1. ECONOMY
1. Coronavirus: Impact on Trade 06 2. Pushing the Wrong Energy Buttons 08 3. RBI Guidelines to Regulate Payment Aggregators and Gateways 10 4. RBI to Infuse Rs. 10,000 Crore via OMO 11 5. Economic Relief Measures to Tackle Coronavirus Outbreak 13 6. RBI cuts Rates, Allows Loan Moratorium 14 7. Lockdown and the Agri Sector 16 1.1 ECONOMY SNIPPETS
1. Ajodhya Hills Hydel Project 18 2. Star Labelling Programme 18 3. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) 19 4. Bhoomi Rashi Portal 20 5. Hubballi-Ankola Railway Link Project 21 6. Flexi Fare System 21 7. Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme 22 8. Government Raises Excise Duty Cap on Fuel 23 9. Teesta River 24 10. Invest India Business Immunity Platform 25 11. Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective 25 2. ENVIRONMENT
1. E-Waste Recycling has Doubled, says Centre 27 2. New Paddy Variety – “Sahyadri Megha” 29 3. Olive Ridley goes for daytime Nesting after 7 Years 30 4. Protecting peatlands can Help Attain Climate Goals 31 2.1. ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS
1. Gir National Park 33 2. Fishing Cat and Otters 34 3. Whale Shark 35 4. Red Crowned Roofed Turtle 35 5. World Wildlife Day 36 6. Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens) 36 7. Polar vortex and India’s Weather 37 8. White Giraffe 38 9. Hubli-Ankola Railway Line Project 38 10. Smallest Dinosaur 39 www.iasgatewayy.comwww. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044 Current-26265326/988442166 Affairs | Monthly Magazines6/9884472636 | Online Tests 1 | P a g e
11. Krishna Raja Sagar Dam 40 12. Zoji La 41 13. Radioactive Dumping in Fukushima 41 14. Uranium Contamination in Ground Water 42 15. GreenCo Rating System 43 16. Fish Fossil 44 17. Wild Berry of Assam 44 18. Carissa carandas (the Great Hedge of India) 45 19. Ozone Layer Healing 46 20. Microbes Beneath Ocean Floor 46 21. Legacy Waste 47 22. ‘Rapid Test’ to Identify COVID-19 Exposure 48
3. POLITY & GOVERNANCE
1. Sedition Cases – A Hindrance for Right to Dissent 50 2. Curative Petition 51 3. Supreme Court Ruling on Cryptocurrency 53 4. Godavari Cauvery Interlinking Project 54 5. Court Documents Accessibility to Third-party 56 6. Cabinet approves Companies (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 57 7. Mines and Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill 58 8. Status of Government Schools in India 60 9. Epidemic Diseases Act 61 10. Revocation of Suspension of MPs in Lok Sabha 63 11. IBC (Amendment) Bill, 2020 65 12. Rajya Sabha nod for Vivad Se Vishwas Bill 67 13. Information Technology (IT) Act 69 14. National Clean Air Programme 71 15. Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019 72 16. Maharashtra Tops in Organ Donation 74 17. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 76 18. Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram 77 19. Supreme Court Invokes Special Powers in Defection Case 78 20. The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 80 21. Setting Up of National Technical Textile Mission 82 22. Land Encroachment & Religion 83 23. Large-scale Electronics Manufacturing in India 85
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24. Elections to 18 Rajya Sabha Polls Deferred due to Pandemic 87 25. Aircraft Amendment Bill, 2020 89 26. Section 188 IPC 90 27. MSP for Minor Forest Produce 91 28. Relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana 93 29. “Operation Namaste” of Indian Army 95 30. Cantonment Boards Gear up to COVID-19 Challenge 96
3.1. POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS
1. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) 98 2. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference 2020 99 3. Dwar Praday Yojana (Door Delivery System) 99 4. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) 100 5. ICGS Varad 101 6. Mission Purvodaya 102 7. Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019 103 8. Apex body on River Linking 104 9. Solar Charkha Mission 105 10. Jeevan Kaushal Curriculum 106 11. North East Venture Fund 107 12. Open Data Portal 108 13. KIRAN-Women Scientist Scheme 108 14. Conference on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 2020 109 15. New Textile Policy – 2020 110 16. Centre has decided to Increase Manpower at SFIO 111 17. Cri-MAC & NCTC 111 18. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) 112 19. Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 113 20. Market Intelligence and Early Warning System (MIEWS) Web Portal 114 21. National Creche Scheme 115 22. Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 115 23. Uncertainity over NPR 116 24. Ibuprofen and COVID-19 117 25. National Commission for Homoeopathy Medicine Bill 2019 118 26. Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana 119 27. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 119 28. AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre (AYUSH HWC) 120
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29. Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices 121 30. Digital e-Learning Platforms 121 31. Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) 122 32. National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) 123 33. Telemedicine Guidelines 123 34. District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Funds 124 35. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) 125 36. COVID-19 National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC) 125 37. Employees Provident Fund Scheme, 2020 126
4. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
1. National Interlinking of Rivers Authority 128 2. COVID-19 now a Pandemic, says WHO 130 3. Curing HIV Using Stem Cell Therapy 132 4. South India's Vulture 133 5. Bird Flu - Avian Influenza 134 4.1 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS
1. RaIDer-X 136 2. Rare Disease Day 136 3. MILAN 2020 137 4. ICONSAT 2020 137 5. Solar Cycle/ Cycle 25 139 6. Kyasanur Forest Disease 140 7. ARI-516-Hybrid Variety of Grapes 141 8. Herd Immunity 142 9. SEPSIS 142 10. ExoMars 143 11. Superhydrophobic Coating 144 12. ISRO’s Assistance in Fishing 145 13. Tejas Aircraft 146 14. Hydroxychloroquinine for COVID-19 Treatment 146 15. ANOSMIA – AGEUSIA 147 16. New signs of COVID-19 - Anosmia and Ageusia 147 17. Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) 148 18. Laser Surface Micro-Texturing 149 19. Red Flag- US 149 20. NASA’s Mission to study Giant Solar Particle Storms 150 www.iasgatewayy.comwww. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044 Current-26265326/988442166 Affairs | Monthly Magazines6/9884472636 | Online Tests 4 | P a g e
5. ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS
1. #SheInspiresUs 151 5.1 ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS SNIPPETS
1. Lesbos 153 2. Gairsain 153 3. Attukal Pongala Festival 154 4. Pyramid of Djoser 155 5. Chaitra Jatra Festival 156 6. Yakshagana 156 7. Lockdown: Arr-Rinam 156 8. Gond Tribals 157
6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. India Invited for US-Taliban Talks in Qatar 158 2. India is host to 457 Migratory Fauna, says CMS 159 3. USA-Taliban Peace Deal 161 4. Nominations for World Heritage List for the year 2020 164 5. Visit of UN Delegation on Palestine to India 167 6. ICC probe on Afghanistan Alleged War Crimes 169 7. Foreigners Tribunals 171 8. ODF+ and ODF++ 172 9. India Not Obligated to implement WTO’s Dispute Panel 173 10. UN World Happiness Report- 2020 174 11. Controlling COVID-19 through South Korean Model 175
6.1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS
1. Indian Ocean Commission 176 2. Gender Social Norms Index 177 3. Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit 178 4. Biological Weapons Convention 179 5. VIX (Volatility Index) 180
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1. ECONOMY 1. Coronavirus: Impact on Trade Context: • Recently, the OECD in its Interim Economic Outlook, has warned that the coronavirus presents "greatest danger" to the world economy since the times of the financial crisis. Businesses are dealing with lost revenue and disrupted supply chains due to China’s factory shutdowns, lockdown in dozens of cities and other countries extending travel restrictions. Impact on Trade and Commerce: • With many companies and countries depending on the health of China’s economy, here are a few ways the outbreak is sending ripples around the world. • Predicted slump ✓ China is the world’s second-largest economy and leading trading nation, so economic fallout from coronavirus also threatens global growth. ✓ Experts predicted China's economic growth to slump to 4.5% in the first quarter of 2020, down from 6% in the previous quarter – the slowest pace since the financial crisis. However, the economists were optimistic China’s economy would recover quickly if the virus could be contained. • Falling oil demand ✓ China is the world’s biggest oil importer. ✓ With coronavirus hitting manufacturing and travel, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted the first drop in global oil demand in a decade. • Disruption to Commerce ✓ The shortage of products and parts from China is affecting companies around the world. Apple’s manufacturing partner in China, Foxconn, is facing a production delay. Some carmakers including Nissan and Hyundai temporarily closed factories outside China because they couldn’t get parts. ✓ The pharmaceutical industry is also bracing for disruption to global production. ✓ Many trade shows and sporting events in China, Asia and across the world have been cancelled or postponed. • Travel and Tourism ✓ The travel and tourism industries were hit early on by economic disruption from the outbreak.
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✓ Global airline revenues are expected to fall by $4-5 billion in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of flight cancellations, according to a report from the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ✓ ICAO also forecasts that Japan could lose $1.29 billion of tourism revenue in the first quarter due to the drop in Chinese travellers while Thailand could lose $1.15 billion. Impact on India • India’s reliance on China is spread across almost all the sectors. • Indian pharma industry is dependent on Chinese imports to make medicines — the APIs (active pharma ingredients) come from China. • The $30 billion domestic smartphone market, the world's second largest now, will see major disruptions as it is heavily dependent on imports. • Solar power parks are dependent on Chinese imports. More than 80% of solar cells and modules used in India are imported from China-based manufacturers. • Apart from these, sectors such as toys, furniture, computers, cars and white goods are dependent on China. • A supply crunch in smartphones, TVs and electronics will impact ecommerce sales dearly. • These items comprise about half of the gross merchandise value of $31 billion ecommerce sales. A hidden opportunity for India: • The dependence on China has decreased, though only slightly, over the last five years. • From importing finished products, India is now assembling products and developing the ecosystem here as well. Investments from Chinese companies are helping boost the local ecosystem by expanding their manufacturing facilities in India. • India shall also accrue benefits from the lower oil prices, which have fallen as the virus attack brought down demand across the world. • Through this, longer-term benefits can accrue to us if India can take advantage of supply chain disruption as many suppliers will try to shift their manufacturing base from China to the rest of the world. • The Indian exporters of electronics, pharmaceuticals, speciality chemicals and automobile segments depend on China for raw material and are facing supply constraints, but there are several areas where there are increased opportunities for domestic traders. ✓ The coronavirus can be used as a catalyst in driving India’s course correction towards a global export pathway or towards self-subsistence.
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✓ Through this India can improve its global presence and as an additional benefit can generate employment opportunities to its citizens, where India’s unemployment rate is at 45 year low. 2. Pushing the Wrong Energy Buttons Context: • In the backdrop of the recent visit of the US President to India, the joint statement highlighted the setting of up of 6 nuclear reactors at Kovvada, AP by Westinghouse. • This article flags some of the issues with respect to the deal setting up nuclear reactors. Background: • In March 2019, India and USA agreed to set up the long-pending 6 nuclear reactors in Kovvada, Andhra Pradesh. • Under the agreement, the US Company Westinghouse Electric will sell 6 AP-1000 nuclear reactors to India. AP-1000 reactors are light water reactors where fuel used is U-235. Ordinary water acts as both coolant and moderator. • The Westinghouse electric will supply the nuclear reactor technology and NPCIL will be responsible for construction and operation of the plant. Problems Associated with these Projects: 1. High Cost ✓ Electricity from American reactors would be more expensive than competing sources of energy. ✓ According to estimates the first year tariff for electricity from nuclear reactors is about Rs. 25 per unit. In comparison the wind and solar energy costs have declined by around 70% to 90% in the last 10 years and are estimated to be around Rs.3/unit. 2. Safety and Civil Liability ✓ Given the experience of Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear reactors are prone to serious accidents. ✓ In this context the operator of the reactor would be responsible for compensation and not the supplier. This is true after India ratified the Convention of Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage in 2015. 3. Past Experiences • The past experience of setting up imported reactors such as Tarapur reactors in Maharashtra and Kudankulam reactors in Tamil Nadu has been poor as they have faced repeated shut downs.
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• For instance Tarapur reactors and Kudankulam reactors produced just 32% and 38%, respectively, of their capacity in 2018-19. India’s Civil Nuclear Cooperation - In Brief • In the aftermath of 1998 Pokhran Test India faced a nuclear isolation across the world. • This changed after the 2005 Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement. • In addition India also signed an agreement with IAEA in 2009 to place its civil nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. (IAEA Additional Protocols) • This paved the way for US companies to engage in nuclear commerce with India. • However despite the Indo-US nuclear deal, the nuclear liability regime in India was seen as hurdle for foreign companies to invest in India’s nuclear sector. • The major hurdle for companies to do nuclear commerce with India was the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 (CLINDA) which held the suppliers of nuclear power projects liable in case of nuclear accidents. Ratification of CSC: • This was solved in 2016 when India ratified the Convention of Supplementary Compensation. • This marked India’s willingness to accede to international nuclear liability regime which holds the operator liable to pay up for damage in case of nuclear accidents. (However it provides for operator to have the right to recourse with the supplier in the contract) • Besides India has also launched an insurance pool with a liability cap of ₹ 1,500 crore to cover the suppliers’ risk of potential liability. • As a result of this, foreign companies have showed interest in nuclear commerce with India. • Accordingly India has signed civil nuclear agreements with 14 countries including USA, France, Russia, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Sri Lanka, the UK, Japan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Czech Republic.
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3. RBI Guidelines to Regulate Payment Aggregators and Gateways Why in News? • The Reserve Bank of India has recently released guidelines for regulating activities of Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways functioning in India. What is meant by Payment Aggregators and Payment Gateways? • Payment Aggregators (PA) facilitates e- commerce sites and merchants in accepting payment instruments from the customers for completion of their payment obligations without the need for merchants to create a separate payment integration system of their own. • Payment Gateways (PG) are entities that provide technology infrastructure to route and facilitate processing of an online payment transaction without any involvement in handling of funds. PGs in India mainly include banks. Difference between PA and PG: • A Payment Gateway allows the merchants to deal in a specific payment option put on the portal, whereas a Payment Aggregator allows one to have multitudes of options for payment. Thus, a Payment Aggregator covers a payment gateway in its ambit. Key Guidelines given by RBI: 1. Mandatory Authorisation: ✓ A PA should be a company incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956 / 2013. ✓ Non-bank PAs will require authorisation from the RBI under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSSA). ✓ Banks provide PA services as part of their normal banking relationship and do not therefore require a separate authorisation from RBI. ✓ E-commerce marketplaces (e.g. flipkart, Paytm) providing PA services should separate PA services from the marketplace business and they should apply for authorisation on or before 30th June, 2021.
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✓ PGs will be considered as ‘technology providers’ or ‘outsourcing partners’ of banks or non-banks, as the case may be. 2. Disclosure Requirements: ✓ As need to disclose comprehensive information regarding merchant policies, customer grievances, privacy policy and other terms and conditions on the website and / or their mobile application. ✓ They need to undertake background and antecedent checks of the merchants to ensure that such merchants do not have any malafide intention of duping customers, and do not sell fake / counterfeit / prohibited products. 3. Capital Requirement: ✓ Existing PAs have to achieve a net worth of ₹15 crore by 31st March, 2021 and a net worth of ₹25 crore on or before 31st March, 2023. The net worth of ₹25 crore has to be maintained at all times thereafter. ✓ New PAs should have a minimum net worth of ₹15 crore at the time of application for authorisation and have to attain a net worth of ₹25 crore by the end of the third financial year of the grant of authorisation. The net worth of ₹25 crore has to be maintained at all times thereafter.
4. RBI to Infuse Rs. 10,000 Crore via OMO Why in News? • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to infuse ₹10,000 crore liquidity in the banking system by buying government securities through open market operations (OMO). What is Open Market Operations? • Open Market Operations (OMO) is one of the quantitative (to regulate or control the total volume of money) monetary policy tools which is employed by the central bank of a country to control the money supply in the economy. • OMOs are conducted by the RBI by way of sale or purchase of government securities (g- secs) to adjust money supply conditions. • The central bank sells g-secs to remove liquidity from the system and buys back g-secs to infuse liquidity into the system. These operations are often conducted on a day-to-day basis in a manner that balances inflation while helping banks continue to lend. • RBI carries out the OMO through commercial banks and does not directly deal with the public.
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• The RBI uses OMO along with other monetary policy tools such as repo rate, cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio to adjust the quantum and price of money in the system. How it would be done? • RBI will conduct simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities under Open Market Operations (OMO) for ₹10,000 crore each. • It will purchase the longer-term maturities (i.e. government bonds maturing in 2029), and simultaneously sell the shorter duration ones (i.e. short-term bonds maturing in 2020). • The eligible participants can bid or submit offers in electronic format on RBI’s Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber). Why such a Decision Taken now? • With the heightening of COVID-19 pandemic risks, certain financial market segments have been experiencing a tightening of financial conditions as reflected in the hardening of yields and widening of spreads. • To ensure that all market segments remain liquid and stable, and function normally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to infuse ₹10,000 crore liquidity in the banking system by buying government securities through open market operations. What are its Benefits? • This simultaneous purchase and sale will bring down interest on long term loans which can lead to increase in economic spending. • OMOs are primarily done to maintain ample liquidity in the system, which reflects that the RBI is keen that banks should transmit lower rates to borrowers. • The action of Operation Twist by the RBI is encouraging for the market. This step may become a driving factor for long-term economic activity and the addition of new investment stock. 1. ‘Operation Twist’ is when the central bank uses the proceeds from the sale of short- term securities to buy long-term government debt papers, leading to easing of interest rates on the long term papers. 2. Operation Twist first appeared in 1961 as a way to strengthen the U.S. dollar and stimulate cash flow into the economy. 3. In June 2012, Operation Twist was so effective that the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury dropped to a 200-year low.
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5. Economic Relief Measures to Tackle Coronavirus Outbreak Why in News? • Finance Ministry has announced several measures aimed at alleviating the growing economic stress in the country in the wake of the disruption caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Highlights: • Contrary to expectations, the Ministry did not announce any fiscal sops, and limited itself to providing extensions for a range of regulatory requirements. • The regulatory relief applies to taxation, both direct and indirect, as well as everyday working norms for a variety of economic magnates such as exporters and importers, small and medium-sized firms, and individuals as well. • The most important change relates to the regulatory forbearance for firms that are likely to face bankruptcies. Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), bankruptcy proceedings can be started against a firm that defaults on an amount of Rs 1 lakh or more, this threshold has now been raised to Rs 1 crore. This will immediately help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) which are expected to be among the worst hit due to the ongoing economic slowdown. By raising the threshold, the government has provided immediate reprieve to all such firms. • The ministry also noted that if the situation demands, that is, if the economic distress continues or intensifies, the government would consider suspending Sections 7, 9, and 10 of the IBC for a full six months after April end. • The government has increased the deadline for filing income-tax returns for 2018-19 has been relaxed and the penal interest rate has been reduced. On Goods and Services Tax compliance, too, there has been a similar relief.
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• The Aadhaar and PAN linkage too has been pushed to June-end. Government has also extended the deadline for dispute resolution schemes on the direct tax (Vivaad se Vishwas Scheme) and indirect taxes (Sabka Vishwas Scheme) till 30th June. • It has also provided relief to importers whose shipments are delayed or those who need extended quarantining facilities. • In the fisheries sector, Sanitary Import Permits, which were to expire by April 15 have been extended for 3 more months. However, these measures target only the organised sector of the economy. • About 90% of employment in India is in the informal or unorganised sector. Economic • slowdown affects that sector the most, and is likely to result in massive unemployment and deprivation. None of these measures is targeted towards that demographic.
6. RBI cuts Rates, Allows Loan Moratorium Why in News? • To ease impact of lockdown, RBI reduced the repo and reverse repo rates and the EMIs deferred for three months. About the News: • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opened up the liquidity floodgates for banks even as it reduced the key interest rate sharply by 75 bps and allowed equated monthly instalments (EMIs) to be deferred by three months in a move to fight the economic impact of the countrywide lockdown to check the spread of novel coronavirus. • The repo rate was reduced to by 75 bps 4.4% while the reverse repo rate was cut by 90 bps point to 4%. • The higher reduction in the reverse repo rate was aimed at prompting banks to lend more rather than keeping their excess liquidity with the RBI. • Apart from cutting the repo rate, RBI has also reduced the cash reserve ratio of banks which released ₹1.37 lakh crore liquidity. This, along with other measures, will see an infusion of ₹3.74 lakh crore into the banking system.
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• RBI has also allowed banks to defer payment of EMIs on home, car, personal loans as well as credit card dues for three months. Since non-payment will not lead to non-performing asset classification by banks, there will be no impact on credit score of the borrowers. • The following decisions were taken after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee headed by the RBI Governor. What is Monetary Policy Committee? • Strong recommendations to set monetary policy committee in India had come from Urjit Patel panel report. • Monetary Policy Committee is an executive body of 6 members. Of these, three members are from RBI while three other members are nominated by the Central Government. • Each member has one vote. In case of a tie, the RBI governor has casting vote to break the tie. MPC is required to meet for two days before deciding on rates. Further, it is needed to meet at least four times a year and make public its decisions following each meeting. • The core mandate of MPC is to fix the benchmark policy interest rate {Repo Rate} to contain inflation within the target level. • In that context, RBI is mandated to furnish necessary information to the MPC to facilitate its decision. Government also, if wishes to convey its views, can do so in writing to MPC. Different Terminologies in Banking Sector: • Loan moratorium period refers to a particular period of a loan tenure during which the borrower does not have repay anything. It can be described as a waiting period before the borrower will have to start paying the equated monthly instalments (EMIs) for his or her loan. It doesn’t mean that he is completely waived off his loans. • REPO rate (now 4.4%) denotes Re Purchase Option – the rate by which RBI gives loans to other banks. In other words, it is the rate at which banks buy back the securities they keep with the RBI at a later period. • Bank gives loan to the public at a higher rate, often 1% higher than REPO rate, at a rate known as Bank Rate. • RBI at times borrows from banks at a rate lower than REPO rate, and that rate is known as Reverse REPO rate (now 4%). • CRR or Cash Reserve Ratio corresponds to the percentage of cash each bank have to keep as cash reserve with RBI (in their current accounts) corresponding to the deposits they have. For example, say if State Bank of India (SBI) got a total deposit of Rs. 1 crore with them, they need to keep 4 % of that as cash reserve with RBI (around 4 lakh rupees).
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• The banks and other financial institutions in India have to keep a fraction of their total net time and demand liabilities in the form of liquid assets such as G-secs, precious metals, approved securities etc. The Ratio of these liquid assets to the total demand and time liabilities is called Statutory Liquidity Ratio (18.25%).
7. Lockdown and the Agri Sector Context: • COVID-19 and the 21-day lockdown to contain it, has brought all the sectors of the economy to a standstill. During such lockdowns, it is relatively easy to shut factories, IT parks, hotels, malls and multiplexes. But the agriculture and animal husbandry will continue to produce and also they must. • The Great Bengal Famine of 1943, as Amartya Sen famously documented, wasn’t brought about by a decline in food availability. Instead, it was a result of people not having access to food due to a collapse of “exchange entitlements”. Lockdown and the Agriculture Supply Chain: • The Food Corporation of India’s current wheat and rice stocks are over 3.5 times the required normative buffer reserve. Farmers are also set to harvest a bumper crop of wheat, chana, mustard, onion and other rabi season produce. • What India is at present facing is not a “supply”, but a “supply chain” problem. 1. Inter-state movement restrictions and arbitrary actions by local authorities to enforce the lockdown had hit the supply chain. 2. This includes closing down of produce collection centres and warehouses of organised retailers, which has broken the links in the chain connecting farmers to consumers. 3. This in turn has opened up arbitrage opportunities for unscrupulous speculators and middlemen. • It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that farmers are able to keep their animals alive and market the crop that has been, or will be, harvested during the lockdown period. • There is an urgent need to ensure that those keeping supply chains of essential items running are protected against COVID-19 lockdown. Problems in the Supply Chain: • Many essential services were kept out of the purview of the lockdown. Food, feed and agricultural inputs have been specifically notified as essential services.
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✓ But there are several implementational hurdles due to the vague specifications in the Government Notifications. • There are also reports of conflict between the police and citizens, including people involved in the transportation and delivery of food as well as inputs to farms. • The labour shortage has become a problem in the labour intensive dairy and poultry sectors. There were also issues of hoarding, done by the middlemen expecting shortages to increase their profits. Way Forward: • The government needs an immediate action plan to manage the agriculture and livestock sectors in the interest of both producers and consumers. • Ensure free movement of farm produce, livestock feed and veterinary medicines. • The Centre must issue a single notification relating to food items in a standard format and uniform language so that all ambiguities are removed. ✓ This needs to be finalised after consultations with the stakeholders. • The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) be invoked for the delivery of all essential services relating to food to prevent disruption of supplies. • The government must start planning now to prevent post-lockdown chaos, especially profiteering in the event of shortages. ✓ Place all food items, agri-inputs, packaging material and transport services under ESMA for a six-month period to prevent profiteering. • Suspend APMC (agricultural produce market committee) laws for the next six months. ✓ As traders with APMC licence are bound to act as cartels during rush hour, which will hurt both farmers and consumers. • Even in the Bengal Famine, the maintenance of essential food supplies to Calcutta was accorded very high priority by the authorities; the three million who died then were mostly the rural masses or those who did not survive after trekking from the districts to the city. • That lesson from history should not be forgotten. This is the moment to free movement and trade in all agricultural produce and prevent the unfortunate.
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1.1 ECONOMY SNIPPETS 1. Ajodhya Hills hydel project Why in News? • Tribals opposed to a proposed hydel power project in the remote Ajodhya Hills in West Bengal have threatened to heighten their protests.
Highlights: • According to the Forest Rights Act, 2006 if a forest land has to be acquired, then at least 50% of the affected population dependent on the land has to give consent in gram sabha, and a third of the villagers have to be women. The villagers protesting against the project refer to the 900 MW Purulia Pumped Storage Project (PPSP) that came up at Ajodhya Hills in the Baghmundi block of Purulia district around a decade ago. The villagers allege that it lead to massive loss of vegetation and hundreds of tribals lost their livelihoods. Ajodhya Hills: • Ajodhya Hills is a small plateau with hilly surroundings located in the Purulia district of the state West Bengal. It is the easternmost part of the Chhotanagpur Plateau and extended part of Eastern Ghats range. Highest peak of Ajodhya Hills is Chamtaburu. • The hills are largely inhabited by Santals, an ethnic tribe with a population of over 25,00,000 (25 lakh) across West Bengal. • The tribe speaks Santali, an Austroasiatic language that is the most widely-spoken of the Munda languages. The Turga Pumped Storage Project (TPSP) aims to utilise the waters of the Turga, a tributary of the Subarnarekha river, for peak power generation on a pumped storage type development.
2. Star Labelling Programme Why in News? • The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has included Deep Freezer and Light Commercial Air Conditioners (LCAC) under its Star Rating Programme on a voluntary basis
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Highlights: • The program will be initially launched in voluntary mode from 2ndMarch, 2020 to 31st December, 2021. • Thereafter, it will be made mandatory after reviewing the degree of market transformation in this particular segment of appliances. • In order to cover split ACs beyond the scope of existing BEE star labeling program upto a cooling capacity of 18kW, BEE has prepared a star labeling program for split ACs having cooling capacities in excess of 10.5kW and upto 18.0 kW. • This category of Air conditioners is termed as LCAC primarily due to their application in commercial air conditioning. Through this initiative, it is expected to save around 2.8 Billion Units by FY2030, which is equivalent to GHG reduction of 2.4-million-ton Carbon Dioxide. Why such Move? • Energy Efficiency has the maximum GHG abatement potential of around 51% followed by renewables (32%), biofuels (1%), nuclear (8%), carbon capture and storage (8%) as per the World Energy Outlook (WEO 2010). • India can avoid building 300 GW of new power generation up to 2040 with the implementation of ambitious energy efficiency policies (IEA – India 2020). • Successful implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures contributed to electricity savings of 86.60 BUs i.e. 7.14% of total electricity consumption of the country and emission reduction of 108.28 million tonnes of CO2 during 2017-18. Star Labeling Programme: • The programme has been formulated by Bureau of Energy Efficiency, as part of its mandate, under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. Under this Programme, BEE has covered 24 appliances till date wherein 10 appliances are under the mandatory regime. The existing BEE star labelling program for Air Conditioners is based on Indian Standard IS 1391 part 1, part 2 and covers AC with cooling capacities up to 10.5kW. 3. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) Why in News? • The Department of Agriculture is implementing a Crop Diversification Programme for replacing paddy crop with less water consuming alternative crops to save water and protect the soil in the state of Punjab.
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CDP: • It is a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
• It is being implemented in the Original Green Revolution States to divert the area of paddy crop to alternate crops and in tobacco-growing states to encourage tobacco farmers to shift to alternate crops/cropping system. Under CDP for replacing paddy crop, assistance is provided for four major interventions: ✓ Alternate crop demonstrations ✓ Farm mechanization & value addition, Site-specific activities ✓ Contingency for awareness, training, monitoring, etc. • However, for replacing tobacco crop, tobacco-growing states have been given the flexibility to take suitable activities/interventions for growing alternative agricultural/horticultural crops.
4. Bhoomi Rashi Portal Why in News? • Bhoomi Rashi Portal is in news recently regarding the land acquisition process of Central Government. Key Points: • The Bhoomi Rashi Portal is an e-Governance initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.The objective of this is to expedite the process of land acquisition for National Highways. It has fully digitized and automated the entire process of land acquisition. • Earlier, the acquisition of land for the purpose of National Highway projects, payment of compensation to the landowners etc. was done manually by physical movement of documents. • It had some constraints viz. delay in issuing land acquisition notification, errors in the land/ area details etc. • The portal is integrated with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for depositing the compensation in the account of affected/ interested persons on a real-time basis.
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5. Hubballi-Ankola Railway Link Project Why in News? • The controversial Hubballi-Ankola railway line project, which came up for discussion at the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife meeting, saw stiff opposition from a majority of the Board Members. Highlights: • In the year 1997-1998 the Ministry of Railways sanctioned the construction of the 168.289 KM broad gauge railway line from Hubli (Dharwad District) to Ankola (Uttara Kannada District) of Karnataka, to provide a direct rail link to the coast. • The proposed rail project entails large-scale destruction of forests, including the felling of nearly 2.2 lakh fully grown trees in a biodiversity hotspot. • There was political pressure from elected representatives of the region to get environmental clearance and permission from the wildlife board on the grounds that the project was a demand of the people of north Karnataka. • Officials supportive of the project argued that the railway line did not cut through a protected area and was outside it, and hence the permission of the board was not required. • The project was rejected by the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had opposed it, and even the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had rejected it twice on the grounds that the damage rendered by such a linear project through pristine forests could not be mitigated and the adverse effect on flora and fauna would be irreversible. • The 164.44-km railway line passes through pristine forests between two major protected areas, Kali Tiger Reserve and Bedthi Conservation Reserve. • A 75-km stretch between Hubballi and Yellapur comprises plain land, while a 56-km stretch between Yellapur and Sunksal is a ghat section where the track alignment cuts through the Western Ghats.
