Current Affairs (CONSOLIDaTION)

July 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 Section 66A of the IT Act...... 1 z SC Upheld Authority of Delhi’s Peace and Harmony Committee...... 2 z SC on Central Information Commission (CIC)...... 3 z ‘Union’ or ‘Central’ Government ...... 4 z Council of Ministers...... 5 z Cabinet Committees...... 6 z Need for Changes in Anti-Defection Law...... 7 z Election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker...... 8 z Chief Minister...... 9 z Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute...... 10 z Stringent Nature of UAPA...... 11 z Punjab Suba Movement...... 13 z Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Water Dispute...... 14 z BharatNet Project...... 15 z Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary...... 16 z New Portals on Ayush Sector...... 17 z India Industrial Land Bank...... 17 z National Ayush Mission...... 18 z New Solar Projects: NTPC...... 18 z Department of Public Enterprises...... 20 z NIPUN Bharat Mission...... 20 z Global Cybersecurity Index: ITU...... 21 z Six Years of Digital India Programme...... 22 z UDISE+ 2019-20 Report...... 23

Economic Scenario...... 25 z Inflation Data: June 2021...... 25 z India’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Package: Phase II...... 26 z Agriculture Infrastructure Fund...... 27 z Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency...... 27 z Special Livestock Sector Package...... 29 z RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme...... 29 z Sankalp Se Siddhi: Mission Van Dhan...... 31 z Matsya Setu...... 32 z GI Certified Bhalia Wheat: Gujarat...... 32 z Youth and Food System...... 33 z Authorised Economic Operators Programme...... 35 z Anti-Dumping Duty...... 36 z Forex Reserves...... 36 z Contraction of India’s Manufacturing Sector: PMI ...... 37 z Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme...... 38 z Open Network for Digital Commerce...... 39 z World Bank Support to India’s Informal Working Class...... 40 z Four Years of the GST...... 41 z Financial Stability Report: RBI...... 43 z New Norms for Independent Directors...... 45 z Ministry of Cooperation: A New Push to Co-operatives...... 46 z Output Pact: OPEC+...... 47

International Relations...... 49 z India Rejects OIC’s Proposal...... 49 z India-EU Meet on Agriculture...... 50 z Vietnam’s First Honorary Consul General in India...... 51 z India’s Tibet Policy...... 53 z BHIM - UPI Launched in Bhutan...... 54 z St. Queen Ketevan’s Relics: Georgia...... 55 z Assasination of Haiti’s President...... 55 z India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA)...... 56 z Stand-Off on GERD...... 57 z G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting...... 58 z India Joins OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework Tax Deal...... 59 z 7th Edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium...... 61 z Road Ahead for Afghanistan after US Exit...... 62

Science and Technology...... 64 z Methane in the Moons of Saturn...... 64 z Suborbital Flight...... 65 z Discrete Auroras of Mars...... 66 z Few-Electron Bubbles in Superfluid Helium Gas...... 67 z New Source of Gravitational Waves Discovered...... 68 z Acute Encephalitis Syndrome...... 70 z Lymphatic Filariasis...... 70 z dbGENVOC...... 71 z Zika Virus Disease...... 71 z Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots...... 72 z Lambda Variant of Covid-19...... 73 z Kappa Variant: Covid-19...... 73 z Fly Ash...... 74

Environment and Ecology...... 76 z Right to Repair Movement...... 76 z Green Hydrogen...... 77 z High-Altitude Yak...... 78 z India’s First Cryptogamic Garden...... 79 z Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework...... 80 z Water Pollution by Detergents...... 82 z SOP for Environmental Violations: MoEFCC...... 84 z Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan...... 85 z Lemru Elephant Reserve: Chhattisgarh...... 86 z Human-Wildlife Conflict...... 87 z Conservation Plans for Cities along Rivers...... 88 z Deaths Due to Hazardous Chemical ...... 90 z Anti-Methanogenic Feed Supplement: Harit Dhara...... 91 z Melting of Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’...... 91 z Conservation of Vultures...... 92 z Marine Plastic: Problem, And Solution ...... 94 z Guindy National Park: Tamil Nadu...... 96 z LEAF Coalition...... 96 z Black Panther Spotted in Navegaon – Nagzira Tiger Reserve...... 97 z King Cobra in Tillari Reserve...... 99

History...... 100 z Indian Soldiers in Italy: World War II...... 100 z Swami Vivekananda...... 101

Geography...... 102 z Heat Dome...... 102 z Taal Volcano: Philippines ...... 103 z Vembanad Lake: Kerala...... 104 z Incidents of Lightning...... 104

Social Issues...... 106 z Drop in Open Defecation: Wash Report...... 106 z Delay in Aadhaar Enrolment due to Incomplete NRC: Assam...... 107 z ‘Joint Communication’ for Tribal Communities...... 108 z Draft Anti-Trafficking Bill...... 109 z Gender Self Identification ...... 110 z Trafficking in Persons Report...... 111 z Tele-Law...... 112 z Child Soldier Recruiter List...... 113 z ICDS Survey in Jharkhand...... 114 z World Population Day...... 116

Art & Culture...... 118 z Silambam...... 118 z Kalbeliya Dance...... 119 z Kuvempu Award 2020...... 120

Security...... 121 z Naga Peace Talks...... 121

Miscellaneous...... 123 z Malaria Free China...... 123 z Kesaria Buddha Stupa: Bihar...... 124 z Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra...... 125 z Project BOLD: KVIC...... 126 z SPARSH: System for Pension Administration Raksha...... 126 www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 1 Polity and Governance

Highlights z Section 66A of the IT Act z Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Water Dispute z SC Upheld Authority of Delhi’s Peace and Harmony Committee z BharatNet Project z SC on Central Information Commission (CIC) z Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary z ‘Union’ or ‘Central’ Government z New Portals on Ayush Sector z Council of Ministers z India Industrial Land Bank z Cabinet Committees z National Ayush Mission z Need for Changes in Anti-Defection Law z New Solar Projects: NTPC z Election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker z Department of Public Enterprises z Chief Minister z NIPUN Bharat Mission z Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute z Global Cybersecurity Index: ITU z Stringent Nature of UAPA z Six Years of Digital India Programme z Punjab Suba Movement z UDISE+ 2019-20 Report

Section 66A of the IT Act

Why in News The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre on the use of Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 that was scrapped several years ago. ¾ The court struck down the provision as unconstitutional and a violation of free speechin 2015 in the Shreya conviction could fetch amaximum of three years Singhal Case. in jail. ¾ The IT Act, 2000 provides for legal recognition for ¾ Issues with Section 66A: transactions through electronic communication, also € Based on Undefined Actions: known as e-commerce. The Act also penalizes various z The court observed that the weakness of forms of cyber crime. Section 66A lay in the fact that it had created an offence on the basis of undefined actions: Key Points such as causing “inconvenience, danger, ¾ About Section 66A: obstruction and insult”, which do not fall € It empowered police to make arrests over what among the exceptions granted under Article policemen, in terms of their subjective discretion, 19 of the Constitution, which guarantees the could construe as “offensive” or “menacing” freedom of speech. or for the purposes of causing annoyance, € Subjective Nature: inconvenience, etc. z The court also observed that the challenge was € It prescribed the punishment for sending messages to identify where to draw the line. Traditionally, through a computer or any other communication it has been drawn at incitement while terms device like a mobile phone or a tablet, and a like obstruction and insult remain subjective.

Note: 2 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ No Procedural Safeguards: z It cited entry 1 in the state list dealing with z In addition, the court had noted that Section public order, which is distinct from law and 66A did not have procedural safeguards like order and entry 1 in concurrent list which other sections of the law with similar aims, gives sweeping power to state assemblies to such as the need to obtain the concurrence of legislate on the subject ‘criminal law’. the Centre before action can be taken. z Entry 39 in the state list that gave assemblies „ Local authorities could proceed autonomously, power to enforce the attendance of witnesses literally on the whim of their political masters. for the purpose of recording statements was also relied upon. z The Court did not strike down two other provisions- sections 69A and 79 of the IT Act ¾ SC’s Ruling: – and said that they can remain enforced with € Rejected Facebook’s Abstention: certain restrictions. z Rejected the simplistic approach adopted by „ Section 69A provides power to issue Facebook — that it is merely a platform posting directions to block public access of any third-party information and has no role in information through any computer resource generating, controlling or modulating that and Sec 79 provides for exemption from information. liability of intermediary in certain cases. z Facebook cannot claim any “exceptional € Against the Fundamental Rights: privilege” to abstain from appearing before the Peace Harmony Committee constituted by z Section 66A was contrary to both Articles 19 (free speech) and 21 (right to life) of the the Delhi Assembly. Constitution. € Committee’s Competence/Powers: „ Right to know is the species of the right z An “informed deliberation” by the Assembly’s to speech and expression provided by the elected representatives on the best measures Article 19(1) (a) of the constitution of India. to combat online mass hate and violence in their geographical jurisdiction was very much within the Committee’s competence. SC Upheld Authority of Delhi’s „ However Facebook representatives appearing Peace and Harmony Committee before the Committee need not answer any query from the Committee directly regarding law, order and the police, which Why in News are subjects on which the Delhi Assembly Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the authority cannot legislate. of Delhi Assembly’s Peace and Harmony Committee to € Legislative Assembly’s Power: summon Facebook India’s senior official in connection z Dismissed Facebook’s argument that the with the February 2020 communal violence. Assembly ought to confine itself to making rather than enquire into the circumstances Key Points laws of the riots. ¾ Central Governments and Facebook’s Claim: z The Assembly does not only perform the function € The formation of the Peace and Harmony committee of legislating; there are many other aspects was not within the authority of the Delhi Assembly of governance which can form part of the as law and order and police of Delhi is a central essential functions of the Legislative Assembly subject. and consequently the Committee. ¾ Delhi Government’s Justification: „ Legislative Privileges are the rights belonging € The Delhi Assembly had relied on various entries to the Legislature for effective discharge of in the state list and concurrent list, by which the their legislative functions. Delhi Assembly derived its power to discuss and „ Article 105 and Article 194 of the Indian debate on the issue in question. Constitution lay down the powers, privileges

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 3

and immunities of Members of Parliament Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a Union Cabinet (MPs) and State Assemblies respectively. Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. z In the larger context, the concept of peace and € Jurisdiction: The jurisdiction of the Commission harmony goes much beyond law and order extends over all Central Public Authorities. and police, more so in view of on-the-ground € Tenure: The Chief Information Commissioner and governance being in the hands of the Delhi an Information Commissioner shall hold office for Government such term as prescribed by the Central Government € Hybrid Governance: or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever z The Centre and Delhi government must work is earlier. together on governance issues in the Capital. z They are not eligible for reappointment. And need to show maturity at their ends. € Power and Functions of CIC: „ The social media company(Facebook) sought z To receive and inquire into a complaint from to take advantage of "divergence of view" any person regarding information requested and the inability of both the Centre and under RTI, 2005. State government to “see eye to eye on z It can order an inquiry into any matter if there governance issues in Delhi”. are reasonable grounds (suo-moto power). z The SC Noted that Delhi’s hybrid administration z While inquiring, the Commission has the powers – in which the Union government holds the of a civil court in respect of summoning, prerogative for several key areas of governance requiring documents etc. –has worked well for many years with different ¾ State Information Commission: political dispensations in power both at the € It is constituted by theState Government. Centre and State. € It has one State Chief Information Commissioner (SCIC) and not more than 10 State Information SC on Central Information Commissioners (SIC) to be appointed by the Gover- nor on the recommendation of theAppointments Commission (CIC) Committee headed by the Chief Minister. ¾ Issues: Why in News € Delays and Backlogs: The Supreme Court has directed the Union of India z On average, the CIC takes 388 days (more than and all States to file status reports on the latest one year) to dispose of an appeal/complaint developments regarding vacancies and pendency in the from the date it was filed before the commission. Central Information Commission (CIC) and State z A report released last year has pointed out that Information Commissions (SICs). more than 2.2 lakh Right to information cases are pending at the Central and State Information Key Points Commissions (ICs). ¾ About Central Information Commission (CIC): € No Penalties: € Establishment: The CIC was established by the z The report found that the Government officials Central Government in 2005, under the provisions hardly face any punishment for violating the law. of the Right to Information Act (2005). It is not a z Penalties wereimposed in only 2.2% of cases constitutional body. that were disposed of, despite previous analysis € Members: It consists of a Chief Information showing a rate of about 59% violations which Commissioner and not more than ten Information should have triggered the process of penalty Commissioners. imposition € Appointment: They are appointed by the President € Vacancy: on the recommendation of a committee consisting z Despite repeated directions from the court, of the Prime Minister as Chairperson, the Leader of there are still three vacancies in the CIC.

Note: 4 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Lack of Transparency: € On 13th December, 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru intro- z The criteria of selection, etc, nothing has been duced the aims and objectives of the Constituent placed on record. Assembly by resolving that India shall be a Union of territories willing to join the “Independent Right to Information Act Sovereign Republic”. ¾ Genesis of RTI law started in 1986, through judgement z The emphasis was on the consolidation and of Supreme Court in Mr. Kulwal v/s Jaipur Municipal confluenceof various provinces and territories Corporation case, in which it directed that freedom to form a strong united country. of speech and expression provided under Article € While submitting the draft Constitution in 1948,Dr 19 of the Constitution clearly implies Right to B R Ambedkar, chairman of the drafting committee, Information, as without information the freedom had said that the committee had used the word of speech and expression cannot be fully used by ‘Union’ because: the citizens z (a) the Indian federation was not the result of ¾ It has been implemented in order to see that the an agreement by the units, and Indian citizens are enabled to exercise their rights to ask some pertinent questionsto the Government z (b) the component units had no freedom to and different public utility service providers in a secede from the federation. practical way. € The members of the Constituent Assembly were ¾ The RTI Act replaced the Freedom of Information very cautious of not using the word ‘Centre’ or Act 2002. ‘Central government’ in the Constitution as they intended to keep away the tendency of centralising ¾ The objective of this act was tohelp the citizens avail of powers in one unit. of quicker services from the government agencies since the act enables them to ask questions like why ¾ Meaning of Union & Centre: a particular application or an official proceeding € According to constitution expert Subash Kashyap, gets delayed. from the point of the usage of the words, ‘centre’ ¾ Mainly the act aims at achieving a corruption-free indicates a point in the middle of a circle, whereas India. ‘Union’ is the whole circle. z In India, the relationship between the so-called ‘Centre’ and States, as per the Constitution, ‘Union’ or ‘Central’ Government is actually a relationship between the whole and its parts. Why in News € Both the Union and the States are created by the Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has decided Constitution,both derive their respective authority to shun the usage of the term ‘Central government’ in from the Constitution. its official communications and replace it with ‘Union z The one is not subordinate to the other in its own government’. field and the authority of one is to coordinate ¾ In common parlance, the terms “union government” with that of the other. and “central government” are used interchangeably € The judiciary is designed in the Constitution to in India. However, the Constituent Assembly did not ensure that the Supreme Court, the tallest court use the term ‘Centre’ or ‘Central government’ in all in the country, has no superintendence over the of its 395 Articles in 22 Parts and eight Schedules in High Court. the original Constitution. z Though the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, not only over High Courts but also Key Points over other courts and tribunals, they are not ¾ Intent of Constituent Assembly: declared to be subordinate to it. € Article 1(1) of the Constitution of Indiasays “India, z In fact, the High Courts have wider powers that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States.” to issue prerogative writs despite having the

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 5

power of superintendence over the district and ¾ About: subordinate courts. € Article 74 of the Constitution deals with the status € In very common parlance, Union gives a sense of the council of ministers while Article 75 deals of Federal while centre gives more of a sense of with the appointment, tenure, responsibility, unitary government. qualification, oath and salaries and allowances z But practically both are the same in Indian of the ministers. political system. € The COM consists of three categories of ministers, namely, cabinet ministers, ministers of state, and deputy ministers. At the top of all these ministers stands the Prime Minister. z Cabinet Ministers: These head the important ministries of the Central government like home, defence, finance, external affairs and so forth. „ Cabinet is the chief policy formulating body of the Central government. z Ministers of State: These can either be given ¾ Associated Issues With the Term Central Government independent charge of ministries/ departments € Discarded By Constituent Assembly: The word or can be attached to cabinet ministers. ‘Centre’ is not used in the Constitution; the makers z Deputy Ministers: They are attached to the of the Constitution specifically discarded it and cabinet ministers or ministers of state and instead used the word ‘Union’. assist them in their administrative, political, € Colonial Legacy: ‘Centre’ is a hangover from the and parliamentary duties. colonial period because the bureaucracy in the € At times, the COM may also include a deputy Secretariat, New Delhi who are used to using the prime minister. The deputy prime ministers are word ‘Central Laws,’ ‘Central legislature,’ etc, and appointed mostly for political reasons. so everyone else, including the media, started ¾ Constitutional Provisions: using the word. € Article 74 (COM to aid and advise President):The € Conflict With Idea of Federalism: India is a advice tendered by Ministers to the President shall federal government. The power to govern is not be inquired into in any court. divided between a government for the whole z The President may require the COM to country, which is responsible for subjects of reconsider such advice and the President shall common national interest, and the states, which act in accordance with the advice tendered look after the detailed day-to-day governing of after such reconsideration. the state. € Article 75 (Other Provisions as to Ministers):The z According to Subash Kashyap, using the term PM shall be appointed by the President and the ‘ Centre’ or ‘central government’ would mean other Ministers shall be appointed by the President state governments are subservient to it. on the advice of the PM. z The total number of ministers, including the Council of Ministers Prime Minister, in the COM shall not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha. Why in News „ This provision was added by the 91st Amendment Act of 2003. Recently, the Prime Minister expanded and reshuffled his Council of Ministers (COM). The Prime Minister now z A minister who is not a member of the has 77 ministers, nearly half of them new. Parliament (either house) for any period of six consecutive months shall cease to be a Key Points minister.

Note: 6 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Article 77 (Conduct of Business of the Government ¾ About: of India): The President shall make rules for the € Eight Cabinet Committees: more convenient transaction of the business of z Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. the Government of India, and for the allocation z Cabinet Committee onAccommodation. among Ministers of the said business. z Cabinet Committee onEconomic Affairs. € Article 78 (Duties of Prime Minister): To communicate to the President all decisions of z Cabinet Committee onParliamentary Affairs. the COM relating to the administration of the z Cabinet Committee onPolitical Affairs. affairs of the Union and proposals for legislation. z Cabinet Committee on Security. € Article 88 (Rights of Ministers as Respects the z Cabinet Committee onInvestment and Growth. Houses): Every minister shall have the right to speak z Cabinet Committee on Employment & Skill and take part in the proceedings of either House, Development. any joint sitting of the Houses and any Committee € All committees except Cabinet Committee on of Parliament of which he may be named a member. Accommodation and Cabinet Committee on But he shall not be entitled to vote. Parliamentary Affairs are headed by the Prime ¾ Responsibility of Ministers: Minister. € Collective Responsibility: € They are extra-constitutional in emergence. z Article 75 clearly states that the COM is € In other words, they are not mentioned in the collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha. Constitution. However, the Rules of Business This means that all the ministers own joint provide for their establishment. responsibility to the Lok Sabha for all their acts € The executive in India works under the Government of omission and commission. of India Transaction of Business Rules, 1961. € Individual Responsibility: z These Rules emerge from Article 77(3) of the z Article 75 also contains the principle of individual Constitution, which states: “The President shall responsibility. It states that the ministers hold make rules for the more convenient transaction office during the pleasure of the President, of the business of the Government of India, which means that the President can remove a and for the allocation among Ministers of the minister even at a time when the COM enjoys said business.” the confidence of the Lok Sabha. € The Prime Minister constitutesStanding Committees z However, the President removes a minister only of the Cabinet and sets out the specific functions on the advice of the Prime Minister. assigned to them. He can add or reduce the number ¾ Council of Ministers in States: of committees. € The Council of Ministers in the states is constituted z In addition to cabinet committees, several and functions in the same way as the Council Groups of Ministers (GoMs) are constituted of Ministers at the Centre (Article 163: COM to to look into different issues / subjects. aid and advise Governor) and Article 164: Other ¾ Role of Cabinet Committees: Provisions as to Ministers). € They are an organizational device to lessen the enormous workload of the Cabinet. They facilitate Cabinet Committees an in-depth examination of policy issues and effective coordination. They arebased on the principles of Why in News division of labor and effective delegation. € They not only resolve issues and frame proposals After a large-scale rejig at the Council of Ministers, for the Cabinet’s consideration, but they also take Prime Minister effected some changes in Cabinet committees. decisions. The Cabinet can, of course, review their decisions. Key Points ¾ Groups of Ministers:

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 7

€ These are ad hoc bodies formed to give recom- € As per the 1985 Act, a ‘defection’ by one-third mendations to the cabinet on certain emergent of the elected members of a political party was issues and critical problem areas. considered a ‘merger’. € Some of these GoMs are empowered to take z But the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, decisions on behalf of the Cabinet whereas the 2003, changed this and now at least two-thirds others make recommendations to the Cabinet. of the members of a party have to be in favour z The institution of GoMs has become a viable of a “merger” for it to have validity in the eyes and effective instrument of coordination among of the law. the ministries. € The members so disqualified can stand for € Ministers heading the concerned ministries are elections from any political party for a seat in inducted into the relevant GoMs and when the the same House. advice is crystallised they are disbanded. € The decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection are referred to the Chairman Need for Changes or the Speaker of such House, which is subject to ‘Judicial review’. in Anti-Defection Law ¾ Issues Related to Anti-Defection Law: € After Why in News Undermining Representative Democracy: enactment of the Anti-defection law, the MP or The Leader of Opposition in the Goa Legislative MLA has to follow the party’s direction blindly. Assembly is set to move a private member’s resolution z This leaves them with no freedom to vote to recommend to the Central government to address the their judgment on any issue and undermines various issues associated with the anti-defection law. representative democracy. Key Points € Undermining Legislatures: The core role of an ¾ About Anti-Defection Act: elected MLA or MP is to examine and decide on a policy, bills, and budgets. € The Tenth Schedule — popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act — was included in the z Instead, the MP becomes just another number Constitution via the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985 to be tallied by the party on any vote that it and sets the provisions for disqualification of supports or opposes. elected members on the grounds of defection to € Undermining Parliamentary Democracy: In the another political party. parliamentary form, the government is accountable € The grounds for disqualification under the Anti- daily through questions and motions and can Defection Law are as follows: be removed any time it loses the support of the z If an elected member voluntarily gives up his majority of members of the Lok Sabha. membership of a political party. z Due to Anti-Defection law, this chain of z If he votes or abstains from voting in such accountability has been broken by making House contrary to any direction issued by his legislators accountable primarily to the political political party or anyone authorised to do so, party. without obtaining prior permission. z Thus, anti-defection law is acting against the „ As a pre-condition for his disqualification, concept of parliamentary democracy. his abstention from voting should not be € Controversial Role of Speaker: In many instances, condoned by his party or the authorised the Speaker (usually from the ruling party) has person within 15 days of such incident. delayed deciding on the disqualification. z If any independently elected member joins z The Supreme Court has tried to plug this by any political party. ruling that the Speaker has to decide the case z If any nominated member joins any political in three months, but it is not clear what would party after the expiry of six months. happen if a Speaker does not do so.

Note: 8 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ No Recognition of Split: Due to the 91st constitutional candidate after informal consultations with amendment 2004, the anti-defection law created leaders of other parties and groups in the House. an exception for anti-defection ruling. z This convention ensures that once elected, z According to this, if two-thirds of the strength the Speaker enjoys the respect of all sections of a party should agree for a ‘merger’ then it of the House. will not be counted as a defection. € Voting: The Speaker (along with the Deputy z However, the amendment does not recognise Speaker) is elected from among the Lok Sabha a ‘split’ in a legislature party and instead members by a simple majority of members present recognises a ‘merger’. and voting in the House. ¾ Proposed Changes: z Once a decision on the candidate is taken, his/ € One option is that such matters be referred her name is normally proposed by the Prime directly to the high court or the Supreme Court Minister or the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. for an express judgment -- should be given within € Term of Office of the Speaker: The Speaker a period of 60 days. holds Office from the date of his/her election till immediately before the first meeting of the next € The second option is that if somebody has any difference of opinion with respect to the party or Lok Sabha (for 5 years). the party leadership, he has the option to resign z The speaker once elected is eligible for re- and seek the fresh mandate of the people. election. z € These changes envisage the need for an elected Whenever the Lok Sabha is dissolved, the representative to be accountable and responsible Speaker does not vacate his office and continues towards the people. till the newly-elected Lok Sabha meets. ¾ Role and Powers of Speaker: € Interpretation: He/She is the final interpreter of Election of Speaker the provisions of the Constitution of India, the and Deputy Speaker Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Lok Sabha and the parliamentary precedents, Why in News within the House. € Joint Sitting of Both Houses: He/She presides over Maharashtra has been without a Speaker since a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. February, 2021 while Lok Sabha and several State z Such a sitting is summoned by the President Assemblies are without a Deputy Speaker. to settle a deadlock between the two Houses ¾ The Constitution provides that the office of the on a bill. Speaker should never be empty. € Adjournment of Sitting:He/She can adjourn the Key Points House or suspend the meeting in absence one- tenth of the total strength of the House (called ¾ Election of Speaker: the quorum). € Criteria: € Casting Vote:The speaker does not vote in the first z The Constitution of India requires the Speaker instance but in the case of a tie; when the House to be a member of the House. is divided equally on any question, the Speaker is z Although there are no specific qualifications entitled to vote. prescribed for being elected the Speaker, an z Such a vote is called a Casting Vote, and its understanding of the Constitution and the laws purpose is to resolve a deadlock. of the country is considered a major asset for € Money Bill: He/She decides whether a bill is a the holder of the Office of the Speaker. money bill or not and his/her decision on this z Usually, a member belonging to the ruling party question is final. is elected Speaker. The process has evolved over € Disqualifying Members: It is the speaker who the years where the ruling party nominates its decides the questions of disqualification of a

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 9

member of the Lok Sabha, arising on the ground € Term of Office and Removal: of defection under the provisions of the Tenth z Like the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker remains Schedule. in office usually during the life of the Lok Sabha z The 52nd amendment to the Indian Constitution (5 years). vests this power in the Speaker. z The Deputy Speaker may vacate his/her office z In 1992, the Supreme Court ruled that the earlier in any of the following three cases: decision of the Speaker in this regard is subject „ If he ceases to be a member of the Lok Sabha. to judicial review. „ If he resigns by writing to the Speaker. € Chairing the IPG: He/She acts as the ex-officio „ If he is removed by a resolution passed by chairman of the Indian Parliamentary Group a majority of all the then members of the (IPG) which is a link between the Parliament of Lok Sabha. India and the various parliaments of the world. l Such a resolution can be movedonly after z He also acts as the ex-officio chairman of the conference of presiding officers of legislative giving 14 days’ advance notice. bodies in the country. € Responsibilities and Powers: € Constitution of Committees: The Committees z The Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the of the House are constituted by the speaker and Speaker’s office when it is vacant. function under the speaker’s overall direction. „ He/She also acts as the Speaker when the z The Chairmen of all Parliamentary Committees latter is absent from the sitting of the House. are nominated by him/her. „ He/She also presides over the joint sitting z Committees like the Business Advisory of both the Houses of Parliament, in case Committee, the General Purposes Committee the Speaker is absent from such a sitting. and the Rules Committeework directly under z The Deputy Speaker has one special privilege, his Chairmanship. that is, whenever he/she is appointed as a € Privileges of the House: The Speaker is the member of a parliamentary committee, he/she guardian of the rights and privileges of the House, automatically becomes its chairman. its Committees and members. ¾ Removal of Speaker: Under following conditions, Chief Minister the speaker, may have to vacate the office earlier: € If he ceases to be a member of the Lok Sabha. Why in News € If he resigns by writing to the Deputy Speaker. € If he is removed by a resolution passed by a Recently, Pushkar Singh Dhami was sworn in as the th majority of all the members of the Lok Sabha. 11 Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand. ¾ z Such a resolution can be moved only after giving He takes over the position just a few months ahead 14 days’ advance notice. of Assembly polls, due early in 2022. z When a resolution for the removal of the Speaker Key Points is under consideration of the House, he/she may be present at the sitting but not preside. ¾ Appointment: ¾ Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha: € Article 164 of the Constitution envisages that the € Election: Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor. z The Deputy Speaker is also elected by the Lok z A leader of the party that has got the majority Sabha from amongst its members right after share of votes in the assembly elections, is the election of the Speaker has taken place. appointed as the Chief Minister of the state. z The date of election of the Deputy Speaker is z The Governor is the nominal executive authority, fixed by the Speaker (date of election of the but real executive authority rests with the Speaker is fixed by the President). Chief Minister.

Note: 10 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z However, the discretionary powers enjoyed z He acts as a vice-chairman of the concerned by the governor reduces to some extent the zonal council by rotation, holding office for a power, authority, influence, prestigeand role of period of one year at a time. the Chief Minister in the state administration. z He is a member of the Inter-State Council and € A person who is not a member of the state the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, both legislature can be appointed as Chief Minister headed by the prime minister. for six months, within which time, he should be z He is the chief spokesman of the state elected to the state legislature, failing which he government. ceases to be the Chief Minister. z He is the crisis manager-in-chief at the political ¾ Term of the CM: level during emergencies. € The term of the Chief Minister is not fixedand he z As a leader of the state, he meets various sections holds office during the pleasure of the governor. of the people and receives memoranda from z He cannot be dismissed by the governor as them regarding their problems, and so on. long as he enjoys the majority support in the z He is the political head of the services. legislative assembly. € The State Legislative Assembly can also remove Assam-Mizoram Border Dispute him by passing a vote of no-confidence against him. Why in News ¾ Powers and Functions: Recently, several IED (Improvised Explosive Device) € With Respect to Council of Ministers: blasts were carried out inside Cachar district of Assam z The governor appoints only those persons as allegedly by miscreants from Mizoram. These blasts signal ministers who are recommended by the Chief the re-emergence of long-unresolved Assam-Mizoram Minister. Border Dispute. z He allocates and reshuffles the portfolios ¾ The boundary issue between Assam and Mizoram among ministers. has existed since the formation of Mizoram — first as z He can bring about the collapse of the council a union territory in 1972, and then as a full-fledged of ministers by resigning from office, since state in 1987. the Chief Minister is the head of the council ¾ In India, Inter-state disputes are multifaceted, besides of ministers. disputes over boundaries, there are disputes over € With Respect to Governor: sharing of water (rivers) and migration also impacts z Under Article 167 of the Constitution, the Chief the federal polity of India. Minister acts as a link between the Governor Note and state council of ministers. ¾ During colonial times, Mizoram was known as z CM advises the Governor regarding the Lushai Hills, a district of Assam. appointment of important officialslike advocate ¾ Mizoram was granted statehood in 1987 by the general, chairman and members of the State State of Mizoram Act, 1986. Public Service Commission, State Election ¾ Assam became a constituent state of India in 1950 Commission, etc. and lost much of its territory to new states that € With Respect to State Legislature: emerged from within its borders between the early z All the policies are announced by him on the 1960s and the early 1970s. floor of the house. z He recommends dissolution of legislative Key Points assembly to the Governor. ¾ About: € Other Functions: € The boundary issue between present-day Assam z He is the chairman of the State Planning Board. and Mizoram dates back to the colonial era when

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 11

inner lines were demarcated according to the € In the Northeast’s complex boundary equations, administrative needs of British Raj. clashes between Assam and Mizoram residents € The Assam-Mizoram dispute stems from two are less frequent than they are between other notifications passed under British era. neighbouring states of Assam, like with Nagaland. z First, notification of 1875, that differentiated ¾ Overall Condition of Inter-State Disputes in India: Lushai Hills from the plains of Cachar. € Issue of Boundary: Boundary disputes between z Second, notification of 1933, that demarcates the states are one of major reasons for Inter-state a boundary between Lushai Hills and Manipur. disputes in India. For example, € Mizoram believes the boundary should be z Karnataka and Maharashtra both lay claim to demarcated on the basis of the 1875 notification, Belgaum, and every now and then the matter which is derived from the Bengal Eastern Frontier comes up. Regulation (BEFR) Act, 1873. z The North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, z Mizo leaders are against the demarcation 1971, changed the political map of northeast notified in 1933, according to them, the Mizo India, by establishment of the states like Manipur society was not consulted. and Tripura and the formation of Meghalaya. z On the other hand, the Assam government „ However, this reorganisation has resulted in follows the 1933 demarcation. many boundary disputes in the northeastern region, like Assam-Nagaland, Assam- z As a result both states continue to have a Meghalaya, etc differing perception of the border and that is . the point of conflict. € Issue of Migration: There have been violent agitations in some states over migrants and job € There is a 164.6-km inter-state border that seekers from other states. separates Assam and Mizoram, with the three Assam districts of Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj z This is because the existing resources and the sharing a border with Kolasib, Mamit and Aizawl employment opportunities are not enough to districts of Mizoram. meet the needs of the growing population. € Further, the boundary between Mizoram and z The ‘sons of the soil’ concept for preference Assam follows naturally occurring barriers of in employment in the states concerned tends hills, valleys, rivers and forests, and both sides to destroy the roots of a healthy federalism. have attributed border skirmishes to perceptional € Disputes over Sharing Water Resources: The most differences over an imaginary line. long standing and contentious inter-state issue has been the sharing of river waters. z Most of the Indian rivers are inter-state, i.e., they flow through more than one state. z Due to an increase in demand for water, a number of inter state disputes over sharing river waters have surfaced.

Stringent Nature of UAPA

Why in News Recently, the death of Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, while in judicial custody, has brought the stringent provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) into the focus. ¾ UAPA is the India’s main anti-terrorism legislation, but the law makes it more difficult to obtain bail.

