanation For example, the melting of Greenland’s sible for climate change to provide sup-
ice can reach a tipping point where the port to those who have been wronged.
ice loss accelerates, leading to a signifi-
Principles of Polluter pays principle (Polluters should
cant rise in sea levels.
Climate Repa- be held liable for the costs of remedi-
Examples of tip- Melting of Greenland ice; Collapse of rations al action); More responsibility of rich
ping point Antarctic glaciers (resulting in sea lev- countries (for past historical emissions);
el rise); Destruction of Amazon forests; Reparations-based approach to climate
Melting of all permafrost, etc. refugees; Rich countries should provide
Recent Findings Five dangerous tipping points may financial and technological support to de-
have already been passed due to 1.1°C veloping nations
of global heating caused by human ac- Steps Taken Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM)
tivity. (Established in 2013 to compensate de-
Impacts on Ani- When their geographic ranges experi- veloping countries affected by climate di-
mals ence unfamiliarly hot temperatures, sasters); Green Climate Fund (promise of
up to 30% of species could be at risk. $100 billion per year by 2020); Least De-
This can lead to habitat loss and po- veloped Countries Fund
tential extinction. Animals may need to Additional Establish an international compensa-
adapt or migrate to cooler regions, but Measures tion commission to handle claims from
the short timeframe makes it challeng- Needed for countries that have incurred adaptation
ing. Reparations expenses, similar to the United Nations
Actions Needed Urgent action to reduce carbon emis- Claims Commission; Prioritize adaptation
sions is crucial to mitigate harm and measures; Establish a separate channel
prevent an extinction crisis. Conserva- for loss and damages; Long-term climate
tion efforts should be guided by early finance; enforce legal measures for petro-
warning systems to protect vulnerable leum companies to share a part of their
species. profit for GHG mitigation efforts
74. MERI LIFE, MERA SWACHH SHEHAR
Context:
A new study has found that the world’s top 21 fossil fuel
companies owed over US $ 5 trillion in climate reparations,
to be disbursed over a 26-year period from 2025 to 2050.
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About the Meri LiFE app: Key points of the ‘Harit Sagar Guidelines 2023’:
Dimension Description Description
App Pur- Empower young people and encourage Objective To achieve Zero Carbon Emission Goal and
pose their participation in tackling climate change promote environmental-friendly practices
through simple actions in daily life across all ports
LiFE Themes Save Energy, Save Water, Reduce Single-Use Envisages Ecosystem dynamics in port development,
Plastic, Adopt Sustainable Food Systems, operation, and maintenance
and Adopt Healthy Lifestyles
Emphasiz- Use of Clean/Green energy in port operation,
5 for 5 Chal- Users are guided through a gamified ex- es development of port capabilities for storage,
lenge perience to take five LiFE actions towards handling and bunkering of greener fuels
World Environment Day on June 5th, 2023
Provides a Major ports to draw a comprehensive action
MoEF&CC has developed two portals framework plan for achieving a quantified reduction in
Mission LiFE Provides open access to over 100 creative for carbon emission over defined timelines
Portal videos and knowledge materials related to Aims to Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG) and
LiFE achieve minimizing waste through reducing, reusing,
Meri LiFE Enables ministries and institutions to up- repurposing, and Recycling to attain zero
Portal load event reports and track the progress waste discharge from port operations
of the ongoing mass mobilization drive Promotes Monitoring based on Environmental Perfor-
mance Indicators
75. ATAL BHUJAL YOJANA (ABY) Covers as- National Green Hydrogen Mission pertaining
pects of to ports, development of green hydrogen fa-
cility, LNG bunkering, Offshore Wind Energy
Provides Adopting the global Green Reporting Initia-
p ro v i s i o n tive (GRI) standard
for
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Context:
The National Campaign for Updation and Verification of
People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) was launched in Goa,
by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
About PBR:
The People’s Biodiversity Register serves as a comprehen-
sive record of locally available Bio-resources including the
landscape and demography of a particular area or village.
It is prepared by Biodiversity Management Committees
(under Biodiversity Act 2002) in consultation with local
communities.
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Context:
The Indian government is planning to introduce a star rat-
ing system for water fixtures called Bharat Tap, which will
include ratings of 3, 4, and 5 stars based on water efficiency.
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The justification of the A&N administration: PVTG) and the Nicobarese reside.