6. Flexi Fare System Why in News? • During the eight months period from 1st July 2019 to 29th February 2020, approximately 28.93 Lakh berths remained vacant in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto type trains having flexi fare.
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Flexi Fare System: • The flexi-fare scheme was introduced by the IRCTC in 2016 for the 142 “premium trains” such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto (now Vande Bharat Exp. as well). • Under this dynamic pricing system, the base fare increases by 10% with every 10% of berths sold, with a limit set at 1.5 times the original price. • The scheme was applicable to all classes, except AC first class and executive class. The pricing system is still in force. Issues with the System: • After the introduction of flexi-fares, the railways lost 700,000 passengers in just 11 months while the additional revenue earned as a result of the scheme was ₹ 552 crore. • While drawing upon the fundamentals of dynamic pricing, what Indian Railways failed to introduce was the simple principle that flexi-fares work ways, hikes and declines. • The railways model just focused on increasing fares with no provision for a decrease in price when demand is low. • While half of the decision makers in the Railway Board support it, half of them oppose it stating that what the railways requires is an increase in ticket prices across the board.
7. Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme Why in News? • The Union Cabinet has approved financial assistance to the Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC2.0) Scheme which would support setting up of both Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) and Common Facility Centres (CFCs). Highlights: • The EMCs will aid the growth of the Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector, help the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, drive innovation and catalyse the economic growth of the region by attracting investments in the sector. • EMCs would be set up in geographical areas of certain minimum extent, preferably contiguous, where the focus is on development of basic infrastructure, amenities and other common facilities for the ESDM units. • For the CFC, there should be a significant number of existing ESDM units located in the area and the focus is on upgrading common technical infrastructure and providing common facilities.
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Significance: • The Scheme will create a robust infrastructure base for the electronic industry to attract flow of investment in the ESDM sector and lead to greater employment opportunities. Following are the expected outputs/outcomes for the Scheme: ✓ Availability of ready infrastructure and Plug & Play facility for attracting investment in electronics sector. ✓ New investment in electronics sector ✓ Jobs created by the manufacturing units; ✓ Revenue in the form of taxes paid by the manufacturing units
8. Government Raises Excise Duty Cap on Fuel Why in News? • The government has raised the cap on special additional excise duty on petrol and diesel to Rs 18 and Rs 12 per litre, respectively, as per the amendments in the Finance Bill passed in the Parliament. Highlights: • This move which would help the government to raise excise duty on fuel further in future. The change in the cap will enable the government to raise duties on petrol and diesel by another Rs 8 per litre each. • Every rupee hike in excise duty is expected to yield roughly Rs 13,000-14,000 crore annually. The slump in global crude oil prices enables the government to raise these duties substantially without immediately putting the burden on the consumer. • But there is expected to be a demand slowdown for fuels with a nearly country wide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus. With airlines, railways, trucks and passenger cars going off the roads, petrol, diesel and ATF (aviation turbine fuel) consumption is expected to fall drastically. • The excise duties on petrol and diesel include basic excise duty, special additional excise duty, and road and infrastructure cess, which is levied as additional excise duty. • Government is increasing duties on petrol and diesel to raise revenues in view of a tight fiscal situation. Slump in global crude oil prices, alongside possibility of a global economic recession, has forced the government to look for avenues to raise revenues to support growth.
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• With major companies going for production shut downs, industry players have suggested the government to boost fiscal stimulus in the wake of demand collapse triggered by the coronavirus. • Saudi Arabia had triggered the crash in prices by announcing a sharp increase in oil production after Russia declined to reduce oil supply to contain a fall in oil prices due to declining demand in a meeting of petroleum exporting countries.
9. Teesta River Context: • Recently, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has opened a 360 feet long bailey suspension bridge over Teesta river in Munshithang, Sikkim. The construction was commenced in 2019 under Project Swastik. • It will help the state tourism in growing and facilitate the movement of logistics for the Armed Forces deployed in the state. About Border Roads Organization: • It was conceived and raised by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960, for coordinating the speedy development of a network of roads in the North and the North Eastern border regions of the country. It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence. It is regarded as a symbol of nation- building, national integration and an inseparable component in maintaining the security and integrity of the country. • Its executive arm is the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF). It is a combined force consisting of members of the Army and GREF. About Teesta River: • It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra (known as Jamuna in Bangladesh), flowing through India and Bangladesh. • It originates in the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim and flows to the south through West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
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• In the beginning, the river continued southward to empty directly into the Padma River but around 1787 the river changed its course to flow eastward to join the Jamuna river. • Its water conflict is one of the most contentious issues between India and Bangladesh. • The Teesta Barrage dam helps to provide irrigation for the plains between the upper Padma and the Jamuna.
10. Invest India Business Immunity Platform Why in News? • Invest India Business Immunity Platform launched to help businesses withstand COVID- 19. Highlights: • It was launched by Invest India, India’s national investment promotion & facilitation • agency, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. • The platform, hosted on the Invest India website, is designed as a comprehensive resource to help businesses and investors get real-time updates on India’s active response to COVID-19. • This dynamic and constantly updating platform keeps a regular track on developments with respect to the virus, provides latest information on various central and state government initiatives, gives access to special provisions, and answers and resolves • While COVID-19 continues to disrupt normal life, the impact of this crisis on businesses across the country is being continuously assessed. • The portal also maps and highlights the response mechanism put in place by leading Indian companies such as sanitation of staff vehicles, placing orders in alternate markets, disabling biometric attendance systems, setting up of medical task force, requesting trainees to go home, business continuity plan, barring entry of visitors, suspension of air travel, usage of video-conferencing and tele-conferencing, developing online solutions and other unique initiatives.
11. Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective Why in the News? • National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the ‘Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective’, covering the period September, 2017 to January, 2020.
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Background: • The report has been published since 2018 to give employment related statistics in the formal sector. • The report is based on the number of subscribers who have subscribed under three major schemes, namely • The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme • The Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and • The National Pension Scheme (NPS). • The report is used to assess the progress in certain dimensions like formal sector employment and contribution of the private sector in creating new employment in the country.
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2. ENVIRONMENT 1. E-Waste Recycling has Doubled, says Centre Why in News? • In a recent question raised in Rajya Sabha, the centre has said that recycling of E-Wastes has doubled in the year 2018-2019 as compared to the previous year 2017-2018. What is E-Waste? • E-waste is the waste consisting of discarded electronic products (such as computers, televisions, and cell phones). India generates more than two million tonnes of e-waste annually, and the bulk of it is processed in the informal sector. • India ranks fifth in the world in generating e-waste, according to the UN’s Global E-Waste Monitor, 2014. In 2017, the Centre had brought into effect the E-waste Rules, which require companies that make or sell electronic equipment to collect a certain percentage of e-waste generated from their goods once they have reached their “end-of-life.” • In 2017, over 200 manufacturers of electronic goods, including some e-giants, were served notices by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for not complying with e-waste procurement norms. About E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016: • The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the E-Waste Management Rules, 2016 in supersession of the e-waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2011. • Making the norms stringent, the new E-waste rules included Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and other mercury containing lamps, as well as other such Equipments. • For the first time, the rules brought the producers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), along with targets. Producers have been made responsible for collection of E-waste and for its exchange. • Various producers can have a separate Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) and ensure collection of E-waste, as well as its disposal in an environmentally sound manner. Deposit Refund Scheme has been introduced as an additional economic instrument wherein the producer charges an additional amount as a deposit at the time of sale of the electrical and electronic equipment and returns it to the consumer along with interest when the end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment is returned.
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• The role of State Governments has been also introduced to ensure safety, health and skill development of the workers involved in dismantling and recycling operations. • A provision of penalty for violation of rules has also been introduced. • Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Committee/Council/Corporation) has been assign the duty to collect and channelized the orphan products to authorized dismantler or recycler. About E-waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2018: • The e-waste collection targets under EPR have been revised and is being applied from October 1, 2017. The phase-wise collection targets for e-waste in weight is 10% of the quantity of waste generation as indicated in the EPR Plan during 2017-18, with a 10% increase every year until 2023. The target from 2023 onwards, shall be 70% of the quantity of waste generation as indicated in the EPR Plan. • The quantity of e-waste collected by producers from the October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017 shall be accounted for in the revised EPR targets until March 2018. • Separate e-waste collection targets have been drafted for new producers, i.e. those producers whose number of years of sales operation is less than the average lives of their products. Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) shall apply to the Central Pollution Control board (CPCB) for registration to undertake activities prescribed in the Rules. Under the Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) provisions, cost for sampling and testing shall be borne by the government for conducting the RoHS test. • If the product does not comply with RoHS provisions, then the cost of the test will be borne by the producers. Who is the Monitoring Authority? • The CPCB and the State Pollution Control Boards are empowered to check whether recycling agencies are complying with the E-waste Rules. What does the Recent Stats Says? • In FY 2017-2018, 7,08,445 tonnes of waste was generated, of which 69, 414 tonnes were recycled, compared to 1, 64,663 tonnes of recycled waste from 7,71,215 tonnes in FY 2018- 2019, which implies that 10% recycling rate in 2017-18 has risen to a little over 20% in 2018-2019. Way Forward: • In India, recycling of e-waste is almost entirely left to the informal sector, which does not have adequate means to handle either the increasing quantities or certain processes, leading to intolerable risk for human health and the environment.
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• A mechanism should be developed to formalise the recyclers by collaborating with the manufacturers which will be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders. • Initiatives should be taken to support the recyclers and dismantlers with modern technologies to handle the e-wastes in environment friendly manner. • Currently India has only 178 registered e-recyclers which is meagre in comparison to the massive amount of waste generated. So, the Government should come up with the schemes to promote this industry which would further boost the job generation in the present scenario of jobless growth. • Education and awareness campaign should be carried out for consumers to encourage them to dispose off the e-waste generated by them to the registered recycling firms. • The legislations and the rules must be properly enforced to bring out better outcomes.
2. New Paddy Variety – “Sahyadri Megha” Why in News? • A new variety of paddy named ‘Sahyadri Megha’ has been developed by the University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (UAHS), Shivamogga (Karnataka). Need of a New Variety of Rice: • The area under paddy cultivation was declining at a faster rate in the state of Karnataka. • This is due to the fact that paddy has been widely becoming vulnerable to blast disease and other infestations. E.g: Jyothi Rice Variety. • Also, Paddy growers are switching over to commercial crops like arecanut, ginger and rubber for better returns. • Demand for Red Rice: Demand by customers in urban areas for red rice which is rich in fibre and protein. • The red variety gets its rich colour from an antioxidant called anthocyanins, which are also found in deep purple or reddish fruits and vegetables. • The compound is believed to have properties that can reduce inflammation, allergy, prevent risks of cancer and help in weight management. About Sahyadri Megha: • It was developed under the hybridization breeding method by cross-breeding the best among the ‘Jyothi’ variety with that of ‘Akkalu’, a disease-resistant and protein-rich paddy variety. Sahyadri Megha is a red variety of paddy that is resistant to blast disease and rich in nutrients.
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• The new variety will be notified under the Indian Seed Act 1966 shortly after which it will become part of the seed chain. • The protein content in it is 12.48%, higher than the other red rice varieties grown.
What is Blast Disease? • First recorded in India during 1918. • It is caused by fungus Pyricularia grisea (P. oryzae). Also known as rotten neck or rice fever. Expected Grain Loss: 70 to 80%.
3. Olive Ridley goes for daytime Nesting after 7 Years Why in News? • In a rare sight after a gap of seven years, mass nesting of Olive Ridley Turtles was witnessed during the daytime along the Rushikulya rookery coast in Odisha’s Ganjam District. About Olive Ridleys: • The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. • They are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada. ✓ An arribada is a mass-nesting event when thousands of turtles come ashore at the same time to lay eggs on the same. • The enormous number of Olive Ridleys nest in Odisha (namely at three river mouths: Dhamara, Devi and Rushikulya) in India. The species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, Appendix 1 in CITES, and Schedule 1 in Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Olive-Ridleys face serious threats across their migratory route, habitat and nesting beaches due to human activities such as unfriendly turtle fishing practices, development and exploitation of nesting beaches for ports, etc. Nesting Places of Olive Ridleys: • Dhamara River Mouth ✓ The Brahmani River (second largest river in Odisha) enters into the Bay of Bengal along with a combined mouth with the Mahanadi (the largest river in Odisha) known as the Dhamara. • Devi River ✓ Devi River is one of the principal distributaries of Mahanadi.
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✓ It flows through Jagatsinghpur district and Puri district across Odisha state in India and joins the Bay of Bengal. • Rushikulya River ✓ It originates from Rushikulya hills of the Eastern Ghats in Phulbani district. ✓ It is 165 kms long with 8900 sq.kms of catchment areas. ✓ It covers entire catchment area in the districts of Kandhamal and Ganjam district of Odisha. Other National Parks of Olive Ridleys: • Bhitarkanika National Park ✓ Bhitarkanika National Park is one of Odisha’s finest biodiversity hotspots and is famous for its mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine crocodiles, and countless creeks. ✓ The wetland is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. ✓ Bhitarkanika is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Mahanadi river systems. It is said to house 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975. 4. Protecting peatlands can Help Attain Climate Goals Why in News? • Peatlands, which play a crucial role in regulating global climate by acting as carbon sinks, are facing degradation and need to be urgently monitored, according to a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations report released recently. Highlights: • Peatlands cover only three per cent of Earth’s surface. However, their degradation due to drainage, fire, agricultural use and forestry can trigger release of the stored carbon in a few decades. The report highlights important case studies from Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Peru in their attempts to map and monitor peatlands. Peatlands contain 30 per cent of the world’s soil carbon. • When drained, these emit greenhouse gases, contributing up to one gigaton of emissions per year through oxidation, according to the report. Mapping Peatlands: • Peatlands are formed due to the accumulation of partially decomposed plant remains over thousands of years under conditions of water-logging.
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• To prevent their further degradation, these areas should be urgently mapped and monitored. Peatland mapping tells us where the peat is and what condition it is in. • Together, with conservation and restoration measures, mapping also helps in maintaining • water regulation services (reduction of flood intensities) and biodiversity. • For countries keen on reducing emissions, monitoring the ground water level of peatlands is vital, or else they can turn into carbon emission sources. • Mapping methodologies include both ground and remotely-sensed input data. • The monitoring exercise of Peatlands requires a mix of satellite and ground-based Exercises. Degraded Peatlands: • Badly degraded peatlands that have been drained for a longer period of time, potentially burned and intensely managed can become hydrophobic. • In this case, their re-wetting would not occur via natural means. • Though peatlands in North America and the Russian Federation are still intact, about 25 per cent have degraded in Europe, Central and Southeast Asia, East Africa, southern America and the Amazon. Restoration Measures: • Indonesia, which has 40 per cent of all tropical peatlands, has taken corrective measures to alter drainage and deforestation since the 1980s. • Their government created the Peat Ecosystem Restoration Information System (PRIMS), an online platform that provides information on the condition of peatlands and restoration efforts undertaken. • Restoration work of highland peatlands was also conducted in the Hindukush Himalayan (HKH) region. • This was done to ensure water security for cities in their watersheds. • According to an ICIMOD report, the total peat area, excluding China, in the HKH region was 17,106 square kilometres in 2008. The degrading peat area was 8,236 square kilometres. • In India, peatlands occupy roughly 320–1,000 Square Kilometres Area.
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Other Benefits: • Peatlands occur in different climate zones. While in tropical climate, they can occur in mangroves, in Arctic regions, peatlands are dominated by mosses. Some mangrove species are known to develop peatland soils under them. • Besides climate mitigation, peatlands are important for archaeology, as they maintain pollen, seeds and human remains for a long time in their acidic and water-logged conditions. The vegetation growing on pristine peatlands provide different kinds of fibres for construction activities and handicrafts. • Peatlands also provide fishing and hunting opportunities. It is also possible to practise paludiculture or wet agriculture on rewetted peatlands. • According to the Greifswald Mire Centre Strategy 2018-2022, rewetting of peatlands reduces emissions and can play an important role in achieving the objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
2.1. ENVIRONMENT SNIPPETS 1. Gir National Park: Context: • Gir National park is recently seen in news. About Gir National Park: • It also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest-cum-sanctuary in the Indian state of Gujarat famous for being the only abode of the Asiatic Lion. • The wildlife of the park is nurtured by no less than seven major perennial rivers that crisscross the park, viz., Hiran, Shetrunji, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Godavari and Raval. • Four dams which act as reservoirs have been built in the park to ensure that the animals have easy access to water; these dams are also deemed necessary for the flora of the park which in turn sustains the wildlife. • The biggest of the four dams is the Kamleshwar Dam, which many regard to be the lifeline of the park. • The forested hilly terrains of the park have also helped many other species like jackals, leopards, antelope, and deer to thrive, making it the perfect destination to sight these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.
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2. Fishing Cat and Otters Why in News? • Recently, the presence of a viable, breeding population of a fishing cat has been found in Chilika Lake. Further, the presence of a smooth- coated otter and an Eurasian otter has also been recorded in the lake. About the Species: 1. Fishing Cat • Habitat: In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats.
Protection Status: ✓ IUCN Red List: Vulnerable ✓ CITES: Appendix II ✓ Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I 2. Smooth-Coated Otter • Habitat: Smooth-coated otters are distributed throughout India from the Himalayas to the south. Protection Status: ✓ IUCN Red List: Vulnerable ✓ CITES: Appendix II ✓ Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II 3. Eurasian Otter: • Habitat: Throughout Europe and Asia from Ireland in the west as far as eastern Russia and China. They are also found in north Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) and the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Iran). Protection Status: ✓ IUCN Red List: Near Threatened ✓ CITES: Appendix I ✓ Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II.
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3. Whale Shark Why in News? • Whale Shark is recently seen in news. About Whale Shark: • Its scientific name Rhincodon typus • It is the largest shark and they feed on plankton and travel large distances to find enough food to sustain their huge size, and to reproduce. • They are found in all the tropical oceans of the world. • It is protected under IUCN Red List status is Endangered, CITES- Appendix II, Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972- Schedule I
4. Red Crowned Roofed Turtle Context: • Red Crowned Roofed Turtle is recently seen in news. About Red Crowned Roofed Turtle: • It is one of the 24 species endemic to India, is characterised by the bright colours such as red, yellow, white and blue on the faces and necks of the males. • Its common Names are Bengal roof turtle, Red-crowned roofed turtle. • It is a freshwater turtle species found in deep flowing rivers with terrestrial nesting sites. • It is native to India, Bangladesh and Nepal, which is widespread in the Ganga River. It also occurs in the Brahmaputra basin. Currently, the National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary is the only area with substantial population of the species, but even this Protected Area and habitat are under threat. Sand mining and Seasonal crops along Ganga River are affecting the sandbars that are used by the species for nesting. Illegal fishing nets, Poaching and illegal trade are the other threats. Its conservation status is: 1. IUCN red list -Critically Endangered, 2. Wildlife Protection Act -Schedule I 3. CITES - Appendix II
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5. World Wildlife Day Context: • Recently, World Wildlife Day was celebrated every year on the 3rd of March. The date chosen coincides with the day the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which was signed in 1973. About: • Its theme is 'Sustaining all Life on Earth', highlights the unique place of wild fauna and flora as essential components of the world’s biodiversity. • This year 2020, known as “biodiversity super year,” will host several major global events that place biodiversity at the forefront. It aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life On Land), and their wide-ranging commitments on alleviating poverty, ensuring sustainable use of resources, and on conserving life both on land and below water to halt biodiversity loss. The UNGA resolution also designated the CITES as the facilitator for the global observance of this special day for wildlife on the UN calendar.
6. Red Panda (Ailurus Fulgens) Context: • Recently, endangered Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) has fewer hunters because the younger generations of people across its Himalayan habitat are losing interest in animal products, a new study by wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC has found. Highlights: • The news is both good and bad for the red panda, whose survival is crucial for the eastern and northeaster and the eastern Himalayan forests • About 5,000-•6,000 red pandas are estimated to be present in four Indian states – Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and West Bengal. • This is the second largest population after China (6,000•7,000). Nepal accounts for 580 animals, while Bhutan and Myanmar have no estimate of the animal’s population.
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• Red pandas have been reported from 11 districts of Arunachal Pradesh, which is presumed to hold the largest red panda population in the country. • They are called “Living Fossils” as they are the only living member of the Ailuridae mammalian family. The report also recommended trans•boundary law enforcement co•operation through the use of multi-government platforms like SAWEN (South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network). The report titled “Assessment of illegal trade related threats to Red Panda in India and selected neighbouring range countries” has looked at a ten-year period from July 2010 to June 2019, and analysed poaching and illegal trade of the species. 7. Polar vortex and India’s Weather Why in News? • Meteorologists have indicated that the frequent wet spell causing heavy rains in North India this season could be a result of record Arctic freeze. Highlights: • The Arctic sea ice cover this winter was at a 10- year high. For a long time, the Arctic ice cover was on a rapid decline due to global warming. • The polar vortex or wind circulation is the major cause of the freeze in the Arctic region. • The polar vortex is the area of low pressure and cold air that forms near the North or South Pole and is stronger in winter. • The polar vortex lets the Arctic cold trapped in the polar region. • A strong polar vortex supported by other global factors has caused at least 20 Western Disturbances in North India since January this year. • The western disturbance is the low-pressure area over the surface causing changes in pressure, wind pattern, and temperature. • This originates in the Mediterranean region which brings sudden rain to the north-western parts of the Indian sub-continent. Polar vortex: • A polar vortex is an upper-level low-pressure area lying near one of the Earth's poles. There are two polar vortices in the Earth's atmosphere, overlying the North and South Poles.
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• Each polar vortex is a persistent, large-scale, low-pressure zone less than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) in diameter, that rotates counter-clockwise at the North Pole and clockwise at the South Pole (called a cyclone in both cases), i.e., both polar vortices rotate eastward around the poles. As with other cyclones, their rotation is driven by the Coriolis effect. • The bases of the two polar vortices are located in the middle and upper troposphere and extend into the stratosphere. Beneath that lies a large mass of cold, dense Arctic air. • A polar vortex strengthens in the winter and weakens in the summer because of its dependence on the temperature difference between the equator and the poles
8. White Giraffe Why in News? • Two extremely rare white giraffes in northeast Kenya has been killed by the poachers, leaving just one such animal in the world. Key Points: • The white giraffes were first spotted in 2016. The white appearance of the giraffe is due to leucism, a genetic condition that causes skin cells to have no pigmentation. • Leucism is different from albinism where no melanin is produced at all. Melanin is a dark biological pigment found in skin, hair, feathers, scales, eyes, and some internal membranes. About Giraffes: • Habitat: Giraffes are most often found in Savanna/woodland habitats and range widely throughout Africa. • IUCN Status: Vulnerable • Giraffes are listed under Appendix II of the CITES. • According to IUCN, the four principal factors that have led to a population decline among
Giraffes are Habitat Loss, Civil Unrest, Poaching and ecological issues.
9. Hubli-Ankola Railway Line Project Why in News? • Recently, the Hubballi-Ankola railway line project has saw stiff opposition from a majority of the board members of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board.
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About: • It has proposed 164.44-km railway line passes through forests between two major protected areas — Kali Tiger Reserve and Bedthi Conservation Reserve. • More than 80% the line has to pass through the dense forest lands of the Western Ghats, and this entails the diversion of 727 hectares of prime forests. About Kali Tiger Reserve • It is located in the central portion of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state. • It comprises two important protected areas of the region viz., Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park. • These two protected areas are contiguous to each other and form a single tract of protected area located in the biologically sensitive Western Ghats. • These forests are primarily moist deciduous and semi-evergreen, with excellent patches of evergreen forests in the western most parts as well as in deep valleys. About State Boards for Wildlife (SBWL): • It is constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. • It is headed by the Chief Minister, with the Forest Minister of the State as the Vice Chair. • It advises the state governments in selection and management of protected areas and other matters connected with the protection of wildlife.
10. Smallest Dinosaur Why in News? • A group of scientists may have discovered the smallest dinosaur ever found. Highlights: • They found the fossilized skull of a dinosaur — the size of a modern hummingbird — trapped in a 99-million- year-old amber in northern Myanmar. • The animal in question would have weighed 2 grams, claimed the scientists in a paper published in the Nature journal. • The fossil represented the smallest dinosaur from the Mesozoic era — about 250 million to 65 million years ago — according to the group.
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• The discovery suggests miniature body sizes in birds evolved earlier than previously recognised. This may provide insight into how dinosaurs evolved to be small and shed light on the lowest limit of vertebrate body size. • The animal’s skull was less than two centimetres long. • It had several sharp teeth, which suggested it preyed on insects and other small invertebrates, scientists observed. For this reason, the new species has been given the scientific name of Oculudentavis khaungraae, derived from Latin for ‘eye-teeth-bird’. • Unlike other predators, its eyes were on the sides of its head, which meant the dinosaur had little or no binocular vision. • It had limited access to light into the eye, which scientists said was evidence that it was active in well-lit, Daytime Environments.
11. Krishna Raja Sagar Dam Why in News? • A rapid decline in the water level of the Krishna Raja Sagar has been reported owing to the increase in the evaporation rate and the decrease in the Inflows. Key Points: • The Krishna Raja Sagar Dam was built across River Kaveri in Karnataka in 1932. • The dam is named after the ruler of the Mysore Kingdom, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. • The Dam is the creation of one of the greatest engineers that India had produced, Sir M. Vishweshwaraiah. {His birthday, 15th September is celebrated as Engineers day} • The water released from this dam is further used as an important source of water in the state of Tamil Nadu. About Kaveri River: • The river rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in southwestern Karnataka. • It flows in a southeasterly direction through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls. • Tributaries: Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Lakshmana Theertha, Shimsa, Kabini and Harangi. • Before emptying into the Bay of Bengal south of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, the river breaks into a large number of distributaries forming a wide delta called the “garden of southern India.”
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12. Zoji La Context: • Zoji La pass is recently seen in news About Zoji La Pass: • It links Leh and Srinagar and provides an important link between Union Territories of Ladakh and Kashmir. • It remains closed during winters due to heavy snowfall, cutting off Ladakh region from Kashmir. • In 2018, the Zoji La tunnel project was launched, which is the Asia's longest and strategic bi-directional tunnel, which will provide all-weather connectivity between Srinagar, Kargil and Leh.
13. Radioactive Dumping in Fukushima Why in News? • The Nuclear disaster at Fukushima sent an unprecedented amount of radiation into the Pacific. But, before then, atomic bomb tests and radioactive waste were contaminating the sea, the effects are still being felt today. Highlights: • Exactly how the water should be dealt with has become highly controversial in Japan, not least because the nuclear disaster caused extreme contamination off the coast of Fukushima. • Almost 1.2 million liters (320,000 gallons) of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is to be released into the ocean. The contaminated water has since been used to cool the destroyed reactor blocks to prevent further nuclear meltdowns. • It is currently being stored in large tanks, but those are expected to be full by 2022. Radiation levels in the sea off Fukushima were millions of times higher than the government’s limit of 100 becquerels.
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• And still today, radioactive substances can be detected off the coast of Japan and in other parts of the Pacific. • The research found that even the smallest possible dose, a photon passing through a cell nucleus, carries a cancer risk. Although this risk is extremely small, it is still a risk. • Over the past few decades, more than 250 nuclear weapons tests were carried out on the high seas. Most of them (193) were conducted by France in French Polynesia, and by the US (42), primarily in the Marshall Islands and the Central Pacific. • But the ocean wasn’t just being used as a training ground for nuclear war. Until the early 1990s, it was also a gigantic dump for radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. From 1946 to 1993, more than 200,000 tons of waste, some of it highly radioactive, was dumped in the world’s oceans, mainly in metal drums. • The US had dropped more than 90,000 barrels and at least 190,000 cubic meters of radioactive waste in the North Atlantic and Pacific. • Other countries including Belgium, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands also disposed of tons of radioactive waste in the North Atlantic in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The long-term consequences are clear. • The radiation will be “absorbed by the marine animals surrounding it. They will eventually end up caught in fishing nets, and come back to our plates.
14. Uranium Contamination in Ground Water Why in News? • There is a prevalence of Uranium concentration above 30 micro-gram per litre (World Health Organization (WHO) provisional guidelines) in some of the localized pockets of a few States/UTs in the country. Highlights: • A report brought out by Duke University, USA in association with the Central Ground Water Board and State Ground Water departments states that Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir have localised occurrence of Uranium concentration. • As per the Department of Atomic Energy, elevated uranium levels in drinking water may affect human health. Health studies carried out elsewhere in the world suggest that elevated uranium levels in drinking water may be associated with kidney toxicity.
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• Further, several studies focusing on health effects have been carried out in Finland among people who use their drilled wells as sources of drinking water having uranium concentrations in the range 5.6 – 3410 ppb. However, no clear clinical symptoms have been observed among the exposed population. • The Indian Standard IS 10500: 2012 for Drinking Water specification has specified the maximum acceptable limits for radioactive residues as alpha and beta emitters, values in excess of which render the water not suitable. • These requirements take into account all radioactive elements including uranium. No individual radioactive elements have been specifically identified. • Further, as per information provided by the Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), they are working to incorporate maximum permissible limit of Uranium as 0.03 mg/l (as per WHO provisional guidelines) in all drinking water standards after following the due process.
15. GreenCo Rating System Why in News? • The Union Ministry of Railways has informed about the applications of Greenco Ratings on Workshops and Production Units of Indian Railways. GreenCo Ratings: • GreenCo Rating is the “first of its kind in the World” holistic framework that evaluates companies on the environmental friendliness of their activities using life cycle approach. • Implementation of GreenCo rating provides leadership and guidance to companies on how to make products, services and operations greener. • It is developed by Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre. • It has been acknowledged in India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) document, submitted to UNFCCC in 2015. • GreenCo rating is applicable to both manufacturing facilities and service sector units. • The rating is implemented at unit or facility level. The unit or facility has to be in operation for a minimum period of 3 years. In case of new plants/ facilities minimum 2 years operation is required.
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Significance: • It helps the industrial units in identifying and implementing various possible measures in terms of energy conservation, material conservation, recycling, utilization of renewable energy, GHG reduction, water conservation, solid and liquid waste management, green cover etc.
16. Fish Fossil Why in News? • Recently, researchers have revealed new insights into how the human hand evolved from fish fins based on their analysis of an ancient fossil found in Miguasha, Canada. About: • The evolution of fishes into four-legged vertebrates was one of the most significant events in the history of life. • It is happened during the Late Devonian period, millions of years ago, as fish began to foray in habitats such as shallow water and land. The 1.57 m long fossil shows the complete arm (pectoral fin), skeleton for the first time in any elpistostegalian fish published in the Journal Nature. It is the first time researchers have unequivocally discovered fingers locked in a fin with fin-rays in any known fish. The origin of digits relates to developing the capability for the fish to support its weight in shallow water or for short trips out on land. • The increased number of small bones in the fin allows more planes of flexibility to spread out its weight through the fin. The articulating digits in the fin are like the finger bones found in the hands of most Animals.