Note: 12 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

¾ This difficulty in obtaining bail is being seen as one and monetary security, food, livelihood, energy of the principal reasons for Fr. Swamy’s death as a ecological and environmental security), prisoner in a hospital and compromises constitutional z Provisions to prevent the use of funds for liberties. terrorist purposes, including money. Key Points € The ban on organisations was initially for two years, but from 2013, the period of proscription ¾ Background of UAPA: has been extended to five years. € In the mid-1960s, in order to curb the various € Further, the amendments aim to give effect to secession movements, the Government of India various anti-terrorism resolutions of the United considered enacting a stringent law. Nations Security Council and requirements of the € In March 1967, a peasant uprising in Naxalbari Financial Action Task Force. imparted a sense of urgency. € In 2019, the Act was amended to empower the € On 17th June, 1966, the President had promulgated government to designate individuals as terrorists. the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Ordinance. ¾ Modus Operandi of UAPA: z The ordinance intended to “provide for the € Just like other special laws dealing with narcotic more effective prevention of unlawful activities drugs and the now-defunct laws on terrorism, the of individuals and associations”. UAPA also modifies theCode of Criminal Procedure € After initial resistance from the Parliament (owing (CrPC) to give it more teeth. For example, to its stringent nature), the Unlawful Activities z A remand order can be for 30 days instead of (Prevention) Act was passed in 1967. the usual 15, € The Act provided for declaring an association or a z Maximum period of judicial custody before the body of individuals “unlawful” if they indulged in filing of a chargesheet is extendable from the any activity thatenvisages secession or questions usual 90 days to 180 days. or disclaims the country’s sovereignty and ¾ Controversy Regarding UAPA: territorial integrity. € Vague Definition of Terrorist Act: The definition € Prior to the UAPA’s enactment, associations were of a “terrorist act” under the UAPA substantially being declared unlawful under the Criminal Law differs from the definition promoted by the United (Amendment) Act, 1952. Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Protection z However, the Supreme Court held that the of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms provision on bans was unlawful because there while Countering Terrorism. was no judicial mechanism to scrutinise the z UAPA, on the other hand, offers an overbroad validity of any ban. and ambiguous definition of a “terrorist act” € Therefore, the UAPA included provisions for a which includes the death of, or injuries to, any Tribunal which has to confirm within six months person, damage to any property, etc. the notification declaring an outfit unlawful. € Denial of Bail: The major problem with the UAPA € After the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), lies in its Section 43(D)(5),which makes it difficult was repealed, the UAPA was expanded to 2002, for any accused person to obtain bail. include what would have been terrorist acts in z In case, if police have filed the chargesheet that earlier laws. there are reasonable grounds for believing that ¾ Current Status of the Act: the accusation against such person is prima € In its present form, the UAPA has been amended facie true, bail cannot be granted. in 2004 and 2013, to expand its scope. z Further, a Supreme Court judgment on this has € Expanded Scope of Law: clarified that the court considering bail should z Punishment for terrorist acts and activities, not examine the evidence too deeply, but must z Acts threatening the country’s security, including go by the prosecution version based on broad its economic security (a term that covers fiscal probabilities.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 13

z Thus, UAPA virtually denies bail, which is a ¾ Demand of the Movement: safeguard and guarantee of the constitutional € A Punjabi speaking state which will have Punjabi right to liberty. speaking areas’ population. € Pendency of Trails: Given the state of justice € There should be no attempt to temper for delivery system in India, the rate of pendency at increasing or decreasing its size artificially. The the level of trial is at an average of 95.5%. Punjabi speaking state will be under the Indian € State Overreach: It also includes any act that is Constitution. “likely to threaten” or “likely to strike terror in ¾ Formation of Punjab: people”, giving unbridled power to the government € With the passage of the Punjab Reorganization to brand any ordinary citizen or activist a terrorist Act 1966 (and in accordance with the earlier without the actual commission of these acts. recommendations of the States Reorganization z It gives the state authority vague powers to Commission), Haryana was separated from Punjab detain and arrest individuals who it believes in 1966 to become the 17th state of India. to be indulged in terrorist activities. € And the erstwhile state of East Punjab was now € Undermining Federalism: Some experts feel that it divided into two states that is Haryana and Punjab. is against the federal structure since it neglects the € Some territory was also transferred to Himachal authority of state police in terrorism cases, given Pradesh, then a Union territory. th that ‘Police’ is a state subject under 7 schedule € And the city of Chandigarh became a Union of Indian Constitution. territory to serve as the provisional capital of both the Punjab and Haryana. Punjab Suba Movement ¾ Constitutional Provisions for Creation of States: € Indian constitution empowers the Union government to create new states out of existing Why in News states or two merge one state with another. This Recently, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak process is called reorganisation of the states. Committee (SGPC) commemorated the first entry of a z The basis of reorganisation could be linguistic, th police force inside the Golden Temple on 4 July, 1955 religious, ethnic or administrative. during the Punjab Suba movement (Morcha). € Article 3 provides the following procedure: Key Points z Presidential reference is sent to the State Assembly. ¾ About: z After presidential reference, a resolution is € It started in Punjab soon after Independence. tabled and passed in the Assembly. Shiromani Akali Dal (Political Party) was leading z The Assembly has to pass a Bill creating the the movement for a Punjabi speaking state. new State/States. z However, there was also opposition to this idea. z A separate Bill has to be ratified by Parliament. € Those in favour of the demand used to raise the slogan Punjabi Suba Amar Rahe and those Advantages and Disadvantages of Creation of New States opposing the demand were raising slogans in favour of ‘Maha-Punjab’. Advantages Disadvantages z It was in April, 1955 that the government banned Better management of Possibility of increase in the slogans fearing law and order problems economic resources the inter-State water, under section 144 of the Code of Criminal power, and boundary Procedure (CrPC). disputes € The demand for creation of Punjabi Suba More investment The feeling of nationalism automatically gave basis to the demand for having opportunities would diminish in the cries a separate state of Haryana. of regional autonomy

Note: 14 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Faster economic growth Small states depend to a water from the Srisailam project by Telangana for substantial extent on the power generation. central government for ¾ The KRMB, in its recent orders, had asked Telangana financial aid to stop power generation. The tension has emerged More people of the same Different statehood may over defiance of orders of the KRBM by Telangana small state and same lead to the hegemony of Government. province will have a say in the dominant community Key Points their state affairs ¾ About Dispute: Current Statehood Demands in India € Telangana and Andhra Pradesh share stretches ¾ Vidarbha: of the Krishna and the Godavari and own their tributaries. € It comprises the Amravati and Nagpur divisions of eastern Maharashtra. € Both states have proposed several new projects without getting clearance from the river boards, ¾ Delhi: the Central Water Commission and the Apex € To gain the control of such substantive powers, Council, as mandated by the Andhra Pradesh Delhi government is aspiring for full statehood. Reorganisation Act, 2014. ¾ Harit Pradesh: z The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, € It consists of agriculturally dominated districts 2014 mandates for the constitution of an Apex of Western Uttar Pradesh. Council by the Central Government for the ¾ Purvanchal: supervision of the functioning of theGodavari € It is a geographic region of north-central India, River Management Board and Krishna River which comprises the eastern end of Uttar Management Board. Pradesh state. z The Apex Council comprises the Union Water ¾ Bodoland: Resources Minister and the Chief Ministers of € The Bodos are the largest ethnic and linguistic Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. community in northern Assam. € The Andhra Pradesh government’s proposal to ¾ Saurashtra: increase the utilisation of the Krishna water from a section of the river above theSrisailam Reservoir € Kathiawar Peninsula, also called Saurashtra Pen- led to the Telangana government filing a complaint insula, peninsula in southwestern Gujarat state. against Andhra Pradesh. ¾ Gorkhaland: z The Srisailam reservoir is constructed across the € It is a proposed state covering areas inhabited Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh. It is located by the ethnic Gorkha (Nepali) people, namely in the Nallamala hills. Darjeeling hills and Dooars in the northern part € The Andhra Pradesh government retaliated with its of West Bengal. own complaints saying that Palamuru-Rangareddy, Dindi Lift Irrigation Schemes on the Krishna river Andhra Pradesh- and Kaleshwaram, Tupakulagudem schemes and a few barrages proposed across the Godavari are Telangana Water Dispute all new projects. ¾ Inter-State River Water Disputes: Why in News € Article 262 of the Constitution provides for the Amid escalating tensions, the Police forces were adjudication of inter-state water disputes. deployed at various hydel power projects in bordering z Under this, Parliament may by law provide for districts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with ¾ Andhra Pradesh has complained to the Krishna River respect to the use, distribution and control of Management Board (KRMB) about the drawing of waters of any inter-state river and river valley.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 15

z Parliament may also provide that neither the programme using Optical fibre. And also a flagship Supreme Court nor any other court is to exercise mission implemented by Bharat Broadband jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or Network Ltd. (BBNL). complaint. z BBNL is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set € The Parliament has enacted the two laws, the up by the Government of India under the River Boards Act (1956) and the Inter-State Water Companies Act, 1956 with an authorized capital Disputes Act (1956). of Rs 1000 crore. € The River Boards Act provides for the establishment € It is a highly scalable network infrastructure of river boards by the Central government for the accessible on a non-discriminatory basis, to provide regulation and development of inter-state river on demand, affordable broadband connectivity and river valleys. of 2 Mbps to 20 Mbps for all households and on z A River Board is established on the request of demand capacity to all institutions, to realise the state governments concerned to advise them. vision of Digital India, in partnership with States and the private sector. € The Inter-State Water Disputes Act empowers the Central government to set up an ad hoc tribunal € It is being implemented by the Department for the adjudication of a dispute between two or of Telecommunication under the Ministry of more states in relation to the waters of an inter- Communications. state river or river valley. € National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) which was launched in October 2011 was renamed as z The decision of the tribunal is final and binding on the parties to the dispute. Bharat Net Project in 2015. z NOFN was envisaged as an information z Neither the Supreme Court nor any other superhighway through the creation of a court is to have jurisdiction in respect of any robust middle-mile infrastructure for reaching water dispute which may be referred to such broadband connectivity toGram Panchayats. a tribunal under this Act. € In 2019, the Ministry of Communications also launched the ‘National Broadband Mission’ BharatNet Project to facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services across the country. Why in News ¾ Funding: Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a Viability Gap € The entire project is being funded by Universal Funding support of up to Rs. 19,041 crore (Out of the service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was set total expense of Rs. 29,430 crore) for the implementation up for improving telecom services in rural and of the BharatNet project through Public-Private remote areas of the country. Partnership model. ¾ Objective: ¾ Public-Private Partnership (PPP) involves collaboration € The objective is to facilitate the delivery of between a government agency and a private-sector e-governance, e-health, e-education, e-banking, company that can be used to finance, build, and operate Internet and other services to rural India. projects. The PPP Model in this critical infrastructure ¾ Phases of the Project: of Telecom is a novel initiative. € First Phase: ¾ Viability Gap Funding (VGF) means a grant one-time z Provide one lakh gram panchayats with or deferred, provided to support infrastructure broadband connectivity by laying underground projects that are economically justified but fallshort Optic Fibre Cable (OFC) lines by December 2017. of financial viability. € Second Phase: Key Points z Provide connectivity to all the gram panchayats in the country using an optimal mix of underground ¾ About: fibre, fibre over power lines, radio and satellite € It is the world’s largest rural broadband connectivity media by March 2019.

Note: 16 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Third Phase: of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development z From 2019 to 2023, a state-of-the-art, future- of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary upto 2026 at a proof network, including fibre between districts total cost of Rs. 9000 crore. and blocks, with ring topology to provide ¾ Rs. 50 crore will be allocated for Gram Nyayalayas redundancy would be created. Scheme through National Mission for Justice Delivery ¾ Current Extension of BharatNet: and Legal Reforms. € The project will be extended to all inhabited National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms villages beyond the gram panchayats in 16 States ¾ Launch: It was approved by the Union Government which are: in June 2011. z Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, ¾ Objective:To increase access to justice by reducing Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, delays and arrears in the system and enhance West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, accountability through structural changes and by. Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Key Points € The revised strategy will include creation, ¾ About: upgrading, operation, maintenance and utilisation of BharatNet by the private sector partner, who € CSS for Development of Infrastructure Facilities will be selected by a competitive international for Judiciary has been in operationsince 1993-94. bidding process. € This proposal for continuation of the CSS will help in construction of 3800 court halls and 4000 € The selected private sector partner is expected to provide reliable, high speed broadband services residential units (both new and ongoing projects) as per predefined Services Level Agreement (SLA). for judicial officers of District and Subordinate Courts, 1450 lawyer halls, 1450 toilets complexes ¾ Significance of PPP in BharatNet: and 3800 digital computer rooms. € Faster Roll Out: € This will help in improving the functioning and z The PPP Model will leverage private sector performance of the Judiciary in the country and efficiency for operation, maintenance, utilisation will be a new step towards building better courts. and revenue generation and is expected to € The upgraded “Nyaya Vikas-2.0” web portal and result in the faster roll out of BharatNet. mobile application is used for monitoring physical € Increased Investment: and financial progress of CSS judicial infrastructure z The private sector partner is expected to bring projects by geo-tagging completed and ongoing an equity investment and raise resources projects. towards capital expenditure and for operation ¾ Gram Nyayalayas: and maintenance of the network. € Gram Nyayalayas or village courts are established € Better Access: under the Gram Nyayalayas Act, 2008 for speedy z Extension of BharatNet to all inhabited villages and easy access to the justice system in the rural will enable better access to e-services offered by areas of India. various governments, enable online education, € The Act came into force from 2nd October 2009. telemedicine, skill development, e-commerce € Jurisdiction: and other applications of broadband. z A Gram Nyayalaya has jurisdiction over an area specified by a notification by the State Infrastructure Government in consultation with the respective Facilities for Judiciary High Court. z The Court can function as a mobile court at any place within the jurisdiction of such Gram Why in News Nyayalaya, after giving wide publicity to that The Union Government has approved continuation regard.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 17

z They have both civil and criminal jurisdiction Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa in libraries or over the offences. in individual collections across India or in other € Monitoring: parts of the world. z The Gram Nyayalaya Portal helps online € e-Medha (electronic Medical Heritage Accession): monitoring of working of the Gram Nyayalayas Online public access catalog for more than 12000 by the implementing states. Indian medical heritage books through NIC’s (National Informatics Centre) e-granthalaya New Portals on Ayush Sector platform. z e-Granthalaya: It is a Digital Platform developed by NIC for Government Libraries for Automation Why in News of In-house activities as well as member services Five new portals on Ayush Sector have been launched and Networking for resource sharing. - CTRI (Clinical Trial Registry of India), RMIS (Research Management Information System), SAHI (Showcase of India Industrial Land Bank Ayurveda Historical Imprints), AMAR (Ayush Manuscripts Advanced Repository), and e-Medha (electronic Medical Heritage Accession). Why in News ¾ Meaning of ‘Ayush’: Traditional & Non-Conventional The India Industrial Land Bank (IILB), a GIS-based Systems of Health Care and Healing Which Include portal, has seen a 30% increase in page views each month Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa- since April 2021. Rigpa and Homoeopathy etc. Key Points Key Points ¾ About: ¾ New Portals: € Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal € Clinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI): It is a primary Trade (DPIIT) has developed IILB portal, a GIS- Register of Clinical Trials under the World Health enabled database of industrial areas/clusters across Organization’s International Clinical Trials Registry the country to adopt a committed approach towards Platform. resource optimization, industrial upgradation and z Creation of Ayurveda Data Set in CTRI facilitates sustainability. the usage of Ayurveda Terminologies to record € The portal serves as a one-stop solution to the free clinical study based on Ayurveda interventions. and easy accessibility of all industrial information z Clinical study is research that studies new tests including availability of raw material, agriculture, and treatments and evaluates their effects on horticulture, minerals, natural resources; distance human health outcomes. from key logistic nodes; layers of terrain and urban infrastructure. € Research Management Information System (RMIS): It will be a one stop solution for Research and € It aims to provide information on available land Development in Ayurveda based studies. for prospective investors looking at setting up units in the Country. € Showcase of Ayurveda Historical Imprints (SAHI): It showcases inscriptions, Archeo-botanical € It also provides links to State GIS Portals and Information, Sculptures, classical texts and advanced State Land Banks. Archeo Genetic studies. ¾ Geographic Information System (GIS): z It will be of tremendous use in understanding € A GIS is a computer system for capturing, storing, of Indian Knowledge system with a focus on checking, and displaying data related to positions indigenous health care practices. on Earth’s surface. € Ayush Manuscripts Advanced Repository (AMAR): € By relating seemingly unrelated data, GIS can help It has digitized information on rare and hard to individuals and organizations better understand find Manuscripts and catalogues of Ayurveda, spatial patterns and relationships.

Note: 18 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Launched in September 2014 by the Department of AYUSH under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, during the 12th Plan for implementation through States/UTs. € Now, it is implemented by the Ministry of Ayush. ¾ About: € The scheme involves expansion of the AYUSH sector to promote holistic health of Indians. € The Mission addresses the gaps in health services through supporting the efforts of State/UT € GIS can use any information that includes location. Governments for providing AYUSH health services/ The location can be expressed in many different educationin the country, particularly invulnerable ways, such as latitude and longitude, address, or and far-flung areas. ZIP code. ¾ Components of the National AYUSH Mission: € GIS can include data about people, such as population, income, or education level. € Obligatory Components: z z It can also include information about the sites of AYUSH Services. factories, farms, and schools, or storm drains, z AYUSH Educational Institutions. roads, and electric power lines etc. z Quality Control of ASU&H (Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani & Homoeopathy) Drugs. National Ayush Mission z Medicinal Plants. € Flexible Component: Why in News z AYUSH Wellness Centres comprising Yoga and Naturopathy, The government has decided to continue the National z Tele-medicine, Ayush Mission (NAM) as a centrally sponsored scheme till 2026. z Innovations in AYUSH including Public Private ¾ The project will have a total cost of Rs. 4,603 crore, Partnership, of which the Centre will bear Rs 3,000 crore share, z IEC (Information, Education and Communication) and the states will cover the rest. activities, ¾ Recently, new portals on the Ayush sector were also z Voluntary certification scheme: Project based, etc. launched. ¾ Expected Outcomes: Meaning of ‘Ayush’ € Better access to AYUSH healthcare services through ¾ Traditional & Non-Conventional Systems of Health increased healthcare facilities and better availability Care and Healing Which Include Ayurveda, Yoga, of medicines and trained manpower. Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and € Improvement in AYUSH education through a well- Homoeopathy etc. equipped enhanced number of AYUSH Educational ¾ The positive features of the Indian systems of institutions. medicine namely their diversity and flexibility; € To focus on reducing communicable/non-commu- accessibility; affordability, a broad acceptance by nicable diseases through targeted public health a large section of the general public; comparatively programmes using AYUSH systems of Healthcare. lesser cost and growing economic value, have great potential to make them providers of healthcare that the large sections of our people need. New Solar Projects: NTPC

Key Points Why in News ¾ Launch: Recently, National Thermal Power Corporation

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 19

Limited (NTPC) Renewable Energy Ltd (REL) signed a This will be India’s largest solar park to be built by Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Territory the largest power producer of the country. of Ladakh to set up the country’s first Green Hydrogen z Kutch region in Gujarat, the largest salt desert Mobility project. in the country and host to two of India’s largest ¾ NTPC REL will also set up a solar park at Rann of Kutch coal-fired power plants, will now add another in Gujarat from where it will also generate green feather to its cap. hydrogen on a commercial scale under the Ultra-Mega ¾ Other Major Projects of NTPC: Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) scheme. € Recently, NTPC has also commissioned India’s largest € Hydrogen produced from renewable sources is Floating Solar of 10 MW (ac) on the reservoir of called green hydrogen. Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh. Ultra-Mega Renewable An additional15 MW (ac) would be commissioned Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) Scheme by August 2021. ¾ It is a scheme to develop Ultra Mega Renewable € Further, a 100 MW Floating Solar Project on the Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs) under the existing reservoir of Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant, Solar Park Scheme. Telangana is in the advanced stage of implemen- € The scheme was rolled out by the Ministry of tation. New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2014. ¾ Other Solar Energy Initiatives: € Solar Park Scheme is also a scheme of MNRE to € National Solar Mission : Solar energy has taken set up a number of solar parks across various a central place in India’s National Action Plan on states in the country. It proposes to provide Climate Change with the National Solar Mission financial support by the Government of India as one of the key Missions. to establish solar parks. € INDC’s target: It targets installing 100 GW ¾ The objective of the UMREPP is to provide land grid-connected solar power plants by the year upfront to the project developer and facilitate 2022. transmission infrastructure for developing z This is in line with India’s Intended Nationally Renewable Energy (RE) based Power Parks with Determined Contributions (INDCs) target to solar/wind/hybrid and also with storage systems. achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based Key Points energy resources and to reduce the emission ¾ Green Hydrogen Mobility Project: intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 € NTPC REL has planned to ply 5 hydrogen buses, level by 2030. to start with, in the region and the company will € Launch of ISA: The launch of the International be setting up a solar plant and a green hydrogen Solar Alliance (ISA) was announced by the Prime generation unit in Leh towards this end. Minister of India and the President of France in € This will put Leh as the first city in the country 2015, at the 21st session of the United Nations to implement a green hydrogen based mobility Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP- project. This would be zero emission mobility in 21) in Paris, France. true sense. z Government Schemes: Such as Solar Park € This is also in line with the Prime Minister’s vision Scheme, Canal bank & Canal top Scheme, of a ‘carbon neutral’ Ladakh. Bundling Scheme, Grid Connected Solar Rooftop € It will help Ladakh develop a carbon free Scheme etc. economy based on renewable sources and green z One Sun One World One Grid: India has an hydrogen. ambitious cross-border power grid plan ‘One ¾ India’s Largest Solar Park: Sun One World One Grid’ that seeks to transfer € NTPC REL will set up a 4.75 gigawatt (GW) renewable solar power generated in one region to feed energy park at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. the electricity demands of others.

Note: 20 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ In 1985, BPE was made part of the Ministry of Department of Industry. In May, 1990, BPE was made a full- Public Enterprises fledged Department known as the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). ¾ Major Functions: Why in News € Coordination ofmatters of general policy affecting Recently, the government reallocated the Department all Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs). of Public Enterprises (DPE) to the finance ministryfrom € Restructuring or closure of PSEs including the the ministry of heavy industries. mechanisms. ¾ The Finance Ministry will now have six departments € Rendering advice relating torevival . while DPE’s parent ministry, the Ministry of Heavy € Counselling, training and rehabilitation of Industries and Public Enterprises will now be called employees in CPSEs under Voluntary Retirement the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Scheme. Key Points € Categorisation of CPSEs including conferring ‘Ratna’ status, among others. ¾ About: z CPSEs are classified into 3 categories-Maharatna, € It is the nodal department for all the Central Public Navratna and Miniratna. Presently, there are 10 Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and formulates policy Maharatna, 14 Navratna and 74 Miniratna CPSEs. pertaining to CPSEs. z CPSEs are those companies in which the direct holding of the Central Government or other NIPUN Bharat Mission CPSEs is 51% or more. € It lays down, in particular, policy guidelines on Why in News performance improvement and evaluation, The Ministry of Education has launched NIPUN autonomy and financial delegation and personnel (National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with management in CPSEs. Understanding and Numeracy) Bharat Scheme. € It furthermore collects and maintains information ¾ It aims to cover the learning needs of children in the in the form of a Public Enterprises Survey on age group of 3 to 9 years. several areas in respect of CPSEs. Key Points z It will now be the sixth department in the finance ministry besides economic affairs, ¾ Part of NEP 2020: revenue, expenditure, financial services and € This initiative is being launched as a part of NEP Department of Investment and Public Asset (National Education Policy) 2020. Management (DIPAM). € This policy aims to pave the way for transformational € The shift of DPE to the Finance Ministry willhelp reforms in school and higher education systems in efficient monitoring of the capital expenditure, in the country. This policy replaced the 34 year asset monetisation and financial health of the old National Policy on Education (NPE),1986. CPSEs. ¾ Objective: ¾ Background: € To create an enabling environment to ensure € In their report, the Estimates Committee of 3rd Lok universal acquisition of foundational literacy Sabha (1962-67) stressed the need for setting up and numeracy, so that every child achieves the a centralized coordinating unit, which could also desired learning competencies in reading, writing make continuous appraisal of the performance and numeracy by the end of Grade 3, by 2026-27. of public enterprises. ¾ Focus Areas: € Which led to the setting up of the Bureau of Public € It will focus on providing access and retaining Enterprises (BPE) in 1965 in the Ministry of Finance. children in foundational years of schooling; teacher

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 21

capacity building; development of high quality € Estonia was ranked third (3rd) in the index. and diversified Student and Teacher Resources/ ¾ Results for India: and Learning Materials; tracking the progress of € India scored a total of 97.5 points from a possible each child in achieving learning outcomes. maximum of 100 points, to make it to the tenth ¾ Implementation: position worldwide in the GCI 2020. € NIPUN Bharat will be implemented by the € India secured the fourth position in the Asia Department of School Education and Literacy. Pacific region. € A five-tier implementation mechanism will be set € India is emerging as a global IT superpower, up at the National- State- District- Block- School asserting its digital sovereignty with firm measures to level in all States and UTs, under the aegis of the safeguard data privacy and online rights of citizens. centrally sponsored scheme of Samagra Shiksha. € The result shows substantial overall improvement z ‘Samagra Shiksha’ programme was launched and strengthening under all parameters of the subsuming three existing schemes:Sarva Shiksha cybersecurity domain. Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha ¾ Basis of Assessment: Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). € On the basis of performance on five parameters z The aim of the scheme is to treat school of cybersecurity, which are, education holistically, from pre-school to z Legal measures, technical measures, Class XII. organisational measures, capacity development, € A special package for foundational literacy and cooperation. and Numeracy (FLN) under NISHTHA (National € The performance is then aggregated into an Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic overall score. Advancement) is being developed by NCERT. ¾ International Telecommunication Union: z Around 25 lakh teachers teaching at pre-primary € It is the for to primary grade will be trained this year on FLN. United Nations specialized agency information and communication technologies – ICTs. z NISHTHA is a capacity building programme for € to facilitate international “Improving Quality of School Education through Founded in 1865 connectivity in communications networks. It is Integrated Teacher Training”. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. € Stage-wise targets are being set in a continuum € It allocates global radio spectrum and satellite from the pre-primary or balvatika classes. orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly Global interconnect, and strives to improve access to ICTs Cybersecurity Index: ITU to underserved communities worldwide. € Recently, India got elected as a member of ITU Council for another 4-year term-from 2019 to 2022. Why in News India has remained a regular member since 1952. Recently, India was ranked tenth (10th) in Global ¾ Challenges to Cyber Security in India: Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 by ITU (International € Deploying multiple cybersecurity toolsreinforces Telecommunication Union) by moving up 37 places. a fragmented and complex security environment ¾ The affirmation came just ahead of the sixth anniversary that is prone to risks arising from human error. st of Digital India on 1 July. € Cybersecurity challenges companies face as they shift the majority of their employees to a remote Key Points working arrangement in a really short period of time. ¾ Top Ranking: € India lacks indigenization in hardware as well as € The US topped (1st), followed by the UK (United software cybersecurity tools. This makes India’s Kingdom) and Saudi Arabia tied on the second cyberspace vulnerable to cyberattacks motivated position together. by state and non-state actors.

Note: 22 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z India doesn’t have an ‘active cyber defense’ like € India’s Techade: The data and demographic the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation dividend combined with India’s proven tech prowess (GDPR) or the US’ Clarifying Lawful Overseas presents massive opportunity for the country, and Use of Data (CLOUD) Act. this decade will be ‘India’s techade’. ¾ Efforts to Improve Cyber Security in India: € Highlighted Various Schemes of Digital India € National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: It is being programme: formulated to improve cyber awareness and z Diksha: It stands for Digital Infrastructure for cybersecurity through more stringent audits. Knowledge Sharing. It serves as National Digital Infrastructure for Teachers. All teachers across € Draft Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018 (based the nation will be equipped with advanced on the recommendation of Justice BN Srikrishna digital technology. Committee) to secure citizens’ data. z eNAM: It was launched on 14th April 2016 as € The scheme to set up I4C (Indian Cyber Crime a pan-India electronic trade portal linking Coordination Centre) was approved in October Agricultural Produce Market Committees 2018, to deal with all types of cybercrimes in a (APMCs) across the States. comprehensive and coordinated manner. z eSanjeevani: It is a telemedicine service platform € National Computer Emergency Response Team of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. (CERT-In) functions as the nodal agency for z DigiBunai: DigiBunai aids the weavers to create coordination of all cyber security efforts, emergency digital artwork and translate the saree design responses, and crisis management. to be loaded to the looms. DigiBunai™ is a first € Protection and resilience of critical information of its kind Open Source software for Jacquard infrastructure with the set up of National Critical and dobby weaving. Information Infrastructure Protection Centre z PM SVANidhi scheme: The Ministry of Housing (NCIIPC). and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched ¾ International Mechanisms: Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar € Budapest Convention on Cybercrime: It is an Nidhi (PM SVANidhi), for providing affordable international treaty that seeks to address Internet loans to street vendors. It incentivises digital and computer crime by harmonizing national laws, transactions by the street vendors. improving investigative techniques, and increasing € Digital solutions duringCovid-19 : Contact tracing cooperation among nations. It came into force app, Aarogya Setu. on 1st July 2004. India is not a signatory to this ¾ Digital India Programme: It was launched in 2015. The convention. programme has been enabled for several important € Internet Governance Forum (IGF): It brings together Government schemes, such as BharatNet, Make in all stakeholders i.e. government, private sector and India, Startup India and Standup India, industrial civil society on the Internet governance debate. corridors, etc. € Vision Areas: Six Years of z Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen. z Governance and services on demand. Digital India Programme z Digital empowerment of citizens. € Objectives: Why in News z To prepare India for a knowledge future. Recently, the Prime Minister of India addressed a z For being transformative that is to realize IT virtual event to mark the completion of six years ofDigital (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) Indian programme. = IT (India Tomorrow). z Making technology central to enabling change. Key Points „ On being an Umbrella Programme – covering ¾ Important Points of Address: many departments.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 23

26.45 crore. This is higher by 42.3 lakh compared to 2018-19. ¾ Gross Enrolment Ratio: € Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) at all levels of school education has improved in 2019-20 compared to 2018-19. z Upper Primary level increased to 89.7% from 87.7%. z Elementary Level increased to 97.8% from 96.1%. z Secondary Level increased to 77.9% from 76.9%. z Higher Secondary Level increased to 51.4% from 50.1%. € GER is the number of students enrolled in a given level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the official school-age population corresponding to the same level of education. ¾ Pupil Teacher Ratio: € In 2019-20, 96.87 lakh teachers were engaged in school education. This ishigher by about 2.57 UDISE+ 2019-20 Report lakh compared to 2018-19. € The Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) has improved at all Why in News levels of school education. ¾ Enrolment of Divyang Students: Recently, the Union Education Minister released the Report on United Information System for Education Plus € Enrolment of Divyang students has increased by (UDISE+) 2019-20 for School Education in India. 6.52% over 2018-19. ¾ Enrolment of Girls: United Information System for Education Plus € In 2019-20, enrolment of girls from primary to ¾ It is one of the largest Management Information higher secondary is more than 12.08 crore. This Systems on school education. It was launched in is an increase by 14.08 lakh compared to 2018-19. 2018-2019 to speed up data entry, reduce errors, ¾ Gender Parity Index: improve data quality and ease its verification. € Between 2012-13 and 2019-20, the Gender ¾ It is an application to collect the school details Parity Index (GPI) at both Secondary and Higher about factors related to a school and its resources. Secondary levels have improved. € It is an updated and improved version of UDISE, z GPI in primary, secondary and tertiary education which was initiated in 2012-13 by the Ministry is the ratio of the number of female students of Education. enrolled at primary, secondary and tertiary ¾ It covers more than 1.5 million schools, 8.5 million levels of education to the number of male teachers and 250 million children. students in each level. ¾ It helps measure the education parameters from € Improvement of GPI has been most pronounced classes 1 to 12 in government and private schools at the higher secondary level, which has gone up across India. to 1.04 in 2019-20 from 0.97 in 2012-13. ¾ Facilities at Schools: Key Points € Electricity: More than 80% of schools in India ¾ Total Students: in 2019-20 had functional electricity. This is an € In 2019-20, total students in school education from improvement of more than 6% over the previous pre-primary to higher secondary have crossed year 2018-19.

Note: 24 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Computers: The number of schools having functional € Medical Check-Ups: More than 82% of schools computers increased to 5.2 lakh in 2019-20 from conducted medical check-ups of students in 4.7 lakh in 2018-19. 2019-20, an increase of more than 4% compared to the previous year 2018-19. € Internet: The number of schools having internet facilities increased to 3.36 lakh in 2019-20 from ¾ Some Important Government Initiatives: 2.9 lakh in 2018-19. € New National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. € € Hand Wash Facility: More than 90% of schools in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. India had hand wash facilities in 2019-20. This is € Mid Day Meal Scheme. a major improvement as this percentage was only € Right To Education (RTE) Act, 2009. 36.3% in 2012-13. € Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.

nnn

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 25

Economic Scenario

Highlights z Inflation Data: June 2021 z Anti-Dumping Duty z India’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Package: Phase II z Forex Reserves z Agriculture Infrastructure Fund z Contraction of India’s Manufacturing Sector: PMI z Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency z Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme z Special Livestock Sector Package z Open Network for Digital Commerce z RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme z World Bank Support to India’s Informal Working Class z Sankalp Se Siddhi: Mission Van Dhan z Four Years of the GST z Matsya Setu z Financial Stability Report: RBI z GI Certified Bhalia Wheat: Gujarat z New Norms for Independent Directors z Youth and Food System z Ministry of Cooperation: A New Push to Co-operatives z Authorised Economic Operators Programme z Output Pact: OPEC+

z Retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Inflation Data: June 2021 Index (CPI), was at 6.26% in June 2021. ¾ Implication: Why in News € Wholesale Price- Inflation’s potential to spill over Recently, the Office of the Economic Adviser, into retail inflation (CPI inflation) levels will inject Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade ‘uneasiness’ in the monetary policy. has released the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for the z Monetary policy is the macroeconomic policy month of June, 2021. laid down by the central bank. It involves Key Points management of money supply and interest rate and is the demand side economic policy ¾ Wholesale Price- Inflation: used by the government of a country to achieve € Inflation in wholesale prices stayed high in June macroeconomic objectives like inflation, 2021 at 12.07% following the record high of 12.94% consumption, growth and liquidity. in May 2021. ¾ Reason: Wholesale Price Index € The high rate of inflation in June 2021, is primarily ¾ It measures the changes in the prices of goods sold due to low base effect. and traded in bulk by wholesale businesses to other z Base effect: It is the effect that choosing a businesses. different reference point for a comparison ¾ Published by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry between two data points can have on the result of Commerce and Industry. of the comparison. ¾ It is the most widely used inflation indicator in € Rise in prices of mineral oils viz petrol, diesel, naphtha, furnace oil etc. India. ¾ Major criticism for this index is that the general public € Increased costs of manufactured products like basic metal, food products, chemical products does not buy products at wholesale price. etc as compared the corresponding month of the ¾ The base year of All-India WPI has been revised from previous year. 2004-05 to 2011-12 in 2017.

Note: 26 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Consumer Price Index ¾ In India, inflation is primarily measured bytwo main ¾ It measures price changes from the perspective of a indices —WPI & CPI which measure wholesale and retail buyer. It is released by the National Statistical retail-level price changes, respectively. Office (NSO). Core Inflation ¾ The CPI calculates the difference in the price of ¾ It is the change in the costs of goods and services but commodities and services such as food, medical care, does not include those from the food and energy education, electronics etc, which Indian consumers sectors. This measure of inflation excludes these buy for use. items because their prices are much more volatile. ¾ The CPI has several sub-groups including food and € Core inflation = Headline inflation – (Food and beverages, fuel and light, housing and clothing, Fuel) inflation. bedding and footwear. ¾ Four types of CPI are as follows: € CPI for Industrial Workers (IW). India’s Covid-19 Emergency € CPI for Agricultural Labourer (AL). Response Package: Phase II € CPI for Rural Labourer (RL). € CPI (Rural/Urban/Combined). Why in News € Of these, the first three are compiled by theLabour The Union Cabinet has recently approved a Rs. 23,123 Bureau in the Ministry of Labour and Employment. crore package to boost emergency response and Fourth is compiled by the NSO in the Ministry of healthcare systems. Statistics and Programme Implementation. ¾ It includes funding for 20,000 additional ICU (intensive ¾ Base Year for CPI in general is 2012. However the base care unit) beds and the setting up of paediatric units year for CPI for Industrial Worker (CPI-IW) is 2016. in all districts, ahead of a potential third wave of ¾ The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) uses CPI data Covid-19 in the country. to control inflation (within range 4+/-2%). In April 2014, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had adopted Key Points the CPI as its key measure of inflation. ¾ Background: € Phase I of Package: In March 2020, when the CPI vs. WPI country was faced with the first wave of the ¾ WPI tracks inflation at the producer level and CPI Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Sector Scheme captures changes in prices levels at the consumer level. of Rs. 15,000 crore was announced for the “India ¾ WPI does not capture changes in the prices of Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems services, which CPI does. Preparedness Package”. z It aimed at providing a critical impetus to Inflation the efforts of the Ministry of Health and ¾ Inflation refers to the rise in the prices of most Family Welfare (MoHFW) and States/UTs, and goods and services of daily or common use, such catalysing health systems activities for pandemic as food, clothing, housing, recreation, transport, management. consumer staples, etc. € Since mid-February 2021, the country is experiencing ¾ Inflation measures the average price change in a a second wave which has spread into rural, peri- basket of commodities and services over time. urban and tribal areas. ¾ Inflation is indicative of the decrease in the ¾ Phase II of Package: purchasing power of a unit of a country’s currency. € The Phase-II of the Package has Central Sector € This could ultimately lead to a deceleration in (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) economic growth. components. ¾ However, a moderate level of inflation is required in z The Union government fully funds the central the economy to ensure that production is promoted. sector schemes, whereas centrally sponsored

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 27

schemes are jointly funded by the Centre and packaging units, e-marketing points linked to states. e-trading platforms, besides PPP (Public Private € It would be implemented from 1st July 2021 to Partnership) projects for crop aggregation 31st March 2022. sponsored by central/state/local bodies. ¾ Purpose: ¾ Duration: Extended to 13 years upto 2032-33. ¾ € Includes funding for paediatric units in all 736 Features: districts, and the setting up of 20,000 ICU beds, € Eligible Beneficiaries: 20% of which would be “hybrid”, that is, for adults z They are Farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations as well as children. (FPOs), Primary Agricultural Credit Society z There are apprehensions about a third wave of (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Self Covid-19 affecting children more than before. Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, € It is aimed at preventing the problems observed during the second wave, including lack of transport Agri-entrepreneurs, Start-ups, and Central/State facilities for oxygen and shortage of medicines, agency or Local Body sponsored PPP Projects. from happening again. z Eligibility has been extended to State agencies and Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees € The Centre would provide support to its hospitals, (APMCs), as well as federations of cooperative the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences, and organisations, FPOs and SHGs. other institutes of national importance, for repurposing 6,688 beds for Covid-19 management. € Financial Support: Rs. 1 Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans to € Genome sequencing machines would be provided eligible beneficiaries. to the National Centre for Disease Control. z Moratorium for repayment may vary subject to € The package would also provide for the expansion minimum of 6 months and maximum of 2 years. of the national telemedicine platform,eSanjeevani , € Loans will have by increasing daily consultations from 50,000 at Interest Subvention: interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. present to 5 lakh. 2 crore. This subvention will be available for a € States would be supported to carry out at least maximum period of seven years. 21.5 lakh tests a day and add 8,800 ambulances. € CGTMSE Scheme: A credit guarantee coverage will be available for eligible borrowers from this Agriculture Infrastructure Fund financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) Why in News scheme for a loan up to Rs. 2 crore. ¾ Management: The fund will be managed and monitored Recently, the Union Cabinet approved some through an online Management Information System modifications in theCentral Sector Scheme of Financing (MIS) platform. It will enable all the qualified entities Facility under ‘Agriculture Infrastructure Fund’. to apply for loans under the Fund. Key Points € The National, State and District level monitoring committees will be set up to ensure real-time ¾ Launch: It was launched in 2020 as a part of the Rs. 20 monitoring and effective feed-back. lakh crore stimulus package announced in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Fertiliser Self-Sufficiency ¾ Aim: To provide medium-long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post- harvest management Infrastructure and community Why in News farming assets. Recently, the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers € The funds will be provided for setting up of cold has reviewed the initiatives of the Department of stores and chains, warehousing, grading and Fertilisers for making India Atmanirbhar in Fertilisers.

