Current Affairs (CONSOLIDaTION)

August 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 Custodial Violence is Biggest Threat to Human Rights: CJI...... 1 z SC Judgement on Preventive Detention...... 2 z Supreme Court on Criminalisation of Politics...... 4 z Major Administrative Reforms...... 6 z Supreme Court Rules on Future Retail Vs Amazon...... 7 z Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution...... 8 z Governor’s Power to Pardon Overrides Section 433A: SC...... 9 z Government e-Marketplace ...... 11 z 100 Years of Madras Legislative Council...... 12 z Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021...... 13 z Sorry State of Tribunals...... 14 z Constitutional (127th) Amendment Bill, 2021...... 15 z Second Anniversary of Special Status Revocation: J&K...... 15 z Funds Lapsed in MPLADS...... 16 z Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act,1996...... 18 z 112th Annual Day of National Centre for Disease Control...... 19 z E-Prisons Project...... 21

Economic Scenario...... 22 z Monetary Policy Report: RBI...... 22 z Faceless Assessment Scheme: Income Tax...... 24 z Delays in Corporate Insolvency...... 24 z Doing Away With Retrospective Taxation ...... 26 z e-RUPI: Voucher Based Digital Payment System...... 27 z Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana...... 28 z National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm...... 29 z Atmanirbhar Narishakti Se Samvad...... 30 z Vacancies in Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions...... 32 z Annual Public Enterprises Survey...... 32 z Core Sectors Output...... 34 z Open Acreage Licensing Programme...... 35 z Sovereign Right to Taxation...... 36 z PM-KISAN...... 36 z PSUs Exempted from Minimum Public Shareholding ...... 37 z New Framework for Payment Systems Operators...... 39 z Social Security Measures for Informal Workers...... 40

International Relations...... 42 z Indo-US Nuclear-Deal...... 42 z India Assumes UNSC Presidency...... 44 z India’s Case of Permanent Seat in UNSC...... 45 z Indian Base in Mauritius’ Agalega Islands...... 46 z A Secure Indian Ocean...... 48 z UNSC Meet on Maritime Security...... 49 z Sanctions Imposed Against Belarus...... 51 z Collaboration of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives on Security...... 52 z External Affairs Minister’s Visit to Iran...... 53 z China-India Agreed to Disengage...... 54 z India-Bangladesh Commercial Railway Link Restored...... 55 z Provincial Status to Gilgit-Baltistan: Pakistan...... 57 z Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA)...... 58

Science and Technology...... 59 z GSLV-F10 Failure: ISRO’s EOS-03 Satellite Mission...... 59 z World Biofuel Day...... 60 z Snakebite Envenoming...... 61 z NASA’s Boeing Starliner Spacecraft...... 63 z ‘Ashwagandha’ in Covid-19 Recovery...... 64

Environment and Ecology...... 65 z Oil Spills...... 65 z Kaziranga National Park: Assam...... 66 z Four New Ramsar Sites: India’s Wetlands...... 67 z Ban on Single-Use Plastic ...... 69 z Olympian Bat...... 70 z World Lion Day, 2021...... 71 z Skyglow: Light Pollution...... 71 z New Frog Species: Minervarya Pentali...... 73 z Ozone Levels Exceeding Permitted Levels...... 73 z World Elephant Day ...... 74 z Atlantic Ocean Current System: AMOC...... 75 z Climate Change 2021 Report: IPCC ...... 77 z India Plastics Pact...... 79 z Stubble Burning...... 80 z Net Zero Carbon Targets and Climate Change: Oxfam Report...... 81 z Red Tide...... 82 z Dairy Sector and Climate Change ...... 83 z Pangolin...... 85 z Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle...... 86 z Plastic-Mixed Handmade Paper ...... 86 z Greater Adjutant Storks (Garuda)...... 87 z India Needs an Updated Flood Map...... 87

History...... 90 z Rana Punja Bhil...... 90 z Quit India Movement...... 91 z Abanindranath Tagore...... 92 Geography...... 94 z Retreat of Glaciers in Ladakh...... 94 z Report on Water Resource Management...... 95

Social Issues...... 97 z World Tribal Day, 2021...... 97 z International Youth Day, 2021...... 99 z Global Youth Tobacco Survey- 4...... 100 z Quality of Life for Elderly Index...... 101 z Minority Institutions and RTE: NCPCR Survey...... 102 z Marburg Virus...... 104 z Continuation of Scheme for Fast Track Courts...... 105 z Inequitable Food System...... 106 z Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0...... 108 z Permanent Forum of People of African Descent...... 109 z Road to Zero Hunger Goal: SDG 2...... 110 z Hunger Hotspots Report : FAO-WFP...... 111 z Adverse Impacts of Food Fortification...... 113 z Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Amendment Act, 2021...... 114

Security...... 116 z Issue of Illegal Migrants...... 116 z Women in Combat Role in ITBP...... 117 z INS Vikrant Begins Sea Trials...... 119

Miscellaneous...... 120 z Vehicle Scrapping Policy Launched...... 120 z Ballistic Missile Ghaznavi: Pakistan ...... 121 z Ujjwala 2.0...... 122 z International Baccalaureate ...... 122 z Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award...... 123 z PM-DAKSH Scheme...... 124 z Delhi-Alwar RRTS Project...... 124 z Halam Sub-tribes Clash...... 125 z World’s Highest Motorable Road at Umling La...... 126 z IndiGau...... 127 www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS AUGUST 2021 1 Polity and Governance

Highlights z Custodial Violence is Biggest Threat to Human Rights: CJI z Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 z SC Judgement on Preventive Detention z Sorry State of Tribunals z Supreme Court on Criminalisation of Politics z Constitutional (127th) Amendment Bill, 2021 z Major Administrative Reforms z Second Anniversary of Special Status Revocation: J&K z Supreme Court Rules on Future Retail Vs Amazon z Funds Lapsed in MPLADS z Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution z Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act,1996 z Governor’s Power to Pardon Overrides Section 433A: SC z 112th Annual Day of National Centre for Disease Control z Government e-Marketplace z E-Prisons Project z 100 Years of Madras Legislative Council

National Legal Services Authority Custodial Violence is Biggest ¾ It was constituted under the Legal Services Threat to Human Rights: CJI Authorities Act, 1987 which came into force in November, 1995 to establish a nationwide uniform network for providing free and competent legal Why in News services to the weaker sections of the society. Recently, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) noted that ¾ CJI is the Patron-in-Chief and the second senior police stations pose the highest threat tohuman rights most Judge of the Supreme Court of India is the and dignity as custodial torture\violence and police Executive Chairman of the Authority. atrocities still prevail despite constitutional guarantees. ¾ Article 39 A of the Constitution provides for free ¾ He was speaking at the launch of a legal service legal aid to the poor and weaker sections of the mobile application and the vision and mission society, to promote justice on the basis of equal statement of National Legal Services Authority’s opportunity. (NALSA) legal services. € Article 14 and Article 22 (1), obligates the State to ensure equality before law. Key Points ¾ It can be noted that the role played by NALSA and ¾ Vision & Mission Statement: its networks is very much relevant to achieving the € It encapsulates the vision of NALSA to promote Sustainable Development Goal-16, which seeks an inclusive legal system and to ensure fair to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for and meaningful justice to the marginalized and sustainable development, provide access to justice disadvantaged sector. for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. € It further promotes the mission of NALSA to legally empower the marginalized and excluded € It incorporates features including seeking legal groups of the society by providing effective legal assistance, legal advice, and other grievances. representation, legal literacy & awareness to bridge € Application tracking facilities, and seeking the gap between the legally available benefits and clarifications are some additional featuresavailable the entitled beneficiaries. to both Legal Aid beneficiaries and Legal Services ¾ Legal Services Mobile Application: Authorities.

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€ Beneficiaries can also apply for pre-institution ideologies which the state perceives as opposed mediation through the app. Victims can also file an to its stature. application for Victim Compensation with the App. € Not Adhering to International Standard: z Although India has signed the United Nations Custodial Violence Convention against Torture in 1997 its ratification ¾ Related Data: still remains. € According to National Crime Records Bureau z While Signing only indicates the country’s (NCRB) data, between 2001 and 2018, only 26 intention to meet the obligations set out in the policemen were convicted of custodial violence treaty, Ratification, on the other hand, entails despite 1,727 such deaths being recorded in India. bringing in laws and mechanisms to fulfil the z Only 4.3% of the 70 deaths in 2018 were commitments. attributed to injuries during custody due to ¾ Constitutional and Legal Provisions: physical assault by police. € Protection from torture is a fundamental right € Except in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhat- enshrined under Article 21 (Right to Life) of the tisgarh and Odisha, no policeman was convicted Indian constitution. for such deaths across the country. € The right to counsel is also a fundamental right € Apart from custodial deaths, more than 2,000 under Article 22(1) of the India constitution. human rights violation cases were also recorded € Section 41 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) against the police between 2000 and 2018. And was amended in 2009 to include safeguards only 344 policemen were convicted in those cases. under 41A, 41B, 41C and 41D, so that arrests ¾ Major Reasons: and detentions for interrogation have reasonable € Lack of Legal Representation: grounds and documented procedures, arrests are z Lack of effective legal representation at police made transparent to family, friends and public, and stations is a huge detriment to arrested or there is protection through legal representation. detained persons. The first hours of arrest or detention often decide the fate of the case for SC Judgement the accused. on Preventive Detention € Lengthy Judicial Processes: z Lengthy, expensive formal processes followed Why in News by courts dissuade the poor and the vulnerable. € Absence of Strong Legislation: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that a preventive detention order can only be passed if the z India does not have an anti-torture legislation detenu is likely to adversely affect the maintenance of and is yet to criminalise custodial violence, while public order. action against culpable officials remains illusory. ¾ The SC also gave direction to governments and € Institutional Challenges: to other courts, for dealing with detention under z The entire prison system is inherently opaque preventive detention. giving less room to transparency. z India also fails in bringing the much desired Key Points Prison Reforms and prisons continue to be ¾ Preventive Detention for Public Order: The court held affected by poor conditions, overcrowding, that it cannot seriously be disputed that the Detenu acute manpower shortages and minimal safety may be a ‘white collar offender’and if set free, will against harm in prisons. continue to cheat gullible persons. € Excessive Force: € However, a Preventive Detention Order can only z The use of excessive force including torture to be passed if his activities adversely affect or are target marginalised communities and control likely to adversely affect the maintenance of people participating in movements or propagating public order.

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¾ Clarity on the Term ‘Public Order’: Preventive € Article 22 has two parts—the first part deals with detention is a necessary evil only to prevent public the cases of ordinary law and the second part disorder, but a liberal meaning cannot be given to the deals with the cases of preventive detention law. expression public order in the context of preventive detention statute. Rights Given Under Rights Given Under Punitive Detention Preventive Detention € Contravention of law, such as indulging in cheating or criminal breach of trust, certainly affects ‘law ¾ Right to be informed of ¾ The detention of a and order’. the grounds of arrest. person cannot exceed € However, before it can be said to affect ‘public three months unless an order’, it must affect the community or the public advisory board reports at large. sufficient cause for extended detention. ¾ Direction to the Government:The State should not arbitrarily resort to “preventive detention” to deal ¾ The board is to consist with all and sundry “law and order” problems, which of judges of a high could be dealt with by the ordinary laws of the country. court. ¾ Directions to the Courts : One of the questions ¾ Right to consult and ¾ The grounds of deten- the courts must ask in deciding the legality under a be defended by a legal tion should be commu- preventive detention should be: practitioner. nicated to the detenu. € Was the ordinary law of the land sufficient to ¾ However, the facts con- deal with the situation? If the answer is in the sidered to be against affirmative, the detention order will be illegal. the public interest need € For example, the court said two drunks fighting not be disclosed. on a road was a law and order problem, and ¾ Right to be produced ¾ The detenu should be not ‘public disorder’. The solution here was not before a magistrate afforded an opportu- preventive detention. within 24 hours, exclud- nity to make a repre- ¾ Preventive Detention Undermines Liberty: Liberty ing the journey time. sentation against the of a citizen is a most important right won by our detention order. forefathers after long, historical and arduous struggles. ¾ Right to be released af- € If the power of preventive detention is not narrowed ter 24 hours unless the down to limits, the right to liberty will become magistrate authorises nugatory (of no value or importance). further detention. ¾ ¾ € Therefore, Preventive detention must fall within These safeguards are This protection is avail- the ambit of Article 21 (due process of law) and not available to an able to both citizens as read with Article 22 (safeguards against arbitrary enemy alien. well as aliens. arrest and detention) and thestatute in question. Note: Preventive Detention ¾ The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 has reduced the period of detention without obtaining the opinion ¾ Constitutional Provisions: of an advisory board from three to two months. € Article 22 grants protection to persons who are However, this provision has not yet been brought arrested or detained. Detention is of two types, into force, hence, the original period of three namely, punitive and preventive. months still continues. z Punitive detention is to punish a person for an offence committed by him after trial and ¾ The preventive detention laws made by the Parliament conviction in a court. are: z Preventive detention, on the other hand, € Preventive Detention Act, 1950. Expired in 1969. means detention of a person without trial and € Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), 1971. conviction by a court. Repealed in 1978.

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€ Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention Key Points of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA), 1974. ¾ Case I: Political Parties Parties Penalised for Contempt: € National Security Act (NSA), 1980. € February 13, 2020 Order: € Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of z The February 2020 order required political Supplies of Essential Commodities Act (PBMSECA), parties to publish details of criminal cases 1980. against its candidates on their websites, a local € Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act vernacular newspaper, national newspaper (TADA), 1985. Repealed in 1995. and social media accounts. € Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and z This is to be done within 48 hours of candidate Psychotropic Substances Act (PITNDPSA), 1988. selection or not less than two weeks before the € Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002. Repealed first date for filing of nominations, whichever in 2004. is earlier. ¾ Issues related to Preventive Detention Laws in India: € Supreme Court’s Directive: € No democratic country in the world has made z The court took a lenient view of the matter, as it preventive detention as an integral part of the was the first elections (Bihar assembly Elections Constitution as has been done in India. 2020) conducted after issuance of its directions. € The governments sometimes use such laws in an z Directed political parties to have a caption“can - extra-judicial power. Also, there remains a fear of didates with criminal antecedents candidates” arbitrary detentions. on their homepages. z It asked Election Commission of India (ECI)to Supreme Court on create a dedicated mobile application containing information published by candidates regarding Criminalisation of Politics their criminal antecedents. z The court appealed to the conscience of the Why in News lawmakers to come up with a law tackling the criminalization of politics. Recently, the Supreme Court in the two different judgements has raised concerns about the menace of ¾ Case II: Approval of High Court for Withdrawing criminalisation in politics. Criminal Cases against MPs/MLAs: ¾ In one case, it found nine political parties guilty of € Background: contempt for not following in letter and spirit its z The Bench was hearing a pending PIL (Public February 13, 2020 direction. Interest Litigation) seeking establishment of ¾ In another case, it has issued directions thatno criminal fast-track courts for cases against legislators. case against MPs or MLAs can be withdrawn without z In November 2017, the Supreme Court had an approval of the high court of the concerned state. ordered setting-up of Special Courts in each state to try the pending cases. z Accordingly, 12 such courts were set up across the country. € Supreme Court’s Directive: z Examine the withdrawals, whether pending or disposed of since last year. z High court Chief Justices to constituteSpecial Benches to monitor the progress of criminal cases against sitting and former legislators . z Judicial officers presiding over Special Courts or CBI Courts involving prosecution ofMPs or MLAs shall not be transferred until further orders.

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z Asked all the high courts to furnish details of z Candidates with serious records seem to do posting of judges and the number of pending well despite their public image, largely due to and disposed cases before them. their ability to finance their own electionsand € Significance of the Judgment: bring substantive resources to their respective parties. z It was a move that significantly clips the powers of the state governments at a time when the z Also, sometimes voters are left with no options, top court has expressed grave concern over as all competing candidates have criminal records. the criminalisation of politics. ¾ Effects: € Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, € Against the Principle of Free and Fair Election: 1973: z It limits the choice of voters to elect a suitable z Under this provision, the public prosecutor or candidate. assistant public prosecutor may, with the consent z It is against the ethos of free and fair election of the court, withdraw from the prosecution which is the bedrock of a democracy. of a case at any time before the judgment is € Affecting Good Governance: pronounced. z The major problem is that the law-breakers „ Several states have withdrawn cases against become law-makers, this affects the efficacy legislators, under this section. of the democratic process in delivering good governance. Criminalisation of Politics z These unhealthy tendencies in the democratic ¾ About: system reflect a poor image of the nature of € It means the participation of criminals in politics India’s state institutions and the quality of its which includes that criminals can contest in the elected representatives. elections and get elected as members of the € Affecting Integrity of Public Servants: Parliament and the State legislature. z It also leads to increased circulation of black € It takes place primarily due to the nexus between money during and after elections, which in turn politicians and criminals. increases corruption in society and affects the ¾ Reasons: working of public servants. € Lack of Political Will: € Causes Social Disharmony: z In spite of taking appropriate measures to amend z It introduces a culture of violence in society the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and sets a bad precedent for the youth to follow there has been an unsaid understanding among and reduces people’s faith in democracy as a the political parties which deters Parliament system of governance. to make strong law curbing criminalisation of Landmark Decisions in Decriminalising Politics politics. ¾ In 2002, the Supreme Court, in Association for € Lack of Enforcement: Democratic Reforms (ADR) v. Union of India, z Several laws and court judgments have not mandated the disclosure of information relating helped much, due to the lack of enforcement to criminal antecedents, educational qualification, of laws and judgments. and personal assets of a candidate contesting € Narrow Self-interests: elections. z Publishing of the entire criminal history of ¾ The Supreme Court in the Lily Thomas v. Union of candidates fielded by political partiesmay not be India (2013) case, struck down as unconstitutional very effective, as a major chunk of voters tend Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act to vote through a narrow prism of community that allowed convicted lawmakers a three-month interests like caste or religion. period for filing appeal to the higher court and to get a stay on the conviction and sentence. € Use of Muscle and Money Power:

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¾ In People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of post of the government despite them not being India (2013), the SC recognised negative voting selected in or being part of a bureaucratic setup. as a constitutional right of a voter and directed € This is significant because contemporary times the Government to provide the ‘NOTA’ option in require highly skilled and motivated individuals at electronic voting machines. the helm of administrative affairs, without which ¾ In Public Interest Foundation and Ors. v Union of public service delivery mechanisms do not work India (2014) based on recommendations made smoothly. by the Law Commission in its 244th report, the SC € Lateral Entry helps in bringing the values of had ordered that trials, in relation to sitting MPs economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the and MLAs be concluded within a year of charges Government sector. It will help in building a culture against them being framed. of performance within the Government sector. ¾ The Supreme Court’s decision on information ¾ e-Samiksha: disclosure (Lok Prahari v. Union of India, 2018) € A real time online system for monitoring and follow paves a way for future constitutional interventions up action on the decisions taken by the Government in India’s political party funding regime, including at the Apex level in respect of implementation of the scheme of electoral bonds. important Government programmes / projects. € It is a digital monitor for bureaucracy to rein in Major Administrative Reforms slackers. z Also, the government has been taking an intensive Why in News review for weeding out inefficient and Officers of doubtful integrity by premature retirement. Recently, the Union Government gave the information ¾ e-Office: on Major Administrative Reforms which were introduced € e-Office Mission Mode Project (MMP) has been in recent years and emphasised the importance of these strengthened for enabling Ministries/ Departments reforms in making governance more accessible. to switch over to paperless office and efficient ¾ These reforms aim to encourage greater efficiency, decision making. transparent and corruption free governance, ¾ accountability and reduce scope for discretion. The Citizen Charters: Government follows the maxim “Minimum Government € Government has mandated Citizen Charters for all - Maximum Governance”. Ministries/Departments which are updated and reviewed on a regular basis. Key Points € It is a written document that spells out the ¾ Mission Karmayogi: service provider’s efforts taken to focus on their € This is a National Programme for Civil Services commitment towards fulfilling the needs of the Capacity Building (NPCSCB). It is a comprehensive citizens/customers. reform of the capacity building apparatus at ¾ Good Governance Index 2019: individual, institutional and process levels for € It assesses the Status of Governance and impact efficient public service delivery. of various interventions taken up by the State € It is aimed at building a future-ready civil service Government and Union Territories (UTs). with the right attitude, skills and knowledge, € The objectives of GGI are to provide quantifiable aligned to the vision of New India. data to compare the state of governance in all € The capacity building will be delivered through States and UTs, enable States and UTs to formulate iGOT-Karmayogi digital platform, with content and implement suitable strategies for improving drawn from global best practices. governance and shift to result oriented approaches ¾ Lateral Entry: and administration. € Lateral entry means when personnel from the € It has been launched by the Ministry of Personnel, private sector are selected to an administrative Public Grievances & Pensions.

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¾ National Conference on e-Governance: Singapore International Arbitration Centre € It provides a platform for the government to engage ¾ It is a not-for-profit international arbitration- or with experts, intellectuals from industry and ganisation based in Singapore, which administers academic institutions to exchange experiences arbitrations under its own rules of arbitration and relating to e-Governance initiatives. the United Nations Commission on International € In 2020, the 23rd National Conference on e-Gov- Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules. ernance was organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances Key Points (DARPG) along with the Ministry of Electronics ¾ Background: and Information Technology (MeitY) in Mumbai. € In August 2020, Future Retail Limited (FRL) had ¾ Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring announced that it would sell its retail and wholesale System (CPGRAMS): business to Reliance Retail. € It is an online web-enabled system developed by € Before the deal could be executed, Amazon objected National Informatics Centre (Ministry of Electronics to it, alleging a breach of contract it had with Future & IT [MeitY]), in association with Directorate of Public Coupons (the promoter firm of Future Retail). Grievances (DPG) and Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG). z Amazon said that its agreement with Future Coupons had given it a “call” option, which € The CPGRAMS provides the facility to lodge a enabled it to exercise the option of acquiring grievance online from any geographical location. all or part of Future Retail’s shareholding in It enables the citizen to track online the grievance the company, within three to 10 years of the being followed up with Departments concerned agreement. and also enables DARPG to monitor the grievance. € Subsequently, Amazon took Future Retail into ¾ National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment: It Emergency Arbitration before the SIAC, where aims at assessing the States, UTs and Central Ministries an emergency arbitrator barred the latter from on the efficiency of e-Governance service delivery. proceeding with the deal. ¾ Comprehensive restructuring of the Scheme for € Emergency arbitrationis a mechanism which “allows ‘Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public a disputing party to apply for urgent interim relief Administration’ in 2014 and thereafter in 2020. before an arbitration tribunal has been formally Administrative Reforms Commission constituted”. ¾ The ARC is set up by the Government of India to ¾ Significance of Supreme Court’s Order: review the public administration system and give € Dismissed FRL’s argument that the “Emergency recommendations to improve it. Arbitrator is not an arbitral tribunal” under the ¾ The first ARC (1966) was headed by Morarji Desai Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1996. initially and later by K. Hanumanthaiah. The second € It upheld the validity of the EA award. The judgment ARC constituted in 2005 was chaired by Veerappa laid down that the award is “exactly like an order of Moily. an arbitral tribunal” contemplated under Section 17 of the 1996 Act. Hence, an award by the EA was Supreme Court Rules like an order under Section 17(1) (interim measures ordered by an arbitral tribunal) of the Act. on Future Retail Vs Amazon z Section 17 of the Act prescribes the mechanism for parties to an arbitration to seek interim reliefs Why in News from the arbitral tribunal during the pendency Recently, the Supreme Court upheld the enforcement of the arbitral proceedings. of an order by the Singapore International Arbitration € The EA orders were “an important step in aid Centre (SIAC)’s emergency arbitrator that puts on hold of decongesting the civil courts and affording the Future Group’s deal with Reliance Industries Limited. expeditious interim relief to the parties”.

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€ The court pointed out a recommendation that a ¾ Features of the Act: High-Level Committee constituted by the Govern- € Qualifications of Arbitrators: ment of India under the chairmanship of Justice z It does away with the qualifications of the B N Srikrishna (retd) to review the institutionali- arbitrators under 8th Schedule of the Arbitration sation of the arbitration mechanism in India and and Conciliation Act, 1996which specified that look into the provisions of the Arbitration Act after the arbitrator must be: the 2015 Amendment Act, gave in its 2017 report. „ An advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961 z It said that “given that international practice with 10 years of experience, or is in favour of enforcing emergency awards „ An officer of the Indian Legal Service. (Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom all permit enforcement of emergency awards), it € Unconditional Stay on Awards: is time that India permitted the enforcement of z If the Award is being given on the basis of a emergency awards in all arbitral proceedings”. fraudulent agreement or corruption, then the court can grant an unconditional stay as long as € The judgment would serve as a reminder to an appeal under Section 34 of the arbitration the parties to carefully agree to the terms and law is pending. conditions of the arbitration. ¾ Benefits: € No appeal would lie under Section 37 of the Arbitration Act against an order of enforcement € Would bring about parity among all the stakeholders of an Emergency Arbitrator’s order made under in the arbitration process. Section 17(2) of the Act. € Checking misuse of the provisions under Arbitration z Section 37 of the Arbitration Act, prescribes and Conciliation Act, 1996 would save the taxpayers for appeals against certain identified orders money by holding those accountable who siphoned of the court and/or arbitral tribunal (as the off of them unlawfully. case may be). ¾ Drawbacks: z However, Section 37 (unlike Section 34) of the € India already lags behind when it comes to the Act is silent on the limitation period for filing enforcement of international contracts and an appeal. agreements. The Act can further hamper the spirit of Make in India campaign and deteriorate Arbitration rankings in Ease of Doing Business Index. ¾ About: € India aims to become a hub of domestic € It is a process in which disputes are resolved and international arbitration. Through the between the parties by appointing an independent implementation of these legislative changes, third party who is an impartial and neutral person resolution of commercial disputes could take called arbitrator. Arbitrators hear both the parties longer duration now onwards. before arriving at a solution to their dispute. ¾ Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2021: Eighth Schedule € It amends the Arbitration and Conciliation Act of the Indian Constitution (A&C Act 1996) so as to (i) enable automatic stay on awards in certain cases and (ii) specify by regulations the qualifications, experience and Why in News norms for accreditation of arbitrators. Recently, the Union Minister of Education has z A&C Act 1996 is an act to amend and consolidate a informed in the Lok Sabha about the various steps taken law related to domestic arbitration, international by the government to promote the Languages in Eighth commercial arbitration and enforcement of Schedule. foreign arbitral awards as also to define the law relating to conciliation and for matters Key Points connected therewith or incidental therewith. ¾ Eighth Schedule:

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€ About: „ High antiquity of its early texts/recorded z It lists the official languages of the republic of history over a period of 1500-2000 years. India. Part XVII of the Indian constitution deals „ A body of ancient literature/texts, which is with the official languages inArticles 343 to 351. considered a valuable heritage by generations z The Constitutional provisions related to the of speakers. Eighth Schedule are: „ The literary tradition is original and not „ Article 344: Article 344(1) provides for the borrowed from another speech community. constitution of a Commission by the Pres- „ The classical language and literature being ident on expiration of five years from the distinct from modern, there may also be a commencement of the Constitution. discontinuity between the classical language „ It provides for the Article 351: spread of the and its later forms or its offshoots. Hindi language to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the € Benefits for Promotion: Once a language is notified elements of the composite culture of India. as a Classical language, the Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it: z However, It can be noted that there is no fixed criteria for any language to be considered for z Two major annual international awards for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule. scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages. € Official Languages: z A Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical z The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution consists Languages is set up. of the following 22 languages: z The University Grants Commission is requested „ Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, to create, to start with at least in the Central Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Universities, a certain number of Professional Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi,Sanskrit, Chairs for the Classical Languages so declared. Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri. z Of these languages, 14 were initially included Governor’s Power to Pardon in the Constitution. Overrides Section 433A: SC z Sindhi language was added by the 21st Amendment Act of 1967. Why in News z Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali were included by the 71st Amendment Act of 1992. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) held that the Governor’s power to pardon overrides Section 433A of z Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali were added by the 92nd Amendment Act of 2003 which Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). came into force in 2004 . ¾ Earlier in January 2021, in a case of mercy petition,the ¾ Classical Languages: SC noted that the Governor cannot reject the state’s but to € About: recommendation there is no time prescribed take a decision. z Currently there are six languages that enjoy the ‘Classical’ status in India: Key Points „ Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam ¾ Pardoning Power Overrides 433A: (2013), and Odia (2014). € SC held that the Governor of a State can pardon „ All the Classical Languages are listed in the prisoners, even before they have served a minimum Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. 14 years of prison sentence. € Guidelines: € The Governor’s power to pardon overrides a z The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines provision in the CrPC Section 433Awhich mandates regarding Classical languages which are as that a prisoner’s sentence can be remitted only given below: after 14 years of jail.

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z Section 433A states that where a sentence of € Limitation: imprisonment for life is imposed on conviction z The President cannot exercise his power of of a person for an offence for which death is one pardon independent of the government. of the punishments provided by law, or where z In several cases, the SC has ruled that the a sentence of death imposed on a person has President has to act on the advice of the Council under section 433 into one of been commuted of Ministers while deciding mercy pleas. These imprisonment for life, such person shall not be include Maru Ram vs Union of India in 1980, released from prison unless he had served at and Dhananjoy Chatterjee vs State of West least fourteen years of imprisonment. Bengal in 1994. € Section 433-A cannot and does not in any way € Reconsideration: affect the constitutional power conferred on z the President/Governor to grant pardon under Although the President is bound by the Cabinet’s Articles 72 or 161 of the Constitution. advice, Article74 (1) empowers him to return it for reconsideration once. If the Council of ¾ Power Exercised by State Government: Ministers decides against any change, the € The court noted that the sovereign power of a President has no option but to accept it. Governor to pardon a prisoner under Article 161 ¾ Governor’s Pardoning Power: is actually exercised by the State government and not the Governor on his own. € Article 161: € The advice of the appropriate government binds z The Governor of a State shall have the power to the Head of the State. grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions or to ¾ Order of Commutation: of punishment suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any € The action of commutation and release can thus offence against any law relating to a matter to be pursuant to a governmental decision and the which the executive power of the State extends. order may be issued even without the Governor’s ¾ approval. However, under the Rules of Business Difference Between Pardoning Powers of President and as a matter of constitutional courtesy, it may and Governor: seek approval of the Governor, if such release is € The scope of the pardoning power of the President under Article 161 of the Constitution. under Article 72 iswider than the pardoning power z The state government can frame a policy of grant of the Governor under Article 161 which differs of remissions either under Section 432 of the in the following two ways: CrPC or under Article 161 of the Constitution. z Court Martial: The power of the President z If a prisoner has undergone more than 14 years to grant pardon extends in cases where the of actual imprisonment, the state government, punishment or sentence is by a Court Martial as an appropriate Government, is competent but Article 161 does not provide any such to pass an order of premature release. power to the Governor. z Section 432 of the Code of Criminal Procedure z Death sentence: The President can grant empowers the Government to remit sentence. pardon in all cases where the sentence given is the sentence of death but the pardoning Pardoning Power power of the Governor does not extend to ¾ Pardoning Power of the President in India: death sentence cases. € About: Terms z Under Article 72 of the Constitution, the ¾ Pardon: It removes both the sentence and the President shall have the power to grant pardons, convictionand completely absolves the convict from reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment all sentences, punishments and disqualifications. or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence ¾ Commutation:It denotes the substitution of one of any person convicted of any offence where form of punishment for a lighter form. For example, the sentence is a sentence of death.

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a death sentence may be commuted to rigorous ¾ Launch: imprisonment, which in turn may be commuted € It was launched in 2016 to bring transparency to a simple imprisonment. and efficiency in the government buying process. ¾ Remission: It implies reducing the period of sentence ¾ Nodal Ministry: without changing its character. For example, a € Ministry of Commerce and Industry. sentence of rigorous imprisonment for two years may ¾ Recent Updates: be remitted to rigorous imprisonment for one year. € Bamboo Market Window (The Green Gold ¾ Respite: It denotes awarding a lesser sentence in Collection). place of one originally awarded due to some special € Country of Origin Mandatory: GeM has made fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or it mandatory for sellers to enter the Country of the pregnancy of a woman offender. Origin while registering all new products on GeM. ¾ Reprieve: It implies a stay of the execution of a z This has been enabled on the portal so that the sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary buyers can choose to buy only those products that period. Its purpose is to enable the convict to have meet the minimum 50% local content criteria. time to seek pardon or commutation. ¾ Significance: € Transparent and Cost-effective Procurement: Government e-Marketplace GeM is enabling quick, efficient, transparent and cost-effective procurement, especially when Why in News government organizations require products and services urgently to fight against the Covid-19 The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) system has pandemic. resulted in a 10% savings in public procurement costs € Promotion of Atmanirbhar Bharat: GeM has in five years, but has still tapped only 5% of India’s total been promoting the Atmanirbhar Bharat policy, government purchases of about Rs 20 lakh crore a year. introduced in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, ¾ 56% of the order value processed through the GeM meant to encourage self-reliance and boost small portal has been delivered by Micro, Small and Medium Indian manufacturers. Enterprises (MSMEs), with seven lakh small firms € Entry of Small Local Sellers: The Marketplace on board. has facilitated entry of small local sellers in Public Procurement, while implementing ‘Make in India’ Key Points and MSME Purchase Preference Policies of the ¾ About: Government in the true sense. € GeM is a one-stop National Public Procurement € Multiple Entities at One Place: The online mar- Portal to facilitate online procurement of common ketplace can aggregate demand from multiple use Goods & Services required by various Central entities for similar products, and build on the and State Government Departments/Organizations preferences provided by State governments to /Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). small enterprises. € The procurement of goods and services by Ministries ¾ Challenges: and the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) € Multiple Portals: is mandatory for goods and services available z There are multiple portals in Central government on GeM. departments, such as the defence procurement € It also provides the tools of e-bidding and reverse portal, and the Indian Railways e-Procurement e-auction to facilitate the government users achieve System, which could limit GeM’s effort to achieve the best value for their money. its mandate as the National Public Procurement € At present, GeM has more than 30 lakh products, Portal and provide the benefit of economies of over Rs. 10 lakh crore worth of transactions have scale and efficiency. happened so far at the portal. € Lack of Compliance:

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z It also faces a bit of a challenge in getting all State Legislature Central organisations to comply with Rule 149 ¾ About: of the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, € The primary function of the State Legislature, which mandates that all common-use goods and like the Union Parliament, is law-making. The services that are available on the GeM portal State Legislature is empowered to make laws should necessarily be procured on the platform. on State List and Concurrent List. ¾ Types of Legislature: 100 Years of Madras € Just as Parliament has two Houses, the states Legislative Council can also have a Legislative Council in addition to the Legislative Assembly. € Therefore there can be two types of legislatures Why in News i:e Unicameral or Bicameral on the basis of the Recently, the President addressed the commemoration number of houses to implement laws for the state. of the 100th year of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, formerly z Unicameral: Legislative Assembly known as the Madras Legislative Council (MLC) in z Bicameral: Legislative Assembly and Legislative Chennai. Council. € Presently, there are Six States having a Legislative Key Points Council: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar ¾ History: Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka. € The Madras Legislative Council was set up in 1921 ¾ Constitutional Provisions: under the Government of India Act 1919. € Articles 168 to 212 in Part VI of the Constitution z The term of the Council was for a period of deal with the organisation, composition, duration, three years. It consisted of 132 Members of officers, procedures, privileges, powers and so which 34 were nominated by the Governor on of the state legislature. and the rest were elected. z Article 168 states that for every State there € It met for the first time on the 9th January 1921 shall be a Legislature which shall consist of at Fort St. George, Madras. the Governor. z states that notwithstanding € The Council was inaugurated by the Duke of Article 169 Cannaught, a paternal uncle of the King of England, anything in article 168,Parliament may by law on the 12th January 1921 on the request made by provide for the abolition of the Legislative Council of a State having such a Council or for the Governor Wellington. the creation of such a Councilin a State having € The Second and Third Councils, under this Act no such Council, if the Legislative Assembly were constitutedafter the general elections held of the State passes a resolution to that effect. in 1923 and 1926 respectively. € The fourth Legislative Council met for the first timein November 1930 after the general elections held during the year and its life was extended from time to time and it lasted till the provincial autonomy under the Government of India Act, 1935 came into operation. ¾ Significance: € This legislature became the fountainhead of many progressive legislationswhich were subsequently replicated across the country to empower the weaker sections of society and strengthen Democracy.

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€ Abolition of the Devadasi system, widow remar- € The Bill removes the Abor tribe from the list of riage, mid-day meals in schools and distribution of identified STs in Arunachal Pradesh. Further, it agricultural land to the landless were some of the replaces certain STs with other tribes (as indicated revolutionary ideas that transformed the society. below): € The concept of the Welfare State has taken deep Original list Proposed changes under the Bill roots in this legislature. Abor Deleted from the list Khampti Tai Khamti Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Mishmi, Idu Mishmi-Kaman (Miju Mishmi), Idu Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and Taroan (Mishmi) and Taraon (Digaru Mishmi) Momba Monpa, Memba, Sartang, and Why in News Sajolang (Miji) Any Naga Tribes Nocte, Tangsa, Tutsa, and Wancho Recently, Rajya Sabha has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021. ¾ Scheduled Tribes in Arunachal Pradesh: ¾ The bill provides for modifying Part-XVIII of the € Nearly 64.2% of the total populationof Arunachal Schedule to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Pradesh is Scheduled Tribes (STs) according to the Order, 1950, relating to the state of Arunachal Pradesh. 2001 Census. Key Points € The state has registered a decadal growth of 28.1% of ST population in 1991-2001 Census. ¾ About the Bill: € It seeks to amend the constitutional list of Scheduled Tribe Scheduled Tribes as recommended by Arunachal ¾ Article 366 (25) of the Constitution refers to Pradesh. Scheduled Tribes as those communities, who are z At present, there are 18 communities with scheduled in accordance with Article 342 of the their synonyms appearing in the illustrative Constitution. list of Scheduled Tribes in respect of the state ¾ Article 342says that only those communitieswho of Arunachal Pradesh. have been declared as such by the President through € This amendment in the list of Scheduled Tribes, an initial public notification or through a subsequent relating to the state of Arunachal Pradesh, will amending Act of Parliament will be considered to entail no additional recurring expenditure from be Scheduled Tribes. the Consolidated Fund of India, on account of ¾ The list of Scheduled Tribes is State/UT specific benefits likely to be provided to persons belonging and a community declared as a Scheduled Tribe in to the communities proposed in the Bill. a State need not be so in another State. z The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is funding the ¾ The Constitution is silent about the criteria for welfare of 10.45 crores of Scheduled Tribes specification of a community as a Scheduled Tribe. population (Census, 2011). Primitiveness, geographical isolation, shyness and z Further, the Scheduled Tribes are also eligible for social, educational & economic backwardness are the benefits under theScheduled Tribes Component traits that distinguish Scheduled Tribe communities (STC) of schemes under the central government from other communities. and state governments. ¾ There are certain Scheduled Tribes, 75 in number „ The basic objective of Schedule Tribe known as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Component is to channelize/monitor the (PVTGs), who are characterised by:- a) pre- flow of outlays and benefits from the general agriculture level of technology; b) stagnant or sectors in the Central Ministries/Departments declining population; c) extremely low literacy; and for the development of Scheduled Tribes at d) subsistence level of economy. least in proportion to their population.