17. Wild Berry of Assam Why in News? • A multi-utility wild berry, whose thorny plant the British had used to build a barrier through India in the 1870s, has a unknown wilder cousin in Assam, a new study has revealed. Highlights: • Unlike the abundant Carissa carandas, better known as karonda in Hindi, kalakkai in Tamil, koromcha in Bengali and karja tenga in Assamese, the Carissa kopilii is threatened by the very river it is named after.
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• The Kopili hydroelectric project on the river and water turned acidic because of coal mining in Meghalaya upstream. • The “sun-loving” plant is distributed sparsely, rooted in rocky crevices along the Kopili riverbed at altitudes ranging from 85-600 metres above sea level. • Karja tenga has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for a number of ailments such as diarrhoea, anaemia, constipation, indigestion, skin infections and urinary disorders. • The leaves have been used as fodder for silkworms while a paste of its pounded roots serves as a fly repellent. • The Carissa carandas was also among several thorny plants the British had grown 140 years ago for a 1,100-mile barrier apparently to enforce taxes and stop the smuggling of salt. • Carissa kopilii, yielding white flowers from August-October and fruits from November January, should have all the medicinal and utilitarian properties of its better-known cousin.
18. Carissa carandas (the Great Hedge of India) Why in News? • Carissa carandas, a multi-utility wild berry, whose thorny plant the British had used to build a barrier through India in the 1870s, has a hitherto unknown wilder cousin in Assam, a new study has revealed. Carissa Carandas: • The Carissa carandas was also among several thorny plants the British had grown 140 years ago for a 1,100-mile barrier apparently to enforce taxes and stop the smuggling of salt. • It has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for a number of ailments such as diarrhoea, anaemia, constipation, indigestion, skin infections and urinary disorders. • The leaves have been used as fodder for silkworms while a paste of its pounded roots serves as a fly repellent. • It is better known as karonda in Hindi, kalakkai in Tamil, koromcha in Bengali and karja tenga in Assamese, the Carissa kopilii is threatened by the very river it is named after — Kopili in central Assam. • The “sun-loving” plant was distributed sparsely, rooted in rocky crevices along the Kopili riverbed at altitudes ranging from 85-600 metres above sea level.
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19. Ozone Layer Healing Why in News? • The ozone layer above Antarctica has recovered so much, it's actually stopped many worrying changes in the Southern Hemisphere's atmosphere, according to a new study. Highlights: • A new study suggests the Montreal Protocol, the 1987 agreement to stop producing ozone depleting substances (ODSs), could be responsible for pausing, or even reversing, some troubling changes in air currents around the Southern Hemisphere. • Before the turn of the century, ozone depletion had been driving the southern jet stream further south than usual. This ended up changing rainfall patterns, and potentially ocean currents as well. • Using a range of models and computer simulations, researchers have now shown this pause in movement was not driven by natural shifts in winds alone. • In Australia, for instance, changes to the jet stream have increased the risk of drought by pushing rain away from coastal areas. • If the trend does reverse, those rains might return. While improvements in cutting back our reliance on ODSs have certainly allowed the ozone to recover somewhat, carbon dioxide levels continue to creep upwards and place all that progress at risk. • Last year, the Antarctic ozone hole hit its smallest annual peak on record since 1982, but the problem isn't solved, and this record may have something to do with unusually mild temperatures in that layer of the atmosphere. • The Montreal Protocol is proof that if we take global and immediate action we can help pause or even reverse some of the damage we've started. Yet even now, the steady rise in greenhouse gas emissions is a reminder that one such action is simply not enough.
20. Microbes Beneath Ocean Floor Why in News? • In a study, scientists have described how micro-organisms survive in rocks nestled thousands of feet beneath the ocean floor in the lower oceanic crust. Highlights: • Organisms seeking out an existence far beneath the sea floor live in a hostile environment. Very little resources find their way into the seabed through seawater and subsurface fluids, which circulate through fractures in the rock and carry inorganic and organic compounds.
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• The discoveries were made as part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), which studies samples of rock and sediment taken from beneath the seafloor. • Normally, it’s to investigate the historic climate records preserved there, but in this case an international team of scientists found evidence of life. • The first analysis of messenger RNA, the genetic material containing instructions for making different proteins, from this region, coupled with measurements of enzyme activities, microscopy, cultures and biomarker analyses, has provided evidence of a low biomass but diverse community of microbes that includes heterotrophs that obtain their carbon from other living (or dead) organisms. • The researchers travelled to Atlantis Bank, an underwater ridge that cuts across the southern Indian Ocean. • Tectonic activity there exposes the lower oceanic crust at the sea floor, providing convenient access to an otherwise largely inaccessible realm. By isolating messenger RNA and analysing the expression of genes, the researchers found evidence that microorganisms under the ocean floor express genes for various survival strategies. • Some microbes appeared to have the ability to store carbon in their cells for use in times of shortage Others showed indications they could process nitrogen and sulphur to generate energy, produce Vitamin E and B12, recycle amino acids, and pluck out carbon from the hard-to break-down compounds called polyaromatic hydrocarbons. • This environment and lower oceanic crust are comprised largely of types of material called gabbro and peridotite, and these allow for some chemical reactions that were likely present on early Earth and also on other planets where water and volcanic rocks interact. • The findings provide a complete picture of carbon cycling by illuminating biological activity deep below the oceans.
21. Legacy Waste Context: • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently directed a committee to assess the amount of damage caused to the environment due to the dump sites (legacy waste) in Delhi. The committee consist of members from the Central Pollution Control Board, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and IIT Delhi. About Legacy Wastes: • These are the wastes that have been collected and kept for years at some barren land or a place dedicated for Landfill (an area to dump solid waste).
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• This waste can be roughly grouped into Four Categories that is Contained and/or stored waste (contained or stored waste are wastes in tanks, canisters, and stainless steel bins), Buried waste, Contaminated soil and groundwater and Contaminated building materials and structures. About Environmental Impact of Legacy Waste: • These wastes not only occupy large space, but also become a breeding ground for pathogens, flies, malodours and generation of leachate, which may lead to water contamination. • They also contribute to generation of greenhouse gases and pose risk of uncontrollable fire. About Biomining: • This method has been proposed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the effective disposal of legacy wastes • It is the process of using microorganisms (microbes) to extract metals of economic interest from rock ores or mine waste. • Its techniques may also be used to clean up sites that have been polluted with metals.[ • It is usually used for old dumped waste that remains in a partly or fully decomposed state with no segregation in existence between wet and dry waste. • In the cost effective method of Biomining, treatment is done by dividing the garbage heap at the site into suitable blocks to let the air percolate in the heap. • As a result, the leachate which is the water in the heap with suspended solid particles is drained off and microbes are sprayed in the heap to initiate biological decompositions. • The waste is turned over several times in order to devoid the waste to leachate as much as possible. This biological decomposition of the waste decreases the volume of the waste by 40%.
22. ‘Rapid Test’ to Identify COVID-19 Exposure Why in News? • To tackle suspicions of whether the novel coronavirus has spread into the community and if not prevent such a scenario, the Kerala government has announced ‘rapid tests’ that will ensure speedy results within half an hour. Highlights: • Over the last five days, Kerala’s health department reported 93 positive cases of novel coronavirus, taking the total number of infected to 202 since February and heightening fears of community transmission of the virus in the state.
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• The government has received approval of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in this regard. The health department, in a statement released late Sunday, said the testing will be done using kits approved by ICMR and National Institute of Virology, Pune. • A rapid test is conducted to determine whether there has been any kind of recent viral infection in a person’s body. When a pathogen enters a human body, specific antibodies are released as a response to the virus. • A rapid test can detect the presence of such antibodies in blood, serum or plasma samples quickly, indicating a viral infection. Rapid testing is conducted usually to check for community transmission of a virus during an epidemic. • Even though a rapid test can be extremely helpful to check for community transmission during a global pandemic such as this, it is not a confirmatory test for SARS-CoV-2 that causes the coronavirus infection. Positive test indicates exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Negative test does not rule out Covid-19 infection. • The person still has to be subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for confirmation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A rapid test comes positive after 7-10 days of viral infection and remains positive for several weeks after that. • Those with a history of recent foreign travel, people who may have had contact with foreign returnees, health workers who maintain close contact with Covid-19 patients, residents of a region reporting higher-than-usual cases of respiratory illness and those • who have recovered from such respiratory illnesses can undergo rapid tests.
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3. POLITY & GOVERNANCE
1. Sedition Cases – A Hindrance for Right to Dissent Context: • Latest data from NCRB suggest that the sedition law remains as relevant as ever with sedition arrests increasing in recent years. What is Sedition? • Sedition, which falls under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code, is defined as any action that brings or attempts to bring hatred or contempt towards the government of India and has been illegal in India since 1870. Kedarnath Singh vs State of Bihar: • Section 124A has been challenged in various courts in specific cases. The validity of the provision itself was upheld by a Constitution Bench in 1962, in Kedarnath Singh vs State of Bihar. ✓ That judgment went into the issue of whether the law on sedition is consistent with the fundamental right under Article 19 (1) (a) which guarantees each citizen’s freedom of speech and expression. ✓ The Supreme Court laid down that every citizen has a right to say or write about the government, by way of criticism or comment, as long as it does not “incite people to violence” against the government established by law or with the intention of creating public disorder. What does the Data Shows? • The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), though, has only been collecting separate data on sedition cases since 2014. In 2014, there were 47 cases of sedition but that number increased to 70 in 2018 (the latest year with available data). • Compared to other offences, sedition remains a rare crime (it accounts for less than 0.01% of all IPC crimes). But within India, some parts are emerging as sedition hotspots. Assam and Jharkhand, for instance, with 37 sedition cases each, account for 32% of all sedition cases between 2014-2018. • In 2018, there were 1,182 cases registered under UAPA (The Act gives special procedures to handle terrorist activities, among other things). And almost all these cases (92%) were concentrated in five states (Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Jharkhand and Manipur).
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Why sedition law is a Hindrance? • Sedition leads to a sort of unauthorised self-censorship, for it produces a chilling effect on free speech. It suppresses what every citizen ought to do in a democracy — raise questions, debate, disagree and challenge the government’s decisions. • Sedition systematically destroys the soul of Gandhi’s philosophy that is, right to dissent which is the core principle of democracy. Why Right to Dissent is Essential? • The Right to Dissent is an important addition of expressing one’s view, and on many of its most important constituent elements. • It will enable practitioners and citizens to claim their rights and participate more effectively in the project of democracy. Disagreeing with each other is a fundamental human trait. There is not a single individual who does not disagree with something or the other all the Time. But gagging people through sedition cases strikes the people’s right to dissent and freedom of expression.
2. Curative Petition Why in News? • Curative petition is the last to last resort in the line of due justice being given and the last opportunity of the unheard being heard. Curative Petition: • A curative petition is the final and last option for the people to acquire justice as mentioned and promised by the Constitution of India. • The concept originated from the case of Rupa Ashok Hurra Vs. Ashok Hurra and others where the following question arose before the court of law- ‘whether an aggrieved person is entitled to any relief against the final judgment/order of the Supreme Court, after the dismissal of a review petition?’ The court used the Latin maxim “actus curiae neminem gravabit”, which means that an act of the court shall prejudice no one. • The maxim becomes applicable when the court is under an obligation to undo a wrong done to a party by the act of court itself. • This led to the creation of the concept of a curative petition by the Supreme Court and the reason given for such creation was preventing the abuse of the process of law and to cure the lapses in the existing system of justice.
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How is Curative Petition Different? • A curative petition is a way to ask the court to review and revise their own decision even after a review petition is dismissed or used. • But, the court has been very cautious in the use of such a petition. The court clearly stated that such kind of petitions must be rare instead of regular. • To ensure it, the court in its guidelines to file the petition stated that to file such a petition a gross violation of a principle of natural justice by the court needs to be proved by the contending party, unlike other petitions. • Also to prove such violations, a senior advocate needs to certify and point out substantial grounds for the petition to be entertained. • The same would be reviewed by the three senior-most judges of the court alongside the judges who passed the judgement, and if the majority feels that there was a violation, the curative petition would be heard by the same bench. • Adding to the speciality, a curative petition is not governed by the provisions of the Limitations Act but the court made it clear that it needs to be filed within a reasonable time.
What does this mean for the Nirbhaya Convicts? • A curative petition is the last legal recourse available to the convicts. • Going by the procedure regarding pointing out substantial grounds, the lawyer of convict Vinay Sharma, has placed the argument that young age and the socio-economic background should be considered as mitigating factors.
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• Interestingly, the advocate challenged the reasoning given by the Supreme Court, pointing out reports and studies by law universities and National Crime Records Bureau which state that a death sentence won’t have any deterrent effect on the society, which is the reason on which the sentencing by SC was based. With the existing media and political pressure on this case from the beginning, it’ll be interesting to see the fallout of the petition, which would, for sure, go down as one of the most landmark judgments in the history of this nation’s legal system.
3. Supreme Court Ruling on Cryptocurrency Why in News? • The Supreme Court set aside a ban by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on banks and financial institutions from dealing with virtual currency holders and Exchanges. Highlights: • Virtual currency is the larger umbrella term for all forms of non-fiat currency being traded online. Virtual currencies are mostly created, distributed and accepted in local virtual networks. The court held that the ban did not pass the “proportionality” test. The test of proportionality of any action by the government, the court held, must pass the test of Article 19(1)(g), which states that all citizens of the country will have the right to practise any profession, or carry on any occupation or trade and business. Reasons for RBI to Ban Cryptocurrency: • Owing to the lack of any underlying fiat, episodes of excessive volatility in their value, and their anonymous nature which goes against global money-laundering rules. • Risks and concerns about data security and consumer protection on the one hand, and far- reaching potential impact on the effectiveness of monetary policy. • The RBI argues that owing to a significant spurt in the valuation of many virtual currencies and rapid growth in initial coin offerings, virtual currencies were not safe for use. Cryptocurrency: • There is no globally accepted definition of what exactly is virtual currency. Some agencies have called it a method of exchange of value; others have labelled it a goods item, product or commodity. • Cryptocurrencies have an extra layer of security, in the form of encryption algorithms. Cryptographic methods are used to make the currency as well as the network on which they are being traded, secure.
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• Most cryptocurrencies now operate on the blockchain or distributed ledger technology, which allows everyone on the network to keep track of the transactions occurring globally. • This essentially meant there would be no central regulator for virtual currencies as they would be placed in a globally visible ledger, accessible to all the users of the technology. • All users of such virtual currencies would be able to see and keep track of the transactions taking place. 4. Godavari Cauvery Interlinking Project Why in News? • A day after the National Interlinking of River Authority (NIRA) was proposed, the CM of Tamil Nadu has sought discussion on implementation of the Cauvery Godavari river interlinking project with his counterpart CM of Andhra Pradesh. About Godavari Cauvery Interlinking Project: • The project envisages the diversion of 247 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of unutilised water in the Indravati sub-basin of the Godavari basin to meet the requirements between the Godavari and the Cauvery rivers. • Water will be diverted from Godavari River to Nagarjuna Sagar dam (through lifting) and further south to meet the demands of Krishna, Pennar and Cauvery basins. • The Godavari - Cauvery link comprises three components namely, ✓ the Godavari (Inchampalli/Janampet) - Krishna (Nagarjunasagar), ✓ the Krishna (Nagarjunasagar) – Pennar (Somasila) and ✓ the Pennar (Somasila)–Cauvery. • The project will provide irrigation facilities to 3.45 to 5.04 lakh hectares in Prakasam, Nellore, Krishna, Guntur, and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh. About the Rivers: 1. Godavari River ✓ Source: Godavari River rises from Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and flows for a length of about 1465 km before out falling into the Bay of Bengal. ✓ Drainage Basin: The Godavari basin extends over states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Yanam (Union territory of Puducherry in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh). ✓ Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri.
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2. Krishna River ✓ Source: It originates near Mahabaleshwar (Satara) in Maharashtra. ✓ Drainage Basin: It runs from four states namely, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. ✓ Tributaries: Tungabhadra, Mallaprabha, Koyna, Bhima, Ghataprabha, Yerla, Warna, Dindi, Musi and Dudhganga. ✓ Nagarjunasagar dam is on the river Krishna. 3. Pennar River ✓ Source: It rises in Nandi Hills in Chikballapur District of Karnataka and runs north and east before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. ✓ Drainage Basin: It is 597 kilometres long, with a drainage basin covering 55,213 km2 in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. ✓ Tributaries: Jayamangali, Kunderu, Sagileru, Chitravathi, Papagni and Cheyyeru. 4. Cauvery River ✓ Source: The River rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in south western Karnataka. ✓ Drainage Basin: It flows in a south easterly direction through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and descends the Eastern Ghats in a series of great falls. Before emptying into the Bay of Bengal south of Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, the river breaks into a large number of distributaries forming a wide delta called the “garden of southern India.” ✓ Tributaries: Arkavathi, Hemavathi, Lakshmana Theertha, Shimsa, Kabini and Harangi. www.iasgatewayy.comwww. Vetriiias.com / www.iasgatewayy.com Daily044 Current-26265326/988442166 Affairs | Monthly Magazines6/9884472636 | Online Tests 55 | P a g e
What are the benefits of the Project? • The backwaters will be carried through Krishna and Pennar using steel pipes instead of developing canals en route as suggested by a non-resident engineer from Andhra Pradesh. • By doing so, wastage of water from canals through vaporisation could be prevented and overall cost reduced.
5. Court Documents Accessibility to Third-party Why in News? • The Supreme Court has recently ruled that court documents such as copies of judgments and pleadings can now be obtained by third-parties or those not party to a case. • The significance of the judgement is that it comes within months after a five-judge bench of SC opened the office of the Chief Justice of India to scrutiny under the RTI Act. Highlights of the Judgement: • The information will be only available after the court rules permit it and not under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. • The judgement has upheld the Rule 151 of Gujarat High Court Rules, which allows access to certified copies of judgments, orders and pleadings to a third-party, or those not party to a case (Only under the order of an officer of the court). • High courts of Bombay, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madras etc have similar provisions. • The bench held that the High Court holds the information as a trustee for the litigants in order to adjudicate upon the matter and administer justice. • Third parties should not be permitted to have open and easy access to such personal information of the litigants or information given by the government in the proceedings because there would be a misuse of the court process and the information to an Unmanageable Level. Means to obtain Information: • According to the rules, litigants are entitled to receive copies of documents/judgments, etc on filing of an application with prescribed court fees stamp. • Third parties are not given copies of judgments and other documents without the assistant registrar’s order. • The registrar, on being satisfied about the reasonable cause for seeking the information/certified copies of the documents, allows access to the documents.
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6. Cabinet approves Companies (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 Why in News? • The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Companies (Second Amendment) Bill, 2019 to amend the Companies Act, 2013. Provisions of the Bill: • The Bill would remove criminality under the Act in case of defaults which can be determined objectively and which, otherwise, lack the element of fraud or do not involve larger public interest. This would also lead to further de-clogging of the criminal justice system in the country. The Bill would also further ease of living for law abiding corporates. • Earlier, the Companies (Amendment) Act, 2015 amended certain provisions of the Act to remove difficulties faced in implementation of various provisions of the Act. • The major provisions of The Companies (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2019: Re-categorisation of certain Offences: • The Ordinance re-categorizes 16 of these offences as civil defaults, where adjudicating officers may now levy penalties instead. • These offences include: (i) issuance of shares at a discount, and, (ii) failure to file annual return. Issue of shares at a discount: • It prohibits a company from issuing shares at a discount, except in certain cases. • The company is liable to pay a fine between one lakh rupees and five lakh rupees every officer in default may be punished with imprisonment up to six months or fine between one lakh rupees and five lakh rupees on failure. • Ordinance changes this to remove imprisonment for officers as a punishment. Commencement of Business: • A company may not commence business, unless • It files a declaration within 180 days of incorporation, confirming that every subscriber to the Memorandum of the company has paid the value of shares agreed to be taken by him. • It files a verification of its registered office address with the Registrar of Companies within 30 days of incorporation. Registration of Charges: • The Ordinance changes this to permit registration of charges:
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• within 300 days if the charge is created before the Ordinance, if not then it must be completed within six months from the date of the Ordinance, if not then the Registrar may grant another 60 days for registration. Change in Approving Authority: • Change in period of financial year for a company associated with a foreign company, has to be approved by the have been transferred to central government. Similarly, any alteration in the incorporation document of a public company which has the effect of converting it to a private company, has to be approved by central government. Declaration of Beneficial Ownership: • If a person holds beneficial interest of at least 25% shares in a company or exercises significant influence or control over the company, he is required to make a declaration of his interest. Failure to declare this interest, a person may either be fined, or imprisoned for up to one year, or both under the Ordinance. Compounding: • Under the Act, a regional director can compound (settle) offences with a penalty of up to five lakh rupees. • The Ordinance increases this ceiling to Rs 25 lakh.
7. Mines and Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill Why in News? • The Lok Sabha has recently passed the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill which amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 (CMSP Act). Who Grants Permission for Mining? • The state governments grant permission for mining, known as mineral concessions, for all the minerals located within the boundary of the state, under the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. • However, for minerals specified in the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, Central government approval is necessary before granting the mineral concession. • Minerals specified under the First Schedule include hydrocarbons, atomic minerals and metallic minerals such as iron ore, bauxite copper ore, lead precious stones, zinc and gold.
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Key Features of the Bill: • Allocation of coal/lignite blocks for composite prospecting licence cum mining lease has been provided. • Requirement of previous approval in cases where allocation of blocks was made by Central Government has been dispensed with. • Removal of restriction on end-use of coal: Companies will be allowed to carry on coal mining operation for own consumption, sale or for any other purposes, as may be specified by the Central Government. • Transfer of statutory clearances to New Bidders: The Bill provides that the various approvals, licenses, and clearances given to the previous lessee will be extended to the successful bidder for a period of two years. During this period, the new lessee will be allowed to continue mining operations. • Advance Action for Auction: Under the MMDR Act, mining leases for specified minerals (minerals other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals) are auctioned on the expiry of the lease period. The Bill provides that state governments can take advance action for auction of a mining lease before its expiry. What are its Significance? • This will speed up the process of implementation of projects, ease of doing business, simplification of procedure and benefit all the parties in areas where minerals are located. What are its Implications? • This opens up the sector to players outside steel and power as well as removes end-use restrictions. • It will create an efficient energy market and bring in more competition as well as reduce coal imports. India imported 235 million tonnes (mt) of coal last year, of which 135 mt valued at Rs 171,000 crore could have been met from domestic reserves. • It might also put an end to Coal India Ltd’s monopoly in the sector. • It would also help India gain access to high-end technology for underground mining used by miners across the globe. What is the Target for New Mining? • In 2018, the government allowed commercial mining by private entities and set a mining target of 1.5 billion tonnes by 2020. Out of this, 1 billion tonnes was set to be from Coal India, while 500 million tonnes was to be from non-Coal India entities. • This target has now been revised to 1 billion tonnes by 2023-24.
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8. Status of Government Schools in India Why in News? • The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development (HRD) recently submitted its report on the 2020-2021 demand for grants for school education to the Rajya Sabha and has made various observations on state of government schools in India. What are the Key Findings? • Almost half the government schools in the country do not have electricity or playgrounds. • The budgetary allocations saw a 27% cut from proposals made by the School Education Department, despite proposals for Rs. 82,570 crore, only Rs. 59,845 crore was allocated. • There is slow progress in building classrooms, labs and libraries to strengthen government higher secondary schools. • Overall, for the core Samagra Shiksha Scheme, the department had only spent 71% of revised estimates by December 31, 2019. • India is also dealing with a scenario of significant teacher vacancies, which are to the tune of almost 60-70 per cent in some states. About Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: • Samagra Shiksha is an integrated scheme for school education extending from pre-school to class XII to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education at all levels of school education. • It subsumes the three Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE). • The scheme treats school education holistically as a continuum from Pre-school to Class 12. The main emphasis of the Scheme is on improving the quality of school education by focussing on the two T’s – Teacher and Technology. What are its Key Recommendations? • Core schemes should get additional funds at the revised estimates stage. • HRD Ministry should collaborate with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to construct boundary walls.
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• It should also work with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy to provide solar and other energy sources so that schools have access to power. What is the Concern? • The learning crisis is evident in the fact that almost half of the children in grade 5 in rural India cannot solve a simple two-digit subtraction problem, while 67 per cent of children in grade 8 in public schools score less than 50 per cent in competency-based assessments in mathematics. Need of an Hour: • The Delhi Model of Education: ✓ For too long, there have been two kinds of education models in the country: one for the classes and another for the masses. The AAP government in Delhi sought to bridge this gap. ✓ Its approach stems from the belief that quality education is a necessity, not a luxury. Hence, it built a model which essentially has five major components and is supported by nearly 25% of the State Budget. ✓ Key components of the model: 1. Transformation of school infrastructure. 2. Training of teachers and principals. 3. Engaging with the community by reconstituting school management committees (SMC). 4. Curricular reforms in teaching learning. 5. No fee increase in private schools.
9. Epidemic Diseases Act Why in News? • The cabinet secretary has recently announced that all states and Union Territories should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 by means of which all advisories issued by the Union health ministry and state governments from time to time are enforceable. COVID-19 in India: • At present, at least 60 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in India. • Around the world, more than 119,100 people have been infected and nearly 4,300 have died, according to a Reuters tally of government announcements.
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History of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act: • The Epidemic Diseases Act is routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera. • The colonial government introduced the Act to tackle the epidemic of bubonic plague that had spread in the erstwhile Bombay Presidency in the 1890s. • Using powers conferred by the Act, colonies authorities would search suspected plague cases in homes and among passengers, with forcible segregations, evacuations, and demolitions of infected places. • Historians have criticized the Act for its potential for abuse. • In 1897, the year the law was enforced, freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak was punished with 18 months’ rigorous imprisonment after his newspapers Kesari and Mahratta admonished imperial authorities for their handling of the plague epidemic. Provisions of the 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act: • The Act, which consists of four sections, aims to provide “for the better prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Diseases.” • Section 2 empowers state governments/UTs to take special measures and formulate regulations for containing the outbreak. • It Reads: Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease— 1. When at any time the State Government is satisfied that the State or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the State Government, if it thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as it shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed. 2. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, the State Government may take measures and prescribe regulations for the inspection of
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persons travelling by railway or otherwise, and the segregation, in hospital, temporary accommodation or otherwise, of persons suspected by the inspecting officer of being infected with any such disease.” • Section 3 provides penalties for disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act. • These are according to section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). • Section 4 gives legal protection to the implementing officers acting under the Act. Past Implementation: • In 2018, the district collector of Gujarat’s Vadodara issued a notification under the Act declaring the Khedkarmsiya village in Waghodia taluka as cholera-affected after 31 persons complained of symptoms of the disease. In 2015, to deal with malaria and dengue in Chandigarh, the Act was implemented and controlling officers were instructed to ensure the issuance of notices and challans of Rs 500 to offenders. In 2009, to tackle the swine flu outbreak in Pune, Section 2 powers were used to open screening centres in civic hospitals across the city, and swine flu was declared a notifiable disease.
10. Revocation of Suspension of MPs in Lok Sabha Why in News? • Seven Congress members were recently suspended for unruly behaviour in the Lok Sabha and their suspension has been revoked recently. What is the reason for suspending an MP? • The general principle is that it is the role and duty of the Speaker of Lok Sabha to maintain order so that the House can function smoothly. This is a daunting task even at the best of times. • In order to ensure that proceedings are conducted in the proper manner, the Speaker is empowered to force a Member to withdraw from the House (for the remaining part of the day), or to place him/her under suspension. What are the Rules under which the Speaker Acts? • Rule Number 373 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business says: “The Speaker, if is of the opinion that the conduct of any Member is grossly disorderly, may direct such Member to withdraw immediately from the House, and any Member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall remain absent during the remainder of the day’s sitting.”
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• To deal with more recalcitrant Members, the Speaker may take recourse to Rules 374 and 374A. Rule 374 says: ✓ “The Speaker may, if deems it necessary, name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the House by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business thereof. ✓ “If a Member is so named by the Speaker, the Speaker shall, on a motion being made forthwith put the question that the Member (naming such Member) be suspended from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session: ✓ Provided that the House may, at any time, on a motion being made, resolve that such suspension be terminated. ✓ “A member suspended under this rule shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the House.” What is the Procedure for Revocation of a Member’s Suspension? • While the Speaker is empowered to place a Member under suspension, the authority for revocation of this order is not vested in him/her. It is for the House, if it so desires, to resolve on a motion to revoke the suspension. What happens in Rajya Sabha? • Like the Speaker in Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is empowered under Rule Number 255 of its Rule Book to “direct any Member whose conduct is in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately” from the House. ✓ “Any Member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day’s meeting.” ✓ The Chairman may “name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the Council by persistently and wilfully obstructing” business. ✓ In such a situation, the House may adopt a motion suspending the Member from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session. ✓ The House may, however, by another motion, terminate the suspension. ✓ Unlike the Speaker, however, the Rajya Sabha Chairman does not have the power to suspend a Member. Need of the Hour: • A balance has to be struck. There can be no question that the enforcement of the supreme authority of the Speaker is essential for smooth conduct of proceedings. However, it must be remembered that her job is to run the House, not to lord over it.
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• The solution to unruly behaviour has to be long-term and consistent with democratic values. • A step in that same direction could be to discontinue the practice of herding people out of the visitors’ gallery when the House witnesses chaos. It has been suggested that it may perhaps be a good idea to let them be — and to also reserve a few blocks in the gallery for schoolchildren, who could see for themselves the conduct of Members.