Note: 28 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

¾ The Government is planning to liberalise Market on promotion of City Compost, notified by Development Assistance (MDA) policy to promote the DoF in 2016 granting Market Development the use of alternative fertilisers. Assistance of Rs. 1500/- for scaling up production and consumption of city compost. Key Points z To increase sales volumes, compost manufacturers ¾ MDA Policy: willing to market city compost were allowed to € MDA policy was earlier limited to city compost only. sell city compost in bulk directly to farmers. € There were demands to expand this policy by z Fertilizer companies marketing city compost incorporating organic waste like Biogas, Green are covered under the Direct Benefit Transfer Manure, organic compost of rural areas, solid/ (DBT) for Fertilizers. liquid slurry, etc. € Use of Space Technology in Fertilizer Sector: € This expansion will fully complement the Swachh z DoF commissioned a three year Pilot Study Bharat Abhiyan. on “Resource Mapping of Rock Phosphate ¾ Government Initiatives and Schemes: using Reflectance Spectroscopy and Earth € Neem Coating of Urea: Observations Data” by National Remote z The Department of Fertilizers (DoF) has made Sensing Centre under ISRO, in collaboration it mandatory for all the domestic producers to with Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the produce 100% urea as Neem Coated Urea (NCU). Atomic Mineral Directorate (AMD). z The benefits of use of NCU are as under:- € The Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme: „ Improvement in soil health. z It has been implemented from April 2010 by „ Reduction in usage of plant protection the DoF. chemicals. z Under NBS, a fixed amount of subsidy decided „ Reduction in pest and disease attack. on an annual basis, is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) „ An increase in yield of paddy, sugarcane, maize, soybean, Tur/Red Gram. fertilizers depending on its nutrient content. z „ Negligible diversion towards non-agricultural It aims at ensuring the balanced use of fertilizers, purposes. improving agricultural productivity, promoting the growth of the indigenous fertilizers industry „ Due to slow release of Nitrogen, Nitrogen and also reducing the burden of Subsidy. Use Efficiency (NUE) of Neem Coated Urea increases resulting in reduced consumption Fertilizer Consumption in India of NCU as compared to normal urea. ¾ India’s fertiliser consumption in FY20 was about € New Urea Policy (NUP) 2015: 61 million tonnes — of which 55% was urea—and z Objectives of the policy are- is estimated to have increased by 5 million tonnes „ To maximize indigenous urea production. in FY21. „ To promote energy efficiency in the urea units. € Since non-urea (MoP, DAP, complex) varieties „ To rationalize the subsidy burden on the cost higher, many farmers prefer to use more Government of India. urea than actually needed. € New Investment Policy- 2012: € The government has taken a number of measures z The Government announced New Investment to reduce urea consumption. It introduced neem- Policy (NIP)-2012 in January, 2013 and made coated urea to reduce illegal diversion of urea amendments in 2014 to facilitate fresh invest- for non-agricultural uses. It also stepped up the ment in the urea sector and to make India promotion of organic and zero-budget farming. self-sufficient in the urea sector. € Currently, the fertiliser production of the country € Policy on Promotion of City Compost: is 42-45 million tonnes, and imports are at around . z The Government of India approved a policy 18 million tonnes

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 29

¾ Subsidy on Urea: The Centre pays subsidy on urea Gokul Mission, National Programme for Dairy to fertiliser manufacturers on the basis of cost of Development (NPDD), National Livestock Mission production at each plant and the units are required (NLM) and Livestock Census and Integrated to sell the fertiliser at the government-set Maximum Sample Survey (LC & ISS) as sub-schemes. Retail Price (MRP). z Disease Control Programme: It is renamed as ¾ Subsidy on Non-Urea Fertilisers: The MRPs of Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH & DC) non-urea fertilisers are decontrolled or fixed by which includes the present Livestock Health and the companies. The Centre, however, pays a flat Disease Control (LH & DC) scheme and National per-tonne subsidy on these nutrients to ensure Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP). they are priced at “reasonable levels”. z Infrastructure Development Fund: The Animal € Examples of non-urea fertilisers:Di-Ammonium Husbandry Infrastructure Development fund Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP). (AHIDF) and the Dairy Infrastructure Develop- ment Fund (DIDF) are merged and the present € All Non-Urea based fertilisers are regulated scheme for support to Dairy Cooperatives and under Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme. Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in Dairy activities is also included in this third category. Special National Livestock Mission (NLM) Livestock Sector Package ¾ NlM was launched in the 2014-15 financial year and seeks to ensure quantitative and qualitative Why in News improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved implementation of a special livestock sector ¾ The scheme is being implemented as a sub scheme package. of White Revolution - Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojana from April 2019. Key Points ¾ The mission is organised into the following four ¾ About the Package: Sub - Missions: € Sub-Mission on Livestock Development. € Aim: To boost growth in the livestock sector and thereby making animal husbandry more € Sub-Mission on Pig Development in North- remunerative to 10 crore farmers engaged in Eastern Region. Animal Husbandry Sector. € Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development. € Total Amount: The Central government will spend € Sub-Mission on Skill Development, Technology Rs. 9,800 crore on livestock development over Transfer and Extension. the next five years in a bidto leverage almost Rs. 55,000 crore of outside investment into the sector. RBI’s Retail Direct Scheme z It includes the share of investments by State Governments, State Cooperatives, Financial institutions, External funding agencies and Why in News other stakeholders. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced ¾ Merger of Schemes: the ‘RBI Retail Direct’ Scheme. € The package has been designed by revising and ¾ In February 2021 RBI proposed to allow retail investors realigning various components of the Department to open gilt accounts with the central bank to invest of Animal Husbandry & Dairying’ Schemes for the in Government securities (G-secs) directly. next five years, starting 2021-22. Key Points € All the schemes of the Department will be merged into three broad categories as: ¾ About: z Development Programmes: It includes Rashtriya € Under the scheme, retail investors (individuals) will

Note: 30 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

have the facility to open and maintain the ‘Retail € Facilitate Government Borrowings: Direct Gilt Account’ (RDG Account) with the RBI. z This measure together with relaxation in z Retail Investor is a non-professional investor who mandatory Hold To Maturity (securities that buys and sells securities or funds that contain a are purchased to be owned until maturity) basket of securities such as mutual funds and provisions will facilitate smooth completion Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). of the government borrowing programme in z A Gilt Account can be compared with a bank 2021-22. account, except that the account is debited € Financialise Domestic Savings: or credited with treasury bills or government z Allowing direct retail participation in the G-Sec securities instead of money. market will promote financialisation of a vast € RDG accounts can be opened through an online pool of domestic savings and could be a game- portal provided for the purpose of the scheme. changer in India’s investment market. € The online portal will give registered users access ¾ Other Measures Taken to Increase Retail Investment to primary issuance of G-secs and access to in Government Securities: Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching € Introduction of non-competitive bidding in system (NDS-OM). primary auctions. z The RBI introduced the NDS-OM in August 2005. z Non-competitive bidding means the bidder It is an electronic, screen based, anonymous, would be able to participate in the auctions of for dealing in G-secs. order driven trading system dated government securities without having to € It is a one-stop solution to facilitate investment quote the yield or price in the bid. in G-secs by individual investors. € Stock exchanges to act as aggregators and z RBI seeks to democratize the ownership of facilitators of retail bids. government debt securities beyond banks € Allowing a specific retail segmentin the secondary and managers of pooled resources such as market. mutual funds. ¾ Current G-Sec Market: Government Security € The G-sec market is dominated by institutional ¾ A G-Sec is a tradable instrument issued by the investors which are large market actors such as Central Government or the State Governments. banks, mutual funds and insurance companies. ¾ It acknowledges the Government’s debt obliga- z These entities trade in lot sizes of Rs 5 crore tion. Such securities areshort term (usually called or more. treasury bills, with original maturities of less than € So, there is no liquidity in the secondary market one year- presently issued in three tenors, namely, for small investors who would want to trade in 91 day, 182 day and 364 day) or long term (usually smaller lot sizes. called Government bonds or dated securities with ). z The primary market is where securities are original maturity of one year or more created, while the secondary market is where ¾ In India, the Central Government issues both those securities are traded by investors. treasury bills and bonds or dated securitieswhile the € There is no easy way for them to exit their State Governments issue only bonds or dated investments. Thus, currently, direct G-secs trading securities, which are called the State Development is not popular among retail investors. Loans (SDLs). ¾ Significance: ¾ G-Secs carry practically no risk of default and, hence, are called risk-free gilt-edged instruments. € Improved Ease of Access: € Gilt-edged securities are high-grade invest- z It will make the process of G-sec trading smoother ment bonds offered by governments and for small investors therefore it will raise retail large corporations as a means of borrowing participation in G-secs and will improve ease funds. of access.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 31

through Minimum Support Price (MSP) & Sankalp Se Development of Value Chain for MFP’ has Siddhi: Mission Van Dhan impacted the tribal ecosystem in a major way. z TRIFED has also injected Rs. 3000 crores into the tribal economy, even during such difficult Why in News times, aided by government push. Recently, the Minister of Tribal Affairs reviewed z The Van Dhan tribal start-ups, a component of various initiatives under ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi-Mission the same scheme, have emerged as a source Vand Dhan’, by TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing of employment generation for tribal gatherers Development Federation of India). and forest dwellers and the home-bound tribal TRIFED artisans. ¾ The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development ¾ TRIFED is involved in following initiatives: Federation of India (TRIFED) came into existence € Van Dhan Vikas Yojana: in 1987. z Van Dhan Scheme, a component of ‘MSP for ¾ It is a national-level apex organization functioning MFP’, was launched in 2018. under the administrative control of theMinistry of z An initiative targeting livelihood generation Tribal Affairs. for tribal gatherers and transforming them ¾ The ultimate objective of TRIFED is socio-economic into entrepreneurs. development of tribal people in the country by way z The idea is to set-up tribal community-owned of marketing development of the tribal products Van Dhan Vikas Kendra Clusters (VDVKCs) in such as metal craft, tribal textiles, pottery, tribal predominantly forested tribal districts. paintings and pottery on which the tribals depends z VDVKs are heavily for a major portion of their income. for providing skill upgradation and capacity building training to tribals and setting Key Points up of primary processing and value addition facilities. ¾ About ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’: € MSP for MFP: € The ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’ initiative, also known z Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest as ‘Mission Van Dhan’, was introduced by the Through central government in 2021, in line with the Prime Produce (MFP) Minimum Support and Development of Value Chain Minister’s aim to establish a sustainable livelihood Price (MSP) for MFP for India’s tribal population. provide MSP to gatherers of forest produce. € Through this mission, TRIFED aims to expand its operation through convergence of various z The scheme acts as a measure of social safety schemes of different ministries and departments for MFP gatherers who are primarily members and launch various tribal development programmes of ST (Scheduled Tribe). in mission mode. z The scheme formed a system to ensure fair € Through this mission, establishment of several Van monetary returns of the gatherers for their Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs), haat bazaars, mini endeavour in collection, primary processing, TRIFOOD units, common facility centres, TRIFOOD storage, packaging, transportation, etc. parks, SFRUTI (Scheme of Fund for regeneration z MFP includes all non-timber forest produce of traditional industries) clusters, tribes india of plant origin and includes bamboo, canes, retail store, e-commerce platformfor trifood and fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and tribes, India brands are being targeted. many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, € TRIFED has been implementing several noteworthy honey, lac, tusser etc. programmes for the empowerment of the tribals. € Tech For Tribals: z Over the past two years, the ‘Mechanism for z It aims to transform 5 crore Tribal Entrepreneurs by Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) capacity building and imparting entrepreneurship

Note: 32 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

skills to tribal forest produce gatherers enrolled especially fishers, fish farmers, youth and entre- under the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana preneurs across the country, and facilitate ease (PMVDY). of doing business. z The program will ensure higher success rate ¾ Other Related Initiatives: of the Tribal Entrepreneurs by enabling and € Shaphari: Certification Scheme for Aquaculture empowering them to run their business with Products: It is a market-based tool for hatcheries marketable products with quality certifications. to adopt good aquaculture practices and help € TRIFOOD Scheme: produce quality antibiotic-free shrimp products z It was launched in August 2020 and promotes to assure global consumers. value addition to MFP. € Establishment of Fisheries and Aquaculture z TRIFOOD parks will produce processed foods Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) during from minor forest produce and also from the 2018-19. food gathered by the tribal people in that region. € Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana: The € Village and Digital Connect Initiative: programme aims to achieve 22 million tonnes of fish production by 2024-25. Also, it is expected z To ensure that existing schemes and initiatives to create employment opportunities for 55 lakh reach the tribals, TRIFED’s regional officials people. across the country have been visiting identified villages with a significant tribal population. € Focus on Blue Revolution: Creating an enabling environment for integrated and holistic management of fisheries for the socio-economic development Matsya Setu of the fishers and fish farmers. € Extension of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facilities to Why in News fishers and fish farmers to help them in meeting their working capital needs. Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched the Online Course Mobile App “Matsya Setu” for fish farmers. GI Certified ¾ The app was developed by the Indian Council of Bhalia Wheat: Gujarat Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). Why in News Recently, the first shipment of Geographical Key Points Indication (GI) certified Bhalia variety of wheat was ¾ About: exported to Kenya and Sri Lanka from Gujarat. € It aims to disseminate the latest freshwater Key Points aquaculture technologies to the aqua farmers of the country, thus increasing productivity and ¾ About: income. € The Bhalia variety of wheat received GI certification z Aquaculture is breeding, raising, and harvesting in July, 2011. fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants. € This Wheat has high protein content and is sweet z India is the second major producer of fish in taste. through aquaculture in the world. € This crop is grown mostly across the Bhal region of € It has a focus on grow-out culture of commercially Gujarat which includes Ahmedabad, Anand, Kheda, important fishes like carp, catfish, scampi, murrel, Bhavanagar, Surendranagar, Bharuch districts. ornamental fish, pearl farming etc. € This variety is grown in the rainfed condition € It can be used to disseminate the latest information without irrigation. on different schemes among the stakeholders, ¾ Other GI products from Gujarat are:

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 33

€ Latest is the wooden printing blocks of Pethapur ¾ Major wheat growing states in India are Uttar and others are, furniture made in Sankheda, agates Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, , Kutch embroidery, zari craft from from Khambhat Rajasthan, Bihar and Gujarat. Surat, patola from Patan, bandhani from Jamnagar, and Kesar mangoes from Gir. € India is the second largest producer after China. ¾ Geographical Indication Status: € Success of the Green Revolution contributed to the growth of Rabi crops, especially wheat. € GI is an indication used to identify goods having special characteristics originating from a definite ¾ Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, National geographical territory. Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are few government initiatives to support z It is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods. wheat cultivation. ¾ The € The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration wheat exports from India witnessed a significant and Protection) Act, 1999 seeks to provide for the growth of 808% in the fiscal 2020-21. registration and better protection of geographical € India exported a substantial quantity of grain indications relating to goods in India. to seven new countries - Yemen, Indonesia, z The Act is administered by the Controller General Bhutan, Philippines, Iran, Cambodia and Myanmar of Patents, Designs and TradeMarks- who is the during 2020-21. Registrar of Geographical Indications. z The Geographical IndicationsRegistry is located at Chennai. € The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years. It can be renewed from time to time for a further period of 10 years each. € It is also a part of the World Trade Organisation’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). € Recent Examples: Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting, Telangana’s Telia Rumal, Tirur Vetilla (Kerala), Dindigul Lock and Kandangi Saree (Tamil Nadu), Odisha Rasagola, Shahi Litchi (Bihar), etc. € Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA - Ministry of Commerce and Industry) has a focus on promotion of exports of GI products. z Recently, a consignment of Dahanu Gholvad sapota was exported from Maharashtra’s Palghar district. Wheat Youth and Food System ¾ Rabi Crop: It is sown in October-December and harvested during April-June. Why in News ¾ Temperature: Between 10-15°C (Sowing time) and A new UN report on youth and agriculture underscores 21-26°C (Ripening & Harvesting) with bright sunlight. the urgent need to make agri-food systems more appealing ¾ Rainfall: Around 75-100 cm. to young people to secure the future of global food ¾ Soil Type: Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey security and nutrition. loamy (Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region ¾ The report ‘Promoting youth engagement and of the Deccan). employment in agriculture and food systems’ is

Note: 34 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

prepared and shared to the UN by the Committee € Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: The on World Food Security (CFS). youth engagement and employment in sustainable ¾ CFS is an inclusive international and intergovernmental agri-food systems is simultaneously a goal to be platform for all stakeholders to work together onfood realized and a means for the achievement of the security and nutrition for all. The CFS is hosted by Sustainable Development Goals, and of economic the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the well-being. United Nations (UN). € Youth are on the front lines to build the food systems of the future, while also bearing significant Key Points risks from climate change, social and economic ¾ Youth in Numbers: inequities, and political marginalization. € Youth aged between 15 and 24 years accounted ¾ Recommendations: for 16% of the world’s population in 2019. € Approaches, initiatives and policies to strengthen € Young people were concentrated in Asia, Central youth engagement and employment in food systems and Southern Asia with 361 million youth and need to be based on the pillars of rights, equity, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia with 307 million agency and recognition. youth, followed by sub-Saharan Africa (211 million € Improving youth-focused social protection pro- youth). grammes, labour laws and regulations, andyoung € The International Labour Organization (ILO) people’s access to resources (land, forests, fish- estimated that 440 million youth from the African eries etc), finance, markets, digital technologies, continent would enter the labour market between knowledge and information. 2015 and 2030. € Supporting youth-led start-up initiatives is also ¾ Key Findings: important, and requires a supportive policy € Food systems are the largest employer: Particularly environment. in the developing countries, yet they often do not € The redistribution of resources, knowledge and provide decent and meaningful work or adequate opportunities for youth can contribute to creating livelihood opportunities, nor maintain a balance jobs for the youth, as well as directly supporting between the needs and rights of different generations. transitions to sustainable agri-food systems. z Food systems are a complex web of activities involving production, processing, handling, Indian Scenario preparation, storage, distribution, marketing, ¾ Youth in Numbers: access, purchase, consumption, food loss and € The youth (18-29 years) constitute 22% of India’s waste, as well as the outputs of these activities, population, which is more than 261 million including social, economic and environmental people. outcomes. € According to the Ministry of Statistics and € More Employment Opportunities: Covid-19 has Programme Implementation, the median age of affected labour markets around the world, hurting Indian population is around 28 years in 2021 and employment prospects for the youth more than will become 31 years by 2031. those belonging to other age groups. Globally, employment among the youth fell 8.7% in 2020 € India is also going through the stage of demographic compared with 3.7% for adults. dividend. z Agri-food systems, if made more appealing € Hardly 5% of the youth are engaged in agriculture and equitable to youth, are a large, untapped though over 60% of the rural people derive their reservoir of employment opportunities. livelihood fully or partly from farming and its related activities. € Importance of Focusing on Developing Countries: As almost 88% of the world’s 1.2 billion youth live, z Clearly, the modern youth are disenchanted with particularly in Africa, where over 70% of youth agriculture and are shunning it as a profession. subsist on USD 2 per day or less. ¾ Related Initiatives:

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 35

€ MAYA Roadmap, 2018: This was formulated in € Under this, an entity engaged in international trade a conference in New Delhi on “Motivating and is approved by WCO as compliant with supply Attracting Youth in Agriculture” (MAYA). chain security standards and granted AEO status. z The MAYA road map envisages offering the € An entity with anAEO status is considered a ‘secure’ youth a variety of avenues and opportunities for trader and a reliable trading partner. economic growth, social respect and application z Benefits of AEO status include expedited of modern technologies in farming and allied clearance times, fewer examinations, improved activities. security and communication between supply € ARYA (Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agri- chain partners. culture): Indian Council of Agricultural Research € AEO is a voluntary programme. (ICAR) has initiated this programme. Following ¾ Indian AEO Programme: are its Objectives: € The AEO Programme was introduced as a pilot z To attract and empower the Youth in Rural project in 2011. Areas to take up various Agriculture, allied and € The security standards detailed in WCO SAFE service sectors. Framework are the basis of the Indian AEO z To enable the Farm Youth to establish network programme. groups to take up resource and capital intensive € There is a three tier AEO Status for Exporters activities like processing, value addition and and Importers. The three tiers are AEO T1, AEO marketing. T2, AEO T3, where AEO T3 is the highest level of € National Policy for Farmers, 2007: To introduce accreditation. measures which can help attract and retain youths ¾ Aim of Indian AEO Programme: in farming and processing of farm products for € To provide business entities with an internationally higher value addition by making it intellectually recognized certification. stimulating and economically rewarding. € To recognize business entities as “secure and reliable” trading partners. Authorised Economic € To incentivize business entities through defined Operators Programme benefits that translate into savings in time and cost. € Secure supply chain from point of export to import. € Enhanced border clearance. Why in News € Reduction in dwell time and related costs. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) € Customs advice / assistance if trade faces unexpected has inaugurated the online filing ofAuthorised Economic issues with Customs of countries. Operators (AEO) applications. ¾ Benefits: ¾ The web application is designed to ensure continuous € Safe and Compliant Business: Worldwide real-time and digital monitoring of physically filed recognition as safe, secure and compliant business AEO applications for timely intervention and partners in international trade. expedience. € Reciprocal Recognition: India gets trade facilitation Key Points by a foreign country with whom India enters into a Mutual Recognition Agreement/Arrangement ¾ About: (MRA). € AEO is a programme (2007) under the aegis of z MRA is an international agreement by which the World Customs Organization (WCO) SAFE two or more countries agree to recognize one Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate another’s conformity assessment results (for global trade. example certifications or test results). € It aims to enhance international supply chain € Streamline Cargo security: It enables Indian Customs security and facilitate the movement of goods. to enhance and streamline cargo security through

Note: 36 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

close cooperation with the principal stakeholders rectify the situation arising out of the dumping of the international supply chain viz. importers, of goods and its trade distortive effect. exporters, logistics providers, custodians or terminal „ In the long-term, anti-dumping duties can operators, custom brokers and warehouse operators. reduce the international competition of € Promote Ease of Doing Business: A liberalized, domestic companies producing similar goods. simplified and rationalized AEO accreditation z It is a protectionist tariff that a domestic process has potential to promote Ease of Doing government imposes on foreign imports that Business and to emulate global best practices. it believes are priced below fair market value. € Facility of Direct Port Delivery of import Containers z The use of anti-dumping measures as an and/ or Direct Port Entry of Export Containers. instrument of fair competition ispermitted by z It also fast tracking of refunds and adjudications. the World Trade Organisation. € The Indian AEO Programme is a game-changer. € Different from Countervailing Duties: It will not only achieve ‘Make in India’ but also z ADD is a customs duty on imports providing substantially add to the vision and lead India to a protection against the dumping of goods become a manufacturing and exporting power- at prices substantially lower than the normal house. value whereas Countervailing duty is a customs duty on goods that have received government Anti-Dumping Duty subsidies in the originating or exporting country. € WTO’s Provisions Related to Anti-Dumping Duty: z Validity: An anti-dumping duty is valid for a Why in News period of five years from the date of imposition Recently, the government has decided not to impose unless revoked earlier. Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD) on imports of certain copper z Sunset Review: It can be extended for a further products, from China, Thailand, Korea and three other period of five yearsthrough a sunset or expiry countries. review investigation. Key Points „ A Sunset review/ expiry review is an evaluation of the need for the continued existence ¾ About: of a program or an agency. It allows for € In April, Directorate General of Trade Remedies an assessment of the effectiveness and (DGTR) recommended imposing the duty on performance of the program or agency. “copper and copper alloy flat-rolled products” „ Such a review can be initiated suo moto or from China, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and on the basis of a duly substantiated request Thailand, after conducting a probe. received from or on behalf of the domestic € However, the Ministry of Finance takes the final industry. call to impose these duties and issues notification for the same. Forex Reserves ¾ Anti Dumping Duty (Concept): € Dumping: Why in News z Dumping is said to occur when the goods are According to the recent data from the Reserve Bank exported by a country to another country at a of India, India’s Foreign Exchange (Forex) Reserves surged price lower than the price it normally charges by $ 5 billion to $ 609 billion in the week ended 25th June, in its own home market. 2021. z This is an unfair trade practicewhich can have ¾ Increase in the Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) is the a distortive effect on international trade. major component of overall reserves. € Objective: z Imposition of Anti-dumping duty isa measure to Key Points

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 37

¾ Changes in forex reserves holdings: Foreign Currency Assets € FCA rose by $4.7 billion to$ 566 billion. ¾ FCAs are assets that are valued based on a currency € Gold reserves rose by $365 million to $36.296 other than the country’s own currency. billion. ¾ FCA is the largest component of the forex reserve. € The special drawing rights (SDRs) with the It is expressed in dollar terms. International Monetary Fund (IMF) remained ¾ The FCAs include the effect of appreciation or unchanged at $1.498 billion. depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound € The country’s reserve position with the IMF and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. increased marginally by $1 million to $4.965 Special Drawing Rights billion in the week. ¾ The SDR is an international reserve asset, created ¾ Foreign Exchange Reserves: by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member € Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on countries’ official reserves. reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies, ¾ The SDR is neither a currency nor a claim on the which can include bonds, treasury bills and other IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely government securities. usable currencies of IMF members. SDRs can be z It needs to be noted that most foreign exchange exchanged for these currencies. reserves are held in US dollars. ¾ The value of the SDR is calculated from a weighted € India’s Forex Reserve include: basket of major currencies, including the US dollar, z Foreign Currency Assets the euro, Japanese yen, Chinese yuan, and British z Gold reserves pound. ¾ The interest rate on SDRs or (SDRi) is the interest z Special Drawing Rights paid to members on their SDR holdings. z Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Reserve Position in the International Monetary Fund ¾ Objectives of Holding Forex Reserves: ¾ A reserve tranche position implies a portion of the € Supporting and maintaining confidence in required quota of currency each member country the policies for monetary and exchange rate must provide to the IMF that can be utilized for its management. own purposes. ¾ The reserve tranche is basically an emergency € Provides the capacity to intervene in support of at any time the national or union currency. account that IMF members can access without agreeing to conditions or paying a service fee. € Limits external vulnerability by maintaining foreign currency liquidity to absorb shocks during times of crisis or when access to borrowing is curtailed. Contraction of India’s ¾ Significance of rising forex reserves: Manufacturing Sector: PMI € Comfortable Position for the Government: The rising forex reserves give comfort to the government Why in News and the RBI in managing India’s external and The IHS Markit India Manufacturing Purchasing internal financial issues. Managers’ Index (PMI) slipped to 48.1 in June from 50.8 € Managing Crisis: It serves as a cushion in the in May, moving below the 50-level separating growth event of a Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis on the from contraction. economic front. ¾ India’s manufacturing activity contracted in June € Rupee Appreciation: The rising reserves have also for the first time in 11 months as the second wave helped the rupee to strengthen against the dollar. of the Covid-19 pandemic and strict containment € Confidence in Market: Reserves will provide a measures negatively impacted demand and led to level of confidence to markets and investors that renewed contractions in factory orders, production, a country can meet its external obligations. exports and quantities of purchases.

Note: 38 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ IIP covers the broader industrial sector compared to PMI. € However, PMI is more dynamic compared to a standard industrial production index.

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme

Why in News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved a Reforms-based and Results-linked, Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme worth Rs. 3.03 Key Points trillion wherein the Centre’s share will be Rs. 97,631 crore. ¾ PMI is a survey-based measure that asks the ¾ It aims to improve the operational efficiencies and respondents about changes in their perception financial sustainability of discoms (excluding Private about key business variables as compared with the Sector DISCOMs). previous month. ¾ The purpose of the PMI is to provide information Key Points about current and future business conditions to ¾ About: company decision makers, analysts, and investors. € It will provide conditional financial assistance to ¾ It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and strengthen the supply infrastructure of discoms services sectors and then a composite index is also (power distribution companies). constructed. z The financial assistance will be based on meeting ¾ The PMI is a number from 0 to 100. pre-qualifying criteria and upon achievement € A print above 50 means expansion, while a score of basic minimum benchmarks. below that denotes contraction. € All the existing power sector reforms schemes € A reading at 50 indicates no change. such as Integrated Power Development Scheme, ¾ If the PMI of the previous month is higher than the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, and PMI of the current month, it represents that the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana will be into this umbrella program. economy is contracting. merged € The scheme will be available till 2025-26. ¾ It is usually released at the start of every month. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of ¾ Implementation: economic activity. € It would be based on the action plan worked ¾ PMI is compiled by IHS Markit for more than 40 out for each state rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ economies worldwide. approach. ¾ € IHS Markit is a global leader in information, Nodal Agencies: analytics and solutions for the major industries € Rural Electrification Corporation and Power Finance and markets that drive economies worldwide. Corporation. ¾ As the official data on industrial output, manufacturing ¾ Components: and Gross Domesr\tic Product (GDP) growth comes € Consumer Meters and System Meters: much later, PMI helps to make informed decisions z The scheme involves a compulsory smart at an earlier stage. metering ecosystem across the distribution ¾ It is different from the Index ofIndustrial Production sector—starting from electricity feeders to the (IIP), which also gauges the level of activity in the consumer level, including in about 250 million economy. households.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 39

z It is proposed to install approximately 10 crore which seek to bring changes to how e-commerce prepaid Smart Meters by December, 2023 in marketplaces, including Amazon and Flipkart, operate the first phase. after small businesses complained that they misuse € Feeder Segregation: market dominance and deep-discounting to gain an unfair advantage. z Scheme also focuses on funding for feeder segregation for unsegregated feeders, which Key Points would enable solarization under the PM-KUSUM Scheme. ¾ About: € z Solarization of feeders will lead to cheap/ free The ONDC aims at promoting open networks day time power for irrigation and additional developed on open-sourced methodology, using income for the farmers. open specifications and open network protocols, independent on any specific platform. € Modernization of Distribution system in Urban Areas: € The project to integrate e-commerce platforms through a network based on open-source technology z Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition has been tasked to the Quality Council of India. (SCADA) in all urban areas. € Implementation of ONDC, which is expected to € Rural and Urban area System strengthening. be on the lines of Unified Payments Interface ¾ Special Category States: (UPI) could bring various operational aspects € North-Eastern State of Sikkim and States/Union put in place by e-commerce platforms to the Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal same level. Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, z Various operational aspects include onboarding and Lakshadweep will be treated as Special of sellers, vendor discovery, price discovery and Category States. product cataloguing etc. ¾ Objectives: € On ONDC, buyers and sellers may transact € Reduction ofAT&C losses (operational losses due irrespective of the fact that they are attached to to inefficient power system) to pan-India levels one specific e-commerce portal. of 12-15% by 2024-25. ¾ Significance: € Reduction of to zero by 2024-25. cost-revenue gap € If the ONDC gets implemented and mandated, it € Developing Institutional Capabilities for Modern would mean that all e-commerce companies will DISCOMs. have to operate using the same processes (like Android Based Mobile Devices). Open Network € This could give a huge booster shot to smaller online retailers and new entrants. for Digital Commerce z If mandated, this could be problematic for larger e-commerce companies, which have Why in News their own processes and technology deployed The Department for Promotion of Industry and for these segments of operations. Internal Trade (DPIIT) has issued orders appointing an € ONDC is expected to digitise the entire value advisory committee for its Open Network for Digital chain, standardise operations, promote inclusion Commerce (ONDC) project that is aimed at curbing of suppliers, derive efficiency in logistics and “digital monopolies”. enhance value for consumers. ¾ This is in the direction of makinge-commerce processes ¾ Meaning of Open-Source: open source, thus creating a platform that can be € Making a software or a process open-source means utilised by all online retailers. that the code or the steps of that process is made ¾ Earlier, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs released available freely for others to use, redistribute and draft e-commerce rules for consumer protection modify it.

Note: 40 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z For example, while the operating system of ¾ The loan will create greater flexibility for states to Apple’s iPhones (iOS) is closed source, meaning it cope with the ongoing pandemic, future climate cannot be legally modified or reverse engineered, and disaster shocks. z Google’s Android operating system is open- Key Points source, and therefore it is possible by smartphone manufacturers such as Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, ¾ World Bank’s Financial Support: etc to modify it for their hardware. € About: ¾ Government Initiatives Regarding e-Commerce in z Of the USD 500 million commitment, USD 112.50 India: million will be financed by its concessionary € Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules 2020 lending arm International Development Association (IDA) and the rest will be a loan € Consumer Protection Act, 2019 from International Bank for Reconstruction E-Commerce and Development (IBRD). ¾ Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a business z The loan has a maturity period of 18.5 years model that lets firms and individuals buy and sell including a grace period of five years. things over the Internet. € Fundings Since Start of Pandemic: ¾ Propelled by rising smartphone penetration, the z In 2020, provided immediate emergency relief launch of 4G networks and increasing consumer cash transfers to about 320 million individual wealth, the Indian e-commerce market is expected bank accounts identified through pre-existing to grow to USD 200 billion by 2026. national social protection schemes. ¾ The Indian e-commerce industry has been on an z Also an additional food rations for about 80 upward growth trajectory and is expected to surpass crore individuals. to become the second-largest e-commerce the US ¾ Significance: market in the world by 2034. € States can now access flexible funding from disaster response funds to design and implement appropriate social protection responses. € The funds will be utilised in social protection programmes for urban informal workers, gig- workers, and migrants. z A gig worker is indulged in the gig economy which is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short- term engagements. € It is aimed at building the resilience of economies and livelihoods of communities. € Investments at the municipal level will promote National Digital Urban Mission that will create a World Bank Support to India’s shared digital infrastructure for people living in urban areas and will scale up urban safety nets Informal Working Class and social insurance for informal workers. z It will also include gender-disaggregated Why in News information on women workers and female- The World Bank has approved a USD 500 million headed households. loan programme to support India’s informal working z This will allow policymakers to address gender- class to overcome the current pandemic distress. based service delivery gaps and effectively reach

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 41

the unreached, particularly widows, adolescent € Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Urban girls, and tribal women. Livelihoods Mission € Street vendors are an integral part of India’s urban World Bank Group informal economy. The programme will give street ¾ The World Bank Group is a unique global partnership vendors access to affordable working capital loans of up to Rs 10,000. which consists of five development institutions. ¾ z Some five million urban street vendors could International Bank for Reconstruction and benefit from the new credit programme, Development (IBRD) provides loans, credits, and grants. ¾ Informal Sector Worker: ¾ International Development Association (IDA) € The informal sector is the part of any economy provides low- or no-interest loans to low-income that is neither taxed nor monitored by any form countries. of government. ¾ The International Finance Corporation (IFC) provides z The workers who indulge in the informal sector investment, advice, and asset management to are informal sector workers or informal workers. companies and governments. € The informal sector provides critical economic ¾ The Multilateral Guarantee Agency (MIGA)insures opportunities for the poor. lenders and investors against political risk such as war. € It is largely characterized by skills gained outside ¾ The International Centre for the Settlement of of a formal education, easy entry, a lack of stable Investment Disputes (ICSID) settles investment- employer-employee relationships, and a small disputes between investors and countries. scale of operations. € India is not a member of ICSID. € Unlike the formal economy, the informal sector’s components are not included in GDP computations. ¾ As of now, IBRD has 189 member countries, while IDA has 173. ¾ Need to Protect Informal Workforce: € India’s estimated 450 million informal workers comprise 90% of its total workforce, with 5-10 Four Years of the GST million workers added annually. € Further, according to Oxfam’s latest global report, Why in News out of the total 122 million who lost their jobs in Recently, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and 2020, 75% were lost in the informal sector. Customs (CBIC) decided to felicitate around 54,000 € Job loss and further increasing informalisation taxpayers to mark the competition of 4 years of Goods due to and subsequent the Covid-19 pandemic and Services Tax (GST). lockdown has resulted in lack of social protection to poors. Key Points € Moreover, in the financial year 2020-21, the ¾ Achievements of GST: economy contracted by 7.7%. So, there is an € Automated Indirect Tax Ecosystem: urgent need to revive the economy by generating employment and the informal sector is more z The introduction of e-way bills coupled with labour intensive. the crackdown on fake invoicing has helped in bringing in a substantial portion of GST ¾ Some Initiatives by the Government: revenues, which were either being evaded or € Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) under-reported. € Labour Reform z E-invoicing system would also usher the € Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) taxpayers into a fully automated compliance € PM SVANidhi: Micro Credit Scheme for Street regime wherein the computation of tax liabilities Vendors and matching of input tax credit would become € Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan very simple.

Note: 42 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Simplification of Compliance: z Further, small and medium businesses are still z Various initiatives viz. linking the customs grappling to adapt to the tech-enabled regime. portal with GST portal for credit availability ¾ Suggestions: on imports, making available proper means for € With oil prices sky-rocketing across the country, matching input tax credit, increased automation the policymakers need to contemplate the inclusion of the refund procedure to seamless operation of petroleum and related products within the of the Invoice Registry Portal, helped simplify GST net. tax compliance. € It is vital to finally constitute the GST Appellate € Functioning of GST Council: Tribunal as it is obvious that all taxpayers do not z The GST Council made corrections to law, issued have the finances or means to approach the High clarifications on complex issues, rationalized Court for every practical difficulty faced. GST rates and introduced relaxations for dealing € Streamlining of anti-profiteering measures and with the Covid-19 pandemic, which establishes simplification of compliance proceduresalso needs that the GST Council structure has been very to be revisited to ensure that the cost efficiency functional and agile. and reduction in prices envisaged under GST law € Example to the World: finally reaches the common man. z India has served as an example to the world by successfully implementing one of the most Goods and Services Tax complex tax transformation projects for the ¾ About: country. € The GST is a value-added tax levied on most goods ¾ Challenges: and services sold for domestic consumption. € Fiscal Federalism: € The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted z This issue became controversial when GST to the government by the businesses selling the collections fell because of the pandemic. goods and services. z Because GST entailed a bigger surrender of € GST, which subsumed almost all domestic indirect taxation powers for the states – states do not taxes (petroleum, alcoholic beverages and stamp levy direct taxes or customs duties –a guaranteed duty are the major exceptions) under one head, revenue growth of 14% for a period of five is perhaps the biggest tax reform in the history of years was offered to them by the centre to independent India. It was launched into operation get them to agree. on the midnight of 1st July 2017. € Issues Highlighted by the 15th Finance Commission: ¾ Features of GST: z The 15th Finance Commission has highlighted € Applicable on Supply Side: GST is applicable on several areas of concern in the GST regime ‘supply’ of goods or services as against the old relating to multiplicity of tax rates, shortfall concept on the manufacture of goods or on sale in GST collections vis-à-vis the forecast, high of goods or on provision of services. volatility in GST collections, inconsistency in € Destination based Taxation: GST is based on the filing of returns, dependence of States on the principle of destination-based consumption taxation compensation from Centre and so on. as against the principle of origin-based taxation. € Large Businesses vs Small Businesses: € Dual GST: It is a dual GST with the Centre and the z The fundamental principles on which the GST States simultaneously levying tax on a common law was built viz. seamless flow of input credits base. The GST to be levied by the Centre is called and ease of compliance has been impaired by Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the IT glitches. States is called State GST (SGST). z Indirect taxes, unlike direct taxes such as income z Import of goods or services would be treated tax, do not differentiate between the rich and as inter-state supplies and would be subject the poor and therefore put a bigger burden to Integrated Goods & Services Tax (IGST) in on the latter. addition to the applicable customs duties.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 43

€ GST rates to be mutually decided: CGST, SGST & IGST are levied at rates to be mutually agreed Financial Stability Report: RBI upon by the Centre and the States. The rates are notified on the recommendation of the GST Why in News Council. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released € Multiple Rates: GST is levied at four rates viz. 5%, the 23rd issue of its Financial Stability Report (FSR). 12%, 18% and 28%. The schedule or list of items ¾ The FSR which is published biannually reflects the that would fall under these multiple slabs are collective assessment of the Sub-Committee of the worked out by the GST council. Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC - z This is aside from the tax on gold that is kept headed by the Governor of RBI) on risks to financial at 3% and rough precious and semi-precious stability and the resilience of the financial system. stones that are placed at a special rate of 0.25% ¾ The Report also discusses issues relating to development under GST. and regulation of the financial sector. ¾ GST Council: € It is a constitutional body (Article 279A) for Key Points making recommendations to the Union and State ¾ Impact of Covid-19 Second-Wave: Government on issues related to GST. € The impact of the Covid-19 Second-Wave on the € The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance balance sheets of Indian banks has been less than Minister and other members are the Union what was projected before and capital buffers are State Minister of Revenue or Finance and reasonably resilient to withstand future shocks. Ministers in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all z A capital buffer is required reserves held by the States. financial institutions put in place by regulators. € It is considered as a federal body where both These are designed to provide banking the centre and the states get due representation. organizations with the means to support the ¾ Reforms brought about by GST: economy in adverse situations. € Creation of a Common National Market: By € Covid-19 Second-Wave has dented economic amalgamating a large number of Central and State activity, but monetary, regulatory and fiscal policy taxes into a single tax. measures have helped curtail the solvency risk of € Mitigation of cascading effect: financial entities, stabilise markets, and maintain financial stability. z The GST that a merchant pays to procure goods or services (i.e. on inputs) can be set off later z Solvency risk is the risk of being unable to against the tax applicable on supply of final absorb losses, generated by all types of risks, goods and services. The set off tax is called with the available capital. input tax credit. ¾ Global Recovery: z The GST thus avoids cascading effect or tax on € Sustained policy support, benign financial tax which increases the tax burden on the end conditions and the gathering momentum of consumer. vaccinations are nurturing an uneven global recovery. € Reduction in Tax Burden: From the consu- mers’ point of view, the biggest advantage is in € Policy support has helped in shoring up financial terms of reduction in the overall tax burden on positions of banks, containing non-performing loans goods. and maintaining solvency and liquidity globally. ¾ New Risks: € Making Indian Products More Competitive: Introduction of GST is making Indian products € While the recovery is underway, new risks have more competitive in the domestic and international emerged which are: markets owing to the full neutralization of input z Nascent and mending state of the upturn taxes across the value chain of production. (Revival of Economy).