• The power of notification and de-notification of the • The northern end of the project falls in the bio-
land as a Tribal Reserve is solely administered under sphere reserve.
the A&N Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes)
Act, 1956.
• So there is no claim as such for settlement under the
FRA 2006.
Context:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced the In-
novative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific
(IF-CAP) program to accelerate climate change financing in
the region.
Parameter Details
IF-CAP is the first-of-its-kind multi-donor financing part-
nership facility with the goal of scaling-up finance for ac-
• It is a ₹72,000-crore mega project piloted by NITI celerated action against climate change in Asia and the
Aayog for the “holistic development” of the Great Pacific.
Nicobar Island (GNI), situated at the southern end Launch Announced on 2 May 2023
of the A&N group of Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Owner Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• It is being implemented by the Andaman and Nico- Initial Partners Denmark, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
bar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the
(ANIIDCO). United States
• The plan has four components -
A ₹35,000 crore transhipment port at Gala- Benefits 1. The multiplier effect of up to $5
thea Bay, in much-needed climate finance for ev-
A dual-use military-civil international air- ery $1 of guarantees (model of ‘$1 in,
port, $5 out’)
A power plant, and 2. Financing will help vulnerable
A township countries in Asia and the Pacific region
meet their mitigation and adaptation
goals.
Concerns:
3. Support ADB’s raised ambition
• The project intends to use about 7.114 sq. km of
for $100 billion in climate finance from
tribal reserve forest land, where the Shompen (a
2019-2030.
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• Their animal life was crucial to Charles Darwin’s re- Source of SAF: It can be derived from various feedstocks,
search before publishing his theory of evolution. such as plant oils, agricultural waste, forestry residues, and
municipal solid waste.
Significance of the deal:
• The buyer (Credit Suisse) has recently been taken Advantages: SAF can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
over by Swiss banking giant UBS in a bid to calm the up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. Also, it is de-
financial markets amid a banking crisis. signed to be a drop-in replacement for conventional jet
• The seller (Ecuador) has been mired in a political fuel, meaning it can be used in existing aircraft engines with-
crisis as the country’s National Assembly seeks to out requiring modifications.
impeach President (Guillermo Lasso) for alleged em-
bezzlement. Significance for India: It is a significant milestone in India’s
efforts towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. India
has set a target of becoming energy self-reliant by 2047
87. UNFF18
89. REGULATING CAPTIVE BREEDING OF
Context: EXOTIC ANIMALS
The 18th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
(UNFF18) was held in New York.
Context:
India begins regulating the captive breeding of exotic ani-
United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF): mals through a licensing system.
• The UN Economic and Social Council established it
• Those who breed exotic species protected under
in 2000.
(CITES) and listed in Appendix 1 of Schedule IV of the
Wildlife Protection Act 2022 can now obtain Breed-
Objective: ers of Species Licence under the Breeders of Spe-
To promote the management, conservation and sustainable cies Licence Rules,2023.
development of all types of forests and to strengthen long- • Appendix 1 of Schedule IV is endangered exotic an-
term political commitment to this end. imals (Red Panda, various species of dogs, wolves,
cats, apes, chimpanzees, gibbons) and plants, and
Key highlights: import rules are stricter for them.
• Practice Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in
Tropical Regions What is Captive Breeding?
• India: It presented a case of a UNFF country-led ini- Captive breeding refers to the practice of breeding and rais-
tiative on long-term SFM and expressed concerns ing wild animals in controlled environments, such as zoos,
regarding wildfires and the limitations of current wildlife centres, or specialized facilities, with the purpose of
forest certification schemes. conserving and protecting endangered or threatened spe-
cies.
88. SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF) • The goal of captive breeding programs is to increase
the population size of rare species and, if possible,
BLEND reintroduce individuals back into their natural hab-
itats.
Context:
India successfully flew its first commercial passenger flight Captive breeding of exotic species protected under CITES was
using an indigenously produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel not regulated in the Indian laws until the recent amend-
(SAF) blend. ment to the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022.
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Conventional understanding: Warming temperatures lead
to smaller body sizes in cold-blooded marine animals, sug-
gesting that they may actually grow larger in response to
warmer waters.
Context:
Assam government is currently taking measures to open the
traditional path for wild animals from Kaziranga to Orang
National Park via the Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary.
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About the Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary: of the 10-km rule can vary, and areas beyond 10 km can also
be notified as ESZs if they contain significant ecological cor-
ridors.