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¾ Government Initiatives: TheScheduled Tribes and € The Tribunals were set up to reduce the workload other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of of courts, to expedite decisions and to provide a Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA); The Provision of the forum which would be manned by lawyers and Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, experts in the areas falling under the jurisdiction 1996; Minor Forest Produce Act 2005; SC And ST of the Tribunal. (Prevention Of Atrocities) Act; and the Tribal Sub- ¾ Issues Concerning Tribunals: Plan Strategy are focused on the socio-economic € Persisting Vacancies: The SC noted that, the empowerment of STs. vacancies of 20 presiding officers, 110 judicial members and 111 technical members were Sorry State of Tribunals pending across the country in various tribunals. z For example, in the National Green Tribunal, Why in News Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, Central Administrative Tribunal. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) expressed displeas- z These persisting vacancies make them redundant. ure against the Central government by asking whether it intends to “close” tribunals across the country by not € Ignoring Recommendations: Recommendations of filling up vacancies that have been pending for years. names by the selection committees led by sitting Supreme Court judges to fill up the vacancies have been largely ignored by the government. € Denying Right of the People to Access Justice: The Court pointed out that with tribunals defunct and High Courts having no jurisdiction over the areas of law wielded by tribunals, litigants have nowhere to go for justice. € Problem of Non-Uniformity: Added to this is the problem of non-uniformity across tribunals with respect to service conditions, tenure of members, varying nodal ministries in charge of different tribunals. z These factors contribute significantly to mal- Key Points functioning in the managing and administration of tribunals. ¾ About Tribunals: ¾ Related Development: € Tribunal is a quasi-judicial institution that is set up to deal with problems such as resolving € The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and administrative or tax-related disputes. Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021 has been introduced in Lok Sabha. € It performs a number of functions like adjudicating disputes, determining rights between contesting € The Bill dissolves certain existing appellate bodies parties, making an administrative decision, and transfers their functions to other existing reviewing an existing administrative decision judicial bodies. and so forth. € The term of office for the Chairperson and members € Tribunals were not part of the original constitution, of a Tribunals will be four years, subject to an upper it was incorporated in the Indian Constitution by age limit of seventy years for the Chairperson, and 42nd Amendment Act, 1976. sixty-seven years for other members. z Article 323-A deals with Administrative Tribunals. € The Bill specifies that a person should be at least z Article 323-B deals with tribunals for other 50 years of age to be eligible for appointment as matters. a Chairperson or member.

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z Articles 366 (26c) defines socially and th Constitutional (127 ) educationally backward classes. Amendment Bill, 2021 € The “state list” will be completely taken out of the ambit of the President and will be notified by the state assembly. Why in News ¾ Other Developments on OBCs: The Government is planning to bring a Bill to € Some MPs have raised the issue of defining nd Parliament to clarify “some provisions in the 102 Creamy Layer in the ongoing Monsoon Session Constitutional amendment Bill” to restore the power of of Parliament. the states to identify backward classes. z Further, the Justice Rohini committee is ¾ In India, separate OBC lists are drawn up by the Centre considering the sub-categorization of OBC quota and each state concerned. Articles 15(4), 15(5) and and if any particular community or group of 16(4) expressly conferred power on a state to identify communities are benefiting most from the OBC and declare the list of socially and educationally quota and how to iron out anomalies. backward classes. € The Union Health Ministry has announced 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) Key Points and 10% quota for the Economically Weaker ¾ Background: Sections (EWS) in the All India Quota (AIQ) scheme € The amendment was necessitated after theSupreme for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) Court in its ruling earlier this year upheld the 102nd medical/dental courses from 2021-22 onwards. constitutional amendmentbut said the President, based on the recommendations of the National Second Anniversary of Special Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), would determine which communities would be included Status Revocation: J&K on the state OBC list. Why in News z The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserted Articles 338B and Article 342A (with The Forum for Human Rights in J&K (FHRJK) released two clauses) afterArticle 342. its report a day ahead of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)

„ Articles 338Bdeals with the structure, duties completing two years as Union Territory. and powers of the National Commission for ¾ The report raised concerns about the militancy that Backward Classes. continues to remain a major challenge in J&K. ¾ „ Article 342A says that the President, in FHRJK is an independent body co-chaired by former consultation with the governor,would specify Supreme Court judge Justice Madan B. Lokur and the socially and educationally backward former Kashmir interlocutor Radha Kumar. classes. € The ruling struck down the Maratha quota introduced by the Maharashtra government - a politically potent issue in the state. ¾ About the Bill: € It will amend clauses 1 and 2 of Article 342A and also introduce a new clause 3. € The bill will also amend the Articles 366 (26c) and 338B (9). z It is designed to clarify that the states can maintain the “state list” of OBCs as was the system before the Supreme Court judgement.

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Key Points € Promoting Industrial Development: Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal ¾ Background: Trade has notifiedNew Central Sector Scheme for € On 5 August 2019, the government of India revoked industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir. the special constitutional status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 z The scheme offers four incentives namely: of the Constitution, and abrogated Article 35A. „ Capital Investment Incentive, z Article 35A had allowed J&K to define who „ Capital Interest subvention, its ‘permanent residents’ are and what rights „ Goods & Service Tax Linked Incentive and privileges are attached to such residency. „ Working Capital Interest Subvention. € The former state was bifurcated into the Union z The Scheme will help in creation of more Territories of Ladakh (without a legislature) and employment opportunities and promotion of Jammu-Kashmir (with a legislature). tourism in the region. € Concurrently, the Indian government imposed a € AB-PMJAY SEHAT Scheme: The Scheme provides near-total telecommunications lockdown in the free of cost insurance cover. It provides financial region, detained political leaders and dissidents, cover upto Rs. 5 lakh per family on a floater basis and enforced Section 144 of the Indian Penal to all residents of the UT of J&K. Code to prevent violent unrest. € Ceasefire Agreement: Indian and Pakistani ¾ Findings from the Report: Directors-General of Military Operations (DGMOs) € The reports raised concerns regarding human agreed for restricted infiltration by armed groups rights abuses, arbitrary detentions, prohibition and raised hopes that a wider peace process on assembly and censorship on local media might follow. houses in J&K. € Elections in J&K: The Union government sought € The government has taken several positive steps, to conduct elections in J&K. but they fell short of expectations. z However, the government held that the elections € It also held that the counter-insurgency concerns would be held for a UT assembly. On the contrary, continue to be given priority over public, civilian regional parties are of the view that they will and human security. participate in the election, after statehood to ¾ Reasons for Militancy in J&K: J&K has been reinstated. € Since the special constitutional position of Jammu € Supreme Court Verdict on Internet Shutdown: The and Kashmir (J&K’s) under Article 370was ended Supreme Court gave a judgement in response to and it was divided into two UTs of J&K and Ladakh, petitions filed, arguing the Internet shutdown and a section of people in J&K has been protesting curbing of other civil liberties in the J&K. against the decision. z The court held that suspension could be done z Further, allowing Indian citizens to buy land for temporary duration only and the same is in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) without being a subject to judicial review. domicile, has angered the local people. € Special Package for J&K and Ladakh under € Following this the militancy in the J&K, aided by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural cross-border support, continues to affect the region. Livelihood Mission. z This is coupled with misuse of draconian legislation, such as thePublic Safety Act (PSA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act Funds Lapsed in MPLADS (UAPA). € Furthermore, there are growing fears that the Why in News Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is likely to further Recently, the Standing Committee on Finance has deteriot the security conditions. criticised the decision of the Ministry of Finance(Depart- ¾ Steps Taken by Government & Judiciary: ment of Expenditure) for giving barely a week’s time to

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the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and (MoSPI) for funding ongoing Member of Parliament Local Programme Implementation. Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) projects, owing ¾ Functioning: to which 50% funds lapsed. € Each MP is granted Rs. 5 crore under the scheme, adding up to Rs. 3,950 crore a year for 790 MPs, to undertake development projects in their respective constituencies. € Lok Sabha MPs have to recommend the district authorities projects in their Lok Sabha constituencies. € Rajya Sabha MPs have to spend it in the state that has elected them to the House. € Nominated Members of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country. ¾ Priority Projects: € The projects include asset building such as drinking water facilities, primary education, public health sanitation and roads. Key Points € Since June 2016, the MPLAD funds can also be used for implementation of the schemes such as ¾ Findings of the Committee: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Accessible India Campaign € Impact on the Projects: The resultant funding crunch (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan), conservation of water would have hit several local area development through rain water harvesting and Sansad Aadarsh projects under implementation across the country. Gram Yojana, etc. z Especially in the States that went to polls this year as no funds were released for these States and constituencies citing the Model Code of Conduct. € Ad-hocism in Policy: Under MPLADs, funds released to district authorities are not lapsable, while funds not released by the government in a particular year are carried forward. ¾ Other Issues Related to MPLADS: z However, the decision of the Ministry of Finance € Implementation Lapses: The Comptroller and that made funds lapseble, constitutes ad-hocism Auditor-General of India (CAG) has flagged instances and a serious lapse in fiscal management of financial mismanagement and artificial inflation with negative consequences for communities of amounts spent. across India. € No Statutory Backing: The scheme is not governed ¾ About the MPLAD Scheme: by any statutory law and is subject to the whims € MPLAD is a Central Sector Scheme which was and fancies of the government of the day. announced in December 1993. € Monitoring and Regulation: The scheme was € The objective of the scheme is to enable the launched for promoting participatory development Members of Parliament (MP) to suggest and but there is no indicator available to measure execute developmental works of capital nature level of participation. based on locally felt needs with emphasis on € Breach of Federalism: Union Government can creation of durable assets. incur expenditure only with respect to matters € Initially, it came under the control of the Ministry over which it has subject domain as per seventh of Rural Development. Later, in October 1994, it schedule.

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z MPLADS encroaches upon the domain of local € These decision-making processes were considered self governing institutionsand thereby violates people-centric and democratic, although women Part IX and IX-A of the Constitution. were mostly not allowed to participate in such € Conflict with Doctrine of Separation of Powers: processes. The Scheme disturbs the scheme of separation of € They had their own system of governance, which powers under the Constitution, asMPs are getting was, unlike the caste system, non-hierarchical. involved in executive functions. Every tribal village had a village council as the basic unit for self-governance. Panchayat € These forums used to act as the decision-making bodies for all matters related to administration, Extension to Scheduled the Parliament and judiciary. Areas (PESA) Act,1996 z The administrative matters were related to maintenance of village commons (such as lands, forests and water bodies), labour Why in News sharing, agriculture activities, religious events The Adivasi self-governance system has disappeared and festivals, etc. from most of the areas in Jharkhand. z The parliamentary matters were related to ¾ During most of the time in history, most of the Adivasis upholding and interpreting norms and unwritten (India’s tribal communities) had their own federal laws and traditional values. governance system. However, the administrative z The judiciary matters were related to managing systems during the colonial period and after inde- conflict, disciplinary actions, etc guided by pendence affected the Adivasi governance system unwritten norms and values. to a great extent. z Gradual Collapse of the System: After the ¾ The Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) introduction of theBihar Panchayat Raj System Act,1996 was supposed to uphold the traditional (BPRS) in 1947, these Adivasi traditional decision-making process. governance systems became weak. z BPRS was formed keeping the non-Adivasi Key Points areas in view. ¾ Case Study - Tribal Governance System of Jharkhand: z As a result, due to the non-priority and neglect, € Jharkhand was carved out as the 28th state of India the process of the traditional governance system from the Southern part of Bihar in 2000. was affected. z This part was distinctively different from the z This was aggravated by industrialisation, northern part of Bihar in terms of geography displacement of Adivasis and urbanisation. and social composition. ¾ About Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas € It has 32 different tribes, including the nine (PESA) Act,1996: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG). € To promote local self-governance in rural India, the z According to Census 2001, Santhal (34%), 73rd constitutional amendmentwas made in 1992. Oraon (19.6%), Munda (14.8%) and Ho € Through this amendment, a three-tier Panchayati (10.5%) are among the major tribes in terms Raj Institution was made into a law. of numbers. z However, its application to the scheduled and € The entire social system was organised intothree tribal areas under Article 243(M) was restricted. functional levels across major tribal communities € After the Bhuria Committee recommendationsin in the state. 1995, Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas z The first one is at the village level; the second (PESA) Act 1996 came into existence for ensuring at the cluster of five-six village levels and the tribal self-rule for people living in scheduled areas third at community levels. of India.

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€ The PESA conferred the absolute powers to Gram India’s Tribal Policy Sabha, whereas state legislature has given an ¾ In India, most of the tribes are collectively identified advisory role to ensure the proper functioning under Article 342 (1&2) as “Scheduled Tribes” . of Panchayats and Gram Sabhas. ¾ Their right to self-determination is guaranteed by z The power delegated to Gram Sabha cannot Part X: The Scheduled and Tribal Areas – Article 244: be curtailed by a higher level, and there shall Administration of Scheduled Areas and Tribal Areas. be independence throughout. € That is, Fifth and Sixth Schedules of the Indian € The PESA is considered to be the backbone of Constitution. tribal legislation in India. ¾ The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to € PESA recognises the traditional system of the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 or PESA. decision-making process and stands for the peoples’ ¾ The Tribal Panchsheel Policy self-governance. ¾ Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest € Following powers and functions have been provided Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 to the Gram Sabhas: concerns the rights of forest-dwelling communities z Right to mandatory consultation in land to land and other resources. acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced persons. th z Protection of traditional belief,the culture of 112 Annual Day of National the tribal communities Centre for Disease Control z Ownership of minor forest products z Resolution of the local disputes Why in News z Prevention of land alienation Recently, the Union Minister of Health and Family z Management of village markets Welfare presided over the 112th Annual Day celebrations z Right to control production, distillation, and of National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). prohibition of liquor Key Points z Exercise of control over money-lending ¾ z Any other rights involving the Scheduled Tribes. Initiatives Launched at the Event: € ¾ Issues Related to PESA: Genome Lab: z The Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Na- € The state governments are supposed to enact tional Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial state laws for their Scheduled Areas in consonance Resistance (AMR) was inaugurated. with this national law. z WGS is a comprehensive method for analyzing z This has resulted in the partially implemented entire genomes. Genomic information has been PESA. instrumental in identifying inherited disorders, z The partial implementation has worsened self- characterizing the mutations that drive cancer governance in Adivasi areas,like in Jharkhand. progression, and tracking disease outbreaks. € Many experts have asserted that PESA did not „ Rapidly dropping sequencing costs and the deliver due to the lack of clarity, legal infirmity, ability to produce large volumes of data with bureaucratic apathy, absence of a political will, today’s sequencers make whole-genome resistance to change in the hierarchy of power, sequencing a powerful tool for genomics and so on. research. € Social audits conducted across the state have also z AMR is the resistance acquired by any microor- pointed out that in reality different developmental ganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasite, etc.) schemes were being approved on paper by Gram against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, Sabha, without actually having any meeting for antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and an- discussion and decision making. thelmintics) that are used to treat infections.

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z The application of WGS for global surveillance Objectives of NPCCHH can provide information on the early emergence ¾ To create awareness among the general population and spread of AMR and further inform timely (vulnerable community), health-care providers and policy development on AMR control. Policy makers regarding impacts of climate change € Adaptation Plans under NPCCHH: on human health. z The National Health Adaptation Plan on Air ¾ To strengthen the capacity of the healthcare and Pollution National Health Adaptation Plan system to reduce illnesses/ diseases due to variability on Heat Related Illness were launched under in climate. the “National Programme on Climate Change ¾ To strengthen health preparedness and response and Human Health (NPCCHH)”. by performing situational analysis at national/ state/ z The plan suggests setting up of a committee district/ below district levels. on air pollution and health in the hospital, ¾ to preferably involve health officials from the To develop partnerships and create synchrony/ departments of medicine, respiratory,medicine, synergy with other missions and ensure that health paediatrics, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology is adequately represented in the climate change etc, including emergency and nursing department. agenda in the country. ¾ To to fill the z It also highlights the need for preparations strengthen research capacity for logistics, drugs and equipment that may evidence gap on climate change impact on human be required to address such health problems, health. particularly respiratory and cardiovascular z It functions as the nodal agency in the country emergencies. for disease surveillance facilitating prevention z It also highlights the need for identification and control of communicable diseases. of vulnerable areas, selection of air pollution z It is also a national level institute for training hotspots as per Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, specialized manpower for public health, vulnerable population covering people less laboratory sciences and entomological services than five years of age, adolescents, pregnant and is involved in various applied research women and the elderly. activities. € InformatIon, EducatIon & Communication (IEC) € Control & Headquarter: Materials: z The Institute is under administrative control z Under the “National One health Programme of the Director General of Health Services, for prevention and Control of Zoonoses” IEC Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. materials on 7 priority zoonotic diseases has been created namely: z The Institute has its headquarters in Delhi. € „ Rabies, Scrub Typhus, Brucellosis, Anthrax, Functions: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), z Undertakes investigations of disease outbreaks Nipah, Kyasanur Forest Disease in India. all over the country. ¾ National Centre for Disease Control: z Provides referral diagnostic services to indi- € About: viduals, community, medical colleges, research z The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), institutions and state health directorates. formerly National Institute of Communicable z Engaged in generation and dissemination of Diseases (NICD), had its origin as the Central knowledge in various areas like Epidemiology, Malaria Bureau, established at Kasauli (Himachal Surveillance, and Laboratories etc. Pradesh) in 1909. z Applied integrated research in various aspects z NICD was transformed into the NCDC with a of communicable as well as some aspects of larger mandate of controlling emerging and non-communicable diseases has been one of re-emerging diseases in 2009. the prime functions of the Institute.

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z Kara Bazaar: Portal for showcasing and selling E-Prisons Project the products manufactured in various prisons of the country by inmates. Why in News ¾ Inter-operable Criminal Justice System: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has provided € It is a common platform for information exchange financial assistance of Rs. 99.49 crores to the States and and analytics of all the pillars of the criminal justice Union Territories (UTs) for the E-Prisons Project. system comprising Police, Forensics, Prosecution, Courts, Prisons. ¾ Also, acting on the request of the MHA, NIMHANS, an Institute of National Importance, has recently issued € Purpose: To reduce errors and time taken in a set of guidelines on the management of mental sharing of necessary information between the pillars, which often lead to larger challenges like health issues of the prisoners and prison staff. longer duration of trials, poorer convictions, Key Points transit losses of documents etc. € Some other critical benefits arising out of the ICJS ¾ About: ecosystem are usable analytics products like the € This project aims at computerization of National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) the functioning of prisons in the country. It has to identify & track repeat and habitual sexual been operationalised in all States and Union offenders. Territories. € e-Prisons data has been integrated with the Prisons/’Persons detained therein’ Police and Court system under the Inter-operable ¾ It is a State subject under Entry 4 of List II of the Criminal Justice System. Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. € ePrisons application suite has been developed ¾ Administration and management of prisons is the by National Informatics Centre (NIC), Ministry of responsibility of respective State Governments. Electronics & IT (MeitY). ¾ However, the Ministry of Home Affairs provides € It has 3 components: regular guidance and advice to States and UTs on z e-Prison Management Information System various issues concerning prisons and prison inmates. (MIS): It is used at the prisons for their day to ¾ The Supreme Court had in September 2018 appointed day regular activities. the Justice Roy Committeeto examine the various problems plaguing prisons, from overcrowding to z National Prisons Information Portal: It is a citizen centric portal showing statistical data lack of legal advice to convicts to issues of remission of various prisons in the country. and parole.

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Economic Scenario

Highlights z Monetary Policy Report: RBI z Annual Public Enterprises Survey z Faceless Assessment Scheme: Income Tax z Core Sectors Output z Delays in Corporate Insolvency z Open Acreage Licensing Programme z Doing Away With Retrospective Taxation z Sovereign Right to Taxation z e-RUPI: Voucher Based Digital Payment System z PM-KISAN z Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana z PSUs Exempted from Minimum Public Shareholding z National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm z New Framework for Payment Systems Operators z Atmanirbhar Narishakti Se Samvad z Social Security Measures for Informal Workers z Vacancies in Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions

€ Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) - 4.25%. Monetary Policy Report: RBI € Bank Rate- 4.25%. ¾ GDP Projection: Why in News € Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for ¾ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the 2021-22 has been retained at 9.5%. Monetary Policy Report (MPR) for the month of ¾ Inflation: August 2021. € RBI has revised the projection forConsumer Price € It kept the policy rate unchanged for the seventh Index (CPI) inflation to 5.7% from 5.1%. time in a row and appealed to the centre and ¾ Variable Rate Reverse Repos: states to reduce taxes on fuels to curb inflationary € In order to absorb additional liquidity in the system, pressures. the RBI announced conducting a Variable Rate Monetary Policy Report Reverse Repo (VRRR) program due to the higher ¾ The MPR is published by the Monetary Policy yield prospects as compared to the fixed rate Committee (MPC) of RBI. overnight reverse repo. ¾ The MPC is a statutory and institutionalized z The RBI has decided to increase the quantum framework under the RBI Act, 1934, for maintaining under the VRRR to Rs 4 trillion in a phased price stability, while keeping in mind the objective manner. of growth. € It also extended the liquidity support to banks ¾ The MPC determines the policy interest rate (repo to lend to stressed businesses by another three rate) required to achieve the inflation target of 4% months to 31th December 2021. with a leeway of 2% points on either side. ¾ Interest Rates: ¾ The of the Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman € Elevated inflation level and delayed recovery in MPC. the economy has prompted the panel to keep rates steady. Interest rates in the banking system Key Points are expected to remain stable in the next couple ¾ Unchanged Policy Rates: of months. € Repo Rate - 4%. z Recovery faced rough weather due to the Covid € Reverse Repo Rate - 3.35%. second wave and lockdowns in states

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¾ Accommodative Stance: The timing of such measures will be apt at this € It decided to continue with an accommodative juncture as the festive season is about to begin. stance as long as necessary to revive and sustain € Policy Use: growth on a durable basis and continue to mitigate z The nascent and hesitant recovery in the the impact of Covid-19 on the economy, while economy needs to be nurtured through fiscal, ensuring that inflation remains within the target monetary and sectoral policy levers. going forward. Key Terms z An accommodative stance means a central ¾ bank will cut rates to inject money into the Repo and Reverse Repo Rate: financial system whenever needed. € Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank (Reserve Bank of India in case of ¾ Optimism For Recovery: of a country India) lends money to commercial banks in the € Resilient Demand: event of any shortfall of funds. Here, the central z After thesecond wave of infections, domestic bank purchases the security. economic activity had started to recover with € Reverse repo rate is the rate at which the RBI accelerated vaccination. borrows money from commercial banks within € Economic Package: the country. z Although investment demand is still anaemic, ¾ Bank Rate: improving capacity utilisation, rising steel € It is the rate charged by the RBI for lending funds consumption, higher imports of capital goods, to commercial banks. congenial monetary and financial conditions ¾ Marginal Standing Facility (MSF): and the economic packages announced by the central government are expected to kick-start € MSF is a window for scheduled banks to borrow a long-awaited revival. overnight from the RBI in an emergency situation when interbank liquidity dries up completely. € High Frequency Indicators: € Under interbank lending, banks lend funds to z High-frequency indicators (electricity consump- one another for a specified term. tion, nighttime lights intensity and nitrogen dioxide emissions) suggest that consumption ¾ Inflation: (both private and Government), investment € Inflation refers to the rise in the prices of most and external demand are all on the path of goods and services of daily or common use, regaining traction. such as food, clothing, housing, recreation, ¾ Concerns: transport, consumer staples, etc. € € Inflation management can pose a serious challenge Inflation measuresthe average price change in a when the elevated fuel price pass through starts basket of commodities and services over time. to occur and thus inflation shock is unlikely to be € Inflation is indicative of the decrease in the pur- transitory even by definition. chasing power of a unit of a country’s currency. ¾ Suggestions: This could ultimately lead to a deceleration in economic growth. € Reduce Taxes: ¾ Consumer Price Index: z With crude oil prices at elevated levels, a cali- brated reduction of the indirect tax component € It measures price changes from the perspective of pump prices by the centre and states can of a retail buyer. It is released by the National help to substantially lessen cost pressures. Statistical Office (NSO). € The CPI calculates the difference inthe price of € Economic Stimulus: commodities and services such as food, medical z On the economic front, despite the uptick, it is care, education, electronics etc, which Indian important that a stimulus is provided by the consumers buy for use. government to give a thrust to consumption.

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€ Dispute Resolution Committee: Faceless Assessment z In Budget 2021, the Minister of Finance has Scheme: Income Tax proposed the formation of a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) in order to provide quicker relief to taxpayers in tax disputes. Why in News z The DRC will cater to small taxpayers having Recently, the Income Tax (I-T) Department notified a taxable income of up to Rs. 50 lakh and a three official email IDs to register grievances, under the disputed income of up to Rs. 10 lakh. Faceless or e-Assessment Scheme. € Vivad Se Vishwas Scheme: ¾ The Prime Minister in August 2020 announced three z The scheme provides for settlement of disputed key structural tax reforms under the ‘Transparent tax, disputed interest, disputed penalty or Taxation - Honouring the Honest’ platform - faceless disputed fees in relation to an assessment or assessment, faceless appeal and taxpayers’ charter reassessment order on payment of 100% of the to reduce tax disputes. disputed tax and 25% of the disputed penalty Key Points or interest or fee. ¾ Faceless or e-Assessment Scheme: € About: Delays in Corporate Insolvency z Under the faceless assessment system, a taxpayer or an assessee is not required to visit an I-T Why in News department office or meet a department official Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on for income tax-related businesses. Finance has noted the delays in corporate insolvency € Launch: under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. z The faceless assessment scheme was launched ¾ It has called out the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in 2019. (MCA) on persistent vacancies in National Company € Objectives: Law Tribunals (NCLTs). z To promote an efficient and effective tax ¾ Earlier, the government introduced the Insolvency administration, minimizing physical interface, and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment Bill), 2021 in the increasing accountability and introduction of Lok Sabha which introduces an alternate insolvency team-based assessments. resolution process for Micro, Small and Medium € Mechanism: Enterprises (MSMEs) called the Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PIRP). z Faceless assessment is administered through separate units within the tax department each Key Points of which has a specific and important role in the process, viz assessment units, verification units, ¾ Major Concerns: technical units and review units. All these units € Vacancies in NCLT: work closely with the National e-assessment z The combined strength of the current NCLT Centre (NeAC) and Regional e-assessment benches around the country is currently only 29 Centre (ReAC). members against the total sanctioned strength € Advantage: of 63 members. z The scheme brings greater flexibility for taxpayers € Delays in Approvals: and professionals representing before tax z The committee noted that delays in the authorities. It has resulted in substantial time admission of insolvency cases by NCLTs and savings on account of travel to the tax office, the approval of resolution plans were the key waiting time over there, etc. reasons behind the non-adherence of timelines ¾ Related Recent Initiatives: under the IBC.

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Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and outcomes with regard to resolutions, re- coveries, time taken, etc. ¾ It is a reform enacted in 2016. It amalgamates various laws relating to the insolvency resolution National Company Law Tribunal of business firms. ¾ About: ¾ It lays down clear-cut and faster insolvency € The Central Government constituted National proceedings to help creditors, such as banks, Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under section 408 recover dues and prevent bad loans, a key drag on of the Companies Act, 2013 in 2016. the economy. € It has been set up as a quasi-judicial body to Key Words govern the companies registered in India and ¾ Insolvency: It is a situation where individuals or is a successor to the Company Law Board. companies are unable to repay their outstanding € It consolidates all powers to govern the com- debt. panies registered in India. ¾ Bankruptcy: It is a situation whereby a court of z With the establishment of the NCLT and NCLAT, competent jurisdiction has declared a person or the Company Law Board under the Companies other entity insolvent, having passed appropriate Act, 1956 has now been dissolved. orders to resolve it and protect the rights of the € It is bound by the rules laid down in the Code of creditors. It is a legal declaration of one’s inability Civil Procedure and is guided by the principles to pay off debts. of natural justice, subject to the other provisions of this Act and of any rules that are made by the z Delays on the part of the NCLT in admitting cases Central Government. allowed defaulting owners the opportunity to € The Tribunal and the Appellate Tribunal has the divert funds and transfer assets. power to control its own procedure. € Decisions Challenged: ¾ Appeals: z A number of high profile cases under the € Appeal from order of Tribunal can be raised to IBC saw multiple decisions being challenged the NCLAT. Appeals can be made by any person by stakeholders. Many of these appeals are aggrieved by an order or decision of the NCLT, frivolous attempts to slow down insolvency within a period of 45 days from the date on proceedings. which a copy of the order or decision of the € Delayed Plans: Tribunal is received by the Appellant. z Cases in which creditors have evaluated National Company Law Appellate Tribunal resolution plans submitted after the specified ¾ deadline would disincentive bidders from bidding About: within prescribed timelines and that such plans € The NCLAT was constituted under Section 410 also contribute to delays and value destruction. of the Companies Act, 2013 to hear appeals against the orders of the National Company Law ¾ Recommendations: Tribunal (NCLT). € Timely Action: € It is also the appellate tribunal for orders passed z NCLT should be required to admit a defaulting by the NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the IBC, company into insolvency proceedings and 2016, and for orders passed by the Insolvency hand over control to a resolution professional and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) under within 30 days. Sections 202 and 211 of the IBC. € Ministry should take Responsibility: ¾ Appeal: z The MCA, as the nodal ministry, should take € Any person aggrieved by any order of the NCLAT greater responsibility to streamline the oper- may file an appeal to the Supreme Court. ational processes in NCLT/National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) while constantly € Amendment to IBC: monitoring and analysing the workflow, disposal z The IBC be amended to provide MSMEs, which

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are operational creditors under the IBC, with € Last year, India lost a case in international arbitral greater protection in the current economic tribunal at The Hague against taxing Cairn Energy environment. Plc and Cairn UK holdings Ltd on alleged capital „ The IBC currently prioritises financial creditors gains the company made when in 2006 it reorganised over operational creditors. its business in the country before listing the local „ Financial creditors are those whose rela- unit. tionship with the entity is a pure financial ¾ Proposed Changes in Bill: contract, such as a loan or a debt security. € Amendments to the Income-tax Act and Finance „ Operational creditors are those whose liability Act, 2012 to effectively state thatno tax demand from the entity comes from a transaction shall be raised for any indirect transfer of Indian on operations. assets if the transaction was undertaken before 28th May 2012. Doing Away With € Tax raised for the indirect transfer of Indian assets before May 2012 would be “nullified on fulfillment Retrospective Taxation of specified conditions” such as the withdrawal of pending litigation and an undertaking that no Why in News damages claims would be filed. € It also proposes to refund the amount paid by Recently, the Government of India has introduced companies facing trail in these cases without The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok interest thereon. Sabha. ¾ The bill seeks to withdraw tax demands made using a 2012 retrospective legislation to tax the indirect transfer of Indian assets.

Key Points ¾ Background: € The retrospective tax law was passed in 2012 following a Supreme Court verdict in favour of US-based Vodafone. z The Dutch arm of Vodafone Group bought a Cayman Islands-based company in 2007, which indirectly held a majority stake in Indian firm Hutchison Essar Ltd—later renamed Vodafone India—for $11 billion. € It was introduced after an amendment to the ¾ Significance of the Bill: Finance Act enabled the tax department to impose € The bill marks a step in the direction of addressing retrospective capital gains tax for deals — involving the long-pending demand of foreign investors the transfer of shares in foreign entities located seeking the removal of retrospective tax for the in India — after 1962. sake of better tax clarity. € While the amendment was aimed at penalising € This would help in establishing an investment- Vodafone, many other companies got caught in friendly business environment, which can increase the crossfire and have created a host of problems economic activity and help raise more revenue for India over the years. over time for the government. z It remains one of the most contentious € This could help restore India’s reputation and amendments to the income tax law. improve ease of doing business.

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¾ Retrospective Taxation There are already many countries using the voucher system for example the US, Colombia, Chile, Sweden, ¾ It allows a country to pass a rule on taxing certain Hong Kong, etc. products, items or services and deals and charge companies from a time behind the date on which the law is passed. ¾ Countries use this route to correct any anomalies in their taxation policies that have, in the past, allowed companies to take advantage of such loopholes. ¾ Retrospective Taxation hurts companies that had knowingly or unknowingly interpreted the tax rules differently. ¾ Apart from India, many countries including the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Canada, Belgium, Australia and Italy have retrospectively taxed companies. Capital Gain Key Points ¾ This gain or profit comes under the category of ‘income’. ¾ e-RUPI: ¾ Hence, the capital gain tax will be required to be paid € It is a cashless and contactless method for digital for that amount in the year in which the transfer payment. It is a Quick Response (QR) code or SMS of the capital asset takes place. This is called the string-based e-voucher, which is delivered to the capital gains tax, which can be both short-term or mobile of the users. long-term. € The users will be able to redeem the voucher € Long-term Capital Gains Tax: It is a levy on the without needing a card, digital payments app, or profits from the sale of assets held for more than internet banking access, at the service provider. a year. The rates are 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending € It connects the sponsors of the services with the on the tax bracket. beneficiaries and service providers in a digital € Short-term Capital Gains Tax: It applies to assets mode without any physical interface. held for a year or less and is taxed as ordinary € The mechanism also ensures that the payment income. to the service provider is made only after the ¾ Capital gains can be reduced by deducting the capital transaction is completed. losses that occur when a taxable asset is sold for € The system is pre-paid in nature and hence, assures less than the original purchase price. The total of timely payment to the service provider without capital gains minus any capital losses is known as the involvement of any intermediary. the “net capital gains”. ¾ Different from Virtual Currency: ¾ Capital assets are significant pieces of property € In effect, e-RUPI is still backed by the existing Indian such as homes, cars, investment properties, stocks, rupee as the underlying asset and specificity of its bonds, and even collectibles or art. purpose makes it different to a virtual currency and puts it closer to a voucher-based payment system. e-RUPI: Voucher Based ¾ Issuing Entities & Beneficiary Identification: Digital Payment System € The one-time payment mechanism has been developed by the National Payments Corporation of India on its Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Why in News platform, in collaboration with the Department The Indian government is going to launch an electronic of Financial Services, Ministry of Health & Family voucher based digital payment system e-RUPI. Welfare, and National Health Authority.

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€ It has boarded banks that will be the issuing € Spread of Virtual Currencies: The spread of private entities. Any corporate or government agency virtual currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum will have to approach the partner banks, which may be yet another reason why CBDCs become are both private and public-sector lenders, with important from the point of view of the central bank. the details of specific persons and the purpose for € Will Act as a Cushion: Central bank digital currencies which payments have to be made. might also cushion the general public in an € The beneficiaries will be identified using their environment of volatile private virtual currencies. mobile number and a voucher allocated by a bank to the service provider in the name of a given Pradhan Mantri Kisan person would only be delivered to that person. ¾ Uses: SAMPADA Yojana € Government Sector: Why in News z It is expected to ensure a leak-proof delivery of welfare services and can also be used for Recently, the Ministry of Food Processing industries delivering services under schemes meant for (MoFPI) has shared some information regarding Pradhan providing drugs and nutritional support under Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY). Mother and Child welfare schemes, drugs & ¾ Earlier, MoFPI had launched the Pradhan Mantri diagnostics under schemes like Ayushman Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, (PM FME) Scheme, under the Atmanirbhar Bharat fertiliser subsidies etc. Abhiyan. € Private Sector: ¾ The key sub-segments of the Food Processing industry in India are Dairy, Fruits & Vegetables, Poultry & Meat z Even the private sector can leverage these processing, Fisheries, Food retail, etc. digital vouchers as part of their employee welfare and Corporate Social Responsibility Key Points (CSR) programmes. ¾ About: ¾ Significance: € In the year 2016, MoFPI had introduced an umbrella € The government is already working on developing Scheme Called “Agro-Marine Processing and a Central Bank Digital Currency and the launch of Development of Agro-Processing Clusters” or e-RUPI could potentially highlight the gaps in digital SAMPADA, which was proposed to be implemented payments infrastructure that will be necessary for with an allocation of Rs 6,000 crore for the period the success of the future digital currency. of 2016-20. ¾ Future of Digital Currency in India: According to the € In the year 2017, the government renamed the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), there are at least four SAMPADA scheme as Pradhan Mantri Kisan reasons why digital currencies are expected to do Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). well in India: € It is a Central Sector Umbrella Scheme. € Increasing Penetration: There is increasing ¾ Objective: penetration of digital payments in the country that € To supplement agriculture. exists alongside sustained interest in cash usage, especially for small value transactions. € To create processing and preservation capacities. € To modernise and expand existing food processing € High Currency to GDP Ratio: India’s high currency units with a view to increasing the level of processing. to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio holds out another benefit of CBDCs. € To add value leading to the reduction of wastage. ¾ z Cash-to-GDP Ratio or Currency in Circulation Components: (CIC) to GDP Ratio or simply currency-to-GDP € Mega Food Parks, ratio shows the value of cash in circulation as € Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infra- a ratio of GDP. structure,

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€ Infrastructure for Agro-Processing Clusters, ¾ Fiscal Measures: € Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, € Fiscal measures like 100% exemption of Income € Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preser- Tax on profit for new food processing units, 100 vation Capacities, % income tax exemption from profit derived by having € Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) and annual turnover of Rs. 100 crore have been allowed for activities such as post-harvest value addition € Human Resources Institutions. to agriculture. € Operation Greens. ¾ Lower GST: ¾ Grants-in-aid: € Lower Goods & Service Tax (GST) rates for the € MoFPI provides mostly credit linked financial majority of food products have been fixed. assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants- ¾ Operation Greens: in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food € processing / preservation industries. A new Central Sector Scheme “Operation Greens’’ for integrated development of Tomato, Onion and € Grants-in-aid ranging from 35% to 75% of the Potato (TOP) crops value chain, with an outlay eligible project cost subject to a maximum specified of Rs.500 Crore to promote FPOs, agri-logistics, limit is provided to investors under the various processing facilities, has been launched. schemes for undertaking infrastructure, logistic ¾ projects and setting up of food processing units PM FME: in the country. € All India Centrally Sponsored PM Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises Scheme (PM ¾ Benefits: FME Scheme) for providing financial, technical and € The sanctioned projects across the country under business support for upgradation of existing micro component schemes of PMKSY are estimated to food processing enterprises. benefit about 34 lakh famers on completion. ¾ PLI Scheme: z In an evaluation study, NABARD (National € The Central Sector Scheme – “Production Linked Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) in Year 2020, estimated that captive projects Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)” to support creation of global food under the scheme have resulted in an increase manufacturing champions commensurate with in farm-gate prices by 12.38% and each project India’s natural resource endowment and support is estimated to benefit more than 9500 farmers. Indian brands of food products in the international Other Related Initiatives markets with an outlay of Rs.10900 crore. ¾ 100% FDI: € 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through National Mission automatic route in the food processing sector on Edible Oil-Oil Palm and 100% FDI under Government approval route for retail trading, including through e-commerce, Why in News in respect of food products produced and/or Recently, the Prime Minister has announced a new manufactured in India has been permitted. national initiative on palm oil production to help increase ¾ Food Processing Fund: farm incomes. € A special fund of Rs. 2000 crore has been created ¾ The scheme, called National Edible Oil Mission-Oil with the NABARD to provide affordable credit to Palm (NMEO-OP), for self-reliance in edible oil food processing projects/units. involves investment of over Rs. 11,000 crore (over a ¾ Classification under PSL: five year period). € Food & agro-based processing units and cold chain infrastructure has been classified as agriculture Key Points activity for Priority Sector Lending (PSL). ¾ Aims:

