Current Affairs (CONSOLIDaTION)

March 2021 (Part – I)

Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009 Phone: 87501 87501, WhatsApp: 92058 85200, IVR: 8010-440-440 Email: [email protected] Contents

Polity and Governance...... 1 z State Election Commission Appointment Issue...... 1 z Mera Ration Mobile App Launched...... 2 z Energy Efficiency Enterprise (E3) Certifications Programme...... 3 z Expansion of Mid-day Meal Scheme...... 3 z Project Information System & Management: SERB...... 4 z TRAI Suspends New SMS Scrubbing Norms...... 5 z India Science Research Fellowship 2021 ...... 6 z QS World Subject Rankings 2021...... 7 z Ease of Living & Municipal Performance Index 2020...... 8 z Review of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan...... 9 z NHRC Issues Notice in Hirakud Displacement Case...... 10 z Appointment of CBI Director...... 11 z Objections to New IT Rules...... 12 z Cyber Crime Volunteers...... 13 z Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme...... 14 z Karnataka’s Engineering Research & Development Policy...... 14 z Rights of Overseas Citizens of India...... 15 z Janaushadhi Diwas...... 17 z Fast-track Courts to Clear Dishonoured Cheque Cases...... 17 z Group of Ministers: Media Strategy...... 18 z Vaccine Passports...... 19 z Wrongful Prosecution in India...... 20 z Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991...... 21 z Autocratisation Goes Viral Report: V-Dem Institute...... 22

Economic Scenario...... 23 z Growth in Bank Credit & Deposits: RBI...... 23 z National Non-ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework...... 24 z National Employability Through Apprenticeship Program...... 25 z Pre-Pack Insolvency Resolution Process...... 26 z CSIR Floriculture Mission...... 28 z Amendment Of Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017...... 29 z Purple Revolution Under Aroma Mission...... 29 z CRCL Recognized as Regional Customs Laboratory...... 30 z Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs...... 31 z India Emerged out of Technical Recession...... 32 z Merchant Digitization Summit 2021...... 33 z Maritime India Summit 2021...... 34 z MSME Credit Health Index...... 35 z EPFO: Interest Rate for 2020-21...... 36 z PLI Scheme for Telecom Sector...... 37 z New Umbrella Entity for Payment Systems...... 37 z Rationalisation of Railway Fares...... 38 z Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme...... 39 z India’s Biggest Floating Solar Power Plant...... 41 z Licensing Conditions for Telecom Companies Amended...... 42

International Relations...... 44 z Pakistan-Sri Lanka and India...... 44 z India-Bangladesh Bilateral Meet ...... 45 z ICC Investigations into Israel-Palestine War Crimes ...... 46 z Switzerland’s Policy of Neutrality...... 47 z India-USA Bilateral Trade ...... 49 z Humanitarian Assistance to Drought-Hit Madagascar...... 50 z India-Sweden Virtual Summit...... 50 z West Container Terminal Offer to India-Japan: Sri Lanka...... 52 z Falling Rupee Reserves of Iran...... 53 z Push for Chabahar Port in INSTC Corridor...... 54 z Uighur Muslims...... 55 z Significance of India-Bangladesh Transport Connectivity: World Bank...... 56 z Bharat Bangla Maitri Bridge...... 58 z First Leaders’ Summit: QUAD...... 58

Science and Technology...... 61 z New Technique for Monitoring of Power Transmission Cables...... 61 z International Cooperation: ISRO...... 62 z Equine Herpes Virus Outbreak in Europe...... 63 z National Science Day 2021...... 63 z National Cyber Security Strategy 2020...... 64 z Global Bio-India-2021 ...... 65 z 53rd PSLV Flight ...... 67 z Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship: Waste to Wealth Mission...... 68 z Most Distant Quasar P172+18...... 69 z International Lunar Research Station: Russia and China...... 70 z France’s First Space Military Exercise: AsterX...... 71 z Genome Mapping in Indian Ocean...... 72 z Asteroid 2001 FO32...... 73

Environment and Ecology...... 75 z Seabuckthorn Plantation in the Cold Desert...... 75 z Dumping Inert Waste in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary...... 76 z Appeal to Resume Mining in Aravalli Hills...... 77 z Right to Repair: European Union...... 78 z Black-Browed Babbler Rediscovered ...... 79 z NDC Synthesis Report: UNFCCC...... 80 z Similipal Biosphere Reserve: Odisha...... 81 z WWF Conservation Drive on World Wildlife Day...... 82 z Whale Shark...... 83 z Pench Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra...... 83 z CERA Week Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award ...... 84 z Independent Environment Regulator...... 85

History...... 87 z Morarji Desai ...... 87 z Biju Patnaik...... 88 z Sculpture of Hardit Singh Malik...... 88 z Dandi March to Mark 75 Years of Independence...... 89

Art & Culture...... 92 z Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2021...... 92 z Sahitya Akademi Award...... 93

Geography...... 94 z Bhadar Dam: Gujarat...... 94 z King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award...... 94 z Sangay Volcano: Ecuador...... 96 z Indonesia’s Mt. Sinabung...... 97

Social Issues...... 98 z LGBTIQ Freedom Zone in EU...... 98 z Kala-azar Elimination: Bihar to Miss Deadline...... 99 z Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi ...... 100 z Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development...... 101 z State of Water Supply in Schools and Anganwadis...... 102 z MT Swarna Krishna: International Women’s Day...... 104 z First World Report on Hearing: WHO...... 105 z Right To Education...... 106 z Revising National Food Security Act, 2013: NITI Aayog...... 107 z Freedom in the World 2021 Report...... 108 z Challenges Faced by Nomadic Tribes...... 109 z Road to Gender Equality: UNDP...... 110

Security...... 113 z Illegal Influx from Myanmar...... 113 z Air Independent Propulsion for Diesel Electric Submarines...... 114 z Defence Acquisition Council’s Plans...... 115 z Suryakiran Aerobatic Team...... 115 z Exercise Desert Flag-VI: UAE...... 116 z Exercise Dustlik-2...... 117 z INS Karanj ...... 117 www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH 2021 1 Polity and Governance

Highlights z State Election Commission Appointment Issue z Objections to New IT Rules z Mera Ration Mobile App Launched z Cyber Crime Volunteers z Energy Efficiency Enterprise (E3) Certifications Programme z Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme z Expansion of Mid-day Meal Scheme z Karnataka’s Engineering Research & Development Policy z Project Information System & Management: SERB z Rights of Overseas Citizens of India z TRAI Suspends New SMS Scrubbing Norms z Janaushadhi Diwas z India Science Research Fellowship 2021 z Fast-track Courts to Clear Dishonoured Cheque Cases z QS World Subject Rankings 2021 z Group of Ministers: Media Strategy z Ease of Living & Municipal Performance Index 2020 z Vaccine Passports z Review of Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan z Wrongful Prosecution in India z NHRC Issues Notice in Hirakud Displacement Case z Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 z Appointment of CBI Director z Autocratisation Goes Viral Report: V-Dem Institute

€ Ordered all state governments to appoint State Election Commission whole-time election commissioners who will act Appointment Issue independently and fairly. ¾ About State Election Commissions (SECs): Why in News € The State Election Commission has been entrusted with the function of conducting free, fair and The Supreme Court ruled that serving bureaucrats impartial elections to thelocal bodies in the state. must not be appointed as election commissioners to € Article 243K(1): It states that the superintendence, ensure that the independence of the office of the election direction and control of the preparation of electoral commissioner is not compromised. rolls for, and the conduct of, all elections to the Key Points Panchayats (Municipalities under Article 243ZA) shall be vested in a State Election Commission ¾ Supreme Court’s Ruling: consisting of a State Election Commissioner to be € Independent persons and not government employees appointed by the Governor. should be appointed Election Commissioners. € Article 243K(2): It states that the tenure and z Giving government employees additional charge appointment will be directed as per the law made as Election Commissioners is a mockery of the by the state legislature. However, State Election Constitution. Commissioner shall not be removed from his/ € Directed States to comply with the constitutional her office except in like manner and on the like scheme of independent and fair functioning of grounds as a Judge of a High Court. election commissions. € If they hold any such office (under the state Suggestions government), then they have to resign before taking ¾ Second Administrative Reforms Commission charge of the office of the election commissioner. Recommendation (2nd ARC):

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€ Constitution of the State Election Commission: z Can easily check details of their foodgrain According to 2nd ARC, the State Election Commissioner entitlement, recent transactions and the status (SEC) should be appointed by the Governor on the of Aadhaar seeding. recommendation of a collegium, comprising the z Can register their migration details. Chief Minister, the Speaker of the State Legislative z An option to enter suggestions/feedback. Assembly and the Leader of Opposition in the ¾ One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC): Legislative Assembly. € Implementation: € An institutional mechanism should be created to bring the Election Commission of India and the z The ONORC scheme is being implemented by SECs on a common platform for coordination, the Department of Food and Public Distribution learning from each other’s experiences and sharing for the nation-wide portability of ration cards of resources. under National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013. ¾ Law Commission 255th Report on Electoral Reforms: „ The Act legally entitled upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population € It recommended, to add a new sub-clause to Article to receive subsidized food grains under 324 of the Constitution to provide for a separate Targeted Public Distribution System. independent and permanent Secretariat for the Election Commission of India (ECI) along the lines € Significance: of the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariats under z This system allows all NFSA beneficiaries, Article 98 of the Constitution. particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either € Similar provisions can also be made for the State full or part foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop Election Commissions to ensure autonomy, and (FPS) in the country through an existing ration free and fair local body election. card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner. Mera Ration „ The freedom of choosing any FPS was not available earlier. Mobile App Launched z States completing the One Nation-One Ration Card system reform were eligible for additional Why in News borrowing of 0.25% of gross state domestic In order to facilitate the ‘One Nation One Ration product (GSDP). Card’ system in the country, the Ministry of Consumer „ Seventeen states have operationalised the Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has launched the ‘One Nation-One Ration Card’ systemwith ‘Mera Ration’ mobile app to benefit citizens in identifying Uttarakhand being the latest to complete the nearest Fair Price Shop (FPS). the reform. ¾ This app will benefit especially those ration card € Coverage: holders who move to new areas for livelihoods. z The ONORC was started initially in 4 States in the year 2019 and was rolled out in 32 States/ Key Points UTs by the end of 2020. ¾ About the App: The app is developed by the National „ The integration of the remaining 4 States/ Informatics Center (NIC). UT (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and West € Language: The application is currently available Bengal) is expected to be completed in next in English and Hindi. few months. z However, it is planned to be introduced in 14 z It covers nearly 69 Crore NFSA beneficiaries languages which will be identified on the basis (about 86% NFSA population) in the country of places where most migrant people move. and a monthly average of about 1.5~1.6 Crore € Facilities to the Beneficiaries: portability transactions are being recorded z Can identify and locate the nearest fair price under ONORC. shop. € Making ONORC Available to All:

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z The government supplies 5 kg of subsidised € The implementation of E3 Certification will lead food grains to each person per month through to multiple benefits: 5.4 lakh ration shops. z Energy savings in the brick manufacturing z The integration ofMigrants’ Portal with ONROC process. system is undertaken with the support of the z Improved quality of bricks. Ministry of Labour & Employment. z Cost savings to builders . z The ONORC has been made a part of PM z Energy savings to occupiers of buildings due to SVANidhi program of the Ministry of Housing better thermal comfort and improved insulation & Urban Affairs. properties. z Media publicity of the ONORC has been done € Energy saving of 7 Million Tonnes of oil equivalent with the help of the Ministry of Information & (MTOE) per year and CO, savings of about 25 Million Broadcasting, Press Information Bureau,MyGov , Tonnes by 2030 are estimated through adoption of Bureau of Outreach & Communication. E3 Certification by 7500 Bricks manufacturing units. € Modernization of Sector: The Scheme seeks to Energy Efficiency Enterprise accelerate brick sector modernization, using market incentives to create customer demand to fulfil the (E3) Certifications Programme vision for Aatmanirbhar Bharat. € ECBC Compliance: Energy efficient bricks will be Why in News useful in complying with the requirements of Energy The Ministry of Power has launched “Energy Efficiency Conservation Buildings Code (ECBC). Enterprise (E3) Certifications Programme for the Brick Bureau of Energy Efficiency Manufacturing Sector”. ¾ Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) is a statutory ¾ The E3 Certification Scheme is aimed at tapping huge body under the Ministry of Power which was energy efficiency potential in this sector. setup in 2002 under the provisions of the Energy . Key Points Conservation Act, 2001 € It is mandated to implement policy and ¾ About the Energy Efficiency Enterprise (E3) programmes in the area of energy efficiency Certifications Programme: and conservation. € E3 certification is an accreditation process focused ¾ It assists in developing policies and strategies with on the Brick industry. The certification will be the primary objective of reducing energy intensity provided by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). of the Indian economy. z It is an initiative to recognise burnt clay brick ¾ Major Programmes: State Energy Efficiency manufacturers who adopt energy-efficient Index, Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme, manufacturing and encourage customers The Standards & Labeling Programme, Energy to source bricks from such E3 certified Conservation Building Code, etc. manufacturing units. z It will be awarded to Brick Manufacturing Enterprises that meet the minimum Specific Expansion of Energy Consumption (SECVol) performance Mid-day Meal Scheme criteria specified in the Scheme. z It is a shift from conventional to efficient Why in News technologies and product shift towards low The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education density bricks with better thermal insulation. has recommended that all government schools start z The adoption of the E3 Certification is currently providing free breakfast in the coming academic year , voluntary for the Brick industry. as a part of an expansion of midday meal scheme ¾ Advantages of E3 Certification: envisaged by National Education Policy.

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¾ The National Education Policy identifies “providing ¾ Regulation: food and nutrition” as one of the key long-term thrust € The State Steering-cum Monitoring Committee areas for financing to cultivate a robust education (SSMC) oversees the implementation of the scheme system. including establishment of a mechanism for mainte- nance of nutritional standards and quality of meals. Key Points ¾ Nutritional Standards: ¾ Need: € Cooked meal having nutritional standards of450 € Research shows that the morning hours nutritious calories and 12 gm of protein for primary (I- V breakfast can be productive for the study of class) and 700 calories and 20 gm protein for cognitively more demanding subjects and hence upper primary (VI-VIII class) these hours may be leveraged by providing a ¾ Coverage: simple but energizing breakfast in addition to midday meals. € All government and government aided schools, and supported ¾ Challenges: Madarsa Maqtabs under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). € Severe funding Crunch is likely to delay the scheme. ¾ Issues and Challenges: € The Centre’s current expenditure on the Midday meals scheme is about 11000 crore. Free breakfast € Corrupt Practices: There have been instances of would involve an additional budget of4000 crore plain chapatis being served with salt, mixing of but the School Education Department saw a budget water in milk, food poisoning etc. cut of almost 5000 crore for the year 2020-21 . € Caste Bias and Discrimination: Food is central to the caste system, so in many schools, children are Midday Meal Scheme made to sit separately according to their caste status. ¾ About: € Covid-19: Covid-19 has posed serious threats to € The Midday meal scheme (under the Ministry of children and their health and nutritional rights. Education) is a centrally sponsored scheme which The nationwide lockdown has disrupted access was launched in 1995. to essential services, including Mid-Day Meals. € It is the world’s largest school meal programme € Menace of Malnutrition:According to the National aimed to attain the goal of universalization of Family Health Survey-5, several states across primary education. the country have reversed course and recorded € Provides cooked meals to every child within the worsening levels of child malnutrition. age group of six to fourteen years studying in z India is home to about 30% of the world’s classes I to VIII who enrolls and attends the school. stunted children and nearly 50% of severely ¾ Objective: wasted children under the age of five. € Address hunger and malnutrition, increase € Global Nutrition Report-2020: As per the Global enrolment and attendance in school, improve Nutrition Report 2020, India is among 88 countries socialisation among castes, provide employment that are likely to miss global nutrition targets by 2025. at grassroot level especially to women. € Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020: India has been ¾ Quality Check: ranked at 94 among 107 countries in the Global € AGMARK quality items are procured, tasting of Hunger Index (GHI) 2020. India has a level of meals by two or three adult members of the hunger that is “serious”. school management committee. ¾ Food Security: Project Information € If the Mid-Day Meal is not provided in school on System & Management: SERB any school day due to non-availability of food grains or any other reason, the State Government shall pay food security allowance by 15th of the Why in News succeeding month. The Science and Engineering Board (SERB) has set

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up a portal called PRoject Information System & Manage- ment (PRISM) that offers real time information on the TRAI Suspends New various research projects supported by it. SMS Scrubbing Norms Key Points Why in News ¾ About: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) € It is called ‘SERB – PRoject Information System & temporarily suspended the scrubbing of short message Management (SERB – PRISM)’. service or SMS by telecom service providers (TSP) for € The e-platform will provide a whole range of seven days. information regarding all projects sanctioned ¾ The action by TRAI comes after the functioning of several by SERB from 2011 onwards, including funding SMS-based services of banks and e-commerce platforms details, status, research summary and project was affected recently, as the TSPs implemented the output details such as publications and patents. second phase of SMS regulation. ¾ Significance: € The portal is expected to work as a comprehensive Key Points tool to help forge stronger scientist-scientist, and ¾ Telecom Commercial Communication Customer science-society connections. Preference Regulation, 2018: € It may be linked with important sectors such as € It was issued to “effectively deal with the nuisance water, energy, and climate and with the new of spam”. concept of Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR). € Rules mandate telcos to verify the content of every € It helps in the democratisation of Research & SMS with the registered text before delivering it Development funding trends. to consumers. ¾ Science and Engineering Board (SERB): z As per TRAI norms, the content of all SMSes € It is a statutory body under the Department of will now be verified before it is allowed to be Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and delivered on the users’ device. This process, Technology established by an Act of the Parliament known as scrubbing, was implemented recently of India in 2009. after several delays. € It is chaired by the Secretary to the Government of z The new TRAI regulations for principal entities, India in the Department of Science and Technology which will be allowed to send SMSes to and has other senior government officials and customers, seek registration of senders, eminent scientists as members. telemarketers, headers, content, templates, consent templates and subscriber preference. € It was set up for promoting basic research in science and engineering and to provide € The rules prohibit unregistered senders from financial assistance to scientists, academic initiating commercial messages, while registered institutions, Research and Development laboratories, companies are prevented from sending fraudulent industrial concerns and other agencies for such messages to their customers. research. € TRAI has released a framework under which telcos could use a distributed ledger technology € It has a mandate to plan, promote and fund or blockchain to verify the sender information internationally competitive research in emerging and content of every commercial SMS before it areas. was delivered on the user’s device. € Some important schemes of SERB: z Blockchain will ensure two things i.e, non- z SERB-POWER Scheme repudiation and confidentiality. Only those z Accelerate Vigyan Scheme: SERB authorised to access details will be able to z National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber- access subscriber details and only when they Physical Systems need to deliver service.

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z According to TRAI, the old technology and of Science and Technology) International Science platform allowed unscrupulous telemarketers and Technology Cooperation. to override the stated preference of the subscriber by claiming consent that may have Key Points been surreptitiously obtained. ¾ About India Science Research Fellowship (ISRF): ¾ Recent Issue: € As part of India’s initiatives toengage with neigh- € Even though TSPs implemented the scrubbing bouring countries to develop S&T partnerships, norms, some companies did not adopt them, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) leading to text messages getting dropped and has launched ISRF Programme. transaction failures. € This fellowship is for scholars from the neighbouring z TSPs followed TRAI regulations and activated the countries - Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, due process of content scrubbing to address the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. issue of unsolicited commercial communication. € ISRF programme has provided an opportunity to z TSPs had sent various communications to the young researchers from neighbouring countries the principal entities to register their content to get access to the state of art facilitiesavailable template with TSPs. in the Indian institutes/universities. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India € ISRF has been implemented since 2015. ¾ It was established by an Act of Parliament (Telecom ¾ Significance of the Fellowship: Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997) to regulate € Science Diplomacy: Enlarging India’s pursuit telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs of influence in global arena/platforms and for telecom services. mainstreaming Science, Technology and Innovation ¾ It provides a fair and transparent policy environment (STI) into international diplomacy and foreign which promotes a level playing field and facilitates relation. fair competition. € Technological Advancement in the South Asia ¾ The TRAI Act was amended to establish a Telecom- region. munications Dispute Settlement and Appellate International Science and Technology Cooperation Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI. ¾ About: The International S&T Cooperation (IC) Division of DST has the mandated responsibility of € TDSAT was set up to adjudicate any dispute between a licensor and a licensee, between two € negotiating, concluding and implementingScience, or more service providers, between a service Technology and Innovation (STI) Agreements provider and a group of consumers, and to hear between India and other countries, and and dispose of appeals against any direction, € providing interventions on STI aspects in decision or order of TRAI. international forums. ¾ Significance: India Science € In showcasing and projecting India’s scientific excellence in the global research landscape, Research Fellowship 2021 € Leveraging foreign alliances and partnerships to accelerate key priorities and programs devoted Why in News to strengthening India’s national science and technology (S&T)/ Research and Development Forty scholars from six countries have been recom- (R&D) competencies-capabilities-access to mended for award of Indian Science Research Fellowship technologies in synergies with national flagship (ISRF) 2021. programs. ¾ This fellowship is a platform to establish research ¾ IC Division is partnering in the following International cooperation with neighbouring countries of India, programs: which is one of the mandates of DST’s (Department

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, € International Solar Alliance, performers Russia and China record best-ever performances. € Mission Innovation, ¾ India’s Performance: € International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, € The 2021 QS’s global university performance € The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave comparison offered independent Observatory (LIGO), etc. data on the performance of 253 programs at 52 Indian higher education institutions, across 51 academic QS World disciplines. Subject Rankings 2021 € The number of Indian universities/ institutes in the top 100 subject rankings has increased from Why in News 8 to 12 this year. z 12 Indian institutionsthat have made it to the 25 programmes offered by higher education top 100 of the world - IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, institutions in India ranked among the top 100 in the IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IISC Bangalore, IIT world in their respective subject categories, according Guwahati, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, to the latest edition (11th) of the QS World University JNU, Anna University, University of Delhi and Rankings by Subject. OP Jindal University. Key Points z IIT-Bombay has cornered more top 100 positions ¾ About the QS World Subject Rankings: than any other Indian institution. € Quacquarelli Symonds (QS): It is a leading global € Except one, all the 25 programmes are in institu- career and education network for ambitious tions run by either the state or union government. professionals looking to further their personal However, last year, this number stood at 26. and professional development. z 17 of the 25 globally ranked Indian programmes z QS develops and successfully implements are in engineering. IIT-Madras’s Petroleum methods of comparative data collection and Engineering programme registered the best analysis used to highlight institutions’ strengths. performance among Indian institutes - 30th € QS World University Rankings: It is an annual in the world. publicationof university rankings which comprises € The government-run Institutions of Eminence the global overall and subject rankings. (IoE) remains significantly better-represented in z Six parameters and their weightage for the the rankings than the private ones. evaluation: z OP Jindal Global University has entered the „ Academic Reputation (40%) global top-100 for law (76th). This is the only „ Employer Reputation (10%) top-100 result achieved by a private IoE. „ Faculty/Student Ratio (20%) z IoE: It is a government’s scheme to provide the „ Citations per faculty (20%) regulatory architecture for setting up or upgrading „ International Faculty Ratio (5%) of 20 Institutions (10 from public sector and 10 „ International Student Ratio (5%) from the private sector) as world-class teaching and research institutions. € QS World University Rankings by Subject: It calculates performance based on four parameters € The All India Institute of Medical Sciences remained — academic reputation, employer reputation, the only institution in the top 300 in the area of research impact (citations per paper) and the life sciences and medicine, but also dropped more productivity of an institution’s research faculty. than 10 places. ¾ Top Performers: ¾ Analysis: € Globally Massachusetts Institute of Technology € One of the biggest challenges faced by India is (MIT -USA) and Harvard (USA) are among top providing high-quality tertiary educationin the face

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of exploding demand - this much was recognized by last year’s National Education Policy (NEP), Ease of Living & Municipal which set the ambitious target of a 50% gross Performance Index 2020 enrolment ratio by 2035. z It should therefore be small cause for concern Why in News that the number of Indian programs featuring across 51 subject rankings has actually decreased Recently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs over the last year – from 235 to 233. released the final rankings ofEase of Living Index (EoLI) z While this is a minor decrease, it is indicative 2020 and the Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020. of the fact that expanding provision in a way Key Points that does not sacrifice qualityremains a highly- challenging task. ¾ Ease of Living Index € A number of programs at India’s privately- € About: run prospective Institutions of Eminence have z It is an assessment tool that evaluates the quality made progress this year, demonstrating the of life and the impact of various initiatives for positive role that well-regulated private provision urban development. can have in enhancing India’s higher education z It provides a comprehensive understanding sector. of participating cities across India based on € India remains at the forefront of global environ- quality of life, economic-ability of a city, and mental science research. Data indicates that India its sustainability and resilience. th ranks 5 in terms of its research footprint in this € Aim: field – behind only Germany, China, the United z It aims to enable cities to systematically Kingdom, and the United States. assess themselves against global and national € Commonalities between nations that are improving benchmarks and encourage them to shift towards and nations that are not (three factors): an ‘outcome-based’ approach to urban planning z First, an international outlook – both in terms and management. of faculty body and research relationships– € Parameters: correlates strongly with improved performance. z Citizen Perception: z Second, rising universities have receivedstrong „ The EoLI 2020 strengthens its scope by targeted investment from governments over a consolidating the framework with the addition decade or more– particularly in China, Russia, of a Citizen Perception Survey in the index, and Singapore. holding a weightage of 30%. z Third, improving relationships with industryis 1. Citizen Perception Survey: correlated with better employment, research, a. It was undertaken to help and innovation outcomes. validate citizens’ experience of their city in National Institutional Ranking Framework terms of service delivery. ¾ The Ministry of Human Resource Development b. Bhubaneswar had the highest CPS (now Ministry of Education) established the Na- score, followed by Silvassa, Davangere, tional Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in Kakinada, Bilaspur and Bhagalpur. September 2015. z Existing Living Conditions: ¾ This framework outlines a methodology to „ It also examines the outcomes that lead to rank institutions across the country according existing living conditions. to parameters covering: Teaching, Learning and „ Across 13 categories such as Education, Resources; Research and Professional Practice; Health, Housing and Shelter, Buildings, Graduation Outcomes; Outreach and Inclusivity; Energy Consumption, and City Resilience, and Perception. that account for 70% of the overall outcome.

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¾ EoLI Performance 2020 separately for NDMC, and the three Municipal € Million+ Category: Corporations). z Top Performers: € Parameters Used: „ Bengaluru followed by Pune and Ahmedabad. z The five verticals under MPI are Services, . z Worst Performers: Finance, Policy, Technology and Governance These five verticals comprise 20 sectors and „ Amritsar, Guwahati, Bareilly, Dhanbad and 100 indicators in all totality. Srinagar. € Categories: € Less than Million Category: z The assessment framework under MPI 2020 z Top Performers: has classified municipalities based on their „ Shimla followed by Bhubaneshwar and population: Silvassa. „ Million+ (municipalities having over a million z Worst Performers: population) and „ Aligarh, Rampur, Namchi, Satna and „ Less than a Million Population. Muzaffarpur. ¾ MPI 2020 Performance: ¾ Significance: € Million+ category: € Provide Holistic Assessment: z Indore has emerged as the highest ranked z These indices provide a holistic assessment of municipality, followed by Surat and Bhopal. cities based on their efforts to cultivate better € Less than Million category: quality of life, create infrastructure, and address challenges of urbanization. z New Delhi Municipal Council topped, followed by Tirupati and Gandhinagar. € Help In Overcoming Deficiencies: z Learnings gathered from these indices can help the government identify gaps, tap into potential Review of Rashtriya opportunities, and increase efficiency in local Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan governance to improve the lives of citizens and fulfil broader development outcomes. € Complement SDG Goals: Why in News z These indicators are also linked with the majority The Union Education Minister chaired a review of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), meeting onRashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). specially to the SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities And Communities). Key Points ¾ Municipal Performance Index: ¾ About the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan: € About: € Aim: It aims at providing strategic funding to higher z It has been launched as an accompaniment to education institutions throughout the country. the Ease of Living Index. z The scheme is being operated in mission mode z It seeks to examine local government practices for funding state universities and colleges to in municipalities across areas of services, finance, achieve the aims of equity, access and excellence. policy, technology and governance. € Funding: It is a centrally sponsored scheme z It also seeks to simplify and evaluate the launched in October 2013. complexities in local governance practice z Since 2016-17, the government has spent an and promote the ethos of transparency and average of Rs. 1,500 crore every year on RUSA. accountability. € Objectives: € Coverage: z Improve the overall quality of state institutions z The MPI examined the sectoral performance of by conforming to the prescribed norms and 111 municipalities (with Delhi being assessed standards.

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z Adoption of accreditation (certification of monitor the progress of work done by Institutions competency) as a mandatory quality assurance which received funding under the RUSA Scheme. framework. z Promoting autonomy in state universities and NHRC Issues Notice in improving governance in institutions. z Ensure reforms in the affiliation, academic and Hirakud Displacement Case examination system. z Ensure adequate availability of quality faculty Why in News in all higher educational institutions and ensure The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) capacity building at all levels of employment. issued notices to the Chief Secretaries of Odisha and z Create an enabling atmosphere for research Chhattisgarh over the action taken to alleviate the in the higher education system. sufferings of people displaced by the construction of the z Correct regional imbalances in access to higher Hirakud dam over the Mahanadi river about six decades education by setting up institutions in unserved ago. and underserved areas. ¾ About 111 villages were submerged due to the z Improve equity in higher education by providing construction of Hirakud Dam and around 22,000 adequate opportunities to the disadvantaged. families were affected, while about 19,000 families € Monitoring: Funding is provided by the central were displaced. ministry through the State governments and Union Territories (UTs), which in coordination Key Points with the Central Project Appraisal Board monitors ¾ Hirakud Dam Project: the academic, administrative and financial € Establishment: advancements taken under the scheme. z It is a multipurpose scheme conceived by Er. ¾ Highlights of the Meeting: M. Visveswaraya in 1937, after recurrence of € Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): Need to draw plans devastating floods in Mahanadi river. Its first on educating additional 3.5 crore students to hydro power was commissioned in 1956. increase GER to 50% by 2035. € Location: z GER: z The dam is built across river Mahanadi at about „ India’s higher education enrollment is 15 km upstream of Sambalpur town in the state calculated in terms of GER, which is the of Odisha. ratio of population in the 18-23 age group € Objectives: to the number of people enrolled in higher z Irrigation:The project provides 1,55,635 hectares education. of Kharif and 1,08,385 ha of Rabi irrigation in „ According to All India Survey on Higher the districts of Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir , the GER in higher Education (AISHE) and Subarnapur. education has increased from 25.8% in 2017- „ The water released through the power house 18 to 26.3% in 2018-19, while in absolute irrigates further 4,36,000 ha of regions in terms the enrolment increased from 3.66 Mahanadi Delta. crores to 3.74 crore students. z Power Generation: The installed capacity for € Focus on Local Skills: A total of 7 crore students with employable skills that suit local conditions should power generation is 347.5 MW. pass out from colleges and Universities. Education z Flood Control: The project provides flood should lead to local employment. Education in protection to Mahanadi basin including 9500 sq. Degree College should be aligned with the “One km of delta area in districts of Cuttack and Puri. district one product (ODOP)” plan. ¾ Mahanadi River: € Monitoring: The University Grants Commission will € About:

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Key Points ¾ Director of CBI: € The CBI is headed by a Director. € The Director of CBI as Inspector General of Police, Delhi Special Police Establishment, is responsible for the administration of the organisation. z With the enactment of CVC Act, 2003, the superintendence of Delhi Special Police Establishment vests with the Central Government to save investigations of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in which, the superintendence vests with the Central Vigilance Commission. z The Mahanadi River system is the third largest € The Director of CBI has been provided security of of peninsular India afterGodavari and Krishna, in office by the CVC Act, 2003. and the largest river of Odisha state. two-year tenure ¾ Appointment: z The catchment area of the river extends to Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, € The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act (2013) amended Jharkhand and Maharashtra. the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act (1946) and made the following changes with respect to z Its basin is bounded by the Central India hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south appointment of the Director of CBI: and east and by the Maikala range on the west. z The Central Government shall appoint the € Source: Director of CBI on the recommendation of a three-member committee consisting of the z It rises from a place near Sihawa in Bastar Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader hills in the state of Chhattisgarh to the south and the of Amarkantak. of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Chief Justice of Indiaor Judge of the Supreme Court € Major Tributaries of the Mahanadi river nominated by him. z Seonath River € Later, the Delhi Special Police Establishment z Hasdeo River (Amendment) Act, 2014 made a change in the z Mand River composition of the committee related to the z Ib River appointment of the Director of C.B.I. z Jonking River z It states that where there is no recognized leader z Tel River of opposition in the Lok Sabha, then the leader € Mahanadi River Dispute: The Central Government of the single largest opposition party in the Lok constituted Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal Sabha would be a member of that committee. in 2018. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) ¾ The CBI was set up in 1963 by a resolution of the Appointment of CBI Director Ministry of Home Affairs. € Now, the CBI comes under the administrative Why in News control of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the A writ petition has been filed in theSupreme Court Ministry of Personnel, seeking the appointment of a regular Central Bureau of Public Grievances and Pensions. Investigation (CBI)Director. ¾ The establishment of the CBI was recommended ¾ The Director of the CBI is appointed as per section 4A by the Santhanam Committee on Prevention of . of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act of 1946. Corruption (1962–1964)

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¾ The CBI is not a statutory body. It derives its powers Data Minimisation from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, ¾ Data Minimisation is a principle that states that 1946. data collected and processed should not be held ¾ The CBI is the main investigating agency of the or further used unless this is essential for reasons Central Government. that were clearly stated in advance to support ¾ It also provides assistance to the Central Vigilance data privacy. Commission and Lokpal. z Identification of the first originator will require ¾ It is also the nodal police agency in India which end to end encryption to be broken, thereby coordinates investigation on behalf of Interpol compromising the fundamental technology on Member countries. which most apps are based on. z Moreover, owing to the volume of data, Objections to New IT Rules encryption has become more important now as more personal data is being aggregated and analysed at a scale that was never possible before. Why in News € It will “undermine the principles of open and The latest norms for social media intermediaries in accessible internet and the fundamental right of the New IT Rules 2021 have drawn objections from privacy privacy enshrined in the Constitution, particularly experts and lawyers. in the absence of robust data protection law. ¾ The Supreme Court (SC) had in 2015 struck down z For Example: Section 66A of the Information Technology Act finding „ It contains a provision requiring significant it contrary to both Articles 19 (free speech) and Article intermediaries to provide the option for 21 (right to life) of the Constitution. users to voluntarily verify their identities. „ This would likely entail users Key Points sharing phone numbers or sending photos of government ¾ Suspecting Everyone: issued IDs to the companies. € Asking ‘significant social media intermediaries’ to „ This provision will incentivize the collection have automated tools to proactively track certain of sensitive personal data that are submitted words is akin to “active hunting”, and will “make for this verification, which can then be also suspects out of people”. used to profile and target users z For example: For track words like interfaith z Right to Privacy: marriage or love jihad, its like criminalising „ The SC described privacy and its importance an entire population as most of the people in the landmark decision of K.S. Puttaswamy must be using these words in their normal v. Union of India in 2017 as a fundamental discussions. This way, an entire citizenry is and inalienable right and attaches to the being made a suspect. person covering all information about that ¾ Against Right to Privacy: person and the choices that he/ she makes. € According to the New IT Rules of 2021, significant „ The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic social media intermediaries providing services part of the right to life and personal liberty primarily in the nature of messaging shall under Article 21 and as a part of the freedoms enable identification of the first originator of the guaranteed by Part III of the Constitution. information. ¾ Against Freedom of Expression: z This provision would end up weakening € Automated forms of censorship and surveillance overall security, harm privacy and contradict could disproportionately impact users’ freedom the principles of data minimisation endorsed of speech and expression, suppressing creativity. in the IT Ministry’s Draft Data Protection Bill z Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian constitution guar- 2019. antees the freedom of speech and expression.