Dimension Details
Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in
Assam, on the south bank of the Brahmaputra Riv- Categorization of Activities:
er in Sonitpur district. • Prohibited: Commercial mining, sawmills, polluting
industries, major hydroelectric projects, and com-
Ecological Significance It forms an integral part of the
mercial use of wood
Laokhowa-Burachapori ecosys-
• Regulated activities include tree felling, the estab-
tem and is a notified buffer of
lishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of
the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
natural water, the erection of electrical cables, and
Wildlife Considered an ideal habitat for drastic changes in agricultural practices.
the Bengal Florican • Permitted activities in ESZs include ongoing agricul-
Official Recognition Declared a wildlife sanctuary in tural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvest-
1995 ing, organic farming, the use of renewable energy
Threats The sanctuary is facing illegal sources, and the adoption of green technology for
land encroachment. Approxi- all activities.
mately 16,000 bighas of land re-
covered from illegal encroachers
Context:
About Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:
The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Ministry of
Environment and Forests and the Assam government in re- It is located in the flood plains of the Brahmaputra River
sponse to a plea seeking the declaration of the area around in Assam, and is known for having the highest density of
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam as an eco-sensitive one-horned rhinos (EN) in the world. It is often referred to
zone. as ‘Mini Kaziranga’ due to its similar landscape and vege-
tation. Approximately 72% of the sanctuary is covered by
wet savannah dominated by Arundo donax and Saccha-
What is an eco-sensitive zone? rum, while the rest consists of water bodies.
Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are designated areas surround-
ing national parks and wildlife sanctuaries that are deemed
ecologically fragile and important for the conservation of 93. PERIYAR TIGER RESERVE (PTR)
wildlife and their habitats.
Context:
Areas mandated under ESZ: A wild tusker named Arikompan was successfully translocat-
MoEFCC has mandated the declaration of land within 10 km ed to an area near Seeniyaroda under the Mullakkudy forest
of the park or sanctuary boundaries as ESZs under the Envi- section under the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Thekkady.
ronmental (Protection) Act, 1986. However, the application
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About Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR):
Catego- Information
ry
L o c a - Falls in the dis-
tion tricts of Idukki and
Pathanamthitta in
Kerala (Western
Ghats)
Forma- Declared a Sanc-
tion tuary in 1950 and
declared a Tiger Re-
serve in 1978.
Name It gets its name
from the River Peri-
yar which has its
origin inside the re-
serve
D r a i n - The major rivers
age through the reserve
are Mullayar and
Periyar
Flora The sanctuary com- About NTCA: National Tiger Conservation Authority
prises tropical ev- (NTCA) (formed 2005, following the recommendations of
ergreen, semi-ev- the Tiger Task Force) is a statutory body under the Ministry
ergreen, moist of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. It was
deciduous forests constituted under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, for
and grasslands. strengthening tiger conservation. It is responsible for
management of Project Tiger and India’s many Tiger Re-
Fauna Mammals: Tiger, Elephant, Lion-tailed ma-
serves in India.
caque, Nilgiri Tahr etc. Birds: Darters, Cormo-
rants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill
and racket-tailed Drongos. Reptiles: Monitor Liz-
ards, Python, King Cobra etc.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Tribals There are six tribal communities nestled inside
the reserve such as Mannans, Paliyans, Mala- 95. NEUROTOXINS
yarayans, Mala Pandarams, Uralis and Ulladans
Context:
11 people died due to a gas leak in the Giaspura area of Lud-
94.RANTHAMBORE TIGER RESERVE (RTR)
hiana, Punjab.
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gases, hydrogen sulphide has a pungent odour and 98.LESSER FLAMINGOS
in higher concentrations, it can be fatal for humans.
SPECIES IN NEWS
96.BABOOL
99. GHARIALS
Context:
World Wildlife Fund has confirmed the presence of gharials
(Gavialis gangeticus) in Punjab.
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About WWF: The World-Wide Fund for Nature (est. 1961; 101.LEATHERBACK TURTLES
HQ: Gland, Switzerland) is a Swiss-based international
non-governmental organization that works in the field of Context:
wilderness preservation and the reduction of human im- The government has granted approvals for an international
pact on the environment. container port on the Great Nicobar Island.
100. SHELLED PTEROPODS & FLIGHTLESS The approvals granted for the project have been criticized
for their violation of internationally accepted principles of
MIDGE biodiversity offsetting. There is no provision to compensate
for the damage to turtle nesting.