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€ To harness domestic edible oil prices that are Oilseeds in 1986 which was converted into a National dictated by expensive palm oil imports. Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) in 2014. € To raise the domestic production of palm oil by € Further it was merged with NFSM (National Food three times to 11 lakh MT by 2025-26. Security Mission). z This will involve raising the area under oil palm ¾ This gave a thrust to Government’s efforts for cultivation to 10 lakh hectares by 2025-26 and augmenting the production of oilseeds. This is evident 16.7 lakh hectares by 2029-30. by the very impressive increase in the production of ¾ Features: oilseeds from about 11.3 million tons in 1986-87 to € The special emphasis of the scheme will be in 33.22 million tons in 2019-20. India’s north-eastern states and the Andaman ¾ The other dominant feature which has had significant and Nicobar Islands due to the conducive weather impact on the present status of edible oilseeds/oil conditions in the regions. industry has been the program of liberalization under € Under the scheme, oil palm farmers will be provided which the Government’s economic policy allows financial assistance and will get remuneration greater freedom to the open market and encourages under a price and viability formula. healthy competition and self regulationrather than ¾ Significance of the Scheme: protection and control. € Reduction in Import dependance: ¾ The Yellow Revolution is one of the colour revolutions that was launched to increase the production of Edible z It is expected to incentivise production of palm oil to reduce dependence on imports and help oilseeds in the country to meet domestic demand. farmers cash in on the huge market. ¾ The government has also launched the Kharif Strategy z India is the largest consumer of vegetable oil in 2021 for oilseeds. the world. Of this, palm oil imports are almost € It will bring an additional 6.37 lakh hectare area 55% of its total vegetable oil imports. under oilseeds and is likely to produce 120.26 lakh € Rise in Yields: quintals of oilseeds and edible oil amounting to 24.36 lakh quintals. z India produces less than half of the roughly 2.4 crore tonnes of edible oil that it consumes ¾ Oils Commonly Used in India: Groundnut, mustard, annually. It imports the rest, buying palm oil rapeseed, sesame, safflower, linseed, niger seed, from Indonesia and Malaysia, soyoil from Brazil castor are the major traditionally cultivated oilseeds. and Argentina, and sunflower oil, mainly from € Soybean and sunflower have also assumed Russia and Ukraine. importance in recent years. z In India, 94.1% of its palm oil is used in food € Coconut is most important amongst the plantation products, especially for cooking purposes. This crops. makes palm oil extremely critical to India’s edible oils economy. Atmanirbhar Palm Oil Narishakti Se Samvad ¾ Palm oil is currently the world’s most consumed vegetable oil. ¾ It is used extensively in the production of detergents, Why in News plastics, cosmetics, and biofuels. Recently, Prime Minister (PM) of India participated ¾ Top consumers of the commodity are India, China, in ‘Atmanirbhar Narishakti se Samvad’ and interacted and the European Union (EU). with women Self Help Group (SHG) members promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Edible Oil Economy Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). ¾ There are two major features, which have significantly contributed to the development of this sector. One Key Points was the setting up of the Technology Mission on ¾ Highlights of the Conference:

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€ The PM lauded the Self-Help Groups of women z Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for their unprecedented services during the (PMMSY) Covid-19 period. z Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana (AHVY) z For example, women’s unparalleled contribution z North East Rural Livelihood Project in making masks and sanitizers and providing z Scheme for promotion of Women SHGs (WSHGs) food to the needy and spreading awareness. in backwards & LWE (Left Wing Extremism) € The PM released support funds to SHGs, for PM districts of India. Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises € The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has (PM FME) Scheme and for Farmer Producer launched ‘SonChiraiya’ – (A brand and logo)- for Organizations (FPOs). marketing of urban SHG products. It also implements € The PM also announced that now the limit for DAY-NULM (National Urban Livelihoods Mission). loans available to SHGs without guarantee has ¾ Government Initiatives for Women Empowerment been doubled to Rs 20 lakh. in Various Fields: € In the pursuit of making the country free from € Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry: single use plastic, SHGs can play an important role. z Under the new farm laws, women self help z SHGs can raise awareness about single use groups have no restriction on how much they plastic and work for its alternative. can store. z z In this context, SHGs can take full advantage of Self help groups have the option whether to the online Government e-marketplace. sell produce directly from the farm or by setting up a food processing unit and sell ​​with great ¾ About Self-Help Groups (SHGs): packaging. € SHGs are informal associations of people who € Financial Inclusion: choose to come together to find ways to improve z Jan Dhan Accounts: With more than 42 crore their living conditions. Jan Dhan accounts of which close to 55% of the € It can be defined as a self governed, peer controlled accounts are of women. information group of people with similar socio- z DAY-NRLM: It envisages universal social and having a desire to economic background mobilization by inter alia organising one-woman collectively perform common purpose. members from each rural poor household into € Villages face numerous problems related to poverty, Self Help Groups (SHGs). illiteracy, lack of skills, lack of formal credit etc. € Panchayats: These problems cannot be tackled at an individual z Mahila Sabhas in Gram Panchayat level and need collective efforts. z Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) € Thus SHG can become a vehicle of change for the € In Education: poor and marginalized. SHG relies on the notion of “Self Help” to encourage self-employment and z Vigyan Jyoti Scheme poverty alleviation. z GATI Scheme z € In 1999, Government of India, introduced Swarn KIRAN Scheme Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) to promote z Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme self-employment in rural areas through formation € In Entrepreneurship: and skilling of SHGs. The programme evolved as a z Mahila e-haat national movement in 2011 andbecame National z Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM). z Support to Training and Employment Programme € Other Initiatives to Promote SHGs: for Women (STEP) Scheme z Agriculture Infrastructure Fund z New Labour Code z PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing z The Prevention of Sexual Harassment At Enterprises (PM FME) Scheme Workplace Act, 2013

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€ Other Initiatives: € The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 provided for z National Creche Scheme a three-tier consumer dispute redressal machinery z One Stop Centre Scheme at the National (National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission), State and District levels. z Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG)’ across the country € The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) z POSHAN Abhiyaan whose primary objective will be to promote, protect z Ujjwala Yojana and enforce the rights of consumers. ¾ About Legislative Impact Study: Vacancies in € Legislative Impact Study or Assessment is the study Consumer Disputes of the impact of a law (being made and enforced) Redressal Commissions on the society over a period of time. € It is a method of estimating the likely impacts of legislative proposals and government policies, Why in News before and after they are adopted and enacted. Recently, the has expressed displeas- Supreme Court, z For example, what impact would it have on ure over delay in filling up vacancies in the National the litigation, what is the kind of manpower Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and State required, what is the infrastructure required. Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions. € It compares them with different policy designs to ¾ It directed the centre and states to complete the determine which policy produces the best result. process within eight weeks. € The responsibility of Parliament after a law is made Key Points is not over. It has to confirm whether the intended objectives and needs of the law are achieved or not. ¾ About: € The court was hearing a suo motu case on inaction in appointing president and members/staff of Districts and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and inadequate infrastructure across India. € It highlighted that vacancies are hurting consumers by delaying redressal of disputes. € The Court also asked the Centre to submit a report on legislative impact study on Consumer Protection Act, 2019 in four weeks time. € It’s the third time in two weeks that theSupreme Court has voiced its concern regarding vacancies across courts, tribunals and dispute resolution bodies in India. ¾ About National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission: Annual Public € The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) is a quasi-judicial commission Enterprises Survey in India which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. Why in News € Its head office is in New Delhi. Recently, the 60th Public Enterprises (PE) Survey € The commission is headed by a sitting or retired 2019-20 was released by the Department of Public judge of the Supreme Court of India. Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Finance.

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¾ It is the single largest source of information onCentral € PE Survey divides CPSEs into five sectors namely: Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and acts as a basis z Agriculture, for informed policy making. z Mining & Exploration, ¾ The government has reallocated the Department of z Manufacturing, Processing & Generation, Public Enterprises (DPE) to the finance ministry from the ministry of heavy industries. z Services, z Enterprises Under Construction. Key Points € The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) started ¾ About Public Enterprises (PE) Survey: bringing out the Public Enterprises Survey from the € PE Survey is a 100% enumeration of the CPSE financial year 1960-61 on the recommendations universe. It captures essential statistical data for all of the Estimates Committee of the 2nd Lok Sabha, CPSEs on various financial and physical parameters. 73rd report (1959-60).

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¾ About DPE And CPSEs: meeting the Government of India’s ‘self-reliant € DPE is the nodal department for all the Central India’ agenda. Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and formulates € The initiatives include policy reforms, strategic policy pertaining to CPSEs. partnerships, administrative actions, operational € According to DPE, CPSEs mean those Government realignment and capacity building. companies, besides Statutory Corporations, € The initiatives by the CPSEs can be divided under wherein more than 50% of the share in equity is five broad categories as shown below: held by the Central Government. z Enhancing local capacity to support Government’s z The subsidiaries of these companies, if registered larger strategic objectives. in India, are also categorized as CPSEs. z Promotion of cooperation between CPSEs to z It does not cover departmentally run public explore synergies. enterprises, banking institutions and insurance z Providing a platform for greater participation companies. of domestic firms/ MSMEs. € CPSEs are classified into 3 categories namely z Rationalising import dependency to ensure Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna. long term sustainability. z Presently, there are 10 Maharatna, 14 Navratna z Development of indigenous technology and and 74 Miniratna CPSEs. promoting technology transfer to CPSEs. ¾ Role of Central Public Sector Enterprises: € CPSEs in India have a twin objective of commercial Core Sectors Output efficiency and social responsibility. z Besides , contributing to the Government income Why in News they discharge social obligations through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Output at India’s eight core sectors grew by 8.9% in but the pace € The idea of CPSEs was conceived to eradicate the June 2021 largely due to Base Effect accumulated problems of: remained below the production levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic as well as its second wave. z Unemployment, z Rural-urban disparity, Key Points z Inter-regional and inter-class disparities, ¾ About Eight Core Sectors: z Technological backwardness. € These comprise 40.27% of the weight of items € CPSEs envisage to develop the public sector as included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). an instrument for self-reliant economic growth. € The eight core sector industries in decreasing order € Before India got independence, it had only a few of their weightage: Refinery Products> Electricity> CPSEs. Steel> Coal> Crude Oil> Natural Gas> Cement> z These included the Railways, Post and Telegraph, Fertilizers. Port trusts, Ordnance factories, etc. ¾ Base Effect: z Most CPSEs were set up after independence € The base effectrefers to the effect that the choice when the private sector had limited capacity of a basis of comparison or reference can have on for large capital intensive enterprises. the result of the comparison between data points. € Challenge: The challenge for these enterprises arises € For example, the base effectcan lead to an apparent out of the need for them to ensure a reasonable under- or overstatement of figures such as inflation return on investment, while discharging their rates or economic growth rates if the point chosen constitutional and social obligations. for comparison has an unusually high or low value ¾ Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan - Contribution by CPSEs: relative to the current period or the overall data. € The CPSEs have taken a range of initiatives as part € Production of coal, natural gas, refinery products, of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan towards steel, cement and electricity jumped by 7.4%,

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20.6%, 2.4%, 25%, 4.3% and 7.2%, respectively, along with the National Data Repository (NDR) in June 2021, as against (-) 15.5%, (-) 12%, (-) were launched in June 2017 as the key drivers to 8.9%, (-) 23.2%, (-) 6.8% and (-) 10% in the same accelerate the Exploration and Production (E&P) month last year. activities in India. ¾ Index of Industrial Production: € Under OALP, companies are allowed to carve out € IIP is an indicator that measures the changes in areas they want to explore oil and gas in. the volume of production of industrial products € Companies can put in an expression of interest during a given period. (EOI) for any area throughout the year but such € It is compiled and published monthly by the National interests are accumulated thrice in a year. The Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and areas sought are then offered for bidding. Programme Implementation. € This policy is different from the past where the € It is a composite indicator that measures the government identified areas and offered them growth rate of industry groups classified under: for bidding. z Broad sectors, namely, Mining, Manufacturing, ¾ Need of the Policy: and Electricity. € India is one of the fastest growing major economies z Use-based sectors, namely Basic Goods, Capital in the world and the third largest consumer of Goods, and Intermediate Goods. petroleum products after the US and China. € Base Year for IIP is 2011-2012. € India is heavily dependent on import of crude oil € Significance of IIP: to meet its energy needs. z It is used by government agencies including the € Net imports of crude oil have increased from 111.50 Ministry of Finance, the Reserve Bank of India, metric tons during 2006-07 to 202.85 metric tons etc, for policy-making purposes. during 2015-16. z IIP remains extremely relevant for the calculation z In this backdrop, India has set a target to of the quarterly and advance GDP (Gross reduce dependence on crude oil imports by Domestic Product) estimates. 10% by 2022. ¾ Benefits: Open Acreage € Increase in Exploration: Licensing Programme z The successful roll-out of the HELP regime, followed by OALP Bid Rounds, has led to an increase in exploration acreages in India. Why in News € Removing Red-Tapism: In an attempt to boost domestic hydrocarbon pro- z The OALP has helped in removing red-tapism and duction, the petroleum and natural ministry launched brought in a quantum jump in the Exploration the sixth bid round under the liberal Open Acreage & Production sector. Licensing Programme (OALP). ¾ Concerns: ¾ Earlier, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs € Fails to Attract Investors: (CCEA) approved the Policy framework on reforms in the exploration and licensing sector for enhancing z The new policy has failed to attract interest domestic exploration and production of oil and gas. from major players in the sector. € Onerous obligations: Key Points z The OALP provides for discretionary powers ¾ About: to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbon € The Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (DGH) to accept the area for which EOI has (HELP) replacing the erstwhile New Exploration been submitted or alter/modify the area after Licensing Policy (NELP) was approved in March due evaluation. 2016 and the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) „ It oversees upstream oil and gas production.

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z However, the basis for exercise of such discretion € Derived from the Latin superanus through the French is not provided under the OALP. souveraineté, the term was originally understood to mean the equivalent of supreme power. About HELP € Constitutional Sovereignty implies that the con- ¾ The Hydrocarbon Exploration & Licensing Policy stitution is sovereign and supreme. (HELP), which adopts the Revenue Sharing Contract ¾ Sovereign Right to Taxation in India: model, is a giant step towards improving the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the Indian Exploration and € In India, the Constitution gives the government the Production (E&P) sector. right to levy taxes on individuals and organisations, but makes it clear that no one has the right to ¾ It comes with attractive and liberal terms like levy or charge taxes except by the authority of reduced royalty rates, no Oil Cess, marketing and law. pricing freedom, round the year bidding, freedom to investors for carving out blocks of their interest, z Any tax being charged has to be backed by a a single license to cover both conventional and law passed by the legislature or Parliament unconventional hydrocarbon resources, exploration (Article 265). permission during the entire contract period, and ¾ Taxation in India: an easy, transparent and swift bidding and awarding € Tax is a pecuniary burden laid upon individuals process. or property owners to support the government, ¾ Bid Round-IV onwards, bidding rounds are being a payment exacted by legislative authority, and carried out under the further liberalized policy terms, that a tax is not a voluntary payment or donation, which focused on production maximization with but an enforced contribution, exacted pursuant higher weightage to Committed Work Programme in to legislative authority. Category I basin and no revenue share bids required € Taxes in India come under a three-tier system for less explored Category II & III basins. based on the Central, State and local governments, ¾ Category-I basins have established reserves and fields and the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution that are already producing while Category-II basins puts separate heads of taxation under theUnion are ones that have contingent resources pending and State list. commercial production. Category-III basins are ones € There is no separate head under the Concurrent list, that have prospective resources awaiting discovery. meaning Union and the States have no concurrent power of taxation. Sovereign Right to Taxation ¾ Limitation to States Sovereignty: € The two most used Bilateral Investment Treaties (BIT) provisions to challenge a state’s taxation Why in News measures are expropriation and the fair and Recently, the Government of India introduced The equitable treatment provision. Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha € The tax should not be discriminatory and it should which seeks to withdraw tax demands made using a not be confiscatory. 2012 retrospective legislation to tax the indirect transfer of Indian assets. ¾ The government has stressed the need to establish PM-KISAN its sovereign right to taxation. Why in News Key Points Recently, the Prime Minister released the 9th instal- ¾ Sovereignty: ment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan € Sovereignty, in political theory, means the ultimate Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN). overseer, or authority, in the decision-making ¾ Further, the Prime Minister also interacted with farmer process of the state and in the maintenance of order. beneficiaries during the event.

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Key Points € The Prime Minister touched upon initiatives like Mission Honey-Bee and making saffron from ¾ PM-KISAN: Jammu & Kashmir in the National Agricultural € About: Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited z Under the scheme, the Centre transfers an (NAFED) shops. , in amount of Rs 6,000 per year three equal € Indian agriculture and farmers have a big role in instalments, directly into the bank accounts of determining the condition of India in 2047, when all landholding farmers irrespective of the size the country completes 100 years of independence. of their land holdings. ¾ Other Initiatives for Farmers: z It was launched in February 2019. € National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture € Funding and Implementation: € Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana z It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding € Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) from the Government of India. € Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Programme z It is being implemented by the Ministry of € Rashtriya Gokul Mission Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. € Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana € Identification of Beneficiaries: € Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana z The entire responsibility of identification of beneficiary farmer familiesrests with the State / UT Governments. PSUs Exempted from Minimum € Objectives: Public Shareholding z To supplement the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers in procuring various inputs Why in News to ensure proper crop health and appropriate The Ministry of Finance has amended the Securities yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957 to exempt listed public income at the end of each crop cycle. sector companies from the minimum public shareholding z To protect them from falling in the clutches of norm. moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in the farming activities. Key Points ¾ Highlights of the Prime Minister’s Address: ¾ The Amendment: € The Prime Minister launched a National Edible € About: Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) as a pledge for z The government can now exempt any listed achieving self-reliance in edible oil. public sector enterprise from the Minimum Pub- € For the first time, India has reached among lic Shareholding (MPS) norm, which mandates the top-10 countries of the world in terms of at least 25% public float for all listed entities. agricultural exports. € Rationale to the New Amendment: € Biggest ever purchase from farmers at Minimum z The framework for the MPS has been revised to Support Price (MSP), Rs 1,70,000 crore have reached make it easier for large companies to launch directly into the accounts of rice farmers and about IPOs (Initial Public Offers). Rs. 85,000 crore to wheat farmers. z The move comes as the government prepares € Small farmers are now being given utmost priority for the IPO of Life Insurance Corp (LIC) of India, in the agricultural policies of the country. likely to be the biggest listing ever. z Initiatives like Food Parks, Kisan Rails and Kisan € Concerns: Infrastructure Fund will help small farmers. z Can Affect Liquidity in PSU Stocks: z These steps increase the small farmer’s access „ Investors, especially foreign ones, are wary to market and his bargaining power through of investing in such stocks due to absence of Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs). liquidity – because of high promoter holding.

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z Can Impact Foreign Investment: times closer to the deadline due to lack of efforts „ Maintenance of minimum public float by listed from such companies towards compliance. companies helps attract higher foreign capital „ The previous such extension granted them and increases India’s weight in international time till 2nd August, 2021 for compliance. indices like MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital z With the latest amendment, the Central International) and FTSE (Financial Times government has empowered itself to exempt Stock Exchange). selected public sector companies from the 25% „ Government firms not adhering to these norms MPS norm. could be a drag on inflow of foreign capital. € Significance: z Can Impact Strategic Disinvestment Program: z Adequate free float in a listed company is „ This can be detrimental at a time the essential for providing sufficient liquidity in government is planning Strategic Sales trading stocks thereby facilitating efficient price in various PSUs including BPCL, Shipping discovery and maintaining market integrity. Corporation, and Air India. z Public float ensures that there is lesser price „ Low free float is one of the reasons why PSU manipulation in the stock. stocks command low valuation in the market. z Forcing promoters to relax their grip on listed z Non-Uniform Governance Standards: companies can improve corporate governance „ Various government expert committees have by giving public shareholders and institutions in their reports argued all listed entities, greater say in corporate actions. government or private, should be treated „ There are very few investment opportunities at par on governance standards. in the stock market and so forcing promoters ¾ Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS): to sell shares would improve the supply of € About: shares. z The MPS (also called free float) rule requires SEBI all listed companies in India to ensure that at ¾ SEBI is a statutory body established in April, 1992 least 25% of their equity shares are held by in accordance with the provisions of the Securities non-promoters, i.e. public. and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992. z Public shareholders could be individual or finan- ¾ The basic functions of the Securities and Exchange cial institutions and they normally buy shares Board of India is to protect the interests of investors through public offer or secondary markets. in securities and to promote and regulate the z In order to bring more transparency in the securities market. working of listed companies, the concept of minimum public shareholding was introduced. Listed Companies ¾ “Listed” is a term that describes a company that is „ In 2010, SEBI amended the Securities included and on a given stock exchange (such as Contracts Regulation Rulesto insist on this NSE, BSE) so that its stock can be traded. 25% public float for private sector companies. z The average promoter holding in India is among Central Public Sector Enterprises the highest globally. ¾ Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) are those „ In the 2019-20 Budget, the government had companies in which the direct holding of the Central proposed to increase the minimum public Government or other CPSEs is 51% or more float from 25% to 35%. ¾ As on 31st March 2019, there were 348 CPSEs (exclud- € Compliance Status: ing insurance companies). Of these, 86 enterprises were yet to commence commercial operations and z While the timeline for achieving 25% MPS for 13 CPSEs are under closure/liquidation. Remaining listed companies was 2013, the timeline for 249 were operating enterprises (including 180 public sector companies i.e. PSUs and public scheduled CPSEs. sector banks (PSBs), were extended multiple

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Promoter Payment System ¾ The meaning of ‘promoter’ and ‘promoter group’ ¾ A payment system is a system used to settle financial is defined in Companies Act, 2013 and SEBI (ICDR) transactions through the transfer of monetary Regulations, 2018. value and consist of the various mechanisms that ¾ Generally, a promoter conceives an idea for setting-up facilitate the transfer of funds from one party (the a particular business at a given place and performs payer) to another (the payee). various formalities required for starting a company. ¾ A payment system includes the participants (institutions) and the users (customers/clients), Primary Market and Secondary Market the rules and regulations that guide its operation ¾ The primary market is where securities are created, and the standards and technologies on which the while the secondary market is where those securities system operates are traded by investors. ¾ The Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment ¾ In the primary market, companies sell new stocks and Settlement Systems (BPSS), a sub-committee and bonds to the public for the first time, such as of the Central Board of the RBI is the highest policy with an initial public offering (IPO). making body on payment systems in India. ¾ The secondary market is basically the stock market and refers to the New York Stock Exchange, the Payment System Operators (PSOs) Nasdaq, and other exchanges worldwide. ¾ PSOs by virtue of services they provide and the construct of models on which they operate, largely Stock Liquidity outsource their payment and settlement-related ¾ Liquidity generally refers to how easily or quickly activities to various other entities. a security can be bought or sold in a secondary ¾ It is an institution which has been granted an market. Liquid investments can be sold readily and authorisation for the operation of a payment system. without paying a hefty fee to get money when it is needed. z Core management functions include risk man- agement and internal audit, compliance and decision-making functions such as determining New Framework for compliance with KYC norms. Payment Systems Operators € It will be applicable to all service providers, whether located in India or abroad. Why in News ¾ Objective: Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued € To put in place minimum standards to manage a framework for payment and settlement related activ- risks in outsourcing of payment and settlement- ities by payment system operators. related activities including tasks such as onboarding customers and IT-based services. ¾ This framework is issued under provisions of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. ¾ Need: € The Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 € There is a potential area of operational risk associ- provides for the regulation and supervision of ated with outsourcing by payment system operators payment systems in India and designates the RBI and participants of authorised payments systems. as the authority for that purpose and all related z India’s tech ecosystem has seen several high- matters. profile cyber attacks such as those at Juspay, Upstox and Mobikwik over the last year targeting Key Points customers’ payments data. ¾ New Framework: ¾ Related Previous Initiative: € Licensed non-bank Payment System Operators € Earlier, the RBI has put in place restrictions with (PSOs), cannot outsource core management respect to investments in payments system functions. operators (PSOs) by new entities from jurisdictions

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that have weak measures to deal with money particularly in the informal sector, pushing the laundering and terrorist financing activities. vulnerables deeper into crisis. z Moreover, the Covid-19 crisis in India has come Social Security Measures in the backdrop of pre-existing high and rising unemployment. for Informal Workers € The consequential effects on loss of jobs, rising unemployment, indebtedness, nutrition, health Why in News and education of unorganised workersand their Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on family members have the potential to cast a long Labour has released a report on the impact of the Covid-19 shadow and irreparable damage. pandemic on rising unemployment and job loss. ¾ Highlights of the Report: ¾ The panel called on the government to improve social € The Ministry of Labour delayed responding to the security measures and take measures like Direct migrant crisis when Covid-19 struck. transfer of money and urban employment guarantee € The pandemic has devastated the labour market, scheme for informal sector workers. denting the employment scenario and threatening Social Security the survival of millions of workers and their families. ¾ According to the International Labour Organisation € In this scenario, the committee recommended: (ILO), Social Security is a comprehensive approach z Direct Benefit Transfer: Putting money in the designed to prevent deprivation, give assurance to bank accounts of the informal workers during the individual of a basic minimum income and to adverse conditions like Covid-19. protect the individual from any uncertainties. „ It also suggests converting loans granted ¾ It is also comprised of two elements, namely: to street vendors under the PM-SVANidhi € Right to a Standard of Living adequate for the Scheme to direct cash grants. health and well-being, including food, clothing, z Universal Healthcare: Universal healthcare housing and medical care and necessary social should be made a legal obligation of the services. government. This can be provided by mandatory € Right to Income Security in the event of health insurance to informal workers. unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, z MGNREGA Reforms: The budgetary allocation old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances for MGNREGA should be increased and an beyond any person’s control. urban jobs guarantee scheme on the lines of Key Points the MGNREGA should be implemented. „ It suggests increasing maximum days of ¾ Need for Social Security Measures: work guaranteed under MGNREGA from € Citing the (PLFS), the Periodic Labour Force Survey 100 days to 200. report said 90% of workers were in the informal z Enhancing Employment Opportunities: Lever- sector, which is 419 million of the 465 million workers. aging investments into the traditional sectors, strengthening the ‘Make in India’ mission and z Informal workers in rural and urban areas have intensifying further infusion of technology into been hit the most due to the pandemic, because various sectors would provide enhanced local of the seasonality of their employment and lack and pan-India employment opportunities. of formal employee-employer relationship. ¾ Initiatives Already Taken to Support Informal € No survey data are available as yet on the impact Sector: of the second wave which has undisputedly been more severe than the first. € Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) z However, anecdotal evidence suggests that € Labour Reforms there would have been significant income losses € Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)

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€ PM SVANidhi: Micro Credit Scheme for Street € Registration of Migrant Workers: The SC has Vendors directed the Central Government and the State € Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan Governments to complete the registration process of unorganized workers so that they can avail the € Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban Livelihoods Mission welfare benefits given under various government schemes. € PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) € Ruling on ONORC System: The SC directed all € One Nation One Ration Card states and Union Territories (UT) to implement € Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) system € Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi by 31st July 2021. € World Bank Support to India’s Informal Working z The scheme allows migrant labourers covered Class under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) ¾ Supreme Court Judgement in Welfare of Informal to access food at any fair price shop with his Sector Workers: or her ration card in any part of the country.

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International Relations

Highlights z Indo-US Nuclear-Deal z Collaboration of India, Sri Lanka and Maldives on Security z India Assumes UNSC Presidency z External Affairs Minister’s Visit to Iran z India’s Case of Permanent Seat in UNSC z China-India Agreed to Disengage z Indian Base in Mauritius’ Agalega Islands z India-Bangladesh Commercial Railway Link Restored z A Secure Indian Ocean z Provincial Status to Gilgit-Baltistan: Pakistan z UNSC Meet on Maritime Security z Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) z Sanctions Imposed Against Belarus

Key Points Indo-US Nuclear-Deal ¾ Background: Why in News € The U.S. long considered India to be the leader of the non-aligned camp (Non- Aligned Movement) Recently, the former foreign secretary of India, Vijay and held that it was tilting toward the USSRand, Gokhale in his book claimed that the Left parties in India later, toward Russia. were influenced by China in their decision to oppose the z India purchased most of its weapons from Indo-US nuclear deal. Russia, and it had a pseudo-socialist economic ¾ Although with the Indo-US nuclear agreement, India regime. got a special Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) waiver, € The U.S. tilted toward Pakistan throughout the the progress of Greenfield projects is slow. Cold War and in the years that followed. Greenfield Projects € However, following the rise of China, the George ¾ A greenfield project is one which isnot constrained W.Bush administration(US) decided to lure India by prior work. into the West’s camp and draw on it to help ¾ It is constructed on unused land where there is no contain China. need to remodel or demolish an existing structure. € The US therefore offered India civil nuclear Such projects are often covered by engineers. technology and access to uranium, the fuel it Nuclear Supplier Group needed for nuclear power reactors. ¾ It is a group of nuclear supplier countries that € The Indian government agreed to sign a 123 seeks to contribute to the non-proliferation of Agreement (or the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear nuclear weapons through the implementation Agreement). of two sets of Guidelines for nuclear exports and € The Indo-US nuclear cooperation agreement nuclear-related exports. was signed in 2008, that gave a fillip to the ties ¾ It was created following the explosion in 1974 of between the two nations, which since then have a nuclear device by a non-nuclear-weapon State been on an upswing. (India), which demonstrated that nuclear technology ¾ Indo-US Nuclear Deal: transferred for peaceful purposes could be misused. € NSG Waiver: A major aspect of the Indo-US ¾ The grouping has 48 participating governments nuclear deal was the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the NSG Guidelines are implemented by each (NSG) gave a special waiver to India that enabled member in accordance with its national laws and it to sign cooperation agreements with a dozen practices. The NSG takes decisions by consensus. countries.

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€ Separate Programmes: It enabled India to separate z Westinghouse went into major cost overruns its civilian and military programmes and placed its leading to a financial crisis 2008-09.. civilian nuclear facilities under the International z Amidst this, the Westinghouse’s new buyers Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. have already diluted the arrangement in India. € Transfer of Technology: It refrains India from transfer z They will not construct the nuclear power of enrichment and reprocessing technologies project in India and will only supply reactors to states that do not have them and India should and components because of which it would also support international efforts to limit their take nearly another 10 years to construct a spread. reactor in India. ¾ Benefits of the Deal: z Given this, in case of a Fukushima-type nuclear € Deals with Other Countries: accident in India, the liability that U.S. companies z Post waiver, India signed nuclear cooperation would carry is highly uncertain. agreements for peaceful means with the US, € India’s Requirements: France, Russia, Canada, Argentina, Australia, z India’s own requirements from the India-U.S. Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Japan, Vietnam, civil nuclear deal have changed considerably. Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and Korea. z Also India has also found much more comfort z Following the pacts, there have been specific in its existing agreement with Russia’s agreements for import of uranium from France, Atomstroyexport. Kazakhstan, Australia, Canada and Russia. € Cost: € Recognition to India: z Another issue relates to the cost that India is z It gave India the recognition of being a prepared to pay for nuclear energy through responsible nuclear weapon state with strong foreign collaborations. non-proliferation credentials. z Indo-French negotiations for six 1,650 MW € Strengthened Indo-US Relations: European Pressurised Reactors (EPRs) in z It gave a fillip to the ties between the two Maharashtra’s Jaitapur are delayed over the nations, which since then have been on an differences between the Department of Atomic upswing. Energy and French electricity utility EDFwhich pertains to arriving at the cost per unit. z It also gave fillip to military cooperation ¾ leading to expanded defence trade; increased Present Status of Projects: energy cooperation, including on renewables € The US has been discussing the sale of nuclear technology since 2014. reactors to India since the 2008 pact, two subsequent agreements were signed only in € Technological Development: 2016 and 2019. z India developed Pressurised Heavy Water € A to set up Reactors (PHWRs), which are currently project proposal six reactors in collaboration with Westinghouse Electric Com- the backbone of the Indian nuclear power pany (WEC) has been announced, but work is generation. yet to begin. z PHWR is a nuclear power reactor, commonly € Another major project involving the French state- using unenriched natural uranium as its fuel. owned operator Areva, which was subsequently It uses heavy water (Deuterium oxide D O) as 2 taken over by the French electricity utility EDF is its coolant and moderator. also delayed. € Increased Uranium Import: z It has submitted an offer to Nuclear Power z The Indo-US nuclear deal enabled India to import Corporation of India Limited to supply Uranium from different countries. engineering studies and equipment for ¾ Issues: the construction of six reactors in Jaitapur, € Liability: Maharashtra.

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much more vigorously than ever. It heads at India Assumes least six UN organisations and has challenged UNSC Presidency the global rules. z China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific as well as the India-China border has been Why in News visible in all of 2020. Recently, India assumed the presidency of the United z China has tried to raise the issue of Kashmir Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August at the UNSC. 2021. € Post Covid World Order: ¾ This will be the country’s first presidency during its z As the global economy is in shambles with of the 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member various countries facing recession and health Security Council. emergencies. ¾ India began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent € Balancing USA and Russia and Unstable West Asia: member of the UNSC in January 2021. z With the situationdeteriorating between the € This is India’s on the UNSC. eighth term US and Russia and increasing tensions between Key Points US and Iran, it will be a tough situation to handle for India. ¾ India’s UNSC Presidency: z India needs to uphold rule based world order € India will decide the UN body’s agenda for the with due respect to human rights ensuring the month and coordinate important meetings on a national interest. range of issues. € It is going to organise key events in three major United Nation Security Council areas of maritime security, peacekeeping and ¾ About: counter-terrorism. € The UNs Charter established six main organs of z The Security Council will also have on its agenda the UN, including the UNSC. Article 23of the UN several important meetings including Syria, Charter concerns the composition of the UNSC. Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and the Middle East. z The other 5 organs of the UN are—the General z The Security Council will also be adopting Assembly, the Trusteeship Council, the important resolutions on Somalia, Mali, & Economic and Social Council, the International United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. Court of Justice, and the Secretariat. € Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi will be the first € The UNSC has been given primary responsibility Indian PM to preside over a meeting of the UNSC. for maintaining international peace and security and may meet whenever peace is threatened. z The last time an Indian PM was engaged in this effort was the then PM PV Narasimha Rao in € While other organs of the UN make recommen- 1992 when he attended a UNSC meeting. dations to member states, only the Security Council has the power to make decisions that ¾ Support from France & Russia: member states are then obligated to implement € has stated that it is dedicated to France collaborating under the Charter. with India over strategic problems such as maritime ¾ Headquarter: security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism. € The council is headquartered at NewYork. € Russia welcomed the country gaining the UNSC presidency saying it is very impressed by India’s ¾ Members: agenda, which embraces critical global concerns. € The UNSC is composed of 15 members, 5 per- ¾ Challenges for India at UNSC: manent and 10 non-permanent. z € China Challenge: Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and z India is entering the UNSC at a time when the United States. Beijing is asserting itself at the global stage

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€ Also, the US’s Ambassador to the UN, had z Ten non-permanent members: Elected for refrained two-year terms by the General Assembly. from saying the US supported India and other members of the G4 (Japan, Germany and Brazil) € Each year, the General Assembly elects five for a permanent UNSC seat. non-permanent members (out of ten in total) for a two-year term. The ten non-permanent € It cited the regional disagreements by the Uniting seats are distributed on a regional basis. for Consensus (UFC) group – Pakistan, South Korea, € The council’s presidency is a capacity that rotates Italy and Argentina – which opposes the G4 plan. every month among its 15 members. ¾ Need for UNSC Reforms: ¾ Voting and Discussions at UNSC: € Undemocratic Nature of UNSC: Barring two € Each member of the Security Council has regions (North America and Europe), other regions one vote. Decisions of the Security Council on are either underrepresented (like Asia) or not matters are made by anaffirmative vote of nine represented at all (Africa, Latin America and the members including the concurring votes of the Small Island developing states). permanent members. € Misuse of Veto Power: The veto power is used z A “No” vote from one of the five permanent by P-5 countries to serve the strategic interest of members blocks the passage of the resolution. themselves and their allies. € Any member of the UN which is not a member z For example, the United States has casted a veto of the Security Council may participate, without on Council resolutions 16 times, to support its vote, in the discussion of any question brought ally Israel, concerning Israeli-Palestinian conflict. before the Security Council whenever the latter € Lack of Global Governance: There are no regulatory considers that the interests of that member are mechanisms for global commons like the Internet, specially affected. Space, High Seas (beyond one’s EEZ-exclusive economic zone). India’s Case of z Also, there is no unanimity on how to deal with Permanent Seat in UNSC global issues like terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and public health (as seen in the current pandemic). Why in News € Due to all these factors, the former UN Secretary- In the past, the Obama and Trump administrations General Kofi Annan said that the Security Council had supported a permanent seat for India on the United must either reform or risk becoming increasingly Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, the recent irrelevant. statements by the State Department under the new US ¾ Case for Permanent Membership of India in UNSC: President Joe Biden, reflects an ambiguous or half- hearted view on this issue. € India’s Historic Association with the UN System: India is the founding member of the UN. Key Points z India, till now has beenelected for eight terms ¾ Highlights of the Recent Viewpoint: for a two-year non-permanent member seat. € The US supports a reformed Security Council that is z Most significantly, India has almost twice the representative, that is effective, and that is relevant. number of peacekeepers deployed on the z However, the US offers qualified support ground than by P5 countries. for building a consensus for enlargement of Note: the UNSC – in terms of permanent and non- ¾ permanent members. In the past, India was offered to join the UNSC by both the superpowers, the US and the then Soviet € The US would not support an expansion of the Union in 1950 and in 1955 respectively. veto, which is currently exercised by five permanent members (P-5): China, France, Russia, the UK € However, India denied the offer due toCold war and the US. politicsin that era.

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€ India’s Intrinsic Value: India being the largest € Though India is a bright spot in the global economy democracy and second-most populous country and its macroeconomic fundamentals are stable, it (soon to become most populous) in the world, are shows poor performance in many socio-economic the primary reasons for it to be granted permanent indicators like the Human Development Index. membership in UNSC. € India’s capacity to project its military power beyond z Also, India is one of the largest economies and the Indian Ocean region is still to be tested. Further, fastest-growing economies of the world. India heavily relies on weaponry imports from US € India’s Geopolitical Footprint: India’s acquired status and Russia for its military requirements. of a Nuclear Weapons State (NWS) in May 1998 also makes India a natural claimant as a permanent Indian Base in member similar to the existing permanent members who are all Nuclear Weapon States. Mauritius’ Agalega Islands z Also, India has been inducted in various export control regimes like MTCR, Wassenaar Why in News arrangement, etc. Recently, Mauritius has denied a report that it has z India’s international profile and capabilities allowed India to build a military base on the remote rise due to its ever-expanding global footprint island of Agalega. in diverse areas like politics, sustainable ¾ Earlier it was reported by a news broadcaster that an economics, and culture and development, airstrip and two jetties to house an Indian military science and technology. base on Agalega island is under construction. € Representing the developing World:India is the undisputed leader of the Third world countries, as Key Points reflected by its leadership role in the Non-Aligned ¾ Background: Movement. € In 2015, India signed an agreement with Mauritius ¾ RoadBlocks in India’s Bid for Permanent Membership: for development of Agalega Islands. € It is argued by critics that India has still not signed z It provided for setting up and upgradation the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and of infrastructure for improving sea and air also refused to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear- connectivity enhancing capabilities of the Test-Ban Treaty in 1996. € China, which has veto power in the UNSC being one of its five permanent members, has been stonewalling India’s efforts to become a permanent member.