Note: 44 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z Economy Vulnerable to shocks and future waves z Corporate borrowers had a restructured ratio of the pandemic. of 0.9% of total advances. z International commodity prices and inflationary z 0.7% of total retail advances were restructured. pressures. ¾ Suggestions: z Global spillovers amid high uncertainty. € Balance Sheet Stress: z Rising incidence of data breaches and cyber z Banks need to reinforce their capital and attacks. liquidity positions to fortify themselvesagainst ¾ Gross Non-Performing Asset Ratio: potential balance sheet stress. € The Gross Non-Performing Asset (GNPA) ratio of € Policy Support: India’s Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) may z Sustained policy support and simultaneous climb by the end of 2021-22 to as much as 11.2% increased fortification of capital and liquidity under a severe stress scenario, from 7.48% in buffers by financial entities is important. March 2021. € Financial Needs: z The GNPA ratio of SCBs may increase to 9.8% z Stronger capital positions, good governance by March 2022 under the baseline scenario. and efficiency in financial intermediation € While banks’ exposures to better rated large can be the touchstones of this endeavour so borrowers are declining, there are incipient signs of that financing needs of productive sectors of stress in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises the economy are met while the integrity and (MSMEs) and retail segments. soundness of banks and financial institutions are secured on an enduring basis. € The demand for consumer credit across banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) Non-Performing Asset has decreased, with some deterioration in the ¾ NPA refers to a classification for loans or advances risk profile of retail borrowers becoming evident. that are in default or are in arrears on scheduled z Retail Loans are provided to purchase property, payments of principal or interest. vehicles or other assets such as essential ¾ In most cases, debt is classified as non-performing, electronics. when the loan payments have not been made for ¾ CRAR & PCR: a minimum period of 90 days. € Banks have managed to capitalise themselves ¾ Gross non-performing assets are the sum of all the well during 2020-21 aiding them in maintaining loans that have been defaulted by the individuals who adequate capital adequacy even under stress have acquired loans from the financial institution. situations. ¾ Net non-performing assets are the amount that is € The Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) realized after provision amount has been deducted of SCBs increased to 16.03% and the Provisioning from the gross non-performing assets. Coverage Ratio (PCR) stood at 68.86% in March Capital Adequacy Ratio 2021. ¾ It is the ratio of a bank’s capital in relation to its ¾ Restructuring of Loans: risk weighted assets and current liabilities. It is € During 2020-21 the RBI had introduced a one-time also known as Capital-to-Risk Weighted Asset restructuring scheme to aid borrowers affected Ratio (CRAR). by the Covid-19 pandemic. ¾ It is decided by central banks to prevent commercial from taking excess leverage and becoming € The scheme was to be invoked by December banks insolvent in the process. 2020 and implemented within 90 days for retail borrowers and 180 days for corporate borrowers. Provisioning Coverage Ratio € By March 2021, 0.9% of total bank advances ¾ It refers to the prescribed percentage of funds to be (loans) were under restructuring. set aside by the banks for covering the prospective z MSMEs had the highest restructure ratio at 1.7%. losses due to bad loans.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 45

New Norms for Independent Director ¾ An Independent Director (also sometimes known Independent Directors as an outside director) is a director on a board of directors representingminority shareholders and Why in News who does not have a pecuniary relationship with the company or related persons, except for sitting fees. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) ¾ Their role is to take a stand unambiguously and has approved stricter norms related to appointment of independently to have a check and balance on the independent directors and decided to introduce a whims of majority shareholders that may expose framework for accredited investors along with other the company to unwarranted risks. measures. ¾ The Companies Act, 2013 has mandated all listed ¾ Sebi is a statutory body established in accordance public companies to have at least one-third of the with the provisions of the Securities and Exchange total Directors to be independent. Board of India Act, 1992. The basic functions of the Sebi is to protect the interests of investors in securities ¾ Their role requires them to be clinical while businesses and to promote and regulate the securities market. expect them to be practical, that’s the tight rope they walk on.

Key Points € These entities (accredited investors) could be ¾ Independent Directors: individuals, family trusts, proprietorships, etc. € Independent directors can be appointed only € They will be given the flexibility to investthe less through a special resolutionpassed by shareholders. than minimum amount mandated in Sebi rules and A special resolutionrequires 75% of votes in favour also to some extent get relaxation from regulatory to be passed. requirements. € The regulator has also elaborated and strengthened € They will enhance the attractiveness ofalternative the disclosure requirements for the skills required investment funds (AIFs). to be an independent director. z AIF means any fund established in India which € The nomination and remuneration committee is a privately pooled investment vehicle which of the board of directors, which decides on collects funds from sophisticated investors, appointments and compensation, and the audit whether Indian or foreign, for investing it in committeeshould have two-thirds independent accordance with a defined investment policy directors compared to a simple majority now. for the benefit of its investors. z All related party transactions (between a ¾ Other Important Changes Undertaken: company and its related entities) shall be € To provide easy access to investors to participate in approved by only independent directors on public and rights issues by using various payment the audit committee. avenues, Sebi has also decided to permit banks, € Also, a listed company will be required to disclose other than scheduled banks, to act as a banker the resignation letter of an independent director. to such issues. z Also, there will be a one-year cooling period z Unlike initial and follow-up public offering, the for an independent director transitioning to rights issue is not open for the general public but a whole-time director in the same company/ only to existing shareholders of the company. holding/ subsidiary/ associate company or any € Sebi also increased the maximum reward amount company belonging to the promoter group. for an informant who blows the whistle on insider ¾ Accredited Investors: trading to Rs 10 crore from Rs 1 crore now. € Sebi has approved this new category of wealthy, z Insider trading involves trading in a public well-informed investors who will be allowed to company’s stock by someone who has non- invest in riskier products, not usually allowed to public, material information about that stock individuals. for any reason.

Note: 46 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ The regulator has also approved amendments to € According to the International Labour Organisation its mutual fund regulations which requires asset (ILO), a cooperative is anautonomous association management companies (AMCs) to use more of persons united voluntarily to meet their funds in riskier schemes (New funds). common economic, social and cultural needs z Currently, AMCs have to invest only 1% of the and aspirations through a jointly owned and amount raised in a new fund offer, or Rs 50 democratically controlled enterprise. lakh, whichever is lower. € There are many types of cooperatives such € The new norms will be effectivefrom 1st January, as Consumer Cooperative Society, Producer 2022. Cooperative Society, Credit Cooperative Society, ¾ Significance: Housing Cooperative Society and Marketing € The changes seek to strengthen the corporate Cooperative Society. governance practices as well as attract more € The United Nations General Assembly had de- investors. clared the year 2012 as the International Year of € It will help maintain the interest of minority Cooperatives. shareholders in the corporate boardroom where € India is an agricultural country and laid the their representation is minimal. foundation of World’s biggest cooperative € This should hopefully result in truly ‘independent’ movement in the world. independent directors and not those with merely € In India, a Co-operative based economic develop- a semblance of independence. ment model is very relevant where each member works with a spirit of responsibility. Ministry of Cooperation: ¾ Constitutional Provisions Related to Cooperatives: € The Constitution (97th Amendment) Act, 2011 added A New Push to Co-operatives a new Part IXB right after Part IXA (Municipals) regarding the cooperatives working in India. Why in News € The word “cooperatives” was added after “unions Recently, a separate ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ has and associations” inArticle 19(1)(c) under Part III been created by the Central Government for realizing of the Constitution. This enables all the citizens the vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through to form cooperatives by giving it the status of Cooperation) and to give a new push to the cooperative fundamental right of citizens. movement. € A new Article 43B was added in the Directive ¾ The Government has signaled its deep commitment Principles of State Policy (Part IV) regarding the to community based developmental partnership. It “promotion of cooperative societies”. also fulfils the budget announcement made by the Finance Minister in 2021. Co-operative Movement in India ¾ Co-operative Movement in Pre-Independence Era: Key Points € The Cooperatives were first started in Europe ¾ Significance of Ministry of Cooperation: and the British Government replicated it in India € It will provide a separate administrative, legal to mitigate the miseries of the poor farmers, and policy framework for strengthening the particularly harassment by moneylenders. in the country. cooperative movement € The term Cooperative Societies came into existence € It will help deepen Co-operatives as a true people when the farmers of Pune and Ahmednagar based movement reaching upto the grassroots. (Maharashtra) spearheaded an agitation against € It will work to streamline processes for ‘Ease of the money lenders who were charging exorbitant doing business’ for co-operatives and enable rates of interest. development of Multi-State Co-operatives (MSCS). € British government came forward and passed three ¾ About ‘Co-operatives’: acts- the Deccan Agricultural Relief Act (1879),

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 47

the Land Improvement Loan Act (1883) and the € It softens the class conflicts and reduces the social Agriculturists Loan Act (1884). cleavages. z The first credit cooperative society was € It reduces the bureaucratic evils and follies of formed in Banking in 1903 with the support political factions; of the Government of Bengal. It was registered € It overcomes the constraints of agricultural under the Friendly Societies Act of the British development; Government. € It creates a conducive environment for small and € But the enactment of the Cooperative Credit cottage industries. Societies Act, 1904 gave Cooperative a definite ¾ Challenges: structure and shape. € Mismanagement and Manipulation: € In 1919, cooperation became a provincial subject z A hugely large membership turns out to be and the provinces were authorised to make their mismanaged unless some secure methods own cooperative laws under the Montague- are employed to manage such co-operatives. Chelmsford Reforms. z In the elections to the governing bodies, money z The categorization carried on to the Government became such a powerful tool that the top posts . of India Act, 1935 of chairman and vice-chairman usually went € In 1942, the Government of British India enacted to the richest farmers who manipulated the the Multi-Unit Cooperative Societies Act to cover organization for their benefits. Cooperative Societies with membership from more € Lack of Awareness: than one province. z People are not well informed about the ¾ Co-operative Movement in Post-Independence Era: objectives of the Movement, rules and € After independence, cooperatives became an regulations of co-operative institutions. integral part of Five-Year Plans. € Restricted Coverage: € In 1958, the National Development Council (NDC) z Most of these societies are confined to a few had recommended a national policy on cooperatives members and their operations extended to and also for training of personnel and setting up only one or two villages. of Co-operative Marketing Societies. € Functional Weakness: € National Cooperative Development Corporation z The Co-operative Movement has suffered from (NCDC), a statutory corporation, was set up under inadequacy of trained personnel. National Cooperative Development Corporation Act ,1962. € In 1984, Parliament of India enacted the Multi- Output Pact: OPEC+ State Cooperative Societies Act to remove the plethora of different laws governing the same Why in News types of societies. Recently, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) pushed € The Government of India announced a National back against a plan by the Organization of the Petroleum Policy on Co- operatives in 2002. Exporting Countries (OPEC+) Plus group to extend the ¾ Importance of Cooperatives: global pact to cut oil production beyond April 2022. € It provides agricultural credits and funds where state and private sectors have not been able to Key Points do very much. ¾ The Output Pact & Fluctuating Oil Price: € It provides strategic inputs for the agricultural- € The OPEC+ group of countries had, in April 2020, sector; consumer societies meet their consumption entered into a two-year agreement (Output Pact), requirements at concessional rates. which entailed steep cuts in crude production to € It is an organization for the poor who wish tosolve deal with a sharp fall in the price of oil as a result their problems collectively. of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Note: 48 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z The price of Brent crude hit an 18-year low production apportioned to each oil-exporting of under USD 20 per barrel in April 2020 as country. economic activity around the world crashed as z The baseline production level reference used countries dealt with the pandemic. in the current agreement was not reflective of € In November 2020, the prices started rising the UAE’s production capacity and, therefore, and in July 2021, they were USD 76.5 per barrel led to the UAE being apportioned a lower share mainly due to the steady rollout of vaccination of total production of crude oil. programmes around the world. z UAE would be open to extending the agreement € OPEC+, however, maintained lower levels of if baseline production levels were reviewed to production despite crude oil prices reaching be fair to all parties. pre-Covid levels, with Saudi Arabia, notably, ¾ Impact of OPEC+ conflict on India: announcing a further cut in production of 1 € Delayed Relief: million barrels per day for the February-to-April z If the UAE and other OPEC+ nations do not period, which helped boost rising prices even reach an agreement to increase production in further. August, expected relief in the form of lower z The OPEC+ group ran into sharp criticism from crude oil prices could be delayed. developing economies, including India, for € High Domestic Prices: deliberately maintaining low supply levels to raise prices. z India is currently facing record-high prices of petrol and diesel. High crude prices have led to € In April, OPEC+ agreed to gradually increase crude production, including a phased end to Saudi Arabia’s Indian oil marketing companies hiking the price 1 million barrel per day cut in production by July. of petrol by about 19.3% and that of diesel by about 21% since the beginning of 2021. ¾ UAE’s Objection: € Slow Recovery: € UAE agreed that there was a need to increase crude oil production from August 2021, but did z The high price of crude oil was slowing down the not agree to a condition by the OPEC Joint economic recovery of developing economies Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) that post the pandemic. the two-year production agreement be extended € Inflation: by six months. z The high prices might also increase the Current € The UAE’s key objection to the existing agreement Account Deficit and put inflationary pressure is the reference output used to calculate the total on the Indian economy.

nnn

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 49

International Relations

Highlights z India Rejects OIC’s Proposal z India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) z India-EU Meet on Agriculture z Stand-Off on GERD z Vietnam’s First Honorary Consul General in India z G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting z India’s Tibet Policy z India Joins OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework Tax Deal z BHIM - UPI Launched in Bhutan z 7th Edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium z St. Queen Ketevan’s Relics: Georgia z Road Ahead for Afghanistan after US Exit z Assasination of Haiti’s President

India Rejects OIC’s Proposal

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) proposal to assist a dialogue between India and Pakistan. ¾ Earlier in December 2020, India also rejected the criticism of its Kashmir policy by the OIC.

Key Points ¾ OIC’s Stand: € Offered to arrange a meeting between India and Pakistan and proposed to send a delegation to Jammu & Kashmir in line with resolutions of the OIC council of foreign ministers. z Pakistan has repeatedly sought to raise the Kashmir issue at the OIC against the backdrop of India’s dramatically improved relations with several key players in West Asia and in the Islamic organisation, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Indonesia and Bangladesh. India & OIC ¾ India’s Response: ¾ India’s relationship with OIC as an organisation: € The OIC should be watchful that their platform € At the 45th session of the Foreign Ministers’ is not subverted by “vested interests” such as Summit in 2018, Bangladesh, the host, suggested Pakistan to interfere in internal affairs of India that India, where more than 10% of the world’s or for anti-India propaganda through biased and Muslims live, should be given Observer status, one-sided resolutions. but Pakistan opposed the proposal.

Note: 50 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ In 2019, India made its maiden appearance at the OIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting, as a “guest India-EU Meet on Agriculture of honour”. z This first-time invitation was seen as a Why in News diplomatic victory for India, especially at a time Recently, a Virtual meeting between India’s Union of heightened tensions with Pakistan following Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and a the Pulwama attack. Member of the European Commission (EC), Agriculture ¾ Criticism of India’s Policies by OIC: was held. € It has been generally supportive of Pakistan’s ¾ The strong momentum of the India-European Union stand on Kashmir, and has issued statements (EU) relations especially since the lastIndia-EU Summit criticising the alleged Indian “atrocities” in the in July, 2020 was acknowledged. state/Union Territory. ¾ Earlier, Indian Prime Minister participated in the India- z In 2018, the OIC General Secretariat had European Union (EU) Leaders’ Meeting. “expressed strong condemnation of the killing of innocent Kashmiris by Indian forces in Indian- occupied Kashmir”. z It described the “direct shooting at demon- strators” as a “terrorist act”, and “called upon the international community to play its role in order to reach a just and lasting solution to the conflict in Kashmir”. € OIC has criticised the Government of India over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the Babri Masjid verdict of the Supreme Court. € OIC has also criticised the Indian government for what it called “growing Islamophobia” in India. ¾ India’s Response: € India has always maintained that OIC has no locus standi in matters strictly internal to India Key Points including that of Union Territory of Jammu & ¾ Major Discussions: Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part € EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP): of India. z Launched in 1962, it is a partnership between ¾ India’s relationship with OIC member countries: agriculture and society, and between Europe € Individually, India has good relations with almost and its farmers. all member nations. z It is a common policy for all EU countries. It is € Ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, especially, managed and funded at European level from have improved significantly in recent years. the resources of the EU’s budget. z The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (UAE) was a z It aims to support farmers, improve agricultural special chief guest at the 68th Republic Day productivity, ensure a stable supply of affordable celebrations in 2017. food, safeguard EU farmers, tackle climate € The OIC includes two of India’s close neighbours, change and the sustainable management of Bangladesh and Maldives. natural resources etc. z Indian diplomats say both countries privately € EU Farm to Fork Strategy: admit that they do not want to complicate z It is at the heart of the European Green Deal their bilateral ties with Indiaon Kashmir. aiming to make food systems fair, healthy and

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 51

environmentally-friendly. It aims to accelerate gate and agriculture marketing infrastructure transition to a sustainable food system. in rural areas. z Scheme of formation of 10000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) to help small and marginal farmers in marketing of agricultural produce. € Explained Steps to Make Agriculture Sustainable and Environment Friendly: z Encouragement of application of Nano-urea. z Organic Farming under the Pramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. € Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) of Tricyclazole: z Raised the issue of fixing the Maximum Residual Limit (MRL) of Tricyclazole used in rice crop which has been a concern for India and is affecting z Reforms were undertaken by the EU in the CAP India’s Basmati Rice Exports to the EU. as well as the Farm to Fork Strategy to make „ The MRL is the maximum concentration for agriculture green as well as sustainable. a pesticide on a crop or food commodity „ The EU has also set a target of bringing resulting from the use of pesticide according 25% of the area in the EU under Organic to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), which Farming by 2030. is expressed in ppm. € G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting 2021: „ Tricyclazole is a fungicide used for the control z It is one of the ministerial meetings organized of rice blast but it is not approved for use as part of the G20 Leaders Summit 2021, which in the EU. will be hosted by Italy in October 2021. z It will focus on three broad, interconnected pillars of action: People, Planet, Prosperity. Vietnam’s First Honorary z Both India-EU are looking forward to bilateral Consul General in India cooperation at the summit. € United Nations Food System Summit 2021: Why in News z The United Nations (UN) Secretary General has Vietnam has appointed Honorary Consul General called for the first everUN Food Systems Summit of Vietnam in Bangalore to promote trade, economics, to be held in September 2021 to strategize the investment, tourism, educational and cultural cooperation actions for positive change in Agri-food systems between Vietnam and the State of Karnataka. in the world to realize the vision of the 2030 ¾ Industrialist N.S. Srinivasa Murthy based in Bengaluru Agenda for Sustainable Development. has been appointed as Honorary Consul General of z The EU and India are looking forward to Vietnam for Karnataka. strengthening their cooperation at the summit. ¾ India’s Stand: € Dominance of Small Farmers: z 70% of its rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood, with 82% of farmers being small and marginal. € Highlighted the recent initiatives to Increase Farmers Income: z Agriculture Infrastructure Fund with a corpus of Rs One Lakh Crore for development of farm

Note: 52 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

¾ He is the first honorary consul general of Vietnam € China’s virtually claiming the whole South China from India. The appointment is for a period of three Sea as its territory and its assertiveness in the years. Indian Ocean. € China complained about Indian cooperation for Key Points the exploration for oil in Vietnamese waters, ¾ India-Vietnam Relations: especially in light of the disputed political status € History of Cultural Ties: Cultural and economic of the Spratly Islands. links between India and Vietnam date back to € India and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen their the 2nd century. strategic partnership “in line with India’s Indo- z Both the countries have agreed to have various Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN’s commemorative activities in the year 2022, to Outlook on Indo-Pacific to achieve shared security, mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of prosperity and growth for all in the region.” diplomatic relations between the two countries. ¾ Regional Cooperation: € Anti-Imperialist Struggle: € India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various z Even before official diplomatic ties were regional forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, established in 1972, India supported Vietnam’s Mekong Ganga Cooperation, besides UN and anti-colonial struggleduring its independence WTO. movement. € Vietnam has supported India’s bid to become a z During the Cold War period, India supported permanent member of the UN Security Council and Hanoi’s “Four Points” for resolving the Vietnam join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). conflict (American war in Vietnam). ¾ Economic Cooperation: z India also supported Vietnam during the € Trade and economic relations for mutual benefit, Kampuchea crisis (Cambodian–Vietnamese which have significantly improved over the years War) in the late 1970s. particularly after the ASEAN- India Free Trade € Look East Policy: The relationship was further Agreement was signed. strengthened when India, in the early 1990s, € India is now among the top ten trading partners initiated its “Look East Policy” with the of Vietnam. specific objective of economic integration and € India is investing in development and capacity political cooperation with Southeast Asia and assistance for Vietnam through quick impact East Asia. projects (QIP), proposals in the area of water z In 2014, the ‘Look East Policy’ was graduated resource management in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta into an ‘Act East Policy’. region, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), € Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP): The and digital connectivity. strategic partnership was elevated to comprehensive ¾ Science and Technology Cooperation: strategic partnership in 2016, given the new security € India and Vietnam have signed the Framework challenges of the 21st century. Agreement on cooperation in: ¾ Defence Cooperation: z Exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful € Sale of military equipment to Vietnam: Negotiations purposes, IT cooperation,Cyber Security. for four large patrol vessels and BrahMos short- z Uses of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes. range cruise missiles are going on. € Vietnam has been a large recipient of training € Training Vietnam’s armed forces in military programs under Indian Technical and Economic equipment: Kilo-class submarines & Sukhoi aircraft. Cooperation (ITEC) programs. € Military exercises: VINBAX, IN-VPN BILAT. € A proposal to set up a Centre for Satellite Tracking ¾ Geostrategic Convergence: India and Vietnam and Data Reception and an Imaging facility have their shared apprehension of an aggressive in Vietnam under ASEAN-India Cooperation China. mechanism is under consideration.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 53

India’s Tibet Policy

Why in News Recently, some Chinese nationals protested against the celebration of the birthday of the Dalai Lama in India. ¾ The Dalai Lama and Tibet is one of the major irritants between India and China relations. ¾ China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist, who has great influence over Tibetans. India seeks to use Tibetan card in order to counter China’s continuing aggression at the Line of Actual Control.

Key Points exile in India, Lobsang Sangay, to his swearing ¾ Background of India’s Tibet Policy: in ceremony. € For centuries, Tibet was India’s actual neighbour, „ However, he did not invite him in 2019 after as most of India’s boundaries and the 3500km LAC being re-elected for a second five-year term, is with the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and not to ensure a smooth passage for a second the rest of China. informal summit between him and Chinese € In 1914, it was Tibetan representatives, along with president Xi Jinping. the Chinese that signed the Simla convention with z Recently, the Prime Minister of India (PM) British India that delineated boundaries. wished the Dalai Lama in the first such public € However, after China’s full accession of Tibet in acknowledgement since 2013, the first time 1950, that China repudiated the convention and as PM. the McMahon line that divided the two countries. € The shift in India’s Tibet policy ismajorly focused € Further, in 1954, India signed an agreement with on symbolic aspects, but there are many challenges China, agreeing to recognize Tibet as “Tibet region pertaining to India’s Approach to Tibet Policy. of China”. ¾ Challenges Associated with India’s Approach to € In 1959, following the Tibetan uprising, the Dalai Tibet Policy: Lama (spiritual leader of Tibetan people) and many € Changes in Tibetan Demography: Over the past of his followers fled to India. few decades, China is promoting people from € Former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru gave mainland China to migrate into Tibet. him and Tibetan refugees shelter, and helped in z China is increasing suppression of the Tibetan setting up the Tibetan government in exile. populations’ links to the Dalai Lama and pouring € The official Indian policy is that the Dalai Lama is in investment, infrastructure projects in the a spiritual leader, and the Tibetan community in region. India, with more than a lakh exiles, is not allowed € Tibetans Against Each Other: As India-China to undertake any political activity. tensions grow and turn violent after the Galwan ¾ Shift in India’s Tibet Policy: valley clash, China has begun to raise Tibetan € In the event of increasing tensions between India Militia groups. and China, there has been a shift in India’s Tibet z Further, the Indian Army trains the Tibetan Policy. This shift in the policy, earmarks the Indian Special Frontier Force, which could lead to government actively managing with the Dalai Lama Tibetans fighting each other in the future. in public forums. For Example, € Issue of Tibetan Citizenship: The Indian government z In 2014, Prime Minister of India (PM) had doesn’t give citizenship to Tibetans born in India invited the head of the Tibetan government in after the cut-off year of 1987.

Note: 54 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z This has created a sense of dissatisfaction amongst the youth of the Tibetan community. z Further, in the past few years, the US has also increased its role, by accepting more Tibetan refugees. This will impact India’s role as a sole entity arguing about the future of Tibetian refugee. € Question of Dalai Lama’s Succession:The 86 years old Dalai Lama is not only the spiritual leader, but the political leader of the community worldwide. z The Dalai Lama asserts that his successor could € It is interoperable with other Unified Payment be a living incarnation, in a specific area in India Interface (UPI) applications, and bank accounts. or even in another country like Taiwan. z Unified Payments Interface (UPI)is an instant real-time payment system, allowing users to BHIM - UPI Launched in Bhutan transfer money on a real-time basis, across multiple bank accounts without disclosing details of one’s bank account to the other party. Why in News ¾ Advantages: The Union Minister of Finance of India along with € The simple, safe, cost-effective mobile-based her counterpart, the Finance Minister of Bhutan has payments system has become one of the most jointly launched Bharat Interface for Money-Unified prominent forms of digital payments. Payments Interface (BHIM-UPI) in Bhutan. € The payment infrastructures of the two countries ¾ The payment system was launched by NPCI International are seamlessly connected and will benefit a large Payments Ltd. (NIPL), the international arm ofNational number of tourists and businessmen from India Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), in partnership who travel to Bhutan each year. with the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA) of Bhutan. z This will enhance the ease of living and ease of travelling through cashless transactions at the Key Points touch of a button. ¾ About: € In 2020, UPI enabled commerce worth USD 457 € Bhutan is the first country to adopt UPI standards billion, which is equivalent to approximately 15% for its Quick Response (QR) code, and the first of India’s GDP. country in our immediate neighbourhood to accept mobile based payments through the BHIM App. RuPay Card Scheme ¾ € It is also the second country after Singapore to RuPay is the first-of-its-kind domestic Debit and have BHIM-UPI acceptance at merchant locations. Credit Card payment network of India. ¾ The name, derived from the words ‘Rupee and € Bhutan will also become the only country to both issue and accept RuPay cards as well as accept ‘Payment’, emphasises that it is India’s very own initiative for Debit and Credit Card payments. BHIM-UPI. ¾ The card can also be used for transactions in ¾ Bharat Interface for Money-Unified Payments Singapore, Bhutan, UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Interface (BHIM-UPI): € BHIM is developed by the National Payment National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) Corporation of India (NPCI). ¾ NPCI, an umbrella organisation for operating retail € It is an initiative to enable fast, secure, reliable payments and settlement systems in India, is an cashless payments through the mobile phone. initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of € BHIM is based on Unified Payment Interface (UPI) the . to facilitate e-payments directly through banks. Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 55

¾ It is a “Not for Profit” Companyunder the provisions ¾ It is a part of the Churches and convents of Goa, of Section 25 of Companies Act 1956 (now Section which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 8 of Companies Act 2013), with an intention to Caucasus provide infrastructure to the entire Banking system ¾ Mountain system and region in India for physical as well as electronic payment lying between the Black and occupied and settlement systems. Sea (west) and the Caspian Sea (east) by Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. St. Queen Ketevan’s Relics: Georgia

Why in News Recently, India has gifted one part of the holy relics of 17th century St. Queen Ketevan to the Georgian government. ¾ These relics were gifted on the first ever visit of India’s External Affairs Minister to independent Georgia. ¾ Georgia is a strategically important country situated at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Key Points Assasination ¾ About: € Queen Ketevan was from Kakheti, a kingdom in of Haiti’s President eastern Georgia. € It is believed that, she was killed in 1624 in Shiraz Why in News (modern day Iran) for not converting to Islam. Recently, Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise was € The parts of her remains were brought to Goa by assassinated at his private residence in Port-au- Augustinian monks in 1627. Prince, Haiti. € The relics of the martyred Queen Ketevan were found by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Key Points in 2005 in the ruins of the Church of St. Augustine ¾ About Haiti: in Goa. € Haiti is a country in the Caribbean Sea that includes € Many historical, religious and spiritual sentiments the western third of the island of Hispaniola and of the Georgian people are attached to St. Queen such smaller islands as Gonâve, Tortue (Tortuga), Ketevan. Grande Caye, and Vache. The capital is Port-au- Prince. Church of St. Augustine € Its population is almost entirely descended from ¾ Church of St. Augustine is a ruined church complex African slaves, won independence from France located in Goa. in 1804, making it the second country in the ¾ The church was completed in 1602 by Augustinian Americas, after the United States, to free itself monks who landed in Goa in 1587. from colonial rule. ¾ The church was abandoned in 1835 after the Portu- z It is the world’s first independent Black-led guese government of Goa began evicting many reli- republic. gious orders in Goa under its new repressive policies. z The nation underwent about two centuries of ¾ The subsequent neglect caused the vault of the Spanish colonial rule and more than a century church to collapse in 1842. of French rule.

Note: 56 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA)

Why in News India and Nepal have signed a Letter of Exchange (LoE) to the India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) 2004. ¾ It will allow all authorized cargo train operators to utilize the Indian railway network to carry Nepal’s container and other freight - both bilateral between € Over the centuries, however, economic, political, Indian and Nepal or third country from Indian ports and social difficulties as well as a number of natural to Nepal. disasters have beset Haiti with chronic poverty € The authorized cargo train operators include and other serious problems. public and private container trains Operators, € It is the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country, automobile freight train operators, special freight has a painful history of foreign interventions, train operators or any other operator authorized economic exploitation and dictatorial rule. by Indian Railways. ¾ Recent Instability: € Haiti’s latest instability revolves around adispute Key Points over Jovenel Moise’s presidency. He was elected in ¾ About Rail Services Agreement (RSA), 2004: 2016 to a five-year term, butbecause of contention € The Rail Services Agreement was executed in 2004 over election results, he did not take office until between the Ministry of Railways, Government the next year. of India and the Ministry of Commerce, the Govt. z Under Jovenel Moise’s administration, the of Nepal for introduction offreight train services political andeconomic situation in Haiti further between these two countries to and from Birgunj deteriorated. (Nepal) via Raxaul (India). € Jovenel Moise insisted that it entitled him to € The agreement guides movement between India another year in power — a claim that Haiti’s and Nepal by rail. opposition rejected. € The Agreement shall be reviewed every five years € In February 2021, when Moïse’s opponents and may be modified(through Letters of Exchange) said his term ended, they declared their Supreme by the Contracting Parties by mutual consent. Court Judge as interim president. Jovenel Moise € In the past, there have been amendments to RSA called it a coup attempt, and 23 opponents were through LoE on three occasions. arrested. z First such amendment was in 2004. € At the same time there has been a surge in z Second LoE was signed in 2008 at the time of kidnappings, rapes and killings as rival gangs introduction of bilateral cargo between the two battle each other and the police for control of countries which required introduction of new Haiti’s streets. customs procedures. € The human rights activists have accused Jovenel z Third LoE was signed in 2016 enabling rail transit Moise’s government of having ties to the gangs. traffic to/from Visakhapatnam Port in addition to z So far this year, at least 278 Haitians have been existing provision of rail transportation through killed in gang-related violence. Kolkata/Haldia Port. € The unprecedented level of violence and ¾ Benefits of the Latest Agreement: subsequent displacements is creating a host of € Allow Market Forces to Operate: This liberalization secondary issues. will allow market forces (such as consumers and

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 57

buyers) to come up in the rail freight segment € In 2019, India and Nepal have jointly inaugurated in Nepal, and is likely to increase efficiency and a cross-border petroleum products pipeline. cost- competitiveness, eventually benefiting the z Pipeline carries petroleum products from Nepalese consumer. Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal. € Reduce Transportation Cost: The liberalisation z This is South Asia’s first cross-border petroleum will particularly reduce transportation costs for products pipeline. automobiles and certain other products whose carriage takes place in special wagons and will boost rail cargo movement between the two countries. Stand-Off on GERD € Enhance Regional Connectivity: Wagons owned by Nepal Railway Company will also be authorized to Why in News carry Nepal-bound freight (inbound and outbound Recently, Ethiopia has started the second phase of on Kolkata/Haldia to Biratnagar/Birganj routes) filling a Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’s (GERD) over the Indian Railways network as per IR standards reservoir on the upper Blue Nile, which raised tensions and procedures. from Sudan and Egypt ahead of an upcoming UN Security z The signing of this LoE marks another milestone Council meeting on the issue. in India’s efforts to enhance regional connectivity ¾ Ethiopia had previously announced it would proceed under the “Neighbourhood First” policy. to the second stage of filling in July, with or without ¾ Other Connectivity Project: a deal. € Nepal being a landlocked country, it is surrounded by India from three sides and one side is open towards Tibet which has very limited vehicular access. € India-Nepal has undertaken various connectivity programs to enhance people-to-people linkages and promote economic growth and development. € MoUs have been signed between both the governments for laying an electric rail track linking Kathmandu with Raxaul in India. € India is looking to develop the inland waterways for Key Points the movement of cargo, within the framework of trade and transit arrangements, providing additional ¾ About: access to sea for Nepal calling it linking Sagarmatha € The Nile, Africa’s longest river, has been at the (Mt. Everest) with Sagar (Indian Ocean). center of a decade-long complex dispute involving several countries that are dependent on the river’s Neighbourhood First Policy waters. ¾ It is part of India’s foreign policy that actively focuses € Ethiopia began the construction of the GERD in on improving ties with India’s immediate neighbours 2011 on the Blue Nile. which is being termed as Neighbourhood first policy z This 145-meter-tall hydropower project is in the media. Africa’s biggest dam project and will have lasting ¾ It was started well by inviting all heads of state/ impacts on its longest river- Nile. heads of government of South Asian countries in z Blue Nile is a tributary of the Nile river and the inauguration of PM Narendra Modi first term and it carries about two-thirds of the river’s water later held bilateral talks with all of them individually volume and most of the silt. which was dubbed as a mini SAARC summit. € Egypt, which lies downstream, has objected to the ¾ In the second swearing-in ceremony in 2019, India construction of the dam and proposed a longer had invited the heads of BIMSTEC countries. timeline for the project.

Note: 58 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z It does not want the water level of the Nile ¾ The Nile River is considered as one of the longest to dramatically drop as the reservoir fills with rivers in the world. water in the initial stages. € The Nile is formed by three principal streams: € Sudan has also been involved due to its location. the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile. € The Nile is an important water source in the ¾ The Nile basin is huge and includes parts of Tanzania, region so there are concerns that this dispute Burundi, Rwanda, Congo (Kinshasa), Kenya. may evolve into a full-fledged conflict between ¾ The Nile River forms an arcuate delta as it empties Egypt and Ethiopia. into the Mediterranean Sea. Deltas with triangular € Recently, the USA has stepped in to mediate. or fan-shape are called arcuate (arc-like) deltas. ¾ Dam’s Importance for Ethiopia: € Ethiopia believes this dam will generate approximately 6,000 megawatts of electricity G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting which will support its industrial growth. Why in News € It can also export surplus electricity to neighbouring regions to generate revenue. Recently, Italy hosted the G-20 foreign ministers’ z Neighbouring countries like Kenya, Sudan, Eritrea meeting to discuss the fight against Covid-19 and how and South Sudan also suffer from electricity to speed up the recovery of the global economy and shortages and they can also benefit from the boost sustainable development in Africa. hydropower project if Ethiopia decides to sell ¾ Currently, Italy holds the presidency of G-20. The electricity to them. G-20 summit is scheduled to be held in Italy in ¾ Egypt’s Concern: October, 2021. ¾ € Egypt lies downstream and is concerned that India is expected to hold the presidency of the G-20 Ethiopia’s control over the water could result in in 2023. within its own borders. lower water levels G-20 € Egypt depends on the Nile for approximately 97% ¾ The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and of its drinking water and irrigation supplies. the European Union, with representatives of the € The dam would jeopardise food and water security International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. and livelihoods of ordinary Egyptian citizens. ¾ The G20 membership comprises a mix of the ¾ Sudan’s Stand: world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, € Sudan too is concerned that if Ethiopia were to representing about two-thirds of the world’s gain control over the river, it would affect the population, 85% of global gross domestic product, water levels Sudan receives. 80% of global investment and over 75% of global € However, Sudan is likely to benefit from the power trade. generated by the dam. ¾ The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, € The regulated flow of the river will save Sudan Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, from serious flooding in August and September. Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Thus it has proposed joint management of the dam. Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Nile River ¾ It does not have any permanent secretariat or ¾ The River Nile is in Africa. It originates in Burundi, headquarters. south of the equator, and flows northward through northeastern Africa, eventually flowing through Egypt Key Points and finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea. ¾ About the Meeting: ¾ The source of the Nile is sometimes considered to € On Covid-19: be Lake Victoria, but the lake itself has feeder rivers z Criticized China and Russia for engaging in of considerable size like the Kagera River. vaccine diplomacy.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 59

„ Vaccine diplomacy is the branch of global such as a computer chip shortage and stalling health diplomacy in which a nation uses automobile production. the development or delivery of vaccines to ¾ Vaccine Equity: strengthen ties with other nations. € About: z Promoting a science-based holisticOne Health z It entails both affordability of vaccines and approach. access opportunities for populations across the „ ‘One Health’ is an approach to designing world, irrespective of geography and geopolitics. and implementing programmes, policies, € Need: legislation and research in which multiple z Inequitable vaccine distribution is not only sectors communicate and work together leaving untold millions of people vulnerable to achieve better public health outcomes. to the virus but also allowing deadly variants € On Climate Change: to emerge and bounce back across the world. z Increased climate variability and extreme z As variants continue to spread, evencountries weather events impact agriculture output with advanced vaccination programs have and are among the forces driving the rise in been forced to reimpose stricter public health global hunger. measures, and some have implemented travel € On Africa: restrictions. z The Covid-19 pandemic, conflict, drought, € Initiative to Ensure Vaccine Equity: economic woes, and extreme weather are z COVAX: It is a global initiative aimed at reversing years of progress. equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines led by z In the whole of Africa, 250 million people were UNICEF, Gavi (The Vaccine Alliance) , the World experiencing hunger, which is nearly 20% of the Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic population (as of 2019). Preparedness and others. ¾ India’s Stand: z India also began its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ to supply € Flagged the issue of “vaccine equity”. Covid vaccine to different nations. z This came in the wake of the European Union’s (EU) opposition to India’s and South Africa’s India Joins OECD/G20 Inclusive proposal to increase large-scale manufacturing of vaccines by waiving some parts of the intellectual Framework Tax Deal property rules under the Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Why in News (TRIPS Agreement). India and the majority of the members of OECD-G20 z These rules prevent international firms with Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting the capacity to produce approved vaccinations (BEPS) have joined a new two-pillar plan to reform owing to issues with licencing. international taxation rules. € Economy needs decentralised globalisation, ¾ The two-pillar plan - inclusive framework tax deal including in manufacturing, food and health. on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)- seeks Resilient supply chains must develop in parallel. to reform international tax rules and ensure that z Today, the world is much more interlinked multinational enterprises pay their fair share wherever and interdependent. But it should not be that they operate. globalisation should apply only to resources Key Points and markets while production centres remain concentrated in the hands of a few. ¾ About: z Many countries, including India, faced difficulties € The signatories of the plan amounted to 130 getting medical equipment during the pandemic countries and jurisdictions, representing more and faced disruption in a number of areas - than 90% of global GDP.