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¾ Over Censorship: € Good Samaritans are welcomed to register as € The new rules provide stricter and wide-ranging Cyber Crime Volunteers in the role of unlawful obligations on intermediaries for proactive content flaggers for facilitating law enforcement monitoring of content. agencies in identifying, reporting and removal of illegal / unlawful online content. € The fear of legal liability or action could lead to over-censorship of content. € Volunteers have been advised to study Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which deals with ¾ Lack of Accountability and Transparency: freedom of expression. € The news rules require social media to “deploy € Further, the volunteer shall “maintain strict technology-based measures, including automated confidentiality of tasks assigned/carried out by tools (Artificial Intelligence (AI)) to filter out him /her”. The State Nodal Officer of States/UTs objectionable content like child sexual abuse. also reserves the right to take legal action against € However, as history has shown, such tools not the Volunteer, in case of violation of terms and only suffer from major accuracy problems but conditions of the Program. also can lead to function creep. ¾ Concerns Raised: z Earlier in 2020 an AI-powered tool Genderify € Chances of Misuse: There is no information designed to identify a person’s gender by available on how the Ministry will ensure that the analyzing their name, username or email address program is not misused by certain elements to was shut down just a week after launch after it extract misguided personal or political vendettas. was blamed to be biased. z There is no process in place for withdrawal of € Coding biases in the development of AI often complaints once submitted. lead to discrimination, inaccuracies, and a lack € Cyber-Vigilantism: The programme will essentially of accountability and transparency. result in a similar situation to the one which East ¾ Gag on Online News Media: Germany was in the 1950s. € The rules open the way for increased scrutiny as z The state asking citizens to report their fellow well as increased costs of compliance and may lead citizens would lead to cyber-vigilantism, and to gagging of free and unhindered news reporting. would lead to peers turning against their peers to snitch on them. Cyber Crime Volunteers € No Clear Definition: The Ministry has failed to clearly define unlawful content and content which Why in News would relate to “anti-national” activities. z This could allow the volunteers to exercise far The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), a digital more discretion than is necessary and report liberties organisation, has written to theMinistry of Home on citizens who are well within their rights to that the Affairs (MHA) cyber crime volunteers concept post content which is critical of the State. will lead to a “culture of surveillance and constant z Such a program seems to be in direct violation suspicion in society creating potential social distrust”. of the decision of the Supreme Court in Key Points Shreya Singhal v Union of India (2013) which highlights the need to ensure that overbroad ¾ About the Cyber Crime Volunteers Concept: restrictions on online speech are not used as € Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has a tool by the State to criminalise free speech envisaged the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program to on the internet. bring together citizens with passion to serve the nation on a single platform and contribute in the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre fight against cybercrime in the country. ¾ It has been established under the Ministry of Home z The programme targets to rope in around 500 affairs (MHA) to act as a nodal point at National persons to flag unlawful content on the Internet. level in the fight against cybercrime.

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€ It aims € The scheme to set up I4C was approved in October to upscale the quality of technical education 2018, to deal with all types of cybercrimes in a and enhance capacities of institutions. comprehensive and coordinated manner. € The Technical Education Quality Improvement € This state-of-the-art Centre is located in New Delhi. Programme III (TEQIP-III) was started in 2017 and will be completed by 2021. € Various States and Union Territories have given their consent to set up Regional Cyber Crime z It aims to develop technical education as a Coordination Centres. key component for improving the quality of Engineering Education. ¾ Objectives: z The Objective is toimprove quality and equity € To provide a platform to deal with cybercrimes in a coordinated and comprehensive manner. in engineering institutions in focus states such as in low income states. z To coordinate all activities related to implementation ofMutual Legal Assistance ¾ About MERITE Project: Treaties (MLAT)with other countries related € The project has an objective to improve technical to cybercrimes in consultation with the education like TEQIP. concerned nodal authority in MHA. € However, the MERITE Project is still in the conceptual € To create an ecosystem that brings together stage and has not yet received Cabinet approval. academia, industry, public and government in prevention, detection, investigation and Other Initiative to Improve Technical Education prosecution of cybercrimes. ¾ Margadarshan and Margadarshak (AICTE). ¾ z To identify the research problems and take up Institutions of Eminence (IoE) scheme. R&D activities in developing new technologies ¾ Technical Education in Mother Tongue has been and forensic tools in collaboration with proposed by the National Education Policy (NEP). academia / research institutes within India € To achieve the objective that students may and abroad. pursue the professional courses such as medicine, € To prevent misuse of cyberspace for furthering engineering, law, etc in their mother tongue. the cause of extremist and terrorist groups. € It suggests teaching in regional language till € Suggest amendments, if required, in cyber laws class 8 and enabling teaching the curriculum in to keep pace with fast changing technologies a language which a student is comfortable in. and International cooperation. ¾ Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY) schemes.

Technical Education Quality Karnataka’s Improvement Programme Engineering Research & Development Policy Why in News Government is planning to replace the Technical Why in News Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) with a new programme MERITE Project. Recently, Karnataka launched the country’s maiden Engineering Research & Development (ER&D) Policy. Key Points Key Points ¾ About the Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme: ¾ About: € It was started in 2002 by the Ministry of Human € Key Sectors: Resources and Development with the assistance z The new policy identified five key focus sectors of the World Bank and is being implemented in such as aerospace and defence; auto, auto a phased manner. components and EV; biotechnology, pharma

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¾ Need: € The ER&D sector in the country is the fastest growing industry with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.8%. z CAGR is the rate of return that would be required for an investment to grow from its beginning balance to its ending balance, assuming the profits were reinvested at the end of each year of the investment’s lifespan. € The global engineering research and development industry is expected to reach a spend of USD 2 trillion by 2025. and medical devices; semiconductors, telecom, € There are about 900 global capability centres for and software products. ER&D in India and a significant share of them in Karnataka. € Skilling: € The State government anticipates the policy has z The government will invest in skilling, improve the potential to create over 50,000 jobs in the academia and industry collaboration, and ER&D space in five years. also encourage intellectual properties (IPs) creation locally. z According to industry apex body Nasscom, ER&D has the potential to become a USD 100-billion € Subsidies: industry in the country in the next five years. z It will offer up to 50% reimbursement of rentals € Linkage between Digital Engineering and Industry up to Rs 2 crore to Multi-National Corporation 4.0, which reflects in the form of: (MNC) entities beyond Bengaluru Urban district. z Digitalized manufacturing operations & z It will also offer recruitment assistance and up automation in processes and supply chains; to 20% subsidy up to Rs. 2 crore for investing z Product-as-a-Service Business Model, allowing in the State beyond Bengaluru. customers to pay for a desired result (instead z These subsidies will be assessed on case to case of the equipment driving the result); basis based on the investment the companies z Additive Manufacturing, which can deconstruct are making and also employment they generate. the tedious production processes engaged for € Innovation: complex parts and enhance their functional z To promote innovation, the government will performance. provide funding to colleges for projects and will also fund the cost of developing industry- oriented courses in the colleges and universities. Rights of This is so that talents are in line with the industry Overseas Citizens of India demand. ¾ Aim: Why in News € To prepare the State to make use of the future Recently, the government has notified a consolidated opportunities emanating from this sector. list of rights of the Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). € To grow Karnataka’s contribution, develop more ¾ The rights and restrictions are not new, they have IPs, and make Karnataka a skilled knowledge capital. been notified previously in 2005, 2007,and 2009. € To attract MNCs to establish new ER&D centres in the State or expand their existing facilities Key Points through subsidies, market the advantages of the ¾ Multiple Entry Lifelong Visa: ecosystem to global MNCs and bridging the gap € OCI cardholders will be entitled to get multiple between engineering talent and opportunity. entry lifelong visas for visiting India for any purpose.

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¾ Prior Permission: Overseas Citizen of India € OCI cards would need prior permission for a set ¾ The Ministry of Home Affairs defines an OCI as a of activities that include research, journalism, person who: mountaineering, missionary or Tablighi work, € Was a citizen of India on or after 26th January and visits to restricted areas. 1950; or ¾ Parity with Non Resident Indians (NRIs): € Was eligible to become a citizen of India on26 th € OCI cardholders will enjoy parity with in NRIs January 1950; or adoption of children, appearing in competitive € Is a child or grandchild of such a person, among exams, purchase or sale of immovable property other eligibility criteria. barring agricultural land and farmhouses, and pursuing professions such as doctors, lawyers, ¾ According to Section 7A of the OCI card rules, an architects, and chartered accountants. applicant is not eligible for the OCI card if he, his parents or grandparents have ever been a citizen of ¾ Parity with Indian Nationals: Pakistan or Bangladesh. The category was introduced € They have parity with Indian nationals in the matter by the government in 2005. of domestic air fares, entry fees to monuments and public places. ¾ The Government of India via Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2015 merged the Person of Indian Origin (PIO) ¾ Entrance Exams and Admissions: category with OCI category in 2015. € OCIs can appear for all-India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Non Resident Indian Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), Joint Entrance ¾ A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) means a person resident Examination (Advanced) or such other tests to outside India who is a citizen of Indiaor is a person make them eligible for admission only against of Indian origin. any NRI seat or any supernumerary seat. € An Indian citizen residing outside India for a € The OCI cardholder shall not be eligible for combined total of at least 183 days in a financial admission against any seat reserved exclusively year is considered to be an NRI. for Indian citizens. ¾ NRIs enjoy voting rights and are required to pay and ¾ Other Economic, Financial and Educational fields: file the income tax return on their Indian income € In respect of all other economic, financial and like resident Indians. educational fields not specified in the latest € NRI is more of a technical classification for taxation notification or the rights and privileges not covered purposes and investment purposes. by the notifications made by theReserve Bank of ¾ However, in case an NRI wishes to take up foreign under the India Foreign Exchange Management citizenship, he/she will have to give up Indian , the Act, 1999 OCI cardholder shall have the same citizenship as the Indian constitution does not rights and privileges as a foreigner. allow dual citizenship. ¾ Exemption: € A person cannot hold Indian as well as foreign € They are exempted from registration with the citizenship simultaneously. Foreigners’ Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) for any length of stay in India. Foreigner ¾ z Foreigners visiting India whohold long-term visas As per the the Foreigners Act, 1946, foreigner means (more than 180 days) are required to register a person who is not a citizen of India. their presence in India with the Foreigners’ ¾ The Fundamental Rights guaranteed by Articles Regional Registration Office (FRRO). 14, 20, 21, 21A, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 ¾ Restrictions: are available to all persons whether citizens or The € There will be no restriction in visiting religious foreigners. Fundamental Rights guaranteed places and attending normal religious activities by Articles 15, 16, 19, 29, and 30 are available only like attending religious discourses. to citizens of India.

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€ However, preaching religious ideologies, making z The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India works speeches in religious places, distribution of audio under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers. or visual display/pamphlets pertaining to religious z BPPI has also developed the Janaushadhi Sugam ideologies, spreading conversion etc. will not be Application. allowed. € PMBJP stores have been set up to provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are Janaushadhi Diwas equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs. Why in News € It also intends to extend the coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) celebrated out of pocket expenditure on medicines and rd th the 3 Janaushadhi Diwas (7 March 2021) to spread thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per awareness about quality generic medicines, available at person. low prices. z A medicine under PMBJP is priced on the ¾ Theme of Janaushadhi Diwas was “Seva Bhi – Rozgar principle of a maximum of 50% of the average bhi”. The Janaushadhi week was celebrated across price of top three branded medicines. Therefore, st th the country from 1 -7 March 2021. the price of Janaushadhi Medicines is cheaper ¾ As a part of celebrations, the Prime Minister at least by 50% and in some cases, by 90% of inaugurated the 7,500th Janaushadhi Kendra at the market price of branded medicines. NEIGRIHMS, Shillong. ¾ Performance Analysis: € In the current financial year 2020-21, PMBJP has Key Points already achieved sales of Rs. 593.84 crores. This ¾ Janaushadhi Kendra: has led to savings of approximately Rs. 3600 crores € Bureau of Pharma PSUs in India (BPPI) supports of the common citizens of the country. Janaushadhi Kendras as a part of Pradhan Mantri € This scheme is also providing a good source of Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana. self-employment with sustainable and regular € These are the centres from where quality generic earnings. medicines are made available to all. € The number of stores has grown to more than Fast-track Courts to Clear 7400 and all 734 districts of the country have Janaushadhi Kendras. Dishonoured Cheque Cases € Government grants of up to Rs. 2.5 lakhs are provided for setting up of Pradhan Mantri Why in News Janaushadhi Kendras, which can be set up by A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court has doctors, pharmacists, entrepreneurs, Self Help proposed setting up fast-track courts for a limited time Groups (SHGs), NGOs, charitable societies, etc. at to clear dishonoured cheque cases. any suitable place or outside the hospital premises. ¾ Earlier the Supreme Court has suggested forming a ¾ Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana committee to resolve the problem of pendency of (PMBJP): cheque bounce cases. € PMBJP is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals in 2008 under the name Jan Key Points Aushadhi Campaign. ¾ Supreme Court Proposal: Set up fast-track courts z The campaign was revamped as PMBJP in under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments 2015-16. Act, 2018. € Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the € Power to establish additional courts: The implementation agency for PMBJP. government has both power and an obligation

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under Article 247 of the Constitution to set up “additional courts” to better the administration Group of of laws enacted by Parliament, including the Ministers: Media Strategy Negotiable Instruments Act, which deals with cheques. Why in News z Article 247: It gives power to Parliament to establish certain additional courts for the The Editors Guild of India flagged the Group of better administration of laws made by it or Ministers (GoM) report on the government’s media of any existing laws with respect to a matter strategy as an example of the government’s “increasingly enumerated in the Union List. draconian attitude” towards any criticism. ¾ Pendency of Dishonoured Cheque Cases: The ¾ The GoM, whose members include five Cabinet pendency of cheque bounce cases forms 30% to 40% Ministers and four Ministers of State, was set up in of the backlog in trial courts and a sizable chunk of mid-2020. the pile-up in High Courts. Editors Guild of India Negotiable Instrument ¾ The Editors Guild was founded in 1978 with the ¾ These are signed documents that promise a sum twin objectives of protecting press freedom and of payment to a specified person or the assignee. for raising the standards of editorial leadership of newspapers and magazines. ¾ It is transferable in nature, allowing the holder to take the funds as cash or use them in a manner Key Points appropriate for the transaction or according to ¾ Recommendations from Group of Ministers (GoM) their preference. Report on Media Strategy: ¾ Promissory notes, bills of exchange, and € Identifying and engaging journalists - who had cheques are categorised as the negotiable lost jobs but have been “supportive or neutral” instruments. to the present government - in various ministries Dishonoured Cheque so that their services could be used to project the ¾ A cheque is said to be honoured, if the banks give government’s image positively. the amount to the payee. While, if the bank refuses z Further, the government should have an to pay the amount to the payee, the cheque is said increased engagement with journalism schools to be dishonoured. as part of its long-term strategy since present students are future journalists. € In other words, dishonour of cheque is a condition in which the bank refuses to pay the amount of € Engaging with Foreign Media and NRIs: cheque to the payee. z There should be regular interaction with foreign media journalists as part of the government’s € The dishonour of cheque is a criminal global outreach so that “its perspective” is put offence and is punishable by imprisonment out correctly in the international forum. up to two years or with monetary penalty or with both. z An effective system of communication with the NRI community should be established so ¾ Cheque: It is a negotiable instrument. Cheques that they can raise their voice against negative are not negotiable by any person other than the narratives in foreign countries. payee. The cheques have to be deposited into the € Highlighting Government’s Work: payee’s bank account. z It calls for mass circulation of positive stories € The author of the cheque is called ‘drawer’, the and testimonials to highlight the work done by person in whose favour, the cheque is drawn is the government and the difference they have called ‘payee’, and the bank who is directed to made in people’s lives. pay the amount is known as ‘drawee’. „ And rebuttal of negative stories, ensuring

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advertisements and outreach programmes € Among the more disturbing suggestions was to in regional languages for better ‘connect develop a “strategy to neutralise the people who with local people’. are writing against the government without facts z Physical copies of the government magazine, and set false narratives/spread fake news”. New India Samachar, should be distributed to 6 z Suggestion revealed an intention tomuzzle “ any lakh people and the e-version to 8 crore people. criticism of the government”, in the absence of z Tasking different ministries with different clarity on what constitutesfake news. outreach goals. € Using Social Media: Vaccine Passports z It calls for engaging with platforms such as Twitter and Googleto increase the government’s Why in News outreach positively. Governments around the world are exploring the € Countering False Narratives: potential use of vaccine passports as a way of reopening z Tracking 50 ‘negative influencers’ who discredit the economy by identifying those protected against the the government & encouraging 50 ‘positive coronavirus. influencers’ who project government work in ‘right perspective’. Key Points ¾ About Vaccine Passports: € A vaccine passport is an e-certificate that stores and records jabs and Covid-19 test status. z It can be kept in a smartphone app or in other digital formats. z Its contents can be flashed at security checkpoints when people travel across borders. € The idea is modelled on the proof of vaccination that several countries required even before the pandemic. z Travellers from many African countries to the USA or India are required to submit proof that they have been vaccinated against diseases such as yellow fever. € In February 2021, Israel became the first country to introduce a certification system that allows those who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 to access certain facilities and events. ¾ Concern of Editors Guild: ¾ Function of Vaccine Passports: € The media strategy illustrates the government’s increasingly draconian attitude against any critique € Will digitise vaccination recordsacross countries. and inquiry by the press. € Supposed to function as proof that the holder z The suggestions from the GoM report hint has been vaccinated against Covid-19 and is, at increased surveillance and targeting of therefore, safe. writers and journalists who depart from the ¾ Potential Beneficiary of the Vaccine Passports: government’s narrative. € The primary benefit will be to the tourism and € The guild said the GoM prepared its report “with the hospitality industries, which are both seen an embedded toolkit to control the narrative as being at the heart of Covid-19 spread and are about the government in the media”. the worst hit by the pandemic.

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€ The international air travel,which suffered massively z This means that if vaccine passports become because of the outbreak. a norm, then these lower-income nations will ¾ Similar Initiative: Several associations and non-profits lose out on the advantage. have been issuing their own versions for international z It will lead to exclusion of the younger generation travel: who would be last in line to be vaccinated. € IATA Travel Pass: The global trade body representing € Privacy Concerns: These are mainly digital airlines (The International Air Transport Association) certificates that are accessed by a particular service is developing an app called IATA Travel Pass that provider to check for proof of vaccination, there is will provide airlines and other aviation industry a possibility that they would be used by authorities stakeholders with a common platform to check to track the movement of their holders. for the proof of vaccination and its validity. € CommonPass: Non-profit Commons Project has Wrongful Prosecution in India been trying out an app called CommonPass, which contains a passenger’s vaccination record. Why in News ¾ Concerns Raised in Instituting Vaccine Passport: A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court high- € WHO’s Stand: lighting theneed for the government to frame guidelines z The World Health Organisation (WHO) is against for compensating victims of wrongful prosecution by the introduction of Covid-19 vaccination proofs the police or authorities. as a requirement for international travel. ¾ The petition said the government had not bothered z There are still criticalunknown facts regarding the to implement the recommendations made by the efficacy of vaccinationin reducing transmission. Law Commission of India in its 277th report on the miscarriage of justice in 2018. € Lack of Uniformity: The major difficulty in implementation will be the lack of uniformity Wrongful Prosecution across jurisdictions in requirement and issuance ¾ It refers to the cases where the accused was not guilty of proofs of vaccination. of the offence, and the police and/or prosecution € Inadequate Availability of Vaccines: Preferential engaged in some form of misconduct in investigating vaccination of travellers could result in inadequate and/or prosecuting the person. supplies of vaccines for priority populations ¾ The International Covenant on Civil and Political considered at high risk of severe Covid-19 disease. Rights (ICCPR), which is ratified by India creates z Introducing a requirement of vaccination as a an obligation on the State parties to enact a law condition for travel has the potential tohinder to compensate the victims of such miscarriage of equitable global access to a limited vaccine justice. supply and would be unlikely to maximize the benefits of vaccination for individual societies Key Points and overall global health. ¾ Wrongful Prosecution in India: € Perpetuate Discrimination and Inequality: € India has no effective statutory/legal Mechanism Experts argue that vaccine passports, in any form, for the wrongful prosecutions due to police and might make travel inequitable. Adoption of these prosecutorial misconduct which has resulted in digital passports can perpetuate discrimination a pandemic of false cases. and inequality, increasing the divide between z Due to no fear of being prosecuted by courts and socioeconomic groups. growing tendency to frame innocents for ulterior z Rich countries that have already bought millions motives, there has been an unprecedented of doses from pharmaceutical companies are surge in filing of false cases. ahead in the race. The poorer nations may € The petition saidinnocents fell victim to the malice have to wait for months, if not years, to start of the authorities who used the criminal justice inoculations. system to settle scores.

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€ It has not only destroyed the social fabric of the a plea challenging the Places of Worship (Special Prov- nation but also affected theover-burdened judiciary isions) Act, 1991 which freezes the status of places of with alarming pendency of over 40 million cases. worship as it was on 15th August, 1947. ¾ Judicial Pronouncement About Wrongful Prosecution: ¾ In agreeing to examine the law, the court has opened € Earlier in May, 2017 the Delhi High Court in the the doors for litigation in various places of worship case of Babloo Chauhan vs. State Govt. of NCT across the country including Mathura and Varanasi. of Delhi, expressed grave concern about the state of innocent persons being wrongfully prosecuted. Key Points € It also asked the Law Commission to undertake a ¾ About the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) comprehensive examination of the issue and make Act, 1991: a recommendation to the Government of India. € It seeks to maintain the “religious character” of ¾ Recommendations of the Law Commission of India places of worship as it was in 1947 except in the - 277th Report: case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, which was already in court. € Recommended amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC), to give compensation in ¾ Purpose: cases of miscarriage of justice resulting in wrongful € Section 3 of the Actbans the conversion of a place prosecution of persons. of worship or even a section of it into a place of z Miscarriage of justice refers to wrongful or worship of a different religious denomination malicious prosecution, regardless of whether or of a different segment of the same religious it leads to conviction or detention. denomination. € € Designation of special courts in each district for Section 4(2) says that all suits, appeals or other adjudicating upon the claims of compensation for proceedings regarding converting the character th wrongful prosecution. of a place of worship (that were pending on 15 August, 1947) will come to end when the Act € The claim for compensation can be brought by the commences and no fresh proceedings can be filed. accused person so injured; or by any agent duly authorized by the said accused person; or where z However, legal proceedings can be initiated if the accused person died after the termination of the change of status took place after the cut- th the wrongful prosecution, by all or any of the heirs off date of 15 August, 1947 (after enactment or legal representatives of the deceased. of the Act). € The Act also imposes a positive obligation on € Guiding principles to be followed by the Court while determining the amount of compensation. the State to maintain the religious character of These include seriousness of the offence, severity every place of worship as it existed at the time of of punishment, length of detention, damage to Independence. health, harm to reputation, and loss of oppor- z This legislative obligation on the State to tunities. preserve and protect the equality of all faiths is an essential secular feature and one of the € Compensation under this framework will include both pecuniary (monetary) and non-pecuniary basic features of the Indian Constitution. assistance (form of services such as counselling, ¾ Exemption: mental health services, vocational/employment € The disputed site at Ayodhya was exempted skills development, and such other similar services). from the Act. Due to this exemption, the trial in the Ayodhya case proceeded even after the Places of Worship enforcement of this law. € Besides the Ayodhya dispute, the Act also exempted: (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 z Any place of worship which is an ancient and historical monument or an archaeological Why in News site covered by the Ancient Monuments and The Supreme Court asked the Centre to respond to Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

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z A suit that has been finally settled or disposed of. z Any dispute that has been settled by the parties or conversion of any place that took place by acquiescence before the Act commenced. ¾ Penalty: € Section 6 of the Act prescribes a punishment of maximum three-years imprisonment along with a fine for contravening the provisions of the Act. ¾ Supreme Court’s View (in 2019): Key Points € In the 2019 Ayodhya verdict, the Constitution ¾ About V-Dem: Bench referred to the law and said it manifests € The V-Dem Institute, an independent research the secular values of the Constitution and strictly organisation founded in 2014 by Swedish political prohibits retrogression. scientist Staffan Lindberg. ¾ Petition Arguments: € It produces its annual report on the state of € It has been challenged on the ground that the Act democracy around the world based on a dataset violates secularism. of almost 30 million data points for 202 countries. z It has been argued that the cut-off date of ¾ Global Scenario: 15th August, 1947 is “arbitrary, irrational and € The global decline of liberal democracies was retrospective” and prohibits Hindus, Jains, ‘steep’ in the past 10 years in the Asia-Pacific region, Buddhists, and Sikhs from approaching courts Central Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. to “reclaim” their places of worship which were “invaded” and “encroached” upon by € Apart from India, countries like Brazil and Turkey “fundamentalist barbaric invaders”. figured among the top 10 countries that slipped in rankings that were part of the G-20 nations. € It is argued that the Centre has no power to legislate ¾ on “pilgrimages” or “burial grounds” which is India’s Position: under the state list. € India was previously classified as an electoral z However, the government had said it could democracy, however the latest report classified make use of its residuary power under Entry it as electoral autocracy. 97 of the Union List to enact this law. € India is now as autocratic as is Pakistan, and worse both its neighbours . z Entry 97 confers residuary powers to the Centre than Bangladesh and Nepal to legislate on subjects that are not enumerated € Political rights and civil liberties in the country in any of the three lists. have deteriorated since 2014, with increased pressure on human rights organizations, rising intimidation of academics and journalists, and Autocratisation Goes a spate of bigoted attacks, including lynchings, Viral Report: V-Dem Institute aimed at Muslims. ¾ Reasons for the Downgrade: Why in News € Recently, Indian government has used laws on Recently, India has been classified as an “electoral sedition (Section 124A), defamation (Section 499), autocracy” in the annual report named Autocratisation and counter-terrorism to silence critics. Goes Viral of Sweden-based Varieties of Democracy € It has used the Foreign Contributions Regulation (V-Dem) Institute. Act (FCRA) 2010 to restrict the entry, exit and ¾ This report comes just after the US watchdog Freedom functioning of civil society organisations. House downgraded India’s status to “partly free” in € More frequent use of laws like Unlawful Activities its ‘Freedom in the World 2021’ report. (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.

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Economic Scenario

Highlights z Growth in Bank Credit & Deposits: RBI z Merchant Digitization Summit 2021 z National Non-ferrous Metal Scrap Recycling Framework z Maritime India Summit 2021 z National Employability Through Apprenticeship Program z MSME Credit Health Index z Pre-Pack Insolvency Resolution Process z EPFO: Interest Rate for 2020-21 z CSIR Floriculture Mission z PLI Scheme for Telecom Sector z Amendment Of Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017 z New Umbrella Entity for Payment Systems z Purple Revolution Under Aroma Mission z Rationalisation of Railway Fares z CRCL Recognized as Regional Customs Laboratory z Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme z Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs z India’s Biggest Floating Solar Power Plant z India Emerged out of Technical Recession z Licensing Conditions for Telecom Companies Amended

€ The overall retail credit growth, which is currently Growth in Bank at 9% is expected to accelerate further, led by Credit & Deposits: RBI mortgages (contributing 51%of retail loans) and back-end support by unsecured (cards/personal Why in News loans) and vehicle loans. ¾ Bank Credit: Recent data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed that Bank credit and deposits grew and € Banks and financial institutions make money from were higher in February 2021 than January 2021. the funds they lend out to their clients. ¾ The credit and deposits for February 2021 were even z These funds come from the money clients higher than the pre-pandemic data of February 2020. deposit in their accounts or invest in certain investment vehicles such as certificates of Key Points deposit (CDs). ¾ Bank Related Data by RBI: „ A CD is a product offered by banks and credit € At the end of February 2021: unions that provides an interest rate premium in exchange for the customer agreeing to z Bank credit grew by 6.63% to Rs.107.75 lakh crore which in February 2020 stood at Rs.101.05 leave a lump-sum deposit untouched for a lakh crore. predetermined period of time. € z Bank deposits grew by 12.06% to Rs.149.34 Bank credit consists of the total amount of lakh crore which in February 2020 stood at combined funds that financial institutions advance Rs.133.26 lakh crore. to individuals or businesses. It is an agreement between banks and borrowers where banks make ¾ Reason for Credit Growth: loans to borrowers. € The growth in bank credit is driven by an increase in retail loans. ¾ Bank Credit In India: € z Retail loans include a vast range of different loans. The Bank credit in India refers to credit lending Personal loans such as car loans, mortgages, by various scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) to signature loans and credit cards all fall into the various sectors of the economy. category of retail loans, but business loans can € The bank credit is categorized into food credit and also fall into the category of retail loans. non-food credit.

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z The food credit indicates the lending made by € Fixed Deposits: banks to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) z It is an investment avenue offered by banks, mainly for procuring foodgrains. It is a small financial institutes and Non-Banking Financial share of the total bank credit. Companies (NBFCs) that offers guaranteed z The major portion of the bank credit is the returns. non-food credit which comprises credit to z It gives a higher interest than a regular savings various sectors of the economy (Agriculture, account and offers a wide range of tenures Industry, and Services) and also in the form of ranging from 7 days to 10 years. personal loans. z The data on bank credit is collected on a monthly basis by the RBI. National Non-ferrous Metal ¾ Bank Deposits: Scrap Recycling Framework € Bank deposits consist of money placed into banking institutions for safekeeping. These deposits are made to deposit accounts such as savings accounts, Why in News current accounts, and money market accounts. The Ministry of Mines has issued a National non- z The account holder has the right to withdraw ferrous metal scrap recycling framework, 2020 in a bid deposited funds, as set forth in the terms and to cut down the scrap imports. conditions governing the account agreement. ¾ It also seeks to use a life cycle management approach ¾ Bank Deposits in India: In India there are four major for better efficiency in the mineral value chain process. types of Bank Deposits € Current Account: Key Points z A current account is a special type of account ¾ Objectives of the Recycling Framework: that has lower restrictions than a savings account € To work towards economic wealth creation, job when it comes to withdrawals and transactions. creation and increased contribution toGDP through z It is also known as a demand deposit account metal recycling. and it is meant for businessmen to conduct € To promote a formal and well organized recycling their business transactions smoothly. ecosystem by adopting energy efficient processes. z Banks also offer overdraft facilities on these, € To minimize the effect of end of life products on i.e., they let account-holders withdraw more landfills and environmental pollution by promoting money than there is in the account. an environmentally sound recycling system. € Savings Accounts: € To evolve a responsive ecosystem by involving all z It offers high liquidity and is very popular stakeholders. among the masses. It does, however, have cash ¾ Implementation Guidelines: withdrawal and transaction limits to promote digital payments. € The framework envisages setting up of a central Metal Recycling Authority to facilitate recycling z Banks provide an interest rate which is only slightly higher than inflation, so it is not very of metals. optimal for investment. € The government will work towards establishing € Recurring Deposits: standards for Quality of scrap used for recycling. z It is a special type of term deposit where you € A mechanism for registration of segregators, do not need to deposit a lump sum savings dismantlers, recyclers, collection centers etc. rather a person has to deposit a fixed sum of will be developed to promote recycling to an money every month. organized sector z There are no premature withdrawals allowed in € It is proposed to set up Urban Mines, envisaged the account, but for a penalty, you can close the as a location to collect and hold large quantities account before the maturity date of the deposit. of similar materials.

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€ An Online market platform/ exchange platform € NITI Aayog is proposing a comprehensive “National for recycled/secondary metal will be developed. Material Recycling Policy” to drive concerned and z Recyclers may explore the possibility of entering coordinated national and state level programs, into collection contracts with industrial and plans and actions towards ramping up material commercial establishments. recycling in India in a formal and organized manner. ¾ Roles/ Responsibilities of Stakeholders: Non-Ferrous Metal € Responsibility of Manufacturer: To ensure that any ¾ The Non-ferrous metals can be classified in broad Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines/ categories as Regulations be strictly adhered to. € Base metals (e.g. aluminium, copper, zinc, lead, z Designing products that are easier to recycle nickel, tin) and reuse in an efficient and environmentally € Precious metals (e.g. silver, gold, palladium, sound manner. other platinum group metals) € Role of Public: Public should responsibly dispose € Minor metals including refractory metals (e.g. of scrap at designated scrap collection centers tungsten, molybdenum, tantalum, niobium, for their effective and environmentally sound chromium) and processing. € Specialty metals (e.g. cobalt, germanium, indium, € Role of Government: MoEF&CC to streamline tellurium, antimony, and gallium). the regulatory requirements, eliminating multiple ¾ Aluminium is the second most used metal in the clearances wherever feasible, for the recycling units. world after Iron. € Role of Recycling Authority: Developing technical, ¾ Copper is the third most important base metal by safety and environmental norms and SOPs for value. handling and processing of scraps in consultation ¾ Zinc is the fourth most widely used metal across with MoEFCC, CPCB, BIS, etc. the globe. ¾ Challenges Faced By the Non-ferrous Metals Recycle Industry: € A major challenge is its heavy dependence on import of metal scrap. € Lack of an organized / systematic scrap recovery mechanism. € Lack of sustained implementation of existing regulations on waste collection and recycling. € Lack of standardization of recycled products adversely affecting market adoption. € Lack of specific skill sets on responsible methods and technologies. ¾ Government Initiatives For Recycling: € The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is in the process of formulating National Employability National Resource Efficiency Policy (NREP) which Through Apprenticeship aims to mainstream resource efficiency across all sectors, wherein Aluminium sector has been Program considered as a priority sector. € The Ministry of Steel has brought out a Steel Scrap Why in News Recycling Policy which envisages a framework to The National Employability Through Apprenticeship facilitate and promote establishment of metal Program (NETAP) has released its latest edition of the scrap recycling centers. Apprenticeship Outlook Report for 2021 (Jan-June 2021).