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Mauritian Defence Forces in safeguarding their € Countering China: interests in the Outer Island. z To counter China’s ‘String of Pearls’ which can € However, since then, there have been growing prove to be a threat to our strategic interests, reports over the Indian naval and coastguard’s it became extremely necessary for us to have interests in setting up transponder systems and a presence in the larger Indian Ocean Region. surveillance infrastructure, which has led to some € Security And Growth for All in Region: local protests. z The project can be seen as a part of India’s efforts ¾ Agelega Project: to contribute to its neighbor’s development € Agelega project includes the construction of a stories under SAGAR (Security And Growth jetty, rebuilding, and extension of the runway, for All in Region). and building an airport terminal on Agalega Island. z The project can be seen as a way to increase z The USD 87 million projects are funded by India. cooperation between India and its neighbors. € The project would add a new airport, port and € Enhancing Security infrastructure of Mauritius: logistics and communication facilities and potentially z The project will enhance the capabilities of any other facilities related to the project. Mauritius security forcesthrough upgradation € The Agelega island is located in the southwestern in its infrastructure. Indian Ocean, 1,122 km north of Mauritius. ¾ Challenges: z It has a total land area of 27 square miles (70 € Protests from Opposition: square km). z Mauritius opposition has been raising concerns ¾ Significance: regarding transparency in the project. € Strengthen India’s Presence: z The Mauritian government hasexempted the z It will strengthen India’s presence in the south- project from any Environmental license process west Indian Ocean and facilitate its power (EIA clearances). launch aspirations in the region. € Protests from local People: z India considers the new base necessary to z In 1965, before Mauritian independence, the UK facilitate both air and surface maritime patrols split the Chagos islands from Mauritius, forcibly in the south-west Indian Ocean and as an relocating the inhabitants.. Many Agalégans intelligence post. fear they could suffer a similar fate. € Geo-Economic: z All major military powers like France, China, z As a “central geographic point” Mauritius holds US, and the UK have naval bases in the Indian importance for commerce and connectivity in Ocean this is leading to fears that their peaceful the Indian Ocean. island region will also be militarised. z As a member of the African Union, Indian € China Centric Policies: Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Commission, Mauritius is a stepping stone to z China’s rapidly growing presence in the multiple geographies. northern part of the Indian Ocean along with the deployment of Chinese submarines and z As a founding-member of the ‘Small Island ships in the region is a challenge for India. Developing States’ (SIDS) it has been seen as a significant neighbour. € Obsessive Security Policy: € Protect Foreign Trade: z An obsessively security-driven policy of India towards its neighbours has not helped in the past. z 95% of India’s trade by volume and 68% of trade by value comes via the Indian Ocean. z Certain common challenges like climate change, sustainable development and the z Nearly 80 % of India’s crude oil requirement blue economy is imported by sea via the Indian Ocean. So should be reconsidered in India’s approach to presence in the Indian Ocean is of significance Mauritius. for India. ¾ Other Recent Developments:

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€ In July 2021, Prime Ministers of India and Mauritius z SLOC connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean jointly inaugurated a Supreme Court building in through the Bab al-Mandab (that transports Maritius. the bulk of Asia’s international trade with its € In February 2021, the Union Cabinet approved signing major trading partners in Europe and America), of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and z SLOC connecting thePersian Gulf to the Indian Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India Ocean through the Strait of Hormuz (transporting and Mauritius. the bulk of energy exports to major import € India and Mauritius signed a USD 100 million destinations like India,ASEAN, and East Asia), Defence Line of Credit agreement z SLOC connecting theIndian and Pacific Oceans € Mauritius would get a Dornier aircraft and an through the Straits of Malacca (integral to the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv on lease which smooth flow of trade with ASEAN, East Asia, would build its maritime security capabilities. Russia’s Far East and the US). z € The two sides also discussed the Chagos Archipelago The Indian Ocean region transports 75% of the dispute, which was an issue of sovereignty and world’s maritime trade and 50% of daily global sustainable development before the United oil consumption. Nations (UN). z In 2019, India voted at the UN General Assembly in support of the Mauritian position on the issue. India was one of the 116 countries that voted demanding that the UK end its “colonial administration” from the group of islands. € India delivered 1,00,000 Covishield vaccines to Mauritius.

A Secure Indian Ocean ¾ India’s Maritime Initiatives: € Disaster Management: The fallout of the 2004 Why in News tsunami, which took a heavy toll on human and natural resources, led to the creation of anIndian Recently, India has proposed to convene an open Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on enhancing by the UN in 2005. maritime security. z Through this, an international network seeks ¾ The objective of this debate is to highlight effective to prevent a recurrence of such devastation. international maritime cooperation to respond € Anti-Piracy Operations:Faced with the increased holistically to natural and manmade threats to threat from piracy originating off the coast of maritime security. Somalia since 2007 to shipping in the western ¾ It also reflects India’s international evolution as a Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy participated robustly maritime nation. as part of a UNSC mandated 60-country Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia. Key Points € Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) Policy: India’s ¾ Importance of Indian Ocean for India: SAGAR policy is an integrated regional framework, € Long Maritime Boundary:With a coastline of over unveiled by Indian Prime Minister during a visit to 7,500 km, India has a natural interest in enhancing Mauritiusin March 2015. The pillars of SAGAR are: maritime security. z India’s role as a net security provider in the € Securing Sea lanes of Communication:In the Indian Indian Ocean region (IOR). Ocean, three major Sea Lanes Of Communication z India would continue to enhance the maritime (SLOCS) play a crucial role in the energy security security capacities and economic resilienceof and economic prosperity: friendly countries in IOR.

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z A more integrated and cooperative focus on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law the future of the IOR, which would enhance the of the Sea, among other global instruments — prospects for the sustainable development of provides the legal framework for combating these all countries in the region. illicit activities. z The primary responsibility for peace, stability € Called on Member States to implement the and prosperity in the IOR would be on those International Ship and Port Facility Security Code “who live in this region”. and Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention € Abiding by the International Law: India accepted for the Safety of Life at Sea, and to work with the an United Nations Convention for the Law of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to Sea (UNCLOS) tribunal award on the maritime promote safe and secure shipping while ensuring boundary arbitration between India and Bangladesh. freedom of navigation. z It envisaged contributing a new impulse to € Member States, by other terms, should also consider effective international economic cooperation ratifying, acceding to and implementing the 2000 among the littoral states of the Bay of Bengal United Nations Convention against Transnational (BIMSTEC). Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto. € Data Sharing: Sharing data on threats to commercial Note shipping is an important component of enhancing United Nations Convention maritime security. on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) z In this context, India established an International ¾ The ‘Law of the Sea Treaty’, formally known as Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean region the United Nations Convention on the Laws of the in Gurugram in 2018. Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982 to establish z IFC is jointly administered by the Indian Navy jurisdictional limits over the ocean areas. and Indian Coast Guard. ¾ The convention defines distance of 12 nautical z IFC serves the objective of generating Maritime miles from the baseline as Territorial Sea limit and a Domain Awareness on safety and security issues. distance of 200 nautical miles distance as Exclusive Economic Zone limit. UNSC Meet ¾ India became a signatory to the UNCLOS in 1982. on Maritime Security International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Why in News ¾ The ISPS Code is a set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities. It was developed Recently, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in response to the perceived threats to ships and has adopted the first-ever presidential statement on port facilities after the 9/11 attacks. maritime security. ¾ Chapter XI-2 of the International Convention for ¾ India, as the UNSC president for August 2021, noted the Safety of Life at Sea enshrines the ISPS Code. the threats to maritime safety and security and called upon the members to consider implementing the2000 International UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Maritime Organization (IMO) ¾ All the permanent members of UNSC (US, China, ¾ IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations Russia, UK and France) attended the Meet. (UN). It is a global standard-setting authority with responsibility to improve the safety and security of Key Points international shipping and prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. ¾ Statement on Maritime Security: ¾ India joined the IMO in 1959. The IMO currently € Emphasized on safeguarding the legitimate uses of lists India as among the 10 states with the ‘largest the oceans and security of coastal communities, interest in international seaborne trade’. affirming that international law — reflected in

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UN Convention against tribunal constituted under the UNCLOS which Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) China firmly rejected as unlawful. ¾ UNTOC is also known as the Palermo Convention since it was adopted in Palermo in Italy in 2000, entered into force in 2003. India joined UNTOC in 2002. ¾ The idea behind having an international convention against organized crime was that if crimes could cross borders, so must law enforcement.

¾ India’s Stand: India has put forth five basic basic principles for maritime security. € Free maritime trade sans barriers so as to establish legitimate trade . z In this context, SAGAR (‘Security and Growth for all in the Region’) vision can be highlighted. € Settlement of maritime disputesshould be peaceful and on the basis of international law only. z It was with this understanding, and maturity, that India resolved its maritime boundary with ¾ China’s Stand: its neighbour Bangladesh. € China held that with the joint efforts of China and € Responsible maritime connectivity should be ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China encouraged. Sea remains generally stable. z Making reference to China’s Belt and Road € Referring indirectly to the Quad (US, India, Japan, Initiative, India held that, while creating Australia), a few countries are pursuing exclusive structures for “maritime connectivity”, countries regional strategies in the Asia Pacific region. should keep “financial sustainability” and z This can create and intensify maritime conflicts, absorption capacity of the host countries. undermine the sovereignty and security interests € Need to collectively combat maritime threats of relevant countries, and weaken regional posed by non-state actors and natural calamities. peace and stability. z Highlighting India’s role in the Indian Ocean € Further, China criticizes the US that it is not qualified has been that of a net security provider. to make irresponsible remarks on the issue of the € Preserve the maritime environmentand maritime South China Sea, because the US itself has not resources. joined the UNCLOS. z Highlighting increasing pollution from plastic ¾ Russia’s Stand: waste and oil spills. € Russia did not mention the South China Sea or ¾ US’ Stand: the Indo-Pacific, and articulated a much nuanced € Conflict in the South China Sea or in any ocean position. would have serious global consequences for € It promotes strict adherence to key norms and security and for commerce. principles of international law enshrined in the € It highlighted that China has been building UN Charter, such as respect for sovereignty, non- military bases on artificial islands in the region intervention in the internal affairs and settling also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, disputes through dialogue. Taiwan and Vietnam. ¾ UK’s Stand: € The US also referred to the unanimous and legally € The UK has a vision for a free, open and secure binding decision five years ago by the arbitral Indo-Pacific.

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€ In this context, the UK’s recent Integrated Review of Foreign, Security, Defence and Development policy set out the importance it attaches to the Indo-Pacific. ¾ France’s Stand: € It held that the maritime domain has emerged as a theatre for a new generation of challenges and urged greater cooperation among the members of the UNSC to deal with the issue. € Such as, combating climate change and its consequences on security, particularly in terms of natural disasters.

Sanctions Imposed Against Belarus

€ The latest sanctionsrestrict exports of surveillance Why in News and military technology to Belarus. The UK, the US and Canada have issued fresh trade, € The sanctions partially ban imports of potash financial and aviation sanctions on Belarus, in a bid to fertilizer, petrol and petrol-based productsfrom increase pressure on the country’s leader Alexander Belarus. Lukashenko. € In the cases of the EU, U.K. and Canada, the embargo also restricts financial trade such as Key Points buying state debt and insuring or reinsuring state- ¾ Background: related entities. € Europe’s longest-serving ruler, President of Belarus € The EU and US have sanctioned Belarus’ tobacco (Lukashenko) took office in 1994 amid the chaos industry, which contributes to the lucrative cigarette caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. smuggling trade. € Often described asEurope’s “last dictator”, he has z More than 90% of cigarettes smuggled into tried to preserve elements of Soviet communism. Lithuania came from Belarus in 2019. z He has been in power for 26 years, keeping € Western countries also blacklisted some Belarusian much of the economy in state hands, and using citizens. censorship and police crackdowns against ¾ Impacts: opponents. € Targeting Belarus’ potash sector was a strategic € In 2020, after Lukashenko was announced as move insofar as the country is the second largest the winner in elections, protests broke out in exporter of the fertilizer behind Canada, covering the capital, Minsk which were met with a violent 21% of the world’s potash exports in 2019. security crackdown. z But, sanctions cover only 15% of all potash z There has been widespread anger against the exports to the EU. government over a stagnant economy and € Also, Russia represents 49.2% of all Belarusian doubts about the fairness of the election. trade and Belarus can export its sanctioned goods ¾ Sanctions’ Targets: across the Russian border for re-export from there. € The idea is to focus on the regime and Lukashenko’s € The impact of restrictions on dual-use goods, associates as precisely as possible and discourage monitoring and interception goods and technology, Western companies from doing business with and goods used in cigarette manufacturing would Belarus. be negligible.

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¾ Opportunity for Russia: ¾ Current Geostrategic Dynamic: € Since, Russian President Putin has tense relations € Sri Lanka: Earlier this year, India aired security with Lukashenko, and the sanctions are an concerns over China being awarded development opportunity for Russia to impose its own conditions projects in an island off Sri Lanka’s northern on Lukashenko’s survival in control of a crumbling province, close to India’s southern border. state, which Russia has financially supported for € The Maldives’s engagement with members of the decades. India-United States-Japan-Australia grouping, ¾ Belarus’ Stand: known as the ‘Quad’, has been growing over the last € Accused the U.K., US and Canada of ignoring the year, especially in the area of defence cooperation. will of the Belarusian people and employing the ¾ Highlights of the Latest Meeting: “entire arsenal of ‘cold war’ methods” in pursuit € The aim of the Meeting wasto establish a maritime of regime change. security mechanism for Indian Ocean Region (IOR) including the Bay of Bengal amid China’s growing Collaboration of presence in the area. € With the six countries attending the meeting, the India, Sri Lanka and focus areas were expanded and now it covers Maldives on Security weapons and human trafficking, countering terrorism and violent extremism, protection of maritime environment, capacity building, Why in News transnational crimes including narcotics, and Recently in a Deputy National Security Adviser-level Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief meeting hosted by Sri Lanka, India, Sri Lanka and the (HADR), etc. Maldives have agreed to work on “four pillars” of security € More cooperation through joint exercises of the cooperation. navies and coast guards to further strengthen ¾ The four areas covers marine security, human maritime safety and security in IOR. trafficking, counter-terrorism, and cyber security. € As has been reported earlier, there have been ¾ The meeting which was held under the Colombo pollution accidents in the IOR. MV Xpress Pearl, Security Conclave, saw Bangladesh, Seychelles and MT New Diamond and MV Wakashio had accidents Mauritius participating in the role of observers. in the region and this impacted the marine environment. The members discussed ways of Key Points combating the pollution in the waters. ¾ Background: € Later this year, the three observer countries have € Soon after the NSA (National Security Adviser) been invited to be full members at the next NSA Trilateral meeting on Maritime Security in November level meeting. This meeting will take place in 2020 in Colombo, this grouping was renamed as Maldives. `Colombo Security Conclave’. A secretariat has ¾ Significance: also been established in the capital city of Sri € The widening of thematic areas of cooperation Lanka (Colombo). and expansion of membership to Bangladesh, € This Trilateral framework was established back Mauritius and Seychelles indicate growing in 2011. convergence among the Indian Ocean Region € The aim of the establishment of the Conclave was countries to work together in a common platform to forge closer cooperation on maritime and security and to deepen the spheres of engagement under matters among the three Indian Ocean countries. a regional framework. € The initiative, grounded in military and security € The coming together of the 6 Indian Ocean region collaboration, assumes significance in the region, countries in India’s immediate neighbourhood in the wake of the current geostrategic dynamic on a common maritime and security platform is that India shares with Sri Lanka and the Maldives. significant in a wider global context as well.

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€ It highlights India’s desire to play a leading security role in the neighbourhood. ¾ Concerns: € The progress of the NSA-level trilateral meeting was affected when Delhi’s ties with Male deteriorated under Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen. € Subregional cooperation cannot be insulated from bilateral political relationsand, hence, maintaining good bilateral relations with individual countries and responding to the growing aspirations of smaller neighbours would be crucial. € Most of the smaller neighbours are more comfortable cooperating in non-traditional security than entering into hard military cooperationwith India at the subregional level.

External Affairs Minister’s Visit to Iran

Why in News India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) visited Iran to € Energy Security: Iran, one of the richest countries attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Iranian President in hydrocarbons and India, a rapidly growing Ebrahim Raisi. This marks a landmark event attempting economy with a deep thirst for energy - make to reset the ties with Iran that have been under strain them natural partners. in recent times. ¾ Significance of the Visit: ¾ This is EAM’s second visit in a month and it comes € Reasons for Tussle in India-Iran Relationship: amid a sharp escalation of thefighting in Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Afghan security forces. z India cancelling oil imports from Iran due to US sanctions. Key Points z Slow progress in Chabahar port. ¾ Importance of Iran for India: z Tussle over Farzad-B Gas Field . € Geo-strategic Outreach: India views Iran as key to z Iranian comments on Kashmir over the past access land-locked Afghanistan and Central Asia few years. through Chabahar Port. € Security Concerns Emanating From Afghanistan: z Iran’s geographical position is paramount to Visit comes amidst rapid developments in India’s geopolitical outreach, especially toCentral Afghanistan, with the US completing the pull-out Asia, a rich reservoir of natural resources. of troops and the Taliban increasing its attacks on z Similarly, Iran is vital for India’s access to Afghan cities. Afghanistan in which India has immense strategic z The rapid advance of Taliban concerns both and security interests. India and Iran. z Further, India has been developing the Chabahar z Given this context, and common interests, it is port in a bid to bypass the impediments placed necessary for India and Iran to cooperate more by Pakistan in the way of its attempts to trade closely, particularly on Afghanistan. with Afghanistan. ¾ Associated Challenges:

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€ India’s Exclusion in Afgan Peace Process: Another z The disengagement at PP17A is likely to follow “Troika plus” meeting, the U.S.-Russia-China-Pakistan the process that was adopted for PP14 in the grouping on Afghanistan peace process, is going Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso where a time- to be held in Doha. frame was set for withdrawal. z However, India and Iran, which are two regional € Both sides agreed to resolve these remaining issues powers, are being left out. in an expeditious manner in accordance with the € Persisting Sanctions on Iran: Despite campaign existing agreements and protocols and maintain promises to reverse the Donald Trump policy on the momentum of dialogue and negotiations. Iran, US President Joe Biden’s administration is € They also agreed that in the interim they will yet to withdraw most of the additional sanctions continue theireffective efforts in ensuring stability placed in 2017-2018. along the LAC in the Western sector and jointly maintain peace and tranquility. China-India ¾ Patrolling Point 15 and 17A: Agreed to Disengage € Along the LAC between India and China, Indian Army has been given certain locations that its troops have access to patrol the area under its control. Why in News € These points are known as patrolling points, or PPs, th Recently, during the 12 round of discussions and are decided by the China Study Group (CSG). between the senior military commanders of India and z CSG was set-up in 1976, when Indira Gandhi China to resolve the standoff in eastern Ladakh, both was the prime minister, and is the apex decision- have agreed in principle to disengage at a key patrol making body on China. point in eastern Ladakh. € Barring certain areas, like Depsang Plains, these ¾ The 11th Corps Commander-level talks were held in patrolling points are on the LAC, and troops access April 2021, when the two sides could not even agree these points to assert their control over the territory. on a joint statement. z It is an important exercise since the boundary Key Points between India and China is not yet officially ¾ Current Disengagement: demarcated. z € The agreement on Patrolling Point (PP)17A (Gogra LAC is the demarcation that separates Indian- post) was reached but China is not inclined to move controlled territory from Chinese-controlled back from PP15 (Hot Springs area); it continues territory. to insist that it is holding its own side of the Line € PP15 and PP17A are two of the 65 patrolling points of Actual Control (LAC). in Ladakh along the LAC. z Both these points are in an area where India and China largely agree on the alignment of the LAC. € PP15 is located in an area known as the Hot Springs, while PP17A is near an area called the Gogra post. ¾ Location of Hot Springs and Gogra Post: € Hot Springs is just north of the Chang Chenmo river and Gogra Post is east of the point where the river takes a hairpin bend coming southeast from Galwan Valley and turning southwest. € The area is north of the Karakoram Range of mountains, which lies north of the Pangong Tso lake, and south east of Galwan Valley. ¾ Importance of Hot Springs and Gogra Post:

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€ The area lies close to Kongka Pass, one of the Karakoram Range main passes, which, according to China, marks ¾ It is also known as Krishnagiri which is situated in the boundary between India and China. the northernmost range of the Trans-Himalayan € India’s claim of the international boundary lies ranges. It forms India’s frontiers with Afghanistan significantly east, as it includes the entire Aksai and China. Chin area as well. ¾ It extends eastwards from the Pamir for about 800 € Hot Springs and Gogra Post are close to the km. It is a range with lofty peaks [elevation 5,500 boundary between two of the most historically m and above]. disturbed provinces (Xinjiang and Tibet) of China. ¾ Some of the peaks are more than 8,000 metre above ¾ Major Friction Points: sea level. K2 (8,611 m)[Godwin Austen or Qogir] € Apart from PP15 and PP17A, PP14 in Galwan is the second highest peak in the world and the Valley, and Finger 4 on the north bank of Pangong highest peak in the Indian Union. and Tso Rezang La and Rechin La on the south ¾ The Ladakh Plateau lies to the north-east of the , were identified as bank of Chang Chenmo river Karakoram Range. friction points. Pangong Tso lake India-Bangladesh Commercial ¾ Pangong Lake is located in the Union Territory of Ladakh. Railway Link Restored ¾ It is situated at a height of almost 4,350m and is the world’s highest saltwater lake. Why in News ¾ Extending to almost 160km, one-third of the Pangong Recently, Bangladesh and India started regular Lake lies in India and the other two-thirds in China. operation of freight trains through the restored Haldibari- Galwan Valley Chilahati rail route after over 50 years, which will strengthen railway connectivity and bilateral trade ¾ The valley refers to the land that sits between steep between the two countries. mountains that buffet the Galwan River. ¾ The Haldibari-Chilahati rail link is one such route that ¾ The river has its source in Aksai Chin, on China’s side of the LAC, and it flows from the east to Ladakh, was operational till 1965. where it meets the Shyok river on India’s side of ¾ Another rail link, between Agartala-Akhaura, is the LAC. scheduled to open by the end of 2021. ¾ The valley is strategically located between Ladakh Key Points in the west and Aksai Chin in the east, which is currently controlled by China as part of its Xinjiang ¾ Background: Uyghur Autonomous Region. € After the Partition in 1947, seven rail links were operationalbetween India and Bangladesh (then Chang Chenmo River East Pakistan) until 1965. ¾ Chang Chenmo River or Changchenmo River is a € Presently, there are Five rail links between tributary of the Shyok River, part of the Indus Bangladesh and India that are operational. River system. € They are Petrapole (India)-Benapole (Bangladesh), ¾ It is at the southern edge of the disputed Aksai Gede (India)-Darshana (Bangladesh), Singhabad Chin region and north of the Pangong Lake basin. (India)-Rohanpur (Bangladesh), Radhikapur (India)- ¾ The source of Chang Chenmo is near the Lanak Pass. Birol (Bangladesh), Haldibari (India)-Chilahati Kongka Pass (Bangladesh). ¾ The Kongka Pass or Kongka La is a low mountain ¾ Significance:. pass over a hill that intrudes into the Chang € The Haldibari-Chilahati route is expected to enhance Chenmo Valley. It is in the disputed India-China the connectivity to Assam and West Bengal from border area in Ladakh. Bangladesh.

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€ Border Management: India and Bangladesh share 4096.7 km. of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours. ¾ Economic Relations: € Bangladesh is India’s largest trading partner in the sub-continent with the total bilateral trade between the two nations standing at $9.5 billion (2019-20), down compared to the previous fiscal (2018-19), having crossed $10 billion. € India’s exports to Bangladesh account for more than 85% of the total bilateral trade. € It will enhance rail network access to the main € In December 2020, to further boost the bilateral ports and dry ports to support the growth in trade cooperation, an India-Bangladesh CEO’s regional trade to encourage economic and social Forum was launched. development of the region. € Bangladesh has appreciated the Duty-Free and € Common people and businessmen of both countries Quota Free access given to Bangladeshi exports to will be able to reap the benefit of both goods India under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and passenger traffic, once passenger trains are since 2011. planned in this route. ¾ Cooperation in Connectivity: € Economic activities (including tourist activities) of € In March 2021, Maitri Setu-a 1.9 km bridge built these South Asian countries will also be benefitted over Feni river joining Sabroom in India and Ramgarh from this new rail link. in Bangladesh was inaugurated. € The 75-kilometre long track will also help better € Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT). integrate the rest of the country with the Siliguri € corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck.’ Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement is in pipeline. z The corridor connects India with the North- ¾ eastern states, which has witnessed growing Partnership on Multilateral forums: aggressiveness from another neighbouring € South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation country of China in recent times. (SAARC). € Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical Indo-Bangladesh Ties and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). ¾ Historical Ties: € Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). € Fifty years ago, the Bangladesh Liberation War ¾ Other Developments: in 1971 had added the colours of victory for India € Line of Credit: as it led the charge towards the formation of the z India has extended 3 Lines of Credits (LOC) to new nation of Bangladesh. Bangladesh in the last 8 years amounting to ¾ Defence Cooperation: $8 billion for development of infrastructure € Joint exercises: in sectors including roads, railways, shipping z SAMPRITI (Army). and ports. z TABLE TOP (Air). € Covid-19: z IN-BN CORPAT (Navy). z Bangladesh is the biggest recipient of Made- z Exercise Bongosagar (Navy). in-India Covid-19 vaccine doses, accounting z SAMVEDNA (Multinational Humanitarian for 16 % of the total supplies. Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise z India also offered collaboration in therapeutics with Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and UAE). and partnership in vaccine production.

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¾ Emerging Disputes: ¾ Background of Gilgit-Baltistan Dispute: € Bangladesh has already raised concerns over roll € The region is claimed by India as part of the out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in erstwhile princely state of Jammu & Kashmir as Assam, an exercise carried out to identify genuine it existed in 1947 at its accession to India. Indian citizens living in Assam and weed out illegal z Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Bangladeshis. J&K, had signed the Instrument of Accession € Currently, Bangladesh is an active partner of the with India on 26th October 1947. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that Delhi has not € However, it has been under Pakistan’s control signed up to. since 4th November, 1947, following the invasion € In the security sector, Bangladesh is also a major of Kashmir by tribal militiasand the Pakistan army. recipient of Chinese military inventory, including € Following this invasion, India moved to the United submarines. Nations Security Council to raise the issue of Pakistan’s invasion, on 1st January 1948. Provincial Status to € The UN Security Council passed a resolution: z Calling for Pakistan to withdraw from all of Gilgit-Baltistan: Pakistan Jammu and Kashmir and then India had to reduce its forces to the minimum level following Why in News which a plebiscite would be held to ascertain Recently, it has been reported that Pakistani author- people’s wishes. ities have finalised a law(26 th Constitutional Amendment € However, no withdrawal was ever carried out Bill), to award provisional provincial status to strategically and it remains a point of contention between located Gilgit-Baltistan. two countries. ¾ Current Status: Key Points € Gilgit-Baltistan is an autonomous region now ¾ About Gilgit-Baltistan: and after the bill is passed, it will become the 5th € Gilgit-Baltistan is one of the disputed territories province of the country. of India. z Currently, Pakistan has four provinces namely € It is a chunk of high-altitude territorylocated on Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, the north western corner of the Union Territory and Sindh. of Ladakh. € Presently, it has been ruled mostly by executive € It is located strategically as it borders Pakistan, orders. Afghanistan and China. € Until 2009, the region was simply calledNorthern Areas. € It got its present name only with the Gilgit-Baltistan (Empowerment and Self-Governance) Order, 2009, which replaced the Northern Areas Legislative Council with the Legislative Assembly. ¾ Reasons for Making Gilgit-Baltistan a Province: € Gilgit-Baltistan is the northernmost territory admin- istered by Pakistan. It is Pakistan’s only territorial frontier, and thus a land route, with China. z The Gilgit-Baltistan region is at the centre of the USD 65 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Infrastructure development plan. z The CPEC has made the region vital for both countries. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar

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Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan with China’s € Chairmanship: The Election Commission of India Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of handed over the chairmanship of FEMBoSA role to China’’s ambitious multi-billion-dollarBelt and the Election Commission of Bhutan for 2021-22. Road Initiative (BRI). € Thimphu Resolution: A resolution was unanimously € Some experts on India-Pakistan relations also adopted by the FEMBoSA members to extend the assert that Pakistan’s decision might have come tenure of chairmanship to two years during the from India’s reassertion of its claims after theth 5 current pandemic situation. August, 2019 reorganisation of Jammu & Kashmir. z Before this, the tenure of the chairmanship ¾ India’s Stand: was one year. € India maintains the Government of Pakistan or its € Theme of Meeting:‘Use of Technology in Elections’. judiciary has no locus standi on territories illegally € Digitization of Election: The technology is extensively and forcibly occupied by it. used to make elections more participative, € India has clearly conveyed to Pakistan that the accessible and transparent. entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and ¾ It has become more important during the Covid 19 Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, situation as it is helping in minimizing person-to- are an integral part of the country by virtue of its person contact. fully legal and irrevocable accession. ¾ About FEMBoSA: € India has protested to China over the CPEC as it € Establishment: is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. z The forum was established at the 3rd Conference of Heads of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of SAARC (South Asian Association Forum of the Election for Regional Cooperation) Countries in 2012. Management Bodies „ SAARC comprises eight member States: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, of South Asia (FEMBoSA) Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. € Aim: Why in News z To increase mutual cooperation in respect to Recently, the Election Commission of India inaugu- the common interests of the SAARC’s EMBs. th rated the 11 Annual meeting of the Forum of the Election € Significance: Management Bodies of SouthAsia (FEMBoSA) for the z FEMBoSA represents a very large part of the year 2021. democratic world and it is an active regional cooperation association of EMBs. Key Points z Its logo with golden pearls stands for the eternal ¾ About the Meeting: values of transparency, impartiality, democracy € Hosted By: Election Commission of Bhutan. and cooperation.

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Science and Technology

Highlights z GSLV-F10 Failure: ISRO’s EOS-03 Satellite Mission z NASA’s Boeing Starliner Spacecraft z World Biofuel Day z ‘Ashwagandha’ in Covid-19 Recovery z Snakebite Envenoming

z Geostationary transfer orbit is a circular orbit GSLV-F10 Failure: ISRO’s positioned approximately 35,900 km above EOS-03 Satellite Mission Earth’s equator and having a period of the same duration and direction as the rotation Why in News of the Earth. z An object in this orbit will appear stationary Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) relative to the rotating Earth. suffered the loss of an important earth observation satellite (EOS-03) during launch when the GSLV rocket ¾ Significance: carrying it malfunctioned about five minutes from the € EOS-03, part of the new generation of earth- lift-off. observation satellites, was meant to provide almost real-time images of large parts of the country. Earth Observation Satellites ¾ Earth observation satellites are the satellites z The images could be used for monitoring natural equipped with remote sensing technology. Earth disasters like floods and cyclones, water bodies, observation is the gathering of information about crops, vegetation and forest cover. Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems. € EOS-03 was being sent ahead of EOS-02 which has ¾ Many earth observation satellites have been been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. employed on sun-synchronous orbit. z EOS-02 was supposed to be launched around ¾ Other earth observation satellites launched by ISRO March-April this year, but now has been include RESOURCESAT- 2, 2A, CARTOSAT-1, 2, 2A, rescheduled for September-October. 2B, RISAT-1 and 2, OCEANSAT-2, Megha-Tropiques, z EOS-02 was supposed to ride on ISRO’s new SARAL and SCATSAT-1, INSAT-3DR, 3D, etc. SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket. Key Points z SSLVs will broaden ISRO’s current rocket range that comprises PSLVs and GSLVs, and cater to ¾ About the EOS-03: the increasing demand for launching of small € It was capable of imaging the entire country four commercial satellites. to five times every day. ¾ EOS-01: € It was riding on a GSLV rocket (GSLV-F10), which € In November 2020, ISRO had launched EOS-01, has a new payload carrier designed to significantly the first in the series of new earth observation reduce aerodynamic drag and thus carry larger satellites that bear a new generic naming system. payloads. z It was launched by Polar Satellite Launch € The rocket was supposed to deposit the satellite in the geostationary transfer orbit, from where Vehicle (PSLV), the third generation launch the satellite’s onboard propulsion system will vehicle of India. guide it to a geostationary orbit, 36,000 km from € It is intended for applications inagriculture, forestry earth’s surface. and disaster management support.

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Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) € It is a big cause of worry for the NISAR mission, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between NASA and ¾ GSLV is a space launch vehicle designed, developed, ISRO for a joint earth-observation satellite. and operated by the ISRO to launch satellites and other space objects into Geosynchronous Transfer z NISAR, which will use two synthetic aperture Orbits. radars (SAR) to monitor the entire Earth in a 12-day cycle, is the most important mission € Geosynchronous satellites are launched into yet involving the GSLV Mk-II rocket. orbit in the same direction the Earth is spinning and can have any inclination. ¾ GSLV has the capability to put a heavier payload World Biofuel Day in orbit than the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Why in News ¾ It is a three-stage launcher with strap-on motors. World Biofuel Day is observed on 10th August every year. Failure of the GSLV-F10 Key Points ¾ Reasons: ¾ About: € Liquid fuel strap-on boosters start the launch of € It is observed to raise awareness of the importance the satellite by providing the extra thrust needed of non-fossil fuels as a substitutefor conventional to lift the rocket off the ground. fossil fuels. € Then, follows a solid fuel first stage with another € Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in associ- liquid fuel stage coming next. These two stages ation with UNIDO (United Nations Development operated as expected. Industrial Organisation) and GEF (Global Environ- € It was the rocket’s crucial third stage, which uses ment Facility - a financial mechanism) launched an indigenously-made Cryogenic Upper Stage two schemes on this occasion which are: (CUS) which then failed to ignite. z Interest Subvention Scheme. z The cryogenic stage is “technically a very complex z GIS based inventory tool of organic waste streams. system compared to solid or earth-storable liquid € Biofuels programme is also in synergy with propellant stages due to its use of propellants at Government of India’s initiative of Atmanirbhar extremely low temperatures and the associated Bharat. thermal and structural problems”. ¾ History: ¾ Impacts on the Future Missions: € This day is observed in honour of Sir Rudolf Diesel. € This was the second launch ISRO had lined up for He was the inventor of the diesel engine and was 2021, which had suffered multiple delays after the first to predict the possibility of vegetable oil being originally scheduled for March 2020. replacing fossil fuels. z Its successful mission was in February, which was ¾ Theme for 2021: Brazil’s earth observation satellite Amazonia-1 € It is based on the promotion of biofuels for a better and 18 co-passenger satellites. environment. € The failure breaks a series of 16 consecutive ¾ Celebrated by: successful launches by ISRO since 2017. € Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas since 2015. € Satellites had been planned for 2020-21, including ¾ Significance: OCEANSAT-3, GISAT-2, RISAT-2A, etc. with these € Any hydrocarbon fuel that is produced from an missions set to cost an estimated Rs 701.5 crore. organic matter(living or once living material) in a € Missions like Gaganyaan and Chandrayaan-3 will short period of time (days, weeks, or even months) be launched on GSLV Mk-III, a more advanced is considered a biofuel. version of the GSLV rocket that is designed to carry z Examples of Biofuel include ethanol, biodiesel, much heavier payloads into space. green diesel and biogas.

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€ Biofuels help in reducing the dependence on crude provisions of Industries (Development & Regulation) oil and fostering a cleaner environment. Act, 1951 etc are some of the initiatives taken to € It also generates additional income and employment promote blending of biofuels. for rural areas. Biomethanation € This will not only help meet India’s rural energy ¾ Biomethanation is a process by which organic material needs but also fulfill the rising demands for is microbiologically converted under anaerobic transportation. conditions to biogas. € The use of carbon fuels will reduce carbon ¾ Three main physiological groups of microorganisms emissions and meet the energy requirements of are involved: fermenting bacteria, organic acid st the 21 century. oxidizing bacteria, and methanogenic archaea. ¾ Interest Subvention Scheme: ¾ Microorganisms degrade organic matter via cascades € It provides financial assistance to innovative of biochemical conversions to methane and carbon waste to energy biomethanation projects and dioxide. business models. ¾ Researchers at the International Centre for Genetic z The industrial organic waste-to-energy bio- Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) are developing a methanation projects are generally capital method to use cyanobacterium for biofuel production. intensive and financially sensitive to both ¾ Recently, the Central government has also allowed operating costs, including waste availability, the conversion of surplus rice to ethanol. and revenue, particularly biogas yield and its ¾ utilization scenario. Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, 2019: To create an ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and to z Innovations in such projects seek to improve boost Research and Development in 2G Ethanol sector overall energy output thereby minimizing ¾ the cost of energy generation but may lead GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) It focuses on managing and converting to increase in the initial project cost at the DHAN scheme: cattle dung and solid waste in farms to useful establishment stage yet increase revenue and compost,biogas and bio-CNG, thus keeping villages reduce operating costs over project’s lifetime. clean and increasing the income of rural households. € The loan scheme provides financial assistance to ¾ Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO): It was launched beneficiaries to reduce the financial burden on by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) account of interest on the loan component faced and aims for an ecosystem that will enable the collection by such demonstration projects. and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel. ¾ Inventory Tool Of Organic Waste Streams: ¾ National Policy on Biofuels, 2018: It expands the scope € The tool provides district level estimates of available of raw material for ethanol production by allowing urban and industrial organic wastes and their use of sugarcane juice, sugar containing materials energy generation potential across India. like sugar beet, sweet sorghum, starch containing € The GIS (Geographic information system) tool will materials like corn, cassava, damaged food grains like enable SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) and wheat,broken rice, rotten potatoes, unfit for human project developers to set up new waste to energy consumption for ethanol production. projects and may facilitate the rapid growth of biomethanation in the waste-to-energy sector in the country. Snakebite Envenoming

Govt Initiatives to Promote Biofuels Why in News ¾ Blending of biofuels: Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) According to a new study by the Indian Council of programme, Administrative price mechanism for Medical Research (ICMR), India has the highest number ethanol, Simplifying the procurement procedures of snakebite cases in the world, accounting for nearly by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), amending the 50% of the global snakebite deaths.

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¾ Snakebite Envenoming (SE) is classified by theWorld z WHO has planned a pilot project to create a Health Organisation (WHO) as a High-Priority global antivenom stockpile. Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). z Integrating snakebite treatment and response Key Points into national health plans in affected countries, including better training of health personnel ¾ About: and educating communities. € SE is a potentially life-threatening disease that ¾ Indian Initiatives: typically results from the injection of a mixture of € Much before the WHO roadmap was launched, different toxins (venom) following the bite of a researchers from ICMR started community aware- Venomous Snake and can also be caused by having ness and health system capacity building from venom sprayed into the eyes by certain species the year 2013. of snakes that have the ability to spit venom as a defence measure. z They are continuing their work through a national study funded by the National Task Force on € It is a particularly importantpublic health problem snakebite, ICMR. in rural areas of tropical and subtropical countries situated in Africa, the Middle-East, Asia, Oceania ¾ Concerns: and Latin America. € Unawareness among Communities: z In these regions the risk of snakebite is a daily z Lack of awareness, inadequate knowledge of concern, especially for rural and peri-urban prevention of snakebite and lack of first aid communities where hundreds of millions of amongst the community, as well as peripheral people depend on agriculture or subsistence healthcare workers, delay in receiving lifesaving hunting and gathering in order to survive. treatment, and non-availability of trained medical ¾ Impact: officers for management of snakebite contribute € Many snakebite victims, mostly in developing to a higher number of deaths. countries, suffer from long-term complications z Belief in a snake god, ability of tamarind seeds such as deformities, contractures, amputations, or magnets to reduce the venom effect were visual impairment, renal complications and some of the superstitions. psychological distress. € No Information on Venomous and Non-Venomous ¾ Deaths from SE: snake: € Global: z There is no ‘IEC’ (Information, Education, and z About 5.4 million snake bites occur globally Communication) material available on the each year, resulting in 1.8 to 2.7 million cases identification of venomous and non-venomous of envenoming. snakes in government healthcare facilities. z There are between 81,410 and 1,37,880 deaths ¾ Recommendations: and around three times as many amputations € Curriculum on Snakebite Management: and other permanent disabilities each year, z The study has recommended the inclusion caused by snakebites. of snakebite management in the curriculum € Indian: of training institutions of state public health z India has seen an estimated 1.2 million snakebite departments in India, mandatory short-term deaths from 2000 to 2019, an average of 58,000 training of medical graduates during their per year. internship and also as a part of the induction ¾ WHO’s Roadmap for SE: training on joining state health services in India. € WHO launched its roadmap with an aim to halve € Multi-sectoral Approach: death and disability from snakebite by 2030. z A multi-sectoral approach of community z In order to create a sustainable market for an- awareness, capacity building of healthcare tivenoms there is a need for a 25% increase in the facilities for reducing the mortality and morbidity number of competent manufacturers by 2030. due to snakebite envenoming in India.