Context:
Certain invasive species in Antarctica are changing its eco-
system. This invasion highlights the vulnerability of the Ant-
arctic ecosystem, which is typically protected by harsh con-
ditions.
Species
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About Hornbills: Hornbills are birds found in tropical and 104.INTERNATIONAL LEOPARD DAY 2023
subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. In India, there are
nine species of hornbills, with the northeastern region be-
ing home to the highest diversity of these birds. The horn-
bill holds cultural significance for certain ethnic communi-
ties in the northeast, particularly the Nyishi of Arunachal
Pradesh. The Nagas celebrate the Hornbill festival, named
after this revered and admired bird. Hornbills are also
called “gardeners or farmers of the forest”.
Context:
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) formed a
Cheetah Project Steering Committee.
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CYBERSECURITY
106. BLUEBUGGING
Context:
The Andhra Pradesh police have warned smartphone users
about the dangers of ‘bluebugging,’.
What is Bluebugging?
Bluebugging is a type of hacking technique in which an
attacker gains unauthorized access to a device, such as a
smartphone, by exploiting its Bluetooth connection. Once
the device is “blue bugged,” the attacker can potentially lis-
ten to calls, read and send messages, steal and modify con-
tacts, and even install malware on the compromised device.
Status of Cybercrime attacks in India: The government’s cybercrime portal receives over 3,500 complaints a day. In India,
phishing and dubious online platforms offering financial products are the most potent threats.
107. FLUHORSE
Context:
A new Android malware named ‘FluHorse’ has been discovered that targets users in Eastern Asia with fake carrier apps that
mimic legitimate versions, such as the Taiwanese toll collection app ‘ETC’ and the Vietnamese banking app ‘VPBank Neo’.
The malicious apps are designed to extract sensitive information, including user credentials and Two-Factor Authentication
(2FA) codes.
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What are Two-Factor Authentication codes?
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) codes are a security mea-
sure used to protect user accounts. In addition to requiring
a password to access an account, 2FA adds an extra layer
of security by requiring a unique code ( such as OTP) to be
entered as well.
Context:
Recently, Microsoft Corp has warned that “Volt Typhoon”
was “pursuing the development of capabilities that could
disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the
United States and Asia region during future crises.”
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110. THERMOBARIC BOMB Vessel: INS Delhi, India’s first indigenously-built guided mis-
sile destroyer and INS Satpura, an indigenously-built guided
missile stealth frigate will take part in the exercise.
Context:
The Myanmar military used a thermobaric or vacuum bomb,
also known as a fuel-air explosive, in an attack on a village in Navy Chief will also participate in the International Mar-
Sagaing last month, killing more than 160 people, including itime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX-23) and International
children, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) being hosted by Sin-
gapore.
About Thermobaric Bomb
112.DEFENCE PRODUCTION
Context:
The value of defence production in India has exceeded ₹1
lakh crore (₹1 trillion) for the first time.
• Over the past five years, the value of defence pro-
duction by both state-run companies and the pri-
vate sector has nearly doubled.
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Context: Context:
NIA’s Operation Dhvast was a nationwide operation target- The Ministry of Home Affairs in India has directed central
ing terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers. It involved law enforcement agencies, including the CBI, NIA and the
raids at 129 locations across multiple states, resulting in Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), to access and share their
three arrests. records with the national fingerprints database, NAFIS (Na-
tional Automated Fingerprint Identification System).
Aim:
The operation aimed to dismantle the terror nexus involved About NAFIS
in targeted killings, terror funding, extortion, and smug- This database, known as NAFIS, is a web-based application
gling of drugs and weapons. that serves as a central repository of criminal fingerprint
data collected from various states and Union territories.
About NIA:
The National Investigation Agency (founded 31st Dec 2008; Description
HQ: New Delhi; Under Home Ministry) is the primary an- About National Automated Fingerprint Identifica-
ti-terror investigation task force of India. The agency is em- tion System (NAFIS) is a web-based appli-
powered to deal with the investigation of terror-related cation that serves as a central repository
crimes across states without special permission from the of criminal fingerprint data collected from
states under a written proclamation from the Ministry of various states and Union territory’s police
Home Affairs. It has the authority to take over cases from records
state police forces and other agencies. It seeks the sanc-
Aim The aim is to enhance the ability of these
tion of the Central government for prosecuting accused
agencies to identify criminals and expedite
individuals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act
investigations by leveraging the compre-
(UAPA) and other scheduled offences.
hensive fingerprint data available in the da-
tabase.