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¾ Apprenticeship is a Skill Training programwherein a ¾ Key Findings of the Apprenticeship Outlook Report: person is engaged by a company as an apprentice and € India’s Apprenticeship Ecosystem:Some 41% of the gains classroom (theory) learning for a short period, employers in India are keen on hiring apprentices followed by on-the-job (practical) training. while 58% of enterprises want to increase the quantum of their apprenticeship hiring this year. Key Points € Leading Cities: Chennaihas emerged as the most ¾ About the National Employability through apprentice friendly city. Apprenticeship Program: z Among non-metro cities, Ahmedabad and € It was set up in 2014 as a 100% employer-funded Nagpur are the most promising cities for Public-Private Partnership (PPP). apprenticeship. € The program was launched by the Ministry of € Leading Sectors: The manufacturing, automobiles Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and and ancillaries, and retail are the leading sectors. TeamLease Skills University (Gujarat). € Positive Trend for Hiring Women Apprentices: € It is in accordance with the National Employability Overall the preference for women apprentices Enhancement Mission of the AICTE. has increased by 10% from the previous half year. € NETAP was structured to overcome the challenges z This trend was more visible in Bengaluru, of the Apprenticeship Act, 1961. Mumbai and Kolkata. z NETAP proposed to appoint 2 lac apprentices ¾ Significance: every year for the next 10 years. At peak capacity, € India’s working-age population is estimated to it will be the world’s largest apprenticeship continue to increase through 2041.This will have program. major implications on the required rate of job € It will help the unemployed youth to build skills creation in the economy. through Learning by doing and Learning while € Statistics show thatapproximately 3% of children earning along with providing them with access dropout after grade th5 and 8th in the country owing to practical skills. to socio-economic challenges. Apprenticeship National Employability Enhancement Mission can be an important mechanism for seamless ¾ It is a pioneering initiative taken jointly by AICTE transitioning from school to work and bridging of and Government of India. skill-gap in the workforce. ¾ Introduced in 2013, the NEEM aims to offer practical ¾ Other Initiatives to Promote Apprenticeships: trainings to enhance employability of any person € Apprenticeship Act of 1961 (and the Amendments who: to the Act). € Is either pursuing graduation / diploma in any € Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Appren- technical or non-technical stream, or ticeship and Skills (SHREYAS) € Have discontinued studies of degree or diploma € National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) courses. € Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhance- ¾ A NEEM Trainee is any registered person who has a ment Scheme minimum education up to Class Xand is between € YuWaah Youth Skilling Initiative 16 to 40 years of age. € Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana ¾ A total of 23 industries have been listed in the NEEM where a trainee can be enrolled. It includes the automobile industry, pharmaceuticals, electronics Pre-Pack Insolvency & hardware, food processing, healthcare services Resolution Process and the financial sector. ¾ The NEEM is envisioned to place at least 10,000 stu- Why in News dents per year in registered companies or registered Recently, a sub-committee of the Insolvency Law industries for the purpose of providing training. Committee (ILC)has recommended a pre-pack framework

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within the basic structure of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy requires approval, the courts often get guided by Code (IBC), 2016. commercial wisdom of the parties. ¾ The Government had constituted a sub-committee of z Outcome of the pre-pack process, where ap- Insolvency Law Committee (ILC) in June, 2020 under proved by the court, is binding on all stakeholders. the chairmanship of Dr. M. S. Sahoo, Chairperson, ¾ Advantages of Pre-pack Offer: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) € Quick Resolution: Pre-pack, which enables a faster to make recommendation on Pre-Pack Insolvency resolution, preserves and maximises value (of a Resolution Process (PPIRP). company in a stressful state) and increases the possibility of resolution. Key Points € Minimises Disruptions to the Business: Since ¾ Pre-Packs: the CD continues with the existing management € A pre-pack is an agreement for the resolution during pre-pack, it avoids the cost of disruption of the debt of a distressed company through of business as it does not shift management to an agreement between secured creditors and Interim Resolution Professional (i.e. unlike that investors instead of a public bidding process. in the CIRP process) and continues to retain z This system of insolvency proceedings has employees, suppliers, customers, and investors. become an increasingly popular mechanism € Group Resolution: Given that resolution of a group for insolvency resolution in the UK and Europe of companies can be value-adding as compared to over the past decade. a separate insolvency proceeding for each company € In India’s case, such a system would likely require in distress, many jurisdictions are contemplating to that financial creditors agree on terms with potential make available an enabling framework for the same. investors and seek approval of the resolution plan z In the absence of any mechanism to effectively from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). deal with insolvency of a group of companies ¾ Need for Pre-Packs: in most jurisdictions, pre-packs have proved to € Slow progress in the resolution of distressed be very helpful. companies has been one of the key issues raised € Lighter on Courts: The courts usually have limited by creditors regarding the Corporate Insolvency infrastructural capacity and can perform its Resolution Process (CIRP) under the IBC. obligations within its limits. z CIRP is the process of resolving the corporate z A pre-pack has the potential to reduce litigation, insolvency of a corporate debtor in accordance due to its informal and consensual nature. It with the provisions of the Code. does not require involvement of the court during z Under the IBC, stakeholders are required to the informal part of the process and requires a complete the CIRP within 330 days of the minimum role of courts during formal process. initiation of insolvency proceedings. z It is necessary to have a functional out of court ¾ Key Features of Pre-Packs: restructuring process, so that the vast majority of cases are restructured out of bankruptcy, € Pre-Pack usually requires services of an insolvency practitioner to assist the stakeholders in the with the NCLT acting as a court of last resort if conduct of the process. no agreement is possible. ¾ z The extent of authority of the practitioner varies Drawbacks of Pre-Packs: across jurisdictions. € Lack Transparency: € Pre-pack envisages a consensual process - prior z The key drawback of a pre-packaged insolvency understanding among or approval by stakeholders resolution is thereduced transparency compared about the course of action to address stress of a to the CIRP as financial creditors would reach Corporate Debtor (CD), before invoking the formal an agreement with a potential investor privately part of the process. and not through an open bidding process. € No requirement of Court Approval: It does not z This could lead to stakeholders such as opera- always require approval of a court. Wherever it tional creditors raising issues of fair treatment

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when financial creditors reach agreements to € Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), reduce the liabilities of the distressed company. € Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), € Insufficient Marketing: The research shows that € APEDA and TRIFED, where no marketing is carried out pre-packs return € Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), less money to creditors. Kannauj, and € No consideration is given to the future viability € Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Micro, of the new company: The insolvency practitioner Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME). has no legal requirement to look at the future ¾ Significance of the Mission: viability of the new business emerging from a € Raising Income: Floriculture has the potential to pre-pack sale. provide employment to a large number of people z His/her only legal responsibility is to the creditors through nursery raising, floriculture farming, of the old business. entrepreneurship development for nursery trade, value addition and export. CSIR Floriculture Mission € Agro Climatic diversity: India has diverse agro- climatic and edaphic conditions (physical, chemical, Why in News and biological properties of soil), and rich plant diversity, still it shares only 0.6% of the global Recently, CSIR Floriculture Mission has been approved floriculture market. for implementation in 21 States and Union Territories of € Import Substitution: At least 1200 million USD India. worth of floriculture products are being imported ¾ CSIR’s Societal Portal has also been launched along by India every year from different countries. with the Android App. € The convergence of Floriculture with Apiculture Key Points (beekeeping) as envisaged in the mission will yield even greater benefits. ¾ About the MIssion: ¾ Other Related Initiative (Mission for Integrated € Floriculture is a branch of horticulture that deals Development of Horticulture): with the cultivation, processing and marketing of € Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture ornamental plants vis-à-vis landscaping of small (MIDH) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the or large areas, and maintenance of gardens so holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering that the surroundings may appear aesthetically fruits, vegetables, root & tuber crops, mushrooms, pleasant. spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, € The mission will focus on commercial floral crops, cocoa and bamboo. seasonal/annual crops, wild ornaments and cultivation of flower crops for honey bee rearing. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research z Some of the popular crops include Gladiolus, ¾ It was established by the Government of India in Canna, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, September 1942 as an autonomous body. It comes Lilium, Marigold, Rose, Tuberose etc. under the Ministry of Science & Technology. ¾ € In the mission, available knowledge base in It is known for its cutting edge research and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research development knowledge base in diverse science (CSIR) Institutes will be utilized and leveraged to and technology areas. help Indian farmers and industry. ¾ It has been ranked first in the Nature Ranking z The Indian floriculture market was worth Rs. Index-2020. 15,700 crore in 2018. The market is projected to € The Nature Index provides close to a real-time reach Rs. 47,200 crore by 2024 during 2019-24. proxy of high-quality research output and collaboration at the institutional, national and ¾ Along with CSIR, other implementing agencies regional level. involved are:

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Amendment Of Insurance ¾ Qualification: € An Ombudsman shall be selected from amongst Ombudsman Rules, 2017 persons having experience of the insurance industry, civil service, administrative service or Why in News judicial service. Recently, the Union government amended the ¾ Selection: Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017, bringing insurance € An Ombudsman shall be selected by a Selection brokers within the ambit of the Insurance Ombudsman Committee comprising of: and also allowed policy holders to file online complaints. z Chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) who is also Key Points the Chairman of the Selection Committee. ¾ About: z One representative each of the Life Insurance € Enlarged the Scope Of Complaints: Earlier it was Council and the General Insurance Council only disputes. Now the amended rules will cover from the Executive Council of Insurers. even the deficiencies in service on the part of z A representative of the Government of India insurers, agents, brokers and other intermediaries. not below the rank of a Joint Secretary. € Introduced ICT Enabled Complaint Redressal: ¾ Term of Office: z Enables making complaints electronically. € Three years and it is eligible for reappointment z Complaints management system to enable provided that no person shall hold office as an policyholders to track the status of their Ombudsman after he has attained the age of complaints online. seventy years. z Video-conferencing for hearings. ¾ Duties and Functions: € These amendments will strengthen the timeliness € Mediation And Counselling: The Ombudsman and cost-effectiveness of the mechanisms. shall act as counsellor and mediator relating to ¾ Empowering Ombudsman: matters where there is written consent of the € A number of amendments have been made for parties to the dispute. securing the independence and integrity of the € Grievance Redressal: The IRDAI may, at any ombudsman selection process, while also building time refer any complaint or dispute relating to in safeguards to secure the independence and insurance matters to the Insurance Ombudsman. impartiality of the appointed persons while serving as ombudsmen. € The selection committee will now include an Purple Revolution individual with a track record of promoting Under Aroma Mission consumer rights or advancing the cause of consumer protection in the insurance sector. Why in News Insurance Ombudsman Around 500 farmers across villages in Doda district ¾ About: in Jammu had their incomes quadrupled after shifting € In exercise of the powers conferred by the from maize to lavender cultivation which is being called Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority purple revolution. It was possible due to initiatives taken Act, 1999 and in accordance with the Redressal under Aroma Mission. of Public Grievances Rules, 1998, the office of Insurance Ombudsman was established by the Key Points Central Government. ¾ Purple Revolution (Under Aroma Mission): € Its powers, functions, terms of office etc. were € About: laid in Insurance Ombudsman Rules, 2017. z First-time farmers were given free lavender

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saplings and those who have cultivated lavender Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling. Lucknow. The participating laboratories are CSIR- € Aim: Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur; CSIR-Indian Institute of z To support domestic aromatic crop based agro economy by moving from imported aromatic Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu etc. oils to homegrown varieties. ¾ Coverage: € Products: € The scientific interventions made under the z Main product is Lavender oil which sells for at mission project would provide assured benefits to least Rs. 10,000 per litre the growers of Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha z Lavender water, which separates from lavender and other states where farmers are exposed oil, is used to make incense sticks. to frequent episodes of weather extremes and z , which is formed after distillation Hydrosol account for maximum suicides. from the flowers, is used to make soaps and € Aromatic Plants include lavender, damask rose, room fresheners. mushk bala, etc. € Main Agencies Involved: z Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Institute of Integrative CRCL Recognized as Medicine, Jammu (IIIM Jammu), the two Regional Customs Laboratory bodies are mainly responsible for making purple revolution under the Aroma Mission a success. Why in News € Significance: z Apart from being in sync with government policy Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL), New of doubling farm incomes by 2022, lavender Delhi, under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & cultivation also provided employment to the Customs has been recognized as a Regional Customs district’s women farmers thus gave impetus Laboratory (RCL) of the World Customs Organisation to inclusive growth. (WCO) for Asia-Pacific Region. ¾ Aroma Mission: ¾ With its recognition as RCL, CRCL joins a select group of Customs Laboratories in the region like those in € Objectives:The CSIR Aroma Mission is envisaged to Japan & Korea. bring transformative change in the aroma sector through desired interventions in the areas of Key Points agriculture, processing and product development for fuelling the growth of aroma industry and rural ¾ About Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL): employment. € Established: 1939. z The mission will promote the cultivation of € With the introduction of instrument based aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great testing, Revenue Laboratories are facilitating demand by the aroma industry. faster clearances, without compromising on law € It is expected to enable Indian farmers and aroma enforcement, and thereby playing a vital role in industry to become global leaders in the production trade facilitation. and export of some other essential oils on the ¾ Regional Customs Laboratory: pattern of menthol mint. € Their traditional work is the chemical analysis € It aims to provide substantial benefits to the to determine tariff classification and the level of farmers in achieving higher profits, utilization of duties and other taxes. waste lands and protection of their crops from € Their role has evolved over time with changes in wild and grazing animals. trade patterns and technical evolution. ¾ Nodal Agencies: € Modern customs laboratories now play an € The nodal laboratory is CSIR-Central Institute of important part in environmental protection

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(e.g., controlling the trade of ozone depleting ¾ About: substances), endangered species protection, control € More than 2200 FPOs produce clusters have of dangerous goods such as pesticides,persistent been allocated for the formation of FPOs in organic pollutants, chemical weapons, as well as 2020-21. narcotics and drug precursors, etc. € Implementing Agencies (IAs) are engagingCluster- ¾ World Customs Organisation: Based Business Organizations (CBBOs)to aggregate, € The World Customs Organization (WCO), established register & provide professional handholding support in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council to each FPO for a period of 5 years. (CCC) is an independent intergovernmental body z CBBOs will be the platform for an end to whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and end knowledge for all issues related to FPO efficiency of Customs administrations. promotion. € At present, it represents 183 Customs adminis- ¾ Financial Assistance: trationsacross the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. € Up to Rs. 18.00 lakh per FPO for a period of 3 years. € Provision has also been made for matching € India had become the vice-chair (regional head) equity of the Asia Pacific region of the WCO for a period grant up to Rs. 2,000 per farmer member of FPO of two years to June, 2020. with a limit of Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO. € It is the only international organization with € Provision of a credit guarantee facility up to Rs. 2 competence in Customs matters and which can crores of project loan per FPO from the eligible rightly call itself the voice of the international lending institution to ensure institutional credit Customs community. accessibility to FPOs. € It has its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. ¾ Significance: € Some Important Conventions/Mechanism under € Increase Farmers Income: WCO: z It will promote the selling of farmers’ produce z The SAFE Framework of Standards to Secure from the farm gate of farmers thereby enhancing and Facilitate Global Trade. farmers’ income. z The InternationalConvention on the Harmonized z This will shorten the supply chain and accordingly Commodity Description and Coding System marketing costs will get reduced resulting in (HS Convention). better income for farmers. z The InternationalConvention on the Simplifica- € Create Employment: tion and Harmonization of Customs procedures z It will accelerate more investment in marketing (revised Kyoto Convention or RKC). and value addition infrastructure near to farm gates creating more employment opportunities Formation & for rural youth. Promotion of 10,000 FPOs € Make Farming Viable: z It will make farming more viable by aggregating Why in News land. Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers ¾ Other Initiatives for Farmers: Welfare celebrated the first anniversary of the Central € National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. Sector Scheme titled ‘Formation & Promotion of 10,000 € Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)’. € Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Key Points € Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Programme. ¾ Launch: € Rashtriya Gokul Mission. € € In February 2020, at Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. with a budgetary provision of Rs. 6865 crore. € Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

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Farmer Producer Organization Key Points ¾ A Producer Organisation (PO) is a legal entity formed ¾ Growth Projections: by primary producers, viz. farmers, milk producers, € For the full fiscal year (2020-21), the National fishermen, weavers, rural artisans, craftsmen. Statistical Office (NSO) has projected a contraction € PO is a generic name for an organization of of 8%, higher than the forecasts of the Economic producers of any produce, e.g., agricultural, Survey (7.7 %) and the Reserve Bank of India (7.5 %). non-farm products, artisan products, etc. € The real GDP growth estimate for the third quarter ¾ A PO can be a production company, a cooperative (2020-21) is at 0.4%. In the corresponding quarter society or any other legal form which provides for last year, the economy had grown 3.3 %. sharing of profits/benefits among the members. € For the April-June quarter (Q1) and July-September € In some forms like producer companies, (Q2), the contraction numbers were revised from institutions of primary producers can also become 23.9% to 24.4% and 7.5% to 7.3%, respectively. a member of PO. ¾ Growth Across Major Sectors: ¾ The concept of ‘Farmer Producer Organizations, € Industries and Services Sector: (FPO)’ consists of collectivization of producers z With improved performance of manufacturing, especially small and marginal farmers so as to electricity and construction,industry recorded a form an effective alliance to collectively address growth rate of 2.6% in the third quarter against many challenges of agriculture such as improved the contraction in the first two. access to investment, technology, inputs, and z However, services, with the largest share in markets. FPO is one type of PO where the members GDP at 57%, still remained in the contraction are farmers. zone with a 0.9% fall year-on-year. ¾ FPOs are generally mobilized by promoting „ Financial, real estate and professional services institutions/resource agencies (RAs). grew 6.6% as against 9.5% contraction in the € Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) previous quarter and 5.5% growth in the is providing support for the promotion of FPOs. corresponding period last year. ¾ The resource agencies leverage the support available „ Mining, trade, hotels, transport, communi- from governments and agencies like National Bank cation and broadcasting services and public for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) administration services continued to stay to promote and nurture FPOs. in the negative territoryin the third quarter registering a contraction of 5.9 %, 7.7%, and India Emerged out 1.5%, respectively. € Cores Sector Output: of Technical Recession z India’s eight core sectors recorded a meagre 0.1% rise in output in January 2021, propped Why in News up by a 5.1% rise in electricity, 2.7% growth in fertilizers and 2.6% growth in steel production, The Indian economy has emerged out of technical even as the other five sectors contracted. recession as it grew at 0.4% in the third (October- December) quarter of 2020-21 with improvement in z Coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, manufacturing, construction and agriculture. and cement recorded negative growth in January. ¾ The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had contracted by z The eight core industries constitute 40.27% of 24.4% and 7.3% in the April-June and July-September the Index of Industrial Production. quarters, respectively, marking a technical recession € Agriculture: in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. z Growth in agriculture jumped 3.9% in October- ¾ A technical recession is when a country faces a December compared with 3% growth in continuous decline for two consecutive quarters in July-September and 3.4% growth during the the GDP. corresponding quarter last year.

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¾ Reasons: ¾ Other Economic Indicators: € New Investment: € Domestic Consumption: Disaggregated data show z The positive momentum seen in investment that domestic consumption continued to contract, demand (Gross Fixed Capital Formation - GFCF) at 58.6% of GDP in Q3, as against 60.2% during as it grew by 2.6% in the third quarter after the corresponding period of last fiscal. being in doldrums for several quarters now. € Government Spending: Government spending, „ GFCF: It is essentially net investment. It is a as reflected by the GFCE, dipped a tad to 9.8% of component of the Expenditure method of GDP in Q3 from 10% during Q2. calculating GDP. € GVA Estimates: The growth rate in terms of Gross z This is the result of unrelenting efforts of the Value Added (GVA) — which is GDP minus net government to go all-out to revive investments product taxes, and reflects growth in supply — is under the ambit of the various measures which seen contracting 6.5% in 2020-21 as against earlier formed a part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat estimates of 7.2% and 3.9% in the previous year. package. € GDP in Nominal Terms: It factors in inflation, and z Going forward, the growth stimuli available from is estimated at (-) 3.8% in 2020-21. the Union Budget 2021-22 and the additional measures including the Production-Linked Merchant Incentive (PLI) will lead to a strong growth path over the recovery horizon. Digitization Summit 2021 € Increase in Centre’s Capital Expenditure: z The resurgence of Government Final Consump- Why in News tion Expenditure (GFCE) in Q3 and Centre’s Recently, the Government of India, Federation of capital expenditure increased year-on-year by Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and 129% in October, 249% in November and 62% UN-based Better Than Cash Alliance hosted Merchant in December. Digitization Summit 2021: Towards Atma Nirbhar (Self „ GFCE is an aggregate transaction amount Reliance) Bharat. on a country’s national income accounts ¾ The Summit brought together leaders from the representing government expenditure public and private sectors to accelerate responsible on goods and services that are used for digitization of merchants in India’s North-Eastern the direct satisfaction of individual needs and Himalayan regions, and Aspirational districts. (individual consumption) or collective needs of members of the community. Key Points € V-shaped Recovery: ¾ Highlights of the Summit: z The Q3 GDP numbers showed the success of € Empowering women merchants who play critical the government’s initial policy of “lives over roles in their communities is one of the priorities livelihood”. “The sharp V- shaped recovery to help achieve the mission of Digital India. has been driven by rebounds in both Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) and € The National Language Translation Mission can be Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) as a used to disseminate digital payments information, combination of astute handling of the lockdown privacy clauses and consent in local languages for and a calibrated fiscal stimulus. trust and empowerment. „ PFCE: It is defined as the expenditure € Identified opportunities addressto the challenges incurred by the resident households and of connectivity, access to smartphones, and digital non-profit institutions serving households literacy for merchants at the last mile. (NPISH) on final consumption of goods and € Along with the increased focus on ‘Make in India’ services, whether made within or outside through Atmanirbhar Bharat Scheme, responsible the economic territory. digitization must more strongly include rural

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networks such as Self Help Groups and community € FICCI is a non-government, not-for-profit organ- enablers. isation established in 1927. z This will lead to creation of the local digital € It is the largest and oldest apex business organisation ecosystems to help millions of merchants join in India whose history is closely interwoven the formal economy, access credit, and grow with India’s struggle for independence, its their business. industrialization, and its emergence as one of the € From an average of 2-3 billion digital transactions most rapidly growing global economies. monthly, India has set an ambitious target for 1 billion digital transactions per day. Maritime India Summit 2021 z Person to Merchant (P2M) digital payment transactions will scale to 10-12 billion Why in News transactions every month to contribute to ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ is being organised by India’s digital economy. the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. ¾ Related Recent initiatives: € Digital Payments Index. Key Points € Payments Infrastructure Development Fund ¾ Focus Area: (PIDF) scheme. € To further the port-led development along the € Relaxations in Merchant Discount Rate. 7,516-km long coastline. ¾ Better Than Cash Alliance (BTCA): € India will invest USD 82 billion in port projects by € About: BTCA is a partnership of governments, 2035 (under Sagarmala Programme), raise the companies, and international organizations that share of clean renewable energy sources in the accelerates the transition from cash to responsible maritime sector, develop waterways and boost digital payments to help achieve the Sustainable tourism around lighthouses. Development Goals. € India aims to operationalise 23 waterways by 2030. € Foundation: It was launched by the United Nations € Through the focus area of upgradation of Capital Development Fund, the United States infrastructure, India aims to strengthen the vision Agency for International Development, the Bill of Atmanirbhar Bharat. & Melinda Gates Foundation, Citigroup, the Ford ¾ Current Status of Indian Ports: Foundation, the Omidyar Network, and Visa Inc. € India has 12 major ports and several minor ports z It is based at the United Nations. along its West and East coast. z It was created in 2012. € Capacity of major ports have increased from 870 € Members: The Alliance has 75 members which million tonnes in 2014 to 1550 million tonnes are committed to digitizing payments in order to in 2021. boost efficiency, transparency, women’s economic € Indian ports have measures such as: Direct port participation and financial inclusion, helping build Delivery, Direct Port Entry and an upgraded Port economies that are digital and inclusive. Community System (PCS) for easy data flow that has helped in reduced waiting time for inbound z Members do not want to abolish physical cash but rather want to provide responsible digital and outbound cargo. payment options that are “better than cash”. ¾ Significance: z India became a member of the Better Than € It will help in growth of the maritime sector and Cash Alliance in 2015 to digitize payments to promote India as a leading Blue Economy of the achieve financial inclusion and to share success world. stories from Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, € Further the Maritime India Vision 2030. the world’s largest financial inclusion program. ¾ Other Initiatives for Port Development: ¾ Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & € The Sagar-Manthan: Mercantile Marine Domain Industry (FICCI): Awareness Centre has also been launched.

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z It is an information system for enhancing z The Index is published quarterly. maritime safety, search and rescue capabilities, € Aim: To provide a measure of the growth and security and marine environment protection. strength of the MSME sector in India. € Ship repair clusters will be developed along both z The Index will provide government, policy coasts by 2022. makers, lenders and MSME market participants, € Domestic ship recycling industry will also be a numeric indicator for benchmarking the health promoted to create ‘Wealth from Waste’. of the MSME sector. z India has enacted Recycling of Ships Act, 2019 € Measurement: The Index measures the credit health and agreed to the Hong Kong International of India’s MSME industry on two parameters i.e, Convention. growth and strength. Both the growth and strength € India aims to increase usage of renewable energy indices follow the principle of higher the better. to more than 60% of total energy by 2030 across z Growth is measured by plotting increase in Indian ports. exposure value (outstanding balances) over time. „ An increasing Growth Index indicates Sagarmala Programme improvement in credit growth. ¾ The Sagarmala Programme was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2015 which aims at holistic port z Strength is measured by decrease/increase in infrastructure development along the 7,516-km long credit risk in terms of non-performing assets coastline through modernisation, mechanisation (NPA). and computerisation. „ An increasing Strength Index implies better ¾ Under this port-led development framework, the asset quality and therefore denotes an government hopes to increase its cargo traffic improvement in the structural strength of three-fold. the sector. ¾ It also includes the establishment of rail/road € Significance: This measurement model will facilitate linkages with the port terminals, thus providing better MSME credit risk management, formulation last-mile connectivity to ports; development of of strategies and policies to support the revival and linkages with new regions, enhanced multi-modal resurgence of the MSME sector and the economy. connectivity including rail, inland water, coastal ¾ Latest Data: and road services. € The overall growth index inched up to 114 points, which is a three-point increase from 111 in June, MSME Credit Health Index 2020. € The overall Strength Index also improved to 89 Why in News from 83 over the same period. ¾ About the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme: The latest MSME Credit Health Index indicates that MSME credit growth has accelerated in the quarter ending € The scheme was launched as part of the September 2020 as compared to the quarter ending in Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package announced June 2020. in May 2020 to mitigate the distress caused by -induced lockdown, by providing credit ¾ The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECGLS) coronavirus has helped in the credit growth for the Micro, Small to different sectors, especially Micro, Small and and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). € The ECLGS provides for the Guaranteed Emergency Key Points Credit Line (GECL) facility. ¾ About the MSME Credit Health Index: z The GECL is a loan for which 100% guarantee € Launch: The TransUnion CIBIL in partnership is provided by the National Credit Guarantee with the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Trustee Company (NCGTC) to Member Lending Implementation (MoSPI) has launched MSME Institutions (MLIs) - banks, financial institutions Credit Health Index. and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).

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z The loans are extended in the form of additional € The interest rate was kept the same as the working capital term loan facility in case of previous year. banks and additional term loan facility in case z In March 2020, EPFO had reduced interest of NBFCs to eligible Micro, Small and Medium rate on provident fund deposits to 8.5% for Enterprises (MSMEs)/business enterprises the year 2019-2020. and interested Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana z The interest rate was 8.65% in 2018-19 and (PMMY) borrowers. 8.55% for 2017-18. National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Ltd ¾ High Returns: ¾ NCGTC is a private limited company incorporated € Amid falling interest rates owing to the economic under the Companies Act, 1956 in 2014, established slowdown throughout 2020 due to the Covid-19 by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry pandemic, the EPFO has managed to hold on to of Finance, as a wholly owned company of the the high interest rate of 8.5% in the current year. Government of India, to act as a common trustee ¾ Reason for High Returns: company for multiple credit guarantee funds. € The interest rate recommended was a result of € Credit guarantee programmes are designed to the income from interest from debt investment share the lending risk of the lenders and in turn, and income from equity investment. facilitate access to finance for the prospective z EPFO had decided to liquidate investment in borrowers. equity through exchange traded funds, which it had started in 2015-2016. EPFO: Interest z This has enabled EPFO to provide higher return to its subscribers and still allowing EPFO with Rate for 2020-21 healthy surplus to act as cushion for providing higher return in future also. Why in News Key Terms Recently, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation ¾ Debt Investment: (EPFO) recommended that subscribers be given 8.5% € It refers to an investor lending money to a firm interest rate for Provident Fund contributions (under or project sponsor with the expectation that Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme) for 2020-2021. the borrower will pay back the investment Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) Scheme with interest. ¾ EPF is the main scheme under the Employees’ ¾ Equity Investment: Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Act, 1952. € It is the money that is invested in a company ¾ This scheme offers the institution of provident funds by purchasing shares of that company in the for factory employees and other establishments. stock market. ¾ The employee and employer each contribute 12% of the employee’s basic salary and dearness allowance Employees Provident Fund Organisation towards EPF. ¾ It is a government organization that manages provident € The Economic Survey 2016-17 had suggested fund and pension accounts for the workforce engaged that employees be allowed to choose whether in the organized sector in India. or not to save 12% of their salary into EPF or ¾ It implements the Employees’ Provident Fund and keep it as take home pay. Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. ¾ As per current laws, a person mandatorily becomes € The Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous a member of EPF if his monthly salary does not Provisions Act, 1952 provides for the institution exceed Rs. 15,000. of provident funds for employees in factories and other establishments. Key Points ¾ It is administered by the Ministry of Labour & ¾ Interest Rate: Employment, Government of India.

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¾ It is one of the World’s largest Social Security of telecom and networking products such as Organisations in terms of clientele and the volume switches, routers, 4G/5G radio access network, of financial transactions undertaken. wireless equipment and other internet of things (IoT) access devices. PLI Scheme for Telecom Sector z It will be operational from st1 April, 2021. € Eligibility for the Scheme: Why in News z It is subject to achieving a minimum threshold of cumulative incremental investment and The Union Cabinet has approved the Production- incremental sales of manufactured goods. Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the telecom sector z The cumulative investment can be made at one with an outlay of Rs. 12,195 crores over five years. go, subject to annual cumulative threshold as prescribed for four years being met. z 2019-20 will be treated as the base year for computation of cumulative incremental sales of manufactured goods net of taxes. € Incentives: z An investor who qualifies for the scheme will be incentivised up to 20 times the minimum investment threshold, enabling them to utilise their unused capacity. € Higher Incentives for MSMEs: z For Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the minimum investment threshold has been kept at Rs. 10 crore, while for others it is Rs. 100 crore. z For MSMEs, a 1% higher incentive is also proposed in the first three years. ¾ Significance: Key Points € The scheme is expected to lead to an incremental ¾ About the PLI Scheme: production of about Rs. 2.4 lakh crore, with exports € In order to boost domestic manufacturing and of about Rs. 2 lakh crore over five years and bring cut down on import bills, the central government in investments of more than Rs. 3,000 crore. in March 2020 introduced a scheme that aims to € It is also likely to generate 40,000 direct and give companies incentives on incremental sales indirect employment opportunities andgenerate from products manufactured in domestic units. tax revenue of Rs. 17,000 crore from telecom € Apart from inviting foreign companies ot set equipment manufacturing. shop in India, the scheme also aims to encourage € Through this scheme, India will move towards local companies to set up or expand existing self-reliance. Currently, India imports over 80% of manufacturing units. its telecom and wireless networking equipment. € The Scheme has been approved for many sectors including electronic products, IT hardware, New Umbrella pharmaceuticals, automobiles and components, etc. Entity for Payment Systems ¾ PLI Scheme for Telecom Sector: € About: Why in News z This Scheme is for domestic manufacturing The private companies have shown interest in setting

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up New Umbrella Entities (NUEs) for payment systems Any entity holding more than 25% of the paid- - an idea floated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) . up capital of the NUE will be deemed to be a ¾ The aim is to create an alternate mechanism to the promoter. existingNational Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). € Capital: The umbrella entity shall have a minimum paid-up capital of Rs. 500 crore. Key Points z No single promoter or promoter group should ¾ New Umbrella Entities (NUEs): have more than 40% investment in the capital € About: NUEs will be a non-profit entity that of the entity. will set-up, manage and operate new payment z A minimum net worth of Rs. 300 crore should systems, especially in the retail space such as ATMs, be maintained at all times. white-label PoS; Aadhaar-based payments and € Governance Structure: The NUE should conform remittance services. to the norms of corporate governance along with € Functions Envisaged: ‘fit and proper’ criteria for persons to be appointed z NUEs will develop new payment methods, on its board. standards and technologies. z The RBI retains the right to approve the z These will operate clearing and settlement appointment of directors as also to nominate systems, identify and manage relevant risks a member on the board of the NUE. such as settlement, credit, liquidity and operation € Foreign Investment: Allowed in NUEs as long as and preserve the integrity of the system. they comply with the existing guidelines. z These will monitor retail payment system developments and related issues in the country Rationalisation and internationallyto avoid shocks, frauds and contagions that may adversely affect the system of Railway Fares and the economy in general. ¾ Need for NUEs: Why in News € Limitations of NPCI: Currently, the umbrella entity The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways for providing retail payments system is NPCI, which has suggested rationalisation of both freight and pas- is a non-profit entity, owned by banks. senger fares. z NPCI operates settlement systems such asUPI , AEPS, RuPay, Fastag, etc. Key Points z Players in the payments space have indicated ¾ Committee’s Observation: the various pitfalls of NPCI being the only entity € Social Service Obligations: managing all of retail payments systems in India. z The losses incurred by the railways in passenger € To Increase Competitiveness: RBI’s plan to allow services purportedly due to the social service other organisations to set up umbrella entities for obligations which include pricing tickets at fares payments systems aims to expand the competitive lower than costs and passenger concessions. landscape in this area. z The railways incur losses to the tune of Rs. z Players planning to establish these NUE aim to 35,000-38,000 crore a year in the passenger get an even bigger share in the digital payments segment. sector. € Effect of Covid: ¾ Framework Related to NUEs: z Revenues from passenger services further € Owned and Controlled by Residents: The promoter deteriorated due to suspension of operations or the promoter group for the NUE should be during Covid-19,. ‘owned and controlled by residents’ with 3 years’ € Operating Ratio: experience in the payments ecosystem. z Noted the regular deterioration in Railways z The shareholding pattern should be diversified. Operating Ratio (OR).

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z OR indicates how much the Railways spend to z The railways should strengthen their planning, earn a rupee. It helps determine the financial management and monetary mechanisms to health of the Railways. earn substantial non-fare revenues through z For example, an operating ratio of 98.36% for various methods/sources, already intended 2019-20, indicates that to earn Rs. 100, the and put in place. Railways will have to spend Rs. 98.36. „ For example: Dividends from its public sector „ For 2020-21, it is estimated to be 131.4%. undertakings, land lease, parking, sale of scrap, advertisements and publicity etc. „ For 2021-22, Railways is targeting OR of 96.15%. z Railway finances should be managed prudently ¾ Challenges in the Functioning of Railways: so that the OR may reach at acceptable level in the near future. € Indian Railways’ ills are as multifarious as they are well-known: bureaucratic, obese structure with Recent Steps a misconceived perception of public-service- ¾ Draft National Rail Plan: obligation, warped investment priorities, capacity € In December 2020, in an endeavour to address crunch on arterial routes, strained terminals, the inadequacies of capacity constraints and irrational fare & freight structures. improve its modal share in the total freight € It has one of the highest rail freight charges in ecosystem of the country, Indian Railways had the world. This has also resulted in consumers come up with a Draft National Rail Plan. moving to roadways for freight transportation, ¾ Dedicated Freight Corridor: which is more convenient for them. € It is a high speed and high capacity railway € The predicament of the railways is that the profits corridor that is exclusively meant for the trans- earned from freight business are utilised to portation of freight, or in other words, goods compensate for the losses incurred on passenger and commodities. and other coaching services, thereby adversely ¾ Introduction of Policy for Private Passenger Trains affecting both freight and passenger business. Operations: ¾ Committee’s Suggestions: € In July 2020, Indian Railways initiated the process € Revisiting social service obligationsand resuming to allow private firms to operate passenger services suspended during covid. trains on its network through 151 new trains. € Adjust Passengers Fares: ¾ Adarsh Station Scheme: z Undertake “prudent adjustment” of passenger € It aims to upgrade the suburban stations of India fares to reduce the burden on freight segments. to Adarsh stations. € Make Fares Demand-cum-Market Driven: ¾ Restructuring of the Railway Board and Merger of z Both passenger fares and freight rates have Different Railway Officer Cadres: to be demand-cum-market driven and fixed € In 2019-20, the government approved the re- differently for different segments. structuring of the Indian Railways, including a € Retain Customers: reduction in the Board strength as well as the z As the demand for transport is elastic in a com- merger of the different cadres into a central petitive market the Railways should be mindful service called the Indian Railway Management of the fact that any increase in fares should be Service (IRMS). confined to a certain limit depending upon the competition from other transport modes. Sub-Mission on z The operational efficiencies of the railways in both freight and passenger business have to be Agroforestry Scheme leveraged to a greater extent so as to retain the customer base and enhance revenues. Why in News € Strengthen Planning and Management: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

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signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with implementing the SMAF since 2016-17 as the Central Silk Board on a convergence model for the part of the recommendation of the National implementation ofAgroforestry in the silk sector. It is a Agroforestry Policy 2014. part of the ongoing Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) „ India was the first country to have such a Scheme. comprehensive policy which was launched ¾ Earlier, the Government of India allocated Rs. 2161.68 at the World Agroforestry Congress held in crores for three years i.e. 2017-2020 to its Central Delhi in February 2014. Sector Scheme ‘Silk Samagra’ for the development z The scheme is implemented only in the states of sericulture in the country. having liberalized transit regulations for the transport of timber and will be extended to Key Points other states as and when such relaxations are ¾ Convergence Model: notified by them. € Aim: „ At present, the scheme is being implemented z To incentivize the farmers to take up sericulture in 20 States and 2 UTs. based Agroforestry models thereby contributing z The scheme promotes endemic species or tree to the Make in India and Make for the World species that come with medicinal value. vision of the Prime Minister. „ Exotic species are not promoted by the € About: scheme. z This linkage will add another dimension to € Aim: agroforestry for faster returns to the growers z To encourage farmers to plant multi-purpose as well as support the productionof the range trees together with the agriculture crops for of silks that India is famous for. climate resilience and an additional source of z The Central Silk Board (CSB - under the Ministry income to the farmers, as well as enhanced of Textiles) will act as a catalyst to promote feedstock to inter alia wood-based and herbal Agroforestry in the silk sector. industry. „ CSB is a statutory body established in the € Funding: year 1948 by an Act of Parliament. z It is operational under the funding pattern60:40 z The initiative of formalizing the collaboration (Central government: State government) basis in the sericulture sector is especially targeted for all states except for 8 states of North East for augmentation of sericulture host plants e.g. Region, the hilly states of Himachal Pradesh Mulberry, Asan, Arjuna, Som, Soalu, Kesseru, and Uttarakhand where it would be90:10 fund BadaKesseru, Phanat, etc. to be cultivated both sharing. For Union Territories (UTs), the assistance as block plantations and border or peripheral will be 100% from the Central government. plantations on farmlands. € Beneficiaries: € Significance: z Farmers would be supported financially to z Planting sericulture based tree species on the the extent of 50% of the actual cost of the farm bunds and rearing silkworms will help in interventions (limited to 50% of the estimated creating additional income opportunities for cost as indicated in the Cost norms) for the farmers besides their regular source of income respective interventions. from agriculture activities. z Farmers groups/ Cooperatives and Farmer z It will contribute to the Prime Minister’s vision Producers Organization (FPO) can also avail the of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. benefit of the programme but the assistance ¾ Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme: can be accessed as per norms and provisions € About: applicable to the individual farmers. z The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation z At least 50% of the allocation is to be utilized and Farmers Welfare (DAC & FW) has been for small, marginal farmers of which at

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least 30% should be women beneficiaries/ farmers. Further 16% & 8% of the total India’s Biggest allocation or in proportion of SC/ST population Floating Solar Power Plant in the district will be utilized for Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan Why in News (TSP) respectively. z Farmers must have a soil health card to get India’s biggest floatingsolar power plant by gener- the benefit under the programme. ation capacity (100 MW) is being developed bythe National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) at Agroforestry Ramagundam in Peddapalli district of Telangana. ¾ Agroforestry is defined as a land use system which ¾ The project is in line with India’s commitment to integrates trees and shrubs on farmlands and rural attain the target of 175 GW of installed renewable landscapes to enhance productivity, profitability, energy capacity by 2022 including 100 GW of solar diversity and ecosystem sustainability. installed capacity. ¾ It is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource Key Points management system that, through integration of woody perennials on farms and in the agricultural ¾ Floating Solar Plants: landscape, diversifies and sustains production and € It refers to the deployment of photovoltaic builds social institutions. panels on the surface of water bodies. They are a viable alternative to land-based solar arrays Sericulture with applications in India. ¾ About: z There are a large number of major reservoirs € It is an agro-based industry. in the Southern Region which provides a huge € It involves rearing of silkworms for the production opportunity to go for renewable energy in the of raw silk, which is the yarn obtained out of floating solar method. cocoons spun by certain species of insects. € Projects Coming up in India: € The major activities of sericulture consist of z The thermal plant at Ramagundam would be food-plant cultivation to feed the silkworms one of the renewable (solar) energy plants being which spin silk cocoons and reeling the cocoons developed by NTPC with an installed capacity of for unwinding the silk filament for value-added 447MW in the Southern Region and the entire benefits such as processing and weaving. capacity would be commissioned by March 2023. € Domesticated silkworms (Bombyx mori) are z The renewable energy plants that are likely to raised for the purpose of sericulture. be commissioned in the next three months are ¾ Silk Production in India: 25 MW floating solar plant atSimhadri thermal € There are five major types of silkof commercial power plant near Visakhapatnam and 92 MW importance, obtained from different species of floating solar plant at Kayamkulam in Kerala. silkworms. ¾ Advantages: z These are Mulberry, Oak Tasar & Tropical € Address Land Acquisition Issues: The key challenges Tasar, Muga and Eri. that face renewable energy plant owners are land acquisition, grid connectivity, regulations € Except for mulberry, other non-mulberry varieties of silks are wild silks, known as vanya silks. and off-take. z Floating solar plants balance high population € India has the unique distinction of producing all these commercial varieties of silk. density and competing uses for available land. The land can be used for other purposes, such € South India is the leading silk producing area as farming or construction. of the country and is also known for its famous € Cooling Effect: The bodies of water exert a cooling silk weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, effect, which improves the performance of solar Dharmavaram, Arni, etc. photovoltaic panels by 5-10%.