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€ It is also planning to give the companies incentive NASA’s Boeing to design and build the Commercial Orbital Starliner Spacecraft Transportation Services (COTS). z COTS was a NASA program, announced in 2006 to coordinate the delivery of crew and cargo Why in News to the International Space Station (ISS) by Recently, the launch of Boeing’s uncrewed Starliner private companies. Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) has been postponed once € By encouraging private companies such as Boeing again. and SpaceX to provide crew transportation services ¾ The spacecraft, which is called the Crew Space to and from low-Earth orbit, NASA can focus on Transportation-100 (CST-100), is part of an uncrewed building spacecraft and rockets meant for deep test flight to the International Space Station (ISS). space exploration missions. ¾ The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew € Crew-2 mission is the second crew rotation of the Program. SpaceX Crew Dragon and the first with international partners. Key Points z Crew-2 astronauts joined the members of th ¾ About CST-100: Expedition 65 (65 long duration expedition to the ISS). € The spacecraft has been designed to accommodate seven passengers or a mix of crew and cargo for € In May 2020, NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight missions to low-Earth orbit. lifted off for the ISS carrying two astronauts. z The was to see if € For NASA service missions to the ISS, it will carry aim of this test flight SpaceX up to four NASA-sponsored crew members and capsules could be used on a regular basis to time-critical scientific research. ferry astronauts to and from the ISS. z The Starliner is supposed to carry more than International Space Station (ISS) 400 pounds of NASA cargo and crew supplies. ¾ It is a habitable artificial satellite - the single largest € The Starliner has an innovative, weldless structure man-made structure in low earth orbit. Its first and is reusable up to 10 times with a six-month component was launched into orbit in 1998. turnaround time. ¾ It circles the Earth in roughly 92 minutes and ¾ Purpose: completes 15.5 orbits per day. € When this test flight takes off, it will check the ¾ The ISS programme is a joint project between five capabilities of the spacecraft from launch, docking, participating space agencies: NASA (United States), atmospheric re-entry and a landing at a desert Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), in the US. and CSA (Canada) but its ownership and use has been established by intergovernmental treaties € The spaceflight will also help NASA to ascertain and agreements. and certify the transportation system to carry astronauts to and from the space station in the ¾ It serves as a microgravity and space environment future. research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, ¾ NASA’s Commercial Crew Program: astronomy, meteorology, and other fields. € Its main objective is tomake access to space easier ¾ Continuous presence at ISS has resulted in the longest in terms of its cost, so that cargo and crew can be continuous human presence in low earth orbit. easily transported to and from the ISS, enabling ¾ It is expected to operate until 2030. greater scientific research. ¾ Recently, the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos € Through this program, NASA plans to lower its launched its biggest space laboratory named Nauka costs by sharing them with commercial partners to the International Space Station (ISS). such as Boeing and SpaceX.

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z An autoimmune disease is a condition in which ‘Ashwagandha’ your immune system mistakenly attacks your in Covid-19 Recovery body. ¾ Potential of Ashwagandha: Why in News € The study suggests Ashwagandha as a potential therapeutic candidate foralleviating the long-term Recently, India and the UK have collaborated to symptoms of Covid-19. conduct a study on ‘Ashwagandha (AG)’ for promoting € Recently, a number of randomised placebo-con- recovery from Covid-19. trolled trials of AG in humans in India had demon- ¾ After the trial’s success, ‘Ashwagandha’ will be a strated its efficacy in reducing anxiety and stress, proven medicinal treatment to prevent infection and improving muscle strength and reducing symptoms be recognised by the scientific community worldwide. of fatigue in patients treated for chronic conditions. ¾ This is the first time that the Ministry of Ayush has z A randomized controlled trial is a prospective, collaborated with a foreign institution to investigate comparative, quantitative study/experiment its efficacy on Covid-19 patients. performed under controlled conditions with random allocation of interventions to comparison groups. ¾ Clinical Trials: € Clinical trials in humans are classified into three phases: phase I, phase II and phase III and in certain countries formal regulatory approval is required to undertake any of these studies. z The phase I clinical studies carry out initial testing of a vaccine in small numbers (e.g. 20) of healthy adults, to test the properties of a vaccine, its tolerability, and, if appropriate, clinical Key Points laboratory and pharmacological parameters. ¾ About Ashwagandha: Phase I studies are primarily concerned with safety. € Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a medicinal herb. It is reputed as an immunity enhancer. z Phase II studies involve larger numbers of subjects and are intended to provide preliminary € It is classified asan adaptogen, which means that information about a vaccine’s ability to produce it can help the body to manage stress. its desired effect (usually immunogenicity) in € Ashwagandha also boosts brain function and lowers the target population and its general safety. blood sugar and helps fight symptoms of anxiety z Extensive phase III trials are required to fully and depression. assess the protective efficacy and safety of a € Ashwagandha has shown clinical success in treating vaccine. The phase III clinical trial is the pivotal both acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis. study on which the decision on whether to grant z Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune the licence is based and sufficient data have to disease that can cause joint pain and damage be obtained to demonstrate that a new product throughout your body. is safe and effective for the purpose intended.

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Environment and Ecology

Highlights z Oil Spills z Climate Change 2021 Report: IPCC z Kaziranga National Park: Assam z India Plastics Pact z Four New Ramsar Sites: India’s Wetlands z Stubble Burning z Ban on Single-Use Plastic z Net Zero Carbon Targets and Climate Change: Oxfam Report z Olympian Bat z Red Tide z World Lion Day, 2021 z Dairy Sector and Climate Change z Skyglow: Light Pollution z Pangolin z New Frog Species: Minervarya Pentali z Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle z Ozone Levels Exceeding Permitted Levels z Plastic-Mixed Handmade Paper z World Elephant Day z Greater Adjutant Storks (Garuda) z Atlantic Ocean Current System: AMOC z India Needs an Updated Flood Map

storage facilities, but also occur from recreational Oil Spills boats and natural disasters. ¾ Environmental Impacts: Why in News € Threat to Indigenous people: A new study has confirmed thatStimulating Bacteria z Oil pollution poses health hazards for the (Bioremediation) with nutrients in the cold seawaters of indigenous population who depend on seafood. the Canadian Arcticcan help decompose diesel and Other € Harmful to aquatic life: Petroleum Oil after Oil Spills. z Oil on ocean surfaces is harmful to many forms ¾ Earlier in 2020, the National Institute of Ocean of aquatic life because it prevents sufficient Technology (NIOT), Chennai developed an Eco-Friendly amounts of sunlight from penetrating the Crude Oil Bioremediationmechanism technology. surface, and it also reduces the level of dissolved oxygen. Key Points € Hypothermia: ¾ Oil-Spill: z Crude oil ruins the insulating and waterproofing € An oil spill refers to any uncontrolled release of properties of feathers and fur of birds, and crude oil, gasoline, fuels, or other oil by-products thus oil-coated birds and marine mammals into the environment. may die from hypothermia (decrease in body temperature to below-normal levels). € Oil spills can pollute land, air, or water, though it is mostly used for oceanic oil spills. € Toxic: ¾ Major Causes: z Moreover, ingested oil can be toxic to affected animals, and damage their habitat and € Oil spills have become a major environmental reproductive rate. problem, chiefly as a result of intensified petroleum exploration and production on continental shelves € Threat to Mangroves: and the transport of large amounts of oils in vessels. z Saltwater marshes and Mangroves frequently suffer from oil spills. € Oil spills that happen in rivers, bays and the ocean most often are caused by accidents involving ¾ Economic Impacts: tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries, drilling rigs and € Tourism:

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z If beaches and populated shorelines are fouled, z It gives the Indian Coast Guard the mandate to tourism and commerce may be severely affected. coordinate with state departments, ministries, € Power Plants: port authorities and environmental agencies to assist in oil spill cleaning operations. z The power plants and other utilities that depend on drawing or discharging sea water € In 2015 India ratified the International Convention are severely affected by oil spills. on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 (Bunker Convention). Convention ensures € Fishing: adequate, prompt and effective compensation z Major oil spills are frequently followed by the for damage caused by oil spills. immediate suspension of commercial fishing. z It was administered by the International ¾ Remedies: Maritime Organization (IMO). € Bioremediation: z Bacteria can be used to clean up oil spills in Kaziranga the ocean through bioremediation. Specific bacteria can be used to bioremediate specific National Park: Assam contaminants, such as hydrocarbons, which are present in oil and gasoline. Why in News z Using bacteria such as Paraperlucidibaca, Kaziranga has become the first in the country to use Cycloclasticus, Oleispira, Thalassolituus satellite phones, which are generally used by the law- and some others can help remove Zhongshania enforcing agencies. several classes of contaminants. ¾ The satellite phones will give an edge to the forest € Containment Booms: personnel over the poachers and also during z Floating barriers, called booms, are used to emergencies like floods. restrict the spread of oil and to allow for its ¾ The public is barred from using satellite phones in recovery, removal, or dispersal. India. Satellite phones can connect from anywhere € Skimmers: as they are directly connected to satellites around z They are devices used for physically separating the world and do not depend on terrestrial mobile spilled oil from the water’s surface. networks, as cellphones do. € Sorbents: Key Points z Various sorbents (e.g., straw, volcanic ash, and shavings of polyester-derived plastic) that absorb ¾ Location: the oil from the water are used. € It is located in the State of Assam and covers 42,996 € Dispersing agents: Hectare (ha). It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra z These are chemicals that contain surfactants, or Valley floodplain. compounds that act to break liquid substances ¾ such as oil into small droplets. They accelerate Legal Status: its natural dispersion into the sea. € It was declared as a National Park in 1974. ¾ Related Laws in India: € It has been declared a Tiger Reserve since 2007. It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km with € Presently, there is no law covering oil spill as such a core area of 430 sq. km. and its consequential environmental damage in India but India has “the National Oil Spill Disaster ¾ International Status: Contingency Plan of 1996 (NOS-DCP)” to handle € It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site such situations. in 1985. z The document was issued by the Ministry of € It is recognized as An Important Bird Area by Bird Defense in 1996; it was last updated in March Life International. 2006. ¾ Biodiversity:

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€ It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos. International network to promote conservation and z Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest sustainable development of wetlands in the South density of one-horned rhinos in the world and Asia region. second highest number of Rhinos in Assam after Kaziranga National Park. Key Points € Much of the focus of conservation efforts in ¾ About Wetlands: Kaziranga are focused on the ‘big four’ species— € Wetlands are ecosystems saturated with water, Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal Tiger and Asiatic either seasonally or permanently. water buffalo. € They include mangroves, marshes, rivers, lakes, z The 2018 census had yielded 2,413 rhinos and deltas, floodplains and flooded forests, rice- approximately 1,100 elephants. fields, coral reefs, marine areas no deeper than z As per the figures oftiger census conducted in 6 metres at low tide, as well as human-made 2014, Kaziranga had an estimated 103 tigers, wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds the third highest population in India after Jim and reservoirs. Corbett National Park (215) in Uttarakhand € Though they cover only around 6% of the Earth’s and Bandipur National Park (120) in Karnataka. land surface, 40% of all plant and animal species € Kaziranga is also home to 9 of the 14 species of live or breed in wetlands. primates found in the Indian subcontinent. New Ramsar Sites ¾ Rivers and Highways: ¾ Recently, the Ramsar Convention has designated € National Highway 37 passes through the park area. four new wetlands in India, as wetlands of global € The park also has more than 250 seasonal water importance. It is an international treaty for the bodies, besides the Diphlu River running through it. conservation and wise use of wetlands. ¾ Other National Parks in Assam are: € Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary, the largest wetland € Manas National Park, in Haryana is a human-made freshwater wetland. € Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, € Sultanpur National Park from Haryana supports € Nameri National Park, more than 220 species of resident, winter € Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park. migratory and local migratory waterbirds at critical stages of their life cycles. € Dehing Patkai National Park. € Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat lies on € Raimona National Park. the Central Asian Flyway and more than 320 bird species can be found here. Four New Ramsar € Wadhwana Wetland from Gujarat is internationally Sites: India’s Wetlands important for its birdlife as it provides wintering ground to migratory waterbirds, including over 80 species that migrate on the Central Asian Flyway. Why in News ¾ These wetlands are home to endangered bird species Recently, four more Indian sites - two each from like Egyptian Vulture, Saker Falcon, Sociable Lapwing, Haryana and Gujarat - have been recognised as wetlands and the near threatened Dalmatian Pelican. of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. ¾ With this, the number of Ramsar sites in India are 46. ¾ Further, according to recent estimates by Wetlands International South Asia, nearly 30% of the natural ¾ Role of Urban Wetlands: wetlands in India have been lost in the last three € Historical Importance: The value of wetlands, decades. Majorly, the loss of Wetlands is more especially in urban settings, is evidenced through prominent in Urban areas. our history. ¾ Wetlands International South Asia was established in z In southern India, the cholas, the Hoysalas built 1996, with an office in New Delhi, as a part of Wetlands tanks all over the state.

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€ Multi-layered Role: Wetlands not only support Deforestation ¾ Removal of vegetation in the high concentrations of biodiversity, but also offer a catchment leads to soil erosion wide range of important resources and ecosystem and siltation. services like food, water, fiber, groundwater Pollution ¾ Unrestricted dumping of sewage and recharge, water purification, flood moderation, toxic chemicals from industries has storm protection, erosion control, carbon storage polluted many freshwater wetlands. and climate regulation. Salinization ¾ Over withdrawal of groundwater € Liquid Assets of Cities: They serve as special has led to salinization. attributes contributing to the cultural heritage, and have deep connections with a city’s ethos. Aquaculture ¾ Demand for shrimps and fishes has provided economic incentives to z The value of wetlands in securing local livelihoods convert wetlands and mangrove through activities such as fishing, farming and forests to develop pisciculture and tourism, is incomparable. aquaculture ponds. ¾ Major Threats to Wetlands: Introduced ¾ Indian wetlands are threatened by Urbanization ¾ Wetlands near urban centres are species exotic introduced plant species such under increasing developmental as water hyacinth and salvinia. They pressure for residential, industrial clog waterways and compete with and commercial facilities. native vegetation. Anthropo- ¾ Due to unplanned urban and agri- Climate ¾ Increased air temperature; shifts in genic cultural development, industries, change precipitation; increased frequency activities road construction, impoundment, of storms, droughts, and floods; resource extraction and dredge dis- increased atmospheric carbon posal, wetlands have been drained dioxide concentration; and sea level and transformed, causing substantial rise could also affect wetlands. economic and ecological losses in ¾ Issues in Wetland Conservation: the long term. € Major regulatory bodies like the Central Wetland Agricultural ¾ Following the Green Revolution of Regulatory Authority had limited impact as they activities the 1970s, vast stretches of wetlands only have advisory powers. have been converted to paddy fields. € Additionally, existing laws ignore the participation ¾ Construction of a large number of local communities in governing and monitoring of reservoirs, canals and dams to wetlands. provide for irrigation significantly € Further, cities are unable to cater to the water altered the hydrology of the asso- demand due to a policy vacuum as there is no ciated wetlands. well-defined ‘National Urban Water Policy’ to Hydrologic ¾ Construction of canals and diversion guide urban water management. activities of streams and rivers to transport € In addition to urbanisation needs, lack of awareness water to lower arid regions for and knowledge on wetlands and their ecosystem irrigation has altered the drainage services can be blamed for this widespread loss. pattern and significantly degraded the wetlands of the region. Global Wetland Conservation Initiatives ¾ Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary, Loktak ¾ The Ramsar convention Lake, Chilika Lake, Vembanad Kole ¾ Montreux Record are among those severely impacted ¾ World Wetland Day by dams that affect water and silt ¾ Cities4Forests global campaign: It works closely flows. with cities around the world to connect with forests,

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emphasizes the importance of wetlands and their z For banning other plastic commodities in the multiple benefits to help combat climate change future, other than those that have been listed and protect biodiversity in cities. in this notification, the government has given industry ten years from the date of notification Conservation Efforts by India for compliance. ¾ National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems z The permitted thickness of the plastic bags, (NPCA) currently 50 microns, will be increased to 75 ¾ Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, microns from 30th September, 2021, and to 120 2017 microns from the 31st December, 2022. ¾ ISRO carried out the National Wetland Inventory „ Plastic bags with higher thicknessare more and Assessment using remote sensing satellites easily handled as waste and have higher from 2006 to 2011 and mapped around two lakh recyclability. wetlands in India. € Legal Framework for Banning Plastic:Currently, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale Ban on Single-Use Plastic and use of carry bags and plastic sheets less than 50 microns in thickness in the country. Why in News z Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, Recently, the Ministry Of Environment Forest And 2021 amend the 2016 rules. Climate Change has notified the Plastic Waste Manage- € Implementing Agency: The Central Pollution ment Amendment Rules, 2021. Control Board, along with state pollution bodies, ¾ These rules prohibit specificsingle-use plastic items will monitor the ban, identify violations, and which have “low utility and high littering potential” impose penalties already prescribed under the Environmental Protection Act,1986. by 2022. ¾ Compostable Plastics: Key Points € Instead of using plastic made from petrochemicals ¾ About: and fossil fuels, compostable plastics are derived from renewable materials like corn, potato, and € New Rules: tapioca starches, cellulose, soy protein, and lactic z The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, acid. sale and use of the identified single-use plastic € These are non-toxic and decompose back into car- st will be prohibited with effect from the 1 July, bon dioxide, water, and biomass when composted. 2022. z The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.

¾ Single Use Plastics and Reasons for the Ban: € Single-use plastics, ordisposable plastics, are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. € Plastic is so cheap and convenient that it has replaced all other materials from the packaging industry but it takes hundreds of years to disintegrate.

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z If we look at the data, out of 9.46 million tonnes ¾ Bats belonging to the Nathusius’ pipistrelle species of plastic waste generated every year in our typically weigh less than 10 grams. country, 43% is single use plastic. € They are known to migrate from summer breeding € Further, Petroleum-based plastic is non biode- grounds in northeastern Europe to warmer areas gradable and usually goes into a landfill where of the continent where they hibernate in trees it is buried or it gets into the water and finds its in buildings. way into the ocean. ¾ The ‘Olympian’ bat’s record is topped by another bat z In the process of breaking down, it releases from the same species that flew from Latvia to Spain toxic chemicals (additives that were used to in 2019 covering a distance of 2,224 km. shape and harden the plastic) which make their ¾ For climate scientists, the journey is a window into way into our food and water supply. studying bat migration and its connection with € Pollution due to single use plastic items has climate change. become an important environmental challenge ¾ Increased variation in climatic extremes raises the confronting all countries and India is committed possibility of bats emerging from hibernation early to take action for mitigation of pollution caused or at a greater frequency. by littered Single Use Plastics. € That would not only put hibernating bats at risk z At the th 4 United Nations Environment Assembly from depleted energy stores, but could also affect in 2019, India piloted a resolution on addressing the birth and survival of pups. single-use plastic products pollution. ¾ Thus, Nathusius’ pipstrelle’s range expansion is linked € The Prime Minister of India was also conferred the to climate change and future changes in climate will “champions of the earth” award by the United further impact this species. Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2018 for pledging to eliminate all single-use plastic by ¾ The Bat Conservation Trustlaunched a project called 2022. the National Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Project in 2014. € The project aims to improve understanding of the Initiatives to Curb Plastic Waste ecology, current status and conservation threats ¾ Swachh Bharat Mission for Nathusius’ pipistrelles in Great Britain. ¾ India Plastics Pact € One of the goals of this project is to determine ¾ Project REPLAN the migratory origins of this species of bats ¾ Un-Plastic Collective since they might help in understanding its links ¾ GoLitter Partnerships Project to climate change. € There is already some evidence of birds migrating Olympian Bat early because of a warming planet. Hibernation Why in News ¾ It is an inactive state resembling deep sleep in which certain animals living in cold climates pass the winter. Recently, a bat amazed the scientists by flying a ¾ In hibernation, the body temperature is lowered distance of more than 2,000 km from London to the and breathing and heart rates slow down. Pskov region in northwestern Russia. The bat is dubbed as the “Olympian bat” and has generated keen interest ¾ It protects the animal from cold and reduces the in climate scientists. need for food during the season when food is scarce. ¾ Normally, Polar bears, Rodents, and Bats are some Key Points animals that show hibernation. ¾ The bat belongs to the Nathusius’ pipistrelle species ¾ Recently, a new research in zebrafish has demonstrat- of bats. ed how induced hibernation (torpor) may protect ¾ The journey is significant because it is the longest humans from the elements of space, especially one undertaken by a bat from Britain across Europe. radiation, during space flight.

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¾ IUCN status of Nathusius’ pipistrelle species of bats: z Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I Least concern. € Status in India: z India is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion, who World Lion Day, 2021 inhabit the protected territory of Sasan-Gir National Park (Gujarat). Why in News z According to the data from 2020, there are 674 lions in India, which were 523 in 2015. Every year, World Lion day is observed on 10th August ¾ Conservation Efforts: to raise awareness about the conservation of lions. € Project Lion: Six new sites apart from the Kuno- Key Points Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) have been identified under Project Lion that was ¾ About: announced in August 2020, on the lines of Project € The initiative to protect the big cats started in Tiger and Project Elephant. 2013 and the first World Lion Day was celebrated that year. z The programme has been launched for the conservation of the Asiatic Lion, whose last € There has been a decline in 80% of the population remaining wild population is in Gujarat’s Asiatic of lions in the past 100 years. Lion Landscape (ALL). z This is the major reason for the observance € Earlier, the “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” was of the day to protect these wild cats in their launched by the natural habitat. Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was € This also works on the safety measures of the approved for three financial years from 2018 lion communities. to 2021. ¾ Lion: z It envisaged scientific management with the € Scientific Name: Panthera leo involvement of communities in coordination z The lion is divided into two subspecies: the with multi-sectoral agencies for disease control African lion (Panthera leo leo) and the Asiatic and veterinary care for overall conservation of lion (Panthera leo persica). Asiatic lions. € Role in the Animal Kingdom: € The Lion census is conducted once every five years. z Lions hold an indispensable place in the ¾ The other biggest cats found mostly in India, including ecosystem, they are an apex predator of their the Royal Bengal Tiger, Indian leopard, Clouded habitat, responsible for checking the population Leopard, and Snow leopard. of grazers, thus helping in maintaining the ecological balance. z Lions also contribute to keeping the population Skyglow: Light Pollution of their prey healthy and resilient as they target the weakest members of the herd. Thus, Why in News indirectly helping in disease control in the prey A recent study has shown that the Skyglow forces population. dung beetles in the city to abandon the Milky Way as € Threats: Poaching, genetic inbreeding arising from a their compass, they rely instead on earthbound artificial single population inhabiting one place, diseases such lights as beacons. as plague, canine distemper or a natural disaster. € Protection Status: Key Points z IUCN Red List: Vulnerable ¾ About Skyglow: „ Asiatic Lion - Endangered. € The Skyglow, is an omnipresent sheet of light z CITES: Appendix I for populations of India, all across the night sky in and around cities that can other populations are included in Appendix II. block all but the very brightest stars from view.

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€ Effects: z Wastes Energy and Money: „ Lighting that emits too much light or shines when and where it’s not needed is wasteful. Wasting energy has huge economic and environmental consequences. z Disrupting the ecosystem and wildlife: „ Plants and animals depend on Earth’s daily cycle of light and dark rhythm to govern life- sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep and protection from predators. „ Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures including amphibians, birds, € The brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas because of streetlights, security flood- mammals, insects and plants. lights and outdoor ornamental lights cause the 1. Ex: A study has now shown how nocturnal Skyglow. dung beetles are forced to search for cues € This light floods directly into the eyes of the in their immediate surroundings when Nocturnal (active at night) and also into the skies they can no longer navigate using natural and misleads their path. light from the night sky. € ‘Skyglow’ is one of the components of light z Harming human health: pollution. „ Like most life on Earth, humans adhere to ¾ Light Pollution: a Circadian Rhythm — our biological clock € About: — a sleep-wake pattern governed by the z The inappropriate or excessive use of artificial day-night cycle. Artificial light at night can light – known as Light Pollution (LP) – can have disrupt that cycle. serious environmental consequences for humans, ¾ Solutions: wildlife, and our climate. € The simple solution is to reduce animals’ experience z Components of light pollution include: of direct and indirect light pollution: turning off „ Glare: Excessive brightness that causes visual unnecessary lights at night. discomfort € Where lights cannot be turned off, they can be „ Skyglow: Brightening of the night sky over shielded so that they do not shed light into the inhabited areas surrounding environment and sky. „ Light trespass: Light falling where it is not € The International Dark-Skies Association has intended or needed certified more than 130 ‘International Dark Sky „ Clutter: Bright, confusing and excessive Places’, where artificial lighting has been adjusted groupings of light sources. to reduce skyglow and light trespass. However, € Causes: nearly all are in developed countries in the northern z LP is a side effect of industrial civilization. hemisphere. z Its sources include building exterior and interior € Less-developed regions are often both species-rich lighting, advertising, commercial properties, and, currently, less light-polluted, presenting an offices, factories, streetlights, and illuminated opportunity to invest in lighting solutionsbefore sporting venues. animals there are seriously affected.

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¾ The Ghats are often called theGreat Escarpment of New Frog Species: India and are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Minervarya Pentali ¾ High Biodiversity and Endemism are special features of Western Ghats along with the presence Why in News of Evergreen Forests. Recently, a new frog species was discovered in the Western Ghats and named after former DU Vice- Ozone Levels Chancellor and plant geneticist Deepak Pental. Exceeding Permitted Levels

Why in News Recently, a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study has found that ozone levels are exceeding the permitted levels even during winter in Delhi-NCR, making the smog more “toxic”. ¾ Despite the pandemic and lockdowns, more days and locations witnessed higher and longer duration of ozone spells. ¾ CSE is a public interest research and advocacy Key Points organisation based in New Delhi.

¾ The new frog species named Minervarya Pentali Ozone belongs to the . family of Dicroglossidae ¾ Ozone (composed of three atoms of oxygen) is a gas € The family Dicroglossidae comprises 202 species that occurs both in the Earth’s upper atmosphere of semiaquatic frogs distributed by the tropical and at ground level. Ozone can be “good” or “bad” and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia and for health and the environment, depending on its Papua New Guinea. location in the atmosphere. € The family contains large-sized (e.g., genus ¾ The ‘good’ ozone present in the earth’s stratosphere Hoplobatrachus) and dwarf species, with a total layer protects human beings from harmful Ultraviolet length about 30 mm (e.g., genus Nannophrys). (UV) radiation whereas the ground level ozone is ¾ It was discovered from the Western Ghats biodiversity highly reactive and can have adverse impacts on hotspot, extending along the southwest coast of the human health. Indian Peninsula. € Ground level ozone is dangerous for those ¾ This new species is endemic to the southern Western suffering from respiratory conditions and asthma. Ghats. Smog ¾ This species is also among the smallest known ¾ Smog is air pollution that reduces visibility. Minervarya (genus) frogs. ¾ The term “smog” was first used in the early 1900s The Western Ghats to describe a mix of smoke and fog. ¾ These are the mountain ranges running parallel ¾ The smoke usually came from burning coal. Smog is along the western coast of India starting from common in industrial areas, and remains a familiar Gujarat and ending in Tamil Nadu. sight in cities today. Today, most of the smog we ¾ Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu see is Photochemical Smog. and Kerala are the six Indian states covered by € Photochemical smog is produced when sunlight Western Ghats. reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and at least ¾ The mountain range is also a “Hottest Hotspot” one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the of biodiversity. atmosphere.

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to change to include alerts based on the worst € Nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory emissions. VOCs affected area as is the global good practice. are released from gasoline, paints, and many ¾ Government Efforts: cleaning solvents. When sunlight hits these € Development of the National AQI for public chemicals, they form airborne particles and information under the aegis of the Central Pollution ground-level ozone - or smog. Control Board (CPCB). AQI has been developed for eight pollutants viz. PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Key Points Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and ¾ Now a Year-round Menace: carbon monoxide. € Contrary to the notion that Ozone is a summer € The introduction of BS-VI vehicles, push for phenomenon, it has been found that gas has electric vehicles (EVs), Odd-Even as an emergency emerged as an equally strong concern during measure and construction of the Eastern and winter as well. Western Peripheral Expressways to reduce vehicular pollution. ¾ Occasional Exceedance: € Implementation of the Graded Response Action € The city-wide average largely remains within the Plan (GRAP) to tackle the rising pollution in the standard with just occasional exceedance. But Capital. It includes measures like shutting down the ‘good’ category days have fallen to 115 days in thermal power plants and a ban on construction 2020, which is 24 days less than in 2019 in Delhi. activities. € A location-wise analysis shows that exceeding € Launch of the National Clean Air Programme the eight-hour average standard is quite widely (NCAP): In order to deal with the issue of air distributed in the city. pollution in a comprehensive manner at national € Even smaller towns of NCR, including Bulandshahr level, the government came up with the National in Uttar Pradesh and Bhiwani in Haryana,appeared Clean Air Programme (NCAP) with the goal to in the top 20 list of ozone-afflicted towns and meet average ambient air quality standards at all cities.South Delhi locations dominate the list with locations in the country. four mentions in top 10. ¾ Suggestions: World Elephant Day € The study shows that the transport sector is the highest contributor to NOx and VOCs, hence there is a need to take strong action on these Why in News high emitters of NOx and VOCs including vehicles On the occasion of World Elephant Day (12th August) and other industries. the Union Environment Minister made public the € Ozone levels are found to be exceeding the mark population estimation protocol to be adopted in the of 100 μg/m3 even during winter and are highly all-India elephant and tiger population estimation in sensitive to solar radiation. Reducing the gases 2022. will also reduce secondary particles formed from ¾ World Elephant Day was launched in 2012 to bring these gases. attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African € Ozone is now a round-the-year problem that is elephants. urgent and the situation demands refinement Key Points of a clean air action plan to add strategies for ozone mitigation, with stronger action on vehicles, ¾ Current Data on Elephants in India: industry and waste burning. € According to the last count in 2017, there were € It is important to calibrate AQI (Air Quality Index) 29,964 elephants in India. Which is a slight increase to report the most polluted eight-hour average from 2012’s mean of 29,576 elephants. of the day, ideally making it an hourly alert. Also ¾ Asian Elephants: the current practice of only city averaging needs € About:

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z There are three subspecies of Asian elephant € The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants which are the Indian, Sumatran and Sri Lankan. (MIKE) programme, launched in 2003, is an z The Indian subspecies has the widest range international collaboration that tracks trends in and accounts for the majority of the remaining information related to the illegal killing of elephants elephants on the continent. from across Africa and Asia, to monitor effectiveness z Global Population:Estimated 20,000 to 40,000. of field conservation efforts. € Protection Status: € Project Elephant: It is a centrally sponsored and was launched in February 1992 for z IUCN Red List: Endangered. scheme the protection of elephants, their habitats and z Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I. corridors. z CITES: Appendix I z The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate ¾ African Elephants: Change provides financial and technical support € About: to major elephant range states in the country z There are two subspecies of African elephants, through the project. the Savanna (or bush) elephant and the Forest € Even mahouts (people who work with, ride and tend elephant. an elephant) and their families play an important z Global Population:Around 4,00,000. part in the welfare of elephants. z Earlier in July 2020, Botswana (Africa) witnessed € Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 2011 the death of hundreds of elephants. order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris € Protection Status: elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of z IUCN Red List Status: the animals and the closure of resorts in the area. „ African Savanna Elephant: Endangered. „ African Forest Elephant: Critically Endangered Atlantic Ocean z CITES: Appendix II Current System: AMOC ¾ Concerns: € Escalation of poaching. Why in News € Habitat loss. According to the recently released IPCC’s Report, € Human-elephant conflict. Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) is € Mistreatment in captivity. losing its stability and is very likely to decline over the € Abuse due to elephant tourism. 21st century. € Rampant mining, Corridor destruction. ¾ The ocean has an interconnected current, or circu- ¾ Steps Taken for Conservation: lation, system powered by wind, tides, the Earth’s € Plans and programmes to arrest their poachers rotation Coriolis( effect), the sun (solar energy), and and killers. water density differences. € Declaration andestablishment of various elephant Key Points reserves across the states. For example, Mysuru and Dandeli elephant reserves in Karnataka. ¾ About AMOC: € Cleaning areas from lantana and eupatorium € It is a large system of ocean currents. (invasive species) as they prevent the growth of € It is the Atlantic branch of the ocean conveyor grass for elephants to feed on. belt or ThermoHaline Circulation (THC), and € Barricades to prevent man-elephant conflicts. distributes heat and nutrients throughout the € Measures for establishment of a cell to study forest world’s ocean basins. fire prevention. ¾ Working of AMOC: € Gaj Yatra which is a nationwide awareness campaign € AMOC carries warm surface waters from the to celebrate elephants and highlight the necessity tropics towards the Northern Hemisphere, where of securing elephant corridors. it cools and sinks.

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€ It then returns to the tropics and then to the Ocean Currents South Atlantic as a bottom current.From there it ¾ About: is distributed to all ocean basins via the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. € Ocean currents are located at the ocean surface and in deep water below 300 meters. They can z The ACC is the most important current in the move water horizontally and verticallyand occur Southern Ocean, and the only current that on both local and global scales. flows completely around the globe. ¾ Surface Currents: ¾ Implications of decline of AMOC: € Surface currents in the ocean are driven by global € Without a proper AMOC and Gulf Stream, Europe will be very cold. wind systems that are fueled by energy from the sun. Patterns of surface currents are determined z Gulf Stream, a part of the AMOC, is a warm by wind direction, Coriolis forces from the Earth’s current responsible for mild climate at the rotation, and the position of landforms that interact Eastern coast of North America as well as Europe. with the currents. € An AMOC shutdown would cool the northern € Surface wind-driven currents generate upwelling hemisphere and decrease rainfall over Europe. currents in conjunction with landforms, creating € It can also have an effect on theEl Nino. deepwater currents. z El Nino is a climate patternthat describes the z Upwelling is a process in which deep, cold water unusual warming of surface waters in the rises toward the surface. eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. € Along the east coast of the US, the Gulf Stream € It can also shiftmonsoons in South America and carries warm water from the equatorial region to Africa. the North Atlantic Ocean, keeping the southeast ¾ Causes: coast relatively warm. € Climate models have long predicted that global z Along the west coast of the US, the California warming can cause a weakening of the major Current carries cold water from the polar region ocean systems of the world. southward, keeping the west coast relatively € Freshwater inflow from the melting of the cooler than the east coast. Greenland ice sheet. € Gyre, is a vast circular system made up of ocean z In July 2021, that a researchers noted part of currents that spirals about a central point. the Arctic’s ice called “Last Ice Area” has also z Such as the Gulf Stream–North Atlantic–Norway melted. Current in the Atlantic Ocean and the Kuroshio– z The freshwater from the melting ice reduces North Pacific Current in the Pacific Ocean. the salinity and density of the water. ¾ Deep Water Currents: z Now, the water is unable to sink as it used to and weakens the AMOC flow. € Currents may also be caused by density differences in water masses due to temperature (thermo) and € Indian Ocean may also be helping the slowing down of AMOC. salinity (haline) variations via a process known as thermohaline circulation. € Increasing precipitation and river run-off. ¾ Importance of AMOC: € It plays a critical role in redistributing heat and regulating weather patterns around the world. ¾ Concerns: € The AMOC decline is not just a fluctuation or a linear response to increasing temperatures but likely means the approaching of a critical threshold beyond which the circulation system could collapse.

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€ These currents move water masses through the deep ocean—taking nutrients, oxygen, and heat with them. ¾ Conveyor Belt: € Density differences in ocean watercontribute to a global-scale circulation system, also called the global conveyor belt. It includes both surface and deep ocean currents that circulate the globe in a 1,000-year cycle. € The global conveyor belt’s circulation is the result of two simultaneous processes: warm surface currents carrying less dense water away from the Equator toward the poles, and cold deep ocean currents carrying denser water away from the poles toward the Equator. € The ocean’s global circulation system plays a key role in distributing heat energy,regulating weather and climate, and cycling vital nutrients and gases.

Climate Change € The last decade was hotter than any period of 2021 Report: IPCC time in the past 1,25,000 years. Global surface temperature was 1.09°C higher in the decade Why in News between 2011-2020 than between 1850-1900. € This is the first time that the IPCC has said that Recently, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate the 1.5°C warming was inevitable even in the released the first part of its Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment best case scenario. Report (AR6) titled Climate Change 2021: The Physical ¾ Carbon dioxide (CO ) Concentrations: Science Basis. 2 € They are the highest in at least two million years. ¾ It is prepared by the scientists of Working Group-I. Humans have emitted 2,400 billion tonnes of CO The two remaining parts would be released in 2022. 2 since the late 1800s. ¾ It noted that global net-zero by 2050 was the minimum € Most of this can be attributed to human activities, required to keep the temperature rise to 1.5 degree

Celsius. particularly the burning of fossil fuels. z The effect of human activities has ¾ It sets the stage for the Conference of Parties (CoP) warmed the 26 conference in November 2021. climate at a rate unprecedented in 2,000 years. € The world has already depleted 86% of it’s available Key Points carbon budget. ¾ Average Surface Temperature: ¾ Impact of Global Warming: € The average surface temperature of the Earth will € Sea- Level Rise: cross 1.5 °C over pre-industrial levels in the next z Sea-level rise has tripled compared with 1901- 20 years (By 2040) and 2°C by the middle of the 1971. The Arctic Sea ice is the lowest it has been century without sharp reduction of emissions. in 1,000 years. z In 2018, the IPCC’s Special Report Global z Coastal areas will see continued sea-level rise Warming of 1.5°C had estimated that two-fifths throughout the 21st century, resulting incoastal of the global population lived in regions with erosion and more frequent and severe flooding warming above 1.5°C. in low-lying areas.