11. IBC (Amendment) Bill, 2020 Context: • Recently, the Indian parliament passed amendments to the insolvency law that will help safeguard successful bidders of insolvent companies from the risk of criminal proceedings for offences committed by the previous promoters. The bill seeks to remove bottlenecks and streamline the corporate insolvency resolution process. The latest changes pertain to various sections of the IBC as well as the introduction of a new section. About the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016: • The code is a comprehensive law, which covers all individuals, companies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and partnership firms. • It provides for a time-bound process to resolve insolvency. • When a default in repayment occurs, creditors gain control over debtor’s assets and must take decisions to resolve insolvency. • The Code also consolidates provisions of the current legislative framework to form a common forum for debtors and creditors of all classes to resolve insolvency. • The Code creates various institutions to facilitate resolution of insolvency. These are as follows: • Insolvency Professionals: ✓ A specialised cadre of licensed professionals who would administer the resolution process, manage the assets of the debtor, and provide information for creditors to assist them in decision making. • Insolvency Professional Agencies: ✓ The insolvency professionals must be registered with insolvency professional agencies. ✓ The agencies conduct examinations to certify the insolvency professionals and enforce a code of conduct for their performance. • Information Utilities:
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✓ Creditors will report financial information of the debt owed to them by the debtor. Such information will include records of debt, liabilities and defaults. • Adjudicating authorities: ✓ The proceedings of the resolution process will be adjudicated by the National Companies Law Tribunal (NCLT), for companies; and the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), for individuals. ✓ The duties of the authorities will include approval to initiate the resolution process, appoint the insolvency professional, and approve the final decision of creditors. • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board: ✓ The Board regulates the insolvency professionals, insolvency professional agencies and information utilities set up under the Code. ✓ The Board consists of representatives of Reserve Bank of India, and the Ministries of Finance, Corporate Affairs and Law. IBC (Amendment) Bill, 2020: • Insolvency commencement date ✓ The Bill clarifies that the insolvency commencement date is the date of admission of an application for initiating corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP). ✓ Presently under the Code, the insolvency resolution process commences when the Insolvency Resolution Professional (IRP) is appointed by the adjudicating authority. • Threshold for initiating resolution process ✓ The Bill also specifies the minimum threshold for certain classes of financial creditors for initiating insolvency resolution process. ✓ The Code allows the creditors to initiate an insolvency resolution process, if the amount of default by the debtor is at least one lakh rupees. ✓ The Bill adds an additional requirement for certain classes of financial creditors for filing application. These classes include real estate allottees and security or deposit holders represented by a trustee or agent. • Corporate debtors entitled to make application ✓ The Bill further clarifies that a corporate debtor should not be prevented from filing an application for initiation of corporate insolvency resolution process against other Corporate Debtors. • Liabilities for Prior Offences ✓ The bill provides safeguard for the successful bidders of insolvent companies from the risk of criminal proceedings for offences committed by the previous promoters.
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✓ Further, the Bill provides immunity to the company from attachment, seizure, retention, or confiscation of their property in relation to such offences. • Licenses and permits not to be terminated due to Insolvency ✓ The Bill also amends the Code the effect that a licence, permit, registration, quota, concession, clearances or a similar grant or right will now not be terminated or suspended during the Moratorium period. ✓ This provision will be applicable as long as the debtor does not default in the payment of current dues arising for the use or continuation of such licenses or permits. • IBC and its Shortcomings: ✓ The insolvency and bankruptcy law has resulted in recovery of just 10 percent of defaulted loans in case of companies other than the seven big cases referred for resolution. Of the 970 cases referred to IBC, 780 have been liquidated, indicating a mortality rate of 80 percent. ✓ Experts opine that only 43 percent of the loans has been recovered, implying that banks took a haircut of 57 percent on their loans ✓ There is also a concern over the MSMEs that will be compelled to supply goods to debt- ridden companies, under examination by the Resolution Professional. • Though the bill is equipped to remove bottlenecks and streamline the corporate insolvency resolution process, it needs furthermore scrutiny to iron out the shortcomings and make the resolution process much more efficient and creditor friendly.
12. Rajya Sabha nod for Vivad Se Vishwas Bill Why in News? • Recently, the Parliament has passed an amendment to the ‘Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020’ in order to widen its scope to cover litigation pending in various Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs). About the Amendment: • The amendment also includes certain search and seizure cases where the recovery is up to Rs. 5 crore. • Therefore, the Bill in current form allows taxpayers to settle cases pending before the Commissioner (Appeals), Income Tax Appellate Tribunals (ITATs), Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs), High Courts and the Supreme Court.
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• The Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Bill, 2020 is similar to the ‘Sabka Vishwas Scheme’, which was brought in to reduce litigation in indirect taxes in the year 2019. It resulted in settling over 1, 89,000 cases. ✓ Under the Sabka Vishwas Scheme, the government expected to raise around Rs. 39,500 crore. However, after the closure of the amnesty window in January 2020 application in relation to taxes worth Rs. 90,000 crore were received. This shows the success of the scheme. What are its Key Features? • Objective: The Bill provides a mechanism for resolution of pending tax disputes related to direct taxes (Income Tax and Corporate Tax) in simple and speedy manner. • Reduce Litigation: According to the Finance Ministry, at present there are 4.83 lakh pending direct tax cases worth Rs.9 lakh crore in the courts. • Through this scheme, the government wants to recover this money in a swift and simple way. • Addressing Revenue Shortfall: The government is witnessing a big shortfall in revenues, especially tax revenues, hence, increasing revenues in one of the priorities of the Government. ✓ Direct Tax collections have been lower than their budget targets due to the overall economic slowdown and a cut in the corporate tax rate in September, 2019. • Mechanism: In case of payment of tax, a taxpayer would be required to pay only the amount of the disputed taxes and will get complete waiver of interest, penalty and prosecution provided he/she pays by March 31, 2020. ✓ But, if the tax arrears relate to disputed interest or penalty only, then 25% of disputed penalty or interest will have to be paid. ✓ Those who avail this scheme after March 31, 2020 will have to pay some additional 10% amount. However, the scheme will remain open till June 30, 2020. • Immunity to Appellant: Once a dispute is resolved, the designated authority cannot levy interest or penalty in relation to that dispute. ✓ Further, no appellate forum can make a decision in relation to the matter of dispute once it is resolved. • Revival of Disputes: However, if an appellant provides false information or violates the Income Tax Act, 1961, then case of dispute can be revived.
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Other Issues Related to the Bill: • Few MP’s also raised concern about the Hindi name of the bill, which claimed to be a violation of Article 348. • Article 348 talks about the Language to be used in the Supreme Court and in the High Courts and for Acts, Bills, etc. 1. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing provisions of this Part, until Parliament by law otherwise provides a) all proceedings in the Supreme Court and in every High Court, b) the authoritative texts 1. of all Bills to be introduced or amendments thereto to be moved in either House of Parliament or in the House or either House of the Legislature of a State, 2. of all Acts passed by Parliament or the Legislature of a State and of all Ordinances promulgated by the President or the Governor of a State, and 3. of all orders, rules, regulations and bye laws issued under this Constitution or under any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of a State, shall be in the English language.
13. Information Technology (IT) Act Context: • Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has finalised the amending the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011. About: • It is to crack down on spread of fake news and rumours circulated on online platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and other online platforms, the central government has proposed stringent changes under the draft of Section 79 of the Information Technology (IT) that govern online content. • The proposed amendments in the draft of, Rule 3(9) is bound to force social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter to remain vigil and keep users on their toes before posting or sharing anything that is deemed as “unlawful information or content”. Its aim is to curbing fake news or rumours being spread on social media and check mob violence ahead. New Rules of the Amendment: • The changes will require online platforms to break end-to-end encryption in order to ascertain the origin of messages.
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• The social media platforms to “deploy technology based automated tools or appropriate mechanisms, with appropriate controls, for proactively identifying or removing or disabling access to unlawful information or content”. • According to the amendment, the platforms will need to comply with the central government “within 72 hours” of a query. There should be a ‘Nodal person of Contact for 24X7 coordination with law enforcement agencies and officers to ensure compliance. • The platforms will be keeping a vigil on “unlawful activity” for a period of “180 days”. Necessity for New Rules: • The concerns over “rising incidents of violence and lynching in the country due to misuse of social media platforms”, there is need for online platforms “to ensure that its platform is not misused on a large scale to spread incorrect facts projected as news and designed to instigate people to commit crime”. Criticisms: • The proposed changes have once again, debate on whether the government is intruding into the privacy of individuals, evoking sharp response from opposition parties. • Similarly, with the Section 66A of the IT Act that enabled authorities to arrest users for posting content which was termed as offensive. However, the Supreme Court on March 24, 2015, struck down the law. • India has the second highest number of internet users in the world after China, an estimated 462.12 million. Among them, 258.27 million were likely to be social network users in the country in 2019. There is a need for stringent rulers to control the misuse of social media platforms.
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14. National Clean Air Programme Why in News? • Union Environment Ministry has asked for city-level plans for the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as these problems need to be dealt with at the local level. What is the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)? • Launched in January 2019, it is the first ever effort in the country to frame a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target. • The programme will not be notified under the Environment Protection Act or any other Act to create a firm mandate with a strong legal back up for cities and regions to implement NCAP in a time bound manner for effective reduction. • The plan includes 102 non-attainment cities, across 23 states and Union territories, which were identified by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015. What is Non-attainment? • Non-attainment cities are those which have been consistently showing poorer air quality than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. • These include Delhi, Varanasi, Bhopal, Kolkata, Noida, Muzaffarpur, and Mumbai. What are its Key Features? • Target: Achieve a national-level target of 20-30% reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by between 2017 and 2024. • Implementation: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will execute this nation-wide programme in consonance with the section 162 (b) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. As part of the programme, the Centre also plans to scale up the air quality monitoring network across India. At least 4,000 monitors are needed across the country, instead of the existing 101 real-time air quality (AQ) monitors, according to an analysis. • The plan proposes a three-tier system, including real-time physical data collection, data archiving, and an action trigger system in all 102 cities, besides extensive plantation plans, research on clean-technologies, landscaping of major arterial roads, and stringent industrial standards. It also proposes state-level plans of e-mobility in the two-wheeler sector, rapid augmentation of charging infrastructure, stringent implementation of BS-VI norms, boosting public transportation system, and adoption of third-party audits for polluting industries.
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• Various committees proposed: The national plan has proposed setting up an apex committee under environment minister, a steering committee under-secretary (environment) and a monitoring committee under a joint secretary. There would be project monitoring committees at the state-level with scientists and trained personnel.
15. Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019 Why in News? • Recently, a Bill to grant the status of Central universities to three deemed Sanskrit universities were passed by the Rajya Sabha. About the bill: • The Bill is intended to convert India’s three deemed-to-be Sanskrit universities into Central Sanskrit Universities.
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✓ Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi. ✓ Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi. ✓ Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati. • What the universities will do? ✓ The proposed central universities will: (i) disseminate and advance knowledge for the promotion of Sanskrit, (ii) make special provisions for integrated courses in humanities, social sciences, and science, and (iii) train manpower for the overall development and preservation of Sanskrit and allied subjects. • Powers and functions: These include: (i) prescribing courses of study and conducting training programmes, (ii) granting degrees, diplomas, and certificates, (iii) providing facilities through a distance education system, (iv) conferring autonomous status on a college or an institution, (v) providing instructions for education in Sanskrit and allied subjects. • Some of the authorities that the universities will have: ✓ A court, which will review the policies of the university and suggest measures for its development. ✓ An Executive Council, which will be the principal executive body. ✓ The 15-member council will include the Vice-Chancellor appointed by the Centre, who will be the chairperson. ✓ The council will, among other functions, create teaching and academic posts and their appointment, and manage the revenue and property of the university. ✓ An Academic and Activity Council, which will supervise academic policies. ✓ A Board of Studies, which will approve the subjects for research and recommend measures to improve standards of teaching. • Visitor of the universities: ✓ Like at all central universities, the President of India will be the Visitor of the central Sanskrit universities. ✓ He may appoint persons to review and inspect the functioning of the University. ✓ The Executive Council may take action based on the findings of the inspection.
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What is the Issue? • The government has been accused of neglecting other classical languages in India. • Currently there are six languages that enjoy the ‘Classical’ status in India: ✓ Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). ✓ All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. About Classical Languages: • The Ministry of Culture provides the guidelines regarding Classical languages. • Guidelines for declaring a language as ‘Classical’ are: ✓ High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years; ✓ A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers; ✓ The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community; ✓ The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots. • Once a language is notified as a Classical language, the Human Resource and Development Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it: • Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages • A Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Languages is set up • The University Grants Commission is requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for the Classical Languages so declared. 16. Maharashtra Tops in Organ Donation Why in News? • Maharashtra has recently surpassed Tamil Nadu and Telangana and became the top performer in the field of organ donation. About: • The Ministry of Health and Family welfare has established ✓ National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) at National level, State Organ ✓ Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) in States and Regional Organ and ✓ Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) at regional level.
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• NOTTO functions as apex centre for coordinating all activities and networking for procurement and distribution of organs and tissues and maintaining registry of organs and tissues donation and transplantation in the country. • Sensitisation drives and the meticulous efforts of Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation – State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO-SOTTO) along with four Zonal Transplant Coordination Centres (ZTCCs) are important contributing factors behind this achievement. About Organ Donation: • It means giving part of the body (organ) to a person with end stage organ disease who needs a transplant. • The organs that can be donated for transplantation include kidney, liver, heart, lungs, and small bowel and tissues such as corneas, heart valves, skin and bone. There are two types of Organ Donation: ✓ A person during his life can donate one kidney, a portion of pancreas and a part of the liver are called Living Donor Organ Donation. ✓ A person can donate multiple organs and tissues after (brain-stem/cardiac) death are called Deceased Donor Organ Donation. Legal Framework for Organ Donation: • Organ Transplantation and Donation is permitted both by law and covered under the "Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994", which has allowed organ donation by live & Brain-stem Dead donors. • According to the amendment of the Act which also brought in donation of human tissues, thereby calling it as “Transplantation of Human Organs & Tissues Act 2011”. • The Government of India has also started a National Organ and Transplant Program (NOTP). • Under NOTP, which patients below the poverty line are supported for the cost of transplant as well as cost of immunosuppression after transplant for one year.
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17. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 Why in News? • The Lok Sabha has passed a Bill to extend the upper limit for permitting abortions from 20 weeks to 24 under special circumstances. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act 1971: • It is a law that legalized abortion in India up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, based on certain conditions and when provided by a registered medical practitioner at a registered medical facility. • As per the provisions of the MTP Act, only the consent of woman whose pregnancy is being terminated is required.
• In case of below the age of 18 years, or a mentally ill woman, consent of guardian (MTP Act defines guardian as someone who has the care of the minor. This does not imply that only parent/s are required to consent) is required for termination. Provision of Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Bill, 2020: • The draft Bill proposes requirement of opinion of one registered medical practitioner (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.
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• Similarly, it also provides for the requirement of opinion of two RMPs for termination of pregnancy of 20 to 24 weeks. • The Bill also seeks to increase the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women. It will also include minor girls. • The Bill seeks to relax the contraceptive-failure condition for “any woman or her partner” from the present provision for “only married woman or her husband”, allowing them to medically terminate the pregnancy. Significance of Bill: • The Bill will provide greater reproductive rights to women as abortion is considered an important aspect of the reproductive health of women. • Deaths and injuries from unsafe abortions are largely preventable provided services are performed legally by trained practitioners. • This will help in decreasing maternal morbidity and mortality and may also help in preventing wastage of resources invested in a pregnancy. • The special categories of women include rape survivors, victims of incest, the differently abled and minors.
18. Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram Why in News? • Promoting health and prevention of disease and risk factors is an important aspect of the Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram under the National Health Mission. Highlights: • Various platforms being used to promote health and well-being of adolescents through Social and Behaviour Change Communication are as follows: 1. Quarterly Adolescent Health Day 2. Peer Educator Programme in the community and schools • Besides this, Health promotion messages are also propagated through mass media and mid- media in the form of TV and radio spots, posters, leaflets and other interpersonal communication material.
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• Social Media platforms are used for creating awareness on various schemes of the Ministry including those for the adolescents. • Out of a total sanctioned strength of 2040 Adolescent Health Counsellors, there are 1671 Adolescent Health Counsellors in place across the country. Initiatives: • Public health being a State subject, all the administrative and personnel matters, including the recruitment of counsellors in public health facilities lie with the respective State Governments. • The shortage of health human resource in public health facilities varies from State to State depending upon their policies and context. • However, under National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical supports are provided to the State/UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems including support for recruitment of health human resource based on the requirements posed by them in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) within their overall resource envelope. Components: • Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram has the following components: • The Adolescent Friendly Health Clinics are established across various levels of public health institutions in all the States. Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) Programme is being implemented for school going adolescent boys and girls and out of school adolescent girls across the country. • The Peer Educator Programme is being implemented in select 200 districts, based on Composite Health Index and identified as High Priority Districts (HPDs). • Under the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme, funds are provided to the States/UTs for procurement of sanitary napkins for Adolescent Girls (aged 10-19 years) as per proposals received from them in their Annual Programme Implementation Plans. Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) focuses on reaching out all adolescents include Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ).
19. Supreme Court Invokes Special Powers in Defection Case Why in News? • Recently, the Supreme Court invoked its special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to remove a minister belonging to Manipur Cabinet.
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Highlights of the Judgement: • The Supreme Court removed a minister from the state cabinet and restrained him “from entering the Legislative Assembly till further orders”. • It has to be notes that a disqualification petition against the minister was pending before the Speaker since 2017 but the Speaker failed to take the decision within a reasonable time period. • The Speaker even failed to take any decision within the stipulated time period of 4 weeks as provided by the Supreme Court in the earlier order passed in the month of January 2020. Invoking Art 142: • Article 212 of the Constitution bars courts from inquiring into proceedings of the Legislature. In this case, however, prompted by the fact that the Speaker’s conduct has been called into question on several occasions, the Court said it was “constrained” to invoke the court’s extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. • Article 142: It provides discretionary power to the Supreme Court as it states that the Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it. Previous Court Judgements regarding Anti-defection Laws: • The court in general said that “the Speaker, in acting as a Tribunal under the Tenth Schedule, is bound to decide disqualification petitions within a reasonable period”, which “will depend on the facts of each case.” • The Supreme Court also held that disqualification petitions under the tenth schedule should be adjudicated by a mechanism outside Parliament or Legislative Assemblies. • The Court has suggested a permanent tribunal headed by a retired Supreme Court judge or a former High Court Chief Justice as a new mechanism. However, this would require an amendment to the Constitution. • Currently, disqualification of members of a House/Assembly is referred to the Speaker of the House/Assembly. • Rationale behind Court’s suggestion was to ensure that such disputes are decided both swiftly and impartially, thus giving real teeth to the provisions contained in the Tenth Schedule.
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About Tenth Schedule: • The Anti-Defection Law was passed in 1985 through the 52nd amendment to the Constitution. It added the Tenth Schedule to the Indian Constitution. The main intent of the law was to combat political defections. • According to it, a member of a House belonging to any political party becomes disqualified for being a member of the House, if 1. he voluntarily gives up his membership of such political party; or 2. he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to any direction issued by his political party without obtaining prior permission of such party and such act has not been condoned by the party within 15 days. Powers of Speaker with regard to Anti-Defection Law: • Any question regarding disqualification arising out of defection is to be decided by the presiding officer of the House. • After the Kihoto Hollohan case (1993), the Supreme Court declared that the decision of the presiding officer is not final and can be questioned in any court. It is subject to judicial review on the grounds of malafide, perversity, etc.
20. The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 Context: • Recently, the bill to amend the Companies Act 2013 and decriminalise various offences under it was introduced in Lok Sabha. The Bill also offers greater flexibility to companies in meeting their corporate social responsibility obligations. The government says the amendments in the existing Companies Act will help reduce the burden on the National Company Law Tribunal. Key Highlights of the Bill: • The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020 provides for the following: • Decriminalize: decriminalise certain offences under the Act in case of defaults which can be determined objectively and which otherwise lack any element of fraud or do not involve larger public interest. • Empowering the Central Government: empower the Central Government to exclude, in consultation with the Securities and Exchange Board, certain classes of companies from the definition of “listed company”, mainly for listing of debt securities.
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• Jurisdictions: clarify the jurisdiction of trial court on the basis of place of commission of offence under section 452 of the Act for wrongful withholding of property of a company by its officers or employees, as the case may be. • Producer Companies: Incorporate a new chapter in the Act relating to Producer Companies, which was earlier part of the Companies Act, 1956. • NCLAT Benches: Set up Benches of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. • Remuneration to the executives: make provisions for allowing payment of adequate remuneration to non-executive directors in case of inadequacy of profits, by aligning the same with the provisions for remuneration to executive directors in such cases. • Relaxing the provisions: ✓ relating to charging of higher additional fees for default on two or more occasions in submitting, filing, registering or recording any document, fact or information. ✓ exempt any class of persons from complying with the requirements relating to declaration of beneficial interest in shares ✓ Reduce timelines for applying for rights issues so as to speed up such issues. ✓ extend exemptions to certain classes of non-banking financial companies and housing finance companies from filing certain resolutions. ✓ provide for a window within which penalties shall not be levied for delay in filing annual returns and financial statements in certain cases. ✓ provide for specific classes of unlisted companies to prepare and file their periodical financial results; ✓ allow direct listing of securities by Indian companies in permissible foreign jurisdictions as per rules to be prescribed. • Corporate Social Responsibility: the companies which have spending obligation up to fifty lakh rupees shall not be required to constitute the Corporate Social Responsibility Committee ✓ to allow eligible companies to set off any amount spent in excess of their Corporate Social Responsibility spending obligation in a particular financial year towards such obligation in subsequent financial years; Concerns: • The Bill proposed 72 changes to the Companies Act, 2013. Almost 23 offences would be recategorized out of 66 compoundable offences under the Act, to be dealt with an in-house adjudication framework. Besides, seven compoundable offences would be omitted.
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• Raising concerns about the Yes Bank crisis, some Opposition leaders alleged that the bill was aimed to appease corporates and demanded that it should be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.
21. Setting Up of National Technical Textile Mission Why in News? • The government has approved the proposal for creation of National Technical Textiles Mission for a period of 4 years with an outlay of Rs.1480 crores. Highlights: • Objective: To position India as a global leader in technical textiles and increase the use of technical textiles in the domestic market. • Implementation: For 4 years from 2020- 21 to 2023-24 Components of the National Technical Textiles Mission: • Component-l (Research, Innovation and Development): ✓ Will focus on research and development at both, fiber level and application-based in geo, agro, medical, sports and mobile textiles and development of bio- degradable technical textiles. ✓ Research activities will also focus on development of indigenous machinery and process equipment. ✓ Will have an outlay of ₹1,000 crores. • Component-II (Promotion and Market Development): ✓ Will be for promotion and development of market for technical textiles. ✓ Will aim at average growth rate of 15-20% per annum taking the level of domestic market size to 40-50 Billion USD by the year 2024. • Component–III (Export Promotion): ✓ Will focus on export promotion so that technical textile exports from the country reach from the ₹14,000 crore now to ₹20,000 crores by 2021-2022.
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✓ Ensure 10% average growth every year till the Mission ends. ✓ An export promotion council for technical textiles will be set up. • Component-IV (Education, Training, Skill Development): ✓ Will promote Technical Education at higher engineering and technology levels related to technical textiles and its application areas. Significance of the Mission: • The Mission will focus on usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, including in strategic sectors. • The use of technical textiles in agriculture, aquaculture, dairy, poultry, etc. Jal Jivan Mission; Swachch Bharat Mission; Ayushman Bharat will bring an overall improvement in cost economy, water and soil conservation, better agricultural productivity and higher income to farmers per acre of land holding in addition to promotion of manufacturing and exports activities in India. • The use of geo-textiles in highways, railways and ports will result in robust infrastructure, reduced maintenance cost and higher life cycle of the infrastructure assets. • Promotion of innovation amongst young engineers will be taken up by the Mission; along with creation of incubation centres and promotion of ‘start-up’ and Ventures’. • The research output will be reposited with a ‘Trust’ with the Government for easy and assessable proliferation of the knowledge. A sub-component of the research will focus on development of bio degradable technical textiles materials, particularly for agro-textiles, geo-textiles and medical textiles. It will also develop suitable equipment for environmentally sustainable disposal of used technical textiles, with emphasis on safe disposal of medical and hygiene wastes. There is another important sub-component in the research activity aiming at development of indigenous machineries and process equipment for technical textiles, in order to promote ‘Make in India’ and enable competitiveness of the industry by way of reduced capital costs.
22. Land Encroachment & Religion Context: • Earlier this month, the High Court of Uttarakhand directed the State government to remove 770 religious structures built by encroaching on public places by March 23. The state government sought one year’s time for removing such religious structures but the division bench rejected this request citing a Supreme Court’s order of 2009.
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Background: • Supreme Court’s order of 2009 - ✓ The Supreme Court in the case of Union of India v/s State of Gujarat and others had directed all states to demolish illegal religious structures, saying in the name of gods and religion, no unauthorized construction can be allowed on streets, parks and other public places. The restriction would apply to temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, and places of worship of all other communities. Land Encroachment: • Land is a scarce commodity, and when the religious structures are built on public land it results in constriction of the public space eg. public roads. • Land is a public property, which can be given away only by the Government, provided it is not discriminatory and there is no favoritism. • Broadly there are two kinds of encroachments: ✓ one is the conversion of historical monuments into places of worship, ✓ while the other is the blatant grabbing and conversion of public property into a place of worship, a shrine or something similar. • While the judiciary has never encouraged encroachment on public land, on the contrary, the state government allows it whenever there is a window of opportunity. • Despite the regulations and the rules against land encroachment on religious grounds, the state governments and the public are supportive of this particular issue due to belief concerns. • The state governments are most often hesitant to remove religious structures even though they are on public lands due to the hue and cry caused by the public and sentiments attached to the religious structures. • The non-enforcement of strict regulations regarding the public encroachment by the local authorities provides encouragement to the public to take this issue lightly. Judgements in this Regard: • The Supreme Court has made its stand very clear on the issue of land encroachment. • The Supreme Court of India ordered five apartments in Maradu municipality in Kerala to be demolished, for violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules. • It has also been observed that most often, the structures are built and established for many years before they receive an order to be demolished. This results in a loss of resources and time.
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• Authorities who have powers to prevent violations should intervene to safeguard public property. • Similarly, a division bench of the Telangana High Court has pulled the Telangana government for not coming up with a firm policy to deal with those encroaching vacant lands. • Where the bench observed ‘No religious structure should be treated above law’. Problems Associated with land Encroachment: • Many development projects have come to a halt due to the issue of land encroachment on public land. • Road widening would be a problem as it is occupied by religious structures. • Pedestrians would suffer as people would have fewer spaces to walk. • There are development plans made for projects in urban and rural areas. • The lands have already been earmarked for a particular purpose, and the construction of any religious structure on public grounds can be interpreted as a violation. • Thus the issue of public land encroachment should be dealt with a firm hand. Way Forward: • The issue of land encroachment requires the collective efforts of the Public, the local authorities and the State Government if it has to be resolved completely. • The citizens have a major responsibility in trying to prevent the encroachment of public lands. The citizens should abide by the rules and regulations and if they violate the rule of law, the violators should be penalized. • The local authorities and the state governments would have to become proactive in the prevention of encroachment of public lands for religious purposes. • The authorities who are responsible for the prevention of land encroachment should also be held responsible.
23. Large-scale Electronics Manufacturing in India Why in News? • In a bid to boost large-scale electronics manufacturing in India, the Union Cabinet approved three schemes, including a production-linked incentive scheme, with a total outlay of almost ₹48,000 crore. • The National Policy of Electronics 2019 (NPE 2019) replaces the National Policy of Electronics 2012 (NPE 2012).
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Highlights: • The schemes are expected to attract new investments worth at least ₹50,000 crore in the sector, while generating more than five lakh direct and 15 lakh indirect jobs. PLI for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing: • The Production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing aims to attract large investments in mobile phone manufacturing and specified electronic components, including assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) units. • It has at a budgetary outlay of Rs. 40,995 crore for five years. • The scheme will offer an incentive of 4-6% on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India and is expected to create a total of 8 lakh jobs. Scheme for Promotion of manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS): • SPECS will provide financial incentive of 25% of capital expenditure for the manufacturing of goods that constitute the supply chain of an electronic product. • The scheme will help offset the disability for domestic manufacturing of electronic components and semiconductors in order to strengthen the electronic manufacturing ecosystem in the country. • The total cost of the scheme is Rs.3,285 crore. Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) 2.0: • It aims at creating quality infrastructure with a minimum area of 200 acres along with industry-specific facilities such as common facility centres, ready-built factory sheds/ plug- and-play facilities.
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• The scheme will provide financial assistance upto 50% of the project cost subject to ceiling of Rs.70 crore per 100 acres of land and For Common Facility Centre (CFC), financial assistance of 75% of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs.75 crore will be provided. • It has outlay of Rs. 3,762 crore over a period of 8 years. Salient Features of National Policy on Electronics 2019 NPE 2019: • Create eco-system for globally competitive Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector • Provide incentives and support for manufacturing of core electronic components. • Provide special package of incentives for mega projects which are extremely high-tech and entail huge investments, such as semiconductor facilities display fabrication, etc. • Formulate suitable schemes and incentive mechanisms to encourage new units and expansion of existing units. • Promote Industry-led R&D and innovation in all sub-sectors of electronics, including grass root level innovations and early stage Start-ups in emerging technology. • Provide incentives and support for significantly enhancing availability of skilled manpower, including re-skilling. • Special thrust on Fabless Chip Design Industry, Medical Electronic Devices Industry, Automotive Electronics Industry and Power Electronics for Mobility and Strategic Electronics Industry. • Create Sovereign Patent Fund (SPF) to promote the development and acquisition of IPs in ESDM sector. • Promote trusted electronics value chain initiatives to improve national cyber security profile.
24. Elections to 18 Rajya Sabha Polls Deferred due to Pandemic Why in News? • Elections to 18 Rajya Sabha seats that were scheduled to take place have been deferred due to the Coronavirus pandemic by the Election Commission of India (ECI). Composition of Rajya Sabha: • Article 80 of the Constitution lays down the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha as 250, out of which 12 members are nominated by the President and 238 are representatives of the States and of the two Union Territories.
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• The members nominated by the President are persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as literature, science, art and social service. • The Vice-President is the ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. • The Deputy Chairman, who is elected from amongst the house's members, takes care of the day-to-day matters of the house in the absence of the Chairman. Allocation of Seats to Rajya Sabha: • The Fourth Schedule to the Constitution provides for the allocation of seats to the States and Union Territories in Rajya Sabha. • The allocation of seats is made on the basis of the population of each State. • Consequent on the reorganization of States and formation of new States, the number of elected seats in the Rajya Sabha allotted to States and Union Territories has changed from time to time since 1952. • Every Rajya Sabha MP has tenure of six years and elections to one-third seats are held every two years. • According to Section 154 of the Representation of the People Act 1951, a member chosen to fill a casual vacancy will serve for the remainder of his predecessor’s term of office. What are the Eligibilities to become a Member of Rajya Sabha? ✓ A member of the Rajya Sabha must: ✓ Be a citizen of India; ✓ Be at least 30 years old; ✓ Possess such other qualifications as may be prescribed in that behalf by or under any law made by Parliament. Process of Rajya Sabha Election: • The representatives of the States and of the Union Territories in the Rajya Sabha are elected by the method of indirect election. • The representatives of each State and two Union territories are elected by the elected members of the Legislative Assembly of that State and by the members of the Electoral College for that Union Territory, as the case may be, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. • To win a Rajya Sabha seat, a candidate should get a required number of votes. That number is found out using the below formula. Required vote = Total number of votes / (Number of Rajya Sabha seats + 1) + 1.