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z Over time, this translates into significant cost € Government Schemes: Such as Solar Park Scheme, savings. Canal bank & Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme, € Other Advantages: Reduced grid interconnection Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme etc. costs, reduced water evaporation, improved water € One Sun One World One Grid: India has an quality, and reduced algal blooming. ambitious cross-border power grid plan ‘One ¾ Challenges: Sun One World One Grid’ that seeks to transfer € Increased Cost: Engineering and construction solar power generated in one region to feed the costs are usually higher than those of a ground- electricity demands of others. mounted solar farm. € Safety Issues: Since floating solar involves water Licensing and electricity, more consideration must be given to cable management and insulation testing than Conditions for Telecom on land, especially when cables are in contact Companies Amended with water. € Degradation and Corrosion: A floating solar plant Why in News has moving parts that are subject to constant friction and mechanical stress. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has amended licensing conditions for telecom companies. z Systems that are poorly designed and maintained The new norms will be implemented from 15th June 2021. could suffer from catastrophic failures. z The installation is at risk of degradation and Key Points corrosion due to moisture, especially in more ¾ New Licensing Conditions: aggressive coastal environments. € Aim: € Understanding of Water-bed Topography: Devel- oping floating solar projects requires a thorough z To include defence and national security as understanding of water-bed topography and its parameters when purchasing ‘trusted telecom suitability for setting up anchors for floats. products’ and sourcing equipment from ‘trusted telecom equipment sources’. ¾ Other Solar Energy Initiatives: € Provisions: € National Solar Mission : Solar energy has taken a central place in India’s National Action Plan on z Telecom companies can use telecom products Climate Change with the National Solar Mission only from trusted sources in its network and as one of the key Missions. must take permission from the designated authority (National Cyber Security Coordinator) € INDCs target: It targets installing 100 GW grid- connected solar power plants by the year 2022. if they plan to upgrade their existing network using telecom equipment that has not been z This is in line with India’s Intended Nationally designated as a trusted product. Determined Contributions (INDCs) target to achieve about 40% cumulative electric power z The new norms will not impact the annual installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based maintenance contracts or upgrades to existing energy resources and to reduce the emission equipment already being used by the telcos in intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 their networks. level by 2030. ¾ Trusted Telecom Products/ Trusted Telecom Equipment € Launch of ISA: The launch of the International Source: Solar Alliance (ISA) was announced by the Prime € About: Minister of India and the President of France in z It is simply a product, a company, or a technology 2015, at the 21st session of the United Nations that has been deemed safe by the government Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP- of a nation for use in its crucial and critical 21) in Paris, France. infrastructure.

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€ Classification: ¾ Impact: z In December 2020, India’s Cabinet Committee € The new policy could potentially make it more on Security had approved the setting up of difficult for Chinese telecom equipment vendors a new National Security Directive on the like Huawei and ZTE to supply equipment to Indian telecommunication sector with an intent to telecom players in the future. classify telecom products and their sources z Both Huawei and ZTE have been under global under the ‘trusted’ and ‘non-trusted’ categories. scrutiny for allegedly installing ‘backdoor’ or z National Cyber Security Coordinator has been ‘trapdoor’ vulnerabilities and spying for the made the designated authority for deciding Chinese government and have been banned on the list of trusted and non-trusted telecom by several countries. equipment sources and products. ¾ Significance: „ Its decisions will be made based on approval € Telecom equipment plays a vital role in telecom of a committee headed by the deputyNational connectivity and data transfer, which has a direct Security Advisor (NSA). impact on the national security of India therefore „ Apart from the deputy NSA, the expert this change will help in strengthening national committee will have members from security of India. other departments and ministries, and € Demand for local equipment will rise which will independent experts as well as two members further promote the vision of Make-in-India and from the industry. Atmanirbhar Bharat.

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International Relations

Highlights z Pakistan-Sri Lanka and India z West Container Terminal Offer to India-Japan: Sri Lanka z India-Bangladesh Bilateral Meet z Falling Rupee Reserves of Iran z ICC Investigations into Israel-Palestine War Crimes z Push for Chabahar Port in INSTC Corridor z Switzerland’s Policy of Neutrality z Uighur Muslims z India-USA Bilateral Trade z Significance of India-Bangladesh Transport Connectivity: World Bank z Humanitarian Assistance to Drought-Hit Madagascar z Bharat Bangla Maitri Bridge z India-Sweden Virtual Summit z First Leaders’ Summit: QUAD

z Recently, Sri Lanka participated in Pakistan’s Pakistan-Sri Lanka and India multi-nation naval exercise Aman-21. ¾ About the Visit: Why in News € Defence Credit Line Facility: Recently, Pakistan’s Prime Minister visited Sri Lanka. z Pakistan has offered a USD 50 million new It is the first Pakistani PM visit to Sri Lanka since 2016 credit line to Sri Lanka to boost cooperation and first visit by any head of government to Sri Lanka in defence and security sectors. since the Covid-19 pandemic began. € Enhancing Cultural Ties: Key Points z Pakistan will set up a centre for the study of Asian cultures and civilisation at Peradeniya ¾ Sri Lanka-Pakistan Relationship (Background): University in Kandy. € Trade: z Sri Lanka also named a sports institute in z Sri Lanka and Pakistan have a free trade Colombo after Pakistan’s PM, highlighting the agreement dating back to 2005. Pakistan is cricket connection between the two countries. Sri Lanka’s second largest trading partner in South Asia after India. ¾ Significance of the Visit: € € Culture: For Pakistan: z Over the last decade, Pakistan has also tried to z Enhancing Trade Ties: work on a cultural connection with Sri Lanka by „ Pakistan invited Sri Lanka to “take advantage” highlighting its ancient Buddhist connections of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor to and sites. enhance trade ties. In the past, Colombo had € Defence Cooperation: pitched for an economic corridor overland z Defence ties are a strong pillar of the Sri Lanka- for access to countries beyond. Pakistan bilateral relationship. € For Sri Lanka: z During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Sri Lanka allowed z Seeking Support in UNHRC: refuelling of Pakistani Jets. „ Recently, Sri Lanka has made an appeal to z In its Civil war against the Liberation Tigers of the member states of the United Nations Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, Sri Lanka turned to Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to reject Pakistan for arms and ammunition, as well as the impending resolution on the island training for its fighter pilots, in the last stages nation’s human rights accountability and of the war. reconciliation.

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„ Sri Lanka is facing a new UNHRC resolution India’s strategic vision (SAGAR) for the Indian Ocean, calling on it to hold human rights abusers to and countering China’s String of Pearls strategy. account and deliver justice to victims of the € Pakistan’s extension of the line of credit to Sri 26-year civil war (1983-2009) between the Lanka comes close on the heels of India extending Sinhalese-dominated Sri Lankan government USD 50 million line of credit to neighbouring and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Maldives for strengthening navy capabilities (LTTE) insurgent group fighting for Tamilian and USD 100 million to Mauritius for shoring up minorities. coastal defences. z Balancing Ties with India and Pakistan: ¾ Connectivity: „ It provided an opportunity to Sri Lanka to € The Gwadar port is connected to China’s Xinjiang balance its ties with India and Pakistan. province by the CPEC which in turn is a strand of „ Sri Lanka cancelled Pakistan’s PM address to the ambitious multi-billion dollar Belt and Road the Parliament over concerns that he would Initiative launched by China in 2013. raise the Kashmir issue. € The latest invitation to Sri Lanka from Pakistan z Repairing Anti-Muslim Image: comes as India is trying to get work restarted on which New Delhi sees as a „ This visit may repair the damage of Sri Lanka’s Chabahar port in Iran image in the Islamic world as it recently route to landlocked Central Asia and Afghanistan denied burials of bodies of Muslims who bypassing Pakistan. have died of Covid-19. ¾ Concerns over Radicalisation by Pakistan: „ Muslims, who make up about 11% of Sri € Sporadically, the Indian security establishment Lanka’s population, have had tense relations has voiced concerns about Pakistan’s role in the with the Sinhala Buddhist majority for much radicalisation of Muslims — especially in Eastern of the last decade, with riots shattering the Sri Lanka. uneasy calm every few years. India-Bangladesh Concerns For India ¾ Hamper Efforts of Isolating Pakistan: Bilateral Meet € As Sri Lanka’s closest neighbour with strong, all encompassing ties, India has not perceived Pakistan Why in News as a serious rival in Colombo so far. Recently, India’s External Affairs Minister visited € However, this visit signalled that despite India’s Bangladesh for a bilateral meet. best efforts at “isolating” Pakistan, it has friends ¾ This meeting comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister’s in the neighbourhood. visit to Bangladesh scheduled in March 2021. ¾ Increasing Closeness to China: ¾ Earlier a 122-member contingent of the Bangladesh nd € Pakistan’s PM visit soon after Sri Lanka’s abrupt Armed Forces has participated in the 72 Republic withdrawal from a tripartite agreement along( Day parade, commemorating 50 years of the 1971 with Japan and India) for the development of the India-Pakistan war that led to the liberation of East Container Terminal at Colombo port, and Bangladesh. the award of a contract to a Chinese company to set up a hybrid renewable energy in an island off Key Points Jaffna is a reason for concern for India. ¾ Bangladesh’s Stand: ¾ Threatening India’s Interests in Indian Ocean Region: € Resolution of € Increasing convergence of interests between Sri Problems: Lanka, China, and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean z Problems region is a matter of concern. between € Sri Lanka’s role is central in accomplishment of neighbouring

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countries should be resolved through discussions z Despite the Covid pandemic, interactions and and negotiations. consultations continued unabated such as: € Prioritising Each Others Benefit: „ India and Bangladesh had a Virtual Summit z Need to focus on possible ways to materialise in December 2020. commitments and accommodate each other’s „ A Joint Consultative Commission between the priorities in a mutually beneficial manner. two Foreign Ministers in September 2020. € Cooperation During Covid-19: € Teesta Issue: z Bangladesh acknowledged the collaborative z India and Bangladesh would have a meeting initiative of the two countries in implementing of Water Resources secretaries to discuss the the vaccination programme against the ongoing Teesta issue. pandemic. € Development of Connectivity: z Bangladesh purchased the Covid vaccine from z India is keen to focus on the development Serum Institute of India. of connectivity with Bangladesh and beyond „ Bangladesh is the largest recipient of 9 million for next 20 years to change the region’s geo- doses of Made in India vaccine. economic scenario. € Multidimensional Relationship: € Bangladesh Central to India’s Policies: z Both countries are committed to expand their z Bangladesh was central to India’s Neighbourhood relationship in all dimensions, ranging from First’ policy and increasingly relevant to the security, trade, transport and connectivity, country’s Act East Policy. culture, people-to-people ties, energy, joint z Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued development of our shared resources and partner not only in South Asia but also in the defence. broader Indo-Pacific region. ¾ India’s Stand: € Progress on Ground Situation: € Congratulated Bangladesh: z Practical progress has been made on the ground. z On its graduation from the Least Developed „ Conducting a trial run of container cargo Country (LDC) status. through Chattogram portto Agartala. „ Bangladesh has been on the United „ Adding two new protocol routes to inland Nations(UN) Least Developed Countries waterways connecting Tripura to the national list since 1975. waterways. „ Bangladesh fulfilled all the criteria necessary „ Handing over 10 broad gauge locomotives. for its elevation to a developing country in „ Forming a Joint venture in the energy sector. 2018. „ Therefore the UN has recommended ICC Investigations into graduation of Bangladesh from the category of Least Developed Country (LDC). Israel-Palestine War Crimes „ Once it receives the final recommendation, Bangladesh will formally graduate to the Why in News developing nation bracket in 2026. International Criminal Court (ICC) has launched € More than Strategic Partners: investigatations into the war crimes in Palestinian z India-Bangladesh relations transcend strategic territories occupied by Israel (West Bank and the Gaza partnership, and bonding of both the countries Strip). is central to the realisation of a dream of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Key Points Asia. ¾ The decision for investigation is taken after a recent € Continued Interaction During Covid: ruling that the court’s jurisdiction extends to territories

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occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six-day Arab- Israeli war. Switzerland’s € In this war, Policy of Neutrality Israeli forces seized the Why in News Golan Heights from Syria, the Recently, Switzerland’s Ambassador said that its West Bank & traditional foreignPolicy of Neutrality (Swiss Neutrality) East Jerusalem has become attractive again because of the changing from Jordan and political reality in the world. Sinai Peninsula & Gaza strip from Egypt. ¾ The investigation is also expected to cover the 2014 Gaza war, the 2018 Gaza border clashes and Israeli settlement-building in the West Bank. € The inquiry will also look at whether rocket fire by Hamas and other groups from Gaza amounts to war crimes. ¾ About ICC: € Governed by an international treaty called ‘The Rome Statute’, the ICC is the world’s first permanent Key Points international criminal court. ¾ Policy of Neutrality: € Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands. € It is a foreign policy position wherein a state intends € It investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals to remain neutral in future wars. A sovereign state charged with the gravest crimes of concern to that reserves the right to become belligerent if the international community: genocide, war attacked by a party to the war is ina condition of crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime armed neutrality. of aggression. € A permanently neutral power is a sovereign state € Through international criminal justice, ICC aims which is bound by international treaty, or by to hold those responsible for their crimes and to its own declaration, to be neutral towards the help prevent these crimes from happening again. belligerents of all future wars. An example of a permanently neutral power is Switzerland. Other € India is not a party to Rome Statute along with being Ireland, Austria, etc. the USA and China. z The concept of neutrality in war is narrowly Golan Heights defined and puts specific constraints on the ¾ The Golan Heights is a rocky plateau with an area neutral party in return for the internationally of 1,800km² on the border between Israel and Syria recognized right to remain neutral. in south-western Syria. € International Day of Neutralityis a United Nations th ¾ It is a strategic location that Israel captured from recognized day held on 12 December each year Syria in the 1967 war. Israel effectively annexed the to raise public awareness of the value of neutrality territory in 1981. in international relations. z National policies of neutrality are aimed at ¾ Recently, the USA has officially recognized Jerusalem promoting the and Golan Heights as a part of Israel. use of preventive diplomacy, which is a core function of the United Nations.

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z The term “Preventive diplomacy” refers to € In 1948, a Treaty of Friendship was concluded diplomatic action taken to prevent disputes between both the countries. Both believe in the from escalating into conflicts and to limit the spirit of democracy and pluralism. spread of conflicts when they occur. Non-Aligned Movement ¾ Swiss Neutrality and its Evolution: ¾ About: € Switzerland is renowned for its neutrality, but € It is this should not be confused with pacifism. The a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any country maintains an army, including obligatory conscription for men, and did so throughout both major power bloc. World Wars. ¾ Origin: € The last time Switzerland (Swiss) fought a military € The group was started in Belgrade, Yugoslavia battle was500 years ago, against the French (the in 1961. Swiss lost). € It was created by Yugoslavia’s President, Josip € In 1783, Switzerland was acknowledged as a Broz Tito, India’s first PM, Jawaharlal Nehru, neutral state in the Treaty of Paris. Egypt’s second President Gamal Abdel Nasser, z The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris by Great Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah, and Britain and the United States of America and Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno. Canada on 3rd September, 1783, and it officially € The most important antecedent to the formation ended the American Revolutionary War. of the Non-Aligned Movement was the Bandung € Switzerland maintained its impartial stance through Conference of 1955. World War I (1914-18), when it mobilized its army ¾ Objectives: and accepted refugees but also refused to take € It has sought to “create an independent path in sides militarily. world politics that would not result in member € In 1920, meanwhile, the newly formed League of States becoming pawns in the struggles between Nations officially recognized Swiss neutrality and the major powers.” established its headquarters in Geneva. € It identifies the right of independent judgment, the € A more significant challenge to Swiss neutrality struggle against imperialism and neo-colonialism, came during World War II, when the country found and the use of moderation in relations with all itself encircled by the Axis powers. However even big powers as the three basic elements that have then Switzerland maintained its independence by influenced its approach. promising retaliation in the event of an invasion. € At present, an additional goal is facilitating a € Since World War II, Switzerland has taken a restructuring of the international economic order. more active role in international affairs by aiding ¾ Principles: humanitarian initiatives, but it remains fiercely € Respect for fundamental human rights and of neutral with regard to military affairs. It has never the objectives and principles of the Charter of joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization the United Nations. (NATO) or the European Union, and only joined the United Nations in 2002. € Respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. € In the 21st century, Switzerland is again becoming a destination for dialogue on difficult issues. € Recognition ofequality among all races and of equality among all nations,both large and small. z Discussions on Syria, Libya and Yemen were held in Geneva. € Non-interference or non-intervention into the internal affairs of another country. ¾ Significance for India: € Respect the right of every nation to defend itself, € India’s policy of Non-alignment and Switzerland’s traditional policy of neutralityhave led to a close either individually or collectively, in conformity understanding between the two countries. with the Charter of the United Nations.

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z India also continues to seek a € Non-use of collective defence pacts to benefit “totalization the specific interests of any of the great powers. agreement” to coordinate social security protection for workers who split their careers € Refraining from acts or threats of aggression between the two countries. and use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any nation. € Agriculture: Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers in India limit USA agricultural exports. € Settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means. z Each side also sees the other’s agricultural support programs as market-distorting. € Promotion of mutual interest and cooperation. € € Respect for justice and international obligations. Intellectual Property (IP): The two sides differ on how to balance IP protection to incentivize innovation and support other policy goals, such India-USA Bilateral Trade as access to medicines. z India remains on the “Special 301” Priority Why in News Watch List for 2020, based on concerns owing According to annual reports of US Trade to its treatment of patents, infringement rates, Representative (USTR), India’s recent emphasis on import and protection of trade secrets. substitution through the ‘Make in India’ campaign is one € “Forced” Localization: The United States the several challenges facing the bilateral trade continues to press India on its “forced” localization relationship. practices. z Initiatives to grow India’s manufacturing base Key Points and support jobs include requirements for in- ¾ Bilateral Trade between India and USA: country data storage, domestic content (such € In 2019-20, the bilateral trade between the USA as laws protecting India’s solar sector), and and India stood at USD 88.75 billion. domestic testing in some sectors. € The USA is one of the few countries with which z India’s new data localization requirements for India has a trade surplus. electronic payment service suppliers such as € India’s trade surplus with the USA increased to MasterCard, Visa, etc. USD 17.42 billion in 2019-20 from USD 16.86 € Investment: US concerns about investment barriers billion in 2018-19. remain nevertheless, heightened by new Indian € For the USA, India was the sixth largest supplier restrictions on how e-commerce platforms such of services imports. as Amazon and Walmart owned Flipkart conduct € India’s large market, economic growth, and progress business. towards development make it an essential market € Defense Trade: The United States urges more for USA exporters. reforms in India’s defense offsets policy and ¾ Issues in the Trade Relationship: higher Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) caps in € Tariffs: Both the countries cite market barriers its defense sector. including both tariff and non-tariff barriers, as Generalized System of Preferences well as multiple practices and regulations that disadvantage foreign companies. ¾ The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is a USA trade program designed to promote economic € Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) growth in the developing world by providing Programme: Effective from June 2019, the USA preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products decided to withdraw duty-free benefits to Indian from 129 designated beneficiary countries and exporters under the GSP programme. territories. € Services: A key issue for India is the USA’s temporary ¾ GSP was instituted on st1 January, 1976, by the visa policies, which affect Indian nationals working Trade Act of 1974. in the United States.

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€ Showcases India’s time-tested role as anet security Humanitarian Assistance provider in the Indian Ocean Region. to Drought-Hit Madagascar ¾ Recent Developments: € India has been accepted as an observer of the Why in News Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). z This has strategic importance as the Commission India is sending a consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes is an important regional institution in the of rice and 1,00,000 hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) tablets Western/African Indian Ocean. to Madagascar as assistance to deal with the humanitarian z IOC consists of Madagascar, Comoros, La crisis triggered by a severe drought. Réunion (French overseas territory), Mauritius Key Points and Seychelles as members. € India hosted Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Conclave ¾ About the Latest Assistance: to promote dialogue in an institutional, economic € The humanitarian assistance is being delivered and cooperative environment that can foster the on-board Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa. development of peace, stability and prosperity in € During this trip, INS Jalashwa will also have on the Indian Ocean region. board an Indian naval training team, which is being z The Defence Minister of Madagascar also deployed in Madagascar for capacity building and participated in it. training of the Malagasy Special Forces. € INS Jalashwa will also call at Port Anjoun in the Republic of Comoros where it will deliver a consignment of 1,000 metric tonnes of Indian rice. ¾ Past Assistance to Madagascar: € Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kesari carried food items and medical assistance teams to countries including Madagascar to deal with Covid-19 pandemic as part of a “Mission Sagar” initiative. € In March 2020, INS Shardul visited the port of Antsiranana and delivered 600 tonnes of rice as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) assistance to Madagascar for dealing with heavy floods in the Northern region of Madagascar. € Indian Navy was the first to respond whenCyclone Diane struck Madagascar and prompt assistance was delivered under Operation Vanilla by INS Airavat in January 2020. India-Sweden Virtual Summit € India is also actively engaged in training Malagasy people in capacity building and other high Why in News skilled/technical fields, courses for which are Indian Prime Minister held a Virtual Summit with offered through Indian Technical and Economic the Prime Minister of Sweden to discuss bilateral issues Cooperation (ITEC) and India Africa Forum Summit. and other regional and multilateral issues of mutual ¾ Significance: interest. € The supplies of food assistance and support for ¾ The Summit provided an opportunity to discuss the capacity building to the friendly countries of international situation and response to theCovid-19 Madagascar and Comoros is in line with the vision pandemic as well as regional and global issues of of SAGAR. mutual importance including climate action, sustainable

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development, gender equality, counter-terrorism z Reaffirmed the importance of the urgent and disaster resilient infrastructure, among others. reform of the UN Security Council, including its expansion not only to sustain credibility of multilateralism but also to deliver on the several serious common challenges facing humanity. z India thanked Sweden for its support to India’s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UN Security Council. z India congratulated Sweden on assuming the Chairmanship of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe). € Climate Action: z Welcomed the USA re-entry into the Paris agreement which gives new momentum to global climate action ahead of COP 26 to be held in Glasgow, UK. z Agreed to continue their outreach to expand the membership of the Leadership Group on Industry Transition (LeadIT). z Agreed further to intensify their collaboration within the framework of the Arctic Council to address global environmental protection and Key Points combating climate change. ¾ Highlights of the Summit: € Security: € Economic Cooperation: z Welcomed the finalization of the General z Welcomed the launch of a second joint Security Agreement in 2019 on the exchange industrial R&D call on Smart and Sustainable and mutual protection of classified information, Cities, Transport Systems, Clean Technologies enabling a comprehensive partnership in all and Digitalization and Internet of Things under defence sectors. India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research z Indian Prime Minister invited Swedish defence & Development Programme. firms to participate in the “Make in India pro- z Confirmed the ambition to scale up bilateral gramme”, especially in the two Defence Produc- research and innovation on Circular Economy tion Corridorsin Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. including the themes of Health and Life Sciences ¾ India - Sweden Relations: and Waste to Wealth during 2021. € Political Relations:The firstIndia-Nordic Summit € Cooperation in Other Sectors: took place in the year 2018. z Welcomed the creation of a Sweden-India z The King and Queen of Sweden gave a Royal Health Hub at AIIMS-Jodhpur. Visit to India in December, 2019. z Noted advances in hydrogen research and € Economic and Commercial relations: The bilateral their possible applications, i.e. in the Energy trade between two countries presently stands and other key industries. around USD 2 billion. After China and Japan, India € Cooperation at Multilateral Forums: is Sweden’s third largest trade partner in Asia. z Welcomed Sweden’s decision to join the z The main items of Indian exports to Sweden International Solar Alliance (ISA). are articles of apparel, clothing accessories; z Sweden congratulated India on its eighth term textiles yarn, fabrics, made-ups; manufactures as an elected member of the UN Security of metals; road vehicles; general industrial Council for 2021-2022. machinery and equipment.

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z The main items of Indian imports from Sweden ¾ The decision comes a month after the Sri Lanka are pulp and waste paper; road vehicles; paper government ejected the two partners from a 2019 and paper board, general industrial machinery tripartite agreement to jointly develop the East and equipment etc. Container Terminal (ECT), citing resistance to “foreign € Being a member of European Union, Sweden can involvement”. play an important role in India’s partnership with the European Union and EU countries. € The close relations will further the values of democracy, rule of law, pluralism, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for human rights.

First India-Nordic Summit ¾ It was held in April, 2018. ¾ India and five Nordic countries -Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark held the summit to deepen cooperation. ¾ Significance of Nordic for India: € Discussion of key issues of security, economic growth and climate change. Key Points € India can imitate the Nordic approach to ¾ About: innovation systems, characterised by a strong collaboration between public sector, private € Sri Lanka has approved the proposal to develop sector and academia. the WCT on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis for a period of 35 years as a public-private € In areas like clean technologies, maritime partnership with India’s Adani Ports and Special solutions, port modernisation, food processing, Economic Zone Limited and its local representative health, life-sciences and agriculture, Nordic in Sri Lanka. Japan is yet to name an investor. solutions can be useful. ¾ Stakes: Leadership Group on Industry Transition € In the ECT project agreed upon earlier, the Sri Lanka ¾ The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Ports Authority (SLPA) was to hold a majority 51% gathers countries and companies that are committed stake, but in the WCT proposal, India and Japan to action to achieve theParis Agreement. will be accorded 85% stake. ¾ It was launched by the governments of Sweden and € This is similar to the terms set for the Colombo India at the UN Climate Action Summit in Sept 2019 International Container Terminal (CICT), where and is supported by the World Economic Forum. China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited ¾ LeadIT members subscribe to the notion that holds 85% stake. energy-intensive industry can and must progress on ¾ Significance: low-carbon pathways, aiming to achieve net-zero € The WCT is adjacent to the China-run CICT and carbon emissions by 2050. just a couple of kilometres away from the China- backed Port City being built on reclaimed land, West Container Terminal Offer making it a strategically desirable spot for India, whose concerns over China’s presence in Sri Lanka to India-Japan: Sri Lanka are well known. € It will support India in accomplishment of its Why in News strategic vision (SAGAR) for the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka has decided to offer the West Container ‘Neighbourhood First policy’ , and in countering Terminal (WCT) to Indian and Japanese companies. China’s String of Pearls strategy.

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€ Colombo’s alternative comes at a time when Sri ¾ In 2020, Iran also passed a bill allowing the government Lanka is seeking support at the ongoing UN Human to slash four zeros from the Rial and authorizing its Right Council session, where a resolution on the replacement with another basic unit of currency country’s rights record will soon be put to vote. called the toman (redenomination).

India - Sri Lanka Relations ¾ Background: India-Sri Lanka relationship is more than 2,500 years old and both sides have built upon a legacy of intellectual, cultural, religious and linguistic intercourse. ¾ Support Against Terrorism: During the course of the civil war, India supported the right of the Government of Sri Lanka to act against terrorist forces. ¾ Support For Rehabilitation: The Indian Housing Project is Government of India’s flagship project of developmental assistance to Sri Lanka. Its initial commitment is to build 50,000 houses for those affected by the civil war as well as for the estate Key Points workers in the plantation areas. ¾ Falling Reserves: ¾ Assistance during Covid-19: The Reserve Bank of € Iran’s rupee reserves in India’s UCO and IDBI Bank, India (RBI) had signed an agreement for extending the two lenders authorised to facilitate rupee a USD 400 million currency swap facility to Sri trade, have depleted significantly. Lanka to boost the foreign reserves and ensure ¾ Reasons: financial stability of the country, which was badly hit by Covid19 pandemic. Recently, India has also € Under the USA sanctions, Iran is unable to use supplied Covid-19 Vaccines to Sri Lanka. US dollars to transact oil sales. ¾ Joint Exercises: India and Sri Lanka conduct joint € Iran previously had a deal to sell oil to India in Military (Mitra Shakti) and Naval exercise (SLINEX). exchange for rupees, which it used to import critical goods, including agricultural commodities, ¾ Participation in Groupings: Sri Lanka is also a but India stopped buying Tehran’s oil in May 2019 member of groupings like BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal after a US sanctions waiver expired. Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic € Iran continued using its rupees to buy goods from Cooperation) and SAARC in which India plays a India, but after 22 months of no crude sales, Iran’s leading role. rupee reserves have fallen. z Iran’s reserves have reduced significantly and Falling Rupee Reserves of Iran will be over soon probably because trade has stopped. Why in News ¾ Implications: Recently, Indian merchants have almost entirely € Apprehension of Exporters: stopped signing new export contracts with Iranian buyers z Exporters are not sure whether they would be due to caution about Iran’s falling rupee reserves with paid on time for new shipments and they are Indian banks. avoiding dealing with Iran since payments are ¾ Earlier in 2020, the Ministry of External Affairs informed getting delayed. that India is no longer involved in the Farzad-B gas € Falling Indian Exports: field project of Iran. The reasons included policy z India’s overall exports to Iran fell 42% in 2020 changes by the Iranian government, Iran’s uncertain from a year ago to USD 2.2 billion, the lowest finances,and the USA sanctions situation. in over a decade.

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z The fall is continuing in 2021 and in January in the 13-nation International North South Transport this year exports more than halved from a year Corridor (INSTC) that extends from India to Russia, and ago to USD 100.20 million. to expand INSTC membership by including Afghanistan € Growing Influence of China: and Uzbekistan, at a “Chabahar Day” event organised as z Recently signed deals between Iran and China part of Maritime India summit. will vastly expand Chinese presence in banking, ¾ This Summit saw participation from several regional telecommunications, ports, railways and dozens officials including infrastructure Ministers from of other projects. Afghanistan, Armenia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan. € Saving India’s Interests: z The China Iran strategic partnership fructifying Key Points USD 400 billion deal may be an impediment for Indian entry routes into Afghanistan ¾ About India’s Proposal: through Chabahar and further connectivity € Pitching for Chabahar in the INSTC which goes via to International North South Transportation Iran’s biggest port Bandar Abbas, India proposed Corridor (INSTC), although Iran has not given that the land route via Kabul (Afghanistan) and any signals of disruption of these projects. Tashkent (Uzbekistan) would form the INSTC’s € India’s Role in the Region: “Eastern corridor”. z z Maintaining ties with Iran even as it forges a India’s push to include Chabahar in the INSTC new relationship with Saudi Arabia and Israel could have been made with an eye on the new is critical for its balancing policy in West Asia. Biden administration’s push for restoring talks with Iran on the JCPOA nuclear agreement, and € Avoiding Sectarian Tension: the possible easing of some sanctions. z Since India is home to sizable populations € Establishing an eastern corridor through Afghanistan of both Shia and Sunni Muslims and seeks would maximise its potential. to isolate itself from any sectarian tensions in the region, India should do well to neither z India highlighted Chabahar’s role in recent completely break off ties with Iran nor go against years in sending Indian humanitarian aid and the United States outright. emergency supplies to Afghanistan and Iran and in opening up trade opportunities. € India’s Energy security: ¾ Chabahar Port: z India has stopped purchasing Iranian oil, which accounts for around 90% of its imports from € Location: the Islamic nation. z It is located on the Gulf of Oman and is only „ India was Iran’s leading oil client after China 72 km away from the Gwadar port in Pakistan until mid-2018. which has been developed by China. € € Pakistan’s Influence: About: z z Pakistan is very active in the Middle-east. It is the only Ira- Using the platform of Organisation of Islamic nian port with di- Cooperation (OIC) and making connections with rect access to the the particular Arab countries, Pakistan is trying Indian ocean and to get support on the Kashmir issue. consists of two separate ports named Shahid Be- Push for Chabahar heshti and Shahid Port in INSTC Corridor Kalantari. z Afghanistan, Iran and India Why in News signed a tripartite India expressed its intent to include Chabahar port agreement on

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developing Chabahar port and setting up a aimed at reducing the carriage cost between India trilateral transport and transit corridor in 2016. and Russia by about 30% and bringing down the € Significance: transit time from 40 days by more than half. z For India: € This corridor connects India Ocean and the Persian via the Islamic Republic of „ Connectivity: Gulf to the Caspian Sea Iran and then is connected to St. Petersburg and 1. It is a key part of India’s plans to enhance North Europe via the Russian Federation. connectivity to Afghanistan and the Central Asian states. „ Countering China and Pakistan: 1. It opens up a permanent alternative route for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, given the hurdles in the direct route through Pakistan. 2. China and Pakistan are striving to increase their economic and trade cooperation through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar port, which both are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). „ Part of Indo-Pacific Strategy: Chabahar Port is Uighur Muslims a key element in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy that also includes Eurasia’s connection with Why in News the Indian Ocean Region. Recently, several hundred Uighur Muslim women in z For Afghanistan: Turkey staged an International Women’s Day march „ It will facilitate India’s role in Afghanistan’s against the extradition agreement of Turkey with China development through infrastructure and and demanding the closure of mass incarceration camps education projects and also allow Afghanistan in China’s Xinjiang Province. to have a commercial fleet under the Afghan ¾ Earlier in 2020, the United States House of Represen- flag sailing from Chabahar. tatives approved a legislation calling for sanctions z For Central Asian Countries: on Chinese officials responsible for oppression of „ Central Asian countries like– Uzbekistan and Uighur Muslims. Kazakhstan– also view Chabahar Port as their gateway to the Indian Ocean Region. Key Points ¾ International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC): ¾ Uighur Muslims: € It is a multi-modal transportation established on € The Uighurs are a predominantly Muslim minority 12th Sept 2000 in St. Petersburg, by Iran, Russia and Turkic ethnic group, whose origins can be traced India for the purpose of promoting transportation to Central and East Asia. cooperation among the Member States. z The Uighurs speak their own language, similar € The INSTC was expanded to include eleven new to Turkish, and see themselves as culturally and members, namely: the Republic of Azerbaijan, ethnically close to Central Asian nations. Republic of Armenia, Republic of Kazakhstan, € The Uighurs are considered to be one of the 55 Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of officially recognized ethnic minority communities Turkey, Republic of Ukraine, Republic of Belarus, in China. Oman, Syria, Bulgaria (Observer). z However, China recognises the community only € It envisions a 7,200-km-long multi-mode network as a regional minority and rejects that they are of ship, rail and road route for transporting freight, an indigenous group.

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¾ China’s Extradition Treaty: € In December 2020, China approved an extradition treaty with Turkey aimed at strengthened judicial cooperation to facilitate a crackdown on transnational criminals including terrorists. z Extradition is the formal process of one state surrendering an individual to another state for prosecution or punishment for crimes committed in the requesting country’s jurisdiction. € The extradition agreement comes amidstdeepening economic and financial ties between Turkey and China. z China is also Turkey’s leading supplier of Covid-19 vaccines. € Currently, the largest population of the Uighur € Since 1990, the Uighur diaspora in Turkey has ethnic community lives in Xinjiang region of China. become more vibrant and has attracted widespread z A significant population of Uighurs also lives in attention globally through demonstrations, the neighbouring Central Asian countries such conferences, meetings and briefings. as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. € Concerns of Uighur Muslims: z Xinjiang is technically an autonomous region z If Turkey ratifies the treaty, this will be the within China — its largest region, rich in last nail in the coffin of Uighur culture as minerals, and sharing borders with eight China will silence the biggest Uighur diaspora countries, including India, Pakistan, Russia outside Xinjiang. and Afghanistan. z The treaty will become anothe ¾ Persecution of Uighurs: r instrument in the hands of China for the prosecution of its € Over the past few decades, as economic prosperity enslaved Uighur minority. has come to Xinjiang, it has brought with it in large numbers the majority Han Chinese, who have ¾ India’s Stand: cornered the better jobs, and left the Uighurs feeling € The Indian government has maintained near silence their livelihoods and identity were under threat. on the Uighur crisis. z This led to sporadic violence, in 2009 culminating in a riot that killed 200 people, mostly Han Significance of India- Chinese, in the region’s capital Urumqi. € Uighur Muslims for decades, under the false Bangladesh Transport accusation by the Chinese government of terrorism Connectivity: World Bank and separatism,have suffered from abuses including persecution, forced detention, intense scrutiny, surveillance and even slavery. Why in News z However, China claims its camps to be Recently, a World Bank report named “Connecting ‘educational centres’ where the Uighurs to Thrive: Challenges and Opportunities of Transport are being cured of “extremist thoughts” and Integration in Eastern South Asia” stated that seamless radicalisation, and learning vocational skills. transport connectivity between India and Bangladesh € China claims that Uighur groups want to establish has the potential to increase national income by as much an independent state and, because of the Uighurs’ as 17% in Bangladesh and 8% in India. cultural ties to their neighbours, leaders fear ¾ The report analyzes the Bangladesh-Bhutan- that elements in places like Pakistan may back India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement a separatist movement in Xinjiang. (MVA).