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z About 50% of the sea level rise is due to thermal z In the Indian Ocean, the sea temperature is expansion (when water heats up, it expands, heating at a higher rate than other areas, and thus warmer oceans simply occupy more space). therefore may influence other regions. € Precipitation & Drought: ¾ Net- Zero Emissions: z Every additional 0.5 °C of warming willincrease € About: hot extremes, extreme precipitation and z It means that all man-made​ greenhouse gas drought. Additional warming will also weaken emissions must be removed from the atmo- the Earth’s carbon sinks present in plants, soils, sphere through reduction measures, thus and the ocean. reducing the Earth’s net climate balance, after € Heat Extremes: removal via natural and artificial sink, to zero. z Heat extremes have increased while cold z This way humankind would be carbon neutral extremes have decreased, and these trends will and global temperature would stabilise. continue over the coming decades over Asia. € Current Situation: € Receding Snowline & Melting Glaciers: z Several countries, more than 100, have already z Global Warming will have a serious impact on announced their intentions to achieve net- mountain ranges across the world, including zero emissions by 2050. These include major the Himalayas. emitters like the United States, China and the z The freezing level of mountains are likely to European Union. change and snowlines will retreat over the z India, the third largest emitter in the world, has coming decades. been holding out, arguing that it was already z Retreating snowlines and melting glaciers is a doing much more than it was required to do, cause for alarm as this can cause a change in performing better, in relative terms, than other the water cycle, the precipitation patterns, countries. increased floods as well as an increased scarcity „ Any further burden would jeopardise its of water in the future in the states across the continuing efforts to pull its millions out Himalayas. of poverty. z The level of temperature rise in the mountains z IPCC has informed that a global net-zero by and glacial melt is unprecedented in 2,000 2050 was the minimum required to keep the years. The retreat of glaciers is now attributed temperature rise to 1.5°C. Without India, this to anthropogenic factors and human influence. would not be possible. ¾ Indian Sub-continent Specific Findings: „ Even China, the world’s biggest emitter, has € Heatwaves: Heatwaves and humid heat stress a net-zero goal for 2060. will be more intense and frequent during the 21st century over South Asia. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ¾ It is the € Monsoon: Changes in monsoon precipitation are international body for assessing the science also expected, with both annual and summer related to climate change. monsoon precipitation projected to increase. ¾ It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological z The South West Monsoon has declined over Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment the past few decades because of the increase Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with of aerosols, but once this reduces, we will regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate experience heavy monsoon rainfall. change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. € Sea Temperature: The Indian Ocean, which includes the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, has warmed ¾ IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for faster than the global average. governments at all levels to develop climate related policies, and they underlie negotiations at the UN z The sea surface temperature over Indian ocean is likely to increase by 1 to 2 °C when there is Climate Conference – the United Nations Framework 1.5°C to 2°C global warming. Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

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IPCC Assessment Reports Key Points ¾ Every few years (about 7 years), the IPCC produces ¾ About: assessment reports that are the most comprehensive € The India Plastics Pact is an ambitious,collaborative scientific evaluations of the state of earth’s climate. initiative that aims to bring together businesses, ¾ So far, five assessment reports have been produced, governments and NGOs across the whole value the first one being released in 1990. The fifth chain to set time-bound commitmentsto reduce assessment report had come out in 2014 in the plastics from their value chains. run up to the climate change conference in Paris. € While the India Plastics Pactwill be active in India, ¾ The Assessment Reports - by three working groups it will link globally with other Plastics Pacts. of scientists. € The Pact will develop a road map for guidance, € Working Group-I - Deals with the scientific basis form action groups composed of members, and for climate change. initiate innovation projects. € Working Group-II - Looks at the likely impacts, z Members’ accountability is ensured through vulnerabilities and adaptation issues. ambitious targets and annual data reporting. € Working Group-III - Deals with actions that can € The vision, targets and ambition of the India be taken to combat climate change. Plastics Pact arealigned with the circular economy principles of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s India Plastics Pact New Plastics Economy. ¾ Aim: Why in News € The Pact aims to transform the current linear plastics system into a circular plastics economy The India Plastics Pact, the first in Asia, will be launched that will: in September in collaboration withConfederation of Indian z Reduce the use of problematic plastics, Industries (CII) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). z Retain valuable materials in the economy for ¾ Recently, a report published on closing the plastic use in other products, circular Gap, suggested that there is a dire need to z Generate jobs, investment and opportunities make large scale global interventions to manage plastic waste. in the plastics system in India. € It aims to promote public-private collaborations Plastic Pacts that enable solutions to eliminate the plastics we ¾ The Plastics Pacts are business-led initiatives and do not need, bring innovation to packaging design, transform the plastics packaging value chain for all and to capture the value of the plastics we use. formats and products. ¾ Need for Plastic Pacts: ¾ The Pacts bring together everyone from across the € Indian Scenario: plastics value chain to implement practical solutions. z India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic ¾ All Pacts unite behind four targets: waste annually. € To eliminate unnecessary and problematic plastic z 40% plastic waste goes uncollected. packaging through redesign and innovation; z 43% of all plastics produced in India are used for € To ensure all plastic packaging is reusable or packaging, majority of them being single-use. recyclable, z However, viewed from the angle of livelihoods, € To increase the reuse, collection, and recycling post-consumer segregation, collection and of plastic packaging, disposal of plastics make up about half of the € And to increase recycled content in plastic income of 1.5- 4 million waste-pickers in India. packaging. € Global Scenario: ¾ The first Plastics Pact was launched in the U.K. in z Mismanagement of more than 7.7 billion 2018. metric tonnes of plastic waste globally over

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the next 20 years is expected, which is equi- valent to 16-times the weight of the human Stubble Burning population. „ Among the many applications of plastic, Why in News plastic packaging is the largest. Recently, some experts advised that the govern- z A 2019 report by the Center for International ment should speed up implementation of alternatives Environmental Law suggests that by 2050, to stubble burning. greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could ¾ The centre, facing criticism from farmers protesting reach over 56 gigatonnes, 10-13% of the against the farm laws, had committed to removing remaining carbon budget. a clause in the Air Commission Bill, 2021 that would ¾ Expected Outcome: penalise farmers for burning stubble, an important € It can be expected to boost demand for recycled contributor to noxious air quality. content, investments in recycling infrastructure, jobs in the waste sector, and beyond. Key Points € The Pact will support the Extended Producer ¾ About: Responsibility framework of the government and € Stubble (parali) burning is the act of setting fire improve solid waste management as envisioned to crop residue to remove them from the field to in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. sow the next crop. € Integral to the Pact’s framework is the involvement € In order to plant the next winter crop (Rabi crop), of the informal waste sector crucial to post- farmers in Haryana and Punjab have to move in a consumer segregation, collection and processing very short interval and if they are late, due to short of plastic waste. winters these days, they might face considerable € Apart from benefits to society and economy, losses. Therefore, burning is the cheapest and delivering the targets will drive circularity of fastest way to get rid of the stubble. plastics and help tackle pollution. z If parali is left in the field, pests like termites € They will lead to significant reduction in greenhouse may attack the upcoming crop. gas emissions. z The precarious economic condition of farmers doesn’t allow them to use expensive mechanised Circular Economy methods to remove stubble. ¾ The circular economy is a model of production € It begins around October and peaks in November, and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, coinciding with the withdrawal of southwest reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing monsoon. materials and products as long as possible. In this ¾ way, the life cycle of products is extended. Major Causes: € ¾ In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. Technology: When a product reaches the end of its life, its z The problem arises due to the use of mechanised materials are kept within the economy wherever harvestingwhich leaves several inches of stubble possible. These can be productively used again and in the fields. again, thereby creating further value. z Earlier, this excess crop was used by farmers for cooking, as hay to keep their animals warm or Principles in Ellen MacArthur even as extra insulation for homes. Foundation’s New Plastics Economy: z But, now the stubble use for such purposes has ¾ It is based on three principles: become outdated. € Design out waste and pollution. € Adverse Impact of Laws: € Keep products and materials in use. z Implementation of the Punjab Preservation of € Regenerate natural systems. Subsoil Water Act (2009) made the time period

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of stubble burning coincident with the onset of winter in Northern India. Net Zero Carbon Targets and z Late transplanting of paddy during Kharif season Climate Change: Oxfam Report to prevent water loss as directed by PPSW Act (2009) had left farmers with little time between Why in News harvesting and preparing the field for the next crop and hence farmers are resorting to the Recently, a report (Tightening the Net) published burning of stubble. by Oxfam International has said that announcing Net € High Silica Content: Zero Carbon Targets may be a dangerous distraction from the priority of cutting carbon emissions. z Rice straw is considered useless as fodder in ¾ the case of non-basmati rice, because of its Many countries like New Zealand, UK, US, China and high silica content. the European Union have set net-zero targets on greenhouse gas emissions to tackle climate change. ¾ Effects of Stubble Burning: ¾ The report emphasises that reducing emissions cannot € Pollution: be considered a substitute for cutting emissions. z Open stubble burning emits large amounts of ¾ Oxfam International is a group of independent non- toxic pollutants in the atmosphere which contain governmental organisations formed in 1995. harmful gases like methane (CH4), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Volatile organic compound Key Point (VOC) and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic ¾ Net-zero: hydrocarbons. € Net-zero, also means carbon neutrality, is a state z After the release in the atmosphere, these in which a pollutants disperse in the surroundings, may country’s emissions are compensated

undergo a physical and chemical transformation by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. and eventually adversely affect human health by causing a thick blanket of smog. z It does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero. That would be € Soil Fertility: gross-zero, which means reaching a state where z Burning husk on the ground destroys the there are no emissions at all, a scenario hard making it less fertile. nutrients in the soil, to comprehend. € Heat Penetration: € One way by which carbon can be absorbed is by z Heat generated by stubble burning penetrates creating carbon sinks. This way, it is even possible into the soil, leading to the loss of moisture for a country to have negative emissions, if and useful microbes. the absorption and removal exceed the actual ¾ Alternatives to Stubble Burning: emissions. € In-Situ Treatment of Stubble – For example crop z Until recently, theAmazon rainforests in South residue management by zero-tiller machine and America, which are the largest tropical forests Use of bio-decomposers. in the world, were carbon sinks. But eastern € Ex-Situ (off site) Treatment –For example use of parts of these forests have started emitting

rice straw as cattle fodder. CO2 instead of absorbing carbon emissions as € Use of Technology – For example Turbo Happy a result of significant deforestation. Seeder (THS) machine, which can uproot the z Bhutan has negative emissions, because it stubble and also sow seeds in the area cleared. absorbs more than it emits. The stubble can then be used as mulch for the ¾ Countries that have announced net-zero Targets field. (Some Examples): € Changing Cropping Pattern – It is the deeper and € The European Union has a plan, called “Fit for more fundamental solution. 55”, to deliver the carbon neutrality goal.

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€ China also announced that it would become net- € May Increase the Demand for Land: zero by the year 2060 and that it would not allow z It could also lead to an explosion in demand for its emissions to peak beyond what they are in 2030. land which, if not subject to careful safeguards, € The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) has released might risk increasing hunger and fueling land its Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Roadmap - named inequality. ‘Net Zero by 2050’. ¾ Findings of the Report: Red Tide € A very big area is needed to control energy sector emissions: Why in News z If the entire energy sector-whose emissions Florida has been battling outbreaks of red tide, continue to soar- were to set similar ‘net-zero’ caused by the algae Karenia brevis, for several years. targets, it would require an area of land nearly ¾ This year’s bloom may have been aggravated due the size of the Amazon rainforest, equivalent to the release of contaminated water into Tampa to a third of all farmland worldwide. Bay earlier. € More Forests required: ¾ Tampa Bay, arm of the Gulf of Mexico, indenting the z If the challenge of change is tackled only by way west coast of Florida, US. of planting more trees, then about 1.6 billion hectares of new forests would be required to Key Points remove the world’s excess carbon emissions ¾ About: by the year 2050. € Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs, occur when € Land-Based Methods can raise food crises: colonies of algae grow out of control and produce z Currently, countries’ plans to cut emissions will toxic or harmful effectson people, fish, shellfish, only lead to a 1% reduction by the year 2030. marine mammals and birds. z Significantly, if only land-based methods € While many people call these blooms ‘red tides,’ (Forestation) to deal with climate change are scientists prefer the term harmful algal bloom. used, food crises are expected to rise even € One of the best known HABs in the US occurs more. Oxfam estimates that they could rise by nearly every summer along Florida’s Gulf Coast. 80% by the year 2050. € Need to cut emissions significantly: z To limit global warming below 1.5°C and to prevent irreversible damage from climate change, the world needs to collectively be on track and should aim to cut emissions by 45% by 2030 from 2010 levels, “with the sharpest being made by the biggest emitters.” ¾ Analysis (Net-Zero vs Climate Change): € ‘Net-Zero’ Reduces the Responsibility of ‘Biggest Emitters’: z Many governments and companies are adopting net zero climate targets as they recognize the urgency of the climate crisis. z Without clear definition, however, these targets risk being reliant on using vast swathes of land in low-income countries to capture carbon emissions, allowing the biggest emitters to avoid making significant cuts in their own emissions.

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z This type of bloom is caused by a species of z Simple treatment options are not effective; dinoflagellate known as Karenia brevis. multiple treatment steps are typically needed € On the other hand, blooms in freshwater lakes to remove algae toxins. and reservoirs are most commonly caused by z Using tertiary sewage treatment methods to blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria). remove phosphate and nitrate before discharging z Blue-green algae blooms have a direct relation to the effluent into rivers and lakes. agricultural and urban runoff.Nutrient pollution € Nitrogen testing & modelling: encourages the growth of cyanobacteria. z N-Testing is a technique to find the optimum ¾ Causes of Algal Blooms: amount of fertilizer required for crop plants. It € Eutrophication: will reduce the amount of nitrogen lost to the surrounding area. z Nutrients promote and support the growth of algae and Cyanobacteria. The Eutrophication € Encouraging organic farming: (nutrient enrichment) of waterways is considered z Reducing the overuse of fertilizers in agriculture as a major factor. and encouraging organic farming can reduce € Temperature: the bulk flow of runoff and can be effective for reducing severe algal blooms. z Blooms are more likely to happen in summer or fall but can occur any time of year. € Reduction in nitrogen emission from vehicles and power plants. € Turbidity: € Reducing the use of phosphates as builders in z Turbidity is caused by the presence of suspended detergents. particles and organic matter in the water column. ¾ Measures to cope with Algal Bloom in India: z When turbidity is low, more light can penetrate through the water column. This creates optimal € Algal Bloom Information Service: ABIS provides conditions for algal growth. timely information on harmful algal blooms, which are detrimental to coastal fisheries, water quality ¾ Implications of Algal Bloom: and also tend to induce respiratory problems € Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can within the coastal population from time to time. sicken or kill people and animals. € ISRO’s Oceansat-2 satellite launched in 2009 can z Fish contaminated with the algae and eaten cover larger areas and provide global ocean colour. by other organisms, including humans, can be harmful to them. z Algal blooms can also impact aquaculture, or Dairy Sector the farming of marine life. and Climate Change € There have also been complaints of respiratory distress in humans due to red tide. Why in News € Algal Blooms deprive aquatic organisms of Sunlight The dairy industry has been a subject of intense and oxygen and negatively impact a variety of debate in recent years, fueled by climate change crisis species that live below the water surface. concerns worldwide as well as the advancement of € Create Dead Zones in the water. various plant-based alternatives claiming to be more z “Dead zone” is a more common term for hypoxia, sustainable replacements. which refers to a reduced level of oxygen in the water. Key Points € Raise treatment costs for drinking water. Hurt ¾ About: industries that depend on clean water. € With the help of White Revolution, India has ¾ Mitigating Risks from HAB: transitioned from amilk-deficient country to the € Multiple treatment of effluent: largest producer of milk globally.

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z The Anand model (Amul), which has been pressure on natural resources, including freshwater replicated across the country, boosted milk and soil. production. z Multinational companies such as Nestle and € Harvesting animals for dairy and animal-based Danone have been accused of promoting products is crucial for food security, poverty water-intensive dairy industry in Punjab and alleviation and other social needs. the neighbouring states, which is fast depleting € However, there are harmful consequences of groundwater. animal harvesting on climate. z Unsustainable dairy farming and feed production can lead to the € Further, animal rearing has been criticized heavily loss of ecologically important by non-profit organisations like People for the areas, such as wetlands, and forests. Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), for performing z The alarming loss of biodiversity is attributed cruelty against animals. to water- and energy-intensive crops needed to feed the cattle. ¾ Importance of Dairy Sector: € Growing Demand: Global demand for dairy € Economic Dependence: Harvesting animals for continues to increase in large part due to dairy and animal-based products in India is a major population growth, rising incomes, urbanization source of livelihood for 150 million dairy farmers. and westernization of diets in countries such as z The dairy sector accounts for 4.2% of the China and India. national gross domestic product. ¾ Others Arguments Against Dairy Sector: z Dairy sector is the second-largest employment € Cruelty Against Animals: Despite guidelines for after agriculture in India. sector appropriate handling of cattle, cruel practices € Social Importance: Dairy products are a rich source continue unabated to boost production efficiencies of essential nutrientsthat contributes to a healthy as demand for dairy and meat continues to grow. and nutritious diet. These include: z With demand for high-quality animal sourced z Artificial insemination, protein increasing globally, the dairy sector is z Widespread use of growth hormones (oxytocin) well placed to contribute to global food security to boost milk production, and poverty reduction through the supply of z Slaughter of male calves, dairy products. z Abandoning cattle that are sterile, ¾ Impact of Dairy Sector on Climate Change: z Selling livestock to slaughterhouses and tanneries € GHG Emission: Agriculture contributes approximately when they can no longer produce milk, etc. 16% of India’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions € Zoonotic Diseases: Animal exploitation through which is released by cattle during dairy farming. animal farming, destruction of natural habitats, z Methane from animal waste contributes about livestock-associated deforestation, hunting and 75% of the total GHG emissions of the dairy trading of wildlife are the leading cause of zoonotic sector. diseases caused by germs that spread between „ Recently, Indian Council of Agricultural animals and humans. Research (ICAR) has developed an anti- z The novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) methanogenic feed supplement ‘Harit Dhara’ pandemic is the latest in the long list of such (HD), which can cut down cattle methane diseases. emissions by 17-20% and can also result in € Food Adulteration: Milk and milk products in India higher milk production. are not free from adulteration. z The three major GHGs emitted from agri-food z A recent Food Safety and Standards Authority systems, namely methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide of India (FSSAI) report revealed the presence (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). of aflatoxin M1 and hormone residues in them € Increasing Pressure on Natural Resources: With beyond permissible limits through unregulated this increasing demand for dairy, there is growing feed and fodder.

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z This led to a variety of lifestyle diseases in humans. ¾ The Proposed Alternative: € Veganism: Veganism is a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and replace it with plant-based products. z In developed countries, the vegan movement is gaining momentum due to ecological and health benefits of plant-based food including milk. z PETA is promoting vegan alternatives to replace animal-based foods. € The Chinese pangolin is distinguished from other € Criticism of Veganism: Amul and its supporters Asian pangolins by its almost helmeted appearance, argue that PETA’s moves may be a ploy for smaller scales than the Indian pangolin. multinational companies to promote synthetic milk and genetically modified seeds through a ¾ Habitat: misinformation campaign. € It is adaptable to a wide range of habitats including z They have raised questions about the suitability primary and secondary tropical forests, limestone of chemical-laden, lab-produced plant-based and bamboo forests, grasslands and agricultural milk for human consumption. fields. ¾ z Further, FSSAI notified that the word ‘milk’ Threats: cannot be used for plant-based dairy alternatives. € Once known to be found in large numbers, its population is rapidly declining in its range due to habitat loss and rampant poaching for its skin, Pangolin scales, and meat. € It is a highly trafficked mammal; due to their huge Why in News demand for medicinal purposes, pangolins are Recently, a pangolin was rescued by a team from smuggled through roads and rails and sent to China. Noida and handed over to the forest department. ¾ Protection Status: € As per International Union for Conservation Key Points of Nature (IUCN), the pangolin is part of the “red ¾ About: list”. € The pangolin, also called scaly anteater, is an z While the Indian pangolin is listed as “endan- elongated, armour-plated insectivore mammal. gered” and the Chinese pangolin has been € It uses these scales as armour to defend itself against listed as “critically endangered”. predators by rolling into a ball when threatened. € All pangolin species are listed in Convention on € Also, a pangolin’s long claws help it to dig the International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) ground for termites, which is its staple food. Appendix I. ¾ Species of Pangolin: € In India, pangolins, both Indian and Chinese, € Seven species of pangolin are found across the are protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife world, of which, two are found in India, namely (Protection) Act 1972. Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and Chinese z Therefore, hunting, trade or any other form of pangolin (Manis pentadactyla). utilisation of the species or their body parts and € The Indian Pangolin is found throughout the derivatives is banned. country south of the Himalayas, excluding the z In India, hunting and poaching can invite prison north-eastern region while the Chinese Pangolin time up to 7 years since it involves maximum ranges through Assam and the eastern Himalayas. protection under the section of the Wildlife Act.

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Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle Plastic-Mixed Handmade Paper

Why in News Why in News In recent years, a lot of effortshave been put by the Recently, Khadi and Village Industries Commission conservationists to save the world’s most endangered (KVIC) has secured Patent registration for its innovative turtle, Swinhoe’s softshell turtle from the brink of Plastic-mixed Handmade Paper developed to reduce extinction. plastic menace from nature. ¾ The animal is also known as the Hoan Kiem turtle or Yangtze giant softshell turtle. Key Points ¾ In Vietnam, these animals have great cultural ¾ The plastic-mixed handmade significance as people in Hanoi revere this creature paper (which is recyclable and as a living god. eco-friendly) was developed under Project REPLAN (RE- ducing PLAstic from Nature). € The project was launched in September 2018 as part of KVIC’s commitment to Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. € It aims to make carry bags by mixing processed and treated plastic waste with cotton fibre rags in the ratio 20:80. € This is the first of its kind project in India, where plastic waste is de-structured, degraded, diluted and used with paper pulp while making handmade paper and thus reduces plastic waste from nature. ¾ The invention is aligned with the Prime Minister’s call Key Points for fighting the menace of single-use plastic. ¾ Scientific Name: Rafetus swinhoei ¾ The production of waste-plastic mixed handmade € These turtles are gray with light gray or yellow paper is likely to serve the twin objectives: spots. € Protecting the environment ¾ Significance: € Creating sustainable employment € Some researchers have highlighted their importance ¾ The technology developed by KVIC uses both high to the seafloor biosystem,where they contribute & low density waste polythene that not only adds by enriching soil nutrients and facilitating seed extra strength to the paper but also reduces the cost dispersion. by up to 34%. ¾ Habitat: ¾ KVIC has developed products such as carry bags, € The natural habitat for these turtles are wetlands envelopes, files/folders, etc. using plastic mixed and large lakes. handmade paper. € Native to China and Vietnam. Patent ¾ Protection Status: ¾ A Patent is a statutory right for an invention granted € IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered for a limited period of time to the patentee by the € CITES: Appendix II Government, in exchange of full disclosure of his ¾ Threats: invention for excluding others, from making, using, € They have been driven to the brink by hunting selling, importing the patented product or process for its meat and eggs, as well as by destruction for producing that product for those purposes of its habitat. without his consent.

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¾ The term of every patent granted is 20 years from the date of filing of application. ¾ The patent system in India is governed by the Patents Act, 1970 as amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005 and the Patents Rules, 2003. ¾ The Patent Rules are regularly amended in conso- nance with the changing environment, most recent being in 2016. ¾ Genus: ¾ Patent protection is a territorial rightand therefore it is effective only within the territory of India. € The greater adjutant is a member of the stork family, Ciconiidae. € There is no concept of global patent. z There are about 20 species in the family. € Patents should be obtained in each country z They are long-necked large birds. where the applicant requires protection of his invention. ¾ Habitat: € Once found across South and Southeast Asia, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Greater Adjutant is one of the most threatened ¾ KVIC is a statutory body established under the Khadi stork species in the world. and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956. € There are only three known breeding grounds – one ¾ The KVIC is charged with the planning, promotion, in Cambodia and two in India (Assam and Bihar). organisation and implementation of programmes ¾ Threat: for the development of Khadi and other village € The widespread destruction and degradation industries in the rural areas in coordination with of the wetlands that this scavenger bird needs other agencies engaged in rural development to forage (i.e. search for food) and the loss of its wherever necessary. nesting trees, led to a decline. ¾ It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and ¾ Protection Status: Medium Enterprises. z IUCN Red List: Endangered ¾ Major initiatives Associated with KVIC: z Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule IV € Honey Mission’ initiative ¾ Significance: € Project BOLD € Religious Icon: € Leather Mission z They are considered the mount of Vishnu, one € Gramodyog Vikas Yojana of Hinduism’s prime deities. € Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojana (KSY) z Some worship the bird and call it “Garuda Maharaj” (Lord Garuda) or “Guru Garuda” Greater (Great Teacher Garuda). € Adjutant Storks (Garuda) Helpful for Farmers: z They help farmers by killing rats and other farm pests. Why in News Recently, Bihar has decided to tag greater adjutant India Needs storks locally known as ‘Garuda’ with GPS trackers to monitor their movement as part of efforts to conserve an Updated Flood Map them. Why in News Key Points Recent occurrences of heavy rainfall leading to ¾ Scientific Name: Leptoptilos dubius flooding across India have shown that flood-prone areas

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in the country go beyond those mentioned in thecentral 1976, to study India’s flood-control measures monitoring map. after the projects launched under theNational ¾ The shift in the flooding patterns and frequencies Flood Control Programme of 1954 failed to demands an updated map of flood-prone areas, achieve much success. factoring in the impacts of climate change. Flood Flood Prone Areas According to NDMA ¾ It is an overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Floods can happen during heavy rains, when ocean waves come on shore, when snow melts quickly, or when dams or levees break. ¾ Damaging flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. Floods can occur within minutes or over a long period, and may last days, weeks, or longer. Floods are the most common and widespread of all weather-related natural disasters. ¾ Flash floods are the most dangerous kind of floods, because they combine the destructive power of a flood with incredible speed. € Flash floods occur when heavy rainfall exceeds the ability of the ground to absorb it. € They also occur when water fills normally dry creeks or streams or enough water accumulates for streams to overtop their banks, causing rapid rises of water in a short amount of time. Key Points € They can happen within minutes of the causative ¾ Flood Prone Areas in India: rainfall, limiting the time available to warn and protect the public. € Regions susceptible to floods, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Management Authority lie mostly along the Ganga-Brahmaputra river ¾ About: basin, from the northern states of Himachal Pradesh € It is the apex statutory body for disaster man- and Punjab, covering Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and agement in India. It was formally constituted in stretching to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the September 2006, in accordance with the Disaster northeast. Management Act, 2005 with the Prime Minister € The coastal states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, as its Chairperson and nine other members, parts of Telangana and Gujarat also witness and one such member to be designated as yearly floods. Vice-Chairperson. ¾ Need of a New Map: ¾ Mandate: € Old Estimation: € To coordinate response to natural or man-made z The current demarcation is based on estimates disasters and for capacity-building in disaster made in 1980 by Rashtriya Barh Ayog (RBA) resiliency and crisis response. or National Flood Commission formed four decades ago. € It is also the apex body to lay down policies, plans and guidelines for Disaster Management to „ National Flood Commission, was set up by ensure timely and effective response to disasters. the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in

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¾ Vision: large periods of no rain followed by extreme precipitation. € To build a safer and disaster resilient India by a holistic, proactive, technology driven and z Extreme rainfall events have tripled in central India between 1950 and 2015, according to the sustainable development strategy that involves all science journal Nature. stakeholders and fosters a culture of prevention, preparedness and mitigation. „ There will be a rise in the frequency of floods in India due to rising temperatures between z Around 40 million hectares of the geographical 2070 and 2100, according to Climate Change area in India is vulnerable to floods, according and India, a report by the Union Ministry of to the RBA. Environment and Forest. z RBA also ascribed the floods to purely anthro- € Increased Downpour: pogenic factors and not heavy downpours. z In recent times, thesouthwest monsoon period € Climate Change: has also been causing massing floods in parts z Over the last four decades, India has been of the country in recent years. reeling from the effects of climate change. z In 2020, 256 districts across 13 states in India The global rise in temperatures has led to reported floods due to excess rainfall.

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Highlights z Rana Punja Bhil z Abanindranath Tagore z Quit India Movement

¾ Bhil community: Rana Punja Bhil € About: z The Bhil are one of the largest tribal groups, Why in News living in Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Recently, a dispute has erupted in Rajasthan over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh the hoisting of a flag on the statue of Rana Punja Bhil, and Rajasthan. considered a historical figure as a hero by the tribal Bhil z They are the biggest tribe in Rajasthan. community. z They are classified as scheduled tribes in ¾ After the Amagarh fort dispute, this is the second Rajasthan. issue in Rajasthan within a month. z The name is derived from the word ‘billu’, Key Points which means bow. z Bhil women wear traditional saris while men ¾ About Rana Punja Bhil: are dressed in long frocks and pyjamas. The € He was a contemporary of th 16 century ruler of woman put on heavy ornaments made of silver, Mewar, Maharana Pratap. brass along with rosaries of beads and silver € He is considered to be a significant character who coins and earrings. bolstered the strength of Pratap during his battles € Importance of the Community: with Mughal emperor Akbar. € When Maharana Pratap was readying for the battle Other Tribes in Rajasthan with Akbar, the tribal Bhil community voluntarily ¾ Sahariyas: came to his assistance and at the time the Bhil € Sahariyas are one of the most backward army was commanded by Punja. Rajasthani tribes. € Owing to his status as a commander, he was ¾ Minas: bestowed the title of Rana. € Minas is the second biggest tribe in Rajasthan. € They are known to be the inhabitants of Indus Valley Civilization. ¾ Gadiya Lohars: € Gadiya Lohars are known to be a small Rajput Rajasthan tribe. ¾ Garasias: € Garasias are another small Rajput Rajasthan tribe. ¾ Others: € There are other Rajasthan tribes also, which include Kathodi (found in Mewar region), Sansi and Kanjar.

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z The Bhil are known to be excellent archers the Labour Party in Britain, led British Prime coupled with deep knowledge about their Minister Winston Churchill to send the Cripps local geography. Mission to India in March 1942. z Traditionally, experts inguerrilla warfare, most z Reasons for Collapse: It failed because it offered of them today are farmers and agricultural India not complete freedom but the Dominion labourers. They are also skilled sculptors. Status to India, along with the partition. z They have exercised significant influence in € Involvement of India in World War II without the Mewar region and throughout the past, prior consultation with the leaders: the Rajput rulers of the region have forged z The British assumption of unconditional support alliances with the tribal group. from India to British in World War II was not taken well by the Indian National Congress. Quit India Movement € Prevalence of anti-British Sentiment: z The anti-British sentiments and demand for Why in News full-independence had gained popularity among indian masses. On 8th Aug 2021, India completed 79 years of Quit € Centralisation of Many Small Movements: India Movement also known as August Kranti. z The two decades of mass movement which were Key Points being conducted on a much more radical tone ¾ About: under the leadership of the various associated and affiliated bodies of the Congress, like All € On 8th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a India Kisan Sabha, Forward Bloc etc. had already clarion call to end the British rule and launched prepared the ground for the movement. the Quit India Movement at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai. z There were militant outbursts happening at several places in the country which got € Gandhiji gave the call “Do or Die” in his speech channelized with the Quit India Movement. delivered at the Gowalia Tank Maidan, now popularly known as August Kranti Maidan. € Shortage of Essential Commodities: z € Aruna Asaf Ali popularly known as the ‘Grand Old The economy was also in shatters as a result Lady’ of the Independence Movement is known of World War II. for hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank ¾ Demands: Maidan in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement. € The demand was to end the British rule in India € The slogan ‘Quit India’ was coined by Yusuf with immediate effect to get the cooperation of Meherally, a socialist and trade unionist who also Indians in World War-II against fascism. served as Mayor of Mumbai. € There was a demand to form a provisional z Meherally had also coined the slogan "Simon government after the withdrawal of the Britishers. Go Back". ¾ Phases: The movement had three phases: ¾ Causes: € First Phase, urban revolt, marked by strikes, boy­ € Failure of Cripps Mission: The immediate cause for cott and picketing, which were quickly suppressed. the movement was the collapse of Cripps Mission. z There were strikes and demonstrations all over z About: Under Stafford Cripps, the mission was the country and workers provided the support sent to resolve the Indian question of a new by not working in the factories. constitution and self-government. z Gandhiji was soon imprisoned at Aga Khan Palace z Reasons Behind Cripps Mission: Japanese in Pune and almost all leaders were arrested. aggression in South-East Asia, keenness of British € In the second phase, the focus shifted to the Government to secure the full participation countryside, which witnessed a major peasant of India in the war, mounting pressure from rebellion, marked by destruction of communication China and the United States, as well as from sys­tems, such as railway tracks and stations,

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telegraph wires and poles, attacks on government € Muslim League, the Communist Party of India buildings or any other visible symbol of colo­nial and the Hindu Mahasabha did not support the authority. movement. The Indian bureaucracy also did not € The last phase witnessed the formation of national support the movement. governments or parallel governments in isolated z The League was not in favour of the British leaving pockets (Ballia, Tamluk, Satara etc.) India without partitioning the country first. z The Communist party supported the British Successes of the Movement since they were allied with the Soviet Union. ¾ Rise of Future Leaders: z The Hindu Mahasabha openly opposed the call € Underground activities were taken by leaders that for the Quit India Movement and boycotted included Ram Manohar Lohia, J.P. Narayan, Aruna it officially under the apprehension that the Asaf Ali, Biju Patnaik, Sucheta Kriplani, etc which movement would create internal disorder and later emerged as prominent leaders. would endanger internal security during the war. ¾ Women Participation: € Meanwhile, Subhas Chandra Bose, organised € Women took active participation in the movement. the Indian National Army and the Azad Hind Female leaders like Usha Mehta helped set up government from outside the country. an underground radio station which led to the € Many Congress members like C Rajagopalachari awakening about the movement. resigned from the provincial legislature as they ¾ Rise of Nationalism: did not favour Mahatma Gandhi’s idea. € A greater sense of unity and brotherhood emerged due to the Quit India Movement. Many students Abanindranath Tagore dropped out of schools and colleges, people gave up their jobs and withdrew money from the Why in News banks. The year-long celebrations marking 150 years of ¾ Paved the way for Independence: Abanindranath Tagore will be started soon, with a host € While the Quit India campaign was crushed in of online workshops and talks paying tributes to the 1944, with the British refusing to grant immediate leading light of the Bengal School of Art. independence, saying it could happen only after the war had ended, they came to the important Key Points realization that India was ungovernable in the long ¾ About: run due to the cost of World War II. € Birth: Abanindranath Tagore took birth in a family € It changed the nature of political negotiations of Tagores of Jorasanko in Kolkata in 1871. with British, ultimately paving the way for India’s independence. z He was a nephew of Rabindranath Tagore. € Abanindranath’s Failure of the Movement Ideology: In his ¾ Brutal Repression: youth, Abanin- dranath received € The movement saw violence at some places which training in Europe- was not premeditated. an and Academic € The movement was violently suppressed by the style from Europe- British– people were shot, lathi-charged, villages an artists. burnt and enormous fines imposed. z However, € Over 1,00,000 people were arrested and the during the last government resorted to violence in order to crush decade of the the agitation. 19th century, ¾ Lack of Support: he developed a

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distaste for European naturalism (which repre- and cultural heritage, they are important sources sented things closer to the way one sees them for studying the modern art movement in India - inspired by the principles of natural science). and for the art historians. z He leaned towards painting images with historic € His unique interpretation of swadeshi themes or literary allusions. He drew inspiration from created a new awakening and heralded a revival Mughal miniatures. of Indian art. z Another source of inspiration came from thevisit € He was the creator of the iconic ‘Bharat Mata’ of the Japanese philosopher and aesthetician painting. Okakura Kakuzo to Kolkata in 1902. € Victoria Memorial Hall is the custodian of the ¾ Contribution to Indian Freedom Struggle: Rabindra Bharati Society collection, the single- € In the last decades of the nineteenth century, a largest collection of works by the artist. new art movement emerged which received its Bengal School of Painting primary stimulus from the growing nationalism ¾ in India. It is also called the Renaissance School or the Revivalist School, as it represented the first modern € In Bengal, a new group of nationalist artists movement of Indian art. gathered around Abanindranath Tagore. ¾ It rediscovered the glories of Indian art and € He was arguably the first major exponent of an consciously tried to produce what it considered artistic idiom that sought tomodernise the Mughal a truly Indian art inspired by the creations of the and the Rajput styles in order to counter the past. influence of Western models of art under the colonial regime. ¾ Its leading artist was Abanindranath Tagore and its theoretician was E.B. Havell, the principal of € Though many of the paintings of this new trend the Calcutta School of Art. primarily focused on themes of Indian mythology

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Highlights z Retreat of Glaciers in Ladakh z Report on Water Resource Management

z Due to continuous rise in the air temperature Retreat of Glaciers in Ladakh in line with the global trend, the melting would increase, and it is possible that the precipitation Why in News of summer periods at higher altitudes will change from snow to rain, and that may influence According to a recent study by the Wadia Institute the summer and winter pattern. of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), the Pensilungpa Glacier ¾ Impact: located in Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley is retreating due to € Impact on Human Life: increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters. z It will impact the water, food, energy security and agriculture, including soil loss due to soil ¾ This study assesses the impact of climate change erosion, landslides and floods. on glaciers. Earlier, the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) also assessed that the z Glacial lakes may also form due to the accumu- lation of melted ice, which may result in Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountain ranges could Glacial and lose up to two-third of its ice by 2100. Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) even shifting global climate by dumping freshwater into the ¾ WIHG is an autonomous body under the Department oceans and so altering their circulation. of Science and Technology located in Dehradun, € Leaves Debris: Uttarakhand. z Glacial retreat leaves boulders and masses of Key Points scraped-together rocky debris and soil called glacial moraines. ¾ Findings: ¾ Initiative for Himalayan Ecosystem: € Rate of Decline: € National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan z The glacier is now retreating at an average rate Ecosystem: It is one of the 8 national missions of 6.7 plus/minus 3 metre per annum. under the National Action Plan on Climate Change z Glaciers may retreat when their ice melts more (NAPCC). quickly than snowfall can accumulate and form new glacial ice. Glacier ¾ € Debris Cover: About: z There is a significant influence of debris cover € It is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline on the mass balance and retreat of the glacier’s ice, snow, rock, sediment, and water that endpoint, especially in summer. originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. They z Furthermore, the mass balance data for the are sensitive indicators of changing climate. three years (2016–2019) showed a negative trend with a small accumulation area ratio. € Out of total water on Earth, 2.1% is in glaciers while 97.2% is in the oceans and inland seas. z Mass balance of the glacier is the difference between the snow accumulated in the winter ¾ Condition of glacier formation: and the snow and ice melted over the summer. € Mean annual temperatures are close to the € Impact of rise in the Air Temperature: freezing point.

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€ Winter precipitation produces significant accumulations of snow. Report on Water € Temperatures throughout the rest of the year do Resource Management not result in the complete loss of the previous winter’s snow accumulation. Why in News ¾ Glacial Landforms: Recently, a report was tabled in Rajya Sabha by the Standing Committee on Water Resources. ¾ The report is titled “Flood Management in the Country including International Water Treaties in the field of Water Resource Management with particular reference to Treaty/Agreement entered into with China, Pakistan and Bhutan”. ¾ The Government of India should renegotiate the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 with Pakistan in the light of present-day challenges such as climate change and Zanskar Valley constantly monitor ‘Chinese actions’ over Brahmaputra. ¾ It is a semi-arid region situated in the northern flank of the Great Himalayas at an altitude of more Key Points than 13 thousand feet. ¾ ¾ The Zanskar Range separates Zanskar from Ladakh On Flood Management: and the average height of the Zanskar Range is € The committee recommended setting up of a about 6,000 m. permanent institutional structure in the form of ¾ This mountain range acts as a climatic barrier National Integrated Flood Management Group protecting Ladakh and Zanskar from most of the under the chairmanship of the Minister of Jal monsoon, resulting in a pleasantly warm and dry Shakti “immediately” for control and management climate in the summer. of floods in the country. ¾ Marbal Pass, Zojila Pass in the extreme northwest of € This group should take up the overall responsibility Zanskar range are two notable passes in the region. of coordination as well as building synergies between ¾ Many rivers start in different branches of this range all agencies responsible for management of floods flow northward, and join the great Indus River. These and their consequences on life and property. rivers include Hanle River, Khurna River, Zanskar ¾ On Indus Water Treaty: River, Suru River (Indus), and Shingo River. € Highlighted Impacts of Climate Change: ¾ The Zanskar river then takes a north-eastern course z Rainfall Pattern: There are instances of more until it joins the Indus in Ladakh. high-intensity rainfall as well as long stretches where there is low rainfall. z Glacial Melt: The contribution of glaciers in the Indus basin is higher than in the Ganges or Brahmaputra basins. z Disasters: Because there is a fragile Himalayan region involved, there is greater frequency of landslides and flash floods. € Utilisation of the Waters of the Indus: z India was able to make full use of the ‘Eastern Rivers’, namely the Ravi, Beas and Satluj through a series of dams such as Ranjit Sagar on the

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se may not lead to diversion of waters, but there is every possibility that water can be stored in pondages and released for running the turbines. z This may lead to certain diurnal variation in downstream flow and as a consequence have an impact on water flows inBrahmaputra river and thus affect India’s endeavours to tap the region’s water resources. € Three hydropower projects on the main stream of Brahmaputra River in Tibet Autonomous Region have been approved by the Chinese authorities and a hydropower project at Zangmu was declared Ravi in Pathankot, Pong on the Beas and Bhakra fully operational by Chinese authorities in October Nangal on the Satluj. 2015. z However, canals in Punjab and Rajasthan such € India should constantly monitor the Chinese actions as the Rajasthan Feeder and the Sirhind Feeder so as to ensure that they do not pursue any major had become old and were not maintained interventions on Brahmaputra river which would properly. This had resulted in the lowering of adversely affect our national interests. their water carrying capacity. € The committee expressed satisfaction at the „ Thus, the water from the Harike Barrage fact that China is sharing hydrological data with on the confluence of the Beas and Satluj in regard to the Brahmaputra and Sutlej, though on Punjab was usually released downstream payment basis. into Pakistan. z There is no water treaty between India and z It urged the Centre to expedite new projects China at present. like the one on the Ujh, a tributary of the Ravi, ¾ Cooperation with Bhutan: as well as the Shahpurkandi on the Ravi itself € A scheme titled “Comprehensive Scheme for to exploit the full potential of the rivers for Establishment of Hydro-meteorological and Flood irrigation and other purposes. Forecasting Network on rivers Common to India z It also recommended that the canal systems in and Bhutan” is in operation. Punjab and Rajasthan be repaired to increase z Rivers common to India and Bhutan include their water carrying capacity. Manas river, Sankosh river, etc. € Renegotiation of Indus Water Treaty: € The network consists of 32 Hydro-meteorological/ z Present day pressing issues such as climate meteorological stations located in Bhutan and being change, global warming and environmental maintained by the Royal Government of Bhutan impact assessment etc. were not taken into with funding from India. The data received from account by the Treaty signed in 1960. these stations are utilized in India for formulating z There is a need to re-negotiate the Treaty so as flood forecasts. to establish some kind of institutional structure € A Joint Group of Expert (JGE) on Flood Management or legislative framework to address the impact has been constituted between India and Bhutan of climate change on water availability in the to discuss and assess the probable causes and Indus basin and other challenges which are not effects of the recurring floods and erosion in the covered under the Treaty. southern foothills of Bhutan and adjoining plains ¾ On China’s Development on Brahmaputra: in India and recommend to both Governments € Committee expressed apprehension that though appropriate and mutually acceptable remedial ‘run of the river’ projects undertaken by China per measures.