Note: 60 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ The new framework seeks to address the tax z It is aimed at taxing foreign companies which challenges arising from the digitalisation of have a significant local client base in India but economies. are billing them through their offshore units, € It also seeks to address concerns over cross-border effectively escaping the country’s tax system. profit shifting and bring in subject-to-tax rule to z The levy at 6% has been in force since 2016 stop treaty shopping. on payment exceeding Rs 1 lakh a year to z Treaty shopping is an attempt by a person to a non-resident service provider for online indirectly access the benefits of a tax treaty advertisements. between two countries without being a resident € India favours a wider application of the law to of any of those. ensure that the country won’t collect less under ¾ Two Pillar Plan: the proposed framework than it gets through the equalisation levy. € Pillar One: € India is in favour of a consensus solution which is z It will ensure a fairer distribution of profits and simple to implement and simple to comply with. taxing rights among countries with respect to the largest MNEs, including digital companies. € The solution should result in allocation of meaningful and sustainable revenue to market z It would re-allocate some taxing rights over jurisdictions, particularly for developing and MNEs from their home countries to the markets emerging economies. where they have business activities and earn profits, regardless of whether firms have a € The Two Pillar Plan justifies India’s stand for physical presence there. a greater share of profits for the markets and consideration of demand side factors in profit z According to OECD, more than USD 100 billion of allocation. profit are expected to be reallocated to market jurisdictions each year. Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) € Pillar Two: It is about minimum tax and subject- ¾ BEPS is a term used to describe tax planning strategies to-tax rules (All sources of income liable to tax that exploit mismatches and gaps that exist between without taking account of tax allowances). the tax rules of different jurisdictions. z It seeks to put a minimum standard tax rate ¾ It is done to minimize the corporation tax that among countries through a global minimum is payable overall, by either making tax profits corporate tax rate, currently proposed at 15%. ‘disappear’ or shift profits to low tax jurisdictions z This is expected to generate an additional USD where there is little or no genuine activity. 150 billion in tax revenues. ¾ In general BEPS strategies are not illegal; rather they ¾ Significance: take advantage of different tax rules operating in € It will ensure that large multinational companies different jurisdictions. pay their fair share of tax everywhere. ¾ BEPS is of major significance for developing countries € The two-pillar package will provide much-needed due to their heavy reliance on corporate income support to governments needing to raise necessary tax, particularly from multinational enterprises revenues to repair their budgets and their balance (MNEs). sheets while investing in essential public services, ¾ The BEPS initiative is anOECD initiative, approved infrastructure and the measures necessary to by the G20, to identify ways of providing more help optimise the strength and the quality of the standardised tax rules globally. post-Covid recovery. € OECD: It is an intergovernmental economic ¾ India’s Stand: organisation, founded to stimulate economic progress and world trade. € India will have to roll back the equalisation levy that it imposes on companies such as Google, z Most OECD members are high-income Amazon and Facebook when the global tax regime economies and are regarded as developed is implemented. countries.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 61

€ G20: It is the leading international forum for economic, financial and political cooperation of large economies. € India is a member of G20, however, not a member but a key partner of OECD ¾ The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework was established in 2016. € India has ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting(“Multilateral Instrument” or “MLI”) - outcome of the OECD / G20 Project to tackle BEPS.

7th Edition of Indian z South Asian Littorals: Bangladesh, India, Ocean Naval Symposium Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory) Why in News z West Asian Littorals: Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates Recently, the 7th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) was hosted by the French Navy at z East African Littorals:France (Reunion), Kenya, Réunion island. Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania. ¾ It is a biennial event which was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008. z South East Asian and Australian Littorals: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Key Points Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste. ¾ About: ¾ Significance For India: € € The IONS is a voluntary and inclusive initiative that IONS fits into India’s three-fold ambitions in the brings together navies of Indian Ocean Region region: littoralstates to increase maritime co-operation z Strengthening and deepening the relations and enhance regional security. with the Indian Ocean littoral states; € It also serves to develop an effective response z Establishing its leadership potential and aspi- mechanism and humanitarian assistance and rations of being a net-security provider; and disaster relief (HADR) against natural disasters. z Fulfilling India’s vision of a rules-based and € The chairmanship of IONS has been held by India stable maritime order in the IOR. (2008-10), UAE (2010-12), South Africa (2012-14), € It will help India to consolidate its sphere of Australia (2014-16), Bangladesh (2016-18) and influence from the Straits of Malacca toHormuz. Islamic Republic of Iran (2018-21). € IONS can be used to counter-balance the increasing z France assumed the Chairmanship in June 2021 presence of China in the region. for a two-year tenure. ¾ Other Important Groupings/Initiatives Associated ¾ Members: with IOR: € IONS includes 24 member nations that touch or € Indian Ocean Rim Association:The Indian Ocean lie within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and 8 Rim Association (IORA) was established in 1997. observer nations. z It is aimed at strengthening regional cooperation € The members have been geographically grouped and sustainable development within the Indian into the following four sub-regions: Ocean region.

Note: 62 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Indian Ocean Commission: Recently, India has been approved as an observer of the Indian Ocean Commission, the inter-governmental organization that coordinates maritime governance in the south-western Indian Ocean. € Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR): It was launched in 2015. z Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen economic and security cooperation with its maritime neighbours and assist in building their maritime security capabilities. € Asia Africa Growth Corridor: The idea of Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) emerged in the joint declaration issued by India and Japan in 2016. € The US had reached the conclusion long ago that the war was unwinnable. z The AAGC is raised on four pillars of Development and Cooperation Projects, Quality Infrastructure € The US administrationhad sent a representative and Institutional Connectivity, Enhancing to the first-ever meeting between the Taliban Capacities and Skills and People-to-People and the Afghan government that was hosted by partnership. Pakistan in Murree in 2015. z However, the Murree talks did not progress. € Doha Talk: The US appointed a special envoy Road Ahead for for Afghanistan with a mandate to directly Afghanistan after US Exit negotiate with the Taliban. They held talks with Taliban representatives in Doha that led to the Why in News February 2020 agreement between the US and the insurgents. Recently, the US troops departed from the biggest z Before the Doha talks started, the Taliban had airbase in Afghanistan after the 20-year-long war, maintained that they would hold direct talks effectively ending their military operations in the country. only with the US, and not with the Kabul government, which they did not recognise. Key Points z The US effectively accepted this demand when ¾ Background: they cut the Afghan government off the process € On 11th September 2001, terrorist attacks in and entered direct talks with the insurgents. America killed nearly 3,000 people. ¾ Terms of Agreement between the US and the Taliban: z Osama Bin Laden, the head of Islamist terror € It dealt with four aspects of the conflict —violence , group al-Qaeda, was quickly identified as the foreign troops, intra-Afghan peace talks and man responsible. the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups such € The Taliban, radical Islamists who ran Afghanistan as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (the IS has an at that time, protected Bin Laden, and refused Afghan unit). to hand him over. So, a month after 9/11, the US € In the agreement, the US administration promised launched airstrikes against Afghanistan (Operation that it would withdraw all American troops from Enduring Freedom). Afghanistan by 1st May, 2021. € After the attacks, the NATO coalition troops z The deadline has been pushed to 11th September declared war on Afghanistan. 2021. € The US dislodged the Taliban regime and established € The Taliban promised to reduce violence, join intra- a transitional government in Afghanistan. Afghan peace talks and cut all ties with foreign ¾ Reason for US Pull Back: terrorist groups.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 63

¾ India’s reach out to the Taliban: by the US and other countries that agreed with € India made contacts with the Taliban in Doha. it, including the UK. z This signals a late but realist acknowledge- ¾ Possible Scenarios for Afghanistan: ment from the Indian side that the Taliban € The American withdrawal has turned the balance would play a critical role in Afghanistan in the of power in the battleground in favour of the coming years. Taliban. € India has three critical areas in dealing with the € They are already making rapid advances, and could Taliban. launch a major offensive targeting the city centres z Protecting its investments, which run into billions and provincial capitals once the Americans are out. of rupees, in Afghanistan; € There could be three scenarios: z Preventing a future Taliban regime from being z There could be a political settlement in which a pawn of Pakistan; the Taliban and the government agree to some z Making sure that the Pakistan-backed anti- power-sharing mechanism and jointly shape India terrorist groups do not get support from the future of Afghanistan. As of now, this looks the Taliban. like a remote possibility. € In the past, India chose not to engage the Taliban z An all-out civil war may be possible, in which the (New Delhi had backed the Northern Alliance) and government, economically backed and militarily the costs were dear when the Taliban was in power. trained by the West, holds on to its positions z In November 2001, the Northern Alliance took in key cities and the Taliban expand its reach control of the Afghanistan capital Kabul. The in the countryside, while other ethnic militias Northern Alliance fought a defensive war against fight for their fiefs. This is already unfolding. the Taliban government and were being helped z The Taliban taking over the country.

nnn

Note: 64 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Science and Technology

Highlights z Methane in the Moons of Saturn z dbGENVOC z Suborbital Flight z Zika Virus Disease z Discrete Auroras of Mars z Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shots z Few-Electron Bubbles in Superfluid Helium Gas z Lambda Variant of Covid-19 z New Source of Gravitational Waves Discovered z Kappa Variant: Covid-19 z Acute Encephalitis Syndrome z Fly Ash z Lymphatic Filariasis

€ They do not require oxygen to live and are widely Methane in the Moons of Saturn distributed in nature. € They are found in swamps, dead organic matter, Why in News and even in the human gut. NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Adminis- € They are known to survive in high temperatures tration) Cassini spacecraft had detected an unusually high and simulation studies have shown that theycan concentration of methane, along with carbon dioxide and live in Martian conditions. dihydrogen, in the moons (Titan and Enceladus) of Saturn € Methanogens have been widely studied to by flying through their plumes (in 2017). understand if they can be a contributor to global warming. ¾ It found that Titan has methane in its atmosphere and Enceladus has a liquid ocean with erupting plumes ¾ Possibility of Methanogens on Enceladus: of gas and water. € Methane could be formed by the chemical ¾ An international research team has used new statistical breakdown of organic matter present in Enceladus’ methods to understand if methanogenesis or methane core. production by microbes could explain the molecular € Hydrothermal processes could help the formation hydrogen and methane. of carbon dioxide and methane. € Enceladus’ hydrothermal vents could be habitable Key Points to Earth-like microorganisms (Methanogens). ¾ Findings: Titan € Cassini found ice particles, salts, hydrogen and ¾ Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and the second in the plumes, tentative organic molecules hints largest moon in our solar system. of an ocean that is similar to Earth’s oceans in € Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is just a little bit larger. composition. ¾ It has liquid rivers, lakes, and seas on its surface € There is also evidence for alkaline hydrothermal (though these contain hydrocarbons like methane vents on Enceladus’ seafloor, similar to those that and ethane, not water). support methanogens in Earth’s oceans. ¾ Titan’s atmosphere is made mostly of nitrogen, ¾ About Methanogens: like Earth’s, but is four times denser. € Most of the methane on Earth has a biological ¾ Unlike Earth, it has clouds and methane rain. origin. Microorganisms called methanogens are ¾ Because it is so far from the Sun it’s surface capable of generating methane as a metabolic temperature is (–179 degree Celsius). byproduct.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 65

Enceladus ¾ Enceladus is a small, icy moon which has an abundance of hydrogen molecules in water plumes. 98% of the gas in the plumes was found to be water and 1% is hydrogen and the remaining is a mixture of molecules of carbon dioxide, methane, and ammonia. ¾ Underwater vents present on Enceladus resemble the vents present on Earth’s ocean floors, where microbes and other sea life congregate.

Suborbital Flight

Why in News Recently, a six person crew on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spaceship undertook a brief trip to the “edge of space” which is known as Suborbital Flight. ¾ Sirisha Bandla, an astronaut born in India, was a part of the crew. She was the third woman of Indian origin to go to space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams. ¾ Virgin Galactic is a British-American spaceflight operating in the United States. company, ¾ Significance of Suborbital Flights: Key Points € Increased Access: z It would provide increased flight access for design ¾ Suborbital Flight/Trajectory: innovation and experimental manipulation due € When an object travels at a horizontal speed of to high projected flight rates. about 28,000 km/hr or more, it goes into orbit € once it is above the atmosphere. Research: z Suborbital flights will be helpfulfor microgravity z The satellites need to reach that threshold research. Microgravity is the condition in which speed (orbital velocity) in order to orbit Earth. people or objects appear to be weightless. € Such a satellite would be accelerating towards the z Suborbital flights Earth due to gravity, but its horizontal movement could also be an alternative in aeroplanes that space is fast enough to offset the downward motionso to parabolic flights that it moves along a circular path. agencies currently use to simulate zero gravity. „ Zero Gravity or Zero-G can simply be defined € Any object travelling slower than 28,000 km/hr must eventually return to Earth. as the state or condition of weightlessness. € Cost Effective: € Any object that launches to space but does reach sufficient horizontal velocity to stay in space z They would be far less expensive than carrying falls back to Earth. Hence they fly in a suborbital experiments and people to the International trajectory. Space Station. z It means that while these vehicles will cross ¾ Edge of Space/Karman Line: the ill-defined boundary of space, they will € The most widely accepted boundary of space not be going fast enough to stay in space once is known as the Karman line. The Fédération they get there. Aéronautique Internationale (FAI)defines Karman

Note: 66 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Line as the altitude of 100 kilometres above Earth’s mean sea level. z FAI is the world governing body for air sports, and also stewards definitions regarding human spaceflight.

¾ The Hope Probe, the Arab world’s first mission to Mars, took off from Earth in July 2020, and has been orbiting the Red Planet (Mars) since February 2021. It is expected to create the first complete portrait of the planet’s atmosphere.

Key Points ¾ Auroras: € An Aurora is a display of light in the sky predom- inantly seen in the high latitude regions (Arctic and Antarctic). It is also known as a Polar light. € They commonly occur at high northern and southern latitudes, less frequent at mid-latitudes, and seldom seen near the equator. € While usually a milky greenish color, auroras € The Kármán line has been compared to international can also show red, blue, violet, pink, and white. waters, as there are no national boundaries and These colors appear in a variety of continuously human laws in force beyond the line. changing shapes. € It is named after Theodore von Karman (1881– € Auroras are not just something that happens on 1963), a Hungarian American engineer and Earth. If a planet has an atmosphere and magnetic physicist, who was active primarily in aeronautics field, they probably have auroras. and astronautics. ¾ Cause of Auroras on Earth: z He was the first person to calculate the altitude € Auroras are caused when charged particles ejected at which the atmosphere becomes too thin from the Sun’s surface - called the solar wind - to support aeronautical flight and arrived at enter the Earth’s atmosphere. 83.6 km himself. € The typical aurora is caused by collisions between € However, other organizations do not use this charged particles from space with the oxygen and definition.There is no international law defining nitrogen in Earth’s upper atmosphere. the edge of space, and therefore the limit of national airspace. € The electrons - which come from the Earth’s magnetosphere, the region of space controlled by Earth’s magnetic field - transfer their energy Discrete Auroras of Mars to the oxygen and nitrogen atoms and molecules, making them “excited”. Why in News € When a large number of electrons come from the Recently, the UAE’s Hope spacecraft has captured magnetosphere to bombard the atmosphere, the images of glowing atmospheric lights in the Mars night oxygen and nitrogen can emit enough light for the sky, known as discrete auroras. eye to detect, giving us beautiful auroral displays.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 67

€ In the northern part of our globe, the polar lights around a free electron in a cryogenic gas or liquid, are called aurora borealis or Northern Lights, and such as neon or helium. They are typically very small, are seen from the US (Alaska), Canada, Iceland, about 2 nm in diameter at atmospheric pressure. Greenland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Helium € In the south, they are called aurora australis or ¾ It is a chemical element with the symbol He and southern lights, and are visible from high latitudes atomic number 2. The British chemist Sir William in Antarctica, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and Ramsay discovered the existence of helium on Australia. Earth in 1895. ¾ Discrete Auroras of Mars: ¾ It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic, € Unlike auroras on Earth, which are seen only near inert, monatomic gas, the first in the noble gas the north and south poles, Discrete Auroras (DA) on group in the periodic table. Mars are seen all around the planet at night time. ¾ Its boiling point is the lowest among all the elements. € These DAs are traced out where energetic particles Electrons excite the atmosphere after being funneled down ¾ by a patchy network of crustal magnetic fields that Matter is made up of atoms, which are the basic originate from minerals on the surface of Mars. units of chemical elements such as hydrogen, helium or oxygen. ¾ Martian Auroras are Different: ¾ Atoms are made up of three particles: Protons, € Unlike Earth, which has a strong magnetic field, the Neutrons and Electrons. Martian magnetic field has largely died out.This ¾ is because the molten iron at the interior of the Hence, electrons are the subatomic particles that planet - which produces magnetism - has cooled. orbit the nucleus of an atom. They are generally negative in charge and are much smaller than the € However, the Martian crust, which hardened nucleus of the atom. billions of years ago when the magnetic field still existed, retains some magnetism. € So, in contrast with Earth, which acts like one single bar magnet, magnetism on Mars is unevenly distributed, with fields strewn across the planet and differing in direction and strength. € These disjointed fields channel the solar wind to different parts of the Martian atmosphere, creating “discrete” auroras over the entire surface of the planet as charged particles interact with atoms and molecules in the sky– as they do on Earth. € An electron injected into a superfluidform of helium creates a Single Electron Bubble (SEB) — a cavity Few-Electron Bubbles that is free of helium atoms and contains only the in Superfluid Helium Gas electron. The shape of the bubble depends on the energy state of the electron. Why in News z For instance, the bubble is spherical when the electron is in the ground state (i.e. state of Recently, Scientists at theIndian Institute of Science lowest energy). There are also multiple electron (IISc), Banglore for the first time discovered two species bubbles that contain thousands of electrons. of Few-Electron Bubbles (FEBs) in SuperfluidHelium Gas. z Superfluidityis the frictionless flow and other Key Points exotic behaviour observed in liquid helium at temperatures near absolute zero (−273.15 °C), ¾ Electron Bubble: and similar frictionless behaviour of electrons € An electron bubble is the empty space created in a superconducting solid. In each case the

Note: 68 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

unusual behaviour arises from quantum black holes or neutron stars. The NS-BH merger is a mechanical effects. hybrid collision. ¾ Few-Electron Bubbles: Black Hole € FEBs, on the other hand, are nanometre-sized ¾ A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls cavities in liquid helium containing just a handful of so much that even light can not get out. The gravity free electrons. The number, state, and interactions is so strong because matter has been squeezed into between free electrons dictate the physical and a tiny space. chemical properties of materials. ¾ Gravitational waves are created when two black z FEBs form an interesting system that has both holes orbit each other and merge. electron-electron interaction and electron- surface interaction. Neutron Stars ¾ Neutron stars comprise one of the possible z FEBs were found to be stable for at least 15 milliseconds (quantum changes typically happen evolutionary end-points of high mass stars. at much shorter time scales) which would enable ¾ Once the core of the star has completely burned to researchers to trap and study them. iron, energy production stops and the core rapidly collapses, squeezing electrons and protons together ¾ Significance: to form neutrons and neutrinos. € Study Properties: ¾ A star supported by neutron degeneracy pressure z FEBs can serve as a useful model to study how is known as a ‘neutron star’, which may be seen as the energy states of electrons and interactions a pulsar if its magnetic field is favourably aligned between them in a material influence its with its spin axis. properties. € Decipher Phenomenons: Key Points z There are several phenomena that FEBs can ¾ About the Gravitational Waves: help scientists decipher, such as: € These are invisible ripples in space that form when: „ Turbulent flows in superfluids and viscous z A star explodes in a supernova. fluids, or the flow of heat in superfluid helium. z Two big stars orbit each other. „ Just like how current flows without re- sistance in superconducting materials at z Two black holes merge. very low temperatures, superfluid helium z Neutron star-Black hole (NS-BH) merges. also conducts heat efficiently at very low € They travel at the speed of light (1,86,000 miles temperatures. per second) and squeeze and stretch anything in their path. New Source of Gravitational z As a gravitational wave travels through space- time, it causes it to stretch in one direction and Waves Discovered compress in the other. z Any object that occupies that region of space- Why in News time also stretches and compresses as the wave passes over them, though very slightly, which Recently, LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) has can only be detected by specialized devices made the discovery of gravitational waves from a pair like LIGO. of neutron star-black hole (NS-BH) mergers. € : ¾ The reverberations from these two objects were Theory and Discovery picked up using a global network of gravitational wave z These were proposed by Albert Einstein in his detectors, the most sensitive scientific instruments General Theory of Relativity, over a century ago. ever built. z However, the first gravitational wave was ¾ Until now, the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration (LVC) was actually detected by LIGO only in 2015. only able to observe collisions between pairs of ¾ Detection Technique:

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 69

€ As the two compact and massive bodies orbit € It is a group of scientists focused on the direct around each other, they come closer, and finally detection of gravitational waves, using them to merge, due to the energy lost in the form of explore the fundamental physics of gravity, and gravitational waves. developing the emerging field of gravitational € The Gravitational Waves signals are buried deep wave science as a tool of astronomical discovery. inside a lot of background noise. To search for the € LIGO Observatories: The LSC carries out the science signals, scientists use a method called matched of the LIGO Observatories, located in Hanford, filtering. Washington and Livingston, Louisiana as well as € In this method, various expected gravitational that of the GEO600 detector in Hannover, Germany. waveforms predicted by Einstein’s theory of € Other Observatories: relativity, are compared with the different chunks z VIRGO: Virgo is located near Pisa in Italy. The of data to produce a quantity that signifies how Virgo Collaboration is currently composed well the signal in the data (if any) matches with of approximately 650 members from 119 any one of the waveforms. institutions in 14 different countries including € Whenever this match (in technical terms “signal- Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the to-noise ratio” or SNR) is significant (larger than Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. 8), an event is said to be detected. z The Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector € Observing an event in multiple detectors separated (KAGRA): The KAGRA detector is located in by thousands of kilometers almost simultaneously Kamioka, Gifu, Japan. The host institute is the gives scientists increased confidence that the signal Institute of Cosmic Ray Researches (ICRR) at the is of astrophysical origin. University of Tokyo. ¾ Importance of Discovery: LIGO-India Project € A neutron star has a surface and black hole does ¾ The LIGO-India observatory is scheduled for not. A neutron star is about 1.4-2 times the mass completion in 2024, and will be built in theHingoli of the sun while the other black hole is much District of Maharashtra. more massive. Widely unequal mergers have very ¾ LIGO India is a planned advanced gravitational- interesting effects that can be detected. wave observatory to be located in India as part of z Inferring from data as to how often they merge the worldwide network. will also give us clues about their origin and € The LIGO project operates three gravitational- how they were formed. wave (GW) detectors. € These observations help us understand the € Two are at Hanford in the State of Washington, formation and relative abundance of such binaries. north-western USA, and one is at Livingston in z Neutron stars are the densest objects in the Louisiana, south-eastern USA. Universe, so these findings can also help us ¾ The LIGO-India project is an international understand the behaviour of matter at extreme collaboration between the LIGO Laboratory and densities. three lead institutions in the LIGO-India consortium: z Neutron stars are also the most precise ‘clocks’ Institute of Plasma Research, Gandhinagar; IUCAA, in the Universe, if they emit extremely periodic Pune; and Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced pulses. Technology, Indore. z The discovery of pulsars going around Black € It will significantly improve the sky localisation Holes could help scientists probe effects under of these events. extreme gravity. € This increases the chance of observation of ¾ LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC): these distant sources using electromagnetic € LSC was founded in 1997 and currently made telescopes, which will, in turn, give us a more up of more than 1000 scientists from over 100 precise measurement of how fast the universe institutions and 18 countries worldwide. is expanding.

Note: 70 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

„ This interferometer is underground and uses € Diagnosis: The National Vector Borne Disease cryogenic mirrors. It has 3 km arms. Control Programme (NVBDCP) in India has set up countrywide surveillance for AES through sentinel sites with a focus on detecting Japanese Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Encephalitis (JEV). z In the sentinel surveillance network, AES/JE is Why in News diagnosed by IgM Antibody Capture ELISA, and The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) has provided tap water virus isolation is done in the National Reference supply to more than 97 lakh households in five JE-AES Laboratory. (Japanese Encephalitis-Acute Encephalitis Syndrome) ¾ Status of AES in India: affected states. € According to the NVBDCP, 10,485 AES cases were ¾ The five states with priority districts areAssam, Bihar, diagnosed in 2018 with 632 deaths across 17 states. Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. € India records fatality rate at 6% in AES, but the ¾ JJM envisages supply of 55 litres of water per person fatality rises to 25% amongst children. per day to every rural household through Functional € Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024. The Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Tripura Jal Shakti Ministry is the nodal ministry for the are worst affected. implementation of the scheme. Key Points Lymphatic Filariasis ¾ Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES): € About: AES is a severe case of encephalitis Why in News transmitted by mosquitoes and is characterized Recently, the Maharashtra government has started by high fever and inflammation of the brain. a drug administration drive for the elimination of z The World Health Organisation (WHO) in Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and become the first State in 2006, coined the term AES to signify a group the country to resume giving rounds of the drug after of diseases which seem similar to one another the second wave of Covid-19. but are difficult to differentiate in the chaotic environment of an outbreak. Key Points € Vulnerable Population: The disease most commonly ¾ About: affects children and young adults and can lead to € LF, commonly known as elephantiasis and is considerable morbidity and mortality. considered as a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). € Causative Agents: Viruses are the main causative It is the second most disabling disease after agents in AES cases, although other sources such as mental health. bacteria, fungi, parasites, spirochetes, chemicals, € It impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to toxins, and noninfectious agents have also been the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing reported over the past few decades. It is not pain, severe disability and social stigma. vaccine-preventable. z The lymphatic system is a network of vessels z Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV) is the major and specialized tissues that are essential to cause of AES in India (ranging from 5%-35%). maintaining the overall fluid balance and z Herpes simplex virus, Nipah virus, Zika virus, health of organs and limbs and, importantly, Influenza A virus, West Nile virus, Chandipura are a major component of the body’s immune virus, mumps, measles, dengue, scrub typhus, defense system. S.pneumoniae are also found as causative € Lymphatic filariasis isa vector-borne disease, caused agents for AES. by infection with parasitesclassified as nematodes € Symptoms: Confusion, disorientation, coma, or (roundworms) of the family Filarioidea. There are inability to talk, high fever, vomiting, nausea, and 3 types of thread-like filarial worms which causes unconsciousness. lymphatic filariasis:

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 71

z Wuchereria Bancrofti is responsible for 90% of the cases. dbGENVOC z Brugia Malayi causes most of the remainder of the cases. Why in News z Brugia Timori also causes the disease. Recently, the National Institute of Biomedical ¾ Drug Treatment: Genomics (NIBMG), funded by the Department of € The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends Biotechnology, has created the world’s first database three drug treatments to accelerate the global of genomic variations in oral cancer(dbGENVOC). elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Key Points z The treatment, known as IDA, involves a ¾ About dbGENVOC: combination of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine € dbGENVOC, a comprehensive, flexible database citrate and albendazole. framework, developed with an aim to allow z The plan is to administer these drugs for potential users to access, query, browse and two consecutive years. The life of the adult download clinically relevant somatic and germline worm is hardly four years, so it would die a variation data from Indian oral cancer patients. natural death without causing any harm to z Somatic or acquired genomic variants are the the person. most common cause of cancer, occurring from ¾ Scenario in India: damage to genes in an individual cell during € Lymphatic filariasis poses a grave threat to India. a person’s life. An estimated 650 million Indians across 21 states z A germline variant occurs in gametes and is and union territories are at risk of lymphatic passed directly from a parent to a child at the filariasis. time of conception. Cancers caused by germline € Over 40% of worldwide cases are found in India. pathogenic variants are called inherited or hereditary. € The government launched the Accelerated Plan for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis (APELF) in € It will be updated annually with variation data from 2018, and as part of intensifying efforts towards new oral cancer patients from different regions of elimination,later rolled out IDA treatment (triple India and southeast Asia. drug therapy) in a phased manner. ¾ Cancer Burden in India: ¾ Global Initiatives: € According to the World Cancer Report 2020, India had an estimated 1.16 million new cancer cases € WHO’s New Roadmap for 2021–2030: To prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate a set of 20 diseases, in 2018. termed neglected tropical diseases, by 2030. € 1 in 10 Indians will develop cancer during their lifetime and1 in 15 will die of the disease. € Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF): € The six most common cancer types in India are breast cancer, oral cancer, cervical cancer, lung z In 2000, WHO established the GPELF to cancer, stomach cancer, and colorectal cancer. stop transmission of infection with Mass z Oral cancer is the most prevalent form of Drug Administration (MDA) and to alleviate cancer among men in India, largely fuelled by suffering among people affected by the disease tobacco-chewing. through morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP). z The target set by GPELF in 2000 to eliminate Zika Virus Disease LF as a public health problem globally by 2020 was not achieved. Despite setbacks due to Why in News Covid-19, WHO will accelerate work to achieve Recently, Zika Virus Disease (ZVD) was reported for this target by 2030. the first time in Kerala.

Note: 72 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Key Points Dengue ¾ About: ¾ Dengue is transmitted by several species ofmosquito € Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that was within the genus Aedes. first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. It ¾ Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle, and was later identified inhumans in 1952 in Uganda joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is and the United Republic of Tanzania. similar to measles. ¾ Transmission: ¾ The dengue vaccine CYD-TDV or Dengvaxia has € ZVD is caused by a virus transmitted primarily been approved in about 20 countries. by Aedes mosquitoes (AM), mainly Aedes Chikungunya aegypti. ¾ Chikungunya is caused by a mosquito-borne virus. z This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, ¾ It is transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes chikungunya and yellow fever. albopictus mosquitoes. € Zika virus is also transmitted from mother to ¾ Its symptoms are characterized by abrupt fever and fetus during pregnancy, through sexual contact, severe joint pain, often in hands and feet, and may transfusion of blood and blood products, and include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling or rash. organ transplantation. ¾ There is no specific antiviral drug treatment for ¾ Symptoms: chikungunya. € Symptoms are generally mild and include fever, ¾ There is no commercial chikungunya vaccine. rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. Most people with Zika virus infection Yellow Fever do not develop symptoms. ¾ It is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The “yellow” in the name € Zika virus infection during pregnancy can refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. cause infants to be born with microcephaly (smaller than normal head size) and other ¾ Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, congenital malformations, known as congenital jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Zika syndrome. ¾ Yellow fever vaccine which is known as 17D and ¾ Treatment: according to the World Health Organization (WHO) also it is safe and affordable. However, there are € There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika. Instead, reports of multisystem organ failure following the focus is on relieving symptoms and includes vaccination. rest, rehydration and acetaminophen for fever and pain. ¾ Related Government Programme/Initiatives: Covid-19 € Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme: Vaccine Booster Shots To strengthen/maintain decentralized laboratory based and IT enabled disease surveillance systems Why in News for epidemic prone diseases to monitor disease trends. Recently, Pfizer and BioNTech have announced that € National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme: they would seek regulatory authorization for a third The central nodal agency for prevention and booster dose of their Covid-19 vaccine (BNT162b2). control of six vector borne diseases i.e. Malaria, ¾ This development comes amid the global spread of Dengue, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-azar, Japanese highly transmissible Delta strain of Covid-19. Encephalitis and Chikungunya in India. Key Points € Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): An initiative under the National Health Mission, ¾ Booster Shots: has a surveillance for Microcephaly (system for € A booster is a means of strengthening one’s monitoring birth defects). immune system against a particular pathogen.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 73

€ It may be exactly the same original vaccine, in Ecuador and Argentina, but since April it has been which case its goal is to increase the magnitude detected in more than 25 Countries. of protection by producing more antibodies. € Previously known by its Formal Scientific Name € Scientistscan also tweak what goes into the booster C.37, the World Health Organisation (WHO) if they are aiming to protect people from a new designated this variant seventh and the newest variant — a version of the virus that’s mutated Variant of Interest (VOI). significantly from the original version people were z Another four have been designated as ‘variants vaccinated against. of concern’. € These shots are only for the fully-vaccinated. ¾ Concerns: ¾ Need: € LV has at least seven significant mutations in the € These boosters will be particularly helpful for the spike protein (the Delta variant has three) which elderly and immunocompromised people whose could have a range of implications, including the bodies were unable to mount a robust protection possibility of increased transmissibility or enhanced against the virus following the first two shots. resistance to antibodies, created either through € Secondly, if there are studies showing that a new natural infection or vaccination. variant can sneak past the antibodies created by z It is the coronavirus spike protein that binds a specific vaccine, the need of a tweaked booster to a human protein to initiate the process of shot arises then. infection. ¾ Concerns: € The LV has greater infectivity than the Alpha and € Booster shots are yet to get a nod from the World Gamma variants (known to have originated in the Health Organisation (WHO). UK and Brazil respectively). € In fact, the WHO has expressed caution in € A study also reported decreased effectiveness of encouraging third doses. the Chinese Sinovac vaccine (Coronavac) against € Such a recommendation is unnecessary and the Lambda variant. premature given the paucity of data on booster shots and the fact that high-risk individuals in much Kappa Variant: Covid-19 of the world still haven’t been fully vaccinated. Why in News Lambda Variant of Covid-19 Recently, two cases of the Kappa variant of Covid-19 have been recorded in Uttar Pradesh (UP). Why in News ¾ According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), After the cases of Delta Variant of Covid-19 Kappa is one of the two Covid-19 variants, the other continuously rising, a new variant calledLambda Variant being Delta, first identified in India. (LV) is emerging as a new threat. ¾ Earlier a new variant Lambda was reported from Peru. ¾ Lambda Variant is dominant in Peru, India has not yet reported any case of LV. Key Points ¾ About: Key Points € As India raised objection over the B.1.617.1 ¾ About: mutant of the novel coronavirus being termed € The strain was first identified in Peru in December an “Indian Variant”, the WHO had named this 2020. Lambda is the dominant variant in the South variant ‘Kappa’ and B.1.617.2 ‘Delta’ just as it American country with 81% samples found to be named various variants of the coronavirus using carrying it. Greek alphabets. € Until recently, it was largely concentrated in a z The Delta and Kappa variants are actually handful of South American countries, including siblings, the direct descendants of a variant

Note: 74 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

that earlier used to be referred to as the double € Composition: mutant, or B.1.617. z Fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon € It is still listed among ‘variants of interest’ and dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3), ferric

not ‘variants of concern’ by the WHO. oxide (Fe2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO). ¾ Variants of Interest: € Properties: € They are SARS-CoV-2 variants with genetic z Resemble Portland cement but is chemically changes that are predicted or known to affect different. virus characteristics such as transmissibility, „ Portland cement is a binding material in disease severity, immune escape, diagnostic or the form of a finely ground powder that is therapeutic escape. manufactured by burning and grinding a € Examples: Lambda, Iota, Eta and Kappa variants. mixture of limestone and clay. ¾ Variant of Concern: „ Its chemical composition includes calcium € A variant for which there is evidence of an increase silicates, calcium aluminate and calcium in transmissibility, more severe disease (e.g., aluminoferrite. increased hospitalizations or deaths), significant z Exhibit cementitious properties. reduction in neutralization by antibodiesgenerated „ A cementitious material is one that hardens during previous infection or vaccination, reduced when mixed with water. effectiveness of treatments or vaccines, or diagnostic € Uses: detection failures. z It is used in concrete and cement products, € Examples: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. road base, metal recovery, and mineral filler among others. Fly Ash € Harmful Effects: z Fly ash particles are toxic air pollutants. They Why in News can trigger heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and stroke. Limited National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) z When combined with water they cause leaching has invited Expression of Interest (EOI) for sale of fly of heavy metals in ground water. ash, in its endeavour to achieve 100% utilization of fly z It also pollutes the soil, and affects the root ash, from the designated plants of the Middle East and development system of trees. other regions. ¾ Fly Ash Utilisation: ¾ Fly Ash is a byproduct from burning of coal in the thermal power generation. € NTPC has collaborated with Cement manufacturers around the country to supply Fly Ash. Key Points € To promote the use of Fly Ash bricks in building construction, NTPC has set up Fly Ash brick ¾ Fly Ash: manufacturing Plants at its Coal based Thermal € About: Power Plants. z It is called fly ash because it is transported from z These bricks are being utilized in Plants as well the combustion chamber by exhaust gases. as township construction activitiesexclusively. z It is collected from the exhaust gases by z On average, 60 million Fly Ash bricks are being electrostatic precipitators or bag filters. manufactured annually by NTPCs own Fly Ash „ An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is defined brick Plants. as a filtration devicethat is used to remove € As per the MoEF&CC directives, NTPC stations fine particles like smoke and fine dust from must keep at least 20% of total Fly Ash produced the flowing gas. in reserve for the issue to Fly Ash brick/ blocks/ „ It is the commonly used device for air tiles manufacturers and issuing Fly Ash free of pollution control. cost to them.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 75

z About 9% of the total Fly Ash produced in NTPCs ash bricks that are innovative, and environmentally stations, is being utilized by Fly Ash bricks/ friendly. blocks and tiles manufacturing units annually. € Even state governments have come out with their € During the year 2020-21, almost 15 NTPC stations Fly ash utilization policies, e.g.Maharashtra was supplied Fly Ash to various Road projects and Ash the first state to adopt the policy. utilization crossed by nearly 20 million tonnes. € A web portal for monitoring of fly ash generation € Over the last five years the fly ash utilisation has and utilizationand a mobile based applicationtitled grown up by 80% in the country. “ASHTRACK” has been launched by the Government. € Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) has focused € GST rates on fly ash and its products have been on new construction technologies such asusing fly reduced to 5%.

nnn

Note: 76 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Environment and Ecology

Highlights z Right to Repair Movement z Conservation Plans for Cities along Rivers z Green Hydrogen z Deaths Due to Hazardous Chemical z High-Altitude Yak z Anti-Methanogenic Feed Supplement: Harit Dhara z India’s First Cryptogamic Garden z Melting of Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’ z Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework z Conservation of Vultures z Water Pollution by Detergents z Marine Plastic: Problem, And Solution z SOP for Environmental Violations: MoEFCC z Guindy National Park: Tamil Nadu z Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan z LEAF Coalition z Lemru Elephant Reserve: Chhattisgarh z Black Panther Spotted in Navegaon – Nagzira Tiger Reserve z Human-Wildlife Conflict z King Cobra in Tillari Reserve

€ This will help boost business for small repair shops, Right to Repair Movement which are an important part of local economies. € It will help reduce the vast mountain of electrical Why in News waste (e-waste) that piles up each year on the continent. In recent years, countries around the world have been attempting to pass effective ‘right to repair’ laws. € It will save consumers’ money. ¾ The movement traces its roots back to the very dawn € It will contribute to circular economy objectives of the computer era in the 1950s. by improving the life span, maintenance, re-use, upgrade, recyclability and waste handling of ¾ The goal of the movement is to get companies to appliances. make spare parts, tools and information on how to repair devices available to customers and repair ¾ Reason for Encouraging the Movement: shops to increase the lifespan of products and to € Electronic manufacturers are encouraging a culture keep them from ending up in landfills. of ‘planned obsolescence’. z ‘Planned obsolescence’ means that devices are Key Points designed specifically to last a limited amount ¾ Right to Repair: of time and to be replaced. € The Right to Repair electronics refers to government € This can lead to immense pressure on the envi- legislation that is intended to allow consumers ronment and wasted natural resources. the ability to repair and modify their own z Manufacturing an electronic device is a highly consumer electronic devices, where otherwise polluting process. It makes use of polluting the manufacturer of such devices require the sources of energy, such as fossil fuel, which has consumer to use only their offered services. an adverse impact on the environment. € The idea originally originated from the USA where ¾ Reason for Opposing: the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act € Large tech companies, including Apple, Microsoft, 2012, required the manufacturers to provide the Amazon and Tesla have argued that opening up their necessary documents and information to allow intellectual property to third party repair services anyone to repair their vehicles. or amateur repairers could lead to exploitation and ¾ Benefits: impact the safety and security of their devices.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 77