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25. Aircraft Amendment Bill, 2020 Why in News: • The Lok Sabha has recently passed the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which seeks to amend the Aircraft Act, 1934. Highlights: • It will provide statutory status to regulatory institutions like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). • It regulates the manufacture, possession, use, operation, sale, import and export of civil aircrafts and licensing of aerodromes. The statutory status to these regulatory institutions would improve India’s aviation safety ranking as suggested by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It proposes to increase the fine amount for violations of rules from ₹10 lakhs to ₹1 crore for aviation industry players. • It may cancel the licences, certificates or approvals granted to a person under the Act if the person contravenes any provision of the Act. • It exempted aircrafts belonging to the naval, military, or air forces of the Union. It expands this exemption to include aircrafts belonging to any other armed forces other than these three. ✓ DGCA will carry out oversight and regulatory functions with respect to matters under the Bill. ✓ BCAS carries out regulatory oversight functions related to civil aviation security. ✓ AAIB carries out investigations related to aircraft accidents and incidents. About Challenges of the Bill: • The civil aviation sector had been deregulated with little role for the government to set air fare. • There has been a drop in demand and airline companies are under stress due to the COVID-19 outbreak. • The aviation sector faces the shortage of Air-Traffic Controllers (ATCs). The cases of “near miss” in the skies have increased. • Air India is having huge losses (₹26 crores daily) due to its disinvestment and it is likely to get worse in the wake of the pandemic. Way Ahead: • Airfares need to remain affordable and airlines also need to remain viable.
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• The strength of ATCs needs to be increased to avoid any possibility of mid-air collisions. India has 3,500 ATCs and 250 more will be hired next year. • A near miss is when two aircraft come so close that their safety is compromised. The safe distance between two planes flying in opposite directions is 40 seconds depending on their speed. Similarly, the vertical distance of 1,000 feet is Considered Safe.
26. Section 188 IPC Why in News? • Delhi and many other states took the Centre’s advice to enforce a full lockdown in districts to contain the spread of COVID-19 by imposing Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897: • The orders issued to curb the spread of the coronavirus have been framed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which lays down punishment as per Section 188 of the • Indian Penal Code, 1860, for flouting such orders –leading to imprisonment of up to 6 months or fine up to Rs 1000 or both. • In the past, the Act has been routinely enforced across the country for dealing with outbreaks of diseases such as swine flu, dengue, and cholera. • Its penal provisions are currently being invoked by states to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code: • Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, provides penalties for disobeying any regulation or order made under the Act. • These are according to Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). • Section 188, which comes under the Code’s Chapter X, ‘Of Contempt of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants’, Reads: • “Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant. — ✓ Whoever, knowing that, by an order promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, he is directed to abstain from a certain act, or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management, disobeys such direction,
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✓ shall, if such disobedience causes or tends to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance or injury, to any persons lawfully employed, be punished
with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both; ✓ and if such disobedience causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. What happens if you Violate the Lockdown Orders? • Under Section 188, there two offences: • Disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant, If such disobedience causes obstruction, annoyance or injury to persons lawfully employed. ✓ Punishment: Simple Imprisonment for 1 month or fine of Rs 200 or both ✓ If such disobedience causes danger to human life, health or safety, etc. ✓ Punishment: Simple Imprisonment for 6 months or fine of Rs 1000 or both • According to the First Schedule of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, both offences are cognizable, bailable, and can be tried by any magistrate
27. MSP for Minor Forest Produce Why in News? • According to experts, the Union government’s ‘mechanism for marketing of minor forest produce (MFP) through minimum support price (MSP) and development of value chain for MFP’ scheme can offer respite to forest-dependent labourers in the wake of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. About the Scheme: • The Union Cabinet, in 2013, approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for marketing of non-nationalized / non monopolized Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and development of a value chain for MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP). ✓ This was a measure towards social safety for MFP gatherers, who are primarily members of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) most of them in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas. ✓ The scheme had Rs. 967.28 crore as Central Government share and Rs. 249.50 crore as the States share for the current Plan period.
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Key Features of the Scheme: • Ensure that the tribal population gets a remunerative price for the produce they collect from the forest and provide alternative employment avenues to them. • Establish a system to ensure fair monetary returns for forest dweller’s efforts in collection, primary processing, storage, packaging, transportation etc., while ensuring sustainability of the resource base. • Get them a share of revenue from the sales proceeds with costs deducted. Coverage of the Scheme: • Earlier, the scheme was extended only to Scheduled Areas in eight states and fixed MSPs for 12 MFPs. Later expanded to all states and UTs. • Total number of MFPs covered under the list includes 49. ✓ Implementation: The responsibility of purchasing MFP on MSP will be with State designated agencies. ✓ To ascertain market price, services of market correspondents would be availed by the designated agencies particularly for major markets trading in MFP. ✓ The scheme supports primary value addition as well as provides for supply chain infrastructure like cold storage, warehouses etc. ✓ The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be the nodal Ministry for implementation and monitoring of the scheme. The Minimum Support Price would be determined by the Ministry with technical help of TRIFED. What are the Significances of the Scheme? • The Minor Forest Produce (MFP), also known as Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), is a major source of livelihood and provides essential food, nutrition, medicinal needs and cash income to a large number of STs who live in and around forests. An estimated 100 million forest dwellers depend on the Minor Forest Produce for food, shelter, medicines, cash income, etc. • However, MFP production is highly dispersed spatially because of the poor accessibility of these areas and competitive market not having evolved. Consequently, MFP gatherers who are mostly poor are unable to bargain for fair prices. This package of intervention can help in organizing unstructured MFP markets.
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28. Relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana Context: • Recently, Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Niramla Sitharaman has announced Rs 1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for the poor to help them fight the battle against CoronaVirus. The components of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package: — • Insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19 in Government Hospitals and Health Care Centres • Insurance cover of Rs 50 Lakh per health worker fighting COVID-19 to be provided under a special Insurance Scheme • Safai karamcharis, ward-boys, nurses, ASHA workers, paramedics, technicians, doctors and specialists and other health workers would be covered. • All government health centres, wellness centres and hospitals of Centre as well as States would be covered under this scheme • Approximately 22 lakh health workers would be provided insurance cover to fight this pandemic. • PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana ✓ 80 crore individuals, i.e, roughly two-thirds of India’s population would be ✓ covered under this scheme ✓ The scheme aims to solve the problem of non-availability of foodgrains due to disruption in the next three months. ✓ People will to get 5 kg wheat or rice and 1 kg of preferred pulses for free every month for the next three months ✓ Each one of them would be provided double of their current entitlement over the next three months. • Under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, • Benefit to Farmers: ✓ The first instalment of Rs 2,000 due in 2020-21 will be front-loaded and paid in April 2020 itself under the PM KISAN Yojana. It would cover 8.7 crore farmers • Cash transfers Under PM Garib Kalyan Yojana: • Help to Poor: ✓ A total of 20.40 crores PMJDY women account-holders would be given an ex-gratia of Rs 500 per month for next three months.
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• Gas Cylinders: ✓ Gas cylinders, free of cost, would be provided to 8 crore poor families for the next three months. • Help to low wage earners in Organised sectors: ✓ Wage-earners below Rs 15,000 per month in businesses having less than 100 workers are at risk of losing their employment. ✓ The government proposes to pay 24 percent of their monthly wages into their PF accounts for next three months. This would prevent disruption in their employment. • Support for senior citizens (above 60 years), widows and Divyang: ✓ There are around 3 crore aged widows and people in Divyang category who are vulnerable due to economic disruption caused by COVID-19. ✓ The centre proposes to give them Rs 1,000 to tide over difficulties during the next three months. • NREGA: ✓ Wages would be increased by Rs 20 with effect from 1 April, 2020. ✓ Wage increase under MNREGA will provide an additional Rs 2,000 benefit annually to a worker. ✓ This will benefit approximately 13.62 crore families. • Self-Help groups: ✓ Limit of collateral free lending would be increased from Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakhs. ✓ Women organised through 63 lakhs Self Help Groups (SHGs) support 6.85 crore households, which would be benefitted. • Other components of PM Garib Kalyan Package: ✓ Organised sector: ✓ Employees’ Provident Fund Regulations will be amended to include Pandemic as the reason to allow non-refundable advance of 75 percent of the amount or three months of the wages, whichever is lower, from their accounts.
✓ Families of four crore workers registered under EPF can take benefit of this window. • Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund: ✓ A Welfare Fund for Building and Other Constructions Workers has been created under a Central Government Act. ✓ There are around 3.5 Crore registered workers in the Fund.
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✓ State Governments will be given directions to utilise this fund to provide assistance and support to these workers to protect them against economic disruptions. • District Mineral Fund: ✓ The State Government will be asked to utilise the funds available under District Mineral Fund (DMF) for supplementing and augmenting facilities of medical testing, screening and other requirements in connection with preventing the spread of CVID-19 pandemic as well as treating the patients affected with this pandemic. • Nearly 75% of the Indian economy will be shut down during the 21-day period, which would lead to a direct output loss of approximately 4.5%. The economic relief package might be used to put money directly into the accounts of more than 100 million poor and to support businesses hit the hardest by the lockdown.
29. “Operation Namaste” of Indian Army Why in News? • The Indian Army has launched its anti-COVID-19 campaign code-named as “Operation Namaste” in order to help the government in its fight against the pandemic. Steps taken under “Operation Namaste”: • Soldiers are advised to follow the lockdown, wherever they do not have any operational role, and stay fit. They are assured that their families will be well taken care of. Leave extension of those on leave as well as curtailment of leave to bare minimum have been imposed. Setting up of Quarantine and Hospital Facilities: • Segregation facilities have been set up to observe troops already back from leave from various states. So far six quarantine facilities have been established where people evacuated from coronavirus-affected countries have been accommodated. 28 Armed Forces hospitals have been earmarked as COVID hospitals. • These hospitals will include armed forces patients as well as civilian patients transferred from state health authorities. • Five hospitals from the Army, Navy and the Air Force are conducting coronavirus tests using the RT-PCR methodology and more hospitals will be equipped soon with the resources. Contributions by Other Forces: • Indian Navy also contributed by delivering 60,000 face masks ordered by Indian Medical Association, Goa which were stuck in Delhi due to the lockdown.
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• Ilyushin 38 SD (Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircrafts) departed for New Delhi and returned on the same day with the masks. • Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also came forward to help by developing ventilators and providing other Medical Equipment.
30. Cantonment Boards Gear up to COVID-19 Challenge Why in News? • Sixty-two Cantonment Boards spread over 19 States/Union Territories, across the country, with a population of approx. 21 lakhs (including military and civil) have geared up to the challenge posed by Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Highlights: • Instructions have been issued to all the Cantonment Boards to identify beds in hospitals/health centres and guest houses for any eventuality. • Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of the Cantonment Boards are in constant touch with civilian authorities in their respective areas and providing required assistance whenever needed. All the advisories issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare are being strictly adhered to by all the Cantonment Boards. • All the Cantonment offices buildings, residential areas, school premises, libraries, parks and markets are being sanitised regularly. • Task forces have been set up consisting of office staff to ensure supply of essential commodities, food items, etc, especially for poor people residing in Cantonment areas. Cantonment Board: • A cantonment board is a civic administration body in India under control of the Ministry of Defence. The overall municipal administration of the Cantonment areas comes under Cantonment Boards which are democratic bodies. • The Cantonment areas were and are primarily meant to accommodate the military population and their installations. Cantonments are different from the Military Stations in that the Military Stations are purely meant for the use and accommodation of the armed forces and these are established under an executive order whereas the Cantonments are areas which comprise of both military and civil population. Members: • The board comprises elected members besides ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006.
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• The term of office of a member of a board is five years. A cantonment board consists of eight elected members, three nominated military members, three ex-officio members (station commander, garrison engineer and senior executive medical officer), and one representative of the district magistrate. Categories: • Cantonments are divided into Four Categories, Namely: ✓ Category I – population exceeds Fifty Thousand. ✓ Category II – population exceeds ten thousand, but does not exceed Fifty Thousand. ✓ Category III – population exceeds two thousand five hundred, but does not exceed Ten thousand. ✓ Category IV – population does not exceed two thousand five hundred.
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\ 3.1. POLITY & GOVERNANCE SNIPPETS 1. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) Why in News? • Hon’ble PM is set to launch 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) all over the country today. FPO: • To support farmers in various aspects ranging from input procurement to market linkages, Government of India through Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC), a registered society is promoting Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by mobilizing the farmers and helping them in registering as companies. • PO is a generic name for an organization of producers of any produce, e.g., agricultural, non-farm products, artisan products, etc. The concept of Producers Organisation (PO): • A Producer Organisation (PO) is a legal entity formed by primary producers, viz. farmers, milk producers, fishermen, weavers, rural artisans, craftsmen. • A PO can be a producer company, a cooperative society or any other legal form which provides for sharing of profits/benefits among the members. • In some forms like producer companies, institutions of primary producers can also become member of PO. What is the need for PO? • The main aim of PO is to ensure better income for the producers through an organization of their own. Small producers do not have the volume individually (both inputs and produce) to get the benefit of economies of scale. • Besides, in agricultural marketing, there is a long chain of intermediaries who very often work non-transparently leading to the situation where the producer receives only a small part of the value that the ultimate consumer pays. • Through aggregation, the primary producers can avail the benefit of economies of scale. They will also have better bargaining power vis-à-vis the bulk buyers of produce and bulk suppliers of inputs. Why need FPO? • Nearly 86% of farmers are small and marginal with average land holdings in the country being less than 1.1 hectares.
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• These small, marginal and landless farmers face tremendous challenges during agriculture production phase such as for access to technology, quality seed, fertilizers and pesticides including requisite finances. • They also face tremendous challenges in marketing their produce due to lack of economic strength. • FPOs help in the collectivization of such small, marginal and landless farmers in order to give them the collective strength to deal with such issues. • Members of the FPO will manage their activities together in the organization to get better access to technology, input, finance and market for faster enhancement of their Income.
2. Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference 2020 Why in News? • The 11th National Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Conference was held in New Delhi recently. About Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK): • KVK is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). The first KVK was established in 1974 at Puducherry. • The KVK scheme is 100% financed by the Government of India and the KVKs are sanctioned to Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, related Government Departments and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) working in Agriculture. Objectives: • The mandate of KVK is technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity development. It aims at assessment of location specific technology modules in agriculture and allied enterprises, through technology assessment, refinement and demonstrations. KVKs also produce quality technological products (seed, planting material, bio-agents, livestock) and make it available to farmers. • KVKs act as a bridge between the laboratories and farmland. According to the Government, these are crucial to fulfilling the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.
3. Dwar Praday Yojana (Door Delivery System) Context: • Dwar Praday Yojana is a pilot project that was recently started in Indore by the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
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About Dwar Praday Yojana: • The Applicants living within the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) get five types of documents ✓ Domicile certificate, ✓ Income certificate, ✓ Birth certificate, ✓ Death Certificate and ✓ Copy of Khasra-Khatauni (a land ownership document) • Delivered at their home within 24 hours of applying online. • It has engaged a local courier agency, which delivers the documents after collecting them from public service centres. • It is a central government initiative to improve the government’s service Delivery Mechanism.
4. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) Why in News? • 8.16 lakh candidates benefit from the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS):
• It was launched with the objective of providing Apprenticeship Training to 50 lakh youth by 2020. • Under the scheme, the Government will share 25% of the prescribed stipend subject to a maximum of Rs 1500/- per month per apprentice with the employers. • It has a user friendly on-line portal designed to facilitate easy processing of the entire apprenticeship cycle.
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• State Apprenticeship Advisers (SAAs) and Regional Directorates of Apprenticeship (RDAIs) act as implementing agencies in their respective state/Regions. • To improve the industry connect, Directorate General of Training (DGE&T), M/o Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has adopted the German model of Vocational Education system in India by Introducing Dual System of Training (DST). • Dual System combines practical training in the industry and theoretical training along with foundation practical in ITI (s) which leads to better ITI — Industry linkage. • Under this, ITIs (industrial training institutes) are required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with industries under information to the respective State.
5. ICGS Varad Why in News? • The Indian Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Varad has been commissioned recently. Highlights: • The ship will be deployed extensively for the surveillance of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone and to safeguard the maritime interests of the country. Key Features: • The ship Varad will be based at Paradip in Odisha, under the operational control of the Coast Guard North Eastern Region. • The 98-meter-long vessel has been designed and built by the L&T at its yard at Kattupalli near Chennai, as per the specifications of the Coast Guard. • The ship is fitted with modern navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery. It is equipped with 30 mm and 12.7 mm guns. • It has special on board features like the Integrated Bridge System, Platform Management System, Automated Power Management System and High Power External Fire-Fighting system. • The vessel can be used for search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol. The ship is also capable of carrying pollution response equipment for oil spill response at sea.
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6. Mission Purvodaya Why in news? • A workshop on “Enabling Procedures for Increase of Steel Usage for the Growth of Economy” was conducted at Bhubaneswar, Odisha recently. Highlights: • The workshop was organised by Ministry of Steel in partnership with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Government of Japan and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). • With Japan as the partner country, India is looking forward to make Odisha, the nerve centre of Purvodaya in Steel sector. • Beyond just producing primary steel, it is envisioned to create an ecosystem of ancilliary, value added products, capital goods with industry participation. Mission Purvodaya: • Mission Purvodaya is an initiative launched in 2020 for accelerated development of Eastern India and thus driving the national growth and propelling India towards becoming a $5 trillion economy. • Accelerated development of eastern India through integrated steel hub in Kolkata, West Bengal. • The eastern states of India i.e. Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and northern part of Andhra Pradesh which collectively hold 80% of the country’s iron ore, 100% of coking coal and significant portion of chromite, bauxite and dolomite reserves are to be focused. • Through this programme, the government aims to transform logistics and utilities infrastructure which would change the socio-economic landscape in the eastern India. • The steps, under mission, also include growth of steel industry along with employment opportunities across the entire value chain. Integrated Steel Hub: • The steel hub encompasses Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Northern Andhra Pradesh. • It aims to attract investment of nearly $70 billion in the steel sector and spur economic growth across eastern India.
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• It is a part of Mission Purvodaya initiative which has been launched for the focused development of eastern states. ✓ Capacity addition through easing the setup of greenfield steel plants. ✓ Development of steel clusters near integrated steel plants as well as demand centres. ✓ Transformation of logistics and utilities infrastructure in the eastern region. Significance of the Steel Hub: • Government estimates suggest capacity addition in the steel hub would entail capital investments of over $70 billion. • It will lead to an incremental Gross State Domestic Product of over $35 billion through steel alone. • It will create over 5 million jobs across the steel value chain in the region. • The steel hub which will serve as a catalyst in the transformation of the eastern region following the Rs 100 lakh crore infrastructure investment (through National Infrastructure Pipeline) announced by the government in the next 5 years. The Eastern States: • The eastern states are rich in natural resources and collectively hold nearly 80% of the country’s iron ore, most of domestic coking coal reserves and significant portion of chromite, bauxite and dolomite reserves. • The eastern belt has the potential to add more than 75% of the country’s incremental steel capacity envisioned by the National Steel Policy. • Out of the 300 MT steel capacity by 2030-31, the region alone is capable of contributing over 200 MT.
7. Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019 Why in News? • Recently, the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha. About Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019: • It was passed in Lok Sabha in December last year. • It intended to convert India’s three deemed-to-be Sanskrit universities into Central Sanskrit Universities. ✓ Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, New Delhi. ✓ Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi. ✓ Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati.
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Powers and Functions Include: 1. Prescribing courses of study and conducting training programmes, 2. Granting degrees, diplomas, and certificates, 3. Providing facilities through a distance education system, 4. Conferring autonomous status on a college or an institution, 5. Providing instructions for education in Sanskrit and allied subjects. About Councils of the University: • An Executive Council, which will be the principal executive body. Its 15-member council will include the Vice-Chancellor appointed by the Centre, who will be the chairperson. • It will have other functions such as create teaching and academic posts and their appointment, and manage the revenue and property of the university. An Academic and Activity Council, which will supervise academic policies. • A court, which will review the policies of the university and suggest measures for its development. Like all central universities, the President of India will be the Visitor of the central Sanskrit universities. • He may appoint persons to review and inspect the functioning of the University. The Executive Council may take action based on the findings of the inspection.
8. Apex body on River Linking Why in News? • The Central government is working on the establishment of an exclusive body to implement projects for linking rivers. Highlights: • To be called the National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA), the proposed body is expected to take up both inter-State and intra-State projects. It will also make arrangements for generating up funds, internally and externally. • The subject of establishment of the Authority was discussed at the last meeting of the Special Committee on Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) in New Delhi.
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• The panel includes Irrigation or Water Resources Ministers and Secretaries of States. Since its formation, the Committee has held 17 meetings. • Once approved, the projects will be pursued as national projects, wherein the Centre will absorb 90% of the cost and the States concerned the rest. • As of now, six ILR projects — the Ken-Betwa, Damanganga- Pinjal, Par-Tapi-Narmada, Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga, Mahanadi-Godavari and Godavari-Cauvery (Grand Anicut), have been under examination of the authorities. • With regard to the peninsular rivers, the Centre has chosen to focus on the Godavari- Cauvery link than the earlier proposal to link the Mahanadi-Godavari-Krishna-Pennar- Cauvery rivers. National River Linking Project (NRLP): • The NRLP formally known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding to water ‘deficit’ basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects. • It is designed to ease water shortages in western and southern India while mitigating the impacts of recurrent floods in the eastern parts of the Ganga basin. • Interlinking of rivers was conceived more than 125 years ago by Sir Arthur Cotton, mainly to facilitate trade but it was not implemented then. • The proposed NRLP, now comprises 29 canals totalling 9,600 km, will involve the movement of 245 trillion litres of water. If and when implemented, it will be one of the biggest inter-basin water transfer projects in the world.
9. Solar Charkha Mission Why in News? • Subsidy to artisans under Solar Charkha Mission. Solar Charkha Mission: • The mission was launched by the Ministry of MSME. • The scheme is envisaged to generate direct employment for nearly one lakh persons. • It envisages setting up of ‘Solar Charkha Clusters’ which will have 200 to 2042 beneficiaries (spinners, weavers, tailors and other skilled artisans). • Each spinner will be given two charkhas of 10 spindles each. As part of the scheme no subsidy is given, however, subsidy to the tune of Rs.9.60 crore is provided for the procurement of charkha and looms to the Implementing or Promoting Agency for a full-
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scale Solar Charkha Cluster involving a total investment of about Rs.38.625 crore. The pilot solar charkha cluster was set up at Khanwa village, Nawada District, Bihar in 2016. It was a success and benefited 1180 artists. Based on this success, the government set out to establish 50 such clusters under this Mission. • These solar charkhas are to be operated using solar power which is a renewable energy source. It will help in the development of a green economy as it is an environment-friendly programme. It will also generate sustainable employment for the artisans. • The Mission is implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). Objectives: • To ensure inclusive growth by generation of employment, especially for women and youth, and sustainable development through solar charkha clusters in rural areas. • To boost rural economy and help in arresting migration from rural to urban areas. • To leverage low-cost, innovative technologies and processes for sustenance.
10. Jeevan Kaushal Curriculum Why in News? • The Minister of Human Resource Development has recently informed about the implementation of Jeevan Kaushal (life skills) curriculum in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. Key Points: • It is developed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) • It is a life skill (Jeevan Kaushal) curriculum for undergraduate students at Universities and Colleges. • It covers the courses on communication skills, professional skills, leadership & management skills and universal human values. The implementation of curriculum is suggestive. • The objectives of the curriculum are Enhancement of self-awareness, Creation of emotional competency and emotional intelligence, Learning through practical experiences, Development of interpersonal skills, Time and Stress management, and Achievement of excellence with ethics.
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• It has been decided that foreign investment in Air India Ltd be brought on a level playing field with other scheduled airline operators. • The amendment in FDI policy will permit foreign investment in Air India Ltd at par with other Scheduled Airline Operators i.e. upto 100% in Air India Ltd by those NRIs, who are Indian Nationals. • The proposed changes in FDI Policy will enable foreign investment by NRIs into Air India Ltd. upto 100%, under automatic route. Rationale of the Move: • Above amendment to the FDI Policy are meant to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy to provide ease of doing business in the country. • It is expected to lead to largest FDI inflows and thereby contributing to growth of investment, income and employment.
11. North East Venture Fund Why in News? • Union Minister Jitendra Singh have recently informed Rajya Sabha that the North East Venture Fund (NEVF) has disbursed over Rs.18 crores to 12 start-ups till date. North East Venture Fund (NEVF): • The North East Venture Fund was formally launched on 9th September, 2017 with joint efforts from Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi). Objective: • To encourage entrepreneurs and Start-ups and to empower entrepreneurs from the North Eastern Region (NER) Capital: • It is a close ended fund with capital commitment of Rs 100 crore. • The investment is ranging between Rs. 25 lakhs and Rs. 10 crores per venture, which is long term in nature with investment horizon of 4-5 years. Contribution: • The NEVF team has vigorously been participating in various events, seminars, conclaves etc. across NER, and interacted with start-ups both on one to one and group basis to promote the fund.
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• The team members have also interacted with various venture funds, incubators in the venture capital eco- system. Over the last three years, out of 212 enquiries/applications received across sectors like Agri-Allied, Healthcare, Biotechnology, Education, Food Processing, Tourism, Logistics, Parking, Aggregation of Services, Entertainment etc., 40 proposals have been taken to the Investment Committee for perusal and 22 proposals have received investment commitment. The NEVF has till date made a disbursement of Rs.18.16 crore to 12 start-ups.
12. Open Data Portal Why in News? • Recently, Indian School of Business (ISB) has developed one-stop open data portal. About: • It aimed at collating government data, scattered across multiple sources for consumption of policymakers, researchers, students and journalists, focusing on information related to agriculture. In the age where the credibility of information is being questioned and scrutinised, often with good reason, a platform with credible data can be a game changer. • India Data Portal (IDP) incubated at ISB’s Bharti Institute of Public Policy is a platform that has data from multiple disciplines, subjects and areas. • In the first phase, the focus is on agriculture data, and in later phases the portal will diversify to include datasets on financial inclusion, rural development etc. • Mostly, data is available at different locations generally in inaccessible formats, which then requires extra effort in converting them into a format which can be analysed. • In other cases, even if the data is easily available, comparing it across geographies becomes a considerable challenge. These issues of unavailability of organised and linked data and inadequate platforms for rapid visualisations are addressed by the IDP.
13. KIRAN-Women Scientist Scheme Why in News? • The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology, GOI has started several pioneering initiatives for promoting women in science. Highlights: • In 2014, DST restructured all women-specific programmes under one umbrella called Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN), which encompasses women-exclusive schemes and encourages them to foster their career by not
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only undertaking research in Science and Technology (S&T) but also focusing on S&T solutions of issues & challenges at the grassroots level for social benefits. • The mandate of the KIRAN Program is to bring gender parity in S&T through gender mainstreaming. • Women Scientist Scheme (WOS) addresses the challenges faced by S&T qualified women primarily due to social responsibilities. • Its two components WOS-A and WOS-B are directly implemented by the KIRAN Division and the third component WOS-C or KIRAN-IPR is implemented by TIFAC with grant-in- aid from DST. • TIFAC is an autonomous think tank under the DST. It was established in 1988. • It was mandated to assess the state-of-art of technology and set directions for future technological development in India in important socio-economic sectors. • The WOS was launched to address the critical issues of “career-break”, identify neglected well-qualified women in the field of S&T and to provide opportunities to women scientists. • To encourage women to continue the research in S&T, the Ministry provides fellowships through the following categories: • Women Scientist Scheme-A (WOS-A) – Research in Basic/Applied Science • Women Scientist Scheme-B (WOS-B) – S&T interventions for Societal Benefit • Women Scientist Scheme-C (WOS-C) – Internship in Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for the Self-Employment
14. Conference on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 2020 Why in News? • The “Conference on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs 2020” has been inaugurated on the occasion of the International Women’s Day (8th March) in New Delhi. Key Points: • The Ministry of MSME in collaboration with various industry associations like FICCI, CII and India SME Forum has organised this three-day conference. • Also, a discussion on ‘Creating a conducive business Eco System for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs’ has been arranged for more than 300 women entrepreneurs from all parts of the country. • The MSME Sambandh and Udyam Sakhi portal which has helped to generate a pool of successful women entrepreneurs in the country has also found mention in the conference.
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1. MSME Sambandh aims to monitor the implementation of public procurement from MSMEs by Central Public Sector Enterprises. 2. Udyam Sakhi portal intends to provide the right information for women entrepreneurs about self-employment on one single portal.
15. New Textile Policy – 2020 Why in News? • The Government is formulating a New Textile Policy for the overall development of the sector. Highlights: • Over a period of time, the textile industry is facing some problems like technological obsolesce, high input cost (power & capital), poor access to credit, fragmented units, absence of fibre neutrality, etc. • In order to address these issues/problems, GOI has implemented various schemes to provide support to Textiles & Apparel Sector. • Knitting and Knitwear Sector scheme: Government has launched a separate scheme for the development of the Knitting and Knitwear Sector to boost production in the knitting and knitwear cluster at Ludhiana, Kolkata and Tirupur. • Amended Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS): For technology upgradation of the sector. • National Handloom Development Programme, Comprehensive Handloom Cluster Development Scheme, Handloom Weaver Comprehensive Welfare Scheme and Yarn Supply Schemes. • National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive Handicraft Cluster Development Schemes. • Power Tex India: A comprehensive scheme for the power loom sector. • Silk Samagra – An integrated scheme for the development of silk. • Jute ICARE for increasing the income of farmers through different interventions. • North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) for promoting textiles industry. • Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP): The Government is implementing the SITP which provides support for the creation of world-class infrastructure facilities for setting up of textile units.
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16. Centre has decided to Increase Manpower at SFIO Why in News? • The government is set to more than double the manpower at the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) to nearly 350 as the office continues efforts to curb corporate wrongdoings. About SFIO: • It is a multi-disciplinary organization under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, consisting of experts in the field of accountancy, investigation, company law, capital market and taxation. • Its main objective is of detecting and prosecuting or recommending for prosecution of white-collar crimes/frauds. • It is headquartered in New Delhi. SFIO has powers to arrest people for the violation of the Company law. • The Computer Forensic and Data Mining Laboratory (CFDML) was set up in 2013 to provide support and service to the officers of SFIO in their investigations. Statutory Status: • SFIO was initially set up by the Government of India by way of a resolution dated 2nd July 2003. At that time SFIO did not enjoy a formal legal status. • Section 211 of the Companies Act, 2013 has accorded statutory status to the SFIO. SFIO can start an investigation into the affairs of a company under the Following Circumstances: • On receipt of a report of the Registrar or inspector under sections of the Companies Act, 2013. • On intimation of a special resolution passed by a company that its affairs are required to be investigated. • In the public interest. • On request from any department of the central government or a state government.
17. Cri-MAC & NCTC Context: • Recently, Union Home Minister launched Crime Multi Agency Centre (Cri-MAC) and National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC).
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About NCTC: • It is meant for professional quality eLearning services on cyber-crime investigation on large scale to police officers, judges, prosecutors and other stakeholders. About Cri-MAC: • It aims to share information between various police forces on heinous crimes. • It is meant to share information on heinous crimes and other issues related to inter-state coordination.
18. Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Why in News? • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister, has given its approval for introducing the Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP). Highlights: • Under the scheme, a mechanism would be created for reimbursement of taxes/ duties/ levies, at the central, state and local level, which are currently not being refunded under any other mechanism, but which are incurred in the process of manufacture and distribution of exported products. • This scheme is going to give a boost to the domestic industry and Indian exports providing a level playing field for Indian producers in the International market so that domestic taxes/duties are not exported. • Under the Scheme an inter-ministerial Committee will determine the rates and items for which the reimbursement of taxes and duties would be provided. In line with “Digital India”, refund under the Scheme, in the form of transferable duty credit/electronic scrip will be issued to the exporters, which will be maintained in an electronic ledger. The Scheme will be implemented with end to end digitization. • The refunds under the RoDTEP scheme would be a step towards “zero-rating” of exports, along with refunds such as Drawback and IGST. • This would lead to the cost competitiveness of exported products in international markets and better employment opportunities in export-oriented manufacturing industries. Features: • At present, GST taxes and import/customs duties for inputs required to manufacture exported products are either exempted or refunded.
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• However, certain taxes/duties/levies are outside GST, and are not refunded for exports, such as, VAT on fuel used in transportation, Mandi tax, Duty on electricity used during manufacturing etc. These would be covered for reimbursement under the RoDTEP Scheme. The rebate would be claimed as a percentage of the Freight On Board (FOB) value of Exports.
19. Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 Why in News? • Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Shipping recently. Highlights: • The Ministry of Shipping has proposed to replace the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 by the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020. • This will empower the Major Ports to perform with greater efficiency on account of full autonomy in decision making and by modernizing the institutional framework of Major Ports. • It would help to impart faster and transparent decision making benefiting the stakeholders and better project execution capability. • The Bill is aimed at reorienting the governance model in central ports to landlord port model in line with the Successful Global Practice. • This will also help in bringing transparency in operations of Major Ports. Salient Features: • It is compact in comparison to the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 as the number of sections has been reduced to 76 from 134 by eliminating overlapping and obsolete Sections. • The Bill has proposed a simplified composition of the Board of Port Authority which will comprise of 11 to 13 Members. • A compact Board with professional independent Members will strengthen decision making and strategic planning. • The role of Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) has been redefined. • Port Authority has now been given powers to fix tariff which will act as a reference tariff for purposes of bidding for PPP projects. • PPP operators will be free to fix tariff based on market conditions.
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• The Board of Port Authority has been delegated the power to fix the scale of rates for other port services and assets including land. Objective: • The Bill seeks to provide for regulation, operation and planning of Major Ports in India and to vest the administration, control and management of such ports upon the Boards of Major Port Authorities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. • To promote the expansion of port infrastructure and facilitate trade and commerce. • It aims at decentralizing decision making and to infuse professionalism in governance of Major Ports.
20. Market Intelligence and Early Warning System (MIEWS) Web Portal Context: • Recently, Union Minister of Food Processing Industries has launched the Market Intelligence and Early Warning System (MIEWS) Web Portal. About the Portal: • It will provide real time monitoring of prices of tomato, onion and potato (TOP) and simultaneously generate alerts for intervention under the terms of the Operation Greens (OG) scheme. • It would also disseminate all relevant information related to TOP crops such as Prices and Arrivals, Area, Yield and Production, Imports and Exports among others. About Operation Greens: • It is announced by the Union government in the Budget 2018-2019 with an outlay of Rs.500 crores. • It aims to contain the annual price distress of tomatoes, onions and potatoes (TOP) in regions with high production. • It aspires to increase the income of the farmers as in line with an ambition of doubling the farmer’s income by 2022. • Their goals are to be achieved through interventions by encouraging farmer producers’ organisations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and Professional Management. About the Salient Features Include: • low price and high price alerts would be indicated in the dashboard • price forecasts for 3 months forward would be provided on the portal • Information about Prices and arrivals of TOP crops across the country
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• Area, Yield and Production of TOP crops • Crop Agronomy and Trade Profile of TOP crops
21. National Creche Scheme Context: • National Creche Scheme is recently seen in news. About National Creche Scheme: • It is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It was earlier named as Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme. • It aims to provide day care facilities to children age group of 6 months to 6 years, of working mothers. • Its fund sharing pattern, States/UTs & Non-Governmental Organisations/Voluntary Organisations is in the ratio of 60:30:10 for States, 80:10:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States and 90:0:10 for UTs. Salient Features: ✓ Day-care Facilities including Sleeping Facilities. ✓ Early Stimulation for children below 3 years and pre-school Education for 3 to 6 years old children. Supplementary Nutrition to be locally sourced ✓ Growth Monitoring ✓ Health Check-up and Immunization Guidelines: • It shall be open for 26 days in a month and for seven and half (7-1/2) hours per day. • The number of children in the crèche should not be more than 25 per crèche. • User charges will be levied to bring in an element of community ownership. • It helps women to manage both their career as well as their family responsibility. It promotes gender diversity at workplaces. It helps promote gender equality and democracy by increasing participation of women in the Economy.
22. Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 Why in News? • Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 aimed to improve India’s aviation safety ratings and provide statutory status to regulatory institutions like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) got approve from the Lok Sabha recently.
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Highlights: • The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020 provides for statutory backing to the DGCA, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). • There was a need to provide statutory backing to regulatory bodies as they were set up under executive order. • The Bill also provides for keeping aircraft belonging to the country’s armed forces outside the purview of the Aircraft Act, 1934. • The Bill proposes to increase the fine for violations of rules from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore. • The Bill would bring regulation regarding air navigation services under its purview. Need: • While the air fares are needed to remain affordable, it was also necessary that the airline business remains viable. The civil aviation sector has been deregulated and the government does not set air fare. The Airlines are losing considerable amount of money amid COVID-19 outbreak. Directorate General of Civil Aviation: • The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulatory body in the field of Civil Aviation, primarily dealing with safety issues. It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety, and airworthiness standards. The DGCA also co-ordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation. DGCA has been given statutory status under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
23. Uncertainity over NPR Why in News? • At least 13 States, and Delhi, covering almost 60% of the total population of India, are opposed to the revision of the National Population Register (NPR) in the format being prepared by the Centre, even as the nationwide exercise is scheduled to kick off in barely two weeks’ time on April 1. Highlights: • Home minister has told that people could choose to not respond to questions, but Chief Ministers and activists have said that this is no guarantee that they would not face any problems in the future.
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• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had informed the Lok Sabha that it was in discussion with States that had expressed concerns over the controversial additional questions in the NPR form. • The MHA had informed a parliamentary panel that during works towards updating the NPR 2020, it is proposed to collect data on some additional items like place of last residence, mother tongue, Aadhaar number (voluntary), mobile number, passport (Indian passport holder), voter ID card, driving license number, date and place of birth of father and mother. • Activists have pointed out that as the law stands, not providing information for the NPR can be an offence and the NPR could be used for identifying genuine citizens and doubtful ones. West Bengal was the first State to announce that it would not canvass the NPR form during the census operations, followed by Kerala. Both States have put the NPR exercise on hold.
24. Ibuprofen and COVID-19 Why in News? • The health minister of France, Olivier Véran, has issued a blunt warning about painkillers taken by people ill with the coronavirus, especially to stay away from drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. Highlights: • The So-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen worsened symptoms of the illness caused by the coronavirus, according to the health minister. • Some patients had experienced serious adverse effects while taking the drugs, known as NSAIDs, which should not be used in these patients. • The advice left many medical experts scratching their heads. The coronavirus is a new pathogen, and little is known about the disease it causes, called COVID-19, or how patients respond to common medications. The Minister’s warning followed a letter published in The Lancet. • The letter’s authors proposed that certain drugs increase the number of so-called ACE2 receptors on the surfaces of cells. The coronavirus uses these receptors to infect cells, the authors noted, and so in theory patients taking the drugs might be more vulnerable to the virus. One of the drugs was ibuprofen. But researchers say there is no such proof.
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• There are reasons to worry about long-term, heavy use of NSAIDs, which have been linked an increased risk of kidney damage in some patients. People taking blood thinners also should avoid NSAIDs. But for infectious disease specialists, the greater concern is that when NSAIDs and acetaminophen reduce fever, patients may be more comfortable but their lower temperatures can short-circuit the body’s main defense against infection. • Studies have found that if people infected with a variety of viruses and other microorganisms bring their fevers down, with NSAIDs or with acetaminophen, their symptoms may last longer and they continue to shed virus for a longer time, meaning they may be contagious for longer periods.
25. National Commission for Homoeopathy Medicine Bill 2019 Why in News? • Recently, Rajya Sabha has passed the National Commission for Homoeopathy Medicine Bill 2019. About National Commission for Homoeopathy Medicine Bill 2019 • It seeks to repeal the Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.
• It proposed to setup a National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) which will replace the existing regulator Central Council for Homoeopathy (CCH) so as to ensure transparency. • It will setup three autonomous boards under NCH. They are ✓ Homoeopathy Education Board will be entrusted with conducting overall education of Homoeopathy. ✓ The Board of assessment and rating will assess and grant permission to educational institutions of Homoeopathy. ✓ Board of ethics and registration of practitioners of Homoeopathy will maintain National Register and ethical issues relating to practice are under the NCH. • Under the Bill, the central government will constitute an Advisory Council for Homoeopathy. The Council will be the primary platform through which the states/union territories can put forth their views and concerns before the NCH. • It proposes a common entrance exam and an exit exam which all graduates will have to clear to get practicing licenses. It also has a teacher's eligibility test has been proposed to assess the standard of teachers before appointment and promotions.
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26. Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana Context: • Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana was recently announced by the Rajasthan Government on pilot basis in 4 districts. About Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana: • It is a maternity benefit scheme, which will offer ₹6,000 for the birth of the second child. • It aims to reach out to 75,000 beneficiaries annually. It estimates an expenditure of ₹45 crore per year. • The State scheme will complement the Central government’s Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana which offers ₹5,000 for the birth of the first child. • It will be implemented in Udaipur, Pratapgath, Banswara and Dungarpur, where nutrition indicators among children and anaemia levels among mothers are worse than the average for the State. • The government feels that the second child doesn’t receive as much attention as the first child and, therefore, it is important to extend this cash benefit to ensure adequate nutrition for the Second Child. About Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): • It is a maternity benefit rechristened from erstwhile Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY). • It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women. • It provides a partial wage compensation to women for wage-loss during childbirth and childcare and to provide conditions for safe delivery and good nutrition and feeding practices.
27. National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 (NCIM) Context: • Rajya Sabha has recently passed the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 (NCIM). • It seeks to repeal the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970. About the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine: • It will consist of 29 members, appointed by the central government. These posts will have a maximum term of four years. They will be recommended by a search committee.
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• The Search Committee will consist of five members including the Cabinet Secretary and three experts nominated by the central government of which two should have experience in any of the fields of Indian System of Medicine. Its Functions are: 1. Framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine. 2. Assessing the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure. 3. Ensuring compliance by the State Councils of Indian System of Medicine of the regulations made under the Bill. Ensuring coordination among the autonomous boards set up under the Bill. • Autonomous boards to be set up are Board of Ayurveda and the Board of Unani, Siddha, and Sowa-Rigpa; Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine; Ethics and Medical Registration Board. Entrance Exams: • There will be a uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to under- graduate education in each of the disciplines of the Indian System of Medicine in all medical institutions regulated by the Bill. It also proposes a National Teachers’ Eligibility Test for postgraduates of each discipline of Indian System of Medicine who wish to take up teaching that particular discipline as a profession.
28. AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre (AYUSH HWC) Why in News? • Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the inclusion of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre (AYUSH HWC) component of National AYUSH Mission (NAM). About AYUSH HWC: • It will be operationalizing within a period of five years that is from financial years 2019-20 to 2023-24. • The Ministry of AYUSH has proposed following two models for operationalization of AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres throughout the country by Upgradation of existing AYUSH dispensaries and Sub Health Centres (SHCs). Significance of AYUSH HWC: • It will Enhanced accessibility to achieve universal health coverage for affordable treatment. • It will Reduced burden on secondary and tertiary health care facilities
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• It will Reduced out of pocket expenditure due to "self-care" model. • It will Integration of AYUSH in implementation of SDG 3, as mandated by NITI Aayog • It will Validated holistic wellness model in Target Areas.
29. Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices Why in News? • Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved promotion of the Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices in country. About Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices: • It aims to boost the domestic manufacturing of medical devices in the country. • It includes setting up of medical device parks in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Every park is to receive Rs 100 crores. • The grants are to be provided to the state and the projects are to be implemented by respective State Governments. • The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for promoting domestic manufacturing of medical devices by a Project Management Agency (PMA) to be nominated by Department of Pharmaceuticals. • The expenditure to be incurred for the above schemes will be for the next five years i.e. from 2020-21 to 2024-25. The parks will help to reduce imports and also increase standard of medical testing. Also, the scheme will help to reduce cost of production. • India is the fourth largest market for medical devices in Asia, but the domestic medical devices industry in India is very small. India’s domestic medical devices stand at 2% of the Global Industry.
30. Digital e-Learning Platforms Why in News? • Union Human Resource Development Minister has asked students to continue their learning by making full use of the available digital e-Learning platforms during the period the educational institutions are closed as a precautionary measure against COVID-19. Highlights: • Educational institutions have been urged to promote digital learning and make students aware of the various digital/e-learning platforms which are provided by MHRD for online education.
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• DIKSHA: Diksha has more than 80000 e-Books for class 12th created by CBSE, NCERT and States/UTs which are available in multiple languages. • e- PATHSHALA: In this web portal NCERT has deployed 1886 audios, 2000 videos, 696 e-books (e-Pubs) and 504 Flip Books for classes 1st to 12th in different languages. • National Repository of Open Educational Resources (NROER): It is an initiative to bring together all digital and digitizable resources across all stages of school education and teacher education. • The e-platforms of Ministry of HRD for school education & Higher Education are as under: • SWAYAM: SWAYAM is the national online education platform hosting 1900 courses covering both school (class IX to XII) and Higher Education (undergraduate, post graduate programs) in all subjects. ✓ A unique feature of SWAYAM is that it is integrated with conventional education. ✓ Credit transfers are possible for SWAYAM courses • SWAYAM PRABHA: It has 32 D2H TV channels transmitting educational content on a 24/7 basis. The channels cover both school education (class IX to XII) and Higher Education (undergraduate, post graduate, engineering, out of school children, vocational courses and teacher training) in arts, Science, commerce, performing arts, Social Sciences and Humanities subjects, engineering, technology, law, medicine, and agriculture.
31. Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) Context: • The Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has recently allowed Defence veterans with lifestyle diseases on long treatment to purchase the required medicines for the month of April at once to contain the spread of COVID-19. About Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS): • It is a flagship Scheme of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence. It was launched with effect from 2003. • It is to provide quality healthcare for Ex-servicemen (Army, Navy and Air Force) pensioners and their dependents. • It provides allopathic and AYUSH medicare through a network of ECHS Polyclinics, AYUSH hospitals spread across the country. • Its Polyclinics are designed to provide 'OutPatient Care' which includes consultation, essential investigation and provision of medicines.
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• It also provides with Specialized consultations, investigations and 'In Patient Care' (Hospitalization) through spare capacity available in Service hospitals/Government Hospitals/civil hospitals. It is financed by the Government of India. The Central Organisation ECHS is located at Delhi in the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army).
32. National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Why in News? • The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare has recently visited the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Control Room to review the current status of COVID-19. About National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC): • It formerly known as National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), had its origin as the Central Malaria Bureau, established at Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh) in 1909. • It was transformed into the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with a larger mandate of controlling emerging and re-emerging diseases in 2009. • It functions as the Nodal Agency in the country for disease surveillance facilitating prevention and control of communicable diseases. It is also a national level institute for training specialized manpower for public health, laboratory sciences and entomological services and is involved in various applied research activities. It is under administrative control of the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It has its headquarters in Delhi. Functions of NCDC: • It undertakes investigations of disease outbreaks all over the country. • It provides referral diagnostic services to individuals, community, medical colleges, research institutions and state health directorates. Tokyo Olympics 2020.
33. Telemedicine Guidelines Why in News? • The Health Ministry has recently issued telemedicine guidelines enabling doctors to write prescriptions based on telephone conversations. About: • It aimed at decongesting healthcare facilities in the wake of Covid-19, will also make healthcare accessible to remote areas in general and make faster intervention possible with the current immobilisation due to coronavirus making hospital and clinic visits difficult.
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• It provides information on various aspects of telemedicine, including on technology platforms and tools available to medical practitioners and how to integrate these technologies to provide healthcare delivery. • It also spells out how technology and transmission of voice, data, images and information should be used in conjunction with other clinical standards, protocols, policies and procedures to provide care. • Its Guidelines Specifically Explicitly exclude the following • The Use of digital technology to conduct surgical or invasive procedures remotely • Other aspects of telehealth such as research and evaluation and continuing education of healthcare workers. Specifications for hardware or software, infrastructure building & maintenance. Does not provide for consultations outside the jurisdiction of India 34. District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Funds Context: • Recently, the Union finance minister asked the state governments to use district mineral foundation (DMF) funds for response and preparedness to fight the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. About DMFs: • It is instituted under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act 2015. • It may be used to supplement and augment healthcare facilities, screening and testing requirements and any other resources that might be required. • They are non-profit trusts to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining-related operations. • Its objective is to work for the interest of the benefit of the persons and areas affected mining related operations in such manner as may be prescribed by the State Government. • Its manner of operation comes under the jurisdiction of the relevant State Government. • It is collected at the district level. There are certain high-priority areas identified in all states’ DMF rules, where at least 60 per cent of the fund must be used. These include vital and pressing concerns, including healthcare. The various state DMF rules and the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Khestra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) guidelines stipulate some “high priority” issues for DMFs, including Drinking water, Health, Women and child welfare, Education, Livelihood and skill development, Welfare of aged and disabled, Sanitation
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About Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY): • It is meant to provide for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs). • To implement various developmental and welfare programs in mining affected areas that complement the existing ongoing schemes of State and Central Government. • To minimize the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts. To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in Mining Areas.
35. Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) Why in News? • Recently, Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) has taken various measures to ensure un-interrupted supply of Oxygen to hospitals and other health care facilities due to nationwide lock down for containment of COVID-19 pandemic. About Petroleum & Explosives Safety Organization (PESO): • It comes under, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India. • It administers the usage of explosives & petrol stations in India. • It is headquartered at Nagpur, Maharashtra.
36. COVID-19 National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC) Why in News? • The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched the National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC). Highlights: • It has been conceptualised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and has been implemented by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. • The CoNTeC is a Telemedicine Hub wherein expert doctors from various clinical domains will be available 24×7 to answer the multifaceted questions from specialists from all over the country. It is a multi-modal telecommunications hub through which 2 way audio-video and text communications can be undertaken from any part of the country as well as the world atlarge. The modes of communication will include simple mobile telephony as well as two way video communications, using WhatsApp, Skype and Google Duo.
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• CoNTeC has been made operational at AIIMS with a view to connect the Doctors across the country to AIIMS in real time for treatment of the COVID-19 patients. • CoNTeC has been set up in the AIIMS so that the small states should also make use of the vast experience of the Doctors at AIIMS. • The CoNTeC is also fully integrated with the National Medical College Network (NMCN) to conduct a full-fledged Video Conference (VC) between the 50 Medical Colleges • connected through the NMCN with its National Resource Centre located at SGPGI, Lucknow. The patient management advice offered will be standardized as per the national guidelines supplemented protocols developed by the team at AIIMS, nominated by the Director, AIIMS. Significance: • The goal of the facility is to at least connect the doctors in the country together to discuss amongst themselves the protocols undertaken and provide the best treatment accordingly. • The telemedicine guidelines have also been notified by the Government of India and with the help of digital platform and technology, the public at large will get the benefit not only for COVID- 19 but other diseases also.
37. Employees Provident Fund Scheme, 2020 Why in News? • Recently, Ministry of Labour and Employment has amended the EPF Scheme 1952. It allows withdrawal of non-refundable advance by EPF members in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. About Employees Provident Fund (Amendment) Scheme, 2020: • The amended scheme Employees Provident Fund (Amendment) scheme, 2020 has come into force from 28th March, 2020. • It permits withdrawal not exceeding the basic wages and dearness allowance for three months or upto 75 per cent of the amount standing to member's credit in the EPF account in the event of outbreak of epidemic or pandemic. • The employees working in establishments and factories across entire India, who are members of the EPF Scheme, 1952 are eligible for the benefits of non-refundable advance. About Employees Pension Scheme (EPS): • It is a social security scheme that was launched in 1995 and is facilitated by EPFO.
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• It makes provisions for pensions for the employees in the organized sector after retirement at the age of 58 years. Employees who are members of EPFO automatically become eligible for EPS. • Both employer and employee contribute 12% of employee’s monthly salary (basic wages plus dearness allowance) to the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) scheme. • It is mandatory for employees who draw a basic wage of Rs. 15,000 per month. Of the employer’s share of 12 %, 8.33 % is diverted towards the EPS.
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4. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 1. National Interlinking of Rivers Authority Why in News? • The Central government is working on the establishment of an exclusive body named National Interlinking of Rivers Authority (NIRA) to implement projects for linking rivers. What is River Interlinking? • The National River Linking Project (NRLP) formally known as the National Perspective Plan, envisages the transfer of water from water ‘surplus’ basins where there is flooding, to water ‘deficit’ basins where there is drought/scarcity, through inter-basin water transfer projects. • 'Surplus' means that it is the extra water available in a river after it meets the humans’ requirement of irrigation, domestic consumption and industries thereby underestimating the need of the water for the river itself. • The term 'deficit' has also been viewed in terms of humans only and not from the river's perspective, which includes many other factors. About the Proposal: • The proposed body is expected to take up both inter-State and intra-State projects. • It will also make arrangements for generating up funds, internally and externally. • An updated draft Cabinet note has been circulated to other Ministries in the Central government. On receipt of comments, the note will be finalised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and sent to the Union Cabinet for approval. • The proposal for an apex body on river linking has been under discussion for the past 18 months. However, as of now, no specific timeline has been determined for the constitution of the Authority. • Once approved, the projects will be pursued as national projects, wherein the Centre will absorb 90% of the cost and the States concerned the rest. Currently who is responsible for the Interlinking of Rivers? • The National Water Development Agency (NWDA) is responsible for the formulation of proposals of the linking of rivers. • NWDA is the agency of the Union Ministry of Water Resources. It was set up in July, 1982 as autonomous society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
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• It was established to carry out the water balance and other studies on a scientific and realistic basis for optimum utilisation of Water Resources of the Peninsular rivers system. • Besides it was tasked to prepare feasibility reports and give concrete shape to Peninsular Rivers Development Component of National Perspective. • In 1990, it was also entrusted with the task of Himalayan Rivers Development Component of National Perspectives. • Recently, the functions of NWDA have been further modified and the work of preparation of detailed Project Reports (DPR) of various link proposals and Pre-feasibility Reports. • It has been also entrusted to prepare feasibility reports of intra-State links as proposed by the States. What are the Projects under Examination? • As of now, six ILR projects — the Ken-Betwa, Damanganga- Pinjal, Par-Tapi-Narmada, Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganga, Mahanadi-Godavari and Godavari-Cauvery (Grand Anicut) — have been under examination of the authorities. • With regard to the peninsular rivers, the Centre has chosen to focus on the Godavari- Cauvery link than the earlier proposal to link the Mahanadi-Godavari-Krishna-Pennar- Cauvery Rivers. The latter has eluded consensus given reservations from Odisha. What are the Benefits? • A national water grid aims to connect various surplus rivers with deficient rivers. • It aims to transfer excess water from water-rich to water-deficit regions. • This is to help improve irrigation, increase water for drinking and industrial use. • Mitigating drought and floods to an extent are also part of the objectives. What are the Concerns? • There are significant environmental concerns associated with inter-basin transfer. The ecology of every river is unique. Letting the waters of two rivers mix may affect biodiversity. ‘Besides, it involves construction of a massive network of canals and dams, which would lead to large-scale displacement of people. • It may make changes to agricultural patterns, and affect livelihoods. • In addition, rainfall patterns are changing due to climate change. • So the basins now supposed to be surplus, might cease to be so in few years. • There are financial concerns as well, related to the projects. In 2001, the total cost for linking the Himalayan and peninsular rivers was estimated at Rs. 5,60,000 crores. The cost is now likely to be substantially higher
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’ • Also, the cost-benefit ratio might no longer be favourable. Way Forward: • The necessity and feasibility of river-interlinking should be seen on case to case basis, with adequate emphasis on easing out federal issues. The government should alternatively consider the National Waterways Project (NWP) which “eliminates” friction between states over the sharing of river waters since it uses only the excess flood water that goes into the sea unutilized. Local solutions (like better irrigation practice) and watershed management, should be focused on.
2. COVID-19 now a Pandemic, says WHO Why in News? • WHO has recently announced COVID-19 as pandemic amidst of increasing outbreak in various countries. What is COVID-19? • The COVID-19 is a disease caused by the spread of 2019-nCoV (2019 novel Corona Virus). • Originating in China, it has spread to other parts of the world which is a cause for concern. • Coronaviruses are a class of viruses so named because their electron microscope image resembles the corona of the sun. They are usually found in animals, but sometimes get transmitted to human beings possibly through the food chain. • The symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. • This happened during the 2003 outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus that claimed close to 800 lives. • The current 2019 strain that had originated in China has been named as 2019 ‘novel’ coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or SARS-CoV-2. What is Pandemic? • A pandemic is an epidemic of disease that has spread across a large region; for instance multiple continents, or worldwide. • A widespread endemic disease that is stable in terms of how many people are getting sick from it is not a pandemic. • The last pandemic reported was the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, which killed hundreds of thousands globally. • According to 2017 pandemic influenza risk management guidelines, the WHO uses pandemic influenza phases, interpandemic, alert, pandemic and transition, to reflect its
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risk assessment of the global situation regarding each influenza virus with pandemic potential infecting humans. • Further, flu pandemics generally exclude recurrences of seasonal flu. • Throughout history, there have been a number of pandemics, such as smallpox and tuberculosis. One of the most devastating pandemics was the Black Death, which killed an estimated 75–200 million people in the 14th century. • The only current pandemic is HIV/AIDS, which started in the 1980s. Other recent pandemics are the 1918 influenza pandemic (Spanish flu) and the 2009 flu pandemic (H1N1). What are the different levels of disease? • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are different levels of diseases, they are: ✓ Sporadic: When a disease occurs infrequently and irregularly. ✓ Endemic: A constant presence and/or usual prevalence of a disease or infection within a geographic area. (Hyper endemic, is a situation in which there are persistent, high levels of disease occurrence.) ✓ Epidemic: A sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease—more than what’s typically expected for the population in that area. ✓ Pandemic: An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, affecting a large number of people. Phases of Pandemics: • The World Health Organization (WHO) provides an influenza pandemic alert system, with a scale ranging from Phase 1 (a low risk of a flu pandemic) to Phase 6 (a full-blown pandemic): ✓ Phase 1: A virus in animals has caused no known infections in humans. ✓ Phase 2: An animal flu virus has caused infection in humans. ✓ Phase 3: Sporadic cases or small clusters of disease occur in humans. Human-to- human transmission, if any, is insufficient to cause community-level outbreaks. ✓ Phase 4: The risk for a pandemic is greatly increased but not certain. ✓ Phase 5: Spread of disease between humans is occurring in more than one country of one WHO region. ✓ Phase 6: Community-level outbreaks are in at least one additional country in a different WHO region from phase 5. A global pandemic is under way.
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3. Curing HIV Using Stem Cell Therapy Why in News? • Researchers report that a patient who underwent stem- cell transplantation and a chemotherapy drug regimen has been cured of HIV. Highlights: • In 2011, a patient based in Berlin (the ‘Berlin patient’) was the first HIV patient to be reportedly cured of the virus three and half years after undergoing similar treatment. • Although there was no active viral infection in the patient’s body, remnants of integrated HIV-1 DNA remained in tissue samples, which were also found in the first patient to be cured of HIV. • The authors suggest that these can be regarded as so-called ‘fossils’, as they are unlikely to be capable of reproducing the virus. The findings show that the success of stem cell transplantation as a cure for HIV, first reported nine years ago in the Berlin patient, can be replicated. As a high-risk treatment, this therapy is unlikely to be offered widely to patients with HIV who are on successful antiretroviral treatment. • The transplant aimed to make the virus unable to replicate in the patient’s body, whilst the body irradiation and chemotherapy targeted any residual HIV virus. • Ultrasensitive viral load sampling from the London patient’s cerebrospinal fluid, intestinal tissue or lymphoid tissue was taken at 29 months after interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral load sampling of his blood at 30 months. • The results showed no active viral infection was detected in samples of the patient’s blood at 30 months or in his cerebrospinal fluid, semen, intestinal tissue and lymphoid tissue 29 months after stopping ART. Researchers suggest that the long-term remission of HIV can be achieved using reduced intensity drug regimens, with one stem cell transplant (rather than two) and without total body irradiation.
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• Gene editing using the CCR5 has received a lot of attention recently. There are still many ethical and technical barriers to overcome before any approach using CCR5 gene editing can be considered as a scalable cure strategy for HIV.
4. South India's Vulture Context: • Recently, the South India Vulture Conservation Group has come up with a blueprint for the conservation of vulture population in Five South Indian States. About: • Out of nine vulture species in India, four namely — white-backed vulture, long-billed vulture, slender-billed vulture and red-headed vulture — are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN and all are in the Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, the highest category of endangerment • Except slender-billed vulture, the three other critically endangered species are found in the Moyar valley in the Nilgiris, whose population has seen a slight increase, • The government has to restrict availability of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) for veterinary use and to create a vulture safe zone in each south Indian State. It has appealed to the Forest Department that National Tiger Conservation Authority guidelines should be implemented for carcass disposal by not burying or burning it. Reasons for Death of Vultures: • The reason behind the vulture population getting nearly wiped out was the drug Diclofenac. It was found in the carcass of cattle on which the vultures feed. The drug was commonly administered to cattle to treat inflammation. Its veterinary use was banned in 2008 by the Government of India. It is dangerously fatal for Vultures. Even 1% of it in carcass would kill the Vulture in a short time after it feeds such carcass. The poisoned carcasses were dumped to kill some local stray animals. But when vultures fed on them, it became one of the vital reasons leading to their death. Way Forward: • The forest department needs to give emphasis on creating awareness and on creating safe zones for vultures in places where there is an existing vulture population. So far nine states have undertaken programmes to create safe habitats for vultures. • Vultures are slow-breeding birds, there is a need for immediate intervention to save them from extinction.