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Social Issues

Highlights z World Tribal Day, 2021 z Inequitable Food System z International Youth Day, 2021 z Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0 z Global Youth Tobacco Survey- 4 z Permanent Forum of People of African Descent z Quality of Life for Elderly Index z Road to Zero Hunger Goal: SDG 2 z Minority Institutions and RTE: NCPCR Survey z Hunger Hotspots Report : FAO-WFP z Marburg Virus z Adverse Impacts of Food Fortification z Continuation of Scheme for Fast Track Courts z Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Amendment Act, 2021

€ There are over 476 million indigenous peoples World Tribal Day, 2021 living in 90 countries across the world, accounting for 6.2% of the global population. World Tribal Day or International Day of the World’s ¾ Significance: Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9th August every year. € Protecting Critical Ecosystem: ¾ It is aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of the world’s indigenous population and to acknowledge z Around 80% of the world’s biodiversity is inhab- the contributions that indigenous people make towards ited and protected by indigenous populations. world issues such as environmental protection. z Their innate, diverse knowledge about lands, nature, and its development are extremely Key Points crucial to ensure the protection of the critical ecosystem, natural resources. ¾ Background: € Preserving Languages: € The day recognizes the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations z With 370-500 million indigenous peoples in Geneva in 1982. representing the majority of the world’s cultural diversity, they speak the greater share of almost z It has been celebrated every year since 1994, 7000 languages in the world. in accordance with the declaration by the € Contributing to Zero Hunger Goal: United Nations. z The crops grown by indigenous people are € To date, numerous indigenous peoples experience highly adaptable. They can survive drought, extreme poverty, marginalization, and other altitude, flooding, and any kind of extremes human rights violations. of temperature. As a result, these crops help ¾ Theme 2021: create resilient farms. € “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and z Also, quinoa, moringa, and oca are some of the the call for a new social contract.” native crops that have the ability to expand and ¾ Indigenous Peoples: diversify our food base. These would contribute € Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners to the goal to attain Zero Hunger. of unique cultures and ways of relating to people ¾ Other Global Efforts: and the environment. They have retained social, € Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032): cultural, economic and political characteristics that It aims to conserve Indigenous languages, which are distinct from those of the dominant societies helps preserve their cultures, world views and in which they live. visions, as well as expressions of self-determination.

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€ United Nations Declaration on the Rights of € As per Article 338-A of the Constitution of India, Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): It establishes a the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes universal framework of minimum standards for the has been set-up. survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous € 5th and 6th Schedule - Administration and control peoples of the world. of Scheduled and Tribal Areas. € Permanent UN Forum on Indigenous Issues: It ¾ Legal Provisions: was established with the mandate to deal with € Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 against indigenous issues related to economic and social Untouchability. development, culture, the environment, education, € Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes health and human rights. It is an advisory body to (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to prevent the UN Economic and Social Council. the commission of offences of atrocities against the members of the SC and ST. Tribes in India € Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the ¾ Data Analysis: Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 to provide for the € India hosts around 104 million (that is almost extension of the provisions of Part IX of the 8.6% of the country’s population). Constitution relating to the Panchayats to the Scheduled Areas. € Though there are 705 ethnic groups that have been formally identified, out of which around75 € Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest are Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 to recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation z The Gond comprise the largest tribal group in forest land in forest dwelling scheduled tribes of India. and other traditional forest dwellers. € The largest number of tribal communities (62) ¾ Initiatives: are found in Odisha. € TRIFED is a national-level apex organization € The central tribal belt which comprises the functioning under the administrative control of the Northeastern states of India (including the region Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It is involved in schemes ranging from Rajasthan to West Bengal) boasts such as MSP for MFP and TRIFOOD. of the maximum concentration of indigenous € Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana: A market-linked population. tribal entrepreneurship development program for ¾ Major Constitutional Provisions: forming clusters of tribal Self Help Groups (SHGs) € Article 342 (1) - The President may with respect and strengthening them into Tribal Producer to any State or Union Territory, and where it is a Companies. State, after consultation with the Governor, by € Capacity Building Initiative: Empowering tribal a public notification, specify the tribes or tribal Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI). communities or part of or groups within tribes or € 1000 Springs Initiative & Online portal on GIS- tribal communities as Scheduled Tribe in relation based Spring Atlas: Harnessing Springs, which to that State or Union Territory. are natural resources of groundwater discharge. € Article 15 - Prohibition of discrimination on grounds € Digital Transformation of Tribal Schools: In the of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth only. first phase, 250Eklavya Model Residential Schools € Article 16 - Equality of opportunity in matters of (EMRS) have been adopted by Microsoft, out of public employment. which 50 EMRS schools will be given intensive training and 500 master trainers would be trained. € Article 46 - Promotion of educational and economic interests of scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes ¾ Committees Related to Tribal Communities: and other weaker sections. € Xaxa Committee (2013) € Article 335 - Claims of Scheduled Castes and € Bhuria Commission (2002-2004) Scheduled Tribes to services and posts. € Lokur Committee (1965)

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z Further about 50% of India’s population is still International Youth Day, 2021 dependent on agriculture which is notorious for underemployment and disguised unemploy- Why in News ment. Every year, International Youth Day is observed on € Low Social Capital: Further high levels of hunger, 12th August to recognise and bring attention to the malnutrition, stunting among children, high levels problems faced by the youth. of anaemia among adolescent girls, poor sanitation ¾ National Youth Day is held every year on 12th January to etc., have reduced the productivity of India’s youth observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. in realising their potential. ¾ India’s Initiatives: Key Points € National Youth Policy-2014provides a holistic Vision ¾ History: for the youth of India which is “to empower the € In 1999, the United Nations decided to commemorate youth of the country to achieve their full potential, International Youth Day every year on this day. and through them enable India to find its rightful € It was based on a recommendation made by the place in the community of nations”. World Conference of Ministers Responsible for € For Employment: Youth in Lisbon to the UN General Assembly. z Generation Unlimited in India (YuWaah) € The first International Youth Day was observed z National Career Service on 12th August, 2000. z Prime Minister’s Employment Generation ¾ Theme for 2021: Programme (PMEGP) € Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for z Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) Human and Planetary Health. z Pradhan Mantri Rojgar ProtsahanYojana ¾ Challenges in Realising Youth Potential: (PMRPY) € Lack of Education and Skill: India’s underfunded education system is inadequately equipped to z Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment provide the skills young people need to take Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) advantage of emerging employment opportunities. € For Skill Development: z According to the World Bank, public expenditure z Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana on education constituted only 3.4% of GDP z YUVA: Prime Minister’s Scheme For Mentoring in 2020. Young Authors € Impact of the Pandemic: Various studies show € For Social Issues: that school closures have a serious impact on the z Protection of Women from Domestic Violence learning, lives and mental well-being of children. Act, 2005 z A survey by the International Labour Organization z Special Marriage Act, 1954 (ILO) reveals that 65% of adolescents world- wide reported having learnt less during the z Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 pandemic. € For Health and Nutrition: € Issues of Young Women: Child marriage, gender- z Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) based violence, their vulnerability to abuse and Scheme trafficking, especially if primary caregivers fall ill z National Health Mission (NHM) or die. All these issues restrict young women to € Global Initiatives: achieve their full potential. z World Programme of Action for Youth € Jobless Growth: The main contributor in India’s GDP is the service sector which is not labour intensive z Global Youth Summit and thus adds to jobless growth. z Global youth skills day

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z Nearly one-fifth of the students aged 13-15 Global Youth used any form of the tobacco product (smoking, Tobacco Survey- 4 smokeless, and any other form) in their life. € Gender Based Usage: Why in News z Use of any form of tobacco was higher among boys. Prevalence of tobacco use among boys Recently, the fourth round of Global Youth Tobacco was 9.6% and among girls was 7.4%. Survey (GYTS-4) was released by the Ministry of Health € State Wise Data: and Family Welfare (MoHFW). z Tobacco use among school going children was Key Points highest in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram and lowest in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. ¾ About: € Initiation Age: € GYTS-4 was conducted in 2019 by the International z Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) under the 38% of cigarettes, 47% of bidi smokers and MoHFW. 52% of smokeless tobacco users initiated the use before their tenth birthday. z IIPS, Mumbai, formerly known as the Demographic Training and Research Centre z The median age of initiation to cigarette and (DTRC) till 1970, was established in July 1956 bidi-smoking, and smokeless tobacco use were under the joint sponsorship of Sir Dorabji Tata 11.5 years, 10.5 years and 9.9 years respectively. Trust, the Government of India and the United € Awareness: Nations. z 52% of students noticed anti-tobacco messages z It serves as a regional centre for Training and in the mass media and 18% of students noticed Research in Population Studies for the the tobacco advertisements or promotions when Economic and Social Commission for Asia and visiting points of sale. the Pacific (ESCAP) region. z 85% of school heads were aware of the € The survey was designed to produce national Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act estimates of tobacco use among school going (COTPA), 2003 and 83% of schools were aware children aged 13-15 years at the state level and of the policy to display ‘tobacco-free school’ Union Territory (UT) by sex, location of school boards. (rural-urban), and management of school (public- ¾ Measures towards Tobacco Control in India: private). € Adoption of WHO FCTC: € The first three rounds of GYTS were conducted in z India adopted the tobacco control provisions 2003, 2006 and 2009. under World Health Organisation (WHO) € A total of 97,302 students from 987 schools Framework Convention on Tobacco Control participated in the survey. (WHO FCTC). ¾ Objective of the Survey: € COTPA, 2003: € To provide information on tobacco use, cessation, z It replaced the Cigarettes Act of 1975 (largely second-hand smoke, access and availability, limited to statutory warnings- ‘Cigarette Smoking exposure to anti-tobacco information, awareness is Injurious to Health’ to be displayed on cigarette and receptivity to tobacco marketing, knowledge, packs and advertisements. It did not include and attitudes. non-cigarettes). ¾ Major Findings: z The 2003 Act also included cigars, bidis, cheroots, € Decline in Tobacco Use: pipe tobacco, hookah, chewing tobacco, pan z There has been a 42% decline in tobacco use masala, and gutka. among 13-15 year-old school going children € Promulgation of the Prohibition of Electronic in the last decade. Cigarettes Ordinance, 2019:

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z Which prohibits Production, Manufacture, z Institute for Competitiveness, India is an inter- Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, national initiative centered in India, dedicated Storage and Advertisement of e-Cigarettes. to enlarging and purposeful disseminating of € National Tobacco Quitline Services (NTQLS): the body of research and knowledge on com- petition and strategy. z Tobacco Quitline Services have the potential to reach a large number of tobacco users with € It identifies the regional patterns of ageing across the sole objective to provide telephone-based Indian States and assesses the overall ageing information, advice, support, and referrals for situation in India. tobacco cessation. z Ageing is a continuous, irreversible, universal € mCessation Programme: process, which starts from conception till the death of an individual. z It is an initiative using mobile technology for tobacco cessation. z However, the age at which one’s productive contribution declines and one tends to be z India launched mCessation using text messages can probably be in 2016 as part of the government’s Digital economically dependent treated as the onset of the aged stage of life. India initiative. z National Elderly Policy defines people in the ¾ Global Initiatives: 60+ age group as elderly. € World No Tobacco Day- 31st May. € It will promote healthy competition among States € WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: through fair rankings and highlights the pillars and Governments adopt and implement the tobacco indicators they can improve. control provisions of the WHO Framework ¾ Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Pillars & Sub-Pillars of the Index: € Four Pillars: z Financial Well-being, Social Well-being, Health Quality of Life System and Income Security for Elderly Index € Eight Sub-Pillars: z Economic Empowerment, Educational Attainment Why in News & Employment, Social Status, Physical Security, Basic Health, Psychological Well being, Social Recently, the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Security and Enabling Environment. Minister (EAC-PM) released the Quality of Life for Elderly Index. ¾ Major Findings: ¾ The share of elders, as a percentage of the total € State-wise Rankings: population in the country, is expected to increase z Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh are top- from around 7.5% in 2001 to almost 12.5% by 2026, scoring regions in Aged and Relatively Aged and surpass 19.5% by 2050. States, respectively. ¾ EAC-PM is a non-constitutional, non-statutory, „ The Aged States refer to States with an elderly independent body constituted to give advice on population of more than 5 million, whereas economic and related issues to the Government of Relatively Aged States refer to States with India, specifically to the Prime Minister. an Elderly population of less than 5 million. z Chandigarh and Mizoram are top-scoring Key Points regions in Union Territory and North-East ¾ About: States category. € The Index has been created by the Institute for € Pillar-wise Performance: Competitiveness at the request of EAC-PM and z The Health System pillar observes the highest it sheds light on an issue often not mentioned- national average, 66.97 at an all-India level, problems faced by the elderly. followed by 62.34 in Social Well-being.

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z Financial Well-being observes a score of 44.7, € Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme which is lowered by the low performance of (IGNOAPS): Financial assistance is provided to 21 States across the Education Attainment & persons of 60 years and above and belonging to Employment pillar, which showcases scope for families living BPL as per the criteria prescribed improvement. by Government of India. Central assistance of z States have performed particularly worse in Rs 200 per month is provided to persons in the the Income Security pillar because over half age group of 60-79 years and Rs 500 per month of the States have a score below the national to persons of 80 years and above. average in Income Security, which is the lowest € The Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana: It is across all pillars. a pension scheme for senior citizens that comes ¾ Challenges: with guaranteed returns on monthly, quarterly, € Feminization of Ageing: half-yearly or on an annual basis for a period of z One of the emerging issues of population ageing 10 years. It is exclusively available to those who is the “Feminization of Ageing”, that is many are 60 years of age and above. more women than men reaching older ages. € Vayoshreshtha Samman: Conferred as a National € Income security: award, and given to eminent senior citizens & institutions under various categories for their z India has one of the weakest social security contributions on International day of older persons mechanisms globally as it only spends 1% of on 1st october. its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on pensions. € Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior € Integration of elderly in Economy: Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007: To ensure need-based z There is a need to cater to the present older maintenance for Parents and Senior Citizens and person’s unique needs, motivations, and prefer- their welfare. ences, and to give them a chance to contribute to society until they promote active ageing. ¾ Global Initiatives: € € Health care and services: Decade of Healthy Ageing (2020-2030): The Decade of Healthy Ageing was endorsed by the 73rd World z Good health lies at the core of society to ensure Health Assembly (decision making body of the healthy ageing. As the life expectancy of older World Health Organisation) in 2020. people increases in India, we need to ensure that people, while living longer, live healthier € The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development lives, which will translate into more significant calls for leaving no one behind and for ensuring opportunities and lower costs to older persons, that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) their families and society. are met for all segments of society, at all ages, ¾ Related Initiatives: with a particular focus on the most vulnerable— including older persons. € SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine): It is a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services by credible start-ups. Minority Institutions € Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP): and RTE: NCPCR Survey To improve the quality of life of older persons by providing basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and entertainment opportunities, etc. Why in News € Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY): Aids and assistive Recently, the National Commission for the Protection living devices are provided to senior citizens of the Rights of the Child (NCPCR) conducted a Nationwide belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category Assessment of Minority Schools. The report was titled who suffer from age-related disabilities such as “Impact of Exemption under Article 15 (5) with regards low vision, hearing impairment, loss of teeth and to Article 21A of the Constitution of India on Education locomotor disabilities. of Minority Communities”.

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¾ The aim was to assess how the 93rd Amendment to z According to the report, there are three kinds Indian Constitution, which exempts minority insti- of madrasas in the country: tutionsfrom otherwise mandatory provisions of the „ Recognised Madrasas: These are registered Right to Education, affected children belonging to and impart both religious as well as secular minority communities. education; ¾ The report highlights the disproportionate number of „ Unrecognised Madrasas: These have been minority institutions or dominance of non-minority found deficient for registration by state category in Minority institutions. governments as secular education is not imparted. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights „ Unmapped Madrasas: These have never ¾ NCPCR is a statutory body set up in March 2007 applied for registration. under the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005. z According to the NCPCR, the Sachar Committee report 2005, which says 4% of Muslim children ¾ It is under the administrative control of theMinistry (15.3 lakh) attend madrasas, has only taken into of Women & Child Development. account the registered madrasas. ¾ The Commission’s mandate is to ensure that all laws, z Further, the syllabi of madrasas, that have policies, programmes, and administrative mechanisms evolved over centuries, are not uniform, and are in consonance with the child rights perspective that “being left ignorant of the world around as enshrined in the Constitution of India and also them”. the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. „ Many students develop an inferiority complex, ¾ It inquires into complaints relating to a child’s right being alienated from the rest of society and to free and compulsory education under the Right unable to adjust with the environment. to Education Act, 2009. „ It also says that madrasas do not have any ¾ It monitors the implementation of Protection of teachers training programmes. Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Article 15(5), 30, 21A Linkage Key Points ¾ Minority Institutions: Minority institutions have ¾ Highlights of the Report: the fundamental right under Article 30 of the € Minority Schools Catering to the Non-Minorities: Constitution to establish and administer their Overall, 62.5% of the students in these schools educational institutions according to their choice. belonged to non-minority communities. € However, they cannot ignore the regulations z Only 8.76% of the students in minority recommended by the state. schools belong to socially and economically € Further, the Supreme Court in the TMA Pai disadvantaged backgrounds. Foundation case, 2002 said that Article 30(1) € Disproportionate Numbers: In West Bengal, was neither absolute nor above the law. 92.47% of the minority population is of Muslims € Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jain and and 2.47% are Christians. On the contrary, there Zoroastrians (Parsis) have been notified as are 114 Christian minority schools and only two minority communities under Section 2 (c) of the schools with Muslim minority status. National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. z Similarly, in Uttar Pradesh, though the Christian ¾ Article 15 (5) ( 93rd Amendment to Indian Constitu- population is less than 1% there are 197 Christian tion):It empowers the state to make special provi- minority schools in the state. sions for the socially and educationally backward z This disproportiontakes away the core objective classes or the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled of establishing minority educational institutions. Tribes in educational institutionsincluding private € Non-Uniformity in Madarsas: It found that the educational institutions (whether aided or unaided largest number of out-of-school children – at by the state), except the minority educational 1.1 crore – belonged to the Muslim community. institutions.

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¾ ¾ Right to Education (RTE): In order to implement Right Both the Marburg case and this year’s Ebola cases to Education underArticle 21A. The Act mandates were detected in Guinea’s Gueckedou district. 25% reservation for disadvantaged sections of the ¾ The first cases of the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, the society where disadvantaged groups include: largest in history, also were from the same region in Southeastern Guinea’s forest region. € SCs and STs € Socially Backward Class € Differently abled ¾ Using Article 30 to Bypassing RTE: Minority schools are outside the purview of the RTE Act. Further, in 2014, the Supreme Court in Pramati judgmentmade the whole RTE Act inapplicable to minority schools. € The NCPCR survey highlighted that as many schools and institutions have registered as minority institutions, simply because they don’t have to implement RTE.

¾ Suggestions: € The government should bring all such schools, including madrasas, under the purview of the Right to Education and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan campaign. Key Points € The NCPCR also backed reservation for students from minority communities in such schools after ¾ About: its survey found a large proportion of non-minority € Marburg virus disease is a highly virulent disease students studying there. that causes haemorrhagic fever, it is carried by z There is a need to lay down specific guidelines bats with a fatality ratio of up to 88%. regarding the minimum percentage of students € It is in the same family as the virus that causes from the minority community to be admitted Ebola virus disease. to the institution. € Two large outbreaks that occurred simultaneously € There is a need to review the exemption made in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany, and under RTE with respect to minority institutions. in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1967, led to the initial z Article 30 of Indian constitution ensures the recognition of the disease. right of minorities to open their own institutions z The outbreak was associated with laboratory for cultural, linguistic and religious protection. work using African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) imported from Uganda. z However, it should not contravene with Article 21(A) which protects a child’s fundamental right € Subsequently, outbreaks and sporadic cases have to education. been reported in Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. € There have been 12 major Marburg outbreaks Marburg Virus since 1967, mostly in southern and eastern Africa. ¾ Human-Infection: Why in News € Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially Recently, West Africa’s first case of the extremely results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves contagious and deadly Marburg virus was confirmed in inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies. Guinea. z Rousettusis a genus of Old World fruit bats or ¾ Its first case was first identified just two months after megabats. They are sometimes referred to as the country was declared free of Ebola. dog-faced fruit bats, or flying foxes.

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¾ Transmission: Key Points € Once an individual is infected with the virus, ¾ Background: Marburg can spread through human-to-human € Fast track courts (FTCs) were first recommended transmission via direct contact (through broken skin by the Eleventh Finance Commission in 2000 or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, “to substantially bring down, if not eliminate, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, pendency in the district and subordinate courts and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, over the next five years”. clothing) contaminated with these fluids. € Following the Finance Commission’s report, Rs ¾ Symptoms: 502.90 crore was granted by the Centre to create € Headache, vomiting blood, muscle pains and 1,734 additional courts in different states for a bleeding through various orifices. period of five years. € Symptoms become increasingly severe and can € In 2011, the central government stopped funding include jaundice, inflammation of the pancreas, fast-track courts. severe weight loss, liver failure, massive hemor- z The decision was challenged in the Supreme rhaging, and multi-organ dysfunction. Court (SC) in 2012, but the apex court said it was ¾ Diagnosis: up to the states to continue or shut down these € Since many of the disease’s symptoms are similar courts depending on their financial situation. to those of malaria and typhoid fever, making a € Three states--Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala- diagnosis is difficult. -continued running these courts while Delhi, West € However, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka had said Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) they would continue till 2013. testing can be used to confirm a case. € Following the December 2012 Gangrape and ¾ Treatment: murder, the Union Covernment set up a ‘Nirbhaya Fund’, amended the Juvenile Justice Act and set € There is no specific treatment or approved vaccine up fast-track Mahila Courts. for Marburg hemorrhagic fever. Supportive hospital z Some other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Jammu therapy should be utilized. and Kashmir, Bihar etc. also set up FTCs for rape € Supportive hospital therapy includes balancing cases thereafter. the patient’s fluids and electrolytes, maintaining ¾ Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts: oxygen status and blood pressure, replacing lost blood and clotting factors, and treatment for any € More recently, in 2019, the government approved complicating infections. a scheme for setting up 1,023 fast-track special courts (FTSCs) across the country for expeditious disposal of pending rape cases under the Indian Continuation of penal Code (IPC) and crimes under the POCSO Act. Scheme for Fast Track Courts z In July 2019, the SC also directed setting up of a centrally funded special court in each district where more than 100 FIRs are registered under Why in News the POCSO Act in order to deal exclusively with Recently, the Union Government approved the these cases. continuation of more than 1000 Fast Track Special Court € FTSCs are dedicated courts expected to ensure (FTSCs) as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for two swift dispensation of justice. They have a better years (April 2021-March 2023). clearance rate as compared to the regular courts ¾ It includes 389 exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children and hold speedy trials. from Sexual Offences) Courts. € It also strengthens the deterrence framework for ¾ The Central share will be provided from the Nirbhaya sexual offenders. Fund. ¾ Performance of Fast Track Courts So Far:

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€ The Performance has been below par. different states; of the 5,146 vacancies, a large € According to NCRB (National Crime Records number of seats were vacant in the states Bureau), at the end of 2019, rape cases had a of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, pendency rate--pending cases at the end of the Rajasthan, and Gujarat. year as a percentage of total cases for trial--of z They are more or less judges from sessions 89.5% and the conviction rate of 27.8%. courts who are given the extra responsibility € For POCSO cases, 88.8% cases were pending at the of fast-track courts. end of the year, and of those disposed of, 34.9% ended in a conviction. Inequitable Food System ¾ Issues with FTCs: € Lack of Infrastructure: Why in News z Fast-track courts operate no differently than regular courts. It is just like any other court hall According to a United Nations’ report on the Food in the district judiciary. System, today’s food systems are heavily afflicted by power imbalances and inequality, and do not work for z There are no changes in the legal process to most women. enable the cases to move forward faster. There is no element of process engineering except ¾ Women are affected disproportionately by the factors where it is just fixed as an ad hoc thing (for such as Climate Change, Covid-19, Discrimination, instance, for high-profile cases), because there Less land rights, migration etc. is simply no supporting infrastructure to ensure ¾ The Report has come ahead of the Food Systems that the timeline is met. Summit in September 2021. € No clear Mandate: Key Points z There are no clear mandates on what kind of cases fast-track courts are supposed to hear. ¾ Food Systems: z The fast-track courts set up under the Nirbhaya € Food systems are a complex web of activities Fund, for instance, were not clear whether involving production, processing, handling, all cases of gender-based violence such as preparation, storage, distribution, marketing, access, ‘eve-teasing’ (street harassment) or domestic purchase, consumption, food loss and waste, as violence came under their purview. well as the outputs of these activities, including € Delay in Judgement: social, economic and environmental outcomes. z Delay due to absence of witnesses was seen ¾ Findings from the Report: as one of the main reasons for adjournments, € Climate Change: showed a study. z Women farmers are disproportionately more z Another cause for delays is adjournments affected by climate change and land degradation. sought by lawyers. z While women are more likely than men to notice „ Litigation culture in India encourages seeking the climate change impacts on agricultural adjournments; in fact, clients come to lawyers productivity, livestock problems and water to delay the cases. availability, they are less likely than men to receive z Delays can also be caused because many times key information on climate and agricultural the decision of a fast-track court is challenged information that would allow them to plan for in the high court or the Supreme Court. climate concerns. € Overburdened Judges: € Malnutrition: z Less number of Judicial Officials. z They face high levels of obesity and are more „ As of February, 2020, around 21% of the susceptible to chronic disease. sanctioned strength (24,018) of judicial z Indigenous women play a crucial role in eradi- officers in subordinate courts was vacant in cating hunger and malnutrition. But limitations

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in the recognition and exercise of rights have z It urged the systems to adopt policies that hampered access to equitable systems of food. eliminate barriers in access to fundamental € Migration: services, ensuring, for example, the right to z Migration among youths over the course of urban food, shelter and health. transition have had impacts on the gendered z The report cited the example of German dual nature of economic roles. training system, an institutional infrastructure z Such migration has entailed a growing gap that creates a path to jobs and better livelihoods. between the location of food production and It integrates school-based learning with work- food consumption. based practice by providing theoretical training for aspiring farmers as well as short-term courses z This may have been followed by a change in lifestyle, including dietary habits. on specific skills. € € Covid-19: Making Governments and Businesses Accountable: z z A 2020 UN report had hinted how epidemics The UN stressed that inequitable systems and can significantly reduce women’s economic and structures that enable and exacerbate inequalities livelihood activities, increasing poverty rates for food systems workers and consumers be and exacerbating food insecurity. dismantled and governments, businesses, and organizations be held accountable for ensuring € Food Insecurity: equitable livelihoods. z Rural women were among the worst affected among the food insecure population of 821 India’s Initiatives for Equitable Food System million (as of 2017). ¾ Class: Small and marginal farmers FPO (Farmer z As many as 31 African countries depended on producer Organisation), Cooperatives, cluster mode external food aid till 2019. of working in most development programs . € Discrimination: ¾ Disadvantaged sections Agricultural( labour and z Rural women accounting for nearly half the tribal population): Dedicated budget allocation for agricultural workforce in developing countries, better inclusion in programs. face discrimination. They have very little land ¾ Gender budgeting, incentives for ensuring greater rights, face difficulties obtaining ownership, participation, mahila sashaktikaran pariyojana do not have access to credit and are engaged (women empowerment scheme of M/oRD), National in unpaid work. Gender Resource Center for agriculture. z This lack of agency reflects in their dietary ¾ Food and nutrition security: PDS, One Nation patterns: They eat least, last and least well. One Card, National Nutrition Mission, focus on Women farmers who control resources generally nutri cereals. have better-quality diets. UN Food Systems Summit ¾ Suggestions: ¾ About: € Independent Women Groups are Needed: € It will be convened as part of the Decade of z Dimitra Clubs in the rural regions of sub-Saharan Action to achieve theSustainable Development Africa have been drivers of women’s leadership Goals (SDGs) by 2030. for over a decade. These groups comprise € The Summit will launch bold new actions to deliver women and men who shed light on the gender progress on all 17 SDGs, each of which relies to inequalities in households and communities. some degree on healthier, more sustainable and z The UN has called for more such independent, equitable food systems. social systems at the national as well as the € The Food Systems Summit is organised around regional level to strengthen institutional five action tracks. architecture and make decision-making processes ¾ related to food systems more inclusive. Action Tracks: € Safe and nutritious food. € Ensure Access to Fundamental Services:

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mode on an IT-based platform over a period € Sustainable consumption patterns. of time. € Nature-positive production. z This DBT would include RTE (Right to Education) € Advance equitable livelihoods. entitlements such as textbooks, uniforms and € Resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress. transport allowance. ¾ India at UN Food Systems Summit: € On NEP Recommendations: € India has volunteered, but not limited to, to the z Encouraging Indian languages: Action Track 4: Advance Equitable Livelihoods „ It has a new component for appointment of for the UN Food System Summit 2021. language teachers, which includes salaries, € Agriculture being a State subject, implementation and training costs as well as bilingual of specific initiatives by state governments will books and teaching learning material as be crucial. recommended in NEP. z Pre-primary Education: Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0 „ It will now include funding to support pre-pri- mary sections at government schools, i.e. for Why in News teaching and learning materials, indigenous toys and games and play-based activities. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has „ Master trainers for pre-primary teachers approved the school education programme Samagra and anganwadi workers will be supported Shiksha Scheme 2.0 till the 2025-26 financial year. under the scheme. ¾ It has been upgraded to align it with the Sustainable z NIPUN Bharat Initiative: Development Goal for Educationand the new National Education Policy launched in 2020. „ Under this initiative, anannual provision of Rs. 500 per child for learning materials, Rs. Key Points 150 per teacher for manuals and resources ¾ About Samagra Shiksha Scheme: and Rs. 10-20 lakh per district will be given € It is an integrated scheme for school education for assessment for foundational literacy covering the entire gamut from pre-school to and numeracy. class XII. z On Digital Initiatives: € It aims to deliver inclusive, equitable, and affordable „ There is a provision for ICT labs and smart school education. classrooms, including support for digital € It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha boards, virtual classrooms and DTH channels Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha which have become more important in the Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. € The scheme covers 1.16 million schools, over 156 z For out-of-school children: million students and 5.7 million Teachers of Govt. „ It includes a provision to support out of and Aided schools (from pre-primary to senior school children from age 16 to 19 with secondary level). funding of Rs. 2000 per grade to complete € It is being implemented as a centrally sponsored their education via open schooling. scheme. It involves a 60:40 split in funding between „ There will also be a greater focus on skills the Centre and most States. It was launched by and vocational education, both for students the Ministry of Education in 2018. in school and dropouts. ¾ About Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2.0: € Other Features: € Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): z Financial support for State Commission for z In order to enhance the direct outreach of the Protection of Child Rights @ Rs 50 per elementary scheme, all child-centric interventions will be school in the state, for protection of child rights provided directly to the students through DBT and safety.

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z Holistic, 360-degree, multi-dimensional reports € The forum will consist of 10 members: showing progress/ uniqueness of each learner z five elected by the General Assembly from in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor all regions. domains will be introduced in the form of z five appointed by the Human Rights Council Holistic Progress Card (HPC). following consultations with regional groups z Support for activities of PARAKH, a national and organizations of people of African descent. assessment centre (Performance, Assessments, € The resolution calls for the forum’s first session Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic to take place in 2022. Development) ¾ People of African Descent: z Additional Sports grant of upto Rs. 25000 to schools in case at least 2 students of that school € About: win a medal in Khelo India school games at the z There are around 200 million people identifying National level. themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. z Provision for Bagless days, school complexes, internships with local artisans, curriculum and z Many millions more live in other parts of the pedagogical reforms etc included. world, outside of the African continent. z Support for Social Audit covering 20% of schools € Issues: per year so that all schools are covered in a z Whether as descendants of the victims of the period of Five years. transatlantic slave trade or as more recent migrants, they constitute some of thepoorest Permanent Forum of and most marginalized groups. z They still have limited access to quality People of African Descent education, health services, housing and social security. Why in News z They all too often experience discrimination Recently, the United Nations General Assembly has in their access to justice, and face alarmingly approved a resolution establishing a Permanent Forum high rates of police violence, together with of People of African Descent. racial profiling. ¾ The Forum focuses on the themes of recognition, z Furthermore, their degree of political justice and development. participation is often low, both in voting and in occupying political positions. Key Points € Related Initiative: ¾ About the Forum: z Durban Declaration and Programme of Action € The forum will provide expert advice on addressing (2001): the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, „ It acknowledged that people of African xenophobia and intolerance. descent were victims of slavery, the slave € It will serve as “a platform for improving the safety trade and colonialism, and continue to be and quality of life and livelihoods of people of victims of their consequences. African descent” and their full inclusion in the „ It raised the visibility of them and contributed societies where they live. to a substantive advancement in the € It was given a series of mandates. promotion and protection of their rightss a z They include helping to ensure “the full politi- a result of concrete actions taken by States, cal, economic and social inclusion of people of the United Nations, other international and African descent,” and providing recommenda- regional bodies and civil society. tions on addressing racism to the Geneva-based z In 2014, the General Assembly officially launched Human Rights Council, the General Assembly’s the International Decade for People of African main committees and UN agencies. Descent (2015 - 2024).

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Racism ¾ Provisions Against Racial Discrimination in India: ¾ About: € Article 15, Article 16 and Article 29 of the Consti- tution of India prohibit discrimination on grounds € Racism, also called racialism is the belief that of “race”. humans may be divided into separate and exclusive biological entities called “races”; that there is a € Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) also causal link between inherited physical traits and refers to “race”. traits of personality, intellect, morality, and other € India also ratified theInternational Convention on cultural and behavioral features; and that some the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination races are innately superior to others. (ICERD) in 1968. € The term is also applied to political, economic, or legal institutions and systems that engage in or Road to Zero perpetuate discrimination on the basis of race or Hunger Goal: SDG 2 otherwise reinforce racial inequalities in wealth and income, education, health care, civil rights, Why in News and other areas. According to a recent report by the United Nations, z Xenophobia and Racism mostly overlap, but the the goal of achieving Sustainable Development Goals stark difference is racism is discrimination based (SDG) 2 i.e. ‘Zero Hunger’ has been hit in the wake of on physical characteristics whereas xenophobia the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic. is discrimination based on the perception that someone is foreign or originating from another ¾ The zero hunger goal works in tandem with many community or nation. others: Poverty elimination (SDG1), good health and well-being (SDG3), and the need for clean drinking „ The word Xenophobia originates from the water (SDG6). Greek word Xeno. € Racial discrimination is there in the Indian society. Key Points ¾ Initiatives Against Racism: ¾ Relation with other SDGs: € Durban Declaration and Programme of Action € SDG 2 and SDG 1: Adopted by the World Conference against (2001): z Food security does not only rely on food Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and availability, but also on food access. Related Intolerance. z If food security and poverty can be seen as st € Every year, 21 March, is observed as International part of the same battle, reduction of poverty Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. should not only be sought through lower food € United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural prices but also through higher income. Organization’s (UNESCO) actions against racism € SDG 2 and SDG 3: through education, the sciences, culture, and z Nutrition is key to good health, so the relation communication offer an example of a way forward. between SDG 2 and SDG 3 is also synergetic. € Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination z Environmental health through a more sustainable 2021: UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris hosted it in agriculture also establishes a link between partnership with the Republic of Korea. SDG2 and SDG 3. € In January 2021, the World Economic Forum „ Agricultural activitiessubstantially contribute launched a coalition of organizations committed to to global pollution: Biomass burning causes improving racial and ethnic justice in the workplace. air pollution and land clearing contributes € The ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests gained momentum to fuel combustion emissions. in not only the United States but the whole world. „ Agriculture ammonia emissions also impact People, as well as many governments across different human health. They are behind several countries, came forth against the prevalence of hundred thousand premature deaths per racial discrimination worldwide. year globally.

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€ Other SDGs: Similarly, education (SDG4), gender € Reducing food waste and losses. equality (SDG5), decent work and economic growth € Changing our consumption patterns to leverage (SDG8), reduction of inequality (SDG10), sustainable considerable benefits on SDG outcomes by relieving cities and communities (SDG11), peace, justice pressure on natural resources and fostering the and strong institutions (SDG16), and partnership health benefits. for the goals (SDG17) also influence consumption patterns and healthy diet choice. z Gender inequality makes several women food Hunger Hotspots insecure: Female workers are a substantial share Report : FAO-WFP of the agricultural workforce, but face difficulties in accessing land, livestock, education, extension and financial services. Why in News z Decent work and economic growth (SDG8) Recently, the Food and Agriculture Organization and reduction of inequality (SDG10) can also (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) released support better nutritionby going beyond SDG1 a report named Hunger Hotspots - August to November and bringing economic resources. 2021. ¾ Challenges: ¾ The 2021 Global Food Crises Report released in May € One of the most widely studied adverse environ- 2021 had already warned of acute food insecurity, mental impacts of the food system is its contribution soaring to a five-year high, pushing at least 155 to climate change. million people into acute food insecurity in 2020. z The food system contributes 34% of the Key Points anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. ¾ € Overconsumption of water resources is another Major Hunger Hotspots: critical challenge faced by agriculture. € Ethiopia, Madagascar, South Sudan, northern z Irrigation representsabout 70% of global water Nigeria and Yemen are among 23 countries where withdrawals, and this demand is expected to acute food insecurity will worsen from August continue to increase in the coming decades. through November, 2021. € Excess use of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) € Ethiopia and Madagascar are the world’s newest is harmful for terrestrial and marine ecosystems. “highest alert” hunger hotspots. z Excess of N causes acidification of soils and z Ethiopia faces a devastating food emergency linked to ongoing conflict in the Tigray region. freshwater; Nitrous oxide (N2O) causes climate- warming emissions and stratospheric ozone z Meanwhile, in southern Madagascar the worst depletion. drought in 40 years is expected to push 28,000 ¾ Suggestions: people into famine-like conditions by the end € Facilitating new investment, research and innovation of 2021. for sustainable agriculture. ¾ Factors causing food insecurity: India’s Initiatives for Making Food Systems Sustainable € Violence: ¾ Achievements of India’s Green Revolution and z Population displacement, abandonment of learnings there from. agricultural land, loss of life and assets, disruption of trade and cropping and loss of access to ¾ Cropping patterns are being changed as per agro markets caused by conflicts can worsen food ecological zones defined for the country. insecurity. ¾ Alternate farming including organic and natural „ in Af- farming Violence is predicted to intensify ghanistan, Central Sahel, the Central African ¾ in agriculture. Enhancing water use efficiency Republic etc. ¾ Integrated farming systems. z Violence is also likely to disrupt access to ¾ National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture humanitarian assistance.