¾ Right to Repair Movement around the World: Hydrogen € The United States President has signed an executive ¾ Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on order calling on the Federal Trade Commission to earth for a cleaner alternative fuel option. curb restrictions imposed by manufacturers that ¾ Type of hydrogen depend up on the process of its limit consumers’ ability to repair their gadgets on formation: their own terms. € Green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of € The UK, too, introduced right-to-repair rules that water using renewable energy (like Solar, Wind) should make it much easier to buy and repair daily- and has a lower carbon footprint. use gadgets such as TVs and washing machines. z Electricity splits water into hydrogen and E-waste in India oxygen. ¾ Official Data: z By Products: Water, Water Vapor. € According to the Central Pollution Control Board € Brown hydrogen is produced using coal where (CPCB), India generated more than 10 lakh tonnes the emissions are released to the air. of e-waste in 2019-20, an increase from 7 lakh € Grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas tonnes in 2017-18. where the associated emissions are released ¾ Indian Initiatives: to the air. € E-Waste Management Rules, 2016: € Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas, z The rules aim to enable the recovery and where the emissions are captured using carbon /or reuse of useful material from e-waste, capture and storage. thereby reducing the hazardous wastes ¾ Uses: destined for disposal and to ensure the € Hydrogen is an energy carrier, not an energy environmentally sound management of all source and can deliver or store a tremendous types of waste of electrical and electronic amount of energy. equipment. € It can be used in fuel cells to generate electricity, € E-Waste Clinic: or power and heat. z Aimed at segregating, processing and disposal z Today, hydrogen is most commonly used in of waste. petroleum refining and fertilizer production, while transportation and utilities are emerging Green Hydrogen markets. € Hydrogen and fuel cells can provide energy for use in diverse applications, including distributed Why in News or combined-heat-and-power; backup power; According to the International Renewable Energy systems for storing and enabling renewable Agency (IRENA), hydrogen will make up 12% of the energy energy; portable power etc. mix by 2050. € Due to their high efficiency and zero-or near ¾ The agency also suggested that about 66% of this zero-emissions operation, hydrogen and fuel hydrogen used must come from water instead of cells have the potential to reduce greenhouse natural gas. gas emission in many applications. ¾ Recently, IRENA has released the ‘World Energy € Manufacturing and deployment of electrolysers Transitions Outlook’Report. will have to increase at an unprecedented rate by 2050 from the current capacity of 0.3 gigawatts Key Points to almost 5,000 gigawatts. ¾ Current Status Worldwide: ¾ Indian Scenario: € Less than 1% of hydrogen produced is green € Consumption of Hydrogen: India consumes about hydrogen. six million tonnes of hydrogen every year for the

Note: 78 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

production of ammonia and methanol in industrial commercially is the economic sustainability of sectors, including fertilisers and refineries. extracting green hydrogen. z This could increase to 28 million tonnes by z For transportation fuel cells, hydrogen must be 2050, principally due to the rising demand from cost-competitive with conventional fuels and the industry, but also due to the expansion of technologies on a per-mile basis. transport and power sectors. € High Costs and Lack of Supporting Infrastructure: € Cost of Green Hydrogen: By 2030, the cost of z Fuel cells which convert hydrogen fuel to usable green hydrogen is expected to compete with that energy for cars, are still expensive. of hydrocarbon fuels (coal, Crude Oil, natural gas). z The hydrogen station infrastructure needed z The price will decrease further as production to refuel hydrogen fuel cell cars is still widely and sales increase. It is also projected that underdeveloped. India’s hydrogen demand will increase five-fold ¾ Step Taken: by 2050, with 80% of it being green. € The Union Budget for 2021-22 has announced a € Exporter of Green Hydrogen: India will become a net exporter of green hydrogen by 2030 due to National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) that its cheap renewable energy tariffs. will draw up a road map for using hydrogen as an energy source. ¾ Benefits of Using Green Hydrogen for India: € Indian Initiatives for Renewable Energy: € Green hydrogen can drive India’s transition to clean energy, combat climate change. z Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM). z Under the Paris Climate Agreement, India pledged to reduce the emission intensity of its z International Solar Alliance. economy by 33-35% from 2005 levels by 2030. z PM- KUSUM. € It will reduce import dependency on fossil fuels. z National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy. € The localisation of electrolyser production and z Rooftop Solar Scheme. the development of green hydrogen projects can create a new green technologies market in India worth $18-20 billion and thousands of jobs. High-Altitude Yak ¾ Potential: Why in News € India has a favourable geographic location and abundance of sunlight and wind for the production Recently, the National Research Centre on Yak of green hydrogen. (NRCY) at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng € Green hydrogen technologies are being promoted district has tied up with the National Insurance Company in sectors where direct electrification isn’t feasible. Ltd. for insuring the high-altitude yak. z Heavy duty, long-range transport, some industrial ¾ NRCY is a premier research institute exclusively sectors and long-term storage in the power engaged in research and development of yak in India. sector are some of these sectors. It was established in 1989 by the Indian Council of € The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Agricultural Research. has circulated a draft cabinet note to establish a hydrogen ecosystem in the country. Key Points € The nascent stage of this industry allows for the ¾ About: creation of regional hubs that export high-value € The Yak belong to the Bovini tribe, which also green products and engineering, procurement includes bison, buffaloes, and cattle.It can tolerate and construction services. temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius. ¾ Challenges: z Adapted for living at high altitudes, they have € Economic Sustainability: One of the biggest long hair that hangs off their sides like a curtain, challenges faced by the industry for using hydrogen sometimes touching the ground.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 79

of availability of new yak germplasm from the original yak area. ¾ Protection Status of Wild Yak (Bos mutus): € IUCN Red list status: Vulnerable z IUCN considers the wild species of yak under Bos mutus, while the domestic form is considered under Bos grunniens. € CITES: Appendix I € Indian WildLife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I

India’s First Cryptogamic Garden

€ Yaks are highly valued by Himalayan peoples. According to Tibetan legend, the first yaks were Why in News domesticated by Tibetan Buddhism founder Recently, India’s first cryptogamic garden was inau- Guru Rinpoche. gurated in the Chakrata town of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. z They are also known as the lifeline of pastoral ¾ The garden will be housing nearly 50 species of lichens, nomads in high altitudes of the IndianHimalayan ferns and fungi (collectively known as Cryptogamae). region. Note: ¾ Habitat: ¾ Plant kingdom can be divided into two sub-kingdoms € They are endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and the viz. Cryptogams and phanerogams. adjacent high-altitude regions. ¾ Cryptogams consist of seedless plants and plant- z Yaks are most comfortable above 14,000 feet. like organisms whereas phanerogams consist of They climb to an elevation of 20,000 when seed-bearing plants. foraging and usually don’t descend any lower € Phanerogams are further divided into two classes than 12,000 feet. i.e. gymnosperms and angiosperms. € The yak-rearing states of India are Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh Key Points and Jammu & Kashmir. ¾ Factors Responsible for Location of this Garden: z The countrywide population trend shows that € This garden is at Deoban in Chakrata at a height the yak population has been decreasing at an of 9,000 ft. alarming rate. The total yak population in India € This site is chosen because of its low pollution is about 58,000. levels and moist conditions which are conducive ¾ Threats: for the growth of these species. € Climate Change: € Further, Deoban has pristine majestic forests of z The increasing trend of environmental Deodar and Oak which create a natural habitat temperature at high altitudes is resulting in for cryptogamic species. heat stress in yak during warmer months of ¾ Cryptogams: the year. This, in turn, is affecting the rhythms € A cryptogam is a plant that reproduces with the of physiological responses of the animal. help of spores. € Inbreeding: € The word “Cryptogamae” implies ‘hidden z As wars and conflicts have led to the closing of reproduction’, referring to the fact that they do borders, the yaks outside borders are thought not produce any reproductive structure, seed, to be suffering from inbreeding due to the lack or flower.

Note: 80 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Thallophyta: Thallophyta is a division of the plant kingdom including primitive forms of plant life showing a simple plant body. They lack roots, stems, or leaves. z It includes algae-like Spirogyra, Sargassum, etc. z They are predominantly aquatic and found both in marine as well as freshwater habitats. € Bryophyta: Bryophytes comprise a limited variety of non-vascular land plants. They prefer moist habitats but they can survive in dry environments too. Example- hornworts, liverworts, mosses, etc. z They occupy an intermediate position between algae and pteridophytes. z Since bryophytes can survive in both water and land, they are considered as the ‘amphibians of the plant kingdom’. € Pteridophyta: A pteridophyte is a vascular plant that disperses spores. It is the first plant to have xylem and phloem. z Ferns are the largest living group of primitive vascular plants. ¾ Other Types of Cryptogams: € Liches: Lichens are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an algae. € Fungi: It is a kingdom of usually multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs.

Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

Why in News The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has demanded an additional $200 billion fund flow to developing countries from various sources to manage nature through 2030. € Due to this, they are called “flowerless” or “seedless ¾ It is one of many demands and targets that have been plants” or ‘lower plants’. set through 2030 in the official draft of a newGlobal € They need a moist environment to survive. Biodiversity Framework. € These are present in aquatic and terrestrial places. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) € Algae, bryophytes, lichens, ferns and fungi are the best-known groups of cryptogams. ¾ The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity has ¾ Classification of Cryptogams:Cryptogams are classified been in force since 1993. It has 3 main objectives: into 3 groups based on the various structural and functional criteria of the plant. € The conservation of biological diversity.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 81

projected to continue or worsen under business- € The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity. as-usual scenarios. € The post-2020 global biodiversity framework builds € The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. ¾ Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the US z As the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity has signed but not ratified). 2011-2020 comes to an end, IUCN actively supports the development of what needs to be ¾ The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada and an ambitious new global biodiversity framework. it operates under the United Nations Environment Programme. € Purpose: ¾ The Parties (Countries) under Convention of z Guiding Force: It is a new framework that will Biodiversity (CBD), meet at regular intervals and these be the global guiding force to protect nature meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP). and to retain its essential services for humans from 2020 to 2030. ¾ In 2000, a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the Cartagena Protocol on z Setting Targets: This is a global, outcome-oriented Biosafety was adopted. It came into force on 11th framework for the Convention’s 196 Parties to September 2003. develop national and regional goals and targets, to update national strategies and action plans € The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity as needed, and to facilitate regular monitoring from the potential risks posed by living modified and review of progress at the global level. organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. z Urgent and Transformative Action:The framework ¾ The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources aims to spur urgent and transformative action and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits by Governments and all of society to contribute Arising from their Utilization (ABS) was adopted to the objectives of theConvention on Biological in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan at COP10. It entered into , its , and other biodiversity force on 12th October 2014. Diversity Protocols related multilateral agreements, processes and € It not only applies to genetic resources that are instruments. covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising z : It aims to ensure the from their utilization but also covers traditional Capacity Building right capacity building of the communities / knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources governments to take up conservation measures that are covered by the CBD and the benefits to meet the goals. arising from its utilization. „ These include the contentious technology ¾ Along with the Nagoya Protocol on Genetic Resources, the COP-10 also adopted a ten-year framework for transfer to countries that don’t have it action by all countries to save biodiversity. currently and also a wide scientific cooperation among countries. ¾ Officially known as“Strategic Plan for Biodiversity € : 2011-2020”, it provided a set of 20 ambitious yet Goals and Targets achievable targets collectively known as the Aichi z The new frameworks have four goals to achieve Targets for biodiversity. by 2050. ¾ India enacted Biological Diversity Act in 2002 for „ To halt the extinction and decline of giving effect to the provisions of the CBD. biodiversity. „ To enhance and retain nature’s services to Key Points humans by conserving. ¾ Background: „ To ensure fair and equitable benefits to all € Biodiversity, and the benefits it provides, is from use of genetic resources. fundamental to human well-being and a healthy „ To close the gap between available financial planet. Despite ongoing efforts, biodiversity and other means of implementation and is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is those necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision.

Note: 82 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z 2030 Action Targets: The framework has 21 regionally and nationally is required to transform action-oriented targets for urgent action over economic, social and financial models. the decade to 2030, which includes: € The trends that have exacerbated biodiversity loss „ To bring at least 30% of land and sea under will stabilize in the next 10 years (by 2030) and the world’s protected areas. allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in „ A 50% greater reduction in the rate of the following 20 years, with net improvements by introduction of invasive alien species, and 2050 to achieve the Convention’s vision of “living controls or eradication of such species to in harmony with nature by 2050”. eliminate or reduce their impacts. „ Reducing nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, and pesticides by at least two thirds, and eliminating the discharge of plastic waste. „ Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts of at least 10

GtCO2e (gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide) per year, and that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity. „ Redirecting, repurposing, reforming or eliminating incentives harmful for biodiversity, Water Pollution by Detergents in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least $US 500 billion per year. Why in News € Relationship with SDGs: Water pollution caused by detergents has become z The framework is a fundamental contribution a big concern in the global context. to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for ¾ The per capita (per person) detergent consumption Sustainable Development. in India is around 2.7 kilogram per year. z At the same time, progress towards the € It is around 3.7 kg in the Philippines and Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will and 10 kg in the United States of America. help to create the conditions necessary to implement the framework. Key Points € Need of Financial Support: ¾ Detergents: z The framework’s demand for more financial € A detergent is a surfactant or mixture of surfactants support to developing countries, also the worst victims of biodiversity losses, is the most difficult that has cleaning properties in dilute solution with one to negotiate and achieve. water. A detergent is similar to soap. z z Adequate financial resources to implement Surfactant, also called surface-active agent, the framework are available and deployed, substance such as a detergent that, when added progressively closing the financing gap up to to a liquid, reduces its surface tension, thereby at least $700 billion per year by 2030. increasing its spreading and wetting properties. z The financial commitment has to increase to z Surface Tension is the property of the surface of at least $ 200 billion per year. This includes an a liquid that allows it to resist an external force, additional $10 billion per year international due to the cohesive nature of its molecules. financial flow to developing countries. € They tend to be more soluble in hard water than ¾ Theory of Change of the Framework: soap because the sulfonate of detergent doesn’t € The framework is built around a theory of change bind calcium and other ions in hard water as easily which recognizes that urgent policy action globally, as the carboxylate in soap does.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 83

Water Pollution „ Eutrophication: When a water body becomes overly enriched with minerals and nutrients ¾ Water pollution occurs when harmful substances— which induce excessive growth of algae or often chemicals or microorganisms—contaminate algal bloom. It deprives the water of available a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body oxygen, causing the death of other organisms. of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment. „ In Belgium, phosphates have been restricted for use in household detergents since 2003. ¾ Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution. Known as a “universal solvent,” water is able to dissolve € Oxygen-Reducing Substances: more substances than any other liquid on earth. z Detergents also contain oxygen-reducing ¾ Some of the causes for water pollution are sewage substances (ie, a chemical compound that water, industrial Wastes, agricultural sources, thermal readily transfers oxygen atoms) that may cause and radiation pollution, marine pollution, invasive severe damage to the fishes and other marine species, underground water pollution etc. animals. € Destruction of Mucus: Note: z Detergents are capable of destroying the ¾ Point Source: When pollutants are discharged from external mucus layers that protect the fish a specific location such as a drain pipe carrying from bacteria and parasites, causing severe industrial effluents discharged directly into a water damage to the gills. body it represents point source pollution. „ Mostly fish die when detergent concentrations ¾ Non-Point Source: It includes discharge of pollutants are near 15 parts per million (ppm); however, from diffuse sources or from a larger area such detergent concentrations as low as 5 ppm as runoff from agricultural fields, grazing lands, will kill fish eggs. construction sites, abandoned mines and pits, etc. € Makes Water Turbid: ¾ Detergents & Pollution: z A few more harmful components of detergents € Bioaccumulation of Nonylphenol: which are anthropogenic components such z Nonylphenol, a hazardous chemical present in as herbicides, pesticides and heavy metal detergents, is known to enter water bodies and concentrations (like zinc, cadmium and lead) the food chains. It bio-accumulates and can can cause the water to grow dark. This blocks pose serious environmental and health risks. out light and disrupts the growth of plants. z It has been detected in human breast milk, blood z Turbidity also clogs the respiratory system of and urine, and is associated with reproductive some species of fishes. Pathogens from these and developmental effects in rodents. toxic water bodies cause diseases, some fatal, € Inhibition of Biodegradation: in human or animal hosts diseases. z Many laundry detergents contain approximately € Hazardous for Humans: 35 to 75% phosphate salts. Phosphates can z The detergents contain suspected carcinogens, cause a variety of water pollution problems. and ingredients that do not fully biodegrade. z For example, phosphate tends to inhibit the „ A carcinogen is an agent with the capacity biodegradation of organic substances. Non- to cause cancer in humans. biodegradable substances cannot be eliminated ¾ Indian Initiative: by public or private wastewater treatment. € ECOMARK Scheme: The Government has instituted „ Biodegradationis the process by which organic this scheme on labeling of Environment Friendly substances are broken down into smaller Products. compounds by living microbial organisms. € The scheme is operating on a national basis and z Some phosphate-based detergents can also provides accreditation and labeling for household cause eutrophication. Phosphate-enrichment and other consumer products which meet certain can cause the water body to become choked environmental criteria along with quality require- with algae and other plants. ments of the Indian Standards for that product.

Note: 84 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ The Ecomark Scheme covers various product z Projects that are not permissible for environmental categories like Soaps and Detergents, paints, clearance. food items etc. z The permissibility of the project shall be examined Bioaccumulation vs Biomagnification from the perspective of whether such activity/ ¾ Bioaccumulation is when the concentration of project was at all eligible for grant of prior chemicals increases within an organism or species. environment clearance. This can occur when toxic substances are ingested. „ For Example: If a Red Industry(Industrial These toxic substances are very difficult for organisms Sectors having Pollution Index (PI ) score to excrete, therefore, accumulate in their tissues. of 60 and above) is functioning in a Coastal ¾ Biomagnification is the process by which toxic Regulation Zone (CRZ)-I area, which chemicals build up within predators. This typically means it was not permitted at the time of occurs across an entire food chain and affects all commencement of the project. Therefore, of the organisms but animals higher up in the chain the activity shall be closed. are more impacted. „ PI of any industrial sector is a number from 0 to 100 and the increasing value of PI denotes the increasing degree of pollutionload from the industrial sector. It is developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and used for categorization of industrial sectors in red, orange, green and white categories. € Non-Compliant Projects: z Projects in which prior environmental clearance has been accorded, but it is in violation of norms prescribed in the approval. z Projects which are permissible according to environmental law but which have not acquired SOP for Environmental the requisite clearance. Violations: MoEFCC z In cases of expansion of a project, including increase in volume of production, if environmental clearance has not been received, then the Why in News government agency can force the project Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and proponent to revert to the level of construction/ Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the Standard Operating manufacturing before the expansion. Procedure (SOP) to deal with environmental violations. ¾ Fines: ¾ The SOP is a result of orders from the National Green € In cases where operations have commenced Tribunal, which earlier in 2021 directed the ministry to without the required environmental clearance, put in place penalties and an SOP for green violations. 1% of the total project cost and in addition 0.25 % of the total turnover during the period of violation Key Points will be levied. ¾ Categories of Green Violation as per the SOP: € In violation cases, where operations have not € Projects Without Clearance: commenced, 1% of the total project cost incurred z Violations’ involving cases where construction up to the date of filing of the application (for work, including expansion of an existing project, instance a fine of Rs 1 lakh for a project worth Rs has begun without the project proponent having 1 crore) will be levied. acquired environmental clearance. ¾ Concerns Raised by Environmentalists:

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 85

€ The SOP normalises post facto regularisation of National Green Tribunal violations in which violations are first committed ¾ It is a specialised body set up under the National and then the project proponent files for clearance Green Tribunal Act (2010) for effective and by which they “are let off by paying a penalty”. expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental € It is the institutionalising of violations on the protection and conservation of forests and other basis of the polluter pays norm. natural resources. ¾ Other Related Initiatives of MOEFCC: ¾ With the establishment of the NGT, India became z Earlier MoEFCC has published the draft Envi- the third country in the world to set up a specialised ronment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification environmental tribunal, only after Australia and New 2020, with the intention of replacing the existing Zealand, and the first developing country to do so. EIA Notification, 2006 under theEnvironment ¾ NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or (Protection) Act, 1986. appeals finally within 6 months of filing the same. z In 2017, the ministry had initiated a six-month ¾ The NGT has five places of sittings, New Delhi is the amnesty scheme on penalising green violations, Principal place of sitting and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata which was later extended. and Chennai are the other four. Environmental Impact Assessment Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan ¾ About: Why in News € The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines EIA as a tool used to identify the The Rajasthan government will develop a tiger environmental, social and economic impacts of a corridor connectingthe newly proposed ‘Ramgarh Tiger project prior to decision-making. Reserve’, Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve. € It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, ¾ Sariska Tiger Reserve is another Tiger reserve in find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, Rajasthan. shape projects to suit the local environment and Key Points present the predictions and options to decision- makers. ¾ About the Animal Corridor: € The Environment Impact Assessment in India is € Wildlife or animal corridors are meant to ensure safe statutorily backed by the Environment Protection passage for animals between two isolated habitats. Act, 1986. ¾ Importance: € Provides a cost effective method to eliminate or minimize the adverse impact of developmental projects. € Enables the decision makers to analyse the effect of developmental activities on the environment well before the developmental project is imple- mented. € Encourages the adaptation of mitigation strategies in the developmental plan. € Makes sure that the developmental plan is environmentally sound and within the limits of the capacity of assimilation and regeneration of the ecosystem.

Note: 86 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ In wildlife parlance, corridors are mainly of two ¾ Protection Status of Tiger: types: functional and structural. € Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I z Functional corridors are defined in terms of € International Union for Conservation of Nature functionality from the perspective of the animal (IUCN) Red List: Endangered. (basically areas where there has been recorded € Convention on International Trade in Endangered movement of wildlife). Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I. z Structural corridors are contiguous strips of forested areas and structurally connect the otherwise fragmented blocks of the landscape. Lemru Elephant € When structural corridors are affected by human Reserve: Chhattisgarh anthropogenic activities, functional corridors automatically widen because of animal use. Why in News € In 2019, the National Tiger Conservation Authority Recently, the Chhattisgarh government hasproposed in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of to reduce the area of Lemru Elephant Reserve from 1,995 India published a document, mapping out 32 sq km to 450 sq km. major corridors across the country, management interventions for which are operationalised through ¾ The Centre gave its approval in 2007 for the creation a Tiger Conservation Plan. of the 450 sq km Lemru Elephant Reserve and in 2019, the state government decided to increase the z The states are required to submit a Tiger area to 1,995 sq km. Conservation Plan under section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Key Points ¾ Other Protected Areas in Rajasthan: ¾ About: € Desert National Park, Jaisalmer € The reserve is located in the Cobra district of € Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur Chhattisgarh. € Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary, Udaipur € The reserve is aiming at reducing human-animal € National Chambal Sanctuary (on tri-junction of conflict and destruction of property in addition to Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh). providing a permanent habitat to the elephants. Project Tiger € Earlier, the state government notified the reserve (Conservation Reserve) in October 2020 under ¾ Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Section 36A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, launched in 1973 to provide central assistance to 1972 (WLPA). the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated z Section 36A has a special provision that gives tiger reserves in India. the Union government a say in the process of ¾ The project is administered by the National Tiger notification in case the land to be notified as Conservation Authority (NTCA). conservation reserve has areas belonging to the Centre. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) z Elephant reserves are not recognised under ¾ It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Envi- the WLPA. ronment, Forests and Climate Change. ¾ Reason for Reducing Size: ¾ It was established in 2005 following the recommen- € The area proposed under the reserve is part of dations of the Tiger Task Force. the Hasdeo Aranya forests, a very diverse biozone ¾ It was constituted under enabling provisions of that is also rich in coal deposits. the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in € Of 22 coal blocks in the area, 7 have already been 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per allotted with mines running in three, and in the powers and functions assigned to it. process of being established in the other four.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 87

€ The biggest challenge in increasing the reserve ¾ Conservation Status of Indian Elephants: area was that several coal mines would become € Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I unusable. € IUCN Red List: Endangered ¾ Significance of Reserve: € CITES: Appendix I € North Chhattisgarh alone is home to over 240 elephants. More than 150 elephants have died ¾ India’s Initiatives for Conservation of Elephants: in the state over the last 20 years, including 16 € Gaj Yatra: A nationwide campaign to protect between June and October 2020. elephants, was launched on the occasion of € Elephants in Chhattisgarh are relatively new; they World Elephant Day in 2017. started moving into undivided Madhya Pradesh € Project Elephant: It is a centrally sponsored (MP) in 1990. scheme which was launched in 1992. € While MP had a policy of pushing back the animals € Seed Bombs: Recently Odisha’s Athagarh Forest coming from Jharkhand, after Chhattisgarh was Division has started casting seed balls (or bombs) formed, the lack of a formal policy allowed elephants inside different reserve forest areas to enrich to use as a corridor a route in the north and central food stock for wild elephants to prevent man- parts of the state. elephant conflict. € Since these animals were relatively new, human- € Right of Passage of the Animals: Recently, the animal conflict started once elephants started Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 2011 order of the straying into inhabited areas, looking for food. Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris elephant ¾ Other Protected Areas in Chhattisgarh: corridor, affirming the right of passage of the € Achanakmar Tiger Reserve. animals and the closure of resorts in the area. € Indravati Tiger Reserve. ¾ International initiatives to conserve Elephants: € Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve € The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants € Kanger Valley National Park (MIKE) programme, launched in 2003, is an € Badalkhol Tamor Pingla Elephant Reserve. international collaboration that tracks trends in information related to the illegal killing of elephants from across Africa and Asia, to monitor effectiveness of field conservation efforts.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

Why in News A report ‘A Future for All – A Need for Human-Wildlife Coexistence’ was recently released by World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and UNEP. ¾ It examined increasing human-wildlife conflict (HWC). ¾ HWC-related killing affects more than 75% of the world’s wild cat species, as well as many other Elephants terrestrial and marine carnivore species such as ¾ About: polar bears and Mediterranean monk seals, and large € Elephants are keystone species. herbivores such as elephants. € There are three subspecies of Asian elephant – the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan. Key Points € The Indian elephant has the widest range and ¾ About: accounts for the majority of the remaining € Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) refers to struggles elephants on the continent. that arise when the presence or behaviour of

Note: 88 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

wildlife poses actual or perceived direct, recurring € Impact on Equity: The economic and psychological threats to human interests or needs, often leading costs of living with wildlife disproportionatelyfall to disagreements between groups of people and to those who live near that wildlife, while the negative impacts on people and/or wildlife. benefits of a species’ survival are distributed to ¾ Causes of Human-wildlife Conflict: other communities as well. € Lack of Protected Area: Marine and terrestrial € Impact on Social Dynamics: When a HWC event protected areas only cover 9.67% globally. About affects a farmer, that farmer may blame the 40% of the African lion range and 70% of the government for protecting the perpetrator that African and Asian elephant ranges fall outside damages crops, while a conservation practitioner protected areas. may blame industry and farmers for clearing wild z In India, 35% tiger ranges currently lie outside habitats and creating the HWC in the first place. protected areas. € Impact on Sustainable Development: HWC is the € Wildlife-borne Infections: Covid-19 pandemic theme in conservation that is strongly linked to – sparked by a zoonotic disease is driven by the the SDGs as biodiversity is primary to sustain the close association of people, their livestock, and developments, even though it is not explicitly wildlife and by the unregulated consumption of mentioned as one. wild animals. ¾ Solution: z With closer and more frequent and diverse € Moving From contact between animals and people, the Conflict To Coex- probability of animal microbes being transferred istence: The goal to people increases. of HWC manage- € Other Reasons: ment should be to z Urbanization: In modern times rapid urbanization enhance the safety and industrialisation have led to the diversion of of people and wild- forest land to non-forest purposes, as a result, life and to create the wildlife habitat is shrinking. mutual benefits of z Transport Network: The expansion of road and coexistence. rail network through forest ranges has resulted € Integrated and in animals getting killed or injured in accidents Holistic Practices: on roads or railway tracks. Holistic HWC management approaches allow z Increasing Human Population: Many human species to survive in areas where they otherwise settlements coming up near the peripheries would have declined or become extinct. of protected areas and encroachment in the z All species on our planet also are essential for forest lands by local people for cultivation and maintaining ecosystem health and functions. collection of food and fodder etc. therefore € Participation: The full participation of local increasing pressure on limited natural resources communities can help reduce HWC and lead to in the forests. coexistence between humans and wildlife. ¾ Impacts: € Impact on Wildlife And Ecosystems: HWC can have detrimental and permanent impacts on ecosystems Conservation Plans and biodiversity. People might kill animals in self- for Cities along Rivers defence, or as pre-emptive or retaliatory killings, which can drive species involved in conflict to extinction. Why in News € Impact on Local Communities:The most evident A policy document from National Mission for Clean and direct negative impacts to people from wildlife Ganga(NMCG) has proposed that cities situated on river are injuries and the loss of lives and of livestock, banks should incorporate river conservation plans when crops, or other property. they prepare their Master Plans.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 89

¾ Significance: € The Master Plan can “create an environment” for facilitating the use ofstate-of-the-art technologies for river management. z These include satellite-based monitoring of water quality; artificial intelligencefor riverine biodiversity mapping; big data and citizen science for river-health monitoring; unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for floodplain mapping. € In coming years the nature and type of technologies are expected to become more sophisticated and effective.Thus, the cities will be ready to embrace these seamlessly.

Key Features of National Water Policy, 2012 ¾ Integrated Water Resources Management: It laid ¾ The recommendations are currently for towns that down the concept of an Integrated Water Resources are on the main stem of the river Ganga which are Management approach that took the river basin/ in five States — Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, sub-basin as a unit for planning, development, and Jharkhand, West Bengal. management of water resources. ¾ NMCG is the implementation wing ofNational Ganga € Integrated Water Resources Management Council (set in 2016; which replaced the National (IWRM) is a process that promotes the co- Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)). Along with its ordinated development and management of state counterpart organizations, NMCG implements water, land and related resources in order the Namami Gange Programme. to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without Key Points compromising the sustainability of vital ¾ Emphasis of the Policy Document: ecosystems. € On the need for river-sensitive plans that must ¾ Minimum Water Flow: To maintain the minimum be practical (as envisaged in the National Water flow of a portion of a river to meet ecological needs. Policy). € In 2018, such an approach led the government to € There should be a systematic rehabilitation plan require minimum water levels to be maintained to remove encroachment that emphasizes on in the Ganga throughout the year by refraining alternative livelihood optionsalong with a proper from hoarding water beyond a point. relocation strategy. € Emphasis was also made to make a minimum € Planners should make every attempt to engage quantity of potable water available to citizens stakeholders (encroacher, land owners) in order for maintaining essential health and hygiene. to develop empathetic and humane solutions. ¾ Inter-basin Transfers: To meet basic human needs € The plan must also clarify on land ownership. and achieve equity and social justice, inter-basin Ascertaining the land ownership in these areas is transfers of water need to be considered on the important to avoid legal complications while the basis of the merits of each case after evaluating Plan is being implemented. the environmental, economic and social impacts of such transfers. € A key aspect of conserving and protecting river and ¾ riverine resources involves increasing green cover Other reasons such as decreasing spring sets in in the vicinity of the river by creating green buffers, Himalayas, budgeting and restructuring of water removing concrete structures and employing subsidies, irrigation, etc. demanded the prioritization of water usage. “green infrastructure.”

Note: 90 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z Lead exposure causes cardiovascular diseases Deaths Due to (CVD), chronic kidney diseases and idiopathic Hazardous Chemical intellectual disability. z Lead is added to paints for various reasons, including enhancing the colour, reducing Why in News corrosion and decreasing the drying time. According to latest estimates by the World Health z Just 41% of countries including India, have legally Organization (WHO), deaths due to exposure to binding controls on the production, import, sale hazardous chemicals worldwide rose 29% in 2019 and use of lead paints. from what they were in 2016. z In 2020, UNICEF too had raised concerns on ¾ Two million people died due to exposure to hazardous the impact of lead pollution on the health of chemicals in 2019, compared to 1.56 million in 2016. children. Between 4,270 and 5,400 people died every day due „ Approximately 800 million globally have to unintentional exposure to chemicals. blood lead levels at or above the permissible ¾ The estimates were released by WHO Director-General, quantity (5 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL). during the Ministerial Dialogue held at the Berlin € Particulates and Carcinogens: Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability: Ambition z Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . and Action towards 2030 from occupational exposure toparticulates (dust, Key Points fumes and gas) and cancers from occupational exposure to carcinogens (arsenic, asbestos and ¾ Hazardous Chemical: benzene), too accounted for a substantial share € A hazardous chemical is a chemical that has of the preventable deaths. properties with the potential to do harmto human ¾ Disability-adjusted Life-years Lost or animal health, the environment, or capable of € In 2019, 53 million disability-adjusted life-years damaging property. were lost. This is an increase by over 19% since 2016. € They are frequently used in the workplace as raw € There has been a 56% increase in disability-adjusted , materials, solvents, cleaning agents, catalysts life-years lost due to exposure to lead since 2016. and for a number of other functions. € Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) is the sum of € These are normally classified according to the the number of years of life lost due to premature risk they pose to health and property. Hazardous death and a weighted measure of the years lived chemicals are categorized as follows: with disability due to a disease or injury. z Flammable or explosive (e.g. petroleum, TNT, z The use of DALYs to track disease burden is plastic explosives) recommended by India’s National Health z Irritating or corrosive to skin, lungs, and eyes Policy of 2017. (e.g. acids, alkali, paints, fumes) z Toxic chemicals (e.g. carbon monoxide, hydrogen Steps Taken sulfide, cyanide,heavy metals) There are many international chemical conventions € These are present in the air, in consumer products, restricting or even banning the production, use, and trade at the workplace, in water, or in the soil. of certain hazardous chemicals. € They can cause several diseases including mental, ¾ Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants behavioural and neurological disorders, cataracts, (POPs): To protect human health and the environment or asthma. from the harmful effects of POPs (i.e. toxic chemicals). ¾ Chemicals Causing Most Deaths: € India has ratified and accededto the convention. € Lead Poisoning: ¾ Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent z It was responsible for nearly half of the deaths Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and in 2019. Pesticides in International Trade.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 91

€ India ratified the Convention in 2005. and making it available to the archaea (structure

¾ Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary similar to bacteria) for reduction of CO2 to methane. Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal. € It has been made from tannin-rich plant-based € India ratified the Convention. sources. Tropical plants containing tannins, bitter ¾ The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) is an arms and astringent chemical compounds, are known control treaty prohibiting the development, production, to suppress or remove protozoa from the rumen. acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of € Fermentation after using HD will help produce chemical weapons by States Parties. more propionic acid, which provides more energy for lactose (milk sugar) production and body € India is a signatory and party to the Convention. weight gain. ¾ The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global z This leads to treaty to protect human health and the environment economic benefits for farmers. from the adverse effects of mercury and its compounds. ¾ Methane Production in Cattle: € More than 140 countries including India have € Rumen, the first of the four stomachs where they eat ratified the Convention. plant material, cellulose, fibre, starch and sugars. These get fermented or broken down by microorganisms ¾ The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in prior to further digestion and nutrient absorption. Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances provides comprehensive measures against drug trafficking, € Carbohydrate fermentation leads to production including provisions against money laundering and of CO2 and hydrogen. These are used by microbes the diversion of precursor chemicals. (Archaea) present in the rumen to produce methane. ¾ € India is one among the signatories. Methane Emissions from Cattle: ¾ The Chemicals Convention concerning Safety in the € Belching cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats in India use of Chemicals at Work was promulgated by the emit an estimated 9.25 million tonnes (mt) to 14.2 International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1990 and mt of methane annually, out of a global total of entered into force on 4th Nov 1993. 90 mt-plus from livestock. ¾ The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals € The 2019 Livestock Census showed India’s cattle Management (SAICM) is a policy framework to population at 193.46 million, along with 109.85 promote chemical safety around the world. million buffaloes, 148.88 million goats and 74.26 million sheep. € The first Conference and the process to develop the strategic approach were co-convened by the z Being largely fed on agricultural residues – wheat/paddy straw and maize, sorghum or bajra United Nations Environment Programme (UN stover – Environment) along with other stakeholders. ruminants in India tend to produce 50- 100% higher methane than their industrialised country counterparts that are given more easily Anti-Methanogenic Feed fermentable/digestible concentrates, silages Supplement: Harit Dhara and green fodder. € Methane’s global warming potential – 25 times

of carbon dioxide (CO2) over 100 years, makes it Why in News a more potent greenhouse gas. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed an anti-methanogenic feed supplement ‘Harit Melting of Dhara’(HD), which can cut down cattle methane emissions by 17-20% and can also result in higher milk production. Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’

Key Points Why in News ¾ About: The ‘Last Ice Area’ (LIA), located in the Arctic’s Ice € HD decreases the population of protozoa microbes north of Greenland, has started melting earlier than what in the rumen, responsible for hydrogen production the scientists had expected.

Note: 92 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ The Arctic is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. € The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska (United States), Canada, Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. € Land within the Arctic region has seasonally varying snow and ice cover. € Since 2013, India has had observer status in the Arctic Council, which is the predominant inter-gov- ernmental forum for cooperation on the environ- mental and development aspects of the Arctic. ¾ Impact of Melting Arctic Ice: € Global Climate: The Arctic and Antarctic act like Key Points the world’s refrigerator. Since they are covered ¾ Last Ice Area: in white snow and ice that reflect heat back into space (Albedo effect), they balance out other € This region is located north of Greenland and parts of the world that absorb heat. Ellesmere Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. € Coastal Communities: Global average sea level has risen by about 7-8 inches since 1900, and it’s € This area was believed to be strong enough to getting worse.Rising seas endanger coastal cities withstand global warming. and small island nations by exacerbating coastal z The total disappearance of summer ice in the flooding and storm surge. Arctic was estimated by theyear 2040, however € Food Security: Polar vortexes, increased heat the was the exception. ‘Last Ice Area’ waves, and unpredictability of weather caused € World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Canada was believed by ice loss are already causing significant damage to be the firstto call this area the ‘Last Ice Area’. to crops on which global food systems depend. ¾ Importance: € Permafrost & Global Warming: Permafrost in € It was thought to be able to help ice-dependent the Arctic region (ground that is permanently species as ice in the surrounding areas melted away. frozen) stores large amounts of methane, which € It is used by polar bears to hunt for seals who use is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate ice to build dens for their offspring.Walruses too, change. use the surface of the ice for foraging (to search € Biodiversity Threat: Melting of the Arctic ice puts for food). the Arctic region’s vibrant biodiversity under € Sea ice is a highway for inuit, who use it to travel serious threat. and hunt. ¾ India’s interests in Arctic: rd z The term Inuit refers broadly to the Arctic € Recently, India participated in the 3 Arctic Science indigenous population of Alaska, Canada, and Ministerial (ASM) and shared plans for research Greenland. and long-term cooperation in the Arctic Region. ¾ Reasons for Melting: € About 80% of thinning can be attributed to Conservation of Vultures weather-related factors such as winds that break up and move the ice around. Why in News € The remaining 20% can be attributed to longer- Recently, 150 vultures were seen in the Valmiki Tiger term thinning of the ice due to global warming. Reserve (VTR), Bihar, which has prompted a vulture ¾ About Arctic: conservation plan in the protected region of VTR.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 93

Key Points € To study the cause of deaths of vultures in India, a Vulture Care Centre (VCC) was set up at Pinjore, ¾ About Vultures: Haryana in 2001. € It is one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating € Later in 2004, the VCC was upgraded to being the birds that live predominantly in the tropics and first Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre subtropics. (VCBC) in India. € They act an important function asnature’s garbage z At present, there are nine Vulture Conservation collectors and help to keep the environment clean and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India, of which of waste. three are directly administered by the Bombay z Vultures also play a valuable role in keeping Natural History Society (BNHS). wildlife diseases in check. ¾ IUCN status: € India is home to 9 species of Vulture namely the Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon. z Most of these 9 species face danger of extinction. z Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed are protected in the Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Rest are protected under ‘Schedule IV’. ¾ Threats: € Poisoning from diclofenac that is used as a medicine for livestock. € Loss of Natural Habitats due to anthropogenic activities. € Food Dearth and Contaminated Food. € Electrocution by Power lines. ¾ Conservation Efforts: € Recently, the Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched a Vulture Action Plan 2020-25 for the conservation of vultures in the country. z It will ensure minimum use of Diclofenac and prevent the poisoning of the principal food of vultures, the cattle carcasses. z The Vulture Safe Zone programme is being implemented at eight different places in the country where there were extant populations of vultures, including two in Uttar Pradesh. z To upscaling conservationfour rescue centres will be opened like Pinjore in the north, Bhopal in central India, Guwahati in Northeast and Hyderabad in South India. z The ministry has now also launched conservation plans for the red-headed and Egyptian vultures, with breeding programmes for both.