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5. Bird Flu - Avian Influenza Why in News? • The suspected cases of avian influenza (bird flu) are being reported from various parts of the Kerala. Mitigatory Measures: • Special squads had been formed to cull birds within a certain distance around the affected areas to bring the situation under control. • About 4,000 chicken and birds are expected to be killed in two days as part of defensive measures being taken to prevent the spread of bird flu. • The State was well-equipped with specialized laboratories to diagnose zoonotic diseases without delay and adopt preventive measures. Bird Flu or Avian Influenza: • Avian influenza (AI), commonly called bird flu, is an infectious viral disease of birds. • These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. • People catch bird flu by close contact with birds or bird droppings or undercooked poultry. • Outbreaks of AI in poultry may raise global public health concerns due to their effect on poultry populations, their potential to cause serious disease in people, and their pandemic potential. • Reports of highly pathogenic AI epidemics in poultry, such as A (H5N1), can seriously impact local and global economies and International Trade. H5N1: • Most avian influenza viruses do not infect humans. However, some, such as A (H5N1) and A (H7N9), have caused serious infections in people. • H5N1 is a type of influenza virus that causes a highly infectious, severe respiratory disease in birds called avian influenza. • Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to transmit the infection from person to person. • When people do become infected, the mortality rate is about 60%.
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How does H5N1 influenza spread to people?
• Almost all cases of H5N1 infection in people have been associated with close contact with infected live or dead birds, or H5N1-contaminated environments. The virus does not infect humans easily, and spread from person to person appears to be unusual. High Concerns: • H5N1 infection in humans can cause severe disease and has a high mortality rate. • If the H5N1 virus were to change and become easily transmissible from person to person while retaining its capacity to cause severe disease, the consequences for public health could be very serious.
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4.1. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SNIPPETS 1. RaIDer-X Why in News? • Recently, RaIDer-X, was unveiled at the National Workshop on Explosive Detection (NWED-2020) in Pune. • It was organized by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. About RalDer-X: • It has the capability to detect 20 explosives within a distance of about 2 metres. Bulk explosive in concealed condition can also be detected by the device. • It can be built to expand its capability to detect a number of explosives in pure form as well as with the contaminants. • It has various applications including narcotics, for local police, for customs and other detection agencies who need to detect various elements which may be explosive or non- explosive in nature. It has been co-developed by HEMRL, Pune and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. About High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune • It is a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO.) It is involved in basic and applied research in the area of high energy materials.
2. Rare Disease Day Context: • Recently, the Rare Disease Day is observed on February 29. About Rare Disease: • It is also referred to as an orphan disease. • It is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population. • It is mostly genetic, and are present throughout a person’s entire life, even if symptoms do not immediately appear. The most common rare diseases recorded in India are Haemophilia, Thalassemia, sickle-cell anaemia and primary immuno deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, Lysosomal storage disorders such as Pompe disease, Hirschsprung disease, Gaucher’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemangiomas and certain forms of muscular dystrophies. There is no universally accepted definition of rare diseases, countries typically arrive at their own descriptions, taking into consideration disease prevalence, its severity and the existence of alternative therapeutic options.
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• In the US, a rare disease is defined as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people. The same definition is used by the National Organisation for Rare Disorders (NORD).
3. MILAN 2020 Why in News? • The Indian Navy has postponed its naval exercise ‘MILAN’ due to continuing spread of the coronavirus. About Exercise MILAN: • It is a biennial, multilateral naval exercise which started in 1995. • It was conducted at the Andaman and Nicobar Command until 2018. • It is held under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command. Over 40 countries were expected to participate in the exercise in 2020. • Its 11th edition is scheduled to be held in Visakhapatnam from 18th - 28th March 2020.
4. ICONSAT 2020 Why in News? • The International Conference on Nano Science and Nano Technology (ICONSAT) under the aegis of Nano Mission, Department of Science and Technology (DST) was recently conducted at Kolkata. INCOSAT 2020: • The Three-Day Event Deliberates on several thematic topics in the field, bringing out cutting-edge developments in the domain of physical, chemical, materials as well as biological sciences. Highlights: • The event focused on the recent advances in the frontier research field of Nano science and Technology. • The genesis of Nano India was outlined and informed that in the last 20 years’ infrastructure and human resources have been built in the field of Nano science and technology. • The need to create a network of experts in Nano-science was emphasized to integrate the knowledge across sectors like energy, agriculture, transport, health etc.
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• The 5Ms – Mechanical, material, machines, manufacturing and manpower, are the need of the hour and the focus should be on how Nano-science and technology can contribute to the challenges like sustainable development and new technology (machine learning, artificial intelligence and so on). • Science should be related to the larger section of our society and hence, the young scientists were invited to participate with AWSAR, a DST new initiative through which young scholars can submit popular science stories related to their work while connecting them with societal benefits. DST Nano Mission:
• In addition to existing research on Nano-materials, several emerging areas such as quantum materials, energy materials and nanotechnology for agriculture have been included in cognizance of the identified thrust areas of DST Nano mission. • The Government of India launched a Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission) in May 2007. Recognizing the success of Nano Mission, the Union Cabinet accorded approval for continuation of the Nano Mission in its Phase-II during the 12th Plan period with an allocation of Rs. 650 crores. • The Department of Science and Technology is the nodal agency for implementing the Nano Mission. Potential: • Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering.
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• Nano science is an extraordinary sector to work in and have lot of opportunities for translation of benefits for the society. • Nano science has a tremendous application in various areas and in fields like Nano- Medicine, Agriculture, Environment and Energy.
5. Solar Cycle/ Cycle 25 Why in News? • The sunspots identified by researchers from IISER Kolkata herald the start of a new solar cycle called Cycle 25. Sunspots: • Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the Sun’s photosphere that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas. They are relatively cooler spots on the Sun’s surface. • They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection. • Sunspots usually appear in pairs of opposite magnetic polarity with a leader and a follower. Solar Cycle: • From our safe distance of about 148 million km, the Sun appears to be sedate and constant. However, huge solar flares and coronal mass ejections spew material from its surface into outer space. • They originate from sunspots, an important phenomenon that people have been following for hundreds of years. • They originate deep within the Sun and become visible when they pop out. • Their number is not constant but shows a minimum and then rises up to a maximum and then falls again in what is called the solar cycle. • Every 11 years or so, the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips. This means that the Sun’s north and south poles switch places. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back again. • So far, astronomers have documented 24 such cycles, the last one ended in 2019. Impacts of Solar Cycle: • This activity has effects on Earth. For example, eruptions can cause lights in the sky, called aurora, or impact radio communications. Extreme eruptions can even affect electricity grids on Earth. Solar activity can affect satellite electronics and limit their lifetime.
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• Radiation can be dangerous for astronauts who do work on the outside of the International Space Station. • Forecasting of the solar cycle can help scientists protect our radio communications on Earth, and help keep satellites and astronauts safe. 6. Kyasanur Forest Disease Context: • Recently the state government has a proposal to set up a research centre on Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in Sagar, Karnataka. About Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD): • It is caused by Kyasanur Forest disease Virus (KFDV), a member of the virus family Flaviviridae. • It was first identified in 1957 in a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka. Since then, between 400-500 human cases per year have been reported. • It is endemic to the Indian state of Karnataka. It is also referred to as monkey fever by locals. • The Virus can cause epizootics (outbreak of disease in animals) with high fatality in primates. Rodents, shrews, and monkeys are common hosts for KFDV after being bitten by infected Hard ticks (Haemaphysalis Spinigera). • Its transmission to humans, occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal a sick or recently dead monkey. • The Symptoms like chills, fever, headache, severe muscle pain, vomiting, gastrointestinal symptoms and bleeding may occur, After an incubation period of 3-8 days. • The Patients may experience abnormally low blood pressure, and low platelet, red blood cell, and white blood cell counts. • It can be diagnosed in the early stage of illness by molecular detection by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or virus isolation from blood. Later, serologic testing using enzyme-linked immunosorbent serologic assay (ELISA) can be performed. • It has no specific treatment although vaccine is available.
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7. ARI-516-Hybrid Variety of Grapes Why in News? • Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have developed a hybrid variety of grapes which is resistant to fungal diseases, high yielding and has excellent juice quality. ARI-516: • The hybrid variety ARI-516 has been developed by interbreeding of two species from the same genus — Catawba variety of Vitis labrusca and Beauty seedless variety of Vitis vinifera. • It has superior quality fruits and higher yield per unit area. • An early ripening hybrid, it matures in 110 – 120 days after pruning. • It is tolerant to downy & powdery mildew diseases as well as resistant to anthracnose disease-a group of fungal diseases that affect a variety of plants in warm, humid areas. • India ranks twelfth in the world in terms of grape production. • About 78% of grape production in India is utilized for consumption, 17-20 % for raisin production, 1.5 % for wine and 0.5 % for juice. • Maharashtra leads in the production of grapes in India with a share of 81.22 %. • A majority of farmers in Maharashtra cultivate ‘Thompson seedless’ and its clones for table purpose or raisin making. These varieties are highly susceptible to fungal diseases which increase plant protection cost. Grapes suffer 8.23-16 % of post-harvest losses. • Juice making is an excellent option to reduce post-harvest losses.
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8. Herd Immunity Why in News? • Britain has announced a unique strategy to tackle Coronavirus situation. The chief scientific adviser to the UK government, said authorities would contain the spread of the virus but would “not suppress it completely”, in order to build up a degree of ‘herd immunity’. Highlights: • Britain has faced criticism for its soft approach to the coronavirus. The scientific advisor’s statement, too, led to a barrage of criticism from medical professionals and the public. • Herd immunity is when a large number of people are vaccinated against a disease, lowering the chances of others being infected by it. • When a sufficient percentage of a population is vaccinated, it slows the spread of disease. It is also referred to as community immunity or herd protection. • Herd protection of the unvaccinated occurs when a sufficient proportion of the group is immune. The decline of disease incidence is greater than the proportion of individuals immunized because vaccination reduces the spread of an infectious agent by reducing the amount and/or duration of pathogen shedding by vaccines, retarding transmission. • The approach would require those exposed to the virus to build natural immunity and stop the human-to-human transmission. This will, it is believed, subsequently halt its spread. • Earlier this month, WHO said COVID-19 was a new virus to which no one has immunity. That means more people are susceptible to infection, and some will suffer severe disease. • Large number of people have criticised the government’s policy regarding herd immunity. They say that immediate focus should have been to save lives.
9. SEPSIS Why in News? • Recently, many coronavirus patients have died of sepsis — when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive. About SEPSIS: • It is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the body’s immune system overreacting in response to an infection. This overactive, toxic response can lead to tissue damage, multiple organ failure and death.
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• In addition to the known seasonal influenza viruses, other viruses that are highly infectious, such as coronaviruses, Ebola and yellow fever viruses, dengue, swine flu or bird flu viruses can also cause sepsis. • It can be triggered by a variety of pathogens such as Viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. The causes of Sepsis are usually pneumonia, wound infections, urinary tract infections or infections in the abdominal cavity. • Its symptoms are, drop in blood pressure with a simultaneous rise in heart rate, fever, rapid, heavy breathing, an unusually strong feeling of illness and sudden confusion. • Its Long-term consequences are kidney failure or cardiovascular problems can recur about three months after discharge.
10. ExoMars Context: • The Launch of ExoMars rover has been delayed to 2022. About Rosalind Franklin Rover: • The European-built Rosalind Franklin rover, which named for the famed British chemist and X-ray crystallographer. Rosalind Franklin is the first European Mars rover. • His work contributed to DNA research, recently passed final pre-launch thermal and vacuum tests at an Airbus facility in Toulouse, France. About ExoMars: • It is a joint endeavour between ESA and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos. • Its primary goal is to address the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars. Components of the Mission: • It comprises of Two Missions ✓ The First launched in March 2016 and consists of the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Schiaparelli, an entry, descent and landing demonstrator module. Its main objectives are to search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gases that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes. The Schiaparelli probe crashed during its attempt to land on Mars.
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✓ The second, comprising a rover and surface platform, is planned for 2022. Together they will address the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars. Other Missions of Mars: • Three other Mars missions remain scheduled for launch during this year’s planetary launch window in July and August. • NASA’s Perseverance rover, formerly known as Mars 2020, will take off in July from Cape Canaveral. • A Chinese Mars rover is also being prepared for launch later this year. • The United Arab Emirates’ Hope Mars orbiter is slated to launch on a Japanese H-2A rocket this summer
11. Superhydrophobic Coating Why in News? • Recently, a team from the Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad, and Ohio State University has created a superhydrophobic coating to save steel from Rusting. About Superhydrophobic Coating Surfaces: • It is made from polyurethane and silicon dioxide nanoparticles. • It is a nanoscopic surface layer that repels water. • It is Added to makes a surface liquid and water repellent, easy to clean, and boosts its anti- icing performance, which is ability to delay the formation of ice for a certain period of time • It is also found in nature; they appear on plant leaves, such as the Lotus leaf, and some insect wings. • It can be coated to other metallic surfaces apart from steel, such as aluminium, copper, brass. The coatings have also been developed for glass, cloth, paper and wood. Without this, the coating tends to easily peel off due to smoothness of steel. • Its spin coating was found to be more advantageous and cost-effective compared to immersion coating and spray coating. Spin coating dried quickly and the thickness of the coat could be controlled easily • Silicon dioxide (SiO2), also known as silica, is a natural compound made of two of the earth's most abundant materials: silicon (Si) and oxygen (O2). It is most often recognized in the form of quartz. It's found naturally in water, plants, animals, and the earth. • Polyurethane is a polymer composed of organic units joined by urethane links. It is a plastic material, which exists in various forms.
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Properties of the Superhydrophobic Coating • Chemically Stable in both acidic (pH 5) and alkaline (pH 8) conditions for more than six weeks. • Thermal Stable up to 2300C. • Highly Mechanical stable when tested with water jet, floating, bending, sand abrasion tests. When water droplets were made to fall on an uncoated surface they stuck to it and made a messy surface. • The chemicals used to make the coating are easily available and are also environmentally friendly. • The cost of coating will further reduce when mass-produced on commercial scale.
12. ISRO’s Assistance in Fishing Why in News? • Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has provided the necessary data to Lok Sabha about ISRO’s Assistance in finding Rich Fishing Areas. Key Points: • Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has developed the methodology for the generation of fishery advisories and transfer to Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) as an operational service for providing Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories.This INCOIS utilizes data on chlorophyll concentration obtained from ISRO’s Oceansat-2 satellite and the sea surface temperature from National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA / USA satellites). • The INCOIS uses these satellite datas to prepare the PFZ advisories on the potential rich fishing areas and provide to the sea faring fishermen in all stat • PFZ advisories helped fishermans in avoiding the unwanted search for fish shoals. This reduces their fuel consumption. About INCOIS: • INCOIS is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) headquartered at Hyderabad. • It is mandated to provide the best possible ocean information and advisory services to society, industry, government agencies and the scientific community through sustained ocean observations and constant improvements through systematic and focussed research.
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13. Tejas Aircraft Why in News? • Recently, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) cleared acquisition of 83 indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft for Indian Air Force (IAF) with more advanced configuration than the 40 currently on order. About: • It is an Indian single-engine, delta wing, multirole light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy. • It came from the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) programme, which began in the 1980s to replace India’s ageing MiG-21 fighters. It is pegged as the world’s smallest and lightest supersonic Fighter Aircraft in its class. In 2003, the LCA was officially named “Tejas”. • The proposal will now be placed for consideration of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
14. Hydroxychloroquinine for COVID-19 treatment Why in News? • Hydroxychloroquine, a drug that has existed for several decades, could see a resurgence of demand, after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended its use as a preventive medicine against the novel coronavirus disease. Highlights: • Hydroxychloroquine (not to be confused with anti-malaria drug chloroquine) is an oral drug used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. • Last week, US President Donald Trump had said a hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin combination could be a “game changer” in the fight against COVID-19. • The drug shows antiviral activity in vitro against coronaviruses, and specifically, SARSCoV-2. Pharmacological modelling based on observed drug concentrations and in vitro drug testing suggest that prophylaxis with hydroxychloroquine at approved doses could prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and ameliorate viral shedding. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says: Hydroxychloroquine is currently under investigation in clinical trials for pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV- 2 infection, and treatment of patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19.
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• • The CDC says both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have in vitro activity against SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and other coronaviruses, with hydroxychloroquine having higher potency against SARS-CoV-2. • • The National Taskforce for COVID-19 has recommended hydroxychloroquine for prophylaxis in case of asymptomatic healthcare workers involved in the care of suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 and asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. • • While the roles of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in management of COVID-19 are still open questions for the scientific community, the azithromycin-hydroxychloroquine combination is part of an upcoming multi country trial anchored by the WHO in the fight against COVID-19.
15. ANOSMIA – AGEUSIA Why in News? • Recently, Anosmia and Ageusia have emerged as peculiar tell-tale signs of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and possible markers of Infection. About: • Anosmia is the loss of sense of smell and Ageusia is an accompanying diminished sense of taste. The reports from doctors around the world, called on adults who lose their senses of smell to isolate themselves for seven days, even if they have no other symptoms, to slow the disease’s spread. It could contribute to slowing transmission and save lives.
16. New signs of COVID-19 - Anosmia and Ageusia Why in News? • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists have recently noted a growing number of patients with anosmia (the abrupt loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of sense of taste). • Hence this has made the doctors think that both anosmia and ageusia could be possible signs of COVID-19 in people who otherwise appear well. What is Anosmia? • Anosmia is the partial or complete loss of the sense of smell. This loss may be temporary or permanent. It is caused by a swelling or blockage in the nose that prevents odours from getting to the top of the nose.
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• Respiratory viral infection is a common cause of loss of smell. The sense of smell usually returns when the infection is over. What is Ageusia? • Ageusia is a condition that is characterized by a complete loss of taste function of the tongue. People who have a reduced ability to taste are said to have Hypogeusia.
17. Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) Why in News? • Researchers from a Canadian space observatory have been recording the periodic radio waves hitting Earth from a neighbouring galaxy from past few years. These radio waves are called Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs): • FRBs are super intense, millisecond-long bursts of radio waves produced by unidentified sources in the space. • Their discovery in 2007 by American astronomer Duncan Lorimer led to the term ‘Lorimer Bursts’. Since then, just a few dozen similar events have been observed in data collected by radio telescopes around the world, building evidence that points to a variety of potential causes. Only a handful of emissions have been traced to specific areas of the sky, indicating sources in other galaxies. • The flash of radio waves is incredibly bright if distant, comparable to the power released by hundreds of millions of suns in just a few milliseconds. • This intensity suggests powerful objects like black holes and neutron stars could be involved. • The events were once considered to be largely transient – they seemed to happen once, without obvious signs of a repeat emission. However, a number of such bursts have been identified since then. Significance: • First noticed in 2018 by the Canadian observatory the waves have created ripples across the globe for one reason — they arrive in a pattern.
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• This gave birth to theories that they could be from an alien civilization. • Initially, it was believed that the collision of black holes or neutron stars triggers them. • But the discovery of repeating FRBs debunked the theory of colliding objects.
18. Laser Surface Micro-Texturing Why in News? • The International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) has developed ultrafast laser surface texturing technology, which can improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines. Laser Surface Micro-Texturing: • It offers precise control of the size, shape and density of micro-surface texture features. • In this technology, a pulsating laser beam creates micro-dimples or grooves on the surface of materials in a very controlled manner. • Such textures can trap wear debris when operating under dry sliding conditions and sometimes provide effects like enhancing oil supply (lubricant reservoir) which can lower friction coefficients and may enable reduced wear rate. About “International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials” (ARCI): • It is an autonomous research and development centre of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Surface engineering, ceramics, powder metallurgy and laser processing of materials constitute the four major thrust areas at ARCI. • Its main campus is located at Hyderabad with operations in Chennai and Gurgaon.
19. Red Flag- US Why in News? • The U.S. Air Force has recently cancelled the Phase-I of Red Flag 20-1 due to the COVID- 19 outbreak. Highlights: • Red Flag Alaska 20-1 was scheduled to be held in Alaska from 30th April to 15th May, 2020. It is USA’s flagship multilateral air exercise • It is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise meant to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment over the Joint Pacific Alaska range complex.
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• It has been cancelled owing to the travel restrictions imposed by the U.S. Department of Defence. • The Indian Air Force (IAF) was also to take part in the exercise. The IAF joined Red Flag for the first time in 2008 in Nevada. • It has deployed Su-30MKI, Jaguar strike aircraft, the Il-78 tankers and the C-17 strategic airlift aircraft in the exercise.
20. NASA’s Mission to study giant Solar Particle Storms Why in News? • NASA has selected a new mission to study how the Sun generates and releases giant space weather storms, known as solar particle storms, into planetary space. Previous coronavirus outbreaks have been inconsistent: a study on the coronavirus that caused MERS revealed that patients are unlikely to get re-infected within a short duration of the original infection; but, after the SARS outbreak, cases of relapse that were reported. • Various factors can cause relapse in patients recovered from COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is like viruses that cause any other flu. There is always a probability of mutation as in the case of influenza viruses. • The mutation, theoretically, can make an individual vulnerable to reacquire the COVID-19 infection. Patients who test positive for COVID-19 develop protective antibodies. Theoretically, there can be a relapse even in patients who have antibodies. • At this stage, it is not fully understood as to how the long the antibodies provide protection against the viral infection. • Also, in the absence of any vaccination, it is not known whether the immunity acquired by the persons is permanent. Another scenario that can lead to relapse is when immunity is compromised, if the patients have underlying conditions and if they are dependent on immunosuppression drugs. • Experts also have pointed out that a “false negative” RTPCR test, the RNA test being conducted to diagnose COVID-19 infection, can lead to a patient testing positive a second time after testing negative in between. There have reports from Spain about imported RNA test kits giving inaccurate results.
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5. ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS 1. #SheInspiresUs Context: • Prime Minister of India on 8th March 2020 marked International Women’s Day by handing over control of his social media accounts to seven women achievers. It is claimed to be an unique initiative and it is expected to inspire many women from various echelons of the society who are contributing to its development in their own ways. International Women’s Day 2020: • International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. • The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. • The 2020 theme for International Women’s Day (8 March) is, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. History: • The early years of the 20th century saw rapid industrialisation in many countries and the working conditions of most of the women employed in factories and on the production lines gave cause for considerable concern. • In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. • She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. • The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs - and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament - greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result. • International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975. • Then in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. • 2011 saw the 100-year centenary of International Women's Day - with the first IWD event held exactly 100 years ago in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
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The Super Seven: • PM Narendra Modi's social media accounts were handled by seven women from different fields on International Women's Day. A look at the achievements of these women: • Arifa Jaan: ✓ Kashmir-based Arifa Jaan is passionate about reviving Namda, the traditional craft of the region • Sneha Mohandoss: ✓ Inspired by her mother, Chennai-based Sneha Mohandoss started an initiative called Foodbank India, aimed at eradicating hunger through food donation campaigns. • Kalavati Devi: ✓ A mason from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, she collected funds from the public and built toilets for better hygiene in her locality. • Kalpana Ramesh: ✓ The Hyderabad-based architect is focused on water conservation projects, especially rainwater harvesting, and spreads awareness on the responsible use of water • Malvika lyer: ✓ An award winning disability rights activist, social worker and model ✓ She lost both arms in a bomb blast at Bikaner when she was 13 • Vjaya Pawar: ✓ She promotes handicrafts from the Banjara Community of rural Maharashtra • Veena Devi: ✓ An organic farmer from Munger, Bihar, she has been cultivating mushrooms at some since 2013, setting an example in self-Sufficiency. She gained recognition for cultivating 1 kg mushrooms under her bed • Namda Traditional Art: ✓ Namda is a local term used for traditional felted wool floor coverings, made out of a coarse variety of wool. ✓ Namda comes from the root word Namata (Sanskrit for woollen stuff). • Namda making is practised as a craft in several cultures, especially in the countries throughout Asia, viz. Iran, Afghanistan and India. • Srinagar in Kashmir and Tonk in Rajasthan are the two major namda making centres in India.
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• In India, it is known to have come from Iran and was actively promoted in the state under the patronage of the Mughal monarchs and the Rajput royals. • Rich hues and exquisite designing are the characteristics of the handcrafted Namda. • Unique themes and floral patterns provide the themes for these masterpieces and flowers and leaves, buds and fruits are the essence of the designs.
5.1 ART AND CULTURE & MISCELLANEOUS SNIPPETS
1. Lesbos Why in News? • Greek Island of lesbos is recently seen in news. About Lesbos: • It is also called Mitilíni, is a greek island. • It is the largest island after Crete and Euboea in the Aegean Sea. • It is largely volcanic in the west, and numerous thermal springs indicate the unstable subterranean structure that has caused severe earthquakes throughout history. • Its irregular coast is penetrated by two narrow-mouthed bays, Géras (southeast) and the Gulf of Kallonís (southwest).
2. Gairsain Why in News? • The Uttarkhand Government has recently named Gairsain as the new summer capital of the state. Key Points: • Dehradun has been the temporary capital of the state since it attained statehood and still houses the chief minister’s residence, Raj Bhavan and MLA residences. • A summer capital is a city used as an administrative capital during extended periods of particularly hot weather. • The state Assembly is located in Dehradun but sessions are held in Gairsain as well.
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• It covers a large area suitable for the construction of the capital and accommodating people. It is emerging as a tourist place and it is also a part of the major route connecting Garhwal with the Kumaon region. • It is the site of the source of the Ramganga River which rises near the Dudhatoli Parvat. • Its famous tourist attractions are the Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Badrinath, Vasundhara Falls etc.
3. Attukal Pongala Festival Why in News? • The annual “Attukal Pongala”, one of the largest all-women religious congregations has began recently. It is a ten-day- long festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. Key Points: • The festival commences with the musical rendering of the story of the Goddess (Kannaki Charitam) during the "Kappu Kettu ceremony". • The story invokes the presence of Kodungallur Bhagavathy and the slaying of the Pandyan King. This festival commemorates the victory of Good over Evil, by the slaying of Pandyan King. The event of the Goddess annihilating the Pandyan King is accompanied by much sound and fury of the temple drums, immediately followed by the lighting of the hearths for the preparation of the offering for the Goddess. About Attukal Bhagavathy Temple: • The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu religious shrine at Attukal in Kerala, India. Goddess Bhadrakali (Kannaki) is the main deity in this temple. • Also known as “The Sabarimala of Women'', this temple attracts the biggest set of women devotees for the annual Attukal Pongala festival. • Attukal Devi temple and its main festival Attukal Pongala reached Guinness Book of World Records of largest annual gathering of women, when over 2.5 million people took part in it. • The temple is built with elements of Kerala architectural style and Tamil architectural style as well.
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4. Pyramid of Djoser Why in News? • Last week, Egypt reopened the Pyramid of Djoser, the first pyramid ever built, after a 14- year restoration costing nearly $6.6 million. Highlights: • The pyramid had sustained serious damage during an earthquake in 1992, and was on the verge of collapse when renovations started in 2006. • The old structure is believed to be designed by Imhotep, described by some as the first architect of the world. • The 4,700-year-old pyramid is 60 metres tall, and consists of six stacked steps over a burial shaft tomb 28 metres deep and seven metres wide. • It is located at the Saqqara archaeological site, 24 km southwest of Cairo, outside the royal capital of Memphis. • A complex of halls and courts is located around the pyramid. A UNESCO world heritage site, the pyramid was constructed during the era of Pharaoh Djoser, the second king of Ancient Egypt’s Third Dynasty (2650 BC– 2575 BC). • The Pharaoh’s 19-year reign saw significant technical innovations in stone architecture. Restoration work for the pyramid, which began in 2006, was stopped in 2011 after a popular uprising in Egypt led to the ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak. The work resumed at the end of 2013. • The project saw efforts to prevent the pyramid from collapsing, and external and internal restoration, including of the paths leading to the pyramid and the internal corridors leading to the burial chamber. • The sarcophagus of King Djoser was also restored, along with the walls of the burial shaft tomb.
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5. Chaitra Jatra Festival Context: • Recently, the famous annual Chaitra Jatra festival scheduled to be held on March 17 was cancelled as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 infection. About CHAITRA JATRA FESTIVAL: • It is celebrated at Tara Tarini hill shrine on Tuesdays of the Hindu month of Chaitra. The largest gatherings occur on second and third Tuesdays. March 17 happens to be second Tuesday. • The Tara Tarini hill shrine is located at Kumari hill on banks of the Rushikulya river, is a major centre of Shakti worship in Odisha.
6. Yakshagana Why in News? • The voluntary community trust has recently name-d Yakshavahini has made more than 900 Yakshagana scripts digitised and available online for Free. About Yakshagana • It is a traditional theatre form of Karnataka. • It is a temple art form that depicts mythological stories and Puranas. • It is performed with massive headgears, elaborate facial make-up and vibrant costumes and ornaments. It is also performed in Malayalam as well as Tulu the dialect of south Karnataka. It is performed with percussion instruments like chenda, maddalam, jagatta or chengila and chakratala or elathalam. About National Mission for Manuscripts: • It was launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2003. It has the mandate of identifying, documenting, conserving and making accessible the manuscript heritage of India. • It is also developing an app to make around 3 lakh manuscripts accessible.
7. Lockdown: Arr-Rinam Context: • Arr-Rinam is the equivalent of a lockdown imposed by consensus for 48 hours whenever an epidemic strikes. It is a tribal lockdown ritual of the Galos, one of the 26 major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh.
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Arr-Rinam: • Arr-Rinam, which follows the Ali-Ternam ritual to ward off an epidemic, is said to be a part of the Galo culture. • Ali-Ternam: Ali means epidemic and Ternam means forestall. • Arr-Rinam rituals were said to be last performed almost four decades ago when a water- borne disease had affected many members of the community. • These rituals are performed periodically for livestock, primarily the semi-wild mithun, that are prone to contagious diseases Motor: • The Adi community inhabiting East Siang and Lower Dibang Valley districts too performed a similar ritual called Motor. • They believe that the ritual lets shamans with legendary powers to locate wild herbs to combat an Epidemic.
8. Gond Tribals Context: • Recently, Gond tribal people living in Panna, Madhya Pradesh have devised their own way to make masks to fight coronavirus. • Tribal people are making masks with medicinal leaves and following traditional ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. About Gond Tribe: • They are one of the largest tribal groups in the world. • They mostly live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha. • They are subdivided into four tribes, Raj Gonds, Madia Gonds, Dhurve Gonds and Khatulwar Gonds. • Their staple food is two kinds of millet, which is kodo and kutki. Rice is mostly consumed during festival feasts. • They majorly speak Gondi which is an unwritten language of the Dravidian family. They have been notified as a Scheduled Tribe.