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€ Increased Real Income: z All districts in Bangladesh would benefit from integration, with theeastern districts enjoying larger gains in real income. z States bordering Bangladesh such as Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura in the northeast, and West Bengal on the west, and states further away from Bangladesh such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra would also gain huge economic benefits from seamless connectivity. € Increased Exports: z Will yield a 297% increase in Bangladesh’s exports to India and a 172% increase in India’s exports to Bangladesh. € Strategic Importance: Key Points z Geographically, Bangladesh’s location makes it ¾ Issues: a strategic gateway to India, Nepal, Bhutan, € Trade: and other East Asian countries. Bangladesh z Bilateral trade accounts for only about 10% of can also become an economic powerhouse by Bangladesh’s trade and a mere 1% of India’s trade. improving regional trade, transit and logistics „ In East Asian and Sub-Saharan African networks. economies, intraregional trade accounts for ¾ Important Recommendations: 50% and 22% of total trade, respectively. € Strengthen the MVA: z High tariffs, para-tariffs, and nontariff barriers z Harmonizing driver’s licensing and visa regimes. also serve as major trade barriers. Simple average z Establishing an efficient regional transit regime. tariffs in Bangladesh and India are more than z Rationalizing and digitizing trade and transport twice the world average. documents. € Difficulty in Crossing Border: z Liberalizing the selection of trade routes. z Weak transport integration makes the border € Improving Regional Connectivity: between Bangladesh and India thick. Crossing z Expand the effective capacity of core transport the India–Bangladesh border at Petrapole– and logistics infrastructure along regional Benapole, the most important border post corridors. between the two countries, takes several days. z Ensure competition in transport service markets. „ In contrast, the time to cross borders handling similar volumes of traffic in other regions z Deploy modern information technology of the world, including East Africa, is less infrastructure at land ports and seaports. than six hours. z Develop off-border custom clearance facilities in Bangladesh and India. € Isolated North-East: € Integration of Local Communities: z Indian trucks are not allowed to transit through Bangladesh. As a result, the northeast of India is z Connecting local markets to regional corridors. particularly isolated with the rest of the country z Removing logistics bottlenecks in export- and connected only through the 27-km-wide oriented value chains. Siliguri corridor, also called the “chicken’s neck”. z Improving women’s participation in export- This leads to long and costly routes. oriented agricultural value chains at the macro, ¾ Benefits of Better Connectivity: community, and household levels.

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Bangladesh-Bhutan-India- Nepal Motor Vehicles Agreement ¾ BBIN: € The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative is a sub-regional architecture of countries in Eastern South Asia, a sub-region of South Asia. € The group meets through the official representation of member states to formulate, implement and review quadrilateral agreements across areas such as water resources management, connectivity of power, transport, and infrastructure. z Feni originates in the South Tripura district. ¾ MVA The river passes through Sabroom town on the € About: Indian side, and meets the Bay of Bengal after z It was signed on 15th June 2015 in Thimphu, it flows into Bangladesh. Bhutan. € The 1.9 Km long bridge joins Sabroom (in Tripura) z It seeks to facilitate the unrestricted cross- with Ramgarh (in Bangladesh). border movement of cargo, passenger, and € The name ‘Maitri Setu’ symbolises growing personal vehicles between BBIN countries. bilateral relations and friendly ties between India z As per the agreement, member countries and Bangladesh. would allow vehicles registered in the other ¾ Constructed by and Cost: countries to enter their territory under certain € The construction was taken up by the National terms and conditions. Customs and tariffs Highways and Infrastructure Development will be decided by the respective countries Corporation Ltd at a project cost of Rs. 133 crore. and these would be finalised at bilateral and z The National Highways and Infrastructure trilateral forums. Development Corporation Limited is a fully z Implementation of the MVA has been delayed owned company of the Government of India. as the countries work to clarify some of the z It is responsible for development & maintenance provisions that are supposed to be elaborated of National Highways & Strategic Roads of India. in protocols. ¾ Significance: € Objective: € Now Agartala (capital of Tripura) will become the z To provide seamless people-to-people nearest city to an international sea port in India. contact and enhance economic interaction by facilitating cross border movement of € Tripura will become the ‘Gateway of North East’ people and goods. with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 km from Sabroom. z Bangladesh and India have a long standing Bharat Bangla Maitri Bridge and time-testedProtocol on Transit and Trade through inland waterways. Why in News € It would serve as a new trade corridor between Recently, the Prime Minister inaugurated Bharat the two countries, helping the Northeast states Bangla Maitri Bridge in Tripura’s South district. grow. It will enhance people-to-people contact. Key Points ¾ About: First Leaders’ Summit: QUAD € The bridge ‘Maitri Setu’ has been built over the Feni river which flows between Indian boundary Why in News in Tripura State and Bangladesh. Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the first

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summit of the leaders’ of the QUAD (Quadrilateral by the QUAD leaders as one of several examples Framework). The meeting was hosted by the USA on a of Chinese aggression. virtual platform. z Other issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, ¾ Earlier in February 2021, QUAD ministerial meeting Taiwan Strait and coercion of Australia, discussed issues across Indo-Pacific and the military harassment around the Senkaku, were also takeover in Myanmar. discussed. ¾ QUAD is a grouping of India, USA, Australia and Japan z Concerns regarding Chinese cyberattacks which aims to safeguard the interests of democratic on the USA targets (Microsoft Exchange and nations in the Indo-Pacific region and address global SolarWinds) and also cybersecurity incidents challenges. in India, Japan and Australia were discussed. ¾ India’s Stand: € QUAD is united by its democratic values and will remain an important pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific region. € Called the meet an extension of the ancient Indian philosophy ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which regards the world as one family. ¾ America’s Stand: € QUAD is not a military alliance or North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) equivalent, it is an Key Points opportunity to cooperate on economics, technology, climate and security. ¾ : Focus € Maritime security, humanitarian and disaster € On pressing crises, such as Covid-19 , climate response are core to the QUAD agenda. and change emerging technologies. € QUAD is going to be a vital arena for cooperation ¾ Pledge: in the Indo-Pacific region. € QUAD pledged to promote a free, open rules- ¾ Australia’s Stand: , rooted in international law based order to advance € QUAD grouping could be the start of a new, security and prosperity and counter threats to permanent and powerful regional grouping of both in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. like-minded democracies. ¾ Highlights: ¾ Japan’s Stand: € Quad Vaccine Partnership: € Acknowledged the new dynamism that QUAD z Agreed to ensure “equitable” access to vaccines has received because of the meeting of the top to counter the pandemic. leaders of the member countries. „ Agreed to a plan to pool their financial € It will firmly advance its cooperation to realise a resources, manufacturing capabilities and free and open Indo Pacific, and to make a tangible logistical strengths. contribution to the peace, stability, and prosperity „ Japan, USA and Australia will finance the of the region, including overcoming Covid-19. vaccine initiative that India has welcomed. ¾ China’s Apprehension: z Appreciated the Vaccine Maitri initiative(India’s € Exchanges and cooperation between countries Vaccine Diplomacy) of India. should contribute to mutual understanding rather „ Vaccine Maitri Initiative is an initiative than targeting a third party and refrain from launched by India to give Covid-19 vaccines pursuing exclusive blocs. to neighbouring countries. z A meeting between the top diplomats of the € Discussion on China: USA and China is set to be held in Alaska later z The Line of Actual Control (LAC) was discussed in March 2021.

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€ QUAD should uphold the principles of openness, strategic vision 14 years ago, failed to take off inclusiveness and win-win results and do things initially due to hesitation among the four nations that are conducive to regional peace, stability and objections by China. and prosperity. € In December 2012, Shinzo Abe again floated QUAD the concept of Asia’s “Democratic Security ¾ About: Diamond” involving Australia, India, Japan and the USA to safeguard the maritime commons € It is a four-nation alliance of India, Australia, USA and Japan which was established in 2007. from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific. € € It is often dubbed as an “Asian” or “mini” NATO, In November 2017, India, the USA, Australia and and is viewed as a counterbalance to China’s Japan gave shape to the long-pending “QUAD” military and economic clout in the Indo-Pacific Coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the region. critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence (especially China). z The 2020 US-China Economic and Security Review Commission shows China’s growing € Since then, QUAD has taken several steps to power projection along the Indian Ocean bolster military and strategic ties with a series rim with military or economic activities in of working- and ministerial-level meetings. countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, ¾ Participation in Malabar Exercise: Myanmar and Bangladesh. € In 2020, all four QUAD Countries - Japan, India, € Interestingly, the QUAD, which used to be known Australia and the USA took part in the Malabar as the quadrilateral security dialogue, is now exercise. known as the quadrilateral framework to indicate € Malabar exercise is an annual trilateral naval it has gone beyond a narrow security dialogue. exercise between the navies of India, Japan, and ¾ Evolution: the USA which is held alternately in the Indian € The group, which began with an ambitious geo- and Pacific Oceans.

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Science and Technology

Highlights z New Technique for Monitoring of Power Transmission Cables z Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship: Waste to Wealth Mission z International Cooperation: ISRO z Most Distant Quasar P172+18 z Equine Herpes Virus Outbreak in Europe z International Lunar Research Station: Russia and China z National Science Day 2021 z France’s First Space Military Exercise: AsterX z National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 z Genome Mapping in Indian Ocean z Global Bio-India-2021 z Asteroid 2001 FO32 z 53rd PSLV Flight

€ Any current flowing through a conductor New Technique for Monitoring would cause a temperature rise due to the Joule of Power Transmission Cables heating effect. Hence the flow of current through the power cables results in heating of the power cables. Why in News z Joule heating (also referred to as resistive or Recently, researchers at IIT Madras have demonstrated ohmic heating) describes the process where the that power transmission cable can be monitored by using energy of an electric current is converted into Raman thermometry on the fibre optic cable. heat as it flows through a resistance. ¾ They achieved this by using the optical fibres that are ¾ Optical Fibre Technique: already embedded in the power cables for establishing € The temperature measurement of wires is performed optical communication. in not just one location, but in a distributed manner using an optical fibre. To achieve this, a pulse of Key Points light is launched into the optical fibre and the ¾ Raman Thermometry: backscattered radiation is observed. € It is a thermal characterization technique which z Optical fibres are fabricated with high quality makes use of Raman scattering phenomena to composite glass/quartz fibres. determine the local temperature in microelectronics „ Each fibre consists of a core (denser) and systems. cladding (rarer). € When light is scattered off an object, say a molecule, z When a signal in the form of light is directed two bands are observed, with higher and lower at one end of the fibre at a suitable angle, it frequency than the original light, called the Stokes undergoes repeated total internal reflections and anti-Stokes bands, respectively. along the length of the fibre and finally comes € By studying the relative intensity of the two bands, out at the other end. it is possible to estimate the temperature of the „ Total internal reflection is complete reflection object which scatters the light. of a ray of light within a medium such as z The anti-Stokes component of Raman scattering water or glass from the surrounding surfaces is strongly dependent on the temperature that back into the medium. the material is subjected to. Thus, by measuring z Since light undergoes total internal reflection the intensity of the anti-Stokes scattered light at each stage, there is no appreciable loss in we can estimate the temperature. the intensity of the light signal.

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€ The time of flight of € Both agencies signed an Implementing Arrangement the backscattered for collaborative activities on rice crop area and radiation provides air quality monitoring using satellite data. an estimate of € India and Japan are already working on a joint the distance from lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission. which the light is z LUPEX aims to send a lander and rover to the backscattered. Moon’s south pole around 2024. z Backscattering ¾ Agreements with Other Countries: (or backscatter) € India and Italy have decided to explore opportunities is the reflection in earth observation, space science and robotic of waves, particles, or signals back to the direction and human exploration. they came from. € India and Australia signed an amendment to z This constitutes a distributed measurement as the MoU which will build on the Comprehensive the pulse propagates all along the length of fibre. Strategic Partnership. z This can go up to tens of kilometers. z Both countries are also in discussions for Australia ¾ Significance: to host vital tracking infrastructure to support € Actual Temperature Measurements: the Gaganyaan manned space flight mission. z The use of Raman thermometry technique Few Achievements Through International Cooperation allows the operators to get the results for actual temperature measurements over tens ¾ Chandrayaan-1: of kilometres. € ISRO’s maiden mission to Moon, the , has been an exemplary example € Economic and Real-Time: Chandrayaan-1 of international cooperation with its international z Alternative methods of measuring the payloads. temperature of power cables include using a thermal camera which is cumbersome. The € It has also earned several national and international present method devised by the team is both laurels and was instrumental in the ISRO-NASA economical and provides real-time information. joint discovery of water molecules on the moon Thermal cameras detect temperature by surface, unattained by any of the previous missions of such nature. recognizing and capturing different levels of infrared light. ¾ Megha-Tropiques: € The Indo-French joint satellite mission called MEGHA-TROPIQUES was launched in 2011 International for the study of the tropical atmosphere and Cooperation: ISRO climate related to aspects such as monsoons, cyclones, etc. Why in News ¾ Saral: € The Indo-French joint mission, named SARAL Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (Satellite for ALTIKA and ARGOS) for studying the and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)reviewed ocean from space using altimetry was successfully cooperation inearth observation, lunar cooperation and launched in 2013. satellite navigation. ¾ NISAR: Key Points € ISRO and NASA are realizing a joint satellite mission called ¾ About the Cooperation: NISAR (NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) for earth science studies. € They also agreed to explore opportunities for € The mission will observe Earth and measure its cooperation in “space situational awareness and changing ecosystem and masses globally. professional exchange programme”.

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¾ € It is the world’s most expensive imaging-satellite Spread of EHV-1 Virus: and the two space agencies intend to launch the € It is contagious and spread by direct horse-to- satellite by 2022. horse contact via the respiratory tract through ¾ UNNATI: nasal secretions. € € ISRO has launched capacity building programme This virus can also be spread indirectly through on nano satellite development, named as contact with physical objects that are contaminated UNNATI ( UNispace Nanosatellite Assembly & with the virus. Training by ISRO) as an initiative ofUNISPACE+50 ¾ Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) is (the 50th Anniversary of the first United Nations another name for the neurologic disease associated conference on the exploration and peaceful uses with Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) infections. of outer space). ¾ Precautions and Treatment: ¾ TRISHNA: € As the infection has a high transmission rate, € ISRO and the French space agency CNES have keeping a diseased horse in isolationis required. partnered in developing advanced upgradation € Treatments may include anti-inflammatory drugs. satellites like TRISHNA to monitor the water cycle to help in finding out proper ways to utilize it. National Science Day 2021

Equine Herpes Why in News Virus Outbreak in Europe National Science Day (NSD) is celebrated every year on 28th February to commemorate the discovery of the Why in News ‘Raman Effect’ by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, for which he was awarded the in 1930. The Recently, there has been an outbreak of Equine Nobel Prize first NSD was celebrated in1987. Herpes Virus (EHV-1) among horses in Europe. ¾ So far seven countries have confirmed EHV-1 cases: Key Points Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Basic Objectve: To propagate the message of the Qatar. ¾ importance of science and its application among Key Points the people. ¾ About Equine Herpes Virus (EHV): ¾ 2021 Theme: ‘Future of STI (Science, Technology and Innovations): Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work’. € Equine Herpes Virus is a common DNA virus that occurs in horse populations worldwide. ¾ Nodal Agency to Support Celebration: National Council for Science & Technology Communication € EHV is a family of viruses which are named by of Ministry of Science and Technology. numbers such as EHV 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. (NCSTC) ¾ Awards Conferred: z There are more viruses in this family, but EHV 1, 3, and 4 pose the most serious health risks € National S&T Communication Awards,Augmenting for domestic horses. Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) , and and € Health Risks: awards SERB Women Excellence Awards Rajendra Prabhu Memorial Appreciation Shield for z EHV1 can cause manifestations of disease in outstanding work in science media and journalism. horses, including respiratory disease, abortion and neonatal death. € The first-ever National S&T Databases on S&T Awards in India and Indian origin Academicians z This strain can also cause neurological problems, abroad, was released. leading to paralysis and in some cases, death. Horses that contract this virus can develop a ¾ Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research lack of coordination, weakness, loss of appetite (AWSAR): and are unable to stand. € AWSAR is an initiative that aims to disseminate

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Indian research stories among the masses in an easy to understand and interesting format. National Cyber € Objectives: Security Strategy 2020 z To encourage youth pursuing higher studies to submit at least one story/article based on their Why in News research work. z Foster, strengthen and create scientific temper A National Cyber Security Strategy 2020 is being through popular science writing and creating a formulated by the Office of National Cyber Security culture of science communication/popularisation Coordinator at the National Security Council Secretariat. among the scholars. ¾ Cyber Security is protecting cyber space including z Recognize the initiative and output of researchers critical information infrastructure from attack, damage, on the specific aspects of natural, physical, misuse and economic espionage. mathematical and information sciences, applied ¾ The National Security Council (NSC) of India is a three- science, technology, engineering, and multi- tiered organization thatoversees political, economic, disciplinary science. energy and security issues of strategic concern. z Conduct training Workshops for Early Career Researchers (PhD Scholars and PDFs) in popular Key Points science writing. ¾ National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: ¾ Some Recent Developments: € Aim: € National Research Foundation (NRF): It is to be z To improve cyber awareness and cybersecurity set-up as an autonomous body envisaged under through more stringent audits. Empanelled the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. cyber auditors will look more carefully at the z It will look after funding, mentoring, and building security features of organisations than are ‘quality of research’ in India. The NRF aims to legally necessary now. fund researchers working across streams in India. € About: € DraftNational Science, Technology and Innovation z There will be table-top cyber crisis management Policy (STIP 2020). exercises regularly to reinforce the idea that cyber attacks can take place regularly. Raman Effect ¾ Raman is the inelastic scattering of a photon by mol- z It does call for an index of cyber preparedness, ecules which are excited to higher vibrational or rota- and attendant monitoring of performance. tional energy levels. It is also calledRaman scattering. z A separate budget for cybersecurity is suggested, € In simpler words, it is a change in the wavelength as also to synergise the role and functions of of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected various agencies with the requisite domain by molecules. knowledge. € When a beam of light traverses a dust-free, transparent sample of a chemical compound, a small fraction of the light emerges in directions other than that of the incident (incoming) beam. € Most of this scattered light is of unchanged wave- length. A small part, however, has wavelengths different from that of the incident light and its presence is a result of the Raman Effect. ¾ The Raman effect forms the basis for Raman spec- troscopy which is used by chemists and physicists to gain information about materials. € Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation.

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¾ Need: € For Individuals: € Cyber warfare offensives: z Photos, videos and other personal information z The United States is just one of many countries shared by an individual on social networking that have invested significant amounts of sites can be inappropriately used by others, money in developing not just defences against leading to serious and even life-threatening attack, but the ability to mount damaging cyber incidents. warfare offensives. € For Businesses: z The countries which are believed to have the z Companies have a lot of data and information most developed cyber warfare capabilities are on their systems. A cyber attack may lead to loss the United States, China, Russia, Israel and the of competitive information(such as patents or United Kingdom. original work), loss of employees/customers’ € Increased Digital usage Post-Covid: private data resulting into complete loss of public trust on the integrity of the organization. z Critical infrastructure is getting digitised in a very fast way — this includes financial services, ¾ Present Government Initiatives: banks, power, manufacturing, nuclear power € Cyber Surakshit Bharat Initiative. plants, etc. € Cyber Swachhta Kendra. € For Protecting Critical Sectors: € Online cybercrime reporting portal. z It is particularly significant given the increasing € Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). interconnectedness of sectors and proliferation € National Critical Information Infrastructure of entry points into the internet, which could Protection Centre (NCIIPC). further grow with the adoption of 5G. € Information Technology Act, 2000. z There were 6.97 lakh cyber security incidents € National Cyber Policy, 2013. reported in the first eight months of 2020, nearly equivalent to the previous four years combined, according to information reported Global Bio-India-2021 to and tracked by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). Why in News € Recent Cyber Attacks: Recently, the Union Minister for Health & Family z There has been a steep rise in the use of Welfare inaugurated the second edition of Global Bio- resources like malware by a Chinese group India-2021 in New Delhi through virtual mode. called Red Echo to target “a large swathe” of ¾ It showcases the strength and opportunities of India’s India’s power sector. biotechnology sector at national level and to the „ Red Echo used malware called ShadowPad, global community. which involves the use of a backdoor to ¾ The minister unveiled the “National Biotech Strategy” access servers. and also inaugurated the Virtual Exhibition of Global z Chinese hacker group known as Stone Panda Bio-India at the occasion. had “identified gaps and vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure and supply chain software of Key Points Bharat Biotech and the Serum Institute of India. ¾ About: z SolarWinds hack, impacted national critical € It is a mega international congregation of infrastructure in the USA. Biotechnology, with stakeholders including € For Government: international bodies, regulatory bodies, Central z A local, state or central government maintains and State Ministries, SMEs, large industries, a huge amount of confidential data related to bioclusters, research institutes, investors, and the country (geographical, military strategic assets startup ecosystem. etc.) and citizens. ¾ Aim:

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€ It aims at facilitating the recognition of India ¾ of biopharmaceuticals and biologicals using geneti- as an emerging Innovation Hub and the bio- cally modified microbes, fungi, plants and animals. manufacturing hub globally. ¾ The applications of biotechnology include thera- th z India was ranked 48 in the Global Innovation peutics, diagnostics, genetically modified crops Index Report 2020. for agriculture, processed food, bioremediation, ¾ Objectives: waste treatment, and energy production. € Bio- Partnering, Policy Discussions, CEO’s plans for India and connecting Indian Biotech ecosystem with Biotechnology Sector of India international ecosystem and creating platforms ¾ About: for new idea evaluation and investments. € Biotechnology sector is recognized as one of the € Showcase and identify key biotechnological key drivers for contributing to India’s USD 5 Trillion innovations, products, services, technologiesfrom economy target by 2024. national and international companies, start-ups € Policy initiatives of the Government of India (GoI) and research institutes. such as the Make in India program are aimed to € Attracting major contract projectsfrom international develop India as a world-class Biotechnology and companies as well as major global venture funding Bio-manufacturing hub. into India. € India is among the top-12 destinations for z According to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing biotechnology in the world, with approximately Business Report 2020, India is now ranked 1st 3% share in the global Biotechnology industry. th among South-Asian countries compared to 6 € Indian Biotechnology industry’s economy was rank in 2014. valued at USD 70 billion in 2020 and is expected ¾ Organisers: to grow to USD 150 billion by 2025. € Co-organised by the Department of Biotechnology, ¾ Biotechnology Parks: Ministry of Science & Technology along with its € The Department of Biotechnology has established Public Sector Undertaking Biotechnology Industry Biotechnology Parks/Incubators across the country Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) in partnership to translate research into products and services with industry associationConfederation of Indian by providing necessary infrastructure support. Industry (CII), Association of Biotechnology Led € These Biotechnology Parks offer facilities to Enterprises (ABLE) and Invest India. Scientists, andSmall and Medium sized Enterprises z ABLE is a not-for-profit pan-India forum that (SMEs) for technology incubation, technology represents the Indian Biotechnology Sector. demonstration and pilot plant studies for accelerated commercial development of Biotechnology. Biotechnology ¾ Draft National Biotech Development Strategy 2020-24: ¾ Biotechnology is technology that utilizes biological € About: systems, living organisms or parts of this to develop z It has called for or create different products. more engagement with startups and to leverage the public-private partnership ¾ Biotechnology deals with industrial scale production (PPP) model to take the industry to USD150 billion by 2025. € Aim: z To build and nurture a vibrant startup, entre- preneurial, and industrial base, connecting academia and industry. € Focus: z Strengthening and nurturing of a strong basic research and innovation driven ecosystem across research institutes and laboratories,

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both public and private sector, with complete z UNITYsat was designed and built as a joint engagement of startups, small industry, and development by Jeppiaar Institute of Technology, large industry. Sriperumpudur (JITsat), G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Nagpur (GHRCEsat) and Sri rd Shakthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, 53 PSLV Flight Coimbatore (Sri Shakthi Sat). € SDSAT: Why in News z Satish Dhawan Satellite (SDSAT) is a nano Recently, the 53rd flight ofPSLV -C51 marked the first satellite intended to study the radiation levels/ dedicated mission for New Space India Ltd (NSIL), the space weather and demonstrate long range commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation communication technologies. (ISRO). z It was built by Chennai-based Space Kidz (an ¾ In this flight, ISRO successfully launched Brazil’s organization dedicated to designing innovative optical earth observation satellite, Amazonia-1, concepts for students in the field of education). and 18 co-passenger satellites from India (5) and z SDSDAT also has an engraving of the Indian Prime the USA (13) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre Minister on the top panel of the satellite to show (SHAR) at Sriharikota. solidarity and gratitude for the Atmanirbhar ¾ SHAR, Sriharikota is the Spaceport of India. It is initiative and space privatisation. responsible for providing Launch Base Infrastructure z A Bhagavad Gita was also sent on-board in an for the Indian Space Programme. SD card to give the scripture, which teaches oneness as the highest form of humanity, the Key Points highest honour. ¾ Brazilian Satellite Amazonia 1: € SindhuNetra: z It was developed by students of Bengaluru-based € About: PES University, which was awarded the Rs. 2.2 z Weighing 637 kg, belonging to the Brazilian crore contract by the Defence Research and National Institute for Space Research (INPE), Development Organisation (DRDO). was injected into its precise orbit of 758 km z This project will help in identifying suspicious in a sun-synchronous polar orbit successfully. ships through satellite imaging. € Objective: ¾ USA Satellites: z To strengthen the € 13 satellites were from the USA, one was a existing structure technology demonstration satellite (SAI-1 by providing r emote Nano Connect 2) and the remaining for 2-way sensing data to us- communications and data relay(SpaceBEEs) . ers for monitoring ¾ Significance: deforestation in the € Provided Impetus to Indo-Brazil Relationship: Amazon region and for analysis of diver- z Since the early 2000s, India and Brazil have sified agriculture signed cooperative instruments for exploration across the Brazilian and peaceful uses of outer space, both at the government level (2004) and space agency territory. level (between ISRO and Brazilian Space Agency ¾ 5 Indian Satellites: AEB in 2002). € UNITYsat (three sat- z The new satellite (Amazonia-1) would open the ellites): door for multiple business, trade and govern- z They have been mental opportunities. Brazil has also requested deployed to provide India’s support in procurement of material and Radio relay services. systems for its launch vehicle programme.

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€ Implemented New Space Reforms: € The PSLV has helped take payloads into almost z Five Indian satellites were built under the new all the orbits in space including Geo-Stationary space reforms announced by the Government Transfer Orbit (GTO), the Moon, Mars and would of India. soon be launching a mission to the Sun. „ The approved reforms will boost the private € Between 1994 and 2019, the PSLV launched sector participation in the entire range of 50 Indian satellites and 222 foreign satellites space activities. for over 70 international customers from 20 z Four of the co-passenger satellites were signed countries. for launch by IN-SPACe, ISRO’s small satellites € It has a history of successful launches of payloads facilitation agency, and 14 were signed up that include Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Mission through NSIL for commercial launch. (MOM) and the space recovery mission, etc. „ IN-SPACe: It is an independent nodal agency € The PSLV has failed only twice in its history — under the Department of Space (DOS) for the maiden flight of the PSLV D1 in 1993 and allowing space activities and usage of DOS the PSLV C-39 in 2017. owned facilities by Non-Government private Entities (NGPEs) as well as to prioritise the launch manifest. Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship: „ NSIL: It is the commercial arm of Indian Waste to Wealth Mission Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian Why in News industries to take up high technology space The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the related activities. It is also responsible for Government of India under its “Waste to Wealth” Mission promotion and commercial exploitation of launched the “Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship”. the products and services emanating from the Indian space. Key Points € Demonstrated Applications of Space Technology: ¾ About the Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship: z Projects such as this demonstrate the extension € Objectives: To recognize students, community of applications of Space Technology to different workers/self-help groups, and municipal/sanitary sectors and areas which brought ‘ease of living’, workers who are engaged in tackling the enormous ‘ease of environment’ and ‘ease of humanity’ challenge of waste management, scientifically and for common man. sustainably. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle € Three Categories of Awards under the Fellowships: ¾ About: z Category-A: Open to School students from 9th to th € Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is the third 12 standards engaged in waste management generation launch vehicle of India. community work. z € It is a four-staged launch vehicle with first Category-B: Open to College students (UG, and third stages using solid rocket motors and PG, Research students) engaged in waste second and fourth stages using liquid rocket management community work. engines. z Category-C: Open to Citizens working in the community and through SHGs, municipal or € It is the first Indian launch vehicle to be equipped working beyond specifications with liquid stages. sanitary workers of their job requirements/descriptions. ¾ Capacity: ¾ Waste to Wealth Mission: € Initially, PSLV had a carrying capacity of 850 kg € This mission will identify, develop, and deploy but has been enhanced to 1.9 tonnes. technologies to treat waste to generate energy, ¾ Accomplishments: recycle materials, and extract worth.

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€ The Waste to Wealth Mission is one of the nine z The name is retained national missions of the Prime Minister’s Science, today, even though Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council astronomers now (PM-STIAC). know most qua- € The mission will assist and augment the Swachh sars are faint radio Bharat and Smart Citiesprojects to create circular emitters. In addition economic models that are financially viable for to radio waves and waste management to streamline waste handling visible light, quasars in the country. also emit ultravi- olet rays, infrared E-waste to Wealth: New Technology (IIT Delhi) waves, X-rays, and ¾ Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has developed gamma-rays. a zero-emission technology to manage and recycle € Most quasars are larger e-waste to wealth. than our solar system. ¾ The new methodology uses e-waste as an “Urban A quasar is approximately 1 kiloparsec in width. Mine” for metal recovery and energy production. € They are only found in galaxies that have super- € The e-waste is shredded and pyrolyzed to yield massive blackholes which power these bright discs. liquid and gaseous fuels, leaving behind a metal- z Black hole refers to a point in space where rich solid fraction. matter is so compressed as to create a gravity € On further separation, the leftover solid residue fieldfrom which even light cannot escape. yields a 90-95% pure metal mixture and some € Most active galaxies have a supermassive black hole carbonaceous materials. at the centre which sucks in surrounding objects. € The carbonaceous material is further converted € Quasars are formed by the energy emitted by to aerogel for oil spillage cleaning, dye removal, materials swirling around a blackhole right before carbon dioxide capture, and use in supercapacitors. being sucked into it. ¾ This technology will cater to the needs of “Smart € They are further categorised into the “radio-loud” Cities,” “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” and Atmanirbhar“ and the “radio-quiet” classes. Bharat” initiatives. z Radio-loud: „ They are with powerful jets that are strong Most Distant Quasar P172+18 sources of radio-wavelength emission. „ These make up about 10% of the overall Why in News quasar population. z Recently, an international team of astronomers has Radio-quiet: discovered the most distant ‘Radio-Loud’ Quasar with „ They are those quasars lacking powerful jets, the help of European Southern Observatory’s Very Large with relativelyweaker radio emission than Telescope (ESO’s VLT). the radio-loud population. „ The majority of quasars (about 90%) are Key Points radio-quiet. ¾ Quasars: ¾ Recently Discovered Quasar/P172+18: € Quasars are very luminous objects in faraway € Named P172+18, the quasar emitted wavelengths galaxies that emit jets at radio frequencies. which had a redshiftof 6.8. € The word quasar is short for “quasi-stellar radio z It took 13 billion years for the quasar’s light source”. to reach earth. z The name, which means star-like emitters of € This particular quasar appears to the scientists radio waves, was given in the 1960s when as it was when the universe was just around 780 quasars were first detected. million years old.

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€ The glowing disc around a blackhole is 300 million times more massive than our Sun. International Lunar Research € It is also one of the fastest accreting quasars, Station: Russia and China which means it is accumulating objects from the galaxy at an enormous speed. Why in News € Only three other ‘radio-loud’ sources with redshift greater than six have been discovered so far and China and Russia have agreed to build a International the most distant one had a redshift of 6.18. Lunar Research Station (ILRS), possibly on the moon’s z The higher the redshiftof the radio wavelength, surface, marking the start of a new era in space cooperation the farther away is the source. between the two countries. ¾ Inference: ¾ Russia is a part of International Space Station which € The blackhole at its centre is consuming from its is a habitable artificial satellite - the single largest galaxy at a stunning rate. man-made structure in low earth orbit. ¾ Significance: Key Points € A detailed study of these ‘radio-loud’ super bright objects can lead astronomers to understanding ¾ International Lunar Research Station (ILRS): how the supermassive blackholes in their core € About: grew to be as big so rapidly since the Big Bang. z The ILRS is a comprehensive scientific experiment € It also holds clues about the ancient star systems base with the capability of long-term autonomous and astronomical bodies. operation. ¾ About the ESO’s VLT: z The station would be built on the lunar surface € The Very Large Telescope used to observe the and/or on the lunar orbit that would carry P172+18 is located at Paranal Observatory in the out scientific research activities such as the Atacama Desert. lunar exploration and utilization, lunar-based z The four Unit Telescopes boast 8.2-meter (27 observation, basic scientific experiment and feet) mirrors. technical verification. z Just one of these instruments can spot objects € Principle: that are 4 billion times fainter than what can z Russia and China will adhere to the principle be seen with the unaided eye. of co-consultation, joint construction, and z According to the European Southern Observatory, shared benefits. the Very Large Telescope is the world’s most z They will facilitate extensive cooperation in advanced optical telescope. the ILRS, open to all interested countries and international partners. Redshift € ¾ Gravitational redshift occurs as particles of light Significance: (photons) climb out of a gravitational well like a z ILRS will strengthen scientific research exchanges, black hole and the light’s wavelength gets drawn and promote humanity’s exploration and use out. This shifts the wavelength to the red part of of outer space for peaceful purposes. the light spectrum - hence “redshift”. ¾ Other Programmes Related to Moon: ¾ In order to escape intense gravity, particles of light € NASA’s Artemis: Earlier, in 2020, National (photons) must expend energy. Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) ¾ However, at the same time, these photons must published the outline for its Artemis program, travel at a constant speed - the speed of light. which plans to send the next man and first woman ¾ Therefore, the photons can’t lose energy by slowing to the lunar surface by the year 2024. down but must expend it in another way. z The Gateway is an outpost around the Moon ¾ This lost energy manifests itself as a shift towards to support human and scientific exploration the red end of the light spectrum. in deep space.