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€ Pandemic Shocks: z Strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable z In 2020, almost all low- and middle-income to economic adversity through in-kind or cash countries were affected by the Pandemic- support programmes to lessen the impact of induced economic downturns. pandemic-style shocks or food price volatility. € Natural Hazards: India’s Step in Ensuring Food Security z Extreme weather conditions and climate ¾ National Food Security Mission: variability are likely to affect several parts of € It aims to increase production of rice, wheat, pulses, the world during the outlook period. coarse cereals and commercial crops, through z In Haiti, for instance, reduced precipitation area expansion and productivity enhancement. during the main growing season ended May is ¾ PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY): likely to have impacted yield. Continued below- € It aimed at providing each person who is covered average rainfall, on the hand, is likely to reduce under the National Food Security Act 2013 with yield during the main rice-growing season. an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for free, z Desert Locust infestation was a major worry in in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain the Horn of Africa at the beginning of July 2021, already provided through the Public Distribution while other regions were unaffected. System (PDS). € Poor humanitarian access: ¾ One Nation One Ration Card: z Humanitarian access is limited in various € It will address the poor state of hunger in India, ways, including administrative / bureaucratic as highlighted by the Global Hunger Index, where impediments, movement restrictions, security India has been ranked 102 out of 117 countries constraints and physical constraints related to ¾ Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi: the environment. € It intends to supplement the financial needs of the z Countries currently facing the most significant Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) in procuring obstacles, preventing aid from reaching those various inputs to ensure proper crop health and who need it most are Afghanistan, Ethiopia, appropriate yields, commensurate with the antic- the Central African Republic etc. ipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle. ¾ Suggestions: ¾ The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: € Short-term Interventions: € It legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population z Short-term protective interventions be im- and 50% of the urban population to receive plemented before new humanitarian needs subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public materialise and immediate actions are to be Distribution System. taken for addressing existing humanitarian z The eldest woman of the household of age 18 requirements. years or above is mandated to be the head of € Integration of policies: the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards under the Act. z Integrate humanitarian, development and peacebuilding policies in conflict areas – for Food and Agriculture Organization example, through social protection measures ¾ FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations to prevent families from selling meagre assets (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. in exchange for food. ¾ World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16th € Climate Resilience: October to mark the anniversary of the founding z Scale-up climate resilience across food systems of the FAO in 1945. by offering smallholder farmers wide access ¾ It is one of the UN food aid organisations based to climate risk insurance and forecast-based in Rome (Italy). Its sister bodies are the World financing. Food Programme and the International Fund for € Strengthen Resilience: Agricultural Development (IFAD).

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World Food Programme Key Points ¾ It is the leading humanitarian organization saving ¾ Inconclusive Evidence: lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance € Evidence supporting fortification is inconclusive in emergencies and working with communities to and certainly not adequate before major national improve nutrition and build resilience. policies are rolled out. € It was award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 € Many of the studies which FSSAI relies on to for its efforts to combat hunger promote fortification are sponsored by food ¾ It was founded in 1961 by the Food and Agriculture companies who would benefit from it, leading Organization (FAO) and United Nations General As- to conflicts of interest. sembly (UNGA) with its headquarters in Rome, Italy. ¾ Hypervitaminosis: ¾ WFP focuses on emergency assistance as well as € Recent studies published in the medical journal rehabilitation and development aid. Lancet and in the American Journal of Clinical € Two-thirds of its work is in conflict-affected Nutrition which show that both anaemia and countries, where people are three times more Vitamin A deficiencies are overdiagnosed, likely to be undernourished than elsewhere. meaning that mandatory fortification could lead to hypervitaminosis. Adverse Impacts z Hypervitaminosis is a condition of abnormally high storage levels of vitamins, which can lead of Food Fortification to various symptoms such as over excitement, irritability, or even toxicity. Why in News ¾ Toxicity: Recently, a group of scientists and activists have € One major problem with chemical fortification warned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India of foods is that nutrients don’t work in isolation (FSSAI) of the adverse impacts of Food Fortification on but need each other for optimal absorption. health and livelihoods. Undernourishment in India is caused by monotonous ¾ It is a pushback against the Centre’s plan to mandatorily cereal-based diets with low consumption of fortify rice and edible oils with vitamins and minerals. vegetables and animal protein. ¾ In order to fight chronicanaemia and undernutrition, € Adding one or two synthetic chemical vitamins and the government is making plans to distribute fortified minerals will not solve the larger problem, and in rice through the Integrated Child Development undernourished populations can lead to toxicity. and across the Services Mid Day Meal Schemes z A 2010 study that showed iron fortification country from the year 2021, with special focus on causing gut inflammation and pathogenic gut Aspirational districts. microbiota profile in undernourished children. ¾ Cartelisation: € Mandatory fortification would harm the vast informal economy of Indian farmers and food processors including local oil and rice mills, and instead benefit a small group of multinational corporations who will have sway over a Rs.3,000 crore market. € Just five corporations have derived most of the benefits of global fortification trends and these companies have historically engaged in cartelising behaviour leading to price hikes. z The European Union has been forced to fine these companies for such behaviour.

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¾ Decrease Value of Natural Food: Foods) Regulations, 2016 for fortifying staples € Dietary diversity was a healthier and more cost- namely Wheat Flour and Rice (with Iron, Vitamin effective way to fight malnutrition. Once iron- B12 and Folic Acid), Milk and Edible Oil (with fortified rice is sold as the remedy to anaemia, the Vitamins A and D) and Double Fortified Salt (with value and the choice of naturally iron-rich foods Iodine and Iron) to reduce the high burden of like millets, varieties of green leafy vegetables, micronutrient malnutrition in India. flesh foods, liver, to name a few, will have been € Nutritional Strategy: suppressed by a policy of silence. z India’s National Nutritional strategy, 2017, had listed food fortification as one of the Food Fortification interventions to address anaemia, vitamin A and ¾ About: iodine deficiencies apart from supplementation € According to the World Health Organisation and dietary diversification. (WHO), food fortification is defined as the practice € Milk Fortification Project: of deliberately increasing the content of essential z The Milk Fortification Projectwas launched by micronutrients so as to improve the nutritional the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) quality of the food supply and to provide a public in collaboration with the World Bank and Tata health benefit with minimal risk to health. Trusts, as a pilot project in 2017. € It can be noted that biofortification differs from conventional food fortification in that biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during Medical Termination plant growth rather than through manual means of Pregnancy (MTP) during processing of the crops. ¾ Types: Amendment Act, 2021 € Targeted: z Food fortification can be done for foods Why in News widely consumed by the general population Recently, the Delhi High Court has allowed the (mass fortification), to fortify foods designed medical termination of pregnancy of a woman who had for specific population subgroups, such as completed 22 weeks of gestation as the foetus was complementary foods for young children or suffering from multiple abnormalities. rations for displaced populations. ¾ Gestation is the foetal development period from the € Market-Driven: time of conception until birth. z To allow food manufacturers to voluntarily ¾ In India, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) fortify foods available in the marketplace Act stipulates a ceiling of 20 weeks, for termination (market-driven fortification). of pregnancy, beyond which abortion of a foetus is ¾ Procedure: statutorily impermissible. € The extent to which a national or regional food supply is fortified varies considerably. The Key Points concentration of just one micronutrient might be ¾ About MTP Act: increased in a single foodstuff (e.g. the iodization € The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 of salt), or, at the other end of the scale, there (“MTP Act”) was passed due to the progress made might be a whole range of food–micronutrient in the field of medical science with respect to combinations. safer abortions. ¾ Government Interventions: € In a historic move to provide universal access € FSSAI Regulations: reproductive health services, India amended z In October 2016, FSSAI operationalized the the MTP Act 1971 to further empower women Food Safety and Standards (Fortification of by providing comprehensive abortion care to all.

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€ The new Medical Termination of Pregnancy z The “name and other particulars of a woman (Amendment) Act 2021 expands the access to whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, be revealed”, except to a person authorised in eugenic, humanitarian and social grounds to ensure any law that is currently in force. universal access to comprehensive care. ¾ Significance: € The new law will contribute towards ending preventable maternal mortality to help meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3.1, 3.7 and 5.6 € SDG 3.1 pertains to reducing maternal mortality ratiowhereas SDGs 3.7 and 5.6 pertain to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. € The amendments will increase the ambit and access of women to safe abortion services and will ensure dignity, autonomy, confidentiality and justice for women who need to terminate pregnancy. ¾ Issues: ¾ Key Provisions of the MTP Amendment Act, 2021: € Different opinions on Termination: € Termination due to Failure of Contraceptive z One opinion is that terminating a pregnancy is Method or Device: the choice of the pregnant woman and a part z Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated of her reproductive rights while the other is up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case that the state has an obligation to protect life, of failure of contraceptive method or device. and hence should provide for the protection It allows unmarried women to also terminate of the foetus. a pregnancy for this reason. z Across the world, countries set varying conditions € Opinion Needed for Termination of Pregnancy: and time limits for allowing abortions, based on z Opinion of one Registered Medical Practitioner foetal health, and risk to the pregnant woman. (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 € Not allowed beyond 24-weeks: weeks of gestation. z The Act allows abortion after 24 weeks only z Opinion of two RMPs for termination of in cases where a Medical Board diagnoses pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation. substantial foetal abnormalities. z Opinion of the State-level medical board is z This implies that for a case requiring abortion essential for a pregnancy to be terminated due to rape, that exceeds 24-weeks, the only after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal recourse remains through a Writ Petition. abnormalities. € Abortion to be performed by doctors: € Upper Gestation Limit for Special Categories: z The Act require abortion to be performed only z Increases the upper gestation limit from 20 by doctors with specialisation in gynaecology to 24 weeks for special categories of women, or obstetrics. including survivors of rape, victims of incest „ As there is a 75% shortage of such doctors and other vulnerable women (differently abled in community health centers in rural areas, women, minors, among others). pregnant women may continue to find it € Confidentiality: difficult to access facilities for safe abortions.

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Highlights z Issue of Illegal Migrants z INS Vikrant Begins Sea Trials z Women in Combat Role in ITBP

€ Political Instability: Issue of Illegal Migrants z It also increases the political instability when leaders start mobilising the perception of the Why in News citizens of the country against the migrants by Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairshas informed the elites to grab political power. in the Lok Sabha that according to some reports some € Rise of Militancy: Rohingya migrants are indulging in illegal activities. z The persistent attacks against the Muslims ¾ The response came on the queries about the current perceived as illegal migrants has given way to situation of Rohingya living illegally in various parts radicalisation. of the country. € Human trafficking: z In the recent decades, trafficking of women and Rohingya human smuggling have become quite rampant ¾ The Rohingya people are a stateless, Indo-Aryan across the borders. ethnic group who reside in Rakhine State, Myanmar. € Disturbance in Law and Order: ¾ They are described by the United Nations (UN) as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. z The rule of law and integrity of the country are undermined by the illegal migrants who are ¾ The Rohingya refugee crisis is caused by the engaged in illegal and anti-national activities. Rohingya people having long faced violence and discrimination in Myanmar. ¾ Steps Taken by Government: ¾ To escape discrimination and violence in Myanmar, € Centre had issued instructions to the State minority Rohingya Muslims have for decades fled governments and Union Territory administrations, from the Buddhist-majority country to neighboring advising them to sensitise the law enforcement Bangladesh and other countries, including India. and intelligence agencies to take appropriate steps for prompt identification of illegal migrants. Key Points € Consolidated instructions to tackle the issue of ¾ Issues & Concerns: overstay and illegal migrationof foreign nationals have also been issued. € Threat to National Security: ¾ Existing Legal Framework: z The continuance of the illegal immigration of Rohingyas into India and their continued stay € The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920: in India is found to be having serious national z The act empowered the government to make security ramifications and poses serious rules requiring persons entering India to be in security threats. possession of passports. € Clash of Interests: z It also granted the government the power to z It impacts the interests of local populations in remove from India any person who entered the areas seeing large-scale influxes of illegal without a passport. immigrants. € Foreigners Act, 1946:

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z It replaced the conferring Foreigners Act, 1940 unwilling to return owing to well-founded fear wide powers to deal with all foreigners. of persecution for reasons of race, religion, z The act empowered the government to take nationality, membership of a particular social such steps as are necessary to prevent illegal group or political opinion. migrants including the use of force. z India is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Con- z The concept of ‘burden of proof’ lies with the vention relating to the Status of Refugees and person, and not with the authoritiesgiven by the 1967 Protocol thereon. this act is still applicable in all States and Union € Stateless persons may also be refugees in this Territories. This concept has been upheld by sense, where country of origin (citizenship) a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court. is understood as ‘country of former habitual z The act empowered the government to establish residence’. tribunals which would have powers similar to those of a civil court. z Recent amendments (2019) to the Foreigners Women in Combat Role in ITBP (Tribunals) Order, 1964 empowered even district magistrates in all States and Union Territories Why in News to set up tribunals to decide whether a person For the first time, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not. (ITBP) inducted women officers in the combat role. Two € The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939: women officers joined it as Assistant Commandants (AC). z Registration under FRRO is a mandatory requirement under which all foreign nationals Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (excluding overseas citizens of India) visiting ¾ ITBP is a Central Armed Police Force functioning India on a long term visa (more than 180 days) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government are required to register themselves with a of India. Registration Officer within 14 days of arriving € Other Central Armed Police Forces are: Assam in India. Rifles (AR), Border Security Force (BSF), Central z Pakistani nationals visiting India are required Industrial Security Force (CISF), Central Reserve to register within 24 hours of arrival regardless Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guards of the duration of their stay. (NSG) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). € The Citizenship Act, 1955: ¾ The ITBP was raised on 24th October, 1962 during z It provides for the acquisition and determination the India-China War and is a border guarding police of Indian citizenship. force specializing in high altitude operations. z Moreover, the Constitution has also provided ¾ Presently, ITBP is deployed on border guarding citizenship rights for Overseas Citizens of duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep India, Non-Resident Indians, and Persons of La in Arunachal Pradesh covering 3488 km of Indo- Indian Origin. China Border. ¾ The Force is also deployed for Anti Naxal operations Illegal Migrants Vs Refugee and other internal security duties. ¾ Illegal Migrants: ¾ ITBP was initially raised under theCentral Reserve € The foreign nationals who enter the country Police Force (CRPF) Act, 1949. However, in 1992, without valid travel documents are treated as parliament enacted the ITBPF Act and the rules illegal migrants. were framed in 1994. ¾ Refugee: € Under the 1951 UN Convention on the Status Key Points of Refugees and the subsequent 1967 Protocol, ¾ About: the word refugee pertains to any person who € Women officers joining the ITBP as officers have is outside their country of origin and unable or served in combat roles earlier as well.

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€ However, it was only in 2016 when the appointment the sexes make women more vulnerable to certain of women as combat officers through the Central types of injuries and medical problems. Armed Police Forces (CAPF) entrance exam z Pre-entry physical fitness levels tend to be conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service lower in most women recruits compared with Commission) was approved. men. ¾ Status of Women in the Indian Armed Forces (under z Hence, when standards of training remain same the Ministry of Defence): for the two genders, there is a higher probability € The Army, Air Force and Navy began inducting of injuries among the women. women as short-service commission (SSC) officers € Physiological Issues: The natural processes in 1992. of menstruation and pregnancy make women z This was the first time when women were allowed particularly vulnerable in combat situations. to join the military outside the medical stream. z Lack of privacy and sanitation can result in an € One of the turning points for women in the military increased incidence of genitourinary infections. came in 2015 when Indian Air Force (IAF) decided z The effect of prolonged deployment in difficult to induct them into the fighter stream. terrains and grueling physical activity on the € In 2020, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the central reproductive health of women is still unknown. government to grant Permanent Commission € Social and Psychological Issues: Women tend to (PC) to women officers in the Army’s non-combat be more attached to their families, particularly support units on par with their male counterparts. their children. z The SC had rejected the government’s stand z This translates into greater mental stress of women officers’ physiological limitationsas and requirement of social support to sustain being based on “sex stereotypes” and “gender themselves during prolonged separations from discrimination against women”. family. z Women officers have been granted PC in the z The issue of military sexual trauma (MST) and Indian Army in all the ten branches where its effect on the physical and mental well-being women are inducted for SSC. of women combatants is grave. z Women are now eligible to occupy all the € Conventional Barriers:Cultural barriers in society command appointments, at par with male may be the biggest impediment to induction of officers, which would open avenues for further women in combat. promotions to higher ranks for them. z Another major question that needs to be studied € In early 2021, the Indian Navy deployed four is the acceptance of orders of the women officers women officers on warships after a gap of almost by the jawans. 25 years. ¾ Counter-Arguments: z India’s aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya and € Gender is not a Hindrance: As long as an applicant fleet tanker INS Shakti are the warships that is qualified for a position, one’s gender is arbitrary. have been assigned their first women crews In the modern high technology battlefield, technical since the late 1990s. expertise and decision-making skills are increasingly € In May 2021, the Army inducted the first batch more valuable than simple brute strength. of women into the Corps of Military Police, the € Military Readiness: Allowing a mixed gender first time that women joined the military in the force keeps the military strong. The armed non-officer cadre. forces are severely troubled by falling retention z However, Women are still not allowed in combat and recruitment rates. This can be addressed by arms like Infantry and Armored Corps. allowing women in the combat role. ¾ Issues with Women in Combat Role: € Effectiveness: The blanket restriction for women € Physical Issues: The natural physical differences in limits the ability of commanders in theater to pick stature, strength, and body composition between the most capable person for the job.

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€ Tradition: Training will be required to facilitate the € It will have an air component of 30 aircraft, integration of women into combat units. Cultures comprising MiG-29K fighter jets,Kamov-31 airborne change over time and the masculine subculture early warning helicopters and the soon-to-be- can evolve too. inducted MH-60R multi-role helicopter, besides € Global Scenario: When women officially became the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters. eligible for combat positions in the American € It is expected to have a top speed of 30 knots military in 2013, it was widely hailed as another (approximately 55 kmph) and is propelled by four step towards the equality of sexes. In 2018, the gas turbines. Its endurance is 7,500 nautical miles UK military lifted a ban on women serving in close at 18 knots (32 kmph) speed. combat ground roles, clearing the way for them € The shipborne weapons include Barak LR SAM to serve in elite special forces. and AK-630, while it has MFSTAR and RAN-40L 3D radars as sensors. The vessel has a Shakti EW INS Vikrant Begins Sea Trials (Electronic Warfare) Suite. € It has a pair of runways and a ‘short take off Why in News but arrested recovery’ system to control aircraft operations. Recently, the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) 1 ¾ named INS Vikrant, started sea trials (one of the last Significance: phases of trials). € Adds Combat and Sea Control Capability, especially ¾ It is likely to be commissioned in 2022. At present, in the Indian Ocean Region. India has only one aircraft carrier, the Russian-origin € Increased Ability of Air Power: It would offer an INS Vikramaditya. incomparable military instrument with its ability ¾ Earlier, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) to project air power over long distances, including approved issuance of Request for Proposal (RFP) for air interdiction, anti-surface warfare, offensive and six advanced submarines for the Indian Navy under defensive counter-air, airborne anti-submarine Project-75I. warfare and airborne early warning. € Self-Reliance: Only five or six nations currently Key Points have the capability of manufacturing an aircraft ¾ About: carrier — India joins this elite club now. € The vessel, to be named Vikrant after the decom- ¾ Future Endeavours: missioned maiden carrier of the Navy. € Since 2015, the Navy has been seeking approval z India acquired the Vikrant from the United to build a third aircraft carrier for the country, Kingdom in 1961, and the carrier played a which, if approved, will become India’s second stellar role in the 1971 war with Pakistan that Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC-2). led to the birth of Bangladesh. € This proposed carrier, to be named INS Vishal, is € Over 76% of the material and equipment on board intended to be a giant 65,000-tonne vessel, much IAC-1 is indigenous. bigger than IAC-1 and the INS Vikramaditya.

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Highlights z Vehicle Scrapping Policy Launched z PM-DAKSH Scheme z Ballistic Missile Ghaznavi: Pakistan z Delhi-Alwar RRTS Project z Ujjwala 2.0 z Halam Sub-tribes Clash z International Baccalaureate z World’s Highest Motorable Road at Umling La z Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award z IndiGau

¾ The policy is estimated to cover51 lakh Light Motor Vehicle Scrapping Vehicles (LMVs) that are above 20 years of age and Policy Launched another 34 lakh LMVs above 15 years of age. Key Points Why in News ¾ Aim: Recently, the Prime Minister while addressing the € Reducing the population of old and defective Investor Summit in Gujarat via video conferencing vehicles, bringing down vehicular air pollutants, launched the Vehicle Scrapping Policy / National improving road and vehicular safety. Automobile Scrappage Policy. ¾ Provisions: ¾ The Summit will invite investment for setting up € Fitness Test: vehicle scrapping infrastructure under the Vehicle z Old vehicles will have to pass a fitness test Scrapping Policy. before re-registration and as per the policy ¾ The Vehicle Scrapping Policy was announced in March government commercial vehicles more than 2021 by the government. 15 years old and private vehicles which are over 20 years old will be scrapped. z Old vehicles will be tested at authorized Auto- mated Fitness Center and will not be scrapped merely on the basis of age. „ Emission test, braking system, safety compo- nents will be tested and the vehicles which fail in the fitness test will be scrapped. „ If the old vehicle passes the test, the owner can continue to use it, but the charges for reregistration will be much steeper. „ The Union Road and Transport Ministry has also issued rules for registration procedure for scrapping facilities, their powers, and scrapping procedure to be followed. € Road Tax Rebate: z The state governments may be advised to offer a road-tax rebate of up to 25% for personal vehicles and up to 15% for commercial vehicles

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to provide incentive to owners of old vehicles country and promote a circular economy and to scrap old and unfit vehicles. waste to wealth campaign. € Vehicle Discount: z As older vehicles pollute the environment 10 z Vehicle manufacturers will also give a discount of to 12 times more, and estimated that 17 lakh 5% to people who will produce the ‘Scrapping medium and heavy commercial vehicles are Certificate’ and registration fees will be waived more than 15 years old. off on the purchase of a new vehicle. ¾ Other Initiatives to Curb Vehicular Pollution: € Disincentive: € Go Electric Campaign z As a disincentive, increased re-registration fees € FAME India Scheme Phase II. would be applicable for vehicles 15 years or € Electric Vehicles (EV) Policy 2020 for Delhi. older from the initial date registration. € Hydrogen Fuel Cell Based Bus and Car Project. ¾ Significance: € National Electric Mobility Mission 2020. € Creation of Scrap yards: z It will lead to creation of more scrap yards in Ballistic Missile the country and effective recovery of waste from old vehicles. Ghaznavi: Pakistan z India had to import 23,000 crore worth of scrap steel during the last year as India’s scrapping is Why in News not productive and India is not able to recover Recently, Pakistan has successfully test-fired anuclear energy and rare earth metals. -capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile ‘Ghaznavi’. € Employment: ¾ It is capable of delivering multiple types of warheads z In the new fitness centers,35 thousand people up to a range of 290 kilometres. and an investment of Rs will get employment ¾ Earlier, Shaheen-3, Babur cruise missile and the 10,000 crores will be pumped in. Fatah-1 were launched. € Improved Revenue: z This will boost sales of heavy and medium Key Points commercial vehicles that had been in the ¾ Ballistic Missile: contraction zone as a result of economic € It is a rocket-propelled self-guided strategic- slowdown triggered by the bankruptcy of IL&FS weapons system that follows a ballistic trajectory (Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services) and to deliver a payload from its launch site to a Covid-19 pandemic. predetermined target. z The government treasury is expected to get € It can carry conventional high explosives as well around Rs 30,000 to 40,000 crores of money as chemical, biological, or nuclear munitions. through Goods and Services Tax (GST) from € The International Code of Conduct against Ballistic this policy. Missile Proliferation (ICOC), now known as the € Reduction in Prices: Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile z Prices of auto components would fall substan- Proliferation (HCOC), is a political initiative aimed tially with the recycling of metal and plastic parts. at globally curbing ballistic missile proliferation. z As scrapped materials will get cheaper the z India is a signatory to this convention. production cost of the vehicle manufacturers € Established in April 1987, the voluntary Missile will also reduce. Technology Control Regime (MTCR) aims to limit € Reduce Pollution: the spread of ballistic missiles and other unmanned z It will play a major role in modernising the delivery systems that could be used for chemical, vehicular population as it will help in phasing biological, and nuclear attacks. out the unfit and polluting vehicles across the z India has joined the MTCR.

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¾ Some of India’s Ballistic Missiles: € Under Ujjwala 1.0, the target was to provide LPG € Agni P missile connections to 50 million women from the below poverty line (BPL) households, by March 2020. € Shaurya missile However, in August 2018, women from seven € Prithvi missile other categories were brought under the purview € Dhanush, etc. of the scheme: z SC/ST, those under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Ujjwala 2.0 Yojana (PMAY), beneficiaries of theAntyoday Anna Yojana (AAY), Forest Dwellers, most Why in News backward classes, tea gardens and Islands. € Under Ujjwala 2.0, an additional 10 million LPG Recently, the Prime Minister launched the second connections will be provided to the beneficiaries. phase of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) or Ujjwala 2.0 Scheme. z Government has also fixed a target ofproviding piped gas to 21 lakh homes in 50 districts. ¾ He mentioned plans to promote“gobar dhan” – tapping ¾ cow dung for energy on the occasion of World Bio Nodal Ministry: Fuel Day (10th August). € Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). ¾ Ujjwala is part of the ambitious agenda for behavioural ¾ Achievements: change that will help India transit to a $5 trillion € In the first phase of the PMUY,8 crore poor families, economy by 2024. including from the Dalit and tribal communities, were given free cooking gas connections. Key Points € The LPG infrastructure has expanded manifold in ¾ About: the country. In the last six years, more than 11,000 € PMUY-I: new LPG distribution centres have opened across the country. z Launched in May 2016 to provide LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) connections to poor households. ¾ Challenges: € PMUY-II: € Low Consumption of Refills: z It is aimed to provide maximum benefit to z Encouraging the sustained usage of LPG remains the migrants who live in other states and find a big challenge, and low consumption of refills it difficult to submit address proof. hindered recovery of outstanding loans disbursed under the scheme. z Now they will only have to give “Self Declaration” th to avail the benefit. z The annual average refill consumption on 31 December 2018 was only 3.21. ¾ Objectives: € System Anomalies: € Empowering women and protecting their health. z There are deficiencies such as the issuance of € Reducing the number of deaths in India due to unclean cooking fuel. connections to unintended beneficiaries, and problems with the software of the state-run oil € Preventing young children from a significant number marketing companies for identifying intended of acute respiratory illnesses caused due to indoor beneficiaries and inadequacies in the dedupli- air pollution by burning fossil fuel. cation process. ¾ Features: € The scheme provides a financial support of Rs 1600 for each LPG connection to the BPL households. International Baccalaureate € Along with a deposit-free LPG connection,Ujjwala 2.0 will provide the first refill and a hotplate free Why in News of cost to the beneficiaries. Recently, the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) ¾ Target: signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with

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International Baccalaureate (IB) to implement IB pro- Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting grammes in 30 government schools, including 20 of its honour, after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand. new Schools of Specialised Excellence (SOSE) in 2021. ¾ This came a day after the Indian men’s hockey team ¾ With the signing of this MoU, government school won the bronze medal in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics students will get access to international level of and hours after the women’s team finished fourth. educational facilities. ¾ Students of these schools will be issued joint certi- Key Points fication by the IB and the Delhi board when they ¾ About: complete schooling. € The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will hereby be called the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. Key Points z The now renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna ¾ About: award comes with a cash prize of Rs 25 lakh. € It is a worldwide, nonprofit education program € Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is the highest founded to give to students aged 3 to 19 the sporting award given by the Ministry of Youth opportunity to receive an education fit for a glo- Affairs and Sports for the spectacular and most balizing world. Its Foundation Office is in Geneva outstanding performance in the field of sports by (Switzerland). a sportsperson over a period of four years. € It emphasizes personal student development as z The award comprises a medallion, a certificate, one of its main achievements. and a cash prize of Rs 7.5 lakh. € There are four IB education programs, all of which € The Khel Ratna award was instituted in 1991-1992 are intended to develop students’ intellectual, and the first recipient was Chess legend Viswanathan emotional, personal and social skills. Anand. Among the other winners were Leander € It has around 5,000 schools globally. There are Paes, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhanraj Pillay, Pullela currently 193 IB schools in India, all of which are Gopichand, Abhinav Bindra, Anju Bobby George, top-end elite private schools. Mary Kom and Rani Rampal in 2020. ¾ Objective of IB Programmes: ¾ Major Dhyan Chand: € Fostering critical thinkingand building problem- € Known as The Wizard, Major Dhyan Chand, a field solving skills, while encouraging diversity, hockey player, played international hockey from international mindedness, curiosity, and ahealthy 1926 to 1949, scoring over 400 goals in his career. appetite for learning and excellence. € Dhyan Chand, born in Allahabad, was part of the ¾ Benefits: Olympic team that won gold medals in 1928, € High quality programmes of education, which 1932 and 1936. support development of knowledgeable and € Apart from the Khel Ratna award, the country’s inquiring students. highest award for lifetime achievement in sports € Professional development that supports effective is known as the Dhyan Chand Award. It was educators and collaborative professional learning instituted in 2002. communities. € The National Stadium in New Delhi was also renamed € Students will be able to engage with people in an as the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in 2002. increasingly globalized, rapidly changing world. € The National Sports Day is observed every year across India on 29th August to mark the birth Major Dhyan anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand who was born th Chand Khel Ratna Award on 29 August 1905. z The President of India on this occasion honours the eminent athletes from various sports with Why in News the prestigious Khel Ratna, Arjuna Awards, Recently, the Prime Minister renamed the Rajiv Dronacharya Awards, and Dhyan Chand Award.

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PM-DAKSH Scheme ¾ National Career Service Project: Launched in 2015 to offer free online career skills training to job-seekers registered with it. It is an initiative of the Ministry Why in News of Labour & Employment. Recently, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment ¾ Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness has launched ‘PM-DAKSH’ (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur for Livelihood (SANKALP): Its focus is on district- Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) Portal and ‘PM-DAKSH’ level skilling ecosystem through convergence and Mobile App to make the skill development schemes ac- coordination. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme cessible to the target groups - Backward Classes, Scheduled which is collaborated with the World Bank. Castes and Safai Karamcharis. ¾ Kaushalacharya Awards: Launched to recognize the Key Points contribution made by skill trainers and to motivate ¾ About: more trainers to join the Skill India Mission. € PM-DAKSH Yojana is being implemented from the ¾ Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship year 2020-21. and Skills (SHREYAS): The scheme is to provide € Under this, eligible target groups are provided with industry apprenticeship opportunities to the general the skill development training programmes on graduates exiting in April 2019 through the National Short Term Training Program; Up-Skilling/Reskilling; Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). It was Entrepreneurship Development Programme, and launched by the Ministry of Education. Long Term Training Programme. ¾ Atmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping z These training programmes are being implement- (ASEEM): Launched by MSDE in 2020, it is a portal ed through the government training institutes, to help skilled people find sustainable livelihood sector skill councils that have been constituted opportunities. by the Ministry of Skill Development and En- trepreneurship, and other credible institutions. ¾ Eligibility: Delhi-Alwar € Marginalized persons of SC (Scheduled Caste), RRTS Project OBC (Other Backward Classes), Economically Backward Classes, Denotified tribes, Sanitation Why in News workers including waste pickers, manual scavengers, transgenders and other similar categories. The Supreme Court-Appointed Committee has per- ¾ Implementation: mitted construction of a stretch of the proposed Delhi- Alwar RRTS (Rapid Rail transit system) corridor under € It is implemented by the three Corporations under the Ministry: the Aravalli Biodiversity Park and the extended ridge area. z National Scheduled Castes Finance and Devel- Key Points opment Corporation (NSFDC), ¾ Committee’s Report: z National Backward Classes Finance & Develop- ment Corporation (NBCFDC), € The committee observed that the project is in and since the proposed rail corridor z National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Devel- public interest opment Corporation (NSKFDC). will run 20 metres below the ground, trees will not have to be cut. Initiatives Related to Skill Development € There will be no construction on the surface in ¾ Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana 3.0: It was the Morphological Ridge area. launched by the Ministry of Skill Development z A ridge or a mountain ridge is a geographical and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in 2021 in a bid to feature consisting of a chain of mountains or empower India’s youth with employable skills by hills that form a continuous elevated crest for making over 300 skill courses available to them. some distance.

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z The Aravalli ridge areas, which are essentially extensions of the Aravalli ranges and extend Halam Sub-tribes Clash over 7,000 hectares in Delhi, are considered the lungs of the capital (Delhi). Why in News ¾ Delhi-Alwar RRTS Corridor: People of Halam sub-tribes, who took refuge in Assam € It is a 164-km rapid rail corridor, which will be a following clashes with Bru refugees in north Tripura, are mix of elevated tracks and tunnels. It is slated to returning to their village Damcherra in North district of be implemented in three phases. Tripura. € A 3.6-km stretch of the corridor is supposed to ¾ The Brus came to Tripura in 1997 to escape an ethnic pass below the extended or ‘morphological’ ridge clash in Mizoram and started staying at six relief camps in South Delhi. in the North District. z 1.7-km of the 3.6-km stretch under consideration will pass below the Aravalli Biodiversity Park near Vasant Kunj, Delhi. ¾ Significance of Corridor: € Travel Time: z It is expected to reduce travel time between these places to 117 minutes – a little less than two hours. € Air Quality: z It is expected to improve the air quality in Delhi/NCR (National Capital Region), because the share of public transport is expected to increase. € Ease in Road Traffic: z Road traffic congestion is expected to ease with a better transport network and the project is expected to address regional connectivity Key Points issues and develop an efficient multimodal ¾ Halam Sub-tribes: transport system connecting Delhi-NCR with € Ethnically, Halam communities (categorisedas a road, rail and air. scheduled tribe in Tripura) belong to the Kuki-Chin tribes of Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group. Aravalli Biodiversity Park € Their is also more or less ¾ It is developed on 699 acres of land located in South language similar to that Delhi near Vasant Vihar. of the Tibeto-Burman family. € Halams are also known as Mila Kuki, though they ¾ The area is highly degraded due to past mining and are not at all Kukis in terms of language, culture infested with Prosopis juliflora(an Invasive Shrub). and living style. € The biodiversity of Delhi is nearly extinct. € Halams are divided into several sub-clans which ¾ The prime objective of ABP is to bring back the are referred to as “Barki-Halam”. lost biodiversity of Delhi Aravallis. The other € Major sub-clans of Halams are Koloi, Korbong, objective of ABP is to promote nature education Kaipeng, Bong, Sakachep, Thangachep, Molsom, among students and create environment awareness Rupini, Rangkhowl, Chorai, Lankai, Kaireng (Darlong), among the public. Ranglong, Marchafang and Saihmar. ¾ It is also helping in preserving the threatened € As per 2011 Census, their total population is 57,210 medicinal plants of the Aravallis. and distributed throughout the State.

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€ Halams live in typical “Tong Ghar” specially made specifically in Assam where a process is on to of bamboo and Chan grass. Apart from plain land define who is indigenous and who is not. cultivation they still practice Jhum cultivation € The move on the Brus legitimises the settlement and depend on both the activities beside other of foreigners under Citizenship (Amendment) Act substitute works. too, creating conflicts with the indigenous people ¾ Bru Refugees: as well as communities that settled earlier. € Bru or Reang is a community indigenous to € It could also lead to loss of space and revenue for Northeast India, living mostly in Tripura, Mizoram other communities in Tripura. and Assam. In Tripura, they are recognised as a € Further, the inter-state border disputes have come Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group. under fresh focus after the recent violent clash on € In Mizoram, they have been targeted by groups Assam-Mizoram border. that do not consider them indigenous to the state. z In 1997, following ethnic clashes, nearly 37,000 World’s Highest Brus fled Mamit, Kolasib and Lunglei districts of Mizoram and were accommodated in relief Motorable Road at Umling La camps in Tripura. z Damcherra is Tripura’s last village before the Why in News inter-state boundary with Mizoram. Recently, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has € Since then, 5,000 have returned to Mizoram in constructed and completed black topping the world’s eight phases of repatriation, while 32,000 still live highest motorable road at Umling La pass in Eastern in six relief camps in North Tripura. Ladakh, located at an altitude of 19,300 ft. € In June 2018, community leaders from the Bru camps signed an agreement with the Centre Key Points and the two state governments, providing for ¾ About the Road: repatriation in Mizoram. Butmost camp residents € By constructing this road, BRO hascreated a record rejected the terms of the agreement. in high-altitude road construction. € In January 2020, the Centre, the governments z It bettered the previous record of a road in of Mizoram and Tripura and leaders of Bru Bolivia connecting to its volcano Uturuncu at organisations signed a quadripartite agreement. 18,953 ft. z Under the pact, the Home Ministry has committed € The strategic road built under ‘Project Himank’ to incur the whole expenditure of settlement passes through the Umling La Top and connects in Tripura. Chisumle and Demchok villages. z A package was assured in the accord that each € It will enhance the socio-economic condition and refugee family would get: promote tourism in Ladakh. „ A plot, fixed deposit of Rs. 4 lakh, free ration € The road is close to the Line of Actual Control and a monthly stipend of Rs. 5,000 for two (LAC) and will allow quick movement of troops years. and equipment. „ In addition, each family will also be provided ¾ Comparing the Road: Rs. 1.5 lakh to construct a house. € The road has been constructed at an altitude higher ¾ Related Issues: than the Mt Everest Base Camps as the South Base € The northeast has had a history of ethnic conflicts Camp in Nepal is at an altitude of 17,598 ft, while — not only between the “indigenous” and “settlers” North Base Camp in Tibet is at 16,900 ft. but inter-tribe too — and issues could also arise € The road has been constructed much above the within smaller sub-groups within the same tribe. altitude ofSiachen Glacier which is at 17,700 ft. € The decision to settle Bru Tribal People in Tripura € The Khardung La Pass in Leh is at an altitude of could also throw up questions of citizenship, 17,582 ft.

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¾ Project Himank: ¾ NIAB is an Indian autonomous research establishment

€ Project Himank, is a project of the BRO being of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of implemented in the Ladakh region of Jammu & Science and Technology. Kashmir. Key Points € This project started in 1985. € Under this project, BRO is responsible for the ¾ About IndiGau: construction and maintenance of roads and € IndiGau is purely indigenous and the largest cattle related infrastructure including the world’s highest chip of the world. motorable roads. € The Chip to achieve the goal of conservation of our own breeds with better characters and help towards doubling of farmers’ income by 2022. € The manufacturing of this chip is in synergy with Rashtriya Gokul Mission and a great example of Atmanirbhar Bharat. € Further, the chip exemplifies the application of scientific knowledge and innovations for “Ease of Living” for all sections of society. ¾ Importance of Indigenious Breeds: € Indigenous bovines are robust and resilient and are particularly suited to the climate and environment of their respective breeding tracts and productivity IndiGau of indigenous breeds is less likely to be impacted by the adversities of climate change. Why in News € The milk of indigenous animals is high in fat and Recently, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology SNF content. (NIAB), Hyderabad has launched a chip called IndiGau. z SNF content are the substances in milk other ¾ It is India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip for the conser- than butterfat and water in the form of casein, vation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds lactose, vitamins, and minerals which contribute like Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc. significantly to the nutritive value of milk.

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