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6. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. India Invited for US-Taliban Talks in Qatar Why in News? • India has been invited to witness the ceremony to seal the peace deal between the U.S. and Taliban in Qatari capital Doha. Highlights: • The deal would allow for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The US has lost over 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan since late 2001. • India has reiterated that a peace negotiation should be Afghan owned, Afghan led and Afghan controlled, and participation from the Afghan government in the ceremony will indicate that the U.S.-Taliban deal will ultimately take an inclusive turn. • This issue is already part of the draft peace agreement and Kabul is expected to deal with this soon after the U.S.-Taliban deal is signed. It is understood that the same six-member delegation will represent the Government of President Ghani in the ceremony and begin the intra-Afghan negotiation thereafter. • India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. Major powers such as the US, Russia and Iran have been reaching out to the Taliban as part of efforts to push the stalled Afghan peace process. Peace Deal: • The Peace deal will allow for the withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan. • There are more than 12,000 US troops in Afghanistan. A report stated that 2,448 Americans have died in combat there since the invasion in October 2001. • India has been invited by the Qatar government for the signing ceremony India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. • This will be the first time India will officially attend an event involving the Taliban. • Countries including the US, Russia, and Iran have been reaching out to the Taliban as part of efforts to push the stalled Afghan peace process. In November 2018, India had sent two former diplomats in non-official capacity to a conference on the Afghan peace process in Moscow, Russia. The peace deal conference was organized by Russia. It was attended by a high-level Taliban delegation, representatives of Afghanistan and from several other countries, including the US, Pakistan, and China. • India has also been maintaining that care should be taken to ensure that any such process does not lead to any "ungoverned spaces" where terrorists and their proxies can relocate.
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2. India is host to 457 Migratory Fauna, says CMS Why in News? • The recent report of Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) stated that the total number of migratory fauna from India comes to 457 species that includes Birds which comprise 83% (380 species) of this figure. About CMS: • CMS is an international treaty concluded under aegis of UN Environment Programme (UNEP), concerned with conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. • It is commonly abbreviated as Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) or the Bonn Convention. • It aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. • It was signed in 1979 in Bonn (hence the name), Germany and entered into force in 1983. • Its headquarters are in Bonn, Germany. • CMS is the only global and UN-based intergovernmental organization established exclusively for conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range. • CMS brings together the States through which migratory animals pass, the Range States, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation measures throughout a migratory range. • It is the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their habitats and migration routes.
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What are Migratory Species? • Migratory species are those animals that move from one habitat to another during different times of the year, due to various factors such as food, sunlight, temperature, climate, etc. Why their Protection is needed? • The movement between habitats can sometimes exceed thousands of miles/kilometres for some migratory birds and mammals. A migratory route can involve nesting and also requires the availability of habitats before and after each migration. About COP 13: • The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the principal decision making body of the Convention. • It meets once every three years and sets the budget and priorities of the following three years (the triennium). • The 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) of Wild Animals was hosted by India. • The conference was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Gandhinagar, from 17th – 22nd February 2020. • The theme for 2020 is “Migratory species connect the planet and together we welcome them home”. • The 2020 mascot is Gigi – the Great Indian Bustard. • India is Signatory to the CMS since 1983. • India has been taking necessary actions to protect and conserve migratory marine species. • Seven species that include Dugong, Whale Shark, Marine Turtle (two species), have been identified for preparation of Conservation and Recovery Action Plan. CMS with respect to India: • The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) had for the first time compiled the list of migratory species of India under the CMS before the Conference of Parties (COP 13) held in Gujarat recently. It had put the number at 451. • Six species were added later. They are the Asian elephant, great Indian bustard, Bengal florican, oceanic white-tip shark, urial and smooth hammerhead shark. • Globally, more than 650 species are listed under the CMS appendices and India, with over 450 species, plays a very important role in their conservation.
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• Birds: The bird family Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers) has the highest number of migratory species. The next highest group of migratory birds is raptors or birds of prey, such as eagles, owls, vultures and kites which are from the family Accipitridae. • The country has three flyways (flight paths used by birds): the Central Asian flyway, East Asian flyway and East Asian–Australasian flyway. • Another group of birds that migrate in large numbers are waders or shore birds. In India, their migratory species number 41, followed by ducks (38) belonging to the family Anatidae. • Mammals: The estimate of 44 migratory mammal species in India has risen to 46 after COP 13. The Asian elephant was added to Appendix I and the urial to Appendix II. • The largest group of mammals is definitely bats belonging to the family Vespertilionidae. Dolphins are the second highest group of mammals with nine migratory species of dolphins listed. • Fishes: Fishes make up another important group of migratory species. Before COP 13, the ZSI had compiled 22 species, including 12 sharks and 10 ray fish. The oceanic white-tip shark and smooth hammerhead shark were then added. The total number of migratory fish species from India under CMS now stands at 24. • Reptiles: Seven reptiles, which include five species of turtles and the Indian gharial and salt water crocodile, are among the CMS species found in India. There was no addition to the reptiles list.
3. USA-Taliban Peace Deal Why in News? • The United States has signed a historic deal with Taliban insurgents that could pave the way for ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan. • The deal was signed in Doha (Qatar) and thus termed as Doha Agreement. Background Info: 1. Post 2001 Scenario: • The war in Afghanistan was launched by the US in 2001 after the 9/11 attack. The US-led coalition aimed to overthrow the Taliban. • However, the war in Afghanistan got derailed as the U.S. shifted focus and resources towards Iraq from 2003 onwards.
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• The end objective of a stable and peaceful Afghanistan began to recede as the Taliban launched their insurgency in 2005 after they had recovered, regrouped and refinanced themselves from their sanctuary in Pakistan. Since then, the insurgency has gathered momentum and also exposed the U.S.A’s policy weaknesses. 2. Efforts of Barack Obama: • After taking over in 2009, President Barack Obama authorised a surge in U.S. troop presence with the objective to gain a decisive victory over the insurgency. He simultaneously announced the drawdown of forces would commence in 2011, and by 2014 the Afghan security forces would take charge of all combat operations. • However, this only encouraged the Taliban insurgency and exposed the shortcomings of the Afghan army and the police forces, in terms of numbers, training and equipment to deal with the post 2014 situation. • In 2014, the U.S. announced the withdrawal of the bulk of soldiers but a few thousand U.S. soldiers were to stay behind to “advise, train and assist” the Afghan security forces under Operation Resolute Support. 3. Strategy of Donald Trump: • In 2017, the U.S. President Donald Trump laid out a strategy for “Afghanistan and South Asia”. • His policy was different from those of his predecessors as it stated that American involvement in Afghanistan was “not for nation building” but was limited to “killing terrorists.” • He called this policy “Principled Realism” - with a shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions. This policy was based on two pillars: ✓ Military Involvement: The additional troops which would serve two roles: counterterrorism missions and training the Afghan forces. ✓ Political Involvement: A negotiated political settlement with the Taliban, if the situation moves in that direction. • Since October 2018, Taliban representatives and US officials have been meeting to chalk out a peace treaty. Highlights of the Deal: • Comprehensive Ceasefire between the Afghan Government and Taliban. • Timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan will be carried out, provided the Taliban adhere to their security guarantees and ceasefire.
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• The prevention of the use of Afghanistan by any group or individual against the security of the United States and its allies. • The facilitation of an intra-Afghan dialogue. • In turn, the Taliban has demanded the release of fighters from Afghan-run jails. • The agreement also set out a course for the next 14 months. India’s Stand about this Deal: • India has been always supportive of the inclusive peace process, specifically Afghan- owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled. • The participation of the Afghan government’s delegation during the Doha agreement as well as the upcoming intra-Afghan peace negotiations would be following the path desired by India. • The deal has reiterated India’s commitment to Afghanistan’s pursuit of “sustainable peace and reconciliation”. Thus, India has accepted the Doha Agreement (2020). Possible Issues for India: 1. Security of India: • The deal mentions about prevention of the use of Afghanistan by any group against the security of the United States and its allies. However, it is unclear whether India, which is not a U.S. ally, is included in this clause, and whether Pakistan-backed groups that threaten India, would still operate in Afghanistan. 2. Benefit for Pakistan: • The deal also promises to take Taliban leaders off the UN Security Council’s sanctions list, which could considerably bring down the number of terrorists harboured by Pakistan. This might benefit Pakistan during the June 2020 FATF Plenary. 3. Threat of Sidelining of Intra-Afghan Dialogue: • The U.S. has committed to clear five bases and withdrawal of troops and it intends to submit to the Taliban-led government. • Thus, priority to future Taliban led government may sideline the “Intra-Afghan” dialogue and India’s support for the election process for leadership in Afghanistan.
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4. Nominations for World Heritage List for the year 2020 Why in News? • Nomination dossiers of ‘Dholavira: A Harappan City’ and ‘Monuments and Forts of Deccan Sultanate’ have been submitted for inclusion in the World Heritage List for the year 2020 – Culture Minister. UNESCO World Heritage List: • This list comprises the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A World Heritage Site is a landmark or an area selected by the UNESCO for having cultural, historical, scientific or other form of significance, which is legally protected by international treaties. • The sites are regarded important for the collective and preservative interests of humanity. • To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already-classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance. • The sites are intended for practical conservation for posterity, which otherwise would be subject to risk from human or animal trespassing, unmonitored/uncontrolled/unrestricted access, or threat from local administrative negligence. • The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 “states parties” that are elected by their General Assembly.As of July 2019, a total of 1,121 World Heritage Sites exist across 167 countries. The maximum number of sites in one country is 55, both China and Italy having 55 each. India is in fifth position with 38 sites. • The first place to be declared a World Heritage Site: City of Quito (capital of Ecuador) in 1978. Tentative Lists: • States Parties are encouraged to submit Tentative Lists to the UNESCO. This list consists of properties which they consider to be cultural and/or natural heritage of outstanding universal value and therefore suitable for inscription on the World Heritage List. • The Tentative List should be submitted at least one year prior to the submission of any nomination. • Nominations to the World Heritage List will not be considered unless the nominated property has already been included on the State Party’s Tentative List. • Both Dholavira and the Deccan Sultanate forts and monuments are included in India’s Tentative List. There are another 40 sites in the Indian list.
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• Both were submitted in 2014. Dholavira: A Harappan City: • Dholavira is located in the Khadir Island in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. • It belonged to the Mature Harappan Phase. • It is a fortified quadrangular city set in a harsh and arid land. It was once a thriving metropolis for 1200 years between 3000 BCE and 1800 BCE. • It had access to the sea. • The city’s ruins show large-scale use of dressed stone in construction. • Highly polished stone pillars of square or circular section having a central hole are also seen. • To create a pillar, such segments were piled to attain the requisite height and a wooden pole was inserted to ensure stability. This method of constructing a column was an ingenious alternative to a monolithic column. • The city also had an excellent water conservation system that ensured regular water supply to the parched land. • Many antiquities have also been found during excavations. Why is it included in the List? • The excavated site demonstrates the ingenuity of the Harappan people to evolve a highly organised system of town planning with perfected proportions, interrelation of functional areas, street pattern and an efficient water conservation system that supported life for more than 1200 years in a hot and arid climate. • Its water management system was one of the most efficient in the ancient world. • The city had a three-tier zonation comprising of distinct upper (citadel, bailey) and middle (having a distinct street-pattern, large scale enclosure and a ceremonial ground) towns enclosed by a lower town (with narrower streets, smaller enclosures and industrial area – this feature distinguishes it from the other metropolises of the Indus Valley Civilisation. • The importance of Dholavira’s planning was furthered with the excavation of Kampilya in Uttar Pradesh, a city considered of mythical origin in the Gangetic plains. Belonging to the Gangetic Civilization, which is considered the second phase of urbanization of the Indian subcontinent, Kampilya adopted the town planning principles (in terms of scale, hierarchy of space and road network) established in Dholavira. • The area is protected and managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
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• Globally, Dholavira can be compared to the cities of the Ancient River Valley Civilization, the urban metropolises of the Egyptian, Chinese and Mesopotamian civilisations. • In the region, Dholavira can be compared to the other major cities of Harappan culture like Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi, Banavali and Lothal. The excavated remains of the complete water system distinguish this site from others. Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate: • The ‘Monuments of the Deccan Sultanate’ is a serial property comprising of four components. • They constitute the most representative, most authentic and best-conserved examples of Deccani Sultanate monuments in India. • The series demonstrates the exemplary convergence of national and international styles of Islamic architecture and their intersections with the prevalent Hindu architecture of the period in southern India, in present-day Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. • The contributions of Deccan Sultanate to the arts and architecture of India is impressive with iconic Indo-Islamic monuments constructed in Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur and Hyderabad. • These sites emerged as important medieval fortifications and walled cities of the Deccan Sultanates with a vigorous new architectural style of the sultanate that emerged from encounters with the Deccan Hindu heartland of the period. • Individually, each of the components of the Deccan Sultanate cover important aspects of Sultanate history with Gulbarga evolving as the first capital of the Bahmani Kingdoms in mid-14th century CE including its impressive fortifications, Jami Masjid and royal tombs • Bidar emerged as the next Bahmani capital in the mid-15th Century CE. • Further evolution of the Deccani Sultanate style was done by the Adil Shahi dynasty in the monuments at Bijapur such as the Gol Gumbaz that stands as the 2nd largest dome in world history. The final diversification and manifestation of the style is seen in the Qutub Shahi monuments of Golconda fort, tombs and the Charminar at Hyderabad. The iconic Charminar is a ceremonial gateway built to celebrate the foundation of Hyderabad in 1591 A.D. • Subtly blending influences from Iran, West Asia, southern India, and sometimes Europe, as well as southern and northern India, the arts produced under these Deccan sultanates are markedly different from those of the rest of India and especially from those created under the Mughal patronage.
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• The monuments and citadels provide a unique testimony to the social, economic, cultural, political and technological landscape of the period as well as unique expressions of the religious and artistic flowering of the Islamic Sultanate in Southern India. • The monuments were also accompanied by the development of syncretic forms of art, architecture, language, literature, music, cuisine and costume.
5. Visit of UN Delegation on Palestine to India Why in News? • Recently, a UN delegation on Palestine visited New Delhi to seek India’s political and diplomatic support for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. About Two-State Solution: • The “two-state solution” is based on a UN resolution of 1947 which proposed two states - one would be a state where Zionist Jews constituted a majority, the other where the Palestinian Arabs would be a majority of the population. The idea was however rejected by the Arabs. • For decades, it has been held by the international community as the only realistic deal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. • India has consistently voted in favour of those resolutions that promote the two-state solution with a Palestinian claim to East Jerusalem.
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What is India’s Stand on Israel-Palestine Issue? • In June 2019, India voted in favour of a decision introduced by Israel in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) that objected to granting consultative status to a Palestinian non-governmental organization. • In June 2018, India had voted in favour of Palestine on the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution to investigate an indiscriminate force usage by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians. • As a part of Link West Policy, India has de-hyphenated its relationship with Israel and Palestine in 2018 to treat both the countries mutually independent and exclusive. • In December 2017, India had criticised the United States vote for recognising Jerusalem as the Israeli capital at the UNGA vote. • In 2014, India favoured UNHRC’s resolution to probe Israel’s human rights violations in Gaza. Despite supporting the probe, India abstained from voting against Israel in UNHRC in 2015. What are the Key Points of their Visit? • The delegation of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) intends to engage India in the settling of the question of Palestine. ✓ United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) was founded in 1975 by the United Nations General Assembly. ✓ It aims to formulate a programme to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their right to self-determination, to national independence and sovereignty, and the right of Palestine refugees to return. • During the visit of the UN delegation on Palestine, India has reiterated its stand and supported the Two-State solution for the Israel-Palestine issue. • The visit aimed to enhance the political and diplomatic support of India for a peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and engaging Indian counterparts on synergies in capacity building for staff and institutions of Palestine. • The delegation intends to involve countries like India as it shares good relations with both Israel and Palestine, and is also attached to multilateral principles, to play a bigger role in the resolution of the issue.
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6. ICC probe on Afghanistan Alleged War Crimes Why in News? • International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutors have been given the green light to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan – and beyond its borders – linked to Afghan, Taliban and US troops. What is the Issue? • The prosecutors alleged in a 2017 report said they have enough information to prove U.S. forces “committed acts of torture, cruel treatment, outrages upon personal dignity, rape and sexual violence against conflict-related detainees in Afghanistan and other locations, principally in the 2003-2004 period.” About Doha accord between US and Taliban: • The United States has signed a historic deal with Taliban insurgents that could pave the way for ending the 18-year-war in Afghanistan. • The deal was signed in Doha (Qatar) and thus termed as Doha Agreement. • India has welcomed the signing of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal by accepting an invitation to attend the meeting for the same in Doha. ✓ The agreement set out a course of comprehensive ceasefire between the Afghan Government and Taliban for the next 14 months. ✓ Timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan will be carried out, provided the Taliban adhere to their security guarantees and ceasefire. ✓ The prevention of the use of Afghanistan by any group or individual against the security of the United States and its allies. The facilitation of an intra-Afghan dialogue. ✓ The participants of intra-Afghan negotiations will discuss the date and modalities of a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, including agreement over the future political roadmap of Afghanistan. In turn, the Taliban has demanded the release of 5000 fighters from Afghan-run jails. About ICC: • The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague, is the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. • It is the first permanent, treaty based, international criminal court established to help end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community.
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• Its founding treaty, the Rome Statute, entered into force on July 1, 2002. • Although the Court’s expenses are funded primarily by States Parties, it also receives voluntary contributions from governments, international organisations, individuals, corporations and other entities. The Court’s management oversight and legislative body, the Assembly of States Parties, consists of one representative from each state party. • Each state party has one vote and “every effort” has to be made to reach decisions by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by vote. The Assembly is presided over by a president and two vice-presidents, who are elected by the members to three-year terms. What are its Jurisdiction? • The ICC has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. • The ICC is intended to complement existing national judicial systems and it may therefore only exercise its jurisdiction when certain conditions are met, such as when national courts are unwilling or unable to prosecute criminals or when the United Nations Security Councillor individual states refer situations to the Court. What are the Criticisms of ICC? • It does not have the capacity to arrest suspects and depends on member states for their cooperation. • Critics of the Court argue that there are insufficient checks and balances on the authority of the ICC prosecutor and judges and insufficient protection against politicized prosecutions or other abuses. • The ICC has been accused of bias and as being a tool of Western imperialism, only punishing leaders from small, weak states while ignoring crimes committed by richer and more powerful states.
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• ICC cannot mount successful cases without state cooperation is problematic for several reasons. It means that the ICC acts inconsistently in its selection of cases, is prevented from taking on hard cases and loses legitimacy. • It also gives the ICC less deterrent value, as potential perpetrators of war crimes know that they can avoid ICC judgment by taking over government and refusing to cooperate.
7. Foreigners Tribunals Context: • Recently, Amnesty International has raised allegations over the functioning of the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam. • It has asserted that the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court had enabled the FTs to create a statelessness crisis in Assam, in a report titled ‘Designed to Exclude’. Amnesty International: • It is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in London on 1961 • It seeks to publicize violations by governments and other entities of rights recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), especially freedom of speech and of conscience and the right against torture. • It also works with intergovernmental human rights bodies to expand and enforce human rights protections in international law. • In 1977 AI was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. About: • The organization has observed that the FTs that determined the paramount right to citizenship in Assam were often dismissive, used derogatory language, controlled their own procedures and applied them in arbitrary ways. • It has also called for a review of the existing legislative regime governing the determination of nationality in India. FTs – Assam: • It is a quasi-judicial bodies, to determine if a person staying illegally is a “foreigner” or not. • Every individual, whose name does not figure in the final National Register of Citizens (NRC), can represent his/her case in front of the appellate authority i.e. Foreigners Tribunals (FT). It is set up in Assam, specifically to handle the cases of 19.06 lakh people left out of the updated NRC.
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• Under the provisions of Foreigners Act 1946 and Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964, only Foreigners Tribunals are empowered to declare a person as a foreigner. FTs- Member: • Its members are appointed under the Foreigners Tribunal Act, 1941, and Foreigners Tribunal Order, 1984, as per the guidelines issued by the government from time to time. • The Members can be: ✓ a retired judicial officer of the Assam Judicial Service, ✓ a retired civil servant not below the rank of secretary and additional secretary with judicial experience, or ✓ a practising advocate not below the age of 35 years and with at least seven years of practice. ✓ The member also required to have a fair knowledge of the official languages of Assam (Assamese, Bengali, Bodo and English) as well as be conversant with the historical background to the foreigners’ issue.
8. ODF+ and ODF++ Context: • Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban Development has tabled its report on the performance of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) in Lok Sabha. About ODF+, ODF++ • It is launched in 2018 to further scale up and sustain the work undertaken by the cities after achieving the ODF status under Phase I of the Swachh Bharat Mission — Urban (SBM-Urban). • Cities that had been certified ODF at least once, on the basis of the ODF protocols, are eligible to declare themselves as SBM-ODF+ & SBM-ODF++. • Its aim is to properly maintenance of toilet facilities and safe collection, conveyance, treatment/disposal of all faecal sludge and sewage. ✓ ODF+ focuses on toilets with water, maintenance and hygiene ✓ ODF++ focuses on toilets with sludge and septage management. Highlights: • Despite the fact that work on three protocols under the next phase of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban-2) — ODF+, ODF++ and Water Plus — is to be completed by 2024, the ground situation was not matching with the assigned timeline.
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• The progress has been slow. Less than 30 per cent of the cities have been certified as ODF+ so far. Out of 4,320 cities declared ODF, as low as 1,276 cities have been certified as ODF+. • The number of ODF++ cities — 411 — means that less than 10 per cent cities are certified as ODF++ so far. According to Phase 1 of the Swachh Bharat Mission (U), 99 per cent of the cities became ODF, the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) had claimed in 2019. About Water plus: • It aims to sustain toilets by treating and reuse of water, which is launched in 2019. • It contributes to the government’s focus on water conversation and reuse under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan and is in alignment with United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goal No 6 on clean water and sanitation.
9. India Not Obligated to implement WTO’s Dispute Panel Recommendations Why in News? • As per the reply of Commerce and Industry Minister in Lok Sabha, India is under no obligation to implement the recommendations of the WTO’s dispute panel on its export promotion schemes. What is the Issue? • A dispute settlement panel of World Trade Organization (WTO) in its report issued to members on 31 October 2019 has ruled that India’s export-related schemes (including SEZ scheme) are in the nature of prohibited subsidies under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and are inconsistent with WTO norms. • The panel had given a time-frame of 180 days for withdrawal of Special Economic Zone (SEZ) scheme. India had appealed at the WTO’s appellate body against this ruling. • But due to non-functioning of appellate body (of the WTO’s dispute settle mechanism), the appeal has been kept in suspension. • Till the appeal is disposed of, India is under no obligation to implement the recommendations of panel. WTO’s Dispute Settlement Mechanism: • The Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization set up in 1995, is a standing body of 7 persons that hears appeals from reports issued by panels in disputes brought on by WTO members.
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• A dispute arises when a member government believes another member government is violating an agreement or a commitment that it has made in the WTO. • By joining the WTO, member countries have agreed that if they believe fellow members are in violation of trade rules, they will use the multilateral system of settling disputes instead of taking action unilaterally. Current Scenario: • The dispute settlement mechanism requires at least three members to function. • The United States has blocked the appointments of new members and the reappointments of members who had completed their four-year tenures, the membership of the body has decreased to three persons (instead of the required seven). • The US believes the WTO is biased against it, and has criticized it for being unfair. • In 2019, several developing countries met in India to discuss ways to prevent the WTO’s dispute resolution system from collapsing all together. • India is involved in 15 trade disputes, mostly against the US, at the WTO at Present.
10. UN World Happiness Report- 2020 Why in News? • The United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network recently released the World Happiness Report on the occasion of the World Happiness Day (March 20) which was designated by the UN General Assembly in 2012. About the World Happiness Report: • The World Happiness Report ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. • The rankings are based on polling (Gallup World Poll) which looks at six variables: GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and absence of corruption. • The 2020 Report for the first time ranked cities around the world by their subjective well- being and looked into how the social, urban and natural environments combine to affect happiness.
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About Sustainable Development Solutions Network: • The SDSN, launched in 2012, mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical problem solving for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. It was established under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General. The SDSN and the Bertelsmann Stiftung have been publishing the annual SDG Index & Dashboards Global Report since 2016. Highlights of the Report: • Top Performers ✓ Finland is ranked as the world’s happiest nation for the Third Consecutive Year. ✓ Nordic states dominated the top 10, along with countries such as Switzerland, New Zealand and Austria. Luxembourg edged into the 10th spot for the first time this year. • Worst Performers ✓ The countries at the bottom are those afflicted by violent conflicts and extreme poverty, with Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Afghanistan classified as the world’s least happy nations. • India’s Performance ✓ India previously ranked at 140 dropped to 144. ✓ Its rank is way lower than its neighbours. Nepal is ranked 92; Pakistan is at 66, Bangladesh at 107 and Sri Lanka at 130. ✓ India is a new entrant to the bottom-fifteen group.
11. Controlling COVID-19 through South Korean Model Why in News? • The Korean Model, a vigorous regime of “trace, test, treat”, has shown remarkable results in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus, without putting a nationwide lockdown in place. How is the Situation in Korea? • Korea is now in full control of the spread of the disease. The number of new confirmed cases per day has been showing steady decline since hitting a peak at 989 in February to double-digit figures as of mid-March. • Korea might be the only country that hasn’t imposed a lockdown within its territories or even of its international borders.
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How has this been possible? What is the ‘Korean Model’? • It is grounded on concentrated testing of high-risk areas and clusters. • Korea found out at the beginning of the spread of the virus that a certain religious cult and its gathering was the cause of a large portion of the spread in a certain area of the country. This group had massive gatherings in a closed-off space. • The government listed all members of the group across the country, tracked their whereabouts and conducted tests on a massive scale, leading to the rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases. • However, Korea succeeded in identifying and isolating potential cases at a very early stage and finally flattened the curve. Other Best Practices followed by Korea: • The moment the virus DNA pattern was confirmed in Wuhan, Korean medical teams and bio-companies were able to develop new testing kits with surprising speed. This made it possible for Korea to conduct mass-scale testing of 18,000 cases a day. • Anybody in Korea who has symptoms or reasons to be tested can get the test within minutes at ‘drive-thru’ or ‘walk-thru’ testing centres and receive the result by text message the very next day. Korea made available over 650 testing centres nationwide. Is it possible for India to Replicate this Model? • Given India’s demography and medical infrastructure, lockdowns are necessary. However, openness and transparency is important to tackling this situation and identifying and isolating the core of the spread of the virus with full medical capacity at the earliest possible stage is key. • This is the essence of the ‘Korean model’.
6.1. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SNIPPETS 1. Indian Ocean Commission Why in News? • India has recently been approved as an observer state in the Western Indian Ocean (Indian Ocean Commission). About Indian Ocean Commission: • It is a five nation grouping in the Western Indian Ocean, which includes Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius and French Reunion.
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• The decision to join the IOC marks a part of the government’s push for greater salience in the whole Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including what is called the Western or African Indian Ocean. • The IOC is also significant for its geographical location, as the islands sit around a “key choke point” in the Indian Ocean — the Mozambique Channel. • This channel is being watched more closely as the U.S • Iran tensions threaten the Strait of Hormuz. With the decision, India will join China, which was made an observer in 2016, • Given China’s growing presence in the region, India hopes to increase its naval presence and gain support for its maritime projects across the Indo Pacific, beginning at East African shores. • It can also be seen as deepening strategic partnership with France as well as its expanding ties with the Vanilla Islands.
2. Gender Social Norms Index Why in News? • Recently, the First Gender Social Norms Index was recently released by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). About the Gender Social Norms Index: • It measures how social beliefs obstruct gender equality in areas like politics, work, and education, and contains data from 75 countries, covering over 80 percent of the world’s population. • It found new clues to the invisible barriers women face in achieving equality – potentially forging a path forward to breaking through the so-called “glass ceiling”. • Despite decades of progress, close to 90 percent of men and women hold some sort of bias against women. Almost half of those polled feel that men are superior political leaders. • More than 40 per cent believe they make better business executives and are more entitled to jobs when the economy is lagging and 28 per cent think it is justified for a man to beat his wife. Despite tangible progress in closing gender inequalities in developmental areas, as well as in removing legal barriers to political and economic participation, there exist power gaps. This is because while men and women vote at similar rates, only 24 percent of parliamentary seats worldwide are held by women and there are only 10 female heads of government out of 193 Member States. Furthermore, women are paid less than men working the same jobs and are much less likely to be in senior positions.
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Beijing+25 Regional Review Meeting: • The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995 is the most ambitious road map for the empowerment of women and girls everywhere. • In 2020, it will be 25 years since the Beijing Platform for Action set strategic objectives and actions for the achievement of gender equality in 12 critical areas of concern. • It provided a forum for UNECE member States to review progress and identify challenges in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. • It was held on October 2019 in the Palais des Nations, Geneva, and was jointly organized by UNECE and the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.
3. Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit Why in the News? • Saudi Arabia has proposed to convene an “extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit” on 26th March to advance a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its human and economic implications. Highlights: • King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will chair the meeting of this “extraordinary Summit”. • G20 members will be joined by leaders from invited countries, Spain, Jordan, Singapore, and Switzerland. As well as international organizations like the United Nations (UN), World Bank Group (WBG) and other such organizations will take part in it. • Regional organizations will be represented by - ✓ Vietnam the Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ✓ South Africa the Chair of the African Union (AU), ✓ The United Arab Emirates the Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ✓ Rwanda the Chair of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). The G20: • The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. • The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.
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• The G20 operates as a forum and not as an organisation. Therefore, it does not have any permanent secretariat or management and administrative structure. • The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
4. Biological Weapons Convention Why in News? • Recently, March 26 marked the 45th anniversary of the entry into force of the Biological Weapons Convention. About Biological Weapons Convention: • It is a convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction is usually referred to as the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) or Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). • It is a legally binding treaty that outlaws biological arms. • It is the first multilateral disarmament treaty to ban an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. • It opened for signature in 1972, and entered into force in 1975. • It currently has 183 states-parties, including Palestine, and four signatories. Ten states have neither signed nor ratified the BWC. • It bans the development, stockpiling, acquisition, retention, and production of: 1. Biological agents and toxins "of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes;" 2. Weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles "designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict." 3. The transfer of or assistance with acquiring the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment, and delivery vehicles described above. • It does not ban the use of biological and toxin weapons but reaffirms the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibits such use. It also does not ban biodefense programs. • India has ratified the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and pledges to abide by its obligations.
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5. VIX (Volatility Index) Context: • VIX (Volatility index) is recently seen in news. About VIX: • It is an index used to measure the near term volatility expectations of the markets. • It signifies the rate and magnitude of change in the stock price or index value. • Its movement reflects the overall market volatility expectations over the next 30 days. • It is also known as ‘fear gauge’ or ‘fear index’. It was first created by the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and introduced in 1993 based on the prices of S&P 500 index. About India VIX: • It was launched by National Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2010 and is based on the computation methodology of CBOE though amended to align with the Indian markets. • It indicates the Indian market’s volatility from the investor’s perception. • Its volatility and the value moves parallel. i.e. a spike in the VIX value means the market is expecting higher volatility in the near future and vice versa. • It also has a strong negative correlation with Nifty. i.e every time India VIX falls, Nifty rises and when India VIX rises, Nifty falls. • Its value is among the important parameters that are taken into account for pricing of options contracts, which are one of the most popular derivative instruments. • National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) is the leading stock exchange of India, located in Mumbai. It was established in 1992 as the first dematerialized electronic exchange in the country.
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