Conceptual- National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in
114. TARINI ized 2022
M a n a g e d Central Fingerprint Bureau (CFPB) at NCRB
Context: by
Indian naval ship Vessel Tarini returns after a historic 188-
U n i q u e Assigns a unique 10-digit National Finger-
day voyage.
Identifier print Number (NFN) to each person arrest-
ed for a crime
About INS Tarini: Lifetime Us- The NFN is used for the person’s lifetime,
• INSV Tarini is a cruising sloop built at the Aquarius age and different crimes registered under differ-
Shipyard Goa. ent FIRs are linked to the same NFN in the
• The vessel was christened INSV Tarini, after the Tara Ta- Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Sys-
rini temple. tems (CCTNS) database
Fingerprint- First began automating fingerprint data-
ing History base in 1992 with FACTS 1.0, recommended
by the National Police Commission. FACTS
5.0 was upgraded in 2007 and later replaced
by NAFIS in 2022
H i s t o r i c a l Fingerprinting identification system
Significance emerged in colonial India and spread to
Europe. William Herschel introduced fin-
gerprinting to reduce fraud and forgeries.
Bengal Police established the world’s first
Fingerprint Bureau in Calcutta.
Advantages Provides a secure and non-transferable
identification method, simplifies record
keeping, and enhances security.
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116. INDUS-X UNDER THE ICET About the re- The World Economic Forum (WEF) has
port released its fourth edition (bi-annual)
report on jobs and skills, which explores
Context: how jobs and skills will evolve between
India and the U.S. are exploring the possibility of co-produc- 2023-2027.
ing jet engines, long-range artillery, and infantry vehicles
Focus of Re- The report tracks the labour-market im-
with the upcoming launch of INDUS-X.
port pact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,
green energy transitions, supply-chain
What is INDUS-X? shifts, and more.
It is a major upcoming initiative under the Initiative on Crit- Key Findings New Job-creation will be driven by green
ical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), with the aim to pro- transition, and localization of supply
mote partnerships and collaboration between the defence chains, whereas job destruction in the
innovation ecosystems of both countries. coming years will be due to slower eco-
• INDUS-X is focused on advancing high-tech cooper- nomic growth, supply shortages and the
ation and exploring opportunities for joint research, rising cost of inputs, and the rising cost
development, and production in the defence sector. of living for consumers; 44% of workers’
skills will be disrupted in the next five
About iCET dialogue: years; 23% of jobs in the next five years
are expected to change.
Aspect Description
Threats to la- Clerical or secretarial roles including
iCET was announced in 2021 and is spearheaded by the
bour-market: bank tellers, cashiers and data entry
National Security Councils of both countries, to expand
clerks expected to decline the fastest
the India-US partnership for critical and emerging tech-
nologies W o r k f o r c e The report recommends investment in
Areas of Co- R&D, Quantum computing, Defence inno- S t r a t e g i e s learning and training on the job, acceler-
operation vations, Space, 6G, Semiconductors, etc. 2023-27) ating automation of processes, expand-
ing the use of contract work, hiring sig-
Significance Accelerates America’s technology partner- nificantly more permanent staff, etc.
of iCET ship and strategic convergence with India;
Important for India’s role as a trusted sup- Way forward Governments and businesses must in-
ply chain partner; Allows gradual lifting of vest in supporting the shift to the jobs of
the US’s export control restrictions on India the future through education, reskilling
and social support structures. Training
Other In- NISAR (NASA-ISRO), Joint Indo-US Quan- workers to utilise AI and big data need to
dia-US Tech- tum Coordination Mechanism, Innovation be prioritised.
nology Part- Bridge; Lockheed Martin-Tata partner-
nerships ship for plane production; India-USA stra- About World The World Economic Forum (est. 1971;
tegic clean energy partnership; Launch of Economic Fo- HQ: Cologny, Switzerland) is an interna-
“Innovative Bridge” connecting defence rum (WEF) tional non-governmental and lobbying
startups between India and the USA; Read- organisation for multinational compa-
iness Assessment Development for build- nies. It was founded on 24 January 1971
ing resilient semiconductor supply chains; by German engineer Klaus Schwab
ISRO-NASA partnership on human space
flight; CLPS Project Partnership in 56/6G;
Open RAN using trusted sources, etc.
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