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€ : UAE’s Rashid € To Understand Tides, Seasons and Climate: z The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has decided to z Measuring the mass, size and orbital properties send an unmanned spacecraft named Rashid of the Moon is essential for predicting rhythms to the moon in 2024. of tides and seasons. € and Missions : China’s Chang’e-4 Chang’e-5 z Studying these tidal and orbital interactions z Chang’e-4 is the first probe ever to explore the between Earth and the Moon is extremely far side of the moon by China. important for understanding possible effects z Chang’e-5 mission will seek to collect lunar on Earth’s climate. material to help scientists understand more about the moon’s origins and formation. France’s First Space Moon Military Exercise: AsterX ¾ Facts about Moon: € The Moon is Earth’s and only natural satellite Why in News the fifth largest moon in the solar system. Amid the growing competition among the world € The Moon’s presence helps stabilize our planet’s wobble, which helps stabilize our climate. powers in the field of space, France has begun its first space military exercises to test its ability to defend its € The Moon’s distance from Earth is about 3,85,000 satellites. km. € The Moon has a very thin atmosphere called Key Points an exosphere. ¾ About the Exercise: € The Moon’s entire surface is cratered and pitted € The exercise drills are codenamed “AsterX” to from impacts. commemorate the first French satellite Asterix € The Earth and Moon are tidally-locked. Their from 1965. rotations are so in sync we only see one side of € The exercises are part of France’s strategy to the Moon all the time. become the world’s third-largest space power, ¾ Reasons for Studying Moon: after the USA and China. € : Understanding Early Earth € These space military exercises are the first ever z As it is made of remnants of Earth, clues about attempt not only for the French army but also the composition of an early Earthcould very for Europe. well be hidden between layers of Moon dust. € Moreover, France has planned to develop z Further, the Moon holds potential clues to anti-satellite laser weapons and to strengthen how life began on Earth. surveillance capabilities to close the gap with € To Understand Seismic Activity on Earth: rivals; China and Russia. z Studying Moonquakes can help us understand € Aim of the Exercise: what seismic activity on Earth could have z To monitor a potentially dangerous space been like during times with less liquid water object as well as threats to its own satellite on the surface, such as during major ice ages from another foreign power possessing a or during the Earth’s early history, when the considerable space force. surface was much too hot to preserve liquid € Participants: oceans. z Along with France, the new US Space Force € Composition of Earth’s Atmosphere: and German space agencies are taking part in z By measuring Earth’s glow from the Moon, the exercises. scientists can accurately estimate how much ¾ Background: Earth itself shines, and even the composition € In 2018, Olymp-K, a Russian satellite attempted of Earth’s atmosphere. to intercept transmissions from the Athena-Fidus

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satellite which is used by both Italian and French ¾ About: armies for secure communications. This was termed € A team of scientists and researchers from the NIO as an act of ‘espionage’. on board its research vessel Sindhu Sadhana will z In 2020, the United States also accused Russia spend 90 days traversing the course of over 10,000 of having “conducted a non-destructive test” of nautical miles in the Indian Ocean on the research an anti-satellite weapon from space. project to reveal the internal working of the body € In 2019, France announced its Commandement of the ocean at a cellular level. de l’Espace (CdE) (French Space Command). z They will course the Indian Ocean from India’s z It is set to have 500 personnel by 2025. east coast, Australia, Port Louis in Mauritius ¾ Similar Initiatives of India: and up to the border of Pakistan, off India’s west coast. € IndSpaceEx: India’s first ever simulated space warfare exercise. ¾ Genome Collection: € Mission Shakti: An Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile Test. € The researchers will collect samples from various stretches of the ocean at an average depth of about 5 km. Genome € Just like gene mapping is carried out on blood Mapping in Indian Ocean samples collected from humans, the scientists will map these in the bacteria, microbes found Why in News in the ocean. € The mapping of the Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is going (DNA) and Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) will show the to launch the first-of-its-kindproject of Genome Mapping nutrients present in them, and also those lacking in the Indian Ocean. in different parts of the ocean. ¾ Indian Ocean is the third largest water body in the ¾ Studying Trace Elements: world, covering about 20% of the Earth’s water surface. € Trace metals like cadmium or copper are supplied Key Points to oceans via continental run-offs, atmospheric deposition, hydrothermal activities and continental ¾ Aim: shelf interaction. € To gather samples for genome mapping of z They are essential for ocean productivity. microorganisms in the Indian Ocean. € It is important to understand the interactions € To understand the biochemistry and the response of trace metals with marine biota “for having a of the ocean to climate change, nutrient stress holistic understanding about nutrient cycling and and increasing pollution. productivity of the oceans”. ¾ Project Cost & Duration: € Apart from their reactions on marine life, isotopic € Rs. 25 crore and will take three years to complete. forms of trace metals can be utilised to track the movement of water masses responsible for ocean circulation and as tools to study the biological, geochemical and ecosystem processes and food web analyse. € The NIO’s project is expected to generate new information about trace metals from underexplored regions of the Indian Ocean. ¾ Benefits: € Understanding Ecosystem: z It will help scientists understand the internal working of the ecosystem of the Indian Ocean.

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€ Understanding Factors Causing Change: of a gene and the distances between genes. Gene z The research will enable scientists to identify mapping can also describe the distances between the factors controlling the changes in RNA, different sites within a gene. DNA in the oceans, and various stressors ¾ Taking inspiration from the Human Genome Project, impacting them. the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) initiated € Identifying Mineral Concentration: the ambitious “Genome India Project” (GIP) in z The ocean has several micronutrients like January 2020. The GIP aims to collect 10,000 nitrates, sulphates and silicates, minerals like genetic samples from citizens across India, to build iron ore and zinc, and trace metals like cadmium a reference genome. or copper. National Institute of Oceanography z The genome mapping will show the presence ¾ About: of which these microbes have adapted to, in addition to their reaction to atmospheric € It is a multi-disciplinary oceanographic research carbon dioxide. institute and is one of the constituent laboratories of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research z This will help in identifying which part of the (CSIR), New Delhi. ocean has a greater concentration of which ¾ mineral or element. Headquarter and Other Centres: € Its headquarters is at Dona Paula, Goa with z Scientists will then use these as tracers to tackle the causative factors for excess or lack regional centres at Kochi (Kerala), Mumbai (Ma- harashtra) and Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). of a certain mineral or element and suggest possible solutions for their mitigation. ¾ Established: st € Human Benefit: € It was established on 1 January 1966 following the International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE) z The large pool of RNA, DNA library of the oceans in the 1960s. will be utilised for using the Indian Ocean to human benefit in the future. € Increased Biotechnology Application: Asteroid 2001 FO32 z Genome mapping will enable an increase in the growing number of commercial biotechnology Why in News applications, extending from multiple anticancer The National Aeronautics and Space Administration treatments to cosmetics and industrial enzymes, (NASA) has predicted that the asteroid ‘2001 FO32’ is to antiviral molecules. the largest to pass by Earth in 2021. It will be at its closest € Optimization of Conservation Efforts: on 21st March. z Exploration of the ocean at a genetic level ¾ It will provide a rare opportunity for astronomers to will result in new insights into taxonomy get a good look at a rocky relic that formed at the and adaptive capacity that can help optimize dawn of our solar system. conservation efforts. Key Points Genome ¾ ¾ A genome is the complete set of DNA (or RNA in About the 2001 FO32 Asteroid: RNA viruses) of an organism. € Discovery: It was discovered 20 years ago and ever ¾ Each genome contains all of the information needed since the scientists have been tracking its orbital to build and maintain that organism. path around the Sun very accurately. ¾ In humans, a copy of the entire genome contains z It was discovered in March 2001 by the Lincoln more than 3 billion DNA base pairs. Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in Socorro, New Mexico. Genome Mapping z 1998 OR2 was the last notably large asteroid ¾ It describes the methods used to identify the locus that passed close to earth on 29th April, 2020.

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While 2001 FO32 is somewhat smaller than ¾ Other Asteroids Seen in News: 1998 OR2, it will be three times nearer to Earth. € Asteroid 2020 ND € Orbit: It is in a highly eccentric orbit around € 163348 (2002 NN4) It the Sun. completes one orbit every 810 days € Asteroid 2018VP1 (about 2¼ years). The orbit is tilted 39° to Earth’s € Asteroid 16 Psyche orbital plane. € Asteroid Bennu z This orbit takes the asteroid closer to the Sun than Mercury, and twice as far from the Sun Asteroids as Mars. ¾ Asteroids orbit the Sun and are small bodies in the € Speed: The asteroid will pass by at about 1,24,000 solar system. kph. It is faster than the speed at which most ¾ They are made up of metals and rocks. asteroids encounter Earth. ¾ They tend to have shorter and elliptical orbits. z The reason for the asteroid’s unusual speed is ¾ They do not produce a coma or tail atmosphere. its close approach to the earth. ¾ The asteroid belt is a torus-shaped region in the € No Threat of Collision: Solar System, located roughly between the orbits z The near-Earth asteroid will make its closest of the planets Jupiter and Mars. approach at a distance of about 2 million Classification of Asteroids kilometers or 5 1/4 times the distance from ¾ Earth to the Moon. Main Asteroid Belt: The majority of known asteroids orbit within the asteroid belt between Mars and „ The distance is close in astronomical Jupiter. terms, that’s why it has been designated a ¾ : These asteroids share an orbit with a larger “potentially hazardous asteroid”. Trojans planet, but do not collide with it because they gather „ There is no threat of a collision with our around two special places in the orbit (called the L4 planet now or for centuries to come. and L5 Lagrangian points). There, the gravitational € Next Close Approach: The asteroid will not pull from the sun and the planet are balanced. come this close to Earth again until 2052, when € Lagrange Points are positions in space where the it will pass by at about seven lunar distances, or gravitational forces of a two body system like the 2.8 million km. Sun and the Earth produce enhanced regions of ¾ Significance: attraction and repulsion. These can be used by € It will provide an opportunity for astronomers to spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed get a more precise understanding of the asteroid’s to remain in position. size and albedo (i.e. how bright, or reflective, its ¾ Near-Earth Asteroids: These objects have orbits surface is), and a rough idea of its composition. that pass close by that of Earth. Asteroids that € When sunlight hits an asteroid’s surface, minerals in actually cross Earth’s orbital path are known as the rock absorb some wavelengths while reflecting Earth-crossers. others. By studying the spectrum of light reflecting Potentially Hazardous Asteroid off the surface, astronomers can measure the ¾ It means that an asteroid has the potential to make chemical “fingerprints” of the minerals on the threatening close approaches to the Earth. surface of the asteroid.

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Environment and Ecology

Highlights z Seabuckthorn Plantation in the Cold Desert z Similipal Biosphere Reserve: Odisha z Dumping Inert Waste in Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary z WWF Conservation Drive on World Wildlife Day z Appeal to Resume Mining in Aravalli Hills z Whale Shark z Right to Repair: European Union z Pench Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra z Black-Browed Babbler Rediscovered z CERA Week Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award z NDC Synthesis Report: UNFCCC z Independent Environment Regulator

Seabuckthorn Plantation in the Cold Desert

Why in News The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to start planting seabuckthorn in the cold desert areas of the state. Key Points ¾ About Seabuckthorn: z Grows well in dry regions and becomes much € It’s a shrub which produces an orange-yellow more important especially in the light of reduced coloured edible berry. water flow from Himalayan glaciers. € In India, it is found above the tree line in the € Himalayan region, generally in dry areas such as Medicinal Benefits: the cold deserts of Ladakh and Spiti. z As a folk medicine, seabuckthorn has been widely used for treating stomach, heart and € In Himachal Pradesh, it is locally called chharma and grows in the wild in Lahaul and Spiti and parts skin problems. of Kinnaur. z Its fruit and leaves are rich in vitamins, carot- enoids and omega fatty acids and it can help € A major part is covered by this plant in Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal troops in acclimatising to high-altitude. Pradesh.Ecological, Medicinal and Economical z In the last few decades, scientific research benefits. worldwide has backed many of its traditional uses. € The Seabuckthorn Plantation has manyEcological € Economical Benefits: Benefits: z Seabuckthorn also has commercial value, as z Seabuckthorn is a soil-binding plant which it is used in making juices, jams, nutritional prevents soil-erosion, checks siltation in rivers capsules etc. and helps preserve floral biodiversity. z It is an important source of fuelwood and fodder. z In the Lahaul valley, where willow trees are z However, wild Seabuckthorn cannot sustainably dying in large numbers due to pest attack, this supply raw material to the industry, and the hardy shrub is a good alternative for protecting plant needs to be cultivated on a large scale the local ecology. as is being done in China.

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Cold Desert in India metal, wood, bricks, masonry and cement concrete; asphalt concrete; metal; tree branches; bottom ¾ The Cold Desert of India is situated in the Himalayas ash from coal fired boilers; and waste coal fines and stretches from Ladakh in the north to Kinnaur from air pollution control equipment. (in the state of Himachal Pradesh) in the south. € These wastes usually don’t pose a threat to the ¾ The region has harsh climatic conditions such as environment, or the health of animals or other very low rainfall and very high elevation (ranging and will from 3000 – 5000m Above people not endanger the quality of Sea Level)] that adds watercourses. to the coldness in its € However, when there is a large amount of this environment. type of waste, it can become an issue as it begins ¾ Blizzards, snowstorms and to take up a lot of space. avalanches are common. ¾ Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary: ¾ The soil is not very fertile € Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary covering 32.71 sq and the climatic conditions km area lies on the Southern Delhi Ridge of Aravalli allow very short growing hill range, one of the oldest mountain systems of seasons making it a bare the world, on Delhi-Haryana border. landscape. € An area of 1km around the Asola Bhatti Wildlife ¾ Water resources are minimal and comprise glacier- Sanctuary in Gurugram and Faridabad is an Eco- fed streams. sensitive zone. z Activities such as commercial mining, setting Tree Line up of industries, and establishment of major ¾ The tree line is the edge of the habitat at which hydro-electric projects are prohibited. trees are capable of growing. It is found at high € elevations and high latitudes. The Asola wildlife sanctuary has both floral and faunal diversity in form of ¾ Beyond the tree line, trees cannot tolerate the environmental conditions (usually cold temperatures, z Wide variety of trees, shrubs, herbs and grasses. extreme snowpack, or associated lack of available z Large numbers of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, moisture). butterflies and dragonflies. € Sanctuary comprises around 200 species of resident Dumping Inert Waste in Asola and migratory birds. € Wildlife habitats inside the sanctuary act as a water Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary recharge zone for Delhi, Faridabad and Gurugram.

Why in News The Supreme Court-mandated Ridge Management Board has decided to constitute an expert committee to look into the proposal of dumping inert (non-reactive) waste in the mines of Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (Delhi).

Key Points ¾ Inert Waste: € Inert waste is waste which is neither biologically nor chemically reactive and is waste which will not decompose or decompose very slowly. ¾ Ridge Management Board: € Inert waste includes, but is not limited to: € Background: The Supreme Court mandated the construction and demolition material such as Delhi Government to constitute a Ridge Man-

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agement Board for protection of the Delhi Ridge € Characteristics: through their orders in the M.C. Mehta case 1987. z The Aravallis of Northwestern India, one of z The Delhi Ridge is the northern extension the oldest fold mountains of the world, now of the Aravalli Range covering a distance of form residual mountains with an elevation of about 35km. 300m to 900m. z The Delhi Ridge acts as the green lungs of the „ Guru Shikhar Peak on Mount Abu is the capital and, through various government orders highest peak in the Aravalli Range (1,722 m). over the years, all construction has been banned z It has been formed primarily of folded crust, in the Ridge in an effort to preserve it. when two convergent plates move towards each € Date of Establishment: 6th October 1995. other by the process called orogenic movement. € Members: The Chairman of the board is Chief € Extension: Secretary of Delhi and Head of the Forest z The mountains are divided into two main Department of Delhi Government is its Member ranges – the Sambhar Sirohi Range and the Secretary. Sambhar Khetri Range in Rajasthan, where z The Board also has members from the Non- their extension is about 560 km. governmental Organizations (NGOs). z The hidden limb of the Aravallis that extends from Delhi to Haridwar creates a divide between the Appeal to Resume drainage of rivers of the Ganga and the Indus. ¾ Mining in Aravalli Hills Their Significance: € Checks Desertification: z The Aravallis act as a barrier between the Why in News fertile plains in the east and the sandy desert Recently, the Haryana government has appealed to in the west. the Supreme Court to permit it to resume mining in the z Historically, it is said that the Aravalli range Aravalli Hills on the grounds that the pandemic had checked the spread of the Thar desert towards grounded the State’s economy to a halt. the Indo-Gangetic plains, serving as a catchment of rivers and plains. Key Points € Rich in Biodiversity: ¾ About the Aravalli Range: z Provides habitat to 300 native plant species, € Location: 120 bird species and many exclusive animals z They stretch for a like the jackal and mongoose. distance of about € Impacts Climate: 720 km from Him- z Aravallis have an impact upon the climate of matnagar in Guja- northwest India and beyond. rat to Delhi, span- z During monsoons, it provides a barrier and ning Haryana, Ra- monsoon clouds move eastwards towards jasthan, Gujarat, Shimla and Nainital, thus helping nurture the and Delhi. sub-Himalayan rivers and feeding the north € Formation: Indian plains. z The Aravallis date back to millions of years z In the winter months, it protects the fertile when a pre-Indian subcontinent collided with alluvial river valleys from the cold westerly the mainland Eurasian Plate. winds from Central Asia. € Age: € Recharges Groundwater: z Carbon dating has shown that copper and other z Aravallis also functions as a groundwater recharge metals mined in the ranges date back to at least zone for the regions around that absorb rainwater the 5th century BC. and revive the groundwater level.

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€ Checks Pollution: ¾ About: z This range is considered the “lungs” for the € The Right to Repair electronics refers to government polluted air of Delhi–National Capital Region legislation that is intended to allow consumers (NCR). the ability to repair and modify their own z For Haryana, having the lowest forest cover consumer electronic devices, where otherwise at around 3.59% of the total forest cover in the manufacturer of such devices require the India, the Aravalli range is the only saving grace, consumer to use only their offered services. providing the major portion of its forest cover € Idea of Right to Repair originally originated from (2017 Report). the USA where the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right ¾ Threats: to Repair Act 2012, required the manufacturers to € The Aravalli hills are an ecologically sensitive zone provide the necessary documents and information but have for years borne the brunt of quarrying to allow anyone to repair their vehicles. and environmental degradation. ¾ New Rules: € A 2018 report by a Supreme Court-appointed € Under the new EU rules, manufacturers will have Central Empowered Committee (CEC) found out to ensure parts are available for up to a decade, that 25% of the Aravalli range has been lost due though some will only be provided to professional to illegal mining in Rajasthan since 1967-68. repair companies to ensure they are installed € The consequences of the mining has been a correctly. destruction of aquifers and deforestation.Many € New devices will also have to come with repair rivers originating in the Aravalli like Banas, Luni, manuals and be made in such a way that they can Sahibi and Sakhi, are now dead. be dismantled using conventional tools when they ¾ Steps Taken: really can’t be fixed anymore, to improve recycling. € Mining in the Aravalli region has been banned ¾ E-Waste Generation in Europe: since 2002 under the Supreme Court orders, unless € As per the Global E-Waste Monitor 2020, Europeans expressly permitted by the Union Environment produce more than 16 kilograms (kg) of electrical Ministry. However, mining continues illegally. waste per person every year. € The green wall is being planned from Porbandar to z Asia and Africa were much lower: 5.6 and Panipat which will help in restoring degraded land 2.5 kg respectively. through afforestation along the Aravali hill range. z Global E-Waste Monitor: It is a collaboration of € Residents along with volunteers from iamgurgaon, a the Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP), citizen action group involved in the conservation of formed by United Nation University (UNU), the the Aravallis, were assisted by ecologists to create International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a self-sustaining Aravalli. This society driven model and the International Solid Waste Association could be more effective to combat the degradation. (ISWA), in close collaboration with theUnited Nation Environment Programme (UNEP). Right to Repair: European Union € About half of that junk is due to broken household appliances, and the EU recycles only about 40% Why in News of it, leaving behind huge amounts of potentially hazardous material. Companies that sell refrigerators, washers, hair dryers ¾ Significance: or tele-visions in the European Union (EU) will need to € It will help reduce the vast mountain of electrical ensure that those appliances can be repaired for up to that piles up each year on the 10 years. waste (e-waste) continent. ¾ The “Right to Repair,” as it is sometimes called, came into force across the 27-nation from March 2021. € It will save consumers money. € It will contribute to circular economy objectives Key Points by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use,

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upgrade, recyclability and waste handling of ¾ Indian Initiatives: appliances. € E-Waste Management Rules, 2016: € It would tackle two manufacturing trends: z The rules aim to enable the recovery and/or z Cavalier attitude towards planned obsolescence. reuse of useful material from e-waste, thereby z Tendency on the part of manufacturers to reducing the hazardous wastes destined for control the repair and maintenance network. disposal and to ensure the environmentally ¾ Problem with Repair of Modern Appliances: sound management of all types of waste of electrical and electronic equipment. € Need Special Tools: € E-Waste Clinic: z Modern appliances are often glued or riveted together, if you need specialist tools or have to z Aimed at segregating, processing and disposal break open the device, then you can’t repair it. of waste. € Lack of Spare Parts: z Lack of spare parts is another problem, Black-Browed campaigners say. Sometimes a single broken tooth on a tiny plastic sprocket can be challenging Babbler Rediscovered work. ¾ Concerns For Manufacturers: Why in News € Manufacturers have pushed back against a broader Recently, a Black-Browed Babbler (Malacocincla “right to repair” as that would hurt their ability perspicillata) was rediscovered in southeastern Kalimantan, to sell new products more frequently, and would the part of Borneo that is administered by Indonesia. push them to become a service provider rather than a product maker. € They also say allowing the consumer to repair high- technology products is a risk, think of lithium-ion batteries in cars. E-waste in India ¾ Official Data: € According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India generated more than 10 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2019-20, an increase from 7 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.

E-Waste ¾ About: € E-Waste is short for Electronic-Waste and the Key Points term is used to describe old, end-of-life or ¾ History: discarded electronic appliances. It includes their € In the 1840s, a mystery bird was caught on an components, consumables, parts and spares. expedition to the East Indies. It was named as € It is categorised into 21 types under two broad black-browed babbler. categories: € The species was never seen in the wild again, and z Information technology and communication a stuffed specimen featuring a bright yellow glass equipment. eye was the only proof of its existence. z Consumer electrical and electronics. z No Asian bird has been missing for as long as € E-waste includes their components, consumables, Indonesia’s Black-browed Babbler. It has been parts and spares. missing for the last 170 years.

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z This bird is often called‘the biggest enigma in ¾ Findings: Indonesian ornithology’. € Good Performers: ¾ About: z The United Kingdom and the European Union € It has a strong bill, are the only regions among 18 of the world’s chocolate colouring biggest emitters that have significantly increased and distinctive black their greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets. eye-stripe, its iris is € Under Performers: of striking maroon z Sixteen of the world’s biggest emitters have . colour not increased their emission reduction targets € It has brown wings and a black stripe across its substantially or at all. brow. € Adaptation Action and Economic Diversification: ¾ Significance: z More countries reported on mitigation co- € Discoveries like this give hope that it’s possible to benefits of adaptation action and economic find other species that have been lost to science diversification plans. for decades or longer. z Adaptation actions and economic diversification z More than 150 species of birds around the plans with mitigation co-benefits includeclimate- world are considered “lost” with no confirmed smart agriculture, adapting coastal ecosystems, sightings in the past decade. increasing the share of renewable sources in ¾ Protection Status: energy generation, carbon dioxide capture and € IUCN Red List: Data Deficient storage, fuel switch and fuel price reforms in the transport sector, and moving to a circular NDC Synthesis Report: UNFCCC economy for better waste management. € Need for the Update: Why in News z The current levels of climate ambition are very far from putting us on a pathway that willmeet .The UNFCCC, in its Natonally Determined our Paris Agreement goals Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report, has called for more z While a majority of countries increased their ambitious climate action plans by the countries in order individual levels of ambition to reduce emissions, to achieve the Paris Agreement target of containing global their combined impact will temperature rise to 2°C (ideally 1.5°C) by the end of the help achieve only a century. 1% reduction by 2030 compared to 2010 levels. „ Global emissions, however, ¾ The report was sought ahead of the 26th session need to reduce of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the by 45% in order to meet the 1.5°C goal, UNFCCC which is scheduled to take place from 1st-12th according to the Intergovernmental Panel November 2021, in Glasgow, UK. on Climate Change. ¾ NDCs are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC embody efforts by each country to reduce national ¾ About: emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. € UNFCCC stands for United Nations Framework Each NDC reflects the country’s ambition, taking into Convention on Climate Change. account its domestic circumstances and capabilities. € The UNFCCC secretariat (UN Climate Change) is Key Points the United Nations entitytasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change. ¾ About: € The Convention hasnear universal membership € The NDC Synthesis Report covers submissions up to (197 Parties)and is the parent treaty of the 2015 31st December 2020 and includes new or updated Paris Agreement. The UNFCCC is also the parent NDCs by 75 Parties, which represent approximately treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

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¾ Secretariat: € The CMA oversees the implementation of the Paris Agreement and takes decisions to promote € The UNFCCC secretariat is located in Bonn, its effective implementation. Germany. € All States that are Parties to the Paris Agreement ¾ Objective: are represented at the Conference of the Parties € The ultimate objective of all three agreements serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse Agreement (CMA), while States that are not Parties gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level participate as observers. that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which India’s INDC, to be achieved primarily, by 2030 allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables ¾ To reduce the emissions intensity of the GDP by sustainable development. about a third. ¾ A total of 40% of the installed capacity for electricity Paris Agreement will be from non-fossil fuel sources. ¾ About: ¾ India also promised an additional carbon sink (a means € Paris Agreement (also known as the Conference of to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) of Parties 21 or COP 21) is a landmark environmental 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent accord that was adopted in 2015 to address climate through additional forest and tree cover by the change and its negative impacts. year 2030. € It replaced the Kyoto Protocol which was an earlier agreement to deal with climate change. Similipal ¾ Aims: To reduce global GHG emissions in an effort to limit the global temperature increase in this century Biosphere Reserve: Odisha to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing means to limit the increase to 1.5°C by 2100. Why in News It also includes: Recently, a massive fire broke out in the Similipal € Addressing the financial losses vulnerable countries Biosphere Reserve in Odisha. The core area of the face from climate impacts such as extreme weather. biosphere was untouched by the fire, however the fire € Providing financial assistance to countries that is threatening damage to its rich biodiversity. are less endowed and more vulnerable enabling them to adapt to climate change and transition Key Points to clean energy. ¾ About: € Climate finance is needed for mitigation, because € Similipal large-scale investments are required to significantly derives its name from ‘Simul’ (silk reduce emissions. However, this part of the deal cotton) tree. has been made non-legally binding on developed € It was formally designated a tiger reserve in 1956 countries. and brought under Project Tiger in the year 1973. ¾ INDCs: Before the conference started, more than € It was declared a biosphere reserve by the 180 countries had submitted pledges to cut their Government of India in June, 1994. carbon emissions (Intended Nationally Determined € It has been part of the UNESCO World Network Contributions or INDCs). of Biosphere Reserve since 2009. € The INDCs were recognised under the agreement, € It is part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant but are not legally binding. Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant € India also reaffirmed its INDCs commitments to Reserve, which includes 3 protected areas i.e. meeting the goals under the Agreement in order Similipal Tiger Reserve, Hadagarh Wildlife sanctuary to combat climate change. and Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary. ¾ CMA: ¾ Location:

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€ It is situated in the northern part of Odisha’s € Badrama WLS: It is characterized by the presence Mayurbhanj district. Geographically, it lies in the of Moist Sal Forests. eastern end of the eastern ghat. € Chilika (Nalaban island) WLS: Asia’s largest and ¾ Coverage: world’s second-largest lagoon. Recently, direct € The biosphere spread over 4,374 sq. km. has 845 sightings of school of Irrawaddy dolphins has sq. km. of core forest (tiger reserve), 2,129 sq km been reported here. buffer area and 1,400 sq km of transition space. € Hadgarh WLS: Salandi river passes through it ¾ Vegetation: which is home to mugger crocodiles. € Similipal has 1,076 flowering species and 96 € Baisipalli WLS: It is a sal dominated forest with a species of orchids. It boasts of having tropical significant number of tigers, leopards, elephants, semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous herbivores like Chousingha. forests, dry deciduous hill forests, high level sal € Kotagarh WLS: It consists of dense deciduous forests and sprawling meadows. forests with grasslands. ¾ Tribes: € Nandankanan WLS: First in the world to breed € Two tribes, the Erenga Kharias and the Mankirdias, White tiger and Melanistic tiger. inhabit the reserve’s forests and practise traditional € Lakhari Valley WLS: It is a dwelling place of a agricultural activities (the collection of seeds and large number of elephants. timber). € Gahirmatha (Marine) WLS: It is a mass nesting ¾ Wildlife: spot in Indian Ocean region and the only turtle € Similipal is home to a wide range of wild animals sanctuary in Odisha. The Olive Ridley turtles including tigers andelephants , besides 304 species travel across the South Pacific to breed on the of birds, 20 species of amphibians and 62 species coast of Gahirmatha. of reptiles. ¾ Vulnerability to Forest Fires: WWF Conservation € Natural Causes: Such as lighting or even soaring temperatures can sometimes result inforest fires Drive on World Wildlife Day here. Why in News € Man Made Factors: Instances of poaching and hunting wherein the poachers set a small patch Recently, on the occasion of World Wildlife Day (3rd of forest on fire to divert the wild animals, can March), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) called lead to forest fires. on multiple stakeholders, including the European Union ¾ Mitigation Strategies: (EU), to save Europe’s last old-growth forests. ¾ WWF was and is € Forecasting fire-prone days and including community established in 1961 headquartered members to mitigate incidents of fire, creating at Gland, Switzerland. Its mission is to conserve fire lines, clearing sites of dried biomass, and nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth. crackdown on poachers. € The forest fire lines which are strips kept clear Key Points of vegetation, could help break the forest into ¾ About: compartments to prevent fires from spreading. € Europe’s Old-Growth Forests (OGF) are primitive Other Major Protected Areas in Odisha forests that are dominated by natural processes. ¾ National Parks: They include virgin, near-virgin, long-untouched forests by humans, eg: Białowieża Forest in Poland. € Bhitarkanika National Park: It is home to the largest congregation of the endangered SaltWater € To date, 3,50,000 hectares (ha) of old-growth and virgin forests had been identified in Central and Crocodile in the country. Southeastern Europe. Of these, only 2,80,000 ha ¾ Wildlife Sanctuaries: were legally protected.

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¾ Location: € The largest areas of surviving OGF and forest habitats Whale Shark in Europe (outside of Russia) were found primarily in Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia and Bulgaria. Why in News ¾ Ecological Importance: Recently, fishers in Odisha rescued a whale shark. € They were home to Europe’s largest surviving large carnivore populations, as well as thousands Key Points of other species of flora and fauna. ¾ About: € These forests rendered important ecosystem € Whale sharks such as filtering and storing freshwater services are the largest to regulating the climate and were thus essential shark, and to people and to the economy. indeed largest ¾ Threats: of any fishes € Increasing pressure on forests from both unsus- alive today and tainable legal and illegal logging, as well as the they travel large impacts of climate change. distances to find enough food to sustain their huge € The fragmentation and destruction of forest habitats size, and to reproduce. meant that both animals and disease vectors were € The whale shark is a ‘filter feeder shark’ which inadvertently coming into more frequent contact means it does not eat meat like other sharks. Whale and conflict with humans. sharks filter sea water and feed on tiny planktons. ¾ Steps that can be Taken: € The maximum size of whale sharks is not known, € Developing and promoting sustainable compen- but could be as large as 20m. sation mechanisms. ¾ Scientific Name: € Developing forest-based local green business € Rhincodon typus. and investment schemes to support sustainable ¾ Habitat: development of such forests. € Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans World Wildlife Day of the world. ¾ About: ¾ Threats: rd € It is celebrated every year on the 3 of March, € Oil & gas drilling, shipping lanes etc. since 2013. The date chosen coincides with the ¾ Protection Status: day the Convention on International Trade in € IUCN Red List: Endangered Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was signed in 1973. € CITES: Appendix II € : Schedule I € The United Nations General Assembly resolution Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 also designated the CITES Secretariat as the facilitator for the global observance of this special Pench Tiger day for wildlife on the UN calendar. ¾ Theme: Reserve: Maharashtra € The theme of World Wildlife Day 2021 is Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet. Why in News It is set in alignment with the UN Sustainable Recently, a female cub of ‘man-eater’ tigress Avni Development Goals. has been released into the wild in the Pench Tiger Reserve ¾ In India: (PTR) of Maharashtra. € On this occasion, the Union Environment Ministry declared that it is dedicated for reintroduction Key Points of Cheetah, which went extinct in 1952. ¾ About:

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€ It is located in Nagpur District of Maharashtra and named after the pristine Pench River. z The Pench river flows right through the middle of the park. z It descends from north to south, thereby dividing the reserve into equal eastern and western parts. € PTR is the joint pride of both Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. z The Reserve is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh, and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary. € It was declared a National Park by the Government of Maharashtra in 1975 and the identity of a tiger reserve was granted to it in the year 1998-1999. z However, PTR Madhya Pradesh was granted the same status in 1992-1993. It is one of the major Protected Areas of Satpura-Maikal ranges of CERA Week Global the Central Highlands. Energy and Environment € It is among the sites notified as Important Bird Areas (IBA) of India. Leadership Award z The IBA is a programme of Birdlife International which aims to identify, monitor and protect a Why in News global network of IBAs for conservation of the The Prime Minister of India was conferred with the world’s birds and associated diversity. Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award by ¾ Flora: Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA). € The green cover is thickly spread throughout the ¾ He was awarded for his commitment to expanding reserve. India’s leadership in sustainable development to meet € A mixture of Southern dry broadleaf teak forests the country’s, and the world’s, future energy needs. and tropical mixed deciduous forests is present. ¾ He addressed the CERAWeek conference and € Shrubs, climbers and trees are also frequently highlighted the steps taken by India to address the present. Some of them are unique varieties and issue of climate change and attaining the target of possess medicinal as well as healing properties. achieving clean fuel. € Bamboo plantations are also present nearby the water banks. Key Points ¾ Fauna: ¾ About the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment € Mammals: Leadership Award: z These include – sloth bear, jackal, nilgai, wild € The Award was instituted in 2016. dog etc. € It recognises the commitment of leadership on the € Birds: future of global energy and environment, and for z This comprises peafowl, magpie robin, pintail, offering solutions and policies for energy access, drongo, unia, myna etc. affordability and environmental stewardship. ¾ Major Tiger Reserves of India: ¾ Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA):

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€ It is a consulting company in the United States Key Points that specializes in advising governments and ¾ SC’s Order: private companies on energy markets, geopolitics, € SC had ordered the setting up of a national industry trends, and strategy. environment regulatory body under the Environment ¾ : CERAWeek (Protection) Act, 1986 to ensure independent € It was founded in 1983 by Dr. Daniel Yergin. oversight of green clearances way back in Lafarge € It is an annual energy conference, organized in Umiam Mining Private Limited v. Union of India Houston (USA) in March, since 1983. case (2011), commonly known as the Lafarge € CERAWeek by IHS Markit is the annual international mining case. gathering of energy industry leaders, experts, ¾ Envisaged Functions of the Regulator: government officials and policymakers, leaders € Appraisal and Approval: from the technology, financial and industrial z The regulator will carry out independent, communities - and energy technology innovators. objective and transparent appraisal and € CERAWeek 2021 was convened virtually from approval of projects for environmental 1st-5th March, 2021. clearances. z Theme: The New Map: Energy, Climate, and € Monitoring and Implementation: Charting the Future. z It will also monitor the implementation of the ¾ Highlights of PM Address: conditions laid down in the clearances and € The Prime Minister in his address discussed the key impose penalties on polluters. While exercising initiatives taken by India to attain climate justice: such powers, the regulator will ensure the z National Hydrogen Mission, National Forest Policy, 1988 is duly implemented. ¾ z PM KUSUM, Current Issues: z Bharat - 6 emission norms, € Related to Environment Impact Assessment (2006): z Give It Up Subsidy Movement, z Lack of Capacity: „ z SATAT initiatives, The environmental clearance at the national level is overseen by an Expert Appraisal z Blending of ethanol, Committee (EAC), which functions on an ad- z Modern techniques of irrigation, hoc basis, without much regulatory capacity. z Organic farming, „ The state-level appraisal committees z International Solar Alliance, overseeing the clearance also function z India’s commitment towards the Paris Climate without much regulatory support. Accord, and 1. The committees function as per the z Talked of Mahatma Gandhi’s Principle of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Trusteeship. Notification 2006. „ At the core of Trusteeship is collectivism, z Lack of Expertise: compassion and responsibility. „ The EAC has been questioned on many occasions for lack of expertise of its members Independent and chairpersons. z Lack of Proper Legislation: Environment Regulator „ EAC and the state-level committees are toothless due to the lack of effective Why in News legislative power and supporting institutional Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) asked the capacity. government to explain the reasons for not setting up an € Multiplicity of Regulations and Increasing Cost: “Independent Environment Regulator” to oversee green z There are too many clearances for the same clearances. thing; and none of them seem to be working

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for the environment or for protecting the rights as the compliance monitoring and ex-post of communities. Worse, they are adding to the regularisation, could be tackled with proper burden of industry in terms of high transaction standard-setting by a regulator. costs. € Capacity and Independence: „ Forest clearance under Section 2 of theForest z The present environmental regulation institutional (Conservation) Act, 1980. mechanism in India, which lies with pollution „ Coastal clearance under the Coastal Regulation control boards at the state and central level, Zone Notification, 2011. lacks regulatory capacity and independence. „ Wildlife clearance under the Wildlife € Preventing Regulatory Delays: Protection Act, 1972. z Cutting down on regulatory delays is also z This multiplicity of regulationsand regulatory important. This may be possible with the help authorities help unscrupulous elements in the of a credible independent regulator. But an industry and the government. optimum level of rigour in the regulatory process ¾ Need: and standards is important for environmental € Unbiased Decision Making: protection. z Lack of an independent body to oversee the ¾ Temporary Solution: entire environmental regulatory process could € As per the SC till an Independent Regulator was put lead to a possible political interest in the decision in place, the Environment Ministry should prepare making. a panel of accredited institutions from which € Proper Compliance: alone the project proponent should obtain the z The major concerns regarding EIA norms, such Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

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Highlights z Morarji Desai z Sculpture of Hardit Singh Malik z Biju Patnaik z Dandi March to Mark 75 Years of Independence