Note: 94 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

(CPCB) Annual Report on Implementing thePlastic Waste Valmiki Tiger Reserve Management Rules, 2016, the plastic waste generated ¾ Location: in 2018-19 was 3.3 million tonnes per year (roughly 9,200 € located at the India-Nepal border in the West tonnes per day). Champaran district of Bihar. € It forms the easternmost limits of the Himalayan Key Points Terai forests in India. ¾ About: € Situated in the Gangetic Plains bio-geographic € Plastic is asynthetic organic polymermade from zone of the country, the forest has a combination petroleum with properties ideally suited for a of bhabar and terai tracts. wide variety of applications, including packaging, ¾ Establishment: building and construction, household and sports € This was established in March 1994 under equipment, vehicles, electronics and agriculture. Project Tiger. Plastic is cheap, lightweight, strong and malleable. ¾ Biodiversity: € Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced € The wildlife found in the forest of National Park every year, half of which is used to design single- are the Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, black use items such as shopping bags, cups and straws. bear, Indian sloth bear, otter, Indian leopard, € Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled. Approximately wild dog, buffalo, and boar. 12% is burnt, while 79% has accumulated in landfills. € Also Indian flying foxes can be sighted here. € According to the International Union for € The Reserve has rich avifauna diversity. Over 250 Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 8 million species of birds have been reported. tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year. € Tharu’, a scheduled tribe, is the dominant commu- ¾ Sources of Marine Plastic: nity in the landscape of the Valmiki National Park. € The main sources of marine plastic areland-based , from urban and storm runoff, sewer overflows, beach visitors, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activities, construction and illegal dumping. € Ocean-based plastic originates mainly from the fishing industry, nautical activities and aquaculture. € Under the influence of solar UV radiation, wind, currents and other natural factors, plastic fragments into small particles, termedmicroplastics (particles ¾ Other Protected Areas in Bihar: smaller than 5 mm) or nanoplastics (particles € Bhimbandh Sanctuary. smaller than 100 nm). € Rajgir Sanctuary. z In addition, microbeads, a type of microplastic, € Kaimur Sanctuary. are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene € Kanwar Jheel Bird Sanctuary. plastic that are added as exfoliants in health and beauty products, such as cleansers and € Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin. toothpastes. These tiny particles easily pass € Gautambudha Sanctuary. through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and lakes. Marine Plastic: ¾ Concerns of Marine Plastic Waste: Problem, And Solution € Plastic wasteblocks our sewers, threatening marine life and generating health risks for residents in landfills or the natural environment. Why in News € The financial costs of marine plasticpollution are According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s significant as well.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 95

z According to a forecast made in March 2020, ¾ Solutions: the direct harm to the blue economy of the € Designing a product: Identifying plastic items that Association of Southeast Asian Nations will can be replaced with non-plastic, recyclable, or be USD 2.1 billion per year. biodegradable materials is the first step. € Enormous social costs accompany these economic z Countries must embrace circular and sustainable costs. Residents of coastal regions suffer from the economic practices throughout the plastics harmful health impacts of plastic pollution and value chain to accomplish this. waste brought in by the tides. € Pricing: Plastics are inexpensive which providefewer € Boats may become entangled in abandoned or economic incentivesto employ recycled plastics. discarded fishing nets or their engines may become Balancing price structure with environmental health blocked with plastic debris. should be a priority. z It can create problems for industries such € Technologies and Innovation: Developing tools as Shipping, fisheries and aquaculture and and technology to assist governments in measuring maritime tourism which affect livelihood of and monitoring plastic garbage in cities. the coastal community. z India should start projects like the ‘Closing the ¾ Steps Taken So Far: loop’ project of the United Nations Economic € GloLitter Partnerships Project: and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific z It is launched by the International Maritime which assists cities in developing more inventive Organization (IMO)and the Food and Agriculture policy solutions to tackle the problem. Organization of theUnited Nations (FAO) and . € Promoting a plastic-free workplace: All single-use initial funding from theGovernment of Norway. goods can be replaced with reusable items or more sustainable single-use alternatives. z Aim: To prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from shipping and fisheries. € Producer responsibility: Extended responsibility can be applied in the retail (packaging) sector, „ It will also assist developing countries in reducing marine litter, including plastic where producers are responsible for collecting and litter, from within the maritime transport recycling products that they launch into the market. and fisheries sectors, and to decrease the The Central Pollution Control Board use of plastics in these industries. ¾ CPCB is a statutory organisation which was „ Also assist in identifying opportunities to constituted in September, 1974 under the Water reuse and recycle plastics. (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. z 30 countries including India have joined this ¾ It was entrusted with the powers and functions global initiative to tackle marine litter. under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) € World Environment Day, 2018 hosted in India, the Act, 1981. world leaders vowed to “Beat Plastic Pollution” ¾ It also provides technical services to the Ministry & eliminate its use completely. of Environment and Forest and Climate Change of € Specific to India: the provisions of the Environment (Protection) z Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 state Act, 1986. that every local body has to be responsible ¾ Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in for setting up infrastructure for segregation, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) collection, processing, and disposal of plastic Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of waste. Pollution) Act, 1981: z Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) € to promote cleanliness of streams and wells Rules 2018 introduced the concept of Extended in different areas of the States by prevention, Producer Responsibility (EPR). control and abatement of water pollution. z Ban on Single-Use Plastics in a bid to free India € to improve the quality of air and to prevent, of single-use plastics by 2022. control or abate air pollution in the country.

Note: 96 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ Municipal and community actions: Beach and € In 1978 the small area, popularly known as Guindy river clean-ups, public awareness campaigns and Deer Park, was declared as a national park. disposable plastic bag bans and levies. ¾ Flora and Fauna: € Multi-stakeholder collaboration: Government € It contains more than 30 species of trees and a ministries at the national and local levels must number of century old giganticBanyan Trees. collaborate in the development, implementation € It has a significant population of black bucks, and oversight of policies related to plastic waste spotted deers, jackals, varieties of snakes, over 100 management. species of birds and over 60 species of butterflies. ¾ Other National Parks in Tamil Nadu: Guindy National € Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (21 Islands), Park: Tamil Nadu Dhanushkodi. € Indira Gandhi National Park previously Known as Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tiruppur. Why in News € Mukurthi National Park, Ooty. The Guindy National Park provides a number of € Mudumalai National Park, Madumalai. ecosystem services to the people of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. ¾ Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect Ex-situ and In-situ Conservation Methods contributions of ecosystems to human well-being. ¾ Ex situ conservation is the conservation and maintenance of samples of living organisms outside their natural habitat. € Maintenance of Gene Banks, Seed Banks etc. comes under this method of conservation. ¾ In situ conservation is conservation of species in their natural habitats. € Maintenance of natural habitats in the form of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks etc. comes under this method of conservation.

LEAF Coalition

Why in News LEAF (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Key Points Finance) Coalitionwas announced at the Leaders Summit ¾ About: on Climate, 2021. € It is India’s eighth-smallest national park and one ¾ LEAF coalition will be one of the largest everpublic- of the very few national parks located inside a city. private effortst o protect tropical forests and intend It is located in the heart of Chennai’s metropolitan to mobilize at least USD 1 billion in financing to area. countries committed to protecting their tropical forests. € It is one of the last remnants of the tropical dry evergreen forests of the Coromandel Coast. Key Points € About 22 acres of the Guindy National Park has ¾ About LEAF Coalition: been carved out into a park known as the Children’s € It is a collective of the governments of the USA, Park for ex-situ conservation. United Kingdom and Norway. € Guindy Snake Park is next to Guindy National € As it is a public-private effort, thusalso supported Park. It gained statutory recognition as a medium by transnational corporations (TNCs)like Unilever zoo from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) in 1995. plc, Amazon.com, Nestle, Airbnb etc.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 97

€ A country willing to participate would need to z It will help in achieving Nationally Determined fulfil certain predetermined conditions laid down Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. by the Coalition. € Achieve REDD+ Objectives: It is a step towards ¾ Financial Support: concretising the aims and objectives of the € The results-based financing model will be used Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest in LEAF. Degradation (REDD+) mechanism. € The model weighs on work by the Environmental € Solve Development versus Ecological Commitment: Defense Fund over two decades, in collaboration Such a financial impetus is crucial as it incentivises with Indigenous communities, forest peoples, developing countries to capture extensive Brazilian and US NGOs, and other partners, to deforestation and provide livelihood opportunities protect the Amazon and tropical forests globally. to forest-dependent populations. € Performance will be measured against the TREES € Complements Other Global Goals: Ending Standard (The REDD+ Environmental Excellence tropical and subtropical forest loss by 2030 is Standard) vital to achieving global climate, biodiversity and ¾ Significance: sustainable development goals as well as sustaining € Platform for Private Leadership: The goal of net the well-being and cultures of Indigenous peoples zero emissions cannot be reached without bold and other forest communities. leadership from the private sector and commitment to leverage its scale, investment capacity and political Black Panther power to build a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future. Spotted in Navegaon € Increases Carbon Sink: Tropical forests are massive – Nagzira Tiger Reserve carbon sinks and by investing in their protection, public and private players are likely to stock up on their carbon credits. Why in News Recently, a rare Melanistic Leopard (commonly Reducing Emissions from known as Black Panther) has been recorded in Navegaon- Deforestation and Forest Degradation Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) of Maharashtra. ¾ REDD+ aims to achieve climate change mitigation by incentivizing forest conservation. Key Points € It monetises the value of carbon locked up in the ¾ Melanistic Leopard/Black Panther: tropical forests of most developing countries, thereby propelling these countries to help € About: mitigate climate change. z Leopards (Panthera Pardus) are either light ¾ REDD+ was created by the United Nations Framework colored (pale yellow to deep gold or tawny) Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). with black rosettes or with black fur. z The melanistic leopards, which are either all- Tropical Forest black or very dark in coloration, are known as ¾ Tropical forests are closed canopy forests growing within 28 degrees north or south of the equator. ¾ They are very wet places, receiving more than 200 cm rainfall per year, either seasonally or throughout the year. ¾ Temperatures are uniformly high - between 20°C and 35°C. ¾ Such forests are found in Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico and on many of the Pacific Islands.

Note: 98 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

black panthers. It is a color variant of spotted Indian leopards, reported from densely forested areas of south India. z Black coat coloration is attributed to the expression of recessive alleles in leopards and dominant alleles in jaguars. In each species, a certain combination of alleles stimulates the production of large amounts of the dark pigment melanin (Melanism) in the animal’s fur and skin. „ The appearance of a black coat may be influenced by other factors, such as the angle of incident light and the animal’s life stage. z It is as shy as a normal leopard and very difficult to detect. € Habitat: z They are mainly in Southwestern China, Burma, Nepal, Southern India, Indonesia, and the southern part of Malaysia. z In India they can be spotted in the states of € Connectivity: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra etc. z NNTR has connectivity with the major tiger € Threats: reserves in Central India like, z Habitat loss. „ Kanha and Pench tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh, z Collision with vehicles. „ Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve in Maharashtra, z Diseases. „ Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, z Human encroachment. „ Indirectly with the Kawal and Nagarjuna z Poaching. Sagar in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and, € Protection Status: Achanakmar Tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh. z IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. z It is also connected to important tiger bearing z CITES: Appendix I. areas like Umred-Karhandla sanctuary and z Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I. Brahampuri Division (Maharashtra). ¾ Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve: € Flora: € About: z The major forest type is “Southern Tropical Dry z It is situated in Gondia and Bhandara districts Deciduous Forest”. of Maharashtra. z Few thorny plants are also found and Bamboo z Strategically, the Tiger Reserve is located in the occurs in abundance. heart of central Indian Tiger landscape which € Fauna: contributes almost one sixth of the total tiger z Carnivores such as leopards and smaller population of the country. carnivores like wild dogs, wolf jackals, jungle € Formation: cats and also the good population of sloth z It was designated as the 46th Tiger Reserve of bears are seen. India in December 2013. z Herbivore includes Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, z It comprises the notified area of Navegaon Chousingha, Barking deer, Wild pig, Indian gaur National Park, Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mouse deer. Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife z More than 300 species of birds have been Sanctuary and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary. reported from the area.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 99

€ Other Protected Areas in Maharashtra: z They are comfortable in a variety of habitats, z Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. including forests, bamboo thickets, mangrove . z Melghat Tiger reserve. swamps, high-altitude grasslands, and in rivers € z Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary. Threats: z z Karnala Bird Sanctuary. They face a variety of threats stemming from human activities such as: z Sanjay Gandhi National Park. „ Deforestation. z Pench National Park. „ International pet trade. King Cobra in Tillari Reserve „ Persecution by humans. „ Used for skin, food, and medicinal purposes. € Protection Status: Why in News z IUCN Red List: Vulnerable. Recently, a king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), was z CITES: Appendix II. sighted in the recently declared conservation reserve, z Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule II. Tillari, in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra. ¾ Tillari Conservation Reserve: € Tillari is the seventh wildlife corridor in the state to be declared as a ‘conservation reserve’. z Tillari is a reserve in western ghats.

Key Points ¾ King Cobra: € About: z They are one of the most venomous snakes on the planet and the longest of all venomous snakes. z Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin € The area covering nine villages in the forest range is they can deliver in a single bite—up to two- known to serve as a corridor and even as a habitat tenths of a fluid ounce—is enough to kill 20 for the population of tigers and elephantsmoving people, or even an elephant. between the three states of Goa, Karnataka and z They are the only snakes in the world that Maharashtra. build nests for their eggs, which they guard € It connects Mhadei sanctuary in Goa and Bhimgad ferociously until the hatchlings emerge. in Karnataka. € Habitat: € It has semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist z They live mainly in the rain forests and plains deciduous forests, and a number of unique trees, of India, southern China, and Southeast Asia. butterflies, and flowers.

nnn

Note: 100 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com History

Highlights z Indian Soldiers in Italy: World War II z Swami Vivekananda

¾ Indian Troops in WWII: Indian Soldiers € The Indian Army was the largest volunteer force in Italy: World War II during WWII, with over 2.5 million (more than 20 lakh) Indians participating. Why in News € These troops fought the Axis powers (Germany, The Indian Chief of Army Staff (COAS) will inaugurate Italy and Japan) as part of the Allies. They came an Indian Army Memorial in the Cassino town of Italy from different source organizations such as: during an official visit to the U.K. and Italy. z Indian Army: ¾ The memorial commemorates over 3,100 Common- „ In the first half of the 1940s, India was still wealth servicemen who took part in the effort to under the British rule and the Indian Army liberate Italy in World War II (1939-1945). fought in both world wars. It comprised both ¾ 900 Indian soldiers were also commemorated on Indian and European soldiers. this memorial. z East India Company Army and the British Army: Key Points „ Apart from the Indian army there was the East India Company Army that also recruited ¾ Indian Army in Italy: both Indian and European soldiers and the € Three infantry divisions of the Indian Army took British Army, which was also present in India. part in the Italian campaign. These were the 4th, 8th and 10th Indian Divisions. World War II z The first one to land in the country was the ¾ About: 8 Indian Infantry Division that saw action in € It was a conflict that involved virtually every Iraq and Iran when the British invaded these part of the world during the years 1939–45. countries in 1941. € It ended six years and one day after Germany’s z The second one arrived was the 4 Indian Division invasion of Poland on 1st September, 1939, that came to Italy from North Africa in Decem- sparked the 20th century’s second global conflict. ber 1943. In 1944, it was deployed in Cassino. € By the time it concluded on the deck of an z The third, which is the 10 Indian Division, was American warship on 2nd September, 1945, WW formed in 1941 in Ahmednagar and moved to II had claimed the lives of an estimated 60-80 Italy in 1944. million people, approximately 3% of the world’s € Men from the Punjab, and Indian plains, coped population. with the extremely hostile conditions experienced € The vast majority of those who died were in Italy. civilians, including 6 million Jews killed in Nazi z Even the Gurkhas from Nepal struggled with concentration camps during the Holocaust. the heavy and persistent rain, and freezing ¾ Principal Belligerents: nights in the Italian mountains. € Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan. € All three Divisions performed well in the Italian € Allies—France, Great Britain, the United States, Campaign and were highly respected by the Allied the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser extent, China. and Axis commanders alike.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 101

€ In 1893, upon the request of Maharaja Ajit Singh of ¾ Causes of War: the Khetri State, he took the name ‘Vivekananda.’ € The impact of the Treaty of Versailles following ¾ Contributions: World War I (1914-18). € Introduced the world to the Indian philosophies € The worldwide economic depression. of Vedanta and Yoga. € The rise of militarism in Germany and Japan. z He preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, an interpretation of € The failure of the League of Nations. Hinduism through a Western lens, and believed in combining spirituality with material progress. Italy in World War II € Laid the greatest emphasis on education for the ¾ Under Benito Mussolini, Italy had joined Nazi Advocated a Germany in 1936 and in 1940 it entered WWII regeneration of our motherland. man-making character-building education. against the Allies. € Best known for his speech at the World Parliament ¾ In 1943, Mussolini was overthrown and instead, in 1893. Italy declared war on Germany. of Religion in Chicago € Spelt out the ¾ The invasion of Italy by the Allies coincided with four pathways of attaining moksha from the worldly pleasure and attachment in an armistice that was made with the Italians. his books - Raja-yoga, Karma-yoga, Jnana-yoga and ¾ For two years during WWII, Italy became one of Bhakti-yoga. the war’s most “exhausting campaigns” because they were facing a skilled and resolute enemy. € Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the “maker of modern India.” ¾ Associated Organisations: Swami Vivekananda € He was the chief disciple of the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa and established the Why in News Ramakrishna Mission in 1897. Every year, 4th July is observed as the death anniversary z Ramakrishna Mission is an organization which of Swami Vivekananda, who is regarded as a one of the works in the area of value-based education, finest spiritual leaders and intellects India has produced. culture, health, women’s empowerment, youth and tribal welfare and relief and rehabilitation. Key Points € In 1899, he established the Belur Math, which ¾ Birth: He was born as Narendranath Datta on 12th became his permanent abode. January, 1863. ¾ Death: He died at Belur Math in 1902. Belur Math, € National Youth Day is held every year to observe located in West Bengal, is the headquarters of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission.

nnn

Note: 102 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com Geography

Highlights z Heat Dome z Vembanad Lake: Kerala z Taal Volcano: Philippines z Incidents of Lightning

like a lid on a pot, trapping heat. They are more Heat Dome likely to form during La Niña years like 2021, when waters are cool in the eastern Pacific and warm in Why in News the western Pacific. Recently, the Pacific Northwest and some parts of Canada recorded temperatures around 47 degrees, causing a “historic” heat wave. ¾ This is a result of a phenomenon referred to as a “heat dome”.

Key Points ¾ About: € The phenomenon begins when there is a strong change (or gradient) in ocean temperatures. In the process known as convection, the gradient causes more warm air, heated by the ocean surface, to rise over the ocean surface. € As prevailing winds move the hot air east, the northern shifts of the jet stream trap the air and move it toward land, where it sinks, resulting in ¾ Heat Wave: heat waves. € A heat wave is a period of abnormally high z Jet streams are relatively narrow bands of strong temperatures, more than the normal maximum wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The temperature that lasts for more than two days. winds blow from west to east in jet streams but € Heat waves typically occur between March and the flow oftenshifts to the north and south. June, and in some rare cases even extend till July. € This strong change in ocean temperature from € Heat waves can occur with or without high the west to the east is the reason for the heat humidity and have the potential to cover a large dome (HD). area, “exposing a high number of people to z The western Pacific ocean’s temperatures hazardous heat.” have increased in the past few decades and ¾ Impact on Humans (Wet-bulb temperature): are relatively more than the temperature in € As long as the body is producing sweat, which is the eastern Pacific. then able to evaporate quickly, the body will be € HD also prevents clouds from forming, allowing able to remain cool even under high temperatures. for more radiation from the sun to hit the ground. € Wet-bulb temperature (WBT) is a limit that considers € A heat dome is effectively what it sounds like - heat and humidity beyond which humans can not an area of high pressure that parks over a region tolerate high temperatures.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 103

€ Temperatures beyond WBT can cause heat related illnesses including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, sunburn and heat rashes. Sometimes these can prove fatal. ¾ Effects of Heat Dome: € Those living without an air conditioner see the temperatures of their homes rising to unbearably high, leading to sudden fatalities. € The trapping of heat can also damage crops, dry out vegetation and result in droughts. € The sweltering heat wave will also lead to rise in energy demand, especially electricity, leading to pushing up rates. ¾ Susceptibility: € The heat domes can also act as fuel to wildfires, which destroys a lot of land area in the US every € The Philippines is situated at the boundaries of two year. tectonic plates - the Philippines Sea Plate and the Eurasian plate - thus susceptible to earthquakes ¾ Climate change and heat domes: and volcanism. € The weather scientists have been highlighting € Taal is one of the most active volcanoes in the the effects of climate change on more extreme Philippines due to its location on the Pacific“Ring heat waves. of Fire” – a zone of intense seismic activity. z According to a 2017 NOAA (National Oceanic ¾ Phreatomagmatic Eruption: An eruption resulting and Atmospheric Administration) survey, average from the interaction of new magma or lava with US temperatures have increased since the late water and can be very explosive. The water can be 19th century. from groundwater, hydrothermal systems, surface € However, Scientists are usually wary of linking runoff, a lake or the sea. climate change to any contemporary event mainly € Other Types of Eruptions are: Icelandic, Hawaiian, because of the difficulty in completely ruling out Strombolian, Vulcanian, Pelean and Plinian. the possibility of the event having been caused ¾ by some other reason, or being a result of natural Dangers: variability. € Possible hazards of pyroclastic density currents (clouds of hot gas, ash, and other volcanic debris) and volcanic tsunami. Taal Volcano: Philippines ¾ Complex Volcano: It is classified as a “complex” volcano by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology Why in News and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Recently, the Philippines increased the alert level on Volcano Taal Volcano to level 3 on a five-level scale after a A volcano is a vent (opening) in the earth’s crust through Phreatomagmatic Eruption (PE)occurred that generated which molten material erupts suddenly. a dark grayish plume, one kilometer high. ¾ Alert Level 3 means there is magmatic unrest, or movement of magma that may further drive succeeding eruptions.

Key Points ¾ Location: € Situated on the island of Luzon, 50 km from Manila, Philippines.

Note: 104 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ A complex volcano, also called a compound ¾ The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the volcano, is defined as one that doesn’t have just east coast of the lake. one main vent or cone but several eruption points. ¾ In 2019, Willingdon Island, a seaport located in the Another such example is Mount Vesuvius on the city of Kochi, was carved out of Vembanad Lake. west coast of Italy. ¾ One of the most outstanding features of this lake is ¾ Unpredictable: Taal has erupted more than 30 times the 1252 m long saltwater barrier, Thanneermukkom, in the last few centuries, the most recent was in 2020. which was built to stop saltwater intrusion into Kuttanad. Vembanad Lake: Kerala Incidents of Lightning Why in News Kerala houseboats in Vembanad Lake are about to Why in News begin soon amid a robust vaccination drive. Recently, thirty people were killed in separate ¾ This is the largest lake in Kerala and the longest incidents of lightning in various parts of the country. Lake in India. ¾ Lightning is the biggest contributor to accidental Key Points deaths due to natural causes. ¾ Vembanad Lake is also Key Points known as Vembanad ¾ About: Kayal, Vembanad Kol, € It is a very Punnamada Lake (in rapid and massive discharge of electricity Kuttanad) and Kochi in the atmosphere. It is the process of occurrence Lake (in Kochi). of a natural ‘electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ¾ Spanning several ground or within a cloud’, accompanied by a bright districts of Kerala and flash and sound, and sometimes thunderstorms. covering a territory of more than 2033.02 z Inter cloud or intra cloud (IC) lightning are km2. visible and harmless. ¾ The lake has its z Cloud to ground (CG) lightning is harmful as source in four rivers, the ‘high electric voltage and electric current’ Meenachil, Achankovil, leads to electrocution. Pampa and Manimala. ¾ Process: ¾ It is separated from € It is a result of the difference in electrical charge the Arabian Sea by a narrow barrier island and is a between the top and bottom of a cloud. popular backwater stretch in Kerala. z The lightning-generating clouds are typically ¾ Vallam Kali (i.e Nehru Trophy Boat Race) is a Snake about 10-12 km in height, with their base Boat Race held every year in the month of August about 1-2 km from the Earth’s surface. The in Vembanad Lake. temperatures at the top range from –35°C to ¾ In 2002, it was included in the list of wetlands of –45°C. international importance, as defined by theRamsar € As water vapour moves upwards in the cloud, Convention. it condenses into water due to decreasing z It is the second-largest Ramsar site in India only temperatures. A huge amount of heat is generated after theSundarbans in West Bengal. in the process, pushing the water molecules ¾ The Government of India has identified the Vembanad further up. wetland under the National Wetlands Conservation € As they move to temperatures below zero, droplets Programme. change into small ice crystals. As they continue

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 105

upwards, they gather mass, until they become so € The most lightning activity on Earth is seen on the heavy that they start descending. shore of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. € It leads to a system where smaller ice crystals z At the place where the Catatumbo river falls move upwards while larger ones come down. The into Lake Maracaibo, an average 260 storm resulting collisions trigger release of electrons, days occur every year, and October sees 28 in a process very similar to the generation of lightning flashes every minute - a phenomenon electric sparks. The moving free electrons cause referred to as the Beacon of Maracaibo or the more collisions and more electrons leading to a Everlasting Storm. chain reaction. ¾ Climate Change & Lightning: € The process results in a situation in which the top € An increase of one degree Celsius would increase layer of the cloud gets positively charged while the frequency of lightning strikes by 12% , warned the middle layer is negatively charged. California University in a study published 2015. € A study published in Geophysical Research Letters in March 2021, too, has established links between climate change and rising incidences of lightning in the Arctic region. z The number of lightning strikes recorded during the summer months between 2010 and 2020 shot up from around 18,000 at the start of the decade to more than 1,50,000 by 2020. € Therefore even the Indian Institute of Tropical € In little time, a huge current, of the order of lakhs Management (IITM) concludes that the increase to millions of amperes, starts to flow between in lightning incidents may be directly related to the layers. the climate crisis, and the availability of more z It produces heat, leading to the heating of the moisture over land due to global warming. air column between the two layers of cloud. z IITM in Pune is the only institution in India that z It is because of this heat that the air column works full-time on thunderstorms and lightning. looks red during lightning. ¾ Increased Lightning Strikes in India: z The heated air column expands and produces € As many as 18.5 million lightning strikes were shock waves that result in thunder sounds. recorded in India between April 2020 and March ¾ Strikes Earth’s Surface: 2021, according to India’s second annual report € The Earth is a good conductor of electricity. While on lightning released by Lightning Resilient India electrically neutral, it is relatively positively charged Campaign (LRIC) recently. compared to the middle layer of the cloud. As a z LRIC is a joint initiative of Climate Resilient result, an estimated 20-25% of the current flow Observing-Systems Promotion Council (CROPC), is directed towards the Earth. National Disaster Management Authority, z It is this current flow that results in damage to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Union life and property. Ministry of Earth Science, World Vision India, € Lightning has a greater probability of striking raised UNICEF among others. objects on the ground, such as trees or buildings. z The campaign aims to reduce the number of z Lightning Conductor is a device used to protect deaths to less than 1,200 a year by 2022. buildings from the effect of lightning. A metallic € This is an increase of 34% compared to previous rod, taller than the building, is installed in the year; at least 13.8 million strikes were recorded walls of the building during its construction. between April 2019 and March 2020.

nnn

Note: 106 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Social Issues

Highlights z Drop in Open Defecation: Wash Report z Trafficking in Persons Report z Delay in Aadhaar Enrolment due to Incomplete NRC: Assam z Tele-Law z ‘Joint Communication’ for Tribal Communities z Child Soldier Recruiter List z Draft Anti-Trafficking Bill z ICDS Survey in Jharkhand z Gender Self Identification z World Population Day

Key Points Drop in Open ¾ Findings of the Report: Defecation: Wash Report € On Open Defecation: z Within India, open defecation had been highly Why in News variable regionally since at least 2006 but by According to a new report by the Wash Institute(a 2016 open defecation had decreased in all global non-profit organisation), India was responsible states, with the largest drops seen in Himachal for the largest drop in open defecation since 2015, in Pradesh and Haryana. terms of absolute numbers. z Progress in curbing open defecation in sub- ¾ Universal access to water, sanitation and hygiene Saharan Africa was slow. (WASH) to achieve the United Nations-mandated € On SDG 6: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 was also z , the emphasised. Between 2016 and 2020 global population with access to safely managed drinking water WASH at home increased to 74%, from 70%. ¾ WASH is an acronym that stands for the interrelated z There is an improvement in at-source water areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. resources and onsite sanitation systems. ¾ The World Health Organisation (WHO) WASH „ At-source water resources include piped Strategy 2018-25 has been developed in response water, boreholes or tubewells, protected to Member State Resolution (WHA 64.4) and the dug wells, protected springs, rainwater and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDG 3: packaged or delivered water. Good Health and Well Being, SDG 6: Clean Water And Sanitation). „ Onsite sanitation system is a system in which ¾ It is a component of WHO’s 13th General Programme excreta and wastewater are collected, stored of Work 2019–2023 which aims to contribute to and/or treated on the plot where they are the health of three billion through multisectoral generated. actions like better emergency preparedness and z There was an increase in safely managed response; and one billion with Universal Health sanitation services to 54%, from 47% between Coverage (UHC). 2016 and 2020. ¾ It also takes on board the need for progressive ¾ Challenges: realization of the human rights to safe drinking- € In order to ensure long-term sustainability of both water and sanitation, adopted by the UN General centralised and decentralised sanitation, proper Assembly in July 2010. funding and investment was required.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 107

€ The Report also talked about hygiene, especially Key Points in the context of the novel coronavirus disease ¾ National Register of Citizens: (Covid-19). € NRC is a register prepared in respect of each village, z In June 2020, the World Health Organization showing the houses or holdings in a serial order and Unicef jointly launched the ‘Hand Hygiene and indicating against each house or holding the for All’ initiative, which aims to improve access number and names of persons staying therein. to handwashing infrastructure as well as € The register was first prepared after the 1951 stimulating changes in handwashing practices Census of India and since then it has not been where facilities are available. updated until recently. z Handwashing facilities with soap and water € It has been updated in Assam only for now and the increased to 71%, from 67%. government plans to update it nationally as well. € However, 3 in 10 people worldwide could not € Its purpose is to separate “illegal” immigrants wash their hands with soap and water at home from “legitimate” residents. during the Covid-19 pandemic due to lack of € Registrar General and Census Commissioner India water resources. is the Nodal Agency for NRC. ¾ Open Defecation: ¾ NRC Issue in Assam (Background): € It refers to the practise whereby people go out € The issue of its update assumed importance as in fields, bushes, forests, open bodies of water, Assam witnessed large-scale illegal migration or other open spaces rather than using the toilet from erstwhile East Pakistan and, after 1971, to defecate. from present-day Bangladesh. € It poses a serious threat to the health of children € This led to the six-year-long Assam movement in India. from 1979 to 1985, for deporting illegal migrants. € It exposes women to the danger of physical attacks € The movement culminated in the signing of the and encounters such as snake bites. Assam Accord in 1985. It set 25th March, 1971, € Poor sanitation also cripples national development, as the cut-off date for the deportation of illegal by diverting people’s hard-earned money towards migrants. out of pocket expenditure on health (leading cause z Since the cut-off date prescribed under articles of dragging people into poverty), rather than 5 and 6 of the Constitution was th19 July, 1949 productive investment like education. - to give force to the new date, an amendment was made to the Citizenship Act, 1955, and Delay in Aadhaar a new section was introduced. It was made applicable only to Assam. Enrolment due to z The Assam Accord was signed between the Incomplete NRC: Assam All Assam Students Union (AASU), the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad and the Central Government. Why in News € A petition was filed in the Supreme Court (SC) The Aadhaar enrolment of more than 27 lakh people in 2009 by an Non-governmental Organization in Assam has become uncertain/delayed because of the (NGO) called Assam Public Works demanding the delay in completing the process of the National Register identification and deportation of illegal Bangladeshis of Citizens (NRC). in Assam. ¾ The biometrics of these people were frozen after € In December 2014, a division bench of the SC the publication of the NRC in August 2019. ordered that the NRC be updated in a time-bound ¾ The Centre had earlier been asked to unfreeze the manner. biometrics since the NRC was yet to be recognised € In 2018, the SC mentioned the prospect of sample as a document for citizenship. re-verification in an order, saying that it could

Note: 108 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

consider re-verifying 10% of the names included € It pertains to more effective implementation of the in the NRC. Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 and for harnessing € In July 2019, the state government gave an affidavit the potential for livelihood improvement of the in the SC seeking a re-verification of 20% included Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FDSTs) and names in the districts bordering Bangladesh and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFDs). 10% in the rest of the districts. € State forest departments will carry out verification z However, it was dismissed after the erstwhile of claims for forest rights, mapping of forest lands coordinator of the NRC submitted that re- involved and provision of necessary evidence as verification was already done. required, authentication of records, joint field € The Assam government is firm on its demand of inspections, awareness generation etc. 10-20% re-verification of the nationality claims z The lack of recognition of forest rights has left made by some of the people included in the final tribal and forest dwelling communities across NRC, published in 2019. the country insecure of tenure and fear of ¾ Current Scenario: eviction from their lands. € The state government of Assam has provided € State forest departments are to undertake projects the latest data regarding ‘foreigner’ detection for value chain addition including capacity building in the state. of primary collectors, new harvesting methods, € There is a need for re-verification because people storage, processing and marketing ofNon -Timber​ of Assam want a correct NRC. Forest Products (NTFP). € Also, there has been a delay in issuing the rejection € A nodal agency to be designated for specific non- slips to the over 19 lakh excluded people so that timber forest productsas supply chain platforms they can move court to claim nationality. in collaboration with TRIFED, Ministry of Ayush, MFP (Minor Forest Produce) Federations, Van z Officials have cited theCovid-19 pandemic and the floodsin the state as reasons for the delay. Dhan Kendras etc. ¾ z The rejection slips would carry the reason of Forest Dwellers and MFP: rejection, which would differ from person to € Tribals and other forest dwellers can contribute person and based on the reason they would significantly in efforts towards climate change be able to challenge their exclusion in the through preservation of biodiversity, environmental Foreigners’ Tribunals. conservation and enhancing forest cover. „ Every individual, whose name does not figure € Forest dwellers are dependent on forests, not in the final NRC, can represent his/her case only for their livelihood but their traditions are in front of the Foreigners Tribunals. also intertwined with forests. € Non-Timber Forest Products or Minor Forest ‘Joint Communication’ Produce (MFP): z MFP includes all non-timber forest produce for Tribal Communities of plant origin and includes bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and Why in News many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, honey, lac, tusser etc. A joint communication was signed by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Ministry of Environment, Forest, z It provides both subsistence and cash income and Climate Change which is aimed at giving more power for people who live in or near forests. to the tribal communities in managing the forest z They also form a major portion of their food, resources. fruits, medicines and other consumption items and also provide cash income through sales. Key Points z NTFP are also known as MFP or Non-Wood ¾ Joint Communication: Forest Produce (NWFP).