¾ Political Career: Morarji Desai € In 1952, he became the Chief Minister of Bombay. € He joined the Union Cabinet as Minister for Why in News Commerce and Industry in November, 1956. Later, Recently, the 125th birth anniversary of former Prime he took the Finance portfolio in March, 1958. Minister Morarji Desai was observed (29th February 2021). € In 1963, he resigned from the Union Cabinet under ¾ He was the 4th Prime Minister (1977-79) and the first the Kamraj Plan. Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, who non-Congress Prime Minister of India. succeeded Pt. Nehru, as Prime Minister, persuaded him to become Chairman of the Administrative Key Points Reforms Commission for restructuring the administrative system. ¾ Early Life: z According to Kamaraj Plan, it was proposed € Shri Morarji Desai was born on 29th February, that all senior Congress leaders should resign 1896 in Bhadeli village, now in the Bulsar district from their posts and devote all their energy to of Gujarat. the revitalization of the Congress. € After graduating in 1918 from the Wilson Civil € Desai was arrested and detained on 26th June, Service in Bombay, he served as a Deputy Collector 1975, when Emergency was declared. He went for twelve years. on an indefinite hunger strike to support theNav ¾ Contribution in Freedom Struggle: Nirman movement of Gujarat. € Joined Congress: z Nav Nirman Andolan was a socio-political z In 1930, when India was in the midst of the Civil movement in 1974 in Gujarat by students and Disobedience Movement launched by Mahatma middle-class people against economic crisis and Gandhi, Shri Desai, having lost his confidence corruption in public life. in the British sense of justice, decided to resign € He was later unanimously elected as Leader of the from Government service and to plunge into Janata Party in Parliament and was sworn in as the struggle. the Prime Minister of India on 24th March, 1977. z Shri Desai was imprisoned thrice during the ¾ His Ideology: freedom struggle. He became a Member of € Against Inequality: According to him, unless the the All India Congress Committee in 1931 and poor and the under privileged living in villages and was Secretary of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress towns enjoy a decent standard of life, the talk of Committee until 1937. socialism will not have much meaning. Shri Desai € Participation in Individual Satyagraha: gave concrete expression to his anxiety by enacting z He was detained in the individual Satyagraha progressive legislation to ameliorate the hardships launched by Mahatma Gandhi, released in of peasants and tenants. October, 1941 and detained again in August, € Supported Austerity: Shri Desai translated into 1942 at the time of theQuit India Movement. action what he had professed in matters of economic

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planning and fiscal administration. In order to meet z In 1943, he underwent imprisonment for about the needs of defense and development, he raised two years for his participation in the Quit India large revenues, reduced wasteful expenditure and Movement. promoted austerity in Government expenditure € He fearlessly undertook covert missions, ferrying on administration. He keptdeficit financing very freedom fighters to secret meetings with their low by enforcing financial discipline. He brought supporters, and even airdropped leaflets in curbs on extravagant living of the privileged section support of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian of society. National Army. € Rule of Law: As Prime Minister, Shri Desai was € He played a major role in World War II and the keen that the people of India must be helped to Kashmir War of 1948 as a pilot in the Indian Air become fearless to an extent where even if the Force. highest in the land commits a wrong, the humblest ¾ Role in Kashmir Integration: should be able to point it out to him. “No one, not even the Prime Minister”, he was repeatedly said, € Biju Patnaik had fearlessly flown a DC-3 transport th should be above the law of the land”. aircraft to Srinagar on 27 October 1947, ferrying soldiers of the Sikh regiment after the tribal invasion € Strict Disciplinarian: For him, truth was an article from Pakistan in Kashmir. of faith and not an expediency. He seldom allowed his principles to be subordinated to the exigencies ¾ Role in Indonesian Freedom Struggle: of the situation. € On the request of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Biju Patnaik flew to Java and brought Sultan Sjahrir out of Dutch controlled territory in Indonesia for Biju Patnaik a meeting in Delhi. z For this act of bravery, he was given honorary Why in News citizenship in Indonesia and awarded the The birth anniversary of Biju Patnaik was celebrated ‘Bhoomi Putra’, the highest Indonesian award, (5th March). He is remembered as a freedom fighter, an rarely granted to a foreigner. Indian politician, an aviator and a businessman. z In 1996, the Biju Patnaik was awarded the highest Indonesian national award, the Bintang‘ Key Points Jasa Utma’. ¾ Brief Profile: € Bijayananda Patnaik was Sculpture of Hardit Singh Malik born on 5th March 1916, he is popularly known as Biju Patnaik. Why in News € He was an ace pilot and Recently, England has approved the design for a joined the Royal Indian Air sculpture of an early 20th century Sikh fighter pilot“Hardit Force in 1936. Singh Malik” for a new memorial to be erected in the € He was the two times Chief port city of Southampton. Minister of Odisha. ¾ The memorial is built in memory ¾ Role in Freedom Struggle: of all Indians who fought in the World Wars. € Biju Patnaik started his career as a freedom fighter in 1942. He joined the Quit India Movement ¾ The memorial will be created under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi to make by English sculptor Luke Perry. India free. Key Points z He became a prominent leader of Congress and was engaged in the Quit India Movement with Jay ¾ About Hardit Singh Malik: Prakash Narayan and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. € Birth:

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z He was born into a Sikh family on 23rd November which fought on the Western Front, in East 1894 in Rawalpindi in West Punjab, pre- Africa, Mesopotamia, Egypt and Gallipoli. partitioned India. z However, of these men, around 50,000 died, € Career: 65,000 were wounded, and 10,000 were z Hardit Singh Malik first arrived in the UK in reported missing, while 98 Indian army nurses 1908 as a 14-year-old to Balliol College at the were killed. University of Oxford. ¾ India’s Contribution to World War II: z He became a member of the Royal Flying Corps € About: during World War I (1914-1918). z World War II, also called Second World War, „ As the first Indian and turbaned pilot with was a conflict that involved virtually every part a specialised helmet, he became famous as of the world during the years 1939–45. the “Flying Sikh”. z The principal belligerents were: z He was also the Indian Ambassador to France „ Axis powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan. after a long and distinguished career in the „ Allies: France, Great Britain, the United Indian Civil Service. States, the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser € Death: extent, China. z st He died in New Delhi on 31 October 1985. z India sacrificed too much for the war. In the ¾ India’s Contribution to World War I: end the promised independence was also not € About: granted. Indian contribution was hence largely z World War I (WW I), also known as the Great neglected by the allied powers. War, lasted from July 1914 to November 1918. € Troops: z WW I was fought between the Allied Powers z Approximately 2.5 million Indian soldiers served and the Central Powers. in World War 2. „ Allied Powers: France, Russia, and Britain. z Over 36,000 Indian soldiers lost their lives, The United States also fought on the side of 34,000 were wounded and 67,000 were taken the Allies after 1917. prisoners of war. „ Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, z Their exploits were seen in East and North Africa, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria. Italy, Burma, and as far out as Singapore, Malay z India made a huge contribution to Britain’s Peninsula, Guam, and Indo China. war effort. z In the East, the Indian soldiers, as part of the z As high as 100 million British Pounds was given British Indian Army, fought against the Japanese by India to Britain to fund their war anticipating and were responsible for ultimately securing dominion status and home rule in return. South East Asia that included Singapore, the z The British raised men and money from India, Malay Peninsula and Burma. as well as large supplies of food, cash, and ammunition, collected by British taxation policies. Dandi March to Mark „ In return, the British promised to award self-rule to India at the end of the war which 75 Years of Independence eventually was not delivered. € Troops: Why in News z It sent staggering numbers of volunteers to fight The Prime Minister has flagged off a commemorative and die on behalf of the allied forces. ‘Dandi March’ (on 12th March) to launch the celebrations z Almost 1.5 million Muslim, Sikh and Hindu of the 75th year of Independence - ‘Azadi Ka Amrit men from regions such as the Punjab, Uttar Mahotsav’. Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Bihar volunteered in the Indian Expeditionary Force, Key Points

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¾ About the 2021 Dandi March: in exchange for an equal negotiating role at a € The padyatra is being undertaken by 81 marchers London conference on India’s future. from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi z In August 1931, Gandhiji traveled to the in Navsari, a journey of 386 km. The march will conference as the sole representative of the end after 25 days, on 5th April 2021. nationalist Indian National Congress. The € Descendants of those who walked the Salt March meeting was a disappointment, but British (in 1930) will be honoured. leaders had acknowledged him as a force they € Marchers will traverse the route in memory of the could not suppress or ignore. 78 who accompanied Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 ¾ 1930 Dandi March (Background): from Ahmedabad to Dandi and two others who € The Lahore Congress of 1929 had authorized the had joined mid-route. Congress Working Committee (CWC) to launch a € Big events will be organised at six places associated programme of civil disobedience including non- with Gandhi. These include MK Gandhi’s birthplace payment of taxes. Porbandar, along with Rajkot, Vadodara, Bardoli € On 26th January 1930, “Independence Day” was (Surat), Mandvi (Kutch) and Dandi (Navsari). observed, with the national flag being hoisted in € Cultural programmes are planned at 21 spots on different venues, and patriotic songs being sung. the route at the nightly stops for the walkers. € In February 1930, CWC meeting at Sabarmati ¾ About the 1930 Dandi March: Ashram, invested Gandhiji with full powers to € The Dandi March, also known as the Salt March launch the Civil Disobedience Movement at a time and the Dandi Satyagraha was an act of nonviolent and place of his choice. civil disobedience led by Mohandas Karamchand € Gandhiji’s ultimatum to Lord Irwin, the Viceroy Gandhi. of India (1926-31), stating the minimum demands € The march lasted from 12th March, 1930 to 6th had been ignored and there was only one way April, 1930 as a direct action campaign of tax out-civil disobedience. resistance and nonviolent protest against the ¾ Effect of the Movement: . British salt monopoly € Civil Disobedience in different forms continued in € On 12th March, Gandhiji set out from Sabarmati different provinces. Special stress was laid on the with 78 followers on a 241-mile march to the boycott of foreign goods. coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea. There, € In eastern India, payment of chowkidari tax was Gandhi and his supporters were to defy British refused. This no-tax campaign became very policy by making salt from seawater. popular in Bihar. € At Dandi, thousands more followed his lead, and € In Bengal, J.N. Sengupta defied Government in the coastal cities of Bombay and Karachi, Indian laws by reading openly the books banned by the nationalists led crowds of citizens in making salt. government. € Civil disobedience broke out all across India, € Defiance of forest laws assumed a mass character soon involving millions of Indians, and British in Maharashtra. authorities arrested more than 60,000 people. Gandhiji himself was arrested on 5th May, but the € The movement had taken a fire hold in provinces satyagraha continued without him. of U.P., Orissa. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Assam. € On 21st May, the poet Sarojini Naidu led 2,500 marchers on the Dharasana Salt Works, some 150 ¾ Significance: miles north of Bombay. The incident, recorded by € Imports from Britain had fallen considerably. American journalist Webb Miller, prompted an For example, imports of cloth from Britain had international outcry against British policy in India. fallen by half. € In January 1931, Gandhiji was released from € The movement was more widespread than the prison. He later met with Lord Irwin, the viceroy previous one. Mass participation includingwomen, of India, and agreed to call off the satyagraha peasants, workers, students, urban elements like

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merchants, shopkeepers provided the Congress liberating experience to date and can truly be said a new all-India status. to have marked their entry into the public space. € The support that the movement had garnered € Although the Congress withdrew the Civil Dis- from the poor and the illiterate both in the town obedience in 1934, the movement received global and countryside was remarkable. attention and marked a critically important stage € For Indian women, the movement was the most in the progress of the anti-imperialist struggle.

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Highlights z Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav 2021 z Sahitya Akademi Award

¾ Till date, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs have been held Rashtriya at various places such as Delhi, Varanasi, Bengaluru, Sanskriti Mahotsav 2021 Tawang, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tehri and Madhya Pradesh. Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Why in News ¾ It was launched in 2015 to promote engagement amongst the people of different States/UTs so as The third and final leg of 11th edition of the Rashtriya to enhance mutual understanding and bonding Sanskriti Mahotsav 2021 took place at Murshidabad, West between people of diverse cultures, thereby securing Bengal. stronger unity and integrity of India. ¾ Various colourful performances were given by the ¾ It is an initiative of the Ministry of Education. local artists, including ‘Baul Gaan’, ‘Alkup Gaan’, ‘Leto ¾ The broad objectives of the initiative are as follows: gaan’, ‘Jhumuriya’ and Ranpa folk dances. € To CELEBRATE the Unity in Diversity of our nation Key Point and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between ¾ Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav is the flagship festival the people, of the Ministry of Culture. € To PROMOTE the spirit of national integration ¾ It has been organized since 2015 with the active through a deep and structured engagement participation of Seven Zonal Culture Centres. between all Indian states and Union Territories ¾ It was started with an intention to exhibit the rich through a year-long planned engagement cultural heritage of the country in all its rich and varied between states, dimensions namely, Handicrafts, Cuisine, Painting, € To SHOWCASE the rich heritage and culture, Sculpture and Performing Arts- Folk, Tribal, Classical customs and traditions of different states for and Contemporary- all at one place. enabling people to understand and appreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense ¾ : Significance of common identity, € It has been playing a pivotal role to take the € To ESTABLISH long-term engagements, and vibrant culture of India out to the masses instead € To CREATE an environment which promotes of confining it to auditoria and galleries. learning between states by sharing best practices € It has been instrumental in showcasing folk and and experiences. tribal art, dance, music, cuisines & culture of one ¾ Every State and UT in the country would be paired state in other states reinforcing the cherished goal with another State/UT for a time period, during which of “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. they would carry out a structured engagement with € It also provides an effective platform to the artists one another in the spheres of language, literature, cuisine, festivals, cultural events, tourism etc. and artisansto support their livelihood. € It reconnects the people (especially the youth) with Zonal Cultural Centres their indigenous culture, its multifaceted nature, ¾ The centres aim to strengthen the ancient roots of magnificence, and historical importance in the Indian Culture and evolve and enrich composite context of ‘India as a Nation’over the millennia. National Culture.

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¾ There are seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCC) in India. € Book/work eligible for the award must be an outstanding contribution to the language and € Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre Kolkata, North literature to which it belongs. Central Zone Cultural Centre Allahabad, North east Zone Cultural centre Dimapur, North € When equal merit for books of two or more are Zone Cultural centre Patiala, South Central found, certain criteria like total literary contribution Zone Cultural Centre Nagpur, South Zone Cultural and standing of authors shall be taken into Centre Thanjavur, West Zone Cultural Centre consideration for declaring award. Udaipur. ¾ About the Marathi Novel ‘Udya’: ¾ These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and € It is a futuristic account of the possiblescenarios programmes all over the country on a regular basis. emerging as consequences of the current capitalistic ¾ Other schemes of ZCCs - Award to Young Talented and machine-driven human life. Artists, Guru Shishya Parampara, Theatre € It nuances how humans have been enslaved Rejuvenation, Shilpgram, Octave and National by machines, particularly by the ones that are Cultural Exchange Programme (NCEP). susceptible to surveillance of one’s personal life. Jnanpith Award Sahitya Akademi Award ¾ The Jnanpith award is the highest literary award in India and can only be conferred annually upon Why in News an Indian citizen. ¾ English along with other languages mentioned in Recently, Marathi writer Nanda Khare refused to Indian Constitution th(8 Schedule) is considered accept the Sahitya Akademi award for his novel “Udya”, for the Award. published in 2014. ¾ The prize carries a cash award of Rs. 11 lakhs, a Key Points citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati), the goddess of learning. ¾ About Sahitya Akademi Award: ¾ It is sponsored by the cultural organization Bharatiya € Sahitya Akademi award established in 1954, is a Jnanpith. literary honour that is conferred annually by Sahitya ¾ For 2018, author Amitav Ghosh became the first Akademi, India’s National Academy of letters. English language writer to become a Jnanpith € Akademi gives 24 awards annually to literary laureate. works in the languages it has recognized and an ¾ Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri in Malayalam equal number of awards to literary translations language is the latest recipient of the award for from and into the languages of India. the year 2019. z Besides the 22 languages enumerated in the Constitution of India, the Sahitya Akademi has Other Sahitya Akademi Awards recognised English and Rajasthani as languages ¾ Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar is given to in which its programme may be implemented. an author based on his/her total contribution to € The Sahitya Akademi award is the second-highest children literature and relates to books first published literary honour by the Government of India, after during the five years immediately preceding the the Jnanpith award. year of Award. ¾ Criteria for Choosing Awardee: ¾ Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar relates to books published by an author of the age of 35 and below. € The author must be of Indian Nationality.

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Highlights z Bhadar Dam: Gujarat z Sangay Volcano: Ecuador z King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award z Indonesia’s Mt. Sinabung

€ The total length of this river is 198 km. It drains Bhadar Dam: Gujarat about 1/7th of the area of Saurashtra.

Why in News Flash Flood ¾ Recently, the Dam Safety Organisation of the Central Flash floods are typically associated with short, high- Water Commission has recommended replacement of intensity rainstorms. floodgates of Bhadar dam which were damaged in the ¾ These are sudden surges in water levels during or flash flood of 2015. following an intense spell of rain. ¾ These are highly localised events of short duration with Key Points a very high peak and usually have less than six hours ¾ About Bhadar Dam: between the occurrence of the rainfall and peak flood. € Bhadar dam is located in Rajkot and is second ¾ The flood situation worsens in the presence of choked largest in Saurashtra region after Shetrunji dam. drainage lines or encroachments obstructing the natural flow of water. € Bhadar dam is on the Bhadar River in Saurashtra region in Gujarat. Central Water Commission ¾ Bhadar River: ¾ The Central Water Commission is the apex technical € The Bhadar is one of the major rivers of Kathiawar organisation in the country for development of (Saurashtra) peninsula in Gujarat. water resources and is an attached organization € It originates near Vaddi in Rajkot district at an of the Ministry of Water Resources. elevation of 261 m above mean sea level. ¾ The Commission is responsible for initiating, € It flows through the Saurashtra region and finally coordinating and furthering, in consultation with confluence with Arabian sea at Naviobandar the State Governments, the schemes for control, (Porbandar). conservation, development and utilization of water resources throughout the country for the purpose of irrigation, flood management, power generation, navigation etc.

King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award

Why in News The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) received the prestigious International “King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award” conferred by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Rome.

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¾ The award was announced on the eve of World Soil € The soil degradation iscaused by excessive pressure Day - 2020 (5th Dec 2020) in view of the ICAR’s excellent on land to meet the competing demands of the contributions in “Soil Health Awareness” on the theme growing population for food, fodder and fibre. “Stop soil erosion, save our future” (2019 theme). € These processes, in turn, reduce agricultural productivity leading to social insecurity. Key Points € Emission of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere ¾ About King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award: resulting in climate change and global warming € Launched in 2018, the King Bhumibol World could be the major reason for soil degradation. Soil Day Award acknowledges individuals or € Various human activities, such as the introduction institutions that raise public awareness of soils of large scale irrigation canals and faulty land by organising successful and influential World Soil use lead to accelerated soil degradation through Day celebrations. salinization, flooding, drought, erosion and € The award, sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand, waterlogging. is named after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of € The other causes of degradation due to direct/ Thailand for his lifelong commitment to raising indirect human interventions are: awareness of the importance of sustainable soil z Deforestation and removal of natural vegetation management and rehabilitation for food security, z Overgrazing poverty alleviation and more. z Agriculture-related activities € The former winners of the Award include Practical Action in Bangladesh in 2018 and the Costa Rican z Over exploitation of the vegetation for domestic Soil Science Society (AACS) in 2019. purpose ¾ Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): Glinka World Soil Prize € It is an autonomous organisation under the ¾ It is also conferred by FAO in line with soil. It is Department of Agricultural Research and Education an annual award for dynamic change-makers (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. dedicated to solving one of our world’s most pressing € It was established on 16th July 1929 and was formerly environmental issues, i.e. soil degradation. known as the Imperial Council of Agricultural ¾ It honours individuals and organizations whose Research. leadership and activities have contributed, or are € It is headquartered at New Delhi. still contributing to the promotion of sustainable soil € ICAR is the organisation responsible for the management and the protection of soil resources. coordination, guidance and management of agricultural research and education in India. € In this capacity, ICAR oversees one of the largest networks of agricultural research and education institutesin the world, covering the whole country in the fields of horticulture, soil science, fisheries and animal sciences among others. ¾ Soil Degradation: € Soil degradation is the physical, chemical and biological decline in soil condition caused by its improper use or poor management, usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes. z It can be the loss of organic matter, decline in soil fertility, and structural condition,erosion, adverse changes in salinity, acidity or alkalinity, and the effects of toxic chemicals, pollutants or excessive flooding.

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Sangay Volcano: Ecuador z It is characterized by effusions of molten basaltic lava that flow from long, parallel fissures. Such outpourings often build lava Why in News plateaus. Recently, Ecuador’s Sangay volcano erupted. € Hawaiian: Key Points z It is similar to the Icelandic variety. In this case, however, fluid lava flows from a volcano’s ¾ About Sangay Volcano: summit and radial fissures to form shield € Sangay volcano is volcanoes, which are quite large and have one of the highest gentle slopes. active volcanoes in € Strombolian: the world and one z These involve moderate bursts of expanding of Ecuador’s most gases that eject clots of incandescent lava in active ones. cyclical or nearly continuous small eruptions. € Sangay is the south- z Because of such small frequent outbursts, ernmost stratovolcano (a volcano built up of Stromboli volcano, located on Stromboli alternate layers of lava and ash) in the northern Island off the northeast coast of , has been volcanic zone of the Andes. It is 5230 m high. Italy called the “lighthouse of the Mediterranean.” z The Andes is the longest above water mountain € range in the world and boasts some of the Vulcanian: highest peaks. z It is named for Vulcano Island near Stromboli, generally involving z Sangay National Park is located in the central moderate explosions of gas part of Ecuador on the Andes mountains’ eastern laden with volcanic ash. This mixture forms side. It is a world heritage site. dark, turbulent eruption clouds that rapidly ascend and expand in convoluted shapes. ¾ Eruptions: € Pelean: € The earliest report of a historical eruption was in 1628. More or less continuous eruptions were z It is associated with explosive outbursts that reported from 1728 until 1916, and again from 1934 generate pyroclastic flows, dense mixtures to the present. Sangay has had frequent eruptions of hot volcanic fragments and gas. in historic times, mostly of strombolian type. z The fluidized slurries produced by these ¾ Other Major Volcanoes of Ecuador: eruptions are heavier than air but are of low viscosity and pour down valleys and slopes at € Ecuador, part of the Pacific Rim’s “Ring of Fire” region, has eight volcanoes such as Cotopaxi great velocities. As a result, they areextremely (5,897m), Cayambe (5,790m), Pichincha (4,784m) destructive. etc. in its territory. € Plinian: z This type is an intensely violent kind of Volcanic Eruptions volcanic eruption. In this type of eruption, ¾ About: gases boiling out of gas-rich magma generate € Volcanic eruptions happen when lava and gas enormous and nearly continuous jetting are discharged from a volcanic vent. blasts that core out the magma conduit and € The most common consequences of this are rip it apart. population movements as large numbers of people z The uprushing gases and volcanic fragments are often forced to flee the moving lava flow. resemble a gigantic rocket blast directed ¾ Types: Volcanic activity and volcanic areas are vertically upward. Plinian eruption clouds can commonly divided into six major types: rise into the stratosphere and are sometimes € Icelandic: continuously produced for several hours.

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€ Sinabung is among more than z Lightning strikes caused by a buildup of static 120 active volcanoes electricity are common close to Plinian ash in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval clouds, adding one more element of terror due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire. to the eruption. € The volcano was dormant for 400 years before exploding in 2010. z It exploded again in 2014 ,2016 and 2020. ¾ Ring of Fire: € The Ring of Fire, also referred to as the Circum- Pacific Belt, is a path along the Pacific Ocean characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. € It traces boundaries between several tectonic plates—including the Pacific, Cocos, Indian- Australian, Nazca, North American, and Philippine Plates. € The abundance of volcanoes and earthquakes Indonesia’s Mt. Sinabung along the Ring of Fire is caused by the amount of movement of tectonic plates in the area. Why in News z 75% of Earth’s volcanoes i.e. more than 450 volcanoes are located along the Ring of Fire. Recently, Mt. Sinabung, an active volcano on 90% of Earth’s earthquakes occur along its path. Indonesia’s Sumatra island has erupted. ¾ Earlier, other volcanoes of Indonesia- Merapi volcano and Semeru volcano- had erupted.

Key Points ¾ Mt. Sinabung: € Mt. Sinabung (2,600-metre) is located in Karo regency, North Sumatra.

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Social Issues

Highlights z LGBTIQ Freedom Zone in EU z First World Report on Hearing: WHO z Kala-azar Elimination: Bihar to Miss Deadline z Right To Education z Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi z Revising National Food Security Act, 2013: NITI Aayog z Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development z Freedom in the World 2021 Report z State of Water Supply in Schools and Anganwadis z Challenges Faced by Nomadic Tribes z MT Swarna Krishna: International Women’s Day z Road to Gender Equality: UNDP

resolutions declaring themselves to be free LGBTIQ Freedom Zone in EU from LGBTIQ “ideology”. € Recently, the Parliament of Hungary too, adopted Why in News constitutional amendments thatrestrict the rights Recently, in response to the backsliding of LGBTIQ of LGBTIQ people. rights in some EU countries, notably Poland and Hungary, € Hungary and Poland have been at loggerheads the European Parliament has declared the European with the European Commission (executive body Union an “LGBTIQ Freedom Zone” of the European Union) over an array of issues, ¾ A majority of countries in the EU (23/27) recognise mostly centering around abuses to the rule of same-sex unions, with 16 legally recognising same- law, the independence of the judiciary and the sex marriage. rights of minorities. ¾ LGBTIQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, € The Hungarian and Poland authorities have Inter-sex and Queer. described LGBTIQ principles of governance as “foreign” ideology. Key Points ¾ The EU Resolution: ¾ Background: € The EU Parliament resolution declared the entire European Union as an ‘ ” € Same-sex relationships arenot legally recognised ‘LGBTIQ Freedom Zone . in Poland, and the country already bans same-sex € The resolution providesLGBTIQ persons everywhere couples from adopting children together. However, in the EU the freedom to live and publicly show as single people are permitted to adopt, some their sexual orientationand gender identity without have managed to get around the ban by applying fear of intolerance, discrimination or persecution. to adopt as single parents. € It further urged the authorities at all levels of z Now, Poland has come up with the proposal governance across the EU to protect and promote wherein a person is liable to criminal offence if equality and the fundamental rights of all, including he/she is found to be applying for adoption as a LGBTIQ persons. single parent being in a same-sex relationship. ¾ Global Scenario of LGBTIQ Community: z LGBTIQ community in Poland is subject to € Ireland: Ireland legalized same-sex marriage. The increased discrimination and attacks, notably country, which had decriminalized homosexuality growing hate speech from public authorities in 1993, became the first country to allow same- and elected officials. sex marriage at a national level by popular vote. z Since March 2019, more than 100 Polish regions, € USA: US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex counties and municipalities have adopted marriage was legal.

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€ Nepal legalized homosexuality in 2007 and Nepal: € SC ruled that Fundamental Right to Privacy the new Constitution of the country gives many is intrinsic to life and liberty and thus, comes rights to the LGBTIQ community. under Article 21 of the Indian constitution. It held that LGBT Community in India “sexual orientation is an essential attribute of privacy”. ¾ Even after section 377 of IPC was removed by the ¾ Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union Of India (2018): Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of € Dismissed the position taken by SC in Suresh India, 2018 case, there is a wide gap in implementing Kumar Koushal case (2013) and decriminalised a policy for the LGBTIQ community and making a homosexuality. better environment for them. Right now, they are facing many issues that are underlined below. ¾ Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. and others (2018): The Supreme Court observed that choice of a partner € Family: The problem of sexual orientation and gender is a person’s fundamental right, and it can be a identity leads to fighting and family disruption. Lack same-sex partner. of communication and misunderstanding between parents and their LGBTIQ children increases family ¾ Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, conflict. 2019: The Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 which has € Discrimination at Work Place: LGBTIQ suffers from been criticised for itspoor understanding of gender the socio-economic inequalities in large part due and sexual identity. to discrimination in the workplace. ¾ Same-sex Marriage: In February, 2021, the Central € Injustice: Human rights and fundamental rights Government opposed same-sex marriage in Delhi are applicable to all people, but the state has High Court stating that a marriage in India can be failed to create special legislation which protects recognised only if it is between a “biological man” and the rights of LGBTIQ Minority community and to a “biological woman” capable of producing children. provide real justice to them. € Health Issues: Criminalisation of homosexuality leads to discrimination and results in LGBTQ people Kala-azar Elimination: getting poor or inadequate access to services Bihar to Miss Deadline within the health system. It also creates barriers to both the availability and the ability to access HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. Why in News € Isolation and Drug Abuse: They gradually develop The new cases of Kala-azar or Visceral Leishmaniasis low self-esteem and low self-confidence and have been reported in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, casting become isolated from friends and family. These serious doubt on the state government’s efforts to people mostly get addicted to drugs, alcohol, and eradicate the disease in the state by 2022. tobacco to get themselves relieved of stress and ¾ Bihar has already missed the Kala-azar elimination rejection and discrimination. target four times since 2010. Related Legal Developments ¾ The first deadline was 2010, under theNational Health ¾ Naz Foundation vs. Govt. of NCT of Delhi (2009): Programme, followed by 2015. It was later extended to 2017 and 2020 due to the government’s failure to € Delhi High Court struck off section 377, legalising eliminate Kala-azar. consensual homosexual activities between adults. ¾ Suresh Kumar Koushal Case (2013): Key Points € SC overturned the previous judgment by Delhi ¾ Kala-azar or Leishmaniasis: High Court (2009) arguing that “plight of sexual minorities” could not be used as an argument € Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, for deciding constitutionality of law. is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, substantial weight loss, swelling of the spleen ¾ Justice K.S. Puttaswamy vs. Union of India (2017): and liver, and anaemia.

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€ If the disease is not treated, the fatality rate in ¾ Presently all programmatic activities are being developing countries can be as high as 100% implemented through the National Vector Borne within 2 years. Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) which is € It is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) affecting an umbrella programme for prevention & control almost 100 countries including India. of vector borne diseases and is subsumed under z NTDs are a diverse group of communicable National Health Mission (NHM). diseases that prevail in tropical and subtropical National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme conditions in 149 countries. ¾ NVBDCP is the central nodal agency for prevention € It is caused by a parasite called Leishmania, which and control of six vector borne diseases i.e. Malaria, is transmitted through the bite of sand flies. Dengue, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-azar, Japanese € There are three types of leishmaniasis: Encephalitis and Chikungunya in India. z Visceral leishmaniasis, which affects multiple ¾ It works under the Ministry of Health and Family organs and is the most serious form of the Welfare. disease. z Cutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes skin sores and is the most common form. Pradhan Mantri z Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, which causes Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi skin and mucosal lesions. € Visceral leishmaniasis, which is commonly known Why in News as Kala-azar in India, is fatal in over 95% of the cases, if left untreated. The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN) as a single non- ¾ Reasons for Missing the Deadline: lapsable reserve fund for share of Health from the € Lack Direction: Elimination programmes lack proceeds of Health and Education Cess. direction and Kala-azar returns year after year. ¾ The proceeds of Health and Education Cess are levied € Widespread Poverty: It was mostly the poor under Section 136-b of Finance Act, 2007. belonging to the Dalits, Other Backward Communities and Muslims, who were the main Key Points victims of the disease. ¾ Salient Features of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya ¾ However, there also has been a Trend of Decline: Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN): trend of decline in the number of Kala-azar cases € It is a non-lapsable reserve fund for Health in the in Bihar in the last few years. Public Account. € There were 23,084 cases in 2010, and by 2020, € Proceeds of share of health in the Health and there were 2,712 cases, according to official data. Education Cess will be credited into PMSSN. National Kala-azar Elimination Programme € Accruals into the PMSSN will be utilized for the ¾ The National Health Policy-2002 set the goal of flagship schemes of the Ministry of Health & Family Kala-azar elimination in India by the year 2010 Welfare namely, which was revised to 2015. z Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya ¾ Continuing focused activities with high political Yojana (AB-PMJAY). commitment, India signed a Tripartite Memorandum z Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres of Understanding (MoU) with Bangladesh and (AB-HWCs). Nepal to achieve Kala-azar elimination from the z National Health Mission. South-East Asia Region (SEAR). z Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana ¾ Elimination is defined as reducing the annual (PMSSY). incidence of Kala-azar to less than 1 case per 10,000 z Emergency & disaster preparedness and population at the sub-district level in India. responses during health emergencies.

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z Any that targets future programme/scheme € Article 270 of the Constitution allows cess to to achieve progress towards Sustainable be excluded from the purview of the divisible Development Goals (SDGs) and the targets set pool of taxes that the Union government must out in the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017. share with the States. € Administration and maintenance of the PMSSN ¾ Cess collected for a particular purposecannot be used is entrusted to the Ministry of Health & Family for or diverted to other purposes. A particular cess Welfare (MoHFW). continues to be levied till the time the government z In any financial year, the expenditure on such collects enough funds for the purpose that it was schemes of the MoHFW would be initially introduced for. incurred from the PMSSN and thereafter, from € For example, the Swachh Bharat cess (abolished Gross Budgetary Support (GBS). in 2017) was levied by the government for ¾ Benefits of PMSSN: cleanliness activities. € Enhanced access to universal & affordable health ¾ Difference between Surcharge and Cess: care through availability of earmarked resources, € Surcharge is an additional charge or tax levied while ensuring that the amount does not lapse at on existing tax. The main surcharges are on the end of financial year. personal income tax (on high income slabs and ¾ Significance of Spending on Healthcare: on super rich) and on corporate income tax. € Improved Developmental Outcomes: From an € Despite both are not shareable with state economic standpoint, better health improves governments, surcharge can be kept with the productivity, and reduces losses due to premature Consolidated Fund of India (CFI) and spent like death, prolonged disability and early retirement. any other taxes, the cess should be kept as a € Enhance Opportunities: One extra year of separate fund after allocating to CFI and can be population life expectancy raises GDP per capita spent only for a specific purpose. by 4%, investment in health creates millions of € A surcharge is discussed under Article 270 and jobs, largely for women, through a much needed 271 of the Indian Constitution. expansion of the health workforce. € Unlike a cess, which is meant to raise revenue ¾ Health and Education Cess: for a temporary need, surcharge is usually € In the Budget speech 2018, the Finance Minister permanent in nature. while announcing Ayushman Bharat Scheme, also announced replacement of existing 3% Education Parliamentary Cess by 4% Health and Education Cess. z It is collected with the aim of addressing the Standing Committee educational and healthcare needs of rural on Rural Development families in India.

Cess Why in News ¾ Different from the usual taxes and duties like excise The Centre government must increase the amount and personal income tax, a Cess is imposed as an of pensions provided for poor senior citizens, widows additional tax besides the existing tax (tax on tax) and disabled people, said the Parliamentary Standing with a purpose of raising funds for a specific task. Committee on Rural Development. ¾ The Union government is empowered to raise revenue through a gamut of levies, including taxes Key Points (both direct and indirect), surcharges, fees and cess. ¾ Issues Pointed Out by the Parliamentary Standing € A cess, generally paid by everyday public, is Committee: added to their basic tax liability paid as part of € The panel pointed out that it had previously total tax paid. proposed the increase of the miniscule pensions

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in its reports and slammed the government’s “laxity in raising the amount”. € Also, criticised the implementation of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) in reaching out to the poor and downtrodden section of the society. z Pointed out the meagre amount of assistance ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 500 per month under the different components of this Scheme. € Noted the callous approach of the State Gov- ernments in the proper implementation of the provision of unemployment allowance. € Pulled up the Department of Rural Development (DoRD) for issues in implementation of the flagship MGNREGA scheme. ¾ Issues in the MGNREGA Scheme Observed by the z National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)- 1995. Committee: z Annapurna Scheme - launched in 2000. € Lack of Work Supply: That too when there was z Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme an increase in the demand for work under (IGNWPS) - launched in 2009. MGNREGA due to economic distress caused by z Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Covid-19 pandemic. Scheme - launched in 2009. € Delay in the Release of Funds: It is a huge € The National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS) discouraging aspect and does not go in consonance was part of NSAP and was subsequently transferred with the underlying spirit of the scheme. from the Ministry of Rural development to the € Disparity in Wages in Different States: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. committee noted how it is possible that a single Important Schemes of scheme having the provision of hundred days of Department of Rural Development guaranteed work to willing people from the rural ¾ Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment settings can have different yardstick when it comes Guarantee Act to the payment modalities across the length and breadth of the country. ¾ Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G) ¾ z It is against the Constitutional provision of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) equal pay for equal work. ¾ Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural ¾ National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) ¾ National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) € The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a welfare programme being administered by the ¾ Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban Mission (SPMRM) Ministry of Rural Development. ¾ Saansad Aadarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) € This programme is being implemented in rural as well as urban areas. State of Water Supply in € The programme was firstlaunched on 15th August 1995 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. It was Schools and Anganwadis brought within the umbrella of ‘Core of Core’ schemes of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes Why in News (CSS) in 2016. According to information provided to the € Currently, it has five components namely: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources, z Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme only half of government schools and anganwadis have (IGNOAPS) - since inception of NSAP in 1995. tap water supply, despite a 100-day campaign for 100%

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coverage being launched by the Jal Shakti Ministry in structures were also constructed in schools and October 2020. anganwadi centres. ¾ The Committee also noted the progress of the flagship ¾ Health Issues of Children Emanating from Contaminated Jal Jeevan Mission. Water: € Children are more susceptible to water borne Key Points diseases (Diarrhea, Cholera, Typhoid), more so, ¾ About the Campaign: when there is also a need for repeated washing € The campaign aims to provide potable piped of hands as a precautionary measure during the water supply for drinking and cooking purposes pandemic. and tap water for hand washing and in toilets € Other nutritional issues and the health hazards in every school, anganwadi and ashramshala or emerge in children from on account of lack of residential tribal school. potable drinking water. € It was launched on 2nd October, 2020 (Gandhi ¾ About Jal Jeevan Mission: Jayanti). € Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) envisages supply of 55 € The 100-day period should have ended on 10th litres of water per person per day to every rural January, 2021. household through Functional Household Tap € However, some States/ UTs have indicated that Connections (FHTC) by 2024. they need more time to complete the task and € JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply-side sustain the efforts. Therefore, the campaign has management of water at the local level. been extended till 31st March, 2021. z Creation of local infrastructure for source ¾ Related Observations: sustainability measures as mandatory elements, like € As of now, only 48.5% of anganwadis and 53.3% rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge of schools had tap water supply. and management of household wastewater for reuse, would be undertaken in convergence € Less than 8% of schools in Uttar Pradesh and 11% with other government programmes/schemes. in West Bengal have it, while it is available in only € 2-6% of anganwadis in Assam, Jharkhand, U.P., The Mission is based on a community approach and includes extensive Information, Chhattisgarh and Bengal. to water Education and Communication as a key component of the mission. € JJM looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority. € Funding Pattern:The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, 50:50 for other states, and 100% for Union Territories. € In the Budget 2021-22, Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) has been announced under the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry to provide universal coverage of water supply to all households through functional taps in all statutory towns in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal- 6. ¾ Suggestions: € Seven States - Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Haryana, € The Standing Committee noted thatmere provision Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and of tap connection without ensuring assured Punjab - achieved 100% coverage. availability of water in the pipeline would not € Around 1.82 lakh grey water management serve the purpose and would defeat the very structures and 1.42 lakh rainwater harvesting objective of JJM.

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€ It called for real-time monitoring of water supply Key Points . at the district level ¾ International Women’s Day: € The centre government should take measures to € About: It is celebrated annually on 8th March. It set up water purification orreverse osmosis (RO) includes: plants on an urgent basis so that children do not z Celebration of women’s achievements, suffer due to contamination of drinking water. z raising awareness about women’s equality, Grey water z lobbying for accelerated gender parity, ¾ Grey water is defined as wastewater that is produced z fundraising for female-focused charities, etc. from household processes (e.g. washing dishes, € Brief History: laundry and bathing). z Women’s Day was first celebrated back in 1911 ¾ Grey water can contain harmful bacteria and even by Clara Zetkin, who was a German. The roots faecal matter that contaminates soil and groundwater. of the celebration had been in the labour movement. MT Swarna Krishna: z It was only in 1913, however, that the cele- brations were shifted toth 8 March, and it has International Women’s Day remained that way ever since. z International Women’s Day wascelebrated for Why in News the first time by theUnited Nations in 1975. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways „ In December 1977, the General Assembly has flagged off an all-women crew onboard Shipping adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Corporation of India (SCI) vessel MT Swarna Krishna. Nations Day for Women’s Rights and Inter- ¾ The initiative is a part of SCI’s ongoing Diamond national Peace to be observed on any day of Jubilee celebrations and also to commemorate the the year by Member States, in accordance International Women’s Day (8th March). with their historical and national traditions. ¾ This is the first time in the world maritime history ¾ 2021 Theme: that a cargo ship is being sailed by all women officers. € The UN has decided to keep the theme as “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Shipping Corporation of India Covid-19 world”. ¾ About: € Meanwhile, some groups of women have called for € SCI was established on 2nd October 1961 by the the theme to be “Choose to challenge”, claiming amalgamation of Eastern Shipping Corporation that the world only became alert about such issues and Western Shipping Corporation. if it was challenged. z Two more shipping companies, Jayanti Shipping ¾ Related Data: Company and Mogul Lines Limited, were € According to the UN, legal restrictions have kept merged with SCI in 1973 and 1986 respectively. 2.7 billion women from accessing the same choice € It is a Government of India Public Sector of jobs as men. Enterprise. It operates and manages vessels that z As of 2019, less than 25% of parliamentarians service both national and international lines. were women. ¾ Headquarters: Mumbai. z One in three women experience gender-based ¾ Navratna status: SCI was also awarded the prestigious violence. “Navratna” status by Indian Government in 2008. € In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, female ¾ Disinvestment: In November 2019, the Union labor force participation in India was 20.5%, Cabinet had accorded ‘’in-principle’’ approval for according to ILO estimates. Comparable estimates strategic disinvestment of Government of India’s for males was 76%. shareholding of 63.75% in SCI along with transfer € In the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap of management control to a strategic buyer. Index (which measures progress towards gender

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parity), India slipped to 112th place in 2019-20, like women and health, women in power and simply because over 70 lakh Indian women have decision-making, the girl-child, women and the dropped out of work. environment. ¾ Safeguards for Women in India: ¾ Recently, the United Nations Development Programme € Constitutional Safeguards: (UNDP) has proposed a Temporary Basic Income (TBI) for poor women in developing countries to help them z Fundamental Rights: It guarantees all Indians the right to equality (Article 14), no discrimination by cope with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the State on the basis of gender (Article 15(1)) alleviate the economic pressures they face every day. and special provisions to be made by the State in favour of women (Article 15(3)). First World z Fundamental Duties: The Constitution imposes Report on Hearing: WHO a fundamental duty on every citizen through Articles 51 (A)(e) to renounce practices derogatory to dignity of women. Why in News € Legislative Framework: The First World Report on Hearing was released by z Protection of Women from Domestic Violence the World Health Organization (WHO) - a day ahead of Act, 2005: It provides victims of domestic World Hearing Day on 3rd March. violence with a means for practical remedy ¾ The Report underlines the need to rapidly step up through prosecution. efforts to prevent and address hearing loss by investing z The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: It prohibits and expanding access to ear and hearing care services. the request, payment or acceptance of a dowry. Key Points z The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, ¾ Findings: 2013: This legislative act seeks to protect women € Nearly 2.5 billion people worldwide ─ or 1 in 4 from sexual harassment at their place of work. people ─ will be living with some degree of hearing € Related Schemes: Women Technology Park, Gender loss by 2050. Advancement for Transforming Institutions € At least 700 million of these people will require (GATI), etc. access to ear and hearing care and other rehabil- ¾ World Conferences on Women: itation services unless action is taken. € The United Nations has organized 4 world ¾ Issues: conferences on women. These took place in € Adverse Health Effects: z Mexico City,1975 z Untreated hearing loss can have a devastating z Copenhagen,1980 impact on people’s ability to communicate, to It can also impact z Nairobi,1985 study and to earn a living. people’s mental health and their ability to z Beijing,1995 sustain relationships. € The 4th World Conference on Women (WCW), held € Lack of Specialists among Low-Income Countries: in Beijing, was one of the largest ever gatherings of the United Nations, and a critical turning point z About 78% have fewer than one Ear, Nose and in the world’s focus on gender equality and the Throat (ENT) specialist per million population. empowerment of women. z 93% have fewer than one audiologist per million. z The Beijing Declarationis an agenda for women’s z Only 17% have one or more speech therapists empowerment and considered the key global per million. policy document on gender equality. z 50% have one or more teachers for the deaf z It sets strategic objectives and actions for the per million. advancement of women and the achievement ¾ Hearing Impairment in India: of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern € About:

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z Over 27,000 children are born deaf every year € Clinical Screening at Strategic Points in Life: To in India. Hearing impairment or loss is often ensure early identification of any loss of hearing neglected as it cannot be seen and in most and ear diseases. cases the diagnosis is delayed. € Promoting Hearing Assistive Technology and € Causes: Services: It includes measures such as captioning z There are many children who can benefit and sign language interpretation which can further through advanced hearing technology but are improve access to communication and education missed out because of low awareness around for those with hearing loss. hearing issues in babies. € Increasing Investments: WHO calculates that z One major reason is the unavailability of governments can expect a return of nearly USD newborn screening programmes at birth and 16 for every USD 1 invested. low awareness among parents. € Increasing Immunisation: In children, almost 60% € Government Initiative: of hearing loss can be prevented through measures such as immunisation for prevention of rubella and z National Programme for the Prevention & meningitis, improved maternal and neonatal care, Control of Deafness (NPPCD) under National and screening for, and early management of, otitis Health Mission aims: media – inflammatory diseases of the middle ear. „ To prevent the avoidable hearing loss on € account of disease or injury. Maintaining Hygiene: In adults, noise control, safe listening and surveillance of ototoxic (having „ Early identification, diagnosisand treatment a toxic effect on the ear) medicines together with of ear problems responsible for hearing loss good ear hygiene can help maintain good hearing and deafness. and reduce the potential for hearing loss. „ To medically rehabilitate persons of all age groups, suffering with deafness. „ To strengthen the existing inter-sectoral Right To Education linkages for continuity of the rehabilitation programme, for persons with deafness. Why in News „ To develop institutional capacity for Delhi High Court asked the Central government to ear care services by providing support respond to a petition against the authorities for not de- for equipment and material and training ciding upon extension of free education under theRight p e r s o n n e l . To Education (RTE) Act to children of Economically Weaker € Required Interventions: Section (EWS) beyond Class 8 and up to Class 12 in school. z Holding screening programmes can help in early diagnosis, which in turn will lead to early Key Points treatment. ¾ Constitutional Provisions for Right To Education: z The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening € Originally Part IV of Indian Constitution, Article (UNHS) helps in early detection of congenital 45 and Article 39 (f) of DPSP, had a provision for hearing loss and this test is vital to detect hearing state funded as well as equitable and accessible impairment in newborn babies and to ensure education. early intervention. € The first official document on the Right to Education „ While UNHS screening is mandatory in was the Ramamurti Committee Report in 1990. developed countries, it is not included in the € In 1993, the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment list of mandatory health screening procedures in the Unnikrishnan JP vs State of Andhra Pradesh for newborns in India, except Kerala. & Others held that Education is a Fundamental ¾ Suggested Strategies: right flowing from Article 21. € Integration of Hearing Care into Primary Healthcare: € Tapas Majumdar Committee (1999) was set up, This will close the present patient-doctor gap. which encompassed insertion of Article 21A.

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€ The 86th Constitutional Amendment in 2002, € The parents of children are required to pay hefty provided Right to Education as a fundamental fees to unaided private schools in classes 9 and right in Part-III of the Constitution. onwards which they can not afford. z It inserted Article 21A which made Right to € Changing school from unaided private to government Education a fundamental right for children after class 8may affect the children’s state of mind between 6-14 years. and educationand thus, an extension of the RTE z It provided for a follow-up legislation Right to benefits will ensure continuity in the education. Education Act 2009. Reservation for Economically ¾ Feature of Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009: Weaker Section in Higher Education € The RTE Act aims to provide primary education to ¾ 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act introduced all children aged 6 to 14 years. an economic reservation (10% quota) in jobs and € Section 12(1)(c) mandates that non-minority admissions in education institutes for Economically private unaided schools should reserve at least Weaker Sections (EWS) by amending Articles 15 25% of seats in entry-level grades for children and 16. from economically weaker and disadvantaged ¾ It inserted Article 15 (6) and Article 16 (6). backgrounds. ¾ It was enacted to promote the welfare of the poor € It also makes provisions for a non-admitted child not covered by the 50% reservation policy for to be admitted to an age appropriate class. SCs, STs and Socially and Educationally Backward € It also states about sharing of financial and other Classes (SEBC). responsibilities between the Central and State ¾ It enables both Centre and the states to provide Governments. reservation to the EWS of society. z Education in the Indian constitution is a concurrent issue and both centre and states Revising National Food Security can legislate on the issue. € It lays down the norms and standards related Act, 2013: NITI Aayog to: Pupil Teacher Ratios (PTRs), Buildings and infrastructure, School-working days, Teacher- Why in News working hours. NITI Aayog, through a discussion paper, has recom- € It also provides for prohibition of deployment of mended reducing the rural and urban coverage under teachers for non-educational work, other than the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, to 60% and decennial census, elections to local authority, state 40%, respectively. legislatures and parliament, and disaster relief. ¾ It has also proposed a revision of beneficiaries as € It provides for the appointment of teachers with per the latest population which is currently being the requisite entry and academic qualifications. done through Census- 2011. € It prohibits National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 z Physical punishment and mental harassment. ¾ Notified :on 10th September, 2013. z Screening procedures for admission of children. ¾ Objective: To provide for food and nutritional security z Capitation fee. in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access z Private tuition by teachers. to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable z Running of schools without recognition. prices to people to live a life with dignity. € It focuses on making the child free of fear, trauma ¾ Coverage: 75% of the rural population and upto 50% and anxiety through a system of child friendly and of the urban population for receiving subsidized child centred learning. foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution ¾ Argument for Extension of Free Education under System (TPDS). RTE beyond Class 8 for EWS: € Overall, NFSA caters to 67% of the total population.

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¾ ¾ Eligibility: Other Recommendations: € HLC (High Level Committee) underShanta Kumar € Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, according to guidelines by the State government. had recommended reducing the coverage ratio from 67% of the population to 40%. € Households covered under existingAntyodaya z Anna Yojana. According to it, 67% coverage of the population is on the much higher side, and should be brought ¾ Provisions: down to around 40%, which will comfortably € 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at cover BPL families and some even above that. Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains. € The Economic Survey- 2020-21 had recommended € The existing AAY household will continue to receive a revision of the Central Issue Prices (CIP) of 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month. foodgrains released from the central pool, which € Meal and maternity benefit of not less than have remained unchanged for the past several years. Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after Central Issue Prices the child birth. ¾ Foodgrains under NFSA are made available to € Meals for children upto 14 years of age. beneficiaries at subsidized prices. ¾ € Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case The centre procures food grains from farmers at a of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals. Minimum support price (MSP) and sells it to states at central issue prices. € Setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms at the district and state level. ¾ The prices are fixed by the Central Government from time to time, but not exceeding MSP. Key Points ¾ Number of Beneficiaries at Present: Freedom in the € Approximately 2.37 crore households or 9.01 crore World 2021 Report persons, as of February 2021 under Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Why in News € While approximately 70.35 crore persons are under the priority households. The Freedom in the World 2021 report has down- ¾ Significance of the NITI Aayog’s Recommendations: graded India’s status from ‘Free’ to ‘Partly Free’. € If the rural-urban coverage ratio remains the same ¾ Pointing to a decline in global democracy over the (67% of all population), then the total number of last 15 years, the report said that nearly 75% of the people covered will increase from the existing world’s population lived in a country that faced 81.35 crore to 89.52 crore - an increase of 8.17 deterioration over the last year. crore (based on the projected 2020 population). ¾ The most free countries in the world, with a score z This will result in an additional subsidy of 100, are Finland, Norway and Sweden, while the requirement of Rs. 14,800 crore. least free with a score of 1 are Tibet and Syria. € If the national coverage ratio is revised downward, Key Points the Centre can save up to Rs. 47,229 crore. ¾ € This amount of savings can be utilised by the About the Report: Government in other important areas of concern € Published by: such as health and education. z USA based human rights watchdog Freedom ¾ Challenges of the Move: House, which is largely funded through USA € In the times of Covid-19 pandemic, it will be a government grants, has been tracking the double burden (Unemployment and Food insecurity course of democracy since 1941. issues) on the poor section of the society. € Scores are Based on: € The move may be opposed by some of the states. z Political rightsindicators such as the electoral

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process, political pluralism and participation € Covid Response: and government functioning. z Response to Covid-19 included a hamfisted z Civil liberties indicators related to freedom lockdown that resulted in the dangerous and of expression and belief, associational and unplanned displacement of millions of internal organisational rights, the rule of law and personal migrant workers. autonomy and individual rights. z It added that Muslims were disproportionately z Countries are declared as “free”, “partly free” blamed for the spread of the virus and faced or “not free”. attacks by vigilante mobs. € Crackdown on Protesters: z The government intensified its crackdown on protesters opposed to a discriminatory citizenship law and arrested dozens of journalists who aired criticism of the official pandemic response. € Laws: z Uttar Pradesh’s law prohibiting forced religious conversion through interfaith marriage was also listed as a concern.

Challenges Faced by Nomadic Tribes

¾ India’s Score: Why in News € India’s score was 67, a drop from 71/100 from last In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, the Minister of year (reflecting 2019 data) downgrading it from the State for Social Justice and Empowerment stated that free category last year (i.e., based on 2020 data). a Development and Welfare Board for Denotified, ¾ Reasons for India’s Fall: Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities (DWBDNCs) was constituted for development and welfare of € Freedom of Media: Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities z Attacks on press freedom have escalated in 2019. dramatically, and reporting has become significantly less ambitious in recent years, ¾ The welfare board was constituted for a period of citing the use of security, defamation, sedition three years extendable upto 5 years. and contempt of court laws to quiet critical Key Points media voices. ¾ € Elevation of Hindu Nationalist Interests: Challenges Faced by Nomadic Tribes: € z India appears to have abandoned its potential There are nearly 1,500 nomadic and semi-nomadic to serve as a global democratic leader, elevating tribes and 198 denotified tribes, comprising 15 crore narrow Hindu nationalist interests at the Indians, according to the Renke Commission, 2008. expense of its founding values of inclusion and z These tribes remain socially and economically equal rights for all. marginalised even now, depriving many of them € Internet Freedom: of basic human rights. z In a year when social media censorship has € The most pressing issue is of their identity. been hotly seated, while the government shut € Lack of Basic Infrastructure Facilities: Like drinking down Internet connectivity in Kashmir as well water, shelter, and sanitation facilities are not as on Delhi’s borders, India’s Internet freedom available to the communities. Healthcare and score dropped to just 51. education facilities are also not available.

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€ Bad Treatment by Local Administration: Due to z The scheme is helpful in spreading education the stigma of Criminals bestowed upon them in the amongst DNT children especially the girl child. past, they are still treated criminals and tortured € Nanaji Deshmukh Scheme of Construction of by the local administration and police. Hostels for DNT Boys and Girls: € Lack of Social Security Cover: Since they are on z This Centrally Sponsored Scheme, launched move frequently, they do not have a permanent in 2014-15, is implemented through State settlement. As a result, they lack social security Governments/ UT Administrations/ Central cover and are not issued Ration Card, Aadhar Universities. Card, etc. and hence they are not getting benefits z The aim of the scheme is to provide hostel under the government welfare schemes. facilities to those DNT students; who are not € The caste categorization is not very clear for covered under SC, ST or OBC; to enable them these communities, in some states some of the to pursue higher education. communities are included under the SC category, z The income ceiling for eligibility is Rs. 2.00 lakh in some other states they are included under OBCs. per annum. z However, most of the groups from these z The Central Government provides a maximum communities do not have caste certificates of 500 seats per annum throughout the country. and hence are not able to avail the benefits of government welfare programs. z The expenditure is shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25. ¾ DWBDNCs Responsibilities: € To formulate and implement Welfare and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Communities Development programmes, as required, ¾ Denotified tribes are those that were notified under for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic the Criminal Tribes Acts enforced during British Communities (DNCs). Rule, whereby entire populations were branded € To identify the locations/areas where these criminals by birth. communities are densely populated. € In 1952, the Act was repealed and the communities € To assess and identify gaps in accessing existing were de-notified. programmes and entitlements and to collaborate ¾ The Nomadic tribes maintain constant geographical with Ministries/implementing agencies to ensure mobility while semi-nomads are those who are on that ongoing programmes meet the special the move but return to fixed habitations once a requirements of DNCs. year, mainly for occupational reasons. € To monitor and evaluate the progress of the € The distinction between nomadic and semi- schemes of the Government of India and the nomadic do not involve distinguishable ethnic States/UTs with reference to DNCs. categories or social groups, it rather describes ¾ Schemes for Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic the degree of mobility practiced by them. Communities: € Dr. Ambedkar Pre-Matric and Post-Matric Road to Gender Equality: UNDP Scholarship for DNTs: z This Centrally Sponsored Scheme was launched in 2014-15 for the welfare of those DNT (Denotified, Why in News Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes) students Recently, the United Nations Development Pro- who are not covered under SC, ST or OBC. gramme (UNDP) in its latest report named “Protecting z The income ceiling for eligibility is Rs. 2.00 lakh Women’s Livelihoods in Times of Pandemic: Temporary per annum. Basic Income and the Road to Gender Equality” has z The scheme is implemented through State Gov- proposed a Temporary Basic Income (TBI) for poor women ernments/UT Administrations. Theexpenditure in developing countries. is shared between the Centre and the States ¾ The proposal comes ahead of the International in the ratio of 75:25. Women’s Day (8th march) celebrations.

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Key Points absorb the shock of the pandemic, but also empower women to make independent ¾ Gender Inequality: decisions about money, livelihoods and life € Unpaid Labor: choices. z On an average, women spend 2.4 more hours € Policies Favouring Women: per day than men on unpaid care and domestic z A set of policies should be aimed at recognising work. the needs of all workers, men and women, to z Among people who participate in the paid reconcile their household obligations with paid economy, women spend an average of four work and allow for a more even distribution hours more per day than men on paid and of care and domestic work by institutionally unpaid work combined. acknowledging it as a shared responsibility. € Discriminative Policies: z Such policies include guaranteed paid maternity z Beyond complex gendered norms, some leave, extended paternity leave and the of the economic vulnerability imposed on enforcement of its take-up. women also comes from policy and political z Establishing flexible arrangements such as part- decisions that have persistently deprived time work or the provision of breastfeeding them of compensation in the form of equal facilities in the workplace that allow parents pay, paid maternity leave, universal health, to return to the workforce shortly after having unemployment and care benefits. a child should also be encouraged. € Effect of Covid: € Reform Labour Market: z Women have been hit harder than men by the z Beyond reconciling paid work and family pandemic, losing income and leaving the labour responsibilities, governments must address market at a greater rate. other sources of the gender pay gap such as „ This vulnerability is due to gender inequality. horizontal and vertical segregation in the . The response should include z Women are 25% more likely than men to live labour market in extreme poverty. anti-discrimination laws and affirmative action initiatives. z Only one in ten countries and territories, however, have policies addressing women’s economic „ Horizontal segregation can be broadly defined as the concentration of men and women in security needs, according to the Covid-19 Global different kinds of jobs. Gender Response Tracker. „ Vertical segregation denotes the situation „ Covid-19 Global Gender Response Tracker whereby opportunitiesfor career progression is an initiative of UNDP and UN Women for a particular gender within a company or which shows that social protection and sector are limited. jobs response to the pandemic has largely overlooked women’s needs. ¾ Related Initiatives of Other Countries: ¾ Major Proposals: € Philippines: z Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act, 2009. € Temporary Basic Income: € Mexico: z A TBI for millions of the world’s poorest women, to help them cope with the effects z Introduced reforms to its Social Security Law of the coronavirus pandemic and alleviate the allowing men to access childcare services. economic pressures they face every day. € Bosnia and Herzegovina and Bolivia: z A monthly investment of 0.07-0.31% of a devel- z They have allowed parents to reduce work oping countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) hours for Covid-19 family care. could provide reliable financial security to 613 € Cape Verde, North Macedonia and Trinidad and million working-aged women living in poverty. Tobago: z The benefits of such a meaningful investment z They have enabled employees with care could not only help women and their families responsibilities to perform their work remotely.

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¾ Indian Provisions to Promote Gender Equality: z It has been enacted covering all the women, € Ministry of Women & Child Development: in spite of their age and employment status, and protects them from sexual harassment z A separate ministry was established in 2006 to at workplaces, in both the public and private boost employability of Women. sectors of the industry where the women are € Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017: employed. z It allows for pregnant women to take leave for € Social Security Code,Code on Occupational Safety, a total of 26 weeks out of which up to 8 weeks Health & Working Conditions Code, and Industrial can be claimed before delivery. Relations Code, 2020: z The woman is also supposed to get paid a benefit z Under the new codes, women have to be at the rate of her daily wage for three months permitted to work in every sector at night, but before she goes on maternity leave. it has to be ensured that provision for their € Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace security is made by the employer and consent (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013: of women is taken before they work at night.

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Highlights z Illegal Influx from Myanmar z Exercise Desert Flag-VI: UAE z Air Independent Propulsion for Diesel Electric Submarines z Exercise Dustlik-2 z Defence Acquisition Council’s Plans z INS Karanj z Suryakiran Aerobatic Team

Myanmar and many people have family relations Illegal Influx from Myanmar as well. This had resulted in some states taking a sympathetic view of those fleeing Myanmar and Why in News giving them shelter. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has € Already there are clashes among the tribes (example directed Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Arunachal Bru), more refugees will further aggravate the Pradesh to check illegal influx from Myanmar into India. situation. ¾ ¾ The instructions have also been given to Border Recent Influx: Guarding Force (BGF), i.e. Assam rifles. € More than a dozen foreign nationals including policemen and women from Myanmar have fled ¾ India already has a lot of Rohingya migrated from Myanmar. to neighbouring Mizoram. ¾ € India, treats all refugees entering the country as India Myanmar Border: illegal immigrants. € India and Myanmar share a 1,643 km border and people on either side have familial ties. € In 2020, it was estimated that 40,000 Rohingya refugees lived in India, scattered across different z Mizoram shares 510-km. states. z Manipur shares 398-km. z Arunachal Pradesh shares 520 kms. Key Points z Nagaland shares 215 kms ¾ MHA’s Instructions: € The border along the four states is unfenced and € The State governments have no powers to grant porous. “refugee status to any foreigner” and India is ¾ Free Movement Regime: not a signatory to the United Nations Refugee € A Free Movement Regime (FMR) exists between Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. India and Myanmar. z Similar Instructions were Issued in August 2017 € Under FMR every member of the hill tribes, who and February 2018. is either a citizen of India or a citizen of Myanmar ¾ Background: and who is resident € The directive comes weeks after themilitary coup of any area within and subsequent crackdown in Myanmar which led 16 km on either to several persons crossing over into India. side of the Indo- € The Tatmadaw, or Myanmar military, had taken Myanmar Border over the country after a coup in February 2021. (IMB) can cross € North Eastern States readily provide shelter to the border with a people from across the border as some of the border pass (with states have cultural ties with some border areas of one-year validity)

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issued by the competent authority and can stay € The indigenously-developed AIP, which is one of up to two weeks per visit. the key missions of the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL), is considered one of the United Nations Refugee Convention 1951 ambitious projects of the DRDO for the Navy. ¾ It is a United Nations multilateral treaty that defines z The project aims at fitting the technology on who is a refugee, and sets out the rights of individuals India’s Scorpene class submarine INS Kalvari who are granted asylum and the responsibilities of around 2023. nations that grant asylum. ¾ Advantages of AIP: € It also set out which people do not qualify as refugees, such as war criminals. € The AIP system based submarines will be required to surface much less frequently, thus increasing ¾ It grants certain rights to people fleeing persecution their lethality and stealth multifold. because of race, religion, nationality, affiliation to a particular social group, or political opinion. € Diesel-electric submarines require them to come to the surface frequently to charge their batteries, ¾ The Convention also provides for some visa-free thus their underwater endurance time is less. travel for holders of travel documents issued under the convention. z ‘Air-independent’ propulsion technology helps to make the diesel generator less dependent ¾ The Convention builds on Article 14 of theUniversal on surface air. Declaration of Human Rights 1948, which recognizes the right of persons to seek asylum from persecution € While there are different types of AIP systems in other countries. being pursued internationally,fuel cell-based AIP ¾ A refugee may enjoy rights and benefits in a state of NMRL is unique as the hydrogen is generated in addition to those provided for in the Convention onboard. ¾ ¾ The 1967 Protocol included refugees from all Fuel Cell Based AIP system: countries as opposed to the 1951 Convention that € In a fuel cell based AIP, an electrolytic fuel cell only included refugees from Europe. releases energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen, ¾ India is not a member of this convention. with only water as the waste product ensuring less marine pollution. € The cells are highly efficient, and do not have Air Independent Propulsion moving parts, thus ensuring that the submarine for Diesel Electric Submarines has a low acoustic emissions of sound. Naval Materials Research Laboratory Why in News ¾ Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) is The Defence Research and Development Organisation one of the laboratories functioning under DRDO, (DRDO) has conducted the final development test ofAir pursuing basic research as well as application- Independent Propulsion (AIP) System, crucial for diesel oriented technology development in several electric submarines. areas viz. Metallurgy, Polymer, Ceramics, Coating, Key Points Corrosion and Electrochemical Protection, Marine Biotechnology, Environmental Sciences. ¾ Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System: ¾ It’s mission: € Submarines are essentially of two types:conven - € To develop Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) . tional and nuclear systems for Naval Submarine & Fuel Cell € The conventional submarines use diesel-electric technologies. engines, which require them to surface almost daily € To provide scientific solutions for all categories of to get atmospheric oxygen for fuel combustion. materials & related technologies for Indian Navy. € If fitted with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) € To undertake research projects on strategic system, the submarine will need to take in oxygen materials for Indian Navy. only once a week.

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Nuclear Submarines € The project is being processed through the versus Conventional Submarines Strategic Partnership (SP) model of the Defence ¾ The main difference between conventional Procurement Procedure (DPP). submarines and nuclear submarines is the power z The strategic partnership model seeks to identify generation system. Nuclear submarines (e.g INS a few Indian private companies as Strategic Arihant, INS Akula) employ nuclear reactors for this Partners who would initially tie up with a task and conventional submarines (e.g Project-75 few shortlisted foreign Original Equipment and Project-75I Class Submarines) use diesel- Manufacturers (OEMs) to manufacture big- electric engines. ticket military platforms. ¾ While nuclear-powered submarines are considered as z It aims to promote the role of Indian industry key assets for deep sea operations, the conventional in defence manufacturing and build a domestic diesel electric ones are vital for coastal defence defence industrial ecosystem. and operations close to the shore. € This project is part of the 30 year Plan for indigenous submarine construction and it got its approval Defence by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1999. z The idea behind this was to help in streamlining Acquisition Council’s Plans the submarine acquisition process and creating two submarine production lines where the plan Why in News was to construct six submarines on each. Multi billion deals for armed drones from the USA Defence Acquisition Council and advanced submarines under Project-75I are to be ¾ The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is thehighest taken by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). decision-making body in the Defence Ministry for Key Points deciding on new policies and capital acquisitions for the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force) ¾ India - USA Drone Deals: and the Indian Coast Guard. € India has been looking to procure 30 armed drones, ¾ The Minister of Defence is the Chairman of the 10 for each service, from the USA but the process Council. has been repeatedly delayed over the last couple ¾ It was formed, after the Group of Ministers of years. recommendations on ‘Reforming the National z The USA has given in principle approval for the Security System’, in 2001, post Kargil War (1999). sale of these armed drones to India during the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue. € While the Navy has a pressing requirement for the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, there have been questions on their utility for the Army Why in News and Air Force, given the high cost of the platform. The Suryakiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT)and Sarang z Since the stand-off with China in Eastern Ladakh helicopter display team along with the Light Combat in May 2020, the need for long endurance Aircraft (LCA) will perform at an air show at Galle Face drones to maintain continuous surveillance of in Colombo from 3rd - 5th March 2021 as part the 70th the border has been acutely felt. anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lankan Air Force € The Navy has already inducted two MQ-9B Sea (SLAF). Guardian unarmed drones procured from the USA. ¾ This will be the first performance for the SKAT team ¾ Project-75I: outside India since it was resurrected in 2015 with € The Project 75I-class submarine is a follow-on of Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT). Earlier, the SKAT the Project 75 Kalvari-class submarine for the team toured Sri Lanka during the 50th anniversary of Indian Navy. SLAF in 2001.

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Key Points ¾ About the Suryakiran Aerobatic Team: € Establishment: z The team was formed in 1996 with Kiran Mk-II aircraft and had enthralled spectators across the country till 2011. z It was revived in 2015 with Hawk trainers initially with four aircraft and grew to the nine aircraft formation. € Features: z The SKAT team, also known as 52 Squadron or The Sharks, is based in Bidar (Karnataka). z Since its inception, the SKAT team has carried out over 600 displays all around the country, it has also represented India across southeast Asia including China. Key Points z 1971 Commemorations: ¾ About: Ex Desert Flag is an annual multinational large force employment warfare exercise hosted by „ Marking the golden jubilee year of the 1971 the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the SKAT UAE Air Force. team has been flying different formations ¾ Aim: To provide operational exposure to the over landmarks across the country starting participating forces while training them to undertake from Kanyakumari in the south. simulated air combat operations in a controlled environment. ¾ Sarang Helicopter Display Team: ¾ Exercise Desert Flag-VI: € The Sarang team has evolved from the ALH Evaluation Flight (AEF) which was formed in € Duration: IAbout a three week long exercise rd th 2003 at Bangalore to evaluate the indigenous scheduled from 3 - 27 March 2021 at Al-Dhafra helicopter prior to its induction into operational air base, UAE. service. € Participants: The air forces of the UAE, India, , , , € The Indian Air Force aerobatic team Sarang (Peacock) United States of America France Saudi Arabia comprises four Indian built Dhruv helicopters (an South Korea and Bahrain. Advanced Light Helicopter - ALH, built by Hindustan € India’s Participation:The IAF is participating with Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore). six Su-30 MKI, two C-17 Globemasters and one IL-78 tanker aircraft. ¾ Aircraft in India: ¾ Joint Military Exercises with the UAE: € Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk I and MK II, € With the UAE, India has In-UAE BILAT (bilateral € Rafale Aircrafts, naval exercise) as well as Desert Eagle-II (bilateral € , etc. Sukhoi jets air force exercise). ¾ Recent Engagements: Exercise € India participated in theNAVDEX 21 (Naval Defence Desert Flag-VI: UAE Exhibition) and IDEX 21 (International Defence Exhibition). z The exhibitions showcase the latest technologies Why in News and innovation in the global defence sector, For the first time, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is support the growth of UAE’s defence industry, participating in the Exercise Desert Flag-VI, hosted by and forge new relationships between major the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force. international companies.

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¾ Examples of Other Multinational Exercises: z Security concerns stemming from the conflict € Pitch Black: Biennial, multilateral air combat in Afghanistan is one of the major challenges training exercise of Australia. for India’s involvement in Central Asia. € Red Flag: Multilateral air exercise of USA. INS Karanj Exercise Dustlik-2 Why in News Why in News Recently, Indian Navy’s third stealth Scorpene class Recently, the second edition of India-Uzbekistan (of Project-75) Submarine INS Karanj has been commis- joint military exercise “Dustlik-2” started in Chaubatia, sioned at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai. Uttarakhand.

Key Points ¾ About: Key Points € The previous INS Karanj (a Russian-origin subma- ¾ Aim of the Exercise: rine) was commissioned in 1969, at Riga in the € Counter Insurgency (CI) and Counter Terrorism erstwhile USSR. It had served the nation for 34 (CT) operations in mountainous, rural and urban years up to 2003. scenarios under the United Nations (UN)mandate. € The new INS Karanj would form part of the Western ¾ About the First Edition: Naval Command’s Submarine fleet. € Took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in November € The ship’s name, Karanj, is believed to be derived 2019. from the Karanja island (also known as Uran ¾ Significance: Island), a town in Raigad district, which lies in the south-east of Mumbai Harbour. € Uzbekistan is important to India for security and connectivity to theCentral Asian region and also z The Indian Navy has its base at Uran near Navi Iran, it is also one alternative India has with respect Mumbai. to Afghanistan. ¾ Project 75: € It is a programme by the Indian Navy that entails building six Scorpene Class attack submarines. € It is given support by the Department of Defence Production (Ministry of Defence) and Indian Navy throughout its various phases of construction. € The Mazagon Dock limited (MDL) is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines with technology assistance from Naval Group of France under a USD 3.75 bn deal signed in October 2005.

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¾ Other Submarines of the Ongoing Project-75: including anti-surface ship warfare, anti-submarine € Two submarines, Kalvari and Khanderi, have been warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying, and commissioned into the Indian Navy. area surveillance. € The fourth Scorpene, Vela, has commenced its € Scorpene is a conventional powered submarine sea trials. (diesel-electric) weighing 1,500 tonnes and can € The fifth Scorpene‘Vagir’ was launched in Nov 2020. go up to depths of 300m. € The sixth and last submarine, Vagsheer, is being € The Scorpene class is the Navy’s first modern readied for boot together. conventional submarine series in almost two ¾ Scorpene Class Submarines: decades since INS Sindhushastra, procured from € The submarines in the Project-75 Scorpene Class Russia in July 2000. are powered by diesel-electric propulsion systems. € The Navy is looking to install Air Independent € Scorpene is one of the most sophisticated subma- Propulsion (AIP) modules on all the Scorpene rines, capable of undertaking multifarious missions submarines to enhance endurance.

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