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 109

„ The NTFP can be further categorized into z The law will apply to every offence oftrafficking Medicinal And Aromatic Plants (MAP), oil in persons with cross-border implications. seeds, fiber and floss, resins, edible plants, € Victims Covered: bamboo, reeds and grasses. z It extends beyond the protection of women and children as victims to now include transgenders Draft Anti-Traffcking Bill as well as any person who may be a victim of trafficking. Why in News z It also does away with the provision that a victim necessarily needs to be transported Recently the Ministry of Women and Child Develop- from one place to another to be defined as a ment released Draft anti-trafficking ,Bill the Trafficking victim. in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill, € Defines ‘Exploitation’: 2021. z The exploitation of the prostitution of others ¾ The bill once finalised will need the Cabinet approval or other forms of sexual exploitation including and assent from both the houses of Parliament to pornography, any act of physical exploitation, become a Law. forced labour or services, slavery or practices ¾ A previous draft had been introduced in 2018 but similar to slavery, servitude or forced removal that could not be introduced in Rajya Sabha amid of organs, illegal clinical drug trials or illegal stiff opposition from Parliamentarians and experts. bio-medical research. € Government Officers as Offenders: Key Points z Offenders will also include defence personnel and ¾ Criticism to the Old Bill: government servants, doctors and paramedical € According to the United Nations’ human rights staff or anyone in a position of authority. experts, it was not in accordance with the € Penalty: international human rights laws. z A minimum of seven years which can go up to € The Bill seemed to combine sex work and migration an imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of Rs 5 with trafficking. lakh in most cases of child trafficking. € The Bill was criticised for addressing trafficking z In case of the trafficking of more than one child, through a criminal law perspective instead of the penalty is now life imprisonment. complementing it with a human-rights based and € Similarity to Money laundering Act: victim-centred approach. z Property bought via such income as well as € It was also criticised for promoting“rescue raids” used for trafficking can now be forfeited with by the police as well as institutionalisation of provisions set in place, similar to that of the victims in the name of rehabilitation. money laundering Act. € It was pointed out that certain vague provisions € Investigation Agency: would lead to blanket criminalisation of activities z The National Investigation Agency (NIA)shall that do not necessarily relate to trafficking. act as the national investigating and coordinating ¾ Provisions in the New Bill: agency responsible for prevention and combating € It extends to all citizens inside as well as outside of trafficking in persons. India, € National Anti-Human Trafficking Committee: z Persons on any ship or aircraft registered in z Once the law is enacted, the Centre will notify India wherever it may be or carrying Indian and establish a National Anti-Human Trafficking citizens wherever they may be, Committee, for ensuring overall effective z A foreign national or a stateless person who implementation of the provisions of this law. has his or her residence in India at the time z This committee will have representation from of commission of offence under this Act, and various ministries with the home secretary as

Note: 110 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

the chairperson and secretary of the women the right of every human to live with dignity and and child development ministry as co-chair. prohibits slavery. z State and district level anti-human trafficking € Blue Heart Campaign: The Blue Heart Campaign committees will also be constituted. is an international anti-trafficking program started ¾ Significance: by the UNODC. € The transgender community, and any other person, € Sustainable Development Goals: Various SDGs has been included which will automaticallybring aim to end trafficking by targeting its roots and under its scope activity such as organ harvesting. means viz. Goal 5 (Achieve gender equality and € Also, cases such as forced labour, in which people empower all women and girls), Goal 8 (Promote lured with jobs end up in other countries where sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic their passports and documentation is taken away growth, full and productive employment and decent and they are made to work, will also be covered work for all) and Goal 16 (Promote peaceful and by this new law. inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, ¾ Legislations in India that Prohibits Human Trafficking: accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels). € Article 23 (1) in the constitution of India prohibits trafficking in human beings and forced labour. € The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 Gender Self Identification (ITPA) penalizes trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation. Why in News € India also prohibits bonded and forced labour Recently, the Spanish government approved a draft through the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) bill that would allow anyone over the age of 14 to legally Act 1976, Child Labour (Prohibition and Abolition) change gender without a medical diagnosis or hormone Act 1986, and Juvenile Justice Act. therapy. € Sections 366(A) and 372 of the Indian Penal ¾ Currently, for someone to change their gender in Code, prohibits kidnapping and selling minors into official records, the law first requires two years of prostitution respectively. hormone therapy and a psychological evaluation. € Apart from this, the Factories Act, 1948 guaranteed ¾ ‘Self-Identification’ has been a long held demand of the protection of rights of workers. trans-right groups around the world, including in India, ¾ International Conventions, Protocols and Campaigns: as prejudice against trans people remains rampant. € Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Traf- ficking in Persons, especially Women and Children Key Points in 2000 as a part of the UN Convention Against ¾ Gender Self-Identification (Concept): Transnational Organised Crime. The United € A person should be allowed to legally identify with Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the gender of their choice by simply declaring so, responsible for implementing the protocol. It offers and without facing any medical tests. practical help to states with drafting laws, creating comprehensive national anti-trafficking strategies, z Arguments in Favour: and assisting with resources to implement them. „ The current processes for declaring one’s € Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, desired gender are lengthy, expensive and Sea and Air. It entered into force on 28th January degrading. 2004. This also supplements the UN Convention „ Trans people face daily discrimination Against Transnational Organised Crime. The Protocol and it is vital that steps are taken to tackle is aimed at the protection of rights of migrants discrimination andprovide the services and and the reduction of the power and influence of support people need. organized criminal groups that abuse migrants. „ Gender identity is considered to be an € Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) inherent part of a person which may or may is a non-binding declaration that establishes not need surgical or hormonal treatment or

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 111

therapy and all persons must be empowered z Further, it noted that the right to equality to make their decisions affecting their own (Article 14 of the Constitution) and freedom bodily integrity and physical autonomy. of expression (Article 19(1)(a)) was framed in z Arguments Against: gender-neutral terms (“all persons”). „ Gender self-identification goes far beyond € In 2018, the SC also decriminalised same-sex respecting people’s right to believe what relationships (Read down the Provisions of Section they want; to dress or act or express their 377 of the Indian Penal Code). identity as they want. Features of Transgender Persons Act, 2019 „ This is a political and social demand that ¾ Definition of a Transgender Person: The Act defines affects everybody, but in particular women, a transgender person as one whose gender does gay people and transsexuals. not match the gender assigned at birth. It includes „ The medicalization of gender identity has transmen and trans-women, persons with intersex allowed for vital legal recognition and variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio- transition-related healthcare for some cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra. members of the trans community. ¾ Certificate of Identity: The Act states that a ¾ Countries where Self-ID is Legal: transgender person shall have the right to self- € 15 countries around the world recognise self- perceived gender identity. ID, including Denmark, Portugal, Norway, Malta, € A certificate of identity can be obtained at the Argentina, Ireland, Luxembourg, Greece, Costa District Magistrate’s office and a revised certificate Rica, Mexico (only in Mexico City), Brazil, Colombia, is to be obtained if sex is changed. Ecuador and Uruguay. ¾ The Act has a provision that provides transgender € In Hungary, a newly adopted law effectively bans all the right of residence with parents and immediate content about homosexuality and gender change family members. from school curriculum and television shows for ¾ The Act prohibits discrimination against a children under the age of 18. transgender person in various sectors such as ¾ Rules in India: education, employment, and healthcare etc. € In India, the rights of transgender persons are ¾ Seeks to establish Natonal Council for Transgender governed by the Transgender Persons (Protection persons. of Rights) Act, 2019 and the Transgender Persons ¾ Punishment: It states that the offences against (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020. transgender persons will attract imprisonment z Under the Rules, an application to declare between six months and two years, in addition gender is to be made to the District Magistrate. to a fine. Parents can also make an application on behalf of their child. Trafficking in Persons Report z There will be no medical or physical examination for procedures for issue of certificate of identity/ Why in News change of gender. According to the Trafficking in Persons report 2021, € In National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. released by the US State Department, the Covid-19 Union of India, 2014 case, the Supreme Court pandemic has resulted in an increase in vulnerability to declared transgender people to be a ‘third gender’. human trafficking and interrupted existing anti-traffic z The Court interpreted ‘dignity’ under Article efforts. 21 of the Constitution to include diversity in ¾ Human trafficking, also called trafficking in persons, self-expression, which allowed a person to lead form of modern-day slavery involving the illegal a dignified life. It placed one’s gender identity transport of individuals by force or deception for the within the framework of the fundamental right purpose of labour, sexual exploitation, or activities to dignity under Article 21. in which others benefit financially.

Note: 112 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

Key Points z There are also a few “Special Cases” such as , where the civil conflict and humanitarian ¾ Findings of the Report: Yemen crisis make gaining information difficult. € While India did not meet the minimum standards to eliminate trafficking, the government wasmaking significant efforts, although these were inadequate, Tele-Law especially when it came to bonded labour. € Chinese government engaged in widespread Why in News forced labour, including through the continued Recently, the Justice Department commemorated mass arbitrary detention of more than one million the milestone of crossing 9 lakh beneficiariesunder its Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and other Tele-Law programme through Common Service Centres. Muslims. ¾ Common Services Centre (CSC) programme is an ¾ Reasons for Increased Trafficking: initiative of theMinistry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), € The concurrence of the increased number of indi- that serves as the access points for delivery of various viduals at risk, traffickers’ ability to capitalise on electronic services to villages in India, thereby con- competing crises, and the diversion of resources tributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society. to pandemic response efforts has resulted in an ideal environment for human trafficking to flourish Key Points and evolve. ¾ About: ¾ Categorisation of Countries: € It was launched by the Ministry of Law and Justice € The categorisation is based not on the magnitude in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics of a country’s trafficking problem but on efforts and Information Technology (MeitY) in 2017 to to meet minimum standards for the elimination address cases at the pre–litigation stage. of human trafficking. € It is presently operating in 633 districts (including € The countries are designated on the three-tier 115 Aspirational Districts) across 34 States/UTs system: through a network of 50,000 CSCs. z Tier 1 countries are those countries whose € Under this programme, smart technology of video governments fully comply with the Trafficking conferencing, telephone/instant calling facilities Victims Protection Act (TVPA - US’s law on available at the vast network of Common Service human trafficking) minimum standards. Centres at the Panchayat level are used to connect „ USA, UK, Australia, Bahrain and South Korea the indigent, down-trodden, vulnerable, unreached are some of the countries in tier 1. groups and communities with the Panel Lawyers z Tier 2 countries are those countries whose for seeking timely and valuable legal advice. governments do not fully comply with TVPA’s € Even though the Tele-law programme is technology minimum standards but are making significant driven, its success is dependent on the working efforts to bring themselves into compliance of field functionaries comprising Village Level with those standards. Entrepreneurs (VLEs), Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs), „ Tier 2 watchlist countries are those where the State Coordinators and Panel Lawyers. absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is significant or is significantly increasing. „ India is placed in Tier 2 category. z Tier 3 countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so. „ Afghanistan, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, North Korea, Iran, Russia, South Sudan, Syria and Turkmenistan are under this tier.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 113

¾ Benefits: € It enables anyone to seek legal advice without Child Soldier Recruiter List wasting precious time and money.The service is free for those who are eligible for free legal Aid as Why in News mentioned under Section 12 of the Legal Services The US has added Pakistan and 14 other countries Authority Act, 1987. For all others a nominal fee to a Child Soldier Recruiter List that identifies foreign is charged. governments having government-supported armed € According to a recent report titled ‘Quality of groups that recruit or use child soldiers. Legal Representation: An Empirical Analysis of ¾ Child Soldier refers to any person below 18 years of Free Legal Aid Services in India’, the majority of age who has been, recruited or used by an armed the people who are entitled to the free legal aid force or armed group in any capacity. system see the service as an option only when they cannot afford a private lawyer. € It includes but is not limited to children, boys and girls who are used as fighters, cooks, porters, ¾ Supports SDGs: spies or for sexual purposes (Paris Principles on the € It can be noted that this initiative is in line with Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict 2007). Sustainable Development Goal-16, which seeks to “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for Key Points sustainable development, provide access to justice ¾ About Child Soldier Recruiter List: for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”. € The US Child Soldiers Prevention Act -2008 (CSPA) requires the publication in the annualTrafficking in Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act Persons (TIP) report a list of foreign governments ¾ In 1987, the Legal Services Authorities (LSA) Act was that have recruited or used child soldiers. enacted to give free and competent legal services € Some of the countries which have been added to to the poor and paved the way for the constitution the list are Pakistan, Turkey, Afghanistan, Myanmar, of National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) and Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Yemen etc. other legal service institutions at the State, district z The United Nations (UN) verified that over and taluka level. 7,000 children had been recruited and used € NALSA along with other Legal Services Institutions as soldiers in 2019 alone. conducts Lok Adalats. Lok Adalat is one of the € The CSPA prohibits the US government from alternative dispute redressal mechanisms, it is providing military assistance, including money, a forum where disputes/cases pending in the military education and training, or direct sales of court of law or at pre-litigation stage are settled/ military equipment, to countries that recruit and compromised amicably. use child soldiers. ¾ Free legal services under LSA Act are available ¾ Related Global Conventions: to a person belonging to Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste, woman, child, victim of human € The recruitment or use of children below the age trafficking, differently abled person, industrial of 15 as soldiers is prohibited by both the UN workman, and person in custody in a protective Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the home and the poor. additional protocols to theGeneva Conventions. z The CRC says childhood is separate from Related Constitutional Provisions adulthood, and lasts until 18; it is a special, ¾ Article 39A of the Constitution provides for free protected time, in which children must be legal aid to poor and weaker sections of the allowed to grow, learn, play, develop and flourish society, to promote justice on the basis of equal with dignity. opportunity. z The Geneva Conventions and their Additional ¾ Articles 14 and 22(1) also make it obligatory for the Protocols form the core of international State to ensure equality before the law. humanitarian law, which regulates the conduct

Note: 114 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

of armed conflict and seeks to limit its effects. € Though not very common in India, child soldiers They protect people not taking part in hostilities are seen among non-state forces such as insurgent and those who are no longer doing so. organizations in the NorthEast region mainly( in € The Optional Protocol to the CRCon the involvement Assam, Manipur, Nagaland) and militant factions of children in armed conflict further prohibits in the Kashmir region. kids under the age 18 from being compulsorily € Also, they are hired in maoist affected areas of recruited into state or non-state armed forces or Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, directly engaging in hostilities. Maharashtra. z Optional Protocols to human rights treaties € Some global human rights organisations allege are treaties in their own right, and are open to Indian security forces of using children as spies signature, accession or ratification by countries and messengers, although the Indian government who are party to the main treaty. denies this allegation. € Recruiting Child Soldiers is also considered a war € National Cadet Corps (NCC) which is run by the crime under the Rome Statute of the International Ministry of Defence, aims to motivate youth from Criminal Court (ICC). age 13 to take up a career in the armed forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) and Territorial Army. € Also, the United Nations has identified the recruitment and use of child soldiers as among z They can not be equated with the child soldiers. six “grave violations”. Other Five violations are: € Steps Taken by Indian Government: z Killing and maiming of children; z India is party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and acceded to Optional z Sexual violence against children; Protocol in November 2005. z Abduction of children; „ The Constitution encompasses most rights z Attacks against schools or hospitals; included in the CRC as Fundamental Rights z Denial of humanitarian access for children. and Directive Principles of State Policy. ¾ Issues with the CRC: „ Article39 (f) states that children are given € These treaties are imitedl in scope and nature, and opportunities and facilities to develop in a they tend to be idealistic rather than practicable. healthy manner and in conditions of freedom € The UN’s mechanisms only bind state parties that and dignity and that childhood and youth are ratify the treaties. It therefore hasno authority over protected against exploitation and against countries that are not parties to the convention moral and material abandonment. or are non-state entities, such as rebel militias z The Indian Penal Code criminalises the recruiting child soldiers. recruitment or use in hostilities of persons € It also relies on the signatories themselves to under-18 years by state armed forces or non- implement its doctrines and prevent human rights state armed groups. abuses around the world. z Adults of age over 18 years are recruited in the z Therefore, most of the responsibility in preventing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). such abuses lies with the individual countries themselves. ICDS Survey in Jharkhand € While the UN views its treaties and conventions as binding on state parties, it hasno police power Why in News mechanism to enforce its decisions. According to a recent survey, more than 55% did € The CRC and its Optional Protocol are limited by not receive Supplementary Nutritionunder Integrated the signatories’ willingness to comply. Somalia, Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in Jharkhand even for example, is a signatory but it hasn’t ratified once in the first six months of 2021. the convention. ¾ Indian Scenario: Key Points

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 115

¾ Vulnerability of Jharkhand: z Scheme for Adolescent Girls: € As per National Family Health Survey-4 data, „ It aims at out of school girls in the age every second child in the state is stunted and group 11-14, to empower and improve their underweight and every third child is affected by social status through nutrition, life skills and stunting andevery 10th child is affected from severe home skills. and around wasting 70% children are anemic. „ The scheme has nutritional and non ¾ ICDS: nutritional components which include € About: nutrition; iron and folic acid supplementation; z The Umbrella Integrated Child Development health check up and referral service; nutrition Services (ICDS) is a centrally sponsored scheme and health education; mainstreaming out of implemented by the Ministry of Women and school girls to join formal schooling bridge Child Development. It was launched in 1975. course/ skill training; life skill education, home € Six Schemes under Umbrella ICDS: management etc.; counselling/ guidance on z Anganwadi Services Scheme: accessing public services. „ It is a unique programme for early childhood z Child Protection Scheme: care and development. „ It aims to contribute to the improvement „ The beneficiaries under the Scheme are and well-being of children in difficult children in the age group of 0-6 years, circumstances, as well as, reduction of pregnant women and lactating mothers. vulnerabilities to situations and actions „ It provides a package of six services namely that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, supplementary nutrition, pre-school abandonment and separation of children non-formal education, nutrition & health from parents. education, immunization, health check-up z POSHAN Abhiyaan: and referral services. „ It targets to reduce the level of stunting, „ Supplementary Nutrition includes Take under-nutrition, anemia and low birth Home Ration (THR), Hot Cooked Meal and weight babies by reducing mal-nutrition/ morning snacks and holds importance for undernutrition, anemia among young children many vulnerable households as it impacts as also, focus on adolescent girls, pregnant the nutritional outcome of the children. women and lactating mothers. z Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: ¾ Objectives of ICDS: „ It provides cash incentive amounting to € To improve the nutritional and health status of Rs.5,000/- in three installments directly to children in the age-group 0-6 years. the Bank/Post Office Account of Pregnant € To lay the foundation for Women and Lactating Mother (PW&LM) in proper psychological, DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) Mode during physical and social development of the child. pregnancy and lactation in response to € To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, individual fulfilling specific conditions. malnutrition and school dropout. z National Creche Scheme: € To achieve effective coordination of policy and „ It provides day care facilities to children of implementationamongst the various departments age group of 6 months to 6 years of working to promote child development. women. € To enhance the capability of the mother to look „ The facilities are provided forseven and half after the normal health and nutritional needs hours a day for 26 days in a month. of the child. „ Children are provided with supplementary € To facilitate, educate and empower Adolescent nutrition, early childcare education, and Girls (AGs) so as to enable them to become self- health and sleeping facilities. reliant and aware citizens.

Note: 116 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

World Population Day

Why in News Recently, Uttar Pradesh (UP) unveiled its New Population Policy 2021-30, on the occasion of World Population Day (11th July).

Key Points ¾ About: € In 1989, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recommended that 11th July be observed by the international community as World Population Day, a day to focus attention on the urgency and importance of population issues. € UNDP was inspired by the public interest and Population Trends & Issues awareness that was created by “Five Billion Day” ¾ India’s Population Related Issues: on 11th July 1987 when the world’s population € Large Size: reached 5 billion. z India has just 2% of the world’s landmass and € A resolution to the effect was passed, and the day 16% of the global population. was first marked on 11th July, 1990. z It has been reported that India will soon € The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was surpass China’s population (Country with created in 1969, the same year the United Nations largest population). General Assembly declared “parents have the € Fast Growth: exclusive right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children. z Mismatch in birth and death rate resulted in faster growth of population in the past few € Theme 2021: Rights and Choices are the Answer: decades. Whether baby boom or bust, the solution to shifting fertility rates lies in prioritising all people’s „ However, India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is reproductive health and rights. declining. It is now 2.2 per woman, nearing the replacement rate of 2.1, according to the ¾ U.P’s New Population Policy: latest government data. € The policy proposes five key targets: population „ TFR indicates the average number of children control; ending curable maternal mortality and expected to be born to a woman during her illnesses; ending curable infant mortality and reproductive span of 15-49 years. ensuring betterment in their nutrition status; betterment of sexual and reproductive health- € Education and Population Growth: related information and facilities among the youth; z Poverty and illiteracy contribute immensely and care of elders. to the population explosion. € The UP government’s law commission has „ Recent data shows that the overall literacy also prepared a population control bill, under rate in the country is about 77.7%. which a two-child norm will be implemented „ At the all-India level, the male literacy rate is and promoted. higher at 84.7% compared to 70.3% among € As per the draft, violation of the policy is penalised women. with measures such as barring for elections and z Children in rural areas are considered as assets, abidance is rewarded with measures such as who will take care of parents at old age, also promotion in jobs, subsidy etc. more children mean more earnings.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 117

z The level of female education has a direct demographic dividend into a demographic impact on fertility, as it is evidenced that the disaster for India. fertility rate of illiterate women tends to be z This youth potential is often referred to as the higher than those who are literate. ‘demographic dividend’ which means that if the z Lack of education prevents women from having youth available in the country are equipped full knowledge about the use of contraceptives, with quality education and skills training, then of the consequences of frequent childbirth. they will not only get suitable employment € Unemployment: but can also contribute effectively towards the z High youth unemployment in India is turning economic development of the country.

nnn

Note: 118 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com Art & Culture

Highlights z Silambam z Kuvempu Award 2020 z Kalbeliya Dance

€ The main goal of the training is to defend the user Silambam against several armed opposition. ¾ Weapons Used: Why in News € Bamboo staff - It is the main weapon and the Recently, an Indian named Ganesan Sandhirakasan length of the bamboo staff depends on the height has won the top prize in a government-initiated compe- of the practitioner. tition for migrant workers in Singapore for his perfor- € Maru - a thrusting weapon which is made from mance of Silambam. horns of deer. € Aruva (sickle), Savuku (a whip), Vaal (curved sword), Key Points Kuttu Katai (spiked knuckle duster), Katti (knife), ¾ About: Sedikuchi (cudgel or short stick). ¾ : € Silambam is an ancient weapon-based martial Origin art that emerged in Tamilakam, which is now € It is believed to have originated somewhere Tamil Nadu region of India. It is one of the oldest around 1000 BC and it was brought by the sage martial arts in the world. Agastya Munivar. € The term Silambam contains a meaning which € Sillappadikkaram and many other works of Sangam itself reveals about the sport, silam stands for a literature mentions about the practice and it dates nd ‘mountain’ and bam stands for bamboo which is back to 2 century BC whereas oral folk tales the main weapon used in this form of martial arts. traces it back even further around 7000 years. z But according to recent surveys and archaeological z It is closely linked to the Kerala martial art excavations, kalaripayattu. it has been confirmed that Silambam was practiced from at least 10,000 BC. € Foot movement are key elements to silambam ¾ and kutta varisai (empty hand version). There Ban and Evolution: are sixteen movements needed to master the € It was employed in warfare by most rulers of south movement of the foot to keep pace with the India. The soldiers of the Tamil ruler Veerapandiya movement of the stick. Kattabomman used silambam to wage war against the British colonists, there was aban on it by the end of the 18th century. € The ban, coupled with the introduction of firearms, did affect the combative nature of silambam greatly and due to which it has transformed into a performance art.

Other Martial Arts of India ¾ Gatka – Punjab ¾ Paika – Odisha ¾ Thag Ta – Manipur

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 119

¾ Kalaripayattu – Kerala z It is associated with a Rajasthani tribe of the same name. ¾ Choliya – Uttarakhand € It was included in the United Nations Educational, ¾ Pang Lhabsol – Sikkim Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) ¾ Musti Yudha– Uttar Pradesh list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in 2010. ¾ Mardani Khel – Maharashtra z UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is ¾ Pari Khanda – Bihar made up of those intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate diversity of cultural her- Kalbeliya Dance itage and raise awareness about its importance. z It was established in 2008 when the Conven- tion for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Why in News Heritage came into effect. Recently, due to Covid-19-Pandemic an app called € The dance form consists of swirling; graceful move- chendavia is gaining popularity among the students of ments that make this dance a treat to behold. kalbeliya dance. z The movements associated with the Kalbelia also make it one of the most sensuous forms of folk dance in India. € It is generally performed for any joyous celebration and is considered to be an integral part of the Kalbeliya culture. € Another unique aspect of the Kalbelia dance is that it is only performed by women while the men play the instruments and provide the music. ¾ Instruments & Dress: € Women in flowing black skirts dance and swirl, replicating the movements of a serpent, while men accompany them on the “khanjari” instru- ment and the “poongi”, a woodwind instrument Key Points traditionally played to capture snakes. ¾ About: € The dancers wear traditional tattoo designs, € Kalbeliya dances are an expression of the Kalbelia jewellery and garments richly embroidered with community’s traditional way of life. small mirrors and silver thread.

Note: 120 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

¾ Kalbeliya Songs: ¾ Kuvempu: € They disseminate mythological knowledge € Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, popularly known through stories. by his pen name Kuvempu, was an Indian poet, € They also demonstrate the poetic acumen of playwright, novelist and critic. the Kalbeliya, who are reputed to compose € He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada lyrics spontaneously and improvise songs during poet of the 20th century. performances. € He was the first Kannada writer to be decorated € Transmitted from generation to generation, the with the Jnanpith Award for his version of the songs and dances form part of an oral tradition Ramayana titled ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam.’ for which no texts or training manuals exist. Jnanpith Award ¾ Kalbeliya Tribe: ¾ The Jnanpith award is the highest literary award € Kalbeliya tribe people were once professional in India and can only be conferred annually upon snake handlers, today they evoke their former an Indian citizen. occupation in music and dance that is evolving ¾ English along with other languages mentioned in in new and creative ways. Indian Constitution (8th Schedule) is considered € They live a nomadic life and belong to the for the Award. scheduled tribes. ¾ The prize carries a cash award of Rs. 11 lakhs, a € The largest number of the population of Kalbeliyas citation, and a bronze replica of Vagdevi (Saraswati), is in Pali district, then Ajmer, Chittorgarh and the goddess of learning. Udaipur district (Rajasthan). ¾ It is sponsored by the cultural organization Bharatiya ¾ Other Traditional Folk Dances of Rajasthan: Gair, Jnanpith. Kachchhi Ghodi, Ghoomar, Bhavai, etc. Sahitya Akademi Awards ¾ Sahitya Akademi award established in 1954, is a Kuvempu Award 2020 literary honour that is conferred annually by Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of letters. Why in News ¾ Akademi gives 24 awards annually to literary works Recently, Odia poet Dr. Rajendra Kishore Panda has in the languages it has recognized and an equal been selected for the Kuvempu Rashtriya Puraskar number of awards to literary translations from and into the languages of India. (award) 2020. ¾ Besides th ¾ Dr. Panda is a poet and novelist from Odisha. He has e 22 languages enumerated in the published 16 poetry collections and a novel. Constitution of India, the Sahitya Akademi has recognised English and Rajasthani as languages in ¾ He was presented the Gangadhar National Award which its programme may be implemented. in 2010, and the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1985. ¾ The Sahitya Akademi award is the second-highest Key Points literary honour by the Government of India, after the Jnanpith award. ¾ About: € It is a national awardinstituted in memory of the Gangadhar National Award late poet laureate Kuvempu. ¾ Gangadhar National Award For Poetry is a literary € The award is given annually to a writer who has award given in the field of literature for poetry by contributed in any of the languages recognised Sambalpur University. It is named after Gangadhar by the Constitution of India. Meher. ¾ The award carries a € The award carries a cash award of Rs. 5 lakh, a cash prize of Rs 50,000, a shawl silver medal and a citation. and citation.

nnn

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 121 Security

Highlights z Naga Peace Talks

Naga Peace Talks

Why in News Recently, the Nagaland Government appealed to all Naga political groups and extremist groups to cooperate in establishing unity, reconciliation and peace in the region. ¾ The peace process between the central government and two sets of the Naga extremist groups has been delaying for more than 23 years. Nagas ¾ Nagas are a hill people who are estimated to number about 2.5 million (1.8 million in Nagaland, 0.6 million in Manipur and 0.1 million in Arunachal states) and living in the remote and mountainous country between the Indian state of Assam and Burma. ¾ There are also Naga groups in Burma. ¾ The Nagas are not a single tribe, but an ethnic community that comprises several tribes who live in the state of Nagaland and its neighbourhood. € Under the leadership of Angami Zapu Phizo, the ¾ Nagas belong to the Indo-Mongoloid Family. NNC declared Nagaland as an independent State ¾ There are nineteen major Naga tribes, namely, on 14th August,1947, and conducted a “referendum” Aos, Angamis, Changs, Chakesang, Kabuis, Kacharis, in May 1951 to claim that 99.9% of the Nagas Khain-Mangas, Konyaks, Kukis, Lothas (Lothas), supported a “sovereign Nagaland”. Maos, Mikirs, Phoms, Rengmas, Sangtams, Semas, € Nagaland achieved statehood in December 1963. Tankhuls, Yamchumgar and Zeeliang. Nagaland was formed out of the Naga Hills district of Assam and the then North East Frontier Agency Key Points (NEFA) province (now Arunachal Pradesh). ¾ Background of Naga Insurgency: € In 1975, under the Shillong Accord, some factions € The Naga Hills became part of British India in 1881. of NNC and NFG (Naga Federal Government) agreed € The effort to bring scattered Naga tribes together to give up arms. resulted in the formation of the Naga Club in 1918. € A group of about 140 members led by Thuingaleng z The club aroused a sense of Naga nationalism. Muivah, who was at that time in China, refused to € The club metamorphosed into the Naga National accept the Shillong Accord and formed the National Council (NNC) in 1946. Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980.

Note: 122 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

€ In 1988, the NSCN split into NSCN (IM) and NSCN € Ceasefire Agreement (1997): The NSCN-IM signed (K) after a violent clash. a ceasefire agreement with the government to € While the NNC began to fade away, and Phizo died stop attacks on Indian armed forces. In return, in London in 1991, the NSCN (IM) came to be seen the government would stop all counter-insurgency as the “mother of all insurgencies” in the region. offensive operations. ¾ Demands of Naga Groups: € Framework Agreement (2015): In this agreement, the Government of India recognised the unique € The key demand of Naga groups has been a Greater history, culture and position of the Nagas and their (sovereign statehood) i.e redrawing of Nagalim sentiments and aspirations. boundaries to bring all Naga-inhabited areas in € Recently, the State government decided to prepare the Northeast under one administrative umbrella. the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland z It includes various parts of Arunachal Pradesh, but later due to pressure from various fractions, Manipur, Assam and Myanmar as well. the decision was put on hold. € The demand ¾ Issues: also includes € The 2015 agreement apparently made the peace the separate process inclusive but it created suspicion about the Naga Yezabo central government exploiting divisions within the (Constitution) Nagas on tribal and geopolitical lines. and Naga na- € The issue of integration of contiguous Naga- tional flag. inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal ¾ Peace Initiatives: Pradesh in view of the demand for territorial € Shillong Accord unification of ‘Greater Nagalim’ will trigger violent (1975): A peace clashes in the different affected states. accord was signed in Shillong in which the NNC € Another major hindrance to the peace process leadership agreed to give up arms. in Nagaland is the existence of more than one z However, several leaders refused to accept organisation, each claiming to be representative the agreement, which led to the split of NNC. of the Nagas.

nnn

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 123 Miscellaneous

Highlights z Malaria Free China z Project BOLD: KVIC z Kesaria Buddha Stupa: Bihar z SPARSH: System for Pension Administration Raksha z Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra

z Global Status: Globally, 40 countries and Malaria Free China territories have been granted a malaria-free certification from WHO – including, most recently, Why in News El Salvador (2021), Algeria (2019), Argentina (2019), Paraguay (2018) and Uzbekistan (2018). The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared ¾ Disease Burden (Global): China as “malaria-free”. € According to the World Malaria Report, 2020, ¾ It is a result of a seven decade-long, multi-pronged the number of malaria cases worldwide in 2019 health strategy that was able to entirely eliminate was around 229 million, with 4,09,000 lives lost indigenous cases for four straight years. to the mosquito-borne disease. Key Points € Majority of cases were reported in Africa, while India and Southeast Asia recorded a significant ¾ About Malaria Free Status: drop. € Certification Process: Certification of malaria z Cases in India fell from approximately 20 elimination is the official recognition by WHO of million to 6 million. a country’s malaria-free status. z India is the only high endemic country which z WHO grants the certification when a country has reported a decline of 17.6% in 2019 as has demonstrated with rigorous, credible compared to 2018. evidence that the chain of indigenous malaria ¾ transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has China’s Malaria Strategy: been interrupted nationwide for at least the € Started in 1950s: The efforts began in the early past three consecutive years. 1950s, a time when China was reporting millions z A country must also demonstrate the capacity of cases annually, starting with a multi-pronged to prevent the re-establishment of transmission. approach of providing anti-malarial medicines while targeting mosquito breeding groundsand z The final decision on awarding a malaria-free using insecticide spraying. certification rests with the WHO Director- General, based on a recommendation by the € The 523 Project: It led to the discovery of independent Malaria Elimination Certification artemisinin in the 1970s. Panel (MECP). z Artemisinin is the core compound of artemisinin- based combination therapies, the € Western Pacific Region: China is the first country in most effective the WHO Western Pacific Region to be awarded a antimalarial drugs available today. malaria-free certification in more than 3 decades. € Insecticide-treated Nets: In the 1980s, China began using insecticide-treated nets widely, distributing z Other Countries: In Western Pacific region the countries that have achieved this status include 2.4 million nets by 1988. Australia (1981), Singapore (1982) and Brunei € 1-3-7 Strategy: The strategy refers to: Darussalam (1987). z A one-day deadline to report a malaria diagnosis,

Note: 124 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

z Confirming a case and determining the spread responsible for coordinating WHO’s global efforts by the third day, and to control and eliminate malaria. z Measures taken to stop the spread by the ¾ The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination seventh day, along with continued surveillance (2017-22) was launched in July 2017 which laid down in high-risk areas. strategies for the following five years. € : With assistance from the Global Fund Global € It gives year wise elimination targets in various Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria parts of the country depending upon the starting in 2003, China “stepped up training, endemicity of malaria. staffing, laboratory equipment, medicines and ¾ Implementation of theHigh Burden to High Impact mosquito control.” (HBHI) initiative was started in four states (West Malaria Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya ¾ Malaria is a life threatening mosquito borne blood Pradesh) in July 2019. disease caused by plasmodium parasites. ¾ Distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets ¾ It is predominantly found in the tropical and (LLINs) to high burden areas has led to a reduction subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well in endemicity in these otherwise very high endemic as Asia. states. ¾ The parasites spread through the bites of infected ¾ The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has female Anopheles mosquitoes. established Malaria Elimination Research Alliance- India (MERA-India) which is a conglomeration of ¾ After entering the human body, parasites initially partners working on malaria control. multiply within the liver cells and then attack the Red Blood Cells (RBCs) resulting in their rupture. ¾ There are 5 parasite species that cause malaria Kesaria Buddha Stupa: Bihar in humans, and 2 of these species – Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – pose the Why in News greatest threat. The world-famous Kesaria Buddha stupa in east ¾ Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like Champaran district of Bihar is waterlogged following illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle floods in some parts of the district. aches, and tiredness. ¾ The ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) has declared ¾ It is preventable as well as curable. it a protected monument of national importance. ¾ The RTS,S vaccine trains the immune system to attack the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, Key Points the most deadly species of the malaria parasite. ¾ About: Recent Initiatives of WHO: € The stupa is said to be the tallest and the largest ¾ The WHO has also identified 25 countries with the Buddhist stupa in the world. potential to eradicate malaria by 2025 under its € It is located in Kesariya, at a distance of 110 ‘E-2025 Initiative’. kilometers from Patna, in the East Champaran Initiatives to Curb Malaria in India district of Bihar. ¾ In India, malaria elimination efforts were initiated € It has a circumference of almost 400 feet and in 2015 and were intensified after the launch of stands at a height of about 104 feet. the National Framework for Malaria Elimination ¾ History: (NFME) in 2016 by the Ministry of Health and € The first construction of the Stupa is dated to the Family Welfare. 3rd century BCE. The original Kesaria stupa probably € NFME is in line with WHO’s Global Technical dates to the time of Ashoka (circa 250 BCE), as Strategy for Malaria, 2016-2030, which guides the remains of a capital of a Pillar of Ashoka were the WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP), discovered there.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 125

Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra

Why in News Recently, the Vice President greeted the people on the eve of Rath Yatra of Jagannath Puri in Odisha. Key Points ¾ Jagannath Rath Yatra € Ratha Jatra, also called as Chariot Festival, is a Hindu festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri, Odisha. € The festival is celebrated on the 2nd day of Shukla Paksha of Ashadh, the third month, according to € The current stupa dates to the Gupta Dynasty the traditional Oriya calendar. between 200 AD and 750 AD and may have € It is a 9 day-long event and marks the return been associated with the 4th century ruler Raja of Lord Krishna to Vrindavan with his brother Chakravarti. Balabhadra and sister Subhadra to Gundicha € The stupa mound may even have been inaugurated Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (maternal aunt’s during the Buddha’s time, as it corresponds in home) near Saradha Bali, Puri. many respects to the description of the stupa € During the festival, thethree holy chariots carrying erected by the Licchavis of Vaishali to house the idols of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balaram alms bowl the Buddha has given them. (Balabhadra) and sister Subhadra are pulled by z In ancient times, Kesaria was under the rule thousands of devotees from India and abroad. of the Mauryas and the Licchavis. ¾ Jagannath Temple € Two great foreign travelers, Faxian (Fahien) and € The temple is believed to have been constructed in Xuan Zang (Hsuan Tsang), had visited this place the 12th century by King Anatavarman Chodaganga in ancient times and have left interesting and Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. informative accounts of their travels. € Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ € The discovery of gold coins bearing the seal of the where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power famous emperor Kanishka of the Kushan dynasty of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in (AD 30 to AD 375) goes on to further establish the Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath. ancient heritage of Kesaria. € This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and ¾ Exploration: is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram). € The stupa’s exploration had started in the early 19th century after its discovery led by Colonel € There are four gates to the temple - Eastern Mackenzie in 1814. ‘Singhdwara’ which is the main gate with two € Later, it was excavated by General Cunningham in 1861-62 and in 1998 an ASI team led by archaeologist K.K. Muhammad had excavated the site properly. ¾ Other Popular in Bihar: € Maha Bodhi Temple € Nalanda Mahavihara z Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. € Rohtasgarh Fort

Note: 126 CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 www.drishtiIAS.com

crouching lions, Southern ‘Ashwadwara’, Western € It has been launched as part of KVIC’s “Khadi ‘Vyaghra Dwara’ and Northern ‘Hastidwara’. Bamboo Festival” to celebrate 75 years of z There is a carving of each form at each gate. independence “Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”. € In front of the entrance stands the Aruna stambha ¾ Reason for Selecting Bamboo: or sun pillar, which was originally at the Sun € It grows very fast and in about three years’ time, Temple in Konark. they could be harvested. ¾ Other Important Monuments of Odisha: € It is also known for conserving water and reducing € Konark Sun Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site) evaporation of water from the land surface, which is an important feature in arid and drought-prone € Lingaraj Temple regions. € Tara Tarini Temple ¾ Significance: € Udaygiri and Khandagiri Caves € It will reduce desertificationand provide livelihood and multi-disciplinary rural industry support. Project BOLD: KVIC € It will also act as havens of sustainable development and food security. Why in News ¾ Extension: Recently, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission € KVIC is set to replicate the Project at Village Dholera (KVIC) launched a project named Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Ahmedabad district in Gujarat and Leh-Ladakh by August this year. in Drought (BOLD) from the village NichlaMandwa in region Udaipur, Rajasthan. z Total 15,000 bamboo saplings will be planted before August 2021. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) ¾ Other Initiatives to fight Desertification: ¾ It is a statutory body established under the Khadi € Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956. € Soil Health Card Scheme. ¾ It is charged with the planning, promotion, € Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PKSY). organisation and implementation of programmes for the development of Khadi and other village € National Mission for Green India. industries in the rural areas in coordination with € India has ratified the United Nations Convention other agencies engaged in rural development to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). wherever necessary. ¾ It functions under theMinistry of Micro, Small and SPARSH: System for Pension Medium Enterprises. Administration Raksha Key Points ¾ About: Why in News € Under the project 5000 saplings of special bamboo Recently, the Ministry of Defence has implemented species – BambusaTulda and BambusaPolymorpha SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha). from Assam – have been planted over 16 acres of vacant arid Gram Panchayat land of village Key Points NichlaMandwa. ¾ About: z KVIC has thus created a world record of planting € It is an integrated system for automation of the highest number of bamboo saplings on a sanction and disbursement of defence pension. single day at one location. € This web-based system processes pension claims € It is the first of its kind exercise in India. It seeks and credits pension directly into the bank accounts to create bamboo-based green patches in arid of defence pensioners without relying on any and semi-arid land zones. external intermediary.

Note: www.drishtiIAS.com CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 2021 127

€ A Pensioner Portal is available for pensioners to pensioners – State Bank of India (SBI) and Punjab view their pension related information, access National Bank (PNB) – have been co-opted as services and register complaints, if any. Service Centres. € SPARSH envisages establishment of Service Centres ¾ Other Initiative Related to Defence Pensions: to provide last mile connectivity to pensioners € One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme: It provides who may be unable to directly access the SPARSH the payment of the same pension to military portal. officers for the same rank for the same length z The two largest banks dealing with defence of service, irrespective of the date of retirement.

nnn

Note: Key Points Details

Summary Key Points Details

Summary